Be My Guest - Kristen (Journeys In Classic Film)

My guest this month is one pretty cool blogger named Kristen. She writes the awesomely amazing blog Journeys in Classic Film. We became friends last year and share a love for classic film. Right now she has this amazing tourney going on featuring the best actresses from the classic era to the modern era. And she will be helping me next month for my annual classic movie actress tourney. I thought it was high time everyone got to meet her. Some already know her but some will be meeting her for the first time. Take it away Kristen. Oh and here's the link to Kristen's cool blog:  journeysinclassicfilm.com

1. What made you start blogging?

Kristen: My blog started out as an experiment to see if I could actually commit to keeping one (I have a lot of one and done entries on the Interwebs).  When I started I was/am working for two other sites that kept me writing about contemporary, opening-weekend movies, and I wanted a chance to write about classic movies, which I don't normally get to discuss so as I was starting to blog regularly I noticed it was shifting more towards discussing classic movies.  The rest, as they say, is history!

Me: And a great history you are now making Kristen.

2. Who are your favorite classic stars?

Kristen: Veronica Lake, first and foremost, is my blog mascot so she's top.  Other leading ladies include Lauren Bacall, Natalie Wood, Marilyn Monroe, Julie Andrews, Katharine Hepburn, Joan Blondell, Bette Davis, Ann-Margaret, and Ingrid Bergman.  As for the men, I'll be hard pressed to find a boyfriend who won't have me comparing him to William Holden and Robert Mitchum.  Also adore Cary Grant, Warren Beatty, William Powell, Humphrey Bogart, Marlon Brando, Gene Kelly, and Jack Lemmon.  

Me: I reallty can't argue with none of your choices Kristen.

3. What are some of your favorite films?

Kristen: Such a lengthy list as any film blogger would say.  I'll leave it to classics only: Singin' in the Rain, Anne of the Thousand Days, Splendor in the Grass, West Side Story, Night of the Hunter, Sabrina, Bringing Up Baby, The Big Sleep, Gentleman Prefer Blondes, Some Like It Hot, Bye Bye Birdie, The Thin Man, A Streetcar Named Desire, Sullivan's Travels, I Married a Witch, Xanadu (yes, I included that).

Me: Some great films you named that I also love with the exception of West Side Story and Xanadu.

4. Describe your first classic movie experience

Kristen: I did see the Disney re-releases a few times, but my seminal classic movie experiences have to be in 7th and 11th grades.  In 7th grade my history teacher showed us Anne of the Thousand Days to spotlight the Tudor dynasty.  I was the only one who loved it, and actually wrote an extra credit paper on it.  Later in high school I took a film class and watching Singin in the Rain made me realize I needed to watch more.  So both my experiences were in a classroom (how sad that film classes are hardly offered now).

Me: I saw that in 10th grade English lit...love that movie! Like you too.

5. What films upon first viewing did you not like, but later on after re-watching loved them?

Kristen: Casablanca first off.  After seeing that in a theater, I really appreciated how representative of classic film it truly is.  Gentleman Prefer Blondes, Jaws.

Me: All three are winners in my book.

6.Describe the perfect way for you to watch a film

Kristen: The perfect setting would be in an old movie palace that actually showed classic movies in their heyday.  We used to have an old theater like that in my town, but it closed.  

Me: Sounds marvelous

7. How many friends, family member or co-workers share your love of classic films?

Kristen: My mother is probably the second biggest classic film fan, but when I recommend her movies she has a very distinct taste (she hates screwball comedies) and we don't usually like the same films.  My best friend likes some, but she's particular to romances which I'm iffy on.  

Me: Oh she doesn't like screwball comedies...man those are my favorites!

8. What is your favorite time period: the 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's or 60's?

Kristen: The 40s

Me: Good call...The 30's are my favorites but I also love the 40's quite a bit too.

9.  What are some of your favorite film quotes?

Kristen: "I can never have children."  "We'll adopt some" - Some Like It Hot.  "I sent her as far as I could, since we don't own Scotland" -Anne of the Thousand Days. "And his whiskers are real, too!" -Miracle on 34th Street (something about the way little Natalie Wood says this line makes me smile). "Can I still come over and push you in the pool?" -Sullivan's Travels.  "But with a little sex in it" -Sullivan's Travels "Isn't it better for a girl to be preoccupied with sex instead of occupied?" -The Moon is Blue 

Me: Great quote from The Moon is Blue

10. What classic films have you yet to see for one reason or another?

Kristen: Citizen Kane, The Godfather: Part 2, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Best Years of Our Lives, any of the work of Ingmar Bergman

Me: You have to see The Best Years of Our Lives Kristen..It is beyond great. Patti will back me up on that!

