"Hello,gorgeous."-Fanny Brice

And NOW,Think Classic, 1968 Columbia Pictures and William Wyler proudly present to you:

The GREAT Barbra Streisand

In one of the greatest movies of all time....

Funny Girl
1968
Starring Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif and Walter Pidgeon

The film is set in the days just before WWI, with Barbra Streisand acting out true events of the life of actress and comedienne Fanny Brice (1891-1951).

It opens with the famous Fanny Brice, sitting alone in the theater, having just recieved news that this is the day her husband will be coming home.From where, it doesn't specify.Fanny then has nostalgic flashbacks to the early days of her career, when she first met her husband, Nick Arnstein (Omar Sharif), and the early days of their marriage.
At the onset of the flashbacks, the younger Fanny lives in New York City, NY.She's desparate to be an actress-to be on the stage,and be taken seriously,but no one ever gives her the chance to display her talents.Almost by accident, she gets a part in a burlesque performance at Mr. Keeney's revue,which is where she first meets the handsome,charismatic Nicky Arnstein.She doesn't stay long at the revue, though, because it isn't long until the legendary Florenz Ziegfeld (Walter Pidgeon) comes calling.Ziegfeld offers her a part in his show, which she naturally accepts.
Despite a disastrous opening performance, Fanny eventually comes to headline the Ziegfeld Follies.Nick is very supportive of Fanny and, even more remarkable in Fanny's mind, he seems as genuinely interested in her as she is in him.He comes in and out of her life several times, never staying long because he never has definite plans.This leads to some discord between the couple,which they eventually smooth over.After a more steady courtship, Fanny unconventionally proposes to Nick.Arnstein,who gambles for a living,says he will marry her as long as he earns enough in a single card game.Fanny is worried that he won't come through,but in the end he wins a fortune and the two get married.The early days of the Arnstein's marriage are happy and apparently untroubled,but they don't last long.They begin to fight more and more as Fanny's career escalates and Nick's good name gets sullied due to a bad streak of luck whereby he loses his fortune.Nick,wanting to be the man of the family,eventually becomes desparate enough to get involved in a phoney bond deal in order to rake in some extra cash.He gets caught and is arrested.He pleads guilty at his trial,and is sentenced to two years in prison,saying that if he's "lucky," he'll be out in eighteen months.While meeting with his wife just before being escorted to prison, Nick tells her that he wants her to divorce him.Fanny is shocked, and isn't ready to let go.The two of them make a deal,at her insistence, that if he still feels that way after he's let out of prison,then she'll divorce him.
We then return to Fanny,still sitting alone in the theater after reminiscing.She finally goes to her dressing room to prepare for her show that night.Minutes before she's due to go on stage, Nick shows up.His feelings haven't changed,just as Fanny suspected they wouldn't.They say goodbye and go their separate ways.Fanny is heartbroken,but the show must go on.She steps out onto the stage and the film ends with her performance of the song "My Man."

"Oh my man, I love him so.He'll never know.All my life is just despair,but I don't care.
When he takes me in his arms the world is bright, alright.
What's the difference if I say I'll go away, when I know I'll come back on my knees someday?
For whatever my man is, I am his forever more."
The film is brilliant.One of my favorites, it's full of humor and jokes, catchy songs, happiness, love and heartbreak.
It was Barbra Streisand's first film role,for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress.
The film features 16 songs.The songs "I'd Rather Be Blue," "Secondhand Rose" and "My Man" were all frequently performed by the real Fanny Brice during her career.And the film itself was produced by Fanny Brice's son-in-law, Ray Stark.

To view the official trailer,follow the link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5H3Z-ITtCs

"I'll tune up my fiddle and I'll rosin my bow..."

"...I'll make myself welcome wherever I go."-Tex Ritter, "Rye Whiskey"

STAR OF THE MONTH

Singing Cowboys

Everyone knows that Westerns have been popular at the box office since the beginning of moving pictures.However, it wasn't until the 1930's that cowboys came equipped with guitars and voices made for crooning.
These days, most people aren't familiar with Singing Cowboys or the Musical Western genre at all.That's surprising because,believe it or not,audiences loved everything about them when they first came onto the scene.

