The Morning Movie: THE YOUNGEST PROFESSION (1943)

Catching a little of this movie called The Youngest Profession (1943) on TCM this morning as I get ready for work. It stars Virginia Weidler as the Joan, a teen who chases down movie stars for their autographs. She even has her own group that she formed with her like minded girlfriends. She has the fortune to run into stars like Greer Garson, Robert Taylor, Lana Turner, William Powell and Walter Pidgeon who play themselves. But Joan also has to deal with the mistaken information that her parents are having marital problems. So she takes it upon herself to try and fix the non-existent problem. I've seen about 30 minutes of this movie and I love it. Co-starring Edward Arnold and Agnes Moorehead adds to the wonderment of this film. Can't wait to see the whole thing now.

Fabulous Films Of The 1940's Blogathon: Mr. And Mrs. Smith (1941)

For my contribution to the Fabulous Films of the 1940's Blogathon I chose the only comedy Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense, did, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, starring my all time favorite actress Carole Lombard. This is my favorite film of hers by the way. Screwball comedies are my favorite type of films and this one fits quite nicely into that category. Well a bit. While not a full blown screwball comedy, it is quite fun and often hilarious nonetheless. 

David looking worried at the film's beginning

The film is set in bustling New York and begins with a married couple of three years named David and Ann Smith (great pairing of Robert Montgomery and Carole Lombard) who tend to bicker and have these huge arguments from time to time when they are not speaking to one another. Such is the case at the film's beginning as the pair have been sequestered in their lavish apartment home while their staff shuttles them food and drink. This latest misunderstanding has been going on for three days and David's office, a law firm where his pal Jeff (a solid Gene Raymond) keeps calling to see has a truce been made. As Jeff sends over some critical papers for David to sign, the pair finally makes up and end up having breakfast together.

Ann and David make up after this three day session

But Ann asks a question which prompts an answer from David that doesn't exactly make her happy. She asks David if he had it to do it all over again would he. And he puts in honestly and bluntly, no he would not. He would not marry her and would remain single. Remember this key moment as it will become the focal point for the rest of the film.

But not for long because over breakfast Ann asks that pivotal question

While at work, David receives a guest in the form of Mr. Deever (Charles Halton) from Ann's hometown of Idaho comes a calling saying that the Smith's, along with several other hundreds of couples are not technically married, through some municipal and state jurisdictional matter at the time. David takes the news quite nicely but when Mr. Deever stops by their home to share the same news with Ann and Ann's mother, it doesn't have the same effect.

At dinner David tries to get the cat to have some soup...

David calls up and tells Ann they are going to the restaurant where he proposed to her and Ann believes it's where he will pop the question again. But alas things don't go that way and Ann begins to squirm as the night draws to a close. Meanwhile David is having the time of his life. Back home for a little champagne Ann finally snaps and throws a tantrum asking if and when David was going to ever marry her again. David tries to explain that he was just waiting for the right moment and before you know he is spending the night at The Beefeater's Club, a luxurious hotel where men go who are having domestic troubles. It's there he meets the seen it all Chuck (played by the always wonderful Jack Carson), who is a frequent regular at the hotel.

Mr. Deever drops by to share some news...

David tries to woo back Ann over the course of the rest of the film but Ann is steadfast in holding her ground. Saying she doesn't want to remarry David and instead finds a job and actually starts dating Jeff, much to David's chagrin. In fact the date Ann and Jeff goes on leads to a hilarious seen after Jeff catches cold and Ann tries to nurse him back to health with some liquor. At first Jeff is good to go but then it hits him like a ton of bricks and Gene Raymond gives a masterful drunken little scene. 

The gorgeous Carole Lombard

For the first hour, this film is golden. It does start to sag during the final half hour just a bit as Ann and Jeff take a getaway vacation to Lake Placid, in which David follows. But it rebounds right back during the closing scenes to make this a wonderful film. Like I said it is my favorite of Carole, and that's saying something, considering her resume which includes To Be Or Not To Be, Twentieth Century and My Man Godfrey. It's just something about this premise of a couple who truly love each other despite all their fighting and bickering. It's classic Hollywood star power in Carole and Robert with solid supporting turns. If you have never seen it, you have to check it out at least once.

