I Love Your Funny Face...

Saw Funny Face (1957) and fell in love with the beautiful Stanley Donen direction and amazing George and Ira Gershwin songs like "S'Wonderful and How Long Has This Been Going On?". Plus it has Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire in it. Both. There. At. The. Same. Time. And Audrey is playing an assistant in a bookshop. This film is full of "Well, that's something you don't see every day!", moments, and it is pretty awesome.

The story is that Head of a "Vogue" equivalent fashion magazine, "Quality", Maggie Prescott (Kay Thompson) needs a good model for their spread for the intelligent woman who likes clothes spread, and finds Jo Stockton (Audrey Hepburn), an assistant at a psychology bookshop while using the shop for a shoot. Photographer, Dick Avery discovers her and convinces her to join the modelling world by breaking the news to her that she will be modelling in Paris, where she has always wanted to go and see her favourite lecturer. But when they arrive in Paris there is lots of other things that she wants to do besides modelling, but she finds herself falling head over heels for Dick Avery. But can everything work out with the entry of lecturer Professor Emile Flostre (Michael Auclair)?

It was such a sweet movie. While not one of my favourite Audrey Hepburn or Fred Astaire films, it still manages to rank pretty high just by it's nice atmosphere and all. I love the classic "Think Pink" scene where all the doors are painted pink and all of Ms. Prescott's minions don pink garb and one even dyes their hair pink (according to my sister, I didn't catch it though.) just like the amazing Kate Gabrielle, who rocks her new pink locks! (Hey, I'm a poet and I didn't know it!)

Pink toothpaste. Hmmmm.

I just love the songs in this film. I play the ukulele and sing and recently I've taken to covering classic musical / jazz standards on it and singing a cool arrangement and this film is full of great songs to do that with :-) I particularly love, "How long Has This Been Going On?" which I'd already heard either Dinah Washington or Billie Holiday cover, and it was nice to hear Audrey Hepburn singing it, as for My Fair Lady she is dubbed over.

Fred Astaire is amazing as usual. Me and two other close school-friends have established the Fred Astaire appreciation society.

This mainly consists of random conversations about how awesome it is that he danced on ceilings and how we wish we were Ginger Rogers. As you can tell, me and my friends are top of the cool list at school. As some of the boys in my class would say, "Yeez, innit blad!"

I. Want. This. Dress. So. Bad.

Now, I'm off to Greece tomorrow morning for two and a half weeks, and I'll miss you all so much!!! We managed to bag a brand new Audrey Hepburn box-set in English disc region compatibility which is great because my favourites like Sabrina, Roman Holiday and My Fair Lady are on american DVDs which don't work on my dad's laptop and now the new ones will work! I also came across an old penguin copy of Dasheil Hammet's "The Thin Man" (also known as the base upon the amazing William Powell and Myna Loy legend was built) and shall read that over the break! Also, just wanted to recommend "The Help" which I just read and my mum is about to start. I don't mention books a lot on this blog, but this book was super good :-)

No, I won't be fishing.

There should be posts a-plenty when I get back as I am free and on 6 weeks summer holiday as of now, so should have loads of time and ideas. See you in a bit!

~Bette

Dawn's Favorite Movie actresses and their films of the "60's".

These are my top 10 movie actresses of the 60's and the films that they performed in:

Katharine Hepburn:
1962 Long Day's Journey Into Night
1967 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
1968 The Lion in Winter
1969 The Madwoman of Chaillot

By the 1960′s Katherine Hepburn had been making films for over 30 years, with 8 Academy Award Nominations and one win. In 1960 she was nominated a 9th time for Best Actress in the film, Suddenly Last Summer, opposite Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. In 1963, she again was nominated for a tenth Oscar as Mary Tyrone in the film, Long Day’s Journey Into Night(1962). Then in 1968 and 1969, Kathrine won her second and third Oscar for Best Actress in, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and The Lion in Winter. The 1960′s introduced her to a whole new group of fans.

