Mickophulus

Mickidemius:

Wow, great recall on that SIERRA MADRE dialogue. Your mind is a steel trap, sir.
Curtin:" You know the worst ain't so bad when it finally happens. Not half as bad as you figured it would be before it happened."
Howard:"Without me, you two would die here, more miserable than rats."
Dobbs:"If you believe you have a conscience, it'll pester you to death."

Yes, TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE was a classic, and it said a lot about human nature. B.Traven was mining familiar territory of course. Have you ever seen the silent film, GREED (1924) with Zazu Pitts? Then there was similiar themes in LUST FOR GOLD (1949), with Glenn Ford, Ida Lupino, and Gig Young. It is a stretch, but there are some shared themes even in GOLD OF THE SEVEN SAINTS (1961), with Roger Moore, who knew something of SAINTS, and Clint Walker, the man mountain. I read one review of this film that suggested Moore and Walker, who played fur trappers who find gold, were really homosexual lovers; not in person, their characters.

Onto, or back to CASABLANCA. What a bland programmer that film would have been with George Raft as Rick; even Reagan would have done a better job. Michele Morgan was considered to play Ilsa. A classic blonde beauty, she was French, and had come to Hollywood in 1940, appearing in JOAN OF PARIS (1942), and with Bogie in PASSAGE TO MARSEILLE in 1944. By 1948 she returned to France, and ended her long career there. No one could have topped Ingrid Bergman, of course. Another actress that was considered for Ilsa was Hedy Lamarr. On CASABLANCA, the Radio Show, she did play Ilsa, and Alan Ladd played Rick. Yes, it was Dooley Wilson who played Sam, and had to fake the piano playing. The part, originally supposed to be a dame, was considered for Lena Horne, or Ella Fitzgerald. Come to think of it, it might have jazzed up those scenes in the nightclub in Ms. Lena Horne had graced the screen.

The sex quote, actually quite famous so I am shocked you did not know it, was said by Humphrey Bogart. Actually Duke Mantee was supposed to be played by Edward G. Robinson. But you are right on the mark as to Bogie's resemblence to John Dillinger. Yeah, Dillinger's penis is supposed to be in a gallon jar in some museum. Who knows if it measured up to the Hollywood Donkey Dick set, old Uncle Miltie, Forrest Tucker, John Ireland, and Errol Flynn. Let's do some John Dillinger trivia now, big boy. The real John D. was killed in Chicago on July 22, 1934. He was exiting the "Biograph Theater", and the film on the marquee was MANHATTAN MELODRAMA with Clark Gable. The brothel owner, Ana Sage ratted him out to Melvin Purvis. She wore an orange dress that looked "red" under the night lights.

The figure of John Dillinger is not a stranger to cinema. My personal favorite was Warren Oates in John Milius's DILLINGER (1973), with Michelle Phillips as the girlfriend, and Cloris Leachman as Anna Sage. Who played Melvin Purvis in that film. The classic DILLINGER (1945) with Lawrence Tierney as Dillinger works well too. Melvin Purvis is not a character in that film. Did you know that Tierney was Scott Brady's brother? I do see the resemblance. Like Peter Graves and James Arness. Elisha Cook Jr. was in the picture too.
In 1960, there was a TV film, DILLINGER with Ralph Meeker as Dillinger, and Stephen Hill as Purvis (later on the first season of LAW AND ORDER). In 1974, John Milius wrote a teleplay called MELVIN PURVIS: G-MAN. Who played Purvis in that one? Ironically Dillinger was not a character in the film. In 1979 the film LADY IN RED played drive-ins. Robert Conrad played Dillinger, and Pamela Sue Martin played the girlfriend. Louise Fletcher was Ana Sage. Alan Vint played Purvis. Then in 1991, we had the TV film, DILLINGER, with Mark Harmon playing Dillinger, and Sherilyn Fenn as the girlfriend. Will Patton played Purvis. Can you think of more films that had Dillinger or Purvis as a character?

On Bogart's Oscar nominations, you were half right. He won one for THE AFRICAN QUEEN of course. Yes, he was nominated for CASABLANCA (1942), but his second nomination was for THE CAINE MUTINY (1954), not TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948). The name of Bogie's sailboat/yacht was SANTANA, which was the name on the boat in KEY LARGO (1948). He always smoked unfiltered Chesterfields, right to his last breath on his last day. James Cagney would have been a good pick for HIGH SIERRA (1940) to play Roy Earle, but no, it was that pesky George Raft.

Yes, Carl Reiner's terrific film, DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID (1982), not only had scenes with Bogart as "Marlowe", but Alan Ladd, James Cagney, Ray Milland, Burt Lancaster as Swede from THE KILLERS, Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Kirk Douglas, Lana Turner, and Vincent Price were all looped into it too. I think I even remember Gary Cooper in one scene. That is one of my favorite comedies. It hits nostalgia and the funny bone similtaneously. While on the Bogart subject, who played Bogart in the Woody Allen film PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM (1972)? The actor was a mostly soap opera star, who did not do many films, remaining on TV until the end of his career. But a more esoteric bit of trivia was who played Bogart look-a-like "Sam Marlow" in THE MAN WITH BOGART'S FACE (1980)? This actor was a great Bogie impersonator, even getting the famous lisp just right.

