Ann Miller and I wish you a very happy Halloween!
Have fun and be safe ❤
Love you all!
Month: October 2016
Pickup on South Street (1953)
The journey that is Pickup on South Street (1953) starts on a crowded New York subway. A skilled pickpocket, awesomely named Skip McCoy (Richard Widmark) steals a wallet from the purse belonging to Candy (Jean Peters). Neither of them knows it, but the wallet contains top-secret microfilm, that is being passed by Joey (Richard Kiley), a Communist spy and Candy’s ex-boyfriend. What follows is a whirlpool of secrets, espionage, plot twists and, as always, lots and lots of shadows. It is a noir, after all.
Pickup on South Street is simply fantastic. Every aspect of it is remarkable: the screenplay by Samuel Fuller (also the film’s director) is as tight as you can expect from a spy-themed noir and the dialogue is to die for; the cinematography by Joseph MacDonald just screams noir, with shadows popping up everywhere you look and an eerie, gloomy atmosphere floating around. But the best thing about Pickup on South Street are the performances. Richard Widmark is, as always, fantastic. He’s just inherently likable, even when he’s playing an arrogant pickpocket. Jean Peters is equally great as the streetwise but essentially kind-hearted Candy. The two of them have an extraordinary chemistry and they are quite possibly one of my top 5 favorite noir couples. Unlikely most noirs, where you know something’s going to happen and you wish for everyone to get their comeuppance, you actually root for these two to be together. Heck, I was borderline fangirling over them! And then of course, there’s Thelma Ritter, in an Oscar-nominated performance as Moe, a professional informant who knows what’s going on all the time. That familiar Thelma Ritter charm is there, and it’ll warm your heart. After all, who doesn’t love Thelma Ritter?
This is not only one of the best noirs, but it is probably one of the best films of all time, I dare say. Not to mention that Skip McCoy is pretty much the best name ever.
One Lovely Blog Award
The lovely Michaela from Love Letters to Old Hollywood (awesome blog by the way) has nominated me for the One Lovely Blog Award! Thanks you so much Michaela! 😀
Ok, now basically the rules are as follows:
- Write a blog post thanking the person who nominated you and linking to their blog
- Tell us seven things about yourself
- Nominate other blogs you love and let them know
- Post the rules again for them to know
So here they are, 7 things abut myself:
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- – I honestly think Stephen Fry should be the President of the world
- – I have a very sweet tooth. I love all sorts of cakes and desserts.
- – I like The Godfather III. COME AT ME!
- – I think Rod Stewart is sexy
- – I’m thinking of writing a book about being a Classic Hollywood fan
- – I’m probably one of the very few people in the world who isn’t crazy about Halloween.
- – I like doing quizzes online.
Ok, now for the blogs:
There you have it folks! 😀 Have fun! ❤
Sunshine Blogger Award
The gorgeous Virginie from The Wonderful World of Cinema has nominated me for a Sunshine Blogger Award and I couldn’t be happier! Thank you Ginnie! 😀
This award is pretty much like the Liebster Award, so you know what’s coming! I have to answer 11 questions from Ginnie, then nominate 11 blogs and ask them 11 questions! Which means that the nominated blogs will have to do the same (sorry! lol) Here we go!
- Except for the USA… which country do you think makes the most interesting and worthy movies? France and Italy
- If your life had to be like a movie, which movie would you choose? Meet me in ST Louis (1944) or Some like it Hot (1959)
3. Which movie star inspires you the most? It doesn’t necessarily have to be your favourite. Katharine Hepburn (duh)
4. What is your favourite catastrophe movie of the 70s (the golden decade of catastrophe movies)? The Towering Inferno (1974)
5. To you, who is the most iconic actress of all times and the most iconic actor of all times? I may be biased, but Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant
6. Is there a book you would like to see a movie adaptation of? Who would star in it? Dream when you’re feeling blue by Elizabeth Berg. Since it’s set in the 1940s, I’ll have to pick Ann Miller, Theresa Wright and, hum, Linda Darnell.
7. You think Audrey Hepburn made her best movies with Billy Wilder, William Wyler or Stanley Donen? I chose the movie directors with whom she made more that just one film. With William Wyler.
8. If you had the chance to own all the costumes of one movie, which one would it be? Definitely Rear Window (1954)!
9. What do you think was the prettiest Oscar dress? Grace Kelly’s
10. The ugliest? Ooh, I’ll have to think about this one
11. If you could go back in time, what would you change from the movie history? But you can choose only ONE thing (it can be a movie ending you didn’t like, prevent the premature death of one of your favourite actors, choose another actress for Scarlett O’Hara, anything!) I know, hard choice.
I’d like to think I could have prevented Carole Lombard’s death.
AND NOW! Here are the 11 blogs I nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award:
Love Letters to Old Hollywood (I’ll do your questions later today, I just had to think about 7 things about myself lol)
CineMave’s Essays from the Couch
The Questions:
- Who’s your favorite Golden Girl?
- Do you have any pets?
- Summer or Winter?
- What is your favorite song of all time?
- What is your favorite book of all time?
- What was your favorite summer holiday/vacation you’ve ever had?
- How do you feel about Halloween?
- If you could go back in time and witness one historic event, what would that be?
- What’s the weirdest dream you’ve ever had?
- LA or New York?
- Would you rather have a private jet or a yacht?
There you have it folks! Can’t wait to read your answers! 😀 Thanks again to Ginnie for the nomination! Have a great day, my lovelies! ❤
Red Dust (1932)
Jean Harlow and Clark Gable. Two of the hottest people who ever lived. Add to that the earthy beauty of Mary Astor and you got yourself one steamy picture!
Dennis Carson (Gable), the owner of the rubber plantation where the movie takes place, meets a wise-cracking, sassy prostitute named Vantine (Harlow). He quickly dismisses her but after a while, he finds himself in her arms. He loses interest, however, when Gary Willis (Gene Raymond) and his wife Barbara (Astor) arrive at the plantation. Dennis becomes smitten with Barbara, who, in turn, doesn’t seem to mind his advances. And so begins the love triangle between Dennis, Barbara and Vantine.
Directed by Victor Fleming and written by John Mahin, based on the play by Wilson Collison, Red Dust is one of the most iconic Pre-Code films. And that’s due to Jean Harlow, who, in my opinion, is the star of the film. With her enormous presence, confidence and easy-going attitude, she commands your attention and your eyes are on her the whole time. You can’t help it, she is just so darn attractive in every way! That famous rain-barrel scene could only work with her. And if you don’t know what I’m talking about, YouTube it.
I have to say that Red Dust reminds me a little of Rain (1932). Similar plot, similar characters, and like Rain, Red Dust is one of those Pre-Code pictures with a conscience. It’s not just sex and innuendo. There are moral undertones in it that will make you think. However, there are also elements that will inevitably make you uncomfortable, but hey, it’s the Pre-Code era, you have to expect that kind of thing.
Nevertheless, Red Dust is a great movie. It’s a shame it’s not as famous as the 1953 remake Mogambo. Personally, I love them both equally. In fact, since I love marathons and double bills so much, I might watch them both back to back one of these days.
The Old Hollywood Garden 