Who Should Have Won Best Actress-1941

 

1941 was a big year for “ WTF won” due, mainly, to Citizen Kane not winning in almost every category and I do agree but I am going to talk about Best Actress because this is the year Joan Fontaine won over her sister, Olivia De Havilland. I can’t stand Joan Fontaine. As an actress, she is good, but the actress is a self righteous snot who portrays herself as  someone who always took the high road but she didn’t. I can’t stand say this because I read her autobiography and I just wanted to bitch slap her. I worked with someone like her and she was good at portraying a caring person but they are clearly narcissistic. These 2 sisters are famous for their hatred of one another and their competitive natures came out big time this year. Olivia was the expected winner so it was an upset when Fontaine won and as she made her way to the podium, Olivia stood to congratulate her but Fontaine snubbed her as she headed up to claim her Oscar. Needless to say, you know I won’t be choosing her as the winner, in my book.

1. BARBARA STANWYCK IN BALL OF FIRE

I easily could have gone with Bette Davis for her brilliant performance in “ The Little Foxes” but as I kept thinking about the roles, I felt that Stanwyck’s performance in this film and in “The Lady Eve” were stellar and much more nuanced in her role as a gangster’s moll who holds up in a place where the cops could not find her, a group of old professors except for a bewildered and innocent man, Gary Cooper, who, also, lives there. He went to her club to learn the slang of the day since he is writing a book on slang terms not knowing that she is in with a big mobster. As she stays within those walls, her hard heart begins to soften for the elderly men and she begins to feel something more for Cooper when in comes her Mobster boyfriend. Stanwyck can play a hardened gal but also a softened girl and she makes it believable. She was the best in this film and in “The Lady Eve” which she was equally excellent but wasn’t nominated for that role opposite Henry Fonda. 

2. IRENE DUNNE FOR PENNY SERENADE

Irene Dunne is one of the best actresses to never have won an Oscar and she was nominated many times but, strangely, not for this tear jerker Romance film  co-starring Cary Grant who plays her husband. The 2 meet in Japan, marry and are happy to learn she is pregnant but before you can say, uh-oh, an earthquake hits and she loses the baby. They move back to California and, at the suggestion of their friend, they decide to adopt. There are some humorous moments like when they have no idea how to change a diaper but also some gut wrenching scenes that showcases Grant’s acting ability as much as Dunne’s. She was so good in this film and helped evolve her character into substance creating a melodrama that I really enjoy watching.

3. JOAN FONTAINE IN SUSPICION

Yes, Joan won for her role in Suspicion  directed by Alfred Hitchcock and, don’t get me wrong, she is good as the wife of potential killer, Cary Grant but she didn’t deserve the Oscar as the nervous wife of cad, Cary Grant who can’t seem to hold down any job. In fact, I think Hitchcock should be recognized for his ability to make this actress look good in her role here and in “Rebecca”. Here, she goes against rich daddy and marries schemer, Cary Grant who, annoyingly, calls her monkey face. As time goes on, she believes her husband could be a murderer and becomes more on edge wondering when he will make his strike against her. The film is good despite the ending but, it was the time of the studios who had the last say, so I can forgive their oversight. I love Cary Grant who always delivers and Fontaine was able to capture a very nervous woman who just needs a good bitch slap.

Have you seen these films? Do you agree or would you pick someone different? 

Mid Summer Times

 

FYI- This is my friend's cute little doggie, not mine nor my pool:). It is mid summer, although I always think of July as mid summer, and summer seems to last into September when it used to be getting rather rainy and colder when I was young…I hate climate change which does exist, sadly. Right now, we have been having temperatures at 32-34C( 89.6-93.2F) but with the bloody humidity it feels more like 44C or 111F. My glasses fog up and I have a hard time breathing…I hate this weather. Anyways, venture over to Curious As A Cathy who co-hosts Monday Music Moves Me…here are my choices:

1. STEAM HEAT SUNG BY CAROL HANEY WITH BUZZ MILLER AND KENNETH LEROY-1957

It is mid summer, although I always think of July as mid summer, and summer seems to last into September when it used to be getting rather rainy and colder when I was young…I hate climate change which does exist, sadly. Right now, we have been having temperatures at 32-34C( 89.6-93.2F) but with the bloody humidity it feels more like 44C or 111F. My glasses fog up and I have a hard time breathing…I hate this weather. Anyways, venture over to Curious As A Cathy who co-hosts Monday Music Moves Me…here are my choices:

1. STEAM HEAT SUNG BY CAROL HANEY WITH BUZZ MILLER AND KENNETH LEROY-1957

Carol Haney originated her role in the original Broadway version of “The Pajama Game” ( Shirley MacLaine was her understudy and was able to go on, one night, when Haney was ill, creating quite the splash starting her career) and kept her role for the film version starring Doris Day and John Raitt( yes, the dad of Bonnie Raitt). This is a great dance routine created by Bob Fosse who danced with Haney before in “Kiss Me, Kate”. Haney was a favourite of Gene Kelly who would dance with him in other films but, sadly she died of pneumonia at age 33 brought on by diabetes and alcoholism.

2. WE’RE HAVING A HEAT WAVE SUNG BY MARILYN MONROE-1954

I consider this one of the lesser versions of this classic song but Marilyn sounds like she’s in heat during a heatwave and, well, I have no idea why I said this because I just don’t think about lust when I am not in air conditioning ( thankfully, we have air air conditioning). The song was written by Irving Berlin and Monroe just can’t help singing it like this and she did sing but, from what I read, in my musical books, she sang the song ( all her songs even Dimonds are…) many times, and the editors pieced the best together so it sounds good all the way through. She wasn’t a bad singer, but she could hit some notes flat or slightly off so they had no choice but to piece it together. Carol Haney originated her role in the original Broadway version of “The Pajama Game” ( Shirley MacLaine was her understudy and was able to go on, one night, when Haney was ill, creating quite the splash starting her career) and kept her role for the film version starring Doris Day and John Raitt( yes, the dad of Bonnie Raitt). This is a great dance routine created by Bob Fosse who danced with Haney before in “Kiss Me, Kate”. Haney was a favourite of Gene Kelly who would dance with him in other films but, sadly she died of pneumonia at age 33 brought on by diabetes and alcoholism.

2. WE’RE HAVING A HEAT WAVE SUNG BY MARILYN MONROE-1954

I consider this one of the lesser versions of this classic song but Marilyn sounds like she’s in heat during a heatwave and, well, I have no idea why I said this because I just don’t think about lust when I am not in air conditioning ( thankfully, we have air air conditioning). The song was written by Irving Berlin and Monroe just can’t help singing it like this and she did sing but, from what I read, in my musical books, she sang the song ( all her songs even Dimonds are…) many times, and the editors pieced the best together so it sounds good all the way through. She wasn’t a bad singer, but she could hit a flat note or miss one.

3.  SUMMER IN THE CITY SUNG BY THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL-1966

I have a feeling this will be popular, but this was the first song that came into my head and it is a classic song by this American-Canadian band that had a few great hits during the 60s. I always loved this song and seems to be perfect for a summer song.

What songs can you think of?

