"Arsenic and Old Lace" on the big screen

Hi guys, how have you been? I haven't written in a while, 69 days to be exact, and that's because I haven't seen many old movies lately. My passion for movies declined as the love for my boyfriend/best friend dramatically increased (see chart). Seems I can't split my heart and it chose him.

In other news, I'm cheesy and I don't care.

Well, Diego and I went to see Arsenic and Old Lace (1944). The university where I studied is running  an American Comedy film festival and yesterday was the turn of this Frank Capra movie. I had seen it some years ago, but I didn't remember the ending.

It was a great experience. There were like 20 people besides us (which is a good number since it started at four pm) and lots of laughs. Cary Grant marries and the same day he finds out his whole family is crazy: his aunts love helping old, lonely men in a very peculiar way.

The movie is atypical: it's a comedy with very creepy situations, filmed like a play (almost one setting with few exterior shots). Cary exaggerated his acting, choosing the hyperventilation to play his character and looking to the camera occasionally, but I don't mind. I found him hilarious.

All the secondary players are pretty awesome, especially Peter Lorre, with his soft voice and effective self-control. The weakest of the group, in my opinion, was Priscilla Lane, a bit bland and dull.

The script, written by the Epstein brothers and based on a play, contains a lot of great lines which you probably know by heart, like:

Mortimer Brewster: Look I probably should have told you this before but you see... well... insanity runs in my family... It practically gallops.

[Elaine is impatient to leave on the honeymoon]
Elaine Harper: But, darling - Niagara Falls.
Mortimer Brewster: It does? Well, let it.

So it was a great Friday :)

Well, that's all for now. Even when I'm not writing as much as I did before, I've been re-watching I love Lucy, this time with my parents. I'll tell you about it someday, but they used to think it was a boring series and now they can't wait to see a new episode. I created two new fans and that makes me happy.

And I still read your reviews, posts and projects, like Kendra Bean's awesome Vivien Leigh book that is waiting for your support to reach stores next year. I also followed the 2012 CMBAs (congrats to all the nominees/winners).

Keep rocking.

Caption it #4: Cary Grant

So, guys, tell me, what is people saying in this picture? or what are they thinking? You know, caption it :)

Cary Grant

You can check the previous pictures of this game, if you want :)

Gift Guide for classic movie fans with (a lot of) imagination

Christmas is coming and you don't know what to give to that special, super imaginative classic film fan? Or to other people beside yourself? Well, Via Margutta 51 has an answer to all your prayers! Here's a list of very special gifts you can buy...with a massive ammount just a bit of imagination.

- Do you want to start the day with a little morning exercise? Well, choose this special offer: tennis classes with super stars. Oh, you know how to play? Well, play a doubles match! Just pick your partner and your rivals: Errol Flynn, Carole Lombard, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Kate Hepburn, Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Douglas Fairbanks, Ginger Rogers, Barbara Stanwyck, Jimmy Stewart...well, practically any star in Hollywood!

- Maybe you want something a little wilder? Well, choose this horse back riding trip guided by Gary Cooper & John Wayne! Besides riding with such amazing people, this option includes a visit to the ranches of Barbara Stanwyck & Robert Taylor, Gable & Lombard or Joel & Frances McCrea!! (imagination, people, imagination).

- Oh, oh, you want something even more exciting....Then the kart racing option is for you! Enjoy a  super fun (and super safe) karting session with Jimmy Dean, Paul Newman & Steve McQueen! (And yes, you can pick this option just to watch them...for a whole day).

- Love the sea? Well, Errol Flynn, Bogie & Bacall and Orson Welles are waiting for you! Join them in a super sunny and fun sailing adventure. This special offer includes swimming lessons with Johnny Weissmuller & Esther Williams. Don't miss it!

- Do you prefer quieter activities? Do you love chatting with amazing people? Well, be part of this Sewing & Knitting session with Bette Davis, Sylvia Sidney, Joanne Woodward, Kate & Audrey Hepburn, Doris Day, Maureen O'Hara and everyone who wants to join.

- Want to learn some awesome moves? Then pick our dancing lessons with Ginger, Fred, Gene Kelly, Shirley Temple, James Cagney, Eleanor Powell, and more!! This is an offer you can't resist!

