Tonight's Movie: Five Fingers (1952)

FIVE FINGERS is a highly absorbing WWII thriller about a spy (James Mason) selling British secrets to the Germans.

Ulysses Diello (Mason) serves as valet to the British ambassador (Walter Hampden) to Turkey during World War II. Diello also uses his unquestioned access to the embassy to photograph top secret war documents, which he sells to the Germans. Diello feels no allegiance to any particular country, but wants to make money -- lots of it -- and then retire to the good life in Rio. Diello hopes to enjoy Rio with Anna (Danielle Darrieux), an impoverished Polish countess whose husband once employed Diello.

The British soon realize that secrets are leaking from their embassy in Turkey and send Colin Travers (Michael Rennie) to investigate. The wily Diello manages to stay two steps ahead of both Travers and his German clients, but there are a couple of twists which even the careful Diello fails to anticipate.

The film is in the best tradition of Alfred Hitchcock, combining suspense and humor; Mason, of course, would go on to be one of Hitchcock's best villains in NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959). The film is based on a true story and is rather unusual in that it simply lays out, almost in documentary fashion, the deeds of a very bad man. Mason, as the focus of the film, becomes an antihero who is strangely sympathetic to the audience -- never more so than when we see he just can't seem to stop acting as a valet, no matter the circumstances.

Mason, of course, is a fascinating actor, and the plot is constructed so that the audience can't help but root for him to succeed...although when he starts shopping around information on Operation Overlord, the viewer is jolted back to reality and thinks twice. The film has a literate, intelligent quality which is part of what makes it an engrossing espionage tale, rather than potentially distasteful, as Diello sells documents that will affect thousands of lives without a second thought. A fairly sympathetic portrayal of someone betraying the Allies for cash must have been even more surprising in 1952 than it is today. I won't give away the ending, other than to say I thought it perfectly suited both the plot and the tone of the film.

The French actress Darrieux had previously shown her ability to charm in U.S. films such as THE RAGE OF PARIS (1938) and RICH, YOUNG AND PRETTY (1951). Here she plays a more complex role, as a woman whose only allegiance is to herself. Although she is physically beautiful, her amoral character is ultimately even less attractive than Mason's. They are certainly a unique pair of leads for a film of the era.

Michael Rennie made several notable films for Fox in the early '50s, including THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951), I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU (1951), and DANGEROUS CROSSING (1953). Here he's given the good guy role, who in some respects is initially seen by the audience as the spoiler for Mason's plans. It takes a while to warm up to the idea that he's the hero of the piece.

Walter Hampden, who plays the British ambassador, went on to a wonderful comedic role as the father of Humphrey Bogart and William Holden in SABRINA in 1954. Nestor Paiva and Michael Pate have small parts. John Sutton provides the narration.

FIVE FINGERS was directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who also did uncredited work on the script, written by Michael Wilson. It's a black and white film which runs 108 minutes.

The musical score by Bernard Herrmann is exactly right for this type of suspense film; it's particularly good during the climactic chase sequence. Herrmann would go on to work with Alfred Hitchcock, including -- like Mason -- on NORTH BY NORTHWEST.

Cinematographer Norbert Brodine previously worked on many film noir classics, including THE HOUSE ON 92ND STREET, SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT, 13 RUE MADELEINE, BOOMERANG!, and KISS OF DEATH.

FIVE FINGERS has been released in the United States on video.

It's available on Region 2 DVD in the James Mason Screen Icons Collection. The print is excellent. The other films in the set are THE BELLS GO DOWN, THE MAN BETWEEN, ODD MAN OUT, and THE MAN IN GREY, where he plays a villain who turns anti-hero in his final scenes.

Given how relatively affordable they have become, an all-region DVD player is a great idea for a classic film fan's Christmas wish list.

FIVE FINGERS can also be seen on cable on Turner Classic Movies.

The Future of DVDs and CDs?

The L.A. Times ran an interesting article on Best Buy yesterday, which lays out the idea that in the future only the hottest new DVD and CD titles will be physically available in their stores. Instead the store will be focusing on digital delivery of entertainment.

