MEET JOHN DOE av Frank Capra (1941)
Med Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward Arnold, Walter Brennan, Spring Byington, James Gleason, Regis Toomey, Warren Hymer

SPOILERVARNING

Frank Capra torde vara den mest utpräglade må bra-filmsregissören i historien, men han är inte oproblematisk eftersom hans filmer – paradoxalt nog – är på en gång mer mångbottnade och ytligt banalare än merparten av de många sentida avläggarna och eftersom de tar i så förskräckligt, om än bara ibland. För det händer att Frank Capra är helt lysande. Som i You Can’t Take It With You och It’s a Wonderful Life. Meet John Doe, däremot, är ett klockrent exempel på när Frank Capra är på sitt allra mest sentimentaldrypande, pekoralistiska och amerikapatriotiska humör. Om än långt ifrån oproblematisk, som sagt.

Den något tafatte, tämligen klent begåvade Gary Cooper gjorde sig med sitt tjusigt grovhuggna yttre och sin tysta beslutsamhet och sin kompromisslösa integritet alldeles förträffligt i exempelvis Fred Zinnemans High Noon (förmodligen hans bästa rolltolkning), men i Meet John Doe är han hopplöst malplacerad. Han saknar all värme och han ser ut och rör sig som en staty av sig själv och därför är det mycket svårt att tro på att denne visserligen ståtlige men nästan helt okarismatiske man skulle kunna få en svallvåg av broderlig kärlek som mest av allt påminner om den bisarra sekten Promise Keepers att dra fram över hela Förenta staterna. Talen som eldar filmens massor är opersonliga och kalla som is, och det känns bara obegripligt att någon enda människa skulle lyssna på honom.

Fast även om han varit en magnetiskt fascinerande talare, skulle någon enda människa förändras i grunden och bli hjärtegod filantrop bara för att en föregiven representant för mannen på gatan i en dagstidning låter meddela att han avser att begå självmord vid midnatt på julafton i protest mot civilisationens hjärtlöshet? Skulle vi inte bara alla avskriva honom som en fullständig tokfrans? Och det med all rätta?

Inte enligt Frank Capra. För när Gary Cooper i rollen som luffaren John Willoughby får betalt för att spela en påhittad människa – John Doe – som är besviken på den moderna civilisationen och meddelar att han avser att begå självmord i protest mot den, får han hela Förenta staterna att bilda ultrafilantropiska John Doe-klubbar och i sann, amerikansk äppelpajsanda upptäcka att alla grannar man tidigare tyckt var konstiga egentligen är alldeles hyvens hyggliga prickar (de är ju vita medelklassamerikaner allihop!).

Men bilden kompliceras. På flera sätt.

Till att börja med genom att man låter Gary Cooper direkt jämföras med Förenta staternas grundare, de så kallade Founding Fathers, och senare – som om det inte vore nog – med Jesus. Därmed är dagordningen förstås uppspikad – Förenta staternas grundare står på samma piedestal som Jesus och Jesus har nått sådana herostratiska höjder av godhet och sällhet att han numera befinner sig på samma nivå som den patriotiske helylleamerikanen Gary Cooper.

Vidare låter man massrörelsen som kretsar kring John Doe mitt under brinnande världskrig bli ett slags godhetens motsvarighet till Adolf Hitlers masspsykotiska Tyskland, men med likheter av ett slag som är skrämmande snarare än förtroendeingivande. Det senare tror jag är omedvetet, men helt oavsett syftet och utfallet känns det aldrig riktigt muntert med miljoner och åter miljoner människor som likt jättelika fårskockar följer en enda, helgonförklarad ledare. Någonstans känns det förbluffande att Förenta staternas biopublik mitt under andra världskriget hyllar en film om en ledardyrkande massrörelse så till den grad att den mycket mediokra Meet John Doe kommit att bli en av filmhistoriens superklassiker.

