The New Year's Movie Meme

Hello Folks!

     Can't believe it's already New Years Eve! The years go by far too quickly, I swear, I'm afraid I'm going to miss something in life at the pace it's rushing now. Anyway, Rachel at The Girl with the White Parasol made this New Year's Survey and I thought I'd join in on the fun. I'm a little bit late, but better than never: 

1. What is your all-time favorite Grace Kelly costume? 

I love this one from Rear Window:

2. What classic film would you nominate for a remake?

Classic film? Remake? Is this a joke?! ... I can't even answer this. Although, if they found some obscure swashbuckler/western I wouldn't mind seeing that modernized as the special effects would rule, long as they got a good cast.

3. Name your favorite femme fatale.

Two words. "Phyllis" and "Dietrichson". 

I love Phyllis Dietrichson and her blonde wig. No matter how evil she 

might have been or how bad that wig looked on my Miss.

4. Name the best movie with the word "heaven" in its title.

Seventh Heaven (1937). Jimmy Stewart. Simone Simon. 

It really wasn't that good, but I can't remember any other 

movies I've seen with "heaven" in the title. How sad is that?

5. Describe the worst performance by a child actor that you’ve ever seen?

     

That girl who plays Fred MacMurray's daughter in "There's Always Tomorrow". I've yet to finish watching that movie (yes. Oh, for shame! I just admitted that.) but I still want to kill that girl. Teen slang from the 50s is the worst, plus no one who disrespects Fred MacM gets away with it in my book.

6. Who gets your vote for most tragic movie monster?

The BLOB! Poor little guy got sent to Antarctica, and all 

he did was destroy a town and try to eat Aneta Corsaut! 

But, seriously, I don't watch monster movies...

7. What is the one Western that you would recommend to anybody?

CALIFORNIA! (1947) I mean, Barbara Stanwyck in TECHNICOLOR! You don't even understand how amazing that is. Not to mention, it's a really good movie.

8. Who is your ideal movie-viewing partner?

It depends what we're watching. In general, just someone who knows a lot about classic Hollywood already so I don't have to explain everything three times.

9. Has a film ever made you want to change your life? If so, what was the film?

Four words: It's. A. Wonderful. Life. 

Six words: I. will. never. be. the. same.

10. Think of one performer that you truly love. Now think of one scene/movie/performance of theirs that is too uncomfortable for you to watch.

Oh my goodness graciousness. Obviously Barbara Stanwyck, and the one scene that sticks out as being unbearably unbearable is the scene in The Furies where Missy throws a pair of scissors at her father's fiancee. It's not good. At all.

11. On the flip side, think of one really good scene/performance/movie from a performer that you truly loathe.

Katherine Hepburn was amazing in Bringing Up Baby, as was Cary Grant. 

12. And finally, since it will be New Year's soon, do you have any movie or blogging-related resolutions for 2012?

I just want to be able to keep the blog up and running, and hopefully not bore anyone to death. 

Until Later On~ Happy New Year!!

Dial M for Murder (1954)

Hello Dears,
  
     I loved this movie. I even loved the title "Dial M for Murder". Yes, that may sound weird, but, dang it! the title is perfect:

      
     As the movie begins we see a happy couple - ex-tennis player, Tony Wendice (Ray Milland), and his rich wife, Margot (Grace Kelly) - but our illusion about their happiness shatters as we see that Margot is having an affair with crime-novel-writer Mark Halliday (Robert Cummings). It quickly turns out that Tony knows about his wife's infidelity and has planned to murder her with the help of an old college pal. Although his plan is apparently mistake-proof, like every perfect murder there is a mistake sooner or later.
       
     This was really the smartest movie I've seen in a long time. It's one of those where you can't blink or you'll miss something vital to the story; plus, the whole feel of the movie is so suspenseful and intriguing, it's really unbelievable. In other words, I thoroughly enjoyed it.


