Waitin' On a Sunny Day

The Great Recasting Blogathon: Classic Hollywood Drops It's Robe with Calendar Girls (1962)

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:13:00 +0000

This is an entry for The Great Recasting Blogathon hosted by Frankly, My Dear and In the Mood. Thanks so much for the opportunity to write such a fun post! :)

...

I was very excited to read about this blogathon and spent several weeks mulling over which "modern" film to recast. After much deliberating over a few films (who wouldn't want to watch Thelma & Louise with Deborah Kerr and Joan Crawford?!) I finally settled on one that I knew would be extremely fun to cast given the fact that it's pretty much all women plus not very classic film friendly. And so, without further deliberation, I give you...

Calendar Girls (~~2003~~ 1962) is the true story of a handful of middle aged women living in Knapely, a rural village in Yorkshire, who dropped their clothes for a Women's Institute charity calendar. Directed by the brilliant Howard Hawks at MGM-British Studios, the film was a huge success with British and American audiences alike. Jean Simmons was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role by the Academy, but Anne Bancroft eventually took the Oscar home for her performance in The Miracle Worker. Marlene Dietrich was quoted as saying that "filming Calendar Girls was more fun than Gary Cooper and Tallulah Bankhead put together." and Kenneth More, when giving an interview later in life, said that "hearing the Americans trying to put on a convincing Yorkshire accent was possibly the most side-splitting moment in my career". It enjoys a 6.8 rating on IMDb and continues to be a firm favourite with British TV programmers, appearing on the TV at least twice a year.

The female cast filming a scene in the great outdoors.

The plot: Annie (Jean Simmons), a quiet woman, somewhat sensitive, but with a good sense of humour, loses her husband, John (Kenneth More) to leukemia and her exuberant, loud mouthed friend Chris (Arlene Francis) decides that they should buy a sofa for the visitor's lounge in the hospital where John was treated. With the prices for the sofa being a little more than they can afford, Chris hits upon the idea of creating a calendar in which she, Annie, and other members of their local WI will pose nude. It takes a little while to convince everyone to participate but eventually the ladies agree. With the help of John's nurse, Lawrence Sertain (Michael Caine), who is also an amateur photographer, the ladies create the calendar. However, the chairwoman of the Knapely WI, Marie (Olivia de Havilland), feels that it is highly inappropriate for WI members to be posing nude (even with the strategically placed Chelsea buns and watering cans!) and as such refuses to allow the calendar. Chris and Annie then go to the national congress of the WI and, after pleading their cause, are given the green light. The calendar catapults them into overnight "stardom" and, before long, the group of women are appearing on Jay Leno. All the fame eventually leads to disharmony between Chris and Annie who fall out whilst on the trip to America. Eventually, however, everything is smoothed out and life returns to normal in the beautiful, little village of Knapely. Oh, and the visitor's lounge gains a sofa, in case you were wondering.

Annie: None of us have been here before, love. My John didn't see me naked until the spring of 1947.
Chris: What happened in the spring of '47?
Annie: There was a lizard in the shower block at Abergele. Quite a few people saw me naked that morning.

Jean Simmons plays Annie Clarke, the friendly yet quiet main character who, early on in the film, loses her husband to cancer. Jean was not the first choice of the casting directors, but during a meeting in which the progress of casting came up, Howard Hawks made it quite clear that he favoured the 33 year old Jean Simmons over both Rosalind Russell and Celeste Holm. Jean later went on to say that, because of her relative youthfulness compared to the rest of the cast and compared to her character, "the role of Annie in Calender Girls was one of the hardest in my entire acting career.".

Chris: Lawrence, we're going to need considerably bigger buns.

The role of Chris Harper, the vivacious, down-to-earth wife of a florist, went to Arlene Francis. Arlene, more known for her work on popular TV show What's My Line? was thrilled to receive the telephone call telling her she had got the part and set to work immediately perfecting the broad Yorkshire accent of her character. So intensely did she work on her accent that she coerced Bennett Cerf into letting her appear as the celebrity guest on WML? (after calling in sick) in order to test out her newly acquired accent. Needless to say, the panelists were stunned when they took off their eye masks.

Celia: It's the whole showing your breasts issues that concerns me.
Annie: The point is that we won't really be showing anything.
Celia: Yes, that's what concerns me.
Annie: Yours are good, are they?
Celia: They're tremendous.

Due to her German accent, Marlene was not immediately considered to play Celia, the posh, confident wife of a major, but after searching in vain for an actress who could properly portray the character, Marlene Dietrich was offered the part. As the casting director said, "No one will care that she has a German accent. She's Marlene Dietrich.". Marlene was excited to become part of the film and having worked in films before the Hayes Code came into force, was perhaps the most comfortable shedding her dressing gown (Miriam Hopkins aside).

Jessie: Hello dear. I thought I'd bring my journalists to meet your journalists.

Jessie, a sweet yet gutsy retired schoolteacher, was played by the inimitable Miriam Hopkins. Although she was put out at first due to the fact that, whilst she was a year younger than Dietrich, she was playing an older character, she is quoted as having said, "I greatly enjoyed my time on the set of Calendar Girls. There was a fantastic sense of camaraderie among the female cast, although I am not sure I will ever quite get over the shock of seeing Loretta Young naked.". Irene Dunne convinced Young not to sue.

Ruth: We're not all Chrises in this life. Some of us are Ruths.

Ruth Reynoldson, a browbeaten wife whose husband is having an affair with a younger woman, has perhaps the most heartbreaking story next to Annie's and, when casting first started, no one gave even a thought to Loretta Young, whose TV show had just come to an end. However, when both Deborah Kerr and Joan Fontaine declined the part, the casting directors were forced to look elsewhere. It wasn't until 2 weeks before production started that Young received the a telephone call offering her the part of Ruth but, fortunately for them, she accepted. Although she was nervous at the thought of appearing naked, Howard Hawks assured her that she would retain her dignity by strategically placed knitting.

Cora: Annie, I am 55 years old. If I'm not gonna get them out now, when am I?

Irene Dunne was initially hesitant about coming out of retirement to play the role of Cora, the WI organist, but after seeing a list of other cast members, she decided she couldn't pass up such a great opportunity. A fun fact about Irene's participation in the film is that the iced buns that were used as "cover ups" when the calendar was being shot in the film were actually baked every morning by her. Arlene Francis later commented that they were "... the most delicious buns I've ever tasted.".

Marie: Might I just say, I never knew broccoli could be so intriguing.

Olivia de Havilland was the first choice for the role of Marie, chairwoman of Knapely WI and, at first, staunch protester of the calendar. In an interview she gave recently, Olivia said that she "... had greatly enjoyed filming Calendar Girls." and "... it was lovely to go back to my English roots and immerse myself in that world for a little while.". Her name was put forward for Best Supporting Actress but she was sadly overlooked. To this day, Calendar Girls remains one of her favourite films and she watches it at least once a week.

Lawrence: Don't. Touch. The buns.

Michael Caine, who plays Lawrence Sertain, the photographer, and who had previously only performed in bit parts, was both shocked and amused when, on the first day of filming, he found himself on set with a handful of classic film stars clad only in their dressing gowns. He was soon put at ease however, when Arlene Francis padded up to him barefoot and said, "If seeing these old fogies naked doesn't make you run away screaming, you're stronger than I.". She later retracted the statement when Marlene Dietrich left a snake in her dressing room.

Minor cast members include:

Ray Milland as Rod Harper, Chris' florist husband.

Kenneth More as John Clarke, Annie's husband who dies of leukemia.

Stewart Granger as Eddie Reyneldson, Ruth's cheating husband.

Well, that's it for my The Great Recasting Blogathon post. It's been so much fun to write and I just want to thank Rihanna and Natalie for hosting such an fabulous blogathon! :)

My Year in Film: June

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 20:29:00 +0000

June was a bit of a bizarre month for my film watching. I watched just over 20 films (so not that many in film buff terms) and ALL of them were made after 1985. In fact, all but two of them were made after 2000. Kinda shocking for someone who purports to be a devourer of classic film. Sometimes you just need a break though and I, albeit unknowingly, needed one. I'm going to start back on my mostly-made-before-1970 film diet this month, I think, although when it comes to tv series, I'll be sticking, as usual, to my more recent ones (current favourites are Lost (NEVER thought I'd like it in a million years), Silk (BBC legal drama, watch it if you can), and the usual Band of Brothers and The X-Files). I'm really not a big fan of more "classic" tv (well, British tv, yes, but American and non-English series... nope), apart from the obvious I Love Lucy, Bewitched, What's My Line?, etc. If any of you have any suggestions, I'd love to explore classic tv a bit more!

#133 Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)

#134 Leap Year (2010)

#135 Passchendaele (2008)

#136 Stauffenberg (2004)

#137 Valentine's Day (2010)

#138 Middle of Nowhere (2008)

#139 Eichmann (2007)

#140 Far From Heaven (2002)

#141 Doubt (2008)

#142 She's Having a Baby (1988)

#143 Kick-Ass (2010)

#144 Mr. Woodcock (2007)

#145 Pregnancy Pact (2010)

#144 My Sister's Keeper (2009)

#145 *School of Rock (2003)

#146 Friends With Money (2006)

#147 I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007)

#148 The End of the Affair (1999)

#149 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

#150 127 Hours (2010)

#151 Midnight in Paris (2011)

1900s - 0

1910s - 0

1920s - 0

1930s - 0

1940s - 0

1950s - 0

1960s - 0

1970s - 0

1980s - 1

1990s - 1

2000s - 13

2010s - 6

The End of the Affair, 1999

I really thought I wouldn't like this film as the original film (same title, 1955) starring Deborah Kerr and Van Johnson is one of my all time favourites. However, I just recently discovered new-found love of Julianne Moore and thought that, as this film was on LoveFilm instant, I would give it a go. Whilst I don't think it dwells on the subtleties of Sarah and Maurice's relationship as well or as thoroughly as the 1955 film, I did think the film was beautifully made and the cast absolutely wonderful.

Far From Heaven, 2002

If you've read this blog for a while, you'll know that I'm a huge fan of melodramatic '50s films with overly colourful Cinemascope vistas and women who look and are dressed better when they tumble out of bed on a morning than I have ever looked in my life. So, when I saw the blurb for this film several years ago, I knew I had to see it... hey, I got around to it eventually! The film, set in 1950s American suburbia, treads the fine line between appropriate authenticity and complete and utter inconsistency with historical details that so many throwback films are made of. It could so easily have been a flop, yet everything from the clothes and interior décor to the mode of speaking was down to a perfect, mocking tee.

FFH opens with a very Peyton Place-esque title sequence. You would be excused for thinking that it was, in fact, Peyton Place (or it's shoddy sequel, Return to Peyton Place) if not for the fact that there is no Rosemary Clooney singing. The plot, which I don't want to give away, is something that you would never see in an actual 1950s film... well, not in so many words, at least. That ties in with something that I found quite endearing and amusing about the film - the fact that, although made 40+ years after the Hayes Code took it's final breaths, there was a definite nod (not accompanied by a polite "How d'you do?" but with more of a scowl and middle finger.) towards the censorship of old. I hope we never go back to anything like the Hayes Code, but it was fun to see how they addressed that issue in such a gently derisive way.

To cut a long story short, you should definitely watch this if you're a fan of '50s melodramas like yours truly. :D

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 2004

"Blessed are the forgetful, for they get the better even of their blunders."*

Now, this really is a film that I've wanted to see for a long time. I'd heard such great things about it and, as a fan of both Kate Winslet's and Jim Carrey's work, I knew that there was a rather sizeable chance that I would love it. I didn't. Don't get me wrong, it's an incredible film - so incredible that I would end up going insane if I tried to write about because it's too brilliant and crazy (except.. is it so crazy? I don't think so. Oooh, I'm getting all mysterious over here.) and is just not meant for a human to process - but IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO LOVE THIS FILM. I'm not even sure I'll ever be able to watch it again, it's so painful. I've personally never been in a relationship (apart from that time I was married to Gregory Peck and Damian Lewis at the same time. But we don't talk about that. It was messy.) so I have no experience of a "break-up" but whoooosh, without giving too much away, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO YOURSELF?! Anyway, it's a tremendous film I hateitloveit with a burning passion. Blah blah blah, watch it!

My Sister's Keeper, 2008

Chances are, you already know what this film is about (unless you've been living under a rock) so I'm not going to say much about it except that I cried too much whilst watching it. Yes, it's predictable. Yes, it does manipulate your emotions (but then, what film doesn't?). And, yes, it has got Cameron Diaz in it, but, at the end of the day, it's a pretty good film.

