12 days of blogging: Day 8- Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Meet Me in St. Louis was the second Judy Garland film I had ever seen and one of my favorites (though it wasn't until I bought Love Finds Andy Hardy on a whim that I was then hooked). This film came in one of the first box sets I ever bought, at the time I thought it was extortionate to pay £10 for a nine film magical musicals collection, but oh how that has changed and I am so glad I took the leap to part with my money for that set. It opened me up to a world of films that would captivate your soul. Anyway I have been trying to get my family hooked on the film for over a year but it is discouraging when you show your mum it for the second time and she insists she has no recollection of it. I guess it just didn't touch them as it did me, which is sad. Though this film doesn't revolve around Christmas it is shown and from this film came the birth of the song "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" so I though it qualified.

Synopsis
The rich Smith family have four daughters one of the daughters, 17 year old Esther (Judy Garland), has fallen in love with the boy next door (Tom Drake) though he doesn't seem to notice her at first. During this time her younger sister, Tootie (Margaret O'Brien), is causing mischief and being cute. When the father of the family has decided to take a new job opportunity in New York it the family turns chaotic as love-lives are turned upside down and tears are shed and even a snowman or two are killed. Mostly the family are worried whether they will miss the St. Louis fair of which they have eagerly awaited.


Facts

• "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was originally about war until Judy Garland refused to sing it to Margaret O'Brien because she thought it would upset her, so the lyrics were changed.
• Judy Garland met her future husband, director of the film,Vincente Minelli during this production.
• A lightning guy of the film intentionally dropped a heavy spotlight on Margaret O'Brien, narrowly missing her. He did this because His daughter had gotten the part after Margarets mother asked for more money though this was later changed and Margaret was then cast as Tootie, the lighting guy was actually institutionalized for a short period of time after this.
• The trolley song was apparently filmed in one take, though I find this hard to believe as they would usually do an extra take for safety.

Dial M For MURDER!!! in 3D

Last night myself and a friend went to our local cinema to watch a special screening of Dial M For Murder in miraculous 3D. I had seen the film previously but jumped at a chance to watch it on the big screen. There weren't that many people in the cinema which was a disappointment as i presumed there would be more fans of the Hitchcock masterpiece that would be ecstatic to experience such a thing. There were many elderly couples going to watch the film which made me happy and content with thinking that they may have seen it on the big screen the first time around and watching it now is like revisiting their youth and reliving history.


Dial M For Murder is a 1954 film by Alfred Hitchcock, the film revolves around a not-so-happily-but-happily married couple Tony Wendice (Ray Milland) and Margot Mary Wendice (Grace Kelly). Margot is having an affair and is being blackmailed for it by a mysterious being, Tony is infact this mysterious being and blackmailed her to try to make her confess when she doesn't he blackmails a criminal in killing her with the perfect murder that he has planned down to the very last detail and has been for months. When the "perfect" murder is being carried out and Margot is being strangled she manages to grab a pair of scissors from the desk and stab her attacker. Tony tries to cover his tracks as the police get involved and start to point the finger at Margot saying that she killed the attacker because he was blackmailing her about the affair, she is sent to jail and will be executed. Conveniently the day before her execution the detective does more snooping and starts suspecting Tony and then there is a whole kerfuffle with keys and different keys and his key and her key and the killers key and the key on the stairs etc it boils down to who let themselves in with the right key is the real criminal.

The 3D in this film wasn't so great because it only really added layers to the film of which there already were because of set have a what looked like a green screen background. The only scene of which stood out because of the 3D to me was the scene is this picture with the hand coming out of the screen to grab for anything that may help save her life.....it was brilliant to see that.




I do belive it was the entire reason that they chose this film to make into 3D and all because of that hand.The atmosphere from the cinema was amazing, everyone was laughing and silently screaming all at the same time. Watching the film the second time around was a lot more interesting because you pick up on a lot more of the little quirks and details put into the film, you also spend a lot more time thinking about the brilliance of the murder and just how cunning Tony is rather that thinking about how they came to the final conclusion and what slipped him up.

