Rub-A-Dub-Dub ... 6 Stars In The Tub

October is my favorite month ... autumn in Indiana and horror movies on TCM.  I am working on entries for two blogathons this month:  Speakeasy's Val Lewton blogathon for which I am doing my take on I Walked With A Zombie; and the Classic TV Blog Association's Horror Host blogathon, for which I am doing a piece on my favorite TV ghoul, Sammy Terry's Nightmare Theatre.  It's going to take some time and effort to do them up right.  So, for the interim, here's something that takes no effort to speak of.  I can't remember why it occurred to me, but I think seeing movie stars in the bathtub is fun.

The classic gangster in the tub ... cigar, drink, newspaper and fan ...
(Edward G. Robinson in "Key Largo")

This little piggy will go to market clean!
(Bob Hope in "Son of Paleface")
*This pic is courtesy of our very own Ivan of Thrilling Days etc.*
I believe he has a large framed version on his living room wall

He doesn't look too happy -- and boy, what scummy water!
(Clint Eastwood in "High Plains Drifter")

A modern gangster's bubble bath ... cigar, drink , AC and a TV remote
(Al Pacino in "Scarface")

I'm sure Dana Andrews would rather be looking at Gene Tierney
(Clifton Webb in "Laura")

Sorry, all you hopeful men -- I forgot to mention that it was not about women in the tub, didn't I?  Well, just for the male readers, here's something anyway...

She looks a lot better out of the tub than in 
(Jack Nicholson and nameless ... uh ... ladies in "The Shining")

Tragically, I wasn't able to find a single picture of Errol Flynn in the tub -- now that would be my idea of fun.

Four Faces of Andy ... He Was Never Just A Face In The Crowd ...

Andy Griffith's death is all over the internet today.  He was a hilarious country bumpkin comedian in his early years, an actor of great dramatic talent in the late 50's, the country's most loved small-town sheriff and father in the 60's, and a savvy elderly lawyer in his later years.  I just felt that I had to remember all of the faces of Andy Griffith.

His best comedy album -- I laughed 'til I cried with his country boy's
explanations of:  "What It Was Was Football" and "Romeo and Juliet."

"A Face in the Crowd" from 1957.  One of the most powerful performances on film.
For those who only know him as Sheriff Taylor, you wouldn't believe
the same actor could be such a terrifying character.

Andy and Barney ... part of my childhood I will always love and never forget. 

A large audience of people didn't care that Matlock was
coined as a show for the geriatric crowd -- they loved it anyway.

We will never really miss Andy -- he will be all over the airways for many years to come, God willing.  If you are in the mood, I picked out one of my top favorite Andy Griffith shows for you -- "The Pickle Story".

Just For Fun -- A Re-Post Of One Of My Favorites!

My Faithful Readers know me as a real purist with classic film -- I saw a commercial years ago that had used special effects to have Fred Astaire doing one of his best numbers with a vacuum cleaner replacing the girl.  I almost had to call paramedics to be taken to the hospital!  So this is a surprise to me ... in looking for Gene Kelly numbers on YouTube, I ran across a tribute to Kelly set to 80's singing star Robert Palmer's hit song, "Simply Irresistible."  My first thought was, oh Lord, here we go again.  I've seen several posts on there which replace the music from classic film musical number with stupid rap songs or disco crap.  Makes me sick and shivery every time.

This is completely different.  For one thing, I love Robert Palmer and this great song, but even that wouldn't do it.  The creator of this clip, KYO175,  put an incredible amount of work into it.  The clips of several Kelly dance numbers actually match the rhythm of the song, and it's absolutely thrilling.  To anyone who knows me, they know it has to be really good for me to even like it, much less highlight and share it.  Hope you like it too!



In case the embedded version does not work, just follow this link:
http://youtu.be/AfSUgFRJI5g


Thank you KYO175 for your creation, which matches its name!

Countdown to 2012 -- Will The World Really End?

