Day 19- Who’d you like to party it up with in the afterlife

William Powell and Myrna Loy of course (yeah, I'm thinking really in Nick and Nora Charles). And Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz (he would be in charge of the music obviously). I'd invite Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra to sing some of their hits. Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, and Ginger Rogers to show some moves. Oh, oh, and Bette Davis and Joan Crawford :) I would go with Cary Grant so we two will laugh about all the craziness around, while S. Z. Sakall tell us some interesting gossip. Everyone would go —just like in Well, did you Evah? lyrics— "what a swell party this is!". 

Patricia Neal, Emma Thompson & Audrey, Reese & Peggy Lee

So many things happened this week. Do you mind if I comment about all these women in one post?

I've seen just two movies starring Patricia: "Hud" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's". And I can say she was a terrific actress. I always remember that moment in B@t when she is getting out of a cab and gives a quick look to Holly Golightly.

I don't know why I recall this particular scene so much. Maybe it's because that mix of smiles and looks and her character realizing that she might lose Paul and that inattentive way in which she receives all the info about Holly Golightly.
Great posts were written about Patricia this week. But Sheila O'Malley's was my favorite.
RIP Patricia, you'll not be forgotten.

Audrey: I have a feeling someone, someday, somehow is going to call my acting "twee".
Rex: Don't worry, I'm going to give to this movie an extraordinary quality.  

I'd love to start this topic saying: "And who the hell is Emma Thompson?". But I can't. She's great. But definitively lost kudos with her statements. If you're coming back from Mars and didn't hear, here's what she said to The Hollywood Reporter:

THR: Now you're working on a character who's definitely not ugly: You're writing a new version of "My Fair Lady."

Thompson: I was thrilled to be asked to do it, because, having looked at it, I thought that there needs to be a new version. I'm not hugely fond of the film. I find Audrey Hepburn fantastically twee.

THR: What is "twee"?

Thompson: Twee is whimsy without wit. Its mimsy-mumsy sweetness without any kind of bite. And that's not for me. She can't sing and she can't really act, I'm afraid. I'm sure she was a delightful woman -- and perhaps if I had known her I would have enjoyed her acting more, but I don't and I didn't, so that's all there is to it, really.

And to Daily Variety she said:

"I find it chocolate-boxy, clunky and deeply theatrical. I don't think that it's a film. It's the theater piece put onto film. It was Cecil Beaton's designs and Rex Harrison that gave it its extraordinary quality. I don't do Audrey Hepburn. I think that she's a guy thing. I'm sure she was this charming lady, but I didn't think she was a very good actress. It's high time that the extraordinary role of Eliza was reinterpreted because it's a very fantastic part for a woman."

I have to say three things. First, "My fair lady" isn't one of my favorite movies from Audrey. Emma has a point when she says that it's "the theater piece put onto a film". But I think that is precisely Audrey's presence which enlightens the movie, especially after Rex Harrison recites those long and misogynist lyrics. And it seems that being 'twee' is what directors asked to their Elizas to be. Just watch Julie Andrews.
Secondly, I'm assuming Emma hasn't seen "The Nun's Story" and "Two for the Road". Because I could call her acting 'twee' too after watching her in Harry Potter. But I don't because I've seen her in other movies. And I'm assuming that she hasn't heard Audrey singing Moon River either.
And finally, Audrey never said something like this in her life about a fellow actor. She never went bashing people. Yeah, Emma, you're right when you say you didn't know her.

Well, talking about "My Fair Lady", look at these:

A new Theater is going to be opened in Santiago next month and MFL is the first play they're going to show. Can't wait!

And finishing with exciting news. Some days ago I talked about how great was Nora Ephron's movie soundtracks. Well, she's going to direct one of my favorite modern actresses, Reese Witherspoon, in a biopic about one of my favorite singers, Peggy Lee. HOW COOL IS THAT?

Just one more thing: Crazy Poll is sad, just three people voted. It doesn't want to change its name to Fail Poll. It wants you to participate :)

Oldie remix reached #1 in the UK Dance Chart!

And it's none other than "Why don't you do right?" popularized by one of my fave singers, Peggy Lee. I listened to it today on a radio intended for young audiences, and I went like "WHAT"? The remix was made by Serbian DJ Gramophonedzie and right now is #31 in the Official UK Dance Chart, but according to Wikipedia on March it reached #1. 

I'm embedding an unofficial video, because I didn't like very much the original.  What do you think? Even when I'm not a fan of remixes I like the fact that oldies can be known by younger people this way :) I just hope they google who were the first interpretors. 

And even more Happy Old Songs

To start a new week charged with positive energy, here's post #3 of my "Happy Old Songs" series.

"Pennies from Heaven" (Music by Arthur Johnston and lyrics by Johnny Burke, 1936)

I love this song, every morning I listen to it while I'm on the bus heading to the my work/internship. And I imagine the nice picture of pennies raining from heaven and sunshine and flowers, accompanied by the catchy rhythm, and all that just cheer me up, even when the morning is gray and the subway is packed up. I have two favorite versions: the one by Luois Prima (aka the voice of King Louie in "The Jungle Book") and the one I have on my mp3 by singer/classic movie lover, Emma Wallace. .

(Edited) The original post for Emma's version is here, but she gave me the embedding code so you can listening right now:

"It's a good day" (Written by Peggy Lee & Dave Barbour, 1947)

I listened this song for the first time watching a 7up commercial on tv. I thought that the song was really good and then I googled and found the name of the singer: Peggy Lee. I'm a fan of hers since then. I embedded the commercial and a live presentation.

"The lady is a tramp" (Lyrics by Lorenz Hart; music by Richard Rodgers, 1937)

I saw "Pal Joey" starring Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak the past year, and this is like the only thing I remember from that movie. "The lady is a tramp" was very well used in the film: the moment in which Frank tells to stiff Rita all he wanted to say using his piano and this song. I added a live version, because maybe you won't find the original as happy as I do :)

That's all for this weekend. See ya tomorrow, I'll be posting Day 08 of the Old Hollywood Meme (hopefully).

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More Happy Old Songs

Since yesterday was such a good day, and I promised to make a new post with happy oldies, well, here there are the next three:

"La Dolce Vita" (finale) by Nino Rota.

If I learned something watching How to lose friends and alienate people, it was the fact that La Dolce Vita theme can make you smile (I mean, Fellini's film was depressing).

I uploaded the clip in Flickr, 'cause it will be probably deleted from Youtube. 

"Pass me by" cover by Peggy Lee

The song was originally composed for Father Goose, but I love Peggy's version. Its rhythm really cheers you up.

"Thoroughly modern Millie" by Julie Andrews.

This is the best thing from the movie with the same name (it had its moments, but it wasn't very good overall). It's joyful,  it's about the Roaring Twenties, and Julie's rendition is great.

Hope you enjoyed!

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