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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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…
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?
I’m tired and, yes, I’m writing this up now but I thought this would be a good time to continue from last week’s theme, over at Monday Music Moves Me, of when you graduated. I chose 3 songs from 1983 but, this time, I am choosing 3 songs from 3 different years when I graduated from different schools and here they are…
1. AMERICAN WOMAN BY THE GUESS WHO-1970
In 1969, I went to a 2 room school house for Kindergarten. It was called St. Malachy’s, if I remember how to spell it. It took an hour to get to the school transferring from one bus to another before finally reaching the little school house. I graduated in 1970 and moved on to St. Elizabeth grade school but I did like that little school and it’s still s5anding but it’s now a private home. This song was big at this time and it’s one of my favourites from this classic Canadian band.
2. LOVE IS LIKE OXYGEN SUNG BY SWEET-1978
In 1978, I finished Grade school and just turned 14 and was looking forward to High School ( bleach). I loved this song and still do. It’s just iconic, to me.
3. WITH OR WITHOUT YOU SUNG BY U2-1987
Skipping High school, since I spoke about it last week, I finish this with my graduation from university back in 1987. U2 is a big band and still going strong but, for some reason, they are getting some backlash which I don’t get. This is one band I saw, back in 1987, winning 2 tickets. How did I win? I have no clue, too long ago but I do remember being on a bus, with my roommate, heading to Toronto. They were in top form and I really loved seeing them live even though we were far away from the stage.
Did you go to a 1 or 2 room school house? What songs were around when you graduated from Grade school or University or college? Pretty cool to see what was around back in the day.
People, who have pools, have probably opened up their pools already but my not have swum in them since its been quite cool out. it got me thinking about pools and movies with pools in them. Now, i could have done nothing but Esther Williams' movies but, I hang my head low because I have not seen any of her films except for "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". I realized that her movies were not shown on TV and she is a forgotten star, sadly. I could do a couple of posts about movies with swimming pools but I am going with 3 films that I have not spoken about before..um...almost...
1. CAT PEOPLE-1942
This is a B horror film but a classic cult film that is a step above many A films. It stars Simone Signoret as a beautiful woman who believes she turns into a cat whenever she becomes sexually aroused. She meets a man at the local zoo and they fall for one another and marry but she can’t consummate the marriage for fear she will tear him apart. He thinks he’s married a nutbar and has her see a psychiatrist while he falls for his assistant. A famous scene takes place in the basement pool of the apartment building Alice, the assistant, lives in. It’s all in the shadows and darkness with subtle camerawork that brings this alive. The acting is quite good as well and it’s a film that should be seen.
2. THE SWIMMER-1968
This film stars Burt Lancaster who is at a pool side party in a swanky neighbourhood and figures out that he could swim his way back home and so begins his journey. Along the way, he meets all sorts of characters from the babysitter who used to babysit his daughters to a couple of old nudists. You know, I read the short story as well and it’s just as nutty as the film. You realize Burt is on some sort of mission and seems to be losing reality but, I don’t know, I just kept thinking, “Have a point!” It ends where I just think, “Is that all there is to a pool” ( sorry, channeling Peggy Lee here). I watched it and I don’t think I will see it again.