127 Hours, 2010

All you cocky young'uns out there, THIS FILM is what happens when you think you're invincible ~~and don't spend that extra minute looking for your Swiss Army Knife~~. No, but seriously, this guy needs some sense knocking into him. Well, he would have if he hadn't had his arm pinned under a boulder in the bottom of a canyon for 5 days - I think that subbed quite well for a few slaps. A lot of people have said how gruesome they found the scene when he *SPOILER* cuts off his arm *SPOILER OVER* but I didn't find it so - I managed to eat through it (but, I've also managed to eat through Sweeney Todd, disgusting episodes of House, war films, and a few alien autopsies**). I have to admit though, although I really enjoyed the film, my favourite moment came the day after I watched it and LoveFilm sent me a message saying "You have 46 hours to watch 127 Hours". teehee.

Speak to you soon!

*No, I did not become intelligent. It's a Nietzsche quote that is mentioned in the film. ;D

**They weren't real alien autopsies... at least, that's what I've been told to say...

The Finest Classic Film Scenes #1: Who are you? What are you? Where did you come from?

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 19:42:00 +0000

The Finest Classic Film Scenes is a new series here on my blog in which I will post great (when I use the word great I mean anything from Greta Garbo dying in Camille to Greer Garson hanging off the curtains in a French music hall in Julia Misbehaves. You have been warned.) classic film scenes probably once a week, maybe more, maybe less. They may be moving, melodramatic, funny, tear-jerking, or ridiculous, but they'll always be golden because, hey, that's the way classic films roll. Anyway, without further ado, I give you the first instalment!

*possible spoilers ahead*

Yes, it's the restaurant scene from The Birds. If you've seen the film, you'll understand how very creepy and haunting this scene is. The ridiculous, crazy woman (who is clearly too old to have children that young) shouting "I THINK YOU'RE EVIL!" always sends shivers up and down my spine because, secretly, I always thought that Melanie Daniels was a devil in disguise or something.

My Year in Film: April & May (If you remember me, pat yourself on the back!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 21:51:00 +0000

I know, how dare I show my face here? It's almost 2 months since my last post, so beat me if you like but know that if you do, you won't be getting any more posts EVER. ;D My hiatus can be accounted for in several ways. I will list them below in order of worthy excuses.

I spent two weeks in Denmark visiting a classic film friend. (What I learnt: don't smile at Danish people because they hate making eye contact, hate happiness, and basically hate everything except liquorice and their flag.)
I started watching Lost about 10 days ago and haven't seen the light of day since. (I've been hiding under my duvet because who would've known it wasn't purely a film about plane crash survivors surviving? It's actually terrifying and quite impossible to stop watching.)
I rejoined my local musical theatre group and we've been busy rehearsing for an upcoming wedding on Saturday. (Guess who's singing the intro to Over The Rainbow? THIS MOI.)
I spent a week or so recovering from said holiday by watching Cougar Town.
I pondered the question: Why are none of the women getting hairy on Lost? (I'm presuming that they didn't all get laser hair removal before the flight...)
I had my hair cut. Like Samson, my strength was zapped so I had to wait a while before I could start typing again.
I spent 4 weeks trying to avoid writing anything for this blog because I knew I'd have to write this list. I feel victorious now.

All very acceptable reasons, don't you agree? Anyway, what I suppose I'm saying is I'm back and bigger than ever (you may think I mean figuratively but I mean ACTUALLY bigger. I put on about 8lb in Denmark because their food is ridiculous.). You can look forward to at least one (hopefully interesting) post a week and 3 on Sundays. No. Wait. What.

Hope you're all feeling fabulous!

April

#75 La Rafle (2010)

#76 *Anne Frank: The Whole Story (2001)

#77 Easy Virtue (1928)

#78 Der letzte Zug (2006)

#79 Out of the Ashes (2003)

#80 The Grey Zone (2001)

#81 Hidden in Silence (1996)

#82 Nuit et brouillard (1955)

#83 The Talk of the Town (1942)

#84 Private Lives (1931)

#85 The Gay Bride (1934)

#86 The Racketeer (1929)

#87 That Uncertain Feeling (1941)

#88 Theodora Goes Wild (1936)

#89 There's Always Tomorrow (1956)

#90 Until They Sail (1957)

#91 In Name Only (1939)

#92 Never Wave at a WAC (1953)

#93 Dishonored Lady (1947)

#94 Possessed (1931)

#95 Platinum Blonde (1931)

#96 Lady in a Cage (1964)

#97 A Lady Takes a Chance (1943)

#98 The Bride Wore Boots (1946)

#99 No Time For Love (1943)

#100 Oh Happy Day (2004)

#101 De-Lovely (2004)

#102 Man of the World (1931)

#103 *Titanic (1997)

#104 Three-Cornered Moon (1933)

#105 Return to Peyton Place (1961)

#106 You Belong To Me (1941)

#107 Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

#108 It Started With Eve (1941)

#109 Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)

May

#110 Victor Victoria (1982)

#111 Kiss Me, Stupid (1964)

#112 Elle s'Appelait Sarah (2010)

#113 *Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

#114 Paths of Glory (1957)

#115 *Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)

#116 Berlin Express (1948)

#117 *The Lost World (1997)

#118 This Above All (1942)

#119 The Hunger Games (2012)

#120 Beyond the Sea (2004)

#121 Witness to Murder (1954)

#122 *The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

#123 The Farmer's Daughter (1947)

#124 Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

#125 Bhowani Junction (1956)

#126 Bachelor Mother (1939)

#127 Another Time, Another Place (1958)

#128 All That Heaven Allows (1955)

#129 Der Untergang (2004)

#130 The Dirty Dozen (1967)

#131 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

#132 Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010)

1900s - 0
1910s - 0
1920s - 2
1930s - 10
1940s - 11
1950s - 9
1960s - 5
1970s - 0
1980s - 2
1990s - 3
2000s - 11
2010s - 5

Out of the Ashes, 2003

When people think about Holocaust films, one of the first titles that comes to mind is usually Schindler's List and, being an incredible film in all aspects, it really is deserving of being so high up on the list. However, I feel that there are many Shoah films out there that should be just as much in the public eye as SL. Out of the Ashes is one of them. I went into this film not expecting that much (it's an American made-for-tv movie ,so...) and was consequently very shocked when the incredible story began to unfold.

The film begins with Gisella Perl (Christine Lahti), Holocaust survivor and doctor on whose book (I Was a Doctor in Auschwitz) the film was based, arriving in America in the late '40s and being informed that the US authorities believe she was a collaborator with the Nazis. Her life before and during WWII is slowly revealed during her meetings with the immigration officers. Dr. Perl was sent to Auschwitz during the latter years of WWII and was, like so many, unaware of just exactly what was happening to those sent to the concentration camps. As such, she made it known, to none other than Josef Mengele himself, that she was a doctor. After unwittingly sending a group of pregnant mothers to their deaths at the "infirmary" and being consequently told what she had done by a fellow prisoner, she made a vow that threw her beliefs before the war and her immediate instincts for the survival of herself and, more importantly, others, into the balance.

De-Lovely, 2004

Although I'm a lover of Cole Porter's music, I'd never seen this film until a friend made me watch it in April. She'd been mentioning it for a while so when I visited her, we popped the disc in the player. Quite simply, it's the most magical biopic I have ever seen. With luscious scenery, great acting, an exciting plot, and, of course, an absolutely incredible soundtrack, there is absolutely nothing to dislike about De-Lovely (unless there are huge inaccuracies in the story - and I wouldn't know about that!). On the subject of the soundtrack, something really great about it is that, apart from Cole singing "You're the Top" during the credits, the tracks were all recorded by contemporary singers. Some of my favourite recordings are: Blow, Gabriel, Blow (Jonathan Pryce), Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love) (Alanis Morissette), It's De-Lovely (Robbie Williams), Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye (Natalie Cole), and So In Love (Kevin Kline, Lara Fabian, Mario Frangoulis). Do yourself a favour and watch this film! You will laugh, cry, sing, cry some more, and then probably cry all night. It's brilliant!

Der letze Zug, 2006

Der letze Zug (The Last Train) is a German film which follows the fate of the passengers in one of the last cattle trains that left Berlin for Auschwitz. It seems that in films, and often in books also, there is never any real mention of the horror of the cattle trains, usually we just see the people being put on board and then being taken off, in an appalling state, at the other end. In this, however, the only scenes that take place outside of the train are the beginning and ending scenes and the flashback scenes used to flesh out the characters and put them into context. The horrors that occur inside the train throughout the course of the film are truly unbelievable, but the thing that really made my stomach turn was the nonchalance of the guards and soldiers. In particular, there was a brilliant shot of a guard stroking his dogs head, so gently and lovingly, while inside the train all of the innocent human beings were dying of thirst and hunger. It's the little things like that that really make this film stand out and I urge everyone to see it at some point. If you have LoveFilm instant, you can go and watch it right now!

Elle s'appelait Sarah, 2010

Elle s'appelait Sarah (Sarah's Key) is a modern story intertwined with one that is almost 70 years old, the story of a little girl, Sarah Starzynski, who hid her younger brother in a secret closet in their apartment during the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup in July, 1942, and promised to come back for him as soon as possible. When journalist Julia Jarmond (Kristin Scott Thomas), who is writing an article about the Roundup, realises that the apartment she is about to move into came into the possession of her husband's family at about the time of the Roundup, she starts digging around in it's history. The more she discovers, the more she becomes overcome with a desire to know how and why her husband's family came to live in the house and what happened to the previous family, Sarah's family, the Starzynskis.

This really is a stellar film. I've read several reviews that complain about the "unnecessary" modern story but, personally, I think that it was a necessary part of the plot. It ties the film together and gives it a feeling of solidity and a feeling that A) the atrocities of the past should never be forgotten, and B) history is important because it makes us who we are.

La rafle, 2010

La rafle (The Round Up) is, as you might have already surmised, another film about the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup of July, 1942. Although not as graphically shocking as some films dealing with similar subject matter, LR is a chilling account of how the French police betrayed their own people by rounding up all the Parisian Jews and sending them to the Vélodrome d'Hiver (a bicycle stadium in the centre of Paris) where they were left for several days with only the food they had brought with them, dirty water from a single pump, and no access to toilets. After this, they were taken to an internment camp outside Paris where, after the adults and older children had been sent to death camps, the children remained for a time before eventually being sent to their deaths. Of the 12,884 Jews arrested, only 25 survived - less than 0.2%.

The cast of this film is absolutely perfect. Among others there is Mélanie Laurent, Jean Reno, and 4 brilliant child actors: Hugo Leverdez, Mathieu and Romain Di Concerto, and Oliver Cywie. The two older boys portrayed their characters in such an honest, subtle and subsequently quite heartbreaking manner. Again, if you have LoveFilm instant, you can watch this film on there as soon as you're able!

Thanks for reading!

My Year in Film: March

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:28:00 +0000

#45 *Saving Private Ryan (1998)
#46 *Father Goose (1964)
#47 *Rope (1948)
#48 It Happened To Jane (1959)
#49 Peyton Place (1957)
#50 Portrait in Black (1960)
#51 Houseboat (1958)
#52 Battleship Potemkin (1925)
#53 The Valley of the Kings (1954)
#54 Madame X (1966)
#55 The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
#56 If Winter Comes (1947)
#57 Betrayed (1954)
#58 Josephine and Men (1955)
#59 Please Believe Me (1950)
#60 Escape Me Never (1947)
#61 Mr. Imperium (1951)
#62 *Cover Girl (1944)
#63 Angel (1937)
#64 Saboteur (1942)
#65 The Paradine Case (1947)
#66 *An Affair to Remember (1957)
#67 The Mosquito Coast (1986)
#68 *Julia Misbehaves (1947)
#69 Tangled (2010)
#70 *Music and Lyrics (2007)
#71 Yes Man (2008)
#72 Partir (Leaving) (2009)
#73 Blue Valentine (2010)
#74 The Pajama Game (1957)

1900s - 0
1910s - 0
1920s - 1
1930s - 1
1940s - 7
1950s - 11
1960s - 3
1970s - 0
1980s - 1
1990s - 1
2000s - 3
2010s - 2

The Bad and the Beautiful, 1952

Depending on whether or not you follow me on other social networking sites, you might have realised that I'm currently going through a Lana Turner craze. If you've followed me for a while you probably know that I disliked Lana Turner rather a lot and for a reason I no longer remember. It was something I read 4 or 5 years ago and, although I've since forgotten about it, I never managed to forget my dislike of Lana. Then I watched Peyton Place and she basically forced me to admit that she was a beautiful, highly talented, and absolutely exquisite actress. So, here we are. I'm obsessed with Lana Turner and The Bad and the Beautiful happens to be one of my favourite films of the month. Not only is Miss Turner fantastic in it but so is the whole cast: Kirk Douglas, Dick Powell, Walter Pidgeon, Gloria Grahame, Elaine Stewart. I'm not sure that there has ever been such a perfect 1950s melodrama. Everything about the film is so delightfully OTT. You should definitely see it ASAP. :)

Peyton Place, 1957

Peyton Place is a somewhat unusual film for the year it was made in that it deals with many issues that weren't regularly portrayed on the screen: rape, murder, suicide, to name but a few. Of course, in 1957, the Hays Code was drawing it's last breaths in Hollywood and a new era of more casual rules was beginning. Still, PP is a far cry from the splashy Technicolor musicals and sickly sweet romantic dramas that were popular throughout the decade. Whilst I did love the overall film, a huge let down was the acting of Diane Varsi who played the main character Alison. She showed absolutely no emotion throughout the entire film and when participating in dialogue, used the most dreary, bland voice I have ever heard. As if that wasn't bad enough, the film called for her to do several voice-overs and there is nothing more off-putting than having that disinterested voice narrating whilst a beautiful Cinemascope landscape is being shown. However, Lana Turner and the rest of the cast almost completely made up for Varsi, who I hope never to have to see in anything ever again.

