1960 Best Actor-Who Should Have Won

 

This is a tough one because all Best Actors were good this year but my heart goes to one that was not even nominated even though, later on, he sucked the life out of the character in sequels tht should never have been made. Anyways, I am picking the one who should have won, the won who did win and one who was nominated…did I tell you it was a tough year? 

1. ANTHONY PERKINS IN PSYCHO

Anthony Perkins was known as the kid next door, innocent but brave so, when Hitchcock was looking for someone to play Norman Bates, Perkins seemed perfect because nobody would suspect this innocent. Hitchcock used this ploy before when he had boy next door, Robert Walker, play the psychopath Bruno, in the brilliant, “Strangers On A Train.”  This film was shot on a low budget with his TV crew and, when it came out, Hitchcock made a trailer asking people not to divulge anything bout the film. If you haven’t seen the film yet, spoiler alert, you follow a young and Beautiful Marion Crane( Hitchcock had a thing about. Birds too) Who has taken money from her employer to run to her boyfriend but, after coming to a run down motel, she decides to go back and face the music. Unfortunately, she is brutally murdered in the shower by Norman’s mom and Norman must clean up the mess. What he does not anticipate is that her sister and Marion’s boyfriend trying to find her. It is well acted and Anthony Perkins excels as the nervous manchild who cleans up after mom. He truly deserved the Oscar, in my humble opinion, and, if you ever saw the last moment Perkins is on the screen, he conveys so much without saying a word.

2. BURT LANCASTER IN ELMER GANTRY

Burt Lancaster won the Oscar for his flamboyant role as a flim flam guy who sees his ticket in the preacher, played, brilliantly, by Jean Simmons. She has the way to seduce people into believing she can walk on water and people are coming to see her in droves. Of course, it’s not free and money is coming in much to his heart’s content. Actually, I think his toothy grin deserves a special Oscar all on its own because Burt soaked up every scene he was in. He is really great in this role and gave the character much more depth than one would think. Shirley Jones, mom from the “Partridge Family” won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar as a whore who knows Burt’s past but the one Jean Simmons was over-looked again, as the Minister who believes in what she is spouting. This is, somewhat, based on the famous Aimee Semple McPherson who was a huge “star” in the 1920s making a huge fortune on the gullible. 

3. SPENCER TRACY IN INHERIT THE WIND

Spencer Tracy was, rightly, nominated for his role as the defence attorney who comes to the small American town to defend a teacher who had the audacity to state that we descended from apes not  from God’s finger. Frederic March plays the prosecutor who is equally famous for his religious convictions and who ran to become the President. This is based on the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial where the poor teacher was persecuted for teaching, well, the truth ( Sadly, Florida and many others are hurtling backwards as we speak…freedom of speech where are you now). Both actors are legends by this point and Spencer really knew how to work up March. While March would give a glowing speech in the courtroom only to see Tracy pick his nose, obviously, off camera. This is an excellent film even if you don’t agree with what it states. It is well acted by, not only the 2 leads but Gene Kelly as a, somewhat, slimy reporter, and Dick York( Darrin from Bewitched) as the teacher. 

So, have you seen these films? Do you agree it would you say someone else was more deserving or that Burt should have and was the correct winner? I have to say, all 3 are excellent but what a shame that Perkins was not even nominated.

Green is My Colour...This Week

 

My Harley loves being kissed on the nose. He sighs and just sinks in as I kiss his cute nose.  Before I talk Green, I must give a shout out to the wonderful Robyn Engel, Life by Chocolate, which is German for Angel and I think she is one...a delightful chocolate angel who can write fun poems  that are full of double entrendres and promiscuity is the rage...I love it! Every year, she has an anti-Valentine challenge and, unbelievably, I won. Due to all the crappola of a certain orange carrot( no, not James Arness from "The Thing"), my gift from Robyn, was delayed at the border for a long time. Fearing they were eating my gift, it finally came this past Saturday! I was incredulous at how lavish my gift was. You can see it in the picture although I already ate 2 of the small raspberry chocolates, which were divine. It was so sweet and I love ya and think so highly of you, Robyn. Thank you so much...I mean this with all my heart. Oh, yes the chocoloate mints are gone too.

Ok, back to Green, over at Monday Music Moves Me, the theme is Green since St. Patrick's Day is this Monday. Here are my 3...

1. THE GREEN FIELDS OF FRANCE SUNG BY JOHN MCDERMOTT- 1992

This song was written by Scottish born, Australian, Eric Bogly back in 1976 about a soldier during World War 1. He always felt Canadian John McDermott, was the best singer for his song. He is a great Canadian who loves his roots and loves the soldiers who fought in the wars. 

