I love my Harley and I believe my former in- laws would have too. They loved dogs and knew how to train dogs! Dad( not my Daddy) had trained the dogs that, when they went camping, he would just tell Trixie to pack and she would bring her leash, bed, and dog bowl to the camper. I bet they could have trained Harley to behave around food. He grabbed the chicken bone, again, off my plate and, this morning, he got another bone off the ground plus a sandwich in the plastic wrap! We have to get a better doggie muzzle. Anyway, March is rough for my ex because his brother died on March 1st, 6 yrs ago; dad died on March 14th; mom's( my other mom) birthday is the 18th and their wedding anniversary was on the 25th. Mom passed away April 14th, I believe. Dad followed that next March over 10 yrs now. I like to send a tribute to these 2 dog loving, camping loving, wonderful people who got married back in 1950. Here are the top songs from that time...
1. MONA LISA SUNG BY NAT KING COLE
This song was written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston for the film, " Captain Carey U. S. A." In 1949 but became famous by Nat King Cole's smooth vocals.
2. GOODNIGHT IRENE SUNG BY GORDON JENKINS AND THE WEAVERS
My daddy hated this song because his brother's wife's name was Irene and he wasn't overly fond of Auntie Irene..maybe because she was not not the faithful sort. I liked this song and had no clue this was done by the famous Leadbelly back in 1933. Apparently, he was inspired by a song named, " Irene, Goodnight," by Gussie Lord Davis back in 1883.
3. TENNESSEE WALTZ SUNG BY PATTI PAGE
This song, written by Pee Wee King with lyrics by Redd Stewart back in 1946, was released in 1948 but became most famous by Ms. Page. I can see mom and dad dance to this. I bet they are dancing to this now.
Harley loves to go out into the snow and slip and slide like a goof. He loves being held...but not held back...lol. I hate March and the weather because we can get snow, sleet, sun, rain and back to snow all in 1 day. This happened a couple of weeks back. It was snowing when we went into the grocery store but was raining when we came out. We went to another store and 10 minutes later, it was whipping icy snow pellets onto our face. Ughh! Keeping that in mind, I thought I would choose 3 films that spark this fun.
So...yesterday, was my Oscar songs- who won, who was nominated and who came up with nuttin. The winner was " The Last Time I Saw Paris" and boy, was Jerome Kern pissed for winning! Yup, you got that right because he created this song a few years before and Kate Smith sang it on her radio show frequently. He thought it was ludicrous to win for a song that was old. Due to this win, the Academy changed the rules where a song had to be introduced in the movie. The nominated song was "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and the song that got nuttin was "So Near and Yet, So Far." Actually, "Chattanooga Choo Choo" was supposedly the favourite to win...oh well.
Now back to the storms...
1. THE RAINS CAME-1939
I spoke about this film before but I do like it and the rain is important. You have Myrna Loy as a married woman, in India, who is a bit free with her wandering eye. She meets up with an old flame and they share more than just talk. Enter dashing Tyrone Power as a selfless doctor who gives to the people who need it. Of course Myrna falls for him just as the rains come along with the cholera. This is an exciting picture as well as a romance thayvi can watch again and again.
2. THE ICE STORM- 1997
I remember the ice storm that crippled much of Quebec. It was quite devastating to put it mildly and one that took a few lives. This film takes place in 1973 with all the harvest gold and ugly fashions in tow. You are witness to 2 families who are imploding and we are witness to it as we see kids experiment with sex and drugs while the adults do the same. It stars Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Christina Ricci, and a bad ice storm.
3. EVEREST-2015
I just rewatched this film and it is so good albeit sad because it's based on the true story of a failed expedition to the top of Everest. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Brolin who lead people up to the top. The unfortunate disaster is the weather because a blizzatd suddenly springs up and it lasts. You see how the people try to make it down and some do but some don't. This disaster occurred in 1997 and one can still see a couple of the people up there to this day because the bodies are not brought down but are left where they died. I have no desire to go there and see the bodies who look like they are asleep. From what I know it's like a traffic jam going up the summit, of live people not the dead ones,... No thank you.
