Oscar Nods

Like many other Oscar nerds, I woke up extra early to hear the nominations for the Academy Awards. As I looked through the list, I was a bit disappointed. I mean, the expected were nominated, but it just seemed so uneventful. No surprises. I feel a few were snubbed (Leo for J. Edgar, and Ryan for Ides) but it felt very choreographed. As of a few years ago, the academy went from it's regular 5 best pic nods and went back to the oldie tradition of 10. Being that I try to watch every film nominated, this makes my job so much harder. Here are is the list for best picture:

The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight In Paris
Moneyball
The Tree Of Life
War Horse

I have 8 to go.

 My guess now is that The Artist will win it. We'll see...What films do you want to see?

"Too Many Girls" 1940

"Too Many Girls" stars Lucille Ball as Consuelo, a rich bitch who decides to go to college. Father is worried she will get into trouble, so he hires four football stars to act as bodyguards and keep an eye on her. Connie's college of choice? Why, Pottawatomie of course!

When Desi first sees Lucy in the film. He is blown away!

As the boys head to college, they quickly learn that the school is in debt and won't reopen until they get some cash. The boys put their pay together and bail the school out. Song and dance follows and the men are instantly popular with the ladies!

Don't worry gals, the new students will help!

The contact for the boys says no broads and no funny business. Clint realizes what a hottie Connie is and finds it hard to resist his orders. Connie still doesn't know that the boys are there because of her, let alone watching her every move.

Meanwhile, Desi (Manuelito)blows off his orders and gets busy with the ladies. There is a funny scene where he sucks face with a gal trying to guess her lipstick brand!

I want Ann Miller's skirt!

Pottawatomie's football team sucks and the all Americans can't resist the urge to join the team. Pottawatomie soon becomes the best team around! Trouble is, Clint starts to get love crazy and can't concentrate on the field. The boys try to get him to snap out of it.

Connie finds out the truth behind Clint and the boy's reason for being at school and she is furious. She insists they leave town immediately and miss the final game. When the school hears about this they literally send out a lynch mob to get them back.

What about the big game? Will Clint ever win his girl back? 

This film is cute, but in no way resembles "college". While the student body was dancing in unison I turned to the fiancee and asked him why my college experience didn't include choreographed song and dance. This is also the film debut for Desi, and the film where they iconic pair first met and fell in love. Ahhh...

Oscar Season Is Upon Us!

Here's a fact you probably didn't know about me...I am obsessed with the Oscars. Not the, "I love her dress who is she wearing" type, but the, "Sorry I can't attend your Oscar party because it will be distracting" type. It's a sport, and as of 5:30 am tomorrow, the game will begin. So I apologize if you notice a shift in topic her at The Affair, because if any new films are any good these days, they are most likely nominated.
Stay tuned...

"Flying Down To Rio"

This interesting film stars Dolores del Rio, Gene Raymond, Fred Astaire, and Ginger Rogers. Gene plays Roger, who is a playboy/aviator/band leader who gets fresh with the ladies in the crowd so much that his band is always being fired from gigs. He spots some fresh meat in the crowd and is quickly smitten.

Even Fred and Ginger had 4th and 5th billing at one point!

That fresh meat is Belinha (Dolores) who is already engaged but still looking for some action. She plays hard to get.

A young Ginger!

Roger gets fired again, but just in time to pick up a job in Rio! At the same time, he hears that new wanna-be honey Belinha is flying home to Rio and needs a ride. Roger tricks her into going with him only to have a crash landing on what they think is a deserted island. Luck Roger! He quickly finds a way to "break" the plane even more so he can have some sexy time with Belinha on the beach.

They smooch, then fight, then realize they are not as deserted as they think, and Belinha gets a ride home without Roger. 

In Rio, Roger tells band mates that he fancies his new gal.

(BTW everything about this picture is amazing.)

The hotel gets ready. The band is supposed to play a new show that will get the hotel rolling. Only one problem...they aren't allowed to get a permit for the show and can't go through with it! Fred and Ginger put their heads together with a plan.

And Fred throws in some dance numbers. 

Like they say in Hollywood...er..Rio, the show must go on! The band decides to rig tons of planes with scantily clad broads and have the planes fly around for hotel guests to see. Yeah, that sounds reasonable.

This scene is strange and awesome at the same time. Minutes go by with shots of girls, some wearing barely nothing, hoisted up on planes holding on for dear life as the "fly" through the air. 

Cue in the giant fan...

Guests seem mildly amused and Belinha's fiancee is not happy. He knows about Roger and is convinced to get her married right away to avoid any further complications. But what will happen to Roger and Belinha? Will the airplane trick get the band fired or re-hired?

This is the first pairing of Fred and Ginger. Fred was hesitant about their next film not wanting to be known as a partner act, especially since he danced with his sister for some many years. He decided to go through with it and the rest is history.

Everyday Alfred

The key to success perhaps?

