So, update...my colonoscopy backfired pun intended. There was no way, in little green acres, that I could drink that much fluid. I never could. When I tried drinking the 2nd half of that bubblegum tasting liquid, I violently threw up. Thankfully it was just that one time but I lived on the toilette until 3 am. The Friday, I informed the nurses and the Dr about that issue. When I woke up, I was told that he could not proceed through with the camera. I will have to repeat this. The God's must love me.....not! The next time, just give me those 2 glass full of liquid hell to take. I cam get through that. Now, tell me, what aspiring Dr to be wishes to put cameras up peoples' butts?
On with the show and I can't believe it is the 3rd week of July. It's hotter than Hades out there so I'm glad I am inside in air conditioning. I am choosing 1961 since my brother was born that year in July for the Oscar song fest. Which song won the Oscar that year which one was nominated and which song hot nadda...let me know what you think.
1. CRUELLA DE VIL SUNG BY BILL LEE
This is a great song, written by Roger Radcliffe, about one evil character who wishes to make a coat out of the 101 Dalmation puppies. I enjoyed how the song was presented and it was another win for Disney.
2. POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES SUNG BY FRANK SINATRA
This song is to complement the film about a homeless woman who gets the help of some special people when she finds out her daughter wants to visit. Don't we all wish for some miracles. This song was composed by James Van Heusen with lyrics by Sammy Cahn
3. MOONRIVER SUNG BY AUDREY HEPBURN
I will be surprised if someone has not heard of this song. Audrey was going to be dubbed, but she fought for her right to sing this song and I think she does a good job. It became a huge hit for Andy Williams which almost became his signature tune. It was composed by the great Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer.
So , which song won the Oscar, which was nominated, and which one received nadda?
Good ole foreign films... I have not seen enough of but I believe I found 3 that work. Wandering through the Shelves chose a good theme once again. Here are my 3...
1. LA RONDE-1950
What a great movie, which I so want to see again, has an all star cast from Anton Walbrook as the ringmaster who shows all the different aspects of love, Simone Signoret as the prostitute( ooh...big surprise) to Danielle Darrieux as the grande married lady (again, big surprise). Everyone is connected by a character who moves the plot along. It starts off with the hooker(Simone Signoret), who makes a soldier happy only for the soldier leaving her arms to pick up a chambermaid. The chambermaid goes off to meet...and so it goes around and around like the carousel of love...This film is directed by the legendary Max Ophuls and it is a classic worth watching more than once.
2. THE 400 BLOWS-1959
I actually watched this when I took a film class in University and really enjoyed it that I watched it a couple more times since then. It’s directed by the famous Francois Truffaut one of the leaders of the French New Wave, who decided to create a semi-autobiographical film abouthis youth. A young boy, frustrated by his life with parents who don’t get who he is and school that berates him tries to figure out who ge is. This is the first of 4 more films about the life of Antoine Doinel played by Jean-Pierre Leaud who played this character all the way through. I really enjoyed this film and could relate to the kid but I think, we all can relate to him on some level.
3. RENOIR-2012
I love art and have had the privilege of seeing some of the great works in many museums. Renoir is one of the most famous of the Impressionists as well as one of the most loved. This man was famous even during his life time unlike Van Gogh. This film takes place in the last few years of his life when Rheumatoid Arthritis took its hold, but he still painted despite great pain. It is 1915, at the height of the Great War, when his final muse, Andree Heuschling, aka Catherine Hessling, came into his life. She is willing to ingratiate herself with the aging painter and when his son, the future famous director Jean Renoir, comes home from the war, she decides to get to know the son better. You see the difficult life both artists have and the girl in the middle of it all. It is beautifully photographed inspired by Renoir’s paintings and you feel the sense of loss from Renoir’s arthritic movement to the war itself. In reality, Andree aka Catherine became the muse of Jean Renoir in his early career as a director becoming his star of most of his silent films. I would love to see this one again too.
Which films come to your mind?
On a fun note....anything but fun, I have to go for a colonoscopy tomorrow since I had blood in my stool. It's fresh blood which is better to have than old and it happened only once. well a couple of times, but during the same week. That means today I gave to drink this whole gallon of liquid hell. At least it's fruit flavoured....oy vey.
My hubby painted this and I think it’s just perfect for my musical post. I may surprise you but I do love classic rock and decided to showcase 3 great rock bands that I love.
1. BORN TO BE WILD BY STEPPENWOLF-1968
This was written by Mars Bonfire and was featured in the film “Easy Rider”, a film I still have to see. I just always loved this song and think I may have it at my wake when I kick the bucket. It’s a lot of fun to dance to which I did in some psychedelic bat in Toronto quite a few years back.
