Be My Guest: Melinda Kinnaird

My guest this month another friend and classic movie lover I met on Facebook, Melinda. Without further adieu, take it away Melinda....

Here they are! I am so glad you asked me to do this, I really enjoyed answering the questions. My mom, sister and I also enjoy talking about going to movie theaters that are no longer here in our hometown to see classic films. Anyway, here's my answers, and thank you again so much!

1. What made you start blogging? N/A

2. Who are your favorite classic film stars? Name as many as you want.

 Gene Kelly, Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Bette Davis, Olivia DeHaviland, Dana Andrews, Maureen O'Hara, Claudette Colbert, Clark Gable, Ginger Rogers, Sidney Poitier, Gregory Peck, Henry Fonda, Joseph Cotten, James Stewart, Robert Taylor, The Marx Brothers, and so many more.

3. What are some of your favorite films? 

Singin' In The Rain, The Wizard Of Oz, Rebel Without A Cause, Now Voyager, The Philadelphia Story, and Lillies Of The Field...and that's just for starters.

4. Describe your first classic movie experience. Like where and when..at a cinema, on TV, etc.. 

The first time I ever really remember seeing a classic film was when I was a little girl. I remember the whole family getting together to watch The Wizard Of Oz on TV...this was back before many families had VCRs and no DVRs, so it was appointment television. I loved watching the magical adventure! Years later, when the film was re-released for its 60th anniversary, my mom and I went to the theatre to see it. It was just as enchanting seeing it on the big screen as it was seeing it as a child on TV.

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

 The first time I saw Rosemary's Baby as a teenager, I didn't get it. Then I saw it again a few years later, and it scared the bejeezus out of me!

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

 Just setting everything else aside and watching it...maybe having a snack and watching it with my mom.

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

My mother, certainly. She was born in 1932, so I think it gave me an appreciation for these classic gems. And my sister loves them too. She often tells me how she went to the a theater here in my hometown to see a classic film. She watches many with her husband and son. And I have several friends who love great films like I do.

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

Tough choice. I love the 1940s and 1950s. I would have loved to have seen so many of my favorite films in the theatre when they first opened. I also like how times were easier and manners were more present back then. Still, I do love the 1920s and 1930s as well, and many of my favorite musicians, movies and TV shows happened in the 1960s.

9. What are some of your favorite film quotes? 

"There's No Place Like Home." "Here's Looking At You, Kid." 

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

 I've never seen Lawrence Of Arabia. And I know it's in the 1970s, but I'd like to see The Godfather (1 and 2).

11. What is your favorite genre?

 Musicals and comedies, but I do love a good drama or suspense film too!

12. If you threw a movie theme party, describe how you would do it.

 The costumes, decorations, food, etc. My cousin is a HUGE Judy Garland found, so she might help me put a Wizard of Oz party together. It would be cool to have apples (since they walk past the apple trees), and have lollipops as party favors.

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

I'm not a big Woody Allen fan. Also, I didn't really like Touch Of Evil, even though I love most of the actors in it. And I liked Giant, but wish it wasn't so long.

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

My mom

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

Don Lockwood (Singin' In The Rain), Dorothy Gale (The Wizard Of Oz), Plato (Rebel Without A Cause), Maria Von Trapp (The Sound Of Music)

Thank you Melinda for being my guest and for such wonderful answers. I'm sure my readers enjoyed getting to know you as much as I did.

Be My Guest: Jackie Merritt

Another month means another guest. And this month brings one of my good friends that I met on Facebook, Jackie. So let's get things started shall we...

1. What made you start blogging?

The guest of the month...Jackie

Jackie does not write a blog as of yet

2. Who are your favorite classic film stars? Name as many as you want

Jackie: My favorite classic male stars are Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, William Holden, Gregory Peck, Paul Newman, Gene Kelly, Gary Cooper. Joel McCrea, Jack Lemmon, William Powell, David Niven Howard Keel. My favorite classic female stars are Irene Dunne, Katharine Hepburn,  Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland, Deborah Kerr, Ingrid Bergman, Loretta Young, Maureen O'Hara, Debbie Reynolds, Mryna Loy, Doris Day, Kathryn Grayson.

Me: Nice selection of actors/actresses there Jackie

 3. What are some of your favorite films?

Jackie: I love  My Fair Lady, Casablanca, Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Singing in the Rain, It's a Wonderful Life, The Bishop's Wife, Friendly Persuasion, Show Boat, The Philadelphia Story, Harvey, How the West Was Won, Roman Holiday, Born Yesterday, Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation.

