I enjoy old movies. When everything was black and white. Linda always yells at me, "Will you put something on that's in color!" But that is not the black and white I mean. If you watch a western, the guy in the black hat was bad, the white hat good. There was always a definite dividing line between good and evil. Not true today. It hasn't been true for the past 50 years. Watch "Clockwork Orange" from 1971 and you'll be rooting for Alex, the charming bad guy. Go back to 1969 and you'll be cheering for Butch and Sundance. 1967 had us rooting for death row inmates in the Dirty Dozen.
Yet, in the 1950's and earlier, we knew who was bad and who was good on the silver screen. And we responded accordingly. We cheered Charlton Heston in 1958's "Touch of Evil" and booed when Orson Welles pulled his underhanded tricks. When William Holden tricked Gloria Swanson into hiding him and his car in 1950's Sunset Boulevard, we knew his dead floating body (which started the movie) was his just rewards. Even a little underhanded deserved the ultimate punishment. I cannot recall any 1940, or earlier, movie where someone is killed accidentally and the person responsible does not end up on death row. "I was driving and this guy jumped in front of my car." To which the law says, "Too bad, he died, it's the chair for you!"
Help any bad guy and by the end of the movie you will be dead. Even if you did not know he was a bad guy. Drop a nickle in a fake blind man's cup and a safe will fall on your noggin. Drop a nickle in real blind man's cup and the love of your life is waiting around the corner. It don't matter if you knew he was legitimately blind or not, you will pay the appropriate price.
That's why I love those old movies. Sex hadn't been invented yet. Everyone slept in a single bed only by themselves, except for the Three Stooges. Children were really brought by storks. Even innuendo was so vague you needed a microscope to see it.
Today I watched "Act of Violence" starring Robert Ryan, Van Heflin, Janet Leigh and Mary Astor. The story was after WWII where Ryan and Heflin had been in a POW camp, and Ryan wants revenge for Heflin telling the Nazis about an escape attempt. Right in the first few minutes, when this was revealed, I knew Heflin would die by the end of the flick. It didn't matter that Heflin was trying to save the POW's lives. Talking to the Nazis is a movie death sentence. This was a first time viewing for me, and I enjoyed the premise. It was every POW's responsibility to try and escape. Heflin sees the British try an escape and sees the Nazis kill a British POW for every escaped man. He then finds out Ryan and nine others are planning an escape. Heflin knows that the Nazis would kill ten of the remaining POW's when this occurs. He cannot talk Ryan out of the escape, so he tattles to the Nazis where they agree not to punish the men attempting the escape. Of course, the Nazis do not keep their word and when the escape happens, the Nazis are waiting and kill nine of them, Ryan is the tenth and is crippled in the escape attempt. It is then three years after the war and Heflin is with his wife, Janet Leigh, and their baby when Ryan finds him and wants revenge. So Heflin runs away and Ryan pursues. So what do you think should happen? Should Ryan gun down Heflin to avenge his fellow escapees? Should Heflin stop Ryan and be permitted to live out a post-war life with Janet Leigh? If Heflin does stop Ryan, should it be with Ryan's death? Ooh, the suspense!
Well, I already told you ending. Black and white, remember. When Heflin talked to the Nazis, he signed his own death warrant. Heflin dies saving Ryan's life. A predictable ending yet still a fascinating movie. It is worth a watch. One last note: Janet Leigh was twenty at the time and had a three year old baby. This means she was sixteen when Heflin impregnated her. Another big Hollywood no-no demanding a death sentence. I was surprised Janet did not die also.
Showing posts with label Idol Chatter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Idol Chatter. Show all posts
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
More Oscar Stuff
My Academy Award homework is complete. I have seen the last two movies, "Nebraska" and "Philomena," and my predictions have not altered, they remain the same. (click here for that posting: My Oscar Prophecy ) I shall now review the two additional films for you.
"Philomena" is a true story about the search of an elderly woman, Philomena played by Judi Dench, for the child she gave up for adoption 50 years earlier. Her daughter gets hold of a former BBC newsman, Martin Sixsmith portrayed by Steve Coogan, and convinces him that her mother's story is a book worth writing. Martin and Philomena make a sweet and sour investigative team. They start by setting focus on the convent that is still in operation. This particular Catholic convent takes in expectant girls, helps deliver and then find parents for the babies, and then have the girls work off the accrued debt. It takes five years of seven day, twelve hour, work weeks to clear the debt. While the babies still reside in the convent (before adoption) the mothers are allowed to spend one hour a day with them. Adoption could take place anywhere from a few weeks after birth to years later. Philomena's boy was almost 5 when the convent found parents. The qualifications for adopting a child is to be able to pay two thousand pounds. For this reason, many of the adopters came from America. The actress Jane Russell was one of these. As the movie progresses, varied discoveries come to light. Not only do we find out about the fate of Philomena's child, and secrets of the Catholic convent, but also Philomena and Martin peel back the layers of each other revealing their inner selves, much to their own surprise as to ours. It is very good movie but I don't believe it will be taking home any statuettes, for Best Movie or Best Actress. I thought Steve Coogan had the standout performance, though he was not nominated. He is exceptional playing a serious role. Before this I can only think of him in comedies.
"Nebraska" is what I consider a dramady, but is classified as an adventure drama. Bruce Dern plays Woody Grant, a retiree who receives in the mail a chance to win one million dollars from Publishers Clearinghouse. He neglects to understand the "chance to win" portion and believes he is the winner of one million dollars. Not wanting to trust the mail with delivering his winnings, Woody wants to pick up the prize in person. This is a 850 mile journey from his home in Billings, Montana, to Lincoln, Nebraska, the office of Publishers Clearinghouse. He keeps starting this trip on foot several times only to be picked up by one of his two sons, or the State Troopers and returned to his home. David, Woody's youngest, played by Will Forte, finally agrees to take time off from his job in an electronics store and drive his father to Nebraska. He knows Woody did not really win, but he figures he can use the time on their trip to get to know his father better. Along the way, the two stop at Woody's brother's house in Plainview, Nebraska. The majority of this movie happens in Plainview. This is where Woody grew up and most of the residents know him. The people of Plainview find out about Woody's winnings and no matter how hard David tries to convince them that it is not true, the more they are convinced it is. Soon everybody is looking to Woody for a handout. The comedic situations of "Nebraska" are equal to the drama slash adventure. I would recommend seeing this flick. I don't think it will win the Best Picture Oscar, and Bruce Dern, in my opinion, is second only to Matthew McConaughey for the Best Actor prize. That is a shame. In any other year, Dern would be a shoe-in. And I doubt many Oscar worthy scripts will be coming Bruce Dern's way in the near future. Although, we may be shocked and see Bruce take home the gold trophy by being the "sentimental" favorite. I don't like seeing Oscars awarded this way, but it does happen. (i.e.: Martin Landau, Christopher Plummer and Henry Fonda)
After watching "Nebraska" and "Philomena" I stay firm in my previous predictions. No changes other than Bruce Dern taking a strong number two spot for Best Actor.
