March Madness #27: AVA GARDNER

Welcome to ALL GOOD THINGS! It's MARCH MADNESS! Visit daily to see a classic film Super-Star of the day - a personality renowned for portraying the really, really B.A.D. and also the sweetest-dearest-most darling!

Day #26 results: FRANK SINATRA Voters responded enthusiastically: that lovable Nathan Detroit won by ONE 21- 20 over Frankie Machine. When I checked late last evening, it was a TIE!

TODAY the spotlight shines on AVA GARDNER ~ Beloved for her sultry good looks, and her solemn, serene gaze, Ava was also full of laughter, jokes and hijinks. Ava could be sweet as a lamb, or tough as a protective lioness.

Which of Ava's character types do YOU prefer?

March Madness #26: FRANK SINATRA

Welcome to ALL GOOD THINGS! It's MARCH MADNESS! Visit daily to see a classic film Super-Star of the day - a personality renowned for portraying the really, really B.A.D. and also the sweetest-dearest-most darling!

Day #25 results: ELIZABETH TAYLOR voters enthusiastically voted for Martha! Voters enthusiastically voted for Kay Banks!
TIED! Dead-heat!

TODAY the spotlight shines on FRANK SINATRA. Known for his smooth, heartfelt voice during the “crooner-swooner” era, Frank Sinatra started performing in 1935 as the singer of a four-piece band in Hoboken, New Jersey. Between 1940 and 1943 he recorded 23 top-ten singles and reached the top position of the male-singer polls in Billboard and Downbeat magazines.

Sinatra went on to become a successful movie star, winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for From Here to Eternity (1953).
He was popular as a man’s man (dressed in elegant suits but known for his legendary temper and stubbornness), while singing romantic songs that made women swoon.

Which of Frank's character types do YOU prefer?

31 Stars in 31 Days: Day 4 - FRANK SINATRA

Ol' Blue Eyes takes center stage today as the star of the day. A multi-talented performer who hit his peak in the mid 50's thru the mid 60's. I recently bought this 10 film collection a few months ago and decided to break some of them in today. With a double bill of Frank as Miami private eye Tony Rome in two jazzy films. But first as usual, let's get to my fave things about Mr. Sinatra.


Favorite Frank film: FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
Favorite Frank role: John Baron (SUDDENLY) - I know he won an Oscar for his terrific turn as Private Angelo Maggio in Eternity but I love him even more as the ruthless hitman in Suddenly.
Favorite Frank co-star: even though he starred with tons of Hollywood's top actresses, I think his best co-star was Dean Martin.
Number of Frank films seen so far: 20 out of 64

Frank is taking requests today

Today's film: TONY ROME (1967) and LADY IN CEMENT (1968) - Frank is super cool as Miami detective Tony Rome in these two films. First in Tony Rome, he must solve the mystery of a missing diamond necklace for a millionaire. The millionaire's daughter (Sue Lyon in one of her first adult roles) is at the center of this mystery which quickly spirals out of control. Bodies start piling up fast around Tony and he becomes the main suspect. So he makes it his mission to find out what's going on. Co-starring Jill St. John, Richard Conte, and Gena Rowlands, Tony Rome is one cool film with Frank wise-cracking and drinking the whole time. Probably picked up some pointers from his buddy Dino. Oh and whoever did the close-up shots for this film has a running gag as every time a beautiful woman appears, the camera zooms in on her...ummm...posterior. Gotta love the 60's. And the fun and flirty banter Frank has with Jill is priceless.


Tony: This isn't a family. It's just a bunch of people living at the same address. 
Rating: *** out of *****

"You want me to do what?" Ann Archer is not thrilled about something

Frank would return the following year with another Rome film titled Lady In Cement which has Tony discovering a blonde floating at the bottom of the ocean while he is out searching for buried treasure. But once again things don't turn out as simple as they appear..as Tony gets caught up in Miami's elite and some of the city's worst scumbags. While not as good as his first outing, things are a little lighter. Take for instance Tony wears a light beige suit in this one as opposed to a dark suit in the first film. And his hair is lightly colored blonde this time out as opposed to black in the original. He still cracks jokes even faced with danger. Great support from Dan Blocker (TV's Bonanza) and the extremely sexy Raquel Welch as society queen Kit Forrest. Wait until she makes her appearance...all I will say is WOW! Oh and the running gag of zooming in on women's posteriors is still in effect.


Rating: **1/2 out of *****

Easy Tony, easy...I'll get you a drink!

Happy Birthday Frank Sinatra (1915 - 1998)

Happy Birthday to Frank Sinatra aka Ol Blue Eyes and The Chairman of The Board. A terrific singer and wonderful actor. Happy Birthday Frank!

Here's Frank hanging with his pal Dino..

Happy Birthday Frank Sinatra (1915 - 1998)

Happy Birthday to Ol' Blue Eyes. He would have been 95 today. Some notable facts include: was married 4 times, including Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow. Was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. Stood only 5'7". Fathered three children: Nancy, Tina, and Frank, Jr. Won his only Oscar for From Here To Eternity.

From Here To Eternity (1953)

Top notch film with a super cast. It takes place at Pearl Harbor, a few weeks before the attack by the Japanese. Montgomery Clift who plays Private Prewitt, arrives at the base and immediately draws the ire of the commander, who wants him to be on the boxing team. Clift refuses and his life at the barracks becomes a living hell. A truly emotional and epic film with a cast that features Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, and Frank Sinatra. All give Oscar caliber performances especially Reed as a floozie who Clift falls for. And Sinatra is perfect as Private Maggio. A must see.

Karen: "If you're looking for the captain...he ain't here"
Sgt. Warden: "And if I ain't looking for the captain?"
Karen: "Then he still ain't here"

Recently Purchased DVDS

Just bought two classic movie DVD sets, one with Cary Grant and the other with Frank Sinatra. There are 5 films in each set and I paid $40 bucks for both sets. Awesome deal. The Cary Grant set is called Screen Legend Collection and features 5 of Cary's early films. They are:

Thirty Day Princess (1934) with Sylvia Sidney
Kiss And Make Up (1934) with Helen Mack and Edward Everett Horton
Wings in the Dark (1935) with Myrna Loy
Big Brown Eyes (1936) with Joan Bennett
Wedding Present (1936) with Joan again.

And it will be a treat because I've never seen any of these films.

On the Sinatra set, the films are:

The Man With The Golden Gun (1955) with Kim Novak
Marriage on the Rocks (1965) with Deborah Kerr and pal Dean Martin
None But The Brave (1965) with Clint Walker and Tommy Sands
Some Came Running (1959) with Dean Martin and Shirley Maclaine
The Tender Trap (1955) with Debbie Reynolds

Now I have seen Some Came Running and The Tender Trap but it's been awhile. So all in all, 10 movies for $40 bucks is a heck of a deal. I got them at this local video store called Movie Stop. I have spent much money there over the years. Just wanted to share this with everyone.