Sometimes I feel like Jacqueline Bisset...

...in Two For the Road.

Yeah, not because I got chickenpox and can't run away with Albert Finney, allowing Audrey Hepburn to make her move and finally marry the guy.....

....but because I just got a very mediocre grade in a work for which I spent days researching and designing. 

ARRRRGHHHHH!

That's all, mean universe.

PS: Stay tuned, this Friday we have another very special guest picking her favorite movie items in If I had to keep 4. Very cool items indeed :)

PPS: I'm really sorry for the randomness of this post.

PPPS: Did you know that Jacqueline Bisset was partially dubbed in Two for the road?

Happy Birthday/RIP Ingrid Bergman

She died on her birthday.

What I've written about Ingrid:

• "She steals the show" in Cactus Flower. 
• She was photographed by Yul Brynner. 
• "She's great" as Cleo Dulaine in Saratoga Trunk, a half-good movie.
• How I met her daughter and download her digital handwriting font. 

Here's looking at you, kid :) 

Edit: some of the pictures that originally were published in this entry are not available anymore.

ClassicMovieRIMF #5: Man in the chair (2007)

So many Classic Movies References in this Modern Film! 

It happened again: I was in the mood to watch a recent film so I picked Man in the chair because Christopher Plummer was the leading actor...and it surprised me: the movie itself was very good AND Classic Hollywood was part of the plot.

The movie 

Before I show you a clip of some of the references, allow me to tell you what's it about. We could title this film: There's no country for old men, even if they were part of Hollywood's Golden Age meets Karate Movie Director Kid. 

Explanation: a student with family issues wants to film a movie to present it in a contest and try to win a scholarship and become a great director etc. His classmates are all rich kids from L.A., so he has 0 chances. He really loves cinema and that way he meets Christopher Plummer, in a movie theater. 

The old man is very irritable and soon we realize he has issues of his own. He worked as a gaffer in a lot of old movies like Citizen Kane (mini flashback included) and now he's alone and abandoned, just like other  people he knew in those glorious days, now living in a residential home for the elderly. This group will help the kid to make his movie and he will realize that they have a story to tell...

The movie is dramatic, it feels real. I ended up crying. 

The ClassicMovieRIMFs

Well, you should see this film, so I'm not going to tell you ALL the references, but they include: old posters (example: Meet John Doe), old movie screenings, mentioning fictional people that work in classics (like Roman Holiday), a flashback where Orson Welles is depicted and more.

So, today's ClassicMovieRIMF are three, all placed at the opening credits sequence, so I won't spoil anything to you: His Girl Friday, John Wayne's Angel and the Badman and  The last time I saw Paris starring Elizabeth Taylor. Be sure to check the audio from the very beginning:

To check more ClassicMovieRIMFS click here or the respective button in the sidebar menu :)

If I Had to Keep 4| Guests: Hilary & Katie

This series has been blessed with the participation of bloggers I admire: first Sophie, then Becky, and now the girls from the Scarlett Olive, "a podcast devoted to classic film". Katie is from Canada and Hilary from Texas, but they have made every possible effort to give their audience an awesome podcast. They have succeed IMO: great topics, great guests, great info, great talking, great fun. And now they're starting school...in the same one :)

Let's see which are the items these girls would keep...

Since The Scarlett Olive podcast is hosted by two people, Hilary and Katie, the items discussed will be divided among them both. The first two items belong to Katie and the last two items belong to Hilary.

1. Edelweiss

One classic film related item I cannot live without is my frame of pressed edelweiss right from Switzerland.

Obviously, they remind me of one of my favourite songs featured in one of the best musicals of all time written by one of the greatest song writing teams known to the musical genre onscreen and onstage. In case I lost you in that poorly structured sentence, I am talking about the song “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music written by Rodgers and Hammerstein. They are a great conversation piece and a beautiful token of friendship. My friend picked them for me during her exchange trip to Switzerland and painted the frame as well.

