Sad Week

 

I was shocked to learn that Dolly Parton, who had a big soul, bigger than her voluptuous ta-tas. She was aok with all the comments and laughed with all of us. She helped so many people in need, started an amusement park and was always a ray of sunshine. Her different marriage lasted over 50 years until he passed away last year and, like so many couples in long marriage, she passed away a year after. She was small in stature but was a powerhouse in her singing, writing her own songs, acting, producing and a no- nonsense business woman. She was a huge philanthropist as well. We could all learn from her philosophy in life. Might I add that, in 1987, she started her own variety show. It only lasted a year but it gave my dad, who was dying of brain cancer, so much joy. I was a dumb ass 23 year old who thought she was old news but I will never forget how much happiness she brought to my dad in the last few months of his life. Thank you Dolly!

Before showcasing 3 of her films, I want to let you know who won the Oscar for best song of 1992, who was nominated and which song came up empty-handed. So, " A Whole New World" won the Oscar( it's Disney, big surprise). "Beautiful Maria Of My Soul" was nominated( this is a better song, in my opinion) and "I Will Only Love You" came up with nadda. Yup, this iconic song, written by Dolly and, whom I think, sang it better, was not nominated because it was sung before and shown on screens before. 

Ok, here are my 3 films with Dolly...

1. 9 TO 5-1980

This is a very funny film starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton as 3 women who work in a big firm where their boss is a narcissistic, chauvinist jerk who believes women are subservient to men and him, specifically. Dolly is his personal secretary who is sick and tired that he just thinks her brains are at her chest. Fonda plays the mousy employee and Tomlin is the head of all the gals in the office. They are sick and tired of their jerk of a boss so they drug, kidnap and hog-tie him taking over his job. They make the place much better but they did kidnap this jerk. It's a very funny take on female empowerment and Dolly was a big surprise to critics and everyone with her acting and how funny she was.

2. BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS-1982

I enjoyed this movie when it first came out which starred Burt Reynolds, Dolly Parton, Dom DeLuise and Charles Durning. Dolly plays the Madam of a very popular and famous whorehouse where the sheriff, played by Reynolds, and the rest of the town enjoy its services. Enter a radio and TV personality, decides to take on this business and wants to shut it down. Dom DeLuise is hilarious in the role of the nast TV  guy wanting to shut this down and Dolly is perfect as the madam. This did not make money maybe because it was a musical, but I enjoyed it.

3. STEEL MAGNOLIAS-1989

This is another, mainly female-headed cast, headed by Sally Field with Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Darryl Hannah and Julia Roberts playing Sally's daughter. Dolly plays a hairstylist where everyone goes to get their hair done, gossip and find ways to help one another. Sally's daughter, Julia, gets married but has some bad disease or life issues and shouldn't get pregnant. Guess what? She does and things don't end well but the ladies are strong together and help out Sally when she needs it. I think my favourite character is Dolly and I couldn't take Julia for some reason, who was nominated for an Oscar for this role. This is my least favourite film of these 3 but I will watch it again, if nothing else is on TV. 

PART 2

Dolly passed away on the 25th and Tim Curry died the following day. This was not a surprise because this brilliant actor suffered a severe stroke a few years ago and has dealt with so many health issues but he continued to work lending his voice to many animated shows and movies. He played many villains, butler's and one freaky transvestite. He was in many ensemble casts but always shone over the others just with his mischievous smile. He is good in "Home Alone 2" looking just like the Grinch in one scene, but I don't like MacCauley Caulkin so I chose 3 other films...

1  ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW-1975

I am not a fan of this movie even though it has gained a huge cult following  where one now engages with the film, yelling at it and throwing stuff at the screen. I did not appreciate getting a sandwich in the back of my head. This film stars Curry as well as Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandan as newlyweds who get lost and end up at this freaky mansion. They meet all the ghoulish people there including sweet transvestite Curry. His voice is great for his role and he relishes in it. There are a few great songs that come from this movie which I have danced to many Halloween nights. Curry makes the film.

2. LEGEND-1985

This film stars Tom Cruise, Mia Sara and Tim Curry as the best devil I have ever seen. In this fairy tale, the Devil wants to bring the world into eternal darkness. To do this, he needs the horns of the 2 unicorns and enlists the help of some goblins. Cruise is the young lad who falls for Mia and is THE person to destroy the evil. This bombed at the box office which is a shame because it is a beautiful film. I love the look of this film and the makeup is excellent. It's worth a look.

3. CLUE-1985

This movie is based on the popular board game which I love playing. Tim Curry plays the butler, with Madeline Kahn, Eileen Brennan, Michael McKean, Lesley Ann Warren and Christopher Lloyd playing all the characters who were all told to come to this house. The mystery person is blackmailing them with information that can destroy their careers etc... mayhem ensues with the body count increasing. There are 3 endings to this film and i have only seen 2. This also bombed when it came out, but it has developed a cult following and the critics have since changed their minds and Harald this as a very funny film. It is funny and just a joy to watch despite the dead bodies.

I could jot just choose one or the other so this is a lengthy post, but I hope you enjoyed reading it. May they be happy, healthy and with their loved ones now. 

Which Song Won The Oscar-1992

 

1992 is this month's pick to find out which song won the Oscar, which one was nominated and which came up nadda! Im joining Monday Music Moves Me this Wednesday:))

1. I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU SUNG BY WHITNEY HUSTON

If no one ever heard this song, you must have been living on a deserted island for the 35 years. This song was written by the great Dolly Parton, whom I found out, last night, died yesterday. Im still in shock because I really thought she would live to be 95. This song became a huge hit from the film, "The Bodyguard" but, to be honest, I don't like Whitney's version of this. I feel like she screams it out and just didn't have great control, she let the song take over. I might not make sense but, that's OK, each have their style.

2. WHOLE NEW WORLD SUNG BY BRAD KANE AND LEA SALONGA

This song was written by Alan Menkin with lyrics by Tom Rice who are very much associated with Disney. This is no different since this comes from the animated film, Aladdin. The 2 who sang this were the voices of Aladdin and Jasmine expressing their love for one another.

3. BEAUTIFUL MARIA OF MY SOUL SUNG BY ANTONIO BANDERAS 

This  song is from the film, "The Mambo Kings"  This was Antonio Banderas's  first English language role. I love this song and always to see this film, but have yet to see it. Funny, Antonio Banderas turned down to sing the song at the Oscars so Placido Domingo sang it...the first Spaniard to perform at the Oscars.

