March Madness #20: SIDNEY POITIER

Welcome to Day #20 of MARCH MADNESS!
Every day in March, ALL GOOD THINGS will highlight a Classic film Super-star, you know, the type renowned for really, really B.A.D. to sweetest-dearest-most darling!

TODAY the spotlight shines on SIDNEY POITIER. Here is an actor who bared his soul in his characters, and even when he was being lion-hearted, at heart, there was a gentle soul.
Which do you prefer: LION: rough n' tuff! or LAMB: Sweet & soulful?

March Madness #19 VIVIEN LEIGH

Welcome to Day #19 of MARCH MADNESS!
Every day in March, ALL GOOD THINGS will highlight a Classic film Super-star, you know, the type renowned for really, really B.A.D. to sweetest-dearest-most darling!

DAY #18 results: FRED MacMURRAY seems to be equally loved whether playing tender or tough and it seems that his rougher-tougher WALTER NEFF won out by one vote.

TODAY the spotlight shines on VIVIEN LEIGH. Ethereal beauty, Vivien was beloved by her fans for her genteel Lamb-y characters, and equally for her LIONESS roles!
Which do you prefer: LION: rough n' tuff! or LAMB: Sweet & soulful?

Here we go...the final six matches in the 2013 Lombard Cup...for all the marbles

TEAM CAROLE has 9 and 1/2 points
TEAM VERONICA has 5 and 1/2 points

Six matches this week will decide who gets to take The Lombard Cup home. Here we go...matches start tomorrow morning and run through Friday evening!

Match 16 
VIVIEN LEIGH (Team Carole)


















vs

BETTE DAVIS (Team Veronica)

**************************
Match 17
DEBORAH KERR (Team Carole)

vs


JANET LEIGH (Team Veronica)

**************************

Match 18
ANN SHERIDAN (Team Carole)

vs


ANN-MARGRET (Team Veronica)

***************************

Match 19
SUSAN HAYWARD (Team Carole)

vs


BARBARA STANWYCK (Team Veronica)

******************************

Match 20
AUDREY HEPBURN (Team Carole)

vs


ELIZABETH TAYLOR (Team Veronica)

****************************

Match 21
OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND (Team Carole)

vs


JOAN CRAWFORD (Team Veronica)

Vivien Leigh talks March Madness

With less than a month away before my annual Favorite Classic Movie Actress tourney begins, I thought a recap of last year's tournament would be in order. But instead of doing the usual post about it I thought it would be cool to do a series of posts about me conducting interviews with some of the women who competed. You know, if they were really alive and how they would respond to my questions. I thought I would begin with Vivien Leigh who had two very different tourney runs. Back in 2011 for the inaugural Favorite Actress tourney, she made it to the championship match against eventual winner Irene Dunne. So for 2012 she was naturally expected to do quite well. Didn't turn out that way as she got edged out by Gene Tierney in the second round. So here she is..Miss Vivien Leigh, having a little chat with me.

The happy and beautiful Vivien Leigh

Me: First off, Miss Leigh, thank you for coming on here to chat a little. I have tremendous respect for you and think you are one of the greatest actresses of all time.

Vivien Leigh: Why thank you Monty. So glad to be here, on your wonderful blog. I want to thank you and all the bloggers who keep classic film alive with your stories and events.

Me: Speaking of events, you know it's almost time for my annual favorite classic movie tourney. And I wanted to talk to you about your thoughts on your past experiences in them.

Miss Leigh: Oh sure..love to!

Me: Back in 2011, for the very first one I did, you did extremely well. I mean you made it all the way to the final match. What did you think about that whole experience?

Miss Leigh: It was kind of unreal to be quite honest. I never expected to make it that far. Coming from the era you had me in..the 40's. I think everyone pretty much assumed either Bette or Kate Hepburn would win. But after I kept winning match after match and week after week, it still never occurred to me that I could still be around competing.

Me: and compete you did. All the way to the last match with Irene Dunne. Now Irene had just an amazing Cinderella run through the tourney up to this point but you were seeded 4th and the oddsmakers had you a 7 point favorite over her. Your thoughts on that...

Miss Leigh: What's that sports saying you Americans always say Monty..that's why you play the game. It was a very tough match and I give all the praise and congrats to Irene who just would not give up. I was honored to be in the final match with her.

A very determined Vivien is ready to compete for

a third time

Me: Yeah it was a very unexpected tourney win by Irene that still a lot of fans can't believed happened. So now on to last year's tourney, where you had the pre-tourney ranking of #2 and everyone was wagering you would take the crown that year. But you had that unexpected 2nd round loss to Gene Tierney..

Miss Leigh: Yes..it was very heart-breaking to lose so early. But also at the same time, such a relief. Because I have to tell everyone that competing week in and week out can be quite stressful. So while it was very disappointing, it was quite calm for me afterwards.

Me: I can understand your viewpoint on that Miss Leigh. I wish you much success in this year's tourney and I want to thank you again for stopping by to chat with me and all your fans and followers.

Vivien: Thank you Monty. Thank you everyone.

Me: Miss Vivien Leigh everybody!

