The A to Z Challenege
...Alfred Hitchcock directed James Mason (North By Northwest) who starred in...
1. JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH-1959-FANTASY ADVENTURE
DIRECTOR: Henry Levin
STARS: James Mason, Arlene Dahl, Pat Boone, Peter Ronson
PLOT: A well respected professor and his young co-hort, a widow, an Icelander with his pet duck, Gertrude, all descend down a volcano to the centre of the earth.
QUOTE: I don't sleep. I hate those little slices of death.
OSCAR NOMS: Art Direction (Colour), Best Sound, Special Effects
OSCAR WINS: Nil
LOVE: The art direction. Fell in love with the glittery, jewelled area (for me...no kidding!)
FAVOURITE SCENES: Well, yes, the beautiful underground grotto filled with gems and yup, that's Pat Boone in all his glory.
FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Gertrude the duck
TIDBITS: James Mason was irritated that they had to make nicey-nice with Nikita Kruschev when he visited the set. Mason did think Kruschev should have witnessed the scene when the characters were on the raft in the centre of the earth rather than the Can-Can scene from the film, Can-Can.
6 DEGREES (MORE OR LESS) OF SEPARATION: James Mason starred with Paul Newman(The Verdict) who starred with Tom Cruise (The Color of Money) who starred with Gene Hackman (The Firm) who starred with Robin Williams (The Birdcage). Robin Williams starred in...
2. JUMANJI-1995-FANTASY COMEDY
DIRECTOR: Joe Johnston
STARS: Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, David Allen Grier, Bebe Neuwirth
PLOT: A young boy finds a game and plays it with his friend. He disappears into the game and 26 years later, comes back when a young boy and his sister, play the same game. To end the madness and mahem they must play out the game to the end.
QUOTE: When the hunter buys a gun from a shop, the shop owner says..."Yo're not a postal worker, are you?"
OSCAR NOMS: Nil
OSCAR WINS: Nil
LOVE: The idea that what one plays can come to life.
FAVOURITE SCENES: Carl the policeman and Aunt Nora try to stay afloat down Main St. when they see a croc go by.
FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Carl Bentley (David Allen Grier)
TIDBITS: Robin Williams could relate to the young boy that was his character in the film since that boy was an only child and his father was aloof.
6 DEGREES (MORE OR LESS) OF SEPARATION: Robin Williams starred with Gene Hackman (The Birdcage) who starred with Melvyn Douglas (I never sang for My Father) who......Wait until tomorrow:)
I only saw one of these films today. It was Journey to the Centre of the Earth. As ridiculous as the concept is, it's still a great film. And yes Gertrude is awesome! If I recall right, there was an early morning cartoon based on the film.
ReplyDeleteYou know....you're right there was a cartoon and I watched it but only a little bit...I preferred this movie
DeleteHaven't watched either of these films though I remember my boys having the Jumangi movie on the TV.
ReplyDeleteThese are both fun to watch
DeleteDidn't see Journey but I did see Jumangi. Rather an odd movie really.
ReplyDeleteOh it is odd but I love it
DeleteHi, dear Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI saw Journey To the Center of the Earth (based on a true story :) What a mixed cast that included pop crooner Pat Boone! Fantasy and adventure films often include an animal mascot, don't they? Remember "Debbie," the chimpanzee-like alien pet that kept Angela Cartwright company on Lost in Space? I loved actor James Mason. He was perfect for playing the role of smug, sometimes treacherous men in positions of power and authority. I enjoyed his performances in N X NW, Journey and The Verdict. I also loved ravishing redhead Arlene Dahl. Wasn't she fantastic as the oversexed, social climbing wife Carol Talbot in Woman's World (1954)? It's one of my favorite films of the Fifties.
Thank you, dear friend BB!
Now I have to look up the true story behind this. I loved Lost in Space and do remember this chimp thing...hahahahaa. Arlene Dahl is quite the voluptuous woman
DeleteI've never seen the Hitchcock film. I remember being disappointed by Jumanji - it seemed like there was so much more they could have done with it.
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames from
Travel, Fiction and Photos
North by Northwest is a fun movie that I love.
DeleteI've never seen the Hitchcock film. I remember being disappointed by Jumanji - it seemed like there was so much more they could have done with it.
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames from
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Alfred Hitchcock was a master of make believe. He was also partial to sitting down with the three investigators and having a chat with them over a case. I wonder whatever happened to them. I remember only one, Jupiter Jones - he was the brains. The rest were side kicks but even still the power always rested with Hitchcock. He made the decisions and called the shots but Jupiter usually had the final word.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool and didn't know this. Very interesting.
