@El Loro posted:

"Dead End" (1937) is a mildly interesting film by William Wyler being a Hollywood attempt at social realism. Film does feel stagy at times, it was adapted by Lillian Hellman from a play.
Leads were Joel McCrea and Sylvia Sidney who were well known at the time.
Also in the film, pre stardom, was Humphrey Bogart. One of the films which established him as a start was "The Maltese Falcon" (1941) which was based on the book by Dashiell Hammett whose long term partner was Lillian Hellman (the 1977 film "Julia" refers to this relationship).

The opening shot of "Dead End" is a panning shot. When I saw the film years ago I was reminded of a similar scene in "Citizen Kane" (1941) in the opera singer scene where the camera pans up the theatre to show two workmen. I looked into this and noted that the cinematographer of both films was Gregg Toland,

Robert Osborne, film historian, stated that Joel McCrea had a tough time working with Humphrey Bogart, especially during the scene "on the rooftop, guns ready, and standing very close to each other. During the filming of that scene, McCrea kept flinching, and the director William Wyler had to keep doing more takes. Finally, Wyler pulled McCrea aside, and he asked him what was wrong. McCrea, embarrassed to tell him, explained that Bogart kept spitting in his face when he was speaking, not exactly what Wyler was expecting to hear or to be the problem.   

@slimfern posted:

Robert Osborne, film historian, stated that Joel McCrea had a tough time working with Humphrey Bogart, especially during the scene "on the rooftop, guns ready, and standing very close to each other. During the filming of that scene, McCrea kept flinching, and the director William Wyler had to keep doing more takes. Finally, Wyler pulled McCrea aside, and he asked him what was wrong. McCrea, embarrassed to tell him, explained that Bogart kept spitting in his face when he was speaking, not exactly what Wyler was expecting to hear or to be the problem.   

he went on to say "Happens with actors more than you can imagine."

Joel McCrea had been in quite a number of films before "Dead End". For instance "Bird of Paradise" made in 1932. It was set on a Polynesian island. He's a sailor who falls for a local girl. Minor film other than for one scene where he spots her swimming in the ocean at night and dives in. Although he's wearing trunks she's not wearing anything. The Hays code came in shortly afterwards which would have made such a scene impossible.

Not unusual for places with the same name but in different countries to be twinned, but this must be the most unusual:
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5328153

@El Loro posted:

he went on to say "Happens with actors more than you can imagine."

Joel McCrea had been in quite a number of films before "Dead End". For instance "Bird of Paradise" made in 1932. It was set on a Polynesian island. He's a sailor who falls for a local girl. Minor film other than for one scene where he spots her swimming in the ocean at night and dives in. Although he's wearing trunks she's not wearing anything. The Hays code came in shortly afterwards which would have made such a scene impossible.

Party poopers

@El Loro posted:

Not unusual for places with the same name but in different countries to be twinned, but this must be the most unusual:
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5328153

So are they saying the terrain on Mars is like that of Scotland?

@slimfern posted:

So are they saying the terrain on Mars is like that of Scotland?

There's part of Yellowstone which is called Glenelg and that part of Yellowstone has similar geological features similar to part of Mars. Yellowstone includes the Yellowstone Caldera which was a supervolcano. Volcanism there is relatively recent with large eruptions that took place 2.1 million, 1.3 million, and 640,000 years ago. Scientists don't believe there will be another eruption for the time being. There is also earthquake activity there.

@slimfern posted:

Party poopers

Although Cecil B DeMille is best known nowadays for his films of the 1950s "The Greatest Show on Earth" and "The Ten Commandments" he had been making films since 1914. Pre Hays code, he made films such as "The Sign of the Cross" (1932). That's a biblical epic about Nero persecuting the Christians. If you read the parents guide on IMDB you will see that it wouldn't get an approval under the Hays code. It was released at 125 minutes. It was rereleased in 1944 when the Hays code was in force. That version ran 114 minutes including a 9 minute prologue which was set in the present time (then) with a WW2 theme. So the scenes which had to be removed to comply ran for 20 minutes.
Incidentally Nero was played by Charles Laughton.

