Movie Rambles

[Film_Fatale]

It is a pretty sweet screencap, isn't it? B-)

[CineMaven]

Hold on Bronxie...you might be able to take credit for Ina Balin crossing over the Throggs Neck, Major Deegan or Cross Bronx Expressway, though I enjoyed her quiet beauty in "From The Terrace". Sorry if I'm going off a little long on this. But her name is practically forgotten these days except for film buffs. Also puts me a tiny bit to mind of the also lovely, Joan Hackett:

 

IMDB:

"Brooklyn-native actress Ina Balin (n?e Rosenberg) was born on November 12, 1937, into a Jewish family of entertainers. Her father, Sam Rosenberg, was a dancer/singer/comedian who worked the Borscht Belt... Producer Carlo Ponti saw her Broadway performance in "Compulsion" and requested her for a prime role in his film "The Black Orchid" (1958). Starring Ponti's wife, Sophia Loren, and Anthony Quinn, Ina received impressive notices as Quinn's sensitive, grownup daughter. Considered one of 20th Century Fox's most promising new talents, she received a special "International Star of Tomorrow" Golden Globe for this early work. A major career disappointment occurred when the film version of Compulsion (1959) was made and Ina's ethnic role of Ruth Goldenberg was transformed into a non-ethnic part (Ruth Evans) that wound up starring Diane Varsi. Ina was given an unbilled part in the movie. The sting of that studio transgression was somewhat softened when she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for "Best Supporting Actress" for her intensive performance in the Paul Newman/Joanne Woodward soaper "From the Terrace" (1960) as Newman's love interest. Due to her strong exotic features, she found herself confined by the studio in her casting and she eventually felt compelled to leave.

 

A soft, slender, but intent-looking actress who could play various types of ethnicities (Jewish, Italian, Mexican, Spanish, Greek, et al.), she had a lovely, quiet glow to her, but could easily display the fiery temperament of an Anna Magnani when called upon. In the 1960s, however, she was overshadowed by a number of her leading men in their respective showcases. There was little room for any actor to generate interest upon themselves when playing opposite the likes of an Elvis Presley, Jerry Lewis and/or John Wayne.

 

Ina never managed to fulfill her promising, Golden Globe-winning potential for she was diagnosed and eventually succumbed, at the age of 52, to a rare case of pulmonary hypertension."

[CineMaven]

Hold on Bronxie...you might NOTbe able to take credit for Ina Balin crossing over the Throggs Neck, Major Deegan or Cross Bronx Expressway, though I enjoyed her quiet beauty in "From The Terrace". Sorry if I'm going off a little long on this. But her name is practically forgotten these days except for film buffs. Also puts me a tiny bit to mind of the also lovely, Joan Hackett:

 

IMDB:

"Brooklyn-native actress Ina Balin (n?e Rosenberg) was born on November 12, 1937, into a Jewish family of entertainers. Her father, Sam Rosenberg, was a dancer/singer/comedian who worked the Borscht Belt... Producer Carlo Ponti saw her Broadway performance in "Compulsion" and requested her for a prime role in his film "The Black Orchid" (1958). Starring Ponti's wife, Sophia Loren, and Anthony Quinn, Ina received impressive notices as Quinn's sensitive, grownup daughter. Considered one of 20th Century Fox's most promising new talents, she received a special "International Star of Tomorrow" Golden Globe for this early work. A major career disappointment occurred when the film version of Compulsion (1959) was made and Ina's ethnic role of Ruth Goldenberg was transformed into a non-ethnic part (Ruth Evans) that wound up starring Diane Varsi. Ina was given an unbilled part in the movie. The sting of that studio transgression was somewhat softened when she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for "Best Supporting Actress" for her intensive performance in the Paul Newman/Joanne Woodward soaper "From the Terrace" (1960) as Newman's love interest. Due to her strong exotic features, she found herself confined by the studio in her casting and she eventually felt compelled to leave.

 

A soft, slender, but intent-looking actress who could play various types of ethnicities (Jewish, Italian, Mexican, Spanish, Greek, et al.), she had a lovely, quiet glow to her, but could easily display the fiery temperament of an Anna Magnani when called upon. In the 1960s, however, she was overshadowed by a number of her leading men in their respective showcases. There was little room for any actor to generate interest upon themselves when playing opposite the likes of an Elvis Presley, Jerry Lewis and/or John Wayne.

 

Ina never managed to fulfill her promising, Golden Globe-winning potential for she was diagnosed and eventually succumbed, at the age of 52, to a rare case of pulmonary hypertension."

