Thursday Movie Picks: TV Edition- Friends to Lovers

 

There are quite a few shows where the guy and gal fall in love but usually they don't care for each other at first and are annoyed but that's just sexual chemistry. I was a bit flummoxed by friends becoming love nuts. Wandering through the Shelves made me put my thinking cap on so here are my 3...

1. M.A.S.H.-1972-1983

To say that I love this show would be an understatement and I was one of the millions who tuned in to watch the final episode which is still the biggest viewed episode ever when you take into account the # of TVs  less channels etc... This show is about an army surgical hospital that must do meatball surgery on the young men wounded during the Korean War. It started off as a very funny comedy but as Alan Alda  got more control over the series, it became more of a dramedy.  Alda played Hawkeye Pierce, a gifted surgeon who hates authority and is often in conflict with his higher ups. Margaret Hoolahan is a Major who, at first, was a nasty character often at odds with Pierce and his best friend, Trapper John  and, later, BJ Hunnicutt. Over the years, Loretta Switt, was given the chance to develop her character. Along the way, she and Hawkeye became more friendly which culminated in a 2 part episode where the 2 are stuck in a hut, bombs going off and they fall into each other's arms. Needless to say, it doesn't work out and they become good friends. Mind you...the finale still showed they had more than just a friendship.  I will use this show other times because it's just too good.

2. FRAZIER- 1993-2004

Another brilliant show with Kelsey Grammar as Dr. Frazier Crane who moves from Boston( Cheers) and reunites with his dad and his brother. He has a great job as a radio psychiatrist and his producer, man hungry, sexy Roz ( Peri Gilpin deserved an Emmy). They develop a strong friendship as does his brother, Niles with their dad's physiotherapist, Daphne. Actually, Niles loves Daphne from the beginning but Daphne looks at him as a nice friend. Finally, Niles and Daphne do get together and stay together. Frazier and Roz flirt and finally have a one night stand but realize they love each other as friends. A great show with their relationships only a small part of a much grander show.

3. FRIENDS- 1994-2004

This will be popular this week, I believe. 3 boys and 3 girls are all friends living in NYC. You have Rachel and Ross who were the big couple for the day, along with her hair. Finally, they get together which was a big to do back in the 90s. Their relationship went up and down and sideways. When Rachel screwed up Ross's wedding, everyone was shocked until we saw Chandler in bed with Monica! That shocked me when I saw that episode. This pairing turned out to be one of the best and funniest at times. I have to say I enjoyed watching that show.

What shows can you think of that involves friends becoming lovers?

Wednesday Music Fun

 

There's my Harley....who is truly stinking up the place. We gave him a new wet food...duck. you know what duck rhymes with? Yes, it's quite smelly right now. I'm joining the Monday Music Moves Me  on Wednesday. It's celestial time so let's get to it.

1. SHINE ON HARVEST MOON SUNG BY JANE POWELL, ANN SOTHERN AND LOUIS CALHERN-1950

This was the first song that popped into my head and one I am trying to get rid of to be honest. It's just so catchy! This was created by the Vaudville team of Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth for a Ziegfeld Follies show back in 1908. This song has been done by many but I liked this sweet version. It was between this one and Laurel and Hardy...maybe I should have chosen Laurel & Hardy.

2. A SPACEMAN CAME TRAVELLING BY CHRIS DEBURGH-1975

I love Chris DeBurgh's early music which was very original. This comes from his famous album " Spanish Train". 

3. ANUS FROM URANUS BY KLAATU-1976

I love Klaatu who took their name from the famous film, "The Day The Earth Stood Still" in 1951. I enjoy listening to their unique sound and  when they were around, a rumour came out that they were secretly the Beatles....they were not. 

Hope you like my take.

OK....here's Laurel & Hardy

Thursday Movie Picks- Forced Proximity

 

All month it is romance time at Wandering Through The Shelves and this week it's about couple who are stuck together, I  a room, a boat etc.. or handcuffed, no, not like 50 Shades of Crap. I know I am forgetting some great films and hope I see them suggested here. Oh, I forgot to mention about my Oscar post from yesterday...that rap song won the Oscar. The song fro. Chicago was nominated a d the LOTR: 2 Towers song was the Cinderslut. Personally, I love that song the best. Ok, back to the movies-I have picked my 3...

