tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33387578.post2587670991429091961..comments2024-03-04T01:29:54.082-05:00Comments on Canadian Ken On...: Revisiting PINKYCanadianKenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12240756292929779255noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33387578.post-15231270471285223842008-08-11T20:18:00.000-04:002008-08-11T20:18:00.000-04:00You want it, you got it (and thanks for asking, Ke...You want it, you got it (and thanks for asking, Ken):<BR/><BR/>http://littleblogtoo.blogspot.com/2008/08/hunting-down-laughtons-haunting-night.htmlVertigo's Psychohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17701774152300870403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33387578.post-55373195383355143362008-08-10T21:19:00.000-04:002008-08-10T21:19:00.000-04:00Vertigo's Psycho: Thanks so much for sharing. I ha...Vertigo's Psycho: Thanks so much for sharing. I had no idea footage like this existed. And you've done a wonderful job of describing it. <BR/> Making it all extremely vivid. You really ought to work this up into a full article on your blog. It'd be great. Viva Varden! (and Gish and Laughton and pretty much everything else about NIGHT OF THE HUNTER too).CanadianKenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12240756292929779255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33387578.post-3063029241000696612008-08-10T13:40:00.000-04:002008-08-10T13:40:00.000-04:00I made it to a showing of The Night of the Hunter ...I made it to a showing of <I>The Night of the Hunter</I> outtakes, and the Evelyn Varden footage revealed the performer to be a tough, consummate professional under Laughton's meticulous, controlling direction. <BR/><BR/>During one of Icey’s key speeches at the diner, Laughton (off camera) tells Varden she's coming on too strong, and needs to soften her tone. Varden looks miffed and starts to state something to the effect of "that's just the way I am," whereupon Laughton quickly shoots back, "You'll do it, though." Varden immediately launches into the scene again, giving Laughton the warmer touch the director was looking for.<BR/><BR/>Later, during the shooting of the sequence of Icey Spoon in a drunken rage after learning of the Preacher's diabolical activities, Varden is first seen proclaiming “Lynch him, him lynch” without the wonderful emphasis she gives the line in the finished film. Laughton is then heard telling Varden she really needs to nail “Lyynnncchh him” as an angry drunk would. Completely understanding what he wants, Varden transforms herself into the bitter, scary Icey we know in her final scenes of the film, and bellows the line with impressive force. Similar to the rest of the cast, Varden manages to consistently maintain her focus and give the director what he needs in a remarkable manner. <BR/><BR/>On a lighter note, one of the highlights of the evening was watching how Varden worked perfectly with Laughton on Icey’s speech at the picnic, wherein she tells a group of her friends sex in a marriage counts for zilch. Laughton sets the tone at the outset of the scene by stating in deadpan fashion, “Girls, men are disgusting, except for Mitchum.” Varden then launches into her speech in fine form, leading up to Icey’s “I’ve been married to Walt for forty years, and in all that time I just lie there thinking about my canning” punchline. The line is a guaranteed laugh-getter, but Varden really got the audience howling with the wry, knowing look she throws to the camera immediately after she finishes the line and the take is over. Guess Varden knew the score with men off-screen, too.Vertigo's Psychohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17701774152300870403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33387578.post-34347386264749452912008-07-27T21:51:00.000-04:002008-07-27T21:51:00.000-04:00Glad you were able to check out my latest post. An...Glad you were able to check out my latest post. And that you share some of my admiration for Jeanne Crain's heartfelt work in PINKY. Crain's grand-daughter maintains a website that includes some intriguing vignettes about the actress'later life. I believe the site also contains samples of Jeanne Crain's artwork. Apparently, she was an avid painter.<BR/><BR/>Here's the url:<BR/><BR/>http://www.jeannecrain.org/stories.htmlCanadianKenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12240756292929779255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33387578.post-28881992108748670372008-07-27T14:22:00.000-04:002008-07-27T14:22:00.000-04:00Great, thorough examination of Jeanne Crain's fine...Great, thorough examination of Jeanne Crain's fine work. I've always liked her warm presence in films, and thought she deserved more credit as a performer than she received. With good acting in <I>Letter</I> also to her credit, 1949 was definitely her peak as a star. <BR/><BR/>"As usual she's the old lady who lives in the mansion"- ha.Vertigo's Psychohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17701774152300870403noreply@blogger.com