So, can you guess who won, who was nominated and which song came up empty? 

I  Honour of the late, great Dolly Parton, here is her version of her own song, " I Will Always Love You."

Gone Too Soon

 

I was watching a movie, yesterday, that I have never seen before, and I felt sad because the actress had died before the film was completed. It got me thinking about all the actors and actresses that died while filming their, unknowingly, last movie. I could have chosen films where the actors did complete their roles just before dying but I went with stars that died before the film was completed and the studios had to get a stand-in to complete the role. Ok, maybe a bit morbid, but I can lean toward the dark side…

1. SARATOGA-1937

This is the film I watched yesterday, for the first time, that stars Clark Gable and Jean Harlow in her final role. The film is a romantic comedy, with dramatic overtones, about a grandfather, played by Lionel Barrymore, who will be losing his stud farm except old friend Gable won the farm in a gambling venture. The granddaughter, played by Jean Harlow, is not happy about , well, everything and is not happy with Gable. Gambling continues, we see quite. Bit of horse-racing and, in the end, Gable wins over Harlow. To be honest, I didn’t care for the writing and so the plot is still vague. I even read the plot and it’s just not sinking in. All I know is that there is gambling involved and racehorsing. Racehorsing was a big deal in Hollywood with many stars going to the track and many owning horses like Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby. While watching this film, I could see that Harlow did not look well-She looked a bit bloated and very tired. She collapsed on the set and, instead of staying in the hospital, she was home with her mom, a Christian Scientist. The story goes that the mom believed in holistic healing so did not believe in hospitals.  When Gable visited Harlow, who was a good friend of his, he smelled urine in her breath. Louis B. Mayer also visited and that was enough for him to call the ambulance. Unfortunately, it was too late and Harlow died of Uremic poisoning at the age of 26. The film was going to be shelved but the public had an outcry to see Harlow’s last film so they brought in Mary Dees to sub for Harlow. Gable had a few more scenes but was very uncomfortable because he felt like he was filming with a ghost. She was way too young to die, but, boy, did she have quite a life in those 26 years.

2. BRAINSTORM-1983

This film stars Christopher Walken as a scientist who, along with his colleague, played by Louise Fletcher, develop a computer program that act7ally record a person’s emotions plus more. Walken is fighting to keep this away from the government who want to use it for their owns needs which may not be in the best interest to HQ Public. Walkin is married, but estranged, to Natalie Wood who becomes embroiled in this sci-fi thriller. Sadly, Natalie Wood died before filming was completed for her character. I remember when she died and all the news reports which included  number of people who heard a woman crying for help in the middle of the night. According to reports, Robert Wagner, married to Natalie Wood,  Wood and Christopher Walkin were drinking, a lot, on Wagner and Wood’s yacht. Their captain was asked to take the boat out and they travelled to a nearby island where they continued to imbibe and eat at some restaurant. They went back on the boat and while anchored on the water, there was a heated argument between the 3 due to rumours that Walkin and Wood were having an off-screen affair. Walking went to bed but Wagner and Wood continued to argue before retiring, sometime after, Wood went overboard and drowned. The official report is that she wanted to leave the yacht and tried to get into a dinghy, in the middle of the night, slipping, hitting her head and falling into the water. Everyone was sleeping so no one heard her pleas for help. I don’t buy that version nor do I believe that Wagner deliberately murdered her. I believe that the 2 were arguing, while very drunk and Wagner pushed her or hit her and she went into the water. He may have tried to look for her or not, but he made no attempt to find her or wake anyone up to help find her. He didn’t want to be found out to be a drunken lout who smacked his wife or pushed her away. Drunk people do very, very stupid things. Natalie Wood had a phobic fear of water so would never have tried to get into a small dinghy in the black water. When she was a kid, she almost died, on set, falling into a man made river scene only to be saved g the nick of time. A psychic told her she would meet her fate in water so Natalie Wood would not have tried to get into a small dinghy. In the end, the producers and the director got her sister, Lana Wood, to dub her sister’s final scenes. Sadly, the film was not a success and Wood died at the young age of 43.

3. GLADIATOR-2000

I can’t believe this film is 26 years old! This is  great epic starring Russell Crowe as a former General for the Roman Army, close to the King who is betrayed by the King’s son played so creepily, by Joaquin Phoenix. Crowe is to be killed but he escapes and rushes back to his family only to find them dead on his farm. He is clubbed over the head and taken to become a slave trying to stay alive as a gladiator. The owner of these slaves is played by Oliver Reed who sees that Crowe is no ordinary gladiator slave and makes him toil so Reed’s group can appear at THE colosseum, in Rome. There, Crowe, who trained the men for combat, excels and beats the other gladiators winning the hearts of the public and the ire of the king, King creep Phoenix. Crowe and Reed did not like each other because Reed scoffed at Crowe’s dedication to his acting and Crowe was pissed off  at Reed’s cavalier  attitude to acting plus his drunken episodes and lateness on the set. Reed was known for his historic alcoholic ventures and uncaring ways to acting. So, one night, after filming in Malta, Reed with his wife, went to “The Pub”  to have a bit to eat and a few pints. Sailors, from the ship, “ HMS Cumberland” came in and Reed challenged these sailors that he could drink them under the table and beat them at arm wrestling. These young chaps had no clue who they were dealing with…Reed drank, wait for it, 8 pints of beer, 12 shots of rum, 1/2 a bottle of whiskey, plus several shots of cognac. He arm wrestled 5 sailors and won each one but then he suffered a major heart attack and dropped to the floor. The ambulance came, but Reed died what he did best-drinking. Ridley Scott, the director still had a few scenes to do, so, using computer technology and a double, they superimposed his face on a double and worked around his character to finish the picture. Reed was only 61 yrs old and I am surprised he lasted that long. At least he died doing what he loved best, drinking.

Do you know of any stars that died before filming ended?

Vegetables and Fruit Songs

 

This week, over at Monday Music Moves Me, it is all bout Vegetables and I am placing fruit in for good measure. I love oranges and eat 3 oranges per day along with 2 apples per day. I also love eating carrots which I eat daily but only raw carrots. I don’t like cooked carrots…blecchh. Broccoli is another vegetable I love since I was a kid and called them trees when I was little. Here re my 3.

