Top Ten Stars For The Week Ending Saturday, September 24th, 2011

Man, that was a fast week. Here I am, back again with my weekly top ten list for the classic stars I covered the most on my blog or watched some of their movies. With this week's ranking I shall nnow include that star's previous ranking and weeks total.

1. ROMY SCHNEIDER - Romy's birthday was on Friday and I did a birthday post on my blog as well as on my friend Irene's blog. And the two of us talked about her quite a bit. Romy, congrats you're the top star of the week on All Good Things.

2. SHIRLEY JONES - Being the classic movie goddess of the month, almost certainly means you will make this list. And Shirley does. Holding tight in second place for the second week in a row.

3. JOAN BLONDELL - Last week's top star falls to number 3 as I didn't post about her but I did continue to watch some of her movies. Way to go Joan.

4. LUCILLE BALL - Well hello Lucy. She makes her way onto my list mainly due to me watching Easy To Wed and loving her every minute in that film. She stole the film with her hilarious performance.

5. JUDY GARLAND - Still making noise as her film Meet Me In St. Louis won the 40's era round of favorite musical tournament over at Singin and Dancing Back in Time. Now St. Louis is one of the first two films slated to compete in the final four. Last week (3)

6. SOPHIA LOREN - The magnificent Sophia had a birthday last week and I was able to catch a few of her movies on TCM and also do a birthday post for her.

7. GRETA GARBO - Still relieving some Ninotchka moments and her birthday was still fresh in my mind. Last week (5)

8. CARY GRANT - The sole male to make the list this week because....awww, who am I kidding, Cary will pretty much make the list almost every week. I'm sure of it. Last week (7)

9. LAUREN BACALL - Another previous birthday girl and I just did a recent pawsome pet picture post with the amazing Lauren. Last week (4)

10. DEBORAH KERR - The English Rose makes her first appearance on the top ten list thanks to TCM's airing of King Solomon's Mines and me watching it. I love that movie.

Top Ten Stars For The Week Ending Saturday, September 17th, 2011

Here is my own little list of the top stars for the week. These top ranked actors and actresses are the ones I posted about the most or watched some of their movies during the week. Basically the ones that were on my mind for the majority of the week. You may be surprised by a few of them that made the list. I will try and rank them every week, if not then at least once a month. Here we go:

1. JOAN BLONDELL - I was crushing on Joan a lot for the past few weeks as most of my readers can attest. As I posted tons of her pics on here and FB. Believe it or not she was the most posted actress during my at the beach series, ahead of such goddesses like Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth. Way to go Joan!

2. SHIRLEY JONES - Is my classic goddess for the month and I have had a great time posting about her. Thanks to her I tweaked my format a little and I think it works fabulous. So thanks Shirley.

3. JUDY GARLAND - Thanks to the musical tournament I'm doing for Dawn over at her blog, Singin' and Dancing Back In Time, Judy was discussed quite a bit over there and here on All Good Things. All of her four films made it to the semi-final matches of the 40's era. How impressive is that.

4. LAUREN BACALL - Lauren just had a recent birthday which I almost missed. Well I did miss it by one day but made up for it with a nice birthday tribute post. Won't happen again Lauren.

5. GRETA GARBO - Another recent birthday girl was Greta and I did not miss hers. I celebrated it with a viewing of Ninotchka and a little birthday tribute as well.

6. HUMPHREY BOGART - Watched a couple of his films recently including They Drive By Night and The Maltese Falcon. That's good enough for Bogie to land here on this list.

7. CARY GRANT - You know my man was going be here, just on principal. Didn't talk too much about him this past week but his name came up in other places. There is just no getting around Cary Grant people.

8. GINGER ROGERS - Watched a few of her films including The Major and The Minor which is a hilarious movie. And of course her film Swing Time nabbed the first spot in the final four of the musical tournament. Congrats Ginger.

