tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post3163013546091125824..comments2024-02-22T17:59:50.213-05:00Comments on in so many words...: THE GREAT VILLAIN BLOGATHON 2017: The Mother of All Villains!Yvettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-16423026821054488932017-07-25T22:12:23.753-04:002017-07-25T22:12:23.753-04:00One small difference. While the effects of witches...One small difference. While the effects of witches and “commies” are have been rarely felt on democratic nations, the same can’t be said for terrorists. Not all of them may subscribe to Isis ideology, but enough do to be taken seriously. <br /><br />And some day we will have a woman president – but I hope it’s the right woman, and not just someone elected because she’s a woman. (And no, I didn’t vote for Trump. Not that I should have to explain that, but…)<br />Blakeneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04778630656258229069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-11944806109764546392017-06-29T23:02:40.384-04:002017-06-29T23:02:40.384-04:00Can you believe I have never watched this?Can you believe I have never watched this?Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17786139533776263328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-39435455132037289992017-06-23T12:14:20.572-04:002017-06-23T12:14:20.572-04:00Ha! I love movie 'bits' and arcane knowled...Ha! I love movie 'bits' and arcane knowledge, Mike. Yes, I do remember Angela Lansbury as the snooty second lead - but for whatever reason - I guess, MURDER SHE WROTE - she seems likable in memory though two parts I remember her playing were of unlikable characters - the awful mother in THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT and the dance hall queen in THE HARVEY GIRLS, though in the end, she softens a bit just long enough to give Judy Garland some good advice. Thanks for dropping by Mike.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-56740619748229599412017-06-23T12:10:14.959-04:002017-06-23T12:10:14.959-04:00Thanks, Kristina. Sorry for replying so late in th...Thanks, Kristina. Sorry for replying so late in the day, but I just noticed the comment. I had lots of fun and maybe down the line, I can join in some other movie blogathons.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-39392993570335012892017-06-22T20:32:17.882-04:002017-06-22T20:32:17.882-04:00Took me a while to get here ...
If my memory serv...Took me a while to get here ...<br /><br />If my memory serves me right, up to <i>Manchurian Candidate</i>, Angela Lansbury rarely if ever played likable or even mildly sympathetic characters.<br />Remember that early in her film career, she was best-known for looking older than her actual age; many times she played snooty society ladies were were working in opposition to the leading lady (or man, as the case may be). Always with a pinched sneer directed at whoever she was playing opposite, as a stuck-up mother, boss, or romantic rival - except for a couple of Poverty Row 'Bs' in which she was a femme fatale (once opposite Raymond Burr - I think the movie was called <i>Please Murder Me</i>; you can find it at the dollar store).<br />It was after <i>Manchurian Candidate</i> - after playing Laurence Harvey's mother when she was only two years older than he was - that she moved to Broadway with <i>Mame</i>, and became adorable for really the first time in her career.<br />It occurs to me that many people who see <i>Manchurian</i> for the first time after a lifetime of watching <i>Murder She Wrote</i> can be thrown off majorly; if they saw anything Lansbury did when she was younger, they might go into shock ...<br />Oh well, live and learn.<br /><br />Talk about typecasting:<br />Is it unseemly of me to point out that the only important "liberal" characters here are played by John McGiver and Lloyd Corrigan, who almost always played comic bumblers?<br /> ... or to point out Dr. Yen Lo, the cheerful Red Chinese brainwasher, played by an African-American actor, 'Khigh Dhiegh' - whose real name was Kenneth Dickerson?<br /><br />(I've got lots of bits like this - I can bring any party to a dead stop in seconds ...)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05527404061764217504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-61287650070941400512017-05-02T10:20:13.067-04:002017-05-02T10:20:13.067-04:00Excellent choice, one of the most disturbing and m...Excellent choice, one of the most disturbing and memorable villains ever, with a superb performance to go with! Thanks so much for joining in the blogathon! <br />Kristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11659951781597698530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-89057694014028418432017-04-29T02:08:42.303-04:002017-04-29T02:08:42.303-04:00And another good villain is Edgar G. Robinson, in ...And another good villain is Edgar G. Robinson, in Key Largo and so many other movies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-21230656145799886032017-04-28T15:42:07.050-04:002017-04-28T15:42:07.050-04:00I agree with you completely, Sergio. Thanks!I agree with you completely, Sergio. Thanks!Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-8820906634855076312017-04-28T15:41:39.959-04:002017-04-28T15:41:39.959-04:00Sorry Todd. Was working hard on other things and t...Sorry Todd. Was working hard on other things and totally couldn't get organized and ready for Friday. Meant to apologize, but forgot. Mea Culpa!Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-65985718389591080002017-04-28T09:14:01.703-04:002017-04-28T09:14:01.703-04:00Got a book this week?Got a book this week?Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-88412675177947441572017-04-28T04:05:36.509-04:002017-04-28T04:05:36.509-04:00Fabulous choice Yvette - to me one of the finest (...Fabulous choice Yvette - to me one of the finest (and most eccentric) American films ever made. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-13744558123764091702017-04-27T10:11:38.864-04:002017-04-27T10:11:38.864-04:00Thanks, Quiggy. Oh, I can see how your view of Ang...Thanks, Quiggy. Oh, I can see how your view of Angela might have been influenced heavily by this performance. :) I love her in just about anything and always have. She's a wonderful actress. (I haven't seen the remake and probably won't. To my mind, this was an unnecessary remake. Many of those about these days.)Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-2720464397928767252017-04-27T09:46:04.159-04:002017-04-27T09:46:04.159-04:00Thanks very much, Chris. I believe that Lansbury h...Thanks very much, Chris. I believe that Lansbury herself said that this was the most important film she ever made. Probably in retrospect, but I agree. She lost the Oscar to Patty Duke for THE MIRACLE WORKER - can't argue with that choice. But maybe they should have both won.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-5745308871946866612017-04-27T09:44:06.483-04:002017-04-27T09:44:06.483-04:00Someone in the Blogathon is writing about Claude R...Someone in the Blogathon is writing about Claude Rains in NOTORIOUS. You should check out the links and see what they have to say. And Pat over at CAFTAN WOMAN is writing about Sidney Greenstreet. At the bottom of my post you'll find the links to participating bloggers.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-79738335995627635502017-04-27T09:42:41.992-04:002017-04-27T09:42:41.992-04:00The film is certainly brutal, Kathy. It has a stro...The film is certainly brutal, Kathy. It has a strong point to make and an equally strong story to tell. I think it was handled just right. Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-22749827460732350102017-04-27T09:40:58.022-04:002017-04-27T09:40:58.022-04:00Thanks! I enjoyed being a part of this Blogathon s...Thanks! I enjoyed being a part of this Blogathon so much. Though I mainly write about books, I do so love to write about movies too - any chance I get. <br />Oh, I agree, Angela Lansbury made such a good villain. Hard to believe because she can be so much fun in other parts. Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-54977646515405350592017-04-27T09:38:56.733-04:002017-04-27T09:38:56.733-04:00I haven't read it yet, but I plan to, Todd. Ma...I haven't read it yet, but I plan to, Todd. Maybe when I make my monthly haul at Abe Books. :)Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-35708817794420152017-04-27T07:16:54.716-04:002017-04-27T07:16:54.716-04:00I didn't get to see this film until I was in c...I didn't get to see this film until I was in college. I was very impressed with it. (Not so much the remake) I never saw Angela Lansbury in the same light afterwards. <br /> Good review.Quiggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12434473473185065992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-35084947430515669142017-04-27T06:51:23.662-04:002017-04-27T06:51:23.662-04:00Lansbury's greatest role - she really should h...Lansbury's greatest role - she really should have won the Oscar for this.<br />Angela is the ultimate villain--elegant, brilliant and coldbloodedly ruthless.<br /><br />Need to see this one again very soon! You have whet my appetite with your wonderful essay!<br />-Chrisangelman66https://www.blogger.com/profile/16471674180789592940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-4678679783143226392017-04-27T03:43:29.643-04:002017-04-27T03:43:29.643-04:00I nominate Claude Rains in Notorious, a favorite m...I nominate Claude Rains in Notorious, a favorite movie. And Sydney Greenstreet in The Maltese Falcon, Background to Danger and almost any film in which he's a villain. Then there's Peter Lorre, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-16281155709332213322017-04-27T03:35:06.084-04:002017-04-27T03:35:06.084-04:00Good review and I certainly like Angela Lansbury. ...Good review and I certainly like Angela Lansbury. But this movie is too brutal and sadistic for me. I'll just read reviews of it. I've never seen this movie and probably never will. And now, with the gang in Washington, I worry about what's happening and could happen.<br /><br />It makes me want to just watch Thin Man movies and read Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin books or watch humorous sketches on TV satirizing the White House group.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-56070516375232906352017-04-26T22:34:21.979-04:002017-04-26T22:34:21.979-04:00I love Angela Lansbury in this film. She is a perf...I love Angela Lansbury in this film. She is a perfect and chilling villain. Also, I enjoyed your review very much. You've got me jonesing to see it again soon! Silver Screeningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955048716754142299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-58506284208952820852017-04-26T13:10:40.880-04:002017-04-26T13:10:40.880-04:00Ever tried Condon's novel? He wrote some prett...Ever tried Condon's novel? He wrote some pretty sharp stuff along with this one...Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-88297657326872318302017-04-25T16:38:21.955-04:002017-04-25T16:38:21.955-04:00Thanks, Tracy, glad you enjoyed it. It was a fun p...Thanks, Tracy, glad you enjoyed it. It was a fun post to put together. This is such a great movie. Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-72586719663941430382017-04-25T16:37:41.872-04:002017-04-25T16:37:41.872-04:00Agree completely. This movie is especially apt con...Agree completely. This movie is especially apt considering what we're going through today. It shows how hysteria can be manipulated and used as a tool. Or at least, would have been used if Raymond hadn't come to his 'senses'. Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.com