As Time Goes By

Friday pairing: Shirley Maclaine & Jack Lemmon

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:45:00 +0000

Their films:

I don't why I chose these two... probably because just recently I watched Irma La Douce for the second time, and found the film even more mesmerizing than before. Was it the chemistry between Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon?

Both The Apartment and Irma la Douce were directed by Billy Wilder, so I guess we should call this a Friday Trio? But anyway, as much as you'll definitely find that Wilder touch in both movies, there are still vast differences between both films, not only in the theme, but also in the characterization of Lemmon and Maclaine.

The Apartment tells the struggle of C.C. Baxter, who wanted so much to be promoted at work that he's willing to sacrifice his apartment as a rendezvous for affairs happening between his colleagues. Even if that means he must sleep on the street! His neighbour thought of him as a playboy because they always hear noises coming out from his room! So very much a Lemmon character, no?

Shirley Maclaine plays Fran Kubelik, his object of affection, the elevator girl slash mistress of Mr. Sheldrake, Baxter's boss. Mr. Sheldrake always 'borrows' Baxter's apartment to meet up with Kubelik, so can you guess how Baxter feels when he find out about this?

In Irma la Douce, however, they play very different roles from their Apartment roles as everyday working people. Long story short, Shirley Maclaine is a prostitute called Irma, and Jack Lemmon is the honest policeman called Patou who is determined to have Irma for his own. He even goes to the extent where he creates a whole new character that hires Irma for hours in a hotel room so that she won't be spending time with other men. It's way more notorious than Apartment, but way more amusing for me.

I love how these two have amazing chemistry in both films. They didn't overdo it; they knew perfectly well how to play their characters. The way Lemmon talks to Maclaine as if she's an angel despite her profession and situation, and the way Maclaine treats him and show her amusement of him because of his remarks, body language and comical manner. They're perfect for each other! Unlike other stunning, glamorous pairings in Hollywood, these two are different because they play common people, with tough luck and lots of flaws. That fact alone makes them lovely for me. And you know what makes it better? Billy Wilder. There's so much trust and chemistry when they were working together.

Trailers:

'I'm through!' or, Even Bogart makes mistakes

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:41:00 +0000

It all started from Carole Lombard's ditsy Irene Bullock. I was on the hunt for more William Powell movies, and I realized one of these days I must finish My Man Godfrey. When I was done and poor Godfrey is about to marry Irene, I came to the conclusion that the only thing I didn't like from that movie was Irene's fringe.

i just... don't

Then, as my curiosity got the best of me, I researched more about the film, and found its bloopers. I know already Carole Lombard was a lady who curse, but seeing her doing it is just... amusing! and William Powell's laugh was freaking adorable, I have to add.

You see, 'classic films' and 'bloopers' combined together can create my own heaven on earth. I went to every video-sharing websites I can find and typed the same keywords in: 'classic films bloopers'. Sometimes I change the 'classic films' to 'James Stewart'. Or 'Fred Astaire' (and sadly there were none), or 'Arsenic and Old Lace', or even 'Now, Voyager', and anything I can get in my mind. I was giddy all night doing this!

And so, dearies, I could not not share my findings! My favourites are these:

Humphrey Bogart and his habit of swearing that same word again and again if he forgot his lines. I love it when he fell backward at the end of the video; his reply was simply 'this thing threw me, what is this?' (Embedding is unfortunately disabled)

There are many parts of this 'Breakdowns of (year)' created by Warner Bros. I love it when James Cagney all of a sudden just dances with George Raft in 1:13. In fact, I love it all.

I never realized that Chaplin was such a tiny chap. Sooo small...

And another Breakdowns. just LOVE Cagney's face at the beginning when he accidentally broke the wooden curtain!

I'm sure there are more videos out there to watch about the goofs of classic Hollywood. It's really funny to see the stars blundering about their lines and dysfunctional props! Makes me love classic Hollywood even more.

and here's a flower for you.

The Apartment (1960)

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:50:00 +0000

Fran Kubelik: "We had two wonderful months this summer, but that was it. Happens all the time! The wife and kids go away to the country, and the boss has a fling with the secretary... or the manicurist... or the elevator girl. Comes September, the picnic is over; goodbye! The kids go back to school, the boss goes back to the wife, and the girl...... They don't make these shrimps like they used to."

Libeled Lady (1936)

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:07:00 +0000

Gladys: You thought it was a lot of fun, didn't you, making me fall for you? Well I did fall, but I'm picking myself up, William Chandler, you can't fool me anymore with your hoof-hoof-hoof or your insomnia or your publisher! You're a pretty poor sample of a husband. But nobody else is gonna get you, not if it kills both of us!
Warren Haggerty: Now look, Gladys...
Gladys: Oh, and you're ten times worse than he is, at least he had some excuse for kicking me around, he was in love with another woman! But you double-crossed me for the sake of a newspaper! Well marry the paper and be the proud father of a lot of headlines, that's all you're good for anyway!

The One Month & A Day Hiatus

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:47:00 +0000

Sponsored by THE ZIEGFELD FOLLIES of 1946

So here I was, trying to find out what the heck happened to this blog and why aren't there any more posts. Has the author given up already?! PLEASE give me Plaza 55597 so that I know? I only want Pla-za 5-5-5-9-7! I don't want the world with a fence on it! I just want to know about this blog!

Mr. Wynn wanted the operator to explain about this situation. It was harder than he thought to receive information about ATGB's status from them. He ate his phone in utter desperation.

This heart of mine was not jolly when seeing absolutely nothing new here on ATGB.

Ms. Bremer thought it was okay if Mr. Astaire stole her bracelet. He had already stolen her heart anyway. But seeing that ATGB has not even a single new post for the whole month is another story! Naturally!

The sweepstakes ticket ain't nothing compared to this nonsense hiatus! It's a folly, I tell ya! Yea? Yea? A. Folly!

