Any Gary Cooper Fans?

[Jennythenipper]

Thanks for the pictures of Gary drawing coops girl. The top looks real, the middle one looks a little faked to me.

[MissGoddess]

Hi Jenny,

 

Every artist has to compromise for patronage in some way. It depends on how they deal with it and how far they are willing go to please the patron. Michaelangelo was certainly constrained in terms of his subject matter. He managed to work within it to make his own statement, but he still couldn't paint whatever he wanted on the Sisetine chapel.

 

This is true about the constraints of patronage, though in terms of subject matter both Michaelangelo and the Pope were, at least initially, in agreement, it was in the interpretation,

how the artist wanted convey the events that drew fire. I still think the comparison to Roark apt,

since a client and a patron aren't much different in the last analysis and the point is how hard

is someone willing to fight for their vision. However, Roark's decision to have another man (Kent

Smith as Peter Keating) pass off work that was not his own was in, my opinion, the most

compromising thing he ever did. I never really understood why he submitted to that when he must

have known Peter could never have enough courage to fight against changes.

 

In the case of Howard Roark, in the film his buildings are even that great to my eye (Although the interior of the apartment building is pretty cool) so that makes his inflexibility hateful.

 

I don't like the architecture either, I admit I prefer the classical architecture from ancient times,

the kind Roark professed to despise (in modern application), ha! But it doesn't bother me. It's

just so rare that I see a character in a movie fight so hard to preserve his artistic ideas, I don't

care that they aren't ideas I share, it's seeing the passion that excites me. Another movie that

affects me much stronger but for similar reasons is *Mr Smith Goes to Washington*. I don't

believe in nationalism of any stripe and I'm politically neutral but Jimmy Stewart's character is so

wonderful to behold. It doesn't bother me that I feel no interest whatever in his particular ideals.

 

Back to The Fountainhead, I think the architect (played by Henry Hull) who was kind of a mentor

to Roark reminds me of FL Wright, too. In fact, their scene in the ambulance together is one of

the best ones in the whole movie. I wish more stuff like that had been included, two human

beings relating to each other about their ideals, and less of the melodrama. (For once I wish

melodrama to be toned down, usually I love it but there are times it is too much here. )

[Jennythenipper]

I love the ambulance scene as well. I agree. It is one of the best things in the movie!

 

I like modern architecture. I just think the drawings that are presented in the movie aren't particularly great examples is all.

 

Your point about Michaelangelo is well-taken.

 

The whole problem with the plot about Roark using the weaker architect as a beard for his work is ridiculous because the idea of that critic having that much power and that much maniacal hatred for him is silly. He is definitely a mustache twirling villain.

 

I love Mr. Smith goes to Washington too mostly because Jimmy Stewart is just so wonderful in it. I love Capra's movies from the thirties. By the forties, I think he was getting preachy. It's a fine line.

[MissGoddess]

I love Mr. Smith goes to Washington too mostly because Jimmy Stewart is just so wonderful in it. I love Capra's movies from the thirties. By the forties, I think he was getting preachy. It's a fine line.

 

*Capra* was one of the first directors I went gaga over, along with Wyler, Wilder and Stevens. I love Capra's heart and humanity, he cares so much and it shows. I agree his best movies were in

the thirties and forties---many truly _great_ films. Have you see A Hole in the Head? That's

the one movie from his later years that I like. At first it just seemed like a funny comedy but

there's a lot of amusing stuff in it about family relationships and what defines "success". It's not

quite up there with his earlier films, but it's pretty darn good.

[JakeHolman]

>goddess wrote...I don't believe in nationalism of any stripe and I'm politically neutral...

 

That's sad...

 

I'll remember that the next time you post a John Wayne picture...

 

Oh, I know, he was just a great actor...

[MissGoddess]

Oh, I know, he was just a great actor...

 

Well I'm sorry if I disappoint, Jake, but "Just" isn't a word I would have used...Wayne is also

mighty cute and a very reassuring screen presence. That's a lot to me.

[JakeHolman]

>Well I'm sorry if I disappoint, Jake

 

Not at all...

 

By the way, Nationalism also represents unquestioned patriotism for one's country...

 

John Wayne, not *just* a pretty face a woman would love, represents that to me and millions more...

[MissGoddess]

Not at all...

 

Merci.

 

By the way, Nationalism also represents unquestioned patriotism for one's country...

 

Undoubtably. But I contend the same values that underscore my personal beliefs, also make

me a little better American citizen than I might have been without them.

 

John Wayne, not *just* a pretty face a woman would love, represents that to me and millions more...

