I’ve had the week off for decorating purposes since I can no longer work, come home and start decorating. I just hate that and am trying to come to terms with this shit…oops, sorry. My decorating is coming along but I still have to put some more decorations up, iron the Christmas table cloths, put up my Nativity Scene and my Village..oh and the Christmas Tree which we still need to buy. I still have to bake too…I hope to visit some of your blogs very soon and thank you so much for visiting mine and commenting. I just so very much appreciate it🥰.
I am going to choose whom,I’m think, should have won Best Actor, for 1987, and, yup, he was not, even nominated, if he was, I bet they would have placed him in Best Supporting category even though he is equal to his acting partner. Let’s see if you agree with me or offer someone different or agree with the academy.
1. JOHN CANDY IN PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES
I watch this, almost, every year and, even though this takes place over the American Thanksgiving, it could easily be a Christmas movie. It stars the great John Candy and Steve Martin as 2 very different men, from different classes, who keep meeting up until they must join forces to get Steve Martin home for Thanksgiving. Much to Martin’s chagrin, Candy finds a motel room when their plane must land in Wichita because Chicago got belted with a snowstorm. One horrible event after another occurs, all the while Candy’s character tries to help Steve get home. This is an endearing, warm and very funny film where we can recall scenes smiling when we do. Steve Martin and John Candy are great together and, if Candy lived longer, I bet they would have worked together in other films. The scene, above, just shows the range that Candy had as an actor and the words were improvised by Candy! The director loved it that he kept it in the film and so glad he did. You find out what a dick Martin is and how he loosens up and becomes more human, thanks to Candy’s Character. Candy was not even nominated and this whole film was neglected. Steve Martin deserved a nomination as well as the actual film, the directing and that score! The music is so well placed in every scene that just adds to the richness of each scene.
2. MICHAEL DOUGLAS IN WALL STREET
Michael Douglas finally won Best Actor in this film that co-stars Charlie Sheen as a young up and comer Wall Street broker who is taken under the wing, by Michael Douglas, a corporate Raider. It shows the underbelly of this world that I would never want to be part of. Oliver Stone showcases both actors to their best advantage and Douglas is excellent in his role as the evil Gordon Gekko who will do anything to make more money. I have seen this film and, while it is excellent, I could not get into the characters. I watched it and, promptly, forgot about it. Douglas deserved more accolades for the films, “Falling Down” and “The Wonder Boys.”
3. ROBIN WILLIAMS IN GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM
Robin Williams wowed the critics and the audience about this real life DJ who shook things up in Vietnam and winning over the soldiers who are fighting in a war that they can’t win. Robin deserved the nomination since he explodes on the screen with his riffs, all spontaneously done by Robin, as well as his serious side coming through when he meets the soldiers who are fighting against all odds. This film could not exist without Williams who makes the audience laugh and cry in the span of 10 minutes. It’s a film worth seeing.
Do you agree with my assessment or would you agree with the Academy..or would you choose someone completely different?
I’m on vacation this week so I am late reading people’s blogs and writing here. I’m just going to have some Christmas music I love…
1. WALKING IN THE AIR SUNG BY KATHERINE JENKINS-2020
This comes from an animated Christmas film from 1982, composed by Howard Blake. This is a Finnish film that has become a staple Christmas favourite in Finland and in England. This song has grown in stature over the years, and rightly so. I love this song nd my hubby considers it one of the best Christmas carols.
2. O BAMBINO SUNG BY THE HARRY SIMONE CHORALE-1965
I love this song and it is one of my all time favourites. It was originally written by Remo Capra, Tony Verona with music by Alfonzo Maria De’ Liguori but became most famous by Harry Simone from his arrangement. To me it is one of the most beautiful of carols.
3. SUO GAN SUNG BY CHARLOTTE CHURCH-2001
I tried to find the version sung by John McDermott from his album, “Christmas Memories” but I couldn’t find it, so I found this version sung by a young Charlotte Church, a child prodigy who has an amazing voice. This is a traditional Welsh lullaby created by an anonymous writer from around 1800. It’s such a pretty song and one I love listening to.
Any songs you love that are not traditional carols? Check out Monday Music Moves Me to see what the others have chosen this week.
