Monday, February 28, 2011

Loss of a Classic Legend: Jane Russell (in memorium)





Loss of a Classic Legend: Jane Russell
(in memorium) (1921 - 2011, 89 yrs old)

Publicity can be terrible. But only if you don't have any. ~ Jane Russell



A very sad note from the classic movie gentleman:

we lost today such a lovely actress, Jane Russell who passed away at the age of 89. Jane starred in the smash hit "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" with Marilyn Monroe. Howard Hughes found this beauty and made her first western being "The Outlaw."Other films: "The Paleface" "The Tall Men" & "Macao". Jane had many of the best leading men and ladies to work alongside, a true Hollywood legend who will be missed.

"Love Those Classic Movies!!!" had a special afffection for our beloved Jane Russell with featuring Jane in 2010 a few times.



- Jane Russell became due to overwhelming fan votes our very First Annual Mrs. Saint Nick
- Jane Russell was our first leading lady to be featured in our first installment in the series of "Dapper & Elegance."
- Jane's glamorours and beautiful face graced our group many time through-out 2010 as much of a spokesperson for us so it is of great sadness to hear of her passing today. 



Jane will forever be featured in our group from classic films and other noteworthy articles. We will never forget this classic and very talented actress of the silver screen. Jane is now another star with all the other greats in the heavens laughing at each other's stories and forever being young and wearing her famous red gown dancing with Marilyn....at least that is how I will think of her. We will all miss you our lovely Jane.  














































Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Rebecca (1940) "Hitchcock's first American film classic!"

Rebecca (1940) "Hitchcock's first American film classic!" 
Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier & George Sanders
Selznick International Pics/United Artists

Taglines: The shadow of this woman darkened their love

Our film will play into our topic right now which is "Academy Awards" which was made into a mega-hit motion picture in 1940 with 11 Academy Award Nominations including "Best Actor, Actress, Director, Music etc. It took two which were: "Best Picture" & "Best Cinematography for George Barnes. Alfred Hitchcock directed this suspenseful black and white classic with his two film leads being Laurence Olivier & Joan Fontaine.



Plot:

We begin the thrilling film with a voice over of a woman whom we do not see but only hear saying the following lines: ""Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again", and continues - as it no longer exists, except as a ruin. We see while she is speaking the manor is in ruins.



We then meet a young lady (Fontaine) who is an orphan and is now a paid companion to a very old and wealthy stickler. Both ladies are vacationing together in Monte Carlo and love it there. The young lady meets a widower who is well to do named Maximilian (Maxim) de Winter (Olivier) and the older lady meet him as well and is smitten. During there stay the young lady does many day trips with Maxim and they both start to fall in love over the course of the short time. While the young care giver is out she makes up stories to keep her walthy widow in the dark of the situation.

Then the day comes and the lady and the widow are getting ready to leave soon and go back abroad. The decision is made that Maxim is going to wed her and not allow her leave. So abruptly the job is done and the young lady becomes the 2nd Mrs. de Winter. Maxim takes his new bride back to where they are going to reside which is a sprawlling country estate called Manderley located in England.

We find out the previous Mrs. de Winter lived in this home and had the first name Rebecca and was a great beauty and becomes a tall act for the new lady of the hosue to follow. The new Mrs. de Winter has no background nor breeding of any sort which is fine for most of the servants except for one who was the personal servant Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson) to the first wife. Her former mistresses bedroom suite is kept exactly as it was for years as a shrine due to Mrs. Danvers devotion. This is a lot for the new lady of the hosue to deal with the rules, looking part, speaking the part and more she simply was not in the same calipur as the first wife, Rebecca.


Shortly the new lady of the house discovers that Maxim and the honeymoon time is well over and he has quite a temper that gets even more ignited by his new wives being questioning and wet behind the ears. Is the dream and love that she was experiencing at first still there or is it all gone and a true nightmare now?


We then have a lavish and beautiful costume ball that Maxim pushes onto hs new bride hoping that it will make her happy. And from there things continue to just go downhill. We see dark things such as murder and secrets that come out of the light that make us wonder behind this beautiful country estates walls is it pure danger to wish to be there and want to live there??? Perhaps it seems so.