Blue Valentine, 2010

I put off watching Blue Valentine for a long time because from what I'd read about it, I didn't think it was going to be my cup of tea. And, if I'm honest, I wasn't wrong. It was so raw and rough that I don't think I'll ever even try to watch it again. That being said, whilst I can't say I wholeheartedly enjoyed watching the film (although, I don't think enjoyment was entirely what director Derek Cianfrance was going for), I had to include it in my top films for March because everything from the script to the soundtrack was incredible. Furthermore, I'd never seen Michelle Williams in anything before this and I found her performance really moving. I'll definitely be checking out more of her filmography.

Tangled, 2010

Yeah, yeah, I know, I took my time in seeing this. Truth be told, I'm not a huge fan of animated films. I don't know why, but I just prefer seeing actual flesh and blood people as opposed to animated characters. I did really enjoy Tangled though and, in true Sophie form, I found that my favourite character was one of the "baddies". When it comes to Disney, my favourites characters are Scar (The Lion King), Jafar (Aladdin), Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty), and, although I'm not a big fan of the actual film, Ursula (The Little Mermaid), so it was no surprise that Mother Gothel completely captivated me from the start. Of course, my love of the character was no coincidence when she was voiced by the fabulous Donna Murphy. If it hadn't been for Mother Gothel, I'm not sure it would have ranked in my top films this month but I couldn't resist such a brilliant character with an even more brilliant voice so there you have it!

Speak to you all soon!

In memoriam: A Night to Remember (1958)

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 22:00:00 +0000

A Night to Remember is probably one of the best known films about the RMS Titanic after James Cameron's 1997 soap opera/special effects bonanza named, very originally, Titanic. Never having been a fan of the previous film (it may have made me cry but not for the fictitious portions of the plot. There was clearly room on that raft for two.) but having always been keenly interested in the Titanic disaster, I found that the 1953 film also called... well, Titanic (if you're curious about the film, you can read my review of it here.) was much more my cup of tea. That's why last night I decided that I would watch the 1953 film in memory of the 100th anniversary of the disaster. Just as I was about to press play however, I thought to myself, "Why not watch A Night to Remember? After all, you've never seen all of it and it's supposedly one of the best films about the Titanic.". So I did. Here's the review!

A Night to Remember, 1958

The director: Roy Ward Baker

The stars: Kenneth More, Ronald Allen, Robert Ayres, Honor Blackman

IMDb says: The Titanic disaster is depicted in straightforward fashion without the addition of fictional subplots.

A Night To Remember follows the Titanic from it's departure from Belfast to the Southampton docks and from there to it's tragic demise. As the IMDb summary states, you won't find any fictional subplots here unlike other films about the Titanic. Everything they portrayed in the film happened almost exactly as the historians of the day believed it to have happened. Whether or not these depictions of events were 100% accurate or not, we'll never know for sure. Then again, no film based on a true story is ever completely accurate.

Whilst the film doesn't invent a fictional storyline to keep audiences interested (something which I personally feel is a little redundant in such a film as this), it does vaguely follow the personal story of the second officer on board, Charles Lightoller (Kenneth More), starting with his train ride to join the boat at Southampton. I thought this was a clever way to draw the viewers into the film without detracting from the events unfolding all around, something that I feel other films have done. It may not be to everyone's taste, but I like my factual films to be as historically accurate as possible and I find that spicing up the storyline is usual completely unnecessary.

Not being an expert on the sinking of the Titanic, I wasn't watching the film and cringing at whatever inaccuracies may have occurred but there was a rather big one that couldn't escape my notice. I'm not sure exactly when it was discovered that the Titanic did not, in fact, sink in one piece (1985?) but, if you watch earlier films you will notice that it always goes down intact. In actuality, the ship, which was sinking bow first, broke in half with the stern sticking up almost vertically before plunging down back down into the ocean. Whilst that is a rather big mistake for a film to make, I think the film makers can be let of the hook because they really had no way of knowing their portrayal was false.

All in all, I highly recommend A Night to Remember. There are several scenes in it that you might recognise as being pretty much replicated in the 1997 film, but, relieved of an overly sentimental subplot, I think it far surpasses any of it's fellow films. Apart from More, Honor Blackman, and David McCallum, the cast is rather obscure. Nevertheless, they all did a fine job to make this film memorable. So, if you feel like watching a film about the tragic maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic, look no further.

Box Set Monday #13: Ingrid Bergman (Guest post!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:01:00 +0000

This week's Box Set Monday post is by the very knowledgeable and lovely Rianna from Frankly, My Dear. Her favourite actress is the ever wonderful Lucille Ball and her blog is a veritable font of everything Lucy. I urge you all to follow her because, aside from Lucy related posts, Rianna writes about multitude of things pertaining to classic film. I'm honoured to have her guest posting here on Waitin' On a Sunny Day!

---

I can never list my favorite actresses in a chronological order. Save Lucille Ball, my favorite, I always have a hard time sorting through the other actresses; I just can’t decide who might have that particular second place after Lucy. But if I have to be honest, one of the very strongest contenders for that place would be Ingrid Bergman.

What’s not to love about Ingrid? She was one of the greatest screen actresses of all time; and let’s not forget that gorgeous face and that marvelous Swedish accent. The best thing about watching Ingrid on the screen is you believe every action she preforms and every line she delivers; you believe it because she believes it. Ingrid was one of those actresses that truly loved her art and respected it, and always put her all into it. She was a natural performer. So it’s a fantastic shame there is no box set for her, but if I could pull the strings, it’d go like this
.

Contains:

Intermezzo: A Love Story (1939)

Casablanca (1942)

Gaslight (1944)

The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)

Notorious (1946)

Anastasia (1956)

Intermezzo: A Love Story (1939) was originally a Swedish film Ingrid had starred in. David O. Selznick brought Ingrid out to Hollywood to star in American version, and this kicked off her Hollywood career. In this movie from Hollywood’s Golden Year, Ingrid plays a naïve piano instructor who falls in love with the father (Leslie Howard) of a young girl she teaches. The only problem is he happens to be married. This isn’t actually a perfect movie or anywhere near it, but it’s an important performance for Ingrid. She shines so brightly, it’s easy to see why America fell in love with her afterwards.

Casablanca (1942) is easily Ingrid’s most well known movie. Everyone knows this tale of a fight for love and glory and a case of do or die! For the few that may need a refresher, Ingrid plays the luminous Ilsa Lund opposite Humphrey Bogart’s Rick Blaine as the two lovers that just aren’t meant to be. Though Ingrid wasn’t even nominated for an Oscar for this most famous performance of hers, she really could have earned one. Casablanca (1942) is one of the most talked about movies of all time, and it’s not one bit overrated, and neither is Ingrid in her role as Ilsa.

I think out of all her performances, Ingrid’s in Gaslight (1944) is my favorite. It’s a melodrama set in the early twentieth century. Ingrid plays Paula, a beautiful woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown after she’s pressured to move back into the house her aunt was killed in by her husband, a very chilling Charles Boyer. There are plenty of intense, suspenseful scenes in this movie for Ingrid to show off her dramatic talent. It is such a complex role but every fiber of her body is into it; she’s honestly so perfect in this and SO deserving of the Oscar she won for this.

The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945) is a fun & sweet sequel to Going My Way (1944) from the prior year (in which Ingrid did not star). Ingrid plays a dedicated nun who runs the school for children Father O’Malley (Bing Crosby) arrives at to help reform. Father O’Malley and Ingrid’s Sister Benedict engage in a friendly rivalry all while helping the grade school children deal with the various issues they face. Ingrid is so adorable in this; there are certainly dramatic scenes but there also ones where she gets to show her flair for comedy, like one in which she teaches one of the schoolboys how to fight. This is easily one of Ingrid’s most endearing & charming performances.

Out of all the characters Ingrid played, her role as Alicia Huberman in Notorious (1946) is my favorite. Alicia risks her life by marrying a Nazi to spy on him for the US government, all while engaging in a hot/cold relationship with Cary Grant. Ingrid & Cary Grant are always perfect together – I wish they had gotten married. Their chemistry is just that perfect, and this is also the Hitchcock thriller with that famous kissing scene between the two of them. This is an exciting, suspenseful film with Ingrid at some of her very best & burning holes in the screen with Cary Grant.

Anastasia (1956) is very important film for Ingrid; it was the movie that reintroduced her to American audiences. Six years before she’d been exiled from the country for her scandalous affair with Roberto Rossellini, and in the time since, she’d made only Rossellini pictures in Italy. In Anastasia (1956), she plays an emotional woman who Yul Brynner tries to pass off as the Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov. (The whole Romanov family was murdered in 1917, but for years rumors would exist that Anastasia had survived, and many women claimed to be her.) I find the Romanovs very intriguing and so it’s a treat to see Ingrid playing a woman who may or may not actually be Anastasia Romanov. America’s peace offering with her was an Oscar for this role, which Ingrid completely earned. She is simply compelling in this performance.

Well, those are my choices. Hopefully one day Ingrid will get a complete box set! A big thank you Sophie for giving me the opportunity to do this guest post on her lovely blog and for creating this super awesome series. :)

---

A hearty thank you to Rianna for coming up with such a wonderful box set for Ingrid. I'll definitely be checking out The Bells of St. Mary's as I loved Going My Way.

Is there are star you feel isn't appreciated and is need of their own box set? Do you feel like you could make a box set that will live up to their greatness? I'm looking for another 2 guest posters for this series of BSM and it could be you! (How cheesy does that sound?! ;D) Leave me a comment, send me an email, and we'll work something out!

Box Set Monday #12: Mildred Davis (Guest post!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:06:00 +0000

For this week's Box Set Monday I am very excited to have the wonderful Missy from labelleboheme guest posting. Missy is the biggest Mildred Davis fan you will probably ever meet and, as such, she is extremely knowledgeable about Mildred's films and life. Who better to create a box set for the lady in question? No one! And I, for one, am looking forward to watching the films in the box set because I've shamefully only seen one (a long time ago at that). So, without further ado, I'll hand you over to Missy.

---

Silent film actress Mildred Davis is often underappreciated as an individual actress. She tends to be seriously overlooked due to the bulk of her work being as a leading lady in comedian Harold Lloyd's films (and then more-or-less retiring shortly after her marriage to Lloyd in 1923). And that's a bit unfortunate. Though she may not have been a huge force in the silent era, Mildred's sweet charm and her skills as a comedic leading lady contributed much to Harold Lloyd's films, at a time when Lloyd's popularity was certainly on the rise. And she's personally my favorite of Lloyd's female co-stars! In a box set centered around Miss Davis, some of her greatest and most memorable films with eventual husband Harold Lloyd would be featured.

Contains:

From Hand To Mouth, 1919

I Do, 1921

A Sailor Made Man, 1921

Grandma's Boy, 1922

Dr. Jack, 1922

Safety Last!, 1923

From Hand to Mouth (1919) is significant because it was Mildred's first film opposite Harold Lloyd, replacing former Lloyd co-star Bebe Daniels. In this short film, Mildred plays an innocent young heiress who is being swindled out of her inheritance by a dastardly lawyer and a gang of criminals. The plan to keep her from claiming her inheritance by midnight? Kidnap her. The impoverished Boy (played by Harold Lloyd), of whom Mildred's character had helped earlier that day, somehow gets caught up in the scheme. Once he realizes who the damsel in distress is, he vows to help save her and her inheritance. Knowing this is Mildred and Harold's first film together, it's interesting to see how they interact with one another in character.

