BARBARA STANWYCK: December 2012 Star of The Month

[CineMaven]

You're very fair Wendy.

Even if you did rat out your sister for some raisins.

[JackFavell]

Did you have a big surprise favorite this month, Maven? Or a movie you watched that you weren't familiar with already?

[CineMaven]

That's a great question. One I have to honestly give full thought to. Right now, my knee jerk reaction would be my fallback favorites: "...Martha Ivers" "My Reputation" "The Lady Eve." Were there any favorites or discoveries for you? I've recorded a lot of her films that I've yet to sit with. Doing these star-of-the-month pieces really can make you familiar with an actor/actress; makes you feel like you're really getting to know them. I didn't watch all of her films, but ev'ry Wednesday...with having her on in my background...it felt like someone familiar was in the room with me. Many a time I turned around, looked at the tv and said a very happy "Oh boy."

And in January....we'll visit with LORETTA YOUNG.

[CineMaven]

“New fish! New fish!” cry the inmates, who line up to stare and check out Barbara Stanwyck in LADIES THEY TALK ABOUT (1933, dir. Howard Bretherton and William Keighley). This pre-Code had me at hello—actually, when Stanwyck calls the police to complain about a maniac running around with a knife. She doesn’t sound all that terrified. Could this be a diversionary ploy? Let’s just say that our gal winds up with a group of vastly entertaining prisoners, like good bad gal Lillian Roth (this is the Una Merkel/Pert Kelton role, but Roth is another cutie with plenty of charm); Cecil Cunningham as a murderous dowager; Maude Eburne as daffy Aunt Maggie; and Madame Sul-Te-Wan as Mustard, obviously not politically correct, but you’ll like the way she stands up to the dowager. She’s terrified of Ruth Donnelly’s cockatoo, however. There’s also a gal with slicked-back mannish hair and a tuxedo jacket.

HA! Nice and pithy what you wrote, Brother Rat. Make eye contact and don't look a-scared. You're in prison Missy. Well, I'm not messing with her.



Or her:


"Watch out for her. She likes to wrestle."

Ahhh...the pre-codes.

[charliechaplinfan]

I love Ladies They Talk About, it's Barbara and precode at their best.

[JackFavell]

I liked Gambling Lady a lot. Maverick Queen was a big surprise, a pretty good western with an interesting story. My favorite though was Cry Wolf, with Errol Flynn.

I have several recorded I still haven't seen, I suspect Forty Guns will be my surprise favorite. I've been waiting to see it forever.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Time to bump up Babs with a link to an interview conducted by Lara Gabrielle, a Facebook/TCMFF friend who just interviewed Victoria Wilson, a possible future guest (?) here at the SSO: http://backlots.net/2013/10/24/an-inter ... 1907-1940/

Victoria Wilson's 1.056 page biography entitled A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel True is available on Amazon.com.

[JackFavell]

Sounds like it's going to be a great book!

[mongoII]

Good stuff, Christy. Thanks much for the info. I'll have to get that book since you know how much I love Stanwyck. She is the cats meow!

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Thanks, Jackie! I think so, too!

Yes, Mongo, you have a purchase to make!

[RedRiver]

Well timed with our brief discussion of BABY FACE and NIGHT NURSE on another thread.

[Rita Hayworth]

I do collect pictures of other Stars - and this one of Barbara Stanwyck is hard to pass up. This is only one that I have of her.

Gorgeous Picture of her here wearing a white seductive gown that is elegantly draped ... very lovely image of her here. Undated Photograph - perhaps in the early 40's.

[rerun]

I have never ever heard anything but good comments about Barbara off screen. What a class act she must have been.
I know that Donna Hall doubled her in her westerns and after every filming she gave Donna a lovely present ie Safire cufflinks, etc.
Contrary to Gail Davis giving her a deck of Annie Oakley playing cards after all her trick riding for Gail. Ha!