Anne Baxter in ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)

The classic film that features Anne as Eve Harrington, the manipulative and wanna-be stage actress who seeks to overtake Broadway diva Margo Channing (the one and only Bette Davis) and become a star herself. Anne sinks her teeth into her role with great intensity as she doesn't care who she tramples over to get what she wants. She may look all innocent and cute but Eve is one woman you don't want to mess with. Ever! One of my all time favorite films.


Film: A+
Anne's performance: A

The Morning Movie: THE BIG STEAL (1949)

 Jane and Robert in a bit of a jam

One of my favorite movies is this film noir that mixes action with some humor. Has perennial film noir guy Robert Mitchum as Lt. Duke Halliday, chasing Fiske (played by Patric Knowles) who has stole the army payroll and let Halliday take the fall for it. Jane Greer is Joan Graham, and she is after the same man for breaking off their engagement and making off with $2000 dollars. William Bendix joins the mix as Captain Blake, Hailliday's superior, and is chasing Hailliday. All the players end up meeting in Mexico for one wild finish. For a film noir, it is really light hearted and has lots of humor. Mitchum and Greer have wonderful chemistry again. The pair teamed up before for the film noir classic, Out of the Past. And while this film is not quite good as that one, it still delivers on being quite enjoyable. Plus it has Jane Greer..how could it not be good? I love her nickname Halliday has for in this film...Chiquita.

A triple feature with the enchanting Gemma Arterton

My star of the night....the wonderful Gemma...

One of the benefits of owning lots of movies on DVD and blu-ray is that you can watch what you want, when you want. You can have mini-marathons of certain themes or actors and you are not at the mercy of your cable channels. Well recently the local blockbuster video store had a going out of business sale and I was able to pick up lots of movies. Of which three I watched tonight, featuring one of my favorite modern actresses: Gemma Arterton. I was able to get four of her films to add to my collection and bring my total to six films with her. New to my collection are The Disappearance of Alice Creed, Pirate Radio, St. Trinian's, and Tamara Drewe. I already had Quantum of Solace and Clash of the Titans. So I thought tonight would make a great night for a triple feature. Here are my thoughts on the films I watched.

First up was St. Trinian's (2007) which was suggested to me by my good friend Irene Palfy many months ago. We had talked about this film before and she always raves about it. I can see why. It's very funny and features an impressive cast. Gemma plays Head Girl Kelly of the notorious school for girls. Well when the headmistress (played in drag by Rupert Everett) falls behind on mortgage to the bank, the school is threatened with foreclosure. Not too mention the unwanted attention of Colin Firth, who wants to bring the school down. Throw in Russell Brand as the shady Flash Harry, an almost unrecognizable Lena Headey as the school's newest teacher, Mischa Barton as the former Head girl who comes back to give some pointers to the girls and several up and coming actresses including Talulah Riley, Juno Temple and Lily Cole. Also look for Jodie Whittaker  in a funny role as Beverly. Oh and the hilarious Lucy Punch has a pivotal part as a rival school girl. 

Gemma as Head Girl Kelly...

Gemma is top notch in one of her early roles. I just love her speaking voice. She has one of the best voices in the whole world. Just heavenly hearing her speak. And rocks the best school uniform in film history. Now I need to see the sequel.

B-

Next up was the romantic comedy/drama Tamara Drewe (2010), which is one of Gemma's first starring roles. And she is quite good as Tamara, a young writer who returns to her childhood home in the English countryside to sell it. A return home and she is the gossip of the town thanks to her brand spanking new nose job, which the locals dub her 'plastic'..behind her back of course. Her neighbors include a celebrated novelist named Nicholas (played by Roger Allam) who holds a seasonal retreat for writers at his farm house, with his long suffering wife Beth (a terrific performance by Tamsin Greig) who has put up with Nicholas adultery for years. 

 Tamara striking a pose....

 How could anyone not fall in love with this gorgeous creature?

Tamara amidst the beautiful English countryside..

The neighbors get a look at the new Tamara and are left with their jaws hanging open...

and yes that's Bronagh Gallagher to the right of Tamsin with the short haircut....from The Commitments (1992) as the foul mouthed Bernie...