Fast så finns ju Walter Brennan med. Ytterligare en komplikation. Han spelar sin vanliga roll, som man redan efter att ha sett honom i bara något tiotal filmer börjar misstänka i själva verket är rollen som sig själv. Men det gör han övertygande och egentligen spelar det med en så pass sympatisk person inte så stor roll att han är precis samma person i film efter film. I Meet John Doe framstår han som förnuftets röst mitt i den föregivet godhjärtade masshysterin. Som Gary Coopers luffarkompis försöker han gång på gång tala denne till rätta och få honom att överge både pengar och kändisskap och följa med tillbaka ut på landsvägarna i stället för att snärja in sig i samhällets alla måsten, men utan framgång. Det är mycket lätt att känna sympati för honom. I all synnerhet konfronterad med den sista komplikationen, nämligen maktens – den oförliknelige Edward Arnolds – cyniska försök att utnyttja alla John Doe-föreningarna för att tillskansa sig presidentposten. Man kan se det ur flera synvinklar, men lika fast som de masshysteriska medlemmarna i John Doe-föreningarna är, lika låst är i själva verket Edward Arnold i sitt maktspel. Han kan inte ta sig ur det, han sitter fast i det som i ett spindelnät.

Och finns det en möjlighet att allt detta är medvetet gjort av Frank Capra, att han gjort en ytligt sett sentimental må bra-film som under ytan i själva verket avslöjar både maktkorruptionens och masshysterins många beklämmande konsekvenser, även då den senare syftar till något gott?

För i så fall är det här en mycket bättre film än man kan tro.

Kör hårt,
Bellis

September 23, 1944

Celebrity Gossip

AA = The Afro American
DN = The Deseret News
EI = The Evening Independent
PEC = Prescott Evening Courier
SDC = Spokane Daily Chronicle
TB = Toledo Blade

Betty Grable’s baby is the spittin’ image of Betty.  The reasons Betty doesn’t want to keep on working:  She’s happy, she can’t keep the money she earns, and she loves home life.  Can you think of better reasons?  –TB: 09-23-1944

Butterfly McQueen, you remember her as Prissy in “Gone With the Wind,” and how you hated Scarlet O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) when she boxed Butterfly’s jaws, will appear with Dinah Shore when her program opens on NBC, October 5.  –AA: 09-23-1944

Deanna Durbin is casting limpid eyes at a young RCAF pilot.  She met him at the Hollywood Canteen.  –TB: 09-23-1944

Gene Krupa can predict the weather by his drums!  The degrees of moisture and dryness are easily discerned by the pitch of the tone.  A dull sound indicates rain—vibrant tone means fair weather.  He claims that he has never made a wrong prediction in 15 years.  –TB: 09-23-1944

LOS ANGELES:  (At a conference where Gov. Thomas E. Dewey outlined a five-point [Social] Security Program)  The Coliseum was movie-star decked.  In addition to Ginger Rogers, who introduced Gov. Earl Warren of California, and Jeanette MacDonald, who is chairman of the Hollywood Dewey committee, those among the crowd included Cary Grant, W. C. Fields, Don Ameche, Wallace Beery, John Charles Thomas, Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Rosalind Russell, Joel McCrea, Leo Carrillo, Edward Arnold, Adolphe Menjou, Mary Pickford, Walter Pidgeon, Walt Disney and Ray Milland.  –EI: 09-23-1944

J. Eddie Edwards, papa of the Edwards Sisters, tells me that “the girls are going great at the Strand (NY) and enjoying working with Charlie Barnet’s orchestra.” . . . . . These darlings of tap, like so many other artists, are overlooked because they are not hog-tied with white bookers.  Willie Bryant swells with pride when referred to as the colored Bob Hope.  I have the first time to hear of a white Bert Williams, or a white Joe Louis.  –AA: 09-23-1944

HONOLULU:  Comedian Jack Benny, concluding a tour of Pacific Island bases, told a navy audience here he is expecting to become a father. . . . . “My wife, Mary Livingston, wanted to make this trip with me but one of us had to stay home and have the baby,” Benny said.  “We tossed a couple of diapers to see who would go and I won.”  –DN: 09-23-1944

Kay Kyser isn’t well yet, but he can’t stay away from radio any longer, so he and his bride are returning to take over.  Phil Harris has done a great job for Kay.  –TB: 09-23-1944

Keye Luke, Chinese film actor widely known on the screen as “Charlie Chan’s No. 1 son,” applied today for United States citizenship, the second Chinese to do so in southern California since the repeal of the Chinese exclusion act.  –DN: 09-23-1944

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.:  Pretty Lorraine Kawatoski, aged seven, is the new pinup girl of some Yanks in New Guinea. . . . . A private wrote “most of our pinups are of Hollywood stars and we get tired of looking at them . . . we are wondering if you would be our pinup girl.” . . . . . Lorraine’s picture and acceptance are on the way.  –SDC: 09-23-1944

