laffite

In a later episode of the BBC mini-series The Jewel in the Crown, Charles Dance folds a number of garments very neatly over a significant duration all the while relating a story about something or other. I remember being so fascinated about how well he was doing with that, it was necessary for me to go back and replay the scene in order to find out what he said.

After watching a treatment of Forbidden Planet on Science Fiction Threatre 3000 (or whatever it was called), I can never watch the movie again. As you know, SFT 3000 took a movie and dubbed in their own dialogue that was often hilarious (and this one was). I can't take that movie seriously again. Maybe TCM saw that and they're trying to rehabilitate the movie with all these showings .

Mongo, please excuse the intrusion. I tried to PM you but couldn't get through. Do you have any information on Lillian Yarbo? Even a DOB and DOD would be something. Anything at all about her at all would be appreciated. Please feel free to PM me or if you prefer just answer here. I know you have been a brilliant encyclopedist here on the boards for all these years and I thought to ask you. My online searches did not yield anything about her, except her filmography. Thank you.

I watched this tonight on my 7-inch screen Uniplex (as shown above) while at work (surreptitiously, of course) and I won?t say much now as this might be taken up later when it is shown on TCM. Up until tonight everyone in the world except me had probably seen it. Just to say that once again I am bowled over by Joan. In an earlier post I mentioned always somehow avoiding her movies, (despite the fact that she is one of most ubiquitous stars on the channel) without ever really disliking her (maybe I am afraid of her, ha) and aside from Mildred Pierce and maybe some of her early stuff, not really watching enough to get a feel of who she really was. Recently I?ve seen Possessed (1947), Daisy Kenyon, and now this one. It?s easy to see why this was such a great vehicle for her. Norma Desmond may be ready for her close up but no one can be as ready as *Joan Crawford*. This movie is one close up after another and I?m wondering if there is anyone any better than she. Who else can act with their face better than Joan Crawford? Maybe you can think of someone but at the moment after watching this one, I cannot. This movie is much better than I thought it would be. After the pivotal scene about halfway through I groaned thinking that the road map for the rest of the movie was set, that all kinds of ingenious things would happen to scare her to death---but no, she had a plan. She fought back. The second half of the movie was almost a different movie and with very little dialogue, but oh so good, at least for me. Interesting to note in the first half of the movie, when there was at least the appearance of happiness between the two stars, what a remarkable couple they made. *Jack Palance* and *Joan Crawford* both have strikingly sharp features, there is something almost lugubrious about Jack?s chiseled face, it would be easy to imaging something horrible about some who looks like that. Joan?s face is so loud that at least some of the femininity is lost. Both nonetheless immensely attractive in their own way. Quite a pair to hook up together. And that *Gloria Grahame*. I realized after watching this that she is so much sexier when she is up to no good.

testing done here, sorry Edited by: laffite on Jan 8, 2014 1:46 AM Edited by: laffite on Jan 8, 2014 1:49 AM Edited by: laffite on Jan 8, 2014 1:50 AM Edited by: laffite on Jan 8, 2014 1:56 AM Edited by: laffite on Jan 8, 2014 1:58 AM Edited by: laffite on Jan 8, 2014 1:59 AM

Dreams (Kurosawa) An apology

Royal Wedding A guess. Maybe she liked working with Fred.

