Thursday, April 28, 2011

Everything Old is New Again

Spring 2011 Couture
We can always count on John Galliano for a little vintage glamour!! He delivers at  Dior's Spring 2011 Couture show shown in Paris in February.

The Hair:

The hair designed by Orlando Pita and the makeup by Pat McGrath fit the times and the Gruau's iconic beauties. If you have ever seen the first Barbie dolls, you will notice striking similarities.























The Fashions:
We can always count on John Galliano for a little vintage glamour!! Here at Dior Spring 2011 Couture shown in Paris last week, Galliano pays tribute to René Gruau, Dior's fashion illustrator of the 40's and 50's. Full Skirts with Crinolines are back!!!!!!

Galliano~ who started as an illustrator himself before moving to design~ took references from Gruau's work and incorporated into his fabrics in the form of watercolors and illusions of pencil strokes and graduated three dimension with light.

















Friday, November 12, 2010

Loving Someone who is not a Classic Movie Fan


 
John Garfied and Lana Turner
in
THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE
 


























I think Hollywood in the 1930's-1960's was so much more interesting and fascinating than it is today. People like Kate Hepburn, Bette Davis, Cary Grant...they were actors. The studios controlled their images. The studios even added moral clauses to their contracts. 
Marilyn gets her hair done by Kenneth















You have to read between the lines and really listen to the words when you watch a classic film.  I like classic films because of the clothing,hair,makeup,dancing and dialog. And those publicity photos that the stars sent out to fans are absolutely gorgeous. For you parents out there, classic films are kid friendly. Classic Films are a time capsule of the history of entertainment. They reflect what was going on in society at that time. Before DANCING WITH THE STARS there was Fred and Ginger. Now, it's all about getting skinnier all the time and doing nude scenes in every film.



Fred and Ginger Glide across the dance floor















  
Earlier this week, I was trying to explain this to my boyfriend. When he thinks about Classic Films, he automatically thinks they will be boring. We were childhood friends and have alot in common but we are butting heads on this issue. In today's fast paced world,getting people to sit back and relax for a few hours is hard. I have started a must see film list for novice classic film fans. Suggestions are welcome! They are in no particular order.   I have included a few from the 70's and 80's because they are some of the greatest ever filmed. I am also trying to take baby steps backward toward's the 1930's.


  • THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE ( 1946)
    • A sexy film noir classic with John Garfield and Lana Turner. Greed,Lust,Adultry and Murder take place when a drifter stops in at a Roadside Cafe. This movie is white hot.
  • STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1950)
    • "HEY STELLA!" Directed by Elia Kazan. With Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden.
  • CLEOPATRA (1963)
    • See Burton and Taylor in their first film together.
  • DR. NO (1962) AND GOLDFINGER (1963)
    • Early Sean Connery at his best. Need I say more??????????????????????? 
  • PSYCHO (1963)
    • Alfred Hitchcock at his best. Stay out of the shower!
  • BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
    • Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty never looked better. Great Car Chases with Blood and Guts
  • EASY RIDER (1969)
    • Two counterculture bikers travel from Los Angeles to New Orleans in search of America. Stars Jack Nicholson,Dennis Hopper, and Peter Fonda directs.
  • THE GODFATHER I (1972)
    • About a fictional Italian afia family named Corleone. Stars Marlon Brando,Al Pachino,Robert Duvall, James Caan and Diane Keaton star in this mafia saga about the Corleone Family
  • THE GODFATHER II (1974)
    • Sequel to THE GODFATHER I  
  • RAGING BULL (1980)
    • Bio of boxer Jake LaMotta. Stars Robert Deniro and Joe Pesci. Filmed in Black and White. Great direction by Martin Scorsee. Great Classical and Big Band music score

        










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Thursday, October 21, 2010

Great Movie Houses Hollywood at Home: architecturaldigest.com

 
Great Movie Houses!

