Won't you come in and take a Tea Time for a Coffee Break at my House of CINEMA COFFEE?
As I've been counting down the weeks to Halloween with films that were traditional watches #ForMyMom and I, so far having shared ARSENIC AND OLD LACE and INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE for these past two weeks editions, this week I'm taking a Tea Time for a Coffee Break myself, in sharing Films turned Radio ... Old Time Radio.
As I've been counting down the weeks to Halloween with films that were traditional watches #ForMyMom and I, so far having shared ARSENIC AND OLD LACE and INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE for these past two weeks editions, this week I'm taking a Tea Time for a Coffee Break myself, in sharing Films turned Radio ... Old Time Radio.
For any Classic Film watchers who are also Old Time Radio listeners, you may feel as though I do, be it on screen or on the box (or rather app) both mediums are a welcomed delight to the eyes, ears, and your favorite Coffee Mug ...
... I cannot count how many times I've listened to Old-Time Radio Programs in my spare time, late night listens, or while working on a project. Almost as often as my Classic Film watching career. Almost. My introduction to Old Time Radio was by way of a gift from my dad, early on when I was growing up, as a box set (when CD's were "the thing") which introduced me into a world of a Ventriloquist with a rather human personality of carved wood, Baseball Players like "Who, What, and I Don't Know," and a singing P.I. or as we liked to call him The Shamus, Richard Diamond. The latter being a daily never miss listen for my mom and I during the Morning hours before life began or to take a break from it during the course of the day in the more recent years.
Sunday Mornings were too dedicated to Old Time Radio listening through my apps as my mom and I would make homemade biscuits or pancakes amongst other breakfast goodies for (as my mom called us) her "little family." In the background of bacon, eggs, sausage and ... *inhales deeply* ... coffee brewing, the SUSPENSE, LUX, SCREEN GUILD THEATER, or HOLLYWOOD PLAYHOUSE would take Center Stage before it was time for PEOPLE ARE FUNNY followed by YOU BET YOUR LIFE which were our "go to" fun listens.
During those Sunday mornings, paired with my frequent throughout the day daily OTR listens on my own, the broader my horizon stretched from Cinema to Broadcast. The expansion was unlimited. Through each listen, a collection of some outstanding performances began to mount. Some never leaving my thoughts after listening, carrying me through time. |
Like a good film, some radio adaptations, you never forget.
Herein lies the part where your Coffee (or Chai) comes in. Below I have gathered some of those Old-Time Radio broadcast links from across the apps and internet, featuring some of our favorite Classic Films turned Radio. Be it with the stars of the film version reprising their roles, or another leading actor "in place of" as the leading character(s). When listened to at just the right time of night, some of these will place a fright in your bones while listening just as much, if not more so, than the film itself. I'm speaking to you, and "all those wonderful people out there in the dark." Okay, had to throw in a lil Norma Desmond there.
For starters, have to give a round of applause to TCM and Robert Osborne (I know, I know, I mention him in my Cinema Coffee's almost every week. But for me, he was the Frank Sinatra of Classic Cinema Hosting. The real 'Chairman of the Board' when it came to talking Classic Films. So can you blame me?) as it was through my obsessive TCM watching of Robert Osborne, THE UNINVITED (1944) was introduced when it received its Premiere showing on TCM one night several years ago.
A showing that also exposed me to Victor Young's theme score for the film, "Stella By Starlight," which I grew to love through any variation of plays, be it by Nat King Cole, Miles Davis or sung by Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald. Which should be no surprise as the name Stella holds a heavy weight with my mom and I (being our nicknames for one another "Stella" and "Blanche" from A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE).
THE UNINVITED, starring an Actor (with a capital "A") I still don't believe gets his share of praise as an actor outside of THE LOST WEEKEND (1945) ... Ray Milland. Please don't misunderstand, I love Ray Milland in THE LOST WEEKEND, and thought he gave a wonderful performance, but his acting ability, for me, spreads far and wide in a range it seems that Hollywood did not appreciate quite as well as some of this generations Classic Film Fans do. If you're not too familiar with Milland outside of THE LOST WEEKEND, I'll be happy to recommend some RM watches for you. Just let me know, and I'll give you a list. THE UNINVITED being among them.
