Movie Rambles

[Film_Fatale]

Awwwwww! :x

[movieman1957]

At least they are synchronized.

[FrankGrimes]

Hola, Jackie! -- I've been meaning to comment on your wonderfully-expressed ramble about The Misfits. You're such a terrific rambler.

 

First of all, Clark Gable was superb. Is it blasphemy to say that it was completely HIS movie?

 

Yes! It's blasphemy. But I don't expect anything different with you. Okay, it's not really blasphemy. I believe The Misfits starts off as Marilyn's movie (story) and then becomes Gable's. For me, it's the coming together of two misfits. I believe Roslyn changes Gay. She makes a blind man see. But, you are right, it's really Gable's movie. The emotional focus shifts to him.

 

At first, I was worried that he was going to play it all in a totally different style than the other actors, but his early screen persona fit perfectly the character he was playing. He started out as the same old "King" of movies. But as he was "broken in" by Marilyn, he became more and more deep, more and more shattered by the changes in the job and the things he loved.

 

I like "broken in." Very nice! It's very true, too. I love Marilyn's "Roslyn" because she possesses a childlike innocence. She wants to protect and mother everyone and every little thing. Her nature completely disarms all those who notice her. Her words are felt more than heard.

 

The scene in which they are at the bar after the rodeo, when he looks for his kids just broke my heart. There was nothing of the "leading man" or "king of Hollywood" in THAT scene, just a broken man. I am so impressed with this performance, I cannot even write without choking up about it.

 

I've only seen three Gable films to date and he has had deep emotional releases in two of them, The Misfits and Gone with the Wind. I have ended up liking him in both films. The other Gable film I have seen is Mogambo. The testosterone be flowing in that one, but he also has a very good emotional scene with "Honey Bear" (Ava Gardner) towards the end. He's trying to repress his feelings of love for her and it's getting the best of him. Off to the bottle!

 

He was wise enough to see that the very thing he loved about his job, was the very thing that was being destroyed by his job. I keep wondering now, after the movie, what will this man do now that he can't go mustangin'?

 

My take is that he'll be restless. His only hope for internal peace is Roslyn. She's all that he's got now. I believe that's all he really needs, but we guys tend to be prideful and he would be searching for his pride.

 

I loved Marilyn as well. But I guess from all the clips I've seen of this movie, I expected the performance she gave, whereas I had no idea Gable had this in him.

 

Since I'm a greenhorn, I entered the film without EVER having seen a Marilyn movie that featured her as a lead. I was not prepared for what I saw. I was very impressed by her. Without really knowing much about Marilyn, I came away thinking she was playing her true self.

 

I had seen Mogambo prior to The Misfits, so I had an idea of what Gable was going to be like. He ended up being far more tender in this film than in Mogambo, so I liked him more. I'm a sensitive wuss.

 

I loved all the breaking and roping in metaphors. I loved that Gable ended up being the "horse whisperer" - the one who could finally get Marilyn tame.

 

I took it the other way. I thought Roslyn tamed Gay. I thought Roslyn made Gay, the wild stallion, take a look at where he was in life. She made him confront the cold reality of what he was and that he was a man with no future. She's now his future.

 

I believe the wild stallion Gay battles to the ground at the end was his himself. He eventually frees the stallion, thus freeing himself.

 

The film is very metaphorical, hence my liking it so much. It's similar to another John Huston film, The Night of the Iguana, another film that I truly enjoy.

 

Thelma Ritter is on a level all by herself, setting the tone of the picture, although I would have liked to see her again later on.

 

She was brilliant, as always. But just as she does in Pickup on South Street, she combines her uniquely own comedic talents with great emotional depth. Her "Isabelle" is like all the others, she's deeply hurting inside. She attempts to hide and soothe her pain through comedy and wisdom. She's still in pain, though.

 

Isabelle is a woman who feels unworthy. She's happy for her ex-husband because she believes the woman he is with is better for him than her. Who knows, she may be right. Boy, that torch weighs a ton.

 

I like that she disappears because I think it's very real to life. There are people we meet along the way who become our friends and then we suddenly lose touch with them when our lives and their lives take different turns. I'm sure Roslyn will wish to catch up with Isabelle in time, but will she find her?

