Guest Post (by Bailey) for The Great Recasting

Hello Everyone! 

     Forgive my lack of posting (and film watching, if you take time to look at my movies-watched ever) - I've been taking steps into the real world also known as getting a job. And you know what? I don't like the real world - takes up too much time. Ho hum. Anyhow, seeing as how it's only about four days until Rianna's and my much anticipated [by us anyway, don't know if you all are getting excited or not] blogathon I thought I should come out and get ready for it! 

      On Wednesday, Rianna and I will be posting the lists telling who should be sending us links to their articles, on which day they should be sending them, and to whom they should be sending them. Until then, if you want to join up, it's never too late! Let us know if you'd like to be a part of our blogathon! 

     Now, onto the guest posting... My dear friend Bailey has no blog - it's more devastating than you'll ever know - she wanders amongst the interwebs, and you can find her most often on the Film-Classics forum where she reigns as queen supreme or on Tumblr. But the fact that she has no blog did not keep her from wanting to join our blogathon, so, of course, I said: Well, dearie, why don't you guest post on my blog? You'd be the very first and I'd be honored to host you. She decided that wouldn't be such a bad idea, and when she had finished her article (after days of killing me by just keeping her article to herself and not sending it to me) this is what we were left with. Note: before I post it I just need to point out that this article is just perfect. It is exactly what I imagined when I imagined what a post for this blogathon should look like. She hit the nail square on the head so if any of you are confused as to what I personally hoped all of your articles would end up like, this is the place to draw your inspiration. Bravo, Bailey! - I just love it: 

 

 

So, this will be the first time I’ve ever really participated in a blogathon.  And I’m excited!  Run by Nat over at In the Mood and Rianna at Frankly, My Dear, here are the rules for THE GREAT RECASTING:

1. Pick a movie that was made in between 1966 and today
2. Change the year of production
3. Choose new leads from Classic Hollywood
4. Choose a new director from Classic Hollywood
5. Explain why you think it would work 

When I first heard about it over at film-classics, I was hesitant though it sounded immensely fun.  What movie could I possibly choose to recast and basically rework?  That problem was resolved, however, several days later while boating out in the sun.  My conclusion?  The Proposal, 2009, starring Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, and Betty White.  

For those of you who haven’t seen this movie, the basic plot is Margaret Tate (Bullock) is the executive editor in chief to a book publishing company who is about to be deported back to Canada because of an expired visa.  However, she comes up with a plan to avoid the deportation and stay in the country—and at her job—by getting engaged to and planning to marry Andrew Paxton (Reynolds), her assistant, basically against his will.  They end up spending most of the movie in Alaska with Andrew’s parents and Grandmother Annie (White).  By the end of the movie, Paxton and Tate have learned a lot about each other and (spoiler) end up marrying, this time out of love for each other.

Seeing as The Proposal was made in 2009 (quite obviously post-Hayes Code), changes to and deletion of multiple scenes would have to take place because my chosen year of production is 1934.  To play Margaret, Andrew, and Annie I’ve decided to go with Myrna Loy, William Powell, and Josephine Hull respectively.  Too bad this movie really wasn’t made during the good ole days—it would have been Minnie and Bill’s 15^th screen pairing.  

At first I figured Mr. Director would go to W.S. Van Dyke (who directed 4 of 6 Thin Mans), but picturing this premake of The Proposal something like Third Finger, Left Hand, I decided Robert Z. Leonard might be a better choice, just because of the closeness in film style.   

Comparing The Proposal to Third Finger, Left Hand, I’ve found many things in common.  Myrna plays a similar role, only in the latter she is faking a marriage to keep her job.  Myrna and Sandra’s characters share the same unwillingness to give up their job and enthusiasm to climb up their respective career ladders, hence easily selling me on the recasting of Myrna.  

Though I’ve yet to see a performance by Bill resembling Andrew Paxton, his witty humor will spice up the dialogue and would make for interesting conversation between Margaret and Andrew.  In the movie I Love You Again, Bill’s character coos a love song to Myrna’s character.  Though quite more romantic than Andrew’s high pitched rendition of “It Takes Two,” the kookiness and the way these both make each lady fall a little for their man completely justifies Bill’s recasting.

Josephine Hull was more difficult to cast, but is easier to explain.  Though Betty White is quite amazing, she’s much too young to be playing Grandma Annie.  So, based on her performance in Arsenic and Old Lace (a tremendously terrific film), I decided Josephine Hull would easily be able to portray the humorous Grandma Annie, who stops at nothing to keep the girl from running away from the guy.

And that’s how I would apply 2009’s The Proposal to 1934.  Sounds interesting to me and it would certainly be high on my list of to-sees!  Too bad it was never to be.  But, ah well.  C’est la vie!

*****

     That's life. Yes ma'am. So, there we go, our first official blogathon post. Don't forget to come 'round Wednesday and see when you're to be posting.

Until Later On~