Carole does quite a lot of finger pointing in this film

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

Anyway Biff prefers Virginia but Hugo always manages to steal her away. Biff does manage one date with Virginia which turns out to be great but weeks later she winds up marrying Hugo. Biff and Amy end up marrying but Biff still carries a torch for Virginia. Flash forward a few years where Biff is struggling and Virigina convinces Hugo to give him a job. Which is fine until some documents get signed that shouldn't have and Biff has to take the fall. And he resents Hugo even more. They will meet years later on when Hugo needs emergency surgery on his tooth and Biff relishes the opportunity. Let's just say it's a painful extraction for Hugo.

Biff caught between two girls

I love this movie. All four leads are great, especially Cagney and De havilland. They really make this movie but also get wonderful support from Carson and Hayworth. So nice seeing Hayworth in a comedy, where I think she could have been a top screen comedienne had she did more of them. Also co-stars Alan Hale as Biff's dad and George Reeves (TV's Superman) as a Yale student who gets into a brawl with Biff. Good stuff!

Amy and Biff

New Girl is a great new series starring the wonderful Zooey Deschanel

One of the fall's new TV series, New Girl had a sneak preview last night and it was unbelievably funny. Starring the amazing Zooey Deschanel as Jessica Day, a woman who has just been dumped by her boyfriend. And how it happened was both hilarious and heart-breaking. She came home to surprise him with a little impromptu striptease and found him with another woman. Seeing Jess trying to dance and striptease was really funny. So she moves out and finds an apartment where three guys need a roommate. Just your average dudes needing a fourth person to share expenses. Of course Jess is emotionally fragile at this time and spends most of her time watching Dirty Dancing and crying and singing. She sings quite a bit. So the guys try to find her a rebound guy to get her out of her funk. Those scnes are quite funny too. I thought this first episode was hilarious and Zooey is always fun to watch. The season begins Tuesday, September 20th at 9pm EST on FOX TV. Looks to be a keeper.

I laughed so much it hurt while watching BRIDESMAIDS...

Bridesmaids is a truly hilarious film that I enjoyed from beginning to end. It focuses on the ever put upon Annie (played to perfection by Kristen Wiig) as she struggles in her daily life. Well her life long best friend Lillian (the engaging Maya Rudolph) is getting married and wants Annie to be her maid of honor. Complicating the matter is Lillian new friend, the upper crust Helen (Rose Byrne) who is jockeying for Lillian's full attention. Also in the bridal party is Lillian's sister in law Megan (Melissa McCarthy in full out comic mode), recently married Becca (Ellie Kemper) and forever married Rita (Wendi McLendon-Covey) who longs for an all out bachelorette party in Vegas. Most of the humor comes at the expense of Annie as Wiig is one of the funniest women working today. She is able to get laughs from things such as trying to convince a cop that she isn't drunk by doing the foxtrot. But she also conveys some dramatic moments as she is dealing with her scumbag on/off again boyfriend and her failing bakery business. All the other girls give great comedic support especially Rudolph, McCarthy and Covey. One of the funniest scenes has to be after the girls have lunch at a Brazilian restaurant, they go for some dress fittings and promptly get sick. All of them begin puking and racing for the toilet before they have to go and some don't quite make it. People were dying with laughter doing this whole sequence. Another funny scene has the girls flying to Vegas and Annie getting a little loose after mixing some pills with scotch. She does a terrific 5 minute routine that has to be improv, because she is just spewing total nonsense. After a brief falling out between best friends Annie and Lillian, things are patched back together in time for the climatic wedding, which features 90's pop group Wilson Phillips as guest singers, performing their classic song Hold On. Bridesmaids is one of the funniest films I have ever seen and it's not just a chick flick. These women can get down and dirty and crude just like the guys from The Hangover. And I enjoyed every single minute of it. Oh and look for the recently passed away Jill Clayburgh in a pivotal role as Annie's eccentric mom.
B+

The girls are ready to find some dresses...