I Do (1921) is my favorite of the Lloyd-Davis short films, mainly because of the interaction between the two. In this short, Harold and Mildred play a young newlywed couple who are told to babysit a brother-in-law's two young children. As you would imagine, the children are a handful and it doesn't help that word on the street is there's a dangerous burglar on the loose in their neighborhood. What I especially love about this film is the strong sense of companionship between the two. Here, Mildred's character is not simply there as the object of Harold's affection; instead, Mildred takes part in the majority of the hilarious antics side-by-side with Harold and really shows her own brand of comedic skill. They play off of one another and it's a wonderful thing!

In A Sailor Made Man (1921), Mildred and Harold both play wealthy young people. Harold's character, a pretentious playboy, falls in love with the daughter of a wealthy business man (played by Mildred) and suddenly decides to marry her. To prove himself worthy to her father, he enlists in the Navy. When the Navy ship docks on a Middle Eastern town, it is found that The Girl and her father also arrive there at the same time by yacht. The Girl gets kidnapped by the local maharajah and, in the ultimate test of worthiness, Harold's character embarks to outwit the maharajah and save her. Mildred's flirtatious nature, especially in the beginning of the film, is quite funny and endearing.

Grandma's Boy (1922) was Harold's personal favorite of his films and was the film that really established him as a force to be reckoned with in the world of silent comedy. Again, Mildred plays Harold's love interest but she gives her character an innocent, coquette, and bubbly personality that makes her very likable (and very funny!) Her character really believes in Harold's shy character and is one of the reasons that drives him to prove his courage and assertiveness.

Dr. Jack (1922) is actually my personal favorite out of all of Harold Lloyd's films, and a large part of that is due to Mildred's character and performance. Though Dr. Jack is not considered one of Lloyd's groundbreaking films, Mildred's complex character and her acting in this film really shine through. In the film, Mildred plays "The Sick-Little-Well Girl" who is, as her name suggests, not actually sick but is being treated as though she were deathly ill. Harold is Dr. Jack, the new specialist they bring in to check up on The Sick-Little-Well-Girl. In addition to being funny and charming in many scenes, Mildred's character also tugs at your heartstrings. You feel especially sympathetic towards The Sick-Little-Well Girl, of whom no one but Dr. Jack seems to truly understand. The forbidden love story-line is also another one of my favorite things about this film -- you don't often see it done in the Lloyd-Davis films.

Then there's the classic Safety Last (1923). Mildred plays the devoted girlfriend to Harold's iconic go-getter character. When Harold's character moves to the city to try and make well enough to buy a nice home for Mildred and himself, Harold gives his girlfriend the false impression that he's doing splendidly. Mildred, believing him, decides to join him in the city earlier than expected, leaving Harold to try to keep up the lie he concocted. This movie is arguably their most famous film together and it became the pinnacle of thrill comedy. Though Mildred didn't climb any buildings and hang off of clocks with Harold in this film, she does a fantastic job at perpetuating the comedy of the whole situation with her adorably naive character. It's a classic, indeed.

A large thank you to Sophie for allowing me to write this guest post -- it was a lot of fun and I really appreciate it! I hope this post inspires some people to watch my lovely lady Mildred Davis's films and I hope these films brighten your day and give you a good laugh!

---

Thank you so much for such an interesting box set - I can't wait to watch the films! :)

As always, if you would like to participate in BSM, leave me a comment, send me an email etc. and we can work something out! :)

Box Set Monday #11: Rosalind Russell

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 23:08:00 +0000

Roz Russell was, after Deborah, one of my first classic actress loves. I admired her, and still do, because where someone like Ava Gardner only had to slink across a room whilst nonchalantly pulling on a cigarette to command audiences, Roz made use of something else: her comedic talent. She may not have been a femme fatale, but she remained popular with audiences around the world because she knew how to make them laugh. On the flip side, as well as being a brilliant comedic actress, she was equally as well equipped to perform in more dramatic roles. In short, she was an incredible actress and everyone should love her as much as I do!

Contains:

The Women, 1939

His Girl Friday, 1940

My Sister Eileen, 1942

A Woman of Distinction, 1950

Auntie Mame, 1958

The Trouble With Angels, 1966

The Women is a film that every fan of classic film should see and a good starting point for those looking to get into the classics. In terms of 1939 in film, I rank this as #1. As well as Roz's great performance as the delightful and hilarious Mrs. 'Prowler', The Women is filled with a veritable who's-who of great Hollywood names: Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Joan Fontaine, and Paulette Goddard, to name but a few. If you're looking for something with strong female leads, this if your film. In fact, I would go so far as to say that never has there been such a brilliant all female cast.

Like the film above, His Girl Friday is a must for all fans of classic film. The epitome of screwball comedy, Roz slays Cary with her quips, one-liners, and hilarious faces. It was the first film Roz films I saw and I've been hooked ever since. There's something so ageless about HGF that makes it all the more brilliant and worthy of praise.

My Sister Eileen tells the story of wo sisters, Ruth (Roz) and Eileen (Janet Blair), who move to New York in the hopes of boosting their respective careers of writing and acting. This may very well be the most ridiculous film in this box set. However, it's ridiculousness rules in it's favour because it's not a silly film trying to be serious, it really is just silly (and rather witty at times). Without Roz, however, I'm not sure that it would have been quite the same. It's contrived, full of scenarios that everyone has seen a hundred times before, but Roz brings a freshness to it which makes it quite impossible not to enjoy.

A Woman of Distinction sees Roz playing a college dean who firmly believes that her life is far to full and busy to leave any room for romance. So when an fantastical love story is cooked up by publicist Teddy Evans involving Roz's college dean and Ray Milland's English professor (of astronomy, no less), sparks being to fly - and not the sparks of love. The highlight of the entire film, for me, has to be the bike ride. I'm not the biggest fan of slapstick but that scene has me doubled up with laugher every time.

What can I say about Auntie Mame? Perfect films don't exist but if they did, Auntie Mame would be up there at the top. Roz IS the eccentric, extremely flamboyant, and always good fun Mame Dennis who, after her brother dies, is given charge of his only son, Patrick. Together, they manage to weather the ups and the downs of Mame's crazy life. With aspects of comedy, drama, and just downright craziness, no one with a heart will manage to get through this film without laughing and crying - quite possibly doing both at the same time.

Whilst The Trouble With Angels isn't actually a Disney film, it definitely has the Disney live action vibe that is present in films like The Parent Trap and The Moon Spinners (it probably helps that Hayley Mills stars in all three films!). Roz plays the Mother Superior of an order of nuns who run a private school for girls and she does so with wonderful gravitas and her usual dry wit (Fun fact: Roz was actually a Catholic in real life.). Everything about the film makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside - it's so heartfelt and so lovely. And, you wouldn't think it, but Roz has some absolutely hysterical one-liners!

---

As always, if you would like to participate in BSM, leave me a comment, send me an email etc. and we can work something out! :)

Thanks for reading!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 21:01:00 +0000

Upon waking up this morning I checked, as I always do, my emails from my phone and saw that I had received a blog award from the wonderful Natalie over at In the Mood. Thank you so much! :)

Now, according to the rules, I have to:

Tell everyone something that no one else knows about
Link to one of my posts that I personally think best fits the following categories: Most Beautiful Piece, Most Helpful Piece, Most Popular Piece, Most Controversial Piece, Most Surprisingly Successful Piece, Most Underrated Piece, and Most Pride-worthy Piece
Pass this award on to seven other bloggers

Something that no one else knows about: By "no one else", I'm presuming it means no one on blogger. I can't think of anything remotely interesting so it's going to have to be that, ethnicity wise, I am a mixture of English, Irish, and Italian.

I feel a little embarrassed already about selecting my own blog posts for being "Most Beautiful", "Most Underrated" etc. However, I shall try to do my best! ;D

Most Beautiful Piece: I like to think that my Darling Deborah Blogathon: Memories of The King and I post was rather heart-warming and I think that's the closest to beautiful that my writing can achieve.

Most Helpful Piece: Maybe my 100 Essential Classic Films posts? Maybe to people who are just starting out in classic film, at any rate. (I really need to finish the series!)

Most Popular Piece: Fortunately, I didn't have to hand pick this. According to blogger, my most popular piece is my Sunday Star - Lucille Ball post from back in September, 2010 with over 15,000 page views. A little ridiculous seeing that it's a pretty rubbish post but courtesy of Lucy's 100th birthday last year, it received an insane amount of hits.

Most Controversial Piece: It's a bit of stretch to call in controversial, but I think that my Top 10 Most Overrated Classics is the only one that really fits the bill.

Most Surprisingly Successful Piece: Films I've Seen a Ridiculous Amount of Times #2: Anne of Green Gables. Obviously Anne is an extremely well loved book/film but I really didn't think anyone would care about my post on it. It was lovely to see how much other people cared about Anne too.

Most Underrated Piece: Lol, every blogger must have those posts that they spend hours working on and are really proud of only to publish them and find that only 1 person, or no one, comments on them. SO MUCH PAIN. One of mine would be Films I've Seen a Ridiculous Amount of Times #1: The Sound of Music. I TALK ABOUT THE LADLE DANCE IN IT. Despite me pouring out far too many of my TSOM feelings into the post, the reason it only garnered two comments was probably because everyone has heard it all before. NO1CURR any more.

Most Pride-worthy Piece: I'm sort of proud of my If Fictional Characters Could Live in Our World... post, despite the fact that it makes hardly any sense.

Now I have to tag 7 bloggers. I'll try not to re-tag anyone!

Bette of Bette's Movie Blog

Clara of Via Margutta 51

Audrey of Fedoras and High Heels

Mr. Mythical Monkey of A Mythical Monkey Writes About the Movies

Craig of Blame Mame

Monty of All Good Things

Kate of Silents and Talkies

Thanks for reading! :)

My Year in Film: January & February

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:33:00 +0000

I have very shamefully been neglecting this blog for the last couple of month and I apologise profusely. I have not, however, been neglecting films. Like last year, I hope to have watched 365 films before the it's time to sing Auld Lang Syne and, although technically I'm 20 films behind, I'm ever hopeful that I can accomplish my goal. I've seen some absolutely brilliant films in January and February, something I hope will continue to happen throughout the rest of the year.

2012's round-up posts will be in the same format as last year, minus the most watched actors and actresses lists (because they were a real pain to compile). Feel free to comment with film suggestions, whether they be your favourites or just films you think everyone should see at least once!

January
1. Avanti! (1972) - Jack Lemmon, Juliet Mills ★★★★★
2. *Another Thin Man (1939) - Myrna Loy, William Powell, Virginia Grey ★★★★
3. Irma La Douce (1963) - Shirley MacLaine, Jack Lemmon ★★★★★
4. Easy Living (1936) - Jean Arthur, Ray Milland ★★★★★
5. Revolutionary Road (2008) - Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet ★★★★
6. Defiance (2008) - Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell ★★★★
7. *The Mad Miss Manton (1938) - Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda ★★★★
8. The Notorious Landlady (1962) - Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, Fred Astaire ★★★★
9. *Mamma Mia! (2008) - Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried ★★★★★
10. No Highway in the Sky (1951) - Glynis Johns, Marlene Dietrich, James Stewart ★★★★★
11. *The Awful Truth (1937) - Irene Dunne, Cary Grant ★★★★★
12. *The Palm Beach Story (1942) - Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, Mary Astor, Rudy Valee ★★★★★
13. *The King and I (1956) - Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner, Rita Moreno ★★★★★
14. *Random Harvest (1942) - Greer Garson, Ronald Colman, Henry Travers ★★★★★
15. *The Lady Eve (1941) - Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, Charles Coburn ★★★★★
16. While You Were Sleeping (1995) - Sandra Bullock, Glynis Johns, Bill Pullman ★★★
17. Papa's Delicate Condition (1963) - Glynis Johns, Jackie Gleason ★★★
18. The Hours (2002) - Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, Clare Danes, Ed Harris ★★★★★
19. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) - Diane Lane, Sandra Oh, Lindsay Duncan ★★★
20. Stepmom (1998) - Susan Sarandon, Julia Roberts ★★★★★
21. The Great Lie (1941) - Mary Astor, Bette Davis, George Brent ★★★★
22. *Yours, Mine, and Ours (1968) - Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda, Van Johnson ★★★★★

