tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post6082221342998269719..comments2024-03-17T07:25:56.478-04:00Comments on Thrilling Days of Yesteryear: The James Stewart Blogathon – Mr. Smith Goes to Grandview in Magic Town (1947)Ivan G Shreve Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067177808320053382noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-30895122912357419002014-04-17T02:28:50.339-04:002014-04-17T02:28:50.339-04:00Looks like I came to the right place just after re...Looks like I came to the right place just after reading Rich's Stewart in WWII post! I've always snubbed this title for some reason, now I've got to check around to see if I still have a copy. Never looked into it, so I didn't no about the Riskin/Wellman team-up or that great supporting cast. Definitely won't let <i>Magic Town</i> pass me by again!Cliff Alipertihttp://immortalephemera.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-16059049046537817822014-04-16T22:22:39.971-04:002014-04-16T22:22:39.971-04:00I've got to agree with Kevin Deany--it's a...I've got to agree with Kevin Deany--it's almost as if this film just spliced in the footage of Toomey and Doran from "Meet J.D.," the scenes are so similar. <br /><br />If "Magic Town" helps demonstrate Riskin's contribution to those earlier Capra hits, it also gives some indication of what Capra brought to the collaboration. I don't know if Capra could have made that hard-to-swallow ending work, either, but I wonder if it would have seemed quite so glaringly implausible in his hands. Wellman's great, but schmalz is not his metier.<br />policomicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-80459317753572885412014-04-16T16:10:23.754-04:002014-04-16T16:10:23.754-04:00You truly revealed the magic in this little pictur...You truly revealed the magic in this little picture, Ivan. I especially enjoy reading about films from someone who has a sincere appreciation for them. You made an excellent comparison between the relationships of James Stewart with Donna Reed (the pursuer in IAWL) versus here with Jane Wyman (the pursued). Different relationships and performances for different reasons. Well done!toto2https://www.blogger.com/profile/09652682900471649463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-43968090348062133762014-04-16T16:05:23.221-04:002014-04-16T16:05:23.221-04:00In my mind, Regis Toomey and Ann Doran are playing...In my mind, Regis Toomey and Ann Doran are playing the same characters in MAGIC TOWN that they played in MEET JOHN DOE, only they moved out of the big city into suburbia. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-70634586950723106982014-04-16T09:25:48.820-04:002014-04-16T09:25:48.820-04:00This movie has always been on the list headed &quo...This movie has always been on the list headed "one of these days I'll have to catch up with this one". I'll promptly move it over to the "one of these days soon I'll have to catch up with this one".Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-36265090653170192642014-04-16T07:33:15.556-04:002014-04-16T07:33:15.556-04:00Ivan, an insightful review of an interesting movie...Ivan, an insightful review of an interesting movie that never quite works for me. I love the description you included: “The greatest Frank Capra film not directed by Frank Capra.” And you're right, a 1930s Capra film probably seemed out of place in the 1940s (without having today's nostalgic charm). After World War II, even Capra went a little dark in the "future" scenes in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. Today, there could never be a perfect polling town like Grandview--because the cable news channels would find about out it, publicize it, and ruin the "magic." Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.com