It's TV time again and it is about book adaptations for TV. I think I already spoke about Roots and The Thorn Birds in previous posts so I couldn't choose these 2 great miniseries. I had to put my Dunce...er, my thinking cap on and come up with 3 different ones that suit the theme. Head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves to see what everyone else has chosen...here are my 3.
1. RICH MAN, POOR MAN-1976 (BOOK WRITTEN BY IRWIN SHAW)
This was, to me, the first mini-series that took everyone by storm. I guess, nowadays, you say "Limited-Run" series but back in the day (because I am 99 years old), they were all called mini-series. This catapulted Nick Nolte into super hunk (yes, I said hunk) stardom and brought him to the big screen. Peter Strauss and Nick Nolte play brothers, one "good" and one, a bad boy (Nolte was the bad boy) who do not get along. While Strauss's character wants to get ahead and does make it to the big times, the other struggles and has issues. Of course, there is a girl that comes between them that is Strauss's wife but I think she had the hots for Nolte which creates a Cain and Abel thing going on. OK I am going from memory here and it has been decades since I saw it but it did impress me. Oh and the Late William Smith played a real evil dude who wants both brothers dead. It was juicy and I would like to see it again.
2. THE WINDS OF WAR-1983 (BOOK BY HERMAN WOUK)
I was so looking forward to this film which take place from 1938 to 1941 when the U.S. enters the war after Pearl Harbour but..meh...I called it The Winds of Boredom. You have some great stars in this film headed by Robert Mitchum as Victor "Pug" Henry a naval officer and his family who bear witness to some key events taking place in Europe. I recall the first 2 hour episode being quite good as the Ali MaGraw character is trying to escape the Nazi clutches but then it just goes into this whole soap opera style with someone loving someone and another loving someone...whatever. You can tell I am not enamoured with this miniseries. It did get a whole bunch of awards but I kept wondering...why??? Maybe I am wrong and should try and watch it. There was a sequel called "War and Remembrance" which I decided to forget to watch.
3. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST-1987-1990 (FAIRY TALE BY THE BROTHERS' GRIMM)
I love the Grimm Fairy Tales and even have the original versions of some of the classics (forget cute mice and twilling birds, let's have toes being cut off, eyes plucked out and red hot iron shoes placed onto the evil queen's feet). I have seen many films based on the Grimm Fairy Tales and loved "Grimm" which is a TV show I could have chosen (I shall save that for another day) but I decided to choose this corny but endearing TV show based on Beauty and The Beast. Linda Hamilton plays an assistant district attorney who is severely beaten up one night but is saved by a man who brings her down into the sewers of New York City where he nurses her back to health. She is initially startled by the man who saved her because he looked like a beast who loves to listen to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." They quickly form a mental and emotional bond and the beast can sense when she is in trouble. You get to see how they fall in love over time plus the beautiful underground "city" that is faithfully preserved by the Beast and a number of others who don't "fit into" society. The underground world is run by The Father played by Roy Dotrice who became my favourite character on the show. Rick Baker, a great make-up artist, not only devised the beast make up but told the powers that be they should hire Ron Perlman for the job. They became life long friends afterwards.
Now, just a funny from the likes of the great Dave Allen as Heathcliffe
I have been enjoying my time off and have been busy organizing parts of my craft room (the bottom half with tons of pictures plus empty boxes that I got rid of). I found all the pictures my mom took of her Faberge style egg art and will create a scrapbook for my brother. She created some amazing pieces that I had forgotten so it was nice seeing it. Tuesday hubby and I spent some mulah on bathroom tiles because we need to get our downstairs bathroom done. I hate trying to rush upstairs in the middle of the night to go to the loo. This is another fun filled musical week over a Jingle, Jangle, Jungle with her 3 themes listed below and then my choices....enjoy!
A SONG WITH A BEVERAGE IN THE TITLE
A SONG WITH A FRUIT IN THE TITLE
A SONG WITH A FLOWER IN THE TITLE
1. TEA FOR TWO SUNG BY DORIS DAY & GORDON MACREA-1950
This song was composed by Vincent Youman with lyrics by Irving Caesar for the musical "No, No Nanette" in 1924. It is a sweet song which was showcased in the 1950 musical, "Tea For Two" starring Doris Day and Gordon MacCrea. I saw the film years ago which was all sugar but Doris and Gordon were great in it.
