tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post3113558955049067743..comments2024-03-24T21:42:48.278-04:00Comments on Another Old Movie Blog: The Student Prince - 1954Jacqueline T. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-74946811650240999092014-07-23T13:17:43.423-04:002014-07-23T13:17:43.423-04:00Kevin, by all means, wear the Mountie uniform. I ...Kevin, by all means, wear the Mountie uniform. I will confess my weakness for a Mountie uniform in our next post on ROSE MARIE.<br /><br />Ralph's blog is great, enjoy.<br /><br />I'm glad to know there's a biography of Romberg. I'll have to track that down one of these days.Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-39612601972106606362014-07-23T12:02:05.043-04:002014-07-23T12:02:05.043-04:00Can I be a member of that operetta clubhouse? I ca...Can I be a member of that operetta clubhouse? I can even wear a mountie uniform. We can throw a big party if anyone ever puts out Paramount's THE GREAT VICTOR HERBERT on DVD. <br /><br />I like your point about the 20s is remembered as the Jazz Age, but THE STUDENT PRINCE was one of the biggest hits of the decade. I recently read a biography of Sigmund Romberg, and the Shubert organization could always count on a healthy box office with STUDENT PRINCE revivals in the 1930s and 1940s. <br /><br />Thanks for the heads up on Ralph's blog. It's been bookmarked. <br /><br />Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-1670121506709402092014-07-23T06:38:25.191-04:002014-07-23T06:38:25.191-04:00Thanks, Yvette. I agree, Ralph's contributions...Thanks, Yvette. I agree, Ralph's contributions to the discussion are great. Have a look at his blog sometime, he's had roles in a lot of movies and some great posts about them.Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-58478734706127468362014-07-22T21:07:56.648-04:002014-07-22T21:07:56.648-04:00Hi Jacqueline, I loved reading your post re THE ST...Hi Jacqueline, I loved reading your post re THE STUDENT PRINCE, a movie I know I saw, but can't remember in the slightest. (At first I got it confused with DESERT SONG, another movie operetta of dubious merit. Though I've always had a soft spot for singing in the desert.) Though I do remember watching THE GREAT CARUSO, especially the ending. Also loved reading Ralph's comments. It's great to know that Ann Blyth was just as nice as she appeared to be on screen. I also enjoyed the Louis Calhern story. He's another of my favorites.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-58642096789965957652014-07-18T17:44:19.165-04:002014-07-18T17:44:19.165-04:00"We may just revive this fine old movie betwe..."We may just revive this fine old movie between us... :)"<br /><br />Ralph, nothing would please me more. I'm really enjoying your contributions to this discussion. I admire how you've attacked your retirement with such creativity. And what a kick to see yourself on TV from time to time.Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-13345048330694566142014-07-18T14:00:04.967-04:002014-07-18T14:00:04.967-04:00My 10% estimate may even be high regarding filming...My 10% estimate may even be high regarding filming that makes it to the final cut. Especially during a big budget major movie, the director will print several takes of the same scene with just slight differences in tone, or lighting, or script wording, or background activities and presence. it's my guess that a 2 hour major movie has been recorded on over 20 hours of film from just watching the endless reloading of new film canisters for a few minutes of action. <br /><br />I started my blog a few years ago at the insistent urging of friends. I've thought about a book but I simply don't have the time. Isn't it amazing how after retiring there are so many events in this new life that time has become a precious commodity. <br /><br />Most of my extra work in the 1950s took place in TV series. Thanks to the resurgence of old series on OTA (over the air) channels. I'm now recording them endlessly and watching for surprise appearances - the most recent with Steve McQueen in Wanted Dead Or Alive. What a nice bonus to find myself in a 3 shot with Steve and Jeanne Cooper who I have adored for years on Y&R. <br /><br />I've become hopelessly addicted to Asian culture and dramas and participating in the Obon season dancing which dominates so much of my (willingly given) time. <br /><br />I hope you don't mind, I added a link to your Student Prince blog from my Student Prince remembrance. We may just revive this fine old movie between us... :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-70606504520271422332014-07-18T06:26:23.982-04:002014-07-18T06:26:23.982-04:00Too bad about the cutting room floor. I had no ide...Too bad about the cutting room floor. I had no idea about the 10 percent statistic, that's interesting.<br /><br />Love the chess match story. Despite his proficiency, it's easy to imagine Bogart could win most of his matches purely through silent intimidation.<br /><br />Are you writing a book, or have you, about your time in Hollywood? Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-88969857561382911592014-07-17T23:37:10.115-04:002014-07-17T23:37:10.115-04:00I ended up on the cutting room floor in Sabrina. ...I ended up on the cutting room floor in Sabrina. I was paired with a young lady standing at the rail of the ship in the final scenes. We never made it to the final product. I believe on average you only make it to the final cut in 10% of your scene participations. BTW, more trivia speaking of Sabrina. Humphrey Bogart was a fanatic chess player. Every moment he was not in a scene he was in back playing chess. I was pretty good in those days too. So I went to the end of the line waiting to play with him. (there was always a line). I finally made it and could not believe I was sitting opposite Bogart with a chess board. It took him about 2 minutes to finish off this quivering nervous unable to concentrate chess nerd. lol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-16751373630708437152014-07-17T21:10:53.542-04:002014-07-17T21:10:53.542-04:00Welcome, Ralph. Thank you so much for stopping by...Welcome, Ralph. Thank you so much for stopping by, and sharing more memories of your experience on the set of THE STUDENT PRINCE. Love that bit about Louis Calhern.<br /><br />I'm going to look for you in SABRINA, another favorite, and I hope everyone will hop over to your blog to read more about your adventures in 1950s Hollywood studios. I'll look forward to many visits to your blog.<br /><br />Thanks again for visiting us. I'm so pleased you did.<br /><br />Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-78034550275061265042014-07-17T20:32:20.266-04:002014-07-17T20:32:20.266-04:00Hi Everyone,