1. THE 39 STEPS- 1935

This stars, be still my heart, Robert Donat, as an innocent man( what else would he be in a Hitchcock film) who comes across a woman in distress. He helps her out bringing her to his flat but she is murdered and he is framed and goes on the run. He meets up with the beautiful Madeleine Carroll who wants nothing to do with him. He ends up handcuffed to her and, when thugs try to kill her, she starts to believe in him. There is much more to the story as it is classic Hitchcock film. It's one of my favourite of his films.

2. THE BLUE LAGOON-1980

One day I must see the one with Jean Simmons but, so far, I've just seen this dumb flick starring Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins as 2 young people who were the sole survivors of a shipwreck when they were little kids. They are on a deserted island who somehow survive and grow up into 2 beautiful adolescents. Being teens, they're horntoads and get it on resulting in young Brooke getting knocked up...Oh my! It's just so dumb but it has some cult status for its dumbness.

3. THE BREAKFAST CLUB-1985

A John Hughes film that made him and the young stars famous from Molly Ringworm ..er Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, and Ally Sheedy to Anthony Michael Hall and Judd Nelson. These kids have all been bad boys and girls who must give up their Saturday and spend it in school detention. You have the popular kids like popular Molly and jock Emilio to the nerdy, brainiac Hall, the misfit, Sheedy and the very, very annoying loser delinquent, Nelson, who never shuts up. You get to learn why each are there and that they are more than just their stereotypes. Of course, romance blooms( if I was the mom of Molly Dingbat, I would be having a heart attack) except for the brain because, well, he is a nerd. It's a fun movie with some great 80s music. 

Which movies can you think of.

Oscar Song Picks for 2003

 

I decided to go more recent…more recent for me that is. It’s the 3rd week which means which song won the Oscar, which one was nominated and which one wasn’t even invited to the ball sitting by the cinders weeping into their tattered dress. Let’s see if you can guess which is which for 2003.

1.  I MOVE ON FROM CHICAGO SUNG BY CATHERINE ZETA JONES & RENEE ZELLWEGER

This was a new song for the film version of this Broadway hit that stars Catherine Zeta Jones and Renee Zellweger as 2 opportunistic bitches in the entertainment industry. You can go ahead a minute or so before the song starts. This was composed by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb( lyrics). I like this film even though it stars Renee Zellweger whom I find annoying as hell.

2. LOSE YOURSELF FROM 8 MILE SUNG BY ENINEM

M & M stars in this flick with Kim Basinger as his mom. Meh, who cares. He plays a misunderstood teen from the wrong side of the tracks who gets to rap…ughh. This song became a huge hit that even I know it well. M & M, the green one, Jeff Bass and Luis Resto wrote this song.

3. GOLLUM’S SONG FROM LOTR:THE TWO TOWERS SUNG BY EMILIANA TORRINI

Never mind that I love these films but the music is outstanding and this song was originally written for Bjork to sing but she became pregnant and opted out so this Icelandic songstress stepped in. I think she did a great job that sounds haunting and cutting at the same time. This song, like the soundtrack, was written by Howard Shore. 

So, which one won the Oscar, which was nominated and which was was Cinderslut?

Thursday Movie Picks- Cinderella Plot Movies

 

The Cinderella theme is very popular in books and film all over the world. I, personally, love the original name of the Grimm Fairy Tale...Cinderslut. I’m not kidding...isn’t that great!? Wandering Through The Shelves has chosen a really good theme and I hope you like my 3 choices.

1.  SABRINA-1954

I spoke about this film before but I can’t pass this theme by without choosing this film and, besides, Audrey Hepburn just seemed to be a Cinderella. She is a chauffeur’s daughter who is sent away to Paris and comes back a swan. She catches the eye of playboy William Holden( who caught her eye off screen as they both had a torrid affair but when she found out he had a vasectomy, she stopped the affair because she really wanted children) who picks her up in town not knowing that is his family’s chauffeur’s daughter. He invites her to a fancy shindig his family is having still not realizing who she is but older brother, Humphrey Bogart does and prevents anything from happening much to Will and Audrey’s chagrin. Bogart decides to "woo” her because he feels she is after their money...wrong!  Little does he know that he is falling for this doe-eyed beauty. A great comedy romance even though Bogie was a disagreeable lout during filming who didn’t care for his co-stars. This was the beginning of a lifelong friendship and pairing of Hepburn and Hubert De Givenchy who designed most of her iconic gowns( not Edith Head).

