All Good Things 2012 In Review

As 2012 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

Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall kicked off the new year as my classic goddess of the month. I wrote a piece about the "H" letter films done by Paul Newman such as Hud, Harper and Cool Hand Luke. I started a new photo series called Tea Anyone, focusing on classic stars drinking or sharing their love of tea. The top post for the month was Things To Know About Lauren Bacall with 696 views.   poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/01/things-to-know-about-lauren-bacall Impressive Ms. Bacall..impressive.

FEBRUARY

Jean looking fabulous

Jean Harlow graced the month of February as the classic goddess of the month.  I did a Valentine Day linkup with my friend Kori over at Blonde Episodes. The most viewed post was my Top 50 favorite classic actresses list (revised) with 662 views.poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-favorite-top-50-classic-film I also wrote this funny little story about how we classic fans are a rare breed. Check it out here:  poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/02/joan-whoa-funny-little-story


MARCH 

Ginger wins it all

March Madness was back with my 2nd Annual Favorite Classic Movie Actress Tourney and it was much bigger. In fact I went from 64 contestants to 128. So large in fact I had to get help from two blogging buddies, Mythical Monkey and Desiree. By far my most ambitious project to date and one of the main posts yielded over 1200 views. WOW!  poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/03/2012-favorite-classic-movie-actress Ginger Rogers would eventually win the tourney continuing the tradition of a 30's era actress being champion. Irene Dunne won it in 2011. The tourney pretty much took over my blog but I still had time for Teresa Wright as my classic movie goddess of the month. And my contribution to the Gone Too Soon Blogathon with my piece on Natalie Wood.  poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/03/gone-too-soon-Natalie Wood

APRIL

Christmas came early as Christmas in Connecticut won a Montie

as Best Film of 1945

April was a quiet month. Well compared to March. The iconic Greta Garbo was my goddess for the month. I finally got back to my Monties, my version of the Oscars with my 1945 edition. Christmas in Connecticut was the big winner. And my morning movie spotlight on The Night of the Iguana was tops with readers with 924 views.  poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/04/morning-movie-night-of-iguana-1964


MAY

Anne Baxter

I started a blogathon called Cinematic Wold Tour, which used films as travel spots and locales. It ran all summer and I think it was successful enough to warrant it for a yearly occasion. Anne Baxter was the goddess of the month. And the be my guest feature with my friend Lori Kemp was the top post of the month with 241 views.  poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/05/be-my-guest-lori-kemp


JUNE

Jean Arthur

I started yet another a new series, called My Hollywood Crushes. And my first selection was Cindy Williams of Laverne and Shirley fame. Jean Arthur was my goddess for the month. My summer photo series, At The Beach, returned to the highest viewed post of the month with 470 views of the sexy Anne Francis. poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/06/summer-lovin-anne-francis 


JULY

Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth stormed into the month of July as my classic goddess. Perfect timing as I posted about her quite frequently. My Childhood crushes for the month were Jenny Agutter and Catherine Mary Stewart, they netted the most views with 516 and 584 respectively. poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-childhood-crushes-6-catherine-mary

AUGUST

One of my favorite new films

The summer was winding down and I started the month of August with my annual 31 Stars in 31 Days, spotlighting a different classic star each and every day. Such notable stars this time around included Grace Kelly, Errol Flynn and Natalie Wood among others. And a modern film, the animated Brave led all posts with 614 views.  poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/08/brave-2012-is-pure-cinema-magic

SEPTEMBER

My good friend Jessica Ellen Rowe from Australia

I love when things work out so perfectly. My classic goddess of the month and my guest of the month go hand in hand. Joan Crawford is one of my good friends favorite actresses and Jessica Ellen Rowe made for a delightful month. Her stint also yielded the most views for this month with 249. poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/09/be-my-guest-jessica-ellen-rowe


OCTOBER

Now you can add tourney winner to Grace's list of achievements

October proved to be a very busy month for me. First I had a new tourney going on, this one dedicated to the leading ladies of Alfred Hitchcock films. Grace Kelly finally snatched her first ever tourney trophy after coming so close twice before in my fave classic actress tourney. William Powell and Myrna Loy walked into my Hall of Fame. And my annual spotlight on the women of Hammer Horror Films return to a big response in Caroline Munro's post of 136 views, 2nd most for the month.  poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-women-of-hammer-films-caroline-munro


NOVEMBER

Team Classic put a beat down on Team Modern

My first annual Lombard Cup tourney began, pitting a team of classic era actors against modern era actors. Team Classic walloped those guys by the count of 16 and 1/2 points to 4 and 1/2 points. Natch, it was the most viewed post for the month with 107.  poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-lombard-cup-detailsteam-classic-vs
Jane Wyman was my goddess for the month. And my fall photo series returned with some great pics of classic stars in the lovely autumn weather.

DECEMBER

Walter and Hildy went to the tourney and came

home winners

And I wrapped up 2012 with surprise, another tourney. This one for favorite screwball film. Winner...His Girl Friday, which happens to be my all time favorite film ever.  poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-first-round-of-favorite-screwball My good friend Alicia Garbo from Facebook was my guest for the month. And my Holiday Cheer photo series returned with some cool holiday pics.

