tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post4039162183194047371..comments2024-03-23T21:46:50.843-04:00Comments on the passionate moviegoer: a millennial "millionaire"joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-64210617904965080552018-03-27T15:46:51.580-04:002018-03-27T15:46:51.580-04:00Abput your and Mike's Trump-oriented casting s...Abput your and Mike's Trump-oriented casting suggestions, I'd buy a ticket to if lawyer Michael Attavanti was my date!k.o.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-21651555500167424022018-03-27T14:57:34.296-04:002018-03-27T14:57:34.296-04:00Some of the casting choices made me laugh out loud...Some of the casting choices made me laugh out loud. And I learned a new word - solipsistic - so now I have to find a way to use it. Joannenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-6064227478461967582018-03-27T00:37:20.604-04:002018-03-27T00:37:20.604-04:00Each year, the L.A. Conservancy shows old movies a...Each year, the L.A. Conservancy shows old movies at the surviving downtown movie palaces. A few years ago, my wife and I saw "How to Marry a Millionaire" as a part of this series and we were amazed at how enjoyable it was. For that showing, the Conservancy used the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and, although it wasn't one of the classic downtown theaters, it's mid-century modern architecture was perfect for a mid-century modern movie. Thanks for giving this underrated movie its due.wwolfenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-31009101574104701692018-03-25T13:46:26.672-04:002018-03-25T13:46:26.672-04:00Joe, thanks much much much to Daryl and Mike for t...Joe, thanks much much much to Daryl and Mike for the very very informative posts. They both must have been, or maybe are, in the entertainment industry. m.h.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-83344365014643918182018-03-25T13:32:41.379-04:002018-03-25T13:32:41.379-04:00Good one, Mike!Good one, Mike!joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-39952170248614536712018-03-24T20:21:38.283-04:002018-03-24T20:21:38.283-04:00A.N.: Since the operative is "marry," sh...A.N.: Since the operative is "marry," shouldn't the stars be Ivana, Marla and Melania? ;-)mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-91824139006818368532018-03-24T18:41:47.357-04:002018-03-24T18:41:47.357-04:00Daryl is correct, but the provenance isn't tha...Daryl is correct, but the provenance isn't that important. They're all the same plot, and it goes back to SALLY, IRENE AND MARY, a 1922 play that was first filmed in 1925, and has become the de facto nickname for this sub-genre. (We could also throw in THREE WISE GIRLS from 1932, which is ostensibly original.) The fact that Fox went back to this well over and over again is what's key here, not which source material they used as a foundation.<br /><br />And thanks for the casting compliments, everyone! Sometimes I think I missed my true calling.mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-31692916365302390472018-03-24T18:25:13.969-04:002018-03-24T18:25:13.969-04:00Some enterprising filmmaker would cause a controve...Some enterprising filmmaker would cause a controversy and make bundles if he/she cast the Trump triumverate in the leads - Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal and Summer Zervos! I'd buy a ticket!a.n.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-91145379449558077232018-03-24T11:41:02.590-04:002018-03-24T11:41:02.590-04:00Mike's comment on THREE BLIND MICE is wrong: t...Mike's comment on THREE BLIND MICE is wrong: that was a whole other franchise. It was a play by Stephen Powys, about three sisters who search for a rich husband. SISTERS! They were related, which they are NOT in THE GREEKS HAD A WORD FOR IT! In 1936, THREE BLIND MICE was made as a Loretta Young vehicle, with Marjorie Weaver and Pauline Moore as her sisters (directed by William A. Seiter, written by Brown Holmes and Lynn Starling from a play by Powys). Then it was remade as a musical in 1941, MOON OVER MIAMI, as a Betty Grable vehicle with Carole Landis and Charlotte Greenwood costarring (one change: it's two sisters and their maiden aunt), with Walter Lang directing from a screenplay by Vincent Lawrence, George Seaton, Brown Holmes and Lynn Starling (based on a play by Powys); then in 1946 it was remade yet again, as THREE LITTLE GIRLS IN BLUE (again, a musical) with June Havoc, Vivian Blaine and Vera-Ellen as the sisters, with H. Bruce Humberstone directing, from a screenplay by Valentine Davies, Robert Ellis, Helen Logan, Brown Holmes and Lynn Starling (based on a play by Powys). It is not the same as THE GREEKS HAD A WORD FOR THEM-LADIES IN LOVE-HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE: important distinction: the three girls are related in THREE BLIND MICE-MOON OVER MIAMI-THREE LITTLE GIRLS IN BLUE. And there's an inheritance involved. (No inheritance in THE GREEKS HAD A WORD FOR IT.) And look at the credits, where you will see the distinction (NOT based on Zoe Akins, but Stephen Powys).Daryl Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13371258313590183345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-90527731215943454692018-03-24T11:32:36.598-04:002018-03-24T11:32:36.598-04:00How