ROUND 3 begins tomorrow (The Brackets Finals Matches)

Tomorrow begins round 3 of the 2014 Favorite Classic Movie Actress Tourney and we move into the final matches for the brackets of each era.

Two actresses competing in each category in each era to see who will move on to the sweet sixteen round next week. Here are the match-ups

scheduled to begin on Tuesday in each era. Since I am hosting the 60’s era portion I will  begin with the match-ups taking place here. There are

three top seeds left in this era after Diana Rigg got shown the exit door last round. Natalie Wood, Catherine Deneuve and Anne Bancroft.

But they all will have some tough competition to face. In the song and dance category, Natalie Wood faces Shirley MacLaine, which should give

Natalie her toughest challenge so far. In the Foreign Affair bracket, top seed Catherine Deneuve squares off against 2nd seed Romy Schneider,

which might be the best match of all four. In the All-American Girls bracket, Anne Bancroft takes on 3rd seed Lee Remick, which should be an

interesting match. And finally 2nd seed Elizabeth Taylor looks to continue her winning ways since coming from the 50’s era bracket, takes on the

lowest seed remaining in 5th seed Jean Simmons. Matches will run through Sunday evening!

A FOREIGN AFFAIR BRACKET

SONG AND DANCE BRACKET

BRITISH INVASION BRACKET

ALL-AMERICAN GIRLS BRACKET

Here are the links to the other blogs to cast your votes in the other eras:

The 30's era:
http://www.rozrussell.com/

The 40's era:
http://journeysinclassicfilm.com/

The 50's era:
http://mythicalmonkey.blogspot.com/

Round 2 (British Invasion and All-American Girls) begins now!

We move on to round 2 of the 2014 Favorite Movie Actress Tourney where the matches start to get a little more competitive.

Here in the 60’s era, the British Invasion and All-American Girls brackets begin this evening. Here are the match-ups and I have to say all four promise to be very exciting. In the All-American Girls brackets, top seed Anne Bancroft will have to face the red hot Paula Prentiss, who beat Faye Dunaway in the first round. In the other match, 3rd seed Lee Remick will have to deal with 7th seed Sharon Tate, who upset Jane Fonda a few days ago. Over in the British Invasion, top seed Diana Rigg, who squeaked

by Hayley Mills last round will have an even tougher challenge this time in Jean Simmons. And the spotlight match takes place when 2nd seed Elizabeth Taylor squares off against 3rd seed Julie Andrews. My oh my. These matches will run through Wednesday evening. Good luck to all these wonderful actresses!

BRITISH INVASION BRACKET

ALL-AMERICAN GIRLS BRACKET

The ELITE EIGHT

Barring some miraculous comebacks, looks like our elite eight matches are set to begin tonight.

Here are the eight women who made it to this elite round. Well in a few more hours they will be.
Because Carole is trouncing Joan Crawford by the score of 169-81 while Ginger Rogers is laying it on Greta Garbo 174-78 in the 30's era. In the 40's, Bette Davis is rolling over Lucille Ball 94-36 while Judy Garland is beating Gene Tierney 81-65. In the 50's era Grace Kelly is handling Debbie Reynolds 74-29 while Elizabeth Taylor has Janet Leigh in check at 74-31. And here on All Good Things, Natalie Wood is beating Catherine Deneuve 51-31 while Jean Simmons has a somewhat close match with Ann-Margret at 46-34.


30’S ERA MATCH:

CAROLE LOMBARD vs
GINGER ROGERS

Looks like fellow tennis lovers Carole and Ginger plan to settle their differences on the court....


40’S ERA MATCH:

BETTE DAVIS vs
JUDY GARLAND

Will Judy be able to bob and weave against Bette? We shall soon find out....


50’S ERA MATCH:

GRACE KELLY vs
ELIZABETH TAYLOR

Seems like Grace is taking the match a little more serious than Elizabeth..