"Manderley" from REBECCA



 










Here's an interesting article about homes used in movies

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/hollywood/archive/moviehouses_article_032006



"Tara" from GONE WITH THE WIND






Mr. Blandings "Dream House"

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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Funny Girl (1968 ) "Hello Gorgeous!"















Cast:


Barbra Streisand ... Fanny Brice
Omar Sharif ... Nick Arnstein
Kay Medford ... Rose Brice
Anne Francis ... Georgia James
Walter Pidgeon ... Florenz Ziegfeld
Lee Allen ... Eddie Ryan
Mae Questel ... Mrs. Strakosh
Gerald Mohr ... Tom Branca
Frank Faylen ... Keeney
Mittie Lawrence ... Emma
Gertrude Flynn ... Mrs. O'Malley
Penny Santon ... Mrs. Meeker
John Harmon ... Company Manager
Thordis Brandt ... Ziegfeld Girl
Bettina Brenna ... Ziegfeld Girl



Crew:


Director - William Wyler
Screenplay - Isobel Lennart
From Story - Isobel Lennart
Producer - Ray Stark
Production Manager - Paul Helmick
Assistant Director - Jack Roe
Assistant Director - Ray Gosnell
Script Supervisor - Marshall Schlom
Director of Photography - Harry Stradling
Editor - Maury Winetrobe
Editor - William Sands
Editor - Robert Swink
From Musical - Jule Styne
From Musical - Bob Merrill
Music Director - Walter Scharf
Music Editor - Ted Sebern
Music Supervisor & Conductor - Walter Scharf
Original Music - Walter Scharf
Original Music - Jack Hayes
Original Music - Leo Shuken
Original Music - Herbert Spencer
Songs - Jule Styne
Songs - Bob Merrill
Song - James F. Hanley
Song - Grant Clarke
Song - Fred Fisher
Song - Billy Rose
Song - Maurice Yvain
Song - A. Willemetz
Song - Jacques Charles
Song English Lyrics - Channing Pollock
Production Designer - Gene Callahan
Set Decorator - William Kiernan
Art Director - Robert Luthardt
Costume Designer - Irene Sharaff
Hair Stylist - Vivienne Walker
Hair Stylist - Virginia Darcy
Makeup Artist - Frank McCoy
Sound - Jack Solomon
Sound Rerecording Mixer - Arthur Piantadosi
Sound Mixer - Jack Solomon
Sound Supervisor - Charles J. Rice
Choreography - Herbert Ross
Titles - Lepard Newhart
Properties - Richard M. Rubin
From Libretto - Isobel Lennart
Voice-dance Arrangements - Betty Walberg
Public Relations - Jack Brodsky

The Backstory:

The film Funny Girl  is based on the 1964 Broadway  musical that tells the story of Broadway star Fanny Brice. It was based on Isobel Lennart's book, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Bob Merrill. The original production starred Barbra Streisand, Sydney Chaplin, Kay Medford, Danny Meehan and Jean Stapleton, and was presented by Brice's son-in-law, Ray Stark. The original production was nominated for eight Tony Awards, but won none.

Barbra onstage and backstage on Broadway   





The film version of Funny Girl,was released in 1968, re-starred Streisand and Medford, Omar Sharif, Anne Francis (whose role was severely cut), Walter Pidgeon, and, in a bit part, Mae Questel.  This was Streisand's first film.


A film sequel to Funny Girl followed in 1975, entitled Funny Lady. Together, both films make a sweet homage (if historically inaccurate) to the life of the talented comedienne and performer Fanny Brice. A previous Hollywood biopic allegedly based on Brice's life was released in 1939 and was entitled Rose of Washington Square; it starred Alice Faye, Tyrone Power, and Al Jolson.



Plot:

Funny Girl follows the life of Fanny Brice, an aspiring Broadway actress. She starts off the show as the 'ugly duckling' struggling to find work on Broadway. Then, with the help of her dance instructor, Eddie, she lands a leading role and eventually becomes a major star. Meanwhile, she falls in love with a handsome gambler, Nick Arnstein. After a long courting process, in which Nick would leave for months at a time, Fanny and Nick finally get married. Fanny gives up her Broadway career to follow Nick, but she is forced to return to the stage when the couple runs out of money. In the end, Fanny has to use all her money to support Nick's crazy business ventures. Eventually, Nick gets arrested and goes to jail. In the end, they reunite to decide if they should stay together or split up for good. You will have to watch it and see what happens.