     The only reason I ever wanted to watch this movie was because Millie (Classics Forever) said something about Ray Milland's awesomeness, Welsh accent, and attempted Grace Kelly murder - that, of course, was something I had to see. 
     I must concede that Ray Milland's Tony Wendice is one of the best movie villains I've ever seen. While watching, it would seem that our ex-tennis player was just Grace Kelly's sophisticated husband, but this is not so; our dear Welsh ex-tennis player has turned into not only a liar and a thief, but also a stalker and a blackmailer. Surprisingly, Ray Milland made a perfect villain, I said perfect! He was so sinister, but perfectly composed and suave on the exterior. There's one scene where Mr. Milland is talking his old college friend into murdering his wife, and it's impossible to keep your eyes off of him - it's as if he's fishing and we're the fish, and he's slowly drawing us in with some ominous bait. Have I mentioned perfect? I don't normally think of Ray Milland as a villain, but, like I said, he was great (and sinister, oh-so-perfectly-sinister).
     Grace Kelly is an actress I never liked, of course, this movie changed that. Grace was stunning...and I'm beginning to like her now. She was a much better actress than I anticipated - I've tended to think of her more as a walking clothes hanger than an actress, because everyone talks about her wardrobes so much, but she actually acts! - plus, she's absolutely gorgeous! 
     Robert Cummings  was very good in this as well, he's an actor who has slowly but surely grown on me. His character wasn't too exciting (not in comparison to Mr. Wendice), but Cummings took a Mr. Crime-novel-writer-who-is-in-love-with-leading-lady character and kept me from wanting to murder him, so that was nice. I've never liked hoping a certain character would get murdered when I knew they wouldn't.

     Then there's Alfred Hitchcock, and if you can believe it, I've never had an appreciation for his directing until now. Yes, I believed with all my heart that Alfred Hitchcock was just as overrated as Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant and Bette Davis and Citizen Kane and every other overrated element under the sun. But this brilliant movie has proved to me without a doubt that the man knew what he was doing, and has shown me my need to shall search out more Hitch before long. 

 

Gorgeous "Grace" Kelly and Mr. Knott (the man who wrote the story) behind the scenes.

That "Mr. Knott" chair may be better than Missy's "Stany" chair - it's so cool!

Until Later On~

P.S. I finally got rid of the Christmas banner! Now it's Bob Taylor and his glorious bride. I don't know how long that will last, but I had to change it - the Christmas vibe was killing me. ;)

Merry Christmas!!

It's Christmas! (As if you didn't know that yet)

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,

Just like the ones I used to know.

Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

Where the treetops glisten,

And children listen,

To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,

With every Christmas card I write.

Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

May your days be merry and bright,

And may all your Christmases be white.

     Here's wishing you all the merriest and whitest of Christmases.  

Merry Christmas! Until Later On~

Photograph: Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray

Merry Christmas Eve Eve, Everyone! 

     I'm so excited for Christmas. Really, really excited... As you can see, Babs and Fred are getting in the mood too:

 

Aren't they cute? 

You all know you've been waiting to see Fred MacMurray 

and Missy Stanwyck sitting in a wreath. 

 

She has befuddled him with her greatness. And, look, she's so proud of herself.  

Until Later On~

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Hello Folks!

 

     My grandmother had been begging me to watch this movie. I honestly didn't want to, because I couldn't imagine it being as good as she said it was. Then I watched it, because it was on Netflix Instant Play, and you know what, it was just as good as she said! Absolutely amazing movie:

Right as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is about to start, the man who is supposed to play Santa gets himself drunk. So, Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara) who is organizing the parade, is forced to temporarily hire a Santa-Clause-look-alike named Kris Kringle. After the parade, Doris hires Kris to play Santa Claus for real because he does it so well, but when Kris insists that he is actually Santa Claus, everyone questions his sanity. With the help of Doris's neighbor, Fred Gailey (John Payne), Kris proves that he is Santa Clause. Doris and Fred are pretty proud, because everyone knows there's no Santa Claus so proving that some random old man is Santa Claus is quite a joke on the world; then Kris gives Susan, Doris's daughter (Natalie Wood), her most impossible Christmas wish, and Doris and Fred start to think that he might not have done such a wonderful thing after all.

      I honestly don't know why I liked this movie as much as I did. For some reason, it felt very modern to me; and while that would seem like a bad thing, it really wasn't! I liked the feel of this movie. 

     It's a classic Christmas movie, no doubt; but it really didn't feel too Christmas-y (despite the fact that the whole darned thing was about Santa Clause). That would make me wonder why on earth I liked it, since I personally adore over-the-top Christmas corn [and all other types of over-sentimental bunk], but Christmas-y or not it was a delightful film! 

     Plus, despite the romantic possibilities, it wasn't too romantic! I love romantic movies, so it also surprised me that I wasn't absolutely horrified that the movie wasn't more romantic. The story was so intriguing I didn't even notice the lost romance. 

