Ship Ahoy!

 

Over at Monday Music Moves Me, their theme was in dedication to Titanic that sank back on April 14, 1912. That made me think about all the Titanic films, then I went to movies involving ship disasters and finally, decided to just speak about movies that take place on a ship. I went with cruise ships and chose these 3 films…

1. ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS-1948

I now have TCM and you can tell I am loving it since my ass appears to be getting bigger. Anyways, I finally saw this film that introduces Doris Day in her first film and she does great job as a singer hired by Janis Paige to impersonate her on a cruise ship. Janis suspects that her husband is having an affair and remains in New York City to catch her husband in the act. Her husband, played by Don Defore, believes his wife is having an affair and hires a PI, played by Jack Carson, to watch over his wife. Yup, the perfect set-up for romance and, yup, Carson and Day meet up on the ship and fall in love with each believing the other is someone else. For good measure, throw in Oscar Levant for some ascerbic comedy and elegant piano playing. Doris sings her heart out and I love her fresh faced, but knowing character who you would never think would turn into a hoity-toity, business woman refusing Rock Hudson in later films. She and Carson have real chemistry( they had an affair while making this film) and she steals every scene.

2. SHIP OF FOOLS-1965

This is not a happy film with many people on this ship having to deal with death, imprisonment, loss of beauty, racism/anti-semitism and a German asshole and blowhard. Simone Signoret plays a Contessa going to jail, in Spain, for aiding the Rebel Cause and uprising in 1933 Cuba. She falls in love with the doctor, played so well by Oskar Werner, with a severe heart condition. George Segal and Elizabeth Ashley are lovers who are artists but George doesn’t take his gal’s artwork seriously. Vivien Leigh is the once beautiful socialite whose beauty is declining along with her pleasant manner who has great disdain for Lee Marvin, a British baseball player who has eyes for the Flamenco dancers. Then you have the disgusting idiot German, played to the hilt by Jose Ferrer who openly shows his racial hatred to the Jewish people and other undesirables. The undesirable in question is the dwarf, played by Michael Dunn, who is the center for everything going on in this ship. Dunn received an Oscar nomination for this role and I’m glad he did. This is an excellent film to see as a great character study all set on this ship.

3. VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED-1975

This is the true story of the over 900 Jewish passengers, on board the St. Louis cruise ship headed by the heroic Capt. Schroeder, played by Max Von Sydow, who desperately tries to save the lives of these Jewish people. They thought they were home free escaping the persecution of the Jews in 1939 Germany, but were not allowed into Cuba because their Visas are now considered invalid. The Captain  travels to Florida beseeching the American Government to take on the Jewish refugees but were turned away. When the captain wants to run the ship aground, the American ships follow the refugee ship out to opens waters. His next stop is Canada but, they are turned away as well. The Captain travels to England where, finally, a third of the passengers are taken by England with the rest taken in by the French and The Netherlands. You find out that, since the Nazis took over France and The Netherlands before being defeated in 1945, that of over the 900 Jewish people on that ship, over 600 were killed in the camps. This is a star-studded film headed by Faye Dunaway and Oskar Werner as wealthy, avant-Garde couple plus others who  are terrified for their future. James Mason, Orson Welles, Lee Grant plus so many others are on this ship with lives that we get to see. It is a film forgotten but one that should not be. It’s an excellent film that is tension filled with a splash of glamour but it is no Love Boat.

Any cruise ship movies you can think of?

Titanic Songs

 

Since I was a kid, I was enthralled by anything Titanic. I was hoping to meet any survivor and some were still around back in the 70s and even, 80s. I read books and watched any movie about it. The best film, ever made about the Titanic is, “ A Night To Remember” from 1958, which recounts what happened including the snobbery of the 1st Class ( the 1997 flick has superb special effects, but the story is stupid, it’s The LoveBoat Sinking). Over at Monday Music Moves Me, in honour of the people who lost their lives as well as survived this famous sinking, it’s about Icebergs, ships, Big Band Music etc… and I went with these 3 songs that were all part of the repertoire of the White Star Line. They were probably played during this voyage if, not in fact, while the ship was sinking, by this very brave band.

1. THE MERRY WIDOW WALTZ BY FRANZ LEHAR

This piece came from the very famous operetta The Merry Widow from 1905 which was a huge hit and continues to be to this day. A few songs made their way on to the White Star Line list of music to play during its voyage. The original play came from 1861 but it’s the operetta that became famous with a few movies based on this musical including a silent version starring Mae Murray and John Gilbert.

2. LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART FROM 1910

I think we all heard this song in one version or another  and was a huge hit from this early time with music by Leo Friedman and lyrics by Beth Slater. This was played  during the voyage either during the luncheons or before the fancy dinners. I like to think they played this since so many men were saying goodbye to their wives, lovers or girlfriends helping them into the lifeboats knowing they will never see each other again. It takes on a new meaning when one thinks of this scene.

3. SONGE  D’AUTOMNE BY ARCHIBALD JOYCE FROM 1908

Archibald Joyce  was quite the prolific writer in his heyday and many of his musical pieces were part of the White Star Line and were, more than likely, played on the Titanic. In fact, some of the survivors said this song “Dream Of Autumn”  was the last song played by the musicians instead of “Nearer My God To Thee”. I still believe that it is the latter that was last played, but this song is pretty.

Bonus…NEARER MY GOD TO THEE FROM FILM A NIGHT TO REMEMBER-1958

Best Actress Oscar for 1998

 

I think 1998 is very new and, yet, it is 28 years ago….wowzers! I remember this Oscars because I thought Gwyneth Paltrow’s dress was ugly. It was a pink that seemed to wash her out and her spaghetti straps seemed so low tht I thought her boobs were at her waist. Gwyneth won the Oscar for her turn as the love interest to Shakespeare played by Josef Fiennes, yes, Ralph Fiennes’s brother. I don’t mind the movie, “Shakespeare In Love” and find it quite funny but, you know, I don’t agree with the winner….

1. CATE BLANCHETT IN ELIZABETH

Cate Blanchett wowed me as the future Elizabeth 1st also known as The Virgin Queen. You see her go from a fun loving young woman to the Queen who loses her freedom by ruling one of the greatest nations (at that time) in the known world. She loves deeply and has great intelligence knowing how to keep the ones wanting her to fail, at arm’s length. She is the supreme ruler in a world dominated by men but she rises to the occasion. Cate kept me riveted in her multi layered role as this extremely pale monarch. To me, she deserved the Oscar hands down but I still need to see Fernanda Montenegro in the film, “Central Station” which many felt she should have won. 

2. GWYNETH PALTROW IN SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE

Yup, this gal won the Oscar and , I do admit that Gwyneth is quite good in the role of a lady betrothed to a jerk ( played by Colin Firth) but wishes she could be an actor. The problem is that no self respecting woman would play…in a play. At this time, other men would play the female parts ( can you imagine some hairy guy playing Juliet?) but Gwyneth decides to play a boy so she can act but she does not expect to fall for the writer and star of the show, Joseph Fiennes. Joseph’s agent is played hilariously, by Geoffrey Rush⁸ and Ben Affleck is one of the actors and he does a pretty decent job, Judi Dench played the aging Elizabeth the 1st who won the Oscar for something like 8 minutes on the screen. This film was the big winner this year but it should have gone to other films and the Oscar for best actress should have gone to Cate.

3. JANE HORROCKS IN LITTLE VOICE

If I had seen “Central Station” I might change this blog post, but I am only going with films I have seen and this tiny gem was just a wonderful watch, it is biographical because Jane Horrocks can sing just like Judy Garland, Edith Piaf, you name it, she can sing just like them which makes the Michael Caine character see dollar signs. He plays a miserable prig who is dating her mother, also not the nicest person. The only person who seems to truly love her is the geeky guy, played by Ewan McGregor. I need to see this film again because I was quite enthralled by all the leads but no one was nominated.

Just so you know, the other nominees in this Oscar year are Fernanda Montenegro for Central Station, Meryl Streep for One True Thing and Emily Watson for Hilary and Jackie. 

Would you choose the same or pick someone else?

April…WTF!

 

The other day, when I got off the elevator to leave work, I saw…snow. Now, I like snow in November all the way through to end of February, but not now. After o said a few…words, I looked down at my phone for 5 seconds, I’m not kidding, and when I looked up, it was raining. I waited for my hubby to pick me up and when he came, 5 minutes later, it was sunny. That didn’t last long before it started to snow again. I surmise that the weather is psychotic and it means to screw us up. I thought of April and the songs written about it and had my own theme for Monday Music Moves Me. Oh, the calendar pussy cat is my Lexi

1. APRIL IN PORTUGAL SUNG BY JANE MORGAN-1953

I know the music well and always loved it but I did not know there were words to it. Bing Crosby does a nice version as well as Vic Damone, but I really like this version with the English lyrics written by Jimmy Kennedy. It was written by Raul Ferraro with lyrics by Jose Galhardo and made famous by the Portuguese singer Amalia Rodrigues. I just enjoyed listening to this song.