2. THE GREEN ISLE OF ERIN SUNG BY THE IRISH TENORS-2000

Ok, I think  this is from 2000 but, no matter, it's a great rendition of this classic song written by John McCormack around 1904 or so. Originally, the Irish Tenors included John McDermott, but, when his mom died in 2000, he had to leave so the members were Anthony Kearns, Ronan Tynan and Finbar Wright. 

3. THE ORANGE AND THE GREEN SUNG BY THE IRISH ROVERS-1992?

These guys are part of the Canadian playbook. Their biggest song was "Wasn't It a Party"  and I could relatebto this song back in the day. This song was written by Anthony Murphy and this was sung by the great Jimmy Ferguson who lent a baritone to the group as well as humor. Unfortunately, he died in 1997 of a heart attack at the age of 57...way too young.

What green song can you think of? What's your favourite chocolate? 

By the way the art piece on the wall was created by my hubby. He does this by woodburning. It's what brought us together.

Elvis is in the Building

 

March break is almost upon us where many American guys and gals( not us Canadians, well, many of us) will venture to Florida or any beach place to whoop it up. This got me thinking about Sun and beach movies which got me thinking about Elvis the Pelvis who did many films that took time in the sun. Here are 3 that I have seen more than once ( I still have to see Viva Las Vegas!)…

1. BLUE HAWAII-1961

My uncle Ambrose loved Elvis and saw every Elvis film and I always think of my uncle who died at age 53,  back in 1971 when I was just 7 but I still remember how he lit up when he heard Elvis on the radio or saw him on TV. This film stars Elvis as a young man who doesn’t want to take over the family business much to his parent’s chagrin. His mom, especially, wants him to fly straight and do what he was supposed to do but he goes over to his girlfriend’s place and works there. It’s a fun flick with some great songs and the wonderful Angela Lansbury who plays his mom.

2. GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS-1962

I think I have seen this film the most but it’s still been a few years. Elvis is happy on his boat singing about girls and the girls loving to listen. A snotty girl gets him fired but he finds work singing in a nightclub. All he wants is his dad’s boat but now he has a couple of gals who want him. Not much on plot but always entertaining.

3. FUN IN ACAPULCO-1963

Elvis was intimidated by Ursula’s toned body refusing to take off his shirt when she was in the scene. He was glad to be friends with her but told his staff not to leave him alone with her because , well, it is Ursula undress…Elvis ends up as a lifeguard, dating someone who used to be the girlfriend of another guy. That guy is quite unhappy which culminates in diving off that cliff that could kill him. It’s all fun when you are somewhere hot, near water and enjoying music. 

I stuck with his beach and sun flicks but he did make some pretty good movies like King Creole. Have you seen any Elvis films? Are you an Elvis fan?

March! Don’t March But All About The Month

 

My Kaspar in his Tux( just left the Oscars) and my Lexi, in her sexy fur coat. Lexi is the lioness always pouncing on poor Kaspar, more a lamb. This week it’s freebie week over at Monday Music Moves Me and I wondered if there were any songs about the lovely ( not!) month of March and there are! In fact, I have one on a CD I own so, without further adieu, here are my 3…

1. MARCH WINDS AND APRIL SHOWERS SUNG BY RUTH ETTING-1935

I have a thing for Ruth Etting who led quite a colourful life which was brought to the silver screen in 1955 starring Doris Day as Ruth Etting. This song was written by Teddy Powell, Leonard Whitcup and Walter Samuels the same year and, I think Ruth does it justice.

2. MELANCHOLY MARCH SUNG BY JULIE LONDON-1956

Julie London can sing the phone book and she’d make it sound sexy. Anyhoo, here she is singing about March, which I do find melancholy. This was written by Herman. Saunders, a casting Director and Producer ( lyrics) and Dory Previn, married to Andre Previn, who composed the music. 

3. THE WATERS OF MARCH SUNG BY ART GARFUNKEL-1975

This was a song from the Brazilian, Antonio Carlos Jobim, who made this song famous so Art Garfunkel decided to sing it..in English. I have this song on one of the CDs I own of Garfunkel …I forgot I have this:)

What March songs can you think of?

Star of the Month: Jean Harlow

 

JEAN HARLOW

BIRTH: March 3, 1911

DEATH: June 7, 1937

AGED: 26 years

DIED FROM: Uremic poisoning/Kidney failure…Acute Nephritis which brought on a Cerebral Edema. 

