Jean Harlow let's everyone know it's a Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
HAPPY NEW YEAR! CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD STYLE
Just a Happy New Year from me does not carry that much weight, so I asked some of my friends to lend a hand. They responded quite well. Happy New Year everyone!
Clara and her friends from THE WILD PARTY definitely know how
to bring New Year's in the right way
It can't be a party without Nick and Nora Charles
I think Ann Dvorak may have started a little early
Joan making plans as we speak
Lauren and Humphrey enjoying a quiet New Year's together
Joan and Constance going the costume way
Even rivals Bette and Miriam put past grievances aside to celebrate
Ummm Esther...why did you bring a clown?
Greta doesn't do events like this, so she decided to stay home and have a
private little dinner
And of course some guy has to hit on Marilyn
Debbie, Shirley and Ann let us know it's time..
When it's all said and done, what a party...hey it's my girl Carole down at the bottom right corner!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
All Good Things 2011 Year In Review
As 2011 comes to a close, I figure now would be a good time to look back at some of the highlights that took place here on All Good Things. I've broken things down by month. So let's get started with January.
JANUARY
The year started off with some sad news as veteran actress Anne Francis passed away. I spotlighted her with a little memorial. The classic movie goddess that kicked off the new
year was Jeanne Crain. I started a new series comparing classic screen stars with their modern counterparts called From The Past To Now. The first post featured Jimmy Stewart and Tom Hanks. My series Box Office Attractions, spotlighted Sidney Poitier and his phenomenal year of 1967. And I did reviews of Penny Serenade and China Seas to name a few.
FEBRUARY
Ah, the month of love. And who better to be my classic movie goddess than Scarlett O'Hara..Vivien Leigh. Me and my co-blogger and friend Dawn combined our blogs to craft a series that focused on great Hollywood screen couples. I did posts on Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland; Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, on my blog. And then several more on Dawn's blog, Noir and Chick Flicks. I did a top 10 list of my favorite romantic films of all time. And From the Past to Now compared Vivien Leigh and Keira Knightley.
MARCH
This was the start of something very cool on my blog. My first ever Favorite Classic Actress Tournament. I gathered up 64 of the top actresses across four decades: the 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's to create what everyone thought was a fun and enjoyable tourney. The eventual winner turned out to be Irene Dunne, my second favorite actress of all time. And guess what the tournament will return this March, but this time expanded to 128 women. Should be even more fun than the first time. Not to overshadow my classic movie goddess of the month, I wrote several posts about the wonderful Carole Lombard. The first be my guest of the year was my friend and co-worker Lorie. I did a memorial for the legendary Elizabeth Taylor who passed away this month. And I did reviews of Giant and Princess O'Rourke.
APRIL
My guest for the month was Amanda from A Noodle In A Haystack. Two goddesses shared this month as Betty Grable and Sharon Farrell graced my blog in the first ever pairing of two classic film actresses. I did a cross-over with Dawn and Irene (And Then They Start To Sparkle) called Beware These Women, which focused on some of the most compelling female characters ever captured on film. I did several posts on TV's Greatest Comedies, including The Addams Family, Bewitched and The Brady Bunch. I also received a Stylish Blogger award from my friend Patti of And They Don't Make Em Like They Use To.
MAY
Lee Remick was my classic movie goddess for the month. I wrote a fictional interview about the legendary Audrey Hepburn. My guest of the month was Audrey of Fedoras and High Heels. TV's greatest comedies posts included That Girl and Fawlty Towers. And my friend Irene hosted All Good Things for about a week while I was on vacation in New Orleans. Thanks bunches Irene. And I also started posting about Liz Taylor's problematic love life and all 8 marriages.
JUNE
Well fair is fair as the men's tournament got underway this month after the success the women's tourney had back in March. Without a doubt Cary Grant walked away with honors of favorite classic actor. Irene of And Then They Start To Sparkle was the guest of the month. Doris Day was my classic movie goddess of the month. TV's greatest comedies posting on Laverne & Shirley.
JULY
A birthday celebration in honor of Olivia de Havilland who also happened to be my classic movie goddess for the month. Love it when things like that work out so well. It was so great having Irene as my guest last month, that she stayed over another month. Helped me out because my original guest could not do it. Thanks Irene. I wrote a few pieces on the 1960's, which is my second most favorite decade ever, right behind the 30's. And I kicked off the Monties (my version of the Oscars) with posts on the years 1934, 1935, and 1936.
