Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! Thank you for a brilliant 2010! Hope you have a wonderful, successful, joyous 2011!

Here's Bobby Darin, singing that ol' traditional Auld Lang Syne!

You Can't Have Christmas Without...

Clarence getting his wings and George Bailey realising he really has got a wonderful life (see what I did there?).

It's A Wonderful Life is the ultimate feel-good movie...even though it may take a lot of tears and tissues and runny noses before you actually 'feel good' about it (and don't lie-I know you all have a little cry while you watch!).
The whole cast is fantastic-even the children are great! George Bailey has become an iconic character, as well as Mr. Potter, who I've recently begun to call the most evil movie villain of all time (the guy's pretty darn evil). But there is one character who simply cannot be forgotten-Clarence, George's guardian angel. Henry Travers portrays him brilliantly-he's just how you would imagine your guardian angel to be.
Many people have named this the greatest Christmas movie of all time. And you know what? I think they might just be right.

PS-I've finally finished this Christmas series. I quite enjoyed it-did you?

Quote Of The Day (and Happy Belated Birthday, Russ Tamblyn)!

I FORGOT ANOTHER BIRTHDAY! SIEVE HEAD HERE!

'(On his performance as Riff in West Side Story) Life is so strange. West Side Story was one of the high points of my career. Yet when I first saw it I was really disappointed in how I came off. Since then Fred Astaire has told me how much he admired my dancing in it. Now I see it very differently.' 

You Can't Have Christmas Without...

Mark showing up at Juliette's door with those placards. 

Yes, Niamhy The Old Romantic is back! Seriously though-I dare you to watch this and not feel all slushy inside! Even if you hate this movie with a passion, you can not help but feel for poor Mark-in love with his best friend's wife. Wouldn't you hate to be in his situation?

Here's the scene-oh, wait! I advise you grab some tissues first, just in case!

(Unfortunately I can't embed it on the blog, but here's the link-WATCH IT!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKhHxRZmwp8

I'm not sure how I can connect this to classic movies. Could this one day become a classic romance scene? This remains to be seen, but it is in my eyes one of the greatest romantic moments of all time.

PS-LAST CHRISTMAS POST TOMORROW! I PROMISE!

Quote Of The Day!

This is from Douglas Fairbanks Jr (just for Casey!):

'I was only saying to the Queen the other day how I hate name dropping . . .'

You Can't Have Christmas Without...

(I promise, this WILL be over by New Year's Eve! Just a few more posts!)

Old Ebenezer getting haunted by four ghosts (yes, four!) on Christmas Eve.

Alastair Sim is actually wonderful. He IS Scrooge. The contrast he achieves between before and after he is visited by the spirits is great: it shows off his acting talents to the best of their ability.

Fast forward a few years, and we have Albert Finney:

Another excellent portrayal of Scrooge! Considering Albert was only 34 years old when he took on the role, he perfectly conveys a haggard old man, who, as he sings in the movie, hates life and has no qualms about life hating him.

Fast forward another twenty-or-so years, and we have Michael Caine:

Okay, so maybe A Muppet Christmas Carol isn't a classic (yet!), but I truly believe Mr. Caine is amazing as Ebenezer (well, to be honest, I think Michael is amazing in everything!). The man had to work with puppets-surely he must be good!

Now, you can't have a Christmas Carol post without mentioning The Big Cheese himself, Mr. Charles Dickens!

Charles Dickens was a revolutionary writer. In a time when novels were written as a chance of escapism, Dickens wrote about reality; about things that were truly happening in the world (okay, so maybe people don't get visited by ghosts at night that help them mend their ways, but there is another message in the tale, just you look!). Without good ol' Charlie, we wouldn't have this wonderful novel-the ultimate Christmas tale.

My Favourite Movies: Rebecca

I hope this set embodies the style and character of the second Mrs. De Winter!

Quote Of The Day (And Happy Belated Birthday, Maggie Smith)!

Another belated birthday. Sheesh.

'I like the ephemeral thing about theatre, every performance is like a ghost - it's there and then it's gone.'

Happy belated birthday, Miss Jean Brodie! 

 

Quote Of The Day (and Happy Birthday, Marlene Dietrich)!

Happy birthday, Ms. Dietrich!

'I'm worth more dead than alive. Don't cry for me after I'm gone; cry for me now.'

I promise, I will get back to more lengthy posts soon!

 

Quote Of The Day (and Happy Belated Birthday, Humphrey Bogart)!

Happy belated birthday, Bogie (it was Christmas, I didn't get a chance to post anything)! 

'I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis.'

I really need to stop with the alcohol related quotes! 

 

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas, filled with food and love and classic movies! Hey, and don't lick any frozen lamp posts!