2. THE LADY IN THE TUTTI FRUTTI HAT SUNG BY CARMEN MIRANDA-1943
This is from the film, "The Gang's All Here" composed by Harry Warren with lyrics by Leo Robin and sung by the original Carmen Miranda (she starts at the 1:44 mark) who was known as the Brazilian Bombshell. She actually did create hats back in the 1920s before she became famous but she is known for these very kooky fruit headdresses she would wear. It's a shame she died in 1955 at only 46 from a heart attack because she had so much more to offer. By the way, Busby Berkeley, the director of this musical number, apparently got by the censors to create some sexual imagery using bananas and strawberries with the gals. Hmmmmm...
3. ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL PLAYED BY DON RICH & THE BUCKAROOS-1961
My mom had (and I have it now) a 45 with "Wheels" on the A side and this song on the B side. I played it all the time because I loved the song. My mom loved it because my brother would dance to "Wheels" when he was a little over 1 year old or so. I was enthralled at how fast the fiddle was being played. I tried looking for the 45 but I had a hard time bending down to look through my records so I will double check if these are the lads who played it but it is from the right time. This song was composed by Ervin T. Rouse in 1938 and it was about a passenger train called the Orange Blossom. Cool, eh?
My double look of birds in 2 different ways. The first is obviously for a birthday (my hubby's Aunt) but the second I thought could be used for anything even a sympathy card.
Yellow and pink seem to go well. I coloured the birds in yellow and the flowers in pink using my gamsol colour pencils. I used the cuddlebug for the background paper, added the pink glitter paper plus a nice yellow velvet ribbon I found to create the look. A final touch is the Sentiment that I coloured, with a marker, in pink.
I made this for another challenge that has been and gone but that's ok since it is still a nice card to showcase. I used the same bird stamp but left it uncoloured except for the yellow and grey that comes from the background. The background is sprayed with distress stains and I added water to let it drip down. I took the background grey cardstock and placed it through the cuddlebug for the dry embossed look. I layered different coloured cardstock and finally added the birds but tilted because, I am a bit tilted so it works. As a finishing touch, I added the black gems.
I had fun creating this mystical card for Christmas. I used a fairy instead of an angel. The background was alcohol pearl inks. I stamped Evergreen and pinecones around in plum. I used my poinsettia diecuts as well as a single snowflake that I cut out twice plus a filigree snowflake design on the bottom left. That one plus the snowflakes I glittered up. I glued everything in place and added stickles on the poinsettia. I glued it onto turquoise cardstock and magenta mirror cardstock. I think I will add a gem for the middle on the poinsettia....I meant to do that.
There are a Ton of films that fit this week’s theme that Wandering Through The Shelves has chosen and I can’t wait to see what everyone will choose. Here are my 3...
1. SUMMERTIME-1955
A spinster secretary, played by Katherine Hepburn, has saved for years so she can go on a once in a lifetime vacation to Venice. She stays in a pension with a young couple and another older couple. She decides to eat out at a restaurant in a piazza. Seeing all the loving couples fills her with loneliness until she see a man, with pursed lips, staring at her. She has no clue how to act, so she runs away with a little Italian boy right on her heels. The boy becomes a good friend especially when she falls into the canal. The man pays her a visit and woos her to go out with him even though he is married and has many bambinos (it must be his pursed lips). This is a romantic film directed by David Lean and pursed lips guy is Rossano Brazzi, who was a heartthrob during the 1950s. I am not one for pure romance but this is done with intelligence plus it has some great acting in Hepburn. You also see Venice and the surrounding area which can’t be beat. Poor Hepburn developed a weepy eye after her trip into the canal that stayed with her for the rest of her life.