I've chosen my Movie of the Month,but first,here's a write-up on the star of said movie.

Tex Ritter
Born January 12, 1905
Died January 2, 1974

Born as Woodward Maurice Ritter, but later nicknamed for the place he was born: Murvaul, Texas.Ritter showed an early interest in theater and film.He was first known as one of the voices of KPRC-AM, a popular radio program in 1928 that broadcasted "cowboy songs." By 1934, Ritter had starred in four Broadway productions as, you guessed it, a singing cowboy.He also snatched the lead voice-over role of the radio program The Lone Star Rangers.
Ritter made the official move to Hollywood in 1936,the same year his first film, Song of the Gringo, was released.Audiences nationwide could now put a face with the voice they had come to know and love.Throughout his career in movies, he made 71 films, 40 of which he starred in between the years 1938 and 1945.He also remained active in recording music until his death by heart attack in 1974 at the age of 68, his last single being released posthumously.

MOVIE OF THE MONTH

Song of the Gringo
1936
Starring Tex Ritter, Monte Blue,Martin Garralaga, and Joan Woodbury

The main protagonist, Tex (Ritter) is a lawman on an undercover mission.He poses as an outlaw in order to nail two real outlaws.Unfortunately,he's just a little too convincing and is spotted by the sherriff (Blue), who chases after him during a stormy night.Tex takes refuge at the home of Don Estaban Valle (Garralaga). Valle's business partner, Evans, is there at the time, and decides to use Tex's supposed skills as an outlaw to further his own "business" ventures.So, Tex is welcomed into the Valle home, where he quickly falls in love with Senor Valle's daughter, Lolita(Woodbury).She nurses a wound that Tex had recieved while fleeing from the sherriff.Evans, who "finances" failing mines in the area and then takes the property for himself once the owners mysteriously vanish, recruits Tex as a hired gun to help him take over the Henderson-Conklin mine.He orders Tex to kill the owners,thereby hoping to force Tex to show his true colors.Tex,being a good man,successfully fakes the deaths of the mine owners, and then tells them to go into hiding for their own good.Tex returns to Valle's home and remains there until a fiesta for Lolita's birthday, when Valle finds Tex and his daughter embracing.He forces Tex to leave,after bringing such shame to his home.While they argue about what Valle really saw, Valle is suddenly shot.Evans appears, and quickly points the finger at the innocent Tex.The sherriff comes, and a maid (whom Evans has previously paid off) is used as a witness against Tex.Tex is arrested for killing the miners and shooting Valle.Tex proves his innocence at his trial,when he arranges for the mine owners to come out of hiding and vouch for him.Evans, who is present at the trial, panics, and tries to shoot Tex, but is gunned down by the sherriff.In the end, Tex returns to Valle's home, where he finds Lolita, who has nursed her father back to health, and tells Tex that Valle has given them permission to marry.

Don't forget that July still isn't over.
You can catch more Singing Cowboy films on Turner Classic Movies every Friday, beginning at 8:00 pm.

And make sure you tune in for Star of the Month and Movie of the Month in August.It's Turner Classic Movie's Summer Under the Stars month, so I'll be picking my favorite actor/actress out of the 31 that they've chosen.

"A kiss is a lovely trick..."

"...designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous." -Ingrid Bergman

This post is just a fun one for me, and hopefully an interesting one for you.
This lovely woman is probably one of my favorite actresses, and this post is completely dedicated to her.

