Yay! I love surveys--Though they are really hard. While most people would probably just whip through a survey like this, it takes me days of musing and rumination. But I did the best I could, though I couldn’t completely answer all the questions (either because I was indecisive or because I haven’t seen enough classic movies). And remember to do Amanda’s survey yourself (click on the logo above). It’s a lot of fun and I love reading everyone’s answers!
1. What is your favorite movie starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, excluding all of The Thin Man films? I think I've only seen one--Libeled Lady--so I can't really answer that question.
2. Name a screen team that appeared in only one film together but are still noteworthy for how well they complimented each other. Hmm…the only one I can think of is Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday.
3. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' best film together? Swing Time is probably their best film as a duo (because it features such great dances). I'm not sure if it's my favorite movie of theirs though.
4. Your favorite actor named "Robert"? Robert Montgomery
photo from here
5. An actor/actress who, when you see one of their movies, you always wish that someone else was in his/her role? Dennis Morgan, George Reeves, Sonny Tufts, James Craig, Joseph Cotten, John Hodiak, Melvyn Douglas, Jeffrey Lynn, John Lund (as a lead), and Louis Jordan come to mind. There are others though. I guess I don’t like a lot of male leads. Haha.
6. An actor/actress that someone close to you really loves that you can't stand or vice versa? I don't usually watch movies with other people so this is hard to answer. Most of my classic film loving friends are online.
7. An actor/actress that you both agree on completely? Ditto #6.
8. Complete this sentence: Virginia O'Brien is to Ethel Merman as Alice Faye is to Betty Hutton…?
Note (added later): I really didn’t get this question when I first posted. But then once I remembered that O’Brien was in The Harvey Girls I figured that I probably did this wrong.)
9. What is your favorite film starring Ray Milland? The Major and the Minor
10. You had to have seen this one coming: what is your favorite movie of the 1960s? I haven't seen a lot of '60s films, but The Sound of Music is one of my all time favorites.
11. An actor/actress that you would take out of one film and put into a different movie that was released the same year? I can’t think of a good answer for this one. :(
12. Who was your favorite of Robert Montgomery's leading ladies? I haven’t seen enough of his movies to compare.
13. You think it would have been a disaster if what movie starred the actor/actress who was originally asked to star in it? I don't think that Bette Davis could've played Scarlett in Gone With the Wind. (I'm not sure if it is true, but I heard she turned the part down.) I also am glad Gene Tierney played the title role in Laura rather than Rita Hayworth. And I can't imagine Montgomery Clift, Fred MacMurray, Marlon Brando, or Gene Kelly (all prospectives) in the role that eventually went to William Holden in Sunset Boulevard.
14. An actor/actress who you will watch in any or almost any movie? Olivia de Havilland. [updated 2/19/11]
15. Your favorite Leslie Howard film and role? I think the only film I've seen of his is Gone With the Wind…and even that was a while ago. The Scarlet Pimpernel is on my list of films to see, though.
16. You have been asked to host a marathon of four Barbara Stanwyck films. Which ones do you choose? I’m just discovering Stanwyck’s work. I guess for now I will go with Ball of Fire, Christmas In Connecticut, Remember the Night, and I don’t know about a fourth one.
17. What is, in your mind, the nearest to perfect comedy you have ever seen? Why? There are so many fabulous comedies. It's hard to pick. One that comes to mind is The More the Merrier. The premise is so much fun and the Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea, and Charles Coburn are all great. It’s just an adorable movie.
18. You will brook no criticism of what film? The Sound of Music is one that comes to mind.
19. Who is your favorite Irish actress? I don't know of a lot of Irish actresses, but I’ll say Maureen O’Hara. [updated 2/19/11]
20. Your favorite 1940s movie starring Ginger Rogers? Of the ones I've seen: The Major and the Minor
21. Do you enjoy silent movies? I've only seen one. Let's just say I want to grow in my appreciation for them.
22. What is your favorite Bette Davis film? All About Eve…again, of the films I've seen of hers.
23. Your favorite onscreen Hollywood couple? Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland! [updated 2/19/11]
24. This one is for the girls, but, of course, the guys are welcome to answer, too: who is your favorite Hollywood costume designer? I don't know. Is it unoriginal to say Edith Head? I need to pay more attention to designers. I know most of the main ones but I haven’t yet identified their unique styles. I really enjoy the clothes in old movies, though! It’s just one of the great things about classic movies.
25. To even things out a bit, here's something the boys will enjoy: what is your favorite tough action film? Does Angels With Dirty Faces count? I kind of doubt it but I’ll go with it.
26. You are currently gaining a greater appreciation for which actor(s)/actress(es)? Van Heflin, Robert Montgomery, Edward G. Robinson, Barbara Stanwyck, Debbie Reynolds, Olivia de Havilland, Robert Mitchum…and more that I probably can't think of at the moment.
27. Franchot Tone: yes or no? I don't think I've seen a movie with him in it.
28. Which actors and/or actresses do you think are underrated? Ray Milland, George Sanders, Robert Montgomery, Eve Arden, Edward G. Robinson, Ronald Colman, Irene Dunne, Ginger Rogers, Jean Arthur, and many of those wonderful character actors that contributed so much to classic movies.
29. Which actors and/or actresses do you think are overrated? I had a long list of people here, but I decided not to post it because a) most of you would be very insulted at my taste b) my mind is constantly changing as I view more films.
30. Favorite actor? It changes a lot but right now I'll go with Robert Montgomery.
31. Favorite actress? Olivia de Havilland! [updated 2/19/11]
32. Of those listed, who is the coolest: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Steve McQueen, or Patrick Stewart? I don't think I've seen any movies with these people! And I don't even know who Patrick Stewart is…so that probably makes me a really bad movie fan.
33. What is your favorite movie from each of these genres:
Comedy: This is just too hard. There are so many great comedies. So I will just pick one of my favorites--You Can't Take It With You.
Swashbuckler: I haven't seen many of these. I love The Adventures of Robin Hood, though!
Film noir: Laura
Musical: The Sound of Music
Holiday: It's A Wonderful Life
Hitchcock: probably Rebecca…although I haven't seen all his films.
Hey, Audrey, I really enjoyed reading your answers! And not knowing who Patrick Stewart is doesn't make you a bad movie fan. He's a more current actor with a Shakespearean background (on the stage), but he's best known for playing Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
ReplyDelete