2. HOW TO STUFF A WILD BIKINI-1965
I have to put in a Avalon and Funicello flick since they were all about summer beach movies. They were wholesome fun with singing, surfing and dancing where you get to see many T & A jiggle on screen. This was actually the last film(until the 1980s) with Frankie and Annette. Frankie Avalon asked for more money so he got...6 minutes of screen time. Annette was pregnant so she is seen in big blouses or behind bowls of fruit. You do have Mickey Rooney and Buster Keaton picking up the slack so that works. These flicks would never be made today because no man is allowed, ever, to run after a girl like Buster does. The jiggles would still be there but maybe women will be with women and men with men. Anyhoo, Frankie is in Tahiti doing Naval Rescue Duty and, probably, doing some girls but, when he hears that his gal back home has a suitor after her, well, how dare she! He gets a Bwana witch doctor (Buster) to work his magic. The Witch Doctor sends a sea nymph to Dee Dee's neck of the woods so her potential suitor will drop Dee Dee like a hot tomale after seeing the new tomale. The issue is that this gal from the sea grabs every man including Erik Von Zipper (Harvey Lembeck) who wants her for himself. He and his numbskull gang do all they can to get this gal. Elizabeth Montgomery makes a cameo at the end of this movie as the witch doctor's daughter. She was currently starring in the TV Show, "Bewitched" so this played up to it. (plus the director of the film was William Asher who was her husband and was a producer and sometime director on "Bewitched."
3. THE SPIRIT IS WILLING-1967
I have not seen this in years but would love to see it again. This film stars Sid Caesar and Vera Miles as parents to a nerdy son, played by Barry Gordon, who all travel during summer break to a home they rented out. Little do they know that 3 ghosts are not happy sharing their place with this family. The only one who can see them is the son who gets into trouble with his parents when the ghosts misbehave. Antics ensue especially when they scuttle the Uncle's boat and the one ghost falls for the uncle. I love the character actors in this film that you have seen in films and TV alike like Jesse White, Mary Wickes and John Astin. I find this one full of fun and hope to get this film on DVD one day. Yes, I said DVD!
I could have picked so many others but these are my 3 for now. Which 3 would you choose?
I am so late writing this up. I meant to do this on the weekend but bad pain crippled me up and, yesterday, feeling much better, I was out and about (am on vacation for 2 weeks!!). Today I wanted to play in my craft room with this evening spent watching "The Green Mile." I believe Jingle, Jangle, Jungle chose these 3 themes before but there are plenty of songs that fit the mix so here are the themes:
A SONG WITH A MONTH IN THE TITLE
A SONG WITH A DAY OF THE WEEK IN THE TITLE
A SONG WITH A UNIT OF MEASURE IN THE TITLE
1. JUNE IS BUSTIN' OUT ALL OVER SUNG BY CLARAMAE TURNER & BARBARA RUICK-1956
This is a song by the legendary Rogers & Hammerstein from their musical, "Carousel". It first was shown on Broadway in 1945 but became a musical for the screen in 1956 (along with many of their other musicals). I had the Ding-A-Ling song going through my head much of the day thanks to John but, thankfully, that went out of my head when I was thinking up this song. I wanted something from June since that is my birthday month and this came into my head. Sorry Shady, it is another musical but I wanted the song to come from something I used to watch all the time when I was a kid.
2. ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT SUNG BY SAM COOKE-1963
Saturday is my favourite day of the week which is what most people say. Work has something to do with it but I just feel like it is a day to get things done or to have fun. I no longer feel the need to go out Saturday night as i would rather be home watching a movie. I think I first heard this song by Cat Stevens but I went with Sam Cooke who, sadly, died a year after this song was done. He was murdered or it could be justifiable homicide. If anyone wants to give their 2 cents, I would love to read about this. He did love women and, apparently, this song was written when no women were allowed into the hotel rooms at night...strange.
3. AROUND THE UNIVERSE IN 80 DAYS BY KLAATU-1977
Didn't expect this one coming did ya? I love Klaatu and, I think my brother is the one who introduced me to this. I liked "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" which is mostly known from The Carpenters, but Klaatu were the original song writers and singers of that song. This song was written by Dee Long after hearing about his band mate's, John Woloschuk, conceptual idea for the album. It seems John was the one who often wrote the songs but not this one. Yes, he got the idea from Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days." This Canadian Band rocks with inventiveness and a unique way of bringing rock and classical together (using the London Philharmonic for the songs).