REYKJAVIK, Iceland—Actress Marlene Dietrich arrived here last night to entertain troops.  –DN: 09-23-1944

Paul Adams, radio script writer, is penning a biography of the late Fats Waller.  –AA: 09-23-1944

HOLLYWOOD:  Paulette Goddard came from the grand ballroom set of “Kitty” sagging under the weight of 40 pounds of lavish costume (including steel hoops) and a towering wig supported precariously by a wire frame. . . . . Paulette is taking ballet lessons now—”it helps with the minuet, and with acting, too,” she said. . . . . Connie Emerald, Ida Lupino’s mother, is coaching her in Cockney dialect, and in how a Cockney like Kitty trying not to talk Cockney would talk.  Her onetime drama teacher, England’s famed Constance Collier, is in the picture with her.  –PEC: 09-23-1944

HOLLYWOOD:  Phil Terry cut a finger on the movie set here, and at once 37 nurses leaped to be first “aide.” . . . . . The cut occurred accidentally—so Phil said later. . . . . It wasn’t for a scene in RKO Radio’s filmusical, “Pan-Americans,” in which Phil stars with Audrey Long, Robert Benchley and Eve Arden. . . . . No, the nurses just happened to be on hand—a delegation from the hospital ship, the U.S.S. Hope, visiting a movie set. . . . . As the nurses surrounded Terry, Benchley sighed:  “I wish I could think of things like that.”  –TB: 09-26-1944

LOS ANGELES:  Film Actor Rod Cameron has been ordered to pay Toni St. John, Hollywood secretary, $950 to cover medical and other expenses in connection with a baby she expects to have sometime in December. . . . . Judge Goodwin Knight, in making the order pending trial of her paternity suit against the actor, held that Cameron was “possibly responsible” for the baby. . . . . Miss St. John, who previously testified that her marriage to Cameron in Tijuana last May was later annulled, asks $600 monthly support for herself and the child and $2,500 medical expenses. –DN: 09-23-1944

HOLLYWOOD:  Film Actress Rosalind Russell was in a hospital today, suffering from physical exhaustion attributed by her physician to overwork in connection with a campaign to raise funds for Sister Elizabeth Kenny’s infantile paralysis activities. . . . . Dr. Eugene Armstrong said the actress would be unable to return to her studio “for another day or two.” –SDC: 09-23-1944

A monster from Memphis has arrived.  Expressmen, collecting $8.62 at the Hollywood Canteen, delivered a 137-pound watermelon.  –DN: 09-23-1944

September 17, 1944
St. Petersburg Times

Radio Highlights for the Coming Week

SUNDAY
Ralph A. Bard, undersecretary of the navy, will be principal speaker at the launching of the new destroyer “The Frank Knox,” built in honor of the late secretary of the navy at 2:30 over WTSP.

Frank Black conducts an all-Dvorak program of the NBC symphony orchestra at 5 p.m. over WFLA.  The concert consists of the composer’s “Symphony No. 5 in E Minor” and his “Carneval Overture.”

Kate Smith returns to the air with a new show featuring bandleader Woody Herman, Comedian Harry Savoy, actress-author Cornelia Otis Skinner, and starlet Diana Lynn, who will give their version of “Our Hearts Are Young and Gay.”  Time is 7 p.m.  Station is WDAE.*

A sympathetic and understanding lady with everlasting youth in her heart and the American feeling for life in her soul.  That’s Ethel Barrymore as “Aunt Hattie,” new WSUN show to be heard at 3:30 p.m.

MONDAY
Three lovely Powers models, Danna McRae, Beverly Norman and Shirley O’Connell, are date bait for six competing service men on “Blind Date” over WSUN at 8:30 p.m.

Edward Arnold and the “Screen Guild Players” offer a radio adaptation of “The Oxbow Incident,” a grim story of lynching at 10 p.m. over WDAE.

TUESDAY
George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” featuring music by members of the original all-negro cast, is heard over “This is My Best” program at 9:30 p.m. over WDAE.**

Clarinetist Ralph McClean is soloist with the “Sinfonietta” concert orchestra which will offer Alexander Kralen’s well known “Suite for Clarinet and Strings” over WTSP at 11:30 p.m.  Alfred Wallenstein will conduct.

