"Strangers on a Train"

What better for a night of dark clouds than to watch a great Alfred Hitchcock film, "Strangers on a Train." This film is very suspenseful and has great cinematography, but what else would you expect from Alfred? 

Alred makes his cameo early one while carrying an upright bass on to the train. 

Now that that is out of the way, as Mr. Hitchcock would say, let's start out story. Guy is a handsome tennis player who is unhappily married and stepping out with another lady according to the gossip rags. He meets Bruno on the train and they have what seems like a friendly lunch together.

After chit chat about Guy's lighter and tennis, Bruno starts discussing how fun it would be to murder the people you don't like. In a light conversation, the boys agree that they would like to knock off Guy's estranged wife and Bruno's mean dad. This idea of the "perfect murder" is all in good fun, or so Guy thinks....

Bruno then stalks Guy's wife and ends up killing her as she is cavorting around with some guys at the fair. This scene is true to Alfred and wonderfully played out. Bruno then tells Guy expecting him to return the favor and kill his dad. Guy realizes Bruno is a nut bag and finds himself in a pickle.

Should Guy tell the cops? Should he kill Bruno's dad? What to do? He doesn't want to get his new gal involved or her senator father, or her weird younger sister, and Bruno starts to stalk Guy.

He stalks him while he plays tennis.

He stalks him while he walks around town.

Finally Guy must decided what to do, but before he can make any choices, the two are reunited at the crime scene and a huge fight breaks out on the merry-go-round that has lost control. Children are crying, mothers are screaming, and a cute boy in the middle of the fight is having a gay old time.

This film is a great example to good acting, camera work, and directing. Unfortunately, Bruno (played by Robert Walker) would never make a full length feature again, as he died 8 months after shooting this film from reactions to medicine. But over all, this is a Hitchcock lover's must see!

"Follow the Fleet"

The 10th movie Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers did together is one of my faves, "Follow the Fleet".

Fred plays a navy man (dancer by trade) who tries to re-kindle some love with his ex dance partner, Ginger. Ginger is dancing in a nightly show when she gets a visit from her sister, Connie played by debuting actress Harriet Hilliard. Connie isn't much of a looker and tries to get the men's attention with no avail.

Ginger introduces Connie to her pal played by Lucille Ball. (Oh, how I love watching Lucy in pictures before she was big.) Lucy is a classy dame and gives ol' Connie a make over. Ginger goes out on stage to do her number when she spots her old flame Fred. Meanwhile, Fred's navy buddy is there (played by the great Randolph Scott)and hits on newly hot Connie. Connie then sings the funniest song ever in oldies titled, "Get Thee Behind Me Satan". 

I know.

Ginger is swell with Fred back in town after they win a dance contest, that is until he ruins her chances at moving forward in he dance business. Fred and Randolph leave port while the girls are left to ponder what is next. Connie gets this idea in her head that Randolph will want to marry her (after all, they did spend a whole evening together) and decides to restore her dad's old ship for him. Ginger finds herself out of a job and it is up to the Navy men to help solve their problems.

This film has some catchy tunes and fabulous dance numbers by Ginger and Fred. If you love Lucille Ball as a blonde this is a great movie to watch her in. It's corny and lovely at the same time. 

Flea Market Find

This weekend the boyfriend and some friends went to the Irvine flea market. I have never been to this one, and it wasn't half bad. I hate the Rose Bowl. I used to like it, but with $20 to get in, and too many rows to walk in the sun, I quickly get over it. I like Veterans. Four dollars gets you in the door and there are many churro carts, a flea market must. I picked up a few things in  Irvine, one of them being this framed movie poster for my pad.

