Whistling in the Dark

Whistling in the Dark
Released Date: August 8, 1941
Director: S. Sylvan Simon
Actors: Red Skelton, Conrad Veidt, Ann Rutherford, Virginia Grey, Rags Ragland, Henry O'Neill, Eve Arden, Paul Stanton, Donald Douglas, Don Costello and William Tannen

     I saw this movie and fell in love with Red Skelton. The fact that Eve Arden is in this movie is what caught my eye, but I loved every second of this film. I also enjoyed it because of the two things this movie is based on. First off it is a black and white movie (that always gets my attention), and second it is about something I have always loved listening to, which is the radio. I have always loved listening to Lux Radio, Lights Out, the Abbott and Costello Radio Show, and The 2000 Year Old Man. But this movie is about a man who performs a crime radio show every week. The man is Wally Benton (Red Skelton), and he is successful. He tunes in every week as the host for the crime show called "The Fox" and along with his fiancee and ex-girlfriend are kidnapped by a killer. The killer is Joseph Jones (Conrad Veidt), and the only reason why he kidnapped this radio show host is because he wants to be written the perfect murder! Does he get what he wants? Watch Red Skelton light up the screen :)

Double Indemnity

Double Indemnity
Released Date: April 24, 1944
Director: Billy Wilder
Actors: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, Byron Barr, Porter Hall, Jean Heather, Tom Powers, Richard Gaines, Fortunio Bonanova, and John Philliber

     I have been watching a lot of newer movies, and when I say "new" I mean I just found them. I was watching this movie today and realized that because Barbara Stanwyck is in it, it must be great. And it is. This movie is very fast, but a thriller till the end. One thing that did bother me was Barbara Stanwyck's hair. So I was pleased to read that the director wasn't happy with it either. She wears a wig in this movie and it looks insane, but nobody can deny her great acting ability.

     Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) is married and unhappy. You can tell every time you see her around her husband. When Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) shows up to Mr. and Mrs. Dietrchson's house to sell Mr. Dietrichson a life insurance policy, Phyllis and Walter fall in love. Now what to do? Half of them is already married. Does this mean murder? It does!!! Walter and Phyllis plan out the perfect crime. But like real life, murder is never perfect, and the bad guys always get caught!!! This movie was number 29 of the greatest movies of all time, and you can see why. I have always enjoyed Miss Stanwyck and this is one of my favorites of her's now. 

Undercurrent

Undercurrent
Released Date: November 28, 1946
Director: Vincent Minnelli
Actors: Katharine Hepburn, Robert Taylor, Robert Mitchum, Edmund Gwenn, Majorie Main, Jayne Meadows, Clinton Sundberg, Dan Tobin, Kathryn Card, Leigh Whipper, Charles Trowbridge, James Westerfield and Billy McClain

     Post war movies are always fun to watch. For this reason alone, the actors that came back from the war to go on with their acting career. James Stewart was one of them, and so is Robert Taylor. He was in the military service in World War II. And after returning, this was his first picture. Robert Mitchum plays Robert Taylor's brother in this movie, and Katharine Hepburn plays Taylor's wife. Although still young, Katharine Hepburn plays a spinster, well almost spinster, she is saved from that single old age by her husband. Did you know that Katharine Hepburn and Robert Mitchum did not get along while filming? You may never see it, that is the beauty of acting. But Hepburn apparently told Mitchum this: "You know you can't act, and if you hadn't been good looking you would never have got a picture at all. I'm tired of working with people like you who have nothing to offer!" Harsh words, huh? I have always enjoyed Mitchum movies and am sad by that remark. I have always been and will be a Katharine Hepburn fan, though strong headed, she was not too far from the truth. Mitchum did in fact have better looks than acting range, but he always made fun pictures. But so did Katharine Hepburn!