about an African-American version with Queen L...How about an African-American version with Queen Latifah in the Bacall role (I see her as a full-figure model), Tiffany Haddish as Loco/Grable and Taraji P. Henson in the Marilyn part? The men could be played by Will Smith as millonaire Tom, Michael Keegan Key as the forest ranger, Kenan Thompson as the guy wearing glasses and Denzel as the older guy, Hanley (?)Bonnienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-65027438362779409712018-03-24T11:03:14.397-04:002018-03-24T11:03:14.397-04:00Joe, my picks... Jennifer Aniston as Schatze, Kri...Joe, my picks... Jennifer Aniston as Schatze, Kristin Wiig as Loco and Rose Byrne as PolaAlexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-36651765084134244752018-03-22T21:56:17.949-04:002018-03-22T21:56:17.949-04:00Hey, I think Mike's casting is terrific, too. ...Hey, I think Mike's casting is terrific, too. I went with millennial. He went with casting that makes more sense, dramatically. Hamm and Brosnan - and Benanti - are excellent choices.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-88464669689292259922018-03-22T21:01:17.382-04:002018-03-22T21:01:17.382-04:00I enjoyed Mike's cast. Simmons is perfect for ...I enjoyed Mike's cast. Simmons is perfect for the Fred Clark role. And Pierce Brosnon is a good fit for William Powell. Great casting all-around.Vanessanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-12568810265745739282018-03-22T16:57:25.065-04:002018-03-22T16:57:25.065-04:00Well, thank you for noticing! ;-)Well, thank you for noticing! ;-)mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-14764199187731122562018-03-22T16:36:11.686-04:002018-03-22T16:36:11.686-04:00Mike- Anyone who would think to cast the incredibl...Mike- Anyone who would think to cast the incredible Laura Benanti in anything has a brilliant mind. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-11415061095266925382018-03-22T16:12:12.930-04:002018-03-22T16:12:12.930-04:00Middle-aged was 40 then, closer to 60 now. Well, a...Middle-aged was 40 then, closer to 60 now. Well, all I can say is it's not a picture that would have much appeal to me. But I still love ya!mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-32874847047921739612018-03-22T16:03:32.918-04:002018-03-22T16:03:32.918-04:00Joe- I love this film and my favorite scene is an ...Joe- I love this film and my favorite scene is an early one with the girls relaxing on the high-rise balcony, dining on hot dogs and champagne as they plot their strategy. Great moment!Sheilanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-79281840288535363362018-03-22T15:53:57.277-04:002018-03-22T15:53:57.277-04:00No, I was clear that I would be casting millennial...No, I was clear that I would be casting millennials (and not teenagers, as you make them sound). And when you say "the characters have to be grown-ups," do you mean middled-aged? That would defeat the purpose of my idea.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-91583182080033144212018-03-22T15:40:03.956-04:002018-03-22T15:40:03.956-04:00Oh, I thought you meant appealing to millennials m...Oh, I thought you meant <i>appealing</i> to millennials more than casting them. Most of the characters need to be grown-ups, not whiny-ass kids glued to their phones and bitching about "safe spaces." :-Pmike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-11544084442952466352018-03-22T15:26:02.243-04:002018-03-22T15:26:02.243-04:00Mike: Good cast! But way, way too old. I had a re...Mike: Good cast! But way, way too old. I had a reason for titling my essay “a <i>millennial</i> ‘millionaire.” Think younger. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-55060212416358805772018-03-22T15:19:52.999-04:002018-03-22T15:19:52.999-04:00Okay, you want a MILLIONAIRE cast, I'm giving ...Okay, you want a MILLIONAIRE cast, I'm giving you a MILLIONAIRE cast!<br /><br />Schatze: Needs to be a bit older than the others. Smart, tough, sexy, funny. There's only one actress who's perfect for the role. You know it, I know it and in her heart Jessica Chastain knows it.<br /><br />Loco: Down to earth, not as dumb as she sometimes seen, but a force of nature, and again, a bit older. This screams Laura Benanti all the way.<br /><br />Pola: Young, blonde, gorgeous, also a lot sharper than she appears. The most criminally underrated actress working today, Rose McIver, nails this spot.<br /><br />Freddy: A likable nerd, not particularly handsome. Paging Paul Giamatti.<br /><br />Tom: Needs to be someone who can play rough-hewn and still be believable as a rich guy. I'd give this to Jon Hamm.<br /><br />Eban: Crusty but lovable outdoorsy guy. My pal Jim Beaver in a runaway.<br /><br />Hanley: Suave, polished, courtly. That would be Brosnan, Pierce Brosnan.<br /><br />Brewster: Bald, mustache, hot-tempered tycoon. Who else but J.K. Simmons?<br /><br />Merrill: Aging European Lothario. Perfect for Jean Dujardin.<br /><br />When do we start shooting? :-)<br /><br /> mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-81843501798707551152018-03-22T10:08:25.821-04:002018-03-22T10:08:25.821-04:00Mike! Although I', here to please, I never sai...Mike! Although I', here to please, I never said anyone would be pleased with my casting choices. I support my picks (like them all) but REBEL Wilson? <i>Never!