AUGUST
Esther Williams was my movie goddess of the month. And I got a little help from Dawn to celebrate that occasion. I started a new photo series called At The Beach, which showcased classic film stars hanging out at the beach. I served up more Monties for the years 1937, 1938 and 1939. And did a new post for my Grace Kelly series, If It's Tuesday Then It Must Be Grace Kelly.
SEPTEMBER
My friend from Facebook, Janine Wild was my guest of the month. Shirley Jones was my classic movie goddess of the month. And I did another tournament, this time about musicals. I staged it over at Dawn's blog, Singin and Dancing Back In Time. I posted updates here on my blog and the eventual winner would be Singin in the Rain. And I did more Monties, this time for 1940 and 1941.
OCTOBER
Just as summer winded down and my At The Beach series came to an end, I started a new series caelld The Fall Series, showcasing classic stars in fall/winter attire. My annual Classic Horror Films Fest returned, and this time I had help from the wonderful Irene Palfy. My classic movie goddess of the month was none other than Irene Dunne, who had a heck of a year on All Good Things. My guest for the month was appropriately enough Renata, who is the biggest Irene Dunne fan I know. And I started a new series of matches called Classic Stars Match Play which pitted stars who didn't meet up in my tournaments. Such as Bette Davis vs Joan Crawford and John Wayne vs Gary Cooper. Oh and yet another tournament in the form of Favorite Alfred Hitchcock film where the eventual winner would be Rear Window.
NOVEMBER
The English rose, Deborah Kerr was my classic movie goddess of the month. My good friend Desiree was my guest of the month. From The Past to Now compared Grace Kelly and Gwyneth Paltrow. I started posted Pawsome Pet Pictures, featuring classic stars with animals. And Thursdays became drama filled as I posted short reviews on similar themed films. One week it was military dramas and one week it was cop dramas. And so on.
DECEMBER
2011 has come to a close with a rather festive month. Audrey Hepburn finally graced my blog as the classic movie goddess. My guest was Clara of Via Margutta 51. Holiday Cheer was a series of pics depicting classic starts in the holiday mood. I posted the top 12 stars of All Good Things, and surprise, it was Irene Dunne. I continued on with the Monties, Classic Star Match Play and all the assorted goodies everyone is accustomed to here on All Good Things.
And now as we say bye to this year, we look ahead to the new year which I promise to be as good as this year was, if not better. I'll try anyway.
JANUARY
Anne Francis
The year started off with some sad news as veteran actress Anne Francis passed away. I spotlighted her with a little memorial. The classic movie goddess that kicked off the new
year was Jeanne Crain. I started a new series comparing classic screen stars with their modern counterparts called From The Past To Now. The first post featured Jimmy Stewart and Tom Hanks. My series Box Office Attractions, spotlighted Sidney Poitier and his phenomenal year of 1967. And I did reviews of Penny Serenade and China Seas to name a few.
FEBRUARY
Cary and Irene
Ah, the month of love. And who better to be my classic movie goddess than Scarlett O'Hara..Vivien Leigh. Me and my co-blogger and friend Dawn combined our blogs to craft a series that focused on great Hollywood screen couples. I did posts on Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland; Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, on my blog. And then several more on Dawn's blog, Noir and Chick Flicks. I did a top 10 list of my favorite romantic films of all time. And From the Past to Now compared Vivien Leigh and Keira Knightley.
MARCH
March Madness begins....
This was the start of something very cool on my blog. My first ever Favorite Classic Actress Tournament. I gathered up 64 of the top actresses across four decades: the 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's to create what everyone thought was a fun and enjoyable tourney. The eventual winner turned out to be Irene Dunne, my second favorite actress of all time. And guess what the tournament will return this March, but this time expanded to 128 women. Should be even more fun than the first time. Not to overshadow my classic movie goddess of the month, I wrote several posts about the wonderful Carole Lombard. The first be my guest of the year was my friend and co-worker Lorie. I did a memorial for the legendary Elizabeth Taylor who passed away this month. And I did reviews of Giant and Princess O'Rourke.
APRIL
Samantha, Darrin and Endora
My guest for the month was Amanda from A Noodle In A Haystack. Two goddesses shared this month as Betty Grable and Sharon Farrell graced my blog in the first ever pairing of two classic film actresses. I did a cross-over with Dawn and Irene (And Then They Start To Sparkle) called Beware These Women, which focused on some of the most compelling female characters ever captured on film. I did several posts on TV's Greatest Comedies, including The Addams Family, Bewitched and The Brady Bunch. I also received a Stylish Blogger award from my friend Patti of And They Don't Make Em Like They Use To.
