Any Gary Cooper Fans?

[JackFavell]

Cause I'll probably have an aneurism laughing so hard, sweetie!

[MissGoddess]

What do you all say if in honor of the BIG DAY tomorrow, we all try to list our Top 10 Reasons Why Gabby...I mean GARY COOPER!...is the best Movie Star of all Time?

 

I'll start but I may end up revising it as we go along:

 

10. His Talk. Dialogue sounds better in that soft, serious drawl. It was just pitched low enough that you'd have to lean in and listen. And he never talked too much. He certainly was not "Gabby".

 

9. His ability to play both drama AND comedy effortlessly. Not too many actors, especially good looking ones, could do that. Those that can, usually become super stars.

 

8. His timeless style. Photos of him don't look dated. The way he wore clothes and the totality of personal is still something any man desiring to improve his appearance can emulate today (and many should).

 

7. The dichotomy in his image and personality. It is still intriguing to consider how managed to become such a cultured, well travelled man of refined taste while at the same time maintained his authentic "westernness" and intrinsically American appeal. It brought a deftness to his cowboy roles and a marked lack of pretense to his sophisticates.

 

6. The way he rode a horse. It makes a difference to those who know, believe me.

 

5. His decency. He was honest and not greedy and that's important to me in any professional. He also possessed the discretion of a true gentleman.

 

4. His choice of roles---they were unabashadly, unflashily "heroic". He could give you both things at once: he could appear every inch the ideal, larger-than-life Hero-with-a-capital-"H" and he could also be the average "Joe" that could make an ordinary man see the attainable in heroism.

 

3. The subtley of his craft as an actor. It can take some getting used to if, like me, you generally gravitate to more expressive, expansive types. I'm generally suspicious of those who play everything close-to-the-vest, but Gary has a unique ability to seem natural and candid while being profoundly still. Some see that as "wooden" but I think he instinctively knew that a good actor avoids what teachers call "indicating". If he feels it, thinks it, it's there, usually in eyes or a subtle change in body language but it's always real. If he doesn't feel it or think it, he's still and even that is a statement. Like when the other fella is showing off and he's just watching him. His lack of response says it all in such scenes (there are a few of those in Vera Cruz as well as back in The Westerner). And by the way---I differentiate "subtlety" from "modesty" because I think the former is a deliberate choice while the latter is just how he was brought up to be.

 

2. His eyes. This will be my only reference to his looks (that is so HARD to do! ) because it's too obvious how I feel about that. However, I think the eyes really are the window to your sould and the most important "tool" an actor can use, along with the voice. I don't believe any other actor was his equal at expressing wide and deeply ranging emotions through the eyes. This is probably due to 1/3 Gary's sensitivity and artistry, and 2/3 due to God's gift.

 

1. His modesty. Surprisingly, even to me, when thinking about this list that one quality kept popping into my mind as something which set him apart from so many others, especially stars of more recent vintage. It's also a quality he has in common with all the men I most admire in general. It makes many, many people underestimate him, people who expect "flash". I like "flash" too, but I love modesty and Coop possessed it onscreen and off.

[JackFavell]

*Top 10 Reasons Why Gabby...I mean GARY COOPER!...is the best Movie Star of all Time*

 

1. His decency. This for me is the most important aspect of Gary's appeal. Gary could have been a big jerk in real life, but he wasn't. Many people get very angry talking about those who testified before HUAC, but they never mention Gary. I think it's because he never informed on anyone and he actually helped some careers that were in trouble due to blacklisting....all without drawing attention to himself.

 

2. His subtlety. He is at his best when looking at his shoes or not saying anything......

 

3. He appeals to both men and women (except for FG), old and young, past and present audiences.

 

4. His ability to wear clothes well, and by that I mean that they hung on him perfectly. It didn't matter if he was a down and out ball player on the breadline, or a newly rich millionaire. He was comfortable in his own skin and therefore just looked great all the time.

 

5. His willingness to look goofy. I don't think I need to say any more....

 

6. His ability to sleep anywhere. I know this is not really a trait that makes him great- I just like it.

 

7. His non-judgmental portrayals of down home people.

 

8. Uhhh.........Oh man, I can't think of anymore. I just love the guy.....

[butterscotchgreer]

great lists jackie and sweet april!!

 

ooh ooh my turn! heehee!

 

his wordage! ~ the way he says EVERY word, they all come out beautiful with a sultry voice, sighs.

 

his body language ~ he has the have the ultimately best body language of them all! the way he uses his masculine hands, the way he walks, stand, sits, LEANS against the bar in Saratoga Trunk....endless body movements, i could be at this all night long!

 

must agree with april about his decency ~ he was truely a sweetheart to every person he aqcuainted and i dontthink he ever had an enemy. a first class gentleman!

 

chest hair ~ i said it! there! i had too. heehee! he has the most beautiful chest hair in the world and im glad he showed it off! but modestly most of the time.

 

those big blue eyes ~ sigh, yes they could make any girl sink into her chair, especially when he had that simpathetic look like in FWTBT.