3. COCOON-1985
I can’t believe this film is 40 years old…jumping Johosephat! I watched this in the theatre and I do consider it a modern film. Anyways, now that I am showing my age, this is a sweet film about people living in an old age home. You meet the men, headed by the wonderful Don Ameche ( who won an Oscar for his role) who loves his single life and is young at heart, there is Hume Cronyn, married but he is frail. The great Jack Gilford, a crochety old bugger and Wilfred Brimley as the most level headed of the bunch and happily married. Maureen Stapleton is Brimley’s wife, Herta Ware is the wife of Jack Gilford and she suffers from dementia. Hum Cronyn’s real life wife is Jessica Tandy as his long suffering wife and, finally, Gwen Verdon as the free loving love interest to Don Ameche. The men always venture to an empty home that has a pool so they can enjoy themselves. On another note, Steve Guttenberg is hired by a group of so-called mariners, headed by the great Brian Dennehy, to go out into the ocean while they scuba dive and bring up these weird looking egg shapes. These people have rented out that home and place the eggs into that pool. When the old coots go to swim, they see what’s in the pool and make sure not to disturb them but as they swim, they begin to feel more energized and younger. You soon realize these mariners are not what they seem and lives are dependent on more than just what is under the water. It’s well acted and adult even though it can be silly too. I enjoy watching this Ron Howard film but am still in shock that Wilfred Brimley was only 49 in this movie,
Yes, it's January, 1983, and I am done with high school. I am ecstatic because to say I hated High School, would be an understatement. As you, probably, know I was very badly bullied...the usual plus having to go to the ER, every year, because they tried to break my fingers, threatened to cut my throat from ear to ear, told to kill myself as everyone would be better off, yadda, yadda...I was glad to be done. That being said, I was starting on the best school years of my life come September, so 1983, was a big change and these songs were big on the airwaves. It's theme week over at Monday Music Moves Me, and it's to choose songs from the year you graduated.
1. HOT GIRLS IN LOVE BY LOVERBOY
Loverboy was a huge band, from Calgary, Alberta, back in that time, creating some classic hits including this song and " Turn Me Loose" which was so overplayed that I, still, hate hearing it. This song about hot girls, I can still enjoy.
2. SAFETY DANCE BY MEN WITHOUT HATS
I love this song by this band, from Montreal, Quebec. I really like the video even though it is not liked by critics. Who knows why, just enjoy.
3. TELL KNOW LIES BY THE SPOONS
The Spoons actually appeared, a couple of times, at Brock University, since they were considered a local band. They were from Burlington, Ontario and we were proud that they made it big. I'd see them now, if I could.
AFFAIRS: Inger Stevens, Angie Dickenson, June Allyson, Elizabeth Montgomery- that’s a rumour, Dinah Shore
CHILDREN: 8 kids! All but one went into show business in some form
FAMOUS FRIENDS: Frank Sinatra
FAMOUS PARTNERS: Jerry Lewis and the Rat Pack team. Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop
FEAR: claustrophobic- wanted his hotel rooms on the main floor or would walk up. Considered elevators moving coffins
TALENT: take a wild guess?…lol…singing- That’s Amore, Remember Me, etc…
KNOWN FOR: his Affable Manner, being a lush( he wasn’t really), having 3 Stars on the Walk of Fame
Dean Martin is one of the most well known entertainers in the world for his singing, his movie making and his television work but most don’t know his humble beginnings. He grew up in Ohio to Italian parents and only taught him to speak Italian because, they only spoke Italian. This lead to many issues when Dino started school since he could not speak English which resulted in constant bullying. He learned how to fight back because he became a boxer winning a few matches in his level plus he and his roommate started a fight club in their apartment as a way to pay the rent. He had quite a few jobs including rubbing too close to crime when he helped in bootlegging even dating Meyer Lansky’s daughter for a time( thank God he lived through that!). He worked at a gas station, a dealer at a casino and as a steel worker. He found his way onto the stage and met up with Jerry Lewis where they started to talk about teaming up. When they did…they bombed! They decided to just free talk through their schtick which included Dino singing and the stars made it big. They became so popular, that they ended up making many films plus starred on TV shows like Ed Sullivan. It seemed the star was more Jerry Lewis who was the clown up against Martin who was the straight man which went straight to Jerry Lewis’s head. Martin was becoming more disgruntled especially when he saw Lewis and actress, Sheree North on a magazine cover and Martin was cropped out! The last film they made, “Hollywood or Bust”, was not pleasant since neither spoke to the other once a scene was done. They ended up not speaking for years until Frank Sinatra surprised Jerry Lewis, on his annual telethon ( for Muscular Dystrophy), bringing Dean Martin on and they seemed to bury the hatchet…kinda. Dino was also part of the very famous Rat Pack group ( originally created by Humphrey Bogart and whom Lauren Bacall, Bogart’s wife, coined them the “Rat Pack” the morning after booze laden night) that consisted of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. Actually, Shirley MacClaine and Judy Garland were part of this troupe as well, but the men were the most famous. They were major liners at Las Vegas singing, drinking, making jokes, drinking and having tons of fun. Later on, it seems Dino never really drank and had apple juice in his glass but I’m not completely convinced. Maybe he did this often, but not all the time and I recall him being quite inebriated when on The Johnny Carson Show. It is quite a funny time to see him on the show.
