FrankGrimes Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 *That's such a standout scene. DId you notice how MacKendrick's camera is staring down at her from above when she finally has to make the decision? The lighting is such, you see bags under her eyes, and she looks small. Sydney walks out of the light while she decides, she is alone, and he really makes her feel that gulf widening between them, the rat.* Wow! Great catch! It really was shot exceptionally well. I just feel so bad for her because she's thrilled that Sidney is going to spend the night with her but he ends up pawning her off. Devastating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankGrimes Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 *The kicker with Otis is that Rita had already slept with him another time.* *"Don't tell Sidney," she said.* Yes, you're right. As Jackie says, it's a dirty little twist. But I still liked Rita because she wanted to keep that from Sidney. She wanted him to see her in a good light. But he doesn't care about her on that level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 *Yes, you're right. As Jackie says, it's a dirty little twist. But I still liked Rita because she wanted to keep that from Sidney. She wanted him to see her in a good light. But he doesn't care about her on that level.* I like Rita too. And that's the heartbreaking part... that she would want him not to know, but he's already on to the next thing. He couldn't care less. I think the secretary I meant was Sally (?). Mary is Sydney's mousy secretary, I think, unless I've got it backwards. I want to talk about JJ and Sydney, and then JJ and Susie, but I'm tired tonight. I was looking back at a scene in that clip Steve Hayes used, and it kind of jogged my mind to something. Right now, I have to get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow. "Sweet" dreams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankGrimes Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 *I'll see you tomorrow. "Sweet" dreams. * Nicely done! "Sweet" dreams to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CineMaven Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Yes, you're right. As Jackie says, it's a dirty little twist. But I still liked Rita because she wanted to keep that from Sidney. She wanted him to see her in a good light. But he doesn't care about her on that level. I thought Barbara Nichols did a fantastic job. There was a lot of pathos to her. They were all of them swimming in a cesspool of deals, alliances and couplings. I also liked the secretary. Remember her from "In A Lonely Place" (Jeff Donnell). She was Brub's wife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I knew I'd seen her before! She was also the pregnant giirl in Roughshod. Jeff is a good actress. Ditto on Barbara Nichols and the pathos. So did anyone else think there was a little something messed up in JJ's love for his sister? And I use the word loosely... more like pathological control over her. I didn't watch it with this in mind, and Im not sure how far it went, but to me after watching this time, I think there was something a little bit incenstuous about it. Steve Hayes thought so too. Maybe this is why JJ seems to keep such a tight reign over himself too. He's kind of a bottled up person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I do feel something unhealthy about JJ's control over his sister. I don't think he's aware of it, but the filmaker seems to want the audience to feel it and thereby make JJ even more evil in our eyes. I wonder about the backstory on this movie...i saw a documentary about it once but of course have forgotten everything. was there some malice behind its conception? it really seems like someone had huge problem with one or more of the columnists of the day to have created such a venal portrait. it feels personal. anyone know for sure? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I think WInchell was one of the most hated men of his time. I have not read much about him, but what I have read suggests that he was a vidictive man, who sold people out to get ahead. He got his start working for mob bosses in New York, then ratted them out to J. Edgar Hoover because he was afraid he would be rubbed out for knowing too much. He then stayed close to Hoover, probably to get information. He was the first gossip columnist. Hedda and Loella took their lead from Winchell. He was accused even in his time, of lowering the standards of journalism. He was one of the first people to start the communist witch hunts of the late forties and fifties, he attacked Secretary of State James Forestal many times, innacurately, during WWII. He would write using incomplete setences, creating innuendo and uncertainty, so no one could actually accuse him of slander. When Josephine Baker accused him of not doing enough to show the racist policies of the Stork Club, he branded her a communist. To be fair, he also started a cancer fund when his friend Damon Runyon died of the disease, and raised thousands of dollars from movie stars. Here is what it says about Winchell and SSS at Wiki: In 1950, Ernest Lehman a former publicity writer for Irving Hoffman of The Hollywood Reporter wrote a story for Cosmopolitan titled "Tell Me About It Tomorrow". The piece is about a ruthless journalist, J.J. Hunsacker, and is generally thought to be a thinly veiled commentary on the power wielded by Winchell at the height of his influence. It was made into the film Sweet Smell of Success, and the screenplay was written by Lehman and Clifford Odets. Edited by: JackFavell on Aug 4, 2011 12:28 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Thank you for that background