prichard Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 from what film is this still? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsRenata Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Why do you say it is "half fiction?" I read it. I felt so sad for her and the lonely way she died. What a tragic ending for a woman who was an excellent movie star and such a pretty lady in her youth. She is definitely one of my top favorites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molo14 Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 > {quote:title=prichard wrote:}{quote} > from what film is this still? Hi prichard, Welcome to the boards and the Gloria thread. the picture that Film Fatale posted is from....... .........and this is a bit of a spoiler....... ......so be prepared not to look....... ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Big Heat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molo14 Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 > {quote:title=MsMonet wrote:}{quote} > Why do you say it is "half fiction?" > > I read it. I felt so sad for her and the lonely way she died. What a tragic ending for a woman who was an excellent movie star and such a pretty lady in her youth. Hi MsMonet, Welcome to the Boards! I think what you are referring to is Peter Turner's book Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool. I have never read the book. I was quoting someone's opinion of it. Another poster asked about books on Gloria and I mentioned it as a possible choice. I quoted what film critic David Thomson had said about it. He starts by mentioning an interview a few years before her death. Here is the quote in full context, I have put the term in question in bold: "In an interview at the time, she kissed the writer on the lips, and said, Well, I couldn't go home and write an article about you. Or maybe I could..." If that isn't a loaded hesitation from one of her pictures, how do we place her wretched death, not long afterwards, or its *half-fictional*, half-biographical treatment in her young lover Peter Turner's Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool?" From The New Biographical Dictionary of Film by David Thomson, page 359, 2004 Edition. Alfred A. Knopf, New York 2004. I know that David Thomson is very opinionated and sometimes, I have discovered, he can be wrong or simply mistaken on certain things now and then.. He is very well respected in his field and I'm certain that when he is wrong on a point of fact it is purely unintentional. He may well be in this instance. I still like to quote him sometimes because I like the way he writes about film, even if I often strongly disagree with him. I did a quick google search and could find nothing to back up Thomson's claim. I can research it further later. Perhaps he was wrong on this and if so I apologize for furthering misinformation. I hope that clears things up for you as far as what you read here. > > She is definitely one of my top favorites. > If you have read this entire thread then you must be a huge fan. Those of us who keep this thread going can appreciate that. Gloria's personal life was often very messy and, as you said, very sad. Some of us have gone into that a little bit here. For the most part though, we try to stay on the positive side as much as possible here. Some of us who keep this thread going take some personal pride in it as a tribute to a beautiful and quite remarkable actress. I am so glad to have another Gloria fan on board here. I hope you will join in the discussions and start new ones. Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Prichard, I guess molo's already answered that question for me. Ms Monet, might nice to make your acquaintance, welcome to the boards, and hope you will like it here. (If you guys are interested, please check out my TCM fans social network at http://tcmfans.ning.com - there's already dozens of folks who are regular TCM viewers and the site is barely 20 days old) If you have read this entire thread then you must be a huge fan. Those of us who keep this thread going can appreciate that. Gloria's personal life was often very messy and, as you said, very sad. Some of us have gone into that a little bit here. For the most part though, we try to stay on the positive side as much as possible here. Some of us who keep this thread going take some personal pride in it as a tribute to a beautiful and quite remarkable actress. Beautifully said, molo, and I agree with you that we should all take personal pride in paying tribute to the remarkable Gloria Grahame, whom I have admired ever since the first time I watched *It's a Wonderful Life*. I feel fortunate to have gotten to watch more of her movies over the years, and I'm still looking for more GG films. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILoveRayMilland Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 So, a little update about the films, which sadly I have had to reorder ONCE AGAIN! This is a truly tragic tale: They finally came in again (it took awhile) and then pretty much all of my state was hit with a freak snowstorm. By the time the snow had melted enough to get to the library...the holds had been canceled. So, I have put them on hold...once again. But, hey third times the charm. I just wanted to make sure you guys didn't think I had ditched Gloria. -ILRM P.S. I don't think the Coop girls had anything to do with it this time, but one never knows... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molo14 Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Hi ILoveRayMilland, My goodness that is a tragic tale. Hopefully the third time *will* be the charm. When you watch them I hope you will post your thoughts here. The Coop girls are a crafty bunch but I think they are probably off the hook on this one. Just let me know if you see any mysterious women wearing dark glasses, long coats and floppy hats hanging suspiciously around your library! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 ILRM, So sorry to hear about your little tragic incident. Like you said, hopefully third time's the charm. We'll be looking forward to your comments on these film. B-) P.S. I don't think the Coop girls had anything to do with it this time, but one never knows... As if! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 > {quote:title=molo14 wrote:}{quote} > The Coop girls are a crafty bunch but I think they are probably off the hook on this one. Just let me know if you see any mysterious women wearing dark glasses, long coats and floppy hats hanging suspiciously around your library! You surely must be way off track on that one, molo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CineMaven Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Those could be the Valentino Ladies in Black... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 > {quote:title=CineMaven wrote:}{quote} > Those could be the Valentino Ladies in Black... That's a more logical explanation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CineMaven Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsRenata Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Thank you Molo for the explanation. Sometimes "critics" are NOT always right. That's why they are called "critics." hehehe But whether correct or otherwise I will still believe Gloria Grahame lived a tragic life and died an even more tragic death. It seems like she may have "felt" alone in her last years despite the author of the book and others who sought to assist her. Maybe that is just my opinion but it is based on my reading the book and what few other articles about her I've read. Likewise, I shall go on loving her in the films she left behind. For she was among the top great ones. The great ones who so often do not get the recognition they truly deserve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prichard Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 thanks, molo. big fan. and glad to be here... more later... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILoveRayMilland Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 > {quote:title=molo14 wrote:}{quote} > Hi ILoveRayMilland, > > My goodness that is a tragic tale. Hopefully the third time *will* be the charm. When you watch them I hope you will post your thoughts here. Isn't it! I definitely will post my comments, but I am quite certain I will only be "reposting" thoughts about GG. > The Coop girls are a crafty bunch but I think they are probably off the hook on this one. Just let me know if you see any mysterious women wearing dark glasses, long coats and floppy hats hanging suspiciously around your library! Omigosh, come to think of it, there were like four or five that matched that description. Oh, and they were all back in the biography section...fighting over a book or something...I think it had something to do with a Gary...not sure though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Don't forget this Saturday, Jan. 24 at 9:45am ET: *The Big Heat* (1953) A police detective whose wife was killed by the mob teams with a scarred gangster's moll to bring down a powerful gangster. Cast: Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, Jocelyn Brando, Alexander Scourby Dir: Fritz Lang BW-90 mins, TV-14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molo14 Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Here is a nice photo of Gloria after receiving her oscar . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Did anyone else watch *The Big Heat* this morning? B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Hello, folks. Well, I have been meaning to come over here and see what all the hubbub was about.... so here I am. Bronxie- I, too, have only seen a part of *In A Lonely Place* - I have never gotten to the end. I am frightened by Dix as well, but I can definitely see MissG's point of view - I became ever so slightly irritated with Laurel at the point where she begins to doubt Dix. I feel that she should never have become engaged so quickly..... things would have been very much easier if she had not. Many people who presumably have all their marbles say that love and fear are one and the same thing. I don't necessarily believe this, but fear can be a component of attraction. Maybe (and remember that I have not seen the whole movie, so forgive me if I butt in anyway), maybe that fear was always in the back of Laurel's mind from the beginning, and she liked it. But there is a deepening understanding of herself and her fear as she makes her mistake..... once she becomes engaged, and almost immediately starts doubting Dix, she DOES have something to fear from him. She is lying to him by not expressing her doubts directly. The longer she goes without expressing her soul to him, the more she hides, the more fear she has. I think Laurel is more afraid of revealing her faults than she is of Dix's temper. She is really running away from herself and the truth of her own nature. Isn't it interesting that Laurel only begins to doubt Dix AFTER their engagement? Maybe she is scared of commitment, and this is her way out. Maybe Laurel is not the nice girl who just wants a family and kids - maybe she is deep down not the marrying kind. Maybe it's actually a subversive statement to young women of the 50's that love and marriage are not the wonderful thing that had been previously built up by Hollywood and society. Or maybe IALP can be looked at as no more than a warning to young women not to be too quick to act on a sexual impulse produced by fear.... I don't know. Of course, I am kind of turning the plot upside down for my own psychological pleasure, but I wanted to throw in my one cent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 So did you get a chance to watch *The Big Heat* on Saturday morning? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 > {quote:title=Film_Fatale wrote:}{quote} > So did you get a chance to watch *The Big Heat* on Saturday morning? No, Saturday is our busy day - gymnastics, and playdates and all......I wish I had been paying attention, I would have taped it.... I don't know a lot about the 50's films, especially the noir genre, and so it's almost as if I can't see them on the schedule..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molo14 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 *Hello, folks.* *Well, I have been meaning to come over here and see what all the hubbub was about.... so here I am.