I'm off to bed and forgive any grammar errors. Which songs would you choose?
It is Foreign Language week over at Wandering Through The Shelves and I chose 3 that, I think, are pretty good so let's get to it! Here are my 3...
1. THE BICYCLE THIEVES-1948
This film is called an Italian NeoRealist film directed by Vittorio De Sica using, mostly, non actors in the film roles and they do a superb job. A young couple and their son are trying to make ends meet, after the war, with jobs very scarce. The father sees a job but needs a bicycle and he has one! On his first day out, his bicycle is stolen and, frantic, with worry about losing this job, he sets out with his little boy to find the thieves. I wasn't sure about this film until I saw it and was enraptured by the people especially the little boy and his dad. The tense situation that he, and so many others, are faced with, in trying to survive in post World War 2, make this a very, at times, tense but moving film. This kid just about steals the picture. Even if you are not into foreign movies, this one is so visually stunning that, before you know it, you want to see him find his bicycle.
2. DAS BOOT-1981
If you are looking for a good time to lighten your day...this movie is not for you. It is, well, quite depressing to be honest which is why I have not seen it in so long but that does not mean it is not excellent. You feel for the German sailors on this submarine who must deal with the Nazi machine, low morale and possible death as they maneuver through one delicate mission after another. They are finally able to take leave when they are told to keep moving which does not bode well for the men on this sub. You are immersed (couldn't help myself) in their lives and what they are going through plus you feel the claustrophobia which got to me and I am sitting in a chair in the theatre. It is worth a watch.
3. IL POSTINO-1994
I just love this film which made me laugh, wish and cry for the main protagonist played brilliantly by Massimo Troisi, who believed so much in this film that he decided to make and finish this film rather than get much needed medical help for his heart. He died 12 hours after the last bit of this film was done. He was only 41 and knew his heart was very weak but still decided to ride the bicycle in certain parts of the film against doctor's and the director orders. Everyone on set was very concerned for him but this actor was determined to finish this film. He got an Oscar nomination(posthumously) for this role but didn't win. This shy postman brings letters to Neruda, a famous poet, exiled from Chile for his political views and they slowly develop a friendship. Neruda helps the Postman write poetry as well as find the courage to ask the young, voluptuous woman, at her mom's cafe, to be his. This is a love story on many different levels not just the obvious, telling us that we must pursue our true passion no matter the cause.
When all is said and done, we always need music and we are such diverse individuals that we all have such different tastes. This is what I love. Jingle, Jangle, Jungle has 3 themes that we must follow which always makes me think and here are the 3 themes:
A SONG ABOUT A PLACE
A SONG WITH A GIRL’S NAME IN THE TITLE
A SONG THAT MENTIONS A TYPE OF WEATHER IN THE TITLE
1. I LEFT MY HAT IN HAITI SUNG BY FRED ASTAIRE-1951
I was looking at Royal Wedding, a film starring Fred Astaire and Jane Powell as a brother and sister team who are in England during the Royal Wedding between Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. This is famous for the Astaire dance where he dances on the ceiling. I thought this film had a song about heat but I was wrong and came across this fun dance and song which was written by Fred Astaire. This is a slight autobiography of Fred Astaire and his sister Adele, a great dance team who did travel to London where Adele met and married the man of her dreams and promptly retired. Fred Astaire is very well known for his excellent dancing as well as his singing but he was also prolific in writing songs...some are better than others.This is one song I like and there are lots of drums, Fred Astaire loved drums.
2. WALTZING MATILDA SUNG BY THE MSO CHORUS & MELBOURNE SYMPHONY-2020
This song has been going through my head for over a week now so it is only natural I choose this song for this theme. This is the unofficial national anthem for Australia and I think it is one of the nicest to be honest. I love that Waltzing is about walking and Matilda is the rucksack they have slung over their shoulder. This song's lyrics are by Banjo Peterson(love that name) and the music come from "The Craigielee March" and was first performed in 1895! There are many versions of this song but I liked this one.