Hope you get lots of lovely gifts! (But don't forget what Christmas is truly about, people!)

And I am going to keep going with my 'Can't Have Christmas Without...' posts, because I haven't got saying everything I wanted to yet!

Merry Crimbo!

Quote Of The Day!

This is from good ol' Alfie!

'I have a perfect cure for a sore throat: cut it.'

Very Christmassy!

 

Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone has a wonderful vintage Christmas and a fantastic New Year!

Being A Bookworm

It's official-I'm actually a bookworm. I'm addicted! I just love literature! Du Maurier, Austen, the Bronte's, Dickens-I just can't get enough of them!

Quote Of The Day!

This clever one is from Greer Garson.

'If you`re going to be typed, there are worse moulds in which you can be cast.' 

You Can't Have Christmas Without...

Bing Crosby and that song. You know what I'm talking about!

It's gorgeous. It's beautiful. And when you hear it, you know it's Christmas.

I really don't know what it is about it, but as soon as I hear those opening notes, a huge lump grows in my throat, and tears well in my eyes. I honestly cannot explain why.

Bing's voice is just magical. Heck, Bing's voice is the voice of Christmas! It's so rich and deep...I love it!

Multiple artists have tried to recreate or put their own twist on the song, and generally a lot of the time it goes just awfully, but I ADORE this version (bit of talking at the start!):

These lovely fellas are The Overtones, and they're one of my modern weaknesses! Keep your eye out for them in the future-I'm sure you'll be seeing them soon!

Quote Of The Day!

This (very true!) statement is from Robert Mitchum.

'There just isn't any pleasing some people. The trick is to stop trying.'

Don't let my mum see this. Long story.

Quote Of The Day!

MARY TYLER MOORE!

'Sometimes you have to get to know someone really well to realize you're really strangers.'

 

Bobby Darin:Not Forgotten

On this very day 37 years ago, the world lost a great performer and wonderful soul: Bobby Darin.

I dare say I don't have to tell you all how huge an admirer I am, so I'll just say that I'm glad that his music still lives on all these years later, not only with the people who were around during Bobby's time, but with the newer generation as well (I'm not pointing any fingers, ahem, Millie and I, ahem, HUMUNGOUS fans, ahem) and hope that the music continues to live on for many years to come!

Continue to rest in peace, Bobby.

I leave you with my favourite Bobby song, That's All. Hope you enjoy it-I know I will for the gazillionth time!

Quote Of The Day!

In memory of Walden Cassotto...

'My goal is to be remembered as a human being and as a great performer.'

 

 

You Can't Have Christmas Without...

Bowie and Bing having an absolute ball singing 'Little Drummer Boy'!

This actually makes me life (not a typo-I just turned really leprechaun). I think it is AMAZING! Seriously! Give it a listen! I think (shock, horror!) it may be my favourite Christmas song (and, as I was saying to Millie earlier, it is sort of a sin for a leprechaun to say their favourite Christmas song isn't 'Fairytale Of New York').

Here you go-magic in a music video!

Quote Of The Day!

I FINALLY got round to watching White Christmas this afternoon (WOO-HOO!), so this is from Vera Ellen. Okay, so these two are from Vera Ellen. But I just couldn't choose between Donald and Fred!

'Donald O`Connor taught me the sheer joy of dancing.'

'Fred Astaire will never say, though he`s always asked, which of his dancing ladies was his favorite partner. If you ask me, he preferred the solo turns.'

Quote Of The Day!

I watched Lady On A Train yesterday (BRILLIANCE!), so this is a quote from Deanna Durbin:

'I couldn`t go on forever being Little Miss Fixit who burst into song.'

I Heart Moustaches!

Because moustaches are cool.

Quote Of The Day!

RIP Blake Edwards.

'It's been my experience that every time I think I know where it's at, it's usually somewhere else.'

 

You Can't Have Christmas Without...

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at my nose...or was it my toes?

Quote Of The Day (and Happy Birthday, Jane Austen)!

Happy birthday, Jane Austen! One of the most quotable people EVER!

'Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.'

Happy Birthday Jane Austen!

Today would have been Jane Austen's 235th birthday. I adore her work and believe her to be one of the greatest novelists of all time.

I have created this set to pay homage to her works and the characters within them.

A Cafe With Gregory!

Do you know that scene in Roman Holiday, with Greg and Audrey drinking the champagne, and, um, water? That's how I imagine the perfect date with The Man.

And hey! There's a cake tier-y thingy!

Drive-In Movie With James Dean!

I can just imagine snuggling up to James Dean in a parking lot (sounds better than car park, okay?), watching your favourite movie munching away on popcorn.

Allow me to dream, people! ;-P

Quote Of The Day!

