More Than Just A Southern Belle

I was looking for a special way to introduce my article about Vivien Leigh. I thought it would be great if somehow I could coordinate this writing with the anniversary of her birth(November 1913). Or maybe the anniversary of her death(July 1967). Since this obviously was not possible I told myself: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a..." I'm going to write about her just BECAUSE! I don't need an anniversary day or a movie showing on TCM. Let's just celebrate this magnificent actress for the reasons that I am just beginning to discover. Vivien Leigh was very magical on screen. I really can't put my finger on it. I guess a lot of stars have this magic or they wouldn't be stars.

I am still somewhat of a newbie in this world of classic film. There are so many films I have yet to watch. There are movies I don't even know exist, actors I have yet to see perform. It is in this manner that I have discovered Vivien Leigh. It seems as though I have always known of Scarlett O'hara in "Gone With The Wind". But, that knowledge was the extent of it. I love this about art! When I started watching her films it was like a window opened up in a gallery and I peeked in to see what a grand room there was filled with varied and intriguing performances. I also learned some bits about her personal life that I never knew.

For instance, Vivien Leigh was married to Sir Laurence Olivier for twenty years. (I told you I'm a newbie!) Wow! This was almost as fascinating as the performances I was viewing. I learned that she died tragically young in 1967 of tuberculosis. She suffered from manic depression. She only made twenty films!


The fact that she made such a short list of films really made me ponder what makes a star a legend. When one thinks about Elvis, or Marilyn or even James Dean, who himself made a short list of films-three! These stars, among others, have been immortalized in a way after their death that somehow preceded their stature while alive. And while Vivien Leigh is almost certainly famous for Gone With The Wind, I think it's sad that Scarlett is all she is mostly remembered by. She really has the stuff legends are made of, as I am having the joy of discovering.

I have seen four of her films. And I am currently in the midst of watching "A Streetcar named Desire". When I watched my first Vivien Leigh movie, and no, it wasn't Gone With The Wind, it was enough to captivate me and pique my curiosity about this creature. The camera really captures qualities about her that can't be mistaken. Even though she was only forty-eight when she starred in The Roman Spring Of Mrs. Stone there is a feeling that she had already lived a lifetime in those eyes. Watch her you must!

Suspicion....Now Playing!

What a grand title for one heck of a grand movie! This film was Cary Grant's first pairing with Sir Alfred Hitchcock. It was the first of four marvelous films the two of these men made together. A side note is that Hitch's "Notorious" with Mr. Cary Grant is probably one of my favorite movies EVER!!! A must, must see! Anyway, back to the film at hand.....Suspicion!


There are so many wonderful scenes, it's hard to catalog them all for you in one short blog for goodness sakes! I love that Hitch really aligns his scenes in such a way that they look like stills of photographs. The scenes are beauty in the making. Towards the end of the film there is a scene where Cary Grant's character is bringing a glass of milk to his wife. The camera is looking downstairs at Mr. Grant and follows him walking with his tray of milk all the way up the staircase to the nightstand in the bedroom where the glass of milk comes to rest. In my opinion scenes like this, set Hitchcock apart from the rest. Because really, when I describe this scene to you it sounds rather uninteresting doesn't it? Let me tell you though, when you watch it, you are drawn into the world of these characters and are living and breathing the feelings that they themselves feel. Amazing, I know. It is clever and it works!

The story of "Suspicion" is an under current for insecurity. At least that is a theme I really picked up on in this latest viewing. I noticed that in times past when I have seen the film, that I was really sucked into the odd love story that is presented. However, this time I was more aware of the extreme insecurity, vulnerability and yet, strength of Joan Fontaine's character. She seems to make choices that she knows are wrong for her just to spite her parents and to live a little, shall we say? And when she finds herself to be in love, it seems that love really shouldn't be so difficult, or melancholy as it portrayed. Nevertheless, I can't help but still root for the relationship that these two souls forge, to somehow work! Strange, considering the fact that Ms. Fontaine's character is suspicious her husband is not at all what he seems.

