Eclipse

 

So, a couple of weeks ago, we had that total eclipse in my neck of the woods and I was worried how crazy the roads would be travelling to Niagara Falls. I need not have worried because the streets were almost vacant of traffic. Tons came to the Falls only to be disappointed because we had cloud cover, although a bit of a break came where people could see a bit of the eclipse. I was talking to a client, via Zoom, when this was happening but we both kept glancing out our perspective windows noticing it getting jet black for  a minute before it became daylight once again. Funny, the sun peaked out 10 minutes later becoming a clear sky for the remainder of the day…hahahaaaa. Now, it seems many people are having eye issues because these morons decided to look into the eclipse despite repeated warnings not to do this…sigh. This made me think of movies that had a solar eclipse in the movie so I went with that.

1. A CONNECTICUT YANKEE-1931

I haven’t seen this film version in decades and I want to see it again because I remember laughing at the antics of Will Rogers. In this version, Rogers plays a radio man sent to a mansion to fix a radio, from what I remember, a suit of armour falls on top of him and he wakes up during the reign of King Arthur. He is ready to be killed for being a witch but his rodeo rope antics and matches make people stop from killing him. I seem to remember he “foresaw” the eclipse which made more people believe him to be better than Merlin. Merlin and Morgan Le Fay are the evil doers and Will Rogers must outwit them. I enjoyed this movie and fell for Will Rogers who was a major star back then and very much endeared to the public so, when he died in a plane crash in 1935, the world was devastated.

2. A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR’S COURT-1949

This version, which I also saw decades ago, is a musical starring Bing Crosby, this time as a singing mechanic who bumps his head and winds up in King Arthur’s court. There he meets and falls in love with Rhonda Fleming while avoiding being killed when he predicts the solar eclipse. This is a musical remake of the Mark Twain classic and one that I also enjoyed. 

3. LADYHAWKE-1985

I love this fairy tale with a young Matthew Broderick as a thief who falls into the sad tale of love when he meets Rutger Hauer with his hawk. At night, the boy meets up with a beautiful woman, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, with a wolf. They venture to an old castle where they meet up with a friar who tells the young thief that these 2 people are in love but a spell was cast on them so they could never be together because , when day comes, she turns into the hawk and , when night comes, as she transforms back into h7man form, Rutger turns into the wolf. The only way to break this curse involves a solar eclipse. I got a major crush on Rutger Hauer when I saw this film and just loved the Grimm fairy tale feel of this movie.

What movies can you think of that show a solar eclipse? Did you watch the eclipse, with protective glasses, of course?

Singers/Songwriters Born in April

 

 This could be a big one with a number of musicians born in April including countless singers…where to start!? Curious As A Cathy has a good theme this week. So, I hope you like my picks…

1. ELMER BERNSTEIN  BORN APRIL 4, 1922-THE GREAT ESCAPE-1963

I love this song from a great movie that was a who’s who of great stars. Elmer Bernstein is most famous for this theme and  The Magnificent Seven but he did so much more including True Grit ( I almost chose this theme), Animal House and Ghostbusters.

2. HENRY MANCINI BORN APRIL 16, 1924- THEME FROM HATARI-1962

The Baby Elephant Walk is the most famous from this score but I enjoy all of it. I am sad about the animals that are 5ake n for zoos but that’s how it was back in the day. It’s a fun film and I do love the baby elephants.

3. CHARLIE CHAPLIN BORN APRIL16, 1889-SMILE FROM MODERN TIMES

This man is still known as the little tramp and one of the funniest during the silent era and beyond. He could  act, write, direct and compose songs with this song being one of his most famous. Lyrics were added later but not by Chaplin so I decided to just keep the music on this one.

I have to do a couple more

1. THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL BY ABBA-1980

Agnetha Faltskog( the blonde one) was born on April 5, 1950  and her one time husband, Bjorn Ulvaeus, another part of the famous group, ABBA, helped create this song which Agnetha sang brilliantly. 

2. TILAK SHYAM PERFORMED BY RAVI SHANKAR-1970 

It’s late so I’m too tired to search for the original year this song was created so I chose when this great musician performed it on the Ed Sullivan show. The first time I saw Ravi Shankar, born on April 7, 1920, was on the documentary on Woodstock( the best documentary) and I was enthralled. I found out, later, that the Beatles became interested in his music especially George Harrison. He is a great musician with this lovely instrument called the sitar.

OK, I’m done, so what singer/songwriter can you think of? 

A Couple of Cards and some Quail Eggs

 

Addicted to Stamps- Make Your Mark

Fab N' Funky- Add a Sentiment

Tic, Tac, Toe-used Stencil, Green, Foliage 

Dream Valley- Make It Female

Simon Says- Stencil It

This card was made for a wedding that I, unfortunately, could not attend. It took place in Halifax so I just couldn't swing it. She is my ex's niece who still considers me her Aunt and I think of her as my niece. Her wedding was medieval so I stamped my image in black and coloured it in greens, her favourite colour and part of her wedding colours. I took a stencil, placed it on green cardstock and used distress sprays to cover the card in a Foliage type Stencil. I coloured the image in tombow markers and added Swarovski crystal chain and crystals and, finally, the sentiment, to finish the card.

Christmas Card Throwdown- Vintage

I stamped the Santa and coloured him in with my tombow markers adding glitter to his fur. I had a remnant from my other card which I distressed with more green and brown distress inks. I had a parchment laying around for eons so I stamped the writing in apricot brown and took green card stock and stenciled the border in with this glitter gold paste. I glued it all in place added the ribbon and the crystals to finish off the card.

Now, my mom made a l8ving by selling her Faberge style eggs and I saw John, from The Sound of One Hand Typing, speaking about Quail. My mom l9ved the look of the quail egg and the smaller the better. She would create the flower and birthstone for each month inside the egg..all is handmade. She made little baskets and even little jewel boxes with a surprise inside, one is a blue Jay and the other a rose. Cool, eh? Oh and that goblet is from a pudgeon egg I believe.