60’S ERA MATCH:

NATALIE WOOD vs

JEAN SIMMONS

And Natalie is ready to dance all night long to go the distance against the relaxed Jean


Everyone knows my favorite is Carole Lombard. So my other three picks to make the Final four are Bette Davis (40’s era), Elizabeth Taylor (50’s) and Natalie Wood (60’s). Curious to know what everyone else’s final four looks like. Like I said the elite 8 matches will begin tonight and will run through Sunday night. The winner advances to the final four. And if there are no ties, the final four semi-final matches will begin Monday morning. The match featuring the 30’s and 50’s champions will be held over at Mythical Monkey while the 40’s and 60’s champions will meet over at Rosalind Russell. Then the championship match will take place right here on All Good Things. We will run the semi-final matches through Thursday night and begin the final match on Friday. A new champion will be crowned on Tuesday! Good luck to all those actresses involved and please be sure to vote when the matches begin.

The Sweet Sixteen Round begins tonight

We have made it to the sweet sixteen round and here are the ladies who have made it and what they have accomplished.

GRETA GARBO - THEY HAD FACES (30'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER
CAROLE LOMBARD - FUNNY LADIES (30'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER
GINGER ROGERS - SINGERS/DANCERS (30'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER
JOAN CRAWFORD - TOUGH BROADS AND PRE-CODE BABES (30'S ERA) WINNER

LUCILLE BALL - FUNNY LADIES (40'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER
JUDY GARLAND - SINGERS/DANCERS (40'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER
GENE TIERNEY - SOPHISTICATES (40'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER
BETTE DAVIS - DRAMA QUEENS (40'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER

JANET LEIGH - FUNNY LADIES/GIRLS NEXT DOOR (50'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER
DEBBIE REYNOLDS - SINGERS/DANCERS (50'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER
GRACE KELLY - SOPHISTICATES (50'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER
ELIZABETH TAYLOR - DRAMA QUEENS (50'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER

NATALIE WOOD - FUNNY  LADIES/GIRLS NEXT DOOR (60'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER
ANN-MARGRET - SINGERS/DANCERS (60'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER
JEAN SIMMONS - SOPHISTICATES (60'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER
CATHERINE DENEUVE - DRAMA QUEENS (60'S ERA) BRACKET WINNER

Matches will start tonight and I will post the matchups in a few hours.

Round Three Matches: Sophisticates and Drama Queens

Only one top seed made it through to the category final match..Jean Simmons. She will face Anne Bancroft in the Sophisticates finale match while over in the Drama Queens bracket, 3rd seed Catherine Deneuve will face 5th seed Susannah York. Matches begin later on tonight and will run through Wednesday night.

SOPHISTICATES BRACKET FINAL MATCH

1 JEAN SIMMONS

VS

6 ANNE BANCROFT

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

DRAMA QUEENS BRACKET

3 CATHERINE DENEUVE

VS

5 SUSANNAH YORK

Round Two Day Two Update

The tourney is getting wilder with each passing day. A lot of exciting matches are taking place as I write this and some perennial favorites might just be headed home early.


SILENT/30'S ERA

Looks like the smiles won't save Mary this time, as Gloria ain't messing around

GRETA GARBO 74 CLARA BOW 35
GLORIA SWANSON 74 MARY PICKFORD 32
BARBARA STANWYCK 68 CLAUDETTE COLBERT 44
JOAN CRAWFORD 65 MARLENE DIETRICH 51


Every single match in this era has yielded at least 105 votes. Breaking the previous record of total votes in a single match held by Irene Dunne and Carole Lombard's titanic bout last year. And all of the matches have comfortable leads. Even Joan Crawford has begun to pull away from Marlene Dietrich, leading by 14 votes now. And it looks like 2nd seed Mary Pickford is about to exit thanks to the thorough beat down Gloria Swanson is handing out.


40'S ERA

Bette, all cool and collected

GENE TIERNEY 44 VIVIEN LEIGH 37
LAUREN BACALL 46 INGRID BERGMAN 31
BETTE DAVIS 53 JOAN FONTAINE 31
OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND 45 KATHARINE HEPBURN 39


Now this era is producing some of the biggest possible upsets yet. Top seed and last year's final four finalist Vivien Leigh is trailing Gene Tierney. I don't think anyone saw this one coming. I mean Leigh went to the championship match last year and was expected to go deep again this year. Looks like somebody forgot to tell that to Gene Tierney. Leigh isn't the only top seed losing. The great Kate Hepburn is getting all she can handle from Olivia de havilland. And Ingrid Bergman who was one match away from the final four last year is about to exit in round two as Lauren Bacall is beating her, up by 15 votes.


