tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31966525937141523402024-03-08T19:11:40.989-06:00Classic Movie ManThis site is devoted to the love of classic movies. What qualifies as a classic film or movie is somewhat subjective. There are certain films which endure because they strike an emotional chord long after their initial release. For example, a movie like "Casablanca" (1942) would qualify as a classic under that definition.Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.comBlogger646125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-19831193307670018132024-03-04T17:40:00.006-06:002024-03-08T19:11:07.682-06:00Judy Holliday and Paul Douglas drive away in “The Solid Gold Cadillac” <p><i>The Solid Gold Cadillac </i>(1956) is an
American comedy directed by Richard Quine and starring Judy Holliday and Paul
Douglas. The supporting cast includes Fred Clark, John Williams, Ray Collins,
Neva Patterson, and Arthur O’Connell.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Laura
Patridge (Holliday) attends the board meeting for International Projects, a
billion-dollar corporation. John T. Blessington (Williams) announces that he is
replacing Edward L. McKeever (Douglas) who founded the company and served as
president and chairman of the board. McKeever is resigning to serve as
Secretary of Defense in Washington, D.C. Laura is a stockholder with just ten
shares who frustrates the arrogant and dishonest executives by asking them
questions during the meeting which is her right as a stockholder.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">To get Laura
out of their hair, Blessington hires her for the position of director of
shareholder relations. The job has no real duties, but to make sure Laura stays
in check, Blessington assigns her a private secretary named Amelia (Patterson)
to keep an eye on things. With nothing to do, Laura writes letter to the
stockholders. She and Amelia become friends and Laura helps her in her romance
with the office manager (O’Connell).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The board of
International Projects is distraught because they’ve received no government
contracts. McKeever is a straight-shooter and refuses to give preference to his
former company. In a move to help them get business, Blessington sends Laura to
Washington, outfitted in a new wardrobe to try and convince McKeever to throw
some business their way. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When Laura
tells McKeever what’s been happening at International Projects, he decides to
return to his old position, but there’s only one catch. He has no controlling stock
in the company which leaves him powerless to act. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Will Laura
and McKeever come up with a plan to take the company back and run it honestly
and honorably?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeg7tW9a8KSsMa7VIrK2L-zsYs1wcH3ZeF9xTJj5453sLEB_mDekVluCRwl4Sh51SduLO_a1w4QkFkO9no8WuNnyjNQLb5p4ftDlPSdzNU0LMFGUPNaDU8dCFJrgjVU5RPS__M_TAw5TMwu8KmNQZKy4OKz-b6rlfxLdw3y0aZ4LiA7PacwaInjDIG69R/s752/Solid%20Gold%20Cadillac,%20The_lobby%20card.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="752" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeg7tW9a8KSsMa7VIrK2L-zsYs1wcH3ZeF9xTJj5453sLEB_mDekVluCRwl4Sh51SduLO_a1w4QkFkO9no8WuNnyjNQLb5p4ftDlPSdzNU0LMFGUPNaDU8dCFJrgjVU5RPS__M_TAw5TMwu8KmNQZKy4OKz-b6rlfxLdw3y0aZ4LiA7PacwaInjDIG69R/w427-h335/Solid%20Gold%20Cadillac,%20The_lobby%20card.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">Richard Quine</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"> (1920 – 1989) was an American director, actor, and singer. As
a child, he had roles in several films throughout the 1930s including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cavalcade</i> (1933), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dames</i> (1934), and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dog of
Flanders</i> (1935). Quine transitioned to adult roles but his career as an
actor began to wane after World War II. He decided to switch to directing and
producing and became a very successful director during the 1960s and 1970s.
Some of his films as director include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bell,
Book and Candle</i> (1958), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The World of
Suzie Wong</i> (1960), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paris When it
Sizzles</i> (1964), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How to Murder Your
Wife</i> (1965), and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Prisoner of
Zenda</i> (1979).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Judy Holliday </span></span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(1921 – 1965) was an American actress, comedian, and singer.
She started out in show business playing nightclubs before making her way to
Broadway. Her role as Billie Dawn in <i>Born Yesterday</i> in 1946 made her an “overnight” sensation. When she
recreated the role for the film version, she won the Academy Award for Best
Actress of the Year. Other films include <i>The Marrying Kind </i> (1952), <i>It Should Happen to You</i> (1954), <i>Phffft</i> (1954), <i>The Solid Gold Cadillac</i> (1956), <i>Full of Life</i> (1956), and <i>Bells Are Ringing</i> (1960), recreating her Tony Award-winning performance.
Holliday died of breast cancer in 1965 at the age of 43.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">Paul
Douglas</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"> (1907 – 1959) was an
American actor. Douglas starred on Broadways as in film. He is mostly known for
his comedic performances in films like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It
Happens Every Spring</i> (1949), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Angels in
the Outfield</i> (1951), and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Never Wave
at a WAC</i> (1953). Other Douglas films include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Letter to Three Wives</i> (1949), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Big Lift</i> (1950), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Love That Brute</i>
(1951), and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Clash by Night</i> (1952).
Douglas was set to play the role of Mr. Sheldrake in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Apartment</i> (1960) but died of a heart attack right before
production was to start. He was replaced by Fred MacMurray.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bVf73OLTRkiHjAqYurv6coGRcqGO9JqpPSu22DcneAZ7nXrsoJWW0yM2vTBh46iJ4SS7LJVA6TVpOimC5PLemQ6PRw4F16sYfmhooPjCzwFwbkrwq5IUafHeJWIZpOy3Gtt52uFNU81mrSbcLsWbP7RSTvhmLAlWmj0XbaXLCyLwNa5Kb0pk43dxaUjo/s494/Solid%20Gold%20Cadillac,%20The_Douglas%20and%20Holiday.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="494" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bVf73OLTRkiHjAqYurv6coGRcqGO9JqpPSu22DcneAZ7nXrsoJWW0yM2vTBh46iJ4SS7LJVA6TVpOimC5PLemQ6PRw4F16sYfmhooPjCzwFwbkrwq5IUafHeJWIZpOy3Gtt52uFNU81mrSbcLsWbP7RSTvhmLAlWmj0XbaXLCyLwNa5Kb0pk43dxaUjo/w481-h255/Solid%20Gold%20Cadillac,%20The_Douglas%20and%20Holiday.jpg" width="481" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Paul Douglas and Judy Holliday</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><b>The Solid
Gold Cadillac</b></span></i><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><b> trivia</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The final scene was filmed in color to show of
the “solid gold” Cadillac.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Holliday and Douglas starred together in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Born Yesterday</i> on Broadway.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Producer Hal Wallis tried to purchase the film rights
as a vehicle for Shirley Booth.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The $225 sheer black nightgown would cost about
$2500 today.</span></span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="https://youtu.be/Ln3G5CJgEaE?si=N_hI_kUa6to5XQTY" target="_blank">HERE</a> to watch the film on YouTube.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="348" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ln3G5CJgEaE" width="419" youtube-src-id="Ln3G5CJgEaE"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/299601588/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">HERE</a> to join the discussion on March 11,
2024, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation
via email with a link to the discussion on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Discussion
questions<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you think the film had a serious message
underneath the comedy?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Was this role similar to Holliday’s role in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Born Yesterday</i>? </span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did Holliday and Douglas have good screen
chemistry?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Would you have liked to have been on the board
of International Projects?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does the film remind you of any other films you’ve
seen?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you have a favorite scene or piece of dialogue?</span></span></li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-16638307995505994292024-02-27T15:59:00.003-06:002024-02-27T16:02:58.013-06:00Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame find themselves “In a Lonely Place”<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>In a Lonely Place</i> (1950) is an American
film noir directed by Nicholas Ray and starring Humphrey Bogart and Gloria
Graham. The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Dorothy B. Hughes
published in 1947. The cinematography was by Burnett Guffefy who won Academy Awards for <i>From Here to Eternity</i> (1953) and <i>Bonnie and Clyde </i>(1967)</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Bogart stars
as Dixon Steele a down-on-his-luck Hollywood screenwriter. He’s prone to
violence and his troubled past behavior makes him a prime suspect in the murder
of Mildred Atkinson, a young hat-check girl. Dix is considering adapting a
novel into a screenplay but rather than read the novel, he let Mildred read it
at his home and give him a plot summary. After that, Dix escorts Mildred out of
his apartment and is witnessed by new neighbor Laurel Gray (Graham) and she gives
this information to the police investigating the crime. Dix and Laurel are
attracted to each other and begin a relationship. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As the
investigation into Mildred’s murder intensifies, Dix’s behavior becomes
erratic, and Laurel begins to suspect that he might not be as innocent as he
claims. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdX5qHhulvk7OLhL-jyKVhny4HAT8kwLOg-BxzXHMBO56UMnG3aW9Hs2dQdZVhZac8WdGAvxtYiOrEO9cyGAYqHi0D05SP63rAht1qOsarviFV-Reh_ECqmdyZdJV8eo2JCMVXy6ugh0oAEnG-5r0mBicDX0V3cZnVyLQnAPDhwTjVinBLVwazCtqM6Km3/s750/In%20a%20Lonely%20Place_Grahame%20and%20Bogart.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="750" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdX5qHhulvk7OLhL-jyKVhny4HAT8kwLOg-BxzXHMBO56UMnG3aW9Hs2dQdZVhZac8WdGAvxtYiOrEO9cyGAYqHi0D05SP63rAht1qOsarviFV-Reh_ECqmdyZdJV8eo2JCMVXy6ugh0oAEnG-5r0mBicDX0V3cZnVyLQnAPDhwTjVinBLVwazCtqM6Km3/w445-h313/In%20a%20Lonely%20Place_Grahame%20and%20Bogart.jpg" width="445" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gloria Grahame and Humphrey Bogart</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">Nicholas Ra</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">y (1911 – 1979) was an American film director.
Some of his best-known films include <i>They Live By Night</i> (1948), <i>In A Lonely Place</i> (1950), <i>Johnny Guitar</i> (1954), and <i>Rebel Without a Cause</i> (1955). His films influenced directors
Joseph H. Lewis, Arthur Penn, Terrence Malick, and Robert Altman. Later in his
career, he directed the big screen epics <i>King of Kings</i> (1961) and <i>55 Days at Peking </i>(1963) starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, and
David Niven. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">Humphrey Bogart</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1899 – 1957) was an American film and stage actor. He
is one of the most famous and popular movie stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Nicknamed Bogie, the actor toiled in supporting roles in both A and B pictures
for a decade before his breakout role as Roy Earle in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">High Sierra</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1941). Many more film roles followed including </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Maltese Falcon</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1941), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Casablanca</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1942), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Key Largo</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1948), and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Treasure of the Sierra Madre</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1948). His career continued with good roles in films
like </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">In a Lonely Place</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1950), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Caine Mutiny</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1954), and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Sabrina</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1954) co-starring William Holden and Audrey Hepburn.
Bogart died from cancer in 1957. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">Gloria
Grahame</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"> (1923 – 1981) was an
American actress. She began her career on the stage and then went to Hollywood
in 1944 where she was under contract to M-G-M. At M-G-M, they didn’t seem to
know what to do with Grahame. She was loaned out to play Violet Bick in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s a Wonderful Life</i>, earning good
notices but M-G-M decided to sell her contract to RKO. She played minor and
secondary roles in several film noirs, but her career didn’t gain any traction
at that studio as well. She had good roles in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sudden Fear</i> (1952) and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actress for her performance in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Bad
and the Beautiful</i> (1952). Grahame’s performance in that film lasted just
over nine minutes. She was the Elephant Girl, performing her own stunts, in
Cecil B. De Mille’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Greatest Show on
Earth</i> (1952). Other films include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Not
as a Stranger</i> (1955) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oklahoma!</i>
where she played Ado Annie, a change of pace from her typical femme fatale
roles. Grahame died of cancer at the age of 57.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><b>In a Lonely
Place</b></span></i><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><b> trivia</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gloria Grahame and Nicholas Ray were going
through a divorce during filming. </span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lauren Bacall and Ginger Rogers were considered
for the role of Laurel Gray. Warner Bros. wouldn’t load Bacall to Columbia. The
producer wanted Rogers but Ray thought his then-wife would be ideal in the
part.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not a big commercial success at the time of its
release, the film’s reputation has grown over the years.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many consider this one of Bogart’s best
performances.</span></span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="https://youtu.be/UPT5QddJVyw?si=XuEu5FN1s3gwNLlD" target="_blank">HERE</a> to watch the film on YouTube.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="376" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UPT5QddJVyw" width="453" youtube-src-id="UPT5QddJVyw"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/299468752/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">HERE</a> to join the discussion on March 4,
2024, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation
via email with a link to the discussion on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Discussion
questions<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The film is supposed to be a cynical take on
Hollywood. What are some of the cynical or negative aspects of the film?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How did the lighting and cinematography add to
the film? Did it enhance the film’s narrative?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In a
Lonely Place</i> qualify as a film noir? How?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Both Bogart and Grahame were praised for their
performances. Would you add your praise to the critics?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does the film remind you of any other films
released in 1950?</span></span></li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSROTwYCXb3OW9TC6WhBr9uV5tkroQXuYnjnS1A7rM4JHtHuSuvDBzqppRr90Ukz6G7wYjpAMnYfyBSLNBdGEY22W61q5cS-j8hBeEXQHg4Br_FOVBRWMsDSkKVoScNFkflDoa-tWu6h2-tGhAjNBA0N5EbTzC4U01Re20K7lUs6oBjOY8MtCnOCK6KrQ/s963/In%20a%20Lonely%20Place.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="963" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSROTwYCXb3OW9TC6WhBr9uV5tkroQXuYnjnS1A7rM4JHtHuSuvDBzqppRr90Ukz6G7wYjpAMnYfyBSLNBdGEY22W61q5cS-j8hBeEXQHg4Br_FOVBRWMsDSkKVoScNFkflDoa-tWu6h2-tGhAjNBA0N5EbTzC4U01Re20K7lUs6oBjOY8MtCnOCK6KrQ/w447-h284/In%20a%20Lonely%20Place.png" width="447" /></a></div><br />Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-30069561563386047182024-02-21T07:51:00.003-06:002024-02-21T07:51:59.970-06:00The Egyptian Theatre back as a TCM Film Festival venue<p>The legendary Egyptian Theatre, which opened its doors
in 1922, is back as a major venue for the TCM Film Festival. Recently renovated
by Netflix, the theatre is able to show 35mm, 70mm, digital formats, and
nitrate prints. The TCM website recently announced that they were screening <i>Annie Get Your Gun </i>(1950) in a 35mm
nitrate print. The Egyptian is the only festival venue that can show nitrate
films. Seeing this classic on the big screen at the Egyptian should be a
festival highlight.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7BMKc3G3eDRGrLlNKE9bn8akcFzpo_c2V_8Vv4EIFHsVxHLH03sNmTIqo_VeocqcD91iSEq_QfWF5XeCOdq_NhBtInC12wMpnrWG6PCoEBAl-vB_YcGOty4c7CzMIeUEPR3yiLs8NlIRfaPCWh8JCCzXFdzNLlG3zZGQBENl4DvuBoAlXk0qprBpb4PV/s1920/Egyptian%20Theatre_John%20Gilbert%20movie.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7BMKc3G3eDRGrLlNKE9bn8akcFzpo_c2V_8Vv4EIFHsVxHLH03sNmTIqo_VeocqcD91iSEq_QfWF5XeCOdq_NhBtInC12wMpnrWG6PCoEBAl-vB_YcGOty4c7CzMIeUEPR3yiLs8NlIRfaPCWh8JCCzXFdzNLlG3zZGQBENl4DvuBoAlXk0qprBpb4PV/w456-h257/Egyptian%20Theatre_John%20Gilbert%20movie.jpeg" width="456" /></a></div><br /><p>The Egyptian Theatre changed the way movies were shown in
Hollywood (and around the world) presenting the first Hollywood premieres. The
red carpet—a staple of all major movie premieres and award shows—made its debut
at this fabled venue.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The theatre was built by Sid Grauman and real estate
developer Charles E. Toberman, who went on to build two other legendary
theatres, the El Capitan and the Chinese Theatre. The Egyptian cost $800,000 to
build and took 18 months to complete.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Douglas Fairbanks in
Robin Hood</i> was the first-ever Hollywood premiere presented at the Egyptian
on Wednesday, October 18, 1922. Premiere night tickets cost $5, an
extraordinary amount in 1922. Regular admission to the theatre was between $.75
and $1.50.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The <a href="https://filmfestival.tcm.com/" target="_blank">TCM Film Festival</a> will be held in Los Angeles, CA, April
18-21, 2024.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="419" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xYCuATQ_2DY" width="504" youtube-src-id="xYCuATQ_2DY"></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-26814749220872384052024-02-19T17:45:00.009-06:002024-02-19T17:54:09.488-06:00Broderick Crawford, Judy Holiday, and William Holden in “Born Yesterday”<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Born Yesterday</i>
(1950) is an American comedy directed by George Cukor and starring Broderick
Crawford, Judy Holiday, and William Holden. Holiday recreated her role as
Billie Dawn which she played on Broadway. Crawford replaced Paul Douglas who
played opposite Holiday as Harry Brock and Holden replaced Gary Merrill who
played Paul Verrall, both of whom created their respective roles on Broadway.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The film concerns Billie Dawn (Holiday), an uneducated woman
involved with an older business tycoon Harry Brock (Crawford) who is in Washington to try
and “buy” a congressman. Because Billie is uneducated, Harry hires Paul Verrall
(Holden), a journalist, to educate her. During her “education,” she realized
that Harry was a corrupt businessman. Due to Paul opening her eyes to a whole
new world, Billie falls in love with him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuKlpcFSAaM-fj65HZvtLW0FXM_-F-c3u6K1M-rHOz1jIKpOpuGp0tLZRMBPjmmdbU0KMzEKRSJKcQVNS0-De5H3Zex18kAHCYUV6ngV6PwaBjR8NB68gZAK6WIzcwrZCqps6psj460ChblUsp2YDcBvck30LmR5yVb8D23Mjobfl2pgqvINjRpBQnPh8/s5541/Born%20Yesterday_Holiday,%20Crawford,%20and%20Holden.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4306" data-original-width="5541" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuKlpcFSAaM-fj65HZvtLW0FXM_-F-c3u6K1M-rHOz1jIKpOpuGp0tLZRMBPjmmdbU0KMzEKRSJKcQVNS0-De5H3Zex18kAHCYUV6ngV6PwaBjR8NB68gZAK6WIzcwrZCqps6psj460ChblUsp2YDcBvck30LmR5yVb8D23Mjobfl2pgqvINjRpBQnPh8/w447-h348/Born%20Yesterday_Holiday,%20Crawford,%20and%20Holden.jpg" width="447" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Judy Holiday, Broderick Crawford, and William Holden</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">George Cukor</span></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> (1899 – 1983) was an American director. He
was famous for directing comedies and literary adaptations of classics like <i>Little Women</i> (1933) and <i>David Copperfield</i> (1935). He was famously fired from directing <i>Gone with the Wind</i> (1939), but that incident didn’t mar an
impressive directorial career that included <i>The Philadelphia Story</i> (1940), <i>Gaslight</i> (1944), and <i>Born Yesterday</i> (1950). Cukor won an Academy Award as Best
Director for <i>My Fair Lady</i> (1964).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Broderick
Crawford</span></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> (1911 – 1986) was an American stage, film,
radio, and television actor. Born in Philadelphia to a show business family,
Crawford acted with his parents on stage and then established himself as a
talent on his own by winning acclaim as Lenny in the original Broadway
production of <i>Of Mice and Men</i> in 1937. He later moved to Hollywood and
began acting in small roles and bit parts throughout the 1940s. He finally got
his chance at stardom in <i>All the King’s Men</i> (1949), the film version of Robert Penn
Warren’s award-winning novel. The film was a big hit and Crawford won the
Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Willie Stark. Now a star,
Crawford starred in more prestigious productions including <i>Born Yesterday</i> (1950) receiving top-billing over co-stars
Judy Holiday and William Holden. Crawford became a television icon as Dan
Matthews in the police dram <i>Highway Patrol </i>(1955 – 1959.) <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Judy Holiday </span></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(1921 – 1965) was an American actress, comedian, and singer.
She started out in show business playing nightclubs before making her way to
Broadway. Her role as Billie Dawn in </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Born
Yesterday</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in 1946 made her an “overnight” sensation. When she recreated the
role for the film version, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress of the
Year. Other films include </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Marrying
Kind </i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1952), </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">It Should Happen to You</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1954), </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Phffft</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">
(1954), </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Solid Gold Cadillac</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">
(1956), </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Full of Life</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1956), and </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Bells Are Ringing</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1960), recreating her
Tony Award-winning performance. Holiday died of breast cancer in 1965 at the
age of 43.</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">William Holden</span></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> (1918 - 1981) was an American actor and
major movie star. He was one of the most bankable stars of the 1950s. Holden
starred in some of the most popular and beloved films of all time including <i>Sunset Boulevard</i>, <i>Sabrina</i>,<i> Picnic </i>(1955), <i>The Bridge on the River Kwai </i>(1957), and <i>Stalag 17</i> for which he won the Academy Award for Best
Actor. Holden became a star with his very first role in <i>Golden Boy</i> (1939). He had lead roles in other popular
films like <i>Our Town</i> (1940), and <i> I Wanted Wings</i> (1941). World War II interrupted his career.
Holden was a first lieutenant in the United States Army Air Force. After the
war, he made some popular but forgettable films. It wasn’t after he
collaborated with director Wilder on <i>Sunset Boulevard</i> that Holden’s popularity and stature in
Hollywood grew to superstar status.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW8_p05rRPuVcwimMF2HTEQqTtknTFHMyviTTh21Hqahyphenhyphenjw_lLrjPaI9x6UDC65pWfWAr4bGaE0KDao2AUY17BVjtIHwyVD3PzfvhoPgI9BM-Vj8nw5ZUdp8hIKuJ1Eyz79XZzPKeUXPMNGwNh3KJNS1c8Rw9CzEqWXHxBSEuJ7j4AodrbBE55r6-P9EE/s1600/Born%20Yesterday_Lobby%20Card.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1261" data-original-width="1600" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW8_p05rRPuVcwimMF2HTEQqTtknTFHMyviTTh21Hqahyphenhyphenjw_lLrjPaI9x6UDC65pWfWAr4bGaE0KDao2AUY17BVjtIHwyVD3PzfvhoPgI9BM-Vj8nw5ZUdp8hIKuJ1Eyz79XZzPKeUXPMNGwNh3KJNS1c8Rw9CzEqWXHxBSEuJ7j4AodrbBE55r6-P9EE/w419-h330/Born%20Yesterday_Lobby%20Card.jpg" width="419" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Crawford who got top billing on the screen is listed last on this lobby card.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><b>Born Yesterday </b></span></i><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><b>trivia</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Judy Holiday’s role in <i>Adam’s Rib</i> (1948) was an audition to
convince Columbia Pictures studio chief Harry Cohn that Holiday was up to the
task of playing Billie Dawn on the screen.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Judy Holiday and Broderick
Crawford played gin-rummy on the train to Washington, D.C. for location
shooting. Holiday won $600 from Crawford. This cemented their friendship and
they remained lifelong friends.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Marilyn Monroe screen-tested for the role but Harry Cohn
never watched it.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Holiday’s wardrobe became more sophisticated as her
character grew.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">William Holden originally turned down the role fearing that
he would be overshadowed by Crawford and Holiday. Because of this, Holden’s
role was built up for the screen.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Director George Cukor had Crawford, Holiday, and Holden
perform their roles in front of a live audience so that he could time the laughs
between the dialogue.</span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="https://youtu.be/yC7VNqzhj4A?si=qliFtsV_r7vKK7ZC" target="_blank">HERE</a> to watch the room on YouTube.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="406" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yC7VNqzhj4A" width="490" youtube-src-id="yC7VNqzhj4A"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/299303304/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">HERE</a> to join the discussion on February 26, 2024, at
6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation with a
link to join the discussion on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Discussion questions</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Born Yesterday</i> was
released in the mid-20<sup>th</sup> century. Do you think it holds up today?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Judy Holiday is so identified with the role of Billie Dawn.
Can you see anyone else as successful in the role?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Was Broderick Crawford believable in the role of Harry Brock?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Holiday beat out Gloria Swanson (<i>Sunset Blvd</i>), Bette Davis and Anne Baxter (<i>All About Eve</i>), and Eleanor Parker (<i>Cage</i>). Do you think she deserved to win?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Holden was afraid that he would be overshadowed by Crawford
and Holiday. Do you think this was the case or did he hold his own in the less
showy role as Paul Verrall?</span></li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-46492929708934498722024-02-14T17:32:00.008-06:002024-02-19T21:00:02.330-06:00“The Forbidden Street,” the hit that never was<p><i>The Forbidden Street</i>
(1949) is a melodrama directed by Jean Negulesco starring Dana
Andrews and Maureen O’Hara. The other cast members include Sybil Thorndike, Fay
Compton, and A. E. Matthews. The movie, set in Victorian London, was filmed in
England by Twentieth Century-Fox with funds that were frozen in Great Britain.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Backstory</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Based on the bestseller <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Britannia
Mews</i> by Margery Sharp (1905 – 1991), Fox paid the author $150,000 (over $2M
in 2024 dollars) for the film rights. Sharp was a popular author of adult and
children’s books. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cluny Brown</i> (1944),
was a huge bestseller and made into a successful film starring Charles Boyer
and Jennifer Jones. An earlier novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Nutmeg Tree</i> (1937) was filmed as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Julia
Misbehaves</i> (1948) with Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. So with that
track record, Fox was sure they had a box office hit on their hands.
Unfortunately, things did not go according to plan.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiey4aM_ZwlXauQUsYfHrs2IUAZ2G5w9tQBLJ8ug5TIFqj_v57_a4HdrwajdrNVoLayf-0nKZ7KOJipjpF3bZzib4foEsilDWOBWRVqnQ92iv0HD9R_UgiANfkGI28YalcqI5x92DCpXZDJPGGky-sJCl5QTbtC0VyJz7kGrAyHsWIIv7fPoZgknkRY_2vw/s400/Forbidden%20Street,The_Dana%20Andrews%20and%20Maureen%20O'Hara.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiey4aM_ZwlXauQUsYfHrs2IUAZ2G5w9tQBLJ8ug5TIFqj_v57_a4HdrwajdrNVoLayf-0nKZ7KOJipjpF3bZzib4foEsilDWOBWRVqnQ92iv0HD9R_UgiANfkGI28YalcqI5x92DCpXZDJPGGky-sJCl5QTbtC0VyJz7kGrAyHsWIIv7fPoZgknkRY_2vw/w427-h320/Forbidden%20Street,The_Dana%20Andrews%20and%20Maureen%20O'Hara.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dana Andrews as Henry and Maureen O'Hara as Adelaide</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">According to <i>The New York Times</i> critic Bosley Crowther, the screenplay by Ring Lardner Jr. “failed completely to get
a tight dramatic script from the book by simply stringing together some of its
narrative episodes. And certainly, he missed organizing a consistent temper or
mood,” </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The film had a competent director Jean Negulesco (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Johnny Belinda</i>). The cinematography was
by Georges Perinal who worked successfully with Rene Clair, Michael Powell,
Charlie Chaplin, and Otto Preminger. And let’s not forget Dana Andrews and
Maureen O’Hara, two top stars of the day and important Fox contract actors.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is the film a total failure? There are some questionable
choices the producer made. For example, Dana Andrews has a dual role. For the
first character he plays, his voice is dubbed by someone who sounds like Ronald
Colman. It’s jarring at first to those of us who know what Dana Andrews’s voice
sounds like. As Carl Rollyson tells it in his biography <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hollywood Enigma: Dana Andrews</i>, “The picture upset Dana because he
was dubbed, negating his carefully cultivated British accent, which—had it
survived the editing process—would have made for a striking performance, as he
reappears in the second part of the film as an American.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpikazm7XeEEDIBH_Nnl97z40NQIUCfFe-i_CZJKUByZjDOZzuBe4GxMhpzEdzerWN4CZ-hC_x1k7PJeVfWX0erZg7aJd-hwQRP6hDicmq_gjWfU3E8efgx3lZuJ2pEz9zUGdQRhgdu2r2DzpvjxZ8mKaR55kil8YnS-K0gPutNlH-9MLuZMql4YRjYBbl/s417/Forbiden%20Street,%20The_lobby%20card.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="417" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpikazm7XeEEDIBH_Nnl97z40NQIUCfFe-i_CZJKUByZjDOZzuBe4GxMhpzEdzerWN4CZ-hC_x1k7PJeVfWX0erZg7aJd-hwQRP6hDicmq_gjWfU3E8efgx3lZuJ2pEz9zUGdQRhgdu2r2DzpvjxZ8mKaR55kil8YnS-K0gPutNlH-9MLuZMql4YRjYBbl/w452-h352/Forbiden%20Street,%20The_lobby%20card.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">If you take the film on its own merits, it’s enjoyable.
Andrews and O’Hara have good chemistry and work well together. The atmosphere of
the mews—a street lined by buildings originally used as stables converted into
dwellings—is well done. The mews was the forbidden street that O’Hara’s character
was scolded for venturing into as a child.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Plot</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In late-1800s London, Adelaide Culver (O’Hara), a proper and
well-to-do young lady marries her drawing teacher, an impoverished artist Henry
Lambert (Andrews) who teaches young women like Adelaide to help pay the bills. To
prove to her family that Henry didn’t marry her for her money, she moves to the
mews with her husband. Unfortunately for Adelaide, Henry doesn’t love her and has
been unfaithful with his artist models. An alcoholic to boot, Henry’s hobby was
creating elaborate marionettes, rarely completing his paintings.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">With money becoming an ever-increasing issue, Adelaide
confronts Henry, who is drunk, about their deteriorating situation and marriage.
Henry tries to grab Adelaide, but she pushes him away. Due to his drunkenness,
Henry stumbles and falls down a flight of stairs and dies instantly.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mrs. Mounsey (Thorndike) observed the argument between Adelaide
and Henry before he fell to his death and used this knowledge to blackmail her.
Enter Gilbert Lauderdale (Andrews) an American barrister who has a striking resemblance
to Henry. Henry develops a real affection for Adelaide and gets rid of Mrs
Mounsey by threatening to take her to court for blackmail. Gilbert is married
to a woman who left him and moved to America so he cannot marry Adelaide.
However, the two live together and call themselves Mr. and Mrs. Lambert. To
keep things good and proper, the two sleep in separate rooms to avoid any sexual
entanglements.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxc38gTTImM5I-a4Rkd1qrO6n_krcRBajONEWDw1rndTe15oCG-QnuzkKa2h9FNxtv_WBdfAmz3zRuZmoxGy60lMrPKt40Q3MEDcXxdRsOhGIcCdASW1aYMow6hg2uQXfEN0Ru6a5r_jp6MWwRJr-h2Zm7FW2YhluPgs1Wi0qpmeH8Ee3Quqr9lXFqBzhg/s250/Forbidden%20Street,%20The_Dana%20Andrews%20as%20Gilbert.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="250" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxc38gTTImM5I-a4Rkd1qrO6n_krcRBajONEWDw1rndTe15oCG-QnuzkKa2h9FNxtv_WBdfAmz3zRuZmoxGy60lMrPKt40Q3MEDcXxdRsOhGIcCdASW1aYMow6hg2uQXfEN0Ru6a5r_jp6MWwRJr-h2Zm7FW2YhluPgs1Wi0qpmeH8Ee3Quqr9lXFqBzhg/w375-h292/Forbidden%20Street,%20The_Dana%20Andrews%20as%20Gilbert.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dana Andrews as Gilbert and Maureen O'Hara</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Gilbert discovers a trunk with the marionettes and is
intrigued. Adelaide has long thought of them as nothing of value and a reminder
of Henry. Gilbert connects with a man who knows marionettes—who declares the
ones Henry made as excellent—and Henry learns how to operate the marionettes
and before you know it, Adelaide and Gilbert are presenting marionette shows. Their puppet theatre becomes a sensation,
making the couple financially secure, and turning the mews into a fashionable
place to visit. Adelaide’s success helps reunite her with her family.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzaAOtvLwej6Ur4JsoxVBxAc7yQSvurAbcvah3gojh1MCE3Vmh8_GZziXEbHFpHaxlkiClNVVbOPDIdhQ5ZsPKCzKQwnU6EqcmTw__LCRxW1YyuDcEbNR38CCthEtEm7ID2e9_QQAwEBLXa-WkYQFo2aRRtz4bNKG2HBapP9dE9nLqUvNLn7VLLjuy-nVR/s992/Forbidden%20Street_Alene%20Art%20illustration.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="992" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzaAOtvLwej6Ur4JsoxVBxAc7yQSvurAbcvah3gojh1MCE3Vmh8_GZziXEbHFpHaxlkiClNVVbOPDIdhQ5ZsPKCzKQwnU6EqcmTw__LCRxW1YyuDcEbNR38CCthEtEm7ID2e9_QQAwEBLXa-WkYQFo2aRRtz4bNKG2HBapP9dE9nLqUvNLn7VLLjuy-nVR/w373-h373/Forbidden%20Street_Alene%20Art%20illustration.jpg" width="373" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.alene-art.com/portfolio" target="_blank">Illustration of Maureen O'Hara and Dana Andrews by Alison Mutton</a></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Then Gilbert’s wife Milly shows up at the mews. She tracked
him down from an advertisement for the theatre. She’s looking for money due to
his “improper” relationship with another woman. But Adelaide insists that
Gilbert go back to his wife. At that, Milly comes clean. She divorced Gilbert years ago and married another man, allowing Gilbert to marry
Adelaide.</p><p class="MsoNormal">A happy ending for Gilbert and Adelaide!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>In Conclusion</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Forbidden Street</i>
wasn’t the blockbuster that Fox had hoped it would be, but wasn’t the disaster
that some have called it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Give <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Forbidden
Street</i> a try. It’s on YouTube for free. What do you have to lose? You may
even like it!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="355" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PaklIpqJ874" width="427" youtube-src-id="PaklIpqJ874"></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-16695230471586094662024-02-13T15:40:00.003-06:002024-02-13T15:43:23.846-06:00Walter Huston is the Devil and Edward Arnold is Daniel Webster in "The Devil and Daniel Webster"<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">The Devil and Daniel Webster</span></i><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> (1941) is a film fantasy based on the short
story by Stephen Vincent Benet by the same name. The film was directed by
William Dieterle and starred an all-star cast featuring Walter Huston, Edward
Arnold, James Craig, Anne Shirley, Jane Darwell, Simone Simon, Gene Lockhart,
John Qualen, and H. B. Warner.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In New Hampshire in
1840, Jabez Stone (Craig), a poor farmer, is beset with hard times and bad
luck. At the end of his rope, he says that he would sell his soul to the devil
for two cents. Before you know it, a man calling himself Mr. Scratch appears.
Scratch tells Jabez if he sells his soul, he will have seven years of good luck
and prosperity. Jabez tempted by wealth and an easier life, signs a contract
with scratch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After several years,
things change for Jabez. He becomes one of the wealthiest men in his village
and his success never ends. During this time, he becomes friends with
Daniel Webster (Arnold), the celebrated congressman, lawyer, and speaker. He
and his wife Mary (Shirley) have a son and name him Daniel in honor of Mr.
Webster.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the seven years end, Jabez tries to negotiate with Scratch to extend their
contract. In the meantime, Jabez’s marriage begins to crumble and Scratch knows
he has the upper hand. Scratch agrees to extend the contract in exchange for
Jabez’s son. Jabez refuses and turns to Webster to help him get out of his
bargain with the Devil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What transpires is an
amazing court case featuring some of the most notorious historical figures as
the jury.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How will the trial turn
out? Will Jazez be set free from the clutches of Mr. Scratch or will he be
forced to honor his original contract?<span style="color: #545454;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #545454; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #545454; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrQcI1yWZM4dTycnRPmVeuBeTTLSieuPBnAkfqbUzav308SejCbQXoz_HSU-ptYuj1SKc21Ewxegfa3fiC7GbOwq7ujLmJBf3u7C9v862ULm74NCltfCuit3mrbxGpHqc4_cdGbBWTPjkbrHdLZm0V293uMFcqw49qxVSPc4RYIQDC9gIluA8etr9nCIx/s425/Devil%20and%20Daniel%20Webster,The_Arnold,%20Craig,%20Huston.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="425" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrQcI1yWZM4dTycnRPmVeuBeTTLSieuPBnAkfqbUzav308SejCbQXoz_HSU-ptYuj1SKc21Ewxegfa3fiC7GbOwq7ujLmJBf3u7C9v862ULm74NCltfCuit3mrbxGpHqc4_cdGbBWTPjkbrHdLZm0V293uMFcqw49qxVSPc4RYIQDC9gIluA8etr9nCIx/w502-h268/Devil%20and%20Daniel%20Webster,The_Arnold,%20Craig,%20Huston.jpg" width="502" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Edward Arnold, James Craig, and Walter Huston </b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background: white; color: #545454; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">William Dieterle</span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"> (1893 – 1972) was a German-born actor and film
director. Dieterle emigrated to the United States in 1930 and acted in German-language films made in Hollywood for a time. He eventually worked his way up to
director. He directed the 1935 production of <i>A Midsummer Night’s Dream</i> starring James Cagney, Joe E. Brown, Dick
Powell, and an 18-year-old Olivia de Havilland. Dieterle directed Paul Muni to
a Best Actor win for his title role in <i>The
Story of Louis Pasteur</i> (1936). He directed Muni again in another biographical
film, <i>The Life of Emile Zola</i> (1937).
The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, winning for Best Picture and Best
Supporting Actor for Joseph Schildkraut, and Best Screenplay. Dieterle lost the
award for Best Director to Leo McCarey. This was Dieterle’s one and only Oscar
nomination. His other films include <i>Juarez</i>
(1939), <i>The Hunchback of Notre Dame</i>
(1939), <i>Dr. Ehrlich’s Magin Bullet</i>
(1940), and <i>A Dispatch from Reuters</i>
(1940).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><b>The Devil and Daniel Webster </b></span></i><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><b>trivia</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The was released as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All That Money Can Buy</i> so it wouldn’t be
confused with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Devil and Miss Jones</i>,
also released in 1941.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bernard Herrmann won an
Academy Award for his scoring of the film. He was also nominated for the film
score of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Citizen Kane</i> that same year.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Robert Wise (<i>The Sound of Music</i>), who would
later go on to direct, was the editor of the film.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thomas Mitchell was
originally cast as Daniel Webster but had to be replaced due to an accident on
the set that resulted in a fractured skull.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anne Shirley said that
everyone involved in the production believed they were making a great film.</span></span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiohIEynE5M_9aGU31GfNk6IPKsOmdOFd10lZKUbAzqtnhd-DrsP8cVp9zIf65Nr-P-_lz2iNCx4HbDh9JAkLFjttuYvz0E2_6Bp_V29WjOKBzQ9nKA4am5-q2o94hGs0XHJAIrFeRqvjdggyr06h7bwZPO2aneIGB_zX8hJ0MoZgaVGJBHQUA5ZvjuJi_/s340/Devil%20and%20Daniel%20Webster,%20The_Craig%20and%20Shirley.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="340" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiohIEynE5M_9aGU31GfNk6IPKsOmdOFd10lZKUbAzqtnhd-DrsP8cVp9zIf65Nr-P-_lz2iNCx4HbDh9JAkLFjttuYvz0E2_6Bp_V29WjOKBzQ9nKA4am5-q2o94hGs0XHJAIrFeRqvjdggyr06h7bwZPO2aneIGB_zX8hJ0MoZgaVGJBHQUA5ZvjuJi_/w460-h345/Devil%20and%20Daniel%20Webster,%20The_Craig%20and%20Shirley.jpg" width="460" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>James Craig and Anne Shirley</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="https://youtu.be/Of3jYa8gq4M?si=eJ6kqqdotTWXalJE" target="_blank">HERE</a> to watch the
film on YouTube.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="371" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Of3jYa8gq4M" width="446" youtube-src-id="Of3jYa8gq4M"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/299181160/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">HERE</a> to join the
discussion online on February 19, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you
RSVP, you will receive an invitation and a link to join the discussion on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Discussion questions</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Walter Huston was nominated
for a Best Actor Oscar. Do you think he deserved it? What did you think of his
performance?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Was Edward Arnold as
Daniel Webster a good match for Huston’s Mr. Scratch?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What about the other
cast members? The cast includes some very well-known character actors. Do you
have a favorite?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The film was praised for
its production values when it was first released. Does it hold up in the 21<sup>st</sup>
century?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The film score won an Academy Award for Bernard Herrmann. Do you think the score added to the mood of the film? </span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although the film was met
with rave reviews when it was released, the public didn’t show up at the box
office. Why do you think the film wasn’t a financial success?</span></span></li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-31173911789259726962024-02-06T17:24:00.004-06:002024-02-08T16:35:16.304-06:00Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer in “Love Affair”<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Love Affair</span></i><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> (1939) is the original romance directed by
Leo McCarey (<i>The Awful Truth</i>) starring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white;">French painter Michel Marnet (Boyer) and American
singer Terry McKay (Dunne) meet aboard a transatlantic ocean liner. Both are
engaged, but they are attracted to each other and spend considerable time
together. They quickly become the talk of the ship so the two try to be more
discreet by eating alone and avoiding being seen together. The ship stops in
Madeira where they visit with Michel’s grandmother Janou (Maria Ouspenskaya).
His grandmother loves Terry and she wants Michel to settle down and marry her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white;">When
they arrive in New York City, Michel and Terry agree to meet at the top of the
Empire State Building in six months. Six months is the amount of time Michel
needs to decide if he can drop the playboy life and support a relationship with
Terry.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Remade with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr as <i>An
Affair to Remember</i> (1957) and although charming in its own right, it
has nothing on the original, which is rarely seen. The film was nominated for
six Academy Awards including Best Actress (Dunne), Best Supporting Actress
(Ouspenskaya), and Best Writing, Original Screenplay (Mildred Cam and McCarey).</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The film was nominated for six
Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting
Actress.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYWAcv1KVpzfpw3L2EBdJvsAC8RvTvEbyl-vBxUwJ_x8krxWZDj6ZmDmtRUNQT5ttEIfTb5nCoWAMmBG7n4YP87pu6ftZyiWAE-1eYhjvIkjXyL-ZH00zdA_Fw0QstSDumKYHFwSwD4asAEqJlGVqeZb8bENLw8mL5U5h3K74Egv5vyIKAn4aNzJI7WJW/s2000/Love%20Affair_Dunne%20and%20Boyer_porthole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1531" data-original-width="2000" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYWAcv1KVpzfpw3L2EBdJvsAC8RvTvEbyl-vBxUwJ_x8krxWZDj6ZmDmtRUNQT5ttEIfTb5nCoWAMmBG7n4YP87pu6ftZyiWAE-1eYhjvIkjXyL-ZH00zdA_Fw0QstSDumKYHFwSwD4asAEqJlGVqeZb8bENLw8mL5U5h3K74Egv5vyIKAn4aNzJI7WJW/w432-h331/Love%20Affair_Dunne%20and%20Boyer_porthole.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #444444;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Leo McCarey</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> (1898 – 1969) was American film director,
screenwriter, and producer. McCarey is perhaps most famous for his critically
acclaimed and commercially popular comedies like <i>Duck Soup</i> (1933), <i>The Ruggles
of Red Gap </i>(1935), and<i> The Awful
Truth </i>(1937). Other popular films directed by McCarey include <i>Going My Way</i> (1944), <i>The Bells of St. Mary’s</i> (1945), and <i>Good Sam </i>(1948). McCarey won two Best
Director Oscars for <i>The Awful Truth</i>
and <i>Going My Way</i>.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Irene Dunne</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> (1898 –1990) was an American actress and singer who was one of the
most popular movie stars during Hollywood’s Golden Age. She is probably best
remembered for her comedic roles, though she first became famous playing in
melodramas like <i>Back Street</i> (1932) and <i>Magnificent</i> <i>Obsession</i> (1935). In fact, Dunne was so popular as a star of
melodramas that she was dubbed “The Queen of the Weepies” by the press. Her
comedic breakout performance was in <i>Theodora Goes Wild </i>(1936) which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best
Actress. She would go on to make other comedy classics like <i>The Awful Truth</i> (1937) where she earned another Best Actress nod, and <i>My</i> <i>Favorite Wife</i> (1940). Dunne and Grant were one of the most popular screen teams in
movie history. All three of their films were critical and box office successes.
