Sunday Matinée: The Women (1939)

The Women

(1939 version)
Amazon | IMDb

Director: George Cukor

Writer: Clare Boothe Luce (play) & Anita Loos (screenplay)

Stars: Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell

 

Favorite Quote: “There is a name for you, ladies, but it isn't used in high society... outside of a kennel.”

 

Within New York City's Park Avenue society matrons, the current gossip, fueled primarily by catty Sylvia Fowler and Edith Potter, is that Stephen Haines is cheating on his faithful and loving wife, Mary Haines, with a perfume counter shop girl. The gossip is indeed true, the shop girl being the young and gold-digging Crystal Allen, and the gossip and its contents which Mary is initially unaware. But Sylvia does whatever she can to spread the gossip, especially having it get back indirectly to Mary. As Mary's mother and Mary's friends give her advice on what to do, as Mary meets Crystal herself, and as the gossip hits more public conduits, Mary has to decide what to do, which takes into account the fact that she and Stephen have an adolescent daughter also named Mary. Mary's perspective on her life changes after she meets a group of women in a similar situation as her. That perspective includes how to deal with her so-called friends and how she really feels about being married to Stephen. But she finally makes her decision when she comes across what she believes to be the truth.

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Since I was a little girl, I have watched classic movies. But it wasn’t until high school that I really took the time to learn more about the time period, the actors and the studios. On its own, The Women is an amazing movie (one of those old-fashioned, catty yet witty films about how a manicure, perfume and a “trip to Reno” can turn a woman’s life upside down), but knowing a little bit of what went on behind the scenes makes this film much more entertaining. Most people know that Joan Crawford stepped on quite a few toes as an actress, one of the first being Norma Shearer’s, MGM’s “First Lady” if you will, leading to a well acknowledged feud between the two. They did not like to cross paths, and George Cukor had a heck of a time getting the two women to do their scenes together. And neither woman, wanted to share billing with Rosalind Russell, but eventually agreed as long as her name appeared smaller than theirs. But that’s enough about the history, (because I could probably spend all day talking about it) and on to the actual film.

 

If you couldn’t tell, I absolutely love this movie. Not only do the women look gorgeous, but it gives you “claws mother, Jungle Red.” The setting of this movie is in the dog eat dog world of high society women and their gossiping mills. Not something I would want to live in, but it’s highly entertaining to watch. Plus, it lets you tap into that side we all try to keep hidden, but every now and then she wants to come out and play (the evil twin, so to speak).

 

And the characters, oh the characters! You have Mary Haines the content, devout wife, Crystal Allen the perfume counter, hussy who has sunken her teeth into Stephen Haines, Sylvia Fowler the instigator of it all, who is also Mary’s cousin, Peggy Day the innocent, newlywed whose husband has money issues causing marital issues, The Countess De Lave, amour has given her a lot of trouble and seems to make numerous trips to Reno, and Miriam Aarons, a new divorcee that finds new love. I mean how can it not be hilarious when all these women cross paths? My personal favorite character is Lucy, a woman who opens up her ranch in Reno to women waiting on divorce finalizations. She takes no guff from anyone, and says whatever is on her mind. Plus she is played by Marjorie Main, who brings a little bit of Ma Kettle to all the characters I’ve seen her play.

 

The other thing that I enjoyed/found interesting about this movie was the fact that all the characters were women (unless you would count Stephen Haines as one, but he isn’t played by an actor). Also, there is a fashion show in the middle of the movie that shows off such exquisite dresses, aw. And it is said that F. Scott Fitzgerald help write the screenplay but was never given any credit.

 

My Rating: 5 out of 5 checkers:

Sunday Matinée: Alice (A Syfy Miniseries)

Alice
Amazon | IMDb

Director: Nick Willing

Writer: Nick Willing

Stars: Caterina Scorsone, Kathy Bates & Andrew-Lee Potts

 

Favorite Quote: “And then they fled from the roof on flamingos.”

 

Welcome to a whole new Wonderland. A reimagining of the classic Lewis Carroll stories Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass taking place about 150 years later with sci-fi and additional fantasy elements added.

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Okay, so technically this isn’t a movie as much as it is a mini-series from Syfy, but frankly my dears Alice is too amazing to miss on a technicality. So with that said let’s get to important stuff shall we?

