MUSINGS, PONDERINGS, RUMINATIONS AND FANCIES

[Bronxgirl48]

Andree, I was watching DEAR BRIGITTE not too long ago (it is on the Fox Channel rotation) where Jimmy lets out an unexpected shriek on the college campus where his character teaches poetry. (he's upset because the faculty emphasizes science over art) Good call on Stewart's eye movements. I recall he makes fine use of those blue orbs in THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER.

[Andree]

I've noticed it on the FX schedule but never was that interested in watching it, though I've seen parts of it over the years.
Danger, Will Robinson! The psycho moment about to begin is most noticeable to me in It's a Wonderful Life and to a lesser
extent in Vertigo. It's especially shocking in the former, as Jimmy is a regular guy with some degree of frustration about
how his life turned out, then it all explodes in his eyes. Yikes, pretty frightening.

[Andree]

Yep. Cobb is a bully (as he so often is in movies). Fonda's breaking the bully down makes for entertaining viewing.

Yeah, Cobb's character is hard to sympathize with and Fonda has to give him one last push. It's obvious that part of
Cobb's stubbornness is due to the issues he's having with his son. He does bully some of the other jurors, those he sees
as weaker than himself. But this time he doesn't have extra muscle behind him like Johnny Friendly did.

[Dargo]

I've noticed it on the FX schedule but never was that interested in watching it, though I've seen parts of it over the years.
Danger, Will Robinson! The psycho moment about to begin is most noticeable to me in It's a Wonderful Life and to a lesser
extent in Vertigo. It's especially shocking in the former, as Jimmy is a regular guy with some degree of frustration about
how his life turned out, then it all explodes in his eyes. Yikes, pretty frightening.

(...and even over half a century after first watching this film, I still believe Jimmy's performance in this one to be one of the best to ever be captured on film)

[Andree]

Yeah, that's the look--the alll-American boy going bonkers. Forget the loaf of bread and the jug of wine.
Give this guy some tranquillizers.

[Dargo]

Yeah, that's the look--the alll-American boy going bonkers. Forget the loaf of bread and the jug of wine.
Give this guy some tranquillizers.

Yep, it's like I've always said: All the great ones back then didn't need "The Method", and 'cause they just somehow naturally knew how to use their eyes while acting.

(...and with Jimmy here being a prime example of this)

[Andree]

True, though I don't mind if they feel they need da method. To each their own.

[Dargo]

True, though I don't mind if they feel they need da method. To each their own.

And true as well here. However, I too often feel "The Method" has been overblown in its importance to the craft of acting, as it often seems when it's discussed there's quite often some implied or suggested notion that the acting done by so many of the greats of the cinema (such as Jimmy here for instance) who began and had established their film careers before the Actors Studio came into being are relegated to an almost "less than" status within the profession, and that "real acting" only began after Kazan, Strasberg, et al, began teaching it there.

(...but then again, what do I know...I ain't no actor...well, not professionally anyway)

[Andree]

That's probably true, though now that the Method itself is so old I doubt many people care one way or the other.
I really don't pay much attention to it. I'm not an actor either, though I'm a bit of a faker on occasion.

[Bronxgirl48]

The 1962 MOTB was on the TCM schedule last week so I decided to dive right in but as soon as Marlon opened his mouth, I just could not continue.

Andree, re: Vera Clouzot -- she wore those braids in DIABOLIQUE so that's why I thought your avatar was a publicity still from the movie.

ON GOLDEN POND (ugh) is on now following THE LOST WEEKEND -- how surreal, lol. (Billy Wilder is my favorite director)

Must respectfully disagree on THE YEARLING -- do not think it is preachy at all but just a lovely, picturesque, poignant coming-of-age story that does not overdo the sentiment.

[Bronxgirl48]

Dargo, Jimmy is indeed marvelous in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE but the film itself sort of leaves me, well, cold. Not really a Capra fan. I love his two most atypical -- THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN and ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, plus Frank Sinatra's performance in A HOLE IN THE HEAD.

[Swithin]

Dargo, Jimmy is indeed marvelous in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE but the film itself sort of leaves me, well, cold. Not really a Capra fan. I love his two most atypical -- THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN and ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, plus Frank Sinatra's performance in A HOLE IN THE HEAD.

My favorite Frank Capra movie is one that I think is atypical: Lost Horizon.

[Bronxgirl48]

Ronald Colman is wonderful in everything as far as I'm concerned.

[Andree]

The 1962 MOTB was on the TCM schedule last week so I decided to dive right in but as soon as Marlon opened his mouth, I just could not continue.

Andree, re: Vera Clouzot -- she wore those braids in DIABOLIQUE so that's why I thought your avatar was a publicity still from the movie.

ON GOLDEN POND (ugh) is on now following THE LOST WEEKEND -- how surreal, lol. (Billy Wilder is my favorite director)

Must respectfully disagree on THE YEARLING -- do not think it is preachy at all but just a lovely, picturesque, poignant coming-of-age story that does not overdo the sentiment.

I skipped MOTB as I had seen it (for the first time) a few months ago. As I already posted, I got a total kick out of Marlon's lisping
aristo clotheshorse. I sure wasn't expecting it. I suppose it detracts a bit from the story, but what a crazy performance.

Vera's photo could be a still from Les Diaboliques though I don't recognize the dress, but that by itself doesn't mean it isn't.
I just love her sweet innocent expression. There are some photos of her with a short upswept hairdo that just looks awful to me.

For the most part I liked The Yearling, but it seemed to me the kid just couldn't do typical kids stuff without pa trying to
impart some lesson. I am glad that old Slewfoot the bear wasn't killed. When it's a human against an animal, I usually root for
the animal.

I've been watching the Columbo marathon today. Who should show up but the High Lama himself, Sam Jaffe. He played
the hubby of Janet Leigh, who wanted him to bankroll her return to Broadway along with her dance partner John Payne.
Sammy wouldn't go for it, so Janet decided to dispatch him. Now, who's the psycho? Jane Greer was in another episode.

[Hibi]

The 1962 MOTB was on the TCM schedule last week so I decided to dive right in but as soon as Marlon opened his mouth, I just could not continue.

Andree, re: Vera Clouzot -- she wore those braids in DIABOLIQUE so that's why I thought your avatar was a publicity still from the movie.

ON GOLDEN POND (ugh) is on now following THE LOST WEEKEND -- how surreal, lol. (Billy Wilder is my favorite director)

Must respectfully disagree on THE YEARLING -- do not think it is preachy at all but just a lovely, picturesque, poignant coming-of-age story that does not overdo the sentiment.

On Golden Pond hasn't aged well. I tried watching it but bailed after around 10 mins. Watching it today, is just unbelievable it was nominated for 10 Oscars! Kate's win was so undeserved.