A new cinematic world tour post is up....from Irene Palfy

My really great friend Irene recently did her contribution to the cinematic world tour and so sorry to be late in sharing the news. Irene hails from Germany and decided to do her first post about her film based in her home country. It's really very good as Irene does a wonderful job when she writes on her blogs. Please stop by to check it out. Here's the link:  and then they start sparkling.blogspot.com

A New Blog Everyone Should be following...

Time for me to spotlight a new blog that I think everyone should be following. One that I am a contributor on. Me and my friend Irene Palfy decide to team up to do a blog called Let The Show Begin. It's where we will talk about classic movies and stars, books, records, and other things. We will recognize a star each month, the first being the dashing Errol Flynn. We will post photos, reviews and more about the particular star of the month. I will also bring over my Memorable characters from film and tv that I used to do on Irene's blog, And Then They Start to Sparkle. We just started Let The Show Begin this month so it's still in it's early stages. Please stop by to check it out when you get a chance. Here's the link: let the show begin

It Could Happen To You

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and my good friend Irene is doing a special series about Hollywood stars who fought or is fighting against this deadly disease.Will be posting a picture and some information about one star a day. And I will be lending a hand as well. Please stop by to check out what Ms. Palfy is doing over at her wonderful blog: and then they start to sparkle

A new series over at And Then They Start To Sparkle

My good friend Irene has graciously accepted the task of interviewing me for a weekly series over at her blog. Everyone knows how I love to interview friends and bloggers for the be my guest series, so it's very cool now to be the one being interviewed. So Irene will be asking a question a week and joining in the conversation as she adds her thoughts and comments. The first question will be posted tomorrow. Please drop by Irene's blog to check it out. Here's the link: and then they start to sparkle

ALL GOOD THINGS In October

One of my favorite months, October will  be here in a few more days. And I'm very excited. First off, Irene Dunne will be my classic movie goddess which is awesome. Having won favorite classic movie actress here on my blog, we finally get to celebrate in style about Irene. And my good friend Renata, who is like the world's biggest Irene Dunne fan, is my guest for the month as well. She is so eager to answer my questions, she has already sent her anwsers back on the same day I sent them to her. Wow! And speaking of Irene, my great friend and co-blogger Irene Palfy will be joining me this month with my 2nd Annual Classic Horror Movie Fest. We each will choose classic horror films and talk about them all month long. Some of the notable films from me include The Haunting, Countess Dracula, Vampire Circus, Bride of Frankenstein, Captain Kronos:Vampire Hunter and more. Also the women of Hammer Horror Films will be spotlighted again. One actress a week and the women chosen this year are Ingrid Pitt, Barbara Shelley, Caroline Munro and Veronica Carlson. So All Good Things is primed for super goodness in October.

Be My Guest - Irene: Question #3 - What are some of the best films your country has made that you would like to let more people know about?

What are some of the best films your country has made that you would like to let more people know about?




Okay – let’s tart: I will just pick 4 films – in chronological order.. and there aren't that much comedies because I the one I like are mostly my favourites because of their wit - which is hard to transfer into other languages I think..:





1. M (1931) by Fritz Lang was his first talkie. It’s an amazing film and Peter Lorre is simply a genius - and one of my favourite actors, too..





The story is quite simple: A serial child murderer is terrorizing Berlin. Every man is under a cloud. Not only is the police after the murderer (Peter Lorre) but also the criminals of Berlin. Finally they get him after a very exciting chase and by having the back of his coat marked with the letter “M” written with chalk. (“M” for German “Mörder” = “murderer”..) They form kind of a trial - I don’t know if “Kangaroo court” is the right term for it.. - with the most important criminals as head of the jury.. And at this point Peter Lorre has his grand moment doing a marvelous monologue..





This film has a fine cast – which includes German theater legend Gustaf Gründgens – whose private life always was good for a story: his homosexuality, his collaboration with the Nazi party during 3. Reich etc… - and two of my favourite German actors: Paul Kemp and Theo Lingen and of course there is – did I mention him before?? - Peter Lorre!!!