     Ann Hamilton (Katharine Hepburn) grew up with a loving family in the country. The picture is beautiful, with the country feel, snow up to your knees, snow covering the old time cars and a fireplace. A scene I have dreamed about all my life. The good looking Alan Garroway (Robert Taylor) comes to her house and they end up falling in love. Hamilton's father, Professor Hamilton (Edmund Gwenn (a great actor)) tells her that she will end up marrying Garroway. The Professor can see his daughter falling in love. After a whirlwind wedding, Mr and Mrs. Garroway head to Alan's home, in my hometown, of Washington D.C. Ann is a country girl at heart, always will be. Her clothes spell country, and she feels different from all of the D.C. women she meets. Alan throws a few parties, and Ann feels like the loan sheep. Alan seems perfect, tons of money, very good looking, friendly and all around happy. But he has a demon, his brother. Michael Garroway (Robert Mitchum) seems to have hurt his brother pretty badly. But while all stories unravel, Ann has doubts about her new husband. And so do we, the audience. I said this before, but Katharine Hepburn makes masterpieces, and this is a great movie. Found on accident, I taped it on TCM, and enjoyed every minute. I taped because of Katharine Hepburn!!! You will love this new find of mine just as much as I have :)

House Of Wax

House of Wax
Released Date: April 25, 1953
Director: Andre De Toth
Actors: Vincent Price, Frank Lovejoy, Phyllis Kirk, Carolyn Jones, Paul Picerni, Roy Roberts, Angela Clarke, Paul Cavanagh, Dabbs Greer, Charles Bronson, and Reggie Rymal

     Halloween is near, which means Vincent Price is here!!! What a great movie to start your Halloween night with, while waiting for kids to arrive, put this movie in your DVD player and eat some of the chocolate you have waiting in your Halloween bowl. I would love to see this movie in 3-D, which is how the director first filmed this amazing movie. Even in 2-D, this movie pops with excitement. I enjoyed the one hour and thirty minute horror film very much, and I think you will too.

     Professor Henry Jarrod (Vincent Price) is the creator of wax art. And is super talented. He makes sculptures that will leave you shocked. He makes a great replica of the night President Lincoln was murdered at Fords Theater. The Professor even threw in John Wilkes Booth, Mrs. Lincoln, and Lincoln's box guests. You will also see Joan of Arc and Marie Antoinette. Prof. Jarrod seems very happy and enjoying his creations, but when his business partner, Matthew Burke (Roy Roberts), decides to set fire to the wax museum, Jarrod loses everything. Including, or so everyone thinks, his life!!! The fire sequence is very cool though, you can see all of the wax figures melt due to the flames.

     Time goes on, Matthew Burke is now a rich man, and dating a young woman, who appears too young. Her name is Cathy Gray (Carolyn Jones). After Burke dies by hanging himself, weird things really start to happen. Cathy then dies too, and she is found dead in bed. And her best friend, Sue Allen (Phyllis Kirk) is the one that finds her. Cathy has obviously been murdered, and while Sue is looking at her friend, she spots the killer behind the drapes, after giving out a loud scream, Sue takes off running. But the scary part about this killer, he has no face!!! More time goes on, and all of a sudden Professor Jarrod is back in business. He somehow lived through the fire, and has now opened up a new museum. The House of Wax!!! Sue and her beau, Scott Andrews (Paul Picerni) attend the opening. Sue notices something very very strange about one of the figures. It strangely looks like Cathy!!! WHAT???? Find out the intense ending, with magic wax and the magic that Vincent Price brings to his films, you'll enjoy this as much as I did!!!

Finishing School

Finishing School
Released Date: May 4, 1934
Director: George Nichols Jr., and Wanda Tuchock
Actors: Frances Dee, Billie Burke, Ginger Rogers, Bruce Cabot, John Halliday, Beulah Bondi, Sara Haden, Helen Freeman, Majorie Lytell, Adalyn Doyle, Anne Shirley, Irene Franklin, Ann Cameron, Rose Coghlan, and Caroline Rankin

     Can you imagine, this movie was condemned by the Catholic Church's? Now for some of you, maybe most of you, you probably have never seen this. But believe me, considering what movies are showing now, this is hardly traumatizing. I enjoyed this movie a lot, however, and I would recommend it to anyone.

     We begin this movie following a young girl. Virginia Radcliff (Frances Dee), and her mother Mrs. Helen Crawford Radcliff (Billie Burke) into an all girls school. They have ridiculous rules and a very difficult woman running the private school. Miss Van Alstyne (Beulah Bondi) asks all students not to smoke, drink, not to wear lipstick, and must conduct yourself like a young lady. But when Miss Alstyne decides to bunk Virginia with Cecilia Ferris (Ginger Rogers), all the trouble begins. Cecilia, or Pony, as her friends call her, loves to get into trouble. Miss Alstyne makes sure that every weekend, all of the girls can either stay at school or go home to their families. But Cecilia has other plans for this weekend. Can you guess what they are? Well, if you guessed going out with her family, you're wrong, if you guessed hanging out with men, then you hit it right on the nose. When you here of young students going to college and finding themselves, then this movie will make you realize this fact. Maybe Virginia is a great girl, with good intentions, or maybe she's curious. You'll find out in time... If you watch this great picture, with some great actresses. :)

