Herman Bricks

Politics When I watch old films, I rarely am distracted by what we know about a performer's politics. If I do think think about it, I look for positives. For example Humphrey Bogart was a staunch liberal progressive and Ronald Reagan a staunch conservative but I can respect each of their politics because I believe they were both truly committed and trying to use their voice to help make a better country. It is more difficult for me to find positives from current performers nowadays that are political. I think for me the main problem is that very political celebrities like Alec Baldwin and Barbra Streisand behave as if their views make them better people, and everyone else are hateful, ignorant racists. Personal lives I pretty much do not think about a performer's personal life when I watch old films. There are some exceptions. When I see Errol Flynn in his later films, I do get sad thinking about his magnificence at his peak, the toll of his excesses, and his tragic, early demise. Same for Lon Chaney Jr., who I believe at his best was as fine an actor as ever lived- but his best performances were intermittent. He always looked 10 years older and I wonder if that was due to the smoking and drinking.

The Entertainer (1960) next: May-December relationship

Pam Dawber next: often cast as a priest

Rex Harrison Next: The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979)

Man-Made Monster (1941) starring Lionel Atwill next: a good Thanksgiving movie

Back to Five Steps to Danger, I found somewhat illogical the goings-on in the scene in which Sterling Hayden and Ruth Roman stop at The Stagecoach Diner/filling station to gas up and get coffee: Hayden tries to pour milk into his coffee, nothing comes out of the milk pitcher, Hayden looks perturbed but stirs it anyway Hayden (off-screen) apparently has ordered a hamburger and is seen chewing but never taking a bite of anything Hayden, after chewing but not biting his hamburger, pushes it aside and lights up a smoke There is an ashtray on the dining table but Hayden flicks his ash onto the floor

Five Steps to Danger was pretty bad. Not a film noir, IMHO, although certain sequences evoked Detour, Ace in the Hole and Out of the Past, . I hung with it because I like Ruth Roman, she is swell-looking and a good actress.

Hint:

Pedro Armendariz in La Perla (1947) next: lovely smile

Wrongfully Accused (1998) next: a swindle

Dame Judith Anderson next: Main Street to Broadway (1953)

99 River Street (1953) next: epidemic or pandemic

Roseanne Barr next: L.A. Lakers fan

O.P. Heggie next: broad-shouldered (male or female)

Willem Dafoe in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Spider-Man (2000) and sequels, At Eternity's Gate (2018) next: Jeff Bailey Dan Milner Max Cady

Gene Lockhart next: The High Commissioner (1968)

Vince Edwards next: nice physique (male or female)

How about a cheer for the star of one the best movies of all time- Kevin McCarthy next: World for Ransom (1954)

Son of Kong (1933) next: people eating outdoors

Anthony Zerbe next: played college football

Jackie Cooper in Skippy (1931), Treasure Island (1934), Superman (1978) and sequels next: Herbie Brown Pomeroy Watson Wilbur Gray

Mickey Rourke next: nice shoulders (male or female)

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) next: a scary comedy film

Brenda Marshall next: Dead Ringer (1964)

Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) next: another movie with a great cast