     Finally, Miracle on 34th Street wasn't too dramatic or too funny. While I don't normally enjoy things that should be stuck in the middle like that, this wasn't a mediocre flick by any means and I loved it!

The cast was new to me for the most part (I've seen two other Maureen O'Hara movies, and one Natalie Wood movie):

     Maureen O'Hara was great in this, I can honestly say I really like her now. Beautiful lady for one thing, and a great actress for another - just two reasons I enjoyed seeing her on the screen. I also loved her character! I like the characters who "come around" by the end of the movie. From the beginning when she was so bitter and brutally honest with Susan and so sure that any lovely intangibles like faith or love were absolutely worthless, to the end when she started to believe in all those ideals and tried to convince Susan of their worth too.  

     Natalie Wood was great. She was probably my favorite thing about this whole movie. Such a good little actress. Eight-years-old at the time of the filming and just too, too adorable. Natalie [note: we share a name, hehehe] was perfect for this role - as far as I can tell - she looks smart and sensible like her character; but she's not without the child likeness. Oh, and I love the way she looked at Kris Kringle, so incredulously [see the picture].

     Then there was John Payne, whom I had never heard of. I really liked him! And I loved his character too. I mean, what kind of lawyer fights to prove that some random old man is really Santa? This kind! He was rather idealistic all-around (another one of my idealistic hicks, anyone?). 

     Edmund Gwenn was an awesome Santa Claus, but he was a different kind of Santa. His Santa was not the kind and jolly man I think of; not that he wasn't kind (although he did hit Macy's phony psychiatrist over the head with his cane), it's just that he was more of an idealistic Santa. Idealistic Santa, yes, I just said that - I told you he was different!

Best Movie Quotes:

Susan: People sometimes grow very big, but that's abnormal.

Fred Gailey: Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to.

Mr. Shellhammer [about Kris Kringle]: But...maybe he's just  a little crazy like painters or composers...or some of those men in Washington.

*****

     Really, such a charming movie, but I'm still trying to figure out why I adored it so much. Then again, they put Santa Claus on trial - I think I was far too excited to see what would come of Santa and far too happy at the ending to dislike the movie. And now I have a couple new actresses to look into - so, Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Until Later On~  

Humphrey Bogart Blogathon: Bogie and Bacall

Hello Folks,

     This is my entry for Forever Classics's Humphrey Bogart Blogathon which is set to run Dec. 23-25 in celebration of his would-be 112th birthday on Christmas day. I know I'm a bit early, but I think it's okay. 

     I have been trying to decide what I would write for the blogathon since I signed up for it. I had wanted to do a review of one of his movies; but now that it's come down to it I haven't been in the mood, and when I'm not in the mood I don't even bother. I decided I would do a "Awesome Person" post for him, but while I was looking for pictures I realized that his relationship with Lauren Bacall intrigued me immensely. And that is the explanation for my post [in case anyone ever wondered what kind of crazy ideas make me post the things I do]: 

 

Humphrey "Bogie" Bogart and Lauren "Betty" Bacall

 

They met on the set of their movie "To Have and Have Not" (1944). 

She was 19, he was 45.

 

They got married in 1945, on May 21.

 

 

Merry Christmas from the Bogarts [and me, "Merry Christmas, readers!"]. :)

 

I hope Bogie knew how much I loved him, how much he meant to me, how I highly valued him. I've had another life since then, but he was my first love, and you never forget your first love.
- Lauren Bacall

 

They're a good-looking couple, aren't they? Even considering their age difference.

I mean, he was old enough to be her father.

 

It was all clear blue sky all the way—as I was sure our life would be. I couldn’t forget Bogie’s tears. Every time I looked at him I welled up. How had I lived before him? I couldn’t remember my life before him—it all ran together, like watercolors. It seemed that everything that had ever happened to me had led to this day with him. I don’t know whether it was his particular personality, his strength and purity of thought, or whether all brides feel that way. Probably a combination. I had no doubt that this happiness would last forever. I could not imagine living a minute without him. From now on I would not have to—we were together now, like the man said, “till death do you part.”

- Lauren Bacall on her wedding to Humphrey Bogart

Until Later On~

12 Days of Christmas Movies: Remember the Night (1940)

Merry Christmas Everyone!

     This year I got a spot in Sally's (Flying Down to Hollywood) 12 Days of Christmas Movies Blogathon. As you can see by the title of this post I'm writing about "Remember the Night" (1940), and as you can see by my blog's header I love this movie [anyway, I love it enough to put it up there]. Oh my goodness, Remember the Night...just give me a minute...*wipes tears of adoration out of eyes*...