2. THE AFFAIRS OF JULIE (1958) by Helmut Käutner. The German title is DIE ZÜRCHER VERLOBUNG = “Zurich engagement”.

It is a light comedy – and maybe doesn’t work in translation.. It’s one of my all-time favourite films– and I could watch it for ages.. Ok, Monty – I know you said “best film”.. But I just love this one! So maybe it’s no Academy (or Montie..) award material – but still.. – it has a prominent place in my heart..



Monty: Irene it doesnt have to be award winning to me, just that its one of your faves.

The story is about a sassy young woman -Julie (Lilo Pulver – who I adore.. you may know her as Fräulein Ingeborg of ONE, TWO, THREE (1961) by Billy Wilder) At her uncle’s dentist’s surgery where she is jobbing she meets a handsome Swiss doctor - Jean (Paul Hubschmid – who had a very short career in Hollywood as Paul Christian..) – who brings his grumpy best friend called Buffalo (I translated that into English.. – it’s “Büffel” in German) to urgent care.. Julie falls immediately for Jean – but he has to go back to Switzerland.





She makes up a story about herself and that gorgeous Swiss and sells it to a famous film studio – and guess who is the director to make this film? Exactly! It’s Buffalo (Bernhard Wicki – great director in real life just btw…)! Of course he knows that nothing happened between Jean and Julie – but he likes to tease her –and she won’t admit that she dreamed it up – so she invents another Swiss man to be her beau.. Well, and Buffalo offers her to bring her to Switzerland to celebrate her engagement to that nonexistent Swiss man.. – Meanwhile Buffalo had noticed that he has a soft spot for Julie because she reminds him of his late wife.. But there is also Julie’s ex-lover who wants to crawl back into her bed and – surprise! – finally they meet Jean again.. – and Buffalo also employed a not so talented elderly actor to pretend to be Julie’s fiancé..





This film is total kitsch. And fun. I love Buffalo for being so down to earth – and Julie being so cheeky.. It’s kind of classic German 50s entertainment – not very highbrow but quite lovely..

Actually there is a TV remake of this film with Christoph Waltz (Col. Hans Landa of INGLORIOUS BASTERDS (2009)...) as Buffalo (..if you can imagine that..) – but I didn’t watch that one.. – Sorry, if talked too much about that film..

Monty: There was no video to be found of this movie so I took the liberty of posting this pic for Irene. And this movie sounds very interesting to me. Would love to see it.




3. THE BRIDGE (1959) / DIE BRÜCKE by Bernhard Wicki (yes, indeed – Buffalo himself..) is based on actual events:





1945. WWII is almost over and a bunch of seven boys at the age of 16 years whose life basically is filled with pretty normal stuff like first love (resp. sex), school and family issues… - suddenly has to defend a bridge against the approaching American army. The boys are idealistic and very much into their Nazi-education of course – proud to fight for the “Führer” – but very soon all the excitement is gone – they’re just boys dying horrible and nonsense deaths for actually nothing – (just by the way: this bridge isn’t even important at all...)





This film was one of those my father made sure for us to watch. And at least my class watched it at school, too. A great German anti-war film – probably the best. It is so intense that it simply gets stuck into your mind.











4. THE EXPERIMENT (2001) / DAS EXPERIMENT by Oliver Hirschbiegel. It is based on the Stanford prison experiment of 1971 by Philip Zimbardo – which means: yeah! It’s based on actual events, too. There is a straight-to-video remake with Adrien Brody - just btw...


By choice 20 men are joining a psychological research experiment in which a prison situation is simulated – the men were divided into two groups – 10 become prisoners and the other 10 become guards. A group of scientists is watching their behavior.





First all the men have fun and take it as a game but soon the mood is changing and the volunteers are starting kind of a mind war against each other and the situation escalates – but the majority of the scientists still wants to find out what will happen next…





This film is friggin heavy stuff! And it’s really great! Well, creepy - but great! Watch it and discuss later whether you would have been a guard or a prisoner.. ;”)






 
Monty: Thank you Irene for these wonderful selections from your native land of Germany. You have broadened my tastes in films that much more.

Everyone is invited to the party to celebrate Cary Grant's big win...