 

Clift really didn't have that much to do, but his presence was a good and quiet one, especially in balancing the horribly frightening Eli Wallach.

 

I agree with Molo about Monty. Monty's character really brings out the childlike mothering of Roslyn. As he said, her "nurturing qualities." "Perce" was a man missing the love of his mother and Roslyn was filling this void.

 

From the minute he came onto the screen I was afraid of him, but I didn't know why. He was a ticking time bomb of a person, never fully realized. I think it was scarier of Huston to leave him out in the world than having him do something violent in the movie. I was convinced he would crash his plane or kill or rape someone. He was so dead.

 

For you to fear Eli's "ugly" from the outset, it tells you a lot about his performance. The ugly guy is quite often overlooked. I wasn't as repulsed by "****" as most others. I think my being a guy is probably part of the reason. His anger is what I believe makes him so ugly and to be feared. He reacts to his pain with anger and hate. These kind of people really are the scariest to cross paths with. They will often take out their pain on others, some with violence.

 

I am glad that Huston did not take the easy route in this picture.... nothing ends the way you expect it to, it was a surprise all the way through.

 

The ending is one of great hope for Roslyn and Gay, but the other misfits are left to roam... alone.

 

[MissGoddess]

First of all, Clark Gable was superb. Is it blasphemy to say that it was completely HIS movie?

 

Yes! It's blasphemy. But I don't expect anything different with you. Okay, it's not really blasphemy. I believe The Misfits starts off as Marilyn's movie (story) and then becomes Gable's. For me, it's the coming together of two misfits. I believe Roslyn changes Gay. She makes a blind man see. But, you are right, it's really Gable's movie. The emotional focus shifts to him.

 

Jackie & Frank:

 

That's an interesting take on things. All the characters to me are like so many leaves being

blown about by the wind and for a short time, they sort of drift in a bunch in Reno, and then

drift apart with Gay and Roslyn perhaps taking down some roots. Roslyn always seemed

like the emotional center, with the others reacting to her, but it's true that Gay is the one who's

life is probably taking the biggest turn. This may be his last chance at happiness. You kind

of get the feeling Roslyn's at the end of her (emotional) rope, too.

[nightwalker]

Molo,

 

I've just been catching up on my reading and came across your concerns about your mom and just wanted to add my well-wishes.

 

My folks are both in their seventies and are likewise beginning to experience serious health problems, my father in particular. I know where you're coming from in seeing your relationship change from care receiver to caregiver, and the frustration you feel in not being able to "make it better", the way your mom did for you.

 

I join with the others here in assuring you of my prayers and best wishes for you and for your mother and my availability via PM if you want to "vent."

 

Peace.

[Film_Fatale]

 

Beautiful screencap, Frank! Thank you!! B-)

[Film_Fatale]

This may be his last chance at happiness. You kind

of get the feeling Roslyn's at the end of her (emotional) rope, too.

 

Yes, I remember that part, April. B-)

[JackFavell]

This is very interesting. I think maybe my view of the movie is a little different from some of you, but maybe I'm wrong.

 

I get the feeling that you think that Roslyn is able to change Gay, nurture everyone, talk straight to ****, find Thelma's husband, and save everyone on the planet because she is emotionally open. I guess I feel very much that although these things do happen in the movie, it is not something that Roslyn sets out to do. She is mystified by the events that go on around her. She is open, but painfully so....it is a curse. There is nothing you can do when people around you rip into your vulnerability..... you just let them. Having no defenses, you just lie back and observe. You see the truth, but at a terrible price. She is sort of like a drop of vinegar poured into a bunch of baking soda. The vinegar is still just vinegar, but everything bubbles up around that little drop. And she gets burned every time. Wherever she goes, things happen. Roslyn cannot help the reactions people have to her. I think she is an open wound, and that makes some people, (maybe most people) want to hurt her - like her ex, and probably ****. But she is unable to change, and become hardened by her trials. This is terribly dangerous to a person's emotional makeup. If you cannot **** over, then you will just bleed to death. (Sorry for mixing my metaphors so badly.) She is just lucky that she finds Gay instead of ****.....because Gay is tough enough to keep her safe, and sensitive enough to understand her. Gay is lucky to find Roslyn, because she can see the real true part of his makeup- the hurt he feels about his kids, the sadness he feels about becoming an anachronism. She also appreciates his need to work things out on his own. Gay is the only one who can accept the truth when confronted by it.

