Thursday, March 17, 2022

Thursday Movie Picks: Choose a Film With a Body Part in The Title

 


Wandering Through The Shelves picks another original..Body Part in the title. Actually, the idea came from Brittani, a fellow movie lover. At first, I thought of all the "Eyes" used in the titles of films but wanted to avoid "Eyes." There are still countless films but it does make things tougher to think about. So, without further blithering on, here are my 3...(I hope I pick a video that everyone can see. I have been getting videos that can't play in my great country of Canada which sucks.)

1. BABES IN ARMS-1939


Let's start of with a musical that combined the dynamic talents of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. They made several pictures together and this was their 2nd outing as 2 young people  who have parents down on their luck because they were in Vaudeville. Mickey's parents decide to go out on the road but not take the kids so what are the kids to do? Yes, they are to put on a show! They sing and dance all around the neighbourhood because we all did that when we were teens, am I right? Before Mickey turned sour, old and looked like a dumpling with legs, he was a thin, ADD kid who could not stay still. Judy was fresh and such a big talent but, probably already hooked on drugs. The one operatic baritone, Douglas McPhail, ended up swallowing poison in 1944 after his career stalled, divorce and alcohol got a hold of him. Oops, I am talking reality here so, it's better to enjoy this musical and watch these kids put on a show and save the day!

2. DR. GOLDFOOT & THE BIKINI MACHINE-1965


The Supremes sang the song, Vincent Price starred as the Mad Doctor and you have Frankie Avalon as a co-hero with Dwayne Hickman bumbling through this campy flick to save the day. If you wonder where Mike Myers got some of his inspiration from when playing Austin Powers, watch this flick. It is funny, dumb as F$&* but you can't help but not enjoy it. Ok, maybe that is just me because I am a proud geek at heart, but I love Vincent, the surf movies from the 60s and the bumbling motorcycle gang headed by Eric Von Zipper. Oh..Plot-Mad scientist creates a bounty of female robots to seduce rich men to take their loot. 

3. MY LEFT FOOT-1989


One name-Daniel Day-Lewis. He is one brilliant actor who gets so involved into his character that he goes full on method and will not change out of his character even when the cameras are not rolling. This is a film that just blew me away as he portrayed Christy Brown, an Irish poet and painter who had cerebral palsy, and could only paint and type with his left foot. He became quite famous especially in his home of Ireland. You see how he comes from a poor family of 15 with most, especially his dad, thinking he was mentally deficient until he spelled "mother" on the floor with a piece of chalk. He had no problem getting into trouble and speaking his own mind, with his foot. It is so worth seeing this film especially if you start to feel you can't do something because this man shows you can. 

Which films can you think of?

37 comments:

  1. Hi, Birgit!

    I know I'm in trouble when a movie trailer starts with the words: "Strike up the band!" :) Years ago, I ran through the Andy Hardy series and enjoyed those pictures. Mickey looked especially boyish and fresh-faced in Babes in Arms, and Judy was just coming off her colossal success starring in Wizard of Oz that year. Perhaps I'll watch Babes someday just to be entertained by the "chorus of Ziegfeld beauties." :)

    As you might know, Dwayne "Dobie Gillis" Hickman died two months ago. I liked Dwayne and loved Vinny Price, and yet I don't think I ever sat through the A.I.P. spy film parody Dr. Goodfoot and the Bikini Machine, nor did I ever watch the sequel, Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs. I doubt singing the theme of this cheesy flick was The Supremes proudest moment.

    Mrs. Shady and I watched My Left Foot shortly after it was released. It's a great film and I agree that Daniel was utterly convincing in this role. The film reminds us to concentrate on what we can do, the possibilities, and not on our handicaps and limitations.

    For my body part picks, I'll go with The Man with the Golden Arm (1955) starring Frank Sinatra, Hair (1979), the Italian thriller Torso (1973), The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant (1971), The Thing with Two Heads (1972) and, even though they don't qualify, the sci-fi horror movie Body Parts (1981) and Body Heat (1981), the latter just so that I can say R.I.P. to a fine actor, William Hurt, who died a few days ago at the too young age of 71.

    Thank you, dear friend BB. Enjoy the rest of your week and weekend!

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    1. I will be in shock if you watch Strike Up The Band. Yes, Dwayne died and William Hurt which shocked me to be honest. I think you would enjoy the Price flicks. My Left Foot is so great but I would have wanted to kill him because he stayed in character which meant people had to carry him everywhere...I wonder what happened when he had to go to the loo?
      You chose some great movies here although I have not see Torso. Body Heat is one film I still have to see and it is on my movie list.

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  2. That seemed challenging until I really thought about it. Jaws and Face/Off came to my mind first.

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    1. Both of these films came into my head too. Jaws is popular this week. I thought Face/Off would be too but you are the first to pick it. It's pretty good with Travolta and Cage.

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  3. I am going out on a 'limb' and suggesting 'Body Heat' and 'The Leg-o Movie', lol. I've only seen your first choice.

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    1. I have to see both but love your Lego movie choice:))

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  4. wow thats got me pondering....Scar face was all I could come up with....hope you are well ,take care xxx

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    1. You know...I still have to see both versions! I have seen parts of the remake but never the whole thing.

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  5. Well you ran the gamut this week Birgit! :-)

    My Left Foot is a powerful film with exemplary performances from all (the boy playing DDL in his younger years is extraordinary) but I can't say honestly that I enjoyed it. Christy Brown was an inspiring man but a terribly flinty character and while that reads as very true to life it made him hard to warm to.

