Saturday, April 2, 2016
The Letter B
The A to Z Challenge
To Gregory Peck (Spellbound-Hitch directed) in...
1. THE BIG COUNTRY-1958-WESTERN
DIRECTOR:William Wyler
STARS:Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Jean Simmons, Burl Ives*, Caroll Baker, Charles Bickford
PLOT: Man from the East comes to marry the girl of his dreams and gets in between land wars over the Big Muddy.
QUOTE: Crawl, you act like a dog, crawl like one! Crawl, I said, Crawl!
OSCAR NOMS: Musical Score
OSCAR WINS: Best Supporting Actor*
LOVE: The music! It really invigorates me
FAVOURITE SCENE:Hard to choose but when Burl Ives character comes to the big engagement party and tells off the big cheese, that is golden.
FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Rufus Hannassey (Burl Ives)
TIDBITS:William Wyler, the director, and Gregory Peck, the star clashed big time and Wyler vowed never to work with Peck ever again.
SIX DEGREES (MORE OR LESS) OF SEPARATION: Gregory Peck to Robert Mitchum (Cape Fear), Mitchum to Ralph Bellamy (Winds of War-miniseries), Bellamy to Eddie Murphy Trading Spaces) to...
2. BOWFINGER-1999-COMEDY
DIRECTOR: Frank Oz
STARS:Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Christine Baranski, Heather Graham, Terrence Stamp
PLOT: Sad sack, bad film producer creates a movie using a famous action hero as his star without that star knowing it.
QUOTE: It's too cerebral! We're trying to make a movie here, not a film.
OSCAR NOMS:Nil
OSCAR WINS:Nil
LOVE: the writing-Steve Martin oozes brilliance.
FAVOURITE SCENE: so, so many but love the freeway scene
FAVOURITE CHARACTER: "Jiff" Ramsey...close second is the dog:)
TIDBITS: The gold digging character played by Heather Graham is supposedly based on Anne Heche whom Steve Martin dated. Anne Heche had a big affair with Ellen Degeneres.
SIX DEGREES (MORE OR LESS) OF SEPARATION: Eddie Murphy to Ralph Bellamy to....have to wait:)
Can't comment on today's films because I've not seen either of them, but loving your header letters!
ReplyDeleteThe Glasgow Gallivanter
Glad you like the letters I made. Maybe one day you will have seen these films
DeleteThe Big Country was one of my dad's favourite films. Looking forward to Monday's films. Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteYour dad has great taste:) have a wonderful weekend
DeleteYour six degrees connections are brilliant. Trading Places is a great movie to know for that game - good generation bridge.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like my 6 degrees. Ralph Bella,y comes in handy
DeleteReally nice to see all the summaries. Thanks. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteMary Montague Sikes
Notes Along the Way
The Artful Way
Glad you like the summaries. Have a great weekend too
DeleteI haven't seen either of these movies. Love the way you are presenting them. And your letter at the top of your post is beautiful...as is everything you do!
ReplyDeleteHappy A-Z, Day Two!
Michele at Angels Bark
Thanks! Glad you like my letters
DeleteWasn't crazy about Bowfinger, but it was interesting that Frank Oz directed it. Yeah, he'll always be Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear to me.
ReplyDeleteI know! I didn't know he directed this either until I looked it up. I love Bowfinger but it is all about film making and there is a lot of inside stuff that I got a kick out of it of
DeleteHi, dear BB!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember watching either of these movies, but I can testify that Burl Ives was an excellent actor and folk song recording artist. I remember the splash made by the latest "it girl" of the period, Carroll Baker. I have seen both Cape Fear movies and can't decide which one I like more. Christine Baranski is a treasure - superb in every role she accepts. My earliest impressions of Heather Graham were formed when she appeared in Twin Peaks and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, and who could forget her revealing (topless) scene as Rollergirl in Boogie Nights?
Thanks, dear Birgit, and have a nice weekend!
baby Doll! It was quite the thing back then with Baker. I hated the remake of Cape Fear. The daughter was beyond stupid. I wishChristine Baranski was in more fun films and musicals. I don't think anyone will forget Graham in Boogie Nights
DeleteBirgit, The 1958 feature I don't remember, but I thought the newer one, Bowfinger, I might have and yet I don't think I've seen it. Oddly when I think of Burl Ives I think of him as a singer or an animated snowman. lol Steve Martin is a favorite 80s-90s actor of ours. So, I'm definitely going to check into this movie. Thanks for sharing and for visiting!
ReplyDeleteCurious as a Cathy
All Things Vintage: Bomber Girls #AprilA2Z
Burl Ives is excellent in this film and it is hard to think that he is the amiable animated snowman. I love Bowfinger so I hope you enjoy it
DeleteLove the B card. Great post. The quotes were classic:)
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it and the quotes:)
DeleteSeen both this time. I remember liking Bowfinger when I watched it years ago, but barely recall it.
ReplyDeleteI love that movie and found it hilarious
DeleteI don't know Bowfinger. Must have missed that one along the way. Burl Ives always fascinated me. I never got over his beautiful singing voice.
ReplyDeleteYou wil love Burl Ives in this film because you don't even think of him as a loveable singer
DeleteMy gosh, you really did do a lot of research for this! I haven't seen either of these movies :(
ReplyDeletebetty
Yes...I just picked movies out of my head and then went from there. Hope you get to see some
DeleteI forgot about Bowfinger! LOL. Your theme is awesome, I'll be back tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteLove ya!
Cherdo
Cherdo on the Flipside
"Favorite Characters, Favorite Lines" on the A-to-Z Challenge 2016
So glad you like my theme and that you like Bowfinger
DeleteI haven't seen either of these, but Bowfinger sounds interesting. Of course, if the Tidbit is correct, Anne Heche is likely not a fan of this one;)
ReplyDeleteYes, well, I tried to double check everything and considering she went to Ellen after leaving Steve Martin makes me think....
