Comments on: Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.: The Pleasure of His Company http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/12/09/douglas-fairbanks-jr-the-pleasure-of-his-company/ 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 20:27:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: moirafinnie http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/12/09/douglas-fairbanks-jr-the-pleasure-of-his-company/#comment-11001 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:35:37 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=16890#comment-11001 Shoot Tom, with a combo like Wellman, Fairbanks and Frances Dee you don’t need to sell me on Love Is a Racket (1932). I have a real weakness for those brisk, (some would say slap-dash, I would say “spontaneous” and “electric”) films of the early talkie period at Warner Brothers. I’ll definitely be looking for this movie in the future.

Many thanks to each of those who took the time to respond. It’s good to know that I am not the only person who thinks the son also rises to the occasion in his own way…

]]> By: Tom http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/12/09/douglas-fairbanks-jr-the-pleasure-of-his-company/#comment-10999 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:05:12 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=16890#comment-10999 OK, I watched Love is a Racket again and it wasn’t all that great. It was one of those early thirties William Wellman productions where he would just do one or two takes so the studio execs couldn’t mess around with the material. I heard that he had a good reputation with the front office for finishing projects on time and on budget. Because they were so down and dirty, you get much more of a “slice of life” from a pretty rotten time in our history. JR is quite winning nonetheless. And that Frances Dee…ooo la la!

]]> By: Tom http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/12/09/douglas-fairbanks-jr-the-pleasure-of-his-company/#comment-10996 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:27:23 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=16890#comment-10996 I recorded “Love is a Racket” (1932) a number of years ago when I was just getting started as a classic film junkie. He plays a hard-bitten reporter-type. I sort of expected him to be a coattail phenom, but he totally carries the picture. He delivers the snappy dialogue with the best of them, but you can also see the extreme care he takes with pantomime, like when he manipulates the objects in a crime scene to throw the police off of the trail of the person he is protecting. Thanks again Moira for taking us all to school on this one!

]]> By: Anonymous http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/12/09/douglas-fairbanks-jr-the-pleasure-of-his-company/#comment-10950 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:52:23 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=16890#comment-10950 Yes, Fairbanks retained his charm until the end. So also did Cesar Romero, of the same vintage. I only hope I have at least 1/4 of either’s charm when I’m in my 70′s and up.

]]> By: suzidoll http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/12/09/douglas-fairbanks-jr-the-pleasure-of-his-company/#comment-10918 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:21:30 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=16890#comment-10918 Count me in as a Clooney fan, too, because he is the closest to old-school movie stars. But, few will ever surpass either Fairbanks (Jr. or Sr.)for class and charisma.

Very cool about Fairbanks Jr. lending his support to the British before America’s entry into WWII.

I love when an actor gets the “Moirafinnie” treatment!

]]> By: Mags http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/12/09/douglas-fairbanks-jr-the-pleasure-of-his-company/#comment-10916 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:17:41 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=16890#comment-10916 Absolutely adored Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., in every movie I ever saw him in. And he was the definition of a “gentleman” in an interview I once saw with him. Yes, debonair.

On another note, I do think George Clooney comes closest to what was once called a movie star. I also think he could remake any movie Clark Gable made.

]]> By: Laura http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/12/09/douglas-fairbanks-jr-the-pleasure-of-his-company/#comment-10910 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:06:31 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=16890#comment-10910 This is a lovely piece, Moira! I’m envious you had the opportunity to see him perform on stage.

I had the chance to see a beautiful print of THAT LADY IN ERMINE at a Los Angeles revival theater (the Vagabond) when I was a teenager. I haven’t seen it since and was happy to be able to record it from Fox Movie Channel recently. I’m looking forward to seeing it again.

I also need to take a fresh look at ZENDA as it has been many years since I last saw it. I wish I had been able to attend that L.A. screening last night! My daughter had an invitation for free tickets via USC’s cinema dept. but alas, we couldn’t take advantage of it — among other reasons, she had to study for finals! (grin)

I just added a link to your article to the much shorter remembrance I wrote last night. Thanks for this tribute — I’m glad more people will know about Mr. Fairbanks’ life and career.

Best wishes,
Laura

]]> By: Jenni http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/12/09/douglas-fairbanks-jr-the-pleasure-of-his-company/#comment-10909 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:02:03 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=16890#comment-10909 Thanks for this informative post on Fairbanks,Jr. I liked his work in Prisoner of Zenda, Gunga Din,and in The Dawn Patrol, but the film coming up in January, Captured!, I have never heard of. With a cast of Fairbanks and Leslie Howard, it’s going to be a must for my tivo machine!

]]> By: moirafinnie http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/12/09/douglas-fairbanks-jr-the-pleasure-of-his-company/#comment-10906 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:11:38 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=16890#comment-10906 I’m delighted to read that your self-esteem is doing so well, RHS
;-)

]]> By: Richard Harland Smith http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/12/09/douglas-fairbanks-jr-the-pleasure-of-his-company/#comment-10905 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:45:10 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=16890#comment-10905 When was the last time you saw someone who could be described as debonair?

Last time I looked in a mirror, my dear girl.

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