SIMPLY CAROLE

SIMPLY CAROLE
CAROLE LOMBARD - My Favorite Actress

Monday, April 30, 2012

Thanks to Greta Garbo...my classic movie goddess of the month


I had a wonderful time with Greta Garbo as my classic movie goddess of the month. I enjoyed posting about her all month long. I recently saw that Amazon is offering her movie collection for about $40 bucks and it features quite an impressive line-up. What's great about it is that it has three of her silents, including Flesh and the Devil. And since I haven't seen any of her silent era work, I thought this would be an awesome set to get. Once I do, I will definitely let everyone know what I think of them. Who knows, I may ask Greta back to become my first repeat goddess. Anyway thanks to all those who commented and tomorrow will begin my posting on Anne Baxter.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Tea Anyone: Claude Rains and daughter Jennifer

Claude Rains and his daughter Jennifer enjoying some tea

All Good Things in MAY


Whew...almost forgot to write a preview post for next month. Better late than never. My classic movie goddess of the month will be Anne Baxter. I can hear the boos and hisses already as Anne created one of the most devious and scheming characters in film history as Eve Harrington in All About Eve. But she did lots more than Eve and I will try to talk about that all next month long. For instance she is an Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actress in The Razor's Edge. As well as a recipient of a Montie for Five Graves to Cairo. My guest for the month will be another friend I met on Facebook, Lori Kemp. She has already sent her answers back to me as she doesn't believe in dallying. She is one of my best friends. My non-official blogathon, Cinematic World Tour will kick off Memorial Day weekend with my first post. I know some of you have signed up to take a vacation as well, so it will be quite fun to see what everyone writes about. So May should be another good month for All Good Things. Please drop by from time to time.

The Essential Garbo

Now is the time when I write about the classic movie goddess of the month and her essential films. The films that show here at her very best and have to be seen. This month is Greta Garbo. Now I have not seen a lot of her silent era films, so this list is mainly about her latter day films. I do want to see her older films though. Maybe one day. Anyway let's get to her essentials, shall we? In no particular order...




CAMILLE (1936)
This was my very first Garbo film that I saw and I immediately fell in love with her. As the doomed courtesan, she excelled like no other. Great chemistry between her and Robert Taylor makes this one of the all time top romantic films of all time.


NINOTCHKA (1939)
My fave Garbo film has she ventured forth into my favorite film genre: screwball comedy. And after years of playing dramas and period films where she got to deliver some very dramatic and heavy dialogue, it was quite refreshing to see her do this wonderful and very funny film. 




ANNA KARENINA (1935)
Top notch drama with Garbo caught in the middle of a love triangle. Wearing some of the most gorgeous costumes, Greta was in her prime element. Great film!




GRAND HOTEL (1932)
Garbo. Barrymore. Crawford. Beery. Hersholt. Star packed melodrama that is a treat to watch. And while I think Garbo does not give the best female performance of the film, that honors goes to Joan Crawford, she is still quite engaging as Grusinskaya, the dancer.




QUEEN CHRISTINA (1933)
Another period film and another triumph for Garbo.  As queen of Sweden, she must choose between her country and the man she falls in love with. One of my personal favorites of Garbo.




MATA HARI (1931)
Who better than Garbo to play the world famous exotic dancer Mata Hari who was accused of spying for Germany during World War One. An early talkie for Garbo shows that she had not yet mastered dialogue yet. But she still created one of the most iconic images ever on film as the sexy Mata Hari.


Of special interest to me are Garbo's silent films that I have yet to see. Like The Temptress and Flesh and The Devil. Can't wait to see them! And also Anna Christie...need to watch that one as well.