WEDNESDAY
Barbara Luddy portrays four different women in True Boardman’s drama “World Without End” on the “First Nighter” show at 9:30 p.m. over WTSP.***

“The Electric Hour” with Nelson Eddy as star receives its radio baptism at 10:30 p.m. over WDAE.  Radio’s “Who is the girl?” Gloria Scott will begin her radio career as feminine star of the show.

THURSDAY
Donna Dae sings with the background provided by the chorus when Fred Waring entertains listeners with “the shortest 30 minutes on radio” at 7 p.m. over WSUN.

*The Kate Smith Hour - December 24, 1944 – Guest star: Jackie Gleason  (I recently posted this episode on another post, so my apologies to my “regulars” for this repeat.  I chose this episode, as it is nearest the “target date’s” date than any of the other Kate Smith shows available on the internet.)

**This is My Best - November 21, 1944 – “Around the World in 80 Days”  (I was unable to find the above mentioned episode of “This is My Best.”  This is the closest I was able to come to it.)

***The First Nighter Program - March 29, 1944 – “The Chinese Gong”  (Again, I could not find the above mentioned episode, but here’s a 1944 example of The First Nighter Program.  It is not an MP3 file, but rather RAM, and will open in RealPlayer if you are so equipped.)

September 15, 1939
Hollywood Gossip

MJ = The Milwaukee Journal
MN = The Malakoff News
MSS = Mt. Adams Sun
SPT = St. Petersburg Times

Click image to see all merchandise with this design, from VIX GALLERY!

When Agnes Moorhead is to enact a French ingenue part, she goes to a little French dressmaking shop and chats about various matters meanwhile keeping her eyes and ears wide open.  –MN: 09-15-1939

Alec Templeton, the blind pianist whose Tuesday night program is so popular, is not the only blind pianist on the air.  Virg Bingham, of Kansas City’s station WHB, is equally popular with those who have heard him.  His interest lies chiefly in developing radio trios; the new one is composed of two girls and Bingham himself, and is the eleventh radio trio that he has developed.  –MSS:  09-15-1939

Benay Venuta’s ta-ta on her radio program leaves a nice taste in the ear . . . . . “If you had fun listening—then the score is even.”  –SPT: 09-15-1939 (Walter Winchell)

En route to work, my mind pre-occupied as always, I whirled my car into a busy intersection and almost collided with a heavy sedan which popped unexpectedly out of nowhere.  Right away my dander was up, for I blamed

Click image to see all merchandise with this "1935 Graham" design, from Our Krazy Kulture!

the near-accident on the other fellow.  I stepped on the gas, intent on catching the offending car to give the driver a piece of my mind (which I admit, I can ill spare).  He, too, slowed down to await me, equally intent on telling me off.  We were both at the fighting stage. . . . . But as I drew alongside the other machine, I recognized the driver.  Bing Crosby—and he recognized me, too.  Well, I muttered something about having been in a hurry, and the near collision being my fault.  “Not at all, old man,” he countered, “I shot into that corner too fast; it was my fault.”  And there we sat, Alphonse-and-Gastoning* each other until impatient cars behind honked us on our way.  –SPT: 09-15-1939 (Jimmie Fidler)

In “In Name Only” Carole Lombard shows that she could give Bette Davis some rather stern competition as a dramatic actress if she put her mind to it.  The girl who has been playing ga-ga comedy roles with such zest ever since the public acclaimed her as a comedienne in “My Man Godfrey” has turned in a bit of acting that makes her a promising cadidate for one of those Academy statuettes, next time they’re awarded.  –MSS:  09-15-1939

When David Niven is called to the British colors, he will take with him, as a good luck pledge, a prayer book that once belonged to President Woodrow Wilson—the relic is now in the possession of Director Sam Wood, to whom the late president gave it during religious services aboard a World War battle cruiser.  –SPT: 09-15-1939 (Jimmie Fidler)

Don Ameche is buying linament as the result of a freak golfing accident.  Seems he played a brassie show from the rough.  The ball hit a nearby tree dead center, rebounding and hit Don—also dead-center.  He was out for 15 minutes and still winces if prodded in the wrong place.  –SPT: 09-15-1939 (Jimmie Fidler)

Click image to see all merchandise with this design, from VIX GALLERY!