JEAN ARTHUR!

'It's a strenuous job every day of your life to live up to the way you look on the screen.'

Ain't she pretty?

Quote Of The Day!

When you wish upon a star!

'All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.'

 

From Walt Disney himself!

 

 

Chess with Bobby!

I don't know if you've realised this, but I am totally in love with Bobby Darin.

Bobby's a chess freak. I'm a chess freak (but I'm absolutely rubbish at it!).

Hope you like this set!

You Can't Have Christmas Without...

Dino trying to convince some poor woman that she should stay with him, when she OBVIOUSLY just wants to get home.



Just let her go, Dean, let her go.

(Not my video, by the way! Thank you to the lovely person who does own it!)

Quote Of The Day!

This from Rosemary Clooney!

'You can't do everything alone.'

Quote Of The Day (and Happy Birthday, Frank Sinatra)!

Happy 95th birthday, Frank!

'May you live to be 100 and may the last voice you hear be mine.'

 

 

You Can't Have Christmas Without...

SANTA AND HIS COCA-COLA!

They made his suit red. They gave him a huge lorry with his face on the side. And they gave him possibly the most iconic ad ever. 

COCA-COLA AND ST. NICHOLAS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TOGETHER!

You know it's Christmas when you see this ad. It is definitely a tradition (and vintage. Notice how almost all the ads are set in the past?)!

Two of the many versions of the magical commercial (the second is my personal favourite!):

PS-Please don't sue me Coca-Cola! I'm sorry-I had to write this post!

Sweet Sandy!

Sorry I haven't been around in a while-but I'm back...AND WITH SANDRA DEE!

Isn't she a sweetie? She's so adorable! (I look at her through envy-green glasses!)

Quote Of The Day!

This from the delightful Danny Kaye!

'Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint you can at it.'

You Can't Have Christmas Without...

Yay! Tomorrow the Christmas fun begins!

Everyday I will post something random that is a true Christmas tradition, be it worldwide or just leprechaun. And it will be vintage or classic in some way! 

You can not possibly understand how excited I am about this! WOO-HOO!

LET YULETIDE COMMENCE!

Isn't this adorable?! It has nothing to do with anything, but it's cute!

Quote Of The Day!

From the amazingly talented Judy Garland!

'In the silence of night I have often wished for just a few words of love from one man, rather than the applause of thousands of people.'

What? No, I'm not crying. It's just-um-I'm chopping onions!

 

Quote Of The Day (and Happy Birthday, Kirk Douglas)!

Hey! It's Kirk Douglas' birthday!

'If you want to know about a man you can find out an awful lot by looking at who he married.'

Happy birthday!

Cool...

Quote Of The Day!

I began watching The Bishop's Wife today-here's a quote from Loretta Young!

'A face is like the outside of a house, and most faces, like most houses, give us an idea of what we can expect to find inside.'

 

 

Quote Of The Day!

This post doesn't make any sense unless you know what show Thelma is talking about, but I can just imagine her saying it, so here it is:

'Do you know what I like about your program? Even when I'm running the vacuum, I can understand it.'

Ah, I love Thelma!

 

 

Me? Hate Fred Astaire? Say It Ain't So!

That title may be a little misleading. I'm just going to make it clear to everyone right now: I LOVE FRED ASTAIRE! HE IS AWESOME!

However, I do hate Ted Hanover. This is him:

He looks like Fred Astaire. He dances like Fred Astaire. But boy, he is NOT Fred Astaire!

Ted Hanover is the obnoxious, over-confident, selfish, limelight-loving performer Fabulous Fred plays in Holiday Inn. It is impossible to like him. I've seen Holiday Inn a few times before, but each time I can't believe that this idiot is our lovely gentleman, Mr. Astaire. He is so different from Don Hewes, Josh Barkley, Tony Hunter, Dick Avery...all of them! Well, they might be semi-in-love with the limelight, but still!

I really want to find out where he learned how to fly

This post isn't actually going anywhere, but it sort of proves how wonderful an actor Fred really is. Thank you for enduring my rant!

PS-This is just a little 'shoutout' (I think that's what children these days call it!) to the amazingly crazy (but in a good way) Samantha! Samantha is off to Australia for three weeks...which means I won't see her for about...FIVE WEEKS (this is including my Christmas holidays and stuff...I'm not going crazy and don't think three weeks and five weeks equal the same amount of time)! I'm gonna miss ya, buddy! (Sob, sob)

Quote Of The Day!

Just today (well, yesterday NOW) I watched Holiday Inn (yay for Christmas!), so Bing Crosby is in my mind at the moment.

'Honestly, I think I've stretched a talent which is so thin it`s almost transparent over a quite unbelievable term of years.'