1. THE LADY IN THE TUTTI FRUTTI HAT SUNG BY CARMEN MIRANDA-1943

This song is from the film, “ The Gang’s All Here” with the diminutive Carmen Miranda looking 10 feet tall in that huge hat. It is a great number staged by Busby Berkley using all the fruits into a number that is quite suggestive with the strawberries and bananas. The censor guys never caught on to what Busby was showing. 

2. APPLES AND ORANGES BY PINK FLOYD-1967

This is a unique song by the famous band, Pink Floyd and was written by Syd Barrett just before he left the band. It’s quite. Different song about a girl a guy meets in the supermarket. It’s quite psychedelic and I like it plus it’s about the 2 fruits I eat the most.

3. VEGETABLES BY THE BEACH BOYS-1967

This song is quite unique, written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks, and I really enjoyed listening to it. 

What veggie or fruit song can you think of?

Best Actor-Who Should Have Won for 1945

 

1945 nominees for Best Actor were not a lot of great choices, to be honest….it could have been much better but the Academy decided to go with ho-hum actors. This could have been a much better year instead of …meh. The first actor is who won the Oscar, the 2nd is my choice as to who should have won…

1. RAY MILLAND IN THE LOST WEEKEND

This is a Billy Wilder film and one of the first to depict a troubled alcoholic and his downward spiral into alcoholism despite the love of a woman and his brother’s devotion. All he wants is to drink and will do whatever it takes to get that drink. Ray Milland was known as a light comedian but wanted to be more so he went after this role. He convinced Wilder and it won him the Oscar, and I have no idea how he won this. Wait, I do…a light comedian acts in a serious role as an alcoholic…some things never change. I can’t stand this movie, not because of the directing or the character actors or the main actress, played by Jane Wyman, but because of Ray Milland. To me, he greatly overacts to the point where he made me laugh out loud ( he has booze in a paper bag and he is looking all around wondering what everyone else sees. His eyes seem to pop out of his head as he looks at everyone in a paranoid manner and it made me laugh. I just can’t get into his character because he is very unlikeable, condescending  and obnoxious. 

2. EDWARD G. ROBINSON IN SCARLETT STREET

Edward was not even nominated for his brilliant turn as a hen-pecked husband who loves to paint. He is taken out by his work to celebrate all the years working at the bank and as he walks home he meets up with a beautiful woman, played by, now brunette, Joan Bennett. He helps her out and thinks she is quite the lady but, she is anything but. She is slovenly, lazy, two-timing wrench who sees her mark. Edward is smitten and places her in  a nice apartment, buying her whatever she desires. He just loves to paint her and she is fine with this and so is her boyfriend played so slimely by Dan Duryea. Through a series of events, Edward's paintings get noticed by a reputable art dealer and his paintings are being sold but they think the artist is the broad. Poor Edward has no idea but continues to give this gal her every wish to the point where he now embezzles from his work. We all know this actor as a rough gangster so this is a new character he plays and he acts so well that you believe him to be this sad, beat upon man. Edward was, actually, a very soft soul who hated guns and would often close his eyes causing the director to yell "Cut" until he got the take. Edward was also a lover of art and had quite the collection. I believe Edward G. Robinson deserves the Oscar for this role and, yet, he was not even nominated.

3  CORNEL WILDE IN A SONG TO REMEMBER 

This is one of the many romanticized bios that the studios made during the 40s, this being one of them. Cornell Wilde was a handsome stud and one I had a crush on when I first saw this film. I always got a kick out of how these great composers composed...from figuring out how to play his new work to playing the piece with full gusto all within 30 seconds. This is a very fictionalized account of Chopin's life including his affair with George Sand. She decided to dress and act like a man since men made it on the world where women were delegated  to bring them their slippers. Merle Oberon played Sand but had to play her as the villain because  you can't have a strong woman who dresses like a man, as a woman with strength.  Chopin was proud of his Polish heritage and fought to have Poland become independent. Cornell was good in his role but nothing special, again, in my opinion. 

The other nominees were Gregory Peck in "Keys for the Kingdom"; Gene Kelly in, "Anchors Aweigh;" and Bing Crosby in"The Bells of St. Mary's."

Humphrey Bogart wasn't nominated for his role in " To Have and Have Not." John Wayne in "They Were Expendable." And even Hurd Hatfield in "The Picture of Dorian Gray."

August

 

August, the last hurrah before school starts…I still get the shivers when I see back to school commercials. This is also the month when families decide to take a trip with their kids…apparently, that is supposed to be fun. Did you hear about the brat who would not sit down and get strapped in in his airplane chair? Where the FUCK were his parents? The airplane was taxiing when it had to turn back because of that brat and his delinquent parents. I hope they were thrown off the plane and continued on. How rude to all the others in the plane causing much conflagration on the plane, and the whole airport with the costs including the people who tell the planes where to go. Anywhoo….here are my picks for music about August and I am joking the Monday Music Moves Me which is always fun.

1. TIME FOR AUGUST SUNG BY JULIE LONDON-1956

Of course, my Calendar Girl, Julie, is here singing another sultry number from her album, “ Calendar Girl”. I am really enjoying this album and sharing each month with you.

2. STUCK IN THE AUGUST RAIN SUNG BY JETHRO TULL-1995

This was written by the lead singer and flutist, Ian Anderson who sings about the rain in the month of August. My brother introduced me to this band when I travelled with him to school. When I heard him sing about picking his nose, I was grossed out and then Giggled as only a young teen can. I love the style and how unique this band is. I thought this was a good song since St. Catharines, at the beginning of August, received something like 248mm of rain in 2 storms within a week. We made it on the national news due to the amount of rain we received. 80% of basements got flooded and so much was destroyed. There were mountains of garbage, formerly treasures etc.., on the lawns of so many homes. Our mayor called for a State of Emergency as he stood in his flooded basement. Our basement was dry! We had new pipes placed in about a decade ago and my sweetheart fixed around the house and placed extended the eavestrough to have the rain fall further away from the house.

3. COLD WIND IN AUGUST SUNG BY VAN MORRISON-1977

This is a really great song by Van Morrison who captures what August is supposed to be..the oncoming of Fall. Now it just feels like another hot month with the cool nights now starting in September. I really like this song and Morrison puts his own stamp on it with his style.