     In Remember the Night, Barbara Stanwyck plays Lee Leander, a girl crook on trial for stealing a bracelet; and Fred MacMurray plays John Sargent, the prosecuting attorney. When John suspects that Lee is going to be acquitted because of the jury's Christmas spirit he gets her case postponed until after Christmas. Afterward, his conscience is bothering him so he has his friend post her bail. Later, John finds out that Lee's family lives close to where his mother lives, so he offers to drop her off there on his way home. When Lee and John arrive at her mother's house it's apparent that Lee's mother does not want her there, and John offers to take her home with him to spend holiday with his family. During their holiday, John and Lee fall in love, but that doesn't change the fact that when they get back to New York he's supposed to be trying to send her to jail. During the final trial John tries to throw the case for Lee's sake, but she catches on and tearfully pleads guilty...

     My favorite thing about this movie is the fact that it's so gosh-darned romantic. I love romantic movies. And, of course, I'll take one good romantic-comedy any day of the week, but if you want to make me really happy find me the saddest, most tragic, heart-breaker you can. This is one of those heart-breakers, but, at the same time, it's so unbelievably beautiful. For example, there's this scene: Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck are at Niagara Falls at night, and the lighting has them silhouetted against the falls, and... I didn't know making a scene so romantic and beautiful was even legal.
     The whole movie isn't sad though, the beginning is very light and actually quite hilarious. I'm guessing the hilarity is on account of Preston Sturges's (yes, that genius) writing the screenplay - it's terribly entertaining. 
   

     And you can't get a cast that's much better than the one here:
     Fred MacMurray is great in this movie. Most of the time I really do like him, but there are occasions when he bothers me just the least little bit - this is definitely not one of those occasions. His character is so kind, and he's so adorable. He and Barbara Stanwyck are pure magic in this movie. Pure Magic.
     And speaking of beautiful Barbara Stanwyck.....what can I say? To say that she was wonderful in this movie would be a fantastic understatement. My frequent readers know, I love Barbara Stanwyck, probably more than is good for me (honestly, I would bet that people who don't frequently read this blog know it too). I freely admit that I am biased in her favor; but I don't think anyone in their right mind, Stanwyck fan or not, could say that she wasn't outstanding in this. Her eyes alone are perfection, not only beautiful [which they are, absolutely gorgeous eyes] but so deep, if you know what I mean. Take for example, the scene at the end of the movie when Fred MacMurray is trying to throw her case out the window by being harsh while he's questioning her - she doesn't say a word, but she looks at him with a "What the heck are you doing?" look which turns into a "Oh my goodness, look at him. He really loves me." look. I swear, it's heart-melting. And not only do we lucky film-loving-people get a beautifully tragic side of Stanwyck, but also a extremely delightful one. Missy has this brilliant way with comedy that's so different from any other comedienne - I always imagine her laughing at herself with us. 
     The supporting cast is great too. My favorite is Elizabeth Patterson who played Fred MacMurray's maiden aunt. I love her character! She's absolutely convinced that Fred brought Barbara to spend Christmas with them because he's madly in love with her; and the things she does to get Barbara and Fred together are great. 
     
     Despite the fact that this is a Christmas movie and apparently you're only supposed to watch Christmas movies at Christmastime, I watch this all year long. I love it so much - it's like "The Lady Eve" (1941) wrapped up in Christmas paper (if you know how much I love The Lady Eve that should make sense). I've seen this movie six times or so (that means I probably watch it every two months), but every time I watch it I catch something new, it really does just keep getting better and better.

 

Favorite Movie Lines:

Lee Leander: I suppose you do this with all the lady prisoners?
John Sargent: Oh my, yes. My life is just one long round of whoopee. 

Police officer: It's not going to be as bad as all that, you'll get a nice little room, and a nice turkey for Christmas...
Lee Leander: [to the officer] Never mind the build up. [to John] I hope you have a merry Christmas!

Until Later On~ Have a merry Christmas, folks!

Dueling Divas Blogathon: Hayward vs. Goddard

Hello Folks, 

      This is my entry for Backlots's Dueling Divas Blogathon. This blogathon was a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant idea - and I'm so excited to read everyone else's posts! Note: For those who care, there are spoilers in the following...somewhere in there...so beware!