Thursday Film Picks: Tax Evasion

 

I got this idea from John Holton over at The Sound of One Hand Typing ( a great blog, you should check it out) who created a music post on musicians who owed/owe big on income tax and, I thought, there are many film actors who also ran into tax trouble so I am picking 3 films with stars who ran into tax trouble. Here are my 3…

1. HOUSEBOAT-1958

This film stars Cary Grant as a widower with 3 precocious kids who run into the beautiful Sophia Loren who is running away from her very wealthy dad. They believe she needs a job and the kids want her as their new nanny and she is happy to oblige if that takes her away from being a contessa. It’s quite a fun film with Cary Grant and Sophia Loren having real chemistry. They should since Cary fell madly in love with Sophia and asked her to marry him but she opted for short, fat, bald Carlo Ponti, an Italian film producer…go figure but, it seemed to be a happy union. Sophia Loren went to jail in 1982 for a whole 17 days for fudging her taxes which she stated she was innocent. Many years later, the government stated she was right and apologized for the boo boo.

2. OCEAN’S 11-1960

This film stars the infamous Rat Pack- Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jnr, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop as friends who decide to pull the biggest heist in Las Vegas history. You see how they all connive to steal millions from the 5 top casinos. Sammy Davis drives the van from casino to casino. Sammy Davis was someone who could act, sing, dance, you name it and had fun with his cohorts in the Vegas strip when he wasn’t allowed to stay in the hotels due to his colour. Frank Sinatra told the casino that if they want him and the others around Sammy must stay at the hotel and be able to walk through the front door and , they capitulated. Sammy also made the sin of marrying a white woman( May Britt) and received death threats. Poor Sammy was always running out of money and, when he died, in 1990( died of throat cancer, he was a 4 pack a day smoker),  he owed a ton to the IRS. Sadly, because his widow signed on his income tax forms, they came after her for the money.

3. TO WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, JULIE NEWMAR-1995

I would love to see this film again. It stars Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo as drag queens driving to LA for. Drag Queen competition but run into a nasty cop and then their car goes on the blink leaving them in this small town with people wondering what the hell they are. You know that they and the townsfolk will become richer for knowing each other but it’s how they all work together. I love the cameo of Robin Williams at the beginning of the film and love that Julie Newmar( Catwoman in the Batman tv show) also made an appearance near the end of the film. I also love seeing tough guy and Blade star Wesley Snipes dressed as a woman, not a good looking one, but a woman nonetheless. Wesley Snipes went to jail for 3 years for tax evasion and, I believe, still has issues with the tax man. 

Who can you think of who ran afoul of the Tax man?

Who Won The Oscar-1977

 

This was the year of Star Wars, which I did see in the theatre but was, sorry, not enthralled by it. I thought it was fun but that was it.  What did I know?! It did win best score but this is about best song. It's freebie week  at Monday Music Moves Me  over at Curious as A Cathy and it's Oscar time for the year 1977. So let's see if you can figure out who won the Oscar, who was nominated and who came up empty-handed.

1. NOBODY DOES IT BETTER SUNG BY CARLY SIMON

I love this song, from the Bond film, "The Spy Who Loved Me", sung so well by Carly Simon. It was written by Marvin Hamlisch with lyrics by Carole Bayer and was a great Bond song.

2. YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE SUNG BY DEBBIE BOONE

This earworm came from the movie of the same name and made famous by Pat Boone's daughter. It was written by Joseph Brooks and was played to death. I still can't stand this song.

3. NEW YORK, NEW YORK SUNG BY LIZA MINNELLI

This very famous song is always associated with Frank Sinatra but it actually comes from the film, of the same name, starring Liza and Robert DeNiro. It was directed by Martin Scorsese and its a film I still want to see. This famous song was written by John Kander and Fred Ebb specifically for Liza Minnelli..did you know that?

So which song won, which was nominated and which got nadda? 

Thursday Film Picks: Best Actress Choice

 

I am picking a year and a category and choosing the actual winner, the nominee and one that got neither and will choose the one I think should have won. I am just going with 3 even though the norm is, usually, 5. I have chosen 1954 and the best actress category which showered a new lady with the Oscar and treated a veteran pretty crappy. Grace Kelly won the Oscar appearing in a beautiful icy aqua gown designed by the famous Edith Head. Judy Garland had just given birth to her son and was surrounded by all the reporters and cameramen because they believed Judy would win the Oscar but when she didn’t, they unceremoniously, packed everything up and left. Needless to say, Judy felt like a bag of meat. 

1. A STAR IS BORN

This is my favourite version of this oft filmed plot about a talented woman, found by an established star, who helps her become famous despite his career waning partly because of his alcohol problem. You see the 2 fall in love despite his career going down the toilet while she becomes famous. Knowing that Judy suffered from years of drug and alcohol abuse and was fired by MGM after giving years of her talent to them makes this scene even more poignant. James Mason plays the down trodden film star who falls for Judy but it is Judy’s film and she truly deserved the Oscar, in my humble opinion.

2. THE COUNTRY GIRL

Beautiful, elegant Grace Kelly wears a basic sweater and little makeup and winds up winning the Oscar for the role of the long suffering wife of an over the hill actor/singer and alcoholic Bing Crosby. The years of trying to keep up her husband’s mood took its toll and she is a shell of her former self. William Holden sees her as the beauty and wishes she would drop kick her husband out the door. It is well acted especially by Bing Crosby but, even though Grace did a good job, I didn’t think she deserved the Oscar. I do need to see this film again. Off camera, Grace was having an affair with Bing and William…not at the same time but one after the other, she was quite the gal.

3. THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA

Ava Gardener gave her all in this film which almost seemed to be a bit of her autobiography of this stunningly beautiful actress. It’s not really her biography but it does seem to recognize Ava’s freedom loving ways. Humphrey Bogart plays a director who finds Ava and proceeds to make her a star. Men fall in love with her but she doesn’t care much about their desires only her wish to feel free and dance to her own tune. It is very well acted and Ava deserved an Oscar nomination but she wasn’t recognized which is a shame because she did a great job as this earthy woman who beats to her own drummer.

Have you seen any of these pictures? Anyone else you thought should have won or, at least, be nominated?