Throw in childhood boyfriend Andy Cobb (played by Luke Evans) and bad boy rock band drummer Ben Sergeant (played by Dominic Cooper...yes Tony Stark's (Iron Man) dad, and you have three suitors all lusting after Tamara. And Tamara while loving all this attention, tends to make some wrong choices. Things get very tense and dramatic toward the end, but the film closes out on a good feeling. Top notch performances abound especially by Gemma and Tamsin. Probably the best I have seen from both women. And that accent Gemma has...just wonderful. She should put a patent on it. Directed by the amazing Stephen Frears.

B

And finally for the night cap...the intense thriller The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009) about two men (Eddie Marsan, Martin Compston) who kidnap a rich man's daughter named Alice (a terrified but tough Gemma) and keep her locked in an apartment, bound and gagged until daddy pays the ransom. What starts out as a straight forward thriller becomes a wicked game of twists and turns as Alice refuses to go down without a fight. A solid film with a cast of only three people but you are so enthralled by what's going on, that three is more than enough.
B-

 Two guys with a plan...

 Alice eyes a way out...

The victim and her kidnapper have a little chat...

Facts and trivia about Anne Baxter

Born on May 7th, 1923 in Michigan City, Indiana


Died on December 12th, 1985 in New York City (brain aneurysm)


Stood 5 '4"


Was married three times: John Hodiak (1946-1953) one child; Randolph Galt (1960-1968) two children; David Klee (1977) his death

Granddaughter of Frank Lloyd Wright, architect

 Was initially cast in All About Eve (1950) because of her resemblance to Claudette Colbert. Miss Colbert was first signed for the role of Margo and the idea was to have Eve visually turn into Margo.

 Was good friends with legendary costume designer Edith Head. Head was godmother to one of Baxter's daughters.

Maintained her primary residence in Easton, Connecticut on a ten acre estate from the 1970's until her death.

 The daughter of Kenneth Stuart Baxter, a sales manager, and housewife Catherine, she later had three daughters. Katrina Hodiak is a composer, married and with children. Melissa Galt (born 1961) is an interior designer in the Atlanta, Georgia area, and Maginal Galt (born 1963) is reportedly a Catholic nun residing in Rome, Italy.

Was good friends with Maureen O'Hara 

Won her only Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in The Razor's Edge (1946)

Facts provided by IMBD

My love of classic films is beyond measure

Monty

Happy Birthday Anne Baxter (1923 - 1985)

How coincidental that my classic movie goddess of the month, Anne Baxter, also has a birthday this month. I did not know that prior to making my schedule of goddesses for the year. The only other time this has happened was in 2010 when Elizabeth Taylor was CMG in February, her birth month. Anyway Happy Birthday Anne! 

In her own words: 


I'm an actress, not a personality. It's more successful to be a personality. But can you use it in every role? I don't spill over into everything I do. I do what I do from inside someone else's skin.

Well said, Anne...well said!

A new tournament, but this time...I'm not the one doing it

My friend Kristen over at Journeys in Classic Film is holding a leading actor tournament, beginning May 20th. She said she loved my tourneys so much that she got the urge to do one herself. Her tourney will feature 40 actors spanning 8 decades (1930-2010) with each era having five actors competing. This sounds so cool as Kristen is incorporating modern era actors as well. Let's see if Cary Grant, who won my favorite actor tourney last year will save similar results in Kristen's. Here's the link to her blog where the competition will take place.
journeysinclassicfilm

Oh and while you're over at Kristen's blog, check out the contest she is doing, which has a prize of Bernard F. Dick's book: Hollywood Madonna-Loretta Young. So please stop by to have a chance to win this book. Tell Kristen you came by way of Monty. Thanks everyone!

Be My Guest: Lori Kemp

Hi everyone! My guest for this month is none other than my good friend Lori Kemp, who I met on Facebook over a year ago. Now I usually make friends at FB thru common tastes in films. Guess what film me and Lori hit it off with....not a classic film mind you. Not Gone with the Wind, or Casablanca or The Wizard of Oz. Ummm, no we hit off over Hot Tub Time Machine, the recent comedy with John Cusack. That led to The Hangover and then finally to some classic films.  So without further adieu, here's Lori:

Lori: What made you start blogging?  Monty Hawes

 Me: Oh, wow..I don't think I have ever been the reason for someone to start blogging. That's pretty cool. Thanks Lori.

