I Just Watched...

[MCannady1]

"She" (1935).  Great, howling piece of camp from the very beginning.  I watched the colorized version on YT; instead of a black and white cheapo-deluxe (which is how it looked the first time I saw it on videotape), it looked like a semi-expensive piece of film.  This is maybe the only case of a good job of colorizing a film (and it reflects how bad a condition the b&w video of "She" was in).  The plot: Randolph Scott and company are in search of The Flame of Immortality.  

 

Actors are marvelous.  Nigel Bruce babbles on brainlessly throughout the film.  He's a delight.  Randolph Scotts' character seems dimwitted.  Helen Mack finally looks attractive (in b&w, she blended into the background), although she gets all the worst lines.  Helen Gahagan, as She, gets the most memorable lines in the film and delivers them well.

 

My favorites:  She, in a minor snit, to subjects who had mishandled Scott:  "WHO gave you leave to think contrary to MY will??!

Bruce, after the queendom they're looking for has been found, pooh-poohing Scotts' fears of an unfriendly reception:  "Oh, Bosh!  The natives are preparing a ceremony of welcome!" ( They're definitely not.)

 

Max Steiner's score is gorgeous, the special effects actually look better colorized than in b&w IMHO, and the dance numbers--are unforgettable,and maybe the funniest things in the film.

 

One more thing; "She" was nominated for Best Dance Direction(?!?), so "She" would be eligible to be shown during TCM's 31 Days of Oscar!  TCM, Please show this in 2017; the last time "She" was reviewed was in 2011!   

 

Wonderfully funny film, a Great watch; 9.5 stars out of 10.

I have never seen this one, but it sounds very good!  Somehow I have missed it with all the other 30's films I've seen.

 

Thanks for neat info.  I would be glad to see it either way, but this version sounds even better.  Will catch on You Tube.  (I do hope that TCM will "listen" to our pleas  to air the film).

[GregoryPeckfan]

ROMANCE (1930): recorded on PVR from TCM, the first time I've seen it:

 

This pre-code early talkie stars Greta Garbo, Lewis Stone and Gavin Gordon

 

This movie was one of the films recommended I believe on the thread Bogie started about Favourite Performances from the 1930s.

 

I've seen quite a lot of both Garbo and Stone this month, especially Stone.

 

Garbo is an opera star kept by Stone who meets minister Gordon before a performance - he does not know who she is.  They fall in love, him never guessing her relationship with Stone - who also wants it hidden from him because they are friends.

 

 

As most people know, with the exception of Ninotchka, most of Garbo's film roles have at least some hardship, so I won't go too far into the plot except to say that this is really Gavin's story.

 

Gavin Gordon is telling this story in retrospect to his grandson who is in love with a woman whom his mother doesn't think he should marry.  It's his story.

 

 

I wonder who dubbed Garbo's singing voice?  Does anyone know?

 

 

Interesting thing about Gavin Gordon.  He is very young in this and looks somewhat like a young Eddie Albert in some scenes.  I know Gavin Gordon best from his role as the policeman in the Vincent Price/Agnes Moorehead  version of the Mary Roberts Reinhart mystery The Bat.  I read The Bat before seeing the mystery.  There was a time when I used to watch that movie at least once a month and had all the dialogue memorized.  I packed things away awhile back and I've lost track of the DVD.  I saw it so often that I couldn't help but think of it when I discovered he was in the film.

[LonesomePolecat]

I don't think the two Mr. Lloyds are related.?

 

I am a big fan of Norman Lloyd as might be expected from s Hitchcock fan.  Yes, Mr. Lloyd is 100.  Wonderful to know he passed that he passed that century mark.

 

I'm hoping that TCM airs the interview he had at last year's TCM festival -something I've never been able to attend - so that I can see it.

 

Another great who will be turning 100 this year is Kirk Douglas - that is in December.

Olivia de Havilland will also be 100 this year

[LonesomePolecat]

This is the problem I have with The Paradine Case.  Although it is overlong, and Peck was not allowed to work on a British accent to appear more believable for his role as a British barrister, it is an engaging courtroom melodrama.  Where it goes wrong is that is  directed by Hitchcock.  Really, Selznick had total control over it and edited it his way, etc.  But if I pretend I do not know who the director was, I enjoy it more.

YES-- exactly. This effect reminds me of something Henry F Potter said: "If this young man were a common ordinary yokel, I'd say he's doing alright. But George Bailey is NOT a common ordinary yokel!"

