tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post2736153595724327754..comments2024-03-24T04:12:24.783-04:00Comments on A PERSON IN THE DARK: Bitches and Blaggards: James Mason and Jane GreerFlickChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-2150339018439301502012-05-21T22:23:37.119-04:002012-05-21T22:23:37.119-04:00Sorry. I meant Greer.Sorry. I meant Greer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-18126284507242329982012-05-21T22:21:50.629-04:002012-05-21T22:21:50.629-04:00James Mason and Jane Grier were in a film together...James Mason and Jane Grier were in a film together in which they played the bad guys; I think Greer's character even got killed. It's the 1952 version of the Prisoner of Zenda, and Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger were in the cast.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-25599069160228053522012-05-04T16:51:48.083-04:002012-05-04T16:51:48.083-04:00I didn't know much about Jane but I am glad I ...I didn't know much about Jane but I am glad I know more now.Samanthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02249267828928482104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-79379728140420504722012-05-02T12:36:12.146-04:002012-05-02T12:36:12.146-04:00Thanks so much, Becky. James was such a smoothie, ...Thanks so much, Becky. James was such a smoothie, but a rather irresistable one.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-2195397727845541622012-05-01T22:21:21.113-04:002012-05-01T22:21:21.113-04:00Where have I been, Chick? I LOVE this series. Wha...Where have I been, Chick? I LOVE this series. What a great line about Out of the Past: "The utter coolness of the sexual heat between Jane and Robert Mitchum is almost too hot to handle." Good writing, girl. And James Mason *sigh* -- what a man! I loved your comparison between him and Cary Grant: "There is nobody smoother than Mr. Grant, but James Mason, with his black heart and cultured manner, gives him a run for his money." He certainly does in that movie! <br /><br />I can't wait for Judith Anderson and Basil! Perfect fodder for this topic!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-33454531409755401702012-05-01T06:01:34.913-04:002012-05-01T06:01:34.913-04:00Thanks, Rick. It seems there isn't a man on th...Thanks, Rick. It seems there isn't a man on the planet that would not mind following Jane Greer anywhere she lead.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-11436885666216646432012-04-30T22:38:27.302-04:002012-04-30T22:38:27.302-04:00Superb choices! I'll watch anything with Jane ...Superb choices! I'll watch anything with Jane Greer or James Mason.Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-39853441249822041742012-04-30T05:43:58.471-04:002012-04-30T05:43:58.471-04:00Kim - they only thing I know about James Mason oth...Kim - they only thing I know about James Mason other than his acting is that he was a real cat lover, so he couldn't have been that much of a blaggard in real life!FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-1335568648319943632012-04-30T00:48:41.797-04:002012-04-30T00:48:41.797-04:00James Mason was definitely a blaggard-playing acto...James Mason was definitely a blaggard-playing actor. He seemed to relish playing such parts, which makes me wonder if he had a dark side outside of the celluloid world.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-77417321471226049342012-04-29T06:02:33.900-04:002012-04-29T06:02:33.900-04:00Thank you, Lady Eve. It's such a shame that Ja...Thank you, Lady Eve. It's such a shame that Jane Greer didn't get better roles, but at least we have Kathie. I almost hesitated to add James Mason to the article, as I am trying to avoid really major stars (like Barbara Stanwyck or Robert Mitchum, who could be very bad, but also had more rounded careers), but I just couldn't resist - he's so bad!FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-59633809308690452822012-04-28T21:52:18.335-04:002012-04-28T21:52:18.335-04:00FlickChick, Your description of Jane Greer nailed ...FlickChick, Your description of Jane Greer nailed her character, Kathie of the cracked-ice-heart, in "Out of the Past." Greer is the noir femme fatale to beat, in my book. I didn't realize that Howard Hughes was the blaggard behind the failure of her promising career. I've always thought Kathleen Turner in "Body Heat" was modeled on a combination of Greer in "Out of the Past" and Barbara Stanwyck in "Double Indemnity." Wasn't Eva Marie Saint a fortunate girl in "N by NW" to have both Cary Grant and James Mason mad for her? And, Mason as Humbert Humbert in "Lolita" was one of the great performances of his career, I thought. For me, he managed to elicit some sympathy for the despicable character.<br /><br />Great choices, FC, and - as ever - fabulous post.