No one messes with Ms. Brice and her smile. She'd been in the original Follies, anyway. I repeat, no one messes with Fanny Brice, her smile, and the folly-ness (it's a word.) of this blog's nonsense hiatus. End of story.

Love can be a moment's madness, love can be insane...

Simply put, this M.I.A. thing ATGB is experiencing is indeed a moment's madness. It's insane. Ms. Horne, though, never meant to compare it with love... there's no love in a hiatus. But then again, the lyrics to Ms. Horne's song in Ziegfeld Follies is quite a catch for ATGB's gone-with-the-wind!

"No bad taste, no after effect, no upsetting the nerves, just a nice, smooth... hiatus!!!"

Mr. Skelton tried to describe what will happen when television comes... but he was too distraught by this blog's absence. It shows in his disbelieved grimace.

All I want'cha to do is just pay 'em the two dollars!

Mr. Moore had to pay the price for ATGB's long-winding absence. He was last seen talking to himself behind cell, saying something about 'two dollars'. Maybe he thought paying ATGB will bring the blog back to life. We don't want that, though. All we want can be found in Ms. Horne's song.

"But isn't this blog supposed to be about me?"

The fact that Mr. Astaire was completely bewildered by Ms. Bremer's action when they were about to part in This Heart of Mine was not comparable to the chagrin he felt about ATGB's hiatus.

"Full of Oscar-winning magic..."

Sweet Ms. Garland was reminiscence about ATGB's good times. I, too.

"Here we stand, the Babbitt and the Bromide, the Marlon Brando and Cary Grant of dancing, in unison, asking for ATGB to come back."

Hello!

How are you?

How's the folks?

What's new?

Got to run!

Oh my!

Ta-ta!

Olive oil!

Goodbye!

Oh, and by the way. ATGB is back again! *smiling cheeky face*

Day #15 - The Film That Depicts Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:13:00 +0000

Hmph. I dislike choosing. If this category allows me to list segments from movies that depict my life, then I won't even have to think hard. But it doesn't.

I have only one film that I know depicts my life quite perfectly. Please don't tease me for choosing this. I'm not being sentimental or something!

Why It's A Wonderful Life? Because, let's see, if ever George Bailey is a woman, it'll be a spot on film to ever depict my life. I've always been very nice, very kind to everyone I know, because I am just that nice girl that's rather forgettable, and I've had my ups and my downs, and at one point when I was having my ultimate breakdown and I just had to do something drastic to alter things, I have that guardian angel that helped me through life and problems, and saved me from being a wreck. Just like how George Bailey is such a kind gentleman and is ever so attentive and caring to everyone that needed help, and when he experiences that overwhelming stress, there's Clarence as his guardian angel to save and accompany him until the end.

Day #14 - The Film That No One Expected You To Like

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:39:00 +0000

I should be honest. I like any kind of movies. And in this context, 'any kind' means the ones that attract me. Doesn't matter if it's rated extremely bad or has won the entire Razzie awards, or flopped the box office, or the movie's freaking dull and has completely no sense at all in every terms imaginable. Doesn't matter if that movie isn't even a movie; if I like it, I like it.

Of course there should be at least one reason why I like it. Excess Baggage is a good example because I find Benicio Del Toro to be extremely irresistible despite Alicia Silverstone's boring, annoying character and forgettable plot.

Well, I don't know what film no one expected me to like... and the only one film I had in mind for this category is this:

Yes, so it has won many Academy Awards, including Best Picture. So also it has young Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, John Cazale and Christopher Walken in it. But it's a war movie and it lasted around 3 hours for goodness gracious, and the first 2-hours is about a wedding party and introduction to the characters. I mean, the only 3-hour film I've ever endured in my life is Gone with the Wind!

I was never into war films, actually. Unless it's something to do with the 1st and 2nd World War, or the American Civil War, then chances are I won't even touch it. I'm the comedy type of girl, the silent-film enthusiast, one who enjoys a pleasant classic rom-com/drama at any time. I like film noirs too, but then again who doesn't?

I won't lie, I thought I was tricked into watching a film about a wedding ceremony when the characters just don't stop dancing and drinking. I was expecting this to be a long, bloody war film but it didn't happen until at least an hour later. But I do admit that when I finally watched the war scene, I was stunned. It was short and yet extremely memorable (in fact, it's the most memorable part), and I just can't help but admire everything about it. The Russian Roulette game the characters were playing and how they managed to escape and the aftermath of war, the impact it had on them... amazing.

Adieu, August!

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:30:00 +0000

To salute the 8th month of the year goodbye, I compiled the list of films I've watched this month. As an overview, I'm gleeful to know that I've managed to get in my hands around 78 films in 30 days. It's an accomplishment, I tell you!

So far the notables ones are The Thin Man series, which I adore sooo much and just can't get enough of (especially the sequel, where James Stewart shines in the end), some classic 50s monster movies I found interesting, Gary Oldman's films (just a few, but his acting was always so memorable), sequels of hit movies like Home Alone, Lethal Weapon and such, and especially three Hitchcock films; I love Rebecca and Rear Window. I love them I love them I love them. Oh, and I have to mention Dr. Strangelove because it would be crazy not to mention Dr. Strangelove and the chameleonness of Peter Sellers ("Mein Fuhrer, I can walk!"). Some movies I've watched months and even years ago but forgot, most are new to me, most are on repeat watching, and some I just stumbled upon, and of course, there's quite a lot that become my new favourites (Arsenic and Old Lace! Vivacious Lady! You Were Never Lovelier! Tootsie! Butch Cassidy! Breathless! The Ghost and Mrs. Muir!)

So... hit it! And pink ones mean I love them!

