The Snake Pit (1948)

Hello Everyone!

I'm just going to warn you now, I felt the need to spoil this movie, so...

 *SPOILER WARNING*

Not that I think it makes that much of a difference. If the movie's any good you're going to like it whether or not you know what happens, but some people don't agree so there's the warning. ;)

      Olivia de Havilland starred as Virginia Cunningham. Virginia has been placed in a mental hospital with a case of extreme forgetfulness, an inability to accept love from anyone (including her husband played by Mark Stevens), and a horrific aversion to the date of May 12th. While her doctor (Leo Genn) tries to find the source of her troubles we're left to wonder if Virginia will ever make it out of her "prison".

     From the moment The Snake Pit opens with it's Oscar-nominated score to the moment it ends and we're all smiling because Virginia has finally made it out, this movie is absolutely entrancing. Really the atmosphere was so incredible, almost to the point of being hypnotic. While that may or may not sound like a perfect reason to avoid this movie, trust me, it's not a bad thing. The Snake Pit was altogether one of the most intriguing movies I've ever seen and technically one of the best I've seen. 
 
     Anatole Litvak directed (quite brilliantly if I do say so myself) and, although he didn't win, received a Best Director Oscar nomination for his work. The Snake Pit was also nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar.

     This was by far the most amazing DeHavilland performance I've ever seen. Livvie's Virginia was traumatized, tormented, and haunted by memories of neglect and mountains of unreasonable guilt, which makes us pity her. Yet there's this sane streak in Virginia - it's the remnant that makes her sarcastically question the doctors' ability to question her and it's the remnant that makes her yearn to get rid of her insanity. This sane streak was by far my favorite part of the character, it's the part of her that makes you wish she would get better as much as she wishes it, and it makes you cheer for her at the end when she finally gets out.       
     Olivia de Havilland really did a wonderful job with this part. She takes all of the conflicting emotions and blends them near-perfectly. She never, as far as I noticed, went over the edge of any melodramatic cliffs; and, on the other side of the spectrum, her character was never too smart bringing us to think Livvie might not have been the right person to play an authoress gone mad. She was much worthy of the oscar nomination she got, even if she didn't win [Missy didn't win that year either, so I'm just going to put them on an imaginary we didn't win the 1949 Best Actress Oscar team, haha]. 

     The rest of the cast was good, but because it really was Livvie's movie there isn't much to mention. I loved Leo Genn, the guy who played Olivia's doctor. One might notice a few popular character actors: Beulah Bondi played a crazy lady who thought she was married to a millionaire, totally out of character [read: she wasn't playing anyone's mother], but entertaining. Natalie Schafer, best known as Mrs. Howell of Gilligan's Island, had a small role as Olivia de Havilland's mother in a few flash-backs. Ruth Donnelly, always fun to watch, played another inmate. And finally, one of my all-time favorite character actresses, Mary Treen, played a nurse in one scene. 

 

Favorite Quote: 

Celia Sommerville: And we're so crowded already. I just don't know where it's all gonna end! Virginia Cunningham: I'll tell you where it's gonna end, Miss Somerville... When there are more sick ones than well ones, the sick ones will lock the well ones up. 

Until Later On~  

Photos for the Day:

Hello Everyone,

     Today's photos are of Bette Davis. Now, I am not a die-hard Davis fan [not a die-hard Crawford fan, either, as far as that goes], and I don't normally think she's pretty, but these pictures of her are gorgeous: 

 

   

      One of the things I've always disliked about Bette was that she seems to try so hard. Whether she's trying to look glamorous or romantic or whatever, it never feels natural; but these candid shots (I think they're LIFE magazine photos) bring out something so fresh in Bette. And she doesn't look like she's about to bite anyone's head off! It makes me think she could be one of my favorites, but I don't see her like this often enough.
     Anyway, there's the tidbit for today - ugh! I adore these photos! 

Until Later On~ 

The Auteur's Guide to Romance | Quiz Results:

But, you know, I'm not happy about that at all, because, you know, I hate Frank Capra and all his corny romantic rubbish...

  CAPRA-ROMANTICS, FOR THE WIN!

Now it's your turn:
1. Take the quiz made by good ol' Rachel @ The Girl with the White Parasol.
2. Leave a comment for Rachel and thank her for the pure awesomeness.
3. Leave a comment here - I'd love to know what kind of romantic you are!

Until Later On~

Cheek to Cheek: Astaire and Rogers

'Ello Followers! (all 40 of you!)

     It's St. Valentine's Day and what better way to celebrate, but to talk about my favorite on-screen couple, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers? There is no better way, so we shall proceed:

Heaven, I'm in Heaven, and my heart beats so that I can hardly speak. And I seem to find the happiness I seek, when we're out together dancing cheek to cheek. 

Cheek to Cheek from Top Hat (1935)

     Fred Astaire, born Frederic Austerlitz Jr. in 1899, started dancing at a young age. He danced successfully alongside his sister Adele until 1932 when she retired in favor of marriage. At that point, Fred went to Hollywood and got a part in 1933's Dancing Lady. That same year, he played in Flying Down to Rio alongside a girl named Ginger Rogers.