3. WE'RE HAVING A HEAT WAVE SUNG BY ETHEL MERMAN-1938
This song was written by Irving Berlin for the musical “ Thousand’s Cheer” Sung by Ethel Waters back in 1933. I really like this song and think of it during the summer when we are experiencing a heat wave where we can hardly breathe and start to sweat as soon as we go outside. Actually many people die when there is a nasty heat wave. To be honest, I prefer the cold and snow to a nasty heat wave. We forget how young and pretty Ethel Merman was so I had to choose this version which, I think, she did a great job. (Does anyone remember her brief appearance in Airplane?)
Oh and here is Johnny Cash singing "Waltzing Matilda" but informing us what the words mean...
There are some great female athletes out there of which, I am not one of them. I am like Frazier and/or Niles-unless sports has something to do with books, film or art, count me out. There are some good movies out there but I don't think there are many about female athletes. Check out Wandering Through The Shelves to see what everyone else has chosen. Here are my 3...
1. PAT AND MIKE-1952
Pat is an excellent athlete especially in golf and tennis but, whenever her fiancée is around, she loses it and almost becomes a chicken with her head cut off. Of course, her fiancée is a moron who wants her to just be a good little housefrau (blecchhh) but she refuses and hires a shady sports guy, Spencer Tracy, to help her achieve her goal. Tracy and Hepburn are already a well established team on and off screen and this little gem often goes unnoticed. I love this because she is a strong person in her own right despite the moron. Hepburn was actually quite an accomplished golfer and tennis player so that is her playing. I like to think this is somewhat based (very, very somewhat) on the legendary Babe Didrickson who could do just about any sport if she put her mind to it.
2. KANSAS CITY BOMBERS-1972
I have not seen this in eons but I plan to see this again one day because it's a hoot (not hooters). Raquel Welch was big news back in the late 60s and 70s and made some fairly decent films. This film is about the Roller Games that were popular back then and were often quite brutal...call it the Slap Shot on roller skates. She is a young mom(Jodie Foster plays her kid) who tries to make a living in the game and learning that her boyfriend/owner of the team she plays on is not really Mr. Nice Guy. I actually get a kick out of this flick.
3. SEE HOW SHE RUNS-1978
I remember being riveted by this TV movie, yes, TV but it is really good and Joanne Woodward won an Emmy for her role. Back then many great movies and miniseries were on regular TV which now...forget it. She plays a divorced, middle-aged mom who starts running and soon decides to get into the Boston marathon much to the smirks and negative comments from most people close to her. She never gives up which I think is what really resonated with me. The ending is excellent and I have seen it spoofed in other shows like The Simpsons. Well worth the watch.
July is already here...crazy! I’m going to get right into this challenge created by Jingle, Jangle, Jungle. Just so everyone knows, I always mean to reply to your comments but I lose time (no, I have not been taken by aliens). I do listen to all your musical choices and love many..except for heavy metal (sorry Alex🥰) but I do listen to the end. I will try to be better in the future..I always strive to be better. Here are the three themes for this week:
A SONG WITH A COUNTRY IN THE TITLE
A SONG WITH A COLOUR IN THE TITLE
A SONG ABOUT A PROFESSION
1. DON’T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA SUNG BY PATTI LUPONE-1978
This song, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice came out on an LP sing by Julie Covington back in 1976 but became famous when it became a musical, "Evita" in 1978. In England , it became famous with Elaine Page as Evita but when it came to the States, Patti Lupone made this role her own. One day I would like to see this in the theatre. This show was made into a movie with Madonna as the star and she did this role quite well. Madonna never looked so good during this period.
2. BLUE SKIES SUNG BY DORIS DAY ORIGINAL SONG FROM 1926
Ok I almost went with Bing Crosby who sang this in the film “Blue Skies” in 1946 and White Christmas (with Danny Kaye) in 1954 but I went with good ole Doris this time. The song originated from a musical called “Betsy” not a very good musical by Rodgers and Hart. This song was a last minute substitute written by Irving Berlin, sung by Belle Baker and it received 24 curtain calls! It is quite an uplifting song and has been sung by many greats from Fred Astaire to Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald and many others.