1. The Remains of the Day (1993)
2. The Ten Commandments (1956)
3. Breathless (1983)

4. Rear Window (1954)

5. Sea of Love (1989)

6. Rebecca (1940)

7. Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
8. House of Wax (1953)
9. A Night At the Opera (1935)
10. The Cameraman (1928)
11. Romantic Comedy (1983)
12. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
13. Crime and Punishment (2002)
14. Little Women (1994)
15. Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
16. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
17. Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

18. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)

19. Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)

20. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

21. Vivacious Lady (1938)

22. Tampopo (1985)
23. La Cité des enfants perdus (1995)

24. Tootsie (1982)

25. 20,000 Million Miles To Earth (1957)
26. Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
27. The Parent Trap (1998)

28. You Were Never Lovelier (1942)

29. The Cable Guy (1996)
30. My Zinc Bed (2008)
31. Fargo (1996)

32. This Gun For Hire (1942)

33. Song of the South (1946)
34. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

35. Ocean’s Eleven (1960)

36. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
37. Jaws (1975)
38. Serpico (1973)
39. You Don’t Know Jack (2010)
40. Chinatown (1974)

41. The Thin Man (1934)

42. After the Thin Man (1936)

43. Another Thin Man (1939)
44. Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)
45. Song of the Thin Man (1947)
46. Interview with the Vampire (1994)
47. Turn Left, Turn Right (2002)
48. Home Alone II (1992)

49. Clue (1985)

50. It Came From Beneath the Sea (1955)
51. Airplane! (1980)
52. Airplane! II (1982)
53. Death Becomes Her (1992)
54. The Two Jakes (1990)
55. Batman (1989)
56. Coney Island (1917)
57. Naked Gun (1988)
58. Lethal Weapon II (2006)

59. From Here To Eternity (1953)

60. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)

61. Return of the Musketeers (1989)
62. Criminal Law (1988)
63. Romeo Is Bleeding (1993)
64. The Bodyguard (1992)
65. Marnie (1964)
66. Apollo 13 (1995)
67. Letters to Juliet (2010)
68. Chloe (2009)
69. The Painted Veil (2006)
70. Taking Woodstock (2009)
71. First Men In the Moon (1964)
72. Clash of the Titans (1981)
73. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
74. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
75. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2011)
76. Frozen (2010)
77. Death At a Funeral (2010)
78. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 06:03:00 +0000

Dr. Strangelove: Mein Führer! I can walk!

Silent Styles: or How I See Charlie and Buster From Their Clothes

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 16:13:00 +0000

This post is my contribution to the Fashion in Film blogathon, hosted by Angela of The Hollywood Revue.

But before.. have you seen Google's tribute to Jim Henson? I've been playing with the monsters for about half an hour now (my favourite's the blue one!)

Anyway, I spent weeks trying to decide on what I want to write for this blogathon. Cleopatra? Annie Hall? Bonnie Parker (and her berets)? Amy Jolly? This? That? I was confused. (Note to self: it's always good to have one or two ideas for your topic, but list down more than TEN ideas and you're lost). I wanted to address that little black dress that was the point of Breakfast At Tiffany's, and I wanted to poke at Scarlett's curtain dress, I even wanted to admire Fred's sharp style in most of his films and Ginger's bold dresses, but... but... I can't choose just one topic. I just can't. Everytime I am forced to choose, be it choosing epic or romance, buying this pair of shoes or that pair, or wearing this blouse or that dress, I feel like Charlie Chaplin when experiencing nervous breakdown. I go crazy!

Wait... Charlie Chaplin? Oh, that's a topic. Isn't he the one who played The Tramp? That little fella with baggy trousers, mini bowler hat and a moustache that you either love or hate? Yea, that dork that I just adore too much? (See how I describe him from his style? See how it's so relevant to this topic?) Add in Buster Keaton and his porkpie hat, and there I have it! The Silent Styles! They're like kings of silent comedies, no? They have their signature styles, no? There's no denying that both Chaplin and Keaton were memorable in their movies not only because they're slapstick funny, but also because of their styles. The way they walk, the expressions they make, the clothes they wear, and the fact that they're both small in size compared to other men. They're legendary!

my first ever Chaplin film!

Chaplin is most memorable for his Tramp character. The Tramp has ridiculously unproportioned clothes. He's peculiar, gets into the unlikeliest situations, walks like a penguin (he sometimes reminds me of one), but there's a reason why he dresses himself like that. His small bowler hat and cane are there to emphasize his 'good sense' of style. He wants to look smart, like a gentleman, so there you have that body-fitting jacket with perfect fitting arm holes that seems comfortable enough to move around. But from the waist below... it's a whole different thing. Baggy trousers. Shoes two sizes too large. He suddenly looks laughable!

But that's the point: The Tramp is a poor man whose condition is supported by his daily attire; although he wants people too see him as a honorable gentleman despite his status, his strange outfit makes him look otherwise. Like a clown. His personality doesn't help. Clumsy, awkward, exaggerated, sometimes inept. This foreshadows the Tramp's character in films like City Lights or Modern Times, where he struggles to find AND maintain a job or pursue the damsel in distress, but often fails because of some silly mishaps. It's his strong persona that makes him so adorable and likeable from the beginning to the end... and ultimately gives him a happy ending.

Buster Keaton is a whole different type of funny. He's the serious-looking man who gets stuck in the craziest situations. He wants to chase the girl of his dream, he wants to get the job done, he wants to save the day, but there's always something that gets in his way. But he doesn't want that! He just wants his plan to go out perfectly! Why can't he go out on a date with his girlfriend without anyone interfering? Why is it so hard for him to not be such a klutz? His character is always so pitiable and overlooked, and Keaton carefully selected his wardrobe to accentuate this. Plain and decent, he looks forgetful and sad. But he never forgets that clean everyman look and that signature hat which makes him stand out in the crowd (aside from the stoic expression). Of course, in the end he develops into a modern day hero. He's original. Buster Keaton is le awesome. We can relate to him. We want to, right?


