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Post by kims on Sept 17, 2023 12:21:24 GMT
Dean seems to be one of the few big stars to use his clout humanely not for personal percs. Besides his patience with Holiday, I heard he refused to do that remake of MY FAVORITE WIFE without Marilyn Monroe when the studio moved to take Monroe off the film. He appears to have confidence that says "go ahead, fire me. I'll get another job." without being arrogant about it.
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Post by christine on Sept 28, 2023 0:32:21 GMT
Although I have a long list of reasons why I adore Dean so much, his kindness toward others is one of them.
If you have a chance to watch - Dean Martin: King of Cool (2021) documentary that TCM plays every once in a while - they talk about that. Dean seemed to have a code of ethics he lived by. He was loyal to friends even in unpleasant situations and he helped people who others seemed to forget. In the documentary it talks about when he was filming THE YOUNG LIONS with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift. Clift had just been in a horrible car accident and was still not well. Dean would help him and carry him sometimes if he was to weak. There are other situations that they discuss in the documentary also.
If you've never seen it, it is worth watching although there are some details they don't cover but it's worth the viewing. TCM is playing it on Wednesday, October 18th early morning.
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Post by christine on Oct 21, 2023 15:26:14 GMT
Today at 1:15 p.m. on TCM, 1963 film 4 FOR TEXAS is playing. This is the 4th out of 6 films that Dean made with Frank Sinatra. Also Ursula Andress and Anita Ekberg are their female companions. It is a fun western to watch. For me it's enjoyable just to watch Dean and Frank have fun on screen - it's true entertainment!
Interesting fact - at that time Dean had his own production company - Claude Productions (named after his daughter Claudia), Sinatra and the film's director Robert Aldrich also had their own production companies. So the SAM company produced this film (Sinatra, Aldrich and Martin). If you pay attention you'll see SAM company written on a store front in the western town.
Also side note, Dean and Ursula Andress became life long friends while filming this movie. That happened a lot with Dean. It seems that so many people that crossed his path took a liking to him.
For me it will be an nice afternoon. I've seen every one of Dean's movies but still like to watch when TCM plays them!!!
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Post by kims on Oct 21, 2023 21:57:04 GMT
Watched 4 FOR TEXAS, a film I first saw in the theater. Sinatra and Martin in those gorgeous period suits, Andress and Ekberg in gorgeous gowns; Bronson as the bad guy; Buono as the greedy sap. Would this have been one of the last films The Stooges were in? Like you say Christine, it doesn't pretend to be anything except entertainment and it delivers.
I recorded the doc DEAN KING OF COOL. People keep saying they didn't know him. Family was a priority and he loved to entertain-I wonder what these people wanted to know.
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Post by christine on Oct 26, 2023 20:31:29 GMT
You said it Kims - Dean loved his family and he loved to sing and entertain! I've adored Dean since I was around 8 years old. Laying on the front room floor watching his TV show only until 9:30 p.m. because that's how long my father allowed me to stay up on a school night - His show aired Thursday evenings from 9 to 10 p.m. I've done a lot of research through my life on Dean and am now in my late 60's. I was just drawn to him, his talent, and the interesting life that he had. I'm a retired educator so a lot of what Dean experienced in his early life makes sense to me. He was a second language learner and learning English is very difficult because of the immense amount of vocabulary. Dean used his intelligence and natural talents to divert attention away from what was hard for him. Growing up in Steubenville, Ohio, he could have chosen to go other ways with his life but used the talents within him instead - another of the long list of reasons I admire Dean. A couple of good biographies to read about him are; Memories Are Made Of This (written by his daughter Deana), That's Amore (written by his son Ricci), Dean and Me A Love Story (written by Jerry Lewis), and Backstage at the Dean Martin Show (written by Lee Hale - one of the producers of Dean's show).
So on to November pretty soon - TCM is airing Dean's Documentary again early morning November 2nd. They're also showing 3 of Dean's films! Happy Days!
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Post by christine on Nov 4, 2023 5:08:55 GMT
A couple of Dean features on TCM this weekend. Early Saturday morning Marriage on the Rocks 1965. Fun film with Dean, Frank, a young Nancy Sinatra and the wonderful Debra Kerr. This is the last of 6 films that Dean made with Frank until the early 80's when they made their last - Cannonball Run II (they just made that one to have fun and to be together again - Dean, Sammy, Frank and Shirley Maclaine).
