SueSueApplegate

Kingrat, you have got a fantastic challenge going on here! Thank you for all the time, patience, and diligence for making it so successful! *JamesinArlington:* SOTM William Powell will always be a crowd-pleaser! *ScottMacGillvray:* Loved your How to Be a Detective picks... *Skimpole:* Veddy international and happy you acknowledge Deborah Kerr's birthday! *Kyle (hlywdkjk):* Entertaining schedule. And a fair and honest gentleman, as always... *Lonesome Polecat* :Yes, Danny Kaye as SOTM! The Henry Mancini tribute is lovely *Fedya:* Very funny, Fedya. your current, headline-grabbing topics are ever clever and amusing! *Traceyk65:* TCM import--veddy interesting..I enjoyed the "I Know Where the Bodies are Buried!" collection... *Filmlover*: Enjoyed your British Imports and the Hidden Sesame Street Theme *Countess De Lave*: I'm screamin' over the WHOLE LOTTA HUTTONS!I *Izcutter*:* Ha! Charles Coburn--THE MONOPOLY MAN...LUVLY! Joel should be SOTM AT LEAST ONCE! I am so impressed and so greatful that there have been so many entries in this challenge. Thank you all for caring about classic film and the TCM Challenge. As usual, I am getting a headache from trying to decide....but I just gotta go with LONESOME because of the Mancini tribute and the DANNY KAYE Star of the Month or FILMLOVER for his British Imports...or .....Izcutter's Monopoly Man and JOEL SOTM....or....Countess'' WHOLE LOTTA HUTTONS" O.K., I took two aspirins and ...It's LONESOME

I think this challenge is great, kingrat! I can't believe all these wonderful entries so far!

As per a special request, I have answered the questions here with an honest response. But my disclaimer is that I often change my " favorites" list depending upon what I am reading and what I am watching. *What is your favorite word? English-preferential, Spanish--madrugada(dawn), French--fromage (cheese), Italian--prego (please), German--kugeln (candy) What is your least favorite word? snag (I just hate to hit one!) What is your favorite sound? waves at the seashore What is your least favorite sound? a baby crying (It means a little one is so unhappy!) What profession would you have liked to pursue? I wannabeahdirectuh! What is your least favorite profession? insurance agent/embalmer (Sorry. It was a tossup!) Who is your favorite actor? (Pick one) Leo G. Carroll (He shades every scene he is in. He makes it spookier, funnier, or more integral..) The tossup would be another of Hitchcock's favorite actors, John Williams. Who is your favorite actress? (Pick one) Ingrid "where do zah noses go" Bergman What is your favorite film? (Don't be lazy...pick one) *The Gods Must Be Crazy / The Lion in Winter.* (That is the narrowest I can be.) When you arrive at the Pearly Gates you believe in, what would you want Him to say to you? ''We are glad you are back, your friends and family who preceded you are all here and waiting for you, the thermostat is permanently set at 68 degrees. And I found all your missing socks and jewelry.. ' (I am certain God has a great sense of humor!) Have a Happy,Safe 4th of July, everybody!

Terry, I want to echo the same sentiments as kingrat and Izcutter. You should go and have a blast!

Ha-Ha! Uncle Phillip or a froggie? Whomever I kiss, I hope he turns into a prince!! OR Just as long as it's not Hedley Lamarr! I'd rather kiss a Raisinet!! Bronxie, as always, THIS IS *THE* THREAD!

I hope they show *Lifeboat* so the door prize can be a diamond bracelet! (Okay, rhinestone...It's the thought that counts!)

I was a very naive 16 year-old, sheltered, and well-behaved. (Feel free to comment on this nugget of personal gold!) So a couple of weeks after the wedding, my Mom was being her usual inquisitive self, and asking all sorts of questions about the first wedding I had played for. (Lohengrin requirement here...) The family had called me sort of at the last minute. And I had explained to my mother that the preacher was there, the bride was there wearing a very pretty orchid-colored full-length number with little daisies sewn on a velvet ribbon around the empire waist, the groom was there, and her Daddy was there. Then I said to Mom that she surely looked chubby in her dress...and, of course, she screams at me, "You mean you didn't know?" And I said, "Know what?" So she decided to volunteer a great deal of information to me on that day that I had never heard before.....but there were no firearms in the church. Didn't check the gun rack in the kickem-up, though... Sometimes you get an education and you are not even in school.... And I see the resemblance in the video....astute observation, there, kiddo!

