Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Two-Faced Woman

Two-Faced Woman
Released Date: September 30, 1942
Director: George Cukor
Actors: Greta Garbo, Melvyn Douglas, Constance Bennett, Roland Young, Robert Sterling, Ruth Gordon, Frances Carson, and Robert Alton



     Greta Garbo stars in her last movie that will shock you! This movie is not your normal 1940s film. One that was condemned for the crazy situations and also the scenes, dialogue and even the costumes.



     Lawrence "Larry" Blake (Melvyn Douglas) takes a trip to a ski lodge and meets the woman of his dreams. Karin Borg Blake is a ski instructor and teaches Larry how to keep balance down the steep hills. Before you know it, this fast as lightning movie shows the two married. Which you would have never guessed, as Karin does not seem at all interested in poor Larry. After a conversation with his his coworker Oscar (Roland Young), Larry decides to go back to New York. Which is not at all what the newly married couple had agreed upon in the first place. The two split up while Larry goes to New York for work, and Karin stays near the Lodge during the winter months. After waiting too long and only seeing letters that say "I'm sorry dear, but I'll have to stay another week," Karin decides to go to New York herself. After Mrs. Blake sees her husband with another woman, she decides to pretend that she is her own twin sister and then split her husband and this other woman up! The other woman is Griselda Vaughn (Constance Bennett) who happens to scream every time she does not get what she wants... Which is usually a man. And that man is always Larry.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

The Little Princess

The Little Princess
Released Date: March 17, 1939
Director: Walter Lang
Actors: Shirley Temple, Richard Greene, Anita Louise, Ian Hunter, Cesar Romero, Arthur Treacher, Mary Nash, Sybil Jason, Miles Mander, Marcia Mae Jones, and Beryl Mercer



     Shirley Temple was a huge star in the 30s. This would mark her first Technicolor film. Mary Nash has been in a few movies with Temple, the dress she wore in Heidi was used in this movie as well. Watching this movie, you will find yourself tap dancing along, singing, laughing, smiling and crying. This is a Cinderella like story with a hopeful ending.

     Sara Crewe (Shirley Temple) is taken to a private school while her father, Captain Crewe (Ian Hunter) goes to the Boer War. Amanda Minchin (Mary Nash) is the head of the school with money on the mind, and a hard heart. Sara is a happy go lucky girl, with a wonderful imagination. She is loved by a lot of the girls. Though she ends up having one little enemy. She becomes friends with her teacher Rose (Anita Louise), and her boyfriend Geoffrey (Richard Greene), who happens to be her horse back riding teacher. When Geoffrey ends up going to the war, he promises Sara that he will find her father. The war ends around Sara's birthday, and she buys everyone a present, with borrowed money, her father's check is to come and that will take care of all of the presents she bought. Bad news strikes poor Sara's birthday, and she is in a desperate attempt to find her father in the hospital. Will he be there? Watch this adorable movie, with the one and only Shirley Temple.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

The Night Of The Hunter

The Night Of The Hunter
Released Date: November 24, 1955
Director: Charles Laughton
Actors: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason, Evelyn Varden, Peter Graves, Don Beddoe, Billy Chapin, Sally Jane Bruce, Gloria Castillo, Emmett Lynn, and Corey Allen



     The movie is a hit now, but when it was first released it was not. The director, Charles Laughton, said that he would never direct a movie again. Which was the truth. This was the director's last film. Robert Mitchum was never one to talk about his career, the different movies he was in, but later on in his life, Mitchum said that this was his favorite movie that he acted in, and that Charles Laughton was his favorite director that he worked with. Mitchum wanted to play a preacher, and wanted this part very badly. Good thing!!! He was perfect for the part. This has a great cast, and one that makes the movie even better. It made it even better, knowing that Mitchum really was in jail at one point. He made it that much more convincing.



     Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish) starts the movie out. By talking to all of the children she takes care of, explaining life, and that you have to be careful who you let into your life. Taking the bible into the explanation and the wolf in sheep's clothing. After her speech, we go to a preacher, Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum). He is on his way down the road in a car. Talking to the Lord with his knuckles showing the words "Good" and "Evil" written on his fingers. He believes that everything that happens is for a reason, but that all of the things he goes through are God taking him in the directions. Willa Harper (Shelley Winters) has just lost her husband. He had been arrested and hung for murder. Her husband gave money he stole to his children. Who is in the same cell as the husband but Harry Powell. Powell overhears his cell mate talking in his sleep about the money. Powell tries to get the man to tell him where the money is, but never gets the actual location, except that his children know. After Powell gets out of jail, we see him in the same town as the widow and her children. If you said "Uh Oh" you're right. Powell marries Willa and brainwashes her. Powell tries desperately to get the children to talk, and to point him in the direction of the cash. It is a wild ride, and a great movie. Very creepy at times but well worth it. This movie is well directed, and well acted. You'll have goosebumps.



     One of my favorite things about this movie, besides the creepiness of it, is that the coloring in it is amazing. The black and white coloring is creepy and well done. The shading is great, all of it.

Dracula

Dracula 
Released Date: February 14, 1931
Director: Tod Browning
Actors: Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, David Manners, Dwight Frye, Edward Van Sloan, Herbert Bunston, Frances Dade, Joan Standing, and Charles K. Gerrard



      You may have heard the rumor that Bela Lugosi could not speak English very well, and had to learn his lines Phonetically. That was not the case, he actually knew English well enough by this point in his life that he learned all of his lines by himself. You can see Bela Lugosi play Dracula again in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Nowadays, you would never put a light in someones eyes, but in Dracula the cinematographer, Karl Freund, put two pencil spot lights into Bela Lugosi's eyes to make his hypnotic stare more intense. Very well played however, his eyes were intense. Another cool effect: the castle's spider webs were made from shooting rubber cement from a gun, a rotary gun. Also, take a hard listen, the peasants you will see in the inn are praying in Hungarian, they are saying The Lord's Prayer.

     We follow Dracula (Bela Lugosi), of course, as he turns a man that is visiting the Vampire's castle, into a psychotic. Poor Renfield (Dwight Frye), he is scared to no end. Renfield is drug into a sea voyage and from there, a intituition where he can be looked after from now on. The sea voyage takes us to London, where Dracula starts sucking the blood from a young woman by the name of Lucy Weston (Frances Dade), she then becomes a Vampire. Afterwards, he turns his attention to Lucy Weston's friend, Mina Seward (Helen Chandler). Mina has friends on her side, they are doctors trying to take the attention away from Mina so she too, will not turn.


Friday, November 23, 2012

Thanksgiving

I Hope Everyone Had a Happy Thanksgiving :) 


Bette Davis made sure that the service men had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thank you Bette Davis for making our troops happy!!! Bette Davis started the Hollywood Canteen, and worked the canteen too. 

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Robert Young

I was just watching Father Knows Best and I wanted to write about Robert Young. He was born as Robert George Young on February 22, 1907 in Chicago, Illinois. He was very quiet but always wanted to get into acting. He was getting into a Playhouse before movies in 1931. One of the first movies I ever saw him in was a movie called Navy Blue and Gold. And now, thanks to Netflix, Father Knows Best. He was a fantastic actor. In Navy Blue and Gold, which was made in 1937, he played a young man who wanted to get into the navy to get women. Thinking that the uniform was all he needed, he learned fast that it also takes being a man and a brave man at that. My personal favorite actor, James Stewart starred in the movie with him. In Father Knows Best, Young plays a father who takes care of his wife and kids, life is great and it is a happy home. The show came out and teaches us to be good honest people, just like Robert Young teaches us. Robert Young battled Alcoholism and depression in his old age. He was well loved by everyone he worked with. You can tell in the cast of Father Knows Best. Truly a happy cast.




