tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post988900631916398929..comments2024-03-10T10:56:38.185-04:00Comments on the passionate moviegoer: six degrees of roger smithjoe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-48024456894978122012017-06-13T20:25:13.319-04:002017-06-13T20:25:13.319-04:00Sorry to hear about Mr. Smith--he was always the m...Sorry to hear about Mr. Smith--he was always the most enjoyable character in the "kookie" world of 77 SUNSET STRIP. One of the episodes he wrote, "The Silent Caper," actually transcends its gimmickry and holds up quite well.<br /><br />He was able to transfer a good bit of that laid-back charm into his final role in ROGUES' GALLERY (1968), as a tongue-in-cheek variant of Philip Marlowe in a twisty-if-derivative tale of murders-made-to-look-like-suicide as the distraction technique in what turns out to be a nasty insurance racket. ROGUES' GALLERY was directed by Leonard Horn, who would get a lot arty his next time out with a film that you are (pardon the pun) literally/figuratively "high" on--THE MAGIC GARDEN OF STANLEY SWEETHEART.Near-Genius Nephewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00473949710603037043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-57798843529355796522017-06-08T13:34:56.116-04:002017-06-08T13:34:56.116-04:00Another Shaw film that I like is "Because The...Another Shaw film that I like is "Because They're Young," one of three that Dick Clark made as an actor (the others being "The Young Doctors" and "Killers Three"). I like the other cast members of "Young" - Tuesday Weld, Michael Callan, Roberta Shore and Warren Berlinger.Charlottenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-78507523900747557682017-06-08T13:10:44.784-04:002017-06-08T13:10:44.784-04:00Yes. Good film by J. Lee Thompson, with Curt Jurg...Yes. Good film by J. Lee Thompson, with Curt Jurgens as Von Braun and Shaw as his wife Maria. Herbert Lom, Gia Scala and James Daly also starred. One day, it will be one of my Cinema Obscura candidates.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-17221063769058603732017-06-08T12:48:52.196-04:002017-06-08T12:48:52.196-04:00Didn't Victoria Shaw appear in some film about...Didn't Victoria Shaw appear in some film about Werner Von Braun called I AIM AT THE STARS? Have always really liked that film. -M. Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-62695734370365182062017-06-08T11:25:03.599-04:002017-06-08T11:25:03.599-04:00True, Marvin, Troy Donahue was a Warner TV star wh...True, Marvin, Troy Donahue was a Warner TV star who did make several high-profile movies for the studio. However, unlike James Garner, his film work in those days was limited to Warners. Garner had a more substantial and varied movie career. He appeared in Warner's "Sayonara" while doing the Warner TV series "Maverick" and then made a trio of Warner films, playing the lead in each - "Up Periscope," "Darby's Rangers" and "Cash McCall" - before moving on and making films for other studios, starting with "The Children's Hour" (U.A.) and "Boys Night Out" (MGM). Then came "The Great Escape" (U.A.), "The Thrill of It All" (Universal), and "The Wheeler Dealers," "36 Hours" and "The Americanization of Emily" (all MGM) and ... James Garner was officially a movie star. By then, he had his own production company, Cherokee Productions (which was involved with most of these titles). Oh, yes, Garner eventually went back to Warners to do "Skin Game." joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-58742137518460908652017-06-08T08:03:41.729-04:002017-06-08T08:03:41.729-04:00Joe,
You perfectly described Victoria Shaw's ...Joe,<br /><br />You perfectly described Victoria Shaw's time at Columbia: she LANGUISHED there; never really appeared in any financially successful films during her career. Sad. And responding to Mr. Brian Lucas'comments, perhaps Troy Donahue had both a successful television and motion picture career at WARNER BROS. I might be wrong, but didn't he appear in such WARNER BROS. films as ROME ADVENTURE; A DISTANT TRUMPET; A SUMMER PLACE; PALM SPRINGS WEEKEND? (Then again, I might be erroneous on this point.) In any event, Joe, another GREAT post, as you informed us of persons (Roger Smith, Victoria Shaw, George Sidney, even Ann-Margret) whom we don't hear much of these days. Marvin HalpernMarvin J Halpernnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-73263224948873717722017-06-08T07:51:45.137-04:002017-06-08T07:51:45.137-04:00Kiki- In his entertaining autobiography, Dick Van...Kiki- In his entertaining autobiography, Dick Van Dyke details the making of "Bye Bye Birdie" and the close relationship between A-M and Sidney. There's a hilarious bit in the book about Van Dyke and Janet Leigh walking onto a soundstage to fine A-M sitting on Sidney's lap. In unison, they said "Uh-oh!"joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-27814869281787602672017-06-07T16:58:48.858-04:002017-06-07T16:58:48.858-04:00Joe, this was a really enjoyable, good storytellin...Joe, this was a really enjoyable, good storytelling column (I WAS expecting the quiz!). All I knew of Moore was 77 Sunset Strip. Had never heard of Victoria Shaw and the kids he had with her . . . .We all know how A-M got to work with George Sidney (Janet Leigh looked as old as her in Bye Bye Birdie). Kikinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-59096101606659575152017-06-07T14:30:09.854-04:002017-06-07T14:30:09.854-04:00Lynn- Ann-Margret broke into movies just as the s...Lynn- Ann-Margret broke into movies just as the studio system was petering out. The studios no longer took young performers under wing and groomed them for stardom. To a degree, Sidney took on that responsibility, getting her off to a very good start.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-27613087555536730152017-06-07T14:21:38.435-04:002017-06-07T14:21:38.435-04:00I've read several times that George Sidney had...I've read several times that George Sidney had a crush on A-M. If so, he gave her personal attention that helped her soar in those two early roles. I believe he was crucial to her success as a young actress.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-781412448969930342017-06-07T11:47:21.310-04:002017-06-07T11:47:21.310-04:00I always thought that Roger Smith and Ann-Margret ...I always thought that Roger Smith and Ann-Margret were one of those couples who looked alike. It would have been interesting to see them in a film together. Tracynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-29183568907962995322017-06-07T11:11:52.699-04:002017-06-07T11:11:52.699-04:00Joe- Regarding the caste system at Warners (and ot...Joe- Regarding the caste system at Warners (and other studios, I assume), I'd like to note that James Garner is the only Warner TV star who went on to have a successful and substantial movie career - but not at Warners,Brian Lucasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-31248128278530303112017-06-07T07:06:56.135-04:002017-06-07T07:06:56.135-04:00Really nice Post…..Really nice Post…..Y.C.A.noreply@blogger.com