The Annual FrankGrimes Torture Thread

[JackFavell]

> {quote:title=FrankGrimes wrote:}{quote}Hola, Little Red Buick -- *I suspect I liked Upstream the best of all of us, except for maybe Miss G. I really enjoyed the little comedy, I thought it was high spirited and funny, but then I've known guys like that from back in my theatre days. There's always one, no matter what production you are doing.*

>

> I bet you're right about you liking it the most. It's definitely more of a "Jackie" flick because of its setting, it's a comedy, and the supporting cast is the heart of the picture. And if there is anything that makes the film very "Fordian," it's the communal/family feeling.

 

Yes, the scene at the dining table at the beginning was about the only thing I saw that had Ford's mark on it.

 

 

> *The Whole Town's Talking* is a Ford film I really like. It's a sweet, lovely little picture... just as *Upstream* is.

 

I think The Whole Town's Talking was better, it had a little meat on it's bones. Upstream looks almost like a programmer... I bet Ford thought of it as just a job of work. But it's wickedly funny to me coming from that milieu.

 

 

> I think the film does capture the unique and odd qualities of the performance world and how many of those people struggle to survive.

 

I loved how they all thought the impresario was there for them. And the only one who was clueless was Brasing-HAM, the least talented of the bunch. I also liked the Callahan and Callahan who were so obviously from different ethnicities. It reminded me of Mr. Rafferty in *The Miracle of Morgan's Creek*, who is an old Jewish man.

 

> *I just loved the older actor, his coach, and felt so sorry for him when the scales dropped from his eyes...expecting some credit for coaching him but not getting any.*

>

> That was my favorite aspect of the film. Those scenes spoke volumes.

 

He really was the heart of the film. What a good actor Emile Chautard was! Apparently he was a stage actor in France, became a film director, then came here and directed many films, giving it up in 1924 for acting exclusively. He's splendid. I wouldn't have liked the film nearly so much without him.

 

> Hiya, Little Red Buick -- So there you are!

 

I'm back! Sorry.

 

I think Ro would really get a kick out of The Ladykillers - and the kidling too.

 

>It's actually also a hilarious commentary on how we view old age.

 

>This really hit home for me. I could see both of my grandma's in this film. They're wanting to be helpful but they end up getting in the way of things you're attempting to accomplish. The naivete of thinking people still behave as they did when they were in their teens and twenties. How they see life revolving around them and their minor needs.

 

It's so true! But I also loved how absolutely tough the old lady turned out to be - that's why I love the first scene so much, when she goes to her home and whangs on the pipes to get the water for tea. We have all we need to know right there! She's so strong - in her body and her convictions. She won't be gotten rid of, or swayed. My mother in law is like this - she's always telling us how she is just a weak and foolish woman, but get her baking in her kitchen and you see how strong she really is. She has this lemon grater that is about 50 years old, there isn't a sharp edge on it, and she will literally shove a lemon through that thing harder than I can! The force of her will can move mountains.

 

>I really love Peyton Place. It's my guilty pleasure, so I'm surprised at how much you liked it.

 

>Oh, really?! I thought you didn't like it! What a nice surprise.

 

>I love Diane Varsi and Hope Lange.

 

>I thought they were both lovely.

 

Good actresses both. I think Varsi quit Hollywood to become a nun. She was a very spiritual person. It's too bad for us, she was a marvelous newcomer.

 

 

 

 

>I wasn't sure what the heck happened in the film. The twist is that confusing. I found it all to be so fascinating. It's a little similar to The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry, in that way. And you're correct, the look is quite good.

 

I need to watch again, I can barely remember it, but oh, it's scrumptious looking! All those deep black and white contrasty, foreboding scenes!

 

 

>You pretty much hit the nail on the head with Tycoon. There isn't much meat on the bone but the romance, action, and drama all add up to some good fun. I never saw Laraine more beautiful. I didn't even recognize her. And the film is in Technicolor. I'll post a cap or two from it when I write my capsules. I'll try to work on that tonight.

 

I love Laraine, she's just got something I love about her. I can't put my finger on it, but I'd like to have her class and warmth.

 

>Really?! I wasn't sure if you liked the 60s sex comedies or not.

 

I don't really as a genre. I like some of them. But I'm far more picky in that era than in the forties or thirties. A 60's sex comedy has to bring more for me - a star that I like (I like both Kim and Jim), or some wit and sparkle (like the Doris Day Rock Hudson films), or maybe a large supporting cast (Boy's Night Out has that format I like, lots of individual stories). It's not my favorite genre. I've tried watching Kiss Me Stupid a couple of times, and even Ray Walston can't get me through it. I should try again. I just don't get that one, is it really only one joke? The sex part? I don't understand that movie.