*If anyone has 67- mins to spare...and who doesn't...why don't you check out "WIVES UNDER SUSPICION" 1938* I liked it. The film lets slip where it?s going as early as half way through, which worked fine with me as the anticipation of what eventually transpires has an appeal of its own. A feel-good movie, 1938 Programmer style. Mr Stowell *(Warren William)* says some mighty nice things to his wife, let?s pretend I don?t know you so I can win you all over again, he is truly contrite and rather sweet about it (Don?t anyone tell Greer I said that, she might think I?m getting sappy in my semi-retirement) . *Gail Patrick* is a smashing, fine looking woman, whew; I looked her up, she?s been in a few things, short career, might have been really big if she had really wanted to (so it seems to me, though I know nothing about her life). I noticed *Milburn Stone* in the opening credits and opined to myself that I would probably not be able to pick him out, but whoa, there he is and with a lot of enthusiasm, what a head of hair, not bad, Doc. Pretty good show, all in all. Feel-good maybe but the screenplay has Mrs Stowell *(Gail Patrick)* say that awful thing about the maid. I don?t want to repeat it. Am I to accept what she said as pertaining to ALL maids, or was she referring to maids of color? Is there wiggle room there to assume the former preferred answer? Given the way things were back then in the movies (and elsewhere), it might be a tough sell. Just wondering, was there ever an actor, given a line like that to utter, who might have said, No, I?m not saying that, sorry. Just wondering. Despite all the nonsense of how *Lillian Yarbo* was made to act with all the stereotypical stuff in there, her worth (and charm) as an actress does shine through and I loved watching her. I wanted to find out something about her so I went online and found precious little. Even our go-to movie source IMDd can only offer a filmography (the same with TCM site), that?s it. Ditto every other site I searched. When this lady was born and died is apparently down the memory hole as well as any thing at all about her life. And I looked. I googled *Hattie McDaniel* and *Butterfly McQueen* and went to some sites that talked about them---sites that are not particularly well known---went to the search engines of these sites, typed in Lillian and found nothing! Her name is their data base, but that?s it. Miss *Yarbo* was in a lot of movies, a few of them high profile, but she always (or nearly always) played a maid and probably given the same stupid things to do to promote the stereotype, but that does not make her a non-entity. I would like to know when she was born, when she died and a perhaps a few details of her life. I love they way she pattered in behind Mrs Stowell to hear the radio news and flashed those pretty eyes around while listening, to name at least one nice moment.. *Where's the rum?!! Heehee!* Good question, dear Greer. It was purloined some four year ago now. Masterminded by a certain someone infamous for the Great Rum Heist of ?08, relegating that now semi-retired pirate to ingesting ginger ale, argh! Okay, okay, I imbibe a few barrels of wine, now and then *It's about time you showed up again, silly goose!..Maybe I shouldn't talk. heehee!* Maybe I?ll stick around this time. And yeah, BTW, you gotta stick around too Nice to chat with you again, Greer, I?ve given up on recovering my cups, tough patutie for me. Mr O once said on an intro to Lady in the Lake that audiences going to see this when it came out were disappointed because they thought they were going to see *Robert Montgomery*, only he wasn?t there to see. Funny. Oh well, he has a nice voice. Miss *Maven*, that screen shot looks a little like *NatalieW*. I?ve never seen *Jayne Meadows* in a movie. She was married to one of my favorite people of all time, and one of the funniest. Whenever they appeared on television together later in life she always had this sort of uppity (but sweet) way of talking that seemed somehow incongruent with the earthiness of *Mr Allen.* But as far as I know, they were quite the couple. RIP Steve, Jayne---Warren, Gail, Milburn as well as the rest of the cast --- and a special RIP for Miss Yarbo. ==

384 "When do we take off our clothes?" "Beats me. Is this even the right place?"

I am determined to not make this a ?brief? port of call this time. I want to stick around here a bit. It?s not good to stay away. I won?t be a prolific as some of the rest of you but I?ll try to keep my feet wet (or at least a little damp) with a few comments here and there. I am already looking forward to some *Joanie* stuff on this thread a little later in the month when some her heftier opuses come up. Thanks, *Maven*, for your comments on Railroaded and for the screen shots. There?s my girl *Miss Converse* in full scream. And below sitting there after having told the truth that there was no sandy haired killer despite being contradicted by the lyin? moll and not being believed and knowing she is right (as well as we the viewers) but being too diffident and afraid to press her case and showing all this on that sweet, scared face. I?ve never seen *Hugh Beaumont* in a movie and was surprised, perhaps even a little shocked, to see him in one and maybe giving him a bad rap for being bland since the only other reference point is being a daddy, Ward Cleaver, on one of those oft-considered bland sitcoms of those dreary 50s, sorry Hugh, you deserve another chance, especially if you have the *Maven* on your side. Well, I?m glad to see whatever admiration I have for this little gem (Yes, gem, I would say, for as you say, Maven, a film of this ilk) is shared by others, and by a maven no less . I want to see more of *Jane Randolph*, I find her rather appealing. Thanks for the link to Wives? I am breathless over the possibility of catching a glimpse of our own dear *Butterscotchgreer*, might I know where exactly she appears. Hi there, Greer

I recently ordered this from NetF, I?m probably echoing some of the comments already made. I didn?t like the film much. There was something wrong with Kate, she either wasn?t comfortable or this role just wasn?t right for her, she didn?t come across well, even amateurish in some places. Sometimes the director can negatively influence an actor?s performance, I don?t know, but I don?t think this was good Kate. Robert Taylor was okay as the happy husband but the negativity about the brother resulted in the character to go bizarre, yes this was the thing with him, his brother, I understand, there was a complex there to say the least?but I don?t feel that Robert integrated this happier side to the unhappier side for good a character, the adverse reactions to everything having to do with the brother comes across as bizarrely incongruous and erratic (for me). A better performance would have fixed this. And then the brother, someone we don?t see until the end but who dominates the film in the background, turns out to be this bland guy played by Robert Mitchum, an actor who can do so much more than this character required. Not that that is necessarily bad, but I was hoping for something more, more interesting at least, from the brother.