3. THE LOG DRIVER'S WALTZ SUNG BY THE MOUNTAIN CITY FOUR- 1979
This song was was composed by Wade Hemsworth around 1956/57, who is a noted Canadian folk singer. He would watch the French log rollers on the river and thought they looked like dancers as they balanced on the logs as it went down the river.. My dad worked in Algonquin Park back in the 1930s in a lumber camp. He would, occasionally, be on the river but didn’t like it at all. He once saw a fellow worker slip on the very slippery logs and fall between the logs. It closed up right and the man drowned. It was a very dangerous job and he said the Frenchmen were the best at it. Anyway, I always think of my mom and dad when I watch this very famous short film from the National Film Board of Canada. The 2 sisters, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, made this version of the song famous in Canada. It’s famous even if it is not well known and was featured on our Canadian stamps (The Film Board Vignette series).
I used alcohol inks for the background and was trying something new but it looked mottled and icky. So, I took distress inks and, using a sponge, rubbed these rich colours on white paper. I stamped the paper with 3 different flower images and then fussy cut them out. I took a purple mirror card and green glitter card and cut them down to size...dont worry, they shed no tears. I glued them in place for the layer look and then took different flowers and either glued them in place or used pop up dots to create the secret garden. I used my sizzex to cut out the butterfly with my die cut and glued the glittering butterfly in place, adding crystals and stickles for more sparkle.
Speaking of secret garden, this is my garden that my hubby created.
It's another double hitter and it is all about the ooohs and aaahhhs. We could be somewhat bored with a film but love the way it was "photographed" and/or the special effects. I am becoming bored with all the CGI nowadays because, I think, it is relied on too heavily. One of the Avenger flicks starts off with all of them either running or driving through the woods to get to the bad guys. I seriously thought the film hadn't started yet and was watching a promo for a videogame. It just looked so fake. When it is done well, I am impressed but it gets pretty ridiculous now. OK enough rant. Here are my picks for each category and, after commenting, head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves to see what the others have chosen.
Best Cinematography...
1. BLACK NARCISSUS(COLOUR)-1947
OK, I know I spoke about this sensuous, beautiful film before and I was thinking, "I should choose something else," but I kept coming back to this amazing film by Powell & Pressburger, noted for their very colourful imagery, like "The Red Shoes". Jack Cardiff, a great Cinematographer, won the Oscar for this film that takes place near the Himalayas. A beautiful nun, played by Deborah Kerr is to head a nunnery high up, near the Himalayas, in an old palace for the King's harem, that, in parts, are filled with decadent paintings of court life. To bring her to the old palace, is a devil may care agent for the owner of the palace who is very handsome and questions everything. There is an attraction between these 2 and we can feel it ooze out of the film along with the erotic images. The nuns try to run a school and hospital for the natives in the area where we see the virtues of some students vie with the eroticism of others especially played by the young Jean Simmons. Throw in the winds, primitive drums, colours and a crazy ass nun and we have a great film.
2. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (COLOUR)-1951
This is a great musical, not as good as some others but still great, in my humble opinion starring Gene Kelly as the American Ex-Pat trying to make it as a painter in Gay Paris! His friend is the lovable(lovable??) Oscar Levant who is actually an excellent pianist in his own right, trying to make a go as a, well, pianist. They have a mutual friend (Georges Guetary) who is big in the Follies Bergere, who has a girlfriend he adores. Well, this gal, played by newcomer, Leslie Caron, meets up with Kelly and they fall in love. The finale, has 20 minutes of just pure dance with colours, costumes and sets created against the greatest Impressionist artists from Van Gogh, Rousseau, Toulouse-Lautrec and others. It's a pretty basic story but the dancing and cinematography are anything but. Alfred Gilks & John Alton were the cinematographers for this and they truly captured many great scenes that exuded the feel of this film from that great 20 minute balletic type scene to Levant's daydream, the Stairway to Paradise number and the love scene along the Seine.
