Max Swain was in many Mack Sennett films and was a big comedian in the early days of film. Happy New Year everyone! Let’s hope Putin is defeated, Trump disappears, the White House is restored, Ukraine wins, The Hamas is defeated and the Pakistan people are able to rebuild. Etc, etc, etc….On personal notes, let’s hope we remain healthy as well as our families, we don’t suffer financial mishaps and our furbabes are all healthy and happy.
Now, on with the show and since this is New Year’s Day, let’s talk about movies where New Year’s Eve plays into a major plot point. Here re my 3…
1. HOLIDAY-1938
I just saw this film, last week, after decades…I think I was a teen when I saw it back in the Middle Ages…Nyuck, nyuck. This film came out when Katherine Hepburn was voted “box office poison” and the studio chiefs were reluctant to cast her in this film but, Cary Grant insisted because they got along so well and knew she was perfect in the role as the free spirited sister of his fiance. Cary Grant plays Johnny, a self man man who worked in investments and who now wants to travel and experience life. His fiancée, played by Doris Nolan, comes from a very wealthy family ruled by her domineering father, whom she adores. Johnny meets the controlling dad, the alcoholic son, played so well by Lew Ayres, and his fiancée’s free-spirited sister, Linda, played with perfect finesse, by Katherine Hepburn. Linda wants to throw the perfect engagement party, small and in their old playroom. Johnny loves it but not the fiancée. New Year’s Eve and the home is packed with insufferable people in all their fancy dress. This New Year’s, transforms some and others, sadly, still the way Daddy wants things. It’s very well acted with some serious overtones but met with classy humour. The cast is excellent and it’s great to see Cary Grant perform some acrobatic stunts without a stuntman. When he came to The States he was part of an acrobatic troupe which served him well in more than just film.
2. MADE FOR EACH OTHER-1939
This is such an underrated film with James Stewart and the luminous Carole Lombard meet, fall in love and marry in just one day. He is married to his work as well which does not sit well with Carole Lombard. She also must contend with Jimmy’s very controlling and manipulative mother who makes things difficult for these 2 lovebirds. They have a baby which only contributes to their stress which culminates at a New Year’s Eve party. They are amidst the celebrations but saddened knowing they will separate..until they find out their baby is very sick and needs a serum but a blizzard stops them from attaining that serum. Charles Coburn, Stewart’s boss, hires a plane to fly the serum in but will the pilot make it? This is a gem of a film with the 2 leads bringing dimension to their characters. New Year’s is the climax of the film when this dramedy turns into an adventure film fraught with intense emotions. Stewart got along well with potty mouthed Carole Lombard who everyone loved. Sadly, during the making of the film, a technician fell to his death when releasing balloons for the New Year’s Eve party.
3. THE POSEIDEN ADVENTURE-1972
I love this Irwin Allen disaster pic which were all the rage during the 70s. Like Airport, this film involves a who’s who of actors on a ship celebrating New Year’s Eve. A rogue wave throws the ship upside down killing poor Leslie Nielsen as the Captain. Gene Hackman ( what a horribly tragic death he had), plays a priest who tries to tell people they must leave and walk the bottom of the ship which is now at the top of the ocean. Most don’t want to leave, believing they will be saved if they stay put. A few decide to follow Hackman including an old couple , played by Shelley Winters and Jack Albertson, a bickering couple, Earnest Borgnine and Stella Stevens, the singer played by Carol Lynley, an older teen played by Pamela Sue Martin along with her kid brother. You also have Roddy McDowell who is a purser on the ship. They all climb the Christmas tree up to safety just before the glass roof cracks up and the ocean comes in killing everyone below. We follow these people as they keep climbing towards the bottom of the ship to safety, some don’t make it and Stella keeps losing her clothes. Shelley got an Oscar nomination for her role as the older lady who used to be a swimming champ. The song,”The Morning After” hit the charts and won the Oscar for best song. This is a fun movie and I love watching it.
What New Year’s movies can you think of? Did you celebrate, stay up to watch the ball drop or go to bed early?
It's still Christmas and, in case you don't know, that awful song, “The 12 Days of Christmas”, is between Christmas and 3 Kings Day- January 6th. So Christmas is still the way ta go! I'm still dealing with my weakness, cough and voice sounding weak, but I’m getting better. I'm joining in with Monday Music Moves Me even if it's Wednesday. To everyone, Happy New Year!
