Not a movie...but I just had to post this.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBd3cKuLPPg"]YouTube- Abbott and Costello Who's On First[/ame]

Ok, it's 6am EST, and I haven't been to bed since 5pm last night, and just can't fall asleep. So, I am watching my favorite channel on TV, and being the fanatic I am for classic Hollywood films, the only channel worth watching is TCM (Turner Classic Movies) - in case you didn't know by now.

That said, I must report...it''s been a lovely very late evening/very early morning on TCM - Rogers and Astair, how could it possible get any better?

I just finished watching 'Follow the Fleet' - a favorite since childhood when me and my sister used to watch it on Saturday mornings on 'Million Dollar Movie' in the 60's.

Nothing short of liquid poetry in motion, Rogers & Astair. I am posting one of my favorites: 'Let's Face the Music and Dance'. My only criticism is that I wish it was Astair's voice instead of Nat King Cole's we hear in this vid. This is a montage of several films. I tried finding a sole version of them doing the 'Let's Face the Music...' routine, but couldn't find it.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFI0rFFp8j8&feature=related"]YouTube- Fred & Ginger: Lets' face the music and dance[/ame]

An actress I really like is Jean Arthur.
Really cute, but underrated.
She did some nice work.

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/r...icture11-2.png

Yes, I love her too. She was great in Frank Capra's 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'.

Love scene from Ryan's Daughter
considered to be one of the most sensuous on film.
David Lean directed and it had the most beautiful main title.
I saw it at the theatre when it was released in the 70's.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZdDMXw42S0"]YouTube- La Figlia di Ryan - D.Lean[/ame]

Never saw it...now, I must. Wasn't Fred Astair in this? Or am I confusing it with another film?

no. watch the clip.

I did, not good for my equilibrium...

Oh, yes, it was Finian's Rainbow Fred was in...it's the Irish names that confuse me...

That seen in The Little Foxes is pretty close to the ice heart of Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, remember Joan gasping and reaching for help? I'm a fan of The Little Foxes because it was written by Lillian Hellman who also wrote Watch on the Rhine and The Children's Hour. I think she was married to Daschiell Hammet (sp)

Hmmm, married to Dashiell Hammett, could be, don't know for sure...

Yes, that scene in The Little Foxes, it is a tour de force for Bette, I think. No dialogue yet so intense and riveting. Reminds me also of the scene in The Letter, where Bette goes to see 'the woman', and she makes Bette stoop down to pick up 'the letter'. The Letter is another phenomenal Davis film, I love it!

Directed by William Wyler who she was having a relationship with at the time. They argued all the time making that movie.

Yes, I know. But, I think Wyler brought out the best in Davis, don't you think?

I guess, she's always a bitch. if he brought that kind of intensity in Davis' nasty characters, my vote would be Jezebel as his best. The scene at the cotillion where she's wearing red and everyone else is in white is riveting. You feel the embarrassment and shame for Henry Fonda.

Other very best favorites...

How Green Was My Valley - I love this film.
The Corn I Green - Bette Davis version - love it!
My Cousin Rachel - why don't they ever show this on TCM, I've requested it several times
Brief Encounter - the original, directed by David Lean (Jet, you know this is my favorite of all time)
A Man For All Seasons - the story of Thomas Moore and his downfall - great film
The Shoes of the Fisherman - Anthony Quinn as the pope

So many other...I can't think right now.

On March 23, at 8pm EST, TCM will be showing 'Roshomon' a film by Akira Kurosawa. A prominent Japanese director with unbelievable and unprecedented 'vision'. He is amazing, you must see this landmark film. Here's a short syopis of 'Roshomon' in my opinion one of the best films ever made.

The story told by Rashomon is both surprisingly simple and deceptively complex. The central tale, which tells of the rape of a woman (Machiko Kyo) and the murder of a man (Masayuki Mori), possibly by a bandit (Toshiro Mifune), is presented entirely in flashbacks from the perspectives of four narrators. The framing portions of the movie transpire at Kyoto's crumbling Rashomon gate, where several people seek shelter from a pelting rain storm and discuss the recent crime, which has shocked the region. One of the men, a woodcutter (Takashi Shimura), was a witness to the events, and, with the help of a priest (Minoru Chiaki), he puzzles over what really happened, and what such a horrible occurrence says about human nature.

You know what else they don't show? The Helen Morgan Story with Anne Blythe and Paul Newman 1957. I requested it, but there's a rights problem.

I know who Helen Morgan was...but I didn't realize TCM never showed that film. It could be there's a 'rights' problem, as you said. That's prob the case with 'My Cousin Rachel', tho I wish they would let us know.

YES!!! It is intense, isn't it? I always feel so bad for him during those scenes...but Jezebel was just a natural rebel - she was just being herself. The times and people were just not ready for her, that's all.

They wrote and said it was a rights problem. I love the movie and it took me years to find the soundtrack on vinyl on RCA and then on CD which is now discontinued. Ray Heindorf did the music (I'm a fan of his) and it's kick ass with Gogi Grant dubbed in for Ann Blythe.

Speaking of singers...TCM recently showed 'I'll Cry Tomorrow' -not common fare for TCM. I always loved that film, and I love Susan Hayward. She was very good in this. As you know, she died way before her time of a brain tumor. So sad. She was so beautiful...

I have that soundtrack, too. Another one i spent about 20 years looking for and all because of Alex North's musical direction of "Sing You Sinners" Kick ass version!