Summer Lovin'- SHIRLEY JONES

Shirley looking lovely by the pool in polka dot

At The Beach: DEBBIE REYNOLDS

Debbie enjoying her summer break

31 Stars in 31 Days Schedule

As I stated in an earlier post, my theme next month will be 31 stars in 31 days. Something akin to TCM's Summer Under the Stars. I have chosen 31 stars and plan to watch at least one film representing that person. The lucky 8 stars who fall on a week-end will have several films watched by me. I will also post some pics and comments about the star for that particular day. Here is my list of stars for next month. I don't have an idea what films I will watch yet and probably won't until the day of. Please stop by to see if I am watching and talking about some of your favorite stars as well.

Wed August 1st - CARY GRANT
Thurs August 2nd - AVA GARDNER
Fri August 3rd - ERROL FLYNN
Sat August 4th - FRANK SINATRA
Sun August 5th - MARILYN MONROE
Mon August 6th - JACK CARSON
Tue August 7th - GRACE KELLY
Wed August 8th - CLARK GABLE
Thurs August 9th - JAMES STEWART
Fri August 10th - DEAN MARTIN

Sat August 11th - BETTE DAVIS
Sun August 12th - SIDNEY POITIER
Mon August 13th - HUMPHREY BOGART
Tue August 14th - WILLIAM HOLDEN
Wed August 15th - JEAN ARTHUR
Thurs August 16th - VIVIEN LEIGH
Fri August 17th - TONY CURTIS
Sat August 18th - JACK LEMMON
Sun August 19th - NATALIE WOOD
Mon August 20th - FRED ASTAIRE
Tue August 21st - JEAN HARLOW
Wed August 22nd - CATHERINE DENEUVE
Thurs August 23rd - JANE FONDA
Fri August 24th - ROSALIND RUSSELL
Sat August 25th - GINGER ROGERS
Sun August 26th - ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Mon August 27th - GENE KELLY

Tue August 28th - ANN SHERIDAN
Wed August 29th - JOEL MCCREA
Thurs August 30th - ROMY SCHNEIDER
Fri August 31st - CAROLE LOMBARD

Summer Lovin'- JAYNE MANSFIELD

Jayne...the girl just can't help it!

Cinematic World Tour: BARCELONA (1994)

Next stop on our cinematic world tour...Barcelona. One of my favorite modern films set in gorgeous Barcelona where the views are just spectacular. The story centers on cousins who are so very different trying to meet the women of their dreams. Ted (played by Taylor Nichols) is a salesman who works in the Barcelona office for a U.S. corporation. He's a little uptight and stuffy. His cousin Fred, a Naval officer (played by Chris Eigeman) comes to visit him and is a lot more loose. And he takes it upon himself to find Ted a suitable mate, which leads to some outrageous situations. Especially since Fred likes to tell every woman they come across that his cousin is into the Marquis de Sade and wearing leather underwear, the kind that is very, very tight. You should see the reaction the women have when he tells them that. Their eyes get very wide and immediately go downward. One of the girls is played by Mira Sorvino, probably the most known person in this entire film who plays sexually charged Marta. She hooks up with Fred. While Ted meets the girl of his dreams in the form of.the lovely and the wonderfully named Montserrat Raventos (played by Tushka Bergen), a free spirited Spaniard who dreams of moving to America. 

Ted, Montserrat, Fred and Marta having drinks

So the pair embark on a whirlwind romance with some ups and downs all played out in the scenic city of Barcelona. I mean really...this place is gorgeous. I envy the people who live there. I would love to go for a visit there sometime. Now this film is very engaging as the characters discuss and debate relationships, politics, family,...pretty much everything. In the capable hands of director Whit Stillman, it never bogs down though. The characters are all interesting and having it set in Barcelona is a major plus. So if you have never seen this wonderful film, please track it down and watch it. You won't be disappointed. It is highly recommended.

The women of Barcelona...enough said!

Tour guides getting ready for a busy day

The vehicles of Barcelona

At The Beach: GRACE KELLY

A casual Grace

Rita Hayworth in AFFECTIONATELY YOURS (1941) is wonderful as a girl named Irene..

Reporter Ricky Mayberry (Dennis Morgan) is married to Sue (Merle Oberon) but is a ladies man, with a girl in every port. At the beginning of the film Ricky is covering a story in Libson and romancing rival reporter Irene Malcolm (a gorgeous Rita Hayworth) when he gets a telegram that Sue has divorced him and is planning to remarry Owen Wright (Ralph Bellamy, a mainstay in these type of comedies). Ricky immediately flies back to New York to win Sue back. Irene tags along to find out the truth. This is a lightweight but enjoyable comedy. Dennis Morgan is a suitable leading man. It's refreshing to see the usual dramatic Oberon in this type of movie. She has a knack for light comedies. It's too bad she didn't make a lot more. Rita Hayworth is very good as Irene. Not only beautiful to look at, but very funny. And in one hilarious dinner scene, she gets to put on a very British accent that she nails perfectly. Ralph Bellamy gets his best scenes when he trades barbs with Morgan. And a surprise with Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen from Gone with the Wind appearing as Oberon's servants. McDaniel gets in her trademark line "But I don't like it!" several times during the film. All in all, I enjoyed this film and recommend it to anyone looking for a few good laughs.
B-

At The Beach: JANET LEIGH

Janet about to do a little surfing

ALL GOOD THINGS in August

For next month, I am doing another new series. This one will be called 31 Stars in 31 Days, in homage to TCM's Summer Under The Stars. I will choose one star a day and watch one of their respective films. If the star falls on a weekend I will watch more than one as I will be off work and hopefully have more time. I will also list some facts and post some photos of said star for that particular day. So Joan Blondell, who was the scheduled goddess for the month will now be rescheduled for January of next year. Sorry Joan. But I wanted to try this series and if it works, it will become a yearly event. I will have the list of the chosen stars and list of films by the end of this month. Also next month I will induct two more people into my Hall Of Fame. And try to get my next year of the Monties done as well. The year is 1947. My guest for the month will be my good friend and co-worker Debbie if she has the time. She recently left the place I work at to start a new job. So I more than understand if she is a little busy. Regardless August poses to be one of my biggest months. Please drop by to visit for a bit if you can.  And as you can tell my the photo to the left, one of the chosen will be none other than the legendary Bette Davis!

At The Beach: CAROLE LANDIS

Carole holding on and having fun