 

the innocence ~ my personal favorite. in all of his cutesie films he shows this little boy innocence with the deep dimples in full action! he showed such deep emotion, i think with the innocence ad i dontthink he ever knew fully how beautiful that was, yet he always used it to its best advantage!

[CoopfanDan]

1. Same off screen as on - Gary Cooper was the same kind of person off screen that he was on screen - a Hero.

2. Less is More - I recently watched a Spencer Tracy tribute by Burt Reynolds where Reynolds stated that Spencer told him that less is more. This statement seems to have been invented by Gary Cooper and fit Coop more so than Spencer Tracy though I do greatly admire them both. Some people are put off by this type of acting and call it wooden, but this to me is what seperates Gary Cooper from all the rest and makes him the best actor to have ever lived.

3. Facial expressions instead of words - Many have read the expression that a picture is worth a thousand words. Gary started off in the silent era of movies that many during that time overemphasized facial expressions except for Gary. Even during that time he was develping his craft of the subtle facial expressions to convey his thoughts. He develped this craft until he had achieved perfection in a movie that required a great deal of it "High Noon". He was also near perfect at it even during Sergeant York where it was shown on a documentary that he acieved three different emotions in one shot without saying a word during the church conversion scene.

4. Diverse film career - was in silents, comedies, war, action, adventure, westerns, historic, and dramas. I guess every type of movie that can be done except maybe for Shakespereian parts, huge epics and musicals, which is alright with me since they are not my cup of tea. Thankfully he was not around to do How The West Was Won. A western epic with dozens of actors covering many years and many family's struggles over all kinds of territory. I'll take a narrowly focused story with Gary in the lead any day of the week to those epic movies of any type. Actually Epics are my second least favorite movies with only musicals that I dislike more. How can a person with my movie tastes not be gravitated to Gary Cooper as his favorite actor.

5. Turned down 99 percent of the westerns offered him - How can anyone not like this aspect of him considering that others made their whole career out of doing the same western 100 times. This left Gary to only pick out the interesting one's and I am sure he was offered the parts in many of the westerns before others did them. While Gary never did as many westerns, he was never in a really bad one that I am aware of. This can not be said about others and kept him from getting sterotyped as a western star that left him free to star in all kinds of other movies.

6. Turned down the movies he should have turned down - Turned down Gone with the wind and what would have been a dreadful epic type movie with John Wayne titled Lewis and Clark. He was very smart in his decision making and what movies would make him look best to the public and what one's he could personally do the best job in. I persoanlly can't think of any movies he was miscast in. Yet if he would have done Red Butler he would have been horrible at that type of role as that movie was tailered made for Clark Gable all the way.

7. Was a man on and off screen of interigity, truthful, honest and had a great sense of right and wrong that even caused him to stand up for people that were being unfairly persecuted by others even if it meant that it might hurt his own public image or film career.

8. Was able to carry a movie solely on his own talents as an actor. There are few actors that can carry a bad movie and turn it from a one star to three star soley from their presense on a set. He was also the type of actor that makes you interested in an entire movie that may not interest you in some parts normally simply from his presense on the screen. I know of very few actors that get this kind of respect from me, and they can be listed as follows, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, Spencer Tracy, and Clark Gable. I watch movies that I haven't seen of theirs not because of who directed it or who their co-stars were but because if these people are in a movie, they will command your attention from start to finish in spite of whatever flaws the movie may have. My example of a 2 star movie lifted to 4 star for me would be They Came to Cordura. No one else from back then or even today would have done anything with that role. It would have been a one star movie with anyone else in it in my humble opinion but with Gary Cooper he commanded your attention from start to finish and carried the entire movie on his own in my humble oppinion.

9. He never played a villian - This could be looked at as bad trait by some but there are some others like Bette Davis that I love her to death in some movies and just can't stand her or the movie in other performances. Gary was a hero in all and that is why I like him so much.

10. He played Alvin York. As a Christian and a veteran I need not say anything more on this.

 

Message was edited by: CoopfanDan

[CoopsGal]

I'm going to avoid the board on May 7th. You won't see me anywhere near this place on that day. A traditional gentleman like myself shant dabble in such bad taste as that day shall bring on this board. I just cannot lower myself to partake in such revolting behavior. What a horrible day that is going to be. --- FrankGrimes

 

 

And you say you don't know the deepest desires of what women want. Well, your lack of presence is, by far, one of the most thoughtful gifts you could possibly bestow upon us. Freedom from you is such a precious gift, you are far too kind. I'm so emotional right now, the only words I can think to utter are: thank YOU.

[coopsgirl]

Dang it, y?all have already used all my reasons! I?m sure I can come up with something though .

 

He's just the type of person that I like the most so I'm not surprised that once I finally stumbled upon him, I absolutely fell in love with him. He's sweet, soft spoken, tough when he has to be but never a brute, kind, a hard worker, a good husband (mostly ), a great father, loyal friend, incredibly talented and just the kind of guy you'd be happy to be around.