[Film_Fatale]

CineMaven, glad to see you're also a fan of Ina Balin. Have you seen her in *The Comancheros* ? I watched *From the Terrace* a loonng time ago and didn't much notice her at the time, but now that I know her, I'll definitely be watching it again. B-)

[Film_Fatale]

Anyone else watching/recording *Whipsaw* this morning? B-)

[FrankGrimes]

Hola, Grahame's Guy! -- Frank wrote: Fantastic! Both films are big favorites of

mine and darling Simone is one of the primary reasons why. Have you seen

Mademoiselle Fifi?

 

No I haven't. I want to take a look at her other films now. So that will be my next choice.

 

Miss G will be pleased to hear that. She really likes Mademoiselle Fifi, especially

Simone. It's a pretty interesting film about class, courage, and substance. Simone is

very good in it.

 

Temptation Harbour looks interesting. A review on IMDB describes it as English

noir. Simone is perfect in both Cat People and The Devil and Daniel Webster, she had

much less to do in The Curse of the Cat People. Josette is another film I want check out.

 

I never heard of Temptation Harbour and Josette.

 

La B?te Humaine is the Simone film I wish to see most. I'd also like to see her in

Max Oph?ls' La Ronde and Le Plaisir. The only films of hers I have seen are

Cat People, The Curse of the Cat People, The Devil and Daniel Webster, and

Mademoiselle Fifi. I have Girls' Dormitory on DVD.

 

It really is something. When she turns around it's just stunning. I'm sure poor Jabez

was bewitched Immediately. I know I was. She is mesmerizing in all her scenes.

 

A true femme fatale if ever there was. She's adorable!

 

Frank wrote: Does this cap remind you of a film prior to The Devil and Daniel Webster?

 

Oh no a pop quiz! I knew there was a catch.

 

Well I'm talking on the fly here. Anne Shirley looks like Melanie form Gone With the Wind

but you haven't seen that have you? Stagecoach maybe?

 

Anne Shirley DOES look like Melanie from Gone with the Wind. But I was thinking

of Sunrise. There are some similarities between Sunrise and The Devil and Daniel

Webster.

 

 

[Film_Fatale]

Miss G will be pleased to hear that. She really likes Mademoiselle Fifi, especially

Simone. It's a pretty interesting film about class, courage, and substance. Simone is

very good in it.

 

I recorded but did not yet watch *Mademoiselle Fifi* - I think it may be time to get that recording! B-)

 

[Film_Fatale]

So is anyone else mildly disappointed that TCM didn't offer a lineup of Gene Tierney movies on her birthday? I guess it must be harder since so many of her movies are Fox titles... still one can sorta wish, right? B-)

[JackFavell]

*Whipsaw*

 

Yay! How exciting to see Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy! As I see more and more of her early roles, I am continually impressed with Loy. She had a poise and understated style that I was beginning to think just sprung from nowhere. In 1932, Loy was already 27, and I think this accounts for her strong personality in movies from the start.

 

Yes, I know in Thirteen Women and her other early "half-caste" roles she is a little phony, but is it her acting, or is it the way she is directed and filmed? I noticed this morning that every time she had a big scene of hateful malice, the camera closed in on her like a telescope, or she was forced to make a move that no woman on earth could pull off- like hypnotizing Irene Dunne by simply staring at her. Without those gimmicks, her acting actually comes off as pretty believable.

 

When I look up the word poise in the dictionary, it says, "to carry things in balance". I think this is a perfect description of Loy. Her acting is never all one direction or the other. She weighs her choices carefully, thinking out her actions before jumping into the fray. What I love about her protrayal of "Palmer" in Whipsaw, is her quiet, determined scepticism. Her ability to see through "bunk". She is no-nonsense, all American, and tough, without resorting to an over the top "act". Tracy, was actually a bit more stagy from the beginning. This surprised me, until I realized that he was literally "acting" the part of a thug. I won't give any more away, since to me, the beauty of this film was not knowing who these two people were, then finding out what kind of humanity they each had.

 

There is a scene, about halfway through the film, in which she and Tracy are at a farmhouse. They are alone, and he expresses that she is "alright", meaning, a good person. The scene just took my breathe away, since it was the first moment in the movie that both Tracy and Loy dropped their defenses in front of each other. It was a superbly intimate moment. I liked how Tracy lowered his voice to show he meant it, and how pleased Loy looked when he complimented her for the one thing she had doubts about. It cut through all the BS and got right to the heart of the plot.

 

Anyway, I enjoyed the movie immensely.

[Film_Fatale]

Yay! How exciting to see Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy! As I see more and more of her early roles, I am continually impressed with Loy. She had a poise and understated style that I was beginning to think just sprung from nowhere. In 1932, Loy was already 27, and I think this accounts for her strong personality in movies from the start.

