Box Set Monday #9: Maureen O'Hara

The rules for "Box Set Monday" are that the box sets can only be created for the actors and actresses who don't already have them, so people like Bette Davis, Cary Grant etc. are immediately out, but seeing as it's my series, I'm going to make an exception for someone who does already have a box set, albeit an absolutely rubbish one. The lucky star (*cough*), who joins Deborah and Greer for "box setted" red heads, is Maureen O'Hara! I own the only box set manufactured for the great Irish lady and I can honestly say it is one of the worst you could ever buy. It contains The Quiet Man, Our Man in Havana, Lady Godiva, Against All Flags, Rio Grande, and The Rare Breed. The first two films I absolutely love, but the other four... well, let's just say I don't know what the manufacturers were thinking when they chose them! So, yes, today I'm going against the Box Set Monday rules and making a box set for an actress who already has one.

Contains:

Sentimental Journey, 1946

Miracle on 34th Street, 1947

The Quiet Man, 1952

Our Man in Havana, 1959

The Parent Trap, 1961

Only the Lonely, 1991

Sentimental Journey is a sentimental (no, really?), tear-jerking melodrama about a young actress who, after finding out she has a terminal heart condition, decides to adopt a little girl so that her husband will not be alone when she herself inevitably dies. It's sickly sweet and probably not to everyone's taste but I think it's a necessary film for all Maureen fans to see, especially since it's one of the great lady herself's personal favourites.

I have to admit that the first version of Miracle on 34th Street I saw was the 1994 remake which I still absolutely love (Elizabeth Perkins + Richard Attenborough = fantasmagoricalness), but you can hardly make a Maureen O'Hara box set (even if it isn't actually real) without mentioning the wonderful, magical 1947 original. So don't wait until December to watch the sweetest Christmas film in the world about a determined young lawyer who proves to the cynical young woman he is in love with that Santa Clause is real (who really doubted that though? Not me...)!

In my opinion, you have a bit of nerve to call yourself a classic film fan if you haven't seen The Quiet Man ;D It's one of my favourite films of all time; everything about it is absolutely perfect, from the gorgeous scenery (luscious, green Irish countryside) to Maureen's fantastic performance as the young, fiery Mary Kate Danaher and John Wayne's equally fantastic Sean Thornton. Impetuous! Homeric!

Our Man in Havana is a brilliant film about an English expat, Jim Wormold (Alec Guiness) living in Havana with his daughter Milly, who accepts an offer to recruit a network of agents for the British Secret Service. Although the film is not primarily about Maureen's character, she does do a really wonderful job playing Jim's assistant/secretary.

There's nothing I can say about The Parent Trap that I haven't said before. I'm sure most of my readers know that it is one of my very favourite films and that I can watch it over and over again without getting tired of it. It's a really sweet, almost poignant at times, film about a pair of twins (both played by the always amazing Hayley Mills) who were separated not long after birth and meet by chance at a summer camp where they discover their connection and plot to get their divorced parents back together.

Yep, you're right, I included a film made later than 1970 in the box set. If you've seen Only the Lonely, then you'll know why I just had to include it. Maureen is unfathomably fabulous as John Candy's fierce Irish mother who disapproves rather strongly to her son's new girlfriend (Ally Sheedy), a Sicilian. It mixes comedy with a bit of melodrama, so keep the tissues handy! Oh, and did I mention that Maureen does a bit of Karate on an plane? (I really don't know if it's Karate but it's pretty nifty anyway! ;D)

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Thanks for reading, everyone! Unfortunately, I can only do so many box sets myself because there isn't an inexhaustible list of actresses whose films I've seen enough of to create well rounded box sets, so I'm going to have to end the series (or put it on the shelf for a few months) in a couple weeks unless there are any more people who would like to participate. If you would like to write a "Box Set Monday" post, leave a comment, drop me an email, tweet me etc. and we'll take it from there :D

Films I Can Watch Over and Over #3

Although there are several Disney cartoons that hold a special place in my heart, on the whole I much prefer Disney's live action films of the late 50s-60s. If I could choose to live in any film, I would probably pick a Disney live action film (or Columbia's similar The Trouble With Angels, starring Hayley Mills). My favourite of these is The Parent Trap (1961) starring Maureen O'Hara, Brian Keith, and Hayley Mills... doubled. It's a great family film; just as enjoyable for adults as for children (both my parents like it). The comedy in it is absolutely brilliant (I don't laugh at loud often at films, but this one always has me chuckling) and Hayley Mills is utterly fantastic as always. I have the greatest respect for her as an actress. She can be sweet, she can be spunky, she can be just plain marvellous...

I can't talk about this film without mentioning how fabulous Maureen is in it. Seriously, her character is one of my favourite film Mums. She's so fierce, like always, and her red hair is so gorgeous that a;lfjda'ldsfja'ldfj you can't help loving her. Also, she and Brian Keith make such an adorable couple.

Ooops! Spoilers ;) (Ok, you won't get that reference unless you're a Doctor Who fan obsessed with River Song who I'm not even going to start talking about following last week's "revelation" episode which renders me incapable of thinking any good thoughts about Stephen Moffat and his self indulgent, ridiculous, far too serious story lines. Get out. Now.) Although, it's not as if it isn't blatantly obvious what's going to happen from the very first moment you read the back of the DVD cover, so... ;D You should watch it. Everyone should watch it. The Parent Trap is the best and I will not accept any blasphemous remakes starring Lindsay Lohan being obnoxious and flaunting an English accent I've never heard any English person use. Good day, sir!