Bad Relationships

 

I talked about bad relationships yesterday and decided to extend this to my film day. I hear about bad relationships just about every day, sadly, which is one of the main reasons people end up in financial hardship. My best friend went through an emotional and mentally abusive relationship with a classic narcissist and another dear friend, now, is going through a separation with a man who has narcissistic tendencies but shows more emotional avoidance personality. In both cases, it’s their wife’s fault, never them. Men have been abused as well because women can also be narcissistic as well. I’m surprised how many narcissists are out there, to be honest. I’m showcasing 3 films that came into my head and there are so many more that I could do this theme a few more times…

1. OF HUMAN BONDAGE-1934

The book is excellent and so is this early film that made a star out of Betty Davis playing the guttersnipe waitress that a young medical student, Leslie Howard, falls for. He has a club foot, who has been bullied for most of his life so when he meets this waitress he becomes enchanted with her, although you wonder why? She’s not a beauty, she is slutty and rude but he falls for her and she berates, bullies and is just a downright bitch to him but he can’t let her go. I know of a couple of men who have fallen for women tht I just think…what the Fu$@!? Bette actively campaigned for this role an, finally Jack Warner ( who would be sitting right beside Harvey Weinstein if he were alive today)  relented believing she would suck in the role..boy was he wrong! When she was not nominated, for the Oscar, due to Jack Warner’s interference, there was a huge write in campaign which got Bette the nomination( she didn’t win). Leslie Howard was a bit too old for the role of the medical student but he acted very well as the man who could not shake this woman even when he meets a lovely woman who treats him with the respect he deserves. It’s a worthy film and should be seen.

2. BORN YESTERDAY-1950

This comedy made a star out of Judy Holiday, and rightly so. She was in the Broadway version so she knew this character very well and won an Oscar for her portrayal of a “dumb” mistress of a loudmouth, narcissistic jerk who happens to be rich( remind you of anyone) Whois buying his way into politics. To keep his mistress out of his hair and give her some class, he hires a professor, played by William Holden, to teach her about literature, history, art and culture which she takes to like I take to anything chocolate or desserts. The more she learns, the more she sees what a jerk her boyfriend is. Broderick Crawford plays the lout and he is superb portraying this idiot that we underestimate, until we see how brutal he can be when he forces her to sign a form she refuses to. In a comedy, you don’t expect such a nasty scene, yet it is there and your heart goes out to her when she wants to do the right thing. It is well acted and captivating which is why I rewatched it again recently.

3. LOLITA-1962

This is a controversial film even by today’s standards directed by the great Stanley Kubrick, starring James Mason as a professor who marries a loudmouth woman, played by Shelly Winters, just to be close to her 12 yr old daughter, played by 13 yr old Sue Lyon. When Shelly read Mason’s diary finding out what he thinks of her and what he feels for her daughter which is not fatherly. Poor Shelly runs in front of a truck leaving James and Sue to behave, well, not in a father/daughter  way. When Peter Sellers enters the scene who has his own desires on little Sue, well, it seems to go from bad to worse. Now, you think that the Mason character as well as Sellers, to be the nasty men taking advantage of this poor girl, but who is being abused here? Sellers’ character is not very nice at all and Mason’s character is a complete jerk to Winters who is totally repulsed by her but marries her just to be close to the daughter creating sympathy for Winters. The person whom you feel the least sympathy for is the young Lolita who knows exactly what she is doing and leaves Mason distraught when she takes off on him, more than once. It is  a controversial film, even by today’s standards, but it is excellent. I just watched this film, about a month ago and, even though I won’t see it my time soon, it is a film worth seeing.

What films can you think of that meets this theme?

Relationships Gone Bad

 

In my job, one of the main reasons people claim bankruptcy or a Consumer Proposal is due to relationship breakdown. Yesterday, I spoke with a poor client who was beaten up by her spouse and she ended up in the hospital for 5 days where the cops came and charged her with abuse! To get away from the bastard, she bit his arm and he charged her. She moved out, but is living in her car with her 2 children waiting to get into a women’s shelter. She has retained legal aid and, to place icing on the cake, the doctors found out her cancer has returned with a cyst on her liver. 

One of my closest friends is going through a separation  and, eventually, divorce after 20 years.mi was her maid of honour and am surprised they lasted this long. She deserves better but she really tried, so hard, to make the marriage work with a man who is narcissistic plus has emotional issues. This made me think about songs regarding relationship breakdowns which is my own theme, this week over at Monday Music Moves Me and here we go..

1. WOULD I LIE TO YOU SUNG BY THE EURYTHEMICS -1985

I love this song by the Eurythmics about a woman who finds out her spouse is cheating on her. Annie Lennox sings her heart out as always. I saw them, at Canada’s Wonderland and, when she came out from behind the curtain singing this song in her black leather pants and a red bra, it brought the house down. One of the best concerts I have seen.

2. HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT SUNG BY PAT BENATAR-1980

Pat Benatar is an electrying singer with a pull no punches voice who often sang about women who have been abused or struggled in life but overcome all obstacles to become empowered and rise above their hardships. Pat Benatar actually was trained as a classically trained opera singer! My one friend loves her and has been to every concert she has been to when she was in Toronto.

2. PERSONAL JESUS SUNG BY DEPECHE MODE-1990

I love this song due to that constant beat which just, I find, primitive for some reason. They wrote this song after reading the book, “Elvis and Me” by Pricilla Pressley. How many people end up in a rebound relationship thinking the person they are now seeing is saving them when, in fact, they are often jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Other times, we have someone in our life, that is their own Jesus who truly, is there for their friend or, in some cases, their lover who is true. 

What songs do you think of when thinking of divorce or relationship breakdowns?

Star of the Month-James Coburn

 

JAMES COBURN

BIRTH: August 31, 1928

DEATH: November 18, 2002

AGED: 74 yrs

DIED FROM: Heart Attack, had Rheumatoid Arthritis 

MARRIED: 2 times

AFFAIRS: Lynsey De Paul plys many affairs during first marriage

CHILDREN: 2 kids

FAMOUS FRIENDS: Bruce Lee, Robert Vaughn, Sam Pekinpah

OSCAR WINS: 1 Best Supporting Actor for "Affliction"

TALENT: Played the flute. Songer and song writer with Lynsey De Paul- "Tigers and Fireflies"

KNOWN FOR: his bright and big teeth when he smiled. Card playing. Car racing, in fact, he owned a Ferrari Spyder that later was restored and sold for $10,894,400. Was a student of Bruce Lee in Martial Arts and was a pall bearer at Lee's funeral. Loved Tobetan Buddhism.

I always liked James Coburn who was a big star  for a brief time in the 1960s, but when he developed rheumatoid arthritis, the studios didn’t want to insure the actor or hire him. He started off in TV and had a very good career in TV before starring in film and came back to TV later on in his life. He could play a hard nosed cowboy as well as a hard nosed soldier but had fun playing a parody of James Bond in the 2 Flint movies ( based on the saying “In like Flynn” which was based on Errol Flynn’s sexual conquests). When he was married to his 1st wife, he did whore around and she took it until he asked for a divorce. Hell hath no fury and she took him for everything she could, I can’t really blame her to be honest. 

