Christmas Tradtions: Day 1, Movies

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Every family has Christmas traditions.  This week I want to feature some of mine from growing up.  We all know that I love old movies and that love didn't pop up from nowhere, my parents love old movies too!  We grew up watching Black and White and Technicolor, musicals and slap-stick.  One of our favorite family traditions is watching our Christmas movies together.  We have probably see White Christmas a million time...we know every word, which is kind of the fun of it. My mom and I like to watch Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer with a bowl of peppermint ice cream. Stephanie, Ben and I like to watch the Holiday Inn. I like to watch the Bells of St. Mary's because of the super cute 1st grade nativity play that is so precious and funny! My sister Amber, my mom and I like to watch Little Women. My dad like to watch The Three Godfather's with John Wayne, of course, it's a typical western (meaning someone you like dies) but it's a good one for Christmas!  And of course there's The Christmas Story, The Family Stone, The Santa Clause, and Home Alone.   But the best tradition of all is watching It's a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve.  We've been watching it since I can remember on that night and we all cry at the end every year.  We live simple lives but it always reminds us what a difference we can make and how we can touch others lives.  The one movies or story I really do not like at all is A Christmas Carol.  It scared me as a little girl and I still don't like it now...but the muppet one is the most enjoyable to watch if I had too, the new Disney one is horrible! Super Scary!

I hope that I have mentioned some titles that you've never heard of or want to give a try! Please do!

Surprise!

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Ok ok believe it or not this post is about John Wayne.  Now you can't really have a Classic Movie Chronicle without including westerns!  You really can't, I've seen a bunch.  Some terrible and some really good.  This is also and ode to my Dad who loves John Wayne movies, and because I love him and my mom and I made him watch too many girly things we'd make a date to watch John with him.

Some great things about John Wayne movies is that they are pretty inspiring, adventurous, and a lot of them have great scenery.  But most importantly is that they have good story lines.  So at some point I think you should impress your man my giving these man movies a try.  Say it in your head "Honey, how about some John Wayne tonight?"  yeah...maybe?! Ok if you've played out that in your head and want to proceed these are great ones:

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Stage Coach
The Angel and the Badman (this one is more for girls, this is like the ultimate compromise for us girls and dad, part John Wayne part romance)
The Searchers
Red River
The Cowboys (this is a great one to start with, we initiated my hubs recently with this one) 
Big Jake 

A Good Pair

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I've had some writer's block thinking of movies!  But I'd like to introduce you to a good acting duo...Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.  Then acted together from the 1940's through the 1960's.  What makes their chemistry on screen even better is that they were real life lovers (but you know back then it was really private, I wish celebs lives were more private today, because honestly who cares that much).  Anytime I see these movies pop up on Turner Classic Movies I'll watch them (and I own one or two of them myself). These are good bets:

Desk Set, 1957
Adam's Rib, 1949
Woman of the Year, 1942
Pat & Mike, 1952

**Desk Set is my favorite and a close second is Pat & Mike! Enjoy!! 

Tuesday Tales

My first movie selection is Dinner at Eight made in 1934.  At this time movie making is still new, which for me means that it's still a little more like a play then movies we are familiar with.  I love plays so this one is good for someone like me.  A synopsis in a sentence is "a Society couple in New York City invites people over for dinner." But it's so much more, we meet everyone she invites and see intimate and realistic portraits of each guest.  What's interesting about this is that at the time this film was made America was going through the Great Depression.  This movie was about society people, and it is real, and often sad.  The point being that for the people who scraped together 30 cents to see a movie got to see that maybe the grass isn't always greener on the other side.  A feel good movie? For us probably not, but to the audience of the day...yes.  Maybe their lives didn't seem so bad.  It's very good, not as depressing as I am depicting, but real.  (Also amazing clothing!)

Secondly is Double Indemnity made in 1944. An insurance sales men played by Fred MacMurray, show up to a home to sell insurance to a couple.  The wife shows no interest in the husband but flirts with the sales man.  She has motives and it's to make money...watch to see what happens! I love this movie.  It's a thriller, very well done!

I try to suggest movies that you are sure to enjoy if you ever gave old movies a try! You can catch these on Turner Classic Movie, or if you have a Netflix account, or purchase on Amazon.com. Enjoy!

