A To Z Challenge-Letter K & Thursday Movie Picks-Rivalry

The A to Z Challenge which I am combining with my other fun Challenge...

Thursday Movie Picks which you can see over at Wandering Through the Shelves. At the A to Z, one can discuss about any topic that begins with that letter for that day and today is the letter K. TMP is all about Rivalry and I think my first pick works for both...

1. KISS ME KATE-1953

DIRECTOR:George Sydney
STARS: Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson, Ann Miller, Keenan Wynn
OSCAR NOMS: Best Musical Score
OSCAR WINS: Nil
PLOT: It's the Taming of the Shrew done to music. Talk about rivalry, one-upmanship and great dancing!
LOVE: The "From This Moment On" dance sequence especially the sexy dance between Bob Fosse and Carol Haney
TRIVIA: This movie was filmed in 3D so there are a lot of things hurled at the camera from cups, dishes, fabric from dresses to Kathryn Grayson's DD bazoomas.

HOWARD KEEL-April 12, 1919-November 7, 2004

OCCUPATION: Acot, Singer
OSCAR NOMS:Nil
OSCAR WINS:Nil
ANECDOTE: He was actually a self taught singer who was once a singing bus boy.  Since he was 6' 4" tall and quite robust most of his leading ladies, like 5' 2" Kathryn Grayson had to stand on boxes when doing a scene. Most people know this man from Dallas and here's a great point-He was well liked!

2.  EAST OF EDEN-1955

This is one smack down powerful performance by James Dean as Cal, the black sheep brother to golden boy Aron who is the favourite of his Dad, Raymond Massey (of Massey Hall fame-related). Aron has a girlfriend who seems to have eyes for Cal because she can see so much more in Cal than either his father or brother give him credit for. When Cal goes into business to make his dad proud only to backfire, Cal decides to show Aron some truths that lay hidden in another town. It is beautifully acted and your heart goes out to Cal. Your heart aches for this young man but also wonder why the father is the way he is. Based on the great book by John Steinbeck, it is a a great film even though it only takes one part of the book.

3. BLADES OF GLORY-2007

Yes, this movie stars Will Ferrell whom many either like or hate (or can just stomach him in Elf)..yes, it is a very stupid movie but..I LOVE it! When I first saw this film, My hubby, my brother in law and myself were laughing til tears rolled down but my sister in law walked out-hahahaaaaa. It takes place in the world of figure skating (Hey, I could have used it for the sports theme a few weeks back) when manly-man figure skater (insert laugh), Will Farrell and flowery glove guy, Jon Hader duke it out on the ice and promptly get permanently expelled from male single figure skating. A few years later, they are reluctantly teamed up for the pairs figure skating by a coach who needs help himself. They are not happy at first but soon find out they work well together. The favourites going into the championship, a brother/sister team will do all they can to destroy the male team from winning. To see Will Farrell lift and then hold up Jon Hader had me laughing so hard I almost didn't make it to the loo. I even laughed at this movie trailer..I am depraved:)

A to Z Challenge-Letter J

Mid week and we are now at the letter J. Head on over to the A to Z and find what everyone else is writing about.

JUDGEMENT AT NUREMBERG-1960

DIRECTOR: Stanley Kramer
STARS: Spencer Tracy, Marlene Dietrich, Maximillian Schell, Richard Widmark, Montgomery Clift, Judy Garland, Burt Lancaster, Werner Klemperer
OSCAR NOMS: Best Picture,Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor (Clift), Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Cinematography (Black & White), Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design (B & W), Best Editing.
OSCAR WINS: Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay
PLOT: Bringing Nazi War Criminals to Justice (Based on fact)
LOVE: The scene between Tracy and Lancaster in Lancaster's cell. Tracy's words are eloquent
TRIVIA: Marlene Dietrich had a hard time saying some of her lines (Germans didn't know) as she found them abhorrent. Werner Klemperer is a German-Jew who would only play a Nazi if they were evil or a total buffoon (Hogan's Heroes). When Judy Garland came on set she was beyond nervous since she was amongst big names. After she did her scene she received a standing ovation. William Shatner (Capt. Kirk) is the last main actor to be alive from this film.

JEAN LOUIS-October 5, 1907-April 20, 1997

OCCUPATION: Fashion Designer
OSCAR NOMS: Thoroughly Modern Millie, Gambit, Ship of Fools, Judgement at Nuremberg, Backstreet, Bell, Book & Candle, Pal Joey, Queen Bee, It Should Happen To You, A Star is Born, From Here To Eternity,Affair in Trinidad, Born Yesterday
OSCAR WINS: Solid Gold Cadillac
ANECDOTE: He designed  all the outfits for Marlene for the film above but also for her "see-through" gowns for her Cabaret shows. Marilyn Monroe saw these gowns and was so impressed she had him design her one-it's the one she wore when she sang Happy Birthday to JFK. He designed all the gowns for Loretta Young for her 1950's TV Show and much, much later, married her.