2. RAMBLE ON BY LED ZEPPELIN-1969
I just don’t understand anyone who doesn’t like this great band. This was written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant and features their love of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. I think of these lyrics and the lyrics put out today by people like Bieber and others today and wonder where the intelligence has gone.
3. MOTHER SUNG BY PINK FLOYD-1979
Another brilliant band that is classic and intelligent. I always liked this song written by Roger Waters and David Gilmour. This was featured in their musical called “The Wall” from 1982 which is another I want to see one day.
I plan to showcase these, and others, in the future . Did I surprise you? I love almost all forms of music...just not rap crap.very little rap is what I like.
I love fairs and going on rides, just not rollercoasters due to my fear of heights. Put in on the Tilt O' Whirl, the Scrambler or anything spinning and I love it. I'm already dizzy so I'm aok on these rides. The one I did love, which had some height, was the log run because I love water. I used to go to Crystal Beach which was an old Amusement Park that had a big ballroom where many big names of the 30s and 40s would play. My dad loved going there. The park closed after 101 years with the carousel and the famous Comet being sold to the States. It's such a shame. I tried to stay away from carnivals because that implies seeing the weird and wild and I wanted this to be more just fairs with rides, best hogs and best preserves. Now, venture to Wandering through the Shelves to see what everyone else has chosen...here are my 3...
1. STATE FAIR-1945
This charming musical, by Rogers and Hammerstein just for the movie, the only time they did this, stars Jeanne Crain and Dana Andrews as 2 people who meet and fall in love at the fair Jeanne's family are very involved with the fair because her dad is hoping his big pig will win the big prize. Her mom hopes her preserves will win. Her brother falls for a sultry singer and Jeanne falls for the reporter who wants to make it big. This is a nice movie with the big pig almost Stealing the picture as a lovelorn pig. It's funny to see hard hitting Dana start to sing...well, mime it as he and Jeanne could not sing but it's done quite well. A nice android fun picture with a well rounded cast.
2. STRANGERS ON A TRAIN-1951
I tried not to use this great film but, I cant help myself, because it is just so great. 2 strangers meet on a train with the one man definitely batting a 1,000 in the butterfly net territory. Robert Walker, the boy next door, played his psycho character so well and was robbed of an Oscar nomination. He tells the Farley Granger character to switch...criss- cross murders- he'll off Farley's nasty wife if Farley will kill dear old daddy. Farley laughs it off until he gets a call and finds out his wife is done in. Now we have the cat and mouse game culminating in one of the best endings taking place at the local fair. Look for Marion Lorne as the supremely daffy mom to Robert Walker's character.
3. THE LOST BOYS-1987
This is a fun movie about vampires. It has horror elements in it but it is not just a straightforward horror movie. It has comedy, especially with the younger brother played by Corey Haim. Their mom decided to uproot the boys and live with her elderly dad who likes to stuff things and offer them as gifts to the boys. The fair is the hub of this small town where everything takes place. The older brother, play by Jason Patric and looking like a young Jimmy Morrison, falls for a girl who seems to be a member of this punk- like gang led by Keifer Sutherland. Soon he is neck deep with them and realizes that he can't take the sun or smell garlic. His younger brother, with the help of these 2 geeks, decide to save him and maybe the girl too. It's very witty, moody and a few scary moments but quite well written. Worth a look.
Which movies do you like that take place on a fairground?
I rode most of these rides and my hubby worked there one summer. We probably crossed paths and had no idea we would one day be together. I would have laughed at what he wore because he had original Gene Simmons Kiss boots that he strutted in. Too bad he doesn't have them now.
Hubby and I took our Harley for a walk on the weekend along Lake Ontario. It was a beautiful day as you can see. It made me think of all the summers before, when I was in my 20s, enjoying every weekend at some dance bar. I remembered there were a couple of summers when a group of us dressed up in late 50s/ early 60s garb and went to a special event showcasing music from the 50s and early 60s music. I especially loved dancing to surfin' music. I could wiggle my Mac Nuggets( I had to use this Shady), twist and shout like no tomorrow. I loved to go go dance shaking my ponytail ( HA! Gotcha!) As if it would come free from my head. It was a lot of fun so, with that in mind, I chose these 3 songs...
1. SURFIN' USA BY THE BEACH BOYS-1963
Anything 60s, involving surf and water, has to showcase the Beach Boys. This song was written by Chuck Berry and Brian Wilson and is a great one to dance to.
2. WIPEOUT BY THE SURFARIS-1963
I almost wiped out dancing to this tune many times. I didn't know it, at the time, but I could easily give myself whiplash or dislocate something and I did injure myself with this fun song. I gave myself whiplash by whipping my head around and, at a wedding, I stretched my hip muscles a bit too far. I had a tough time walking but, it was worth it. I had so much fun dancing to this fun tune. I had no idea it was written by 4 dudes- Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller and Ron Wilson.
3. MISIRIOU BY DICK DALE & THE DELTONES
I remember dancing to this tune at that fun oldie tunes event. It was not the typical songs to dance to but I loved it and forgot about that song until I heard it in the movie "Pulp Fiction." The guitar playing blows me away and, when k looked it up I was surprised to kearney it comes from an old folk song from the Eastern Mediterranean area becoming quite popular in the 1920s with the Greek, Turkish and Jewish musicians. I think that's pretty cool.
I have never been surfing not even Annette Funnicello style...have you? What surfing songs did you dance to? Which songs made you get up and dance?
REAL NAME-Natasha Zacharenko-Russian/Ukrainian Parents
MARRIED-3 times, twice to Robert Wagner
CHILDREN- 2 girls. The Oldest has been dealing with mental health issues and addictions
FAMOUS SIBLING- Lana Wood- actress known best as Plenty O' Toole from James Bond film.
AFFAIRS- Numerous-Warren Beatty, Michael Caine, Elvis, Jerry Brown, David Niven Jnr. etc..
OSCAR NOMINATIONS- 3 Times
KNOWN FOR- Speaking fluent Russian and knowing her lines almost right away. Her phobic fear of water.
NICKNAME- One Take Natalie
I still remember when I heard the news of her death and all the reports that more than one person heard her screams for help in the middle of the night. I wondered why no one took a boat out to see what was going on but I don't know their reasons. I do recall one elderly lady saying she called the police because she could hear the woman's cries for help, but nothing was done. I also found it somewhat strange that Stephanie Power's boyfriend (estranged by then), the famous star William Holden, was found dead on Nov. 12th, after hitting his head on a dresser while drunk and bleeding to death. Robert Wagner and Stephanie Powers were playing husband and wife in the hit TV Show, Hart to Hart. I always wondered if they were somehow an item but I did read a lot of Agatha Christie back then. I always thought it weird that the 2 stars from a hit TV series lost their spouses almost within a week of one another and no one ever mentioned the strangeness of it.
Natalie was a successful child actress who made a success as an adult as well. She transitioned through all the stages: child, teen and adult. Her mom was the epitome of a stage mom even tearing up a live butterfly in front of her daughter so her daughter would cry.
Natalie had almost died in water when filming plus, freakily, she was told by a soothsayer, that she would die by drowning. When she was 15, she was told by a famous actor that he could further help her career and to meet him at a hotel. Yup, apparently, she was viciously raped but never talked about it. Her sister, Lana Wood, has recently stated that it was Kirk Douglas but I don't know if there is any more evidence to confirm this so we must tread lightly on this story.
She married Robery Wagner the first time, when she was just 19. When she was in a film with Warren Beatty, they started having an affair and Robert Wagner became so angry and jealous that he got a gun and was following them. Needless to say, the marriage split and Natalie ended up marrying again. During the 60s, after her 3rd suicide attempt, she decided to get help..thankfully. she divorced but remarried Robert Wagner, this time, she seemed happy and was in a semi retirement although she was on TV including Hart To Hart and the miniseries, From Hell To Eternity.
She was making a "comeback" film called " Brainstorm" co-starring Christopher Walken. The rumour was that those 2 were having an affair but..who knows. One fateful weekend, Wagner and Wood invited Walken on their yacht and the 3 proceeded to start drinking. They went to some restaurant, drank some more, where others noticed how angry Wagner was. The 3 came back to the yacht, drinking more when there was a heated argument because Wagner was jealous of Walken and Wood. Walken went to bed and probably passed out. Wagner and Wood argued some more. The next morning, the police were called and they found Wood's body in the water. Wagner has changed his story more than once and the Captain, running the yacht, wrote a book ( of course), many years later that he was told by Wagner that she fell overboard but to not turn on the searchlights nor call the police.
I believe Wagner is guilty, not premeditated, but his anger got the better of him. There were many bruises all over her body plus, her sister said it was tough enough for her to be on a yacht, she would never get in a dinghy, no matter how drunk she was. I believe that, but Wagner will never be brought up on charges. Just recently, he was, again, not being charged but was a person of interest.
Natalie had so much going for her but her life was not easy and her death is now infamous. I prefer to think of her as that little girl pulling Edmund Gwenn's beard or that beautiful woman on the big screen.
FILMS
As a Child:
The Ghost & Mrs. Muir-1947
Miracle on 34th Street-1947
The Green Promise-1949- note: She was to cross a bridge that was to break after she crossed the it, but it broke while she was crossing it. Naturally, the director kept filming while she was being swept under the water and was hurt. She suffered an injury to her left wrist which never properly healed so she always wore a bracelet to hide it. This is the reason she had a life-long fear of water.
155 yrs old but we are actually much older...just think Quebec.
I am just happy to have today off. My neighbours to the South will celebrate their land on Monday so happy July 4th!
On to what I watched this past month of June. I watch the news...disgusting about the shootings and Roe vs Wade being dismantled. I know some of my viewers are happy about this but this is why its such a hot topic. A lot of blame goes on the poor girl who gets knocked up but the man goes on his merry sperm way. Anyway, I am here to not get into horrible news or the fact that Trump is not in jail and never will be, I am here to talk about the flicks and TV shows I watched.
I have not seen much since I am working and, often, get home later than expected because I have to get work done. My hubby has watched a ton but not moi. Here are the movies I have seen.
The nestle in the thistle...oh screw it...that hilarious scene with the tongue twister is quite famous because it's so hard to do, but Kaye is brilliant with these. Kaye does sing a few songs. One at the beginning when the titles are on, one at the start of the film making us think he is this noble Robin Hood type of man ( he is not) and a couple of tunes when he is entertaining the king. Kaye must keep a baby safe because that babe is the rightful king. A young lady who is part of this tribe helps Kaye(Glynnis Johns who is still alive..I think she is 96). Of course Kaye is a klutz and somehow they get separated and he ends up as this Jester for the king. The evil Basil Rathbone wants to keep the king in place until he can kill the king and claim the throne as his own. Angela Lansbury, also still alive and 96, plays the King's daughter who wants to marry for love and not the big oaf who has a big kingdom as well( nothing Freudian in that sentence is there?). Her lady in waiting is a witch who can make spells and poison hence this tongue twisting episode that made me laugh. It's fun, and silly and not that musical. You can forward through those parts and not lose anything( hi Shady).
3. BRIDESMAIDS- 2011
I know that Joel hates this movie because it is rude and crude which is why I love it. I'm not a lumberman's daughter for nothing. The basic plot is about 2 best friends, one is getting married and the other..well, her life is going to pot. She had a bakery but that went under and her boyfriend said bye bye; she has awful sex with a jerk and lives with 2 creepy overweight siblings that look like albinos. When she meets her best friend's other bridesmaids, she feels threatened by the rich, beautiful gal who over dresses and over does everything but seems to be a perfect fit for her best friend's new life. There is one bad event after another culminating at the shower when the gal finally loses it. I find it so funny with the dress salon scene being my favourite. " Look Away! Look Away." This catapulted Melissa McCarthy to movie fame.
TV...
1. NEW AMSTERDAM-2018- PRESENT
My hubby and I love watching this show about a hospital in need of a dreamer and shaker-upper to save the hospital. Along the way, he inspires and regales his fellow doctors to do their utmost. This Dr can be demanding and irritating especially to the people who like the bottom line which, this Dr, does not look at but somehow, he makes things work. You have other doctors who must all take care of their patients from the emergency room, to the psychiatric area. You get to know the doctors and their issues. It's pretty typical when you think about the doctor shows but it has a quirkiness about it as well as the lead, played so well by Ryan Eggold. I loved the character Anupam Kher plays as a Dr who uses unusual methods to find and cure his patients. Unfortunately, the actor's wife has cancer and, during Covid, it just became too difficult to be apart from her, so he left the show. How I wish every hospital and Dr were like the ones in this TV Show.
2. THE THING ABOUT PAM-2022
I still call these miniseries and this one starred Renee Zellweger as one very dangerous, murdering psychopath. It's based on the true story about this woman who befriends another woman who has terminal cancer. The woman, with cancer, is stabbed 57 times and is found by her husband who calls 911 hysterically, believing she killed herself. Despite the fact that he was at his friend's place playing games with his buddies, had a receipt stamped with the time, from a fast food place and no blood was found on him, they arrested him. This husband ended up in prison for 3 yrs because of the injustice done to him by the prosecuting attorney who made sure all the facts that supported Pam as the potential killer, were swept under the rug. At least, Pam was found out and the real nutjob is in prison now. I know it got mixed reviews because it had some comical elements through it and it was just plain quirky and odd but that appealed to me. I am not a Zellweger fan but she did a great job as this icky woman who knew how to charm people and get hold of the inheritance money.
3. ARCHER-2009- PRESENT
This is animated but it is so funny and downright brilliant as a parody of the many spy movies and shows that are out there, mainly James Bond. I could never replicate the jokes and hilarious plots and banter of the main characters. It is not for everyone, since it is not politically correct which is what I love. The main character is narcissistic who gets into horrible situations but is still skilled with killing the enemy and getting out of a tight spot. The vavoom fellow spy and former girlfriend always helps him get out of a tight jam. His mother leads the agency and can be ruthless plus her mothering skills are just not that great. You have other team players who work behind the scenes and are so funny. I am watching the 3rd season now which my brother got for me for Christmas. Loving this show..again, rude and so politically incorrect, which is right up my alley.
Which show or movie have you seen? Which book have you read that you want to share? Let me know.