A thundering applause echoes from the studio audience. I will be back with another actress in a few days for another casual chat.

She may not have won the tourney but you can't

take away her Best Actress Oscar!

Be My Guest - Tina Cosio

My guest for this month is my Tina Cosio, a friend I met on FB through the love of classic movies and film groups on Facebook. Let's get started and there is no number one question for Tina as she does not currently write a blog.

2.)  Who are your favorite classic film stars: 

Tina: Gary Cooper, Joseph Cotten, Gregory Peck, Paul Newman, Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable, Deborah Kerr, Marilyn Monroe, Jennifer Jones, Bette Davis, Ingrid Bergman, Natalie Wood

Me: We share some of the same favorites in Newman, Kerr, Monroe, Gable, Davis and Wood.

3)What are some of your favorite films?

Tina:  Gone With The Wind, Dr. Zhivago, To Kill A Mockingbird, Rear Window, Casablanca, Now, Voyager, Song of Bernadette, The Searchers, Mrs. Miniver, Jezebel, Some Like It Hot, The Sundowners, Roman Holiday, Portrait of Jennie, Little Women

Me: Some big time classics there Tina..love Rear Window, The Searchers, Some Like It Hot, To Kill a Mockingbird and Mrs. Miniver.

4) My first classic movie experience was when I was a child. Every Sunday, my mom would take my brother and I to the movies. We would see classic Mexican movies with stars like Maria Felix, Pedro Infante, Sylvia Pinal, Libertad LaMarque

Me: Awesome Tina!

5)What films upon first viewing did you not like, then later on when re-watching them, loved them? 

Tina: Casablanca, Roman Holiday

Me: I liked Casablanca the first time I saw it. Holiday not so much.

6) What's the perfect way to watch a classic film?

 Tina: The perfect way for me to watch a classic film is on TV with a bowl of popcorn.

Me: I second that

7)  How many friends, family member or co-workers share your love of classic films?

Tina: Michael, my son, likes classic movies especially Italian classics. 

Me: cool

8) Tina: My favorite time period is the 40's. 

Me: My favorite era is the 30's..but I love the 40's too.

9) Tina: My fav film quotes: The stuff that dreams are made of, Fasten your seatbelts it's gonna be a bumpy ride (All About Eve) Oh, Jerry, don;t let's ask for the moon. We have the stars.(Now, Voyager) You're not to smart are you? I like that in a man (Bodyheat) 

Me: Some great film quotes you picked there

10)What classic films have you yet to see for one reason or another?

 Not sure about this one Monty

11) Tina: Favorite genre: Musicals, Romance

Me: Ahhhh...music and romance..what a combination

12) If you threw a movie theme party, describe how you would do it. The costumes, decorations, food, etc.

Tina: If I were to throw a movie theme party I would have to pick The Great Gatsby. I would have the invitations hand delivered. My guests would be picked up in 1920's vintage cars. The party would be in Napa, CA. In a white outdoor tent with chandeliers. We would start with a reception with live entertainment before a sit down dinner. The waiters would be dressed in 1920's style clothing. The waitresses would be dressed as flappers. The menu would consist of comfort food. Nothing over the top just delicious. Followed by dessert. And lots of champagne of course!

Me: Count me in...

13) What are some films that are widely loved that you couldn't care less about?

Tina: Try as I might I do not care for silent films. Not any movie in particular all of them. 

Me: I've only seen a handful of silents but I would like to see some more.

14)  Who’s the biggest film fanatic that you know? Besides yourself of course.

Tina: cannot for the life of me think of one person who is a film fanatic. All my friends love movies!

Me: cool!

15) And finally who are some of your favorite film characters?

Tina: Scarlett O'Hara, Stella Dallas, Holly Golightly, Atticus Finch,

 Me: Can't go wrong with any of those characters.

Well that wraps up another guest for this month. I like to thank Tina for accepting my invite to come aboard and I think she did an awesome job.

31 Stars in 31 Days: Day 16 - VIVIEN LEIGH

Tonight I will be watching a Vivien Leigh movie and no not Gone With The Wind, her most iconic movie and role. No, I shall watch Waterloo Bridge, which is actually my favorite performance of hers. But let's get to the necessary info first about Ms. Leigh shall we...

Favorite Vivien film: GONE WITH THE WIND (1939) - just too epic not be my fave..even
though it's not my fave film from that golden year of 1939..in fact it is way down that list..just saying..
I hope GWTW fans don't come after me with pitchforks now!
Favorite Vivien role: Myra (WATERLOO BRIDGE - 1940) - yes I thought she was better here
than in GWTW. So heartbreaking!
Favorite Vivien co-star: toss up between Clark Gable and Laurence Olivier
Films of Vivien seen: 7 out of 20 films..I need to watch me some more Viv!

Today's film: WATERLOO BRIDGE (1940) - Heartbreaking film. Here is my full review when I wrote it a while back.. poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2010/09/vivien-leigh-in-heart-breaking-waterloo.html

Vivien Leigh, Katharine Hepburn and Ingrid Bergman make early exits...oh my!

