BRONXGIRL'S MOTHER, HENRY FONDA'S HIRSUTENESS, ETC.

[CineMaven]

Wow...you're right. There is a modern feel to that scene. You know how a lot of scenes don't translate well through the decades from the 30's...the 40's. But this heartbreaking scene...

sadly, yes.

[Bronxgirl48]

By gad, sir, you're right -- that really is our wasp boy Zinnie as little Maria's father. (by the way, how did he know she was murdered, and not just accidentally drowned?) Don't get me started again on pickle-pussed Colin Clive, lol. His **** paroxyms of scientific hubris are very well done, though, I must say. "Here's to a son of the house of Frankenstein", yeah, right. Order and tradition are restored via the tacked-on happy ending which the studio forced on Whale, more's the pity. I'm fascinated by the verticality of FRANKENSTEIN -- the "up and down" motifs. Henry digs down into the earth for his bodies in order to "elevate" a new being; Fritz is continually climbing up and down, whether it be scaffolds, roofs, or stairs. Dwight Frye (probably improvising with the full approval of Whale) does a lot of "business", including pulling up his sock) which mirrors the pulled-down black sock on dead Maria's swinging leg as she's being carried into the village. Henry tells everyone to "sit down", not just the Monster. Karloff's imploring, eloquent hands reach up toward the light. His gurney is lifted up to the storm-ridden sky so the lightning can facilitate animation.

 

THE UNINVITED has been cozily with me since childhood. I particularly love the Irish background of the Fitzgerald siblings, including the warm relationship with their "servant" Lizzie, who is really a surrogate parent to Rick and Pamela. I just adore the always pleasant, smart, and casually sophisticated Ruth Hussey in this particular role. She is almost as charming as "sleeping beauty" Gail Russell. Pamela lives in a London flat, but is drawn toward Windwood in an almost telepathic way. "Rick, I've had one of my feelings. We're really going to buy the place" She's naturally in tune with the spirit world, and tells Rick not to scoff at ghosts or seances. I'm always sa amazed at the bold, even aggressive, way Alan Napier as Dr. Scott "goes after" Pamela. I've never seen a country doctor do that in a movie before, lol. Victor Young's score is brilliantly evocative and multi-layered. Lewis Allen's direction allows the unfolding of the mystery to be skillfully interwoven with the supernatural elements. Gail's performance is remarkable, she is believable, fragile, you just want to take Stella into your heart and protect her from life's dangers. I'm a Milland fan. His narration at the opening, "They call these the haunted shores, those stretches of Devonshire and Cornwall..." really "invites" us into the story. The way his characters turn serious or light-hearted on a dime, I find dramatically intriguing. Of Cornelia Otis Skinner, what can I say, lol? She IS "Holy Holloway", so completely sinister in that part. I just can't imagine Cornelia as a teenager jaunting through Europe with friend Emily Kimbrough, their hearts young and gay, ha! THE UNINVITED has delightful sprinklings of gentle humor throughout but never lets the audience out of the tale's moody, tense and compellingly spooky grip. We never know just when a shock is coming. The atmosphere is eerie and homey at the same time. It's a one-of-a-kind movie, and close to my heart. I love it.

 

A good (Universal) video clip is worth repeating. Thanks to you, I've see

that nifty, scary compilation before, ha!

 

Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Apr 11, 2011 5:33 AM

[Bronxgirl48]

Jackie and molo, I've been having problems accessing the boards and answering individual posts. This started yesterday. I was able to post to Maven directly this evening, but not anyone else.

 

So I watched LOVE AFFAIR and thought I'd prefer it over AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER I do, however at the same time I also appreciate the arch, almost comically heightened artificial Sirkian romanticism and visual lushness of the remake. LOVE AFFAIR is definitely the superior version, with charm and humanity. AATR has the glossy Technicolor production values with that "flat", semi-bland, cardboardy 1950's "look", luxe of course in its own high-blown way. I do appreciate Janou's villa and garden in lush Mediterranean color, which brings out its exotic, timeless dream-world appeal for the lovers, and us. In LA, I liked how Dunne telegraphed Terry's "kept" status with a casual. proprietary twist of her pearl necklace. "He's my boss, too". Marie Ouspenskaya is warm, wise, and loving as the grandmother. She resides in Madiera, Portugal, not on the French Riviera, but it's still heaven.