When he was going through this ugly divorce, the rheumatoid arthritis reared its ugly head and stress is one of the reasons for this arthritis to appear or become worse, not the only reason, but a big contributing factor. He suffered for years and was on many medications until he took MSM, an herbal supplement which severely curtailed his pain. At this time, no one wanted to hire him but Angela Lansbury came to his rescue and hired him. He often said, on talk shows, that she saved him in so many ways and he got his 2nd career back. He was, now, a character actor but this is when he won the Oscar and was doing really well since marrying a 2nd time. His wife stated he was playing the flute while they listened to music, when he suffered a major heart  attack and died in her arms ( she died 2 years later of cancer at just 48). He loved his cigars, but Rheumatoid Arthritis is known to attack other organs like the heart.  It came out later that he did partake in pot on a regular basis ( plus LSD and even, Cocaine on 1 occasion) and loved wearing those loosey caftans and liked to meditate and chill out. Quite a cool dude.

FILMS-I'm choosing my favourites first followed by some others

1. The Magnificent Seven-1960

2. Americanization of Emily-1964

3. A Fistful of Dynamite or Duck! You Sucker-1971

4. Maverick-1994

5. The Great Escape-1963 ( love this movie but he is supporting but love the character..maybe this should be #2)

6. Our Man Flint-1966

7. In Like Flint- 1967

8 . Cross of Iron-1977

9. Affliction-1997

10. A Reason to Live, A Reason to Die- 1972

Hotels

 

Summer is the time for many people to travel especially before school starts and it made me think of where we travel and we we hang our hats at night. Many love the hotels and it got me thinking of these films like What's Up, Doc, The Best Exotic, Marigold Hotel, The Grand Budapest Hotel and If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium. These are some of my most favourite films of mine but I chose 3 more that I love…

1. THE LAST LAUGH-1924

I recently watched this powerful film, directed by the great F. W. Murnau, starring Emil Jannings as a proud man who works at a prestigious Hotel as the main footman who opens the doors for the patrons, takes care of their bags and helps them in their daily needs. When he comes home to his neighbourhood, the residents think he is grand for holding such a great employment. They are all preparing for his niece’s wedding when, Emil’s jerk of an employer, decides Emily is too old to hold his position and asks for his coat and demotes him to bathroom attendant. This proud man is destroyed by this uncaring demotion and his own neighbourhood now think he was lying about his position and demean him even more. Honestly, how many have held a good job to only lose it due to “ restructuring” . We can relate to this film in many ways and the direction, acting and cinematography by Karl Freund  are exemplary. It evoked immense sadness in me and regardless of the ending, which Murnau was forced to add on by the studio, this is one of the great films of silent cinema and cinema of the last 100+ years.

2. GRAND HOTEL-1932

This is the epitome of hotel movies where Lewis Stone states how many people come here and year, nothing happens. HA!  We have a large assortment of people whose lives will be forever changed after staying in this Berlin Hotel. You have a brutish lout( no, not Trump) who comes to this hotel with his secretary/ mistress. A ballerina( that’s too funny because Greta Garbo is not, what I call, elegant) who wishes to be left alone, a penniless Baron, played by John Barrymore, who marks Greta as his meal ticket, you also have a sweet but dying man, played by Lionel Barrymore, who is living his final dream. We watch how the mistress feels more than just a whore when in the company of the sweet old man, the Baron falls for the ballerina and vice versa and the bullying, bankrupt lout, played by Wallace Beery, is just whom he appears to be. It’s a lot of fun, opulent and you get to hear Garbo saying how she wishes she could be left alone.

3. SILK STOCKINGS-1957

This is one of my favourite musicals, which I say about most musicals but I do know this was Cyd Charisse’s favourite of her films and she shows some of her best work in this fun movie based on the film, “ Ninotchka” that starred Garbo. Cud is sent, from Russia, to retrieve 3 comrades from Paris who seem to have been taken by the capitalist decadence in Paris. When she arrives she is dressed in brown but that does not deter Fred Astaire who falls for this beauty. Many scenes take place in this decadent hotel and Ninotchka succumbs to the charms dancing in a closet most of us dream about. Unfortunately, when the composer, who has allowed Astaire to change his classical pieces to fit the hip, he and Ninotchka are appalled and feel rooked, leaving Gay Paris to go back to soot laden Russia. The hotel is a great backdrop with many dance numbers happening in the walls of this majestic hotel( that we could never afford to stay in). When watching Astaire, it is hard to believe he was 58 years old here and Cyd is just her best in every way, we even get to see Peter Lorre dance!

Which hotel movies can you think of?

Live Aid 1985

 

 Monday Music Movies Me has the theme of Summer fun, chilling or, summer getaways. 1985 was a very fun year and the summer was a cause for many celebrations. I had my big party in July which started Friday evening and lasted until Sunday. Everyone brought their tents, booze, food and clothing…plus booze and music! I had set up my stereo so we could listen to and dance to a variety of music from The Monkees, the Beatles and the Who to Depeche Mode and a variety of 80s music. I lived in the country so we had plenty of space along with a campfire and we owned an Esther Williams pool for swimming, of course. I met my best friend at my party and we fondly recall how we bonded on Sunday when we  took a dune buggy ride ( I forget how or who owned this) to Lake Erie and waded into the water talking. I wanted to move out and Loretta told me her fiancé owned a home( his parents had, sadly, passed away) in Welland and it would be a lot of fun( think partying, booze and basic mayhem) so, I was in! I met my other dearest friend, VJ, who moved from South Africa to..Welland( yup, I don’t get it either but, VJ claimed Niagara College had a great tourism degree, which he never did finish). 

This was the summer of that major Live Aid concert put on by Bob Geldoff to help the people of Ethiopia who were going through a huge health crisis-a major famine. So many people were starving to death and Bob Geldoff decided to do something and this was it. I loved watching this and was mesmerized by the huge audience in London and the sister companion in the States. No one can take away the amazing concert put on in the summer of 1985, that many had not seen since Woodstock. I am showcasing 3 artists from this concert…

1. QUEEN- A VARIETY OF THEIR MUSIC

I just had to show their entire concert piece because it is iconic! Freddie Mercury was at his best here and really knew how to make this moment magic. He stole the entire show! It is long, but it’s worth it.

2. DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME SUNG BY ELTON JOHN AND GEORGE MICHAEL

This is one of my favourite Elton John songs and when I saw Wham come on, my rolled my eyes until George Michael started to sing. He was, without doubt, one of the best at Live Aid. This was great!

3. DANCING IN THE STREETS SUNG BY DAVID BOWIE AND MICK  JAGGER

This seemed to be a cross over between Britain and the U. S.  Which was shown between the actual live performances of Live Aid. You watched these 2 sing this 60s hit in their funky clothes creating a huge buzz if these 2 great singers were having some sexual fun on the side. Actually, people still talk about it to this day, who remember this video. I say, who cares! Enjoy the fun these 2 seem to be having and disregard the dissing many people apply to these 2 greats. I always found it fun.

How many remember this concert performance? Did you watch it like I did? What was your favourite singer/band? Let me know

 

Sweets

 

Before I begin, yesterday, was my, “Who won the Oscar song” and the one who won was “The Shadow of your Smile”. The nominated song was “What’s New, Pussycat” and the song that came up empty was, “Baby, the Rain Must Fall”…always interesting. 

