Boats

 

Since I have been seeing a ton of boats the last few days, I thought it only the best to showcase films with the word, “boat” in the title…

1. LIFEBOAT-1944

I have spoken bout this film before but I love this under-rated Hitchcock film that takes places, entirely, on a lifeboat. We first see the great Tallulah Bankhead in the lifeboat who helps a rugged John Hodiak on board followed by more and more passengers from a sunk ship that engaged and sank the German Sub at the same time. Now the cast of characters are all on a small boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean who have an additional survivor, a German from the sunken sub. You still have love, loss, suspense, betrayal and wondering whether everyone is whom they say they are. My favourite is Tallulah who keeps losing her precious items from her fur coat to her diamond bracelet. This is a film that is much better than many give for a Hitchcock film. 

2. THE GLASS BOTTOM BOAT-1966

This stars Doris Day as a young widower who helps her dad’s business by appearing as a mermaid under his glass bottomed boat for the tourists. She is hooked by a fisherman, played by rugged Rod Taylor and is not happy that her bottom half is on his fishing line and not on her naked bottom. He has a new invention for the space industry called GISMO and has run into Day at the Aeronautic research business where she works. There is a huff and puff Day trying not to fall for the dreamy eyed Taylor who wants only Day. Through a series of innocent events, Day is suspected to be a spy leading to much hijinks. I love Dom DeLouise and Paul Lynde trying to watch Day believing she is a Russian spy. I also adore the cameo of Alice Pierce and George Tobias as the husband and wife made famous from Bewitched. It’s a fun movie and one to watch  even though I wish Rock Hudson played the Taylor role.

3. DAS BOAT-1981

Talk about a tense film! This boat is, actually, a submarine, a German U-Boat during the battle for the Atlantic when many German subs sank many, many ships that were crossing the Atlantic either bringing supplies, troops or both over to England. We meet the boat’s crew who are proud sailors but not necessarily Nazis, except one who shaves and wears his uniform. The others tolerate, if not berate, the moron as they go unshaven in solidarity to their unit. You feel the close quarters of these men and hope they do not sink when they are repeatedly depth charged and fired upon. When they sink a ship, they are unable to bring aboard the survivors due to their sub’s damage. You notice how that ardent Nazi gives up his uniform and starts to grow a beard realizing the Nazi way of thinking is…shit. It’s a brilliant piece of film making that deserved the Oscar for best Foreign film. It is not uplifting but it is well acted, directed and written and makes you think well after the film is done. 

So any movies you can think of with Boat in the title? What about famous boats?

Enjoying My Vacation

 

We are enjoying our time at my hubby’s Aunt’s house which is right on the Richeleau River. It’s crazy on the weekends in this river with sailboats, fast boats, fat boats and yachts plus skidoos and water skiing. There is almost always a breeze which is most needed on these hot days. I thought of these songs for Freebie Week over at Monday Music Moves Me.

1. COME, SAIL AWAY BY STYX-1977

This is a great song that I love and brings back great memories of my time at Crystal Beach when I rode the rides especially the Blitzer which often played this song.

2. CALYPSO BY JOHN DENVER-1975

I love John Denver and he is one of the people I am still saddened about, to this day, that he died, like John Candy and Robin Williams. This is a song he created for his friend Jacques Cousteau whose boat was The Calypso.

3. ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT SUNG BY BING CROSBY AND ELLA FITZGERALD -1967

This is an old children’s rhyme that we all know…and, if you don’t, you have been hiding under a rock. I had to sing this song when I was in grade school as, I’m sure, you did as well, but this song has made it into many TV shows and movies but this one was sung by good ole Der Bingle with Ella Fitzgerald on an episode 9f The Hollywood Palace.

