BEYOND CASABLANCA Qualifying Entry Task (Wk of April 15)

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

BEYOND CASABLANCA: This Week’s Qualifying Entry Task:

In order to qualify for this week’s Beyond Casablanca Book Giveaway, you must complete the following task by Friday, April 19 at 7PM EST (i.e. any time between now and Friday, April 19 at 7PM EST):

In Beyond Casablanca: 100 Classic Movies Worth Watching, Jennifer Garlen discusses an array of classic films worth watching — from every genre — including some wonderful Screwball Comedies like Bringing Up Baby and The Lady Eve.

For this week’s Qualifying Entry Task, please:

1) CREATE your own list of “10 Favorite Screwball Comedies” (pre-1969**)  via Classic Movie Hub’s ‘Create a List Tool” (click here)

2) TWEET (not DM) the Link to your List (“10 Fav Screwball Comedies” List):
TO @classicmoviehub
WITH the two hashtags #BeyondCasablanca #QualifyingTask
BY Friday, April 19,  7PM EST

NEXT STEP: Once you have successfully completed the above Qualifying Entry Task, you will be eligible to win a copy of the book. Your next step will be to wait for my Trivia Question Tweet* which will be sent on Friday evening, April 19, at exactly 10PM EST — and correctly tweet the answer to the Trivia Question. The FIRST PERSON to correctly Tweet the Answer to that Trivia Question wins the book (assuming they’re already eligible because they’ve successfully completed the above-referenced Qualifying Entry Task).

*Here’s my twitter handle @classicmoviehub

**If you have any questions, please feel free to DM me on Twitter @classicmoviehub.

And if you don’t want to wait to win, you can purchase Jennifer’s book at amazon:

Contest Information and Rules.

Good Luck!

–Annmarie Gatti from Classic Movie Hub

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Happy Tax Day!

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Just for Fun! In honor of everyone scrambling for ‘tax day’ today… 

One of my favorite scenes from You Can’t Take It With You:

Lionel Barrymore and Charles Lane in Frank Capra's You Can't Take It With YouLionel Barrymore (as Grandpa Vanderhoff) and Charles Lane (as Wilbur G. Henderson from the IRS) in You Can’t Take It With You (1938, Frank Capra director)

…..

Grandpa Vanderhoff: I wouldn’t mind paying for something sensible.

Wilbur G. Henderson: Sensible? What about Congress and the Supreme Court — and the President? We’ve got to pay them, don’t we?

Grandpa Vanderhoff: Not with my money, no sir!

…..

Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

See more quotes from You Can’t Take It With You

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Mini Tribute: Director Stanley Donen

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

 

Born April 13, 1924 Director and Choreographer Stanley Donen!

Short and sweet, three of my favorite Stanley Donen dance scenes, in no particular order:

“I’m singin’ and dancin’ in the rain” – Gene Kelly, Singin’ in the Rain (1952, director Stanley Donen)

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“Everybody get your partner, there’s gonna be dancin'” -from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954, director Stanley Donen)

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“Look at me, I’m dancin'” – Jerry Mouse dancing with Gene Kelly in Anchors Away (1945, director George Sidney; co-choreographer Stanley Donen)

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Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

Visit CMH’s BlogHub for more posts about Stanley Donen by Veteran and Emerging Classic Movie Bloggers.

 

Posted in Dancing, Directors, Mini Tributes, Posts by Annmarie Gatti, Quotes, Video Clips | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Classic Movie Legend Tribute: Stanley Donen

Posted on April 13, 2013 by minooallen

Happy Birthday to Classic  Movie Legend, Stanley Donen, born April 13th, 1924!

Stanley Donen has a special place in my heart. Though never reaching the levels of cultural fame achieved by his peers such as Vincent Minnelli or frequent co-worker Gene Kelly, his contribution to the movie musical is undeniable.

Stanley Donen

Like most musical directors, Donen got his start on Broadway where he performed in the chorus line. He went to Hollywood in the early 40’s and thanks to his buddy from Broadway, Gene Kelly, managed to get a job choreographing a few numbers for the Gene Kelly/Rita Hayworth film Cover Girl. From there, he would go on to choreograph Anchors Aweigh, a film famed for its musical number featuring Gene Kelly dancing with his cartoon comrade, Jerry the Mouse. And although this type of technical innovation is reason enough for me to appreciate Donen, his innovation of the movie musical form is what makes me respect his talents as a director.

Gene Kelly, dancing with Jerry the Mouse in Anchors Away before Roger the Rabbit was born (1945, George Sidney director)

Donen found that the musical as a story-telling device was underutilized in favor of the spectacle. Continuing in the tradition of the Fred and Ginger musical, Donen integrated singing and dancing into world of the film. Not content with the musical number as separate from the over-all plot, Donen used the song and dance number to further both plot and character development. The line between plot and musical number blurred until they were invisible. Donen created worlds where a barn-raising brawl turned into one of best-choreographed numbers in musical history and a rainstorm became the set of a dancing man’s confession of love.

