1. THE STORY OF VERNON AND IRENE CASTLE-1939
This was the first film to show Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as a married couple and was their last film at RKO. I love Dancing With The Stars despite all the liberties that are taken with the ballroom and Latin dances. I always wanted to learn ballroom dancing and took classes once. It is much harder than one thinks. Vernon and Irene Castle were an actual married couple who redeveloped ballroom dancing as we know it today. The foxtrot became more defined as a ballroom dance because of this couple. Fred Astaire wanted to keep the original dance the way the Castles danced it. I think it is a lovely film that tanked at the box office but is the sweetest of their films since it shows how they met, struggled and became famous.
2. ONE MILLION YEARS B.C.-1966
I could have chosen the 1940 version with Carole Landis but, come on, this is the one with Raquel Welch in her fur bikini. It is the beginning of man who seem to co-exist with dinosaurs which is fun to watch. The dark haired people seem even more primitive than the golden haired vixens. Of course a dark haired man falls for Welch and we get to see him fend off dinosaurs, watch women fight for a man and a Pterodactyl pick up Welch, as an appetizer, for her little birdies. Every teen boy’s wet dream movie.
3. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY-2014
I went with a new movie! This is all about a Han Solo type of dude who was taken off earth when he was a kid by some space pirates and now jet sets across the Galaxy. He steals an orb, not realizing its power, fights a green vixen, a nutty raccoon and a tree who are all after the orb. They end up in a prison where they meet Drax who tries to kill the green vixen. They find out what the orb does and they band together to save the galaxy. Vin Diesel delivers his best acting in his role as Groot (the tree). It is a fun, thrill ride, witty flick with great effects and music.
I've only seen Guardians but I like the route you went with the first two picks. I'm so bad at seeing Classic film I forget there's probably plenty of origin movies I'm missing there.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of you with my last pick:) Classic films are great to watch
DeleteI've only seen Guardians of the Galaxy and I loved it. I want to see The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle.
ReplyDeleteGuardians is fun and I hope you see this Astaire/Rogers film. Maybe you will see all their films they made together??:)
DeleteLike that you went in a somewhat different direction with your picks.
ReplyDeleteWhile Swing Time is my favorite of their films together I do like The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle for it uniqueness in their canon. I don't know how close they really stick to the original pair's life, Ginger refused to get her hair done in a Castle Bob for instance, but as an entertainment it's a good film plus having the great Edna May Oliver in the cast.
One Million Years B.C.! Ha what a relic but it made a star of Raquel and she does look sensational in it. The Carol Landis one is a hoot as well.
I'm pretty burnt out on sci-fi but Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the more enjoyable one of recent years thanks to Chris Pratt.
I went a more traditional route but avoided superheros like the plague.
The Bourne Identity (2002)-A young man (Matt Damon) is found floating in the ocean by fisherman, bullet riddled and with no memory of who he is or how he came to be in his situation. As he recovers he discovers he knows many languages, is versed in complex defensive skills and for some reason has a computer chip implanted in his hip. Sensing danger he assumes the identity Jason Bourne, the name on his passport and sets off to discover the facts of his life. He is actually a pursued agent with the bulk of the film following efforts to eliminate him during which he uses his skills to defend himself helped by a young woman (Franka Potente) he enlists along the way. Kinetic, exciting opener to the series followed by several excellent (and a few not so hot) sequels.
Dirty Harry (1971)-With San Francisco in the grip of a maniac known as Scorpio police inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) is put on the case since others have been ineffective. Harry, untroubled by things like procedure and rules, opens a can of whoop-ass on a variety of lowlifes and criminals in his pursuit of the lunatic. Responsible for the catch phrase "You've got to ask yourself a question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?" this massively successful film lead to four sequels.
A Family Affair (1937)-First film of the enormously successful Andy Hardy series follows the everyday adventures of small town California Judge Hardy (Lionel Barrymore in the first/Lewis Stone in the series), his wife (Spring Byington in the original/Fay Holden series), two children Marion (always Cecilia Parker) and Andy (Mickey Rooney) and their live in Aunt Millie (Sara Haden). This time out the judge is up for reelection but crooked politicians and a hack at the local paper try to throw the vote. Meanwhile oldest daughter Joan (who more or less vanished later on) returns home because of troubles in her marriage but after Andy jumps into action and has a man to man talk with his dad all turns out A-Okay! Sprightly piece of Americana was so successful (earning over 2 ½ million on a budget of less than 200 thousand) it begat a series of 15 follow-ups that proved such a money mill MGM used them to introduce their most promising up and comers including Lana Turner, Kathryn Grayson, Esther Williams and Judy Garland who became a semi-regular as next door neighbor Betsy Booth who pined for Andy though he was going steady with the short tempered Polly Benedict (Ann Rutherford). These helped turn Rooney into a top 10 box office attraction for many years including twice at number one.
Yes, Ginger gave Irene Castle a hard time from her hair to the clothing. The reason I chose this is because Fred Astaire wanted to show the classic movements this ballroom couple developed and even originated for some of the classic ballroom dances. I love your picks! The Bourne Identity was excellent and I wished they would have left it there. Dirty Harry is excellent and that killer is such a creepy guy...love John Vernon as always. I have not seen the Andy Hardy series in so long and this initial movie was really fun.