Travels To My Aunt

 

This weekend my hubby and I will be travelling to visit his Aunt, who lives about an hour South of Montreal right on the Richelieu River. It’s a long drive, about 8-9 hrs, but it will be so nice to see her. She just lost her husband, this past February so it will be a nice distraction for her. I’m glad we will be there for her birthday because it’s the first birthday without her husband. She’s one strong lady so I know she will be ok, but she lost her best friend a couple of years back and other relatives which happens as we get older…that just sucks. I thought this would be a good theme for this week’s movie time.

1. THE AWFUL TRUTH-1937

I just watched this film for the first time and truly enjoyed it. It stars Cary Grant and Irene Dunne as a married couple who mistrust each other so much that it leads to divorce. During the divorce proceedings, they each claim that their beloved dog is theirs( the famous Asta) with Dunne winning their dog but through scheming hands( she showed the dog his favourite toy unbeknownst to the court), She is wooed by Ralph Bellamy as a Texan oil tycoon travelling with his mommy. Grant gets involved with a showgirl who knows how to Oomph during her singing number. Throughout this film, we have her beloved Aunt Patsy who is all too wise to the true goings on between these 2 people whom she loves. Cecil Cunningham delivers a great performance as the all too knowing Aunt and lends perfect support to the cast.

2. BRINGING UP BABY-1938

This film stars Cary Grant as a palaeontologist  who is constructing a Brontosaurus but needs one bone to complete it. He also needs money to complete everything which seems likely since he is engaged to a socialite. The day before his marriage he meets Susan played by Katherine Hepburn who never looked so beautiful and uninhibited. Through a serious of mishaps, they end up going to her Aunt’s home to deal with Baby, a tamed leopard her brother sent to her. He has his dinosaur bone but her Aunt’s dog( yup, Asta) grabs it and burys it. Hepburn realizes she loves Grant so she steals his clothes resulting in Grant wearing a fancy negligee and robe. In enters Hepburn’s Aunt, played so imperiously, by May Robson, who sees Grant in the frilly negligee which leads to a hilarious scene. He soon finds out that the Aunt is the lady who he has been trying to get the funds to support his museum. Baby escapes but so does a circus leopard who is much less tame and Hepburn and Grant embark on a hilarious romp through the countryside and the local jail trying to retrieve Baby by singing, “ I can’t give you anything but love, Baby”.  This film bombed at the box office but is now considered one of the best screwball comedies. This Aunt is played so well by the character actress, Ms. Robson, and she holds all the cards for this couple to realize they both love each other plus she has the money to help the museum. 

3. ARSENIC AND OLD LACE-1944

Mortimer Brewster, played by Cary Grant is a writer who thinks marriage is a big sham. He is at the courthouse ready to marry his girl next door, played by Pricilla Lane. They marry and they go to their homes to pack their things for their honeymoon. Grant lives with his 2 sweet old Aunts, played so wondrously by Jean Adair and Josephine Hull. They are such sweet, doting aunts who live with their brother who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt. The one problem Grant finds out is that his loving aunts are serial killers. They don’t need to be but when they meet old men, because they post a room for rent sign in their window, they feel sorry that these men are all alone. To ease their suffering, they give the men elderberry wine laced with arsenic, strychnine and cyanide and ask their brother to bury the body, he happily does so believing it is another yellow fever victim. Grant is in shock realizing his aunts are killers but he doesn’t want them to go to jail so he contacts Happy Dale Mental Asylum to have them committed. Unfortunately, his evil brother with a doctor in tow, arrives to hide from the police bringing, with them, their 12th victim. They try to hide the body in the window seat, but it is already taken by another body dine in by the sweet old Aunts. Now the brother, played so well by Raymond Massey, is pe-ohed that his aunts equal him in kills so he wants to kill his brother to make it 13. This is one of my favourite screwball comedies which Grant disliked because he felt he hammed it up way too much. I think it leads to his role and the madness that lives in the house. The film belongs to the 2 aunts who just take on their roles with such gusto. Its madcap but a lot of fun.

