Be My Guest Schedule 2013

Here's the schedule for all my friends who will be my guests for 2013. I only have the first nine months taken so there are still three spots left if anyone would like to come on All Good Things for a little interview. Just leave a comment in this post below or shoot me an email at monty_hawes@yahoo.com. Please note, the names with parentheses behind them are ones who write blogs as well. 

JANUARY - TINA COSIO
FEBRUARY - KRISTEN (JOURNEYS IN  CLASSIC FILM)
MARCH - VALARIE JOYCE
APRIL - IVAN SHREVE (THRILLING DAYS OF YESTERYEAR)
MAY - JACKIE JOHNSON MERRIT
JUNE - MELINDA KINNIARD
JULY - JESSICA NOELLE PICKENS (COMET OVER HOLLYWOOD)
AUGUST - HARLEY CYN
SEPTEMBER - TONIA STONE

HIS GIRL FRIDAY wins the favorite screwball film tourney...which makes me very happy

Take a look Hildy...we won..no kidding!

The Favorite Screwball Film tourney came to an end yesterday and my favorite film of all time, His Girl Friday won it all. As a number two seed, Friday had to overcome a slew of top films including three number one seeds in It Happened One Night, My Man Godfrey and Bringing Up Baby. Now call me crazy but that is just impressive as all get out. Friday edged out Baby by the count of 16-13, so it was close but nevertheless a victory for the fastest talking comedy ever filmed. And my personal favorite to boot. So I am quite content today. I would like to thank all those that voted to make this tourney a huge success. By the way, the 2013 Favorite Classic Movie Actress Tourney gets underway March 3rd!

TCM Alert: BRIEF ENOUNTER

I am setting my alarm clock for early tomorrow morning as TCM will be airing Brief Encounter, a film I have never seen before. It airs 4:45 am Sunday Morning EST.  I've been told it's one of the best romantic dramas ever made. Directed by David Lean and starring Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard. Can't wait to see it! Just spreading the word for those that have TCM to also check out this film.

Celia and Trevor

Cary Grant is tied with himself...

After three days, Bringing Up Baby and His Girl Friday are deadlocked at 10 votes apiece in the favorite screwball film tourney. At one point Friday was up by 3 votes and at one point Baby was ahead by 2. But now things are dead even. Looks like this match will go down to the wire. Voting ends on Sunday evening.

Cary looks exhausted...but it's almost over

HOLIDAY CHEER - Candice Bergen

Candice Bergen

It will be Cary Grant vs. Cary Grant for favorite Screwball film

The two semi-final matches were very close but in the end, two Cary Grant films edged out two William Powell films to set up an all Cary Grant final match in the favorite screwball film tourney. Overall top seed Bringing Up Baby beat The Thin Man 13-10 while 2nd seed His Girl Friday slid by the other top seed My Man Godfrey 12-9. It is great news for me as Friday and Baby are my number 1 and 2 favorite films of all time. So when the final match begins and whoever wins, I will be good with either outcome. But I will be pulling for Friday just slightly. The match begins right now and will run through Sunday evening. Then I can declare the winner of All Good Things Favorite Screwball Film.

FINAL MATCH

1 BRINGING UP BABY (1938)

VS

2 HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940)

HOLIDAY CHEER - Paulette Goddard

Paulette on Christmas morning

HOLIDAY CHEER - Thelma Todd

Merry Christmas from Thelma!

Happy Birthday Ava Gardner (1922-1990)

One of my favorite actresses, Ava Gardner has a birthday today on Christmas Eve. She would have been 90 had she still been alive. She had one of the most impressive careers of any actress, classic or modern. She began with a lot of uncredited roles around 1941 including one in The Shadow of the Thin Man. Maisie Goes To Reno in 1944 was one of her first credited roles. But it was in 1946 for the film noir classic, The Killers that put her on the map. Her turn as Kitty Collins was amazing. Afterward, the roles came pouring in. The Hucksters, One Touch Of Venus, Pandora, My Forbidden Past, Show Boat, Mogambo, The Barefoot Contessa, and then some strong performances in the 60's to wind down her career. Such as The Night of the Iguana, Seven Days in May and 55 Days at Peking. She continued to act through-out the 70's and 80's as well. Happy Birthday Ava!