MAY
Lee Remick showing the women how it's done
Lee Remick was my classic movie goddess for the month. I wrote a fictional interview about the legendary Audrey Hepburn. My guest of the month was Audrey of Fedoras and High Heels. TV's greatest comedies posts included That Girl and Fawlty Towers. And my friend Irene hosted All Good Things for about a week while I was on vacation in New Orleans. Thanks bunches Irene. And I also started posting about Liz Taylor's problematic love life and all 8 marriages.
JUNE
Cary Grant
Well fair is fair as the men's tournament got underway this month after the success the women's tourney had back in March. Without a doubt Cary Grant walked away with honors of favorite classic actor. Irene of And Then They Start To Sparkle was the guest of the month. Doris Day was my classic movie goddess of the month. TV's greatest comedies posting on Laverne & Shirley.
JULY
Olivia and friend
A birthday celebration in honor of Olivia de Havilland who also happened to be my classic movie goddess for the month. Love it when things like that work out so well. It was so great having Irene as my guest last month, that she stayed over another month. Helped me out because my original guest could not do it. Thanks Irene. I wrote a few pieces on the 1960's, which is my second most favorite decade ever, right behind the 30's. And I kicked off the Monties (my version of the Oscars) with posts on the years 1934, 1935, and 1936.
AUGUST
Constance Bennett helped kick off At The Beach
SEPTEMBER
Shirley Jones
My friend from Facebook, Janine Wild was my guest of the month. Shirley Jones was my classic movie goddess of the month. And I did another tournament, this time about musicals. I staged it over at Dawn's blog, Singin and Dancing Back In Time. I posted updates here on my blog and the eventual winner would be Singin in the Rain. And I did more Monties, this time for 1940 and 1941.
OCTOBER
Rear Window is named Favorite Hitchcock film on All Good Things
Just as summer winded down and my At The Beach series came to an end, I started a new series caelld The Fall Series, showcasing classic stars in fall/winter attire. My annual Classic Horror Films Fest returned, and this time I had help from the wonderful Irene Palfy. My classic movie goddess of the month was none other than Irene Dunne, who had a heck of a year on All Good Things. My guest for the month was appropriately enough Renata, who is the biggest Irene Dunne fan I know. And I started a new series of matches called Classic Stars Match Play which pitted stars who didn't meet up in my tournaments. Such as Bette Davis vs Joan Crawford and John Wayne vs Gary Cooper. Oh and yet another tournament in the form of Favorite Alfred Hitchcock film where the eventual winner would be Rear Window.
NOVEMBER
The English Rose, Deborah Kerr
The English rose, Deborah Kerr was my classic movie goddess of the month. My good friend Desiree was my guest of the month. From The Past to Now compared Grace Kelly and Gwyneth Paltrow. I started posted Pawsome Pet Pictures, featuring classic stars with animals. And Thursdays became drama filled as I posted short reviews on similar themed films. One week it was military dramas and one week it was cop dramas. And so on.
DECEMBER
Simply Audrey
2011 has come to a close with a rather festive month. Audrey Hepburn finally graced my blog as the classic movie goddess. My guest was Clara of Via Margutta 51. Holiday Cheer was a series of pics depicting classic starts in the holiday mood. I posted the top 12 stars of All Good Things, and surprise, it was Irene Dunne. I continued on with the Monties, Classic Star Match Play and all the assorted goodies everyone is accustomed to here on All Good Things.
And now as we say bye to this year, we look ahead to the new year which I promise to be as good as this year was, if not better. I'll try anyway.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
COME SEPTEMBER (1961) made for a delightful movie to watch on Christmas evening
After enjoying a wonderful Christmas dinner at my mom with my wife and three sisters, I came home to find that the film Come September was showing on TV. This 1961 comedy starring Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin is a very funny film. I had only seen it one time before and it's been years ago. So I only had missed like the first 20 or so minutes as I sat down on my comfy sofa to watch the rest of it.
Rock and Gina
Hudson is in good form as wealthy industrialist Robert Talbot who visits his Italian villa every September. This year he comes early in July and finds a boatload of trouble. First his long time girlfriend Lisa (played by Lollobrigida) who is tired of waiting on Robert to pop the question, decides to marry another man. Secondly, the major domo of his villa, Maurice (played by Walter Slezak) has turned the villa into a hotel to make some easy money while Talbot is away. And lastly, his place is run amok with a pack of vacationing American girls with the winsome Sandra Dee leading the charge. Plus a group of American boys led by Bobby Darin camp outside waiting to make their move on Dee and her friends, much to the chagrin of Talbot.