1. BLUE CHRISTMAS BY PORKY PIG-2011
When I first heard this, I laughed so hard, I had tears in my eyes. It's not Mel Blanc singing this but just a gifted individual at some party. Actually, I read it’s Seymour Swine and the Squeelers…ya, don’t know them either.
2. 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BY BOB & DOUG MACKENZIE-1981
I loved SCTV with so many Canadian icons on this show from Bob Thomas and Rick Moranis to John Candy, Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy. This was a great show filmed out of Edmonton, Alberta and these 2 became a big hit for a while.
3. BING CROSBY NARRATES CHRISTMAS BY HOLDERNESS FAMILY-2020
I have watched a few of his videos with his very pretty wife and they are funny. They made it big on YouTube, Instagram, etc… and, I have to say, he makes me laugh and we need that now.
What will the new year bring? Let’s hope, on a personal front, we have no major costs this year. A new furnace, water heater, followed by major vet bills and then, this past year, having to rip out our beautiful ivy fence and install a wooden one that meets the guidelines, is enough. My hubby and I are looking to create…maybe I will have my bathroom on the main floor. This bathroom has been gone since January 6th, 2018 and I would love to not crawl up the stairs at 3am for my nightly pee. My hubby is hoping to put in his garden pond and finally have my secret garden.
My one friend will be going through a transformation, selling the home and divorcing that idiot who has told his 2 daughters not to give him any Christmas gifts and that he’s busy. Why? They dared to speak to my friend’s new boyfriend ( she used to go out with him when she was 20 and they met, by accident, at a festival in July and rekindled their relationship in September). My friend and her ex have been separated for over a year even though they still lived in the house. The ex found out, went ballistic, as I wrote before and made it about him and how he has been hurt by his wife blah blah. Now, he has kicked his 2 girls to the curb for “siding” with their mom, bringing back all their cards, school grades etc…that they gave to him over the years. Thankfully, this year, my friend can find her path.
My other 2 friends, they are brothers, have been caring for their mom, for over 20 years, since their dad died. They worked and, aside from vacations or the day they took off to Toronto, they spent every evening at their mom’s as well as the weekends. She is a good person but she has been manipulative making them feel guilty if they dared not be with her when they had a day off. This past summer, she fell and broker her pelvis and hip and has been bedridden since then. To say she has had physical ailments is an understatement, and she is tired. She is 89 years old and just wants to be with her husband and I can’t fault her for that. She is getting more confused and her body is literally broken. They have a sister and the 3 of them take turns being with her every day since she went home in October. They take shifts and a PSW, is with her from 11pm to 8am. I know she will soon meet up with her husband and it is so very sad. I wanted to visit her but couldn’t during Christmas because of my pneumonia. When she passes, the brothers will be lost because she has been a mainstay I. Their lives for the past 20+ years. I will make sure to invite them every month for dinner and be there for them whenever they need it.
Sorry for going on and on but it just shows how some of us will be meeting the New Year with big transformations and others, like my husband and I, are happy to have a year less eventful.
May all of you have a great year ahead without the major upheavals my friends will be experiencing. A boring life can be good too.
I had a wonderful Christmas with my Hubby and my brother. I did too much and am feeling the effects today so I am resting. Here are 3 films I hope to watch…
1. A CHRISTMAS CAROL-1951
This is my favourite version of a Christmas Carol and Alastair Sim is my favourite Scrooge
2. WHITE CHRISTMAS-1954
Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen all end up at an Inn ru; by their former WW2 Commander who may go bust since it is very warm and no snow. They decide to put on a show and t goes from there. You have the singing of Bing and Rosemary, the antics of Kaye and Vera-Ellen wows with her dancing.
3. A CHRISTMAS STORY- 1983
This is such a fun story about a young boy, in the late 1940s, who wants a certain BB Gun, but all he hears is, “You’ll shoot your eye out”. You follow him dealing with bullies, kid brother, parents, dogs, a freaky Santa, an horrible gift from an Aunt and the BB Gun. Well worth the watch.
I am very late here as I don’t feel too well but I wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas and may you feel peace, happiness, health and joy.
