During the month of August Turner Classic Movies (TCM) typically devotes its programming on each day to a different Hollywood star. The first half dozen stars for this month are Doris Day, Humphrey Bogart, June Allyson, Glenn Ford, Joan Bennett, and Diane Keaton. Today’s “Star of the Day” is June Allyson. If you get TCM in general they’re a good opportunity to see the movies of individual stars, some rarely broadcast. For the whole list see here.
There are some good Doris Day pictures, as documents if nothing else. For example, The Pajama Game captured the performances of much of the Broadway cast of the show. Except that Doris Day replaced Janis Paige as Babe. I would rather have seen Janis Paige but you can’t have everything.
At the risk of being unkind is there such a thing as a good June Allyson picture? They just finished showing a movie I’ve never seen: The Secret Heart. In it June Allyson portrayed a 14 year old. When it was made she was 29 years old. Watching it required a certain suspension of disbelief. I’ve never seen the movie from beginning to end and I suspect I never will.
On the other hand yesterday they showed Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep and others of Bogart’s best.
The best part of June Allyson playing a 14 year old was the crow’s feet. Does any 14 year old have crow’s feet?
Re Allyson, back then Katherine Hepburn played a Chinese peasant woman, and Paul Robeson played a Moor. Once black vaudeville performers played in black face makeup. That lasted right into the 50’s. Today a black African is playing Helen of Troy. The practice continues, but the excuses change.
By the way, I watched “China Clipper” on TCM a few days ago. This was billed as a Bogie film, but he had a minor supporting role; it was a Patrick O’Brian film (and he wasn’t a priest!!!). There are some interesting scenes representing 30’s mores that have gone away. At one point O’Brien’s ex-wife begs to return, and he rejects her. And there is, of course, the obligatory fist-fight-and-let’s-makeup scene.
My father’s generation (depression/war) was convinced a punch in the mouth solved a lot of problems.
Viewers today have largely forgotten Pat O’Brien. If they’ve seen a movie of his at all he’s either playing Knute Rockne or a priest. But in the 30s he was a substantial star.
I don’t care if Helen of Troy is portrayed by a black actress or The Odyssey includes a transgender cast member. I only care that they’re good and play their parts convincingly and compellingly. And that’s the problem; credentials are being accepted as making a performance good. I interpreted their casting as Nolan’s desperate Oscar-grabbing—the diverse cast makes the movie eligible for Oscars.
I haven’t commented on The Odyssey because I haven’t seen it and am unlikely to. I’ll leave it at that. IMO the movie will soon be forgotten just as the Kirk Douglas version is. If you want to see a dramatization of The Odyssey see O Brother, Where Art Thou?.
Dave Schuler: I interpreted their casting as Nolan’s desperate Oscar-grabbing—the diverse cast makes the movie eligible for Oscars.
That’s a misinterpretation of the Academy’s Representation and Inclusion Standards. Oppenheimer (also by Nolan) was eligible for and won Academy awards with a nearly all-white cast. A movie can qualify due to crew composition, internships, training programs, and marketing staff.
Meanwhile, George Washington: “One last time, let’s take a break tonight, and we’ll teach them how to say goodbye, to say goodbye, you and I.”
Dave Schuler: If you want to see a dramatization of The Odyssey see O Brother, Where Art Thou?.
One of the best adaptations. Watch out for the cyclops!