Movie Rambles

[MissGoddess]

> {quote:title=Bronxgirl48 wrote:}{quote}

> "Why can't they ever be alive and under 60?" That's the story of my life these days, lol.

>

> If we dress in 1920's flapper outfits, lie down on our beds and wish ourselves back in old Hollywood, maybe we could run into Tom and give him a big hug. (well after all, his wife would be with him no doubt, and we don't want to break up a happy marriage)

>

>

>

> Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48

 

 

Ha haaaaaaaaa!!! I can't stop laughing and yet it's so sad----sad because it either wouldn't

work or with my horrible sense of direction I'd end up in the 1920s---in Siberia with nothing

but a skimpy fringe dress on. My spit curls would freeze to my head.

 

I should take piano lessons just to learn that music. So beautiful. I love John Barry.

[Bronxgirl48]

LOL, yes, Mom would probably love the shirt in coconut, to match her new carpet. (Home Depot is coming Monday to do the measuring)

 

Yes, Bull, Mike and Spade, who can ever forget them now??

 

Perhaps if you go back another 20 years on the bed, you might be lucky to run into Fredric March in Siberia, if Anna Sten has died from overwork or an icicle accident.

[MissGoddess]

> {quote:title=Bronxgirl48 wrote:}{quote}

> LOL, yes, Mom would probably love the shirt in coconut, to match her new carpet. (Home Depot is coming Monday to do the measuring)

>

 

It's a deal. You don't think she'll ask who the hemlock are these dusty

looking cowpokes on her shirt and that Tom needs a shave?

 

 

> Yes, Bull, Mike and Spade, who can ever forget them now??

>

 

They rode into screen immortality. Notice that "the three" often reappear in

some form in John Ford films from that time forward.

 

 

> Perhaps if you go back another 20 years on the bed, you might be lucky to run into Fredric March in Siberia, if Anna Sten has died from overwork or an icicle accident.

 

Ha! That's looking on the bright side. However I hope I could convince him that after

our sentence is up he really should try to reclaim some of the wealth he gave away

or else emmigrate to America and then---Hollywood!

[hlywdkjk]

*"They rode into screen immortality."* - MissGoddess

 

Who? These three?

 

 

 

 

What the hell is going on in here? (wink)

 

Kyle In Hollywood

[MissGoddess]

What the hell is going on in here? (wink)

 

A spectacularly annoying girly-drool fest, that's what!

 

Wonderful wonderful cards, thanks so much Kyle.

[rohanaka]

And Mr. "In Hollywood" ...will you be ordering a shirt as well???

 

PS...thanks for the great pics!!!!

[Bronxgirl48]

I'm getting such a Ford education from you!

 

Yes, my mother doesn't understand "scruffy".

 

I believe she just thinks it's a dog's name.

[rohanaka]

I'm hiring some ex-Wall Street big shots to do the pressing and folding. They'll take

any job this season.

 

HA! Sad but true no doubt. I am sure you will have plenty of applicants!!!

 

Barb....very nice comments. I am so glad you enjoyed this (but was there ever any doubt?) You never cried watching the Searchers??? You are way tougher than me....

 

Ladies....German Potato Salad and Chocolate Cake will go nicely w/ my candy...I am thinking we'll also have some chocolate dipped Marshmallows too...very yummy. I will make sure the QT and the short person are out so we won't have any interuptions... ( I am sure they need to go buy my Christmas presents or SOMETHING!) :-)

 

Gotta go watch Count 3 and Pray...what is it w/ the #3??? Good things come in 3's???? Let's go w/ that.

[Bronxgirl48]

I don't think it's toughness that makes me never shed a tear during THE SEARCHERS. Probably just ignorance.

 

I didn't care for COUNT THREE AND PRAY, because Joanne Woodward's character really annoyed me. Not Jo's fault; she's a favorite actress with me, but maybe because she was just starting out in a major film, she may have been trying a bit too hard. I have the feeling if I ever see this movie again, her performance might grow on me and I'd notice the subtleties.

 

Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48

[MissGoddess]

Joanne was a bit annoying. I wished the story about the snooty old lady and her daughter

had been developed better, that was the most interesting part. It could have been

interesting material for tragedy but then the movie seemed to switch gears and head

toward comedy. I enjoyed it well enough but found it very uneven.