Lillian showing her rock to Annie

Annie and Helen in a little duel of the better toasters..

Becca, Rita and Megan

This is the one, right girls?

Kathryn Grayson and June Allyson are TWO SISTERS FROM BOSTON (1946)

A delightful musical comedy set at turn of the century New York and centering on Abigail Chandler (top notch turn by Kathryn Grayson) who tells her stuffy Boston relatives that she is a big time opera singer. In truth she works at a burlesque house and is billed as High-C Susie. Trouble ensues when the family comes for a visit. Her sister, Martha (played by June Allyson) is all giddy about seeing her big sis in an opera. Jimmy Durante is the club manager that lets loose with zingers. Grayson and Allyson are terrific as the sisters with Grayson's voice a heavenly sound. Allyson is quite fun in her role, all wide eyed and innocent but gets in on the act with a grand and funny performance at the club.  Also starring MGM regular Peter Lawford as a love interest for Allyson. These two sisters are definitely worth hanging out with.
B

Olivia de Havilland makes for wonderful royalty in PRINCESS O'ROURKE (1943)

Princess O'Rourke is a breezy little comedy that stars Olivia de Havilland as Maria, a foreign princess visiting America who falls in love with a pilot named Eddie O'Rourke (played by Robert Cummings). The catch is Eddie doesn't know she is a princess and thinks she is just a regular girl. Albeit a girl with no skills to speak of. This is a wonderful comedy that I enjoyed quite a bit. It's a joy seeing Olivia in such a non-serious role for a change. All those The Dark Mirror, In This Our Life, and The Snake Pit can take a toll on an actress. Every now and then one needs to lighten up and have some fun. And that's what Olivia does. In her first major scene, she is taking a flight from New York to San Francisco and has to take a sleeping pill to relax. Well when she thinks it's not working, she takes another, and another, and another. Within a few minutes she is quite loopy and makes the funniest faces you have ever seen Olivia make. When the flight is turned back around due to bad weather, that's when the fun starts. Eddie has to take the now near comatose Maria back to his place to sleep it off. So once the two finally see each other they are immediately smitten. And the rest of the movie has them trying to get to know each other before Eddie and his best pal Dave (played by Jack Carson) are off to join the military to serve in the war. Dave's wife Jean is played by Jane Wyman, who has wonderful chemistry with Carson. They made a total of four films together and are one of the most underrated screen teams of all time. Carson gets in many of the film's funniest lines and Wyman is solid in several emotional scenes. She also works well with Olivia.

I enjoyed this movie from the very beginning as it features a nice comic rhythm and a great cast. It starts to sag a little towards the end but it's still a refreshing little comedy. Like I said earlier it's nice seeing Olivia in a rare comedy. I wished she had done more in a career, because she definitely has a flair for comedy. Also great support from veteran actor Charles Coburn as Maria's uncle, who is desperate for her to marry a prince or duke to put their family back on top. Princess O'Rourke is a winner all way around.
B

JUST GO WITH IT is a very funny new comedy

The latest Adam Sandler movie has him playing a plastic surgeon named Danny, who pretends to be married in order to date women. He's been doing it ever since his fiance cheated on him the night before their wedding. Now years later Danny has things going good for him until he sees the woman of his dream, a young woman named Palmer (Brooklyn Decker) who after spending the night together finds his "fake" wedding ring the next morning and leaves furious. So Danny has his beleaguered assistant Katherine (a wonderful Jennifer Aniston) pretend to be his soon to be ex-wife to show Palmer that he is ready to settle down with only her.