The summer was always a fun time to walk to the local convenience store to buy Popeye Cigarettes, sweettarts, delicious chocolate…you name it. This made me think of  movies that showcased sweets in some way and I came up with these 3…

1. CHITTY, CHITTY, BANG, BANG-1968

This is a favourite of mine that stars Dick Van Dyke as a widower with 2 kids who is an inventor of just about anything. He loves Truly Scrumptious, yup that’s the name of a young lady, who has fallen for Penis Van Lesbian…er..Dick Van Dyke and they end up in a car, with his 2 kids that makes the sound like Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang. Before they know it, the car sports wings and flies, bringing them to an idyllic looking town where there are no children. You find out that, the nasty King and Queen hate kids so they are rounded up and enslaved beneath the castle by this ugly catcher ( played with great  Robert Helpmann who creates a great evil character) who entices kids with candies and treats. This is a fun and sweet film ( sorry) that has a favourite song of mine called “Toot Sweets” about a sweet invented by Dickie. We also have Benny Hill as a toy maker who helps the family out. It’s quite a good movie and fun all around.

2. WILLIE WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY-1971

This movie is far superior to the remake starring a very creepy Johnny Depp, about a kid who finds the 5th golden ticket to enter a factory of this mysterious Willie Wonka. It stars Gene Wilder as Willie Wonka who is looking for someone who is true and honest to take over his factory. Wilder plays this character as one who appears a bit off centre but honest and yet, Machiavellian. There are 4 other kids that also have a ticket but each are gross in their own way and meet different fates. Along for the ride are the very creepy Oompa Loompas who are very orange and help out Willie Wonka in all ways. Funny, it was thought that these freaky Loompas would become a huge hit but the opposite was true, so many stores were stuck with stuffed Oompa Loompas. The visuals are quite striking and so are the costumes which make this strange musical even more appealing in a strange, effed up way.

3. CHOCOLAT-2000

This is a romantic film with a dash of the sensual thrown in about a woman and her young daughter who, almost literally, blow into this quaint small, French town. The townsfolk are scared to let go and bring colour into their lives because of the mayor who forbids anything decadent. Enter this beautiful woman, played by Juliette Binoche, who creates a magical chocolate shop which is just too decadent for the mayor.  This is 1959, just before Lent and the mayor means war where Juliette just wants to spread love and peace via chocolate. She instinctively knows what each person needs in chocolate opening up temptations that this town needs. I love the characters from Lena Olin as the abused wife, Judi Dench as the old lady, Leslie Caron as a widow and Johnny Depp as a free spirited man, who travels with a group of Gypsies on a bunch of small boats who come into the lives of the townsfolk, Juliette and Johnny strike up a relationship culminating in mayhem. This is an enchanting film with great characters and with a slice of bewitchment. 

What types of candy did you love when you were a kid? Any movies that you can think of involving sweets?

These were my favourite suckers but I don’t know what their name is…

Which Song Won The Oscar-1965

 

This is freebie week for Monday Music Moves Me and it’s my “Which song won the Oscar”  time and we shall see if you guess things correctly for this year, 1965 when I was only 1 yr old. It’s an interesting array of musical tastes this year but “The Sound of Music” is not in this because  the songs were all part of the Broadway show so could not be eligible for an Oscar. Let’s see if you can figure out which song won the Oscar, which was nominated and which came up empty-handed.

1. BABY, THE RAIN MUST  FALL SUNG BY GLENN YARBROUGH

This song, from the movie with the same name, was written by Elmer Bernstein and Ernest Sheldon and it’s quite a  good song sung by this man with the warbly voice. To be honest, not my favourite but it was a big hit in mid 60s times.

2. THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE SUNG BY ASTRUD GILBERTO

This song, written by Johnny Mandel with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster, comes from the film, “The Sandpiper” and it seems to fit the film and it works with Astrud’s voice. Sadly she died in 2023. 

3. WHAT’S NEW PUSSYCAT SUNG BY TOM JONES

Tom Jones is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to singing due to his strong voice and vocal range. This song is fun and I think Burt Bacharach, the music, and Hal David, lyrics, captures the fun of the film and Tom Jones can make any song sound sexy.

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

Canada and The U. S.

 

We all know the crap going on right now with that orange F#)’ who get his makeup from a cheesos bag, filibusters and places more and more tariffs because it’s his way of trying to force people to capitulate. This is not surprising because, if you read or watch documentaries or news reports about him from the 90s you will find out how, when an elderly woman refused to sell her childhood home, in Atlanta, to Trump, he tried to force her out but stopping her heat, hydro and water forcing her to find a lawyer. Thankfully, the lawyers worked for her pro bono since they were disgusted by Trump’s nasty antics. She won and Trump built his Casino, now bankrupt and gone, around her. She smiled and was happy she kept her home. When Trump wanted to build  a golf course and uber expensive resort for him and his cronies in Scotland, he wanted to buy up this small town, but was met with resistance headed by a lady upset that he wanted to destroy their unique hamlet. He pulled the same antics, stopping their water, heat and hydro, buying off people trying to force the townsfolk out. This one woman held her ground and she won! What did the asshole do? He made sure all all the dirt that was taken off his gold course was placed  in front of her view of the ocean so all she could see was the huge hill. Guess what? The golf course went bankrupt and another bites the dust. Canada will never…ever be part of the States and we won the war of 1812. The States thinking of Manifest Destiny did not work in 1812 and won’t work today. 

I decided to look at some Patriotic films including one that is very much The U. S.  rah rah type that I had to include because it is a good film. Here we go…

1. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY-1942

This is a very patriotic, U. S. Movie musical tht stars James Cagney as George M. Cohan, the songwriter, dancer, singer, writer, producer from Broadway who wrote Yankee Doodle, You’re a Grand Old Flag and Over There. It’s a great musical that showcases how musically gifted James Cagney was and showcases his versatility. It’s not an accurate account, obviously, but you can’t help but feel invigorated and was a great showcase to bring out ones’ patriotism during these dark days of World War 2. By the way, today is James Cagney’s birthday.

2. CANADIAN BACON-1995

Michael Moore, of the great documentary films he creates, wrote and directed this film which is a great satire about the U.S. wanting to invade Canada. Yes, how apropos! It’s an excellent satire that is also quite dumb but that’s what makes it hilarious and it stars the great John Candy is his 2nd last film before his untimely death. It also stars Alan Alda as the inept U. S. President with a variety of famous people who are either involved in the U. S. Hijinks or the Canadians. I love this movie and laugh every time I watch it. 

3. COME FROM AWAY-2021

This is from a musical stage play that became a huge hit and has been playing  for over 20 yrs before finally ending, I believe, this year. This film takes the play and places it on screen depicting the disastrous moment in time when the twin towers were destroyed by planes hijacked by terrorists. The planes were not allowed into the States so some planes were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, a very small town, who opened their doors and hearts to the 7,000 stranded U.S. residents building friendships that have lasted to this day. It is a musical but so much more and lets us know how we are truly friends no matter what.