Gaslight

Gaslight
Release Date: May 11, 1944
Director: George Cukor
Actors: Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, Dame May Whitty, Angela Lansbury, Barbara Everest, Emil Rameau, Edmund Breon, Halliwell Hobbes, Tom Stevenson, Heather Thatcher, Lawrence Grossmith, and Jakob Gimpel

     Angela Lansbury's birthday was not too long ago, so I thought I would write about her first movie, and one of my favorites! She was only 17, and today, at 88, she is still going strong. Ingrid Bergman is amazing in this as well, and even went to a mental institution for inspiration, pretty neat huh? Ingrid Bergman won Best Actress in a Leading role at the Oscars the following year, in 1945, this movie also won the Oscar the same year for Best Art Direction (Interior Decoration, Black and White). Nominated was Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Angela Lansbury), Best Writing (Screenplay), and Best Cinematography too. They sure did make a great movie!!

     Paula Alquist's (Ingrid Bergman) aunt was murdered in the house she grew up in. Paula never wanted to go back to that house, the memories, she was afraid, would forever haunt her. But when her new husband, Gregory Anton (Charles Boyer) wants to move into the house, Paula caves, and decides to go ahead and move back. Paula's fears proved correct, memories were all around, she was afraid. And to make matters worse, she starts losing her mind!!! Her husband is worried that she is ending up like her mother, who was hospitalized for mental issues many years before. But someone is watching over Paula, and it is not her loved ones that have passed. It is Brian Cameron (Joseph Cotten), who believes that it is not Paula that is mad, but her husband Gregory, that is up to no good. Is Brian correct? Their house maid, Nancy (Angela Lansbury) believes she is nuts as well. It is hard to go on with the story without giving away the ending. But I would highly recommend this classic treasure. :) enjoy!!!

Happy Birthday Angela Lansbury

Happy Birthday to an amazing actress. Who has wowed us with movies and television alike. And who is still going strong. Angela Lansbury was born on October 16th, 1925 and will turning 88 in just two days. But the reason why I have come on here to wish her a Happy Birthday so early is because they are having a Angela Lansbury day on TCM on the 16th as well, and I don't want anyone to miss it ;). You can see the following:

- Gaslight at 7:30 AM (or tape it ;) with Ingrid Bergman)

- The Harvey Girls at 9:30 (with Judy Garland)

- Kind Lady at 1:00 PM (with Ethel Barrymore)

- Mister Buddwing at 2:30 (with James Garner)

- In the Cool of the Day at 4:15 (with Jane Fonda)

and

- The Manchurian Candidate at 5:45 (with Frank Sinatra)

You can also find Murder She Wrote any day as well :)

Hope to see you all there with birthday cake, you don't even need your sleuthing hat on!!! 

The Shopworn Angel

The Shopworn Angel
Released Date: July 15, 1938
Director: H.C. Potter
Actors: Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Walter Pidgeon, Hattie McDaniel, Nat Pendleton, Alan Curtis, Sam Levene, Eleanor Lynn, and Charles D. Brown

     This movie is based around WW1, and around Bill Pettigrew (James Stewart). He is training in New York and is almost hit by a car. The woman driving, Daisy Heath (Margaret Sullavan) is a popular actress and is very rude in her behavior towards Bill at first. She is dating Sam Bailey (Walter Pidgeon) who could not be more wrong for her. You can tell this early on in the movie, actually, when you first see them together. Bill wants his army buddies to believe he is dating this actress, so he asks Daisy if she would pretend to be his girlfriend. She agrees, and they pretend away. Meanwhile, sparks fly. But Daisy is already in a pretty big relationship with Sam. What will happen? James Stewart shines again, and this time in military uniform!!! 

Dangerous Mission

Dangerous Mission
Released Date: March 6, 1954
Director: Louis King
Actors: Victor Mature, Piper Laurie, William Bendix, Vincent Price, Betta St. John, Harry Cheshire, Steve Darrell, Walter Reed, Marlo Dwyer, and Dennis Weaver

     As we are well in our way into the month of October, it is high time I bring out Vincent Price. No matter what circumstance, Vincent Price always keeps his cool and one heck of a sexy voice. This movie was made in 3-D. Which makes sense because throughout the movie, you will notice a lot of action that seems a little too much if you get my drift. But at the same time, there is the perfect amount of action, and the perfect amount of Vincent, and the perfect amount of snow. I love snow, always have. And I always love seeing snow, especially in classic movies. This movie is in color, but the snow is just right!

