WHAT FILMS HAVE YOU SEEN LATELY?

[charliechaplinfan]

I followed Desk Set with another Tracy and Hepburn film that I've never watched the whole of the way through, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, it might be hard for people to appreciate today just how big Joey and John's problems were going to be, this film coming out just as Civil Rights legislation was being drafted. Plus it is the last film of Spencer Tracy, a very old looking Tracy, one who died soon after making the movie. I was completely hooked froom the beginning, despite the dog going in and out, wanting to try to snaffle my baking or the cats food. Even with a myriad of interuptions, delivery men and Mum on the phone too, the film didn't lose it's power for me. Did the power eminate from Sidney Poitier, I thought it did, he was not being moved, he was prepared to be very reasonable about the whole thing. Superb acting by all the prinicipals, I didn't feel there was any over reaction to the fact that it was a mixed race marriage, even with the passage of time, I can appreciate the historical setting. I thought it was very well written, Kate was marvellous, what a good idea about casting her own niece, the resemblance lending itself to the story, but even I wondered if the character knew what she was getting herself into. Spencer and Kate though were lovely in this last film together, that last speech that Spence gave and Kate's eyes welling up, it could have been real life, the words he was saying. Wonderful film, I think favourite of all their pairings that I've seen, except perhaps for Adam's Rib, it's on a par with that one.

[JackFavell]

I can't even think about that last scene without tearing up.

[charliechaplinfan]

I know, darn all those interruptions, I tried not to think of Spence and Kate but of the story itself. Spence knew it was his last film. Kate didn't get second billing, Sidney wouldn't conceed it to her, he would even split the billing, she hadn't had a hit for a while, I guess I can understand his point of view. It's the only time their names had been split in their partnership. Spence looked tired out though, didn't he?

[JackFavell]

Yes it's clear that he was gravely ill, I think they weren't sure he was going to make it through the production. He could still move you though.with that undiminished inner flame, smaller maybe, but still burning.

[knitwit45]

I saw this in a theater not too long after the assassination of Rev. King. When Isabel Sanford makes the crack about Rev King showing up, too, there was an audible gasp in the audience. I understand that soon after, that line was 'blipped' from the movie. Has it been restored? looking up the info at IMDb, the dates seem off, but Kansas City didn't see race riots as soon as other cities did. What a sad, terrifying time that was.

[movieman1957]

Wendy:

That is why I like Garner. Just think of "Duel At Diablo." Pretty tough character. "Move Over Darling." Sweetheart. "The Rockford Files." fun, stern and anything to avoid a fight.

Mike:

"Tall In The Saddle" is great fun.

[CineMaven]

Tonight I watched "Tall in the Saddle" (1944). I had never seen this John Wayne movie before, and I loved it. The movie zips along like greased lightning...Ella Raines is the tomboyish heroine who falls for Wayne, and I have to say I was more taken with here here than in the films she is more famous for. Her firelit scene with Wayne in a cabin was pretty hot stuff.

This is one of my favorite westerns, definitely a favorite Ella Raines film. ( Big fan here. ) John Wayne was sexy in the firelight.

* * * *

Just finished watching James Garner and Eva Marie Saint with Rod Taylor in "36 Hours." ...Once you buy into the premise of it the drama moves on pretty well. Mostly it is mind games to better the other as they try and figure out who is telling the truth and what it all means...Another film I had never heard of but stumbled on. Good performances all around.

I enjoyed "36 HOURS." I agree with you MM, the cast gives good performances. I'm surprised you've never heard of this movie before. Guess I keep thinking men know all the espionage, war movie, westerns and spy thriller films. Bob's told me about being sexist! ( ) Gotta work on it. Rod Taylor as a Nazi? I buy it. Check. Eva Marie Saint as a persecuted Jewish woman? I buy it. Check. James Garner standing, walking, sitting, running...breathing ( Sigh! ) Check. Check. Trying to get away in the woods at the end was exciting. I buy the whole premise hook line and sinker ‘cuz that’s the kind of chestnut I am.

* * * *

I love James Garner, I wish he had come up earlier in the classic era so we would have had twice as many movies with him in them. Sometimes it seems like they didn't quite know what to do with him, he's all over the map with his films, action adventure, war, mind game type movies, comedies.... he's good in everything.

Go on guys, call me a copycat. But I do like the stars you mentioned. Got an autograph of James Garner during my journalist days on the Ben Jay Flash. The Ben Jay Flash? That’s Benjamin Franklin High School to you. Yeah, I was the movie reporter on my high school paper senior year and I was sent ( with kids from other schools ) to see and meet Garner in “SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF.” My brushes with stardom are far and wide.

And so are my delusions of grandeur...but that’s for another psych session.

Garner is one of those in-between guys; between two eras. At the end of the studio era --- with those chiseled hero features, dark and handsome...not taking himself too seriously, and the real guys...schlubby Dustin Hoffman, character actor leading men. Garner has a special place in my heart. Gosh, if TCM would extend an invitation to him to attend next year's film festival...he'd see many of his fans.

* * * *

I followed "Desk Set" with another Tracy and Hepburn film that I've never watched the whole of the way through, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," it might be hard for people to appreciate today just how big Joey and John's problems were going to be, this film coming out just as Civil Rights legislation was being drafted. Plus it is the last film of Spencer Tracy, a very old looking Tracy, one who died soon after making the movie. I was completely hooked froom the beginning...Superb acting by all the prinicipals, I didn't feel there was any over reaction to the fact that it was a mixed race marriage, even with the passage of time, I can appreciate the historical setting.

"GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER?" was one of the last movies I saw with my entire family. ( I think James Garner's "MARLOWE" was the last; then we all went our separate ways on the movie-going tip...my parents slowing down...my sister & I having different tastes...my brother being six years younger and too annoying to have around me and my teenage friends. ) I've seen some of "Guess Who's Coming..." in recent years, and it doesn't travel well for me; seems kinda hokey...like Textbook 101 in Racial Tolerance. But when I saw it in '67, I was very moved by it. I haven't seen the movie in a while like I said, but I totally appreciate all the things you listed in your post Alison about why it was...IS such a good movie; It has its place in film history and in the history of one of the great screen teams. ( Reminds me to look at the latest poll you guys have got going and see how Kate & Spence are doing... ) When you're in love, you can be blind in all sorts of ways. This movie definitely proves it. It's good!

[RedRiver]

Tracy and Hepburn are wonderful in "Dinner." Were they ever not? I think Tracy died before the Oscars. I half expected him to win.

36 HOURS is entertaining, if not memorable. Not a great war drama. But a fun little espionage story.

it seems like they didn't quite know what to do with him

James Garner plays James Garner. But he does it extremely well!

[CineMaven]

"THE MAGGIE"



I've never been so enchanted by Paul Douglas as I was in this film...

Here’s a lesson it seems every ‘ugly American’ needs to learn in the movies. Slow down...chill out...take it easy...respect other cultures. ( Sheesh... are we Americans the only ones on that rat-racing, xenophobic treadmill? ) I have to admit, the movie was a lesson for me in filmwatching. In general, I like to get on with it...let me see what’s going on...where are we going. I’ve just finished looking at a slew of James Bond films back-to-back which were jampacked with action & dangerously handsome men; and before that, a spate of Giallo films kept me on the edge of my seat with anxiety. ( Thanx a lot Mr. Arkadin! ) So putting “THE MAGGIE” in my dvd player I kept wondering ‘what the heck is this, and where is this going and when are we getting there?’

The movie kind of forced me to settle down with it. Slow down. I liked it. I never knew big ol’ teddy bear Paul Douglas was so agile. When I saw him running I was kind of in shock. I really liked his put-upon business man. I loved Captain McTaggart...and his motley crue. The Wee Boy was certainly getting some life lessons, as was Douglas. The Captain’s faith in his puffer and the journey was nice to behold; a constant. No city slicker would take him off his leisurely course of helping folks, and celebrating with them...and getting into mischief. He probably would have laughed if you pulled out a GPS. He’s the type that’d wet his finger, put it up to the wind and stay right on course. They were laughed at by other crew...but they just kept doing what they were doing. They didn't think ill of others, so why would they think someone thought ill of them.

Douglas’ frustrations were funny though understandable. A business man into deadlines, and “I WANT IT NOW!” results. But he was no match for the Captain, who’ll get him there. Eventually. Poaching gets another stiff shirted bureaucrat in a jam, and then there’s the wrecking of the pier. A little boy can shame a big grown man with his small large persistent questions. A pretty girl deciding who to marry and be with for the rest of her life is another lesson to Douglas about what’s important.

The accents were thick and heavy and I lost some of the dialogue b'cuz of it. But I was still able to follow along. I, too, thought of "Local Hero" or "Gregory's Girl." What a sweet movie; no, not my usual fare. But I smiled throughout. What IS important? Getting there or the journey? Movies do sell sell sell the journey, don’t they. Well, I guess I’m buying.

Thank you for the movie Wendy.



Each of 'em were great. Each of them!

[JackFavell]

Whew! I'm SO glad you enjoyed slowing down, enjoying the journey.I was nervous!

You made me think of that scene with the girl, the one who was trying to decide which boy to go with. I just LOVED that interchange between her and Paul Douglas, it was so underplayed, he was like her father, but she was teaching him something.

[CineMaven]

Never be nervous. Who am I.

That scene was lovely between the girl and Douglas.

[RedRiver]

The Captain’s faith in his puffer

CIALIS...It's ready when you're ready!

[CineMaven]

D'Ohhhhh! Oh Red!

[charliechaplinfan]

I really enjoyed your post about The Maggie, Theresa, you loved the movie like I did. Heck, I thought when Paul Douglas put that sweater on he looked about 10 years younger and his hopping about on the pier as it was pulled to bits. I'm going to have to watch it again.

Nancy, the version of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner did have a reference to Rev King because I did he mental maths, thinking that it was close to his death. I think the initial power is in the first viewing but it's pleasant to revisit because it's Spence's last film and there's Kate and Sidney Poitier is always worth watching.

I followed on my Spence viewing by watching The Actress, a film bigraphy of Ruth Gordon, a friend of Spence's and Garson Kanin's wife. Who had the idea of putting the beautiful Teresa Wright in the cast as Jean Simmon's mother? There can't be much in difference in the women but Teresa is such a good actress she carries it off. It isn't a film of action rather a film of struggle and stubbornness, a father and his daughter pulling in different directions (sounds fimiliar, could have borrowed a leaf from my life) and Spence is the boss, as Dad's always were, grumbling about the money that poor Teresa spends to feed the family and that is the strength of this film, it doesn't move very far but it's about being at the heart of a family, including a cat. My favourite scene was Soence doing callesthenics and his pants falling down, he's not a man I associate too much with physical comedy but he's great hen he does it. I'm not sure about Jean Simmons, I'm not sure if I liked her performance or not, I think I did but didn't care for her as Ruth.

[JackFavell]

I am curious, Alison. I ALWAYS picture Ruth Gordon when I watch this movie, always. Do you?

I DO like Jean here, I think she's pitch perfect, but it is an uncomfortable film, the want to act is so naked in her, the need to be someone else or to escape her life, and it makes you embarrassed for her. I do completely empathize here so maybe that's why I like it so much.