Happy Holidays: The Classic Movie Style!!!! (Part 2)
Here is part two of our holiday season's best in pictures, music and all things Classic Movies!! Hope you enjoy these installments as much as I do with putting them together. It is a lot of fun to see our favorite screen celebrities and lovely tunes to enjoy, what true gifts in my book! I will be posting a few of these to keep us all posted as to what our ladies and gentlemen of the silver screen are up to and singing for this holdiay season, so let's get a good egg nog and put the lights down for some fun yule tides!!!! Happy watching. : )
Elizabeth Taylor in her 50's best and loving all the Xmas gifts!!!
Priscilla Lane is getting all caught up in the decorations!!!!
Jane Powell is being very leggy for this time of year : )
Living it through pictures.....it is time for those beautiful and dashing actors and actress's of the silver screen to get dressed-up, sing those yuletides, light those tress, decorate and party so here we go...HAPPY HOLIDAYS from "LOVE THOSE CLASSIC MOVIE's the stars and me...I love these vitnage pics!!!!
I will make sure to not be too wordy so you can simply look at the lovely glamorous photos and also have some holiday tunes to listen to, check-out the tracks at the end that are musts this time of year!!!
Bette Davis is ready to unwrap some gifts!!!
Betty Grable is all dressed and has MANY places to go this holiday season!!!!
Bing Crosy + Holiday Music = a staple for everyone!
Ziegfeld Follies (1945) MGM Studios Directed By: Charles Walters, George Sidney, Merrill Pye, Vincent Minnelli, Robert Lewis, Roy Del Ruth, & Lemuel Ayers. Each director contributed to at least one segment of this musical filled with many segments.
Starring: Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Cyd Charisse, Esther Williams, Lena Horne, Kathryn Grayson, Virginia O'Brien, Gene Kelly, Lucille Bremer, Red Skelton, William Powell, Keenan Wynn, Fanny Brice, Victor Moore, Edward Arnold, & Marion Bell.
Lucille Ball!
MGM Studios allowed this film the entire lot of stars to use for the filming and had a HUGE budget of one million dollars!
Cyd Charisse!
Fun Facts:
The original cut film ran two hours and fivty-three minutes which was to be found too long by audiences whom orginially screened it. Leaving the only option to scrap out many scenes that were left on the cutting room floor, a shame!!!
Lena Horne did not like the ghetto enivonment that was the setting for her segment of "Love" that she never recorded a commercial single for the film until years later. She did cover the song on her own shows and concerts but not speciifaclly for the MGM soundtrack for the film.
The horse that Lucille Ball rides in her segment is in fact that horse for the Lone Ranger's stallion, Silver!
Several older ladies are highlighed in the segment of "Bring on those Beuatiful Girls" whom are actually original Ziegfeld Follies ladies.
Esther Williams the bathing beauty!
Plot:
This is the first MGM musical to actually not have a plot what so ever! It is simply a musical with several segments to be exactly like "Ziegfeld Follies" was done on Broadway to be a musical and eye delight filled with musical splender and large sets. This classic is the take of what Florence Ziegfeld since passed would have done in the age of the motion picture with his beloved follies. I believe he would have done it exactly the same with the availability of the star power of MGM along with the grand sets, directors, costume designers, cinematographers, make-up artists and more that only MGM and it's MEGA POWER of a studio could do!
Fred Astiare & Gene Kelly!!
What a lovely musical that is delightful for any musical fan to watch several segments with your favorite stars of the day such as Luciclle Ball & Cyd Charisse in a segment entitled "Here's to the Girls" which Lucille is a ravishing lion tamer whom happen to be taming ladies! Along with Cyd Charisse's dancing through a beautiful set and bubbles, then it is off to watch Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire sing "The Babbit and the Bromide" then we see the sultry Lena Horne sing one of her trademark songs "Love" which is one of my favorites!
Lena Horne belting out "Love!"
My eyes are simply glues to the screen when watching this gem of a film going back and foth of all the lovely sets and segments, I just love it! More noteworthy segements is with Judy Garland singing, "A Great Lady Has An Interview" along with Esther Williams doing a beautiful swimming number along with the deadpan Virginia O'Brien doing "Bring On The Wonderful Men" also James Melton and Marion Bell do a simply lovely part of "La Traviata" which is oohhh soo red and spectacular! Another is the pairing of dance partners of Fred Astaire and Lucille Bremer doing a number entitled, "This Hearf of Mine" I voulf go on and on with such lovely numbers...wait there is of course Fanny Brice's segment I just can not forget which is from her radio show entitled, "The Sweepstakes Ticket" which is simply brilliant, what a comedian!!!
This is one of those true classic and all time MUST SEE MGM Musicals!!!!
This is the very first installment of this segment which will chronicle the very best dapper and elegance in classic movies. I could not think of a better person to highlight than the beautiful and style icon of film, Grace Kelly. Grace had lovely designers such as Helen Rose from MGM Studios gown her for films such as "High Society."
