Arturo Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Arturo--That's an excellent observation! In my opinion, Katharine Hepburn has to be the exception that proves the rule. She was a very beautiful woman, but she never played Conventional roles ever. She was always playing head-strong women, intellectuals, old maids,professional women-- women who were rebellious and single-minded. And, of course, she was that way in real life. But what one person like Katharine Hepburn gets to do is not really typical of what the average person or even the above-average actress was able to get away within Hollywood at any time during the Golden Era or after. As you mentioned, she was wealthy. And she was able to buy her contract off at RKO when she became box office poison. Then she was extremely well-educated, so that when she did have a hit on Broadway, Philadelphia Story, she knew how to negotiate the business contract to make the perfect come back at MGM. Yes this is true. However, my point was regarding Hepburn much later, as a mature woman in the 1950s and beyond. She, along with Davis and Crawford, continued her film career with the occasional role. By the end of that decade, and into the 60s, Davis and Crawford were having trouble getting decent roles, as "Feud" is recounting. While they did get a hit in 1962 with BABY JANE, which did give some impetus to the film career of each, the quality of the offers were not of the prestigious sort. Hepburn, however, had not "cheapened" herself by accepting any offer due to necessity, but was able wait it out. That same year, she was offered, and chose to do, a prestigious film of LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT. She didn't "have to" work, so she could wait several years for a decent offer. And with films like THE LION IN WINTER in the late 60s, or ON GOLDEN POND into the 80s, it is obvious she never had to "stoop" to the horror film route of so many of her peers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swithin Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Yes this is true. However, my point was regarding Hepburn much later, as a mature woman in the 1950s and beyond. She, along with Davis and Crawford, continued her film career with the occasional role. When Kate won her Oscar for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Edith Evans was also a Best Actress nominee, for The Whisperers, at the age of 79. She was to make movies for ten more years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess of Tap Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Yes this is true. However, my point was regarding Hepburn much later, as a mature woman in the 1950s and beyond. She, along with Davis and Crawford, continued her film career with the occasional role. By the end of that decade, and into the 60s, Davis and Crawford were having trouble getting decent roles, as "Feud" is recounting. While they did get a hit in 1962 with BABY JANE, which did give some impetus to the film career of each, the quality of the offers were not of the prestigious sort. Hepburn, however, had not "cheapened" herself by accepting any offer due to necessity, but was able wait it out. That same year, she was offered, and chose to do, a prestigious film of LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT. She didn't "have to" work, so she could wait several years for a decent offer. And with films like THE LION IN WINTER in the late 60s, or ON GOLDEN POND into the 80s, it is obvious she never had to "stoop" to the horror film route of so many of her peers. And the whole point of my post was that there was absolutely no one like or even close to Katharine Hepburn in Hollywood with her background and with the kind of roles she had had previously in the thirties and forties. The fact that she continued with the same kind of roles and the same kind of success in the fifties and sixties even early seventies is not a good example of what other people could do or what would work for somebody else. Just to know about Katharine Hepburn in the Golden Age of Hollywood is to know that she got away with things that nobody else could get away with on- screen or off-screen. BTW--Katharine Hepburn never had to work for a living, if she didn't want to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swithin Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Just to know about Katharine Hepburn in the Golden Age of Hollywood is to know that she got away with things that nobody else could get away with on- screen or off-screen. Princess, your comment, above, reminds me of a story about Kate. She was very progressive in her politics -- a good old Yankee liberal. She supported Henry Wallace for President in 1948. There was controversy because Wallace was prevented from renting the Hollywood Bowl for a campaign rally. Edward G. Robinson was going to make a speech of protest against that, but Kate said that he, as a Jewish actor born in Russia could get into trouble, and that she, whose ancestors came over on the Mayflower, could do it. And she did it. There was some amusement (on her own part) when she realized she was wearing a pink dress! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess of Tap Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 I know you're not a fan of this particular series. But, if it spurs more interest in old Hollywood scandals and mysteries, that would increase the odds of such a movie being made. And maybe you'll like that one. I would be very interested in how such a movie would handle her demise. Gerald-- I grew up watching What's My Line on television every Sunday night. As a child, Dorothy Kilgallen became a kind of a role model for me. Everyone knew about her Showbiz column, but she was truly a legitimate journalist who in the last months of her life was seriously researching the assassination of President Kennedy. A movie about her life would be interesting, not just in terms of her as an individual, but also in terms of how a woman in 1950s and 60's maneuvered her life in that kind of a public professional position. You honestly had to have lived in the 1950's to know just how strait- jacketed women and minorities were in the American society at that time. Dorothy Kilgallen's life was truly extraordinary for her era. Last December legal analyst Mark Shaw released a book called: The Reporter Who Knew Too Much: The Mysterious Death of What's My Line TV Star and Media Icon Dorothy Kilgallen. Apparently Shaw has come up with new information regarding this 50 years plus mystery and it would make a fine TV movie - - I have yet to read the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Gerald-- I grew up watching What's My Line on television every Sunday night. As a child, Dorothy Kilgallen became a kind of a role model for me. Everyone knew about her Showbiz column, but she was truly a legitimate journalist who in the last months of her life was seriously researching the assassination of President Kennedy. A movie about her life would be interesting, not just in terms of her as an individual, but also in terms of how a woman in 1950s and 60's maneuvered her life in that kind of a public professional position. You honestly had to have lived in the 1950's to know just how strait- jacketed women and minorities were in the American society at that time. Dorothy Kilgallen's life was truly extraordinary for her era. Last December legal analyst Mark Shaw released a book called: The Reporter Who Knew Too Much: The Mysterious Death of What's My Line TV Star and Media Icon Dorothy Kilgallen. Apparently Shaw has come up with new information regarding this 50 years plus mystery and it would make a fine TV movie - - I have yet to read the book. Oh, PLEASE don't give Oliver Stone any ideas for some kind'a sequel to that cartoon of a movie of his about what happened on that fateful day in Dallas, Princess! PLEASE?!!! (...ya see, I STILL have nightmare about watching almost every featured actor in that thing chewing the scenery to the hilt...uh-huh, yep, EVEN by the usually somnolent-inducing Mr. Costner!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LornaHansonForbes Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Oh, PLEASE don't give Oliver Stone any ideas for some kind'a sequel to that cartoon of a movie of his about what happened on that fateful day in Dallas, Princess! PLEASE?!!! (...ya see, I STILL have nightmare about watching almost every featured actor in that thing chewing the scenery to the hilt...uh-huh, yep, EVEN by the usually somnolent-inducing Mr. Costner!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LornaHansonForbes Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Yes this is true.... And with films like THE LION IN WINTER in the late 60s, or ON GOLDEN POND into the 80s, it is obvious [KATHARINE HEPBURN] never had to "stoop" to the horror film route of so many of her peers. OMG, but she would have been THE BEST DAMN HORROR HAG there was if she had. ...Let's take a moment to imagine her in TROG! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LornaHansonForbes Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 BTW, Not watching tonite, so those of you who do, be sure to let me know what egregious liberties with the truth are taken. Looking forward to seeing whether Joan engages in some obscene group act with the lighting crew to get better angles or Bette ends up in bed with Francis, the Talking Mule tomorrow morning! (or maybe the USC starting line-up will show up, just like in HOLLYWOOD BABYLON!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoldenIsHere Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 When Game Show Network aired "What's My Line" years ago, it was always at 11pm or later. "Black and White Overnight" they called it. Then had to stop because they couldn't get sponsors. When Buzzr picked it up lately, they did the same thing. But, Buzzr finally did the smart thing and did market research to find out what their fans wanted to see. Come to find out, the old black and white game shows are what people were interested it in. And they didn't watch before because they were on too late at night. Now, they are prime time viewing. It seems that even in 2017, people are still interested in a bit of class in their entertainment. Back in the 1990s my sister and I loved watching those old game shows like WHAT's MY LINE? and PASSWORD on Game Show Network and we were just kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LornaHansonForbes Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Back in the 1990s my sister and I loved watching those old game shows like WHAT's MY LINE? and PASSWORD on Game Show Network and we were just kids. i am pretty sure every single extant episode of WHAT'S MY LINE? is on youtube, in case you're ever bored during the day, it's pretty fun to watch some of the BIG NAMES that did it....and the fun they had in doing it too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyCronin Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Joan takes great liberties with a PEPSI bottle placement.....Bette says no freakin way and shoves it off the set.