On Sunday 4:30 p.m. central time, Some Came Running 1958. This is the first film that Dean made with Frank and director Vincente Minnelli who would request to work with Dean again in 1960. I like Some Came Running for a few reasons. I reqard it as one of Dean's better films because I can clearly see the enjoyment Dean had in making this movie. To me Frank Sinatra was all about perfection; in his acting and singing. Dean seemed to have more freedom and love of what he was doing and I think it came through on screen and in his singing. I'm pulled into the character Dean plays more than I am to Frank's, even though Frank is playing more of the main character in the story. I think this freedom or love of entertaining is the reason Dean had a very successful TV show even though Frank tried a TV variety show also - it only aired for a season. Some Came Running definitely worth watching! - I will be.
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Post by topbilled on Nov 4, 2023 5:21:56 GMT
I love SOME CAME RUNNING. It's one of the best MGM melodramas from the late 50s. The entire cast is perfect.
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Post by Fading Fast on Nov 4, 2023 10:47:13 GMT
I agree with both of you, "Some Came Running" is a very good melodrama that deserves more attention. I also agree that, while Sinatra does a very good job in this one - you can tell he cared about the role - Martin's performance is more natural.
MacLaine's performance, though (and IMO), is the most moving. When she goes to the school to confront her rival, Martha Hyer, for Sinatra's affections, the scene is soul crushing. MacLaine sees that Hyer has everything she doesn't - refinement, education, breeding, intelligence - but MacLaine still wants Sinatra. MacLaine knows she can't win against this woman, but she's decent enough to not truly hate Hyer for being who she is. It's an incredible scene.
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Post by christine on Nov 4, 2023 16:24:05 GMT
Yes, I agree with your thoughts on Shirley MacLaine. This was Shirley's 4th movie she made and she was fantastic. This was her 2nd movie she made with Dean. They made Artists and Models together in 1955 which was her 2nd film. She started out as a dancer - she studied ballet when she was young - but was so talented she quickly fell into acting. However, her ballet experience came through when she made The Turning Point in 1977. Her very first film was Alfred Hitchcock's The Trouble with Harry. She's still active today! She did a stellar job on Downton Abbey!!!
Frank was the one who suggested the ending - of Shirley's character getting the bullet. In the original story it's Frank's character that gets shot but Frank thought that it would be a better ending - more dramatic. This film gave Shirley her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
Arthur Kennedy was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor, Martha Hyer nominated for Best supporting Actress, Walter Plunkett for Best Costume Design, Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn (who Dean and Frank worked with quite often), for Best Music, Original Song, all for this film.
I agree, this film doesn't get the attention it should.
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Post by topbilled on Nov 4, 2023 21:12:09 GMT
Fading Fast,
At some point, we are going to have to cover SOME CAME RUNNING in the Live on Sunday series.
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Post by christine on Nov 4, 2023 23:17:38 GMT
Topbilled, question - What is the Live on Sunday series?
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Post by topbilled on Nov 4, 2023 23:40:40 GMT
Topbilled, question - What is the Live on Sunday series?
Here
If you'd like to present a month of melodramas featuring Dean Martin, you'd be most welcome! |
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Post by christine on Nov 5, 2023 18:59:49 GMT
Thanks for the information. I'm not real tech savvy, however I love my Dino and I would like to do that in the future. I will have to investigate how.
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Post by intrepid37 on Nov 5, 2023 19:28:18 GMT
My fondest Dean Martin wish is for TCM to show Texas Across the River (1966). I remember finding this movie highly amusing when I was young - but it seems to have disappeared entirely.
Every time I see 4 for Texas on the schedule, it reminds me that TATR has never, to my recollection, been shown on TCM.
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Post by christine on Nov 6, 2023 4:11:15 GMT
There are many of Dean's films that I wish TCM would show - like you said, either they've never shown them or it's been many moons since they've aired.
MY FRIEND IRMA 1949 - Dean's first film, THE CADDY, SCARED STIFF and ARTISTS AND MODELS are a few of the Martin and Lewis films that I like (even though Dean said that he never really cared for their movies). THE YOUNG LIONS 1958 has not been shown for many years. CAREER 1959, WHO WAS THAT LADY 1960, ALL IN A NIGHT'S WORK 1961, TOYS IN THE ATTIC 1963 - excellent drama was shown about 2 years ago. THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER 1965, 5 CARD STUD 1968, and AIRPORT 1970 - these are just a list of some of Dean's films I wish they'd show! Of course I could go on - LOL
Yes, TEXAS ACROSS THE RIVER 1966, was one of Dean's comedy westerns. He and Joey Bishop headed the cast along with Alain Delon and Rosemary Forsyth.
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