The more I look at this bizarre portrait of Jimmy Durante, the more creeped out I get. No doubt the idea was to spoof his self-promoted image as an irresistible magnet for beautiful women. Must have been taken sometime in the late fifties. Buster Keaton fans were never able to warm up to this guy. Durante really walked all over Keaton in those MGM features they did together. I’m looking for the best word to describe Durante beyond his first five minutes in any movie --- irritating? A little of this comic goes a long way for me…
Always loved Durante EXCEPT in those Keaton movies. I don't blame him as much as I do the nitwits who ran M-G-M at the time. Otherwise, the guy still makes me laugh every time.
I don't think the photo's from the fifties -- Jimmy's outfit is, I think, the one he word in the 1935 B'way show RED, HOT AND BLUE, w/Bob Hope and Ethel Merman. No matter -- "you're the top" for bringing us these great shots!
I have to admit I've steered clear of Schnozzola's movies. But his radio work, in my opinion, is fantastic. Perhaps it's an acquired taste. I especially enjoy the later shows, with Victor Moore (the ultimate milquetoast) guesting almost every episode, and Arthur Treacher, Candy Candido (man what a wacky vocal range!) and of course Hot Breath Houlihan in supporting roles. It's light and disposable, yes, but a lot of fun.
Being a Keaton fan myself my introduction to Durante was through those MGM "Classics" that they made together. You just got to think which "wonderboy" thought that Keaton and Durante would work well together. Off screen they got along, Keaton states that he thought Durante an excellent comedian and I would hope Durante thought the same about Keaton(don't know). In saying that I find his delivery offputting, but I think he is a find comedian also, but best left to work alone. As for the picture, yes it is a tad weird.
If you're not a fan of Jimmy Durante, you will be after you see him in Two Sisters From Boston (1946). He plays the proprietor of an old-fashioned burlesque music hall, and registers a "10" on the Kindness scale.
Durante's role has him steering the young and beautiful Kathryn Grayson and the equally y&b June Allyson through the bedlam of old-time music halls.
One of his funniest bits is when he persuades certain high-profile individuals that he "knows something" about their past... and they buy it! In reality, he knows nothing about them. It's just the notion that every man, no matter how important, has SOMETHING to hide.
Two Sisters from Boston will make you a Durante fan for life.
The BIG QUESTION OF ALL, WHICH HAS PUZZLED THE WORLD OF FILMDOM WHEN DISCUSSING EARLY HOLLYWOOD DURING THAT PARTICULAR ERA ALOST A CENTURY AGO (!!)-- IS EL FACTO ON-PURPOSE: WHY WOULD METRO GOLDWYN MAYER, WITH ALL OF IT'S CLASS AND BALLYHOO, SEEMED TO, WITH ALMOST FEVERISH CONTEMPT, WANT TO BRING DOWN THE GREAT COMEDY PEOPLE WITH A HORRIBLY OBNOXIOUS PRODUCT- SERVED UP ON 'P-U PLATES'-- WELL INTO THE FORTIES-- (DEMEANING TO THE ALREADY-PROVEN COMEDY MASTERS WITH DITTO FORMULAS) AND SEEMINGLY THEIR INTENTIONS A FIENDISHLY ON-PURPOSE DESTRUCTION FORMULA OF THEIR OWN APPLIED-AND ESPECIALLY CRUEL TO THE HAL ROACH PEOPLE THEY WERE, TO LAUREL AND HARDY AND OUR GANG/LIL RASCALS, FOR SURE. THEIR 40'S PRODUCT SEEMED LIKE AN ALMOST SURREAL JOURNEY OF SOME DIVERSION TO OBLIVION--WITH THEIR FILM COMEDY STRUCTURE COMPLETELY WRECKED IN FILMS THAT MIGHT AS WELL HAVE HAD AN "R.I.P." PRINTED ALONG WITH THE 'END' TITLES--THAT BAD! AND HOW ABOUT THE MARX BROS, AND BUSTER KEATON? MAYBE THE SIMPLE ANSWER REMAINS: THAT THE BRASS AT MGM AT THAT TIME (DOES PREZ LOUIE TAKE CREDIT HERE--OR?) WHOEVER WAS IN CHARGE OF THE POWER TO USE THE STUDIO'S WRECKING BALL, JUST DID NOT KNOW COMEDY AT ALL, FOR SURE--. ASIDE FROM A SERIES OF MICKEY ROONEY FILMS WHICH WERE DATED ABOUT A MONTH LATER AFTER THEIR RELEASE, THIS STUDIO REFLECTS A BIG 'F' FOR FAILURE; WITH THAT LETTER USAGE, PERHAPS,GOOD FOR SOME DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES FOR THAT FAILURE, AS WELL.. (2017).