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LornaHansonForbes Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 tell me also while you guys are watching tonight's episode whether or not you don't agree that part of the problem is that Sarandon looks too good to be quite right as Davis and Lange looks (and sounds) too old to be quite right as Crawford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoldenIsHere Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 i am pretty sure every single extant episode of WHAT'S MY LINE? is on youtube, in case you're ever bored during the day, it's pretty fun to watch some of the BIG NAMES that did it....and the fun they had in doing it too. I love watching those clips on YouTube. There's a hilarious clip from PASSWORD from the 1960s with Elizabeth Montgomery and Jim Backus as the celebrity guests with a password that I can't believe was approved during that time. You can hear the host chuckle and see Elizabeth Montgomery take a closer look to confirm she's seeing it correctly! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyCronin Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Can we just say it? Don't you think Bette aged badly? I see her at my age and I think Wow, I don't look that aged....I guess it's the smoking... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LornaHansonForbes Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Can we just say it? Don't you think Bette aged badly? I see her at my age and I think Wow, I don't look that aged....I guess it's the smoking... TOTALLY THE SMOKING! Even if she never inhaled, just physically having that smoke around you at what seemed to be ALL TIMES + the drinking + the stress of her life + the fact that she didn't really really care and just went along with the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LornaHansonForbes Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 I love watching those clips on YouTube. There's a hilarious clip from PASSWORD from the 1960s with Elizabeth Montgomery and Jim Backus as the celebrity guests with a password that I can't believe was approved during that time. You can hear the host chuckle and see Elizabeth Montgomery take a closer look to confirm she's seeing it correctly! 13:25, i believe... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swithin Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 13:25, i believe... Very amusing! Right up there with that famous line from "The Newlywed Game," when the question was something like, "Where was the weirdest place you had the urge to have sex?" And one woman answered, "Up the butt." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LornaHansonForbes Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 YES, that scene is LEGENDARY! (both husband and wife have POWER-MULLETS as I recall.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LornaHansonForbes Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 13:25 in that clip below may also contain Jim Backus's greatest performance, by the way.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Very amusing! Right up there with that famous line from "The Newlywed Game," when the question was something like, "Where was the weirdest place you had the urge to have sex?" And one woman answered, "Up the butt." LOL I'm not sure but this story, like the one about Johnny Carson once supposedly saying to Zsa Zsa on the old Tonight Show that he'd love to do what she asked if only she'd move that damn cat off her lap, might be another of those urban legends, Swithin. (...and btw...Bob Eubanks never used the phrase "have sex" on that old game show...he always used the words "make whoopie" instead) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LornaHansonForbes Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 LOL I'm not sure but this story, ...., might be another of those urban legends, Swithin. (...and btw...Bob Eubanks never used the phrase "have sex" on that old game show...he always used the words "make whoopie" instead) no it's not, i've totally seen it. it happened. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Now, one of the funniest exchanges I ever witnessed while watching Password back in the day was while watching the following exchange on it. The password was "fawn". The celeb(sure wish I could remember who it was) turned to his non-celebrity contestant partner--an attractive young lady whose location of birth and upbringing had already been established by her deep southern accent--and said "doe". (...and the young lady contestant thought for a second and then replied, "knob") 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 no it's not, i've totally seen it. it happened. You're right, Lorna. I just found the evidence for it here... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-qc-ntq5qw (...well, at least I was proved right about that whole "make whoopie" thing anyway, right?!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoldenIsHere Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 13:25 in that clip below may also contain Jim Backus's greatest performance, by the way.... After her partner gets the word, Elizabeth Montgomery says something (around 13.54), but the host starts talking so you can't hear what she's saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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