Video is from: (1969) The Madwoman of Chaillot, which is based on a Giraudoux play about modern society endangered by the forces of power and greed.

Fay Dunaway:
1969 The Extraordinary Seaman
1969 The Arrangement
1968 A Place for Lovers
1968 The Thomas Crown Affair
1967 Bonnie and Clyde
1967 The Happening
1967 Hurry Sundown

Her first film was in 1967 in, Hurry Sundown, but that same year, she got the leading female role in, Bonnie and Clyde (opposite Warren Beatty) which won her an Oscar nomination. Very few actresses started off their Hollywood careers with Oscar nominated roles.

It would be another ten years before she won her Oscar, but in my opinion her greatest role was that of Bonnie Parker in, Bonnie and Clyde.

Audrey Hepburn:
1967 Wait Until Dark
1967 Two for the Road
1966 How to Steal a Million
1964 My Fair Lady
1964 Paris When It Sizzles
1963 Charade
1961 The Children's Hour
1961 Breakfast at Tiffany's
1960 The Unforgiven

Audrey Hepburn, best work may have been in the 1960′s with one of her best known roles as Holly Golightly in, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, or Eliza Doolitle in, My Fair Lady (even though her voice was dubbed in the singing parts). Beautiful, elegant, Hollywood.. had very few actresses like, Audrey.

Audrey's work with UNICEF, made the organization a household name.

Elizabeth Taylor:
1969 Anne of the Thousand Days
1968 Secret Ceremony
1968 Boom!
1967 The Comedians
1967 Reflections in a Golden Eye
1967 Doctor Faustus
1967 The Taming of the Shrew
1966 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
1965 The Sandpiper
1964 Becket
1963 The V.I.P.s
1963 Cleopatra
1960 BUtterfield 8
1960 Scent of Mystery

In the 1960′s Taylor was known for her beauty, but she also was very talented. She was the winner of the 1960 Best Actress award in the film, Butterfield8 as a prostitute and in 1963′s Cleopatra and in 1966 she won the Best Actress award for the second time for her performance in, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe. Based on the controversial play by Edward Albee, this noir-ish 1966 drama stars former real-life couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, which maybe their best performances.

Video: 1960 BUtterfield 8 movie Trailer.

Jane Fonda:
1969 They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
1968 Barbarella
1968 Spirits of the Dead
1967 Barefoot in the Park
1967 Hurry Sundown
1966 Any Wednesday
1966 The Game Is Over
1966 The Chase
1965 Cat Ballou
1964 Circle of Love
1964 Joy House
1963 Sunday in New York
1963 In the Cool of the Day
1962 Period of Adjustment
1962 The Chapman Report
1962 Walk on the Wild Side
1960 Tall Story

Her stage work in the late 1950's help prepared her for her film career in the 1960s. She averaged almost two movies a year throughout the decade, starting in 1960 with Tall Story, in which she recreated one of her Broadway roles as a college cheerleader pursuing a basketball star, played by Anthony Perkins. Period of Adjustment and Walk on the Wild Side followed in 1962. In Walk on the Wild Side Fonda played a prostitute, and earned a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer.

Fonda's breakthrough came with the film, Cat Ballou (1965), in which she played a schoolmarm turned outlaw. This comedy Western received five Oscar nominations. Soon after she performed in the comedies, Any Wednesday (1966) and Barefoot in the Park (1967).

In 1968 she played the lead role in, Barbarella, directed by her French film director husband Roger Vadim. The film, They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) earned her first Oscar nomination. Fonda was very selective by the end of the 1960s, turning down lead roles in Rosemary's Baby and Bonnie and Clyde.

Video from: Barefoot in the Park.

Marilyn Monroe:
1960 Let's Make Love
1961 Misfits
1962 Something's Got to Give

Marilyn, had no real acting techniques. It was only Marilyn, a "star" and "sex symbol" of the "60's".

