The Silver Screen Oasis

Andree wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 3:34 pm I will put in a good word for Arty Tragg. I never got the impression that he loathed
Perry and Paul. Naturally they were on opposite sides, but for the most part Tragg
kept his cool. In some episodes he would come to Perry's office at the end and pass
along something that had made Burger mad and all of them would have a good laugh
at that. He was basically going behind Burger's back and telling tales out of school.
One of Tragg's funniest scenes was when he came to Perry's office at the end of a trial
that involved beatniks and he was leaving he said something like Don't crowd me granny
(referring to Della). I'm one of the hip ones. Dig? See you later, daddy-o. And Tragg was
much more interesting than the vanilla on white bread duo of Anderson and Drumm.

KayFrancis wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 7:30 am I don't want to side track the conversation, just wanted to add that from the first viewing of the horrible Sheba cat food commercial , I've been disgusted that that ad is allowed. I'm annoyed every time I see it. The Lume commercial is also disgusting but not dangerous the way the Sheba commercial is. As a mother and Grandmother I am offended and horrified that anyone would think that ignoring a hurt child is funny. Both commercials need to be banned.

kingrat wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 11:46 am To discuss something more interesting: Last night I watched the first half of The Iceman Cometh. This is from the American Film Theater project that filmed eight plays with various stars in them. Whatever complaints I could make about the play--such as that the Brit and the Boer are too Boer-ing--are unimportant next to the clash of Robert Ryan as the disillusioned ex-anarchist Larry Slade and Lee Marvin as the salesman Hickey whose visits to the saloon are what the other inmate of the saloon live for.

Some people lamented that the movie star Lee Marvin was cast rather than Jason Robards, Jr., who had played the role on Broadway, but I emphatically disagree. Marvin's charisma, his utter alpha maleness, his ability to walk in a room and own it, are what Hickey must have. The director, John Frankenheimer, also considered Marlon Brando (who would probably have been awful) and Gene Hackman, who would have been good, but Lee Marvin was his top choice.

Hickey knows that Larry Slade will be his toughest antagonist. The moments of Slade trying to figure out what Hickey is up to, while Hickey begins the process of testing Slade's vulnerabilities are really wonderful. Every shot of Robert Ryan seems to show a lifetime of experience. He would die not long after filming.

Hibi wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 7:40 am
LMREO!!!!!!! I must've missed that one!

jamesjazzguitar wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 1:58 pm Does anyone recall Ben's closing comments after Guys and Dolls. I saw the intro but only watched the first half of the film.

In Ben's intro he appeared to imply Sinatra was fine with Brando getting the role and top billing in this musical even with his limited musical talent, but he would explain more about that after the film. Of course, maybe Ben was just joking since what I found on Wiki indicates Frank wasn't happy about Brando getting the part:

"Frank Sinatra had coveted the role of Sky Masterson and his relations with Brando were strained. Hollywood critic James Bacon quotes Sinatra telling director Joe Mankiewicz, "When Mumbles is through rehearsing, I'll come out." Sinatra had been considered for the role of Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront; both roles went to Brando".

As for the film: Decades ago, when I first found out about this film, I really wondered about the casting of Brando and Simmons since both where not known for their roles in musicals. Simmons is great, but I still find Brando to only be OK. (and since Gene Kelly was the first choice for the movie, this is a case where an actor was chosen mostly due to their box-office potential). I know that Robert Alda had the role in the Broadway play, but I can see why a studio wouldn't make him the lead of such a production, but Kelly still had major musical box office appeal.