My love of classic films is beyond measure

Monty

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Life Imitates Art: Episode 2 (Me and Jerry Maguire)


Recently we had a layoff at my job a few months ago that saw my boss and co-worker let go. So then I had to assume the workload of three people. That first week was very stressful and everyone kept asking was I alright. Making sure I wasn't going to snap or have a meltdown. So one day I kind of re-enacted the scene from Jerry Maguire, where he gets fired and tells everyone that he's not going to do what they think he's going to do, which is flip out. I did the same thing around like 4 or 5 people. The only difference was that I was doing it as a spoof. I think one person caught on that I was doing the Jerry Maguire scene. Which is a like a quarter of the audience. So that's pretty good I guess. Just another episode of my life imitating art that I wanted to share. Here's the clip of Tom Cruise as Jerry, not flipping out. Mind you my scene doesn't have me taking any fish or asking my secretary to come with me. Well I don't have a secretary or fish for that matter...and I didn't get laid off. So I have that going on for me...

The Morning Movie: THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA (1964)

TCM is showing several Tennessee Williams film adaptations today and I was able to watch some of The Night of the Iguana before leaving for work today. Iguana happens to be my 2nd favorite Williams work, only behind Cat on A Hot Tin Roof. Boasting stellar performances by Richard Burton (who has one helluva opening scene as a defrocked priest who lets his congregation have an earful); Deborah Kerr, in another strong role as a painter traveling with her grandfather and Ava Gardner lighting up the screen as Maxine, a woman who runs a motel and ex-flame of Burton's character. And let's not forget Sue Lyon,  as the teenage nymphet Charlotte. Excellent film. I think I will come home to watch it, as I happen to own it on DVD. And in case you wondering, the other Tennessee Williams films being shown today on TCM include Cat on A Hot Tin Roof, Sweet Bird of Youth and Baby Doll. A great day of film-watching for those who can catch them.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

If It's Tuesday, Then It Must Be Grace Kelly

Just a pic of Grace having a good time! Happy Tuesday everyone!

Angels in the Outfield(1951).


I have just finished writing my special thank you, to Monty's for all of his hard work on his past tournament. Angels in the Outfield(1951). Cast: Paul Douglas and Janet Leigh, directed by Clarence Brown. The cinematography was by Paul Vogel and the original music score was composed by Daniele Amfitheatrof.

When Pittsburgh, household hints reporter Jennifer Paige, is assigned an article on the, Pittsburgh Pirates, from "the women's angle." Jennifer, is very excited to be given the opportunity even though she knows nothing about baseball. Two sports reporters, think that it would be fun to challenge her into interviewing the bad tempered manager Guffy McGovern. She is shocked at his bad language and writes a article blaming him for the team not playing well.

Her editor is charmed by her article and decides to keep her on as a sports reporter. When she sees Guffy eating his steak at a nice restaurant, he tells her that he does not care what people write about him and sends her on her way.

After a huge loss, McGovern yells at his players, including his good friend the pitcher, Saul Hellman. He then goes out onto the baseball field and can not believe it when he hears someone telling him to "shut up." The voice tells him that he is an angel sent by Gabriel, who is answering someone's prayers and promises McGovern, that if he keeps his temper under control, that he will win the pennant. To prove to McGovern, that he is for real, the voice then tells him to look for a miracle the next day in the third inning.

McGovern is convinced, when one of his not so great player Rube Ronson, makes a great catch, then a ball hit by one of the Pirates, disappears and they win the game.

The team wins their next ten games, but when McGovern, starts to swear in the eleventh game, they lose. That night, the angel says he and his angelic former players, will help the Pirates.

During a game, Bridget White, a little girl from St. Gabriel's orphanage, tells her Mother Superior, Sr. Edwitha, that she sees angels behind each of the Pirates. Sr. Edwitha, is worried that she has had too much sun.



Jennifer, charmed by Bridget's story writes about it in her column. After McGovern reads her story, he goes to the orphanage to talk to Bridget. He is touched when she says that she has been praying for him. That afternoon the game is rained out, and Jennifer goes to McGovern's apartment to apologize for her unflattering story about him in the newspaper.


