"Witch and ghost make merry on this last of dear October's days."

I know that I did a post yesterday, and I don't typically do two in a row.However, I just couldn't resist doing a special, vintage Halloween post!Simple as it may be, I hope you guys enjoy a few costume ideas and some old-school Halloween entertainment!

COSTUMES

Want to get in touch with your vintage side and sport a classic Hollywood look this Halloween?Well, here are just a few (basic) costume ideas:

Judy Garland as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz 1939

You can actually find this outfit already assembled for you in most costume stores.If you want to do it yourself, just curl some pigtails, wear a white button-down shirt with a blue dress, and find some sort of dog to carry with you.

Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany's 1961

You might not find this one in a costume store, but its super easy to create and very iconic.To do it yourself,just find a little black dress and some gloves.Put your hair back and complete your look with a fancy necklace and a little tiara.Oh!And Holly wears some big sunglasses in the film while she's enjoying her breakfast outside Tiffany & Co.

Marilyn Monroe

Everybody knows this infamous moment.And, again, this is definitely a look that almost all costume stores carry.If you want to do it yourself, put on a sexy white dress,some heels, and pearl earrings.You can wear a platinum blonde wig, or, if you're brave, you can dye your hair and curl it.Finish your look with some bold eyeliner and red lips.

Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo on the I Love Lucy show

Another simple, classic, iconic look which you might be able to find in a costume store.To do it yourself, wear a 50's type dress (fuller skirt,collar, short sleeves or halter straps),flats,red lipstick,and pearl earrings.Now,about that hair!You can more than likely find a wig.If you're brave, you can dye your hair and put it in a curly updo.Or, if you're a natural red,like me,you can skip they dying process.

Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti from That 70s Show

I know what you're thinking.That 70s Show isn't old.It's not a classic film, tv or radio show.You're right, but the characters on it are from the 70s,and therefore have some pretty crazy,vintage outfits.Plus, they're fairly recognizable.Take it from me,I've dressed up as Donna before (possibly more than once) and everyone thought it was great.

Plus, this is the world's easiest outfit to put together.Part your hair down the middle and straighten it.Throw on some flared jeans,a plaid shirt,some sneakers or clogs, and a nametag that says "I'm with Foreman" (or Foreplay.Take your pick),"Donna Pincipotti," or "Big Red."

And don't forget,these are just a couple ideas.You can always go with the classic 20s flapper look, or be a 50s guy or gal (both of which are popular looks in costume stores).

And now for a little entertainment, courtesy of Baby Snooks.They might seem kind of long since they're in multiple parts but they're really not, and they're most definitely worth your time.Click the links for special Halloween episodes of The Baby Snooks Show:

Episode: "Halloween"

Part 1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doBtRg5wRcA

Part 2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWcSxKBFDrM&feature=related

Part 3- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJEldv_brBc&feature=related

Episode:"Haunted House"

Part 1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyDzkWfdyBY

Part 2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylArkrOZY7w&feature=related

Part 3- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da7_YCtLij8&feature=related

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

"No man can be a genius in slapshoes and a flat hat."-Buster Keaton

STAR OF THE MONTH

Buster Keaton

Born October 4, 1895

Died February 1, 1966

Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was born in October of 1895, in Piqua, Kansas.He was a natural-born performer whose parents, Myra and Joe were comedians.His father actually owned a travelling show with Harry Houdini.

Rumor has it that it was, in fact, Houdini who gave young Keaton the nickname of "Buster" when he was still an infant.Unlike most babies and toddlers, Buster had an uncanny ability to take a spill, get trampled, or thrown around,and never come close to shedding a tear.

When Buster was only around three years of age, he started acting in a show alongside his parents. "The Three Keatons" was nothing more than a simple comedy sketch, where Buster would make his father angry,and Joe would lose it and end up throwing his young son into scenery, the orchestra pit, and sometimes even the audience.Viewers were often shocked,especially noting that the small boy hardly ever got so much as a bruise.

Buster grew up on the stage, and easily began making a name for himself there.He continued doing family acts, until he was around 21 years old.His father,an alcoholic, was no longer able to do the shows, and Buster almost lost his built reputation as a good performer.So, Buster and his mother, Myra, travelled to New York together.The young Keaton was then introduced to film, and took it up naturally and easily.His first appearance was in the short film,The Butcher Boy in 1917.He made several more short films until 1920, when he got his first starring role in a movie for the silent film, The Saphead.