"Philomena" is a true story about the search of an elderly woman, Philomena played by Judi Dench, for the child she gave up for adoption 50 years earlier. Her daughter gets hold of a former BBC newsman, Martin Sixsmith portrayed by Steve Coogan, and convinces him that her mother's story is a book worth writing. Martin and Philomena make a sweet and sour investigative team. They start by setting focus on the convent that is still in operation. This particular Catholic convent takes in expectant girls, helps deliver and then find parents for the babies, and then have the girls work off the accrued debt. It takes five years of seven day, twelve hour, work weeks to clear the debt. While the babies still reside in the convent (before adoption) the mothers are allowed to spend one hour a day with them. Adoption could take place anywhere from a few weeks after birth to years later. Philomena's boy was almost 5 when the convent found parents. The qualifications for adopting a child is to be able to pay two thousand pounds. For this reason, many of the adopters came from America. The actress Jane Russell was one of these. As the movie progresses, varied discoveries come to light. Not only do we find out about the fate of Philomena's child, and secrets of the Catholic convent, but also Philomena and Martin peel back the layers of each other revealing their inner selves, much to their own surprise as to ours. It is very good movie but I don't believe it will be taking home any statuettes, for Best Movie or Best Actress. I thought Steve Coogan had the standout performance, though he was not nominated. He is exceptional playing a serious role. Before this I can only think of him in comedies.
"Nebraska" is what I consider a dramady, but is classified as an adventure drama. Bruce Dern plays Woody Grant, a retiree who receives in the mail a chance to win one million dollars from Publishers Clearinghouse. He neglects to understand the "chance to win" portion and believes he is the winner of one million dollars. Not wanting to trust the mail with delivering his winnings, Woody wants to pick up the prize in person. This is a 850 mile journey from his home in Billings, Montana, to Lincoln, Nebraska, the office of Publishers Clearinghouse. He keeps starting this trip on foot several times only to be picked up by one of his two sons, or the State Troopers and returned to his home. David, Woody's youngest, played by Will Forte, finally agrees to take time off from his job in an electronics store and drive his father to Nebraska. He knows Woody did not really win, but he figures he can use the time on their trip to get to know his father better. Along the way, the two stop at Woody's brother's house in Plainview, Nebraska. The majority of this movie happens in Plainview. This is where Woody grew up and most of the residents know him. The people of Plainview find out about Woody's winnings and no matter how hard David tries to convince them that it is not true, the more they are convinced it is. Soon everybody is looking to Woody for a handout. The comedic situations of "Nebraska" are equal to the drama slash adventure. I would recommend seeing this flick. I don't think it will win the Best Picture Oscar, and Bruce Dern, in my opinion, is second only to Matthew McConaughey for the Best Actor prize. That is a shame. In any other year, Dern would be a shoe-in. And I doubt many Oscar worthy scripts will be coming Bruce Dern's way in the near future. Although, we may be shocked and see Bruce take home the gold trophy by being the "sentimental" favorite. I don't like seeing Oscars awarded this way, but it does happen. (i.e.: Martin Landau, Christopher Plummer and Henry Fonda)
After watching "Nebraska" and "Philomena" I stay firm in my previous predictions. No changes other than Bruce Dern taking a strong number two spot for Best Actor.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
And In This Corner, Mia
A divide has happened. Females 40 and younger vs. Males of all ages. In the 1950's is was Elvis or Pat Boone. In the 1960's it was the Beatles vs. Rolling Stones. In the 1970's it was Coke or Pepsi. In the 1980's it was Mac or DOS. 1990's had O.J., a framed innocent or a murderer. The 2000's George W or anybody else. Which brings us to today. Today we have Mia vs. Woody. If you are a female 40 years or younger, chances are you on the side of Mia and Dylan. Older men are on the side of Woody and Dylan.
What? How can both sides be for Dylan? Well, if her accusations are true, then good for her for speaking out. If her accusations are false memories implanted by Mia Farrow and Dylan believes them to be true, then good for her for speaking out. Child molestation should never be kept secret.
I've been digging up old articles from the 1990's when this crime supposedly was committed. From all that I have read, I am apt to think that Mia subjected her child to brain washing. We will never know 100% either way. But there is one article that I want to bring up. Did you know that because of Woody and Mia's joint adoptions, it has made it possible for unmarried people (both straight and gay) to adopt children So they did do something good together. Who would've thunk?
The following is a quote from the attorney who put through the adoption. It comes after Woody and Mia called it quits.
Because the court did not write and publish a decision, the magnitude of the case was not immediately appreciated. At the time, attorney Weltz had ambitions no greater than to legalize the care of two children in a solid, if unconventional, family. "It was the happiest day I ever had in court," he says. "A wonderful event. The judge gave the kids lollipops." But ask Weltz how he feels now, after the family has been riven by charges of betrayal and abuse, and he sounds like a morose King Solomon -- one who cunningly offered to split a child in two only to hear both putative parents say that was fine with them. He muses, "I knew not what we had done."
As far as Mia vs Woody, Woody may try to leave it in the past but it looks to me like Mia will keep jumping on that crusted up dog crap to release the pungent odor anew.
What? How can both sides be for Dylan? Well, if her accusations are true, then good for her for speaking out. If her accusations are false memories implanted by Mia Farrow and Dylan believes them to be true, then good for her for speaking out. Child molestation should never be kept secret.
I've been digging up old articles from the 1990's when this crime supposedly was committed. From all that I have read, I am apt to think that Mia subjected her child to brain washing. We will never know 100% either way. But there is one article that I want to bring up. Did you know that because of Woody and Mia's joint adoptions, it has made it possible for unmarried people (both straight and gay) to adopt children So they did do something good together. Who would've thunk?
The following is a quote from the attorney who put through the adoption. It comes after Woody and Mia called it quits.
Because the court did not write and publish a decision, the magnitude of the case was not immediately appreciated. At the time, attorney Weltz had ambitions no greater than to legalize the care of two children in a solid, if unconventional, family. "It was the happiest day I ever had in court," he says. "A wonderful event. The judge gave the kids lollipops." But ask Weltz how he feels now, after the family has been riven by charges of betrayal and abuse, and he sounds like a morose King Solomon -- one who cunningly offered to split a child in two only to hear both putative parents say that was fine with them. He muses, "I knew not what we had done."
As far as Mia vs Woody, Woody may try to leave it in the past but it looks to me like Mia will keep jumping on that crusted up dog crap to release the pungent odor anew.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
My Oscar Prophecy
I was browsing through this weeks Entertainment Weekly and decided to try my hand at fortune telling. The latest EW is mostly about the Academy Awards; "TheOscars." I shall predict what I feel will win and what I feel should win. There is a difference.
First, before my previsions, let me illuminate you on the Oscar. The following Oscar information is from Wikipedia:
Official Name: Academy Award® of Merit, Material: Britannia metal, plated in copper, nickel silver, and 24-karat gold; Height: 13½ inches, Weight: 8½ pounds, Number of Awards Presented: 2,809, First Recipient: Emil Jannings, named Best Actor for his performances in The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh in 1929, Design: A knight holding a crusader’s sword, standing on a reel of film. The film reel features five spokes, signifying the five original branches of the Academy (actors, directors, producers, technicians and writers), Designer: Cedric Gibbons, chief art director at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Sculptor: Los Angeles artist George Stanley, Manufacturer: R. S. Owens & Company in Chicago, Manufacturing Time: 3–4 weeks for 50 statuettes.