When I got home, I imdb-ed it to get the lowdown. Strangely, George nor June nor Helena were ever in a film called "Shanghai Underworld". They were, however, in a film called "Intrigue". In fact, there is no Googled record of any movie titled "Shanghai Underworld". I noticed at the market that the title seemed to be hand painted. So now I own a mystery poster. It is originally copy written in 1947, so either this is some mock up that is worth tons of money, or someone watched the film and decided they didn't like the original title and wanted to change their poster to something more appropriate. Either way, I added "Intrigue" to my queue and hung my new find on the wall. 

A Night With "Chinatown"

Ok, ok, so "Chinatown" is a bit newer than my standard film favorites, but the boyfriend and I had a chance to swing over to the Bay Theatre in Seal Beach Sunday night to see this 1974 film on the big screen.

Neither the boyfriend nor I had ever seen this film, and since I love Jack Nicholson and Roman Polanski films I knew this would be a good one. Jack plays a private eye who is assigned to the case of spying on rich water and power mogul Hollis Mulwray. Jack catches him with a young broad but before he knows it, Jack discovers he is being set up. Add a murder, and it makes the case a little more difficult. The story takes off from there.

It's hard to give a synapse of this film, because there are many twists and turns. But I can say that it really grabs you in as you watch Jack un-solve this mystery. John Huston and Faye Dunaway give wonderful performances, and you never know if they are good or evil. This film is set in 1937 so Faye's 30's costumes, finger wave hair, and cupid's bow lips are to die for (pun intended).

I always thought that Jack has the bandage from getting punched in the face, but he is actually shanked by the "bad guys" (and no other than Roman Polanski who directed this film.)

There is a terrific scene filmed on Catalina Island and many great shots of the LA river, gorge, and Chinatown, naturally. At the time of filming, Jack was beginning his long romance with Angelica Huston and apparently there was some uncomfortable-ness when John had to ask Jack in the film if he had ever slept with his daughter. I also learned that Roman wanted to back out of the film once he realized it was a 'go' because he had not been back to LA since his wife's murder and he was sad. But, the show must go on. 

It was so much fun watching this film up on the big screen. If anyone lives nearby I recommend visiting the Bay Theatre, as they show oldies every Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday.

www.baytheatre.com 

"Pillow Talk"

In honor of Doris' birthday, I will write about my favorite Doris/Rock picture, "Pillow Talk". 

I love this film. Doris plays an uptight decorator who is stuck with an obnoxious womanizer on her party line (played by the always dashing Rock Hudson). She is forced to listen in on his sappy conversations with different broads each day and night. 

After several failed attempts at phone schedules and visits from the phone company, Doris about gives up on nice, normal men. Meanwhile, she meets Rock and before she can figure out that it is her phone line nuisance, he discovers her identity and goes into character mode pretending to be someone else so she will date him. 

She thinks he is from Texas and falls head over heals. At the same time, her rich client, played by Tony Randall, is trying to snag her as a bride and turns out to be friends with Rock as well. There is a really cute scene when Tony finds out what Rock is up to and makes him take her home while he goes to his cabin in the mountains for hiding. The piano singer at the bar over hears this conversation and plays a great tune when Doris returns from the ladies room.

Doris finally learns Rock's true identity and is so mad she agrees to take on his attempt to get her back which is to re-decorate his bachelor pad. Another great scene is ongoing through the film where a female doctor in Doris' building thinks Rock is preggers and always misses him as he goes in and out. There is also a great performance by Thelma Ritter as Doris' drunk housekeeper who gets mad at the elevator boy for going too fast. 

The end of this film is adorable and funny and makes you want to press menu and start all over again. 

What Ever Happened to Hats?

In every old movie you watch the ladies (and gentlemen) are always sporting hats. When did this change? I love old hats, I own a few and wear then on occasion, but back in the day it was a staple to any stylish wardrobe. Pick any movie, and someone, or everyone, is wearing a fabulous hat.

Oh how I want to look like these lovely ladies!

Ava

Grace

Marion

Rosalind

Lucille

I think it is time someone brought the hat back...who's with me?

Picture of the Day

Audrey Hepburn, grocery shopping with her fawn, Pippin.