Dargo Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 28 minutes ago, mkahn22 said: It's possible, but then why did they let Smith live as, usually, the woman is punished, at least, as hard as the man for cheating? The entire affair was handled in a very "not 1950s Motion Picture Production Code" way, IMO. I dunno. I thought it was, and considering the idea that the affair was, first, merely suggested at visually (except for that one kiss), and secondly, the dialogue during that scene in her apartment was also coy and subtle for the most part and would have and in fact must have met the production code standards of that time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fading Fast Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 23 minutes ago, misswonderly3 said: Is that a good or a bad thing? Just curious. I wish the code had never come into being. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fading Fast Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 7 minutes ago, Dargo said: I dunno. I thought it was, and considering the idea that the affair was, first, merely suggested at visually (except for that one kiss), and secondly, the dialogue during that scene in her apartment was also coy and subtle for the most part and would have and in fact must have met the production code standards of that time. You are correct that, technically, they left it Code-approved grey, but I'd argue, the way the scene was edited and, then, their comments in subsequent scenes made it pretty clear what really happened. But to be fair, that is just my interpretation/opinion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 48 minutes ago, Dargo said: I've just checked Wiki here Hibi, and the plot synopses for these films said Holden doesn't die in either The Dark Past (1948) nor in The Counterfeit Traitor (1962). Thanks for that. Too lazy to look it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 2 hours ago, Hibi said: Thanks for that. Too lazy to look it up! Thanks for your suggestions here, though. OH, have just thought of another one where Bill bites the dust... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Rat Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 2 hours ago, Dargo said: Not a big deal here, but I kind'a question Eddie's comment in his outro that it might have come as a surprise to the audiences at the time that Holden ends up in this film as he did, and considering as Eddie mentioned that just a couple of years earlier Sunset Blvd had put him on the Hollywood A-list. I guess Eddie's thought process was that the audiences of that time might not expect any big star who's the lead in a movie ending up like that. Ya see, I would've thought that audiences at the time having already watched Holden floating face down in a swimming pool and once again playing in this film what would become his stock-in-trade cynical type, would be more surprised that this film ended how it did and with essentially one of the "good guys" dying in it and regardless who the lead might have been in it. But like I said, not a big deal here. Just a thought that crossed my mind. (...btw, I've thought of a couple of other Holden flicks in which he meets the same fate...The Bridges at Toko-Ri and The Bridge on the River Kwai...anyone have any others that come to mind?) Add Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing. That's quite a few for a 50s leading man. As for the kiss and fadeout, I didn't have much doubt about what happened next, but if a 1950s audience wanted to believe that not much more happened, the movie left that possibility open. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nakano Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 Holden was feeling somewhat guilty but I noticed O'Brien lost his father and I did not noticed any grief from him as for the Holden Smith affair all Smith says is 'we fought against it' I think everything lacks sensibility like everything is no big deal O'Brien's father got shot and she is telling him she is having an affair with Holden, I know 'the human interest' was not important to the story but I believe it should have been handled better . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 11 minutes ago, King Rat said: That's quite a few [deaths] for a 50s leading man. Yeah, it does seem so, doesn't it, KR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 On 2/6/2022 at 10:07 AM, Thompson said: Neville Brand seems to always come through. He’s got that “about to explode” dangerous energy that’s compelling. Begley gets a thumbs up for a fine performance and the Thompson award for finishing his glass of beer before being taken away by the cops. Too wordy and some contrived dialogue. Alexis Smith was good, she’s got a natural way of acting that as a viewer you don’t think of her as acting. Holden didn’t rub me the wrong way like he usually does, but the clothes everybody wore seemed wrong and the music was bleh and it wasn’t as gritty or low rent as it should have been. Btw Thompson, I've been meaning to ask you this since I first read it a couple of pages back. So, what is it about Holden that usually rubs you wrong way? (...ya see, in my case, I've always greatly appreciated those "clear-eyed realist/cynics" that he's mostly remembered for and which I've always thought he played exceptionally well) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thompson Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 20 hours ago, Dargo said: Btw Thompson, I've been meaning to ask you this since I first read it a couple of pages back. So, what is it about Holden that usually rubs you wrong way? (...ya see, in my case, I've always greatly appreciated those "clear-eyed realist/cynics" that he's mostly remembered for and which I've always thought he played exceptionally well) I said to Laffite that Holden acts slow. Could be that I just don’t like the thinker types, unless the thinkers are thinking up a crime. I don’t know really, certainly Dargo there are actors that rub you the wrong way, or you view as second rate, or you don’t like the mustaches they always sport, etc. Holden’s acting for the most part bores me, but that’s just me. His clothes never seem right. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fading Fast Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 20 minutes ago, Thompson said: I said to Laffite that Holden acts slow. Could be that I just don’t like the thinker types, unless the thinkers are thinking up a crime. I don’t know really, certainly Dargo there are actors that rub you the wrong way, or you view as second rate, or you don’t like the mustaches they always sport, etc. Holden’s acting for the most part bores me, but that’s just me. His clothes never seem right. I'm fine with Holden as an actor - not my favorite, but no issues - yet, to your last point, his shoulders to neckline seem too straight or something, which always makes his suit jackets and sport coats fit odd. How's that for an absolutely insanely nitpicky complaint? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thompson Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 Now the slowest actor of them all is Marlon Brando. But he has that violent side, under the skin kind of thing that people are afraid of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 22 hours ago, Dargo said: Thanks for your suggestions here, though. OH, have just thought of another one where Bill bites the dust... Yes. Forgot about that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 22 hours ago, King Rat said: Add Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing. That's quite a few for a 50s leading man. As for the kiss and fadeout, I didn't have much doubt about what happened next, but if a 1950s audience wanted to believe that not much more happened, the movie left that possibility open. That's right! Quite a few......