The name (Oscar) has a hazy origin. Bette Davis, Walt Disney, Academy's Executive Secretary Margaret Herrick, Columnist Sidney Skolsky, and Oscar Wilde all have claims to the naming. Nobody will know definitely the source of the name, yet we do know the naming officially occurred in 1939, over a decade after the first statuette was presented.
The first movie Oscar was for "Wings," the only silent movie ever to win best picture. In 2011, the best picture winner was for a nearly-complete-silent movie called "The Artist." "The Artist" is roughly 90% without dialogue. This year, 2014, the nominations for Best Picture are:
Anyway, my choice for Best Picture: "American Hustle" and my prediction for winner: "12 Years a Slave."
Next up is best actress. The following is the list of women who are nominated for the gold statuette.
Once again I have seen all but one, "Philomena." And once more my personal favorite and who I believe will win the Oscar are two different women. The actess who stretched her acting chops to a new and unique level is Meryl Streep. Meryl, the golden guy should be yours but since this is your 18th nomination, I do not think you will win. The person whom I believe will take home Oscar will be Sandra Bullock. Even though I think Sandy will be the worthy recipient of the Academy's choice (this was tough because it was a toss-up betwixt Sandy and Cate Blanchett), in my heart I still feel Meryl has the stronger performance. Way stronger.
My choice for Best Actress is Meryl Streep although my crystal ball proclaims Sandra Bullock as winner.
My prognostications in this post will be for best actor, actress, and picture. I cannot go further at the moment. Mayhap in the near future I will reveal more of my soothsaying. At this point I shall relay who I feel will win best actor and who I believe will win. The nominations for best actor are:
This time I have seen all movies except "Nebraska." Unlike my previous four predictions, this time I believe who I think will win and who I think the Academy will select will be the same man. To forego any further suspense I now will divulge my personal choice, and my choice of who I believe will actually receive the Oscar; Matthew McConaughey. "Dallas Buyers Club" is a great story, a true story, of a man's infection, fight to survive, and death sentence, from an incurable acronym. Matthew plays Ron Woodroof, a hetero-sexual told of his impending death. In 1985 Ron has contracted AIDS (we never find out from who) and refuses to give in to the Doctors 30 day estimate of life. He goes against medical advice, checks himself out of the hospital, and begins a search for a way to halt the disease. If not a complete stop, then at least a slowing down of the destruction. And he is partially successful. Being not the only one who is dying from AIDS, Ron decides to share his secrets and drugs (at a profit) with fellow sufferers. He partners with Rayon (portrayed by Jared Leto), a flaming transgender, who has the friends and acquaintances in the gay community who are, Rayon too, all HIV positive.
Well, I don't want to reveal too much of the movie. Lets say that the government, once again, tries to interfere with Ron, to halt someone who is actually doing good (be it at a profit for him), and force him to withdraw from his own working cure and go back to a government approved treatment that does more harm than good.
I sidetracked here. The portrayal of Ron Woodroof by Matthew McConaughey is seamless. For this role, Matt went as far as to lose 50 pounds for showing the devastation of AIDS. He became almost unrecognizable by the weight loss. The only other actors I can think of that have physically put themselves in harms way to portray a character, are:
There has to be more than these, but this sampling is an example how far an actor will go for his art. Matt McConaughey went this extra step for his art, and I believe the Academy will also reward him with this year's Best Actor Oscar.
So these are my choices. If you disagree with me, you can check back to this post after the March 2nd ceremony to see who was right. At that time one of us will get to scoff at the other.
First, before my previsions, let me illuminate you on the Oscar. The following Oscar information is from Wikipedia:
Official Name: Academy Award® of Merit, Material: Britannia metal, plated in copper, nickel silver, and 24-karat gold; Height: 13½ inches, Weight: 8½ pounds, Number of Awards Presented: 2,809, First Recipient: Emil Jannings, named Best Actor for his performances in The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh in 1929, Design: A knight holding a crusader’s sword, standing on a reel of film. The film reel features five spokes, signifying the five original branches of the Academy (actors, directors, producers, technicians and writers), Designer: Cedric Gibbons, chief art director at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Sculptor: Los Angeles artist George Stanley, Manufacturer: R. S. Owens & Company in Chicago, Manufacturing Time: 3–4 weeks for 50 statuettes.
The name (Oscar) has a hazy origin. Bette Davis, Walt Disney, Academy's Executive Secretary Margaret Herrick, Columnist Sidney Skolsky, and Oscar Wilde all have claims to the naming. Nobody will know definitely the source of the name, yet we do know the naming officially occurred in 1939, over a decade after the first statuette was presented.
The first movie Oscar was for "Wings," the only silent movie ever to win best picture. In 2011, the best picture winner was for a nearly-complete-silent movie called "The Artist." "The Artist" is roughly 90% without dialogue. This year, 2014, the nominations for Best Picture are:
- American Hustle
- Captain Phillips
- Dallas Buyers Club
- Gravity
- Her
- Nebraska
- Philomena
- 12 Years a Slave
- The Wolf of Wall Street
Anyway, my choice for Best Picture: "American Hustle" and my prediction for winner: "12 Years a Slave."
Next up is best actress. The following is the list of women who are nominated for the gold statuette.
- Amy Adams
- Cate Blanchett
- Sandra Bullock
- Judi Dench
- Meryl Streep
Once again I have seen all but one, "Philomena." And once more my personal favorite and who I believe will win the Oscar are two different women. The actess who stretched her acting chops to a new and unique level is Meryl Streep. Meryl, the golden guy should be yours but since this is your 18th nomination, I do not think you will win. The person whom I believe will take home Oscar will be Sandra Bullock. Even though I think Sandy will be the worthy recipient of the Academy's choice (this was tough because it was a toss-up betwixt Sandy and Cate Blanchett), in my heart I still feel Meryl has the stronger performance. Way stronger.
My choice for Best Actress is Meryl Streep although my crystal ball proclaims Sandra Bullock as winner.
My prognostications in this post will be for best actor, actress, and picture. I cannot go further at the moment. Mayhap in the near future I will reveal more of my soothsaying. At this point I shall relay who I feel will win best actor and who I believe will win. The nominations for best actor are:
- Christian Bale
- Bruce Dern
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Matthew McConaughey
This time I have seen all movies except "Nebraska." Unlike my previous four predictions, this time I believe who I think will win and who I think the Academy will select will be the same man. To forego any further suspense I now will divulge my personal choice, and my choice of who I believe will actually receive the Oscar; Matthew McConaughey. "Dallas Buyers Club" is a great story, a true story, of a man's infection, fight to survive, and death sentence, from an incurable acronym. Matthew plays Ron Woodroof, a hetero-sexual told of his impending death. In 1985 Ron has contracted AIDS (we never find out from who) and refuses to give in to the Doctors 30 day estimate of life. He goes against medical advice, checks himself out of the hospital, and begins a search for a way to halt the disease. If not a complete stop, then at least a slowing down of the destruction. And he is partially successful. Being not the only one who is dying from AIDS, Ron decides to share his secrets and drugs (at a profit) with fellow sufferers. He partners with Rayon (portrayed by Jared Leto), a flaming transgender, who has the friends and acquaintances in the gay community who are, Rayon too, all HIV positive.