It’s Wednesday, Christmas Eve, it’s the big day for me as it’s when we open up the gifts and have the big meal this evening. Unfortunately, I am getting over pneumonia. I’m feeling much better from last week and got to the doctors in time, I finished my antibiotics but am way behind. Just so you know, I am making rouladen, with gravy, red cabbage, peas, carrots and mashed potatoes. I did make my shortbread and my traditional German cookies. I hope you enjoy the Christmas Music and am entering Monday Music Moves Me. Thank you…I truly mean it because you have red my blog and leave comments and I have been very bad in replying. I do sincerely thank you!!
1. GERMAN CHRISTMAS-1959
2. CHRISTMAS WITH THE BOSTON POPS AND ARTHUR FIEDLER-1959
3. CHRISTMAS WITH IVAN REBROFF-1970
Just enjoy these albums I grew up with and love with ll my heart!
It’s less than a week before Christmas and my tree has lights on it…and nothing else! I usually have it all decorated, but I’m a bit late. It will get done and all will be ok…yeah..still have to go Christmas shopping too. It’s crazy..I know. With work being always crazy, feeling ill( will see the Dr tomorrow) and Bell being assholes, I thought of my mom and daddy and how much Christmas meant to them. I thought of angels and know they are angels and thought of the Christmas movies that involve angels so here we go.
1. BEYOND TOMORROW-1940
This is a little known gem, in my opinion, starring 3 character actors, Charlie Ruggles, C. Aubrey Smith and Harry Carey, who are successful businessmen celebrating Christmas with the diminutive Maria Ouspenskaya playing the Russian landlady. Harry is jaded about the goodness of men so the other 2 decide to prove him wrong and they throw their wallets out to prove men are good( Hahahaaaa). The first woman to find a wallet, takes the $10 out and pays a man to drive her somewhere. The other 2 are found by a young man and woman who deliver the wallets to the home and are invited in for Christmas dinner. They accept and the 3 men are delighted to see the 2 fall in love. Unfortunately, all 3 men are killed in a plane crash but their spirits return to the home they live at. Harry is still somber about mankind but the other 2 believe and realize the 2 lovebirds need help when they see the young man become famous but become stupid falling for a wretched woman forgetting the sweet gal he truly loves. Makes me think of what my Oma said, “ When the dick is up, their brains are up their ass!” Will the 3 angels see tru love triumph? Will the man wake up and realize he’s been an idiot? This is not a great film but it is a superlative B film which is held together by these 3 elderly actors especially the great Harry Carey as the disgruntled older man who does not believe mankind is inherently good. We can relate to this now, with all the sadness in the world and bitter, nasty words being said, we must see beyond this and know that goodness will win out. Look at the people who rose above and defended the defenseless. We will see good triumph.
2. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE-1946
You know I will speak about this great film that stars James Stewart as George Bailey. He is a man ready to take his life believing he has done nothing to help the people he loves or the town until Clarence, played so well by Henry Travers, comes down from heaven to help George see how much he has helped his world he lives in. Clarence decides to show George what life would be like if he were not born and, boy, does George get a rude awakening when he see how cold and unloving the town and people are. This is my favourite film and I cry, every time, I see the ending…not out of sadness, but out of joy! Very few films can make a person cry out of sheer joy especially when George’s brother arrives. The cast is perfect but Jimmy Stewart drives the film and, I think, that is partly due to the PTSD he was dealing with after coming back from the war. His prayer scene is iconic and the tears are real.
3. THE BISHOP’S WIFE-1947
Cary Grant plays the debonair angel, named, of all things, Dudley, who comes to earth to help a Bishop raise funds for a cathedral. The bishop is truly thankful, but becomes very annoyed when Dudley ingratiates himself within his household, especially the Bishop’s wife, played by the holier than thou, Loretta Young. The Bishop, played by David Niven, becomes more jealous and dislikes Dudley even though the Angel is helping him. The casting is excellent ( well, anyone could have played the wife..like Donna Reed) and I can’t believe that Cary Grant was supposed to play the Bishop and David Niven was supposed to play Dudley. Thankfully, Cary Grant saw that Dudley was more to his liking and the powers that be agreed. This is a lovely film with an understated performance by Cary Grant and a shiny performance by Monty Woolley as the curmudgeonly professor who knows what Dudley is.
What other angel movies can you think of that takes place around Christmas? Are you all ready or like me?
I can’t believe Christmas is one week away! I’m back at work, I think I have a lung infection but I’m going to see the Dr on Friday. I am changing my tv, internet and phone to Bell…I’m in it now but this was a mistake. It’s been a nightmare…over 10 hrs on the phone last week, 5 technicians over at my home, I still don’t have my home phone connected nor the TV and I saw a bill I received from Bell for $599! This won’t do but will deal with it on Friday.