Sweet

Swimming Star

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The earliest memory I have of old movies is when I was around 4 years old.  My Great Grandmother drove her big yellow car (from the late 60's) over to watch me for the afternoon.  She turned on the tv and there it was....a beautiful old technicolor movie.  I didn't know it at the time but it was an Esther Williams movie.  Esther Williams was a swimmer...a glamorous swimmer! I guess you could call them musicals, but instead of big dancing numbers...they had big swimming numbers! I relate more to these because I grew up swimming my summers away...I was not exactly little miss dancer (side note: I did do ballet and tap when I was 6 years old, we had a recital and then after our "number" all the lights suddenly turned off and there were 12 screaming 6 year olds around me...I never went back) They are great films...I hope to see more someday! But for now I will say the Million Dollar Mermaid is wonderful, if you ever catch it on TCM (Turner Classic Movies) Enjoy!

I Can not Wait Any Longer

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This is probably one of my favorite, if not my favorite movie for the summer time.  Ladies may I present The Parent Trap. Not the Lindsey Lohan one...puh-leeese! The 1961 version starring Hayley Mills.  I'm sure a lot of you have seen this movie...but I love it from start to finish.  I love the opening credits which has this adorable stop-frame sequence.  I love the style, I love the story, I love that it's filmed in California but not like "today's Hollywood" version of California...where the grass is green and not yellow.  Because hardly anywhere during the summer is the grass on the California hills green, it's yellow.  I love the parent's chemistry...I love how Maureen O'Hara is in her 40's and is still a knock-out! I love the house that most of the movie takes place in, so chic!  I love it love it!

What about you ladies? Do you have a favorite summer movie?

In Honor of...

In Honor of Memorial Day coming up I have two military inspired films for you (and your hubs, will really enjoy them too!)  You might be thinking that you can't stand military films, so violent, so sad etc.  I know, I really don't enjoy them either but these two are different, and here's why...

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The first film is called The Great Escape.  This film was made in 1963, set in a WWII POW camp.  The goal of every Prisoner of War is to some how find a way to escape.  So men from all different countries united against the Germans, team up to escape their imprisonment.  It's really a lot of fun, there's men who specialize in different things like stealing and forging, digging, who all play apart in the biggest escape ever! This is a true story and for some the story doesn't end happily, but because it's true that some died in the escape they are all honored.  I've never passed up an opportunity to watch it.

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The next film is called The Best Years of Our Lives, from 1946.  This film follows 3 men as the return from fighting in the second World War.   It's amazing that they made this film directly after the war ended because it deals with the struggles that the men returning had, entering back in to "America."  One man is a young man who lost his arms and learns to live (and love) without them.  Brilliant acting from this man (who had not ever acted before) and who also won an Oscar for his performance.  The second story is about a man who was a celebrated Air-man in the war and comes home to find that his triumphs mean nothing and he can't find a job.  The last is an older family man who has to deal with reconciling the horrors of what he was witnessing in battle, and returning to "life as normal."

These are great films! They make you appreciate the freedoms we have and who fought and often died to protect them!

Drama, Drama, Drama

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Ok so week 2 in my "Dramatic Classic Movie Suggestions" I'm enjoying this a lot!  Ok so there is one actress, from back in the day, that if one of her movies are playing on TCM I pretty much always will watch it because I bet it'll be good.  That actress is Bette Davis.  Ok, ok so if you know her she probably scares you, in real life she was not the most warm and fuzzy woman.  Brilliant actress? Yes! Movies absolutely worth the time? Yes! If you could have and dinner party with 5 dead or alive people would she be on the list? No.

So some of my favorite movies of hers are...

Now, Voyager - a story about a child born to be her mother's companion, and what happens when she finds her independence.

All About Eve - Davis plays a stage actress who befriends "her biggest fan" who just wants to learn every things about Davis so she can...I don't want to ruin it.

Old Maid - I've only seen it once, But Davis falls in love has a baby, the father is killed and she doesn't want anyone to know about the baby.  She so starts an orphanage so she can have her daughter there to pretend she's an orphan and continue to care for her.  Until her bff comes wanting to adopt and takes her daughter....yah...

The Letter - Great movie, Davis kills her lover, makes up a story about it, get's black-mailed, surprise ending...

Jezebel - Setting is pre-civil war south.  Davis plays a wealthy girl who is a flirt and who constantly gets herself into trouble by breaking the rules.  She starts off having her life together but ends up being the cause of people's demise.