Her last completed film, The Misfits, was directed by John Huston and costarring Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift, Eli Wallach and Thelma Ritter. Shooting taking place in the hot Northern Nevada desert. Monroe was frequently ill and unable to perform. Making the film was a difficult experience for all the actors; in addition to Monroe's illness, Montgomery Clift had frequently been unable to perform and by the final day of shooting, Thelma Ritter was in hospital suffering from exhaustion. Gable, commenting that he did not fell well, left the set without attending the wrap party. Within ten days Gable had died from a heart attack. Gable's widow, Kay, commented to Louella Parsons that it had been the "eternal waiting" on the set of The Misfits that had contributed to his death.

In 1962 Monroe began filming Something's Got to Give. It was to be directed by George Cukor, and co-starred Dean Martin and Cyd Charisse.

On May 19, 1962, she attended a birthday celebration of President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden, at the suggestion of Kennedy's brother-in-law, actor Peter Lawford. Where Monroe performed "Happy Birthday".

Monroe returned to the set of, Something's Got to Give and filmed a scene in which she performed nude in a swimming pool. Commenting that she wanted to "push Liz Taylor off the magazine covers", she gave permission for several partially nude photographs to be published by Life. Monroe was dismissed and was replaced by Lee Remick, and Dean Martin refused to work with any other actress.

Following her dismissal, she gave an interview to Cosmopolitan and was photographed at Peter Lawford's beach house sipping champagne and walking on the beach. She next posed for Vogue in a series of photographs that included several nudes. Published after her death, they became known as "The Last Sitting".

In the final weeks of her life, Monroe was planning future film projects, and to continue negotiations on the film, Something's Got to Give.. Among the projects was a biography of Jean Harlow filmed two years later with, Carroll Baker. Starring roles in, Irma la Douce and What a Way to Go! were also discussed. A film version of the Broadway musical, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, and an unnamed World War I–themed musical co-starring Gene Kelly were also discussed, but the projects were never to be.

Brigitte Bardot:
1969 Les femmes
 1968 Shalako
1968 Spirits of the Dead
1967 Two Weeks in September
1965 Dear Brigitte
1965 Viva Maria!
1964 Agent 38-24-36
1963 Contempt
1962 Love on a Pillow
1962 A Very Private Affair
1961 Famous Love Affairs
1961 Please, Not Now!
1960 The Truth
1960 It Happened All Night

Brigitte's, "sex kitten" beauty took the US by storm. In 1965 she performed as herself  in, "Dear Brigitte" (1965) with James Steward (she only appeared in one scene).



She prefers life outside of stardom. The Paparazzi constantly hounded her with their cameras. After her life in the spotlight, Brigitte went on to become a leading spokesperson for animal rights and started the "Foundation Brigitte Bardot".

Goldie Hawn:
1969 Cactus Flower
1969 Five the Hard Way (unconfirmed)
1968 The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band.

Hawn, began her acting career as a cast member of the comedy Good Morning, World during 1967-1968, her role was the girlfriend of a radio disc jockey, with a stereotype "dumb blonde" personality. Her next role, was as one of the regular cast members on the 1968-1973 comedy show, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. On the show, she would break out into giggles in the middle of a joke, and deliver a perfect performance a minute later. Hawn, was known as the "60s It" girl.

Hawn's Laugh-In personaiity was used in the film, Cactus Flower. Hawn had made her feature film debut in a bit role as a giggling dancer in the 1968 film, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, in which she was billed as "Goldie Jeanne", but in her first major film role, in Cactus Flower (1969), she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as Walter Matthau's suicidal fiancée.




 

Sharon Tate:

Sharon Tate had performed only bit parts, but was considered a beautiful and rising actress. Tate met film director Roman Polanski then starred in Valley of the Dolls, followed by, The Wrecking Crew with Dean Martin.