 

All of this comes out when you watch his films. He is hands down the best actor I have seen yet. I'm just amazed at how he can get across so much while doing so little. He had a level of naturalness and ease in front of the camera I haven't seen with anyone else. Of course there are a lot of other great actors/actresses, but none quite as good as Gary .

 

And like Jackie said, I just love the guy :x.

[FrankGrimes]

Hiya, Coopsy's Indecorous Girl -- You forgot that he looks smashing in lipstick and mascara. No man looked prettier.

 

Howdy, Mrs. Gabby -- And you say you don't know the deepest desires of what women want.

 

Ohhh, do tell!

 

Well, your lack of presence is, by far, one of the most thoughtful gifts you could possibly bestow upon us. Freedom from you is such a precious gift, you are far too kind. I'm so emotional right now, the only words I can think to utter are: thank YOU.

 

So my absence is the deepest desire of women? That actually adds up.

 

 

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Be careful now.

[coopsgirl]

*You forgot that he looks smashing in lipstick and mascara. No man looked prettier.*

 

Well that just goes without saying .

[CoopfanDan]

You Tube advanced preview of John Muholland's new documentary "Inside High Noon":

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmUieEVDCcY

 

http://www.myspace.com/insidehighnoon

[hlywdkjk]

*"why not one of him in the tub? heehee! hubba hubba!"* - BSG

 

[hlywdkjk]

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

> *You forgot that he looks smashing in lipstick and mascara. No man looked prettier.*

>

> Well that just goes without saying .

 

[FrankGrimes]

Your captions have me rollin', Kyle! You know how to write, my friend. I think your mesmerzing photos have opened the collective eyes of the Gabby Girls. They cannot resist the REAL man of May 7th, Gabby Hayes.

[hlywdkjk]

[klat29]

hello fans of coop i once was watching a late movie showing of the general died at dawn and saw a scene i have not seen since just wondering if anyone has seen this it was just before he took the train and madeline carroll had gone to his room to convince him to get on the train there was a 3-4 minute scene i cant remember what exactly went on but the next scene he was on the train in the morning i watched dvd and tape copies and never saw this in any copy also there is a scene when he escaped from the general and a scene with a bunch of doors opening with the dudley diggs character entering holding something and then he and someone else enter thru 2 different doors with the girl dropping a pool ball this scene is cut in numerous versions i wonder if any copies exist with these scenes intact please any info apppreciated thanks

[coopsgirl]

You are cracking me up!!! I guess I could tear myself away from Gabby and spend a little time with Gary, seeing as how it's his birthday and all.

 

Happy 107th Gary!!!!! :x

[JackFavell]

Kyle..... I am speechless. I don't think I've seen anything funnier in my whole life than Gabby asking for Dale's makeup....

[MissGoddess]

Very funny Kyle! You're great with the captions! I have to go and turn the office TV to TCM now....

[coopsgirl]

I caught about the first 40 minutes of *A Farewell to Arms* while I was getting ready for work this morning which was cool since my two fave scenes are near the beginning (of course I'm talking about when he has his shirt off ). I think he should have gotten his first Oscar nomination for this one and also another one for *Peter Ibbetson*.

 

I'll be able to catch *The Westerner* and *High Noon* when I get home. Also my copy of *Garden of Evil* shipped yesterday and I should get it probably on Saturday - yippee!!!

[JackFavell]

I missed A Farewell to Arms............

[MissGoddess]

I just caught a few peeps of *Meet John Doe* but everyone keeps wanting to watch the primaries coverage so I have to wrestle with the remote control.

[JackFavell]

Get hold of that remote and hide it.... drop it down your shirt or something....

[MissGoddess]

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

> Get hold of that remote and hide it.... drop it down your shirt or something....

 

lol! I'm wearing a shift dress so I'm afraid it would plop on the floor if I tried that...you don't know, I work in an office where the staff is 95% male...try getting and keeping a remote control with them! Yikes! And if there's a Mets or Yankee game, forget it!

 

But I'm right next to the break room so I can slip in and out quickly.

 

I had it on during the finale of *Meet John Doe* and you know how there is that long, quiet scene with no dialogue where Gary just stands at the ledge and smokes, well, when Edward Arnold finally spoke and said something the guy in the breakroom with me said, "Oh! And I thought you were watching a SILENT movie!"

[coopsgirl]

That's funny that he thought you were watching a silent. And quit rubbing it in that you got to watch my favorite one . I've got a pic on my computer from that one of him and Barbara near the end and she's huddled up close to him :x. I'm also wearing a blue shirt and matching earrings to coordinate with his beautiful blue eyes .

 

I noticed too on the front page of imdb.com they have a pic of Gary under 'today's birthdays', too cool!!

 

I found a free software a couple days ago called paint.net one the web and you can make wallpapers with it so I made a Gary one. It's not as fancy as I wanted to make it but it's hard to figure out how to do it and I really need to just break down and buy photoshop.

 

 

I also added some effects to some other pics and I'll post them throughout the day.

[MissGoddess]

I really like that wallpaper! Great job. I may check out that software myself.