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?

5 Mini Reviews including 'My Reputation' & 'This above all'

Hi guys, here are my brief commentaries of the movies I've seen lately but haven't reviewed:

1. The three lives of Thomasina (1964; Don Chaffey)
I really liked this Disney movie. It's about a widower (a vet) his daughter, and her cat, Thomasina living in a small village. After his wife died, the vet became kind of detached: if an animal is dying, he doesn't care about the feelings of the owner. When Thomasina, the cat, is seriously injured, he doesn't try to help her and is let to die.

The daughter doesn't forgive her dad for this; everyone believe the cat died. Only she didn't and a nice "witch" is taking care of her. It was fun, kept you intrigued and the kids from Mary Poppins (Karen Dotrice & Mathew Garber) play the main characters here too.

2. I wake up screaming (1941; H. Bruce Humberstone)

DorianTb recommended me this movie and I loved it! Told in flashbacks from different points of views, the movie tells the story of a woman (Carole Landis) that was murdered. The police is trying to find the killer and her manager (Victor Mature) is the main suspect. The victim's sister (Betty Grable) doesn't agree. Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, the film makes you wonder, makes you change your opinion with every flashback and then root for the innocents. It was great to see Laird Cregar, the Devil from Heaven can wait (review), playing a mysterious Police Inspector.

3. My reputation (1946; Curtis Bernhardt)

Loved this "drama", although I didn't like the ending very much. Basically, a widow (Barbara Stanwyck) is condemned by the society and her family because she's in love with George Brent and they hang out WITHOUT BEING MARRIED. Obviously, you have to see this movie in perspective to get the drama in that. My favorite things from this movie are Eve Arden's awesomely well delivered jokes (made me want to watch more from her movies as you'll see in the next post of mini reviews) and Barbara Stanwyck's usual terrific acting skills. Please, check this scene:

Why I didn't like the ending? Because they decided to end everything according to the social rules (and the Hays Code I guess). I enjoyed watching it anyway.

4. The wedding night (1935; King Vidor)

I actually re-watched this film. Gary Cooper is a writer (inspired in Francis Scott Fitzgerald) that likes to drink and party with his wife. At some point he decides to start writing a new book in the country, alone. There he meets a Pole family of farmers with strict rules and falls in love with the simplicity and sweetness of the daughter, Anna Sten (although in real life the actors hated each other and he called her Anna "Stench").

I love this movie (even when it seems that the portrayal of the Poles was far too barbaric) and it always makes me cry. Anna has to marry a primitive-looking Ralph Bellamy (he does a great job, makes you forget his elegant roles) because her dad needs lands or money or whatever.

There are some scenes beautifully played, that makes you really empathize with the characters. The protagonists need each other and you can see they would be happy together and help each other...but, well, see the movie to check what happens. I like how they developed the ending.

5. This above all (1942; Anatole Litvak)

This is a movie that was made to give strengths to the people during World War II. You know them: they always end with a speech delivered by someone looking to the horizon. But I enjoyed the ride: Tyrone Power and Joan Fontaine are great together.
Set in England, their chracters have different social backgrounds: he comes from the working class while her family is rich and powerful. She decided to become a volunteer and while she is on that, she meets Ty, a guy that has issues with having to defend his country. I liked it because they enjoy their love and give a leap of faith, facing social prejudice (like taking ONE room at a hotel for a weekend) and their own fears.

Well, that's all for now, folks! I wrote 5 mini-reviews more, I'll publish them in a few days (so don't believe is the same post).


PS: Remember that if you're replying as a guest you can leave the link to you site. Just click the option "Link to your website" under "Your name".

