What: a musical drama from 1980

Starring: Eddie Barth, Irene Cara, Paul McCrane, Barry Miller, Maureen Teefy

General Plot: auditions and 4 years of high school at a performing arts school in New York

My Thoughts: While it’s a fairly decent film I wouldn’t call it a musical. There a total of maybe 4 songs and none of them are all that inspiring, catchy or adding to the movie.

There’s a lot of plot that happens outside of the movie that doesn’t get explained in the movie. For instance the title song “Fame” apparently two of the characters from the high school wrote and recorded it, but how did they get together? Earlier when Coco is trying to convince Angelo to form a band, Angelo doesn’t seem interested then all of a sudden they’re best friends and writing songs together. When did that happen? Musical gold and it’s not even in the movie?? Why not?!

Near the end of the movie Coco is asked if she’s that girl in the chorus line, she says yes, no it’s fairly obvious she’s just saying yes to impress the guy, but there’s so little information going on in the movie its hard to tell.

Leroy is illiterate yet some how makes it to graduation. If they knew he couldn’t read in his freshman year how did he make it to the next grade, let alone graduate?! Why is no one helping this kid? And when he finally does ask for help he has a bonding moment with his teacher and then…
….nothing. Does she help him? does he learn to read? does he make it into the dance academy that wants him so long as he can read?  The world will never know.

What about Lisa who was a dancer and wasn’t good enough so she moved onto drama? What about Doris, Montgomery and Ralph?

How about Hilary who only has a couple scenes. She says she’s going to steal Leroy from his ballerina girlfriend, and some how does? When does this happen?! HOW does this happen. And then all of a sudden she needs an abortion?

Did the person who wrote this forget how to write an actual story?! There is no ending, no conclusion to this story. Perhaps that was why they had the TV show after.

Again, it’s billed as a musical and there’s a grand total of 4 songs in it.

I feel like each character line should be it’s own movie, and they’d all be along the line of after school specials.

I don’t recommend it, perhaps the remake is better, but i kind of doubt it.

Fun Facts:
Original title for the movie was to be “Hot Lunch,” but because an X-rated movie on release at the time had the same title, the production opted for “Fame” instead

I’m a bad tumblr-er, that is all.

I hope to change this soon….

starting tomorrow (maybe)

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s tragic death. Many magazines have come out on the subject of her death. Some say suicide, some say murder plotted by the Kennedy’s others say accidental drug OD. Whatever it was it’s safe to say she went too soon.

I was never a huge fan of Ms. Monroe, thinking she was just another dumb blond. but i have recently learned a lot about her. She was a pioneer for feminists. She started her own production company. She’s rumoured to have had an IQ between 163 and 168 (Albert Einstein’s IQ score is 160). As well as many other facts. So now I’d say I’m, not a fan, but an interested party in the life of Marilyn.

I noticed the other day going into my local HMV that more of Marilyn Monroe’s movies can be seen on the shelves, all at $15. Unfortunately I’ve only seen one of her movies and I already own it. Its too bad Netflix doesn’t have any of her movies for me to “preview” before buying. Seems everyone is getting into Marilyn Mania as her memorial approaches and passes.

So I guess what I’m getting at is that this lady was a complex one, getting herself lost in the character she created so she could deal with the world. I wish we saw more of who she really was. Perhaps if she felt the ability to be herself in front of the spotlight she would have lasted longer than her short 36 years.

What: War dramady from 1967

Starring: Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, John Cassavetes, Richard Jaeckel, George Kennedy, Trini Lopez, Ralph Meeker, Robert Ryan, Telly Savalas, Clint Walker, Robert Webber, Donald Southerland.

General Plot: Major Reisman (Lee Marvin) is assigned a dozen army convicts to train and send on a mass assassination mission behind enemy lines in World War II.