50'S ERA

A determined Audrey is on her way to victory once again

ELIZABETH TAYLOR 64 ANNE BAXTER 27
AVA GARDNER 55 SUSAN HAYWARD 34
GRACE KELLY 62 SOPHIA LOREN 28
AUDREY HEPBURN 58 DEBORAH KERR 40


All these matches are pretty much over. What started out as a close match has turned into a rout for Audrey Hepburn over Deborah Kerr. Top seed Grace Kelly is having no trouble with Sophia Loren. 2nd seed Susan Hayward though is losing to Ava Gardner and looks to be going home early. And Elizabeth Taylor who exited it early last year is not having none of that this year as she is steamrolling Anne Baxter, up by nearly 40 votes.


60'S ERA

Jean is positively ecstatic to be moving on to round 3

SUSANNAH YORK 34 JULIE CHRISTIE 31
CATHERINE DENEUVE 39 LEE REMICK 28
JEAN SIMMONS 46 CLAUDIA CARDINALE 21
ANNE BANCROFT 40 FAYE DUNAWAY 28


Top seed Julie Christie is having fits with upstart Susannah York as she trails by 3 votes. Overall top seed Jean Simmons is having an easy time with Claudia Cardinale. Catherine Deneuve has finally opened up a sizable lead over Lee Remick. And 6th seed Anne Bancroft looks to continue her cinderella run as she is beating 2nd seed Faye Dunaway.


These matches will conclude today and part 2 of this round categories will begin tomorrow.

Round Two Matches: Sophisticates and Drama Queens

What an awesome first round we had last week across all four blogs hosting the favorite classic movie actress tournament. Now we begin round 2 with some great match-ups. These matches begin tomorrow and will run through Wednesday night 7 pm EST. I think the best match will be Lee Remick against Catherine Deneuve.

SOPHISTICATES BRACKET

1 JEAN SIMMONS

VS

5 CLAUDIA CARDINALE

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

2 FAYE DUNAWAY 

VS 

6 ANNE BANCROFT

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

DRAMA QUEENS BRACKET

1 JULIE CHRISTIE

VS

5 SUSANNAH YORK

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

2 LEE REMICK

VS

3 CATHERINE DENEUVE

The 2012 Favorite Classic Movie Actress Tournament Preview: the 60's Era

So now we arrive at the final preview for the 2012 Favorite Classic Movie Actress Tournament with the 1960's era. This bracket will take place right here on All Good Things and I have listed all the matches for the first round below, with the top seeds for each of the four groups highlighted. Tourney will start simultaneous with the other three blogs on Monday March 5th. I am going for Natalie Wood in this era.

60's Sophisticates Top Seed Jean Simmons

 60’s SOPHISTICATES

1 JEAN SIMMONS VS 8 CAROL LYNLEY

4 BRIGITTE BARDOT VS 5 CLAUDIA CARDINALE

2 FAYE DUNAWAY VS 7 VERA MILES

3 ROMY SCHNEIDER VS 6 ANNE BANCROFT

Overall top seed of 60's era Natalie Wood (and last year final four finalist)

60’S FUNNY LADIES/GIRLS NEXT DOOR

1 NATALIE WOOD VS 8 STELLA STEVENS

4 TUESDAY WELD VS 5 HAYLEY MILLS

2 JANE FONDA VS 7 PATTY DUKE

3 SANDRA DEE VS 6 GLYNIS JOHNS

60's Drama Queens top seed Julie Christie

60’S DRAMA QUEENS

1 JULIE CHRISTIE VS 8 TIPPI HEDREN

4 LIV ULLMAN VS 5 SUSANNAH YORK

2 LEE REMICK VS 7 JEAN SEBERG

3 CATHERINE DENEUVE VS 6 SHARON TATE

60's Singers/Dancers Top Seed Julie Andrews

60’S SINGERS/DANCERS

1 JULIE ANDREWS VS 8 JEANNE MOREAU

4 SHIRLEY JONES VS 5 RITA MORENO

2 SHIRLEY MACLAINE VS 7 EDIE ADAMS

3 ANN-MARGRET VS 6 RAQUEL WELCH

Birthday Roll Call: January 31st

Today marks birthdays for several notable actresses. So time for a birthday roll call.