Movies seen in 2011 so far: The good, the bad and the so-so

There are a lot of movies I've seen this year but I haven't reviewed. Here's a brief commentary for some of them:

The good:

Well, thanks to ClassicBecky and Lola, I watched White Heat (1949; Raoul Walsh). And girls, you were right, this is simply a terrific movie. James Cagney is memorable as Cody Jarrett, a violent criminal who loves his mommy. The film keeps you intrigued, especially because there's an undercover agent that has to get close to Cody and you really fear of what might happen to him. But you also feel some kind of sympathy for the poor man who suffers of severe headaches. A very well told story, with a great ending.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947; Norman S. McLeod) was the first film from Virginia Mayo and Danny Kaye I ever saw. It was a surprise, a really fun comedy. Danny is a low profile comic artist that can't help daydreaming and seeing himself as a cool guy in different entertaining scenes. Everyone makes fun of him, even his dull fiancée until he becomes involved in very strange and dangerous situation that includes a sophisticated blonde, a bad guy and an unexpected super bad guy. Fun. Oh, Ben Stiller is going to ruin it with a remake.

Ivy (1947; Sam Wood) Great, great movie. The Siren praised it so I had to watch it. It was a super engaging...I don't know, drama? thriller? about a crazy Joan Fontaine that has a husband, a poor lover AND a rich lover. This Joan Fontaine doesn't love her husband; loves the poor lover but loves the rich lover's money even more. That complex. And then she decides a) to kill the husband b) not help the poor lover when he's accused of murder c) wait for the rich lover. But her plans don't go very well because this Joan Fontaine doesn't know how to use an elevator. Great film.

The so-so

Sleep my love (Douglas Sirk; 1948) is like Gaslight but starring Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche AS THE BAD GUY and Robert Cummings. That means that this is about a husband that wants to kill his wife by trying to convince her that she's seeing people that is not really there, going to places she didn't want to go and trying to jump from balconies. Why it isn't good? Well because I expected more from this film and it was a bit messy. Like Claudette meets Robert and like in twenty minutes are BFF and go out together.And because Don exaggerated a bit his performance, it wasn't very subtly like Charles Boyer's. But, it was entertaining anyway.

The golden arrow (1936; Alfred Green) Bette Davis is a rich girl and George Brent is a poor reporter. Bette convinces him to marry her, because she doesn't stand guys around her just because of her fortune (this plan didn't convince me very much). Before they were married they liked each other, then they marry and soon they start fighting because Bette needs to create public controversy, so the name of her company appears in the media. I don't know, some parts seemed too forced to serve the script. Why it isn't bad? Because Bette and George had great chemistry...at the beginning at least.

Doctor in the House (1954; Ralph Thomas) I watched this movie because I wanted to see something from Dick Borgade. It's about medical students and all the shananigans that going to university to become a doctor means. Like buying medical skulls, practicing the recently learned theories on girls, etc. Oh, and what being a doctor really means, etc. I don't know, it was too bland, too circumstantial and not very surprising. Not bad because it has some funny scenes.

The bad

The princess and the pirate (1944; Davis Butler) I have to say that I can understand people that like this kind of movies. I mean, Bob Hope, one liners, crazy scenes, laughing at the movie conventions, etc. I like some parody movies, I discuss the subject a month ago, but I guess this one is more for the boys. Here the female character is just an accessory, IMO. A coward pirate rescues a princess and has to face a furious captain. Stuff the plot with lots of pirates jokes, Virginia Mayo singing, some unconnected scenes, a very stupid ending and you have something to sell. Not my cup of tea.

So, uhm...yes... that's all folks!

5 first mini reviews of 2011 including awesome "Caged"

For some reason, I haven't been in the mood of writing reviews lately, even when I started the year very well in terms of the quality of the films I've seen. I had very low expectations with some of them but they impressed me; others, didn't. Today I finally managed to describe my feelings towards these five films, take a look:

Since you went away (1944; John Cromwell)

Who's in it: A lot of great actors, Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Shirley Temple, Hattie MacDaniel, Agnes Moorehead, Lionel Barrymore, Robert Walker.

What's it about: The life of a family during the II World War.

The good: I like the movies about war that show the domestic life of the people who stay. It gives you more elements to understand historical events. I liked all the performances, but if I had to pick my favorite it would be Robert Walker's as the shy Corporal Bill. Even when it lasts more than 2 hours, it maintains the tension about the possible loss of the father in the war. David O. Selznick produced and wrote the screenplay, so expect a magnificent musical intro and intermission (by Max Steiner), varied locations and an overall well managed drama. On the frivolous side, I also liked this guy who played a minor character.

