Everyday Alfred

Watcha digging for Alfred...?

Keeper Of The Flame 1942

What better for a Sunday afternoon than a Spencer and Kat flick, their second together. This film stars Spence as newspaper journalist Stevie O'Malley, who has just come back from Europe to research and write about an American hero, Forrest, who has just died. Forrest's wife (Kat) won't see any reporters. 

Stevie starts to snoop around the estate and stumbles upon the gatekeeper's son. He is sad and after some buttering up he tells Stevie how to get into the house. Naturally, Stevie breaks in.

"Who the hell are you?"

 Mrs. Forrest spots Stevie and doesn't tell him to leave.       

(I mean, he may be there to kill her for all she knows but he's kinda cute after all...)

Stevie tells her he wants to research and write about what a swell guy her hubby was, but she has no interest. He leaves.

After some coaxing, Mrs. Forrest decides to meet with Stevie and they start to learn about each other. 

Mrs. Forrest learns Stevie is a huge admirer of her dead hubby, and Stevie starts to suspect something is up when it comes to how he died. 

We learn that Mr. Forrest had some assistants who were to get "a key" and destroy some "paperwork". Mrs. Forrest knows all about this too and is not about to give it up. Stevie starts to think that maybe Mrs. Forrest killed her man because she was having an affair.

Eventually Stevie is lead to Forrest's mother, who seams like a nut job but might contain the truth. She is interrupted while spilling the beans when Mrs. Forrest comes in and shuts her up.

Stevie learns possibilities of an affair are out of the question and more sneaky business is being done on the Forrest estate. 

Stevie finds Mrs. Forrest burning more documents and she finally tells him the truth, and that she loves Stevie, and that she wants him to write the book about the man that Forrest really was. Before you know it, some of Forrest's people find them together and try to bust in.

It gets heavy someone doesn't make it out. What will happen next? Go watch this picture and find out! 

Leave Her To Heaven 1945

This fantastic films stars Gene Tierney and Cornel Wilde. There is enough lust, deception, and evilness to keep any oldie film lover very happy. Add amazing 40's outfits, production design, and the great outdoors, and you have a winning film!

Cornel Wilde plays Richard, a handsome novelist who is about to meet his next love. Gene is Ellen, who is riding the train for a holiday. Well, sort of. Her dad that she idolizes just died, and she is going up to scatter his ashes...and a holiday. Two birds, one stone. 

Before Ellen has the time to flirt, she insults Richard's book, stares at him like a freak, and tells her he looks like her dad. Nothing like a first impression.

How amazing is this train car? Dusty green walls, art deco arm chairs, and a monochromatic lamp. Set decorators Thomas Little and Ernest Lansing do it again!

Turns out Ellen's family friend also has another guest, no other than Richard. Oh goody! Richard also meets mother and hottie adopted sister Ruth played by Jeanne Crain.

Full length white fur? Where are your funeral blacks, Gene?

 Before you know it, Ellen is in love. Problem #1 is that she is already engaged. She dumps that fool the curb. Problem #2 is Richard hasn't exactly asked her out on a date let alone to marry. So she goes ahead an announces their plans to get hitched to the family. Done.

Richard thinks Ellen is pretty swell so he goes with it. Ellen learns Richard has a kid bother, Danny, who is ill and can't walk, or as Ellen puts it, "a cripple". Richard owns some land called "Back of the Moon" and Ellen decides to bring Danny with them thinking it will bring her and Richard closer.

 

Silk blouse and high wasited salmon slacks courtesy of costume designer Kay Nelson. 

Soon Ellen realizes she has no time alone with her man. It's annoying how Danny (who can walk now) is always around. She has no privacy with her husband. Poor Ellen. She tries to get Danny to go away but it doesn't work. Before you know it Richard has invited her family over for a stay. Ellen is pissed.

When her family finally leaves (early of course since Ellen pitched a fit) she tries to get Danny to go along with them for a few weeks so she can have some sexy time with Richard. Danny objects so Ellen thinks of a better plan.

Danny and Ellen go out on the lake one day as Danny is trying to swim across for bragging rights. Things go wrong and Ellen watches as Danny cries for help. An iconic scene not only for the beautiful backdrops of location filming but the intensity as we witness how far someone will go to get what they want. 

To help or not to help...hmmm...

Before you know it Ellen is knocked up and makes it very clear it's only to make Richard happy. She notices her sister getting chummy with her man and gets mad when they go shopping for baby stuff without her. Talk about territorial!

Ellen tells Ruth that she wishes she didn't have this fetus so that she could spend more time with Richard and to back off her husband!

Ruth leaves the room and Ellen has a terrible "accident" down the stairs. 

When all of Ellen's plans go wrong and Richard is still not giving her the obsessive attention she craves there is not much left to do but to off herself. Can she go through with it? What will happen to Richard? Will Ruth swoop in if she's out of the picture? Only one way to find out!

Mixing poison always goes best with embroidered monogrammed towels. 

This film is full of deception, murder, and style. Rita Hayworth was intended for the role but turned it down. I think Gene plays the part beautifully. She is gorgeous in this film even though she is evil. Critics agreed as she was nominated for an Oscar for this role. 

(She was beat out by Joan Crawford for Mildred Pierce)

Picture Of The Day

Edith asks, "Which one is your favorite?"

Listen to Jimmy Stewart...

...and have a fantastic Easter!

Love, The Affair

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love, Lucille, Desi, and The Affair

Dead Ringer 1964

Are you a fan of Bette Davis? Stupid question, who isn't? Then you'll love two of her, and evil to boot! This fab flick stars Bette playing twins, one who is jealous and the other who gets offed!

Bette first plays Margaret, who is mean and rich and newly widowed. Without remorse, Margaret gets a surprise visit from estranged sister Edith, also played by Bette. The two get together at Margaret's house after the funeral and Edith sees how rich her sister really is. She also learns that Margaret tricked her way into marriage many years ago when Edith also had the hots for the dead husband. Edith gets jealous a angry. 

Back at home, Edith is in a loveless relationship with a cop named Jim. She is deep in dept with her night club and devises a plan. She calls Margaret to come over and when she gets there, she kills her! Trading outfits, the plan is going right until annoying boy toy Jim stops by. Edith has to talk him away and the plans continue to take Margaret's identity. 

Edith assumes Margaret's life by "grieving" her husband's death and her sister's "suicide". Edith realizes that Margaret isn't a saint had had a man on the side named Tony. But the new Margaret isn't into it, and she finds herself in some sticky situations. Jim keeps in contact with Margaret and is not quite sure what happened to Edith and confesses his too late love. 

Margaret's fling comes to light and  Tony finds out the truth and then blackmails Margaret for money. Jim keeps pressing her for info and the investigation about Edith's suicide starts to take a turn. Will the truth come out? Will Edith pull off the murder and assumed identity forever?

Lana Turner was first for the role but turned it down. This film was applauded for the great special effects used to allow Bette to be side by side with herself. A class evil Bette movie, I really loved this oldie!