1. FLESH AND THE DEVIL- 1927
I actually like this movie, I don't love it but there is something mesmerizing between John Gilbert and Greta Garbo. The film is about 2 lifelong German friends who end up meeting a Count and Countess. When John Gilbert has his first look at Garbo, his mouth drops open. This is not faked and Gilbert never returned home to his wife, Leatrice Joy. With the Countess's encouragement, they begin an affair which ends up with Gilbert shooting her husband in a duel. Since he is in the army, Gilbert is sent to Africa for 3 years but when he returns, his best friend is now married to the Countess. Gilbert and Garbo's passionate love was caught on screen. When the 2 make out on a couch the director ended the scene without yelling "cut" and they all left so the 2 stars could get acquainted in the biblical sense. Gilbert was the biggest star back then, not Garbo, but he helped her. When she did not show up to their wedding( it was a double wedding) L. B. Mayers head of MGM, told him " Screw her, don't marry her". Gilbert decked him. From that moment you see his career decline. He died in Marlene Dietrich's bed from a heart attack brought on by his alcoholism. In 1936, he was only 38.
2. TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT- 1944
This is a fun film starring Humphrey Bogart as a captain of a small touring boat on the island of Martinique during WW2. He doesn't want to get involved in the war but events lead him right into it. Lauren Bacall plays "Slim", the young gal who decides to get under Bogie's skin especially when she tells him how to whistle. Bogart and Bacall met on the set of this film and, despite him being married ( to an alcoholic nutjob who tried to kill him) and 24 years older, they fell for one another. The thoughts were that it would never last, but they stayed together until Bogie died in 1957. They had 2 children and, even though Bacall married again( to Jason Robards) she always said Bogie was the love of her life.
3. BUGSY-1991
Warren Beatty stars as Bugsy Malone, the real life mobster ( who hated his nickname) who brought Las Vegas from a small, no nothing town to the mega casino Sodom & Gamorah that we know it today. Well, today it has huge fountains, rides and a throw up of tackiness but back in the 50s to the 80s, it was the hobnob of gamblers, the Rat Pack and Wayne Newton. Annette Benning plays Virginia, the gal that wins his heart. This film is a more glamourized account of Bugsy and Virginia but tongues were wagging when the rumours came out that Beatty and Benning were playing footsies. No one expected this to last because Beatty was notorious for his womanizing ways but, they proved everyone wrong because he married her! They are still happily married and have 4 kids. Warren found the woman he wanted to be with forever but it took a long while...and many women.
Which family in real life are in the movies that you saw?
“I want to be alone” with Greta Garbo.
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
Of these three featured films, I have only seen Bugsy.
I see what you mean about that scene in Flesh And The Devil. John Gilbert looks genuinely mesmerized by Greta Garbo, and it's love at first sight. Based on the background stories you wrote, Gilbert lived fast and died young, probably with a big smile on is face.
I love the narrator's voice on the trailer of To Have And have Not. As I watched the snippet of the guy grabbing the arm of Dolores Moran's character and twisting it, I was reminded how often I have ween women having their arms twisted by men and other depictions of manhandling in the film noir genre. It sent the message that real men are tough guys who know how to treat their women - with brute force. They push women around and women love them for it. Makes for great sex. Yessum, I appreciated Lauren Bacall's whistling tutorial in the movie. Wiki sez: At the funeral for her husband, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall put a whistle in his coffin. It was a reference to the famous line in the film where she says to him: "You know how to whistle, don't you? You just put your lips together and blow."
Annette Benning is one of my favorite actresses. She was great with Michael Douglas in The American President, and I also like the acting of Warren Beatty. I enjoyed Bugsy.
For my pick in the category, I'll go with The Long, Long Trailer (1954) starring Lucy & Desi.
Have a Thankful Thursday, a funtastic Friday and a safe and happy weekend, dear friend BB!
I love the Long, Long Trailer. It's so funny especially since my mom in law did the exact same thing with the rocks. I'm not kidding.
DeleteYes, Betty Bacall did place a whistle on his coffin and you know that scene meant a lot to them.
John Gilbert was in the throws of passion with Marlene Dietrich when he died. It was hushed up and they brought his body back to his Place. She was truly trying to help him get His career back on track . He lived a very sad life and it is one of the most tragic thanks to LB Mayer.
I love Annette Benning and was surprised when she hooked up with this lothario but, she must have been what he needed.
A Quiet Place - John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are real life husband and wife.
ReplyDeleteYes! Great choice even though I have not seen the film...to scared.
DeleteI haven't seen any of your picks this week! I need to watch more of Greta Garbo..