Many people couldn't accept Cary Grant in this role because he was so devilish. I LOVE IT! He puts on the charm to the tee and that is what allows the viewer to feel SUSPICION right along with Joan Fontaine. Most of the emotions these two characters feel is told through the look in their eyes rather than in their words. The camera is cunning in making this point! I felt the desire to love this man and felt the caution flag being raised(along with Joan's eyebrow), many times, right along with her.


Ultimately, the studio wouldn't let Hitchcock film the ending he wanted and the ending this film truly deserved. Despite that, the movie is a real treat to watch, not only for the beautifully filmed scenes, but also for the marvelous acting done by all! Joan Fontaine won the Oscar for best actress for this film. Although, I must say again, that Cary Grant is what will keep bringing me back to watch it again and again. Even with all of his Cary Grant charm I still thought he was superb playing a would be murderer!

I live in the Daytona Beach area and this film will be showing on a BIG SCREEN on March 31st at 2 p.m. at the Southeast Museum of Photography which is part of Daytona State College. More details for this showing can be found by checking out the link below. The second link is for a movie trailer for "Suspicion".

Daytona State College film listings:
http://www.smponline.org/matinee2010.html

"Suspicion" movie trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYG5qbnArEM

"Holy mackerel! I can see the heelots comin', a whole army of them!"

Heelot's was a term used by the character "The Colonel", played to a tee by Walter Brennan in the film "Meet John Doe". He was referring to all "the heels" of the world. Y'know the people that only seem to want you because they want something from you?

A great part of the film is when his character gives a long speech about why he lives the way he chooses to live. He says if he owned a car, for instance, he would then have to have a license, a tag and insurance, etc. Eventually this would lead to tickets and lawyers. He loved the truly simple life.

He's right! It's funny how all the necessity's of life, are they really necessity's?, lead to one thing and then another and then another and then another....you get the picture. Especially today with all of our advanced technology. The cellphone alone would have blown the Colonel's mind. The heelots can track us down on that cellphone anytime of day or night. In our car, on vacation, anywhere!


The next time you are feeling overwhelmed by life maybe ask yourself if the army of heelots are on your tail!


Check out the link below to hear some of the speech for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M84XBBd-h_M

Meet Frank Capra

I went to a friend's house yesterday to catch up on some sorely needed "girly time". My dear friend just had a beautiful baby girl last month. This was our first good hearty visit since before the onset of labor. I have my own brood, two kids, a hubby and a turtle to boot, to take care of, so it isn't always easy to take care of my own needs. But I must! My needs certainly include a day of somewhat relaxation. I mean it's hard to totally relax with two kids running around and a newborn cooing and crying, but hey, we made it work.


So, what does all of this have to do with classic film? Thanks for sticking out that intro to find out. It's good! Well......I let my dear friend borrow my small collection of movies after the birth of her beautiful baby. The poor soul had no cable television and was in dire need of some great entertainment during the many hours of holding and feeding, etc, etc, through the day and in the middle of the night too.

Yesterday, at her house I was able to ask her what she thought of the films she was able to watch. I, of course, LOVE to talk shop-old movie style. I am a huge Cary Grant fan so a lot of my collection features Mr. Grant. My friend said it was hard for her to accept Cary Grant in the "Suspicion" role because it was so against his so-called normal type. She really like the story of "Song of Love", a Katharine Hepburn film that most people have probably never seen. I was having a hard time recollecting that story as she told me the highlights.


Us girls then decided we would attempt to watch a film. She had some old movies of her own. We decided on her copy of "Meet John Doe". I had never seen it before. I was very much looking forward to it. My friend told me how she really enjoys Frank Capra films. I have seen only a handful of his movies. Most people of course, know and love his, "It's A Wonderful Life". I have seen "Arsenic and Old Lace" so many times I can probably recite most of the lines. I just love it. I really like "You Can't Take It With You" and "It Happened One Night", both of those films winning the Oscar for Best Picture in their respective years.

"Meet John Doe" was just wonderful. Gary Cooper plays a little a bit of a goofball. It was odd for me to see him act so naive. But he was marvelous. Overall the film felt as though it would really resonate today. The politics and economics of today's world really mirror a lot of what is happening in this story.