The things that create Buster: porkpie hat, a deadpad expression and everything else in between

There's a saying that goes 'your expression is the best thing that you can wear' --or something like that-- and when it comes to Buster Keaton, it's his morose expression that makes him so memorable. That plus the hat and some costume that fits his character, and he's good to go. Like how Chaplin's Tramp image is his asset, Keaton's hat and face is his own. It defines their characters and distinguishes them from other comedians. Notable mention is Harold Lloyd and his Harry Potter glasses too. Both are somewhat klutz who excel in slapstick comedy, but if Chaplin is supposed to be the poor clown-like gentleman, then Keaton is supposed to be the decent man who experiences it the hard way. Similar theme, different approach. Which is your favourite? Porkpie or bowler hat? Sad face or square moustache?

More relative to fashion, until today the duo (can I call them that? Ha.) still affect the current trend. They're portrayed, talked about and interpreted differently by many artists. Julie Haus was inspired by Chaplin for her Spring 2010 show. Most notably, both Chaplin and Keaton are the inspiration for John Galliano's Spring 2011 Menswear Collection. I was amazed when I first saw the pictures. It's like seeing real Charlie Chaplin, only thinner and handsomer! And Buster's hat is so recognizable the first moment I saw a model wear it with an all-white suit. They even pay tribute to Harold Lloyd and Max Linder, another great comedian which had Chaplin's respect. It's like silent comedy, the runway way. Check it out here, here and here.

Thank you thefoxling for the amazing runway photos!

Day #13 - A Guilty Pleasure

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:17:00 +0000

So we finally come to the category 'guilty pleasure'. Tough, tough one. I'm the kind of person who indulges in an awful movie just because. Sometimes it's the character that steals my heart. Sometimes it's the scenery. Sometimes, juuuuust sometimes, it's the dialogue. Yes, I find dialogue to be the most important part of a movie, be it good or bad. Anyway, my guilty pleasure film is...

Mixed Nuts (1994) dir. Nora Ephron

You know, this isn't really that awful (but then again, thinking about that sad 7% tomamometer the critics in RT gave it)... at least for me. It's a Christmas movie, and the seasonal theme adds to the chaotic plot and characters (which is why I love it)! You find Steve Martin, Rita Wilson, Madeline Kahn, Adam Sandler, Liev Schreiber, Juliette Lewis and Anthony LaPaglia all spending Christmas together, with a twist (one of them commits murder)! Their characters are extremely eccentric and quirky; they can't relate to each other that much except for the fact that they're all crazy people with problems of their own. At times it's naturally humorous, but sometimes it feels like they're trying too hard to be funny that they lost it. I love Madeline Kahn, and Liev Schreiber is quite memorable, however Steve Martin, Adam Sandler and Anthony LaPaglia are sadly forgetful, despite the fact that they're all amazing comedians. But it was the brilliant over-the-top craziness of the film that makes me love it. We see Kahn stuck in an elevator for more than an hour without anyone helping, and Schreiber's transvestism that makes him look like a complete drag, and Sandler's weird songs, the corpse disguised as a Christmas tree, the fact that there is such job like 'a wall artist', and Steve Martin trying to straighten things out from the beginning to the end... amusing. I like this movie. A guilty pleasure!

Day #12 - A Film By Your Least Favorite Director

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:45:00 +0000

My least favourite director is currently him:

Michael Bay. His films are all high-budgeted, filled with A-list actors, and set in a CGI wonderland that seemed to promise you that great, unforgettable summer blockbuster treat. Then, as we watch his movies, we feel completely ripped-off. It was like opening an extremely large and colourful christmas present that has a large red ribbon on top and an expensively nice feel about it, only to find out that there's only a pair of white socks inside. Definitely disappointing.

I'm sorry, people, but Transformers 3 isn't as good as you think it is.............

WYSW: Top Hat (1935)

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:46:00 +0000

Another Why You Should Watch post! And this time, we'll be talking about ~~the greatest film ever made~~ one of my favourite films ever (but it's really a musical), the fourth from Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' paired filmography, Top Hat! Directed by Mark Sandrich and released in 1935, this was nominated for several Oscars including Best Picture, became RKO's (it's production house) best box-office hit in the 30s, and was the most successful of all Astaire-Rogers films together. It's a very charming movie, with a pleasantly funny and simple plot, amazing dance numbers and swellegant performances from Fred and Ginger. For all you musical lovers, Top Hat is definitely a must-watch!

1. Fred's puttin' on his top hat, tyin' up his white tie, dancin' in his tails

"I'm steppin' out, my dear, to breathe an atmosphere that simply reeks with class!" What lines. It's rare to find quotes like this originating today. I salute Mr. Irving Berlin for creating the most wonderful lyrics and music. His collaboration with Fred was definitely one of the best things that ever happened; one of the most cherished too! Toss in the Gershwins and Mr. Porter, and I'm a perfectly happy girl reminiscing about the past and the Golden Age of Hollywood.

The first thing that makes Top Hat such a good movie is because of this musical segment:

It has everything a Fred Astaire fan would ever dream of. Creatively choreographed, finely sung and ultimately very memorable, Top Hat, White Tie and Tails is a song that showcases Astaire's excellent ability as a dancer, a singer and a choreographer; everyone knows that almost in every musicals he made he was always the main choreographer. He engages very well here with the audience, as you can see from the beginning to the end, and his charm shows from his expression, his voice and the overall carrying of his dancing... Now let's all talk less and watch more.

2. Great introductory film to the Astaire-Rogers collaboration

Although Fred and Ginger danced finer choreographed numbers in films like Swing Time and Follow the Fleet, Top Hat is, in my opinion, the best introductory film to the duo. It's just perfect to introduce you to Fred Astaire's casual yet powerful charm, stylish elegance and extraordinary talent as an actor, a dancer and a singer, and to Ginger Roger's beautiful on-screen persona, amazing chemistry with Fred, comedic abilities and polished talent as Fred's dancing partner and a professional actress. If not this, I suggest you try watching Swing Time (1936), The Gay Divorcee (1934), or Flying Down To Rio (1933) as an introduction to the duo's partnership.