11.  What is your favorite genre?

Kristen: Drama which, to me, includes film noir, political, historical, ec.

Me: Cool..and there are tons of great dramas for sure

12. If you threw a movie theme party, describe how you would do it. The costumes, decorations, food, etc.

Kristen: It could be because I saw Gangster Squad, but I'm dying to do a 1940s Hollywood glamour type party based around The Big Sleep, The Blue Dahlia or Double Indemnity.  Of course the ladies would have coiffed hair a la the peekaboo style of Veronica Lake.  Lots of pinstripes, fedoras, hopefully my friends would be into talking like Edward G. Robinson.  

Me: Haha...awesome!

13. What are some films that are widely loved that you couldn't care less about?

Kristen:  I always state my distaste for Gone With the Wind.  I also don't get the adoration for Mrs. Miniver.  Other movies I hate to admit I don't like include The Women, An American in Paris, and The Band Wagon.

Me: Right there with ya on An American in Paris and The Band Wagon. Don't like either of them.

14. Who’s the biggest film fanatic that you know? Besides yourself of course.

Kristen: Most of the people I know that are bigger film fanatics are bloggers such as you Monty, Nick Powell of Cinematic Katzenjammer (although he's modern films), the amazing Patti of They Don't Make 'Em Like They  Used To, Lindsay of The Motion Pictures, the group at French Toast Sunday

Me: Nice shout out to Patti there!

15. And finally who are some of your favorite film characters?

Kristen: The entire cast of Some Like It Hot, Max Cady from Cape Fear, Harry Powell from Night of the Hunter, Jennifer of I Married a Witch, Sabrina Fairchild and David Larrabee of Sabrina, Elizabeth Lane of Christmas in Connecticut, Anne Boleyn of Anne of the Thousand Days, Donald Greasham of The Moon is Blue, the second Mrs. de Winter in Rebecca, Alicia Huberman and Devlin from Notorious, Susan of Bringing Up Baby

Me: Yes to all of those characters especially Elizabeth Lane..,my favorite Barbara Stanwyck role and film.

Well that wraps up another be my guest this month and I want to thank Kristen for taking the time to come on here and be a good sport and answer all my questions. She did an excellent job don't you agree? Please stop by and check out her amazing blog if you haven't already and I will see everyone back here next month with another new guest and friend.

THE MONTIES: 1946 - THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES is absolutely the best of the year!

Back for another round of Monties and another great year in 1946. And leading the way is the amazing film, The Best Years of Our Lives. So let's get started shall we...


BEST FILM:
Winner: The Best Years Of Our Lives
Nominees: The Razor's Edge; It's A Wonderful Life; The Big Sleep; The Dark Mirror; Notorious; The Strange Love of Martha Ivers; Gilda
Thoughts: An outstanding crop of films for this year but for me there was never really any doubt. I remember seeing The Best Years of our Lives for the first time when I was about 19 and it blew me away from the very first moment. I have watched it at least once a year now for over 15 years and it's still an amazing film. I easily award it a Montie for Best Film of 1946.

BEST DIRECTOR:
Winner: William Wyler (The Best Years Of Our Lives)
Nominees: Frank Capra (It's A Wonderful Life); Howard Hawks (The Big Sleep); Robert Siodmak (The Dark Mirror and The Killers)
Thoughts: William Wyler picks up his third Montie as Best Director for his superb work on The Best Years of our Lives. He previously won for These Three (1936) and Mrs. Miniver (1942)

William Wyler picks up his third Montie

BEST WRITER: 
Winner: Vladimir Pozner and Nunnally Johnson (The Dark Mirror)
Nominees: Raymond Chandler (The Blue Dahlia); Robert E. Sherwood (The Best Years Of Our Lives); Anthony Veiller (The Killers)
Thoughts: Top notch screenplay Johnson from an original story by Pozner for The Dark Mirror, a very well done film that a lot of people don't know about.

BEST ACTOR:
Winner: Fredric March (The Best Years Of Our Lives)
Nominees: Humphrey Bogart (The Big Sleep); John Garfield (The Postman Always Rings Twice); James Stewart (It's A Wonderful Life); Cary Grant (Notorious)
Thoughts: Fredric March picks up his first Montie for his terrific performance as Al Stephenson, a returning soldier from World War Two, who has trouble re-adjusting back to civilian life.

Congratulations honey on your well deserved Montie!

