Debbie Reynolds - Classic Movie Goddess For July

Here are some interesting facts about the wonderful Debbie Reynolds:

Early in her career, she had to supply her own clothes for movie premieres and studio photo ops. Given her limited wardrobe, MGM designers Helen Rose, Edith Head, and Walter Plunkett would sketch out designs for the young actress, and her mother would make the gowns for her at home.

Athletic Debbie satisfied her early career dream of becoming a gym teacher by making an exercise video, Do It Debbie's Way (1983).

Won Miss Burbank 1948 at age sixteen.

Considers herself a "movie-oholic" and has an extensive collection of memorabilia, with over 4,000 costumes from the silent screen period to the 1970s. She has been known to gather posters from her collection of 3,000 and drive to homes of actor pals for autographs. In the 1990s she turned her collection into a Las Vegas movie museum, but had to shut it down in 1997 because of financial problems. Recently she has looked into the possibility of opening up a hall of fame museum in Hollywood near Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

 Daughter is Carrie Fisher of Princess Leia (Star Wars) fame.

Fun Summer Movies: SOAPDISH (1991)

Summer Release Date: 31 May 1991 Starring Sally Field, Kevin Kline, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert Downey Jr., Cathy Moriarty, Teri Hatcher, Elisabeth Shue, Carrie Fisher, Kathy Najimy. Directed by Michael Hoffman. Written by Robert Harling.

Feeling a bit nostalgic I was going through my old VHS movies and came across Soapsdish, the terrifically funny spoof of soap operas. So I decided to expand screwball cinema to include modern films every now and then that come close to resembling screwball comedies of the past. I think Soapdish more than qualifies with it's all star cast and laughs a minute. The story has reigning daytime queen Celeste Talbert (a super performance by Sally Field) who plays Maggie on the popular soap opera The Sun Also Sets. She has been at this for over two decades. And has a loyal fanbase but also has several enemies on the set. Such as Montana Morehead (the wickedly insane Cathy Moriarty) and producer David Barnes (a really young Robert Downey Jr.) who team up to drive Maggie from the show. These two connive and seek out former soap star Jeffrey Anderson (Kevin Kline) who once was on the show before Maggie had him fired. So they bring him back to cause some friction. Also throw in the mix Celeste's niece Lori (Elisabeth Shue) who becomes an overnight star on the show and also finds out about her family dynamics from Celeste. Whoopi Goldberg is on hand as Rose Schwartz (the show's head writer and Celeste's best friend). Soapdish is a really funny movie with so many jokes and farcial situations happening, you can't help but think of it as a screwball comedy. Sally Field has a terrific time playing Celeste as she plays the soap diva going a little bit crazy. Moriarty and Downey Jr make the perfect foils for her as they are constantly trying to drive her mad. Kevin Kline is solid as usual and Goldberg gets to shine in a pivotal role. Also stars Garry Marshall as the president of the network, Teri Hatcher as another actress and Kathy Najimy as an assistant. Plus loads of celebrity and actual soap stars cameos, Soapdish is a real treat. A true laugh fest.

Notes:

While not a box office hit during the summer of 1991, Soapdish went on to gain cult status and is fondly remembered today as a wickedly good comedy with an all-star cast.

After a string of emotional dramas like Steel Magnolias, Not Without My Daughter, and Places in the Heart, it was refreshing to see Sally Field in an all out comedy, recalling her sitcom days on Gidget and The Flying Nun.
Memorable quotes:
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Celeste Talbert: David! David! David, David, David, David, David!
David Barnes: Hey, great scene with Bolt.
Celeste Talbert: I realize I'm not a young woman; however...
David Barnes: What do you mean, you're not...
Celeste Talbert: ...could you PLEASE point out to our new costume designer
[grabs her]
Celeste Talbert: whose name I don't quite have yet...
Tawny Miller: Tawny Miller, Miss Talbert.
Celeste Talbert: How do you do.
[to David]
Celeste Talbert: - that I don't feel quite right in a turban. What I feel like is GLORIA FREAKING SWANSON! What am I, 70, David? Am I 70? Why don't you just put me in a walker? Buy a goddamn walker and put me in it!
David Barnes: [to Tawny] You're fired.
Tawny Miller: Oh God.
David Barnes: I'm just kidding.
[into PA system]
David Barnes: Attention: no turbans for Miss Talbert!
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Rose Schwartz: The guy was killed in an auto accident! I looked it up! He was driving in the Yukon, in a pink convertible, to visit his brother who's an ex-con named Frances, when a tractor trailer comes along and decapitates him. You know what that mean, it means he doesn't have a head. How am I suppose to write for a guy who doesn't have a head? He's got no lips, no vocal cords. What do you want me to do?