Dunne earned a total of five Academy Award nominations for Best Actress but
never won a competitive Oscar. The fact that the Motion Picture Academy never
awarded her an Honorary Academy Award for her body of work is a travesty.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 17.12px;">Charles Boyer</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none;"> (1899 - 1978) was a French-American stage and film actor. Boyer was nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award four times. He became a major movie star in the late 1930s in films like </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">The Garden of Allah</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none;"> (1936), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Algiers </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none;">(1938), and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Love Affair</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none;"> (1939). He starred as the evil husband of Ingrid Bergman in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Gaslight</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none;"> (1944). Boyer starred opposite most of the top female stars of the period including Claudette Colbert, Marlene Dietrich, Irene Dunne, Jean Arthur, Greta Garbo, Bette Davis, Joan Fontaine, Katharine Hepburn, and Olivia de Havilland. As he grew older, Boyer played supporting roles in film and also starred on Broadway in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Kind Sir </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none;">(1953 - 1954) and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">The Marriage-Go-Round</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none;"> (1958 - 1960).</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 17.12px;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22H1aHfhthAdYlve5dtMgK_ePXFsOx__3jUsP9us_fZfIvEiz175MnCjec16LM7nxqtQf5h6nigkeOKxAhT_4IfTIypSjsu5qUHtsJbt97PaJyHxHvJlcD3jJn29JWUcSMvb43ziUozmm5ooN-6v4o3fbiFfw40gZfXFJRJp8lIckbqBZt2dsRVBxvXpQ/s894/Love%20Affair_Boyer%20and%20Dunne_apartment.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="894" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22H1aHfhthAdYlve5dtMgK_ePXFsOx__3jUsP9us_fZfIvEiz175MnCjec16LM7nxqtQf5h6nigkeOKxAhT_4IfTIypSjsu5qUHtsJbt97PaJyHxHvJlcD3jJn29JWUcSMvb43ziUozmm5ooN-6v4o3fbiFfw40gZfXFJRJp8lIckbqBZt2dsRVBxvXpQ/w413-h324/Love%20Affair_Boyer%20and%20Dunne_apartment.jpg" width="413" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Love Affair</i> trivia</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The film popularized pink champagne and the champagne
cocktail. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the favorite film of both Dunne and Boyer who were
good friends in real life.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Due to the popularity of the Dunne and Boyer pairing, they
made two more films together: <i>If Tomorrow
Comes</i> (1939) and <i>Together Again</i>
(1944).</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Irene Dunne says to Charles Boyer, “Going my way?” Five
years later, Leo McCarey would direct the classic <i>Going My Way</i>. Dunne and Boyer had no association with that Best
Picture winner.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">McCarey remade this film in 1957 as <i>An Affair to Remember</i> starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit; line-height: 17.12px;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="https://youtu.be/xqTvvSYvnVg?si=Wouxf5PE9HhJRddy" target="_blank">HERE</a> to watch the film on YouTube.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="355" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xqTvvSYvnVg" width="427" youtube-src-id="xqTvvSYvnVg"></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click<a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/299042721/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank"> HERE</a> to join the online discussion on February 12, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation and a link to join the discussion on Zoom.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><b>Discussion questions</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Did you think that Dunne and Boyer had on-screen
chemistry?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Irene Dunne was nominated for Best Actress for her
performance (losing to Vivien Leigh in <i>Gone
With the Wind</i>). Do you think she gave an Oscar-worthy performance?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">If you were Dunne’s character, would you have kept
your accident a secret? Why do you think she did?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">If you’ve seen <i>An
Affair to Remember</i>, do you prefer that version over the original?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Did you have a favorite scene or piece of
dialogue?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">In his review of the film in <i>The
New York Times</i>, Frank S. Nugent said, “A less capable director, with a less
competent cast, must have erred one way or the other—either on the side of
treacle or on that of whimsy. Mr. McCarey has balanced his ingredients
skillfully and has merged them, as is clear in retrospect, into a glowing and
memorable picture.</span>” Do you agree with this assessment?</span></li></ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkAQcguzh_nIP8VXxz031OJIx_5P4_G47pAB94yYsfY5CLVLnl5vfjKDlblAS4qaG7iTOl03KPkQK-Qg1mfYHMmstaVQFgEKc76D0nWzIL-aYGChoxGg5DRQZUkhSvgUS1k8Om4oIpPYCgLGdON2NjHsQr1-h1ngRZh8vuJJlW6RRjUAGImwGhvZtO8Dy/s768/Love%20Affair_lobby%20card.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkAQcguzh_nIP8VXxz031OJIx_5P4_G47pAB94yYsfY5CLVLnl5vfjKDlblAS4qaG7iTOl03KPkQK-Qg1mfYHMmstaVQFgEKc76D0nWzIL-aYGChoxGg5DRQZUkhSvgUS1k8Om4oIpPYCgLGdON2NjHsQr1-h1ngRZh8vuJJlW6RRjUAGImwGhvZtO8Dy/w468-h468/Love%20Affair_lobby%20card.webp" width="468" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><br /></li></ol><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-73282281507137974232024-01-31T17:44:00.008-06:002024-01-31T17:53:48.071-06:00 Walter Huston and Ruth Chatterton star in William Wyler’s production of “Dodsworth”<p><i>Dodsworth</i> (1936)
is an American drama film directed by William Wyler, and starring Walter Huston,
Ruth Chatterton, Paul Lukas, Mary Astor, and David Niven. The screenplay by
Sidney Howard is based on the stage adaptation of the 1929 novel by Sinclair
Lewis. Houston starred in the stage version and recreated his role on film.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The film centers on the marriage of retired auto magnate
Samuel Dodsworth (Huston) and his wife Fran (Chatterton). While on a trip to Europe, the couple discovers they want different things. On the RMS
<i>Queen </i>Mary, Sam meets divorcee Edith
Cortright (Astor). Edith and Sam hit it off but their relationship is one of
friendship. As Sam and Fran arrive in Europe, their marriage is strained, partly due to Fran’s dissatisfaction with what she considers their dull social
life. Fran decides to stay in Europe while Sam returns to America.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While in America, Sam is confronted with the “gossip” about
Fran and playboy Arnold Iselin (Lukas). Same returns to Europe to see if he and
Fran have a future together.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDD7wQiWmgwedmIQKwC4lAjWaLtxCpsuOnI0DXiM03UVohazULtm7ryK1Cy36xX_H7BzBFxD2sbW-tZGPLQA8Ri9htbcDrR2b4hPvhgjs6zOWzxCriEb76luC2eUg55L9HvQbe5rwWPKXHGLAL2xHLtyem03W6s034AjYP3ifDGyI3MX1KTkrg1zgTvky/s960/Dodsworth_lobby%20card.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="960" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDD7wQiWmgwedmIQKwC4lAjWaLtxCpsuOnI0DXiM03UVohazULtm7ryK1Cy36xX_H7BzBFxD2sbW-tZGPLQA8Ri9htbcDrR2b4hPvhgjs6zOWzxCriEb76luC2eUg55L9HvQbe5rwWPKXHGLAL2xHLtyem03W6s034AjYP3ifDGyI3MX1KTkrg1zgTvky/w443-h349/Dodsworth_lobby%20card.jpg" width="443" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">William Wyler</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"> (1902 - 1981) was an American (born in
Mulhouse, Alsace, then part of Germany) film director and producer. He won the
Academy Award for Best Direction three times: <i>Mrs. Miniver</i> (1942), <i>The Best Years of Our Lives</i> (1946), and <i>Ben-Hur </i>(1959). Wyler was nominated 12 times for Best
Director, an Academy Awards history record. Wyler started working in the movie
business during the silent era, eventually making a name for himself as a
director in the early 1930s. He would go on to direct <i>Wuthering Heights </i>(1939), <i>The Westerner </i>(1940), and <i>The Little Foxes</i> (1941). Actress Bette Davis received three
Oscar nominations under Wyler’s direction, winning her second Oscar for her
performance in <i>Jezebel </i>(1938). Other popular films directed by Wyler include <i>The Heiress </i>(1949), <i>Roman Holiday </i>(1954), <i>Friendly Persuasion </i>(1956), <i>The Big Country </i>(1958), and <i>Funny Girl 1968).</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">Walter Huston</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"> (1883 - 1950) was a Canadian singer,
stage, and film actor. He is also the patriarch of the Huston clan which
includes his writer-director son John, and his granddaughter, actress Anjelica.
Huston worked in the theater, with roles on Broadway where he debuted in 1924.
Once talking pictures began in Hollywood, Huston worked as both a leading man
and also a character actor. Some of Huston</span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">’s films include <i>The Virginian</i> (1929), <i>Rain</i> (1932), <i>Gabriel
Over the White House</i> (1933), <i>The Devil and Daniel Webster</i> (1941),
and <i>The Treasure of the Sierra Madre</i> (1948) for which he won
the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, directed by his son John. Huston’s
last film was <i>The Furies </i>(1950) co-starring Barbara Stanwyck
and Wendell Corey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ruth Chatterton</span></span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1892 – 1961) was an American stage, film, and
television actress. She was also an aviator and novelist. She was one of the
few female pilots in the 1930s and was a close friend of Amelia Earhart.
Chatterton started her film career in 1929 and established herself as a major
movie star with her role in <i>Madame X</i>.
For her work in that film, she received her first Best Actress Academy Award
nomination. In 1930, Chatterton was voted as the second favorite star of the
year behind Norma Shearer, in a poll of West Coast film exhibitors. Chatterton’s
film career was at its height during the mid-1930s. By the end of the decade,
she basically retired from film. She continued to work on the stage and was an
early performer on television in the late 1940s.</span><span style="font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Paul Lukas</b> (1894 – 1971) was a
Hungarian actor. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in
the film <i>Watch on the Rhine</i> (1943),
reprising the role he created on Broadway stage. Before coming to American,
Lukas had a successful stage and movie career in Europe. Some of the movies
Lukas starred in include <i>Little Women </i>(1933),<i> Ladies in Love (1936), The Lady Vanishes
(1938),</i> <i>The Ghost Breakers</i>
(1940), <i>Berlin Express</i> (1948), and <i>Fun in Acapulco</i> (1963) with Elvis
Presley.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">Mary Astor</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"> (1906 – 1987) was an American actress. She won a Best Supporting Actress
Academy Award for her role in <i>The Great
Lie</i> (1941) but is perhaps best remembered for her performance as Brigid O’Shaughnessy
in <i>The Maltese Falcon</i> (1941) opposite
Humphrey Bogart. Astor was a silent film star—she starred in over 40 silent
films—in her teens but when talkies arrived, her voice was considered too
masculine. After a successful stage performance, film roles started coming her
way. A divorce and child custody scandal involving Astor and playwright George
S. Kaufman almost destroyed her career. During the 1940s, Astor, under contract
to M-G-M, specialized in character roles. Other film roles include <i>Red Dust</i> (1932), <i>The Kennel Murder Case</i> (1933), <i>The
Prisoner of Zenda</i> (1937), <i>Midnight</i>
(1939), <i>The Palm Beach Story</i> (1942), <i>Meet Me in St. Louis</i> (1944), <i>Little Women</i> (1949), and <i>Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte</i> (1964).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">David Niven</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"> (1910 - 1983) was a British actor. He won
the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in <i>Separate Tables</i> (1958).
Niven</span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">’s film career started in the 1930s with small
roles in films like <i>Mutiny on the Bounty </i> (1935). He soon signed a contract with
Samuel Goldwyn and his career took off. He had a supporting role in Wuthering
Heights (1939). The film was a major success and increased his profile as an
actor. He next co-starred with Ginger Rogers in <i>Bachelor Mother </i>(1939), another big hit. He played a safe-cracker
in <i>Raffles</i> (1939) co-starring Olivia de Havilland.
Niven worked constantly in film throughout the next four decades. Other films
he starred in include <i>Enchantment</i> (1948), <i>Soldiers Three</i> (1951), <i>Around the World in 80 Days</i> (1956). <i>Bonjour Tristesse </i>(1958), <i>Please Don’t Eat the Daisies</i> (1960), and <i>The Pink Panther</i> (1963).</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVE4IIB6qAWXIu5nPKbBaCO2Lhj2bVbw4HWWfb_B0bveQlrK8zGeW6rBFADrf5erQYTVY79UtWnnN3fPJQ5lCTBHp9EgaJmnKGyTRVbiJ2I3Lr7fAzqh-urFLYxUk8B2DbJYdNm9fgIjBnQgajkPNQwbZwpzST9-1k70XWQ-WGGUorjJJu-8sBP9LIkcm/s2048/Dodsworth_Huston%20and%20Astor.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1651" data-original-width="2048" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVE4IIB6qAWXIu5nPKbBaCO2Lhj2bVbw4HWWfb_B0bveQlrK8zGeW6rBFADrf5erQYTVY79UtWnnN3fPJQ5lCTBHp9EgaJmnKGyTRVbiJ2I3Lr7fAzqh-urFLYxUk8B2DbJYdNm9fgIjBnQgajkPNQwbZwpzST9-1k70XWQ-WGGUorjJJu-8sBP9LIkcm/w466-h376/Dodsworth_Huston%20and%20Astor.jpg" width="466" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Walter Huston and Mary Astor</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Dodsworth</b></span></i><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;"><b> trivia</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;">During the filming, Mary Astor
was involved in a very public child custody case. Ruth Chatterton was a
character witness for Astor.</span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;">David Niven didn’t like working
with William Wyler. He acknowledged that Wyler could be “kind, fun, and cozy”
off set, but when he sat in that director’s chair he became a bit of a tyrant.</span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;">Mary Astor said that Edith
Cortright was her favorite film role.</span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;">William Wyler, Ruth Chatterton,
and Walter Huston fought over Chatterton’s performance. Chatterton felt that
she should be portrayed as a villainess; Wyler and Huston thought she should be
portrayed more sympathetically.</span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Click <a href="https://youtu.be/9DhfhxwHMgc?si=MPyyWaTsRmLnNkLe" target="_blank">HERE</a> to watch the film on
YouTube.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="326" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9DhfhxwHMgc" width="392" youtube-src-id="9DhfhxwHMgc"></iframe></div><br /><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;">Click
<a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/298917015/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">HERE</a> to join the discussion on February 5, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once
you RSVP, you will receive an invitation and a link to join the discussion on
Zoom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjt3oBpM1y9zLFQuYOZHhqvehEcVtw7s-cOt6IyXyvl54hKyoU14_4p8kBZ5biiuGIuoocY8ZAh_Y3x9p7xN1s8jLd5jlbs7VIJlcXLWwQTOyiKLI_vsM8WpPVxfdOZkaJHWA0WGblO7NFRUS-2Gn7IpWpnYHPn17XO5OUvKPZjj9XB_-5WT79J01CWjrq/s1080/Dodsworth_Chatterton,%20Dodsworth.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="1080" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjt3oBpM1y9zLFQuYOZHhqvehEcVtw7s-cOt6IyXyvl54hKyoU14_4p8kBZ5biiuGIuoocY8ZAh_Y3x9p7xN1s8jLd5jlbs7VIJlcXLWwQTOyiKLI_vsM8WpPVxfdOZkaJHWA0WGblO7NFRUS-2Gn7IpWpnYHPn17XO5OUvKPZjj9XB_-5WT79J01CWjrq/w507-h326/Dodsworth_Chatterton,%20Dodsworth.webp" width="507" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ruth Chatterton and Walter Huston</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Discussion
questions</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;">Ruth
Chatterton thought that there should be little sympathy for Fran. Did you think
she deserved any?</span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;">Do
you think the marriage conflict between Fran and Sam was realistic?</span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;">Do
you think that Sam and Fran were ever in love with each other? </span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;">What
did you think of the performances of Huston, Chatterton, and Astor?</span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "inherit", serif; line-height: 107%;">Where
you surprised by the film’s ending or did you expect it? Do you think Sam and
Edith will eventually get married? Sam is still married to Fran at the film’s
end.</span></li></ol><p></p>
Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-31136693448914989182024-01-24T18:11:00.003-06:002024-01-24T18:13:30.083-06:00Joan Fontaine, Ida Lupino, and Edmond O’Brien as “The Bigamist”<p><i>T<span style="font-family: inherit;">he Bigamist</span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">
(1953) is an American drama film directed by Ida Lupino and starring Joan
Fontaine, Ida Lupino, Edmund Gwenn, and Edmond O’Brien. The cinematography was
by George E. Diskant (</span><i>They Live by Night)</i><span style="background-color: white;">
and the music was by Leith Stevens (</span><i>The
Wild One).</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Married couple Harry (O’Brien) and Eve Graham
(Fontaine) are about to adopt a child. Mr. Jordan (Gwenn), the adoption agent informs
them that as a matter of routine, he needs to check into their backgrounds.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This worries Harry because he’s been living a double
life with another woman named Phyllis (Lupino). Their relationship develops into
a serious one and they get married.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What happens now? Will Harry be able to get himself
untangled from the mess he’s made of his life or will his life spiral out of
control?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-SQ3Q890EGxfBSdd9XkfppWUeLhmkNXUMuSuY3nskd_slJnnLdmID5qlyQ7DgtcD_ZNVuokKSjg4a3owGkSk2VPUvEgH_v6lzUbRucDS_sKvuNGpsdmv6iZ-1KUSs-P9B0w02d_TOWvgaOmM3_41bdRbcqXYsfTlE7g4lEjFIWLEyNFiSbFPIlLVo2R8/s540/Bigamist,%20The_O'Brien,%20Gwenn,%20Fontaine.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="540" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-SQ3Q890EGxfBSdd9XkfppWUeLhmkNXUMuSuY3nskd_slJnnLdmID5qlyQ7DgtcD_ZNVuokKSjg4a3owGkSk2VPUvEgH_v6lzUbRucDS_sKvuNGpsdmv6iZ-1KUSs-P9B0w02d_TOWvgaOmM3_41bdRbcqXYsfTlE7g4lEjFIWLEyNFiSbFPIlLVo2R8/w437-h347/Bigamist,%20The_O'Brien,%20Gwenn,%20Fontaine.webp" width="437" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Edmond O'Brien, Edmund Gwenn, and Joan Fontaine</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #444444;">Ida Lupino</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1918 – 1995) was an English-American actress, director, and
producer. She appeared in over 50 films and was one of Warner Bros.’s biggest
contract players during the 1940s starring in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">High Sierra</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1941), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Sea Wolf</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1941), and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Man I Love</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1947). After she left Warner Bros., Lupino formed her
own production company, producing, writing, and directing films that tackled
subjects the big studios wouldn’t touch. During the 1950s, Lupino was the only
female director working in Hollywood. She directed several small independent
films but really made a name for herself directing for television. Lupino
directed episodes of </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Twilight Zone</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (starred in one too), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Rifleman</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">, </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Bonanza</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">, </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Gilligan’s Island</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">, </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">It Takes a Thief</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">, </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Family Affair</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">, and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Columbo</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">. In 1966, she directed her one-and-only big-budget studio
picture, </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Trouble with Angels</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> starring Rosalind Russell and Haley Mills.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #444444;">Joan Fontaine</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"> (1917 – 2013) was a British-American actress who starred in more
than 45 films during Hollywood’s “Golden Age.” After secondary roles in <i>Gunga Din</i> (1939) and <i>The Women</i> (1939), her fortunes turned with her starring role in
Alfred Hitchcock’s first American film, <i>Rebecca</i> (1940). She was nominated for Best Actress for her role
in that film but lost to Ginger Rogers. The next year, she worked with
Hitchcock again in <i>Suspicion</i> and this time won the Best Actress Oscar, beating out
her older sister Olivia de Havilland. She received a third and final nomination
for <i>The Constant Nymph</i> (1943). Other popular Fontaine films include <i>This Above All</i> (1942), <i>From This Day Forward</i> (1946), <i>Ivy</i> (1947), <i>Letter from an Unknown Woman</i> (1948), <i>The Emperor Waltz </i>(1948), and <i>Ivanhoe</i> (1952). After the late-1950s, she appeared less in
films and more on stage and television. Fontaine and her sister are the only
siblings to have won major acting Academy Awards.</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #444444;">Edmund Gwenn</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1877 – 1959) was an English stage and film actor. He
is best remembered for his role as Kris Kringle in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Miracle on 34<sup>th</sup> Street</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1947) for which he won the Academy Award
for Best Supporting Actor. Gwenn made his Hollywood film debut in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Sylvia Scarlett</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1935) and went on to have a long career in
that town. He was a member of what was known as the British Colony—British
ex-pats who were working in Hollywood. So of his other films include </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Pride and Prejudice</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1940), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Foreign Correspondent</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1940),</span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Lassie Come Home</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1943), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Keys of the Kingdom</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1944), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Undercurrent</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1946), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Apartment for Peggy</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1948), and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Mister 880</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1950). The actor Cecil Kellaway was Gwenn’s
cousin.</span></span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444;">Edmond O’Brien</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"> (1915 – 1985)
was an American stage, screen, and television actor. He won an Academy Award
for Best Supporting Actor for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Barefoot Contessa</i> (1954). O’Brien had leading roles in some of his earlier
films but mostly worked as a supporting actor in films like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Killers</i> (1946), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Double Life</i> (1947), and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">White
Heat</i> (1949). He had lead roles in noir classics <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">D.O.A</i> (1950) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Hitch-Hiker </i>(1953). Other film roles include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Julius Caesar</i> (1953), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">D-Day
the Sixth of June </i>(1956), and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Man
Who Shot Liberty Valance</i> (1962).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl3FB3pMZ5ZGKEqMSW65YDcvK0MItMUHCc3ROzA6_r4J4Z1N8dhQa4lP_xX3r1MxcMA9-3nu4jTb2jTzFj_ULwMsd_W3O4ulPX0FGHiEidC7wS50mrqFlcZiYUENlg0d50diGOF4uvihAXBCHhv9jRGxf-vuC7cN9v0agWarVM12_Ff6kyFIMTMxJroVo/s540/Bigamist,%20The_Lupino,%20O'Brien.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="540" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl3FB3pMZ5ZGKEqMSW65YDcvK0MItMUHCc3ROzA6_r4J4Z1N8dhQa4lP_xX3r1MxcMA9-3nu4jTb2jTzFj_ULwMsd_W3O4ulPX0FGHiEidC7wS50mrqFlcZiYUENlg0d50diGOF4uvihAXBCHhv9jRGxf-vuC7cN9v0agWarVM12_Ff6kyFIMTMxJroVo/w423-h314/Bigamist,%20The_Lupino,%20O'Brien.webp" width="423" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ida Lupino and Edmond O'Brien</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><b>The Bigamist </b></span></i><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><b>trivia</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is believed that this is the first sound
film where the female star directed herself. It was the only time Lupino did
so.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Writer-producer Collier Young was married to
Joan Fontaine at the time of production. Lupino was previously married to
Young; they founded the Filmakers production company.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was the last film Lupino directed until <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Trouble with Angels </i>(1966).</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are several inside jokes at the expense
of Edmund Gwenn.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joan Fontaine’s mother Lillian has an
uncredited role.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jane Greer was originally cast to play the role
that eventually went to Joan Fontaine.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Edmund Gwenn, Joan Fontaine, Edmond O'Brien, and Jane Darwell were all Oscar winners.</span></span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="https://youtu.be/10MFVT7p_3Q?si=3WFlX5pL7HWdU_SP" target="_blank">here</a> to watch the movie on YouTube.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="343" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/10MFVT7p_3Q" width="413" youtube-src-id="10MFVT7p_3Q"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/298764966/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">here</a> to join the online discussion on
January 29, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Once you RSVP, you will receive and invitation and
a link to join the discussion on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Discussion questions</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do you think the subjects of
adultery/bigamy were handled?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you think that the film took a position?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Was the situation between Edmond O’Brien and
Joan Fontaine’s characters believable or realistic?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What did you think of the performances? Did one
stand out to you?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Was the ending satisfying? If not, how would
you have liked to the movie end?</span></span></li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-55149512776545759022024-01-16T19:00:00.003-06:002024-01-16T19:06:39.266-06:00Jean Gabin and Ida Lupino star in “Moontide”<p><i>Moontide </i>(1942) is
an American drama directed by Archie Mayo and starring Jean Gabin and Ida
Lupino. The supporting cast includes Thomas Mitchell, Claude Rains, and Jerome
Cowan.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bobo (Gabin) works on a barge with Anna (Lupino) a girl he
saved from committing suicide. Bobo has a violent past and is prone to fights
when he is drunk. Bar-fly Pop Kelly (Arthur Aylesworth) was murdered and Bobo
is concerned that he may have killed him while he was drunk.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bobo and Anna try to make a life together but there are
forces beyond their control that are out to destroy them. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Will Bobo and Anna be able to live in peace or are they
destined to a life of misery and pain.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_PNRKMErQ6TaOYaMI7K0W0CUGWxL5uQOd-pXom-K6wmUVusVQXZINI9fF5VwESGnh0xf_Q5iG4X49MqmtJrgsJQNcqXqqYge8vYV6-2CrguyqtU8rlyAXSr8TSr1Srh4EHU364YrSCJICm3XV4O3OHSt5nwrs-YcHKlC8pAFyeNttvgizG_qU0nrQNSi/s1150/Moontide_Lupino%20and%20Gabin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1150" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_PNRKMErQ6TaOYaMI7K0W0CUGWxL5uQOd-pXom-K6wmUVusVQXZINI9fF5VwESGnh0xf_Q5iG4X49MqmtJrgsJQNcqXqqYge8vYV6-2CrguyqtU8rlyAXSr8TSr1Srh4EHU364YrSCJICm3XV4O3OHSt5nwrs-YcHKlC8pAFyeNttvgizG_qU0nrQNSi/w411-h299/Moontide_Lupino%20and%20Gabin.jpg" width="411" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ida Lupino nad Jean Gabin</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Archie Mayo</b> (1891 – 1968) was an American film director,
screenwriter, and actor. Mayo began directing during the silent era, easily
making the transition to talking pictures. He directed many stars of the
pre-code era including James Cagney, Constance Bennett, and Joan Blondell. He
also directed <i>The Petrified Forest </i>(1936)
starring Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, and Humphrey Bogart.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Jean Gabin</b> (1904 – 1976) was a French actor and singer. His
reputation as a major star of French cinema brought him to Hollywood. Gabin
didn’t like being under a studio contract and only made two films in Hollywood.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">Ida Lupino</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"> (1918 – 1995) was an English-American actress, director, and producer. She appeared in over 50 films and was one of Warner Bros.’s biggest contract players during the 1940s starring in </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">High Sierra</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"> (1941), </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">The Sea Wolf</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"> (1941), and </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">The Man I Love</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"> (1947). After she left Warner Bros., Lupino formed her own production company, producing, writing, and directing films that tackled subjects the big studios wouldn’t touch. During the 1950s, Lupino was the only female director working in Hollywood. She directed several small independent films but really made a name for herself directing for television. Lupino directed episodes of </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">The Twilight Zone</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"> (starred in one too), </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">The Rifleman</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">Bonanza</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">Gilligan’s Island</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">It Takes a Thief</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">Family Affair</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">, and </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">Columbo</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">. In 1966, she directed her one-and-only big-budget studio picture, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">The Trouble with Angels</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"> starring Rosalind Russell and Haley Mills.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Click <a href="https://youtu.be/0mlEQPYCl9g?si=nrmMJ1WUjVfDdQE2" target="_blank">here</a> to watch the film on YouTube<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="301" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0mlEQPYCl9g" width="362" youtube-src-id="0mlEQPYCl9g"></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Click <a href="https://classicmovieman.blogspot.com/2024/01/jean-gabin-and-ida-lupino-star-in.html" target="_blank">here</a> to join the discussion online on January 22, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.Central Time. Once you RSVP, you
will receive an invitation and a link to join the discussion on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Discussion questions</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Jean Gabin made only two films in Hollywood. What did you
think of his performance? Do you think he could have been a big star in
American if he stayed in Hollywood?</li><li>Ida Lupino was borrowed from Warner Bros. to co-star with
Gabin. Did you think they had good on-screen chemistry.</li><li>The film’s production was affected by World War II. It was
originally planned to be filmed on location but was instead filmed on the sound
stages at 20<sup>th</sup> Century-Fox. Did you find the studio sets believable?</li><li>Cinematographer Charles G. Clarke was nominated for an
Academy Award for his work on Moontide. Did you think it was well deserved?</li><li>Did you have a favorite character actor?</li></ol><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRygyzOKHKDHDvLhIZVCRXCPIe8sJBAF1jfLHgeWGFd5Wvn-LeA7PcErBUOIakcFk6eZbU8x2wsLrCf_t7IbJoYmVKu2babWmp-ApQhiDrEI4THnRtyY89NZpmBBPikSNrW2imNhtISHH885agDTR4urLQhsKyW_ws-il9yozU0mbFb3FSnoxBxHTybT-Z/s595/Moontide_lobby%20card.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="595" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRygyzOKHKDHDvLhIZVCRXCPIe8sJBAF1jfLHgeWGFd5Wvn-LeA7PcErBUOIakcFk6eZbU8x2wsLrCf_t7IbJoYmVKu2babWmp-ApQhiDrEI4THnRtyY89NZpmBBPikSNrW2imNhtISHH885agDTR4urLQhsKyW_ws-il9yozU0mbFb3FSnoxBxHTybT-Z/w384-h301/Moontide_lobby%20card.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-5841603633169050352024-01-09T19:51:00.003-06:002024-01-09T19:54:34.746-06:00Edward Arnold shows Jean Arthur some “Easy Living”<p><i>Easy Living</i> (1937) is an American
screwball comedy film directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Jean Arthur,
Edward Arnold, and Ray Milland. The screenplay was written by Preston Sturges
from a story by Vera Caspary (<i>Laura</i>).