Capra was often rooting for the little guy in his films. Think, "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" and George Bailey in "It's A Wonderful Life". Well, Capra roots for that downtrodden every man in this film too. Mr. John Doe speaks for all the average John's and helps them remember how to be real and in the moment of their lives. He sparks a movement so simple in concept yet one that is being squashed by the greedy people, the politicians and all the "heelots". Goodness, I think I could write an entire separate post on the heelots. I chuckled every time I heard the word. Check out a later post and I will expand on the heelot's!


The concept Mr. Doe presented was simply to love your neighbor. This love had to be demonstrated by actions. People that formerly judged one another were now friends. People were forming common bonds and helping the needy. People were trying to take the love that is most often shown at Christmas time, and extend it throughout the year. There were really many layers to the story. For instance,Walter Brennan played a fabulous character named "the Colonel". He speaks his own mind, and what a mind it is. (It's his character that uses the term "heelots"!)

Many of the characters represented a particular way people all across the board felt in times of war, greed, homelessness, hunger, etc. You can sense the emotion of all the different trains of thought being presented in the peeling of this movie onion. It seems as though even though our world has changed in many, many ways, it inherently remains the same, albeit on a larger scale.

My girly day turned into not only an extraordinary time spent with my friend but also another classic film that I can check off my list. Oh, how many more there are to see!

"...You just put your lips together and blow."

That is probably one of the most famous movie lines ever! And if you care to see the film from which the line came, then please watch: "To Have and Have Not" tomorrow night at 9 p.m E.S.T. on T.C.M.


The woman behind the famous phrase is, of course, Lauren Bacall. There's no mistaking that throaty, sexy voice. Ms. Bacall received the 2010 honorary Oscar for her body of work, that includes more than 30 movies. It's hard to believe she never won an award in her heyday. She certainly deserves it! The honorary award was actually handed out in November of last year. But not to worry, the ceremony was recorded, and we should see some highlights at Sunday night's broadcast of the 82nd annual Academy Awards.

Lauren Bacall first worked with her "great love", Humphrey Bogart, in the afore mentioned film. They went on to make three more films together, created two children and were married until Bogie's death in 1957.

When you watch their first film I believe you can really see Bogie's genuine expression of his feelings for Bacall. It's written on his face. I love that! Check out the link below to watch the famous "whistle" scene. When Bogie whistles, it is priceless! You can't act that. You just are in the moment. I really feel a connection to the characters and to the stars themselves, when I watch scenes like these. They are endearing to say the least.


I hope you can watch the film. I have set my DVR. It has actually been a while since I have seen it, sad to say. So I am really looking forward to watching it!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MheNUWyROv8

Why I Watch

There is just something about watching an old film. Okay, first lets clarify the terms classic and old. When I use these terms I'm referring to anything made before 1970. I'm sure there is debate on what is termed classic and what is not, but this is what the phrases mean to me.

So...there is just SOMETHING about watching an old film! I am actually very comforted by it. It's like a warm blanket keeping me safe from the outside. I like to curl up on my couch with a glass of wine and immerse myself in another time and place. Although these days I am pretty thankful to have a DVR because with two kids it's not often I can indulge in this favorite pastime of mine. I am more likely to watch a film in fifteen minute intervals over several days. Not the best way to go about it I know, yet, what a way to have discovered that these intervals wet my appetite for the movie. Once I am hooked on the story I really look forward to my next fifteen minutes of film. (Wow! What a play on words.) I can't wait for it. It's an oasis!



These films all have a vibe and an energy all there own. I think they are art. I say art because the films can be beautiful and mesmerizing and also as with any art, it seems that there are people clearly on two sides of the fence. Either you love it or you don't "get" it. For instance, my mom,(love her!), is a baby boomer, almost sixty, and she finds watching an old movie to be boring. Hard for me to swallow because all I want is for her to appreciate and love the films as do I. Alas! It is not possible. Like fine art, these films are in the eye of the beholder. So let us not judge what others call art but enjoy watching our own masterpieces! I know I will.