February
23. Blonde Fever (1944) - Mary Astor, Philip Dorn, Felix Bressart, Gloria Grahame ★★
24. Red Dust (1932) - Jean Harlow, Mary Astor, Clark Gable ★★★★
25. Little Women (1949) - Mary Astor, June Allyson, Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret O'Brien, Janet Leigh ★★★
26. Across the Pacific (1942) - Mary Astor, Humphrey Bogart ★★
27 *Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) - Mary Astor, Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien ★★★★★
28. Chromophobia (2005) - Damian Lewis, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Chaplin, Ian Holm, Penélope Cruz ★★★★★
29. La Vie en Rose (2007) - Marion Cotillard, Sylvie Testud ★★★★★
30. Chocolat (2000) - Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Judi Dench ★★
31. Noel (2004) - Susan Sarandon, Penélope Cruz, Paul Walker, Robin Williams ★★★★
32. Superstar (1998) - Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, Glynis Johns ★★★★
33. That Darn Cat! (1965) - Hayley Mills, Dean Jones, Elsa Lanchester ★★★★
34. Bottle Shock (2008) - Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, Bill Pullman ★★★★
35. Lost in Translation (2003) - Bill Murray, Scarlett Johannsson, Giovanni Ribisi ★★★★★
36. Oorlogswinter (2008) - Martijn Lakemeier, Yorick van Wageningen, Jamie Cambell Bower ★★★★★
37. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) - Martin Freeman, Mos Def, Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel, Bill Nighy, Anna Chancellor, Alan Rickman, Helen Mirren, Warwick Davis, Steven Fry ★★★★
38. Coffee and Cigarettes (2003) - Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, Tom Waits, Roberto Benigni, Sam Rockwell, Iggy Pop, Steve Buscemi ★★★
39. One Fine Day (1996) - Michelle Pfeiffer, George Clooney ★★★
40. *Dodsworth (1936) - Mary Astor, Ruth Chatterton, Walter Huston, David Niven ★★★★
41. Zwartboek (2006) - Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman, Halina Reijn ★★★★★
42. She-Devil (1989) - Meryl Streep, Roseanne Barr ★★
43. Das Boot: Director's Cut (1981) - Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, KlausWennemann ★★★★★
44. Das Leben der Anderen (2006) - Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch, Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Tukur ★★★★★

1900s - 0
1910s - 0
1920s - 0
1930s - 6
1940s - 8
1950s - 2
1960s - 5
1970s - 1
1980s - 2
1990s - 4
2000s - 16
2010s - 0

As well as the following five, two of my other most loved films of the past two months are Avanti! (1972) and Zwartboek (2008).

Irma La Douce, 1963

I firmly believed that Wilder, Lemmon, and MacLaine couldn't possibly do anything better together than they did in The Apartment, but, boy, was I wrong! Whilst it does feel a little sacrilegious to say that it surpasses the aforementioned film, Irma La Douce certainly gives it a run for it's money. Wilder made some of his finest films with Jack Lemmon, and I firmly believe that they are one of the most noteworthy examples of director & actor working together like a well-oiled machine to create something of extreme quality.

La Vie en Rose, 2007

La Vie en Rose is a film I've wanted to see for a long time but have never got around to watching. Although I'm not exactly fanatical about Edith Piaf, I do have a soft spot for her and, although by all accounts it's not the most accurate of biopics, LVER is a tremendous film that packs an incredible emotional punch. Marion Cotillard's performance as Piaf is alone worth watching the film for. It's rare to see such precise characterisation that isn't just overt mimicry in a biopic (a nod to Cate Blanchett as K.Hep. in The Aviator is called for at this point. Best!).

Lost in Translation, 2003

I found this film, a story of two lost souls in a foreign city, extremely touching and poignant. There's something very Brief Encounter-esque about it but without a single trace sentimentality. From what I've heard you either love it or you hate it, but, personally, I think it's a case of watching it at the right moment in your life. There's something in there for everyone and if you've watched it previously and disliked it, I urge you to give it another shot.

Oorlogswinter (Winter in Wartime), 2008

What could be more compelling than a film about occupied Holland seen through the eyes of a young boy who is old enough to understand what is what is happening around him but not quite old enough to do anything about it? Absolutely nothing. I wasn't expecting anything from this film, I watched it because I often would rather watch a mediocre film about WWII than a film about anything else. Needless to say, it completely bowled me over. The young actor (Martijn Lakemeir) who played the main character, Michiel, is very talented and, although it's entirely beside the point, has an incredibly sweet English accent.

Das Boot, 1981

Ever since I was little I've heard my Dad singing the praises of Das Boot but until now I'd never got around to watching it. Big mistake. I saw the director's cut which is 208 minutes long and I became more and more tense with each passing minute. The realism of the dialogue, the acting, and the undercurrent of strained emotion is incredible. It has a depth (no pun intended) that not many films focusing on the World War II manage to achieve.

Thanks for reading! :)

Box Set Monday #10: Myrna Loy (Guest Post!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:31:00 +0000

It's been exactly 6 months since the last Box Set Monday post so when Bette of Bette's Movie Blog sent me a message last month asking if she could write a BSM for Myrna Loy, I was thrilled. I've decided that this post will mark the start of a new BSM series which will hopefully be 6-8 weeks long. After that I'll put the series back on the shelf for a few months and then start again at the end of the summer. As always, if you would like to participate and write a guest BSM post, you can shoot me an email, leave a comment, send me a twitter message etc. I'll list the criteria that you have to follow when writing a post at the end.

Now, onto Bette's wonderful post!

---

It's a travesty that Myrna Loy never got her own DVD box set. She was never nominated for an Oscar, hardly any of her movies are even on DVD. This drives her fans - like me - to forever haunt the likes of YouTube and MetaCafe for clips or if we're lucky whole movies from our favourite star. My other favourite - Katharine Hepburn - has had many a boxed set created, and the majority of her films are released for us on DVD. I wish there were more of her films on DVD and I wish that there WERE A BOXED SET OF HER ALONE!!! There is the Thin Man Box set and the William Powell and Myrna Loy boxed set, but why not make one of her own? Surely she - one of the most underrated actresses of the golden age - deserves one, particularly as she's just had a new biography written about her. I remember deforest writing about a time on the TCM cruise when an 80 year old man stood up in the middle of a crowd of 300 and screamed at the head TCM programmer "WHERE IS THE ANN SHERIDAN BOX SET?" and then sat down again. So here is what I think should be in a Myrna Loy box set, some of these aren't even on DVD (TCM, I don't know if you frequent Classic Film Blogs, but please read this... Hint, hint?)

Contains:

Test Pilot, 1938

The Thin Man, 1934

The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946

Libeled Lady, 1936

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, 1948

Evelyn Prentice, 1934

Test Pilot, 1938

Starring: Myrna Loy, Clark Gable, and Spencer Tracy

Directed by: Victor Fleming

Ever since my mum told me she loved this film and I searched out some clips from it I wanted to see this movie. I'd searched and searched for the DVD, but alas, it was no-where to be seen. Test Pilot isn't on DVD.I found it on YouTube and immediately fell in love. Clark Gable is playing a carefree, debonair test pilot self who didn't "give a damn" about women or home life - that is, until he meets Myrna Loy's farm girl character. Spencer Tracy plays Gable's loyal best friend and "manager"... at least he has some common sense! Myrna Loy is adorable in this film. It's one of my favourites of hers.

The Thin Man, 1934

Starring: Myrna Loy and William Powell

Directed by: W.S. Van Dyke

This is probably the film that Myrna is best remembered for. The quick witted wife, Nora, of detective Nick Charles. She quips back at him, loves him, teases him and is basically all around awesome. Who could want more in a wife? No-one it seems, because after this, most of Myrna's films had her playing the lead as a wife or devoted girlfriend - prompting the documentary "Myrna Loy: So Nice To Come Home To." You can't really love classic film without having seen at least one of the Thin Man series, and if you are only going to watch one, then this is definitely the best. No sequel could ever quite top it. This is flawless. A great addition to any collection.

The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946

Starring: Myrna Loy, Frederic March, Teresa Wright, and Dana Andrews

Directed by: William Wyler

Myrna loy came out of her "retirement" working for the Red Cross to appear in this. It's a very important film and a very important role for her. Here is my previous review of this post-war film that is bound to have anyone in tears.

Libeled Lady, 1936

(Bette's gif)

Starring: Myrna Loy, William Powell, Spencer Tracy, and Jean Harlow

Directed by: Jack Conway

This is one of my all time favourite comedies and films in general. It's wonderful - and I an only really think of The Philadelphia Story that tops it in terms of romantic comedies. Myrna Loy plays a rich society girl who is suing a big-time newspaper for $5,000,000 in a libel suit - after the newspaper had claimed she was a husband grabber. William Powell and Spencer Tracy work to frame her to undermine the credibility of her complaint. William Powell and Myrna Loy pair perfectly in this, the best since their inspired coupling in The Thin Man. There are plenty of cute scenes with Bill Powell in this movie but in my opinion it's not him that leads the show - though I hav to say he's still brilliant. I think that Myrna Loy and Jean Harlow are the best, and their performances stand out for me. Libeled Lady is a great piece of classic cinema that is never boring and always full of life and fun.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, 1948

Starring: Myrna Loy, Cary Grant, and Melvyn Douglas

Directed by: H.C. Potter

I love this film. It's a great story full of clever observations about a family's need for extra space - and when they get it - they find out that no matter how much space and land they have, they still have the same age-old problem of living together. Cary Grant plays a kind but easily convinced advertising man who follows his dream of having a beautiful family house in Connecticut - even if it means starting right from scratch. This is a super fun film where Myrna Loy again plays a quick witted wife, and it includes a great scene where Myrna Loy goes into great detail describing the colours she wants her house painted.

Evelyn Prentice, 1934

Starring: Myrna Loy and William Powell

Directed by: W.S. Van Dyke

Evelyn Prentice is an often forgotten pre-code courtroom thriller. It is by no means a masterpiece but Myrna Loy's performance is one of many that should have at least been nominated for an Oscar. Myrna plays the wife of a successful lawyer who absentmindedly neglects her and their child for his work. When he has a short fling with one of his clients (Rosalind Russel, made up and glamourised beyond recognition in her very first film role) and Myrna finds out, she decides to have tea with a poet/gigolo who had approached her a few nights before. She writes some letters to him that he uses to blackmail her, and she finds herself secretly involved in his murder trial. Her performance is wonderful and the finale courtroom scene killed me. This one's an interesting glimpse into a career she could have had as one of MGM's prime dramatic actresses.

Thanks Sophie for having me guest post on your lovely blog and I hope that the rest of the series goes well :-D! So I hope this has inspired you to go watch some Myrna Loy and I hope that someone reads this and makes this box set (TCM, by the way I am completely happy to be paid in box-sets and lifelong subscriptions to your channel/magazine!)

---

Thank you, Bette, for such a great post! I'm going to have to get hold of a copy of Evelyn Prentice as I've never seen it. And readers, you should all check out Bette's wonderful blog.

If you're interested in writing a post, it's probably a good idea to read the following points first.

When choosing an actor/actress to "box set", you should make sure that a commercially available box set hasn't already been made for said star.
You must have seen a fair amount of their films so that you can provide a well thought out and well rounded box set. (Shoot for something like 12+)
The star must have made the majority of his or her films before 1965.
You must pick 6 films. No more, no less.
As of this series, however, BSM is open to screen couples as well as single stars. Not all screen couples made more than 6 films together, so these box sets can contain a minimum of 4 films (the couple must have made at least 5).

Thanks for reading!

Zwartboek (Black Book) (2006)

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:58:00 +0000

Netflix has finally arrived in the UK! I was elated when I found out but after signing up for the 31 day free trial, I came back down to earth with a bump. Whilst they do have some really brilliant films, some of my favourites in fact, there are huge gaps in both the film and tv selections. I've heard so many great things about the American service, especially about the classic films available, so it was a bit disheartening to find out that the UK Netflix only has 27 classic films (some of the better titles include Brief Encounter, The Red Shoes, In the Heat of the Night, and The 39 Steps.). Still, I decided to wade through the other titles and see what I could find in the post-1970 category. The following film is probably my favourite of the (far too many) I watched during the trial.

Zwartboek (Black Book), 2006

The director: Paul Verhoeven

The stars: Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman, Halina Reijn

My rating: ★★★★★

In 1944, Rachel Stein (Carice van Houten), a Jewish singer, is helped by a member of the Dutch Resistance to escape by boat to the liberated part of the Netherlands along with her family and a handful of other Dutch Jews. However, the escape is revealed as a trap and a boat full of SS officers massacre the escapees. All, that is, except Rachel who manages to swim to the relative safety of the reeds at the riverbank.

After witnessing the death of her entire family, Rachel takes on a new identity by bleaching her hair blonde, changing her name to Ellis de Vries, and becoming involved with the Resistance. When several of its members are captured, Ellis, in a very Mata Hari-esque turn, manages to win her way into the affections of the local SD commander, Ludwig Müntze (Sebastian Koch). In the process, she comes to face-to-face with the brutal and sadistic SS officer who oversaw the murder of her family and the other Jewish refugees, is uncovered by Müntze as being a Jew, and realises that nothing is ever quite what it seems -that betrayal and protection can come from the most unlikely of places.