Any storms you can relate to that were made into movies?
Oh, rain for the next 2 days but might become snow by the weekend....I hate March.
It’s 1941 and the World War is raging and the Oscars keep going strong. This year it was a bit of a controversy with the songs but I won’t say what for…yet. You know the drill, which one won, which was nominated and which was neither. So, let’s get on with the show…
1. BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY SUNG BY THE ANDREW SISTERS
These gals were big during the war years and this was one of their biggest hits, written by Hugh Prince, with lyrics by Don Raye. This song, performed by this legendary sister group was from the Abbott & Costello film, “Buck Privates.”
2. SO NEAR AND YET SO FAR SUNG BY FRED ASTAIRE
This is a lovely song written by Cole Porter for this wonderful musical, “You’ll Never Get Rich” starring Astaire and the lovely Rita Hayworth who, apparently, was Astaire’s favourite dance partner. I love the dancing.
3. THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS SUNG BY ANN SOTHERN
This is just a beautiful song written by the great team of Jerome Kern (music) and Oscar Hammerstein 11 (lyrics), before Hammerstein met Rodgers. It’s been recorded several times and was written at a time when Paris fell so the sadness is all too real. This was from the film, “Lady, Be Good.”
So, which film won the Oscar, which was nominated and which got neither?
I’m inspired by Wandering Through The Shelves, who has reduced her posting themes to twice per month, to keep posting weekly but I’m choosing my own themes. Since the Oscars were just on( I talked about them on my previous post, with some Hollywood songs), I decided to keep with the Hollywood theme and chose 3 films that’s all about Hollyweird ( like that, Stephen) and I have a little bit of a theme within a theme…
1. A STAR IS BORN-1937
I decided to choose this early version of this oft filmed story somewhat based on a true story ( either based on Elizabeth Bergner’s marriage or Barbara Stanwyck’s first marriage). It’s all about a young woman who wants to make it in Hollywood who meets an alcoholic film star who sees her potential. They fall in love but as her film star rises, his declines. This is a really excellent film starring Janet Gaynor and Frederic March as the 2 lovebirds and they are so good in their roles with Janet exuding sweetness but strength dealing with the man she loves who selflessly promotes her star power. I do prefer the Judy Garland version the best but this is a good one to see.
2. THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL-1952
This film stars Kirk Douglas as a son of a famous film producer who also makes a mark for himself but on the backs of 3 of his former friends, a writer, an actress and a director. A movie producer mogul, played by Walter Pidgeon, brings these 3 together, Dick Powell, Lana Turner and Barry Sullivan and we learn, in flashback, how the producer, brought them to success but at a cost. Each one wants to kill him but, without Kirk, each one would not be famous. They are all a success. This is, apparently, based somewhat on Val Lewton, who was a producer and director most famous for his atmospheric, eerie films like “Cat People.” This film is well done with Kirk Douglas playing a bit of a slime and exceeds at it. Gloria Grahame won a Best Supporting actress Oscar as the wife of the writer.
3. SUNSET BOULEVARD-1950
I normally discuss the earliest film first but I wanted to showcase Hollyweird from a newcomer to established to, finally, forgotten. This is a great film and one that angered some like Louis B, Mayor who thought Billy Wilder, the director, should have been horsewhipped. I spoke about this film before but it is a must see with William Holden as a has been writer on the lamb from 2 guys who want to repossess his car. He takes a turn into an old place from yesteryear and meets a stern butler, the Lady of the house who seems larger than life and a dead chimp. Soon he realizes he has met the once, great Norma Desmond who was a major, silent film star but now is forgotten living in a decaying mansion that once hosted huge parties. Gloria Swanson just nails it as the slowly going insane Norma as does Holden as the insensitive cad who succumbs to Norma’s advances but doesn’t mind being used. So much of this film has great references to what was the dream time of Silent Cinema. Gloria was a famous silent film star who worked with Cecil B DeMille many times and, yes, he did truly call her Little Fella. Erich Von Stroheim, who plays her butler was a famous director during the silents and the house was one of many mansions, most now gone to the developers’ wrecking ball, sadly. I love Mae Murray’s reaction upon seeing this film ( she was a famous actress who, today, would be a reality star but a better one than the dreck that’s on today), “None of us floozies was ever that nuts.” I love that quote.