Classic films, in particular, will be increasingly difficult to find in a bricks and mortar Best Buy.

A Best Buy VP says "Most sales of DVDs happen in the first 10 weeks they are on sale, so after that we'll have to decide if the best place to stock it is in the store or online."

I rarely shop at Best Buy, but it's interesting to read about their future plans, particularly as it's possible other stores will follow suit.

Digital products may be convenient at times, but if you want to own a movie or music that can't "crash" and/or will not be withdrawn from availability by a digital provider, there's nothing like owning a hard copy of a DVD or CD. I'm not entirely old-fashioned -- I just downloaded a song from Amazon today (grin) -- but I think I will always prefer the idea of permanently owning something I can physically place on a shelf and retrieve whenever I wish.

Tonight's Movie: Four Faces West (1948)

FOUR FACES WEST is a relatively unsung gem of a Western which deserves to find a wider audience. It's a film with an unusual storyline about love, redemption, and the kindness of strangers. The movie has excellent performances, and it improves on repeat viewings.

Ross McEwen (Joel McCrea) politely robs a bank -- he even leaves an IOU! -- apparently seeing it as the only way to get badly needed funds to his father. Ross escapes with famed lawman Pat Garrett (Charles Bickford) hot on his trail.

On a westward-bound train Ross is charmed by lovely Fay Hollister (Frances Dee, McCrea's real-life wife), a nurse headed to work at a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Fay is attracted to Ross and senses that he is in trouble. Ross's presence on the train is also noted by a mysterious man, Monte Marquez (Joseph Calleia); is Monte friend or foe?

Ross, Fay, and Monte get off the train in Alamogordo. Ross gets a job and is able to repay some of the money he stole; during this respite he also courts Fay. But soon Garrett arrives in Alamogordo and Ross must flee. Will he be running for the rest of his life?

This simple outline of the plot really doesn't do the film justice. The magic of the movie is in the interesting script, the four lead characters, and trying to figure out "what happens next," which is anything but predictable. Calleia, in particular, plays a really fascinating character, but I hesitate to delve too deeply into my thoughts on Monte or the plot in general, because first-time viewers should watch the film without any preconceptions. It's not your typical Western.

My favorite parts of the movie are the scenes where Ross and Fay become acquainted. There's a wonderful scene where Fay stands in the train station, thinking Ross is still aboard the train pulling out of Alamogordo; it has a terrific emotional payoff. My favorite scene in the entire movie is later in the film when Ross brings Fay a ring, and when she hesitantly starts to put it on her right hand, he gently says "Oh, no," and slips it on her left ring finger. It's a very tender moment, with added emotional layers for the viewer who knows the actors playing the scene are married.

The charismatic Bickford, a year after his marvelous Oscar-nominated role as the butler in THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER, is excellent as Pat Garrett. It's a multi-layered performance, as Garrett is dedicated to getting his man, yet also fair and compassionate -- unlike those who prefer the "dead" aspect of "wanted dead or alive."

Dan White plays Garrett's deputy, with William Conrad as the sheriff of Alamogordo. It's not often one sees William Conrad riding in a posse!

FOUR FACES WEST is one of several excellent films released in 1947-48 about the redemption of a "bad man." Also worth seeking out are ANGEL AND THE BADMAN (1947), BLOOD ON THE MOON (1948), and YELLOW SKY (1948). The movies share certain themes and character types, yet at the same time they are all quite different in mood. Each title is special in its own way, and each one is very much worth seeing. A later film in this subgenre which is also excellent is A MAN ALONE (1955).

Joel McCrea and Frances Dee had been married 15 years when FOUR FACES WEST was released in 1948; Joel died on their 57th wedding anniversary in 1990. Their first two sons, Jody and David, were born in 1934 and 1935; Jody passed away earlier this year. When Jody and David were nearing adulthood, the McCreas had another son, Peter, in 1955. Peter is married to Courtney Lemmon, the daughter of Jack Lemmon and Felicia Farr.