 

Lately I have been big on fairytale retellings/dystopian-esque everything and this movie certainly fit both bills! We start in the modern world where girl met boy, but boy isn’t exactly the person she believes him to be. Said boy, Jack, gets kidnapped by a mysterious man sporting pigtails; however Jack isn’t the only thing the man is after. Said girl, Alice, had received a present from Jack that the man wants also and won’t take no for an answer when it comes to getting it. When the man flees, Alice chases after him and stumbles into a mirror and is transported into an alternate universe, a Wonderland if you will.

 

Luckily, Alice has a few tricks up her sleeves as well but still needs help to find Jack and get him back as well as why the man needed her present. Soon she meets up with Hatter in this dystopian type world and together they go throughout the land looking for answers and change.  A lot of twists and turns, a bit of sexual tension, a kooky knight, as well as Alice being a wanted woman make for quite the adventure.

 

I fell in love with this movie and loved every minute of it. Plus there is an appearance by Tim Curry and of course Kathy Bates makes an excellent Queen of Hearts. I also liked the concept of how the Wonderland functioned by using human emotions as currency, something that the people of Wonderland can’t experience unless in liquid form. Very intriguing and definitely qualifies it for the “dystopian craze” that is going around (at least for me anyway).

 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 checkers:

Sunday Matinée: Crazy, Stupid, Love

Crazy, Stupid, Love
Amazon | IMDb

Director: ­­­­­­­Glenn Ficarra & John Requa

Writer: Dan Fogelman

Stars: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling & Julianne Moore

 

Favorite Quote: “Will you take off your shirt... f! Seriously? It's like you're Photoshopped!”

 

Cal and Emily have the perfect life together living the American dream... until Emily asks for a divorce. Now Cal, Mr. Husband, has to navigate the single scene with a little help from his professional bachelor friend Jacob Palmer. Make that a lot of help...

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Hilarious, Funny (that’s the same thing moron; well it begs repeating), and cute with a dash of romance. This is just one of those movies I will watch for years to come. What can I say; I have a thing for romantic comedies.

 

Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling’s bromance is one for the ages, and frankly, it makes me jealous (even if I can’t technically be part of bromance). The banter that they do back and forth is amazing, timed to perfection. Can I be honest? I think that this movie is more focused on the love that Cal and Jacob have rather than the other relationships in the story.

 

There is also the good girl and bad boy relationship, which I think that any girl is a sucker for. I mean doesn’t everybody still think that they can change the ways of said bad boy, but then learn it won’t happen (whoa, runaway train, let’s get back on track shall we). Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling’s chemistry made my heart melt plus holy twist towards the end batman! And that twist is worth getting over some of the issues I have with this movie (seriously, what is the point of that little girl?).

 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 checkers:

Sunday Matinée: Easy A

Easy A
Amazon | IMDb

Director: Will Gluck

Writer: Bert V. Royal

Stars: Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes and Penn Badgley

 

Favorite Quote: “Just once I want my life to be like an 80's movie, preferably one with a really awesome musical number for no apparent reason. But no, no, John Hughes did not direct my life.”

 

High school student Olive Penderghast finds herself the victim of her school's "rumor mill" when she lies to her best friend Rhiannon about a weekend tryst with a fictional college freshman. Word quickly spreads of Olive's promiscuity and, much to her surprise, she welcomes the attention. When she agrees to help out a bullied friend by pretending to sleep with him, her image rapidly degrades to a more lascivious state and her world begins to spin out of control. As she helps more and more of her classmates and her lies continue to escalate, Olive must find a way to save face before the school's religious fanatic Marianne gets her expelled and she loses a shot at attaining her own happiness.

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Do you ever have those nights where no matter what; you just can’t seem to fall asleep? The other night I was having a case of insomnia but instead of watching HSN/QVC luckily I found this movie during my channel surf.

 

Now I had seen this movie before and my first impression was: typical teen movie. And after seeing it again, it’s still a teen movie but with slightly more class. But don’t let the “teen movie” label stop you! It made me laugh constantly throughout because of the dialog (“When you die, you will have to answer to a higher power.” “Tom Cruise?”).

 

The thing I love most about this movie is that it is narrated by Olive herself during a webcast. It is just something I am not used to seeing in movies and I thought it was a nice touch and brought parts of the movie together. Also the characters are freaking amazing. Olive (and her parents for that matter) is full of witty comebacks and one-liners. She is a girl after my own heart, making references to John Hughes movies and classic movies (even if it was to avoid reading the Scarlet Letter for English). Rhiannon is a sex crazed teen age girl (all talk no walk). The friendship between her and Olive reminds me so much a friendship I had in Jr. High. Marianne is one of those religious nuts who are more into her word than His word. Amanda Bynes does a great job of covering all the clichés. And together, these ladies make for quite an entertaining movie.