Come September is a breezy battle of the sexes type comedy with Hudson being very funny. He has wonderful chemistry with Gina too. Their scenes together are the best in the film. Rock is in great shape and Gina looks stunning. Wearing some of the best clothes one would wear during the 60's. Evening wear, sun dresses, you name it, Gina wears it amazingly well. A nice movie to see on a casual Sunday.
B+
Hudson is in good form as wealthy industrialist Robert Talbot who visits his Italian villa every September. This year he comes early in July and finds a boatload of trouble. First his long time girlfriend Lisa (played by Lollobrigida) who is tired of waiting on Robert to pop the question, decides to marry another man. Secondly, the major domo of his villa, Maurice (played by Walter Slezak) has turned the villa into a hotel to make some easy money while Talbot is away. And lastly, his place is run amok with a pack of vacationing American girls with the winsome Sandra Dee leading the charge. Plus a group of American boys led by Bobby Darin camp outside waiting to make their move on Dee and her friends, much to the chagrin of Talbot.
Bobby makes his move..
Come September is a breezy battle of the sexes type comedy with Hudson being very funny. He has wonderful chemistry with Gina too. Their scenes together are the best in the film. Rock is in great shape and Gina looks stunning. Wearing some of the best clothes one would wear during the 60's. Evening wear, sun dresses, you name it, Gina wears it amazingly well. A nice movie to see on a casual Sunday.
B+
Everyone goes on a little motor scooter ride thru the Italian countryside
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Happy Birthday John Cromwell (1887 - 1979)...a magnificent director
Happy Birthday to John Cromwell, one of the greatest directors that ever lived. Just let me read off some of his films that he made during his 30 year tenure: Of Human Bondage (1934), The Prisoner of Zenda (1937), Made For Each Other (1939), In Name Only (1939), Since You Went Away (1944), The Enchanted Cottage (1945), Dead Reckoning (1947), and his last film in 1961 called A Matter Of Morals. He worked with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood: Carole Lombard, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Irene Dunne, Bette Davis, Ronald Colman, and Claudette Colbert. Happy Birthday Mr. Cromwell.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Happy Birthday Ruth Roman (1922 - 1999)
Happy Birthday to one of the most underrated actresses ever...Ruth Roman. She starred in such films as Strangers on A Train, The Far Country, Always Leave Them Laughing and Good Sam. And tons of work on such TV series like Dr. Kildare, I SPY, The Girl From UNCLE, Mannix, Marcus Welby, and Gunsmoke. Happy Birthday Ruth!
Ruth with Gary Cooper in DALLAS (1950)
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
2012 Preview for ALL GOOD THINGS
Yep...Monty has asked me to be one of his classic movie goddesses! YAY!
And I hope to do some spotlights on actors too. Up first will be William Holden (that will make Patti happy). So expect good things in 2012 here on All Good Things. Meanwhile over on my other blog, Screwball Cinema, I know I have kind of slacked off over there, but I promise to get things fired up and going again. I’m thinking about doing a tournament over there, sometime in the summer. And doing more reviews as well. So here’s to a great year not just for me and my blogs, but for everyone else too and that we all have just an amazing time!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
TCM honors Irene Dunne today with a slew of her films celebrating her birthday
My second favorite actress of all time, Irene Dunne is being honored on TCM with 8 of her films today. It is Irene's birthday and TCM pulls out all the stops. Beginning at 6:45 am EST with the western Cimarron. Followed by Thirteen Women, Ann Vickers, No Other Woman, The Age Of Innocence, Stingaree, My Favorite Wife and I Remember Mama. Pretty good selections. You may wonder where Penny Serenade is...well it was on yesterday morning. Regardless this is an impressive line-up and I will be able to catch I Remember Mama. I've only seen that film once and it's been at least 10 years when I last saw it. Can't wait to see it again. So Happy Birthday Irene! And I hope classic movie lovers will get to see at least one of her films today.
Pull up a chair and watch some of Irene's best movies today on TCM
Monday, December 19, 2011
Here's to the start to a great week for everyone...
Marilyn stopped by to wish everyone a great week!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Joan Crawford gets some satisfaction on Norma Shearer with a thorough victory in match play
The ladies had a face off with Joan easily winning the match...
Remember when Crystal Allen (Crawford) stole Mary Haines (Shearer) husband in the 1939 film The Women, only to eventually lose him back to Mary. Well Joanie gets a little measure of satisfaction as she dominates Shearer 14-3 in match play. It marks Joan's first match play win and gives her a 1-2 record while Shearer drops to 1-2. Thanks to all those who voted and a new match will be up soon.
