Best Actress-1940

 

Ughhh…my poor friend continues to get slammed by crap from every side. Now her children treated her horribly yesterday taking her out of an important meeting at work scaring her and when she got home, laughing  and saying she got punked. Her idiot estranged husband, came in and took more things including a small cabinet that belonged to her parents. It is one of the few things she had from her dad, but the jerk took it. I pleaded with her to get the U-Haul truck for tomorrow, my hubby will drive it and get. Her stuff out of there because he will take her bed, her clothes and whatever else he can grab just in spite. I am very upset for her and very disappointed in her girls. I’m crazy at work and blah blah blah. I do enjoy writing here but I can’t find the time to read and comment. I am sorry.

Ok, enough of that, I am choosing all the way back to 1940 when you had some strong women up for best actress like Bette Davis for “The Letter”, but you also had miss nervous, irrigating Joan Fontaine in “Rebecca”. Here are 3 ladies, one who won, one nominated and one not nominated but should have won.

1. ROSALIND RUSSELL IN HIS GIRL FRIDAY

This film is one rapid fire, non stop, hilarious, with some serious undertones, film that stars Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell as 2 newspapermen ( yes, I use this on purpose) who used to be married but are now divorced with the Russell character leaving the newspaper business to marry a nice Ralph Bellamy ( who handles himself with great aplumb and hold himself well up against these 2 firecrackers) who will never have a chance. Grant will pull all the stops to keep her with his newspaper bringing back into the fray of a stellar story involving a man who escapes custody claiming he is innocent. The dialogue never stops with most characters talking over other characters. This mayhem is conducted by the great director, Howard Hawks. Rosalind Russell is a powerhouse who can hold her own and overtake the acting of Grant and the many character actors. She never loses her femininity and you wonder how she could memorize all that dialogue but, I read, that she and Grant were allowed to adlib. I think she deserved the award but was not even nominated.

2. KATHERINE HEPBURN IN THE PHILADELPHIA STORY

Katherine Hepburn was excellent as the haughty Tracy Lord who comes from the rich, elite society planning to marry a man who is as exciting as the colour taupe. Her ex husband, played to great delight, by Cary Grant, crashes the big party and you have the reporter and his camera lady played with much glee by James Stewart who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and Ruth Hussey is the fellow reporter who loves the big lug. It is sophisticated and quite a funny screwball type of comedy. Hepburn played Tracy on stage and made sure she had the rights to making this film. She wanted Spencer Tracy for the role of her ex husband but she got Grant and she made sure she got Stewart as the cynical newspaper guy. She shines in this role and is equal parts, rich bitch, romantic girl, ditzy nut and quite beautiful. She earned the nomination and, if Rosalind didn’t give such a great powerhouse performance as Hildy, Kate would have received my vote as the best actress.

3. GINGER ROGERS IN KITTY FOYLE

Ginger Rogers got rid of her blond look and stopped dancing to appear in this drama about a honest working girl from the poor side of town who meets up with an upscale man who launches his own magazine, using his family’s money ( hmm JFK Jr. anyone?). Of course, his family is not into their son falling for this lower class gal. She ends up leaving and going to NYC meeting up with a good but poor doctor. Hmm, who will win her over?? This plot seems to be pretty basic but Ginger’s performance elevates this film but, I don’t think she deserved the Oscar. Looking at these 3 now, you wonder how the industry can get this so wrong but  maybe Katherine would have won if only she donned. Blonde wig. 

Well, time to go to bed, but do you agree or would you choose someone else for another role that  does not get the love it should? 

Is It Autumn?

 

Over at Monday Music Moves Me,  it’s all about music representing Autumn and I was close to showcasing Vivaldi’s Autumn from his 4 Seasons suite but I wanted to  have music from some greats in  musical jazz. Here are my 3…

1. AUTUMN LEAVES SUNG BY EVA CASSIDY-2023

This song was written by Johnny Mercer ( the English version as Jacques Prevert created the original French version) with music by Joseph Kosma in 1945. It has been sung by many famous people over the years but I chose this version by Eva Cassidy who died in 1996, at the young age of 33 from cancer. She went unknown until recently and her songs have been remastered and has found fame almost 30 years after her death. She has a great voice unlike Diana Krall..ughhh…I just don’t get her. 