Well, I don't want to reveal too much of the movie. Lets say that the government, once again, tries to interfere with Ron, to halt someone who is actually doing good (be it at a profit for him), and force him to withdraw from his own working cure and go back to a government approved treatment that does more harm than good.
I sidetracked here. The portrayal of Ron Woodroof by Matthew McConaughey is seamless. For this role, Matt went as far as to lose 50 pounds for showing the devastation of AIDS. He became almost unrecognizable by the weight loss. The only other actors I can think of that have physically put themselves in harms way to portray a character, are:
- Shelly Winters - gained weight for "Night of the Hunter" and continued to gain weight to match character description in her upcoming films. "The Poseidon Adventure" asked for an additional 25 pounds.
- Robert DiNiro - in "Raging Bull" intensily worked out to strengthen his body as the younger Jake LaMotta the boxer, and then gained 60 pounds to portray the older LaMotta, the nightclub owner.
- Donnie Wahlberg - cast as Vincent Grey in "The Sixth Sense" lost over 40 pounds to play the pivotal character of the movie.
- Tom Hanks - for "Cast Away" he gained weight to appear as the pudgy Chuck Noland in the first half of the movie and then lost over 50 pounds to shoot the second half as the healthier trimmed down and muscled version of his character.
- Christian Bale - lost over 70 pounds, to be skin and bones, for his portrayal of Trevor Reznik in "The Machinist." This is supposedly the record for extreme weight loss for a movie role.
There has to be more than these, but this sampling is an example how far an actor will go for his art. Matt McConaughey went this extra step for his art, and I believe the Academy will also reward him with this year's Best Actor Oscar.
So these are my choices. If you disagree with me, you can check back to this post after the March 2nd ceremony to see who was right. At that time one of us will get to scoff at the other.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
"The Future Ain't What It Used To Be"
The title of this post, "The Future Ain't What It Used To Be," is a quote attributed to Yogi Berra, the famous catcher for the New York Yankees. He also managed the New York Mets in between his Yankee managing days. Of course, his managing days followed his playing days. The years he spent working for a New York ball club spanned from 1946 to 1985. Playing from `46 until `63. Managing from `64 until `85.
"The reason I am writing about Yogi is because I just found out he is still alive. "Yogi Lives!" Now that would be a great name for a movie. I should have titled this post "Yogi Lives!" but its too late for that. I already used the "...future..." quote. Yogi was a very quotable fellow. Perhaps he still is. I just haven't heard anything from or about him for years. Here is an assortment of my favorite Yogi-isms:
"You can observe a lot by watching"
"Nobody goes there anymore, its too crowded"
"It ain't over til its over"
"It gets late early out here"
"Never answer an anonymous letter"
"I really didn't say everything I said"
"Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't go to yours"
...and the oft-quoted...
"When I was small and played pick-up baseball games, this was back in the early 1960's, a ritual was always performed by us before starting a game. We would state a name of a professional ballplayer who we would be representing. If your position was outfielder, you claim to be a famous outfielder such as Al Kaline. I would generally play catcher so if I got to select my doppelganger first I would be Dick Brown. (Bet you thought I was gonna say Yogi Berra. Remember, I am from the Detroit Suburbs, and the Tigers were number one on any of our lists.) Yet sometimes, I was slower than the opposing team's catcher and he would select Dick Brown before I, thus leaving me to choose an alternative. The number two catcher to be (~in the magnificent City of Center Line~) was Yogi Berra. For the curious, if Al Kaline was taken, the next best was Rocky Colavito, also a Tiger at the time. So you did not have to leave the Tiger's for a second choice. It was just that Yogi was so good. The Tiger catcher selections were Dick Brown and Mike Roarke, names that go down in history see-sawing back and forth as to which is the more forgettable. (Okay, I realize that Bill Freehan was also a catcher for the Tigers, and he was quite good, but for the purpose of this post, let's put Bill on the back burner and pretend his name was never brought up.)
Our teams never had enough players. We would close out one of the outfields and right field became foul territory. Both sides together numbered ten players, five on each side. Nine Tigers and Yogi Berra would composed our roster. This not only should demonstrate our love for the Tigers, but our respect and admiration for Yogi Berra. To further illustrate, a kid would rather be Jake Wood than Mickey Mantle. Tiger Jake was little more than a base-stealer while Mickey remains one of the most popular Yankees of all time.
So anyway, today I found out that Yogi is still with us at eighty-eight years of age. I still adhere his advice about life: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
"The reason I am writing about Yogi is because I just found out he is still alive. "Yogi Lives!" Now that would be a great name for a movie. I should have titled this post "Yogi Lives!" but its too late for that. I already used the "...future..." quote. Yogi was a very quotable fellow. Perhaps he still is. I just haven't heard anything from or about him for years. Here is an assortment of my favorite Yogi-isms:
"You can observe a lot by watching"
"Nobody goes there anymore, its too crowded"
"It ain't over til its over"
"It gets late early out here"
"Never answer an anonymous letter"
"I really didn't say everything I said"
"Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't go to yours"
...and the oft-quoted...
"Its deja vu all over again"
"When I was small and played pick-up baseball games, this was back in the early 1960's, a ritual was always performed by us before starting a game. We would state a name of a professional ballplayer who we would be representing. If your position was outfielder, you claim to be a famous outfielder such as Al Kaline. I would generally play catcher so if I got to select my doppelganger first I would be Dick Brown. (Bet you thought I was gonna say Yogi Berra. Remember, I am from the Detroit Suburbs, and the Tigers were number one on any of our lists.) Yet sometimes, I was slower than the opposing team's catcher and he would select Dick Brown before I, thus leaving me to choose an alternative. The number two catcher to be (~in the magnificent City of Center Line~) was Yogi Berra. For the curious, if Al Kaline was taken, the next best was Rocky Colavito, also a Tiger at the time. So you did not have to leave the Tiger's for a second choice. It was just that Yogi was so good. The Tiger catcher selections were Dick Brown and Mike Roarke, names that go down in history see-sawing back and forth as to which is the more forgettable. (Okay, I realize that Bill Freehan was also a catcher for the Tigers, and he was quite good, but for the purpose of this post, let's put Bill on the back burner and pretend his name was never brought up.)
Our teams never had enough players. We would close out one of the outfields and right field became foul territory. Both sides together numbered ten players, five on each side. Nine Tigers and Yogi Berra would composed our roster. This not only should demonstrate our love for the Tigers, but our respect and admiration for Yogi Berra. To further illustrate, a kid would rather be Jake Wood than Mickey Mantle. Tiger Jake was little more than a base-stealer while Mickey remains one of the most popular Yankees of all time.
So anyway, today I found out that Yogi is still with us at eighty-eight years of age. I still adhere his advice about life: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Hello, I Must Be Going
Thirty-five years ago today Groucho Marx took his last breath. He was a month and an half shy of his eighty-seventh birthday. It was the only known time Groucho was shy about anything.