For more information and some wonderful photos, visit Remembering Frances Dee.

FOUR FACES WEST was directed by Alfred E. Green. It runs 89 minutes. Russell Harlan photographed the movie in black and white; Harlan's credits include classics such as RIO BRAVO (1959) and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962). The movie was shot on location in New Mexico, as well as California's Red Rock Canyon.

FOUR FACES WEST is available on both DVD (a nice print) and video.

FOUR FACES WEST is a special movie which is highly recommended.

Joel McCrea movies previously reviewed here at Laura's Miscellaneous Musings: THE SILVER HORDE (1930), THE RICHEST GIRL IN THE WORLD (1934), BARBARY COAST (1935), ADVENTURE IN MANHATTAN (1936), WOMAN CHASES MAN (1937), THREE BLIND MICE (1938), FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT (1940), HE MARRIED HIS WIFE (1940), THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942), THE LONE HAND (1953), and STRANGER ON HORSEBACK (1955).

New Book: Christmas Memories

Susan Waggoner, author of IT'S A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS and UNDER THE TREE, is back with a third volume on American Christmas celebrations.

Waggoner's new book is CHRISTMAS MEMORIES: GIFTS, ACTIVITIES, FADS AND FANCIES, 1920S-1960S.

Waggoner's books, as I described in a post two years ago, are "a visual feast of 'retro' graphic art, including pictures from catalogues, magazine ads, and movie posters." They are real "eye candy" for anyone who loves Christmas-related graphic art of the mid 20th Century.

The customer images available at Amazon show that this latest book is more of the same. It's a "must" for my Christmas wish list.

20 Years Ago Today

Twenty years ago today, the Berlin Wall fell.

The fall of the Berlin Wall was one of those world-changing "I remember where I was" moments. My husband and I watched the news on our little TV in our apartment, almost unable to believe what we were seeing was happening.

Twenty years ago today the world, as I had known it since my earliest memories, ceased to exist.

Twenty years ago today the world I learned about in college, in political science course after course, vanished.

I remember crying with happiness as we watched the German people tearing down the Wall and celebrating, while East German soldiers simply stood there, watching citizens from East and West Germany joyously unite for the first time in decades.

Click the title of this post for video of the day the Wall fell, as well as video of President Reagan's 1987 speech, in which he challenged the Soviet Union to "Tear down this wall!"

It may be hard for younger people to comprehend just how radically the world shifted with the fall of the Wall, but our President is old enough to know.

If you had told me twenty years ago today that in 2009 an American President would refuse to visit the Wall to celebrate once more the triumph of liberty over Communism -- and our nation's role in that victory -- I'd never have believed it. That fact makes me tear up all over again.

There is so much I could write about our current President's narcissistic, anti-American choices and foreign policy, but I'll simply say I find the way he conducts himself both alarming and tragic.

And then I'll go watch the videos again and remind myself that, in the end, freedom and liberty triumph.

Tuesday Update: In remarks via video, President Obama once again demonstrated his narcissism, celebrating his election and omitting, among other things, any mention of President Reagan, Prime Minister Thatcher, or Pope John Paul II: "Obama neither decries the villains nor salutes the heroes of the story. Rather, Obama celebrates himself."

As Paul Rahe writes to PowerLine: "Obama proved unable to refrain from injecting his own autobiography into the event... Obama seems to think his presidency as important a milestone as the fall of the Berlin Wall. In the world of the narcissist, everything that happens is always about him."

The Campaign Spot examines Obama's schedule Monday, when he was "too busy" to travel to Berlin.

Tonight's Movie: The King and Four Queens (1956)

THE KING AND FOUR QUEENS is an oddball Western comedy-drama about an adventurer (Clark Gable) after $100,000 in gold.

The gold was stolen by the four McDade brothers, three of whom died in an explosion shortly thereafter; which son escaped is an open question. The gold has been guarded at a remote desert outpost for two years by Ma McDade (Jo Van Fleet) and her four daughters-in-law. Ma lives in the hope that her surviving son will come home to claim the gold and his wife.

