The Annual FrankGrimes Torture Thread

FrankGrimes · May 20, 2013

*I didn't know this was a Sam Fuller movie. So far I've seen Baron of Arizona, I Shot Jesse James, Pickup on South Street, The Crimson Kimono and House of Bamboo. I tried to watch The Big Red One but stopped after the first 5 minutes... I just couldn't take it, though I am usually not squeamish. I wasn't ready for it at all when I rented it, maybe now I could handle it better. I actually liked The Crimson Kimono, but I disliked House of Bamboo. Pickup is the best film I've seen so far, miles above the others that I've watched. It's great. Where would you rank Underworld USA amongst the other Fuller films?*

1. Pickup on South Street (# 5 of all-time)

2. The Naked Kiss (# 56)

3. Forty Guns (# 69)

4. Shock Corridor (# 300)

5. Underworld U.S.A. (# 347)

6. The Baron of Arizona (# 436)

7. House of Bamboo (# 464)

8. I Shot Jesse James

9. The Crimson Kimono

I pretty much like the top seven, quite a bit. The bottom two are all right.

Of those you haven't seen, I'd say *Underworld U.S.A.* would be the one you'd like most. *The Steel Helmet* is the next Fuller I'm going to watch.

*Like I said, you blew my mind with that last statement! Oh my gosh, it's really true! Everyone's against Harry, and everyone's against poor Sidney. Both sides come together to close in on our hero, a dragnet that's getting smaller and smaller.*

That's exactly it. And both Harry and Sidney are major threats to someone's business and those that feed off that business.

*Alexander Mackendrick is one of my very favorite directors of all time and this may be my favorite of his movies, with The Ladykillers. He made few movies and they are all pretty near great. I just love his precision.*

I have greatly enjoyed the three films of his that I've seen. I love his messages. I'm gonna watch *The Ladykillers*, next.

*Night and the City and MITWS have the same shaped world, concentric circles of society. The movies are similar in style too which is just plain weird - how can they be so alike? Both are rather stark, very black and white movies, in more ways than one. Both make you wonder at any given moment who is the good guy, and who is the bad? It's messed up.*

That's terrific! You feel good for the man who has finally "made it" (in their own mind), but just about everyone else in the world he inhabits sees his success as a major threat. There is a woman who is on the side of the men, though.

*Mackendrick's timing - he knows just what you will think at any point in his films - and he uses your reactions in the comedy. He draws it out to the nth degree, prolonging it, making the payoff even funnier. His clockwork stories with characters who think they can control every little thing, people especially, always start to spin out of control slowly then gather speed. The mistake is in thinking you can control anything at all. They are Rube Goldberg machines, all the invention of MacKendrick's mind, one marble setting off a hundred marbles which then end up knocking down anything in their path. He's really interested in the Cosmic Joke, the human factor which triggers the finger of fate - stepping in to ruin everything. Life. It's no accident that Sidney's chemical experiment gets bigger and more elaborate as the movie goes on (like Harry Fabian's schemes), just as the forces against him multiply. But then it all focuses on that one little test tube, cheerfully chugging away. That test tube is Sidney. Which is why I love the ending... "I see." And it all is going to start over again - his brain is chugging away. It's a parable of man in his greatness - the scientist, the artist, the high minded, but also his anarchic ruinous presence in society. Man at his worst. It's delicious.*

Now that was absolutely brilliant! You just captured Mackendrick with your astute words. The comparison to Rube Goldberg is tremendous. Mackendrick's films really are human experiments, and so is life. What one human can do to trigger events that affect others. And how can we really calculate those effects? And how many people could care less about those effects? It's all about what they are seeking. It kind of reminds me of my father and the environment. He sides with industry over the environment. To me, this is the classic case of human ignorance. Without an environent, is there an industry? But, no, industry is to be sided with. *The Man in the White Suit* reminded me a lot of this thinking.

*I was so shocked at this movie, in a good way, for a number of reasons. One was that Wayne and the little girl were so good together, and the movie wasn't really goopy and sentimental, though it had it;s moments. I was also surprised at the verbal slap down that Donna Reed's character got in that cap you posted and the injection of reality into the film for Wayne's character too. I am curious.... I haven't seen A Hole in the Head for a really long time, but I felt like the two could be companion pieces? If I'm way off please don't be afraid to tell me.*

That's a great comparison! They are very similar films. It's about growing up for the parent, with the child being the mature one.