3. Considered to be the best Astaire-Rogers film together?

Well, not exactly because of the plot, or even the dancing. I think what makes this their most famous film is because of the performances and the songs. Plus, every minute of Top Hat shows delightful acting from Fred, Ginger, and the rest of the cast at their best, as you can see in this one particular scene. This film is like the epitome of the Astaire-Rogers pairing.

4. Mistaken identities. I love this kind of plot!

And I love it because it is so... Fred and Ginger, you know? The dialogue is always very smart and hilarious, the acting so perfect, and as a whole the film's really refreshing, simple, funny but still mesmerizing. Briefly, Top Hat tells the story of Jerry Travers (Fred), who falls in love with Dale Tremont (Ginger), but unfortunately she mistakes him as her friend's husband, and from here love and comedy ensue, all in the form of a great musical.

I should note that at one point Fred complained because he thought the Top Hat script had no real story or plot, and hated the initial draft. "As this book is supposed to have been written for me with the intention of giving me a chance to do things that are more suited to me I cannot see that my part embodies any of the necessary elements, except to dance, dance, dance." He also objected the similarities between the story of Top Hat and The Gay Divorcee, and would often discuss alteration with the scriptwriter.

Like any other movies at the time, Top Hat aimed to greatly amuse their audience, to distract them from the dark times that was the Great Depression, and it succeeded in doing so. The extravagant dances, the light-hearted comedy that supports the musical numbers, the elegant dresses and suits and the charming performances in Top Hat make for a great mood booster for practically anyone.

5. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Ginger’s dress!

The title was a reference to the Top Hat crew's initial reaction to Ginger Roger's dress for the 'Cheek to Cheek' dance sequence.

Now here's a behind-the-scene story about Top Hat that is interesting enough to make you want to at least google the film. The infamous "Feathers" incident that followed during filming of Top Hat was so talked about that the news exaggerated it as 'a blizzard on the set'... as Fred described in his autobiography. Now, I realize that this isn't really a point that positively promotes the film, but it's nevertheless an interesting point that I feel is in need of discussion, because it shows how things were off-screen for the cast and crew, and more importantly, how it depicts the relationship between Fred and Ginger as two different people.

The dress, designed by Bernard Newman and Ginger herself, was a vision of Rogers' dream dress. Ethereal with a figure-hugging shape, high front and low back, Ginger wanted it to be blue, like "the blue in Monet paintings", using satin as the main fabric and ostrich feathers from the shoulders and from the hips and downwards. It was an amazing dress indeed (it showed Ginger's rather eccentric fashion style) but when worn the ostrich feathers shed to an extreme extent that it caused disturbance to filming (the feathers were falling practically everywhere and it was clearly visible through the camera), drowned Fred in it (from his autobiography he recalled, "I had feathers in my eyes, my ears, my mouth, all over the front of my suit...") and ultimately created a Ginger Rogers vs. the entire team of Top Hat production match.

Supported only by her mother, Ginger had to fight for the dress because no one approved of her wearing it; at one point Fred lost his temper and yelled at her because the falling feathers stalled filming, at another point Mark Sandrich, the director, suggested she opt for using a dress worn already in The Gay Divorcee, and at another point she walked out the set in order to show her persistence of wearing the dress. Ginger won, in the end, and got to keep the dress, but the price she paid was high, as she received cold treatment from her fellow actors and film crew afterwards. Of course this displeased her, but ultimately Fred was the first one to make up with Ginger, giving her a gold feather charm for her bracelet with a note that read, "Dear Feathers, I love ya! Fred." And from then he nicknamed her 'Feathers'.

Lots of articles and books describe this incident in a more detailed manner than my brief summary, like this one, this one, this one and this one. A simple googling on this subject will lead you to a very fascinating story about Top Hat and the events that happened off-screen. I think, after talking about this, off-screen incidents in any movie made are far more interesting to know about than on-screen stories, don't you agree? Sometimes they just give you the complete opposite accounts on how actors behave and treat their respectful fellows when not under the rolling camera.

6. A Best Picture nominee!

And Dance Direction, Art Direction, and of course, Original Song for 'Cheek to Cheek'! There are more awards and legacies out there presented for Top Hat from the year it was released up until now, plus, it is already selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being 'culturally, historically and aesthetically significant'. Yes, I copied that sentence precisely from Wikipedia. Ha.

7. The charming supporting actors

Edward Everett Horton, Helen Broderick and Erik Rhodes were constant cast who played in more than two of the Astaire-Rogers collaboration films. Most notably are Erik Blore, who played in five out of Fred and Ginger's ten films, and Edward Everett Horton, who starred in three. Why are they charming? Because their actings are true to their comedic roles, and they highlight the pairing of Fred and Ginger perfectly in every scene. Horton is like the perfect friend to Astaire as Broderick is to Rogers and Blore creates a balanced and funny relationship between them with his intervening acts. Erik Rhodes just shines in his own way as Beddini, the man Rogers is interested to marry in the movie.

8. They're off together dancing cheek to cheek

I want to show you the 'Cheek to Cheek' segment from the film, because it is such an amazing dance segment that contributed a lot to the film's huge success. Not only is it perfect in any way (from Fred and Ginger's exquisite dancing, the setting, the feather dress, and the freakin' music), it is also considered a standard in the Great American Songbook -- this accomplishment gets two thumbs up from me. The 'Cheek to Cheek' dance segment has been featured and referred to in many films such as The Green Mile, Rain Man and Love's Labour's Lost and has been covered by artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, Billie Holiday and many more. You can easily Youtube them all.

9. Extra: There's Lucy in it!

It was such a delight to spot Lucille Ball in Top Hat (her role was as a flower shop clerk and she had only two lines: 'What can he say?' and 'Really?')! A distant maternal cousin to Ginger, in her early years in Hollywood Lucy performed many small roles, and also contributed as a supporting actress in some of the Astaire-Rogers films like Roberta and Follow the Fleet before she finally hit it big with her show I Love Lucy many years later and became known as one of the world's greatest comediennes. Talk about a great star in the making!