Did you catch my theme within a theme? What films can you think of that has an Aunt in a role that helps carry the film? Let me know

Dog Days of Summer

 

The picture, above, was taken, last Wednesday, from my work place. To say it was hard to breathe in would be apt plus it felt like I was in a sauna. The ugly smell worked its way into the air conditioners, but it was still much better than working outside. The following day, the sky was white and I thought I would see ash, but, thankfully, that did not happen. This is not the usual dog days but I had to showcase it and it saddens me that, when the U. S. have major wildfires or any other major calamity, our firemen travel down to help. Last year ( I think it was last year) when there were those major wild fires in California, many of our firefighters went down to help. Now, I’m not sad about that, but sad that when many Canadians have lost everything due to the wildfires in northwest Ontario, the horrible smell and crap from the fires drifted where I live and went south into the U. S. Your so-called leader used this to add more tariffs and blamed us! I am praying that most of you do not blame Canada for something we have no control over since this is Mother Nature. I don’t believe any firefighters, from your nation, come to help ( I hope I am wrong and please correct me if that’s the case), but I do believe you feel bad for the many people who lost everything. Remember, there have been times that your smoke came our way and we did not blame you. I am sorry but I just had to speak out about this latest diarrhea spewing from your hairpiece in the Oval Office. 

Ok, the dog days of summer which are hot, humid and sweaty! Back in the day, I did dance the night away to these songs I have listed below and I went with a different part of what Heat does….sweat! I am joking the Monday Music Moves Me and here we go…

1. DANCING WITH MYSELF SUNG BY BILLY IDOL-1981

I cannot believe that Billy Idol played at my University the first year I attended. I danced to this song and many other hit songs from him while I was, maybe, 10 ft from the stage and could have touched him. It was a lot of fun to say the least and, even though it was early September, it was hot. 

2. EVERYBODY DANCE NOW SUNG BY C + C MUSIC FACTORY AND MARY WASH-1990

Even though this has rap in it, I really like this song and danced to it so many times and also sings about sweat because that’s what most people do. When you watch the video you see this nice thin gal sing this song, but it came out that she just lip synced and Mary was the singer. It went to the courts to have her recognized on this song…how sad is that? 

3. NEED YOU TONIGHT SUNG BY INXS-1987

I love this band and this song which was a main reason for buying the CD. I played that CD so many times, I wore it out…lol. This is one sexual song and who doesn’t want to have that kind of sweat. I was really upset when Michael Hutchence died and it is ruled a suicide. I don’t think it was by suicide but, like David Carradine, I think he was trying to seek sexual pleasure by choking himself but, like Carradine, died as a result. That is just a little too weird but it happens. His voice just exuded sex and was perfect for this song and many others. 

Which songs did you dance to that made you sweat?

You Don’t Believe Movies

 

I love films where the main character is not believed. When I started to think of films, my mind went blank except for “Gaslight” and “Rear Window” but there really so many more. With this in mind, I thought of these 3 films where no one believed the main protagonist nd here they are …

1. CHASE A CROOKED SHADOW-1958

I saw this film just the other day and really enjoyed it. It stars Anne Baxter as an heiress in Spain who lost her brother in a car accident a year ago and, recently, her father. When a young man shows up claiming to be her brother, she is dumbfounded especially that everyone believes this man ( Richard Todd)is her brother. She goes to the local police imploring that the young man is not her brother and the policeman ( Herbert Lom) starts to believe her. She believes that this man and the housekeeper he brings with him, are after her money, if only she could prove it. This is an intense film from the beginning especially the car speeding scene along a treacherous, winding road. What makes even more intense is that Richard Todd and Anne Baxter were the people in the car and Richard was driving! I would not have done that scene no matter what!