There are some films that have escaped my viewing until now. You won’t believe the first film that I have not seen until last weekend! Actually, you won’t believe the second film I have not seen until last year Christmas. So let’s start…
1. CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT-1945
Yes, this classic film is one that has escaped my viewing until last weekend. To be honest, I found this film in the bin in Walmart for under $6. Bucks! This is such a funny film and one I a. So happy to say I have finally seen and own. It starts off with 2 sailers who have survived the sinking of their ship by a German Submarine and were finally saved after adrift for many days. In the meantime, the head of a major corporation, wants his star of the magazine, to invite this sailer to her home in Connecticut for a splendid Christmas meal. Barbara Stanwyck plays this early version of a Martha Stewart who cooks up a storm of great meals while living at her cozy home in Connecticut, that she has decorated in her own style that people love to copy. The problem is that she has no home in Connecticut and has no idea how to cook! Now, she must entertain a soldier there for Christmas as well as her boss, played so well by Sydney Greenstreet and she is at a loss as well as her publisher. In comes a very rich man who wants Barbara as his wife who lets her use his home provided she finally accepts his marriage proposal. They all travel to that nice home, with an great fireplace, I might add, bringing along her fatherly friend, S. Z. “Cuddles” Sakall, who is the real chef behind her famous recipes. When the soldier, played by Dennis Morgan, arrives, sparks fly between him and Barbara but the ruse must continue which contains many funny moments. It’s a great movie and one I will watch every Christmas.
2. HOME ALONE-1990
Yes, I never saw this film until I, reluctantly, saw this with my hubby and the end of Christmas last year and really enjoyed it. I remember when it came out and became this mega hit with so many interviews with MacCauley Caulkin, that browned me off wanting to see this movie especially because of this smarmy kid. I did my very best to avoid any movies starring this brat, as you can tell, I am not a lover of children who are smart asses, but, over the years I have seen a few like “ Uncle Buck” and “Home Alone 2”. Now, after all these years, I watched this movie and got a kick out of the antics the 2 dumb ass robbers get into when they try to rob the home that the kid is living in. It starts off when the family are travelling to Paris for Christmas, but when the kid takes a hissy fit, mom, played by the golden Catherine O’Hara, sends him to the attic to sleep overnight. In all the chaos, the family take off for Paris forgetting about the brat. Kevin, the brat’s name, is happy being on his own, at first, but soon misses his family especially his mom. He notices the 2 bozos who want to rob the place and sets up booby traps all over the house. The 2 robbers, played so well by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, have one mishap after another evoking the old Warner Bros. Cartoons that Wile E. Coyote got into. It is funny and strangely endearing even though the family are truly bad…who forgets their son!? Mom realizes she has left Kevin at home, while on the plane to Paris and does everything she can to get home. It is a fun movie, not a great one, but a fun one.
3. LAST CHRISTMAS-2019
Emilia Clarke is one big fuck-up..sorry for the swear word but it really deserves to be used here. She drinks too much, sleeps around, has no care for other peoples’ stuff and is always late at work which she wishes she could be anywhere else. She works, in downtown London at a year round Christmas store run by the evocative Michelle Yeoh, who keeps giving this gal 2nd and 3rd chances. After burning her last friend, she must endure living back home with her overly dramatic mom, played so well by Emma Thompson who wrote the script and produced the film. Her dad drives a cab who would rather work all the time than be home with his wife who centers on the negative a bit too much. Her sister is fed up with her ..um..fucked-up sister, believing people cater too much to Emilia. While at work, Emilia sees a young guy on his bike and goes out to speak with him. They are drawn to each other and start spending a lot of time together where he starts showing her that her life is precious and should not be burned nor the people around her. You find out that this girl, who has the gift of a beautiful voice, suffered a severe illness which affected her heart resulting in a heart transplant. Over time, she starts to realize that this young guy really believes in her and they fall for each other. This is a witty movie and I love Michelle Yeoh’s quips as well as her budding romance with a Dane. Emma Thompson rules her scenes as the a former Yugoslavian who her and her family had to escape the war in her country, and focuses on the negative. There is also real chemistry between Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding as her love interest. What’s very strange is that Emilia Clarke, when on “Game of Thrones” suffered 2 brain aneurysms, in 2011 & 2013, and almost died. This is a good movie and worth seeing.
Which Christmas movie is still on your radar to see or have you just seen it?
It’s the Christmas Season and it’s whatever music moves you over at Monday Music Moves Me and it is all about Christmas this month so I’m starting off with music that isn’t about Christmas but they have become Christmas songs. Now, one, I understand but the other 2, I don’t quite get. Let’s not pussyfoot around and let’s get to it….
1. WINTER WONDERLAND BY GUY LOMBARDO-1934
This is a song that seems to be played every hour on the hour during the Christmas season and just bout every singer has sung this. The music is by Felix Bernard and the lyrics, by Richard Bernhard Smith who thought up the words when he saw Honesdale Central Park, PA. Covered in snow. This became a huge hit for the Canadian Guy Lombardo and his band, 91 years ago. There are over 200 different recordings of this song.
