Happy Fathers Day...

Here are some of my favorite Classic Movie Fathers...

Lou Costello:

Paul Newman:

Alfred Hitchcock:

James Stewart:

Wife Vs. Secretary

Wife Vs. Secretary
Released Date: February 28, 1936
Director: Clarence Brown
Actors: Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Myrna Loy, May Robson, George Barbier, James Stewart, Hobart Cavanaugh, Tom Dugan, Gilbert Emery, Majorie Gateson, and Gloria Holden

     Could you imagine seeing James Stewart's name after the title? Me too! I was shocked. This movie may not have him in every scene, but he plays a very important part. I still loved every minute of this movie! This picture is one of many Clark Gable and Jean Harlow films, but they do not play each others significant other. That's Myrna Loy and James Stewart's roles.

     Van (Clark Gable) is a laid back, fun guy. With a great job, and even greater title. The movie starts off with Van at home and having breakfast with his wife, Linda (Myrna Loy). It is their third wedding anniversary and Linda is planning a great dinner for the two of them. With friends as well, a party if you will. Van goes to work and we see that he has a great relationship with his secretary, Whitey (Jean Harlow). Linda does not seem jealous or mad that her husband is so needy with his secretary, and Linda doesn't seem to need any reason to be jealous. Until Linda goes to his work with her mother in law. Mimi (May Robson) is Van's mother, and Linda's mother in law, she tells Linda after they leave, that she should tell Van to get rid of his secretary. But Linda is against it. But you can tell that Linda is starting to think and worry. Van loves his wife very much and Whitey has a boyfriend that she wants to marry. But when Linda wants to away with Van, he declines taking her, and when Linda finds out later that Whitey meets him there for business, all hell breaks loose. Will that break up Van and Linda's perfect marriage? Will Whitey and Dave (James Stewart) break up? I would highly recommend this gem. It is a great movie with a great cast.

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!!! 

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? 

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. 

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

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 :)

What I'm Watching right now...

NAVY BLUE AND GOLD....

With James Stewart :) I love this man!!!

But before I started watching Navy Blue and Gold, I had watched Pot O' Gold, also with James Stewart.

The Stratton Story

The Stratton Story
Released Year: 1949
Director: Sam Wood
Actors: James Stewart, June Allyson, Frank Morgan, Agnes Moorehead, Bill Williams, Bruce Cowling, Cliff Clark, Mary Lawrence, and Dean White

     James Stewart was in a lot of movies and he played all sorts of characters. He was a war hero, and a truly amazing man. Everyone that worked with him loved him. And he always had a great way of looking at things. He is my absolute favorite actor and it is easy to see why. It is also very easy to imitate him, as his voice is very distinctive. This movie was the first of three movies in which June Allyson and James Stewart played a married couple. At first, the producers of the film wanted Donna Reed, who had played his wife in "It's A Wonderful Life." But because It's A Wonderful Life did such a poor job at the box offices, they decided against it. You will also notice that Agnes Moorehead plays James Stewart's mother, she in reality, is only eight years older than him.

     Based on a true story, Monty Stratton (James Stewart) became a pitcher for the White Sox. He started out as a farm boy living with his mother, Ma Stratton (Agnes Moorehead), while playing baseball with a bunch of friends on the side. But when Barney Wile (Frank Morgan) comes to town and sees Monty at his game, he decides to coach the boy for the rest of summer, through fall, winter, spring and then head to Chicago to try out for the White Sox. While in Chicago, Monty meets Ethel (June Allyson) and falls in love. The two get married and head for a lifetime of love and baseball. One day while out hunting for meat, Monty accidentally shoots himself in the leg. The leg is to be amputated, which also means the end of a career. Or is it? Monty decides to go with his wife, mother and friend Barney to Chicago to surprise all three of them as he tries to play again, in a all-star game. Can a man with one real, and one artificial leg play professional baseball? 

The FBI Story

The FBI Story
Released Date: 1959
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Actors: James Stewart, Vera Miles, J. Edgar Hoover, Murray Hamilton, Larry Pennell, Nick Adams, Diane Jergens, Jean Willes, and Joyce Taylor

     J. Edgar Hoover did a cameo appearance and personally chose James Stewart to play the part of Chip Hardesty. The movie is about the FBI and their changes that they made. Did you know that the FBI use to be run down and not a very exciting place to work? Well with the help of J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI became a well respected organization. And one that was very exciting field to work for.  Also, another piece of cool information, there was always two FBI agents on the set at all times. My grandma and her sister worked for the FBI, they were told not to reveal any kind of information. And was also told not to even tell people that they worked for them, they were told just to say that they worked for the government. My grandma's sister is in this movie too. I wrote before that I had watched this and did not see her, but then I re-watched and saw her. That is pretty wild, huh?