The next day, she takes Bridget to the ball game so she can write a new story explaining that the heat made Bridget see things. Soon realizing that McGovern has a soft spot for Bridget, Jennifer brings Bridget to his apartment for his birthday dinner. Jennifer makes dinner, but she uses the wrong oil which ruins the dinner and the three go to a restaurant. Where drunken Bayles is sitting at another table, gets into a fight with McGovern.

The next day, after he is hit in the head with a baseball, a stunned McGovern tells reporters that he talks to angels every day. Bayle calls him "emotionally unstable" and does a televised interview with a groundskeeper who saw McGovern's odd behavior on the deserted ball field. The players are all concerned, except for Hellman, who defends his old friend.

Later, when McGovern talks to his angel, he is heartbroken when he learns that the team in heaven will soon be signing up Hellman.

At the hearing a psychiatrist, says that angels are only a superstition, but McGovern's expert witnesses, a minister proves their existence. Just as the baseball commissioner is about to rule, Bayles brings up McGovern's wishes to adopt Bridget a fight breaks out. A bolt of lightning stops the fight and as a feather floats down, the case is dismissed. The angel tells McGovern, that the fight cancelled their deal and he is now on his own. Will the Pirates win the pennant and will McGovern, Jennifer and Bridget, become a happy family?

A very touching film for those that believe in the power of prayer.


Cameos:

Bing Crosby has a short cameo in the film, playing golf, sinking a long putt. At that time, Crosby was a part owner (approximately 15%) of the Pirates.

Baseball greats Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio also can be seen in the film, along with Hollywood songwriter Harry Ruby.

Barbara Billingsley has an uncredited role as a hat check girl at John's Steakhouse.



Donna Corcoran, (born September 29, 1942). A child actress who performed in several Hollywood films in the 1950s. She is best known playing in the aquatic musicals that featured Esther Williams, (playing swimmer Annette Kellerman as a child in one of them)and as a vulnerable girl being victimized by a disturbed babysitter, (played by Marilyn Monroe, pictured below).

After making her last film in 1955, she made a token comeback as a young adult in an episode in the television sit-com, My Three Sons (starring Fred MacMurray) in the early 1960s before finally leaving acting altogether.







Filmography:

Angels in the Outfield(1951)
Don't Bother to Knock(1952)
Million Dollar Mermaid (1952)
Dangerous When Wet(1953)
Scandal at Scourie(1953)
Gypsy Colt(1954)
Moonfleet(1955)


Monday, April 23, 2012

THE MONTIES: 1945 - Christmas comes early for Barbara Stanwyck

So sorry for the delay in between posts on the Monties, my version of the Oscars. Just was so busy with work and a lot of the films and star performances I hadn't seen yet, so I really couldn't critique on any of them. That is until now. So let's get started shall we..


BEST FILM:
Winner: Christmas In Connecticut
Nominees: The Lost Weekend; Leave Her To Heaven; Mildred Pierce; Scarlet Street; Detour; They Were Expendable; A Tree Grows In Brooklyn; The Wicked Lady; And Then There Were None
Thoughts: 1945 was another solid year in film. With some notable star driven films like Mildred Pierce and Leave Her To Heaven. And some smaller films that caught everyone's attention like Detour and The Wicked Lady. But my pick for favorite film of 1945 is Christmas In Connecticut. Call me sentimental but this is my favorite Christmas movie ever and my favorite Stanwyck film as well. It's funny, romantic and a joy to watch. While The Lost Weekend may boast some stellar acting and a riveting story line, I have a soft spot for Christmas in Connecticut. I know I may take some heat on this one, but what can I say, this is my fave film of 1945.
Pure holiday joy with Barbara
BEST DIRECTOR:
Winner: Billy Wilder (The Lost Weekend)
Nominees: Fritz Lang (Scarlet Street); Rene Clair (And Then There Were None); Edgar G. Ulmer (Detour); Michael Curtiz (Mildred Pierce)
Thoughts: Billy Wilder may be more remembered for his wonderful comedies (Some Like It Hot, The Apartment) he was never better than directing The Lost Weekend. Talk about a taut gripping tale that doesn't pull any punches. And while it's my second favorite film from 1945, there is no denying the amazing job Wilder did as director.