     Where do you go if you witness a mob killing in New York? To a place nobody will find you. Louise Graham (Piper Laurie) finds the perfect place, Montana. A place with a lot of outside activity. She stays at Glacier National Park Hotel, which is now called Glacier Park Lodge. And she cannot be found. At least for a while. Matt Hallett (Victor Mature) finds out that Louise has been recognized by the mobster and is there to help. Glacier National Park is very safe. There is even a park ranger to greet you at the gate to get in. When Chief Ranger Joe Parker (William Bendix, who you may recognize from Hitchcock's Lifeboat) notices that Matt owns a gun, Joe is a little skepticle about Matt staying there. Especially since they are hiding a witness. Matt does meet Louise and likes her, a lot. And becomes friends with Paul Adams (Vincent Price), who is a very friendly man. Who is the mob killer? Are there more than one? Is Matt Hallett to be trusted? Only one way to find out!!! And with the snowy background, and actors like these, you can't go wrong with Dangerous Mission. And you may even feel as though you are on vacation. 

Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock Quote:

"Cartoonist are the best directors, if they don't like a character, they can just erase them"

Bachelor Mother

Bachelor Mother
Released Date: August 4, 1939
Director: Garson Kanin
Actors: Ginger Rogers, David Niven, Charles Coburn, Frank Albertson, E.E. Clive, Elbert Coplen Jr., Ferike Boros, Ernest Truex, Leonard Penn, and Paul Stanton

     David Niven and Ginger Rogers light up the screen with comedy, love and fun. I have always had a huge crush on David Niven. I'm not sure if it is his distinguished mustache or his accent, but I love him. I have also always loved Ginger Rogers. Her dancing, her grace, her beauty and this movie shows her acting range. Perfection, is Ginger Rogers.

     Polly Parrish (Ginger Rogers) has just been fired from Merlin's Department Store. And for a single woman living in the city, that makes things rather difficult. But due to hilarious mishaps, she is mistaken as the mother of a baby that has just been abandoned at a church. David Merlin (David Niven) is the stores manager and owner, and is outraged at this turn of events. He believes that the baby is hers, even though she is constantly telling him that it isn't. This movie is hilarious, and cute. And I enjoyed every minute. With David Merlin and Polly Parrish falling in love, around the holidays, it is a true holiday classic. Even though when we think of "Holiday Classic," we think of It's A Wonderful Life and others along that line. But this is truly a classic too. :) And one I believe you will enjoy too. 

TV Shows

I always talk about movies I love, which is my favorite things to watch. But I also really love classic TV as well. I had a great childhood which was filled with fun and laughter, great movies, and great TV shows. Along with sports, I really love watching great classic TV shows. Dick Van Dyke has always been one of my biggest crushes. And I had a huge crush on Wally from Leave it to Beaver when I was younger. So here is a list of my top favorite TV shows:

Leave It To Beaver:

I Love Lucy:

The Dick Van Dyke Show:

Father Knows Best:

Leave Her To Heaven

Leave Her To Heaven
Released Date: December 20, 1945
Director: John M. Stahl
Actors: Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain, Vincent Price, Mary Philips, Ray Collins, Gene Lockhart, Reed Hadley, Darryl Hickman, and Chill Wills

     I watched this movie for the first time, two days ago. I have often said that when I turn on TCM at the beginning of a movie I have never seen before, I usually end up loving it. I received Now Playing and saw this in the magazine. I am going to try my hardest to watch all of Vincent Price's movies this month, and he is TCM's Star of the Month. Which is not too shocking, as this is October and he is a star of "scary" films. Some of the best!!! And certainly a Star that puts Edgar Allan Poe stories to life. Which is always amazing. This movie's title was taken from a line in William Shakespeare's story, Hamlet. Leave Her To Heaven was also made into a hour long Radio episode on Lux Radio Theater. If you have an IPhone, I would recommend to download three things, first, the TCM app which shows you movies for the week and highlights. Second download, the TCM Hollywood tour guide which shows you stars homes and also filming locations. And third download, the Lux Radio Theater app which has every season, if a radio year is called season, and it is totally worth every penny. I believe each app is 99 cents. But check it out and enjoy the awesomeness that is TCM and the Lux Radio programs are something I listen to every night. Love it!