383 (Singing) "Oooohhh saay can you seeeee, by the..." Now wait, I'll get it, I used to sing this at my high school football games, really...I used to know the words...I'm quite a good singer, you'll see...just listen to me, ahem... :Singing: "Oh, say can..."

The end credit music of Inglorious Basterds intrigues me, ?Rabbia E Tarentella.? The eerie march-like fate theme that oddly resembles Beethoven?s Fifth, _not so much_ the better known opening theme, but rather the four-note theme that begins the _third movement_ of that symphony. The thing is, I have heard ?Tarentella? before, but can?t remember where. I don?t think this is original music to Tarantino?s movie. Does anyone have an idea elsewhere this music was used? It is haunting and even a bit disturbing. (Reminds me a little of some of the music in Game of Thrones) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBa5NWOuO7k

I find that some 50s movies, notably the classics Sunset Boulevard and All About Eve, though made in 1950 are primarily in the vein of 40s. Asphalt Jungle is another. Just a thought, but the 50s don?t really kick in for me until about ?54. There is something about then, rock and roll, the demise of the studio system, the advent of wide-screen color extravaganzas, which seem to mark what we think of as being 50s. The *Jimmy Dean* movies, Tea and Sympathy, Around the world in 80 days, the gidget-y beach movies, etc. etc. etc., stuff like that. For me, many of the 50s movies were not as interesting on average than 40s movies, there was a blandness that somehow mirrored some of the stuff that was showing up on TV, those staid sitcoms, for instance. I understand I'm oversimplifying a bit, there was, for instance, a wave of coming of age films in the 50s that were quite gritty for the times. No example comes readily to mind but I remember TCM doing a series on this. On The Waterfront comes to mind as a possible watershed example of the bridging of the two decades in spirit, having elements of both decades, and of course Brando showing something extraordinarily new and uncommon in the way of acting. I notice that some of the lists here are comprised of mostly early 50s. Just airing some thoughts, I understand we?re talking here about the decade of the 50s, certainly a viable subject, regardless of the zeitgeist...and that there were a number of quite good movies made, even during my 'bland' period, ha.

>GM Larry Evans said, "It doesn't ring true" -- a huge understatement. *Face*: Evans probably deigned to comment on that because of all films, Searching for Bobby Fischer, is a film mostly about the game itself and should therefore get things right. Movies in general and especially Hollywood movies are most often inattentive to correctness with subjects dealing with special categories, for instance, boxing movies normally have unrealistic looking boxing sequences, etc., many other examples I'm sure, movies just don't care. The makers of Searching... should care, however. *Kid:* Wow what a terrific list! I've bookmarked that page. Next time I see a movie with chess in it, I'll consult the list. I would probably be a thrill to find one that is not there.

Reading these comments about this great game, I was trying to think of movies dealing primarily with Chess. Movies like Searching for Bobby Fischer, for instance. There is foreign film entitled Dangerous Moves that deals with a Master chess player. I?m sure there are others. I saw a movie entitled The Luzhin Defense with *John Turturro,* I believe. I remember being annoyed because something transpired that was goofy and unrealistic. I remembering thinking that they should have had a technical advisor to inform the movie makers, hey that really would never happen in chess. I can't remember the details, just as well. I was just now searching but not finding a title of movie I recently watched (Herbert Lom in a supporting role and I believe Maria Schell in the female lead) where a chess master meets a woman who challenges him to speed chess. This is how they meet. So there they are in a tavern playing chess and even using clocks, when?s the last time you saw a chess clock in a movie, ha. Here's a bit of trivia. In From Russia With Love, if memory serves, one of first images we see is game in progress. One of the players moves his King. On the square just vacated is sort of symbol which represents an encoded message. That kicks off the movie. Interesting article about Kubrick, thanks for sharing that.

