Friday Writing Essential- Classic Movies and Stars- November 28, 2008

I never watched a lot of the old favorites...with the exception of the original Miracle on 34th Street, which I've loved for years.

That's a great one,Kim. I too have enjoyed that film on more than one occasion.

Audrey Hepburn - iconic.

Katerine Hepburn - iconic

(not sisters)

Casablanca - a classic.

Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda and Cary Grant are most definitely my favorite old time actors. Probably in that order too as I was fortunate enough to meet and talk with Stewart and Fonda. And of course there's the fact that Fonda came from this area...lol. Favorite movies from those three are Rear Window, Once Upon A Time in the West and The Bishop's Wife(Grant's movie with David Niven is much better than the remake).

Nancy,

Here is a little treat. Script: It Happened One Night

I love this scene....

She picks up a small overnight bag from
the floor and hurries away. She crosses
to the entrance of the waiting room
and disappears through the doors. The
view then wings over to a telephone
booth near the entrance. Clustered around
the booth are half a dozen men of varied
appearance. The inside of the booth
is lighted, and a young man, Peter Warne,
waves his hands wildly as he shouts
into the phone, although it is impossible
to hear what he is saying. A close inspection
of the men surrounding the booth (the
scene contracting to a close view) reveals
them as being slightly and happily intoxicated.
A short man approaches the door of the
booth.

? 218 ?

SHORTY

Hey, what's going on here? I'd like
to use that phone.

FIRST MAN

(a reporter)

Shh! Quiet. This is history in the making.


SHORTY

What?

FIRST MAN

There's a man biting a dog in there.


SECOND MAN

(drunker than the rest)

Atta-boy, Petey, old boy! Atta-boy!—


PETER'S VOICE

I'm not going to stand for this any
longer. In a pig's eye, you will!—


GROUP

Is that so? That's telling him, Petey
old boy.

A close view of PETER WARNE in the telephone
booth gives evidence of his having also
imbibed freely.

PETER

(shouting into the phone)

Listen, monkey-face—when you fired me,
you fired the best newshound your filthy
scandal sheet ever had.

And the scene cuts to a New York NEWSPAPER
OFFICE where the night editor, Gordon,
his sleeves rolled up, sits at his desk
shrieking into the phone.

GORDON

Say, listen, you wouldn't know a story
if it reached up and kicked you in the
pants.

(listening)

Yeah? Sure, sure, I got your copy. Why
didn't you tell me you were going to
write it in Greek? I'd start a new department.


PETER

(again seen close at the phone)

That was free verse, you gashouse palooka!


GORDON

(at the phone in the newspaper office)


Free verse, huh?

(shouting)

What the dickens was free about it?
It cost this paper a gob of dough. Well,
I'm here to tell you, it's not gonna
cost us any more.

Bravo, Greg!

I love Clark Gable in that role. I might just have to pull out my DVD and watch it later today. :)

Thanks for the reminder!

Another good movie is Suspicion with Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine. I was reminded of it by the phrase "monkey face" as that what Johnnie (Cary) calls Lina (Joan) in the movie.

I agree; Audrey Hepburn and Katherine Hepburn are wonderful as well. I love Sabrina and The Philadelphia Story.

Mike-

You met Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda? Please, write a post and tell us about it!

I love those 3 actors as well and the movies you mentioned.

The old movies, old books, old magazines, old houses, old almost anything are the best.

I missed my period.

It was the 19th century and early 20th.

I grew up with out the "Boob Tube" as a kid (Poppa's Term), and throughout my child rearing years it's been only VCR/DVD viewing as we're far away for TV access!.
But my hubby grew up with a TV/Movie family and loves film, especially the oldies.

In our isolated, woodsy environment reading, writing, music, making art, especially performance art, has been deeply nurtured by the steady three nights per week movies explores. Being the "stick-in-the-mud purist parent", I'd stick to the kitchen table in our 20x20" A- frame and weave or write, somewhat disgruntled at the rapt, gape jawed capture of our three off spring.

Twenty plus years later: each of our kids are deeply invested in spewing forth contributions informed by all of the above and in particular the choice viewing over the years.

Our eldest is a newly graduated documentary film major kicking butt in NYC where "IT's"happening.

The other two are year round performers and mentors of community theater in both the adult and children's arena. Our youngest has based her entire personal expression on all things Noir combined with wry wit (look out Garrison!).

Recently, while caring for their grandmother, a woman who came out as a classic film buff, (after her vast nest emptied!) I introduced Netflixs. We now share our evenings together loving the oldies and exploring more recent work as well. I'm under the tutelage of yet another apt teacher.

This "O So Reluctant, Very Slow Girl" is becoming less rigid with each passing year. Am I finally starting to get ..."IT"?

Now if I can just become a more careful cyber editor. Thanks for letting me share.

Not much to write about from when I met Stewart and Fonda. They were both here in the state and stopped to see Fonda's old home. The Stuhr Museum has his childhood house as part of their building collection. I was there at the same time and got to listen as he reminisced. I don't remember too much else about it. It's been quite a while and at almost 40 the memory is getting old and rickety...lol.

Favorite radio shows growing up were Behind the Green Door, a suspense show, and The Shadow. The local AM radio station would play them at night. There was a detective one too but I can't think of the name.

Can't forget Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett as Sherlock. By far the best version.

I understand, Katherine- we must be old souls. :)

Adrian, how wonderful for your kids! You must be so proud. And I'm glad you're getting the chance to see some great movies now.

PS- My mom called it the "boob tube" too!

Mike, it still must have been a thrill just to see them in person. Wow!

I missed all the great old radio shows; I'm sure listening to them was a lot of fun!

Great posting. I love oldies. Betty Davis is one of my favorites.

Me too, Margieanne! She could express so much emotion through her eyes. Isn't there an old song that has a line "she's got Bette Davis eyes"?

Lucy Ball for me.

It's been a while since I've seen those classics. I saw The Changeling last night, set in the 20s and 30s and the costuming was wonderful

I watched some like Miracle on 34th Street. And Vincent price movies

Nancy, this is a great piece! I love old movies, too, although for the life of me I can't remember the names of them. Isn't that weird? But they are priceless, and when they're on, I love 'em! Thanks for a great piece.

Here I am !!! Why am I late to this party ??? !!!!

Old movies are classic!

Miss Twinkle's just sending you a little support!



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I really ought to see some more of these classic movies. I think I have missed out.

I love Cary Grant, Bette Davis, Kate Hepburn. Some very good stuff.