     This movie follows a man, Chip Hardesty (James Stewart) as he goes through the changes of the FBI. His wife, Lucy (Vera Miles) even asked him in the beginning of his career, to leave. She asked him of this because it did not seem that all of his intelligence and schooling were being shown through his work. But when Chip went in to resign in Washington DC, he ended up sitting through a speech made done by J. Edgar Hoover. The speech made the FBI sound promising and it seemed to Chip that he needed to stay. When Chip goes to meet his wife for dinner, after having supposedly quit, she tells him she is pregnant and he tells her he never resigned but she ended up saying that he should go ahead and stay. Which was a great idea because the FBI did change, and for the better. We watch Chip Hardesty go through investigating gangsters, the KKK, Nazi agents, and war spies. We even watch him tackle down Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson, John Dillinger and Ma Barker. Then the war came, WWII, and his son enters in the war. Chip and his wife had three children, a son and two daughters. You will also get to see a very interesting case about a man named Jack Graham. He had killed his mother and 44 people by planting a bomb in her suitcase that went on plane. He did that so he could collect her life insurance. Little did he know, but the FBI can track down anyone. It was very cool and interesting how they figured it out. Just by finding particles.

     This movie is one of my favorite James Stewart films. And is very exciting and on the edge of your seat intertainning. One film that I would recommend to any one. I have always loved James Stewart, and I actually saw this movie for the first time today. I was pleased by the end of it, and was happy that I purchased such a masterpiece. Rent/buy or loan, this is a treasure. 

Made For Each Other

Made For Each Other
Released Date: February 10, 1939
Director: John Cromwell
Actors: Carole Lombard, James Stewart, Charles Coburn, Lucile Watson, Eddie Quillan, and Alma Kruger

     Carole Lombard was an amazing and well loved actress back in the early era of Hollywood. She was well known for her comedic roles, and even got Alfred Hitchcock to make his one and only comedy movie, Mr and Mrs. Smith. Carole Lombard was born as Jane Alice Peters on October 6, 1908 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her parents divorced soon after her birth. Carole decided, while in high school to become an actress. She even left school to become one. She was married to famous actors William Powell and also till her death, Gone With The Wind star, Clark Gable. Carole, her mother and 20 others died on January 16, 1942 from a plane crash. The plane crashed in a mountain in the State of Nevada. Carole was only 33. Ms. Lombard was very big with war relief efforts, and was at a war bond rally when after, she was in the plane that ended her life so early. Sad and heart broken, her husband at the time, Clark Gable joined the Army to be in the War. He joined, he said, for his wife.

     Young lawyer John Horace Mason (James Stewart) meets his young wife to be Jane Mason (Carole Lombard) and marries early on in their relationship. Well, they only knew each other for a day.... Jane's family disapproves and John's thinking is that when he moves up in his job, then his in-laws would approve and love him too. The first year of marriage, they say, is the toughest. Learning more about each other that you would not get from dating. And seeing how things work out with one another's family too. They also have money issues. They end up having a baby, a son, who ends up getting pneumonia. And the only way to save their son is by having a serum flown from Salt Lake City to New York. But all the planes are grounded due to bad weather... Yes, they do learn that they are Made For Each Other, but do they last? Are things too difficult to handle? And are they problems they face with in-laws make for a divorce? Find out by watching this movie made early on in Hollywood. 1939... we are almost at the 100 year anniversary. 

Rear Window

Rear Window
Released Date: January 14, 1955
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Actors: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter, and Raymond Burr

     James Stewart and Cary Grant have two things in common. They are both in four Alfred Hitchcock movies. James Stewart had: Rear Window (this), Rope, Vertigo, and The Man Who Knew Too Much. Cary Grant had: North By Northwest, To Catch A Thief, Notorious, and Suspicion. I have always thought that was a pretty cool piece of information. The fact that a director and actors had a favorite to work with and you always knew who the director liked. I have known a lot of people say that their favorite movie by Alfred Hitchcock was Rear Window. I guess the cool thing about this movie is the suspense, Jimmy Stewart's facial expressions, Grace Kelly's presence in the film, and the comedic relief Thelma Ritter gives off and on during the movie.