DeleteI haven't seen either of these, Birgit. I can't believe how many movies you've seen!!! Anyway, the tidbits are again very interesting. The Jumanji tidbit made me a bit sad, given how things turned out with Robin Williams. Can we ever overcome our youth???
ReplyDeleteI have seen quite a few but I just love movies. This is sad about Robin and I'll think of him like I think of John Candy.
DeleteI loved Journey to the Center of the Earth. Never have seen Jumanji. Netflix, here I come. That postal worker quote brings back some memories.
ReplyDeleteThat was a big thing to say since many postal workers did go nutty and dangerously so.
DeleteJumanji I enjoyed indeed. They are remaking it now. Seen like 4 versions of Journey to the Center of the Earth.
ReplyDeleteRemaking it?? Hmmmm unsure about that. I tried watching the one with Peter Fonda in it and it's horrible. I haven't see the one with Fraser in it yet and do want to.
DeleteI have seen both Journey to the Centre of the Earth and Jumanji. They are both completely mad in their own ways!
ReplyDeleteThat's Purrfect
They are just fun in my book:)
DeleteI finally saw Jumanji under duress. In some class or other. Not really my kind of film, but I liked it. I've seen bits of Journey, but not the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you at least liked Jumanji.
DeleteSwaaa'eeeet!
ReplyDeleteWelcome in the letter "J"... thank you!
Jeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2016]
Stop over and find a free "SIX STRINGS: BLOGGING AtoZ CHALLENGE" Here: http://www.jmhdigital.com/
HOLLYWOOD NUTS!
You know you want to know if me or Hollywood... is Nuts?
Glad you like the post
DeleteActually saw that Icelandic volcano that was in Journey to the Center of the Earth.
ReplyDeleteSigh....yeah, that's my pitiful brush with fame.
That's pretty cool in my book..no pun intended
DeleteI have actually seen both of those movies. Pretty good. :)
ReplyDeleteYippee:)!
DeleteI've seen both.
ReplyDeleteJumanji was good, but did you ever see the other 'game' movie based on a book by the same author, Zathura? I thought it was just a little bit better.
No I haven't and now I must look this up!
DeleteI love that there's such outrage about redoing Jumanji. I mean, who knew it was so beloved?
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know they were remaking it.
DeleteDidn't Gertrude get eaten?
ReplyDeleteAnother gorgeous card....
Yup...hated that scene and glad that guy but the dust
DeleteHaven't seen these. I've heard of both of them though.
ReplyDeleteOh, well, maybe one day...
DeleteWhen I was a kid I was blown away by Journey to the Center of the Earth. They've made several remakes but this is the best.
ReplyDeleteI have not seen the latest one but I still know this first one is my favourite
DeleteI love that quote from Journey to the Center of the Earth about not sleeping because of little slices of death!
ReplyDeleteYes and I think it comes from Edgar Alen Poe
DeleteBirgit, I saw the newer Journey to the Center of the Earth with Branden Fraser a few years back, which was good, but I haven't seen this older one. Jumanji I've caught only bits of it one time on broadcast TV, so I can't comment on it. It would be fun to see it, since it has Robin Williams. He was a talented, funny man. I hate how that he ended his life. So sad!
ReplyDelete~Curious as a Cathy
All Things Vintage: J-E-L-L-O #AprilA2Z
The original Journey is great! It is so sad how he killed himself but he had Lewy-Body's disease which would have been horrific especially to someone as quick witted as he was so I could see why he took this way...but it still,saddens me.
DeleteJumanji is such fun: the fantasy/nightmare of every board gamer come true.
ReplyDeleteIt is but it would still be neat to play this for real..I would be tempted.
DeleteI've never seen jumanji and now you've got me feeling I should reconsider!
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun movie..not earth shattering but a good movie.
DeleteI watched part of Journey to the Center of the Earth for a class, and I don't remember much about it. Jumanji was pretty neat, although it did scare me a little when I was younger.
ReplyDeleteI heard Jumanji was not the best for kids and I can see that but it's still fun.
DeleteI like the movie Journey to the Center of the Earth. I am glad there is one this blog that I have seen because I feel so out of the loop sometimes.
ReplyDeleteNo...you're not out of the loop just haven't seen many. This film is so much fun.
DeleteMadame B, I read your A to J in one sitting. Wowza, I love your choices. I also love all the cards you made. I've seen most of your choices. Really like your format for this A to Z.
ReplyDeleteSo very nice to see you here. I hope you are doing as well as can be expected. Take care and glad you like what I'm doing.
DeleteI probably saw the first movie years ago, but don't remember it. Jumanji was a little too off-the-wall for my taste, but Robin Williams made the most of it, as he always did.
ReplyDeleteYour amazing Alphabet is so distracting! LOL. I've seen Jumanji... and it was great fun!
ReplyDeletex Asha