So, do you know any August songs?

The Working Man

 

It’s summer vacation for many right now since it is summer, the kids are out of school and parents take off to Disney, any amusement park, go camping or swim in a nearby pool, lake or ocean, for many of poor slobs, we are still working and punching in the clock. I decided to use the theme of the working man and here are my picks…

1. THE CROWD-1928

This is one of my favourite films about the average Joe who marries, starts a family and works trying to support them over highs and great lows! It stars the tragic James Murray as Everyman working in the cog of life. His fellow worker and friend suggests they double date and go to Coney Island. James meets his blind date, played by Eleanor Boardman( married to the director, King Vidor) and is immediately so smitten that, at the end of their date, he proposes and she accepts. Her brothers and mother disapprove of the union and his wife wonders why her husband does not move up in his workplace like his friend. They have 2 children while he tries to make ends meet. When something horrible happens, he is thinking of suicide but he is brought back from that ledge to continue living. This is a great film made near the end of the silent movie era. James Murray catapulted to stardom, but could not handle the fame ending up as a bum on skid row, dying from alcoholism. The director, King Vidor offered him a role in his movie but the actor told him off and disappeared. King Vidor wanted to make a movie about this man but never had the chance. Eleanor Boardman, I watched her interviews in the 13 part documentary on “Hollywood” and she is someone I would not want to know. She dissed Garbo in a prejudicial manner and mentioned this film. She was hoping to wear beautiful gowns and look glamorous only to be in this film wearing dowdy clothes and little make-up. I don’t believe she realized what a great movie this is. It is one, I say, is a must see.

2. THE GRAPES OF WRATH-1940

This is another great film that is a must see, but I can’t watch this film over and over. It is one dour film that stars Henry Fonda as Tom Joad, an ex con who comes home just in time to see his family packing up all they own to travel to California. These people, the salt of the earth, have been hit hard by the dustbowl and the Great Depression. They travel to California hearing there are jobs there and embark on their journey. The person holding the family together is Ma Joad, played by Jane Darnell, who keeps the hope even when hope seems to be dead and gone. When they get to California, they get a job picking fruit but are basically slaves to the unscrupulous owners living in shanties and paid very little. Fonda goes to a secret meeting but it ends with his friend, Casey ( played by John Carradine, whom I love), dead and Fonda killing the guard in self-defense. They all leave and wind up at a reputable company with cold and hot running water and toilets which this kids have never seen before. There are. Couple of great scenes where Ma Joad speaks about family and living forward while Henry Fonda has one the greatest speeches that is shown every time one talks about this film. It is not only brilliantly acted but I love the cinematography courtesy of the great Gregg Toland. 

3. MARTY-1955

Talk about an every guy, Ernest Borgnine plays a regular butcher who lives with his mom and deals with her, his siblings, and his friends all barrage him for still being single. His mom nags him into going to a ballroom for dancing and meeting people. There he meets Clara, a plain looking school teacher( of course), and they dance and talk the night away. Both are flying high with their romantic pairing until he goes home and finds out his Aunt has moved in and freaked out his mom saying that once Marty marries, mommy will be kicked out. Mom, fearful of this, disses his new gal  as well as his friends who further belittle her. Marty lets himself be manipulated by everyone and does not call her as he promised. Thankfully, he starts to see that he is not living for himself but for everyone. He gives a great speech and calls Clara up who wipes her tears away and accepts the call. There are many films made in the 1950s that have this look of black and white blandness. It is not a full on happy film but one which instills hope for the average person. I may not watch this film many times, but I do think it’s another film to watch.

What films make you think of the average Joe…or Jill.?

Love Smoked Turkey on German Rye Bread

This week is an interesting theme, over at Monday Music Moves Me, which is all about the sandwich. I was going to do an acrostic, my first, but, as you can see, I am very late publishing this week. We just came back home yesterday. It’s an 8 hour drive with 2 quick stops to gas up and go to the loo. We came home to a mess. Bless my ex for taking care of the animals, but he is messy and his passive-aggressive nature comes out by not doing something we asked him to do like giving out pussy cats wet food. My hubby checked and noticed that no cans were in the recycle bin and the same one was still in the fridge. We had it all written down. If my ex can do the minimal, he will. He left our bedroom door open so, of course, our lovely Harley used that for his bed and the hair on the comforter made the colour look grey instead of a deep blue. I am still thankful that the animals were all good and that he took Harley for his walks. We took 3 hours to clean up with some cleaning is just due to out fur babes:)). We were so happy to see them and vice versa. My baby, Lexi, kept meowing and I had to reinforce I would not leave. Harley is beside me now, happily sleeping and Kaspar was very happy to see his daddy. 

OK back to the music, I decided to use what I eat every day…I have a half slice of German Kaiserbrot rye, 2 slices of smoked turkey on the bread with 1 slice of harvarti cheese, carrots, Motts fruit cup and 2 gingerbread cookies. I love my lunch!!

1. COMIN’ THRO’ THE RYE SUNG BY JOHN MCDERMOTT-2019

This is an old traditional Scottish song created with the lyrics from Robert Burns. I decided to go with my fellow Canadian, John McDermott, who never fails to sing songs so beautifully.

2. SWEET SURRENDER SUNG BY BREAD-1972

I do love the songs from the band, “Bread” and it fits for this theme. I could have used only Bread songs but, I didn’t want to:)

3. COLD TURKEY SUNG BY JOHN LENNON-1969

Ok, this has nothing to do with turkey meat but when John Lennon and Yoko Ono went cold turkey when they came off their array of drugs especially heroin. They locked themselves into a room and went through hell to quit this horrible drug.

What is your favourite sandwich? Any sandwich songs you love? 

My John McDermott will not play for us Canadians even though he's Canadian! I placed this one in and hope it is nice.