I knew I was going to love this film from the moment, about 4 minutes in, when I spotted this...

Yes, that is Deborah. Coolest thing ever or coolest thing ever? If I'd have blinked I'd have missed it because, needless to say, the camera was not trained on this part of the wall for more than a few seconds. Marlene was also on the wall, along with a plump-cheeked lady who looked suspiciously like Nancy Carroll. Anyway, there were several classic film references which made me happy, especially the scene in which Ellis sings Ich bin die Fesche Lola (if you live a life which has so far been deprived of Marlene's rendition of said song, I send you my condolences). The actress who plays Ellis (Carice van Houten) has a beautiful voice and her version of the song is almost as wonderful as Marlene's.

That being said, the scene just before Ellis sings is completely at odds with the words of the carefree and naughty Lola. In my opinion, it's one of the most brilliant scenes in the entire film. It's the moment she realises that the man who is sitting at the piano, playing and laughing, is the SS officer who oversaw the brutal massacre of her family and the other Jewish refugees. Utterly heartbreaking and gut-wrenching.

(I couldn't find a clip with English subtitles, but the words in this scene aren't very important.)

In the end, all I can really say is that Zwartboek is an incredible film that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys watching films about WWII that aren't full of military stratagems and bloody violence. (Yes, it's time for my usual Band of Brothers plug: WATCH IT (and watch Zwartboek too)).

P.S. I just made it sound as though Zwartboek doesn't have much violence in it but it really does. So, if you get a bit queasy over blood and guts, you might want to keep the remote handy. :)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Valentine's Movie Survey (in which Greer and Walter is a valid answer for every question)

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:20:00 +0000

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, I hope to be back posting at least once a week very soon. In the meantime, here's a fun little survey I thought I would participate in. Meredith from Forever Classics is the creator of the survey and the runner of a very wonderful blog (you should go and check it out!). Enjoy!

1. What is your favorite romantic comedy?

I'm going to say My Man Godfrey because, whilst I adore films like An Affair to Remember and Breakfast at Tiffany's, I consider them to be dramedies rather than pure comedies.

2. What is your favorite romantic drama?

Random Harvest

3. Worst romance film you've seen?

The Notebook. I'm not going to lie, I cried at the end but I'm blaming that on James Garner. I hope to never to see the film again because I'll probably weep once more and then I'll hate myself for it because it really is an atrocity.

4. How do you feel about the majority of romantic films being labeled "chick flicks"?

The same way I feel when I tell people I love Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, The Pacific etc. and they say "But they're men's tv series/films!".

5. Favorite on-screen couple?

Greer and Walter, always.

6. Favorite off-screen couple?

The Pidgeons.

Not a valid answer? Nonsense, say I. The Pidgeons were a very well known couple back in the day. They used to go for golfing weekends in the country with the Powells. Needless to say, they spent most of the time in the bar.

But, you know, in all seriousness, I would have to go with Ma and Pa.

7. Best kiss in a movie?

Greer and Walter in Julia Misbehaves.

8. Favorite romantic scene?

Can I say all of An Affair to Remember? Yes? Good.

9. Who are 2 film characters you wished had gotten together, but never did?

Not a day goes by when my heart doesn't ache for the Baroness and Captain von Trapp. NOT A DAY!

The first serious couple that came to mind was Anna and the King. Seriously, they were this close and then he died. He was the most inconsiderate of men.

10. Two actors you think would have great chemistry, but have never done a film together?

Deborah Kerr and Christopher Plummer. I've never thought of them doing a film together before today but, oooh la la, yes please.. Also, Eleanor Parker and Gregory Peck in one of those Yes-The-Plot-Is-Rubbish-But-Look!-Beautiful-People films. *cough*you'resosuperficialSophie*cough*

11. Favorite romantic song in a film (doesn't have to be from a musical)?

Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific.

12. Best score from a romance film?

Cliché, I know, but Breakfast at Tiffany's has such a beautiful score and the moment I hear the first few notes, I feel all warm and fuzzy.

13. Most romantic film quote?

Smithy: I don't even know who I am.
Paula: Well, I know who you are. You're someone awfully nice.

- Random Harvest

It's more sweet than romantic but d'aww, my heart belongs to Smith and Paula.

14. A film you'd recommend to watch on Valentine's Day?

Random Harvest or Brief Encounter. They've both got substance but one will leave you crying with happiness and the other will leave you in a black pit of despair. Take your pick!

Avanti! (1972)

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:46:00 +0000

The 1970s is my least favourite decade for film but I will admit that the beginning of the decade had some really great, and some of my favourite, films (The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II, Fiddler on the Roof, Harold and Maude, to name but a few). So when I decided to watch something made in 1972 for my first film of 2012, I had my fingers crossed that it would be one of the better films of the '70s. It didn't let me down.

Avanti!, 1972

The director: Billy Wilder

The stars: Jack Lemmon, Juliet Mills

IMDb says: A successful business man goes to Italy to arrange for the return of his tycoon-father's body only to discover dad had died with his mistress of long standing.

Although the story is ridiculously unbelievable (but if you watched The Miracle of Morgan's Creek immediately before watching Avanti! it wouldn't seem half so crazy), Avanti! is without a doubt one of the most charming comedic films I've seen in a long time.

Wendell Armbruster, Jr. (Jack Lemmon) travels to island of Ischia to take the body of his late father back to America but upon arriving, he is informed by fellow traveller Pamela Piggott (Juliet Mills), a poor English woman, that his father and her mother were lovers and that they both died in the car crash. Pamela wants their parents to be buried together on the island, but Wendell is determined to have his father sent back to America where a huge, nationwide funeral is being planned. Before they can come to an agreement, however, both of the bodies are stolen from the morgue. Whilst all this is going on, Pamela somehow manages to convince Wendell that they must celebrate their parents memories by spending the evening as their parents did when they were staying on Ischia (with the help of the hotel staff who provide them with all the food and drink that their parents were accustomed too.). I'm not sure nude swimming at sunrise was on Wendell's itinerary though. The rest of the film is fairly predictable but, nevertheless, enjoyable.

It's definitely not perfect but Billy Wilder never made a film that wasn't worth watching (*cough*exceptforSabrina*cough*) and his films with Jack Lemmon are all fantastic. With beautiful scenery, terrific acting (I'd never seen Juliet Mills in a film before; the Mills family have far too much talent!), and Billy Wilder in the director's seat, it's a film you should just sit back and enjoy. One of the only flaws about the film is that at 138 minutes, it is rather long for such a fluffy comedy. That being said, it didn't really feel as though it was dragging at any point.

Thanks for reading!

10 of My Favourite Classic Film Tribute Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:32:00 +0000

This is just a quick post showcasing 10 of my favourite classic film tribute videos. I hope you enjoy watching them and, if you do, please go and comment on the videos on YouTube!

Classic Hollywood - Forever Young (made by my wonderful friend Sara)

Classic Hollywood Stars - Memories Remain (made by my fellow blogger Clara)

Everything - Tribute to Myrna Loy and William Powell (made by my amazingfriend Kari)

Marlene Dietrich - Rolling in the Deep (made by Sara)

Feels Like Home (made by Kari)

Thnks Fr Th Mmrs - From Here To Eternity (made by fantabulany)

Barbara Stanwyck Tribute (made by my fellow blogger, Kate Gabrielle)

Learning to Breathe - The King and I (made by fantabulany)

Dirk Bogarde Tribute (made by Kate Gabrielle)

Greer Garson (made by Sara)

And a bit of shameless self-promotion (because I have no shame) in the form of the video I am most proud of from my own tribute videos.

Classic Film Q&A Time With... My Brother!

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:19:00 +0000

Hello everyone! It's been several months since I posted the last Classic Film Q&A Time so when my two brothers came home for Christmas I was eager to interview them both. Unfortunately, with all the excitement and exhaustion, I completely forgot until one of them had already left again. My verbose oldest brother was still at home so I took advantage of that fact and interviewed him at 10pm the night before he left..

A little bit about Matthew: I've known him for 18, almost 19 years, and I almost shared my birthday with him. As of last year, he is no longer eligible for the Young Person's Railcard which signifies he is of a great age. He's almost as clever as me. I mean, we drew at a game of chocolate Pictionary this Christmas which is a sure test of who has the highest IQ. He plays the piano and the cello and, although it hurts my pride to say this, he is much better at both those instruments than I am. When he was around the age of two, he sang "Daisy, Daisy" in it's entirety whilst sitting in his pushchair in the butchers. He was in a production of The King and I when I was two weeks old and, because my Mum couldn't go to the actual performances because I would probably scream the whole time, she went to the dress rehearsal and took me with her. It was a moment of utter clarity for me. From that moment on, I knew that I would grow up to become obsessed with the film and consequently Deborah Kerr. Thanks, Matthew! Oh, and he bears a somewhat disturbing resemblance to Matt Smith.

Which genre of film do you most like to watch?

Matthew: Well, I don't know. It depends on my mood really. I wouldn't say I have a favourite. Sometimes I'm in the mood for a mindless blockbuster with explosions and sometimes I'm in the mood for a rather more well-crafted, meditative exploration of life.

Me: That's not a genre! You have to give me a specific genre.

Matthew: I don't have one. I suppose I like anything that is character driven. The films which most satisfy me tend to be dramas, I think.

What's your favourite classic film? Least favourite?

Matthew: Probably Kind Hearts and Coronets which I think is a real masterpiece. The main character is incredible and the twist at the end is remarkable. And of course Alec Guinness. Really, anything with Alec Guinness.

Me: Least favourite?

Matthew: I probably haven't seen it. I'm very difficult to displease. I'm not sure I've seen enough really. All the ones I've seen have been recommended by people and I've enjoyed them. I can't remember what I thought of Casablanca. I don't think I was moved by it as people expect.

Favourite actor and actress?

Matthew: Clearly Alec Guiness all the way. I think he's just perfect in everything he does, really. And actress, well, I don't really know.

Me: Say Deborah Kerr then!

Matthew: I think there's a little too much hype over Marilyn. She's never really done it for me.

Me: How many films have you seen her in?

Matthew: Some Like it Hot and the one where they're on a boat.

Me: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Matthew: I prefer the brunette.

Me: You haven't seen some of her best films!

Matthew: Oh, the lass I saw playing in Vertigo was very good.

Me: Kim Novak.

Matthew: The way she transformed from being a very uninteresting, candy floss character into a remarkably complicated, interesting character...

Are you more like Oscar or Felix?

Matthew: I'm probably more like the Walter Matthau character. (Oscar)

What is the first classic film you remember watching?

Matthew: Fiddler on the Roof. I suppose The Sound of Music and The King and I too. That is probably the first one. I remember very early on knowing that. Maybe even The Wizard of Oz.

What is your favourite musical?

Matthew: Fiddler on the Roof. Although, I did enjoy High Society. Singin' in the Rain is brilliant as well. Fiddler I enjoy because it has real dramatic depth and the songs flow seamlessly; they don't feel so much like set pieces like they do in most other musicals which I kind of dislike. The songs feel important and dramatic, important to the narrative. Whereas in Singin' in the Rain they all feel a little tacked on to me. In terms of songs, my favourite from a classic musical would probably be Well Did You Evah? because I've been in several situations just like that. It's probably the most perfect illustration of what being happily drunk is like.

What is your favourite decade for films?

Matthew: Sometimes I like the '80s best for the great Speilberg's and George Lucas of course. The Empire Strikes Back, the Indiana Jones films, Ghostbusters, a lot of cult classics as well. The '80s does have a lot of great films but then the '70s as well with the Godfathers and Star Wars. And then the '80s has Monsignor Quixote which was Alec Guiness' last feature film and which is one of my favourites.

Joan Crawford or Bette Davis? (To make it easier, you can pick either pepsi or coke)

Matthew: I don't like either, really. I think I'd rather marry someone called Bette. Did you say Joan Rivers.

Me: NO! Joan Crawford!

Favourite Hitch film?

Matthew: Of the ones I've seen, and I haven't seen many, I thought Rear Window was the best. Fantastically well made.

Do you have anything to say about silent film?

Matthew: Well, slightly off topic but I have heard it said that what Jurassic Park did for special effects in the '90s was as revolutionary as what The Jazz Singer did in... 1937 was it?

Me: 1937?! You thought that sound films hadn't been invented by 1937?! Anyway, I can't agree with that statement.

Matthew: Well, in terms of technique and in terms of what it was possible to do. If you look at special effects before CGI it's very clunky and seamy.

Me: But silent films are a work of art.