I never really noticed this before but the music for the opening credit is the complete antithesis of the actual film and rather makes it sound like a fun, bouncy comedy. I also took more time to appreciate the detective combing his mustache at the end, a quirk that I didn't really notice before.
There was also a real roar of laughter from the crowd when this "old college" photo came up.

Look at the three heads superimposed onto those bodies, it appears that Hitch had gone back to college.

I have never been Grace Kelly's biggest fan, I guess it was mostly because of Kelly's win at the academy awards rather than Judy Garland my fave and the favorite to win, I had also thought that her acting was perfectly average and that besides her beauty she never stood out and relied on other actors to carry the film. I have seen both The Country Girl and my beloved A Star Is Born and even though Kelly gave a fine performance, Garland had lived her role and put everything she had and had ever had into that role it had the basic structure of her life (if she had played James Masons role that is) I found it outrageous that she didn't win, it would have been the first academy award for best actress that she wold have won and it was not Kelly's fault I would have resented anyone that won against her. It was still like hollywood giving a middle finger to Garland's entire life's work. Due to my unfair dislike towards Kelly and the fact that I had started to rethink my views on her when I watched this film it made me think that out of all of the eleven films that she made I have only seen four and I should't judge her after only seeing four of her films, the films being:

• Rear Window
• Dial M For Murder
• To Carch a Thief
• High Society

I in fact own seven of her film but had never bothered to watch the other three so i decided that today I would watch all of the films of her that I had not seen these being:

• Fourteen Hours
• High Noon
• Mogambo
• The Country Girl
• Green Fire
• The Bridges at Toko-ri
• The Swan (I have been really excited to see this)

I am currently half-way through The Bridges at Toko-ri and have only The Swan to go and I am so excited. I am not sure whether I have changed my views on her but may make another post about this as this is just incredibly wordy and for that I am sorry.

I rate this Hitchcock thriller an 8.7 outta 10

Why Mickey Rooney is better than you

I am doing a post on Mickey Rooney...again(you shall be seeing a lot of him). Since I wanted to do a post for his birthday but missed it and now have to wait till next September for that post I decided to do one now on why Mickey Rooney is better than you, and by you I mean everyone. Now here are the reasons why...

1. Mickey Rooney played Puck in "A Midsummer Nights Dream" (1935). He is wearing a forest skirt this proves he is better than you.

2. He is incredibly fashionable proves this picture below. This is another reason to his greatness.

3. This is a picture of him as a child. More proof of his fashion sense even as a baby. This means he was also awesome as a child and nevertheless was born awesome instead of becoming awesome through age.

4. The ironic name for his book proving he is funny and better then you.

5. He was a Simpsons guest star. The character is also an incredibly accurate drawing of him.

6. He is also still working...at 92 making his career span ten decades. The respect I have for this man is unbelievable

7.For each one of his eight marriages, he was thoughtful enough to supply his own step stool for the wedding service proving his awesomeness.

8. This is a picture of Mickey Rooney, Eddie Bracken and Ed Fury


9. Was a victim of elder abuse and now speaks out about it to help others in the same situation. This is even more proof on why I respect him so much.

10. Knows Judy Garland they are the middle two of the photo.

11. Was on "What's my line"

12. Mickey Rooney even regrets the Breakfast at Tiffany's incident.

13. Plays Santa Claus so much that he apparently keeps a Santa suit in his wardrobe

14. This is a picture of MGM's actors in 1943 it includes Mickey Rooney. I am pretty sure that Mickey Rooney is the fourth one in on the second row. The reason that this makes him awesome is because MGM is awesome and thus he is awesome to.


15. He is Mickey Rooney, enough said.


These are the reasons why he is better then you, now you may understand.

Judy Garland BLOG-IT #2

My victim this week shall be............. Judy Garland

I chose Judy from a sheer love of Judy.

1. My personal favourite of her films?

I haven't even tried debating this question with myself. I just can't pick there is no way I could choose she is just to perfect for favourites so I will make a list.

• All of them. I just love them all.