Due to his success,Buster was given control over his own production unit.He made more than one comedy film reel as the head of Buster Keaton Comedies, and then gradually shifted into producing full-length feature films.Keaton was very successful, until 1927.After investing too much money in a film that was considered a flop, he was never allowed free reign with his films again, having to work under a sort of supervisor, who monitored expenses and had moderate control over story lines.

The next year, 1928,brought a contract with MGM for Keaton.He later recalled signing it as one of the worst mistakes of his life.Keaton had always been free to improvise, ad-lib, do his own stunts and write his own material.Under MGM, however, he had cold-cut scripts, no room was made for his own twists and takes on things, he had to use a stunt double, etc.However,despite his unhappiness with his new contract, he was successful in "talkies."He would continue act in movies,on television,and with cameo appearances for the remainder of his career,and lifetime.He passed away in February of 1966 due to lung cancer.

Today, he is most recognized and remembered for his early silent comedies, which are one of a kind."Great Stoneface," as he was known,had a special talent of keeping people laughing and being able to convey emotion, whilst always keeping his deadpan expression.In recent years, Buster Keaton has been listed as the seventh greatest director of all time, and many of his films have been labelled as some of the greatest comedies ever made.He also has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

MOVIE OF THE MONTH

The Cameraman

1928

Starring Buster Keaton,Marceline Day,and Harold Goodwin

The Cameraman follows the adventures of Buster (Keaton), who sells tintype portraits on city streets to make his living.Buster has a crush on an MGM secretary named Sally (Day), and he tries to get a job as a cameraman for the studio in order to spend more time with her.An already successful cameraman, Harold (Goodwin),mocks Buster and tells him there's no way he'd ever get the job.

Sally tells Buster that he could be a great cameraman,he just needs some experience.Encouraged by her words, Buster empties his bank account to buy a motion picture camera, and goes about filming anything and everything.Sally looks at some of his film, and it just isn't good enough,so she tips him off about something big that could be happening in Chinatown, and she tells him to go check it out with his camera.On his way there, Buster accidentally kills a sidewalk musicians monkey.A police officer settles the issue, ordering Buster to pay for the monkey and take it's body so he can dispose of it.Soon after leaving, Buster finds out that the monkey was only stunned, but it revives and joins him for the rest of his mishaps.

Buster and his monkey arrive in Chinatown to the breakout of a Tong War.Buster,putting himself in danger, does his best to get up close and personal so that he can get good footage of the fight.The police break up the fight,and Buster is almost taken into custody, but he manages to get away.Ecstatic,he goes to MGM to turn in the footage only to discover that, in his excitement, he forgot to load actual film into his camera.

Dismayed, Buster goes back to selling tintypes, but eventually discovers he really did get footage of the Tong War.The monkey had switched reels before he turned it in.After another series of mishaps, Buster submits the real footage to be used,free of charge.The boss at MGM decides to show it for laughs,but is astounded at the quality of the footage.He sends Sally to get Buster, telling him he has great reception waiting for him.Caught in a ticker-tape parade,he assumes it's for himself, not realizing it's actually for Charles Lindbergh.

Today is the last day of Buster Keaton films on Turner Classic Movies,beginning at 8pm ET with In The Good Old Summertime.

To see a clip from The Cameraman, go here:

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/74/The-Cameraman/videos.html

"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."-Atticus Finch

To Kill A Mockingbird

1960 novel

by Harper Lee

Set in Maycomb, Alabama,a typical small southern town at the end of the Great Depression,To Kill A Mockingbird is narrated through the eyes of a child, Jean Louise "Scout" Finch.

The story unfolds on a summer day.Scout and her older brother, Jeremy Atticus "Jem" Finch, are playing in their yard when they're introduced to a young boy who goes by the name of "Dill" who is visiting his Aunt Rachel for the summer.Jem and Scout quickly befriend Dill, who accompanies them on their summer adventures around the neighborhood.

