tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post3487906742180618085..comments2024-03-23T03:57:15.055-07:00Comments on Caftan Woman: BEYOND THE COVER BLOGATHON: CITY FOR CONQUEST (1940)Caftan Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-64535071619931162162016-04-20T12:28:23.676-07:002016-04-20T12:28:23.676-07:00My pleasure. Congratulations on a grand blogathon...My pleasure. Congratulations on a grand blogathon. There is an awful lot about the movie to love. After all, it stars James Cagney!Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-40958107306339834232016-04-20T12:27:40.308-07:002016-04-20T12:27:40.308-07:00I was able to get the book for my e-reader and I w...I was able to get the book for my e-reader and I was very happy to read it after all these years. It is excellent. <br /><br />Thanks for stopping by.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-44608223610310090212016-04-19T17:14:32.532-07:002016-04-19T17:14:32.532-07:00I just bought this movie on a whim and haven't...I just bought this movie on a whim and haven't seen it yet! Now I am super excited too and I had no idea it was a book! Thank you so much for joining us!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05438426325139567933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-38804130129518701032016-04-12T10:58:38.868-07:002016-04-12T10:58:38.868-07:00I remember the passage from Cagney`s autobiography...I remember the passage from Cagney`s autobiography, but I haven`t seen the movie yet! I want to do it, of course, but now I want to read the novel as well. I love to compare the book and the movie, and it`ll be a nice experience, knowing filming wasn`t always smooth and Cagney w2as unhappy with the result.<br />Thanks for the kind comment!<br />Kisses!<br />LeLêhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02419693749682458647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-8928758882484503542016-04-11T09:58:49.337-07:002016-04-11T09:58:49.337-07:00The movie will never leave my heart.
I would like...The movie will never leave my heart.<br /><br />I would like to see some farsighted producer make a mini-series of the book. It would be fascinating and bring the novel back in the public's eye.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-44073493914633532962016-04-11T08:21:12.524-07:002016-04-11T08:21:12.524-07:00This is one of my favorite Cagney films - and the ...This is one of my favorite Cagney films - and the one that made me fall in love with Ann Sheridan. They were dynamite together - his best female costar, I think. And that ending - makes me cry every time! Thank you for this awesome review. The book is always one I thought about reading, but now it's on the list of things to read.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-83034128790875612502016-04-10T13:01:47.415-07:002016-04-10T13:01:47.415-07:00I'll look forward to your piece on "Our T...I'll look forward to your piece on "Our Town". I adore Thornton Wilder.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-16605770803405615062016-04-10T10:07:55.723-07:002016-04-10T10:07:55.723-07:00Agreed, I'll always enjoy it too. I've act...Agreed, I'll always enjoy it too. I've actually just watched Craven in Our Town, by total coincidence - I'm covering it for the upcoming William Holden blogathon - so am all the more intrigued to see his bit in this! Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09688113363803443338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-32337617808936543752016-04-10T09:50:03.313-07:002016-04-10T09:50:03.313-07:00My pleasure. There have been many eye-opening con...My pleasure. There have been many eye-opening contributions to your blogathon. You and Liz must be very proud.<br /><br />It is a book well worth reading. I couldn't find a print copy, but it recently became available for Kobo and it was a constant and welcome companion.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-48165947014535234882016-04-10T09:34:04.884-07:002016-04-10T09:34:04.884-07:00I like this movie a lot too, and as other commente...I like this movie a lot too, and as other commenters said, I was unaware this was a book, and also such an important work in such a good screenwriter's career. Interesting to read the comparison. Luckily for a novelist, no matter how bad a film turns out, their original vision still stands and remains available. Thanks so much for joining the blogathon! Always a pleasure to have you along!Kristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11659951781597698530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-85265791025418830112016-04-10T07:22:21.730-07:002016-04-10T07:22:21.730-07:00It appears that the studio executives couldn't...It appears that the studio executives couldn't make up their minds about Frank Craven's hobo/narrator either. If anything, what that shows me is that everyone involved in the film cared about what they were doing and tried to get it "just right". It is simply that that were too many ideas of how to do that. As I said in the post, I still go back and forth on whether Craven's bit works or not. I do know that I will always enjoy the film.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-13329948519928475862016-04-10T05:51:45.358-07:002016-04-10T05:51:45.358-07:00Just did a quick bit of Googling about the Frank C...Just did a quick bit of Googling about the Frank Craven role, and I see his character was in the original release but almost all his scenes were cut out for a rerelease in 1948, which was then the version issued on home video. So I must be remembering wrongly about this being one of the things that annoyed Cagney about the original film. Apologies for that! Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09688113363803443338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-72506287970254387232016-04-10T05:29:54.332-07:002016-04-10T05:29:54.332-07:00Great posting - I'm so glad you went to the no...Great posting - I'm so glad you went to the novel to see what changes were made. I'm another one who really likes City for Conquest and think Cagney is wonderful in it even though he was dissatisfied with the finished film. I'd like to see Ann Sheridan's character given more screen time, but she is excellent too. <br /><br />I've only seen the cut released to cinemas which completely removed Frank Craven as narrator - I've read that this is one of the reasons Cagney was so disillusioned with the film. I used to have this on VHS, I think, but have been meaning to revisit it and try to get hold of the restored version which has the Craven sequences added back in. Looks as if it is now on DVD and available for streaming in the UK, so I should be able to do that soon!Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09688113363803443338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-250737772621759572016-04-09T18:11:03.183-07:002016-04-09T18:11:03.183-07:00I have such a fondness for some movies that it is ...I have such a fondness for some movies that it is almost unimaginable that someone involved with it doesn't share the feeling. Once you put your art out there, it is no longer yours - it belongs to the public.<br /><br />I can't afford the new furniture I want so a couple of days ago I looked around at what I could redecorate and - aha! - here it is new walls, cushions and all.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-66258556242565250282016-04-09T18:08:52.624-07:002016-04-09T18:08:52.624-07:00I know! My watch/read list is getting out of hand...I know! My watch/read list is getting out of hand. Deep breath and one page at a time. Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-66755890234393655552016-04-09T17:48:03.829-07:002016-04-09T17:48:03.829-07:00I think actors always see their own films differen...I think actors always see their own films differently then those of us in the audience. I guess it's a good thing when they don't watch their own pictures. After all, stage actors never get to sit in the audience to see themselves act. Once again you introduced me to a new film title ( and a new book author! ) but I must have been away from your site awhile, did you fire the Pink Panther? Your walls are no longer painted pink! The Metzinger Sistershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10728879307994086409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-82534492664578828452016-04-09T16:57:02.464-07:002016-04-09T16:57:02.464-07:00I was unaware that this was based on a book. Must...I was unaware that this was based on a book. Must have missed it in the credits. Good review. I think I'm ready to watch the movie again. This blogathon is adding a pile of books to read as well as movies to watch.Quiggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12434473473185065992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-4762590115967561142016-04-09T05:31:54.946-07:002016-04-09T05:31:54.946-07:00Thank you.
The movie remains a favourite for me...Thank you. <br /><br />The movie remains a favourite for me. Warner Brothers knew what they were doing, knew their audience and in this case - well, they knew "me".Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-39205849127418023382016-04-09T05:30:26.295-07:002016-04-09T05:30:26.295-07:00As a Hollywood vet I imagine on one hand Kandel co...As a Hollywood vet I imagine on one hand Kandel could take it in stride, but when it is what many consider your best work, it must have rankled.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-89713013005345142682016-04-09T04:56:39.406-07:002016-04-09T04:56:39.406-07:00I can't imagine how frustrating it would be fo...I can't imagine how frustrating it would be for a writer to hand over your material to a studio, only to see them butcher it. Would certainly leave a bad taste in a person's mouth, no?Silver Screeningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955048716754142299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-24509893457953481892016-04-08T18:59:17.135-07:002016-04-08T18:59:17.135-07:00Well done, as usual. I've not read the book, ...Well done, as usual. I've not read the book, but it is always fascinating to learn what the actors thought of the script, and then what they thought of the final cut of the movie. It is always a shock to discover they did not have the emotional investment in the movie in same way we do when we watch it.Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-39453261337684420912016-04-08T12:53:43.759-07:002016-04-08T12:53:43.759-07:00I am surprised that Warner Brothers didn't get...I am surprised that Warner Brothers didn't get Kandel to adapt his own novel. Despite the things we love about our classic movies, the ways of the studios often leave us shaking our heads.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-36756718668190633742016-04-08T12:51:44.957-07:002016-04-08T12:51:44.957-07:00Lower East Side is prominent as is Brooklyn, where...Lower East Side is prominent as is Brooklyn, where renters are taken advantage of in an effort to "move up". It is one of those sprawling novels with much to keep track of. Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-46401013038607171082016-04-08T12:48:36.404-07:002016-04-08T12:48:36.404-07:00The book indeed is more far reaching than the film...The book indeed is more far reaching than the film. There are rich characters, shown to be just as trapped by their means, and an ambitious landlord. Everything weaves together to create the city that is never conquered.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331373971294623620.post-63273046212825495532016-04-08T12:34:46.710-07:002016-04-08T12:34:46.710-07:00I've not read the book or seen the film, but I...I've not read the book or seen the film, but I'm going to rectify both after reading your review.<br /><br />I was surprised by Cagney's comment, and sorry to hear how disappointed he was. I hope the author took some comfort in his letter.<br /><br />Thanks for expanding my film and book horizons. :)Silver Screeningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955048716754142299noreply@blogger.com