On An Island With You 1948

In the wake of Esther Williams death on June 6th, TCM played a 24 hour marathon. Did anyone watch? I ended up recording all of them and am slowing enjoying her films again. On An Island With You was her 12th film and a good one at that.

Esther is Roz, an actress who is filming a movie in the South Pacific with actor boyfriend played by Ricardo Montalban. They slather her in self tanner and throw a sarong on her and off they go.

For continuity they bring in Lieutenant Larry (Peter Lawford) to make sure they film looks legit. Little does Roz remember, but Larry met her a few years back and has had an obsessive crush on her ever since. He makes this very clear early on. Roz wants nothing to do with him.

He vents his frustrations to assistant director Buckley (Jimmy Durante) who helps him out best he can. Cyd Charisse is there too as Yvonne who seems depressed.

I want to steal Cyd's peasant top. Those colors!

Larry films a scene where he flies Roz around the island. When they yell, "cut" they realize Larry has flown away with Roz in tow! He takes her to the island where they met and tries to suck some face with her. She goes from mad to understanding to happy to irritated. Make up your mind woman!

One must not forget orange lipstick when 

heading to the tropics.

The crew finds Roz and Buckley goes off to find Larry who is hanging out with the natives. Ricardo is furious but Roz starts to have a change of heart. Larry is still crazy about Roz, and doesn't seam worried that he is going to be arrested for kidnapping!

Roz still wants to marry Ricardo but she starts to question her love. Even a romantic synchronized swim can't get her mind of the current events. 

You will have to watch this cute film to see who Roz picks. But really it is a no-brainer, who wouldn't want Peter Lawford?! This film is true to form with colorful dances, amazing wardrobe, and Esther swimming her heart out. Xavier Cugat has a beefy role in this film as himself naturally and is great. 

I love films with him and his band! A must see!

The Palm Beach Story 1942

Gerry (Claudette Colbert) and Tom (Joel McCrea) are six years into their marriage and broke. 

 Gerry is home when the landlord brings over new tenants since they are being shoved out for unpaid rent. Turns out to be "The Weenie King". An old, deaf man who takes a liking to Gerry when he runs into her in the bathtub in her wrap!

 The weenie king thinks she is a cutie and gives her $700 to pay off her dues. She is ecstatic and pays the bills, gets her hair done, and buys a new dress. Hubby Tom comes home and is irritated at her new found wealth and the way he thinks she earned it.

Now that the bills are paid they can get a divorce according to Gerry. They think they are unhappy together and Gerry wants to use her looks to get money to help Tom's business. He thinks she is crazy.

The next morning she shoves out and runs away to Palm Beach to get a divorce and meet a new rich guy to give her money. Tom wants to chase after her but he has no money. Good thing the weenie king turns up and gives him the cash! He plans to meet her at her in Palm Beach with open arms. 

Meanwhile, Gerry uses her hotness to score a ticket on the train for free. This ticket comes with a price, as she is followed around by a mob of crazy drunk hunters who sing songs and shoot out train windows. 

 The conductor leaves the rowdy bunch's train car on the tracks and takes off, but that includes Gerry's purse, makeup, clothes, and ticket! She is trapped in her train bunk with noting but men's pajamas. As she is fixing how to get out of this mess, she meets her bunk neighbor and breaks his glasses. Fail.

He is forgiving and wants to help Gerry. He buys her lunch and she gets off at the next stop wit him and he spoils her with a new wardrobe and diamonds! Who is this guy? He is sweet, apparently rich, and quiet the OCD case. He writes all his expenses in a notebook for organization.

 He's planning to get to Palm Beach by boat and asks Gerry to go wit him. She does and finds out he is J.D., one of the richest men in the world, and a bachelor to boot! He is meeting his 5 time divorced sister Princess Centimillia and her latest boy toy. Guess who is also waiting at the dock? Tom, with roses.

The four meet and Gerry tells the gang that Tom is her brother! He goes along with it but is mad. 

Rich J.D. is falling for Gerry and Gerry realizes she is still in love with her hubby.

Gerry is in a pickle. If she marries J.D. she is set for life and Tom can get his business going too, but she won't have Tom, and Princess Centimillia is taking quite a liking to Tom as well. Should she choose for her pocketbook or her heart? 

The plot of this film is weird and so unrealistic. But the costume design is great and I love a good Claudette film. Silly but fun viewing!

Happy America Day!

Happy Fourth of July from The Affair!! 

Be safe with that over sized firecracker Bette!!

Everyday Alfred

Ho hum...

For Miss Hepburn

Today is the 10 year anniversary of Katharine Hepburn's death. While I don't typically like to celebrate the date someone died, LIFE magazine has released some fabulous pictures of Kat and crew filming The African Queen in her honor. 

Here are a few for your viewing pleasure...

All photos courtesy of LIFE Magazine

Check out the rest of these photos at www.life.time.com

If these pictures strike your fancy I suggest you march to the library right now and check out Katharine's book, The Making Of The African Queen or How I Went To Africa With Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind all about her wild adventures with Bogie (who drank so much with Huston they were the only ones to never got sick while filming), Lauren (the team mom who nursed, cooked, and wifed like a champ for the crew), and Huston (who missed the birth of daughter Angelica during the process, talk about commitment). It's funny and quirky just like the author.

We miss you Kat!

Picture Of The Day

It's hot out there! So be like Rita - head to the beach 

with a big ol' sandwich! 

(And don't forget your stuffed monkey...)

Everyday Alfred

Watcha digging for Alfred...?