Van Johnson R.I.P.

[typhooforme]

Van Johnson did some good work, some important work in films--and appeared in a few genre-related movies lik A GUY NAMED JOE and BRIGADOON, and did THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN as well.  Some fine films like THE CAINE MUTINY, THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO, IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMER TIME and many more.

He passed away today, aged 92.

[Mike Scott]

Is this National Celebrity Death Week?

[Kenneth]

Yeah.....Heaven must be trying to get a quota in by the first of the year.

[Halloween Jeff]

     What a shame...I remember watching countless films of him on TCM..I liked the musicals best....


Bizarro Jeff

[The Spangler]

Is this National Celebrity Death Week?

Yeah, and I don't think we even mentioned Beverly Garland, who died a couple of weeks ago...did we?

[Mike Scott]

Yeah, and I don't think we even mentioned Beverly Garland, who died a couple of weeks ago...did we?

Yeh, here's the thread.
http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=2765.0

[BARON TIMOTHEUS BGG]

Dear UMA FANG-MILY,
... Back, in the Fabled '60's { the Decade, not, my current age} I was privileged, to work, as an Usher, at the local SCHUBERT Theatre, in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Many famous stars, of the 30's through the 60's, "tread the boards", as legitimate stage actors, turning in excellent work, in the Touring Theatre Brigade. MARY MARTIN, ROBERT PRESTON... oh, so many! A Delicious Experience, for a young performer.
... VAN JOHNSON starred, in one, of the offerings... after 40+ years, I've forgotten, which one... a Musical, as I recall... with EDWARD EVERETT HORTON...
... May His Soul REST IN PEACE!
EXANIMO EVERNOW,
TIMMY & THE BARON & FRIENDS, GOO-O-OODD-D!, B.G.G.

[depressedlarrytalbot]

Wow. He was a lesser BATMAN villain to Adam West. Minstrel? Archer? I forget.

Still, 92. Good age.

Hope you had fun Mr Johnson. RIP.

[Mike Scott]

He was a lesser BATMAN villain to Adam West. Minstrel? Archer? I forget.

The Minstrel. Art Carney was The Archer.

[Gasport]

That's right..i recall Van Johnson serenading Aunt Harriet in that episode. When the HELL are they going to issue the series on DVD??

[ChattyLMS]

When the HELL are they going to issue the series on DVD??

Maybe there's a problem with copyrights or something like that between 20th Century Fox and Marvel, or whoever does the Batman comics?

I'm sorry to hear about Van Johnson.  I remember him best from an episode of I Love Lucy.

[mike c]

I recall that episode, as well as the dozen or so seconds he was in Yours, Mine and Ours with Lucille Ball again (and Henry Fonda)... and I always liked him in the Pied Piper.

Eh, so many great ones going lately, though at least they're not dying in car wrecks at youthful ages... Van was our beloved Uncle Forry's age!

Mike C.

[depressedlarrytalbot]

Maybe there's a problem with copyrights or something like that between 20th Century Fox and Marvel, or whoever does the Batman comics?

As I understand it yes that is pretty much the problem. DC Comics and Batman are owned by Warners, but Fox owns the show. Fox wants to release it but Warners doesn't want to oblige. With GET SMART having finally come out, BATMAN may now be THE great remaining unreleased series of the 60s.

Now the same studios are arguing over the release of next year's WATCHMEN, a DC/Warner property that Fox claims it retains certain rights to, from a previous arrangement.

It's been speculated that the studios will eventually meet in the middle and do a trade-off. If so, it will be win/win for fans as long as WATCHMEN isn't a stinker (but based on what I've seen it looks pretty promising).   

[Scatter]

Maybe there's a problem with copyrights or something like that between 20th Century Fox and Marvel, or whoever does the Batman comics?

I'm sorry to hear about Van Johnson.  I remember him best from an episode of I Love Lucy.

Coincidentally, I just saw the Van Johnson episode of Lucy the other day. Hard to believe they're all gone now.

[Kharis]

While not his best film, my favorite film with Van Johnson is BATTLEGROUND (1949).  Here's a breif clip.  Johnson is the soldier who cries out "Oh, No!" when ordered to fall in with the rest of his platoon. Hey Kinney, whatever happened to Jody?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDQvYE8sbc8