Happy Hallowe'en!

 Yvonne De Carlo

 Pier Angeli

Ava Gardner

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Tea and Sympathy (1956)

Writer Tom Robinson Lee (John Kerr) attends his 10-year reunion at Chilton boarding school and reminisces about his last year there. Intelligent, shy and sensitive Tom is not like the other boys, preferring to remain alone and play what they term “long hair” music. Secretly he has a crush on Laura Reynolds (Deborah Kerr), the relatively new wife of dormitory headmaster Bill Reynolds (Leif Erikson). Tom sees in her a mother figure that has been denied him since age five when his mother left. Since then his father Herb (Edward Andrews) has kept him in a series of boarding schools. Hoping that Reynolds, who is also a former classmate and alumni of Chilton, can make a man out of his son, Mr. Lee has no qualms about what kind of drastic measures need to be taken to do so. The situation is exacerbated when, in an attempt to spend more time with Laura, Tom is caught in a sewing circle on the beach by some of his classmates earning him the name “Sister Boy Lee”.  Reynolds, who all the boys look up to as an example of masculinity does nothing to stop the vicious rumors that begin with such name calling. Laura witnesses what’s unfolding and tries to get her husband to me more sensitive and mature about the situation. However Reynold’s demands she keeps a polite distance from the situation, claiming she is babying Tom. This only another example to Laura that Reynolds is pulling away from her since they’ve been married. She can’t seem to draw his attention away from the male students, even to the point where he has invited some of them on their vacation.  

Soon the boys begin to taunt Tom even though his roommate, Al Thompson (Darryl Hickman), a star athlete, comes to his defense. When his father visits to watch his tennis match, the only sport Tom likes, he hears the boys mocking Tom. Though his son is winning the match, he leaves it to go and watch the baseball team much to Tom’s disappointment. Later Mr. Lee encourages his son to be more manly by cutting his hair in a crew cut and urging him to interact with the soda shop waitress Ellie Martin (Norma Crane), as the other boys do. Before he leaves, Mr. Lee visits Reynolds and expresses shame that Tom is not like the other boys.  Laura overhears them discuss the evening's bonfire, at which new boys, wearing pajamas, are chased by the older students who will attempt to rip the clothes off of them (insert irony here). Mr. Lee and Reynolds hope the boys will be harder on Tom as a sort of lesson. Laura attempts to intervene and tries to explain to Reynolds that some boys, like her first husband who dies in the war, are simply more sensitive. This only serves to infuriate Reynolds who is becoming more and more upset by Laura’s attention to Tom. Mr. Lee’s visit is further damaging when he realizes that Tom will be playing a female role in the school play. Demanding that he quit the part, Tom must call the director immediately.

After the bonfire when the the boys march Tom out to the field, but refuse to touch him mocking that he’s too unmanly for such sport, Al, in an attempt to get the horrible proceedings over, rips off Tom's top, prompting the others to join suit. The next day Al receives a phone call from his father demanding that he move to another dorm next semester. When he tells Laura, she first threatens to start a rumor about him but then apologizes for her action. However, Al can see her point of view and attempts to teach his friend how to appear manlier, but after they both decide that may not be enough, Al suggests that Tom visit Ellie, whose reputation with the boys at school will help him gain the boys camaraderie. When Laura hears Tom making a date with Ellie, she tries to detain him knowing that he finds the whole situation highly distasteful. Tom impulsively kisses her, but runs off when Bill and some boys return early from a rained-out weekend mountain climb. He goes to Ellie's, but is repulsed by her easiness. As they dance, she remarks on how soft his hands are prompting her to recall out loud that he has the nickname “sister boy Lee” and starts laughing at him. In desperation, Tom grabs a knife from her kitchen drawer to attempt suicide but Ellie gets her her neighbors to detain him and call the campus police. The next day Mr. Lee arrives proud that his son was caught in a woman’s room but soon learns from Reynolds what really transpired. Laura, sick of the situation, tells her husband that she blames him for not stopping the bullying of Tom and again insists that real men can be gentle and considerate. She claims he has done nothing but pull away from her since they have been married and admits that she tried to get Tom to “prove” himself with her. Reynolds, disgusted by this, tells her that what she really wants is to mother a boy rather than love a man and storms off. Laura then goes in search of Tom and locates him in the woods. As they kiss, she says, "Years from now, when you talk about this, and you will, be kind."