UPDATE:
As promised, after buying the Criterion release of THE UNINVITED (1944), I'm updating my CINEMA COFFEE piece I had previously written for the Fall season to pay tribute to this traditional watch my mom and I would enjoy every year for Halloween, after Robert Osborne introduced us to the film as a "Bob's Picks" selection during its premiere primetime showing on TCM.
I find the best way to update this piece is to place it inside the write-up. Right here!
For starters, if you're new, I don't do spoilers! If you're not, you are familiar with my policy. So, when asked by someone who had not stumbled upon this film but was interested to watch -- the new cover alone is enough to draw curiosity -- the best description I could give was, it has a REBECCA (1940) esque flavor to it.
I have to start my update with Ray Milland. After watching the extras included on the Criterion release, I applauded the section dedicated to Milland, and how underrated he was and, in most part, at least in my opinion, still is. Unless you talk about THE LOST WEEKEND (1945), most people are (lost), when you want to discuss the rest of his career and filmography (THE BIG CLOCK (1948), BULLDOG DRUMMOND ESCAPES (1937), MINISTRY OF FEAR (1944), THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR (1942), CLOSE TO MY HEART (1951), ALIAS NICK BEAL (1949), KITTY (1945), THE DOCTOR TAKES A WIFE (1940), SKYLARK (1941), I WANTED WINGS (1941), THE THIEF (1952), DIAL M FOR MURDER (1954), IT HAPPENS EVERY SPRING (1949), CRYSTAL BALL (1943), EASY LIVING (1937), THE GLASS KEY (1935), IRENE (1940), NIGHT INTO MORNING (1951), RHUBARB (1951), THE LADY HAS PLANS (1942), THE BACHELOR FATHER (1931), CALIFORNIA (1947) … and there are still more I could recommend you to watch … quite a hand full more, two hands full). And no, I don't have anything against his Oscar winning role, but 9 out of 10, when I post about Milland's work, I deliberately leave off THE LOST WEEKEND, to try and highlight, showcase, and make aware some of his other gems and performances, particularly the aforementioned. THE UNINVITED being one of them.
Any yet, you'd be surprised how many people still make snobby comments on how you "forgot THE LOST WEEKEND," "Don't forget THE LOST WEEKEND!" No, I didn't forget. If you read my entire post (which seems to be a fading action) instead of just being ready to comment of a piece of what's written, you'd see I start by saying, "Aside from THE LOST WEEKEND …" … Whew! I've said my piece and counted to three.
As promised, after buying the Criterion release of THE UNINVITED (1944), I'm updating my CINEMA COFFEE piece I had previously written for the Fall season to pay tribute to this traditional watch my mom and I would enjoy every year for Halloween, after Robert Osborne introduced us to the film as a "Bob's Picks" selection during its premiere primetime showing on TCM.
I find the best way to update this piece is to place it inside the write-up. Right here!
For starters, if you're new, I don't do spoilers! If you're not, you are familiar with my policy. So, when asked by someone who had not stumbled upon this film but was interested to watch -- the new cover alone is enough to draw curiosity -- the best description I could give was, it has a REBECCA (1940) esque flavor to it.
I have to start my update with Ray Milland. After watching the extras included on the Criterion release, I applauded the section dedicated to Milland, and how underrated he was and, in most part, at least in my opinion, still is. Unless you talk about THE LOST WEEKEND (1945), most people are (lost), when you want to discuss the rest of his career and filmography (THE BIG CLOCK (1948), BULLDOG DRUMMOND ESCAPES (1937), MINISTRY OF FEAR (1944), THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR (1942), CLOSE TO MY HEART (1951), ALIAS NICK BEAL (1949), KITTY (1945), THE DOCTOR TAKES A WIFE (1940), SKYLARK (1941), I WANTED WINGS (1941), THE THIEF (1952), DIAL M FOR MURDER (1954), IT HAPPENS EVERY SPRING (1949), CRYSTAL BALL (1943), EASY LIVING (1937), THE GLASS KEY (1935), IRENE (1940), NIGHT INTO MORNING (1951), RHUBARB (1951), THE LADY HAS PLANS (1942), THE BACHELOR FATHER (1931), CALIFORNIA (1947) … and there are still more I could recommend you to watch … quite a hand full more, two hands full). And no, I don't have anything against his Oscar winning role, but 9 out of 10, when I post about Milland's work, I deliberately leave off THE LOST WEEKEND, to try and highlight, showcase, and make aware some of his other gems and performances, particularly the aforementioned. THE UNINVITED being one of them.
