Comments on: Jean Arthur on TCM http://www.altfg.com/blog/actors/jean-arthur-on-tcm/ The Oscars, film awards, new releases, Los Angeles screenings, movie classics, gay movies, film festivals, box office, foreign and independent films Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:29:46 +0000 hourly 1 By: r. hibbshttp://www.altfg.com/blog/actors/jean-arthur-on-tcm/#comment-489201 r. hibbs Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:39:41 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2007/01/06/jean-arthur-on-tcm-in-january-2007/#comment-489201 i dont think shane was a good movie for her, but not her fault,i always saw her as a city gal. i dont think shane was a good movie for her, but not her fault,i always saw her as a city gal.

]]> By: r. hibbshttp://www.altfg.com/blog/actors/jean-arthur-on-tcm/#comment-489200 r. hibbs Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:32:23 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2007/01/06/jean-arthur-on-tcm-in-january-2007/#comment-489200 i was in love w/her when i was a little boy and watched reruns of the late,late show on t.v. i always wished i could find a girlfriend that had a voice like hers. i was in love w/her when i was a little boy and watched reruns of the late,late show on t.v.
i always wished i could find a girlfriend that had a voice like hers.

]]> By: Andre Soareshttp://www.altfg.com/blog/actors/jean-arthur-on-tcm/#comment-474995 Andre Soares Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:00:39 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2007/01/06/jean-arthur-on-tcm-in-january-2007/#comment-474995 Doug, Thanks for sharing your views. That Jean Arthur piece came out as a "tribute" because she is, after all, one of my very favorite performers -- and the piece, of course, wasn't a full-fledged biography. Also, as far as I'm concerned, her shyness as a person was a strength, not a weakness, and in fact I think it makes her characters seem more grounded. Arthur was never a ham. (Though pre-1934 she could be -- and from what I've read and seen usually was -- a stiff actress. I mention that in the article.) As for James Stewart, my perception of his acting skills has nothing to do with his political views. Irene Dunne was quite conservative when it came to politics and that doesn't stop me from finding her one of the best film actresses ever. I've just never found the Stewart-Arthur pairings very believable. To me, they always seemed mismatched irrespective of their off-screen worldviews. Doug,
Thanks for sharing your views.

That Jean Arthur piece came out as a "tribute" because she is, after all, one of my very favorite performers — and the piece, of course, wasn't a full-fledged biography. Also, as far as I'm concerned, her shyness as a person was a strength, not a weakness, and in fact I think it makes her characters seem more grounded. Arthur was never a ham. (Though pre-1934 she could be — and from what I've read and seen usually was — a stiff actress. I mention that in the article.)

As for James Stewart, my perception of his acting skills has nothing to do with his political views. Irene Dunne was quite conservative when it came to politics and that doesn't stop me from finding her one of the best film actresses ever.

I've just never found the Stewart-Arthur pairings very believable. To me, they always seemed mismatched irrespective of their off-screen worldviews.

]]> By: Doug MacMartinhttp://www.altfg.com/blog/actors/jean-arthur-on-tcm/#comment-474994 Doug MacMartin Sat, 04 Apr 2009 23:01:04 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2007/01/06/jean-arthur-on-tcm-in-january-2007/#comment-474994 I am an avid older movie buff and have enjoyed everything that Jean Arthur was in, especially Foreign Affair and The More the Merrier. I have seen Shane many times and I loved the movie, but frankly felt that Jean Arthur was a weak point in the movie, and it was maybe not her fault. I have lived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and know much about its history. The part that Jean played was of a lady that never got dirty and never had a hair out of place and her make-up was always perfect (it appeared that they maybe put a soft lens on her) was way too much of a contrast with her hard working, dirty sod buster of a husband. There was not one woman in the beginning days of Jackson Hole that appeared to just come out of a beauty salon like her character often did and there was not another woman in the movie that even looked like she did and it was just an unbelievable character. The strong points in Shane in my opinion were the beautiful scenery and the character development of the contrast between the sod busters and the cattlemen. As you said we all have our a right to our opinion, but your piece sounded much more like a tribute to her rather than an objective critque of her career, as the only thing that you didn't do was put the crown on her head. There truly was not one negative thing that you said about her. Even her weakness of her being shy was handled as if it were a strength, and the issue with Jimmy Stewart was cast as solely his vault and that Jean Arthur had no hand in the issues with Jimmy Stewart. The only thing that I have read Jimmy Stewart said about Jean Arthur was despite their differences, she was the best actress he ever worked with, this doesn't sound like a snake to me, but a gentleman. I feel that much of the issues might have to do with difference in political beliefs and how that colours peoples viewpoints, and that truly should have not have any place here. Even Henry Fonda who differed greatly with Jimmy Stewart politically, greatly respected Jimmy. Jean Arthur was a wonderful actress and has left a remarkable legacy in the body of work that she did on the screen. First and foremost she was a human being with weakeness and strengths and from some of the comments certainly had some deep seeded animosity toward some people, everyone does but to her credit it never came across in her performances, and she was a true artist. I am an avid older movie buff and have enjoyed everything that Jean Arthur was in, especially Foreign Affair and The More the Merrier. I have seen Shane many times and I loved the movie, but frankly felt that Jean Arthur was a weak point in the movie, and it was maybe not her fault. I have lived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and know much about its history. The part that Jean played was of a lady that never got dirty and never had a hair out of place and her make-up was always perfect (it appeared that they maybe put a soft lens on her) was way too much of a contrast with her hard working, dirty sod buster of a husband. There was not one woman in the beginning days of Jackson Hole that appeared to just come out of a beauty salon like her character often did and there was not another woman in the movie that even looked like she did and it was just an unbelievable character. The strong points in Shane in my opinion were the beautiful scenery and the character development of the contrast between the sod busters and the cattlemen. As you said we all have our a right to our opinion, but your piece sounded much more like a tribute to her rather than an objective critque of her career, as the only thing that you didn't do was put the crown on her head. There truly was not one negative thing that you said about her. Even her weakness of her being shy was handled as if it were a strength, and the issue with Jimmy Stewart was cast as solely his vault and that Jean Arthur had no hand in the issues with Jimmy Stewart. The only thing that I have read Jimmy Stewart said about Jean Arthur was despite their differences, she was the best actress he ever worked with, this doesn't sound like a snake to me, but a gentleman. I feel that much of the issues might have to do with difference in political beliefs and how that colours peoples viewpoints, and that truly should have not have any place here. Even Henry Fonda who differed greatly with Jimmy Stewart politically, greatly respected Jimmy. Jean Arthur was a wonderful actress and has left a remarkable legacy in the body of work that she did on the screen. First and foremost she was a human being with weakeness and strengths and from some of the comments certainly had some deep seeded animosity toward some people, everyone does but to her credit it never came across in her performances, and she was a true artist.

]]> By: Andre Soareshttp://www.altfg.com/blog/actors/jean-arthur-on-tcm/#comment-474261 Andre Soares Sun, 08 Mar 2009 02:18:05 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2007/01/06/jean-arthur-on-tcm-in-january-2007/#comment-474261 Actually, no. I was simply pointing out that my views re: James Stewart are different than most people's. See, everyone has the right to have different likes and dislikes. Myself included. Actually, no.
I was simply pointing out that my views re: James Stewart are different than most people's.
See, everyone has the right to have different likes and dislikes.
Myself included.

]]> By: Alan Wogberghttp://www.altfg.com/blog/actors/jean-arthur-on-tcm/#comment-474259 Alan Wogberg Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:53:17 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2007/01/06/jean-arthur-on-tcm-in-january-2007/#comment-474259 "Stewart — seemingly most everyone’s idea of the perfect all-American Average Man — is my idea of the perfectly phony All-Hollywood Actor." In this society ,everyone has the democratic right to be wrong...phony observation... "Stewart — seemingly most everyone’s idea of the perfect all-American Average Man — is my idea of the perfectly phony All-Hollywood Actor."

In this society ,everyone has the democratic right to be wrong…phony observation…

]]> By: Andre Soareshttp://www.altfg.com/blog/actors/jean-arthur-on-tcm/#comment-214711 Andre Soares Fri, 20 Jul 2007 06:22:41 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2007/01/06/jean-arthur-on-tcm-in-january-2007/#comment-214711 James, First of all, thank you for writing. And I'm glad you enjoyed the article. Now, James Stewart. I've liked him twice: "Harvey" and "Anatomy of a Murder." In both films he was cast against type, and I found him effective -- though that's most likely because I saw (creepy) elements in his performances that most people didn't see. (Certainly, the creepiness could have been in my own imagination -- but it worked!) As for Frank Capra, I've never found him naive, even if his movies come across that way. My problem with Capra's touch is that to me it often felt calculated, ungenuine. I'd suggest a look at Joseph McBride's Frank Capra biography, which I'm currently reading. The man described in that book is quite unlike the kind-hearted, naive heroes played by Gary Coooper or James Stewart. Thanks again for writing, and my apologies for taking so long to respond. James,

First of all, thank you for writing. And I'm glad you enjoyed the article.

Now, James Stewart. I've liked him twice: "Harvey" and "Anatomy of a Murder." In both films he was cast against type, and I found him effective — though that's most likely because I saw (creepy) elements in his performances that most people didn't see. (Certainly, the creepiness could have been in my own imagination — but it worked!)

As for Frank Capra, I've never found him naive, even if his movies come across that way. My problem with Capra's touch is that to me it often felt calculated, ungenuine.

I'd suggest a look at Joseph McBride's Frank Capra biography, which I'm currently reading. The man described in that book is quite unlike the kind-hearted, naive heroes played by Gary Coooper or James Stewart.

Thanks again for writing, and my apologies for taking so long to respond.

]]> By: James D. Haeberlehttp://www.altfg.com/blog/actors/jean-arthur-on-tcm/#comment-183702 James D. Haeberle Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:41:49 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2007/01/06/jean-arthur-on-tcm-in-january-2007/#comment-183702 Your article on Jean Arthur is wonderful. I've loved her in everything I've seen her in. I must take issue gently with you about Jimmy Stewart. I'm one of his millions of devoted fans. Jean Arthur's greatest strength as an actress was her adorable voice. Her wheedling and pleading at Shane and her husband when they are fighting over who gets to be killed by Wilson (Jack Palance) was utterly real, just how one would expect a farm wife to sound under the circumstances. Good people bring good into the world. You may bridle at Mr. Capra's naivte', but I loved the world he created. He made us want to be better people. Any director can show the world as it is. It takes a special person like Frank Capra to show things and people at their best. This inspires and encourages us to improve ourselves and the world around us. Your article on Jean Arthur is wonderful. I've loved her in everything I've seen her in. I must take issue gently with you about Jimmy Stewart. I'm one of his millions of devoted fans.

Jean Arthur's greatest strength as an actress was her adorable voice. Her wheedling and pleading at Shane and her husband when they are fighting over who gets to be killed by Wilson (Jack Palance) was utterly real, just how one would expect a farm wife to sound under the circumstances.

Good people bring good into the world. You may bridle at Mr. Capra's naivte', but I loved the world he created. He made us want to be better people. Any director can show the world as it is. It takes a special person like Frank Capra to show things and people at their best. This inspires and encourages us to improve ourselves and the world around us.

]]> By: Howard Partchhttp://www.altfg.com/blog/actors/jean-arthur-on-tcm/#comment-118785 Howard Partch Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:49:01 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2007/01/06/jean-arthur-on-tcm-in-january-2007/#comment-118785 Jean Arthur King Arthur Play Arthur why not? Jean Arthur King Arthur An actress By God. Jean Arthur King Arthur I've seen her at her best. Jean Arthur King Arthur She remains Queen Even at rest. By Howard Partch Jean Arthur
King Arthur
Play Arthur
why not?

Jean Arthur
King Arthur
An actress
By God.

Jean Arthur
King Arthur
I've seen her
at her best.

Jean Arthur
King Arthur
She remains Queen
Even at rest.

By Howard Partch

]]> By: Abbyhttp://www.altfg.com/blog/actors/jean-arthur-on-tcm/#comment-112982 Abby Thu, 08 Feb 2007 20:08:59 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2007/01/06/jean-arthur-on-tcm-in-january-2007/#comment-112982 Great Article. :) Great Article. :)

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