Just one more thing...
Talking about movies, movies, movies. I believe movies are one of the best pleasures in life. Nothing better than watching a classic film and talking with others about them. Love the classics the most but will also talk about the newer stuff too. And covering all genres: comedy, action, horror, sci-fi, drama, musicals, etc. Will also discuss TV shows, more of the classics, but occasionally the newer stuff too. And anything else that might be on my mind. Feel free to drop by and have a chat.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
One more thing...
Monday, July 30, 2012
Schedule change for 31 Stars in 31 Days
Are you sure Ginger won't mind the move Monty?
Note for my 31 Stars in 31 Days schedule
Since my little event has each of the three stars pictured above scheduled
for a certain day, it's a safe bet to say that I'll be watching
The Great Race at some point and time
for a certain day, it's a safe bet to say that I'll be watching
The Great Race at some point and time
My love of classic films is beyond measure
(in any language)
Monty
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Keira Knightley is at it again with another period piece with ANNA KARENINA
One of my occasional series I write is called From The Past To Now where I compare a modern star with their classic counterpart. One such pairing was Vivien Leigh and Keira Knightley. The main reason was because they each have done a fair amount of period films. Vivien did five films of those nature while Keira had done eight. Add one more to that list. Her upcoming film, Anna Karenina, which by coincidence is the role that Leigh also played once as well. So another reason to compare the two actresses. Look at my original post here to read more about the similarities of these two women. And the new Anna Karenina opens worldwide November 9th. poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2011/02/from-past-to-now-vivien-leigh-to-keira.html
Joan Crawford night on TCM
TCM is honoring Joan Crawford tonight with five of her films. Specifically five of her films from the 60's, which happen to be my second favorite decade ever! They start the night off with the certifiable masterpiece Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962) co-starring her long time rival Bette Davis. It's a battle of the divas, grand guignol style. It starts at 8pm EST. Followed immediately by I Saw What You Did (1965) which I have never seen about teenagers who do a prank call that turns deadly. Showing next is The Caretakers (1963) co-starring Robert Stack and Polly Bergen and set in a mental hospital. Another one I haven't seen. The last film is Strait-Jacket (1964) which I have seen before and let's Joan have a field day as a recently released mental patient/axe murderer. The night concludes with a TCM original documentary entitled Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star. So looks like I will be spending a night with Joan. I know this would make my friend Jessica from Australia quite happy. On second thought I think their TCM schedule might be a little different. Oh well I know I will enjoy me some Joan. Just passing along the word to everyone else.
My love of classic films is beyond measure
Monty
Rita Hayworth shines in The Strawberry Blonde (1941) alongside James Cagney and Olivia de Havilland
The Strawberry Blonde and Biff on a date
Since Rita Hayworth is my classic movie goddess of the month, I decided to watch some of her movies. Top of the list, the wonderful period comedy from 1941 The Strawberry Blonde, co-starring James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland and Jack Carson. Talk about some star power. Rita is Virginia Brush, the Strawberry Blonde, who is every guy's dream. She has so many callers coming to date her, it borders on the ridiculous. Biff Grimes (played by James Cagney) is the dentist of their small town who takes a fancy to her, so when his best bud Hugo (played by the always reliable Jack Carson) sets up a double date with Virginia and her friend Amy (Olivia de Havilland) who is a brash suffragette, the fireworks begin. Amy doesn't hold back on her ideas which include doing everything a man can do, like smoking and swearing. And she believes there is nothing wrong with winking at men so they can pick her up. She has the most delightful wink too.
Heads turn as Virginia walks by
Biff caught between two girls
Amy and Biff
Friday, July 27, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
31 Stars in 31 Days Schedule
As I stated in an earlier post, my theme next month will be 31 stars in 31 days. Something akin to TCM's Summer Under the Stars. I have chosen 31 stars and plan to watch at least one film representing that person. The lucky 8 stars who fall on a week-end will have several films watched by me. I will also post some pics and comments about the star for that particular day. Here is my list of stars for next month. I don't have an idea what films I will watch yet and probably won't until the day of. Please stop by to see if I am watching and talking about some of your favorite stars as well.