All in all, 2012 was a pretty good year in blogging for me. My pace from that record setting year in 2011 was way off. I only did 470 posts this year,compared to that mammoth 731 I did in 2011. Still it was my second best year ever, 100 more posts than the next closest year. I expect 2013 to be probably around that same mark of 400 + posts as I don't see me ever getting to that 700 plateau ever again. I would like to thank everyone who stopped by to check out my blog and I promise to keep things just as exciting in 2013.

My love of classic films is beyond measure

Monty

Anne Baxter personal quotes

Check out these two personal quotes from Anne from two of her most known films:

On All About Eve (1950) I patterned Eve [Harrington] after the understudy I had in a Broadway play when I was 13. She actually threatened to finish me off. She was the bitchiest person I ever saw.

The Razor's Edge (1946) contained my only great performance. When we shot that hospital scene in which "Sophie" loses her husband, child and everything else, I relived the death of my brother, whom I adored and who died at three. It gives me chills right now to think of it.

 My love of classic films is beyond measure

Monty

Anne Baxter welcomes Jean Arthur

 Monty has asked me to welcome the wonderful Jean Arthur as next month's Classic Movie Goddess. So here I am. First let me say I had a wonderful time for my turn this month and that Monty did a pretty good job. Now let's everyone give a big classic Hollywood style welcome to Miss Jean Arthur.








Welcome Jean...you will have a great time here.


 
Jean: Wow, thank you Anne. I did not expect such a welcome. I am so honored that Monty has chosen me to be the next goddess. I really never considered myself a goddess, so this will be a new experience for me.

Anne: Yeah, me too. But it's a great honor. Monty usually does a wonderful job. I know I had a great time.


Jean: Yes. Well thank you guys both for this welcome and I can't wait for next month.


Me: Thanks Anne for welcoming Jean and to you Jean, I can't wait for next month either.

Anne Baxter in THE RAZOR'S EDGE (1946)

Up until a few months ago I had never seen this amazing movie. Thanks to TCM's Essentials, I got to view it one Saturday night and was blown away by it. A terrific cast in Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, John Payne, Clifton Webb, Hebert Marshall, Elsa Lanchester and Anne Baxter. Based on the Somerset Maugham novel about a young man (Power) who becomes disillusioned with things and goes off to find himself. Gene plays his fiancee who plans to take him back when he returns even though she is now married to someone else. Anne plays a friend of Tierney's from the mid-west who loses her husband and child in an auto accident. She kind of loses all hope and Anne gives one of her best performances ever. Heck she won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress..can't really argue with the Academy on that one. As she is simply amazing. Heart-breaking and wrenching, you feel so badly for Sophie, her character, as she has to endure so much. If you have never seen The Razor's Edge, then you're in for a treat. A gorgeous looking film with an outstanding cast that deliver some of their best work in film ever.

Film: B+
Anne's Performance: A

My love of classic films is beyond measure

Monty

Anne Baxter has a message for Ann Sheridan

To: Ann Sheridan


As much as I love your work and films I have to ask that you realize that I am the star of the month and not you. I believe Monty already chose you last year and did a marvelous job from what I hear. But this is 2012 and it's my turn. I'm sure this doesn't have to get awkward or ugly as I know of you're upcoming blogathon and all. I'm sure we can co-exist on All Good Things. Just not at the same time.


Sincerely yours
Anne Baxter

P.S. 
Of course if I have to throw down with you...we can do that too...

Dang...I sense a little hostility between the two Anne's...I will try to accommodate both women though here on AGT.

Anne Baxter: Classic Movie Goddess video tribute

While over at You Tube, I found this wonderful video paying tribute to my classic movie goddess of the month, Anne Baxter. So here it is, about 7 minutes long accompanied by some really cool music befitting Anne. Enjoy.
 http://youtu.be/ztuC3KDLJo8

Anne Baxter in ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)

The classic film that features Anne as Eve Harrington, the manipulative and wanna-be stage actress who seeks to overtake Broadway diva Margo Channing (the one and only Bette Davis) and become a star herself. Anne sinks her teeth into her role with great intensity as she doesn't care who she tramples over to get what she wants. She may look all innocent and cute but Eve is one woman you don't want to mess with. Ever! One of my all time favorite films.


Film: A+
Anne's performance: A

Facts and trivia about Anne Baxter

Born on May 7th, 1923 in Michigan City, Indiana


Died on December 12th, 1985 in New York City (brain aneurysm)


Stood 5 '4"


Was married three times: John Hodiak (1946-1953) one child; Randolph Galt (1960-1968) two children; David Klee (1977) his death

Granddaughter of Frank Lloyd Wright, architect

 Was initially cast in All About Eve (1950) because of her resemblance to Claudette Colbert. Miss Colbert was first signed for the role of Margo and the idea was to have Eve visually turn into Margo.

 Was good friends with legendary costume designer Edith Head. Head was godmother to one of Baxter's daughters.

Maintained her primary residence in Easton, Connecticut on a ten acre estate from the 1970's until her death.