DeleteI am groot
ReplyDeleteThe best Vin Diesel ever sounded:)
DeleteCompletely off topic (I don’t know anything about these films so can’t comment anyway) - lately when I visit your blog your traffic feed has me down as a visitor from Wallasey, Wirral! I’m sure it always used to say Glasgow, how very curious and bizarre…
ReplyDeleteThat is really weird and I don’t even know what that place is to boot! Sometimes I wonder if blog land burst so,e brain cells
DeleteI've seen the second way back. And of course Guardians of the Galaxy. The first one was great, second was more so so.
ReplyDeleteGlad you have seen these...the second and third are fun to watch
DeleteOnly saw the Guardians, but would like to see the Astaire flick.
ReplyDeleteGuardians is a fun movie. The Astaire film is so sweet and I love how Astaire stuck to the original style of this dance team
DeleteIt's been a great Thanksgiving Day here Birgit. I hope the day has been kind to you too.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad you had a great Thanksgiving but here was just a regular day since we have our Thanksgiving in October. I ended the day at the dentist
DeleteWhat an array, you crazy chica. Nice choices though.
ReplyDeleteHahahaaaa. Glad you like my choices. I like Crazy
DeleteAwesome choices. Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteThank you and I hope your day was wonderdul
DeleteMy keyboard is still not working. Stopped by to let you know I was here and to wish you a beautiful Thursday.
ReplyDeleteHope your keyboard is working now
DeleteWhen they announced that they were making Guardians I thought "Okay, I might like this, but it's gonna die at the box office!" So glad I was wrong. I enjoyed it and its sequel, too.
ReplyDeleteGuardians is fun and I still have to see the sequel
DeleteThe worst origin story was definitely the Star Wars prequels. They are not as bad as some make them out to be, but did we really need to see Darth Vader as a whiny child and teenager?
ReplyDeleteKingsman is a great origin story, especially if you pretend it's the origin of James Bond. :-P
Oh, that child was horrible! he needed his ass kicked
DeleteI haven't seen any of these. I think "Vernon and Irene" is the only Fred and Ginger movie I haven't seen.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I hope you see it one day...very sweet film
DeleteI've seen all of your picks. I like anything with Fred Astaire and have the DVD of the Castle story.
ReplyDeleteAlong similar lines would be one of my favorite films since childhood--The Jolson Story which tells about Al Jolson show biz journey. Yankee Doodle Dandy and Rhapsody in Blue are two other favorites along the same line.
A science fiction favorite would be 20 Million Miles to Earth which depicts the creature Ymir from the time it hatches from an egg brought back from Venus until it dies after terrorizing Rome. There are some fun special effects in this one.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Great picks and they all work for sure. I'd love to see 20 million Miles...sounds like a hoot!
DeleteAh yes, the movie that broke up Astaire and Rogers. (They'd been making movies together for a while, so it was probably time.) I think I mentioned my Astaire/Rogers phase, so naturally I have seen this one. (I've seen all of theirs.) Sad ending.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a sad ending but a wonderful tribute to these 2
DeleteI didn't know there was an earlier version of One Million Years. Not curious to see it though. Guardians of the Galaxy is a fun movie. I liked the second one, too.
ReplyDeleteOne Million Years was originally made with Carole Landis and Victor mature and the Raquel Welch one is a remake. Guardians is fun but I still have to see the 2nd one
DeleteI've seen your last two picks. One Million Years B.C. is just campy and goofy fun, though a bit slow going early on. Love Guardians of the Galaxy.
ReplyDeleteOne Million is campy for sure and enjoyed Guardians but still have to see the sequel
DeleteThree more movies to add to my list. Haven't seen any of these! :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
You may, one day, see this flicks:)
DeleteI did not see Vernon and Irene, but I love to watch Fred and Ginger, so I'm sure it's a keeper. Plus you picked it out so it must be;) I would love to learn ballroom too.
ReplyDeleteHope everyone is healthy in your corner of the world.
Hugs
I would have loved to learn Ballroom as a few sessions was not enough. It gives you a workout for sure! I am well but exhausted as i had friends for the whole weekend
DeleteI loved watching Fed and Ginger waltz - like they're floating on air, so elegant and smooth. Blissful sigh. Thank you for posting that, Birgit.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
Don't they dance beautifully?! I watched it a few times and sighed as well
DeleteWe were in NYC, for the first time Friday. OMG. Easily half of the world was there. The interesting part was that the stores weren't anywhere close to being as crowded as the streets and sidewalks.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny.?? I have been there back in 2002. The main square was not big like I thought it would be until night time....my camera flash didn't go off. There were sooooo many lights it lit up everything. I hope you had a good time.
DeleteI'm probably the only person in the in universe that had a lukewarm reaction to Guardians. I didn't dislike it, just didn't appreciate it as much as most folks did.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your visitors.
Have seen parts of #1 movie. Ginger & Fred were so lovely to watch dancing. Not familiar with #2 & 3. Didn't do Black Friday or Cyber Monday, except for a few online craft sales. Hope you had a great weekend, and thanks for your recent visit. TFS & Hugs
ReplyDeleteHaha...your Vin Diesel comment was funny :)
ReplyDeleteI had to look this one up too. Based on what I found online, I guess Batman, Ghostbusters, and Alien would be my picks.
ReplyDelete