TCM’s Legends Lost: In Memoriam 2009
by Big Hollywood
–
As with everything they touch, Turner Classic Movies handles their yearly tribute with extraordinary class and delivers something subtle, lovely and touching; something always so much better than whatever the Oscars cook up that year.
And here’s a wonderful tribute to Jennifer Jones written by the Self-Styled Siren. I couldn’t disagree more with her take on “The Song of Bernadette.” But the rest is comprehensive, eloquent, informative and dead on about the over-rated “Beat the Devil.”
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52 Comments
I'm always a bit shocked and saddened when this time of year comes around. More and more we are losing the greats and they are being replaced with mediocrity.
There are always ones I forget by the time the end of the year arrives. Henry Gibson was pretty much working up until he died, having played a semi-regular judge on Boston Legal.
The Academy should outsource some of this stuff to TCM in the future. At the very least, the presenter can tell the audience to hold their applause till the end. Though truth be told, Academy montages are usually very well-produced and I wish they would post some of them online.
Beautiful remembrance. Some amazing "eyes" have closed this year – and we'll miss seeing them.
TCM always does a beautiful job of these and they never fail to make me tear up. They've since updated it to include Jennifer Jones and, unlike previous years, did not take anyone out to include her. (in the updated version, she's shown right before Sam Bottoms)
The Late, Great Townes Van Zandt wrote that song! Townes died on New Years Eve 1997 at the age of 52. He "had a fight with his heart" That's what he whispered to his little daughter Katie Bell as she stood by his bed. Townes was a genius. One of the finest poets who ever lived. Bob Dylan's favorite songwriter. Townes had a genius IQ and was being groomed by his rich oil baron father for the governership of Texas. Townes had a nervous breakdown in college and they sent him back down to Galveston to the hospital where he was given electro shock therapy almost every other day fro three or more months. It destroyed his life.
I have seen this played several times this month on TCM, and it is just so touching. The music is beautiful. I wasn't familiar with To Live is to Fly by Townes Van Zandt. Sung by Steve Earle, I find the lyrics "shakes the dust off of your wings and the sleep out of your eyes" has stayed with me.
TCM has it all over the Academy Awards when it comes to this type of memorial tribute–the way the audience only applauds for certain people just always seems so crass and insensitive to me. In TCM's tribute, they are all treated with deference and respect, acknowledging their contribution to movies.
He lost his memories and turned to the alcohol full time. He took advantage of every drug there was. From sniffing glue to shooting heroin to snorting coke but his drug of choice was alcohol. He was also addicted to gambling and would gamble at the drop of a hat with anyone anout anything at any time or place. He wrote two hit songs that you might have heard. Pancho and Lefty and If I Needed You. He was a true musical trubadour. He had no home most of his life. He made it through by sleeping on other people's couches and in broken down old rooms and in cars.. anywhere he could hang his hat. A haunted man, a weary man who faught all his life through the horrendous depression.
I'm sorry for going on like this but hearing that TCM used one of his songs (sung by the kid he mentored) jjust blew me away. I heard it the other night purely by accident.
Thanks for the information on Van Zandt. As I say in my post below, I wasn't familiar with his songs, but after hearing this song on TCM, I've looked him up. I agree that his words are poetic.
i believe townes wrote Heroes and Villains for the beach boys-he and the late Lee Hazzlewood were very underrated as is Jerry Jeff Walker
Townes was considered the Hnak Williams of the baby boomer generation and he died the exact same day at almost the exact same time as Hank Williams. Hank died on New Year's Eve and so did Townes. Ironic that Townes van Zandt died completely broke. When he died he had a truck with a broken transmission, a boat with a hole in it and a motorcycle that wouldn't run. Only his giutar was intact and that guitar came from a homeless man named Blaze Foley.who had died late one night protecting an old black man from the grandson who'd come around every month to steal his grandfather's security checks. Blaze had died and was buried with the pawn ticket for his blonde guitar in his pocket. Townes and some friends went to the graveyard one cold texas night and dug Blaze up and got that pawn ticket. Townes played Blaze's guitar from them on. The only thing he had that was untouched by his accident prone ways. Townes predicted that he would become known after he died "just like that Van Gogh guy" he used to say. rest in Peace Townes…
Sorry to most of ya'll who ain't interested in what I had to say. I had to say it.
Is it the denizens of Hollywood or the movie industry, its inhabitants and their influence
that create the unhappiness so many of the "stars" seem to have had
when looking back over there careers and lives? Is it just the nature of an actor, is it what
makes that person successful possibly at the very top of her or his profession that has such an effect
on the decisions they make in their lives? Or is it just me and there are no more or less screwed up lives
in the entertainment industry as there is elsewhere? Its possible, I guess, that the entertainment industry
eats its own and I hear more about them as opposed to the not so famous?
I agree-I think their montages are very well done, however, there's no way they're going to give up 3 1/2 minutes of the broadcast that could be selling Coca-Cola or iPhones, so their tributes are usually shorter.