     Have you ever loved someone so much that you became obsessive? Or how about so much, that the only person you want your loved one to be around is you, and only you! Family, forget about. Friends, forget about. Anyone!!! Even your own mother!!! That is how Ellen Berent Harland (Gene Tierney) fell in love. Hard!!! Tough love. Ellen meets her husband while at the family vacation house. Richard Harland (Cornel Wilde) is a famous author. He is there to write and ends up falling head over heels in love with Ellen. Ellen is there to scatter her late father's ashes, along with her sister Ruth Berent (Jeanne Crain) and their mother, who goes by Mrs. Berent (Mary Philips). All is going great, they spread the father/husband's ashes and enjoy a nice long holiday. You can tell that Ellen is falling for Richard and he is falling for her. But when the politician, Russell Quinton (Vincent Price) arrives, we realize that Ellen and Richard are getting married. Russell was engaged to Ellen and he found out that his marriage is canceled when he receives a telegram stating that she is to marry Richard. Russell is also a lawyer. They end up married rather quickly, as most classic movies do. And they go away to a quiet area to enjoy peace and quiet, so that Richard can continue writing and so that they can be alone. Which is how Ellen wants it. All trouble breaks loose after Richard's invalid brother, Danny Harland (Darryl Hickman) comes to stay. He has back trouble and can't live on his own. Well that, and he is a young boy, which makes it impossible for him to live alone. The rest of the movie will keep you on your toes, and will for sure shock you. I was!!! I don't want to give anything away, but I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves classic film, who loves any of the actors, and to anyone who is like me, and wants to enjoy any movie you can watch that stars Vincent Price. It is a great movie and one I enjoyed every minute of. Vincent Price, Cornel Wilde, Gene Tierney, and Jeanne Crain all give a great performance. 

You Gotta Stay Happy

You Gotta Stay Happy
Released Date: October 28, 1948
Director: H.C. Potter
Actors: James Stewart, Joan Fontaine, Eddie Albert, Roland Young, Willard Parker, Percy Kilbride, and Porter Hall

     This movie makes you... Well, happy! James Stewart shines in all his movies, even in this not so very well known film. You can see him wearing a leather jacket during You Gotta Stay Happy, and it happens to be the same jacket he wore during all of his missions in WWII. You may notice that Joan Fontaine wears a jacket throughout this movie as well, she was pregnant and couldn't show her full belly! I also enjoyed Eddie Albert as well, and he definitely stole the show while on screen.

     Dee Dee Dillwood (Joan Fontaine) is a rich brat who cannot seem to figure her life out. She is to be married, and does not want to be. Because her uncle and shrink tell her to go ahead with the marriage, she does. Completely out of love, Dee Dee and her new husband go to stay at a hotel. They have a few arguments in the lobby, and pilot Marvin Payne (James Stewart) always seems to be right in the middle of it. Marvin's copilot, Bullets Baker (Eddie Albert) is off having a drink or two, while Marvin goes to the hotel to get a good nights sleep. As Marvin is trying to get some shut eye, Dee Dee and her new husband get into another fight. This time Dee Dee wants to leave and ends up in Marvin's room for the night. Now I know this sounds dirty, but believe me when I say, this is your average black and white movie. No funny business. Dee Dee can't seem to fall asleep, so she ends up taking a sleeping pill from the pilot's luggage - which doesn't help. So then they call to the front desk so that they can send up a sleeping pill. What happens? She gets knocked out cold. In this funny sequence, you can't help but to laugh out loud. Dee Dee decides to follow Marvin and Bullets across country to get away from her husband. While James Stewart always turns on the charm, does Marvin? Will Dee Dee get out of her marriage? And if so, will Marvin be the one? 

Vincent Price

Vincent Leonard Price Jr. 

May 27, 1911 - October 25, 1993 

 Vincent Price was born in St. Louis, Missouri and died in Los Angeles, California from lung cancer and emphysema. He was a great actor, often staring in horror movies, and most notably, in Edgar Allan Poe stories. Being from Virginia, and the fact that it is almost Halloween, I thought I would discuss Poe's most gifted actor, bringing Poe's greatest stories to life!!! Here are a list of Vincent Price and Edgar Allan Poe movies:

- The Pit and the Pendulum

- Fall of the House of Usher 

- Tales of Terror

- The Masque of the Red Death

- The Raven

- The Tomb of Ligeia 

What are some of your favorite horror movies? I love Alfred Hitchcock, Vincent Price, and of course Edgar Allan Poe, but I have also always enjoyed the great duo Abbott and Costello. Although not scary movies, they always put on a great show even with scary monsters all around.