Dan Kehoe (Gable) rides in, surviving Ma's welcoming gunshot, and gets to know the four possible widows as he hunts for the gold. Smart Sabina (Eleanor Parker) is standoffish but quietly interested in Dan. Ruby (Jean Willes) is a man-hungry tigress, Birdie (Barbara Nichols) is bird-brained, and Oralie (Sara Shane) is a sweet young thing who was in over her head when she married a McDade.

The film is basically a six-person character study as Gable and the women interact in varying combinations. It's probably not hard to guess which of the four ladies Gable decides he'd like to have along with the gold. The film's climax is handled in a surprisingly low-key manner, but perhaps the ending is in keeping with the film's meandering style. The movie is nothing particularly special, but Gable is charming, the ladies are beautiful, and it's a pleasant way to pass the time.

The supporting cast includes Arthur Shields as a priest and Jay C. Flippen as a bartender. Roy Roberts plays the sheriff.

THE KING AND FOUR QUEENS was directed by Raoul Walsh. It was filmed in CinemaScope and DeLuxe color by Lucien Ballard. The film runs 86 minutes.

THE KING AND FOUR QUEENS is available on DVD. It's an excellent print. There are no extras. A review by Glenn Erickson was posted at the TCM website.

It's also had a VHS release.

Tonight's Movie: Three-Cornered Moon (1933)

THREE-CORNERED MOON is a very early example of the "crazy family" Depression-era screwball comedy, a genre which hit its peak a few years later with MY MAN GODFREY (1936).

Claudette Colbert plays Elizabeth Rimpelgar, who lives with her ditzy mother (Mary Boland) and three brothers in a spacious mansion in Brooklyn. Elizabeth may be the only sane member of the family, but the Depression soon knocks some sense into her siblings when they learn the family fortune has collapsed along with the stock market. Everyone in the family must...gasp!...get jobs. They also take in a boarder, Dr. Alan Stevens (Richard Arlen). And, as it turns out, the Depression might just be the making of the Rimpelgars.

The story is based on a play, and particularly at the outset it seems overly stagy, as the camera follows various Rimpelgars through the house. I found it a bit tiresome at first, between the Rimpelgar brothers acting like overgrown children and Elizabeth's do-nothing novelist boyfriend (Hardie Albright) whining and threatening suicide.

However, the film turned quite interesting once the family sobered up, so to speak, and realized they had to be responsible or they wouldn't eat. Oldest brother Kenneth (Wallace Ford) begins to take being a law clerk and studying for the bar exam seriously. Elizabeth goes to work in a shoe factory and eventually questions why she's supporting her freeloading boyfriend, and the other brothers find employment as well.

The movie reminded me a bit of 1938's THE YOUNG IN HEART, about a family of con artists who discover for the first time the satisfaction of education and hard work. THREE-CORNERED MOON isn't of the same quality as the later film, but it improves as it goes along and builds to a satisfying conclusion. It's a must-see for fans of screwball comedies, who will appreciate its role in helping to create the genre.

Boland does a good job in the type of "addlepated mother" role played in later comedies by actresses such as Billie Burke, Alice Brady, and Spring Byington. Lyda Roberti is also amusing as the Rimpelgars' cook, who doesn't speak English. Roberti appeared with Colbert in TORCH SINGER in 1933; she had a heart condition and sadly died young in 1938.

Colbert and Arlen, playing the sensible young doctor who supplants the novelist in Colbert's affections, are appealing leads. Colbert's younger brothers are played by Tom Brown and William Bakewell. Joan Marsh plays Kitty, the oldest's brother's feckless girlfriend. Clara Blandick (Auntie Em from THE WIZARD OF OZ) has a single scene as a landlady.

THREE-CORNERED MOON was directed by Elliott Nugent. It was filmed in black and white by Leon Shamroy. The movie runs 77 minutes.

THREE-CORNERED MOON is one of the films in the new six-film Claudette Colbert Collection. The print is in very good shape; it's not as pristine as I MET HIM IN PARIS, but looks good considering its age. This set is so interesting, we can only hope there might be a Colbert Vol. 2 someday.

