JackFavell Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Bogart seems to me to be one of the few stars who never seemed to quibble over what "type" he was playing. I know he was a bit of a complainer (like on location for "The African Queen"), but was he pretty easygoing about the roles he was offered? Who initiated the film? Did Ray ask for Bogie? Did they know one another before? I really have no knowledge here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Well, all I know is it was produced by Bogart's production company - Santana. So he must have had a lot of say over who worked in the movie. In fact, it seems that at one point Laurel Bacall was considered for the part of Miss Gray. :0 (Obviously it's impossible to think of this picture without GG in it!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Lauren Bacall could have worked - but boy am I glad they gave it to Ms. Grahame...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 > {quote:title=JackFavell wrote:}{quote} > Lauren Bacall could have worked - but boy am I glad they gave it to Ms. Grahame...... I am too (Hanson also mentioned Ginger Rogers as another actress that was considered). The other interesting thing Hanson had to say, which makes perfect sense in hindsight but I just wish I'd thought of it first, is how the Dix character has a lot in common with the main characters of other Nicholas Ray films: he's alienated from society and hurting because of it, but his biggest problem are his own internal demons. The ending is very sad because you realize that without the mistrust and suspicion (due to the murder investigation) Dix and Laurel might have been a pretty good couple, after all. Well, maybe it would have been even better if she'd gotten him on Zoloft or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankGrimes Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 So you just proved that Amy is actually yucky, after all! She's not yucky! She just needs to have her eyes opened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 GG fans - don't forget *The Bad and the Beautiful* is coming up on Friday, Jan. 29th at 5:45am ET: *The Bad and the Beautiful* (1952) An unscrupulous movie producer uses everyone around him in his climb to the top. Cast: Elaine Stewart, Sammy White, Leo G. Carroll, Ivan Triesault Dir: Vincente Minnelli BW-118 mins, TV-PG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 > {quote:title=FrankGrimes wrote:}{quote} > So you just proved that Amy is actually yucky, after all! > > She's not yucky! She just needs to have her eyes opened. Yes. She does have remarkably slitty eyes..... disturbing. The sign of a maniac...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Screencaps from *In a Lonely Place* This is the first time Miss Gray is seen in the movie. Dix doesn't seem to remember her. Or is he pretending not to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karloffer Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 When I read the novel "In A Lonely Place" (twice) I visualized Graham as Laurel...an excellent read although it differs significantly from the film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molo14 Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Hi Karloffer and welcome to the boards! I never read the book but I am aware of some of the differences. We have been discussing this film for quite sometime now. Feel free to jump in if you care to. Molo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 > {quote:title=Karloffer wrote:}{quote} > When I read the novel "In A Lonely Place" (twice) I visualized Graham as Laurel...an excellent read although it differs significantly from the film. Hi Karloffer. I've not read the book, but like molo, I am vaguely aware of the differences, mostly because it is mentioned in the DVD's bonus materials. But I still think I'd like to read the book, someday. Welcome to the boards, hope you like it here! FF *http://tcmfans.ning.com* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mildredpiercefan Posted February 6, 2009 Author Share Posted February 6, 2009 Hi. I'm glad to see this forum is still going. Karloffer, I was wondering if you had a preference over the novel or the movie "In a Lonely Place?" This is one of my favorite performances of Gloria Grahame. I really thought she should have been nominated for best supporting actress and should have won!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molo14 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Interesting that the last person to post on this thread, way back on Feb. 6th, was the person who started the thread to begin with. Hi mildredpiercefan!! I'll be back, with a little something I've been preparing, later on this evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CineMaven Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 "I am a huge fan of Gloria Grahame's. I'm not sure if there's another forum for her or not, nut anyhow, I just decided to start one. I was always a huge fan of hers because she could act, charm, have personality, and look gorgeous. There was something quirky about her that made her stand out. I'm not sure if it was her unconventional voice, her dry humor, or what..." - mildredpiercefan posted: Mar 8, 2008 1:07 PM Well, right you are Molo. And almost a year to the day. I look forward to reading your "a little something..." on Double G. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArsGratiaArtis Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I didn't really begin to realize how incredibly gifted and multifaceted Gloria Graham was until many years after having watched "It's a Wonderful Life", but at least it was thanks to that movie that she first made an impression on me. I'm still discovering many of her wonderful performances and look forward to all the ones I haven't seen yet. Art for art's sake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molo14 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 By request, I took some screencaps from one of Gloria's more obscure films. *Merton of the Movies* I wrote something about the film way back in this thread so I'll borrow a little from that post to talk about it here. *Gloria and Merton of the Movies 1947* The film is, first of all, a Red Skelton vehicle and it's notable for a number of things. One is that Red is fairly restrained in this picture, so if you are not particularly fond of his brand of comedy you may still find him fairly good here. I've actually grown to appreciate his films, mainly because of the people he surrounds himself with. People like Rags Ragland and Virginia O'Brien. That brings me to point two. While Rags had unfortunately passed on before this film was made, we do get to see Virginia O'Brien. This is the film that really introduced me to O'Brien's talent. She brightened a lot of films during the forties with her comedic ability and especially her trademark deadpan singing style. In this film, she actually plays the female lead opposite Skelton, a first for her, and sadly, it would be the last time as well. For some reason MGM did not renew her contract and *Merton of the Movies* is pretty much her movie swansong. However she doesn't sing in the film. Another first for her. She plays it fairly straight and does a very effective job. This isn't the Virginia O'Brien thread though. (maybe I'll start one) This is the Gloria Grahame thread. Which brings me to point three. Gloria Grahame. She does here what she always did. She gives a standout performance in a supporting role. This time however, we get to see her doing something a little different. Just a few months before this film was released Gloria had her Oscar nominated, breakout role as Ginny in *Crossfire* That would lead to her becoming one of film noir's legendary femme fatales. In *Merton of the Movies* she gets a rare chance to do light comedy, and she is really quite good. I have always thought her comedic abilities were left largely untapped so it's nice to see her in a role like this on occasion. Now about the movie. I wrote in this thread on April 9th 2008: If you go into this film without major expectations you could be pleasantly surprised. The movie revolves around Red Skelton's Merton Gill who plays a naive midwestern theater usher. By quirky circumstances he is sent to Hollywood to meet his idol, silent screen star Lawrence Rupert, played by Leon Ames. Merton desperately wants to break into movies, and when nothing comes of the meeting with Rupert, he decides to stay in Hollywood and haunt the casting offices. It's here that he meets Phyllis Montague, played by Virginia O'Brien, a stunt woman, somewhat further along than Merton in her pursuit of a film career. Gloria plays screen vamp Beulah Baxter another of Merton's idols. I could not get any close captioning but the screencaps pretty much speak for themselves. They are not the best quality since this film has never gotten a DVD release. I used my TCM recording. The film takes place during 1915 and offers an interesting glimpse into movie making at that time. Now to Gloria. The film opens with a narrator explaining to viewers how it was in Hollywood in this far gone era. Gloria gets a great introduction in which she is shown up on the silent screen looking beautiful and sexy: http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv36/Molo14/Merton%20of%20the%20Movies%20-%20Gloria%20Grahame/mergg1.jpg?t=1236828908> This is Beulah Baxter. She doesn't talk either....*SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO!* Merton is excited to watch Beulah Baxter at work on the set. Her director is played by Allan Mowbray. Beulah is hoisted on to a platform high up on the mast of the ship. Once in place, the Director yells Action and Beulah is surrounded by pirates. (probably pals of Laffite ) They attempt to accost her. Then the Director yells cut ! It's then revealed that Beulah doesn't do her own stunts. Since the scene calls for her to jump off the platform into the water, her stunt double, Phyllis Montague (O'Brien) arrives and takes over. We next see Gloria when Merton get's his first big part in a movie. He thinks he's doing a serious role, but he is so funny trying to be serious that everyone else has decided the picture is going to be a spoof, but they don't want him to know. His first scene is with screen goddess Beulah Baxter. It's decided by the director and the studio brass that they need a way to keep Merton distracted so he won't find out what's going on until after they premiere the picture. They decide to get Beulah to do the distracting, much to the dismay of Phyllis Montague who is now Merton's gal pal. Beulah agrees and invites Merton over to her place. When he arrives Beulah is ready and waiting. She offers him a drink but Merton is a teetotaler So she tries other tactics. Merton decides he needs a drink after all. Nothing strong though. She first offers liquor but settles on champagne. It's like fruit juice she tells him. Beulah tells Merton she's going to slip into something more comfortable but before she can, Phyllis shows up to save poor Merton. Poor Merton??? That concludes our sordid saga of Merton and Beulah. From my original post again: Gloria only gets a few key scenes in this and mainly near the end. Her "off screen" persona was very amusing. She is beautiful in this, not really deceitful or mean-spirited just a tad ditzy and bemused. Kind of like if Violet Bick had left Bedford Falls, gone to Hollywood and maybe gotten a bit silly. She once again shows that flare for comedy! This in the same year she did *Crossfire* and another noir turn in *Song of the Thin Man*. I like this Gloria and wish her comedic flare could have been exploited more often. Not that I would ever for one minute give up the Gloria of *In A Lonely Place*, *Macao* or *The Big Heat* This is by no means a major Grahame film. It is a pleasant enough diversion and truly worth a look for her fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CineMaven Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Nicely done Molo. Nicely done! As I scroll down and read your words (I saw the movie), it kind of boggles my mind (and eyes) to see Red Skelton and Gloria Grahame in the same film...the same frame...sharing the same air. What's wrong with this picture? Thanx again for the Double G. tribute. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethan_edwards Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I hadn't heard of this movie, has it ever been shown on TCM? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molo14 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 *As I scroll down and read your words (I saw the movie), it kind of boggles my mind (and eyes) to see Red Skelton and Gloria Grahame in the same film...the same frame...sharing the same air.* *What's wrong with this picture?* Thanks CineMaven, It is strange. I guess we can chalk it up to the wonders of the old studio system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molo14 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 TCM plays it but not very often. It is not currently scheduled. You can always try requesting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rohanaka Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Wow Molo... this film looks like a lot of fun (I have always enjoyed Red Skelton) ... and G G looks... stunning! Nice screencaps, sir. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Well done, Molo Macao! You know, Gloria puts me in mind of another blonde in this movie. She looks decidedly "Marilynesque" in certain angles. I like Gloria's funny characters. To me, she's hilarious in The Bad and the Beautiful and very playful in It's a Wonderful Life, so I agree with you that it would have been a treat to see her do more comedy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethan_edwards Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Thank you, molo. I will try requesting it. In the meantime, I can enjoy the screencaps you posted, very nicely done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CelluloidKid Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 *On Sat, Mar 14, 7:30 AM (AZ) Time (Check Local Times!) _Crossfire_ (1947)!* *_Crossfire_ (1947) received five Academy Award nominations, including Ryan for Best Supporting Actor and Gloria Grahame for Best Supporting Actress.* *_Crossfire_ (1947) is a film noir drama film which deals with the theme of anti-Semitism, as did that year's Academy Award for Best Picture winner, Gentleman's Agreement.* *_Difference from the novel_* In the novel, the victim was homosexual. As told in the film The Celluloid Closet and in the documentary included on the DVD edition of the Crossfire film, the Hollywood Hays Code prohibited any mention of homosexuality because it was seen as a sexual perversion. Hence, the book's theme of homophobia was changed to one about racism and antisemitism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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