Fannie Brice











Omar Sharif as Nick and Barbra as Fannie 
9-13--shariff and streisand.jpg


Nick Arnstein
 



9-13--nicky.jpg


 
Production notes:

Release date September 18, 1968

Running time 151 min




Awards:
Streisand won the Academy Award for Best Actress (she tied with Katharine Hepburn for The Lion in Winter); the film was also nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Kay Medford), Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Score of a Musical Picture (Original or Adaptation), Best Music, Song (Jule Styne and Bob Merrill for "Funny Girl"), Best Picture and Best Sound.

Barbra did not win any awards for her see through pajama pant suit!






My Review:

I really enjoyed this film. Last year, I happend to catch a Fannie Brice movie on TCM. Barbra Streisand acted,sung and danced like just like Brice. Streisand really  belts out those songs. Great Performances all around.




Trivia:

*Producer Ray Stark was Fanny Brice's son-in-law and the baby that Fanny (Barbra Streisand) gave birth to was Ray Stark's wife.


*Columbia wanted to cast Shirley MacLaine as Fanny Brice. However, producer Ray Stark, who also produced the Broadway show and was Brice's son-in-law, insisted on Barbra Streisand repeating her Broadway role

*Frank Sinatra was seriously considered for the role of Nicky Arnstein but Barbra Streisand vetoed this as she didn't like him.


*The final musical number, "My Man", was filmed "live" both to maximize Barbra Streisand's dramatic rendition and because she hated the lip-syncing process.


 














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Friday, August 27, 2010

Gypsy (1962) "Let Me Entertain You"



























Cast:

Rosalind Russell- Rose Hovick
Natalie Wood- Louise Hovick, later Gypsy Rose Lee
Karl Malden-Herbie Sommers
Paul Wallace-Tulsa
Betty Bruce-Tessie Tura
Parley Baer-Mr. Kringelein
Harry Shannon-Grandpa
Morgan Brittany-Baby June
Ann Jillian-'Dainty' June
Diane Pace-Baby Louise
Faith Dane-Mazeppa
Roxanne Arlen-Electra
Jean Willes-Betty Cratchitt
George Petrie-George
Ben Lessy-Mervyn Goldstone


Crew:

Produced by-Mervyn LeRoy 
Original Music by-Jule Styne
Cinematography by -Harry Stradling Sr. (director of photography)
Film Editing by-Philip W. Anderson
Art Direction by -John Beckman
Set Decoration by -Ralph S. Hurst
Costume Design by-Orry-Kelly
Costume Design by-Howard Shoup (uncredited)

Makeup Department

Gordon Bau .... makeup supervisor
Sydney Guilaroff .... hair styles creator: Miss Wood
Gene Hibbs .... makeup: Miss Russell
Jean Burt Reilly .... supervising hair stylist

Production Management

Floyd Joyer .... unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Gil Kissel .... assistant director
Mecca Graham .... assistant director (uncredited)
Gregg Peters .... assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

Pat Patterson .... props (uncredited)


Sound Department

M.A. Merrick .... sound
Dolph Thomas .... sound
William Thompson .... boom operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

J.B. Allen .... camera assistant (uncredited)
Frank Flanagan .... gaffer (uncredited)
George Gall .... camera assistant (uncredited)
Charles Harris .... chief grip (uncredited)
William Perillard .... best boy (uncredited)
Harry Stradling Jr. .... camera operator (uncredited)
Clyde Taylor .... gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

Bill Gaskin .... assistant costume designer (uncredited)

Editorial Department

John F. Burnett .... assistant editor (uncredited)