Claudette Colbert movies previously reviewed here at Laura's Miscellaneous Musings: TORCH SINGER (1933), SHE MARRIED HER BOSS (1935), I MET HIM IN PARIS (1937), BLUEBEARD'S EIGHTH WIFE (1938), MIDNIGHT (1939), BOOM TOWN (1940), THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942), NO TIME FOR LOVE (1943), THE SECRET HEART (1946), TOMORROW IS FOREVER (1946), WITHOUT RESERVATIONS (1946), THE EGG AND I (1947), and LET'S MAKE IT LEGAL (1951).

Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...DVD Savant pointed the way to a fascinating autiobiographical letter by actor Robert Ryan. It's a wonderful piece of history, discovered by Ryan's daughter earlier this year; click the title of this post to read it. The Chicago Reader published an interesting accompanying article. It's all "must" reading for Ryan fans.

...Robert Ryan's movies will be featured on TCM in November, celebrating the centennial of his birth on November 11th. More details have been posted by Moira at Skeins of Thought.

...The new issue of Disney Twenty-Three was just released. Articles include Christmas at Disney theme parks, the ZORRO TV series just released on DVD, the 20th anniversary of THE LITTLE MERMAID, Disney's relationship with Hallmark cards, and the new film THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG.

...The Classic Maiden pays tribute to Joel McCrea, born November 5, 1905. Motion Picture Gems celebrated McCrea's birthday with a post on his film STARS IN MY CROWN (1950), which is in my mile-high stack of movies I'd love to watch...

...Here's an interesting rumor that actor John Ratzenberger is considering running for a Connecticut Senate seat in 2012. Ratzenberger, incidentally, was one of the speakers at the Capitol protest against the government takeover of healthcare last Thursday.

...The Washington Post and New York Magazine each ran columns in praise of the BETSY-TACY books this week.

...The Self-Styled Siren, along with Lou Lumenick of the New York Post, created the "Shadows of Russia" series which will be featured on Turner Classic Movies next January. The idea began when the Siren posted her thoughts on the 1943 Warner Bros. film MISSION TO MOSCOW. I'm especially looking forward to THE NORTH STAR (1943), starring Dana Andrews and Anne Baxter.

...Steven Sample, President of the University of Southern California for the past 19 years, retires next summer. Under Sample's leadership, USC has become one of the nation's most prestigious universities.

...What the Pelosi Health Care Bill Really Says: Quotes directly from the bill.

..."This Time It's Personal": Mona Charen on how the taxation of medical devices in the pending healthcare legislation will directly affect her family and her son's future.

...Amazing what's out there on the internet...here's a tribute site dedicated to one of my favorite actors, Jack Kelly of MAVERICK. He's pictured at the right with his television brother, James Garner. Kelly died 17 years ago today. A book on Kelly's life is coming next year from Linda Alexander, author of RELUCTANT WITNESS: ROBERT TAYLOR, HOLLYWOOD, AND COMMUNISM.

...Amazon has an attractive, well-organized Christmas Corner...and isn't it nice it's not a "Holiday" Corner?

...It's really not fair for a President to share his little girl's test scores with the entire country -- make that the world. I thought they wanted their daughters to have privacy?

...A new cookbook: THE COMPLETE AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN TV SHOW COOKBOOK, with every recipe from the show's decade-long run. Alternatively, the SEASON 10 cookbook is also newly available, as is MORE BEST RECIPES.

...Borders is closing 200 Waldenbooks stores in January.

...Al Lutz has provided his annual repost of his highly informative article on Disneyland's Main Street Christmas Music Loop. If you want to know anything about Christmas music heard in Disneyland, this is the article to read. My post on this topic from last year is here.

Have a great weekend!

Tonight's Movie: I Met Him in Paris (1937)

I MET HIM IN PARIS reunites Claudette Colbert and Melvyn Douglas, stars of the 1935 comedy SHE MARRIED HER BOSS (1935).