So, just an FYI, the amount of fentanyl coming from the States into Canada in triple the amount than the other way around. The amount of guns and other illegal arms, come from the U. S. Into our country. Sadly, Trump says patriotic words for his own agenda and lies about what really goes on. Not surprising so, let’s remember to laugh and to know that we are friends despite the political crap.

Bikini Time!

 

Chili Williams was never a star but she became a big hit during WW2 with this Life photo and I thought this would be perfect to use this week since it’s about swim wear and water fun. I owned 2 bikinis and that was when I was 40! My bikinis covered, no ass floss bikini for me. Now, I am happy wearing a one piece and I love the ones with a skirt. Check out Curious As A Cathy to see what they chose for their Monday Music Moves Me post. Here are my 3…

1. GERONIMO SUNG BY NANCY SINATRA-1966

This comes from the film, “The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini”  and you can clearly see a lot of gals in that swimwear. I love this hokey flick about a ghost trying to help her dead lover by making sure his former lawyer does not get a hold of his money but go to his rightful heirs, 2 young people who bring a bus load of kids up to the mansion for some beach party fun. This scene is by the pool where Nancy Sinatra sings a song that make the  bodies shake to jiggly effect.

2. HOW TO STUFF A WILD BIKINI SUNG  BY THE KINGSMEN-1965

There are a few songs from this bikini/surfer flick that stars Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon but, I thought I’d go with this one that sings about bikinis..at least, I think it does…:))

3. DR. GOLDFOOT AND THE BIKINI MACHINE SUNG BY THE SUPREMES-1965

This flick was a fun spoof of the spy films especially James Bond, that stars Vincent Price as a mad scientist who builds robot bikini clad women who seduce millionaires into giving t(eir money to…guess who. I was surprised that the Supremes sang this song. It is catchy and a fun song for a fun flick.

I will never own an Itsy, Bitsy, teeny-weeny yellow polka dot bikini and nor should I wear one. Any bikini type songs you can think of?

Which Film should Have Won The Oscar-2017

 

Oh, I feel this is one charged year because you had many films that were not nominated for Best Picture like “Blade Runner 2049”, “ The Florida Project” and “The Big Sick” all films I have yet to see. I decided to stick with films I have seen that I chose in the nominated area and should have been nominated or should have won. I hope this makes sense but if not…oh well. This is just my own opinion, but one, I think, shared by many…at least for the film that should not have won. I am speaking about Best Picture for the films that came out in 2017…

1. THE SHAPE OF WATER

I like Guillermo Del Toro who directed this weird love story about a mute cleaner who works in a top secret facility who meets a creature, kept by evil scientists, and falls in love with the creature from the black lagoon. Oops, sorry, wrong movie, but you know Del Toro must love this 50s film. This movie was a huge hit but I just didn’t get into it. I had no care for the lead actress nor slime boy and their wet and wild times. My favourite was the always great, Octavia Spencer and Richard Jenkins who created great characters in this movie. This film won Best Picture but I don’t know why…he deserved it much more for “Pan’s Labyrinth”. 

2. 3 BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

This film was nominated and Frances McDormand won best actress for her portrayal of a grieving mom trying to find answers that the cops could not. This film left me with so much emotional sadness but also, strangely, hope. It’s a character study of a grieving mom, a dying cop and his angry deputy played to perfection by the ever great, Sam Rockwell, who, also, won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. This film may not be for everyone but, I think it’s such a great story about loss, anger, love and redemption.

3. THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

I love this film! Hugh Jackman is great as the showman, P. T. Barnum who  started the famous circus, “Barnum & Bailey’s Circus”  which showcased trapeze artists, clowns, animals and, yes, circus freaks. Thankfully, after over 100 years, they no longer have animals..oh..nor the circus “freaks” but still entertain people after restarting in 2023. This film was highly criticized for its inaccuracies but, duh! It’s a Hollywood musical and almost all biopics have creative licences to make a film people wish to see. Hugh Jackman excels as the man who coined, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” Dancing and singing dreaming he will create more musicals in the style of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. I love how he gathers up some future famous people like “Tom Thumb” who suffered from dwarfism and only stood at 3ft 4 inches but he was all proportionate, as well as, the bearded lady, Siamese Twins etc.. The music is excellent and I am dumbfounded that it was not even nominated for best score which should have won Best Oscar as well. It is a film more about people who are different and ostracized, but find a family within their own world rising above the people who snubbed their noses at them. Love the songs, costumes, art direction and the cinematography. This deserved to be nominated.

What do you think? Any films you think should have won Best Picture  or do you agree with me?

I Love These Tunes

 

My Lexi knows how to chill before she goes nutsy because that’s what she does. She reminds me of..me when I went out dancing, some 40 yrs ago..ugh…I can’t believe I’m talking like this because I am too young to talk like this. Now, I am recalling how I would sit around until some music would start to play, usually the 80s music which was great but, I love the older music too and I recalled going to one place, in Toronto, with 3 levels and the main floor centered on the 60s. I danced the night away and went crazy before plopping down somewhere, just like my Lexi. I’m joining on the Monday Music Moves Me which is freebie week.

1. HOUSE OF THE RISING SON SUNG BY THE ANIMALS-1964

I can’t believe this fantastic song came out the year I was born..holy Hanna Banana!! This is a great song and, when I went to the local pub in University all those years ago, some random student grabbed the mike and sang this song and he was …amazing! I still recall how great he was singing this song.

2. WILD THING SUNG BY THE TROGGS-1966

I always found this band’s name to be found in the film “One Million Years B.C.” This British band came out with this great tune which I danced to, many times, .but the best was in that disco I spoke of with all the psychedelic colours splattered onto the walls.

3. SOMEBODY TO LOVE SUNG BY JEFFERSON AIRPLANE-1967

I have this album and need to listen to it again. I love this band including the lead singer, the astounding Grace Slick whose voice is one of a kind. This song was written by her brother in law, Darby Slick but Grace and the band made it her own. 

What 60s songs do you love..hahahaaa, there are too many to love!

Stay Out of The Sun…Good Luck!

 

I am writing this on July 2nd, the day back in 1997, when my favourite actor, James Stewart died at the age of 89. I was praying he would not die that week because I was getting married on July 5th, but he did and I was bummed. You bet your sweet bippy that I spoke about him at my wedding and I’m glad I did. Today is supposed to be National Stay Out of the Sun Day so I combined the 2. All I can say is that it’s stinkin’ hot outside and it is good to stay out of the sun…if you can. Here are my 3 films…

1. REAR WINDOW-1954

This is one of my all time favourite Hitchcock films and Jimmy Stewart films. It takes place around this courtyard during a sweltering summer with Jimmy Stewart as an adventurer photographer sidelined by a broken leg. He is holed up in his apartment with a cast all the way up to his upper thigh. He has a nurse who comes in every day, played by the incomparable Thelma Ritter and his beautiful fiance, played with great finesse by Grace Kelly. You meet all the people Stewart is peeping..er watching from Miss. Lonely Hearts, to the composer, the dancer, the couple with their dog and the husband with his invalid wife. You can feel the heat which just confines you even more than this intricate set. When the invalid wife is gone one day, Stewart expects foul play but is it? You get taken into his world and become a voyeur and can’t wait to  see what all the people are up to. Grace looks exquisite in her outfits and seems to be the only one who doesn’t sweat. It’s a must see film