My Thoughts: I LOVE this film! Its sooooo good (rotten tomatoes gives it a 96%). It’s full of comedy and tragedy and action drama. What I love most about movies from this era is that no matter what they are, musical, drama, sci-fi there is always a healthy dose of comedy in the mix.

I really enjoy the ensemble cast; it reminds you of Oceans 11 (the original or the remake). However Lee Marvin is definitely the main character and many of the dozen don’t really get showcased. I’ve seen this movie many times and I still can’t remember which one Jiminez is.

One character that I don’t understand at all is Telly Savalas’s character, Archer Maggott. I suppose I’ll just have to assume he’s a psychopath. He certainly comes across that way. For instance *spoiler alert* the entire mission almost gets blown when he decides to maliciously go after a German fraulein.

This was one of Jim Browns movie debuts. His roll is small, but not unimportant. I like when a celebrity of a different profession wants to get their feet wet in acting they chose relatively small roles, so as not to embarrass themselves like Dwayne Johnson in “The Scorpion King”.

Donald Southerland seems to play a little bit of a retard in this movie, im not being insensitive to the handicapped people in the world, I’m being serious. His character seems to have some sort of mental retardation, but that doesn’t stop one of our favorite canucks from stealing the show.

Over all its fantastic, I can’t think of anything besides Archer Maggott that I don’t like about this film. It may be a money grabber, according to Lee Marvin, but that doesn’t make it any less good (i.e. Iron Man). It’s more funny than action packed or dramatic, but it’s a good boys film. The ensemble casting is great. I think it works because “the dozen” is a character unto itself rather than each one being highlighted. However there are about 4 characters from the dozen who you get to know and learn to love.

Watch it, I own it, I love it. It’s my secret weapon to get my hubby to like classic films.

If you liked this you’ll also like “Kelly’s Heroes”, you make recognize some faces.

Fun Facts:
George Kennedy, Clint Walker, Ernest Borgnine and Jim Brown reunited in 1998 to play voices in “Small Soldiers”.

Charles Bronson’s characters says that his father is a coal miner from Silesia, Poland. In real life Bronson’s father was a coal miner from Lithuania.

The Scene where one of the “Dozen” poses as a General was supposed to go to Clint Walker. However Walker was a little bit too much like his character and felt uncomfortable doing this scene. So it was given to Donald Sutherland. This scene got Sutherland the role in M*A*S*H.

What: Musical Comedy from 1952

Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds

General Plot: The Talkies have just come out and Don Lockwood is a famous silent movie star along with his co-star Lina Lamont. Everyone is excited for the new innovation in film, that is until Lina opens her big mouth. Hilarity ensues.

My Thoughts:
This is a visually stunning movie. One of my favorite musicals. I love the way the movie opens with Don Lockwood telling the audience a skewed version of his history. I love all the songs, but one, as usual. I find “Lucky Star” near the beginning of the movie to be really boring and doesn’t convey any emotion. It’s supposed to be the love song between Kathy and Don but it falls flat and isn’t very memorable.

The rest of the songs however are generally fabulous and again, visually stunning. However some dance sequences don’t make a lot of sense. For example the “Moses supposes” song, the dance doesn’t quite make sense, especially at the end. “AAAAAAAAAAAA”, WHAT?! All the costumes are bright and happy and of course it wouldn’t be a Gene Kelly movie without a fantasy number. For me the “Gotta Dance” number is great but tends to go on just a tad long. Especially near the end when it turns into a ballet, which just drags. I don’t really buy into the fantasy within a fantasy scene.

The story line is great too. Not only is it entertaining but it’s historical fiction. Many movie lots went out of business or had to change radically and quickly when the first “talkie” came out. More than one silent movie actor lost their jobs. Which makes Lina Lamont even better with her squeaky voice and dumb persona. “What am I dumb or somethin’?” well Lina, yeah!

I recomend it. If you want a more historical view of the invention of the talkie and how it effected the silent movie stars watch “The Artist”.