Lori: Who are your favorite classic film stars? Name as many as you want - Shirley Temple, Judy Garland, Kathryn Hepburn, John Wayne, Omar Shariff, Jane Seymour, Christopher Reeves, Barbara Striesand, Dick Van Dyke, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Eva Gabor, Faye Dunnaway, and many more.

 Me: Nice selections there Lori

Lori: What are some of your favorite films? Shane, Somewhere in Time, An Affair to Remember, Room with a View, Wizard of Oz, Charlie and the Chocolate Fatory, Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang, The Way we Were, Gone with the Wind, Dr. Zchivago, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story, To Sir with Love, and True Grit.

Me: I love a lot of your favorites, especially Shane, To Sir with Love and Somewhere in Time.

Lori: Describe your first classic movie experience. Like where and when..at a cinema, on TV, etc..  On TV at home

Lori: What films upon first viewing did you not like, then later on when re-watching them, loved them?  Room with a View.

Me: great film..I agree too that I enjoyed it more the second time around.

Lori: Describe the perfect way for you to watch a classic film. At home with popcorn

 Me: sounds good to me

Lori: How many friends, family member or co-workers share your love of classic films?  Maybe 4

 Me: low number...same with me too

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

 Me: same for me as well, since screwball comedies dominated in the 30's and they are my favorite genre.

Lori: What are some of your favorite film quotes?  "There's No Place Like Home", "Baby Sister", "You Old Poop"

Lori: What classic films have you yet to see for one reason or another? A lot

 Me: I see..there are some notable films too that I have yet to see such as Now, Voyager and The Magnificent Ambersons.

Lori: What is your favorite genre?  Romantic Comedies

 Me: sweet!

Lori: If you threw a movie theme party, describe how you would do it. The costumes, decorations, food, etc.  It would definitely be the Victorian Era with beautiful dresses for the women and suits for the men, also champagne and caviar and tons of dancing.

 Me: sounds awesome..when's the party?

Lori:What are some films that are widely loved that you couldn't care less about?  None

Lori: Who’s the biggest film fanatic that you know? Besides yourself of course.  Monty Hawes

 Me: why thank you Lori

Lori: And finally who are some of your favorite film characters?  Dorothy and Glinda the Good Witch in the Wizard of Oz, Lara in Dr. Zhivago, Elise McKenna in Somewhere in Time, and Katie Morosky in The Way we Were.  

Elise (Somewhere in Time)

Me: some excellent choices once again Lori.

So that wraps up my chat with Lori this month. I want to thank her for accepting my invite to come on board to do this. And I hope everyone enjoyed learning more about her.

My love of classic films is beyond measure

Monty

Good Morning from Evelyn Keyes

The beautiful Evelyn Keyes wishes everyone a wonderful Thursday!

Joel McCrea night on TCM

Just a reminder that TCM is showing several of star of the month Joel McCrea's films tonight beginning at 8pm EST. Starting with the triple treat of his outings for director Preston Sturges. Up first is Sullivan's Travels, co-starring Veronica Lake. Next at 9:45 is The Palm Beach Story with Claudette Colbert. Followed at 11:30 by The More The Merrier with the irrepressible Jean Arthur. Then TCM shows a pair of films he made with Miriam Hopkins, The Richest Girl In The World and Woman Chases Man. Another classic McCrea film called Bed of Roses airs at 4:15 am and then they wrap up McCrea's first night with one of his earliest films, Kep Husbands (1931). So it will be quite the night and I for one can't wait.

2012 Cinematic World Tour Update

 The only way to travel...as Nick and Asta show us how to do it

...Nora must be in the bathroom...

Hi everyone. Just wanted to do a quick little post about my upcoming blogathon, The 2012 cinematic world tour. I know that some of you have already signed on to take this trip with me. Just wanted to get some details out of the way. The blogathon will kick off Memorial Day weekend and I plan to post about England, I think. Not quite sure yet. And it will run through Labor Day. You can do one post or multiples ones. The more the merrier. I just ask that you give the month you plan on doing it. Doesn't have to be a specific date, just the month you plan on posting your trip. Be it this month, June, July, August or the first week in September. And then just link back to my blog so I can let all my readers know that your post is up. If everyone would be so kind as to leave a comment here on this post of their intentions, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

Monty: May 25th- June 3rd (England...tentatively)