Thursday, March 21, 2024
The Belle of New York
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Fred Astaire Charlie Hill Vera-Ellen Angela Bonfils Marjorie Main Mrs. Phineas Hill Keenan Wynn Max Ferris
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1952
Directed by Charles Walters.
Labels: dance, fred-astaire, marjorie-main, musical2, vera-ellen
Saturday, June 04, 2022
Funny Face
- Commentary: Yes, yes, yes, I own this silly, cotton candy movie. Let me explain. When I had cable TV it used to show up often enough on TCM to satisfy my need for a Funny Face fix. Once I disconnected, though, at least once a year I would find myself on my local library site placing a hold on the movie (it comes from another library in the local system) so I could watch it yet again. And, no, I don't watch it for the story, I watch it for the fashion, for the dances and for the delight that was and is Audrey Hepburn. I know Hepburn has been in many other movies, most notably Breakfast at Tiffanys. Movie gods forgive me, I don't like it. I don't like the "thriller" she's in with Peter O'Toole. I don't like Charade. I can handle Roman Holiday (it reminds me of The Princess Diaries, which I can also handle but wouldn't bother to own) and Sabrina (a bit more than Roman Holiday) but would never seek them out. The Nun's Story is interesting and I might check that one out again but, well, maybe not. The Children's Hour is equally interesting, but I'm not sure I'd check that one out again, either. There are, of course, others. Many. I just don't seek them out. Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. But Funny Face, all I can say is, when I find myself in an Audrey Hepburn mood, only Funny Face will do! And, by the way, Kay Thompson is a hoot, a perfect foil for, and as much of a draw in this film as, Audrey Hepburn. Think pink!
Update 8/12/2021: Can you handle it? One more excellent, in depth review of Funny Face researched (that's right, I do mean researched!) and written by The Blonde at the Film, Cameron.
Update 6/2/2022: This post was originally published on 2/5/2018 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Audrey Hepburn Jo Stockton Fred Astaire Dick Avery Kay Thompson Maggie Prescott Michel Auclair Prof. Émile Flostre Robert Flemyng Paul Duval Dovima Marion Jean Del Val Hairdresser Virginia Gibson Babs Sue England Laura Ruta Lee Lettie Alex Gerry Dovitch Suzy Parker Specialty Dancer Pink Number
The Wikipedia write-up for this film is here.
Release Date: 1957
Directed by Stanley Donen.
Labels: 20th-century-chick-flicks1, comedy1, dance, fred-astaire, me-favorite1, musical1, period2, romance1, spectacle1
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Holiday Inn
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: This was one of the last Christmas movies we purchased before Mom's death. I'd often wanted a copy of it because Mom had fond, though vague, memories of it. The version we purchased included the black-and-white and color editions. Although there are several b&w movies I'd refuse to watch in color, It's a Wonderful Life, for instance, or High Noon (yee gads, what a horrible idea, High Noon in color), the usual Tracy/Hepburn movies, Miracle on 34th Street (the original one), I have to say, I like this one in color better than the b&w version, although, in it's favor, that's the version we watched first. I gave Mom a choice and she chose color first. This edition contains a special feature which documents the colorization process. Once I understood how it's done, the idea didn't seem quite so disgusting. But, I still want my Now, Voyager in black & white.
Review opinions on this movie run the gamut. I've linked a negative review to the title of this post. Here's a foursome of much more positive reviews of the film. So, you know, watch the movie, take your pick.
Update 5/24/22: Yet another post published on 4/09/09 that "disappeared" and I had to recapture.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Bing Crosby Jim Hardy Fred Astaire Ted Hanover Marjorie Reynolds Linda Mason Walter Abel Danny Reed Virginia Dale Lila Dixon Louise Beavers Mamie Irving Bacon Gus James Bell Dunbar from Hollywood
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1942
Directed by Mark Sandrich.
Labels: 20th-century-chick-flicks1, Christmas, comedy1, dance, fred-astaire, louise-beavers, musical1, popcorn-and-soda3, romance2
Thursday, January 13, 2022
On the Beach
- Commentary: I only own a few of Stanley Kramer's movies, but I've seen, throughout the years of my life, several of them. Check out this list. I'm sure you'll recognize several you've seen. Considering how long he lived (from 1913 - 2001), he wasn't particularly prolific, but the list to which I've connected will show you that he was extraordinarily important as a producer and director. It's almost as though he had a golden touch; he didn't use it often, but when he did, the results were always spectacular, often groundbreaking. I'll be writing more about this film when I watch it again after having not seen it for a few decades. I can't believe my luck that it was available!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Gregory Peck Cmdr Dwight Towers Ava Gardner Moira Davidson Fred Astaire Julian Osborn Anthony Perkins Lt Cmdr Peter Holmes Donna Anderson Mary Holmes Lou Vernon Bill Davidson Kevin Brennan Dr. King John Meillon Ralph Swain John Tate Admr. Bridie RAN Harp McGuire Lt. Sunderstrom Lola Brooks Bridie's Secretary Bill Hunter extra/swimming double
Cary Peck, Gregory Peck's son, also had an uncredited cameo in this film.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1959
Directed by Stanley Kramer.
Labels: apocalyptic, bill-hunter, dramaE, fred-astaire, gregory-peck, nuclear, romance5, war2
Tuesday, November 05, 2019
Swing Time
- Commentary: The story is silly and forgettable but the dancing is divine - "an exuberant celebration of its stars' chemistry, grace, and sheer joy in the act of performance", per the back of the movie case. This movie remains one of the standards of dance musicals. It may be old, it may be black & white, but it is, as I note in the labels, a spectacle. Such a spectacle, in fact, that Roger Ebert has named it one of his "Great Movies", as the link affixed to the title of this post will explain.
And, yes, Mom loved this movie, too. We didn't own it, but it was ever-available through our county library system and we liberally took advantage of that. That's why I decided to own it, now. Since my mother's death, it's been a frequent check-out of mine. Why not own it?!? In fact, why not own the Criterion edition of it?!?
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Fred Astaire John Garnett Ginger Rogers Penelope Carroll Victor Moore Edwin Cardetti Eric Blore Mr. Gordon Helen Broderick Mabel Anderson Betty Furness Margaret Watson Georges Metaxa Ricardo Romero Landers Stevens Judge Watson
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1936
Directed by George Stevens.
Labels: Criterion1, dance, dramedy1, fred-astaire, me-favorite1, musical1, popcorn-and-soda1, romance1, spectacle1
Monday, February 07, 2005
That's Entertainment! The Complete Collection
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I supposedly got these for my mother. She haunts cable looking for replays of the That's Entertainment series. I have to admit, though, I really enjoy them. They are especially good for generating energy. My mother and I both sing along to them. Sometimes, I dance along to them, too. Just for your info, the 4th disc, "Treasures from the Vault", is repetitious and boring. Don't bother.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the series. This write-up primarily covers the 1974 production. Links to the other two are attached to their respective release dates, below.
Release Date: 1974, 1976, 1994
Part One is directed by Jack Haley, Jr. Part Two is directed by Gene Kelly. Part Three is directed by Bud Friedgen and Michael Sheridan. No indication anywhere of who is responsible for direction on "Treasures from the Vault".
Labels: dance, documentary1, fred-astaire, historical4, mom-favorite2, musical2, popcorn-and-soda6