Love TMC! But did anyone catch the weekend host Ben Mankiewicz (had to Google to find his name) snide comments regarding "A Face in the Crowd"?
If you're not familiar with the film, it starred Andy Griffith and he portrayed an evil media personality who fools the public by coming across as a likable down to earth kind a fella. Host Mankiewicz openly wondered if the producers had been able to see 50 years into the future and witnessed how people in this country were being manipulated and duped by angry media personalities, some who could cry on cue. He clearly was referring to conservative talk radio.
Mankiewicz, keep your leftwing opinions to yourself. Bill Clinton was a much closer version of Lonesome Rhodes with his “Aw shucks” persona and lethal behind the scenes behavior. But how the previously unknown Obama manipulated the media into becoming president was even closer to Griffith's portrayal. Be that as it may, TCM is no place to bring this up. It’s a place where we can enjoy classic movies. So Mankiewicz, keep your foolish opinions to yourself or you’ll be back asking if people want fries with their order.
You're so very welcome. I have been a fan for several years.. I just had to let it fly.
TCM's are always beautifully done.
What a lovely tribute. Karl Malden, Edward Woodward, Henry Gibson … these guys have been around all my life, and it seemed like they would never die. We do have some beautiful films that we can watch and remember.
TCM is the most fabulous cable channel. Love when they theme….This month will be communism and the cinema…..be sure and check info guide.
Didn't Michael Crichton die this year?
I believe Crichton died in the fall of 2008.
Regards.
TSB
Don't apologize–that's a fascinating story. Thanks for sharing it.
I'm shocked and sadden by the death of Sam Bottoms. With so much going on around the holidays the news of his death slipped past me.
Nice visuals, but crappy music. They deserve better.
I don't get why TCM thinks Ben Mankiewicz is a draw. Is he meant to be a contrast to Robert Osborne? Whatever he is supposed to be, I find him annoying, and your story is a great example of why. I sincerely hope they are not grooming him to take over whenever Osborne retires.
From the beginning ( ancient Rome onwards ), actors and actresses were considered to be the bottom of the barrel types and mostly, yes they were. The traveling players of the Middle Ages were thought to be thieves, lowlifes and whores; the most immoral and sinful people.
In Victorian England and some parts of Europe, a few , a very few actresses, actors, actor/managers were elevated to star status, but still looked askance at.
Up until after WW I, ballet dancers were all viewed as on the same level as common streetwalkers; demimonde courtesans were considered to be on a higher level.
Opera stars had it better; they were idolized; so were composers.
The movies began to somewhat turn things around ( re reputations ) somewhat; however, "polite" company was still turning their collective noses up at movie actors and actresses ( writers, directors, some moguls were given higher staus, as were stage actors and actresses ) until after WW II.
Hollywood has always attracted many unstable types; you just didn't hear as much about them, as wse have done these past 40 years or so. The studio suystem kept a mostly tight lid on things and there used to be moral clauses written into contracts.
I was watching this on TCM and I say that the music was an odd choice. Too dreary. The b/w photos laying on the ground and in the water??? Gee show some respect.
Lonsome Rhodes was actually sort of based on Arthur Godfrey.
Ben Mankiewicz is trading off his uncle's name and reputation. Basically, Ben's an idiot, who wouldn't have this job, if his last name was anything else.
The fact is, Americans have been manipulated by quite a few "media personalities", for the past 70+ years.
Thanks, i appreciate your prospective. I won't bore you with my take on why politicians
and their influence is so like movie folk in some respects. For another thread perhaps.
As Rush says politics is show biz for the ugly.
I was also astounded at the basic lack of sense displayed by Ben Mankiewicz with his obvious slam against Glenn Beck and the other conservative talk radio hosts. TCM has been relatively politically neutral during the 10 years or so I've been watching their channel. I hope very much Mankiewicz's uncalled-for comments do not foretell a change in policy at TCM.
At least we can say he is consistent though, because ever since he was allowed to take over weekend hosting duties, he has done nothing but insult and take cheap pot shots at the classic films and stars he introduces. Only yesterday, (a holiday weekend, mind you) Mankiewicz introduced The Tender Trap starring Frank Sinatra and Debbie Reynolds. After the film was over, Mankiewicz returned to give some final thoughts on the film and related the well known story of Sinatra warning Reynolds not to marry Eddie Fisher. Reynolds did not heed the warning and married Fisher anyway, resulting in a tragic divorce when Eddie Fisher left her to have a fling with Elizabeth Taylor a short while later. Most classic film fans watching TCM know this story, and it was evident Mankiewicz expected us to know it when he recounted the tale. He ended on the part about Reynolds persisting in marrying Fisher and left us with this comment: "And they lived happily ever after." I was utterly, completely shocked at his gall to make such an unfeeling, nasty remark about Debbie Reynolds, not only because she is still alive and could very well have seen him make it, but because she is known for being a loving, kind woman. It was just so mean!
