Valentine's Movie Survey (in which Greer and Walter is a valid answer for every question)

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, I hope to be back posting at least once a week very soon. In the meantime, here's a fun little survey I thought I would participate in. Meredith from Forever Classics is the creator of the survey and the runner of a very wonderful blog (you should go and check it out!). Enjoy!

1. What is your favorite romantic comedy?

I'm going to say My Man Godfrey because, whilst I adore films like An Affair to Remember and Breakfast at Tiffany's, I consider them to be dramedies rather than pure comedies.

2. What is your favorite romantic drama?

Random Harvest

3. Worst romance film you've seen?

The Notebook. I'm not going to lie, I cried at the end but I'm blaming that on James Garner. I hope to never to see the film again because I'll probably weep once more and then I'll hate myself for it because it really is an atrocity.

4. How do you feel about the majority of romantic films being labeled "chick flicks"?

The same way I feel when I tell people I love Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, The Pacific etc. and they say "But they're men's tv series/films!". 

5. Favorite on-screen couple?

Greer and Walter, always.

6. Favorite off-screen couple?

The Pidgeons.

Not a valid answer? Nonsense, say I. The Pidgeons were a very well known couple back in the day. They used to go for golfing weekends in the country with the Powells. Needless to say, they  spent most of the time in the bar.


But, you know, in all seriousness, I would have to go with Ma and Pa.

7. Best kiss in a movie?

Greer and Walter in Julia Misbehaves.

8. Favorite romantic scene?

Can I say all of An Affair to Remember? Yes? Good.

9. Who are 2 film characters you wished had gotten together, but never did?

Not a day goes by when my heart doesn't ache for the Baroness and Captain von Trapp. NOT A DAY! 

The first serious couple that came to mind was Anna and the King. Seriously, they were this close and then he died. He was the most inconsiderate of men.

10. Two actors you think would have great chemistry, but have never done a film together?

Deborah Kerr and Christopher Plummer. I've never thought of them doing a film together before today but, oooh la la, yes please.. Also, Eleanor Parker and Gregory Peck in one of those Yes-The-Plot-Is-Rubbish-But-Look!-Beautiful-People films. *cough*you'resosuperficialSophie*cough*

11. Favorite romantic song in a film (doesn't have to be from a musical)?

Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific. 

12. Best score from a romance film?

Cliché, I know, but Breakfast at Tiffany's has such a beautiful score and the moment I hear the first few notes, I feel all warm and fuzzy.

13. Most romantic film quote?

Smithy: I don't even know who I am. 
Paula: Well, I know who you are. You're someone awfully nice. 

- Random Harvest

It's more sweet than romantic but d'aww, my heart belongs to Smith and Paula.

14.  A film you'd recommend to watch on Valentine's Day?

Random Harvest or Brief Encounter. They've both got substance but one will leave you crying with happiness and the other will leave you in a black pit of despair. Take your pick!

10 of My Favourite Classic Film Tribute Videos

This is just a quick post showcasing 10 of my favourite classic film tribute videos. I hope you enjoy watching them and, if you do, please go and comment on the videos on YouTube! 

Classic Hollywood - Forever Young (made by my wonderful friend Sara)

Classic Hollywood Stars - Memories Remain (made by my fellow blogger Clara)

Everything - Tribute to Myrna Loy and William Powell (made by my amazingfriend Kari)

Marlene Dietrich - Rolling in the Deep (made by Sara)

Feels Like Home (made by Kari)

Thnks Fr Th Mmrs - From Here To Eternity (made by fantabulany)

Barbara Stanwyck Tribute (made by my fellow blogger, Kate Gabrielle)

Learning to Breathe - The King and I (made by fantabulany)

Dirk Bogarde Tribute (made by Kate Gabrielle)

Greer Garson (made by Sara)

And a bit of shameless self-promotion (because I have no shame) in the form of the video I am most proud of from my own tribute videos.

Sophie's 20 Favourite Classic Actresses (Updated)

It's been almost 18 months since I posted my first and last list on my Top 15 Favourite actresses and since then I have discovered many new and wonderful actresses who have slyly wormed their way into my affections. Some of them I vaguely knew of before and had maybe seen a couple of their films and others were completely knew to me. You'll notice that next to all to all of the actresses names (except the first two who haven't changed) there is either a (-x), (+x), or (new!) which I suppose is pretty self-explanatory. The +/- numbers indicate how far up or down the particular actress has moved in my "top favourites" list and the (new!) indicates that they weren't on the list before. Well, I think that's everything! Enjoy!

