Movie that I watched yesterday

Yesterday I watched "The Young Savages", on TCM. I have never seen this film before. It takes place in Spanish Harlem, NYC in 1961. Three Italian young men are members of a street gang named the Thunderbirds. They have an ongoing turf war with a Puerto Rican gang called the Horsemen. The three members of the Thunderbirds attack a blind young man from the Horsemen and stab him to death. The district attorney (played by a very handsome Burt Lancaster) is given the case despite the fact that it is discovered that one of the boys mother was his ex-girlfriend.
At first he seeks the death penalty for the boys, but as he gets deeper into the case he realizes what appears to be cut and dried on the surface, is really more complex. It's directed by John Frankenheimer, also stars Dina Merrill, Shelley Winters and Telly Savalas.
It was an interesting movie over all. I always love seeing old movies that were filmed in NYC (I still live here).





I got a kick out of seeing a young Telly Savalas in this film.

Movie I just watched: Duel in the sun

I watch alot of classic movies on TCM. Every time there's a western on, I quickly change the channel. I just don't like westerns, they're boring to me with all the shooting going on. Well today was no different. I just finished watching Ingrid Bergman in Intermezzo: A love story (have to save that one for another post) and I wasn't going to watch another movie. So this movie comes on that looks like a western (Oh NO!) but I didn't get to change the channel because I had to answer the phone. Anyway, when I finished my phone conversation I see this beautiful lady in the movie and I started watching it. The lady turned out to be Jennifer Jones. Can't say I've seen her movies before, but I have heard of her. Well, I watched the whole thing and I liked it! It did take place in a western setting and there was some shooting, but mostly it was a crazy love story! I must say it was rather surprisingly sexy for 1946.



Pearl Chavez, a half breed girl, is sent to live with distant relatives following the hanging of her father, who shot and killed Pearl's adulterous mother. Upon her arrival at the huge McCanless ranch, two brothers, Lewt and Jesse, are immediately smitten with Pearl. Lewt (Gregory Peck), the bad boy of the two, seduces Pearl but has no intentions of marrying her. The good brother, Jesse (Joseph Cotten), marries someone else but is still protective of Pearl and asks her to come and live with him and his wife. Tensions rise as the love triangle culminates in a violent end.

Movie: Imitation of Life (1959)

I just saw an amazing movie on TCM called "Imitation of Life" which stars Lana Turner, Sandra Dee, Susan Kohner and Juanita Moore. Directed by Douglas Sirk, it's a melodrama about a widowed mother, Lora (Lana Turner) struggling to raise her daughter (Sandra Dee). Her attempts to forge a career in New York City as a model/actress, is not going well. Annie’s (Juanita Moore) very fair skinned husband abandoned her and it is difficult for her to find work as a Domestic because she refuses to leave her equally fair skinned daughter (Susan Kohner) behind. Lora and Annie strike up a bargain to aid one another. Annie comes to live with Lora. Initially Annie agrees to work only for room and board, caring for Lora’s home and child while Lora goes on auditions. Annie gives Lora a degree of status which eventually brings about Lora’s first big break. The women become lifelong friends. Annie also becomes a substitute mother to Susie as Lora continues to achieve fame. Lora eventually realizes fame is a mere imitation compared to what really matters in life. Unfortunately, Annie is not having success mothering her own child, Sara Jane, who denies her mother and becomes obsessed with passing herself off as white.
Very lovely performance by Susan Kohner in this movie. She reminded me of Natalie Wood so much! Though not Black, Susan Kohner portrayed Sarah Jane. Kohner’s mother was Mexican actress Lupita Tovar and father Czech producer/agent Paul Kohner. Both Susan Kohner and Juanita Moore won an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in the movie.
I highly recommend this movie if you haven't seen and if you have, see it again!!!
LOVED IT!


Imitation of life




Susan Kohner




Susan's mother, Lupita Tovar

Love with the proper stranger

Taking a little break from packing suitcases for our vacation, (we're leaving tomorrow!). I'm watching "Love with the proper stranger" (1963), starring Natalie Wood & Steve McQueen. Love this movie! I've seen it a couple of times before but every time I see it I'm still very interested in it. It's mainly about a couple who have a one night stand and pregnancy is the result of it. They try to resolve the issue together. Natalie & Steve had very good chemistry together in this film. Natalie Wood always looks so beautiful and vulnerable in her films. Especially this one. Her big eyes are so expressive. Steve Mcqueen is intense & handsome in a rugged kind of way. I haven't seen too many of his movies, but after reading his very interesting biography (online) I'm enticed to see them.

The Long, long trailer

I just saw this movie for the first time yesterday in the TCM channel. It's called "The long, long, trailer" and it came out in 1954. It's stars my favorite comedian of all time, Lucille Ball (& her hubby Desi Arnaz). It was so funny! I can't believe I never saw this! It's about a newlywed couple who buy a very long trailer and spend a year traveling across the U.S. The most hilarious parts are when the disasters happen with the huge clumsy trailer and Desi's reactions are classic. Of course Lucy has her classic formula too. Lucy was so adorable and had a very cute wardrobe. If you're a Lucy fan and you never saw this movie I highly recommend it. And if you're not a Lucy fan, you'll become one after seeing this movie!