Fred and Lucy!

So there you have it, the WYSWs of Top Hat, a fine musical. I realize that this film might not be the perfect Sunday movie for everyone, but since it's so happy and lovely and iconic (and you know just how much I ADORE it), it's something that you really should check out in your free time. Like, now.

Day #11 - A Film By Your Favorite Director

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:01:00 +0000

It's hard enough to choose just ONE director, but thinking of choosing just ONE film from that one director's full filmography is just... a tough job. I have loads of favourite auteurs I love for their remarkable styles, like Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Chaplin, Hitchcock, Spielberg, Keaton, Burton, Capra, Polanski, Preminger, Wyler and Wilder (I used to mistake them as one another), Coppola (the father), Tarantino, Allen, Godard.............. lots of them. I mean, I could be making my own 'Great Directors' list just by the look of it!

But I have to choose, now, don't I? So after much eeny meeny miny mo, my pick goes to...

Billy Wilder!

He directed and wrote so many awesome movies, and the mentionworthy ones are Ninotchka, Sabrina, Double Indemnity, Stalag 17, Some Like It Hot, Seven Year Itch, and The Apartment. The fact that he's a director that pushed the actors to play against their typecasting for a change (like Bogart's role in Sabrina) but didn't force them to play their characters beyond their own abilities, and that he believed that the story is the most important part of the film (in which he often created the best dialogues ever, like in Some Like It Hot and Sunset Boulevard) aside cinematography or anything else make him my favourite pick out of all the auteurs I admire. His film I choose for this category:

World in Film: Food and Dystopia

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 20:13:00 +0000

This post is my entry for the World In Film Blogathon, hosted by Alan from The Great Movie Project.

It's always fun to participate in interesting blogathons, like this one. I like the idea of selecting a film that was set in different places in each of the seven continents; like a representation. And believe me, it's not as easy, nor is it as hard as it sounds like to choose the movies. Only what bugged me was the 'sub-theme' idea, because I find it hard to do so. So since no one told me that it's a terribly wrong thing to do to pick more than one sub-theme, I convinced myself rather happily that I won't be disqualified when I decided to have two sub-themes for my entries and pick both food and dystopia. The only reasons why I want those particularly random sub-themes are because I want Mad Max as my Australia choice, and also because I love good food films. It's always nice to watch a delectable movie, don't you agree? (But my film selections have a rather disgusting take on food, though... e.g. France and North America). So, here goes, my bizarre picks for each seven continent! *drumrolls*

PUMZI (1953) dir. Wanuri Kahiu - Kenya, Africa

"This could mean, there is life on the outside."

The film is set in a post-apocalyptic world, a dystopian Africa, right after the Third World War, or known here as The Water War, in which it's told that water has become very scarce that they have to depend on purified urine as their only source of water (a major gross moment). One African woman, Asha, who lives in a confined community, decides to search if there's life outside by seeds germination outside her town. This film kind of remind me of Wall-E, only darker, edgier, and definitely shorter; it's only 20+ minutes, so this is a rather short film, but I highly adore the director's courage in creating such a breakthrough and daring movie. Wanuri Kahiu is definitely a visionary and a dreamer, and she made her dream come true by creating and directing this movie, telling about important issues like water resources especially in developing countries like Africa!

Mad Max (1979) dir. George Miller - Victoria, Australia

"Like the sign says: 'Speed's just a question of money. How fast you wanna go?'"

Mad Max is one of my favourite guilty pleasure films. A young and rather unknown Mel Gibson and a dystopian Australia, with a very bizarre and extreme plot about revenge, love, crazy motorcycle riders and an overall decaying society down under... I find it very amusing. It's currently a cult film and has scored two sequels (and another one in the making), but it's not actually that good of a movie, I admit. Maybe that's why it's a guilty pleasure, because something about it really captivates me. The characters, maybe? Their characterizations (Especially Max, Bubba Zanetti, Toecutter and Jim Goose... well, pretty much everyone) are very interesting and intriguing. I wish they delve deeper in telling about Max, the best pursuit cop in town, and the entire crazy riders. I was also disappointed with the ending, to be honest; too fast, nothing so special, and Bubba Zaneti died a very easy death. The whole thing could have been more. I should note that this is a very violent movie, ruling out the way some characters die tragically and just like that.

Delicatessen (1991) dir. Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet - France, Europe

"Nobody is entirely evil: it's that circumstances that make them evil, or they don't know they are doing evil. "

I love Jean-Pierre Jeunet. His style is very distinctive, sometimes in a very dark way, sometimes in a very satirical way, but sometimes in a very lovely way too. Delicatessen is a French dark comedy film, and what's better out there than a French dark comedy? Set in a post-apocalyptic world (but in a very peculiar way, as it is not futuristic at all, in which most of us sometimes associate post-apocalyptic world with), where people live normally but tend themselves with very strange activities and behaviour, we are told that the currency is food. Yes, so people pay their rent with food, or something sort of that. Then, another thing is that cannibalism is a main issue here: a certain character, whose job is as a landlord and a butcher, serves human meat to his tenants. And the main protagonist falls in love with that landlord/butcher's daughter. As we all can expect, everything else ensues. I personally think the extreme bizarreness of this film only adds up to its charm. Plus, this film is both about food and pretty much a dystopian world. Score!

Soylent Green (1973) dir. Richard Fleischer - New York, North America

"People will do anything to get what they need. And they need Soylent Green."

In 2022, the world is overpopulated. Especially New York, where there are 40 million souls living. People are literally everywhere, crowding, sleeping, eating and drinking anywhere they can find unoccupied, and food resource now comes only from the dictatorial Soylent Corporation, who produces different types of processed food: Soylent Red, Blue, Yellow, and the crowd's particular favourite, Soylent Green. But then the corporate official of the Soylent corp. is found murdered, and so a detective (played by Charlton Heston) is hired to investigate this case, alongside with his researcher friend, played by an old Edward G. Robinson (there was certain sad moments with Robinson's character). I won't talk much about this film, except for the fact that it focused on both food and a very messed up futuristic world, and a freakishly nasty secret about Soylent Green...