Found a link to your blog on my bl...Hi Everyone, <br /><br />Found a link to your blog on my blog and rushed over to discover this wonderful review and history of the Student Prince's rough journey into production. <br /><br />Although it was probably more than just a disappointment for the actors originally considered in 1952, I will quietly whisper that it worked exceptionally well for me. In 1952 I was counting the days to my discharge from the Air Force which was in September, 1953. <br /><br />I think I was accepted by SEG and Central Casting in Nov 1953. The Student Prince was my second booking from that time preceded only by Sabrina. <br /><br />What a joyous delightful welcome for me into the fairytale land of the 1950s major studios. <br /><br />Like everyone on the set, I fell in love with that talented young lady, Ann Blyth and still cherish the image of her coming out of the double doors leading to the beer garden with steins swinging in the air. Can't remember how many takes for that scene alone but her stamina was amazing. You describe her strength with great clarity in your blog.<br /><br />Conversely, I seem to recall that many mornings when Ann first comes on the set ready for filming, she is often accompanied by a priest and we all stand silently as he gives a blessing.<br /><br />We worked long days most of the time leaving in the dark of late evening. Still feel a little embarrassed, during a break I went outside the stage door for a breath of air, an elderly gentleman was sitting on a chair relaxing also. I had no idea who he was as he began chatting with me. When I told him I was new to the studio world, he launched into a fairly long mentoring of what I needed to do to become a star. As he finished he held out his hand and asked my name. I shook hands with him told him my name and he responded. "Nice to meet you Ralph, my name is Louis Calhern".<br /><br />Yikes. <br /><br />Ralph MoratzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-33406510539492879832014-07-17T19:41:51.080-04:002014-07-17T19:41:51.080-04:00GOM, it may well be that tenors are precious commo...GOM, it may well be that tenors are precious commodities, but Mario Lanza certainly was. I believe they would have had a hard time replacing him, but I think Louis B. Mayer would have probably made up with Mario. From what I've read, they had a better understanding of each other.<br /><br />I hadn't heard Grayson if was ever considered for the role - but from what I've read, she wasn't too crazy about working with Mario. She might not have wanted the job.<br /><br />In the middle of all this: Ann Blyth, who just wanted to sing.Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-62463544735261088742014-07-17T19:01:18.228-04:002014-07-17T19:01:18.228-04:00What an unbelievably complicated backstory to this...What an unbelievably complicated backstory to this film, and what it reveals about star ego and studio intransigence. I wonder if something like this could have happened 10 years earlier at MGM when Louis Mayer reigned - he may have been an SOB in private, but apparently he was a studio head who knew how to negotiate with his stars (and how to protect them).<br /><br />I'm curious to know if Kathryn Grayson was also considered for the barmaid's role. She obviously was a big MGM soprano star, and I think she had already made a film with Lanza. One can also note that while there were several sopranos to choose from for the film, there's seems to have been only one tenor, and he could not, in a certain sense, be replaced (audiences no doubt wanted the body to go along with the voice). That's a kind of reflection of actual life in the operatic world - a soprano I once knew told me that her kind was "a dime a dozen," but that tenors were considered precious commodities.grandoldmovieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10773085288675763855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-46837714432679744992014-07-17T11:02:45.050-04:002014-07-17T11:02:45.050-04:00I'm so glad you hopped over to Ralph's blo...I'm so glad you hopped over to Ralph's blog. Isn't it great? We don't hear enough from the extras.<br /><br />Love this: "... there have always been and always will be operetta fans. It's just that we've been forced underground." <br /><br />We need a clubhouse and a secret password. Instead of Beatniks in a smoky coffeehouse snapping their fingers, we can gather in a biergarten. Instead of "Joe sent me" through a narrow slot in the door like in the 1920s, we can answer, "When I'm calling yoo-ooo-ooo!" to gain entrance.<br /><br />Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-83462768377468495662014-07-17T10:10:27.283-04:002014-07-17T10:10:27.283-04:00"Moments of musical bliss" indeed. I di..."Moments of musical bliss" indeed. I did not expect to become verklempt so early in the morning.<br /><br />Ralph's blog is a real find. What fun!<br /><br />I believe MGM did mar the success of their own picture, and it's a shame. Popular music trends were changing (don't they always), but there have always been and always will be operetta fans. It's just that we've been forced underground. Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.com