Detective Jim McLeod wrote: ↑July 29th, 2023, 12:21 pm
I was pondering about some stars who died before their time, what would they have done if they had lived. Some examples-
Lon Chaney- he died at 47, still a big star. He made only one talking film, his last The Unholy Three (1930) and he seemed to make a good transition. He had a gruff, tough guy voice. I can see him being cast in gangster films in the 1930s.
James Dean- if he had not been killed in a car crash at 24 in 1955, I think he would have had a very long and successful career. I believe he would have been competing with Paul Newman and Steve McQueen for roles. I can see Dean playing the lead in films like Cool Hand Luke (1967) and The Great Escape (1963).
Robert Walker- he died of alcohol and drug combination in 1951 aged 32. I can see him turning to TV in the later 1950s, probably playing a bumbling dad on a sitcom.
Great pondering, Jim! Completely agree about Lon and Jimmy but would hate to think of Bob as a sort of Dagwood, lol. I'm sure he would have done a few Hitchcock episodes in the late '50's through the early '60's and also show up in several of Alfred's movies through those years.
Bronxgirl48 wrote: ↑July 29th, 2023, 3:08 pm
...I was surprised later on to learn that Cagney (during a WWII star junket) had some kind of crush on (of all actresses) Merle Oberon. Whether this was a rumor or not, can't be sure but it imprinted itself on my mind, lol. Sort of weird.
Considering Oberon was generally considered to be quite the beauty back in the day Bronxie, I have to wonder why you'd think this as being weird?
(...with your parenthetical comment "of all actresses" giving me the impression that you've never shared this opinion of Oberon's looks)
I guess just the fact one normally wouldn't associate James Cagney with Merle Oberon in any way, lol, but then maybe that's just me. I would have thought he'd go for perhaps Loretta Young or Joan Blondell. Yes, Merle was certainly "exotic" looking and a true beauty but I think her own tastes ran to the Kordas and other more "distinguished" European types. But who knows what really went on, or didn't....I always thought Cagney was a real family man who could never have those feelings towards another woman so color me naive. Maybe he just lusted in his heart like another Jimmy.
Bronxgirl48 wrote: ↑July 29th, 2023, 3:41 pm
I guess just the fact one normally wouldn't associate James Cagney with Merle Oberon in any way, lol, but then maybe that's just me. I would have thought he'd go for perhaps Loretta Young or Joan Blondell. Yes, Merle was certainly "exotic" looking and a true beauty but I think her own tastes ran to the Kordas and other more "distinguished" European types. But who knows what really went on, or didn't....I always thought Cagney was a real family man who could never have those feelings towards another woman so color me naive. Maybe he just lusted in his heart like another Jimmy.
Good point about Merle's taste in men, I'd say. It would probably be similar to Audrey Hepburn's, and considering their in common relationship to the Dutch actor Robert Wolders, who I primarily remember for his guest role on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' as the hunky European skiing instructor who Mary dates for a while but soon comes to the realization that they really have nothing in common and that the only reason she is dating him is because he's so good looking.
And re Cagney's taste in women here, I'd say yes to Joan Blondell, but probably not to Loretta Young.
(...I'd think Young might've been a little too prim and proper for Jimmy's tastes)
Gee I don't remember that MTM episode.....man am I getting old, lol.
Loretta was a hot little number in real life (that is, before she married her second husband around 1940 I think) who had flings with Spencer Tracy and most famously Clark Gable with whom she produced a daughter. But Young wanted everyone to believe she was prim and proper.
Bronxgirl48 wrote: ↑July 29th, 2023, 6:17 pm
Gee I don't remember that MTM episode.....man am I getting old, lol.
Loretta was a hot little number in real life (that is, before she married her second husband around 1940 I think) who had flings with Spencer Tracy and most famously Clark Gable with whom she produced a daughter. But Young wanted everyone to believe she was prim and proper.
For your viewing pleasure here, Bronxie...
(...oh, and re the Cagney/Young pairing here...perhaps Jimmy might've saw through Loretta's act and been turned-off by it?)
Bronxgirl48 wrote: ↑July 29th, 2023, 3:41 pm
I guess just the fact one normally wouldn't associate James Cagney with Merle Oberon in any way, lol, but then maybe that's just me. I would have thought he'd go for perhaps Loretta Young or Joan Blondell. Yes, Merle was certainly "exotic" looking and a true beauty but I think her own tastes ran to the Kordas and other more "distinguished" European types. But who knows what really went on, or didn't....I always thought Cagney was a real family man who could never have those feelings towards another woman so color me naive. Maybe he just lusted in his heart like another Jimmy.
Good point about Merle's taste in men, I'd say. It would probably be similar to Audrey Hepburn's, and considering their in common relationship to the Dutch actor Robert Wolders, who I primarily remember for his guest role on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' as the hunky European skiing instructor who Mary dates for a while but soon comes to the realization that they really have nothing in common and that the only reason she is dating him is because he's so good looking.
Yes, Dargo, it's the Season 5 episode "Not Just A Pretty Face," which I see you've posted below.
The highlight of that episode for me is the brilliant comic performance of Cloris Leachman as Phyllis Lindstrom.
