Comments on: This Week on TCM: Short Thoughts

By: Grant

Grant — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:53:22 +0000

Just wanted to mention, next week on TCM they’re showing “Green Mansions”. Based on the Hudson novel that introduced “Rima the Jungle Girl” who’s been seen in comic books and cartoons over the years. Audrey Hepburn plays Rima. This is the first time I’ve seen it shown on TCM.

By: Rob S.

Rob S. — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:03:20 +0000

I’ve met a guy named Bunny — decades ago. He was a short-order cook at a local independent burger joint. (I think he was also co-owner, so it’s possible he’s still there.) Even as a ten-year old, I was like, “Your name is WHAT, now?”

I like Animal Crackers a lot, but A Night at the Opera is probably my absolute fave…

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:05:00 +0000

Yes, his best friend/co-conspirator was named Bunny, all right! I’m told, though I haven’t researched it myself, that the historical model for Raffles had rather a wink-wink-nudge-nudge reputation.

By: Grant

Grant — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 01:41:49 +0000

Ha! forgot about “Bunny”. Okay sarah, you got me on Raffles. Too bad Random Harvest doesn’t have a crime caper in it. That would win hands down. ;)

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:21:15 +0000

Joan, I think you’re right — he certainly argues for more complex relationships and puts the lie to the idea that one person can be everything for another. We’re certainly left with the image of the three of them running off together in Design for Living.

Sarah, having watched the movie, I don’t either. Wasn’t his best friend called Bunny, of all things? I know times were different then, but it’s just impossible to hear that with a straight face these days.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:14:08 +0000

Grant, having read the books, I just don’t quite believe in Raffles’s heterosexuality anymore…

By: Joan

Joan — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 20:56:12 +0000

I’ve often felt that Lubitsch, more than any director I’ve seen, tends toward love triangles that would more naturally resolve themselves as ménages à trois than as a couple plus a loser. Trouble in Paradise, The Smiling Lieutenant, Design for Living… sometimes the only thing I can see keeping everyone from living happily ever after together is societal expectation (and later, the Hayes Code), because it’s sure not Lubitsch. Or Lubitsch and Coward, in Design for Living. Actually, I’m not convinced that one doesn’t end in a happy threesome.

He must have driven the censors nuts! *g*

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:29:59 +0000

Oh, now I’m looking forward to seeing it even more. Thanks.

By: Mark J. Hansen

Mark J. Hansen — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 14:22:03 +0000

Personally, as a Marx Bros superfan, Animal Crackers is my very favorite of their movies (though I will concede Duck Soup and A Night at the Opera are better in many respects.) It is, fair warning a pretty early film, and one of their longer movies, so keep that in mind.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 11:46:03 +0000

Caleb, I had a weird experience the first time I tried to watch the Marx Brothers — I feel asleep after about 20 minutes. Next night, tried again (picking up where I left off), same thing happened. They work best for me in small doses. I did like Duck Soup, which is why I’m trying another.

Sarah, I just wish it had a slightly stronger cast. I mean, I love it the way it is, but I think it might be better known if more name value people were attached.

Grant, thanks for explaining the Crime Doctor — I noticed that series, but I wasn’t familiar with the background.

By: Grant

Grant — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:15:18 +0000

“Surely TiP is *the* caper romance.”

No, that would be the 1930 version of “Raffles” with Ronald Colman and Kay Francis. Marshall is good, but come on…Ronald Colman is The Man!

By: Grant

Grant — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:06:21 +0000

Here’s some more TCM programming worth mentioning;

Saturday night at 8pm they’re showing a 5 film marathon of Crawford films, including Mildred Pierce and Daisy Kenyon. This is the era of Crawford just before she gets scary.

Sunday at 2pm is an entertaining Jimmy Stewart film “No Highway In The Sky”. Very entertaining movie that teams Stewart with Destry co star Marlene Dietrich.

And for mystery lovers, Tuesday at 10:30 am they’re showing most of the “Crime Doctor” series. Based on a radio show about an amnesiac who becomes a doctor in order to discover who he is. They’re showing 7 of 10 films in the series. Fun stuff.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 02:26:50 +0000

“Trouble in Paradise, a caper romance…”

I object to this description. Surely TiP is *the* caper romance.

By: caleb

caleb — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 02:18:53 +0000

Wait, what? You don’t like…the Marx Brothers…you’ve never seen Animal Crackers? For real? Wow.

Well, Duck Soup is their masterpiece, so if you don’t like that one, there’s probably not much hope. Animal Crackers and The Coconuts are probably their next two best films (Their second and first, respectively, if I remember right, although I may have mixed ‘em up). Some folks prefer the big, glitzier Night at The Opera and Day at the Races better, but I like the first two best.

By: Barney

Barney — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:43:10 +0000

Drat! I forgot about Jean Harlow month. Now I have to wait until May for Red Dust to play again. (Clark Gable and Jean Harlow in Vietnam.)

By: Johnny Bacardi

Johnny Bacardi — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:49:14 +0000

Animal Crackers is no Duck Soup or Night at the Opera, but it's full of wacky stuff just the same, including Groucho's famous "Hooray for Captain Spaulding", and the "I shot an elephant in my pajamas..." line. That movie was withheld from release for a long time; they rereleased it to theatres in 1974 (I think it was) and I drove to Louisville with a friend to see it, as I had just discovered the Bros.' films the year before...