If I was sitting behind that irritating cloud, out would come my scissors!
I'm all about Hollywood and, of course, I watched the Oscars. First, I picked 3 songs that just work for me and I am adding this to the Monday Music Moves Me post. Here are 3 songs I hope you enjoy...
1. GOING HOLLYWOOD-1933
This was the first song that popped into my head and I had to use Der Bingle's version. This was from. The 1933 film of the same name written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown.
2. HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD-1937
This was written by Johnny Mercer ( lyrics) and Richard Whiting (music). The lyrics have some slang and other things in it that we may not know but I do like that the one lyrics makes it a fact that a hatcheck girl can be a star if she does more than just act. The casting couch was already around for decades...sadly. This is sung by Frances Langford and Johnny Davis.
3. HOLLYWOOD OR BUST- 1956
I hope this is the song....This is also from a movie of the same name starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis when they wouldn't even talk to each other. It was the last film they made together. The song was written by Sammy Fain( music) and Paul Francis Webster ( lyrics). Dean always sings so well ...I do like his voice.
THE OSCARS...
Of course, I watched the whole thing and it went rather swiftly kn 3.5 hours...lol. I thought Jimmy Kimmel was quite good but would have loved to have seen Ricky Gervais there. I'm so happy Michelle Yeoh won (Michelle Williams looked less enthusiastic with her sad clapping) as well as Ke Huy Quon who I last saw as a kid, with Harrison Ford, in the 2nd Indiana Jones movie. Funny, Kimmel was right, 2 stars from the movie, "Encino Man" won Oscars- Ke Huy Quon and Brendan Fraser. Angela Bassett looked pissed not winning the Golden calf, um , I mean the Oscar, Jamie Lee Curtis did and others seemed....hungry.
2 bad things- Hugh Grant is a scrotum for being condescending, rude and obnoxious to the interviewer, plus size model Ashley Graham, who is not a professional at this. He was an ass! The second was the In Memorium part where they gave more to dumbass Lenny Kravitz singing with sunglasses on, than to the people who deserved more than a split 2nd on the screen. They gave Irene Cara some love but Angela Lansbury just a quick picture? Really? Here are the people they missed and I'm just mentioning some of the actors: Marsha Hunt, Stella Stevens, Nehemiah Persoff, Robert Blake, Anne Heche, Tom Sizemore, Leslie Jordan, Paul Sorvino, Charlbi Dean ( she was in Triangle Of Sadness which was up for 3 Oscars), Pat Carroll, Barbara Walters ( she did all those Oscar interview specials for years), Bo Hopkins, L. Q. Jones, Sacheen Littlefeather, Robert Morse, Virginia Patton, Andrew Prine, Henry Silva, Sylvia Syms, Topol, Jean Louis Trintignant, David Warner, plus more..add if you want.
Now, I got 19 oscar guesses right! That's pretty good if I say so myself. I missed with Best Score whom, I think, should have gone to Babylon. That music still resonates with me where the others don't.
Now, to bore you even more I'm choosing 5 best and 5 worst outfits. There were a lot more blecchhs out there than wow, that's beautiful but I tried my best.
BEST DRESSED
Malala Yousafzai
Andie McDowell
Salma Hayek
Angela Bassett
Jessica Chastain
Yes, I love glitter...sue me. I didn't choose some others because I didn't like their attitude on the carpet.
WORST DRESSED
Florence Pugh- Spanx + Bedsheets
Jessie Buckley- Evil Queen dressed badly
Tems- got caught in a cloud of shame
Melissa McCarthy- she farted red
Leslie Petersen- Barbie has an off day
OK.. ...2 more 1 good and 1 bad, Gorgon Star Trek Bad
Kerry Condon
Janet Yang in Shimmer Gorgon look from Star Trek.