1969 The Wrecking Crew
1967 Valley of the Dolls
1967 The Fearless Vampire Killers
1967 Don't Make Waves
1966 Eye of the Devil

Ava Gardner:
1968 Mayerling
1966 The Bible: In the Beginning...
1964 The Night of the Iguana
1964 Seven Days in May
1963 55 Days at Peking
1960 The Angel Wore Red

Ava Gardner, is thought of as one of the most beautiful actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age. In 1966, Gardner tried out for the role of Mrs. Robinson in the film, The Graduate (1967).

In 1968, she made what some consider to be one of her best films, Mayerling, in which she played the Austrian Empress Elisabeth of Austria opposite James Mason as Emperor Franz Joseph I.

Happy Birthday: Audrey Hepburn!

Audrey Hepburn (4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993), studied ballet before moving to London in 1948 where she continued to train in ballet while working as a model. She also performed as a chorus girl in the West End musical theatre productions.

Hepburn, is best known for her performances in these films listed below:

Roman Holiday (1953). A romantic comedy directed and produced by William Wyler. Cast: Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. Hepburn won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance. The screenplay and costume design also won awards.

She later performed in the film, Sabrina (1954). A comedy-drama film directed by Billy Wilder. Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, and William Holden. The story is about Sabrina Fairchild, the daughter of the family's chauffeur, Thomas. Sabrina is madly in love with David Larrabee, a well known playboy, who has never looked twice at her. Sabrina, attends culinary school in Paris and returns as a sophisticated woman. David, does not recognize her at first, but is quickly taken with her. David's workaholic older brother Linus sees this and fears that David's wedding plans with a very rich woman may be cancelled. So Linus tries to redirect Sabrina's affections and in the process falls in love with her.

The Nun's Story (1959). Based on the 1956 novel of the same title by Kathryn Hulme, the story tells of the life of Sister Luke, a young Belgian woman who decides to enter a convent and makes many sacrifices, but at the outset of World War II, finds she cannot remain neutral in the face of Hitler's Germany. The book was based on the life of Marie Louise Habets, a Belgian nurse who was also a nun.

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). A romantic comedy film starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Martin Balsam, and Mickey Rooney. The film was directed by Blake Edwards. It was loosely based on the novella of the same name by Truman Capote. Hepburn's performance as Holly Golightly, is believed to be the actress' most memorable and identifiable role. She also thought it as one of her most challenging roles. Hepburn's performance of "Moon River" helped composer Henry Mancini and lyricist Johnny Mercer win an Oscar for Best Song.

Charade (1963). Directed by Stanley Donen. Cast: Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau, James Coburn, George Kennedy, Dominique Minot, Ned Glass, and Jacques Marin. It spans three genres: suspense thriller, romance, and comedy. The film is notable for the repartee between Grant and Hepburn, also for having been filmed on location in Paris, for Henry Mancini's score and theme song, and for the animated titles by Maurice Binder. Charade has been referred to as "the best Hitchcock movie that Hitchcock never made."

My Fair Lady (1964). A musical film adaptation of the Lerner and Loewe stage musical, of the same name, based on the 1938 film adaptation of the original stage play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw. The ballroom scene and the ending were taken from the previous film adaptation (1938) (Pygmalion). The film was directed by George Cukor. Cast: Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison.

Wait Until Dark (1967), A suspense-thriller film directed by Terence Young and produced by Mel Ferrer. Cast: Audrey Hepburn as a young blind woman, Alan Arkin as a criminal looking for drugs, and Richard Crenna, plays another criminal. Hepburn was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress (losing to Katharine Hepburn).

She was on the covers of Vogue and Harper's Bazaaer and continues to influence fashion today. Her style was the result of the meeting with the couturier Hubert de Givenchy, during the filming of Sabrina(1954). Givenchy designed her dresses for the film which although winning the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, credit was rewarded to costume designer Edith Head. The designer drew her outfits for many films and also created a perfume for her named, The Forbidden. The films in which he dressed Hepburn include: Funny Face, Love in the Afternoon, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Paris When It Sizzles, Charade and How to Steal a Million.