Soon after his arrival, Dill becomes fascinated with the story of the Radley house, which sits at the end of the street the Finch's live on.There are many stories that circulate around the Radley house, and speculations that the younger Radley boy, Arthur "Boo" Radley is forced to stay inside and is chained to his bed because he's a madman.Jem, Dill, and Scout soon set about trying to use different approaches to entice Boo Radley to come out of his house.Jem and Scout's father soon finds out what they're up to and forbids them from playing their morbid games.

Atticus Finch is one of the most respectable men in town.He is one of the best lawyers in Maycomb, and almost everybody admires him for his wisdom,trustworthiness, and fairness.He's a good father, who, it can be safely assumed, adores his children.When he discovers what his children are up to, he tells them that what goes on in the Radley house is not their concern, that they are letting their imaginations run away with them, and to please leave the Radley's alone.

Life goes on in a sleepy, slow paced way in Maycomb for a while.Things start to get serious when Atticus is assigned to defend a black man who is faced with battery and rape charges.The whole county,including other members of the Finch family, is whispering that Atticus Finch is a disgrace for agreeing to defend a colored man.Atticus dutifully takes the case saying, "Do you think I could face my children otherwise?...Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up,is something I don't pretend to understand.I just hope that Jem and Scout come to me for their answers instead of listening to the town."

The case turns out the be one of the biggest ones that Maycomb has ever seen,everybody waiting with bated breath for the official verdict.Atticus does his best to free Tom Robinson, but the town's prejudice holds sway, and he is deemed guilty.Atticus tells Tom not to panic, that they will make an appeal,but Tom tries to escape from prison,and is killed.

Atticus tries to help Jem and Scout understand everything that has been unfolding around them with the Tom Robinson case.He tries his best to help them comprehend the true meaning of right and wrong, prejudice, and the fact that just because something is right or fair, doesn't mean it always works out the way it should.

Life starts to piece itself back together again in it's usual pattern,but one person has not gotten over the Tom Robinson case.Bob Ewell, the father of the girl who accused Tom Robinson of raping and beating her, continues to badger Atticus,even threatening his family.One night, Scout and Jem are walking home after participating in a school play, and are attacked by Bob Ewell at the end of their street,next to the Radley house.There's alot of commotion, and an (at the time) unidentified person fights off Bob Ewell and saves Jem and Scout.

Once safe at home, and after the doctor has been sent for, Scout learns that it was none other than Boo Radley who came to save her and Jem.She finally comes face to face with the supposed neighborhood "madman," only to learn that Boo is just very shy, and hasn't wished to leave his house.She learns that Boo enjoys watching life go by from the safety of the window at the front of his house,has always known who she and Jem were, and that it was him who left little gifts for them in a knot in a tree at the end of the street.The story ends with Atticus tucking Scout into bed after the evenings traumatic events,saying that "Most people are [nice] when you finally see them."

"I think there's just one kind of folks.Folks."-Scout

"The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom,be he any color of the rainbow,but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box.As you grow older,you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life,but let me tell you something and don't you forget it-whenever a white man does that to a black man,no matter who he is,how rich he is,or how fine a family he comes from,that white man is trash."-Atticus Finch

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."-Atticus Finch

Ever since the very first time I read it, To Kill A Mockingbird became an instant favorite of mine.I love to read.Seriously,LOVE to read,and I have alot of books that I really enjoy.But To Kill A Mockingbird is one of the few that,whenever I reach the end,I feel sad.I just want it to continue on forever,but at the same time,I know that would change the story because Scout would grow up,and her perspective would change.I think that's one of the things that makes To Kill A Mockingbird so special.Being told from a little girl's perspective gives it some magical quality.

"Shoot all the bluejays you want,if you can hit 'em,but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

"I've never been alone with a man before,even with my dress on.With my dress off,it is MOST unusual."

So,this post is about one of my favorite movies, which I cannot believe I didn't own until two weeks ago when I received it as a birthday present.

I've now fallen in love with it all over again.

Roman Holiday
1953

Starring the beautiful Audrey Hepburn, and equally beautiful Gregory Peck

Princess Ann (Hepburn) is on a Royal tour of various European capitals to politically establish her country's allied position with surrounding nations.Despite having the opportunity to travel to all of these beautiful countries, Princess Ann is extremely unhappy. Her days are already filled for her with meetings, luncheons, press conferences,and balls which she must attend, when all she really wants to do is be one of the people. She longs to stretch her legs, and tour all of these historical cities that she has been sent to.