- Do you have a kitchen but you don't know what to do in there? Do you want to learn how to prepare very special dishes? The cooking session with people like Marlene Dietrich, Vincent Price, Joan Crawford, Dinah Shore & Marilyn Monroe is for you!

-Want to learn a new, exciting language? French with Charles Boyer, Catherine Denueve, Alain Delon, Maurice Chevalier...or Gene Kelly? Dutch with Audrey Hepburn? Swedish with Ingrid Bergman or Greta Garbo? German with Marlene Dietrich? Italian with Rossano Brazzi or Sophia Loren? Whatever you want, we have an actor for you!

- Do you need a fashion expert? We have two people that will go shopping with you and advice you in a super professional (but very kind) way: Audrey Hepburn & Grace Kelly! Don't miss this unique opportunity! Special gifts and discounts are included!

- Do you need an amazing activity for a special evening? Viv & Larry and Katharine Hepburn & Spencer Tracy will act in an exclusive theatrical performance, just for you and your friends! Do we really need to convince you?

 - Don't you just love music? Well, pick this all-star offer and enjoy a whole night of the best music: Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Doris Day, Barbra Streissand, Irene Dunne, Maurice Chevalier, Julie Andrews, Deanna Durbin, Marni Nixon (so she gets some recognition) and a lot of other singers to choose from our catalog! This offer includes a duet with the artist you want!

- Are you stressed? Depressed? Or you just you need something to cheer up? How would you like to be part of a game night hosted by William Powell & Myrna Loy? Would you like playing charade with funny guests like Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, Rosalind Russel, Red Skelton, Una Merkel, Bob Hope, Eve Arden, Chaplin, the Marx Brothers...? You know what to do, the lines are opened.

(Jean Arthur's confirmation is pending).

- Are you just dying to go to a Hollywood party hosted by Marion Davies at Hearst Castle but you don't really like Mr. Hearst? Well, pick this super option because he's not invited! But everybody else in Hollywood is!! This is one of the most expensive offers, but it's totally worth it! We assure you this is a night you won't forget.

(And if you contact us in the next few minutes, Edith Head will design your costume!)

- This is the last offer! Enjoy a new version of the Hollywood Canteen, hosted by Bette Davis and with the participation of special guests like Cary Grant, Greer Garson,  Rita Hayworth, Gary Cooper,  Don Ameche, the Barrymores, Olivia de Havilland, Irene Dunne, and everyone in this list! Invite your friends, invite everyone you want and be part of one of the most special evenings ever!

Which offer would you choose?

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 :)

Movie Review: People will talk (1951)

Cary Grant plays a gynecologist....

The end. 

Just kidding. I just thought you might enjoy the idea :) Well, Cary Grant plays Noah Praetorious (really) a rich doctor/gynecologist/shaman/musician that has his own method to treat patients: he actually cares about them, just like Patch Adams. But he's not like a clown, he talks to people wearing an elegant suit and sees that they're comfortable. The movie has two main threads: his relationship with Jeanne Crain and an investigation against him held by a medical board.

The cool thing about People Will Talk  (directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, one of my faves), is that it deals with  subjects that are touchy even today: single moms, alternative medicine AND an alternative medicine practitioner marrying a young patient/single mom. There is also a scene in which Cary unveils a young woman corpse in front of a class (not the whole body of course, but head and shoulders) and I thought that was kind of unusual in an old movie.

Well, Cary marries pregnant Jeanne (the real father was a soldier that died in the war and she says she wasn't sure about him). It's super refreshing to see these kind of topics being treated in a movie from 1951 and it's really nice how Cary deals with both situations, in a very natural way, always trying to reassure and comfort Jeanne and the audience. And he becomes an even stronger figure when you learn that Jeanne and her dad are living with a very unkind uncle that treats them bad.

The chemistry between the main stars is great and you really root for the couple. This is one of my favorite scenes, in which Cary starts "chasing" Jeanne and ends up trapped:

Then, there are terrific secondary characters: the Wicked Witch playing a woman that gives information against Cary, Finlay Currie playing a mysterious man that follows Dr. Praetorious everywhere, Walter Slezak is really funny as Cary's friend and Hume Cronyn as the detestable "medical prosecutor".

