The Silver Screen Oasis

About a year ago, I caught this sweet little drama on TCM. First time I'd seen it in fifty years! If you think Stanwyck aged, you should see me!

King, such detailed insight on Rockabye. I wish I could have stayed up for that one. It sounds so intriguing, and the clarity of your play-by-play is intriguing. I never knew McCrea and Bennett were an "item," but it always makes for good on-screen chemistry.

I just marveled at her aged appearance and the ease with which Stanwyck moved in such sync with an extraordinary role like she did. And it is often ironic, according to what her biographers claim, that she is cast in motherly roles considering how she reared Dion Fay, her adopted son. I think he had to sue to claim part of Frank Fay''s estate.

As for your comment, Red River----

Interesting fun movie trivia- the book the movie is taken from, the Edward Arnold character (and his family) is based on a branch of director Howard Hawks family.

Come and Get It is a real gem, Anne! One of those movies you have to discover on your own, because it seems that no one has written about it. I saw it a few years back because MissGoddess had mentioned it, I believe.

How did you like Walter Brennan, before he became ubiquitous in character roles? When I watched it the first time, I almost didn't recognize him!

I am way behind on my Joel movies but am trying to get caught up.

I just saw Common Law another one of those nifty pre-codes starring Joel and Constance Bennett. I so wanted Hedda Hopper to get a comeuppance but alas the director and writer thought it more important for slimey Lew Cody to get beat up by Joel. Not nearly as satisfying.

Up next The Barbary Coast. Triple score for me- Joel, Harry Carey and Howard Hawks!

I'll be back!

Barbary Coast was a lot of fun. Miriam Hopkins seemed to do an inordinate amount of acting with her eyebrows in this one. But Eddie G was terrific as the gambler who owns most of gold rush San Francisco and Harry Carey was his usual solid self as the man trying to oust Eddie G from his seat of power. And Walt Brennan, as always, plays a great sidekick. Lots of great character actors rounding out the cast.

Joel McCrea was very handsome and quite good as the poetry writing/reading gold miner who falls hard for Miriam and her eyebrows.

Up next, The Great Man's Lady with another triple score- Joel, Barbara and William Wellman!

I'll be back!

I've only watched the first third of The Great man's Lady, but the beginning is smashing. Wow! Such chemistry between Joel and Barbara.... I can't wait to watch the rest of it.

Barbary Coast is a favorite, and I still haven't watched the other Connie Bennett/Joel movies. Lynn, have you seen Bed of Roses yet?

Jacks,

Not yet but Roses is on my DVR just waiting for me.

Great Man's Lady is quite good and kingrat nailed it when he called Brian Donlevy's character the "Ralph Bellamy" role. It may be one of the most sympathetic roles I've ever seen Donlevy in.

I looked forward to UNION PACIFIC, hoping it would have the boisterous spirit of THE PLAINSMAN or the rousing drama of THE BUCCANEER. It doesn't quite achieve those things, and for that reason, I was disappointed. It is a pretty good western, with a fine cast and an intriguing premise. It just didn't get to me as my favorite DeMille adventures do.

I wanted to take this opportunity to say "Thank you" to TCMProgrammr and the programming staff. I am really enjoying Joel as SOTM. I must admit, I am behind in my viewing but my DVR is filled almost to the brim with Joel movies.

I've seen a number of his films over the years, especially the westerns but whoever curated this month did a terrific job of mixing classic McCrea movies with rarely seen or in some cases hardly known gems. The group of pre-codes he did with Connie Bennett have been so enjoyable! Joel was quite the handsome young man and the chemistry between the two of them lit up the screen quite often!

The days are winding down for Joel's celebration but I'll be watching his movies well into June.

So, thank you TCMProgrammr and everyone involved for not only honoring Joel (and Robert O mentioning the McCrea foundation, the ranch and the new visitor's center made my heart sing) but for also putting together a terrific line-up of his films.

I am truly grateful.