Blazing Saddles

Well I have now seen Blazing Saddles (shocking I know), but i'm not really someone who likes parodies that much. Sometimes they can be really stupid and come off really offensive, but this was just hilarious. You really can't take a movie like this too seriously because it's all for fun.

I really enjoyed Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder in the movie. There scenes were my favorite. Harvey Korman was also hilarious as Hedley Lamar. Also seeing John Hillerman in this movie was fun since i'm used to him as Higgins on Magnum P.I. I was enjoying myself the whole time that I was watching it. Mel Brooks isn't really my favorite director/writer, but then again i've only seen this film that he's done.

I will probably watch others though now. :) This movie is on 10 lists on the icheckmovies.com site. So glad that I finally watched it. Overall rating: 4 out of 5

Best Picture Winners: Annie Hall

Well I just finished watching another Best Picture winner. :) It's the first Woody Allen movie i've seen. It was pretty good. I didn't know if I would like it that much, but I laughed at parts. He was so neurotic though, my goodness! I thought Diane Keaton was really endearing as Annie with her ditzyness. It was an interesting take on life and relationships and now different people can be together or in their case, still be friends at the end.

I could relate to Alvy with some of his neurosis. I can't go see a movie if it's already started and with Annie when she had to have someone come and kill a spider that was in her bathroom. I can't kill spiders and i'm very afraid of them too. Part of it was that she just wanted to see him again because she missed him.

I thought it was interesting how he couldn't try anything new and he couldn't be happy, he had this pessimistic view of life and I know that I can be pessimistic quite a bit, but I don't stay that way, I like to try things and be happy because what is life if you can't enjoy it and make a difference? Anyway, at the end when he says that relationships are just absurd and all these other things, that may be the case, but like he said "people continue to do it for the eggs" or something like that. They want that companionship and love. They don't want to be alone, that's why no matter how ridiculous and painful relationships can be, we still want to be in them. They can also be great too. :)

Now i'm just kind of going off on my own little ramble. While I tend not to really care all that much for 70s films (with the exception of Grease) I thought this was pretty good. I mean there is a reason why it won Best Picture. :) Overall rating: 3 out of 5.

Best Picture Winners: The Sting

So I just watched The Sting on TCM tonight for the first time. Now I have seen 31 of the Best Picture Winners. I've decided to mention whenever I see a new movie that I was a Best Picture Winner. Since there are still a lot of them that I haven't seen. That way everyone can be included in the experience of me seeing them for the first time, even if it is through a post on a blog, lol. 

Anyway, what I loved about this movie was the soundtrack. The Scott Joplin music fit perfectly for 1930's Chicago. Plus, I just like jazzy/blues music and that time period as well. It's also cool that it was based on a real story about these characters that Robert Redford and Paul Newman play. 

Of course if it takes place in Chicago in the 1930s, you have to have con men and gambling and all that stuff going on. It was a lot of fun to watch though and entertaining. I enjoyed seeing Robert and Paul work together again. I think I liked it more than Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid! :D 

Overall rating: 4 out of 5 

Murphy's Romance

So on Friday I watched Murphy's Romance. I had been wanting to see it for a while and I moved it up in the netflix queue and I had it at home when a friend came to visit this weekend and so we all watched it. James Garner movies always make me happy. He's such an amazing actor and makes it all seem so effortless. Sally Field does as well. She's always enjoyable to watch in films because she brings so much to it and at the same time makes it look natural as well.

I thought it was interesting that Sally Field's character (Emma) came from Modesto and was starting over in Arizona since I am from Modesto myself and eventually might go to Arizona. :) Although I wouldn't know how to run a farm lol.

Her Ex husband (Brian Kerwin) was fun to watch and wouldn't leave her alone. I liked how Murphy put him in his place and the dancing scene with the two of them was hilarious.