Regarding THE CISCO KID, thanks for the kudo on Duncan Renaldo, but you got me big boy on the horse's names. What was Cisco and Pancho's horse's names? By the way, what was Dale Evans horse's name? How about Hopalong Cassidy's? We all remember Trigger, Silver, and Champion. What was Tonto's horse's name? And we can't leave out Jimmy Stewart's pal Pi, right?

As to "Names", Alan Ladd's real name was Alan Walbridge Ladd, so kudos for that smarty pants. Van Heflin's real name was Emmett Evan Heflin, Jr. Elisha Cook Jr. was called Frank "Stonewall" Torrey, so right again! Jack Schaefer wrote SHANE the novel. Ben Johnson was Chris Calloway. Emile Meyer was Rufus Ryker; probably in his best role. I remember him showing up on a couple of GENE AUTRY TV series episodes. Edgar Buchanan was Fred. Believe it or not, Katherine Hepburn was considered for the role of Marian, before Jean Arthur came out of retirement to do it. I still think that the original casting of Montgomery Clift as Shane, and William Holden as Joe Starrett might have worked pretty well. Remember David Carradine in the TV series SHANE? I think Barbara Hershey was in with him. Jack Palance was quite a character. He was born in Pennsylvania coal country. His real name was Volodymr Palanyuk. He was 6'3" tall. He fought professionally as a heavyweight in the 1940's under the name of Jack Brazzo. He won his first 15 bouts by knockouts. But WWII interrupted his boxing career. After the war he decided to become an actor. In 1947 he understudyed Brando on Broadway in STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. He went on for him, and did so well, it got him a film contract. Even hating horses as he did, he ended up owning a cattle ranch. He owned a 1000 acres up in the Tehachapis between Bakersfield and Mojave. He rode pretty good in the CITY SLICKER films. He was an accomplished painter, and a published poet. The volume of poetry was called THE FOREST OF LOVE. It was probably better stuff than was found in WARMED BY LOVE by Leonard Nimoy, BURNING IN PARADISE by Michael Madsen, or even JIMMY STEWART AND HIS POETRY.

Did I give you the lowdown on Alan Ladd? He started out as a grip at Warner Brothers in 1935. One of the reasons he was so screwed up emotionally was that as a kid he had witnessed his mother committing suicide by taking ant poison. He was a big radio star by 1939. He was only 4th billiing in THIS GUN FOR HIRE (1942), but as the killer, Raven, he stole the film, and it made him a star. In WWII he was drafted, but he was discharged in only two months with an ulcer and a double hernia. Depressed in his later career, he attempted suicide in 1962, shooting himself in the chest; but the bullet missed his heart. He finally did manage to kill himself in 1964 with sedatives and alcohol. In 1962 he tried for the lead role in LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. On the radio in 1948-49 he played private dick Dan Holliday on B0X 13. He pitched the series for TV in 1956, but it never sold. But he did play Dan Holliday on 3 episodes of GE THEATER in 1953. In 1963 he pitched DAN HOLLIDAY as a project for a film. He even talked to William Bendix and Veroncia Lake about it. He had an affair with June Allyson after they starred in THE McCONNELL STORY (1955). It ended badly pushing him into late life depression. It is said that Ladd discovered Rory Calhoun while horseback riding in Griffith Park. From 1932-12939 he appeared in 14 films unbilled as an extra. From 1939-1942 he appeared in 28 more films as a walk on, including one in CITIZEN KANE (1941). Ladd said,"I have the face of an aging choir boy, and the build of an undernourished featherweight."

So I nailed Maria Ouspenskaya, that's great. But I don't know who killed ROGER RABBIT, perhaps Bob Hoskins? Mel Blanc was called The Man of a Thousand Voices. On his tombstone it reads THAT'S ALL, FOLKS! I think he originated Woody Woodpecker, did the voices for THE FLINTSTONES, And he was truly amazing. I loved his work.

Man, kudos to you for getting from Peter Graves to Danny De Vito. Your trail was long but effective:
Peter Graves in BENEATH THE TWELVE MILE REEF with Robert Wagner.
Robert Wagner in WINNING with Paul Newman.
Paul Newman in THE COLOR OF MONEY with Tom Cruise.
Tom Cruise in A FEW GOOD MEN with Jack Nicholson.
Jack Nicholson in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST with Danny De Vito.

My route was a bit different:
Peter Graves in WAR PAINT (1953) with Robert Stack.
Robert Stack in 1941 with John Belushi.
John Belushi in GOIN SOUTH with Danny De Vito.

Now let's see, to get from Myrna Loy to Kay Medford. That is a tuff titty twister. How about:
Myrna Loy in LONELYHEARTS (1958) with Robert Ryan.
Robert Ryan in THE BUSY BODY (1967) with Kay Medford.

