JackFavell

Well, I am quite sure you will all be proud of me - last night I decided to dip my toe into 1960's comedy. Lover Come Back was on, and I actually watched it. I was really surprised! After some initial shock at how true some of the situations still are (women in the workplace being outmaneuvered by the good ol' boy network), I settled in with Doris and Rock for the evening. And you know what? It was cozy and fun, and one more thing I wasn't expecting - extremely _high class_ - even with the subject matter. This is what I appreciated the most from the film. The sets were GORGEOUS, and varied, my favorite was the hotel room the morning after Rock wined and dined that first client.... it was a deep charcoal blue/grey, with white trim, and a french looking fireplace.... but all the sets were equally lush and colorful - I think some of the designers today could take a page out of this book. Doris's clothes were to die for, though I have NO idea how she could wear those bubble hats and still have poufy hair later in the day when she took them off. I notice she never took off her hat on screen, she would just magically appear perfectly coifed later on. If only I had a magic edit machine for my life! Doris looked so young here, I realized that when I was growing up, I thought of her like my mom, but despite those sixties puffed up hairstyles, she looked like a 23 year old. Her figure was smashing. Doris was great, but I expected that. It was Rock who really blew me away. Where did this confident, breezy guy come from? You see, I've been reading about Rock's beginnings in the film industry, as protege of Raoul Walsh, who saw something in the rugged but sensitive actor that no one else did, and cast him over and over again despite hesitancy on the studio's (and everyone else's) part. Everyone's opinion of him at that time was "he's no actor". So what happened? Rock had me hooked, especially when he took on the persona of bearded Dr Tyler... his sheepdog eyes, the whole demeanor of intellectual, sad, unskilled lover was not only right on target, it was so cute! I had to laugh, when he so expertly manipulated Doris into falling for him... what intelligent woman wouldn't fall for his act? He knew she wouldn't go for him any other way. I wanted to hate him, but I couldn't, because he was just so darn likeable and charming, with his ridiculous suit that should have had patches on the elbows. Tony Randall was insane - he enters wearing an all red outfit - red hat red jacket - and yet he played this mousy guy who can't do anything - except play the part of a rich tycoon. I enjoyed his performance, but it didn't in the least take away from Doris and Rock - this movie was all of a piece, it was wonderful that Hollywood could still make movies that had a definite tone, a sound, and a look that all went together like clockwork. I truly enjoyed it from beginning to end. I had to step out just before the big blowup - at least, I think there must have been a big blowup - when Doris discovers she's been played, but I had to go put my daughter to bed. So when I got back, Doris was about to fix Rock's wagon in front of the commission... but at the last minute, he brought in VIP -the real thing, in it's brightly colored wrappers, and suddenly - BAM - they're married! I never saw that coming, and i think this is the great charm of the movie - you never see where it's going to go, except you KNOW that Rock and Doris will be sizing each other up until they fall into each other's arms. There is a delightful consistency that I bet people look forward to with their movies. Anyway, I just wanted you gals and guys to know.... I fell for Doris, I fell for Rock, and I don't even feel like I've been played.

I'd love a quiet evening at home in my villa at Juan Les Pins! I'd never leave! Like being on vacation all the time.

we had sushi, wonton, and dumplings, starting at about four in the afternoon. Then I whipped up some snacks - olives, pickles and carrots, tiny meatballs, some cut up raw veggies, soft fruit like blueberries and melon, hummus with chips, barbecued chicken wings and some sparkling apple cider. Usually I cut up small squares of filet mignon and put them on skewers, seasoned with the tiniest bit of basil and nutmeg.... but I was too tired and full to make them this year. I guess I'll have to make them tonight... I wonder how Rudy and Natacha spent New year's Eve? Out on the town, or quietly eating spaghetti at home?

The morning after: I didn't even open my champagne, fell asleep at 11:30, for goodness sake, and still slept in until 10:15 this morning!