[rohanaka]

COUNT THREE AND PRAY

 

Hi Barb...I left a little ramble over in the western thread about this one...

 

PS...what are you telling me about the Searchers...you HAVE seen it haven't you?? (I think he even wears his "uniform". :-)

[Film_Fatale]

My, what nice stills you found, Kyle. Thanks for posting! B-)

[MissGoddess]

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

>

> PS...what are you telling me about the Searchers...you HAVE seen it haven't you?? (I think he even wears his "uniform". :-)

 

 

I'm curious, too---I thought you had seen the Searchers, Barbara.

 

Kathy---I'm nosy now about what movie is next in your "queue".

 

I'm going to watch my recording of PATTERNS from last night, with Van Heflin. Anybody

else here catch it?

[Film_Fatale]

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

> I'm going to watch my recording of PATTERNS from last night, with Van Heflin. Anybody

> else here catch it?

 

I also have a recording of it, but there's a few other things I have to watch first. B-)

[rohanaka]

Kathy---I'm nosy now about what movie is next in your "queue".

 

YIKES!! I just remembered...I have to get all these special orders back to the library tomorrow!!! (they don't allow re-check outs on specials....and there is a big ugly red tag on the dvd case that says something like..."You are viewing this special ordered dvd at no charge to you courtesy of the interlibrary exchange....please return it on time so that others may enjoy it too" Or something along that line...don't want to get a "black mark" against my check out privileges, now do I???

 

SO....(since I have been goofing around in here WAY too much going on and on about our beloved Tom and his cohorts) ...I am going to have to get in ....The Informer and Two Rode Together both today. (Wish me luck! ) I still have Emma...that I never have gotten to watch again yet as well as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty....but I can check those back out again if needed because they weren't special orders....

 

Hey...what am I doing on here still jabbering?? Lunch is almost ready....then I have to find a distraction for the short person..then I have to make sure there are no hidden "tecnowammies" to get around in THESE two DVD's before I can start watching....oh my oh me....Busy, Busy, Busy!!!!! :-) Talk to you later!!!

[Film_Fatale]

Kathy,

Good afternoon, and hope you will enjoy *The Informer* and *Two Rode Together*.

 

Have you seen *Hangman's House* yet? I just got some screencaps from that movie, including a very young John Wayne, and included them in the "Ford at Fox... " thread.

[Bronxgirl48]

ro and goddess, yes, I've seen THE SEARCHERS many times over the years, but for some reason it has never "connected" with me. I just don't know why, I really don't.

[Film_Fatale]

I just watched *The Horse Soldiers* again. Good show. I'll probably post more about it in the Westerns section. I may also be watching *The Iron Horse* today or tomorrow.

 

And my little Ford mini-festival won't be complete until we sit down to watch *The Searchers* in glorious blu-ray. B-)

[rohanaka]

THE SEARCHERS many times over the years, but for some reason it has never "connected" with me

 

Oh for Pete's sake....you ARE made of sterner stuff then me then...I can't make it w/ out crying EVERY time when Duke picks up little Debbie and then brings her back down into his arms again..."Let's go home"

 

And then at the end....EVERY one is going off tocelebrate their new future and the prospect of moving forward after such a long time...and he is left standing there with nothing else to do....his entire purpose for living has just been completed....and now what???

 

Oh....break out the Kleenex....I am having an emotional flashback!!! :-)

[rohanaka]

Way back about a gazillion years ago...(actually it was Halloween weekend)....

 

*Rohanaka wrote*:

 

How about The Informer....because it SOUNDS like a Noir title, but from reading the synopsis, it may not really be one. Just a guess

 

*Then Jack Favell wrote*: (on more than one post...)

 

I like that Ford is so ruthless, showing every detail of Gypo's psyche. And yet he remains non-judgemental...

 

I mean the story doesn't necessarily have to take place in Ireland. It is universal and I think anyone who has ever lied about something can identify with Gypo. The critics need to realize that it is a purely character driven movie, not an agenda driven movie...

 

Again, Ford works best when he deals with individual characters and their emotions and actions, whether they are right or wrong. I think that Gypo's ambiguous nature and his humanity would be very appealing to FrankGrimes, and it is certainly a very grey/gray movie, in every way....