One night, Princess Ann's unhappiness overcomes her and she throws a fit.A doctor is sent for, and he gives her a sedative to help her sleep, but warning that it will not kick in until later.Once she is left alone in her room, Ann devises a plan to sneak out of the royal palace, and truly discover Rome for herself.She manages to do just that, but her discoveries only reach as far as a distant street before her sedative begins to take over.Unable to keep upright, she collapses onto a bench, where she is lying in a stupor when American reporter Joe Bradley (Peck) finds her as he is waiting for a taxi.

Joe doesn't recognize her as the Princess. He tries to wake her up, but she is apparently intoxicated and has no intention of behaving normally. He asks her name, to which she replies "Anya Smith." He then tries to give Miss Smith some money,which she refuses,still in a haze and continually sinking lower.Joe is completely baffled, and doesn't want to leave her in the middle of the street at night.When his taxi arrives, he puts her in the back and tries to ask her where she lives.After several failed attempts, he finally receives an answer: the Colosseum.Not knowing what to do, he drives the strange Anya Smith to his own apartment, where he figures she can stay for the night, until she sobers up.

In the morning, Ann wakes up and is initially frightened at finding herself in unfamiliar surroundings. Eventually, it dawns on her that she really did escape the palace, and she can do whatever she wants, all day long.While all these revelations are occurring to her, Joe is having a revelation of his own. He learns that he has the Princess Ann, not one Anya Smith, sleeping in his apartment, through a local newspaper.He rushes to his editor and offers an exclusive story on the Princess, through being able to spend the day with her and observe her interactions with the city of Rome.He then runs back to his apartment, where he continues his charade of wanting to help the poor,lost Anya Smith.

He agrees to taking a holiday from work (without revealing what his true profession is) to be her guide and show her around the city of Rome,recruiting his friend Irving to secretly take pictures of her for the article.Ann is delighted and spends the best day of her life doing all the things she's never been able to.She cuts her hair, eats a gelato on the Spanish Steps, rides a Vespa around the city, visits the Mouth of Truth, and goes to a fair.Throughout the day, while observing Ann taking delight in the smallest things, Joe realizes he's starting to fall in love with her. He begins to rethink publishing the article and all the pictures, too.

At the little fair on the water that night, Joe and Ann dance together. He and Irving also help her escape the police, who have been searching for her all day.After their narrow escape, Ann and Joe also share a kiss.Ann realizes that they both have feelings for eachother, but also realizes that she cannot keep running forever, and things cannot work out for the two of them.Not realizing that he's known it all along, she tells Joe who she really is, and has him take her back to the embassy.The two embrace one last time, and then part ways after she asks him not to watch her go, but just to leave her.

Joe tells Irving to forget about all the pictures.Once Irving learns who the pictures are really of, he is tempted to publish them on his own, but decides not to.Instead, he prints them and gives them to Joe.At a press conference the next day, Ann pieces together exactly everything that was going on when she sees Joe and Irving in the crowd.Irving manages to slip her copies of the pictures as well, and she and Joe give eachother formal, distant messages of gratitude and love before they part ways for the last time.

"I could do some of the things I've always wanted to."

"Like what?"

"Oh, you can't imagine.I-I'd do just whatever I liked all day long."

"She would have laid down her life for 'ee.I could do no more."

"She philosophically noted dates as they came past in the revolution of the year...She suddenly thought one afternoon, when looking in the glass at her fairness, that there was yet another date of greater importance to her than those; that of her own death, when all these charms would have disappeared; a day which lay sly and unseen among all the other days of the year, giving no sign or sound when she annually passed over it; but not the less, surely there."

Tess of the D'urbervilles
1891 novel
by Thomas Hardy

Tess Durbeyfield is a young woman, and oldest daughter of poor Wessex merchants, Joan and John Durbeyfield.When her father is informed of his familial connection to an old,noble,and long-forgotten family by the name of D'urberville, he is overjoyed.There is a last section of the D'urberville family living in a manor in Tantridge.They urge their beautiful,innocent daughter Tess to go and "claim kin," not knowing that this family purchased the D'urberville title long ago.
At first, Tess is against the idea, but eventually agrees, wishing to make amends for accidentally killing her father's only horse.After her visit to her supposed relations in Tantridge, Tess is offered a job on the estate, which she accepts.While living at Tantridge, Tess is introduced to Alec D'urberville, the unruly son of the late Mr. D'urberville, and the blind, invalid Mrs D'urberville, who Tess works for.Tess wishes to make connections with this extended part of her family, but is wary of Alec's behavior towards her.She discovers that she has just cause, when Alec rapes Tess in the middle of the night.
Tess immediately returns to her home in Marlott, where she soon after discovers that she is with child.She gives birth to a child, whom she names Sorrow.Tess loves her child, yet hates his connection to Alec.Sorrow falls ill and dies in the middle of the night not long after he is born.Tess buries him in unconsecrated ground.She decides to leave this all behind her, as she takes a position as a dairy maid at Talbothay's.
In the rural valley where Talbothay's is situated, Tess begins to feel at home,as if she has a new chance at life.She befriends her fellow dairy maids, as well as one Angel Clare, the son of a reverend in Emminster, who is learning agriculture in hopes of owning his own land one day.Angel is equally captivated by the beautiful Tess Durbeyfield.Their friendship soon develops in to more, and Angel, believing Tess to be a saintly virgin, asks for her hand in marriage.Tess,who had previously said she would never marry, eventually accepts, knowing that she truly does love Angel too much to refuse him.
The newlywed couple is immensely happy until their wedding night.Angel confides in Tess that he is not spotless himself, having had an affair with a woman in London.Tess forgives him, and feels that he will surely understand that her virginity was forcefully taken from her.She tells him the truth, seeking forgiveness, but is shocked to find that Angel is mortified, and cannot forgive her, even though he still claims to love her.Angel immediately makes arrangements for Tess to go back to her parents home, while he goes to South America to establish himself as a farmer, the plan being to send for her once he is ready.
Tess, heartbroken, does as Angel desires and the two separate.At first, Tess sends him letters of love and support.Not knowing that Angel has fallen desparately ill, which is why he has not responded, she then writes a letter saying that she does not forgive him, and she never wishes to see him again.
Shortly after this time, Tess runs into Alec D'urberville again.At first she lashes out against him and tries to avoid him.Alec persists, however, professing his undying love for her.He eventually offers her some kind of "proof," which is never revealed, that Angel is never coming back to her.That, along with promises to provide for her poverty stricken family, persuades Tess to become his mistress.
Angel eventually recovers from his illness and rushes back to England to find Tess.He searches for quite some time, eventually finding her staying in a boarding house as a Mrs. D'urberville with Alec.Tess is shocked to see him again, and tells him it's too late, and to leave.Angel does as she wishes.Tess returns to Alec, furious with him for lying to her about Angel being gone forever.The two fight, and Tess stabs Alec and runs away to catch up with Angel.She confesses her sin to Angel, and the two flee from the law together, hoping to make it to a neutral country so that they can escape.
The police find them eventually, and take Tess into custody.Tess is willing to pay for her crime, and departs only after making angel promise to marry her younger sister Liza-Lu, and to try to love her as much as he loved Tess.In the end, Tess is put on trial and sentenced to death.

The story of Tess of the D'urbervilles is not exactly light-hearted, but is a passionate, heartbreaking love story, as well as a commentary on some of the social rules and religious views of the time.

You can find Tess of the D'urbervilles at any bookstore.
Also, if you're interested, BBC made it into a movie in 2008.
You can see the preview here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snhZ_flom1Q
OR you can begin watching the actual movie here, and follow consecutive links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFLSYxx9Jvo

"Sometimes when she was alone...she permitted her mind to play in a garden,and she smiled."

John SteinbeckBorn February 27, 1902
Died December 20, 1968

John Ernst Steinbeck Jr. was born in Salinas, California in February of 1902.His father was the county treasurer, while his mother was a school teacher.It was Steinbeck's mother, Olive, who instilled in him his passion for literature.John lived in the small town of Salinas until he graduated from highschool.He then relocated to Stanford in order to attend the university there.He invested very little time in furthering his education,however,and left without a degree.
In 1925, he moved to New York City, where he had high hopes of becoming a published author.He had no success for quite a while,and started taking up odd jobs to make ends meet.If it wasn't for his father, who later gave him a house and enough money to seriously focus on his writing career, Steinbeck would've had a much more difficult time.
John Steinbeck published his first successful novel,Tortilla Flat, in 1935.He went on to publish around 24 more highly successful novels.He was given many awards and honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize for literature.He passed away due to heart disease on December 20,1968.