I've seen Mankiewicz deliver other nasty, out-of-the-blue, biting remarks, but the attack on Debbie Reynolds was really was the worst I've ever seen.
If he is so gung-ho on engaging in politics now, why don't we hold a little special election for the TCM audience and decide whether or not the viewers would like him to keep his job? I'd relish watching the returns on that election.
I also saw it, it was very annoying and very sneaky. You are absolutely right, Obama and Clinton both fit better than anyone Mankiewicz implied.
I remember hearing that when they were building the Century Plaza hotel et seq., was it 20th Cent Fox? that dumped massive amounts of what they thought was useless garbage into the big hole excavated there, which included filing cabinets filled with photos throughout the decades of actors, etc….
Is there anyone out there who'd be interested in helping me get these dug back up?
Also, why do we have to be so obsessed with just the stars and not all those "little people" who make these great and even not so great films? It is a wonderful art form with probably now millions of people who do so much to make them – grips, makeup, costumers, character actors, walk ons, technicians – and they all have stories to tell. Let's reach out to them? I'm expanding http://www.Earthdiary.org to include these. (I am trying to get people to save their personal stories and vets and seniors et seq. as well) site needs updating but mail me at markfromlaverneCA@yahoo.com
Re the buried photos, You'd be surprised at how little deterioration there'd be. Let me know, I'm at MarkfromlaverneCA@yahoo.com
You're welcome for the wee history lesson. If you're interested in the subject, you can easily find many different books on the subject.
Politics really isn't "like show business for ugly people"; Rush isn't always right and that line really isn't true.
It's durn close, though. ;<)
At least as currently practiced.
I saw him make that comment about Reynolds too. This guy is too smarmy for this job.
I think we should suggest this to the TCM management. They don't need to follow the rest of big media off the cliff.
I caught it and took notice of it. If Mankiewicz keeps it up, I'm going to cancel my extended basic cable (I only have it for TCM) and have my mother record what I want to see.
Not really.
They forgot poor Brittany Murphy. Her performance in Clueless was superb. I miss her already.
Gosh, I completely forgot about Ron Silver and Dom Deluise. We lost a lot of great talent this year.
Thank you for posting on this! It was such a blatant slam on conservative talk radio my blood was boiling by the end of his diatribe. When will these people realize that when they spill this bile they're alienating a huge portion of their viewership?
I've never liked Mankiewicz as he's always seemed to take great pleasure in insulting the greats. It's one thing to humanize the old Hollywood stars but he's just downright mean as noted by other posters with his recent insult towards Debbie Reynolds. The only other thing I know about him is that is/was involved with a left wing radio show called the Young Turks.
It's also interesting to note that Olbermann refers to Beck as "Lonesome Rhodes"
How could anyone NOT love Dom DeLuise???
Townes was good friends with Jerry Jeff Walker and Guy Clark, Mickey Newbury (who was the fellow to put those three Civil War songs together and call them "The Trilogy") Elvis delived the Trilogy so well.. Texas has so many unsung heroes. Townes never wrote a song for the Beach Boys but he and Brian Wilson could have done lovely stuff together I'm sure… Two musical genuis is better than one
I enjoyed several of these performers, and want to salute James Whitmore. Give 'em Hell, Harry, Brooks was here (Shawshank Redemption,) Them, & a great oldie called "The Next Voice You Hear" about the voice of God being broadcast over the radio.
Thank you my friend…. It so few and far between the times when i can actually speak of things I truly care about in a personal way.. It's real nice to share Townes with anyone.. everyone actually. Youtube has a lot of videos and there is a documentary that's been made recently called "Be Here To Love Me" and there's been two biographies written. A little research on wikipedia will turn up album titles and bios and everything you'll need to know more about this finest of unknown artists. In fact I'll go and get you one..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8XHFRsze1o
thank you for allowing me to gush a little
Amen! Of course, her finest performance was on television, playing LuAnn Platter for over a decade.
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I forgot about that.. In his early years on radio, Godfrey was billed as "Red Godfrey, the Warbling Banjoist." ("Red" referred to the color of his hair.) And, like Rhodes, he was a superb pitchman — you should have heard him sell Lipton Tea on his old "Talent Scouts" program! Sounds like a close fit to me . . .
Robert Osborne talked about the fact that Lonesome Rhodes was based on Godfrey, one of the times he introduced this film. That's how and why I know this fact; otherwise, I never would have known about it.
As a very little child, I did watch Arthur Godfrey, so I knew exactly who Osborne was talking about and it clicked.
Yes, he was a superb salesman.
Maybe it was done before she died. I hope they add her. I just loved her.
land Brenda73 @yahoo.com Beautiful song need the words where can i get them this song says so much. thank you Steve Earl for making this happen for so many LEGENDS please help me find the Lyrics to this song it would be a great blessing to me THANK YOU
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