 

In contrast to A FOREIGN AFFAIR, right now I'm watching THE MORE THE MERRIER which is a completely and utterly satisfying screwball comedy.

[LornaHansonForbes]

ROMANCE (1930): recorded on PVR from TCM, the first time I've seen it:

 

Interesting thing about Gavin Gordon.  He is very young in this and looks somewhat like a young Eddie Albert in some scenes.  I know Gavin Gordon best from his role as the policeman in the Vincent Price/Agnes Moorehead  version of the Mary Roberts Reinhart mystery The Bat.  I read The Bat before seeing the mystery.  There was a time when I used to watch that movie at least once a month and had all the dialogue memorized.  I packed things away awhile back and I've lost track of the DVD.  I saw it so often that I couldn't help but think of it when I discovered he was in the film.

 

most people know GAVIN GORDON from his role as GEORGE GORDON, LORD BYRON in the prologue of THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, wherein it has been alleged (and I can see it) that director James Whale layers the scene with suggestions that Byron and Percy Shelley are having an affair and Byron is taunting Mary Shelley about it.

 

Gordon was one of those marvelous 1930's dandies, who never really hid the fact that he was gay- in fact it's right out there in the open for much of his work...there is one film he appears in (kind of a B programmer) where he plays a shady bank teller who is- i think- using a woman to pull off a heist. his eyebrows in this one are heavily tweezed, and it's rather like watching a drag performance sans make-up...only Gordon combines the sensual elements of both men and women into his performances, something that would not be seen on screen for a loooooooooooong time once the Code kicked in and the War started. (after 1937, Gordon seemed to switch over to uncredited bit parts and later, a lot of TV)

 

He was also in MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM, THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN (a small role in the beginning as Stanwyck's doomed fiancee) and uncredited parts in NOTORIOUS and WHITE CHRISTMAS.

 

He was also- get this- in a long term relationship with EDWARD EVERETT HORTON!!!!!!!!

 

[film lover 293]

GregoryPeckfan--Garbo was dubbed in "Romance" (1930) by a Diana Gaylen.

 

source:  Garbo forever.com

[speedracer5]

Dangerous.  This is a Bette Davis movie that I've been wanting to see and I don't believe I'd seen it on the schedule before.  I'm aware however, that this is not a premiere.  This film was crazy.  I believe I'd only ever seen Franchot Tone in one other film-- Suzy.  I must say that I enjoyed him in this film more.  The storyline was bonkers and I thought that Davis did a great job.  She won an Oscar for this film.  Compared to her 1935 competition, I'm not sure if I'd have given her the award for this film, even though I liked her in Dangerous.  I would probably have given it to Katharine Hepburn for Alice Adams.  Davis' second Oscar would have definitely been deserved in one of her subsequent films, however.  I especially enjoyed the car crash scene.  You know nothing good can ever come from a character driving maniacally down the road with a very intent look in their eyes and turning the wheel back and forth.  Why do characters "drive" by turning the wheel back and forth? The car would be all over the road! 8/10.

 

Black Legion.  This was an interesting film. It was a Bogart and Ann Sheridan film I hadn't seen before.  I recognized the woman playing Sheridan's mother as the woman who plays Errol's mother in Gentleman Jim.  This film was very timely, with Bogart becoming involved in essentially the K KK.  I thought it was interesting because it was a film in which the Bogart character is actually weak.  He appears strong, but in reality, Bogart's anger over being passed over for the promotion allows him to be swept into this racist hate group.  The fact that many of his co-workers were part of this group only helped in convincing Bogart to join.  The ending scene in the courthouse, I feel, is one of the most emotional and powerful scenes in Bogart's career.  The ending scene between Bogart and his wife is heartbreaking. 8/10. 

[MCannady1]

Dangerous.  This is a Bette Davis movie that I've been wanting to see and I don't believe I'd seen it on the schedule before.  I'm aware however, that this is not a premiere.  This film was crazy.  I believe I'd only ever seen Franchot Tone in one other film-- Suzy.  I must say that I enjoyed him in this film more.  The storyline was bonkers and I thought that Davis did a great job.  She won an Oscar for this film.  Compared to her 1935 competition, I'm not sure if I'd have given her the award for this film, even though I liked her in Dangerous.  I would probably have given it to Katharine Hepburn for Alice Adams.  Davis' second Oscar would have definitely been deserved in one of her subsequent films, however.  I especially enjoyed the car crash scene.  You know nothing good can ever come from a character driving maniacally down the road with a very intent look in their eyes and turning the wheel back and forth.  Why do characters "drive" by turning the wheel back and forth? The car would be all over the road! 8/10.