Star Of The Month- Joan Blondell

 

JOAN BLONDELL

BIRTH: July 30, 1906

DEATH: December 25, 1979

AGED: 73 years

DIED FROM: Leukaemia 

REAL NAME: Rose Joan Blondell

NICKNAMES: Rosebud, Bud, Buddie

MARRIED: George Barnes ( Cameraman); Dick Powell ( Actor/director), Mike Todd ( producer)

AFFAIRS: Clark Gable who proposed marriage but she declined; John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Bing Crosby, Pat DiCicco (producer), Ronald Reagan

CHILDREN: 2 children Norman Powell-producer & TV Executive and Ellen Powell- Make-up Artist

BEST FRIENDS: Glenda Farrell, James Cagney, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck

FAMOUS RELATIVES: Gloria Blondell(sister), Both Parents, known as The Bouncing Blondell in Vaudeville

OSCAR NOMINATIONS: The Blue Veil-1952

TALENT: Excellent cook known for her cheesecake, Barbeque sauce and Chinese spiced chicken. Wrote a novel called, “Center Door Fancy” which is a thinly veiled 

KNOWN FOR: Her sassy, working girl ( Not that kind of working girl) who audiences could relate to. Her great humour and salty language.  She called Bette’s exes the Foreskins because Her friend, Bette Davis, was married 4 times. Her big, blue eyes and was a Wampas Baby Star.

This wise-cracking dame from pre-code Hollywood played the no-nonsense friend in many films from 1930 to 1934 often paired with James Cagney, in 6 films, in which he said that, “Next to my wife, Blondell is the only other woman I ever loved.” No, they were never romantically involved even though he stated Joan’s ass was the best he’s seen and has a great body. Before she became famous, she was part of her parents’ Vaudeville act since she was literally, born on the road, sleeping in dresser drawers. Once her sister(whom she was always close to) came along, the parents decided to settle down for the children and their own selves. When, Joan was working in the library, in 1927, she was raped by a police officer who threatened to kill her if she ever revealed what had happened and she kept this to herself until revealing this in her memoirs. She fell for Dick Powell when they were teamed in a movie and the marriage appeared good until she found out he was having an affair with June Allyson ( who often portrayed a wholesome girl next door). The divorce was not, shall we say, great but she bounced back into the arms of Mike Todd…not a great choice. He was a producer but a huge gambler in many areas and went through Joan’s savings never paying her back. In fact, this narcissistic jerk, although their sex life was fantastic, he was emotionally and mentally abusive and, according to Joan Blondell, physically, once holding her over the balcony, by her ankles..what an asshole! Her life was one of happiness and one of difficulties, I guess like most people. When she was giving birth to her son Norman, it was a 20 hr labour, with many complications including a fractured coccyx (ouch!) and the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. This birth must, still, have been glorious since she had, at least, 2 abortions prior, to her first husband’s insistence. In later years, she became plump, which she didn’t mind but had to deal with rheumatoid arthritis but continued to work all the way through. She had to deal with a notorious 2 episode performance on The Lucy Show, where she was to become a regular but, Ball treated her horribly dissing her in front of the crew and the studio audience whereby Joan told her to F-Off and walked off the set. Ball was friends with June Allyson and Dick Powell which might have been one of the reasons for her horrible treatment of Joan. Joan worked until the end including Grease and Opening Night, a John Cassavetes film. She deserves to be well known today and is among the greats because she is a grande dame among dames.

FILMS ( I have not seen the last 5)

1. Topper Returns-1941

2. Support Your Local Gunfighter-1971

3. The Cincinnati Kid-1965

4. Nightmare Alley-1947

5.  Public Enemy-1931

6. Golddiggers of 1933-1933

7. Footlight Parade-1935

8. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn-1945

9. Desk Set-1957

10. Blonde Crazy

" A wife must smile through mental pain and develop a thick skin when her husband doesn't notice how pretty she is. Do not be jealous and do cultivate feminine mystique, and laugh until you pee. Remember he will always want a comfortable chair. Do not forget to praise his looks....and, above all, do not fart before the 3rd year of marriage."

Boats

 

Since I have been seeing a ton of boats the last few days, I thought it only the best to showcase films with the word, “boat” in the title…

1. LIFEBOAT-1944

I have spoken bout this film before but I love this under-rated Hitchcock film that takes places, entirely, on a lifeboat. We first see the great Tallulah Bankhead in the lifeboat who helps a rugged John Hodiak on board followed by more and more passengers from a sunk ship that engaged and sank the German Sub at the same time. Now the cast of characters are all on a small boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean who have an additional survivor, a German from the sunken sub. You still have love, loss, suspense, betrayal and wondering whether everyone is whom they say they are. My favourite is Tallulah who keeps losing her precious items from her fur coat to her diamond bracelet. This is a film that is much better than many give for a Hitchcock film. 

2. THE GLASS BOTTOM BOAT-1966

This stars Doris Day as a young widower who helps her dad’s business by appearing as a mermaid under his glass bottomed boat for the tourists. She is hooked by a fisherman, played by rugged Rod Taylor and is not happy that her bottom half is on his fishing line and not on her naked bottom. He has a new invention for the space industry called GISMO and has run into Day at the Aeronautic research business where she works. There is a huff and puff Day trying not to fall for the dreamy eyed Taylor who wants only Day. Through a series of innocent events, Day is suspected to be a spy leading to much hijinks. I love Dom DeLouise and Paul Lynde trying to watch Day believing she is a Russian spy. I also adore the cameo of Alice Pierce and George Tobias as the husband and wife made famous from Bewitched. It’s a fun movie and one to watch  even though I wish Rock Hudson played the Taylor role.

3. DAS BOAT-1981

Talk about a tense film! This boat is, actually, a submarine, a German U-Boat during the battle for the Atlantic when many German subs sank many, many ships that were crossing the Atlantic either bringing supplies, troops or both over to England. We meet the boat’s crew who are proud sailors but not necessarily Nazis, except one who shaves and wears his uniform. The others tolerate, if not berate, the moron as they go unshaven in solidarity to their unit. You feel the close quarters of these men and hope they do not sink when they are repeatedly depth charged and fired upon. When they sink a ship, they are unable to bring aboard the survivors due to their sub’s damage. You notice how that ardent Nazi gives up his uniform and starts to grow a beard realizing the Nazi way of thinking is…shit. It’s a brilliant piece of film making that deserved the Oscar for best Foreign film. It is not uplifting but it is well acted, directed and written and makes you think well after the film is done. 

So any movies you can think of with Boat in the title? What about famous boats?

Enjoying My Vacation

 

We are enjoying our time at my hubby’s Aunt’s house which is right on the Richeleau River. It’s crazy on the weekends in this river with sailboats, fast boats, fat boats and yachts plus skidoos and water skiing. There is almost always a breeze which is most needed on these hot days. I thought of these songs for Freebie Week over at Monday Music Moves Me.

