Miss Tay

Sunday blues? Turn on the tube to TCM and sit back to watch a full day of Elizabeth Taylor as they pay tribute to a legend.

Check out the schedule at:

http://www.tcm.com/schedule/index.html

Enjoy!

Quote Of The Day

"Sex appeal is fifty percent of what you've got and fifty percent of what people think you've got."

-Sophia Loren

The Awful Truth

 Tonight's Cary Grant fix is by way of the excellent screwball comedy, 1937's The Awful Truth. Also starring Irene Dunne and Ralph Bellamy, directed and ghost produced by Leo McCarey, with co-producer Everett Riskin.

Cary (Jerry) and Irene (Lucy) are man and wife until they start to get jealous. Jerry thinks Lucy is cheating on him with her foreign singing instructor, and Lucy thinks he is lying about his travels. They decide to get a divorce. But who will get Mr. Smith, their dog whom they both love? The court decides to let the dog choose, and he goes with Lucy.

Lucy moves in with Aunt Patsy and starts sulking because she misses her ex husband. Jerry gets visitation rights with the dog. One night Aunt Patsy scores a date for Lucy named Daniel played by Ralph Bellamy. He is an Okie visiting New York and Lucy thinks he is a bit of a dud. Jerry comes over to play with the dog so Lucy leaves with Daniel and third wheel Aunt Patsy. After one night on the town Daniel is in love. 

Before you know it, Lucy realizes Daniel has serious feelings for her, and realizes that she still has feelings for Jerry. Meanwhile Jerry does what he can to break off the engagement because he still loves her too.

Lucy still has contact with her singing instructor and he and Jerry get in a shuffle when they both get sent to her room to hide from Daniel. Once Daniel gets wind of all Lucy's men, he is over it. Jerry starts dating a rich heiress and they make plans to wed.

While visiting his future in-laws, Jerry finds himself in a pickle when his fabricated sister shows up at the party, and it is Lucy! She plays a boozer and the in-laws are not impressed. She and Jerry take off once it is clear there will be no wedding bells for anyone.

On the way back, they get pulled over by the cops, and after Lucy lets the car run into a tree, they need an escort back to her folk's house for the night. I love the safe way the cops let them ride on the motorcycles. In the end they make a truce and realize the awful truth about their relationship. 

I love this film for many reasons. 

One: Cary - I mean, look at him. He had mastered the art of timing early on, with this film coming before Bringing Up Baby, His Girl Friday, or Monkey Business where he really could perfect his craft.

Two: Lucy's wardrobe is beautiful thanks to Robert Kalloch who worked as chief costume designer for Columbia pictures starting in 1933 and the later MGM in 1941. Some of his highlights at Columbia were designs for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, His Girl Friday, Holiday, and There's Always A Woman. 

And Three: The ultimate laughable scene where Jerry is hiding behind the door trying to make Lucy laugh while she is supposed to be serious with Daniel.

Cary tried to get out of finishing the picture due to the writers not telling the actors what scenes they would be doing the next day, which made Cary very anxious. Director Leo McCarey convinced him to stick it out, and The Awful Truth ended up being one of the best hits of the year. Irene said she and Grant "meshed from the first moment", and they would go on to star in two more pictures in the coming years.

Jungle Red

For my 30th post (whoo hoo) I thought it was time to bring out the best movie ever made on this planet. "The Women". Ohh how I love this movie, I can never stop raving about it! Every actress in the film is female. Even the animals used in the film, all female. Even the artwork in the background, all female. You will see nothing male in this film, but as the tagline says, "It's all about men!"

This film starts out at the nail salon where the 'ladies who lunch' get beautified. The salon and all other sets where done by my favorite oldie production designer, Cedric Gibbons (Ok, a few men worked on this film). The gossip is flying and rumors are stirring. You meet Sylvia Fowler, played by the exquisite Rosalind Russell. She wears amazing hats in this film and plays the big mouth, and my favorite.

While gabbing to her manicurist, Sylvia overhears a story about her friend Mary Haines'(Norma Shearer)husband stepping out with a perfume counter broad. Being the good friend that she is, she tells some of her other friends when lunching at Mary's later in the afternoon. But not Mary.

Mary learns that Stephen, her dog house husband, can't make it home from work and she is super bummed. Sylvia recommends Mary go see her nail gal and tells her to get the latest shade, "Jungle Red". Mary goes the following day and learns the truth herself. She knows all her pals know and aren't telling her. 

Meanwhile, Sylvia and her gals go snoop around to find this mistress named Crystal Allen (Joan Crawford, naturally) behind the perfume counter. The cattiness begins and eventually Mary and Crystal meet face to face in one of the best scenes in the picture. Mary is distraught, especially when she learns the tart is hanging out with her husband and their daughter. Sylvia tries to help Mary but Mary won't have it. 

Time goes by...Crystal marries Stephen for his money and he divorces Mary. She goes off to Reno and meets a bunch of other fabulous characters who are also getting divorced. Sylvia joins them as Mr. Fowler has requested a divorce. One of the new broads at the ranch, Miriam (Paulette Goddard), is secretly dating Sylvia's man and they get in a great cat fight. Rosalind really bites Paulette in this scene and gives her a scar that will last the rest of her life! 

Mary meets sweet divorcee Peggy (Joan Fontaine) who wants her man back since she is knocked up. They re-unite which makes Mary wish she could swallow her pride and get Stephen back. Crystal is unhappy with Stephen and tells Sylvia who is her new BFF. Check out the amazing clear bathtub Crystal hangs out in!

Mary learns that her ex is unhappy and tells her mother she has grown claws (Jungle Red) and is going to go after her man at a huge party where all the gals will be. In the end, everyone cheats on everyone and everyone gets bitchy with each other. Joan says my favorite line in the film, "There is a name for you, ladies, but it isn't used in high society...outside of a kennel."

Some other amazing parts of this film is the technicolor fashion show that appears in the middle of the film.

My favorite outfit of all is Rosalind's at the beginning. If I could re-create this I would. It has eyeballs on it. Stunning!

It wasn't all fun and games on the set, however. Roz wanted top billing and Norma said no. Roz called in sick every day until Norma agreed to it. Norma and Joan also had a huge rivalry since the beginning of Joan's career. Neither of them would enter the sound stage first and would drive around in their cars waiting for the other to step out first. Director George Cukor finally had to go out side and pull them out and ask them to behave.

When that stupid re-make with Meg Ryan came out I gritted my teeth and rented it. Uhgg. I wanted to cry. Nothing can compare to the fine casting, acting, costumes, set design, directing, and writing that this 1939 film portrays. If you have never seen it, go rent it right now, I promise you will love it!

Picture Of The Day

Randolph Scott and Cary Grant. Best lovers friends, in their Malibu home's pool where they lived as roommates when in between wives.