The Petrified Forest

The Petrified Forest
Released Date: February 8, 1936
Director: Archie Mayo
Actors: Leslie Howard, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Genevieve Tobin, Dick Foran, Joe Sawyer, Porter Hall, Charley Grapewin, Paul Harvey, Eddie Acuff, Adrian Morris, Nina Campana, Slim Thompson, and John Alexander

     I have enjoyed Bette Davis my entire life and got to see this great movie staring my favorite actress just last month. The handsome Leslie Howard and mans man Humphrey Bogart also star. Both men, Howard and Bogart, were in the stage version of this film. Warner Brothers, the studio that made this movie, wanted to keep Leslie Howard in his stage role but wanted to replace Humphrey Bogart. But after Howard said that he wanted to do the movie only with Humphrey Bogart, they decided to keep Bogart in his role as well. Later in life, Humphrey Bogart named his second born child with Lauren Bacall Leslie, after Howard due to his credit in Bogart's fame. Bogart plays Duke Mantee, whose character was inspired by the famous bank robber, John Dillinger.

     Gabrielle Maple (Bette Davis) is hard at work at her father's diner/gas station. Gabrielle is dating a man that works at the diner, but does not seem too interested in him. But when Alan Squier (Leslie Howard), a poor man who has traveled a lot and has many stories enters the diner, it is love at first sight. Alan is talking about where he going and when a couple comes in with the same destination, Alan heads off. While Alan and his company are on the road, they get stopped by Duke Mantee (Humphrey Bogart) and his gang. Duke and his gang are heading straight for the diner, Alan follows them right back to Gabrielle. But what will happen with a diner full of nervous people, a waitress, and a killer? Find out the outcome by watching this great movie and enjoy watching a young Bette Davis light up the screen. Clearly to be a big star, you have Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart's young star quality to make this movie a must see!

Vivacious Lady

Vivacious Lady
Released Date: May 10, 1938
Director: George Stevens
Actors: Ginger Rogers, James Stewart, James Ellison, Beulah Bondi, Charles Coburn, Frances Mercer, Phyllis Kennedy, Jack Carson and Franklin Pangborn

     This movie is one of the cutest movies I have ever seen. It is because James Stewart and Ginger Rogers are so adorable together, and look totally in love in this film. I have always been a huge James Stewart fan and have been really getting into Ginger Rogers lately (which I'm sure I have said a few times ;)) so if you can imagine how shocked I was that I had never seen this gem. Beulah Bondi is in this as James Stewart's mother, which happens to be five movies in total that they play mother and son. The other movies are It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Of Human Hearts, and once on his TV show. This movie was made around the time that Ginger Rogers made a lot of her films with Fred Astaire, the movie has a fight scene with Ginger Rogers and she had to be extra careful of her legs which happened to be insured for $500,000. Can you imagine your legs being that expensive? That fact always tickled me, I had read that before and wondered what all happened in the fight scene, I'm glad I finally got to see it, it is quite a treat.

     Professor Peter Morgan (James Stewart) goes away to New York City to find his cousin Keith Morgan (James Ellison) and falls in love with a nightclub performer, Ms. Francey Brent (Ginger Rogers). They end up touring New York and get married the next day. The Professor has to go back to Old Sharon University where his father, also a Professor Morgan (Charles Coburn) is a teacher. Peter now has to tell his father and mother, Mrs. Morgan (Beulah Bondi). But since he has a little trouble telling his parents, he has his wife stay with his cousin until he gets the courage to tell them. Francey is very in love and wants her new husband to tell them so they can finally live together as husband and wife. Peter wants to tell his parents about his marriage at the school prom, but when Peter's fiance shows up, a little trouble and cat fight breaks out in a hilarious fight scene that puts Ginger Rogers in a whole new category. Rogers is a dancer, actress, singer and now fighter. The fight scene made me laugh out loud, but also at the cracks made during the fight. You will love it. Does Peter ever tell his parents? Will Francey end up staying married to Peter, the man that seems to be having trouble sharing the knowledge of his marriage? Find out by watching a movie you will not regret watching. One of my favorite James Stewart movies :) I honestly loved every minute of it. 