Marlene..

Marilyn with Jean Louis...

Rita Hayworth in her famous striptease gown from Gilda...

Loretta Young..

A to Z Challenge-Letter I

The second week and here we all are and we are now into the letter I. Head on over to the A to Z to check out everyone else and see what they are blogging about.  Here is my movie...

IVANHOE-1952

DIRECTOR: Richard Thorpe
STARS: Robert Taylor, Joan Fontaine, Elizabeth Taylor, George Sanders
OSCAR NOMS: Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Score
OSCAR WINS: Nil
PLOT: Ivanhoe is a noble Knight who fights Prince John from being King. The poor knight is loved by 2 women, is captured but is helped out by Robin Hood and his Merry men in tights.
LOVE: The Jousting scene!
TRIVIA: Robert Taylor (no relation to Elizabeth Taylor as his real name is Spangler Arlington Brough!), being a typical man, had a certain part of his anatomy rise to the occasion every time Liz Taylor bent over to care for him during a scene. They had to film this part in close up...on his face sillies! Remember It's not called Ivan and his Hoes

IRENE HOWARD-June 17, 1903-December ?, 1981

OCCUPATION: Casting Director
OSCAR NOMS: Nil
OSCAR WINS: Nil
ANECDOTE: She is the sister of the famous actor, Leslie Howard (Gone With The Wind fame). Casting directors were actually mostly women since they were the poor gals who had to go in search of actors/actresses...animals for a certain part and then screen them to see if they would be good for the part. If anyone knows what day she died, that would be great. I looked in my books plus the internet but no luck.

A to Z Challenge-Letter H

Ahh the letter H or as my dad would say "Hitch"  which I think is an Ottawa valley way to say this letter. Head on over to the A to Z Challenge to find new people writing about...anything:)

HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME-1939

DIRECTOR:William Dieterle
STARS: Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara, Edmond O'Brien, Thomas Mitchell
OSCAR NOMS: Best Sound, Best Score(drama or comedy)
OSCAR WINS: Nil
PLOT: During the middle ages a disfigured hunchback saves a beautiful gypsy from being burned at the stake
LOVE: When Ouasimodo saves Esmeralda
TRIVIA: Charles Laughton actually discovered Maureen O'Hara and was mesmerized by her beautiful eyes. The make up was so well done and was kept secret so the studio tried to have no pictures taken of Laughton in make up. If anyone watches Face Off, Michael Westmore who is a mentor on the show(his daughter is the host) and did quite a bit of the make up on the Star Trek series, is the nephew of Perc Westmore...he did the make up for this film.

CEDRIC HARDWICKE-February 19, 1893-August 6, 1964

OCCUPATION: Actor
OSCAR WINS: Nil
OSCAR NOMS: Nil
ANECDOTE: There were quite a few old fashioned British men who worked on films in the 1930's who would often gather for tea and cricket etc... it was elitist to say the least. When Sir Cedric Hardwicke was knighted by King George V, the king uttered "Rise, Sir Cedric Pickwick." Yup King George was hard of hearing.

A To Z Challenge-Letter G

The first week is done and so much more to go! Head on over to the A to Z Challenge to see who else has posted and what they are talking about. It's always neat to find out something new.

GONE WITH THE WIND-1939

DIRECTOR: George Cukor, Victor Fleming
STARS: Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Olivia DeHavilland, Leslie Howard, Hattie McDaniel
OSCAR NOMS: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress(Olivia), Best Sound, Original Score, Special Effects
OSCAR WINS:Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress(Hattie-1st African-American), Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography(Colour), Best Interior Design, Best Film Editing.
PLOT: A beautiful, intelligent, wanna slap her, wily vixen, who loves a man she can't have, marries to get ahead. Her charms are seen through by the dashing Rhett who comes to her aid off and on. She must deal with him, her nutty dad, the insipid, goody two shoes Melanie, the civil war and trying to keep her home-Tara.
LOVE: Rhett Takes her up those stairs. Scarlett must wear that Scarlett dress. Scarlet slaps Prissy
TRIVIA: Leigh did not like kissing Gable due to his bad breath(he wore dentures). Actually, when Gable was in the war, one morning, he took out his teeth and said to the other men, "Look at me, The King of Hollywood." :) (He was coined this term in the late 30's). George Cukor was known as a woman's director which made Gable uneasy, that and also Cukor was gay. To appease Gable, the studio fired Cukor and hired Fleming, Gable's rough and tough manly friend. On the sly, Leigh and DeHavilland still went to Cukor for direction.