Monday, November 19, 2012

The Ghost And Mrs. Muir

The Ghost And Mrs. Muir
Released Year: 1947
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Actors: Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison, George Sanders, Edna Best, Vanessa Brown, Anna Lee, Robert Coote, Natalie Wood, Isobel Elsom, Victoria Horne, Helen Freeman, Stuart Holmes, Whitford Kane, Buster Slaven, and Will Stanton



     This movie was done by 20th Century-Fox, who always uses trumpets for their opening numbers. This film and three others do not use the sound of the trumpets. The other films are All About Eve, Sounder, and The Sound of Music. Bernard Herrmann composed the music for this picture, he is also known for his work with Alfred Hitchcock as well. Herrmann has said that this was the best music he ever composed. Another cool piece of information is that this movie is about a seaman, which happens to be funny because the word "Muir" means "The Sea" in the Irish language, Gaelic. You may also recognize Victoria Horne, she was also in Harvey with Jimmy Stewart.

     The year is 1900 and Lucy Muir (Gene Tierney) is tired of living with her late husband's mother Angelica (Isobel Elsom) and sister Eva (Victoria Horne). Which is not surprising as they are two irritating people. So Lucy decides to pack up and leave with her daughter Anna (Natalie Wood). The two end up moving to a beautiful house called Gull Cottage, and it is sitting by the ocean on a coastal village. Lucy soon starts to hear things inside the home. And discovers a ghost! The ghost is Captain Daniel Gregg (Rex Harrison), and the story is that he committed suicide. Which Lucy soon finds out from the source that it just isn't so. The two of them find themselves talking everyday and having a great time. For when Lucy first moved in, the Captain tried to get rid of the Muir's by trying to scare them. Which Lucy was just not afraid enough to move out. Realizing this, the Captain becomes friends with her instead. After a bit of time, Lucy's mother in law, and sister in law come to the house only to tell her that she will be having financial trouble which means losing the house. The Captain and Lucy end up writing a novel together to save the house. The Captain does not want to lose her, and does not want to have to scare away another family! The book is soon finished and Lucy is to take the book and get it published. At first, the publisher is not interested, he says that he gets thousands of women in every year trying to publish a love story. But this book is different, it is about a seaman and all of his travels. It is a book for men! Lucy gets the publisher to read her book, and he falls in love with it. Lucy ends up with the money and keeps the house. During this trip to the publisher's office, she meets Miles Fairley (George Sanders). He is an attractive man and he also tries to woo her. The Captain is pretty jealous of this, but decides to leave so he can stay away and not interfere with Lucy and her new life. But soon Lucy finds out a secret about Miles that may or may not mean wedding bells. He did propose, but does this secret mean no to the marriage? Lucy can't live forever can she? Will this mean that when she dies, she will end up with Captain Daniel Gregg, or will she have married Miles and end up with him as ghosts instead? Find out by watching this must see! I enjoyed it very much, and recommend it to everyone.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

The Incredible Mr. Limpet

The Incredible Mr. Limpet 
Released Date: March 28, 1964
Director: Arthur Lubin
Actors: Don Knotts, Carole Cook, Jack Weston, Andrew Duggan, Larry Keating, Oscar Beregi Jr., Charles Meredith, Elizabeth MacRae, Paul Frees, Phil Arnold, Sayre Dearing, and Louie Elias



     Most movie premieres are in New York City or California, but this movie that is set in the ocean had its premiere at a big underwater theater in Weeki Wachee Springs, Florida. That sounds pretty cool, and I totally wish I was there for the premiere. This was a Warner Brothers film, and was also the last animated movie made by Warner's. The animation studio was shut down in 1969. They used real battleships in this movie. And one ship in this picture happened to be a real United States Destroyer that was used in WWII and the Korean War. Don Knotts was in the Army and happened to be in WWII.