Matthew: I'm talking about film technology though - what it's possible to do. I wasn't commenting on The Jazz Singer or Jurassic Park as works of art. What really interests me about silent films, naturally I suppose, is the culture of musical improvisation that went with the performance of them. Every showing of the silent film would consequently have different shades of meaning because of the contribution of the musician working with all the stock music that was given him. Also, I don't know much about that culture or if they were given entire scores to play, but I do know that there were general ways of doing scenes of peril and ways of doing love scenes and things like this by the musician. For me, that's the most interesting part, the way that every performance of the film would be different because the musician would be different. It's very interesting.

Who is the king of '60s cool: Paul Newman or Steve McQueen?

Matthew: Steve McQueen. He was in a film called Bullitt where he was called Bullitt, which is pretty cool.

A classic film you think you should probably have seen but haven't?

Matthew: The Jazz Singer, probably. I would say that's the one I should see because it's such a watershed moment in film history.

I've probably made you sit through a lot of classic films over the years, any of these occasions stick out in your mind?

Matthew: I enjoyed the first Nick and Nora film. He's the king of cool. He's much cooler than Paul Newman. They just slouched around in leather and looked moody, but he was a class act.

Me: He was.

Matthew: I'd much rather be like him. Also, didn't he carry a hip flask?

Me: He has alcohol running through his veins.

---

A big thanks to my big brother for answering all these questions and I hope you all enjoy reading his answers as much as I enjoyed hearing them! Speak to you soon!

My Year in Film: December (with a breakdown of my 2011 film watching escapades & some classic film related New Year's resolutions!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:17:00 +0000

Happy New Year, blog readers! I hope the first day of 2012 has been a joyous and happy one so far! After I've done my monthly Year in Film part of the post, I'm going to wind up with checking up on how I did with my classic film related New Year's resolutions and then type out my new ones so that we can meet back here again in 2013!

December

330. The Truman Show (1998)

331. The Aviator (2004)

332. Home Alone (1990)

333. Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

334. Frankenstein (1931)

335. The Red Shoes (1948)

336. The Lady is Willing(1942)

337. Kitty Foyle (1940)

338. Easy Virtue (2008)

339. Funny Girl(1968)

340. Rain Man (1988)

341. Dead Poet’s Society (1989)

342. Metropolitan (1990)

343. The Graduate (1967)

344. The Major and the Minor (1942)

345. Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1988)

346. Elf (2003)

347. Primrose Path (1940)

348. Going My Way (1944)

349. Holiday Inn (1940)

350. Holiday Affair (1949)

351. Nobi (Fires on the Plain) (1959)

352. The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)

353. Design For Living (1933)

354. The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944)

355. Thunder in the East (1952)

356. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)

357. Christmas in July (1940)

358. It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)

359. All Mine to Give (1957)

360. Dear Brigitte (1965)

361. It’s a Wonderful Life (1947)

362. The Young Victoria(2009)

363. The Sword and the Rose (1953)

364. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

365. The Weak and the Wicked (1954)

366. Shake Hands With the Devil (1959)

367. Shall We Dance? (2004)

368. The Cabinet of Caligari (1962)

369. My Fair Lady (1964)

370. Auntie Mame(1958)

371. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)

So, my grand total of films was 371. You all know how much I love stats and lists so I broke my year in film down to a couple of handy, little lists.

Breakdown of Decades

1900s - 1

1910s - 1

1920s - 3

1930s - 72

1940s - 85

1950s - 64

1960s - 51

1970s - 13

1980s - 19

1990s - 20

2000s - 30

2010s - 12

Breakdown of Most Watched Actresses and Actors

Carole Lombard - 12	Cary Grant - 11
Claudette Colbert - 10	James Stewart - 11
Glynis Johns - 10	Fred MacMurray - 8
Rosalind Russell - 10	Fred Astaire - 6
Ginger Rogers - 9	Frederic March - 6
Katharine Hepburn - 9	Gregory Peck -6
Marilyn Monroe - 9	Henry Fonda - 6
Barbara Stanwyck - 8	Robert Mitchum - 6
Deborah Kerr - 7	William Powell - 6
Greer Garson - 7	Gary Cooper - 5

All in all, I think that's a rather good year in film. What do you think?

Now, erm, it's the time to check and see how many of my New Year's resolutions from last year I kept.

Watch more silent films
Much as I love them, I really don't watch enough. I often start watching them and then just never finish.

I really didn't keep this one. I watched a pitiful amount of silent films, although I do have a very long list of silents that I need to watch. Maybe 2012 will be the year, eh?

Watch more Hitchcock films
I am sadly lacking in the Hitchcock department - I haven't seen nearly enough of his magnificent films. I want to have seen all of his 1940's films, that I haven't already seen, by the end of 2011.

2011 was definitely Hitch's year. I watched around 20 of his films and, although I haven't still haven't seen all of his 1940s films, I'm almost there. I think I'm allowed to say I did pretty well in regards to this resolution.

Try to complete my Deborah Kerr film collection
I've seen almost all of her films, but only own 30-something.

This didn't happen. I haven't bought any DVDs for myself since my birthday in April and, besides, the Deborah films I need to add to my collection aren't on DVD. Still, I firmly believe 2012 is going to be the year that I finally see ALL of her films. I only have 4 to go (one of which I own, Eye of the Devil, but which I haven't yet watched because it looks really scary). I can do this!

Try to complete my Greer Garson film collection
Again, I've seen almost all of her films but only own about 20.

I'm in the same boat with this as with Deborah's films, except that I only have 2 films to go until I've seen Greer's entire filmography (Strange Lady in Town and Sunrise at Campobello, both of which I own but... I don't want to come to the end of her filmography!).

Hoard more Eleanor Parker films
I doubt I'll be able to complete this collection this year, but I own about half of her films so I will try to add to those.

Hoard more Maureen O'Hara and Barbara Stanwyck films
Again, there's no way I'll be able to complete these collections in 2011 but I can certainly add several titles to them.

Well, this didn't happen. But I did watch more of their films so I think that counts for something.

Pick at least one Old Hollywood actor/actress whom I currently dislike/ignore and try to watch more of their films to give them a chance
I've been meaning to watch more Elizabeth Taylor films because I've only seen 2 or 3, and, whilst I don't dislike her, I've just never really given her a chance and generally bypass her films. This time last year I wasn't a fan of Myrna Loy or Joan Crawford and now I love Myrna and really enjoy watching Joan's films!

I did come to appreciate Elizabeth Taylor this year. I feel a little sad that I wasn't more appreciative of her whilst she was still alive, but at least I enjoy her films now.

Watch more Patricia Neal, Glynis Johns, Anna Magnani, Joan Blondell, Hedy Lamarr, Eva Marie Saint, and Jean Arthur films

Glynis took the cake for this one, closely followed by Jean. I didn't watch any Anna or Hedy films, sadly. Maybe this year...

Try to watch as many of the films as possible on the following lists: IMDB Top 250, Academy Award Best Pictures, BFI 100 (Top British Films), The 100 Most Significant German Films, and AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies.

I'm now almost halfway through the IMDb Top 250 list, Academy Award Best Pictures, and AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies, so I'm quite proud of that. I wish I could say I'm proud of my progress on the other lists but.. I'm not. Ah, well. It's time to make some more New Year's Resolutions. Here goes...

Finish watching all of Deborah and Greer's films.
Finish watching Hitchcock's talkies and progress onto his silents.
Get at least halfway through the BFI 100 film list and complete at least one of the AFI 100 Years lists (probably the 100 movies or 100 passions).
Watch at least 30 silents.
Start reviewing more films. Maybe 1 a week?
Pick at least one Old Hollywood actor/actress whom I currently dislike/ignore and try to watch more of their films to give them a chance.

Well, I suppose that's it. I'll be commencing with more normal (I know, when have I ever written a normal post?!) posts after this (including a Classic Film Q&A Time with my oldest brother). Stay tuned!

Waitin' on a Sunny Day in 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:00:00 +0000

As 2011 draws to a close, I thought it would be fun to look back on Waitin' on a Sunny Day's 2011. Or, perhaps more fittingly, my 2011. I watched a grand total of 369 films this year, watched 43 seasons of tv series (it seems a lot, but most of them where British shows which means the seasons are a lot shorter ;D), made some amazing friends through classic film, met one of my best classic film buddies in real life, and had a ridiculous amount of fun posting on here about all things classic! So, without further ado, I give you my 2011 in review!

My Favourite Posts of 2011

January: Matador (or how I fell in love with a Danish tv series and one of it's stars)

February: The Thrill of it All (1963) - love love love!

March: Films I Can Watch Over and Over #1

April: My 50 Film Recommendations for the 2011 NFR

May: The Big Country or how Sophie has almost been converted to Westerns

June: Box Set Monday #1: Deborah Kerr

July: Happy birthday to "The Queen"!

August: Box Set Monday #6: Thelma Ritter

September: Darling Deborah Blogathon: Memories of The King and I & If Fictional Characters Could Live in Our World...

October: Happy birthday, Glynis 'Awesome' Johns!

November: I thought that you would rue it; I doubted you'd do it. But now I must admit it that succeed you did!

December: Sophie's 20 Favourite Classic Actresses (Updated)

My Favourite New-To-Me Films of 2011

January: Don't Bother to Knock (1952) & Mad About Men (1954)

February: The Misfits (1961) & Stand By Me (1986)

March: I Remember Mama (1948) & Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

April: Splendor in the Grass (1961) & The King's Speech (2011)

May: Niagara (1953) & The Virgin Suicides (1999).

June: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) & Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

July: The Great Dictator (1940) & Johnny Belinda (1948)

August: Possessed (1947) & The Godfather (1972)

September: These Three (1936)

October: Walk the Line (2005)

November: The Princess Comes Across (1936) & A Woman of Distinction (1950)

December: The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944) & The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)

My Favourite TV Series of 2011

I watched so many incredible TV series this year including Matador (1978-1982), The Golden Girls (1985-1992), and House (2004-), but when it came down to it, however much I love those three shows, none of them could surpass the emotional roller coaster that is Band of Brothers. Do yourself a favour and watch it!

I could go on forever listing favourites, but these are the three most important categories pertaining to this blog so I'll stop there. I honestly can't believe the year is almost over; it only seems like yesterday that I was posting my 2011 film-related New Year's resolutions on here (make sure you check back in a day or two to see how many of those I kept ;D). I can't think of anything profound to say so I'm just going to wish you all a very wonderful New Year and I'll see you at the other side!

(check out this lovely New Year's Eve video!)

New Year's Movie Meme

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:53:00 +0000

The Girl with the White Parasol created a wonderful New Year's movie meme and I can never pass something like this up so here are my answers!

1. What is your all-time favourite Grace Kelly costume?

I talked about my favourite Grace Kelly dress in my Fashion in Film Blogathon post.

2. What classic film would you nominate for a remake?

As a general rule, I'm not fond of remakes. Unless the film is based on a classic book or play (such as Pride and Prejudice. I will not, however, endorse a remake of something like The Thin Man.) or unless the original film was a load of rubbish, then I really don't think there is any need for remakes. That being said, I would probably go and see a remake of Jamaica Inn. I'm really not a fan of the Hitch film (one of his only films I actively dislike) and I think it could make quite a great film if remade by the right person.

3. Name you favourite femme fatale.

Although I absolutely detest her blonde wig and think the overall film is a bit overrated, Phyllis Dietrichson (Double Indemnity, 1944) is the ultimate femme fatale in my books. I'm also a big fan of Virginia Mayo in White Heat (1949) and Jane Greer in Out of the Past (1947).

4. Name the best move with "heaven" in it's title.

Leave Her to Heaven (1945)

5. Describe the worst performance by a child actor that you've ever seen.

Usually the ones that are really bad I block from my memory but, after racking my brains for far too long I came up with:

Dakota Fanning in War of the Worlds (2005). Probably not the worst performance by a child actor, but definitely the most annoying. I have an irrational love of the film and used to watch it all the time but it really put me off Dakota. Seriously, just stop screaming, girl!

6. Who gets your vote for most tragic movie monster?

Probably Frankenstein. I don't watch a huge amount of "monster" films though so it's not the most educated of choices.

7. What is the one Western that you would recommend to anybody?

Either Giant or The Big Country.

8. Who is your ideal movie-viewing partner?

One of my classic film buddies (one of whom is visiting for 5 days in January!).