Grace Kelly was born on November 12, 1929 and eventually became a Princess of Monaco after her last film "High Society" in 1956. In 1949, Grace made her Broadway debut in "The Father" with very good reviews and films shortly followed suit. Her first big screen appearance was in the western classic, "High Noon" in 1952. From this moment her star quality and elegance shown on the screen. We all knew this lady had "it" and was a true beauty and knew how to dress perfectly for the 1950's and everyone wanted to follow.
In 1954, Grace starred in "The Country Girl" and got critical acclaim and received an Academy Award for Best Actress. This got all of Hollywood to take notice that this lady could really act and take on meaty roles.
Grace Kelly Quote: "I don't want to dress up a picture with just my face."
Here are some photos that show Grace Kelly as the Elegance of an actress and one that defined 50's fashion!!!!!
Directed By: Charles Walters Starring: Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Celeste Holm, John Lund, Louis Calhern & Louis Armstrong!
Tagline: "They're all together for the first time!"
Fun Facts:
Charles Walters the director of this film was very well known for his MGM director days from the 1940's - 1960's in other noteable films such as "Easter Parade" "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" "Summer Stock" "Dangerous When Wet" "The Belle of New York" and many more. I love this classic movie director!!!!
Nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Music (Cole Porter) and Best Scoring in a Musical Motion Picture.
Last motion picture appearance that Grace Kelly made prior to becoming the princess of Monaco.
Plot:
This film is adapted from the hugely successful film, "The Philadelphia Story" (1940). The story takes place in the very well-to-do 1950's Newport, Rhode Island upper social circle. A very suave and rightfully so successful jazz musician C.K. Dexter Haven (Crosby) is divorced from wealthy Newport, Rhode Island socialite Tracy Samantha Lord (Kelly). The problem is that Dexter is still in love with Samantha even though they are now divorced. Dexter resides in a mansion near Samantha's family mansion in Newport where it is perfect that he can pop in and visit when he see's fit though it drives her mad.
This film has many lovely Cole Poorter tunes in it and great appearances from jazz great Lous Armstrong which is great! The great news that Samantha has is she is now in love again with a new man, George Kittridge (Lund) the ever so humble and low key gentleman. Spy Magazine is in possession of some hot information on Samantha's father whom is allowing one of the reporter's Mike Connoer (Sinatra) in return cover the wewdding. A lot of funny moment ensue in this "High Society" film and the question is, whether Samantha is still in love with her old flame Dexter or she over him completely? Come on, it is Bing Crosby and that voice so there you go!!! lol
Noteable tunes: "High Society Calypso" "True Love" "Who Wants to be a Millioaire?" "Now You Has Jazz" "Mind I Make Love to You?" and more, a true lovely 1950's MGM musical classic!!!!
On top of all this what a very stylish film with of course the famed Helen Rose doing all of Grace Kelly's outfits, how perfect!!!!
The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964) MGM Studios Directed By: Charles Walters Starring: Debbie Reynolds, Harve Presnell & Ed Begley.
Quote: "Sure I may be tuckered, and I may give out, but I won't give IN!"
Fun Facts:
Voted by Photoplay to be the "Best Film of 1964" received the Gold Award.
Nominated for 6 Academy Awards in total including Best Actress and Best Cinematography
Based originally on a Broadway production written by Meredith Wilson whom also wrote "The Music Man" both were great success's.
Plot:
Based on a true story of a very brash and tough as nails lady Molly Brown (Reynolds) whom grew-up in the hills of Colorado. Molly is a rough and grew up a tom boy. Molly then meets a charming man whom has a lot of luck by overnight literally becoming a millioaire named Johnny Brown (Presnell). Johnny and Molly then move into a beautiful mansion in Denver and tries to fit in with the high society by dressing and acting the part but still holding true to her roots. Molly never forgets whom she is which drives her neighbors for the majority crazy and off from her.
Her marriage starts to suffer when arranging a visit by a Prince Louis de Laniere (Vassili Lambrinos) due to the fact that she has a lot of admiration for him but nothing more. Her husband takes the admiration wrong and takes issue of the official royal visit. Molly then takes a lavish cruise and tour on the faitful Titanic. Molly keeps her wits together when the ship goes down and is able to get a lifeboat together and rescue many whom were in the frozen waters. There is no sinking this one tough lady! Her marriage after this dramatic event gets bound together with no more issues. Noteable musical numbers in this gem are, "I Ain't Down Yet" and "Belly Up to the Bar Boys". Enjoy the wonderful Debbie Reynolds whom shines in this MGM classic!!!
Naughty Marietta (1935) MGM Studios Directed By: W.S. Van Dyke II Starring: Nelson Eddy, Jeanette MacDonald, Elsa Lanchester, & Frank Morgan
Fun Facts:
First film to pair the famous duo Nelson Eddy & Jeanette MacDonald.