I had this hanging in my room at home before I took it with me to university where it has hung proudly in my temporary bedrooms. They represent my love for musicals, film history, beauty, and give me a sense of home during the school year. Edelweiss, edelweiss, every morning you greet me and I plan on taking you with me wherever I go so you can look happy to meet me and put a smile on my face.

2. LIFE Magazine Collection

A collection can be a singular item, right? Well, forget the rules, my LIFE magazine collection may become something that will help me live; therefore, it is something I cannot live without. My plan is to sell them in the future and make a nest egg for my retirement.

These magazines give me a chance to immerse myself in the simple daily living of an era I missed out on. It is definitely a piece of the past I cherish. Even though most of the articles in the magazines can be accessed online, the feeling of holding something tangible that writes about your favourite stars in the present tense is an incredible feeling.

Some of my magazines are precious to me – Judy Garland, Vivien Leigh, Julie Andrews, etc. – and will never be for sale. However, my multiple copies such as my five Elizabeth Taylors, four Beatles, Paul Newman, and countless Marilyn Monroes will enter the market once they gain more value. I have many more copies and stars in stock, so if you’re interested in what I have, email me at scarlettolive@gmail.com.

3. Framed Bette Davis Life Magazine

When people walk into my room, I want them to know I’m not your typical classic film fan. So, I knew I needed a poster or some representation of Bette Davis; a woman who, quite literally, changed my life. There is a particular photo of Bette Davis that I adore, and it’s from the 1939 LIFE magazine photo shoot ... here you go:

I couldn’t find a large version of it, so I decided on the next best thing: the magazine cover, framed (same hairstyle, different outfit, and sadly ... no girly nail polish). The magazine cover represents such an outstanding year in Bette Davis’ career since she had four unforgettable performances for Warner Bros. (Dark Victory, Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, The Old Maid, and Juarez), along with yet another Academy Award nomination under her belt. The year itself represents a peak in Hollywood history, and I firmly believe Hollywood has not met the bar of 1939 since.

My collection would not be the same with out the distant gaze of the empowering and inspirational Bette Davis gracing my wall.

4. Gone with the Wind Blu-ray boxset

Yes, I had to include “Blu-ray” ... have you seen Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in high-def?! It’s life changing.

First, let me tell you: I hated Gone with the Wind because I was forced to watch it in school, surrounded by preteens who cared more for passing notes than watching the actual film. Until I met Katie, this hatred was steadfast and verbal. But, one day in late 2009, she told me to look past my disagreement and “get lost in the plot”. Why I listened to her, I will never know, but it changed my point-of-view completely. A few months later, I purchased this box set with birthday money. It was the perfect investment and Gone with the Wind has quickly moved its way to the top of my list.

The boxset, itself, has much to offer: photo and archival reproductions, a sampling of the soundtrack, a book with familiar and rare photos to feast your eyes on, and much more. Oh, and the special features? To die for. Six hours of MGM history, Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh documentaries, Olivia de Havilland rambling on and on about four ruffles .. who could ask for anything more?

People who don’t enjoy Gone with the Wind say it’s a waste of time. They’re right. But, I wouldn’t want to waste my time any other way.

Thanks a million Hilary and Katie for being part of this series! You chose awesome items :) Oh, and I hope you have a great time now you're in the same school!

Guys, remember to visit The Scarlett Olive and listen to their entertaining podcasts.

PS: Want to be part of this series? Send me an e-mail at kfercovic[at]gmail[dot]com :)

Jane Eyre: the proposal scene through the years

I love, love this book. For those living in Mars, written by one the Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Jane Eyre tells the story of a poor intelligent girl that goes from having a horrible childhood in which she was beaten and humiliated, to work as a governess in an obscure castle where you can hear mad laughs at night, owned by a troubled and menacing looking guy.

