Almost "The Women"

My good friend Mr. Tiny over at Wacky Tacky loaned me his copy of "The Opposite Sex" starring June Allyson and Dolores Gray. I was hesitant. I knew this film was a remake of the greatest film ever made, "The Women" but would it live up? Would it suck so bad I would have to return the film without watching the second half? 

The beginning started out fine. We meet our ladies at Sydney's, the hair salon where women beautify and salon workers gossip. Just like in "The Women". We're off to a good start. Mrs. Fowler (Dolores Gray)learns that BFF Kay's husband is cheating. Oh what news! She finds her other BFF Edith (Joan Blondell) to spread the word. 

The mistress is dance girl Crystal Allen (Joan Collins) and what a dish. Hubby is the shows producer and Kay soon learns via salon girl. Meanwhile, all Kay's friends have told everyone but her. 

Notice Kay's hubby is no other than Leslie Nielsen. What a fox!

Unlike "The Women", TOS has men in it. At first I was anti, but it suits this film well. I like better to imagine what their husbands look like when watching the 1939 film, but it doesn't hurt in this film to see what the males look like.

The night Kay finds out about her cheating man is the same night as their ten year anniversary party. Kay plays if off and doesn't let on, but we see her reminisce about meeting her husband back when she was a night club singer and things were good.

Once the cat is out of the bag Kay finally runs head on with Crystal. This film version is sassier and at the end of their scene together Crystal gets slapped!

Kay's dress in this scene is my favorite in the film.

Before June slapped Joan, director David Miller told Joan not to back away and that Kay would only pretend to slap her. He told June to let her have it because Joan would back away. Sneaky, sneaky! The result is great! Joan's earring even falls off and Joan was mad at June for days thinking she slapped her on purpose!

Once the drama is over it is off to Reno for Kay. Just like in "The Women" she meets to gals on the train, Gloria (Ann Miller) and the Countess (Agnes Moorehead). Oh amour amour! Buck Winston picks them up as he helps out on the "divorce ranch". The gals are smitten and some are looking for their next husband! Charlotte Greenwood plays the ranch owner. This is her last film role after  a 40 year career. I tried to find a picture but no luck.

Sylvia turns up after she learns that Mr. Fowler is stepping out with a lovely lady. Turns out it is someone they know! Cue in cat fight...

Meanwhile Crystal has married Kay's unhappy ex and gets her see-thru bathtub just like Joan Crawford did. (Although I like Crawford's better, naturally). She is now seeing Buck Winston while at the same time as another friend. These girls get around!

The finale of this film is a bit different than the original, but I very much liked it. It was bitchy-er than the original, and who doesn't love some girl on girl war games? 

 The original will always be the best, but I surprisingly enjoyed this one as well. It was as if the Orange County Housewives got together and remade this film. Much cattier, more dirty looks from across the room. The cast was pretty well put together and each character still had their flare. If you have not see "The Women", go see it first, and afterwards see this one to compare for yourself!

Everyday Alfred

When you gotta make a call, you gotta make a call.

Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone has a fabulous holiday!

Sincerely, 

Emily

and The Siver Screen Affair

Foreign Film Poster Friday

"Pride Of The Marines" 1945"

"It Happend On Fifth Avenue"

It's the season to be busy. Between starting a new job, sewing and crafting gifts, and shopping I have had little time to sit down with an oldie film. As I was cleaning up after hosting a party and threw on TCM to get my fix. Five minutes in to this film and I stopped cleaning and sat down to watch this cute flick.  

Victor Moore plays Aloysius, a homeless free loader who every year moves into a rich man's mansion when he leaves for warmer winters. He wears his clothes, sleeps in his bed and is nice enough to dust the furniture and check the light bulbs for the guy. Soon he meets   Bill, who just got thrown out of his place and is looking for an apartment. Aloysius offers "his place" and the two becomes roommates. Soon after they catch a "thief" who is actually the rich mans daughter Trudy (played by Gale Storm). They think she is taking a coat which is really hers. She ran away from school and conceals her identity and starts to live there herself. 

Trudy has a thing for Bill but so far he isn't into her. Before you know it, there are several families living in the house, even a baby! Trudy gets dolled up for Bill and he finally gives her a second look.

"Aaaarn't I sexy now?"

Trudy's dad and the home owner comes looking for Trudy once he learns she skipped out on school. She tells him the story and begs father to pretend to be homeless and live in the house too so she can get closer to Bill. Loving father agrees. What is funny is that Aloysius starts treating father like a maid and makes him do all the chores!

When father gets fed up and tells Trudy he is going to the cops, Trudy calls in mom, who has been separated from father for quite a while. She starts to cook and everyone gets ready for Christmas time. A business deal comes up for Bill and father plays a hand in it to make Bill move far far away. He wants Trudy to go back to school and all she wants is to marry Bill. 

Things looks like they might work out when Bill gets the chance to pursue his dreams and Father and Mother start to reconcile. They celebrate Christmas Eve dinner together with the whole gang. When Father makes a business deal that ruins Jim's chances at success, he breaks up with Trudy to take a job in Bolivia. Trudy is pissed and so is Mother realizing that Father will never change.

In the end, everything works out. It is a Christmas movie after all...

Foreign Film Poster Friday

"Out Of The Past" 1947

The Disapearing Act of Tap Dance

While watching Moon Over Miami for the fourth time in two days (don't judge me)I asked the fiancee, "What ever happened to tap dancing in the movies?" He had no answer. After thinking through Don Ameche's singing I started to get peeved. I mean, how can someone not find tap dancing sequences in films entertaining if not a spectacle of total amazement? When did movie goers wake up one day and not insist that motion pictures include tap dancing in their films anymore? Instead of starting Moon Over Miami over again     (it was raining after all)I got on Google and asked the very same question the fiancee couldn't find an answer for. Up came a link for "Happy Feet" and "Chicago". So in modern films if I want to watch tap dancing it either has to be through cartoon or a "period piece" film. Are these my only options? Guess that is why I love the oldies and why the saying, "They don't make em like they used to." is really true. So lets take a look at some fantastic tap by some fantastically talented oldies and smile knowing that at least once upon a time this form of dance thrived and say a thank you to DVD players for allowing us to watched them over and over again.

The Nicholas Brothers in "Stormy Weather", 1943

Gene Kelly in "Summer Stock" 1950

Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell in "The Broadway Melody" 1940