Stuntmen

 

I always have had the greatest respect for the stuntman and woman. I first became enthralled by them when watching the silent films with the Keystone Kops and the antics they went through knowing it was all real. Later, I loved Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin and the great Buster Keaton who did all his own stunts and even broke his neck once but didn’t realize it until a few years later when a doctor asked when he broke his neck. Many of the early stuntmen came from rodeos and circuses who knew how to develop the safe stunt. The grandfather of making western stunts safe is Yakima Canutt, a rodeo star who came to the movies and disliked how horses were killed for the sake of a stunt and many men ended up in the hospital. Whenever you see someone fall off a horse, being dragged by a horse or the “star” jumping from the stagecoach into the horse team only to fall underneath, is all Yakima. Yakima taught John Wayne many stunts but he was also a double for Wayne. The most infamous scene that brought in many rules to help the Stuntmen, is the flood scene from “Noah’s Ark” from 1928. When you watch the scene and see the extras in fear trying not to drown…that is real fear! Michael Curtiz didn’t give a rat’s ass about the people so much so that the cinematographer, left the set. You had over a million gallons of water being thrown into the set with the extras…3 people died, one lost a leg and many were badly injured. John Wayne, Ward Bond and Andy Divine were all extras and Wayne said he almost drowned. So, without further delay, here are my 3 picks involving great stunts…

1. SEVEN CHANCES-1925

This is a film my brother and I stumbled across when we were visiting our Aunt and Uncle in Michigan. Buster Keaton plays a man who will receive $7million if he can get married within a day. He tries to find women who are willing to marry him to no avail but then, the women find out he will become very rich and a throng of women chase him. He ends up running down a hill with all sorts of rocks, big and small roll with him and he must avoid all of them. We were just laughing so much at this scene and didn’t realize how dangerous it was but that is how Buster worked. 

2. WHAT’S UP, DOC-1972

I love…love this comedy that stars Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal and introduces Madeleine Kahn as Eunice. All these cast of characters end up at a hotel and there are 4 bags that are identical, one holds top secret government information, another, priceless jewels, a third, clothes and lastly, igneous rocks. The climax is this amazingly funny chase scene through the streets of San Francisco( nope, you don’t see Karl Malden or Michael Douglas) creating much havoc, and damage. One man is in a convertible who goes through an awning before being hurled in the air into the bay. The stuntman suffered serious injuries and passed out and, later, could not remember the stunt. The director, Peter Bogdonavich, read that Volkswagens float so the stuntman drove the car into the bay only for the car to sink like a rock. After a tense 3 minutes, the stuntman finally came up for air but it was a close call. I have to watch this again…it is very funny.

3. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL-2011

Tom Cruise is crazy! I’m not one for this guy since he is a rabid Scientologist but I don’t mind many of his films and I do enjoy his Mission Impossible movies. He loves to run like no one can and he loves doing his own stunts like this one where he does climb up this building which is just way too high and then he swings across! Did I say he is nuts? Obviously, he is an adrenaline junky and loves climbing up these buildings, hanging from an airplane, riding a motorcycle off a cliff and jumping from one building to another (and breaking his foot in the process). The plot is a good one and I love the camaraderie of all the main people here which makes this one a fav of mine. 

Bonus…

HOLLYWOOD: HAZARDS OF THE GAME

I love the PBS series that aired in the mid 70s narrated by James Mason. Kevin Brownlow was a film historian who loved the silent film and could create this series that the average Joe loved to watch even if they didn’t like silent movies. It’s less than an hour but talks about the stuntman and what they did and went through. It’s pretty sad but, if you have the time, I hope you will watch this episode( one of 13) that makes your heart stop watching these stuntmen perform.

What stunts made you go…wow! No CGI either.

Which Song Won The Oscar-1969

 

So, it’s 1969 and times are a changing. There are quite a few songs, some traditional but you are hearing newer music coming to the fore. So let’s see if you can figure out which one won the Oscar, which was nominated and which one got no lovin’. I’m joining in on Monday Music Moves Me which you should check out what others love, music wise.