I know what you mean. I liked it, yes, but *Affleck* carried the movie for me, if it hadn't been for that...It was a little slow and overall an anomaly in some ways for a Western, rather slow, for instance...I tried but failed to get through a Jesse James move with *Robert Wagner.* He spoke in an exaggerated lower tone to sound tough but it didn't work. *Jeffrey Hunter*, who played brother Frank was much better. He is primarily a supporting player (I think), I thought he was good in The Searchers. From Netlix, a 2010 movie entitled The Righteous and the Wicked, a 1950s sounding title, was surprisingly good, despite being a sort of funky, low-budget, movie with a bunch of no namers, oddly enjoyable, but certainly not a great movie. I'm not sure I would even recommend it, I might have been in a tolerant mood at the time. Modern Westerns (i.e., made with the last 20-30 years) are often a far cry from the old traditional movies of yore. Sometimes they just don't work. Appaloosa (2008) with *Viggo Mortensen*, *Ed Harris*, and (of all people) *Jeremy Irons*, DOES work, however, for me anyway, I thought it was pretty good. Edited by: laffite on Jan 3, 2014 12:59 AM

Bonjour *MissG,* I want to comment about Van Heflin but no, I must wait. Possessed will be showing later in the month. You?re right, it is rather complex, plot-wise and otherwise as well. Joan is really good. *Jackie*, you must see it. A ramble-worthy film, I should think. Yes, I?ve been into watching again, with a fury! I have a small DVD player with a 7-inch screen that I can use at work, surreptitiously of course. I like to watch the oldies mostly, at work, vintage TCM types. Tonight I finished a crisp little programmer, Railroaded (1947), 72 minutes, that is by no means a great movie but nevertheless full a little qualities that really add up to something. There is an actress, little known I?m sure, *Peggy Converse* (1905-2001) who plays a witness that no one believes. She doesn?t have much to say but what little she does is fun to watch. She seems a fearful little thing that constantly has a stricken look on her face. She reacts to what?s going on around her in subtle ways that I thought wholly admirable. I fancy she doesn?t get the credit she deserves for her little time on screen (she gets murdered too). *Jane Randolph* (1915-2009) is a good looking blonde who plays a moll. She does well (she also get murdered). I haven?t looked her up but I don?t know the name, she might have been more famous than she is, she?s got something. Why didn?t someone make her a star? *Hugh Beaumont*, (Beaver?s dada)), is hopelessly bland but quietly competent as the good guy, He wins a the final shootout and gets the girl, *Sheila Ryan* (1921-1975), a good looking brunette (she does not get murdered, but almost does, whew!). *John Ireland* is the trigger-happy bad guy whose answer to every problem is to shoot somebody. Ireland has an interesting face, has he ever done a really good movie? *Anthony Mann* directs, that?s saying something. Such as is watched on what I like to call my little Uniplex. I had previously used a laptop at work, but this is so much better. It?s easier to be sneaky Gosh, *Jackie,* Manorca and such, I had to look those places up. That?s shameful for a filibustier of my ilk who has such a colorful swashbuckling history, I would like to go those places. Thanks for everything you said. Possessed comes on at 3:45am, the morning of the 25th (I think). That?s a bad time, I hope you can see it. Do you have Netflix? I hope so. Thank you, *Maven*?yes I?ve always resented Guy Fawkes for having a day, ha! Shouldn?t I have a day too, Jean Laffite, I mean. Anyway, all days are good days, I?m still breathing. I remember in an old Peter Pan comic book, a pirate singing, ?Oh a pirate?s life is a wonderful life?? all I have to do is to remember that (and keep breathing). ps I'll have to learn again how to post an image. I would have posted Peggy Converse's sweet (albeit fearful) face.