Whoa!

h1. Happy New Year! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyooCErXdMI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9Zha3BWbl8 Edited by: JackFavell on Jan 1, 2012 11:08 AM

Oh isn't that wonderful! I don't know how I'm going to take my pick - there are too many choices here! But I think we know which one I am going to choose in the long run. Maybe I'll take two. Happy New Year, my friend!

Well, you certainly won't be going to sleep anytime soon after that snack! I'm going to get fortified with some champagne.

Oooh, I love them all! Have a happy marathon!

h2. *Happy New Year!*

Ro - I really like *Once Upon a Honeymoon*, I think it mixes comedy and suspense pretty well. Ginger and Cary are good together but it's been far too long since I've seen it for me to remember any plot points. Isn't she married to a Nazi or something, and has to get him to incriminate his cohorts? Something with a radio broadcast? I'll have to give it another look, if that youtube link is working.

I'm glad your holiday was a good one, Jake! I love the old versions of A Christmas Carol. We had a hectic but wonderful Christmas with family, watching all the old movies, sitting round the tree, exchanging presents. It was lots of fun. I'll try to sneak in here again on New Years Eve, if I can slip away for a moment from the kitchen! Have a Happy New Year, Jake, and also to all your loved ones! Edited by: JackFavell on Dec 29, 2011 5:19 PM

I've got three copies of *The Secret Garden* - I bought one for Alice, then realized I had my old copy on a bookshelf (this is what comes of having too many books). Then we received another copy from one of Alice's friends for her birthday one year. I might have donated at least one of them... I hate to see a book go without a good home. I'll look at Kilmeny first.

I got a kindle last year, for this very purpose - to find books immediately that I might not otherwise be prone to look for later on. But although they have every Anne book, the only others they show are The Story Girl, The Golden Road, and Kilmeny of the Orchard. they don't have the Emily series. I did find works of Francis Hodgson Burnett and Louisa May Alcott thrown into the search though.

I've been in the mood to revisit my childhood classics lately. I'll look Montgomery up and see what I can find.

Ah! What did you think of it? It's a trifle, but a fast moving fun one. And Iris Adrian is great.

I've never seen TheThorn Birds, but I looked it up and it does look so much styled on the "Margie" dress! I didn't know that L.M Montgomery wrote any other books besides Anne of Green Gables. I should check them out - I loved those books!

Which one?

You've watched 3 or 4 of my favorites, not even on purpose.

*Contraband* is good, a little scattered, but lots of fun - watch it especially for Veidt - he's wonderful. I bet I know what you are going to say about it! Edited by: JackFavell on Dec 28, 2011 12:28 PM

I was thinking how hard it was to imagine Jeanne feeling awkward or less pretty than anyone! But she pulled off that gawkiness perfectly - a real acting job.

Oh, my gosh, Shere Khan, the voice of my childhood.... along with Phil Harris! No wonder I feel so personally about George Sanders now, like I've known him all my life.... I have! Sabu is also someone I've always known - the only classic film on much in Oklahoma when I was growing up was *The Thief of Baghdad* , so I got to know Sabu very well. I like his naughtiness in that one, even more now that I am grown up. He's is just marvelous in all his movies, I totally agree. He was an incredible natural actor - that scene in JB where he is scared by the torch fire in the village, his wolf cries and the terror on his face are unmistakably doggie in nature. It's a brave actor who can fearlessly bring out the animal in himself. I saw *Drums* once before and thought it was pretty un-PC, but Sabu was great. Valerie Hobson is an actress who is going further and further down in my estimation as I see more of her movies. She's always the same, no matter the role. Her starchiness has begun to wear on me, and the way she is always presented as the picture of British womanhood bugs me. Heaven help them if that's their idea of perfection. Edited by: JackFavell on Dec 26, 2011 6:58 PM

I think it's so sad when Mowgli's mother doesn't remember him later, like she is in denial that this scrawny, scary scarred up wolf boy could be the same child as her son, Natoo, or is that Naatu? I like Joe's shirt with the shoulder slit open - even with his beard hiding his face, he's got a nice lean looking neck and body.