2. THE GIRL WITH APRIL IN HER EYES SUNG BY CHRIS DEBURGH-1978

Sorry Anabel:) I do love Chris DeBurgh and this song, from his album, “ Crusador”, just blew me away. I love the gentleness of this song and the fairy tale feel of it. 

3. I’LL REMEMBER APRIL SUNG BY JULIE LONDON-1956

The smouldering Julie London has an album called, “Calendar Girl” and she sang this song which was written by Gene De Paul with lyrics by Don Raye and Patricia Johnston. I had no idea this song made its debut in an Abbott & Costello film, “Ride’em Cowboy” from 1942. I know I heard the song since I watched this movie long ago but I don’t remember it but I like it. 

Here is Amalia’s version of of April in Portugal

Star Of The Month-Anthony Perkins

 ANTHONY PERKINS

BIRTH: April 4, 1932

DEATH: September 13, 1992

AGED: 60 years old

DIED FROM: Pneumonia due to AIDS

MARRIED: Berry Berenson

AFFAIRS: Let me count the ways! Tab Hunter( 4 year relationship), Grover Dale (6 yr relationship), Stephen Sondheim, Rudolph Nureyev, Victoria Principal, plus many, many others. There is now a sad rumour, that he and Paul Newman had an affair. This came out only after Paul Newmn’s death and there is no real evidence to support this rumour. 

CHILDREN: Oz Perkins and Elvis Perkins, both in the entertainment industry 

FAMOUS PARENT: Osgood Perkins

OSCAR NOMINATIONS: Best Supporting Actor for “Friendly Persuasion”

OSCAR WINS: Nil…should have been nominated and win for “Psycho”

TALENT: He could sing and was in musicals on Broadway. One song, (Frank Loesser created this song for Perkins because he hated Perkins and, deliberately, wrote this song believing it was shit), “ Never Will I Marry” became a hit and has been sung by many famous singers like Frank Sinatra, Perkins was an excellent impersonator and could do a very funny impersonation of Roddy McDowall. They were gret friends

KNOWN FOR: His quirky mannerisms; his charm and genial personality; his oddly, boyish good looks. He was known to stutter.

I’m late here but it’s been a busy weekend, but I’m still here:) Poor Anthony Perkins will forever be known for his “alter ego” Norman Bates from Psycho, the 1960 film, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. He should be known for his wider talent of work he has done in film and Broadway creating some mighty fine work heralded by critics and his fellow actors. 

This man was one conflicted, layered man who fought his sexuality to the point where he went to a psychiatrist to change his wish to be with men rather than women. Of course, we now know, this can’t be done, but, back in the day, many people thought it could be taken out of him, sort of speak. I guess, some still think this today, but, this is very wrong. Anyhoo, let’s add that Anthony also had huge mother issues where, as a young child, he wished his dad dead. When his famous dad died ( Osgood was a big actor during the silents and early sound films), Perkins felt intense guilt for wishing this and, later, sought treatment for these feelings. Let’s add even more mental fuck up( sorry, but this word is perfect), when his mom started caressing him including  all the way to, you know where and she continued sexually abusing him into his young adulthood. As he grew up, his mom became great friends with playwright, Marchaela O’Hara eventually moving in with Perkins and his mom. Yup, the consensus is that they became lovers and stayed together. 

Hitchcock must have sensed Perkin’s sexual ambiguity and he was hired to be Norman Bates. Perkins  and Hitchcock got along very well where, for years after, Perkins was invited to Hitchcock’s home for dinners when Hitchcock would entertain other people during the making of other films. Perkins was very well liked by many and found him charming, intelligent and sweet. He would stand up when he saw injustice. When he made a film with Shirley MacLaine, “The Matchmaker(1958)”, Perkins salary was $75,000 but Shirley’s was $25,000, so Perkins went all the way to the head of the studio demanding that MacLaine received the same amount as he, but this fell on deaf ears. During the 50s and 60s, Perkins had 2 major relationships first with Tab Hunter and 2nd with Dancer and actor Grover Dale, where he lived with them, entertaining friends and it was an open secret that Perkins was gay. Perkins, was so conflicted that, in the late 60s, he sought psychological counselling. His first time, with a woman, was with Victoria Principal during  the making of the film, “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean.” He soon met Berry Berenson, an actress and photographer, and married her. By all accounts, he did love her but he continued to have sexual encounters with many men during their marriage but never separated. Perkins decided to embrace his alter ego and he directed 3 more films on Norman Bates, Psycho 2, 3 and 4, a TV prequel. I saw 2 and 3 and I just don’t like them especially that poor Vera Miles dies with a Big knife thrown into her mouth. Oops, spoiler alert. 