9. PETER LORRE - Peter picked up a Montie for Best Supporting Actor in The Maltese Falcon which I just recently watched. So he was in the conversation a little this week.

10. VERA-ELLEN - Saw her movie Let's Be Happy one morning before work and her dancing sequence in her pajamas had me dancing along right with her.

So there you go, the top 10 stars of All Good Things for this past week. Like I said I hope to make this a weekly series.

My Favorite DORIS DAY Movies

Send Me No Flowers (1964) I love this movie, not only my favorite Doris Day movie, but one of my favorite movies period. The last pairing of her and Rock Hudson, plus Tony Randall is just a delightful farce from the word go.

Lover Come Back (1961) The second pairing between Doris and Rock improves on Pillow Talk I think. One of the better films set in the world of advertising. And there were tons of those back during this time period of the 60's. Also it has the fantastic Edie Adams as model Rebel Davis.


The Thrill Of It All (1963) Another film set in the world advertising, except this time Doris's co-star is James Garner (ever reliable) One of my fave comedies.

Pillow Tallk (1959) The first pairing of Doris and Rock is a winner as their character's distaste for one another drives the entire film. Tony Randall is along for the ride.

Calamity Jane (1953) You can tell Doris had a great time playing Calamity Jane in this very entertaining comedy western/musical.

Please Don't Eat The Daisies (1960) A great family film with Doris and David Niven as parents up and move from the bustling city to the countryside. Good chemistry between the two stars.

That Touch Of Mink (1962) Finally Doris made a film with Cary Grant and its a pretty good one.

It Happened To Jane (1959) I grew up watching this delightful film with Doris trying to run a lobster business. Jack Lemmon co-stars.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) Doris would make her only film with Hitchcock for this entertaining thriller that pairs her with James Stewart. And of course Doris gets to belt out the classic song Que Sera Sera.

Move Over, Darling (1963) A remake of the classic film My Favorite Wife which pairs Day with James Garner again. Pretty good, not as good as Cary Grant and Irene Dunne's version, but still pretty good.

Star Rankings For The Week Ending Sunday April 3rd, 2011

Another week has come and gone so it's time for my weekly top ten ranking of actors and actresses. It's a ranking of stars that I have either posted about through out the week or watched some of their movies.

1. ELIZABETH TAYLOR (2 weeks)
2. NATALIE WOOD (2 weeks)
3. DEBBIE REYNOLDS (1 week)
4. RICHARD BURTON (1 week)
5. ANNE BAXTER (1 week)
6. VIVIEN LEIGH (1 week)
7. BETTY GRABLE (1 week)
8. SHIRLEY JONES (1 weeks)
9. DORIS DAY (2 weeks)
10. GENE TIERNEY (1 week)

Liz Taylor was the top ranked star for the second week in a row as I continued with some posts dedicated to her in the wake of her recent passing. There were only three stars who carried over from last week including Liz. The others were Natalie Wood and Doris Day. New to the list included Liz's ex, Richard Burton, Vivien Leigh, Betty Grable, Gene Tierney, birthday gals Debbie Reynolds and Shirley Jones and finally Anne Baxter. Baxter kicked off my Beware These Women! festival this month.

My Top Ten Favorite Modern Romantic Films

Over on Noir & Chick Flicks, me and Dawn listed our top 5 favorite romantic films. On that list, I chose all of  my favorite classic romantic films. Here's the link to check them out.    http://dawnschickflicks.blogspot.com/2011/02/montys-top-5-favorite-romantic-films.html
For my blog, I decided to list my favorite modern romantic films. So here we go.

10.) UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN (2003) While on vacation, a just-divorced writer buys a villa in Tuscany on a whim, hoping it will be the start of a change for the better in her life. Diane Lane gives a wonderful performance and the scenery is just gorgeous.

9.) WORKING GIRL (1988) When a secretary's idea is stolen by her boss, she seizes an opportunity to steal it back by pretending she has her boss's job. Melanie Griffith's biggest film and one of her best roles as Tess McGill, the secretary with a head for business and a bod for sin. Harrison Ford is terrific in a rare comedy role as is Sigourney Weaver. A crowd-pleasing film from the late 80's backed by the powerful Carly Simon song, Let The River Run, which won an Oscar.

8.) THE BEST MAN (1999) When friends from college gather for a wedding, lookout for drama and romance. A terrific cast led by Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Sanaa Lathan, Terrence Howard and others make for an entertaining romantic comedy/drama.



7.) 500 DAYS OF SUMMER (2008) An offbeat romantic comedy about a woman (the always engaging Zooey Deschanel) who doesn't believe true love exists, and the young man (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who falls for her. Offbeat romantic comedy that is one of the year's best propelled by the two lead's charming performances.

6.) THE HOLIDAY (2006) Great romantic film set at Christmas time about two women (Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz) who decide to switch homes for a few months to shake up their lives and hopefully meet Mr. Right. Winslet comes over to America while Diaz goes to England. Romantic mishaps occur before true love finally comes a calling. Solid support from Jude Law, Jack Black wily veteran Eli Wallach.

5.) WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (1989) Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan trade barbs as two life long friends who finally hook up. Hysterically funny and very romantic. Oh course, this is the film that features Meg Ryan showing Billy how women can fake orgasms and men nobe able to tell the difference. In a crowded restaraunt. The killer punch line comes from the lady sitting across the way saying "I'll have what she's having". Classic.

4.) MOONSTRUCK (1987) To this day, still Cher's best performance and all around film. Doesn't get any better than this. Surrounded by a great cast in Olympia Dukakis, John Mahoney, Danny Aiello and Nicolas Cage (when he was still a good actor). The story centers on the romantic trials of an Italian/American family that is funny and touching.

3.) THE PROPOSAL (2009) Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are awesome together in this new romantic comedy that has Bullock forced to marry Reynolds to prevent her from being deported. She is Canadian. Laugh a plenty.

2.) RETURN TO ME (2000) A very underrated romantic comedy-drama that focuses on widower David Duchovony trying to move on with his life and meeting free-spirited Minnie Driver. Co-starring Carroll O'Connor, Robert Loggia, James Belushi, and Bonnie Hunt, this is a very good film that you must see.

1.) LOVE ACTUALLY (2003) An all-star cast that shows love through different relationships. Starring Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, Bill Nighy and tons more. This is my favorite romantic movie and it also doubles as a great Christmas movie, since it's set during that time period. I watch it at least once a year.

Seven Things I'm Wishing To Happen in 2011 For Movies

Here is a list of 7 things I wish will happen in 2011 as far as films go. Why 7, I have no idea.

1.) Enough with 3D already. I mean it's cool to see some films in 3D, specifically the effects driven ones, but Hollywood needs to rein in the 3D just a bit. Not every film has to be shown in 3D, especially considering the price involved. Dang!

2.) The last Harry Potter film ever just has to be excellent. Considering the track record of the films, I don't see that being a problem.

3.) The return of James Bond. Now that Bond studio MGM has settled things financially, they need to make an announcement when the next Bond film will begin shooting. I'm hoping they start this year so it can be out in 2012.

4.) Thanks to the awesome film that is True Grit, more westerns please!

5.) The year of the Portman. I hope Natalie Portman has the biggest year ever. I hope she picks up the Oscar for Black Swan and scores with all her new films like Your Highness, Thor, and No Strings Attached. Go Natalie!

6.) Please Matt Damon and Ben Affleck make another film together. You guys are doing pretty good apart, but would love to see you team up one more time.

7.) And finally, Hollywood, can we get more story and character driven films ala The Fighter, The Town, etc. I like popcorn movies as much as the next guy, but I would like some substance every now and then as well.

So that's my wish list for 2011 in films, and they are mostly realistic. So I'm hoping most of them will come true.

