Happy Birthday Sophia!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
"You Were Never Lovelier"
I have never really payed too much attention to Rita Hayworth. I must be crazy right? She is beautiful and can dance, but I guess with all the other big stars that I love, Rita kinda got lost in the shuffle. I have seen "Gilda" and a few other with her as the star, but I think my new favorite Rita film is "You Were Never Lovelier" with Mr. Astaire. I think have a new of-the-moment "it" girl to watch!
I love this font!
Rita plays Maria, daughter of club owner Mr. Grumpy Mr. Acuna. Fred plays Bob, a dancing man looking for some work while down in Argentina. Bob is pals with club band leader Xavier Cugat playing himself. Bob tries to get in to see Mr. Acuna and it is a no go and Mr. Acuna won't see him. Bob, determined to get a job, has Xavier help him in. Still no good. Mr. Acuna is about to marry off his oldest daughter of four.
Being a future bride myself, I got a kick out of the bridesmaid hats and the procession down the staircase before oldest daughter was married off.
Meanwhile, Maria has had it tough with men and has sort of written them off. Younger sisters Cecy and Lita have already found their men, but daddy will only let them marry in order of age, and Maria is next. They are super bummed.
Mr. Acuna decides to spark some interest in Maria and starts writing her love letters and sending orchids to her as a secret admirer. Maria bites, but who will be her mystery man?
Bob sneaks in to play a gig hoping to get Mr. Acuna's attention, but it doesn't work, and in the process, insults Maria to his face by saying she has the personality of the inside of a refrigerator! Mr. Acuna declares he hates Bob and never wants to see him around his office.In the process Bob ends up delivering one of the orchids to the house and Maria now thinks he is her cupid!
She tells daddy, and Mr. Acuna is beyond pissed. He makes a deal with Bob by giving him a contract if he talks Maria into thinking Bob is a sap. It doesn't work. (I mean come on, how can Fred Astaire be a sap?) Of course Bob starts to fall for Maria as well.
I want her shoes!
Maria is smitten but doesn't know daddy wrote all those notes and that Bob originally was hired to court, or uncourt, Maria. Mr. Acuna figures out they fancy each other and makes Bob agree to tell Maria he is heading back to the states. Then they decide to throw a party. (By the way, the invite in the film is shown and it says "formal attire" at the bottom. Stay tuned to see what people are wearing!)
At the party, word gets out that Mr. Acuna was writing the letters and Maria is crushed and mad. Bob tries to tell Maria it was his fault and not her fathers, but she storms out. Mr. Acuna is so happy that Bob didn't throw him under the bus that he decides he likes Bob and tells him to go after her.
Bob tries to get Maria back but it isn't working. He decides he must go even further to show Maria he is in love and the end of this film is very cute.
I really liked this picture despite the fact I thought it was creepy that Maria's dad was writing her love letters throughout the whole film. Rita's costumes were beautiful thanks to Irene, and Gus Shilling, who has a small part as Mr. Acuna's secretary really makes some good laughs. Rita said this was her favorite of all the films she did. I also love films with Xavier Cugat and his band.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Happy Birthday Betty!
Fabulous then...
Fabulous now.
You are my favorite of all time.
Happy 87 Ms. Bacall!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
"Little Women"
Back when Katharine Hepburn was box office poison she did a wonderful picture with George Cukor titled, "Little Women". This film has been done over and over again, but this version is still my favorite. Sorry Winona Ryder.
Kat plays Jo March, the "eccentric" sister along with three others. Father is away at war and mother is a do-gooder who is teaching her gals to be the same. They are a bit broke at the moment but live next door to rich neighbor Laurence's.
It's always party time at the March house.
The girls get into trouble, then do nice things, and play in the snow. Jo starts to fancy long time pal and neighbor Laurie and they canoodle. Sister Beth gets sick and almost kicks the bucket but pulls through, and sister number 3 falls in love with Laurie's tutor.
Time goes on and Laurie wants Jo to marry him. She turns him down but regrets it. To get away from her sadness she goes off to live at an orphanage and help out. She has a great time but never forgets the one that got away.
Beth gets sick again and is dying so Jo rushes home only to learn sister Amy stole her man and married him. Jo must face some tough times but realizes in the end that family is what is important.
Cukor fought hard to get this picture made, as the studios thought novels about women during the civil war were boring. This film set the stage for the making of "Gone With The Wind". It earned two Oscar noms and won for best screenplay.
Friday, September 9, 2011
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