It was during the making of Psycho 3, that he found out he had AIDS and died from pneumonia with Berry and his 2 sons by his side. Sadly, Berry Berrenson was on one of the planes, on 9/11, that crashed into the Twin Towers. Perkins grew up in a very abusive household and during a time when homosexuality was against the law. Despite this, he became a romantic leading man before doing Psycho cementing his fame in this excellent film. He was genial, generous and a nice man. This is the man we need to remember.

FILMS 

1. Psycho-1960

2. The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean-1972

3. The Tin Star-1957

4. Murder anon the Orient Express-1974

5. Pretty Poison-1968

6. Friendly Persuasion-1956

7. On The Beach-1959

8. Green Mansions-1959

9. Mahogany-1975

10.  Desire Under The Elms-1955

Cigars…Cigarettes

 

Today, thankfully, cigarettes are looked upon as unhealthy and a “filthy” habit, no disrespect to the bloggers who still smoke. My mom smoked for over 50 years and, when I was little, I remember my dad giving me $5.00 to go buy a pack of cigarettes for him and mom while he filled up the car with gas. Yes, I was, maybe 6 or 7 when I went up to the cashier, my eyes barely over the counter, asking for a pack of cameo and a pack of export A. This is when a pack cost a little over a buck. During the heyday of Hollywood, just about everyone smoked and the haze one sees in the bar scenes are real. Often, the cigarette was used as a sexual precursor to something more alluring which just made the genes public want to smoke more. This was also when doctors said smoking was healthy and calmed ones’ nerves. I believe it does including calming pain but at a price…greatly increasing the risk of getting heart disease, stroke, COPD, and cancer. Anyways, here are 3 films showcasing 3 great stars known for their smoking…

1. BLONDE VENUS-1932

This is one strange film that stars Marlene Dietrich, directed by her Svengali paramour, Josef Von Sternberg. She plays a cabaret singer married to Herbert Marshall, who is dying from Radium, with a young son, thinking their only hope is to me this physician in Dresden who can cure poor Herbert. The trip is not cheap so Marlene goes back to the stage billed as the Blonde Venus where she meets up with a rich politician, played by Cary Grant. They have an affair, her marriage crumbles and there is a lot of soap opera going on. We see Marlene smoking with a cigarette holder, a sophisticated look to smoking that was an extra gem to have along with earrings, broaches etc… This film is most famous for Marlene’s one performance in a gorilla suit where she takes off the gorilla head to show her in an absurd blonde afro. This is a pre-code film which is a fun watch.

2. NOW, VOYAGER-1942

What can one say, when women swooned over Paul Henreid, when he took 2 cigarettes in his mouth, lit them and handed one to the mesmerizing Bette Davis, who never looked so good. This is considered one of the sexiest moments on screen. The film, starring Bette Davis plays a downtrodden spinster bullied and put down by her shrew of a mother played so well by Gladys Cooper. Enter the ever great, Claude Rains, as a psychiatrist who brings Bette to a sanitarium to heal her mind and soul. He does and the next time we see Bette, she is dressed in one of the best outfits I’ve seen on film…love the hat! She is taking a cruise where she meets Paul Henreid and has an affair shown by the classic cigarette scene(s) plus sharing a sleeping bag. When Bette returns home, she meets up with her mom, confronting her and overcomes the negativity her mom spews forth. This is a classic woman’s picture, well acted and directed with a wonderful score.

3. TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT-1944

This film stars Humphrey Bogart( who did die from throat cancer most likely from his smoking) as a boat captain on an island taken over by the Vichy French during WW2. Bogart doesn’t want to get involved with politics only wanting to make a living. He meets up with Slim, played by Lauren Bacall, who sings a little ditty while draped around a piano. Of course, Bogie is holding a cigarette in his mouth looking alluring to us and Bacall. In fact, this is the film where Bogie and Bacall meet, falling in love and marrying. The cigarette seems to be, yet another, sexual metaphor where Bogie lights a cigarette and hands it over to Lauren Bacall. The bar has a constant haze of smoke which lends to the feel of this film about the free French trying to escape from the Vichy.  This is a must see film and the 1st of four they made together.

Which films can you think of with cigarettes taking a dominant role? 

Storms

 

Yesterday, was quite stormy…rain, some hail, lightening, thunder all day long. March went out like a lion, that’s for sure so it works with this week’s theme over at Monday Music Moves Me. I always think of the brilliant songs, “Stormy Weather” sung by Judy Garland and “Riders of the Storm” by the Doors but I went with these songs and hope you enjoy…

1. STORMS SUNG BY FLEETWOOD MAC-1979

This song was written by Stevie Nicks for their album, “Tusk” and was about her affair with Mick Fleetwood which did not help his marriage…obviously. 

