Sunday, March 31, 2013

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title!

Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title!
Released Year: 1966
Director: Harmon Jones
Actors: Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, Richard Deacon, Joey Adams, Andy Albin, Henry Corden, Michael Ford, January Jones, Nick Adams, Steve Allen, Greg Amsterdam, Milton Berle, and Carl Reiner



     This movie was done right around a famous TV show in the 60s. You might have heard of The Dick Van Dyke Show? If you have, you will notice a few of the regulars in this funny movie. Morey Amsterdam, who also wrote this movie, Rose Marie, Richard Deacon, and Carl Reiner. Morey is a very intelligent man. Did you know that he could tell a joke on any subject? Meaning that someone could give him a word, and he would instantly give a joke! Pretty neat huh? He was also in Vaudeville and was also known for his knowledge of the bible. Watching this movie makes me pretty happy. I love watching The Dick Van Dyke Show and I love seeing all of the special relationships on the camera. Outside of the show, they were all very close, and seeing Morey and Rose Marie together in this movie is amazing. It is also funny seeing Morey and Richard Deacon getting along, for the most part... Because you will never see that on the TV show.



     Charlie Yuckapuck (Morey Amsterdam), Annie (Rose Marie) and Magda (January Jones) all work at a restaurant for a man named Mr. Travis (Richard Deacon). When Magda inherits the bookstore her recently deceased uncle left to her, Magda ends up moving to a little town. Now it is up to Charlie and Annie to help run the restaurant, Mr. Travis realizes that they are not very good workers and fires them. Best friends and on their way to help their friend Magda, Charlie and Annie are on their way to help save the bookstore. However, Charlie is in all sorts of trouble, after being fired, he then finds out that he has been mistaken by agents for a cosmonaut named Yascha Nudnik. The agents will stop at nothing to get Charlie, even if it means killing him!!



     Even though it seems like a serious film, this movie is very funny and a fun watch! Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie are very talented actors and comediennes. 

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Released Date: September 20, 1958
Director: Richard Brooks
Actors: Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Burl Ives, Jack Carson, Judith Anderson, Madeleine Sherwood, Larry Gates, and Vaughn Taylor



     Wow, it has been a hot minute since I've written a blog. I miss it, and will be back full force, so be prepared :) I thought I'd come back with a movie that brings summer, southern, and family all together in a movie that I would say, might just be a favorite of mine. I have written a lot on my favorite director, Hitchcock, I've written on Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Bette Davis, Grace Kelly, and so much more. But this is my favorite movie of all time. I love Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman together, even if it is tense in the beginning, middle and pretty much the end. Miss Taylor was a very talented actress. Right before shooting began of this film, Taylor suffered the loss of her husband Mike Todd in a plane crash. She came into work ready and would shoot the scenes and then go home to cry her eyes out. Director Brooks noticed that Taylor was not eating and had a scene where the family of this movie was eating, he made sure to re-start the scene over and over to make Taylor eat.
     Did you know that Lana Turner and Grace Kelly were considered for the roll of Maggie the Cat. Elizabeth Taylor was great friends with Montgomery Clift, and he was considered the role of Brick. George Cukor was asked to direct, but he turned down the job due to a reference removal for the film version of this play. The movie was suppose to be in black and white, thank the stars that the movie was done in color. Some movies are 100% better due to the color of the film, like Psycho could have been done in color, but Hitchcock thought that is should be done in black and white, and that sure as heck worked. The writer of this play was Tennessee Williams, and when he wrote the part of Big Daddy, he wrote it with Burl Ives in mind, I'm glad that turned out the way Tennessee pictured it. Also note the ages, Burl Ives plays Big Daddy, his two sons in the movie are played by Jack Carson, who is only a year younger than Ives in real life. And his youngest son is Paul Newman, who is only fourteen years younger than Ives.



     Big Daddy (Burl Ives) is dying of cancer. He is coming home to live out his last days. When he returns, he is welcomed back to his big family. Well, his wife, Big Mama Pollitt (Judith Anderson), his oldest son Gooper (Jack Carson) and his wife, his youngest son Brick (Paul Newman) and also his wife Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor). Brick and Maggie are clearly in a rut and need fast recovery, they are without children and can't even stand to be in the same room together. Well, I say that, but while watching you will notice that Maggie the Cat is trying very hard to win her husband back while Brick is clearly drinking his life away. What is Brick upset about? He had a great sporting life in school and then became a big sports announcer, but he got hurt and is now in a cast, his wife is beautiful and wants him to love her. It is up to Big Daddy to bring the two of them back together before it is too late. Big Daddy needs to leave the house to someone, and Gooper and his wife are fast at work, while Brick and Maggie just want to pay their respects and go home. What will become of the house, of Brick and Maggie, of Big Daddy and his wife? Watch this movie while drinking Sweet Tea, maybe buy some chicken and potato salad, open the windows and enjoy yourself. I sure did. Being born into a southern family sure has its kicks, and watching this movie brings back a lot of nice memories.

Missed writing, and I promise, I'm back full force. ;)

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Alfred Hitchcock

It's National Alfred Hitchcock DAY!!!!



Everyone enjoy this day, it's dedicated to a movie hero. A man that changed the world with his films.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

So Sweet

I have often said how much I adore Jimmy Stewart, and then I saw this picture which is one of many reasons for my love of this man... 



On leave during his time with the Air Corps, Colonel James Stewart plays the piano with his mother at the family home in Indiana, Pennsylvania. September, 1945

Happy Birthday Costello :)

Born: March 6, 1906
Louis Francis Cristillo

Happy Birthday, Lou Costello :) Such a huge fan. A man that through tough times and pain, worked hard to make his fans laugh. 



Monday, March 4, 2013

Jean Harlow

Born: March 3, 1911
Died: June 7, 1937

Happy Birthday Jean Harlow :) You were an amazing actress, with a beautiful mind. You died too young, but will forever be remembered and loved.




PS. So sorry I'm late.

Facts..

I have always been a huge fan of Bette Davis, Maggie Smith and Angela Lansbury. I saw them together in Agatha Christie's book turned into a movie, Death on the Nile. I was amazed to find out that the three of them shared a room together during filming. Oh how I wish I was a fly on the wall during the making of such a neat movie, with such amazing actresses. 


Friday, March 1, 2013

Lou Costello

Did you know that our "Who's on First" skit star was in Vaudeville? Pretty Cool huh? I'm studying up on the Vaudeville days now, but I would recommend to read up on the entertainment from yesteryear!! It's pretty cool stuff. :)


Princess Grace

Grace Kelly was such a true beauty. :)