Novelty Songs

 

My sweet Harley loves to rest his head on my knee when he tries to gain sympathy....usually works. On the Monday Music Moves Me, it's all about Novelty songs and I chose these 3 and hope you like them.

1. I WANNA BE LOVED BY YOU SUNG BY DEBBIE REYNOLDS-1950

This song became famous by the great Helen Kane, becoming her signature tune, back in 1928. It was made more famous when Marilyn Monroe sang it and it even showed up.on Gilligan’s Island when Ginger sang it( and Mary-Ann thinking she was Ginger). It was written by Herbert Stothart and Harry Ruby with lyrics by Bert Kalmar and this rendition, by Debbie Reynolds, leaves me in stitches every time. The young man is played by Carlton Carpenter and it is from the film, " Three Little Words."

2. TROGLODYTE/BERTHA BUTT BY JIMMY CASTOR-1972 & 1975

My brother has a 45 of the Bertha Butt song and I remember his record differently from these 2 but these still work and they are from the same guy. I just always found it funny and still sing it in my head. It did become a bit of a hit.

3. HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW SUNG BY PATTI PAGE-1953

This was written by Bob Merrill and became famous by Patti Page. My dad loved this song and he was a dog lover. He would have loved Harley and so, for my dad and Harley, this song is for them. 

One more for the road…

4. DER FUHRER’S FACE SUNG BY SPIKE JONES-1942

I just had to include this one which is so funny. I showcased this before but had to include it. 

What novelty song comes into your mind?

What I Watched In March

 

I watched a slew of movies trying to see as many Best Picture Oscar nominees as I could. I do watch TV Shows but I have spoken about them mostly so I don’t have many here. Ok, on with the show…

1. GREYHOUND-2020

Story of troop ships and how they were protected by small boats. Made me think of my dad and dad in law who were part of the mass of soldiers being sent over during WW2. Excelllent film!

2. THE HOLDOVERS-2023

A professor must take care of kids who are not going home over Christmas. A grieving mom is the main cook for these misfit toys. Well done and really great cinematography that makes me think Jack Nicholson will appear on screen.

3.  AMERICAN FICTION-2023

Intelligent comedy about a novelist who decides to write trash on how white people think black people are…very funny and my favourite. Brilliant script.

4. 1917-2019

Excellent film during WW1  about 2 young men who must bring a message to another unit before that unit decide to do battle and lose. Tense, sad, energetic and tiring make for a great movie.

5. ANATOMY OF A FALL-2023

A man dies, seemingly fell from 2nd story window, or was he pushed? The trial begins on his famous, novelist widow charged with his murder. Her son may hold the key. Love the dog who deserved an Oscar but found the film slow in spots. Could have been edited down a bit.

6. POOR THINGS-2023

Emma Stone deserved the Oscar for how well she carried this film. That being said, I didn’t expect this to be soft porn! Holy full frontal and thunder thumping! Willem Dafoe deserved an Oscar Nom. Art Direction is excellent.

7. THE LAST REPAIR SHOP-2023

A documentary Short that puts a smile on your face. I saw in on YouTube and it’s only 35 minutes long so worth seeing. People fix instruments for a school.

8. TO KILL A TIGER-2023

It has nothing, thankfully, about killing a tiger but about a man who stands up against his some town and tribal leader to defend his 13 year old daughter who was gang raped after attending a wedding. Most of the people feel it’s her fault and she should marry one of the rapists…are you F$&# kidding me!? Huge cultural rift between how we view this and the average person. The dad deserves a medal.

9. BRIAN’S SONG-1970

This was a TV movie that I haven’t seen since I was a kid. It’s about 2 men, in football who become great friends despite the colour difference and are there for each other especially when one becomes very sick. A true bromance and well acted by James Caan and Billie Dee Williams.

10. EASTER PARADE-1948

A classic musical starring Fred Astaire and Judy Garland with Ann Miller about Astaire who loses his star partner and love interest and picks up a gal to make her a star but tries to mold her into his former star with disastrous results…until he sees her real talent. Superb!

11. THE 10 COMMANDMENTS-1956

Moses, Moses, you incredible fool you! Moses, played by granite Charlton Heston loves/lusts after Ann Baxter and so does her brother, Yul Brynner. Instead of realizing he could have helped his people by giving them a wage, a free day and medical coverage, he says he’s. Hebrew, is cast out, meet Lily Munster( Yvonne DeCarlo), meets the burning bush( not DeCarlo or Baxter but God), his hair turns white and he goes to free the people. Are they happy about it? For about 10 seconds before Edward G Robinson tells them Moses is leading them astray ( after everything he has done for them) and they decide to have a Cecil B DeMille Orgy and gyrate around a golden calf. You bad people you. A fun time to watch every year.

TV SHOWS

1. EVACUATION-2023

This is scary, devastating and all too real. A must see documentary about the evacuation in Kabul and how so many people suffered and tried to escape.

2. FAKE OR FORTUNE -2011-PRESENT

I love this show. You have 2 people who are asked to investigate an art piece to see if it is genuine or just a nice piece of art. It’s tense and makes you hope that the art piece is real. It gives you an inside look into the art world and how frustrating it can be.

3. BOB WOODRUFF: OPERATION ARTIC CURE-2024

I'm not sure this is the right video but it still shows this famous reporter and the PTSD he had to deal with. The show I watched is abe out him and other vets who have severe PTSD and how being in this rugged environment helped them cope and even find the ability to sleep. 

The eclipse is done...it got very, very dark for a couple of minutes and then back to norm. I eas working so I just looked out my window.

What did you see in March? Did you see the Eclipse? Did ya care? Lol

Thursday Film Picks- A Grab Bag

 

There is a theme here, believe it or not, let's see if you can guess. Here are my 3 film picks...