So everyone knows that Cary Grant won my classic movie actor tournament and quite convincingly might I add. I'm throwing a little party to celebrate that occasion. Just a post featuring a fictional interview with him and plenty of pics and videos about the man himself. Plus a surprise or two. My good friend Irene of And Then Then Start To Sparkle will be the hostess. So everyone is invited for this little celebration. The party is slated for Wednesday, July 27th to help break up the monotony of the work week. Bring friends if you like. See ya then. Oh and it's casual dress.

Be My Guest - Irene: Question #2 - What is your favorite guilty pleasure movie?

Monty: What is your guilty pleasure movie?



Irene: Not feeling very guilty about it - but I like VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (1967) and BARBARELLA (1968).

Monty: Hey I like both those films as well. Both from the 60's and both are just fabulous.

Irene: Actually I have a soft spot for trashy films.. So much fun..

Monty: Very much so...Jane Fonda in Barbarella is good trashy fun, period.

Be My Guest - Irene: Question #1 - What are some of your favorite feel good movies?

I couldn't get in contact with my original guest for this month so my great friend Irene of And Then They Start To Sparkle graciously stepped in to fill this month's spot. You may recall Irene just wrapped up being my guest in June, so I had to think of some more questions to ask her. And here is the first one: What are some of your favorite feel good movies? Below are her answers and my comments:

Irene: I think today I choose: THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT (1956) - because I love how funny Jayne Mansfield is, Tom Ewell having a crush and her - and the music, the wardrobe and the whole cast..


Monty: Definitely a feel good movie. I've seen it only once but I remember it being a whole lot of fun





Irene: HELP (1965) - because the Beatles are so absurdly silly.. and I love the music..


Monty: Good choice as well.





Irene: BLUE HAWAII (1961) - just a fun film.. I dream of visiting Hawaii - and Elvis always was the guy I wanted to be my big brother.. He is very funny.. - and yes.. I like the music - how did you guess that??

Monty: Elvis did so many movies I kind of lost track, but I do remember Blue Hawaii.










(- ask me again in a week and it might be something completely different.. - but it seems like I need some music for my feel good films..)

ALL GOOD THINGS IN JULY

The summer heats up as July promises to be one of my best months ever. The main event for July will be all about the 60’s. It is my second favorite decade behind the 30’s and I will be focusing on the films, tv, stars, directors and anything else that was prevalent during this era. My good friends Irene and Dawn will be lending a hand to help me with this special event. Irene will also be my guest for the month as she has accepted my extended invitation to stay over for one more month. I could not contact the original person who was going to be my guest of the month so Irene decided she would fill in. So I will have a whole new batch of questions for the always entertaining Ms. Palfy to answer. As her stint in June proved to be one of the most commented guest appearances on my blog yet. The classic movie goddess of the month will be the wonderful Olivia de Havilland and I will be posting photos, reviews of her films, facts and all kind of goodies about her. My classic movie actor tournament will wrap up early this month and I can’t wait to see who will win. Of course I’m going for my guy, Cary Grant. So expect great things in July here on All Good Things.

Be My Guest - Irene: Question #2 - Name Some of Your Favorite Classic Films

I had misplaced these answers from Irene earlier but she resent then and here they go:

2. Name at least 10 of your favorite films.



HA! “At least 10”!!! (You now may start a new blog – because I am going to fill any space left of this one.. *please insert evil laughter* No! I am going to behave. ;”) Again in no particular order:





MILDRED PIERCE (1945)


NOW VOYAGER (1942)


BORN YESTERDAY (1950)


THE WOMEN (1939)


SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)

SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1943)


WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? (1962)


GENTLEMAN’S AGREEMENT (1947)


THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)


A LETTER TO THREE WIVES (1949)


42nd STREET (1933)


NIAGARA (1953)


IMITATION OF LIFE (1959)

THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL (1957)


A SLIGHT CASE OF MURDER (1938)


WAIT UNTIL DARK (1967)


M (1931)


BETWEEN TWO WORLDS (1944)


HOLIDAY


THE SNAKE PIT (1948)


ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (1944)

Be My Guest - Irene: Question #11 and #12

11. What stars, besides your favorites would you have love to meet in person?

Irene: Though I like so many classic ladies and gentlemen that much, I don’t think that I want to meet them.
You see.. it’s the imagination that makes them perfect. A meeting in person would destroy the illusion.


