TV and Movies

[Oznell]

1:00 a.m. Eastern--  "Irving Thalberg--  Prince of Hollywood"

A must-see documentary for serious fans of classic film!  (And I haven't seen it.)

Thalberg, the golden boy,  the "boy wonder" of MGM and head of production.  Responsible for many of the studio's prestige productions and high ambitions. 

Elegant, inspired, complex, loved, envied, very, very smart, skilled at studio politics but conveying an air of being above it all.  Nurturer of the great stars.

Glamorously married to Norma Shearer.   Gone long before his time.  

So much material!  Hope the documentary is up to covering it all!

Tip:   If you find the phenomenon of Irving Thalberg tantalizing, try F. Scott Fitzgerald's final, unfinished novel, "The Last Tycoon".    Fitzgerald was fascinated by Thalberg as well, and his protagonist, "Monroe Stahr" is a thinly veiled portrait of Thalberg.   It's a wonderful, if fragmentary, piece of Fitzgerald's art. 

[spiderw]

Thank you Oznel for this insight into Thalberg, I have it on my DVR to tape.  I always enjoy documentaries about people, places and events.  I'm sure his story will be filled with interesting facts and give a detailed picture of old Hollywood.  

I just noticed that one of my favorite thrillers I have seen many times, The Spiral Staircase, will be on soon.  My sister and I always watched it when on and it wasn't very often.  Some of the old movie thrillers were so well done and this is one of them.

[drizzellla]

Thank you, Oznell.

I would have missed it - if you didn't mention it. Will set the timer right now.

In the beginning credits of "Goodbye Mr. Chips" there is a special mention to honor  Irving Thalberg and signed by a number of producers.

I am really looking forward to seeing this documentary.

[twinsister]

@Oznell - thanks for the alert.   I don't know much about him, except that he was married to Norma Shearer. Very sad he died so young.   It should be interesting.

[Oznell]

@spiderw, @drizzellla , @twinsister --   yes, I have high hopes that it will be fascinating!  I'm not surprised that you three are interested.

@spiderw,  I love "The Spiral Staircase",  and have not seen in ages!

[spiderw]

Spiral Staircase is listed to be on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 5:45 AM on TCM.  Enjoy.

[Johnnyeager]

The "Goodbye Mr. Chips" credit devoted to Thalberg.  The first signature is James Hilton's, the author of the book.

He also received a posthumous credit for "The Good Earth."

[Oznell]

Thanks for "The Spiral Staircase" heads-up, @spiderw !

That is neat, @Johnnyeager --  the respect for Thalberg ran deep in many quarters, for sure.

[drizzellla]

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@Johnnyeager wrote:

The "Goodbye Mr. Chips" credit devoted to Thalberg.  The first signature is James Hilton's, the author of the book.

He also received a posthumous credit for "The Good Earth."

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Thank you @Johnnyeager for posting the "Goodbye Mr Chips" credit. When it would appear on the screen my eye was always drawn to Sam Wood, the Director of "Goodbye Mr Chips". I didn't know who else signed the credit. Now I know, thanks.

[Johnnyeager]

It's unfortunate that Thalberg didn't receive a credit for "Marie Antoinette", a film he developed at MGM which was in early production stages when he died.  He snapped up the film rights to the 1933 Stefan Sweig biography as quickly as he could as a star vehicle for Norma.

In my opinion,  it is Norma Shearer's finest work, particularly the later scenes of Marie imprisoned.  Many years later she told friends that it was her favorite film.

As a trivial note, the "birdcage" hair ornament worn by Norma in the film still exists, part of the Academy of Motion Picture's collection: it was on display at a Thalberg exhibition not long ago.