 

 

I like that she's playing a smart woman, but how easily all that is tossed aside when the boys get a look at her. They immediately assume she is a bombshell. And then it makes James Garner mad later on that she is, even though she isn't.

 

>Yes, they are all "scoring." And not much has changed from then to now with us guys.

 

I'll say!

 

>I liked the little fights (door slams) between Cathy (Kim Novak) and Fred (James Garner). That's funny, I almost always hear doors slamming with Snippy.

 

Yes, those fights were funny because we know that it comes from growing love. The images they have of each other and themselves don't match up.

 

I really wanted to chat about *A Foreign Affair* and about *The Sin of Harold Diddlebock* and about *The Sea Wolf*, but I still haven't re-watched them yet.

[MissGoddess]

 

I haven't finished watching *Upstream*! :0

[JackFavell]

That's too funny! You are the reason I watched it in the first place!

 

I felt like it took me forever to watch it. Sometimes with stuff on youtube, I just don't get around to movies like I would if it were on TCM. It's better since we got the smartTV, and I can watch youtube comfortably rather than hunched over my computer.

[MissGoddess]

i've been completely negligent about everything lately, most of all movie watching and posting anything online, even my website. what's worse, what i DO watch is so unrelated to anything under discussion it's ridiculous! i even viewed *the black watch* on YouTube (again) instead of finishing *upstream*. so silly. i guess i just had to see mclaglen in uniform (young).

[JackFavell]

> {quote:title=MissGoddess wrote:}{quote}i've been completely negligent about everything lately, most of all movie watching and posting anything online, even my website. what's worse, what i DO watch is so unrelated to anything under discussion it's ridiculous! i even viewed *the black watch* on YouTube (again) instead of finishing *upstream*. so silly. i guess i just had to see mclaglen in uniform (young).

 

I don't blame you! I'm going there now to see young Vic!

 

I've been very negligent too, I've had some movies here for a month and haven't even tried to watch them, even though you guys were discussing them way back when. I either watch TCM, or I've been watching old tv shows. I thought of you last night, I was up late and watched Kojak! It was sad though, a guy who had been a heroin addict was helping other addicts get off drugs, but he got killed by the bad guys trying to save his young teen charge.

 

I watched a few episodes of Good Times the other afternoon, it was always a favorite show of mine as a young girl, I have no idea why - I think I had a crush on little Ralph Carter. It was excellent! I had good taste back then...

[MissGoddess]

i know that "kojak" episode, it was a sad ending. telly's usually on too late for me, alas. at least i have him on hulu.

 

i grew up watching "good times". i always thought it was funny whenever JJ would get in trouble with his old man. i appreciate now how realistic it was about being poor. does anything on tv now even acknowledge there are people that poor---more than ever? crazy.

[JackFavell]

I don't think they acknowledge social problems unless they are of the teen sex kind nowadays.

 

The Good Times eps I watched recently were so funny, but also had that serious undertone. JJ got shot by a guy trying to press him into a street gang. When the father went to court, he was ready to pound the gang member into a pulp. Florida told him that violence never solved anything in their family, making him remember stories of their past problems. When an angry James got to court, the kid's mom tried to get him to behave and say he was sorry, and the kid let out this venomous monologue about how he didn't have a dad around, and who cared what he did? James realized that the kid had a terrible life already (not to mention the mom) so he left him alone, and went back to the family, grateful to have them. JJ played up his gunshot wound for special treatment. It was a great series. I'd forgotten how good it was. John Amos was a spectacularly good actor, but they all had such rapport.

[MissGoddess]

you're so right about John Amos...I thought he was great. I still remember how sad it was when he was no longer there.

[JackFavell]

I never liked that turn on the show, I was not happy when he left.

 

I found the episode if anyone cares to watch it.

 

[movieman1957]

I've been doing the same thing. I'm watching "Gunsmoke" and "Mannix" and "Jack Benny" and even, among others, "Big Cat Diary."

 

I finally have Griffith's "America" coming and then a little something called "Actors and Sin" with Edward G. Robinson.

 

At least I'm in very good company.

[Bronxgirl48]

Miss G., Mom, Elsa and I congratulate you on 27,000 classy and charming posts -- how simply brilliant!

 

[movieman1957]

I've been seeing "Mannix" courtesy of Netflix.

 

As far as "America" and "Actors and SIn" and some recent other movies I went through a couple of Leonard Maltin type film catalogues looking for highly rated films I have not seen. Added them to my queue if they were available. It turns out you had seen a few as had the rest of the gang so I had some catching up to do.

