"All Fall Down" today on TCM

I saw this film at a screening about 10 years ago at LACMA with Angela Lansbury there to do a Q&A. It was a double feature of "All Fall Down" and "The Manchurian Candidate." John Frankenheimer was also there and participated. They took lots of questions from our audience.

Wonderful stuff!

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As I recall, Angela talked about the mothers from both films and their decidedly "un-motherly" affection.

It was definitely intentional and not just "smothering."

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If only you'd asked me these questions ten years ago, I might remember more!

The Q&A session happened between films. They showed us "Manchurian Candidate" first, then Lansbury and Frankenheimer came out to answer questions about this film primarily, plus they talked a bit more and answered a few questions about the second film of the evening "All Fall Down." We hadn't seen the movie at that point, and it was new to me. So her answers didn't "stick" as well as they did for Manchurian. Much of the discussion was about the up-and-coming Warren Beatty. I do remember them asking her about the two mothers and their "uncomfortable affections." It was definitely intentional. She did mention almost turning down one of the parts because they were so similar in a not-very-good-way. Frankenheimer talked her into it, though. They filmed these movies back-to-back, and ultimately the roles were too good for Angela to reject either.

Sorry I can't remember more!

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I love ALL FALL DOWN. It's one of my favorite films from the '60s. Great cast and great director. I think this was Beatty's third movie right after SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS and THE ROMAN SPRING OF MRS. STONE. Angela Lansbury is magnificent in everything she does. What can't that woman do?