Today I am choosing the year of 1951, so let’s see if you can guess which song was nominated, which won and which got none! I’m joining Monday Music Moves Me on a Wednesday, like I normally do and it’s “Anything Christmassy”.
1. SILVER BELLS SUNG BY BOB HOPE AND MARILYN MAXWELL
I still need to see the film, “The Lemon Drop Kid” that stars Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell but this song is now a Christmas standard and I consider it a Carol, not just a song. This song was written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans and it was originally called “Tinkle Bells” until Evans’ wife told him there is no way you can call it that because “tinkle” was a slang word for…you know.
2. IN THE COOL, COOL, COOL OF THE EVENING SUNG BY BING CROSBY AND JANE WYMAN
Another film I need to see, “ Here Comes The Groom” that stars Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman(. Ronald Reagan’s 1st wife), introduces this famous song that was written by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. This is a fun song and quite catchy.
3. A KISS TO BUILD A DREAM ON SUNG BY KAY BROWN
This song was written by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby and Oscar Hammerstein 3rd. The first 2 write it for a Marx Brothersk movie but never used it. Oscar found it and reworked it for this film, “The Strip” that stars Mickey Rooney. Yup, another film I need to see.
So, which film won the Oscar, which was nominated and which came up nadda?
I’ve had the week off for decorating purposes since I can no longer work, come home and start decorating. I just hate that and am trying to come to terms with this shit…oops, sorry. My decorating is coming along but I still have to put some more decorations up, iron the Christmas table cloths, put up my Nativity Scene and my Village..oh and the Christmas Tree which we still need to buy. I still have to bake too…I hope to visit some of your blogs very soon and thank you so much for visiting mine and commenting. I just so very much appreciate it🥰.
I am going to choose whom,I’m think, should have won Best Actor, for 1987, and, yup, he was not, even nominated, if he was, I bet they would have placed him in Best Supporting category even though he is equal to his acting partner. Let’s see if you agree with me or offer someone different or agree with the academy.
1. JOHN CANDY IN PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES
I watch this, almost, every year and, even though this takes place over the American Thanksgiving, it could easily be a Christmas movie. It stars the great John Candy and Steve Martin as 2 very different men, from different classes, who keep meeting up until they must join forces to get Steve Martin home for Thanksgiving. Much to Martin’s chagrin, Candy finds a motel room when their plane must land in Wichita because Chicago got belted with a snowstorm. One horrible event after another occurs, all the while Candy’s character tries to help Steve get home. This is an endearing, warm and very funny film where we can recall scenes smiling when we do. Steve Martin and John Candy are great together and, if Candy lived longer, I bet they would have worked together in other films. The scene, above, just shows the range that Candy had as an actor and the words were improvised by Candy! The director loved it that he kept it in the film and so glad he did. You find out what a dick Martin is and how he loosens up and becomes more human, thanks to Candy’s Character. Candy was not even nominated and this whole film was neglected. Steve Martin deserved a nomination as well as the actual film, the directing and that score! The music is so well placed in every scene that just adds to the richness of each scene.
2. MICHAEL DOUGLAS IN WALL STREET
Michael Douglas finally won Best Actor in this film that co-stars Charlie Sheen as a young up and comer Wall Street broker who is taken under the wing, by Michael Douglas, a corporate Raider. It shows the underbelly of this world that I would never want to be part of. Oliver Stone showcases both actors to their best advantage and Douglas is excellent in his role as the evil Gordon Gekko who will do anything to make more money. I have seen this film and, while it is excellent, I could not get into the characters. I watched it and, promptly, forgot about it. Douglas deserved more accolades for the films, “Falling Down” and “The Wonder Boys.”
3. ROBIN WILLIAMS IN GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM
Robin Williams wowed the critics and the audience about this real life DJ who shook things up in Vietnam and winning over the soldiers who are fighting in a war that they can’t win. Robin deserved the nomination since he explodes on the screen with his riffs, all spontaneously done by Robin, as well as his serious side coming through when he meets the soldiers who are fighting against all odds. This film could not exist without Williams who makes the audience laugh and cry in the span of 10 minutes. It’s a film worth seeing.
Do you agree with my assessment or would you agree with the Academy..or would you choose someone completely different?