 

The orphanage kids are in LA. And they sing! Eeek! But yes, Jackie, its easier to swallow, lol. We have the interesting but uneasy blend of brittle sophistication with sweet sentiment in both. Oddly, both Boyer and Grant seem uncomfortable as playboys.

 

Paulette Goddard is somewhat amusing masquerading as a fortune teller in THE CRYSTAL BALL. She's small, curvy, with a shrewd, bewitching, Scarlett O'Harish-ish aura, Her screen persona, from the little I've seen, has a manipulative slyness, and I haven't yet warmed to her as a personality or actress. Ray Milland is his usual charming self

This is the kind of semi-"supernatural" wacky, offbeat comedy I might have enjoyed as a kidlet and embraced over the years, but coming to it at this late date, eh, it's kinda lame and forgettable over all, maybe enjoyable to watch on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

 

Enjoying Elizabeth today. I'm always taken aback when Gloria in BUTTERFIELD 8 orders an extra helping of french fries before her wild week with Laurence Harvey on the boat. I mean, all that grease.

Lee Marvin steals RAINTREE COUNTY. Love the theme song, bittersweet, nostalgic, very beautiful, it really "makes" the story. Never realized the Professor is my blonde, wavy-haired Brit Nigel Patrick. And we see his **** arms!!!! They're a bit thin but I was excited, lol.

His character has a bit too many "dear boy"s for comfort, it gets tedious, but he milks the misanthropy for all it's worth. Taylor makes a perfect Southern belle. She's bee-atchy, neurotic, headstrong, vulnerable, sensuous, and utterly beautiful. Her monologue to Clift about the fire is extremely well done. She could have delivered the lines very histrionically, which would have been emotional overkiil, but instead gives us the traumatic remembrances with steady, clear, dramatic control.

 

Rod Taylor's performance as Garwood made me think that somewhere along the line in his career he would have been perfectly cast as Brom Bones in a version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

 

Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Apr 11, 2011 5:28 AM

[Bronxgirl48]

Anyone having Royal Wedding celebrations/foods on April 29th?

 

[JackFavell]

It's not just you having problems with the boards this weekend. They were just plain not working.

 

I loved what you wrote about *Frankenstein* . The up and down motif - right down to Dwight's socks! I loved that... great! Another film with up and down motifs is *The Third Man*, which could be a sort of retelling of the Frankenstein story... I think, maybe. Holly, despite the urgings of everyone involved brings Harry the monster "back to life" and in the end must be the one to take his life.

 

In fact, I think Carol Reed focused on up and down a lot - I'm thinking The Fallen Idol has a lot of up and down in it too.

 

I also love *The Uninvited* - I watch it every time it's on - never miss it!

 

Thanks for appreciating Ruth Hussey - I think she makes it look so easy and is so self assured that people don't realize how much she brings to the story. The way she connects to the house and spirit world really works for me - maybe because she seems so down to earth, sensible. The two _aren't_ mutually exclusive. I find that I identify with Ruth more than anyone else in the story, and the same goes for pretty much every movie she is in. If my life story were being made, I'd want Ruth Hussey to play me.

 

THAT WAS ALAN NAPIER?

 

wow. I always did like him better than Neil Hamilton - and the same holds true for movies in which I don't even know it's him! I like him a lot in The Uninvited - willing to jump headlong into the ghost world with Ruth, even though he is a doctor - definitely a one of a kind doc. How cool is he?!!

 

Gail Russell is always wonderful...she's so frail, and yet she has a lot of personality - I think maybe she felt like an oddball in this world much of the time, in spite of her beauty. But that makes for great characters and interesting acting. Your eye always goes to her.