Wed August 1st - CARY GRANT
Thurs August 2nd - AVA GARDNER
Fri August 3rd - ERROL FLYNN
Sat August 4th - FRANK SINATRA
Sun August 5th - MARILYN MONROE
Mon August 6th - JACK CARSON
Tue August 7th - GRACE KELLY
Wed August 8th - CLARK GABLE
Thurs August 9th - JAMES STEWART
Fri August 10th - DEAN MARTIN
Sat August 11th - BETTE DAVIS
Sun August 12th - SIDNEY POITIER
Mon August 13th - HUMPHREY BOGART
Tue August 14th - WILLIAM HOLDEN
Wed August 15th - JEAN ARTHUR
Thurs August 16th - VIVIEN LEIGH
Fri August 17th - TONY CURTIS
Sat August 18th - JACK LEMMON
Sun August 19th - NATALIE WOOD
Mon August 20th - FRED ASTAIRE
Tue August 21st - JEAN HARLOW
Wed August 22nd - CATHERINE DENEUVE
Thurs August 23rd - JANE FONDA
Fri August 24th - ROSALIND RUSSELL
Sat August 25th - GINGER ROGERS
Sun August 26th - ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Mon August 27th - GENE KELLY
Tue August 28th - ANN SHERIDAN
Wed August 29th - JOEL MCCREA
Thurs August 30th - ROMY SCHNEIDER
Fri August 31st - CAROLE LOMBARD
Wed August 1st - CARY GRANT
Thurs August 2nd - AVA GARDNER
Fri August 3rd - ERROL FLYNN
Sat August 4th - FRANK SINATRA
Sun August 5th - MARILYN MONROE
Mon August 6th - JACK CARSON
Tue August 7th - GRACE KELLY
Wed August 8th - CLARK GABLE
Thurs August 9th - JAMES STEWART
Fri August 10th - DEAN MARTIN
Sat August 11th - BETTE DAVIS
Sun August 12th - SIDNEY POITIER
Mon August 13th - HUMPHREY BOGART
Tue August 14th - WILLIAM HOLDEN
Wed August 15th - JEAN ARTHUR
Thurs August 16th - VIVIEN LEIGH
Fri August 17th - TONY CURTIS
Sat August 18th - JACK LEMMON
Sun August 19th - NATALIE WOOD
Mon August 20th - FRED ASTAIRE
Tue August 21st - JEAN HARLOW
Wed August 22nd - CATHERINE DENEUVE
Thurs August 23rd - JANE FONDA
Fri August 24th - ROSALIND RUSSELL
Sat August 25th - GINGER ROGERS
Sun August 26th - ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Mon August 27th - GENE KELLY
Tue August 28th - ANN SHERIDAN
Wed August 29th - JOEL MCCREA
Thurs August 30th - ROMY SCHNEIDER
Fri August 31st - CAROLE LOMBARD
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Cinematic World Tour: BARCELONA (1994)
Next stop on our cinematic world tour...Barcelona. One of my favorite modern films set in gorgeous Barcelona where the views are just spectacular. The story centers on cousins who are so very different trying to meet the women of their dreams. Ted (played by Taylor Nichols) is a salesman who works in the Barcelona office for a U.S. corporation. He's a little uptight and stuffy. His cousin Fred, a Naval officer (played by Chris Eigeman) comes to visit him and is a lot more loose. And he takes it upon himself to find Ted a suitable mate, which leads to some outrageous situations. Especially since Fred likes to tell every woman they come across that his cousin is into the Marquis de Sade and wearing leather underwear, the kind that is very, very tight. You should see the reaction the women have when he tells them that. Their eyes get very wide and immediately go downward. One of the girls is played by Mira Sorvino, probably the most known person in this entire film who plays sexually charged Marta. She hooks up with Fred. While Ted meets the girl of his dreams in the form of.the lovely and the wonderfully named Montserrat Raventos (played by Tushka Bergen), a free spirited Spaniard who dreams of moving to America.
Ted, Montserrat, Fred and Marta having drinks
Monday, July 23, 2012
Rita Hayworth in AFFECTIONATELY YOURS (1941) is wonderful as a girl named Irene..
Reporter Ricky Mayberry (Dennis Morgan) is married to Sue (Merle Oberon) but is a ladies man, with a girl in every port. At the beginning of the film Ricky is covering a story in Libson and romancing rival reporter Irene Malcolm (a gorgeous Rita Hayworth) when he gets a telegram that Sue has divorced him and is planning to remarry Owen Wright (Ralph Bellamy, a mainstay in these type of comedies). Ricky immediately flies back to New York to win Sue back. Irene tags along to find out the truth. This is a lightweight but enjoyable comedy. Dennis Morgan is a suitable leading man. It's refreshing to see the usual dramatic Oberon in this type of movie. She has a knack for light comedies. It's too bad she didn't make a lot more. Rita Hayworth is very good as Irene. Not only beautiful to look at, but very funny. And in one hilarious dinner scene, she gets to put on a very British accent that she nails perfectly. Ralph Bellamy gets his best scenes when he trades barbs with Morgan. And a surprise with Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen from Gone with the Wind appearing as Oberon's servants. McDaniel gets in her trademark line "But I don't like it!" several times during the film. All in all, I enjoyed this film and recommend it to anyone looking for a few good laughs.