2. THREE LITTLE NUTS FOR CINDERELLA-1973

This is a Czech film that is shown annually at Christmas in Europe because it takes place during winter. I saw it, repeatedly, on Sunday mornings, when I was young, on our CBC station and loved it. Cinderella is bullied by her stepmother but the stepmother only has one ugly daughter. Cinderella is a tomboy who can speak to the animals and when the stepmom tells her to separate lentils from the corn she has the help of white doves. This frees her up to enjoy riding her dad's stallion  especially when she meets up with the prince and his entourage. A worker, who is kind, tells Cinderella he will get her the first thing that hits him on the head and sure enough, 3 hazelnuts drop onto his head and he gives them to Cinderella. When the ball happens she talks to an owl and out from the nut comes a beautiful gown. Anyhoo, it is a really unique and different take on the theme. Actually, it's closer to the original than the Disney version.

3. EVER AFTER-1998

This is a charming take on the classic fairy tale tgat stars Drew Barrymore in the lead role and she never looked lovelier. Angelica Huston plays the wicked stepmother and there are 2 step sisters but one is not as mean as one would think. Drew meets up with the Prince but keeps her identity secret. There is nothing in the way of magic, just meeting Leonardo Da Vinci. It all comes to a head at the masquerade ball. The costumes are excellent and so is this story with a strong Cinderella just like in the 2nd film I spoke about. These 2 Cindersluts are anything but demure.

So, which 3 can you think of?

Love these Love Songs

 

Ok, Christmas is done but I thought it works to show how much we love each other. Valentine’s Day is next week and....meh....any day can be Valentine’s Day when you love someone so I am choosing 3 songs that I go all goo goo ga ga, batt my eyelashes and dream of my Prince Charming....Hugh Jackman. Hahahaaa sorry, honey. I’m joking on the Monday Moves Me even though I post on Wednesday. Enjoy my 3 songs that make me swoon.

1. SOME ENCHANTED EVENING SUNG BY GIORGIO TOZZI -1958

This is from the film version of South Pacific that starred Mitzi Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi who is dubbed by Giorgio in this version. I love this musical,  by Rogers and Hammerstein, and when this song was sung, my little girl inside, sighed wishing to have someone sing that song to me. I just love this song and, I think, this is one of the best love songs ever created. It was originally sung by Ezio Pinza back in 1949 on Broadway with Mary Martin.

2. WITHOUT YOU SUNG BY HARRY NILSSON-1971

This song was written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans from the British rock band, Badfinger. I had no idea until I looked it up. In fact, I love this song but didn't have a clue who sang it until I visited a fellow blogger, John from The Sound of One Hand Typing. Thank you for letting me know. I had no clue that this great singer died so young, age 52, from a heart attack.

3. FOR MY LADY SUNG BY RAY THOMAS- 1972

I believe I spoke about this beautiful song before, but I just love it. It's a song by The Moody Blues, one of my favourite bands and Ray Thomas is one of my favourite of this band. He created a great song and was the soul of the band  I believe.

So what love songs can you think of

Star of the Month

 

S. Z. SAKALL

BORN- February 2, 1883

DIED- February 12, 1955

AGED- 72 years

DIED FROM- Heart Attack

REAL NAME- Jakob Grunwald or Gero Jeno, Jacob Gero, Szoke Szakall

NICKNAME-Cuddles and Szoke Szakall meaning blond beard which he grew in his theatre days so he could look older.

MARRIED- twice to Giza Grossner and Anne Kardos

TALENT- Producer and writer and had his own production Company 

KNOWN FOR- his sweet-natured, befuddled uncle, grandfather, owner etc whom you just want to hug. He was 2nd only to one other man for his light Viennese romantic comedies. Known to always say " Everything is hunky dunky."

Most people have seen this great character actor but, like most character actors, we don’t know  their name. This loveable ham was given the nickname, “Cuddles” by, of all people, Jack Warner( some same it was Doris Day but I don’t think so) but S. Z. never cared for the nickname. He actually was a big name in Hungary, Vienna and Berlin not only for his acting, but also for his play writing. He was in WW1 but was bayoneted in the chest and was, obviously, invalided out. His star became bigger but, when Hitler came to power, he went back to Hungary since he was Jewish. When Hungary became part of that unholy axis back in 1940, he got the hell out of there and came over to Hollywood. He lost his 3 sisters, a niece plus his wife lost her brother and sister in the concentration camps. Cuddles hated the American food so his wonderful wife made the food he loved and brought it to him when he was on the set. She also was a known presence on the set often helping him learn his lines. . He was such a good scene stealer because of his befuddled ways and language  screw-ups that other actors got their egos up their asses. Alan Hale Snr( his son played the Skipper on Gilligan’s Island) really disliked the portly man because of his scene stealing ways. Sakall is one of my favourite actors and was in many musicals even though he couldn’t sing a note.

