2015 Favorite Classic Movie Tourney: Round 1 Update

Here are the latest numbers after round 1 of the 2015 favorite Classic Movie Actress Tourney, with hardly any surprises.

30'S ERA:

BARBARA STANWYCK leads MARY ASTOR 75-20

CLAUDETTE COLBERT leads MARLENE DIETRICH 61-30

GRETA GARBO leads MIRIAM HOPKINS 66-25

JEAN HARLOW leads JOAN CRAWFORD 53-38

MADELEINE CARROLL leads JOAN BARRY 59-18

EDNA BEST leads MARY CLARE 41-25

MERLE OBERON leads NORA PILBEAM 69-11

ELSA LANCHESTER leads JESSIE MATTHEWS 69-8

40'S ERA:

GENE TIERNEY leads JOAN BENNETT 29-12

AVA GARDNER leads VERONICA LAKE 31-12

RITA HAYWORTH leads JANE GREER 31-12

LAUREN BACALL leads CLAIRE TREVOR 36-11

BETTY GRABLE leads JEANNE CRAIN 26-14

ESTHER WILLIAMS leads DOROTHY LAMOUR 24-15

ANN MILLER leads BETTY HUTTON 25-13

JUDY GARLAND leads CARMEN MIRANDA 38-7

50'S ERA:

DEBBIE REYNOLDS leads LENA HORNE 32-4

CYD CHARISSE leads KATHRYN GRAYSON 25-11

JUDY HOLLIDAY leads JANE POWELL 26-11

JUNE ALLYSON leads DOROTHY DANDRIDGE 28-7

AUDREY HEPBURN leads ANNA MAGNANI 32-4

DEBORAH KERR leads SOPHIA LOREN 30-9

GRACE KELLY leads LEE REMICK 30-7

SUSAN HAYWARD leads LANA TURNER 22-16

60'S ERA:

ELIZABETH TAYLOR leads JEAN SIMMONS 24-18

ROMY SCHNEIDER leads JEANNE MOREAU 21-15

CLAUDIA CARDINALE leads LIV ULLMAN 19-14

DIANA RIGG leads JULIE CHRISTIE 19-13

ANNE BANCROFT leads PATTY DUKE 28-7

MAGGIE SMITH leads VANESSA REDGRAVE 29-8

SHIRLEY MACLAINE leads JANE FONDA 28-12

FAYE DUNAWAY leads PATRICIA NEAL 26-12

These matches will continue on through Wednesday evening...if you haven't voted click on the link below to go to each particular era:

30'S era: https://thewonderfulworldofcinema.wordpress.com/

50'S era: http://www.rozrussell.com/

60'S era: http://mythicalmonkey.blogspot.com/

Miriam Hopkins crushes Mary Astor in play-in match

 After a close start Miriam Hopkins poured it on and whooped Mary Astor 91-28. Technically there are still 12 more hours to go but I am putting the mercy rule in effect and declaring Miriam the winner. It was an impressive win for Miriam, marking her very first victory in tournament play to even her record at 1-1. That's the good news. And it secured her the eight and final spot in the pre-codes category in the 30's era bracket of the Favorite Classic Movie Actress Tourney. The bad news is that she will face top seed Barbara Stanwyck, who destroyed Miriam last year 82-16 in round one. But Miriam gets to savor this victory until then. Thanks to all those who voted and got the word out. The full tourney begins Sunday morning.

And the winner...Miriam Hopkins!

Gloria Grahame talks about her huge upset win in the first tourney

Here is my second fantasy (mock) interview with an actress who has competed in my favorite classic movie actress tourneys. It's where I get to sit down and have a chat with the women if they were actually here in the studio. A few days ago I chatted with Vivien Leigh. Today it is Gloria Grahame. If you recall Gloria scored one of the biggest upsets in tourney history when she defeated Marilyn Monroe in the opening round of the 1950's era bracket in the 2011 tourney edition. Monroe was seeded second while Gloria was 15th and it was expected that MM would waltz into the semi-finals at least. Here Gloria sheds some light on that magical moment for her.

Gloria scored one of the biggest upsets in tourney play

when she defeated Marilyn Monroe

Me: So Miss Grahame, how did it feel to upset Marilyn in that first round?

Miss Grahame: Monty, it was absolutely unbelievable! I was in complete shock. I couldn't believe it.

Me: walk me through what happened.

Gloria: Well, I had friends over during this event and we kept checking the numbers and it was early that first day but I was leading. And I thought oh..well this won't last. Marilyn is just toying with me. She is gonna wake up and just zoom past me. But after the first day of voting wrapped up, I was still ahead by 2 votes I believe.

Me: Yeah, I just checked the numbers and you was leading 13-11. It definitely sent waves through the tourney and I think it got Marilyn's attention for sure.

Gloria: Yes. But then after day two I was still leading and I just kept saying to myself she is gonna take the lead and it will be over. I would congratulate her for her gutsy win and I would go home.

Me: Except that it didn't play out like that did it? Describe the moment when I posted the final results for that match. What was it like?

Gloria: Once again, I had friends over that night and we was sitting around, having drinks and some dessert when you posted the final score. I won by like 5 votes if I recall. Everybody just screamed and cheered like I had been elected president or something. I couldn't believe it. I kept waiting for you to post a message about an error in the voting and the match would have to be restarted but that never happened.

Gloria was dressed to kill on the night of her big win

Me: Yeah that would happen in another match later on. But yours was for real. You took down Monroe. And I don't know if you knew this, but you led the entire way. Marilyn never got closer than those 2 votes on day one.

Gloria: Oh my..no I did not know that. My goodness. It was an incredible moment for me I can tell ya. Of course I promptly lost to Debbie Reynolds the following week but I was still in heaven from my first win.

Me: Oh I bet you were. Well I want to thank you Miss Grahame for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on that memorable moment.

Gloria: Oh thank you Monty for having me. Good luck with this year's tourney.

Me: Same to you Miss Grahame. ladies and gentlemen..Miss Gloria Grahame.

The crowd erupts and we fade to black. I will return in a few days with another chat with a different actress.

Lombard Cup Week 2 (day 2 update)

Another week but the same results...so far. Team Classic leads in four of the five matches. The one match they trail is John Wayne down to Robert Downey Jr by 2 votes. Humphrey Bogart leads Al Pacino 10-4. Sidney Poitier is crushing Russell Crowe 12-2. Gregory Peck leads Liam Neeson 9-5. And Burt Lancaster holds a 9-5 edge over George Clooney. Matches will run through Thursday evening, so please stop by to vote if you haven't so far. If these scores hold, Team Classic will be up 8-2 in total points by the end of week 2.

BEWARE THESE WOMEN! Festival in April

April brings a theme about women in film you would not want to cross. It's called Beware These Women! and will take place over three blogs: Noir & Chick Flicks, And Then They Start To Sparkle and All Good Things. My good friends Dawn and Irene have decided to participate and we will focus on films that show the not so kind side of women. Among them will be Leave Her To Heaven, All About Eve, Mildred Pierce, The Women and lots more. There will be reviews, photos, video, commentary and our little blend of madness to celebrate these dangerous and sometimes crazy women. Look forward to some catfights, confrontations, and arguments galore. All month long. Please do join us.

http://dawnschickflicks.blogspot.com/

http://andthentheystartsprkling.blogspot.com/