I liked the scene at Singleton's (Donna Reed) office. Steve (John Wayne) believes he has all the answers. He's already sized up Singleton. He's blaming her for what is his wife's (Marie Windsor) doing. He feels she's against him and guys his type. The truth is, she sees her father in Steve and herself in Carol (Sherry Jackson). I love these kind of misunderstanings between men and women. It's usually found in comedies.

*Gosh, I think Audrey Totter goes from A to Z in this film, and I just love her character and the way she relates to Montgomery. That's what really drew me in this time. I want to watch it again now, I think it's a movie that gets better if you look at it more than once and as a love story.*

I agree. The film is really a slow-developing love story. What annoyed me about Audrey Totter in the film is what made her peformance so good. Since we are constantly looking at Audrey's face throughout the film, she is asked to act through facial expressions. She has to use exaggerated facial expressions to give them film some energy, some "movement." Without that kind of acting, the film would end up being even more still than it already is. So all of her glares, sneers, and eyebrow raises end up being needed. But that can be very off-putting, especially at the outset.

*I'm really happy you liked it, and that you liked Olivia in this one. I thought she might win you over with this performance.*

Olivia is very sweet in the film. She's mostly in the background, but when she appears, it's usually meaningful.

*But Cagney is just magnificent, playing those kind of deluded emotions, hanging on to the ideal of womanhood that was probably never real in the first place.*

He's really good in the film. His manic energy serves him well in comedy. He definitely captures the male ego and its desire to win, to be with the most beautiful woman. And then to throw in the combustible element of a competition against another male suitor, well...

*He's so confused, and his scene where he takes the fall for Hugo, telling Amy to wait while he goes down to the police station to 'help out' the cops, well it tears me up. So does the scene where he comes back from prison and finds Mary at the park bench. It's lovely.*

I loved all of the scenes around that bench. It really is quite lovely. The film captures the meaning behind places and music with our feelings and memories. We are sensual creatures that draw from our past. It's hard to run from our past, but even harder to escape our feelings.

*Wow, it has pitch perfect performances from those four leads, and Alan Hale, and for me, it's the start of Rita really being a great actress. I think she's just fantastic here, especially at the end when you see her and Jack Carson as the Bickersons.*

You are so right. This is a film where Rita Hayworth is special. Like I said, she plays Miss G perfectly. And that's saying a lot! I loved her later tone with Biff (James Cagney). But what I really loved was her haughtiness.

*Needless to say Jack Carson is also magnificent. I feel like I've known every one of these people in my own life. We've all got a Hugo Barnstead in our past. And a Strawberry Blonde.*

My "Strawberry Blonde" is in the current!

*It's so charming. I guess Clair really hated sound, he thought that it was a mistake, so he set out to do a picture that used sound in a different way.*

You've got it. The interview with Clair on the DVD -- which is a wonderful watch -- has him saying he was against sound at the outset. He thought it would ruin pictures since he thought of film as a visual medium and that dialogue just gets in the way.

*The scene you posted a picture of is my favorite, behind the bench at the opera, very fake, but very lovely, with the false lovers in front with an audience, and the real lovers hiding behind the scenery but with true feelings coming out. It's lovely, with petals falling all around them. Very sweet.*

It's also my favorite scene in the film. I loved the mixing of artifice with true feelings. What's for all to see has a great deal of artifice, but what's between two people in private is real. And what we see is a playful kind of love, which is my favorite.

*That and the football game with the jacket.*

Such a creative use of sound and visuals.

*Annabella was so good, I really noticed her this time. So pretty and your eye just goes to her. I really liked the cab driver too. He reminded me of Jackie Gleason. I like how the artist realizes through the lottery ticket problems just how good a woman Annabella is.*

Annabella is very pretty in the film. She's playing my favorite kind of woman, a woman in love who is upset with her man for being such a fool.

I also loved Granpere Tulipe (Paul Ollivier) in *Le Million*. He's quite a character. He's the kind of character that really adds to a "chase" film. You know, the film kind of reminds me of *Deadline at Dawn*, with "Grandpa Tulip" being a little like Gus (Paul Lukas).