BEST WRITER:
Winner: Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder (The Lost Weekend)
Nominees: Ranald MacDougall (Mildred Pierce); Frank Davis and Tess Slesinger (A Tree Grows In Brooklyn); Dudley Nichols (Scarlet Street)
Thoughts: Can't beat the dramatic and tense dialogue in Weekend crafted by Brackett and Wilder. Some really good stuff!


BEST ACTOR: 
Winner: Ray Milland (The Lost Weekend)
Nominees: Edward G. Robinson (Scarlet Street); Danny Kaye (Wonder Man); Tom Neal (Detour); James Mason (The Wicked Lady)
Thoughts: Without a doubt, Ray Milland gives the performance of the year. Heck it's the best performance of his career. As his life slowly spins out of control due to his addiction to alcohol, you feel his despair and keep thinking..this guy has hit rock bottom. Kudos to Milland.
"OK, quit playing Jane. Where's my Montie?"
 
BEST ACTRESS:
Winner: Barbara Stanwyck (Christmas in Connecticut)/Joan Bennett (Scarlet Street) TIE
Nominees: Joan Crawford (Mildred Pierce); Gene Tierney (Leave Her To Heaven); Margaret Lockwood (The Wicked Lady); Donna Reed (They Were Expendable); Jane Wyman (The Lost Weekend); Ann Savage (Detour); Virginia Mayo (Wonder Man)
Thoughts: Now this is the category where I had the most trouble choosing from all the wonderful performances in what has to be a stellar one for women. And I really couldn't decide on just one, so we have a tie. And it was close to being a three way tie but I finally chose Stanwyck  and Bennett. As two totally opposite performances as you can get. Stanwyck was more of the comedic vein and she was wonderful. And no this is not a sentimental vote for her as this is my fave performance of hers and film. And Joan Bennett took it up a notch playing another femme fatale for Fritz Lang as the terrific Kitty March. The pair previously on The Woman in the Window, but I thought Joan's performance here was much better. And Gene Tierney came awfully close to making this a three way tie, but she just misses it by an inch.
Ok fellas, here we go! Fingers crossed I don't mess this up!

See I told ya, working with Fritz would eventually pay off Eddie!


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Winner: Eve Arden/Ann Blyth (Mildred Pierce) TIE
Nominees: Jeanne Crain (Leave Her To Heaven); Vera-Ellen (Wonder Man); Anne Revere (National Velvet); Angela Lansbury (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
Thoughts: Another tie as I thought Eve Arden and Ann Blyth were both amazing in Mildred Pierce. Arden in another sidekick role was good as always and she picks up her second Montie, the first was for Stage Door (Best Supporting Actress...which she shared with Lucille Ball). And Blyth was really good as the daughter from hell, Veda. That girl could give you nightmares.
 
"Why no I didn't  have to pay Monty off to win...honest! Girl Scouts honor!"
 
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Winner: James Dunn (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn)
Nominees: Dan Duryea (Scarlet Street); Jack Carson (Mildred Pierce); George Sanders (The Picture of Dorian Gray); Walter Huston (And Then There Were None)
Thoughts: James Dunn gives one of the best performances I have ever seen as the ne'er-do-well father who just can't seem to do right. In real life, Dunn would struggle years later with bouts with alcohol and his career would stall. But he will have this one great performance left as his legacy.
James is all smiles after receiving his first Montie

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Winner: Leave Her To Heaven
Nominees: The Picture of Dorian Gray; Anchors Aweigh; National Velvet; The Lost Weekend; Mildred Pierce
Thoughts: One of the most glorious looking films I have ever seen. I mean the color just leaps off the screen. Actresses Gene Tierney and Jeanne Crain look stunning. This was an easy choice for me.
Even Gene can't believe how beautiful the movie looks...
So final count has The Lost Weekend being the big winner with 3 Monties; followed by Christmas In Connecticut (2 Monties) and Mildred Pierce (2 Monties). I will be back with the 1946 edition soon. Hopefully it won't be as long a wait as this time was. Once again, sorry for the delay.