BEST ACTRESS:
Winner: Olivia de Havilland (The Dark Mirror)
Nominees: Myrna Loy (The Best Years Of Our Lives); Lana Turner (The Postman Always Rings Twice); Rita Hayworth (Gilda); Donna Reed (It's A Wonderful Life); Lauren Bacall (The Big Sleep), Barbara Stanwyck (The Strange Love of Martha Ivers)
Thoughts: While Olivia did win an Oscar for this year in another film, To Each His Own, which I haven't seen, I chose her for the film I did see her in, The Dark Mirror. Getting to play twins is an actor/actress dream as they get to give two different performances in one film. And boy does Olivia give two amazing performances. In the process, she picks up her second Montie!

See, it says right here...Best Actress winner

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Winner: Teresa Wright (The Best Years Of Our Lives)
Nominees: Cathy O'Donnell (The Best Years Of Our Lives); Martha Vickers (The Big Sleep); Lizabeth Scott (The Strange Love of Martha Ivers); Anne Baxter (The Razor's Edge)
Thoughts: As good as Anne Baxter was in The Razor's Edge, and believe me when I say she was amazing, I went with Teresa Wright's quiet but effective performance in The Best Years of Our Lives. Her role as Peggy, the daughter of Fredric March and Myrna Loy, falls in love with married Dana Andrews and it's a performance that is not showy but really, really good. And that gives her two Monties for Best Supporting Actress in the span of just four years.

Another wonderful performance yields another Montie for Teresa

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Winner: Harold Russell (The Best Years of Our Lives)
Nominees: Dana Andrews (The Best Years of our Lives); Claude Rains (Notorious); Clifton Webb (The Razor's Edge); William Conrad (The Killers)
Thoughts: Real life amputee Harold Russell first acting role came as a returning soldier who lost both hands in World War 2 and he was amazing. A natural performance that was just riveting to watch.

Harold celebrating his win with Hoagy Carmichael

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Winner: The Yearling
Nominees: It's A Wonderful Life; The Best Years Of Our lives; The Postman Always Rings Twice; The Razor's Edge
Thoughts: The Yearling is one of the most beautiful looking films I have ever seen. Just amazing to watch over and over again.

So beautiful

BEST FILM SCORE:
Winner: Hugo Friedhofer (The Best Years of Our lives)
Nominees: Lennie Hayton (The Harvey Girls); Miklos Rozsa (The Killers); Dimitri Tiomkin (It's A Wonderful Life)
Thoughts: From the opening scene of The Best Years where the music just swells so majestically, it is the clear choice for my favorite film score of 1946. Top notch work by Mr. Friedhofer.

My man Hugo

So the finally tally has The Best Years nearly sweeping the Monties with 6 awards. The Dark Mirror lands two awards and The Yearling picks up one. A huge tally for one of my all time favorite films. Be back next month with my picks of 1947.

The Essential Teresa Wright Films

I can't think of anyone who had a better start to their film career than Teresa Wright. Five of her first six films are what I consider her best films, her essential films. The ones that you must see that shows Teresa at her very best. Please note that for her first three films, Teresa received Oscar nominations, as far as I know, she is the only person ever to do such a thing. Here they are in chronological order.

Teresa's very first movie has her sharing the screen with the legendary Bette Davis

THE LITTLE FOXES (1941) Talk about a tall order for your very first film. Co-starring with the always amazing Bette Davis, Teresa does a solid job as daughter Alexandra to Bette's Regina. Her performance was good enough that she received a Best Supporting Actress nomination. The story deals with the going ons of a ruthless family jockeying for money and position. It's Bette's show all the way but the supporting cast is pretty good too.  Besides Wright, you have Herbert Marshall, Dan Duryea, Charles Dingle and Richard Carlson.

Teresa in a tender moment with Greer Garson (Mrs. Miniver)

MRS. MINIVER (1942) One of my favorite films of all times casts Greer Garson as the titular character who bands her family together to survive World War Two. Teresa has a plum role of Carol Beldon, the sweet young lass who is courted by Mrs. Miniver's son. Expertly directed and her first Oscar win as Best Supporting Actress.

I love ya Lou!

THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (1942) Teresa was awesome as Eleanor Twitchell Gehrig, wife to baseball player Lou Gehrig. The chemistry between Teresa and Gary Cooper was perfect and Teresa could have easily won the Oscar again, but sadly did not.