*David Niven is a very natural, likable guy in almost any movie. He pretty much never fails.*

I completely agree. He's always so pleasing.

*Roger Livesey is the more interesting character, you are right, you want to know more about him.*

He's caring, noble, and sacrificial. I enjoyed his Heavenly battle against Raymond Massey.

*I love those otherworldly movies from this time period. I thought the court part was interesting, but I liked the romance and the main characters best. It's very thoughtful, but not as moving as I remembered it. I liked the idea of the book showing up afterwards.*

And I actually liked the battle in the higher court the most in the film. I also liked how Earth was shown in color and Heaven was in black and white. How appropriate. Marius Goring is very entertaining as "Conductor 71."

*You know me too well! I do love Luis Alberni! He's my favorite, though the whole thing with Arnold and his wife is pretty hilarious, and probably still holds true for some couples, if I'm remembering correctly. I think there's a bathtub scene that I especially liked. I always like Milland best in these light pictures, he seems suited to this and the Three Smart Girls type movies. Not that he doesn't do well in The Lost Weekend and Hitchcock, and with Wayne, just that I think of him this way, probably because that's how I first saw him. Jean Arthur is always great. She's always the draw for me.*

That's funny. My experience with Ray Milland has been the opposite, with him usually playing more of a serious character versus comedy.

Does anyone play comedic glue any better than Jean Arthur? She's always in the middle of shenanigans. She's bringing everything together.

*That's interesting. I can understand hating Vic, but Sidney? I don't remember him at the beginning. I thought he pretty much stayed out of the bullying. He's really good in this, it's a career maker for him, I think.*

Miller's (Sidney Poitier) antagonistic "chief" really bothered me.

*I just hate the part where they wreck the guy's record collection. Although something in me also wants that guy to man up and not be such an easy mark.*

Good ol' Richard Kiley. I like when he plays the meek. Josh (Richard Kiley) was just asking for trouble by having his prized possessions in his classroom, especially when the class he knows will destroy them is on the way in.

*I think Vic Morrow is sensational, and I like the little punk too, I can't remember the actor's name. He's the one who at the end refuses to help the bad kids in the knife fight.*

Belazi (Dan Terranova)? The guy who was in the gang with Artie (Vic Morrow)? That was a pretty good ending.

*I do like seeing Glenn win the kids over by teaching in a different way. Those scenes are quite good.*

He didn't want them to defeat him.

*I waited a long time to see this one, I'd been wanting to watch it ever since I heard of it. When I did, I was worried that it would not live up to my expectations, but it was so outside the normal 1915 type movies i'd seen, it really got to me. I thought it was very ahead of it's time, very Walsh, and even kind of modern looking. Some of the shots are really astounding, like the one with the bad guy coming toward the camera and having half his face in closeup, the other half off the screen. Rockcliffe Fellowes was fantastic, and I loved his little friend, the guy he protected, who is not credited. They both really moved me. I actually cried at the end. Did Fellowes remind you of Brando? He did me, maybe because I had just seen The Wild One. Extremely vulnerable.*

You are right on it. I thought the film was definitely ahead of its time and very "Walsh." I was very surprised by that.

I can't say that Fellowes reminded me of Brando, but I admit to not focusing on that. The film did move me, but not really to tears. As you know, I'm a sucker for sacrificial love. I do love the idea of a man who cannot be with a woman for whatever the reason.

*I think Dan Duryea could do anything. He's excellent, both at the beginning when he's kind of lackadaisical, and then as he becomes more and more desperate. You always see how he feels all the way through, there's never a false note. His weakness as an alcoholic is not such that you don't understand him or feel like he's really a bum. I thought he gave a tremendous performance.*

It's definitely his film. He's always on screen. And he's all that you say. He's terrific. You bring up a good point about how Duryea can bounce between lax and desperate so well. And I usually like him best as a weasel.

*I agree about Brando being most powerful and above everyone else, except for maybe Robert Keith. What I liked was the way the girl was a good girl, but she also saw what the gang members saw... the weakness of the adults, like her father, the hypocrisy. She felt trapped and yet she did her best to understand everyone. Robert Keith was really good, he and Jim Backus should have won awards... they were both great at showing the indecision and moral lethargy of the modern father... wanting to do the right thing, but not really knowing what it is. Caving in to the least little social pressure in an attempt to be liked. Not that different from Ryan in Ryan's Daughter. Yikes. Parents today should be looking at these movies, and seeing what NOT to do.*

Very good! You connected those dots terribly well. I found it rather fascinating to see the disconnect between the children and parents in America during this time being portrayed in film. Your point about the indecision and weakness of the men, be it fathers or authorities in town, is right on the mark. How to handle a cultural uprising? Who wants to fight their own children?