Well, one of the most powerful scenes from this story is when Jane and Mr. Rochester finally discuss their future. To understand what each character is dealing with, and what actors should be portraying in the movie or series adaptations, some info (spoilers!):

a) Jane has finally found a soulmate, that really adores her because of her inner qualities.

b) But after realizing she's in love with him and that he cares about her, she finds out that he's going to get married with an aristocratic lady he has nothing in common with. At least that's what she believes.

c) She has been on an emotional roller coaster for months now, her mind is probably very tired of thinking every moment how to solve the situation.

d) Rochester had a very terrible life: the woman he married turned out to come from a family that, like Cary Grant would say, "Insanity doesn't run in the family, it gallops". So after she went completely nuts and even attacked him, he decided to secretly take care of her in the castle instead of sending her to a mental hospital.

e) To this depressed and troubled man, the Jane Eyre's inner calmness, understanding and intelligence is the best that could happen to him. But he has to keep his secret and by proposing he's also defying social rules and risking their friendship.

Well, some guy at Imdb compiled the proposal scene of a lot of adaptations, the scene where all the emotions described in the list (should) finally  flourish. I haven't seen every adaptation, so I'll comment what I see. I'll embed the pivotal videos, and link the others.

1934 Pretty boring, plus blonde Jane Eyre is too pretty and Rochester too...dull (Scene | Imdb)

1943 Joan Fontaine and Orson Welles did a good job, considering the movie left out a lot of details...but I don't like the special effects added, they make the scene look creepy.

1970 George Scott and Susanah York look kind of old...but their scene wasn't bad (Scene | Imdb)

1972 The guys in this Czech black and white adaptation did a decent job...but overall they don't nail the emotions described: she looks more angry and pissed off and Rochester seems too relaxed (Scene | Imdb)

1973 This one looks like those movie parodies Carole Burnett did on her show (Scene | Imdb)

1983 This one is considered one of the best adaptations, and Timothy Dalton one of the best Rochester...I don't like the actress' performance, kind of bland and recitative (Imdb)

1996 I remember seeing this film as a kid and loving it. My younger-self approves Franco Zefirelli's version. (Scene | Imdb) 

1997 Reading some comments I thought this one was awful, but it's ok. The girl does a great job and Ciarán Hinds looks ok. (Scene | Imdb)

2007 The BBC's mini series adaptation is my personal favorite. I love Toby Stephens (son of Maggie Smith) as Mr. Rochester, here he makes you feel that this moment is crucial, that he's thinking every word, that his happiness is at stake. And Ruth Wilson decided to play the scene as Jane's final relief, with all the emotions she restrained for so long pouring out, with sadness, impotence, anger...something you can't control. I always end up crying here. Awesome!

2011I overall liked the latest movie version, but I felt the final editing was wrong: they cut out a lot of scenes that were filmed and were interesting. The way the proposal part is presented is too rushed, very circumstantial; and of all the emotions she could have shown, Mia Masikowska picked anger as the main one... or at least that's why I interpret from that disdainful look she gives Mr. Rochester every two seconds.

What do you think? Which one is your personal favorite?

The Stalking Moon (1968): awesome film!

Starring the always solid Gregory Peck & Eva Marie Saint, this movie could have been Part II of The Searchers if John Wayne & handsome Jeffrey Hunter hadn't rescued Natalie Wood.

Yeah because in The Stalking Moon (Robert Mulligan; 1968) super cool army scout Gregory Peck decides to give Eva Marie Saint and her child a (horse) lift.

But Eva was found living in an Indian tribe and she has a mixed-race son, so after the army..."dispersed" the tribe, she's completely lost. And what Greg doesn't know is that the father of the child is a super Indian that wants to recover his son at any cost.

Seriously, the movie poster is not kidding, he's like a ninja merged with a samurai mixed with Harry Potter using the invisibility cape: you just are able to follow his blood trail. He even killed a poor innocent horse (the one of the lift). And he's coming after Gregory and company.

The not-horror-films that present enemies as a powerful, omnipotent, nightmarish force always fascinate me. Remember the bad guys sent to kill Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid? After being chased and chased by some dark figures on horses, a worried Paul Newman asks Robert Redford "Who are those guys?".

Not knowing who's the enemy, but the range of his rage (cacophony!) is one of the things that makes The Stalking Moon so engaging. The movie never loses tension and it's very well developed: even in the final confrontation you don't really know how the movie is going to end.

