casablancalover2

*Far From Heaven* is in my instant queue. If it's played straight, I will be disappointed, however.

I am watching the Oscar's right now. Interesting turn to this discussion. Whether you love, or hate, above it all, or indifferent to (in which case you wouldn't be posting here for it wouldn't matter to you) the Academy or it's annual awards show, both the Academy and the Award have earned a place in the Hollywood business world. Remember, entertainment is the business. The Oscar's do garner the billion in the audience world wide, and for that reason, I think it has more to do with marketing than excellence in moviemaking, though wonderfully, every once in while, the Academy transcends itself. Ten films for Best Picture consideration? It does seem not well though out, but again it's marketing. The ones nominated get a bump in sales or DVD sales. Some of those nominated we may not have even heard of, except for the nomination. The VFX protest incident shows the Academy still has growing pains too. Those VFX kids need their due. Hollywood tries for tradition, but it is an industry that is change itself. The Kodak theater is now the DOLBY theater. Hollywood is always evolving, so I don't begrudge them these PROMS for themselves.

For the first time in a long time, I missed most of the Academy Awards show. Did catch the first part.. Seth MacFarland now knows the limits of his genius. He made William Shatner look better. Poor Seth, who should really stick with Stewie and Brian Griffin. I watched until Best Sound Editing, and when he said, "it's a tie!" I knew it would be for Zero Dark Thirty..Yeah! then I fell asleep. I will watch it tonight. I think I can get it on Hulu.

I have always liked the opening for *Adam's Rib*, which also sneaks some title cards into the story line.

Yes, calvinnme, I remember the doctor office visits like that too. Hum, about the same price. My dad was a union man, so we had Hospital Insurance. If you had an serious illness that required immediate attention, you could arrange a house call, though our doctor preferred to make those to house-bound seniors, and not for kids with measles. Our doctor still managed to drive the nicest car around, and live in the best suburb. I think those costs have gone up about 4000%

Dothery nailed it. How about these: 1. No Two People 2. Carolina in the Morning 3. Miami 4. Why Can't He Care for Me? 5. Le Festin Edited by: casablancalover2 on Feb 23, 2013 4:14 PM

Douglas Sirk did so many, and many different styles, but his romance dramas in the Fifties are my favorites. I don't know what attracts me most about a Douglas Sirk picture. The fabulous Technicolor, the sets with richness detailed. The Technicolor women and those fabulous costumes. People who should be happy, but with the wealth comes misery. One person wrote about them; It's time for tortured souls behind rain-streaming windows... From Magnificent Obsession, All I Desire, All that Heaven Allows, Written on the Wind, and Imitation of Life Actors who get to chew up scenery right before our very eyes! >*Oh, mother! Stop acting!* Sandra Dee, Imitation of Life (1959) and let's not forget the dramatic soundtrack.

Gene Autry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIegyeJpJoA When I look at the pictures of Gene, I see the singing cowboy, but that perception is not accurate. There are many folks who will picture a guy in a ten gallon hat cheering his baseball team or shrewdly making another real estate deal. I wonder what happened to Champion? Edited by: casablancalover2 on Feb 23, 2013 2:11 PM

The Val Lewton connection is an interesting observation, though I don't believe the film points to specific Hollywood producers, directors or actors. Hollywood would circle the wagons on anything being tawdry... even if it was/is tawdry, unless it thinks it can sell tickets to it, then they go all out... *My Week With Marilyn*, as an example. The character profile would go like this: throw in some reference to one topic for familiarity, then compile with three other attributes which intentionally lead away from that person. And don't go too much into detail which can be found in an actual bio. I like *The Bad and the Beautiful* because of the over the top acting.. i suppose I shouldn't reward overacting, but it seems to happen so often in this movie that it must be by intention. You do see it in the 1950s, and I find fascinating, It is my guilty pleasure.

Doris has done so many of my favorites. For just because, *That Touch of Mink* captures a time of America at the start of Camelot we will not see again. For music, I too love *The Pajama Game.* Once a Year Day! Hey There

I remember an OLD movie where the speakeasy MC called the girl singer a "Chan-tootsie". maybe you saw the same movie. I was a kid, and I think it was a short. Anyhow, her singing was absolutely forgettable, but here's a someone who would have been a great ChanTootsie, I love her rendition of Dreams. Ms. Josephine Baker:

That's nice, mw. I like to listen to Maud Hixson.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viHGJNRx_5w Ella Fitzgerald did songbooks in the fifties for Porter and Gershwin, and I do think she handles Gershwin's music masterfully. I do agree with your assessment of Sinatra. With his so warm and friendly baritone, I could listen to all night with the standards. Easy to Love, isn't easy to start... But the Chairman of the Board can handle it.

More Boz--

Good observation, darkblue. I had picked up on that too. I wonder if they were more comfortable with quip in a interview, rather than deliver off the cuff with a 40 minute stem-winder. The story of politics is communication. Politicians can deliver a great speech. they may have the rhetoric and delivery down perfectly. Statesmanship is when it is combined with facts in the speech that are borne out by history. While we may remember a notable line or two, you could go back to the original text and determine if the speech delivered is one for the ages. So, I guess as far as actors and politicians, we want our politicians to believe in the things they have to say; actors can play anything, even something they don't believe in. I hope all the elected officials are great, persuasive speech-makers and as often as necessary, for that is how we can understand ideas and policy. And while we may like the sounds and verbiage, it is up to the press to measure it against facts and policy. As far as Knox goes, I think he sold the speeches better than Wilson. But, after all, Knox is an actor, and Woodrow Wilson studied law (again-emphasis on speaking) and became President in a very compelling race of 1912. A fascinating Presidency. Edited by: casablancalover2 on Feb 11, 2013 12:01 PM

Thank you all for your wonderful birthday wishes. It was very kind of you. The Beatles Birthday is wonderful, but for Russ's birthday last December I thought of this one.. haha' Thank you for not asking my age... At least I am younger (but not too young) I am capable of still making mistakes, but not the kind that I cannot find humorous. That's the secret of maturity - making mistakes you can still laugh about later.

How I will always remember him. Yes, he's shirtless. Younger Than Springtime.

So, have you seen *Slings & Arrows* ? Great series. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387779/?ref_=sr_1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owfeSoW-DmY

Virginia Woolf? -- not he. Although, considering the background he's established with his choices, he would be a frightful George. But it has been a long while since I've seen WAOVW. Does George like to bait -then watch as the others go at each other?

This is most certainly true. Dustin's method is over the top. If I can deliver lines written for a 17th Century French raconteur and swordsman , then Authenticity can be acted. I see elsewhere heuriger is being baited. Don't fall for it, heuriger ! Alas, too late!

HA! Since we are going WAY back to high school... I once performed Edmund Rostand's Cyrano "No, thank you" soliloquy, for my 11th grade Drama class. No, I do not have the schnozola for it. It's ACTING -as Jon Lovitz would say..

More minor hits by the Four Seasons:

Rest in Peace, Patty Andrews of the Andrews Sisters, Those girls were from Minneapolis. and one with Harry James: Edited by: casablancalover2 on Jan 31, 2013 7:55 AM

Ha! The title sort of tells it all.. Playgirl Killer Roberta Flack:

Led Zeppelin:

Good morning misswonderly. but I love to listen to.. Kashmir. I will post it later but I am on the road now. Edited by: casablancalover2 on Jan 29, 2013 9:52 AM