The Great Myrna Loy on Ronald Reagan

Per Miss Loy in a 1982 interview with "Legends of the Screen":

"I never worked with Ronald Reagan. I'm not happy that he's president, but I was willing to give him a chance. But he's destroying everything now I've lived my life for."

Miss Loy, not only a great actress, but was an activist:
During WWII she was the only actress to put her career on hold and work full time for the Red Cross.
After the war, she served for 3.5 years as a member of UNESCO.
She spoke out against McCarthyism and the HUAC hearings.
She was one of the few actors to sue a publication for labeling her a communist--and won.
She was a founding member of the Committee for the First Amendment.
She was an active member of the National Committee Against Discrimination in Housing.

She is, of course, best known as Nora Charles in THE THIN MAN movies, and made other classics like THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAMHOUSE, MANHATTAN MELODRAMA, THE GREAT ZIEGFELD, LOVE CRAZY, FROM THE TERRACE, and CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN.

On classic Hollywood:
"I will say one thing for the old days. We had individuality. I admire some of the peole on the screen today, but most of tehm look like everybody else. I miss the moguls, those monsters we used to work with, I wish they were back because they really loved film--today the industry is run by nothing but corporations."

I love these old movies, and am glad this thread was posted which prompted me to Googled her.
:)

TCM Fri, Nov 16, 11:00 AM The Thin Man
TCM Fri, Nov 16, 12:45 PM After the Thin Man
TCM Fri, Nov 16, 2:45 PM Another Thin Man
TCM Fri, Nov 16, 4:30 PM Shadow of the Thin Man
TCM Fri, Nov 16, 6:15 PM The Thin Man Goes Home

http://www.tv-now.com/stars/myrna.html

Love those movies, and I know there's one of the series I still have not seen. Not sure which one, other than it not being the first one, of course.
I'll be glued to the tv...

I don't think I've seen them all, either. I think they made 7 in all. I'm going to run my errands early, make a pot of chicken soup, grab my knitting, and enjoy the two sleuths the rest of the afternoon. How's that for a plan?

:)

Thanks so much for starting this thread. She's an old favorite of mine, but had no idea she was such an advocate and a staunch Democrat until your post prompted me to Google her. What an awesome lady, and now watching her movies will make it all the more pleasurable. It would pain her greatly if she were to see what the Republican party has wrought unto this country. Apparently she did see the beginning under Reagan, and spoke her mind about it.

My favorite movie is "Mr. Blanding's Builds His Dream House" You know, "if you ain't eatin' WHAM, you ain't eatin' ham!" I LOVE Cary Grant. :loveya:

Edit: I just Googled "Mr. Blandings ..." and found the screenplay transcript! Here it is for those interested: http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/m/mr-blandings-builds-his-dream-house-script.html

The things you can find on Google! Just amazing!

You remind me of a man.
What man.
the man with the power.
what power?
The power of voodoo.
Voodoo?
You do.
Do what?
Remind me of a man.

back in the 80's. We must have looked like idiots! LOL. Love that movie.

I didn't finish up my errands in time for the first movie, but have been enjoying the rest of them. Nick Charles is so smooth. Myrna Loy and William Powell are naturals together. I haven't seen these films in years (decades!)

How surprising to find Jimmy Stewart in the second film, and be the hateful murderer to boot! He had me snookered, though I did question why he threw the gun away, even though it hadn't been fired. I guess it was a way to make the viewer question whether she really did kill her husband, and to make us think it was someone from the nightclub.

You remind me of a man.
What man?
The man with the power.
What power?
The power of voodoo.
Voodoo?
You do.
Do what?
Remind me of a man.

Now, that makes me smile!
:)

in those movies again. I did run some errands during the third film, so I taped that one.

I saw it a few years ago and that floored me!

I just got to tune in.

I've been a Myrna Loy fan for years. Now I admire her even more.

Remember those Central American death squads?!?

"friend" who was in charge of committing those heinous acts.

a virtue.

Lieutenant Guild: You got a pistol permit?
Nick Charles: No.
Lieutenant Guild: Ever heard of the Sullivan Act?
Nora Charles: Oh, that's all right, we're married.

Reporter: Say listen, is he working on a case?
Nora: Yes, he is.
Reporter: What case?
Nora: A case of scotch. Pitch in and help him.

Nora: Pretty girl.
Nick: Yes. She's a very nice type.
NOra: You got types?
Nick: Only you, darling. Lanky brunettes with wicked jaws.

Where she uttered the line, "He's not entirely unhandsome, is he my father"

I haven't seen it in a while, but I have it on DVD.

On target. :D

I first saw the Thin Man movies as a kid, and fell in love with the sophistication, witty repartee and casual regard for "the cops" - it was only years later I learned of her activism and courage in facing the red scare BS, etc.




Edit to add: Check out the "Go to Hell" look William Powell is giving the Homeland Security Official - and the near "flip of the bird" as he hands over his papers. Priceless.

:thumbsup:

:hi:

We share love of Myrna, John Cage, good cooking and justice for all.
And both our sweeties are good DUers, too. We are Family!
:pals: