Send Me No Flowers (1964)

July 31, 2011

66. Send Me No Flowers (1964)
 
Starring Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Randall, Paul Lynde, Hal March
Directed by Norman Jewison

Plot: "A hypochondriac thinks he's dying this time, and makes plans for his wife which she discovers and misunderstands." (from IMDb)

Yes, another movie by Norman Jewison starring Doris Day. I liked this one a whole lot better, though. Doris and Rock are so great together (major understatement) and I like the fact that they are already married because it mixes up the usual plot of their previous two movies (Pillow Talk and Lover Come Back). Plus, somehow it feels fresher for this film to take place in suburbia instead of the city like the previous two.



I'm kind of a hypochondriac myself (though not really in the way Rock's character is) so I thought that part of the story was very humorous.



This movie is really funny! I always find Tony Randall to be so hilarious, and he has some great lines in this film. I never realized just how good Hudson is at comedy. I can't help comparing him to James Garner since I just watched The Thrill of It All, and with all due respect to Mr. Garner, Rock really knows how to make this kind of film work.

Paul Lynde also makes an appearance as a man who sells grave plots...and perhaps enjoys his work a little too much.

I was really enjoying this film until 'it' happened. You know, that almost inevitable factor of so many romantic comedies, when due to some misunderstanding or confused motive the couple becomes furious at one another and break-up. They then proceed to go through all kinds of hoops and levels of anger and revenge before ultimately getting back together before the credits roll. No matter how big the accusation or problem was, all is forgiven and everyone is happy. Maybe it's just that I don't like confrontation, but I find this plot device to be really tiresome. Especially when it's in SO many movies. Can't there be another cause of friction other than the relationship? It's just so predictable. I wish they could've done something fresher with the second half of the film.

Criticism aside, I still did really enjoy this and would watch it again in an instant. It's the kind of movie that is just wonderful escapism—an instant pick-me-up. If you love Doris and Rock in their previous pairings, don't skip this one!

 

The Thrill of It All (1963)

July 29, 2011

65. The Thrill of It All (1963)

Starring Doris Day, James Garner, Arlene Francis, Edward Andrews
Directed by Norman Jewison

Plot: "A doctor tries to cope with his wife's newfound stardom as an advertising pitch woman." (from TCMDb)

This movie is really silly, and it wasn’t one of my favorites, but I will concede that it’s quite amusing.

Doris Day is fun as usual and her Jean Louis wardrobe alone is worth viewing the movie for (thus so many screen caps of what she’s wearing!). There were some fun cameos in this and lots of familiar character actors—Zasu Pitts (pictured above), Carl Reiner (who also was one of the writers of the screenplay), Reginald Owen (he was hilarious as Old Tom Fraleigh), Alice Pearce (also in Bewitched), Bernie Kopell (Get Smart!) and Hayden Rourke (I Dream of Jeannie) among others.

This isn't bad entertainment, but it lacks a certain sparkle...or something. I can't quite put my finger on just what.

Content advisory: A bit of crass humor and some mild language. Both unwarranted and unnecessary, though minor.



Doris modeling more flawless ‘60s fashion.



The kids in this were kind of funny when they weren’t being annoying. :) You may recognize the little girl from her role as Gretel in The Sound of Music. She was adorable!



The film’s humor poked at the advertising world was quite funny. I also love Doris’ outfit here (and the set!).



One of Beverly’s few hobbies is canning their own ketchup. The moment where her husband (James Garner) finds her and Mike (Elliot Reid) in the basement is probably one of the funnier moments. Garner’s line delivery is just so perfect. Other than that scene, though, I found Garner rather hit-and-miss with the comedy. It wasn’t awful, but it makes me appreciate what Rock Hudson did. It’s not easy to carry off this type of comedy and make it work!





Arlene Francis is a woman who has finally conceived and she and her husband are elated. (Don’t worry, I’m really not giving much away because this is revealed about one minute into the film—even before the opening credits roll.) It’s a little hard to accept that Francis (56 at the film’s release) is young enough to even have a baby, though! Edward Andrews as Francis’ husband was was way too over the top in this, especially near the end.




Love her outfit!

One thing I really did not get about this movie was why Gerald (Garner) went to such lengths to make his wife jealous. There was this big plot buildup and then it went absolutely nowhere. I’m still puzzled about that.

More photos…

…and CUT! 

The Roaring Twenties (1939)

July 26, 2011

64. The Roaring Twenties (1939)

Starring James Cagney, Priscilla Lane, Humphrey Bogart, Gladys George, Jeffrey Lynn, Frank McHugh, Paul Kelly

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Plot: "Three men attempt to make a living in Prohibitionist America after returning home from fighting together in World War I." (from IMDb)

I thought the acting and story were great in this. Everything, really, just made for a topnotch and very engaging production. I can't say that gangster flicks are really my thing, but I enjoy watching Bogart and Cagney. Besides them, I thought Gladys George was exceptional; she was a very expressive actor who was able to convey a great deal of feeling without saying too much. As Panama Smith, she was perfect for the part and rather underrated in general, I think. I also liked the newsreel format of the film. It is a good way to weave the different years together and illustrate the time period. I'm not usually one for sad endings, but this one just works; it’s hard to imagine any other way to conclude it.