Speaking of TV, he had his own Dean Martin Show that I have only seen snippets of and often, you see Martin lose it when a comedian was just way too funny. He, also, started the “ Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts” where, unlike the ones we see today which, are about “stars” no one cares about plus are way too rude and off-putting, he roasted some very famous people like Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Elizabeth Taylor, and Michael Landon. He had his staple of comedians that came on like Phyllis Diller, Don Rickles, Nypsy Russell, Jonathan Winters but also famous stars from the people mentioned above to Bob Hope, Flip Wilson and President Ronald Reagan. Did I mention Foster Brooks? I LOVE Fister Brooks who truly knew how to play a drunkard.
Dean was also quite a good actor who could hold his own against stars like Wayne and Stewart plus could make fun of the James Bond franchise and his own cool image, but when Sharon Tate was murdered ( she was to be his co-star in the next Matt Helm movie), devastated over her death, he stopped making that movie and never went back. The same thing happened a few years earlier when he was to star opposite Marilyn Monroe in the film, “Something’s Got to Give”. When she was fired from the film, he went to bat for her and, it seems the Execs decided to hire her back but, when she died, Dean would not make the film without her and it was shelved ( later to be made with James Garner and Doris Day in “Move Over, Darling”).
By the 1970s, his chain-smoking habit was doing a number on his lungs and his voice but he continued to croon until his beloved son, Dean Jr., died in an air accident when the F14 Phantom jet crashed into the Pacific Ocean in 1987. Dean never recovered despite help from family and friends like Sinatra. Dean became somewhat of a recluse going out to his regular restaurant haunt to eat dinner looking nothing like the charismatic, handsome man he used to be. When he developed lung cancer, he was told her could get surgery which would prolong his life but he refused and died on Christmas Day with his family believing he wanted to see his son again. It’s a sad end to a most gregarious and loyal ( to friends) man who deserves all the accolades he got and, I think, was better than Jerry Lewis.
My Favourite Films:
1. Rio Bravo-1959
2. The Sons of Katie Elder-1965
3. Some Came Running-1958
4. Scared Stiff-1953
5. The Young Lions-1958
6. The Silencers-1966
7. Bandolero-1968
8. Airport-1970
9. The Cannonball Run-1981
10. Ocean’s 11-1960
I still need to see a few of his others like “The Bells are Ringing” but that’s my list for now.
The month of May is a busy month for me as there are 8 birthdays with my hubby’s 68th birthday on the 25th and mine coming up June 2nd. Ok, yes, June, but it’s so close to my husband’s so I just include it in the 8. Friends, my brother and the 2 of us went out to a nice restaurant for dinner which is a tradition we do with my friends, Peter and Ron, both born in October. So I chose 3 films that are about birthdays and hope you enjoy the read…
I think this is the first film directed by John Hughes who also wrote this and stars many of his ensemble cast including Molly Ringworm..oops…Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, John Cusack and Joan Cusack. Molly plays the younger sister to her older sister who is getting married. She is just happy that it’s her 16th birthday but her happiness is dashed when she realizes that none of her family remembers her birthday because they are all consumed with the wedding. At school, you realize she has a crush with the football guy but she is pursued by the nerd who thinks he’s the coolest thing since nightmare whip. Enter her grandparents who say the most inappropriate things and bring their foreign exchange student whom they help out. There is the teen dance followed by a big party where Duck Dong enjoyed along with booze, Molly loses her panties to the nerd for a favour and the wedding day turns into a bit of a clown show. It’s a good movie even though I don’t care for Molly Ringworm and never got how she made it big. I don’t care about how bad it was to show Dong as a typical gag or that the popular girl is so drunk she could be taken advantage of because it’s just supposed fun so just enjoy and fast forward through the parts you dislike.