 

I always like Ray Milland, charming, a little sarcastic, making his little comments on what's happening with his eyes. He really has a tough role in The Uninvited - walking that line between comedy and drama - something he actually did in a lot of his movies. Here it's difficult, but he navigates it like a pro.

 

I can picture Cornelia Otis Skinner as a young woman, taking the world by storm... I wish she had made more movies, so we could see her range. Somehow, I don't think Mrs. Holloway was the extent of it. She's in *The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing*, *The Swimmer* and the 1920 version of Kismet.

 

I never really thought about it, but the title - *The Uninvited* - it's kind of a double meaning. Ruth and Ray butt in where they are not wanted, over and over - first finding the house, then taking over the care of poor Stella.... crashing Miss Holloway's rest home.... they are the real "uninvited."

[MissGoddess]

Hey Laaaaaadies,

 

I don't want to interrupt the ongoing discussion here so I posted a couple of questions about Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in "Rambles"....can some of you help me out? Bronxie, I know you know this movie and I finally made myself watch it all the way through (mostly), in Elizabeth's honor.

 

HEY SWAMPY!!!

[movieman1957]

Not Royal celebrations but my own. It will be my 27th wedding anniversary.

[MissGoddess]

> {quote:title=movieman1957 wrote:}{quote}

> Not Royal celebrations but my own. It will be my 27th wedding anniversary.

 

Now that's a marriage. Early congratulations, Chris. I'm sure you and your bride are no George and Martha.

[CineMaven]

That picture you posted of Marilyn brings this to mind...TCM's promo of what's new for April. There's a book out about Marilyn. In that promo, there is a shot of Marilyn looking up at Arthur Miller and she looks positively contemporary and adorable.

 

So I watched 'LOVE AFFAIR' and thought I'd prefer it over 'AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER'...The orphanage kids are in LA. And they sing! Eeek! But yes, Jackie, its easier to swallow, lol.

 

Oh boy, I head for the heeeels when the kids come on the scene in both versions.

 

We have the interesting but uneasy blend of brittle sophistication with sweet sentiment in both. Oddly, both Boyer and Grant seem uncomfortable as playboys.

 

I thought they captured that pretty well. We know in real life though, that Boyer was very devoted to his wife. But I can see Boyer and Cary playing the field and catching lotsa little fishies in their continental nets.

 

Paulette Goddard is somewhat amusing masquerading as a fortune teller in 'THE CRYSTAL BALL.' She's small, curvy, with a shrewd, bewitching, Scarlett O'Harish-ish aura, Her screen persona, from the little I've seen, has a manipulative slyness, and I haven't yet warmed to her as a personality or actress.

 

You've named all the traits that make me like Goddard. This was a fluff of a movie though and she did a passable job. But it's her personality that is the winning feature for me.She pulsates and shines brightly like a copper penny.

 

I was out and about all day yesterday. I think I was kind of avoiding Elizabeth Taylor. I must confess that I don't see her as having passed on at all; that is how I'm going to get through dealing with it. Hmmm, I probably need to schedule a visit with Miss Holloway below. (Plaster saint is another way to put it). I did see "National Velvet" and was quite taken by her sincerity and etherealness in her performance. She was also given some glorious close-ups. (Move over Hedy!)

 

Enjoying Elizabeth today. I'm always taken aback when Gloria in 'BUTTERFIELD 8' orders an extra helping of french fries before her wild week with Laurence Harvey on the boat. I mean, all that grease.

 

Awwww let the girl have her grease. After all, she has a Yankee Stadium-size fan club to keep happy especially working those stiletto heels of hers. The girl needs her carbs...and some Isotoner foot pads. I loved the way she ordered the fries; she sounded so very natural and like it was a throwaway line...like that was her real voice. It read better to me than talking about being with the Major: "I liked it!!!" By the by, that boat didn't look that sturdy.