Colbert plays Kay Denham, who is happy to leave her devoted but boring beau (Lee Bowman) at home in the U.S. while she takes a three-week vacation in Paris. Kay promptly meets Americans George (Melvyn Douglas), a dour playwright, and Gene (Robert Young), an energetic playboy who quickly professes his love to Kay...but unbeknownst to her, Gene is already married. The threesome enjoy each other's company, first in Paris and later in Switzerland. Every time Gene tries to romance Kay, their increasingly cranky chaperone, George, manages to turn up...

Kay, a department store employee, has supposedly saved for the trip for years, which somehow enables her to afford dazzling gowns designed by Travis Banton. (I couldn't help thinking of Alice Faye's equally well-dressed Macy's salesgirl in WEEK-END IN HAVANA a few years later.) Colbert is her usual charming self, playing a woman who thinks she loves one man yet seems happiest with the man who annoys her. Like Irene Dunne, the elegant Colbert deserves to be much better remembered by modern audiences, who perhaps know her best as the creative hitchhiker of IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934).

Douglas is particularly good as George, whose acerbic wit and crankiness mask his true feelings for Kay. Young also does a good job, first appearing to be a dashing young romantic but gradually revealing a sleazy side. The film, in fact, is a bit risque for the Production Code era, as it's clear Gene has in mind a love affair, not matrimony.

The film benefits greatly from extensive location shooting in Idaho, doubling for Switzerland. Thanks to the principal actors being filmed on location, with minimal use of back projections, the film has a crisp, open-air feel somewhat unusual for its era; a scene with Douglas and Colbert doing their own ice skating -- and very well! -- is particularly enjoyable to watch.

All in all, I MET HIM IN PARIS is a solid piece of entertainment made by people who knew their business.

I MET HIM IN PARIS was directed by Wesley Ruggles, the younger brother of actor Charlie Ruggles. It runs 86 minutes.

The black and white cinematography was by Leo Tover, a two-time Oscar nominee for the Olivia deHavilland films HOLD BACK THE DAWN and THE HEIRESS. His many credits include THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, and THE PRESIDENT'S LADY.

I MET HIM IN PARIS is available on DVD as part of the brand-new six-film Claudette Colbert Collection. The print is outstanding; some of the bright, airy snow scenes look as though they could have been filmed yesterday. The other films in the set are THREE-CORNERED MOON (1933), MAID OF SALEM (1937), BLUEBEARD'S EIGHTH WIFE (1938), NO TIME FOR LOVE (1943), and THE EGG AND I (1947).

Claudette Colbert movies previously reviewed here at Laura's Miscellaneous Musings: TORCH SINGER (1933), SHE MARRIED HER BOSS (1935), BLUEBEARD'S EIGHTH WIFE (1938), MIDNIGHT (1939), BOOM TOWN (1940), THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942), NO TIME FOR LOVE (1943), THE SECRET HEART (1946), TOMORROW IS FOREVER (1946), WITHOUT RESERVATIONS (1946), THE EGG AND I (1947), and LET'S MAKE IT LEGAL (1951).

Tonight's Movie: Together Again (1944)

Anne Crandall (Irene Dunne) is a widowed smalltown mayor who lives with her father-in-law (Charles Coburn) and high-strung teenage stepdaughter Diana (Mona Freeman). Anne lives a very circumscribed life, always conscious of the townspeople's watchful eyes, as well as how her choices will affect the dramatically inclined Diana.

When a lightning bolt knocks the head off the town statue of Anne's late husband, she journeys to New York to interview sculptor George Corday (Charles Boyer) about creating a new statue. Sparks fly between Anne and George, but the wary Anne tries to call off the project and flees back home to her dull life. George, however, won't take no for an answer and soon he and Anne are TOGETHER AGAIN.

The title of this delightful film was doubtless meant to remind audiences that the film reunited the stars of the 1939 classic LOVE AFFAIR. Dunne and Boyer are a wonderful team. TOGETHER AGAIN may not be in the topmost tier of comedy classics, but it's a very good, well-made film with some laugh-out-loud funny moments near the conclusion. It's a thoroughly entertaining movie.