7 Comments:
Always loved Durante EXCEPT in those Keaton movies. I don't blame him as much as I do the nitwits who ran M-G-M at the time. Otherwise, the guy still makes me laugh every time.
I don't think the photo's from the fifties -- Jimmy's outfit is, I think, the one he word in the 1935 B'way show RED, HOT AND BLUE, w/Bob Hope and Ethel Merman. No matter -- "you're the top" for bringing us these great shots!
I have to admit I've steered clear of Schnozzola's movies. But his radio work, in my opinion, is fantastic. Perhaps it's an acquired taste. I especially enjoy the later shows, with Victor Moore (the ultimate milquetoast) guesting almost every episode, and Arthur Treacher, Candy Candido (man what a wacky vocal range!) and of course Hot Breath Houlihan in supporting roles. It's light and disposable, yes, but a lot of fun.
Being a Keaton fan myself my introduction to Durante was through those MGM "Classics" that they made together. You just got to think which "wonderboy" thought that Keaton and Durante would work well together. Off screen they got along, Keaton states that he thought Durante an excellent comedian and I would hope Durante thought the same about Keaton(don't know). In saying that I find his delivery offputting, but I think he is a find comedian also, but best left to work alone. As for the picture, yes it is a tad weird.
Those who find Durante's thirties work a trifle much may prefer his 40s-60s performaces, when he was older and mellower.
If you're not a fan of Jimmy Durante, you will be after you see him in Two Sisters From Boston (1946). He plays the proprietor of an old-fashioned burlesque music hall, and registers a "10" on the Kindness scale.
Durante's role has him steering the young and beautiful Kathryn Grayson and the equally y&b June Allyson through the bedlam of old-time music halls.
One of his funniest bits is when he persuades certain high-profile individuals that he "knows something" about their past... and they buy it! In reality, he knows nothing about them. It's just the notion that every man, no matter how important, has SOMETHING to hide.
Two Sisters from Boston will make you a Durante fan for life.
Dan N.
http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com
The BIG QUESTION OF ALL, WHICH HAS PUZZLED THE WORLD OF FILMDOM WHEN DISCUSSING EARLY HOLLYWOOD DURING THAT PARTICULAR ERA ALOST A CENTURY AGO (!!)-- IS EL FACTO ON-PURPOSE: WHY WOULD METRO GOLDWYN MAYER, WITH ALL OF IT'S CLASS AND BALLYHOO, SEEMED TO, WITH ALMOST FEVERISH CONTEMPT, WANT TO BRING DOWN THE GREAT COMEDY PEOPLE WITH A HORRIBLY OBNOXIOUS PRODUCT- SERVED UP ON 'P-U PLATES'-- WELL INTO THE FORTIES-- (DEMEANING TO THE ALREADY-PROVEN COMEDY MASTERS WITH DITTO FORMULAS) AND SEEMINGLY THEIR INTENTIONS A FIENDISHLY ON-PURPOSE DESTRUCTION FORMULA OF THEIR OWN APPLIED-AND ESPECIALLY CRUEL TO THE HAL ROACH PEOPLE THEY WERE, TO LAUREL AND HARDY AND OUR GANG/LIL RASCALS, FOR SURE. THEIR 40'S PRODUCT SEEMED LIKE AN ALMOST SURREAL JOURNEY OF SOME DIVERSION TO OBLIVION--WITH THEIR FILM COMEDY STRUCTURE COMPLETELY WRECKED IN FILMS THAT MIGHT AS WELL HAVE HAD AN "R.I.P." PRINTED ALONG WITH THE 'END' TITLES--THAT BAD! AND HOW ABOUT THE MARX BROS, AND BUSTER KEATON? MAYBE THE SIMPLE ANSWER REMAINS: THAT THE BRASS AT MGM AT THAT TIME (DOES PREZ LOUIE TAKE CREDIT HERE--OR?) WHOEVER WAS IN CHARGE OF THE POWER TO USE THE STUDIO'S WRECKING BALL, JUST DID NOT KNOW COMEDY AT ALL, FOR SURE--. ASIDE FROM A SERIES OF MICKEY ROONEY FILMS WHICH WERE DATED ABOUT A MONTH LATER AFTER THEIR RELEASE, THIS STUDIO REFLECTS A BIG 'F' FOR FAILURE; WITH THAT LETTER USAGE, PERHAPS,GOOD FOR SOME DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES FOR THAT FAILURE, AS WELL.. (2017).
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