Me: I think you might be my first guest to have Friendly Persuasion on their list.

4. Describe your first classic movie experience. Like where and when..at a cinema, on TV, etc..

Jackie: I think my first classic movie experience had been watching the Wizard of Oz on TV. For years when I was little we would come in on the movie after it had turned to color. We were surprised when we first saw the tornado and the black and white part. I would play Wizard of Oz traveling the yellow brick road around my yard and pretend to meet the scarecrow, tinman, lion, good witch, and bad witch. I had a stuffed Pluto dog that I carried in a basket. And I would sing: "We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz". LOL

Me: The Wizard of Oz seems to be a lot of people's first classic movie experience. That and GWTW.

5. What films upon first viewing did you not like, then later on when re-watching them, loved it.

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

 I love watching a classic movie with my husband in our travel trailer. We have a candlelight dinner first, then sit  close together on the couch, holding hands and watch a romantic movie.

How very romantic and wonderful Jackie.

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

 Don't know for sure. Many.

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

Jackie: I love the 40's and the 50's. Too hard to choose from. But if I have to choose, I would say the 50's: An American in Paris, Roman Holiday, Love Is a Many Splendor Thing, Sabrina, An Affair to Remember, North by Northwest, Picnic, Singing in the Rain, Born Yesterday, Sunset Blvd.,To Catch a Thief, The African Queen. The list just keeps going...lol

Me:That's a pretty good era for films...can't argue with you on that

9. What are some of your favorite film quotes?

 1.  "When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are."Pinocchio.  2. "Good Morning. Good Morning to You".  Kathy sings in "Singing in the Rain".  3.  Ilsa says, "Play it Sam. Play As Time Goes By" "Casablanca"   4.. "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz".

"I'd think of someway to get him back. Afterall tomorrow is another day." 5. Rose says in The African Queen, "Nature. Mr. Allnut, is what we are put on this world to rise above." 6. Scarlett in Gone With the Wind. 7. Zo Zo in "It's a Wonderful Life". "Look Daddy. Every time you hear a bell rings, an angel gets it's wings." 8. From "How the West Was Won" Lionus Rawlings says,"Ma'am, seems you've been kissed before." Eve Prescott says,"Ain't been kissed permanent before." lol

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

 Jackie: I haven't seen Gaslight, A Streetcar Named Desire.

Me:

I haven't seen Gaslight either...but I have seen Desire..I recommend you catching it the next time TCM plays it.

11. What is your favorite genre?

 Jackie: My favorite genre has to be Musicals. I love music. Show Boat, My Fair Lady, The Wizard of Oz, Singing in the Rain, Oklahoma, Easter Parade, Music Man, An American in Paris, Royal Wedding, A Star is Born, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Top Hat,  are just a few that I like.

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

 I have given movie them parties on Facebook. I call it Dinner and a Movie. and have had different themes for different movies. Last year, we did The Easter Parade. We watched the movie together on TCM and commented. I had everyone to bring to our cyber table a food or drink to celebrate Easter. We had ham and baked sweet potatoes.  I made a coconut jelly bean cake. And I asked everyone to wear an Easter Hat. So at the end of the movie, everyone went for a stroll down 5th Avenue with Fred Astaire and Judy Garland singing "In your Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it". It was a lot of fun. We have also watched  "The Wizard of Oz" together and had a cyber table of country food: deviled eggs, baked sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, pork chops and strawberry short cake and tea to drink.  I dressed up like Dorothy in a jumper and started down the yellow brick road made out of poster board. lol.  "We're off to see the Wizard the wonderful Wizard of Oz".

Haha..awesome!

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

 Jackie: Citizen Kane, Midnight Cowboy,The Godfather, On the Waterfront, Apocalypse Now, The Grapes of Wrath, Jaws. Horror films and anything that is real gory.

Me: Not a fan of Citizen Kane but the other films I have watched and liked..especially Jaws!

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

 My brother-in-law loves movies. He could watch them all day.

Cool

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

Clarence the angel in "It's a Wonderful Life". "You had a wonderful life George." Eliza in My Fair Lady. From rags as a flower girl to riches dressed for the ball, Eliza stole our hearts. "I could of danced all night." Mr. Hobbs in Mr, Hobbs Takes a Vacation. I go into hysterics everytime I see him walking with his long legs bent, looking for birds. "What's that liitle fellow? "Barnswallows".

Thank you Monty. I have had a wonderful time being your guest.