Charlie spending time with Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten)

SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1943) Next up is my 3rd favorite Hitchcock film ever, behind only The Lady Vanishes and Rear Window. Teresa plays Charlie Newton, who learns that her visiting uncle Charlie (the always reliable Joseph Cotten) may be the Merry Widow killer. So she turns sleuth to see if it's true. One of Hitch's best and most suspenseful films. Wright deserved another Oscar for her performance here, which I think might be her best performance. But regardless, sit back and enjoy one hell of a movie.

Teresa as Peggy Stephenson making breakfast for Fred Derry (Dana Andrews)

in The Best Years Of Our Lives

THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946) And finally my favorite film of Teresa. The story focuses on three World War two veterans who return home and try to adjust to civilian life. Teresa plays Peggy, daughter of Al (Fredric March, one of the returning veterans). But her story involves falling in love with Fred Derry (played by Dana Andrews) who returns from the war to an unfaithful wife (Virginia Mayo). One of my top 10 favorite films of all time. This is how you define a true classic.

So there you have it, my favorite films of Teresa Wright. Think I will go watch one right now.

My love of classic films is beyond measure

Monty

Drama Filled Thursdays (Military Dramas)

Another Thursday means more drama. Not personal drama, but good film dramas. It's the day I choose 5 similarly themed dramas and write a little as to why I love them. Last week it was family dramas. Today it is military, in honor of Veteran's Day tomorrow. So here are some of my favorite military films, set during peacetime or wartime that present some great drama. And I think it's great that they don't have to be combat films per se, but by focusing on how soldiers interact with civilians always make for great drama.

THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)

This is one of my favorite films of all time, sitting right there nestled in my top 10. The story in this film centers on three returning WW Two veterans after the war has ended. Frederic March is Al Stephenson, who returns to his loving wife Milly (a magnificent performance by Myrna Loy), his two children Peggy (a terrific Teresa Wright) and Rob (Michael Hall). Al returns to an influential banking position, but finds it hard to reconcile his loyalties to ex-servicemen with new commercial realities. He has several scenes where he copes by drinking heavily. Dana Andrews is Fred Derry, an ordinary working man who finds it difficult to hold down a job or pick up the threads of his marriage with Virginia Mayo. He ends up falling for Peggy, and Peggy lets her mom know that she doesn't mind busting up the marriage to be with Fred. I was like, heck yeah, go for it Peggy. That's when I fell in love with Teresa Wright at that exact moment. And the last soldier is Homer Parrish (played by real life amputee Harold Russell) who unsure that his fiancée's (Cathy O'Donnell) feelings are still those of love and not those of pity. Each of these three men face a different crisis in their lives and try to cope and come through it emotionally sound. This movie is awesome. I can't find any faults with it. From the top notch cast to the expert direction by William Wyler to the epic music score by Hugo Friedhofer and the gorgeous cinematography by Gregg Toland. The Best Years of Our Lives is one of the best films ever made.

A+

SINCE YOU WENT AWAY (1944)

This mammoth film which clocks in at just under 3 hours, and stars Claudette Colbert as family matriach Anne Hilton, who copes with family life while her husband Tim is away during World War Two. She has two daughters, Jane (Jennifer Jones) and Bridget (Shirley Temple) that she watches after. Anne takes in a lodger to help make ends meet during wartime rationing and shortages. The lodger is Colonel Smollett, played by Monty Woolley. The colonel also happens to have a son named William (Robert Walker) who falls in love with Jane. Joseph Cotten appears as a friend of the family that secretly loves Anne. Rounding out the cast are Agnes Moorehead, Hattie MacDaniel, Keenan Wynn, and Guy Madison. Since You Went Away is top notch melodrama with solid performances, especially by Colbert and Woolley. But do not overlook Jennifer Jones in a truly emotional performance as the eldest daughter Jane. Look for her scene at the train station when she says good-bye to William before he goes off to war. If you don't get a little misty eye during that scene, then there is something wrong. Wonderfully directed by John Cromwell, backed by a powerful Max Steiner music score, Since You Went Away is one heck of a movie. A bit long, but never boring. It really couldn't been done any better.

B+

FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)

 Top notch film with a super cast. It takes place at Pearl Harbor, a few weeks before the attack by the Japanese. Montgomery Clift who plays Private Prewitt, arrives at the base and immediately draws the ire of the commander, who wants him to be on the boxing team. Clift refuses and his life at the barracks becomes a living hell. A truly emotional and epic film with a cast that features Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, and Frank Sinatra. All give Oscar caliber performances especially Reed as a floozie who Clift falls for. And Sinatra is perfect as Private Maggio. A must see.

