Frenemies

 I was looking forward to this film ever since I caught about 5 minutes of it on TCM one night, but this time I was able to watch he whole thing through.

The film starts out with Deborah(Jeanne Crain)who is picking up friend, Rita (Ann Sothern). A woman named Addie is narrating the film as they drive. We learn that these gals are buds and are talking smack on Addie. They are in bad moods because they have been fighting with their husbands all morning.

They arrive at a dock and meet up with Lora Mae (Linda Darnell) to take a bunch of kids out to camp for the day. Lora Mae is mad because her man has been fighting with her as well.

 Before the ship sails they back stab Addie again and then receive a letter from her. She informs them she has left town and taken one of their husbands with her! Being the BFF that she is, Addie refuses to tell them which husband she has decided to commit adultery with.

The girls sail away worried and sad, wondering who it could be. As the boat ride continues we do a flash back into Deb's head and learn a little bit about why she would suspect her man to be the one to leave. Deb is new to town when she marries Brad and is very insecure. She learns that Brad and Addie were once an item and she  thinks she is not good enough for him. 

The boat arrives at camp and this time it is Rita's head that we get a glimpse inside. She and her man, George,  happy but they start to quarrel when Addie delivers a birthday gift to George after Rita had forgotten. She has high society business guests over for dinner and is acting snobby. George gets mad and yells at the guests and tells Rita he wishes she were classy like Addie. Could it be George who is off on a rendezvous?

Finally we see Lora Mae's story as we flash back to when her and her hubby, Porter, where just dating. She works at his store and is hoping to make it rich through marriage. Porter is not interested at first, since he is still sad about his break up with Addie a year before. Lora Mae plays some games and gets Porter to marry her, but it seems like it is just for the cash.

When they get back from camp, the girls must find out who will be coming home to an empty house and who's husband is still true. I really enjoyed this film with it's great acting, different story line, and good use of characters.

Picture Of The Day

Boris Karloff enjoying some coffee and toast on the set of "Son of Frankenstein", 1938. 

Cheers!

For the Mommas

Here's a look at some actresses being moms.

Debbie Reynolds

Olivia de Havilland

Ingrid Bergman

Mary Astor

Jayne Mansfield

Betty Grable

Judy Garland

Joan Blondell

Tippi Hedren

June Allyson and Esther Williams

Joan Fontaine

Jane Greer

Happy Momma's Day!

"The Conquering Power"

I am not much of a silent film fan. I try really hard but I always want to fall asleep when I watch them. I think it is the soothing music that gets me. I did however manage to stay awake for a great Valentino film, "The Conquering Power".

Rudy plays a rich heir who likes to party. 

His father tells him to go visit his estranged uncle. He gives Rudy a gift, photos of Rudy's momma and dad on their wedding day. Rudy sets off. When he gets there, he meets his Aunt and Uncle. He also meets the maid and his very attractive cousin named Eugenie (played by Alice Terry). 

Eugine's dad has been giving her gold on each birthday and she has created quite a collection. Many men are trying to gold dig and make her their wives, but she isn't into it. Rudy learns that his father was badly in debt and has killed himself. He is very sad but Eugenie is comforting. Rudy's Uncle seems like a nice guy but you quickly learn he is obsessed with gold and tries to screw over Rudy and his possible fortunes. 

Eugenie and Rudy fall in love (remember, they are cousins, eww) and Uncle does not approve. He tries to get rid of Rudy but before he does, Eugenie gives him all her gold to help him start anew.

Uncle tries to cut the ties by telling Rudy by letter that he is arranging a marriage for his daughter and Rudy is super bummed. He decides to not write her back. Years go by and some people die, some people go crazy, but Eugenie still loves Rudy. In the end, we learn that patience is key and good people get what they deserve in the end.

"The Broadway Melody"

 Last night my bestie Jill came over and we did our usual of sushi and movie. We threw on the 1929 film "The Broadway Melody". This picture was the first talkie for MGM.

When watching movies with friends you always get a laugh out of things you wouldn't normally notice. Jill mentioned how all the characters talked in each others faces, probably because it was a new sound film and they were sharing microphones. We also picked up on some inappropriate sister love...

Hank and Queenie are sisters who perform in Vaudeville. They saved up their money and came to New York to make it big. There is a great aerial shot of NY from the late 20's.

"Sister love" alert #1 they are always cuddling.

They have no money but can still support their fine clothes and fur habits. Hank has a beau, Eddie, who has the ins at the local Broadway theater and says he can get them a gig.

"Sister love" alert #2 they help each other bathe.

They do their audition but they only want Queenie. This is easy to predict because every two minutes someone tells her she is beautiful. Queenie makes a deal so both sisters can perform.

Hank has a temper and is always getting in fights. Queenie gets asked out by socialite Jock. He is no good for her but wants him anyways. Eddie doesn't like this and tells her he might give her a ring on the phone but he will never give her a ring on her finger! 

Then he starts to have a thing for Queenie.

But the show must go on, and it does with amazing art deco sets and over the top 20's costumes.

"Sister love" alert #3 they always dance smashed against each other.

Queenie, Hank, and Eddie get into a big blow out over Jock and Queenie storms out to go to a party after knocking Hank to the floor.

 Queenie realizes at the party what a sap Jock is and Eddie  professes his love for her. Hank apparently has no problem with her boyfriend wanting to date her sister and encourages him to go after her. 

In the end, Hank finds a new act.  

Queenie and Eddie are happy.

And the sisters are free to show their feelings. 

This was a cute movie but has many funny moments that didn't make sense. It was one of those films where you realize how far motion pictures have come. Someone thought it was pretty good because it won best picture at the Oscars making it the first sound film to do so.

Read This!

Because today should be all things Audrey, I must recommend this fabulous book titled The Audrey Hepburn Treasures by Ellen Erwin and Jessica Z. Diamond.

This book is filled with great pictures of Audrey starting at her birth and carrying on all through her life. The best part is every few pages is a pocket with recreations of papers, documents, letters and post cards.

This book is a lot of fun and would make a great gift for any Audrey fan, and let's be honest, who isn't an Audrey fan. Think about it, have you ever met someone who said they just didn't like her? Nope.

Certainly not me!