Like an impressionistic painting: Don’t come too close! All what is left from the beauty will be some colored dots..


I like my stars larger than life.

Monty: well that's very well said Irene.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


12. And finally, if you could be one movie character, who would it be and why?



Irene: I don’t think that I want to replace any character – But I dream of being one small extra character in each and every film!:

An additional woman in THE WOMEN (1939)
Monty: I could see you in The Women...trading wisecracks with Roz and Paulette.
Irene: or Eve Arden’s ~ I adore Eve Arden ~ little sister in MILDRED PIERCE (1945)

or an aspiring but clumsy journalist in HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940) who is following Rosalind Russell’s character where ever she goes and makes her mad.. (I can see Roz stumble upon me - I think that scene has to end with me on the floor trying to collect the fluttering sheets of a really massive script - while Ms. Russell runs out with a quip..)


Monty: Oh so you want to follow Roz around? I bet that would make for an interesting day...
Irene: Oh - I have about 1,000 ideas!!


I am the classic best friend’s friend - and I’d love to get some witty lines though.. ;”)




Monty: I see..well  very cool indeed Ms. Palfy

Be My Guest - Irene: Question #9 (What is your favorite classic movie series)

9. What is your favorite classic movie series?

Irene: I am pretty conventional in this: THE THIN MAN SERIES! 

Monty: Oh yeah. The Thin Man is my fave movie series of all time.

Irene: I also like Basil Rathbone in the SHERLOCK HOLMES SERIES and Peter Lorre in the MR. MOTO SERIES – but the THIN MAN is above them all.

Monty: Sherlock Holmes is good but I never watched Mr. Moto.

Irene: Nick and Nora are the best – and all these wonderful actors in minor roles!! 

Monty: Yes they are..William Powell and Myrna Loy are terrific together in everything they did.

Irene: As I once stated in one of my posts: Sometimes I get the feeling that you could relate almost any classic film to one of the THIN MAN SERIES..

Be My Guest - Irene (And Then They Start To Sparkle): Question #8 - Name some of your favorite movie quotes

8. What is your favorite movie quote? Can be more than one.



There are so many - but I choose these (again in random order) :





1.

Mr. Banks: “Winifred, where are the children?”





~ I simply adore MARY POPPINS (1964) - sometimes when I am with my sister and I haven't said anyhing for a few minutes (I tend to daydream..) she usually quotes this.. ~


 2.





Elizabeth Imbrie: "We’ve come for the body of Macauly Connor."


C.K. Dexter Haven: "I’m so glad you came. Can you use a typewriter?"


Elizabeth Imbrie: "No, thanks. I’ve got one at home."






~ Elizabeth Imbrie of THE PHILADELPHIA STORY is one of my all-time favourite characters - maybe a little bit more if she is impersonated by the amazing Ruth Hussey.. and the dialogues are great in this play..~



3.



Miriam Aarons: "Well he could crack a coconut with those knees! - If he could get them together!"

~ Got to mention THE WOMEN (1939)! It’s full of awesome (and invidious) quotes - and amazing actresses. ~


4.

Susan Applegate (asked to speak Swedish): "I vant to be alone."





~ Hilarious! I like such film spoofs.. In case you do not know: It’s from THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR (1942)~



5.

Finally - these two people of CASABLANCA (1942) breake my heart - I am quite sentimental..:





Mr. Leuchtag: "Liebchen - sweetnessheart, what watch?"


Mrs. Leuchtag: "Ten watch."


Mr. Leuchtag: "Such watch?"


Carl: "Hm. You will get along beautiful in America, mm-hmm."

Be My Guest - Irene (And Then They Start To Sparkle): Question #7 - Name a few of your favorite modern films

7. Name a few of your favorite modern films.




Okay I looked up the storyline for The Fall, one of Irene's favorite modern films
and I want to see this film immediately.





THE FALL (2006)


DRACULA (1992)


GOSFORD PARK (2001)


THE BOAT THAT ROCKED (2009)


CADILLAC RECORDS (2008)


CORPSE BRIDE (2005)


THE PRODUCERS (2005)

ALMOST FAMOUS (2000)


FROM HELL (2001)


IRON JAWED ANGELS (2004)


CRY-BABY (1990)





again: no specific order - and quite changing..