3. 13 GOING ON 30-2004
Jennifer Garner is a 13 year old who is having her birthday but is frustrated with her life and wishes she could be 30. When she awakes ( in a closet) she is 30 and is, at first scared but later embraces being 30. Somehow, she meets up with her childhood chum, played by Mark Ruffalo, convincing him she is the 13 year old whom, he thought, disappeared all those years ago. She gets a big job and is able to resurrect a dull executive party by dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller. I just watched this a couple of months ago and it was better than I thought it would be. It’s cute and fun and forgettable so perfect when you just need to unwind.
What birthday movies can you think of? I can’t wait to hear some of your choices.
I was not quite finished from Last week’s theme about music from another country and so I decided to go the Eurovision route choosing 3 stages of my age, 1964, 1974 and 1994. I was born in 1964 and went to 10 years old and 30 years old. Why did I skip when I was 20? Well, I took a look at who won that year and, not meaning any disrespect but that song and boy group that won, just made me want to hurl. I have to see whom they were up against and then, still wonder how that boy group won. If you want to check it out, just look up who won in 1984, go to YouTube and bring a tums with you so you won’t feel nauseous. This week it is freebie week over at Monday Music Moves Me and I hope you check out the others.
1. NON HO L’ETA SUNG BY GIGLIOLA CINQUETTI FROM ITALY
This sweet girl with a sweet voice was the big winner the year I was born. I never heard f her before nor the song but, I thought, it was lovely to listen to.
2. WATERLOO SUNG BY ABBA FROM SWEDEN
Um, Hello! My favourite band ( along with the Moody Blues and ELO) and the most famous to have won this contest is ABBA. It all started here with this iconic song. Be thankful they didn’t use, “The King Kong Song” because, I think, they would have had a different outcome.
3. ROCK N’ ROLL KIDS SUNG BY PAUL HARRINGTON & CHARLIE MCGETTIGAN FROM IRELAND
When I read the title of the song, I was scared that it would be a bunch of kids singing like they were in a rock and roll band but was I ever pleasantly surprised when I heard this song from these 2 Irish dudes who made this song one of nostalgia. I was 30 years old….S@&$! I’m almost 31 years older and I think I’m only 33. Oh well, I really like this song.
So, what songs came out when you were born, or when you were 10, 20, or 30?
I received a box set of Film Noir movies that I have been watching and am surprised how many involve psychiatry which became very popular after the war. This corresponds with how many though Freud was the next best thing to popcorn and out came the ink blotches, the couch and the dreaded shock therapy ( Vivien Leigh underwent this more than once, you know her as Scarlett O’Hara). One of the more famous films is The Snake Pit,” which stars Olivia DeHavilland and it is quite a good film but I went with 3 films that I recently watched. Here are 3 Film Noir/ Psychosis movies..what a combo!
1. THE DARK MIRROR-1946
I hope this is a half-decent film trailer on this film that stars Olivia DeHavilland in 2 roles, twin sisters, one good…and one evil( I wonder if she used her actual sister, Joan Fontaine as inspiration for the evil twin because, they hated each other’s guts). The good sister works at a store frequented by a very nice, intelligent and good looking psychiatrist, played by Lee Ayres. When a man is found dead and the cops zero in on sweet Olivia, they soon realize that she has a twin…evil Olivia so they enlist the aid of the doctor to ferret out what the hell 8s going on. He can soon discern which twin is which and realizes that the good Olivia has been manipulated almost her whole life. It’s well acted and gives an insight into the fascination people were having with psychiatry. I thought the acting was solid and I like the dark noir vibe.
2. SHOCK-1946
I’m not giving anything away with this clip since it is near the beginning of the film. A sweet, anxious girl comes to a hotel to meet up with her husband whom she has not seen for a long time due to the war. She is nervously waiting for him and looks out her balcony window when she sees a husband and wife arguing viciously. Suddenly the man picks up a candlestick and “Wonk!” The woman is dead. The sweet gal goes into a catatonic shock and does not move even when her husband finally arrives in the morning. He is beside himself and calls the doctor who says she must have witnessed something so traumatic that she is paralyzed in shock ( geez, what would she do now?). No worries because the doc knows a great psychiatrist who can help and in enters…the killer…aka Vincent Price. He recommends she be taken to his hospital/sanitarium to help her. When they all arrive at the home, you meet the nurse, vixen Lynn Bari who has her hands all over the Doc and he has his all over her. Now they must find a way to make sure the sweet gal never remembers. The acting from the young bride is not the best but I just love the mild speaking Price as well as va va vavoom Bari who is one bad ass Femme Fatale. I like the look of this film and, even though, I have seen better films, I enjoyed the cat and mouse play.
3. WHIRLPOOL-1950
Poor Gene Tierney is married to a very nice psychiatrist, played by Richard Conte, who likes his woman to be…traditional… it is the post war vision of women in high heels making bread while all dressed up. Anyway, his remark, makes Gene go a little crazy where she steals things because she is a closet klepto. When she is ready to be arrested, in comes Jose Ferrer to save the day and he wants nothing in return…if you believe that I have some great swamp land to sell you. Before one can say blackmail, she is at his mercy but not if her husband has anything to say about it as well as the cops. This is a nice little psychiatric noir that makes you wonder when everything will unravel or will it? It’s well acted film with manipulation at its core even by the good natured husband who wants his wife to be the way he wants her to be setting in motion the klepto in his wife’s psyche. I hope you get a chance to watch this which must have been tough, somewhat, for Gene to do since she also had mental issues and was dealt more than one blow in her life time.
So, I have chosen the year, 1948 for the songs that were nominated for an Oscar, with one winning but there were many that were not even nominated. Over at Curious As A Cathy, the Monday Music Moves Me theme are international songs and songwriters which is pretty interesting and had me thinking how to combine both so let’s see if I did it well and let’s see if you can choose who won the Oscar, who was nominated and which got nuttin’…
1. A COUPLE OF SWELLS SUNG BY FRED ASTAIRE AND JUDY GARLAND
This song is from the great musical, “Easter Parade” with all songs written by Irving Berlin. Irving is known as the American Songwriter but Irving was born in the Russian Empire. His family was Jewish and did not want to be part of the Pogroms, one which did destroy their village. Irving was only 5 when they emigrated to the States but he was part of his family’s beliefs and Jewish heritage even though he embraced his new country. This song is one of the best and one which both, Fred and Judy, enjoyed doing.
2. BUTTONS AND BOWS SUNG BY BOB HOPE
This song is from Hope’s big success, “ The Paleface” where he co-starred with Jane Russell and it’s such a nice song that became a 2nd signature song for Bob Hope. It was written by Ray Evans( music) and Jay Livingston( lyrics) both born and raised in the U. S. Of A. This movie is quite funny and enjoyable.
3. THIS IS THE MOMENT SUNG BY BETTY GRABLE AND DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JR
This song was written by Frederick Hollaendar who left Germany back in 1933 when Hitler came to power and found his way to Hollywood. He actually wrote a couple of famous songs that Marlene Dietrich sang ( Falling in Love Again) and made quite the name for himself before returning to live in Germany in the 1950s. He wrote the music while Leo Robin, born in America, wrote the lyrics. I’d love to see this film because it sounds like a fun movie.
So, I kinda met the theme…lol but, it is the time when I ask you if you know which song won the Oscar, which was nominated and which came up with nothing.
I have always had a fascination with this wall probably because my mom escaped from the East to the West, but not over this famous wall. She escaped an hour's drive south since she lived near Wittenberg. It was just guard towers and barbed wire and, yeah, she would have been shot if found, but not near Berlin. This infamous wall did not actually appear until August 1961 and went up, literally overnight. Over the years there were many who tried to escape, some made it, others did not. I remember when I was a kid, I heard, on the news, that a husband and wife, with their small child, jumped into the Spree River creating quite the calamity because the Stazi were shooting at them. The police, in the West, held their guns ready, in case the Stazi shot at the family when they reached the West. Unbelievably, they made it! It was a dumb move because most who tried that route died. I never forgot that nor my parents’ reaction to their bravery..or stupidity, taking that route with a babe. Sadly, most people don't even know about this wall and the political upheaval, but I watch whatever I can about this time. Here are 3 films about this divided city...