Any yet, you'd be surprised how many people still make snobby comments on how you "forgot THE LOST WEEKEND," "Don't forget THE LOST WEEKEND!" No, I didn't forget. If you read my entire post (which seems to be a fading action) instead of just being ready to comment of a piece of what's written, you'd see I start by saying, "Aside from THE LOST WEEKEND …" … Whew! I've said my piece and counted to three.
Though some people may find it a bit curious as to how Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey are brother and sister, I wouldn't waste too much time trying to overthink this. As you'll be taking valuable time away from following the story and keeping up with the plot. The house Pam and Rick (Ruth Hussey and Ray Milland) move into on impulse (encouraged by "Pam"), known as Windward House. Stumbled upon one bright day in 1937, by the two Londoners, in turn by way of their dog, while walking through the countryside on holiday, is a house with its own history. And continues to become … crowded with … two's company, four's a crowd. Or rather five's a crowd if you count faithful, though scared to fright, Lizzy Flynn, the family housekeeper brought up to live in the house with and by Pam and Rick. Which through her fright, turns back to the crowded four again ...
And really, as for the Ruth Hussey and Ray Milland as sister and brother, you don't have time to worry about such details. Not only do the -- er -- occupants demand your time, so does the love story underneath. Or, quite possibly, not quite so underneath. Perhaps the extra activity is the "MacGuffin" in an Alfred Hitchcock story about uranium in a bottle dressed up in a love test that begins between two lovers in Rio de Janeiro … or … perhaps it's exactly what it presents itself as, as it goes along.
Either way, it's the things you don't see that capture your attention most. As well as the music, particularly "Stella by Starlight," as I mentioned before, by Victor Young, and I can't say upon humming the tune when it's played in the film, I don't drift into "As Time Goes By" written by Herman Hupfeld in 1931, famously known, and performed by Dooley Wilson in CASABLANCA (1942) ... Here's looking at you, kid. Having said that, what I'm about to say isn't a spoiler as much as a word of warning. If you scare easily or not, I'd think twice about watching THE UNINVITED in the dark, by yourself, in the wee middle hours of the night, when your senses aren't so sure of themselves. You may find yourself checking the corners of the room to make sure you are alone, by yourself, in an INSIDIOUS (2010) kind of way. Or am I the only one who made that mistake? |
But one bright spot in this film for me, outside of the bits of comedy relief handed to us through the underrated, underappreciated timing and performance of Ray Milland, and some good comedy relief tossed in by Lizzy (played by Barbara Everest), whom you'll be glad to know has better hearing here than she did when we left her in GASLIGHT (1944) … "Elizabeth! Elizabeth! Elizabeth!!," even though she seems to have a knack for housekeeping in the most chilling places, is a line delivered by the tragic beauty of Gail Russell.
It's a scene where she stands up to her grandfather (played by Donald Crisp), on how she feels about going to Windward House and tells him, after being told she can't, that she's twenty and she can't live her life for others anymore … In short, she's not a child, has a mind of her own, and can make decisions of her own. Not falling short of, but not even considered usage of the typical line, when all is going well in a film and those cringing words are delivered that come close to making you want to call the whole film quits. Me, anyway. You know the one, "I'm free, white and 21." A line spoken as bad as seeing blackface. A line my mom (who hated the term even more than I did, and that's saying something) told me she heard used when she was in the Army (Vietnam era), by a friend she'd made, who used the term in a conversation with my mom one day. Needless to say, not only did my mom tell me how she went off on her. They were not able to salvage their friendship.
It's a scene where she stands up to her grandfather (played by Donald Crisp), on how she feels about going to Windward House and tells him, after being told she can't, that she's twenty and she can't live her life for others anymore … In short, she's not a child, has a mind of her own, and can make decisions of her own. Not falling short of, but not even considered usage of the typical line, when all is going well in a film and those cringing words are delivered that come close to making you want to call the whole film quits. Me, anyway. You know the one, "I'm free, white and 21." A line spoken as bad as seeing blackface. A line my mom (who hated the term even more than I did, and that's saying something) told me she heard used when she was in the Army (Vietnam era), by a friend she'd made, who used the term in a conversation with my mom one day. Needless to say, not only did my mom tell me how she went off on her. They were not able to salvage their friendship.
