Garbo Talks!

The 30’s brought the “Talkies”; Motion Pictures that had sound. Prior to that the movies were silent with storylines, narration and diolgue written across the screen. Many of the silent stars were not able to move from the silent movies to talkies, and their star power soon faded.

However there were some of the silent stars that were able to become even bigger stars once the audience heard them speak. The beautiful Greta Garbo was one of those stars. Having achieved enormous success as a silent movie star, she was one of the few who made the transition to talkies. After seeing many of her peers falling by the wayside due to the talkies, Greta delayed as long as possible, and the studio was even somewhat hesitant. They were not sure that audiences was ready for her voice. Her film The Kiss (1929) was the last film MGM made without dialog (it used a soundtrack with music and sound-effects only), and marked the end of an era.

But finally in 1930, Anna Chistie was released. MGM turned on the publicity machine and advertised as “GARBO TALKS!”. Her low, husky voice with her Swedish accent was heard on screen for the first time she spoke: “Gimme a vhiskey, ginger ale on the side. And don’t be stingy, baby”and the movie was a huge success, but Garbo personally hated her performance. It was Garbo’s first talkie and went on to be one of her best works on screen.

 

The Golden Age of Hollywood

“The Golden Age of Hollywood” began in 1930 and continued through the 1940’s. Hollywood had transitioned from Silent Films to “Talkies” with little of no consequence. (other than some actors not transitioning well). B y the end of the decade, Films were making another transition; from black and white to color films. Big film genre’s began making their mark, such as; musicals,gangster films, westerns, horror and many others.

Unfortunately the 1930’s was also the decade that the United States fell into the Great Depression, and Hollywood felt the toil as well. By 1933, the Depression was being felt by the decrease in movie theater attendance. This did not stop movies from being made, and many great “Depression” movies hit the theater, as well as upbeat lighthearted films and comedies. The decade of the 30’s, even with all the changes and setbacks, became on of the greatest decades of film history.

Over the next few weeks and months I am going to take a look at some of my favorite films, actors and actresses, as well as some of the Hollywood secrets, scandals and trivia that made the 1930’s the Golden Age of Hollywood!

 

#1 ~ One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest

Some say the decade of the 1970’s was the greatest decade for producing some of the greatest film events in cinematic history. The greatest decade since the 30’s, when such greats as Gone With The Wind, and Wizard of Oz.

It was very difficult for me to really choose my favorite for the 70’s, as I love the Godfather films and Cuckoo so well. I guess it would be like a 3 way tie for #1 for me. But after looking at the film and I realized that Cuckoo had the great impact on me when I saw it. I really didn’t appreciate the Godfather movies until my early 30’s.

As I have already mentioned on this blog, numerous time, Jack Nicholson is an acting god to me. I do not think the man has ever had a bad performance. Even his role as Joker is already classic. Louise Fletcher was as just superb in this role, and even though several other actress auditioned for Nurse Ratched, I can not imagine anyone but Fletcher in this role.

The acting, the direction, by Milos Foreman, the supporting cast and the powerful story were all excellent. Even though it is #20 in AFI 100 Greatest Movies, it’s more like number 3 in my book. Number one for the decade.

After almost two months, this list is finally finished!!! Now for the next list…but we will wait until after the holiday’s to start one of the other greatest decades in film history…30’s

 

#3 & #2 ~ Godfather I & Godfather II

When The Godfather was released in 1972, Francis Ford Coppola became one of the biggest names in Hollywood.

Prior to The Godfather, Coppola who had already directed seven films had yet to have had a hit. Once Godfather hit the screens not only did he have a hit he had a blockbuster.

The story, by Mario Puzo was about a Mafia dynasty (the Corleones). The first of a trilogy, The Godfather introduced us to Don Vito Corleone, played masterfully by Marlon Brando who would go on to win the Academy Award for best actor. Probably the most recognized line in Movie History, “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” was made by Brando, forever immortalized on film.

Godfather II, released two years later continued the saga with Vito’s son, Michael Corleone as the Godfather (played by Al Pacino, nominated for the role twice for an Oscar but never won for those roles) and also gave the back story of young Vito Corleone, played by Robert DeNiro. One of my favorite roles was played by the great acting teacher, Lee Strasberg as Jewish crime czar Hyman Roth who was nominated for a Supporting Actor Award.

Many film reviewers consider the second part equal or superior to the original, although the first part was a tremendous critical and commercial success – and the highest grossing film of its time. It also brought filmaking back to it’s pinnacle.

The Godfather was listed as #3 in American Film Institutes’s 100 Greatest Films behind Citizen Kane and Casablanca. The Godfather II is listed as #32.

 

#4 ~ Taxi Driver

After a decade long war in Vietnam and the office of the President had been disgraced by Watergate and the resignation of President Nixon, the films of the 70’s metaphorically examined those ideas and feelings. Taxi Driver examined the alienation in urban society in a very disturbing almost nightmarish way. Director Martin Scorsese had directed what would become a classic.