 

Taylor makes a perfect Southern belle. She's bee-atchy, neurotic, headstrong, vulnerable, sensuous, and utterly beautiful. Her monologue to Clift about the fire is extremely well done. She could have delivered the lines very histrionically, which would have been emotional overkiil, but instead gives us the traumatic remembrances with steady, clear, dramatic control.

 

There were flashes in Elizabeth's performances that reveals her genius at expressing emotion. She needed a strong director who wouldn?t let her go over the top. Her beauty obscured her talent ofttimes.

 

Rod Taylor's performance as Garwood made me think that somewhere along the line in his career he would have been perfectly cast as Brom Bones in a version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

 

I don't pretend to know the classics: ( "...Sleepy Hollow" but with a name like Brom, I fear Rod's obvious masculine charms might be tamped down and all covered up...and that will never do. ;-)

 

By gad, sir, you're right -- that really is our wasp boy Zinnie as little Maria's father. (by the way, how did he know she was murdered, and not just accidentally drowned?)

 

As soon as I heard his voice I knew. Then I looked it up and confirmed it. How did he know she was murdered? The little girl is a country girl who's used to valleys and streams and brooks. Besides, everyone knows that people who wear lederhosen a smart as a whip and can figure things out quickly. Just look at Colombo. Oh yeah, you can't tell me he wasn't wearing lederhosen underneath that rumpled raincoat. (Wasn't Ray Milland on an episode??)

 

Don't get me started again on pickle-pussed Colin Clive, lol. His **** paroxyms of scientific hubris are very well done, though, I must say.

 

Me get you started? Oh not me ma'am. I don't want to get you started as wonderful a read as that was. As for Colin, his fits of peroxide seemed more suitable to "REEFER MADNESS" than to the land of science, medicine and lederhosen.

 

I'm fascinated by the verticality of FRANKENSTEIN -- the "up and down" motifs.

 

I loved how you laid out the instances of verticality in FRANKENSTEIN. That went over this maven's head, but your pointing it out makes it crystal clear. Thanx!

 

Karloff's imploring, eloquent hands reach up toward the light.

 

That gesture of the Monster?s broke my heart. :-(

 

***

 

THE UNINVITED has been cozily with me since childhood.

 

You wrote a lyrically wonderful review of the movie that I enjoyed reading, Bronxella.

 

I'm a Milland fan... The way his characters turn serious or light-hearted on a dime, I find dramatically intriguing.

 

I am fast becoming a Ray Milland fan. Oh, I've always known him...thought he was okay. I remember 'Raymond' in "BOLERO" "X-The Man With the X-Ray Eyes" "Love Story" and his tour-de-force performance with Roosevelt Grier. That's how I knew him when I was young. And there were any number of other leading men more vibrant that I pinned my fantasies on. But there's something in what I'm seeing of Milland lately that is bringing him into my sights with more crystal clarity. He has a light touch. And that makes his performance in "LOST WEEKEND" all the more harrowing. Sometimes the Oscar is given for your one performance measured up against the body of your work up until that time. (Hell, that's the only way I can explain "Kitty Foyle").

 

I just adore the always pleasant, smart, and casually sophisticated Ruth Hussey in this particular role. She is almost as charming as "sleeping beauty" Gail Russell.

 

Proof again that there was such a plethora of talent in "the golden age of Hollywood" that someone like 'The Great Hussey' gets a little lost in the Hollywood shuffle. No one?s trying to protect her. She?s competent. She is smart...but she doesn?t read sexy and that might?ve done in having an A-list career. She had a great sophisticated voice and a nice comfortable screen presence. As for "sleeping beauty" I was very drawn to Gail Russell as I wrote earlier.

 

I'm always sa amazed at the bold, even aggressive, way Alan Napier as Dr. Scott "goes after" Pamela. I've never seen a country doctor do that in a movie before, lol.

 

Who knew that Batman?s ?Albert? had it in him. I liked Alan Napier in ISLE OF THE DEAD and in MARNIE. I find him reassuring.

