Photo Of The Day - Joan Blondell and daughter

Here is a nice photo of actress Joan Blondell and her daughter Ellen circa 1941.

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.

Jeanne Crain - Classic Movie Goddess Of The Month Part 1

Here is Jeanne's bio provided by Denny Jackson on IMDB:

She was born Jeanne Elizabeth Crain on May 25th, 1925 in Barstow, California.While in junior high school, Jeanne played the lead in a school production which set her on the path to acting. When she was in high school Jeanne was asked to take a screen test to appear in a film b... read morey Orson Welles. Unfortunately, she didn't get the part, but it did set her sights on being a movie actress.After her high school career, Jeanne enrolled at UCLA to study drama. At the age of 18, Jeanne won a bit part in Fox Studio's film entitled The Gang's All Here (1943) and a small contract. Her next film saw Jeanne elevated to a more substantial part in Home in Indiana (1944) the following year, which was filmed in neighboring Kentucky. The movie was an unquestionable hit. On the strength of that box-office success, Jeanne was given a raise and star billing, as Maggie Preston, in the next film of 1944, In the Meantime, Darling (1944). Unfortunately, the critics not only roasted the film, but singled out Jeanne's performance in particular. She rebounded nicely in her last film of the year, Winged Victory (1944). The audiences loved it and the film was profitable.In 1945, Jeanne was cast in State Fair (1945) as Margie Frake who travels to the fair and falls in love with a reporter played by Dana Andrews. Now, Jeanne got a bigger contract and more recognition. In 1949, Jeanne appeared in three films, A Letter to Three Wives (1949), The Fan (1949), and Pinky (1949). It was this latter film which garnered her an Oscar nomination as Best Actress for her role as Pinky Johnson, a nurse who sets up a clinic in the Deep South. She lost to Olivia de Havilland for The Heiress (1949). Jeanne left Fox after filming Vicki (1953) in 1953, with Jean Peters. She had made 23 films for the studio that started her career, but she needed a well-deserved change. As with any good artist, Jeanne wanted to expand her range instead of playing the girl-next-door types.Jeanne died of a heart attack in Santa Barbara, California, on December 14, 2003. Her husband Paul Brooks had died two months earlier.

RIP actress Anne Francis (1930 - 2011)

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) -- Anne Francis, the actress who appeared in the 1956 sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet and later starred as a sexy detective in the TV series Honey West, died Sunday from complications of pancreatic cancer, according to The Los Angeles Times. She was 80. A family spokeswomen told The Los Angeles Times that Francis, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007, died at a retirement home in Santa Barbara, California.
Francis’ career also included roles in films such as Blackboard Jungle, Bad Day at Black Rock, Funny Girl and Battle Cry. According to IMDB.com, the actress’s last acting role was a 2004 appearance in the CBS series Without a Trace. But it was Forbidden Planet and her role as the daughter of a scientist on a planet inhabited by an alien monster that brought Francis fame in Hollywood. The movie co-starred Walter Pidegon, as well as Leslie Nielsen, who died on Nov. 28, 2010. Francis also broke ground with the TV series Honey West. Though it only ran one season, from 1965-1966, it was one of the first TV series to star a woman in an action role.

According to IMDB.com, Francis was married and divorced twice. She leaves behind two daughters.

TRUE GRIT is the best film of 2010 (well, to me it is)

The updated western True Grit is the best film of 2010 as it does the original John Wayne version proud.

Fans of the original story remember that the young Mattie Ross (in this one played by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld) seeks vengeance on Tom Chaney (played by Josh Brolin), the man who murdered her father. Since the law doesn't seem to be in a hurry finding Chaney, she hires one-eyed and drunk U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (played by Jeff Bridges) to do the job. A Texas Ranger named LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) is also looking for Chaney for a different crime and joins the duo.

 The Coen Brothers direct this film and tone down their usual shtick and makes an effective modern western. There is lots of humor and several exciting action sequences. The three leads are wonderful. Steinfeld is easily the best performer in the cast as she holds her own with veterans Bridges and Damon. Her Mattie Ross pretty much is the main character unlike the first film version which focused more on Cogburn. Speaking of Cogburn, Bridges is very good as the stubborn marshal and has several emotional scenes with Steinfeld. But he also gets tough when he needs to be when dealing with the Ned Peppers Gang, who have Chaney as part of their group. Damon actually provides a good deal of the laughs as he is in constant conflict with Cogburn. The cinematography and music score are also top notch. I enjoyed True Grit immensely and think it's even better than the original, save for the awkward ending. So I will honestly say that True Grit was my favorite film of 2010 and I can't wait to see it again.
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New Poll Started

I have a new poll all ready to go and I asked my classic movie goddess for the month to handle the introduction. I ask the question how many movies do you watch in a given week. Not just classic movies, but all kinds of movies. I used to watch on average 2 a day, so that would have been about 16 for me in a week, give or take. Now with things being so busy, especially during the week, I may watch 1 a day during the work week and at least 3 or 4 on the week-end. But when I'm off from work, I can easily watch 5 in one day. So it varies for me. Anyway there are 4 different answers everyone can choose from and the poll will be up for 2 weeks.

Stars Doing a Little Light Reading...

Here are some photos of classic movie stars doing a little light reading...

Clark thinking "since I got the part, maybe I need to find out more about Rhett Butler"

Marilyn taking it easy

Vivian Vance having a good time reading the funnies

Olivia is like "Huh? I don't get this at all."

Jean Harlow looking happy

Joan reading to her little dog...cute.

Poll Results - Favorite Barbara Stanwyck Christmas movie

It was a close vote but Christmas in Connecticut edged out Remember the Night as favorite Barbara Stanwyck Christmas movie. Connecticut received 10 votes while Night received 7 votes. Thanks to all those that voted.

All Good Things in January

Here is a preview of what I will be doing on my blog in the month of January. The classic movie goddess will be the lovely Jeanne Crain, who I feel never got the attention she deserved. I will do the usual posts about her life and films with facts and photos. My guest blogger will be my friend and co-worker Mariah Meyer, who just adores Irene Dunne, among her many favorite classic actors and actresses. I can't wait to read her responses to my questions. I will post my top 10 favorite movies of 2010, which despite the slew of negative critiques, wasn't too bad of a year. And finally, I will start a new series that will compare a classic movie actor/actress with their modern counterpart. To kick of the first one will be Jimmy Stewart and Tom Hanks, which I think most people will understand that comparison. So here's to another great year on All Good Things, and I hope everyone will keep checking it out.

Happy Birthday Denzel Washington (1954 - present)

Happy Birthday to my favorite modern actor, Denzel Washington. He has performed in some of the best films of the modern cinema including Remember The Titans (2000) which is my favorite Denzel movie, Crimson Tide (1995), Glory (1989-Oscar), A Soldier's Story (1984), Courage Under Fire (1996), Man On Fire (2004), Training Day (2001-Oscar), The Hurricane (1999) and many more. Not to mention his TV days on the hospital drama St. Elsewhere during the 80's.