The Devil Made Me Do It

 

Yup, it’s spooky month but I am opting for this week and next for spooky times and what better way than to go the way of the devil. When I was a kid, I made my parents laugh  when, at the dinner table, I did something( what? I have no idea) and when my mom asked me why, I said, “The devil made me do it.” My parents were surprised by that and started to laugh and I felt good. Too good, because I overused this sentence and I did not get away with it which was a bummer. This just shows how the devil can rule us or not. I am choosing 2 films very well known and one old one but a gem that more should see. Here are my picks…

1. FAUST - 1926

I watched this film about 9 months ago and was blown away by the phenomenal direction, camerawork and acting. You have an old alchemist who wishes he could  stop the plague. Of course, you know who  ends up in front of Faust allowing him to end the plague, but for a price. When Faust agrees, he is made young by the devil, but must give up his soul once the day is done. Obviously, there is a love interest and Faust falls in love and she with him but that damn devil keeps getting in the way. Emil Jannings plays the devil and grabs the scenery in every scene but to great aplumb. The style of this film, the costumes and the brilliant photography, by Carl Hoffmann, is all orchestrated by the great director F. W. Murnau and is a must see.

2. THE OMEN-1976

Omen…Exorcist…Omen…Exorcist….I’m going with The Omen. This film still freaks me out in just about every scene and stars Gregory Peck and Lee Remick as a loving couple who are going to have  baby. He is an ambassador to London and strange events start to happen, mainly weird and freakish deaths all relating back to their sweet 5 yr old boy, Damien who is the Devil’s spawn. A priest tries to warn Peck bout his son and is rewarded by being speared to death. A photographer, played the great David Warner, notices that his photos showcase the death before it happens. Peck and Warner team up to find out what is going on and they find out, but is it too late? This is one film that still gives me the utter creeps and I still have nightmares from this film. I’m surprised that Gregory Peck starred in this film, but that was a good ploy since he was and is considered a heroic, good man that always wins in the end. You have scary dogs, a freaky nanny and a boy that plays the devil’s spawn really well.

3. CROSSROADS-1986

If you can find this gem of a film, watch it! I’m surprised this stars Ralph Macchio as a classical guitarist from Juilliard who has a fascination with blues music. He starts to investigate the life of famed Robert Johnson who, legend says, he sold his soul to the devil to gain his artistry in the blues. From there he finds a man who knew Johnson, Willie Brown, who is in prison but denies that he is Willie until he hears the kid play. He tells him he will help him find this crossroads but the kid must break him out of prison. Once he does, they end up on an adventure which provides the soul the kid needs when he plays the music. The kid finds out that Willie did sell his soul to the Devil and now, both of them are at the mercy of the Devil unless the kid can outplay the Devil’s best musical champion. If you love blues music, this is a must see film not only for. Great plot devised from a legendary story, but also the music which has its own character. I need to find this film on DVD and own it, but, I promise, not to sell my soul to the devil.

What devil movies can you think of?

Spooky Songs

 

Another crazy week with the normal zoo of work and my friend but my dear friend from Vancouver came down to visit me, Thursday evening and left this morning and it was a very busy, but very, very fun time. He is an active man that needs to go for his walks…an older friend of his calls it an airing which I love. I chased him out each morning for his airing..lol. On Saturday, we travelled to Elora, a pretty little town that is known for its Elora Gorge, but the month of October, they have “Spooky Month” with art pieces all around the town along with Ghost Walks and a “Monster Mash” in the evening which we didn’t see since it was at night and we were tired. Check out the other scary tunes over at Monday Music Moves Me and here are my 3..

1. THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC SUNG BY JUDY GARLAND-1942

This song, written by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen, had Judy Garland in mind when composing this famous song. We know it, mostly, by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe ( from the film, “Bus Stop”), but I wanted Judy since it was written for her voice.

2. NIGHTMARE BY ARTIE SHAW-1938

Artie Shaw composed this piece in 1936, but this is a recording from 2 years later. It’s quite moody, I think, with his clarinet playing.

3. WITCHCRAFT SUNG BY FRANK SINATRA-1961

I chose Ole’ Blue Eyes for this famous song since it is one of his many signature tunes and, I thought, he needs to be showcased here. This song was written by Cy Coleman with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, and sung by many musical stars over the decades. 

Which spooky songs can you think of?

Baseball Fever

 

What can I say except, I hope the Blue Jays win…but I doubt it. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think so. This made me think about America’s pastime and the many films  made about this sport. My brother loves baseball and has played baseball in 7 decades only stopping because his knees have given out ( he has to go for knee replacements). He has collected an immense array of baseball cards and is an expert on the value of baseball cards plus so much more. There are some major baseball films I still have to see-“ Pride of the Yankees”, “the Stratton Story”, “The Natural” and “Damn Yankees” plus more but I have chosen 3 that, I hope, I have not spoken bout before, but I could be wrong…lol.

