Charlie Baker

It doesn't look like it, Milburn, judging from the full cast list on imdb. Many noteworthies of the time show up in the character listings, but not PK.

On CBS Sunday Morning, Ben talks to David Fincher about his new film about Ben's grandfather and Citizen Kane. Mank

Marge and Gower.

Ben M with Elliott Gould His latest for CBS Sunday Morning.

Saddened to learn of the passing of the great dancer Tommy Rall.

"I'm Checkin' Out" is a great song, and if I'm remembering accurately, Reba McIntire performed it at the Oscars and surpassed Meryl Streep's rendition in the movie. Still it works for me within the movie's context. So of course mileage varies. Overall, I think Postcards is an underrated movie. Last night's Noir Alley was a compelling one for me. I rarely stay up for the Saturday night airing, but I did for this. They Won't Believe Me has Robert Young, cast somewhat out of type, as a slacker who basically wrecks the lives of three different women, possibly without committing any crime. (A Zachary Scott part.) Though he does pay for it, in a twist ending. The three are secretary Susan Hayward, who despite getting top billing, has maybe the smallest of the three roles, Rita Johnson as the one Young is married to, and Jane Greer as a journalist he romances. Ms. Greer is especially good. It's not the noirest of noirs, and it might be unevenly convincing in plot and dialogue, but it's worth the ride. It's of interest, too, because it was produced by Joan Harrison, who is the subject of a new biography; it's called Phantom Lady: The Forgotten Woman Behind Hitchcock. The author of the book, Christina Lane, was Eddie Muller's guest on the host segments. Ms. Harrison worked with Hitchcock on film and TV, and also produced films on her own, including They Won't Believe Me and another, The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry, which EM announced Noir Alley would air in 2021, with Ms. Lane joining him again. I am always interested in seeing figures from the Hollywood heyday, particularly women, get the kind of attention they haven't yet received.

The Mankiewicz brothers (Josh and our own Ben) discuss their family, among other things. Josh M and Ben M

I agree about Harry and Tonto capturing a real feel of the 70s. It's a typically fine piece of work (human-scaled, funny, touching) from writer/director Paul Mazursky. And Art Carney is really excellent in the kind of film role people weren't expecting him to get at that stage of his career. (He was considerably younger than Harry but it had been a while since his peak TV days and he had been working in the theater, most notably originating the role of Felix in The Odd Couple. ) He'd go on to another great movie part, in The Late Show. I know there has been grousing over his Oscar win over some true heavyweights (Finney, Hoffman, Nicholson, Pacino!) but his performance was more than deserving IMO.

Entertainment Weekly on TCM's Women Make Film

Another of the concert tour movies which I caught up with was The T.A.M.I Show, a completely different set of goods from the ones mentioned here, even if the Rolling Stones turn up. Sort of a feature length Hullabaloo/Shindig show (Boy, am I dating myself with that! But I was a wee tot at the time.), shot with TV equipment but shown in movie theaters. An overstuffed line-up of 60s pop, all performed live in front of a mostly screaming audience. The sound quality was not very good, but most of the performers manage to make strong impressions. And the audience response is just as strong for the lesser ones. It's got an energy, an early 60s combo of innocence and hedonism. Those numerous oldies cavalcades PBS uses for fund-raising took their cue from this (and live concert tours of that time) but this is the real thing, of its moment, not about nostalgia, more like a time capsule.

Another worthy Anne Shirley item: Murder, My Sweet, which I believe was included on her day. Her role is supporting, Claire Trevor is the female lead. I don't have an answer to the discrepancies in Joan Crawford's date of birth. But there have been errors on and alterations of birth certificates from the time period in question, I would think. And actresses have been known to shave a year or few off their ages. 🙂 The Women Make Film project is intriguing and the first installment of the documentary was interesting in its approach. I would love to be able to catch up with all the films they will be showing, But time demands I be selective. I watched Dorothy Arzner's Merrily We Go to Hell, which, if dated here and there and not completely successful at what it sets out to do, does combine comedy with drama pretty well, does use pre-Code frankness in its treatment of alcoholism and infidelity, and has quite fine performances from Sylvia Sidney and Fredric March. Plus Cary Grant in a small role!