 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 checkers

Sunday Matinée: Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia

Amazon | IMDb

 

Director: Phyllida Lloyd

Writers: Catherine Johnson (musical book & screenplay)

Stars: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Amanda Seyfried

 

Favorite Quote: “We danced on the beach, kissed on the beach and dot, dot, dot.”

 

I’m not going to lie to you, I am obsessed with this movie/musical! Growing up my mom would play tons of ABBA songs and when I heard that their was a musical based on the songs I was excited!

Mamma Mia! is the story of a 20-year-old daughter, Sophie, living with her mother, Donna, in Greece at the hotel they inherited. Sophie is about to get married and wanted to invite her father. That’s where the story gets  interesting, Sophie has found one of Donna’s diaries from the year she was pregnant and learns that she has three possible fathers. So what would any person do but invite all three of them to the wedding!

It’s such a feel good movie that I love and I can watch it over and over and  never get sick of it. Plus, Meryl Streep is Donna, and who doesn’t love Meryl Streep?!

So if you want a movie to watch a girls night, date night, whatever kind of  night I recommend you check this one out. Thanks for reading!

Sunday Matinée: To Have and Have Not

 

To Have and Have Not

Amazon | IMDb

 

Director: Howard Hawks

Writers:  Ernest Hemingway (novel), Jules Furtham & William Faulkner (screenplay)

Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Walter Brennan

 

Favorite Quote: "Was you ever bit by a dead bee?"

 

In 1944, a film was released that caught a spark between one of the quintessential couples of all times. “To Have and Have Not” catches the moment when Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall fall in love.

 

The movie is set in Fort de France, Martinique under the Vichy regime. It’s here where we find fishing-boat captain Harry Morgan trying to make it by taking out clients for some big water fishing. He is also being pressured into smuggling some people onto the island by the French Resistance. Harry keeps saying no, that is until his client Johnson is shot dead before paying him the eight-hundred and twenty-five dollars.

 

Along the way, we meet Slim a young woman who flirts with guys and ends up stealing their money. just to get buy and eventually leave the island. Slim and Harry soon hit it off and we see the two characters, and actors fall in love.

 

Other than that the movie is a lot like Casablanca or any other Bogie movie for that matter. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy, and would watch his movies all the time, but most of them have the same over all theme.

 

So if you are like me and love Bogie’s movies, you will enjoy this film. And if you are into learning more and seeing the Bogie and Bacall relationship then you will LOVE this movie. Believe me, you really feel and see them falling for each other, and in my opinion no one can act that much happiness and passion.

 

Sunday Matinée: True Grit (1969 & 2011)

True Grit

1960 Amazon | IMDb Director: Henry Hathaway Writers: Charles Portis (novel) Marguerite Roberts (screenplay) Stars: John Wayne, Kim Darby and Glen Campbell

2011 Amazon | IMDb Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen Writers: Charles Portis (novel) Ethan Coen & Joel Coen (screenplay) Stars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld

 

Favorite Quote: “You must pay for everything in this world, one way and another.”

 

Happy Father’s Day everyone! To celebrate I thought I would review the Western that my dad and I both love True Grit. And since there are two it’s going to be a “Double Feature” of sorts.

True Grit is the story about a fourteen year old girl, Mattie Ross, who sets out to get justice for her father’s death. Along the way she seeks help from Rooster Cogburn, a gruff, one-eyed man with true grit, to hunt down her father’s killer, Tom Chaney.. But that help doesn’t come easy or cheap.

While the two set off on their journey to find Tom Chaney, they meet a young Texas Ranger, La Boeuf, who is also tracking Chaney. It turns out Chaney is quite the wanted man with a fifteen hundred reward on his capture after he killed a Texas Senator and his dog.

Mattie does not like La Boeuf and despite her efforts, Rooster and La Boeuf decide to team up and split the reward to find Chaney. The two actually try to abandon Mattie but she is persistent in tagging along.

After several days, the three plan to stay at a cabin. However, they learn that Emmett Quincy and Moon, two horse thieves waiting for Ned Pepper and Chaney So the trio set a trap that does not go as planned.

The three continue their pursuit, and after a few days Mattie comes face to face with Chaney She draw her father’s pistol and yells to her comrades. As Chaney advances towards her, Mattie shoots and wounds him, but he still captures her and takes her to Ned Pepper’s.