The other, engaging aspect is, of course, the question I asked in this film too: will poor Eva Marie Saint be able to start a new life and be happy? With Gregory? Yeah, because he decided to protect her and invited her to live in his ranch.

There are great secondary characters like a neat mixed-race scout (Robert Forster) that admires Greg and tries to help him. The scenery is also very beautiful when they reach the ranch (cacophony!)...before that it was just dust and sun. Mountains, pines and lovely streams suggest that Greg, Eva and the kid could be very happy there if they hadn't such an enemy following them.

Now the moral question: who is right in this movie and who's wrong? My dad thought the Indian had all the rights to take his kid back; but I thought the child was the product of a kidnapping, so the guy couldn't possibly have any "rights".

What do you think? Have you seen this movie? If you haven't, don't believe in Imdb ratings, but my film review: The Stalking Moon is awesome, a real classic in my books :)

Bonus track: the movie trailer.

The Irresistibly Sweet & Liebster Blog Awards

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen,

I've been honored with two awards this week and now it's time for me to pass on both of them. All the bloggers I'm awarding/thanking share their love for movies in a special way and make my day everyday. I couldn't include all the blogs I wanted, if you want to visit more awesome sites, check my blogroll.

My friend Monty from the always entertaining All Good Things; Dawn from the very interesting/informative Noir and Chick Flicks and Sophie from the lovely and genuine Waitin' On a Sunny Day have kindly passed on this award to me.

According to the rules, I have to give this award to 3-5 more bloggers that have less than 300 followers, but deserve more.

If I Had to Keep 4 | Guest: Becky

Another special guest has joined the new series If I Had to Keep 4: Becky, the classy lady from the insightful and always interesting ClassicBecky's Brain Food.

Check the four film items she would keep, next:

Clara has kindly asked me to participate in her series about four favorite pieces of movie memorabilia in my possession. I took this to mean four movie treasures that I would be willing to run back into a burning house to get, or four things that would have to go with me to that proverbial desert island. I do not have any autographed pictures or posters, no valuable pieces like Dorothy''s ruby slippers or Captain Blood's sword. However, I do have four movie treasures that mean that much to me! 

No. 1 -- Years ago, my dear Mom gave me a Christmas present that thrilled me: A special edition VHS release of Citizen Kane, with a full-sized copy of the script and a bonus tape about the the making of the movie, all boxed in a beautiful leather-looking container as big as the Bible! Even when the day comes that the VHS tape deteriorates, and VHS players are no longer available, I will always keep this gift. 

No. 2 -- My thoughtful sister Lisa gave me a beautiful framed poster for my birthday, a favorite scene of a favorite movie: From Casablanca, a wonderful still of Rick and Ilse saying goodbye at the airport. I love it and have it hanging in a place of honor! 

No. 3 -- My collection of the very first technology, created in the 1980's, providing movies to play at home -- RCA Videodisks. They are the size of record albums, heavy as lead, and are the dinosaurs of movie collections. I no longer have a videodisk player, and they have not been manufactured for probably 20 years. The videodisks are large enough to have beautiful cover art, and I have many classics, including The Red Shoes, Moby Dick and The Adventures of Robin Hood. My sons tease me about keeping my tower of now-useless movies, but I can't bring myself to get rid of them. They were the beginning of my very own classic film collection. However, I'm afraid that this treasure is too heavy to carry out of a burning house. LOL!

No. 4 -- My enormous collection of VHS tapes of the best movies ever made: Since the time that American Movie Channel was worthwhile, and after blessed Turner Classic Movies came along, I have taped hundreds of films. Many of them are obscure, of no interest except to rabid classic film fans, and I know these will never be released on DVD. I have several special tapes that I painstakingly put together, three of which, as an example, contain favorite musical numbers, movie scenes and movie shorts. My collection fills several large containers, and what a treasure to me!

Thanks, Clara, for giving me the opportunity to share my treasures!