Fun Facts:
In the movie Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds) is dubbing the singing and talking of Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen). In reality Jean Hagen did her own talking and we are seeing Debbie Reynolds being dubbed dubbing for Lina. Lina’s singing voice is provided by Betty Noyes, so once again we’re seeing Debbie being dubbed dubbing for Lina.

Gene Kelly is not known for being the nicest guy in Hollywood even though he comes across as such on screen. Gene criticised Debbie for not being able to dance. Fred Astaire found her crying under a piano and offered to help her.

Debbie Reynolds was 19 during filming. At the time she was living with her parents and had to get up a 4am and take 3 different buses to get to the set. Sometimes she would just sleep on set.

Donald O’Connor was asked to revive an old trick from his youth for the “Make ‘em Laugh” number, which was running up a wall and doing a somersault. O’Connor at the time smoked 4 packs of cigarettes a day and was in bed rest for a week. Unfortunately the film was destroyed and O’Connor had to shoot the number all over again.

What: A Drama from 1959

Starring: Audrey Hepburn

General Plot: Gabriel (Audrey Hepburn) is a doctor’s daughter in 1930. When she’s a young woman she decides to enter into a convent. By entering the convent she hopes to travel to the Congo to help the sick. Instead the reverend mother sends Sister Luke (aka Gabriel) to an asylum for the mentally ill and deranged. Eventually she is sent to the Congo where she meets a dreamy “non-believer” doctor. Eventually war breaks out in Europe and she returns home (to Belgium) where much has changed and she finds it hard to maintain her religious ethics.

My Thoughts: If you liked “The Sound of Music” and are looking for another feel good Nun’s during War movie, this wouldn’t be it. This is a more realistic view of nun’s during war. This movie is based on a book that was written based on the life of an Ex-Nun who lived during the Second World War.

This is apparently one of Audrey Hepburn’s favorite movies. From an actor’s point of view I can see why, from an audience’s point of view I’m not entirely sure. It’s a well-directed artful movie and it takes a little bit of patients to get into it.

This is slightly backwards, but it reminds me of the book, not the movie, “Memoirs of a Geisha” where nothing much happens, it’s not all that dramatic but it’s absolutely captivating. It takes a little to get into the movie but if you’re patient and wait it’s very good.

Something that I find frustrating with the movie is that there’s no real sense of time passing. How long is she at the asylum? It’s only a few scenes! And how long is she in the Congo? What year is it when she comes back to Belgium?

A popular criticism of the film is that in the book there is no sexual tension between Sister Luke and Dr. Fortunati. My criticism is that I don’t know what they’re talking about. Maybe in 1959 that was considered sexual tension but today that’s called good friends and colleagues.

I’d like to point out that for the majority of the movie Audrey Hepburn doesn’t wear any makeup and she still looks damn good. Except that is at the end of the film when she takes off her habit and she looks soooo old!

It is indeed a fantastic film; subtle in its brilliance and hard to peel your eyes from, once you give it the patience of the first little bit.

Fun Facts:

This movie was filmed on location in Rome, Bruges, Stanleyville and the Congo, including a real leper colony.

Members of the Rome Opera ballet corps were hired to play some of the nuns, and complex convent rituals were literally choreographed for them.

Ingrid Bergman was the first suggestion to play Sister Luke. Ingrid believed that she was too old for the role and suggested Audrey Hepburn instead.

A famous rumor surrounding the movie is that Audrey Hepburn demanded to have a bidet on location in the Congo. Audrey has constantly denied this rumor, wondering how such an extravagance could even be hooked up in the Congo.

Once again loyal followers (all three of you) I have to apologize for my tardiness. Please know that the month of November was ridiculous! All my days off were accounted for due to bridal showers and other stuff to get done for my wedding. Including getting married! That’s right loyal followers (all three of you) I’m married, going on 1 week now.