Saw a Word of Mouth promoting the Olivia de Havlland day and narrated by her great friend Robert Osborne. I was handling it just fine until some fairly recent photos of the two together were shown. Needed some recovery time after that.

I think I would have preferred The Snake Pit and maybe (for something from her later career) Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte instead of yet another showing of GWTW. Still looks like a generally fine line-up.

RIP to a prolific composer of memorable film scores Ennio Morricone

I haven't done three posts in a row for quite some time, but I am compelled to note: Olivia de Havilland is 104 today. And Leslie Caron turns 89.

Another loss: musician, arranger, composer of some lasting movie music Johnny Mandel

Among his many accomplishments (I will always love The Dick Van Dyke Show), Carl Reiner wrote and appeared in the very 60s,, very fun, Doris Day/James Garner comedy The Thrill of It All. TCM has already aired and posted a TCM Remembers tribute, as always nicely done. Unfortunately on You Tube, it's marred by the logo and links to other videos at the end. TCM Remembers Carl Reiner

I haven't been paying much attention to the jazz themed TCM Spotlight lineup but last night I happened to get hooked on Jazz on a Summer's Day. It's documentary footage shot ( and beautifully restored) during a day of the Newport Jazz Festival in 1958. It's not Woodstock-level exhaustive, its running time is short. I am not particularly a big jazz aficionado, but the performances here are all intriguing, and some a bit more than that--glimpses of Theolonius Monk, Gerry Mulligan, George Shearing, the Chico Hamilton Quintet (and the cellist has a splendidly shot Bach solo after a rehearsal); Anita O'Day, DInah Washington, Big Maybelle, Chuck Berry (!) doing their respective things. Idyllic looking shots of Newport and the simultaneously occurring America's Cup are interspersed, plus it's a real time capsule. Then it's wrapped up very strongly with the star attractions Louis Armstrong and Mahalia Jackson. It's available on Watch TCM, and even if these names and/or their music don't mean that much to you, you might just find it, like I did, the kind of summer's day diversion we'd all like to have.

God's Little Acre was considered almost unfilmable because the popular novel was so "steamy," Right there would be enough for some filmmakers of the time to attempt it--the popularity and the "scandalous" content. I can see how the backwoods "quirks" of this bunch might not seem all that amusing. I haven't seen it in years, but I think I enjoyed my last viewing. I've admired Robert Ryan's work, and he certainly had no problem digging into lots of shall we say less than admirable characters. But if you're willing to try it, there's the short boxing film noir The Set-Up, where he plays a washed-up fighter--you might find him vulnerable and touching. Or not. 🙂 Zachary Scott never impressed me much until I saw him in the atypical lead role of The Southerner, a struggling salt of the earth farmer. Very good work. The Unfaithful is a quite softened take on The Letter. But it does have Eve Arden, as usual giving her all in support.

The New York Times' two chief film critics asked readers to watch What's Up, Doc? and then they shared commentary. I know there are fans of this movie here, I'm certainly one, and maybe some of you would enjoy reading this. Weekend Watch: What's Up, Doc?

Today's line-up was Tennessee Williams-themed and I saw a good portion of Night of the Iguana. I haven't seen or read the play (I do know there are some significant differences), and I hadn't seen the movie in quite some time. I definitely got caught up in it. Particularly grabbed by the performance of Ava Gardner--maybe her best? And of course Richard Burton and Deborah Kerr are expert. And I can't omit Cyril Delevanti as the senile poet grandfather of DK's character--his final scene is quite something. All involved handle Williams' tricky dialogue beautifully. Plus there's a pretty potent atmosphere for the play to unfold.

I know it's gratuitous (only there because of his hit recording) but I do find Louis Armstrong's appearance in the title number pretty irresistible. Also the movie was my introduction to Ms. S. in my hometown movie theater, as I hadn't seen Funny Girl, and I was blown away, even if I knew her casting was questionable.

The New York Times theater critic on All About Eve

This is a day for TCMers to recognize. April 5th is the birthdate of Bette Davis, Spencer Tracy, Gregory Peck, Walter Huston, and Melvyn Douglas.

Ben M with Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner - and George Takei