Thank you, Becky! It means a lot to me that you decided to share these special items with us :) Oh, maybe you could frame those RCA videodisks covers, judging by what you said, sounds like they would be awesome art pieces to hang in the wall :)

PS: If you want to be part of this series, just send me an e-mail to kfercovic [at] gmail [dot] com.

6 of my favorite Ava Gardner movies...

...were reviewed on my guest post for Sophie at Waitin' On a Sunny Day.

It was quite a challenge for me to pick 6: I already had some favorites, but I just had seen her most known films. So I watched more movies, like The little hut (weird comedy), The bribe with Robert Taylor, East Side, West Side with Barbara Stanwyck and The sun also rises with Ty Power &; Errol Flynn. See which of these titles made it to the final list.

Check it here!



....

If I Had to Keep 4 | Guest: Sophie

New series, guys:  If I Had to Keep 4. Basically, they are those 4 pieces of memorabilia that are the most special to you, those you would run to save in a fire or an alien attack. Those items you would keep above everything else.

Our first guest is Sophie from the lovely and always entertaining movie blog Waitin' On a Sunny Day. See what she would keep, next:

(Click to enlarge)

1. The first item I would keep is my old VHS of The King and I. My Aunty gave it to me as a Christmas present when I was 5 or 6, just after I had discovered and fallen in love with the film. It's been played hundreds of times and the quality isn't that good any more but this film was my introduction to classic film and Deborah Kerr so I won't ever get rid of it! 

2. The second item I would keep is my signed Greer Garson letter. The signature on photo is a pre-print but the signature on the letter is genuine. In the letter Greer talks about filming Blossoms in the Dust, so it must be from around 1941, and you can really hear her voice when you read it... it's wonderful! I would want keep this because Greer is my absolute favourite actress next to Deborah and I feel so lucky to own something that she sent to a fellow fan, albeit 70 years ago, who probably loved and admired her just as much as I do! 

3. My third item to keep would have to be my framed photograph of Deborah. My brother gave it to me for Christmas 4 years ago (I think) and it's been on my wall ever since. I was so thrilled when I received it that I actually sat and hugged it for a while - don't laugh! ;D I would save this because, besides it being a gorgeous photo of Deborah, my brother gave it to me which makes it all the more special.

4. The last thing I would keep is, you guessed it, another Deborah item. It's a beautiful autographed photo that I was lucky enough to win on eBay last year. It wasn't going for as much as the autographs without specific dedications but that doesn't bother me really; I'm just glad to have it and I will always cherish it!

Thanks a gazillion Sophie for this wonderful guest post! I hope you guys enjoyed this entry as much as I did! If you want to be part of this series, just send me an e-mail to kfercovic [at] gmail [dot] com. Have a great weekend! I love exclamation marks!

PS: Forgot to thank Clarabela & Sophie for helping me to pick the name of the series; and Becky for coming up with the definitive one :)

The Garden of Allah (1936): In My Own Words

This movie was so bad I had to tell it... in my own words. And because I'm going to tell it from beginning to end, here I place a...

MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!

You've been warned.

DAVID O. SELZNICK presents

"Marlene Dietrich is dumped by her monk husband...in Technicolor".

The place: North Africa.

The people:

a) Marlene Dietrich, a fragile girl that wants to live in reclusion in the desert after her dad died and

b) Charles Boyer, a monk that escaped from his convent.

And you learn all this in the very first minutes. Really. Zero mystery.

So, Marlene and Charles meet in a train heading for the desert. Well, what really happens is that she looks at him all the way, while he looks...troubled and sad (in Technicolor). When they arrive to destination Charles just go away with his suitcase and a guy offers his services to Marlene. Because he tells some jokes, we know he's the comic relief character. 

And by now we also know that Marlene lacks eyebrows (in Technicolor).

Later that day...

Fragile Marlene, wearing a shiny new outfit goes to a popular club in the desert. There is Charles doing what he likes the most: looking sad and troubled, while an exotic dancer moves her skeleton around.