Music Department

Carl Brandt .... orchestrator
Frank Perkins .... conductor
Frank Perkins .... music supervisor
Frank Perkins .... orchestrator
Stephen Sondheim .... lyricist
Cubby O'Brien .... musician: drums (uncredited)


Other crew

Ruth Bridges .... secretary: Mr. LeRoy
Leland Hayward .... producer: stage-play
David Merrick .... producer: stage-play
Jerome Robbins .... choreographer: stage play
Jerome Robbins .... director: stage play
Robert Tucker .... choreographer
Erica Wernher .... script supervisor
Robert E. Blair .... dog trainer (uncredited)
Wayne Fitzgerald .... title designer (uncredited)

Plot:

Mama Rose lives to see her daughter June succeed on Broadway by way of vaudeville. Later,when June marries and leaves, Rose turns her hope and attention to her elder, less obviously talented, daughter Louise. However, having her headlining as a stripper at Minsky's Burlesque is not what she initially has in mind.




















In Los Angeles,Ca,   Baby June(Morgan Brittany) and Baby Louise(Diane Pace) audition for Uncle Jocko(Let Me Entertain You). Rose(Rosalind Russell)disturbs the audition. She chats with Jocko about booking an act that was fixed by mistake.   The next day Rose heads to an old vaudville theater in L.A. to see if they have a place for the girls' acts.  Rose runs into Herbie Summers(Karal Maldan)he was Uncle Jocko in Los Angeles.  He quit being Uncle Jocko and want to stick with his job selling candy bars. They get aquanted with each-other(Small World).Rose has decided to head back home to Seattle in her broken down car. Herbie offers to drive them there. So,  Rose takes her girls to thier father's house to refiance. Herbie waves goodbye to Rose and takes the train to Chicago. Rose gets a telegram from Herbie to say that the Weber theatre is holding kid acts. Rose begs her father to get her eightty-eight bucks for her and her family to Chicago. Her father disagrees and Rose tells him, "Everyone that stays home is dead! If I die, it won't be from sittin', it'll be from fighting to get up and out!". She then says how much the money means to her(Some People). Baby June makes a success of her hit number(Baby June and Her Newsboys). Couple months later, Louise(now Natalie Wood)celebrates her birthday. Herbie gives her a gift that Rose can use for June's(now Anne Jillian)new act. Herbie says to Rose that Mr.Goldstone can book their act for them. The whole "family" is happy and cherish him(Mr.Goldstone, I Love You). Right after this, Louise cherishes her gift(Little Lamb). Before the audition, Rose discusses with Herbie that she'll marry him after the audition. However, Herbie doesn't believe her. Rose gets Herbie to believe her(You'll Never Get Away From Me). The next day June and the boys try their act(Dainty June and Her Farmboys). It's a success, but they put a phenonemal ending to it(Broadway!). Grandzigar's assistant makes out a contract which Rose doesn't agree to, plus gets really fussy. She says no, but Louise tries to comfort her. While doing this, Louise wishes their Mamma could marry Herbie(If Mamma Was Married). Later, Tulsa(Paul Wallace), tells Louise about swingin' act(All I Need Is The Girl). At the end, Louise can't help joining in, and she hopes that she'll be Tulsa's partner. Everything goes awful again,

















June runs away, so now Rose thinks up a plan to make Louise a star. Rose convinces to her that if she does this, everything will be alright(Everything's Coming Up Roses). In Texas, Rose brought 6 girls to try a new Vaudiville act(Madame Rose's Toreadorables). Louise tells her Mom that the act stinks. Now they go to The Witchita Opera House, for thier act. Rose and Louise soons finds out that it turns out to be a House of Burlesque. They meet Tessie Tura(Betty Bruce), Mazeppa(Faith Dunce) and Electra(Roxanne Alren). They tell Louise how to become a stripper(You Gotta Get A Gimmick). Rose makes a deal with Herbie that he can marry him right after they're out of Burlesque. They make plans for the wedding, but Rose wants to stay, since one of the strippers got arrested for shoplifting. Rose tells Louise that she's gonna take the stage. Louise doesn't agree with her, but she gets ready anyhow. Herbie gets mad at Rose, and their love is distroyed. Rose remembers how good Herbie was to her, and how they found their love was special(Small World Repriese).






























