The Last Place I Would Want To Live In

 

Have you ever been in a place, or watched a movie, where you thought that this town or area would be the last place in the world where you would ever want to reside in? I have been through some towns that looked so boring that I was happy when I pushed the metal to the pedal. There are some pretty blecchy places I have seen in movies that made me wonder what on earth would make a person want to live there ( Dorothy’s home in Kansas is one. I’d want to stay in Oz) and so I chose 3 films that I would not even stop to take a pee.

1. BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK-1955

This is an excellent film about war heroes and rascists who bully the few nice people who live in this dusty, dreary town. Spencer Tracy plays a war vet, with one arm, who is trying to locate Komoko, a Japanese man who had a nearby farm, to give him a war medal that his son earned. Unfortunately, Tracy meets up with some real nasty, rascist men who will do anything to stop Tracy from meeting Komoko. The dreariness of the town, the dust and sand helps propel the starkness and evil that lives in this town.

2. BAGDAD CAFE-1987

I would love to see this film again because it is such an odd, quirky film that appeals to me. A German couple are having an argument while driving through the desert in Southern U.S. They are tourists but this lady has had enough and demands her husband stop the car, which he does and she gets out, slamming the door, leaving him and ending up at this restaurant, motel in the middle of nowhere’s ville. When she enters the restaurant, she is greeted very coldly by the proprietor, a woman, who has been through too many events in her life and has ended at the end of the road in the Mohave desert. Soon, this uptight German Hausfrau get down to doing what Germans do best…clean! I’m not kidding, Germans know how to clean…they dust every day, wash the floors daily and scrub them weekly and clean the windows every week. My mom was German so, I know what I am talking about. You watch as this German Hausfrau starts cleaning every motel room and gradually, ingratiates herself with the locals and is being wooed by a former Hollywood Set designer turned painter who lives in an old air streamer, played so well by Jack Palance. Her and the owner soon become good friends and this German lady brings in the crowds with her infectious personality and her magic tricks. It was a sleeper hit when it came out and deserves to be more widely known. It is a delight and there was even a short-lived TV show that starred Whoopi Goldberg.

3. TREMORS-1990

This is a dumb movie but one, for some reason, I can watch over and over…tell me why and I can’t. It stars Kevin Bacon and Fred Wardas a couple of handymen who live in this desolate town called Perfection. They can’t wait to leave this town( I can’t blame them) and talk about it while in the General store/restaurant/post office owned by the opportunistic Walter Chang. The 2 decide to leave but come across an old man perched up on a hydro pole, dead. The local doctor says he died from dehydration but, for some reason would not return to the ground. Soon after, the 2 come across a sheep herder and his sheep, dead. They head back to town bringing with them some worm like creature attached to Bacon's truck. They realize they need to go for help but they must find the local student who is studying seismic activity. They find out that the only road out is blocked so they get back on their horses, yup, horses and take off before the horses rail up throwing them off and the horses take off. Up from the ground, rises a giant ugly worm( that probably looks like Trump’s colon) tht tries to et them. They take off and end up in an aqueduct saving themselves because the ugly worm rams right into it and dies. There they meet up with the student who sees the worm and surmises that there are 3 more from what she has been following with her equipment. They soon find themselves running from another worm and end up on a bunch of rocks which the worms cannot penetrate. They find a way to get out of there and back to town telling the residents about these worms. The locals soon realize they must crawl up on the roofs of their homes while one couple, one scary, survivalist couple, played so well by Michael Gross and Reba McIntyre, venture to their homes while where they own way, way, way too many guns. These worms follow the trio back to their town and devise a way to destroy the town to eat the residents. It is gross…the stinky, slimy worms, but it is funny and enjoyable if you want to sit and watch something and not think. This is one town that is anything but perfection.

Can you tell I would never want to live in the desert? Which desolate town or place would you never want to live in? 

Think Spring!

