Hey Allison - Checking in here regularly so please let me know your feelings on the Raft films - or feel free to PM me. I agree about ONE, TWO, THREE. Although I enjoy ANYTHING with Jimmy, overall it is an overbearing film. Kudos to Cagney, though, for memorizing that complex dialogue and delivering...

Frighteningly so, feaito. Which was a blessing and ultimately became a career curse.

I agree. Didn't much care for the conclusion of Follow The Boys . Couldn't really see the point in Tony West dying. Interesting, out of all of George's co-stars, Vera Zorina was the least complimentary when she spoke of Raft, calling him "yucky". Still, they played well together. No, this ...

I really enjoy these Message Boards and definitely plan to drop in when I need to get away and refresh myself from my book writing - just as I did at the mind-numbing technical editor job I recently left. This site provided many doses of needed fresh air. Just want you to know that if I don't respon...

Hi Allison -- To hurry through your questions since I'm going to be breaking away from these sites for a bit to work on a book for which I've been paid for but haven't yet started to write. Don't know or have any knowledge of kindle at this point. For me, however, give me good old covers and paper.I...

Oh my God, Allison, I would MUCH prefer to write fiction. I was offered a contract to write a bio on Jack Palance, and though I admire Jack, I just couldn't garner the enthusiasm to spend months digging up research, contacting people for interviews, etc. etc. for a book that conceivably would not ma...

Well, my agent is negotiating all of the contract deals with the publisher. What she did say is that she wants for me to retain the film and audio rights as those are fields she wants to pursue. Fortunately the publisher has agreed to those terms. What I'm also hoping is that my new publisher will p...

Fortunately on this book my publisher is looking at an early 2013 release. God, I hope the Mayan calendar proves to be wrong on its prediction for this year. That would be the ultimate kick in the head. Usually, from past experience, from acceptance to publication, it's at least a year. Usually long...

Thanks so much! Was reluctant to toot my own horn but this was a deal that I was really hoping for and wanted to share the news. Actually, after years of burnout at a job I really grew to hate, I made the decision to cast caution to the wind and follow my passion fulltime. Fortunately, it looks as i...

The Oklahoma Kid is entertaining but as Bogie once said, neither he nor Cagney had any business making Westerns. That could go for Eddie Robinson, too -- sort of, though he doesn't seem quite so out of place in his few forays into the genre, such as The Violent Men or Cheyenne Autumn. John Garfield...

I agree, RedRiver. A fun musical with some entertaining numbers and not half-bad storyline. Cagney himself admitted that for many years Footlight Parade was his favorite movie . . . then in later years called it "a dog". Can't understand his 180-degree change of mind.

Actually the station has been under for a long time but you can still access the archives. As for as technical stuff, I'm a dinosaur. My era is still manual typewriters. So I'd suggest listening to the broadcasts while you can. Some great stuff there.

Many thanks again for the kind words, Allison. I really enjoyed doing that ICONS interview. Actually, before MODA Entertainment went under I helped line up some of the interviews for John M. and Stephen Bogart, as well as writing the bios. Was really sorry when the company folded because, as a class...

One thing I've noticed on watching these YouTubes is that George really comes across as a genuinely nice guy. Maybe a bit shy, but totally decent. He has a sincere smile which is reflected in his eyes. Sure, George may have had his troubles but I maintain he was a good man. Can't wait to get your fe...

Allison, there's a lot of neat Raft stuff on YouTube. Simply go to the site and write in George's name. A lot of old TV programs he appeared on: "Red Skelton", "I've Got a Secret", "What's My Line". Surprising to me is that he never appeared on TV with Lucy . . . or sho...