Louise comes out of the room, and finds out she's really pretty. She sings June's old song(Let Me Entertain You). She soons becomes the Queen of the Striptease. Rose gets mad about this, and Louise tells her that she doesn't want her Mother to be around anymore. Louise tells her at the end, "Because for the first time it IS my life, and I'll be damned if you're gonna take it away from me! I am Gypsy Rose Lee! I love her! And if you don't, you can just clear out!" Rose shouts to Louise that how miserable she'll be without Louise. She asks her what she did it for, Louise replies, "I thought you did it for me," which brakes Rose's heart. Rose thinks it over, and Rose realizes that she hasn't had a turn for herself, and she shows off on the empty stage(Rose's Turn). Louise and Rose find their fondness for each-other, for being Mother and Daughter.


























Quotes:

Rose Hovick: [on remarrying] After three husbands, it takes a lot of butter to get you back in the frying pan.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rose Hovick: [singing] You'll be swell, you'll be great. Gonna have the whole world on a plate! Starting here, starting now. Honey, everything's coming up roses.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rose Hovick: [contemplating an unneeded wig] You know, we could get a nice refund on this... if we'd ever paid for it.



Trivia:

During the rehearsals for Gypsy (1962), Mervyn LeRoy was not happy with the girl that he had cast to play "Dainty June". (This was before Ann Jillian was cast.) He thought that the actress was not as good of a dancer or singer as Morgan Brittany, who played "Baby June". He tried to make Suzanne look old enough to play "Dainty June" by having Orry-Kelly design older clothes with padding and having her wear high heels, but the transformation didn't work, she still looked too young to play opposite Natalie Wood, so another casting session brought the role to Ann Jillian. Ann was not really a dancer but her voice was spectacular and Mervyn felt that she made a more believable older June.


Three legendary women were considered to play Mama Rose on film: Broadway's original Rose, Ethel Merman (who was producer-director Mervyn LeRoy's first choice), Judy Garland and Judy Holliday.






"Gypsy Rose Lee" and Natalie Wood Backstage
















The stage team had hoped that Warner would cast Judy Garland as Mama Rose and Ann-Margret as Gypsy. The two stars had heavy scheduling conflicts, so the production team passed on both.




















Most of Rosalind Russell's songs were dubbed by Lisa Kirk. However, Russell's voice can be heard in "Mr. Goldstone," the reprise of "Small World," and parts of "Rose's Turn" and the cut "Together Wherever We Go".


 
Review:

I thought Rosalind Russell  was good as as Mama Rose. She was very believable and even has a descent voice when you hear bits and pieces of it.  Especially for “Rose’s Turn” the power in her performance is shown in that song, wanting to have her time on stage and impress. I just love how passionate she is with it all, I also love that in that song she has to say “curtains up” as she is telling how she sees her performance going.










 



Natalie Wood is just fantastic as Louise then Gypsy Rose Lee. As Wood is so beautiful she has the naive charm going for her and plays the unlikely stripper ever so brilliantly.














Karl Walden was the “man” of the story. I was amused how often they acknowledged that fact, but he really grounded Russell’s extreme behavior, and it felt like he held the group together, while also being so damn sweet and likable. His character could have come off as desperate orwishy washy, but he just seemed to be a man genuinely in love with not only Rose and her energy and passion, but her makeshift family.

It does have some very amusing moments throughout as well as heart warming but also quite dramatic moments. Some of the funniest lines come from Rose.! I really do think its a very good all round musical, with something for everyone.


Does this entertain you?



Awards:



Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations





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Monday, August 2, 2010

July's Poll Results

July's Poll results

What is your Favorite Teen Beach Movie?


It is a tie between "Where the Boy's Are" and "Gidget".
 
 
Thanks for voting!