Robert De Niro, as the tortured, ex-Marine cab driver Travis Bickle, made movie history with his chilling performance as one of the most memorably intense and vividly realized characters ever committed to film. Bickle is a self-appointed vigilante who views his urban beat as an intolerable cesspool of blighted humanity. He plays guardian angel for a young prostitute (Jodie Foster), but not without violently devastating consequences.

The film which was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor (Robert De Niro), Best Supporting Actress (Jodie Foster), and Best Original Score (Bernard Herrmann) – all were unrewarded.

Notoriously, the film is linked to and may have triggered the political assassination (copy-cat) attempt by inconspicuous John Hinckley on President Ronald Reagan in 1981, illuminating his dangerous fixation on actress Jodie Foster, and resulting in the assassin’s infamous media-hero status.

 

Classic Women in Cinema ~ NORMA SHEARER

Norma Shearer

1902 – 1983

 

December 4, 1921

The manslaughter trial for actor and director Fatty Arbuckle ends in a hung jury.
Born Roscoe Arbuckle in 1887 in Kansas, Arbuckle worked as a plumber’s assistant before launching his performing career. After appearing on the vaudeville circuit, Arbuckle–nicknamed “Fatty” for his generous physique–began appearing in short comedies. He signed with production company Keystone in 1913 and appeared regularly as a Keystone Kop-the bumbling, slapstick police force that appeared in many Keystone movies between 1914 and the early 1920s. Arbuckle made various other silent comedies with prominent co-stars, including Charlie Chaplin. In 1916, he began writing and directing his own movies, and in 1917 he discovered comedian Buster Keaton, who became one of the most sought after film comedians of the 1920s and ’30s.
In 1921, Arbuckle was accused of manslaughter after the death of starlet Virginia Rappe. Rappe died of a ruptured bladder several days after an alleged sexual assault by the 350-pound Arbuckle at a wild drinking party in San Francisco. After two hung juries, Arbuckle was acquitted in 1922, but his films were banned and his career seemed finished. However, in 1925 he began directing under the pseudonym William Goodrich, and worked with such stars as Marion Davies and Eddie Cantor. An attempt to rehabilitate his acting career in 1932 with a live European tour failed. He died the following year at the age of 46.

 

#1 ~ Sally Field in Norma Rae

Sally Field’s acting in this movie is impeccable. She becomes Norma Rae. We can see her fear when she realizes what could happen if she fails. We can see her disgust when she reveals what the mill is doing and not doing for their employees and their families. And throughout the entire film we can see her passion. The passion she has for what she believes in, not just for herself, but for her family and the families of those co-workers. Some think the most powerful and memorable from the movie is her standing at the mill with the “Union” sign, I believe the most memorable scene is towards the end when she talks to her children, telling them what to expect. The movie tends to turn away from her children, but this scene focuses in on her relationship with them and the focus of why she did what she did, for her family.

Even though this film was released in 1979, Sally Field received her Oscar for Best Actress in 1980, but this was still a 1979 film, with an actress that would be remembered for decades to come. She would win a second Oscar in 1985 for another memorable role in Places in the Heart.

 

#2 ~ Diane Keaton in Annie Hall

Diane Keaton seemed to have exploded in Hollywood in the 70’s. With films like Play It Again Sam, The Godfather I & II, Looking For Mr. Goodbar she was everywhere. As Woody Allen’s girlfriend for a large part of the decade, Diane Keaton had made a name for herself as a talented, easy to work with young actress with ability for comedy as well as hard hitting drama.

Some say her Oscar should have came from her role in Looking For Mr. Goodbar, which was propelling, but her Oscar for Annie Hall was deserved. This role was written for her. She WAS Annie Hall. Her real name was Diane Hall and was nicknamed by many as Annie. She was somewhat shy and reserved and dated a very opinionated, open brash Woody Allen. Yes, she was Annie Hall. But what she brought to the screen was more than just a reflection of herself, but an open honest riveting portrayal of relationships in the 1970’s

 

#1 ~ Al Pacino in The Godfather Films

I know the third Godfather was not released until 1990, but in 1972 & 1974 two of the greatest movies to ever grace the screen were released into cinematic history. Mario Puzo’s The Godfather made cinema history while Al Pacino became the ultimate gangster and Michael Corleone became a household name.

His manner, his style, his delivery of his lines, even his eyes were Michael Corleone. Even though he never won an Academy Award for his portrayl of Michael Corleone, this would be the role he would be best known for. He did finally win an acting Oscar in 1993 for his role in Scent of a Women. Many felt that this Oscar was given for his enduring career. No other actor, except for Marlon Brando was more aligned to a role than Al Pacino.