Happy 4th of July

From the lovely Ann Miller

Debbie Reynolds poll

My new poll for this month is about Debbie Reynolds, the classic movie goddess for the month. We all know all talented she was in the many musicals she starred in like Singin in the Rain, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Two Weeks with Love, I Love Melvin and others. So for the poll, I decided to focus on her non-musical roles which showed that she had a great acting chops as well. My question asks what is your favorite Debbie Reynolds non-musical films. The choices are: Susan Slept Here (1954) co-starring Dick Powell; The Catered Affair (1956) co-starring Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine and Rod Taylor; The Mating Game (1959) with Tony Randall; It Started With A Kiss (1959) with Glenn Ford; The Rat Race (1960) with Tony Curtis; How Sweet It Is (1968) with James Garner; Divorce American Style (1967) with Dick Van Dyke; and her only western How The West Was Won (1962). I know the choices are tough so I made it multiple choice. Enjoy.

Donna Reed Poll Results

It's official, the Donna Reed poll for June is closed and I have the results. I asked what fans thought was Donna's best role and it was no surprise that her character Mary Bailey from It's A Wonderful Life was the winner by a landslide. That role netted 64% of all those who voted with 11 votes going to that wonderful character. A distant second was a tie between her Donna Stone role from her hit TV show and Lt. Sandy Davyss from They Were Expendable with 2 votes apiece. Thanks to everyone who voted and I will have a new poll up shortly focusing on Debbie Reynolds.

Be My Guest: Tracy (Gilby 37) Part One

Here is part one of my discussion with my good friend Tracy. Tracy invited to contribute on the blog What We're Watching On TV late last year and we've been friends ever since.
 These are Tracy's answers to the first part of our month long Q&A.

Top 5 Actors/Actresses


1.) Bette Davis

2.) Humphrey Bogart

3.) Joseph Cotten

4.) William Powell

5.) Claudette Colbert
Why Bette Davis?

To me, Davis was bold and daring. She was willing to push the boundaries of what was perceived as traditional leading lady roles. Davis dared to play the aging Queen Elizabeth I in "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" despite the fact that she was only 31 years old! I believe her courage in taking on parts like Baby Jane Hudson and Charlotte Hollis opened the door for actresses to be the "leading lady" yet be older, weird, or just not likeable. I'm not sure Kathy Bates win an Oscar playing Annie Wilkes in "Misery" unless Davis had blazed the trail. I respect the fact that she could take the infamous "Job Wanted" ad in Variety in 1961 when she was finding it hard to get roles. It took guts to draw attention to the fact that Hollywood tended to ignore women of a certain age. Ultimately, I love that while Bette could transform herself into any character there was still a distinct piece of Bette that would shine through.

A great choice in Bette as your favorite Tracy. Can't wait to hear the rest of your answers.

Happy Birthday Olivia de Havilland

(1916-present)

The Great Race (1965)

The Great Race was on TCM last night as part of their Natalie Wood tribute and this epic comedy is still tremendously funny. The story of a go for broke automobile race in 1908 between dashing good guy Sir Leslie (a charming Tony Curtis) and arch-rival Professor Fate (Jack Lemmon in a terrific performance). The race begins in New York and goes to Paris by way of Siberia. Along for the ride is Leslie's right hand man Hezekiah (played by Keenan Wynn) and Fate's sidekick Max (Peter Falk). Also on board is TCM's star of the month Natalie Wood as Maggie Dubois (who is my favorite Natalie role she ever did....funny, sexy and take charge). Lemmon also does double duty as a royal prince. The Great Race is one of my favorite films as it has a constant barrage of slapstick and pratfalls and anything else you could want in a comedy. It's very large in scale, comparable to It's A Mad, Mad, Mad World and it features several cameos inlcuding Vivian Vance, Dorothy Provine, Larry Storch, Denver Pyle, and Ross Martin. It also features a rousing and amusing film score, the Professor Fate theme is to die for. It's awesome seeing Curtis and Lemmon paired up again after their classic Some Like It Hot. And great to see Natalie Wood in an all out comedy. I truly believe that comedy was her best genre even though she was very good in dramas too. I just enjoy her more in comedies like The Great Race. And wonderfully directed by Blake Edwards (The Pink Panther).While the film runs well over 2 and a half hours, it never drags. It will keep you entertained the entire time. One of the best comedies ever made.
B+

Memorable Quotes:

Max: We gotta do something.
Professor Fate: Oh, don't worry. Before this iceberg melts and we drown like rats, we're going to do plenty.
Max: Yeah? What?
Professor Fate: We're gonna starve!
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Maggie DuBois: You mean amazing because I'm a woman.
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Professor Fate: The eternal struggle takes time, Max.

Notes:

This movie is loosely based on an actual 1908 New York-to-Paris race. "The Leslie Special", four of which were built for the movie, was a loose interpretation of the 1907 Thomas Flyer that won the real race.


In the film's press kit, Natalie Wood divulges that she took fencing lessons, sidesaddle lessons and practiced smoking cigars, but her biggest challenge was driving the Stanley Steamer. The steering was difficult ("like turning a tractor, I suspect", she says) and going into reverse was nearly impossible.


During the pie throwing scene there is a running gag that The Great Leslie remains clean while everyone else is covered in pie. Tony Curtis was required to change clothes several times when he was accidentally splattered with debris from a pie that had hit someone else.