A Closer Look At...

...Cary Grant

1. Born January 18, 1904 in Bristol, England.

2. Ran away to the circus at age 13 to be a juggler.

3. Cary’s mother was put in an institution when Cary was 9. He was told she was on holiday and did not see her again until he was in his mid twenties.

4. Was signed to Paramount in 1932.

5. Legal changed his iconic name in 1941. Good-bye Archie, hello Mr. Grant.

6. Gave his entire salary from “The Philadelphia Story” to the British was effort.

7. James Bond was created with Cary in mind.

8. Has always been rumored to have a romantic life long relationship with best pal Randolph Scott. Kat Hepburn said once she saw them kissing in a parking lot. They owned a house in Malibu and would live there whenever either one of them was in between marriages. You be the judge.

9. Took lots of LSD for “therapy” reasons.

10 Stated that “Father Goose” was the role he played that was most like him. 

Happy Birthday Hollywood boyfriend!

Picture Of The Day

Carol Channing, Gloria Swanson, 

and Tallulah Bankhead, chewing the fat.

Everyday Alfred

Put it out there, Alfie!

Men In Film

My friend Karissa sent me a link to a great video thinking I would fancy it. She was right! This thing is so cool. It goes in order and shows some of our current leading men, ending appropriately with George Clooney, whom I always thought looked like Clark Gable. How many men can you recognize? 

And in case you were wondering, yes, there is a girl version too. 

Thanks Karissa!

A Closer Look At...

...Oleg Cassini

1. Born 1913 in Paris.

2. Studied fine art at the Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze after growing up with a mother who was a designer.

3. Moved to America in 1936, became a citizen and served in WWII as a second lieutenant in the army.

4. Worked as an assistant to Edith Head before being hired by Paramount and designed for movies such as "The Shanghai Gesture", "Leave Her To Heaven", and "Razor's Edge".

5. Married second wife, Gene Tierney and had two daughters,one whom was "retarded" and was institutionalized.

6. Was made famous for designing garments for Jacqueline Kennedy.

7. Dated and almost married Grace Kelly.

8.Had a secret third wife for many years named Marianne Nestor.

9. Was sued by his second child on behalf of her sister with special needs. 

10. Died after a stroke in New York in 2006.

Starting Off January Right

I was charmed when my friend Monty over at All Good Things asked me if I would be his guest for January. I was even more delighted when he posted our interview on his blog. It's fun to talk about movies, and I had never been interviewed about them before, so thanks Monty! Even better, his Classic Movie Goddess Of The Month is no other than my fave, Lauren Bacall.

What a great start off to a new year.

Check out part one of the interview:

ALL GOOD THINGS

"The Grass Is Greener"

This odd film, directed by one of my faves, Stanley Donen stars Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum, and Jean Simmons.

Cary plays Victor, who runs tours for out of towners through his castle of a house. 

His wife Hilary (Deborah) is the lady of the castle and sells mushrooms. They seem to be happy and in love until Charles (Robert)"accidentally" stumbles in on Hilary. 15 minutes later they are in love. Does this guy have charm or what? 

Hilary must go to London to get her hair done. She'll stay the night at frenamie Hattie's house. Really she is going to stay with new boyfriend Charles. Hilary doesn't think twice about not covering her bases, especially when her haircut trip turns into a mini vaycay. Hattie has the hots for Victor and goes to see how he is.

Victor knows what's up but doesn't want to make a move as to bother the two love birds. He acts weirdly calm and collected as Hattie tries to get him to forget about his cheating wife and more about the potential of them shacking up.

Nothing says "sexy" like matching jeweled earrings and headband.

Victor decides to call up Charles and invite him to stay the weekend. He should pick up Hilary since she is in town with Hattie. Riiiight. Stanley splits the screen as we see the guys think each other are chumps and the gals think the men are nuts. What is Victor up to?

As everyone arrives, the love triangle party can start.

 

Talk about awkward! Can you spot the white elephant?

Finally the cat is out of the bag and Victor tells Charles that if he accepts a dueling challenge he can have the old broad. Butler Sellers helps out. 

After shots are fired, Hilary comes out to see what the men are up to and finally has time to chat with her husband about her new beau. What happens after that? Is the grass really greener on the other side? You must watch this one to find out!

This film has some cute scenes and interesting 60's wardrobe. Moray Watson plays the butler and he is charming at that. Not sure who OK-ed the script on this one, as any husband would not act this way in real life if his woman was stepping out on him. And it seemed highly unlikely that a happily married woman would dump her husband over a brief conversation with another guy. The fiancee called her a hooker when they kissed! And lets me honest, who would dump Cary Grant for Robert Mitchum? Sorry, Robert.

Quote Of The Day

"Why am I so good at playing bitches? I think it's because I'm not a bitch. Maybe that's why Miss Crawford always plays ladies."

-Bette Davis

Everyday Alfred

Who is sizing up who?