| Author |
Message |
|
| knox |
 Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:39 am |
 |
|
|
Joined: 18 Mar 2010
Posts: 1246
Location: St. Louis
|
| Courtenay is amazing. Haven't seen him in much recently, which makes me think he might have done more, later, on the stage. |
|
|
| Back to top |
 
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 6:18 pm |
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
| Can't believe I'd never seen Destry Rides Again, starring my fave rave Jimmy Stewart and another fave Marlene Dietrich, but I hadn't, until today. What a great movie. Sort-of-pacifist Stewart comes in to clean up a lawless Western town. What might have been a mess of cliches feels fresh and spontaneous, and remarkably contemporary (it was made in 1939), thanks to the two stars and a stellar supporting cast directed by George Marshall. It's a classic that doesn't seem like one, and that's a compliment. For a Western non-fan like me this was a joy. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| carrobin |
| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 8:45 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 7795
Location: NYC
|
| Billy--Not to mention that you can now really appreciate Madeline Kahn in "Blazing Saddles." |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 8:51 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
carrobin wrote: Billy--Not to mention that you can now really appreciate Madeline Kahn in "Blazing Saddles."
I appreciated Madeline's Dietrich years earlier when we worked together at Upstairs at the Downstairs and she sang something called "Das Chicago Song." |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| whiskeypriest |
| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:46 am |
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 6916
Location: "It's a Dry Heat."
|
billyweeds wrote: carrobin wrote: Billy--Not to mention that you can now really appreciate Madeline Kahn in "Blazing Saddles." at Upstairs at the Downstairs and she sang something called "Das Chicago Song."
Destry Rides Again is probably my second favorite non-John Ford western. Tremendous film, and of course a all too frequently overlooked part of the greatest movie year ever. <humor attempt> Also, my favorite sequel. </humor attempt> |
_________________
I ask you, Velvel, as a rational man, which of us is possessed? |
|
| Back to top |
|
| bartist |
| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 9:00 am |
|
|
|
Joined: 27 Apr 2010
Posts: 6958
Location: Black Hills
|
Quote: Also, my favorite sequel
It took about three seconds for the coin to drop. Good one!
I generally hate old Westerns, so I should probably have a look. |
_________________
He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| whiskeypriest |
| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 9:07 am |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 6916
Location: "It's a Dry Heat."
|
See what the boys in the bathroom will have.
I may have misheard that lyric. |
_________________
I ask you, Velvel, as a rational man, which of us is possessed? |
|
| Back to top |
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:06 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
| For the record, I worked with Madeline Kahn when I was a songwriter and she was performing songs I wrote. It was later that I started to perform myself. Almost needless to say, she occupies space in my biography. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| bartist |
| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 4:57 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 27 Apr 2010
Posts: 6958
Location: Black Hills
|
| Talk about westerns, reminds me I caught The Killer Inside Me, the recent (2010) tumbleweed-noir that is so dark and steamy it makes Red Rock West look like Mary Poppins. Affleck plays both hot and cold, erotic and chilling, and is becoming one of my favorite character actors. There are some minuses -- Bill Pullman has all of three minutes onscreen, basically wasted -- the ending is a bit muddled and lacking, the setup doesn't entirely make sense -- and Elias Koteas is weird and unconvincing as a local Union boss who dogs the Deputy's steps and makes insinuations. But the rest of the ensemble does a fine, and disturbing job, of showing us people who gradually become aware of a sociopathic beast in their midst and gradually edge away. |
_________________
He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 7:25 pm |
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 14498
Location: Houston
|
billyweeds wrote: For the record, I worked with Madeline Kahn when I was a songwriter and she was performing songs I wrote. It was later that I started to perform myself. Almost needless to say, she occupies space in my biography.
What are your thoughts on her professionalism?
Hal Prince claims she killed the run of On the Twentieth Century by not giving her all except on opening night for the critics (he says she literally walked off the stage and told him "You don't think I'm going to do that every night, do you?"). Have no idea if the fault really lies with her, especially given the "the audience left whistling the scenery" reviews it largely received.
She was hilarious in any number of movies, on Saturday Night Live and I enjoyed her sitcom Oh, Madeline! when it aired, even if I barely remember it now. |
_________________
You've got a great brain. You should keep it in your head.
-Topher |
|
| Back to top |
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:28 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
| Madeline Kahn was a terrific performer but a bit of a diva, so the rumors of her antics around On the Twentieth Century were no surprise to me. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 12:20 am |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 14498
Location: Houston
|
| I've tried three different ways to acknowledge your post, but all of them (to my eyes) read snarky. The point is: I read what you wrote and appreciate the insight. |
_________________
You've got a great brain. You should keep it in your head.
-Topher |
|
| Back to top |
|
| Syd |
| Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 12:56 am |
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 12921
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
|
I love Destry Rides Again. The supporting cast is wonderful too, including Mischa Auer and Una Merkel, who are always welcome. It looks to me like in the great brawl between Dietrich and Merkel, Merkel was winning.
According to IMDb, "According to her grandson Peter Riva interviewed for the Icons Radio Hour, Marlene Dietrich's fight scene was unchoreographed. She and Una Merkel agreed to do it impromptu with the only rule being no closed fists. They used feet, pulled hair, and Marlene had bruises for weeks afterwards. but the director got everything in one take." I'm skeptical about the bruises, but the rest seems believable. |
_________________
I had a love and my love was true but I lost my love to the yabba dabba doo, --The Flintstone Lament |
|
| Back to top |
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 4:59 am |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
| Merkel is one of those somewhat unappreciated character actresses who were always themselves but always effective. She was "separated at birth" from ZaSu Pitts. I agree Merkel was beating Dietrich in the brawl. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 12:30 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 14498
Location: Houston
|
| Loooove Una Merkel and think Renee Zellweger in the courtroom scenes of Chicago looks just like her. |
_________________
You've got a great brain. You should keep it in your head.
-Topher |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