Thank you Jackie for coming to All Good Things and bringing such wonderful answers.

Be My Guest - Kim (Part 1)

Due to certain circumstances, I might have 3 guests this month or just one. Not for sure yet. When I did not know if the first people I asked was going to make it this month, I asked Kim Wilson of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die to fill in. I sent her the questions one morning and by the end of the day she had answered all 14. So Kim will have the honor of going first. And if no other guests show up, then Kim will came through for me big time. A little facts about Kim before we get started. She hails from Cincinnati, Ohio. Her interests are films, books and playing games. She has two Malti-Poos named Buffy and Carmie. And in addition to her blog 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, she also co-writes the series Two Dames Dishing with Becky of Classic Becky's Brain Food. So now onto the questions. Oh and here's a link to Kim's wonderful blog: 1001moviesblog

Me: What made you start blogging?







Kim: I started blogging at the TCM classic film union when I began my quest to see the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. Then, some friends from the CFU started their own blogs—one being the Classic Film and TV Café—and I became a contributor. Once I’d built up enough posts I started my own blog.




Me: Hey I joined that as well. It's a cool place to hang out.

 

Me: Who are your favorite classic film stars? Name as many as you want.

Kim: Females in this order - Catherine Deneuve, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Greta Garbo, and Katharine Hepburn


Males in this order: Paul Neuman, William Powell, Cary Grant, Henry Fonda, and Charles Boyer


Me: I believe you're the first person to name Catherine Deneuve as one of your faves, besides me. Cool. And you have Cary up there as well. A plus as well.

 

Me: What are some of your favorite films?

Kim: Too many to list! Tops from the 30s to the 70s:


1930s: The Thin Man, Camille, My Man Godfrey, The Awful Truth, Jezebel, Bringing Up Baby, Gone with the Wind, Ninotchka, and The Wizard of Oz

1940s: The Philadelphia Story, The Lady Eve, Now Voyager, Notorious, Spellbound, Mildred Pierce, To Be or Not To Be, The Red Shoes, and The Best Years of Our Lives


1950s: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, All About Eve, The Quiet Man, Singin’ in the Rain, The Bridge of the River Kwai, The Ten Commandments, Smiles of a Summer Night, The Earrings of Madame de…, and Gigi

1960s: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Apartment, Spartacus, Hud, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, The Producers, Dr. Strangelove, and Z


1970s: Patton, Rocky, Network, The Godfathers (Part II is the best though), and Chinatown


Me: From the 30's alone, you have some marvelous faves. I like how you broke them down by years too.

 

Me: Describe your first classic movie experience.

Kim: It would have to be watching The Wizard of Oz every year with my family. I wrote about it on my blog last year. Basically, it was a bonding experience I shared with them every year.


Me: Awesome! Well that wraps up part one of my interview with Kim. Check back in a few days as we continue with some more lively discussions.

Beware These Women! - The Wicked Witch Of The West of THE WIZARD OF OZ

I'm not to late for the party am I?

Truly one of cinema's most despicable women came in the form of The Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. Granted, Dorothy did drop a house on her sister, so I guess I would be a little mad too and want some revenge. But it just seemed she enjoyed it a little too much. She was kind of gleeful in exacting her revenge against the young and innocent Dorothy. Just looking at her green complexion would give anyone the creeps. And then when you throw in that cackling voice, she becomes even worse. Her constant threats to Dorothy and Toto border on being really bizarre. And then let's not forget her really creepy flying monkeys. Those things gave me nightmares the first time I saw them. Actress Margaret Hamilton was phenomenal in actually two roles in the film: one as the witch and Miss Gulch, the neighbor to Dorothy's aunt and uncle. Miss Gulch is a more realistic character but has the same tendencies as the witch...and someone you don't want to mess with.


You see I told you this was the girl for you...now do you believe me?

THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST RATINGS:

SCHEMINGS - 4
MANIPULATIVE - 3
SMARTNESS - 2
TRUSTWORTHY - 0
DANGEROUS - 3



Quotes from The Witch herself:

Going so soon? I wouldn't hear of it. Why my little party's just beginning.



Ring around the rosie, a pocket full of spears! Thought you were pretty foxy, didn't you? Well! The last to go will see the first three go before her! And your mangy little dog, too!
 
Helping the little lady along are you, my fine gentlemen? Well stay away from her, or I'll stuff a mattress with you! And you, I'll make you into a beehive. Here Scarecrow, want to play ball?