MUSINGS, PONDERINGS, RUMINATIONS AND FANCIES

[EP Millstone]

. . . I intend to check out the 1968 adaptation tonight, so I'll see how Peter Finch compares to Alfred Drake whose dynamic performance as the Pygmalion-like Zakin was, IMO, outstanding . . .

I watched the 1968 version of The Legend of Lylah Clare, which I thought was just meh.

By virtue of its time restriction, The DuPont Show of the Week episode is, IMO, the superior presentation. Its swifter, more compact pacing and fewer players spare the small screen Lylah from the bloat and tedium that burden the big screen rendition. To me, there is no "camp" quality about the 1963 production -- the teleplay by Edward DeBlasio and Robert Thom is a serious psychological drama (with a supernatural undertone) that is more efficiently constructed and more concisely focused on the two protagonists: Louis Zakin and Elsie Brinkmann/Lylah Clare.

I dig Peter Finch. But, for me, his interpretation of Lewis Zarken lacked the "demonic" intensity and dramatic fire of Alfred Drake's performance as Louis Zakin. As far as I'm concerned, neither Tuesday Weld nor Kim Novak had the acting chops to pull off the role of Lylah Clare. But, I'll award Weld the edge over Novak, whose performance was, to me, severely curtailed by the dubbing of her voice.

Among the supporting cast in the 1968 movie, I found the performances of Milton Selzer and Ernest Borgnine superior to, and more memorable than, the characterizations of their TV counterparts: respectively, Johnny Baymer (Haymer) and Sorrell Booke. New characters (not in the '63 story) colorfully played by Coral Browne, Valentina Cortese (who always struck me as being off-kilter), and Rossella Falk definitely and significantly contributed to the wacky eccentricity of the remake. Michael Murphy exuded slightly more charisma as Mark Peter Sheean than did Michael Tolan as his TV parallel, Welles Resnick.

The two versions of The Legend of Lylah Clare are sufficiently different in tone and style to be watched back to back. If you're looking for Bad Movies You Love "camp" entertainment in the original, I think that you will be disappointed.

[HoldenIsHere]

Here's one of my favorite scenes from THE LEGEND OF LYLAH CLARE:

[Andree]

Let me get this straight, Sammy. Frank was asleep behind home plate, Dino was running
around drunk in the outfield, and Lawford was pitching. Man, Lawford's English, what
does he know about baseball? Dumb move, Sam. Thank goodness he didn't hit the glass
one or you would have been in big trouble. Now take your ball and go home.

Hairy Vince Edwards, what more proof does one want of the theory of evolution. I never
watched Casey or Kildare as a kid because I've never like hospital shows. Still don't.

[Intrepid37]

Hairy Vince Edwards, what more proof does one want of the theory of evolution. I never watched Casey or Kildare as a kid because I've never like hospital shows. Still don't.

Kildare, I was meh.

But big fan of Ben Casey. I even purchased the 45 of the "Theme From". And I had one of those Ben Casey blouses - met a girl at a Halloween dance who was also wearing one and we dated for a little while.

I remember being flabbergasted when I heard that the gorgeous Bettye Ackerman - who played a doctor on the series - was in real life married to that old Zorba guy. Jeesh, I felt.

Oh, to be 12 again. I wish it could be 1962 forever. Happy days.

[Andree]

Hospitals are uninviting enough in real life, so I don't want to see them on TV. I do remember that Casey and Kildare were
popular with teenyboppers who had crushes on Vince Edwards and Richard Chamberlain. Edwards was pretty good at playing
tough guys in some crime flicks in the 1960s.

Sexy Sammy. Yeah, Jaffe lived into his early 90s. There may be snow on the roof....(even if there wasn't a lot of hair). I liked
the 1960s, though on just a personal level, I had more fun in the 1970s.

[Intrepid37]

Edwards was pretty good at playing tough guys in some crime flicks in the 1960s.

