tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post2092500500776440686..comments2024-02-05T21:23:49.249-08:00Comments on Lady Eve's Reel Life: VERTIGO, the Bit PlayersThe Lady Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-11959423716264094922012-02-03T10:29:20.783-08:002012-02-03T10:29:20.783-08:00A wonderful piece of film writing. I'm sure I&...A wonderful piece of film writing. I'm sure I'm not the only fan who can barely stand to watch this movie, and always wish it could end with the neon gauze shot. How happy he was, and how willingly he flung himself into absolute madness. Wouldn't we all. <br /><br />I'll cavil about Hitchcock's famous attention to detail: in the fatal drive to SJC, look at the projection through the car's, er, rear window. Hitchcock was English. Scotty drives the whole way on the wrong side of the road!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-83071862259511864342012-01-26T06:14:03.270-08:002012-01-26T06:14:03.270-08:00How fun that you included the cars, in your awesom...How fun that you included the cars, in your awesome post. I also love the cars featured in "Vertigo".Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476174860119487509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-27877478550446933112012-01-24T19:26:31.125-08:002012-01-24T19:26:31.125-08:00Nice collection of character actors. Henry Jones a...Nice collection of character actors. Henry Jones and Ellen Corby are special favorites of mine.John Greconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-827612124128040382012-01-23T13:38:43.177-08:002012-01-23T13:38:43.177-08:00Loved this post, Eve. I am so fond of the characte...Loved this post, Eve. I am so fond of the character actors of yesteryear. They had faces then...<br /><br />I must say though, as much as I adore MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, I don't remember Ellen Corby in it. It must have been a tiny role....Wait, wait, was she the orphanage person near the end?<br /><br />I also love Lee Patrick in anything. Occasionally I would get her mixed up with Billie Burke early on, but not later.<br /><br />Henry Jones ALWAYS will be that slimy character in THE BAD SEED. Ugh.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-11581184013317890702012-01-23T09:36:03.972-08:002012-01-23T09:36:03.972-08:00Allen:
I agree with your comment that back in the...Allen:<br /><br />I agree with your comment that back in the 50's it was easy to identify the auto makers of each car - they tended to have a signature look and now there is a real generic quality to almost all the models. Your comment that "newer cars look more like jelly beans" is amusing - in my case, I find myself thinking of lozenges. I love the cars of "Vertigo"<br /><br />Eve:<br /><br />Yes, Henry Jone's character, Leroy, did end up Patty McCormack's victim in "The Bad Seed". By taunting the murderous moppet he was playing with fire so it was indeed fitting that his payback was to be burned alive.Motorcycle Boynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-56238161854202038672012-01-23T06:54:47.095-08:002012-01-23T06:54:47.095-08:00Thanks to all who read my post and for the wonderf...Thanks to all who read my post and for the wonderful compliments. Most of all, thanks to Eve for putting this Month of Vertigo together with so many great writers. It is increasing my appreciation for the movie, and I can't wait to watch it again!<br /><br />Just a quick note about the DeSoto. You are correct, Eve, it is a badge engineered version of the Chrysler New Yorker. The two look very similar. Back in the 1050s it was easy to know which major auto maker made which car. Newer cars look more like jelly beans.<br /><br />For more on cars in the movies, go to www.imcdb.org, then pick your car from the listing to see what movies feature that marque.Allen Hefnerhttp://bitactors.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-77940792049562045692012-01-22T22:27:44.862-08:002012-01-22T22:27:44.862-08:00Allen, I liked reading the background info you pro...Allen, I liked reading the background info you provide for the bit players in Vertigo. You always have such good tidbits.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-29810716957592438972012-01-22T22:27:35.094-08:002012-01-22T22:27:35.094-08:00Allen - This is such an enjoyable and information-...Allen - This is such an enjoyable and information-filled post. You give full due to some very deserving supporting players. Not to mention the cars that were so well matched to their owners. For some reason I'd always thought Scottie drove a Chrysler - but Chrysler Corp. also made the DeSoto so I must've been confused by the "sibling" resemblance.<br /><br />Henry Jones turned in an amazing few minutes in "Vertigo" - truly memorable. The other movie role I'll always remember him for is as the hapless handyman in "The Bad Seed" - I believe he ended up one of the little girl's victims.<br /><br />And - I just recently discovered that Konstantin Shayne (Pop Leibel) was married to Leopoldine Konstantin, the actress who portrayed Madame Sebastian - Claude Rains' mother, in "Notorious" (it was her only American film - and what a performance!).<br /><br />Regardless of Hitchcock's views on actors (I suspect the "cattle" comment was a joke), he had a very sure instinct when casting his films.<br /><br />Great work on behalf of the often unappreciated, Allen, and thanks for being part of "A Month of VERTIGO."The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-91340411940934436262012-01-22T15:51:10.110-08:002012-01-22T15:51:10.110-08:00A great article and great information. I love lear...A great article and great information. I love learning about underrecognized actors and I am glad this article covered them extensively and their contributions to Vertigo.hepclassichttp://fan.tcm.