@El Loro posted:

There's part of Yellowstone which is called Glenelg and that part of Yellowstone has similar geological features similar to part of Mars. Yellowstone includes the Yellowstone Caldera which was a supervolcano. Volcanism there is relatively recent with large eruptions that took place 2.1 million, 1.3 million, and 640,000 years ago. Scientists don't believe there will be another eruption for the time being. There is also earthquake activity there.

I can understand the similarity
It also says that Canada took their name from here....which I took to mean Scotland

@El Loro posted:

Although Cecil B DeMille is best known nowadays for his films of the 1950s "The Greatest Show on Earth" and "The Ten Commandments" he had been making films since 1914. Pre Hays code, he made films such as "The Sign of the Cross" (1932). That's a biblical epic about Nero persecuting the Christians. If you read the parents guide on IMDB you will see that it wouldn't get an approval under the Hays code. It was released at 125 minutes. It was rereleased in 1944 when the Hays code was in force. That version ran 114 minutes including a 9 minute prologue which was set in the present time (then) with a WW2 theme. So the scenes which had to be removed to comply ran for 20 minutes.
Incidentally Nero was played by Charles Laughton.

Oh my! I can see why they did a bit of chopping....it would have been quite shocking for it's time
Not in today's society though

Nighty night, sleep well, sweet dreams Buddies

@El Loro posted:

Not unusual for places with the same name but in different countries to be twinned, but this must be the most unusual:
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5328153

wow different EL geologically similar - love your posts like this  EL so interesting

Good morning everyone it's a cold and cloudy day with a moderate breeze.

Enjoy your day everyone

Good morning everyone

Cloudy here, might get bits of sunshine at times.

I hope everyone has a good day

Good morning everyone

Overcast start here. Not much breeze about

Not a lot planned

Have a nice day everyone

I see that a 1952 film noir called "Don't Bother to Knock" is on the Talking Pictures channel later today. Not one of the classics of that genre but does have an interesting cast - Richard Widmark, Marilyn Monroe and Anne Bancroft in her film debut.
American film directed by the British Roy Ward Baker (best film was "A Night to Remember" and did a lot of television work on programmes such as "The Avengers" and "The Saint").

@El Loro posted:

I see that a 1952 film noir called "Don't Bother to Knock" is on the Talking Pictures channel later today. Not one of the classics of that genre but does have an interesting cast - Richard Widmark, Marilyn Monroe and Anne Bancroft in her film debut.
American film directed by the British Roy Ward Baker (best film was "A Night to Remember" and did a lot of television work on programmes such as "The Avengers" and "The Saint").

Wiki states that this was Marilyn Monroe's first serious film role, the reviews were mainly positive.
I might give this one a watch

'A night to remember' aka 'Titanic' ...earlier version of course.
*titbit*  By astonishing coincidence, four members of the cast, Peter Burton, Desmond Llewelyn, Geoffrey Bayldon and Alec McCowen, went on to play "Q" in the James Bond movies.
Two cast members – Llewelyn and Blackman – would later appear in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger.

'The Avengers' and 'The Saint' were both watched in our house.
I remember having a Purdy haircut

@slimfern posted:

Wiki states that this was Marilyn Monroe's first serious film role, the reviews were mainly positive.
I might give this one a watch

'A night to remember' aka 'Titanic' ...earlier version of course.
*titbit*  By astonishing coincidence, four members of the cast, Peter Burton, Desmond Llewelyn, Geoffrey Bayldon and Alec McCowen, went on to play "Q" in the James Bond movies.
Two cast members – Llewelyn and Blackman – would later appear in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger.

'The Avengers' and 'The Saint' were both watched in our house.
I remember having a Purdy haircut

Marilyn Monroe was in the 1950 film "All About Eve". Although she's only in it for just under 3 minutes, it's a serious film role as George Sanders' protégé. "Don't Bother to Knock" would be her first leading role in a serious film

I watched "The Avengers" and "The Saint". By the way Honor Blackman was Cathy Gale in the early series of "The Avengers" and left to be in "Goldfinger".