FILMS

1. That Night in Rio-1941

2. The Devil and Miss. Jones- 1941

3. Ball of Fire- 1941

4. Yankee Doodle Dandy- 1942

5. Casablanca- 1942

6. Christmas in Connecticut- 1945

7. Romance on the High Seas- 1948

8. My Dream is Yours - 1949

9. In the Good Old Summertime- 1949

10. The Student Prince- 1954

What I Watched in January

 

I might have posted this Harley pic before but don't you just love him? 

I watched quite a few flicks in January so here we go...

1. UNDERWORLD #4-2012

Vampire, Kate Beckinsale, in Emma Peel, catsuit, kicks some vampire and werewolf ass trying to save this hot dude who is a mix of vampire and werewolf. Fun and it has Bill Nighy...

2. THE FABLEMANS-2022

Oscar nominated film about Steven Spielberg's early life when he got involved with film and his family life. I felt like a voyeur and am not a Michelle Williams fan but it is good even though it's a bit long.

3. THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN-2022

Oscar nominated film with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as 2 friends who live on a remote island off the Irish coast back in 1923. Gleeson's character no longer wants to be friends with Farrell but Farrell can't accept this. Brilliantly acted and love the cinematography  but....I just can't....I thought this one major part in this film was just stupid. I won't give anything away but...really? Stupid. My hubby loved the movie.

4. TOP GUN: MAVERICK-2022

I had no desire to see this as I still don't care about the first one but I was pleasantly surprised. It's a fun movie with some great flying sequences that makes one dizzy. 

5. AIRPORT-1970

Get out the harvest gold shag carpeting for this action adventure with an all star cast lead by Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin. This started all the airport disaster flicks and disaster movies in general. I love the theme music and the acting is quite good especially Maureen Stapleton as the grieving wife. Helen Hayes won the Oscar for her conniving old lady who stows away on airplanes.

6. AIRPORT '77-1977

Another all star cast led by Jack Lemmon as the pilot of this large 747 owned by billionaire Jimmy Stewart. You have some big wigs on this flight heading for underwater disaster from Olivia DeHavilland, Joseph Cotton to Christopher Lee and Karen Black. Lee won a scuba diving medal for doing his own stunt. No surprise since he was in the OSS during WW2.

7. NOTES ON A SCANDAL-2006

Oh no you don't, Cate Blanchett! Don't get it on with a 17 yr old student....sigh. every boys' wet dream. Of course, repressed, gay Judi Dench witnesses the event. A difficult film but it is so well acted including Bill Nighy as Cate's husband who is 20 yrs older where she is 30 yrs older than her student.

8. ELYSIUM-2013

Earth sucks so the rich move into a huge beautiful space station that mimics sunny days with manicured lawns and these tanning beds that are actually healing beds for any disease. The majority of us live on the ugly planet called Earth but Matt Damon needs to get healed. Look for a bitch of a woman played by Jodie Foster who isn't that believable, to me. It's a fun flick.

9. MILDRED PIERCE- 2011

This was on HBO actually so could be TV but I stuck it here. Mildred has a gift for cooking and raising a nasty brat, Veda. Mildred gets that brat all she wants but it's never enough. Mildred makes it in the world with her restaurants  during the great depression, but Veda is always having her hand out. It's good and well acted but a bit long. Give me bitch Joan Crawford in the original film any day even though this is a worthy watch.

10. SURVIVOR-2015

Pierce Brosnan plays a real bad, bad man. He's a nasty killer for hire who tries to kill an operative, Milla Jovanovich when she survives a bombing that her fellow work people didn't. Now she's on the run to clear her name. It's nothing new but fun to watch.

11. SHATTERED-2007

Another Pierce film where he plays a baddie....well, this is quite the bender with family man, Gerard Butler who is thrown into a nightmare when his daughter is kidnapped by Pierce. He must do what Pierce wants in order to get his daughter back. Quite good, I thought, with some good twists and turns.

TV SHOWS

1. WEDNESDAY-2022

Brilliant! A must see!! The acting is great,  comedic but with dark turns and they have Gomez looking the part as he was meant to be. A great murder mystery with WEDNESDAY at the heart of it.