I like romantic movies and James Garner does them well no matter how old he is. I thought that the older man/younger woman plot in this film was nice, you don't always get to see that. There wasn't really anything about this movie that I didn't like. Some of the language I didn't care for, but I can deal with it. Overall rating: 4 out of 5

Lincoln

So yesterday I went to see Lincoln. I wanted to see it because Abraham Lincoln was one of my favorite presidents and because it was directed by Steven Spielberg. I thought it was very interesting, the beginning of it was a little slow, but it keep my interest the whole time. It just cemented my love for this man even more. He was so kind and cared about people, that's why he wanted to end slavery. It was nice to see that he was able to accomplish ending slavery and ending the Civil War before his life ended. I think he consider his life lived. "It's not the years in your life that matter, it's the life in your years." :) 

It was nice to see some familiar faces in the film, like Sally Field, who I think gave a really amazing performance (like she always does) as Mary Todd Lincoln. I didn't really know that much about her, so a lot of the things regarding her were new to me. Based off that, I don't know how much of it was accurate, i'm sure that they had a good relationship, but the heartache of losing her son took it's toll on her mentally. When the argument happened, you heard how Lincoln felt. He just hid it and he was also devastated too, but dealt with it differently than Mary did.

The two men that were talking to the Dems were pretty funny, although I didn't like the use of their language all that much. It was cool to see Bruce McGill (since I know him from MacGyver) in a role like this. Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens was great. I don't remember much about Thaddeus Stevens from my history classes, but he was portrayed in a great way here. 

I know there were some things that weren't the most accurate, such as having the 13th Amendment be the thing that helps end the Civil War. It was part of it, but it wasn't what ulitmately ended it. It also seems like Steven Spielberg's favorite curse word to use in his movies is God with the D word. It was said more than any other curse word in the film. I think the F word was said a few times too. Can't you just say "Damn" and not make it against God. Sorry, i'm going off on a rant now. I just don't feel like it's necessary. Anyway, I enjoyed the movie and even though it might not have been completely accurate with some things (it is a movie after all) it still showed who Lincoln really was and I loved his insight on life and of course his speeches. :) He was a truly beautiful human being. Overall rating: 4 out of 5. :) 

The Last Starfighter

Another 80s Sci-fi movie, I am a person that isn't really into sci-fi (except for the Back to the Future movies and the Star Trek movies) but most of the ones from the 80s are really good no matter how corny people seem to think 80s movies are. This was an exception. I think the effects are just enough to wear it still seems realistic and even though it's sci-fi you feel like you're a part of it because of the simplicity (if that even makes sense lol)

I thought this was a great film and it reminded me of War Games in some ways because it's dealing with a videogame. I liked the message, he was a guy who wanted to get out and he got his dream by helping to defend the evil forces. :) Oh and Robert Preston was phenomenal as always. He will always be Prof. Harold Hill to me though. :D Another great 80s movie to add to my list of movies that i've seen. I always say that the 1980s had the best of everything; TV shows, movies, music... :) Overall I give this a 4 out of 5

A Musical, A Child Star and A Tearjerker

Kind of a weird title for a post, but I watched 3 movies this weekend that I hadn't seen before and I wanted to update this blog.

So the first movie that I saw was Pal Joey with Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak and Rita Hayworth. I mostly wanted to see it because it is a musical and those are my favorite, but also I enjoy listening to Frank Sinatra sing. It wasn't the best musical that i've seen, but it was decent enough. Of course with most Frank Sinatra movies, he was a playboy. Rita Hayworth was the older woman he was using Frank Sinatra's character as her "boy toy." Kim Novak played a chorus girl who was the "good" one in the sense that she didn't do the strip number (she was going to do it for Joey because he suggested it) but otherwise it wasn't really her thing. I thought it was a cute film and like I said, not the best musical i've seen, but it was still good. Overall I'd give it about a 3 out of 5 stars. :)

The next movie that I saw was the Shirley Temple movie called Bright Eyes I had it out to watch, but what really got me to see it was meeting Jane Withers at the Hollywood Show earlier this month. She was the really mean girl in the movie who treated Shirley's character bad. It is also the movie where Shirley sings her famous song "On the Good Ship Lollipop" I thought it was a cute movie, like most of her movies are when she was young, It's just another one of those great classic films to watch with your whole family. Overall rating: 5 out of 5.