Now your assignment, if your nipples can tolerate it, is to get from Robert Mitchum to Roy Rogers. Actually that one would be too easy for you. I know your mind.
You would go:
Robert Mitchum in EL DORADO with John Wayne.
John Wayne in DARK COMMAND with Roy Rogers.
See, I thought it was tougher. I went:
Robert Mitchum in BAR 20 (1943) with William Boyd.
Hoppy in SILVER ON THE SAGE (1939) with Gabby Hayes.
George "Gabby" Hayes in RED RIVER VALLEY (1941) with Roy Rogers.

So, your new assignment will be to get from Edward Everett Horton to Marilyn Monroe.

That's All Folks! Glennjack Rabbitwilson.

Mick wrote:

Laugh Curtin my boy to keep yourself from going insane, wev'e just been played a trick on by mother nature, fate or whatever you want to call it. This joke was a good one, nine months of toil and sweat this one was a good laugh on us! What now Howard? Your young yet Curtin, enough time to make two or three fortunes, I'm set for the rest of my born days with three square meals a day, a little tequilla when I want it, I'll be treated as there medicine man. Yes, medicine men are born not made. Curtin you can have my share of the goods we have left, why not go to Texas and see Cody's widow, peaches will be in bloom and a new life for you Curtin!
Dobsy was the unfortunate one who only found Gold Fever while the other two found a different sort of treasure. That's why I like that movie so much because no man would know if he was the one to get bit and come down with that insidious malady?

Yes it was George Raft who was first cast as Rick. I don't know who was cast as Ilsa but no woman could have topped Bergman. Dooey Wilson played Sam who was no piano player and play it again Sam never was the real line but just like a John Fordism, if the legend grows bigger than the fact, print the legend! I don't know who made the sex comment but I wish it was attached to me.

I believe the two cast for Duke Mantee would have been Eddie Robinson or Jimmy Gagney. I had heard that one of the reasons Bogie got the part was his good friend, Leslie Howards nepotism, and his remarkable resemblance to the real John Dillinger. Bogies performance was so convinceing and powerful that they left the theatre scared because the real Dillinger was still on the loose. When the real Dillinger walked out of the theatre with the infamous Lady in Red on his arm, signaling Melvin Purvis and the other two G-men and was gunned down there in Chicago, what was the name of the movie they had just watched and the name of the movie theatre. Ever since I've been a little yonker I heard that Dillinger had a ridiculous oversized donkey dick and numerous stories related to it, have you heard the same?

I think Bogies two nominations were for Casablanca and Treasure. I had read a Bogie bio years ago and can't remember the name of his yacht, his cigs were unfiltered Camels, although Chesterfield and Pall Mall may have been his brand. I also read an article that had the picture heading of Bogies movie millieu with the cheap room, Bogie looking into a mirror with the drink and the ash tray with the pack of )(*&&^%$ cigs. I would guess that Cagney was the original pick for High Sierra and thinking about cyber links, how great was the editing and camera work in Dead men don't wear plaid in which good old Bogie aka Raymond Chandler was the featured performer, just remember: guns don't kill detectives, love does. That was a great Carl Reiner, Steve Martin spoof on the detective film noir of the 30's & 40's. Martin does the best "Jerk" films.

I'm sorry about the way I phrased the Cisco Kid question so you get a big Kudo that you do on Duncan Renaldo. What was the name of Ciscos horse?

Okay, Panchos too. I believe Alan Ladd was his real name and Van Heflins monicker was something Heflin.
Elisha Cook Jrs. name was "Stonewall", who to me was one of those actors with crazy eyes like Donald Pleasance and Karl Malden when he worked himself into a fit like Frenchy in Hanging Tree, Dad Longworth in one eyed jacks and Fitch in Nevada Smith. I loved it when Ben Johnson, to me, immortalized the phrase "no good sod buster." I don't know who was cast before Jean Arthur. Jack Palance was one of the legion of actors who did not like to work with horses. I heard Lorne Green was one of the worst and you only saw him with his horse walking or he was sitting on the beast in Bonanza.

I heard Johnny Carson say on his show that you would not believe the amount of actors who liked the paycheck but not the acting. Did you ever run into that? Good job on our Gypsie woman with the marbles in her mouth. I've heard the name Rodd Redwing who did the stunt shooting and teaching to many a big stars even to guys who didn't do westerns like Sammy Davis and Jerry Lewis. I believe he was the one who trained Coburn in the knife throwing scene in The Magnificent Seven. Okay, who killed Roger Rabbit? Give me a ball park figure on how many voices Mel Blanc did for the Disney and WB cartoons. The man was absolutely amazing!
Oh, the pain of the trivia torque:
Peter Graves was in Beneath the Twelve Mile Reef with Robert Wagner,
Wagner was in Winning with Paul Newman,
Paul was in The Color of Money with Tom Cruise,
Tom was in A Few Good Men with Jack Nicholson,
Jack was in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest with the diminutive Danny De Vito.
Your assignment Mr Phelps, if you decide to accept it is to connect Myrna Loy with Kay Medford, how's that for a tittie twister?

Regards: As always, your most humble and obedient servant, the Manumissioned Mick!