1. COME SATURDAY MORNING SUNG BY THE SANDPIPERS

This was written by  Fred Karlin with lyrics by Dory Previn shown in the film, “The Sterile Cuckoo”  which is a film I still need to see..one day I will.

2. MY PERSONAL PROPERTY SUNG BY SHIRLEY MACLAINE AND JOSEPH GERSHENSON

This song, written by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields, is another nice song from “Sweet Charity” which is a fun movie with some great singing and dancing from the main star along with Chita Rivera and Sammy Davis Jr. 

3. RAINDROPS KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD SUNG BY BJ THOMAS

This song, written by Burt Bacharach with lyrics by Hal David comes from a western, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”  during a lull in the guys’ stealing. Etta Place, played by Katherine Ross, is having some fun with Butch, played by Paul Newman on a new tangled contraption called a bicycle. A modern song set during western times. 

So, which one won, which was nominated and which got nuttin’?

Who Should Have Won The Best Actor Oscar-1987

 

I wish to apologize for my unfinished post here. I just looked at it. Yesterday, my ex's sister in law died. Im still great friends with Jeff and his family was a huge part of my life. This is sad on many levels because she would still be here if she wasnt stubborn and refused to see a dr.  It is very sad and i was talking with Jeff and just winded. 

Some movies get all the accolades and others see no love. In 1987, I feel Spielberg’s film, “Empire of the Sun”  got very little love and it is, actually, not well known which is a shame. I’m going with best actor and this might bring controversy but, good, I welcome it! I will say whom, I think should have won, who did win and who was nominated so let’s go…

1. CHRISTIAN BALE IN EMPIRE OF THE SUN

I think this is one of the best Steven Spielberg films that he made. It stars a 13 year old Christian Bale( you know, Batman) as a spoiled kid of  English parents in China. When the Japanese invade, the family do their best to escape but they get separated from their son. The kid wanders back to his now empty home only to be on his own. The Japanese take him away along with many others to an internment camp. This kidl own how to survive and loves hanging out with the U.S. prisoners headed by John Malcovich. It's rich in story telling, acting, cinematography  and writing. I wish this you g Bale won. 

2. MICHAEL DOUGLAS  IN WALL STREET

Michael Douglas won the Os ar for playing this narcissistic, unscrupulous man who teaches the young guy, played by Charlie Sheen, how to get ahead in this crazy part of the world. It's a showy part but, I do t know, the movie was underwhelming for me and I wasn't into this character or Douglas's portrayal of him.

3. ROBIN WILLIAMS IN GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM

Robin Williams deserved this nomination plus earned respect on the acting field showing he was more than just Mork from Ork. It's based on a true story how this deejay brought great music to the GIs while butting heads with the establishment. It's really a good film.

I wrote this up quick and apologies that I did not see this until now. What are your thoughts for the year 1987?

Rain, Rain, Rain…With Some Snow, Sleet….

 

My Lexi wonders when warmer weather will come in our neck of the woods. We have been having rain but Toronto got some wet snow and other places had freezing rain. Honestly, I always think rain, at this time of year, is natures’ way of cleaning everything up. This week, at Monday  Music Moves Me, it’s about  Rain and, without further adieu, here are my 3…

1. SINGING IN THE RAIN SUNG BY CLIFF EDWARDS AND  THE BROX SISTERS-1929

This famous song did not start with Gene Kelly dancing with his umbrella, but in this 96 year old film with Ukelele Ike and the Brox Sisters introducing the song along with some of the most famous movie stars of the day. Joan Crawford is in this and she truly thought she could sing and dance…..no, just …no. I like seeing Buster Keaton in this and some of the greats that no one knows today. You can also see Arthur Freed who wrote the lyrics and Nacio Herb Brown who wrote the music. Freed became very famous with the Freed unit, his own production group that did  bring the very famous film, “Singing in the Rain”  to the cinemas.