The supporting cast includes William Demarest, Franklin Pangborn, Luis Alberni,
and Robert Greig.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">On her way
to work, Mary Smith (Arthur) is hit with a sable coat while riding in a
double-decker bus. The coat was thrown off of the New York City penthouse by
J.B. Ball (Arnold) during an argument with his wife. Little does Mary know how
that sable coat will change her life, especially after she meets J.B. Ball Jr.
(Milland), not knowing who he is.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoA3GD6fensANWa768LofTfKnjV7f4F6bY0zp998f2ZVkyD7s8H-Bi9dmgoADxijMtVBv1ixIvtTUQQGyIIULDPCv9HTeAIqDSCDvceck6F_Yu52xLC7qqJPaLd09OkQXviLFNbmy21oB75S5_O7_k3YL_v7zpktGtv8nkewK5vYrOweEpwIP_9bRY2eLa/s737/Easy%20Living_Arnold,%20Arthur,%20Milland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="737" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoA3GD6fensANWa768LofTfKnjV7f4F6bY0zp998f2ZVkyD7s8H-Bi9dmgoADxijMtVBv1ixIvtTUQQGyIIULDPCv9HTeAIqDSCDvceck6F_Yu52xLC7qqJPaLd09OkQXviLFNbmy21oB75S5_O7_k3YL_v7zpktGtv8nkewK5vYrOweEpwIP_9bRY2eLa/w445-h338/Easy%20Living_Arnold,%20Arthur,%20Milland.jpg" width="445" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Edward Arnold, Jean Arthur, and Ray Milland</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Mitchell Leisen</b> (1898 – 1972) was an
American director who was one of Paramount Pictures most successful directors
during the 1930s and 1940s. He directed Olivia de Havilland to her first Best
Actress Oscar in <i>To Each His Own</i>
(1946). He also directed Ginger Rogers in <i>Lady
in the Dark</i> (1944), as wekk as the Christmas classic <i>Remember the Night </i> (1940)
starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray. Leisen’s last big movie success was
the comedy <i>The Mating Season</i> (1951)
starring Gene Tierney, John Lund, and Thelma Ritter in an Oscar-nominated
performance.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jean Arthur</span></span></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1900 – 1991) was an American stage and film
actress whose career spanned three decades. Arthur got her start in silent
films but became a major star with the advent of sound. Her unique speaking
voice made her a natural for comedy. She came to prominence with major roles
in a series of films directed by Frank Capra: <i>Mr. Deeds Goes to Town</i> (1936), <i>You Can’t Take it With You</i> (1938), and <i>Mr. Smith Goes to Washington</i> (1939). Other popular films Arthur starred
in included <i>Only Angels Have Wings</i> (1939), <i>The Talk of the Town</i> (1942), <i>The More the Merrier</i> (1943). For her work in <i>The More the Merrier</i>, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best
Actress, her only Academy Award nomination. Arthur’s last film role was
in the western classic <i>Shane</i> (1953). After retiring from acting, she
taught drama at Vassar College where one of her students was Meryl Streep.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Edward Arnold </b>(1890 – 1956) was an
American film and stage actor. Arnold started acting on the legitimate stage
before finding work in film in 1916. He returned to the stage in 1919 and didn’t
appear in film again until Okay America! (1932). In the early years of his film
career, he played leading man roles but as he got older, he appeared in character
roles and was never without work. He often worked on more than one picture at
once. Some popular films that Arnold starred in include The Toast of New York
(1937), You Can’t Take it With You (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939),
and Meet John Doe (1941).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Ray Milland</b> (1907 – 1986) was a
Welsh-American movie star and film director. He won a Best Actor Oscar for portraying an alcoholic writer in Billy Wilder’s <i>The Lost Weekend</i> (1945). Milland played bit parts at M-G-M and
Paramount. While at Paramount, he was loaned to Universal to for a lead in the
Deanna Durbin movie <i>Three Smart Girls</i>
(1936). The success of the film led to him being cast in leading roles. He
became one of Paramount’s biggest stars, remaining there for almost 20 years.
Other films starring Milland include <i>The
Major and the Minor </i>(1942), <i>Reap the
Wild Wind </i>(1942) where he had top billing over John Wayne, the horror
classic <i>The Uninvited</i> (1944), <i>The Big Clock</i> (1948), and <i>Dial M for Murder </i>(1954). Later in his
career, he starred as Ryan O’Neal’s father in <i>Love Story </i>(1970).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkt9ffT32s0XG8ttUlXd5cnmiMU8_6CtUCnr0lVzdvJnku-1kKpFRFxGlcV5xQ-b8zlGM9_RVXo0D4x3GBL0Ml46vXTp_QMj1OkuFat5yLxC6m5RSu7kz2NDtKmxb9bGETTGRvjaX-6HM_DNDhVWoAqNpVpRqymUYVV0-4DBKpklIRlgWV-jnV9W98aBtO/s2048/Easy%20Living_Arthur%20at%20the%20automat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="1645" data-original-width="2048" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkt9ffT32s0XG8ttUlXd5cnmiMU8_6CtUCnr0lVzdvJnku-1kKpFRFxGlcV5xQ-b8zlGM9_RVXo0D4x3GBL0Ml46vXTp_QMj1OkuFat5yLxC6m5RSu7kz2NDtKmxb9bGETTGRvjaX-6HM_DNDhVWoAqNpVpRqymUYVV0-4DBKpklIRlgWV-jnV9W98aBtO/w466-h374/Easy%20Living_Arthur%20at%20the%20automat.jpg" width="466" /></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Jean Arthur at the automat.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Easy Living</i> trivia</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The furs and
jewelry used in the film were real. Guards were posted during the shooting to
ensure that none of the valuables were stolen.</li><li>The $58,000
sable coat in 1937, would cost more than $1.18M today.</li><li>This was the
first film that Preston Sturges worked on at Paramount.</li><li>Jean Arthur
was almost seven years older than Ray Milland.</li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Click <a href="https://youtu.be/xguNnDu8ShI?si=hpFNQ0XZmMBs46VO" target="_blank">here</a>
to watch this film on YouTube.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xguNnDu8ShI" width="384" youtube-src-id="xguNnDu8ShI"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/298451760/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">here</a>
to join the online discussion on January 15, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive
an invitation and a link to join the discussion on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Discussion
questions</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>What did you
think of the character of J. B. Ball played by Edward Arnold?</li><li>Was Jean
Arthur believable as a working-class young woman caught up in a scandal?</li><li>Were Ray
Milland and Jean Arthur believable as a couple?</li><li>What did you
think of the automat scene?</li><li>Did you have
a favorite scene, piece of dialogue, or character actor?</li><li>How would
you rank this screwball comedy? Is it in your top ten?</li></ol><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-22452458507930289302023-12-30T14:08:00.003-06:002023-12-30T14:11:44.323-06:00What is the secret of the “Moss Rose?”<p><i>Moss Rose</i> (1947)
is an American period mystery drama directed by Gregory Ratoff and starring
Peggy Cummins, Victor Mature, and Ethel Barrymore. The supporting cast includes
Vincent Price, Rhys Williams, and Patricia Medina. The film is based on the
novel of the same name by Marjorie Bowen, based on a true-crime Victorian
murder case.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The story is set in Victorian London and centers around
chorus girl, Belle Adair (Cummins), whose real name is Rose Lynton. She sees
gentleman Michael Drego (Mature) leave her friend Daisy Arrow’s (Margo Woode) apartment
moments before she discovers that Daisy has been murdered.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Daisy decides to blackmail Michael thinking he is the
murderer and is willing to do almost anything to keep himself from hanging and
his family from scandal. Rose’s blackmail plans are quite unusual but Drego
agrees to them. Rose begins to have second thoughts when a second murder is
committed that is similar to the first.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm47nG-FtGCfva8EJyKiu5MzoVJlJTnMGv3ygQ89cU2B6DRHuJinx5F8QbCplG-g8VSpAIx5fOZ-CcJbSx5uSwu8xAJR5HZ7mU4kiR3IMX1wx4WKxYQKGRu9ThoVfEs-9oYj7tTLOnp3rZwQPqSG2FDMgDTC9pOL0g52g0A503QIpFXDN24wCZa4spWewG/s292/Moss%20Rose_Cummins,%20Barrymore,%20Medina,%20Mature.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="292" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm47nG-FtGCfva8EJyKiu5MzoVJlJTnMGv3ygQ89cU2B6DRHuJinx5F8QbCplG-g8VSpAIx5fOZ-CcJbSx5uSwu8xAJR5HZ7mU4kiR3IMX1wx4WKxYQKGRu9ThoVfEs-9oYj7tTLOnp3rZwQPqSG2FDMgDTC9pOL0g52g0A503QIpFXDN24wCZa4spWewG/w427-h335/Moss%20Rose_Cummins,%20Barrymore,%20Medina,%20Mature.webp" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peggy Cummins, Ethel Barrymore, Patricia Medina, and Victor Mature</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="text-align: justify;">Gregory Ratoff</b><span style="text-align: justify;"> (1893 – 1960) was a Russian-born American film
director, actor, and producer. He is perhaps best known for his acting role as
Max Fabian in</span><i style="text-align: justify;"> All About Eve</i><span style="text-align: justify;"> (1950).
Some of the films Ratoff directed include </span><i style="text-align: justify;">Intermezzo</i><span style="text-align: justify;">
(1939) starring Leslie Howard and Ingrid Bergman in her American film debut, </span><i style="text-align: justify;">Rose of Washington Square</i><span style="text-align: justify;"> (1939)
starring Alice Faye, Don Ameche, and Henry Fonda, </span><i style="text-align: justify;">Adam Had Four Sons</i><span style="text-align: justify;"> (1941) starring Ingrid Bergman and </span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Warner Baxter, </span><i style="text-align: justify;">Oscar Wilde</i><span style="text-align: justify;"> (1960).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Peggy Cummings</b> (1925 – 2017) was an Irish actress who had a brief
but memorable career in Hollywood. She is best remembered for her starring role
in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gun Crazy</i> (1950) playing a
murderous femme fatale, who robs banks along with her husband. Cummings was
originally cast as Amber St. Clair in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Forever
Amber</i> (1947) but was replaced by Linda Darnell when Darryl Zanuck, after
looking at the rushes, thought she was too young. After <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gun Crazy</i>, Cummings never made another film in Hollywood.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Victor Mature</span></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1913 – 1999) was an American stage, film, and
television actor who became a major movie star during the 1940s under contract
to 20th Century-Fox. Before his film career took off, Mature starred in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Lady in the Dark</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1941) on Broadway opposite Gertrude Lawrence. Some of
Mature’s notable films include </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I Wake Up Screaming </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">(1941) with Betty Grable, and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Shanghai Gesture</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1941) with Gene Tierney. In 1942, he starred opposite
Rita Hayworth in the musical </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">My Gal Sal</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">. Other notable films include </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Samson and Delilah</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1949), and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Robe</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1952), the first film released in the Cinemascope
widescreen process. Mature was self-deprecating when it came to his
acting. He said, “I’m no actor, and I’ve got 64 pictures to prove it.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Ethel
Barrymore</span></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1879 - 1959) was an American stage and film
actress and part of the famous Barrymore family of actors. Her equally famous
brothers were Lionel and John Barrymore. Barrymore got her start on the stage
and she was among its brightest stars for many years. Barrymore also had a
successful career on the other side of the Atlantic in London where she starred
in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Peter the Great</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">. She achieved one of her biggest Broadway
successes in W. Somerset Maugham’s comedy, </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Constant Wife </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">(1926). Barrymore was a popular character actress
in film during the 1940s. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
for her performance in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">None but the Lonely Heart</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1944) opposite Cary Grant who played her
son. Other film roles include </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Spiral Staircase</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1946), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Paradine Case</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1947), and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Pinky </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">(1949).</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XqvzIirTYbdi4AnVxG0uV30R4Z-ztVw0ZPYWAswgRn9UUkscVpv1NS343gP64ibwyfswuZ1Q3SJdl7EmJTECpLxwct3DNLw4hdEGOZLnQJos6vxZwGFv1LWgFlK75eRass60_2wn4zugApU5QnSc_44Jhvh7O-knWmojjCavjz-3gZlP_jmGqRUlesS7/s620/Moss%20Rose_Mature%20and%20Cummins.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="620" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XqvzIirTYbdi4AnVxG0uV30R4Z-ztVw0ZPYWAswgRn9UUkscVpv1NS343gP64ibwyfswuZ1Q3SJdl7EmJTECpLxwct3DNLw4hdEGOZLnQJos6vxZwGFv1LWgFlK75eRass60_2wn4zugApU5QnSc_44Jhvh7O-knWmojjCavjz-3gZlP_jmGqRUlesS7/w408-h263/Moss%20Rose_Mature%20and%20Cummins.jpg" width="408" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Victor Mature and Peggy Cummins</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <b><a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/298230116/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> to
join the online discussion on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Central
Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation with a link to join the discussion
on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <b><a href="https://youtu.be/BywNlhhsmo0?si=LoGgM8UzYRpnBSxI" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> to
watch the movie on YouTube.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="389" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BywNlhhsmo0" width="468" youtube-src-id="BywNlhhsmo0"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Discussion
questions</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><ol><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What genre
would you classify this film?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peggy Cummins
was given the lead in this film after being fired from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Forever Amber</i>. What did you think of her performance? </span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The film had
great production values, a good cast, and a tight script. However, the film was
a box office failure. Why do you think this was the case? </span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Filmed
entirely on the backlot at 20<sup>th</sup> Century-Fox, did the recreation of
Victorian London look realistic to you?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did it remind
you of any other film you’ve seen?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Was there a
favorite character actor or performance that you especially liked?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Where you
surprised when the true murderer was revealed? Did you suspect someone else or where you on
the right track all along?</span></span></li></ol><p></p>
Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-39087877069254864342023-12-12T16:16:00.009-06:002023-12-12T16:25:25.401-06:00Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid have a date with fate in “Casablanca”<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><em>Casablanca</em>, the 1942 classic directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid is the third film to be shown in this continuing monthly series. Winner of three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, <em>Casablanca</em> has become part of the American consciousness, its dialogue (“Here's looking at you kid.”) part of our lexicon.</p></div><p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Just another movie?</b></span><br style="background-color: white;" /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCjrd5p_vpS1wXdMT_0jIdEl1mL0F6unyzh1D4ak81xlvpYIpuyKIfzG_gMY9ATkz0WesvPyDYmRLTo6vongVvYNUPvKWsmF20svfsNbNUSf7FUW5YVxO6pXVtlUVRDTahy7Tql67QIFV/s1600-h/BogeyBergman.jpeg" style="background-color: white; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCjrd5p_vpS1wXdMT_0jIdEl1mL0F6unyzh1D4ak81xlvpYIpuyKIfzG_gMY9ATkz0WesvPyDYmRLTo6vongVvYNUPvKWsmF20svfsNbNUSf7FUW5YVxO6pXVtlUVRDTahy7Tql67QIFV/s320/BogeyBergman.jpeg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">What started as just another movie during Hollywood’s golden age became an instant classic. It made Bogart a credible leading man and pushed him out of the shadows of fellow contract players James Cagney, George Raft, and Edward G. Robinson. In only her fourth American film, Bergman became a superstar and one of the most popular movie actresses of the 1940s. For Hungarian-born director Curtiz, <em>Casablanca</em> was his only Best Director win in a career that spanned more than four decades.</p></div></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzeYB0-jbcyqyXRCGi-Qve0SqeNFG6gR59melVTZp9dIGzkjI0qCMSxEzq5HSkive4_YF5pLec5cLUUL5YtlPX2j4LKPWBDtWgUM2FJhhzBMNFnFvF6kCnTcIhs7TCfzWFWQYyaoJTBWUYxurMK3GtPJaZHhwXNuaQQo03pHjcxr83c9ihv1iQOqfxAm5/s1366/Casablanca_lobby%20card.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzeYB0-jbcyqyXRCGi-Qve0SqeNFG6gR59melVTZp9dIGzkjI0qCMSxEzq5HSkive4_YF5pLec5cLUUL5YtlPX2j4LKPWBDtWgUM2FJhhzBMNFnFvF6kCnTcIhs7TCfzWFWQYyaoJTBWUYxurMK3GtPJaZHhwXNuaQQo03pHjcxr83c9ihv1iQOqfxAm5/w479-h269/Casablanca_lobby%20card.jpg" width="479" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Michael Curtiz</b>
(1886 -1962) was a Hungarian-American film director who worked during Hollywood’s
Golden age, directing some of the best loved classics from that era including <i>The Adventures of Robin Hood</i> (1938) <i>Casablanca </i>(1942), and <i>Mildred Pierce</i> (1945). He directed James
Cagney and Joan Crawford to Best Actor/Actress Oscar wins; he put Doris Day and
John Garfield on the screen for the first time, making them major movie stars
in the process. He’s also responsible for the pairing of Errol Flynn and Olivia
de Havilland, one of Hollywood’s most famous screen teams. Other films directed
by Curtiz include <i>Angels with Dirty Faces</i>
(1938), <i>The Sea Wolf</i> (1941), <i>Yankee Doodle Dandy</i> (1942), <i> Life
with Father</i> (1947), and <i>White
Christmas</i> (1954).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white;">Humphrey Bogart</b><span style="background-color: white;"> (1899 – 1957) was an American film and stage actor. He is one of the most famous and popular movie stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Nicknamed Bogie, the actor toiled in supporting roles in both A and B pictures for a decade before his breakout role as Roy Earle in </span><i style="background-color: white;">High Sierra</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1941). Many more film roles followed including </span><i style="background-color: white;">The Maltese Falcon</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1941), </span><i style="background-color: white;">Casablanca</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1942), </span><i style="background-color: white;">Key Largo</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1948), and </span><i style="background-color: white;">The Treasure of the Sierra Madre</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1948). His career continued with good roles in films like </span><i style="background-color: white;">In a Lonely Place</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1950), </span><i style="background-color: white;">The Caine Mutiny</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1954), and </span><i style="background-color: white;">Sabrina</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1954) co-starring William Holden and Audrey Hepburn. Bogart died from cancer in 1957.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white;">Ingrid Bergman</b><span style="background-color: white;"> (1915 – 1982) was a Swedish actress who became an international star upon her Hollywood debut in Intermezzo (1939). Few actresses were as popular as Bergman during the 1940s. In fact, she was the number two box office draw (after Bing Crosby) in 1946. She starred opposite Humphrey Bogart in </span><i style="background-color: white;">Casablanca</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1942), </span><i style="background-color: white;">For Whom the Bell Tolls</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1943) opposite Gary Cooper, </span><i style="background-color: white;">Gaslight</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1944) for which she won the Best Actress Academy Award. She starred opposite newcomer Gregory Peck in </span><i style="background-color: white;">Spellbound</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1945) which was her first collaboration with director Alfred Hitchcock. Bergman would go on to win another Best Actress Academy Award for Anastasia (1956) and a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for </span><i style="background-color: white;">Murder on the Orient Express</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1974).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white;">Paul Henreid</b><span style="background-color: white;"> (1909 - 1992) was an Austrian-British-American actor, producer, writer, and director. Henreid is probably best known for two films released in 1942: </span><i style="background-color: white;">Casablanca</i><span style="background-color: white;"> and </span><i style="background-color: white;">Now, Voyager</i><span style="background-color: white;">. Henreid was under contract with Warner Bros. where he was a popular leading man starring opposite the studio's top actresses including Bette Davis, Ida Lupino, and Eleanor Parker. After he left Warner Bros. Henreid made a series of adventure films. He later directed films and television shows like </span><i style="background-color: white;">Alfred Hitchcock Presents</i><span style="background-color: white;">, </span><i style="background-color: white;">Maverick</i><span style="background-color: white;">, and </span><i style="background-color: white;">The Big Valley</i><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPY7VBAeDZDE8-JU6F17MclwLix2hQ_xlQIiBC2j87_QiMEEgMdAJOCBNQlt-aXvJPO2gNlEBXjQRdKQAJ4J6MpVW1a1ma_L_sxRhTK_07XzjMs8aClkhbQnInVx3Jj0qfkc71j24LdxXkZUBVrve6gR-_Kst5207toxlk7yYGxoQInXal_smk5rwRClyK/s2048/Casablanca_publicity%20photo%20of%20main%20cast.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="2048" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPY7VBAeDZDE8-JU6F17MclwLix2hQ_xlQIiBC2j87_QiMEEgMdAJOCBNQlt-aXvJPO2gNlEBXjQRdKQAJ4J6MpVW1a1ma_L_sxRhTK_07XzjMs8aClkhbQnInVx3Jj0qfkc71j24LdxXkZUBVrve6gR-_Kst5207toxlk7yYGxoQInXal_smk5rwRClyK/w456-h353/Casablanca_publicity%20photo%20of%20main%20cast.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Casablanca</i> trivia<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Many of the actors playing Nazis were German Jews who
escaped Nazi Germany.</li><li>The tears in the eyes of the extras singing “La Marseillaise”
were real; many of them had escaped Nazi occupied Europe.</li><li>Stars Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid didn’t
want to make <i>Casablanca</i>. Bogart and
Bergman were unhappy with a script that wasn’t completed before filming, and
Henreid who had a big success starring opposite Bette Davis in <i>Now, Voyager</i> (1942) didn’t want to be
the second male lead. </li><li>Bergman was desperate to play Maria in <i>For Whom the Bell Tolls</i> (1943). Bergman got the role and a Best
Actress nod. Bergman thought this would be the role that moviegoers would
remember her for. Even though the film was a bigger box office hit than <i>Casablanca</i>, it hasn’t the reputation of
that classic.</li><li>The movie was filmed entirely on the Warner Bros. sound
stages and backlot.</li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Click <a href="https://youtu.be/AJ5JiRKf52Y?si=p1iS365YrlCm3VV5" target="_blank">HERE</a> to watch the film on YouTube.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AJ5JiRKf52Y" width="464" youtube-src-id="AJ5JiRKf52Y"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/297909949/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">HERE</a> to join the discussion on December 18, 2023, 6:30
p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation and a link to
join the discussion on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Discussion questions<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>What is the basic plot <i>of Casablanca</i>?
