The June 2013 TCM Schedule

[JackFavell]

Wow! That was beautifully put.

I only saw the last 15 minutes or so of the movie, and it's been years since I've seen the whole thing, so I hope I have the right character. I do think that the boss wanted to show up Kirk. I saw it in his face at that last scene with them together. Kirk makes enemies of friends with his rigidity, his dangerous overpowering hate. Corruption is eating his soul, and he's so righteous about it, that it's destroying him. You are right, he's an avenging angel, in his own mind, but he...can't...stop, even when it means he's going to ruin any relationship he has and he can see that. He...just....can't....stop. Mary is right, he's got not one ounce of human pity for people's failings, and that is why others look to HIM to fail, just once. When they see an opening to knock him down, they take it, it's just too irresistible an urge. The boss kind of reminded me of Libby in A Star is Born. Someone who's always disliked Jim, quietly, and finally has a chance to see him fail, so he's gonna take it. He's gonna be the one to bring the big one down, and smile while he's doing it.

[CineMaven]

I remember when sweet Cathy O'Donnell goes to bail out her brother-in-law. When she asks what he's done, Kirk Douglas says: "He's a thief." BOOM! The edict has been handed down from on high. Douglas has stamped and labeled the young man. I remember being struck by O'Donnell's face when he says that. Instead of what he's done, he's labeled who he IS, according to Detective Dimpled Chin. ( I think O'Donnell was married to Wyler's brother. ) I like that: "Avenging Angel." No wonder they're so eagle eye to what's going on. It is inside them all along.

You ought to do yourself a favor and watch it all the way through. The film was a different experience for me now being more aware of Eleanor Parker, so I kept my eye on her journey through this day. But it's following Kirk Douglas' thread through this that is amazing to see. I really like that he takes the chance to play men like this throughout his career. I've never seen "Champion" all the way through but "Ace In The Hole" same thing.That's why politics don't bother me. It's like a movie where you watch the guy's every single smug and self-satisfied mis-step onto the wrong side of history. The fall will be devastating.

[JackFavell]

I love that last sentence of yours.

I am going to put the damn movie in my queue again, for like the kajillionth time! Well, I think this makes the third... every time I do, it shows up on TCM, then I take it out, and miss the TCM showing!

Even when I was a kid, this was the one Kirk movie that I loved. He's so very wrong.... and those kind of characters seem to fit him like a glove. And it's not like the characters in the thirties, the ones who are wrong but lovable...no this is something deeper....and uglier.... conviction without truth.... anger without justification. Prejudice. And yes, you have to give him credit for playing these deeply disturbing characters... Kirk really, in some ways, (and not all by himself) set up the way we view our world today in film.

Eleanor Parker seems to have been a greatly talented woman. I knew that when I saw Caged. But what I like about her most is that she worked hard. It shows. She is super at comedy, drama, and anything in between. It wonderful to get to see her all in a row like this - you get an idea of the breadth of her talent, her range. And it's quite a large range, when she's given the chance.

[CineMaven]

Put it in the queue, sit your keister down with a glass of wine and Nutella...and watch "Detective Story" all the way through. Once your daughter's out of school, you'll never be able to do anything.

I don't think I'm sold on Eleanor Parker and comedy. Ack! I want to like her there but, I like her more in drama. There was absolutely nothing redeemable about her Mildred in "Of Human Bondage." Wonderful!

[JackFavell]

I'm not saying that I like all her comedies, but she's good in every one I've seen.

[CineMaven]

Gotcha, Jaxxxxxon.

[moira finnie]

I don't think I'm sold on Eleanor Parker and comedy. Ack! I want to like her there but, I like her more in drama. There was absolutely nothing redeemable about her Mildred in "Of Human Bondage." Wonderful!

Oh, I agree she was wonderful, but redeemable, perhaps not. Still, there's something understandable and repulsively very human about her, which is probably why Philip (Paul Henreid) allows himself to be sucked back into her downward vortex over and over again. I really liked her in Of Human Bondage (of the three versions I've seen, this one is my favorite).

I do think she tried hard in comedy, and she's actually better when she inserted comedic touches into her dramatic roles (i.e. there are small moments in Pride of the Marines when she taunts John Garfield and in Caged when her increasingly tough character makes an acerbic gesture and sarcastic remark). I do think she shines when given a meaty dramatic role. One sort of role I don't really like her work in--the great lady parts, such as the stiff she was asked to play in Valentino, a movie that was even worse than I remembered--though Patricia Medina was GREAT!

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Detective Story made me cry the last time I saw it, so I didn't revisit it Monday night, but I was taking notes on A Millionaire For Christy, and I feel it could't have been more of a prequel to The Nutty Professor or The Shaggy Dog if it tried. But I couldn't get past that award winning title!

SPOILER ALERT: This is the only movie where Fred MacMurray sets fire to a ladies room!

By the way, did anyone see Monika Henreid's interstitial tribute to her father, Paul Henreid? It was on today at 4:15 and 7:15 EST. I just found out about it.

[JackFavell]

I saw the Henreid tribute sometime in the last week, Christy, and was thrilled to hear Monika talk about her dad. It really brings him to life in a way that nothing else could. I'm a Henreid fan, so it's exciting to me to have her on board at TCM.

Moira, I pretty much thought all Eleanor Parker could do was those great lady parts, since that's all I saw as a kid watching classics, and I agree, she takes stiff and arch to a new level. I'm SO glad that she's been allowed to shine this month, so we can see how diverse she was. Like I said, I''m not always a fan of her comedies, but she certainly doesn't embarrass herself in the genre. She's not feeble, if you know what I mean. She seems to bring a frailness or forlorn quality in some of those roles that I kind of like.

I thought Fred and she steamed up the screen in that kissing scene in Millionaire for Christy. He looked like he didn't have to think twice about his work that day.

[CineMaven]

Ahhhhh movies. Nice work if you can get it.

[JackFavell]

I'll say! We should be so lucky.

[CineMaven]

Yes Wren...



What she said...

[JackFavell]

gaaah.

(noise you make when your tongue is hanging out)

[CineMaven]

[Sue Sue Applegate]

I saw the Henreid tribute sometime in the last week, Christy, and was thrilled to hear Monika talk about her dad. It really brings him to life in a way that nothing else could. I'm a Henreid fan, so it's exciting to me to have her on board at TCM.

I thought Fred and she steamed up the screen in that kissing scene in Millionaire for Christy. He looked like he didn't have to think twice about his work that day.

I completely agree! Fred really looked like the "Happiest Millionaire" in that one!
Glad you saw the Monika Henreid tribute. She will be here this weekend!