Hi Arturo, saw your post where you mention two Jesse James (there seems so many of those), I recently saw and like a more recent one, The Assassination of Jesse James (2007) with Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck. Casey gives an amazingly sensitive look at the much maligned Bob Ford, who brazenly shot Jesse James in the back. Historically he?s thought of as being the lowest of the low, a cardboard figure of subhuman depravity. He may be exactly that but Casey Affleck makes him into a human being at least, if not succeeding of humanizing him completely. When asked why he shot Jesse James he says in this order, ??because he was going to kill me, and for the reward.? I believe he is mostly depicted in movies committing the dastardly deed for the second reason?but in this movie, there was this palpable sense that his life was indeed in danger. Jesse is seen to be have been paranoid of those that claimed to be loyal members of this newer ragtag-like gang and had reputedly killed a couple of them and Bob Ford had reason to believe Jesse was aware of Bob?s role in the death of his cousin as well as information that came out in an investigation that may have implicated the Ford brothers in events antithetical to Jesse. We are made to feel that Bob had reason to fear Jesse. Jesse is well played by Pitt who successfully makes even the viewer nervous as to whether or not Jesse is really accepting anything that is said to him, giving us these long looks as if reading our minds. I would have been nervous too. We should not forget though that Bob had made that deal with the Governor, played surprisingly BTW by the politico liberal James Carville (not bad, James). Still, the look that Casey Affleck?s puts on Bob Ford?s face just before the deed shows a pained expression, as if perhaps conflicted in some way. Affleck?s characterization is interesting throughout. To be clear, I wouldn?t defend Bob Ford at all (despite the fact that Jesse himself was known to have done a few bad things himself, to put it mildly---the argument of which of these two were the worst human being might possibly be arguable, although Bob Ford would most assuredly be the eventual loser, I think. Of course, despite Jesse?s misdeeds, in the popular conception, he is the folk hero and Bob Ford is the scum of the earth.). But I do think that Casey Affleck?s portrayal was interesting in a very excellent way. I noticed in this movie that gunshots sound very realistic, they're kind of scary. Sort of a dull thud-like pop, like real guns. Not the splashy tinny shots like in old movies, with the exaggerated carom ricochet. Some of the newer movies, Westerns as well as others, are like this, it makes gunfire scenes a little more gritty, and maybe not taken so easily for granted.. There are two excellent documentaries on Jesse James. One was the American Experience PBS production, the other was Jesse James: Outlaw Hero, which really nails the historical significance to what made Jesse James and in a very detailed way. I recommend both ot them.

Hi Jackie...and CineM, and the rest of my friends here (and all). I haven't been around here lately, Happy New Year...! I recently saw Possessed (1947) and really liked Joan, I was even a bit bowled over. A Mildred Pierce-worthy performance I was thinking while watching. I think I may have under appreciated her over the years. She hasn't been a favorite. I've always liked her in Grand Hotel. And she had a great silent career. Well, she will certainly be around this month, Now that I have TCM again, I'll certainly have a look. There are some heavy Joanie titles I don't believe I've ever seen, like Humoresque, for instance. That's about classical music, isn't it? Gosh, how'd I miss that one.

Talking recently with an old friend, a prof of history and Russian, 87 years old and and in the pink, who is big on Tolstoy and who related to me how important Dostoyevsky was to him as he was growing up. Surprisingly, he was not aware of the 1958 Brothers K. I told him I thought it was a pretty good film?considering it was Hollywood and considering the difficulty of treating a long and idea rich novel such as that. I may have over hyped it, thinking his familiarity and perhaps his standard will make him scoff at it. The question of whether or not a film can do justice to such a novel is good one, it may not even be possible. How much can two hours of moving pictures do justice to the Brother K anyway? Pretty well perhaps depending on the standard. I thought Yul B was great as Dimitri and Lee J Cobb quite good as the old man. The main events were pretty much covered as I remember (it?s been awhile). I remember Dimitri?s apology to the old captain quite moving. It?s been too long to go on about it, I notice to my disappointment that Netflix doesn?t have it (not even as a Save), so the film by be difficult to come by these days. I would sure like to see it again. The BBC?s Crime and Punishment is pretty good, I thought. John Hurt is Raskilnakov and an actor name Timothy West is outstanding as Profiry, the police inspector. Profiry is a great creation, a virtuoso at busting chops, verbally dancing around poor Rasky with various innuendo, not quite saying what he knows (until an perfectly timed and opportune moment). West is one of a plethora of excellent English actors who spend their entire careers (or nearly) in British TV dramas, away from American eyes, and therefore may not be known over here. West is astonishingly good as Profiry. I understand Hurt later played Profiry himself, now that would be interesting.

Woody Allen's splendid Radio Days is a classic of nostalgia. Not surprisingly then, it seems to get better with age. I won't be specific but the next time you watch this movie, play close attention to the very last line. It's rather moving considering the passage of time.

"Okay, you wanted to rehearse the whistling scene, I get it...but tell me again, what are we doing with these stupid things?"

"Wait, just wait...I'm sure he said something."

Thanks to you both (hi there Molo, thanks). These are two famous titles, the ones I'm looking for a bit more obscure. TCM occasionally runs them consecutively, they are from the EARLY 30s I believe, the actors are not necessarily that famous and the production values are modest. I believe they were churned out factory style. I tried searching on the net but couldn't seem to find them, I should try again. Let me know if you learn anything more about this. Thank you. Laffite