The bad: I didn't find any flaw. I only have a very personal thing with very melodramatic scenes, they always kind of distract me, no matter if they are needed and well acted.

Should I see it?: Yes.

The bigamist (1953; Ida Lupino)

Who's in it: Joan Fontaine, Ida Lupino, Edmund Gwenn.

What's it about: A guy marries Joan and then Ida. The end.

The good: I liked the performances by Ida and Edmund. Ida makes you feel that her character doesn't expect anything good from life and you understand why is she attracted to this unknown guy without asking questions; and even when Edmund's character is breaking the law, you could understand his acts. There's dramatic tension until the end. Also, I'm crazy about movies told in flash back, so kudos just for that. I loved the trip to see the famous actors houses in LA, like Barbara Stanwyck and James Stewart's (watch a tiny part of this scene).

The bad: I didn't like the end, so that's a big con. Joan and Edmund supposedly have a terribly boring marriage, but that's told and not shown, because when they're together I didn't notice they didn't get along. I found it kind of boring at some points.

Should I see it?: I know some of my fellow bloggers loved it, but in my humble opinion there are many movies you should see before this one.

Scarlet Street (1945; Fritz Lang)

Who's in it: Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett.

What's it about: Edward is a good person, efficient worker, but his life sucks. Then he meets bad Joan and when you think his life would be better, it painfully enters in the most terribly state of decadence.

The good: I liked everything in this movie. I even liked the ending despite the fact that it was far from what I was expecting. Edward's performance is terrific as always, Joan surprised me because she played an harpy but at the same time she showed a bit of decency that made you hate her but not completely. The real BAD guy is her boyfriend, one of the most despicable characters I've ever seen, a vicious, greedy bastard with not ethics or feelings. Fritz's usual dark photography fits very well the theme of the film, and makes everything even more painful to see.

The bad: Only that I wanted the bad guy to suffer more.

Should I see it?: If you're in the mood for a dark movie, totally.

Caged (1950; John Cromwell)

Who's in it: Eleanor Parker, Agnes Moorehead, Jan Sterling.

What's it about: A young Eleanor Parker is imprisoned because of a tiny criminal act and has to endure the terrible life in jail.

The good: I LOVED this movie. I loved it so much that I saw it twice. Eleanor Parker was surprisingly awesome in this film and I'm really impressed by her chameleonic appearance in the different films I've seen her in. She's able to show such vulnerably, such discomfort and frailty that you really suffer with her. This movie has another terribly cruel character, Evelyn Harper (Hope Emerson), the matron of the cell. She's an aggressive beast who thinks that prisoners are animals, and what's more terrible she has powerful contacts so she can't be dismissed by humanitarian Head of the prison played by Agnes Moorehead. It has great secondary characters and many intense and shocking situations to show so it's never boring. This is a movie that really makes you think of the reality of prisons and how people could change if they had a chance.

The bad: SPOILER -----When I saw it for the first time, I thought that they could have managed better the change in Eleanor's character personality, like showing it more gradually, but the second time I didn't care. 

Should I see it? YES!

In the good old summertime (1949; Robert Z. Leonard)

Who's in it: Judy Garland, Van Johnson, S. Z. Sakall, Buster Keaton.

What's it about: It's the same story of The Shop around the corner, You've got mail, etc...

The good: S. Z. Sakall! I always love to see him and here he funnily plays the owner of a music shop. Also, it's a pleasure to hear Judy singing. My favorite numbers were Play that Barbershop Chord (watch) and I don't care (watch). Plus, she's funny in this one. The story of two people hating each other when you know they're gonna end up together, is always fun. At the end, you can see Judy and her real life baby daughter, Liza.

The bad: There are some adapted situations that I felt kind of forced, like Van Johnson getting fired because he lend his boss' violin. One of my favorite scenes, the one when the couple is going to meet in a restaurant and he sends a co worker to check how the girl looks, here is delivered really fast and with less intensity. Plus some characters lost presence and identity in the adaption (the man who advices the couple; Keaton's character; etc).  