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=7681590&as=66470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-64168253733056096202012-01-22T14:24:23.902-08:002012-01-22T14:24:23.902-08:00Terrific addition to this series, Allan! It goes t...Terrific addition to this series, Allan! It goes to show you that the old show biz adage is true: "There are no small parts, only small actors." Henry Jones sly delivery gave that courtroom scene the punch it needed and loved seeing "Grandma Walton" doddering around behind the desk. And we never DID find out why she didn't see Madeline/Carlotta, now, did we? Mmmmmmmmmmmm...nice touch, Hitch! Thanks again, Allan.Marlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04442632575933706511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-36163572756558960862012-01-22T13:28:37.763-08:002012-01-22T13:28:37.763-08:00Allan, an amusing and fascinating contribution to ...Allan, an amusing and fascinating contribution to “A Month Of Vertigo,” which is developing into the definitive tribute to a career defining film. Your background information brings a new appreciation for the lesser known individuals who fleshed out Scottie’s world. I recognized many of the faces from glimpses caught in classic films and television, too few of them I could match with a name. Your background information not only put careers of several decades in context, but also undescored the character’s importance to Scottie’s mysterious and obsessive journey. Your choice to highlight the vehicles used is simply inspired; I’m fascinated by these period details in films. The difference between Scottie’s DeSoto and Madeleine’s Jaguar is as significant as the difference between Madeine’s Jaguar and Midge’s Karmann Ghia (I had a crush on a boy in high school who drove a burgundy K-G, and the car always brings back bittersweet and wistful memories). Thank you for your revealing glimpse into the careers of men and women we know mainly for their very recognizable faces.whistlingypsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06126688373252306609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-11978181027877060552012-01-22T13:15:49.446-08:002012-01-22T13:15:49.446-08:00A wonderful and unique addition to the event. Love...A wonderful and unique addition to the event. Love the inclusion of the cars!Classicfilmboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01278928051994100842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-14922770583887651602012-01-22T11:52:39.159-08:002012-01-22T11:52:39.159-08:00Now this is an article someone could really sink t...Now this is an article someone could really sink their teeth into! This is a treasure trove of trivia facts! I loved reading about everyone listed and have always wondered who these people were while watching Vertigo (particularly Ellen Corby and Lee Patrick). Thank you so much for shedding the light on these people. They really do deserve credit for making Vertigo what it is today. I found it very interesting about Lee Patrick's part in The Maltese Falcon, and its "sequel" The Black Bird (a film I did not know existed, but am interested in seeing - despite the lack of acclaim).<br /><br />Your article is incredibly entertaining and well written. It was a pleasure to read. I love your inclusion of the cars and your opinion on why they purchased them. Thanks for sharing, I feel the saying is true: You Learn Something New Everyday.<br /><br />I cannot wait to share my Vertigo Vlog with you. :D<br /><br />- Brandon Kyle The Cinephile (@bkthecinephile)Beatlebrandonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16003409576171128178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-85667622665802331832012-01-22T10:59:50.195-08:002012-01-22T10:59:50.195-08:00I really love this post - so informative! I have w...I really love this post - so informative! I have watched this movie so many times that these folks are so well known to me by sight. Thank you for putting a name to the face (and the fender).FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-31845485843449426812012-01-22T10:44:14.913-08:002012-01-22T10:44:14.913-08:00Allan, a really fun and informative post. Some of ...Allan, a really fun and informative post. Some of the better-known actors you cover I was aware of by name, but most of them I wasn't, although reading your post, I realized I must have seen them in the movies you named. For example, I just watched "The Stranger" last week so must have seen Konstantin Shayne. I keep seeing Ellen Corby all over the place in small, uncredited roles, especially in movies of the 40s. When I saw Raymond Bailey's name in the cast, I said, "Aha, Mr. Drysdale" and started looking for him, although it took a long time for him to show up. I once read an article in a film magazine about the 10 best 5-minute performances in movies, and Henry Jones's turn in "Vertigo" as the coroner was one of them. (Another from a Hitchcock movie was Leo G. Carroll as the abortionist in "Rebecca.") I go along with everyone else and say how much I enjoyed your inclusion of the cars as bit players. They were, especially in that long, wordless sequence where Scottie in his DeSoto follows Madeleine in her Jag.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-57802185241696879882012-01-22T07:36:43.740-08:002012-01-22T07:36:43.740-08:00This was a fun entry. Interesting how the faces o...This was a fun entry. Interesting how the faces of these actors (if not their names) often become bit players in our own subconscious. In my case, I saw most of these people in films and television so frequently as a child that their familiarity connects me to them immediately. An actor like Henry Jones had his own kind of charisma, even when in a small part (Strother Martin had a similar ability to hold your attention on screen - sometimes even stealing scenes). For me Jones's most memorable part was as the creepy Leroy, the knowing nemesis of Patty McCormack's twisted central character in "The Bad Seed". The cars in "Vertigo" are not only cool artifacts of the period but the focus of our attention as we follow the character's through the winding streets of San Francisco, and deeper into the story. There are many elements that contribute to a memorable film.Motorcycle Boynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-4668574152481242922012-01-22T06:06:43.040-08:002012-01-22T06:06:43.040-08:00I love that you included the cars. I've alway...I love that you included the cars. I've always wondered about the models they were driving.<br /><br />Really enjoying this terrific series.Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.com