The A to Z Challenge
Katherine Hepburn to Robert Young (Spitfire) who starred in...
1. ENCHANTED COTTAGE-1945-ROMANCE
DIRECTOR:John Cromwell
STARS: Robert Young, Dorothy Maguire, Herbert Marshall, Mildred Natwick
PLOT: 2 ugly people shunned by everyone look completely different when in the cottage. Only their friend, a blind man, sees them for who they are, truly beautiful souls.
QUOTE: Do you know what loneliness is....true loneliness? "Yes"
OSCAR NOMS: Nil
OSCAR WINS: Nil
LOVE: The art direction. I love that cottage!
FAVOURITE SCENE: When the girl goes to a town dance but no man asks her to dance.
FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Major John Hillgrove (Herbert Marshall)
TIDBITS: Robert Young (Marcus Welby fame) loved this film so much and his wife, that he named his own home The Enchanted Cottage.
SIX DEGREES (MORE OR LESS) OF SEPARATION:Robert Young to Gary Cooper (Today We Live) to Audrey Hepburn (Love in the Afternoon) to Sean Connery (Robin and Marion) to Robert Shaw (From Russian With Love) to Steven Spielberg (Jaws) to Christian Bale in...
2. EMPIRE OF THE SUN-1987-WAR DRAMA
DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg
STARS: Christian Bale, John Malcovich, Miranda Richardson
PLOT: Based on a true story. A spoiled boy, separated from his parents when fleeing China from the Japanese in WW2, ends up in a prisoner of war camp where he befirneds some American G.I.'s and learns how to survive.
QUOTE: I can't remember what my parents look like.
OSCAR NOMS: Cinematography, Art Direction, Best Costumes, Best Sound, Film Editing, Original Score
OSCAR WINS: Nil
LOVE: The story of survival.
FAVOURITE SCENE: When the boy sings as he sees the Japanese planes take off.
FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Jamie Graham (Christian Bale)
TIDBITS: David Lean wanted to originally direct but was unable to. Steven Spielberg ended up directing but admired David Lean so much that he took his advice on many things including hiring Nigel Havers who played the Doctor.
SIX DEGREES (MORE OR LESS) OF SEPARATION: Steven Spielberg to Joan Crawford (Night Gallery premier episode) to James Stewart (Ice Follies of 1939) to Eleanor Powell (Born to Dance) to Fred Astaire (Broadway Melody of 1940) to .......stay tuned.....
I'm a dummy. I couldn't figure out what the six degrees part was about because I only knew of people doing it to Kevin Bacon. Are you connecting the two films.
ReplyDeleteI am connecting them but not using Bacon just stars or directors to connect the films.
DeleteI like Dorothy Maguire but she always played such sappy, sweet roles. Enjoyed both these films. Now I need to go 'name my house', lol.
ReplyDeleteYes, she did actually except in April in Paris...I think that's what it's called with Liz Taylor and Van Johnson. She was not a nice person in that film
DeleteHi, dear Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen Enchanted Cottage, but I love Robert Young's acting from his years on Father Knows Best. I was shocked to learn that he had a drinking problem and yet was able to perform under the influence w/o anyone realizing it. Dorothy Maguire has a long list of acting credits but I will always remember her as the mother in the tear-jerker Old Yeller. Empire of the Sun is one of the first movies Mrs. Shady and I saw when we first started dating. We both admire the acting of John Malcovich.
Thanks, dear friend BB!
I know! That was a shock because he always seemed like he would be a tea-todeler but he was the exact opposite. He was fighting demons of some sort.
DeleteBoth movies sound interesting; haven't seen either (and I bet you are not surprised :) Fascinating with how you are doing the 6 degrees of separation; I know I've said that before, but I know it had to take some thinking and planning for it :) Well done!
ReplyDeletebetty
Thank you so much. It does take some thinking and I do quite a bit from my head actually
DeleteEmpire of the Sun was a good movie indeed. Been a while since I've seen it. First I've heard of Enchanted Cottage.
ReplyDeleteI really like Empire and the other film is so sweet
DeleteI haven't seen these.