The Chef of the South Pole (Nankyoku ryôrinin) (2009) dir. Shûichi Okita - South Pole, Antarctica

"The hardest part is waiting for it to be over."

Chef Nishimura is a Navy cook responsible for delivering hearty meals to the Japanese scientists living at the Dome Fuji Station, located in the heart of Antarctica, South Pole. It's a really warm-hearted but crazy film, with a plot focusing on the men's experience living in isolation in a place where nothing rarely lives, and how they cope with homesickness, the cold, loneliness and the snow. The things I find most fascinating about this movie are the food scenes (all so visually delicious it's just ridiculous) and the sometimes extreme activities the characters all do in order to kill boredom in such a deserted place (like riding bicycles, playing baseball and other sports that require them to go... nude). The relationship between each man and particularly the lone chef is also very interesting. I suggest you not watch this when hungry, though. Not a good thing to do.

Tampopo (1985) dir. Jûzô Itami - Japan, Asia

"But people who eat noodles are all amateurs! So why make noodles amateurs can’t appreciate?"

This film is about only one thing: appreciating good food. In this case, noodles. Good, delicious, perfectly made noodle soups. The story tells about a widow running her own restaurant (Tampopo) who gets noodle-making lessons from the ramen master Goro due to her poorly received noodle soup. I love how the film really accentuates on the noodle making process, about how each step from creating the noodle, cooking the broth and adding the condiments must be done in their own ways, with passion and perfect skills. I also love how at one point they even describe the pork slices that go after pouring the broth to the noodle like "jewels of fat glittering on the surface". These characters really think highly of their cultural meal! Plus, there are certain funny scenes and memorable characters, like the hobo scene where some homeless men go to the restaurant searching for food (makes me smile everytime). Like any good food movie, I recommend you not watch this when feeling hungry, or worse, craving for noodle soup.

Bolivia (2001) dir. Israel Adrián Caetano - Argentina, South America

"Cook wanted."

Bolivia is a very expressive film, shot in grainy black-and-white and set in late 1999's Argentina, where the economic crisis had just begun, and tells the story of Freddy, a Bolivian family man who went to Buenos Aires alone to find work to improve his family's extreme poverty back in his hometown; the reason why he left is because he hopes for a better vacancy prospect in Buenos Aires, but due to his illegal labor status he can only seek low-quality jobs. He thus becomes a cook in a small restaurant in which many of the customers are from the poorer area, and witnesses certain events that describe the country's current situation. The director, Adrián Caetano, is praised by many for his take on this film: he discusses the important matters of poverty, recession, immigration and the common society who struggles to survive in their own harsh country, all in a very unsentimental and real way. Something to think about.

Day #10 - A Film With Your Favorite Actress

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 16:47:00 +0000

Tee hee.

Day #9 - A Film With Your Favorite Actor

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 22:16:00 +0000

Ask me again who my favourite actor is?

Daddy Long Legs (1955) dir. Jean Negulesco

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Teddy 'Roosevelt' Brewster: "General Goefels?"
Dr. Herman Einstein: "Yes, sir?"
Teddy 'Roosevelt' Brewster: "As president of the United States, commander in chief of the army and navy, and the man who gave you this job, I demand that you accompany me on the inspection of the new lock!"
Jonathan Brewster: "Teddy, I think it's time for you to go to bed."
Teddy 'Roosevelt' Brewster: "I beg your pardon? Who are you?"
Jonathan Brewster: "I'm Woodrow Wilson, go to bed!"

Day #8 - A Film You Can Quote Best

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:49:00 +0000

I just watch this movie too much.

Sid: "Hey! Hey baby, what's going on here?"

Holly: "Oh, hi." (rings bell, Mr. Yunioshi wakes up, grunts, blunders around)

Mr. Yunioshi: "Miss Gorightly...! Someday, someday, Miss Gorightly!"

Sid: "What happened to you anyway? You take over from the powder room and that's the last I see you!"

Holly: "Now really, Harry..."

Sid: "Harry was the other guy, I'm Sid! Sid Arbuck, you like me, remember?"

Mr. Yunioshi: "Miss Gorightly! I proteeest...!"

Holly: "Oh, darling, I am sorry but I lost my key!"

Mr. Yunioshi: "But that was two weeks ago! You cannot go on and keep ringin' my bell! You disturb-ah me! You must have a key made!"

Holly: "But it won't do me any good, I just lose them all!"

Sid: "Come on, baby, you like me, you know you do!"

Holly: "I worship you, Mr. Arbuck, good night, Mr. Arbuck!" (shuts her door)

Sid: "Wait a minute, what is this? You like me, I'm a liked guy! (bangs the door) You like me, baby, you know you do! Didn't I pick up the check for five people, your friends, I never see them before! And when you ask for another change what did I give you? A fifty dollar bill, now doesn't that give me some rights?!" (bangs door)

Mr. Yunioshi: "In thirty seconds, I going to call the police! (Sid leaves) All time disturbance! I get no sleep! I gotta get my rest, I'm an artist! I going to call the vice squad on you!"

Holly: "Don't be angry, you dear little man, I won't do it again."

I can go on and on writing down the entire dialogue. I honestly remember it by heart right now! Although it might not be exactly as it was scripted, but the way it was spoken, the tone, the stressing of certain words and the actions carried as they speak are all carved in my memory... I remember I used to put Moon River on repeat the entire day back when I was crazy about Audrey Hepburn and Holly Golightly!

Day #7 - A Film That Reminds You of Your Past

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:06:00 +0000

The Aristocats (1970) dir. Wolfgang Reitherman

Or Alice in Wonderland (1951). Because my past was highly influenced by classic Disney movies. Come to think of it, Lady and the Tramp had a big impact on me too. They all remind me of my past, simple as that.