PHYLLIS You know Mary, you're not the first woman to feel this way. I remember when Lars asked me to marry him. I went to Paris to think it over. At the time it seemed like an important decision. Anyway, on the plane, seated next to me was the most fantastic looking man I have ever seen in my life. I can't tell you how beautiful this man was. And, as I was sitting there, I asked myself this purely hypothetical question: What would I do if I had to chose between marriage to Lars, a man I respect and admire, or a sleazy affair with this total stranger? I looked deep into my soul, and you know something, Mary, I didn't know the answer. Isn't that incredible? Fortunately, I was spared the decision when I called his hotel room and he wasn't there.
The episode was written by Ed. Weinberger and Stan Daniels
HoldenIsHere wrote: ↑July 29th, 2023, 11:22 pm
I looked deep into my soul, and you know something, Mary, I didn't know the answer. Isn't that incredible? Fortunately, I was spared the decision when I called his hotel room and he wasn't there.
Ohmigod the writing on that show was so funny! I don't remember that episode -uh oh- gonna have to rewatch the series again.
Dargo, you are a sweetheart! Thanks so much for uploading that MTM episode. Priceless.
Were there any other famous actresses Wolders "squired" around Hollywood and Europe?
Personally my idea of a handsome, sexy guy is Nelson Eddy. No I am not kidding! That beautiful voice plus his blonde, upright Dudley Do-Right vibe speaks to my soul. My favorite singer. Saw him yesterday in NAUGHTY MARIETTA and am always thrilled. He's especially irresistible to me as a Canadian mountie in ROSE MARIE.
You know how I love that. Not attracted to the dark-haired street-smart baddies. Okay, go ahead and laugh!
Bronxgirl48 wrote: ↑July 30th, 2023, 7:47 am Dargo, you are a sweetheart! Thanks so much for uploading that MTM episode. Priceless.
Were there any other famous actresses Wolders "squired" around Hollywood and Europe?
Personally my idea of a handsome, sexy guy is Nelson Eddy. No I am not kidding! That beautiful voice plus his blonde, upright Dudley Do-Right vibe speaks to my soul. My favorite singer. Saw him yesterday in NAUGHTY MARIETTA and am always thrilled. He's especially irresistible to me as a Canadian mountie in ROSE MARIE.
You know how I love that. Not attracted to the dark-haired street-smart baddies. Okay, go ahead and laugh!
No, I'm not gonna laugh here, Bronxie. Sure, I'd say Nelson Eddy was a nice lookin' guy, alright.
(...but of course this now leads to another question here, and this being: So where does this leave Slim Summerville in your heart?)
Bronxgirl48 wrote: ↑July 30th, 2023, 7:47 am Dargo, you are a sweetheart! Thanks so much for uploading that MTM episode. Priceless.
Were there any other famous actresses Wolders "squired" around Hollywood and Europe?
These were shorter romances, but he also saw Leslie Caron and Shirlee Fonda (Henry's widow) later in life, after Hepburn's passing.
Thanks, txfilmfan. He seemed to be a professional "escort" but I believe cared deeply for Audrey, in part or perhaps mainly because of their shared Dutch heritage.
HoldenIsHere wrote: ↑July 29th, 2023, 11:22 pm
I looked deep into my soul, and you know something, Mary, I didn't know the answer. Isn't that incredible? Fortunately, I was spared the decision when I called his hotel room and he wasn't there.
Ohmigod the writing on that show was so funny! I don't remember that episode -uh oh- gonna have to rewatch the series again.
Yes, the writing on THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW was brilliant and and was performed by actors (like Cloris Leachman) who excelled in comic subtlety.
Ed. Weinberger and Stan Daniels, who wrote the "Not Just A Pretty Face" episode, collaborated on many episodes of THE MTM SHOW and on other TV series.
Ed. Weinberger and Stan Daniels won an Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Emmy for the episode "Mary Richards Goes To Jail." In that episode, Mary asks her cellmate, who's dressed stereotypically like a hooker what she's in jail for, to which the cellmate's deadpan response is "I fell in love with a cop."
Bronxgirl48 wrote: ↑July 30th, 2023, 7:47 am Dargo, you are a sweetheart! Thanks so much for uploading that MTM episode. Priceless.
Were there any other famous actresses Wolders "squired" around Hollywood and Europe?
Personally my idea of a handsome, sexy guy is Nelson Eddy. No I am not kidding! That beautiful voice plus his blonde, upright Dudley Do-Right vibe speaks to my soul. My favorite singer. Saw him yesterday in NAUGHTY MARIETTA and am always thrilled. He's especially irresistible to me as a Canadian mountie in ROSE MARIE.
You know how I love that. Not attracted to the dark-haired street-smart baddies. Okay, go ahead and laugh!
No, I'm not gonna laugh here, Bronxie. Sure, I'd say Nelson Eddy was a nice lookin' guy, alright.
(...but of course this now leads to another question here, and this being: So where does this leave Slim Summerville in your heart?)
Slim will always be very special to me and I can't say that about most men. However, there are others I find very appealing:
John McIntyre
Edward Binns
John Litel
Harry Carey Sr.
Francis X. Bushman
William Boyd
Roy Rogers
Dennis Morgan
George O'Brien
Johnny Mack Brown
James Shigeta
Bugs Bunny