 

Monday Music Moves Me is to think about sunny spring weather to come. Ughh….it’s March which, in my area, means warm weather..nope…cold…nope, rain, nope, it’s freezing…wait, snowing..ughhhh, I give up. I hate March because it’s schizoid and disrupts my brain, an easy feat, mind you, but still crazy so thinking Spring is nice…

1. SO EARLY IN THE SPRING SUNG BY JUDY COLLINS-1965

This is sung so beautifully by Judy Collins who gave this sweet, albeit, melancholy song justice with her exquisite voice. It’s based on a traditional, British folk tune about a man who leaves the woman he loves, when he goes out to sea. When he returns, he finds that she is now with someone else. Ouch! What a wench! 

2.  SPRING IS HERE SUNG BY CARLY SIMON-1981

This is so well sung by the inimitable Carly Simon from a song written by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodger’s back in 1938 for the musical, “ I Married An Angel” and was originally sung by Dennis King and Vivienne Segal. In fact, Hart fell hard for Ms. Segal and asked her to marry him, more than once, but she always said no. The lyrics seem to evoke his disappointment in losing this love.

3. SPRING FEVER SUNG BY ELVIS AND SHELLEY FABARES-1965

This is just a silly song for a silly beach movie that starred Elvis and Shelley Fabares as 2 silly kids who want to have a nice break in Florida on the beach. This song doesn’t win any awards but, it put a smile on my face so, that’s why it’s here.

What songs makes you think of spring?

Star Of The Month-Louise Beavers

 

LOUISE BEAVERS

BIRTH: March 8, 1902

DEATH: October 26, 1962

AGED: 60 years old

DIED FROM: Heart Attack, after years of ill health..had diabetes

MARRIED: Twice, the second time lasted until her death

CHILDREN: No Children

OSCAR WINS: None, No Nominations even though many people felt, at the time, she deserved an Oscar nom. for her role in Imitation of Life

TALENT: She was a noted singer and played in a few bands during the 20s.

KNOWN FOR: Playing maids even though she could not cook at all. A vocal advocate for African-American rights.

The sweet-faced Louise Beavers was an actress at the wrong time, being African-American, because she would have won an Oscar and be a much bigger name today given her talents. She made the most of it and championed equal rights at a time when racism was very open even in Hollywood. Today, she is known for plying a multitude of maids who cooked up a storm and offered her own advice and talents to her white employers often helping them with their own problems and, making them rich on her ideas or cooking prowess. Funny anecdote, Louise could not cook a stitch! She, probably, didn’t even know how to boil water…lol. This lady did all she could to fight for her own rights and the rights of the African-Americans. She would, successfully, change words in the script to soften the way people spoke to the black people ( ie. she changed the word..N@#& to Negro), and she would inflect her own style into her characters so you would feel for her character whether it be sadness,  hope, or empathy. Off screen she fought for equal rights, she was part of a group who were successful in fighting land covenants that barred African Americans from buying homes in her L. A. neighbourhood. She also co-founded the Doll League which gave dolls to underprivileged girls. 

She started in Hollywood as an actual maid to a famous Hollywood star, Leatrice Joy ( the Meryl Streep of her day) to having her own TV Show, “Beulah”  in the early 1950s. Yes, she played a maid, but she was the star and the first African-American to have her own show( albeit, Ethel Waters and then, Hattie McDaniel played the character first). She should have been nominated, if not won the Oscar, for her role in Imitation of Life, fought for the rights of her people, helped underprivileged children and was known as a sweet and good natured lady. She deserves a place right beside many famous stars of the classic era.

FILMS

1. Imitation of Life-1934

2. Mr. Blandings Build His Dream House-1948

3. Reform School-1939

4. She Done Him Wrong-1933

5. The Jackie Robinson Story-1950

6. Holiday Inn-1942

7. Wives Never Know-1936

8. Bullets or Ballets-1936

9. Gold Diggers of Broadway-1929

10. Make Way For Tomorrow-1937

Robert Duvall Special

Another great has has passed away. Robert Duvall started on TV in many guest starring episodes with one of my favourites being the shy man who falls for a doll in a doll house in a famous Twilight Zone episode. He was very memorable as Boo Radley in the great film, “To Kill A Mockingbird”, he was the reliable accountant in the Godfather films, was super in the small but memorable role as nut lieutenant Colonel who loves the smell of Napalm in the morning in “Apocalypse Now” and he won the Oscar as a down on his luck country singer in “Tender Mercies”. I still need to see this last film and I will this year! He worked with some of the greats like John Wayne( they didn’t really get along…acting styles clashed) and Marlon Brando and must have made Kevin Costner, Robert Downey Jr., and Tom Cruiseso happy to work this legend. He is known for his rough and tumble roles and was a natural as a cowboy like in “Lonesome Dove”. Did you know that he loved the Argentine Tango and built his own dance studio on his property!? I would have loved to have seen him perform this in a film. It was hard to choose 3 films, so I just thought of 3 movies where he is more the star or star equal and that popped into my head right away.