2. HUSH, HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE-1964

This was supposed to star Bette Davis and Joan Crawford as a kind of sequel to their big hit, “ Whatever Happened to Baby Jane” but, Joan was in one of her diva moments( one of many) and was fired which suited Bette just fine since they did not like each other. Bette plays a southern belle from a time that no longer exists. Everyone believes that she killed her fiancée 40 years ago, decapitated him, but there was insufficient proof to arrest her. Bette’s character, Charlotte was never the same and became a recluse in her fading mansion, but now her place is wanted by the State and has evicted her, but she is not going without. Fight. She writes to her cousin to help her and her cousin( played by Bette’s friend, Olivia DeHavilland) arrives who is fondly remembered by the people in the area including the country doctor, played by Joseph Cotton. They soon realize that Bette is sliding into madness and they are not sure what to do. This is a movie that I prefer over Baby Jane. Bette gives another great performance as the fragile Charlotte who professes her innocence but nobody believes her. The characters around her give their best including her dedicated maid played by the great Agnes Moorehead. It’s worth checking out.

3. BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING-1965

I saw this film years ago, when I still lived at home, when it was on at 2am and I could not turn away. Carol Lynley arrives in England with her 5 yr old daughter to spend time with her brother. She takes her daughter to school but when she goes to pick her up, nobody remembers seeing this girl. The mom, understandably, upset, contacts the police but no one remembers the little girl. When her brother supports everyone else, it begins to show that maybe the mom never had a girl, that she came to England alone. She prays that the police chief, played by Laurence Olivier, will believe her but it seems he feels she needs to see a rubber room. I realized that I questioned whether Bunny truly did exist. This is a taught thriller that keeps you on the edge of your feet and your own sanity. I need to revisit this film.

So, what films can you think of?

By the way, yesterday’s answer to which film won the Oscar…it was “Beauty and the Beast”, “ Be Our Guest” was nominated and that great song, “Tears In Heaven” never got a nomination…that is abhorrent in my opinion. The other songs that were nominated were, “ Belle” from “Beauty and the Beast”, “Everything I Do, I Do It For You” from Robin Hood and “When You’re Alone”  from Hook.

Yesterday and Today the sky looks like a sick apricot colour due to the fires in Northern Ontario. Breathing is horrible so, everyone affected by this, stay inside and stay cool.

Which Song Won The Oscar-1991

 

I am choosing 1991 to guess which song won the Oscar, which was nominated and which got nuttin’ honey. I am joining Monday Music Moves Me on Wednesday so let’s see if you guess correctly…

1. BE OUR GUEST SUNG BY JERRY ORBACH AND ANGELA LANSBURY 

I do love this song and this is a nice version of one of my favourite Grimm Fairy Tales, “ Beauty and the Beast.” This was written by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman and it’s a great hit. The sex starved candlestick and the fat teapot sing this to Beauty to make her feel  more at home in this castle ruled by the Beast. My mom hated the look of the beast because his massive upper frame could never be held up by the tiny ..um…bottom half. I have to agree but it’s still fun. For the best rendition of this classic fairy tale, please see, “ La Belle et La Bette.” A French film by Jean Cocteau.

2. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST SUNG BY ANGELA LANSBURY

This song, written by Menken and Ashman, was sung by Angela Lansbury while Beauty and the Beast dance in the grand ballroom lending  to the air of true romance. It’s a nice, simple song that impacts the plot which is all about love overcoming all obstacles.

3. TEARS IN HEAVEN SUNG BY ERIC CLAPTON

This song comes from the film, “Rush” about 2 undercover cops who become hooked on drugs and how their lives are destroyed by the drugs and their troubled work. This song was written by Clapton and Will Jennings and is a truly heartbreaking song because Clapton wrote is for his 4 yr old son, Conor, who fell from the 53rd floor of Conor’s mother’s friend. I remember when this happened and my heart went out to Clapton, the mom and her friend who must be still dealing with the guilt she must have felt since this tragedy happened while Conor was under her care. It is a most heartbreaking song.

So, which song won the Oscar, which one was nominated, and which got nuttin 

Embossed Cards

 

I have created a Slew of cards but I have slacked in showing all of them. These are the latest cards I created which I really enjoyed doing and have joined a few challenges. Oh, the picture, above, was taken by my best friend from her kitchen window.