DeleteI love the way you're connecting these movies and the posts, Birgit. ☺ These are two films I haven't seen but I have heard of them. Enjoy your weekend.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are liking this and hope, one day, you will see one of these films.
DeleteHm. Never saw either of those...
ReplyDeleteThey are both great in my book and I love them and have seen them several times
DeleteBig Country is one of my favourites. Especially Burl Ives who was wonderful. He played an honourable man didn't he. I think that duelling scene is great. Not seen your other choice.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great film and love that scene. I also love the taming of Thunder and the music
DeleteSaw Bowfinger. Thought it was funny.
ReplyDeleteI think it's funny.
DeleteOh, wow... I haven't seen either of these—but I love Gregory Peck! Will have to look up The Big Western soon. Interesting tidbit about Anne Heche, too ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by at Life In Dogs !
I love this western and can watch it over and over. It's great
DeleteHaven't seen either. For some reason, I have this aversion to James Bond. I've never seen any of his movies, even though the real James Bond came from my city.
ReplyDeleteJames Bond I like but he doesn't appear in either of these films...am I missing something??:)
DeleteTHE BIG COUNTRY is the movie my best friend used to teach her son what it meant to be a true man. It is a fine movie.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty cool actually and Peck's character is a good role model.
DeleteNever heard of Bowfinger. Saw the Big Country when it came out. I never liked Ives but did enjoy the movie.
ReplyDeleteYou are the first to not like Burl! Glad you still liked the movie though
DeleteI am going to have to check out Bowfinger.
ReplyDeleteI find it hilarious but it seems to run hot or cold with people
DeleteI haven't seen either of these movies, but I love your "B" card.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like my B card:) Maybe you may even see one of these movies
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI sure will
DeleteHavent seen either of these, but I may have to look up Bowfinger. I do enjoy a good comedy. With Steve Martin, it could bit hit or miss.
ReplyDeleteMary
Twitter: @KnottyMarie
Literary Gold
Jingle Jangle Jungle
I love Steve Martin and I love this film but not everyone seems to like this film which befuddles me.
DeleteBeautiful monogram atop that wonderful background. Loved the Big Country, didn't know the bit about Peck & Wyler. Always interesting to hear the little tidbits too. Don't know #2. TFS & hope your wkend is great. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like my B. The Big Country is such a great movie. Bowfinger is funny
DeleteThe Big Country was a great western!
ReplyDeleteMy dad was huge fan of westerns. Watched the western channel all day. BIg Country was watched multiple times. Such a great one! Love the 6 degrees!!
ReplyDeleteI love westerns! The Big Country is so good and different from the regular westerns
DeleteChuck Connors was very good in The Big Country. He was an excellent bad guy.
ReplyDeleteHe was so good in this film and then he played such a good fearless man in The Rifleman
DeleteI like your tidbits section.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I've seen Bowfinger. It's a funny movie.
Glad you enjoyed the tidbits. Bowfinger is one of my favs
DeleteJust an update. The day after I posted my comment here I was at a friends house and he wanted to watch a movie. So he asked me to pick. We scrolled through some Netflix films and when I saw Bowfinger I suggested it. We both had a good evening of drinking beers and having a few laughs.
DeleteI haven't seen either of these, but they both sound like fun! Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy always crack me up :)
ReplyDeleteThey are so funny together that I wish they would make another film
DeleteWesterns fell out of favor. Not many today it seems.
ReplyDeletePioneer Women in Aviation A-Z
They used to be so huge and now, they are so rare. I wish more would be made
DeleteLove The Big Country and the music. I'm not a big Eddie Murphy fan but Bowfinger sounds good. From
ReplyDeleteThat's Purrfect
Murphy is really funny in this and he plays 2 roles. He keeps his ego in check except in the other role but it fits and it's funny.
DeleteI haven;t seen either of those Brigit! My dad loved westerns, just like Holli's. There's something about them, isn't there?
ReplyDeleteI wish I wish more westerns would be made. I miss them
DeleteI haven't seen Big Country in years. Now that's a balst from the past.
ReplyDeleteI have many that are from the past and this is a good one.
DeleteI dunno. When I think of Burl Ives, all I can think of is the snowman on 'Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer.'
ReplyDeleteSilver and gold, you know.
Yes, well he's anything but here and he's great!
DeleteI saw Bowfinger a very long time ago - and of course a big fan of Steve Martin! I enjoyed seeing the quotes and trivia, Birgit! And the header letter? Brilliant! :)
ReplyDeleteHe is great and a great musician too. Thanks..about my letter
DeleteIt seems like I remember Bowfinger, but I can remember for sure. I have seen Big Country but that was along time ago.
ReplyDeleteI admire those who do the A-Z challenge. It wears me out just thinking about coming up with letter related posts :)
R
Oh, it can be tiring especially visiting everyone and trying to keep up but you learn so much and meet so many people
DeleteMy dad tried to get me to watch Bowfinger once. I never did.
ReplyDeleteRalph Bellamy. Now I'm picturing him in a movie with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Wait, that movie starts with a C...
Hahahaaa I guess that movie is not to your liking. I have a feeling you knew my C movie:)
DeleteI've seen Bowfinger-- this brought back memories.
ReplyDeleteDamyanti, AZ cohost 2016
I hope fond memories
DeleteFinally, officially joining your little community after all the Mock Squid Soup visits...Bowfinger! Such a great film. I became a fan of Murphy thanks to work like this and Life. He became a lot more interesting later in his career, when people stopped paying attention...
ReplyDeleteI am just amazed by your 6ยบ connections ... seriously, WOW!
ReplyDeletex Asha