Amanda's Cinema Survey!

1. What is your favorite movie starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, excluding all of The Thin Man films?

Double Wedding

2. Name a screen team that appeared in only one film together but are still noteworthy for how well they complimented each other.

Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor. These two were such a wonderful dancing duo in Singin' In The Rain and its a shame that they didn't make more films together.

3. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' best film together?

My favorite is Swing Time

4. Your favorite actor named "Robert"?

Robert Montgomery... I LOVE an excuse to post a Bob

picture!

5. An actor/actress who, when you see on

e of their movies, you always wish that someone else was in his/her role?
Whenever I watch Warren Beatty films, I wonder what they would have been like with James Dean... So much talent.... I am always curious about what films he would have made had he lived longer. Can you imagine Splendor in the Grass with James Dean..... wowza

6. An actor/actress that someone close to you really loves that you can't stand or vice versa?

I don't have an answer to this. I have a friend that isn't a huge Robert Montgomery fan, but that doesn't mean she can't stand him....

7. An actor/actress that you both agree on completely?

Ginger Rogers

8. Complete this sentence: Virginia O'Brien is to Ethel Merman as...

Joan Crawford is to Bette Davis??? I was never very good at these.

9. What is your favorite film starring Ray Milland?

The Major and the Minor... Ginger Rogers is too cute in this movie!!

10. You had to have seen this one coming: what is your favorite movie of the 1960s?

Sex and the Single Girl... Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood has amazing chemistry... and although I think the car chase at the end is a bit on the long side... I enjoy the movie quite a bit.

11. An actor/actress that you would take out of one film and put into a different movie that wa

s released the same year?

Released the same year??? Wow.... hard question.... How about switching in Gene Kelly in for Fred Astaire in Easter Parade. If it hadn't been for that broken ankle... it would have been him anyway.

12. Who was your favorite of Robert Montgomery's leading ladies?

Norma Shearer... They balanced out so well!

13. You think it would have been a disaster if what movie starred the actor/actress who was originally asked to star in it?

Charade would have been bad with Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood. It's not that I don't like Beatty and Wood.... but Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn are so perfect together in that movie. It wouldn't have been near as good!!

14. An actor/actress who you will watch in any or almost any movie?

Cary Grant... I mean, honestly, he is good in anything!

15. Your favorite Leslie Howard film and role?

The Scarlet Pimpernell.... He played it so wonderfully, from the snotty (hilariously feminine) rich boy to the dashing, charming hero!

16. You have been asked to host a marathon of four Barbara Stanwyck films. Which ones do you choose?

Oh Goody!! 1. Baby Face - Use 'em then loose 'em!! 2. Ball of Fire - With a name like Sugarpuss... how can you not add this to the marathon?! 3. Double Indemnity - Don't disown me... but I've actually never seen this...it's on my list! 4. Night Nurse - super young Babs and evil Clark Gable... woo hoo!

17. What is, in your mind, the nearest to perfect comedy you have ever seen? Why?

Bringing Up Baby... A near perfect screwball comedy for me.... Zany Katharine Hepburn and dorky Cary Grant are a fantastic combination!!

18. You will brook no criticism of what film?

The Philadelphia Story... This is one of the most perfect films I have ever seen. It is near and dear to my heart... so if you don't like it... keep it to yourself :)

19. Who is your favorite Irish actress?

Maureen O'Hara... Talk about spit fire... everything an Irish actress should be!

20. Your favorite 1940s movie starring Ginger Rogers?

I'll Be Seeing You... Joseph Cotten is one of my favorites

21. Do you enjoy silent movies?

Yes! Harold Lloyd, Rudolph Valentino, Clara Bow, Joan Crawford... When I was in Hollywood... I made it a point to go pay my respects to Valentino... so yes, I enjoy silent movies!

22. What is your favorite Bette Davis film?

Now, Voyager

23. Your favorite onscreen Hollywood couple?

Onscreen? Hummmm..... Clark Gable and Joan Crawford... their chemistry was so unbelievably hot.... sparks flew to the moon!

24. This one is for the girls, but, of course, the guys are welcome to answer, too: who is your favorite Hollywood costume designer?

Adrian

25. To even things out a bit, here's something the boys will enjoy: what is your favorite tough action film?

Hmmmm.... Anything Bruce Willis...

26. You are currently gaining a greater appreciation for which actor(s)/actress(es)?

Natalie Wood

27. Franchot Tone: yes or no?
Yes. If you would have asked me this question 1 month ago, I would have said no... but he is growing on me.

28. Which actors and/or actresses do you think are underrated?

Edward Everett Horton... He was such an amazing character actor...

29. Which actors and/or actresses do you think are overrated?
Bette Davis... I can see the ugly looks coming my way already. She just isn't one of my favorites.

30. Favorite actor?
Robert Montgomery. Hands Down. Without A Doubt!

31. Favorite actress?
Norma Shearer! Talk about FIERCE!

32. Of those listed, who is the coolest: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Steve McQueen, or Patrick Stewart?
Steve McQueen! That man was so... COOL!

33. What is your favorite movie from each of these genres:

Comedy: Some Like It Hot

Swashbuckler: Captain Blood

Film noir: This is a tough one... I don't watch a lot of film noir... but The Maltese Falcon would probably be my choice!

Musical: Singin' in the Rain... Gene Kelly is just so Brilliant and Donald O'Connor is so Adorable!

Holiday: White Christmas.... I adore this movie! Rosemary Clooney AND Bing Crosby... It doesn't get much better than that!

Hitchcock: Rear Window!This was my first Hitchcock movie... and it took my fingernails weeks to recover from all of my biting!

**If you've posted Amanda's Survey to your blog... leave me a link in a comment! I would love to read your answers! =)

Nitrate Soul Mate

At Cinecon last month, I met the most adorable memorabilia dealer. He was a short, round, older man with thick glasses and stark white hair. In his dealer area, he had box upon box of movie still files. They were organized by actor name. I went straight to the Ms, looking for some Robert Montgomery stills. And for the life of me, I couldn't find his file. Resigned that it didn't exist, I picked up the William Powell one and started thumbing through.

The dealer came over and said that I looked disappointed with the selection. I told him that he had a very impressive collection, but that I couldn't find a file for Montgomery. He responded,

"My dear, I don't have one file for that man....... I have several! I left them at my shop... but I will bring them tomorrow just for you," He winked and made a note on a little pad from his pocket. (I don't think I was the only one he was bringing files for.)

When I showed up the next day, he did indeed

have 3 files of Robert Montgomery stills!!! Yes, I was in heaven! The smile on my face must have shown my absolute joy because the little man said, "I guess this is the guy you were looking for."

I replied that Montgomery is my all time favorite. The adorable little dealer said, "I will try not to take that personally. After all, everyone has their own nitrate soul mate...."

I fell in love with that phrase... Nitrate Soul Mate.

It got me to thinking... why do we fall in love with any particular actor? Is

it the way they move? The way they speak? Is it gradual... or adoration at first sight?

Robert Montgomery (if you didn't already know) is my all time favorite. I can't pin it down to any one thing about him, but the way he makes me feel when I watch one of his films

. I think that is the heart of it. We gravitate towards certain actors because of the experience they give us as a spectator. They escape that fourth wall and suddenly we're there with them.

Nitrate Soul Mate... that adorable little man was onto something... We all have our own actor. That one that makes a perfectly awful day bearable again... who we connect with above all other actors... who holds our attention so completely that we don't seem to care how bad

the plot might be.

I found mine... and I am still trying to get my hands on all of his films....

Who is yours? Who is that one actor that you would choose every-time, rain or shine??