Saturday, March 23, 2013 — First day of Spring Break! Off for two weeks until April 8! Now, back to Annie Oakley (1935). Barbara Stanwyck, Preston Foster, Pert Kelton (with that screeecheee voice!)
Director, George Stevens, in his lighter, livelier early years, before his gargantuan lump, Giant (1956).
In the 1930s there was no holding him back. From Air-Tight (1931, the Hal Roach The Boy Friends series, where I first noticed David Sharpe!) to Alice Adams, Swing Time, Vivacious Lady. The 1940s had Woman of the Year, The More the Merrier, I Remember Mama. And the 1950s greats, A Place in the Sun and Shane. Love ’em all … and there’s more! … so I won’t hold Giant against him.
Who’s that in the rear view mirror? Why, TCM’s weekend host, Ben Mankiewicz. He’s a young ‘un, born 1967, but as his weekend intro states, “The flicker of a film is like a heartbeat. Movies are in my blood. They’re part of who I am.” So, who is Ben?
- Grandson of Herman Mankiewicz, 1897-1953, writer: Dinner at Eight (1933), Stamboul Quest (1934), After Office Hours (1935), Citizen Kane (1941).
- Grand-nephew of Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1909-1993, wrote and directed: A Letter to Three Wives (1949), All About Eve (1950).
Back to Annie Oakley … Closeups of rear view mirror. Not bad for reverse image photos. Love my little red Canon PowerShot Elph 300 HS 12.1 mega pixels camera … whew! that’s a mouth full!
Below, Annie Oakley scene reflected in the window from the tv. Li’l Red Canon is a star in low light … It automatically pulled in more light in the photo on the left. Looking out the window when I took the photo, it was really almost as dark outside as the photo on the right. Both were taken around 7:45 pm tonight … My serene forest view … What’s that on the computer? … The TCM message board, of course!
Movies, Of Course! 