Oh wow...the pistol has been shot and we are out of the gates! Welcome to the month of April and the A to Z Challenge. I have chosen...movies this time around instead of film stars. I will do my best to make it short and sweet. There will be an Old Film followed by a Modern Film and they will be connected by the 6 (somewhat) degrees of separation. The * denotes if someone won an Oscar. So here we go with the Letter A
1. ALL ABOUT EVE- 1950-DRAMA/COMEDY
BEST DIRECTOR: Joseph L. Mankiewicz*
STARS: Bette Davis, Gary Merrill, George Sanders*, Anne Baxter, Celeste Holm, Thelma Ritter, Hugh Marlowe.
PLOT: Famous Broadway actress helps out poor waif but is this waif what she appears to be?
QUOTE: fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night.
OSCAR NOMS: Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Art Direction, Cinematography(black & White), Editing, Best Score
OSCAR WINS: Best Supporting Actor*, Best Director*, Best Screenplay, Best Costume, Best Sound.
LOVE: The writing! Witty and acerbic
FAVOURITE SCENE: Addison has a good talk with Eve
FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Addison DeWitt (George Sanders)
TIDBITS: Supposedly based (somewhat) on a real life actress, Tallulah Bankhead or Elizabeth Bergner. Bette Davis and Gary Merrill met on this set and had the hots for each other. They were married for 10 drunken, brawling years.
SIX DEGREES (MORE OR LESS) OF SEPARATION: Bette Davis to Oliver Reed (Burnt Offerings) to Faye Dunaway (3 Musketeers) to Jack Nicholson (Chinatown) to....
2. AS GOOD AS IT GETS- 1999-COMEDY/DRAMA
DIRECTOR:James Brooks
STARS:Jack Nicholson*, Helen Hunt*, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jnr.
PLOT: An OCD mean, wackadoodle author falls for a waitress who has a sick son. The nut has to take care of his neighbour's dog after the gay artist neighbour gets beaten up.
QUOTE:People who talk in metaphors oughta shampoo my crotch.
OSCAR NOMS: Best Supporting Actor, Editing, Best Picture, Best Score, Best Original Screenplay
OSCAR WINS: Best Actor*, Best Actress*,
LOVE: The acting! Made the characters real and with heart.
FAVOURITE SCENE: Main character walks with the dog
FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Verdell the Dog!
TIDBITS:They used 5 dogs just for this one character
SIX DEGREES (MORE OR LESS) OF SEPARATION: Jack Nicholson to Dennis Hopper (Easy Rider) to John Wayne (True Grit) to James Stewart (The Man who Shot Liberty Valance) to Alfred Hitchcock (Rear Window) to.......gotta wait for tomorrow:)
I've seen both of these and enjoyed them both. Good start!
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteHi Birgit - I like your theme. Very different to my Wildlife Encounters theme, but it would be boring if we were all the same, wouldn't it? I'm A-Z'ing at: http://susan-a-eamestravelfictionandphotos.blogspot.ie/
ReplyDeleteAs Good As It Gets is one of my all time favourite films. :)
Glad you like the theme and will check yours out since I love animals
DeleteHi Birgit - I like your theme. Very different to my Wildlife Encounters theme, but it would be boring if we were all the same, wouldn't it? I'm A-Z'ing at: http://susan-a-eamestravelfictionandphotos.blogspot.ie/
ReplyDeleteAs Good As It Gets is one of my all time favourite films. :)
Oh my gosh! This is great with the 6 degrees of separation! We'll learn lots of trivia this month for sur! I saw As Good as it Gets; cute movie!
ReplyDeletebetty
Glad you like this and it gets my mind working how to connect all of these
DeleteYou made it in three steps - well done! Both good films.
ReplyDeleteYes some will be short and others longer.
DeleteI've never seen All About Eve (of course). I have seen As Good As It Gets. Don't have me, but it isn't one of my favorite movies. Yeah, I know it won Oscars. I can see that (and I vaguely remember it), but still. There's something about Jack Nicholson that I find discomfiting. I will say that I liked this movie way better than the one he did with Diane Keaton. I really didn't like that one.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh..nope I do t hate you:) there are some films people love that I think is crap. I think Jack is a good actor but I don't think I would want to know him.
DeleteI meant "don't hate me." My typing today...
ReplyDeleteAs good as it gets was a great movie indeed. The pup was my favorite too.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this film and love that dog
DeleteHi, dear Birgit!
