No existing standalone thread that I could find. One of my favorite actresses, maybe my favorite for various reasons, although I still haven’t seen everything she did and in some films she is ill-used. Just found this interesting overview by Stanwyck not-quite-biographer-more-like-cataloguer Dan Callahan.https://brightlightsfilm.com/uneasy-living-insecure-charm-jean-arthur/
― Old Man Reacts to Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 25 March 2023 16:35 (two years ago)
Plus Robbie Fulks wrote this amazing song about her that really conveys her energy.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgV5Nk6bV10
― Old Man Reacts to Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 25 March 2023 16:45 (two years ago)
To me her gold standard role is in THE MORE THE MERRIER. TALK OF THE TOWN by the same director, George Stevens, is almost as good but suffers because of Ronald Colman.
― Old Man Reacts to Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 25 March 2023 17:28 (two years ago)
His SHANE is not so good, but some people defend her performance, her last on film, iirc.
― Old Man Reacts to Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 25 March 2023 17:29 (two years ago)
Great song that is not about a Jean Arthur movie as far as I know.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kdt1IARNkI
― Old Man Reacts to Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 25 March 2023 17:30 (two years ago)
I don't mind her when she isn't squeezing the cutes in my face.
― the very juice and sperm of kindness. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 25 March 2023 19:31 (two years ago)
Oh, hi, Alfred. Was wondering when you would show up on this thread.
― Old Man Reacts to Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 25 March 2023 19:35 (two years ago)
Callahan’s take on A Foreign Affair is pretty interesting. She was cast in an extremely unflattering light which apparently she complained about to Wilder, and was outfoxed by Marlene Dietrich (who wouldn’t be?) but he makes the case that she reclaims the role for herself in the second half. I may have to rewatch it sometime soon.
― Old Man Reacts to Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 25 March 2023 19:53 (two years ago)
I read the 1997 bio he mentions, Jean Arthur: The Actress Nobody Knew and recently bought a digital copy. It’s very good but kind of wish there were a recent update, which Callahan states and hints at.
― Old Man Reacts to Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 25 March 2023 19:55 (two years ago)
Think I may have to supplement by reading a Mary Martin bio.
― Old Man Reacts to Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 25 March 2023 19:56 (two years ago)
Written in 2016, so maybe some new deets.
― Old Man Reacts to Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 25 March 2023 19:57 (two years ago)
One thing I only learned about and retained recently was the affair with Selznick.
― Old Man Reacts to Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 25 March 2023 19:58 (two years ago)
Forgot to mention the author of Jean Arthur: The Actress Nobody Knew, John Oller.
― Old Man Reacts to Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 25 March 2023 20:02 (two years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU9bg4XEh-I
― Old Man Reacts to Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 25 March 2023 20:44 (two years ago)
EASY LIVING is a new favorite, one that I somehow managed to miss until last month. Maybe because I had previously been drunk on the microbrewed Wilder & Sturges Kool-Aid of reputational schadenfreude waged against Mitchell Leisen.
― It’s Only Her Factory, Girl! (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 26 March 2023 03:11 (two years ago)