Edward Arnold

made his first plane trip recently, from coast to coast, and plans to take planes instead of trains from now on.  –MSS:  09-15-1939

Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell and Eddie Cantor will co-star in “Girl Crazy.”  –MSS:  09-15-1939

Next time you hear some star moan about “too much work,” cite the case of Gene Autry.  Thanks to that prolonged European tour and his contract to play in a Twentieth Century super, he must finish three westerns for Republic between now and Nov. 15.  –SPT: 09-15-1939 (Jimmie Fidler)

George Brent is still incommunicado in that San Bernardino rest home.  –SPT: 09-15-1939 (Jimmie Fidler)

“Susan and God,” the play in which Gertrude Lawrence appeared so successfully on the stage, will probably require a good deal of rewriting before it’s fit to be screened.  For “Susan and God” poked fun at the Oxford movement, without actually saying so, and you can’t poke fun at any religious movement on the screen without bringing in a swarm of protests. . . . . Greer Garson, the English girl who made such a hit in “Good-by, Mr. Chips,” will have the Lawrence role.  –MSS:  09-15-1939

Helen Hayes uses her “Oscar” (Motion Picture Academy Award) as a doorstop in her Nyack, N.Y. home!  MJ:  09-15-1939

With practically everybody liking “The Wizard of Oz” very much indeed (and those who didn’t like it getting almost violent on the subject, saying that it couldn’t even be compared with “Snow White”), the picture got off to a flying start. . . . . Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, who play the leading roles,** made personal appearances with it when it opened in New York.  They arrived at the theater at 8:45 in the morning, and remained there until almost midnight. . . . . Meanwhile young people of the same ages as the stars lined up outside the theater, waiting to get in—and because of the enthusiasm of these young fans, Judy and Mickey had a body guard when they did get out for a breath of fresh air and a look at the city. . . . . They gave five shows daily except on Saturdays and Sundays, when extra performances were scheduled.  She sang, he did imitations, and the fans cheered till the rafters rang.  –MSS: 09-15-1939

Although she is still on vacation, Kate Smith is preparing to return to the air in her role of commentator; she is so popular in that role that she’s added it to her duties as singing mistress of ceremonies on the “Kate Smith Hour.” . . . . . So she’ll begin commenting on October 9 from 12 to 12:15 EST, over the Columbia Broadcasting system, while her regular hour brings her back to the microphones three days earlier.  She’ll discuss the news of the day and also her own personal experiences.  –MSS:  09-15-1939

Credit Martha Raye with a neat retort to those rumors about matrimonial woes—she’s had “Mrs. David Rose” painted on her dressing room door in foot-high letters.  –SPT: 09-15-1939 (Jimmie Fidler)

Mary (My-Heart-Belongs-to-Daddy) Martin, whose screen contract guarantees her a six months’ lull for stage work, will fly back to New York on Sept. 30 to start rehearsals for the musical comedy “Hold Your Hats.”  –SPT: 09-15-1939 (Jimmie Fidler)

Now that Nelson Eddy is back on that coffee program on Sunday evenings, his program-makers are busy once again.  He selects his songs chiefly by the number of requests from listeners.  His secretary tabulates the requests every two weeks and delivers the final count to him.  If possible, he sings the songs for which there are the greatest number of requests.  The only difficulty is that people keep requesting the same old favorites over and over.  –MSS:  09-15-1939

Norma Shearer will do another picture, “Pride and Prejudice,” and will make it in England.  –MSS:  09-15-1939

Ruth Skinner is filing a counter divorce action against Nick Stewart, Sue Carrol’s ex-mate, who’s playing with an orchestra somewhere in Texas.  –SPT: 09-15-1939 (Jimmie Fidler)

Click image to see all merchandise with this design, from TEXAS GYPSY!