Hall Of Fame Inductees for December: GRETA GARBO and JEAN HARLOW

I know I missed during an induction for my Hall of Fame last month but was busy with work and stuff. Here I am to present two inductees for the month of December though. Two of the most iconic classic film actresses ever..Greta Garbo and Jean Harlow. Both gain admittance to the Hall of Fame by virtue of their Montie winning performances as Best Actress for their respective films.

First up, Greta won her Montie (my version of the Oscar for those new to my blog) for her grand performance as Grusinskaya the Dancer in 1932's Grand Hotel. Some will say it is not such a great performance and that co-star Joan Crawford delivered the better performance. I can argue for both points as I also awarded Joan a Montie as Best Supporting Actress for her role as Flaemmchen. I do like Greta's work here in Hotel but it is not my favorite performance of hers. That would be Ninotchka. Regardless, she is now in All Good Things Hall of Fame.

And our second inductee is none other than Jean Harlow. Jean nabbed a Best Actress Montie for 1933's Bombshell, one of my all time favorite screwball comedies. As major screen star Lola Burns, Jean is on fire and gives one of her best film performances ever. And now she joins an exclusive club in my Hall of Fame.

Give a warm welcome to these two legendary film actresses. I will return next month with two more inductees.

HOLIDAY CHEER - Janet Blair

Janet stuffing her stocking

All Good Things 2012 Classic Stars Of The Year

Welcome back everyone to my 2nd annual Classic Stars of the Year list as chosen by All Good Things. These are the stars that made the most noise on my blog. That I wrote and talked about the most or who won the most tournaments or polls. In general the best of the best. I based it on Entertainment Weekly's yearly Entertainers of the Year list. So there will be 12 distinguished actors and actresses who made the cut (1 for each month) and I will begin with number 12 and work my way down to number one. 

Hitch lands at no 12.

12.) ALFRED HITCHCOCK - The director was prominent this year with two films, The Girl and Hitchcock. I have seen The Girl and thought it was interesting enough. Can't wait to see Hitchcock with Anthony Hopkins in the title role. I posted about Hitch a few times this year and had a tourney spotlighting the leading ladies of his films.

The urbane Claude

11.) CLAUDE RAINS - The incomparable Rains made some noise on All Good Things with his entrance into my Hall of Fame, one of twelve stars/directors chosen this year. He is also coming off his second Montie (my version of the Oscars) for Best Supporting actor in Casablanca.

The lovely Rita in one of her many summer pics

here on All Good Things

10.) RITA HAYWORTH - Ahhhhh, Rita. She was one of my classic movie goddesses for the year and she also made the most appearances in my at the beach photo series. Stunningly beautiful.

The dashing Flynn

9.) ERROL FLYNN - Another Hall of Fame inductee and much posting on my FB page to drive most women into a frenzy, specifically Classic Becky.

The definition of Classic Star Glamour, courtesy 

of Jean Arthur

8.) JEAN ARTHUR - Jean was another of my goddesses for the year and she also became a Hall of Famer. Plus I think she made a number of random postings thru the year here.

Good to see ya Carole...

7.) CAROLE LOMBARD - Pretty much, Carole will be on this list every year. No question about it. She is my favorite actress of all time and I post something about her at least once a month. I have posted about her 74 times since I started this blog in 2009. The most of any actress.

Hiya Cary!

6.) CARY GRANT - Same thing goes for Cary, as he is my favorite actor of all time. I have posted about Cary 81 times since 2009, the most of anybody here on All Good Things. And he is currently represented quite well with 8 films in my favorite screwball film tourney.

Irene knows how to make an entrance doesn't she

5.) IRENE DUNNE - The 2011 winner for Favorite Classic Film Actress didn't compete in this year's tourney but she still made some noise with regular postings and showing up with three films in the screwball film tourney.

Powell and Loy as Nick and Nora Charles

4.) WILLIAM POWELL & MYRNA LOY- Frequent film co-stars Bill and Myrna walked in together for the Hall of Fame. Her film, The Best Years of Our Lives picked up a slew of Monties. And she was just an all around good gal to hang out with here. They both had several films competing in this year's screwball film tourney

Marilyn

3.) MARILYN MONROE - It's Monroe. Pretty much says it all right there. Tons of pics and postings on here and my FB and Tumblr pages.

