The Long Grey Line
Posted: June 25th, 2012, 7:35 pm
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I can't believe how extensively this movie was passed over by the academy when it came time for nominations. Not only did Tyrone Power get robbed, mugged, and beaten up by not winning as Best Actor for The Long Grey Line, but not even being nominated was unforgivable. Not only Tyrone, but Maureen O'Hara also turned in a powerful performance as the immigrant girl brought over by the Colonel and his wife. She didn't say one word for the first 20 minutes she was on screen, but she didn't have to; her acting ability gave us all the information we needed. Other beauties like Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak later, could have used a lot of lessons from Miss O'Hara. Obviously this is one of those movies that when I happen on it, no matter in the beginning or end, I have to sit down and watch until the end, no matter how many times I've seen it. It's one of those that gives you something new each time you see it. Today, as in The Searchers, when Martha got Ethans coat and handled it so lovingly, I never before noticed how near the end of . . . Grey Line, when all the boys drop in for Christmas, including Betsy Palmer, when she grabs the crocheted shawl to cover Marty, she hesitates and gives a quick thought to Mary (Maureen), in the same way as Martha. But that split second tells so much - the true friendship and love the two women shared, with no stupid inferences applied. As Maureen shared her family with Betsy, Betsy shared her son with Maureen.
I know it's been on before, but does anyone else hold the fondness that I do for The Long Grey Line?
.
I can't believe how extensively this movie was passed over by the academy when it came time for nominations. Not only did Tyrone Power get robbed, mugged, and beaten up by not winning as Best Actor for The Long Grey Line, but not even being nominated was unforgivable. Not only Tyrone, but Maureen O'Hara also turned in a powerful performance as the immigrant girl brought over by the Colonel and his wife. She didn't say one word for the first 20 minutes she was on screen, but she didn't have to; her acting ability gave us all the information we needed. Other beauties like Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak later, could have used a lot of lessons from Miss O'Hara. Obviously this is one of those movies that when I happen on it, no matter in the beginning or end, I have to sit down and watch until the end, no matter how many times I've seen it. It's one of those that gives you something new each time you see it. Today, as in The Searchers, when Martha got Ethans coat and handled it so lovingly, I never before noticed how near the end of . . . Grey Line, when all the boys drop in for Christmas, including Betsy Palmer, when she grabs the crocheted shawl to cover Marty, she hesitates and gives a quick thought to Mary (Maureen), in the same way as Martha. But that split second tells so much - the true friendship and love the two women shared, with no stupid inferences applied. As Maureen shared her family with Betsy, Betsy shared her son with Maureen.
I know it's been on before, but does anyone else hold the fondness that I do for The Long Grey Line?
.