Gösta Berling's Saga (1924). A wonderful, sprawling show. I wonder if the leading actors applied their own make-up...? That of Gerda Lundequist (the Major's wife) was applied heavily in one or two scenes, as if for an on-stage performance to be discernible from the last row in the balcony; her acti...

Sheet music available here http://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/scriptorium/sheetmusic/a/a02/a0232/" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank Hmmm...anyone know where I can find a copy of the song "Goofer Dust"? [...] Why, yes--about 15 inches in front of me: Chorus: If there's ...

My brother and I have almost completely complementary tastes in cinema. Other than Bergman films, I usually am uninterested in anything released after about 1940, whereas he can't stand anything released before about 1940. I thought I'd bring a little diversity into my life, and so acceded to some f...

"The only difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that the Democrats allow the poor to be corrupt, too." —Oscar Levant.

It seems the earlier, more expensive ones were made to last. I had one for over ten years with no problems. Tell me about it; this LG machine cost $350 & lasted 5 yrs before the DVD began making a clicking noise & then stopped working altogether. Cost of repair?--forget it. Gee whiz, I feel lucky. ...

Frank Albertson hides in a Murphy Bed in 1930's Just Imagine ; and as this is a science fiction musical rather than a comedy per se , it also addresses this thread's additional interest in Murphy Beds not in a comedy. Just Imagine was about the distant future: 1980. As I recall 1980, it didn't much ...

This about Lloyd makes me think of the great English literary figure Samuel Johnson--now, there's a statement you won't hear very often!--when, years after he had written the blank-verse tragedy Irene , some friends started reading it aloud when he was in the room. He walked out, and, on being asked...

Ricordi had a commercial presence in the U.S. by the 1920s. I possess sheet music from 1913 ("The Bayside Fox Trot," by Jesse Winne) published by G. Ricordi & Co., "New York"; this is consistent with what it states at the Casa Ricordi web site http://www.ricordi.it/cms/company/casa-ricordi-the-histo...

Also from 1944, though probably not quite what you're looking for, Olsen & Johnson's Ghost Catchers . In truth, though, the scene early in the show in which Susanna runs from the haunted house into the darkened nightclub, and . . . Well, I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it; but, t...

I'm not by any means a "sees gay relationships everywhere" sort; but, once having read Gore Vidal's remarks years ago, I watched the film with fresh eyes. Gore Vidal...no axe-grinder, he! Do those who "sees gay relationships everywhere" commonly acknowledge that perception? They do by seeing gay re...

OK, I voted as if the choices were (1) There's a gay subtext of some sort; (2) There is no gay subtext of any sort; (3) I dunno. And, yes, by all means, let's hear your two other examples of dubious film interpretations (but perhaps in another thread or two...?). That's why we're here: To ponder and...

The poll doesn't have enough choices. As I put it together, it's not that they were lovers; it's that Messala was at this present time in the film attracted to Ben-Hur, was trying to get something started (with someone who was oblivious because not into that), and didn't succeed. Yes, I agree with C...

Opinions were divided on (the 1959) Ben-Hur for example. Divided, did you say? If so, there must be some un-expurgated edition of the picture I've never seen. Unless of course you mean "divided between those who have an axe to grind, and those (the majority) who don't." So you don't think there was...

Last four films:

--High Noon. Splendid.

--Design for Living. Splendid.

--Fear X. Oh, give me a break. But well-acted by Tuturro and Remar.

--Paris When It Sizzles. Hilarious and fresh! A much-underappreciated show.

Novarro was the real victim of the talkies, not Jack Gilbert. Whereas Jack had a powerful screen presence in sound and silent pictures, no matter how bad the material was, Novarro lost most of his appeal with the sound. His singing in the show sequences is terrible. See him here is a cruel exercise...

Just a heads-up to avert possible confusion in searches: There is also a (more famous) Spanish Shawl song, dating to 1925 and by Elmer Schoebel (with Billy Meyers and Walter Melrose). It (Schoebel's) was frequently in the repertoire of the era's jazz bands (Fletcher Henderson, etc.).

Cary Grant's chemistry with Jessie Royce Landis is, for me, the (too fleeting) top highlight in a film of nothing but highlights.

Palmy Days is splendid. All of these Cantor vehicles are entertaining, some more satisfyingly so than others. My personal favorites are Whoopee! and Roman Scandals , with Palmy Days and The Kid from Spain next in line. One I haven't seen is Ali Baba Goes to Town , which actually sounds quite promis...

I can at least confirm that it's not the song "The Kinkajou," which (unfortunately!) is mostly cut from the movie; but that ("Kinkajou") is the tune a few minutes into the show in the background as we see the bank's vault being pilfered, and it's what the customers are dancing to at the same time at...

I acknowledge that many fine people of discriminating taste and broad cinema-viewing experience are enthusiastic about Love Me Tonight ; but, whenever they enthuse, I feel obliged to put on record the minority opinion: I find Love Me Tonight rather humdrum. Having watched Lubitsch's One Hour With Yo...

215 W. 50th St., near the corner of 50th and Broadway in South-Central L.A. Pleasant-looking large middle-class house, in good shape at present.

http://goo.gl/maps/IE20z" target="_blank" target="_blank

Not to forget Lars Hanson and Victor Sjostrom...

Ramon Novarro.

Though not in a leading man role, Rudy always looks particularly wooden and uncomfortable to me in his number in Glorifying the American Girl . Skip forward almost 40 years, and he's relaxed and fun in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying . It would seem that, for some, the ars gets long...

Sjöström's 1918 Berg-Ejvind och hans hustru (aka The Outlaw and his Wife). Yes, it's not exactly going to make viewers feel all kissy as the curtain goes down; but it is about dedicated Love.

Bob Hope, and Red Skelton are two others that going to hard for future generations to enjoy. Heck, I even watch a Red Skelten skit today and am hard pressed to smile. But I remember rolling on the floor laughing when his 'Silent Spot' came around. One or the other seem (in my time-distorted memorie...

Yes, I remember it. I recall noting in particular the presence of Dennis Day and Frank Nelson. I was, and continue, very much a Benny admirer. Does anyone else remember seeing what is mentioned as the biggest laugh Benny ever received (more like "the most sustained laugh")? Hint: Sammy Davis Jr.

Well, darn, it looks as if we were beaten to the punch. That quote from The Catalina Islander is in the middle of this site, which has other film-related Catalina data (but nothing on an actual studio being built on the Island): http://www.ecatalina.com/history-catalina-hollywood.html" target="_blan...

That theory about the bison occurred to me too, but what I found out about it is at http://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=14751 . In researching that, I came across a few references to plans for the establishment of a studio on Catalina Island in late 1923-early 1924. The details were ver...

I'm curious as to--very roughly--how these costs break down. Let's take the $100,000 figure above, plus the potentially 20% more for the soundtrack. So, of $120,000: Soundtrack, $20,000 How does the remaining $100,000 break down (obviously, it's just "ballpark figures" I'm looking for)? The cost ce...