 

Of Cornelia Otis Skinner, what can I say, lol? She IS "Holy Holloway", so completely sinister in that part. I just can't imagine Cornelia as a teenager jaunting through Europe with friend Emily Kimbrough, their hearts young and gay, ha!

 

Didn't Gail Russell play her in the movie of the same name? Cornelia could give Judith Anderson or Gale Sondergaard a run for their money. Holy Holloway is sexual repression to the nth degree. And putting that in the hands of a psychologist...

dangerous and deadly!!

 

THE UNINVITED has delightful sprinklings of gentle humor throughout but never lets the audience out of the tale's moody, tense and compellingly spooky grip. We never know just when a shock is coming. The atmosphere is eerie and homey at the same time. It's a one-of-a-kind movie, and close to my heart. I love it.

 

Your review was wonderful!

 

A good (Universal) video clip is worth repeating. Thanks to you, I've see

that nifty, scary compilation before, ha!

 

Did I? I'm sorry to have been repetitive. Hopefully others haven't seen it before. It was really well-done.

 

I'm going to record "HOME BEFORE DARK" and "THE YOUNG PHILADELPHIANS" as I head out into the New York City day. I'm a big Barbara Rush fan, and to think I will actually see her in person in a few weeks.

 

Edited by: CineMaven on Apr 11, 2011 12:34 PM - Egads Bronxie, methinks you gave me a new expression. What am I talkin' about? Oh, you'll know it when you read it.

[JackFavell]

Congratulations, Mr. Movieman, and The Bride! How wonderful that your celebrations are falling on the same day...Now I really will raise a glass, in honor of your loving marriage.

[movieman1957]

Thank you. What a lovely thing to say. Thanks also to MissG for her kind remarks.

[JackFavell]

Maven - I never can get through Raintree County.

 

I agree that Liz is totally perfect in it, but I can't ever stop thinking of Monty's problems when I watch it.

 

I was thinking the other night while watching GWTW (with commercials for Raintree inserted afterwards) that if they did a straight remake of *Gone with the Wind* in the fifties, they had the cast right here, only switched around -

 

Liz/Scarlett

Rod/Rhett

Monty/Ashley

Eva Marie/Melanie

 

Is this what they were trying for in Raintree? I don't know because I've never watched it all the way through.... LEE MARVIN is in it? I never knew! I should give it another try. I'm not saying that anyone could ever remake GWTW, but that they might have given it a run for it's money if they just flat out copied it - especially in their lead couples. As it is, every movie that attempts to follow in it's footsteps misses the mark widely. I think partly because they try to mask so obvious an attempt.... and I guess partly because the heavens were completely in alignment for every aspect of GWTW.

 

As for The Crystal Ball - I'm with you - I love Paulette here and it was a fun glimpse for me into what made her a star. I'll admit, I never saw it before, except in *The Women*.

 

 

Bronxie -

 

*Love Affair* - I agree about how each of the actors displayed some discomfort with the playboy image, and used that discomfort in the role - they both skirt around it boyishly, and their embarrassment at being called on the carpet seems to make them even more intriguing and elusive. If Michel/Nicky didn't feel a little guilty for catting around, would we like them as much?

 

I especially liked that you mentioned that the "1950's lush Technicolor" and the "flat cardboard" blandness of *An Affair to Remember* - it comes together into something very "studio"....well, to me anyway. I have never really appreciated that part of the movie.... in fact, it bothers me. It's interesting to compare with *Bonjour Tristesse*, which has such realistic, beautifully natural locations, and yet is all about artificiality.

 

I just watched *Dead Ringers* for the first time, and thought it was a brilliant idea, well done by all. Bette as Edith/Margaret was just great. And if you want to see a real, unrepentant playboy - check out Peter Lawford.... aaauuughh. The absolute bottom of the barrel slimebucket. He makes you want to gag. Luckily, he gets his proper ending.