In the 1940's when "You Bet Your Life" was hosted by Groucho on the radio a contestant stated he was the father of 15 children. To which Groucho replied, "Well, I like my cigar, but I take it out of my mouth every once in a while."
Groucho, along with his brothers Chico, Harpo and Gummo started the Marx Brothers comedy act in 1912. They played the vaudeville circuit across America. They were on a less popular circuit than the headliners of the day. Today you could compare this to a rock band playing bars instead of stadiums. They played all the small towns throughout the U.S.A., leaving the big cities to acts such as W.C.Fields and Harry Houdini. When they completed one tour and would be ready to start another, they would write fresh material. Sometimes this was a rush job. That happened in 1914 when they forgot to write dialogue for Harpo. Harpo went on stage and did pantomime and Groucho ad-libbed jokes along with Chico. The performance was hilarious lunacy and the Marx Brothers never looked back. Their on the spot pandemonium was the hit of the day and their careers skyrocketed. They got top billing and played all the major cities to sold-out crowds.
In 1917, when we entered the Great War (It was not known as World War I until World War II) Gummo enlisted in the armed forces, and the youngest brother, Zeppo, replaced him in the act. Zeppo had a great singing voice and added the final dimension to what we see in the early Marx Brothers movies. With Zeppo the Marxes were now ready for Broadway. So a Broadway play was written for them. This was quite a big deal. Broadway plays were seldom wrote for individual performers. Generally the parts were written and then auditions were used to find suitable actors. The roles of their first Broadway appearance were written for each brother individually. And the brothers re-wrote their roles to give it that classic rehearsed spontaneity that made the Marx Brothers such a unique act.
Groucho was called Groucho because he carried a grouch bag around his neck. A grouch bag was what people used to keep their money. He was extremely frugal and had saved hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the mid-1920s, Groucho invested all his savings in the stock market. Needless to say, the stock market crash of 29 bankrupted Groucho and the boys. In order to make some quick money, they signed a deal with Hollywood and began filming their stage hits. If you have ever seen a Marx Brother movie that had Zeppo, then you saw a repeat performance of one of their Broadway plays. Zeppo felt he was not up to the talent his brothers demonstrated so he left the comedy team to become their manager. He remained Groucho's manager until Groucho's death thirty-five years ago today.
Zeppo set up a meeting for his brothers with Irving Thalberg, the wiz kid producer. Thalberg arranged scripting an A list movie for the boys. He considered the Marx Brothers the best comedians of the day and pulled no stops in producing "A Night At The Opera." Originally the studio heads were upset with Thalberg spending so much money on lavish sets and production, they thought the Marxes had peaked years earlier, and could not understand starring them in an "A" feature. But when the movie was released and it brought in the most money out of any movie MGM put out in 1935, they never bickered again about Thalberg's Marx Brother projects. Thalberg only lived to see one more Marx Brother movie; "A Day At The Races." He died of a heart attack while his "A Night In Casablanca" was being turned into a script. Those three films are considered the best of all Marx Brother movies.
During the 30s and 40s, Groucho was a frequent guest on radio programs. On a Bob Hope radio show in the mid 1940s, Bob and Groucho were performing from an open script. Hope accidently dropped his script, so Groucho threw his away. The two began ad-libbing for the next 15 minutes. The verbal joust was so funny, that a listener named John Guedel got an idea for a game show featuring Groucho. It was called "You Bet Your Life." It took quite a bit of coaxing to get Groucho to agree to do the show. He couldn't see the public wanting to listen to him interviewing contestants. But he was finally talked into it and "You Bet Your Life" played a few years on radio before converting over to TV in 1950. It stayed on TV for twelve years. The public loved Groucho as host.
Groucho was a familiar guest on television throughout the 60's. If the TV guide listed Groucho as a guest on Johnny Carson or Mike Douglas or Merv Griffin or Dinah Shore or Dick Cavett or anywhere else, I would make it a point to be in front of the set when it aired.
I shall leave you now with one last Groucho quote.
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
In the 1940's when "You Bet Your Life" was hosted by Groucho on the radio a contestant stated he was the father of 15 children. To which Groucho replied, "Well, I like my cigar, but I take it out of my mouth every once in a while."
Groucho, along with his brothers Chico, Harpo and Gummo started the Marx Brothers comedy act in 1912. They played the vaudeville circuit across America. They were on a less popular circuit than the headliners of the day. Today you could compare this to a rock band playing bars instead of stadiums. They played all the small towns throughout the U.S.A., leaving the big cities to acts such as W.C.Fields and Harry Houdini. When they completed one tour and would be ready to start another, they would write fresh material. Sometimes this was a rush job. That happened in 1914 when they forgot to write dialogue for Harpo. Harpo went on stage and did pantomime and Groucho ad-libbed jokes along with Chico. The performance was hilarious lunacy and the Marx Brothers never looked back. Their on the spot pandemonium was the hit of the day and their careers skyrocketed. They got top billing and played all the major cities to sold-out crowds.
In 1917, when we entered the Great War (It was not known as World War I until World War II) Gummo enlisted in the armed forces, and the youngest brother, Zeppo, replaced him in the act. Zeppo had a great singing voice and added the final dimension to what we see in the early Marx Brothers movies. With Zeppo the Marxes were now ready for Broadway. So a Broadway play was written for them. This was quite a big deal. Broadway plays were seldom wrote for individual performers. Generally the parts were written and then auditions were used to find suitable actors. The roles of their first Broadway appearance were written for each brother individually. And the brothers re-wrote their roles to give it that classic rehearsed spontaneity that made the Marx Brothers such a unique act.
Groucho was called Groucho because he carried a grouch bag around his neck. A grouch bag was what people used to keep their money. He was extremely frugal and had saved hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the mid-1920s, Groucho invested all his savings in the stock market. Needless to say, the stock market crash of 29 bankrupted Groucho and the boys. In order to make some quick money, they signed a deal with Hollywood and began filming their stage hits. If you have ever seen a Marx Brother movie that had Zeppo, then you saw a repeat performance of one of their Broadway plays. Zeppo felt he was not up to the talent his brothers demonstrated so he left the comedy team to become their manager. He remained Groucho's manager until Groucho's death thirty-five years ago today.
Zeppo set up a meeting for his brothers with Irving Thalberg, the wiz kid producer. Thalberg arranged scripting an A list movie for the boys. He considered the Marx Brothers the best comedians of the day and pulled no stops in producing "A Night At The Opera." Originally the studio heads were upset with Thalberg spending so much money on lavish sets and production, they thought the Marxes had peaked years earlier, and could not understand starring them in an "A" feature. But when the movie was released and it brought in the most money out of any movie MGM put out in 1935, they never bickered again about Thalberg's Marx Brother projects. Thalberg only lived to see one more Marx Brother movie; "A Day At The Races." He died of a heart attack while his "A Night In Casablanca" was being turned into a script. Those three films are considered the best of all Marx Brother movies.
