tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post134978025348409933..comments2024-03-24T04:12:24.783-04:00Comments on A PERSON IN THE DARK: HOLIDAY (1930): There's Something About Mary (Astor, that is)FlickChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-22642666670101446292013-05-11T20:27:10.218-04:002013-05-11T20:27:10.218-04:00Thanks for stopping by, Paul. And, as you say, if ...Thanks for stopping by, Paul. And, as you say, if Mary is there, it has to be good. She makes everything just a little bit better.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-87919543584413208362013-05-11T20:26:04.984-04:002013-05-11T20:26:04.984-04:00Thanks, Lady Eve - and get some good eye drops if ...Thanks, Lady Eve - and get some good eye drops if you try to watch this on YouTube!FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-740302800000032062013-05-11T20:25:23.586-04:002013-05-11T20:25:23.586-04:00Hi Page - yes, the billing order gives a good clue...Hi Page - yes, the billing order gives a good clue on the importance of the sister relationship.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-60908520118419808582013-05-11T16:42:44.458-04:002013-05-11T16:42:44.458-04:00I haven't seen this either, but I sure hope I ...I haven't seen this either, but I sure hope I do soon. It might not be as great, but like you said, how could it be. Astor still would be fun in this role. Thanks for the post.Lasso The Movieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03221402578681699727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-71617804613099708462013-05-10T23:21:25.232-04:002013-05-10T23:21:25.232-04:00I haven't seen this version, but Mary Astor vs...I haven't seen this version, but Mary Astor vs. Ann Harding seems lots more interesting than Hepburn vs. that other actress. I'm not a big Hepburn fan, really, but I've always liked her in "Holiday" - along with Lew Ayres and, of course (!), Cary Grant.<br /><br />Great addition to the Mary Astor blogathon, Chick. On my way now to find out more about Robert Ames at Wikipedia and check out this film on YouTube.<br /> The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-49503233411229199852013-05-10T12:51:28.217-04:002013-05-10T12:51:28.217-04:00FlickChick,
I'm quite fond of this earlier ver...FlickChick,<br />I'm quite fond of this earlier version. Being such a big fan of Cary, that says a lot. : )<br /><br />Perhaps it's seeing Harding and Astor together and the 'sisterly' chemistry they had. It was a lot of fun to watch and while Holiday is fantastic, this earlier version holds its own.<br /><br />I really enjoyed your look back at the film and your comparisons, what worked for this version. I also take not at how an actor/actress was billed in a film for some reason. It's the little things like this that have me wondering about that mysterious 'studio system'.<br /><br />Your informative reviews are always a good read and this was no exception.<br /><br />A wonderful contribution to the Blogathon.<br />PagePagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063277863578004836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-80480728204893247722013-05-10T05:48:05.668-04:002013-05-10T05:48:05.668-04:00Gee, thanks Vienna. Good luck to all of us finding...Gee, thanks Vienna. Good luck to all of us finding a respectable copy of this gem.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-25633028000902645532013-05-10T02:28:11.462-04:002013-05-10T02:28:11.462-04:00Great review and like everyone else, I would love ...Great review and like everyone else, I would love to see this version. I've only seen a couple of Ann Harding films and liked her. <br />Will now spend some time exploring your blog!Viennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06907591161822012949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-35985731298440242502013-05-09T20:52:03.480-04:002013-05-09T20:52:03.480-04:00Thanks, Gwen - I sure hope this one gets a decent ...Thanks, Gwen - I sure hope this one gets a decent release in our lifetime!FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-520510555079513932013-05-09T20:51:28.922-04:002013-05-09T20:51:28.922-04:00John - this is a great blogathon, isn't it? I,...John - this is a great blogathon, isn't it? I, too, have learned so much more about Mary Astor.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-78841156814957873952013-05-09T20:50:35.995-04:002013-05-09T20:50:35.995-04:00Elizabeth - love the reference to Singin' in t...Elizabeth - love the reference to Singin' in the Rain! Though they are polar opposites, any time you can get Mary Astor and Lina Lamont in the same sentence I'm a happy girl!FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-19854091764451621652013-05-09T20:49:11.848-04:002013-05-09T20:49:11.848-04:00Le - it seems Robert Ames was a lot more interesti...Le - it seems Robert Ames was a lot more interesting off screen than on screen!FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-41980622706713316042013-05-09T20:48:31.202-04:002013-05-09T20:48:31.202-04:00CW - yes - wait for a restored version (if they ev...CW - yes - wait for a restored version (if they ever do it). Ann Harding is a very interesting actress - very cerebral and cool. I'd like to see more of her work.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-5267806547072271892013-05-09T20:47:37.462-04:002013-05-09T20:47:37.462-04:00Dawn - I doubt it will be shown on TCM due to the ...Dawn - I doubt it will be shown on TCM due to the poor condition of the printFlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-81272986831784018542013-05-09T20:46:56.700-04:002013-05-09T20:46:56.700-04:00Sean - it was pretty hard on the eyes. I agree tha...Sean - it was pretty hard on the eyes. I agree that Johnny is not so important here (as you can tell by the actor's 4th billing). The focus really is on the siblings. If the darn thing was restored it would make a fun double feature with the later version.