As far as I'm concerned, Irene Dunne can do no wrong. She was a true original, adept at comedy, drama, or musicals. I especially love her speaking voice; like Jean Arthur, Dunne had a voice which can make me smile just hearing it. She was also unique in that she was a bit older than the typical leading lady of that era; she was 46 the year TOGETHER AGAIN was released. Although she was nominated as Best Actress on five occasions and starred in numerous classics, today she inexplicably isn't as well remembered as many other stars.

Charles Boyer is simply charming in this film. I enjoy him most in light comedies such as TOGETHER AGAIN and CLUNY BROWN (1946), or in the unusual comedy-drama HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT (1937). One has the sense when watching this film that both Boyer and his character are having a very good time.

The soundtrack not too subtly reminds audiences of Coburn's Oscar-winning role in 1943's THE MORE THE MERRIER by playing his theme song from that movie as background music in one of his scenes. The same musical gimmick was used in another of Coburn's 1944 films, THE IMPATIENT YEARS.

Mona Freeman made her film debut the year this was released; TOGETHER AGAIN was one of four films she appeared in in 1944. Her best-known role as a teen actress was probably in MOTHER WORE TIGHTS (1947), in which she and Connie Marshall played the daughters of Betty Grable and Dan Dailey. She also appeared in DEAR RUTH (1947), THE HEIRESS (1949), COPPER CANYON (1950), and ANGEL FACE (1952). Starting in the mid-'50s she worked mainly in television, including playing the memorable character Modesty Blaine in two episodes of MAVERICK with James Garner. After the mid-'60s she only acted in one more TV production before retiring. This year she turned 83.

Jerome Courtland, who plays Diana's gangly, long-suffering beau Gilbert ("Good night!"), went on to become a TV director, including numerous episodes of DISNEY and FALCON CREST.

The supporting cast includes Adele Jergens, Elizabeth Patterson, Janis Carter, Hobart Cavanaugh, Charles Dingle, Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, and Nina Mae McKinney. Jergens and McKinney are particularly noticeable in their brief roles as a model and a ladies' room maid. IMDb says Shelley Winters has a bit part; I'll have to watch for her next time.

TOGETHER AGAIN was directed by Charles Vidor. It runs 100 minutes and was photographed in black and white by Joseph Walker, who shot many classic films including Frank Capra's best-known titles. Irene Dunne's gowns were designed by Jean Louis.

TOGETHER AGAIN is available on DVD in the ICONS OF SCREWBALL COMEDY VOL. 2 set. The three other movies in the set are Dunne's THEODORA GOES WILD (1935), which I haven't seen since an L.A. revival theater screening in the '70s, and two enjoyable Loretta Young films, A NIGHT TO REMEMBER (1943) and THE DOCTOR TAKES A WIFE (1940).

The set has been reviewed by Dave Kehr at the New York Times and by Paul Mavis at DVD Talk. It's an excellent value, with four fun movies which provide solid entertainment.

God Bless Officer Kimberly Munley

Officer Kimberly Munley was the first responder on the scene at yesterday's shooting rampage at Ft. Hood:

"...her fearless response to the gunman...saved countless lives. Trained in active-response tactics, she rushed into the building where he was shooting, and confronted him directly. Officials confirmed that she had continued firing even after being hit."

Office Munley shot the murderer four times.

"It was an amazing and aggressive performance by this police officer," said Lieutenant-General Robert Cone, Fort Hood’s commanding officer. "The critical factor here was her quick response to the situation...She walked up and engaged him."

Officer Munley, the mother of a three-year-old daughter, is in stable condition.

DVD Price War!

Recently Amazon and Wal-Mart have been having a price war on some books; as I noted here, that has led to bestsellers such as Sarah Palin's upcoming autobiography selling at Amazon for just $9.00.

Late last night I read Wal-Mart was slashing the prices of popular DVDs for the upcoming Christmas season down to just $10.00.

I just logged into Amazon and discovered that the price of JULIE AND JULIA, due out on December 8th, had dropped from $17.99 to $10.00. I placed my order!