 The daughter of Kenneth Stuart Baxter, a sales manager, and housewife Catherine, she later had three daughters. Katrina Hodiak is a composer, married and with children. Melissa Galt (born 1961) is an interior designer in the Atlanta, Georgia area, and Maginal Galt (born 1963) is reportedly a Catholic nun residing in Rome, Italy.

Was good friends with Maureen O'Hara 

Won her only Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in The Razor's Edge (1946)

Facts provided by IMBD

My love of classic films is beyond measure

Monty

Happy Birthday Anne Baxter (1923 - 1985)

How coincidental that my classic movie goddess of the month, Anne Baxter, also has a birthday this month. I did not know that prior to making my schedule of goddesses for the year. The only other time this has happened was in 2010 when Elizabeth Taylor was CMG in February, her birth month. Anyway Happy Birthday Anne! 

In her own words: 


I'm an actress, not a personality. It's more successful to be a personality. But can you use it in every role? I don't spill over into everything I do. I do what I do from inside someone else's skin.

Well said, Anne...well said!

Everyone say hello to Anne Baxter!

Say hello to Anne Baxter, my classic movie goddess for the month of May. I will post pics, reviews of her films, facts and trivia, and other assorted goodies all month long. I hope you guys will join me as I spend a little time with a most wonderful actress!

All Good Things in MAY

Whew...almost forgot to write a preview post for next month. Better late than never. My classic movie goddess of the month will be Anne Baxter. I can hear the boos and hisses already as Anne created one of the most devious and scheming characters in film history as Eve Harrington in All About Eve. But she did lots more than Eve and I will try to talk about that all next month long. For instance she is an Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actress in The Razor's Edge. As well as a recipient of a Montie for Five Graves to Cairo. My guest for the month will be another friend I met on Facebook, Lori Kemp. She has already sent her answers back to me as she doesn't believe in dallying. She is one of my best friends. My non-official blogathon, Cinematic World Tour will kick off Memorial Day weekend with my first post. I know some of you have signed up to take a vacation as well, so it will be quite fun to see what everyone writes about. So May should be another good month for All Good Things. Please drop by from time to time.

HOLIDAY CHEER - Anne Baxter

Anne delivering some presents

2012 Preview for ALL GOOD THINGS

Yep...Monty has asked me to be one of his classic movie goddesses! YAY!

I think 2012 is poised to be a great year for my blog. Well I hope it will. Just wanted to highlight some of the things I will be doing once the new year rings in. Some notable actresses who will be the classic movie goddesses in 2012 include Lauren Bacall, Rita Hayworth, Anne Baxter, Joan Crawford and Greta Garbo. I will have some distinguished guests in the form of Emily from The Silver Screen Affair, Becky of Classic Becky's Brain Food and Alicia Garbo of British Beauties. And plenty more friends and bloggers showing up this year. My yearly favorite Classic Film Actress tourney returns with a bigger and bolder tournament. It goes from 64 to 128 contestants, spread out over 4 blogs. Helping me will be John of Mythical Monkey (who handles the 30’s portion) and Desiree of Rosalind Russell (who handles the 40’s portion). I will take care of the 50’s and 60’s on my blog All Good Things and Noir and Chick Flicks (thanks Dawn for allowing me to hold part of the tournament there). I will continue with the weekly classic stars match play as well, which has proven to be fun. And of course the usual film reviews, theme picture series (At The Beach), Classic Horror Movie Festival, From Then To Now, If It’s Tuesday Then It Must Be Grace Kelly, and so much more.

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!

THE FALL SERIES: Anne Baxter

Anne just enjoying some sun...

At The Beach: ANNE BAXTER

Careful Anne....

Happy Birthday Anne Baxter (1923 - 1985)

Happy Birthday to the super talented Anne Baxter who starred in such memorable films such as All About Eve, The Ten Commandments, Ciimarron, The Blue Gardenia, and Sunday Dinner For A Soldier. Most modern audiences know her from the 1980's TV series Hotel. Stunningly beautiful and very talented. We miss you Anne.

Happy Birthday Anne Baxter

I didn't realize that Anne's birthday was yesterday. My apologies to Anne and all her fans, but Happy Birthday to another one of my favorite actresses. (7 May 1923 - 12 Dec 1985). My favorite Anne films include All About Eve, Sunday Dinner for a Soldier, The Fighting Sullivans, A Ticket to Tomahawk, The Ten Commandments and her guest appearances as the villaness Olga, Queen of the Cossacks on the 1960's Batman TV series

A Double Feature with Anne Baxter

Tonight on TCM, there is a double feature starring the wonderful Anne Baxter. They are two of Anne's earlier films: Five Graves To Cairo (1943) directed by Billy Wilder and The Fighting Sullivans (1944). If you get a chance, check out at least one of them of this highly underrated actress. Anne was best known as the young Eve Harrington, who sparred with the great Bette Davis in the classic All About Eve. For my money Anne was one of the best actresses ever to come along. I recently did a top 25 favorite actresses list and she just missed it by an hair. I may have to rethink that list now. Or maybe expand it to a top 50. Anyway check out the lovely and talented Anne Baxter tonight on TCM. It starts at 8pm EST.