Should I see it? The shop around the corner and You've got mail are better in my opinion, but this one is fun anyway. 

That's all folks!

11 mini reviews including "Hold back the dawn" and "Topper"

When I started this blog, I wrote my posts  in Spanish. I translated and updated these reviews so you can read them :)

1. Der blaue Engel (1930; Josef von Sternberg)

Who's in it: Marlene Dietrich, Emile Jannings.

What is it about: A school teacher has the very bad idea of falling in love with Marlene Dietrich playing a cabaret dancer....

The good: the powerful and dramatic story, the character development, Janning and Dietrich's moving performances, the suffocating atmosphere achieved by director Josef von Sternberg.

The bad: Nothing, poor guy.

Should I see it? Yes, but it's really depressing.

2. Kiss and Make-Up (1935; Harlan Thompson)

Who's in it: Cary Grant, Helen Mack, Genevieve Tobin

What is it about: A plastic surgeon (Grant) thinks he's in love with one of his operated clients and not with his secretary....

The good: the initial idea of a plastic surgeon having to choose between fabricated beauty and natural beauty; the rather funny scene in which you see how many treatments one of the clients has to follow in order to look beautiful; Cary Grant sings...

The bad: the story is awfully developed, it just paces around and halfway trough the movie you still don't know what's the main story ; the 70% of the characters are not very interesting (I couldn't care less what happen with them at the end) and their actions are really unbelievable.

Should I see it? No.

3. Topper (1937; Norman Z. McLeod)

Who's in it: Cary Grant , Constance Bennett, Roland Young

What is it about: A wealthy young couple that LOVE parties have a fatal accident and reappear as ghosts... and to move on they need to help a guy that has marriage troubles...

The good: the story is original and very entertaining, the actors are great in their roles, but the best are the special effects...really, they are flawless and surprising: the ghosts appear and disappear, pencils and wheels float on the air, invisible lips smoke a cigarette, etc, etc...

The bad:  some parts are unbelievable and I'm not talking about the ghosts: how someone married to Cary Grant wants to chase an older man???

Should I see it? Yes.

4. Midnight (1939; Mitchell Leisen)

Who's in it: Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, John Barrymore, Mary Astor.

What is it about:  A taxi driver falls in love with a broke party crasher girl that wants to marry a millionaire....

The good: The script written by Billy Wilder and Charles Bracket, full of hilarious and memorable moments and dialogs; the performance of the main actors, especially Miss Colbert and Mr. Barrymore (he has a really funny scene over the phone).

The bad: Nothing.

Should I see it?:  Yes.

5. Escape (1940; Mervy LeRoy)

Who's in it: Robert Taylor, Norma Shearer, Alla Nazimova

What is it about: During World War II, a (handsome) young man wants to rescue her mother from a concentration camp in Germany...

The good: the plot is interesting, there's tension present and it's generally well handled (will he save his poor mom?), and the relationship between the young American and his countrywoman with some influences on the Germans ends being credible.

The bad: the relationship starts being unbelievable; the German character was too stereotyped; some of the main characters reactions and dialogs are kind of repetitive.

Should I see it? Only if you want to see a very good and tense rescue scene and don't mind the unconvincing main relationship.

6. Hold back the dawn (1941; Mitchell Leisen)

Who's in it: Olivia de Havilland, Charles Boyer, Paulette Godard

What is it about: An European Casanova needs to cross from Mexico to USA...even if he must marry an innocent school teacher.

The good: Everything, starting with the script written by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett, full of unique moments and a racconto storytelling that makes you wait expectantly for the end; the story is appealing (and melodramatic), the characters evolve and the secondary stories are all interesting, the main actors are excellent in their roles and the film leaves no loose ends. Oh, Mikhail Rasumny's scenes (the car mechanic) are hilarious!

The bad: Maybe that Boyer didn't have vision enough to accept a scene proposed by Wilder in which he talked to a cockroach about his problems..

Should I see it? YES.

7. I married a witch (1942, René Clair)

What is it about: A witch and her witch daddy want to take revenge on a descendant of a guy who locked them like 200 years ago.