Grace, winner for Favorite Leading Lady

in a Hitchcock Film

2.) GRACE KELLY - After being a bridesmaid two years in a row in my Favorite Classic Film Actress tourney, Grace finally won a tourney. Wasn't for that, but for Favorite Leading Lady in an Alfred Hitchcock film. Plus, I continued to post about her with my weekly series, If It's Tuesday, Then It Must Be Grace Kelly.

Congrats Ginger!

1.) GINGER ROGERS - Looking like a repeat of 2011 as the favorite classic film actress tourney winner would claim top classic star of 2012. This year it's Ginger Rogers, who had a dominating run in the tourney for her eventual win as favorite actress here on All Good Things. Congrats Ginger! You are the top Classic Star of the Year!

Here's to another great year in 2013.

My love of classic films is beyond measure

Monty

HOLIDAY CHEER - Nancy Carroll

Nancy Carroll being very creative

Round Four features a pair of dream semi-final matches

The Favorite Screwball Film tourney heads into round four with a pair of dream semi-final matches. Both matches pits a number one seed against a number two seed. In the first match, overall top seed Bringing Up Baby squares off against second seed The Thin Man. The second match will feature number one seed My Man Godrey against second seed His Girl Friday. So we have a pair of Cary Grant films still in contention as well as one film with Carole Lombard. My top two favorite stars of all time. William Powell is also represented with two films himself. The matches begin this morning and run through Monday evening. Good luck to these four excellent films making it to the final four. And I would have no problem with any one of these films winning the tourney. But I am secretly pulling for His Girl Friday.

SEMI-FINAL MATCH 1

1 BRINGING UP BABY (1938)

VS

2 THE THIN MAN (1934)

---------------------------------------

SEMI-FINAL MATCH 2

1 MY MAN GODFREY (1936)

VS

2 HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940)

Round Three concludes with Nick and Nora still in the mix....

Another number seed is shown the door as round three of the favorite screwball film tourney wraps up. It Happened One Night (a number one seed) falls to His Girl Friday, my fave film ever btw 21-17 in the Frank Capra bracket. The other two number 1 seeds won their matches. My Man Godfrey destroyed Ball of Fire 27-11. While overall tourney top seed Bringing Up Baby thrashed To Be or Not To Be by the same score. The last match had The Thin Man beating The Lady Eve 23-16. Which sets up two intriguing semi-final matches involving 1 and 2 seeds in both matches. My Man Godfrey will take on His Girl Friday and Bringing Up Baby takes on The Thin Man. These matches will begin tomorrow and run through Monday evening.

Congratulations guys on making it to the next round. I'm pulling for you to win the whole thing.

1 IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT 17
2 HIS GIRL FRIDAY 21

1 MY MAN GODFREY 27
7 BALL OF FIRE 11

1 BRINGING UP BABY 27
2 TO BE OR NOT TO BE 11

2 THE THIN MAN 23
4 THE LADY EVE 16

And the winner is....

Congratulations Kristen dear girl...you are the winner!

I want to thank all those who took the time to participate in my first giveaway here on All Good Things. There were a lot of high numbers tossed out as to how many of the 72 films Cary Grant made that I had seen. All the winner had to do is guess closest to the amount I had seen and not go over. But one person hit the exact number on the head. Don't ask me how she did it but Kristen of Journeys In Classic Film guessed I had seen 45 of Cary's films..and she was right. Wow! I know some may be surprised that I haven't seen more of my favorite actor's films but there are several of his earlier stuff that I have yet to see. But I plan to see all of his films one day, mark my words. I like to congratulate Kristen for guessing correctly and she will be receiving a $25 Amazon gift card in the mail..just in time for Christmas. And once again thanks to everyone who stopped by to join in on the fun. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 

CLASSIC MOVIE GODDESSES in 2013...with a twist

Here is my schedule for the goddesses I will be featuring next year. The twist, you might ask? Well this time I am focusing on some of the best known TV actresses of yesteryear. Most of the actresses I chose did make feature films during their career too and some were extremely successful. But they achieved even greater success in TV. And most of their fans know them immediately once you say their name or sing their theme song or say a certain catchphrase. So here are the 11 women I will be featuring next year, one a month. There will be no Classic TV Goddess for the month of March (my annual favorite classic movie actress tourney takes place then). Here is the list below which may change if I decide to move the actresses around a bit, but these are definitely the eleven (ummm 13) I will be talking about. I will rotate every year between film and TV goddesses if this goes well.