1. COME, SAIL AWAY BY STYX-1977

This is a great song that I love and brings back great memories of my time at Crystal Beach when I rode the rides especially the Blitzer which often played this song.

2. CALYPSO BY JOHN DENVER-1975

I love John Denver and he is one of the people I am still saddened about, to this day, that he died, like John Candy and Robin Williams. This is a song he created for his friend Jacques Cousteau whose boat was The Calypso.

3. ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT SUNG BY BING CROSBY AND ELLA FITZGERALD -1967

This is an old children’s rhyme that we all know…and, if you don’t, you have been hiding under a rock. I had to sing this song when I was in grade school as, I’m sure, you did as well, but this song has made it into many TV shows and movies but this one was sung by good ole Der Bingle with Ella Fitzgerald on an episode 9f The Hollywood Palace.

Travels To My Aunt

 

This weekend my hubby and I will be travelling to visit his Aunt, who lives about an hour South of Montreal right on the Richelieu River. It’s a long drive, about 8-9 hrs, but it will be so nice to see her. She just lost her husband, this past February so it will be a nice distraction for her. I’m glad we will be there for her birthday because it’s the first birthday without her husband. She’s one strong lady so I know she will be ok, but she lost her best friend a couple of years back and other relatives which happens as we get older…that just sucks. I thought this would be a good theme for this week’s movie time.

1. THE AWFUL TRUTH-1937

I just watched this film for the first time and truly enjoyed it. It stars Cary Grant and Irene Dunne as a married couple who mistrust each other so much that it leads to divorce. During the divorce proceedings, they each claim that their beloved dog is theirs( the famous Asta) with Dunne winning their dog but through scheming hands( she showed the dog his favourite toy unbeknownst to the court), She is wooed by Ralph Bellamy as a Texan oil tycoon travelling with his mommy. Grant gets involved with a showgirl who knows how to Oomph during her singing number. Throughout this film, we have her beloved Aunt Patsy who is all too wise to the true goings on between these 2 people whom she loves. Cecil Cunningham delivers a great performance as the all too knowing Aunt and lends perfect support to the cast.

2. BRINGING UP BABY-1938

This film stars Cary Grant as a palaeontologist  who is constructing a Brontosaurus but needs one bone to complete it. He also needs money to complete everything which seems likely since he is engaged to a socialite. The day before his marriage he meets Susan played by Katherine Hepburn who never looked so beautiful and uninhibited. Through a serious of mishaps, they end up going to her Aunt’s home to deal with Baby, a tamed leopard her brother sent to her. He has his dinosaur bone but her Aunt’s dog( yup, Asta) grabs it and burys it. Hepburn realizes she loves Grant so she steals his clothes resulting in Grant wearing a fancy negligee and robe. In enters Hepburn’s Aunt, played so imperiously, by May Robson, who sees Grant in the frilly negligee which leads to a hilarious scene. He soon finds out that the Aunt is the lady who he has been trying to get the funds to support his museum. Baby escapes but so does a circus leopard who is much less tame and Hepburn and Grant embark on a hilarious romp through the countryside and the local jail trying to retrieve Baby by singing, “ I can’t give you anything but love, Baby”.  This film bombed at the box office but is now considered one of the best screwball comedies. This Aunt is played so well by the character actress, Ms. Robson, and she holds all the cards for this couple to realize they both love each other plus she has the money to help the museum. 

3. ARSENIC AND OLD LACE-1944

Mortimer Brewster, played by Cary Grant is a writer who thinks marriage is a big sham. He is at the courthouse ready to marry his girl next door, played by Pricilla Lane. They marry and they go to their homes to pack their things for their honeymoon. Grant lives with his 2 sweet old Aunts, played so wondrously by Jean Adair and Josephine Hull. They are such sweet, doting aunts who live with their brother who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt. The one problem Grant finds out is that his loving aunts are serial killers. They don’t need to be but when they meet old men, because they post a room for rent sign in their window, they feel sorry that these men are all alone. To ease their suffering, they give the men elderberry wine laced with arsenic, strychnine and cyanide and ask their brother to bury the body, he happily does so believing it is another yellow fever victim. Grant is in shock realizing his aunts are killers but he doesn’t want them to go to jail so he contacts Happy Dale Mental Asylum to have them committed. Unfortunately, his evil brother with a doctor in tow, arrives to hide from the police bringing, with them, their 12th victim. They try to hide the body in the window seat, but it is already taken by another body dine in by the sweet old Aunts. Now the brother, played so well by Raymond Massey, is pe-ohed that his aunts equal him in kills so he wants to kill his brother to make it 13. This is one of my favourite screwball comedies which Grant disliked because he felt he hammed it up way too much. I think it leads to his role and the madness that lives in the house. The film belongs to the 2 aunts who just take on their roles with such gusto. Its madcap but a lot of fun.

Did you catch my theme within a theme? What films can you think of that has an Aunt in a role that helps carry the film? Let me know

Dog Days of Summer

 

The picture, above, was taken, last Wednesday, from my work place. To say it was hard to breathe in would be apt plus it felt like I was in a sauna. The ugly smell worked its way into the air conditioners, but it was still much better than working outside. The following day, the sky was white and I thought I would see ash, but, thankfully, that did not happen. This is not the usual dog days but I had to showcase it and it saddens me that, when the U. S. have major wildfires or any other major calamity, our firemen travel down to help. Last year ( I think it was last year) when there were those major wild fires in California, many of our firefighters went down to help. Now, I’m not sad about that, but sad that when many Canadians have lost everything due to the wildfires in northwest Ontario, the horrible smell and crap from the fires drifted where I live and went south into the U. S. Your so-called leader used this to add more tariffs and blamed us! I am praying that most of you do not blame Canada for something we have no control over since this is Mother Nature. I don’t believe any firefighters, from your nation, come to help ( I hope I am wrong and please correct me if that’s the case), but I do believe you feel bad for the many people who lost everything. Remember, there have been times that your smoke came our way and we did not blame you. I am sorry but I just had to speak out about this latest diarrhea spewing from your hairpiece in the Oval Office. 