#1 Deborah Kerr

Favourite film(s): From Here To Eternity, The King and I, Tea and Sympathy, 

The End of the Affair, & The Sundowners.

#2 Greer Garson

Favourite film(s): Random Harvest, Mrs. Miniver, Julia Misbehaves, & Blossoms in the Dust.

#3 Helle Virkner (new!)

Favourite film(s): Kispus & Matador (tv series).

#4 Barbara Stanwyck (-1)

Favourite film(s): Ball of Fire, Christmas in Connecticut, No Man of Her Own, Baby Face, 

& The Lady Eve.

#5 Eleanor Parker (+1)

Favourite film(s): The Sound of Music, Home From the Hill, The Voice of the Turtle, 

Detective Story, & Three Secrets.

#6 Rosalind Russell (-2)

Favourite film(s): Auntie Mame, The Trouble With Angels, & A Woman of Distinction.

#7 Irene Dunne (new!)

Favourite film(s): I Remember Mama, My Favourite Wife, & The Awful Truth.

#8 Carole Lombard (new!)

Favourite film(s): My Man Godfrey & Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

#9 Ava Gardner (+4)

Favourite film(s): On the Beach, & The Night of the Iguana.

#10 Joan Crawford (new!)

Favourite film(s): Mildred Pierce, & Possessed.

#11 Miriam Hopkins (new!)

Favourite film(s): These Three

#12 Glynis Johns (new!)

Favourite film(s): Mary Poppins, Mad About Men, & Encore: Gigolo and Gigolette.

#13 Audrey Hepburn (-6)

Favourite film(s): How To Steal a Million & Breakfast at Tiffany's.

#14 Patricia Neal (new!)

Favourite film(s): Hud.

#15 Marlene Dietrich (new!)

Favourite film(s): The Lady is Willing, A Foreign Affair, Dishonored, & Morocco.

#16 Jean Simmons (-8)

Favourite film(s): The Big Country & The Grass is Greener.

#17 Lucille Ball (new!)

Favourite film(s): Yours, Mine and Ours, Stage Door, The Long Long Trailer, & I Love Lucy (tv series).

#18 Myrna Loy (new!)

Favourite film(s): The Thin Man Series & The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer.

#19 Arlene Francis (new!)

Favourite film(s): The Thrill of it All.

#20 Suzanne Pleshette (new!)

Favourite film(s): The Ugly Dachshund (I can hear you tittering from here so zip it!) and The Birds. 

What I watch when I'm not watching oldies (part 1)

After reading Clara's post this morning about how she hasn't seen a classic film since last month, I was inspired to write about what I'm watching when I'm not watching something made between 1910-1960. It's something I've wanted to write about for a while because there are so many tv series and films that I love to pieces but that definitely don't fall under the "classics" category. So, I hope you enjoy this slightly different post! 

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This year I've watched a lot of tv series but my two biggest tv watching endeavours have definitely been watching House and The Golden Girls. They boast 14 series between them and I'd never really seen any of the episodes before so it did take me a while to wade through the series. Well, it took me just over 2 weeks to watch all 180 episodes of TGG, but it took me at least a couple of months to get through House. I highly recommend both series. House is really fascinating and humorous and The Golden Girls is just plain wonderful!

Whilst I do greatly love the two series I mentioned above, the two tv series that really stole my heart this year were Matador (which actually has nothing at all to do with bull fighting. I wrote about it here) and Band of Brothers. I devour anything to do with WWII, so when my Dad bought the BoB box set I just had to watch it. Let me tell you, nothing will ever be the same again. You know something is going to be good when Spielberg and Hanks collaborate on it, but nothing can prepare you for the incredibleness of this mini series. After I watched the last episode (it's a ten part mini series), I cried and cried. I cried not so much because I'd just finished watching an incredible piece of television, but because the story is just so powerful and the ending really knocks the wind out of you. Even the most hard hearted person in the world would get emotional over it. As Orson Welles (I think) said about Make Way For Tomorrow, "It would make a stone cry.". What makes it all the more amazing is that fact that it actually happened. Obviously, there is going to be some tweaking here and there, but nevertheless, these men were real people who were unimaginably courageous and strong. At the beginning of each episode some of the surviving men from Easy Company are shown talking about the events that are being shown to us in the series, and it really makes the realities of the whole experience hit home. I honestly can't recommend Band of Brothers enough. If you don't mind quite a bit of swearing and a blood and guts, then you should go ahead and check it out! I recommend reading the book written by Stephen Ambrose as well. I'm currently reading it and it's really fascinating and gives you a lot more insight into the mini series. 