Note from the classic movie gentleman:
I love many of Hitchckock's films but this one has to be one of my favs. I love the script along with the actors casted and the overall feeling that seems to be captured perfectly with the cinematography (which now makes perfect sense why George Barnes took home a golden statue for this work) along with the feel that it could not other than being in black and white. A true classic that everyone has to see no matter if you are a Hitchcock fan or not you will love it!!!









Monday, February 21, 2011

Classic Spotlight: Academy Awards (Part 1)

Norma Shearer receiving her Best Actress Oscar for The Divorcee from Conrad Nagel
Hello My Fellow Movie Buffs,

It is that time of year where we all get all excited about any and everything Academy Awards! We will on an annual basis celebrate the best of the best winners in Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Direcotr, Costume Designer, etc....

We will look at the various locations that the Academy Awards were held along with the magnitude of hosts through the years. We will look at the acceptance speeches, the red carpet arrivals and much much more. Basically this post will look at EVERYTHING the best regarding the Academy Awards.

From the classic movie guy:
In this post we will look at the past winners and locations that the ceremony was held in through lovely images. I absolutely love this new addition to this group and hope you do to...be on the lookout for more installments. This is coming from the guy ever since I can remember being a wee lad taking naps to stay up late with my mother to watch our version of the Super Bowel and having treats.....watching who wore what and see who won what....we loved it and still do! It is a tradition for me that I have and always will love to take part in...now if only I can get myself on the red carpet!!!!

SO LIGHTS...CAMERA....ACTION....let the event begin!!!!!!!


1936 luise rainer paul muni and frank capra



1939 Best Actor: Specert Tracey & Best Actress: Bette Davis


1940 Best Director Victor Fleming for Gone With The Wind


1940 Best Supporting Actress: Hattie McDaniel for her role in Gone With The Wind presented by Fay Bainte



1941 Best Actor: Jimmy Stewart & Best Actress: Ginger Rogers



1942 Best Actor: Gary Cooper Best Actress: Joan Fontaine Best Supporting Actress: Mary Astor Best Supporting Actor: Donald Crisp



1943 Best Actress: Greer Garson Best Actor: James Cagney



1945 Best Actress: Ingrid Bergman



1946 Best Score: Miklos Rozsa with presenter Ginger Rogers



1947 Best Supporting Actress: Anne Baxter



1950 22nd Annual Academy Awards @ Pantages Theatre



1951 Presenter Gloria Swanson along with Jose Ferrer and winner Judy Holliday


1952 Pantages Theatre Stage for the Academy Awards Ceremony



1959 Best Actor David Niven & Best Actress Susan Hayward



1961 Best Actress: Elizabeth Taylor scene with Eddie Fisher @ the Governors Ball



Best Actres: Bette Davis


nineth annual award at biltmore hotel


Best Supporting Actor: Walter Brennan and Best Supporting Actress: Gale Sondergaard

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Wuthering Heights (1939) a true film classic!


Wuthering Heights (1939) MGM Studios
Directed By: William Wyler
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Merle Oberon, David Niven & Geraldine Fitzgerald ~ Won Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Cinematography - Gregg Toland
~  Nominated in total for 8 categories including Best Actor for Laurence Olivier, Best Picture, Best Director for William Wyler, Best Supporting Actress for Geraldine Fitzgerald etc...


Quote:
"No matter what I ever do or say, Heathcliff, this is me - now - standing on this hill with you. This is me, forever."


Plot:

Based on the novel by Emily Bronte, this classic film centers around Heathcliff (Olivier) & Cathy (Oberon) whom... are destined for a love affiar filled with heartache. While growing up together they were very close and very fond of one another. One day the gentleman of the house passes away and Cathy's brother is now the head of the estate leaving the family with new wealth and respect. Healthcliff is still a lowly servent and is left to live in the servants quarters while watching Cathy being thrown into a new life that he is not suited for. A new class distinction is made that makes it a rift between the lovers but will this keep them apart...we shall see....