COME SEPTEMBER (1961) made for a delightful movie to watch on Christmas evening

After enjoying a wonderful Christmas dinner at my mom with my wife and three sisters, I came home to find that the film Come September was showing on TV. This 1961 comedy starring Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin is a very funny film. I had only seen it one time before and it's been years ago. So I only had missed like the first 20 or so minutes as I sat down on my comfy sofa to watch the rest of it.

Rock and Gina
Hudson is in good form as wealthy industrialist Robert Talbot who visits his Italian villa every September. This year he comes early in July and finds a boatload of trouble. First his long time girlfriend Lisa (played by Lollobrigida) who is tired of waiting on Robert to pop the question, decides to marry another man. Secondly, the major domo of his villa, Maurice (played by Walter Slezak) has turned the villa into a hotel to make some easy money while Talbot is away. And lastly, his place is run amok with a pack of vacationing American girls with the winsome Sandra Dee leading the charge. Plus a group of American boys led by Bobby Darin camp outside waiting to make their move on Dee and her friends, much to the chagrin of Talbot.

Bobby makes his move..

Come September is a breezy battle of the sexes type comedy with Hudson being very funny. He has wonderful chemistry with Gina too. Their  scenes together are the best in the film. Rock is in great shape and Gina looks stunning. Wearing some of the best clothes one would wear during the 60's. Evening wear, sun dresses, you name it, Gina wears it amazingly well. A nice movie to see on a casual Sunday.
B+

Everyone goes on a little motor scooter ride thru the Italian countryside

At the beach: Having a fun time.. (guest post by Irene Palfy)

... with Doris Day and Rock Hudson!

Enjoy your weekend!!

More Photos of Doris Day and Rock Hudson

A special thanks to Irene the Great for sending me these pics of Doris Day and Rock Hudson having some fun imitating other famous couples. Enjoy.

Me Tarzan, You Jane

As Laurel and Hardy

as Min and Bill

As Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald

Classic Movie Goddess Of The Month - Doris Day (Photos of her and Rock Hudson)

Here are some great pics of Doris and frequent co-star Rock Hudson. The pair had amazing chemistry and made three very enjoyable movies: Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back and Send Me No Flowers.

GIANT is a great epic size film

Giant is an epic size movie that is very well done. It focuses on Texas ranger Jordan Benedict (played by Rock Hudson) who travels to a Maryland farm to buy a prize horse. There he meets the lovely Leslie (played by Elizabeth Taylor) and immediately falls in love. The film details their life together at Benedict's family ranch in Texas and their rivalry with Jett Rink (James Dean's last film before his untimely death). This is grand film-making on an epic scale. Director George Stevens unfolds this film at a good pace.

Liz and Rock

Even though the film logs in at just over 3 hours, I felt that it seemed rushed in particular moments. I mean once Leslie and Jordan had the twins and then they had the birth of their third child, the years seemed to go by pretty fast. Before you knew it, the kids had grown into Dennis Hopper and Carroll Baker. It spanned over 30 years but it just seemed like it was rushed over despite its length. That’s a minor quibble though as Giant is one of the best films ever made. Most people always talk about James Dean and Liz Taylor’s performances, but let me tell you something…Rock Hudson is amazing in this film. I never really cared for Hudson as an actor, other than the films he made with Doris Day and his TV series McMillian and Wife. In Giant, he impressed the hell out of me. I actually believe he was the best character in the film. Not to shortchange Dean, Taylor and  Mercedes McCambridge (as Jordan's older sister), but Rock was on point with this one. I know some people may say that Giant is a weaker Gone With The Wind, I disagree. I think Giant holds its own as an epic film that deserves it place in history.
B+

James Dean and Mercedes McCambridge

Liz Taylor and James Dean

Dean strikes it rich

The gorgeous Liz