My Favourite Summer Songs

I love summer. Simple as. I never used to, I used to think it was more interesting to 'like' Autumn or Winter best *rolls eyes*, but then I became a S.A.D. sufferer...and spring/summer is very important to me! I've missed a lot of the gorgeous weather this summer, but hopefully I'll still manage to catch some sunshine!

I took my inspiration for this post from Millie at Classic Forever, who posted Moi Je Joue on tumblr yesterday. It's one of my favourite "summer" songs, and made me get the whole light-bulb-above-head thing. So, thanks for the idea Millie! :)

10 of My Favourite Summer Songs

Moi Je Joue - Brigitte Bardot

This is one of my all time favourite songs, and also is the song used in the amazing "Miss Dior Cherie" advert. I didn't know it was possible to have a favourite advert, but it is! ♥ Really though, this song is just so pretty, light and summery...I just adore it!

Moonriver - Audrey Hepburn

If they'd actually gone ahead and had the nerve to dub Audrey in this, I would personally have hunted the culprits down, despite the fact I wasn't born in 1961, and....well, I'll let Sue Sylvester say it for me: "I will buy you a kitty cat, I will let you fall in love with the kitty cat, and then on a cold dark night, I will steal away into your house and punch you in the face." Despite the fact Audrey wasn't the best singer in the world, this song is so full of emotion I feel like I'm going to burst every time I hear it. It's one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard...and it just reminds me a lot of summer! It always brings a bit of sunshine to my day...

O Sole Mio - Mario Lanza

My favourite version of this song is by Nini Rosso, but unfortunately I couldn't find it anywhere on youtube. My second favourite version couldn't be embedded, so I chose this one ;D I infinitely prefer it to Pavarotti's version, even though I usually love him. This song makes me so happy, and I've often listened to it to help me sleep :') It feels like it's inside me...running through me, you might say. Anyway, it's another beautiful, summery song!

Summertime - Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald

I adore this song. I love and admire both Louis and Ella greatly, because I'm a trumpet player and I'm a singer (wow, that's sounds really boastful...you know what I mean though...I've sung all my life ;D ). This version is astounding, although I have to admit last year when I played in a big jazz concert, there was an amazing singer there who sang this song with another jazz band...I was crying it was so perfect and beautiful! :')

Girl Put Your Records On - Corrine Bailey Rae

Put simply, I'm in love with this song...and have been since I first heard it about 3 years ago. I love the video too!

Fun Fun Fun - The Beach Boys

As most of the Beach Boys songs are summery, this is just a personal favourite of mine. :) I used to hate The Beach Boys, but now I'm a bit of a fan.

Let's Get Together - Hayley Mills (The Parent Trap)

This is possibly one of the most addicting songs ever...and one of the most addicting films. Hayley Mills, Maureen O'Hara and Brian Keith...what's not too love!? Anyhoo, this song, and the whole film, is just marvellously summery. I watch it far too much :D

What A Wonderful World - Eva Cassidy

This is one of my "deeper" summer songs...meaning, it makes me cry! ;') I do love Louise Armstrong's version, but Eva's version is my favourite. It's such a beautiful summer song...and one day I want to take a long evening walk through fields of tall grass and flowers, and through green, green glades to a gently flowing stream whilst listening to this song.

I also love Vera Lynn's cover of What A Wonderful World but...

A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square - Vera Lynn

As I've said before, I adore Vera Lynn. I especially love listening to her songs in summer, and this is one of my favourites. I've spent far too many evenings than I care to remember sitting at my window listening to this song...and many other Vera songs.

I also love Anne Shelton's cover of this song (it was actually the first version I ever heard when I was tiny...).

It Was A Very Good Year - Frank Sinatra

It's named wrong, but never mind. It's the best one I could find, the rest were terrible quality or not actually him. Gah. Anyway, I love love love love love love love this song! ♥ It fills me with such nostalgia...and ahh, it's just wonderful! I used to play this constantly on the [rather long] journey to band practice last year - I think my Mum may have developed a rather strong hatred for the song! ;D

So, there you go: My 10 Favourite Summer Songs. Well, they're only the first 10 that came to mind, there are many more! I hope you enjoyed them! :)

A presto! :)

Oh, hello there, Greer!

Star of the Day

Maureen O'Hara

I think Maureen is absolutely wonderful! I first saw her in The Parent Trap, and even after having seen quite a few of her other films, it's still one of my favourites. She's witty, beautiful, charming and...I love her wardrobe!

I'm highly jealous of the fact that she even manages to look good in a dressing gown!

Maureen starred in over 40 films, in a career spanning from the late '30s to the mid '70s (although she did undertake a few film and t.v roles in the '90s). As well as being beautiful, she also had a real flair for acting. She is a joy to watch in any of her films. As clichéd as this sounds, she does brighten up the screen whenever she appears. I'll never tire of her beaming smile, melodious voice, and the little Irish twinkle in her eyes!

(in The Parent Trap)

(with her famous on screen partner, John Wayne)

(and again...)

(I wish this was my signed photo!)

(as Lady Godiva)

(I really, really want her dress in this photo! *swoons* )