Inkspirational- Inspired by the Colours in the photo

Alphabet Challenge- Festivities 

I follow the sweet and wonderful Sandra Cox, a writer and  fellow blogger who showcases what is in her garden every Tuesday. She inspired me to create a card( plus more) with flowers. I used the 3D embossing folder, the floral folder, and ran it through my sizzex to emboss the image. Instead of using the raised side which is the normal side to use, I used the other side where the image is “sunken in”. I grabbed my distress ink pads and took a soft bristle brush, to pick up the colour and coloured in all the flowers and leaves. After all the colouring, I took my black ink pads and lightly swiped it cross the whole card until it covered all the raised parts revealing the flowers. I enjoyed colouring and picking the colours. I have to try this using other mediums like prisma colouring pencils, chalks, shimmer paints, perfect pearls, etc…

52 Christmas Cards- Colour Challenge-brown, apricot, moss green

Fab N’ Funky- Christmas In July

Addicted To Stamps- Make Your Mark

I am into creating these cards using colours on the reverse side of the 3D embossing folder. I used my distress ink pads to create these cards using moss green on the leaves and the apricot on the berries. I wanted some difference between the leaves so I took a marker( I bought these at Dollarama+ ( there is nothing in there for a dollar any more) in a moss green and coloured some of the leaves. I took my stickles, in an apricot looking colour, and glittered up the berries and then adhered it to an apricot card, which I used a tombow marker to create that unique colour, and a moss green before I  glued it to a dark brown cardstock. Finally, I used my sizzex to cut out the “Merry Christmas” saying, gluing it onto the card. I didn’t want to add anything else because it would take away from the image.

Try It Tuesday-Animals

Crafty Animals- Anything Goes

Sparkles Monthly- Masculine

We Love Stamping- Summertime

I sent this card to my friend, V. J. In Vancouver who loved it which makes me very happy! I just bought this “butter”..it’s creamy goop that you spread on paper and it’s perfect with stencils. I used a lilac, soft light blue and a vibrant darker blue and spread it like one spreads butter. I lifted the stencil and…voila! From there I took a piece of blue paper and stamped the saying that is, about a year old. I felt the background wasn’t dark enough so I took my blue marker and coloured around it. I glued it down on the card and then I stamped the dragonflies in blue and embossed them in a blue embossing powder. Finally I took some iridescent blue and painted it on the wings. I fussy cut them out and glued them on the card. 

I have done more cards, but I just lost track of time to showcase them. I promise to show more.

What Should Have Won Best Picture-1979

 

Happy Birthday My Brother, Baron! I can't believe that you are now a pensioner. I still think we are at home, with mom and dad, playing hide and seek with the Lennoks, after 9pm…gosh, that was so much fun! In honor of my brother's birthday, I asked him which film or actor should have won the Oscar and he, immediately, mentioned Apocalypse Now and I agree with him 150%. So who actually won and which film didn't even get nominated is mentioned below..

1. APOCALYPSE NOW

I can't understand how this film did not win because this is not just a movie, it is a film worthy of being called Art. Like “Citizen Kane,” “It's A Wonderful Life,” “Rear Window,” and “Schindler's List,” this film is one we all know whether we have seen it or not. In fact, it is so famous, not only for the actual film, but for all the behind the scenes mayhem. France's Ford Coppola sank all his money into the making of this film which almost bankrupted him. The star of the film, Martin Sheen suffered a heart attack and then there is the tornado called Marlon Brando…”The Horror…The Horror”. There is a documentary about the making of this film which is just as riveting as the film. We follow Martin Sheen who must, during the Vietnam War, locate and exterminate Kurtz, played by Marlon Brando, a colonel gone rogue. We follow Sheen, with a handful of young soldiers, travel into the heart of darkness (an actual book, that I need to reread since I didn't understand it when I initially read it back in high school) finding out more about the brutality of life and its meaning, if there is any. Robert Duvall should have won Best Supporting actor for his portrayal of a crazy, surf loving, Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore who, “loves the smell of napalm in the morning.” This is a must-see film for its acting, plot, music, scenery and the artistic look of the film. What are your thoughts on this film, Baron?