Back to the present, Tom goes to visit Laura but only finds Reynolds living alone. Reynolds gives him a letter from Laura and Tom reads that she appreciates the novel he wrote about their relationship, but states she sacrificed her marriage for Tom because he was the easier problem to fix. Despite this, she reassures Tom that she has kept her affection for him.

Minnelli later claimed that he was the director to film a story about homosexuality. In order to get the story filmed under the prevailing Hollywood code, a few changes were made. The major change being that the word homosexual could not be used. I think this helped further the message of the film- that innuendo and rumor can ruin. Anderson stated that his goal was for Tea and Sympathy had more than a sexual angle, it was also about judging people by their appearance and the power of conformity no matter the cost. Though a bit histrionic at moments, I thought Deborah Kerr and John Kerr, who reprised their stage roles for this production, did a very admirable job. Kudos to directors like Minnelli who weren’t afraid to tackle such sensitive subjects.

Tonight on TCM!

55 Days At Peking (1963) An American major leads the defense against Chinese revolutionaries in 1900 Peking. Dir: Nicholas Ray Cast: Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, David Niven.

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Free and Easy (1930)

Elmer Butts (Buster Keaton) is the bumbling manager to Queen of Gopher City Elvira (Anita Page), who is a Kansas beauty contest winner and his secret crush. Along with her overbearing mother played by Trixie Friganza, Elvira is going to Hollywood to try and become a star. On the way they meet movie star Larry Mitchell (Robert Montgomery) who is instantly smitten with Elvira. He invites them to his upcoming premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre where Elmer is mistaken for William Hanes (much to the actual Hanes delight). Trying his best to promote Elvira, he mostly makes a fool of himself. The next day Elvira and her mother are invited to the studio by Larry to watch him perform in his current movie. Elmer, having been left out due to his antics the night before, manages to sneak onto the studio lot where he accidentally wreaks havoc on various sound stages that include famous people such as Lionel Barrymore, Karl Dane, and Dorothy Sebastian. Larry, who genuinely likes Elmer tries to get him a job but the director miscasts him in the part and he’s thrown off the set. Larry tells him to go to the transportation department on the lot so he can get a ride home but the manager mistakes him for a new driver. He is assigned to be Larry’s driver and must watch as Larry tries to seduce Elvira. Hurrying off to fetch Elvira’s mother, they arrive to find Elvira crying. Elmer tries to attack Larry and is knocked out in the process. However, Elvira’s mother knocks him out. When the men come to and start talking, they realize they knew each other as kids. Larry, who is remorseful for trying to seduce Elvira, decides to try and get Elmer another acting gig. This time the casting is perfect and even Elvira’s mother gets a part in the show. Elmer is a big hit and wins himself a studio contract. However, Larry wins Elvira much to Elmer’s dismay.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I have been enjoying TCM’s tribute to Buster Keaton this month. Knowing him only as the silent comedian who lit up the screen with his CRAZY antics (I mean Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin are fantastic but the physical body comedy Keaton performed goes above and beyond) it was a delight for me to watch him in a talkie. Despite the odd pacing and random story line so typical in early 30’s film, Free and Easy was a delight mostly due to Keaton and Friganza. Their interactions with one another are hilarious! I also got to watch the short documentary on Keaton So Funny It Hurt; Buster Keaton and MGM, a poignant title in that his years at MGM after being an independent actor for over a decade basically ruined him. I was not aware that MGM played such an integral part of the disintegration of his stardom and aided his descent into alcoholism. Nor was I aware that once he was able to straighten his life out, that he did so much work, often uncredited, behind the scenes- he recycled his on-screen gags and wrote new material for the likes of Red Skelton and the Marx Brothers. If you haven’t had a chance to check out his body of work- tune in this Sunday as TCM continues to pay tribute to one of the greatest physical comedians ever!

Side note:

Be on the look out for Ann Dvorak who is uncredited in this film- she's pretty easy to spot!

Tonight on TCM!

The Big Combo (1955) A police detective tries to convict a mob boss by going to the man's girlfriend.  Dir: Joseph Lewis Cast: Cornel Wilde, Richard Conte, Brian Donlevy.