Well, sometimes it is a bit nerve-racking, but I have played for weddings and funerals quite a bit. Actually, the first wedding I played I was 16 and I didn't realize until much later that it was a "shotgun" wedding....

I didn't realize Larry Blyden had died so young! He was from Houston, Texas. I remember watching him on Password and other game shows. He went to the University of Houston for awhile. It was so wonderful to meet you at the Turner Classic Movie Festival this year. Hope you are well, wouldbe! You, too, Mongo! I always check out your wonderful thread.

Yes, Mave! All is well with me Deep in the Heart of the Lone Star Drought! We finally had a little rain to slow down the wildfires yesterday. Hasn't been this dry or this hot since around 1910. Just posted a bit on meeting documentary director Patricio Guzman on Sue Sue's Blog. I have been distracted and occupied much this week.A dear friend passed, and I was asked to play the piano at the funeral. Bronxie's Hirsuteness Thread is one of the livliest ever. Love reading Moira's, Jackie's, Izcutter's, and your posts.... Hope Jackie is doing much better!

Dodging the hectic pace at the Hollywood Roosevelt one afternoon, I slipped away for a quiet lunch at Miceli's on Las Palmas. It had a typically old-world feel deep in the heart of the Turner Classic Movie Festival environs. I was seated on the first level at a table next to the corner booth, and I was so hungry that the smells of garlic bread and simmering sauces were assaulting my senses like mad. I had zoomed to the first screening and skipped breakfast. Lunch prices for pasta, salad, and a beverage are unbelievably reasonable and the fare at these prices didn't have to be sooooo tasty. The four gentleman seated at the next table were just finishing their lunch, and I noticed that they were speaking Spanish. The gentleman in the corner was definitely treated with reverence and also spoke Spanish with an accent not usually attributed to California or Texas. A young man, who introduced himself as Shannon Kelly, works with the UCLA Film and Television Archive, and he introduced Director Patricio Guzman to me. And of course I gushed and oohed and aahed. Evidently, Mr. Guzman was in LA for a retrospective of his films. The following excerpt is from the UCLA Film and Television Archives website concerning Patricio Guzman: “The only eternal lesson to be had is to study the past, so that we won’t repeat it.”— Patricio Guzmán. In a remarkable 40-year career, Chilean filmmaker Patricio Guzmán has crafted a unique legacy among documentarians: cataloguing the cataclysmic modern events of his country in a body of work not only timely, but timeless. Influenced early on by the non-fiction work of Chris Marker, Frédéric Rossif and Louis Malle, Guzmán began his career in 1971, documenting the sweeping social and economic reforms enacted by Chile’s then-president, Salvador Allende, Latin America’s first democratically elected socialist head of state. In 1973, Allende’s government was brought down in a bloody coup that brought General Augusto Pinochet to power and Guzmán was forced to leave Chile for Europe where he completed The Battle of Chile, Parts 1-3 (1975-1979), a searing account of the Allende government’s final year. Guzmán has returned to the events of 1973 and their aftermath several times throughout his career while also expanding his field of inquiry to explore the very natures of cinema, history and memory. In his latest film, Nostalgia for the Light (2010), Guzmán orchestrates a dazzling meditation on the insistent presence of the past in all our lives. UCLA Film & Television Archive is pleased to present Nostalgia for the Light in a special preview screening on Friday, April 15 and to welcome Mr. Guzmán in person to the Billy Wilder Theater on Friday, April 29. Mr. Guzman is definitely one of those observant, quiet talents who seems to be continually scanning the environment and patiently sizing up those around him. Born in 1941 in Santiago, one of my favorite quotes from Guzman is that "we are not scientists, we are poets." Guzman also appeared at the Robert Flaherty Film Seminar. To read more about him on Independent Lens, follow this link: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/insideindies/infocus/flaherty/ He was very kind, and seemed genuinely pleased that I knew of his work. He gave me his autograph!

