was Gloria Swanson supposed to be exaggerated? She gets on my last nerve even though I like Sunset Boulevard. What I like is William Holden, not her. is she supposed to be deliberate? or is that typical of Gloria Swanson?

I think that is how her barking madness showed itself plus Norma Desmond was a silent film actress and the overacting was part of it. (My theory on it at least)

she certainly played a nutter in the film. her eyes were scary with madness.

The 'telly'? Lol, are you English by any chance? I haven't heard that word in eons!!

W&R, you can find out what's coming up on the TCM.com site. They have a monthly schedule on there that shows what films will be aired for the month(s) ahead, so you can see for yourself. Great shopping too, tho you can prob purchase dvds much cheaper on half.com, or Amazon.com. Just an FYI to save you some money.

Venus, hi! So glad you're participating in the thread.

Sunset Boulevard is one of my favorite films too. I own the film, never fail to watch it on TCM when it's on, and have lost count of the times I've seen it - must be at least 100 times, and that's a modest number!! My favorite part - because it's so poignant, and she does it soooo well, is the part early in the film when William Holden is in her bedroom, and he recognizes her and says: "I know you. You're Norma Desmond. You used to be big." and she replys as the camera comes in for a close-up: "I AM BIG, it's the PICTURES that got small!!!" Wow, what a line!!! Love it!!!

I have read Gloria Swanson's biography, and have seen clips of vids where she's interviewed (you can prob find them on YouTube.com)

Gloria Swanson was an international MEGA film icon in her day. Anything she did or said, or wore (she was a clothes-horse!), was BIG NEWS. She received thousands of fan mail weekly (just like in Sunset - only the mail was not 'faked'), and had a staff just for handling fan mail.

She started out her movie career as a Max Sennet 'bathing beauty' around the age of 15. She was indeed a SUPER STAR during the silent film era, and those clips you see of her in Sunset Boulevard are from a big hit she made in the 20's called Queen Kelly. So the dipiction of her as a 'has-been' in Sunset, was not too far from the truth for many a silent film star.

However, Gloria Swanson made a very good transition to the 'talkies', and appeared in many films way after the silent film was 'dead'. She had a great speaking voice, so the talkies, if anything, enhanced her career. As you may know, the 'talkies' ruined many a career of the big stars of the silents. So Gloria knew first-hand' what the talkies were all about, because many of her movie star friends' careers were over when the talkies came to town. Everyone thought it was just a passing fad back then, but the talkies were here to stay.

That goes to show what a talent she was! I am a huge fan of Norma...oops, I mean Gloria!! Lol, her character in Sunset Boulevard has become so identified and intermingled with her real persona, that one tends to confuse them - not sure how Miss Swanson would take that, but it is a credit to her acting ability.

No, my cinema comrade, Gloria was NOT like that. The exaggerated acting was indicative of the silent film era. Since there was no dialogue, emoting had to be very physical to show emotions. It had to be exaggerated so the public would 'know' what 'feelings' were being conveyed. (Also, in the silents, makeup tended to be very exaggerated as well. This also added to what sometimes appears as a bit grotesque or bizarre appearence of the characters.)That's why you see a lot of that in the silents. Some stars, i.e., Norma Shearer carried those exagerrated motions to the talking pictures. If you've seen The Women, you'll notice how she over-acts her role at times.

oh, don't give me shopping tips like this, Cinderella, I've sworn off being such a consumer of vids, and now I have an opportunity to get cheaper goods? oh no! :rofl:

not a brit, but love brit comedy.

this is off topic (I looked for a current films thread and did not find one...) but did anyone see the film The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo? oh my! I saw it with a 92 year old friend last night who is quite the movie critic. it was rather intense and disturbing. we both like that in a film. anyway, I recommend it but not for the pollyanna at heart ... just saying ...

Thanks for the heads-up, W&R, but this is a thread for classic film discussion only. You can try posting that recommendation on the 'current' movie thread. No offense, but please, let's stick to the topic, ok? Thanks.

I love Brit comedy too, but mostly like they're films of the 40's. My very favorite film is 'Brief Encounter' with Celia Howard and Trever Howard. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.

As I explained to Jet in PM exchange, I searched for the other thread and it did not come up ... I only used movies as search word. Jet sent me the link. So, thanks. No mudbloods here ... lol ... gotcha.

Holy Daphne du Maurier!
 