 

I love *Butterfield 8*. Absolutely everything about it, except maybe Laurence Harvey as another playboy monster. But I can't think of anyone I like seeing tormented better, and Liz is so good at it. I'm still amazed at how Liz throws herself into the movie, even though she supposedly hated it. I can't help it, I just eat it all up with a spoon. I watched the *Father of the Bride* movies and came away thinking how warm and natural Liz's relationship with Spencer Tracy was - and then RO came on and answered my one question - which was how they got along offscreen - he was like a father figure to her. I should have known, it really shows all through the movies.

 

Edited by: JackFavell on Apr 11, 2011 3:08 PM

 

Edited by: JackFavell on Apr 11, 2011 3:08 PM

[OllieTSB]

This thread and the others with our good writers is why I wouldn't waste time on a Maltin 'review'.

[CineMaven]

Hi Jackaaaaaaaaaay, I can't really do "RAINTREE COUNTY". But I love "BUtterfield 8". That's the only movie I could really watch yesterday without feeling sad (though I was out most of the day) b'cuz it's ALL so over-the-top; prim, proper, stick-in-the-mud, uptight Susan Oliver, Grace Kelly-Lite Dina Merrill, old vaudevillian Thelma Ritter wannabe Kay Medford, the wonderful-

ly acerbic Betty Field, denyingly delusional Mildred Dunnock, gutless clue-

less spineless song-writer Eddie Fisher, wonderfully meddling but this time smart Mother of Dina Merrill....and then there's Elizabeth. Stiletto heels, pearls, --raven haired-- no, make that a deep dark soft mink colored brunette. There's nobody like her.

 

* "I'M ME!!!"

* "NO SALE!!"

 

Oh yeah...."BUtterfield 8." It's like buttah!

 

Hi there Ollie - Bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia. Oh, and also send me "THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES." I'm dying to see that movie again.

 

This thread and the others with our good writers is why I wouldn't waste time on a Maltin 'review'.

 

I've ofttimes told some of the others here that their writing is worthy of a book of essays on classic films.

[JackFavell]

I love how you spell BUtterfield 8. The correct way. Remember when phone numbers had prefixes? Ours was JE.

 

Your descriptions give me almost as much joy as the movie does. I especially watched Betty Field and Mildred Dunnock this time. Love Betty's humor, she's always got a little good-natured smirk on her face.

[CineMaven]

Hi , I remember phones with prefixes. We had two. One was MO6-XXXX, the other one was TE1-XXXX. Lotsa stuff to remember when I was a child.

 

Betty Field was great in the movie. I crack up when she says just before the fade out "I must have said that wrong." (Or words to that effect).

[CineMaven]

This stooooopid A$$ double-post is NOT my fault. The Board is wonkers...again.

[JackFavell]

You mean still....

 

Whoa.... it looks different inside this reply box....

 

I can't reprint your quote the way I want to...

 

There are a lot of other gadgets in here.... and a preview button. But the copy and paste buttons open up a completely different box. As always, the idea is good, just not the follow thru.

[MissGoddess]

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

> You mean still....

>

> Whoa.... it looks different inside this reply box....

>

> I can't reprint your quote the way I want to...

>

> There are a lot of other gadgets in here.... and a preview button. But the copy and paste buttons open up a completely different box. As always, the idea is good, just not the follow thru.

 

I'm seeing two boxes here, one on top with lots of new buttons, but no way to insert my cursor and actually use the box, and one below where I can type and it is the same format/options as the original reply box. And I have no Preview button.

 

Strange.

[JackFavell]

Oh my gosh.... if it weren't so pathetic it would be hilarious!

 

I think I'm about to have a fit of hysterical laughter.

[MissGoddess]

Remember the Looney Tunes where the cartoonist is tormenting Daffy Duck by making all these changes on him without rhyme or reason? I feel like that's what's happening here with us.

[JackFavell]

Oh that is the PERFECT analogy! :D

[JackFavell]

[MissGoddess]

Oh my goodness...that just says it all.

[JackFavell]

Do they give out instructions with this new format?