9. Has a film ever made you want to change your life? If so, what was the film?

As a lot of the people answering this question have said, films in general have changed my life but there isn't one particular film that has made me want to completely change my life. Having said that Anne of Green Gables and The Sound of Music are probably the two films that come closest to making me change things about myself. AOGG (both the books and the film) made me embrace my rather vivid and wild imagination and, perhaps most importantly, made me realise that being "different" (aka, being overly passionate about things and seeing many things in life in a different light to others) isn't a bad thing but something to cherish. "I Have Confidence" because of TSOM. I'm not even joking. When the dog bites (he never does though), when the bee stings (it was a wasp), when I'm feeling sad, stupid, lonely, or inferior to everyone else in the world, I simply remember my favourite things and The Sound of Music, and then I don't feel so bad because Maria von Trapp was a HBIC and I am too! (Please just forget I ever wrote that, k? ;D)

10. Think of one performer that you truly love. Now think of one scene/movie/performance of theirs that is too uncomfortable for you to watch?

You all know how I feel about Deborah Kerr. And, as such, some of you will know how I feel about a particular atrocity that she appeared in...

*whispers* The Gypsy Moths (1969)

11. On the flip side, think of one really good scene/performance/movie from a performer that you truly loathe.

I don't loathe any performer but I do dislike Grace Kelly (something that seems to get stronger with every passing year). However, the scene in High Society (1956) where Tracy Lord (Grace) meets Celeste Holm and Frank Sinatra is such a brilliant scene and I think Grace was really wonderful in it.

"Oh, English history has always fascinated me. Cromwell, and Robin Hood and... JACK THE RIPPER! Where did he teach?"

12. And finally, since it will be New Year's soon, do you have any movie or blogging-related resolutions for 2012?
I'll be making a separate post for my film related New Year's resolutions like I did last January. :)

Bless this highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinner and the people who sold it on sale. Amen.

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:08:00 +0000

What I'm trying to say is...

Merry Christmas!

I had planned on writing an awesome Christmas post but you're going to be stuck with this rubbish one because time is running out and I need to eat and get ready for the Vigil Mass which is at 6:30 (a ridiculous time if you ask me. We usually go to Midnight Mass but my Mum is feeling rather tired and didn't feel like traipsing around in the freezing cold dead of night.). I hope each and everyone of you has the most wonderful Christmas imaginable! Before I go, I'll leave you one of the most magical Christmas scenes from any films. We all know it but it never gets old. Enjoy!

Speak to you soon!

Sophie's 20 Favourite Classic Actresses (Updated)

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:33:00 +0000

It's been almost 18 months since I posted my first and last list on my Top 15 Favourite actresses and since then I have discovered many new and wonderful actresses who have slyly wormed their way into my affections. Some of them I vaguely knew of before and had maybe seen a couple of their films and others were completely knew to me. You'll notice that next to all to all of the actresses names (except the first two who haven't changed) there is either a (-x), (+x), or (new!) which I suppose is pretty self-explanatory. The +/- numbers indicate how far up or down the particular actress has moved in my "top favourites" list and the (new!) indicates that they weren't on the list before. Well, I think that's everything! Enjoy!

#1 Deborah Kerr

Favourite film(s): From Here To Eternity, The King and I, Tea and Sympathy,

The End of the Affair, & The Sundowners.

#2 Greer Garson

Favourite film(s): Random Harvest, Mrs. Miniver, Julia Misbehaves, & Blossoms in the Dust.

#3 Helle Virkner (new!)

Favourite film(s): Kispus & Matador (tv series).

#4 Barbara Stanwyck (-1)

Favourite film(s): Ball of Fire, Christmas in Connecticut, No Man of Her Own, Baby Face,

& The Lady Eve.

#5 Eleanor Parker (+1)

Favourite film(s): The Sound of Music, Home From the Hill, The Voice of the Turtle,

Detective Story, & Three Secrets.

#6 Rosalind Russell (-2)

Favourite film(s): Auntie Mame, The Trouble With Angels, & A Woman of Distinction.

#7 Irene Dunne (new!)

Favourite film(s): I Remember Mama, My Favourite Wife, & The Awful Truth.

#8 Carole Lombard (new!)

Favourite film(s): My Man Godfrey & Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

#9 Ava Gardner (+4)

Favourite film(s): On the Beach, & The Night of the Iguana.

#10 Joan Crawford (new!)

Favourite film(s): Mildred Pierce, & Possessed.

#11 Miriam Hopkins (new!)

Favourite film(s): These Three

#12 Glynis Johns (new!)

Favourite film(s): Mary Poppins, Mad About Men, & Encore: Gigolo and Gigolette.

#13 Audrey Hepburn (-6)

Favourite film(s): How To Steal a Million & Breakfast at Tiffany's.

#14 Patricia Neal (new!)

Favourite film(s): Hud.

#15 Marlene Dietrich (new!)

Favourite film(s): The Lady is Willing, A Foreign Affair, Dishonored, & Morocco.

#16 Jean Simmons (-8)

Favourite film(s): The Big Country & The Grass is Greener.

#17 Lucille Ball (new!)

Favourite film(s): Yours, Mine and Ours, Stage Door, The Long Long Trailer, & I Love Lucy (tv series).

#18 Myrna Loy (new!)

Favourite film(s): The Thin Man Series & The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer.

#19 Arlene Francis (new!)

Favourite film(s): The Thrill of it All.

#20 Suzanne Pleshette (new!)

Favourite film(s): The Ugly Dachshund (I can hear you tittering from here so zip it!) and The Birds.

The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944)

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:15:00 +0000

The director: Preston Sturges

The stars: Betty Hutton, Eddie Bracken, Diana Lynn

The Miracle of Morgan's Creek is the story of a young American girl named Trudy Kockenloker (Betty Hutton) who goes to a crazy party the night before the troops stationed in the area are shipped overseas and the next day finds herself married... and pregnant with absolutely no memory of where she got married and, most importantly, whom she got married to.

How Sturges ever managed to get that story past the Hays Office, I have absolutely no idea. It is one of the most flippantly risqué films of the 1940s and I absolutely love it. I can only imagine that the Office must have been having a day off.

As I'm sure you can tell, the plot is utterly ridiculous but, nevertheless, every inch of the film is filled with comedy - right down to Trudy's family surname, Kockenloker- and, in true Sturges style, it is absolutely wonderful. I'd never seen a Betty Hutton films before and I have to say I was extremely impressed with her performance. It was over the top without being too much. Eddie Bracken gave a great performance as usual, but I think my favourite performance was that of Diana Lynn's. She plays Emily Kockenloker, Trudy's worldly-wise 14 year old sister. I'm not one for laughing out loud when watching something but Emily has some of the most hysterical scenes and one-liners that I've ever heard and I almost split my sides laughing at some points.

One of my favourite scenes with Diana Lynn (starts at 1:34)

In summary, if you're in the mood for a raucous, risqué screwball comedy with stellar performances and some rather sweet, tender moments, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek is for you. And beware, it might possibly become your favourite Sturges film like it has done with me!

It's Christmastime! A Gift Guide For Classic Film Lovers.

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:28:00 +0000

I've seen a few of gift guides popping up on various blogs and decided that I'd jump on the bandwagon and give it a go. Whether you're buying for someone who is already a huge classics fan or whether you're trying lure someone into the world of classic film, this list is for you!

1. Yul Brynner: A Photographic Journey

I've been eyeing this up ever since it was first published last year. And, although I've not actually seen it in the flesh, I have seen many of the photos people have scanned from it and can vouch for their extreme wonderfulness. The photos are absolutely breathtaking and I guarantee you that the classic film fan in your life will absolutely love this!

2. Myrna Loy and William Powell Collection

Contains: Manhattan Melodrama (1934), Evelyn Prentice (1934), Double Wedding (1937), I Love You Again (1940), Love Crazy (1941).

You can't beat a bit of Loy and Powell and this box set is chock-a-bloc with five of their always wonderful films.

A cheaper alternative: The Thin Man Complete Collection

3. Forbidden Hollywood Collection (Vol.1, Vol.2, & Vol.3)

Vol.1: Baby Face (1933), Red Headed Woman (1932), Waterloo Bridge (1931).

Vol.2: The Divorcee (1930), A Free Soul (1931), Three on a Match (1932), Female (1933), Night Nurse (1931).

Vol.3: Other Men's Women (1931), The Purchase Price (1932), Frisco Jenny (1932), Midnight Mary (1933), Heroes For Sale (1933), Wild Boys of the Road (1933).

You don't get much better that a box set full of Pre-Codes. Oh, but wait, what about THREE box sets full of pre codes? Now you're talking. Someday these beautiful babies will be mine. MINE.

4. That's Entertainment! Deluxe Four Disc Collector's Edition

I think everyone has seen parts of That's Entertainment! on tv around Christmas every year but this four disc set is just fabulous and I know I would love to find it sitting under my tree. Apparently, although Amazon says that the four disc set is Region 1, in actuality it is region free so I would definitely shell out the extra money for this superior (or so I'm told) set as opposed to the Region 2 three disc set.

5. Brief Encounter Blu Ray

I personally don't own a blu ray player yet but for anyone who does, this is a must. Can you imagine how much more depressing and heartbreaking this film must be in HD? I feel tears welling up just thinking about it.

6. The Sound of Music Gift Set

Does this really need to be explained? I thought not.

A cheaper alternative: The Sound of Music 45th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray + DVD)

7. Alfred Hitchcock 14 Disc Box Set

Contains: Saboteur (1942), Shadow of a Doubt (1943), Rope (1948), Rear Window (1954), The Trouble With Harry (1955), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), Vertigo (1958), Pyscho (1960), The Birds (1963), Torn Curtain (1966), Topaz (1969), Frenzy (1972), Family Plot (1976).

I gave this to my brother for Christmas last year to try and get him into classics. I'm not sure it worked but it's still a really brilliant box set.

8. The Red Shoes Criterion Collection

When I eventually buy my first Criterion DVD, I just know this will be one of my top choices. I saw The Red Shoes for the first time a couple of weeks ago and it was more magnificent than I could have imagined. And come on, just look at the DVD cover! Who wouldn't want to have that in a place of prominence in their house?

A cheaper alternative: The Red Shoes - Restored (Blu Ray)

9. Billy Wilder Collection Vol.1&Vol.2

Vol.1: Some Like it Hot (1959), One, Two, Three (1961), Irma La Douce (1963), Kiss Me, Stupid (1964), Avanti!(1972).

Vol.2: The Seven Year Itch (1955), Witness For the Prosecution (1957), The Apartment (1960), The Fortune Cookie (1966), The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970).

Billy Wilder. That is all. No, but in all honesty, as well as looking pretty snazzy, I think I'm safe in saying that these box sets would go down very well with most classic film fans.

10. Tracy and Hepburn the Definitive Collection

Contains: Woman of the Year (1942), Keeper of the Flame (1942), Without Love (1945), The Sea of Grass (1947), State of the Union (1948), Adam's Rib (1949), Pat and Mike (1952), Desk Set (1957), Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? (1967).

This box set is just exploding with awesome. There have been many Tracy&Hepburn box sets made but this is the only one so far to include all 9 of their films.

A cheaper alternative: The Tracy and Hepburn Signature Collection

---

Hope you enjoyed drooling over this list! (It's OK, I did too ;D) Speak to you soon!

Sophie's Top 10 Overrated Classics

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:06:00 +0000

So, which films do you think are overrated? A few titles, varying from person to person, always come to mind when that perennial question is asked. They might be films that 60 or 70 years on are still known by name at least by most people but that are, in essence, nothing more that exaggerated pieces of fluff (lol, you all know which blustery piece of cinema history I'm talking about.). Or they might be veritable cinematic masterpieces that, whilst the majority of the world fawns over them, you yourself find a little blegh. So please, take this list with a pinch of salt. It's deliberately flippant. There's only one film on this list that I can honestly say I absolutely detest. If you can guess which it is I won't give you a cookie (hint: it's not #1). Also, if you haven't seen some of these films please don't let my opinion of them put you off (not that any of you put such a huge weight on any of my opinions ;D) because I'm not saying these are terrible films (apart from one), I'm saying they're overrated. There's a world of difference. I think. Erm, let's get on with the show...

(Instead of writing long-winded descriptions of why I think they're overrated or why I disliked them, I'm just going to write three words that sum the film up for me. Watch me get less and less witty as the list progresses.)

#10 It's a Wonderful Life, 1946

Overly sentimental mush.

#9 Double Indemnity, 1944

That damn wig.

#8 North by Northwest, 1959

Exciting. Boooooooring. Exciting.

#7 Roman Holiday, 1953

Nauseating chick flick.

#6 The Wizard of Oz, 1939

Utterly, utterly terrifying.

#5 Pyscho, 1960

He killed her (now what?).

#4 West Side Story, 1961

(And the award for the most annoying musical ever goes to): West Side Story.

#3 Casablanca, 1942

Boring, dreary, dull.

#2 Gone With the Wind, 1939

Glorified soap opera.

#1 Citizen Kane, 1941

Everyone adores this?!
---
Feel free to despise me from now on :D But AYYYEEEEAYYY WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOUUUU! Bye!