Movie Profiles & Premiums Volume 3, Number 11.  May 31, 2005
Brought to you by things-and-other-stuff

Have the Profiles & Premiums Newsletter Delivered to You by E-Mail

FIRST REEL: 
It felt like May rushed by until I sat down to work on this and it occurred to me that it's been awhile since the last issue.  Time to brainstorm and see if I can recall all of the changes during the past month relating to the site.

First the Catalog movie is just about complete.  I'd say about 90-95% of the items that I have prepared listings for have now been moved to the eBay store.  Many prices have been lowered from original prices in the Marketworks Catalog.  If you're interested in shopping here's the new catalog link: ebay Store.

I believe that the home page redesign has taken place since our last issue.  I'm very pleased with it, I'm no expert but I think I put together an eye-pleasing and quicker loading page using my web editing software (Front Page 2002 to the curious).  Here's the home page: http://www.things-and-other-stuff.com. 

I mentioned the Auction Notes Supplement to this Newsletter last issue.  The Supplement contains nothing but quick notes and a few images of items for sale during the coming week on eBay.  I send it out weekly, Saturday or Sunday.  If you're not receiving it and would like to, please send me a request at things@things-and-other-stuff.com.  Please refer to "Auction Notes," even place it in the subject line if you can.  I also made a page on the site which shows a sample of one of the early issues (format has changed ever so slightly since then), here's a link to that:  Auction Notes Sample.

We have added a link to a Forum on the home page.  I tried this out myself once a few years ago with little response, so Carly Svamvour, who contributes our Crossword Puzzles each issue, has graciously opened up a spot for us on her Boards to chat about movies.  This particular forum category was originally dedicated solely to books, but Carly and her husband, Jeff, have modified it to "Books & Movies" and invited you in if you please.  Carly is particularly interested in discussing Movies adapted from Books, but I believe it's fine to discuss other vintage movies over there as well.  I've started a topic on the classic "Dinner at Eight" that has already generated some conversation with Jeff and has morphed into a James Cagney discussion.  Come on over!

Again, no more detailed descriptions of current auction items in this newsletter, as that is the purpose of the Auction Notes Supplement, but I do want to provide you with the following links each issue:

All eBay Auctions

eBay Store

On to our show, in summary, here are the opening credits... 

1. June Ladies, A Crossword Puzzle by Carly Svamvour
2. Solution to May Babies, A Crossword Puzzle by Carly Svamvour
3. Janet Gaynor by Gina LoBiondo
4. Photo ID Guide: circa 1922 Color Tobacco Cards (U.K.)
5. The Garden of Eden: A Review by Diana Savage
6. The Silent Collection featuring Gertrude McCoy by Tammy Stone

Our previously mentioned forum operator, Carly Svamvour, returns with her latest Crossword, June Ladies, and we make available the solution to last issue's May Babies puzzle (it's been quite a wait for some of you!).  I want to draw special attention to the Janet Gaynor piece.  I really enjoyed this one, submitted by Gina LoBiondo (a first-time contributor) relating how Janet Gaynor affected Gina's life and sharing a bit of correspondence with us.  This is a shortened piece from a longer 25-page memoir Gina has available, though it is quite long from what we're used to.  Gina first published this piece in The Silent Film Annual, Vol. VIII, 2000.  Following that, I have made up a new Photo ID Guide covering a set of the most beautiful tobacco cards I've yet to come across.  Diana Savage is back with another review, this time it's 1928's The Garden of Eden which starred Corinne Griffith and Charles Ray.  Finally, Ms. Reliable, Tammy Stone finishes things off with the latest edition of The Silent Collection, this issue featuring Gertrude McCoy.

I've been stalling completion of this issue tonight because I wanted to include new slide shows featuring Janet Gaynor and Gertrude McCoy.  Unfortunately this is going to have to wait (probably until the weekend now) as my image host is taking care of some maintenance issues right now.  Thanks for the great timing guys!  Anyway, the templates for the page are complete, if you'd like to check back later here are the links: Janet Gaynor and Gertrude McCoy.  I wanted to set up the template pages for you because that way I know I'll get around to completing the slide shows sooner rather than later.  I hate when projects slip away!

Spencer Shannon is back with another Top 10 list.  This time it's War Movies in honor of yesterday's holiday, Memorial Day.  Feel free to reply with your own list of War Movies or any other list you'd like to send.  Write to things@things-and-other-stuff.com.  Without further ado...

By Spencer Shannon-(AFI member/Variety's "Oscar-0racle!")
My personal top 10 all-time War Movies:
(* denotes Oscar winner)

1) "Apocalypse Now" (1979) NOTE: PREMIERE Magazine, also voted this the greatest in an early 1990's survey. It's reputation has gained with time.
2) "Saving Pvt. Ryan" (1998) Spielberg's somewhat follow-up to his tremendous *"Schindler's List". & like that masterpiece, this has some astonishing sequences! Plus, the '98 Oscars are considered a complete rip-off, in this losing the biggie to *"Shakespeare in Love?"
*3) "The Deer Hunter" (1978)  Swept the 1978 Academy Awards & ironically *John Wayne presented the Best Picture winner.  His '68 "Green Berets" on same war in Vietnam is considered awful by most. The Duke's final public appearance, at only about 170lbs ravaged by cancer, he only lived another 2 months.
*4) "Platoon" (!986) Oscar sweeper of '86 and widely ranked as the most accurate film on same above war to it's date.  
5) "The Great Escape" (1963)  Some may rate this more of an Adventure film. In any case, tremendous movie-making & contains 1 of the most legendary music-scores ever!  Ridiculously only 1 nom. for Editing? Based on a true story.
*6) "From Here to Eternity" (1953) (Columbia) Yet another war pic. to sweep it's Oscar year & big time, with 8 Academy Awards.  
7) "Paths of Glory" (1957) (UA)  The main movie to put Kubrick on the map. Although completely ignored by Hollywood/AMPAS when nomination time came around?  PS: See the great 1980 Aussie war-film: "Breaker Morant" It virtually has same storyline.  
8) "Battleground" (1949) (M-G-M)  Most WWII vets rate this, "Pvt. Ryan" & 1945's "Story of G.I. Joe" as most realistic of WWII.  
9) "The Longest Day" (1962)  Mammoth production on 1944 Normandy Invasion. Though not as realistic/graphic as "Pvt. Ryan" still a great movie.
10) "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957) (Columbia)  *David Lean's 1st big OSCAR sweeper & ironically it shoulda' been in competition with aforementioned Kubrick film.  However, still a grand film!  Winner of 7 overall & also loosely based on a true incident)