     James Stewart's role is of a man, L. B. Jefferies or Jeff as he is called throughout. Jeff is a professional photographer and was hurt during one of his assignments dealing with cars. He broke his leg, one leg. He is stuck in his apartment and all he has is his beautiful neighbors to watch and keep him company. Jeff does however, have a friend that stops by, a Det. Lt. Doyle, played by Wendell Corey. His nurse comes by either once or twice a day, Stella, played by Thelma Ritter. And also his girlfriend, Lisa Carol Fremont, played by the beautiful Grace Kelly. His nurse, Stella is afraid that there will be trouble coming soon, and like the Stock Market Crash she predicted, she is correct at her feelings. Now it is up to Doyle, Lisa and Stella to figure out if Jeff's criminal neighbor is actually a criminal. This movie is fast, hot and completely suspenseful. It will keep you on your toes, unless your leg is broken too, but then it will keep you on the edge of you seat.

     Jimmy Stewart is a married man by this time in his personal life. His wife, naturally was afraid after he took this role. Grace Kelly was known for having affairs with her costars. Even if they were married. And it did not matter how old they were. But Stewart's wife had admitted later on that even though at first she was afraid, Stewart never gave her the actual fear of an affair. Grace Kelly even became rather close to Mrs. Stewart and they were friends till Kelly's death. This movie is really cool, because like I said earlier, Jimmy Stewart's entire roll is his expressions and you completely know what he is thinking. And you do end up sweating with him because this movie is based in the summer time and everyone is sweating in these very hot days. It is almost summer time now, and it is the perfect weather to watch this movie.

The Man Who Knew Too Much

The Man Who Knew Too Much
Released Date: June 1, 1956
Directed: Alfred Hitchcock
Actors: James Stewart, Doris Day, Brenda De Banzie, Bernard Miles, and Ralph Truman

      This movie was a remake of the same name, and done by the same director. The first adaptation was done in 1934. Alfred Hitchcock said of the movies "the first was made by a Talented Amateur, and the second was done by a Professional." He also had said that he wanted to remake the movie before because he did not think that the first one was great. I personally loved the first one too. Although I'm probably not the best judge of what is better because I think all of his movies are amazing. The man had a great talent, and I think he could have picked up anyone off of the streets and made a great movie with that person.

     This movie is about a family, a husband, a wife and their son. They go on a family vacation and everything that could possibly go wrong, does. The husband is a doctor and the wife is a famous singer. Funny that Doris Day would play the famous singer since the woman did both acting and singing. They go to Morocco for the vacation. They meet a very nice but strange man on the bus, and the rest they say is history. The wife is skeptical of the strange man on the bus and tells her husband, James Stewart. He does not think so however. They are to go out to eat dinner that night with the man from the bus, but they end up being ditched because of "important business." They shrug it off and go to dinner together without the man. They end up meeting another couple at dinner that night and the two couples get along well. The other couple ends up asking if them if they want to go to the marketplace with them the next day. Unfortunately they say yes and go. This movie will keep you on your toes. It also takes you from Morocco to England as well. And it also has a great song that is sung by Doris Day called "Que Sera Sera" which means, whatever will be will be.

     The music in this movie was done by a man that Alfred Hitchcock used in a lot of his movies. The man was Bernard Hermann. Mr. Hermann is actually in the movie at one point, conducting music at the Albert Hall at the climax of the film. This movie was part of, what movie buffs call, along with others, a part of the "five lost Hitchcock's." This means that the movies were re-released in the year 1984, after a 30 year absence. This problem was due to an issue with the rights of the film and the directors daughter. The other films might be shocking, but are: Rear Window- which is highly popular, Rope, The Trouble with Harry, and (this may come as a shock too) Vertigo.  I hope you see this movie and just realize how lucky you are to see it, due to the fact that you might not have had a chance. :)

The Philadelphia Story

The Philadelphia Story
Released Date: December 26, 1940
Director: George Cukor
Actors: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, and Virginia Weidler

         The Philadelphia Story went from stage play, to movie and then onto a radio program known as the Lux Theaters. Katharine Hepburn played the same roll as Tracy Lord in all three adaptations. She ended up owning the rights to the story bought by the famous airplane pilot Howard Hughes, which Miss Hepburn admitted to sleeping with the pilot to get the rights. Miss Hepburn got to pick the actors in the movie version and at first wanted Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy. Both men were busy and could not take the parts. The second choice group took the roles which were Cary Grant and James Stewart. James Stewart ended up winning the Best Supporting Actor Oscar award that year. His father owned a shop in Indiana, PA which was located on Philadelphia Street. The Oscar had misspelled Philadelphia with another a instead of e.

