Dead Ringer 1964

Are you a fan of Bette Davis? Stupid question, who isn't? Then you'll love two of her, and evil to boot! This fab flick stars Bette playing twins, one who is jealous and the other who gets offed!

Bette first plays Margaret, who is mean and rich and newly widowed. Without remorse, Margaret gets a surprise visit from estranged sister Edith, also played by Bette. The two get together at Margaret's house after the funeral and Edith sees how rich her sister really is. She also learns that Margaret tricked her way into marriage many years ago when Edith also had the hots for the dead husband. Edith gets jealous a angry. 

Back at home, Edith is in a loveless relationship with a cop named Jim. She is deep in dept with her night club and devises a plan. She calls Margaret to come over and when she gets there, she kills her! Trading outfits, the plan is going right until annoying boy toy Jim stops by. Edith has to talk him away and the plans continue to take Margaret's identity. 

Edith assumes Margaret's life by "grieving" her husband's death and her sister's "suicide". Edith realizes that Margaret isn't a saint had had a man on the side named Tony. But the new Margaret isn't into it, and she finds herself in some sticky situations. Jim keeps in contact with Margaret and is not quite sure what happened to Edith and confesses his too late love. 

Margaret's fling comes to light and  Tony finds out the truth and then blackmails Margaret for money. Jim keeps pressing her for info and the investigation about Edith's suicide starts to take a turn. Will the truth come out? Will Edith pull off the murder and assumed identity forever?

Lana Turner was first for the role but turned it down. This film was applauded for the great special effects used to allow Bette to be side by side with herself. A class evil Bette movie, I really loved this oldie!

It Happend One Night 1934

I am not alone here when I say that this picture has to be about as good as it gets. Claudette complained every day, Clark was there as a punishment for breaking his contract, and everyone thought the film would be a disaster. The joke was on them when it won the big five Oscars, the first time out of three that this would happen in cinema history. 

Claudette plays Ellie, who is mad because she has just married a man that her daddy disapproves of. Daddy forces her to get an annulment and throws her on the yacht away from her man. The result is Claudette jumping off the boat!

The beauty of a 30's wedding gown. Long, sleek, bias cut goodness. 

Ellie decides to flee back to New York to be with her seeming confused almost husband. She has little money and one cute outfit when she hops on the bus. 

In another corner of the bus station, Clark (Peter) is giving his boss quite a roast. His buddies are keeping tabs and when the boss fires him and hangs up, Peter acts like he is tearing him a new one. He gets off the phone and jumps on the bus, not knowing what to do about his new found unemployment.

Peter finds a spot in the back with Ellie, and our road trip begins. Like all fab oldies, the two don't like each other from the start. Ellie is already in a bad mood over the days' events, and Peter thinks she is bitchy. She ends up falling asleep on Peter's shoulder and he realizes she's not all that bad. 

At the first stop Ellie looses her bags and is forced to face the fact that her pocket change is the only thing that is going to get her to New York. Naturally, she does what any woman would do when stressed and she tries to buy some chocolate.

Being a rich heiress and all, Ellie thinks that at the next stop the bus will wait for her as she heads off. When she returns the bus is gone, but Peter has stuck around. He has discovered who she is and that a marriage scandal like hers would get his job back. Que in the blackmail.

They head out together. Along the way they must hitchhike depicting the infamous scene of Clark trying hard to get a car and not succeeding, and Ellie showing some leg and getting a ride. 

When Fritz Freleng saw this film over at Warner Brothers he was inspired to create Bugs Bunny. 

I mean, check out Clark eating that carrot! And the ears! Dead ringer for sure. 

A night's rest is in order and Peter pays the bill for a 

room. A room, as in singular. Rich girl rich Ellie will have to share (*gasp*). Not pleased, Ellie watches Clark throw a sheet up and get undressed. This scene also made headlines, as Clark was not wearing an undershirt. Sales for undershirts dropped dramatically as men wanted to be a single layer guy like Clark. 

Ellie finds out Peter knows who she is and is forced to go along with him or he'll squeal to the public of her whereabouts. Ellie gets Peter's jammies and they platonically sleep the night away. 

As the journey continues, Ellie tells Peter she has fallen in love with him. As she goes to sleep, Peter heads off to make plans. Ellie wakes up and thinks that Peter has left her after she spilled the beans on her feelings. Now she is furious and calls Daddy. He is so happy she is found he gives her the okay to re-marry her hubby. Peter comes back to find her gone. Daddy knows something is up when Ellie is less than enthused to marry man #1. She tells him the whole story. Little does she know, Peter has come to her father and refused reward money. 