The pies used during the pie throwing scene were real, containing fruit, custard, whipped cream and other ingredients. Following this scene the crew devoured more than 300 leftover pies.

Fun Summer Movies: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)

Summer Release Date: 12 June 1981. Starring Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Denholm Elliott, John-Rhys Davies, Paul Freeman, Alfred Molina. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Produced by George Lucas. Written by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas. Released by Paramount Pictures.

Film makers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas teamed up for the very first time to create movie magic. A wonderful throwback to the Saturday afternoon cliff-hanger serials of the 30's and 40's. Harrison Ford is perfect as archaeologist/adventurer Indiana Jones, who also is a teacher. He travels the world seeking out grand artifacts. The film opens with a sensational sequence in the jungles of South America as Indiana is searching for this gold statue. He has to avoid countless booby traps and nearly gets crushed by a gigantic boulder, which is an iconic scene. Look for Alfred Molina in an early role as Indy's helper. Molina couldn't have been more than 20 years old. After that thrilling opening which features an escape by Indy from angry natives via an airplane, things settle down for a bit. He is back in the classroom, teaching about archaeology when he is recruited by the U.S government to track down the Lost Ark of the Covenant, before the Nazis find it. He takes the assignment and first has to deal with an old flame who may have information he needs about possible locations for the ark. Her name is Marion Ravenwood (played with gusto by Karen Allen), whose father and Indy had several adventures back in the day. Marion fell in love with Indy but he left and she holds resentment toward him to this day. There is a rousing fight scene in the bar she owns between Indy and the bad guys before the whole building comes down. So Marion decides to tag along with Indy to find the ark. They end up traveling to Egypt and hook up with Indy's old friend Sallah (Davies) who learns where the ark is located. Indy not only has to deal with the Nazis but also a rival French archaeologist named Belloq. The action in Egypt features the best scenes in the movie: Indy and Marion trapped in the Well of Souls with tons of snakes (which our hero is deathly afraid of); an intense slug fest between Indy and a hulk of a Nazi; and the thrilling chase by Indy on horseback after the Nazis who have procured the Ark. All this leads to a rousing finale that breathed new life into the action genre and brought a new hero into the 20th century. Ford is awesome as Indiana Jones, as he brings his considerable acting talent along with a lot of heroic derring. Karen Allen is positively engaging as Marion, a truly memorable female character that hold her own with the men amid all the action and what not.  Spielberg once again shows why he is one of the best directors of all time. Also the thrilling music score by John Williams is awesome. I was twelve when I first saw Raiders and it blew me and everyone else away. A truly iconic and fun summer movie. Just a good old fashioned thrill ride. I ended up seeing it 2 more times at the theater and looked forward every few years for the next grand adventure of Indiana Jones. Followed by three sequels: The Temple Of Doom (1984), The Last Crusade (1989) and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skulls (2008).

Notes:

1981's biggest grossing film with $230 million in North America alone.

The original name of the lead character in the script was Indiana Smith. His name was changed to Jones on the first day of production.

Tom Selleck was Steven Spielberg's second choice for the role of Indiana Jones. Harrison Ford was his first, but George Lucas objected, since Ford had been in both American Graffiti (1973) and Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). Selleck was not able to take the role because he was committed to "Magnum, P.I." (1980). However, that series did not go into production until Raiders' filming had already wrapped. Selleck was in fact in Hawaii waiting for the series to start as the final scenes to be filmed (the opening sequence) were being shot in Hawaii. "Magnum" did an episode called "Legend of the Lost Art" that parodied "Raiders", complete with hat, whip, booby traps, etc.

The out-of-control airplane actually ran over Harrison Ford's knee, tearing his ligaments. Rather than submit to Tunisian health care, Ford had his knee wrapped in ice and carried on.


During filming in Tunisia, nearly everyone in the cast and crew got sick, except director Steven Spielberg. It is thought that he avoided illness by eating only the food he'd brought with him: cans and cans of Spaghetti-O's.

I met Karen Allen at the Dragon Convention in Atlanta in 2009 and she was awesome. Funny and so nice in person and looked great.  Check out the pic below of me and her.

All Good Things in July

July will be a very busy month for me here on All Good Things. First, the classic movie goddess for the month will be the always perky and happy Debbie Reynolds. I will post the usual reviews, facts, and photos for this month's star. The Be My Guest blogger will be my good friend Tracy (Gilby37), with whom I co-write the blog What We're Watching On TV. I will also spotlight my 2nd favorite actor of all time, William Holden. My friend Dawn mentioned doing that since she didn't know Holden was a favorite of mine. And this happens to coincide with the long awaited release of his film Union Station on DVD this month. I will create a new poll for this month as well. Probably have something to do with Debbie. And I will be continuing my new summer series that focuses on fun summer of the past. In June I talked about Back to the Future. For July I will lead off with Raiders of the Lost Ark. And try to do a few more films before the month is out. So like I said, July will be very busy for me. Not to mentioned my other blogs Screwball Cinema and Hero Worship and all the other countless blogs I contribute to. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer.