tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473857081653339896.post7773802623373460223..comments2024-03-27T20:04:03.745-04:00Comments on RICK'S REAL/REEL LIFE: "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" Still Scorches 1958http://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/http://www.blogger.com/profile/14243899548141583461noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473857081653339896.post-29584815139790179742023-08-13T22:27:01.532-04:002023-08-13T22:27:01.532-04:00Hi, I thought her short hair style as Maggie was v...Hi, I thought her short hair style as Maggie was very cute and modern, and not a helmut as typical of the era. Liked her longer bob in Suddenly, but didn't like the teased do of Butterfield 8. I liked her long hair in The Sandpiper, but not the bouffants that she helped make popular of that time. Cheers, Rick http://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/https://www.blogger.com/profile/14243899548141583461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473857081653339896.post-45711880182091410092023-08-13T21:55:29.680-04:002023-08-13T21:55:29.680-04:00I've always felt that Taylor's hairstyle i...I've always felt that Taylor's hairstyle in this film was the best she ever sported. Don't like her in longer hair, such as was seen in Suddenly, Last Summer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473857081653339896.post-8709277257581056232020-02-28T07:03:30.559-05:002020-02-28T07:03:30.559-05:00Jim. thanks for sharing. It's funny when I hea...Jim. thanks for sharing. It's funny when I hear how people wouldn't see certain movies back in the day. I had a pal who begged his parents to see Pillow Talk, which was considered risque. They said no. He went anyway, and guesss who he ran into at the movie? And yes, Cat's story is far superior to Butterfield! Cheers, and check out some of my other Elizabeth Taylor movies... like B8! Rick http://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/https://www.blogger.com/profile/14243899548141583461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473857081653339896.post-11178451416366508462020-02-27T22:28:59.088-05:002020-02-27T22:28:59.088-05:00between 1958 and 1962, the ages of 8 and 12 for me... between 1958 and 1962, the ages of 8 and 12 for me,my Mom's unmarried Sister took me to many movies when she didn't have a date.Of the movies I saw then , she wouldn't take me to see two , Cat on a Hot,Tin Roof and Butterfield 8.i don't blame Elizabeth Taylor for that, I blame the movies stories for that.She was in the process of converting from Lutheran to Catholic at the time.I m glad she didn't take me then ,but, I can say when I saw both flicks years later , I liked Cat better than Butterfield 8 .I guess a dysfunctional , Southern family is more interesting , especially when it's supported by an outstanding ensemble cast.I would probably say that my favorite movie that I saw back then was Samson and Delilah with Victor Mature and Hedy Lamar.<br />I appreciate your reading this email.<br />Best Regards,<br />Jim Sweeney<br />Jimbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01281544587202454183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473857081653339896.post-35917575048965710052019-07-17T20:29:18.042-04:002019-07-17T20:29:18.042-04:00I agree that Williams plays are hard to do but ET ...I agree that Williams plays are hard to do but ET did them well. Elizabeth Taylor was a terrific actress. She could really kick it. Like Vivien Leigh a great beauty but a great actress. Didn't know Liz was in poor financial shape after Todd. She did keep the famous ruby diamond necklace, earring, bracelet set he gave her. It went up for auction not too long ago.bizzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11060688260180019964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473857081653339896.post-82546471240658542552019-07-17T10:26:49.804-04:002019-07-17T10:26:49.804-04:00Playing Tennessee Williams is tricky. I've see...Playing Tennessee Williams is tricky. I've seen it played as realistic, and it comes across flat and talky. I've seen it really over the top, and it's like a cartoon. I think ET in Cat and Suddenly truly shows her skills with Williams' material. As for Todd's gifts to ET, I think Mike borrowed ahead on movie profits, then died. Leaving Taylor to pay the bills. She never cried on the public's shoulder about any of it, and has always praised him as a man. http://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/https://www.blogger.com/profile/14243899548141583461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473857081653339896.post-28396908351110980032019-07-16T21:27:23.104-04:002019-07-16T21:27:23.104-04:00I just don't care for Wiiliam's style. I ...I just don't care for Wiiliam's style. I know he is haled as a great but his plot has no meaning or