Be My Guest - Desiree (Part 2)

We continue on with our interview with our girl from California, Desiree...

Monty: Desiree, what is your favorite decade for film?

Desiree: This is a tough question for me because I love all decades, but I have a particular love for the 1930s and 1940s. However, I can’t choose between the two. It is just impossible. There are so many good films and stars from both decades and I love them both equally.

Monty: Hey I had a hard time deciding between them two decades as well. But finally decided on the 30's mainly because of my  love for screwball comedies.

Monty: Name some of your favorite modern stars.

Desiree: For modern stars, I admire some of the really talented ones, such as Robert de Niro, Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet, Mark Wahlberg… and I also love a few because I think they’re adorable or funny, such as Jake Gyllenhaal, George Clooney and Anne Hathaway.

Monty: Yes to Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep for me as well.

Monty: Name some of your favorite modern films

Desiree:  This is such a tough question for me… I am trying to think of modern films that I have seen many times and think are worth many viewings, such as the Meet the Parents movies, There’s Something about Mary, Clueless, Schindler’s List, The Devil Wears Prada, The Outsiders, Edward Scissorhands, The Hangover, Grease, Julie & Julia, Mean Girls, Orphan (seems like a strange choice, but there is something about that movie…), Juno, and films such as Precious and An American Crime, which affected me so deeply that I could not watch them again, but were truly great films.

Monty: I love The Hangover, There's Something About Mary, The Outsiders and Edward Scissorhands as well.


Monty: What are some of your favorite movie quotes?
Desiree: I have so many favorite movie quotes, but here are some that come to mind that I have repeated so many times over the years:

“Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!” –Auntie Mame


“Oh, Kendal, what am I going to do with you?!” –Hired Wife


“Rattlesnake, anyone?” –Auntie Mame


“Oh, Walter, you’re wonderful in a loathsome sort of way.” –His Girl Friday

“What’s that man doing in my drawers?” –The Thin Man


“Oh, C.K. Dexter Haven!” –The Philadelphia Story



“Who was that?” “You wouldn’t know them, darling. They’re respectable.” –After the Thin Man


“You see? It’s a circle.” “Well, of course. Do you think it would roll if it were square?” –Bringing Up Baby
“Hello, gorgeous.” –Funny Girl


“Well, I don’t want to be rude, but, ah, may I have a drink? I had three or four before I got here, but they’re beginning to wear off, and you know how that is.” –The Awful Truth

“Ja, is good.” –I Remember Mama
(My mother particularly likes the last one, haha).
 
Monty: A lot of quotes from screwball comedies. Cool.
 
Thanks Desiree for such wonderful answers. We will be back with part 3 shortly.

Be My Guest - Desiree (Part 1)

Desiree has graciously accepted to be my guest for this month so let's get started with part one of her questions shall we...

1. Name at least 10 of your favorite classic stars. Can be as many as you want, but at least 10.


Desiree: ha I have so many favorite classic movie stars, Monty… Well, I don’t want to clutter your blog with so many names, so I’ll list my top 10 favorite actresses and top 5 favorite actors because I relate more to actresses. My absolute favorite actress is Rosalind Russell, followed by Irene Dunne, Myrna Loy, Susan Hayward, Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Olivia de Havilland, and Norma Shearer. Also, Barbra Streisand, whom I admire very much as a an actress, but who is of a slightly different era from the rest of the ladies on this list. There are quite a few more, but as I said before, no clutter. My five favorite actors are Cary Grant, Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas, William Powell, and Robert Montgomery.

Monty: Roz being your favorite is awesome. And then you have Cary, Irene, Myrna and lots of my favorites as well.
2. Name at least 10 of your favorite classic movies. Once again can be as many as you want, but at least 10.


Desiree: It’s hard to say which are my 10 favorites… I have seen so many movies and like a lot of them so much. I am not that picky when it comes to classic movies, so this is difficult. I love all of Rosalind Russell’s movies, so of course, my first favorites are Auntie Mame, Gypsy, His Girl Friday, and the Women... Some other favorites that I’ve seen probably 50 times over are Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, The Awful Truth, I’ll Cry Tomorrow, I Want to Live!, I Remember Mama, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Snake Pit, Cool Hand Luke, After the Thin Man, Funny Girl (I figure this counts since it was made in the 60s). Actually, the list just goes on and on and I am sure I am leaving out some.

Monty: Since Roz is your favorite I knew His Girl Friday had to be on your list. Cool. Love seeing Cool Hand Luke, The Snake Pit, Virginia Woolf, The Awful Truth, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof among others making your list.
3. Describe your first classic movie experience. Like where did you watch it..with who, what film was it, etc...


 Desiree: The first time I remember watching a classic movie was probably when I watched Pygmalion with Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller with my mom. It was many years ago and I wasn’t even in high school yet, I think. I remember that I loved the movie and it’s still one of my mom’s favorite films. It was probably one of the first DVDs we owned, along with Gone with the Wind. I loved the atmosphere of this film and the way the girl was transformed by this man in the movie, even though I remember really loving the Cockney accent. And most importantly, I loved the look of the film—the black and white and the way the actors talked and dressed. It was a magical experience for me.

Monty: That does sound like a magical experience Desiree.

4. Describe your perfect way to watch a movie.

Desiree: To me, the most perfect way to watch a movie is with a friend or family member who wants to watch it. It’s so fun because you can comment on little things every now and then and smile about it—not something you can do in the movie theater because people would shush you. It’s more comfortable to watch a movie at home and I like that. And if I’m alone watching a movie… well, people will think this is crazy, but I prefer watching a movie in the morning the most. There is something cozy about it to me, I guess, and I am less tired in the morning than at night.



Monty: Sounds great either way Desiree.
I will stop here for part one of my interview with Desiree who had some wonderful answers. Be back shortly with part two.