tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post287197113383441517..comments2024-02-10T04:53:42.121-05:00Comments on Tales of the Easily Distracted: THE GLASS KEY: The Littlest GumshoeDorianTBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-5635879312610657872012-05-25T11:09:38.087-04:002012-05-25T11:09:38.087-04:00Joey, have I ever mentioned how much I enjoy not o...Joey, have I ever mentioned how much I enjoy not only your nifty blog THE LAST DRIVE-IN, but also but also your "Monstergirl" nom de plume? Your blog posts and trailers are always great fun to read and see!<br /><br />I'm so flattered and honored that you enjoyed my TotED take on THE GLASS KEY -- thanks a million for your enthusiastic praise! By the way, my dear hubby Vinnie deserves special kudos for the GIF photos with the witty captions; he's the computer genius in the family! :-)<br /><br />Feel free to drop by TotED to talk about movies any time, and I'm always happy to read your always-enjoyable posts over at THE LAST DRIVE-IN! Aren't these mutual admiration societies fun? :-) Thanks again!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-7872589224171538442012-05-25T10:57:30.773-04:002012-05-25T10:57:30.773-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-73651984210481056912012-05-25T10:56:39.626-04:002012-05-25T10:56:39.626-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-26932256255342281032012-05-25T10:49:42.525-04:002012-05-25T10:49:42.525-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-61239991818074871462012-05-25T10:49:03.056-04:002012-05-25T10:49:03.056-04:00Dorian, I LOVE what you did with The Glass Key, ju...Dorian, I LOVE what you did with The Glass Key, just love your witty writing style, and swift examination of the story. The photos are so much fun too! I am such a fan of Tales of the Easily Distracted, I'll be back around to read more!<br /><br />Wonderful stuff!<br />Joey (Monstergirl)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-9383445392132218162012-02-21T10:33:59.084-05:002012-02-21T10:33:59.084-05:00Laura, I'm glad you got a chance to catch up w...Laura, I'm glad you got a chance to catch up with the ever-delightful RELUCTANT DRAGON (and future stars Alan Ladd and Frances Gifford)! Happy to have helped in my own small way! :-) Thanks for the fun facts about Bonita Granville and hubby's crucial role in building the Disneyland Hotel, too -- I had no idea! Boy, there sure was a lot more to the busy Ms. Granville than NANCY DREW! By the way, Vinnie and I went to Disneyland as part of our honeymoon tour back in 1989. I guess it really is a small world after all! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-88356745937090617592012-02-21T02:11:27.157-05:002012-02-21T02:11:27.157-05:00Well, I actually managed to watch THE RELUCTANT DR...Well, I actually managed to watch THE RELUCTANT DRAGON tonight, thanks to your inspiration! :)<br /><br />Incidentally, although she wasn't in THE RELUCTANT DRAGON like Ladd, Gifford, and Marr, Bonita Granville had an important connection with Disney in the '50s -- she and her husband built the Disneyland Hotel. The hotel's Bonita Tower and Granville's Steakhouse, both now gone, were named for her.<br /><br />Best wishes,<br />LauraLaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09626109831176745957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-48224059676827655682012-02-20T18:03:57.007-05:002012-02-20T18:03:57.007-05:00No problem, Laura -- you've been a busy gal wi...No problem, Laura -- you've been a busy gal with your classic movie theater tour, lucky you! Thanks for your kind words about my GLASS KEY post! Believe it or not, I haven't had a chance to catch up with KISS OF DEATH or THE BIG COMBO yet, though I've seen enough clips from those movies to whet my appetite. So many great movies, so little free time! :-) Anyway, I hope you'll be able to revisit both THE GLASS KEY and THE RELUCTANT DRAGON (featuring another of my faves, Robert Benchley) sometime soon. <br /><br />I'm glad this Presidents' Day weekend gave us a chance to catch up with each other's recent blogs and movie news, Laura! Feel free to drop by for a visit here at TotED anytime!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-18008946023028969702012-02-20T16:57:36.640-05:002012-02-20T16:57:36.640-05:00Now I want to pull out my Disney Treasures DVD of ...Now I want to pull out my Disney Treasures DVD of THE RELUCTANT DRAGON and take a look! LOL. I'm so glad you called this post to my attention -- I make it a point to drop in here regularly but I missed this one when it first went up! (Based on the date, it was posted the day I ended my tour of four old movie theaters in 10 days -- took a while to recover I guess, grin!) Your note also makes me want to take another look at THE GLASS KEY. Loved both that and THE BLUE DAHLIA -- I should watch THIS GUN FOR HIRE...