Quote Of The Day

"Your dresses should be tight enough to show you're a woman and loose enough to show you're a lady."

-Edith Head

Cleaning has it's benefits

Was going through some old drawers the other day and found some old VHS's I apparently thought I didn't need but was smart enough not to throw out. One of them was still in the plastic. Good thing I still have my VHS player!

"I've always wanted to marry a Rockafeller. Which one? I don't care."

I don't like Marilyn Monroe. Never have. Don't know why, but she just bugs me. There is however, one and one film only where I find her charming and fun, and that is "How to Marry a Millionaire". Besides the fact that I can stomach Marilyn in this picture, it also stars Betty Grable and my absolute favorite, Lauren Bacall.

The introduction to this film is unique. It begins with the band playing the score for this film that lasts several minutes. I like it and never fast forward it because it kind of sets the mood. Next you see a gorgeous skyline of New York in the 1950's.

Lauren is a fashion model and rents out a high end apartment in New York to rake in the rich men. She brings along her other fashion model friends (Betty and Marilyn) in the hopes that one of them will snag a man.

The rules are no men who aren't dressed to the nine allowed in, and try to find a rich one by frequenting Bergdorf's. The rule is broken immediately when Betty brings a "poor" guy in with the groceries that he payed for. Little do they know this guy is loaded. 

Time goes by and none of the girls can land a millionaire. 

 Marilyn meets a shady guy with an eye patch, Betty befriends an older married man, and Lauren keeps getting asked out by the "poor" guy where she replies, "The answer is still no!"

Betty goes to the mountains with the old married guy hoping she will meet some other rich men. She meets a hottie (played by Rory Calhoun) and falls in love. But does he have money?

Marilyn meets a man on the airplane who ends up owning the apartment they are renting, and is on the lamb. He wears glasses and so does she, although she never wears them around men and is blind as a bat. They fall in love and wear their glasses proud.

Lauren has got her target on a rich cattle tycoon (played by William Powell) and is determined to marry him for his cash. She even lies about her age saying she is 40! But he doesn't believe her. Meanwhile, the "poor" guy won't get off her back and she ends up going on a few dates with him. William and Lauren are set to marry. The plan is going to work!

The other girls come back with their recently married poor husbands and are happy. Lauren isn't sure what to do... She makes the right decision and marries the "poor" guy and she finally learns her lesson in the end.

The costumes and Technicolor are grand in this picture. Marilyn got all the press for this film because she was in the height of her career. Betty got top billing due to her contract, and this was officially her last film because she broke her contract and retired soon after. Lauren was the star of this film if you ask me, but I am biased.

Fun In The Sun

With less than a month away until the offical begining of summer (although where I live it feels like it has already begun) it is almost time to get the ol' swim suit out and go for a dip. Here is some inspiration.

Ann Baxter

Ava Gardner

Carole Landis

Betty Grable

Carole Lombard

Gene Tiereny

Joan Collins

Grace Kelly

Jane Russell

Janet Leigh

Rita Hayworth

Marilyn Monroe

Jean Harlow

Veronica Lake

Esther Williams

Don't forget the SPF!

Happy Birthday To You

Happy b-day William. Because not too many other men looked this good in black and white.

Picture of the Day

Bogie checking out the goods.

"Cactus Flower"

In Goldie Hawn's acting debut comes the cute movie "Cactus Flower", which also stars Walter Matthau and Ingrid Bergman. 

Goldie plays Toni, a young girl about town who works in a record shop and is about to kill herself when we meet her. She sends her bf a letter and goes upstairs to end it.

She is saved by neighbor Igor whom she has never met. Toni tells Igor that her bf (Walter) has stood her up yet again. We learn that Walter is a dentist and married with three kids. Toni promises not to off herlself and they call it a night.

Next we meet Walter and learn that is isn't married, but told her he was so he would never have to get married. But he decides he wants to marry Toni once he learns of her failed attempt through the letter that she sent him. Toni doesn't want to be a home wrecker, and wants to get the 'OK' from his wife. But since there is no wife what will Walter do?

Walter asks his trusted secretary (Ingrid) to cover for him and say she's his wife. Ingird is furrious then decedes to go along with it (secretly, she has the hots for Walter too). Toni believes her, but now she wants to meet the kids!

 Walter feels stressed when Toni tells him she thinks his wife still wants him and can't marry him knowing that. Walter decides to convince Toni by saying Ingrid has her own bf, played by Walter's goofy friend. They all meet up and double date.

Things go well until Toni decides that Ingrid's fake bf is embarassing Ingrid and Toni won't allow that. Eventually Igor joins the bunch and everyone has a lot of fun.

Ingrid feels bad and decides to tell Toni the truth, and you must watch it to find out what happends next...

This first film of Goldie's earned her an Oscar for best supporting actress. I love Golie in this film, she is adorable and has the best 60's wardrobe. Walter and Ingrid arn't too bad either...