Fashion experts have said that Hepburn's longevity as a style icon was because she stuck with a look that was perfect for her "clean lines, simple yet bold accessories. Hepburn, in her private life preferred casual, comfortable clothes.

Hepburn, devoted much of her later life, time and energy to UNICEF, Hepburn's war-time experience inspired her passion for humanitarian work and, although Hepburn had contributed to the organisation since the 1950s, she worked in the very poorest communities of Africa, South America and Asia in the late eighties and early nineties. In 1992, Hepburn was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Hepburn had several pets, including a Yorkshire Terrier named Mr. Famous. After he died she received another Yorkshire named Assam of Assam. Her son Sean also had a Cocker Spaniel named Cokey. When Hepburn was older, she had two Jack Russell Terriers.

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Audrey Hepburn and Happy Birthday as well

In honor of Audrey's birthday here are some great photos of Audrey and her animal friends.

Somewhere, Beyond the Sea...

Hey guys! I wanted to inform readers and all that jazz, that I am going to be staying with a friend's family on a Greek island from tomorrow until next Monday, so I probably won't be able to publish comments, read blogs or post. I am entering the realm of My Family And Other Animals, (not really, but I love this movie :-D) but I may be able to get to an internet cafe with mi padre. I am really looking forward to it, I found an amazing pair of vintage Audrey Hepburn style glasses at a vintage fair and they will definitely be getting lots of wear! I have my iPod full of classic films to get me through the flights, Rebel Without a Cause (1955), Bringing Up Baby (1938), one I've already seen and shall be reviewing for the upcoming "Films of 1939" blogathon in May, Wuthering Heights (1939) amongst others I've had for a while. I leave you with some Roman Holiday (1953) graphics I made. As I said in the last post I did with my graphics in, feel free to use them, but i would be more than grateful for a credit. Sorry about the watermark, I don't have a proper GIF program :-)

More than enough to make me watch any movie

They about say it all.

{Just to say, there may be some references to the British school system in this paragraph. I would try and explain it, but it is too dang complicated! But end of term is like end of semester.}
You may have wondered why my posts have been so few and far apart recently. I have several answers.  I have been revelling in the newfound sunshine in my area (which is unfortunately bringing unwelcome small, flying creatures into my house) and over the term I have been doing homework and studying for tests. Life is so busy that I hardly have time to watch movies to blog about! But now the end of term and the test season is passed I should have more time to blog!

Have a great week, expect uncontrollable Easter Parade (1948) spamming when I get back.

~Bette

Love in the Afternoon(1957).

Love in the Afternoon(1957). Romantic/comedy produced and directed by Billy Wilder. The screenplay by Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond is based on the Claude Anet novel Ariane, jeune fille russe (trans., Ariane, Russian Girl), which previously was filmed as Scampolo in 1928 and Scampolo, ein Kind der Strasse, in 1932, the latter with a script co-written by Wilder.

Ariane Chavasse, is eavesdropping on a conversation between her father, private detective Claude Chavasse and his client, "Monsieur X". After learning of his wife's affair with Frank Flannagan, Monsieur X says he plans to shoot Flannagan later that day. When Ariane cannot get the police to go warn him, she decides to go tell him herself.

When Monsieur X breaks into Flannagan's hotel suite, he finds Flannagan with Ariane, not his wife. Flannagan wonders why girl, refuses to give him her name. So.. he decides to call her the, "thin girl". She pretends to be a femme fatale to interest him. She agrees to meet him the next afternoon and ends up becoming his lover for the evening until his plane leaves.