2. A film match they were made for?

I thought her and Mickey were a hoot and a half but I guess if I had to choose it would be Jack Lemmon because they are both funny and would compliment each other well.

3. Her ultimate box-set:

Girl Crazy
Strike up the band
Babes on Broadway
Babes in arms
Thoroughbreds don't cry
A star is born

I know they are quite random but i just love her and mickeys films and I'm an avid fan of a star is born.

4. A role meant for them but alas never got the chance to play it?

hm this is a toughie. Maybe she would be a good Molly Brown in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" (though I would never change Debbie Reynolds she was just perfect in the part).

5. Her best character?

Esther Blodgett/ Vicky Lester in A star is born.

6. The perfect romantic couple.

Oh come on this is easy do I even need to say it. I'm obviously going to choose the loverrrrrly Mickey Rooney for the little Garland.

This post has got me wanting to watch some Judy so of to the TV I shall go.

A Star Is Born (1954)

Judy Garland, James Mason....one word LEGENDS. The chemistry between these two actors is electric, these two could make any film a wonderful film they are just one of the reasons why I love this film. It is a shame that George Cukor didn't do more musicals I mean just look at it it is sooooooo good. There are so many factors that make this film great (besides the actors) and one of them, well one of the only ones that matters is.......... the music, the fantastic songs that make this film a classic. Then again anything Judy Garland is in is an instant classic and you would expect nothing less then the wonderful songs from this film in any other of her other films. There is just one thing I don't like about this film and that is, why just did they cut it they should have kept it as long as possible, every scene should be treasured not trashed anyway they did restore most of it but it just isn't be the same, not that I would know since they did cut it and now I can never see the original unless I hunt down the missing bits (well one can dream). This is my personal favourite of Judy's films, she is at her tops with her acting and her singing is o.O mind blowing. This film was one of her last so as the saying goes they truly did save the best for last.

Basic plot: A very talented women called Esther Blodgett meets a celebrity that is losing his fame called Norman Maine. Norman Maine sees her talent and is set at making her a star. Esther (who had to change her name to Vicky Lester as a stage name) does become famous and she and Norman marry. Norman who's fame is spiralling down unlike the success of Esther/ Vicky he is almost jealous of her success but happy that she achieved it. Norman is an alcoholic  and is getting increasingly depressed even though Vicky is doing every thing she can to make him happy even about to give up her success for their marriage. He doesn't want to ruin her career like his own so he takes a drastic action to save her from, well from him I guess. she is devastated but nevertheless she is still "Mrs Norman Maine".



I rate "A Star Is Born" 8.2 out of 10!!!!! I could watch it over and over again it would be on replay for life or until my disc burns through.

Andy Hardy

Andy Hardy the 1930's teenager. All of the Andy Hardy's remind me of all of the teen films today except that Andy Hardy (Mickey Rooney) is sweet, innocent, mischievous and cute as a button. He has the perfect stereotypical American family. His life consists of mischievous adventure, a love of girls, an on again, off again relationship with Polly Benedict (Ann Rutherford) and a close relationship with his poor friend-zoned, friend Betsy (Judy Garland who only appears in three films but makes her mark there). Andy is a lovable character often getting into trouble and having to talk to his dad about his problems and then learning a valuable lesson before repeating this routine in the next film. Mickey is just hilarious in a few of the more comic films done though it shows some of his best acting and best melodramatic acting over all I just love Andy Hardy I'm completely fixed. All together there are 16 Andy Hardy films and here is a list of them all just for your pleasure.

1. A Family Affair (1937
2. You're Only Young Once (1937)
3. Judge Hardy's Children (1938)
4. Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)
5. Out West With The Hardy's (1938)
6. The Hardy's Ride High (1939)
7. Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939)
8. Judge Hardy And Son (1939)
9. Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940)
10. Andy Hardy's Private Secretary (1941)
11. Life Begins For Andy Hardy (1941)
12. The Courtship Of Andy Hardy (1942)
13. Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942)
14. Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble (1944)
15. Love Laughs At Andy Hardy (1946)
16. Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958)