1. THE MAN BETWEEN-1953
This is one of my favourite films, starring James Mason and Claire Bloom, right after the Second World War in Berlin. Claire's brother works for the British consulate, married to a German and lives in one of the few homes left standing. She is visiting her brother and appears quite naive but she soon sees her sis in law talking with a mysterious man, Mason, and is intrigued. Soon, you find out that Mason is an agent for the East Germans because they know too much about him. They want him to bring back the brother's wife but, a case if mistaken identity happens and the British sister is taken. This could become a national incident, but, as often as it happened, the Stazi would just say they have no one with them by that name. Mason decides to bring her back but, at what cost? It's a riveting picture shot in Berlin when you see how ravaged it was by all the bombs. I love the music, the acting and the cinematography. It is worth seeing.
2. ESCAPE FROM EAST BERLIN-1962
I have not seen this film in decades but it still resonates with me. It's based on true events about a huge, daring escape using a tunnel. A U.S. soldier and an East German guard decide to bring across the German's sister and a couple of others but, it expands to more people( including Werner Klemperer better known as Colonel Klink from Hogan's Heroes). The soldier and the sister fall in love while digging the tunnel. It is a tense film that is well played out since this actual event recently happened.
3. BERLIN TUNNEL 21-1981
Ok this is not the TV film starring Richard Thomas but I could not find a trailer for it, sadly. I thought this is the next best thing. This is a TV remake of the film I talk about above but I like it so much that I had to include it. There are a few variations here but, overall, it's a taut movie with some really good acting especially by Richard Thomas, who was mainly known as John-Boy from "The Waltons". I'd like to see this movie again because I saw it back when it appeared on TV. It looks like I can see it on YouTube so I might check it out again.
Finally, we are getting a new fence that no one can complain about and our home won’t look like an eyesore after our beautiful ivy fence had to be torn down. So many people have come up to my hubby asking what happened, because they loved our fence. When he told them, they were on our side and so upset that this had happened. We just hope we will get our fireflies back and praying mantises. Getting our fence built gave me the idea for the songs this week which I am joining Monday Music Moves Me and one song came into my head right away…
1. DON’T FENCE ME IN SUNG BY BING CROSBY AND THE ANDREW SISTERS-1944
This song was written by Cole Porter ( with Robert Fletcher helping with the lyrics) of all people. I thought it would have been written by some country western star but, nope, the elegant Cole Porter, mind you, he didn’t really like this song. Of course, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans sang the song and Kate Smith also made it a hit but Bing made a ton of money on this song for 1/2 hour in the studio.
2. I’M GONNA MEND MY FENCES SUNG BY DORIS DAY AND HOWARD KEEL-1953
I was certain this must have come from her hit film, “ Calamity Jane” but I did not see it listed and, I don’t remember it in this film. I think it’s a fun but sweet song. I love their voices together and so glad they appeared in this film. This was written by Robert Fletcher with an assist by Cole Porter so I almost think this is like a sister to Don’t Fence Me In,
3. SITTIN’ ON A FENCE SUNG BY THE ROLLING STONES-1965
Isn’t this a great song that does not actually sound like The Rolling Stones. I love the instruments in this song and feel that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were exploring different styles of music. I find this a refreshing change even though I do love their music.
1941 was a volatile year because it was the year of Citizen Kane. Orson Welles and Herman Mankiewicz created a portrait of a newspaper tycoon who becomes a bloated narcissist dying in his huge mansion all alone with his last word being, “Rosebud.” To say William Randolph Hearst was livid was an understatement and he, along with Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM, tried to buy up the film rights to have it destroyed. Ya see, Hearst was the biggest Newspaper tycoon in the States who built his mansion with the largest zoo that was privately owned and who tried to make his mistress, the lovely Marion Davies, into a star like Garbo. He never could see Marion’s gift for comedy but, unlike the film, she did have talent and did care for the old goat. Today, it’s considered, arguably, the greatest film made but it did not win best film, that went to “How Green Was My Valley”. I do like this film and don’t like all the disparaging remarks it receives but it gets dissed because it was up against and won the Oscar instead of Kane. I am not choosing best picture, but best cinematographer.