2. THE STORM SUNG BY CHRIS DEBURGH-2010

I love Chris DeBurgh, an Irish singer, balladeer, and singing recanteur who has sung about many storms and rain, but I really like this song with the infusion of Irish music.

3. RAIN IS FALLING SUNG BY ELO-1981

Along with ABBA, I love ELO which was another band I really wanted to see but knew my mom would say no since she said no to seeing ABBA when they were on their Voulez-Vous tour( “there might be drugs there”, my mom said). They had an elaborate set back in the 1970s with a space ship and a light show but I loved how they brought in all these classical elements into their music. This song was written by Jeff Lynne which is about loss and sadness, a typical theme when singing bout rain and storms.

Which stormy songs come into your mind?

Birds Are Chirping

 

Stamping Sensations-Spring

Stamplorations-Anything Goes

Simon Says- Anything Goes

I had fun with this card. I used the Sizzex to emboss the flower frame and then I coloured in the flowers using a soft brush with distress inks. I took a purple dye ink pad and brushed it onto the card so that anything raised would become purple. I took a stencil and placed the image onto the middle of the card taping it down so it wouldn't move. I took the different coloured butter spreads and spread it onto the stencil so it creates these loving birds. I think they turned out well and enjoyed making this.

52 Christmas Cards- Slimline

Sparkles Christmas- Snowmen

CCAYR- Frosty

Inkspirational- E is for Easy

This was a quick card because I found the glittery blue scrap of paper and wanted to use it. I stamped Frosty the snowman and the snowflakes. I cut them out and placed them on with pop up dots. The snowflakes have 2 different sizes of pop up dots and the 3rd is glued right on the card for dimension. I have a die cut for the saying and used the sizzex machine to cut it out. 

We Love Stamping-Wildlife

Crafty Animals-Anything Goes

 The Male Room-Blue and Brown

Fab N’ Funky- 4 Legged Friends

I love wolves, they are the first animal I visit when I go to the zoo. I stamped the image onto cardstock and did some colouring with my gamsol pencils. I coloured the background with my distress inks. I got my sizzex out and my different leafy die cuts to cut them out and placed around the wolves framing them. It’s as if you caught a moment through the foliage to see these beautiful animals.

That’s it for now…Have a wonderful, windy day!

Hats!

 

I was thinking about a theme for today and I kept thinking of the debonair Fred Astaire in his top hat that seemed to work with his elongated face. Top Hats were a staple in men’s fancy attire all the way into the 1940s. In fact, men wore hats throughout the centuries and it is only since the late 1960s that men stopped wearing hats. So, I decided to use this as a theme…

1. TOP HAT-1935

You know I would choose Fred Astaire because he made the top hat his own. He made 10 films with Ginger Rogers and this is considered, arguably, their best. Of course, this is the classic “boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back” theme but it works in so many films. Fred plays a famous entertainer who irks his downstairs neighbour in a fancy hotel when he tap dances all over the room. They meet, Fred is besotted and she is equally enamoured until she mistakenly believes he is married to her best friend, the wonderful Helen Broderick. Mistaken identities ensue all the way to a wild look white Art Deco Venice. She finally gives in to his charms by dancing the most beautiful dance in the “Cheek to Cheek” with that famous feathered dress. In the end, all is revealed and they dance to their hearts’ content. This is a very funny, entertaining film with great Art Direction by Van Nest Polglase, fabulous dance numbers created by Astaire and his right hand man, Hermes Pan and great character actors like Broderick, Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blore and Eric Rhodes. It’s a must-see film.

2. THE NAKED SPUR-1953

Many western stars had their favourite hats and wore them in all their western films, so I had to go with my favourite actor, Jimmy Stewart who loved this well worn hat, a brown fedora, in most of his westerns in the 1950s. I was lucky to see this hat when I visited the Jimmy Stewart museum in his hometown of Indiana, PA. And wished I could have tried it on. Anyway, in this film, he plays a bounty hunter after a killer, played by Robert Ryan. Stewart enlists the aid of an old prospector, played by Millard Mitchell ( his last role before he died of cancer at 50) and a soldier. They capture Ryan along with his girlfriend, Janet Leigh, who believes the crap Ryan told her. Ryan tells Stewart’s co-hosts that he is not a sheriff and that the bounty is not $1,000 but $5,000. Greed gets the better of everyone but Stewart ( well, a bit murky there) and double cross him. Now, Stewart must capture Ryan again but without the 2 pals..or is there a change of heart? Does Janet see the light and realize what Ryan told her was crappola? This is a gritty, but entertaining western with a hardened Stewart at his best and the beauty of the mountains and country is photographed at its best. 

3. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK-1981

This is not a favourite of mine…sorry, but true even though I love Harrison Ford and had a crush on him back in the day. This franchise (the 3rd film with Sean Connery is my favourite) started with this entertaining flick by Steven Spielberg about an archeology professor who gets himself into some great adventures usually with a couple of pals, played by Jon Rhys Davies and Denholm Elliott. It’s the late 1930s, maybe the early 40s and the Nazis are after the Lost Ark of the Covenant which, they feel, will aid in the domination of the world. In their way is Indiana Jones( Ford) who is trying to locate the Ark for himself and history. He battles natives, runs from huge boulders and has to battle Karen Allen whom he falls for, of course. Throughout the film, you find out he hates snakes and loves his hat, the famous fedora that Ford wears in all the films. It is fun and many love this film where I like it but I am ok if I never see it again. 

What films come to your mind that has famous hats?

Which Song Won the Oscar 1986

 

When will I ever remember to post who won, who was nominated and who received 0 love on Thursday when I write about movies. I am so sorry about that…so let’s cross ones fingers that I remember…hahahaaaa. It is freebie week over at Monday Music Moves Me and so I am talking about the songs from the 80s, specifically, the Oscars 1986. I love the 80s and had so much fun dancing many weekends away in the dance clubs that have all but disappeared today. So let’s see if you can guess which song won the Oscar, which was nominated and which song got 0 love.

1. TAKE MY BREATH AWAY SUNG BY BERLIN

This song is from the film, “Top Gun” which I still have no desire to see. It is a song that I love and have danced to, once, with a guy that I had a crush on and became a relationship that ended with me being used, hurt and reputation tarnished( he told friends that I was a nutty chick that wouldn’t let him go and was a bit crazy…asshole). Ok, I digress, this song was written by Giorgio Moroder with lyrics by Tom Whitlock and, initially, the New Wave band, Berlin, declined to sing this song. They asked others who also declined, until Berlin relented and sang the song becoming a big hit.

2. SOMEWHERE OUT THERE SUNG BY LINDA RONSTADT AND JAMES INGRAM

This Disney film, “An American Tail” was produced by Steven Spielberg who asked these 2 singers to perform this song that appears in the end credits. The music was created by James Horner with lyrics by Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann and was another hit back in the day. I love James Horner, who is a great composer, and I adore Linda Ronstadt but I felt my teeth ache every time I heard this song.

3. DON’T YOU ( FORGET ABOUT ME) SUNG BY SIMPLE MINDS

I love this song! The lead singer, James Kerr, has such a smouldering voice that lends itself so well to this song that was another huge hit from the big hit film, “The Breakfast Club.” It was written by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff who had a devil of a time trying to find a band who would sing this song. Simple Minds declined it along with Billy Idol and Corey Hart. Jim Kerr was married to Chrissy Hynde ( from the Pretenders) who told him that he should do this song and believed, rightly, that this song would become a big hit. Simple Minds changed their minds and the rest is history becoming a huge hit defining the 80s. I love this song that I dance to every time I hear it, unless I am in the car.

So which song won the Oscar, which was nominated and which song came up empty-handed?

Irish Movies That Make One Smile

 

It was St. Patrick’s Day this past Tuesday so I thought I would carry it through for today’s pick of movies. There re quite a few movies that take place in Ireland or involving Irish people on a foreign land. I wanted to have movies that can make you smile since this world is just one big F@# up. We need movies that make one forget reality sometimes…

1. THE QUIET MAN-1952

This is a John Ford classic, who loved his Irish heritage, that includes many of his group that are Irish like Victor McLaglen, The wonderful Barry FitzGerald and the luminous, Maureen O’Hara. This stars John Wayne( who should have been nominated for a Best Actor Oscar) as a former boxer, who killed a man when in the ring, who leaves his career and his home behind to start a new life in Ireland taking over his mom’s former home. He meets the fellow people in town including the fiery Mary Kate, played by O’Hara,  who is equally enamoured by the tall Wayne. Her brother refuses to give her, her dowry resulting in much conflagration between Wayne, O’Hara and McLaglen. The townsfolk can see a storm brewing which results in a humdinger of a climax involving Wayne dragging O’Hara through the hills to her brother. The ensuing fight is so great and so much fun to watch. It sounds so wrong to say I love it when Wayne drags O’Hara from the train station to her brother, but…I love It! I find that scene as 2 people who are equal to each other, matching wits and taking no prisoners which is sexy. Ok, I said it, I guess I am weird. This is a must see film in my opinion