2. SHINE ON, HARVEST MOON SUNG BY LEON REDBONE-1976

I do like Leon Redbone’s unique voice and take on this old classic  written for the Ziegfeld Follies in 1908 by Jack Norworth and Nora Bayes who starred in the show way back then. There have been many versions sung and a film was made with the same title, back in 1944.

3. WHEN OCTOBER GOES SUNG BY ROSEMARY CLOONEY-1987

This song was written by Johnny Mercer but could not complete it due to ill health. After he died, his wife gave this song to Barry Manilow since Mercer and Manilow were good friends. Manilow created the music for it in 1984 and it went off from there. Rosemary Clooney sang it, more than once and, I believe, this version comes from 1987..I think. 

What songs about Autumn can you think of?

Star Of The Month- Alistair Sim

 

ALISTAIR SIM

BIRTH: October 9, 1900

DEATH: August 19, 1976

AGED: 75 years

DIED FROM: Cancer

MARRIED: Naomi Plaskitt from 1932 to 1976 ( his death)

CHILDREN: A daughter

OSCAR NOMINATIONS:  None!!

TALENT: his perfect diction. After seeing Sim in a stage play, Alec Guinness, used Sim’s diction and language style when he played the lead in “The Ladykillers”.

KNOWN FOR: His need for privacy. His good heart for children and teens opening up their home to help delinquent boys. His love of theatre and his love of language.

We all know this man from his, justifiably, most famous role as Ebeneezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”, but this man embodied so much more as an actor. He was greatest in comedic roles, but he could act in anything and was equally adept on the stage as on screen. He fell into acting later in the game but he made the most of it. Before his acting gig, he taught elocution since he always loved language and he became the Rector at Edinburgh University which he was most proud of. 

He met his wife when he started a drama school for children, she was ..um…12. With her mom’s permission, she became Alistair’s secretary before marrying him when she turned 18. Despite the ewww feeling this brings on, their marriage was a very happy and monogamous one. They opened up their home to delinquent teen boys helping them out of their dismal predicaments, finding a much better path. One such boy was George Cole who played the 20 something Scrooge in the famous film. George Cole always praised both and considered Alistair his mentor.

This man very, very rarely, gave interviews, never gave autographs and declined a knighthood because it would take away from his privacy! He was a man who loved language and diction teaching elocution in University and to many boys, like George Cole, who wanted to get rid of his Cockney accent. Boy! Do we need this man now considering how poorly kids speak today. He was a great actor, loved his wife and tried to help  many children with the gift of language, elocution and acting. He is one of my favourites and I need to see more of his films. 

FILMS - (Most favourite to films I still need to see)

1. A Christmas Carol-1951

2. Happiest Days Of Your Life-1950

3. Green For Danger-1946

4. The Belles of St. Trinian’s-1954

5. Laughters In Paradise-1951

6. An Inspector Calls-1954

7. Rogue Male-1976( his last role)

8. Stage Fright-1950

9. Blue Murder at St. Trinian’s-1957

10. Escapade-1955

P.S. I want to apologize, yet again, for not responding to your comments. I red them all and love them. I mark down films you have seen and I still need to. To be honest, I feel very drained when I come home from work and my brain is fried. I have been helping my friend who is in a horrible situation, although it seems unusually quiet right now plus I have been very, very tired. I have been falling asleep while at work, while writing, typing and even speaking! This is not good. I am dealing with my constant pain but I should not be this tired. I am not dealing with sleep apnea so the Dr figures it’s a bit of narcolepsy. I am going to try melatonin and ask my doc if that is aok to try. So, I do apologize and want to comment. I love all of your blogs and read them even if I don’t comment. 

Nasty Abusive Bastards

 

Yes, I’m a so late writing this and, yup, I’m continuing the theme from yesterday. FYI…my friend’s soon to be ex did leave the house and did sign the document to sell the home. Now, let’s hope he doesn’t stall the selling of the home. Anyway, here are 3 pics of Nasty husbands and I am still not choosing the great film, starring Ingrid Bergman, “Gaslight” because it’s a perfect fit.

1. LES DIABOLIQUES-1955

Skip the horrid remake with Sharon Stone and watch this gem that stars Vera Clouzot as the abused wife of the he’d master in an all boys’ school. Another teacher, played by Simone Signoret, is having an affair with the jerk, but both women have had enough with the a-hole. They devise a plot to murder the husband even though Vera is not happy taking such a drastic step but she can’t take the abuse any longer. Once the deed is done, they feel free…until Vera starts to see her husband and thinks she is going insane. This is one of the best thrillers I have ever seen and, even though it is a French film, it is worth every minute. Sadly, Vera Clouzot died of a sudden heart attack just short of her 47th birthday in 1960.

2. SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY-1991

This film stars Julia Roberts, when she was hitting it big in Hollywood, when she stars as an abused wife to a very, very rich man, who has no idea how to leave this horrid jerk until she figures out a way to stage her own death. She ends up in a small town that is just so pretty especially in the Fall trying to keep to herself but soon falls for the gentle and good man who happens to be a school teacher. Does her nasty, rich, scumbag husband figure out that she is not quite dead yet? This isn’t a bad movie even though it is formulaic but Patrick Bergin shines as the narcissistic jerk who can’t let go.

3. THE GIFT-2000

Cate Blanchett plays a poor, widowed mom with 3 kids who has the gift of seeing people’s futures. Yes, we have a bit of the fantasy element here which really is integral to the plot of the film. There is the death of a young woman who seemed to love sleeping with every man in that small town. Keanu Reeves(yup, nice Keanu) plays an extremely abusive lout who beats his wife, played by Hilary Swank, and threatens Cate because she told Hilary to leave the a-hole. This is a gem of a film that is a thriller, a mystery and a fantasy but it all works. The acting is superb and Keanu shines as this extremely, frightening lout with nothing redeeming about him. A worthy look.

Lastly, 

ANN MILLER IN EASTER PARADE(1948)

Why am I showing this famous dance number starring the wondrous, Ann Miller? Ann Miller was married to Reese Milner, a steel millionaire, and pregnant, when he beat her up and threw her down the stairs breaking her back and resulting in early labour. She gave birth to a daughter that died shortly afterwards an, to top it off, she could no longer have children. During this number, she had to wear a back brace and was in incredible pain due to the abuse. Ever the professional, she danced on creating this famous number. I hope you watch this knowing what she endured.

So, which films can you think of dealing with abused women?

For My Friend

 

My dear friend hates confrontation and wants nothing but the best for most people so it took a lot to finally speak up to her ugly husband and say a separation is what is needed. Almost a year went by, still living in the same household but living separate lives, when they each sign the separation agreement. She is meeting up with friends she hasn’t seen in years but her mentally unstable soon to be ex husband wonders why she won’t cook for him and perform her “wifely duties.” Yup, he actually said that to her. She had to remind him that they are officially separated for over a year but when he found out that she reconnected with an old boyfriend, his temper went through the roof!! This past Sunday, she called me terrified as I heard him scream at her calling her everything disgusting you can think of. She told me he spat on her and I was scared for her so I called the police. He told me I was a disgusting old looking bitch and told me the info the cops needed. When I got to the house, the cops were there and he was full of anger making himself sound like he was the hurt party. He told me off and said that I’m not welcome and he will charge me with trespassing but the cops told him it is a matrimonial home and I am welcome if his wife wants me there which she does. I just was smiling as he ranted like a nutbar, and then I yawned. I got my friend to come with me ( and  the cops told her it is in her best interest to be away from him) and brought her to her mom’s place. She ended up throwing up and throwing up…the poor thing, but, I think, she needed this to find her strength. He has been emotionally and mentally abusive to her for years and she finally is breaking free. I don’t like her staying there but she does have a lock on her bedroom door and yesterday and today, her sister was with her. Thankfully, he signed the form in order to sell the house and now we shall see how things go. I went on and on. I am showcasing 3 songs for her and am part of the Monday Music Moves Me where it is freebie week.

1. YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE SUNG BY KATHERINE JENKINS-2016

I love Katherine Jenkins who just sings like an angel and this is one of my favourite Rogers and Hammerstein songs from the musical Carousel. It is very uplifting and a song I listen to when I feel I’m in a funk.

2. RESPECT SUNG BY ARETHA FRANKLIN IN 1967

I love this song by Aretha Franklin and, I believe, it’s what we all need when dealing with a bully. I had no idea this was an Otis Redding song because Aretha makes this her own.

3. I WILL SURVIVE SUNG BY GLORIA GAYNOR IN 1978

Here is an iconic disco song about women who think they can never do it, whatever it is. She sings this with such conviction and fun. I love this song  and hope it does right by my friend. She is beautiful and hope my friend knows she will triumph.  

What song goes with your life  right now?