There is literally many more great films by Bette Davis.  But I think if you watch these you'll want more.  Enjoy!

  




 

A New Direction

So I've been doing movies of the week for a few months now and for the most part they have been romantic comedies or cute musicals or fun family films.  But I want to venture out of those for a while.  I'm still only posting old movies but these will be on the more dramatic side.  Ready? Ok...

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The first film I want to suggest is The Spiral Staircase from 1946.  This is a suspenseful film, but not scary.  The premise is that there is a murderer going around town killing young women.  So the town is taking precautions but the movie focuses on one family.  Some one in the family is the killer, but you don't know who till the end...you literally think its many people during the film.  There's also a love story. I like this film because it is very well done, and that you are on the edge of your seat through the twists and turns. 

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The second one is called Mildred Pierce from 1945. This film starts with a murder but you don't know who did it.  So all the suspects are in custody and telling their story...and you are watching flashbacks to get the whole picture filled in.  It's again a "who dune it" where you don't know who did it till the end.  I love this movie and will watch it again even though I know who did it.  Another well done picture!


**I just want to mention again that I have seen these movies on the TCM channel.  Also you can rent them from Netflix or you can buy them at Amazon.com.

Four Daughters

Today's movie is Four Daughters from 1938.  Honestly the people starring in the film are were not that famous so I won't go into it.  The movie is about four sisters all ranging from late teens to early twenties who live with their father who is a musician and trains the girls in there perspective musical talents. A young man (and a musician) comes into town seeking help to get his large piece of work finished and requests help from the girls father.  This young man is very charming and each girls seems to have a crush on him.  But he falls in love with the youngest who falls in love (sort of) with a boy who needs help and so it's kind of a love triangle.  Sometimes I can't explain these very well but it's a really good story line and they made 2 other films to follow this one, Four Wives, and then Four Mothers.  I have seen them all and they are all good! This series is not very well known but I love them.
**I watch a lot these movies on the Turner Classic Movie channel. But all my movies are available for rent on Netflix.com or to purchase at Amazon.com.   I just say this so you know where to get them or see them if you want to. Enjoy!

Desk Set

My movie selection for this week is called Desk Set. This film was made in 1957 starring Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn.  Tracey and Hepburn were a classic on and off screen couple, and in this film they are simply charming! This film is about the introduction of technology into the office setting and the effects it has on people's jobs.  Hepburn works for a big company and is basically like a human google, but Tracy introduces a computer (which a 1957 computer is really entertaining to see) in to the office and she and her employees think they will be fired.  It's hard to explain but that is the background to a love story between two people who should be enemies.  It's cute and entertaining (I really love old movies when they show the latest and greatest technology and they think "this is it!") Other really great movies starring Hepburn and Tracy are:
Pat and Mike
Woman of the Year
Adam's Rib

Father Goose

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This week's movie selection is called Father Goose. It stars Cary Grant and Leslie Caron, made in 1964.  This movie is set in WWII in the pacific islands....but it's not a war film (the war is just the background).  Cary is helping the British forces by inhabiting a deserted island where he can spot enemy planes and report them to the British...seems simple until a plane crash strands a School teacher (Caron) and her young students, all girls, on Grant's island.  It's really fun the way Cary Grant interacts with all the little girls on his island!  It's a fun film! Enjoy!

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

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My movie selection for this week is called Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.  It's a musical made in 1953, with Jane Russel and Marilyn Monroe.  I know a lot of people don't like Marilyn, but I like her and I think she is great in this movie.  In the movie you follow 2 friends (Russel and Monroe) while they cruse to Europe where they are going to sing.  Jane Russel plays Dorothy, the smart one, and Marilyn plays the less smart and diamond crazy one, this combination gets them into trouble! I just like it, it's fun and the clothes are wonderful! Enjoy!

p.s. I have no idea what the title has to do with the movie (I think they just thought it was cute?) sorry brunettes~I used to be one of you too...

Easter Parade

Hello everyone! My movie selection this week is in honor of Easter.  It's called Easter Parade, starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire.  This is a musical made in 1948 based around a New York tradition going back to the 1880's where men and women would get on their best clothes and hats and take a walk on Easter Morning.  That in it self doesn't make a really great movie so there's a love story and great song and dance routines too.  My favorite part of this movie are the clothes and hats...and of course Judy Garland who is one of my favorite actresses from the 1940's.  It's really fun, I wish that I could be apart of the Parade because I really look good in hats (if I do say so myself) California has no "hat traditions." Happy Easter Week (be sure to eat your peeps!)