 

I DO think this role was completely Marilyn's personality- that she wasn't acting. I think that is why she had trouble coming to the set when making movies, because she was ripping herself open over and over again, and then totally defenseless when she was open. It's astounding the way she plays this role, without any guile or even the perception that she is acting. There is nothing betwen her and the character, and therefore nothing between her and the audience. But I am not sure she could continue to do this kind of thing for any longer than she did. There is only one of those performances in a person, I think.

[Film_Fatale]

Jackie, have you by any chance read any MM biographies?

[JackFavell]

No, I haven't. I have always stayed away from her biographies, because I am of a somewhat similar personality type- my life is a bit too painful and neurotic to want to go there on purpose.....

[Film_Fatale]

No, I haven't. I have always stayed away from her biographies, because I am of a somewhat similar personality type- my life is a bit too painful and neurotic to want to go there on purpose.....

 

Sorry to hear that...

[MissGoddess]

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

> This is very interesting. I think maybe my view of the movie is a little different from some of you, but maybe I'm wrong.

>

 

No! Here's why....

 

> The vinegar is still just vinegar, but everything bubbles up around that little drop. And she gets burned every time. Wherever she goes, things happen. Roslyn cannot help the reactions people have to her. I think she is an open wound, and that makes some people, (maybe most people) want to hurt her - like her ex, and probably ****...Gay is tough enough to keep her safe, and sensitive enough to understand her. Gay is lucky to find Roslyn, because she can see the real true part of his makeup- the hurt he feels about his kids, the sadness he feels about becoming an anachronism. She also appreciates his need to work things out on his own. Gay is the only one who can accept the truth when confronted by it.

>

 

That is so wonderfully expressed, Jackie!!! I won't ever forget what you wrote...you have perfectly

described *Roslyn* when you say she's an "open wound"...oh my goodness, that's perfect. If

you got all that after just seeing this movie ONCE then, like Gay,........

 

 

Truly, your words touched me very much. This is what I treasure about coming here, that

I can read insights like this and take them "home".

 

 

> I DO think this role was completely Marilyn's personality- that she wasn't acting. I think that is why she had trouble coming to the set when making movies, because she was ripping herself open over and over again, and then totally defenseless when she was open. It's astounding the way she plays this role, without any guile or even the perception that she is acting. There is nothing betwen her and the character, and therefore nothing between her and the audience. But I am not sure she could continue to do this kind of thing for any longer than she did. There is only one of those performances in a person, I think.

 

That's another good point. I do think she would have shied away from another "exposure" like

that. I wonder if she ever saw the finished movie? I'm sad that Clark didn't.

[Film_Fatale]

Truly, your words touched me very much. This is what I treasure about coming here, that

I can read insights like this and take them "home".

 

Same here... B-)

[JackFavell]

I can read insights like this and take them "home".

 

Oh, my goodness. This is why I am addicted to this place, too..... Thanks for inspiring me, you guys. I am just really excited to talk to others with the movie obsession.....One thing I really appreciate here is that everyone is so nice about other people's opinions. I am so glad that I started on this website, because before this I had a very hard time writng anything - I had a block ... I still feel like I am fumbling around in my dark and foggy brain most of the time....

[MissGoddess]

You certainly got over that "block" mighty fine from my standpoint. You write with apparent

effortlessness. And you hit your mark.

[Film_Fatale]

You write with apparent

effortlessness. And you hit your mark.

 

I agree with April, you write beautifully, Jackie! B-)

[FrankGrimes]

This is very interesting. I think maybe my view of the movie is a little different from some

of you, but maybe I'm wrong.

 

There is no "maybe" about it, Foggy.