 

He does indeed and I do respect that, I respect anyone who tries hard to represent positive ideals

and who worked as hard as he did.

 

But I still think he was cute.

[JakeHolman]

>But I still think he was cute.

 

You win...

 

But remember, I love John Wayne for his legacy of the great American and, guess who else represents that to millions of Americans?

 

None other than the great Gary Cooper...

 

You have a great evening...

[MissGoddess]

Yup!

 

Sweet dreams, Jake.

[coopsgirl]

*Nevada*

 

 

*The Virginian*

 

[Jennythenipper]

Awesome, Nevada photo. I just watched it for the first time yesterday. The copy I got off of ebay wasn't the greatest, but I imagine that's to be expected from many films of this age. Still it's watchable.

 

I was amazed by how entertaining it was. I loved William Powell as the villian. He really had that powell panache even though he was dispicable guy. I loved it at the end when he pulled out his cigar instead of his gun and said his aim was slipping because he hadn't killed Cawthorne with the first shot. That was great. Coop was fantastic of course. The scene when Cash dies was really quite moving and his acting was spot on in it. I wasn't crazy about Thelma Todd at first but she grew on me. I liked that she wasn't just a damsel in distress that she wanted to help fight for her brother. Of course the scene where Nevada ties her to a tree to keep her from joining the battle with the rustlers was classic. Cooper just looked dreamy, too, despite the makeup. William Powell looked kinda strange though. I don't know whether it was the hair or the make-up or what.

 

My sun watched it too and he loved it. He's only two and half so he can't read the inter-titles but I think the plot was simple enough that he could follow it based on the imagery. Also since it was a "silent" it had music continuously which is something he really enjoyed along with the horses.

[coopsgirl]

*Nevada* was the first movie I saw William Powell in and I didn?t like him. He was the bad guy and I was not buying that Thelma would rather be with him than Gary . Several months later I saw *The Thin Man* for the first time in a theater and couldn?t believe that was the same guy. He?s now my second fave actor to Gary and I?m so glad he got away from the bad guy roles b/c they didn?t suit him. I just bought the entire *Thin Man* series of films on dvd and I already have the William Powell/Myrna Loy set as well as some of Powell?s other silents and non-Myrna talkies so I have a pretty good collection of his films now.

 

I like Thelma Todd quite a bit too and I think this was the first thing I saw her in as well. I love the comedy shorts she did with Zasu Pitts and Patsy Kelly (another of my faves). It would be great if those could get a dvd release one of these days b/c they are side-splittingly funny.

 

Gary was really nervous in the romantic scenes with Thelma as this was still very early in his career and he wasn?t used to kissing and loving up on women; at least, not in front of the cameras . I like this pic of him and Thelma from the film but you?ll notice he?s barely touching her with his right hand. In movies like *Children of Divorce* and *Nevada*, he wouldn?t get real close to the girls in the lovey scenes and the directors would have to tell him stuff like ?you?re not gonna break her, now hold her tight!?.

 

 

 

*Cooper just looked dreamy, too, despite the makeup.*

 

He is the only man who I think still looked good and ?manly? in makeup :x. And yes, he is jaw droppingly handsome in *Nevada*.

 

That?s neat that your little boy liked the movie too. I remember reading a post someone made here a while back about how they had a friend who had migraines and ADD (I think) and she had tried many things including different medications but nothing helped. Then her friend gave her a silent movie to watch and that actually helped her. You really have to sit down and focus on silent movies, unlike talkies where you can pop one in and run around the house doing other things and still follow the plot. I wonder if there would be less instances of ADD if more kids watched silent movies instead of stuff like MTV and movies that have so many quick edits nowadays.

 

*Nevada* is in pretty decent shape as far as his silents go. *Lilac Time* and *The Last Outlaw* are the worst but still watchable for us rabid fans. The title cards are hard to read through most of *Lilac Time* but you can still follow along and read some of them. *Last Outlaw* is too bright and faces are washed out quite a bit, especially in the beginning. *Barbara Worth*, and *It* are his only silents out on commercial releases (at least those are the only ones out where you can really see him) and they both look beautiful. *Wings* is in really good shape too. *Doomsday* which is most everybody?s fave of his silents, is in the best shape out of the ones that aren?t on official dvd?s. It would be wonderful if more of silents survived, but when you think about how many haven?t made it, it?s really something that we at least have a handful of them.

[Jennythenipper]

That photo is great. Yeah, you can see that he is barely holding her. He is doing the teacup pinky extension thing as if she were literally made of porcelain. It was the first thing I noticed about the pic.