Ok, the dog days of summer which are hot, humid and sweaty! Back in the day, I did dance the night away to these songs I have listed below and I went with a different part of what Heat does….sweat! I am joking the Monday Music Moves Me and here we go…

1. DANCING WITH MYSELF SUNG BY BILLY IDOL-1981

I cannot believe that Billy Idol played at my University the first year I attended. I danced to this song and many other hit songs from him while I was, maybe, 10 ft from the stage and could have touched him. It was a lot of fun to say the least and, even though it was early September, it was hot. 

2. EVERYBODY DANCE NOW SUNG BY C + C MUSIC FACTORY AND MARY WASH-1990

Even though this has rap in it, I really like this song and danced to it so many times and also sings about sweat because that’s what most people do. When you watch the video you see this nice thin gal sing this song, but it came out that she just lip synced and Mary was the singer. It went to the courts to have her recognized on this song…how sad is that? 

3. NEED YOU TONIGHT SUNG BY INXS-1987

I love this band and this song which was a main reason for buying the CD. I played that CD so many times, I wore it out…lol. This is one sexual song and who doesn’t want to have that kind of sweat. I was really upset when Michael Hutchence died and it is ruled a suicide. I don’t think it was by suicide but, like David Carradine, I think he was trying to seek sexual pleasure by choking himself but, like Carradine, died as a result. That is just a little too weird but it happens. His voice just exuded sex and was perfect for this song and many others. 

Which songs did you dance to that made you sweat?

You Don’t Believe Movies

 

I love films where the main character is not believed. When I started to think of films, my mind went blank except for “Gaslight” and “Rear Window” but there really so many more. With this in mind, I thought of these 3 films where no one believed the main protagonist nd here they are …

1. CHASE A CROOKED SHADOW-1958

I saw this film just the other day and really enjoyed it. It stars Anne Baxter as an heiress in Spain who lost her brother in a car accident a year ago and, recently, her father. When a young man shows up claiming to be her brother, she is dumbfounded especially that everyone believes this man ( Richard Todd)is her brother. She goes to the local police imploring that the young man is not her brother and the policeman ( Herbert Lom) starts to believe her. She believes that this man and the housekeeper he brings with him, are after her money, if only she could prove it. This is an intense film from the beginning especially the car speeding scene along a treacherous, winding road. What makes even more intense is that Richard Todd and Anne Baxter were the people in the car and Richard was driving! I would not have done that scene no matter what!

2. HUSH, HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE-1964

This was supposed to star Bette Davis and Joan Crawford as a kind of sequel to their big hit, “ Whatever Happened to Baby Jane” but, Joan was in one of her diva moments( one of many) and was fired which suited Bette just fine since they did not like each other. Bette plays a southern belle from a time that no longer exists. Everyone believes that she killed her fiancée 40 years ago, decapitated him, but there was insufficient proof to arrest her. Bette’s character, Charlotte was never the same and became a recluse in her fading mansion, but now her place is wanted by the State and has evicted her, but she is not going without. Fight. She writes to her cousin to help her and her cousin( played by Bette’s friend, Olivia DeHavilland) arrives who is fondly remembered by the people in the area including the country doctor, played by Joseph Cotton. They soon realize that Bette is sliding into madness and they are not sure what to do. This is a movie that I prefer over Baby Jane. Bette gives another great performance as the fragile Charlotte who professes her innocence but nobody believes her. The characters around her give their best including her dedicated maid played by the great Agnes Moorehead. It’s worth checking out.

3. BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING-1965

I saw this film years ago, when I still lived at home, when it was on at 2am and I could not turn away. Carol Lynley arrives in England with her 5 yr old daughter to spend time with her brother. She takes her daughter to school but when she goes to pick her up, nobody remembers seeing this girl. The mom, understandably, upset, contacts the police but no one remembers the little girl. When her brother supports everyone else, it begins to show that maybe the mom never had a girl, that she came to England alone. She prays that the police chief, played by Laurence Olivier, will believe her but it seems he feels she needs to see a rubber room. I realized that I questioned whether Bunny truly did exist. This is a taught thriller that keeps you on the edge of your feet and your own sanity. I need to revisit this film.

So, what films can you think of?

By the way, yesterday’s answer to which film won the Oscar…it was “Beauty and the Beast”, “ Be Our Guest” was nominated and that great song, “Tears In Heaven” never got a nomination…that is abhorrent in my opinion. The other songs that were nominated were, “ Belle” from “Beauty and the Beast”, “Everything I Do, I Do It For You” from Robin Hood and “When You’re Alone”  from Hook.

Yesterday and Today the sky looks like a sick apricot colour due to the fires in Northern Ontario. Breathing is horrible so, everyone affected by this, stay inside and stay cool.

Which Song Won The Oscar-1991

 

I am choosing 1991 to guess which song won the Oscar, which was nominated and which got nuttin’ honey. I am joining Monday Music Moves Me on Wednesday so let’s see if you guess correctly…

1. BE OUR GUEST SUNG BY JERRY ORBACH AND ANGELA LANSBURY 

I do love this song and this is a nice version of one of my favourite Grimm Fairy Tales, “ Beauty and the Beast.” This was written by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman and it’s a great hit. The sex starved candlestick and the fat teapot sing this to Beauty to make her feel  more at home in this castle ruled by the Beast. My mom hated the look of the beast because his massive upper frame could never be held up by the tiny ..um…bottom half. I have to agree but it’s still fun. For the best rendition of this classic fairy tale, please see, “ La Belle et La Bette.” A French film by Jean Cocteau.

2. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST SUNG BY ANGELA LANSBURY

This song, written by Menken and Ashman, was sung by Angela Lansbury while Beauty and the Beast dance in the grand ballroom lending  to the air of true romance. It’s a nice, simple song that impacts the plot which is all about love overcoming all obstacles.

3. TEARS IN HEAVEN SUNG BY ERIC CLAPTON

This song comes from the film, “Rush” about 2 undercover cops who become hooked on drugs and how their lives are destroyed by the drugs and their troubled work. This song was written by Clapton and Will Jennings and is a truly heartbreaking song because Clapton wrote is for his 4 yr old son, Conor, who fell from the 53rd floor of Conor’s mother’s friend. I remember when this happened and my heart went out to Clapton, the mom and her friend who must be still dealing with the guilt she must have felt since this tragedy happened while Conor was under her care. It is a most heartbreaking song.

So, which song won the Oscar, which one was nominated, and which got nuttin 

Embossed Cards

 

I have created a Slew of cards but I have slacked in showing all of them. These are the latest cards I created which I really enjoyed doing and have joined a few challenges. Oh, the picture, above, was taken by my best friend from her kitchen window.