After a year, Flannagan returns to Paris. The two meet by chance at an opera,and start seeing each other again. This time, she comes up with stories of imaginary lovers based on her father's files. Flannagan, is not to sure whether he believes her or not. Flannagan, decides to hire Ariane's own father to investigate. It does not take long for Chavasse, to realize the mystery woman is Ariane. He informs his client that his daughter made up her love life. Will Flannagan, return to Paris or will he stay and marry Ariane?



One of the things thing I loved about this film was the beautiful, black and white photography. At first the age difference is obvious, with Cooper seemingly mis-cast as a womanizer, but, I dunno.. he is so sweet that he kind of grows on you. Hepburn, gives one of one of her best performances. The song "Fascination" is wonderful addition to the film. The ending, has a cute narration epilogue by, Chevalier.

Wouldn't It Be Loverly! (My Fair Lady, 1964)

"All I want is a room somewhere, 

Far away from the cold night air.

With one enormous chair, 

Aow, wouldn't it be loverly? 

Lots of choc'lates for me to eat, 

Lots of coal makin' lots of 'eat.

Warm face, warm 'ands, warm feet,

Aow, wouldn't it be loverly? 

Aow, so loverly sittin' abso-bloomin'-lutely still. 

I would never budge 'till spring 

Crept over me windowsill. 

Someone's 'ead restin' on my knee, 

Warm an' tender as 'e can be. 'hoo takes good care of me, 

Aow, wouldn't it be loverly?

Loverly, loverly, loverly, loverly"

Wouldn't It Be Loverly ~ Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe

My Fair Lady (1964)

My Fair Lady plot summary: Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) is just a poor flower seller in Covent Garden in London, until she is overheard bawling in her native Cockney accent by Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison), phonetics professor extraordinaire. He boasts that he could pass her off for a duchess at an embassy ball. Realizing what she could achieve, she goes to Higgins to ask him for lessons in "how to be a lady" and he takes her up on her offer mainly due to a bet with his professor friend Colonel Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White).  Misogynistic and cynical, Higgins works her unbelievably hard and treats her very tough. They take her to a race at Ascot to show her off. It goes rather catastrophically when, after doing well until this point, she screams at the horse she bet on, 

"COME ON ROVER!!! MOVE YOUR BLOOMIN' ARSE!!!" That said, they manage to tidy her up for the embassy ball, but will she ever be able to know who she truly wants to be?

I know that My Fair Lady occasionally gets lots of schtick for not being what it said on the tin. Audrey Hepburn didn't sing her own songs, fair enough. Not many criticize the awesome Deborah Kerr for not singing in The King And I (or does she...)? We just take it that they couldn't quite manage the difficulty of the song, they are after all, not singers. I do agree that they probably should have cast Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle - it was her role on Broadway and she would have no doubt been great in the movie. 

Audrey's annoyed too.

Cecil Beaton was the cameraman and he did an amazing job with all of the cinematography. The Ascot race scene owes a lot to the on-stage race scene in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942). The costumes for that scene are just amazing, no words can describe how much I want any of these dresses... maybe not the hats though.

The music is superb. I love Alan Jay Lerner - he did one of my other favourite musicals, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970), which has a similar theme. My favourite songs (apart from "Wouldn't It Be Loverly") have to be "Why Can't The English" and "On The Street Where You Live".

I just adore Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins. I wish he would come and teach my class phonetics. I would laugh so hard if I saw him try and tackle my French set!!! I hear from Julie Andrew's autobiography that he was a bit of a nightmare to work with. Why does this not surprise me. It also said that he had insufferable wind, and just before his on-stage mother has to say, "Henry don't grind your teeth so!" in a performance of the Broadway show, he had the worst bout of wind. Blech.

I know this film is not perfect, but I do love it so. I would give anything to play Eliza Doolittle. Absolutely anything. I think she is possibly one of the best parts for a British actress ever. No doubt. This film has been a definite favourite of mine since I was four, and it's always going to stay a favourite. 

~Bette