Radio

I have gotta say one of the bestest things about Ronald Colman is that he is such a good actor that his voice suffices if need be. (Do not want to know how many times I have listened to my iMic-ed "Lost Horizon" and felt as moved as if I was watching it.) Anyway, I've been listening to a lot of his radio programs with Jack Benny and also the Halls of Ivy program, and I find them utterly brilliant.

I think because... he is brilliant at light comedy and he really should have done more of it in his film career. Oh, to have had him and Jack Benny in a film together based on the situation in the radio show - because that would have been awesomeness.

One of my favourite lines ever is from Halls of Ivy, where he says to Benita: "Oh, it's not the fruit cocktail I object to - in fact, I rather like it. No, it's that inevitable, omnipresent, unavoidable, and uninspired one-half of a maraschino cherry. Why a half? Can't anyone afford a whole maraschino cherry? Are the fruity resources of this plundered planet so far reduced?" And he continues going on about the maraschino halves. It is quite brilliant.

I think my favourite radio show, though, is the one where Jack Benny tries to get Ronnie and Benita to do a Western picture. Um.... YES.

Anyone else have a favourite Ronald radio show?

Time to Re-Invent the Tracy Thread

So... I've always been a little cool about Spencer Tracy, right, despite my adoration of Kate?

Right.

I can't even quite explain why this was, because I didn't exactly dislike him, especially with Kate.

But I've noticed sometimes it takes awhile for me to find just the right movie that "clicks" with me. It was that way with Irene Dunne. She annoyed me for the longest time - until I saw "Roberta" and melted.

Spencer and I finally clicked about two weeks ago when I watched "20,000 Years in Sing Sing". I am not sure what it was exactly - perhaps the energy and spunk of a very different type of character played by a very young Spencer. I don't think I've seen him in any other early 30s movies. So, anyway, I'm suddenly quite fascinated by him.

Yes, Jael is strange. Very slow at times. It's all good though. What fun would life be if one liked every actor at once instead of adding them one by one and enjoying each of them thoroughly on the way?

Anyone else have any thoughts about Spencer?

Bachelor Mother

I'll honour Ginger with post no. 1000!

Okay, so I just watched this movie last night.

1. I'm amazed that they dealt so breezily with this issue in 1939.

2. I love how no-one blinked about Penny's supposed immorality that left her with a baby. Usually they'd have censured her.

3. David Niven rules my world. And a mad David Niven is about the cutest thing I've ever seen.

4. Ginger was good. Really good. It really has taken a while for me to get used to her, having unwittingly watched some of her really bad/annoying movies before seeing any of the good ones. But I definitely think this was a swell performance on her part.

5. Overall, this was a brilliant movie. A very fresh, different kind of story, moved along beautifully and lightly.

Movie Pairings

I've been discussing with my mother which film couple made the most films together.

Kate and Spencer, Walter and Greer, and Jeanette and Nelson all made eight.

I'm not really familiar with Myrna and William, but I'm counting that they did at least ten.

Any input?

Super Mario

Okay, so I finally watched two of the three Lanza films Ginny gave me back in *hides* March when I visited her: "That Midnight Kiss" and "The Toast of New Orleans". It is now 1.13 AM. *cackles*

All I can say is wow.

Okay, maybe I can say a few more words than that. I really liked the costumes, thoroughly enjoyed the fluffy plots and the music...

I think of the two I liked "Toast" better all around. *denies that the ending portion had anything to do with this* I was immensely amused by David Niven (whom I adore) and the way he was always on top of things and not possessive à la Nicolai Nazarov of Maytime (in)fame.

The third one on the tape is "The Great Caruso". I guess I shall try to watch that soon now that I've seen these other two!