     Ginger Rogers was born Virginia Katherine McMath in 1911. When she was 14 she won a Charleston contest, she was in vaudeville until she was 17, and in 1929 she went to Hollywood. She had a first real breakthrough in 42nd Street (1933). And later that year, she got a part in Flying Down to Rio.

     That’s where the partnership began, fourth and fifth billing in someone else’s vehicle, but they were well-received. Even though, at first, Astaire didn’t want to repeatedly team up with Rogers they made 10 movies in all: Flying Down to Rio (1933), The Gay Divorcee (1934), Roberta (1935), Top Hat (1935), Swing Time (1936), Follow the Fleet (1936), Shall we Dance? (1937), Carefree (1938), The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939), and The Barkleys of Broadway (1949). 

     Nine movies over the period of six years and one later film starring the same pair begs the question “why did they make so many movies together?”. Of course, a probable reason is the fact that they, as a pair, were the third top box-office draw (after Shirley Temple and Clark Gable) during the 30s. Then there’s this little thing about their being perfect together…

    

     Freddie and Ginger are my favorites, so any thoughts to come are completely biased, but who can honestly say that they weren’t great together, anyway?

     

     Chemistry? Ginger and Fred had buckets of it. Have you ever seen them look at each other?! There’s more in one of their mutual glances than some couples have in a whole movie. And, while they did have some steamy stares, even their smiles at each other are contagious. I don’t think anyone ever looked as if they had as more pure fun working together than Fred and Ginger. Take for example the “Pick Yourself Up” scene from Swing Time – they smile the whole darned time. 

     

     Ginger claims they weren't best friends off-screen, even though she does admit that they had fun while they were working. She also said of Freddie, “I adore the man. I always have adored him. It was the most fortunate thing that ever happened to me, being teamed with Fred”. The great man repays the compliment in saying of his favorite leading lady, “Ginger was brilliantly effective. She made everything work for her. Actually, she made things very fine for the both of us and she deserves most of the credit for our success.”

     Fred and Ginger were a perfect pair, and their personalities meshed like nothing else. Freddie was all charm, and Ginger was purely adorable. While Fred was happily tapping his way into our hearts, Ginger was right behind him with all of the spunk someone could ask for. Not to mention, they’re both witty and have great comedic timing, which brings me to think there may not be any one couple who are more purely fun to watch than Freddie and Ginger.      

     

Of course, no article about Astaire and Rogers would be complete without an ode to their dancing. Fred Astaire was easily the best dancer of his or any generation, and Ginger Rogers was his most famous partner. The funny thing is, Ginger didn’t really dance - Freddie said, "Ginger had never danced with a partner before Flying Down to Rio. She faked it an awful lot. She couldn't tap and she couldn't do this and that ... but Ginger had style and talent and improved as she went along. She got so that after a while everyone else who danced with me looked wrong." When they danced it was like magic. Like a song. It was love come to life. I can’t say this without touching on their chemistry again, but watching Freddie dance with Ginger is love – sweet romance in its purest form.

     Even if Ginger wants to complain about it [she said: After all, it's not as if we were Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. We did have careers apart from each other.], I think Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers’ names will always be connected. Can we keep from remembering them together when they were so wonderful? I think not! Trying to remember Fred without ever mentioning Ginger or vice versa would be like trying to remember the sky and not ever taking the stars into account! 

Heaven, I'm in Heaven, and the cares that hung around me through the week, seem to vanish like a gambler's lucky streak, when we're out together dancing cheek to cheek.

"Cheek to Cheek" from Top Hat (1935)  

     Happy St. Valentine's Day to all you lovely people!

Until Later On~

Valentines Day Meme

Hello! 

      This may sound weird, but I love being back on my blog. It's really ridiculous how happy writing makes me... And, guess what! I finally finished an "about me" thing for my blog. I've been trying to think of something forever and I think I've finally got something that I can make stick. 
  
     Anyway, in honor of Valentines day, Meredith at Forever Classics made a Valentines Day Meme! Here are the questions and my answers in italics:

1. What is your favorite romantic comedy?

The Lady Eve (1941). My favorite movie in general.

 2. What is your favorite romantic drama?

California (1947).

3. Worst romance film you've seen?

You know what? I really don’t like Algiers (1938).

4. How do you feel about the majority of romantic films being labeled "chick flicks"?

Ridiculous. You don't have to be a chick to like romance. Two guy-friends who love Casablanca instantly come to mind.
5. Favorite on-screen couple?

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, of course.

6. Favorite off-screen couple?

Bob and Missy

7. Best kiss in a movie?

The many kisses at the end of The Lady Eve. “I’m married.”… “but, Darling, so am I!”  
8. Favorite romantic scene?

The moonlit deck scene in The Lady Eve when Hopsie tries to explain to Jean how he feels about her. Most. Beautiful. Scene. Ever.
9. Who are 2 film characters you wished had gotten together, but never did?