2. THE RAIN IN SPAIN SUNG BY JULIE ANDREWS, REX HARRISON AND ROBERT COOTE-1956

 Of course, we know the famous film with  Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle who was dubbed by the famous voice, Marni Nixon but the role was originated by Julie Andrews on Broadway. When it came time to cast for the film version of the Lerner and Lowe musical, the studio didn’t want to take a chance on an unknown so they went with Audrey. Julie Andrews, instead, made a little film called, “Mary Poppins” and won the Oscar over…Audrey Hepburn.

3. ISN’T IT A LOVELY DAY TO BE CAUGHT IN THE RAIN SUNG BY FRED ASTAIRE-1935

This Irving Berlin song is sung by Fred Astaire and so wonderfully danced by Fred and Ginger Rogers. This is from their famous film, “Top Hat” that has so many great musical numbers and this is one of those great numbers. They, also, love to dance in the rain.

Any rain songs you can think of?

Thursday Film Picks

 

Richard Chamberlain died 2 days before he would have turned 91 on March 31st. I don’t know why but I just feel so very sad that he died even though he lived a nice long life ( unlike Val Kilmer, who just passed at only 65 from pneumonia but was dealing with Cancer for years although, I think, he was in remission). I think it’s because I had a crush on him when he became the King of the Miniseries back in the early 1980s. Strangely, I never saw him in his iconic TV series, “Dr. Kildare”  when women, all over the U. S. And Canada swooned over the handsome actor, but, one day, I will watch some episodes. I also love him in the Musketeer films that were so much fun and star filled( I consider these Musketeer films the best). I am talking about his miniseries roles and tv movies that I love…

1. SHOGUN-1980

This miniseries made Chamberlain a megastar after his Dr. Kildare series. The miniseries became a force since this show was on regular TV( yes, regular, no cable). He plays the Captain of a ship that became shipwrecked near feudal Japan and becomes embroiled in the war between 2 lords, one played by the legendary Toshiro Mifune,  and does his best to keep the peace while falling in love with a Japanese woman which is just not allowed. It is being remade now and getting huge accolades but this was the first.

2. THE THORNBIRDS-1983

This is an excellent miniseries with the legendary Barbara Stanwyck as a grande dame  who owns a very large sheep ranch. Her brother and his family come to help run the ranch and this is when we meet a very young Maggie who doesn’t get much love from her mom, played by Jean Simmons. Maggie is so happy to meet and become friends with the priest, played by Chamberlain. When, one New Year’s, she comes down the stairs, the priest has some very impure thoughts. Over the years, we see how their love for each other grows and grows culminating on a hot and heavy week on a beach. This mini series created a huge stir over at the Vatican that condemned this series for its depiction of a priest who dares fall in love and have sex with a woman( all altar boys were safe with this priest). It’s such a well acted series and remains faithful to the book which I did read, many moons ago.

3. WALLENBERG: A HERO’S STORY-1985

When I watched this mini-series based on the heroism of this Swedish diplomat and a man with royal lineage, I had no idea who Wallenberg was. After watching this excellent tv movie ( thank God all the different cable channels and streaming didn’t exist) I had to learn more about Raoul Wallenberg and was sad to know that he was 5ake n by the Russians and ended up in one of their prisons. This man, working at the Swedish embassy, was able to save thousands of Jewish people during WW2 only to be treated in such abhorrent manner by the Russian government. The Russians took this man, placed him in prison until he died never admitting they took this hero.

4. THE BOURNE IDENTITY-1988

Who thought Matt Damon played the first Jason Bourne? Well, you are incorrect because Richard Chamberlain played him first and, I think, he does a really good job as the amnesiac assassin who is trying to find out who he is with the help of the beautiful Jacklyn Smith. Of course, the Damon films have a much bigger budget with great effects not to mention, car chases but this is an under-rated gem, in my humble opinion which held my attention all the way through.

Any Chamberlain films you can think of? What about Val Kilmer? 

Dieter's Dance Party

 

The 1980s was a fun time for me, with many bars and Discos laid waste to my vodka and OJ drunken escapades. It was fun dancing the night away and I got a kick out of the many German songs that made it big during this decade.  Some were good but some are just ...dumb  as dumb can be. It's freebie week over at Monday Music Moves Me  and I movin' to German songs baby..