 

Black Legion.  This was an interesting film. It was a Bogart and Ann Sheridan film I hadn't seen before.  I recognized the woman playing Sheridan's mother as the woman who plays Errol's mother in Gentleman Jim.  This film was very timely, with Bogart becoming involved in essentially the K KK.  I thought it was interesting because it was a film in which the Bogart character is actually weak.  He appears strong, but in reality, Bogart's anger over being passed over for the promotion allows him to be swept into this racist hate group.  The fact that many of his co-workers were part of this group only helped in convincing Bogart to join.  The ending scene in the courthouse, I feel, is one of the most emotional and powerful scenes in Bogart's career.  The ending scene between Bogart and his wife is heartbreaking. 8/10. 

Yes, Dangerous was quite a film.  Very good Bette Davis performance.  The car crash scene was pretty scary but predictable.

 

I like Black Legion, too.   Bogie and Ann Sheridan and all of the actors / actresses delivered powerful performances. tt was a film that really stayed with me.  The extremists were very scary.

[GregoryPeckfan]

Dangerous.  This is a Bette Davis movie that I've been wanting to see and I don't believe I'd seen it on the schedule before.  I'm aware however, that this is not a premiere.  This film was crazy.  I believe I'd only ever seen Franchot Tone in one other film-- Suzy.  I must say that I enjoyed him in this film more.  The storyline was bonkers and I thought that Davis did a great job.  She won an Oscar for this film.  Compared to her 1935 competition, I'm not sure if I'd have given her the award for this film, even though I liked her in Dangerous.  I would probably have given it to Katharine Hepburn for Alice Adams.  Davis' second Oscar would have definitely been deserved in one of her subsequent films, however.  I especially enjoyed the car crash scene.  You know nothing good can ever come from a character driving maniacally down the road with a very intent look in their eyes and turning the wheel back and forth.  Why do characters "drive" by turning the wheel back and forth? The car would be all over the road! 8/10.

 

Black Legion.  This was an interesting film. It was a Bogart and Ann Sheridan film I hadn't seen before.  I recognized the woman playing Sheridan's mother as the woman who plays Errol's mother in Gentleman Jim.  This film was very timely, with Bogart becoming involved in essentially the K KK.  I thought it was interesting because it was a film in which the Bogart character is actually weak.  He appears strong, but in reality, Bogart's anger over being passed over for the promotion allows him to be swept into this racist hate group.  The fact that many of his co-workers were part of this group only helped in convincing Bogart to join.  The ending scene in the courthouse, I feel, is one of the most emotional and powerful scenes in Bogart's career.  The ending scene between Bogart and his wife is heartbreaking. 8/10. 

Oh, you need to see more Franchot Tone films.  He is excellent.

 

I recently saw Black Legion for the first time myself.  I watched it because I want to see every movie Bogart ever made.  It is an excellent movie, but I will likely not watch the movie again.  I nearly stopped watching half way through due to the subject matter.  I hear enough racist comments in today's political world to be able to enjoy this film for enjoyment's sake.  I would watch it again in a Bogart marathon, but not otherwise.

[GregoryPeckfan]

RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP (1958):

 

This was recorded on Silver Screen Classics by PVR.  I have seen it many times.  I decided to take a break from my attempt to increase my never seen before films to seen films and watch an old favourite of mine.

 

This is a WWII submarine suspense film starring Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster and produced by Lancaster.  It co-starred many great character actors and future superstars such as Jack Warden, Brad Dexter, Don Rickles, and several famous nameless faces.

 

This was near the end of Gable's life.  You can see why he was The King of Hollywood.  When he is on screen you look at him. 

 

Love this film.

[SansFin]

RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP (1958):

 

 

This is scheduled for: April. I am looking forward to it. It is an excellent movie and it has been a long time since I have had the opportunity to watch it.

[Fedya]

I believe I'd only ever seen Franchot Tone in one other film-- Suzy.

You've never seen the 1935 Mutiny on the Bounty? (Much better than the Marlon Brando version.)

 

I'd also recommend him opposite future wife Joan Tone in Dancing Lady, which also has Fred Astaire and the Three Stooges.

[LornaHansonForbes]

Speedy,

 

Your reviews of BLACK LEGION and DANGEROUS were terrific.