2. ANATOMY OF A MURDER-1959

This takes place during a sweltering summer when a man is accused of murder and the only one who may be able to get him off is “aww shucks” James Stewart as the Defense Attorney. The accused, played by Ben Gazzara, claims he has no memory of killing a man who was accused of raping his wife, played by Lee Remick. The prosecutor is played by George C. Scott who was nominated for an Oscar for this role and, thought for sure he would win. When he didn’t, he was so disillusioned by the whole Oscar process, he vowed never to accept an Oscar if he ever won…and he kept that promise. Anyhoo, you feel the heat while in that court room especially when they used risqué words like panties, rape etc… In fact, these words caused quite the furor in its day and Stewart’s dad was so disgusted by the film he took out an ad, in his hometown, telling everyone to stay away from this film. It is quite well acted by everyone and I love Eve Arden as Stewart’s secretary. I can’t help but think this is the inspiration for the show Matlock with Andy Griffith in the title role.

3. THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX-1965

This is an all star cast with Jimmy Stewart as the pilot flying between to places in Libya carrying a variety of people associated with oil rigs. A dust storm takes them off course and they crash land in the desert. The group of men must now deal with the hot sun, doing their best to stay in the shade while rationing what little food and water they have. When an arrogant German ( who else?) finds a way to make the plane fly again, everyone gets to work despite the antagonism between Stewart and the German, played so well by Hardy Kruger. They must deal with all sorts of trials hoping they can find their way back to civilization before they die and shrivel up in the sun. This is a fun adventure film and a great character study. I enjoy watching this film whenever I get the chance. 

So, what movies can you think of that makes you think of staying away from the sun because it’s just too damn hot?

National Day- Celebrating Canada Day, Our Own Country!

It’s about National Day over at Monday Music Moves Me and I am so happy that Curious As A Cathy provided a link for all the days we celebrate something. Since yesterday was Canada Day, what better way than to celebrate the country I love. Here we go…

1. CANADIAN RAILROAD TRILOGY SUNG BY GORDON LIGHTFOOT-1967

This is considered part of Canada as much as Gordon Lightfoot who is a Canadian institution. He wrote this as part of our centennial and sung this during the celebrations back in 1967. He almost, always ended his concerts with this great song.

2. LAND OF THE SILVER BIRCH SUNG BY BONNIE DOBSON-1972

This is an iconic song that many kids know especially  when they go canoeing because they can sing it to the rhythm of paddling. Ok, it’s what I read…but it’s a song from a poem written by Pauline Johnson and it is used, to great effect, in the 2019 film, “Brotherhood” about the true story where 10 Boy Scouts and the Counsellor die after capsizing  in an Ontario lake. Rather a sad way to showcase this iconic song that now has come under fire being called racist. I’m just tired of all this complaining because just about every song can be construed in a negative way. 

3. CANADA-THE CENTENNIAL SONG SUNG BY A GROUP (Sorry) -1967

Oh gosh, I am trying to figure out who sang the song here but I was unable to find out. If you can find out, please let me know:)). This was written by Bobby Gimby for the Canadian Expo of 1967, again, to celebrate our centennial. I thought this song was appropriate as well.

So, any songs, about Canada, can you think of..aside from our National anthem?

July Star of the Month-Janet Leigh

 

JANET LEIGH

BORN: July 6, 1927

DEATH: October 3, 2004

AGED: 77 years

DIED FROM: Vasculitis 

REAL NAME: Jeanette Helen Morrison

MARRIED: 4 times, 1st one was annulled, she was young 15/16 yrs. 3rd to Tony Curtis. Few days after that divorce, she married Robert Brandt, a stockbroker, from 1962 until her death.

AFFAIRS: Arthur M. Loew Jr. Possibly Frank Sinatra

CHILDREN: 2 daughters, Kelly Curtis, Jamie Lee Curtis. Was pregnant, much earlier, but miscarried.

OSCAR NOMINATIONS: Psycho- 1960

TALENT: highly intelligent-graduated high school at age 16. She could sing and dance  was in a choir when she was young.

KNOWN FOR: The first sream Queen.  Her versatility. Her bodacious ta-tas..sorry, but true

Everyone knows the famous shower scene when Janet Leigh let out those screams before grabbing the shower curtain and falling onto the floor, still as a dead person is supposed to be( except her eyes are not dilated as Doctors noticed). She had to lie there for a long time which is no easy feat and this scene caused her to never take showers ever again. This young girl, born to very poor family, excelled at school and graduated high school by the age of 16. The impetuous girl decided to marry but, this marriage was annulled. When she turned 18, she married again right around the time, Norma Shearer, a huge actress during the 1930s, saw her photo at a ski resort where Leigh’s parents were working. Shearer was struck by the beauty of Leigh, sought her out and decided to bring her to Hollywood. That is how Leigh ended up in the big town and onto to celluloid. The good thing is this very pretty gal with the 37-23-25 measurements could fill out a torpedo bra like no one, but she could, also, act. She met Tony Curtis at a party and soon, they were an item. She divorced her 2nd husband and, at age 23, married Tony Curtis with great friend, Jerry Lewis, as Best Man. To say their marriage had its ups and downs, is an understatement. She dealt with his numerous affairs and his narcissistic jealousy. Finally, after 12 yrs of marriage and 2 daughters, he filed divorce! He claimed adultery etc.., which blindsided Leigh to the point where she, allegedly, overdosed and her stomach had to be pumped. she was able to survive this publicity ridden fiasco and find the love of her life and married in 1962 staying with this man until she died. 

She was well liked, amiable and was a pretty good actress who could also sing and dance but when she took on the role in Bye Bye Birdie, the one dance scene was enough for her to say, “Never Again”. She ventured onto TV giving some great acting spots like the aging, forgotten star who commits murder in Columbo ( a really excellent episode if you can watch it). She starred with her daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis in “The Fog” and "Halloween:20 Years Later” confirming that both mom and daughter could be scream queens together. Sadly, she developed this Vasculitis and struggled with it in the final year of her life. I looked it up and saw a picture of a person’s lower legs…it’s not pretty. It’s a sad end to someone who was a solid leading lady in major roles and supporting roles. I chose most of the films from what I have seen. I always like to see Joel’s top 10 who has seen far more films than me:) 

FILMS

1. Bye, Bye, Birdie-1963

2. Psycho-1960

3. Who Was That Lady-1960

4. Holiday Affair-1949

5. Angels in the Outfield-1951

6. The Manchurian Candidate-1962

7. The Naked Spur-1953

8. My Sister, Eileen-1955

9. The Vikings- 1958

10. Touch of Evil- 1962

I'm going more by her performance, than the actual film which is why "The Manchurian Candidate" is low on my list. "Touch of Evil" is a star-studded film considered a gem in film. Everyone seems to love it, except me. Charlton Heston as a Mexican is as true as the Pope wearing the white jump suit from Elvis. 

I believe this interview is from a Canadian TV Program called, Saturday Night at the Movies with host, Elwy Yost..I miss this man.