 

*And Miss Goddess also wrote*:

 

It's pleasant to see someone who likes this movie because it always seems to get knocked around by Ford enthusiasts. I bet FrankGrimes is another who will like it, it's bleaker than most films noir.

 

The Informer was made in 1935 and many noiristas think that's too early to be considered a true-blue (or is it black?) noir. I also think the religious elements, the symbolism, may make some consider it something apart. It's hard to categorize, it's hard for many Ford enthusiasts to "categorize". I say don't try to, just sit back and let the images wash over you and appreciate what a good actor MacLaglen was and how much you can do with a skanky set and a gifted cinematographer, scenarist and director. But don't expect a "good time". It's BLEAK. So is The Long Voyage Home (which I like more because there are more characters to get involved with and some human insight I can empathize with, which is not necessarily the case with Gypo in The Informer).

 

In both films you'll find just about every photographic element that was exploited in post-WWII noirs, including an overwhelming fatalism (ChiO-heaven---or is it the other place?).

 

Well...at the risk of repeating myself...(way back at HalloweenI said the following as well...) I am such a good little guesser. ...because though I am the least likely person in the free world to be considered any sort of "expert" on the subject...this has GOT to be a noir....even if the term wasn't really in use at the time. (It was Noir before Noir was cool, (or hot) so to speak)

 

I can't honestly say that I found this movie "likeable" per se. In fact...most of the characters were among some of the MOST unlikable I have ever come across...except for maybe Frankie's sister....but it was a very powerful story and it was a VERY fine piece of acting on the part of MacLaglen. I am getting a whole new appreciation for him between this film and The Hangman's House....which by the way was an interesting film....not my favorite Ford...but had some good elements in it to be sure)

 

Perhaps a little "spoilage" here folks....

 

Gypo was one of the most pathetic...though not entirely sympathetic characters I have come across in quite some time. You don't know whether to feel sorry for him, or hit him with a big rock. (at times I wanted to do both)

 

April....BLEAK and FATALISTIC are both excellent ways to describe this one...and Jack....you are right...this story is totally character driven. There is little else to notice in it w/ all the muted gray tones and the bare bones rooms and sets.

 

The QT watched this one w/ me and he said much the same....Gypo is just so "self-destructive". It was like the guilt that was eating away at him led him down the path that ended in his own demise and there was no stopping that snowball once it started rolling downhill and picking up more and more snow...eventually it was bound to come crashing down on him....all in the space of a single night.

 

But I found it interesting that his main troubles started in a moment of weakness...or was it really a sign of character...he could not carry out his "assignment" in executing someone else...and that was the first little ball of snow that set all his troubles to rolling. Was he weak in that moment? That could be a matter of debate. But the "perception" of weakness that he felt was more than he could face and it created the attitude in his heart that made him feel so desperate as to turn in a friend for money....which led him to appear still weaker in his own mind (and thus to behave in a self destructive manner as a form of self punishment) as he struggled with the guilt...kind of an interesting 'circular" twist.

 

I liked that his final thoughts were of absolution...he headed for the one place he knew he needed to go...and I was very glad for Frankies' mother and her reaction...it was the one bright spot in the otherwise dismal and depressing mess....though I am sure some might argue that it was TOO bright...maybe things should have gone the other way....but I am glad for the sake of the story that he found his peace in the end.

 

Somewhere in the midst of the Halloween posting extravaganza....

 

*Frank Grimes wrote*:

 

The Informer is one of three that intrigues me the most.

 

Grey Guy....this one is definitely right up your alley...at least from the things I have read in your previous posts...

 

But don't get any ideas....you are still holding out on us for the 3 Bad Men....

 

No vacation in NOIR land till you turn in your ramble on our Beloved Tom et al.... if you please....I would hate to have to INFORM on you...because unlike our friend Gypo....I can live with the guilt!!! :-)

 

Message was edited by: rohanaka

[Bronxgirl48]

My problem with THE SEARCHERS isn't the storyline or the characters, but for some reason I find Ford's direction kind of flat; stylistically there is something lacking and I know I'm way in the minority in this. I do, however, appreciate Duke's last scenes and his framed doorway homage to Harry Carey. I really wish I could love this movie. Although I'm crazy about Hank Worden.