I must've watched Murder by Contract a dozen times. Fascinated by that one.

[BagelOnAPlate]

Speaking of painful slogs, try getting through Woody Allen's ANOTHER WOMAN. Just try.

I saw that one through ...twice. I thought it was very powerful and extremely well acted, but then again I liked a lot of Woody Allen's films, although the last section of his directorial period has been hit and miss.

I've never seen Another Woman, but I do like a lot of Woody Allen's movies.
My favorite of his movies is probably Hannah and Her Sisters (it's one of mom's all-time favorites so I've seen it a lot).

Others I like:
The Purple Rose of Cairo (LOVE THIS ONE!!!)
Love And Death
Sleeper
Manhattan
Interiors
Match Point

[Intrepid37]

Speaking of painful slogs, try getting through Woody Allen's ANOTHER WOMAN. Just try.

I saw that one through ...twice. I thought it was very powerful and extremely well acted, but then again I liked a lot of Woody Allen's films, although the last section of his directorial period has been hit and miss.

I've never seen Another Woman, but I do like a lot of Woody Allen's movies.
My favorite of his movies is probably Hannah and Her Sisters (it's one of mom's all-time favorites so I've seen it a lot).

Others I like:
The Purple Rose of Cairo (LOVE THIS ONE!!!)
Love And Death
Sleeper
Manhattan
Interiors
Match Point

I'm trying to acquire every one of his movies into my collection. Most recently I added Zelig.

He's a brilliant and unique director.

[laffite]

Hannah and her Sisters is very funny in spots. One unpleasant element. A man who cheats on his wife by having sex with her sister. Michael Caine as slime.

Radio Days is a big fave. And [as time goes on...] memories get "dimmer and dimmer." And that was in 1982. And now it's 2023. Dimmer and dimmer indeed. WA knew that would play well over time.

Jeff Daniels out of the movie screen on into reality. He tries to use the play money from the movie. He is refused. "What, my money is not good enough for you?" LOL. And it is not a punch line. If you are not paying close attention, you'll miss it.

[Dargo]

...I do remember that Casey and Kildare were popular with teenyboppers who had crushes on Vince Edwards and Richard Chamberlain.

In the case of Vince Edwards, that would've been my older sister Diana.

(...and ironically, she'd end up marrying a guy as hirsute as he was)

[Intrepid37]

Hannah and her Sisters is very funny in spots. One unpleasant element. A man who cheats on his wife by having sex with her sister. Michael Caine as slime.

Yeah, but.....Barbara Hershey! I mean, come on - Barbara Hershey! I'd be totally slime too.

[Andree]

I must've watched Murder by Contract a dozen times. Fascinated by that one.

I've seen it a few times. The character he plays is certainly more interesting than the stereotypical hood/killer.
I always found him most believable in those types of roles.

[Dargo]

I must've watched Murder by Contract a dozen times. Fascinated by that one.

I've seen it a few times. The character he plays is certainly more interesting than the stereotypical hood/killer.
I always found him most believable in those types of roles.

Thought Vince was also pretty good and well cast in that Hugo Haas flick "Hit and Run" that Eddie Mulder presented a while back, too.

(...he always played "sullen" with the best of 'em)

[laffite]

Hannah and her Sisters is very funny in spots. One unpleasant element. A man who cheats on his wife by having sex with her sister. Michael Caine as slime.

Yeah, but.....Barbara Hershey! I mean, come on - Barbara Hershey! I'd be totally slime too.

Did you forget the emoticon? If not, then yike! I'm sure WA cast Barbara Hershey so that everyone will let Michael Caine's character off the hook.

[Andree]

In the case of Vince Edwards, that would've been my older sister Diana.

(...and ironically, she'd end up marrying a guy as hirsute as he was)

Maybe Vince fired up her hairy kink. We used to visit friends of my parents who had a daughter my age. She tortured
me with Herman Hermits records and constant talk about Richard Chamberlain. Oh lord, when will dinner be ready.