I hope you’ll excuse my tardiness. After the holiday season (I recommend “White Christmas”) I plan on trying to watch all the Cary Grant movies I can get my hands on. It’s bound to be fun, that or I’ll ruin Cary Grant forever; which would be a shame considering he’s my #1 favorite actor.

What: a Dramedy from 1961

Starring: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard and Mickey Rooney

General Plot: Holly Golightly is a socialite in New York who meets Paul when he moves into her building. They become fast friends when Holly breaks into Paul’s apartment one evening. Paul a sensible man gets caught up in Holly’s flighty ways and finds himself in love and having to stand by while watching Holly live her life in an unconventional way.

My thoughts: When I first saw the movie when I was 14 or so I hated it. I thought Audrey’s character of Holly Golightly was flaky and I hated seeing Audrey Hepburn in such a stupid role, I thought it was too bad Marilyn Monroe wasn’t able to accept the role. Re-watching it I think Marilyn would have ruined the movie. It’s a fun light hearted movie and I think it makes fun of every other drama happening at the time.

Had Marilyn taken on the part of the Holly the character would remain one dimensional, there would not be the depth in character that Audrey brings to Holly. Audrey as Holly is flaky because she doesn’t want to have to deal with reality. Running away from a husband who’s old enough to be her father, running away from a possible career, trying to make enough money to support her slow brother who’s coming home from the army and many rats and super rats. She belongs to no one and no one belongs to her and that’s the way she likes it, it’s how she’s able to deal with her life.

One thing that’s hard to watch is Mickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi. OMG offensive. Offensive to the Japanese, to any one from Asian countries, to the movie industry to Mickey Rooney.

Another thing that I don’t like, but shows what time the movie was made in is *spoiler alert* Paul falls in love with Holly, and therefore suddenly he believes she belongs to him. I don’t think so buddy. No wonder the feminist movement started. But I love how strong Holly is in saying no. I don’t belong to you and no one belongs to me. You said it sister!

One of the best parts of the movie is the scene where Holly and Paul decide to spend a day doing things they’d never done before (awesome idea by the way, I think everyone should do this at sometime) and they go into Tiffany’s, and want to buy something for $10. The man behind the counter was sooo good. The things that i love about movies from this era are the very small supporting roles because for some reason they are always fabulous.

I was happily surprised by this movie; I’d almost say I loved it. Watch it, perhaps you may need to watch it twice.

Fun Facts:

The movie is based on a novella written by Truman Capote who originally wanted Marilyn Monroe as Holly. However Marilyn’s agent thought the role would be bad for her image

The novella that Truman Capote wrote is far removed from the movie.  Holly is a prostitute, had an abortion, smoked weed, was a bisexual, swore like a sailor and Fred was a homosexual. (It would be interesting to see a remake of the movie that followed the novella more closely).

Audrey Hepburn primarily only wears 3 different outfits throughout the whole movie, the only thing that changes are her accessories.

What: Musical/Drama from 1956

 Starring: Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr

 General Plot: Anna Leonowens goes to Siam to teach King Mongkut’s heir Prince Chulalongkorn. Somewhere along the way she manages to displease the king and as a punishment he demands that she then teach all (or in this case a small amount) of his children and wives and concubines. Eventually Anna and Mongkut have a deep respect for each other.

 My Thoughts: meh. This story has been told quite a few times and for some reason it always causes controversy. Anna Leonowens’s story reminds me a lot of Margaret Mead. Anna Leonowne’s journals of her life in Siam are often disputed and put down. Basically people say of her life story that she’s a silly woman who didn’t fully understand what was happening around her. Just like Margaret Mead is criticized for falling for the native people of Samoa jokes and tricks of how they lived. I’d like to thrust those same scholars who doubt and criticize these women’s works into the same situation and see what happens. On the other had I find it hard to believe that Anna a widowed school teacher and the King of Siam could fall in love with each other, I blame that on Hollywood story telling.