During the 30s and 40s, Groucho was a frequent guest on radio programs. On a Bob Hope radio show in the mid 1940s, Bob and Groucho were performing from an open script. Hope accidently dropped his script, so Groucho threw his away. The two began ad-libbing for the next 15 minutes. The verbal joust was so funny, that a listener named John Guedel got an idea for a game show featuring Groucho. It was called "You Bet Your Life." It took quite a bit of coaxing to get Groucho to agree to do the show. He couldn't see the public wanting to listen to him interviewing contestants. But he was finally talked into it and "You Bet Your Life" played a few years on radio before converting over to TV in 1950. It stayed on TV for twelve years. The public loved Groucho as host.
Groucho was a familiar guest on television throughout the 60's. If the TV guide listed Groucho as a guest on Johnny Carson or Mike Douglas or Merv Griffin or Dinah Shore or Dick Cavett or anywhere else, I would make it a point to be in front of the set when it aired.
I shall leave you now with one last Groucho quote.
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Candle Blew Out Long Ago...
Fifty years ago today was the last day of Marilyn Monroe's life. I've been watching TMC. They have been airing her movies all day. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes just ended. Here's a still from the movie:
Charles Coburn was one of the luckiest men on the planet back in 1953. What gentleman wouldn't want to be the filling in that cookie? (..."meat in that sandwich?") Whatever You catch my drift.
Here's what I know about "Gentlemen.Prefer Blondes." It was a Howard Hawks film. Hawks took a break from his regular style and featured women in the lead roles instead of men. His favorite starring actor was John Wayne although he also worked with Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and the like. Lot of heavyweights. Hawks did not get along with Monroe because he was fastidious about time and Marilyn always showed up late causing delay after delay in his shooting schedule. The reason Monroe was always late was because she was camera shy. It took her a good portion of the morning to work up the nerve to perform.
During the filming of GPB the press was anticipating cat fights between Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe. Two top stars trying to outshine each other. This never occurred. When Russell found out the reason for Monroe's tardiness, she took it upon herself to help Marilyn. Jane would spend her mornings encouraging Marilyn and they began walking to the set together. They became the best of friends.
It was this movie that skyrocketed Marilyn's celebrity. She was paid $18,000 in total, $1,500 a week for 12 weeks work. Jane Russell was paid around $150,000 for her performance. It would still be a couple years before Marilyn's contract would be renegotiated and her salary would enter the hundred thousand dollar range.
The one line of dialogue Marilyn hated but proved her acting ability by reciting to perfection was "I can be smart when it's important, but most men don't like it." The line made her cringe when she first read it and it took her days of rehearsal to say it in the manner it was intended. Monroe portrayed the "dumb blonde" stereotype so convincingly, it was hard for her to be taken seriously. The truth was that Marilyn Monroe was a lot smarter than the average person. She would have to be in order to consort with her future husband Arthur Miller. No slouch he.
Jane Russell, Charles Coburn, Marilyn Monroe
Here's what I know about "Gentlemen.Prefer Blondes." It was a Howard Hawks film. Hawks took a break from his regular style and featured women in the lead roles instead of men. His favorite starring actor was John Wayne although he also worked with Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and the like. Lot of heavyweights. Hawks did not get along with Monroe because he was fastidious about time and Marilyn always showed up late causing delay after delay in his shooting schedule. The reason Monroe was always late was because she was camera shy. It took her a good portion of the morning to work up the nerve to perform.
During the filming of GPB the press was anticipating cat fights between Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe. Two top stars trying to outshine each other. This never occurred. When Russell found out the reason for Monroe's tardiness, she took it upon herself to help Marilyn. Jane would spend her mornings encouraging Marilyn and they began walking to the set together. They became the best of friends.
It was this movie that skyrocketed Marilyn's celebrity. She was paid $18,000 in total, $1,500 a week for 12 weeks work. Jane Russell was paid around $150,000 for her performance. It would still be a couple years before Marilyn's contract would be renegotiated and her salary would enter the hundred thousand dollar range.
The one line of dialogue Marilyn hated but proved her acting ability by reciting to perfection was "I can be smart when it's important, but most men don't like it." The line made her cringe when she first read it and it took her days of rehearsal to say it in the manner it was intended. Monroe portrayed the "dumb blonde" stereotype so convincingly, it was hard for her to be taken seriously. The truth was that Marilyn Monroe was a lot smarter than the average person. She would have to be in order to consort with her future husband Arthur Miller. No slouch he.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Another Great One Gone
Every now and there is someone's death who should not affect me but yet does. When Peter Falk died last week, I felt a real loss. I have enjoyed Peter Falk ever since I seen Robin and the Seven Hoods. He portrayed Guy Gisborne. After that I would notice him as a guest star on various television programs. He always stood out; an unintentional scene stealer.. Then he became Columbo. Not only was he my favorite TV cop, he was also my parent's favorite. But he was more than a humble rumpled crime solver. He was the story teller in "The Princess Bride" and the story writer in "Tune in Tomorrow." "Tune in Tomorrow" is one of the best Radio Soap Opera satires that has been written, and the success of the movie is mostly on his shoulders.
As a comedic actor he was tops. Watch him play the Sam Spade parody in "Murder by Death." Or as Paul Reiser's father in "The Thing About My Folks." He's fantastic as the title character in Elmore Leonard's "Pronto." He also shines as the 100 year old Rocky Holzchek in "Roommates." This one is a true story.
When Peter first tried to get into the movies, he met with legendary Harry Cohn. President of Columbia Pictures. Cohn told Peter, "Why should I hire you, when I can hire another actor with two eyes for the same price?" This determined Peter even more to break into the movies. Whereas Cohn thought nobody would be interested in a one-eyed actor, the public reacted in the opposite way. Peter had lost his left right eye to cancer when he was three years old. Being so young, he never looked at it as a handicap, and he proved his merit right as well, if not better, than everyone else.
As a guest on Craig Kilborn's show in 1999, Kilborn ask Peter to "Use the words 'Falk' and 'you' in a sentence". Falk chuckled a bit, touched his nose, and replied simply: "Falk . . . you!"
As a comedic actor he was tops. Watch him play the Sam Spade parody in "Murder by Death." Or as Paul Reiser's father in "The Thing About My Folks." He's fantastic as the title character in Elmore Leonard's "Pronto." He also shines as the 100 year old Rocky Holzchek in "Roommates." This one is a true story.
When Peter first tried to get into the movies, he met with legendary Harry Cohn. President of Columbia Pictures. Cohn told Peter, "Why should I hire you, when I can hire another actor with two eyes for the same price?" This determined Peter even more to break into the movies. Whereas Cohn thought nobody would be interested in a one-eyed actor, the public reacted in the opposite way. Peter had lost his left right eye to cancer when he was three years old. Being so young, he never looked at it as a handicap, and he proved his merit right as well, if not better, than everyone else.
As a guest on Craig Kilborn's show in 1999, Kilborn ask Peter to "Use the words 'Falk' and 'you' in a sentence". Falk chuckled a bit, touched his nose, and replied simply: "Falk . . . you!"
Friday, January 7, 2011
Star of Stage, Screen and Radio
If William Claude Dukenfield was still alive, he would be celebrating his 125th birthday this month. Unfortunately he died on Christmas Day 1946. Not just before I was born, but before my parents ever met. Still, I know his tale in more detail than my own. I can visualize the endless days he spent learning to juggle in the 1880s and 90s. I can't juggle, but I do have a juggler vein. I can empathize with his terror as his father would go into drunken rages and beat the boy. I can share his victory in the mid-1890s when he stood up to his father, winning the brawl, and leaving home for good.