What is the central conflict? How is this conflict established?</li><li>What is the tone of the film? How is that tone established?
What are some of the major themes of this film?</li><li>What role does music play? How do the attitudes
of jazz fit into Rick’s club, and what we know about his character?</li><li>How are the characters framed in the film? What “tricks”
does the director use to introduce characters, reveal their motives, or present
their conflicts? How is this explored through lighting and camera angles?</li><li>What make this film timeless?</li></ol><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-6855088175557324282023-12-05T17:10:00.005-06:002023-12-11T20:34:14.941-06:00 James Stewart, Grace Kelly, and Thelma Ritter debate “Rear Window” ethics<p><i>Rear Window</i> (1954) is an American mystery thriller directed by
Alfred Hitchcock and starring James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, and
Thelma Ritter. The script was by John Michael Hayes, the cinematography was by
Robert Burks, and the music was by Franz Waxman.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">A favorite with both the public and critics, <i>Rear Window</i>’s
reputation only seems to grow with each passing year. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies (James Stewart) is confined to a
wheelchair after breaking his leg while photographing a racetrack accident.
While recuperating in his Greenwich Village apartment, Jeff suspects that his
neighbor across the courtyard, Lars Thorwald (Raymond Burr) murdered his
invalid wife. At first, his girlfriend Lisa Freemont (Kelly) and home-care
nurse Stella (Ritter) think he’s imagining things, but soon both begin
suspecting there may be some truth to his suspicions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Alfred Hitchcock’s <i>Rear Window</i> is a master class in filmmaking; its technique and
storytelling are timeless.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1QiA1xgtaozPNHLGFHHXMxiDtmmFnNpv4FhJNSn1mp4EnfAeoJyKkKuCRS-tiB1omkjdqb3fkh403mKEvVSgVd9u38A6DGXjsTBIPhthigocC1lUzusHVgKNuVKVZlH0Q81KRHWrYhdJxsKruAmGT1ZJIRabiDFkH8cb82_unhJHcA0xaEou8XIO4o2H/s849/Rear%20Window_Grace%20Kelly.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="849" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1QiA1xgtaozPNHLGFHHXMxiDtmmFnNpv4FhJNSn1mp4EnfAeoJyKkKuCRS-tiB1omkjdqb3fkh403mKEvVSgVd9u38A6DGXjsTBIPhthigocC1lUzusHVgKNuVKVZlH0Q81KRHWrYhdJxsKruAmGT1ZJIRabiDFkH8cb82_unhJHcA0xaEou8XIO4o2H/w491-h274/Rear%20Window_Grace%20Kelly.png" width="491" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grace Kelly</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Alfred Hitchcock</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1899 – 1980) was an English film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is one of the most influential filmmakers of the 20th century. Hitchcock directed over 50 feature films, many of which are classics that have been honored and studied for years. Some of Hitchcock’s classic films include </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The 39 Steps</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1939), </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Rebecca</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1940), </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Suspicion</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1941), </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Shadow of a Doubt</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1943), </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Notorious</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1946), </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Rear Window</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1954), </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Vertigo</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1958), </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">North by Northwest</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1959), and </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Psycho</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1960).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>James Stewart </b>(1908 - 1997) was an American actor whose career spanned almost five decades and 80 films. Stewart often portrayed the ideal of the average American who was decent and honest. Stewart signed a seven-year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer where he appeared in a variety of supporting roles in B and A pictures. It wasn’t until he was loaned out to Columbia Pictures to costar in Frank Capra’s <i>You Can’t Take It With You </i>(1938) that his home studio began to notice. Still, his best roles were on loan to other studios including <i>Mr. Smith Goes to Washinton</i> (1939) at Columbia again and <i>Destry Rides Again</i> (1939) at Universal. M-G-M eventually cast him in <i>The Philadelphia Story</i> (1940) where he won the Academy Award for Best Actor which cemented his reputation as a leading man and star. From there he went on to make <i>The Shop Around the Corner</i> (1940) and <i>The Mortal Storm </i>(1940). After serving in the United States Army from 1941 to 1945, Stewart returned to Hollywood where he continued as a popular leading man. During the 1950s, Steward made two films with director Alfred Hitchcock, considered two of the director’s best films: <i>Rear Window</i> (1954) and <i>Vertigo</i> (1958). <i>Vertigo </i>was voted the greatest film ever made by <i>Sight & Sound</i> in 2012.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Grace Kelly</b> (1929 – 1982) was an American film actress who after a fairly brief Hollywood career became the Princess of Monaco by marrying Prince Rainier III in 1956. Kelly appeared in theater productions in New York City and on live television during the early 1950s. For her role in <i>Mogambo</i> (1953), Kelly was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She lost the Oscar but became a major star with lead roles in five films released in 1954: <i>Dial M for Murder</i>, <i>Rear Window</i>, <i>The Country Girl</i>, <i>Green Fire</i>, and <i>The Bridges of Toko-Ri</i>. She would make only three more movies—<i>To Catch a Thief</i>, <i>The Swan</i> (1955), and <i>High Societ</i>y (1956)—before retiring from films.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>James Stewart </b>(1908 - 1997) was an American actor whose career spanned almost five decades and 80 films. Stewart often portrayed the ideal of the average American who was decent and honest. Stewart signed a seven-year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer where he appeared in various supporting roles in B and A pictures. It wasn’t until he was loaned out to Columbia Pictures to costar in Frank Capra’s <i>You Can’t Take It With You </i>(1938) that his home studio began to notice. Still, his best roles were on loan to other studios including <i>Mr. Smith Goes to Washinton</i> (1939) at Columbia again and <i>Destry Rides Again</i> (1939) at Universal. M-G-M eventually cast him in <i>The Philadelphia Story</i> (1940) where he won the Academy Award for Best Actor which cemented his reputation as a leading man and star. From there he went on to make <i>The Shop Around the Corner</i> (1940) and <i>The Mortal Storm </i>(1940). After serving in the United States Army from 1941 to 1945, Stewart returned to Hollywood where he continued as a popular leading man. During the 1950s, Steward made two films with director Alfred Hitchcock, considered two of the director’s best films: <i>Rear Window</i> (1954) and <i>Vertigo</i> (1958). <i>Vertigo </i>was voted the greatest film ever made by <i>Sight & Sound</i> in 2012.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Wendell Corey</b> (1914 – 1968) was an American film and stage actor. After appearing in the hit Broadway play <i>Dream Girl</i> (1945), Corey was spotted by producer Wallis who put him under contract at Paramount. He started out in supporting roles, but he was elevated to leading man with <i>The File on Thelma Jordon</i>. As film roles diminished, Corey turned to television where he made guest appearances on <i>Alfred Hitchcock Presents</i>, <i>The Untouchables</i>, <i>Perry Mason</i>, and <i>The Wild Wild West</i>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><b>Thelma Ritter</b> (1902 - 1969) was an American actress best known for her portrayal of working-class characters. She was nominated six times in the Best Supporting Actress category, more than any other actress in the category. Ritter won the </span><span>Best Actress in a Musical</span><span> Tony Award in</span><span> 1958 for <i>New Girl in Town</i>. She made her unbilled screen debut in <i>Miracle on 34th Street</i> (1947) and a character actress was born. Ritter quickly became a favorite of studio chief Daryl F. Zanuck who cast her in <i>A Letter to Three Wives</i> (1949), <i>All About Eve</i> (1950), <i>The Model and the Marriage Broker</i> (1951), <i>With a Song in My Heart</i> (1952), and <i>Titanic</i> (1953). Perhaps her most famous role was as James Stewart's nurse in <i>Rear Window</i> (1954). Ritter was a good friend of director George Seaton, who cast her in her first film role in <i>Miracle on 34th Street</i>. It was only fitting that Ritter's last film <i>What's So Bad About Feeling Good</i> (1968), was also directed by Seaton.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwrCHm3EwmhfBixgdN7vXatTXQOnOtSz1CvxOhTT9zv3MRA6YadbQzW57Epaw9rKPAChyphenhyphenAWP7TyrprT1-W20XNSNUuoaIG3IJhn40-cQ6NWPh0v98r31Lnk9U10voeUsDBnLSYMRPsqZslH4D5z1HqAuSA6y8ZH47FxRV7he21wSNqpGJa4wE2BG9f4yT/s786/Rear%20Window_Thelma%20Ritter%20and%20James%20Stewart.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="786" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwrCHm3EwmhfBixgdN7vXatTXQOnOtSz1CvxOhTT9zv3MRA6YadbQzW57Epaw9rKPAChyphenhyphenAWP7TyrprT1-W20XNSNUuoaIG3IJhn40-cQ6NWPh0v98r31Lnk9U10voeUsDBnLSYMRPsqZslH4D5z1HqAuSA6y8ZH47FxRV7he21wSNqpGJa4wE2BG9f4yT/w473-h284/Rear%20Window_Thelma%20Ritter%20and%20James%20Stewart.png" width="473" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Thelma Ritter and James Stewart</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Rear Window </i>trivia</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The entire movie was shot on one set. It was the
largest set piece built on the Paramount lot up to that time.</li><li>The actors in the apartments other than Jeff’s
(Stewart’s) all wore earpieces so Hitchcock could direct them remotely.</li><li>All of the apartments in Thorwald’s building had
electricity and running water and could be lived in.</li><li>Of the four films Steward made with Hitchcock, <i>Rear Window</i> was his personal favorite.</li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Click <a href="https://youtu.be/AbcIGBhOrog?si=zAm2W7i4Cqv7jJGI" target="_blank">HERE</a> to watch the movie on YouTube.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="339" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AbcIGBhOrog" width="408" youtube-src-id="AbcIGBhOrog"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Rear Window</i>
trivia</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The entire movie was shot on one set. It was the
largest set piece built on the Paramount lot up to that time.</li><li>The actors in the apartments other than Jeff’s
(Stewart’s) all wore earpieces so Hitchcock could direct them remotely.</li><li>All of the apartments in Thorwald’s building had
electricity and running water and could be lived in.</li><li>Of the four films Stewart made with Hitchcock, <i>Rear Window</i> was his personal favorite.</li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/297780764/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">HERE</a> to join the discussion on December 11,
2023, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you’ll receive an invitation
and a link to join the discussion on Zoom. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Discussion
questions<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Do you think that Lisa and Jeff’s relationship was
believable?</li><li>Have you ever “observed” your neighbors the way Jeff’s
character did?</li><li>Do you think Hitchcock was commenting on our voyeuristic
society?</li><li>What do you think Hitchcock would have thought of
today’s reality TV?</li><li>Hitchcock tells so much of the story with the camera;
do you have a favorite scene or visual image?</li><li>What did you think of the performances?</li><li>Of all of Hitchcock’s films, <i>Read Window</i>’s reputation seems to get better with age. Why do you
think that is?</li></ol><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-31769719113792984292023-11-28T21:26:00.004-06:002023-12-01T14:28:25.560-06:00Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in Frank Capra’s “It Happened One Night”<p><i>It Happened One Night</i>
(1934) is an American romantic comedy directed by Frank Capra and starring
Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. The supporting cast includes Walter
Connolly, Roscoe Karns, and Alan Hale. The film was produced by Capra and
Columbia Pictures studio head Harry Cohn. The script was written by Robert Riskin. The cinematography was by Joseph
Walker (<i>The Awful Truth</i>, <i>It’s a Wonderful Life</i>, <i>Born Yesterday</i>).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Heiress Ellen “Ellie” Andrews (Colbert) has eloped with King
Westley (Jameson Thomas), a fortune-hunting pilot, against her rich industrialist father Alexander Andrews’s (Walter Connolly) wishes. Ellie’s father wants
to have the wedding annulled but Ellie has other plans. Ellie runs away from
her father and takes a bus to New York City to reunite with Wesley. On the bus,
Ellie meets Peter Warne (Gable), a newspaper reporter who just lost his job.
When he realizes that he’s traveling with the runaway heiress, Warne makes a
deal with Ellie that he will keep quiet and not expose her identity if she
gives him an exclusive on her love story with Wesley. If she doesn’t, Peter
will tell her father where she is.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As the two traveling companions evade her father and his detectives, they fall in love.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Will Peter and Ellie be able to sustain their love, or will
Ellie’s father and King Wesley have something to say about it?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_C8TPnvd89fkIGqmHrSv4wXlY-v3m_MufhOOJgQOR5oN24rJGE9VlFf9RpcvHUpSxDbm2PZL4-1i2WbWArSwhVeLpN_ZgbHD_oY9Qnfz9moBLmU7GhLTWUMqB6dqTrixl5xYDjHpQjJdKq2-If9S4SXs2aJwAlTnMn0O55kJZsbUNfzpRLUUhoZVNboeM/s640/It%20Happen%20One%20Night_Gable%20and%20Colbert%20hitching.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="640" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_C8TPnvd89fkIGqmHrSv4wXlY-v3m_MufhOOJgQOR5oN24rJGE9VlFf9RpcvHUpSxDbm2PZL4-1i2WbWArSwhVeLpN_ZgbHD_oY9Qnfz9moBLmU7GhLTWUMqB6dqTrixl5xYDjHpQjJdKq2-If9S4SXs2aJwAlTnMn0O55kJZsbUNfzpRLUUhoZVNboeM/w460-h282/It%20Happen%20One%20Night_Gable%20and%20Colbert%20hitching.webp" width="460" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">Frank Capra</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1897 - 1991) was an American film director,
producer, and writer. During the 1930s and 1940s, Capra’s films were among the
most popular and awarded films. By 1938, Capra has won three Best Director
Academy Awards. Born in Italy, Capra immigrated to the United States with his
family when he was five years old. By sheer determination and his
self-described cockiness, Capra talked his way into the movie business. He
found a great home at “Poverty Row” studio, Columbia Pictures. At Columbia
he had a major success with </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">It Happened One Night </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">(1934), which swept all the major categories at
the Academy Awards that year. This helped turn Columbia Pictures from a Poverty
Row studio into a major one. Other Capra successes include </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">You Can’t Take It with You </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">(1938), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Mr. Smith Goes to Washington</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1939), and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">It’s a Wonderful Life </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">(1946).</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">Clark Gable</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"> (1901 – 1960) was an American film actor. Gable was one of
the most consistent box office stars in the history of movies. He won an
Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the landmark romantic comedy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It Happened One Night</i> (1934) directed by
Frank Capra. As “The King” of Hollywood, Gable starred alongside some of the
biggest female stars of their day including Joan Crawford, Myrna Loy, Jean
Harlow, Lana Turner, Norma Shearer, and Ava Gardner. Gable received two
additional Best Actor nominations for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mutiny
on the Bounty</i> (1935) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gone With
the Wind</i> (1939), one of the biggest money-makers of all time. Gables third
wife was the legendary Carole Lombard. Gable married Lombard in 1939 and ended
with her tragic death in a plane crash in 1942. Other Gable films include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">San Francisco</i> (1937), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Test Pilot</i> (1938), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Boom Town</i> (1940), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Honky Tonk</i>
(1941), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Command Decision</i> (1948), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teacher’s Pet</i> (1958), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It Started in Naples</i> (1960), and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Misfits</i> (1961), his last film before
his death at 59.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">Claudette
Colbert </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">(1903
-1996)</span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> was an American stage, film, and television actress.
She is perhaps best known for her role as Ellie Andrews in Frank Capra’s </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">It Happened One Night</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1934). For her role in that film, she won the Academy
Award for Best Actress. She was nominated two other times in that category.
Colbert got her start in the theater where she played a variety of ingenue
roles. In 1928, she signed a contract with Paramount Pictures where she quickly
made a succession of movies. Her breakout role came in 1932 in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Sign of the Cross </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">(1932) starring Fredric March and Charles Laughton. In 1934,
she made three films that were nominated for the Academy Award for Best
Picture: </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Imitation of Life</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">,</span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Cleopatra</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">, and the eventual winner, </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">It Happened One Night. </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">No one had been able to match that record. Other popular
films include </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I Met Him in Paris</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1937), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Drums Along the Mohawk</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1939), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Midnight </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">(1939), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Palm Beach Story </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">(1942), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Since You Went Away</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1944), and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Egg and I</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1947).</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iFJJvqCrkGan26t2YO2F7G8BAqJGagrxr1g0sX59L3gIT80GfJHiWQmp_SIGLoZSKbbTiI4-JXYJuzGUnLeAUXtsfJJMswZXmxQoYqM1SRSxlGET0u6dwk3hiQUq2GDG0FSsjcHkJ7v9ViJzkt-o9xZzQ-ehp9Yu_scSs0RSWY2bAhNtfMdHlpeZEE1I/s1600/It%20Happend%20One%20Night_lobby%20card.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="1600" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iFJJvqCrkGan26t2YO2F7G8BAqJGagrxr1g0sX59L3gIT80GfJHiWQmp_SIGLoZSKbbTiI4-JXYJuzGUnLeAUXtsfJJMswZXmxQoYqM1SRSxlGET0u6dwk3hiQUq2GDG0FSsjcHkJ7v9ViJzkt-o9xZzQ-ehp9Yu_scSs0RSWY2bAhNtfMdHlpeZEE1I/w447-h351/It%20Happend%20One%20Night_lobby%20card.jpg" width="447" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It Happened One Night</i>
trivia</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Both Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert didn’t want to make
the film. Gable was on loan to Columbia Pictures, which was considered a
punishment by the star. Columbia was a minor studio, part
of “poverty row.” Colbert had worked with Frank Capra on a
silent film, which wasn’t a pleasant or successful experience.</li><li>At first, Colbert refused to show her leg in the
hitchhiking scene. When she saw the body double’s leg, she changed her mind
saying, “That’s not my leg!”</li><li>It was the first film to win the top five Academy Award
categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best
Screenplay. The other films to win the Oscar “grand slam” are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest </i>(1975)
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Silence of the Lambs</i> (1991).</li><li>Constance Bennett and Myrna Loy turned down
the script. Colbert only agreed to do the picture because Capra agreed to
double her salary and not be required to work for more than four weeks. Bette
Davis wanted the role of Ellie, but Warner Bros. wouldn’t loan her to Columbia.