<br /><br />Over the last couple years I've become fans of both Ladd and Donlevy. Just saw Donlevy at one of the aforementioned movie theaters in THE BIG COMBO -- have you seen that one? He's the hearing-impaired lieutenant of a mob boss (Richard Conte). Very memorable! Found him sympathetic in KISS OF DEATH and a lot of fun in THE TROUBLE WITH WOMEN. Was also impressed by THE GREAT MCGINTY. Love the info on the tungsten mine! <br /><br />Thanks for a great post which brightened my holiday. :)<br /><br />Best wishes,<br />LauraLaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09626109831176745957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-26327604333207443882012-02-14T16:41:57.576-05:002012-02-14T16:41:57.576-05:00Yvette, your enthusiastic praise and playful comme...Yvette, your enthusiastic praise and playful comments always bring a smile to my face -- many thanks, my friend! I enjoy digging into the behind-the-scenes stuff with my favorite movies; it's amazing what goes into a movie and how the actors did that voodoo that they do so well! :-)<br /><br />Yes, I'm afraid that although Alan Ladd seemed to be a cool customer onscreen, he had a tough life in reality. It's a long-enough story that I've taken the liberty of posting Ladd's IMDb bio:<br /><br />http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000042/bio<br /><br />Veronica Lake died young, too (also 50), though from what I've read about her, she seemed to be a feisty gal - maybe TOO feisty, from what I've read. But I give her credit for not letting anyone push her around!<br /><br />Yeah, Brian Donlevy did indeed "look the type that would drop of a heart attack before the other two," didn't he? Like the song says, it goes to show you never can tell! But hey, good on Donlevy for living a long, productive life! And at least we can enjoy these talented folks' movies and TV shows for as long as we all live! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-32385281459428558142012-02-14T15:12:26.298-05:002012-02-14T15:12:26.298-05:00Oh, I haven't seen this in ages, Dorian. Thank...Oh, I haven't seen this in ages, Dorian. Thanks for bringing it all back and with a vengeance, too. HA! I love your posts. They really do get at the intrigue behind the scenes as well as in front of the camera.<br /><br />Now, what is this about Alan Ladd's tragic upbringing? More details, please. <br /><br />50 is way too young to die. Jeez.<br /><br />Donlevy looks the type that would drop of a heart attack before the other two. But life is funny that way. Not funny, haha, but you know what I mean.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-44929936260042012302012-02-14T13:05:13.789-05:002012-02-14T13:05:13.789-05:00Eve, good luck with your tungsten-mining! :-) If ...Eve, good luck with your tungsten-mining! :-) If you decide to look for gold in the form of the golden tresses of Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd, I particularly recommend THE GLASS KEY, THIS GUN FOR HIRE, and THE BLUE DAHLIA. Thanks for your kind words, my friend; I'm glad you enjoyed my TGK review!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-38003340276986462432012-02-14T11:40:55.930-05:002012-02-14T11:40:55.930-05:00Well slap me silly, now that I'm out here in t...Well slap me silly, now that I'm out here in the P.Springs area, I have to find a tungsten mine. Love the review but for some strange reason I don't remember ever seeing Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd together--I must be jealous of the whole blond thing. Thanks for doing a marvelous review and I will keep my eye out for the Glass Key! Intangible Heartshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05047040538015079182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-32164330020145582022012-02-13T11:35:59.542-05:002012-02-13T11:35:59.542-05:00Dawn, beaucoup thanks for your enthusiastic commen...Dawn, beaucoup thanks for your enthusiastic comments on my GLASS KEY post! I agree with you, Alan Ladd's harrowing great escape is stunning -- almost literally, considering the stunts involved! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-38433788099576956252012-02-13T09:15:34.518-05:002012-02-13T09:15:34.518-05:00GLASS KEY, is of my favorite classic film noir'...GLASS KEY, is of my favorite classic film noir's. I was amazed at some of the physical stunts. Especially, when Ladd escapes out of a broken window has him falling off an awning and crashing through the ceiling where a family is having dinner. Awesome! review as always.Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476174860119487509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-78834117776459081042012-02-12T18:16:41.456-05:002012-02-12T18:16:41.456-05:00John, many thanks for your feedback, and you'r...John, many thanks for your feedback, and you're welcome for the shoutout; you deserve it! You made a great point about "'loveable' Chester Riley a.k.a. William Bendix" in that harrowing beating sequence. Bendix sure had range, moving from lovable loudmouths to fearsome foes with ease. Wonder how long it took the cast to recover from their fight scenes? The durable Donlevy did seem to take well to "wrong side of the law" roles, bless him! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-30306713210360223322012-02-12T17:35:42.079-05:002012-02-12T17:35:42.079-05:00Ladd and Lake make a good team and are very good a...Ladd and Lake make a good team and are very good at playing characters within their scope. The scene that sticks out in my mind is the brutal beating Ladd receives from "loveable" Chester Riley aka William Bendix. Rough even by today's standards. Ladd must have been black and white after making this film. I always liked Donlevy best when he is on the wrong side of the law. He makes for a sleazy low life. He really had a long and great career. Fantastically entertaining review as always. <br /><br />And thanks for the mention!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-48782832729535325592012-02-12T15:45:06.235-05:002012-02-12T15:45:06.235-05:00Rick, thanks for your praise of THE GLASS KEY; gla...Rick, thanks for your praise of THE GLASS KEY; glad you enjoy the 1942 version as much we of Team Bartilucci do! While I wholeheartedly agree that Andrew Keir and John Mills are both absolutely stellar in their respective portrayals of Prof. Bernard Quatermass, we still enjoy Brian Donlevy's two-fisted performance as sort of a guilty pleasure! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-24793602676025277902012-02-12T15:26:50.087-05:002012-02-12T15:26:50.087-05:00Fun review as always, Dorian! I think this is one ...Fun review as always, Dorian! I think this is one of Ladd's best films, perhaps second only to THIS GUN FOR HIRE and SHANE. However, I must admit that Donlevy almost ruined his two QUATERMASS films for me. Give me Anrew Keir or John Mills!Classic Film and TV Cafehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09548537117263337339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-67620759681635436202012-02-11T16:59:51.705-05:002012-02-11T16:59:51.705-05:00Michael, your marvelously madcap drollery is alway...Michael, your marvelously madcap drollery is always a source of boundless delight, and your rollicking comments about my GLASS KEY review had me laughing out loud, perking up this wintry day! "MY LITTLE SLUTSKI" and "I WAS A TEENAGE GREAT-GRANDMOTHER FOR THE FBI..." especially cracked me up!<br /><br />If you've got some free time and your computer is working, why not have a seat and enjoy THE GLASS KEY right now in its You Tube entirety? I'm betting you'll enjoy it!<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46ngcVwggws&feature=related<br /><br />And for anyone reading this, if you think our man Michael Wolff's witty, zany feedback is fun to read here at TotED, read his hilarious, warm-hearted romantic comedy novel COSIMO'S RAVEN, available from Amazon.com:<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/review/R1NB2LAAPJZ3YR<br /><br />Thanks for your friendship and feedback, Michael, as always!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-26921071381078923292012-02-11T16:07:24.018-05:002012-02-11T16:07:24.018-05:00Kim, I've often found that even people who are...Kim, I've often found that even people who aren't Veronica Lake fans often like THE GLASS KEY. But since you like Brian Donlevy, I'm confident you'll enjoy the film if you get a chance! I haven't found it on DVD or VHS lately, but TGK turns up on TCM periodically, and it's currently on YouTube in installments.DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-49895650467783344702012-02-11T16:00:34.379-05:002012-02-11T16:00:34.379-05:00Gilby, thanks for your positive feedback about my ...Gilby, thanks for your positive feedback about my GLASS KEY post! You made an excellent point about how in the long run, Brian Donlevy's career longevity trumped the white-hot star power that both Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake had for a brief time. I guess the lesson here is: if you become a star, enjoy your fame while you have it, and for crying out loud, SOCK AWAY YOUR MONEY FROM THE START just in case your success doesn't last! :-)<br /><br />Hey, I'm a PERRY MASON fan! Alas, I guess I missed the episode you saw, but you that you've brought it to my attention, I'll keep an eye on the Me-TV listings! Thanks for the tip!