Awarded the Photoplay Gold Medal Award for "Best Picture of 1935"
Voted as part of the Top 10 list of "Best Pictures of 1935" by the New York film critics.
Won an Academy Award for Best Sound, Recording in 1936.
Based on the 1910 operetta by Victor Herbert which opened at the New York Theatre the same year.
Tagline: "MGM's greatest musical romance!"
Plot:
This lovely film opens with the Princess Marie de Namour de la Bonfain (MacDonald) having a lark on her finger while it is singing away. The Princess Marie is singing along with the lark at a french pet shop. Marie heads back to her lovely home to find her old students there to visit so they run throug the home singing a lovely song entitled, "Chansonette." to find that her fiancé, Don Carlos has arrived at the palace with three sisters and a gift of wedding clothes which are al black! This turns the mood from happy to very dark. Marie knows that the marriage to Don Carlos is arranged and not really warranted but only a stepping stone for King XV's as his muse! Marie wants no part of this marriage but the alternatives are grave which are live in prison or death.
on the set during the filming of "Naughty Marietta"
Marietta then enters Marie's room which is her personal servent. Marietta is very sad to be leaving since she is emabarking on a travel to the new world to marry a fur trapper or planter with a dowry from the King himself! Marietta was already in love with a man named Giovannia but she was too poor to marry him so her only option was to leave the country for the new world. Marie then has a brilliant idea and decides to take Marietta's place on the boat and instead provides the actual servent with a very handsome dowry to wed the man she truly loves, Giovanni! Now, Marie takes on the identity of her servent Marietta and changes into her clothing and sets sail to the new world and now free of the arranged marriage for good!
During the sea voyage the boat is taken over by pirates and the ladies are brought to their camp in the bayou. These ladies are all scared of the unknown and possible death that will come by the pirates. In the distance they hear a battle song, "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp" it is Captain Dick Warrington (Eddy) and his scouts to the rescue!!! The scouts fight the pirates and win and assure all the ladies to be delivered unharmed to New Orleans. Right off the bat both Marietta and Captain Warrington have a love-hate relationship. The Governor (Morgan) and his wife (Lanchester) both are in New Orleans to make a wonderfu greeting to the ladies that are rescued. The Captain finds Marietta a nice place to stay at in the city and makes sure she is protected from the crazed men whom want her attention. A ship with the Don Carlos and the Princess Marie's uncles has arrived in New Orleans to find her and it is a matter of time that they do. The climax of the film is at the governor's mansion a big ball is thrown and the princess is all elegantly dressed and now knows she loves Captain Warrington. The captain is there and both of there eye's meet and they sing, "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Live" Marie then rushes up to her room where the Captain is already there to rescue and they both run away!
I LOVE the Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy films and this one was the very first I ever watched and indeed this film is very sweet and a true MGM classic!!!!
Starring: Judy Garland, John Hodiak, Angela Lansbury, Ray Bolger, Marjorie Main, Virgina O'Brien, & Cyd Charisse
This is one classic MGM musical and one of my all time favs of Judy Garland's!!! Lovely musical sequences with Judy at her height! Music by Harry Warren and Lyrics by Johnny Mercer.
Taglines: "It's Blazing, Blistering Romance . . . in the wide open spaces ! "
Ray Bolger & Judy Garland
Plot:
Susan Bradley (Garland) a mail order bride makes a trip out west on train to meet her new fiance. This long train ride and husband is what she hopes to bring her a new and joyous life. A new wedding gown and a basket full of food is what she has along with dreams to this new territory in the great oopen wild west. During this journey Susan is running out of food and money and meets up with a group of very musical and talented ladies named "The Harvey Girls." This group of merry ladies are going to the same small western town that she is and are there to open a restaurant being one of the famous "Harvey House's" This group has ladies from all over the country joining forces for this new opportunity such as Alma from Ohio (O'Brien).
Virginia O'Brien, Judy Garland & Cyd Charisse
These girls are going to serve and maintain the finest restaurant in the area. Susan with all of her new found freinds finally arrive to the destination to find that her fiance is not that interested in marriage to her any longer. Plans now have changed and Susna becomes a Harvey Girl! During this course while setting-up the new restaurant the competition in the town is a wild saloon ran by Ned Trent (Hodiak) and has a headliner for a star named Em (Lansbury). The saloon does not like the idea of the new rastaurant trying to sweep in and take business and clean-up the streets of decency.
Both places then are rivals for business. Ned sets his eyes on the lovely Susan which does not make Em any the happeir since her attention has been towards him for a long time. The Harvey Girls have a cook named Sonora (Main) whom is a bit rough around the edges and the ladies help her get her man named Chris Maule (Bolger). Ned is in a love triangle between Em and Susan and has to decide whom he truly loves. At the end of the day Ned chooses Susan to spend the rest of his life with. They are both happy and ride off into the sunset together.
There are many lovely musical numbers in this film such as; "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe," "Oh You Kid" "The Wild, Wild West," & "Swing Your Partner Round and Round."