There's so much for everyone in THE UNINVITED, romance, mystery, comedy, beauty, suspense, and never does one contradict the other. All the elements are painted beautifully on-screen together. And never once does it feel campy. Never once do you not believe what's transpiring on-screen. Never doubting this could happen or has happened to someone in real life.
The Criterion release only helps enhance the film watching experience after you watch it. And though it can be enjoyed anytime of the year, it is a high recommend come All Hallows Eve!
The Criterion release only helps enhance the film watching experience after you watch it. And though it can be enjoyed anytime of the year, it is a high recommend come All Hallows Eve!
(End of update) ... Catch THE UNINVITED on TCM this Friday, August 2, 2019, as part of TCM's Summer Under The Stars Day to Ruth Hussey. For the full schedule and other actors being showcased: SUTS and for my latest #SummerUnderTheStars pieces read MORITURI and stay tuned for SABRINA coming up soon!)
Here Ray Milland reprises his role with Ruth Hussey in a 1944 broadcast on THE SCREEN GUILD THEATER with Betty Field in the Gail Russell role: THE UNINVITED Starring Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey.
Also heard here, Ray reprises his role in this 1949 THE SCREEN DIRECTORS PLAYHOUSE adaptation with June Foray: THE UNINVITED Starring Ray Milland.
And for those who have been following me long enough, have heard me repeatedly mention NIGHT MUST FALL (1937) in relation to films my mom and I watched time and time and time again. As this was a film I introduced to her, and it became an INSTANT Classic Film watch for us.
If you have not seen the 1937 film with Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell and Dame May Whitty, I strongly recommend you visit my CINEMA COFFEE House next week as it will be my feature piece for my last film mention in my countdown to Halloween.
The radio adaptation for NIGHT MUST FALL is an adaptation Robert Montgomery both produced and hosted, as he and his film Co-Star, Dame May Whitty, both reprised their on-screen roles. Acting with Heather Angel in the Rosalind Russell role in this 1948 adaptation for SUSPENSE: NIGHT MUST FALL Starring Robert Montgomery and Dame May Whitty.
Also have to recommend an adaptation done by James Cagney in 1944 for THE SCREEN GUILD THEATER in the role of Danny I found while searching for a good late night listen a few years back and posted then: NIGHT MUST FALL Starring James Cagney and Dame May Whitty.
If you have not seen the 1937 film with Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell and Dame May Whitty, I strongly recommend you visit my CINEMA COFFEE House next week as it will be my feature piece for my last film mention in my countdown to Halloween.
The radio adaptation for NIGHT MUST FALL is an adaptation Robert Montgomery both produced and hosted, as he and his film Co-Star, Dame May Whitty, both reprised their on-screen roles. Acting with Heather Angel in the Rosalind Russell role in this 1948 adaptation for SUSPENSE: NIGHT MUST FALL Starring Robert Montgomery and Dame May Whitty.
Also have to recommend an adaptation done by James Cagney in 1944 for THE SCREEN GUILD THEATER in the role of Danny I found while searching for a good late night listen a few years back and posted then: NIGHT MUST FALL Starring James Cagney and Dame May Whitty.
Next up, have to share ARSENIC AND OLD LACE done on radio here with the explanation of one of the lines used in the film by Cary Grant "an old honey of a lunatic, called MURDER WILL OUT," with Donald Cook in the role of Mortimer Brewster (played by Cary Grant on film) and Boris Karloff along with Jean Adair reprising their roles (Stage for Karloff and Stage/Screen for Adair) on this BEST PLAYS 1952 broadcast: ARSENIC AND OLD LACE Starring Boris Karloff and Donald Cook.
And for the Eddie Albert fans out there, drive on over from GREEN ACERS and hear him take on the role of Mortimer during his silver screen days in this 1946 adaptation for THE SCREEN GUILD THEATER, too with Boris Karloff reprising his on stage role of Jonathan Brewster: ARSENIC AND OLD LACE Starring Boris Karloff and Eddie Albert.
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And you can't really have a Halloween Countdown without some Alfred Hitchcock, right? No worries, I've got your front:
No stranger to any Alfred Hitchcock film, hear Cary Grant along with his wife, Betsy Drake in the 1950 adaptation of one of our (my mom and I) favorite Hitchcock films, SHADOW OF A DOUBT on THE SCREEN DIRECTORS PLAYHOUSE also in direction of the Master of Suspense himself: SHADOW OF A DOUBT Starring Cary Grant and Betsy Drake.