1. SECONDHAND LIONS-2003

This is, what I refer to, as a quiet film that did not get much fanfare but is a real gem. It stars Duvall, Michael Caine and Haley Joel Osment as 2 old great Uncles who must care for the boy when his mom leaves him with them so she can go find another husband. The boy and the 2 old guys don’t really see eye to eye but this changes with the boy learning about loving life and reawakening his Great Uncles’ love for life. Their stories about their life is fun to listen to and far fetched but inspires the boy to be more than he thought he could be. Most people probably have not seen this gem, but it should be seen by many because the acting is perfect and Michael Caine and Robert Duvall have great chemistry. It’s a film for all ages.

2. OPEN RANGE-2003

This is a classic Western that stars Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall as roaming cowboys with cattle who come up to a nearby town. They have 2 other men who work with them and send the young guy to get some supplies from the town. When he doesn’t come back, they realize something bad has happened. Their friend and co-worker has been severely beaten and is being treated by the town doctor’s sister, played by Annette Bening. There is an immediate attraction between Costner and Bening but that is put on the back burner when they meet the town’s head, played evily( is that a word?) by Michael Gambon. When their camp is attacked and their other friend and the dog are killed, they decide to stand up to the thugs in this town. I love Westerns and this is a great western that just gets better and better the more I watch it. Michael Jeter( look him up, you know this character actor) plays the local blacksmith and this was his final film before he died from an epileptic seizure which was a sad loss for Hollywood.

3. THE JUDGE-2014

Robert Duvall plays the title role and was Oscar nominated for Best Supporting Actor in this film that stars Robert Downey Jr. as a successful, but shady, lawyer who comes home to deal with his estranged dad who is dying from cancer, after his mom died. Duvall is the epitome of what is the best and true so it becomes huge surprise to everyone when he is the key suspect in a hit and run fatality. The judge objects when his son wants to defend him. This film has a nice weaving of drama with some comedic bits that just helps the film along. It is not only a courtroom drama but a character study between the  stubborn old coot and the wayward son. It shows some excellent acting chops by Duvall and Robert Downey between his roles as Sherlock and Iron Man. I wonder how many people have seen this film which is another gem.

What are your favourite Duvall Films?

Which Song Won the Oscar 2001

 

It’s freebie week over at Monday Music Moves Me and I placed my Oscar song in for this week because it is Freebie week. I love one song and I’m ok with the others but let’s see if you get this right. Last month, the least likely song won the actual Oscar (It Goes Like It Goes won! The Rose was not even nominated and The Rainbow Connection was nominated). So which song won the Oscar, which was nominated and which got nuttin’? Here we go…

1. COME WHAT MAY SUNG BY NICOLE KIDMAN AND EWAN MCGREGOR

This is a great song from the film, “Moulin Rouge” which is a musical version of Camille. Most of the songs, we know well( “Like A Virgin” is a notable one), but this is a new song and a major one that helps the romantic storyline. This was written by David Baerwald and Kevin Gilbert and was a big hit for the film.

2. IF I DIDN'T HAVE YOU SUNG BY JOHN GOODMAN AND BILLY CRYSTAL

Monsters, Inc. was a big animated hit creating quite a few sequels and, even if you haven’t seen the film, like me, you know the main protagonists from commercials and special events. Billy and John play best friends who work in a scare factory where the monsters enter the human world to scare children in their bedrooms. This song was written by Randy Newman who is very well known in the Oscar world and has created more than one song for animated movies, most notably, “Toy Story.”