B-
Sunday, July 22, 2012
ALL GOOD THINGS in August
For next month, I am doing another new series. This one will be called 31 Stars in 31 Days, in homage to TCM's Summer Under The Stars. I will choose one star a day and watch one of their respective films. If the star falls on a weekend I will watch more than one as I will be off work and hopefully have more time. I will also list some facts and post some photos of said star for that particular day. So Joan Blondell, who was the scheduled goddess for the month will now be rescheduled for January of next year. Sorry Joan. But I wanted to try this series and if it works, it will become a yearly event. I will have the list of the chosen stars and list of films by the end of this month. Also next month I will induct two more people into my Hall Of Fame. And try to get my next year of the Monties done as well. The year is 1947. My guest for the month will be my good friend and co-worker Debbie if she has the time. She recently left the place I work at to start a new job. So I more than understand if she is a little busy. Regardless August poses to be one of my biggest months. Please drop by to visit for a bit if you can. And as you can tell my the photo to the left, one of the chosen will be none other than the legendary Bette Davis!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
My Childhood Crushes #6 - Catherine Mary Stewart
As Gwen in Weekend at Bernie's (1989)
As Maggie in The Last Starfighter (1984)
As Regina in Night of the Comet (1984)
As Bunny in Mischief (1985)
Pics of Catherine today...
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
Personal Quotes by Rita Hayworth
Here are some personal quotes by Miss Hayworth:
Every man I have ever known has fallen in love with Gilda and awakened with me.
All I wanted was just what everybody else wants, you know, to be loved.
Every man I have ever known has fallen in love with Gilda and awakened with me.
All I wanted was just what everybody else wants, you know, to be loved.
I think all women have a certain elegance about them which is destroyed when they take off their clothes.
The fun of acting is to become someone else.
No one can be Gilda 24 hours a day.
Increasingly, stars are recruited from the ranks of professional models, with the result that today's starlets are better dressed and better groomed than ever before, though it is doubtful if they are better actresses.
2012 Cinematic World Tour: Persepolis courtesy of Wide Screen World
Here's another entry by Rich over at Wide Screen World for our Cinematic World Tour, who chose the film Persepolis as his destination. Check out the link here: widescreenworld.blogspot.com
At The Beach: ROMY SCHNEIDER
Romy about to take a little boat ride...
and I guess you guys are thinking..Monty wasn't kidding
when he said he would be posting about Romy more...first
post of a new week and BAM! it's her..
and I guess you guys are thinking..Monty wasn't kidding
when he said he would be posting about Romy more...first
post of a new week and BAM! it's her..
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Romy Schneider is moving up my favorite actresses list...very, very fast
Austrian actress Romy Schneider has quickly become one of my favorite actresses. She was resting comfortably in the lower 30's of my favorite 50 classic actresses list. Well after much discussion with Irene Palfy about her and watching Romy's film Good Neighbor Sam, she has moved all the way up to number 7. I plan to watch as many of Romy's films as I can get my hands on. I have What's New Pussycat? on the way as I ordered it from Amazon. So expect lots of posts on here about the wonderful Romy!
Saturday, July 14, 2012
VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (1967) is a pure delight
For this evening's movie I watched Valley of the Dolls (1967), a recent purchase from good old Amazon. I hadn't seen Dolls in over 15 years so it was like a new experience to me. And I know that most movie watchers regard it as trashy and campy. Me? I think it's awesome. And it's not like this film is not surrounded with a crazy amount of talent. Patty Duke...Oscar winner. Director Mark Robson, who has helmed such films as Peyton Place, The Inn Of Sixth Happiness, Von Ryan's Express, The Harder They Fall and My Foolish Heart to name just a few. Mega film composer John Williams (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman, Jaws). Another Oscar winner in Lee Grant. Rising star Sharon Tate, before her untimely death. The film debut of Richard Dreyfuss. And veteran film star Susan Hayward in one of her final roles. Add all that up and you have an insane amount of talent for a supposedly trash film. I for one never for an instance felt that it was anything less than a stellar drama that had me hooked from the opening title credits with the theme song performed by Dionne Warwick.
Wide eyed Anne on her way to New York
Neely in a quieter moment
Neely in a not so quiet moment
Tony and Jennifer
Old school Helen Lawson
Jennifer: French subtitles across a bare bottom does not make it an art film.
Neely: Boobies, boobies, boobies. Nothin' but boobies. Who needs 'em?
Anne: Neely, you know it's bad to take liquor with those pills.
Neely: They work faster.
Neely: I have to get up at five o'clock in the morning and SPARKLE, Neely, SPARKLE!"
B
Jennifer all to herself