12/05/016, When the mighty fall.

Two or so weeks ago there was a film on TV - The man who came to dinner [1941] - with Betty Davies. Several years ago I saw her in a TV adaptation of an Agatha Christie book [the title of which I do not remember},looking old, wrinkled ,gaunt,one side of the face drooping, obviously after a recent massive stroke. Taken for a ride by various husbands and inept financial advisers,in old age reduced to TV work even though she very obviously wasn't well enough to perform. It was so sad watching her struggle with words. But in this old Hollywood comedy she was quite superior,even though, I must admit, I have never really liked her,Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Hara and especially the lovely Greer Garson being my favourite. I had learned English watching Myrna Loy and William Powell movies - The Thin Man, Another Thin Man, After The Thin Man, Shadow of The Thin Man, The Thin Man Goes Home....I have seen them all,some many times over! There is no better way to learn a foreign language than by watching undemanding old films.