The parents of today think they are the best and have all the answers. "It's my child and I can choose to do whatever I wish for them! Don't you tell me what to do!" This kind of blind arrogance is dangerous. I'm fully convinced that we Americans value ourselves way too much. If we think or believe it, it must be right. That's all it takes, anymore.

*I can see what you didn't like about it. I didn't think much of the movie when I first saw it, but now I really like the way it all plays out, and the characters really are characters. The ending is great.*

To me, the film is the characters. I didn't go for the ending. There wasn't anything in the story I went for, though.

*I thought you'd like this one better because of the head games and delusion of Hayakawa.*

Colonel Suga (Sessue Hayakawa) does remind me of Major von Keller (Walter Slezak) in *This Land Is Mine*. Both are not in the film that much, but they are highly memorable with their congeniality for ulterior motives. But the rest of *Three Came Come* is all about Agnes' (Claudette Colbert) worrying. That's all it really felt like, to me. Every other character, this side of Suga, seemed faceless and voiceless. So you have to be caught up in Agnes' concerns to appreciate the film.

*I'll try to watch this one soon. I'm not the biggest Aherne fan in the world, but when he's good he's very good.*

I really didn't like the film, but I think you may like it some. Aherne is playing the kind of character you usually find charming.

*I'd like to see this one. I like all the players.*

It's a great cast but a flat script with sterile direction.

FrankGrimes · May 20, 2013

Howdy, Quiet Gal -- *Ha.. I know!! I must be slipping or something. Me?? Sweet?? I guess I am just out of practice. (where oh WHERE is a good ole fashioned OXBOW necktie party or McLINTOCK mudfight when you need one?? *

There'll be a comin' around the mountain when summer break comes!

*Well its been a while since I saw this one, so I don't know if I remember how "lovely" they were (ha) because I remember them fighting and carrying on a bit.. maybe I have that wrong. But they did love each other.. and what's more they needed each other too. (as much as they needed Donna REED, though they didn't know it yet) Its been a while since I saw I do recall that I enjoyed the play between the Duke and the kid. It does come off very sweetly.*

What's love without some disagreements? That's what usually tells you about the strength of your love for someone.

I don't know if they needed Singleton (Donna Reed), but she would surely help them both. They both would benefit from a good woman who cares about them. And she would appreciate their love in return, as well.

*OH I am sure that had something to do with it.. I do tend to take my movies personally that way sometimes.*

I think we're all that way, just in different ways. Most of my favorites feature a lot of "me" with them. Just ask Miss G about my loving *Cape Fear*.

*One and a half weeks more.. unless I get to work summerschool (I am still waiting to hear) Half of me is HOPING for the extra work (for monetary reasons) but the OTHER half is saying.. OH gee. would I EVER like to just stay home and goof off a bit. ha. Either way I do still think I'll have some more "down time" because even with summerschool the next few months will be less demanding and not so hectic a schedule.. (I hope)*

Summer school would be half days, correct?

*Meanwhile.. I am making a list and checking it twice.. ha. I have about a gazillion and a half movies to catch up on around here (oh me.. pretty soon you guys will be planning a necktie party for ME if I don't watch out! ha (perish the thought!) *

I think you are very safe from such a party. You have the most demanding schedule of all.

movieman1957 · May 20, 2013

Looking forward to your thoughts on "Steel Helmet." I saw it about two years ago. I hope we can share some thoughts.

butterscotchgreer · May 20, 2013

*Oh and as an aside here is one more chance to see the lovely "Lady T."*

I hadn't seen that yet! I'm blushing! Heehee! You're such a sweetie, Chris!