Is it just me? Has anyone else noticed that Alec Baldwin is the real James T. Kirk? I mean he is everywhere...I think he is taking over for Regis sometime... Seriously, does anyone know when his ads for Priceline will be on next? I am really afraid he is going to run out of ginseng and acai berry....

{size:19px}Bronxie, I suggest you pack a couple of these delightful ensembles for the South of France.... {size:19px} Hope you are doing well...I am starting to settle down now from summer travels and family obligations... ~Jackie and Maven the Mahvaluss, forgive my digressions...~

One of my favorite moments at the Vanity Fair party occured toward the end of the evening when I met Peter O'Toole in one of the VIP sections. Robert Osborne and Leslie Caron had just passed through the milieu, and I inched over to the enormous leather sofa. Kate Phillips O'Toole, seated on her father's left, was smiling and seemed happy to be in attendance. I introduced myself, and said that I wanted to let Mr. O'Toole know how much I admired his abilities and his "body of work." Then, he shook my hand and said "Thank you." He was patient, and kind with all the guests, and his family certainly stayed close to him during the Vanity Fair Party, and the Grauman's ceremony. I was also glad that I was able to attend the taping of his interview with Robert Osborne at the Music Box Theater. Everyone in the audience was attentive, interested in the questions presented by Robert Osborne and obviously enraptured and amused by Mr. O'Toole's responses, stories, and manner. I felt very lucky indeed. I can't wait until the interview is aired on TCM. It was a wonderful experience, and everyone in the audience was so energized by Peter O'Toole's presence. Next: My encounter with Chilean Director Patricio Guzman

Butterscotch, I am not sure about next year's schedule, but I do know 2011 was a whirlwind of fun and excitement. And now back to our regularly scheduled program: Swirling around the *Vanity Fair* party was much too much fun. I also met George Chakiris who looked "FAB." He was wearing a burgundy shirt with a black necktie. I went up to shake his hand, but he gave me a great big hug instead. I am sure he had absolutely no idea who I was, but he was so friendly, and there were lots of passholders and VFVIPS hanging around him for the short time he socialized, desperate to schmooze or click the camera shutter on their Iphones. An affable, kind gentleman. A little birdy told me that during a chat she had with George, he explained that the shirt he was wearing was one of his favorites, that he liked to wear it to special parties, and that it was decades "young." It was certainly well-maintained, as can be said of Mr. Chakiris, himself. During the Festival, Robert Osborne, Marni Nixon, Walter Mirisch and George Chakiris held court in the lobby of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel to chat about their West Side Story experiences...

Even though I met Margaret O'Brien, I didn't actually officially meet Jane Powell or Dickie Moore, but I did wave and smile at them before I took a photo. They were so very gracious. Hope you weren't mislead by the info in the column... Thank you so much for your encouraging words, butterscotch! You have a PM awaiting your perusal ...

I finished mine on Friday like a good little girl...

Lovers of the limelight, unite! When I bumped into Ed Faulkner, whom I'd met at last year's Vanitiy Fair party, it was another friendly face from filmdom. As an actor, he's appeared in several iconic John Wayne films, and is an affable, fun fellow, with a high schmooze factor. There were so many passholders at the party who wanted to meet him, so I kept him busy with some introductions. Ed and Peter Ford are great pals, and had traveled together to the Vanity Fair soiree, and Ed introduced me to Peter, who is also a cutie! But hands off, ladies! They are both married to great gals! We were all laughing, telling stories out of class and context, enjoying the snacks and bevs shuttled by suited servers, and generally enjoying the ambiance of the lovely Kodak building where the elite were well feted for the meet. I had so much fun chatting up these cowboys....Countess De Lave and I enjoyed their company for quite a while... Peter Ford is currently involved in a book tour to promote the biography of his father, Glenn Ford, and has been travelling around the country doing film industry interviews and imparting his personal reflections about his famous father. To read more about Peter Ford, and Glenn Ford: A Life, visit the following link: http://www.peterford.com/ To read more about Ed Faulkner, visit his website: http://www.edwardfaulkneractor.com/page/page/6678896.htm Here's a link with Ed Faulkner speaking about John Wayne:

I've received the survey link, but I haven't made time to finish answering it yet...I will soon...