Ingrid Bergman
Born August 29, 1915
Died August 29, 1982

Ingrid Bergman was born in Stockholm to a Swedish father and a German mother. When Ingrid was three years old, her mother died. Ingrid was raised by her father, who was a photographer, and an artist. She claimed that her father was one of the most supportive and inspirational people in her life. The two of them lived very happily together until her father also died when she was thirteen. She then moved into her Aunt and Uncle's home, remaining in Stockholm.
Ingrid was desparate to be an actress, and her Uncle made a deal with her.He allowed her to try out for a position at the Royal Dramatic Theater, saying that if she made it they would support her, but if she did not, then she would put away her dreams of becoming an actress.Ingrid, only seventeen years old, was given a spot at the Theater. However, Ingrid only remained there for a short period of time. While on holiday, whe was offered a bit part in a Swedish film. After that, she made the decision to leave the stage, and step in front of the camera.Ingrid quickly established herself within the ranks of the Swedish film institute, and maintaned a steady film career in Stockholm for the next five years (1935-1939).
In 1936, Ingrid starred in the Swedish film Intermezzo,which opened the door to Hollywood.David O. Selznick decided to remake the film in 1939, and brought Ingrid to America for the role.Her career was just as prosperous in the United States as it was in Sweden, audiences falling in love with her every picture.
Ingrid Bergman went on to make 37 major motion pictures, remaining active until 1982 when she died of breast cancer on her birthday.

This is just one of my favorite movies of Ingrid Bergman's that I've picked, that I think anyone can enjoy.

Notorious
1946
A film by Alfred Hitchcock

PLOT

At the end of WWII, Alicia Huberman (Bergman) is recruited by American government agent and correspondant T.R. Delvin (Cary Grant) to investigate a band of Nazis that has relocated to Brazil. Alicia and Delvin fall in love while waiting for orders in Rio de Janeiro, and Delvin struggles to keep things professional. The orders finally come through saying that Alicia is supposed to seduce Nazi leader Alex Sebastian (Claude Rains). Delvin hears of her orders first, and automatically tries to convince the agency that she shouldn't do it, but they remain firm. Delvin is crushed, but knows there is a job to do, so he dutifully informs Alicia of her orders. At first, Alicia is confused,feeling sure that Delvin had cared for her.She eventually decides she must have been mistaken.
Alicia is carefully placed in Sebastian's inner circle, and he quickly falls for her.Alicia hopes that Delvin won't be able to keep his feelings from her due to jealously when she tells him that Sebastian has proposed.Delvin,however,keeps his distance and tells her to do what she thinks is best.Alicia is heartbroken,and offended,so she accepts Sebastian's offer.
There isn't much to be observed within her new home that seems suspicious.The only thing she can tell Delvin is that her husband will not give her a key to the wine cellar.Alicia becomes more suspicious of the wine cellar as time goes on, so Delvin tells her to host a party-a reason for him to come and help her investigate.On the night of the party,Alicia steals the key from her husband.Delvin and Alicia find black sand (uranium) in some of the bottles.Delvin takes a sample,and cleans up the bottle he broke open in the nick of time,but Sebatian is not easily fooled.He finds remnants of broken glass and sand, and becomes wary of his wife.
Once Sebastian has enough evidence that his wife is spying on him, he knows he must get rid of her without attracting attention.He decides to poison her slowly.Alicia soon becomes extremely ill, and can't get out of bed.Delvin becomes concerned when he doesn't hear from Alicia,so he sneaks into the Sebastian's home and finds her,ill.She tells him that she knows she is being poisoned,but she is too weak to do anything.Delvin finally tells Alicia that he loves her, and he carries her out of Sebastian's home himself,to safety.

If you're interested in reading more about Ingrid Bergman, I recommend Ingrid , a biography by Charlotte Chandler.I've read it myself, and it's wonderful,light,romantic,and interesting.It's available online at Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ingrid-charlotte-chandler/1012230623?ean=9781557837356&itm=1&usri=ingrid

To watch the official trailer for Notorious, head over to TCM:
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/160387/Notorious-Original-Trailer-.html

A tale as old as time...

I think this film is the perfect stepping stone for anyone who's interested in classic films, but doesn't know where to start, because it's such a familiar story.

La Belle et La Bete
1946

Translated, "The Beauty and The Beast" was directed by Jean Cocteau, and was the first film adaptation of the famous French fairytale. The film was not released in the United States until 1947. Even though the entire film was foreign, from the setting and the actors, to the French subtitles, it was accepted and highly praised by the fickle crowd accustomed to Hollywood Royalty.