1. SAN FRANCISCO-1936

I have a soft spot for this movie that stars Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald and Spencer Tracy in the epic music-filled extravaganza. It should have won the award for best special effects but it wasn't invented yet! Newsreel and documentaries will still use footage from this film for the famous 1906 earthquake that hit that city. The plot concerns a man's man huckster who owns a club who hires a singer  not knowing how talented she really is. Along for the ride is his childhood friend, Tracy, playing a priest for the first time. Gable gets up in arms when his gal goes off to be a big opera star and does not want to see how talented she is nor does he wish to see that prayer( eyeroll) will get you ahead until the big quake! It thumps the religious stuff a bit but I can get by that even when Jeanette sings " Nearer My God To Thee." ( I do love that song). The acting is quite good( love the old lady on Nob Hill) and the special effects are superb. Funny to know that Tracy and MacDonald disliked each other to the point where Gable made sure to eat lots of garlic before a kissing scene causing Jeanette to almost faint. 

2. HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON-1952

I always found this film enchanting if totally farcical to Anderson's real life. Danny Kaye plays Hans who sees his fairy tales from the city, people, animals to the kids he meets every day.  The climax of the film is the ballet of the Little Mermaid which is done through the dream Kaye has. You can see how much Kaye loved children when watching this film as he was the head of Unicef for years. To be honest, I hope Anderson was more like this character but I doubt it. Why? Have you ever read the little Mermaid? The Little Matchgirl? They die! The little Christmas Tree gets thrown into the fire and the tin soldier gets melted down. He had some serious issues!

3. A NIGHT TO REMEMBER-1958

I will always state this is the best Titanic film bar none! Much better than the Love Boat sinking. Don't get me wrong, the ‘97 flick is well acted, and the special effects are outstanding as well as the music, but take away the effects, what do you have? An improbable plot( no one would ever..ever have that young kid dine at their table) where the kids would have frozen into lovesicles long time before for all the times they were in the water...really insipid. This film is based on the book of the same name which was written with many of the actual survivors still alive. This was filmed with all the real characters and shows a step by step series of errors that make this film tense and frustrating. You know the outcome, but you wish something else would have happened so these people would not have died. I love all the scenes from the Strauss's to the young woman who must have her lucky ceramic pig with her leaving all her jewelry behind.  It shows the baker who, drunk, stayed in the water for an hour but didn't suffer much at all! It's a mystery how this man survived.

So can you guess my theme?

April Showers and Flowers and Travel

 

My sweet, beautiful Jade went to the rainbow bridge last Thursday. I was with her when she passed away just before I returned to work after being off work, sick, for 3 days. I knew my sweet tuna loving girl was winding down..it was a tough day and I miss her. She would have been 16 on May 11th and is missed by my hubby and I and our Kaspar and our dog, Harley.

On a nicer note, I decided to post songs about April, a turning point toward springtime and we need a bit of spring.

1.  APRIL IN PARIS SUNG BY DINAH SHORE-1960

This is a great song and one that always makes me want to travel. I always liked this version sung by Dinah even though the famous version is by Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie. This was written way back in 1932 by Vernon Duke with lyrics by Yip Harburg.

2. APRIL AGAIN SUNG BY DEAN MARTIN-1968

This is a nice song that, apparently, was written by Dino himself. …I think anyway. Please correct me if I am wrong. It is different from the song, “It’s April Again”. I need to listen to both of them when I get a chance to. I just wanted Dean Martin on my list this week.

3. APRIL SHOWERS SUNG BY EYDIE GORME-1958

This song was originally sung by that bombastic narcissist, Al Jolson, back in 1921 and became a big hit. It was written by Louis Silvers with lyrics by B. G. De Silva but many famous people have done renditions of this song. I decided on good ole Eydie, the one half of Steve Lawrence who were a famous married couple and singing couple. I think she was the better singer to be honest.

It’s supposed to rain and maybe, snow, this whole week. April is always pretty wet…

What April songs can you think of.

Star Of The Month-Bette Davis

 

BETTE DAVIS

BIRTH: April 5, 1908

DEATH: October 6, 1989

AGED: 81 yrs

DIED FROM: Breast Cancer

REAL NAME: Ruth Elizabeth Davis

MARRIED: 4 times-Harmon Nelson, Arthur Farnsworth(his death), William Sherry, Gary Merrill

AFFAIRS: Anatole Litvak, William Wyler, George Brent, Howard Hughes( he was a slut), Claude Rains, Gig Young, Vincent Sherman

CHILDREN: 1 child by birth, Barbara Sherry,2 adopted, Margo( who was brain damaged) and Michael. Had 4 abortions- 2 with her 1st husband, I with Hughes and 1 with Wyler…where were their “gloves” ‘cos they were just as guilty.

DISPUTES: Miriam Hopkins (loathed this woman whom she thought was very untalented), Celeste Holm, Susan Hayward, Faye Dunaway( she probably deserved Bette’s wrath), Robert Montgomery, Errol Flynn, and, of course, Joan Crawford( didn’t like her but respected her acting ability) 

FAMOUS FRIENDS: Mary Astor ( got Mary to be her co-star after Mary went through a horrible, newspaper-filled divorce), Olivia De Havilland, George Brent, James Cagney

OSCAR WINS: Dangerous-1935, Jezebel-1938

OSCAR NOMINATIONS: Of Human Bondage-1934( the first and only write in Oscar vote), Dark Victory-1939, The Letter-1940, The Little Foxes-1941, Now, Voyager-1942, Mr. Skeffington-1944, All About Eve-1950, The Star-1952, Whatever Happened To Baby Jane-1962

TALENT: being prickly, forthright, challenging, perfectionist 

KNOWN FOR: being the youngest, nominated numerous times for the Oscar. Co-founding the Hollywood Canteen to help the servicemen during the war. These men were served food and waited on by the big stars plus they could dance with many of the actresses. She was awarded the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal by the Defense Dept., the highest Civilian award. Being the first woman to be head of the screen actors guild.

This hellfire, in a small frame, 100 cigarette per day smoker, came to Hollywood without any fanfare, in fact, she looked so unHollywood  that the assistant, who had come to pick her up, stated no one looking famous was there. She proved them otherwise by her fierce ambition and determination plus her famous eyes. The esteemed actor, George Arliss, saw something in this young girl and took her under his wing and became her mentor having her costar in one of his premier films. There was no looking back and, with her precious mom beside her, she fought hard to get ahead winning the role of Mildred in “Of Human Bondage” a role many women didn’t want because it was an unflattering portrayal of guttersnipe waitress who abuses a man who falls hopelessly in love with her. She made sure her makeup was how it should by applying the makeup on herself. This was a trait she did more often than not, from this role to “Whatever Happened To Baby Jane”. In fact, when she was not nominated for her role, there was a write in vote, the first and only time, for her Oscar but, she did not win. When she won the following year, for “Dangerous” she stated this was compensation for not winning the year before.

