STANWYCK.
Even her name sounds strong and sturdy.
Stanwyck.
She could handle drama, comedy and westerns with equal aplomb. She could stride across a ranch or a nightclub. She could be soft or flinty. She’s been a reporter, sacrificial mother and a cold-blooded steely killer ( but always with good reason. ) She’s a woman of the West and a burlesque queen. She’s played the good wife and an adulterer. Stanwyck has an arsenal at her disposal: gun, whip or a pair of scissors. Her best weapon of mass destruction is her volcanic anger or her contempt or worse...her tears. She could break your heart, or make you hate her. And I think she'd love if you felt both.
We talked of actors who could play “blue collar”...... well, add Missy to that group. Stanwyck could be high class or low brow. In our current era of make-overs, Botoxed faces and siliconed body parts...Stanwyck let Nature take its course; her hair prematuring to grey...she let herself be. She has a 30's look, a 40's look and a 50's look. She was a woman of the times. ( And went to tv, too! )
She’s been the envy of many a woman by ( "trading up" ) marrying the dashingly handsome Robert Taylor. She’s been the envy of many an actress in Hollywood by working with some of the era’s great leading men - among them, McCrea, Lancaster, Holden, Ryan, Sanders, Cooper and Gable. It’s a kick to me that she worked with Fonda...and years later, his daughter.
For me, she has only one rival: BETTE DAVIS. They were aware of each other; even appeared in the same movie, once. Davis was a touch more histrionic while Stanwyck played down-to-earth. And Davis also knew a thing or two about working with the creme de la creme of leading men, actually sharing some of them with Stanwyck - ( Fonda, Cagney, Bogie, Edward G., Flynn, Coburn...and the inimitable George Brent. )
Put her in the good strong capable hands of Lang or Sturges or Mann. She was once Capra’s muse. Throw in Wilder or Wellman for good measure. She gives a director what he wants and needs.
BROOKLYN GIRL MAKES GOOD! ( Yay...Brooklyn! ) From orphan to chorine to stamping scripts with her persona. She lived life in between those stages with triumphs and heartache. And most importantly, she is (one of ) our Mongo’s favorite actresses. ( Look through his CANDIDS thread for pix of her and he picked her film as fan guest programmer on TCM's 15th anniversary. In fact, two of Stanwyck's films were chosen during that guest programmer event. ) TCM ends its year making Barbara Stanwyck its last STAR OF THE MONTH.
I have my many favorites including “The Strange Love of Martha Ivers” “My Reputation” “Double Indemnity” “Walk On the Wild Side.” The war raging in my head and heart between Bette and Barbara will be quieted temporarily since TCM offers us a smorgasbord of Stanwyck in one fell swoop. I hope to be grown up enough to check out the movies I haven’t seen or don’t want to see. Maybe you'll want to share a performance or two of hers you enjoy, during this month-long tribute. Stanwyck is a many faceted actress which you’ll see if you decide to explore or revisit her performances. It's what makes her one of the bonafide legends of classic film.
TCM starts you off with these Stanwyck films today...into tomorrow:
8:00 PM LADIES OF LEISURE (1930)
A wealthy artist faces family pressure when he falls for a model with a past. Dir: Frank Capra.
* * * *
9:45 PM THIS IS MY AFFAIR (1937)
A saloon singer tries to reform a gangster, not knowing he's really an undercover detective. Dir: William A. Seiter.
* * * *
11:45 PM THE OTHER LOVE (1947)
A concert pianist dying of tuberculosis fall for her doctor. Dir: Andre DeToth.
* * * *
1:30 AM A MESSAGE TO GARCIA (1936)
A fiery Cuban woman guides an emissary from the U.S. president through the jungles of war-torn Cuba. Dir: George Marshall.
* * * *
3:00 AM STELLA DALLAS (1937)
After divorcing a society man, a small-town woman tries to build a better life for their daughter. Dir: King Vidor.
* * * *
5:00 AM THE MIRACLE WOMAN (1931)
A phony faith healer fights the temptation to go straight when she falls for a blind man. Dir: Frank Capra.
* * * *
6:45 AM SO BIG (1932)
A farmer's widow takes on the land and her late husband's tempestuous son. Dir: William A. Wellman.
* * * *
8:15 AM THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN (1932)
An American missionary falls in love with a Chinese warlord. Dir: Frank R. Capra.
* * * *
9:45 AM BABY FACE (1933)
A beautiful schemer sleeps her way to the top of a banking empire. Dir: Alfred E. Green.
* * * *
11:15 AM GOLDEN BOY (1939)
A crooked promoter lures a young violinist to give up music for boxing. Dir: Rouben Mamoulian.
* * * *
1:00 PM MEET JOHN DOE (1941)
A reporter's fraudulent story turns a tramp into a national hero and makes him a pawn of big business. Dir: Frank Capra.
* * * *
3:15 PM EXECUTIVE SUITE (1954)
When a business magnate dies, his board of directors fights over who should run the company. Dir: Robert Wise.
* * * *
5:00 PM WALK ON THE WILD SIDE (1962)
A penniless farmer tracks the woman he loves to a New Orleans brothel. Dir: Edward Dmytryk.
* * * *
7:00 PM BARBARA STANWYCK: FIRE AND DESIRE (1991)
Barbara Stanwyck's multi-faceted career reveals uncanny reflections of her off-screen life. Dir: Richard Schickel.