My Favorite Christmas Movies

Here is my top ten favorite Christmas movies. There are a few modern movies that make my list and one animated film from Disney amid the classics. So with the help of Vera-Ellen, here's my top 10 Christmas movies. Merry Christmas to everyone!



10. REMEMBER THE NIGHT (1940) The first of two Barbara Stanwyck films that made the list. Babs plays Lee Leander, a shoplifter, who gets arrested for trying to shoplift a bracelet. ADA John Sargeant (Fred MacMurray) is assigned to prosecute her. The trial begins just before Christmas, but rather than face a jury filled with the holiday spirit, he has the trial postponed. However, he generously posts her bail so she does not have to spend Christmas in jail. And so begins a wonderful holiday film as the two wind up spending time with his family and falling in love. One of the best of the classic romantic dramas that happens to be set during the holidays. Stanwyck and MacMurray have wonderful chemistry together. Remember the Night is a regular favorite that is played on TCM every December.



9. BACHELOR MOTHER (1939) Polly Parrish (Ginger Rogers) is a salesgirl at the department store John B. Merlin and Son in New York City who has just been told that since the Christmas season is ending she is going to be dismissed. During her lunch break, she sees a stranger leaving a baby on the steps of an orphanage. Fearing the baby is going to roll down the steps, Polly picks it up as the door is opened, and is mistakenly thought to be the mother. David Merlin (David Niven), the playboy son of the store's owner, J.B. Merlin (Charles Coburn), is sympathetic to the "unwed mother" and arranges for her to get her job back. Mrs. Weiss (Ferike Boros), Polly's landlady, offers to take care of the boy when Polly is at work. Unable to convince anyone that she is not the mother, Polly gives up and starts raising the child. A showcase for Ginger Rogers to prove that she could do more than sing and dance. Remade in 1956 as Bundle of Joy with Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher.

8. NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION (1989) Clark W. Griswold (Chevy Chase) and brood return for their third film and my favorite in the series. Instead of traveling somewhere, the Griswolds celebrate Christmas at home with visiting relatives. Comedy chaos ensues with situations like the search for the perfect Christmas tree to adorning the house with tons of lights to tangling with a squirrel trapped inside the house. I've seen this movie like 30 times and it's still funny as the first time I saw it. Chase is the master at the sly, sarcastic Clark who is just trying to give his family the perfect Christmas. And if takes kidnapping his boss who didn't give him a Christmas bonus, then so be it.





7. HOLIDAY INN (1942) Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire are pure magic in this delightful musical set at an inn that is open only on holidays. Christmas of course is one of the featured holidays and the duo get to work their magic. Aided by actresses Marjorie Reynolds and Virginia Dale.

6. HOLIDAY AFFAIR (1949) Robert Mitchum plays Steve Mason, a veteran and drifter, is employed as a clerk at Crowley's, a New York department store during the Christmas season. He suspects customer Connie Ennis, played by Janet Leigh, of being a comparative shopper for a rival store when she buys an expensive toy train set without asking a single question about it. That night, her son Timmy (Gordon Gebert) becomes excited when he sneaks a peek at what he thinks is his present, only to be disappointed when his mother sets him straight. When Connie returns the train the next day, Steve tells her that he should report her to the store detective, which would lead to her firing. After she explains that she is a war widow with a son to support, Steve refunds her money, a gesture that costs him his job. I love this movie. It's very under-rated and is in my book a classic holiday film. If you've never seen it, check it out. TCM is frequently airing during the holiday season.