     This movie follows Mr. Henry Limpet (Don Knotts), his wife named Bessie (Carole Cook) and his best friend, George Stickel (Jack Weston). Limpet is a bookkeeper and a huge fan of fish. He loves his fish, and he even wishes everyday to be one. He thinks that the life of a fish would be so much better because they don't have any worries, they swim all day and have the perfect life. His wish becomes true one day while he is out with his wife and best friend. Both Bessie and George believe Henry drowned, when in fact, he turned into a fish. Who still needs glasses. WWII is still going on, and Limpet helps out the Navy by revealing where the German Subs are and the precise location. It's a dangerous world for a fish,  but can Limpet survive the crazy fish life?

     This is such a cute movie, and one out of a number of reasons why I love Don Knotts. He has a huge range for acting. He can be cooped up in a Police Station down in Mayberry, or he can play a fish at the bottom of the ocean. You'll love this movie too, and I promise that this is one movie that everyone can enjoy. From the youngest child, to the oldest grandparent :) Prepare to be amazed and happy at the same time!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

The Apartment

The Apartment
Released Date: September 16, 1960
Director: Billy Wilder
Actors: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston, Jack Kruschen, David Lewis, Hope Holiday, Joan Shawlee, Naoimi Stevens, Johnny Seven, Joyce Jameson, Willard Waterman, David White, and Edie Adams



     Billy Wilder has directed such stars as Marilyn Monroe. He directed her in The Seven Year Itch, and Some Like It Hot. He was not a huge fan of directing the star because she had such a huge demand as far as treatment goes. But in this film, Wilder chose a Monroe like characters throughout this movie. You can spot them easily during your watch. You will also note that Billy Wilder's trademarks character name is Sheldrake, which he also uses in Sunset Blvd. and Kiss Me, Stupid. The person he chose for Sheldrake was Paul Douglas but he died of a heart attack before filming began. He died while eating breakfast before his flight to the Coast for this movie. He lived in New York at the time. Shirley MacLaine filmed her famous cameo in Ocean's Eleven while on break from this movie. You will also note that the Christmas scene was filmed on December 23, 1959, everyone was in the mood for the holiday and it made the Christmas feel more real. Which is pretty neat.

     We follow a young man, C. C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon). He's lonely as he works for an insurance company in New York City. He's a hard worker who happens to loan his apartment out to four of his executives for a little after date love in the sack. Baxter is unhappy about the way he is used but never confronts his coworkers as unhappy as he is. He is not always able to sleep well, and ends up with a cold. His neighbors believe it is him making all that noise. They also believe that his body is an iron to make all of that noise almost every night, and he also must be the person they hear drinking all the time too. His big boss calls him into his office to talk about his apartment loans. The boss is Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray). It is comical and it almost sounds like he is about to be fired. But all of his managers write great reports about how great Baxter is to Mr. Sheldrake. However he does realize what is going on. Sheldrake gives Baxter two tickets for The Music Man. When all of a sudden, Sheldrake asks for a chance at his apartment too. The elevator operator catches Baxter's eye and he wants to go on a date with her. She is Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine). She just recently cuts her hair short and Baxter notices and makes a comment on how cute the cut is. Hopefully they end up dating because they would sure be a cute couple. At the Christmas party, Baxter realizes that another man is after a relationship with Kubelik, the man is Sheldrake. What is Baxter going to do? He was sworn not to reveal that Sheldrake is also using his apartment but the girl he wants is going to end up to his apartment with his boss. Kubelik does realize that she is the mistress to Sheldrake. By the end of the movie we get to hear the famous final line "Shut up and deal." Who says it? Hopefully Baxter does to Kubelik. This is a very cute movie. And a funny one at that. Of course it is with Jack Lemmon leading the movie along. Shirley MacLaine is a great actress. I hope you enjoy this classic as much as I have.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Costello



     A huge thank you goes to Chris Costello. Who happens to be Lou Costello's daughter. She wrote a book on her father called Lou's On First. I'm currently reading the book and find it well written and a great read. But what I wanted to say thank you for, is that the other day on Facebook, Chris Costello wrote me and said that she really enjoyed reading my blog and was impressed :) I was very excited for the comment and had me smiling!!! It is really cool to have such an awesome critic. But also someone who I have been a fan of, well her father. Although, I am a huge fan of her book :) Thank you again Chris. That was a great start to my week :)