As usual, Spence thanks you all and asks for my own list of War Movies.  Hmm, not my favorite genre, so I'm going to decline the request for a list and just jot down some honorable mentions: "Gone With the Wind" (1939), "Sergeant York" (1941), "Hell's Angels" (1930), "Wings" (1927), "The Big Parade" (1929) starring John Gilbert, Eisenstein's "Battleship Potemkin" (1925), and then a couple of my personal favorites just to mention the film titles: "To Be or Not to Be" (1942) How they got away with making a comedy about Hitler during World War II I'll never know, but it really works!  I can't recall but I think this made my Comedies list last month too! And "Desparate Journey" (1942) with Ronald Reagan acting goofy and Errol Flynn acting quite serious.

There you go, and here we go into the time tunnel:
#
June Ladies, A Crossword Puzzle
 By Carly Svamvour
 Click the link above to print out the puzzle and complete at your leisure.  Following immediately below is the solution to the puzzle from last issue.  The solution to June Ladies will be available in our next issue.
#
 SOLUTION to last issue's "May Babies" Crossword Puzzle
#
 Carly Svamvour is a writer who makes her home in the west end of Toronto, Canada. She has published her poems, short prose pieces and puzzles in many places throughout Canada and the U. S. A. She is currently working on her photo-journals with an eye to success at being a travel writer. See more of Carly at Wild City Times - click here for the magazine and online writing workshop.
#
 Janet Gaynor: "Star, Legend, Friend & Faerie God-Mother"
By Gina LoBiondo
Unless you're a die-hard movie buff or are over the age of fifty, many folks today have no idea who Janet Gaynor was.  She was a Star in the truest sense of the word, but for me, personally, she was much, much more than that.  She was my friend, teacher and the greatest influence on my life of anyone I've ever known.  This is our story.
#
This is just a teaser--check out Gina's entire column with pictures!
#
 Gina LoBiondo offers a 25-page expanded memoir about her friendship with Janet Gaynor.  To own a copy send $5 to cover costs to: Gina Lo Biondo, 105 Green Briar Lane, Havertown, PA 19083-2833.
#
 Photo ID Guide:
Circa 1922 Color Tobacco Cards from the U.K.
Click the link above for images & details!
A colorful and early British Tobacco set featuring many big American stars such as Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand, Constance & Norma Talmadge, Tom Mix, William S. Hart and several others.  More information and a 22-image slide show are featured on the Photo ID Page.
#
The Garden of Eden
A Review by Diana Savage
 Balance, that was the first word that came to mind after watching this film. “The Garden of Eden” (referred to as GoE from this point forward) provided a good balance between the serious, romantic, and comic. GoE was nicely balanced between melodrama and dramatic, a rare balance in any era. The film is carefully setup as a serious film and the comedy slowly and unobtrusively creeps in, without turning silly, at least so the conscious mind notices. GoE is not a classic, but is a good solid film better than most films and well worth watching multiple times.
#
This is just a teaser--check out Diana's entire column with pictures!
#
 Diana Savage is a silent film buff and collector of early film collectibles.  The Garden of Eden is Diana's third submission in as many issues to this newsletter.
#
 The Silent Collection by Tammy Stone
 Gertrude McCoy
 For every silent film star that has become legendary if not iconic in the ensuing decades, there are hundreds who worked tirelessly in the industry for years, doing bit roles and even many starring ones while remaining off the radar of movie stardom. Gertrude McCoy is one of these hard-working actresses. She made endless films in the early silent years before fading into obscurity a year before the first talkie was made, and it’s through actresses like her that we can trace the inner workings of the new and growing medium of moving pictures.

This is just a teaser--check out Tammy's entire column with pictures!
#
Tammy Stone is a freelance writer and journalist based in Toronto. Watch for her regular column on the greats of the Silent Screen here in each and every issue of ASTOS.  Tammy invites you to write her at tammystone444@yahoo.ca with any questions or comments on her column.
#
End Credits:
Well, we're going to keep it monthly for a little while now, at least through the summer.  So for now plan on June 30, July 31, August 31 issues and then I'll see how it goes for September when planning, perhaps back to two issues then.  It's amazing, I keep having these great ideas to save me time but somehow I end up with less every time I implement something new.  Oh well, I love doing this stuff, so I won't complain--talk to you all June 30 or later this weekend for Auction Notes subscribers, thanks!

As always feel free to e-mail any thoughts or ideas to us at things@things-and-other-stuff.com, we're always willing to listen. 
#
 Unsubscribe simply by sending a blank e-mail to: things-and-other-stuff-unsubscribe@topica.com


 

All text and photos on the site ©2002-07 things-and-other-stuff
 things@things-and-other-stuff.com