The Quiet Man

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So this weekend it hit me that I knew a totally awesome movie to watch for St. Patrick's Day and I didn't even think about it till it was too late! So I'm posting it this week in hopes that you'll give it a try anyways! So my Movie selection this week is called The Quiet Man.  This is my first John Wayne movie to post, my dad loves John Wayne movies and I have seen a lot of them and have come to like almost all of them as well.  The Quiet Man, based on a short story by Maurice Walsh, is about an American ex-boxer who comes to Ireland to live.  He meets a fiery red-head, played by one of my very favorite female actors Maureen O'Hara, and trouble ensues.  I love this movie because it has so much to do with male/female relationships and gender roles.  It's very beautiful looking and is funny and touching! It's is wonderful, enjoy! 

Pollyanna

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Today's movie selection is a result of this beautiful weather we've been having in California.  I don't know about you but there are movies I like to watch when it's gloomy and some I like to watch when it's sunny etc.  This week's movie is called Pollyanna. It's a 1960 Disney movie, starring Hayley Mills. This is a story about a young orphan girl who goes to live with her rich Aunt and turns the town around with her kindness.

One of my favorite things about this movie is that Pollyanna was raised to believe that she was never too young to make positive changes.  She challenges adults and then the whole town to be better to each other.  I was also raised with that mentality (which sometimes gets me into trouble because I always want to be vocal and stand up for what's right, but sometimes the timing is wrong) It's a beautiful movie and it has one of my favorite quotes in it...

"When you look for the bad in man-kind expecting to find it...you surely will."

Look for the good, and Enjoy!

Gigi

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In honor of the Oscars I decided to do a little research and look at which one of my favorite movies had previously won "Best Picture." Happily, lots of my favorite movies have won "Best Picture" or at least have been nominated for it! So now that you all are assured that I have good taste I will announce my pick for this week! Gigi!

This is my first musical, (which I was holding back let me tell you I love musicals) Also it's my first color.  I wanted to wait for a while to do color films but I saw the Gigi won in 1958...it's very "spring-timey" and I love it! This film stars Leslie Caron as a turn of the century- young Parisian girl who is struggling with the idea of growing up...she is taking lessons on "the art of being a woman" how to dress how to eat, make conversation etc.  But she is bored by it all...but then one day....

I'll let you watch it for yourselves! Enjoy!

Father's Little Dividend

I just got done watching this movie selection for this week called Father's Little Dividend. It stars Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor.  The story should be familiar to you all because there was a remake of these films (the first one being Father of the Bride) done in the 1990's.  But this was the original follow up to the 1950's Father of the Bride where the daughter (Elizabeth Taylor) has a baby. I have always liked Father's Little Dividend better than Father of the Bride...I don't know why they are both good but this one makes me laugh out loud whereas the latter is just sweet.
There's so many parts of this movie I connect to. One being that Spencer Tracy (who plays the father) has always reminded me of my dad.  My dad is very funny and kind and a peacemaker.  Spencer is all of this in this weeks movie as well (although my dad likes babies more than he does.) Another reason, being a newlywed, I relate to the young couples struggles and up and down emotions.  It's very fun. Enjoy!

Sabrina

Hello! My movie selection for this week is Sabrina. This film was released in 1954 starring the lovely Audrey Hepburn.  When I am feeling under the weather (and also when the weather is gloomy like it has been here for a few days now) I like to watch movies that comfort me.  Sabrina was always a movie that has comforted me in a few ways.  One reason is because it's an ugly duckling story, I was a super late bloomer so I relate to Audrey's character in that way. (even though Audrey is so beautiful always...but maybe that's the point we're all beautiful always) Secondly, Sabrina escapes to Europe (Paris, France) to grow up and get away from her life.  I too escaped to Europe for a time in college, where I grew up and visited Paris, where I left my heart so I could go back one day to retrieve it....sneaky sneaky :) And thirdly, because it has an un-expected love story...and that's how it is, you rarely end up with the person you'd pictured in your mind.  I could watch this movie over and over again! Enjoy!