1. CITIZEN KANE- GREGG TOLAND
Gregg Toland is a master of his craft and nothing shows that more than in the film, Citizen Kane. From the very beginning when Kane dies to the shots when Kane is walking through his mansion, you can’t help but love how the camera is used to create emotions and depth of the characters. One of my favourite scenes is the montage of his marriage to his beautiful wife. In a few short moments, we see them loving and happy to distant, cold and so finished. The deep focus photography, viewing image from the bottom up to the ceiling and so much more unique shots were just not done in that style and so it confounds me that he did not win the Oscar. I can only assume it was due to the powers at be making sure it would not win. This film should have won for the best cinematography but it didn’t and Gregg Toland was robbed.
2. HOW GREEN IS MY VALLEY- ARTHUR MILLER
This film won for Best cinematograph for Arthur Miller and, if it was for another year, I would say he deserved it but not this year. To be clear, I love this film about a miner’s family and the travails they endure including their only daughter falling in love with the local priest. The black and white photography is used to such great effect from the miners leaving their work to walk back into the nearby town to the home of the miner and his many kids. The home feels small, but cozy and the great expanse of the sky against the village just creates a warmth for the people that live and work there. I just believe that Gregg Toland deserved the Oscar over Miller.
3. SUSPICION- HARRY STRADLING JR.
From the glowing milk that Cary Grant is bringing to his wife to the opulent home he and his wife, Joan Fontaine, live in, you enjoy all the nuances that the look of the film creates the tension that Hitchcock was wanting. I am surprised that this film was not even nominated but “The Chocolate Soldier” was. I just don’t get it, because the scene, when they are playing scrabble, is a great moment in tension heightened by the cinematography. Poor Hitchcock never won an Oscar either but Joan Fontaine won her Oscar for this performance and I can’t help but feel that the way she was filmed helped her attain this award ( much to her sister’s chagrin ( Olivia DeHavilland).
What do you think? Do you agree or would you choose another film or do you agree with the Academy for this year?
I never danced around the May Pole that has its origins during Roman times when they would worship Flora, the goddess of flowers. It spread, over time, across Europe where Germany celebrated the night before with a great bonfire. On May 1st, the men and women dance around wrapping ribbons around the pole commemorating the lengthening of days, the coming of summer and, l’amour toujour. Get your lustful emotions out and let’s come and play… enter the Barry White music. Over at Monday Music Moves Me, it’s all about songs from May. I hope you like my 3 songs….
1. NOW IS THE TIME FOR MAYING SUNG BY CHILDREN-1937
This is from the Jeannette MacDonald/ Nelson Eddy film, “Maytime” and this is a scene where you see the town celebrating May Day, May 1st, with kids singing this song. I’m not one to hear cute kids singing but this is ok and fits the theme. This song was actually composed by Thomas Morley back in 1595…pretty damn old.
2. THE LUSTFUL MONTH OF MAY SUNG BY JULIE ANDREWS-1960
This comes from the famous Lerner and Lowe musical, Camelot, that starred Julie Andrews as Lady Guinevere, Richard Burton as King Arthur and Robert Goulet and Sir Lancelot with Goulet becoming a major star due to his role in this famous musical. Sadly, when the musical was made, Vanessa Redgrave played Guinevere which just didn’t work for me.
3. WHILE STROLLING THROUGH THE PARK ONE DAY SUNG BY BING CROSBY-1961
This song, I think, we’ve all heard it in one form or another often played in cartoons but it’s an old Vaudeville song written by Ed Haley from the Vaudeville team of the Haley Brothers. I actually wanted to find this song sung by the wonderful Stanley Holloway who was in many films and TV shows including voicing many animated shows, the most famous being Winnie the Pooh. Here, Bing Crosby give it a good show and I love that the 2nd verse is “in the month of May”.