1. FIELD OF DREAMS-1989

This is a very famous film now and I would consider it a classic which is rare for me since classics come from the early 60s back to the early 30s. This film is written and directed in a way that make a person believe  in themselves and in hope and faith. Kevin Costner is a farmer  who hears voices coming from his  cornfield, so builds a baseball diamond because, well, this will bring great sports men from the beyond to play ball. Everyone, including his wife, thinks he’s nuts but he keeps building things up and then takes off to find Darth Vader..er… Darth Vader’s voice, namely James Earl Jones who is a reclusive writer who hears the voices as well. They pick up an old Doctor, Burt Lancaster, who coulda been a contender, and they head back to the cornfield. This is an enchanting film that makes you believe in the common basics of human dignity, second chances and faith. It’s called a Capraesque film and I agree since you are left with a smile on your face and a belief in what we can’t see but we know it is there.

2. A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN-1992

I do love this film based on a true story about the women’s league in baseball during World War 2. Geena Davis plays the lead baseball gal who shows real promise as a player. Her sister, also talented, has some major jealousy issues as her sister gets a lot of press. Tom Hanks plays the old baseball great, once great, who is an alcoholic, doesn’t care about life and is now saddled as the coach of these young women who want to play ball. You have Rosie O’Donnell and Madonna who really make a great team as friends on the team. I love the other gals who shine in their roles as a mom with the most irritating brat to a “wallflower”   Aka ugly gal, who is a great ball player. It is fun, sad and endearing. Quick note, my brother met some of the actual ladies who were part of the women’s league which is very cool.

3. 42-2013

Chadwick Boseman, man, I miss this actor, plays Jackie Robinson, the first black baseball player hired to play in the major leagues but must contend with the disgusting prejudice that he had to endure from the higher ups, the fans and his fellow players. Chadwick Boseman deserved all the accolades and Harrison Ford is excellent as his manager who believes in him and what he stands for. This is more than just a baseball film, it’s a film about a heroic man who set the way for Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and many others to make the big leagues. What this man faced shows how much strength he endured but with dignity despite the anger he felt and had to endure. 

What baseball films have you seen?

Who Won Best Song-1996

 

Well, it’s still a shit show with my friend who had to call the cops, again, on her ex, since he came with a UHaul and started taking her old furniture which he always belittled. She got a protection order yesterday which will prevent him from coming into the home when she is not there and can be arrested. The 2 daughters seem to be “coming around” and apologized for their actions last week. They are entitled brats but I do love them. Thanksgiving Monday I spent the day helping her move stuff out and to just be there since I can’t really lift or do much of anything. My friend is seeing her lawyer today and now I pray this house sells! 

Now onto the show! Monday Music Moves Me is Freebie week and I am talking about which song won Best Oscar for 1997, let’s see if you can guess which won, which was nominated and which song got nuttin’!

1. I FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE SUNG BY BARBRA STREISAND 

Babs was a powerhouse becoming, not only a diva chanteuse and actress, but producer and director. This song comes from the film, “The Mirror Has Two Faces”  and was written by her and Canadian icon, Bryan Adams.  This song has been covered by many singers over the years.

2. I BELIEVE I CAN FLY SUNG BY R. KELLY

This is a song written and sung by R. Kelly for the film, “Space Jam”  that stars Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes gang along with Michael Jordan who are trying to save the world via a basketball gang. This song became a huge hit.

3. YOU MUST LOVE ME SUNG BY MADONNA

Madonna was at her best in the 1990s breaking out into movies with mixed reviews but she did really well in the Broadway hit made into a hit film, “Evita” . She played Eva Peron who is, to this day, revered by the people of Argentina. She was the poor woman who became an actress and, finally, the First Lady to the corrupt President, Juan Peron. Antonio Banderas played the revolutionary, Che Guevara, who is great in this film, by the way. This song was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

So..which song won, which was nominated and which song got nuttin’?

Best Actress-1940

 

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

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

1. ROSALIND RUSSELL IN HIS GIRL FRIDAY

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

2. KATHERINE HEPBURN IN THE PHILADELPHIA STORY

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

3. GINGER ROGERS IN KITTY FOYLE

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

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

Is It Autumn?

 

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

1. AUTUMN LEAVES SUNG BY EVA CASSIDY-2023

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

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

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

3. WHEN OCTOBER GOES SUNG BY ROSEMARY CLOONEY-1987

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

What songs about Autumn can you think of?

Star Of The Month- Alistair Sim

 

ALISTAIR SIM

BIRTH: October 9, 1900

DEATH: August 19, 1976

AGED: 75 years

DIED FROM: Cancer

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

CHILDREN: A daughter

OSCAR NOMINATIONS:  None!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. A Christmas Carol-1951

2. Happiest Days Of Your Life-1950

3. Green For Danger-1946

4. The Belles of St. Trinian’s-1954

5. Laughters In Paradise-1951

6. An Inspector Calls-1954

7. Rogue Male-1976( his last role)

8. Stage Fright-1950

9. Blue Murder at St. Trinian’s-1957

10. Escapade-1955

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