 

Sounds like you enjoyed it... I recorded it for later viewing, I'm always glad to catch anything with Loy or Tracy in it that is not on DVD. I'll come back and re-read your writeup after I've had a chance to watch the movie, Jackie, thank you so much for sharing.

[MissGoddess]

Hi Jackie! Isn't *Whipsaw* terrific? I'm hoping my recorder picked it up and I have a nice

clean copy waiting for me to add to my collection.

 

It's silly, but I always think of Fred Sanford (yes, that Fred Sanford) whenever I hear this

movie mentioned. There is an episode of "Sandford and Son" where he goes on and on

describing a scene in this movie between Tracy and Myrna when in reality his son Lamont

was referring to WHIPLASH.

[Film_Fatale]

It's silly, but I always think of Fred Sanford (yes, that Fred Sanford) whenever I hear this

movie mentioned. There is an episode of "Sandford and Son" where he goes on and on

describing a scene in this movie between Tracy and Myrna when in reality his son Lamont

was referring to WHIPLASH.

 

Well, I definitely have to watch it ASAP! B-)

[MissGoddess]

Myrna Loy

 

[Film_Fatale]

She looks lovely, April! Thank you for sharing - you are a sweetheart! B-)

[JackFavell]

> It's silly, but I always think of Fred Sanford (yes, that Fred Sanford) whenever I hear this

> movie mentioned. There is an episode of "Sandford and Son" where he goes on and on

> describing a scene in this movie between Tracy and Myrna when in reality his son Lamont

> was referring to WHIPLASH.

 

Oh my gosh! How hysterical!

[Film_Fatale]

*Oh my gosh! How hysterical!*

 

Are you familiar with "Sanford and Son"?

[JackFavell]

I've watched it occasionally. Though I do think it's funny when I see it, I rarely get a chance to watch it. I am too busy watching my 400 + movies.....

[Film_Fatale]

I hear ya. I've got around 2,000+ recordings to watch... eventually!

[butterscotchgreer]

hey dahlink!!!

 

i caught Whipsaw this morning before i went to school! i had been wanting to see this Myrna Loy movie so badly, i had seen it a long time ago, and wanted to record it this morning, but missed the first few minutes. banana oil! heehee!

 

i really liked it, but i always liked Myrna more in her funny cute movies where she was in the screwball parts like The Thin Man and Mr. Blandings. but i thought she was so beautiful in this with spence, and momma watched some of it with me and said out loud....."myrna's a bad guy! she never plays a bad guy!" i couldnt help but giggle lots to that comment! she never failes when it comes to her funny little hats in just about every one of her movies. heehee! i did like the mysteriousness she put off to the audience in the movie though! she does that so well, b/c of her face shape and her eyes.

[CineMaven]

What a lovely read re: Myrna Loy. I always found her to be wonderful to watch. Gosh! I wonder how her leading men felt in her presence? Ya think they just purely and plainly fell in love with her? Gable and Powell and Tracy and Power and Brent and (even) clifton Webb and and and...

[MissGoddess]

Bonjour, petite dahlink!

 

I like Whipsaw because it was unpredictable as far as the characterizations, which was

nice and because I do like the combination of Myrna and Spence. However, my all-time

favorite Myrna movies are The Thin Man and *Test Pilot*. I absolutely adore how Myrna

interacts with Clark in TP. He's not a very nice guy though most of it so she goes through

so many change of emotions, it's both a great performance by an actress AND a splendid

example of romantic chemistry. In many respects, I prefer Myrna as Gable's leading lady

over most of the others, excepting of course Viv and Ava. There is something solid and real

(mutual respect) as well as electrically romantic between them.

 

All this and I just realized I stupidly left *Test Pilot* off my favorites list in CineMaven's thread.

 

Time to revise!

[JackFavell]

Cinemaven- I was wondering that too, this morning! I bet Tracy was head over heels for her.....not to mention Powell, Gable, etc, etc, etc.

[MissGoddess]

From what I've read, Tracy and Gable were attracted, especially Tracy who even proposed

to her (yes, he would have left his wife for her) but between her & Powell only deep friendship.

She says in her autobiography they were simply too much alike to strike sparks.

[Film_Fatale]

From what I've read, Tracy and Gable were attracted, especially Tracy who even proposed

to her (yes, he would have left his wife for her) but between her & Powell only deep friendship.

She says in her autobiography they were simply too much alike to strike sparks.

 

I haven't read her autobiography (yet!) but I've heard very similar things. Maybe that's why Loy and Powell did such a good job playing a married couple!! (J/K!)

[Film_Fatale]

Anyone else watching or recording *Broadway Melody of 1940* right now? B-)