Tag: classic movies

Happy 120th Birthday, George Brent

George Brendan Nolan was born on this day in 1904 in Ballinsloe, County Galway, and he is today’s daytime star on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Handsome and debonair, he had a complicated childhood and adolescence involving being orphaned, moving to New York City, going back to Ireland, and becoming a courier for the Irish Republican Army. Allegedly he got into acting with Dublin’s Abbey Theatre Players only as cover for his IRA activities. Learning that his arrest was imminent, he left for Canada and made his way to the U.S. and Hollywood. (I couldn’t make this up, it’s in his biography.)

Under contract with Warner Brothers throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Brent often appeared with some of my favorite actresses. He was a good match for their strong personas and once said that all he needed was a good haircut since the audience only saw the back of his head, something of an exaggeration. He was Bette Davis’ favorite leading man on-screen (and sometimes off), appearing with her in 12 features. He co-starred with Kay Francis in 6 films and with Barbara Stanwyck in 5. I feel like Brent is best known for 42nd Street (1933), The Purchase Price (1932), Baby Face (1933), and Luxury Liner (1948), and I haven’t seen all of his films, but here’s some lesser-known ones that I like (chronological order):

So Big! (1932) — A Stanwyck vehicle, Brent’s not in it much. He plays the grownup version of a boy inspired by his teacher (Barbara Stanwyck) in 1920s rural Illinois. Based on the novel by Edna Ferber, it captures a time and a way of life.

Miss Pinkerton (1932) — An old dark house rom-com in which ever-charming Blondell plays a nurse sent into a mansion where a man allegedly committed suicide, Brent is the cop who asks her to go in because he thinks it’s murder. Based on a novel of the same name by Mary Roberts Rinehart.

The Keyhole (1933) — Anne Brooks (Francis) is being blackmailed, but her husband thinks she’s having an affair. She decides to try to escape the situation by taking a cruise to Cuba so Hubby sends a private investigator Neil Davis (Brent) to catch her in the act of adultery. Complications ensue. (If this sounds a bit familiar, it might be because Romance on the High Seas partially resembles it.)

A great little comedy/mystery, Front Page Woman (1935) stars Davis reporting a story incorrectly and having to fix it. Brent is her editor who thinks women don’t make good reporters, but of course, he is wrong.

Secrets of an Actress (1938) An actress (Francis) is seeking funding for her next show. She meets two architects (Brent and Ian Hunter). One agrees to back the production; both are in love with her.

The Rains Came (1939) — During a worse-than-usual rainy season in India, Tom Ransome (Brent), a mellow aristocrat, and ex-flame of Lady Edwina Esketh (Myrna Loy), is dealing with a sheltered teenager (Brenda Joyce) who has a crush on him and helping his best buddy, a surgeon who will one day rule India (Tyrone Power). Great-ish performances, high production values, and stunning cinematography make for a quality film.

My Reputation (1946)— Widow Jessica Drummond (Stanwyck) challenges the social norms of her stuffy mother, bratty kids, and snobbish social set when she meets Major Scott Landis (Brent). Quietly revolutionary in its assertion that a woman should live for herself.



11th Annual What A Character: Evening Edition

Hey night owls and West Coasters, Paula here to close out our 11th Annual What a Character! Blogathon! It always brings me so much joy to see so much love for the backbone of cinema, the supporting players. This year brought new points of view and new faces to these posts, which is always good to see.

Jacqueline at Another Old Movie Blog starts us off by paying tribute to underrated day player Mary Field‘s “ability to command a scene and entirely lose herself in a character.”

Karen at Shadows and Satin honors Jay C. Flippen, “the burly character actor…a man of fortitude and determination – a veteran of vaudeville, radio, theater, screen, and television.”

Kayla at Whimsically Classic details how “I Love Lucy” introduced her to “instantly recognizable” Allen Jenkins (on the right, with Errol Flynn.)

Taking Up Room recaps the life and career of Dorothy Morris, who “always made a big impression in her own quiet, pretty way.”

Wollfian Classic Movies Digest analyzes several of Peter Lorre‘s greatest performances: Casablanca, Mad Love, M, and The Maltese Falcon.

The Everyday Cinephile illustrates how Ernest Torrence “perfectly exemplifies the unique skill set required to succeed as a character actor.”

Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s WAC! Blogathon, and to our beloved Turner Classic Movies for inspiring it in the first place. It’s been a fun and fascinating 11 years.

See the What A Character! morning posts at Once Upon A Screen here. Afternoon posts are at Outspoken and Freckled here.

Key to the What A Character! 2023 graphic

Announcing the 11th Annual What A Character! Blogathon – Call for posts

It began eleven years ago with a spark of inspiration. What is the one thing that practically every film fan can agree on…the one thing that every cinephile looks forward to? What is the celluloid glue that holds us all together so dearly? Our love of character actors.

Click to enlarge

From the earliest years of Turner Classic Movies (TCM), the network has broadcast “What A Character!” interstitial short tributes honoring various character actors. Many of the most popular supporting players have been highlighted over the years, including Marjorie Main, Edna May Oliver, Beulah Bondi, William Demarest, and Butterfly McQueen. These consummate pros were the inspiration for the WHAT A CHARACTER! Blogathon. Kellee, Aurora, and I decided to dedicate a blogathon to those invaluable talents who often stole the scene. Now, for the eleventh consecutive year, we continue the tradition. Details after the jump

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Turner Classic Movies Summer Under The Stars 2022 — Week 05 Picks

Well, we’re in the final week of TCM’s Summer Under The Stars (SUTS), the channel’s annual tribute to one star per day for the month of August. I’ve still got a little room on the DVR. Check out these last few days of picks! As always, all times are Eastern. Week 01 picks are here. Week 02 picks are here. Week 03 picks are here. Week 04 picks are here.