2. KRAMER VS KRAMER

This is the film that won Best Picture as well as Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, Director plus Beat Adapted Screenplay and.. while it is a good film, I just don’t understand all the hoopla. It is one of the first films to depict a man dealing with raising his child on his own after his wife leaves to “find herself.” He is trying to balance his work while dealing with his son who misses his mom by acting like a real brat ( the ice cream scene is great). I just watched this film again, not having seen it since I saw it in the theatre back in 1979. I still maintain that this is a good film with Hoffman giving a great performance as the out of touch husband who must be the dad to his son(Justin Henry who  was nominated in the Beat Supporting Actor category) when his crying wife, played by Meryl Streep, needs to find herself and leaves them. When she returns, she wants her son and takes her husband to court while crying most of the time. Yeah, she won the Best Supporting Actress and I just never understood why she won. For me, she is over-rated and I know I am in the minority in this. Regardless, this is a film worth seeing and it does rug at the heart strings.

3. THE CHINA SYNDROME

This film is a very scary film because it is quite realistic. Why? It deals with the possibility of nuclear meltdown which was met with harsh criticism by the execs at the nuclear power stations. Unfortunately, 12 days after the release of the film, there was a nuclear meltdown at Three Mile Island causing radiation to seep out and the surrounding area to leave their homes and not return. This film is about such an accident possibly occurring but it is a film of fiction, so-called. It stars Jack Lemmon as a high level executive who sees how shoddy work is creating a nuclear meltdown, but no one is listening to him. At the same time, a reporter and cameraman, played by Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas, are doing a story on the nuclear power plant when Lemmon, suspecting a nuclear meltdown, takes over the plant in order to bring awareness to the public about the safety concerns of this plant. The higher-ups and money men want Lemmon shut down and will do anything to get this done. It is an intense, well-acted film that is eerily relevant even today and this was not even nominated for Best Picture.

The other films that were nominated were “Breaking Away”, “All That Jazz”, and “Norma Rae”. 

Films not even nominated were “Alien”, “Manhattan” and “And Justice For All”. 

Do you agree with this or do you feel another picture should have won or do you agree with the Academy? 

UFO Time, it’s UFO Time

 

This is Wednesday which means it’s Monday Music Moves Me today on my blog and this week’s theme is all about the UFO. I do hope you enjoy these cinematic delights…

1. MAIN THEME FROM INVADERS FROM MARS BY MORT GLICKMAN-1953

When I saw this film, I have to say, it freaked me out and the music was a contributing factor in making me  me freak out. Funny, originally, this music was thought to be created by Raoul Kraushaar but, now the consensus is tht Mort Glickman created this piece. How do you like it?

2. DUEL OF THE FATES BY JOHN WILLIAMS

John Williams is one prolific composer often pairing with Steven Spielberg to create an indelible partnership scoring so many films with him but Star Wars is THE biggest film. Of course, I did not pick the most famous theme but chose the vital fight scene between Darth Maul and Obi Wan Kenobi. I find this piece of great music the most thrilling  and it does take place in outer space.

3. PRELUDE AND OUTER SPACE BY BERNARD HERMANN-1951

This great, eerie music comes from….klaatu, barrada nicto…..”The Day The Earth Stood Still”. I think this is still one of the best films about men that come from outer space and this music just heighten the tension. I think it’s a perfect take on the paranoia that gripped the States back then( not to say now!)

So what UFO music can you think of?

ANUS OF URANUS BY KLAATU-1976

Love this Canadian Band that originated "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft".