I also watched The Pacific this year, which is sort of (not really) the sister series to Band of Brothers except that, instead of being set mainly in Europe, it's set in, you guessed it, the Pacific. Again, it's a truly incredible piece of television, but it's not quite up there with BoB in my books.

A couple of weeks ago I discovered Downton Abbey. Let me tell you, Elizabeth McGovern is a life ruiner ;D But, in all seriousness, it's a wonderful tv series and, lucky for me, living in Britain I'm able to see the new episodes as they air! Eep! It makes a change from having to wait months for American tv series until they air over here. Something that makes the series all the more wonderful for me is the fact that it's set in the county I live so I know all of the names of the towns that they mention. And also, the actress who plays Anna comes from a little village just outside my home town! :D Oh, and did I mention that they totally rip off (or pay tribute to) the flower contest scene in Mrs. Miniver during one of the first series episodes. Cora Crawley even has a huge Greer Garson-esque hat!

The Countess of Grantham, is better than you. And so is her hat.

Something a little more "random" (omg, your bins are so random!) that I watched this year was the Australian mockumentary, Summer Heights High. If you got the quote above you are awesome. All of the episodes are on YouTube and it's so hilarious and brilliant. 

Currently I'm plowing through The X-Files because I finally decided it was time to bite the bullet and watch all the episodes that I haven't seen before (most of them). It's somewhat shocking that I haven't already seen all of the show because Gillian Anderson is my absolute favourite modern actress (she ranks just a teeny tiny bit behind Deborah for all time favourite) and, whilst I've seen a large amount of her films and other tv work (Bleak House is what introduced me to her 6 years ago. I've never looked back.) I've always been too much of a scaredy cat to take much interest in TX-F. My Dad and brother both love it, but I have never seen a true horror film (well, modern horror film at least) because I know I won't sleep for days (I even had a nightmares when I heard Spotify playing the Paranormal Activity 2 trailer in between songs once...). There is at least one episode of TX-F that I know I'll never watch, Die Hand die verletzt. It terrified my father and brother so much that they couldn't watch it, so I'm not even going to try. If there are any big fans of the show reading this, I'd appreciate it if you could let me know of any other episodes similar to the one I just mentioned so I can quietly skip past those too! 

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Well, I think that's all for now! I really enjoyed writing this though, so perhaps, if people are interested, I'll make another post about my "old favourites". You know, things I can watch over and over and will most probably force upon any offspring I may have... Just let me know what you  all think! Hope you enjoyed reading!

Happy birthday, my bonny daisy! ;D

107 years ago on this very day (although the lady in question would like to have you believe it was 104 years ago ;D) a rather beautiful, red headed, baby was born in England. Her name was Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson and she grew up to be the earth-shatteringly gorgeous and talented actress we know as, well, Greer Garson.

Happy birthday, Greer! 

You all know that I love this woman more than I can possibly say and that I would watch her anything and everything, and listen to her OTR broadcasts all day every day if I could. She was a beautiful, kind, hilarious, and intelligent woman whom I would have given anything to have meet in real life. I'm going to leave you with one of my favourite scenes from the wonderful 1947 film, Julia Misbehaves. It's so sweet and perfect and proves the fact that no one will ever wear a tablecloth quite like Greer. ;D

P.S. Don't forget it's the Darling Deborah Blogathon tomorrow! It's not too late to participate, everyone is welcome! :D I'm not actually going to be here most of tomorrow as I'm leaving for the weekend (something I didn't know when I planned the blogathon), but I have a couple of posts queued up and hopefully I'll be able to get online to compile a list of all the participators posts. I look forward to reading all the wonderful Deborah-ness! :D

Fashion in Film Blogathon: 10 Outfits I Would Love To Find in my Wardrobe

... and then find that they looked as good on me as on the original wearers. 

I'm not the most fashion conscious person you will ever meet. In fact, I don't follow, or know the slightest bit about, fashion at all. I wear what I like and what I'm comfortable in.  So, don't be expecting all of the following outfits to be haute couture. I see a dress, it looks nice, that's that.