*I am very glad you enjoyed the movie. I thought Ray was actually pretty good here. I have seen many of his other films and never really thought of him in this kind of part. I think he has charm and seems comfortable.*

JACKFAVELL and Chris, I agree completely with you on Milland's part! I really loved him and I can never decide whether I like him more in dramas or cutesie comedies. He is so versatile and I believe every part! But it's really hard to compare his films to each other. He has a habit of taking such different roles. very few of them are similar, so it is easy for me to love him.

*He didn't do many other roles like this, did he?*

I first saw his charming and comedic role as a kid and then went to his dramas later on, so I always expected those later films that I saw, to be full of innocent romance. Little did I kow about Lost horizon and all the others before then. One of my favorites of his lesser dramatic roles is *The Doctor Takes a Wife*. His personality is too adorable in it and he has short thumbs! Just like someone else we know on here.....heehee!

butterscotchgreer · May 20, 2013

Good morning Frank-a-zoid!

*I'm gonna watch The Ladykillers, next.*

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Oh, you will love that one!! And there's not even any romance in it, so you will love it more. Heehee! It's so ridiculous that you have to justl augh at everything. Alec Guiness has such a raw talent for comedy. I have heard that the style is very much like The Man in the White Suit, although I haven't seen that one. You will have to let us know what you think of The Ladykillers. Katie Johnson gives a brilliant performance as the little old lady, who is quite underestimated by everyone and is the cutest thing. She totally steals the whole movie from all of them.

*Hi, Meanie Mint!* -- All three versions of One Sunday afternoon are very interesting. I think the one I like the most is Strawberry Blonde if you can even believe that.

Did you just call me a meanie?! Look who's talking?! You stole my strawberry shortcake!

*Shocking*

okay, i can't tell if you're being sarcastic in that statement or not*. *

**It must be Gary Cooper! He has to be the issue. * *

*When are you gonna learn that Gary is never the issue? Maybe it's a user error.... *

*So who plays Miss G in One Sunday Afternoon*

Stop being so mean to Miss G, will ya?!

*I can't see it being your kind of film. The romance is limited! What I liked was the message, about how money ends up being more important than progress. It's a great "manufacturing" film, one that speaks greater volumes today. The businessmen don't want to lose their gravy train and the union doesn't want to lose their jobs. So even if something may be beneficial to the world, it cannot be allowed to happen for it means the "death" of some individuals' livelihoods. The film makes a great companion piece with Alexander Mackendrick's other film, *The Maggie*. It's just it's not as sweet and charming.*

*How mean! Just because there isn't romance in a film doesn't mean I won't like it, silly goose! It actually sounds very interesting to me. I like Guinness's comedies! See, I liked *The Maggie*, so maybe I will love *White Suit*. I mean *Lost Horizon *isn't exactly sweet and charming, but I love that film!*

**It's pretty darn good! Very "Sam Fuller." It's *Pickup on South Street *'s younger brother.

*That's an interesting comparison. you know, that makes total sense! I haven't seen *Pickup on South Street *for a long while, but I remember it being really good. I remember the essential permise, anyway.*

**Look at you ranking your favorites! Way to go!

*Like I never do that... *

**How in the world does *Kiss and Make-Up *end up at the top?! What do you like about it? Or is it simply because it has "kiss" in the title?

*Because it's one that grandmama really likes, so I think of her smiling in her cute and fuzzy robe next to all of her classic films on the shelf next to the couch and me on my tummy on the floor watching it with her, when i see it. There is a list of films that i made a while ago that have all the films that remind me of grandmama's house and being with her. It still grows, because we will discover new ones all the time.*

*And it's just a cute film, all around! It's Cary Grant! What's not to like! Granted, it has it's cheesy parts, I will say that.*

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*Easy Living is pretty good! I love Jean Arthur and I'm a big fan of Edward Arnold, who is excellent in the film. Only Ray Milland proves to be a false note. I thought of Jackie during the film because of Luis Alberni. It's the kind of character and performance she usually loves. Preston Sturges is also a favorite of mine.*

"Only Ray Milland proves to be a false note."

I have heard you say that another time, but I forget what movie we were talking about. Is this seriously the first of his light-hearted fluffy films that you have seen?

I also love Preston Sturges films. Why do I find it so surprising that you like him so much? He is a mater of romantic comedies! Don't tell me you weren't expecting that. Jean Arthur is one of Angie's favorites and she has given me many of her films that I didn't know about. This was one of them. I first saw it a couple years ago and thought it was very entertaining! But I love Ray Milland in it!

*Yes! What guy doesn't want to sit next to a scared girl? How cute.*

Such like a male answer! how cute... you're terrible! Like girls don't know every guy thinks that way. Heehee!

By the way, I FINALLY saw *The Return of Frank James* from start to finish last night on TCM. I wanted to record it, but I completely forgot uintil the credits were already rolling. But I did get to see everything, and I was soooo excited last night! I really liked Tierney's character! Her acting and presence are very strong even though it's the beginning of her career and I thought Fonda was wonderful! Although there were times where I thought he was a bit cold. And it wasn't just his character and the whole out for revenge thing. I did read somewhere that he didn't like shooting this film so much, but I don't remember why. Or maybe it's just me. I did think he was really convincing, but it's just that there was a sort of stiffnes to him in parts.

Edited by: butterscotchgreer on May 20, 2013 12:49 PM

FrankGrimes · May 22, 2013

*Looking forward to your thoughts on "Steel Helmet." I saw it about two years ago. I hope we can share some thoughts.*

Good! We'll definitely discuss the film, Movieman.

JamesJazGuitar · May 22, 2013

FYI: In the Jesse James thread (related to the Ty Power version), there is a lot of discussion about Gene in the Return of Frank James movie, but the vast majority of it is negative.

I haven't see Return, but Gene wasn't that good of an actress in her early years (which was the case for many young actresses), but I'll have to see this film when TCM shows it again.

FrankGrimes · May 22, 2013

Howdy, Sweet T! -- {font:Arial}{color:black}*Oh, you will love that one!! And there's not even any romance in it, so you will love it more. Heehee!*

But I like my share of romance, too!

*It's so ridiculous that you have to justl augh at everything. Alec Guiness has such a raw talent for comedy. I have heard that the style is very much like The Man in the White Suit, although I haven't seen that one. You will have to let us know what you think of The Ladykillers. Katie Johnson gives a brilliant performance as the little old lady, who is quite underestimated by everyone and is the cutest thing. She totally steals the whole movie from all of them.*

I'll definitely be on the lookout for your "little old lady."

*Did you just call me a meanie?! Look who's talking?! You stole my strawberry shortcake!*

That's because you don't share!

*When are you gonna learn that Gary is never the issue? Maybe it's a user error.... *

Gary is always the issue!

*Stop being so mean to Miss G, will ya?!*

I would never be mean to her!

*How mean! Just because there isn't romance in a film doesn't mean I won't like it, silly goose! It actually sounds very interesting to me. I like Guinness's comedies! See, I liked The Maggie, so maybe I will love White Suit. I mean Lost Horizon isn't exactly sweet and charming, but I love that film!*

*The Maggie* is a much more charming film than *The Man in the White Suit*. The latter is more of a dark comedy.

*Because it's one that grandmama really likes, so I think of her smiling in her cute and fuzzy robe next to all of her classic films on the shelf next to the couch and me on my tummy on the floor watching it with her, when i see it. There is a list of films that i made a while ago that have all the films that remind me of grandmama's house and being with her. It still grows, because we will discover new ones all the time.*

That's awesome! What a cute picture. I'm surprised that would be a favorite of hers.

{font}*I have heard you say that another time, but I forget what movie we were talking about. Is this seriously the first of his light-hearted fluffy films that you have seen?*

I believe so, yes. I have seen *The Major and the Minor*, but I don't remember Ray being silly in that one.

*I also love Preston Sturges films. Why do I find it so surprising that you like him so much? He is a mater of romantic comedies! Don't tell me you weren't expecting that.*

*Unfaithfully Yours* is a great romantic comedy! I like the screwiness of Preston's worlds. And you're right, his films are usually romantic, but in a zany way.

*Jean Arthur is one of Angie's favorites and she has given me many of her films that I didn't know about. This was one of them. I first saw it a couple years ago and thought it was very entertaining! But I love Ray Milland in it!*

Jean is a big favorite of mine, too.

*Such like a male answer! how cute... you're terrible! Like girls don't know every guy thinks that way. Heehee!*

We want you jumping into our arms!