Soon a shoot-out between Rooster and Pepper’s gang. Chaney is in charge of keeping Mattie safe, but he has other plans and tries to kill her. La Boeuf shows up just in time knocking Chaney out and taking Mattie to watch the shoot-out. After La Boeuf saves Rooster’s life, Chaney comes up from behind and hits La Boeuf in the head with a rock which is thought to be fatal. Mattie shoots Chaney, but falls into a pit and is bitten by a rattlesnake. Rooster soon arrives killing the snake and rescues Mattie with the help of La Boeuf.

As Rooster and Mattie make it back up, they can see how bad the snake bite is and decide to leave La Boeuf behind to find help.

Both movie versions are based off the 1968 novel by Charles Portis, however each takes their own few and sheds different lights on the main characters. Also there are scenes that have been changed and the endings are fairly different.

My father and I love the original movie with John Wayne. Seeing the spunk and determination Mattie has for getting justice. Plus we both love John Wayne. So when we saw that there was a new True Grit coming out we were excited, especially me with Jeff Bridges as Rooster.

We were both a little disappointed however, but that is because we went in thinking it was going to be exactly like the original. I think I need to watch the new one again and take it for it’s own movie. Then I might like it more.

 

(Update: I have watched the new version again and I have to say that it did grow on me, but only because Jeff Bridges is AWESOME! I still prefer the storyline of the 1969 version, but I love Jeff Bridges interpretation of Rooster as well. Did I mention the man is awesome?)

Sunday Matinée: Love Comes Softly

 

Love Comes Softly

Amazon | IMDb

 

Director: Michael Landon Jr.

Writers: Cindy Kelley (teleplay), Michael Landon Jr. (teleplay) and Janette Oke (book)

Stars: Katherine Heigl, Dale Midkiff and Corbin Bernsen

 

Favorite Quote: “Sometimes love isn’t firecrackers. Sometimes love just comes softly.”

The first of a series of movies made for the Hallmark Channel based on the book series by Janette Oke and directed by Michael Landon Jr., Love Comes Softly is a story about two widowers that join together in a time of need. One of the best love stories that comes from the promise land of the west!

Marty and Aaron Claridge (Katherine Heigl and Oliver Macready) set out to start a new and wonderful life in the opportunity filled west making plans for a family and farm. Sadly this is short lived when tragedy strikes leaving Marty to face a bleak future on her own. Or what would have been bleak had Clark Davis (Dale Midkiff), a widower, not suggested a "marriage of convenience."

The two make a deal that if Marty can be a mother and show Clark's daughter, Missie (Skye McCole Bartusiak), how to be a child again, then in the spring Clark will help Marty get back home when the wagon train heads back east. At least that is the plan.

It takes some time for Missie to let her guard down around Marty, that the two just can’t get along. But once Marty realizes that Missie has yet to fully grieve for her loss, they realize they have more in common.

As the seasons pass we see more heartbreak happen for these people that they become closer and begin to feel like a real family. And with the end of winter comes spring’s thaw for the wagon train. It’s at this time Clark and Marty realize they have fallen in love. Which begs the question, with Marty stay or leave?

The first of a series of movies made for the Hallmark Channel based on the book series by Janette Oke and directed by Michael Landon Jr., Love Comes Softly is a story about two widowers that join together in a time of need. One of the best love stories that comes from the promise land of the west!

Marty and Aaron Claridge (Katherine Heigl and Oliver Macready) set out to start a new and wonderful life in the opportunity filled west making plans for a family and farm. Sadly this is short lived when tragedy strikes leaving Marty to face a bleak future on her own. Or what would have been bleak had Clark Davis (Dale Midkiff), a widower, not suggested a "marriage of convenience."

The two make a deal that if Marty can be a mother and show Clark's daughter, Missie (Skye McCole Bartusiak), how to be a child again, then in the spring Clark will help Marty get back home when the wagon train heads back east. At least that is the plan.

It takes some time for Missie to let her guard down around Marty, that the two just can’t get along. But once Marty realizes that Missie has yet to fully grieve for her loss, they realize they have more in common.

As the seasons pass we see more heartbreak happen for these people that they become closer and begin to feel like a real family. And with the end of winter comes spring’s thaw for the wagon train. It’s at this time Clark and Marty realize they have fallen in love. Which begs the question, with Marty stay or leave?

 

I absolutely love this movie and always try and catch the whole series when it is featured on the Hallmark Channel! I am also a fan of how this series looks at faith and religion. Now I will admit, God and I have our own relationship that is not what some people would consider “normal.” I am much more of going on a hike and looking at nature in a way of my worship, much like Clark. There is also the frustration and misunderstanding of why God allows misfortunate events to happen (something I have struggled with and still do to this day). I wouldn’t say it’s an overpowering part of the movie but is enough for me to “fall back in love” with God.