1. DA, DA, DA BY TRIO-1981

I first heard this song when I was in Austria in 1982 and just thought it was the stupidest song I ever heard. That assessment has not changed. It took a while to make it here...still dumb as fu#$&. There was a commercial that used this song and it was funny.

2. 99 LUFT BALLOONS BY NENA-1983

This is a pretty cool song that still gets airplay in both the German and English language. What I find funny is how many guys found her sexy only to have their illusion shattered when she lifted her arms over her shoulders showing her hairy armpits. I don't know what it's like now, but the European gals never thought of shaving ...anything. I'll leave you with that. 

3. ROCK ME, AMADEUS SUNG BY FALCO-1985

This was a big hit for Falco who was inspired to write a song about this great composer after he saw the film about Mozart that starred Tom Hulce as Mozart and F. Murray Abraham as the jealous Salieri. I just recall dancing to it more than once. The Simpsons did a great parody of a musical Planet of the Apes with the words, “ Rock me, Dr. Zaius.”

What fun music did you rock to that came from  another country?

April Star of the Month- Melvyn Douglas

 

MELVYN DOUGLAS

BIRTH: April 5, 1901

DEATH: August 4, 1981

AGED: 80 years

DIED FROM: pneumonia and cardiac issues

REAL NAME: Melvyn Edouard Hesselberg

MARRIED: Twice-1st to Rosalind Hightower. 2nd to Helen Gahagan, an actress and the physical inspiration for the Evil Queen in Disney’s Snow White.  She became a 3 time Congresswoman(D)

CHILDREN: 3 kids. 1 from the first and 2 with his 2nd wife

GRANDKID: Illiana Douglas- check her out, you know her

FRIENDS: FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt 

OSCAR NOMINATIONS: “I Never Sang  For My Father”

OSCAR WINS: “ Hud” and “ Being There”

KNOWN FOR: winning trifecta in awards- Oscar, Emmys and Tony Awards

This man is a solid actor who had no illusions about age, stood up against tyranny, faithful to his wife and loved being an actor. His mom, came from high Southern family and  had her direct roots to the Mayflower while his dad was an immigrant from Latvia who was a Concert Pianist and composer and taught piano. Melvyn had no idea his dad was Jewish until he turned 14 years old and learned about his heritage from his aunts who were proud to tell him. He loved his Jewish ancestry and never hid from it where most people did in Hollywood, like all the studio heads. Melvyn never finished high school but signed up for WW1 and, after that, ended up on the theatre stage….his first love. He married twice, the first to  an artist and had one son with her who, in turn, had a daughter, Iliana Douglas, who made a name in her own right as an actress on film and TV. His 2nd wife was his big love and, together, they were a force, often fighting for injustice. When they visited Europe after they got married, in 1931, and saw first hand, the anti-Semitism in Germany and France, were appalled and fought fascism for the rest of their lives. After the 2nd World War, which he signed up and was head of  an Entertainment unit in Burma rising to Major, he and his 2nd wife started being called leftist sympathizers which caused a delay in his film career. I love that his wife became a 3 time congresswoman who went up against Nixon in 1950. Nixon fought dirty ( and won) calling her a Pinko and said he wouldn’t be surprised if her undies were even pink. She was the one that coined the term, “Tricky Dick”..I think I love her! When he returned to the big screen, he looked much older, probably due to his heart issues. Sadly, his wife died of cancer in 1980 and Melvyn was left bereft. He did make one more film, “Ghost Story” but sadly died before his scenes were done. The director worked around those scenes and it became his last film. A rare gentleman in Hollywood.

FILMS

1. Theodora Goes Wild-1936  ( my favourite)

2. Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream Home-1948

3. I Never Sang For My Father-1970

4. Hud-1963

5. Ninotchka-1939

6. Ghost Story-1981

7. Being There-1980

8. As You Desire Me-1932

9. That Gorgeous Hussey-1936

10. That Uncertain Feeling-1941

The Last 3 and others not mentioned, I have yet to see. I tried to placed the first 7 in order of my favourites…Ninotchka should be higher..just so darn hard.