He may have left his parents abode, but he stayed in touch with his mother. William sent her money regularly when he his talent was realized and he began getting paid extremely well. He started out working in vaudeville in 1896 as a juggler/stage hand. As time went by, he did less cleaning up and more performing. By the turn of the 20th century, Bill Dukenfield was one of the most famous jugglers in America. As his talent grew, so did his celebrity.
By 1910, he was a world famous juggler, husband and father. In that order. He married his assistant Harriet in 1900 and the two of them traveled the world with Bill Dukenfield headlining in every theater he performed. In 1904 Harriet, his wife, gave birth to their only heir, a son. Harriet stayed in the States raising the boy while Bill continued to tour the planet. The two remained married until his death, yet they never resided together again.
Around 1910, William Claude Dukenfield known on stage as W.C.Fields, added a trick pool table to his act. He had a mirror angled overhead for the audience to view. He was trying to keep his act fresh. He also added a car that would fall about on cue. (Charlie Chapman, Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, and many more all used the break-apart car. W.C. was the originator.) Audiences loved him, yet he felt he wasn't giving enough. Up until 1912, Bill never spoke on stage. His first line was an ad lib. During his performance one night, behind the curtains someone knocked over something and made a loud crash. Bill winced, pulled up his shoulders and said "Drat. Mice!" It was the biggest laugh he had had up to this point in his life. And he liked it. The accidental crash became part of his act.
Soon he discovered that when he goofed up juggling and made some under the breath remark, the audience roared. He kept adding more and more lines to his juggling act, and less juggling. By 1915, when Bill was 35, he started the second career of his life as a stand up comic. He headlined Ziegfeld's Follies for many years as a comedian juggler. Flo Ziegfeld and W.C.Fields were constantly at each other's throat. Ziegfeld insisted having one of his girls (Ziegfeld Follies was well known to have the most beautiful women) walk across the stage while Bill was doing his act. The chorus girl would be walking a greyhound, both of them strutting their stuff, right in front of Bill. Not one to be upstaged, Bill remarks to the lady, "Nice horse you have there." The audience laughed and Ziegfeld got angry. He did not like having his girls being the butt of a joke. Since W.C. had a contract, the only thing Ziegfeld could do in retaliation was to keep Fields off the stage. He could keep him out of the public eye but he still had to keep paying him. In 1921 W.C.Fields was the highest paid performer not performing anywhere.
After his time was through with Ziegfeld, W.C. left vaudeville to star on Broadway. He was in several plays, the most notable was "Poppy." In 1925, he reprised his Poppy role for the silent film "Sally of the Sawdust." Beginning a film career at 45, Bill became a hit of the silent screen. All of his dialog from vaudeville went into a trunk waiting for the pictures to speak.
In 1930, as talkies became the vogue, W.C. took on a new film persona; the child hating, animal loathing drunk. Usually if an actor kicks a child in the rear, the audience will boo and his. When W.C. would do so, the audience cheered him on.
Up until his 40's, W.C. was a teetotaler. When his character was known for being drunk, W.C. was merely a social drinker. But by 1935, the fiction became a reality. Bill Fields was a full fledged alcoholic. His drinking interfered with his movie career. He started missing a lot of time on the lots. In these periods, W.C. took to recording monologues at his home. These were sold to radio. Because of being too intoxicated to appear on film, W.C. became a radio star.
One of the most popular radio actors of the time was Edgar Bergen. This I don't understand. Edgar Bergen was a ventriloquist... on the radio. One of his dummies was named Charlie McCarthy. W.C. and Charlie would verbally duel regularly on the radio. W.C. did get some good laughs at Charlie's expense, although the dummy would usually triumph over Fields.
The majority of Fields performances for the last five years of his life was on the radio. He wrote all his own material. In fact, the only piece I know that W.C. did not rewrite in his own style was the role of Micawber in the movie "David Copperfield." W.C. had a heartfelt respect for Charles Dickens and would not veer from the authors words. Fields, throughout his entire life, was an avid reader. He traipsed steamer trunks full of books all over the world during his vaudeville days. He had a love for language and studied the dictionary religiously. He lacked a formal education, never entering high school, yet he was self-taught to such a degree that he could hold his own with college professors.
It was a misconception that Fields hated children. In his last years in Hollywood, he anonymously donated countless gifts every Christmas to Children's Hospitals. Yet, there is one child he was not so fond of; Baby Leroy, a child actor in several of his movies. There was scene where he was suppose to hold the baby for about a half minute. The child would not cooperate; he kept squirming and crying ruining take after take. Finally W.C. started dipping the baby's pacifier in gin. After sucking on the pacifier for a few minutes, the baby staggered through the scene like a Barrymore. At the end of the shoot, Baby Leroy fell deep asleep and W.C. remarked, "Kid just can't hold his liquor."
There are many movie roles that W.C. turned down over the years. The one role that may have been a mistake for him to turn down was "The Wizard of Oz." The script was written with him in mind to play the Wizard. It was filled by Frank Morgan. There reason Bill turned it down is disputed. Some claim he refused the role because there was not enough screen time. Others say it was because the studio would not meet his salary demands. The Wizard of Oz is a movie classic. Imagine how more it would be if W.C. had heralded over Oz.
He may have left his parents abode, but he stayed in touch with his mother. William sent her money regularly when he his talent was realized and he began getting paid extremely well. He started out working in vaudeville in 1896 as a juggler/stage hand. As time went by, he did less cleaning up and more performing. By the turn of the 20th century, Bill Dukenfield was one of the most famous jugglers in America. As his talent grew, so did his celebrity.
By 1910, he was a world famous juggler, husband and father. In that order. He married his assistant Harriet in 1900 and the two of them traveled the world with Bill Dukenfield headlining in every theater he performed. In 1904 Harriet, his wife, gave birth to their only heir, a son. Harriet stayed in the States raising the boy while Bill continued to tour the planet. The two remained married until his death, yet they never resided together again.
Around 1910, William Claude Dukenfield known on stage as W.C.Fields, added a trick pool table to his act. He had a mirror angled overhead for the audience to view. He was trying to keep his act fresh. He also added a car that would fall about on cue. (Charlie Chapman, Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, and many more all used the break-apart car. W.C. was the originator.) Audiences loved him, yet he felt he wasn't giving enough. Up until 1912, Bill never spoke on stage. His first line was an ad lib. During his performance one night, behind the curtains someone knocked over something and made a loud crash. Bill winced, pulled up his shoulders and said "Drat. Mice!" It was the biggest laugh he had had up to this point in his life. And he liked it. The accidental crash became part of his act.