Who's in it: Fredric March, Veronica Lake.

The good: the story is entertaining, Veronica Lake is fine in her role, there are some hilarious scenes (like the one of a woman trying to make a speech in a wedding being interrupted again and again), there are some interesting visual solutions supporting this fantasy film.

The bad: the emotional development of the characters is not very well defined, so you don't fully understand their actions or attitudes at some points; the end is a little bit abrupt.

Should I see it? If you don't mind some script problems, go ahead.

8. Never say goodbye (1946, James V. Kern)

What is it about: A comedy about a separated couple whose little daughter want them back together...

Who's in it: Errol Flynn, Eleanor Parker, Lucile Watson., Hattie McDaniel, (the always funny) S.Z. Sakall.

The good: Flynn is convincing in his role of the affectionate and relaxed daddy; the Watson kid is entertaining as Shirley Temple (only that she doesn't sing or dance...nor has jumping curls); Mr. Sakall scenes are really funny, especially those with Flynn in which he has to run from table to table trying to maintain two different conversations like Robin Williams in "Mrs. Doubtfire".

The bad: Eleanor Parker's character (the mom that wants to go back with her ex husband only that she's not sure) is not very powerful; the story isn't very well developed because the reconciliation is dragged out and gets more and more unbelievable.

Should I see it? Only if you want to see some nice scenes with Flynn, S.Z. Sakall and the little girl.

9. Letter from a unknown woman (1948, Max Ophüls)

What is it about: the ultra melodramatic story of a woman that loves a guy and he doesn't notice until she explains her crush in detail...

Who's in it: Joan Fontaine, Luis Jourdan

The good: the script (based on a story by one of my fave writers, Stefan Zweig) contains unforgettable moments (like the one on the fake train from the amusement park); Joan's performance playing an adolescent and then an adult, the photography.

The bad: That the guy didn't notice before  :)

Should I see it? Yes, keeping Kleenex handy.

10. The Sundowners (1960, Fred Zinneman)


What is it about: Dad, mom and son travel in a wagon around Australia...only that mom and son don't want to travel in a wagon around Australia anymore.
Who's in it: Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum, Peter Ustinov.
The good: The powerful performances by the main actors, Fred Zinneman's sharp direction, the attractive story, the character development, the locations.
The bad: It ends.
Should I see it?: Yes, totally.

11. Les demoiselles de Rochefort (1967, Jacques Demy)

What is it about: Two French singer sisters want to be famous and marry ideal guys.

Who's in it: Catherine Deneuve, Françoise Dorléac (she died a year after the movie was released), George Chakiris, Gene Kelly.

The good: everything, especially the joy that the film transmits via their lovely songs and melodies, the colors, the choreographies, the dialogs and the actors performances. The songs contain information that help the story to move, something that all musicals should do.

The bad: like most musicals, the story is a bit trivial but I didn't mind. I wish Gene Kelly was younger.

Should I see it? Yes, please. Oh, if you haven't seen it, you should also check "Les parapluis de Cherbourg" (reviewed here) a drama also directed by Demy and starring Miss Deneuve.

Psst..need Classic Hollywood jewelry?

Maybe you'd like to have "Deborah's Opal Affair" ( $170.00) ring from "An affair to remember"...

...or "Vivien's Southern Emerald" earrings ($155.00) from "Gone with the wind"...

...looking for a band? Maybe you'd like "Joan’s Diamond Stackable Band" ($270.00) from "Suspicion"...

Really, hollywoodroyaltycollection.com site is so much fun! They recreate jewelry used by Classic Actresses (and actors) in their films...and each piece is accompanied by interesting descriptions regarding the films and performers. The list includes: Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis, Carole Lombard, Ginger Rogers, Humphrey Bogart, Irene Dunne, Marlene Dietrich, Clark Gable and more!

Some of my favorites:

"Lombard's Champagne Wedding ring" ($145.00) from "Mr. a Mrs. Smith"... 

...and marvelous "Deborah's Pink Diamond Debut" ($150.00) from "The Hucksters"...