     If you are a huge fan of Abbott and Costello, I would recommend Chris Costello's book. It is all about her father and his journey through life. And although tough, he made it through like a champ and was a very strong man. He went from New York, and hitch-hiked all the way to California. When he hit it big, he came back to New York and met Abbott. Together they rode the fame train till they ended up separating  But always a huge fan, I will always enjoy watching their movies. I enjoy them still like I did as a kid. :) Laughing till I cry.

The Postman Always Rings Twice

The Postman Always Rings Twice
Released Date: May 2, 1946
Director: Tay Garnett
Actors: Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway, Hume Cronyn, Leon Ames, Audrey Totter, Alan Reed, and Jeff York



     This is a MGM movie and a Film Noir. This movie was considered a shock because most movies in that time only did closed mouth kissing. Usually the kisses lasted a few seconds. In this movie, it wasn't a normal Hollywood kiss. They french kissed! Which is not that surprising as the novel for this film was considered explicit. This movie was a lot like the Little Women book, as it was turned into a movie, a lot. This was actually the third movie made from the book. And then The Screen Guild Theater made a 30 minute radio version on June 16, 1947. Along with the Lana Turner and John Garfield redoing their roles. This was Lana Turner's favorite role. Another neat note, you will notice that Lana Turner only wears white in this movie. Make note of that while you are watching. Pretty cool huh? It is said that because of how dark this picture is, they wanted to make her wear a light color throughout. You will notice two men in this movie, from two very hit classics. One is Cecil Kellaway, who played a Doctor in the Jimmy Stewart classic Harvey. The other man is not by his face, but by his voice, Alan Reed. Who's voice happens to be Fred Flinstone's from the cartoon, The Flinstones. There is also another favorite of mine, Hume Cronyn, who was in Alfred Hitchcock movies, Shadow Of A Doubt, Lifeboat, and he was seen in Alfred Hitchcock Presents. He also wrote for Hitchcock's Rope and Under Capricorn. 

     Nick Smith (Cecil Kellaway) hires a free as a bird hitch-hiker, Frank Chambers (John Garfield). Frank begins to help around the house and restaurant  In the middle of all of the helping, Frank falls for Nick's wife, Cora Smith (Lana Turner). They kiss, dance, go to the beach, and discuss why Cora ending up marrying Nick in the first place. He's older, and not very good looking. Which raises questions, since Cora is so beautiful.  But when Cora realizes that she feels the same for Frank, the two decide to run away together. But since Frank's money is coming from Cora's husband, they go back. It almost seems insane that they do, since both seem so unhappy. Even Frank goes as far as to say that he hopes that Nick gets into some freak accident and dies. When later on the two realize that death is an option for them. Murder is a great option in fact. The plan? To electrocute. When Nick ends up in the hospital, Cora ends up riddled with guilt. Which is understandable, she's the one that threw a iron into Nick's bath water with him in it. Ending up electrocuting Nick, burning all the lights out in the house, and killing a cat. Nick thankfully survived. I guess Frank and Cora were not ready for murder. Both excited he lived, but will this movie end with Nick dead? I mean, even though they ended up wanting him alive, they still wanted him dead before. I don't want to give away the ending, but I'll tell you one thing!!! They do "try" again. I mean they always say "If at first you don't suceed, try, try again." I'll also say this, it involves a car, a shoe, alcohol, a mountain side and trees, and a great lawyer, Arthur Keats (Hume Cronyn). Enjoy!!!!