Miriam Hopkins, Margaret Sullivan, and Carole Lombard also turned down the
role.</li><li>Robert Montgomery and Fredric
March both turned down the role of Peter Warne.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 446.25pt;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 446.25pt;">Click <a href="https://youtu.be/vxjyVFW2ifI?si=pmI2ofIjemA2hxR5" target="_blank">here</a> to watch the film on
YouTube.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="409" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vxjyVFW2ifI" width="491" youtube-src-id="vxjyVFW2ifI"></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 446.25pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 446.25pt;">Click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/297648824/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">here</a> to join the
discussion on December 4, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you
will receive an invitation with a link to join the discussion on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 446.25pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 446.25pt;"><b>Discussion questions</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 446.25pt;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Some critics consider the film a
screwball comedy. Would you put it in that category?</li><li>This film basically wrote the
template for all romantic comedy films that came after it. Do you know any
modern romantic comedies that owe a debt to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It
Happened One Night</i>?</li><li>What did you think of the chemistry
between Gable and Colbert? Was it believable?</li><li>Did you have a favorite scene or
line of dialogue?</li><li>Considered one of the best films
ever made, do you think its reputation is well deserved? </li></ol><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 446.25pt;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 446.25pt;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 446.25pt;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 446.25pt;"><o:p></o:p></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-85414982763302461842023-11-23T09:05:00.001-06:002023-11-23T09:05:14.251-06:00Happy Thanksgiving from Jeanne Crain, Paul Brinkman and the Classic Movie Man<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzq8cxl-_JEzJl8fXUVsxIqA2zRRCzBu2RgHiDiaPmTYeCGzpr6rPXh4m_wqf7mL3Y2SJVefbskk7kNVPgEeYt5PfRCtM2-zrRhRddqibuvTjC1C0B9ai2V_YKSJNQwZ1zQa7X3bD2zfe6ykdh7OPI7KpiXDUBF4RnC7Q0AOOALAFj1WdpiTOrPZixMsq/s564/Jeanne%20Crain%20and%20Paul%20Brinkman_Thanksgiving%20Turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="564" height="461" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzq8cxl-_JEzJl8fXUVsxIqA2zRRCzBu2RgHiDiaPmTYeCGzpr6rPXh4m_wqf7mL3Y2SJVefbskk7kNVPgEeYt5PfRCtM2-zrRhRddqibuvTjC1C0B9ai2V_YKSJNQwZ1zQa7X3bD2zfe6ykdh7OPI7KpiXDUBF4RnC7Q0AOOALAFj1WdpiTOrPZixMsq/w474-h461/Jeanne%20Crain%20and%20Paul%20Brinkman_Thanksgiving%20Turkey.jpg" width="474" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I want to believe that Jeanne actually made that turkey. Jeanne Crain and her husband Paul Brinkman, an Errol Flynn look-alike if there ever was one.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-1586783517808260272023-11-21T17:59:00.006-06:002024-02-06T15:29:19.433-06:00Charles Boyer and Ann Blyth discover “A Woman’s Vengeance”<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>A Woman’s Vengeance</i>
(1948) is an American film noir mystery directed by Zoltan Korda and
starring Charles Boyer, Ann Blyth, and Jessica Tandy. The supporting cast
includes Cedric Hardwicke and Mildred Natwick. The screenplay was written by
Aldous Huxley which was based on his novelette <i>The Gioconda Smile</i>. The cinematography was by Russel Metty and the
music was by Miklos Rozsa.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Henry Maurier’s (Boyer) marriage is not a happy one. His
wife Emily (Rachel Kempson) is not in good health. Henry and Emily’s marriage
is in name only. Henry is carrying on an affair with Doris Mead (Ann Blyth) who
is much younger than he is. Meanwhile, another woman, Janet Spence (Tandy) is
in love with Henry. When Emily dies suddenly, Henry quickly marries Doris.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Henry is accused of poisoning his wife and is put on trial
for murder. Will the trial reveal that Henry poisoned his wife so he could
marry Doris or did someone else have a motive to murder Emily?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwN7Qa07xZin-Nd0bxLnC75IZgrSZXQ7bo9j2pgwH1RfL8e5qgXzITJsMfh2DyrxQx6CRxMNn-j0F_zmiFR0P9NWaF5OT1jy-4n_ByBMj9qz2HDqcjapUKaABN6U3wHyKun1qmzZJuW4hyphenhyphenNFJdhIqscgZm1l9PVfrIAJgIrPLE3cdGlul9IQvJFvdK3Il6/s660/Woman's%20Vengeance,%20A_Boyer%20and%20Blyth.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="660" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwN7Qa07xZin-Nd0bxLnC75IZgrSZXQ7bo9j2pgwH1RfL8e5qgXzITJsMfh2DyrxQx6CRxMNn-j0F_zmiFR0P9NWaF5OT1jy-4n_ByBMj9qz2HDqcjapUKaABN6U3wHyKun1qmzZJuW4hyphenhyphenNFJdhIqscgZm1l9PVfrIAJgIrPLE3cdGlul9IQvJFvdK3Il6/w478-h290/Woman's%20Vengeance,%20A_Boyer%20and%20Blyth.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Charles Boyer and Ann Blyth</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zolton Korda</b>
(1895 – 1961) was a Hungarian-born motion picture screenwriter, director, and
producer. Along with his brothers Alexander and Vincent, he made films in
Hungary and London before moving to Hollywood where they continued to make
movies. Some of the films that Korda directed include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Four Feathers </i>(1939), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Jungle Book </i>(1942), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Macomber
Affair</i> (1947), and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cry, the Beloved
Country</i> (1951).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Charles Boyer</span></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1899 - 1978) was a French-American stage
and film actor. Boyer was nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award four
times. He became a major movie star in the late 1930s in films like </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Garden of Allah</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1936), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Algiers </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">(1938), and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Love Affair</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1939). He starred as the evil husband of
Ingrid Bergman in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Gaslight</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1944). Boyer starred opposite most of the
top female stars of the period including Claudette Colbert, Marlene Dietrich,
Irene Dunne, Jean Arthur, Greta Garbo, Bette Davis, Joan Fontaine, Katharine
Hepburn, and Olivia de Havilland. As he grew older, Boyer played supporting
roles in film and also starred on Broadway in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Kind Sir </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">(1953 - 1954) and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Marriage-Go-Round</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1958 - 1960).</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Ann Blyth</span></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> (1928 - ) is a retired American actress and singer. She is
most famous for her role as Veda in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mildred
Pierce</i> (1945) where she played Joan Crawford’s ungrateful daughter. For her
role in that film, Blyth was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actress. Blyth’s first acting role was in Lillian Hellman’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Watch on the Rhine</i> on Broadway. While on
tour with the play, Blyth was offered a contract with Universal Studios. At
Universal, Blyth starred alongside Donald O’Connor and Peggy Ann Ryan in a
series of teen musicals. In 1952, Blyth was signed by M-G-M where she starred
opposite Steward Granger, Robert Taylor, Howard Keel, Van Johnson, and Mario
Lanza.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Jessica Tandy</span></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> (1909 – 1994) was an English actress who had a long and
successful career on the stage and screen. Tandy created the role of Blanche Du
Bois in the original Broadway production of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A
Streetcar of Desire</i>. She won a Tony Award for Best Actress for her
performance in the Tennessee Williams classic. Tandy had supporting roles in
films starting in 1944 supporting stars like Gregory Peck, Greer Garson, Gene
Tierney, and Linda Darnell. In the 1980, her film career picked up. She won a
Best Actress Academy Award for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Driving
Miss Daisy</i>. At 80-years-old, Tandy became the oldest Oscar-winning actress.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To watch the film on
YouTube, click <a href="https://youtu.be/pnEov_yHG_Y?si=8Ltw4z7urFjCmGpX" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="353" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pnEov_yHG_Y" width="424" youtube-src-id="pnEov_yHG_Y"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/297509724/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">here</a> to join the discussion
on November 27, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will
receive an email invitation with a link to join the discussion on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Discussion questions</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Would you classify this
movie as a film noir? Why or why not?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What did you think of the
relationship between Boyer and Blyth? Was it believable? At the time of
filming, Boyer was 49 and Blyth was 20.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jessica Tandy has a pivotal
role in the film. What did you think of her performance?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you suspect that someone
other than Henry had a motive to kill Emily?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Were you surprised by the
film’s conclusion?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did this film remind you of
any other film?</span></span></li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-67012586845752949762023-11-14T17:24:00.004-06:002023-11-14T17:26:58.094-06:00John Mills is “The October Man”<p><i>The October Man</i> (1947)
is a British mystery film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring John Mills
and Joan Greenwood. The screenplay was written by novelist Eric Ambler who also
served as producer.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jim Ackland (Mills) sustains a brain injury in a bus
accident and a young girl in his care is killed. The guilt, combined with the
brain injury has Jim filled with guilt. His guilt led him to attempt suicide twice
while he was in recovery.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once out of the hospital, Jim gets a job as a chemist and
lives in a boarding house with an assortment of interesting characters, to say
the least. He meets a young woman, Jenny Carden (Joan Greenwood) the sister of
a work colleague, and the relationship becomes serious.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of the rooming house residents, Molly Newman (Kay Walsh)
asks Jim if she can borrow 30 pounds, a considerable sum. Jim writes her a
check and she is found murdered the next day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Because of Jim’s hospitalization for a brain injury, he
immediately becomes the prime suspect. Jenny tries to convince Jim that he
couldn’t have murdered Molly, but Jim isn’t so sure. He wonders if he might
have murdered her in some kind of trance.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 406.5pt;">Is Jim a murderer? Or is there
another murderer out there who could murder again?<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KWwBwhYtmyJSDKy2M_mW5ovChCMD5hJPW6WOFeROq_ZdGt417PS3qx-NLsYBMJi3m9DqNgNVV61U0rvt3B29G99TJ6wQVW-b9WFDB5WWnakyT3JzG0onm8YhoOHDWjsmABiViNL-bHCjtw_RHwpGOxTz4syXVF31HhF0OArP4NERy_Pp0WLpUsSCR6Eq/s1356/October%20Man,%20The_Mills,%20Greenwood%20and%20uncredited.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1356" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KWwBwhYtmyJSDKy2M_mW5ovChCMD5hJPW6WOFeROq_ZdGt417PS3qx-NLsYBMJi3m9DqNgNVV61U0rvt3B29G99TJ6wQVW-b9WFDB5WWnakyT3JzG0onm8YhoOHDWjsmABiViNL-bHCjtw_RHwpGOxTz4syXVF31HhF0OArP4NERy_Pp0WLpUsSCR6Eq/w430-h308/October%20Man,%20The_Mills,%20Greenwood%20and%20uncredited.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 406.5pt;"><b>Roy Ward Baker</b> (1916 – 2010) was an English film director. When
Baker was 17, he worked in menial jobs in the British film industry. He rose
through the ranks and was appointed assistant director to Alfred Hitchcock on <i>The Lady Vanishes</i>. He served in the Army
during World War II, where one of his superiors was novelist Eric Ambler. Ambler
gave Baker his first big break with <i>The
October Man</i> (1947).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 406.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 406.5pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">John
Mills</span></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1908 - 2005) was an English actor who made
over 100 films in the United States and in Great Britain. He won an Academy
Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Ryan’s</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Daughter</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1970). Mills worked on the stage in London
in the Noel Coward revue </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Words and Music</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1932). He made his film debut in the U.K.
in 1932 and appeared with Ida Lupino in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Ghost Camera</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1933). He had a supporting role in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Goodbye Mr. Chips</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1939) starring Robert Donat. Mills starred
as Pip in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Great Expectations</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1946) to great acclaim and popular box
office success. Mills continued acting into the 2000s</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 406.5pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Joan Greenwood</span></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> (1921 – 1987) was an English actress. She had
a successful film and stage career in her native country. She may be most
famous for her role as Sibella in <i>Kind
Hearts and Coronets</i> (1949). Other films she starred in include <i>The Man in the White Suit</i> (1951), <i>Stage Struck</i> (1958) co-starring Henry
Fonda, and <i>Tom Jones</i> (1963).</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The October Man</i></b> trivia<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The little girl on the bus with Jim Ackland is Juliet Mills,
John Mills’s real-life daughter.</li><li>This was the first feature-length movie by Roy Ward
Baker who may be best known for directing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A
Night to Remember</i> (1958).</li><li>Roy Ward Baker directed John Mill in six movies. This was
the first.</li><li>Roy Ward Baker was the assistant director on Alfred
Hitchcock’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lady Vanishes </i>(1938).</li><li>He directed several films in America including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Don’t Bother to Knock</i> (1952) starring
Richard Widmark and Marilyn Monroe.</li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To watch the film on YouTube, click here.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="358" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZoH3c2KPoy0" width="431" youtube-src-id="ZoH3c2KPoy0"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/297365213/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">here</a> to join the discussion on November 20, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation with a
link to join the discussion on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Discussion questions<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>What did you think of John Mill’s performance? Was he
believable as a man who had doubts about his own sanity?</li><li>When the murderer was revealed, were you surprised or did
you guess who it was?</li><li>If you were Jenny, would you have been convinced that Jim
was innocent?</li><li>As a first-time feature-length director, were you impressed
with Baker’s skill?</li><li>Did this film remind you of any others you’ve seen?</li><li>Knowing that he worked with Hitchcock, do you see any similarities
with the Master of Suspense?</li></ol><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNVvOOn2hLEr0E8IXIZAqog-A8saTJt4ckbIXlyiQg-oTdySWQsNwnOebyMt1xSda0QkrVkULR1ELsTwSiw7Oi8dM7BFUh2HHERLircwJd-jYEP4GwnGgQkLkxMisHe49rjdxRvCob5sCkCzQL6wzwm49P4X8GxL-Uztm7s-mveNrC371fOfrjvqGBWG5/s310/October%20Man,%20The_lobby%20card.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="310" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNVvOOn2hLEr0E8IXIZAqog-A8saTJt4ckbIXlyiQg-oTdySWQsNwnOebyMt1xSda0QkrVkULR1ELsTwSiw7Oi8dM7BFUh2HHERLircwJd-jYEP4GwnGgQkLkxMisHe49rjdxRvCob5sCkCzQL6wzwm49P4X8GxL-Uztm7s-mveNrC371fOfrjvqGBWG5/w458-h355/October%20Man,%20The_lobby%20card.jpg" width="458" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-16598196220362018642023-11-07T16:53:00.005-06:002023-11-13T15:10:08.592-06:00 William Holden and Gloria Swanson are prisoners of Sunset Boulevard<p><i>Sunset Boulevard</i>
(1950) is an American film noir directed by Billy Wilder and starring William
Holden, Gloria Swanson, and Eric von Stroheim. The screenplay was written by
Charles Brackett, Wilder, and D. M. Marshman Jr. The supporting cast includes
Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, and Jack Webb. The cinematography was by John F. Seitz
and the music was by Franz Waxman.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Holden stars as Joe Gillis, a down-on-his-luck screenwriter
who by a set of strange circumstances is drawn into the orbit of Norma Desmond
(Swanson) a retired silent film star set on a return (don’t you dare say
comeback) to the screen. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Norma hires Joe to work on her screenplay of Salome, the
picture she believes will put her back on top. For the money, Joe takes the
work on but knows it’s not going to go anywhere. Norma is convinced that the
picture is sure to be a hit and that Cecil B. DeMille will direct it. DeMille
worked with Norma during her reign as the queen of the silent screen.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe still dreams of getting his screenplay ideas sold and finds
himself involved with Betty Schaefer (Olson), a script reader working at the
Paramount Studio. Joe keeps his relationship with Norma a secret and finds
himself falling in love with Betty, who just so happens to be engaged to Artie
Green (Webb), an assistant director who is working on location. All the while,
Norma has fallen in love with Joe and becomes more and more dependent on him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How will this all end? Will Norma make a successful return
to the screen? Will Joe and Betty find happiness together? Or will Norma’s hold
on Joe destroy everything?<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9Mz5kBv5WKMeb8eZjriL_9sQybChEXXWKCU020P0qq4GVQpJByjI0AQ0jLSW8hp8T_Hmp883J067m2lwOBeySGM4IH-gXODGMedRz5uxl1Sn3bFsc_Mlr1guN0JYPFUCSUfUc45DNyNdxt2EE_wZI8Yr4JqmOtFlGv0m419h_KU_UB_-Y5eNfMj7Xu7E/s700/Sunset%20Boulevard_Gloria%20Swanson_end.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="700" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9Mz5kBv5WKMeb8eZjriL_9sQybChEXXWKCU020P0qq4GVQpJByjI0AQ0jLSW8hp8T_Hmp883J067m2lwOBeySGM4IH-gXODGMedRz5uxl1Sn3bFsc_Mlr1guN0JYPFUCSUfUc45DNyNdxt2EE_wZI8Yr4JqmOtFlGv0m419h_KU_UB_-Y5eNfMj7Xu7E/w485-h291/Sunset%20Boulevard_Gloria%20Swanson_end.webp" width="485" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Billy Wilder</span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"> (1906 - 2002) was an Austrian-born American film
director, screenwriter, and producer. He won six Academy Awards for his writing
and direction and was nominated twenty-one times over a career that spanned
five decades. Wilder started his career as a writer, penning the screenplays
for <i>Ninotchka </i>(1939), <i>Ball of Fire</i> (1942), <i>Double Indemnity</i> (1945), <i>The Lost Weekend </i>(1946), <i>Sunset Boulevard</i> (1951) <i> Boulevard</i> (1951), <i>Sabrina</i> (1955), <i>Some Like it Hot</i> (1960), and <i>The Apartment</i> (1961). As a director, he won Academy Awards for
directing <i>The Lost Weekend </i>(1946) and <i>The Apartment </i>(1961). Wilder directed fourteen different actors in
Oscar-nominated roles. He is considered one of the most versatile directors
from Hollywood’s Classical period.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">William Holden</span></span></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1918 - 1981) was an American actor and
major movie star. He was one of the most bankable stars of the 1950s. Holden
starred in some of the most popular and beloved films of all time including <i>Sunset Boulevard</i>, <i>Sabrina</i>,<i> Picnic </i>(1955), <i>The Bridge on the River Kwai </i>(1957), and <i>Stalag 17</i> for which he won the Academy Award for Best
Actor. Holden became a star with his very first role in <i>Golden Boy</i> (1939). He had lead roles in other popular
films like <i>Our Town</i> (1940), and <i> I Wanted Wings</i> (1941). World War II interrupted his career.
Holden was a first lieutenant in the United States Army Air Force. After the
war, he made some popular but forgettable films. It wasn’t after he
collaborated with director Wilder on <i>Sunset Boulevard</i> that Holden’s popularity and stature in Hollywood
grew to superstar status.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #444444; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Gloria Swanson</b> (1899 – 1983)
was an American actress who was a major star during the silent era. Swanson, a
Chicago native, got her start in film at Essanay Studios where silent film star
Francis X Bushman was under contract. Also employed by Essanay were Charlie
Chaplin and Wallace Beery. Swanson married Beery in 1916. He was the first of
here six husbands. Swanson, Chaplin, and Beery eventually moved to Hollywood
where their careers flourished. Swanson was nominated for three Best Actress
Oscars. The first two were for silent films and the third was for <i>Sunset Boulevard</i>. Swanson made the
transition to sound, but her career stalled and her star power faded.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><b>Sunset Boulevard</b></span></i><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><b> trivia</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Norma Desmond was based on
the several stars from the silent era including Mary Pickford, Mae Murray, and
Clara Bow.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Montgomery Clift was
originally cast as Joe Gillis but left the broke his contract two weeks before
production.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gloria Swanson was asked to
do a screen test which she didn’t want to do. Her friend the director George
Cukor told her to do ten screen tests if necessary.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After a private screening of
the film, Barbara Stanwyck knelt in front of Swanson and kissed the hem of her
dress.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Willian Holden and Billy
Wilder became close friends during the production of Sunset Boulevard.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Nancy Olson wore her own
clothes in the film because Wilder wanted her to be herself on film.</span></span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To watch the film on YouTube click <a href="https://youtu.be/ian76tKHCn4?si=mEQyvq1GBb98zqUF" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="319" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ian76tKHCn4" width="384" youtube-src-id="ian76tKHCn4"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To join the discussion on November 13, 2023, at 6:30 p.m.
Central Time, click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/297222986/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">here</a>. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation with a
link to join the discussion on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Discussion question</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Sunset Boulevard</i>
is considered one of the greatest films of all time. Do you think its
reputation as such is well deserved?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The film lost the Best Picture Academy Award to <i>All About Eve</i>. <i>Sunset Boulevard</i> is about the film industry and <i>All About Eve</i> is about the theater.
Which film holds up the best in 2023?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">William Holden wasn’t even in Billy Wilder’s top five
choices for the role of Joe Gillis. What do you think of his performance?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gloria Swanson had hoped her performance and Oscar nomination
would revive her movie career but it didn’t. What did you think of her performance?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you have a favorite scene or line of dialogue (the film
is filled with great lines)?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you see any other actress from Swanson’s era in the role
of Norma Desmond?</span></li><li>Is Hollywood the same today as it was in 1950? Does Hollywood treat women better today?</li><li>Bill Wilder was a director working in Hollywood. Was he exempting himself from the criticism? Was he any different than Cecil B. DeMille?</li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-45277287096346638102023-10-31T19:39:00.008-05:002023-10-31T19:42:21.771-05:00Lucille Ball and Mark Stevens find themselves in “The Dark Corner”<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Dark Corner</i>
(1946) is an American film noir directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Lucille
Ball, Clifton Webb, William Bendix, and Mark Stevens. The screenplay was by Jay
Dratler and Bernard Schoenfeld. The cinematography was by Joseph (Joe) MacDonald (<i>My Darling Clementine</i>, <i>Yellow
Sky</i>, <i>How to Marry a Millionaire</i>, and
<i>The Sand Pebbles</i>). The music was by
Cyril Mockridge.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Private investigator Bradford Galt (Stevens) has recently
moved from San Francisco to New York City to leave a troubled past behind. Galt
blames his former partner Tony Jardine (Kurt Kreuger) for all his troubles but
is unaware of Jardine’s criminal involvement with Hardy Cathcart (Webb) an art
gallery owner. And why is a man in a white suit following Galt?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the help of secretary Kathleen Stewart (Ball), Galt
sets out to discover the truth and clear his name.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_h2pX15ACdme2hIqjZUH8CLWp8qEHxaYfjD1u1Nwtcg9g71r1PcZNGg4tIyIhjKqlHtjnnS_j4gu1wsfo-xBTW0qVOxZzr0bJ3WO4wNVanvKanmS9Q4OLLhNvF-rEyA1P-qQLdWl9scpsjR0imZUR0o0iTJDiL1iSMMR6zyNdD75ThQKJPSPadrKZauB/s640/Dark%20Mirror,%20The_Ball%20and%20Stevens.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_h2pX15ACdme2hIqjZUH8CLWp8qEHxaYfjD1u1Nwtcg9g71r1PcZNGg4tIyIhjKqlHtjnnS_j4gu1wsfo-xBTW0qVOxZzr0bJ3WO4wNVanvKanmS9Q4OLLhNvF-rEyA1P-qQLdWl9scpsjR0imZUR0o0iTJDiL1iSMMR6zyNdD75ThQKJPSPadrKZauB/w440-h330/Dark%20Mirror,%20The_Ball%20and%20Stevens.jpg" width="440" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lucille Ball and Mark Stevens</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Henry Hathaway</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> (1898 – 1985) was an American film director and producer. Hathaway started working in silent films in 1925 as an assistant to established directors like Victor Fleming and Josef von Sternberg. His first solo directorial effort was </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Heritage of the Desert</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> (1932) starring Randolph Scott. Hathaway, along with Scott, would be known for western movies. Besides Scott, Hathaway directed Gary Cooper in several films, including </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The Lives of a Bengal Lancer</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> (1935) which earned him his only Best Director Academy Award nomination. In 1940, Hathaway began working at Fox where he directed Tyrone Power in </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Johnny Apollo</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> and </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Brigham Young</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> (both 1940), Gene Tierney in </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">China Girl</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> (1942), Don Ameche and Dana Andrews in </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Wing and a Prayer</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> (1944), and </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Call Northside 777</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> (1948) starring James Stewart and Richard Conte. After leaving Fox, he was one of three directors who worked on the western epic </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">How the West Was Won</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> (1962). He directed Steve McQueen in </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Nevada Smith</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> (1966), directed John Wayne in </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">True Grit</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> (1968) which won Wayne his one and only Best Actor Academy Award.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Lucille Ball</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> (1911 – 1989) was an American actress. Ball
started her career as a model and later appeared in films while under contract
to RKO Radio Pictures during the 1930s and 1940s. At RKO, she starred in
B-pictures and had supporting roles in A-pictures like <i>Stage Door</i> (1937) co-starring Katharine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers.
Ball left RKO for M-G-M in the mid-40s but major stardom eluded her. Ball had a
hit radio show, <i>My Favorite Husband</i>.
CBS wanted her to develop the show for television but Ball insisted on having
her real-life husband Desi Arnaz co-star with her. The studio wanted her to
star with her radio husband, Richard Denning, but Ball held out for Arnaz and <i>I Love Lucy</i> was born. During her
television career, Ball was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning
five times. </span></span>Ball’s reputation as one of the world’s great comedians has
never been disputed.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Clifton Webb</b><span style="background-color: white;"> (1889 - 1966) was an American stage and film actor. Webb was a successful Broadway star and had made several silent films before he appeared in </span><i>Laura</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1944). As the acerbic Waldo Lydecker, Webb established himself as a character actor and eventually a leading actor in films like </span><i>Cheaper by the Dozen</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1950), </span><i>Dreamboat </i><span style="background-color: white;">(1952), and </span><i>Titanic</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1953). Working exclusively for Twentieth Century-Fox, Webb's last film was </span><i>Satan Never Sleeps</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1962) co-starring William Holden and directed by Leo McCarey.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">William Bendix</b>
(1906 – 1964) an American film, radio, and television actor. Bendix usually
played rough guys, gangsters, and blue-collar characters. In 1942, he was
nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance in the World
War II drama <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wake Island</i>. As a
youngster, Bendix was a bat boy at Yankee Stadium. He was fired for buying Babe
Ruth a hot dog and soda before the game. Bendix starred in several classic
films noir, including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Glass Key</i>
(1942) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blue Dahlia</i> (1946).