National Velvet

National Velvet
Released Date: January 26, 1945
Director: Clarence Brown
Actors: Mickey Rooney, Elizabeth Taylor, Donald Crisp, Anne Revere, Angela Lansbury, Jackie "Butch" Jenkins, and Juanita Quigley

     After the movie was made, Elizabeth Taylor got to keep the horse. But did you know, that Elizabeth Taylor had a lot of back issues. And it was from riding a horse, around this time that she got back issues. She jammed a few of her vertebra and did not get it checked out for many years later. I enjoyed watching this movie for many reasons. I love Elizabeth Taylor, and Angela Lansbury. The mother in this, Anne Revere is a great actress. Seeing Elizabeth Taylor with one of her loves, horses, is a pure enjoyment.

     Velvet Brown (Elizabeth Taylor) is a huge horse lover. She meets Mi Taylor (Mickey Rooney) one day while she was out watching a horse running around while Mi was out walking the dusty road. Her family decides to let Mi in off of the streets. Mi does not have a home after his father died years before. Velvet's family is very loving and takes in Mi without questions. Back to how Mi and Velvet met, Velvet always watches Pie, a horse she finds beautiful and loves from a distance. The owner of the horse decides to get rid of her after Pie ran loose through the town. So they have a raffle and Velvet wins. Mi, was a horse rider for a while but then after a horrible accident, decided not to ride anymore. But he takes time and teaches Velvet the ends and out of riding on a track. One day, Mi tells Velvet about a horse race in England. It's a huge race that even the queen shows up for. Mi gets everything together, the money to get the Pie in the race, to find a rider and to get the horse over to the race. When the rider shows his heart is not in the right place, Velvet decides to ride instead. But females are not allowed to ride the horses, but Velvet takes it on. She even has Mi cut her hair short. Does she win? Do they find out that a girl rode Pie? Find out by watching this amazing movie :) I enjoyed it a lot and hope that you do too. 

Coming Up...

I have been watching so many movies that I never saw before. I'll be posting great movies coming up here soon. And I'm so excited. :) just wait. 

Crawford Vs. Davis

Bette Davis and Joan Crawford had a very popular feud. The rivalry between them was like the Redskins and Cowboys. Like Duke and the Tarheels. Just to name a few. Did you know that Joan Crawford, during the making of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, was married to one of the Pepsi Cola owners? So guess what Bette Davis did, she brought in a Coke vending machine. She was such a clever thing, wasn't she?

Bette Davis Day

TCM is having a Bette Davis marathon day and I love it. Jezebel is playing right now. Jezebel can be summed up with words like these:

Yellow Fever Victim, Red Dress, St. Louis, Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, White Dress, Marriage, Mosquito, War...

Awesome film. I have loved watching Bette Davis work the screen for a long time. She's amazing and skilled. Hope everyone is having the best TCM day and if not, I hope you have a chance to record the superb line up this day.

A Day Late, A Buck Short

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALFRED HITCHCOCK..... Yesterday.... 

Ginger Rogers:

Romantic Couple

Carole Lombard and Clark Gable were a cute all American, Hollywood couple!! They married in 1939. 

But then on January 16, 1942, Carole Lombard was on a plane to head back home. She had been selling War Bonds to help her country. The plane she was on, along with her mother too, crashed on the side of a mountain. Everyone on the plane died instantly. Clark Gable was noted as inconsolable and decided to join the Army to serve his country too. His wife, Lombard asked him many times to join before. Even though Clark Gable was married, twice more in fact, he was buried next to Lombard. 

Born To Be Bad

Born To Be Bad
Released Date: August 27, 1950
Director: Nicholas Ray
Actors: Mel Ferrer, Joan Fontaine, Robert Ryan, Zachary Scott, Joan Leslie, Harold Vermilyea, Virginia Farmer

     Joan Fontaine almost always plays the good girl. So here is your chance to see a whole other side of her and one that you will not approve of.