 

in re: FRANCHOT TONE

 

I'm guessing you still have not watched FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO as per mon recomendaccion. Maybe this'll move it up in your queue of films to watch.

 

Ultimately, I think Franchot's private life was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more interesting than any performance  he ever gave, look him up on wikipedia- besides serving time as CRAWFORD's "second" husband, he was one of H-town's biggest lotharios, apparently somewhat legendary for his substantial endowment, and i don't mean the fortune he inherited from his east coast family. actor Tom Neal- from DETOUR- almost beat Tone to death in a fight over a woman. also, it is alleged that the CRAWFORD V. DAVIS feud had its inception in the fact that Bette slept with Franchot when making DANGEROUS.

 

as an actor- to me, he's okay, but ultimately kind of a "Melvin" (sort of "square")- much like Ty Power, he was not blessed with a particularly rich or dignified voice, but kind of a nasally, high-pitched. His Best Actor nomination for BOUNTY apparently caused such an uproar it led to the inception of the supporting categories the very next year (Tone's good in the film, but it's not a lead part, and he really just has that one big scene at the end.)

[tallhair]

Speedy,

 

Your reviews of BLACK LEGION and DANGEROUS were terrific.

 

in re: FRANCHOT TONE

 

I'm guessing you still have not watched FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO as per mon recomendaccion. Maybe this'll move it up in your queue of films to watch.

 

Ultimately, I think Franchot's private life was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more interesting than any performance  he ever gave, look him up on wikipedia- besides serving time as CRAWFORD's "second" husband, he was one of H-town's biggest lotharios, apparently somewhat legendary for his substantial endowment, and i don't mean the fortune he inherited from his east coast family. actor Tom Neal- from DETOUR- almost beat Tone to death in a fight over a woman. also, it is alleged that the CRAWFORD V. DAVIS feud had its inception in the fact that Bette slept with Franchot when making DANGEROUS.

 

as an actor- to me, he's okay, but ultimately kind of a "Melvin" (sort of "square")- much like Ty Power, he was not blessed with a particularly rich or dignified voice, but kind of a nasally, high-pitched. His Best Actor nomination for BOUNTY apparently caused such an uproar it led to the inception of the supporting categories the very next year (Tone's good in the film, but it's not a lead part, and he really just has that one big scene at the end.)

 

Very interesting ... I thought he was perfect in Mutiny in his role but am surprised he got a BA nomination

 

I found this Lisa Burks quote over at IMIDB

 

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0867144/board/nest/15603626?ref_=nm_bd_1

 

Tone earned his nomination in 1935 on the strength of his portrayal of Midshipman Roger Byam in MGMs epic adventure Mutiny on the Bounty. Lead actors Clark Gable and Charles Laughton were also nominated for the same film, which won Best Picture, but all three lost out to Victor McLaglen (The Informer.) Due in part to Tones performance, the Academy recognized the need to honor featured players in their own right and the following year created the Best Supporting Actor and Actress categories that are still awarded today. 

 

[LornaHansonForbes]

it's been a while since I've seen BOUNTY so i shouldn't be too critical...I do seem to recall TONE does his BIG SCENE (at the trial at the end) well, but outside of that BIG SCENE, the role does not demand much and he- as most everyone does- just lets Laughton run with it for most of the film (as well they should.)

[film lover 293]

"Balalaika" (1939)--Film is set in 1914 Russia.  The good:  When the actors/actresses sing, film is wonderful.  Nelson Eddy is more assured and competent acting than he was when paired with Jeanette MacDonald, IMHO.   Ilona Massey has a good voice, although she doesn't smolder like MGM apparently wanted her to (she's introduced in a cabaret, costumed and singing like a Marlene Dietrich knockoff).  Eddy does a perfect job of "The Volga Boatman", sung in Russian(?)--is films' high point.  Eddy and Massey duet on the beginning of "Carmen", Act II to fine effect.  Another highlight is Eddys' singing "Silent Night" in German to the opponents in WW I; this has some basis in fact.

 

The bad (or the silly side of things):  As film begins, Cossacks are rampaging through a town on horseback, waving what looked to be mini pom-poms on a stick: Nelson Eddy was at the front of the riders, waving a sword or whip.  He started to sing, and the first three words of the song were "Men and leather..."; later, at the cabaret where Massey is singing (sporting a tattoo of a bird and a beauty mark that looks like a pimple), Eddy starts singing about "wine, horses, and women".  The plot is nonsense that includes WW I, the Russian Revolution and a farrago of an opera the credits said was based on Rimsky-Korsakoffs' "Scheherazade".