5. THE HOLIDAY (2006) The wonderful modern romantic comedy set during the holiday season focuses on two women: Amanda (Cameron Diaz), a highly successful movie trailer editor in Los Angeles, and Iris (my girl Kate Winslet), a lovesick society column editor for The Daily Telegraph in London. The story is set in motion when each of them suffers a heartache: Amanda discovers that her boyfriend has cheated on her, while the object of Iris' unrequited love announces his engagement at the office Christmas party. Seeking an escape, Iris proposes the home swap on the internet, posting an ad about her quaint cottage in Surrey in the British countryside. Her offer is eagerly accepted by Amanda, who lives in a luxurious home in L.A. but is stressed over her break-up. So a simple switch and things begin to change for the better for the two women. Solid support from Jack Black, Jude Law, and wily veteran Eli Wallach. This movie is great for couples and anyone who loves great romances.



4. LADY AND THE TRAMP (1955) On Christmas morning in 1909, in Norwalk, Connecticut, Jim Dear gives his wife Darling a cocker spaniel puppy that they name Lady. Lady enjoys a happy life with the couple and with a pair of dogs from the neighborhood, a Scottish Terrier named Jock and a bloodhound named Trusty. Meanwhile, across town by the railway, a stray silver mutt, referred to as the Tramp, lives life from moment to moment, be it begging for scraps from an Italian restaurant or protecting his fellow strays Peg (a Lhasa Apso) and Bull (an English bulldog) from the local dog catcher. Things get serious when Darlings have a baby and Lady is left out. Drama unfolds but things get sorted out by the end and a year later at the following Christmas, there is a much more festive mood at The Darling home with Tramp now a member f the family. This may not be the traditional Christmas movie, but it's still a wonderful film. Beautiful to look at and an emotional and heartfelt story. This is not only one of my favorite films from Disney, but one of my favorite films period.




3. THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (1942) During a cross-country lecture tour, notoriously acerbic radio personality Sheridan Whiteside (Monty Woolley) slips on the icy steps of the house of the Stanleys, a prominent Ohio family, and is forced to recuperate in their home during the Christmas holidays. The overbearing, self-centered celebrity soon comes to dominate the lives of the residents and everyone else who enters the household. He encourages young adults Richard and June Stanley to pursue their dreams, much to the dismay of their conventional father Ernest. Sheridan's assistant Maggie (a wonderfully subdued Bette Davis) tries to keep him in check. And Ann Sheridan is a riot as Sheridan's old friend and Broadway diva Lorraine. Jimmy Durante joins the fun as another of Sheridan's old buddies. The Man Who Came to Dinner is a joyous holiday film, bursting with comedy and fun. One of the best.
 
2. LOVE ACTUALLY (2003) delves into different aspects of love as shown through ten separate stories involving a wide variety of individuals, many of whom are shown to be interlinked as their tales progress. The ensemble cast is composed predominantly of British actors such as Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson. Set in London, the film begins five weeks before Christmas and is played out in a weekly countdown until the holiday, followed by an epilogue that takes place one month later. This is one of my favorite newer movies and it's perfect for the whole family.



1. CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945) And finally my favorite Christmas movie is this charming and delightful film starring Barbara Stanwyck as columnist Elizabeth Lane, who is comparable to what Martha Stewart is today. Problem is, her life is all fake and she really doesn't know anything about cooking, decorating, or living on a farm. She is requested by her publisher (Sydney Greenstreet in a nice departure from film noir flicks) to entertain a war hero (Dennis Morgan) over the holidays. Soon Liz is put on the spot to deliver a home cooked meal and decorate the place with her legendary touch. Babs is awesome in this movie. She gives one of her best performances. And this is how you make a great holiday film. Funny, romantic, touching and beautfiful to look at. So that's why it's my favorite Christmas movie of all time. And I know I'm a guy, but is it me or did Babs know how to dress or what? Stunning clothes adorn her throughout the movie. Just another reason to love this movie.





Honorable mentions include:
SUSAN SLEPT HERE (1954) with Dick Powell and Debbie Reynolds
WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954) with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940) with James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan
I'LL BE SEEING YOU (1946) with Ginger Rogers and Joseph Cotten
SCROOGED (1988) with Bill Murray