2. GREAT RIVER JOURNEYS-2021-2022

I would love to have a job where I travel to all these unique and not so unique places. This is a really nice short series, narrated by Bill Nighy, where you are taken to all sorts of beautiful countries, even North America...sorry, I had to say that for fun. I'd love to do these trips. 

3. DIGGING FOR BRITAIN-2010-PRESENT

We follow Dr. Alice Roberts as she travels all over Britain finding out about new findings in the archeological world. We see how they found Richard the 3rd in a parking lot to a beautiful mosaic in a field. I always dreamed of participating in a dig but now, there is no way I could kneel for hours.. bummer... so I watch others do it. 

What did you watch last month?

Thursday Movie Picks-Travel Romance

 

Wandering Through The Shelves  loves romance so each week there will be something about romance. Who says romance is dead! It's all about travel this week snd there is a wealth of travel films. Most of us have had some travel romance whether it be a one night stand in the sand where one is scraping sand out of....um....well you know or romance with your spouse, we all have been there at least once. Even if you travel 20 minutes away, it's still travel. Ok, so decided to go for a cruise...romance on the high seas. I am not choosing the Love Bost sinking aka Titanic from 1997. I am going in other directions...

1. ONE WAY PASSAGE- 1932

I haven't seen this in a long time but it stars William Powell and Kay Francis ( at the height of her career and a once, very famous and voted best dressed star of that time) who meet on a cruise ship and fall in love neither one knowing their dark and sad secret. Its a short film and an early talkie but there is something about this weepie that makes me want to see it again. I'm usually not a romance movie gal but this one I like even though it's an early talkie but that never bothers me.

2. DODSWORTH 1936

This is an intelligent film that is not only a romance film but one about marriage with actors who are not 22 years old. Walter Huston is a married millionaire, married to Ruth Chatterton, who wants to take a cruise to Europe. They set sail where she starts to flirt with some young dudes. He meets a divorced lady, played by Mary Astor, and falls in love with her. It sounds simple but this is a well written story that ages well to this day. It is an excellent film about love, marriage and loss. During the making of this film, Mary Astor was going through a bitter, nasty divorce and custody battle where her diaries about her sexual escapades became public knowledge. She was living in her trailer for the time she made this film. 

3. NOW, VOYAGER-1942

The music is famous, Betty Davis was at her peak, having a cigarette became very sensual( believe it or not) and sharing a sleeping bag got passed the censors. Bette plays a homely woman who lives under the thumb of her nasty mother. She is sent to a sanitarium run by Claude Rains who is a sympathetic psychiatrist who helps Bette overcome her own issues and bloom. Bette ends up on a ship traveling to South America where she meets the dashing Paul Henreid. When he lights 2 cigarettes in his mouth and gives one to her, she is in love. It is a Supreme woman's picture depicting a woman overcoming so much to blossom and find romance. Again, well acted with more to it than just a romance and worth the final smaltzy last words...those words always makes me sigh...lol.

Which travel romance films can you think of?

Different Musical Instruments

 

I do love unique musical instruments which often play in folk music from different countries...now don’t run away, I promise this won’t be bad. Ok, to me, I think these songs are great and are my favourites, of many, but I love these songs ...that they come from films is purely coincidental. I'm joining Monday Music Moves Me because I get moving on Wednesday:). The hostess is Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, a beautiful lady who loves music and more.

1.  THE THIRD MAN THEME BY ANTON KARAS-1949

I love the zither which is a standard instrument in many folk songs from Germany and Austria. This composer was found by Carol Reed, the director of "The Third Man”, playing in a small cafe in Austria and asked him if he could come up with a song for his film. The result is this very famous song also known as the Harry Lime theme. Yes, I do have a few CDs featuring this instrument.

2. ZORBA’S DANCE BY MIKIS THEODORAKIS-1964

This piece has become world famous and is played at just about every tourist Greek tavern and Folk dance  routine you can imagine but I love it. It is performed by the bouzouki, a unique looking stringed instrument. 

3.  LARA’S THEME BY MAURICE JARRE-1965

This is another beautiful theme song that we all know even if we have not seen the film( which is also excellent). Of course we hear other instruments but the balalaika takes centre stage. My mom loved this theme song and this was her favourite film. 

I love the music thst comes from crystal glasses, the banjo, many other pieces of music with different instruments. Which songs can you think of that have different instruments played in it.