Tex Ritter,

the cowboy star, was injured the other day when he had a bad fall from his mount—not a horse, but an automobile.  –MSS:  09-15-1939

One of the worst train wrecks in railroad history, we learn somewhat belatedly, is in indirect result of the European war.  Ty Power was trying to do two things at once on the evening of Sept. 4—listen to a direct broadcast of war news from Paris and operate his exceedingly complicated miniature electric railway system.  Suddenly the broadcast was interrupted by the wail of air raid sirens and Ty, whose Annabella was en route to Paris and whose in-laws live there in force, got so excited he forgot all about the speeding trains.  There was a mighty crash and the floor was littered, ankle deep, with debris.  –SPT: 09-15-1939 (Jimmie Fidler)

That illness of Vicki Lester’s is more serious than first believed—her mother planed here from the east the other day to be with her.  –SPT: 09-15-1939 (Jimmie Fidler)

FOOTNOTES

*Alphonse and Gaston was an American comic strip by Frederick Burr Opper, featuring a bumbling pair of Frenchmen with a penchant for politeness. They first appeared in William Randolph Hearst’s newspaper, the New York Journal on September 22, 1901 in a strip titled: “Alphonse a la Carte and His Friend Gaston de Table d’Hote”.  To read more about the comic duo, click here.

**As is common knowledge, Mickey Rooney did not appear in “The Wizard of Oz.”  He did, however, appear with Judy Garland in a number of promotional appearances for “The Wizard of Oz.”  The reporter who wrote this article obviously had not seen the picture yet, or just assumed that Mickey must have been in the film, as he was assisting in its promotion.  –Vicki

Em 2005 o autor Edward Arnold escreveu o livro “2012 – Year of the Apocalypse” (ISBN: 1598002023). Abaixo segue um resumo da revisão do livro por Kaye Trout.

capa do livro 2012

Da perspectiva histórica, “os Maias começaram a contar o tempo em 31 de agosto de 3.114 AC (antes de Cristo), mais de 5 mil anos atr´s. Os matemáticos Maias poderiam projetar … (leia mais no nosso novo site www.alinhamento2012.com)

Il fallait que je parle de Capra avant d’être trop avancé dans mes chroniques et que son absence ne soit perçu comme une faute de goût. J’avais le choix entre trois ou quatre grands classiques. Je me suis finalement décidé à abordé ici Vous ne l’emporterez pas avec vous, adapté de la pièce du même nom récompensée en 37 par le prix Pulitzer. Au menu des réjouissance les thèmes chers à Capra: entraide, bonheur et amitié. Une distribution de haut vol, parmi ce qui se fait de mieux à la fin des années 30: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore (l’odieux Mr. Potter dans It’s a Wonderful Life) et Edward Arnold (vu notamment dans Meet John Doe). Bref, tous les éléments d’une fable à la Capra sont en place.

James Stewart interprète le rôle Tony Kirby, un fils de la haute société, auquel son père (Edward Arnold), banquier renommé, prévoit un grand avenir. Mais Tony à d’autres idées en tête. Il est amoureux de sa secrétaire, la jolie Alice (Jean Arthur), qu’il projette d’épouser malgré la méfiance de sa mère, la très hautaine, Mrs. Kirby. Ce que Tony ignore c’est qu’Alice est issue d’une lignée particulièrement originale. En effet, son grand-père et patriarche de la famille, Martin Vanderhof (Lionel Barrymore) est un joyeux utopiste qui a décidé il y a près de trente ans de laisser tomber son travail pour enfin s’amuser. La famille loge dans une grande maison dans laquelle chacun vaque à ses occupations (feux d’artifice, danse classique, harmonica, fabrication de marmotte mécanique etc…) dans une allégresse et dans un désordre contrôlé. Le père de Tony veut racheter l’ensemble d’un quartier pour un projet qui pourrait lui rapporter beaucoup. Or, Vanderhof refuse catégoriquement de vendre cette maison où il a encore le souvenir de sa regrettée épouse et son quartier où il n’a que des amis. La rencontre de ces deux familles que tout oppose est provoqué par Tony qui voulait montrer à ses parents à quoi ressemblait sa future belle-famille. Vous imaginez sans peine ce qui résulte de ce “choc des civilisations”. Petit à petit, Kirby que l’on croyait insensible et indifférent au sort de son prochain se met à changer au contact de Vanderhof.

You Can’t Take It With You est un ravissement. Le cinéma de Capra (qui excède certains par son côté moralisateur je le sais) est une source constante de bonheur pour moi. Toutes les valeurs véhiculées à travers son œuvre se retrouvent dans ce film. On est dans un Roméo et Juliette comique avec happy end, rien de moins. Lionel Barrymore est merveilleux dans le rôle du grand-père humaniste et beaucoup moins frappé qu’il n’y paraît. Le meilleur Capra après It’s Wonderful Life, tout simplement.