REAL NAME: Harlean Carpenter- her star name is her mother’s maiden name

NICKNAMES: The Baby, Platinum Blonde, Blonde Bombshell

MARRIED: 3 times, once when 16, Paul Bern( murdered), Robert Rosson( famous cameraman who married her as a favour to quell all the gossip relating to Paul’s murder)

AFFAIRS: Gangster Abner Zwillman, Max Baer( boxer)

ENGAGED TO: William Powell ( he gave her a huge sapphire and diamond engagement r8ng which she wore in her films)

CHILDREN: nil

KNOWN FOR: Her Platinum hair ( everywhere)where many women died their hair like hers, Her sassiness, her friendship with Clark Gable who was the only one who called her “Sis.”

TALENT: Her self confident manner on screen. She wrote a book, “Today is Tonight” which was finally published in 1965

This girl packed a ton into her short life where, nowadays, we may not know her name since she died almost 90 years ago but we still see her pictures( usually by George Hurrell) in movies, tv and in many mall kiosks. The platinum blonde was overly doted on by her mother and even Harlow’s first name was a mashup of her mom’s name. Jean loved her dad but, when her parents divorced( not amicably), she ra4ely saw her dad. She eloped when she was a mere 16 years old to a wealthy man and, when he got his partial inheritance, these 2 kids had one hell of a great time drinking and partying. 

She was discovered by Howard Hughes who placed her in a starring role in his WW1 film, “Hell’s Angels” and she just took off from there. Her platinum hair( achieved by using bleach, chlorine and some other poison), over the top, pencil-thin eyebrows placed on her forehead where they would never grow, and her pale complexion was an explosion on the screen. Many women went to copy her look and there was even a competition to see who could copy Harlow’s hair..no one won. In later films, she softened her look but wears a wig because she destroyed her hair as did many of her fans. 

She was involved in a real-life murder mystery when her 2nd husband died. It was ruled a suicide and the claim was that his genitals were malformed- too small so he committed suicide. Sadly, this is what the studios put forth because they didn’t want “the Baby” to be negatively affected…aka, losing money. For decades, it was thought this nice man died by his own hand when he was, actually, shot in the back of his head. I read a book about his death and do believe, his first wife, left a mental institution and wanted to talk to her husband so Bern asked Harlow to leave. I believe his ex, ( might have still been married to her) shot him and, afterwards, threw herself into the river and drowned. 

Jean would live with her mom and her husband, a sleazy Lowe class mobster, Marino Bello who introduced Jean to some mobsters and was the godmother to Bugsy Siegel’s daughter. Jean adored her mom and her mom lived, vicariously, through her daughter’s fame. Jean would often be with much older men aka enter her great love, William Powell who was 45 when Jean died. He was devastated and made sure she was buried in lush surroundings meaning rare marble in a mausoleum. He made sure flowers were delivered to her grave every week until he died in 1984.

Everyone who met her seemed to like her and, even though, she was portrayed as a sassy harlot men enjoyed, women, also, loved her free spirit and how she didn’t take any guff from the men. She wore skin tight gowns, often in white, she died her pubic hair platinum (oh yes she did!) and would take ice to her nipples so it would show through her gown. She never wore underwear and slept in the nude, Will Hays must have been fuming smoke out of his censored head. She was great friends with Clark Gable who called her “Sis” and was her last co-star when she collapsed on set( he was, also, the last co-star to Marilyn Monroe who loved Jean Harlow). 

I have read many versions of what she died from, but it all seemed to affect her kidneys probably brought on by the Scarlet Fever she had when she was a teen plus all her drinking when she was a teen and in her early 20s. It was widely claimed her mom, who was a Christian Scientist, would not allow her to go to the doctor or hospital due to her religious convictions but, now, it’s said that she did go to the hospital after she collapsed on set of her last film, “Saratoga”. Her illness was too far advanced to save her and she died. Her funeral, run by MGM boss, Louis B Mayor, was a big showcase with Jeannette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy singing, “Sweet Mystery of Life”. William Powell had to be helped to the limo and Gable and Lombard were visibly upset. Nobody spoke in the commissary  which usually buzzed with chatter. 

It’s such a shame that this lovely girl, who made such an impact on film and in society that she would have been a great actress given the chance. We were robbed.

FILMS

1. Hell’s Angels-1930

2. The Public Enemy-1931

3. Platinum Blonde-1931

4. Red-Headed Woman-1932

5. Red Dust-1932

6. Dinner At Eight-1933

7. China Seas-1935

8. Wife Vs Secretary-1936

9. Libeled Lady-1936

10. Saratoga-1937 ( she died before it was completed, her stand-in completed it)