The single-disc editions of STAR TREK, HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, and NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN have also dropped to $10.

I didn't buy those as the versions on my children's Christmas lists are the two-disc Special Editions which include a digital copy. The prices for those editions did drop today as well. If you only want the single-disc edition, $10 for a new movie is a great deal.

The single-disc version of UP, due out on Tuesday, is currently $15.99 on Amazon. (Saturday Update: It's now down to $14.99.)

Target is also expected to participate in the price war.

This Weekend at USC: Bond, James Bond

The University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts celebrates James Bond this weekend in the Norris Theatre.

Nine Bond films will be screened, with all of the actors who played James Bond -- even George Lazenby -- represented by at least one film.

The films to be shown include my favorite Bond movie, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. I've since seen and appreciated all of the Connery Bonds, but THE SPY WHO LOVED ME was the first James Bond movie I ever saw, and it certainly made an impression.

Professor Rick Jewell, who has taught a class on Bond this semester, will moderate panel discussions. Actors Richard Kiel and Maud Adams are among the scheduled participants.

An exhibit of Bond film memorabilia will be on display in the George Lucas Building until next February.

The detailed schedule is here.

Sully Named Rose Parade Grand Marshal

Captain Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot who safely landed a disabled airplane in the middle of the Hudson River, has been named Grand Marshal of the 2010 New Year's Day Rose Parade.

On a day like today, being reminded of good news is a very good thing indeed.

Exciting News: The TCM Classic Film Festival

I was absolutely delighted to receive an email from Turner Classic Movies today announcing the TCM Classic Film Festival.

The Festival comes to Hollywood next April 22-25, 2010.

"In April 2010, we will gather to watch great movies, introduced by the people who made them, listen to behind-the-scenes stories, enjoy newly restored films, and share our enthusiasm for classic cinema...at the first ever TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood."

There will be more than 50 screenings, each one accompanied with special introductions and guest appearances. Specific details will be announced, with passes going on sale November 18th.

As my college-age daughter said, "It's Comic Con for classic film buffs!" (Or Disney's D23.)

This reminds me of the Filmex Festivals my dad and I attended when I was a teenager. The round-the-clock marathons of musicals and Academy Award winners are some of my most vivid moviegoing memories. One year we sat up all night watching OKLAHOMA!, MY FAIR LADY, and WEST SIDE STORY. (Great fun, and keep in mind there were no videotapes, DVDs, cable television or commercial-free TV back in those dinosaur days!) We also saw in-person tributes to Olivia deHavilland and Loretta Young. What a thrill to see those great ladies of the cinema.

I look forward to further details being unveiled about the TCM Festival. I am definitely interested in blocking that weekend out on my schedule and attending!

In the meantime, here's a "trailer" for the Festival with Robert Osborne.

Friday Update: If this article is accurate, the prices for a four-day pass for a single person are, um...not realistic. $500 to $1200 for a four-day pass?

I was expecting something more along the lines of the pricing for Disney's D23 Expo, which ran well under $150 for a four-day pass.

Food Magazines After Gourmet

The L.A. Times Food Section offers an interesting assessment of the food magazine market following the demise of Gourmet Magazine.

The article's main theme is that -- just like cable TV -- food magazines today are narrowing their focus and seeking out loyal niche audiences.

It's a good read for those interested in publishing trends in particular or entertainment marketing in general.

An Encouraging Evening

Last night's election results in New Jersey and Virginia were a definite encouragement to those Americans deeply concerned about the massive taxation, growth of federal bureacracy, and loss of freedom we will all face under Obamacare and/or cap and trade.

With an Obamacare vote likely now pushed back to early 2010 -- an election year -- last night's results should result in a harder push on the brakes for the Democrats' plans to fundamentally restructure our nation. Then hopefully one year hence an energized public will voice a resounding "NO!" at the ballot box.

Peter Wehner offers "Some Thoughts on Barack Obama's Awful Evening" at Commentary (click title of this post).

For more analysis, check out Ed Morrissey, Glenn Reynolds, and Fred Barnes.