It seems that Cary "refused to acknowledge this film" and I've read a lot of comments from people saying that this one is a  stinker. Some say that it should have been called People will talk, talk, talk..., an idea I find really funny, but untrue. I never even thought that they were talking too much. Others say that the genre is not very well defined (a fact I hate in Made for each other, for example) but I never took this movie like a comedy. It's just a film dealing with several topics in a serious way, with some fine comic relief moments. 

So, follow my advice, you won't regret: this is a very interesting movie. I even included Noah Praetorious (I like writing that name) and Deborah Higgins in the 20 coolest couples from Classic Movies (I find "fashionably attractive or impressive" the fact of a doctor marrying a pregnant patient, especially if the doctor is Cary Grant).

And guess what? You can watch it on Youtube: http://youtu.be/T3NU9Zk1L-k

The 20 coolest on-screen couples from classic movies

'Cool' definition from Wordreference: fashionably attractive or impressive.

Here's my list of 20 couples that looked terrific together on screen, that complemented each other and had fun together all the movie (or until the script spoiled it all for them) or overcame difficult situations to be together and hopefully lived happily ever after.

In no particular order: 

Harry Morgan & 'Slim' Browning from To have and have not

Gilbert & Iris Henderson from The lady vanishes

Paul & Corie Bratter from Barefoot in the Park

Nicky Ferrante & Terry McKay from An Affair to Remember

Nick & Nora Charles from The Thin Man

Robin & Marian from The Adventures of Robin Hood

Sean Thorton & Mary Kate Danaher from The Quiet Man

Ben Quick & Clara Varner from The Long, Hot Summer

Capt. Daniel Craig & Lucy Muir from The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

Juan Herrera & Vance Jeffords from The Furies

C.C. Baxter & Fran Kubelik from The apartment

Joe Bradley & Princess Ann from Roman Holiday

Noah Praetorious and Deborah Higgins from People Will Talk

Leon and Ninotchka from Ninotchka

Longfellow Deeds & Babe Bennett from Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Jane & Tarzan from the Tarzan movies with Johnny & Maureen.

Peter Joshua (or whatever his name is) and Reggie Lampert from Charade

Brian Hawke & 'Spitfire' Stevens from Against All Flags

Armand Duvall & Marguerite Gautier from Camille

Johny Case & Linda Seton from Holiday

What do you think?

8 Classic Movies I can watch over and over...

...and I know I won't get tired of them. Ever. That means that if you visit me here in Chile there are a lot possibilities that we end watching one of these (I can be very convincing). And it's weird, because there are films that you really really love, but you wouldn't watch in every occasion. For example, I love Singin' in the Rain, but sometimes I go "Mmm, and have to watch all the musical numbers? And the whole thing with the star that doesn't have a god voice? It's OK, but not for now". Well, here are some films I can watch without over thinking:

Ben - Hur (1959) : Like many of the movies in this list, I've watched Ben Hur with my parents since I was a child. It's so cool. I mean, the classic story of revenge, perfectly done, with great performances and settings. And when you think that you just saw a great scene, a better one follows. My favorite part is, of course, the chariot race, such a terrific climax. We are all rooting for Judah and the horses are so beautiful (gosh, I'm such a serious reviewer)...and then Jesus (!!!) makes a miracle and saves Judah's mom and sister. So, yes, great film. *Patting William Wyler on the back*

An affair to remember (1957): I know that there are people who hate this movie because it's an official remake of Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer's Love affair. Official because both were directed by Leo McCarey, who decided to make an almost exact copy. But even when I like Charles Boyer a lot, I prefer Cary Grant, of course. And Deborah is one of my favorite actresses. And Cary and Deborah are great too at mixing comedy and drama. And Technicolor gives it a special atmosphere. 

And beyond comparisons, the story is so good and romantic and sad and funny at some points. And the old granny! My favorite scenes are when they meet each other in public places on the ship and everyone is staring and whispering, or this one when they plan the 6 months from now thing. Pay attention to the timing of both performers, how they cut each others lines out of emotion. Soo good.