I got to start my noir education, "Rebecca" was good. Max was simultaneously hunky (Sir Laurence Olivier) and subtly cruel and creepy. There some weird sexual tension with Mrs Danvers that I would think I would remember from the book but I don't recall it. Mrs Danvers reminded me of Mrs Havisham from Dickens in that pointed glassy eyed crazy way.
Although this is probably obvious but I love the way black and white film captures and plays with light (or rather the combination of Hitchcock and black and white film). Probably also cliche but it makes shadows another character in the film. Love it

WHEN???? Those are 3 great flicks, comrade!

Good for you, Venus! Not everyone gets the intricacy and sensitivity of black and white, and how it enhances the overall 'feel' of the story/plot. There are films in the b/w format that would never work in color. It's those gray areas and grainy feel, the wet, dark streets that ARE film noir. In my opinion, there's nothing ever come close to those wonderful noir films of the 40's. If you are serious about educating yourself in the nuances of film noir, there are several noir 'must see' films we can recommend. High on my list would be 'Double Indemnity', 'The Naked City', 'In A Lonely Place', 'Out of the Past', 'Murder My Sweet', 'The Killers', and so many others I'm sure Jet and Graphita could also recommend. I think, with your sensitiviy, you will love these films as well. There's something about film noir that lures you in, and once you're hooked, you'll want to see them all!

Say, W&R, what's a 'mudblood'? - never heard that word before...

Thanks for the list! I decided to take a look at noir because so many of the movies I already loved were considered noir (and I didn't even know it). Now the problem is finding time to see them. Darn work interrupting my film obsession, grumble grumble grumble. I don't really watch television so I have to get my movies from the internet and my beloved Netflix.

The first movie I really noticed the play of light in black and white film was "Arsenic and Old Lace"

Although some modern films are beautiful and excellent there are really few that can compare to the films of the 30-40s. I am already a big fan of that era (I was raised by my grandma and that was her time in the world). I have yet to see in modern film anything close to that heavy gorgeous satin the women wore out to dinner and dancing, like it was nothing. The smart witty dialogue (I am thinking of His Girl Friday and It Happened One Night) and the scandalous behavior (all without gratuitous nudity or chase scenes or excessive violence)
Anyway I could go on and on but I will stop here. Thanks again and I will keep you posted on my safari.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
 

just saw "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" and loved it so much.

speaking of black and white, one of my favs is Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast.

I plan to watch Black Orpheus with a friend this week-end. Another favorite classic of mine. Moody flick.

I just got that at Safeway yesterday while grocery shopping! I love it too! Kim's eyes and the cat's eyes ...

check Costco for film collections ... sometimes they have real goodies

Ransom
Suddenly
Ths Desperate Hours!

Jet, is this on today? I haven't checked the schedule?

no i just thought i'd mix them together

Best......Movie......Ever!

TCM REMINDER

Featured Actor for July
Gregory Peck

My personal favorites:

To Kill a Mockingbird
The Paradine Case
The Big Country
Gentleman's Agreement

I watched Gregory Peck last night, I really enjoyed it.

One movie he did that does bother me is The Boys from Brazil. I'm sensitive to anything antisemtic or fascist especially Josef Mengele.

But Peck and Laurence Olivier (as Simon Weisenthal or from the foundation, I forget) deliver great performances. It's nice to see two giants in one movie.
It's just kind of weird to see Gregory Peck play a maniac.

See ya at the movies fellow classic cinema comrades.

To be honest, I haven't seen Gentleman's Agreement for some time, but I do have it. So it's hard for me to comment on production. I do know that Elia Kazan won as best director. I'm guessing what you're seeing is Kazan's gritty realism, which was his signature such as On The Waterfront. and Streetcar Named Desire.

I'm more taken with its antisemetic theme in post-war and the lengths Philip Greene goes through to prove antisemitisim and bigotry in the United States. Highly-sensitive stuff after the liberation of the Nazi death camps just a couple of years earlier.

The woman who plays Greene's mother (I forget her name, I think its Anne Revere) was later black-balled in the MacArthy hearings on communism in 1952; it ruined her career. Kazan, on the other hand, was a witness and basically lost respect and freinds in Hollywood after snitching on them.

See ya at the movies.

I remember that, too. But I'm turned off when actors use the awards as a venue for expressing their political views. I didn't like it when George C. Scott did it or when Marlon Brando did it by having an Native American pick up his Oscar with a political message. I don't think the awards are the time or place. Just my .02
I thought the Oscars this year were pretty good despite one uncomfortable moment when that woman (Best Documentary or something) started to rant on stage.