 

I get the feeling that you think that Roslyn is able to change Gay, nurture everyone, talk straight to ****, find Thelma's husband, and save everyone on the planet because she

is emotionally open. I guess I feel very much that although these things do happen in the

movie, it is not something that Roslyn sets out to do. She is mystified by the events that

go on around her. She is open, but painfully so....it is a curse.

 

Beautiful! I believe you are RIGHT, Foggy. It's Roslyn's nature that attracts people to her,

especially men. Roslyn doesn't set out to change Gay. Just being around Roslyn makes

Gay see life differently. She wakes him up. The same can be said of Gido and Perce,

but they are different kinds of men with different issues.

 

There is nothing you can do when people around you rip into your vulnerability..... you

just let them. Having no defenses, you just lie back and observe. You see the truth, but

at a terrible price. She is sort of like a drop of vinegar poured into a bunch of baking soda.

The vinegar is still just vinegar, but everything bubbles up around that little drop. And she

gets burned every time. Wherever she goes, things happen. Roslyn cannot help the

reactions people have to her. I think she is an open wound, and that makes some people,

(maybe most people) want to hurt her - like her ex, and probably ****. But she is unable

to change, and become hardened by her trials. This is terribly dangerous to a person's

emotional makeup. If you cannot **** over, then you will just bleed to death. (Sorry for

mixing my metaphors so badly.)

 

That's a perfect description of Roslyn, Jackie.

 

I believe Roslyn is childlike because she is trusting of everyone. She knows no

better. Her approach to life is that of innocence and purity, just like a child. But she is

not a child, thus she is not carefree. She has been burned a few times in life and is bound

to be burned more unless, as you say, someone like Gay protects her.

 

She is just lucky that she finds Gay instead of ****.....because Gay is tough enough

to keep her safe, and sensitive enough to understand her. Gay is lucky to find Roslyn,

because she can see the real true part of his makeup- the hurt he feels about his kids,

the sadness he feels about becoming an anachronism. She also appreciates his need

to work things out on his own. Gay is the only one who can accept the truth when

confronted by it.

 

I completely agree. But I think it took a woman like Roslyn to make Gay confront reality,

to face his pain. I don't believe he would do so without Roslyn. The power of the right

woman.

 

I DO think this role was completely Marilyn's personality- that she wasn't acting. I think

that is why she had trouble coming to the set when making movies, because she was

ripping herself open over and over again, and then totally defenseless when she was

open. It's astounding the way she plays this role, without any guile or even the

perception that she is acting. There is nothing betwen her and the character, and

therefore nothing between her and the audience. But I am not sure she could continue to

do this kind of thing for any longer than she did. There is only one of those performances

in a person, I think.

 

You sure don't write foggy. That was awesome.

 

 

 

 

[MissGoddess]

When Marilyn says "You like me, huh?" it's one of the winningest screen moments

ever by an actress. What man could resist that? And no one else could have said

it like she did.

[Film_Fatale]

 

Awwwww... it makes me want to help her!!!

[Film_Fatale]

When Marilyn says "You like me, huh?" it's one of the winningest screen moments

ever by an actress. What man could resist that? And no one else could have said

it like she did.

 

I do believe you're right. She was completely unique. Always will be. B-)

[FrankGrimes]

When Marilyn says "You like me, huh?" it's one of the winningest screen moments

ever by an actress. What man could resist that?

 

She's adorable!

 

And no one else could have said it like she did.

 

Ohh, I don't know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Film_Fatale]

She's adorable!

 

I agree with you, she's totally adorable! :x

 

 

Another great series of screencaps, Frank! Thank you for sharing!! B-)

[Film_Fatale]

In an unrelated Movie Ramble, has anyone else watched Gus Van Sant's new movie, *Milk* ? It's such a great movie, with a very stirring performance by Sean Penn as the slain San Francisco supervisor, Harvey Milk, who was shot together with Mayor Moscone in 1978, just two years short of his 50th birthday.

 

It's a great movie, that I think everyone should enjoy. And Frank, you would enjoy it especially!!

[Film_Fatale]

Sean Penn as Harvey Milk

 

[Film_Fatale]

*Milk* features a multi-talented cast. Oscar nominations are almost certain to follow!