One of Steinbeck's greatest works is
East of Eden
Published in 1952

The novel is set in Steinbeck's hometown-the Salinas Valley and uses real people,including some of Steinbeck's own family.It tells the story of Adam Trask.Adam lives with his father who became a widower while Adam was still in his infancy,due to Mrs. Trask's suicide.Adam's father remarries a much younger girl named Alice,who gives birth to Adam's younger half brother, Charles.Adam's father is a distant man,who never shows affection and is obsessed with the military.He raises his sons in a boot camp,of sorts.Adam is also at odds with his brother,Charles, who has violent tendancies.Charles dislikes Adam,because he feels that their father favors Adam more than him.One night,when the boys are teenagers, Charles goes on a rampage and tries to kill Adam.After beating Adam,Charles goes to look for a hatchet,and Adam hides until he can get back to the house.Seeking to separate the boys,Adam's father gets Adam to enlist in the military.
After serving in the military for several years, Adam begins to make his way back home,at Charles' request.He takes his time,and is picked up on vagrancy charges,but eventually he gets back to Massachusetts.Things are awkward between Adam and Charles,the latter trying to make up for lost time but still posessing a quick temper.Both Alice and Cyrus have passed away by this time.Cyrus Trask died a supposed war hero,a career which both of his sons believe he developed based on lies.So,there is a large sum of money to be split between Adam and Charles.They argue about the money,and neither of them touch it for a while.
One day,a battered,dying young woman crawls to their house for help.They give her a room in their house,and have a doctor treat her.She can't even speak for a long time due to a broken jaw,but when she can, she tells them that her name is Cathy.Adam,besotted, spends all of his time taking care of her, not knowing that she is a blackmailing murderer who killed her own family in cold blood.Cathy finds Adam to be a nuisance,but she's in no position to take care of herself,and she has no intention of telling him the truth.Adam asks Cathy to marry him,she accepts because she needs protection.Adam decides to move with his new wife to the Salinas Valley.Cathy quickly becomes pregnant with twins.Adam,overjoyed,goes about making plans and developing their new land,deaf to his wife's claims that she's leaving as soon as the babies are born.When she actually does give birth,Adam tries to convince her to stay,but she shoots him in the shoulder and walks away.
Adam raises his sons,Aaron and Caleb "Cal," with the help of his Chinese servant, Lee.He never tells them who their mother is.The story unfolds like that of Cain and Abel as the twins get older.Cal is always jealous of Aaron, who is a better person than him.The two become more distant as they grow up,with Cal purposely doing things to make Aaron angry and sad.When Cal discovers that his mother,now going by "Kate," is running a whore house in town, he brings Aaron to her brothel and shows him that she truly is their mother.Aaron,who is very religious,goes into shock and feels like he has lost all meaning and purpose.He enlists in the army and gets killed.Kate,who is always in pain due to arthritis among other things,also suffers from the aftermath of her meeting with her sons.She slowly goes insane and becomes paranoid.She poisons herself,believing to be inside the story of Alice and Wonderland as she dies.For a while, Adam has no idea where Aaron has gone,or that it was Cal who drove him to it.When he recieves the telegram saying that Aaron is dead,Adam has a stroke.He is bedridden for a long time,without any hope of recovery.
Cal feels extremely guilty about his brother and confesses to his father,asking Adam to forgive him.Adam simply says the word "Timshel" which means "thou mayest," insinuating that it is up to Cal to forgive himself if he wishes to feel happy.

Steinbeck's novel,East of Eden, was also made into a movie in 1955, starring James Dean.

"If I couldn't laugh,I'd rather die."-Claudette Colbert

It's finally here!

As you know,Turner Classic Movies designates August as their month for Summer Under The Stars.So,my pick for Star of the Month and Movie of the Month are my own personal preference out of the 31 stars they lined up.So,here it is.Enjoy!And be sure to watch a full day of Claudette Colbert's movies tomorrow, August 12, on Turner Classic Movies.