After winning an Oscar, Warner Bros. sent her a film to do that she thought was schlock so she put her foot down in which they abruptly suspended her adding that time to her 7 yr contract. She fought this system but lost. When she did return, she started getting much better roles and her best work lay before her. 

Bette battled with directors and stars but could be very helpful to others she thought were less fortunate. She had a slew of affairs and, due to her haughty manner, lost the love of her life, director William Wyler who gave her an ultimatum. She did not show and that was that. She regretted her decision for the rest of her life. Unfortunately, she did have more than one abortion, I don't know if they had the same prevention as now but her career came first until she had Barbara. She loved this little girl and wanted to stay home more but, she didn't and, later on, this brat married and berated her mom every chance she could hurting Bette deeply. She knew she may not have been the best mom but she didn't deserve that horrible treatment. The 2 children Bette and Gary Merrill adopted were loved and the son refused to have anything to do with B.D. Hyman( Barbara) after she wrote a scathing book about her mom. Margo, the adopted girl was found to be brain damaged so Bette provided the best of care for her.

Bette could have a great sense of humor when she was in the mood and she admired some actors like Henry Fonda, her favourite leading man and James Stewart who knew how to soften her edges. She had no problem making herself look ugly like in Baby Jane and she didn't see the need for plastic surgery. Later in life, she was beset by ill health having had a mastectomy and 4 consequetive strokes but she carried on with the help of her assistant Kathryn Sermak, who truly was there to help her. Bette found Kathryn to be more of a daughter than her own. 

I find this lady difficult and one I probably would not want to know, but I have to admire her tenacity.

FILMS OTHER THAN OSCAR NOMINATED 

1. Petrified Forest-1936

2. Juarez-1939

3. The Old Maid-1939

4. Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex-1939

5. All This and Heaven Too-1940

6. The Great Lie-1941

7. The Man Who Came To Dinner-1942

8. Old Acquaintance-1943

9. Watch on The Rhine-1943

10. Pocketful of Miracles-1961

11. Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte-1964

12. Death On The Nile-1978

13. Strangers: The Story f a Mother and Daughter-1979- TV Movie, won an Emmy

14. Right Of Way-1983-TV movie

15. The Whales Of August-1987

Thursday Film Picks-Cold As Ice

 

I’m slowly getting better…slowly. I hope to be back to work today and I hope I can last through the day. I am on antibiotics now and now must get my strength back. Yesterday, was which one won the Oscar, which was nominated and which got nadda, well, the truly awful Pimp song won. Dolly Parton’s song was nominated and the one I would have voted for, from Brokeback Mountain, wasn’t even nominated.

These 3 gals that star in 3 great films were forces to be reckoned with both on screen and off. I chose 3 films where these gals are not the nicest, well 2 of them are horrible and one becomes cold after being mistreated by the men she loves. So let’s start things going…

1. THE LITTLE FOXES-1941

Bette Davis knew how to chew the scenery and she does it well in this film from the Broadway play that starred Tallulah Bankhead. She comes from a family of schemers who want to be even richer and people, in their orbit, who disintegrate just because they are affiliated with this miserable family. Davis plays Regina, a once beautiful, but now, stretched, pale bitch who schemes to get her husband’s riches. Her sickly, but good, husband, played by Herbert Marshall,  and their sweet daughter, played by Theresa Wright, love each other making Regina even more jealous. I really think Bette Davis deserved an Oscar for this role ( granted I can’t recall who was up this year). She played one cold cucumber in this drama. 

2. DOUBLE INDEMNITY-1944

Barbara Stanwyck seems to be the only one to make that blond wig look good:). Fred MacMurray plays an insurance salesman who sees the anklet on Stanwyck’s leg and is ready to murder for her. They become lovers and figure out a scheme to kill her husband and collect the insurance money. The way Barbara knows how to finangle her sexy ways onto the hapless nut tells you that she has done this before. She should have won an Oscar for this role because she acted this role so well that you believe Phyllis through and through. It’s an excellent film noir and Billy Wilder, the director, loved this actress who claimed that he had a daydream that Stanwyck came to the door, that Billy knocked at, wearing an apron, high heels…and nothing else.

3. THE HEIRESS-1949

Olivia DeHavilland won the Oscar for this great performance as a plain Jane heiress, who seems scared of her own shadow and when you meet her father, you understand why. He is cold and has an almost intense dislike for his daughter for not being everything his late wife was. She only wants her father’s love but she can’t do anything right. At a party, an almost beautiful man, played by an almost beautiful man, Montgomery Clift, sees Olivia and decides to woo her much to her disbelief and happiness. Her dad thinks the man is only into her money but she vehemently refuses that notion and finally seems to stand up to her dad. She decides to run away with him but will she be stood up or will her happiness prevail?  This is an excellent character study, well rounded on all fronts. 

Barbara Stanwyck was beloved by not just the actors and directors but all the camera crew, grips and people behind the scenes because she liked..preferred to be with them between takes. The sets were always nicer when she was starring in a picture.

Bette Davis, a Warners contract player, had had enough of these 7 year contracts where the actors had to take whatever crap the studio gave them and if they balked, they were placed on suspension which would be tacked onto their 7 yrs. This could mean that the actor would be stuck with that studio forever. Bette Davis balked at the crap she was given and took Warner Bros to court to cancel these contracts but she failed and it stood. Olivia DeHavilland, who was good friends with Davis, about a decade later took Warners to court and, this time, won! It’s now called the DeHavilland law…gutsy ladies for sure.

Oh, and here is one more gutsy lady

You are right Alex, She deserves to be here.

Which One Won the Oscar 2005

 

Over at Monday Music Moves Me their theme are songs where you misheard the lyrics. There are tons that I have misheard and, now, can’t remember. I forgot to do this last week so I’m having this event now. Let’s see if you can guess which song won the Oscar, which was nominated and which got diddly.

