I think that Sirk has many different periods in his career. I like also his first American pictures such as A Scandal in Paris or Summer Storm . When he joined Universal, he had to make remakes of various 30s Stahl melodramas. He found the scripts pretty atrocious, so he wanted to convey the story t...

Stuart: This whole movie makes me angry for all the reasons you listed above. The son should have been taken out behind the shed more often, and the daughter was so whiny, she should have been fed cheese with her whine. This is one of the few movies I've seen, that should be re-made with the 21st c...

My own list will probably sound bizarre to most of you. I like 'great classics' but for me, there are never as interesting as some lesser known pictures which I find totally enthralling. The Fountainhead (1949) I saw for the first time this incredible King Vidor feature when I was a teenager. I prob...

I am glad, Fernando! :) But you haven't seen anything yet! :wink: http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa123/cleteux/SilverScreen/bandefinal.jpg Chapter V A Third Character in the Action -We have the honour to present you Miss Bianca, the inimitable, the audacious, the intrepid queen of the air, in th...

Regarding William Haines, I also found him excellent in Show People where I discovered him. But, after watching The Smart Set, I realised he could be a completely OTT comedian when he is not guided by a great director like Vidor.... It looks as if the film you watched was a bit the same...

Welcome Otterhere!

Hello Hal! Welcome aboard!

Yesterday I watched a Borzage picture: Living On Velvet (1935) with Kay Francis, Warren William & George Brent. Around that period, Borzage was under contract at Warner's. I don't think he was very happy within the studio and it's reflected in this film. But, overall, this is certainly the best ...

Here is the next installment! After this short chapter, the events will go at a very fast pace, indeed, be prepared!!! :) http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa123/cleteux/SilverScreen/bandefinal.jpg Chapter IV Father Barretti's Idea We have to give justice to Father Barretti, he constantly thought a...

Moira, if you want to discover Frances Marion, I urge you to read her own memoirs: Off With Their Heads . It's a brilliant book, very well written. With a few brush strokes she can make anybody come alive! :D As for the Cari Beauchamp volume, I haven't read it but I have seen the documentary's Witho...

Hi Nancy! I hope you'll be back in Paris some day!!! :) Regarding Salomé , it's available on DVD: http://www.amazon.com/Salome-Lot-Sodom-Mitchell-Lewis/dp/B00009Q4W9/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1202032771&sr=1-1 I saw it on the Franco-German channel Arte that shows one silent per m...

Regarding Belletti, I consider it a rough document. As I am interested in Goldwyn's early productions, it's an interesting account about the Goldwyn productions of the time, though on the fringe. I agree that there are far too much personal details regarding Belletti which is of little interest. Thi...

Hi Moira! I have read both A. Scott Berg's Bio and Belletti's letters. You're right they provide both some very interesting views of Goldwyn. But, I was somewhat disappointed by Berg's volume. His assessment regarding movies are downright mediocre. I even wonder if he actually bothered to watch some...

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa123/cleteux/SilverScreen/bandefinal.jpg Chapter III The Dream of Two Artists I therefore now will relate Tito and Bianca's story as if there were both characters in a novel. I am sure my readers will imagine if they read until the end, that it's pure fiction whe...

How interesting, Moira! :o I am also a great fan of Cathy O'Donnell ever since I saw her in They Lived By Night . :) Farley Granger's memoirs sounds very interesting. I am not surprised by Goldwyn's attitude. He was notorious for his bad temper and his 'evil way' with actors. David Niven left also G...