Deborah Kerr's "Shall We Dance" dress from The King and I

I've loved this dress ever since I was a little girl and secretly I'm hoping that one day I'll be able to own it myself (provided the person who bought in the auction last year lets me have it ;D). In the past I've said that if I ever get married I want my wedding dress to be a replica of this but I'm not sure I'd get down the aisle. 

Eleanor Parker's ball gown from The Sound of Music

Again, this is another dress I've loved since I was a little girl. The way it looks on Eleanor just takes my breath away - I want to sit and look at her forever. 

Debbie Reynold's "Good Morning" dress from Singin' in the Rain

This has to be the cutest film costume ever! I love everything about it, and, out of all the dresses on the list, I think it's the only one that would look OK on me. I subconsciously drift towards anything that resembles this little number when clothes shopping, and one day I'm sure I'll find my perfect "Good Morning" dress.

Deborah Kerr's white floaty dress from An Affair to Remember

I love the way Deborah's gorgeous red hair looks with this dress and the way the dress glides along with her. It's so simple yet so absolutely beautiful at the same time, much like Deborah herself. 

Audrey Hepburn's black lace dress (and mask) from How To Steal a Million

I have no words for this stunning dress (and mask ;D). It makes me want to cry.* 

Marilyn Monroe's black dress from The Misfits

The first time I saw Marilyn in this it took my breath away, and still does, as a matter of fact. The simplicity of it coupled with the perfect fit, the hair, and that beautiful face, just makes me gasp. 

Joan Crawford's decorating outfit from Mildred Pierce

Now THIS is what I call an outfit. I'm pretty sure that she could have made the whole decorating job a bit easier if she'd worn a pair of trousers (how do you even get up a stepladder in a pencil skirt?!) but this outfit won my heart from the first moment I saw it. I've been searching for a button front skirt like Joan's for months and the nearest I've got is this. Someday, I am going to decorate a house Joan Crawford style (minus the flawless face and legs.... which brings me to another point, WHO CLIMBS A LADDER TO DECORATE WHILST WEARING HEELS?!).

Audrey Hepburn's little black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany's.

I have never been too fussed with Audrey's long, black dress from the beginning of the film, but this one is pure love. I have a dress that I call my "Holly Golightly" dress because it sort of (not really) resembles this one. I know it's a bit of a cliché but no one does the LBD like Audrey Hepburn.

Eleanor Parker's barbecue dress from Home From the Hill

You know how Anne of Green Gables is always moaning about how it's her lifelong sorrow that she can't wear pink because she's a carrot top? Well, Eleanor Parker is living proof that you can be a redhead and wear pink, and what's more, look absolutely ravishing in it. '50s dresses with full skirts are my weakness, I absolute love them (it's the way they whooosh and rustle). 

Grace Kelly's evening dress from High Society

I may not be a fan of Grace Kelly, but there's not denying she wore some really beautiful dresses in her 11 films. Her dresses in Rear Window are all really gorgeous but this stunning dress from High Society takes the cake.

Special Wardrobe Mentions To:

Deborah Kerr's entire wardrobe from Dream Wife

and

Greer Garson's entire wardrobe from Mrs. Miniver

*Disclaimer: I don't actually weep over dresses. Or over any items of clothing. Well, I haven't for a long time at least...

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This is an entry for the Fashion in Film Blogathon hosted by The Hollywood Revue

Classic Film Q&A With... My Mum!

"Classic Film Q&A Time With..." is a new series on my blog in which I will "interview" members of my family and my non-classic film nerd friends to hear their opinions of classic film. I'll probably change the questions slightly for each person, but at the end of each interview there will be an unchangeable section of questions to see how well they know me and my classic film loving ways. The first person to be interviewed is my wonderful mother who is responsible for my love of classic musicals which my love of classic film in general sprung from. Hope you enjoy!

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Mum's answers are in red and my comments in italicised black.

Which genre of film do you most like to watch? 

Well, I like light films...

That's not a genre. 

I don't like films that I have to really work at, my brain needs a rest it works so much the rest of the time!

You like romantic comedies, don't you?

I like comedies, not particularly romantic ones.  I like clean comedies. Good old-fashioned humour. No swearing,

What is your favourite classic film? Least favourite?

"The Adventures of Robin Hood". I like war films too: "Reach For the Sky", "The Dam Busters", "Dunkirk". I can't remember any of the films I don't like, if I don't like them I won't watch them again.