     Donna Foster (Joan Leslie) and Curtis Carey (Zachary Scott) are madly in love and will marry soon. Donna works for a man who needs her to take care of his niece. Christabel Caine (Joan Fontaine) is the niece and is very much a problem from the word go. You can tell by her charm that she is indeed into two guys. Nick Bradly (Robert Ryan) who is a writer, but at this moment, is not financially stable. But she is also into Curtis, who is not available at all. In fact, he only shares care for her as a friend. Curtis however is rich, and then becomes unsure that his fiance is marrying him for him or for his money. Christabel makes sure that he does not marry the girl of his dreams, to be with her. She does not realize how much Nick meant to her, until she looses him. By the end, does Christabel get her ending she deserves, or does Nick fall in love with her lies once more? Mel Ferrer plays a very talented painter, Gabriel "Gobby" Broome. He is a very talented actor and very easy on the eyes. :)

Kay Johnson

Kay Johnson (November 29, 1904 - November 17, 1975), she was born Catherine Townsend Johnson. She went by Kay most of her childhood and it stuck during her film career. While she was married to John Cromwell and after they divorced, she moved out of Hollywood and out of the spotlight. She is a great actress who worked in some great movies, ie Of Human Bondage with Bette Davis and Leslie Howard, also the movie American Madness by director Frank Capra. Which is one of my favorite Frank Capra movies, and to be honest, she stole the show. 

Here below, she is seen with Walter Huston in American Madness. 

Dancing Problems

The picture above is from the very famous Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie "Top Hat" and did you know that it was Ginger Rogers idea to wear the dress seen in the picture? As a matter of fact, Fred Astaire hated the dress with all the feathers flying around and getting in his face. He asked Ginger Rogers to change her dress even, and she said no to Astaire because she believed that the dress would work. Later on, after Mr. Astaire saw the movie, he agreed with her and from then on, he trusted Miss. Rogers ideas on their films and dance routines. Pretty neat huh? 

Having Wonderful Time

Having Wonderful Time
Released Date: July 1, 1938
Director: Alfred Santell
Actors: Ginger Rogers, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Peggy Conklin, Lucille Ball, Lee Bowman, Eve Arden, Dorothea Kent, Red Skelton, Donald Meek, Jack Carson, Clarence Wilson, and Allan Lane

     I picked this movie to watch after seeing the cast list. I have been on a Ginger Rogers kick for the last few weeks and have been watching most of her films. This was one of them. And seeing Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, Red Skelton and Jack Carson on the movie made it even more interesting. Plus, this would be the second movie I have seen with the actors Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden and Jack Carson, Stage Door being that first movie. Even Ann Miller had a speaking part for this movie, but that part did not make the final cut. She is seen though next to Red Skelton during one of his routines, his first in the movie to be exact. This also happens to be Red Skelton's first movie, and he was great in it. Very funny and always stealing the screen.

     Teddy (Ginger Rogers) is working hard and is in dire need of a vacation. She has booked plans for a camp that her friend recommended and is leaving right after work. The camp is called Camp Kare- Free and is full of young women and men, single at that. When Teddy arrives to the area, she is taken on a very bumpy ride to the camp. Her driver is Chick (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) whom works at the camp and his first impression of the young lady is that she is snobby. She gets to share a room with the very wild Miriam (Lucille Ball) and a stuck up New Yorker, Henrietta (Eve Arden). We find out early in the movie that Teddy has just broke up with a man named Emil Beatty (Jack Carson) and while she is at the camp, she finds true love through Chick. But when they have a misunderstanding, Teddy tries to get Chick jealous by spending some alone time with Buzzy (Lee Bowman), the man who was after Miriam at first. Will the misunderstanding get resolved? Check this cute movie out, although a very short movie, it is very good and you will enjoy every minute, all 70 of them!!!

Hitler's Blacklist

Adolf Hitler had a blacklist during WWII of actors and actresses that made movies or statements against his power. Movies that I have seen that would make a Hitler Blacklist are:

"Once Upon A Honeymoon" with Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers.

"The Mortal Storm" with James Stewart, Margaret Sullivan and Robert Young.

"The Best Years of Our Lives" with Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy, and Teresa Wright.

"Lifeboat" with Tallulah Bankhead, John Hodiak, Hume Cronyn and directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

These movies made Hitler mad and got a lot of these well loved actors on the Blacklist of the worlds most hated criminal. James Stewart was always a war hero, but to think of such a list and to think that he was on it, makes him so much more of a hero. Both on screen and off. <3

Birthday

Happy Birthday to me, Janet Leigh and Laverne Andrews :) 

4th of July

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!!! :) 

The Philadelphia Story

Earlier today, I was watching The Philadelphia Story with James Stewart, Katharine Hepburn, and Cary Grant. The movie is so well crafted and I love all of the characters. The "drunk" scene might be my favorite, but also the amazing woman that Katharine Hepburn was. She was such a strong woman, smart and could carry her own. Just as tough as Bette Davis :)