*****

     The Forest Rangers (1942) is about, yes, forest rangers! Does that sound even vaguely interesting? I didn't think so, but I was WRONG. Not only was it entertaining in an adventurous/suspenseful way, but it was also hilarious! Of course, most of the hilarity coming from our two leading ladies, Susan Hayward and Paulette Goddard, who are fighting over forest ranger Fred MacMurray (imagine that!).

     Susan Hayward plays Tana "Butch" Mason, who runs a lumber mill and works alongside the forest rangers. As far as we can see she's been in love with Don Stuart (Fred MacMurray's character) forever, but since he considers her "one of the boys" the love is not returned. 

     Paulette Goddard plays Celia Huston, and a city girl is she! While Don is in town trying to find out who started the most recent forest fire, he literally runs into Celia and they get married later that night. 

     How do you think Tana (who thinks she's almost caught Don) feels about their marriage?! Of course, Tana isn't happy at all; and from the moment she meets Celia you can see the sabotage in her eyes. Then Celia starts to get suspicious of Tana so she takes to trying to get rid of Tana too, but in a more, shall we say, sophisticated way. 

 

     Personally, I like Paulette Goddard better than Susan Hayward as far as actresses go. Susan was absolutely fantastic, but I just like Paulette better. 

     As far as their characters go: I liked Paulette, then no one, then Paulette again. 

     For the whole movie, Tana was a jerk. Acting like she had some sort of hold on Don just because she had been in love with him for a long time - to heck with whoever is married to him, she wanted him to herself! I guess someone could argue that Tana probably felt hurt, nevertheless, I liked Celia better. She was just trying to prove that she was worthy of Don: learning all the forest ranger lingo and dressing the part, you know. Plus, you kinda have to feel bad for the poor girl, she was such a wimp in that first part of the movie.

     Then, for about a half-hour after the first forty-five minutes, the movie is incredibly annoying. Because awesome-little-miss-hero-girl Celia decides to call her influential father and ask him have Don transferred somewhere at least 1,000 miles away from Tana. It's terribly under-handed of her. For this reason, Don gets angry at her, their relationship stands in ruins, and both of them are ready to hit the road. 

     In the last ten minutes or so, Celia realizes she was wrong and heads down to the site of the latest fire to help with what she can. Then Don tells Celia and Tana to go to town to get more people to help fight the fire. On the way, they get trapped by the fire with no apparent means of escape. It turns out that Celia is a lot braver than we thought; and Tana is a lot wimpier, as she sits there safely letting Celia protect them. At the end, Don realizes how awesome Celia is and we all...re-realize it. 

     There's really nothing better than watching two girls battle it out on screen (hence the greatness of the idea of this blogathon). The funniest scene in this duel is when Tana, Don, and Celia are sleeping outside in the freezing degrees because Tana accidentally pushed their car down a hill. The girls are using all their imagination to be the one sleeping next to Don: Celia pretends there's some sort of creature, Tana pokes Celia with a [big] stick, Celia makes Don get up to fix the fire...it's hilarious. And as they're fighting for the blanket Tana says, "Lot different than a night club isn't it?" and Celia says, "I don't know there still seems to be a cover charge!".

     Before I finish - there's one line, when Tana first meets Celia and they're being so sickeningly sweet to each other, one ranger says, "Do you follow that?" and the other replies, "Sounds like it's done in code". 

     In code, that's how we girls fight, gentlemen - we do it in code.

Until Later On~  

Missy

Hello Everyone!

     As you may or may not have noticed, I haven't done an actual Barbara Stanwyck related post for two weeks. We should all be proud of me, but I can't help feeling that there's been something missing on my blog. I mean, missing in the sense that I haven't actually written words, because at the moment there are seven pictures of her in the header and sidebars...

Isn't she gorgeous?

     This next piece of literature was a gift to Stany in 1977 from someone who shall remain nameless because I have no idea what their name was. Here's what the brilliant poet said:

MISSY

Earth child, star child.
Carnival-colored with bells.
She draws the world to her.
It turns in the palm of her hand.
It will laugh with her
And cry with her
And sing to her
Because
Hers is the charm of reality.
   Of guts that sear
   Of passion that tears
   Of mischief that delights
   Of warmth that melts
   And of an ever exquisite 
         vulnerability
On these wings she will always
fly free.