 

Thank you kindly!

 

Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48

[Film_Fatale]

My problem with THE SEARCHERS isn't the storyline or the characters, but for some reason I find Ford's direction kind of flat; stylistically there is something lacking and I know I'm way in the minority in this.

 

I reacted to the movie in almost the exact same way when I first watched it in college. I'm hoping revisiting it now that I am more familiar with Ford's work and can appreciate him better will allow me to enjoy it a little bit more.

 

Is anybody else watching *The Age of Believing* right now? I am TiVoing but will be watching it in its entirety this afternoon.

[rohanaka]

I know I'm way in the minority in this

 

I always tell my daughter....different people like different things. :-) It would be a boring world if we all sat around liking the same movies all for the same reason all the time! Of all the things in this world that people sit around and discuss and debate....films are one of the most subjective. And everyone is certainly entitled to their own take on a film...that's what makes these discussions so interesting.

 

PS...it's probably just as well...with all the boo-hooing going on for me at the end of this one...if EVERYBODY felt like I did...there would be some sort of global crisis going on from using up all those tissues...too many trees getting chopped down to make all that kleenex...the world would go spiraling out of control....watta disaster! (and then we'd end up w/ Bruce Dern floating around in space w/ a bunch of little robots trying to grow more trees....HA!) :-) Don't think of it as not liking the film...think of it as doing your part to save the planet!! :-) ( I am always looking for the positive!) HA!

[MissGoddess]

Terrific words about *The Informer*, Kathy! You especially piqued my interest here:

 

 

But I found it interesting that his main troubles started in a moment of weakness...or was it really a sign of character...he could not carry out his "assignment" in executing someone else...and that was the first little ball of snow that set all his troubles to rolling. Was he weak in that moment? That could be a matter of debate. But the "perception" of weakness that he felt was more than he could face and it created the attitude in his heart that made him feel so desperate as to turn in a friend for money....which led him to appear still weaker in his own mind (and thus to behave in a self destructive manner as a form of self punishment) as he struggled with the guilt...kind of an interesting 'circular" twist.

 

I'll have to watch *The Informer* again because I've forgotten the very beginning where you

allude to Gypo being assigned to execute someone. That's a BIG issue and like you say,

could very well be what started the downward spiral and yet I've completely blanked that

situation out.

 

It's been said Ford tricked MacLaglen into some of his best scenes by having a pal get

him drunk the night before, promising no big scenes for the next day---and then having

him called early to the set to do an important shot while in agony from a hangover. Ford

denied it always and I'm not sure myself because Vic is a wonderful actor. Either way,

he got his Oscar and it's a wonderfully emotional performance. Gypo is no "stoic"

anti-hero. In fact, it's his almost childlike, or animal like, irrationality that gets him in

trouble while at the same time making you feel sorry for him. Had "the troubles" never

been and times were normal, you can imagine him a fairly happy-go-lucky fellow who

is well liked by the neighborhood and welcome in every pub.

 

Another word about the "fatalism". In a way, I've come to think otherwise about

the spiraling circumstances of this movie because it seems to me that Gypo's

environment, working on such an irrational, non-reflective and simple type like

him is what gets him into trouble. All the symbolism in the film---and it's LOADED

with it---seems to indicate that all these things were fated but I am not sure. I think

they can also be said to indicate how powerfully Gypo's environment was practically

a minefield[ in which so many people like him could not avoid some kind of

pitfall. I say this partly because so many of Pappy's films emphasize character

and environment over fate and therefore this movie would really be a marked

departure.

 

I have to watch it again to see if I know what the hemlock I'm talking about.

 

Message was edited by: MissGoddess

[MissGoddess]

Hallie! For YEARS AND YEARS I could not see what was the big deal about

*The Searchers* so I totally understand your reaction. Even if you never come to

like it any more than you do now, I get it. I even used to avoid watching it because

I found it both boring and unpleasant (Ethan, particularly, was unpleasant to me---WOW,

is THAT ever a lesson in "do not ever say I will never drink of this water"---now I'm in love

with the brute. ) and I wanted to THROTTLE both Vera Miles and Jeffrey Hunter for

being the most obnoxious young people ever thrown into a western.

 

I only started to like it two or three years ago.