Star Of The Month-Donald Crisp

 

DONALD CRISP

BIRTH: July 27, 1882

DEATH: MAY 25, 1974

AGED: 91, a couple months short of his 92nd birthday 

DIED FROM: Heart Attack after a series of major strokes

MARRIED: 3 times, the first ended in her tragic death a year after they married. The other 2 ended in divorce

CHILDREN: None

OSCAR WINS: “How Green Is My Valley”

OSCAR NOMINATIONS: Once, see above

TALENT: beautiful, operatic voice( who knew?), keen business sense becoming one of the wealthiest actors. Acting talent but also directing as well as a Production and Studio Exec.

KNOWN FOR: His soft, but commanding voice. His love of acting, keeping his private life private. Slightly( HA!) exaggerated early life. Was an Intelligence Officer in WW1 and in the army reserves in WW2 becoming a Colonel. 

Joel spoke about Donald Crisp when I mentioned “Broken Blossoms” last month and I thought Donald would be perfect for Star of the Month ( Thanks Joel:)). He was known stature and large hands, but with a soft, mellifluous voice. He spoke about his Scottish heritage, his dad as a physician to the King, graduating from Oxford and fighting in the Boer War. The problem is that Mr. Crisp slightly exaggerated….well, lied about his more common lineage. He was not Scottish at all, but English and born, the youngest of 10 kids to a labourer dad and mom. He went to school, but not Oxford and there is a question about him being in the Boer War since he was living at his parent’s home driving a horse and buggy for a job in 1901. He could have been part of the Boer War as a trooper before being injured but not sure on this one. Don’t think too badly on this man since we have no idea what it was like to deal with class discrimination. No matter, he was very studious and highly intelligent plus he could have easily taught elocution lessons. It was decades later that the truth came out about his lineage and, in fact, my books uphold his elaborations. I found out this information on the internet with many spots, like IMD, still quoting that he is Scottish with a dad as a physician to the King ( or a cattle farmer) and an Oxford (or Eton) graduate. 

When he came over to the U. S., he was found to have a beautiful singing voice, while on the ship, and was hired for the Grand Opera House in New York City. There he met George M. Cohan and became a stage manager where he met D. W. Griffith who took him out to Hollywood. He became his assistant director and acted in a few of his films like “The Birth of a Nation” portraying Ulysses S. Grant. During the teens and 20s, he not only acted but directed many silents including “The Son of Zorro” with Douglas Fairbanks and Buster Keaton in “The Navigator” ( Keaton did fire him though). He was also a Production and Studio Exec. but tired of all the crap he had to deal with so, when sound came, he stayed with acting. Well, not exactly, he was keenly adept at business and became a power broker and was a huge help to the Bank of America!  He was on their board and was a chairman, held in great respect since this was during the Great Depression and WW2. Many films can be thankful to Donald Crisp because he was a main reason the producers got the financing to make so many of these classic films. 

This man knew how to make money and command respect while enjoying making movies. He really enjoyed acting and we know him from his looks and his speech even if most no longer know his name

FILMS ( My Favourites)

1. How Green Is My Valley-1941

2. Lassie, Come Home-1943

3. The Uninvited-1944

4. National Velvet-1944

5. Broken Blossoms-1919

6. Son Of Lassie-1945

7. The White Angel-1936

8. Wuthering Heights-1939

9. The White Angel-1936

10. Svengali-1931

11. Jezebel-1938

12. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-1941

13.  Charge of the Light Brigade-1936

14. City For Conquest-1940

15. The Birth of a Nation-1915  ( there are other films he has been in that I would choose over this, if I saw them…this film is a big film historically, but very racist and reinvigorated the KKK)

Ann Blyth

 

One of the last of old Hollywood died last week at the age of 98… Ann Blyth. She would have been 99 in August and I was really hoping she would live to 100. I’m not sure why her death struck me but, I think, it is because so few are still alive. Hell, this gal worked with Joan Crawford and had nothing but nice things to say bout her! I first saw her in a musical and fell in love with her voice before I saw her as the viper brat to Saintly Joan. So, here’s to Ann..