Thursday Films Picks- German POW Camps

 

Before I begin, this week’s film theme, I wanted to let you know that I finally remember to let you know who won the Oscar for best song- Fight For You…meh. Song that was Nominated- Husavek and the song that received no love was Glasgow which is a shame because that’s my favourite.

I decided to write about a favourite theme of war films..the POW camps which usually involves an escape or 2..or more. I have spoken about “The Great Escape” more than once and, it’s one of my all time favourite films, but I decided to go with 3 films I recently watched. 

1. LA GRANDE ILLUSION-1937

We can ThNk a German officer, stationed in Paris, who saved an original copy of this great film, when the French and the Germans wanted it destroyed. He brought it back…to Berlin which, when the war was done, was taken by the Communists, back to Moscow. There, it stagnated for a few decades before it was finally found and has been lovingly restored. It’s based during WW1 when 2 French men are taken prisoner and must stay in an old fortress headed by German air ace, played to perfection by the great Erich Von Stroheim. This is not just a war film, that doesn’t show the war, but it’s about class distinction and how war is futile. The one Frenchman, from a blue collar background is portrayed by the French acting legend, Jean Gabin who, along with another, escapes the prison. I love this film from the actors who speak  different languages to how rigid the German character is yet, very compassionate. This is a must see film.

2. THE COLDITZ STORY-1955

This was a pleasant surprise to watch and one I could watch again. It's a British film showing how the Brits, French, Polish, etc were all placed inside this old castle as a POW prison which the Nazis felt was inescapable. Of course, the men tried but were all captured because everyone were acting on their own. They decide to join forces and act as a cohesive team to disrupt the guards and make an escape. It's a cat and mouse game with thrills, Sadness and some hilarity thrown in. A very solid cast makes this film one to see.

3. VON RYAN’S EXPRESS-1965

I really enjoyed this film that stars Frank Sinatra as an American pilot who was sent to a POW camp in Italy. He is able to create a mass deportation of the British POWs  along with an Italian who never wanted to be part of running this POW camp. From there, you follow them on the run, taking over a train attempting to get Switzerland. The character Sinatra plays, is not well liked by the fellow prisoners because they feel he is a turncoat and give him the name Von Ryan. It's tense filled plus action oriented. A very good film with Sinatra in the lead.

What POW films can you think of?

Who Won Best Song Oscar for 2020

 

Ok, I normally write this theme the 3rd week of the Month, but I like doing the themes on Monday Music Moves Me so I placed this theme of mine now. I am not much for the newer songs because they don’t make me  hum the tune. They all sound the same or they are, simply, annoying. Anyways, let’s see if you can guess which song won the Oscar, which was nominated and which came up nadda!

1. HUSAVIK SUNG BY WILL FARRELL AND MOLLY SANDEN

My head must have been up my ass but I never knew about the Eurovision contest even though that is how ABBA  came to be famous. This is a catchy song written by Richard Goransson(music) and Fat Max Gus’s and Savan Kotecha (lyrics). I was surprised by Will Farrell but he’s pretty good. Oh, the Iceland town of HUSAVIK has adopted this song as their main song.

2. FIGHT FOR YOU SUNG BY DI MILE AND H.E.R.

This is a song that I am not a fan of…I believe it was a big hit but, for me, meh. It was written by H.E.R.  and Tiara Thomas. Whatever happened to just having a regular name? 

3. GLASGOW SUNG BY JESSIE BUCKLEY

This is a really nice song from the indie film, “ Wild Rose”, that got a lot of accolades when it was shown at TIFF in Toronto. Believe it or not, this was written by Mary Steenburgen, who, during Covid, had this music come into her head. She said wherever she went and looked she would see the music and hear it but she had no idea how to put it to paper so along came Caitlyn Smith who helped, greatly, to place this music onto paper.

So…..who won the Oscar? Who was nominated? Who got nuttin? This was a weird year because of….Covid. One song seems to have come out in 2018 but was up for the Oscar this year. It seems the songs were from different years because the Oscar’s were delayed. Anyhoo, these songs were for this year’s Oscar.

Dinosaurs!

 

I was going to have a completely different theme but, I was watching PBS, which had a couple of interesting shows about dinosaurs and I had my 25watt bulb go off, so decided to write about this theme instead. I am purposely straying away from the Jurassic Park franchise because, they’re just too easy, plus after the 3rd one, they just got boring and stupid. Even the last one, of the first 3, with the pterodactyls, makes no sense. The group escape, terrified but, as they are leaving on helicopters, the kid and Sam Neil smile in Wonder as they watch the big, nasty birds fly beside them. First, I’d still be terrified because, they tried to eat me and, second, they are flying away from the island toward civilization. WTF is wondrous about that? Oops…I’m ranting, so, here are my 3 dinosaur movies.

1. THE LOST WORLD-1925

I do love silent film and this is a classic, believe it or not, which freaked out people who went to see the movie. It was considered wondrous for its day in special effects and even Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the book, was part of the film where he introduced it, unfortunately, some prints don’t have this part. Bessie Love plays the daughter of a missing explorer who brings her dad’s journals to the head of British museum, played by Wallace Beery. He sees the drawings and it convinces him that dinosaurs exist, so he decides to take some people to South America to explore the mysterious plateau. Once there, the group end up on the plateau needing to fend off some hungry dinosaurs and a jerk of an ape man. This film is 100 years old and it’s pretty cool to watch this. I can’t help but think how the people from 1925, must have felt. This was their Jurassic Park film for that time. Stop motion was used to great effect and the actors did a great job acting against these beasts. It’s fun to watch  an old film and transport oneself back to that time.

2. KING KONG-1933

I hope most of you have seen this game changer of a beast movie that stars, Canadian, Fay Wray, who has the best scream ever, as sexy Ann Darrow. It starts off with Ann looking at food and fainting because she is so hungry. Carl Denham is a film director who see her, feeds her and  tells her  he will make her a star and she will star against a dark and hairy man. She says yes and before you can say, Epstein and Trump party, she is on board a ship of men, much to the chagrin of the running mate, played by Bruce Cabot. Of course, he falls for Ann and so do the Natives when the ship finds Skull Island. The natives kidnap Ann, tie her up and summon Kong. In enters, tall, dark and hairy, Kong who decides not to eat her but bring her to his lair.  We watch as he protects her from all sorts of baddies like the tyrannosaurus, a giant snake( get your minds out of the gutter) and a pterodactyl. Of course, the men from the boat go to rescue Ann with most meeting their fate in very bad  ways. Good ole Cabot frees her and they escape with Kong hot on their trail. This is when the dumb ass Producer decides to bring Kong back to NYC. This is a classic with a capital C and I remember watching this on “Movies for a Sunday Afternoon” on ABC. He wanted all of us to sit and watch the movie which we did, and it made a big impression on me. Decades later, I realize my dad was one of the many, many people who were dumbfounded by how realistic it looked( obviously, back in the day). My dad was only 20 at that time and it must have throw him in awe at the revolutionary stop motion method used to make King Kong come alive.