on Winchell. I wonder what the public thought of him? Sounds like he was really popular with the readers, making him like a one-man tabloid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 He was extremely popular for a number of years. Dirt sells I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Wow, I wonder what his wife was like? Did he ever marry? Did anyone ever get anything on HIM and expose him? I got *murder by contract* from netflix today so I'll try to watch and post on it tonight or tomorrow. it's from 1958 so i'm not sure i'll like it. i find the later "noirs" generally too violent or grim but i'll try to keep an open mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movieman1957 Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 According to imdb he was married from 1919 to 1928. Later it shows he fathered at least one child with a woman he would introduce as his wife. (It's about half way down the page.) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934595/bio Edited by: movieman1957 on Aug 5, 2011 4:27 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Re: *Murder By Contract* - I thought the story sounded quite good when I looked it up the other day when it was first mentioned. it might surprise you... or it might not. But Vince isn't too hard on the eyes. and don't forget Edited by: JackFavell on Aug 5, 2011 4:28 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 > {quote:title=movieman1957 wrote:}{quote}According to imdb he was married from 1919 to 1928. Later it shows he fathered at least one child with a woman he would introduce as his wife. (It's about half way down the page.) > > http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934595/bio > > Edited by: movieman1957 on Aug 5, 2011 4:27 PM > That's it? Why am I not surprised. Thanks, movieman. You've been quiet lately. Everything alright? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 I really like *Lured* more and more every time I see it. I think Lucy's stunning looking in it and as wild as it sounds, she's got real chemistry with George Sanders! (who is just as adorable as can be, playing a good guy for a change). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 Lucy is gorgeous in it , I agree. I really enjoyed it last time, and when I took caps today, I was really impressed with how beautiful the movie looks, all that black and white shadow and light, and the scene in the nightclub is unreal! Sirk had an eye for lush setting already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 "Lush" is a good word and this movie is beautifully designed and photographed. London seldom looked so glamorous, ha. What struck me this time about how Lucy looked was her uniqueness. For the first time I really appreciated that she resembled absolutely no one else in movies at the time. She was statuesque, and a red-head to boot. Really a striking looking woman and most of the time I have to say her comedy has overshadowed her appearance for me until now. Another noir she's good in is *The Dark Corner*, which I wish could have been included in tomorrow's line-up. At least we get *The Big Street*. I haven't seen it in a while but I remember how mean she was to poor old Fonda. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movieman1957 Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 {font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif} *You've been quiet lately. Everything alright?* Not really. Otherwise I've been reading everyone's comments. It's just a matter of not having seen what you everyone is talking about. I do like trying to find things for you and others when I get the chance. {font} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankGrimes Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movieman1957 Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 I didn't even notice until Sir Francis pointed it out. Congratulations from me too. This place just wouldn't be what it is without your contributions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankGrimes Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 *Not really.* What?! We need to change that! Let's get you going. I've been trying to watch one of Quiet Gal and Spunky's favorite films in my batches of ten. I need to watch some of your faves. Any favorite films of yours you'd like to discuss? I'm talking about ones that I have never seen. Guide me down some new paths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movieman1957 Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 I can't imagine what you haven't seen Edited by: movieman1957 on Aug 5, 2011 10:51 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankGrimes Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 *I got* *murder by contract from netflix today so I'll try to watch and post on it tonight or tomorrow. it's from 1958 so i'm not sure i'll like it. i find the later "noirs" generally too violent or grim but i'll try to keep an open mind. * You ain't gonna like it! But I do like that you are going to watch it. I'd say there's a chance that Jackie may like it a little. It's on the quirky side (strange sense of humor) and pays homage to *The Third Man*. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankGrimes Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 *I can't imagine what you haven't seen but let me think on a few.* I haven't seen many war flicks. That's a wide open territory with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronxgirl48 Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 Sweet congrats on 12,000 matchless posts, Jackie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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