     Is that not one of the most beautiful things you've ever read? It took me a couple times over to realize how beautiful it was, but it's really quite perfect. I think I'm going to have to memorize it.
     Have a good day/weekend, folks. I'm going to be gone, so, my next post will probably be Monday night.

Until Later On~

3 Characters I Would Love to Be:

Hello You, 

     I stole this idea from Maggie @ Nora Charles' Corner (with her consent, of course). If you've never read Maggie's blog, please, go follow/read it - it's insanely entertaining. Pure concentrated genius, I tell you! 

     Before I start this puny list, if anyone wonders why there aren't going to be any Barbara Stanwyck characters on here, it's not because I don't desire to be any Barbara Stanwyck characters (you DO remember whose blog you're reading, right?). In reality, there's a whole list of Missy characters waiting to be typed up and showed off, but that's for another day. For now, here's my Top 3 not-Stanwyck character wish list: 

Hildy Johnson from "His Girl Friday" (1940)

Hildy Johnson has my freaking dream job! If I could be one thing in my life I would want to be a newspaperman like her. Not to mention, 'Hildy' is one of the coolest names ever. Of course, being married to Cary Grant would be a problem, but I think I could enjoy watching everyone around turn green with envy. Mwahaha!

Georgia Garrett from "Romance on the High Seas" (1948)

She's absolutely adorable, her wardrobe is to die for, her slang is awesome, and her singing voice is amazing. Seriously? How much cooler can you be? Not to mention, strangers pay for her world travels! I want people to pay for ME to travel!

The Princess Centimillia from "The Palm Beach Story" (1942)

Are you kidding me? Her name is "The Princess Centimillia"!! That alone is enough to want to be her - just imagine walking down the street, "Hello Princess!" Oh, yes. And have you ever heard her talk? Million. Words. A. Minute. Although, I think a part of her head is missing - she's crazy! I love it!

Until Later On~

Nothing But the Truth (1941)

'Ello Folks!

 

    This was such a good movie. It was everything I could ask for: good cast, amusing script, good [romantic] ending. The plot is pretty simple and is set in "Miami Beach, Florida...Wall Street with cocoanuts":  

Stockbroker T.T. Ralston's neice, Gwen (Paulette Goddard) is trying to raise $40,000 for charity. Her uncle (Edward Arnold) has promised to double her earnings if she is able to raise $20,000, but so far she's only raised $10,000. Then, the day before she needs to have all of the money raised, she gives the 10 thousand to her uncle's new partner, Steve (Bob Hope) and asks him to double it. Later, Steve bets Mr. Ralston, Tommy Van Dusen (Mr. Ralston's client/Gwen's boyfriend), and Dick Donnelly (Mr. Ralston's other partner) $10,000 that he can go 24 hours without lying once, and the others try to prove him wrong.

     See? It's not too complex, but just imagine the possibilities... Of course, there are rules to the bet - for example, Steve can't stop doing the things he normally does and he has to answer all questions (no matter how awful the answer may be). One of the best examples of why this is so funny is the dinner scene on Mr. Ralston's houseboat (where the characters interact for most of the movie). At dinner, Steve is forced to answer hard questions about his less-than-perfect dinner companions and since he has to answer all of the questions honestly, he insults every person there. It's really too, too funny - he tells Mrs. Van Dusen that she wouldn't pass for 30 with a peper bag over her head, what do you think the rest of them think about that?!

     Of course, there's a romantic side to the movie too - Bob Hope trying to catch Paulette Goddard, despite the bet and a few other misunderstandings. I really love Bob and Paulette as a couple, they're quite perfect together.

     Paulette Goddard, is one of my top-ten favorite actresses. She happens to be very beautiful, and a good actress to boot. She's near-perfect here with her too-fast talking and her ditsy fund-raising and her Edith-Head-designed costumes. Speaking of Edith-Head-designed costumes, they were gorgeous! But, yes, very good here. Bob Hope isn't all-together the best-looking man in Hollywood, but I'll be darned if he isn't one of the funniest. There are so many little things he does that are just hilarious (like when he kisses his hand, then touches a picture of Paulette Goddard, yeah...), and the facial expressions he makes are to die for. 

     The rest of the cast is superb: Edward Arnold (one of my favorite villains) is funny in his own, serious way. Willie Best who plays Bob Hope's friend/butler is just SO funny (he's the best) - I love him! Leon Belasco plays a European doctor who likes to talk about his work and diagnose his friends; he has a field day when Bob starts acting up. And Helen Vinson plays Linda Graham, an aspiring actress who, while trying to get someone to back her show, gets mistaken for Bob Hope's wife. They're all fantastic, and hilarious.