For those of you who don't already know it...
PLOT

The story centers around Belle (Josette Day), a.k.a. "the beauty." Belle's father (Marcel Andre) is a merchant. He takes a little business trip to collect some money. Due to unforseen circumstances, he feels the need to travel through an unfamiliar patch of woods during the night. Naturally, he gets lost. He finally stumbles upon a castle, who's gates magically open to him. Once inside the castle, he appears to be all alone, and falls asleep. Sometime later, he is awoken by a roar. He decides he has stayed long enough, and makes his way back outside, into a courtyard. He sees a beautiful rose bush there, and decides to clip off a bloom to take to his daughter. This makes "the Beast" (Jean Marais) appear. At first, the Beast is angry and threatens to kill him for being a thief. He makes a deal with the old man. The Beast will not kill him if he offers his daughter's life instead. Belle's father frantically agrees and is sent home.
Once she is told, Belle is glad to take her father's place because she loves him so much. She goes back, and finds the Beast's palace. Even though the Beast had said he was going to kill Belle, he is very kind to her. He gives her a beautiful room to stay in, and beautiful clothes, and a magical mirror that will show her anything she wishes to see. Despite the hospitality that is shown to her, Belle is disgusted by the Beast, and afraid of him.
Everyday, the Beast tells Belle that he loves her and asks for her hand in marriage. Belle becomes less wary of him with each passing day, but she still refuses him. Once, while using her mirror to look at her father, Belle sees that he is deathly ill. Panicking, she goes to the Beast and begs him to let her see her father, even just for a short time. He grants her one week. Before giving her this temporary freedom, he gives her a glove that will take her anywhere she wants to go, and a key to Diana's Pavilion, which is where his most sacred riches are kept.
Once she has nursed her father back to health, Belle intends to keep her promise and return to the Beast. Her siblings devise a plan to keep her away from him. Belle's sisters trick her into staying past her seven day limit. Her brother steals the golden key and goes off to find the castle with his friend,Avenant. Belle looks into her mirror, and sees the Beast in pain. She realizes that she is also missing the key to Diana's Pavilion, and the mirror cracks.
Belle hurries back to the Beasts castle and finds the Beast dying of a broken heart. While he slowly dies in her arms, her brother and Avenant find Diana's Pavilion. Rather than use the key, they scale the walls, and Avenant climbs inside where he is shot by a statue of the Roman goddess, Diana. As this happens, the Beast transforms into a prince. Belle finally accepts his offer of marriage, and they fly away to a distant kingdom.

This movie is such a treat to watch.The cinematography and the costumes are beautiful. And the makeup used to create the Beast is actually fairly impressive for that time period.

"I can never buy a garment without thinking about the woman who owned it."-Phoebe Swift

A Vintage Affair

2011 novel by Isabel Wolff

I know what you're thinking: 2011?That's not very old.

And you would be correct.

It's a modern novel with some very vintage twists and throwbacks.

PLOT

The story centers around Phoebe Swift, who lives in England, and has recently quit her job as an auction house buyer in order to fulfill a dream by opening her own vintage clothing shop, Village Vintage. Phoebe is also trying to adjust to her new life without her best friend, Emma, who died recently. To acquire new merchandise for her shop, Phoebe goes to auctions, buys and sells online, and also makes house calls to inspect and buy peoples vintage clothes.

Through this, she meets an elderly woman named Mrs. Bell, who is a WWII survivor from France, and is dying of cancer. While inspecting some of Mrs. Bell's clothes, she is highly intrigued by a child's handmade blue coat. When she asks Mrs. Bell about it, the older woman tells her that it is not for sale, and she does not want to talk about it.

Eventually, Mrs. Bell comes to trust and admire Phoebe, and does tell her the story of the blue coat-a story of friendship, and betrayal. A story that Phoebe finds she can surprisingly relate to.

The book takes you through all of Phoebe's adventures while she looks for new clothes, new friends, new lovers, and a new start at life.

If paints a colorful picture of the south of France in the 1940's, and gives the reader a look at some of the most prominent names of vintage fashion.

It's funny, touching, historical, romantic..

And I loved it.

If you're interested in reading it for yourself, head over to your Barnes & Noble.

It's also available in paperback, and for NOOK books online:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-vintage-affair-isabel-wolff/1018391104?ean=9780553386622&itm=1&usri=a%2bvintage%2baffair#Details