No stranger to any Alfred Hitchcock film, hear Cary Grant along with his wife, Betsy Drake in the 1950 adaptation of one of our (my mom and I) favorite Hitchcock films, SHADOW OF A DOUBT on THE SCREEN DIRECTORS PLAYHOUSE also in direction of the Master of Suspense himself: SHADOW OF A DOUBT Starring Cary Grant and Betsy Drake.
Lastly I'll leave you with one of my favorite "stand alone" Old Time Radio broadcasts from SUSPENSE starring Robert Montgomery in THE THING IN THE WINDOW: THE THING IN THE WINDOW Starring Robert Montgomery No, no. This one's on me.
So grab you coffee, Latte, Macchiato, Espresso, Café, curl up with the radio ... and don't forget the lights all you wonderful people out there in the dark. Tuning in ... #ForMyMom
So grab you coffee, Latte, Macchiato, Espresso, Café, curl up with the radio ... and don't forget the lights all you wonderful people out there in the dark. Tuning in ... #ForMyMom
For my other CINEMA COFFEE blog pieces:
#ForMyMom Cinema Coffee ... | COFFEE CINEMA: Talking Streetcar | CINEMA COFFEE: "Et tu, Brute?" | CINEMA COFFEE: "La Chocolaterie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Milk? I loathe milk!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Elderberry Wine ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The choice I never had ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The smell of Mimosa" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Mighty like a Rose" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Don't cry on the rolls" | CINEMA COFFEE: "You're the first Kansas I ever met" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Everybody calls me Gracie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "What the devil are Belinskis?!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Hello friends and enemies." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Stop remindin' me of heaven." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Even Gatsby could happen" | CINEMA COFFEE: "I made a wish" | CINEMA COFFEE: Audie Murphy | CINEMA COFFEE: Put The Blame on Mame | CINEMA COFFEE: "Just Singleton." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Where I Come From, Nobody Knows" | Film Therapy: Coping through Cinema | CINEMA COFFEE: Socks fall down | CINEMA COFFEE: "The moon's reaching for me" | CINEMA COFFEE: The Horne: Luso World Cinema Blogathon | CINEMA COFFEE: Aunt Bettye Lightsy | CINEMA COFFEE: I never lose | CINEMA COFFEE: "I have a mother!" | CINEMA COFFEE: THE SIGN OF GEMINI | CINEMA COFFEE: Venus Rising | CINEMA COFFEE: Stan vs Geek | CINEMA COFFEE: "Positively the same dame"| CINEMA COFFEE: I would rather lose ma whip than lose ma Daisy! | CINEMA COFFEE: "D'ENTRE LES MORTS goes VERTIGO"
#ForMyMom Cinema Coffee ... | COFFEE CINEMA: Talking Streetcar | CINEMA COFFEE: "Et tu, Brute?" | CINEMA COFFEE: "La Chocolaterie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Milk? I loathe milk!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Elderberry Wine ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The choice I never had ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The smell of Mimosa" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Mighty like a Rose" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Don't cry on the rolls" | CINEMA COFFEE: "You're the first Kansas I ever met" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Everybody calls me Gracie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "What the devil are Belinskis?!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Hello friends and enemies." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Stop remindin' me of heaven." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Even Gatsby could happen" | CINEMA COFFEE: "I made a wish" | CINEMA COFFEE: Audie Murphy | CINEMA COFFEE: Put The Blame on Mame | CINEMA COFFEE: "Just Singleton." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Where I Come From, Nobody Knows" | Film Therapy: Coping through Cinema | CINEMA COFFEE: Socks fall down | CINEMA COFFEE: "The moon's reaching for me" | CINEMA COFFEE: The Horne: Luso World Cinema Blogathon | CINEMA COFFEE: Aunt Bettye Lightsy | CINEMA COFFEE: I never lose | CINEMA COFFEE: "I have a mother!" | CINEMA COFFEE: THE SIGN OF GEMINI | CINEMA COFFEE: Venus Rising | CINEMA COFFEE: Stan vs Geek | CINEMA COFFEE: "Positively the same dame"| CINEMA COFFEE: I would rather lose ma whip than lose ma Daisy! | CINEMA COFFEE: "D'ENTRE LES MORTS goes VERTIGO"