* Hi Jackie, I'm glad you stopped by. *Bronxie- I, too, have only seen a part of In A Lonely Place - I have never gotten to the end. I am frightened by Dix as well, but I can definitely see MissG's point of view - I became ever so slightly irritated with Laurel at the point where she begins to doubt Dix. I feel that she should never have become engaged so quickly..... things would have been very much easier if she had not.* I enjoyed Dix as a character but I thought he might snap at any moment during parts of the film. I think that's why I kind of viewed the film more from Laurel's point of view to some extent. *Many people who presumably have all their marbles say that love and fear are one and the same thing. I don't necessarily believe this, but fear can be a component of attraction. Maybe (and remember that I have not seen the whole movie, so forgive me if I butt in anyway), maybe that fear was always in the back of Laurel's mind from the beginning, and she liked it.* Well Laurel is certainly getting a more critical going over in this second round of discussion. I find all the points that you and others are making about her to be very compelling. *But there is a deepening understanding of herself and her fear as she makes her mistake..... once she becomes engaged, and almost immediately starts doubting Dix, she DOES have something to fear from him. She is lying to him by not expressing her doubts directly. The longer she goes without expressing her soul to him, the more she hides, the more fear she has. I think Laurel is more afraid of revealing her faults than she is of Dix's temper.* The quick engagement, aside from the need for the story to progress, is one of the most puzzling aspects. More on that in a moment. I really like how you describe Laurel's increasing dissent into fear. So by doubting Dix, and not confronting him with her fears, she kind of starts the turn of events that lead to her constant anxiety about the whole relationship. The thing I seem to be learning from listening to the recent comments here is, that while Dix certainly has his demons, Laurel plays a much larger part in bringing them to the forefront than I had previously considered. I need to watch the film yet again, it's been a while now. I thought Laurel got in with Dix too fast and by the time she is seriously concerned she is too afraid to confront him. She is really only looking for a way out but, and this is the thing she seems most guilty of, she doesn't necessarily want out. She kind of strings Dix along while she questions others and herself about their relationship. She's indecisive. She doubts herself but is maybe playing it too cool. She doesn't want to give up that veneer of confidence she expressed so well in the beginning. Is that what you are saying? Interesting. *She is really running away from herself and the truth of her own nature. Isn't it interesting that Laurel only begins to doubt Dix AFTER their engagement? Maybe she is scared of commitment, and this is her way out. Maybe Laurel is not the nice girl who just wants a family and kids - maybe she is deep down not the marrying kind. Maybe it's actually a subversive statement to young women of the 50's that love and marriage are not the wonderful thing that had been previously built up by Hollywood and society. Or maybe IALP can be looked at as no more than a warning to young women not to be too quick to act on a sexual impulse produced by fear* I asked earlier in this thread about Laurel's initial motivations for getting involved with Dix in the first place. You bring up a lot of interesting ideas for what might be playing out in her mind. If she is scared of commitment maybe she thought she was safe with Dix at the start. Maybe she thought she wouldn't get involved so deeply, so quickly. Dix may have taken her by surprise in that respect. Laurel is becoming and even more interesting character to me now, with all these different questions about her. I will look at the film again with that in mind. *I don't know. Of course, I am kind of turning the plot upside down for my own psychological pleasure, but I wanted to throw in my one cent* I really liked what you had to say. This is a great film for discussion because it brings up so many psychological angles. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molo14 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Frank it seems like Gloria is getting more in the hot seat as you hinted at earlier. Maybe you should jump in soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankGrimes Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Hey, Grahame's Guy! -- Wow! I completely missed Jackie's post from earlier today. I only read her quick comments about The Big Heat. I did not realize she wrote so eloquently about In a Lonely Place. I'm throroughly impressed. And... she is right on it with me. I believe most people focus on "Dix" and his red-hot temper and believe this is his story. I believe the film starts off this way, but I'm of the belief that the story really is Laurel's... and she's guilty. Jackie spoke of the reasons why I feel she is guilty, too. You gotta watch that Jackie. She's a sharp one, she is. Her and Coop's Girl were also onto my High Noon feelings a while back, as well. Although, not completely. I mention that film here because the two films are VERY similar in theme. A theme most people DO NOT talk about with each film. It's a theme that I feel is overlooked because it's generally considered a female theme more so than a male one, and most critics are male. Yes, you are right, it really is time I compose my thoughts on In a Lonely Place. And I MUST go back and re-read what you, Laffite, and CineMaven (our lively initiator) wrote, because what y'all wrote was brilliant. It truly was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 > {quote:title=JackFavell wrote:}{quote} > > {quote:title=Film_Fatale wrote:}{quote} > > So did you get a chance to watch *The Big Heat* on Saturday morning? > > No, Saturday is our busy day - gymnastics, and playdates and all......I wish I had been paying attention, I would have taped it.... I don't know a lot about the 50's films, especially the noir genre, and so it's almost as if I can't see them on the schedule..... Well, the good thing is both *The Big Heat* and *In a Lonely Place* - are available on DVD so most folks can probably get those fairly easily any time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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