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Turner Classic Movies Summer Under The Stars 2022 — Week 04 Picks

We’re now coming into the stretch of TCM’s Summer Under The Stars (SUTS), the channel’s annual tribute to one star per day for the month of August. I’ve watched a lot of new-to-me films, some great, some not-so-great. Emphasis for these picks is on films I haven’t seen yet and those increasingly rare rarities. Fun fact: I got hooked on TCM for good on Jean Gabin Day during the 2011 SUTS, so in a roundabout way, SUTS led to TCM Party. Picks for each day after the jump. As always, all times are Eastern.

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Turner Classic Movies Summer Under The Stars 2022 — Week 03 Picks

Here is a list of what I’ll be watching and/or DVRing during Week 03 of TCM’s Summer Under The Stars (SUTS), the channel’s annual tribute to one star per day for the month of August. Emphasis is on films I haven’t seen yet and those increasingly rare rarities. Fun fact: I got hooked on TCM for good on Jean Gabin Day during the 2011 SUTS, so in a roundabout way, SUTS led to TCM Party. Picks for each day after the jump. As always, all times are Eastern.

This week is gonna kinda sorta be super random because I’m running late (it’s Tuesday as I write this) and I’m not crazy for anyone this week other than Joan Crawford and Toshiro Mifune, and many of these films play on TCM quite often. So I’ll really be looking for the odd and the rare.

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Turner Classic Movies Summer Under The Stars 2022 — Week 02 Picks

Here is a list of what I’ll be watching and/or DVRing during Week 02 of TCM’s Summer Under The Stars (SUTS), the channel’s annual tribute to one star per day for the month of August. Emphasis is on films I haven’t seen yet and those increasingly rare rarities. Fun fact: I got hooked on TCM for good on Jean Gabin Day during the 2011 SUTS, so in a roundabout way, SUTS led to TCM Party. Picks for each day after the jump. As always, all times are Eastern.

Continue reading “Turner Classic Movies Summer Under The Stars 2022 — Week 02 Picks” →

Turner Classic Movies Summer Under The Stars 2022 — Week 01 Picks

Here is a list of what I’ll be watching and/or DVRing during TCM’s Summer Under The Stars (SUTS), the channel’s annual tribute to one star per day for the month of August. Emphasis is on films I haven’t seen yet and those increasingly rare rarities. Fun fact: I got hooked on TCM for good on Jean Gabin Day during the 2011 SUTS, so in a roundabout way, SUTS led to TCM Party. Picks for each day after the jump. As always, all times are Eastern.

Continue reading “Turner Classic Movies Summer Under The Stars 2022 — Week 01 Picks” →

10th Annual What A Character: Evening Edition

Hey night owls and West Coasters, Paula here to close out our 10th Annual What a Character! Blogathon! It always brings me so much joy to see so much love for the backbone of studio-era Hollywood, the supporting players.

As you may have seen in the announcement post, this tenth year comes with giveaways from Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and The University Press of Kentucky, both of which are providing film-related books to ten lucky participants. We will randomly pick the winners toward the end of the weekend. Winners will be notified on social media or by email.

And now, without further ado, this evening’s fabulous entries:

Jacqueline at Another Old Movie Blog writes that Lillian Randolph “is instantly relatable and somehow more genuine than the stars she supports.”

Toni at Watching Forever profiles a familiar face from the TV series “Gunsmoke” in “Beyond Festus: The Career of Dan Curtis.”

The Classic Movie Muse takes a deep dive into the life and work of Lucille La Verne, whose “bone-chilling” voice made her the first to have a speaking part in an animated feature-length film.

Lesley at Second Sight Cinema investigates the possibly unknowable nature of one of my favorite actors in “Jack Carson, International Man of Mystery.”

Chris at Blog of the Darned profiles the criminally underused Theresa Harris.

Lady Eve’s Reel Life looks into the villainous (and heroic) roles of another of my favorite actors, Conrad Veidt.

Kayla from Whimsically Classic details her favorite roles played by character actor Elisha Cook Jr.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s special 10th Anniversary ‘thon.

What A Character! The cast of LURED (1947)

I was a late bloomer with Lured. I didn’t see Douglas Sirk’s remake of the 1939 French film Pieges until the mid-teens of the present century. This comedy/drama/film noir is a bit complicated, and I don’t want to reveal too much for those who haven’t seen the film. It’s so much fun, you deserve to see it for yourself. But here goes: Never-lovelier Lucille Ball portrays Sandra Carpenter, an American showgirl stranded in London. She’s working as a taxi dancer when her friend and co-worker Lucy (Tanis Chandler) disappears, probably the latest victim of the “Poet Killer,” a shadowy murderer who advertises for his prey in the personals section of the newspaper and taunts the police by sending them love poems in the mail. When Sandra goes to Scotland Yard to try and find Lucy, she is recruited by Inspector Harley Temple (Charles Coburn) to go undercover for the Yard. She will be essentially acting as bait for the killer, answering any and all personal ads that look sketchy enough to be leads. The first seeks a dress model. She goes to the studio of Charles van Druten (Boris Karloff), a former fashion designer, who is certainly unhinged. Is he the Poet Killer?

Meanwhile, Sandra had been trying to audition for a better dancing gig, in a new show with real producers, Robert Fleming (George Sanders) and Julian Wilde (Cedric Hardwicke). Long story short, while answering another personal ad, Sandra encounters “unmitigated cad” Fleming, and sparks fly. She’s on duty at the time, but he keeps turning up in the most unlikely places as she pursues the investigation. Hmm…

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