*By the way, I FINALLY saw The Return of Frank James from start to finish last night on TCM. I wanted to record it, but I completely forgot uintil the credits were already rolling. But I did get to see everything, and I was soooo excited last night! I really liked Tierney's character! Her acting and presence are very strong even though it's the beginning of her career and I thought Fonda was wonderful! Although there were times where I thought he was a bit cold. And it wasn't just his character and the whole out for revenge thing. I did read somewhere that he didn't like shooting this film so much, but I don't remember why. Or maybe it's just me. I did think he was really convincing, but it's just that there was a sort of stiffnes to him in parts.*

It's a rather odd film. Henry Fonda is playing it serious and Gene Tierney is cutesy. The courtroom scene is mostly played for laughs and then a serious moment happens afterwards. It's a weird mix.

butterscotchgreer · May 22, 2013

FYI: In the Jesse James thread (related to the Ty Power version), there is a lot of discussion about Gene in the Return of Frank James movie, but the vast majority of it is negative.

I haven't see Return, but Gene wasn't that good of an actress in her early years (which was the case for many young actresses), but I'll have to see this film when TCM shows it again.

James,

How ya doing?

Thanks for letting me know! How kind! I will check it out... I did notice her inexperience in a lot of parts of the film, but when you do see it, you get distracted by how pretty she is most of the time. I thought she had some really good scenes with Fonda, though.

butterscotchgreer · May 22, 2013

{font:Arial}{color:black}But I like my share of romance, too!

Since when?!

**I'll definitely be on the lookout for your "little old lady."

Even though her character is suppose to be quite annoying, you can't help but smile at how adorable she is.

*Did you just call me a meanie?! Look who's talking?! You stole my strawberry shortcake!*

That's because you don't share!

I always share!...with the girls.

*When are you gonna learn that Gary is never the issue? Maybe it's a user error....

*

Gary is always the issue!

You take that back! What did Gary ever do to you?

**I would never be mean to her!

pffftt!

*The Maggie* is a much more charming film than *The Man in the White Suit*. The latter is more of a dark comedy.

But I don't mind dark comedies so much. As long as they make me laugh, we're in business. heehee! you know me; I laugh at everything!

**That's awesome! What a cute picture. I'm surprised that would be a favorite of hers.

it's not exactly a favorite of hers. Not that I know of. I just know she really likes it. for her, there is a big difference. Some of her all time favorites include: King Solomon's Mines(1950), Scaramouche, The Prisoner of Zenda (1952), Margie, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, The Stranger, McLintock!, Out of the Past, South Pacific and I know there are others that I just can't remember at the moment. I know I have mentioned some on the thread and other threads and I'll probably think of the rest of them as soon as i post this. heehee! Her favorite actors, growing up, were June Allyson and Rock Hudson, so you could add their movies to the list too.

*Unfaithfully Yours* is a great romantic comedy!

I like the screwiness of Preston's worlds. And you're right, his films are usually romantic, but in a zany way.

You just like it because of Linda, don't you?!

Sturges is definitely screwy, but i love that about his films too! They are too cute for words! The Beautiful blonde from Bashful Bend has screwy written all over it and it just blows your mind what they had Betty Grable waving a gun around in it. That's probably my top favorite of his works.

Jean is a big favorite of mine, too.

I can see why. she is so easy to love.

**We want you jumping into our arms!

That might look a little conspicuous in a movie theater, don't ya think? heehee!

**It's a rather odd film. Henry Fonda is playing it serious and Gene Tierney is cutesy. The courtroom scene is mostly played for laughs and then a serious moment happens afterwards. It's a weird mix.

It is an odd movie! I love how she tried protecting him from letting loose, but it didn't work. Well it kind of ended up working in the end.

{font}{font:Verdana}
I believe so, yes. I have seen *The Major and the Minor*, but I don't remember Ray being silly in that one.

Well, I wouldn't say he was silly in it, but he knows how to be funny when he needs to be. He is one of those people who tries to be serious the whole time, but his seriousness is what is so funny. {font}

MissGoddess · May 23, 2013

it feels like forever since i've posted anything here!

> *yes, though there is an intellectual edge to the Boetticher movies.*

>

> You make a good point about the intelligence of Boetticher's flicks.

>

the smart one isn't necessarily the good guy, either.

butterscotchgreer · May 23, 2013

it feels like forever since i've posted anything here!