The last movie that I watched is called October Baby. GMC (Gospel Music Channel) showed it for the World Premiere Movie on Sunday. I had wanted to see it in theatres, but wasn't able to so I was glad that it was shown on TV. It was a really beautiful film that showed every life is beautiful and has meaning and purpose. Hannah, was a survivor of an abortion attempt and she has a lot of health issues because of it. Her parents tell her that she was adopted and she sets out to find her birth mother. When she does find her, her mother says she doesn't know what she is talking about. The only guy who really cares about her is Jason and he helps her and stays with her on her journey to find her real mother. Anyway, her dad finds her and brings her back home. She is still upset, she thought the journey would change things, but she felt like they were the same as before. She still felt unwanted and still had lots of questions. Anyway, she goes into a church and talks to the priest. She tells him her story and he says that she needs to forgive. Forgiveness is the key to getting over the guilt and hurt that she feels. So she left her birth certificate and her mom's ID bracelet from the hospital in her office and wrote on the back that she forgave her. It had a nice ending with Hannah going to college and telling her parents thank you for wanting her and loving her. :) For those that like inspirational movies, this is definitely one to check out. Overall rating: 5 out of 5.

TV Show Post: Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

Well i've made some changes to my blog. I want to make it look vintage because I plan to use it for Classic related musings, like classic tv and movies and birthdays of my favorite stars. :)

Anyway, I've been consumed in tv shows as of late. Some new and some old, mostly older shows though (if 90s is considered old lol) my main favorite right now is Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman which stars Jane Seymour and Joe Lando.

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

1993-1998

For those who haven't seen it, it is set in the 19th century and Dr. Michaela Quinn is a woman who grew up in Boston working with her father who was also a doctor, well she reads an advertisement in the paper asking for a new doctor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. So she packs up her things and goes to Colorado to start a new life on the frontier. 

Well a woman doctor just wasn't heard of in the pioneer days and when she goes to talk to the Reverend he says that he was expecting a man and that her name was Michael. She put an "A" at the end of her name, but they thought it was a middle inital. Anyway, the town is not very accepting and it takes her a while to gain their trust. 

There's really only a few people who do believe in her and that's Charlotte Cooper who runs the boarding house (which becomes the clinic) and befriends Michaela. Well she needs a place to stay so she puts up an add in the General Store that says permanent lodgings and Sully who is a moutain man and was taken in by the Cheyenne Indians, has an old homestead that he's not using, so he answers the ad and let's Michaela stay in it. It belonged to Sully and his wife Abigail (who is the daughter of Loren Bray who runs the store in town) Abigail died and so Sully has been on his own.

Well, Michaela moves in and continues to work in the town and still isn't accepted except by Sully and Mrs. Cooper, eventually Charlotte gets bit by a rattlesnake and Michaela can't save her in time and she dies, but before she passes away, she wants Michaela to promise that she will take care of her three kids; Matthew, Colleen and Brian. Michaela says she doesn't know anything about being a mother, all she really knows is how to be a doctor, but she promises Charlotte, so she takes on the responsibility of taking care of the children, which as she says in voiceover "...may be her biggest challenge of all." 

So, she is the kids' mother now and they aren't that keen on the idea at first. One day Michaela and the children are at Loren's store and Brian breaks something and Michaela gets angry with him. Well he ends up running away to go be with the Indians (he already looked up to Sully) and so Michaela goes to Sully and the  Indians for help in finding him. She didn't really know much about Sully, but she trusted him and most people were against the Indians, but she became a friend to them and looked up to them for natural remedies that were used to help people's illnesses. Cloud Dancing was the one that she got that knowledge from, he was one of the heads of the Cheyenne. They give her her Indian name, "Medicine Woman" :)

As the show goes on, Sully and Michaela grow closer as friends and eventually become a couple, I love the build-up to it though, it's really beautiful. I mean here we have these two completely different people, Michaela is used to being on her own, not being very social, just so absorbed in medical books and being a doctor, and Sully is this mountain man who married the General Store owner's daughter. Well Loren didn't approve of them and they went off and got married. Abigail and their baby died and Sully went off into the woods to grieve and was taken in by the Cheyenne. 