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-81375143430436668152013-05-09T20:44:51.132-04:002013-05-09T20:44:51.132-04:00Aubyn - yes, the DVD was really unwatchable and I ...Aubyn - yes, the DVD was really unwatchable and I almost gave up, but I wanted to soldier on for the event. I am glad I did, but this movie so needs to be restored.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-70001327032004615492013-05-08T20:29:54.197-04:002013-05-08T20:29:54.197-04:00I like the 1938 version so I am definitely going t...I like the 1938 version so I am definitely going to have to track this edition down. A shame that the DVD quality is not up to par. Thanks for the great review!Fritzi Kramerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09866805242123627398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-81089658669585812632013-05-08T15:14:15.180-04:002013-05-08T15:14:15.180-04:00As I go through the list of blogs for this maratho...As I go through the list of blogs for this marathon, I am finding out how many of Astor's films I have not seen. HOLIDAY is on that list! Enjoyed your post!John/24Frameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14719659042858962026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-38432356815301008132013-05-07T13:23:39.191-04:002013-05-07T13:23:39.191-04:00I've always liked the casting of the Kate/Car...I've always liked the casting of the Kate/Cary version. Yes, even with Doris whatsit, and Ayres' drink-induced apathy impresses me with every viewing, but after watching lots of movies with either Harding or Astor, I'm itching to see the 1930 version. Though I like Kate, I always relish seeing Ann Harding. As for our girl Mary, you've got her pegged -- 'chic, kittenish, lovable and very sexy'. (She always makes me think of that line from SINGIN' IN THE RAIN -- "She's so refined. I think I'll kill myself.")<br /><br />Sorry to hear your DVD was so pathetic. I cannot think why this has never been shown on TCM?! I'm really glad you chose to blog about this.Elizabeth Boydehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08080212336908645025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-88118500217328700592013-05-07T13:01:36.568-04:002013-05-07T13:01:36.568-04:00First, thanks for your comment in my post!
Since I...First, thanks for your comment in my post!<br />Since I love different versions of the same story, I'll look for this one and compare to the 1938 one. Now, a choice between Kate and Mary would be a very difficult one!<br />Also nice to know more about Robert Ames who, as an interesting note, was from Hartford, Connecticut, like Katharine Hepburn.<br />Kisses!Lêhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02419693749682458647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-68061276833371552412013-05-07T10:46:27.808-04:002013-05-07T10:46:27.808-04:00It's been on my wish list for such a long time...It's been on my wish list for such a long time that I guess I can wait for a decent release. The idea of Harding and Astor intrigues me and you've thrown more coal on that fire.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-4447765639415927642013-05-07T09:14:33.286-04:002013-05-07T09:14:33.286-04:00Please add me to the list of classic movie fans wa...Please add me to the list of classic movie fans wanting to see this version. I will look for it on TCM..Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09421976438809816553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-12119557849361202142013-05-06T23:46:18.079-04:002013-05-06T23:46:18.079-04:00I finally saw this on You Tube; I can only imagine...I finally saw this on You Tube; I can only imagine how the DVD must have looked like. I agree Astor was good in this (and Harding was also good, even though she was competing in my mind with Hepburn's wonderful performance), but I think the movie fell short. Johnny never makes much sense here, partly because of Ames, but also partly because of the writing. I also can't understand how Maltin could claim Monroe Owsley came off better than Lew Ayres as Ned. Finally, while I like Astor in this, as I said before, her character's change from appealing to snobbish sort of comes out of left field. Still, I enjoyed your write-up very much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-61076540004759017412013-05-06T22:28:25.659-04:002013-05-06T22:28:25.659-04:00FlickChick, I tried to watch this one on Youtube a...FlickChick, I tried to watch this one on Youtube and gave up--it looked more like a moving Rorschach test than an actual film. Glad to see that you're made of tougher stuff than I am :). I'm intrigued by the idea of Mary Astor in the sister role since, as you say, Doris Nolan is so forgettable. I've only seen one Ann Harding performance and she struck me as a cool, reserved actress. Very different from Katharine Hepburn. And I think you're right, Mary is too lovable and smart to be dismissed so easily. Nice review! Aubynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00446079492480611898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-63959326101426000312013-05-06T20:41:43.962-04:002013-05-06T20:41:43.962-04:00Silver Screenings - thanks for co-hosting. Mary ha...Silver Screenings - thanks for co-hosting. Mary had such a long career and the participants in this event are covering everything from the silents to the 50s.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.com