Friday, April 7, 2017

A To Z Challenge-Letter F


It is the letter F and ooh what fun we could have with this letter:) Head on over to the A to Z Challenge to check out what the others have blogged about.

FROM HERE TO ETERNITY-1953


DIRECTOR: Fred Zinneman
STARS: Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Montgomery Clift, Donna Reed, Frank Sinatra, Earnest Borgnine
OSCAR NOMS: Best Actor, Best Actor (Burt & Clift), Best Actress, Best Score, Best Costumes
OSCAR WINS: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography (B & W), Best Sound, Best Editing
PLOT: The trials and tribulations of the men and women stationed in Hawaii just before Pearl Harbour is attacked.
LOVE: The famous beach scene of course:)
TRIVIA: Lancaster and Kerr had an affair while making this film. Sinatra begged for this role and took a huge reduction in salary. Harry Cohn, head of Columbia Pictures was very autocratic, rude and very foul-mouthed so when he bought the rights to the book, which was graphic in its language, one executive said it was right up Cohn's alley.

FRANK SINATRA- December 12, 1915-May 14, 1998


OCCUPATION: Singer, Actor, Wanna-be Bigshot
OSCAR NOMS:The Man With The Golden Arm
OSCAR WINS: From Here To Eternity
ANECDOTE: Volatile, arrogant man with ties to the underworld was also complicated. He would often help out people in need. When Bela Lugosi died and there was no money for his funeral, Sinatra quietly paid for it. He was married to the "Don't tie me down, I love bullfighters" gal, Ava Gardner. When she left him, he tried to commit suicide.

58 comments:

  1. I adore Frank Sinatra but he was a piece of work. Such extreme emotions and swings in his personality. I wouldn't be surprised if he was suffering from some kind of mental illness, whether diagnosed or not. Either way, that SOB could sing.

    http://www.cdgallantking.ca/2017/04/f-may-agnes-fleming.html

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    1. You are so right! I think he was a narcissist with some major anger issues.

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  2. Birgit, "From Here to Eternity" is a fantastic old classic. I believe we own that on DVD and we've only watched it once but we liked it. The beach scene made popular in this flick is the first thing I think of when this movie comes to mind. Great feature!

    Let your fingers do the walking just follow Curious as a Cathy for the latest in Art Sketching Through the Alphabet featuring the letter “F” for fence, frog, fox, & funny face. Happy Friday and a2zing, fellow bloggers! ;)

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    1. That scene is very famous and o love the many parodies

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  3. Know this movie well and loved it. Talk about an outstanding cast of actors.

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  4. Nice combo here. I've seen the movie more than once. And I've always enjoyed Sinatra's singing.

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  5. Hi, Birgit!

    I once saw a low budget skin flick called From Here to Maternity.

    (BA-DUM-BUMP)

    My mother was very fond of Burt Lancaster. My favorite players in the cast of FHTE are Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed and Ernie Borgnine. If I had a nickel for every time that famous beach scene has been spoofed over the years... I'd have... well, I'd have a lot of money, let's put it that way. :) One such scene appears in the zany 1980 parody movie Airplane!

    Your posts in this series keep reminding us of the powerful egos and not so nice people that were part of the film studio system in old Hollywood. Thank goodness for the young independent film makers that emerged in the late 50s and 60s and the new breed of actors and actresses that took roles in their refreshingly different, gritty, edgy movies.

    Have a fab Friday and weekend, dear friend BB!

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    1. That parody from Airplane is hilarious as the whole film is. The film buffs industry changed in the 1950's but egos were still present and are today

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  6. Strangely,though it is such a classic, I don't think I've seen From here to Eternity. Never realized how many classics I'd missed out on until I started reading your lists! Lol

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    1. There are tons of which I still have to see

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  7. Oh I love this movie! Such a great American classic! Interesting trivia on Frank Sinatra. He sure was a volatile personality. Just yesterday, I saw a funny bit showcased when discussing the death of Don Rickles and how he taunted Sinatra; once during a show he said to Sinatra: "Frank, make yourself at home. Take a swing at someone." :)

    Great theme Birgit!

    Michele at Angels Bark

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    1. I love it! Don Rickles was great and even though he was 90 I was shocked by his death because he still seemed so active. He seemed to be the only one to get away with this regarding Frank.

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  8. I think I'd be suicidal if someone like Ava Gardner left me...

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    1. She was one of the most beautiful...and nomadic women. I find her quite an amazing gal

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  9. Frank Sinatra was a legend for sure. I wish I could just put my finger on a CD and absorb the movie or music. It sure sounds good. I don't think I will ever have time to fit it in.

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  10. I watch Feud and Sinatra was in an episode two weeks ago. Man, he was an asshole in it. I can't say I know anything about her personal life so that surprised me a bit.

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    1. Oh Sinatra was quite the volatile actor. When he was friends with JFK, he rallied for the future president and he renovated his home and added a heliport when the future President was to come to California. JFK never showed because he was advised to distance himself from Sinatra due to Sinatra's ties the mafia. Sinatra was so hurt...and angry he blamed one of his rat pack boys, Peter Lawford, because Peter was married to a Kennedy at the time. Sinatra never spoke to Lawford again and froze him out from Vegas and friends had to choose sides...most chose Sinatra.

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  11. Frank Sinatra was a fascinating man. I wonder if we'll ever really know the whole truth about him? LOVE his music!!!

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    1. He was loyal but easily hurt. He was very giving but really cruel. He was a difficult man and one I don't care for but he was a great singer and a very good actor

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  12. Such a great movie. That beach scene is a real scorcher! My mother once told me Deborah Kerr was my father's favourite actress and that's who I was named after. ☺ Frank Sinatra was a talented singer, but, as you mentioned, he wasn't the nicest person. Lauren Bacall wrote about her relationship with him in her autobiography and it wan't flattering. Personally, I preferred Dean Martin in voice and character. One more day, then we get a break. Yay!

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    1. That's kind of cool to know you were named after this very ladylike woman who had passion underneath. You should check out some films she made with Robert Mitchum. I agree with you about Dean Martin

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  13. I've ignored Frank Sinatra and dismissed him as a singer from my parents' generation, but I've started listening to him recently and I'm amazed at how good he is, particularly with his phrasing of songs.

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    1. My parents never listened to him or Dean Martin whom I prefer. My dad never cared for Sinatra and thought, rightly, he was involved with the mob.

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  14. Did you see The Man with the Golden Arm? At the time I thought it was brilliant. I didn't much like From Here to Eternity. I loved Sinatra's singing and acting. Didn't concern myself with his personal life.

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    1. He's excellent in The Man with the Golden Arm.

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  15. That was nice Frank Sinatra paid for Bela Lugoisi's funeral. I did not see this movie (I bet that didn't surprise you)

    betty

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  16. He sure was a complicated guy indeed. I knew the beach scene at least haha

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    1. I love that beach scene and then watch all the parodies, my favourite being from Airplane. I wonder if the Simpsons did a parody

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  17. I remember my aunt trying to persuade me that my favourite singer was Frank Sinatra when I was 3 or 4 years old. I'd never heard of him, of course, and thought the name sounded very outlandish. He's still her favourite singer!

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    1. That's too funny..hahahaa. Your aunt was really trying to sway you there.

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  18. I didn't know that about Frank Sinatra. Listening to him always reminds me of my grandparents. :-)

    Cait @ Click's Clan

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    1. I fell old now because Sinatra was still big in the 1970's when I was a kid:) My dad was never into Sinatra and considered him an ass...which he was

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  19. I should probably see this eventually. I'm kind of burned out on WWII movies though.

    Sinatra was a staunch supporter of JFK when the election could have gone either way.

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    1. Maybe, after a few months, you will take a gander. He was and got royally burned by JFK

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    1. Yeah...I do and it started when I was little and asked my dad to s of questions

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  21. Bela Lugosi sure was a fallen star, such a shame

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    1. Oh..he was and a very, very sad person to end up where he did.

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  22. From here to Eternity was an incredible movie. The beach scene is iconic.

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    1. It is and I chose the Beach scene but there are many others which are also great

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  23. Frank was great both in music and films.
    Coffee is on

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    1. He was great in singing and almost great in movies but I'm being a movie nut with that statement:)

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  24. That beach scene is the best love and erotic scene ever.

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  25. I sometimes forget that these "oldie" actors were young once. Look at those sexy legs!

    "Female Scientists Before Our Time"
    Shells–Tales–Sails


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    1. Hahahaaa...yes they were young and did lots of fun things.

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  26. This is one I should see. A classic. But I've never gotten around to it. Sigh.

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  27. I haven't seen this one, though I have heard of it. Another to add to my list! I had no idea that Frank Sinatra tried to commit suicide.
    ~Jess

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    1. Yes, he did but I think it was alcohol related because he was so enamoured with Ava. Ava loved him but she was mercurial and didn't like it at all if she felt her man was possessive. After Frank she never married again although she had many affairs. When she withdrew from public life and had some issues, Frank was there for her

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  28. This is one I've been wanting to watch again. I thought I had the DVD in my collection, but I couldn't find it so maybe I don't. It was just on TCM but I didn't record it. Next time I guess.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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  29. I've never seen it, either, but I'm sure you aren't surprised. I was also never a fan of Sinatra, partly because he was well before my time, and I didn't care for that kind of music. I HAVE heard of JFK (GRIN).

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