ReplyDeleteYou launched into your A to Z series with two excellent picks, dear friend, and I have seen both of them. George Sanders was one of my favorite actors and played Shady characters to perfection. Bette Davis had Bette Davis eyes. :) Character actress Thelma Ritter appeared in dozens of my favorite movies over the years. Mrs. Shady and I have seen practically every Jack Nicholson movie beginning with The Little Shop of Horrors. I love to play Six Degrees and look forward to your next post.
Happy April Fool's Day, dear friend BB!
I love George Sanders and Thelma Ritter-they are two of the best character actors ever. I have seen Little Shop and it's a fun movie
DeleteLast year after the A to Z chellange i had a bucket list of movies to watch . I became slightly more richer with trivia on Hollywood. ( My country has its own version of Bollywood, Tollywood, kollywood and Sandalwood. May be next year i will pick an A to Z on theme inspired by you. )
ReplyDeleteLook forward to the rest of the month.
That is so cool:) I'm glad you liked it so much that you caught up on film watching. I think India has the biggest movie studios actually. Will be checking out your A to Z
DeleteLast year after the A to Z chellange i had a bucket list of movies to watch . I became slightly more richer with trivia on Hollywood. ( My country has its own version of Bollywood, Tollywood, kollywood and Sandalwood. May be next year i will pick an A to Z on theme inspired by you. )
ReplyDeleteLook forward to the rest of the month.
I love both those films. Can't wait to see what else you have lined up for April.
ReplyDeleteHope you will enjoy it
DeleteI love both those films. Can't wait to see what else you have lined up for April.
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen either of them. I guess I have some catching up to do :) Great theme for the A to Z, Birgit. Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteHope you get a chance to see them and glad you like the theme
DeleteThese are two great A movies! I never quite understood George Sanders as a leading man. He seemed so unlikely. Here's to 25 more days of movie fun.
ReplyDeleteHe was more of a 2nd lead unless you count the Saint movies. He is so debonair and it's such a shame that he committed suicide
DeleteNice post. Now I'm wondering what "B" will be.
ReplyDeleteWell, now you will be able to see:)
DeleteI'm on the lookout for both. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI always wondered why Moses didn't go after Anne Baxter in The Ten Commandments. I mean, Yvonne DeCarlo was good looking and all, but Nefeteri was hot!
ReplyDeleteActually I. Think he could have had both...every man's dream
DeleteI always wondered why Moses didn't go after Anne Baxter in The Ten Commandments. I mean, Yvonne DeCarlo was good looking and all, but Nefeteri was hot!
ReplyDeleteI loved All About Eve. Bette Davis so rocked that movie and the line you quoted was the best. I think I am the only person on earth who didn't like As Good as it Gets. I sometimes think I should watch it again as maybe I was just in a lousy mood or something LOL.
ReplyDeleteHave fun with the A to Z!
Sometimes there can be a film that we just don't like and yet we will Der why since everyone else praises it. It's just a matter of taste
DeleteBoth of these are terrific movies. I've always liked George Sanders. Such a shame he committed suicide.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame especially his note which I have to admit, I did find amusing. He really went out as himself
DeleteI keep meaning to watch All about Eve, but never have. I've seen and enjoyed As good as it gets. Great start to the challenge - keep it up! I can crack the whip on everyone else now that I'm not doing it myself.....
ReplyDeleteThe Glasgow Gallivanter
I hope you get to see it because it is such a great movie. Yes you can crack the whip
DeleteOh look at you, what a neat way to link your posts. Looking forward to seeing tomorrow's.
ReplyDeleteYes, I thought it would be cool and having to really put my thinking cap on
DeleteOh, Birgit, I LOVE 'As Good as it Gets'! One of my favourite films! Always makes me cry. I've never seen the other one, but have a feeling there is a new version... clever theme!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of a remake of All About Eve unless you mean the Broadway version called Applause. As Good As It Gets is a great movie and I loved it
DeleteCertainly seen As Good as it Gets. Excellent movie but then I nearly always enjoy Jack Nicholson. I really don't remember if I saw All About Eve or not.
ReplyDeleteYou may have seen that film but probably a long time ago. Glad you like the 2nd movie
DeleteI saw bits and pieces of As Good As it Gets. I always wondered if it was worth watching all the way through. If I saw All About Eve, it was so many years ago that I don't remember
ReplyDeleteI think it's worth seeing the whole movie but that's me. Hope you get a chance to
DeleteI really enjoyed As Good As It Gets. I laughed throughout the entire movie. I had no idea they won awards for that movie though. I'm glad you included that with your summary. Good luck with the Challenge and have lots of fun! :)
ReplyDeleteYes it won and was up for more. It was such a good movie and what Jack say is hilarious
DeleteI am 99% sure that I saw As Good As it Gets but I remember absolutely nothing about it. I'm not certain if that's a terrible knock against the movie or a knock against me as a viewer. :-/
ReplyDeleteHahahaaa well either way, but it didn't make an impression on you
DeleteI enjoyed both of these movies, but I'll admit, I did learn some things with this post. This is really cool. I look forward to what else you'll share.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like what I'm doing. I hope you like the other I have picked. Now I have to post my 3 guesses for the film society
DeleteI haven't seen All about Eve, but I knew the quote.