And for some reason we don't get, Marlene is super attracted to the depressed guy. A riot starts and Charles conducts Marlene to the exit. Now they're like BFF and talk like quoting poems from a really bad book. Marlene talks with a tiny voice and when you're trying to figure out why she's imitating Minnie Mouse...

The prediction

...BOOM: a guy that's supposed to be a native fortune-teller, but really is an actor with a heavy dark make up, opens his eyes so much you think his eyeballs are gonna pop out.

And when he completely overacts you know he wants to say something important...but Charles doesn't care and they go away. Some days later, Marlene returns by herself and the fortune-teller predicts that:

a) They're gonna be happy and dream with unicorns and rainbows, BUT...

b) ....

Marlene stops him because she doesn't want to know the bad news. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT WE ALREADY KNOW CHARLES IS A MONK THAT ESCAPED FROM A FREAKING CONVENT AND THEY CAN'T POSSIBLY BE TOGETHER IN THOSE TIMES...unless he's really called Maria and plays the guitar.

Anyway, Marlene and Charles are all like "Hey, meet cha at the oasis (in Technicolor)" etc etc...and even when the local priest warned them, they get married and Charles keeps his little secret.

The happy times.

Their honeymoon consist in wandering through the desert with a bunch of guys and their camels (in Technicolor). I know those are the happy times because the director decided to include some titles in italic that come from nowhere and say cheesy things like:

"Over the sand and under the shiny moon, all their dreams come true".

 
OK, I kind of modify a little the original text. But Marlene and Charles do say things like (this is for real):

Marlene: The sand is so warm. So alive.
Charles: It is warm for us, Domini. Alive for us.

 (They embrace on the sand [In Technicolor]. Fade out).

By now fragile Marlene has worn like 40 different shiny outfits and Charles' expression has gone from sad to super sad.

End of the happy times

As we were expecting, now come the sad times. Not only because the titles have gone, but because Charles  is now so depressed that when butterflies are near him, they die; the flowers wither; the hyenas cry; the sad clown commits suicide, etc etc. 

Some lost soldiers arrive to the newlyweds' super fancy tents (wait a minute, how can a monk that sworn eternal vows to poverty afford such a trip?). Anyway, one of the soldiers recognizes Charles and leaves without saying a word. Soon after that some guy arrives looking for Charles.  Marlene, in another shiny outfit, now really wants to know her husband's secret.

Now you think,"uhm, maybe he had a dark secret, like he killed someone or didn't read the Bible one day...something that compensates knowing the truth all the way."

Charles' explanation is...he saw....a woman....and a guy...hugging (in Technicolor)...and he wanted to feel some love too. 

Epilogue. 

Marlene is super hyperventilated and overacts just like the fortune-teller. And she protest, using her Minnie Mouse voice: "But, NO, WHY YOU DID IT? YOUR VOWS? WHAT HAPPENED WITH THEM? BUT YOUR VOWS? (changes outfit) AND YOUR VOWS? VOWS! VOWS!...".

And now you know is all over. Because, even when they're officially married, God can't share Charles' love with Marlene and he returns to the convent (in Technicolor)

The end.

Then you stare at the black screen for five minutes.

"I love Lucy": breaking Language & Cultural Barriers

(This post is part of the Loving Lucy Blogathon hosted by True Classics)

One of the things from I love Lucy that stand out for me, is the fact they included speaking another language, español in this case, as a recurrent situation. The fact that Ricky Ricardo is Cuban means that there's a cultural barrier between him and Lucy. But I like the way they approached to these barriers throughout the series: it was a problem for both of them, not just for one of them; it meant that Lucy wasn't able to speak a second language and that she didn't know much about her husband's country, and it meant that Ricky had to struggle to improve his English.

Many hilarious scenes were born from this subject. Remember when Lucy recreates "Cuba" for Ricky to feel at home? It's obvious that she mixed a lot of the general ideas about what Latin America is: ponchos, donkeys, Brazilian songs, lots of kids...

This is a common problem in a lot of American movies: the portray of different cultures is based on prejudice, stereotype and lack of research. Why I don't mind this in the case of I love Lucy? Because the screenwriters decided to make it evident by exaggerating the elements and turning it into something positive by showing that Lucy is making an effort to help her foreign husband.