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Far from the Madding Crowd (1967)

After turning down her neighbor Gabriel’s (Alan Bates) offer of marriage, Bathsheba (Julie Christie) leaves her aunt’s home to inherit her uncle's farm in Weatherbury. Gabriel in turn has misfortune with his own farm and shepherding attempts and must go to London to find work on a richer landowner’s property. Coincidentally he ends up meeting Bathsheba again when he happens upon a dangerous fire on a farm and leads the bystanders in putting it out. Bathsheba hires Gabriel on as a shepherd and states that she will take a larger hand in running the farm herself. While cleaning out her uncle’s house she comes across a pretty Valentine that she impulsively sends with the mesaage “Marry Me” to William Boldwood (Peter Finch), the nearby landowner and a man reputed for having no “passionate parts. Thinking she is serious, Boldwood comes to propose and Bathsheba, admitting it was sent in jest, promises to consider his offer. However, in the meanwhile, she falls in love truly for the first time with Frank Troy (Terence stamp), a dashing cavalry officer. Unaware that Troy should (and almost did) marry Fanny Robin (Prunella Ransome), a maidservant on the farm who is now pregnant with his child, Bathsheba proposes marriage to him. Almost immediately, it becomes evident that Troy has no desire to be a farmer causing tension among the farmhands and gambling away what little money the farm produces. When Fanny reappears having gone missing after their wedding mishap (she left him waiting at the altar having been mistaken about the church they were to be married in) Troy promises to bring her money to the workhouse she has been at in order to survive. Unfortunately he is too late and left waiting again as Fanny is taken back to the farm in a coffin that’s been inscribed with chalk: Fanny Robin and child. Gabriel, upon seeing this, wipes away the evidence but Bathsheba already suspects the worse. Later that night she opens Fanny’s coffin and Troy finds her putting flowers around fanny’s head. Filled with remorse and not listening to Bathsheba’s pleads that she is the better choice, Troy proclaims that Fanny is the only woman he has ever loved and leaves her. Troy is assumed dead with his clothing is found near the ocean prompting Boldwood to propose again. Bathsheba, though she does not want to, promises to marry Boldwood when Troy is declared legally dead which will take six years time. However, Troy reappears at the holiday party right after Bathsheba makes her promise and claims he is there to take her home. But Boldwood, completely deranged by his desire for Bathsheba kills him. Eight months after the horrible incident, Gabriel states that he will be going to America. Realizing how much she has always depended upon his strength and devotion, Bathsheba finally accepts his proposal of marriage.

Normally I find a three hour film fairly daunting, however Far from the Maddening Crowd had what I like to call the handsome trifecta- Stamp, Bates, and Finch. You can’t turn that down no matter how much you dislike Julie Christie’s 60’s hair. My instincts were correct as this was a great and enthralling film with stand out performances by both Finch and Stamp. If you are not familiar with Terence Stamp's work, you should become so, he's still gracing us with his talent today. I would highly recommend an earlier film of his, The Collector.
 
Tonight on TCM!
Horror!

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Stiff Competition!

Tonight on TCM! Anyone else excited about Robert Osborne returning in December? I sure am!!

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) A Korean War hero doesn't realize he's been programmed to kill by the enemy. Dir: John Frankenheimer Cast: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh.

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The Lady Prefurs

Tonight on TCM!
Classic Horror! The Uninvited is quite spectacular!

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Thirty Thirties

A pretty bland comedy starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray who have found one another and don’t realize until it’s almost too late that they’ll need to sacrifice a few wishes for the sake of love. Oh, and another movie where Ralph Bellamy gets shafted.

While I felt that both Carole Lombard and John Barrymore gave great performances, I was not a fan of Twentieth Century is not my favorite for wither of them. The histrionics, as well as the length of the film were quite wearying. 

This is a great film full of the usual coincidences found in 30's film with the added benefit of Gavin Gordon’s super effeminate eyebrows. American Madness stands out due to the ever wonderful acting of Walter Huston and Pat O’Brien is a treat.

Gene Raymond’s at it again! After his wife, played by Fay Wray, becomes a successful lawyer and his career remains stagnate, they separate. When Raymond is accused of murder, Wray literally comes to his defense and saves the day. But then she quits her job so she can help him become an architect Sigh. Who knows what kind of mess he'll get into again!

Typical fair for the 30’s modern girl, Brides follows three shop girls and the romantic misadventures that lead to both happiness and tragedy. Joan Crawford and Robert Montgomery are both beautiful in the film despite the inexplicable change in hair color for Crawford towards the end. Random.

Joe E. Brown is a hilariously inappropriate babysitter for playboy William Collier Jr..

Two attorney’s that were once married face off again in the courtroom. This film is special in that Miriam Jordan doesn’t feel compelled to sacrifice her career for marriage- no matter how many fits Neil Hamilton throws. Guess he's no Gene Raymond!

Oooh! This is the film that made me question whether I liked Edward Arnold or not. He plays such a bully to a surprisingly Swedish Walter Brennan who is quite meek. Eventually, I realized Arnold was just a great actor who could be both cruel and angelic.