So go over there and share your faves with me :)

Proust Questionnaire Answered by Classic Actors

I had no idea Vanity Fair included the Proust Questionnaire in its pages (which is not very strange since I don't read it). It was a great surprise and an interesting reading to found these famous questions answered by Classic Actors in the the past two years. Things that were mentioned by more than one interviewee: love for their gardens and nature, chastity as the most overrated virtue, George Sand as the historical figure they relate with. Also, why does Julie Andrews hate her nose so much?? That was weird.
I added the link to the original article in VF below the names (they include recent pictures or caricatures of each star):

OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND
Original article in VF

What is your greatest fear?
The loss of physical, financial, and psychological independence.

Which living person do you most admire?
Nelson Mandela.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Champagne.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Change “is” to “are” and the answer is my two children.

When and where were you happiest?
In their company, each of us doing his/her own thing in perfect harmony.

Which talent would you most like to have?
The gift of coolheadedness or the ability to tap-dance.

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
To have my son alive again, happy, healthy, and engaged in the work he loved most.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
Person: as me, myself, and I.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
Thing: as a California redwood tree—tall, strong, deep-rooted, long-living, aromatic, benevolent, reaching toward the sun, the moon, and the stars.

What are your favorite names?
Alexandra and Alexis.

What is your most treasured possession?
The christening cup of Geoffrey Raoul de Havilland, given me by his mother after his death on September 27, 1946, while attempting to break the sound barrier in the DH-108, the de Havilland experimental plane.

What is your favorite occupation?
Doing cryptic crosswords or, equally, reading tales of mystery and imagination.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Make that plural and the answer is clear-sightedness, humor, fairness, fidelity to purpose.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Thoughtfulness.

What is it that you most dislike?
The deception and exploitation of the naïve and defenseless.

How would you like to die?
I would prefer to live forever in perfect health, but if I must at some time leave this life I would like to do so ensconced on a chaise longue, perfumed, wearing a velvet robe and pearl earrings, with a flute of champagne beside me and having just discovered the answer to the last problem in a British cryptic crossword.

What is your motto?
“Dominus Fortissima Turris.” (Variously translated as “God is the strongest tower” or “God is my tower of strength.”)

JOAN FONTAINE
Original article in VF

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Working in my garden while my five A.S.P.C.A. dogs smell the roses … or water them.


What is your greatest fear?
As I lost my Brentwood, California, house and its contents in a firestorm in 1964, I fear the same might happen to Villa Fontana.


Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Eleanor of Aquitaine, as she was my all-time favorite role, in The Lion in Winter, and which gave me the best reviews of my career.


What is your greatest extravagance?
Buying a car just for my canines.


What is your favorite journey?
Portofino to Capri.


What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Virginity.


On what occasion do you lie?
When being tactful … or evasive.


Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Ah!”


What or who is the greatest love of your life?
The English language.


What is your current state of mind?
Contentment.


If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Recklessness.


What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Impulsiveness.


What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Gossiping, denigration, chitchat, disloyalty.


What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Peace and tranquillity.


What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Losing a child.


What is your most treasured possession?
My house and its three acres of gardens, in the woods.


What is your most marked characteristic?
Independence, sense of humor.


What is the quality you most like in a man?
Knowledge and respect, affection without demands.


What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Intellect, honesty, openness, loyalty.


Who are your favorite writers?
Du Maurier, Shakespeare, Dickens, the Brontës, Gwendolyn Brooks.


Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
D’Artagnan, from The Three Musketeers, who taught me some things were going on in Milady’s boudoir. My mother, when I questioned her at 10 years old, said, “You’ll have to ask someone else.”


Who are your heroes in real life?
Winston Churchill. Alas, no “greats” today, except Mother Teresa.


If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
Me again. “Get it right this time!”


What is it that you most dislike?
Noise.


How would you like to die?
In bed—alone.


What is your motto?
“Free at last!”

JULIE ANDREWS
Original article in VF

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Can I get back to you on that?

What is your greatest fear?
Fear!

What is your most marked characteristic?
I bet you thought I was going to say my nose.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I interrupt too much.

Which living person do you most despise?
’enry ’iggins!

What is your greatest extravagance?
Flowers.

