Van Johnson dead at 92- Page 2

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 12:57am

I grew up watching MGM musicals. If my sister and I were still speaking to one another, I'm sure that she's had a good cry over his passing.

It is sad.

I want to see "In the Good Old Summertime" now.

"I know you'll enjoy being Mrs. Newspickle..."

[wexy]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 2:23am

"Go For Broke!" when Van led a group of Japanese American soldiers in WWII

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm287216896/tt0043590

[Q]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 2:35am

"If my sister and I were still speaking to one another"

That hits far too close to home.

What are we doing?

[Jack King]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 4:00am

"best12bars"--That's the comment I could not recall on the NY bar set! "It's not the heat. It's the humanity." And that bar set was right out of the pop culture of the day: Madison Avenue ad agencies, etal. Somehow also reminded me of Holly Golightly's apartment party in BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S.

Thanks so much for sharing all that production history of BRIGADOON. The sets were gorgeous. I wonder if Scotland is like that?

It is a good movie.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 11:16am

The first thing I think of when I remember Van Johnson was his guest appearance as The Minstrel on the old Batman series.

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 2:25pm

Sorry to hear of VJ's death. I was in two shows with him, TOO MANY GIRLS and PAL JOEY. He was a very sweet, humble guy with a 3000 watts smile that endeared him to women and men alike. You just wanted to pinch his face.

He never had a bad word to say about anyone and was what I would call a gallant escort, especially to the women when we went to Larry Hart's crazy parties.

Was he gay then? Yes, he was. It was no secret to any of us. We all knew but at that time it was not fashionable to be out. So, he just kept it in. But he seemed to have a hell of a good time!

Someone mentioned that he understudies Deazi Arnaz in TOO MANY GIRLS, but I don't remember him doing so. And, if memory serves, he did not understudy or standby for Gene Kelly in PAL JOEY. I'm sure that was George Tapps.

It's strange, this revival of PAL JOEY opening and Van Johnson passing away at the same time.

Van, I remember you doing that great congo line in TOO MANY GIRLS, and I hope you're still doing it.

Love,

Miriam

Updated On: 12/13/08 at 02:25 PM

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 2:58pm

Miriam! What a delightful surprise to see your post. As always, thank you for sharing a piece of your wonderful first-hand view. I'm glad you shared your fond memories with us. He did leave a very nice legacy.

[beacon1]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 3:34pm

Have to admit that an audible "oh no!" escaped my lips when I read this (much to the chagrin of those around me.) Always had a soft place in my heart for him. Loved his style and will always remember that big smile. His eyes would dance!

[Hiram]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 10:26pm

I too loved IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME. My favorite Van Johnson performance. He was wonderful. And one of Judy Garland's best. Underrated movie.

I envy those of you who got to see him on stage and/or work with him. He seemed like such a lovely, charming man.

[Jack King]

Posted: 12/13/08 at 10:47pm

Van Johnson had the "guy next door" quality. He looked and acted like a regular guy. Nasal voice. He gave "for real" type performances.

In "The Caine Mutiny" he was the antagonist who figured out that Captain Queeg was a paranoid. I'm ambivalent on how the writer Herman Wouk shamed the the Van Johnson character at the conclusion of the court martial at the end of the movie. The Naval attorney throws a drink in his face. That's how the movie ends.

BTW has anybody here ever got through Wouk's novel? I got stuck 3/4 way through and gave up. :) I didn't even get to the juicy parts--yet.

[Mamie]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 7:42am

Like a lot of little girls, I was always a sucker for romantic fantasies. That explains why I fell deeply in love with Van Johnson while watching "High Barbaree" on TV one afternoon many years ago. I was already fascinated by him, even at the ripe old age of 7, when he appeared on our little old black and white TV as The Pied Piper of Hamelin. The Caine Mutiny just proved what a really fabulous actor he was.

I remember a scene in "That's Entertainment" when Liza talked about how wonderful film was because it captured these fabulous performances and made it possible to bring them back and see them when we wanted. (That's a mile away from what she actually said - but it's been a while since I saw the film and it gets to the point). So I'm so glad that it's possible to pull some of these wonderful performances of Van's off the shelf when I want to and remember this wonderful actor.

(If anyone knows of a copy of either Pied Piper or High Barbary, please let me know!)

[nmartin]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 7:56am

I just remembered that he was in the-movie-within-a-movie in The Purple Rose of Cairo. Love that movie.

And, Miriam, I suspect you're a National Treasure.

[Mamie]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 8:44am

Miriam - I have a Playbill for Too Many Girls and someone (I assume the audience member) crossed out Eddie Bracken's name on the Cast List and wrote in Van Johnson - across from the character of Jojo Jordon. Is it possible that Van understudied Eddie Bracken instead?

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 12:06pm

I really don't recall and unfortunately, most of the people connected with TOO MANY GIRLS have passed away. If memory serves me correctly, I thought he understudied Hal LeRoy. But I could be wrong.

[Sonia&Vernon]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 3:02pm

Van Johnson understudied Desi Arnaz, Dick Kollmar, and Eddie Bracken in Too Many Girls. He went on for Kollmar and Bracken, but never for Desi. One matinee, Desi didn't show up and they told Van he was going to go on for him. They dyed his hair black and put dark makeup on him, but right before curtain, Desi finally appeared. Van was thrilled that he didn't have to play the role. Van talks about this in Lucie Arnaz's "Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie - The OuttakeS" video. Van eventually played Dick Kollmar's part in the national tour.

[Sonia&Vernon]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 3:02pm

Sorry for the double post. Updated On: 12/14/08 at 03:02 PM