3. MAY IT BE SUNG BY ENYA

Take a wild guess which song is my favourite…lol. This song appears at the end credit for, “ The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.”  To me, it is so beautiful and fits in with this great film about a band of unlikely heroes involving Hobbits, Wizards, Elves, Dwarves and Men, who must try to bring this evil ring to Mordor and throw it back into the volcano from whence it came. I love…love this film and consider it a classic right long with many greats like Casablanca and Citizen Kane. This song was written by Enya and Roma Ryan and just gives a dream like, otherworldly effect that suits the film.

So, can you guess who won the Oscar, who was nominated and who came up empty-handed?

First Card For the Year!

 

52 Christmas Cards- use gold and black

Stamping Sensations- Anything Goes

My first card of the year and I need to get my mojo back. I hope you still will enjoy this part of my creativity because I do enjoy it. I stamped this saying in versamark and sprinkled the powder on so the foil will take to it. I used gold foil and pressed down on it, rubbing the foil so it would stick to the stamped image. I added gold and black cardstock with the final black cardstock, embossed through the cuddlebug and used the foil technique again for the edges. Finally, I added the border stickers and some extras around the saying to complete this. 

I wanted this up on Monday, but I just kept falling asleep most of the day and then work and making money got in the way:) 

Rain…Thankfully, No Sleet, Freezing Rain or Snow

 

Yesterday, there was a bad storm that hit much of Southern Ontario, especially, Toronto and the surrounding areas. The Niagara Region, thankfully, was spared everything but the cold Rain which is my theme for this week.

1. SINGING IN THE RAIN-1952

Of course, this had to be on my list. This is a classic musical, comedy concerning the film industry’s movement from Silent Cinema into sound and the trials and tribulations they faced. If you think anything is exaggerated, think again! The writers knew all the details from the horrible voice of the great Jean Hagan as the nasty Lena Lamont to the microphones hidden everywhere to the frilly outfit that Don Lockwood, played so well by Gene Kelly,  wears which was one of Rudolph Valentino’s costumes. Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are great Silent Cinema romantic pairings, who are the King and Queen of Hollywood. They are making their next movie when the Producer of the studio, played so well by Millard Mitchell, stops everything because  they must now convert the sound stages to sound. In the meantime, Don has met a pretty young thing, Cathy, played by the ever spunky Debbie Reynolds, and falls for her. Along with his best friend, Donald O’Connor, who upstages Gene and can match him dancing, no easy feat, decide to make the next film a musical since the Romantic movie sucked with. Capital S. This film is an excellent comedy on its own but the music sets it just that much above especially the dance ballet that showcases a sizzling Cyd Charisse, who slithers around Gene Kelly’s helpless body. Louise Brooks must have had a smile on her face since she was the inspiration for this character. This film is a must see.

2. THE RAINMAKER-1956

Katherine Hepburn, in an Oscar Nominated role as the spinster daughter of a cattle rancher, with 2 younger sons, pines for the sheriff who does not notice her at all. This part of the country has been experiencing a drought when in comes toothy grinned Burt Lancaster who promises rain. He ingratiates himself into the family and romances spinsterish Hepburn while the townsfolk slowly wish to run this conman out of town. It is a very well-acted play/movie, this type of film was big during the 1950s when many plays were adapted to the cinema. Yes, Katherine Hepburn is too old for this part and looks like her dad’s sister than daughter plus I just don’t feel the romance between Hepburn and Lancaster, maybe because Hepburn was not enamoured with her co-star, but it still works. I enjoyed the acting and the storyline and you route for this conman with the grin, you know you just can’t trust.

3. MIRACLE IN THE RAIN-1956

I saw this film Avery long time ago and just loved this romance between 2 lonely people, a woman who doesn’t trust men and a soldier who doesn’t give up on her before he must head off to war. Jane Wyman seemed to perfect the romantic woman in many films she starred in during the 1950s and Van Johnson always seemed to be a good support in these films but, in this, he seemed real. You follow these 2 during their brief love affair and know that he will return to her so when she doesn’t hear from him, we are left incredulous. When she is faced with a health crisis, you hope he will come to her and save her. There are subplots all about love in one form or another but the main players seem to bring this home. I hope to see this film again,

Did you get hit with the ice and sleet and snow yesterday? What film can you think of that represents the weather you experienced?