young joan crawford

tracks of her tears

whether she were laughing or crying, the racketeer who she crossed is gonna find her. joan crawford just shines in this honest rags to crooked riches story. her character is involved with so many men that it comes as no surprise when she hops in the car and speeds off into the night. trouble is always one step behind.
'the damned don't cry' gave joan so much to do. she is equally convincing as a poor wife and mom, a fashion model, and a socialite with a gorgeous nyc address due to her lover being the head of a crime syndicate. all along you know she is gonna have to pay the price. everyone is really good in this. the actor david brian as underworld boss 'george castleman' (great name) is really scary. what in the world was she thinking?
this 1950 noir is as enjoyable as the title.

photo: crawford foolishly thinking she can tame that guy.

tres belle

julie christie, dirk bogarde, monica vitti

by way of illustration

vague but vitti

m. antonioni made important films. i understand that. i also understand that some of what he does goes right in and out of my head. this happens with many books i totally adored reading.
i love 'l'avventura' cause it is a beauty of a film and monica vitti is as super as it gets. the love story within this film is the one that brings the picture into focus and this knowledge is always very comforting.
sometimes it is important to allow myself to go for the ride without having to keep my eyes on the road, so to speak.

skippy

this little wire-haired terrier was a bona fide movie star. his screen persona 'asta' has a star on hollywood blvd. he retired in 1939.

clark gable 1901-1960

film legend and husband of carole lombard, of whom he said, 'you can trust that little screwball with your life.'

by way of illustration

a table of her own, please

interestingly, dame wendy hiller, one of the stars of 'separate tables' does not have a seat in the dining room. her character runs a country inn where the guests seem to 'live' as opposed to 'stay.' lucky for us, as the guests we get to know are all very special and well defined.
deborah kerr is great as a wallflower under the strict eye of her mother, played by an actress we have all seen many times. though constance collier is forever playing the mother from hades, i have a feeling she was a charming person. david niven is too good as an ex officer who is now dealing with a shameful secret. rita hayworth and burt lancaster have their own story that sits alongside the others in this beautiful film of a popular british play.
wendy hiller completely captivates me. no histrionics. no grand gestures. just perfect performances every time. she won the oscar for best female lead in this touching 1958 drama that brings together great actors with strong and sympathetic roles.

photo: actress wendy hiller and director david lean

john gilbert 1899-1936

this incredibly adored star of the silents had a very short life onscreen and off. at the box office he was the rival of valentino but with the advent of talking films he was no longer receiving parts to play. during his heyday he worked and lived with greta garbo who claimed she learned much from him. he often expressed his wish to marry her. eventually she said yes only for the groom to be left standing at the alter.

he is exquisite on screen and truly gifted at communicating a man in love.

by way of illustration

getting even

everyone wants to be something else. actors want to sing, singers want to write. some times it works out that one person does two things very well. 

marlon brando had attained the highest place as an actor. even if some of his movies weren't so great, one always got to watch him. the studio must have loved it when he said he wished to direct.

every man must have a cowboy standing in their boots. of course brando wanted to give his a chance. i love 'one eyed jacks.' the simple story of getting even is beautifully played out between marlon and his real life friend, actor karl malden. brando's character is living outside the law while his long lost buddy karl is now wearing a sheriff badge. one of these two is honest. marlon's invitation to a showdown is wonderful. no one can offer up a grin like this guy.

i've read that marlon was the actor elvis idolized. now i know it was this film that made it clear to elvis just what an actor can be.

friendship, love, honor, enemies, kindness and holding one's head high. it is all here.