Thank you, Miss Maven, for the kudos....I just love to talk to people, and there were some very nice folks at the TCM Film Fest this year, as well as last year. And we all had one interest in common--we enjoy classic film, and we enjoy visiting with others who feel the same way...

That sounds like it was so much fun, Jackie! Well, after that big hug from Chris Isaak, I moved on around to the patio area where there were lots of comfy sofas and chairs and dressy folks were sipping on wine and happily ensconced while waiters came by with beverages or somethingsyummy on a platter. Out on the veranda was lovely Patricia Ward Kelly, Gene's widow, and she was happily chatting away with Countess De Lave, a passholder and poster at TCM City. Ms. Kelly, and author and speaker based in Los Angeles, met Gene while she was a writer on a television project involving the Smithsonian, and he hired her to write his memoirs. They were married in 1990. Kelly is lively, engaged, and possesses a great schmooze factor. She told several of us while we were standing at attention and basking in her presence that Gene thought a woman should wear something around her neck like a scarf, or other adornment, and it is obvious from her demeanor that she still reveres his memory. She is working on memoirs of her own concerning her life with Gene Kelly. What an adorable outfit! She is just as cute and perky as she appears in this photo! Go to this link to read more about her: http://patriciawardkelly.com/ More coming up later about Peter O'Toole, George Chakiris, Ron Perlman, Leslie Caron, Robert Osborne, Peter Ford, and Ed Faulkner...

Sazball, Joanne Woodward, Sidney Poitier, Jaqueline Bisset, Nick Nolte,and Gene Hackman would all be great. Paula Prentiss (*Where the Boys Are*) and Dick Benjamin would be fun, too.

*Where The Boys Are*, with Paula Prentiss would be a blast. I'll bring my rationed sunscreen, my teabags, and a bag of potato chips... One of my favorites is *Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison*....I'd love to see that one! It might even tie into a visit to one of the turtle hatcheries or eco tours...sushi would be the perfect hors'deuvre...

Maven, I agree. Rudy's sensuality is certainly up a notch or two. Those sideburns are so 70's in the 20's....but I like the last shot of him without the scruffy touch while he's seated and dreaming... Moira, I go for Doug, Roland, and Ronald, too. *The Prisonah of Zenda* converts me every time...

During the Vanity Fair party, I was lucky enough to meet Tippi Hedren and a few of her crew who help her with her organization, the Shambala Preserve presented by the Roar Foundation, and she spoke a little about its mission and asks all interested parties to visit the organization website: http://www.shambala.org/about_tippihedren.htm The Official Roar Foundation supports The Shambala Preserve and shares its mission: To educate the public about exotic animals and to advocate for legislation to protect them. To provide sanctuary for exotic animals who have suffered from gross mistreatment and neglect so they can regain their physical and mental health and live out their lives in dignity. Ms. Hedren shook hands with me and introduced me to two young ladies who help with her foundation also introduced me to director Richard Rush (Stunt Man) and his wife. who were very gracious. Here's a photo of Rush(foreground) with Steve Railsback as they discuss The Stuntman at the 2010 TCM Festival. Here's a photo of Ms. Hedren with her daughter Melanie Griffith from the Stella Adler awards in 2002 that I like... During the party, I knew Priscilla Presley was in the crowd somewhere, but I never had a chance to visit with her because she left rather early. Fortunately, she was a popular Photo-Opper.. With Mary Ann Mobley... With Chris Isaak, shortly before my photo op with him. He is so nice, he gave me a huge hug kind of like the one he gave Priscilla...only better....