 

The western you mention doesn't ring a bell and a quick look through imdb doesn't have anything that jumps at me with the two together.

[JackFavell]

The western was an episode of Kraft Suspense theatre, I looked it up. Brod was pretty evil, I think, but then Jack lord was no angel either.

 

I've wanted to go back and check out Mannix and The Name of the Game for a while now. They are two of the first grown up shows I can remember, courtesy of my sister's infatuation with Mike Connors and dare I say it, Anthony Frnaciosa.

[MissGoddess]

Chris, I'm loving Jack Benny on Sunday mornings...the latest one I saw had Jimmy Stewart and his wife, Gloria!

 

Wendy,

I've never heard of "The Name of the Game"---is that before "Mannix" or after?

 

Babette!

Merci, beaucoup pour votre photo d'une Elsa tres charmante! I wish I had her tan, it's simply brilliant.

[movieman1957]

I don't remember much of "The Name of The Game." "Mannix" is interesting to see how they changed from season 1 to 2. I don't know that it is particularly clever but it's okay. I still like "Rockford" better.

[MissGoddess]

Really? Because I frankly didn't get far into Season 1 and haven't gone back. Do you think it got better? I found the first few a trifle "dry". I'm not a huge Connors fan (prefer Chuck), so that may be my trouble.

[JackFavell]

Name of the Game was after Mannix, by one year. It was a detective show, but the lead detective changed each week between 3 different actors - The aforementioned (yuk) Tony Franciosa, Gene Barry, and Robert Stack. Needless to say, my favorite was always Gene Barry, but then I was like 5 years old so what did I know?

 

I'd like to revisit it sometime, just to see what it was really like. I never really liked Mike Connors much myself, but I have a curiosity about the show. I remember I just loved his secretary, I don't even know what the actress' name was!

[movieman1957]

Gail Fisher was his secretary. She shows up in season 2.

 

The real difference in the two season was in the first Mannix works for this big company and he "fights" the corporate system that uses computers and is so new age. Mannix thinks things can be done with just his wits. (Mostly, he is right.) Joe Campanella was the costar for the first season.

 

That all goes away in season 2. He is on his own and more like what we would all remember his setup. As far as the crime element of it I'm not sure you'd find much different. I think if you've bailed out on it already you're probably not going to find more to like later on. If you don't like Connors you're probably not going to change your mind. Lots of fights and shooting and missing but he sure does dress well. He's tough enough though.

[MissGoddess]

"name of the game" sounds interesting! wow, all those actors are so similar to me, now i find out they all starred in the same show. no wonder i used to confuse them all the time! the only one missing is cliff robertson.

 

chris---yes, mannix was a sharp dresser, i'll say that. i may peep at season 2 just out of curiosity, one day. i've heard he takes a lot of beatings (especially blows to the back of his head) in the show, lol.

[JackFavell]

Hahahaha! It's true, they are all clones of one another, kind of like my Hugh Marlowe, Efrem Zimbalist situation!

[SansFin]

The television detective which I like most was Jim Hutton as Ellery Queen. I liked his rumpled nature and sharp mind and the attitude that violence was a thing which only stupid people did.

 

Ronald Howard portrayed Sherlock Holmes in a television series. He was a funny duck in the role and I thought his portrayal odd. I did enjoy it but I do not associate it as being the same character portrayed by Arthur Wontner, Reginald Owen or Basil Rathbone.

[JackFavell]

Jim Hutton as Ellery Queen was just marvelous! I got the box set of the series a couple of years ago for Christmas. I love Ellery's absent minded ways! I never could solve the crimes at the end, when they gave you until the commercials were over to figure it out. The supporting cast is super, including David Wayne as his irascible father, and John Hillerman as the radio detective Ellery always foils.

[MissGoddess]

> {quote:title=JackFavell wrote:}{quote}Hahahaha! It's true, they are all clones of one another, kind of like my Hugh Marlowe, Efrem Zimbalist situation!

 

They all have such square jaws! Well, maybe not Franciosa. He has jabber jaws!

 

John Forsythe fits in, too.

 

I think Efram is my favorite of the bunch.

[MissGoddess]

I really must look for the "Ellery Queen" show, I've heard such good things about it. He sounds a bit like a "Columbo" type of detective.

[SansFin]

> {quote:title=MissGoddess wrote:}{quote}

> I really must look for the "Ellery Queen" show, I've heard such good things about it.

 

I believe part of my liking it is that I feel as if I could have solved it.

 

The premiere episode is available on YouTube at:

http://youtu.be/uof_0wV5ZwU