Perhaps his greatest role was as Chester A. Riley a role he played on radio and
television to great success.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Mark Stevens</b> (1916
– 1994) was an American actor and director. Stevens starred in films and was
also a successful actor in the early days of television. In 1943, he was signed
to a contract at Warner Bros. as Stephen Richards. At Warner’s, he had small
parts, often uncredited in A-pictures like <i>Destination
Tokyo</i> (1943), and <i>Rhapsody in Blue</i>
(1945). When his contract was up at Warner Bros., he was signed by Fox where
Darryl Zanuck changed his name to Mark Stevens. At Fox, he reached leading-man
status starring opposite June Haver in <i>I
Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now</i> (1947) and with Haver once again in <i>Oh, You Beautiful Doll</i> (1949). Both
films with Haver were big hits. He also starred in <i>The Street With No Name</i> (1948) where he was billed over Richard
Widmark. He played Olivia de Havilland’s loyal husband in <i>The Snake Pit</i> (1948) and <i>Dancing
in the Dark</i> (1949) with William Powell and Betsy Drake. Later in his career
he directed himself in several movies and worked in television on shows like <i>Magnum P.I.</i> and <i>Murder She Wrote</i>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>The Dark Corner</i> trivia</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The studio hoped that this film would be as successful as <i>Laura</i>, but although it was well received by the critics, it wasn’t a commercial success.</li><li>Lucille Ball was borrowed from M-G-M for the role of Kathleen Stewart when Ida Lupino became unavailable.</li><li>Ball clashed with director Henry Hathaway who was critical of her performance.</li><li>The cast is a who’s who of 1950s television with Lucille
Ball (<i>I Love Lucy</i>-1951), William
Bendix (<i>The Life of Riley</i>-1953),
Reed Hadley (<i>Racket Squad</i>-1950 and <i>Public Defender</i>-1954), Mark Stevens (<i>Big Town</i>-1950).</li><li>Alfred Newman’s theme music “Street Scene” was used once
again. “Street Scene” was used in more Fox films than any other musical theme.</li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">To watch the film on YouTube click <a href="https://youtu.be/J1lG0hVKvMo?si=V92iEulujlHoMo1J" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="366" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J1lG0hVKvMo" width="441" youtube-src-id="J1lG0hVKvMo"></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">To join the discussion on November 6, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time, click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/297080503/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">here</a>. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation along with a link to join the discussion on Zoom.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Discussion questions</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>What did you think of Lucille Ball’s performance as a film noir dame?</li><li>The critics loved this movie but audiences didn’t. Why do you think this movie didn’t hit gold at the box office?</li><li>Were Ball and Mark Stevens believable as an on-screen couple?</li><li>What about Cliffton Webb? Was his character Waldo Liedecker 2.0?</li><li>Did you have a favorite scene or piece of dialogue?</li><li>Did anything about the film surprise you?</li></ol><p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><p></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-66664846075037978972023-10-24T21:28:00.007-05:002023-10-27T16:57:48.638-05:00Joan Bennett is determined to discover the “Secret Beyond the Door”<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Secret Beyond the Door</i>
(1947) is an American psychological thriller directed by Fritz Lang and
starring Joan Bennett and Michael Redgrave. The strong supporting cast includes
Anne Revere, Barbara O’Neil, Natalie Schafer, and Paul Cavanagh. The
cinematography was by Stanley Cortez (<i>The
Magnificent Ambersons</i>, <i>The Night of
the Hunter</i>, and <i>The Three Faces of
Eve</i>. The music was by Miklos Rozsa (<i>Double
Indemnity</i>, <i>Spellbound</i>, <i>Ben-Hur</i>).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Celia (Bennett), a rich, young heiress meets a mysterious
man, architect Mark Lamphere (Redgrave) on vacation in Mexico. The two fall in
love instantly and are married. The honeymoon is happy but trouble is on the
horizon when in a playful mood, Celia locks her husband out of their hotel
room.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When they return to Mark’s home, Celia discovers that Mark
was married before and has a teenage son David (Mark Dennis)—things Mark never told Celia. She also
discovers that Mark’s sister Caroline (Revere) and Mark’s assistant Miss Robey(O’Neil) also reside in her home with Mark.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p>David tells Celia that Mark
killed his mother. Shocked, Celia now worries that Mark may be planning to kill
her as well. And then there are Mark’s rooms that recreate famous murders of
women! What does it all mean and is Celia’s life in serious danger? </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlVSsVpk1aL_FXXfUmKDpyI-A0WvQtWspF5Kq9dz5yTgUF2xKs_hiWNPz0bg_2-QDxMYt4FlvM2FUGFVGmOiNRTUqfkiM7U-tsqsITKXZEE0Q6pq2-93cfuQkJ3DC1eRLSf5r9FT7XTM4wcpafrVf-u3Q7b0On7ttGopxrd-lV4qluqdhAzTxJ4uHwPkg/s650/Secret%20Beyond%20the%20Door_Bennett.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="650" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlVSsVpk1aL_FXXfUmKDpyI-A0WvQtWspF5Kq9dz5yTgUF2xKs_hiWNPz0bg_2-QDxMYt4FlvM2FUGFVGmOiNRTUqfkiM7U-tsqsITKXZEE0Q6pq2-93cfuQkJ3DC1eRLSf5r9FT7XTM4wcpafrVf-u3Q7b0On7ttGopxrd-lV4qluqdhAzTxJ4uHwPkg/w469-h303/Secret%20Beyond%20the%20Door_Bennett.jpg" width="469" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Joan Bennett</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white;">Fritz Lang</b><span style="background-color: white;"> (1890 – 1976) was an Austrian-German-American director. Lang is the director of the silent film classic </span><i style="background-color: white;">Metropolis</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1927). After serving in World War I, Lang worked for a time as an actor in the theater and then worked as a writer at Decla Film in Berlin. Lang’s first talking picture was </span><i style="background-color: white;">M</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1931) a story about a child murderer. Due to his growing renown, Joseph Goebbels offered him the position of head of the German film studio UFA in 1933. Lang emigrated to Paris and then to the United States in 1936. Lang worked for all the major studios, making twenty-three feature films in the United States. Some of Lang’s films include </span><i style="background-color: white;">Scarlet Street</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1945), </span><i style="background-color: white;">The Big Heat</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1953), and </span><i style="background-color: white;">While the City Sleeps</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1956).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white;">Joan Bennett</b><span style="background-color: white;"> (1910–1990) began her film career during the early sound era. A natural blonde, Bennett dyed her hair as a plot device in the film </span><i style="background-color: white;">Trade Winds</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1938). As a brunette, Bennett projected a sultry persona that had her compared to the brunette beauty, Hedy Lamarr. During this period she starred in two costume epics. She played Princess Maria Theresa in </span><i style="background-color: white;">The Man in the Iron Mask</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1939) and Grand Duchess Zona of Lichtenburg in </span><i style="background-color: white;">The Son of Monte Cristo</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1940). Bennett was one of two finalists for the role of Scarlett O’Hara in </span><i style="background-color: white;">Gone with the Wind</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1939), along with Paulette Goddard. She had a very successful collaboration with the director Fritz Lang. With Lang, she starred in the classics </span><i style="background-color: white;">Man Hunt</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1940), </span><i style="background-color: white;">The Woman in the Window</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1944), and </span><i style="background-color: white;">Scarlet Street </i><span style="background-color: white;">(1945). Bennett acted on stage and on television where she became a pop culture icon playing Elizabeth Collins Stoddard in the gothic soap opera </span><i style="background-color: white;">Dark Shadows</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1966-1971).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white;">Michael Redgrave</b><span style="background-color: white;"> (1909 – 1985) was an English stage and film actor and director. He worked primarily on the British stage but had some significant film roles. He made his American film debut in </span><i style="background-color: white;">Mourning Becomes Electra</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1947) co-starring Rosalind Russell—he made <i>Secret Beyond the Door</i> first but <i>Electra </i>was released first. For his performance, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Other notable film roles include </span><i style="background-color: white;">The Stars Look Down</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1940), </span><i style="background-color: white;">Dead of Night </i><span style="background-color: white;">(1945), and </span><i style="background-color: white;">The Browning Version</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1951). He is the father of actresses Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Secret Beyond the Door</i> trivia</b></span></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">This was the fourth film that Bennett made with director Fritz Lang.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The grove of trees that Bennett runs through fleeing the house is the same grove used in the Universal horror film <i>The Wolf Man</i> (1941).</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Lang thought this film would be his <i>Rebecca</i> (1940). Lang felt he was being eclipsed by directors like Alfred Hitchcock and was desperate to stay relevant.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">This was Michael Redgrave</span></span>’<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">s first American film.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Bennett requested the services of cinematographer Stanley Cortez. Cortez and Lang </span></span>didn’t<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> get along on set.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Bennett and Redgrave did some very dangerous stunt work at the insistence of Lang. This did</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">n</span>’t sit well with the two stars.</li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p>To watch the film on YouTube, click on the link below.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="376" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7EbJvEi456Y" width="453" youtube-src-id="7EbJvEi456Y"></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Discussion questions<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Some critics consider this movie a film noir. Would you put
it in that category? Why or why not?</li><li>This film has been compared to earlier Alfred Hitchcock
films, especially <i>Rebecca</i> and <i>Spellbound</i>. Do you see the reason for
those comparisons? Does <i>Secret Beyond the
Door</i> remind you of any other pictures?</li><li>What do you think was Bennett’s motivation to marry Redgrave
so quickly?</li><li>What was Redgrave’s motivation?</li><li>This film could fall into the damsel in distress genre. Was
Bennett a convincing damsel? </li><li>Was Michael Redgrave believable as the conflicted Mr.
Lamphere?</li><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you have a favorite character or scene?</span></span></li></ol><div>To join the discussion on October 30, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time click<a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/296942308/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank"> here</a>. Once you RSVP, you will receive a link and an invitation to join the discussion on Zoom.</div><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2I-36GVAb3ACeAXEl6yemq0021OnI68ykuyZP1CoEZdG1-6eCvoNbJY4XCjh0oCvJjBhEj2zEU-PTjaYhyMzIKsL80pWulzQbkoaycYdyxkdKph5v3v7cNAiDhtYZD7V-n2cahIFzsC5o_NB_TJNLGNztW_sU15RYpsLWqS5KnE0FfBfBsyOnfo4u-g3/s499/Secret%20Beyond%20the%20Door_Redgrave.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="499" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2I-36GVAb3ACeAXEl6yemq0021OnI68ykuyZP1CoEZdG1-6eCvoNbJY4XCjh0oCvJjBhEj2zEU-PTjaYhyMzIKsL80pWulzQbkoaycYdyxkdKph5v3v7cNAiDhtYZD7V-n2cahIFzsC5o_NB_TJNLGNztW_sU15RYpsLWqS5KnE0FfBfBsyOnfo4u-g3/w497-h360/Secret%20Beyond%20the%20Door_Redgrave.jpg" width="497" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Michael Redgrave</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><p></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-24294765343735549412023-10-16T18:09:00.003-05:002023-10-16T18:13:00.262-05:00Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine live in the shadow of “Rebecca” <p><i style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Rebecca </i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">(1940) is an American romantic thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock—in his American directorial debut—and starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. The screenplay was written by Robert E. Sherwood and long-time Hitchcock associate, Joan Harrison. The film score was written by Franz Waxman and the cinematography was by George Barnes who won an Academy Award for his work on this film.</span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-9211840852040822090" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586.193px;"><p>The film was producer and filmmaker David O. Selznick‘s follow up to <i>Gone with the Wind </i>(1939). It would be impossible for Selznick to match that success in his long career, but <i>Rebecca</i> won Best Picture and a Best Actress Academy Award for Joan Fontaine. It was a critical and commercial success and one of the biggest hits of the year.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgIIUN7axU7lbKYBVUC5XhjTZzMuaC6LZsKrrmpyGP-ZilFWz_MBzGBX7GmKHxMSwrUUaR8pa7bvt9GRTcn9SabrEqiWcCDgfH7ICQEN2I2dYoe0qgwGBKM3dt10Yiv0CYSQZz7tEMEuD/s1772/Rebecca_Olivier+and+Fontaine+entrance+to+Mandeley.jpg" style="color: #3778cd; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1772" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgIIUN7axU7lbKYBVUC5XhjTZzMuaC6LZsKrrmpyGP-ZilFWz_MBzGBX7GmKHxMSwrUUaR8pa7bvt9GRTcn9SabrEqiWcCDgfH7ICQEN2I2dYoe0qgwGBKM3dt10Yiv0CYSQZz7tEMEuD/w469-h277/Rebecca_Olivier+and+Fontaine+entrance+to+Mandeley.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="469" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px; text-align: center;"><b>Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Alfred Hitchcock</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> (1899 – 1980) was an English film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is one of the most influential filmmakers of the 20th century. Hitchcock directed over 50 feature films, many are classics that have been honored and studied for years. Some of Hitchcock’s classic films include </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The 39 Steps </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">(1936), <i>Rebecca</i> (1940), <i>Suspicion </i>(1941),</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><i>Shadow of a Doubt</i> (1943), <i>Notorious</i> (1946), <i>Rear Window</i> (1954), <i>Vertigo</i> (1958), <i>North by Northwest</i> (1959), and <i>Psycho</i> (1960). </span></p><p><b>Laurence</b> <b>Olivier</b> (1907 - 1989) was an English actor and director who was one of the most celebrated actors of the 20th century. Olivier attended drama school in London where he learned his craft. He made his West End debut in Noel Coward‘s <i>Private Lives</i> (1930). More successes followed and he eventually made his way to Hollywood. He had a huge success with his role as Heathcliff in <i>Wuthering Heights </i>(1939) and <i>Rebecca</i> the next year. Olivier‘s career in films also includes lead roles in <i>Henry V </i>(1944),<i> Hamlet </i>(1948),<i> Richard III </i>(1955),<i> and Spartacus </i>(1960).<i> </i></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white;">Joan Fontaine</b><span style="background-color: white;"> (1917 – 2013) was a British-American actress who starred in more than 45 films during Hollywood’s “Golden Age.” After secondary roles in </span><i style="background-color: white;">Gunga Din</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1939) and </span><i style="background-color: white;">The Women</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1939), her fortunes turned with her starring role in Alfred Hitchcock’s first American film, </span><i style="background-color: white;">Rebecca</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1940). She was nominated for Best Actress for her role in that film but lost to Ginger Rogers. The next year, she worked with Hitchcock again in </span><i style="background-color: white;">Suspicion</i><span style="background-color: white;"> and this time won the Best Actress Oscar, beating out her older sister Olivia de Havilland. She received a third and final nomination for </span><i style="background-color: white;">The Constant Nymph</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1943). Other popular Fontaine films include </span><i style="background-color: white;">This Above All</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1942), </span><i style="background-color: white;">From This Day Forward</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1946), </span><i style="background-color: white;">Ivy</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1947), </span><i style="background-color: white;">Letter from an Unknown Woman</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1948), </span><i style="background-color: white;">The Emperor Waltz </i><span style="background-color: white;">(1948), and </span><i style="background-color: white;">Ivanhoe</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1952). After the late-1950s, she appeared less in films and more on stage and television. Fontaine and her sister are the only siblings to have won major acting Academy Awards.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Others in the cast include Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers and George Sanders as Jack Favell.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTgiQ_ngQzt0TWEtoy0LvkrVbC0ro_XZRnjPxrDwkeSgSJKA4kVwmt0elZ5JpQHgAwVU2sH6mZoJMUOoUwUeI4cVdnOWIvrDNwiLhKp8UuUuZYhqWtlwGvti8HiKuGprQmZgeCVVxQf4e/s1500/Rebecca_lobby+card.jpg" style="color: #3778cd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1500" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTgiQ_ngQzt0TWEtoy0LvkrVbC0ro_XZRnjPxrDwkeSgSJKA4kVwmt0elZ5JpQHgAwVU2sH6mZoJMUOoUwUeI4cVdnOWIvrDNwiLhKp8UuUuZYhqWtlwGvti8HiKuGprQmZgeCVVxQf4e/w418-h328/Rebecca_lobby+card.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="418" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Rebecca</i> trivia:</b></span></span></p><p></p><ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="border: none; color: #444444; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Loretta Young, Margaret Sullavan, Anne Baxter, and Vivien Leigh were among the over 20 actresses who screen-tested for the role of Mrs. de Winter.</span></span></li><li style="border: none; color: #444444; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Hitchcock instructed Judith Anderson to rarely blink her eyes.</span></span></li><li style="border: none; color: #444444; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">This is the only film directed by Hitchcock to win Best Picture.</span></span></li><li style="border: none; color: #444444; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Olivier wanted his then girl-friend, Vivien Leigh, to costar in the film which made him treat Fontaine very badly during filming.</span></span></li><li style="border: none; color: #444444; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Hitchcock shot the film in black and white to keep with the dark atmosphere of the book.</span></span></li><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">The director and cinematographer, George Barnes shot the film in deep focus, one year before </span><i><span style="color: #444444;">Citizen</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"> Kane</span></i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"> (1941).</span></span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">To watch the film on YouTube, click on the link below.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m1uvgx3NUR0" style="display: inline;" width="320" youtube-src-id="m1uvgx3NUR0"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">To Join the discussion on October 23, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/296783499/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">here</a>. Once you RSVP, you will get an invitation and link to join the discussion on Zoom.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Questions for discussion:</b></span></span></p><p></p><ol><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">What genre do you think best describes this film?</span></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Joan Fontaine</span></span>‘s character has no first name; what effect does it have on the film?</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">How does the relationship between Max and his bride change after they arrive at Manderley?</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">What role does Mrs. Danvers play in the film?</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">What are some of the clues to Rebecca‘s true nature?</li></ol><p></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /></p></div>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-80638258613927163422023-10-10T15:11:00.003-05:002023-10-10T15:13:16.516-05:00Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman are "Notorious!"<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Notorious</i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">(1946) is a film noir/spy thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Raines. The film’s screenplay was written by Ben Hecht (</span><i>Nothing Sacred</i><span style="background-color: white;">) with cinematography by Ted Tetzlaff (</span><i>My Man Godfrey</i><span style="background-color: white;">).</span></span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4782681765222672528" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; height: auto; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586.193px;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIuKR8LW7X_G3KaM-5yw0-16o0Lwf1t2haaLdmiTzHfTWnq314cHLD986tNDReZ5VqX-yWn6HzsGyDssKBam0mX_0HrTsfgFbwSp-r7uigaUR8SgWKVH1bIDFgD6j-rDpvTJi5jcLfKTu/s1600/Notorious-Ingrid-Bergman-Cary-Grant.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="654" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIuKR8LW7X_G3KaM-5yw0-16o0Lwf1t2haaLdmiTzHfTWnq314cHLD986tNDReZ5VqX-yWn6HzsGyDssKBam0mX_0HrTsfgFbwSp-r7uigaUR8SgWKVH1bIDFgD6j-rDpvTJi5jcLfKTu/w459-h264/Notorious-Ingrid-Bergman-Cary-Grant.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="459" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alicia Huberman (Bergman) is recruited by the American government to infiltrate a group of Nazis hiding out in Brazil after World War II. Alicia’s father was a convicted Nazi spy who committed suicide in prison. Government agent T. R. Devlin (Grant) recruits Alicia and informs her of her assignment. Part of her assignment is romancing the head of the Nazi group in Brazil, Alexander Sebastian (Raines), a man she had a relationship with in the past.<br /><br />Things get complicated when Devlin and Alicia fall in love and the Nazi plot becomes more elusive. Will Devlin and Alicia be successful in exposing the Nazis? Will they be able to find happiness once their assignment is over?<br /><br /><b>Alfred Hitchcock</b> (1899 – 1980) was an English film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is one of the most influential filmmakers of the 20th century. Hitchcock directed over 50 feature films, many are classics that have been honored and studied for years. Some of Hitchcock’s classic films include <i>The 39 Steps</i> (1935), <i>Sabotage</i> (1936), <i>Rebecca</i> (1940), <i>Suspicion</i> (1941), <i>Shadow of a Doubt</i> (1943), <i>Rear Window</i> (1954), <i>Vertigo</i> (1958), <i>North by Northwest</i> (1959), and <i>Psycho</i> (1960).<br /><br /><b>Ben Hecht</b> (1894 – 1964) was an American screenwriter, director, producer, playwright, journalist, and novelist! Hecht was born in New York City but went to Chicago at age 16. He became a journalist of some note and in 1920 he co-wrote <i>The Front Page</i> which became a huge Broadway hit. In the 1930s and 1940s, Hecht was one of the most popular and prolific screenwriters in Hollywood. He often acted as a “script doctor” for many screenplays, often without credit. Some of Hecht’s famous screenplays include <i>Spellbound</i> (1945), <i>Kiss of Death</i> (1947), <i>Design for Living</i> (1933), <i>Wuthering Heights</i> (1939), and <i>Gunga Din</i> (1939). Hecht was one of the dozens of writers who had a hand in the <i>Gone With the Wind</i> (1939) screenplay. Supposedly, Hecht never worked more than eight weeks on a screenplay.<br /><br /><b>Ted Tetzlaff</b> (1903 – 1995) was an Academy Award-nominated cinematographer in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s. He was a favorite of Carole Lombard—he photographed her in 10 movies. Some of the movies he photographed include <i>Hands Across the Table</i> (1935), <i>Remember the Night</i> (1940), <i>The Road to Zanzibar</i> (1941), <i>I Married a Witc</i>h (1942), <i>The Talk of the Town</i> (1942), and <i>The More the Merrier</i> (1943).</span><div style="clear: both; height: auto; width: 586.193px;"><div style="-webkit-box-align: initial !important; -webkit-box-decoration-break: initial !important; -webkit-box-direction: initial !important; -webkit-box-flex: initial !important; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: initial !important; -webkit-box-orient: initial !important; -webkit-box-pack: initial !important; -webkit-box-reflect: initial !important; -webkit-font-smoothing: initial !important; -webkit-line-break: initial !important; -webkit-line-clamp: initial !important; -webkit-locale: initial !important; -webkit-mask-box-image: initial !important; -webkit-mask-composite: initial !important; -webkit-mask: initial !important; -webkit-print-color-adjust: initial !important; 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hyphenate-character: initial; hyphenate-limit-chars: initial; hyphens: initial; image-orientation: initial; image-rendering: initial; initial-letter: initial; inline-size: initial; inset-block: initial; inset-inline: initial; inset: initial; isolation: initial; letter-spacing: initial; lighting-color: initial; line-break: initial; list-style: initial; margin-block: initial; margin-inline: initial; margin: auto; marker: initial; mask-type: initial; mask: initial; math-depth: initial; math-shift: initial; math-style: initial; max-block-size: initial; max-height: initial; max-inline-size: initial; max-width: 1000px; min-block-size: initial; min-height: initial; min-inline-size: initial; min-width: initial; mix-blend-mode: initial; object-fit: initial; object-position: initial; object-view-box: initial; offset: initial; opacity: initial; order: initial; orphans: initial; outline-offset: initial; outline: initial; overflow-anchor: initial; overflow-clip-margin: initial; overflow-wrap: initial; overflow: initial; overlay: initial; overscroll-behavior-block: initial; overscroll-behavior-inline: initial; overscroll-behavior: initial; padding-block: initial; padding-inline: initial; padding: initial; page-orientation: initial; page: initial; paint-order: initial; perspective-origin: initial; perspective: initial; place-content: initial; place-items: initial; place-self: initial; pointer-events: initial; position: initial; quotes: initial; r: initial; resize: initial; rotate: initial; ruby-position: initial; rx: initial; ry: initial; scale: initial; scroll-behavior: initial; scroll-margin-block: initial; scroll-margin-inline: initial; scroll-margin: initial; scroll-padding-block: initial; scroll-padding-inline: initial; scroll-padding: initial; scroll-snap-align: initial; scroll-snap-stop: initial; scroll-snap-type: initial; scroll-timeline: initial; scrollbar-gutter: initial; shape-image-threshold: initial; shape-margin: initial; shape-outside: initial; shape-rendering: initial; size: initial; speak: initial; stop-color: initial; stop-opacity: initial; stroke-dasharray: initial; stroke-dashoffset: initial; stroke-linecap: initial; stroke-linejoin: initial; stroke-miterlimit: initial; stroke-opacity: initial; stroke-width: initial; stroke: initial; tab-size: initial; table-layout: initial; text-align-last: initial; text-align: initial; text-anchor: initial; text-combine-upright: initial; text-decoration-line: initial; text-decoration-skip-ink: initial; text-emphasis-position: initial; text-emphasis: initial; text-indent: initial; text-orientation: initial; text-overflow: initial; text-rendering: initial; text-shadow: initial; text-size-adjust: initial; text-transform: initial; text-underline-offset: initial; text-underline-position: initial; timeline-scope: initial; touch-action: initial; transform-box: initial; transform-origin: initial; transform-style: initial; transform: initial; transition: initial; translate: initial; user-select: initial; vector-effect: initial; vertical-align: initial; view-timeline-inset: initial; view-timeline: initial; view-transition-name: initial; visibility: initial; white-space: initial; widows: initial; width: initial; will-change: initial; word-break: initial; word-spacing: initial; writing-mode: initial; x: initial; y: initial; z-index: initial; zoom: initial;"><div id="autors-container-0"></div></div></div></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Cary Grant</b> (1904 – 1986) was an English-born American actor who became one of the most popular leading men in film history. Grant started his career in vaudeville before heading to Hollywood. He became a superstar in the late 1930s in a series of screwball comedies including <i>The Awful Truth</i> (1937) with Irene Dunne. He was a memorable C. K. Dexter Haven in <i>The Philadelphia Story</i> (1940) opposite Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart. He received two Best Actor nominations: <i>Penny Serenade</i> (1941) and <i>None but the Lonely Hearts</i> (1944). Other classic Grant films include <i>Gunga Din</i> (1939), <i>Only Angels Have Wings</i> (1939), and <i>Arsenic and Old Lace</i> (1944). He made four popular films with Alfred Hitchcock: <i>Suspicion</i> (1941), <i>Notorious</i> (1946), <i>To Catch a Thief</i> (1955), and <i>North by Northwest</i> (1959). He was presented with an Honorary Oscar at the 42nd Academy Awards in 1970.