Yay! Dahlink, you're back! I hope you are having a good day! And I hope you're happy, because you left me to fend for myself against the grimey one! Heehee!

MissGoddess · May 23, 2013

> {quote:title=butterscotchgreer wrote:}{quote}*it feels like forever since i've posted anything here!*

>

> Yay! Dahlink, you're back! I hope you are having a good day! And I hope you're happy, because you left me to fend for myself against the grimey one! Heehee!

>

not altogether! i probably won't be posting much for a while at least, life is very hectic right now. but i know you can handle anything.

just play this with Mr Grimes till i get back to you.

movieman1957 · May 24, 2013

If only he will stand still.

butterscotchgreer · May 25, 2013

not altogether! i probably won't be posting much for a while at least, life is very hectic right now. but i know you can handle anything.

Well, we will have a big hug for you when you get back, dahlink!

just play this with Mr Grimes till i get back to you.

ooh, that sounds appealing, but Chris is right; he runs too fast! I'll just have to get my feather boa out.

FrankGrimes · May 29, 2013

*just play this with Mr Grimes till i get back to you. *

Look at how happy I am in that picture! Actually, it looks like I've got something planned.

FrankGrimes · May 31, 2013

*it feels like forever since i've posted anything here!*

Because it has been!

I've got two films to watch to round out my next group. Any suggestions from you? Anyone?

MissGoddess · May 31, 2013

i can't think of anything off the top of my head.

FrankGrimes · May 31, 2013

*i can't think of anything off the top of my head.*

You get a pass... for once. You've already suggested some to me.

movieman1957 · May 31, 2013

Wendy recently reviewed "The Big Combo" and "I Wake Up Screaming." She loved them both.

FrankGrimes · May 31, 2013

*Wendy recently reviewed "The Big Combo" and "I Wake Up Screaming." She loved them both.*

Oh, that's terrific! I like both of those films, as well. They are rather different, too.

Any other suggestions? Westerns? Comedies?

movieman1957 · May 31, 2013

Have you ever seen "Christmas In July" with Dick Powell? It's a Preston Sturges film.

I'm no help as I haven't seen anything new or particularly good in a while. And, to be honest, I'm using your list, among others, to feed my Netflix queue.

FrankGrimes · May 31, 2013

*Have you ever seen "Christmas In July" with Dick Powell? It's a Preston Sturges film.*

Oh, yes. That's my second favorite Sturges film, trailing only *Unfaithfully Yours*. I love the film.

The Sturges films I have not seen:

Hail the Conquering Hero

The Great Moment

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend

Vendetta

The French, They Are a Funny Race

I have the first three on DVD. Do you like any of those?

*I'm no help as I haven't seen anything new or particularly good in a while. And, to be honest, I'm using your list, among others, to feed my Netflix queue.*

That's great!

I usually try to watch a couple films that others like. I have watched two war films, two Wayne films, and two westerns in the next group.

movieman1957 · May 31, 2013

"The Great Moment" is kind of an odd film. It wasn't at all what I expected.That didn't make it bad. There are some fun parts but I was looking for more comedy than drama. Okay picture.

I saw "Hail The Conquering Hero" years ago and liked it but it has been a long time. I've not watched "Diddlebock" though I love Lloyd but I've read too many things about how bad it is considered. Well, bad as compared to both Sturges's and Lloyd's previous works. I haven't seen any of the rest.

Recenlty I've seen "Five Against The House." Didn't much care for it. I also saw "Thunder Road." Didn't like it at all. "The Pajama Game" had some cringe-worthy moments for me.

I saw Randolph Scott in "Fightin Man of The Plains." The title is a little misleading and it is only fair but it does give a bit of a surprise character for Victor Jory. Another western called "Passage West" was only okay as well. Good John Payne part but some stretching on believing the story points was a problem in some of it.

I haven't seen a really good new movie in a while.

MissGoddess · May 31, 2013

i saw a good one recently: *bridge to the sun* (1961). it seems to have been a French (or maybe Canadian) co-production about an interracial marriage (Japanese-American) during World War II. Based on a true story, Carroll Baker and James Shigeta both give terrific performances and the movie is sensitively directed. It "feels" French, with the rather harsh black-and-white cinematography and lack of sentimentality. I'm surprised it is not better known. It's on Warner Archives.

The Annual FrankGrimes Torture Thread

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