1. MILDRED PIERCE-1945

This is the film that established Ann as a star and revitalized Joan Crawford’s career( she won the Best Actress Oscar accepting the award in her bed since she was, cough… sick with the flu) where Joan plays Mildred, a woman who has the worst daughter one can think of. Mildred and her spouse divorce after losing their sweet daughter to pneumonia. Mildred spoils he oldest daughter who is quite happy taking. Mildred finds a job as a waitress and before you can say, “Crocodiles eat their young,” Mildred opens her own restaurant and becomes quite successful. Mildred meets this suave A-hole who sweeps her off her feet while seducing her bitch of a daughter, very willingly, I might add. This is a must-see film, in my opinion, for all the noir imagery, the acting and Crawford’s shoulder pads. Ann Blyth excels as the nasty bitch of a daughter who takes and takes making her mom feel bad for making her into a nasty bitch….hmmm..maybe some parents should watch this on how not to raise their children. 

2. MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID-1948

I love anything dealing with mermaids and saw this fun movie years ago when the great Elwy Yost hosted Saturday Night At The Movies on TVO( the Canadian PBS) who showcased 2 movies with interviews from the famous stars, directors, producers et al from the classic days of Hollywood (I wish TVO would bring this back because I would watch this all over again). This film stars William Powell who, to help regain his strength after being ill, takes a Caribbean holiday with his wife. When he goes out fishing he is shocked when he reels in a mermaid, played so well by Ann Blyth. For whatever the reason, he brings her back to the resort and dumps her into the deep pool right near his room. This mischievous mermaid sings and smiles but is unable to talk, but that doesn’t bother Powell who falls in love with her, forgetting all about his wife. This is not a classic but it is fun movie that makes you smile.

3. THE STUDENT PRINCE-1954

This is the first film I saw Ann Blyth in and just fell in love with the movie and with her as the barmaid who falls in love with the Prince. Her exquisite, operatic voice is in full form as we follow the Prince( originally was supposed to be Mario Lanza but he was fired due to his diva-like ways and Edmund Purdom stepped in) who is a student of the old Heidelberg University. He and the other boys end up at an Inn which is popular with students who love to drink. There the Prince meets Kathie, the innkeeper’s daughter, and they fall in love but can their love survive the duty that the Prince is expected to adhere to? It is a beautiful musical that struck me deeply as a 10 year old kid. I loved the romance, the colour photography, the acting of Blyth as well as the character actors Edmund Gwenn and S. Z. Sakall and the singing. Thankfully, the producers still had Mario Lanza’s singing voice and used it to dub Edmund Purdom. I’d love to see this film again.

Do any of you know this actress? I hope so.

Happy Canada Day!

 

I am Canadian! I am a proud Canuck but I am only showcasing 1 patriotic song which should do just fine. It’s freebie week over at Monday Music Moves Me and so, let’s get on with the show…

1. NORTHWEST PASSAGE SUNG BY STAN ROGERS-1981

This song is a standard for Canada and Stan sings this a cappella. It’s all about his journey across Canada.

2. SLEIGH RIDE IN JULY SUNG BY JULIE LONDON-1956

I am showcasing this chanteuse every month singing a song about the month of July. It was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke and it’s a nice song that Julie sings in her own inimitable way.

3. COME BOYS SUNG BY ANN BLYTH-1954

Yes, the name of this song could mean so many things and could be sung by the Village People, but I am straying. Why do I choose this song? The pretty and petite Ann Blyth, known for her role as the viper brat in the film, “Mildred Pierce”, died last week at the age of 98. She is one of the last of the classic stars of Hollywood and I first saw her in the film, “The Student Prince.” I love her voice and wanted to show how wonderful she sounded during the waning years of the Hollywood musical. The song was written by Sigmund Romberg and I think she does a great job.

Happy Canada Day!