STAR OF THE MONTH

Claudette Colbert
Born September 13, 1903
Died July 30, 1996

Claudette Colbert was originally born as one Emilie Claudette Chauchoin.She and her family lived in Saint-Mande, Seine, France until she was three years old.They officially emigrated to the United States in 1906.She acted for the first time in a school play, at the age of 15.Once she graduated from high school, Claudette began studying at The Art Students League of New York.She got her first taste of Broadway in 1923, having a role in The Wild Westcotts.
After that, Claudette signed a five year contract with Broadway producer Al Woods.Her excitement soon turned to frustration.Nobody would cast her as anything but small parts like a maid.She fought for her right to a more colorful role,which she finally got when she played a snake charmer in The Barker in 1927.She caught the audiences attention, and started snatching bigger roles after that.She also caught the eye of Leland Hayward, who set her up for her first film role: Frank Capra's For the Love of Mike, 1927.Not only was it Claudette's first film role, it was also her only silent film.
Even though the movie was unsuccessful, Paramount Pictures offered her a contract in 1928 that would allow her to remain in New York so that she could also continue her stage work.She accepted,although she wouldn't appear on Broadway for 20 years after 1929.Colbert's movies were very successful.She had a different look,with her dark hair, and large,dramatic eyes.Her ability to speak both English and her native French fluently also came into play with some of her films.
Producers also saw Claudette's ability to effortlessly play the part of a vixen,or femme fatale.She was frequently cast in such roles, and even though they further boosted her career,Claudette eventually came to regret being typecast as the femme fatale.
Colbert remained active and extremely successful on the big screen up until the 1950's.It was at that time that she started to travel around Europe more extensively, and started appearing in fewer movies.She also made many television appearances during the 1950's.Claudette finally closed the door on her film career in 1955, only appearing in a movie once more in 1961.From then on, she only acted occasionally, and only on the stage.
Claudette Colbert passed away in 1996 due to ill health following a series of strokes a couple of years earlier.

MOVIE OF THE MONTH

It Happened One Night
1934
Starring Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable

Ellie Andrews (Colbert) is the spoiled, only child of a wealthy bank owner.Wishing to make a statement that her father no longer controls her, she marries a fortune-hunter named King Wesley.Her father intrudes and takes her away before their marriage can be consummated.Ellie,furious,runs away from her father.She decides to try to make it back to New York from Miami so that she and King can be together.
Sounds like an easy plan,but the minute she goes missing, Ellie's father notifies the papers,and uses his title and his money to advertise his dilemma.He has half the country out looking for his daughter, and offers a prize to whoever brings her home.Ellie dodges her father's forces, and manages to make it onto a night bus to New York alongside (among others) a reporter named Peter Warne (Gable).The two instantly butt heads.Much to both parties chagrin, Peter ends up helping Ellie after she loses her ticket to the bus while they're stopped for breakfast.Peter learns her true identity, and offers to help her make it to New York as long as she'll give him an exclusive story on her desparate bid for freedom.Desparately short on money,Ellie agrees.
Ellie quickly begins to lose her disdain for Peter,but he doesn't seem interested in her at all.The two of them slowly (after having to abandon the bus for the sake of Ellie's identity) make it to New York,with much arguing, and sarcasm along the way.Peter finally realizes that he has feelings for Ellie,but knows that this was a business deal.When they finally reach New York,after having a final disagreement, they go their separate ways.Ellie is reunited with her father and King Wesley.
Mr. Andrews finally agrees to let Ellie be with King, as long as they hold a real ceremony to make it official.He doesn't believe that his daughter will be happy with King,though,and tries to dissuade her from her decision.Peter comes to see Mr. Andrews but doesn't want the promised reward,but only a few dollars to cover the expenses of getting Ellie to New York.He admits to Mr. Andrews that he's in love with Ellie,but knows that Ellie is marrying King,so leaves.Mr. Andrews tries harder than ever to convince Ellie not to marry King,but Ellie remains firm up until the moment of "I do," when she just can't say the words.She runs away from King, and the movie ends with Ellie and Peter getting married and embarking on their honeymoon.

Officially dubbed a "screwball comedy," It Happened One Night is absolutely worth seeing.It's full of sarcasm,comedy, and romance.
It comes on TCM as a part of Claudette Colbert's day TOMORROW, AUGUST 12 at 11:30 pm.
And you can also watch a selection of 10 other Claudette Colbert films, playing all day tomorrow on TCM.