3. ONE MILLION BC-1966

Oh, we all know how famous this film is because it stars the voluptuous Raquel Welch in her fur bikini which gained further fame when her poster was shown to full splendour in the gret film, “The Shawshank Redemption”. This is …not a great film, maybe not even a good one but that’s what makes it fun because it is rather dumb. John Richardson plays Tumak( not Tupac, although that could be his Rapper cousin) who is banished from his dark haired, primitive tribe to the desert where he must fight some bad dinosaurs, he ends up meeting Loana, yes, fur bikini Raquel, part of the blonde, more sophisticated ( aka intelligent) tribe. He learns from them but fights ensues when another blondie wants Tupac..er Tumak for herself so enter 2 women fighting in their skimpy outfits. All you need is some jello and you have all the boys go to heaven. Anyhoo, it ends up the tribe cast Tarmac..oops, Tumak out and Leona decides to go with him. Before you can say, “birdie!” a pterodactyl snatches Leona, of course, to bring her to her hatchlings for a morsel. Will she be saved in time, by Tupac..Tarmac…sorry, Tumak? Will those little critters pick off her fur bikini?  This is, actually, a remake of the 1940, film starring Victor Mature and Carole Landis which was a big hit in its day as well. The dinosaurs in both movies are fun to watch with the usual fights between 2 dinosaurs and the tyrannosaurus hungry for some humans. It’s a cult film that one should see, at least, once.

Which dinosaur movies, aside from Jurassic Park, come to your mind?

Have a Sunny Day

 

I’m late here plus I am so late in responding to your wonderful comments because I am just exhausted. In my work, I counsel, approximately, 7 people per day, discussing the financial distress, budgeting and credit. After each session I need 20 minutes of paperwork. I can’t stop people from talking with me about their loss of a job, illness, marital breakdown, deaths so I often take the full hour with the people. This means, I must complete all the paperwork resulting in getting home around 9 pm, mentally exhausted. I read your blogs, but end up falling asleep. So, when I saw this week’s Monday Music Moves Me theme, I took it as a sign. I’m late writing this, but I enjoyed thinking bout ll the sunny songs which made me smile. I just took the 3 songs that popped into my head…

1.  LET THE SUNSHINE IN SUNG BY PEBBLES AND BAMM BAMM-1965

I love The Flintstones which was a big hit back in the mid 60s when I was born and a wee tot. Obviously, I watched this show in reruns and loved it all especially when they had famous guest stars like Stony Curtis, Ann-Margrock and even “Bewitched” stars Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York as their characters, the witch, Samantha and her mortal husband, Darren. Anyhoo, I got sidetracked, this song, written by Stuart Hamlin in 1954, became a hit when Pebbles ( sung by Rebecca Page), the daughter of Fred Flintstones and Wilma and Bamm Bamm ( sung by Ricky Page, Rebecca’s mom), the son of Barney and Betty Rubble, sung this song on the TV show. It’s catchy and sweet and always put a smile on my face.

2. YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE SUNG BY BING CROSBY-1941

My mom sang this to her granddaughter from the time she was born ( today, Camden is transitioning to a man) and loved her deeply. Even if my mom would question Camden’s decision, my mom would embrace her and still sing this song to him because love is bigger than judgements, one’s own beliefs and intolerance. This song has been debated in the origin, but it became big and is now the state song of Louisiana. The song was first published in 1940 and has been recorded way over 300 times. I think Bing does a great job of this classic.

3.  SUNRISE, SUNSET SUNG BY TOPOL-1971

This is another song that my mom just loved. It is from the film, “Fiddler on the Roof” starring Topol who also played the character on Broadway. It was written by Jerry Brock with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. His daughter is getting married and the dad is remembering how his children used to be young and always near you until you must let them go. It’s a bittersweet song but so beautiful.

Here’s a picture of my mom and my cousin, Dieter, whom my mom adored. Dieter was born 6 months after my mom lost her baby brother. I believe Dieter saved my Oma from the grief of losing her son and saved my mom as well. When bombs would fall and, afterwards, the Russians marched in, followed by starvation, my mom would sing to Dieter who was just 4 when the war ended. She sang to him here, just 3 months before she died. I miss her so…

Who Should Have Won Best Director-1951

 

I love Alfred Hitchcock and I am not alone, since he is considered one of the best auteur directors ever! So we are left, dumbfounded, knowing he never won an Oscar for the many great films he directed. I could choose more than one year, but I decided  to go with 1951 the year of one of my all time favourite films…

1.  STRANGERS ON A TRAIN DIRECTED BY ALFRED HITCHCOCK

I think this film was badly overlooked because it deserved Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Editing but, alas, it was grossly overlooked. This film stars Stewart Granger as a tennis pro who boards a train to visit his ghastly wife to ask her for a divorce. He meets Bruno, played to perfection by Robert Walker, who ingratiates himself with Guy and suggests to swap murders…he’ll kill Guy’s slutty wife and Guy can kill Bruno’s dad. Guy doesn’t believe Bruno until his wife ends up dead. Now the police believe Guy is the murderer and Bruno is a psychopath. The cat and mouse game begins and you are swept up into their lives that take place in the shadows. Along for the ride is the exquisite Ruth Roman as Guy’s love interest and Patricia Hitchcock( Hitchcock’s daughter) as Roman’s younger sister who steals every scene. You need to see this film. Hitchcock deserved the Oscar, in my humble opinion.

2. A PLACE IN THE SUN DIRECTED BY GEORGE STEVENS

This is an excellent film, that stars 2 of the most beautiful people of the time, Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. Clift plays a poor man who wishes to climb the ladder of success and at a party, he meets the beautiful Liz Taylor and they both fall for each other. The problem, Monty has started an affair with a fellow worker, played by Shelley Winters, who informs him that she is pregnant. What is Monty to do with 2 women who love him? This is an American Tragedy which was the title of an earlier film, from 1931 and based on the 1925 book of the same title. It is an excellent film with great performances by the main cast. George Stevens won the Oscar and I understand why but Alfred should have won but he wasn’t even nominated.

3.  THE AFRICAN QUEEN DIRECTED BY JOHN HUSTON

Talk about a great movie with Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart as 2 very different people caught up in Word War 1 and falling in love in the process. It’s so much fun, comedic timing is perfect as is the dramatic parts but this is one of the best films ever done and, to be honest, I wouldn’t have minded if Huston won because it is well directed. The acting is top notch as is the cinematography, editing and writing. Hepburn plays a prim and proper missionary who must leave immediately since the Germans will overrun the place very soon. The only way she can get out is by boat owned and run by Bogie, playing a Canadian mail carrier. You are not sure when Bogie last took bath, has a rough and ready style that makes Hepburn’s nose sniff in arrogant disagreement. Before long, they must fix the boat getting covered in leeches, blow up a German boat and fall in love. It is a must see adventure, romance that had just as much adventure off screen as on that books have been written about it. The leeches were real, they did film on location with crocs in the water and everyone getting dysentery except for Bogart and Huston because they only drank whiskey. Poor Hepburn, at the beginning of the film, is playing the piano but you can see she looks a bit pekid because she was so sick that a bucket was placed by the piano so she could throw up between takes. It’s a great film but my heart belongs to Strangers:). At least Huston was nominated. 

Do you agree with me or do you believe Huston should have won? Do you think Vincent Minelli should have won for Am American in Paris which won Beat Picture?