Day #6 - A Film That Reminds Me of Somewhere

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:56:00 +0000

I'm thinking of highlighting three places that have their own memories for me, and the films that remind me of these places:

1. Batman Returns (1992) dir. Tim Burton: A lovely hotel room

I spent one Christmas eve watching this and Nigella's Christmas Kitchen in a hotel room alone, waiting (for the whole day and night) for my family to come so that we can prepare for tomorrow's Christmas celebration!

2. All the President's Men (1976) dir. Alan J. Pakula: A certain holiday on a beach

It was a perfectly sunny day, but instead of going to the beach, I watched this film in my hotel room, completely wasting my time. Not regretting it, though. It was memorable.

3. Fantasia (1940) and Fantasia 2000 (1999): Amsterdam

I cheated a bit here by choosing two films. But I don't care, because the Fantasia films are the perfect reminder of the days I spent in Amsterdam. Besides, I've cheated from the beginning anyway by choosing more than a film for Day 6's theme alone. The original Fantasia from 1940 is reminiscent of an apartment I rent in a very sentimental district of West Amsterdam (well, sentimental at least for me). Then a segment from Fantasia 2000, the Rhapsody In Blue segment, is reminiscent to the most memorable days I spent completely alone in the city, feeling like the whole world's mine. I loved and missed those days.

Day #5 - A Film That Reminds Me of Someone

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:46:00 +0000

I seriously think the categories should be more specific. Someone in what term? My mother, my friend, or a certain someone?

Due to the vagueness of Day #5's theme, I decided to do it like this.

Someone I can't live without: The Land Before Time (1988) dir. Don Bluth
Someone I respect: Reality Bites (1994) dir. Ben Stiller
Someone that made me happy: Roman Holiday (1953) dir. William Wyler
Someone that attracted me: Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001) dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet
People I regard as two very dear friends of mine: Up (2009) dir. Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
Someone that has changed my life: The Passion of the Christ (2004) dir. Mel Gibson

I wanted to make a longer 'Someone' list, but then I realized that it would be too long, as there are many someones in my life and each has left their own impression... so I settled with the people that meant (and still mean) a lot to me. What about your someone?

Film Challenge Day #3 and #4

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:47:00 +0000

Since I skipped Day 3, which was yesterday, because of many trivial reasons, I decided to just pile it up with Day 4 together today.

And thus we come to the categories of A Film That I Watch to Feel Good, and A Film That I Watch to Feel Bad.

At first I picked Breakfast At Tiffany's for my feel-good film, but then after much thinking, I decided to change it with this.

Everything about this film is just so feel-good. I have loads of favourite scenes, like when Gene Kelly jumps straight into Debbie Reynold's car and she hysterically calls a cop only to find out he's a famous actor, or when Reynolds throws a cake to Jean Hagen's face (priceless!), or when Donald O'Connor does the Make 'Em Laugh segment (I just love it too much), and the random but still amusing Moses Supposes scene, and of course, the unbeatable, inimitable, iconic Singin' In the Rain segment (video's below). Everytime I watch it happiness comes flooding right into my heart. And that is not exaggeration, dear readers, it is not. This film is just pure happiness and laughter from beginning to end, and to support it, here's a smiley for you :)

And now, the film the I watch to make me feel down. A harder subject, but my eventual choice is...

none. Really, how can a movie make you feel down? Usually I only feel disappointed when I had high expectation for a certain movie but it didn't work out, or I feel angry with a character from a movie for her annoying/bad qualities, or I feel sad for the plot or whatsoever, but I never once encounter a film that made me down. Other emotions did come but to an extent where I feel down... I just never.

Fred Astaire's Picture Play Interview (May 1940)

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 17:11:00 +0000

Thanks to Sharon from Diamond Dame, I (along with many other Astaire fans) had the opportunity to read a very delightful rare excerpt of Fred Astaire's interview for the magazine Picture Play, edition May 1940. In the interview, headlined 'Memo: ... From A Dancing Master', Mr. Astaire himself gave out dancing tips. Yes, he did. Yes, you read right. Dancing tips from Fred Astaire!

why, you're all welcome

The interview was carried out by Wilbur Morse Jr., and he started the read with his own story of being left by his date as soon as she found out he was a bad dancer (“Before you venture on the dance floor again, you should take a gymnasium course in co-ordination and … sit through the next five Fred Astaire movies nine times each!” -2nd paragraph) ~~Oh snap~~. He then decided to ask the master of dancing and treating the ladies about what to do, and went on to interviewing Fred.

the magazine cover, which is extremely hard to find these days.

Now I won't be copying the full article because I don't feel the need to do so, I'll just summarize a few of Fred's tips in his own exact words. Besides, Sharon herself was kind enough to do the job and had the article copied on her blog, so if you're intrigued, go check the transcript on Diamond Dame! I can't thank her enough for this lovely treat.

Now excuse me while I satisfy my urgent need of watching an Astaire movie!

*photo credits from thomasdestry and Diamond Dame

Film Challenge Day #2

noreply@blogger.com (arabelles) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:51:00 +0000

My least favourite film is...

Oh this is hard. Because the topic 'least favourite film' can be about the worst movie I've ever seen and disliked because well, it's the worst movie ever made, yet it can also mean a good movie that is just not my favourite; and not to mention the many movies I've seen that I thought was good, but turned out bad, and the many movies I wasted my money upon only to find out it was not worth it. At all.

But now, having realized that I've talked too much, I'll just save time and announce you my least favourite film:

Psycho (1998) dir. Gus Van Sant

even the poster looks cheap

Hands down the worst remake for me. This film made me question why did these people even had the audacity to think about re-creating an Alfred Hitchcock's. Because, you see, he was in any way a very inimitable man. So unless you're an aspiring auteur blessed with Hithcock-wise talents, never try to copy one of his masterpieces. Ne-ver. Especially the ones like Psycho. Or The Birds (oh, I wonder what the result would be if ever they decide to remake The Birds! Make or break.)