1. TRAVELLIN’ THRU’ SUNF BY DOLLY PARTON

This song comes from the film, “TransAmerica” and it truly belong to the film. 

2. IT’S HARD OUT HERE FOR A PIMP SUNG. BY THREE 6 MILE

I hate rap….this one’s no different but it caused a stir this Oscar year from the film, “Hustle and Flow”.  

3.  A LOVE THAT WILL NEVER GROW OLD SUNG BY EMMYLOU HARRIS

I love this song and this movie which is such a touching love story starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as 2 cowboys who fall in love in an unforgiving time and place. 

I wrote short and sweet…I am very sick with ears, nose, throat and lung infection. I’ve been home for 2 days and not sure how I will be tomorrow. I haven’t been sick like this since before Covid. Thankfully, it is not Covid but it still sucks. I’m on antibiotics now.  Hope all of you are safe and well.

So…which one do you think won, which was nominated and which one got nadda. I think that Pimp one qualify with the Music theme because I never understand the lyrics.

Thursday Film Picks: Strong Women

 

It’s Women’s History Month and  I decided to choose 3 movies about strong women. I could choose a lot more but I’m choosing  3 films that came into my head right away and here they are…

1. PAT AND MIKE-1952

This stars the great pairing ( on and off screen) of Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy and was Hepburn’s favourite film with Tracy. She plays Pat, a woman who can play, just about, any sport and excel and surpass most men, not just women. The one problem is her jerk fiancée  who makes her doubt herself and screw up. Enter Mike and his co-hort who are a bit seedy but see something in Pat and hope to make some dough. They actually underestimate who they have in Pat but Mike realizes how important she is, in more ways than one. My favourite scene is when she takes on and bests the hoodlums who come to rough up Mike..it’s hilarious. This film has some real life  sports legends including the great Babe Didrikson who excelled in anything she put her mind to. Just so you know Katherine Hepburn’s mom was part of the suffragette movement and a young Kate was privy to all the issues of equality during that time.

2. NORMA RAE-1979

Sally Field was known as the Flying Nun, Burt Reynolds’ girlfriend and Sybil ( an excellent TV movie about a multiple personality which garnered Field critical raves). Nobody expected cute, button-nosed Field to carry a film about a woman who tries to rally the employees to bring basic rights to their workplace. Field delivered a great performance, winning an Oscar as Norma Rae who fights her employers and persevering despite personal costs. It’s well acted, well written and worth a watch.

3. SUFFRAGETTE-2015

Obviously, this is about this movement in the early part of the 20th century in England where many women fought for equality and their right to vote. Many were arrested, beaten, and spat upon, even by other women, all for their right to vote. This film stars Carey Mulligan as a, at first, reluctant woman who attends these rallies and soon becomes enthralled with all it stands for much to the detriment of her husband. She loses her job, her home and child because she is fighting for what she believes in. Helena Bonham Carter co-stars and is always great. It brings in some real life episodes like Emily Davison who ended up walking in front of the King's horse, in full gallop during a horse race and dying from her wounds. To this day it is speculated whether she meant to commit suicide or if she thought she could avoid being hit by the horse while she  tried to protest. This film could be better but it is still quite well done and well acted.

What films can you think of?

Women Are Strong

 

I got this idea from reading Anabel’s blog, the Glasgow Gallivanter with her travels around her  neck of the woods and beyond and has been speaking about the Suffragettes and their movement. These women were brave since they were not just belittled, but beaten and jailed all because they..we wanted the right to vote and be considered equal. We are still fighting this but, we have made headway and I thought of 3 songs…well, 2 songs and one major kick ass woman. It’s freebie week over at Monday Music Moves Me hosted by the wonderful Cathy at Curious as a Cathy. Check out all the eclectic tastes people have when it comes to music. What I love is that music is what brings people together. Let’s get going…

1. SISTERS ARE DOIN’ IT FOR THEMSELVES SUNG BY ANNIE LENNOX AND ARETHA FRANKLIN-1985

This is the first song that came into my head. I love this song, love Annie Lennox and love Aretha Franklin. It was written by the Eurythmics team of Annie Lennox and David Stewart and it’s one of my favourites.

2. MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE SUNG BY MARIAN ANDERSON-1939

I hope this video shows her singing this song because I can’t view it when in my blog. This brave, brave woman was denied singing at Washington Constitutional Hall by the racist daughters of the American Revolution because she was black. She was a contralto who sang so beautifully but was not given the basic right to sing at the Hall because of her skin colour so Eleanor Roosevelt( one woman I truly admire) took her name out of that Daughter’s thing and set Marian up to sing in front of the Lincoln Memorial where  over 75,000 people, of many colours came to see her sing. I think Marian is one brave lady and one amazing singer.

3. SISTER SUFFRAGETTE SUNG BY GLYNIS JOHNS-1964

This was sung by Glynis, Hermione Badderly and Reta Shaw but I just love Glynis who just passed away a couple of months ago at 100 years old. She played the wife of  George, a banker and strict husband and dad to the 2 kids who will soon be cared for by Mary Poppins. In the film she is all for women’s rights and she sings this song with the other 2 ladies and I always liked it.

Oops, I usually do my which one won the Oscar song…completely forgot so I will do that next week.

A Couple of Easy Cards..Sorta Easy

 

Simon Says-Add a Bit o'Green

Stamping Sensations- Spring

I found this fun and easy to do. I took distress inks and pressed them on a craft mat, watered it down and then pressed down my stamp. I stamped it onto white cardstock and it gave it a nice whispy look. This stamp is about 19 years old and I need to use it more. I stamped the sentiment in multi green dye ink and heat embossed it in turquoise sparkle. I placed it onto green cardstock, added the sticker border  and a bit of bling.

Butterfly Challenge- 3D decoupage, die cuts, colours in daffodil, dark green, Damson blue

Double D Challenge- 1st signs of spring

4 Seasons- daffodils from the mood board

Dream Valley- die cuts or punches

I like the mood boards and this was an easy card because I used the decoupage set and just pieced everything together. It was a bit finicky with trying to cut up the pop up dots to fit on the small pieces to create the 3D effect. I added the sentiment, the glitter in gold and, finally, die cut butterflies that I cut out from blue remnant pieces I had from my colouring escapades.