NOTABLE FILMS THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN FOR THIS YEAR:


SPELLBOUND
THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
SAN ANTONIO
THE CORN IS GREEN





Tea Anyone: Elizabeth Taylor and Janet Leigh

Janet and Elizabeth having a little difficulty with the tea making

"Ummm, I don't know Elizabeth..that doesn't look right. Maybe we should call someone."

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Happy Birthday Caryn Richman! (The new Gidget)

When I was a teen growing up, the new Gidget had just come out. Starring Caryn Richman and showing what had happened to Gidget and Moondoggie as they grew up, got married and raising their niece. I loved this show mainly because of Caryn. She came out of the blue and was perfect as the adult Gidget. I watched it every Saturday morning at 11:30 am for the three years that it aired. Anybody else remember this show? Caryn recently celebrated her 56th birthday back on April 9th. Looking at the pics below, looks like she hasn't aged a day.


A New Blog Everyone Should Be Following: Journeys in Classic Film


A fairly new blog is Journeys in Classic Film, which started last November. Written by the ever so engaging Kristen, who has been a frequent commenter on my blog. Now she gives me credit and my popular tourneys as inspiration to start her own blog. And that means a lot to me. So I would like to tell everyone about Kristen's fabulous blog and for you guys to go check it out ASAP. I love Kristen's style as she shoots from the hip. With some cool reviews and personal reflections on cinema. Read about Kristen in her own words below:

 I live in California (and no I do not live near Disneyland, Hollywood, or anyplace south of San Francisco) and I’m a college student about to graduate with my Bachelor’s in English.  I’m applying to graduate school right now to get my Master’s in English (if you haven’t noticed I like reading and writing A LOT).
I also work as an entertainment writer for a few websites.  I write movie reviews for the fantastic Entertainment News International.  You can find my stuff at www.enewsi.com.  I’m also the movie editor for the equally amazing CC2KOnline.  I write more long-form essays, film reviews and other quirky articles that you can find at www.cc2konline.com.  I also record a weekly movie review podcast.  You can listen to The Midnight Matinee Podcast at www.midnightmatineepodcast.com  It helps me keep current on new film but I also spend a lot of time taking film classics and watching Turner Classics Movies, which is how I’ve grown to love, and write this blog about classic films.

And she will be doing a tournament of her own this year that I can't wait to see. Here is the link to her terrific blog: journeysinclassicfilm.

The Greatest TV Comedies - Mary Tyler Moore (1970-1977)



Mary Tyler Moore created one of the most loved sitcoms of all time and one of the most iconic TV characters ever in Mary Richards. While Mary Tyler Moore was not her first sitcom, remember she co-starred with Dick Van Dyke for five years on The Dick Van Dyke Show, it turned out to be her best. Well in my opinion. This time she was single and very much a career woman. She leaves her town and heads to Minneapolis to get a job at the news station WJM. And surrounds herself with one of TV's best ensemble casts. There's Ed Asner as gruff Lou Grant, her boss. Gavin MacLeod as Murray Slaughter the writer. Ted Knight as blowhard Ted Baxter, the anchorman. Betty White as the passive-aggressive Sue Ann Nivens. Who can imagine sweet Betty White as the sex-starved Sue! Well she works it and is funny as hell. There is also best friend Rhoda (Valerie Harper). It should be noted that most of these stars would headline their own series as well. In fact Ed Asner and Valerie Harper would spin their characters into their own series. But in Lou Grant's case, it became a drama, which still made for good TV. MacLeod ended up as captain on the Love Boat. Knight would star in the vastly underrated Too Close for Comfort. And of course Betty White would star in The Golden Girls.
Look at the happy cast!