What is your current state of mind?
Hopeful.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Chastity.

On what occasion do you lie?
Occasionally. If I feel it’s kinder than the truth.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
My nose.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Intelligence and a sense of humor.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
A sense of humor and intelligence.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Do you know what I mean?” or “Are you all right?”

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My family.

When and where were you happiest?
In London. When Blake [Edwards, her husband since 1969] made me laugh so much I wept. Blake says I slept with a smile.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My nose.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Next time around, I plan to be a classical composer.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
The miracle of giving birth.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A meadowlark.

Where would you like to live?
Where there are meadowlarks.

What is your most treasured possession?
Family photographs.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Being without hope.

What is your favorite occupation?
Pottering in my garden.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Charlie Brown.

What are your favorite names?
Those of my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

What is it that you most dislike?
Poverty, hunger, unhappiness.

How would you like to die?
Peacefully—holding my mate.

What is your motto?
“When in doubt, stand still."

JANE FONDA
Original article in VF

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being totally present and at peace in the moment—and knowing that my children and grandchildren are all right.

What is your greatest fear?
That we won’t act fast enough to save the planet.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
The tendency to withdraw into myself.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Cynicism.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Buying large trees to place around my ranch house. (I am too old for saplings.)

What is your current state of mind?
Acceptance.

On what occasion do you lie?
When the truth will serve no purpose and only hurt.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
My naked self in an overhead light.

Which living person do you most despise?
Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Kissinger—just about equally—for their cynicism and disdain for life.

What do you most value in your friends?
Honesty.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My children and grandchildren.

When and where were you happiest?
Hiking to the top of a 14,000-foot mountain.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My inability to have a long-term intimate relationship.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Never settling for what is, but striving for “What if … ?”

Where would you like to live?
Right where I am.

What is your most treasured possession?
My ranch and its ever changing wildness.

What is your favorite occupation?
Mountain climbing.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Being down to earth.

Who are your favorite writers?
Proust, Shakespeare.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Abraham Lincoln.

What is it that you most dislike?
A lack of compassion.

What is your greatest regret?
Regrets are a waste of time except as things to learn from.

Which talent would you most like to have?
To be able to sing.

How would you like to die?
In my home, in bed, surrounded by my family. I can see it all quite clearly, and I am not afraid of it.

What is your motto?
“It’s better to be interested than interesting.”

TONY CURTIS
Original article in VF

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Top billing.


What is your greatest fear?
People might not remember me.


What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Forgetting people’s gifts.


What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Bad breath.


Which living person do you most admire?
Arnold Schwarzenegger.


What is your current state of mind?
There’s nothing wrong with having a little fun.


What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Saying hello.


On what occasion do you lie?
When it looks like I’m in trouble.


What do you dislike most about your appearance?
Not much.


What is the quality you most like in a man?
Good nature.


What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Voluptuousness.


Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Thanks a lot,” whether I mean it or not.


What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My wife, Jillie.


Which talent would you most like to have?
That of a brain surgeon.


If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’d be three inches taller.


What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Being unique.


If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
The son of Ali Baba.


What is your most treasured possession?
An excellent mind, good health, and a pair of legs to run.


What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
To lose one’s brother.


What is your favorite occupation?
Acting in the movies.


What is your most marked characteristic?
My charm and intelligence.


Who are your favorite writers?
Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Charles Schulz.


Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Tarzan.


Which historical figure do you most identify with?
The Medici prince.


Who are your heroes in real life?
Drug enforcers.


What is it that you most dislike?
Bullshit.


What is your greatest regret?
That I never had a regular education.


How would you like to die?
Alone.


What is your motto?
“Fuck ‘em and feed ‘em fish.”

CATHERINE DENEUVE
Read the original article in VF

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
George Sand.


Which living person do you most admire?
Aung San Suu Kyi.


What is your greatest fear?
The war.


What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Having too many things on my mind at the same time.


What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Inconsistency.


What is your greatest extravagance?
Spending all my money when I was 17 years old to buy an Hermès Kelly bag.


What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Beauty.


What do you dislike most about your appearance?
My left ear.


Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Je ne finis pas mes phrases. [I do not finish my sentences.]


What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Nature.


Which talent would you most like to have?
The gift of a scientific mind.


What is your current state of mind?
Restless.


If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My future.


If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
Nothing.


What do you consider your greatest achievement?
A wild garden.


If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A lime tree.


What is your most treasured possession?
Lucidity.


What is your favorite occupation?
Playing in the garden.


What is your most marked characteristic?
Impassivity.


What is the quality you most like in a man?
Fantasy and talent.


What do you most value in your friends?
Uniqueness.


Who are your favorite writers?
Rainer Maria Rilke.


Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Mandrake the Magician.


What is it that you most dislike?
Insects.


How would you like to die?
In my sleep or standing.


What is your motto?
“À coeur vaillant, rien d’impossible.” [With a valiant heart, nothing is impossible.]

SHIRLEY MACLAINE
Original article in VF

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Searching for it.

What is your greatest fear?
The violence of enlightenment.

Which living person do you most admire?
The people who work with and for me.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My impatience, which can cause me to be really caustic and rude.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Same. We detest in others what we detest in ourselves.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Monogamy.

On what occasion do you lie?
When I eat sugar and say it doesn't matter.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
My bloated stomach after eating sugar.

What is your greatest regret?
Not spending more time with my daughter when I was working.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My dog Terry. All of nature.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Being patient with people who have no work ethic. Maybe they have something to teach me.

What is your current state of mind?
Content, but discontent with the leadership worldwide.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Being able to do nothing.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
The way I think.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A zillionaire who gives away all his money. Yes, I would like to come back as a rich man who would live without corruption, respect nature, women, and small, insignificant things.

What is your most treasured possession?
Two necklaces from my Santiago de Compostela Camino. All of my animals.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Prison.

Where would you like to live?
Wherever I am with Terry, but not in a confined space. New Mexico is fine for me.

What is your most marked characteristic?
My humorous cynicism.

Who are your favorite writers?
Those who tell the truth about themselves.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
I don't read fiction. My life is fiction.

Who are your heroes in real life?
Those who are optimistic through pain. I am a physical pussy unless I'm dancing or working out.

What is it that you most dislike?
People who don't care about themselves.

What is your motto?
"I am part of God in Light."
 

LUISE RAINER
Original article in VF

What is your current state of mind?
I have never had a current state of mind. My mind changes a great deal. I am very affected by any sorrow or sad thing, and I am very affected by joy and beauty.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
First of all, to be in love. The second way of being very happy is to be able to get the best out of yourself, whatever it is.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
One can be more than once in love—that’s the most important thing. The great loves of my life are my husband of 45 years, my daughter, and my first husband. These were my three great loves, but I’ve had other ones in between. They might not have been as great, but how can you weigh love? You cannot put it on a scale.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
To strive to get the best out of himself.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
An inner and outer elegance.

Which living person do you most admire?
Mandela. Also, artists and painters. I admire people who are creative.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Mountain climbing.

When and where were you happiest?
In the mountains, climbing into beautiful places—anything that has to do with nature. I feel best in nature or near nature. And I was most happy, of course, when I was with my husband and we were in beautiful landscapes.

On what occasion do you lie?
I lie sometimes to cover up whatever it is that needs to be covered up. I do not want to sound grandiose, but I sometimes feel I want to agree to make the questioner happy. But not often.

What is your greatest fear?
To be abandoned.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My inferiority complex.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
To be dishonest. Sometimes people have to be dishonest in order not to hurt, but if someone is basically dishonest, that is a different matter.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
To know yourself is very difficult, and I cannot answer questions like this. I am not on an analyst’s sofa!

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
One of the many I admire is [19th-century female French novelist] George Sand.

What is your greatest regret?
My greatest regret is that I have not given out much, much more, because inside me there is much, much more that I would have liked to give. It sounds arrogant, but it is the truth: I do not feel I have given out even part of what I can give out.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I could say such and such a film or something, but I can also say that it has been to overcome situations that would make me unhappy. Or to have the important things in life. To have the value of not losing perspective, and keeping a sense of humor.