Best Oscar Score-1966

 

Did anyone watch the Oscars this past Sunday? Obviously, I did and found it very entertaining. I enjoyed Jimmy Kimmel, I enjoyed the Ken song where you could see that Ryan Gosling enjoyed himself and some of the speeches were great ( not the people who, deservedly, won Godzilla, that speech was horrid because he couldn’t read the acceptance speech). The fashions were, well, many just seem stupid and the after party get ups were created by hookers are us. Some were gross and so, so classless. 

Anyway, this time I am choosing the year 1966 and went with best score and this was when one still had Best Original Score and Best musical score Adaptation but I’m just doing Score this time around. I am choosing the one I think should have won, the one that did win and one that was nominated. Let me know what you think or if you would have chosen something completely different.

1. THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY BY ENNIO MORRICONE

Believe it or not, this was not even nominated and I choose this score as the score that should have won. Ennio Morricone was in his best form here with almost every piece of music iconic. I love this theme but my favourite is the gold theme when Eli Wallach  is running through the cemetery trying to find the plot where the gold is buried. This is, to me, the one that should have won.

2. BORN FREE BY JOHN BARRY

I do love this music and it resonates with me because of the meaning of the song and, I am glad it won but Ennio should have taken it. That being said, I am glad it won.

3. HAWAII BY ELMER BERNSTEIN

This was a sweeping epic that stars Julie Andrews, Richard Harris and Max Von Sydow but, I find it a slog of a film to be honest. I haven’t watched it in years so maybe I should give it another go but…maybe later. I don’t mind the soundtrack which was composed by Elmer Bernstein.

So, do you agree with me or would you choose another soundtrack or do you agree with the Oscar pick?

Story of Love

 This week, over at Monday Music Moves Me, the theme was submitted by John at The Sound Of One Hand Typing. Create a love story using top 40 music from Valentine’s Day of any year and I chose 1960…I think…the last one is from 1959 and not Valentine’s but it was a top hit. 

Selling Bosch products, door to door was not Ruth's idea of making it rich, but it did afford her the luxury of being on the road. She sold her restaurant, in Toronto, because she was not making any money from it. She drove to Welland, which, she thought, was the crumb de la crumb...blechh. Ruth parked her car, took out the Bosch stuff and started to knock on doors. One door opened and a very tall man stood in front of her. She was quite taken by his strength but also his kind eyes. She gave him the spiel and he quickly declined but offered her a cup of coffee. Ruth hesitated but his eyes made her feel safe and she accepted his offer. She truly felt that I Only Have Eyes For You.

Ruth, a young lady of 31, met her dream man, Frank, 46, and she knew he was the one but for one big problem...her current, deadbeat, abusive husband. The deadbeat would swat her, steal from her and disrupt her life. She took it, until one fateful morning, when she was cutting up tomatoes in her restaurant on Queen St. The brute woke up and got angry for waking him up by her cutting up the tomatoes, so he tossed the table with the tomatoes onto the floor. Ruth was livid as she was soon to open up her restaurant. She looked at him and, with the big knife in hand, she started for him. He started to cower and then he ran! Ruth, knife in hand, chased the jerk down Queen St. Stopping when his long underwear bottoms fell undone and his Lily white ass was bare as he continued down the street. Ruth leaned up against the building laughing and crying at the same time. She now realized how to control this coward. The rat came back, but she told him she slept with the knife and, when making his coffee, she would place rat poison in front of him making him sweat. Thankfully, he left and she sold the restaurant but now had to tell Frank about her marriage and was worried how he would take it.  She always smiled when Mack The Knife came on the radio even though she claimed she never liked the song.

Ruth told Frank all about the deadbeat and he listened to her travails with this nutjob. He looked at her and said, " Don't worry, Ruth, I shall always be by your side, through thick and thin. We are meant to be together so put your head on my shoulder, and I will protect you."

It took over 2 years to finally be rid of her ex. Frank paid the lawyers and, to be rid of him, paid the deadbeat’s lawyers to. 3 days after the divorce, they married and never looked back. They had 2 children, a boy and a girl, started a sawmill business and, even though they argued, their love was true. One day, while they reminisced, they thought of a song that made them both laugh...all Ruth yelled was "Alvin" and Frank started to chuckle. That dumb song made them smile and hold each other with happiness in their eyes. 

Only these 2 would fondly recall this song. This is for my parents.

Thursday Film Picks- Strong Women

 

This packs a wallop because you can choose quite a few women from any decade but I chose 3 that came into my head right away and 3 films where the woman wasn’t a scheming bitch or insane. So, here are my 3 films…I could have chosen so many more..

1. HIS GIRL, FRIDAY-1940

This is, I think, the quintessential strong female played to perfection by Rosalind Russell as a newspaper woman in a very male dominated field. Her boss and ex husband, Cary Grant knows how to get under her skin and knows that being married to poor Ralph Bellamy baking cookies and wearing an apron, is not her schtick. He gets her involved in a prime story and she gets to sink her teeth into it knowing full well what her ex is up to and she can match him in every way. It is very witty, fast paced and wonderfully acted by all the leads and the character actors.

2. WOMAN OF THE YEAR-1942

This is the film where Katherine Hepburn met Spencer Tracy for the first time and started the love affair that only ended with his death. This film, Hepburn plays a major league reporter, like Barbara Walters ( when Barbara was a kid/teen) who meets Tracy, a no nonsense sports writer. They soon find out they like each other more than just friends and end up marrying but Tracy did not realize that his wife was not ready to meet half way and be a marriage partner. I find this film quite mature for this time since it is hinted at that they sleep together before being married. This was not an easy feat during the censorship days. 