    Dr. Goldfoot at base is a terrible movie that doesn't even hold the allure of a Frankie & Annette pairing but it's dumb fun as most of the beach party movies were. Even without Annette Vincent Price and Fred Clark provide some quality performance.

    Babes in Arms! What a throwback!! Judy and Mickey (did anyone ever age more badly than he did?!-at least the exterior he stayed sprightly) brought out wonderful aspects of each other though he could wear on the nerves after a while. She however remains ever fresh. Of their pairings my favorite is Girl Crazy but a little of him goes a long way for me. Judy I could watch all day. I'd forgotten about Douglas MacPhail's tragic story-so terrible and only 30!

    This isn't the way I thought of them but moving from top to bottom this week:

    Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (it fits but I hate that movie!!)

    Hands Across the Table-my favorite Carole Lombard comedy and film! Though The Princess Comes Across is close.

    Banjo On My Knee-An early Barbara Stanwyck/Joel McCrea picture which is hardly the best either made but worth watching (once!) for them along with Buddy Ebsen and Walter Brennan.

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    1. Yeah...I decided to go all over the place:)) I am just enthralled with My Left Foot and fell for Daniel day Lewis but I would have wanted to kill him because he is so method that he stayed in character throughout the film so people had to carry him everywhere. I wonder what happened when he had to go to the loo? Maybe I don't want to know.
      Yes, Goldfoot is bad but it's so bad, it's good and i love price. He is one I wish I would have had a chance to meet. I bet he would have his own channel on cooking from all over the world like Stanley Tucci does plus he would have been travelling to discuss art.
      I so agree with you about Mickey Rooney! A dear friend of mine had to deal with him when Rooney was in Toronto doing Sugar Babies. My friend was the Concierge at the Royal York and he ended up hating Rooney because of Rooney's demands. He would holler at him every morning because he didn't have his newspaper even though my friend would tell him the paper would not be delivered until 6am to the hotel. He did feel bad for him also because his one son just was so verbally abusive to Rooney. My friend never knew who he really was and was shocked to see him in his youth.
      I have no seen any of your choices but have marked down Lombard's and Stanwyck. I never felt the want to see your first pick that I always think of as "Bring Me the Head of Andy Garcia."

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  6. I have not heard of any of these movies. I don't these are films that interest me but I do love learning about them being out there, though. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Daniel Day-Lewis was fantastic in My Left Foot, but I feel bad for the crew he subjected his method acting too. That didn't sound like a fun time.

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    1. Can you imagine when he needed to go to the loo? I wonder if they just dropped him in front of the stall.

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  8. I hadn't heard of the first two, but had heard of My Left Foot. My friend Sally buys a calendar every year of foot and mouth painters. Some of their work is amazing. Thanks for these wonderful films and your ever enjoyable synopses.

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    1. Those painters are amazing to me too. I find it fascinating to watch them paint....inspiring.

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  9. Hi there Birgit, I've only seen My Left Foot which was an amazing film, Kate x

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  10. I did not realize there were so many movies with eye in the title. I do remember hearing Mickey Rooney talk in later years of Judy Garland. He was very defensive of her legacy. I think he was well aware of the pressures from the studio.

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    1. Yes, he was very aware and he was very close to Garland whom, I think, he thought of as a sister to him.

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    2. Yes, he definitely had that protective family thing going. I bet he was a great friend to her.

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  11. Of your picks I've only seen Babes in Arms. I keep seeing My Left Foot playing on TV of late, but have yet to record it.

    Firstly I thought of Goldfinger, the man with the golden touch. I recall going to see Man with Two Brains with Steve Martin back when it came out in the theaters. I went to see any Steve Martin movie back then. I've got The Eyes of Tammy Faye recorded on my DVR but have yet to watch it--I'm hesitant to watch it. I saw the 2000 documentary on which it was based several years ago and I think I enjoyed it. I'll probably watch this new take on the story in the coming days.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Yes...Goldfinger or Goldmember would have been great ones and same with "For Your Eyes Only." I remember when the Steve Martin film came out but I just never had a desire to see it. I rented (yes, rented) The Eyes of Tammy Faye and will watch it either tonight or tomorrow. I hope to see Dune too. Later on in the week, I will watch Belfast and West Side Story.

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  12. Replies
    1. Glad you like them and hope the weekend was fun.

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    1. Hope you get to see them. Yes, I visited you too:)

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  14. The only one I could come up with (i.e., a movie that I genuinely like a lot) was 'COOL HAND LUKE'.

    ~ D-FensDogG

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    1. Peter Pan (?)
      Dick Tracy (?)
      What's New, Pussycat? (?)
      Pussycat, Pussycat, I love You (?)

      ~ D-FensDogG

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    2. Oh my...you dirty dog:)) I had chosen Cool Hand Luke a while back so I didn't go with that great choice. You forgot "Pussycat, Pussycat, Kill, Kill." I bet some gal has said to Redford, "Jer...My-a what a johnson." No??

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    1. Oh brother.....what am I to say to this but I bet there is a porn out there name this.

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  16. Ha! I love this category.

    007 is handy: Goldfinger, Golden Eye

    Does it have to be human body parts? Horse Feathers, Wings

    Palm Beach Story?

    Hairspray?

    Fanny and Alexander?

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    1. OMG!! You came up with some brilliant choices. I am always for going outside the box so why not Horse feathers and Wings. Your other 3 are also excellent and I love that you picked Fanny & Alexander...you made me laugh

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