Gene Kelly in one of pop-culture’s most beloved and parodied moments of the modern age: Singin’ in the Rain. (1952, Stanley Donen director)

So, since it’s his birthday today, I have a little assignment for you.  Go to your local netflix URL and watch Funny Face. Why Funny Face? Well, it’s the only one of these films currently available on Netflix Instant.

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Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub

Visit CMH’s BlogHub for more posts about Stanley Donen by Veteran and Emerging Classic Movie Bloggers.

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Mini Tribute: Virginia Cherrill

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Born April 12, 1908 Actress Virginia Cherrill!

Virginia Cherrill appeared in only 15 films, retiring from acting in 1933 after her marriage to Cary Grant. Cherrill is undoubtedly best known for her role as the Blind Flower Girl in Charlie Chaplin’s silent masterpiece City Lights.

Virginia Cherrill with Charile Chaplin in City LightsVirginia Cherrill with Charile Chaplin in City Lights (1931, Charlie Chaplin director)

Virginia Cherrill with Charile Chaplin in City Lights“You can see now?” -Charlie Chaplin (as The Tramp)
“Yes, I can see now.” -Virginia Cherrill (as the Blind Girl)

Behind-the-scenes footage of Chaplin directing Virginia Cherrill in City Lights

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Virginia Cherrill with husband Cary GrantVirginia Cherrill with husband Cary Grant

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Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

Visit CMH’s BlogHub for more posts about Virginia Cherrill by Veteran and Emerging Classic Movie Bloggers.

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Mini Tribute: Child Star Jane Withers

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Born April 12, 1926 Child Star Jane Withers!

Happy Birthday Jane Withers — who turns 87 years old today!  Withers ‘big break’ came at age 8 when she won her first credited film role –as the brat who ‘terrorizes’ Shirley Temple in Bright Eyes. That role won her a contract with Fox, and she became a child star in her own right.

As an adult Withers appeared in a handful of films including George Stevens‘ Giant, as well as a number of television shows — but she is probably best remembered as Josephine the Plumber from the 1960’s-1970’s Comet TV ads!

Jane Withers child star and Comet's Josephine the PlumberJane Withers as Child Star, Comet’s Josephine the Plumber, and as Adult

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Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

Visit CMH’s BlogHub for more posts about Jane Withers by Veteran and Emerging Classic Movie Bloggers.

 

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BEYOND CASABLANCA Enter-to-Win Trivia Question (Friday April 12)

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Okay!  It’s time for the Trivia Question (red font below) which will determine this week’s winner of Beyond Casablanca: 100 Classic Movies Worth Watching!  (remember, in order to win, you must have already pre-qualified via the Qualifying Entry Task)

THE QUESTION:

In the book, Beyond Casablanca: 100 Classic Movies Worth Watching, Jennifer Garlen hails 1931’s Frankenstein (starring Boris Karloff) as ‘a true landmark in the history of horror.’  Later on in the book, Jennifer talks about another landmark Frankenstein-related film, this time in the ‘horror comedy’ genre. This 1948 classic starred a famous American Comedy Duo — along with Dracula, The Wolf Man, and the Frankenstein Monster (this time played by Glenn Strange).  What is the name of the movie?  (TWEET your answer to @classicmoviehub)

If you need a hint: the film is ‘the first in a whole series of “meet” movies, although the (comedy duo) had experimented with the horror comedy format in “Hold That Ghost”. (book excerpt)

The FIRST person (who already completed this week’s Qualifying Entry Task) to correctly TWEET the answer to the above question — wins! :)

If you need help with the answer, please ‘Go get the other crate” and click here.

And if you don’t win, you can purchase Jennifer’s book at amazon:

Contest Information and Rules.

Good Luck!

–Annmarie Gatti from Classic Movie Hub

Posted in Books, Contests & Giveaways, Posts by Annmarie Gatti, Trivia Questions | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Classic Music Legend Tribute: Max Von Sydow

Posted on April 10, 2013 by minooallen

Happy Birthday to Classic Movie Legend Max Von Sydow, born April 10th, 1929!

Fate has an interesting way of creating legends. One way (although I am in no way advocating this) is to go out while you’re on top — as in ‘live fast, die young, and leave a beautiful corpse’ for us all to remember. Many of classic Hollywood’s most notable symbols of youth and beauty — think James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Jean Harlow — leave behind a legend stuck in time, never to age or have beauty fade. Other legends, however, transcend the still-frame of youth and age gracefully into the title of legend. Max Von Sydow, today 84, is that legend.