Barbara Stanwyck and Herbert Marshall’s characters in “Always Goodbye”. IT’S SO SAD.
10. Two actors you think would have great chemistry, but have never done a film together?

Jimmy and Missy. My favorites. And honestly, if they were in a movie together I wouldn’t care if they had no chemistry, a sucker of a plot, and the worst script ever. 

I WOULD BE HAPPY.
11. Favorite romantic song in a film (doesn't have to be from a musical)?

“Night and Day” from The Gay Divorcee (1934).
12. Best score from a romance film?

Am I allowed to say that I love the score from “The Lady Eve” after using TLE for so many answers? Because I do love it.

13. Most romantic film quote?

At the end of California Ray Milland is leaving to serve a couple of years in prison for deserting the army and he asks Missy what she’ll be doing while he’s gone, she replies something to the effect of “I’ll be here. Waiting for you”. *Heart. Melting.*

14.  A film you'd recommend to watch on Valentine's Day?

The Lady Eve (1941), but seeing as how I firmly believe that it is the best movie ever, I also recommend it 24/7.

      
Until Later On~

Frankly, My Dear, It's a Survey

Hello Folks! 

     Guess what?! It's February 10th! And guess what else?! Natalie's back! Whether you want her or not, this girl is back to haunt the blogosphere and fill your minds with whatever sort of holy Classic Hollywood rubbish she feels like. mwahaha!
     I'm back on line early because it's not half as difficult to settle into a foreign country as I thought it would be. And despite what I first believed I have plenty of time to write! It gets dark here around 7:30PM so after that I'm practically free to do whatever I please [and fill your minds with whatever sort of holy Classic Hollywood rubbish I feel like, but we've been over that already]. The reviews will be fewer and farther between because of my lack of super good internet connection and therefore lack of streaming/youtube ability; but I will still be here posting other things, and I actually have about 20 classic movies so I'll spread reviews of those out this year.

     Now, done with introductions, my good friend, Rianna of Frankly, My Dear made a survey! I've been waiting forever and a day for her to do it, so I'm really glad it's finally here!

1. Favorite classic Disney?

Cinderella (1950)! "A dream is a wish your heart makes when it's fast asleep, in dreams you will lose your heartaches".... le sigh.

2. Favorite film from the year 1939?

I'm going to be super biased right here and say "Union Pacific", but I also love "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington".

3. Favorite Carole Lombard Screwball role?

"My Man Godfrey", for I adore Irene Bullock … and I really want to be adopted by the whole crazy Bullock family …

4. Favorite off screen couple? (It’s ok if it ended in divorce.) 

Hmmm…. Decisions, decisions, decisions...

 
Bob and Missy. <3 IN COLOUR!

5. Favorite pair of best friends? (i.e: Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Crawford)

So, Ray Milland and Barbara Stanwyck may not have been best friends, but ‘Reggie’ and ‘Ruby’ are definitely my favorite classic Hollywood amigos.

6. Favorite actor with a mustache? 

Errol Flynn…although he did not always have one.

7. Favorite blonde actress?

Blondie!!! [Joan Blondell]. <3

8. Favorite pre-code?

Baby Face (1933) I really like 1931’s Night Nurse – forbidden Hollywood and all that TCM-box-set jazz... By the way, I actually do like "Baby Face" [mostly the ending], but it's so pre-code! I mean, too pre-code for my poor heart to accept it as a decent answer.

9. Which studio would you have liked to join?

Either RKO when Fred and Ginger and Missy were there or Paramount in the early 40s when Missy was doing The Lady Eve and other such perfection.

10. Favorite common on screen pairing that SHOULD have gotten married? 

 Fred and Ginger

11. Favorite I Love Lucy episode?

I, sadly, do not watch half as much Lucy as I should, so I’m going to give the most unimaginative answer possible and say the vitameatavegamin episode. “And it’s so tasty, too! Just like candy…” or something like that.

12.  Out of these actresses which one do you like best: Lucille Ball, Ingrid Bergman, Natalie Wood, Audrey Hepburn, Greer Garson, Grace Kelly, or Katharine Hepburn?

Sadly, mon amie Rianna and I share no favorite actresses, BUT I really like Grace Kelly and Lucy Ball [then again, who doesn’t love Lucy?]. 

13. Shadowy film noir from the 1940’s or splashy colorful musicals from the 1950’s?

FILM NOIR!!! My morbid side [yes, I have a morbid side] just cannot help loving all the suspense and the fatal females and the murder and the blonde wigs and …

 Double Indemnity, for the win. 

14. Actor or actress with the best autograph (photo preferred).

I really love Olivia de Havilland’s autograph. 

 Livvie's block at Grauman's.

15. A baby (or childhood, or teenage) photo of either your favorite actress or actor (or both, if you’d like.)

 

Missy was the cutest baby ever.

      Thank you, thank you, thank you, Rianna for doing this survey!! Frankly, My Dear, it was lots and lots of fun.

Until Later On~