But they all would gel on this classic series, Mary Tyler Moore, first. There was no grandstanding or showboating here folks. Everyone worked as part of a well oiled unit. Moore, who was funny enough to carry the show by herself, didn't have to. I think one of the main reasons this series was so successful was because of the sharp writing. And the characters themselves who were fully developed and not caricatures. I mean this show won tons of Emmys and that's no accident. Let's see...Mary won, as did Asner, Harper, Knight, and White. As did Cloris Leachman who played perky landlady Phyllis for a few seasons before getting her own sitcom as well. I mean the talent involved on this series was crazy insane! Head writer/executive producer James L. Brooks led the way. Along with writer Allan Burns and director Jay Sandrich. All would have long successful careers in television.
Mary and Rhoda just hanging out on a Saturday afternoon

Back to the show, which logged 168 episodes over it's seven year run. I can't recall too many flat episodes. Most of them were hysterically funny. If you mention Chuckles the funeral, I'm sure most people will know what you're talking about. Mary has a hard time trying not to laugh at Chuckles funeral and it's one of the most iconic moments in TV history. When a series runs this long, you know that there is something going on. Great chemistry and performances coupled with excellent writing and direction makes this one of TV's greatest sitcoms of all time.
The one and only Mary Tyler Moore

Facts and trivia:


Won Emmys as Outstanding comedy series for three consecutive years (1975-1977).


Mary picked up three Emmys herself during the series seven year run (1973, 1974, 1976)


Betty White and Cloris Leachman both picked up two Emmys each during their stints.
Look at all those Emmys

Mary's house, which appears in the opening credits, is still standing in Minneapolis, Minnesota - the city in which the show takes place. 
  
When casting the part of Sue-Anne Nivens, producers were stumped for an actress to take the role. They wanted "someone like Betty White". Eventually, someone asked "Why not cast Betty White?"

This program has the most Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series - 5. 
Mary and Ted

Spin-off series:
Lou Grant (1977-1982, 114 episodes)

Rhoda (1974-1978, 110 episodes)
Phyllis (1975-1977, 48 episodes)


And that's a wrap!

Springtime: Yvonne DeCarlo

The beautiful Yvonne DeCarlo in this stunning pic...

Friday, April 20, 2012

The Morning Movie: Dr. Goldfoot and The Bikini Machine (1965)



Today's morning movie on TCM was a favorite of mine growing up. It's the 60's cool cult classic Dr. Goldfoot and The Bikini Machine, starring the awesome Vincent Price. It's a mindless but entertaining comedy with elements of sci-fi that has Dr. Goldfoot (Price) creating an army of bikini clad robots to seduce the world's wealthiest men and have them sign over all their assets. And only Frankie Avalon and Dwayne Hickman can stop them. Yeah I'm thinking the same thing..win for Dr. Goldfoot. This is a perfect time capsule of the 60's era with swinging music, cool fashions, and just an all around good vibe. At times, the film may go over the top but it's all in good fun. And loaded with great cameos by Avalon's co-stars from all those beach pics of this era as well: Annette Funicello and Deborah Walley to name a few.

Round Six of Classic Film: Six Degrees of Separation


Kim over at 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die started Round Six (or was it Seven) of Classic Film: Six Degrees of Separation.  She chose Gloria Swanson and Catherine Deneuve to be connected in this round.
Page over at My Love of Old Hollywood chose Gloria Swanson who was in Sadie Thompson (1928) with Lionel Barrymore .




Dave of Dave's Classic Films chose Lionel Barrymore who was in You Can't Take It With You (1938) with James Stewart.




Now it's my turn to continue this round and I choose James Stewart who was in Ziegfeld Girl (1941) with Lana Turner.