<br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaf633UhCpsXeDs-FCFT3hvLg7oGUWgHDHBytTu4d02iw-D5d9sh_HVKYczlCE7058PE0HBOwNsCLO__ScQcLfqzdv9TVuG0DB46P_5kX1adadauPURf18VwAR-8Evakj0Gsk_w5jwkYpf/s1600/Cary+Grant%2527s+Birthday+on+the+set.jpg" style="color: #3778cd; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="236" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaf633UhCpsXeDs-FCFT3hvLg7oGUWgHDHBytTu4d02iw-D5d9sh_HVKYczlCE7058PE0HBOwNsCLO__ScQcLfqzdv9TVuG0DB46P_5kX1adadauPURf18VwAR-8Evakj0Gsk_w5jwkYpf/s400/Cary+Grant%2527s+Birthday+on+the+set.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="318" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Cary Grant, Alfred Hitchcock and Ingrid Bergman celebrate Cary Grant’s birthday on the set of <i>Notorious</i>. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Ingrid Bergman</b> (1915 – 1982) was a Swedish actress who became an international star upon her Hollywood debut in Intermezzo (1939). Few actresses were as popular as Bergman during the 1940s. In fact, she was the number two box office draw (after Bing Crosby) in 1946. She starred opposite Humphrey Bogart in <i>Casablanca</i> (1942), <i>For Whom the Bell Tolls</i> (1943) opposite Gary Cooper, <i>Gaslight</i> (1944) for which she won the Best Actress Academy Award. She starred opposite newcomer Gregory Peck in <i>Spellbound</i> (1945) which was her first collaboration with director Alfred Hitchcock. Bergman would go on to win another Best Actress Academy Award for Anastasia (1956) and a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for <i>Murder on the Orient Express</i> (1974).<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Claude Raines</b> (1889 – 1967) was a British-American film and stage actor. He was one of the most popular character actors working in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s. He was a favorite of actress Bette Davis; they worked together in four films including <i>Now, Voyager</i> (1942). Other classic Raines films include <i>The Adventures of Robin Hood</i> (1938), <i>Mr. Smith Goes to Washington</i> (1939), <i>Here Comes Mr. Jordan</i> (1941), <i>Kings Row</i> (1942), <i>Casablanca</i> (1942), <i>Phantom of the Opera</i> (1943), <i>Caesar and Cleopatra</i> (1945), and <i>Deception </i>(1946).<br /><br />To watch the film, click on the YouTube <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/296663063/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">here</a>. Be sure to use this link because there are many versions of this film on the channel. None are as good as this print.</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4782681765222672528" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; height: auto; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586.193px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4782681765222672528" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; height: auto; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586.193px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="399" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7LwPhO2qPcQ" width="480" youtube-src-id="7LwPhO2qPcQ"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /><br />To join the discussion on Zoom on October 16, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time, click here. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation and a link to join the discussion on Zoom.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKCJ5-M2cegEiIuC1s1pCbRijNl2wYU7oRbeFkYJp9ShvfRFUFQLzfIK4yHUjFA-KB7TvHGz_9Gvl1lkK_LwTbCStOAlRiUzupKZhM8QyBLpxB2o_-xXq7ZmkxErudPzJJFd_-DXdO21X/s1600/Notorious+lobby+card.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1500" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKCJ5-M2cegEiIuC1s1pCbRijNl2wYU7oRbeFkYJp9ShvfRFUFQLzfIK4yHUjFA-KB7TvHGz_9Gvl1lkK_LwTbCStOAlRiUzupKZhM8QyBLpxB2o_-xXq7ZmkxErudPzJJFd_-DXdO21X/w494-h396/Notorious+lobby+card.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="494" /></span></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Discussion questions:</b><br />1. One of the major themes of the film is trust. Trust withheld or given too freely. What did you make of it all?<br />2. Some critics consider this one of Hitchcock’s most complicated romances. Do you agree with that assessment?<br />3. Hitchcock is known for the “mothers” in his films. Madame Anna Sebastian is a major character in Notorious. What did you make of her character?</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4782681765222672528" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; height: auto; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586.193px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Did you think Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman worked well together? Was their romance believable?</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4782681765222672528" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; height: auto; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586.193px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Claude Raines was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award. Do you think his performance was worthy of the nomination?</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4782681765222672528" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; height: auto; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586.193px;">6. Did the ending surprise you? Was it a satisfying ending?<br /><div class="google-auto-placed ap_container" style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; height: auto; text-align: center; width: 586.193px;"><ins class="adsbygoogle adsbygoogle-noablate" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9350360093471101" data-ad-format="auto" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="background-color: transparent; display: block; height: 280px; margin: auto;"><div aria-label="Advertisement" id="aswift_4_host" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: inline-block; height: 280px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 586px;" tabindex="0" title="Advertisement"><iframe allow="attribution-reporting" allowtransparency="true" browsingtopics="true" data-google-container-id="a!5" frameborder="0" height="280" hspace="0" id="aswift_4" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="aswift_4" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" scrolling="no" src="https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-9350360093471101&output=html&h=280&adk=4195721291&adf=3223338575&pi=t.aa~a.1261311059~i.205~rp.1&w=586&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1696718925&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=8933075190&ad_type=text_image&format=586x280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fclassicmovieman.blogspot.com%2F2020%2F09%2Fcary-grant-and-ingrid-bergman-are.html&host=pub-1556223355139109&fwr=0&pra=3&rh=147&rw=586&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&fa=27&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTQuMC4wIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiMTE3LjAuNTkzOC45MiIsW10sMCxudWxsLCI2NCIsW1siR29vZ2xlIENocm9tZSIsIjExNy4wLjU5MzguOTIiXSxbIk5vdDtBPUJyYW5kIiwiOC4wLjAuMCJdLFsiQ2hyb21pdW0iLCIxMTcuMC41OTM4LjkyIl1dLDBd&dt=1696966614759&bpp=12&bdt=32107&idt=12&shv=r20231004&mjsv=m202310020101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&prev_fmts=300x250_as%2C246x600%2C0x0&nras=2&correlator=7339204159080&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1793422811.1696966600&ga_sid=1696966600&ga_hid=474478882&ga_fc=0&u_tz=-300&u_his=4&u_h=768&u_w=1366&u_ah=720&u_aw=1366&u_cd=24&u_sd=1.1&dmc=8&adx=165&ady=3399&biw=1226&bih=585&scr_x=0&scr_y=2904&eid=44759875%2C44759926%2C31078481%2C31078600%2C44804782%2C44805099%2C31078663%2C31078665%2C31078668%2C31078670&oid=2&psts=AOrYGskZNvstaYooXRwIoPHq5MthBunrTX9JspGygQEiZFtqH3yPDexH0uxOoxW-emeBQ816gGZAaT8p285oPA%2CAOrYGsl0AF3MI1YV7T3dhHlVZVB2Dtrwh-6rr8pTiHxtu1Obh8g_Xk3qUqQzgeMDGTVOP5i74LwfGOAGii1MW2E&pvsid=2203604363761179&tmod=734079708&uas=1&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fclassicmovieman.blogspot.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dnotorious&fc=384&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1366%2C0%2C1366%2C720%2C1242%2C585&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&td=1&nt=1&ifi=5&uci=a!5&fsb=1&xpc=iq07NAaPxr&p=https%3A//classicmovieman.blogspot.com&dtd=559" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; height: 280px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 586px;" vspace="0" width="586"></iframe></div></ins></div></div>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-12197156062009394862023-10-04T15:18:00.005-05:002023-10-04T15:24:58.083-05:00Cary Grant and Doris Day star in “That Touch of Mink”<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>That Touch of Mink</i>
(1962) is an American romantic comedy film directed by Delbert Mann and starring
Cary Grant, Doris Day, Gig Young, and Audrey Meadows. Also in the cast are John
Astin, Richard Deacon, and Richard (Dick) Sargent. And as themselves, Yogi
Berra, Mickey Mantle, and Roger Maris.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cathy Timberlake (Day) is an unemployed New York City career
woman. One day when she goes to the unemployment office she is harassed by
Beasley (Astin), the clerk who tries to get her into bed. After she leaves the
unemployment office, Philip Shayne (Grant) drives by in his chauffeur-driven
Rolls-Royce splashing her dress with mud while she’s on her way to a job
interview.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Philip wants to make it up to Cathy so he proposes that he become
her lover, an offer she wasn’t expecting since she was holding out for
marriage. What will Cathy do? And how will Philip react?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA23-ShhF0tYcp7iJ-lfmWnKa1EwcIh87Aev94FboHfoebS0X8It3gHCp5SzqkrWogs7M84Zif7hfWDLvHTqN94i9FfvMvjK5zQbhsJ8AzKLPrJhtSWzI1D81FWWfrFDeLXsxnFzNC3_FMkahWH4LTsPD7VLrhkOYjLNLGbXn-sxOTymn3xTOKLtO1526m/s1280/That%20Touch%20of%20Mink_lobby%20card.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1280" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA23-ShhF0tYcp7iJ-lfmWnKa1EwcIh87Aev94FboHfoebS0X8It3gHCp5SzqkrWogs7M84Zif7hfWDLvHTqN94i9FfvMvjK5zQbhsJ8AzKLPrJhtSWzI1D81FWWfrFDeLXsxnFzNC3_FMkahWH4LTsPD7VLrhkOYjLNLGbXn-sxOTymn3xTOKLtO1526m/w477-h373/That%20Touch%20of%20Mink_lobby%20card.jpg" width="477" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delbert Mann</b>
(1920 – 2007) was an American television and film director. He won the Best
Director Academy Award for his first film, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Marty</i>
(1955). Other Mann films include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Bachelor Party</i> (1957), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Separate
Tables</i> (1958), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Middle of the Night </i>(1959),
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lover Come Back</i> (1961), and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dear Heart</i> (1964). Mann still worked in
television, directing several movies including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heidi </i>(1968), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">David
Copperfield</i> (1969), and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jane Eyre </i>(1970).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;">Cary Grant</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1904 – 1986) was an English-born American actor who
became one of the most popular leading men in film history. Grant started his
career in vaudeville before heading to Hollywood. He became a superstar in the
late 1930s in a series of screwball comedies including </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Awful Truth</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1937) with Irene Dunne. He was a memorable C. K.
Dexter Haven in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Philadelphia Story</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1940) opposite Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart. He
received two Best Actor nominations for </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Penny Serenade</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1941) and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">None but the Lonely Hearts</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1944). Other classic Grant films include </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Gunga Din</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1939), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Only Angels Have Wings</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1939), and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Arsenic and Old Lace </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">(1944). He made four popular films with Alfred Hitchcock: </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Suspicion</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1941), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Notorious</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1946), </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">To Catch a Thief</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1955), and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">North by Northwest</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (1959). He was presented with an Honorary Oscar at the
42nd Academy Awards in 1970.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Doris Day</span></span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1922 – 2019) was an American actress and singer. She began
her career as a big band singer. With Les Brown and His Band of Renown, she had
two number one hits with “Sentimental Journey” and “My Dreams Are Getting
Better All the Time.” She made her film debut in 1948 with her role in <i>Romance on the High Seas</i> (1948). Day
became one of the biggest box office stars of all time starring in films like <i>Calamity Jane </i>(1953), <i>The Man Who Knew Too Much</i> (1956), and <i>Pillow Talk</i> (1959) for which she
received her only Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. <i>Pillow Talk</i> with Rock Hudson was such a
hit that they co-starred in two other successful comedies: <i>Lover Come Back </i>(1961) and <i>Send
Me No Flowers</i> (1964). Other Day movies include <i>Love Me or Leave Me</i> (1955), <i>The
Pajama Game</i> (1957), <i>The Thrill of it
All</i> (1962) and <i>Move Over Darling </i>(1962).</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><b>That Touch of Mink </b></span></i><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><b>trivia</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cary Grant was a big fan of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Honeymooners</i> and Audrey Meadows in
particular. He was responsible for her getting the role of Connie.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cary Grant was involved with
many details of the film’s production including set design and some of Doris
Day’s wardrobe.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rock Hudson thought he was
going to be cast as Philip, but director Mann wanted Grant.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Doris Day was 39 at the time
of filming. Her character was supposed to be in her twenties. Grant was older
than his character was supposed to be as well. Grant was 57.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day said that Grant was
professional and courteous but remote.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was the fourth highest
grossing film of 1962.</span></span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To watch the film on
YouTube, click <a href="https://youtu.be/qU_7HA9hV04?si=vSU2Z7yv6S0Y0kxp" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="373" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qU_7HA9hV04" width="449" youtube-src-id="qU_7HA9hV04"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> To join the discussion on October 9, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time, click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/296540736/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">here</a>. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation with a link to join the discussion on Zoom.</span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Discussion questions</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was the only pairing
between Grant and Day; do you think they had good chemistry together?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This film was made in the
early 1960s. Do you think a film like this could be made today? Who would you
cast in the leads?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Was Day believable as an
out-of-work career woman?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What advice would you have
given Day’s character regarding her relationship with Grant?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you think the film would have been different or better with Rock Hudson?</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #444444; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you have a favorite
scene or piece of dialogue?</span></span></li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196652593714152340.post-15698412970432166282023-09-24T18:42:00.003-05:002023-09-24T18:45:47.681-05:00 Rosalind Russell and Hayley Mills match wits in “The Trouble with Angels”<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Trouble with
Angels</i> (1966) is an American comedy film directed by Ida Lupino and
starring Rosalind Russell and Hayley Mills. The strong supporting cast includes
Binnie Barnes, Mary Wickes, Marge Redmond, Gypsy Rose Lee, Camilla Sparv, and
June Harding in her film debut.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The film is set at the fictional St. Francis Academy, a
Catholic boarding school for girls in Pennsylvania. The school is operated by
nuns and headed by The Mother Superior (Russell). When two students arrive,
Mary Clancy (Mills) and Rachel Devery (Harding), the Mother Superior and the
rest of the nuns at St. Francis have their hands full.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mary has a will or iron but so does Mother
Superior. Who will come out on top in the battle of wills?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfV0EbGrSHdPAH2ZQyb8DweySVEy6lEOuJINdB4uNCgihvBY1mfghNtHDnd_yORDQyIiom7HIByB1eboVJB_U2S1AmMexj-e7MqI5rhutLJEvuyIm46kvbcaIsgNUiuGlzDDjryX7RxFiZFrqPRSq_q05j2pTcGcjFGZ5Vim9uDmTc0MfelD9mgchJc_5/s600/Trouble%20with%20Angels,%20The_Harding,%20Mills,%20Russell.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfV0EbGrSHdPAH2ZQyb8DweySVEy6lEOuJINdB4uNCgihvBY1mfghNtHDnd_yORDQyIiom7HIByB1eboVJB_U2S1AmMexj-e7MqI5rhutLJEvuyIm46kvbcaIsgNUiuGlzDDjryX7RxFiZFrqPRSq_q05j2pTcGcjFGZ5Vim9uDmTc0MfelD9mgchJc_5/w367-h304/Trouble%20with%20Angels,%20The_Harding,%20Mills,%20Russell.jpg" width="367" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>June Harding, Hayley Mills, and Rosalind Russell</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Ida Lupino</span></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> (1918 – 1995) was an English-American actress,
director, and producer. She appeared in over 50 films and was one of Warner
Bros.’s biggest contract players during the 1940s starring in <i>High Sierra</i> (1941), <i>The Sea Wolf</i> (1941), and <i>The Man I Love</i> (1947). After she left Warner Bros., Lupino formed her
own production company, producing, writing, and directing films that tackled
subjects the big studios wouldn’t touch. During the 1950s, Lupino was the only
female director working in Hollywood. She directed several small independent
films but really made a name for herself directing for television. Lupino
directed episodes of <i>The Twilight Zone</i> (starred in one too), <i>The Rifleman</i>, <i>Bonanza</i>, <i>Gilligan’s Island</i>, <i>It Takes a Thief</i>, <i>Family Affair</i>, and <i>Columbo</i>. In 1966, she directed her one-and-only big-budget studio
picture, <i>The Trouble with Angels</i> starring Rosalind Russell and Haley Mills.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Rosalind Russell</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> (1907
- 1976) was an American film and stage actress. She was nominated for four Best
Actress Academy Awards throughout her career. She won five Golden Globe Awards
and a Tony for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Ruth in <i>Wonderful
Town</i>. Russell was a </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">versatile</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> actress who excelled at both comedy
and drama. She was also one of the few actresses of her day to portray lawyers,
judges, and psychiatrists. Some of her famous films include <i>The Women</i> (1939), <i>My
Sister Eileen</i> (1942), <i>Sister Kenny</i> (1946), <i>Picnic</i> (1955), <i>Auntie
Mame</i> (1958), <i>Gypsy </i>(1962), and <i>The Trouble
with Angels</i> (1966).</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Hayley Mills</span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"> (1946 - ) is an English actress and at one
time was one of the biggest child stars in the world. The daughter of actor
John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell and younger sister of Juliet Mills, she got her
start in films playing Gillie in <i>Tiger Bay</i> (1959). It was her performance in that film
that brought her to the attention of Walt Disney and international stardom.
Mills made her American movie debut in <i>Pollyanna</i> (1960), winning the Academy Juvenile Award
in the process. Other films she made at Disney include <i>The Parent Trap </i>(1961), <i>In Search of the Castaways </i>(1962), <i>Summer Magic</i> (1963), and <i>That</i> <i>Darn Cat!</i> (1965).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGrkoALfq7f4jO3xTTpdgcAEMFconKDtOJ8Nl8GRNMlfud44NTY-h8igw7aDrthefjNTiWO6ppSDdZe6EbpGoSZg-jVv7TIx9CU6jbMdBNiM-wy8Y1T94CqbiPZxcJEd843XaZe8w1HQXsoEWr2ATUaoUpD5Q1hkgvlOAcFesWSdKAKmJ89t9rRu94T3c/s860/Trouble%20with%20Angels,%20The_Gypsy%20Rose%20Lee%20and%20Russell.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="860" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGrkoALfq7f4jO3xTTpdgcAEMFconKDtOJ8Nl8GRNMlfud44NTY-h8igw7aDrthefjNTiWO6ppSDdZe6EbpGoSZg-jVv7TIx9CU6jbMdBNiM-wy8Y1T94CqbiPZxcJEd843XaZe8w1HQXsoEWr2ATUaoUpD5Q1hkgvlOAcFesWSdKAKmJ89t9rRu94T3c/w424-h315/Trouble%20with%20Angels,%20The_Gypsy%20Rose%20Lee%20and%20Russell.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gypsy Rose Lee and Rosalind Russell</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><b>The Trouble with Angels</b></span></i><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> trivia<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The exterior shots of St.
Francis Academy were or St. Mary’s Home, an orphanage in Ambler, Pennsylvania.
All of the interior shots were done in a studio in California.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mary Wickes didn’t know how
to swim and she was supposed to take swimming lessons for the pool scene with
Hayley Mills and June Harding. She didn’t. In some scenes they had to use a
double which cost the production time and money.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Greta Garbo was offered one
million dollars to play Mother Superior. Rosalind Russell was offered the role
at a much lower salary.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hayley Mills was nineteen at
the time of filming and June Harding was twenty-eight.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was Ida Lupino’s first studio
directorial assignment and the last movie she directed. She finished her
directing career working in television.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mary Wickes would go on to
play nuns in three move movies. She played the same character in <i>Where Angels Go Trouble Follows!</i> (1968),
<i>Sister Act</i> (1992), and <i>Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit</i> (1993).</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jim Hutton plays Mr. Petrie and appears in two scenes but is uncredited.</span></span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To watch the movie on
YouTube, click <a href="https://youtu.be/OnUgYrHVNqE?si=JZZPOt0PYlocjsc5" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="354" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OnUgYrHVNqE" width="426" youtube-src-id="OnUgYrHVNqE"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To join the discussion on
October 2, 2023, at 6:30 p.m., click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/chicago-film-club-meetup-group/events/296324347/?isFirstPublish=true" target="_blank">here</a>. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation
with a link to join the discussion on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Discussion questions</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The film is a comedy but it did have its serious moments. Do
you think the film balanced the comedy with the drama?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">What did you think of Rosalind Russell’s performance as
Mother Superior? Was she a convincing nun?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Were Hayley Mills and June Harding convincing as high school
girls? Did they have on-screen chemistry?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">There were several great character actors playing nuns in
the film. Did you have a favorite nun?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some critics thought that Mary’s decision to become a nun at
the end didn’t make sense. Do you agree?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did anything about the film surprise you?</span></li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCQHPXG9jmdupBcqEAtqZMq_Oh7CSSvn2kNEqEC_XyFClo-wToIJO34MkrzUdEKZDCgGUqI23Uj2L_SIRpRrmSCM7urN5TXizqXbPmXJixXfdOOvjGnvIWgQGj1Aekas5DR7iTgRltyZNhWoAdbrBVnlty6kXWPDOpjDWoCDk-aANuT2lMOwHXMUq8UeB/s459/Trouble%20with%20Angels,%20The_title%20card.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="459" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCQHPXG9jmdupBcqEAtqZMq_Oh7CSSvn2kNEqEC_XyFClo-wToIJO34MkrzUdEKZDCgGUqI23Uj2L_SIRpRrmSCM7urN5TXizqXbPmXJixXfdOOvjGnvIWgQGj1Aekas5DR7iTgRltyZNhWoAdbrBVnlty6kXWPDOpjDWoCDk-aANuT2lMOwHXMUq8UeB/w441-h241/Trouble%20with%20Angels,%20The_title%20card.jpg" width="441" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>Stephen Reginaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17050782148081105899noreply@blogger.com0