When they finally do become a couple, Michaela is really nervous to be alone with him because she's never really been with a man that way before. Yes she did have a fiance back in Boston named David, but he was presumed dead in the Civil War and they courted, but they were both Doctors so that was what they really did together, they didn't do a lot of "physical" stuff so when Sully wanted to "touch and kiss" it was frightening for Michaela. 

What became of them was what is considered one of the greatest romances in TV. :) 

They have become one of my favorite couples and believe, that's a big deal since I like so many couples from TV shows. They story makes me want to cry it's so beautiful and Sully is the most amazing man you could ever want to have. They make me laugh, cry and most of all, they make me happy. <3 

I didn't realize this post is as long as it is. I was just telling about the show and it became this long thing. Basically everyone that loves classic tv just needs to watch this show. If you like history, specifically the 19th Century, then this is a show for you. It's so authentic which I love and that's definitely something you want when it's taking about the history of america. 

Back to the 80s!

So I always forget to update this blog. Maybe it's because I try to keep it classic hollywood or classic tv related and I just don't always get around to talking about those things. Well, I can now because i'm watching a lot of 80s shows and movies again.

Family Ties is what I'm into again. I really love this show I do. Not just because it has Michael J. Fox in it, but it's a good show, one that families can watch together, plus you can't get much better than 80s sitcoms. After rewatching MacGyver episodes it really made me start watching 80s shows/movies again. Plus, Michael J. Fox's birthday was this past Saturday and I watched Back to the Future, so yeah. :) 

Happy Birthday Audrey!

So every year on Audrey Hepburn's birthday I watch one of her films and I celebrate the amazing person that she was. Obviously she is my favorite actress and I have to make a post for her on her birthday. :)

There are so many things that I could say about Audrey Hepburn and i'm sure that most of them have already been said, but I will try and come up with my own words to describe how much she means to me.
First, I feel like I just have a connection with her, like she reminds me so much of my grandmother who isn't around anymore. She loved classic films and I didn't get to see them with her because she died when I was 10 and I discovered them later on, so I feel like through Audrey and my love of classic movies, I can kind of have that with my grandma.

Second, she was just the epitome of what I want to be as a person. She's one of my role models, I admire her strength and her compassion for others. She was a great mother and always put her family before her career. She was also an amazing actress (even though some may say that she wasn't the best) It's not really about who is the better actor or actress, I think that she was unique and she brought so much of herself to her acting.

Her fashion is also iconic, she changed fashion, she made something that wasn't sexy look sexy. She was a natural beauty and was the epitome of class, grace and elegance. Okay, now i'm just taking from what others have said about her.

As you can see, she was so many things and that's what makes her special. Happy Birthday Audrey! I will always love you! <3

Happy Birthday William Holden!

Happy Birthday William Holden!

I remember when I was just getting into Classic Hollywood and I can't even think of the first film I saw of his, but I just know that I liked him and over the past few years he's definitely become my favorite classic actor and just one of my favorite actors in general. For a while it was Cary Grant that was first or James Stewart, but then as I saw more and more of William Holden's films I realized that he was my favorite and it's not just because of his gorgeous smile or his beautiful blue eyes, but it's his acting ability and how with each film he just got better and better. He truly doesn't get enough credit for how amazing he really was.

For me he just moves me so much (and he's not bad to look at either lol) but I just really get sucked into his characters, especially his role in Force of Arms and Toward the Unknown. Those movies were some of my favorites that i've seen recently. Also Love is a Many Splendored Thing is just beautiful and so sad. His 50s and 60s films are the best I think, of the ones that i've seen anyway and I keep seeing more of them all the time.

I also totally admire his work with animal preservation, even though the William Holden Wildlife Foundation was started after he died, it really holds true to what his real passion was in life and that was animals. I think he loved acting too, but animals really became his main love later on in his life.

Unfortunately alcohol took it's toll on him and he died at age 63, but if he hadn't been born on this day in 1918 we wouldn't have the amazing person that is William Holden and all the great films he made. So I don't want to be sad over his death, I want to celebrate his life and his birthday today! Here's to this amazing human being! Happy birthday! <33