Comments on: TCM Pick O’ The Day: Wednesday, January 7th

By: Koop

Koop — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 03:51:31 +0000

Good film! I’m not a huge fan of musicals (outside of the Astaire & Rogers or Busby Berkeley films) but this is definitely a good one. The original, non-musical version with Rosalind Russell is pretty good as well.

Since most of my television viewing is TCM, I have to say, I love these features. It’s great to know that there are other TCM-a-holics out there.

By: Charles Delacroix

Charles Delacroix — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 03:33:36 +0000

DH, I’m simply grateful beyond words for an absolutely wonderful number like this. This is the kind of thing that just leaves me gazing and listening with a big grin on my face and big sense of wonder and gratitude in my heart. Along to be sure with a certain regret that Love of my Life Janet Leigh somehow escaped a life of wonder and gratitude with me. That’s really what most captures my heart about numbers like this though: I come away with both delight and longing. A not unpleasant combination of sensations. Again, thanks.

By: Ron Kean

Ron Kean — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:51:24 +0000

This has the makings of ‘Best New Blog’ in 2009. What a nice way to start out the year with great performances and insightful essays.

By: DMC

DMC — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:51:28 +0000

Pick O’ The Day will be a regular feature?

Even if you find good television on other channels, I hope you always include a little something about what’s playing on TCM. People need to be reminded of the wonderful old movies. And even the silly or fun movies that weren’t such great art (and wasn’t meant to be). I’d take any of the Bowery Boys movies over most of the stuff made today.

One suggestion, when you say My Sister Eileen is going to be on tomorrow, you ought to mention the time — midnight. Otherwise, people might tune in for prime time.

By: SonjaP

SonjaP — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:25:05 +0000

My Sister Eileen is on my “to watch” queue at Netflix. I’ve never heard of it until I saw an old promo for the TV show that was based on it. Love Jack Lemmon.

By: LEROY CAPSLOCK, Philadelphia

LEROY CAPSLOCK, Philadelphia — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:40:18 +0000

I thought all male characters in musicals were gay? Are we promoting homosexuality here? I’m confused…..

By: Bibi

Bibi — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:08:32 +0000

In pop-culture terms, there is a lot to appreciate here. The source material is a play based on autobiographical stories published in The New Yorker by Ruth McKenney. That material became a play, which homogenized many of the details of the characters’ bohemian, Greenwich Village lives. The play became a movie, then another musical (”Wonderful Town”, music by Leonard Bernstein), and separately, this musical.
Richard Quine, who directed this movie musical, played the Bob Fosse role in the original play and the first non-musical movie.
McKenney – who was blacklisted for Commie connections (as was Betty Garrett’s husband, Larry Parks) – never saw the play, movie, or musicals, being too distraught by the death of her sister (”Eileen”) just a few days prior to the first opening. Eileen was the wife of novelist Nathaniel West (”The Day of the Locust”, “Miss Lonelyhearts”), and they were killed together in a traffic accident.

By: Glenn Kenny

Glenn Kenny — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:18:14 +0000

An underseen gem. I would say underrated, but those who see it know how good it is, so that’d be putting the cart before the horse. The story is the same one that was adapted for “On The Town.” Director Richard Quine was one of Lemmon’s best friends—it’s rumored that Quine often played Ape #3 (Lemmon was #2) as part of Ernie Kovacs’ Nairobi Trio. Lemmon and Quine made quite a few pictures together—this, “Bell, Book and Candle” and “How To Murder Your Wife” are probably the best of their collaborations.

By: Larry C. in Idaho

Larry C. in Idaho — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:41:55 +0000

wow… I LOVE musicals. Sadly Hollywood has replaced the wonderful music with pornagraphic depictions of women.

By: Gina

Gina — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:17:28 +0000

MWM, what a great story!

And TR, yep, I know exactly what you mean.