Max Von Sydow playing against Death in The Seventh Seal (1957, director Ingmar Bergman)

Max Von Sydow began his career in Sweden by training at the Royal Dramatic Theatre where he made his screen debut in Alf Sjoberg’s Only a Mother in 1951. A few years later, in 1955, he would go on to met the man destined to shape his career, the ever-great, ever-talented Ingmar Bergman. With Bergman as his mentor, Sydow not only honed his skill as an actor but would also star in The Seventh Seal. In the film’s opening act, Sydow portrays a knight who plays death in a game of chess. The film, along with several other Bergman flicks, would ascend him to the top of the Art House film world. After years of working on both stage and screen in Scandinavia, Sydow finally agreed to go to Hollywood to play none other than Jesus Christ in George Stevens‘ epic tale, The Greatest Story Ever Told.

Max Von Sydow making his Hollywood debut as Jesus in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965, Director George Stevens)

And from there, he just kept working. In the seventies, he eased his way into the American pop culture as Father Lankester Merrin in the now classic horror film The Exorcist. In the eighties he courted with the New York intelligentsia in what is considered one of Woody Allen’s best, Hannah and Her Sisters. In the nineties he showed even the best of actors can make a mistake by co-staring in the Stallone vehicle Judge Dredd, and in the 2000’s he is still a force to be reckoned with, having starred in films such as Minority Report, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, and Robin Hood.

Max Von Sydow a living legend gracing the screen in Minority Report (2002, director Steven Spielberg)

Decade after decade, Sydow would consistently give one great performance after the next. And with his next film, The Letters, set for a 2013 release, he doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.

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Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub

Visit CMH’s BlogHub for more posts about Max Von Sydow by Veteran and Emerging Classic Movie Bloggers.

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BEYOND CASABLANCA Qualifying Entry Task (Wk of April 8)

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

BEYOND CASABLANCA: This Week’s Qualifying Entry Task:

In order to qualify for this week’s Beyond Casablanca Book Giveaway, you must complete the following task by Friday, April 12 at 7PM EST (i.e. any time between now and Friday, April 12 at 7PM EST):

Jennifer Garlen, the author of Beyond Casablanca: 100 Classic Movies Worth Watching, is an independent scholar and writer. She writes about classic movies for Examiner.com, and is a well-respected Classic Movie Blogger (Virtual Virago) and CMH BlogHub member.

For this week’s Qualifying Entry Task, please:

1) RATE 5 blog posts by Jennifer via the Virtual Virago BlogHub Page at Classic Movie Hub (click here)

2) TWEET (not DM) the Link to ONE of your favorite Virtual Virago blog posts
TO @classicmoviehub
WITH the two hashtags #BeyondCasablanca #QualifyingTask
BY Friday, April 12,  7PM EST

NEXT STEP: Once you have successfully completed the above Qualifying Entry Task, you will be eligible to win a copy of the book. Your next step will be to wait for my Trivia Question Tweet* which will be sent on Friday evening, April 12, at exactly 10PM EST — and correctly tweet the answer to the Trivia Question.  The FIRST PERSON to correctly Tweet the Answer to that Trivia Question wins the book (assuming they’re already eligible because they’ve successfully completed the above-referenced Qualifying Entry Task).

*Here’s my twitter handle @classicmoviehub

**If you have any questions, please feel free to DM me on Twitter @classicmoviehub.

And if you don’t want to wait to win, you can purchase Jennifer’s book at amazon:

Contest Information and Rules.

Good Luck!

–Annmarie Gatti from Classic Movie Hub

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BEYOND CASABLANCA Enter-to-Win Trivia Question (Friday April 5)

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Okay, this is it!  Time for the Trivia Question (red font below) that will determine this week’s winner of Beyond Casablanca: 100 Classic Movies Worth Watching!  (remember, in order to win, you must have already pre-qualified via the Qualifying Entry Task)

THE QUESTION:

In the book, Beyond Casablanca: 100 Classic Movies Worth Watching, Jennifer Garlen includes this ground-breaking 1937 animated classic in her 10 Essential Classic Films List — described as follows:
“Walt Disney’s first feature-length animated film stands as a landmark in cinematic history, showing that cartoon movies could be fully realized narratives with both adults and children as the intended audience.  Adapted from the classic fairy tale, the picture boasts gorgeous old-school animation and a masterful combination of action, comedy, and horror”  What is the name of this ground-breaking Disney film?  (TWEET your answer to @classicmoviehub)

The FIRST person (who already completed this week’s Qualifying Entry Task) to correctly TWEET the answer to the above question — wins! 🙂

If you need help with the answer, please ‘Whistle While You Work” and click here.

And if you don’t win, you can purchase Jennifer’s book at amazon:

Contest Information and Rules.

Good Luck!

–Annmarie Gatti from Classic Movie Hub

Posted in Books, Contests & Giveaways, Posts by Annmarie Gatti, Trivia Questions | Tagged , | Leave a comment