JEAN SIMMONS (Jan 31, 1929 - Jan 22, 2010)

Notable films: Black Narcissus, Elmer Gantry, Spartacus, Guys and Dolls, The Grass Is Greener



SUZANNE PLESHETTE (Jan 31, 1937 - Jan 19, 2008)

Notable work: The Birds, Nevada Smith, The Bob Newhart Show, 40 Pounds of Trouble



TALLULAH BANKHEAD (Jan 31, 1902 - December 12, 1968)

Notable work: Lifeboat, A Royal Scandal, Tarnished Lady, My Sin, Devil and the Deep



DANIELA BIANCHI (Jan 31, 1942 - present)

Notable work: From Russia With Love, Always on Sunday, The Last Chance)



JOANNE DRU (Jan 31, 1922 - September 10, 1996)

Notable work: Red River, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, All The King's Men

BRITISH BEAUTIES - Jean Simmons

My friend Alicia Garbo has this wonderful page on Facebook called British Beauties, dedicated to all the wonderful actresses born in the UK. She is spotlighing Jean Simmons this week and thought everyone would like to check out her terrific page. Here's the link to her page: British Beauties

The 1960's: Actress JEAN SIMMONS had a remarkable year in 1960...

The talented Jean Simmons had a phenomenal year in 1960 with three films: ELMER GANTRY, SPARTACUS, and THE GRASS IS GREENER. All three films were solid hits and presented the exquisite Jean with wonderful characters to portray. Especially in Elmer Gantry and The Grass is Greener. I have always thought of Jean as an actress who never got enough credit. She has given several award worthy performances but never won an Oscar. Which is a crime in itself. Jean had a stellar film career through-out her life with films such as Black Narcissus, Angel Face, The Actress, Guys and Dolls, The Big Country, and The Happy Ending.

She would venture forth into TV during the 80's with parts in The Thorn Birds (winning an Emmy), North & South and even Star Trek:The Next Generation. Yes, Jean appeared on a Star Trek episode. How cool is that?

But back to the year of 1960 in which her first film released that year was Elmer Gantry, which gave Burt Lancaster one of his best roles ever as a con man who becomes an evangelist. He was so good that he picked up an Oscar that year as Best Actor in a Leading Role. Jean was equally good as Sister Sharon Falconer, whose ministry Gantry hooks up with it. Jean was quite effective in her scenes giving sermons in tent revivals all across the country. But the Academy didn't even give her a nomination, which was a shame. Because she really did give a magnificent performance. I mean hers was just as good as co-star Shirley Jones, who not only got a nomination but won as Best Supporting Actress. Elmer Gantry hit theaters in July and was a summer hit.

Three months later would come the epic film Spartacus. With a huge ensemble cast featuring Kirk Douglas as the titular character, Laurence Olivier, Tony Curtis, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, Woody Strode, and Jean as slave woman Varinia, who falls in love with Spartacus and eventually becomes his wife. Spartacus was a huge film with a massive budget and ended up being one of the biggest hits of all time with over $60 million worldwide. Jean's performance was good but was kind of over shadowed by all the men in this large cast. She held her own though with the big boys.

Her final film in 1960 was The Grass is Greener which I think is the best of the three. It's a sophisticated comedy with film veterans Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum and Jean. The story has Cary and Deborah as husband and wife who must rent out their castle for tours due to financial difficulties. Mitchum is an oil tycoon who romances Kerr while Cary's ex-girlfriend shows up as well (played by Jean). Complications ensue. This is one of the better of the films in Cary's late career and Jean is very good in this comedic role. I wished she had done more comedies during her career.

So 1960 turned out to be quite the year for Ms. Simmons and she would continue on with her solid career for another 30 years. It should also be noted Jean had just turned 30 when she made these three films, entering this period of her life with great success and quality. Thank you Jean for your wonderful contributions to film and TV.