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Post by davidmorrocco on Nov 3, 2020 8:54:24 GMT -6
I really thought Jack Carson played well against Joan in Mildred Pierce. Flirting with her, but also respected her drive and ambition to help her career. Great casting for all the characters in that great movie.
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Post by TJ on Nov 10, 2020 11:03:28 GMT -6
Greer Garson. When Ladies Meet. Believe it or not, the two are well matched. The titian beauty vs. the bespectacled brunette. Both stars do what is humanly possible to breath life into this cardboard story that was old news when Ann Harding battled it out with Myrna Loy back in 1933. A shame that the studio didn't give them a better story. Think of Old Acquaintance, The Great Lie, Ethan Frome.
The greatest co-star that never was? Cary Grant, Tyrone Power, Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster.
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Post by Admin on Nov 15, 2020 4:06:13 GMT -6
I really thought Jack Carson played well against Joan in Mildred Pierce. Flirting with her, but also respected her drive and ambition to help her career. Great casting for all the characters in that great movie. Carson's funnily shady Wally was, to me, one of the best things about "Mildred"---he's so interesting and nuanced in every scene! One of my favorites is when he's meeting with the lawyers for Veda's young groom and, when he can't quite pronounce "irreparably," quickly switches gears/words. Even at the end, when he's betrayed Mildred (literally sold her out), he's still quite logical, business-wise (Beragon would have taken him down, too, if he hadn't gone along with the sell-out), and I didn't hate him. Come to think of it, Wally Fay is at the heart of every single major thing that happens in "Mildred": He introduces her to Beragon and sets up the business deal to buy the restaurant, he works out the financial arrangement with Veda's young husband, Mildred first sees Veda perform at Wally's sleazy nightclub, Mildred's business fails once Wally has gone over to Beragon's side, the murder of Beragon is first discovered by police after Mildred has lured Wally to the beach house... I don't know much about Carson other than what Wikipedia says: born October 27 (a Scorpio; Sylvia Plath's birthday), had 4 wives, died young at 52. Basically all I remember seeing him in is Mildred, It's a Great Feeling, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. |
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Post by Admin on Nov 15, 2020 4:32:35 GMT -6
Greer Garson. When Ladies Meet. Believe it or not, the two are well matched. The titian beauty vs. the bespectacled brunette. Both stars do what is humanly possible to breath life into this cardboard story that was old news when Ann Harding battled it out with Myrna Loy back in 1933. A shame that the studio didn't give them a better story. Think of Old Acquaintance, The Great Lie, Ethan Frome. The greatest co-star that never was? Cary Grant, Tyrone Power, Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster. I feel ashamed, classic-movie-wise, that I'm not familiar with Garson's work other than in When Ladies Meet and Goodbye, Mr. Chips. (I haven't even seen Mrs. Miniver!) From the tiny sampling I've seen, she's been very even-keeled and genteel. Which is nice, but not LOVE-inspiring!  RE Ethan Frome: Again, as an English major, I'm ashamed to say I have not even read the original Wharton story. But upon reading the synopsis on Wikipedia, it sounds like a forerunner of "Baby Jane"! Personally, I think Joan and Bette would be more neurotically interesting in this! (Garson, to me, doesn't seem to exude any neurosis---and "Frome" seems like a very neurotic story...) My Favorite Male Co-Star That Never Was: I'd vote for Cary Grant---like Joan, he can play it straight/likeable or he can play it weird/threatening. I like that "dark" quality about both of their acting. |
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