This comedy reminded me of the old screwball farce, The Palm Beach Story and others like it. It's not your typical Sandler comedy because this time he is evenly matched with a strong female co-star in Aniston. They make a great team and I found myself laughing quite a bit. Newcomer Brooklyn Decker (a swimsuit model) is surprisingly good in her first role. She has a natural acting ability that shows future potential. And look-out for a out of left field appearance by Nicole Kidman as an old college friend of Katherine. It's cool seeing the usually serious Kidman in a comedic role. Her back and forth banter with Aniston is great as they have a hula dance off when all the couples land in Hawaii for a little rest and relaxation. Just Go With It is an easy going comedy that I think most people will enjoy.
B+

Make Your Own Bed (1944) is a fun romp with Jack Carson and Jane Wyman

Successful businessman Walter Whirtle (Alan Hale, yes the dad of the Skipper from Gilligan's Island) and his wife Vivian (Irene Manning) have a hard time keeping servants in their employ. Enter private detective Jerry Curtis (played by Jack Carson) who has been fired for arresting the District Attorney. The only way that Walter can get Jerry to work for him is to tell Jerry that his life is in danger; the neighbor is trying to take his wife; and that Nazi spies are everywhere. Jerry needs a cook for his 'cover' so he gets his fiancée Susan (the game Jane Wyman) to work with him. The storyline may be exaggerated but it's so funny that you won't mind. Carson and Wyman make a delightful team. They would follow-up this movie with the equally hilarious The Doughgirls a few months later. Carson gets the majority of the best lines, but Wyman gets in a few good zingers as well. Make Your Own Bed is good, solid fun.
B

Tea For Two (1950) with Doris Day

Thanks to my friend Dawn for reminding me that the Doris Day movie, Tea For Two airs today on TCM at 2 pm. I have never seen this movie before and have been wanting to ever since I met Dawn and starting posting on her wonderful Doris Day page. The timing couldn't have been better as I just recently watched the Bob Hope film, Nothing But The Truth, in which Hope makes a bet he can tell the truth for 24 hours. Well the plot of Tea For Two centers on Doris betting her uncle that she can say no to everything for 48 hours. That's very ambitious of Doris and I can't wait to see it today. I will post a review once I see it. Just wanted everyone to know that it was on today and if you're a Doris Day fan to check it out.

Fun Summer Movies - National Lampoon's ANIMAL HOUSE (1978)

Summer Release Date: 28 July 1978 Starring Tim Matheson, John Belushi, Donald Sutherland, John Vernon, Peter Riegert, Mary Louise Weller, Karen Allen, Stephen Furst, Kevin Bacon, Tom Hulce, Mark Metcalf, Martha Smith, James Daughton.

Now I was too young to see this when it first hit theaters during the summer of 1978, but I did catch it on HBO years later and loved it from the opening scene. Set in 1962 at the fictional college university of Faber, Animal House focuses on the notorious wild fraternity Delta. It is during pledge week that we meet two incoming freshmen played by Tom Hulce and Stephen Furst, who first get turned away by a snooty rival fraternity before being accepted by Delta. The roll call of Delta goes like this: Delta President Hoover (James Widdoes); Otter (Tim Matheson); Boone (Peter Riegert); D-Day (Bruce McGill) and Bluto (John Belushi). The freshmen Hulce and Furst are eventually given the call names Pinto and Flounder respectively.

Delta must continually avoid the wrath of Dean Wormer (played by John Vernon) who has been threatening to kick them off campus for years and with the help of fraternity rival leader Greg and his co-horts, he is close to doing just that. The laughs come frequently and are plenty. Matheson is perfectly cast as the charming ladies man Otter, while Riegert make a great wing man for him as Boone. That is when he's not dealing with his on and off again girlfriend Katy (played by the very young and wide eyed Karen Allen of Raiders of the Lost Ark). She is a standout in this otherwise male dominated film. I mean you do have the beguiling Mandy Pepperidge, Otter's ex girlfriend (played by Mary Louise Weller) and her friend Babs (played by Martha Smith). And let's not forget a small role by Verna Bloom who plays Mrs. Dean Wormer, who is seduced by Otter. Belushi is Bluto. Period. His scene in the cafeteria where he is just scarfing down food has to be seen to be believed.

Animal House is a riot from start to finish. Throw in the musical appearance by Otis Day and the Knights, who bust out the energetic Shout at the Delta frat party and then later on with a slow jam at a nightclub. The Deltas trial. The toga party. The parade climax that turns into an out of control melee. All add up to a classic movie. The entire cast appears to be having a grand old time. And Animal House leaves it's mark in the history of funny movies as one of the best ever made.

Notes:

With a budget of only $3 million, Animal House became one of the biggest hits of all time with over $150 million in box office sales.

The movie was set to be filmed at the University of Missouri until the president of the school read the script and refused permission. It was filmed at and around the University of Oregon in Eugene instead.

The bass player in the band Otis Day and the Knights is then-unknown bluesman Robert Cray. Cray was instrumental in getting the musicians together that appeared as the band.
Film debut of Kevin Bacon.

Meat Loaf was the second choice for Bluto in case John Belushi dropped out of his role.

Premiere voted this movie as one of "The 50 Greatest Comedies Of All Time" in 2006.

Karen Allen's first movie.

Harold Ramis (I)', who co-wrote the film, based some of the pranks on his college experiences at Washington University in St. Louis, specifically when Otter and Boone are hitting golf balls at the ROTC.
Even thought the actors are portraying college students, most of them were in their mid to late twenties.
Hulce was 24, Belushi was 28, Matheson and Riegert were both 30, Weller was 31, McGill was 26 as was Allen.

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969)

I recently ordered a movie on DVD from Amazon and it arrived yesterday. I immediately put it in to watch it, appropriately enough it's called If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium. It is a delightful comedy about a group of Americans on the ultimate European trip. Nine countries in 18 days as stated by Whirlwind Tours, the company that provides this hilarious and exhausting vacation package. Top billed Suzanne Pleshette leads the Americans as Samantha Perkins, a woman from Minnesota who goes on this trip to make sure she is ready to marry her beau. She immediately attracts the unwanted attention of the tour guide Charlie (an impossibly young looking Ian McShane). McShane would later on to great success as the title character in the hit 80's British show Lovejoy and recently as the ruthless saloon owner Al on the rough western series Deadwood. Anyway he is player but looks at Sam and thinks he's ready to settle down. Other cast members include Murray Hamilton (The Graduate, Jaws) as a disparate dad who is dragged on the trip by his wife. But the main he goes is to keep their teen-age daughter from having sex with her boyfriend. Norman Fell and Reva Rose are a married couple who get separated and she winds up on another tour bus with Japanese tourists. Michael Constantine is a WW2 soldier who is trying to find the girl he met during the war when he was stationed in Italy. Sandy Baron is a quite young man who gets roped into marrying an Italian woman before he escapes. Mildred Natwick is a older woman who just wants to have fun. Marty Ingels as a lothario wannabe who takes pictures of beautiful women so he can brag to his fellas back home. And Aubrey Morris is a strange man who never speaks but enjoys stealing items from the hotel rooms the group stays at. And there are tons of cameos including: singer Donovan,who provides the catchy theme song; Joan Collins, Robert Vaughn, John Cassavetes, Ben Gazzara, Senta Berger, Anita Ekberg, Virni Lisi and several beauty pagent winners of the time including Miss Belgium, Miss Germany, and Miss Holland.

This movie has a breezy and light-hearted tone. The entire cast is awesome. Pleshette, who is positively gorgeous gets a lot of sly lines and has great chemistry with McShane. Norman Fell has a standout dance scene at a club where he gets to go on stage surrounded by a bevy of young and beautiful dancers and he is loving every minute of it. That is until his wife unexpectedly shows up. Hamilton is also good as the frustrated dad who finally gets to have some fun. This movie has tons of laughs and at only 98 minutes long, a lot of ground and countries get covered fast. Which is impressive in itself. The look of the movie is also great as it perfectly captures the decade of long hair and groovy music. I loved this movie and it is one of the most underrated films I have ever seen. It will make you laugh pretty much the entire time you're watching it. I definitely will be watching it several more times and soon.
B+

Some Like It Hot - Running Wild

Photo Of The Day

William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick & Nora Charles having fun in THE THIN MAN (1934)

Currently watching.....

FATHER GOOSE with Cary Grant and Leslie Caron

Photo Of The Day

The madcap antics of The Marx Brothers in A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (1935)