 

That shyness comes through in his scenes with her, I think. Is there an actress that he didn't have chemistry with? I can't think of one.

 

I liked Powell in it, cause I figured out he was the baddie right away and I'd never seen him in a movie where he was the bad guy, so it was interesting from that standpoint. I'm so glad he didn't get locked into this mode.

 

I love Powell and Loy and am just starting to get into Powell's non Loy films. I think he was a wonderful actor. He wasn't as handsome or sexy as Gary by a mile but he was so charming and funny in his movies. Have you seen Her Man Godfrey? That is probably my favorite move of his where he isn't paired with Myrna Loy.

[Senta]

Hi Dan,

I'm catching on after return so little late on reply. I hope that these which you listed will be released first, but I guess that Bluebeard 8 Wife and Desire will be included because they are alredy available at DVD at 2 zone so they must be on zone 1 too, besides both films are pretty good comedies. But I truly hope that they released never seen titles.

[Senta]

Angie, I'm a great admirer of your videos too. Even if I don't know one bit about who sings the music on which they are based. It is not the music I usually listen. But in your videos it all fits. When I was travelling I heard this song about searchig for the hero (it is my favorite of your videos) and it quickly remains me Gary and all video and it was like a word from a fareaway friend.

 

As about The Fountainhead it is one of my favs you know. And I like it in the whole - the dialoge the speechers the ideas but in this more soft form then in Rand book. I didn't read it - I read some others. With some things I agree, with some - not. But the whole individualistic spirit is very dear to me, but I think that Roark in the book is different then Roark as Gary played him.

 

I've heard comments that there is rape scene not only in the book but in the movie as well. Can't agree. Is it rape then Dominic wanted him in the first place and her behavior was very provocative. Only she was too proud to admit it because she thought that he is only a labor worker and there is nothing in common between them only sex instinct. And it is very low to go after your sex instinkt without any high feelings.

[Senta]

I thought Nevada is one of the worst shapes (I mean quality of the picture) from his silents. Lilac Time are quite good because after all it was officially released on VHS.

Nver saw Powell in other films. What Thin Man is all about. I've heard only the titlr before.

[coopsgirl]

That?s the nicest compliment I?ve ever gotten on my videos, thank you!! I?ve got quite a few ideas for more Gary ones but just haven?t had the time to put them together. I?m still working on putting all his movies back on my new hard drive too and I?m not even half way through that yet. It?ll probably take a few more days and then I?ll be back in business. Here?s a song that is just perfect for him and I?ll eventually make a video with it.

 

*He?s a Heartache* by Janie Frickie

 

Well, you can?t deny how good he looks

Couldn?t find another on the cover of a book

Believe me

Well, I?ve almost loved him once or twice

 

But don?t be fooled by his innocent smile

He?s clever as the devil and just as wild

He?s crazy

But a little crazy?s kinda nice

 

He?s a heartache

Lookin? for a place to happen

Lookin? for a little action

Livin? for the moment not for lovin?

 

He?s a heartache

Lookin? for a place to happen

Temporary satisfaction

If you try to hold on he?s gone

 

Well, I might as well tell someone else

I know I?ll never have him to myself

Not likely

But I wouldn?t mind just one more night

 

If he wants to hold you, let it be

Don?t pass up the opportunity

To know him

You won?t forget him all your life

 

But whatever you do be wise enough

Not to fall in love

 

Cause he?s a heartache

Lookin? for a place to happen

Lookin? for a little action

Livin? for the moment not for lovin?

 

He?s a heartache

Lookin? for a place to happen

Temporary satisfaction

If you try to hold on he?s gone

 

 

 

I think the idea of standing up for yourself and your work is great, but what I don?t like is the extremes Roark goes too. He?s too rigid and can?t see the other person?s side of it, and to me that makes him seem kind of jerky. I guess if you go too far either way (too individualistic or too group oriented) it can be bad.

 

Dominique was most definitely leading him on. There was absolutely nothing subtle about her actions (breaking the fireplace, hitting him with her whip b/c he didn?t set the marble himself, leering at him at the quarry). Of course, he?s toying with her too like when he sent the other man to fix her fireplace even though he knew she wanted him to do it. That?s a good point too that she wanted him but didn?t want to want him. When there?s something you know you shouldn?t have, you want it all the more and to her, he was definitely forbidden fruit . I imagine he saw her the same way . She?s also supposed to be a virgin I think and here she is lusting after a manual laborer in her daddy?s quarry!! She?s clearly resisting him at first but I imagine after a while she decided not to fight it anymore and she gave in willingly.

 

I think also that she doesn't want to give up her independence and feels if she gives herself over to him, she may loose the sense of her own identity. I can imagine that resonated with many women back then.

[coopsgirl]

*The Thin Man* is set in New York and came out in 1934. It?s about Nick and Nora Charles (played by Powell and Loy) who are a married socialite couple who also solve crimes. He was a detective until Nora?s father died leaving them lots of money and he quit his job. Then a friend of the family tracks him down and tries to get Nick to help her find her father who is a scientist and has gone missing. So he and Nora get pulled back into the business of detective work. They made six ?Thin Man? movies all together. What really makes these so great is the chemistry Powell and Loy have and how fun their characters are. They are pretty much always drinking and have parties yet somehow they still manage to take care of their dog Asta, and have a baby as well as solve crimes with a great deal of panache and flair. I?ll send you copies of them if you want with the next pack of movies I?m gonna send you in September. You?ll like them, they?re really fun films.

 

I wonder if you have a better copy of *Lilac Time* than I do. The one I have is pretty bad.

[coopsgirl]

I have *Godfrey* and it is a good one. I really like Carole Lombard and I?m glad they?re spotlighting her as star of the month in October in honor of what would be her 100th birthday. She seemed like she would have been cool to be friends with. I love the stories about her basically being ?one of the boys? and telling dirty jokes with the guys on the set and such as that. I recently saw *Nothing Sacred* and that one was really good too. She was so good at comedy and drama. I was also pleasantly surprised to see it was filmed in two-strip Technicolor which I just love :x.

 

While William certainly was not as handsome as Gary, (but hey, who is?) he was attractive in the most literal sense of the word. Besides Gary, I have more of his films than any other actor. There?s something about him that just draws you to him. He seemed so likeable and at east in his own skin. He?s another one who seems like it would have been fun to be around b/c he just seemed to be a pleasant, happy person. I just got around to watching *Double Harness* with Powell and Ann Harding the other day and I really liked that one too. He was having to fight the babes off with a stick in it too .

[Senta]

I have Lilac Time on VHS, but I guess that it is the same VHS edition from which Dan put his version of Lilac time on YouTube. I must watch it once more, it is not the best but not at all bad.

Unfortunatly I can't transfer from VHS to DVD but I must find the way to do it, because I have plenty of VHS, which I would like to copy to DVD.

I also must see will it be possible or not to copy to you DVD versions of Desire, Blubeard's... and Hanging Tree. This copiing thing is absolutly new field to me but I'm learning.

I can't do it right now, because I'm at home only until Friday (then I'll be again away for 10 days. But will try to do something about it in September.

By the way right now it is very good exebition in Paris at Hotel de Ville devoted to Grace Kelly - plenty of interesting videos, photos, posters, her dresses and even diamonds. Not much on High Noon (very big nice poster which I never seen before). I haven't much time to explore it. You know I stayed 1,5 hours in the line to get there - so big interest to the exebition.

When I returned today I received the photo from Doomsday with the hey sack from e-bay. That brightened the day greatly. Besides I like to be home for a while.

I'd like to see Thin Man very much.

[coopsgirl]

I bet Grace had a lot of pretty clothes and jewelry.

 

Here?s an article from May 1949 from an old movie magazine I just got. He talks a little bit about *The Fountainhead* too which is weird since we?ve just been talking about that one.

 

 

 

 

[Jennythenipper]

Thanks for the article Coops Girl. I will read it. I'm interested to read what he has to say about the movie.

 

I am soooo bummed I missed Double Harness when it was a few weeks back. I almost always check the TCM schedule once a week, but I forgot. Glad you enjoyed it. I will keep an eye out for it. Hopefully they'll show it again.

 

I agree William Powell does seem like a nice happy guy. And Lombard was a tom girl by all accounts and that is so cool.

 

I added another Coop photo to my eye candy of the day on my blog:

 

 

It's getting to be a challenge not to be Gary in every single day!

 

http://cinemaocd.blogspot.com/2008/08/eye-candy-of-day-nevada.html

[Jennythenipper]

Okay cue wavy screen edges and daydream music. What if Gary Cooper dropped by my hometown and hung out? How COOL would that have been.

 

Wow. Great article. It's interesting that he sense the Fountainhead would illicit strong reactions for and against and that's what made him do it. I wonder if he felt the same about High Noon?

[MissGoddess]

Ad: "April Showers...the fragrance of youth" Ha ha!! That caught my eye in your article, Ange.

 

I also had a giggle at the picture of Gary with Alan Ladd. Alan must have been standing on a

four foot high box.