55 Years Ago Today
At the Movies

Danny Kaye in "Knock on Wood" - August 13, 1954

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in "The Long, Long Trailer." - August 13, 1954

Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis in "Living it Up." - August 13, 1954

Roy Rogers in "My Pal Trigger," plus "Capt. America." - August 13, 1954

My Favorite Husband women's T-Shirt, from Our Krazy Kulture

The “My Favorite Husband” design is available on T-shirts in men’s and women’s styles, and is also available on posters, note cards, magnets and tote bags.  To view the entire selection of “My Favorite Husband” merchandise, click here.

The text on the design, which comes straight from the show, reads:  “The New Gay Family Series, Starring Lucille Ball, with Richard Denning, as Liz and George Cooper – Two people who live together and like it!”

Dear Diary,

Gosh, Bob Hope was wonderful tonight. Edward Arnold was his guest and I believe it was the best show he’s had this season. Something else made it swell too—Betty Hutton wasn’t on it.

Bob was talking about how cold it had been in L.A. on Thanksgiving. He said, “After I put the turkey in the oven I looked in to see how it was roasting and the turkey said, ‘Shut the door, will you? It’s jut now getting cozy in here.’”

I could mention other cute gags he pulled, but I haven’t space, just as Bob was cut off the air before he started his theme song.

Dear Diary,

There was a long article in the paper today about “Nothing But the Truth,” starring Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard (and Edward Arnold). Bob made a bet with Edward Arnold (in the picture) tht he would tell nothing but the truth on his program just once. A lot of people might find out plenty that way.

“Caught In the Draft” and “Nothing But the Truth” make two pictures I’ll be seeing a lot of the next five or six months.

Dear Diary,

I went to see “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” with Jimmie Stuart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, Harry Carey and Edward Arnold. I’ve thought this before but this is, without a doubt, the best picture I have ever seen. I listened to Ellery Queen on the radio tonight.

I saw a 1956 crime movie over the weekend on TCM called The Houston Story. It was vaguely entertaining but mostly mediocre, a half-baked drama of a mobster wannabe played by Gene Barry. But it had two memorable elements in it: Edward Arnold as a chuckling mob kingpin, and Barbara Hale as a platinum-haired nightclub thrush and femme fatale.

This is one of my concepts of the perfect woman.

I kinda remember Barbara Hale from playing Della Street, the Gal Friday on the old Perry Mason show with Raymond Burr in the 50s and 60s…but actually I don’t remember that show very well because while I was growing up I was more interested in the Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Ben Casey, and 12 O’Clock High and magazines like Famous Monsters of Filmland and giant comic book creatures like Fin Fang Foom. But I loved Barbara as a naughty minx in this movie when I saw it last night in my current state of maturation as a 57-year-old connoisseur of noirishly deceptive doxies. Yes, my eyes have been opened to an actress whose other works I must readily explore.

Barbara sings the same song in The Houston Story that made Rita Hayworth famous in Gilda a decade earlier, “Put the Blame on Mame,” and Barb’s equally sexy in a sultrier, more “MILFy” kind of way.

This is from the trailer for The Houston Story.

I don’t know if Miss Hale really sang the song or it was dubbed, but the camera stays on her in closeup the whole time, and her facial expressions, and the way she moves her mouth and the way the light flatters her gorgeous cheekbones, made it something I’m glad I recorded on the DVR. If you get to see this movie when it shows up again on TCM, watch how she moves her lips on the word “boys” in the lyric, “Put the blame on Mame, boys…”

In her other scenes in the flick, she really brings the tough babe to rich life with everything from the smallest furrowing of her brow to the freshening of her lipstick. What a dame!

Looking her up on the web after seeing the movie, I found some of these shots at a great tribute site called Big Dave’s Barbara Hale Annex. I also read somewhere else that she may have been a model back in the 1940s for the famed pinup calendar painter Gil Elvgren, the creator of timeless works like this (which can be found at the fine site Pinup Files).

It's a sad day when a grown man envies a cocker spaniel...

Well, with Barb’s stems and that wholesome but saucy face, I can sure believe that Elvgren, who was to pinups what Michelangelo was to ceilings, would have loved her!

With women like this on their side, how could our World War 2 soldiers NOT have beaten the Axis?