Be My Guest - Irene (Question No. 4) Describe the perfect way to watch a classic movie

4. Describe the perfect way for you to watch a classic movie.

That depends:

I love to cuddle up on my couch with one or two cats next to me (or one upon my lap) – and have a big cup of hot black coffee/cappuccino within reach..

And sometimes I have really fun with the girls: we pick a theme/ or movie and celebrate it with funny costumes and beverages and stuff like that.

E.g watching IRMA LA DUCE (1963), where everyone was dressed as one of the characters: I was wearing my green stockings and a green bow in my hair, a friend of mine wore a blonde wig and heart shaped sunglasses, the third one an eye patch and another one a big black moustache. We even made a “flick cap” ourselves.. You see: lots of possibilities.. There was some French food and everyone was having a ball.

Sometime we also claim scenes like the scene from VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (1967) where Neely meets Tony in the sanitarium, which is always a big laugh, because we’re voting for the best performance – that is: the most cheesy one.. *ahem*




“Karaoke movie watching” is also rather popular: Play a DVD with subtitles but no sound. You can play it straight or kind of SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952) “Yes, yes, yes! – No, no, no!” ;”) – and of course you can do your own dialogoues.

Classic Movie Actor Tournament (1940's Era Bracket) Round One Begins

I believe this to be the premiere bracket of the classic movie actor tournament with so many notable actors who will be competing head to head. Let me just say this week promises to be very exciting. Here are the matches and I expect we might have a few ties before it's all said and done. That's fine with me as I will have some tie-breakers ready to go.

1 CARY GRANT

VS

16 ROBERT TAYLOR

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8 BING CROSBY


VS

9 JOEL MCCREA

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4 SPENCER TRACY


VS

13 ROBERT MONTGOMERY

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5 GARY COOPER

VS



12 TYRONE POWER

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2 HUMPHREY BOGART

VS

15 GENE KELLY

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7 HENRY FONDA

VS



10 ALAN LADD

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3 JAMES STEWART

VS

14 RAY MILLAND

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6 GREGORY PECK

VS

11 BOB HOPE

It's final...William Powell takes down top seeded Clark Gable 30-26 in the 30's Era Bracket to advance to The Final Four

"Boy I sure could use a drink after that..."

Well we have our first final four finalist...and it's William Powell. The debonair actor upset #1 seed Clark Gable 30-26 in a very exciting and close match. Mr. Powell will have to wait for the other three finalists to see who he will be facing. I like William Powell winning, proving that a top seed can be taken down. And plus I love Powell. Especially his films with Myrna Loy. And in other tournament news, Robert Taylor destroyed John Garfield 25-9 in the 40's play in match, to see who would grab the final spot for that era's bracket. The 40's contest will begin tomorrow morning..early. It promises to be a sensational bracket too.

The Classic Actor Tournament is about to heat up with the next era of the competition: The 1940's

Bogie patiently waiting for the start of the tournament...

Is everyone excited for the 40’s bracket (featuring some of the biggest classic movie actors of all time) that will start tomorrow? I know I am. And while the 30’s bracket was exciting, I believe the 1940’s is on another level. Just look at some of the actors that are involved: Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Jimmy Stewart, Spencer Tracy, Gary Cooper (there's you guy Patti), Henry Fonda, Gregory Peck, Tyrone Power, Ray Milland, Bob Hope, Alan Ladd, Gene Kelly, Joel McCrea, to name a few. Wow! This will really be a competitive bracket for sure. Can’t wait for it to begin. Just waiting on the outcome of the play in match between John Garfield and Robert Taylor, to see who will get the final spot to play in this bracket. Thanks to everyone who has dropped by to vote and comment for the 30's round, which is winding down today between Clark Gable and William Powell. Let's go Bill!

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

Happy Birthday Dean Martin (1917 - 1995)

Mr. Cool himself, Dean Martin. One of my favorite all around entertainers. TCM is throwing him a party this morning by showing several of his movies today including Four For Texas, Ocean's Eleven, Some Came Running and Bells Are Ringing.

Elizabeth Taylor's Unlucky Loves: Husband #6 (Richard Burton)

After a tumultuous 10 year marriage the first time around, Liz and Dick would try it again. Their first marriage ended on June 26, 1974. The divorce lasted less than two years as Liz and Dick tied the knot again in Botswana, Africa on October 10, 1975. In between marriages, the two did date other people. Liz dated a Dutch businessman named Henry Wynberg. Dick was briefly engaged to Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, but the wedding plans soured as he constantly stayed in touch with Liz. But this time, their union wouldn't last as long as their first. Dick was drinking heavily at the time and also romancing a pretty young 27-year old model named Suzy Hunt. This was only six months into his remarriage to Liz. And it was Burton who would ask Liz for a divorce and she agreed. It became final on July 28, 1976..not even a full year. Dick would soon marry Hunt but divorce again within 4 years. His final marriage would be to Sally Hay in 1982. Hay would become his widow as Dick died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1984. Hay didn't even invite Liz to Dick's funeral. But Liz shared a private goodbye with her former husband with a secret letter he had written three days before his death. And it is said Liz kept that letter in her bedside table for the rest of her life. Amazing.

PLAY IN MATCH FOR THE 1940'S BRACKET: John Garfield vs. Robert Taylor

It was brought to my attention by a good friend of mine that I missed a certain actor for this tournament. Well I missed a couple of actors but the one in question is John Garfield. And he was at the top of his game in the 1940's, the bracket which he has a chance to compete in. He will face Robert Taylor in this play in match to decide the final spot of this era's bracket. But the winner won't have an easy task afterward...they will get to face top seed Cary Grant. Ouch! Anyway this match begins immediately and will run through tomorrow night at 8pm EST. Good luck to both actors.

PLAY IN MATCH FOR THE 40'S BRACKET

JOHN GARFIELD

VS

ROBERT TAYLOR



Be My Guest - Irene (Question No. 3) Describe your first classic movie experience

3. Describe your first classic movie experience.



Actually I cannot remember which my first classic film was.

I recall watching some Errol Flynn films with my father - esp. THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938) – and films with Tyrone Power, jr. and John Wayne-western – and THE RAVEN with Vincent Price, of course..
So my first experiences were swashbucklers and western – which I still love.

Than I discovered Musicals – Gene Kelly, you know?
So started to tape every musical and other classic film there was on TV. My life suddenly became Technicolor. :”)

It's a little "MANHATTAN MELODRAMA" as Clark Gable and William Powell face off in the 30's Era Final Match (Not to mention both being formerly married to Carole Lombard)

MGM stable-mates and co-stars of the 1934 film Manhattan Melodrama, Clark Gable and William Powell will face off against one another in the Silent/30's Era Final. Top seed Gable beat 12th seed James Cagney 17-12, while 6th Powell overcame 7th seed Errol Flynn 20-11. Sorry I didn't post the results sooner but my right shoulder has been causing me pain of late. I have a small bone spur in it and flares up from time to time. Anyway, this match kicks off immediately and will run through Tuesday 9 pm EST. And then onWednesday I will start the 1940's bracket. I didn't want to have overlap like I did with the women's so once this first decade is done, we shall move on to the next. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to vote. Patti, Dawn, Irene, Desiree, John, Audrey...and so many more of my followers and friends to name. Oh and thanks to VP81955 for mentioning the fact that another trait these men share....they both were married to Carole Lombard at one point in time. Which leads to the question, who would Carole vote for?

SILENT/1930'S FINAL MATCH

1 CLARK GABLE

VS

6 WILLIAM POWELL