 Over all this retelling of the famous tale falls short. It’s a 2 hour movie with very little action or plot development. The whole movie Anna complains of not having a house of her own. Eventually the king gives in and grants her a house, however she never actually makes it there. She never actually does anything but whine about wanting to have her own house. I prefer the Jodi Foster, Chow Yun-Fat version of the story myself and could never understand why Anna would want to live outside the palace until i rewatched the King and I. Anna makes a good point that she needs her own house because she doesn’t wish to bring up her son in what is essentially a harem. Most boys i know would love this.

 This movie lacks real emotion. There are no points that make you laugh out loud, or feel empathy for any of the characters. The songs in the musical don’t make you want to sing along. Over all it’s kinda boaring. The best parts about the movie are King Mongkuts mannerisms and fast talking.

 I recommend watching the Jodi Foster, Chow Yun-Fat “Anna and the King” movie.

 Fun Facts:

 During the filming of “shall we dance” Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner often had to take breaks due to the fact that Deborah’s hoop skirt would constantly bruise her shins and Yul had to take oxygen because of his heavy smoking habbit which had previously cost him a lung.

 Rita Moreno who plays Tuptim is Puerto Rican and Yul Brynner, who plays the king, is Russian.

 Warner Brothers were given permission to create an animated version in 1999. The movie got such poor reviews Rogers and Hemmerstein declared that no more animated features are to be made based on their musicals.

What: A Disney Musical from 1950

Starring: Cartoon people voiced by no-one you’d know. Although you may recognize Lady Tremaine’s voice if you watch “Sleeping Beauty”

General plot: A widowed man remarries to secure a future for his daughter. After he and his new wife marry he dies. The step-mother jealous of her step-daughters good looks and personality forces her to become a slave in her own house.

My Thoughts: This is the most iconic telling of Cinderella. But then again when anything is done by Disney everything else is then compared to it and generally found wanting.

As a child I didn’t realize that the whole story takes place within 24hrs. When I finally realized that I also realized that in almost every other kid’s movie the time line is rarely longer than a few days. It really drives home the message that “Enchanted” pushed in that you can’t fall in love in 3 days. Although this movie thinks you can. I’d worry what kind of message this sends kids if it didn’t take me until I was a tween to figure it out myself. 

What I like about this movie is its “just rewards” way of justice; in then end everyone gets what they deserve. I also enjoy that even though these are cartoon characters they are all fairly believable. Cinderella is a generally kind person. She doesn’t go out of her way to help anyone but she can’t just sit by and watch. She’s not OVERLY nice or sickly sweet, for instance Snow White. Watching that movie gives you tooth decay. She is very believable as a character. As are her ugly step-family. Deceitful and mean in a sneaky conniving way that girls are; especially sisters.

The only character development we miss is the Prince, not that we need it. In the movie with the clock strikes 12 and Cinderelly has to leave, and she tells the prince she hasn’t met the prince. I didn’t realize, again for a long time, that she honestly didn’t know that this man was the prince. For the longest time I thought she was lying to the guy so she could leave. This brings us to the part I don’t like. When she’s leaving and everyone is trying to stop her, it used to scare me as a kid. Not a fan. They’re chasing her like she’s an escaped convict, not an enjoyable piece of cinema for me. But then again “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” gave me nightmares.

All in all this is one of my favourite Disney movies, tied with “The Little Mermaid” and just behind “the Beauty and the Beast”.

Fun Facts:

(Now I’m not sure if this is really true, it’s just something I realized one day in my Roman history class) the mouse Gus’s full name is Octavius. However Gus is not short for Octavius. Octavius in early Roman history was re-named Augustus when he became emperor. Gus is easily short for Augustus. Therefore in a roundabout way Gus is short for Octavius.

Ilene Woods, who voice’s Cinderella, didn’t know she was auditioning for the part of Cinderella until Walt Disney contacted her. She sang clips of songs for the movie for a few friends who secretly sent them off to Walt.