CLARK GABLE-February 1, 1901-November 16, 1960

OCCUPATION: Actor
OSCAR NOMS: Gone With The Wind
OSCAR WINS: It Happened One Night
ANECDOTE: He fathered a child with the self-rightous Loretta Young. She, understandebly, could not have a child out of wedlock so she went away and came back with an girl she adopted. She made sure Gable was not seen near her daughter since they shared the same big ears. He only met her once. His son was born after he passed away.

A To Z Challenge-Letter F

It is the letter F and ooh what fun we could have with this letter:) Head on over to the A to Z Challenge to check out what the others have blogged about.

FROM HERE TO ETERNITY-1953

DIRECTOR: Fred Zinneman
STARS: Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Montgomery Clift, Donna Reed, Frank Sinatra, Earnest Borgnine
OSCAR NOMS: Best Actor, Best Actor (Burt & Clift), Best Actress, Best Score, Best Costumes
OSCAR WINS: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography (B & W), Best Sound, Best Editing
PLOT: The trials and tribulations of the men and women stationed in Hawaii just before Pearl Harbour is attacked.
LOVE: The famous beach scene of course:)
TRIVIA: Lancaster and Kerr had an affair while making this film. Sinatra begged for this role and took a huge reduction in salary. Harry Cohn, head of Columbia Pictures was very autocratic, rude and very foul-mouthed so when he bought the rights to the book, which was graphic in its language, one executive said it was right up Cohn's alley.

FRANK SINATRA- December 12, 1915-May 14, 1998

OCCUPATION: Singer, Actor, Wanna-be Bigshot
OSCAR NOMS:The Man With The Golden Arm
OSCAR WINS: From Here To Eternity
ANECDOTE: Volatile, arrogant man with ties to the underworld was also complicated. He would often help out people in need. When Bela Lugosi died and there was no money for his funeral, Sinatra quietly paid for it. He was married to the "Don't tie me down, I love bullfighters" gal, Ava Gardner. When she left him, he tried to commit suicide.

A TO Z CHALLENGE-LETTER E & THURSDAY MOVIE PICKS:)

I am combining the 2 blog hops...because I can:) Check out the A to Z Challenge to read about what other people are talking about-it could be about books, travel, inventions...whatever tickles your fancy:) Over at Wandering Through The Shelves, the topic is Auto Racing/Cars and I was racking my brain to come up with one that fits both challenges since the other 2 were simpler for me. Thankfully, I actually saw my A to Z Challenge when I was a kid! Anyhoo The first one is my A to Z challenge with the person involved in the film and then comes my other 2 TMP:)

1. EXCUSE MY DUST-1951

DIRECTOR: Roy Rowland, Buster Keaton (uncredited)
STARS: Red Skelton, Sally Forrest, MacDonald Carey, Monica Lewis
OSCAR NOMS: Nil
OSCAR WINS: Nil
PLOT:An inventor, who is laughed at by the townspeople for inventing a horseless carriage that runs on gasoline, enters a race.
LOVE: The race of course:)
TRIVIA: The car is an 1892 Philion Road Carrier that was also used in The Magnificent Amberson and is now in a museum in Reno, Nevada.


EDWIN B. WILLIS-January 28, 1893-November 26, 1963

OCCUPATION: Set Decorator/Set Designer
OSCAR NOMS: Les Girls, Raintree Country, Lust For Life, BlackBoard Jungle, I'll Cry Tomorrow, Executive Suite, Brigadoon, Story of 3 Loves, Young Bess, Too Young To Kiss, Red Danube, Annie Get Your Gun, Madame Bovary, Kismet, Picture of Dorian Gray, National Velvet, Madame Curie, Thousands Cheer, Random Harvest, When Ladies Met, Great Ziegfeld, Romeo & Juliet.
OSCAR WINS: Somebody Up The Likes Me, Julius Caesar, Lili, The Bad and The Beautiful, An American in Paris, Little Women, The Yearling, Gaslight, Blossoms In The Dust
ANECDOTE: He only ever worked at MGM. Wowzers to all the oscar wins and Nominations!-Take that Merryl Streep!

2. THE GREAT RACE-1965

This is such a fun film with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Natalie Wood involved in a car race across 3 continents  to promote the sales of Automobiles since it takes place in the early part of the 20th century. Tony Curtis is all in white, Lemmon is all in black and tries to prevent Curtis from winning while Natalie Wood is the reporter wanting to cash in on this race. It's a tribute to laurel and Hardy and ends with a great pie fight. I always wanted to be in a pie fight....

3. THE GUMBALL RALLY-1976

Another fun film based on a real road trip where a bored, rich business man decides to tell his other co-horts that the Gumball Rally has begun. The one to get to the finish line first wins and as long as they are driving a car, there are no rules and speed limits do not apply. It is fun to see all the shenanigans from the various members of this rally, get themselves in to. It started the craze of some other fun flicks like the Cannonball Run.