ReplyDeleteShe is one strange duck but I do love her on her movies. She wore slippers in many scenes because they were just more comfortable plus she had huge feet, apparently.
DeleteInteresting interpretation of the theme. I like it. I have, of course, heard of the 2nd film, but I've never seen it. I think I saw the 3rd (it's kind of hazy), but I definitely haven't seen the 1st. I did not know about Garbo and Gilbert.
ReplyDeleteI think you would like the 2nd movie I picked. I watched Bugsy about 3 yrs ago and was surprised that I liked it.
DeleteYes...Gilbert and Garbo had a huge romance and she broke his heart but she also claimed he was the love of her life.
I haven't seen any of them but Bugsy is one I'd want to see.
ReplyDeleteIt's better than I thought
DeleteI remember when Beatty and Bening starred together in Bugsy. Glad they are still together. I always liked her. She comes across as down to earth.
ReplyDeleteHow are you?
Hi sweetie...I'm ok but I feel like I am waiting to be axed because I sont get enough Google reviews. Who cares about the clients, just more sales crap
DeleteI think she is down to earth and is a strong woman who could keep Warren Beatty. They have 4 kids and are still strong
I'm confused. But I've seen the last two movies.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I was too but I just thought of actors who had famous dads, sisters, brothers, husband, wives. I almost went with John Huston directing his dad in The Treasure of the sierre Madre and the other film he directed with his daughter, Angelica winning the Oscar for his role, just like his dad did man I have the name on the tip of my tongue.
DeleteThere is also on Golden Pond with Henry and Jane Fonda
Love Bogart and Bacall. Have a great weekend. Take special care.
ReplyDeleteNever seen Bugsy, but did see Beatty and Bening in Love Affair and they definitely had chemistry.. nice to see another unique list I wrote on actors and actresses and their famous daughters
ReplyDeleteI knew about the second two romances, but not the Garbo / Gilbert one. Interesting!
ReplyDeleteHmmm.... Got me stumped this time. I don't really pay any attention to the personal lives of actors, so although I'm sure I've seen a number of movies which included multiple family members, nothing comes to mind at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI should see 'To Have And Have Not' again. It's been ages.
~ D-FensDogG
BIRGIT, shortly after I left the comment above, I remembered that The Duke appeared in several movies with his sons. Probably the most notable, because three of them - Ethan, Patrick, and Michael - were included, would be 'Big Jake'.
DeleteNot one of my favorites, but almost ANY John Wayne Western is worth watching, IMO. (Not counting some of those old "B" movies, before he was a major star.)
~ D-FensDogG
Interesting category. The Fabulous Baker Boys is the only one that comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteHi Birgit,
ReplyDeleteI am very, very late to this but my niece got married over the weekend and it's been an absolute whirl since last Wednesday until just this morning! It was wonderful and lovely though. :-)
Now to the business at hand. Because of the combustible chemistry between Garbo and Gilbert Flesh and Devil is white hot when they are on screen. Unfortunately when they are not it's clunky and the ending far too convenient. Gilbert's is a sad tale but then so is Garbo's in its way.
My preferred Bogart/Bacall pairing is Dark Passage but To Have and Have Not is was the litmus test for their chemistry. It's an okay film but I prefer the John Garfield The Breaking Point which is both a true reading of the Hemingway novel and a better picture.
Bugsy has style to burn and Beatty is good in the lead but I found the movie lacking in some key element that would have made it exceptional.
This is a challenging week! My first thought was Henry & Jane Fonda in On Golden Pond, not a great movie but not a bad one either. There's the Bridges brothers in The Fabulous Baker Boys (okay for the one viewing I gave it but I've never been tempted to see it again.) and even though she appears in only one scene Lela Rogers playing real life daughter Ginger's mother in the delightful The Major and the Minor.
Glad to see you here. It sounds like you had a nice time even though it was a whirlwind, I like Flesh & The Devil more than you but maybe it’s because of the leads. I have not seen the Garfield movie and would love to. I agree about Bugsy...I love their chemistry but something is missing amidst the glitz.
DeleteI almost went with On Golden Pond but chose lovers first.
I never felt the wish to see Baker Boys even though I love Jeff Bridges.
I love your choice with Ginger and Lela..great pick!
I had no idea about any of these films, although I was impressed to learn of those marriages. I immediately thought of Overboard with Kurt Russel and Goldie Hawn. I don't think there was any gossip like what you are talking about, but I sure like that duo.
ReplyDeleteTalk about SAD couples. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. You could see the affair starting right on the screen.