Another of my favorite scenes is when Lucy meets her mother-in-law and then when she tries to explain her what they're having for supper. Here, both women are in the same situation, trying to help each other, because both have a lack of knowledge:

Another recurrent situation is Lucy making fun of Ricky's accent and difficulty to express correctly what he's trying to say (from 00.00 to 01.26):

But at the same time, there are many times where Lucy simply cannot follow her husband or his friends and she's equally lost and depends only on him to understand what the heck is going on:

In one episode they discuss their language problem. Lucy says she wants her child to speak perfect English; Ricky says his English is good, so Lucy tests him. Even when things start bad for poor Ricky, in the end, there's no winning figure: English's rules are weird sometimes.

In another episode, the Ricardos visit Cuba and the roles are reversed. Lucy meets her husband's family for the first time, but because she doesn't speak Spanish she feels uncomfortable and nervous. Little Ricky, on the other hand, enjoys the advantages of speaking more than a language:

So, at the end of the day what matters the most in this show, are those elements that bring people together, no matter where are they from. Another example of this is when Ricky tells the child The Little Red Riding Hood (La Caperucita Roja) and we all understand what he's saying, even when it's in Spanglish.

There are universal things that go beyond any language/cultural barrier. I love Lucy understands that and work on that with respect and fairness (and a great sense of humour), and I think that's one of  things that made it so successful around the globe.

"36 hours" (1965): 1 hour and 15 minutes of entertainment

I liked this cover!

...minus 5 minutes at the beginning were some soldiers talk about the plans showing maps (zzz).

Well, the evening hadn't started very well because I had chosen to see Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot and it seems that I'm not mature enough to see that kind of plot-less comedy (neither my dad or my brother). So we were almost falling asleep and decided to change the film and I picked 36 hours (1965; George Seaton), a movie I hadn't seen before.

And it was very, very entertaining. Unexpectedly entertaining. James Garner plays Major Jefferson Pike, a guy who knows all the details about the D-day, due to occur in 6 days. But, oh, the Germans capture him and develop a great plan by German Major/Doctor Rod Taylor: when James wakes up, they will make him believe that years have passed and USA and Germany are great friends and he's suffering from amnesia. They have 36 HOURS to make him talk about that old plan of "yesteryear".

Eva Marie Saint plays a woman that is playing a nurse that's supposed to be James Garner's wife in this fake picture. Get it? Eva's character has her own scars and that's always interesting: "will she finally help our hero and maybe have an opportunity to be happy? With James Garner? Will she? Uh? UH? But James, why are you slapping her? Aww, now they're looking into each other eyes...". Etc, that sort of things. (Boys, I know you like romance in thriller movies, too, so don't roll eyes at me. Ask Hitchcock.)

Then you learn that every character in the movie has their own reasons to do what they're doing: some are trying to leave the past behind, others don't have another choice, others want fame and glory, etc. And while you're realizing that, James Garner is realizing that's he's been fooled and there's tension and you root for him and want him to escape (with Eva Marie Saint) and BOOM, you're having a blast watching a movie (maybe boom is not the best onomatopoeia).

There are great secondary characters: Werner Peters plays an SS officer that doesn't like wasting time playing pretend tea parties and wants to torture Garner, plain and simple. He's so stupid and brutal and at the same time has more power than Rod Taylor. That's a bad combination. Also good and solid was John Barner as a funny German soldier that helps our protagonists, contributing with a few comic relief parts.

I liked the ending, it wasn't completely cheesy but it had a cheesy component (if you have seen this or saw it after you read my super review: the tear! It was necessary, but a bit forced). So we could say it was che. If you want, watch this trailer: they repeat "36 hours" like 36 times and tell the whole film, but makes you want to see it:

Have a great week! See ya @ The Loving Lucy Blogathon :)

PS - THANKS TO EVERYONE who participated in the last When I say, you say game, you rock, I'll make a photo result post soon!