A

SEVEN DAYS IN MAY (1964)

Top notch military drama with powerhouse performances. Led by Fredric March as President Jordan Lyman who wants to get a nuclear disarmament treaty with the Soviet Union through the senate. He meets resistance with his own country military leaders. Specifially General James Mattoon Scott (played by Burt Lancaster). In comes Colonel Martin Casey (Kirk Douglas) who tries to help the President as a web of lies begin to unfurl all in Washington, D.C. Co-starring Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien, and Martin Balsam, Seven Days In May is one hell of a film.

B+

SUNDAY DINNER FOR A SOLDIER (1944)

Quaint little seen gem that stars Anne Baxter as Tessa Osbourne, a seaman (Charles Winninger) grandaughter. The family lives on a boat in Florida and Tessa comes up with the idea to invite a serviceman for Sunday dinner before he is shipped out for duty. Because of their ramshackle lifestyle, Winninger's brood has trouble getting a soldier to accept their hospitality until lonely, defensive GI John Hodiak comes along. Of course Tessa falls in love and the family remembers this day like none before it. This is one film that doesn't get a lot of air time or that has been seen by a lot of people. I saw it once by accident and loved it immediately. It's a simple yet touching film that features an excellent cast. Along with Baxter, Winninger and Hodiak, the film also stars Anne Revere, Chill Wills, and Jane Darwell. If you have never seen this film, do yourself a favor and check it out immediately. Highly recommended.
A

The Best Years Of Our Lives or Since You Went Away?

It's time for another comparison between two similar films. It was fun comparing Breakfast at Tiffany's and Butterfield 8 a while back, that I thought I would do it again. This time I am comparing two films about families dealing with the affects of World War Two. Now while The Best Years of Our Lives focuses on soldiers returning home after the war, Since You Went Away is actually set during the war and deals with the family while their loved ones are away fighting.

First is Since You Went Away (1944), the mammoth film which clocks in at just under 3 hours, and stars Claudette Colbert as family matriach Anne Hilton, who copes with family life while her husband Tim is away during World War Two. She has two daughters, Jane (Jennifer Jones) and Bridget (Shirley Temple) that she watches after. Anne takes in a lodger to help make ends meet during wartime rationing and shortages. The lodger is Colonel Smollett, played by Monty Woolley. The colonel also happens to have a son named William (Robert Walker) who falls in love with Jane. Joseph Cotten appears as a friend of the family that secretly loves Anne. Rounding out the cast are Agnes Moorehead, Hattie MacDaniel, Keenan Wynn, and Guy Madison. Since You Went Away is top notch melodrama with solid performances, especially by Colbert and Woolley. But do not overlook Jennifer Jones in a truly emotional performance as the eldest daughter Jane. Look for her scene at the train station when she says good-bye to William before he goes off to war. If you don't get a little misty eye during that scene, then there is something wrong. Wonderfully directed by John Cromwell, backed by a powerful Max Steiner music score, Since You Went Away is one heck of a movie. A bit long, but never boring. It really couldn't been done any better.

Now as good as Since You Went Away is, The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946) is even better. This is one of my favorite films of all time, sitting right there nestled in my top 10. The story in this film centers on three returning WW Two veterans after the war has ended. Frederic March is Al Stephenson, who returns to his loving wife Milly (a magnificent performance by Myrna Loy), his two children Peggy (a terrific Teresa Wright) and Rob (Michael Hall). Al returns to an influential banking position, but finds it hard to reconcile his loyalties to ex-servicemen with new commercial realities. He has several scenes where he copes by drinking heavily. Dana Andrews is Fred Derry, an ordinary working man who finds it difficult to hold down a job or pick up the threads of his marriage with Virginia Mayo. He ends up falling for Peggy, and Peggy lets her mom know that she doesn't mind busting up the marriage to be with Fred. I was like, heck yeah, go for it Peggy. That's when I fell in love with Teresa Wright at that exact moment. And the last soldier is Homer Parrish (played by real life amputee Harold Russell) who unsure that his fiancée's (Cathy O'Donnell) feelings are still those of love and not those of pity. Each of these three men face a different crisis in their lives and try to cope and come through it emotionally sound. This movie is awesome. I can't find any faults with it. From the top notch cast to the expert direction by William Wyler to the epic music score by Hugo Friedhofer and the gorgeous cinematography by Gregg Toland. The Best Years of Our Lives is one of the best films ever made and if I had to choose between this and Since You Went Away, well I gotta go with Best Years. But both films are great.You can enjoy both of them. I'm curious to see what everyone else thinks though.