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 5 hours ago, Thompson said: I said to Laffite that Holden acts slow. Could be that I just don’t like the thinker types, unless the thinkers are thinking up a crime. I don’t know really, certainly Dargo there are actors that rub you the wrong way, or you view as second rate, or you don’t like the mustaches they always sport, etc. Holden’s acting for the most part bores me, but that’s just me. His clothes never seem right. Thanks for your reply here, Thompson. So, one of the reasons Holden rubs ya the wrong is because you think he acts "slow", ya say? Then Gary Cooper must REALLY rub ya the wrong way then, huh! And btw, when you said I must have actors that rub ME the wrong way for whatever reason, the first two that came to mind here were George Raft and James Craig. But, I know EXACTLY why THEY have always rubbed ME the wrong way. (...and THAT'S 'cause they simply couldn't ACT worth a damn!) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 6 hours ago, mkahn22 said: I'm fine with Holden as an actor - not my favorite, but no issues - yet, to your last point, his shoulders to neckline seem too straight or something, which always makes his suit jackets and sport coats fit odd. How's that for an absolutely insanely nitpicky complaint? Actually here mk, I kind'a noticed this very thing during the scene in this flick where Holden (with Alexix Smith sitting shotgun) drives her car downtown and then gets out while telling her to stay in the car. And then later when he walks across the street to get back in her car, I noticed his suit jacket with the then in style padded shoulders didn't quite seem to fit him, and yes, made it seems as you said as if his shoulders were straight across. (...NOT to the extreme of a David Byrne/Stop Making Sense kind'a look mind you, but yeah, I noticed that, alright) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thompson Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 Burning down the house. Yeah for sure there is something wrong with the whole critic point of view. Where would we be without artists? Who else is going to give us the umph? We bad mouth this one and that one only because we are on the outside and don’t have what it takes. Semi llamas. Actors, musicians, wood workers, writers, God bless them all. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misswonderly3 Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 16 hours ago, Dargo said: And btw, when you said I must have actors that rub ME the wrong way for whatever reason, the first two that came to mind here were George Raft and James Craig . But, I know EXACTLY why THEY have always rubbed ME the wrong way. (...and THAT'S 'cause they simply couldn't ACT worth a damn!) Sometimes coming to these boards is a humbling experience for me, which is a good thing. Here I fondly believe that I'm familiar with most actors from "the classic era", only to be reminded now and then that there are actually many which I've never heard of. I have never heard of James Craig. And when I looked him up, I'd never heard of most of the movies he was in. There were a few, a very few, I had heard of, and of them, an even smaller number that I'd seen. But until you mentioned him in your post above, I'd never heard his name, nor did I recognize his face when I looked him up in "images". But I guess that just proves the point you were making, that James Craig is unremarkable . 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fading Fast Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 11 minutes ago, misswonderly3 said: Sometimes coming to these boards is a humbling experience for me, which is a good thing. Here I fondly believe that I'm familiar with most actors from "the classic era", only to be reminded now and then that there are actually many which I've never heard of. I have never heard of James Craig. And when I looked him up, I'd never heard of most of the movies he was in. There were a few, a very few, I had heard of, and of them, an even smaller number that I'd seen. But until you mentioned him in your post above, I'd never heard his name, nor did I recognize his face when I looked him up in "images". But I guess that just proves the point you were making, that James Craig is unremarkable . If it wasn't for "The Human Comedy," I'd of had no idea who he was and would probably have confused him with the Crawford movie "Harriet Craig." The wealth of knowledge on this board is incredible and humbling. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cigarjoe Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 Destino (1945-2003) Noir and Surrealism - Dali And Disney a strange combination Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 59 minutes ago, cigarjoe said: Destino (1945-2003) Noir and Surrealism - Dali And Disney a strange combination Ah yes, CJ. Reminds me of that time during the summer of '69 when my buddy handed me that sugar cube and.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Rat Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 7 hours ago, misswonderly3 said: Sometimes coming to these boards is a humbling experience for me, which is a good thing. Here I fondly believe that I'm familiar with most actors from "the classic era", only to be reminded now and then that there are actually many which I've never heard of. I have never heard of James Craig. And when I looked him up, I'd never heard of most of the movies he was in. There were a few, a very few, I had heard of, and of them, an even smaller number that I'd seen. But until you mentioned him in your post above, I'd never heard his name, nor did I recognize his face when I looked him up in "images". But I guess that just proves the point you were making, that James Craig is unremarkable . Maybe best known for Kitty Foyle, where Ginger Rogers has to choose between him and Dennis Morgan. James Craig was being promoted as "the next Clark Gable," mostly because he was tall and had a mustache. I'm not surprised you didn't remember him. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesJazGuitar Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 I better get this in before Dargo does: James Craig best performance IMO is in the Mickey Rooney film The Strip (1951). Craig plays a gangster convincingly. Much of the picture was shot on location in and around the Sunset Strip. Interiors were shot at popular nightclubs Mocambo and Ciro's and at restaurants Little Hungary and Stripps.[2] 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr6666 Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 7 hours ago, mkahn22 said: If it wasn't for "The Human Comedy," I'd of had no idea who he was and would probably have confused him with the Crawford movie "Harriet Craig." The wealth of knowledge on this board is incredible and humbling. https://images.app.goo.gl/oVtsajutinfzTGVc9 Or from "THE DEVIL & DANIEL WEBSTER'' ? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eucalyptus P. Millstone Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 James Craig was also in the Sci-Fi classic The Cyclops (remake, anyone?) heading a stellar cast that included: Gloria Talbott Tom Drake Lon Chaney, Jr. and . . . Duncan "Dean" Parkin as Cyrus W. Clops 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts