Comments on: Zita Johann: The White Flame of the American Theater Blown Out by Hollywood http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/10/12/zita-johann-the-white-flame-of-the-american-theater-blown-out-by-hollywood/ MovieMorlocks.com is the official blog for Turner Classic Movies (TCM). No topic is too obscure or niche to be excluded from our film discussions. And we welcome your comments on our blogs and bloggers. Thu, 24 May 2012 06:08:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: CineMaven http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/10/12/zita-johann-the-white-flame-of-the-american-theater-blown-out-by-hollywood/#comment-10372 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:23:30 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=15070#comment-10372 Aaaaah Zita, Zita. Love her. “Isis, save me from this mummy!” Great article!!

]]> By: Classic Links : The Shadow Cabaret http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/10/12/zita-johann-the-white-flame-of-the-american-theater-blown-out-by-hollywood/#comment-10310 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:15:38 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=15070#comment-10310 [...] Suzidoll of Turner Classic Movies’ “Movie Morlocks” blog collective looks back at the lovely and eccentric actress Zita Johann. [...]

]]> By: jbryant http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/10/12/zita-johann-the-white-flame-of-the-american-theater-blown-out-by-hollywood/#comment-10293 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:49:50 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=15070#comment-10293 Great article, but I’m surprised there’s no mention of THE SIN OF NORA MORAN, an unusual and rather innovative film that probably rates an article of its own. I suspect it’s Johann’s best film role, though I haven’t seen all of the others.

]]> By: Suzi Doll http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/10/12/zita-johann-the-white-flame-of-the-american-theater-blown-out-by-hollywood/#comment-10283 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:34:48 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=15070#comment-10283 Hi h0zana:

I’m glad I sparked your interest. In addition, the documentary that is included on the DVD of THE MUMMY that I mention in my bibliography talks about the behind-the-scenes goings-on. Though it doesn’t have a lot of interpretation of the movie, it features sufficient background information.

]]> By: moirafinnie http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/10/12/zita-johann-the-white-flame-of-the-american-theater-blown-out-by-hollywood/#comment-10282 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:00:30 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=15070#comment-10282 h0zana,
I remember reading this account of Ms. Johann’s opinions and experiences in a 1980s issue of Films in Review from Aug/Sept 1984, in an article by Gregory Mank, found here. After some digging, I found essentially the same information recounted in a more recent issue from Feb. 1st, 2007 in David Del Valle‘s article called “Queen of the Nyack”, as cited by Suzi above, which you can read at the link below. Enjoy:
http://www.filmsinreview.com/2007/02/01/camp-david-february-2007-zita-johann/

]]> By: h0zana http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/10/12/zita-johann-the-white-flame-of-the-american-theater-blown-out-by-hollywood/#comment-10281 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:25:09 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=15070#comment-10281 To moirafinnie:
You say she had good things to say about Boris Karloff. I would be interested in reading more about the working relationships behind The Mummy. Do you remember where you got that information?

]]> By: Suzi Doll http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/10/12/zita-johann-the-white-flame-of-the-american-theater-blown-out-by-hollywood/#comment-10277 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:39:50 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=15070#comment-10277 Hi Al, our favorite resondent:

You are right, “Morlock” is a sci-fi reference. The Morlocks were the underground creatures from the future in THE TIME MACHINE.

]]> By: Al Lowe http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/10/12/zita-johann-the-white-flame-of-the-american-theater-blown-out-by-hollywood/#comment-10275 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:23:42 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=15070#comment-10275 I have a question. My guess is that you guys haven’t clarified this one in some time.

What is a morlock?

My guess is that it is a sci fi movie reference. I was never big on sci fi since I have no idea what it refers to.

What movie had morlocks?

]]> By: Al Lowe http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/10/12/zita-johann-the-white-flame-of-the-american-theater-blown-out-by-hollywood/#comment-10270 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:32:12 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=15070#comment-10270 Wow. An intriguing post.

Sometimes the posts raise questions. Karl Freund seems like a complex character. According to the stories here he was quite a tyrant on the set. But he had to be a team player as director of photography at the studios.
Camille. Key Largo. Pride and Prejudice. The Good Earth. Those are some credits!
Also, he had to be a team player at Desilu. He was director of photography for I Love Lucy and created a three camera system to record the sitcom.

The question is: What was Karl Freund really like? Another question: Could Zita’s tales have been fabricated? The story involving the lion seems unlikely. But, then again, truth is stranger than fiction.

Not all of his movies were so amazing. He did DuBarry Was a Lady. I love Red Skelton but that had to be the worst movie he, Freund, Lucy, Zero Mostel, Arthur Freed and Gene Kelly ever made.
I particularly remember a Cole Porter tune Skelton, Kelly and Lucy sing at the end – “Friendship.” One of the standout lyrics is “If you ever lose your teeth when you’re out to dine, borrow mine.” I have been known to sing that while in my cups.

]]> By: idawson http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/10/12/zita-johann-the-white-flame-of-the-american-theater-blown-out-by-hollywood/#comment-10269 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:00:54 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=15070#comment-10269 I love this site for this very reason … the facts and information presented about some of cinema’s more obscure and forgotten players/subjects is fantastic.

Thanks for introducing to me (in some depth) something else I did not know!

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