I pass this along to the wonderful Whistling Gypsy of distant-voicesandflickering-shadows . Good luck Whistling Gypsy!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The Morning Movie: HOT RODS TO HELL (1967)

 One of the many hilarious moments from Hot Rods.....

Watching TCM as I get ready for work...my usual routine. This morning they are playing the 60's camp classic Hot Rods To Hell, starring Jeanne Crain and Dana Andrews. The story is how this typical quaint family has a run-in with some hot rodders in the California desert. The hot rodders are two guys and a hot to trot girl named Gloria (played by Mimsy Farmer, who is the best thing this movie has going for it). I laughed quite a bit while watching it but I don't think they attended it to be a comedy.

Duke, Ernie and Gloria..hot rodders from hell? really?

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Happy Birthday Elizabeth Montgomery (1933-1995)


I was not about to let this day get away without honoring Elizabeth Montgomery, one of my favorite actresses ever! She is in fact my favorite TV actress thanks to her great turn as Samantha Stevens, on the long running series Bewitched. But also because of her great dramatic work in TV movies such as The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975), Act of Violence (1979), and Sins of the Mother (1991) to name just a few. Of course Elizabeth is the daughter of classic film star Robert Montgomery, but she made her own and did not get a free pass thanks to family. While starting out in series with bit parts on Wagon Train, Kraft Theater, Cimarron City, Climax, among others. And appearing in a few big Hollywood movies, her biggest being Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed (1963) with Dean Martin, it was on the series Bewitched, that she found her true mark. For eight wonderful years, she played the housewife who happens to be a witch Samantha Stevens, who was also getting into troublesome situations. Her eccentric family including mom Endora (Agnes Moorehead) would always drop by unannounced to cause trouble. It's on this show that Elizabeth became a true star. So on this day I wish her a very Happy Birthday! Oh and one more impressive thing about Elizabeth...who could twinkle their nose like she could so well. I know I can't.



Friday, April 13, 2012

Life Imitates Art: Episode 1 (Jurassic Park...I'm Jeff Goldblum...for like 2 minutes)


You know sometimes how certain things in your life, be it at home or work or wherever, can resemble movies? Well maybe because I love movies so much I can see things more than others. Like when something happens I can immediately think of a certain movie that has a similar scene of what I am doing or going through. So I thought I would share some recent stories about my life and movies crossing over to become one.


First story involves Jurassic Park. And before anyone says.."Monty, really you saw actual dinosaurs running around?" No I didn't but there was something that happened that made me think of the scene where Laura Dern and the guy who is like Crocodile Dundee go looking for the others after the T-rex has made it's big intro. They stumble across Jeff Goldblum and load him into the back seat of the jeep with a hurt leg. They take off and soon the T-rex gives chase.

Ok not one of my smartest moves.....
Well at work, where I get to test the golf carts we build, we have this huge test track with lots of obstacles that the vehicles must go over. Like curbs, potholes, huge mounds, a sandpit, a diagonal ditch, gravel, water pit..all kinds of cool stuff. Well we also have this straightaway section where a vehicle came achieve top speed. I was with 2 other people in a vehicle called a 4 passenger car that has a rear seat that faces toward the back. That's where I was sitting while two other people were upfront. And the car was electric so it could only go about 12 mph. Well my boss at the time before our company had a recent layoff came tearing behind us in one of our all terrain diesel vehicles. Those things can go about 25-30 mph. And he got up on us really fast and that's when I turned to the driver, mimicking Jeff Goldbum.."Must go faster!"

I'm trying to be all brave but I was just as scared as Laura was...

Of course no one got the quote because the driver was like "I'm going as fast as I can Monty".
And I tried to say that I was just joking...you know Jurassic Park, chase scene..T-rex...all I got was the sound of crickets.


So this was episode one of my frequent movie/life crossovers. I have tons more. Will be sharing them all. And here is the clip that shows the scene what I am talking about. So just imagine me as Jeff but without a t-rex chasing me! That and no Laura Dern!


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