Monday, November 12, 2012

Grace Kelly



Happy Birthday Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco
Born: November 12, 1929, Died: September 14, 1982
Favorite Food: Hamburgers
Favorite Drink: Black and White Chocolate Milkshake
Favorite Actor: Joseph Cotton 
Favorite Actress: Ingrid Bergman

Movies Include:
High Society
The Swan
To Catch a Thief
The Bridges at Toko-Ri
Green Fire
The Country Girl
Rear Window
Dial M for Murder
Mogambo
High Noon

One Night In The Tropics

One Night In The Tropics
Released Date: November 15, 1940
Director: A. Edward Sutherland
Actors: Allan Jones, Nancy Kelly, Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Robert Cummings, Mary Boland, William Frawley, Peggy Moran, Leo Carrillo, and Don Alvarado



     By this time, Abbott and Costello had hit it big on the radio. Both Abbott and Costello were in vaudeville in the beginning of their careers. They decided to become a team, and the rest they say is history. This is the first movie they made together, and it was memorable. Just check out that cast. Most movie premieres are held in New York or California, but this movie was held in Paterson, New Jersey, which is the hometown of Lou Costello.

     We follow Jim "Lucky" Moore (Allan Jones) as he decides to help out his best friend Steve Harper (Robert Cummings). Steve is about to get married and needs to file for "Love Insurance." He is about to marry the beautiful Cynthia Merrick (Nancy Kelly) which is fast known for Steve says "Oh Cynthia" a lot in the beginning due to the happiness of his getting engaged. What does this Love Insurance entail? Well for starters Lucky's firm will lose a lot of money if Steve and Cynthia don't get married. And also that the finance man is a Night Club owner by the name of Roscoe (William Frawley). Lucky soon realizes that the money is not very important when he falls head over heels for Cynthia. Now we have a triangle? Wrong, there is a forth person in the mix. A girl that has been in love with Steve for a long time, Mickey (Peggy Moran). She's going to make it rather tricky for Steve. What will end up happening? I can tell you one thing!! You get to watch a fast version of "Who's on First."

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

An Affair To Remember

An Affair To Remember
Released Date: July 11, 1957
Director: Leo McCarey
Actors: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Richard Denning, Neva Patterson, Cathleen Nesbitt, Robert Q. Lewis, Charles Watts, Fortunio Bonanova, Dorothy Adams, and Richard Allen



     This happens to be one of the most romantic movies ever made. And I'm not sure if it is because of Cary Grant, or New York. This is a very lovely movie. And was also voted at #5 of the most romantic movies of all time by American Film Institute. This happens to be the second movie that paired Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant, and Deborah Kerr was not the first choice for the part. Ingrid Bergman, and Doris Day were thought of before Kerr. The movie couple also made a third movie together after this one.

The tagline for this movie: On the Riviera, Across the ocean, and all over New York!

     We follow Nicky Ferrante (Cary Grant) and Terry McKay (Deborah Kerr) as they enjoy a romantic cruise together from Europe to New York. And they spend more and more time together. They have a lot in common too, but more importantly, they are both engaged to other people. The romance they had was amazing, and one Nicky and Terry cannot forget about. But they decide to meet in six months at the top of the Empire State Building. But something happens that keeps Terry from joining the man she fell in love with. Was it that she ended up getting married to the other man? Or has she died suddenly? Will this keep them from ending up together? Find out, by watching a movie that has been remade to be as classic, and like all old movies, the comparison is not even close. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr have us watching every minute, in love with the story as much as they are together. 

Monday, November 5, 2012

Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Released Date: August 1, 1953
Director: Charles Lamont
Actors: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Boris Karloff, Craig Stevens, Helen Westcott, Reginald Denny, John Dierkes, Jimmy Aubrey, Wilson Benge, and Marjorie Bennett



      I have heard before that Boris Karloff did not want to work with Abbott and Costello because their movies were comedy and he was a more serious actor. Usually playing killers, Karloff told them no for many of their other "meet" movies. But because they were so popular, Karloff said okay and decided to work with the duo. This is the first time, however, that Dr. Jekyll was okay to turn into Mr. Hyde. The other Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde movies had made the Doctor out to be a good guy who happens to turn evil after using his own medicine. In this movie, you can see Dr. Jekyll actually taking the medicine so he can murder. Pretty evil huh? And enough scary to make you wonder if this is suppose to be a comedy. Well no worries, it is. You will also take note at the fact that after Boris Karloff turns into Mr. Hyde and the transformation sequence is over, with hair mind you, another person is playing Boris Karloff's character. The man is Eddie Parker, a stuntman.