ReplyDeleteThese are both great
DeleteEmpire of the Sun looks fantastic. I like Christian Bale, too. And not just because of Batman.
ReplyDeleteIt's an excellent film and so very heart wrenching. Bale is excellent
DeleteI've never seen Enchanted Cottage but the storyline sounds familiar. Empire of the Sun was a brilliant film!
ReplyDeletehttp://susan-a-eamestravelfictionandphotos.blogspot.ie/
Both of these films are really good especially Empire
DeleteI've never seen Enchanted Cottage but the storyline sounds familiar. Empire of the Sun was a brilliant film!
ReplyDeletehttp://susan-a-eamestravelfictionandphotos.blogspot.ie/
Now you've posted about two movies I've never heard of! Imagine!
ReplyDeleteBoth these movies are so great
DeleteI've seen bits of Enchanted Cottage. Never saw the whole thing, though. I got dragged to Empire of the Sun. Don't remember much about it, only that I didn't enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteOh bummer....I love Empire and it hits me every time I see it.
DeleteI saw Empire of the Sun in the theater. Really good but tough to watch.
ReplyDeleteIt is tough to watch but such a great film
DeleteChristian Bale must be the boy in this movie. I had no idea he started acting so young.
ReplyDeleteHe is the main boy and star and, yup, he started that young
DeleteNot seen either of today's films. Don't really fancy them.
ReplyDeleteOH bummer! I love both:)
DeleteEmpire of the Sun is a flawed movie, but when it's great it's reeeaaally great. I can still close my eyes and hear that kid yell, "P-51! The Cadillac of the sky!"
ReplyDeleteThere may be some flaws but I just loved everything about it especially the theme of survival
DeleteEnchanted Cottage sounds like a Twilight Zone episode.
ReplyDeleteCool films. :)
You know, I never thought of that, but it could be
DeleteAww, that's sweet that R Young named his home The Enchanted Cottage.
ReplyDeleteIt is actually...despite his demons he seemed to be a romantic
DeleteOnce I saw an episode of Twilight Zone where two beautiful people were being shunned for being beautiful among a community where it was considered more socially acceptable to be "ugly." Reading your review of the Enchanted Cottage made me think of that even though it's a different story. Although if we were looking at the inner beauty of the characters in Enchanted College, I could see parallels with the Twilight Zone episode. Hope to read more of your posts this month!
ReplyDeleteYes! beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder! That was an excellent film and this film could have even made an impression on Rod Serling
DeleteYou're killing me~! These selections have all been so good!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you like my selections. I hope I keep it up for you
DeleteI've never seen either of these movies but the quote from Empire of the Sun really got me. How sad.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the plot of the Enchanted Cottage. How clever!
It is clever and that quote was very sad especially when watching this film.
DeleteI didn't realize Christian Bale started as a child actor. Now his entitled, immature behaviour makes so much more sense...
ReplyDeleteI've never seen either movie. Maybe I should have.
ReplyDeleteBoth of these sound really good, especially the Enchanted Cottage!
ReplyDeleteWhat a powerful quote ("I can't remember what my parents look like.") Steven Spielberg is an incredibly heartfelt creative genius.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing great with the Challenge, Brigit. I'm impressed with all the details you're pouring into this.
=)
I've tried to watch Empire of the Sun, but I kept falling asleep. I don't know if it's that the movie is a slow starter, or if it says more about my level of exhaustion. :)
ReplyDeleteThe cards are beautiful, as always.
One I know! Empire of the Sun - good book, too. I'm way behind blog reading and should really be packing anyway. I do like a bit of displacement activity though,
ReplyDeleteThe Glasgow Gallivanter
Birgit I don't know, if either of these movie titles do much for me. But, I certainly appreciate reading the highlights and will keep them in my back pocket for reference.
ReplyDeleteCurious as a Cathy
All Things Vintage: Elvgren Art #AprilA2Z
Are you making the Alphabet cards too? They are gorgeous. Your titbits are fascinating.
ReplyDeletex Asha