@El Loro posted:

Marilyn Monroe was in the 1950 film "All About Eve". Although she's only in it for just under 3 minutes, it's a serious film role as George Sanders' protégé. "Don't Bother to Knock" would be her first leading role in a serious film

I watched "The Avengers" and "The Saint". By the way Honor Blackman was Cathy Gale in the early series of "The Avengers" and left to be in "Goldfinger".

Seen this one....it was very good, but then Bette Davis was a fabulous actress
I don't remember seeing Monroe in it though....

Vaguely remember Honor Blackman in the 'Avengers' ...my first real memories were with Diana Rigg as Emma Peel (one of Britain's sad losses last year )...
Also.. Countess Teresa di Vicenzo, wife of James Bond, in On Her Majesty's Secret Service .....

He did get about a bit didn't he, that Bond fella

Austrian salt miners enjoyed a diet of beer and blue cheese dating back up to 2,700 years, a new study has revealed.

I wonder if the blue cheese was designed to be so

Love blue cheese...proper blue cheese that is
Beer...not so much

@slimfern posted:

Seen this one....it was very good, but then Bette Davis was a fabulous actress
I don't remember seeing Monroe in it though....

Vaguely remember Honor Blackman in the 'Avengers' ...my first real memories were with Diana Rigg as Emma Peel (one of Britain's sad losses last year )...
Also.. Countess Teresa di Vicenzo, wife of James Bond, in On Her Majesty's Secret Service .....

He did get about a bit didn't he, that Bond fella

Like you, my first memories of The Avengers was the Diana Rigg (Mrs Emma Peel) series. It took time for "The Avengers" to develop into what we think of.  The original series had Ian Hendry as the lead with Patrick Macnee in support. At that time it didn't have the slightly surrealistic feel that we think of.

Diana Rigg was a very good actress and is a sad loss. She was chosen for "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" as they wanted a good actress to support George Lazenby who didn't have the depth that she had.

@El Loro posted:

Like you, my first memories of The Avengers was the Diana Rigg (Mrs Emma Peel) series. It took time for "The Avengers" to develop into what we think of.  The original series had Ian Hendry as the lead with Patrick Macnee in support. At that time it didn't have the slightly surrealistic feel that we think of.

Diana Rigg was a very good actress and is a sad loss. She was chosen for "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" as they wanted a good actress to support George Lazenby who didn't have the depth that she had.

Liked Patrick Macnee as Steed 
I never quite understood his sex appeal to the ladies....but then I was young and not really interested in stuff like that
They made a good team

@slimfern posted:

Liked Patrick Macnee as Steed 
I never quite understood his sex appeal to the ladies....but then I was young and not really interested in stuff like that
They made a good team

They certainly did

Diana Rigg made a company series in the States called "Diana". One of the episodes had Patrick Macnee as Bryan Harris.
I've found this extract from the episode, poor quality but quite interesting
You'll have to watch it on Youtube though:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzwR0vade5I

@El Loro posted:

Diana Rigg made a company series in the States called "Diana". One of the episodes had Patrick Macnee as Bryan Harris.
I've found this extract from the episode, poor quality but quite interesting
You'll have to watch it on Youtube though:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzwR0vade5I

Steed (Brian) says ''You're marvellous when you're angry....And I'm marvellous when we make up''
He did have a great way with words and a lovely smile

Shame about the quality of the video

Nighty night, sleep well, sweet dreams Buddies

night EL monsieee slim

Good morning everyone it's a mainly cloudy day today with a little sunny interlude this afternoon.

Enjoy your day everyone

Good morning everyone

Very cloudy here.

6 monthly dental check-up this morning,

I hope everyone has a good day

I watched "Don't Bother to Knock" last night and it's quite good.
It's closer to a psychological drama rather than a film noir.
Anne Bancroft plays a singer though she was dubbed in the film.

James Cagney's sister Jeanne plays Rochelle who is the telephone switchboard operator. Minor part, but you might notice her name in the credits and wonder who she was.

El, I hope your dental check went okay

Good morning Buddies

Its cold but the sun is trying to break through

The forecast is for cloudy with a high of just 12 degrees expected today

Have great day everyone

@Moonie posted:

El, I hope your dental check went okay

Thanks Moonie, I've just returned, nothing to report other than to book my next check-up in 6 months time

@El Loro posted:

Thanks Moonie, I've just returned, nothing to report other than to book my next check-up in 6 months time

That’s great news El

@El Loro posted:

I watched "Don't Bother to Knock" last night and it's quite good.
It's closer to a psychological drama rather than a film noir.
Anne Bancroft plays a singer though she was dubbed in the film.

James Cagney's sister Jeanne plays Rochelle who is the telephone switchboard operator. Minor part, but you might notice her name in the credits and wonder who she was.

I've got it on ready to watch in a bit
Few chores to do first

Glad to see your dental appt went well....hate the dentist not personally of course

@Moonie posted:

That’s great news El

@slimfern posted:

I've got it on ready to watch in a bit
Few chores to do first

Glad to see your dental appt went well....hate the dentist not personally of course

Thanks

RE 'Don't bother to knock'
Thought that part suited Marilyn Monroe really well....it was almost her normal ditzy role, but with the twist of it being her in a mental state rather than just a bit dumb I felt quite sorry for Nell, she clearly had unresolved issues.
Widmark came across as rather shallow to start with ....ended up liking him
Good film...thanks for the recommendation El

*edit
It did take me a little while to work out the layout....got confused when Widmark walked out to the elevator when he had just been at the window across from Monroe's ??? till I saw the map on the back of the room door.
It would be easy to think they were in opposite apartments

@slimfern posted:

RE 'Don't bother to knock'
Thought that part suited Marilyn Monroe really well....it was almost her normal ditzy role, but with the twist of it being her in a mental state rather than just a bit dumb I felt quite sorry for Nell, she clearly had unresolved issues.
Widmark came across as rather shallow to start with ....ended up liking him
Good film...thanks for the recommendation El

I agree completely with your comments Like you, I felt sorry for Nell, and Widmark showed a nicer side to his character at the end of the film.

Bit of trivia, in the book Nell's surname is Munro so they changed that to Forbes for obvious reasons

There's also a 1961 British comedy film called "Don't Bother to Knock", Haven't seen it and it doesn't seem worth looking out for it. Only reason for mentioning it is because it was directed by Cyril Frankel who did quite a lot of work on British TV series (The Champions, Department S, Randall and Hopkirk dec'd  etc) though only 1 episode of The Avengers.

@El Loro posted:

I agree completely with your comments Like you, I felt sorry for Nell, and Widmark showed a nicer side to his character at the end of the film.

Bit of trivia, in the book Nell's surname is Munro so they changed that to Forbes for obvious reasons

There's also a 1961 British comedy film called "Don't Bother to Knock", Haven't seen it and it doesn't seem worth looking out for it. Only reason for mentioning it is because it was directed by Cyril Frankel who did quite a lot of work on British TV series (The Champions, Department S, Randall and Hopkirk dec'd  etc) though only 1 episode of The Avengers.

I remember watching 'The Champions' a few times
It didn't have the same appeal as 'The Avengers', ....definitely watchable though.

Aiming to watch 'The ghost and Mrs Muir' this evening

A couple of 1950s comedy films on Talking Pictures this Sunday.
"Mister 880" (1950) is a gentle romantic comedy about a Secret Service Treasury Department agent (Burt Lancaster) hunting for a counterfeiter. Vaguely based on a real counterfeiter. It's a charming film.

"Monkey Business" (1952) is a Howard Hawks screwball comedy with Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, Marilyn Monroe and Charles Coburn. It's not as good as "Bringing Up Baby" (1938) and "His Girl Friday" (1940) (earlier Hawks/Grant) films but some of the scenes are very funny.

@slimfern posted:

I remember watching 'The Champions' a few times
It didn't have the same appeal as 'The Avengers', ....definitely watchable though.

Aiming to watch 'The ghost and Mrs Muir' this evening

I hope you like it as much as I do
Sweeping romantic music by Bernard Herrmann. Very early role for Natalie Wood as Mrs Muir's daughter.
Muir is Scottish Gaelic for sea.