     Oh, and on another note (which may or may not be interesting, but will certainly prove my insanity) there's a scene in this movie where Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard are sitting together and the background music is the same as the background music during the moonlit deck scene in "The Lady Eve" (and, yes, I checked). I've always liked that tune...

Favorite Movie Lines:

[After Steve insults everyone at the dinner table]

Gwen: Well, why don't you make a good job of it?! Go on! Go on! Don't leave me out! I'm here, what would you like to do to me?! 

Steve: I'd like to kiss you till your ears fly off!

Mrs. Ralston: Well, I'll say one thing for Mr. Bennett, he's different!

Gwen: So was Jack the Ripper!

Tommy Van Dusen: Do you think you're good looking?

Steve: Yes! In a manly sort of way...

Tommy: You lose!

Steve: No, I don't lose! That's not a lie, it's an opinion! Now, if I said you were good looking that would be a lie!

 

Until Later On~

Goodbye, Ms. Peters

Hello Everyone,

     It's the last night of Carole Lombard week #2. So...I'm going to talk a little bit more about Carole, I guess! 

“Before I say goodbye to you all, come on, join me in a big cheer, V for Victory,” 

Found on: LucyNic83

     On January 16, 1942, Carole Lombard, along with a plane full of other people (including her mother), crashed into the side of what is now known as Carole Lombard Mountain, near Las Vegas. She was coming home from a war-bond-rally in Indiana where she had sold over 2 million dollars worth of bonds. 
     After she died, Jack Benny (who starred with her in her last picture) canceled his radio program out of grief and respect for Carole. As the first woman to die in the line of duty during WWII, FDR gave her the Medal of Freedom. Joan Crawford, who starred in They All Kissed the Bride in place of Carole, donated her whole salary to the Red Cross. And Lombard got a Liberty Ship named after her, the "S.S. Carole Lombard".

     Clark Gable [her husband] was devastated when she died. Lucy Ball wrote of that time, in her autobiography, saying, "During the next few months [after her death], we saw Clark tearing around the valley on a motorcycle at top speed. I used to suspect that he was subconsciously trying to kill himself. Clark would come to a screeching stop at our doorstep and come in to talk about Carole by the hour. Sometimes he would bring one of her films over in the evening and we would watch her for a couple of hours. I could never tell whether Clark was deliberately torturing himself, or whether the sight and sound of Carole, so vital and lovely, helped erase at least momentarily the pain of losing her." 

The Carole Lombard

     It's always tragic when someone passes away, especially so when they're as young as Carole was (age 33). I can't help wondering what Carole might have done had she lived longer - she would have made a few more brilliant movies, no doubt.

     I will test your patience and repeat myself by saying that I have such a great respect for Carole now. Not only as a brilliant actress (the queen of screwball, hello!), but just as a person. I mean, she died while serving our country, that's enough to garner my respect in an instant!

      Another one of the reasons I love Lombard is the fact that she was so honest. So unique. So down-to-earth. And so alive! 

 "I can’t imagine a duller fate than being the best dressed woman in reality. When I want to do something I don’t pause to contemplate whether I’m exquisitely gowned.  

I want to live, not pose!" 

-Carole Lombard

See the sign? Yes, she was that cool.

     And a funny lady? Heck yes, she was a funny lady! And not only on screen where, as I've mentioned before, she was the queen; but in real life where she made Alfred Hitchcock re-do his cameo a million times, until she thought it was right - and where they had to put up a sign that read "Danger. Lombard now at work" to warn people of her frequent pranks and practical jokes.

     Beautiful, died-too-young, funny, real - Carole, whom I love and respect oh-so-much.

     

RIP Jane Alice Peters (Oct. 6, 1908 - Jan. 16 1942)

Goodbye, Carole.

    

Until Later On~

P.S. I meant "Goodbye, Carole" as in "Goodbye, for now". You poor, unsuspecting readers are going to hear a lot more about her in the future. For one thing I'm dying to post a boat-load of gorgeous pictures, and she's just awesome in general. Goodnight!

Lux Radio Theater Presents: In Name Only

Hello Everyone! 