Inkspirational- Inspired by the Colours in the photo

Alphabet Challenge- Festivities 

I follow the sweet and wonderful Sandra Cox, a writer and  fellow blogger who showcases what is in her garden every Tuesday. She inspired me to create a card( plus more) with flowers. I used the 3D embossing folder, the floral folder, and ran it through my sizzex to emboss the image. Instead of using the raised side which is the normal side to use, I used the other side where the image is “sunken in”. I grabbed my distress ink pads and took a soft bristle brush, to pick up the colour and coloured in all the flowers and leaves. After all the colouring, I took my black ink pads and lightly swiped it cross the whole card until it covered all the raised parts revealing the flowers. I enjoyed colouring and picking the colours. I have to try this using other mediums like prisma colouring pencils, chalks, shimmer paints, perfect pearls, etc…

52 Christmas Cards- Colour Challenge-brown, apricot, moss green

Fab N’ Funky- Christmas In July

Addicted To Stamps- Make Your Mark

I am into creating these cards using colours on the reverse side of the 3D embossing folder. I used my distress ink pads to create these cards using moss green on the leaves and the apricot on the berries. I wanted some difference between the leaves so I took a marker( I bought these at Dollarama+ ( there is nothing in there for a dollar any more) in a moss green and coloured some of the leaves. I took my stickles, in an apricot looking colour, and glittered up the berries and then adhered it to an apricot card, which I used a tombow marker to create that unique colour, and a moss green before I  glued it to a dark brown cardstock. Finally, I used my sizzex to cut out the “Merry Christmas” saying, gluing it onto the card. I didn’t want to add anything else because it would take away from the image.

Try It Tuesday-Animals

Crafty Animals- Anything Goes

Sparkles Monthly- Masculine

We Love Stamping- Summertime

I sent this card to my friend, V. J. In Vancouver who loved it which makes me very happy! I just bought this “butter”..it’s creamy goop that you spread on paper and it’s perfect with stencils. I used a lilac, soft light blue and a vibrant darker blue and spread it like one spreads butter. I lifted the stencil and…voila! From there I took a piece of blue paper and stamped the saying that is, about a year old. I felt the background wasn’t dark enough so I took my blue marker and coloured around it. I glued it down on the card and then I stamped the dragonflies in blue and embossed them in a blue embossing powder. Finally I took some iridescent blue and painted it on the wings. I fussy cut them out and glued them on the card. 

I have done more cards, but I just lost track of time to showcase them. I promise to show more.

What Should Have Won Best Picture-1979

 

Happy Birthday My Brother, Baron! I can't believe that you are now a pensioner. I still think we are at home, with mom and dad, playing hide and seek with the Lennoks, after 9pm…gosh, that was so much fun! In honor of my brother's birthday, I asked him which film or actor should have won the Oscar and he, immediately, mentioned Apocalypse Now and I agree with him 150%. So who actually won and which film didn't even get nominated is mentioned below..

1. APOCALYPSE NOW

I can't understand how this film did not win because this is not just a movie, it is a film worthy of being called Art. Like “Citizen Kane,” “It's A Wonderful Life,” “Rear Window,” and “Schindler's List,” this film is one we all know whether we have seen it or not. In fact, it is so famous, not only for the actual film, but for all the behind the scenes mayhem. France's Ford Coppola sank all his money into the making of this film which almost bankrupted him. The star of the film, Martin Sheen suffered a heart attack and then there is the tornado called Marlon Brando…”The Horror…The Horror”. There is a documentary about the making of this film which is just as riveting as the film. We follow Martin Sheen who must, during the Vietnam War, locate and exterminate Kurtz, played by Marlon Brando, a colonel gone rogue. We follow Sheen, with a handful of young soldiers, travel into the heart of darkness (an actual book, that I need to reread since I didn't understand it when I initially read it back in high school) finding out more about the brutality of life and its meaning, if there is any. Robert Duvall should have won Best Supporting actor for his portrayal of a crazy, surf loving, Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore who, “loves the smell of napalm in the morning.” This is a must-see film for its acting, plot, music, scenery and the artistic look of the film. What are your thoughts on this film, Baron?

2. KRAMER VS KRAMER

This is the film that won Best Picture as well as Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, Director plus Beat Adapted Screenplay and.. while it is a good film, I just don’t understand all the hoopla. It is one of the first films to depict a man dealing with raising his child on his own after his wife leaves to “find herself.” He is trying to balance his work while dealing with his son who misses his mom by acting like a real brat ( the ice cream scene is great). I just watched this film again, not having seen it since I saw it in the theatre back in 1979. I still maintain that this is a good film with Hoffman giving a great performance as the out of touch husband who must be the dad to his son(Justin Henry who  was nominated in the Beat Supporting Actor category) when his crying wife, played by Meryl Streep, needs to find herself and leaves them. When she returns, she wants her son and takes her husband to court while crying most of the time. Yeah, she won the Best Supporting Actress and I just never understood why she won. For me, she is over-rated and I know I am in the minority in this. Regardless, this is a film worth seeing and it does rug at the heart strings.

3. THE CHINA SYNDROME

This film is a very scary film because it is quite realistic. Why? It deals with the possibility of nuclear meltdown which was met with harsh criticism by the execs at the nuclear power stations. Unfortunately, 12 days after the release of the film, there was a nuclear meltdown at Three Mile Island causing radiation to seep out and the surrounding area to leave their homes and not return. This film is about such an accident possibly occurring but it is a film of fiction, so-called. It stars Jack Lemmon as a high level executive who sees how shoddy work is creating a nuclear meltdown, but no one is listening to him. At the same time, a reporter and cameraman, played by Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas, are doing a story on the nuclear power plant when Lemmon, suspecting a nuclear meltdown, takes over the plant in order to bring awareness to the public about the safety concerns of this plant. The higher-ups and money men want Lemmon shut down and will do anything to get this done. It is an intense, well-acted film that is eerily relevant even today and this was not even nominated for Best Picture.

The other films that were nominated were “Breaking Away”, “All That Jazz”, and “Norma Rae”. 

Films not even nominated were “Alien”, “Manhattan” and “And Justice For All”. 

Do you agree with this or do you feel another picture should have won or do you agree with the Academy?