Which is your favourite and which is your worst? Watch any of it? Think of any Hollywood songs?
Wandering Through The Shelves picked an interesting theme which put my thinking cap on. I believe I chose some good movies that work so here are my 3...
1. KISS ME KATE-1953
This fun musical stars Katherine Grayson and Howard Keel as a divorced couple who play opposite one another in a musical version of the "Taming of the Shrew". The problem is that these 2 bicker just like their Shakespearian counterparts. This is a funny, fun and musically gifted film with Ann Miller, Tommy Rall, Bob Fosse, and Keenan Wynn rounding out the cast.
2. THE NUTTY PROFESSOR-1963
I decided to choose this original film version rather than the remake with Eddie Murphy because this was Jerry Lewis’s baby. I am not a huge fan of Lewis and, to be Frank ( or Ralph or Archie), I found this character annoying... both the nerd and Buddy Love. I can't help but think Jerry Lewis was closer to his Buddy Love character. Anyway....nerdy scientist decides to take a potion which turns him into a suave, handsome man about town but who is rude and obnoxious. The object of the dual Lewis is nerdy scientist teacher's student played by Stella Stevens ( she recently died). Unfortunately, the potion wears off at the most inopportune times. This movie is based on Stevenson's, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
3. APOCALYPSE NOW-1979
This is an excellent film where the back story on the making of this film is just ad crazy. This film is based on the Joseph Conrad book, Heart of Darkness but, instead of the Congo, the film takes place duringbthe Vietnam War. Martin Sheen ( who suffered a heart attack while making the film) is required to go deep into the jungle and kill insane soldier, played my Marlon Brando. You join in with Sheen as he travels up the river to kill Kurtz. I get mesmerized by many scenes and the music is excellent. This is a true classic.
So...what films can you piece together from a book you have read?
So, I can’t resist. Monday Music Moves Me that I find over at Curious As A Cathy, suggested that you have the ability to create a 4 day concert of music with people, living or dead ( in the case of the Rolling Stones…the Undead) to be part of your musical festival. I have to participate so this is lengthy but, you might like it…appreciate it? Oh well, I love it so, so there🤪.
DAY 1
ABBA ( well, duh!)
FERNANDO-1975
This was one of the very first songs I heard from this group I love so much.
ABBA-THE WAY OLD FRIENDS DO-1980
I think ABBA could create a song that, sounds, almost, classical. I think of my best friend, Loretta, when I hear this song. We are THE best of friends.
DAY 2
THE MOODY BLUES
DAWN IS A FEELING-1967
From their iconic album, “ Days of Future Passed”, I find this piece haunting.
THE MOODY BLUES-NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN-1967
This is also from the same album and, maybe, their most famous song, understandably so. I love this s well as the lament.
DAY 3
ARTHUR FIEDLER AND THE BOSTON POPS-JALOUSIE-1956
I was a weird child as this guy was one I really wanted to see. I loved watching him on PBS especially when he conducted his famous symphony( due to him) during the July 4th celebrations. To me, he is one of the best conductors ever.
ARTHUR FIEDLER AND THE BOSTON POPS- 1812 OVERTURE-1976
Yes, lengthy but Tchaikovsky never sounded so good….I hope
DAY 4
ANDRE RIEU AND HIS ORCHESTRA- OH FORTUNA
I love Andre Rieu and his beautiful orchestra where the men are dressed in their best penguin attire and the women look like princessessesss. My mom loved him and we saw him twice and…I will be seeing him in Toronto with my mom’s best friend…who doesn’t know that yet, late Christmas and birthday present. Carl Orff’s music never sounded so good.
ANDRE RIEU AND HIS ORCHESTRA- AND THE WALTZ GOES ON-2011
Guess who wrote this beautiful piece? He was 19 years old when he wrote this waltz in 1964 but was too scared to ever have it performed until his wife sent it to Andre Rieu who decided to premiere it with this man in the audience. Who is this man? Yup, Anthony Hopkins, that’s who.
Who would you have perform at your 4 day music fest?
