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

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!

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)

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 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)

Favorite Screwball Film Tourney: Day 4 Update

Three of the eight matches are so close that you couldn't shine a light between them. The other five matches are starting to separate the leaders from their competitors. My Man Godfrey leads The Awful Truth 23-19. The Lady Eve leads My Favorite Wife 21-19. And the closest match is going on between You Can't Take It With You and Ball Of Fire, with Fire currently holding a 1 point advantage of 20-19. The other matches are getting close to being over. Overall top seed Bringing up Baby is beating Midnight 30-10. The Thin Man is up 25-14 over The Palm Beach Story. To Be Or Not To Be is winning over Theodora Goes Wild 28-9. His Girl Friday has expanded a sizable lead over The Philadelphia Story 30-15. And It Happened One Night is crushing Merrily We Live 41-0. Yep, Live has still yet to earn a single vote. Matches continue on through Friday evening.

Yeah Duffy, get our bags packed..looks like me and Hildy are

going on to round 3!

1 IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT 41
4 MERRILY WE LIVE 0

2 HIS GIRL FRIDAY 30
3 THE PHILADELPHIA STORY 15

1 MY MAN GODFREY 23
4 THE AWFUL TRUTH 19

3 YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU 19
7 BALL OF FIRE 20

2 THE THIN MAN 25
6 THE PALM BEACH STORY 14

4 THE LADY EVE 21
8 MY FAVORITE WIFE 19

1 BRINGING UP BABY 30
4 MIDNIGHT 10

2 TO BE OR NOT TO BE 28
3 THEODORA GOES WILD 9

Second Round Matches of Favorite Screwball Film Tourney

Here are the next round of matches scheduled to begin on Sunday. Since there are only 8 matches left, I have decided to hold the rest of the tourney here on All Good Things to make it more convenient. As this blog gets way more traffic than Screwball Cinema. As we get into the meat of the tourney now, the matches become more evenly matched. And there are some great matches. For instance the match between His Girl Friday and The Philadelphia Story, which once again features Cary Grant squaring off against himself. Or the match between My Man Godfrey and The Awful Truth. That should be a fun one. And The Thin Man taking on The Palm Beach Story. This should be a very entertaining round for sure. The fun begins Sunday evening and will run through Friday evening. 

FRANK CAPRA BRACKET

1 IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)

VS

4 MERRILY WE LIVE (1938)

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

2 HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940)

VS

3 THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)

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

HOWARD HAWKS BRACKET

1 MY MAN GODFREY (1936)

VS

4 THE AWFUL TRUTH (1937)

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

3 YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (1938)

VS

7 BALL OF FIRE (1941)

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

ERNST LUBITSCH BRACKET

2 THE THIN MAN (1934)

VS

6 THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942)

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

4 THE LADY EVE (1941)

VS

8 MY FAVORITE WIFE (1940)

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

PRESTON STURGES BRACKET

1 BRINGING UP BABY (1938)

VS

4 MIDNIGHT (1939)

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

2 TO BE OR NOT TO BE (1942)

VS

3 THEODORA GOES WILD (1936)

Cary Grant backing Rosalind Russell for the tourney?...Maybe...

Another day and another banner.....

CMBA Comedy Classics Blogathon: His Girl Friday (1940)

I saw it for the first time when I was 12 years old and it immediately struck me as the best movie I had seen in my young life at the time. It would keep with me over the years and stay as my favorite movie, withstanding the new releases with all their hi tech fancy stuff like the Star Wars movies, Indiana Jones, and others. For me, there is nothing better than His Girl Friday and watching Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell play off each other.

Cary Grant is never better as newspaper editor Walter Burns, who is about to lose his ace reporter and ex-wife Hildy Johnson (a superb performance by Rosalind Russell) to marriage to an insurance man (Ralph Bellamy). Just so happens a major news story breaks as convicted murderer Earl Williams, who is about to be put to death, escapes from custody. Walter convinces Hildy to take this last job assignment and he will sign a nice big check for an insurance policy for the soon to be wed couple. During her investigation, Hildy manages to track down Williams and tries to keep him safe from the police and the mayor. A wonderful mix of comedy and some drama make this my all time favorite film. Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell make a terrific dream team. The one liners fly fast and furious, expertly handled by the entire cast. Great direction by the legendary Howard Hawks.

You couldn't ask for a better screwball film. I have probably seen His Girl Friday like 40 some times and it is still fresh and funny the 40th time as it was the first time. One of the films that even if you own it, you will stop whatever you doing to watch it when it airs on TV. I know I do. Turn off my cell phone, don't want to be disturbed by anyone or anything. It's that great of a film.

A sampling of the fast paced dialogue that has amazed me for all these many years:



Walter Burns: Sorta wish you hadn't done that, Hildy.
Hildy Johnson: Done what?
Walter Burns: Divorced me. Makes a fella lose all faith in himself. Gives him a... almost gives him a feeling he wasn't wanted.
Hildy Johnson: Oh, now look, junior... that's what divorces are FOR!

Wilson, reporter: Any dope on how he escaped?
McCue, reporter: Maybe the sheriff let him out so Williams could vote for him.

Hildy Johnson: [speaking to Walter on the phone] Now, get this, you double-crossing chimpanzee: There ain't going to be any interview and there ain't going to be any story. And that certified check of yours is leaving with me in twenty minutes. I wouldn't cover the burning of Rome for you if they were just lighting it up. If I ever lay my two eyes on you again, I'm gonna walk right up to you and hammer on that monkeyed skull of yours 'til it rings like a Chinese gong!

Louis: What's the matter, Hildy?
Hildy Johnson: Don't give me that innocent stuff! What did you pull on Mr. Baldwin THIS time?
Louis: Who, me?
Hildy Johnson: Yes, you and that albino of yours!
Louis: You talkin' about Evangeline?
Hildy Johnson: None other
Louis: She ain't no albino.
Hildy Johnson: She'll do 'till one comes along!
Louis: She was born right here in this country!

So to wrap this blog up let me just say that His Girl Friday is THE movie for me. Cary Grant's other classic movie, Bringing Up Baby is a close second, but His Girl Friday holds that special place in my heart. To all classic movie lovers out there, if by some small chance you have never seen this movie, take time to watch it somewhere, somehow and I promise you will not regret it.




This post is part of the Comedy Classics Blogathon sponsored by the Classic Movie Blog Association. The event runs January 22-27. For a complete list of participants and to learn more,
click here: Classic Movie Blog Association