Be My Guest - Irene (And Then They Start To Sparkle): Question #6 - Name some of your favorite modern stars

6. Name a few of your favorite modern movie actors/actresses.




Helena Bonham-Carter


Kate Winslet


Sally Hawkins


Jemima Roper


Winona Ryder





Rhys Ifans


Johnny Depp


Richard E. Grant


Crispin Glover


Alan Rickman




See - I was pretty modest. :")

Be My Guest - Irene (Question #5: What is your favorite classic movie decade?)

5. What is your favorite classic movie decade: the 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's or 60's?

That again is a tough one:

Depending on my mood I enjoy every decade.

Because there are not so many classics from the 30ies available in Germany on DVD I do not know as much as I like to know.

But almost always I am very happy with films from 1940’s and 1950’s.

Be My Guest - Irene (Question No. 4) Describe the perfect way to watch a classic movie

4. Describe the perfect way for you to watch a classic movie.

That depends:

I love to cuddle up on my couch with one or two cats next to me (or one upon my lap) – and have a big cup of hot black coffee/cappuccino within reach..

And sometimes I have really fun with the girls: we pick a theme/ or movie and celebrate it with funny costumes and beverages and stuff like that.

E.g watching IRMA LA DUCE (1963), where everyone was dressed as one of the characters: I was wearing my green stockings and a green bow in my hair, a friend of mine wore a blonde wig and heart shaped sunglasses, the third one an eye patch and another one a big black moustache. We even made a “flick cap” ourselves.. You see: lots of possibilities.. There was some French food and everyone was having a ball.

Sometime we also claim scenes like the scene from VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (1967) where Neely meets Tony in the sanitarium, which is always a big laugh, because we’re voting for the best performance – that is: the most cheesy one.. *ahem*




“Karaoke movie watching” is also rather popular: Play a DVD with subtitles but no sound. You can play it straight or kind of SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952) “Yes, yes, yes! – No, no, no!” ;”) – and of course you can do your own dialogoues.

Be My Guest - Irene (Question No. 3) Describe your first classic movie experience

3. Describe your first classic movie experience.



Actually I cannot remember which my first classic film was.

I recall watching some Errol Flynn films with my father - esp. THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938) – and films with Tyrone Power, jr. and John Wayne-western – and THE RAVEN with Vincent Price, of course..
So my first experiences were swashbucklers and western – which I still love.

Than I discovered Musicals – Gene Kelly, you know?
So started to tape every musical and other classic film there was on TV. My life suddenly became Technicolor. :”)

Be My Guest - Irene (And Then They Start To Sparkle) Part One

This pic of Joan Blondell is featured on Irene's blog

My guest this month is none other than Irene, from the wonderful blog And Then They Start To Sparkle (cool name right?). She and I have become great friends of late and we even did a cross-over back in April called Beware These Women! It was spread out over three blogs: mine, hers and the always amazing Dawn of Noir and Flick Chicks. Anyway Irene will be here all month answering questions and what not. And for this month instead of hitting everyone with all her answers at once, I decided to post one question at a time. So that means you will be seeing quite a lot of Irene this month. Well she did host my blog for a week while I was on vacation and she did an awesome job. So she is no stranger around here. Just one of the best friends anyone could ask for. Anyway take it away Irene. And please be sure to stop by and visit Irene's wonderfully entertaining blog. Here's the link:
http://andthentheystartsprkling.blogspot.com/

1.Name your top 10 favorite classic movies actors/actresses.



This is a tough one! So, let’s see if I can narrow them down to ten – in no specific order here come 5 actresses and 5 actors (and please remember that next week/month/5 minutes it could be a total different Top Ten):



Judy Holiday

Olivia de Havilland

Ava Gardner

Doris Day

Elizabeth Taylor



Vincent Price

Peter Lorre

James Cagney

John Garfield

Jack Carson

Uhm.. are you still sure about the only 10 rule? ;") I’d like to mention Marilyn Monroe – but it’s more that what I think is her personality than her acting – though I think she is underrated as an actress.. And then there are sooo many more.. Boy, that 10 persons only rule is killing me!



The other answers will follow soon! :")