Happy Friday

HAPPY FRIDAY PHOTO
Because who doesn't need a fun photo blog opportunity??

A Goldfish Named George...

We all have those movies... the ones we can watch over and over again without ever tiring of them. They may be films from when we were children or ones that bring back certain memories. Sometimes they are silly, poorly made or not the best films ever stuck on celluloid, but for us, they wear like an old pair of blue jeans... comfortable, warm and we know them inside and out.

For me... one of those films is Sabrina. I have watched it a hundred times, and will continue to until my DVD copy finally dies a premature death. (My old VHS copy was finally laid to rest a few years ago) Is it Audrey Hepburn's best film?... no... is the plot anything magnificent?...no...is it the most romantic story?....no... but all the same... It is a film near and dear to my heart.

I was maybe 13 when I first saw it. I remember renting a VHS copy from the store and being completely mesmerized from the moment pressed play. I watched it three times in a row that night alone. Hepburn in that gorgeous white dress, the song "Isn't it Romantic", and learning that cracking an egg is all in the wrist, I was in love.

I have a good friend who doesn't much like the movie... She can't get over the age difference between Hepburn and Bogart. It grosses her out. Maybe its because I adore Bogie, no matter his age, or because he looks so goofy in his college sweater.... who knows... maybe I just have a thing

for older men ;) But I find their romance sweet and think its something more genuine than what she had with Holden's character. I think this is something that my friend and I will always disagree on... but regardless... I still love it.

It would be hard to pick just one scene as my favorite... William Holden laying in a hammock with his bottom sticking out of a hole, "Bounce please, ladies", Bogart and Hepburn dancing on the tennis court, "We have no bananas today!"

Sabrina is one of those movies that I know backwards and forwards, inside and out, I can quote it in my sleep, watch it from start to finish with my eyes closed. There is just something about it that I find

enchanting each and every time I watch it.

"And if theres one thing I believe in, its love thy neighbor!"

A New Year

I apologize for the accidental hiatus. It wasn't planned out, but the holidays (and Dr. Who marathons :) occupied my time more than I would have thought possible. Anyway... January is the month for New Year's Resolutions... so I thought... why not set some film resolutions for myself?

So... Here it goes... This year I will:

1. Nurture my growing appreciation for Ray Milland (any movie suggestions??)

2. Rediscover old favorites

3. Blog more regularly... I am a bit sporadic in my blogging habits!

There they are... Let's see how this year goes!

About Me: Television

Okay, so most of you know that I like old movies, Robert Montgomery and have a thing for silents... but I thought it was time that I introduce myself beyond what you already know... Every now and then I will share 5 things about myself that you don't already know. I will try to give them a bit of a theme so they don't come off quite so random:

I thought for my first About Me entry I would jump over to that other screen medium... Television

1. Shows I came to late- The first is Mad Men. I love this show! I kept seeing people go on and on about how good it was and had to try it for myself. And it wasn't all just hype... this show is fantastic! I like how the writers don't overload the audience with dialogue. So much is conveyed through movement, the way a scene is shot. And when dialogue is spoken, nothing is thrown away. Its a very poetic show with its rhythm and style. I am absolutely hooked! Another one I came to late was Dexter.... thanks to Netflix on Wii! I never thought I would adore a serial killer, but this guy makes you feel for him in a way I didn't think possible. He almost reminds me of Hamlet, tortured, alone. I am only in season 2 of both shows... but I am loving them!

2. The Good Wife- This show was a surprise. I originally started watching it because my cousin asked me to (She wanted someone to talk to about it) and I must say... its the sexiest legal show I've seen in a long while. It's sexy without being all about sex. There are more than one cat and mouse plots going on and the ensemble cast is perfect. None of the characters are simple or clear cut. You are constantly seeing different sides to them. Its a fascinating character study and constantly turns you on your head.

3. British TV- The BBC has always held a special place in my heart, ever since that delightful Pride and Prejudice mini series (you know the one I'm talking about... Colin Firth in the pond... Hello Mr. Darcy!). I have particularly enjoyed their latest Austen reboots (the newest version of Persuasion is pretty wonderful!) Also, thanks again to instant Netflix, I am slowly getting into shows like Doctor Who and Torchwood.

4. Comedy television always seems to be the rub with people.... either you love the show or you hate it. So here it goes.... (you are either going to love me or hate me!) I like Glee. That was a bit of an understatement... I love it! I am a sucker for musicals and have a history in the theater, so this show appeals to me on many levels. I mean, come on, they did a mash up of Singing in the Rain and Umbrella. It also addresses issues that I know I struggled with growing up, getting bullied, that wonderful, unbearable sometimes painful journey to find out who you are and where you belong, first love. I call it a comedy because it always makes me laugh out loud! Other favorite comedies include: The Big Bang Theory (Bazinga!), and Raising Hope.