 

The lines that almost made me choke on my coffee that I haven't already listed:  Eddy to Massey, while trying to seduce her: "Your teeth are national treasures".  Massey does have a smile any dentist would be proud of, but if MGMs' dentists got a credit, I missed it.  Eddy's orderly, replying as to whether the orderly has a new girlfriend: "Yes, hot off the griddle, you might say."

 

My take: 5.6/10 stars if you watch only for musical elements; 7.8/10 stars if you appreciate the unintentional humor (which I did, even at 4:00 in the a.m.).

[LawrenceA]

Come Fill the Cup - (8/10) - 1951 Warner Brothers film has long been sought after by me, as it was the sole remaining Oscar nominated film in the acting categories that I had not seen from the 1950s. James Cagney stars as a recovering alcoholic newspaperman that gets ordered by his paper's publisher to help shepherd his dilettante nephew through his own battle with the bottle. The thorniest part of this situation is that the nephew is married to Cagney's old flame (Phyllis Thaxter), a former co-worker at the paper. There's also a subplot about the paper's crusade to expose a big-time local gangster (Sheldon Leonard), and this gets tied back into the drunk nephew's story as well, in a contrived bit of screenwriting.

 

Gig Young received a Best Supporting Actor nod for this as the playboy nephew, and he's good, with a couple of big showy scenes near the end. James Gleason is also terrific (as usual) as Cagney's sober-coach. Raymond Massey, Douglas Spencer, Kathleen Freeman, and a lot of other familiar character faces show up, and there's a sultry nightclub singer played by Charlita. Cagney anchors the film, though, and he is very good, with a few highly emotional scenes that stretched his range a bit. Other than the few bits of credulity-straining plot threads, the film was very enjoyable, especially after literally decades of anticipation. Recommended.

 

 

First time watched.   Source: VHS, from a box of old tape recordings purchased at a flea market. 

[EugeniaH]

"The Poseidon Adventure" - it's so bad, it's good.

[GregoryPeckfan]

BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE (1958):

 

I re-recorded this movie on PVR when it aired earlier this month.  I've seen it several times.

 

I decided again to watch one of my old favourites tonight rather than shorten my to-see list of first time seen.  This movie stars James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemon, Elsa Lanchester, and Hermoine Gingold and Ernie Kovaks and is a movie good for Halloween or Christmas (starts Christmas Eve).

 

I must admit that I chose this particular movie tonight for a reason:

 

I am crazy nuts about cats and I wanted to watch a movie where one of the main characters is a cat!

 

I love cats.

 

If my moniker wasn't available I probably would have some reference to cats in my name here.

 

[Mr. Gorman]

Have you ever seen EYE OF THE CAT, the 1969 Universal movie?  There's plenty o'puddy tats in this suspense tale. 

[MCannady1]

Have you ever seen EYE OF THE CAT, the 1969 Universal movie?  There's plenty o'puddy tats in this suspense tale. 

No, but would like to.  Sounds very good.

[MCannady1]

BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE (1958):

 

I re-recorded this movie on PVR when it aired earlier this month.  I've seen it several times.

 

I decided again to watch one of my old favourites tonight rather than shorten my to-see list of first time seen.  This movie stars James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemon, Elsa Lanchester, and Hermoine Gingold and Ernie Kovaks and is a movie good for Halloween or Christmas (starts Christmas Eve).

 

I must admit that I chose this particular movie tonight for a reason:

 

I am crazy nuts about cats and I wanted to watch a movie where one of the main characters is a cat!

 

I love cats.

 

If my moniker wasn't available I probably would have some reference to cats in my name here.

 

I love cats too!  We have two that are dear to our hearts.  I like films with cats too.  I had a great James Mason film iin a trade, but a great scene with a cuddly  Siamese kitty was cut into by a commercial  As a result, we don't see June Havoc embracing and loving the kitty.  He would have done better to have played the commercial..

[MCannady1]

"The Poseidon Adventure" - it's so bad, it's good.

So true!  I didn't like it along the way and then got into it.  It got better, I thought.

[cigarjoe]

I am crazy nuts about cats and I wanted to watch a movie where one of the main characters is a cat!

 

I love cats.

 

If my moniker wasn't available I probably would have some reference to cats in my name here.

 

Watch Harry and Tonto

[tallhair]

Watch Harry and Tonto

 

YES, that is a very enjoyable character study of a movie.  I've watched it several times and will again.

 

two thumbs up.