Soon he discovered that when he goofed up juggling and made some under the breath remark, the audience roared. He kept adding more and more lines to his juggling act, and less juggling. By 1915, when Bill was 35, he started the second career of his life as a stand up comic. He headlined Ziegfeld's Follies for many years as a comedian juggler. Flo Ziegfeld and W.C.Fields were constantly at each other's throat. Ziegfeld insisted having one of his girls (Ziegfeld Follies was well known to have the most beautiful women) walk across the stage while Bill was doing his act. The chorus girl would be walking a greyhound, both of them strutting their stuff, right in front of Bill. Not one to be upstaged, Bill remarks to the lady, "Nice horse you have there." The audience laughed and Ziegfeld got angry. He did not like having his girls being the butt of a joke. Since W.C. had a contract, the only thing Ziegfeld could do in retaliation was to keep Fields off the stage. He could keep him out of the public eye but he still had to keep paying him. In 1921 W.C.Fields was the highest paid performer not performing anywhere.
After his time was through with Ziegfeld, W.C. left vaudeville to star on Broadway. He was in several plays, the most notable was "Poppy." In 1925, he reprised his Poppy role for the silent film "Sally of the Sawdust." Beginning a film career at 45, Bill became a hit of the silent screen. All of his dialog from vaudeville went into a trunk waiting for the pictures to speak.
In 1930, as talkies became the vogue, W.C. took on a new film persona; the child hating, animal loathing drunk. Usually if an actor kicks a child in the rear, the audience will boo and his. When W.C. would do so, the audience cheered him on.
Up until his 40's, W.C. was a teetotaler. When his character was known for being drunk, W.C. was merely a social drinker. But by 1935, the fiction became a reality. Bill Fields was a full fledged alcoholic. His drinking interfered with his movie career. He started missing a lot of time on the lots. In these periods, W.C. took to recording monologues at his home. These were sold to radio. Because of being too intoxicated to appear on film, W.C. became a radio star.
One of the most popular radio actors of the time was Edgar Bergen. This I don't understand. Edgar Bergen was a ventriloquist... on the radio. One of his dummies was named Charlie McCarthy. W.C. and Charlie would verbally duel regularly on the radio. W.C. did get some good laughs at Charlie's expense, although the dummy would usually triumph over Fields.
The majority of Fields performances for the last five years of his life was on the radio. He wrote all his own material. In fact, the only piece I know that W.C. did not rewrite in his own style was the role of Micawber in the movie "David Copperfield." W.C. had a heartfelt respect for Charles Dickens and would not veer from the authors words. Fields, throughout his entire life, was an avid reader. He traipsed steamer trunks full of books all over the world during his vaudeville days. He had a love for language and studied the dictionary religiously. He lacked a formal education, never entering high school, yet he was self-taught to such a degree that he could hold his own with college professors.
It was a misconception that Fields hated children. In his last years in Hollywood, he anonymously donated countless gifts every Christmas to Children's Hospitals. Yet, there is one child he was not so fond of; Baby Leroy, a child actor in several of his movies. There was scene where he was suppose to hold the baby for about a half minute. The child would not cooperate; he kept squirming and crying ruining take after take. Finally W.C. started dipping the baby's pacifier in gin. After sucking on the pacifier for a few minutes, the baby staggered through the scene like a Barrymore. At the end of the shoot, Baby Leroy fell deep asleep and W.C. remarked, "Kid just can't hold his liquor."
There are many movie roles that W.C. turned down over the years. The one role that may have been a mistake for him to turn down was "The Wizard of Oz." The script was written with him in mind to play the Wizard. It was filled by Frank Morgan. There reason Bill turned it down is disputed. Some claim he refused the role because there was not enough screen time. Others say it was because the studio would not meet his salary demands. The Wizard of Oz is a movie classic. Imagine how more it would be if W.C. had heralded over Oz.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
The Ghost of New Year's Past
Looks like the first decade of the first century of the second millennium is about complete. As my friends, the kangaroos say, "Have a hoppy new year."
Allow me to talk about auld lang syne. When I refer to auld lang syne, I do not mean the stroke of midnight, January 1st song. I am using the phrase for it's actual meaning; "times past fondly remembered." So without further delay I set the wayback machine to the last day of the year 1959.
The new 50 star flags have been ordered and will soon replace the 48 starred ones in all our school rooms. Eisenhower is entering the final year of his presidency. Vice-President Nixon has thrown his hat in the ring to be Ike's replacement. Senator Kennedy, with his father's help, will challenge the VP in the upcoming year. Russia is winning the Space Race being first to have orbited an artificial satellite around the planet. They will also be first to send a man into orbit within the next two years.
Bud Abbott will enter 1960 without his partner Lou Costello. Actors Errol Flynn, Victor McLaglen and TV's Superman. George Reeves will not be around to greet the sixties. Rock and Rollers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper also made their exit in 1959.
The only death that had a effect on me was that of Alfalfa from the Little Rascals. They use to show the Little Rascal shorts everyday. I was only six and thought the Rascals were around my age. I had yet to grasp the concept of rerun ad nauseum. When I heard Alfalfa had died, I thought it was the boy that had died, not the 32 year old actor Carl Switzer. It was quite upsetting.
On December 31st, 1959, I was being babysat by our neighbor, Carol. My parents had gone out for the night. My parents had told Carol it would be alright if I stayed up until midnight, but I was to go to bed right after. I was so excited. This would be the first New Year I would usher in. Not only a new year, but a new decade! I knew it would be fantastic. Carol had Guy Lombardo on the television. Guy Lombardo was the original Dick Clark. Carol told me when the countdown to 1960 began and I ran to the window. As cheers and applause and noisemakers rang out of the television, I was staring up at the sky. Where were the fireworks? Why wasn't the sky lighting up? I had envisioned the entire sky exploding into bright letters announcing 1960. I had anticipated parades and bands on every street of the city, yet nothing happened. The world of Center Line, Michigan, remained calm without a ripple of noise nor a single waving sparkler to greet the new decade. Very disappointing. Very Y2K.
If I had paid closer attention to who had passed away in 59, I would have understood why the New Year was not a big production. 1959 was also the year that Cecil B. DeMille had died.
The only death that had a effect on me was that of Alfalfa from the Little Rascals. They use to show the Little Rascal shorts everyday. I was only six and thought the Rascals were around my age. I had yet to grasp the concept of rerun ad nauseum. When I heard Alfalfa had died, I thought it was the boy that had died, not the 32 year old actor Carl Switzer. It was quite upsetting.
On December 31st, 1959, I was being babysat by our neighbor, Carol. My parents had gone out for the night. My parents had told Carol it would be alright if I stayed up until midnight, but I was to go to bed right after. I was so excited. This would be the first New Year I would usher in. Not only a new year, but a new decade! I knew it would be fantastic. Carol had Guy Lombardo on the television. Guy Lombardo was the original Dick Clark. Carol told me when the countdown to 1960 began and I ran to the window. As cheers and applause and noisemakers rang out of the television, I was staring up at the sky. Where were the fireworks? Why wasn't the sky lighting up? I had envisioned the entire sky exploding into bright letters announcing 1960. I had anticipated parades and bands on every street of the city, yet nothing happened. The world of Center Line, Michigan, remained calm without a ripple of noise nor a single waving sparkler to greet the new decade. Very disappointing. Very Y2K.
If I had paid closer attention to who had passed away in 59, I would have understood why the New Year was not a big production. 1959 was also the year that Cecil B. DeMille had died.
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