2. BABY, ITS COLD OUTSIDE SUNG BY RICARDO MONTALBAN AND ESTHER WILLIAMS-1949
This has become such a controversial song and I think most of us need to take a pill and settle down. This song was written by Frank Loesser along with his wife, Lynn Garland who sang it at their dinner parties when they thought it was time for the guests to leave. It became a huge hit and has been covered by many singers over the decades and somewhat done to death. Later in the film, the roles are reversed with Betty Garrett chasing Red Skelton while singing this song and it is very funny.
3. MY FAVOURITE THINGS SUNG BY JULIE ANDREWS AND THE KIDS-1965
Nothing says Christmas than the warm summer sun, greenery and, oh yeah, Nazis! This song is sung by Julie Andrews to the kids who are scared by a thunderstorm( wussies). Christmas is mentioned in the song, written by Rodgers and Hammerstein, so that makes it a Christmas song. It is a great song, sweet and fun before the meanie Christopher Plummer stops the singing with one cold stare.
So, what songs are played at Christmas, but it is not supposed to be a Christmas song? Let me know.
DIED FROM: pneumonia and blood poisoning after back surgery
REAL NAME: Ira Grossel
NICKNAME: Big Grey
MARRIED: once, to Marjorie Hoshelle-divorced
AFFAIRS: Esther Williams, Gloria DeHaven, Ann Sheridan, Julie Adams, Barbara Shelley, Mamie Van Doren(who didn’t!), Marilyn Maxwell, and Eartha Kitt
CHILDREN: 2 daughters. Both died in the early 2000s from cancer. His Aunt, Uncle and Grandfather also died from cancer. Genetic link to this horrible disease.
FRIENDS: Susan Hayward, Gordon MacCrea, Sammy Davis Jr.
OSCAR NOMINATIONS: Broken Arrow for his role as Cochise
OSCAR WINS: Nil
TALENT: singer, violinist, song writer
KNOWN FOR: Grey Hair and Chiseled features plus body hair. That had to be shaved for the movies so he was, often, quite itchy. An avid Democrat, proud of his Jewish Heritage and into civil rights.
What is sad is that Jeff Chandler is known more for what Esther Williams wrote in her autobiography, which was proven to be false, by her own admission, than for his acting ability plus his many other talents. She wrote that he was a cross dresser and loved to wear women’s clothing, panties etc… while playing a he-man in his many films. This disgusting gossip went “viral” with all the TV shows, like “ Entertainment Tonight” plus even regular news, discussing Chandler’s “hidden” fetish asking Esther Williams about his life. She loved talking all about this which made her book a best seller. Much later, it came out that she was asked to spruce up her autobiography so she decided to ruin this man’s reputation just to sell her book. She is not a nice person, sadly. I don’t care if a man wears women’s clothing as long as he is a nice person…let him do whatever he wishes, but when a man is not a cross dresser and can’t even defend himself because he has been dead over 40 years, that’s just very, very wrong.
Jeff Chandler was very proud of his Jewish heritage starring in a couple of films and supporting them when they attacked Egypt which caused a stir. He formed his own production company, was a radio star plying the love interest to Eve Arden in “Our Miss Brooks” plus he was a singer and violinist. He played many Indians in film, which is now considered in bad taste, but these were the times so let’s get over it and move on. He also played many heroes from chivalrous heroes to swashbucklers and adventurers.
He had many affairs which is understandable given his rugged good looks and his silver hair which started to turn white when he was 18. His chiseled features became the model for the main character in the comic, “Johnny Quest”. He loved baseball, was in WW2, and was a devoted friend. He went to school and became a life-long friend of Susan Hayward, and, when Sammy Davis Jr lost his left eye in a car accident and his right eye was feared to be affected, Chandler volunteered to have one of his eyes taken, but the technology was not ( and is not) available. He had many talents but, sadly, he died suddenly and it was blatant malpractice. On the set of one of his movies, he injured his back ( playing baseball with U. S. soldiers who were extras in the film) and underwent surgery but his artery was knicked, developed blood poisoning and died. His family sued and won the case.
This man should be known for his acting, his devotion to his friends plus his many talents not the gossip that was proven to be false.