 

Besides the spirituality, there is also a great love story set in the pioneering days. These two people have suffered through one of the worst losses, decide to marry out of convenience and suffer through even more hardships along the way. I mean come on, this movie has no shortage on drama. I like to think of it as a “chick-stern” (I should trademark that haha).

Sunday Matinée: Now, Voyager

Now, Voyager

Amazon | IMDb

Director: Irving Rapper

Writers: Casey Robinson (screenplay), Olive Higgins Prouty (novel)

Stars: Bette Davis, Paul Henreid and Claude Rains

Favorite Quote: "Don't let's ask for the moon. We have the stars."

Now, Voyager is a 1942 drama that was directed by Irving Rapper. Casey Robinson based the screenplay on the 1941 novel by Olive Higgins Prouty that had the same name (I’m still trying to find a copy to read). Prouty took her title from a line in a Walt Whitman poem “The Untold Want” which is read in the movie:

“The untold want by life and land ne’er granted,

Now voyager sail thou forth to seek and find.”

The movie follows Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis), an unattractive, overweight, spinster whose life is controlled by a verbal and emotional abusive mother (Gladys Cooper). Because of this abuse, Charlotte has no self-confidence and is thought to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown by her sister-in-law, Lisa (Ilka Chase), an angel in Charlotte’s eyes. Lisa introduces the family to Dr. Jaquith (Claude Rains), who has no doubt that Charlotte is troubled and takes her away to spend time in his sanatorium.

 

While away from her mother, Charlotte is able to blossom. The new woman, at her sister-in-law’s encouragement, goes on a lengthy cruise after her treatment where she meets Jeremiah ‘Jerry’ Duvaux Durrance (Paul Henreid), a married man traveling with friends. Through his friends, Charlotte learns about Jerry’s daughter Christine ‘Tina’, and how his manipulative and jealous wife treats her (much like how Charlotte’s mother treats her). Because of Jerry’s devotion to his daughter, he will not divorce his wife in fear of how Tina would be treated.

 

On a port stop in Rio de Janeiro, Jerry and Charlotte become stranded after there car runs off the road on Sugarloaf Mountain. They end up spending five days together before Charlotte flies to Buenos Aires to rejoin the cruise. It’s in those five days that they realize how much they love each other, but they decide it would be best not to see each other again.

 

When Charlotte arrives home, her family is stunned by the changes in her appearance and personality. However, her mother is quite determined to regain control over her daughter. But the memory of Jerry’s love keeps Charlotte strong.

 

While at home, Charlotte is introduced to Elliot Livingston (John Loder), a wealthy widower. They eventually become engaged although it is soon broken off after Charlotte sees Jerry at a party. As imagined Charlotte’s mother is upset at the news of the broken engagement and quarrels with her daughter. During the argument Mrs. Vale becomes so angry that she has a heart attack and dies. Of course Charlotte blames herself for her mother’s death that she decides to return to the sanatorium.

 

When she arrives, she meets lonely and unhappy Tina (Jerry’s Daughter) and soon forgets her own problems. With permission from Dr. Jaquith, Charlotte takes Tina under her wing. Soon they both return to Charlotte’s house in Boston after Tina’s mental health had improved.

 

Jerry and Dr. Jaquith visit the Vale home, where they are delighted to see Tina’s improvement. Jerry at first pities Charlotte, believing she has settled in her life, but is taken aback by her acidic reaction. She simply tells Jerry that she sees Tina as his gift to her and her way of being close to him. They know that their relationship could go no further or Tina would be removed from Charlotte’s care by Dr. Jaquith. The movie ends with Jerry asking Charlotte if she is truly happy and has everything she wants, to which she replies, “Oh Jerry, don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars.” (*sniff*)

 

I first saw this movie a few years ago and watch it at least once a month, that is until I lost the DVD. Can you believe that, I lost the DVD, case and all, who does that? Anyway, I would recommend this to anyone who has just broken up, needs a good cry, loves dramatic classics, or is big into the fashion from the 40’s. So if you fall into one of those categories, go out and rent it or look for it on TCM (my favorite channel).

 

Interesting fact: For those of you who may have seen P.S. I Love You (Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler) you may recognize the scene where Charlotte steps off the cruise boat to go on an excursion. It’s that same scene that Swank’s character pauses the movie and says “cute shoes.”