ReplyDeleteI've seen As Good as It Gets,and the best part was Helen Hunt. They gave Nicholson some good one-liners though.
I'm guessing the next film in the link is The Birds.
That quote is so famous that it's used in many other movies and tv shows. You are incorrect about the film but good guess
DeleteNever seen All About Eve. Although, I should have. But of course I've seen As Good as it Gets. Love the six degrees thing you have going.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to see that film one day. Glad you like the 6 degrees
DeleteI love the scene where Jack walks the dog too. Such a marvelous actor and Great movie. I could watch it again.
ReplyDeletePioneer Women in Aviation A-Z
I love it when he tells the dog not to be like him:)
DeleteGreat theme :) I have seen neither of these movies - somehow missed them. And now look forward to seeing them. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeletewww.kalpanaawrites.com
I hope you get a chance to see these
DeleteI like the six degrees of separation you're using :) I watched As Good As It Gets probably about 10-12 years ago and I vaguely remember Jack's character with the dog, but that's about it, lol.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the 6 degrees. Some films resonate more than others:)
DeleteI love As Good As It Gets, too, Birgit!! One of the family favorites.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck on the ole' A-to-Z!
Cherdo
Cherdo on the Flipside
"Favorite Characters, Favorite Lines" on the A-to-Z Challenge 2016
It's such a good film and love the comments from Nicholson's character
DeleteI love "All About Eve"! Bette Davis at her absolute best. The other movie was good too. Jack Nicholson and that dog cracks me up!☺ Great start to the challenge, Birgit.
ReplyDeleteGlad you saw both of these and that you liked both
DeleteAs good as it gets made me laugh. This evening I watched the Bucket List with Jack Nicholson - he's always been an actor I enjoy watching.
ReplyDeleteGreat post - as always I learn a little something I did not know about movies.
Cheers, Jenny
Pearson Report
On Twitter
I love The Bucket List! It is one of our favourites too
DeleteAs Good As It Gets took me a while to like. I had to watch it a couple of times before I really appreciated it. Haven't seen About Eve, but I've been told it's spooky...did you find that?
ReplyDeleteI do not find Eve spooky but it is creepy because we have seen these things happen even to us. It shows how sociopathic people can be all in the name of power, greed, attention....
DeleteLove what you are doing. Also, love the old movies!
ReplyDeleteMary Montague Sikes
Notes Along the Way
The Artful Way
Glad you like this
DeleteBirgit, All About Eve sounds like a winner. I love old movies! As Good As It Gets may not be something I'd like, but I'm not ruling it out should I find it on Netflix.
ReplyDelete~Curious as a Cathy
All Things Vintage: Artists #AprilA2Z #BoTB
All about eve is a great film in my book. I hope you do see the other also just to see what you think.
DeleteI haven't seen All about Eve, but I did rather enjoy Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets. I thought he was rather brilliant, and the show was a bit thought-provoking.
ReplyDeleteMary
Twitter: @KnottyMarie
Literary Gold
Jingle Jangle Jungle
It was thought provoking and helped give a little insight into people with OCD
DeleteThis sounds like a fun theme. Its' going to be fun seeing all the six degrees. :)
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy it
DeleteYour cards are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHello from A to Z. I haven't seen either movie, but I've heard of them. I might like to see All About Eve sometime.
ReplyDeleteHello! I hope you do see this movie
DeleteI saw As Good as it Gets. I love Jack Nicholson. Great actor!
ReplyDeleteSunni
http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/
He is good and this was a good movie
DeleteI saw As Good as it Gets. I love Jack Nicholson. Great actor!
ReplyDeleteSunni
http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/
I saw As Good as it Gets. I love Jack Nicholson. Great actor!
ReplyDeleteSunni
http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/
Love As Good As It Gets, it may even make a top 10 or 20 if I ever tried to figure out which movies I love the most.
ReplyDeleteMy ranking changes constantly:)
DeleteIt took me forever and I'm here!!! Hello? Birgit? You there? LOL.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing start, my friend. Seen and thoroughly enjoyed both movies. On to the next!
x Asha
p.s. thank you for being so patient and for your lovely emails.