I post this on the 2nd week of each month and …I forgot! So, I’m posting it now and this one is close to my heart. In October1972, my mom took my brother and I to Europe to visit family, but before we traveled to Graz, Austria, we went to Vienna and then, to Salzburg. I loved every moment and my heart belongs to the mountains. When The Sound of Music made its premiere on TV, without editing, I was beyond excited! I remember watching the clock all day and telling my dad that we must watch this, not the news, and it starts at 7pm. That opening, showing the beauty of the land, had me enthralled and then, there was Julie twirling on that mountain in love with life. To say I was overjoyed, would have been an understatement and I bought the record, memorized all the tunes and dreamed of going back to Salzburg ( which I did in 1980 and 1993). So, I bet you can guess whom I think should have won for Best Actress…
1. JULIE ANDREWS IN THE SOUND OF MUSIC
This scene just captivated me and brought my tween romantic self out in full tilt! In this scene, not only did Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer dance this Liedler so sweetly, with great ease plus they show how much they have fallen for each other. While Christopher has that confidence, Julie shows raw emotion from love, sexual tension, realization and embarrassment. This, to me, showcased her acting range plus Julie carried the movie. She is in almost every scene with her strength, exuberance, charm and wondrous voice taking control of every part of the film. She won the previous year for Mary Poppins but, I think, she should have won for this film.
2. JULIE CHRISTIE IN DARLING
I confess, I still must see this film so it’s somewhat wrong of me to say Julie deserves the Oscar more but, I know I would still vote for Julie….Andrews. Julie Christie won the Oscar playing the selfish, mod model/actress who values her career and surface fun over people and their feelings. She dabbles through men to get ahead using her wiles to get where she wants, but she doesn’t even know what she wants. Julie Christie had a big year in 1965 playing the narcissistic model as well as playing Lara, the beautiful paramour to Omar Sharif’s Dr. Zhivago. I must see this movie in the on coming year…if I can find it.
3. CATHERINE DENEUVE IN REPULSION
I have no clue why Catherine Deneuve was not even nominated for this demanding role as a beautiful but emotionally detached woman who lives with her sister, but has an inability to cope with life. When her sister leaves with her boyfriend for Rome. While they are gone Deneuve’s character falls deeper and deeper into madness and Deneuve carries the role so well. Seeing her descent is very unnerving especially when she kills the man who loves her. You realize she was broken long ago and those cracks she concentrates on, are the cracks she is experiencing in her mind. It’s considered a horror film, but you can easily call it a thriller. Maybe because of the chilling motif, she was not even nominated, but this is a crime.
Have you seen Darling? Would you agree with Oscar or with me? Do you think someone else should have won? Love to know:)
FYI- I love the Glasgow Gallanter and read it every week but, for the last few weeks I can’t log in and leave comments! I tried logging in the normal way and even via Facebook and …nothing. It’s very frustrating. She has a great blog and my hubby and I had the privilege to meet her and her hubby and take them around Niagara Falls for the day. I love all her walks and what she sees.
I’m late, as per norm, but doubly late since I, normally, have this post in the 3rd week of each month. Why now? For the big reason that…I forgot! Better late than never, I always say and this week, over at Monday Music Moves Me, the theme is to choose songs that can make you happy and this fits for the Oscar songs from 1945. Let’s see if you can pick the song that won the Oscar, which was nominated and which came up short…
1. THE WORRY SONG SUNG BY GENE KELLY AND JERRY THE MOUSE
This song, written by Sammy Fain and Ralph Freed, was a breakthrough moment in film production because Gene Kelly dances with a cartoon character. Gene danced with one of his favourite off-screen partners, Carol Haney and the. The animators got to work and created Jerry the Mouse dancing to Carol Haney’s movements and, through the creativity and magic of film, have Gene teach Jerry that this King can sing and dance and that everyone has talent. It’s a wonderful fantasy sequence in the film, “Anchor’s Aweigh” and one of the highlights in musical film
2. IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING SUNG BY LOUANNE HOGAN
Jeanne Crain plays the lovely daughter of farmer parents who have entered the state fair, Mom for her mincemeat pie and dad for his boar, Blue Boy. Jeanne longs for something more while her brother is disheartened that his girlfriend can’t make it to the fair. This is the only musical that Rogers and Hammerstein created for film, not Broadway. This is a romantic comedy musical, not just romance between Crain and Dana Andrews (who actually had a great singing voice) but romance with family and happiness in the simple things.
3. ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE SUNG BY BING CROSBY AND SONNY TUFTS
This is a famous song written by the famous team Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen originally sung by Bing Crosby and Sonny Tufts in the film, “Here Comes the Waves”, it was made more famous when Bing sang the song with the Andrew Sisters. I always loved this fun and happy song even though this song was sung in blackface, with the help of the WAVES, on a war ship to the troops. I could not find the excerpt from the actual film so, I hope, this version will do. Just an FYI, WAVES stands for Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services.
Ok, so can you guess which song won, which was nominated and which got 0 love?