What about films that we've watched together?

Oh, you mean like "Julia Misbehaves"?

Yeah, you didn't like that.

I didn't really like "The African Queen" either.

Favourite classic actors and actresses?

I like Errol Flynn, Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Kenneth More, Dirk Bogarde, Cary Grant, Jack Hawkins, Walter Matthau, David Niven, Peter Ustinov. I quite like Paul Newman. I like Robert Redford but it's his moustache that I don't like!

OK, I think we've got enough actors. Favourite actresses?

I don't mind Olivia de Havilland, Doris Day... I don't mind Deborah Kerr *I swear I didn't make her say that ;D*. Debbie Reynolds. Greer Garson was good in "Mrs. Miniver". Oh, Googie Withers!

Are you more like Oscar or Felix? (the perennial "The Odd Couple" question!)

I'm probably more like Felix.

What is the first classic film you remember watching?

It would probably be a Buster Keaton film. I remember watching Buster Keaton films and Westerns. I can't remember any specific ones though.

Your favourite musical?

"Fiddler on the Roof" and then, there's so many! I like "The King and I" and I like "The Sound of Music"... "Singin' in the Rain".

Seven...

Oh yes! "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers"! How could I forget that one?!

Your favourite decade for classic film?

Probably the '50s... or the '40s.

Joan Crawford or Bette Davis? To make it easier, you can pick either pepsi or coke. 

Pepsi.

Ok, that's Joan Crawford. She was the Pepsi Queen!

Favourite Hitch film?

I can't pick one because I haven't seen that many and I don't like them. They all leave me feeling "ugh" at the end. I can't say I've got a favourite because I haven't liked any that I've watched.

Do you have anything to say about silent film?

*seals lips*

Ok, nothing. 

The music's always the same.

...

Who is the King of '60s Cool: Paul Newman or Steve McQueen?

Paul Newman.

A classic film you think you should have seen but haven't yet?

Like I said before, there's "Casablanca" and I'm sure there are others.

I've probably made you sit through a lot of classic films over the years, do any of these occasions stick out in your mind?

No.

Mum! There must be!

Do you mean a particular film? Oh, "The King and I" that you used to watch over and over again. And "The Sound of Music".

Now let's see how well you know me.

After Deborah Kerr, who are my next three favourite actresses?

Greer Garson.

Yep.

Joan Crawford? Oh, Barbara Stanwyck! Maureen O'Hara? No, I didn't think so. Is it Claudette... Clara? Debbie Reynolds? Which side of the Atlantic? The American side. Not Joan Fontaine? Is she still alive? Zsa Zsa? Doris Day?

You're really scraping the barrel now!

I'm just thinking of any! I've got two already!

I'll give you a hint: we were just talking about a film that she was in back in the "classic films I've made you sit through" question.

Julie Andrews?

Close, but no.

Ohh! Katharine Hepburn?

No...

Eleanor... Baroness Schraeder!

Yes, finally!

What is one of my top five Deborah Kerr films?

Well...

You can't say "The King and I"!

"An Affair To Remember"?

No.

"Tea and Sympathy"? "Heavens! Mr. Allison", "Good Gracious, Mr. Allison" or whatever you call it!!

*we both dissolve into laughter*

"The Sundowners"?

Yes!

Can you name four of my absolute favourite classic films?

"The Sound of Music"! "The Dam Busters"?

Yes and no.

"The Great Escape"?

Yep.

"From Here To Eternity"? "Mrs. Miniver"?

Yes!

What is my favourite classic war film?

"The Dam Busters"... "The Great Escape"?

Yes.

Disney live action films are my not-so-guilty pleasure, but which to are my favourites?

"The Parent Trap" and... "The Ugly Dachshund"!!

At the beginning of the year I watched the Danish tv series "Matador" and discovered a Danish actress who is now one of my favourite classic actresses of all time. What is her name?
I might not get it exactly right, is it... Helena Virkner?

Almost! It's Helle Virkner.

Finally, how many classic films do you think I've seen so far this year?

I dread to think! Hmm... 200?

217, very close!

Trivia question! Who said "The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder."?

You.

No, but yes,  it could very well have been something I'd have said.

Was it a man or a woman?

A man. You have three clues and you've used one of them.

Go on, give me another.

He's not an actor.

He's a director? Hitchcock? Well, the only other director I know is Spielberg and it wouldn't be him! 

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it and don't forget to check back for the next interview soon!