     I present to you, via Lux Radio, "In Name Only":

"In Name Only"

While out riding in the country, wealthy New Yorker Alec Walker meets young widow Julie Eden, and a relationship quickly develops. However, Alec has not told her that he is already locked into a loveless marriage to the avaricious Maida, who has contrived to convince his parents she is the ideal wife. A completely coincidental car crash alerts the two women to each other's existence, a situation to which they react very differently. [IMDb] 

Movie Version-

Released: August 18, 1939

Director: John Cromwell

Starring: Cary Grant, Carole Lombard, Kay Francis

Radio Version-

Recorded: November 12, 1939

Narrator/Host: Cecil B. DeMille

Starring: Cary Grant, Carole Lombard, Kay Francis

     This is one of the best radio shows I've ever heard - I adored it, Cary Grant and all. Despite the fact that I just happen to like radio dramas better than radio comedies, this one especially felt like it transferred nicely from the screen to the radio.
     I haven't particularly liked Carole Lombard in the dramas I've seen, as she doesn't do tears well on screen. She is able to get a lot of emotion into her voice here though, which was fantastic (and worthy of my recent Carole-Lombard-week-induced adoration of the lady). As you probably know, I don't particularly adore Cary Grant, but I actually felt sorry for his character here. As far as all that sorrow goes, I was down-right distressed until the very end of this, at which point I was faced with one heck of a fantastic ending, which made me a lot happier than a radio program should make someone.


     My favorite line:

[At Alec and Julie's first meeting]
Alec: How about a sandwich?
Julie: I have my own.
Alec: That's what I mean, how about offering me one.

     I think I may try to watch this movie just for the sake of actually seeing it, I really did love this radio show though. You can listen to the show at Doctor Macro, and if you can I suggest you do so. 
     Oh and, just for the record, Lux shows are the best. What other radio program assaults your mind with a million reasons to buy that one cure-all soap ("Lux Beauty Soap, the soap of the stars!") and gives you a recipe for faux snow to boot?!? That's right, no other program, Long live Lux!

   *****

     

      That's all for our radio shows, but Natalie has another important thing to say (Yes, Natalie's talking in third person...and she's still doing it...). Anyway, I FINALLY WON FIRST PLACE IN A FILMCLASSICS CONTEST! Mwahaha! Fourth time's a charm, peeps! Woohoo! the voting for the fourth season FilmClassics article contest ended this morning and after four attempts I finally got one of those pretty gold medals for my side bar! Thanks much to anyone who voted for my article! #Trying to keep from being too prideful here #Attempting to hold in the happiness #Oh, for joy, I've won. Thanks a million, David, for hosting this contest! It was lots of fun, as always.

Until Later On~

Awesome People for the Day: Mr. and Mrs. Clark Gable

Hello Readers,

     Another thing I happen to love about Carole Lombard (you know, among the many things that have been surfaced this week) is her marriage to Clark Gable. If it wasn't for Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor, Clark and Carole would be my all-time tops as far as couples go. 

Of course, the fact that they aren't my favorites is not Clark and Carole's fault; they're competition is just...I mean, IT'S BARBARA STANWYCK AND ROBERT TAYLOR. 

Enough about that though, I have collected for you a Carole/Clark marathon of pictures (and a few GIFs):

 

In Mexico

 

 Found on: LucyNic83

 

First anniversary

 

They called each other 'Ma' and 'Pa'

HOW CUTE IS THAT?

 

At their 1939 wedding reception.

Source: deforest

 

“They had an ineffable quality in romance, the ability to have fun together. They were soulmates who thought life was delicious, and they made everyone’s life delicious around them.” 

 -Esther Williams

 

Those Carole expressions! As Clark sits there thinking, "Yeah...I'm married to her."

 

Oh my gosh. I just love them!

 

 Source: lilygarland

 

"I don’t believe Clark and Carole fell in love. I think they crashed into it! I believe they have crashed through the gags and the silly things they do together to a revelation that must have astounded them as thoroughly as it intrigued Hollywood; that underneath the frivolity and nonsense of Valentine-Fords and onion corsages, they are the same kind of people cut from the same gusty cloth of life."

By Dennison Hastings
Photoplay Magazine, September 1936

 

One of my favorite photographs.

 

<3 this one too.

 

Before they got married (AKA the time when Carole thought Clark was a ham), but I love this picture.

 

 Source: tocaptureyou

 

Yes, you beautiful people, you; we're done now. :/

     Don't they just look so fantastically happy around each other? It's another one of the [many] things I love about them. Not to mention the fact that they're awesome when they're solo, which makes their teamwork quite epic. 

Until Later On~