2. DARBY O’GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE-1959

This is a fun Disney film that co-stars a young Sean Connery as the love interest to the pretty Janet Munro, the daughter of the main character, Darby, played by Albert Sharpe. Darby is the head caretaker to an estate who spins yarns to anyone who listens, that he can see leprechauns and fairy people, etc… When he is replaced by the young, rugged Sean, Darby decides to find the King of the leprechauns but, instead of him catching the King, the leprechauns catch Darby and bring him inside their mountain where the king of the leprechauns is happy to keep Darby with them. Darby outwits the crafty leprechauns and escapes plus he nabs the King and now is granted 3 wishes. What will poor Darby wish for and will he blow it and wish 4 times which will negate his other wishes? This is a sweet, endearing film that is just a fun movie to watch especially when we hear Sean Connery sing.

3. WAKING NED DEVINE-1998

This is a hilarious film that takes place in a small Irish village( actually filmed on the Isle of Man)  with 2 friends, played so brilliantly by Ian Bannon ( who died in a car accident a year after this movie came out) and David Kelly who almost steals the picture, who find out that someone in their tiny village won the lottery. They go on a hunt to find out who won and find him. A man who died of shock after finding out he won! The 2 devise a plan to keep the lottery money with one of them playing the winner, Ned. They must engage the entire town to on their plan when the lottery people come to confirm that Kelly is Ned. The only nemesis is an old wart of a woman who hates everyone and everything and might very well tattle. This is so funny from Kelly, naked as a jay bird, riding a motorcycle to a hog farmer, played by James Nesbitt, who loves the pretty village girl and she loves him but for one thing….he smells of pigs. It was the sleeper hit of the summer and it is another must see film.

Which Irish films can you think of? 

St. Patrick’s Day…A Day Late

 

St. Patrick’s Day was yesterday which was the main theme for this week’s Monday Music Loves Me and I did wear a little green to mark the event.  I have zero Irish in me but, apparently, my name is Celtic! I had always thought it was a Viking name that made its way to Germany and Austria, but it seems it it an old Celtic name which makes sense they went everywhere. Anyways, here are my 3 picks that I thought of when I saw the theme.

1. FAIRYTALE SUNG BY ENYA-1987

I love Enya and this is a song based on old Irish fairy tales and I love Fairytales. I think this is a beautiful song.

2. ISLE OF INNISFREE SUNG BY THE CELTIC WOMEN-2011

I thought of these women right away who are hugely successful around the globe and this song is perfect since it features so much in the film, “ The Quiet Man.”

3. LORD OF THE DANCE WITH MICHAEL FLATLEY-1996

My hubby, way before I met him, had the chance to see this in the theatre and thought it was the best thing he had ever seen. He bought the CD which he still owns. I watched it on TV and wished I could have seen it for real. My hubby was lucky! How do those dancers move their feet so fast..it looks impossible to do.

Which songs come to mind that makes you think Irish?

Best Costume Design 2019

 

The Oscars are just a few days away and, of course, I am excited to see who will win, who can’t shut up when up on the podium, what weird, way too revealing outfits they are wearing and figuring out what drug they are on. I also will love the In Memorium segment which should always be part of the awards. We lost a few greats this past year-Robert Redford, Diane Keaton and Robert Duvall, to name 3 giants. This year, I was left dumbfounded when, in the Best Costume Design, “Avatar” was up for the award….um…WTF? Yes, the designer actually made each costume before the CGI’d it but many are different loin cloths and this is the 3rd instalment on this franchise which is all about special effects and CGI which I am getting very bored with. This got me thinking about the Best Costume winners from the past and I didn’t have to go far to recall what was not even nominated and should have won, in my humble opinion.

1. ROCKETMAN

This biopic, starring Taron Egerton as Elton John, is an excellent film( much better than the Queen movie) following Elton John as he rises in fame and becomes a powerhouse during the 70s with his music and his ever8 flamboyant costumes. The costumes were over the top and we designed by Julian Day who based these outfits on the real nutty outfits Elton John would, and still does, wear. Unfortunately, this film came out early in the year and was largely forgotten by the time awards season took off. It’s a shame, because this deserved the award.

2. LITTLE WOMEN

Jacqueline Durran won the Best Costume Design for this film and it was controversial because she took many liberties in the actual costumes and what the people actually wore during this time period. She didn’t stick to reality and put in some “newer” looks to create a hipper vibe….whatever, the looks just reminded me of Little Outhouse on the Prairie. The film is the oft told version of the 4 sisters and their mom waiting for dad to come home fighting in the Union Army. The main character is Jo who is a free spirited gal who is the most independent of the sisters but is wooed by a couple of men including the patient Laurie..not a girl but a man. It’s not my favourite rendition of this tale, my favourite is still the Katherine Hepburn film from 1933.

3. ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

 

I love this film which is about the days leading up to the horrible murders of  8 month pregnant Sharon Tate, Abigail Folger and others by the disgusting Manson Gang. It is a retelling of events that one wishes would have happened which I liked. These fashions make the late 60s and 70s fashion look cool. I was not a fan of 70s fashion since I was a kid growing up during this time wearing polyester that clung to me due to static cling. Quentin Tarantino made the times cool. Arianna Phillips was the fashion designer nominated for her designs which included the all denim look, nifty brown leather blazers, pant suits and lacy body suits which would be. Bitch to get out of when one has to go pee. This deserved a nomination because it’s just so cool.

The other nominees were Joker, The Irishman and JoJo Rabbit. Would you have chosen any of these or something completely different?

March! BLECCCHHH

 

This is freebie week over at Monday Music Moves Me and we are in the thick of March. Right now it is thundering and lightning with rain all day but, by Friday/Saturday, it will be cold and snowing, maybe freezing rain…who the F knows. So here are my 3 song choices…

1. MELANCHOLY MARCH SUNG BY JULIE LONDON-1956

I came across this number while listening to Julie London on YouTube. For some reason, I am enjoying her sultry voice and keep thinking how the nurse on the 70s TV show, “Emergency”  was actually this sexy kitten with the velvet pipes. This song was written by Herman Saunders, a film producer, and Dory Langdon, who led quite the life and was married to Andre Previn.

2. MELANCHOLY MAN SUNG BY THE MOODY BLUES-1970

I love, love, love the Moody Blues and this is from their album, “A Question of Balance”. It was written by Mike Pinder who just passed away in 2024. He wrote this, not bout him, but the global look at how people do not look at what challenges are facing them….very much today’s issue.

3. MY MELANCHOLY BABY SUNG BY ELLA FITZGERALD-1960

This great song, that I also love how the Great Judy Garland sings it,  was written in 1912 by Ernie Burnett( music) and George A. Norton (lyrics). It was introduced by, wait for it, William Frawley…Fred Mertz from “I Love Lucy” back in that Vaudevillian day. This song has beeen done by many famous singers but I chose the supreme Ella.

What Melancholy songs can you think of?

More Cards

 

52 Christmas Cards- Resist Stamping

Addicted To Stamps- Christmas 

12 Months of Christmas- Anything Goes 

CCAYR- E is for Exalt and F is for Faith

What says Faith better than an angel?:) I stamped the angel in white ink and stamped her in twinkle white sparkle. I took my distress inks in light blue and pink and added a couple of darker blues for the edges using a soft brush. I added the Merry Christmas sticker as well as the glitter border and stars. 

Stamp Sensations- Spring

The Four Seasons- Spring

My hubby's Uncle died unexpectedly 2 weeks ago. He wasn't in the best shape but we didn't think he was going to die this fast and soon. He had a heart attack in front of Michael's Aunt and a painter who was painting their living room. She went to him and started CPR while the paint called 911. She knew he was gone very quickly. It is very sad and she will be a bit lost as she did everything for him. The kind of wife many men dream of...he'd call for her and she'd be there. She made all his meals and catered to him. It sounds like she is a 50s housewife, but she is actually quite independent and strong. Anyhoo, we sent flowers and I made this card. I used the cuddlebug to emboss this frame image of flowers. I coloured them in with markers. I stamped the image in gold embossed powder and also coloured it in with tombow markers.

Alphabet-  Volume

I embossed this image using the cuddlebug and it came with a stencil cut which I used  to cut out the3 flowers. I took metallic markers to colour in the images with gold, purple and blue. I adhered the raised image with pop up dots. This is for a friend's birthday.

Stamplorations-Creative Blooms

Try It On Tuesdays- Make It Feminine

My mom's best friend, Brigitte, turned 90 on Feb. 19th and her son and his wife had a birthday party for her inviting their 3 boys, their spouses, one grandchild and her daughter in law's parents. My brother, my hubby and I were there and Brigitte was so touched. They made a traditional German meal...wiener schnitzel, spatzle, red cabbage, glazed carrots, a cheese sauce and a mushroom gravy. For dessert, homemade apple strudel. It was delicious! 

Her favourite coloyr is blue so I took a mirrored card and placed some blue alcohol inks on it spreading it around for that mottled effect. I stamped the image in a lavender glitter and embossed it. I took distress inks and used a soft brush to colour the flowers. I stamped the saying in the same embossing powder and cut both out and adhered the card with pop up dots. 

I meant to showcase 2 of the cards a week earlier but I missed it. Have a happy Friday!

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?