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-8852180990286723232012-04-28T19:30:43.660-04:002012-04-28T19:30:43.660-04:00Readerman - yes, the Big Steal is disappointing, b...Readerman - yes, the Big Steal is disappointing, but Jane was given so little to work with after Out of the Past. At least she got to be reunited with Mitchum one more time. That Hughes was a real life blaggard!FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-523212770643632762012-04-28T19:29:36.756-04:002012-04-28T19:29:36.756-04:00CW - ooh, James & Jane together - that would h...CW - ooh, James & Jane together - that would have to constitute a quadruple cross! I almost used 2000 Leagues as a spotlight for Mason's blaggard-ness, but there were just too many to chose from! Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to comment.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-33938393430838447042012-04-28T19:27:57.697-04:002012-04-28T19:27:57.697-04:00Thank you, Monty. I do appreciate your comment.Thank you, Monty. I do appreciate your comment.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-13461114472485650032012-04-28T19:27:36.065-04:002012-04-28T19:27:36.065-04:00Thank you, Gypsy. There were so many choices for J...Thank you, Gypsy. There were so many choices for James Mason. Pandora could certainly have been one. As for Jane Greer, there really is only one film, but what a film it is.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-59248857814472353392012-04-28T19:26:28.417-04:002012-04-28T19:26:28.417-04:00Ha ha, Monkey - you have great taste. Hey, if some...Ha ha, Monkey - you have great taste. Hey, if someone has to shoot you, it might as well be Jane Greer!FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-14530938014250240792012-04-28T18:46:08.155-04:002012-04-28T18:46:08.155-04:00Great post! Out of the Oast has to be in the handf...Great post! Out of the Oast has to be in the handful of best noirs ever made. Greer is stunning and so deliciously devious. As for her second film with Mitchum, The Big Steal, it's no noir and quite disappointing given its cast. I agree with you about Mason's voice. His, Ronald Coleman's, and Claude Rains are my favorites.readermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14487543323041619050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-33240988008888403312012-04-28T18:40:40.377-04:002012-04-28T18:40:40.377-04:00What a combination! Wouldn't it have been swe...What a combination! Wouldn't it have been swell to see Jane and James together in a picture?<br /><br />I get the biggest kick out of "The Big Steal". It took me a second viewing because I was expecting something akin go "Out of the Past" the first time. Once you let go of that, you can relax and have fun with "The Big Steal".<br /><br />The first time I ever saw Mason was in "20000 Leagues Under the Sea" (Thanks, Walt). He was intriguing and touching - and, oh, that voice.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-80327838045715323372012-04-28T16:38:17.896-04:002012-04-28T16:38:17.896-04:00Both great choices in Greer and Mason. And terrifi...Both great choices in Greer and Mason. And terrific post Marsha! Well done!montyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357464302627055092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-69575104176710640582012-04-28T16:23:04.586-04:002012-04-28T16:23:04.586-04:00Marsha, yes I do love this film; your description ...Marsha, yes I do love this film; your description of Jane Greer and Robert Mitchum as both “so beautiful your eyes hurt looking at them” is exactly what you need in a film noir. I’m convinced the legendary French film critics who invented the term “femme fatale” did so after watching Jane Greer as Kathie. Her performance, aided by Jacques Tourneur’s advice, created the quintessential woman of fatal tendencies. I agree “The Big Steal” is not quite in the same category, but as you pointed out it is a chance to see both Ramon Navarro and Don Alvarado. I don’t know if it was Howard Hughes intention, but he insured Jane Greer’s place as an alluring and enigmatic actress in the imaginations of future classic film fans. I’ve never seen “The Wicked Lady”, but your description certainly gives this film a place as inspiration for the later “bodice rippers” with titles such as “The Flame and The Flower”. I have seen “North by Northwest” but for me it is “Pandora and the Flying Dutchmen” that created the notion of James Mason as a complicated character capable of sympathetic and wicked motives. He used his, as you described it, “velvet voice” and his soulful eyes to great advantage as an actor. The combination works in much the same way as Jane Greer’s, you are captivated and by the time you learn the truth you’re lost.whistlingypsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06126688373252306609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-73410541300824065952012-04-28T15:52:38.144-04:002012-04-28T15:52:38.144-04:00Love Jane Greer. As I've said before, she'...Love Jane Greer. As I've said before, she's the only femme fatale I would let shoot me.Mythical Monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11330587602682498820noreply@blogger.com