3. BEN-HUR (COLOUR)-1959
Forget the remake(blecchh), this still stands the test of time just like Hestie's chiselled face. Yes, This was done before CGI and it is impressive isn't it? You have Charles as Ben Hur taken away to become a slave on a Roman battle ship. All he has is vengeance on his mind for how his former friend, Messala, played by Stephen Boyd, back-stabbed him and his family. When the leader of the Roman Battleship is saved by Heston after the ships are sunk, Heston is given his freedom and is taken under the wing by this Roman head. Charlie heads back to his homeland and finally decides to drive his new friend's beautiful white horses in the famous chariot race. You also realize his mom and sister are lepers but not all is lost especially when he offers Jesus a drink of water, something Jesus did many years ago for him when he needed it. This film has beautiful shots, not only of the famous chariot scene but also the scenes on the boats and in the desert plus many others. Robert Surtees is the cinematographer and he created a great piece considering how colossal this picture was.
Just so you know...for many years 2 Oscars were given for Cinematography-one for Colour and the other for Black and White films.
Special Effects...
1. THE THIEF OF BAGDAD-1940
When I finally saw this film, I was enchanted at how great the special effects were back in 1940 from the Genie to the magic carpet and the beautiful horse. The colours, sets and costumes were also great and it starred one of the earliest known Indian film stars made famous in Hollywood, Sabu(who was also in Black Narcissus). He is the young lad, a thief, who somehow becomes centre stage between a young man, a prince, imprisoned by the evil Jaffar (the wonderful Conrad Veidt) and a beautiful princess whom Jaffar covets for his own. Through their adventures, we meet the genie, a daffy old prince (the princess's dad) who loves toys and the many "toys" Jaffer creates for the old guy. It is one of the best versions ever made of this classic fairy tale. Lawrence Butler and Jack Whitney were the collaborators creating the Genie and the wondrous toys. They truly deserved to win the Oscar that year.
2. STAR WARS-1977
Yup, I am assuming this will be a popular one this week but for good reason since it created a whole new way to do special effects and started the Industrial Light & Magic that every man, still living with his mom in the basement of his childhood home, dreams about visiting. It's hard now not to find the new and improved versions of the first, er, I mean middle, I mean, well, the first ones to be shown in the theatre. John Stears, John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Grant McCune and Robert Blalack(ughh, that's a lot of guys) were the reason for the special effects that blew my ex-husband away when he first saw this. He always remembers the beginning scene of the spaceships going through space only for this much bigger ship to appear, blowing my ex's mind away. We know the story, young man wants to see space and feels he is held back. His Uncle buys 2 droids and while fixing them, the kid comes across a message from a princess looking for Obi-Wan. Anyway, Obi Wan finds them and they go on a quest to find a fast spaceship. Enter Chewie and Han Solo, hired to bring them to the dark side where evil Darth Vader is as well as the princess. Chaos ensues. I saw this back in 1977 and remember feeling underwhelmed because I thought the story was simplistic, not really caring about the special effects. Oh well....
3. JURASSIC PARK-1993
I saw this in the theatre as well and was properly impressed with these dinosaurs that scared the living bejeebies out of me! Again, the story is a bit simple; an old coot, played by Richard Attenborough, invites 2 palaeontologists to his island to see what he has accomplished. Also along for the ride is a lawyer and Jeff Goldblum who irritates the old coot to no end. There are the old coot's 2 grandkids here, as well, ready to see the wonders of what this nutbar created from the DNA extracted from really old mosquitoes. I had to laugh when the Sam Neill character tells the kids that these huge brontosaurus are safe just like cows (really??). When the T-Rex is introduced, I was scared as it was done so very well. It's a fun flick which has now spanned many sequels with CGI taking over and you can see the difference...not to the better. Oh yeah...here are the winners for this Special Effects Oscar this year-Dennis Muren, Stan Winston, Phil Tippitt & Michael Lantieri-all greats in their field.
So there is my lengthy post, which 3 would you choose?
