March Madness #9: JOAN CRAWFORD

Welcome to Day 9 of MARCH MADNESS!
Every day one Super-star will be featured - a star of many types of roles, from really, really B.A.D. to the sweetest-dearest-most darling!

DAY 9 Results: RICHARD BURTON's match was a run-away in favour of his lionish, rougher-tougher side, LION Rev. Dr. T. Lawrence Shannon / "The Night of the Iguana" won out narrowly over LAMB, Dr. Edward Hewitt / "The Sandpiper" 11- 8

TODAY the spotlight shines on the glorious JOAN CRAWFORD. Famous for power-house roles, Joan was able to deliver some milder characters, too.
Which roles of hers do you prefer: LION: rough n' tuff! or LAMB: Sweet & soulful?

Cinematic World Tour Blogathon: California, Here I Come

Since I thought of this blogathon event I figured I needed to be the first to do a post. I was hoping to go abroad and eventually might before the summer is over, but I decided to start with California, a place I have never been before. Maybe my good friends that I met through blogger and facebook will put me for a night or two as well. Like Desiree, Kori and Valarie. I will call ahead to see if that's cool with them. Anyway some of the places that were captured on film for California feature some very cool spots that would be awesome to see up close. So let's begin shall we...

SO BEAUTIFUL!

First off I have to visit Big Sur, where The Sandpiper (1965) was filmed. Even though it stars larger than life Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the backdrop of Big Sur overshadows them both. One of the most gorgeous places in the world and so lovingly captured on film. Have to go there definitely. I mean it is so beautiful just going by what I saw on display in The Sandpiper, it has to be even more amazing when you actually see it.

Enjoy a casual drive in San Francisco....

But try not to get on the bad side of SFPD...they usually shoot first, 

then ask questions later

Probably venture over to San Francisco to check out the streets where top cops Bullitt (Steve McQueen) and Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood) performed their duties. Would be very cool to engage in a car chase but we will keep things legal and safe.

Now listen when the tourists start arriving...that's when I will give the signal...

and everyone just go crazy!

Drop by Bodega Bay for a spell, where Hitchcock set his bird frenzy fest The Birds. But the first sign of seeing birds giving me the evil eye, I'm so out of there.

Looks like fun at the park if you decide to visit Santa Rosita

Stop by the Santa Rosita State Park, home to It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) to kick back and just relax. Now if we come across a treasure map, then we're off on a little scavenger hunt then.

From a long lost era..the 60's...American Graffiti..

Also zoom over to Modesto, and cruise the strip where American Graffiti (1973) took place. That would be wicked cool!

Just don't expect gifts from Richard Gere

If you can afford a trip to Beverly Hills, then you have to stay at The Wilshire Hotel...home to such films as Pretty Woman and Beverly Hills Cop.

And to wrap things up, how about a visit to the quaint small town of Santa Rosa that was the setting for Shadow of a Doubt (1943). Small town life is very appealing to me, so Santa Rosa is definitely a place I would want to stop at and visit. So that ends my trip to California as I know there are tons more films I could have included in this post, but it's all I had time for as things are very hectic this weekend with a new AC unit being installed and family get togethers.  I will probably do another post with a different location before the summer is out. And to everyone that is doing a post for this non-traditional blogathon all I ask is that you send me an email letting me know when you post on it on your blog and include a link in it to my blog. Then I can do a write-up on here letting everyone else know that yours is up. Thanks to everyone who is participating and hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

My love of classic movies is beyond measure

Monty

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.

Elizabeth Taylor's Unlucky Loves: Husband #6 (Richard Burton)

After a tumultuous 10 year marriage the first time around, Liz and Dick would try it again. Their first marriage ended on June 26, 1974. The divorce lasted less than two years as Liz and Dick tied the knot again in Botswana, Africa on October 10, 1975. In between marriages, the two did date other people. Liz dated a Dutch businessman named Henry Wynberg. Dick was briefly engaged to Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, but the wedding plans soured as he constantly stayed in touch with Liz. But this time, their union wouldn't last as long as their first. Dick was drinking heavily at the time and also romancing a pretty young 27-year old model named Suzy Hunt. This was only six months into his remarriage to Liz. And it was Burton who would ask Liz for a divorce and she agreed. It became final on July 28, 1976..not even a full year. Dick would soon marry Hunt but divorce again within 4 years. His final marriage would be to Sally Hay in 1982. Hay would become his widow as Dick died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1984. Hay didn't even invite Liz to Dick's funeral. But Liz shared a private goodbye with her former husband with a secret letter he had written three days before his death. And it is said Liz kept that letter in her bedside table for the rest of her life. Amazing.

Elizabeth Taylor's Unlucky Loves: Husband #5 (Richard Burton)

And now comes the legendary union between Liz and Richard Burton, who she described as the greatest love of them all. Their romance and relationship is known by every man, woman and child. It was passionate one minute, then volatile the next. It was an epic relationship that has no peers. They met in 1962 on the set of Cleopatra and sparks flew immediately. It didn't matter that Liz was currently married to Eddie Fisher and Dick was married to his then wife, Sybil. Schematics. The couple's on-set affair became the affair of the century. After a year of this very public affair, both Liz and Dick got divorced from their spouses and within 2 weeks, were married. But it was anything but a rosy marriage. Between their drinking and his jealousy, things were always heated and explosive. The fact that their troubles spilled over into the news only fueled the fire. When they made the excellent film Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), which Liz picked up another Best Actress Oscar for, people wondered where did the movie end and their real life begin. Because the arguments they had on screen were very explosive and dramatic. Surprisingly their marriage was Liz's longest at 10 years. It may not have been pretty but these two stuck it out, far longer than anyone dreamed they would have. And remember after their divorce, they would try it again.

Classic Movie Actor Tournament Play-In Match

The classic movie actor tournament officially kicks off on Monday, May 30th. But I am having one play-in match beginning tonight. It was an oversight on my part that Alec Guinness did not make the 64 man cut. Well I've decided to put him in the 1950's era where he had such success with The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Lavender Hill Mob, and The Ladykillers to name a few. He will face off against Richard Burton for the last spot in the 50's era bracket. Talk about a tough first match. It should be a very exciting one too. I know there are so many more actors that I could have listed but this 64 man limit is hard. Maybe next year I can expand it like I'm doing for the womens. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you that next year's actress tournament will now feature 128 women. That should get just about every major actress and then some. Anyway the poll is open now and will run to Sunday 5pm EST. Good luck to both actors.

Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Marlon Brando are favorites at my church

We have a weekly Monday meeting at my church with all the men to discuss things in the church and events going around the world. And it's rare that we talk about classic movies during these meetings. I figured I was the only classic movie lover there. But while we was waiting on other members to show up, we started a conversation that brought a smile to my face. I brought up the recent passing of Elizabeth Taylor and that opened up the floodgates. Everyone there loved Liz and the concensus favorite film of hers was Cleopatra. Mine is Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. We talked about her marriages and her relationship with Richard Burton. And it was a great discussion. That soon led to talk about Burton as well, as we all agreed that the man was powerhouse of an actor. One of his movies we talked about was The Robe and that got a big response from us all. That led to Marlon Brando and his performance in Julius Caesar. One of the older men of the church, who is in his 70's was very jubilant while talking about that movie as he would watch that film as a kid and pretended to be Mark Antony (Brando's role) walking around his home in bed sheets. We all got a laugh out of that one. It was an unexpected time I had tonight discussing classic movies and stars at church. Then we started on about church business. But the night was a success as far as I am concerned.