</i> <br />That said, thanks for the additional information. And, yes, share your picks if you are so compelled. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-25581763665334032822018-03-21T21:21:19.919-04:002018-03-21T21:21:19.919-04:00Wow, you managed to pick a whole passel of my leas...Wow, you managed to pick a whole passel of my least-liked actors; I'm surprised you left out Rebel Wilson. I shall ponder and come up with my own choices later. <br /><br />Fox had actually used the story twice before HTMAM: as a B+ called THREE BLIND MICE in 1938, and then again as a full-blown musical in 1941, MOON OVER MIAMI. And Universal did a 1955 knock-off called AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'.<br /><br />Also, the TV version of HTMAM is available on DVD.mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-2704541654673290712018-03-21T08:11:05.989-04:002018-03-21T08:11:05.989-04:00Daryl! Great stuff, as usual. Invaluable info. Th...Daryl! Great stuff, as usual. Invaluable info. Thanks for sharing. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-43711320773761194562018-03-20T23:45:11.358-04:002018-03-20T23:45:11.358-04:00Tried to post yesterday but maybe it didn't ta...Tried to post yesterday but maybe it didn't take; just wanted to give a little background to HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE. In 1931, Samuel Goldwyn bought the rights to Zoe Akins' play THE GREEK HAD A WORD FOR IT and proceeded to make a movie, though the title was changed ("IT" was deemed too salacious, so the title became THE GREEKS HAD A WORD FOR THEM). The stars were Ina Claire (top-billed, as Jean), Joan Blondell (as Schatzi) and Madge Evans (as Polaire); the movie was directed by Lowell Sherman, and the screenplay was by Sidney Howard (based on Akins' play). In 1936, 20th Century Fox decided to do a version of "three girls sahring an apartment"; it was called LADIES IN LOVE, directed by Edward H. Griffith from a screenplay by Melville Baker, based on a play by Ladislaus Bus-Fekete; the setting this time was Budapest, and the stars were Janet Gaynor, Loretta Young, and Constance Bennett. (The line-up indicated the pecking order at Fox: Gaynor had been Fox's top female star since 1927, Loretta Young had just been signed to take over for Gaynor, and Bennett had been a top star who was freelancing.) In 1953, Fox tried again, and this time they actually got the rights to Akins' play, adapted by Nunnally Johnson, and directed by Jean Negulesco; the movie starred Betty Grable (Fox's number one star of the 1940s, on her way out, as Loco), Marilyn Monroe (taking over Grable's spot as Fox's number one star, as Polo) and Lauren Bacall (now freelancing after her Warners contract was over, as Schatze). Fox decided that this formula was gold, so no matter what the material, it was slotted to fit into this template. So John Secondari's COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN (which was about various Americans in Rome, not centering on three girls) became THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN in 1954, with Negulesco again directing (as he would on all future variants); this time, the big star was Clifton Webb (who was actually Fox's biggest male star of the 1950s) and the female stars were Dorothy McGuire (freelancing, but Zanuck had a fondness for her because she had saved Fox when she took over from a pregnant Gene Tierney on A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN), Jean Peters (a Fox contract star coming off VIVA ZAPATA and PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET), and Maggie McNamara (under contract to Otto Preminger but he sold her contract to Fox). Then there was WOMAN'S WORLD in 1954, again helmed by Negulesco, though here the three women are housed in the same hotel, and the casting was June Allyson (borrowed from MGM, but on the verge of leaving MGM), Lauren Bacall, and Arlene Dahl (freelancing after leaving MGM), though it should be mentioned that Clifton Webb was once again topbilled. THE BEST OF EVERYTHING (1959) is a classic example of how Fox changed material to fit into a prescribed pattern: Rona Jaffe's novel had been about women working in publishing - secretaries, editors, aspiring writers. Somehow this was winnowed down to three girls, who wind up sharing an apartment: Hope Lange (coming off her Oscar nomination for PEYTON PLACE), Suzy Parker (being heavily promoted by Fox as a new star) and Diane Baker. Then there was THE PLEASURE SEEKERS (1964), which was supposed to be a remake of John Secondari's novel COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN though transferred to Madrid. By this point, Fox had few (if any) people under contract, and so the girls were played by Ann-Margret, Carol Lynley and Pamela Tiffin. (Secondari himself was very vocal in his denunciation of THE PLEASURE SEEKERS; he thought the material had been cheapened.) But there's no reason why HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE couldn't be remade, since Fox essentially did it several times over.Daryl Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13371258313590183345noreply@blogger.com