Ellie must find out in time whether or not Peter truly loves her, of if she will enter a marriage that she thought she wanted. 

Quote Of The Day

"Famous people feel that they must perpetually be on the crest of the wave, not realising that it is against all the rules of life. You can't be on top all the time; it isn't natural."

-Olivia de Havilland

Everyday Alfred

How the Hitchcock clan does Christmas.

Hello 2013!

Happy New Year!

As we ring in the new year many people will attend parties and be merry. A quick way to get merry is to drink! Our favorite oldies are no exception. Bottoms up!

Kat getting cozy with a Polar in Sylvia Scarlett

Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins clink their glasses in 

An Old Acquaintance

Lucky Joan with her own bottle

Bogey and Ingrid are eye to eye on their favorite beverage

Betty Balfour living it up in Hitchcock's Champagne

Clarke Gable, Van Heflin, Gary Cooper, and Jimmy Stewart share a laugh on New Years Eve

Curly learning his limits

Norma Shearer and Lionel Barrymore guzzle down in A Free Soul

The classic toast, Lionel and Sabrina

Cheers and Happy New Year from David Niven and The Affair!

Bringing Up Baby 1938

When this film came out it bombed, but now over 70 years later this filmed is cherished by anyone who sees it. Starring my Hollywood boyfriend and oldie girl crush, this 1938 film is one of Howard Hawks' best.

Cary plays David, a zoologist who is about to marry a square with a bun. As they discuss the reasons why they will not be having children, Cary goes off to play golf with a lawyer for a lady who wants to donate a million dollars to the museum. 

As he plays golf, he spots goofball Susan. Before you know it, she has crashed his car thinking it is her car. She is so sorry. 

That night David runs into Susan again, and wants nothing to do with her. She eats olives and makes David trip. He wants her to leave him alone, Susan is in love. 

A cute scene takes place where Susan rips David's coat and then says, "You tore your coat." David accidentally rips Susan's dress next and the remainder of the scene is a laugh. 

David learns that Susan knows the lawyer that David so much wants to impress. They go to his house but throw rocks at him instead and ruins David's chances at the money. The next day David gets a call from Susan asking him if he wants to see her leopard she just got from her cousin. David thinks she is nuts and has no interest, but Susan tricks him into coming over. 

Kat really interacts with the leopard in this scene. The trainer was so impressed with Kat's calmness around the leopard. Cary on the other hand didn't want to be near it and had to use a split screen and doubles. 

David is scared when he sees "Baby" but Susan tells him that the leopard loves music!

 Susan decides to take Baby to her farm house and needs David's help. David wants to leave her and Baby because he is planning to get hitched that day! Susan suckers him in. As they drive, Susan runs into a chicken truck and Baby goes wild (pun intended). 

With feathers all over David, and Baby's tummy full, they make it to the farmhouse. As David takes a shower so that he can meet his boring bride-to-be, Susan sends his clothes out so he will have to stick around. When he gets out all he has is her robe. Classic scene!

Soon he learns that the lady with the million dollars is Susan's aunt! She walks in to David in a ladies robe acting off his rocker. What a great first impression!

 Meanwhile, Susan's dog George has taken David's dinosaur bone and buried it. Susan and David must dig to find it.

As the movie goes on Baby escapes and the two go off to find him. After disrupting neighbors and singing songs to lure Baby, they are arrested for disturbing the peace.

Not to worry, silly Susan will talk her way out of it. She escapes and tries to find Baby.

 You might be wondering what happens to the fiancee...she finally catches up to David and can not believe his shenanigans! What kind of serious scientist can he really be?

We're through!

After a jailhouse fright and some heavy explaining, David is able to get back to work at the museum but without the million dollars. He has lost his bride and is afraid Susan is going to rally him into more trouble when she comes to visit him and let him know she found his dino bone!

Up the ladder she goes and David realizes he really loves all the excitement and that he is in love. She tells him she has acquired the million dollars and wants to donate it to the museum.  As they proclaim their happiness, Susan makes another boo boo.

Oh Susan! This slap stick is famous for the tumbles and talking over one another tactics. It is quick moving and terribly funny. You almost have to watch it more than once so you can catch all the excitement!