Vivien is visibly upset after losing to Gene Tierney

Some major upsets occurred in the 40’s era second round yesterday. The biggest being Vivien Leigh losing to Gene Tierney. Leigh, who made it to the final four last year, had no answer for Tierney. After leading early on day one, Leigh lost momentum and could not keep pace. Tierney quieted all the naysayers who didn’t think she had a chance at all of taking down Scarlett O’Hara. Well she did..and quite convincingly, might I add.

                                   Kate ponders what happened in her loss to Olivia yesterday

 How did the ‘great’ Kate Hepburn do? Not too good. Hepburn lost to Olivia de Havilland and like Leigh, led early after the first day. But then Olivia started making her move, overtook Kate and never looked back. So looks like Melanie and not Scarlett will be continuing on in the tourney.

Ingrid heads home after her unexpected loss

And finally, much loved favorite Ingrid Bergman got hammered by Lauren Bacall. Bergman, who was one match away from making the final four last year, stumbled out of the gate immediately against Bacall and never recovered.


So three big actresses have now been eliminated and sent home. And Leigh makes the first final four contender to not make it back to the dance. We’ll see how Grace Kelly, Natalie Wood and Irene Dunne fare in their matches for the rest of the tourney.

Top seeds roll in the 40's era opening round..

Most of the top seeds all had convincing wins in the opening first round, with one lone exception. 4th seeded Greer Garson was edged by 5th seed Gene Tierney in one heck of a match. Gene slipped by Greer 40-35, but this match could have gone either way. Here are the other matches final results.

SOPHISTICATES

1 VIVIEN LEIGH def 8 RUTH HUSSEY 58-12
5 GENE TIERNEY def 4 GREER GARSON 40-35
2 INGRID BERGMAN def 7 LORETTA YOUNG 60-13
3 LAUREN  BACALL def 6 ANN SHERIDAN 47-26

No surprise here as top seed Vivien Leigh cruises to a first round win...

Vivien Leigh, who made it to the final four last year, wasted little time in taking care of Ruth Hussey. This match was over the first day. Ingrid Bergman put a beat down on Loretta Young 60-13 in what I thought would have been a much closer match. And even though I love Lauren Bacall with all my heart, I was still sad to see her beat Ann Sheridan.

DRAMA QUEENS

1 BETTE DAVIS def CLAIRE TREVOR 57-13
4 JOAN FONTAINE def 5 LANA TURNER 45-29
2 KATHARINE HEPBURN def 7 JANE GREER 48-24
3 OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND def 6 IDA LUPINO 49-23

Not much drama among the drama queens matches as all top 4 seeds won very easily with Bette Davis leading the way with a severe beatdown of Claire Trevor 57-13. Look for the next part of this round to kick off today with matches in the categories of funny ladies/girls next door and singers/dancers. Here's the link to go cast your vote: rosalind-russell:Dazzling Star

The 2012 Favorite Classic Actress Tournament Preview: The 1940's era

I'm back to preview the 1940's era for the upcoming favorite classic actress tournament. Now my good friend Desiree will be handling this era and she has set up some wonderful matches for the opening round. She broke her matches down into four categories just like I did for the 50's and 60's: Sophisticates, Drama Queens, Funny Ladies/Girls Next Door and Singers/Dancers. And the fun will begin on Monday March 5th at her blog: Rosalind Russell. I'm going with Bette to win this era. Here is the link:rosalind-russell:dazzling star

 Overall top seed of 1940's era Vivien Leigh (and last year's final four finalist)

SOPHISTICATES 

1 VIVIEN LEIGH VS 8 RUTH HUSSEY

4 GREER GARSON VS 5 GENE TIERNEY

2 INGRID BERGMAN VS 7 LORETTA YOUNG (should be an excellent match)
3 LAUREN BACALL VS 6 ANN SHERIDAN (I will be torned between these two)

 

Drama Queen top seed Bette Davis

DRAMA QUEENS

1 BETTE DAVIS VS 8 CLAIRE TREVOR

4 JOAN FONTAINE VS 5 LANA TURNER (go Lana!)

2 KATHARINE HEPBURN VS 7 JANE GREER (I smell a possible upset here..)

3 OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND VS 6 IDA LUPINO

 

Funny Ladies/Girls Next Door top seed Rosalind Russell

FUNNY LADIES/GIRLS NEXT DOOR

1 ROSALIND RUSSELL VS 8 JEANNE CRAIN (yay for Roz!)

4 JANE WYMAN VS 5 DONNA REED (tough one! for me anyway)

2 LUCILLE BALL VS 7 MAUREEN O'HARA ( Oh my goodness! A battle of the red-heads)

3 EVE ARDEN VS 6 TERESA WRIGHT

 

Singers/Dancers top seed Judy Garland

SINGERS/DANCERS

1 JUDY GARLAND VS 8 MARGARET O'BRIEN

4 BETTY GRABLE VS 5 JUNE ALLYSON

2 RITA HAYWORTH VS 7 HEDY LAMARR (Should be a super match!)

3 ANN MILLER VS 6 VIRGINIA MAYO