It’s no Thin Man but Myrna Loy and William Powell are no less magnetizing in this drama about involving an extramarital affair, blackmail and murder.

Ruth Chatterton is perfect playing the ever-busy CEO of her Automobile company that enjoys seducing and then turning away her underlings. However, she meets her match in Jim Thorne played by George Brent. In total 30’s fashion, Chatterton’s character gives authority over to Thorne so she can stay at home and raise future babies. Sigh. Somebody's been hanging around Gene Raymond.

A moving story based on the semi-autobiography of Ernest Hemingway; Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes light up this screen with their tragic love story.

This movie is a must see! Different for it’s time, it’s comprised of eight different vignettes directed by seven different directors and featuring a wide array of stars including Charles Laughton and Gary Cooper. My favorites are: China Shop, Road Hogs, and The Clerk.

The Marx Brothers are stowaway’s on a ship headed for America. While trying to avoid the ship’s crew they come to the attention of rival gangsters. Hilarity ensues. It’s the Marx Brothers so...duh. 

The worst Joan Crawford film I have seen! Seriously, it was painful to watch. John Mack Brown despite his future Western associations plays a cowhand with a horrible southern accent. However, Cliff Edwards as Froggy is quite comical.

Pat O’Brien and Fred McHugh are a couple of promoters with nothing to promote but a mounting hotel bill. Seeing a chance to win some money, they enter a contest for “America's Prettiest Girl” with a composite photo of all the famous stars and debutantes of the day. When reporters come knocking in pursuit of the girl in the photo, O’Brien and Mcugh find luck from an unlikely source- their oft ignored hotel maid played by Marion Davies. Turns out she isn’t so homely outside her uniform.

Robert Taylor pesters Jean Harlow into love with his ample charm and the unexpected help of his family and brother Reginald Owen who happens to be Harlow’s fiancé in the film.

Robert Montgomery doing what he does best, drinking and poking fun but with the added benefit of Frank Morgan, Robert Benchley and Billie Burke in the cast.

Spooky house mystery starring Joan Blondell as the ever wise-cracking nurse and George Brent as an inexperienced detective. That’s enough for me!

My second favorite of Norma Shearer’s, Private Lives is a fantastically wonderful play written and often performed by the magical Noel Coward. Shearer and Montgomery are pure delight as they take off on the rocky roller coaster that is their relationship...again. If you enjoy witty repartee mixed with calamity then strap yourself in, it’s a bumpy but enjoyable ride.

Tired of being the innocent face for “Ippsie-Wippsie Washclothes” Ginger Rogers decides to rebel. To appease her, her publicity team picks a guy from her fan mail in order to create a romance. However, Norman Foster soon proves he’s not someone to be trifled with.

Jean Harlow plays a frighteningly determined gold digger and possible masochist. Be on the look out for a young Charles Boyer before his stardom exploded.

The scene where Melvyn Douglas and Raymond Walburn get totally soused and let Edith Fellows fall to the floor is the best reason to watch this film.

 I absolutely disliked Katharine Hepburn in this film. Acting like a man and trying to hide her girlish naivete, Hepburn is simply put, annoying. The movie seems to move as slow as molasses and Cary Grant plays no saint. In fact, he’s quite frightening at moments.

This is a moving saga about a woman who raises her four children after killing their father in self-defense. Be on the look out for a very young Robert Taylor.

Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell use femme fatale tactics to slyly slip subpoenas to their targets. Need I say more?

 Mary Astor really knew how to play a bitch. Watch her make Virginia Bruce squirm.

In a somewhat unbelievable turn of events, Robert Taylor manages to be the cause of Irene Dunne’s husband’s death, make her fall in love with him, blind her, and then successfully study to become the best ocular specialist in town enabling Dunne to see once again. And I thought the CSI shows moved quickly!

My first Dorothy Mackaill film. What a beauty! The Reckless Hour is a steamy pre-code centered around a young woman’s pregnancy out of wedlock. 

When an unscrupulous broker meets a murderous end, Inspector Piper receives the unsolicited aid of a wily schoolteacher who successfully helps him solve the crime. I love Edna May Oliver and Robert Armstrong in this film!

Not theThin Man but William Powell and Myrna Loy are just as wonderfully hilarious. Watch Powell fail to woo an indifferent Loy.

 

Tonight on TCM!

The Gay Sisters (1942) A New York aristocrat marries for the money to save the family mansion.
Dir: Irving Rapper Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, George Brent, Geraldine Fitzgerald.

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