I can't really say that this is a film that I'll watch a lot, because it is kind of depressing, but there is no doubt that it is Warner Brothers at its best—and definitely worth a viewing.

I really love the intro credits—the font and how it shimmers a bit against the skyscape.

Cagney plays Eddie, a basically good guy who is driven to crime by some bad breaks.

I never noticed before how Cagney does that thing with his lip. He does it quite a few times in this.

“I do alright, any time, any place.”

Quintessential baddie Bogart, before he hit it big with stardom. I have to say he does make a great bad guy, and adds a lot to the movie.

**Please note that not all the pictures and graphics in this post are mine. Click on respective images for source. No copyright or creative infringement is intended. If you feel I have used an image contrary to the author's wishes, please let me know and I will promptly remove it.**

College (1927)

July 15-16, 2011

63. College (1927)

Starring Buster Keaton, Anne Cornwall, Harold Goodwin
Directed by James W. Horne

Plot: "To reconcile with his girlfriend, a bookish college student tries to become an athlete." (from IMDb)

I'd only seen ONE silent movie prior to this (Chaplin's City Lights) and this was my first Buster Keaton film. It was amusing enough, I guess, but I can't say that I really loved it. While there are some funny parts, it wasn’t one I would be dying to see again.

I read a few online reviews of this and most seemed to agree that it was a mediocre, though not entirely awful, effort—kind of Keaton on auto-pilot. So maybe I should give some of his more popular films a chance.

There is also a bit of blackface (pictured above) in this that is uncomfortable to watch.

I wasn't crazy about the musical accompaniment on the DVD I watched; at times I felt like it detracted from the picture.

I thought the very end was rather odd. I think it was meant to be humorous…? Or perhaps it was making a social statement. I'm not sure.

Dodge City (1939)

July 7, 2011

62. Dodge City (1939)

Starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Ann Sheridan, Bruce Cabot, Frank McHugh, Alan Hale, John Litel, Henry Travers

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Plot: "A soldier of fortune takes on the corrupt boss of a Western town." (from TCMDb)

I'm not huge on Westerns, but I decided to watch this one for Olivia and Errol. I also like Ann Sheridan a lot, but this is definitely not her best role, as she gets very little screen time. Too be honest, this film confused me a little. That could be because I was only half paying attention, and because the cattle chases and all that caused me to lose some interest. I think I got the basic plot, though: Errol is the good guy; Alan Hale is his comic-relief sidekick (who gets a little annoying after a while); Olivia is Errol's feisty love interest; William Lundigan (in a role very different than the one I last saw him in!) is Olivia's rowdy brother; Bruce Cabot is the lawless bad guy; Ann Sheridan is the saloon girl; Frank McHugh is Olivia's uncle.

Olivia and Errol are wonderful together, as usual. Like most of their pairings, they start out with an intense dislike of each other. [Of course we don’t really buy it, because we know they’ll eventually get together. But the sparks are still fun to watch.] Then they argue, and suddenly they are out on a date together (if you can call riding horses at sunset a date). I actually rewound to see if I missed something because I wasn't sure how they went from this (bickering) …

…to this.

I still wonder if I missed something? Ah, well, we knew it was bound to happen anyway. Never mind how we got there.

Despite the fact that most of the photos in this post include Errol and Olivia, they really don’t have that many scenes together. (It was hard to find photos of other things in the film, and I forgot to get screencaps. You can click on each image for the source.)

There are certainly bar room brawls, stampedes, and gun fights aplenty. But I don’t really go for that. One of my favorite part of the movie is probably when Olivia trips Errol. Really! It's a very funny moment that is delightfully and playfully acted. Okay, okay…maybe Frank McHugh's laugh is the best part of the movie. (Seriously, has anyone ever noticed how hilarious his laugh is? It's like a very light, quiet 'hehehehee'. I don't know why but it just strikes me as really funny. :D)

In conclusion, if you like classic westerns, stunning Technicolor, Olivia + Errol, or just want to hear what Frank McHugh's laugh sounds like, you'll probably want to check this out.

 

P.S. On Monday I did a guest post on Sophie’s blog where I shared my six favorite Ginger Rogers films.

You can check it out HERE.

[Also, be sure to visit some of Sophie’s other posts and subscribe to her site. She has a great blog!]

Happy Birthday to Ginger Rogers and Barbara Stanwyck!

Today marks the anniversary of the births of two fabulous stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood—Ginger Rogers and Barbara Stanwyck.

  Ginger cutting her birthday cake?