Here's LUCY

JANUARY - LUCILLE BALL (had to kick things off with Lucy)
FEBRUARY - FLORENCE HENDERSON/BARBARA BILLINGSLEY (two for one)
APRIL - PATTY DUKE
MAY - NICHELLE NICHOLS/YVONNE CRAIG (Some sci-fi/comic book love)
JUNE - MARY TYLER MOORE
JULY - MARLO THOMAS
AUGUST - BARBARA EDEN
SEPTEMBER - ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY
OCTOBER - CAROLYN JONES
NOVEMBER - DIANA RIGG
DECEMBER - GRACIE ALLEN

Expect other notable TV actresses to pop up in the coming years such as:
DIAHANN CARROLL
SALLY FIELD (she did get her start on Gidget and The Flying Nun after all)
STEFANIE POWERS
TUESDAY WELD
SUZANNE PLESHETTE
LINDA EVANS
ELINOR DONAHUE
AUDREY MEADOWS

and many many more!

HOLIDAY CHEER - Jane Greer

Jane making her wish list...

All Good Things first giveaway

And the answer is.....

In the spirit of Christmas, I am holding my first giveaway contest. Everyone knows that Cary Grant is my favorite actor, so the question will be about him. Out of the 72 full length feature films he did in his career, how many would you guess have I seen? I will give two hints: as much as I love Cary, I have yet to see all his films and last year I did a ranking of my top 25 favorite films of his. So it's not 72, and it's not less than 25. The closest to the right answer without going over will win a gift card. Just leave your answer in the comment section of this post or email me at monty_hawes@yahoo.com

If there are multiple people who choose the same answer that is closest then I will give out that many gift cards accordingly. Just my way of saying thanks to the blogging community who have been following All Good Things for the past few years. The contest ends Wednesday evening at 8pm. That way I can announce the winner and send out the gift card on Thursday. Hopefully in time for Christmas.

Round Three Update: Day 1

The four bracket final matches started yesterday and two of the remaining top three seeds are currently leading their respective matches after day one. Overall top seed Bringing Up Baby is crushing To Be Or Not To Be 14-5. My Man Godfrey leads Ball Of Fire 13-6. But the last remaining top seed It Happened One Night is losing to 2nd seed His Girl Friday 10-8. Not that I mind since Friday is my favorite film of all time. The other match has The Thin Man with a slight lead over The Lady Eve 12-8. Matches will continue on through Thursday evening. 

Babs better start working her magic or Ball of Fire

is about to make an exit from the tourney

1 IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT 8
2 HIS GIRL FRIDAY 10

1 MY MAN GODFREY 13
7 BALL OF FIRE 6

2 THE THIN MAN 12
4 THE LADY EVE 8

1 BRINGING UP BABY 14
2 TO BE OR NOT TO BE 5

Round Three begins now...

I decided to start round three of the Favorite Screwball Tourney match today instead of waiting tomorrow. Here are the four scheduled matches that sees what film wins their respective brackets: Capra, Lubitsch, Hawks and Sturges. The matches will run through Thursday. Of note, my two favorite stars of all time, Cary Grant and Carole Lombard both have two films still left competing...along with William Powell and Barbara Stanwyck, they represent the only stars with multiple films still in play. 

FRANK CAPRA BRACKET

1 IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)

VS

2 HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940)

---------------------------------------------

HOWARD HAWKS BRACKET

1 MY MAN GODFREY (1936)

VS

7 BALL OF FIRE (1941)

-------------------------------------------------

ERNST LUBITSCH BRACKET

2 THE THIN MAN (1934)

VS

4 THE LADY EVE (1941)

------------------------------------------

PRESTON STURGES BRACKET

1 BRINGING UP BABY (1938)

VS

2 TO BE OR NOT TO BE (1942)