        This movie is based on a wealthy woman named Tracy Lord. She is married, at first to Cary Grant's character, one C.K. Dexter Haven. They divorced and Tracy ends up engaged to another man. Upset and wanting his woman back, Mr. Haven ends up going to the wedding to hopefully win her heart back. Macaulay Conner, played by James Stewart is a writer for a magazine and thinks at one point, that he has fallen in love with Tracy Lord. Macaulay Conner was hired to make Tracy Lord angry. A comedy and Romance, this movie takes you through ups and downs, hits and swimming, marriage and divorce, and so many laugh out loud moments that will keep you entertained.

        Tracy Lord is a swimmer in the movie and at one point she takes a dive in her family owned pool. Usually back in those days, and even today, actors will use a double to do most athletic move but Katharine Hepburn was a very active woman and did her own dive in this movie. She was mostly known for her golf skills and was actually told that she could have gone pro. Although she does not golf in this movie, it is a very neat piece of information and one that makes her a very cool actress. This movie was made to save Katharine Hepburn's career and also James Stewart's as well. Cary Grant, however, was doing fine in his career and did not need saving. But the movies made a huge splash and ended up making this a movie that most fans of any of those actors say is their favorite.

Harvey

Harvey
Released Date: October 13, 1950
Director: Henry Koster
Actors include: James Stewart, Josephine Hull, Peggy Dow, Charles Drake, Cecil Kellaway, Victoria Horne, Jesse White, and William H. Lynn

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Jimmy Stewart is the main character in this movie and he is very funny in this and happens to be my favorite actor.

Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart) lives with his sister Veta Louise Simmons (Josephine Hull) and his niece Myrtle Mae Simmons (Victoria Horne). He goes to a bar that he frequents and finds out there that his sister is throwing a party that day. Elwood believes, along with his best friend, Harvey (himself) that his sister just plumb forgets to invite him. So what does he do? He walks into the party, uninvited. The one issue he has that bothers her the most is that he sees things. Well not things more like one thing. And not just one thing but one GREAT BIG thing. He sees a rabbit. A huge Rabbit. Harvey, his best friend!! And because Elwood is the only one that sees him, then Elwood must be crazy. Myrtle ends up taking her brother to a mental institution. And after a series of mishaps, funny ones at that, the end of the story will touch your heart.

This is a very funny and sweet movie. I hope you guys watch it and enjoy it.

Rope

Rope
Released Date: August 28, 1948
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Actors include: James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Constance Collier, and Joan Chandler

A lot of people would feel claustrophobic inside an apartment all day, but somehow Alfred Hitchcock made a few movies in a small space setting and you never felt claustrophobic. This movie is one of them. The entire movie is set inside this tiny apartment and you are truly only in one part of the place the entire time. The living room.

This movie was shot in Technicolor and made on a platform that made directing difficult. Alfred Hitchcock had a vision and he knew when he wanted to use color and when it was best not to. Did you know Psycho was able to be shot in color but Alfred Hitchcock said that it would be scarier in black and white? Which by the way is very true.

The movie is based on this story about the story of these two men, Leopold and Loeb. They did not end up with the death penalty but that would have been a legal action that most people would have assumed the two men would end up with. The two young men think they are superior, and do away with who they would call inferiors. Alfred Hitchcock ends up showing the ending in the beginning of the movie because he cannot wait till the end. He was a very anxious man.

My favorite actor by far is in this movie. Jimmy Stewart! He always played a good guy but in this movie, although he is still "the good guy" he ends up being a influence on a crime. Alfred Hitchcock loved working with Jimmy Stewart because he was so easy to get along with. The two became lifelong friends.

Alfred Hitchcock ends up being in this movie twice. You can see his logo (just his profile) lit up outside the window of the apartment the two men live at. But also, because Alfred Hitchcock said that the logo would be way to obvious, he decided to do a walk in on the sidewalk in the very beginning of the movie.

This movie is one of my favorites. Mostly because it's by Alfred Hitchcock but also because Jimmy Stewart is in it. The acting is great in this movie. I hope you will watch this and enjoy it too.