The Searchers (1956) One of my favorite movies from John Wayne. It's so good that I even forgive the racist scenes with the Comanche woman. Another story of revenge, John Wayne looks the whole film for his niece, captured by...Scar. At the end he has to choose between his hate to Indians or little Natalie Wood. Great music, beautiful locations, Jeffrey Hunter, terrific script, memorable performance by Wayne. My favorite scene? I have a lot, but the ending is really special.  What a way to go, John Ford!

Roman Holiday (1951): This is the last movie I discovered from this list. Like two years ago. Even when it has a sad ending, the whole film is so entertaining and Audrey and Gregory give such honest performances. It has so many little memorable moments and makes you feel good. This was the tribute I made some years ago. *Patting William Wyler on the back again*

Hitchcock movies: Obviously, there are some of them I can't stand. Like The Paradine Case. But I LOVE most of Hitch's films. Some of my favorites are Rear Window, The Lady Vanishes, Rebecca, Spellbound, The Birds, Vertigo and Notorious, to name a few. Hitchcock = fun.

Yes, my Disney VHS collection :)

Disney movies: Yeah, I still watch my old VHS. I could watch them (and sing along the Spanish version of the songs) anytime. My favorite films are The Beauty and the Beast (by far), Pocahontas, The Lion King, One Hundred Dalmatians and Sleeping Beauty. Oh, I've recently discovered non-cartoons films produced by Disney, like Hayley Mills' Pollyana and The Parent Trap. Fun, fun, fun.

Gone with the wind (1939) What a movie! Magnificent! I love everything about it (although my least favorite character is Ashley Wilkes). I love even the minor characters, like Prissy (check "A day in the life of Prissy") and Belle Watling. Olivia de Havilland and Hattie McDaniel at their best (my favorite scene from them is when Hattie tells Olivia what happened with Clark after Bonnie died, while they go upstairs). Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable making history. The music by Max Steiner. Memorable scene after memorable scene. Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. A classic. 

The Sound of Music (1965) I can't count how many times I've seen this movie. I saw it when the Von Trapp kids were my age, I saw it when I though Liesl was old and now I saw it and I think about the passage of time. Anyway, this movie is perfect IMO. A had a teacher who said he won't see it ever ever, because he knew it would be cheesy, but I just love it. 

The songs are perfect, the kids are perfect, Julie, Christopher & Eleanor are perfect, Vienna is perfect...You can watch it when you're sad, when you're happy, when you're bored, etc. One of my favorites scenes is when the kids are singing by themselves, very hungry and sad because Maria is gone, and then a voice joins, and it's Maria! I also love when they sing Edelweiss in the music contest (or when Christopher sings it). Oh the first scene in the mountains. And the ending. And, oh, when The Baroness is playing the most boring game ever with a ball...etc etc etc.

What are the films you can watch over and over and never get tired of?

 More lists :

• The 10 most handsome men from Classic Hollywood
• 10 types of annoying people to watch a movie with
• My top 10 Billy Wilder movies

Haiku # 7: "Bringing up baby"

Bringing Up Baby (1938)

"I hope you don't mind,
dear David Huxley, the fact
I own a leopard."

This is an entry for the Best For Film Hollywood Haikus blogging competition. Enter now.

A site you should check: "Letters of Note"

Heya readers! I haven't seen many movies lately, yesterday I started the course to get a postgraduate certificate on Digital Journalism I told you about, so I won't be posting on Tuesdays and Thursdays (probably). But don't worry, I'm planning some new services for Via Margutta, a surprise and a new book review. Stay tuned!

Today I wanted to recommend you a very interesting site, which is getting more and more known and now it's even nominated for a Webby Award. Letters of Note publishes "correspondence deserving a wider audience", that means that you can find letters, postcards, telegrams, smoke signals, etc etc sent by famous/historical people. And of course, I wouldn't be talking about this site here, if it didn't share notes from classic actors and directors. Here are my favorites:

James Dean : Being an actor is the loneliest thing in the world

Audrey Hepburn to Stanley Kubrick: I expect to make the best movie ever made

A drunken evening with Groucho Marx

Cary Grant: I cannot swagger out in these shirts

Marlon Brando to Marilyn Monroe: The best reappraisals are born in the worst crisis

To Billy Wilder: Respectfully yours, Clint Eastwood

Hope you enjoyed! Oh, don't forget that you can help Letters of Note to win a Webby Award.