     When the movie begins, we can see a murder happen, and then to a group of ladies that are fighting for rights. To be able to vote, which seems history but in actuality, it was not that long ago. Vicky Edwards (Helen Westcott) is the main speaker and is very excited to be the head of women's suffrage. After a huge fight, we then see our favorite comedians as they are police officers trying to stop this huge fight. Slim (Bud Abbott) and Tubby (Lou Costello) are getting hit on the head and slapped around by woman. And who is to say that woman can't vote? While everyone is in jail, even Slim and Tubby, Vicky is very talkative with a newspaper man, Bruce Adams (Craig Stevens). Dr. Henry Jekyll (Boris Karloff) is not happy when he sees his goddaughter talking with another man. Even though he is much older, you can tell he has jealousy on his face. That is when we see Mr. Hyde come alive. Can you imagine the jealousy when Bruce asks Vicky to marry him? BIG trouble. Also, Tubby and Slim get to see Dr. Jekyll's secret lab and nobody believes them. Which can be both hilarious and upsetting as we the audience know the truth. We do get to see Lou Costello as a mouse, wanting cheese very badly. And a lot of great jokes are in store for you. This is my favorite Abbott and Costello "meet" somebodies. As this is a true classic. 

Friday, November 2, 2012

Kiss Me, Stupid

Kiss Me, Stupid 
Released Date: December 25, 1964
Director: Billy Wilder
Actors: Dean Martin, Kim Novak, Ray Walston, Felicia Farr, Cliff Osmond, Barbara Pepper, Doro Merande, Howard McNear, Tommy Nolan, Alice Pearce, John Fiedler, and Cliff Norton



     This was a great laugh, a fun movie and one I can say I will watch over and over. Fun trivia facts to know is that Ray Walston's roll was going to be given to actors such as: Peter Sellers (who had a heart attack, so was not able to make the movie), Bob Hope, Tony Randall, Danny Kaye, and Tom Ewell. Also, a few cool facts about Kim Novak, one day after a hard day at work, Novak made everyone (cast and director included) sandwiches and also cookies. She was also to wear naval stones, she usually wore rhinestones, but on St. Patrick's Day, she decided to wear an emerald instead, and made the whole cast laugh. The part of Kim Novak was to be given to Marilyn Monroe, she died shortly before the filming began, so Novak took the lead in this movie instead. I loved Novak in the roll myself.

     Singer Dino (Dean Martin) is on his way to Hollywood, and as he stops for gas in Nevada, he meets the gas attendant and the house owner that lives across the street from the station. The house owner is Orville (Ray Walston), who happens to be a very unsteady husband. Thinking that even the milkman, his best friend (the gas attendant) and even his piano student is trying to steal his wife. Orville happens to be a great musician and plays the piano beautifully. While the gas attendant, Barney (Cliff Osmond) writes the words, the pair make a great duo. Barney realizes who he has in front of him and he needs to get his best friend over to meet the great Dino. What's the plan? To get Dino to hear their music and get them started on a career. But first, the gas attendant decides to break down his car so he can't leave to go to Hollywood. At least, not yet. Orville, being the unsteady husband, decides to kick his wife Zelda (Felicia Farr) out of the house for a few days because she happens to love Dino's music. Then Barney decides to bring over a woman from the bellybutton dance restaurant to Orville's to meet Dino and play Orville's wife. Who is it other than the beautiful Polly the Pistol (Kim Novak). The whole thing gets turned around, and Orville's wife becomes rather confused. But watch as the whole thing unravels. And see if Orville and his best friend become the stars they dreamed of.