answers. After it is all over I think for what but at the end what was the meaning? But I will watch it because of Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando . I agree the TV version of Cat with Wood Wagner and Lange and Jones as well as an over the top Kim Stanley was awful. Those are hard parts to play without doing it over the top. Yes it is remarkable what Liz Taylor went through. I know the Wilder marriage left her broke but not the Todd marriage. My God the jewels alone he gave her would have been enough! Regardless, Liz was a survivor. She lived a colorful life.bizzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11060688260180019964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473857081653339896.post-66374178318252257242019-07-16T08:29:55.375-04:002019-07-16T08:29:55.375-04:00Hi, How do you like other William plays? Some peop...Hi, How do you like other William plays? Some people just don't care for his style, which is a lot of rhetoric. <br />Paul Newman latter admitted he was still pretty stiff in early movies like Cat, and I agree to a point. Just watched him recently in The Verdict, much better.<br />I love the cast of this movie, best. There are some horrible versions with great actors on YouTube, like Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner. Or Jessica Lange and Tommy Lee Jones. <br /><br />It is pretty remarkable by today's standards that a star could lose her husband in a plane crash, leaving her with a baby, and millions in debt. All played out in the press. And the star is still back on the set a few weeks later. That's what made ET so special, a survivor.http://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/https://www.blogger.com/profile/14243899548141583461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473857081653339896.post-76504986976472845632019-07-16T07:18:37.632-04:002019-07-16T07:18:37.632-04:00Watched this movie years ago on TV and loved it. ...Watched this movie years ago on TV and loved it. I would read the play in the school library during lunch time dreaming I could one day play Maggie. Fast forward many years later and my husband and I watch it on dvd and all we could think how god awful the storyline is we couldn't make to the end of the movie. All everyone could say and repeatedly is "Big Daddy" this and "Big Daddy" that, Big Daddy Big Daddy, Big Daddy!!! We couldn't take it anymore we kept thinking what made this movie so popular? What made me love it as a young girl? The one thing we did agree on was Liz Taylor. Beauty in perfection. How can anyone be so physically perfect? And that white dress! She also did a good acting job. How she got through the movie after losing her husband. This is probably the least of my favorite Paul Newman movies. I didn't think he was good in it nor his accent. He seems too much like he is acting and doesn't convince me. James Dean I believe would have nailed it. Burl Ives was good as well as Jack Carson, Madeline Sherwood and Judith Anderson.bizzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11060688260180019964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473857081653339896.post-13491337518182837532019-06-12T11:59:46.230-04:002019-06-12T11:59:46.230-04:00Hey Mike, I always like Liz with long hair, especi...Hey Mike, I always like Liz with long hair, especially during her Sandpiper/Mexico years. But I thought her short hairdo looked cute, esp. since most '50s styles weren't flattering. Glad your liking the blog. Feel free to subscribe if you haven't, it's free! Got some more fun stuff coming down the pike! Cheers, Rickhttp://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/https://www.blogger.com/profile/14243899548141583461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473857081653339896.post-30850268238637587572019-06-12T00:24:12.189-04:002019-06-12T00:24:12.189-04:00Rick I am loving your blog! Great write-up! And I ...Rick I am loving your blog! Great write-up! And I love the long wig on Liz, I wish they'd used it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473857081653339896.post-2520534533654147332016-08-10T05:51:23.032-04:002016-08-10T05:51:23.032-04:00Hi Rick
Thanks for covering one of my favorite fil...Hi Rick<br />Thanks for covering one of my favorite films, congrats for doing so in a fresh way. Always so hard to think of a new angle to write about a much-discussed classic film, but I love the way you mixed unknown-to-me behind the scenes stuff (the Bust Inspector!) with personal observations (the Spencer Tracy casting idea is really inspired) and contextual references regarding casting and where certain stars were in their careers at the time.<br />It will be great to see a really sharp copy of this film. I have to check to see if the Blu-ray offers any bonus material. A great read. Thanks!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.com