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-44441608823492860592012-02-11T15:57:06.865-05:002012-02-11T15:57:06.865-05:00In Harlan Ellison's "The New York Review ...In Harlan Ellison's "The New York Review Of Bird", Cordwainer Bird goes to visit his uncle, Phineas Thwombley, in order to get some information because, as he put it, Uncle Phineas knew more about New York City than anyone else.<br /><br />"Well," Uncle Phineas replied, "Billy Batson certainly knows more about the subway system than I do",<br /><br />And I mention this because I finally accept the fact that not only does Dorian know more about movies than I do, she will Always Know More About Movies Than I Do! I've been taking notes, and I've figured out that, for every movie I see, Dorian has seen at least ten. She has probably sat through every MY LITTLE PONY movie ever made (even the one where Buttons is voiced by Snooki Polizzi . . . 2008's MY LITTLE SLUTSKI, directed by Roman Polanski's younger brother Yucaipa Polanski).<br /><br />And am I bitter? Am I upset? Not in the slightest. For one thing, getting mad at Dorian is like getting mad because Dorothy Gale makes it to the Land of Oz before you do . . . or James Kirk gets a starship while you're still filling out the paperwork for the Starfleet Academy entrance examination ("References . . . references. Damn!"). Some things are just ordained. It's all part of the natural rhythm of the Universe.<br /><br />For another thing, there are advantages to the situation. If Dorian manages to see eleventy-million and three movies each week (not counting what Netflix sends), then that simply means more movies for her to write about in her own initimable and 100% wholly edible fashion.<br /><br />To shorten a long story (as a lot of you exhale in relief), the upshot of this is I HAVEN'T SEEN THE GLASS KEY! EVER! I've lost my car keys, but I don't think that's close (especially since Brian Donlevy wasn't involved, and I think I'd definitely remember if Veronica Lake was hanging around). But am I bitter? Am I upset? Not in the slightest. And this is because I have now sat back and read Dorian's comments on the film and came away refreshed, enterrained and invigorated (and informed) and am now ready to go on with life.<br /><br />(Meanwhile, in another location, Dorian is sitting in the dark, peering intently at a flickering screen. "Aha!" she exclaims. "The 1931 print of I WAS A TEENAGE GREAT-GRANDMOTHER FOR THE FBI. Starring Lina Romay and Paul Harvey just before he had the kidney operation . . . plus a cameo by a meltingly young Sonny Tufts! Long thought missing but recently restored, including the original soundtrack by Spike Jones & The City Slickers. Directed by Judge Crater! Quick, Vinnie . . . the popcorn and Visine!"Michael Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11808166630399508232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-28986891865325225382012-02-11T14:51:07.407-05:002012-02-11T14:51:07.407-05:00I don't think I've seen this. Not a big V...I don't think I've seen this. Not a big Veronica Lake fan, but I like Donlevy. Will have to keep an eye out for this.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-51417478020509305322012-02-11T14:44:29.804-05:002012-02-11T14:44:29.804-05:00Caftan Woman, thanks for your comments; knowing yo...Caftan Woman, thanks for your comments; knowing you're a Brian Donlevy fan has me pleased as punch, no pun intended! :-) That's one of the great things about loving classic movies: they're kinda like hanging out with old friends for a few hours, and then you can put them away until the next time you watch them, without anyone outstaying their welcome! :-)<br /><br />Glad you got a kick out of my RELUCTANT DRAGON tie-in, too! Talk about SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, huh? ;-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.com