5. Finally, I always seem to get invested in shows that don't make it. Two prime examples are Firefly and Pushing Daisies. Firefly appeals to the sci-fy nerd in me. Meshing western elements with outer space was brilliant (Hollywood is trying the odd combination again in a movie coming out this summer called Cowboys and Aliens... looks interesting!) Malcom Reynolds is the man! He is protective, sarcastic, stubborn, loyal and good looking... now if he were only real! Alas, it didn't make it very far on TV (two episodes I think) before it got axed. Thanks to a hefty cult following, they made a movie called Serenity and put all of the episodes out on DVD. If you haven't seen it.... Get your gorram booty to Netflix! Pushing Daisies was another show gone way too soon. It was truly a unique original show. Kristen Chenoweth and Lee Pace were particularly wonderful in it. I think the odd but fantastic nature of the show coupled with the high special effect budget probably was its downfall.... that doesn't stop me from watching my DVDs though!

This post turned out longer than I thought. I promise I won't do this often. This blog is dedicated to my love for old movies... but I think its important for a reader to know about the author so that they can understand why they are the way they are. In this same fashion... tell me something about yourself... it can be related to television or not... your choice! This writer wants to know more about you readers! (P.S. Let me know if you have a blog! I would love to read it!)

Don't Be Shy of Girl Shy

So, continuing with Silent Awareness Month, I thought it would be appropriate to showcase one of my favorite silent films... Girl Shy (1924).

This is one of the first Romantic Comedies ever made and was quite a departure for the star of the film, Harold Lloyd. Unlike his "gag" or stunt films, this is more of a character role. There is a stunt-y sequence at the end of the film where Lloyd is rushing to town to stop a marriage, but the majority of his time on screen is less physical. Lloyd plays a tailor's apprentice who has a hard time talking to women. He stutters whenever he tries to talk to a girl, and the words only come out after his uncle blows a whistle.

Harold uses his spare time to write his book on women. It is a novel teaching young men how to woo different types of women, (flapper, vamps etc). While writing, Harold acts out his methods in fantasy. These are a great parody of the characters of popular silent film. I particularly like the Flapper fantasy. She is smacking her gum and dancing all around the room acting quite the child. Harold uses his "cave man" technique to win her over. He takes a train to the big city so that he can deliver his book to the publisher.

On the train, he meets the delightful Jobyna Ralston. Dogs aren't allowed on the train, but Harold helps Jobyna hide her cute little pooch from the train operators. After a whistle from the train, Harold begins telling Jobyna about his book. You can tell that she doesn't believe him, but she is charmed by him as well. Its easy to see why these two stars made more than one film together, they had great chemistry.

After the two part ways and Harold has dropped off his book, the movie picks up with the introduction of the villain. A very ugly guy trying to win Jobyna for a wife. They are driving when marriage proposal goes awry and their car breaks down. Carlton Griffin (the villain) walks to town to get help while Jobyna explores a lake... Guess who else is at the lake? Harold and Jobyna have a sweet time of getting to know each other until Griffin comes and breaks it up. Harold actually punches Griffin in the face showing that a boy who stutters can still throw a mean left hook!

Haorld then goes to town to introduce a new chapter for his book to the publisher only to find the publishers office laughing and making fun of his work. The look on his face while everyone laughs at him is heartbreaking and Harold's infectious optimistic spirit is broken. He won't be making the money to ask Jobyna to marry him. He instead tells her that it had all been an experiment, that he never felt anything for her. She in turn gets engaged to Griffin.

On the day of the marriage, Lloyd gets a note in the mail saying that the publisher has decided to publish the book after all as a gag story renaming it "The Boob's Diary". Harold is embarassed, but doesn't care once he realizes that the money they sent would be enough for him to propose. A girl walks into the tailor's shop and sees the engagement announcement of Griffin and Jobyna in the paper. She cries out that her and Griffin are already married and shows a locket with their marriage date to prove it. Lloyd is off like a bolt to stop the pending nuptials.

The ending sequence is fantastic. Lloyd uses nearly every mode of transportation available to get to Jobyna, cars, mono-rails even a horse and buggy. Its fantastic. My favorite is when he steals the car of a bootlegger... oh prohibition, you made for such great comedy! He gets to the wedding just in time, but his stutter prohibits him from making any declarations. Instead, he throws Jobyna over his shoulder and runs out of the mansion (Harold Lloyd's actual estate was used for the exterior shots for this sequence!) Jobyna is trying to get Harold to propose to her, but his stutter is preventing it. She takes matters into her own hand and grabs the whistle of a mail man. The two end in an embrace just like any good rom-com should!

I like this movie for two reasons: 1. Harold Lloyd's everyman character is exceedingly charming 2. and the story is too convoluded with heavy melodrama, instead its light and sweet.

Don't be shy! Give Girl Shy a try!