3. TO BE OR NOT TO BE-1942

This is the last film of the beloved Carole Lombard who tragically died in a plane crash, with her mom, when she wanted to rush back home, after a bond selling tour, to her husband, Clark Gable. In this film, she plays the wife to Jack Benny, in an acting tour group in Poland, who find out they must work with the resistance movement to help people get out of Poland and themselves as well. There are cases of mistaken identity and jealousy when Jack thinks his wife might be carrying on with a young Robert Stack. I haven’t seen this film in decades and need to see it again. I just remember how Carole was brilliant playing a spy to help her husband and her people. This is a great film that dealt with the war and the rumours of what was happening to the Jewish people. A must see…again for me.

What strong women films can you think of?

Earworm

 

Yup, that's me peeking over my big brute doggie, Harley, who like to lie right on top of me. He is a sweetie...big, but a sweetie.

Certain songs have popped into my head the last couple of weeks and I start humming them...a lot...lol. I think this can be part of the Monday Music Moves Me fest which you can find at Cathy’s blog here. Here are my 3 songs that keep popping into my head for no reason.

1. I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT SUNG BY MARBI NIXON-1964

Julie Andrews made the musical part of Eliza Doolittle famous before the studio went with Audrey Hepburn in the film version( Julie Andrews wo the Oscar that year for Mary Poppins..she showed the studio). Unfortunately, Hepburn didn't have the same voice needed for the role so up came the ever dependable Marni to sing the songs which were written by Lerner and Lowe.

2. BUTTONS AND BOWS SUNG BY BOB HOPE- 1948

This is a funny movie and this song is a classic that was sung by Hope, Jane Russell and Trigger..er, I mean Roy Rogers in the film, The Paleface. It was written by Jay Livingston with lyrics by Ray Evans.

3. I'M GONNA WASH THAT MAN RIGHT OUTTA MY HAIR SUNG BY MITZI GAYNOR-1958

This song come from the magical team of Rogers and Hammerstein from the film version of South Pacific. Mary Martin ( Larry Hagman's mom) originated the role on stage and made this scene famous because she washed her hair right on stage which was a big deal back in 1949. 

Here's a funny gem from Frazier where he tries to sing his old stand by, "Buttons and Bows" but forgets the words. It's hilarious!

What song(s) have stayed in your head this past week?

Star of the Month-Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle

 

ROSCOE ARBUCKLE

BIRTH: March 24, 1887

DEATH: June 29, 1933

AGED: 46 years

DIED FROM: Heart Failure in his sleep

NICKNAME: Fatty…he hated this nickname

MARRIED: 3 times to actresses 1. Minta Durfee 2. Doris Deane 3. Addie Oakley Dukes McPhail

CHILDREN: NONE

FAMOUS PARTNERS: Mabel Normand, a gifted comedienne and very famous in her day

TALENT: an excellent singer who, when Enrico Caruso heard him sing, told him to leave his current job because he could become a famous singer

KNOWN FOR: his dexterity and finesse despite his weight. He got the very first pie in the face by Mabel Normand. He was known to be a great pie thrower as well.

Most people reading this post will have no clue who this man was but, if it wasn’t for him, we would not have Charle Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Bob Hope and the classic pie in the face. If any of you do know of him, it might be due to that horrible trial he went through, sorry, trials…3 for the same event…the so called “murder” of starlet, Virginia Rappe. The 3rd trial, he was finally found not guilty after a 5 minute deliberation by the jurors who composed a letter of apology to him and which he kept until the day he died. 

He was born the youngest of 9 and was such a large baby, anywhere from 13 to 16lbs, from what I have read, that his father did not believe it was his because both he and his wife were of slight build. When his mom died, 11 yrs later, his dad disowned him and he had to strike out on his own. He hit the vaudeville circuit and found his niche in slapstick comedy. In fact, despite his 300 pound girth, he was amazingly nimble, quick and delicate in his style. He made sure he never had a comedic take on his weight because he was quite self-conscious about his weight and hated his nickname “Fatty”. He helped the careers of Chaplin and Keaton (plus others) and Keaton never forgot this helping Arbuckle when many turned their back on him. In fact, in the mid 20s, he saw Bob Hope and told Bob Hope to go West and gave him som great pointers that Hope took and helped him in his career. 

Arbuckle was known to be shy around women and was always amiable even though he liked to party. One fateful Labour Day weekend in 1921, there was a big party hosted by Arbuckle and a couple of his friends in San Francisco during which Virginia Rappe died. The bottom line, Rappe was known to have had more than one abortion( apparently) and, sadly, they probably screwed up her body. She drank when she shouldn’t have  since she had been suffering from VD and Cystitis. Her bowels ruptured and she died 2 days later from peritonitis. From there all hell broke loose because Hearst newspapers saw gold in making Arbuckle out to be a murdering, sexual brute, Matthew Brady, the district Attorney, was very ambitious  bullying people to lie so he could get a name for himself and this bitch, Maude Delmont, made a name for herself lying so she could be in the papers. The people lapped it up and branded Arbuckle everything you can think of and his weight did not help because it was said he broke her bowels because of his weight….simply disgusting. Due to this scandal ( and others), Will Hays was brought in to bring in “morality” into Hollywood. The studio decided to turn their back on Roscoe because of Hays and the code. Roscoe started directing under William Goodrich and called himself “Will B. Good”. Sadly, he had just signed to make a feature film and had just signed a contract when he died in his sleep of a heart attack. 

For all the men who do abuse women and use them for their own measures, he was not one of them. I wish he was better known. 

FILMS

1. For The Love Of Mabel-1913

2. Fatty’s Day Off-1914

3. Mabel & Fatty’s Wash Day-1915

4. Mabel & Fatty’s Married Life-1915…I love this one..nothing changes even 100 yrs later

5. Fatty’s Faithful Fido-1915

6. Mabel’s Wilful Way- 1915

7. He Did and He Didn’t-1916

8. The Waiter’s Ball-1916

9. Coney Island-1917

10. Love-1919

Now, if you have time to kill and want to see how the censors came to stay in Hollywood, watch this episode( from a 13 part series on Early Hollywood…it is an amazing documentary that talks about the early days, directors, stuntmen, cameramen and stars) which details this event as well as others. I think it’s worth a watch.

Here is the link https://youtu.be/1nUIx1WXJbs?si=fv_mEP-4Jjo-2a2L