Ginger’s birthday this year is extra special because it would have been her 100th!

~ Barbara Stanwyck Quotes ~

“My only problem is finding a way to play my fortieth fallen female in a different way from my thirty-ninth.”

"I`m a tough old broad from Brooklyn. I intend to go on acting until I`m ninety and they won`t need to paste my face with make-up."

“Egotism - usually just a case of mistaken nonentity.”

“Career is too pompous a word. It was a job and I have always felt privileged to be paid for doing what I love doing.”

“Attention embarrasses me. I don't like to be on display.”

“I want to go on until they have to shoot me.”

~ Ginger Rogers Quotes ~

I`m most grateful to have had that joyous time in motion pictures. It really was a Golden Age of Hollywood. Pictures were talking, they were singing, they were coloring. It was beginning to blossom out: bud and blossom were both present.

"They're not going to get my money to see the junk that's made today." (1983)

"The only way to enjoy anything in this life is to earn it first."

(on being asked in 1943 what a girl needs to be a movie star) “Intelligence, adaptability and talent. And by talent I mean the capacity for hard work. Lots of girls come here with little but good looks. Beauty is a valuable asset, but it is not the whole cheese.”

“I believe in living each day as it comes, to the best of my ability. When it's done, I put it away, remembering that there will be a tomorrow to take it's place. If I have any philosophy, that's it. To me it's not a fatalistic attitude.”

"When you're happy, you don't count the years."

“Perhaps I’m old-fashioned, but black and white films still hold an affectionate  place in my heart; they have an incomparable mystique and mood. Believe me, the technique and expertise for achieving these effects were almost more challenging than the splendor of color. Certainly the result was as powerful as an Ansel Adams photograph.”

"The most important thing in anyone's life is to be giving something. The quality I can give is fun, joy and happiness. This is my gift."

~

I hope you have time today to watch one of these lovely ladies’ films and appreciate their talent and legacy!

I’d Climb the Highest Mountain (1951)

 
July 7, 2011

61. I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (1951)

Starring Susan Hayward, William Lundigan, Rory Calhoun, Barbara Bates, Gene Lockhart

Directed by Henry King

Plot: "The simple told story, based on Corra Harris' biographical book, of a Methodist minister, called to a north-Georgia mountain-community in 1910 who, with his gently-bred new bride, meets the problems and crises of his circuit-riding congregation fearlessly and honestly." (From IMDb)

I originally saw this film when I was a kid, but for the longest time I couldn't recall the name of it. Then, one day I stumbled across this review that Laura had posted. That was it! I proceeded to immediately interloan it from my library system (thankfully they had it!). I'm really happy I found this film because it is quite a gem. At least I think it is—though my view could be altered a bit by nostalgia. I do think I view this film very differently as a twenty-year-old than I did at, say, age six or seven. If anything, I think that I am able to appreciate it more.

I can’t quite put my finger on what appeals to me about this movie. I think it is the honesty and simplicity of it. Despite having some sad moments, the film feels very calming. This tone is set with the voiceover of the older Mary that narrates the picture and strings together the different vignettes that comprise the story.

I also really like the two leads—William Lundigan and Susan Hayward—and I think their performances are what carries the film. I’m not even the type of girl who likes to go camping, but even I would consider moving to the backwoods and roughing it if it meant marrying someone as kind and nice (not to mention handsome) as William! In Laura’s review she mentioned that Jeanne Crain was originally slated to play Mary but backed out due to pregnancy. No offense to Miss Crain, but I am really glad that Susan Hayward got the role. I feel like she brings a lot of spunk to the part and keeps the character from being too bland and one-dimensional. It definitely makes me want to check out some more of her movies. Together, Lundigan and Hayward make a charming couple and their interaction feels very genuine.

As much as I enjoyed this movie, there is one part (where a tragic accident occurs) that really threw me. I did not remember it at all from my previous viewing and I wasn’t expecting it. But lest you think the film is all sadness, it’s really not. Mixed in with the more serious subject matter is a good deal of humor and fun. (Just watch out for that one part!)

In some ways, this movie is similar in subject matter to 1955’s A Man Called Peter, although that story is about a more famous minister and covers a longer amount of time. The setting also brings to mind films like The Music Man, Oklahoma!,  or Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (though this isn’t a musical, and the time period is probably closer to Anne of Green Gables or Pollyanna). So that should give you an idea of the ‘feel’ of the movie.

I wish I could make some screencaps (I watched it on VHS) from this because the Technicolor scenery, sets, and costumes are really quite lovely (I especially loved Hayward’s clothes). The lobby cards and black and white promotional stills (click on image for source) don’t do the film justice. Unfortunately, this isn’t available on DVD. It would be great if this could be restored and released, but I’m not sure what the status is on 20th Century Fox’s old films. (Anyone know?)

One thing that I might change about this film is to make it a little longer. At 88 minutes it breezes by, and I for one was sorry to see it end.