Should we trust the Mayan calendar that does not go beyond 2012?  Maybe they just ran out of flat stones and chisels ... that's as good a theory as any.  I have made plans for 2012 anyway.  If the world winks out sometime during the year, at least I won't have to do all the work I'm making for myself.  My blog is definitely a main focus.  I have not written anything substantial for a couple of months, and I have ideas that are waiting to be born.  My first post of 2012 will be one I have promised to myself for a long time -- a celebration of one of my favorite performers, Sophie Tucker.  I also want to do a list of the top 50 movies that I love; participate in the CMBA Comedy Classics blogathon; do a companion post to my earlier Bad Bette Davis pictorial by showing the Good Bette; and write a tribute to the great romantic classic films. 

Before all that, however, comes New Year's Eve.  Mine is all planned!

My date is the intense, intellectual type with a little kink ...

I have a lovely new ensemble for our "marathon" evening ...

We plan to start imbibing early ...

A gourmet meal to ring in the new year ...

We will be partying at my place, so we won't have to deal with this guy ...

... and this won't be our eventual destination ...

The party's over ... it's time to call it a day ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL, AND REMEMBER TO TAKE THREE ASPIRIN BEFORE YOU GO TO BED -- IT HELPS THE MORNING HEADACHE!

God Bless Us All, Every One ...

So far, I am being allowed by my fiendishly fickle computer demon to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas -- at least I will know if that is so after I try to post it.  Hit and miss is the phrase of the day for my internet connection.  Well, I'll give it a try...

On my sidebar is a spiritual proclamation for Christmas, and here is the worldly wish I make for all of my Faithful Readers and friends:

May you find lots of presents under the tree ...

May you drink wassail (in my case, frozen daiquiris)
until you are dizzy and happy ...





and may you eat goodies until you go into a joyful coma ...

               ***MERRY CHRISTMAS***

The Genius of Picasso

The eye that saw the world as no one else did.

The masters of great art have been on my mind, and Picasso is one of my great loves.  He captures the human condition in a completely unique way. I am unable to post anything very substantial right now, and a comprehensive biography of Picasso would be difficult because of ongoing computer problems.  However, I would like to share with my Faithful Readers some of my favorites:

Weeping Woman

Picasso painting with light

Girl Before A Mirror

Mother and Child

The Visit - Two Sisters

Romancing Picasso Art within Art Painting by k Madison Moore Inspired by Picasso.

Old Man With Guitar



Guernica

It is very difficult to do justice to Picasso's masterpiece in this forum.
This enormous painting depicts a small Spanish Basque town
obliterated by Nazi bombers during the Spanish Civil War

The last two paintings hang on my living room wall.  If I had to choose just one more, it would be Art Within Art, an explosion of joyous color.  I don't pretend to be a Picasso expert -- I am only self-educated in art that speaks to me.  It is feeling more than knowledge that moves me.  Picasso is not to everybody's taste, but I hope you have found something in these paintings that I particularly love.

Can You Describe A Movie In One Short Phrase?

In this game, you must describe each movie in a short phrase, no longer than 6 words (I just picked that number out of the air).  All are classics with their remakes ... some are not exactly remakes but films about the same story.  You don't have to judge which is better, but you can if you want to.  It should be a little challenging and interesting to see what you can say in a few words ...




Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Fredric March and Fredric March

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Spencer Tracy and Spencer Tracy

Mutiny on the Bounty
Clark Gable and Charles Laughton

Mutiny on the Bounty
Marlon Brando and Trevor Howard



The Fly
David Hedison

The Fly
Jeff Goldblum

The Thing From Another World
James Arness

The Thing
Kurt Russell

Gunfight at the OK Corral
Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas

Wyatt Earp
Kevin Costner and Dennis Quaid

Tombstone
Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer

Blogathon For The Cure ... What Happened To His Moustache!?

Bette of Bette's Classic Movie Blog,  http://www.bettesmovieblog.blogspot.com/ is sponsoring a blogathon for a group called Movember, striving for the education and research of prostate and other cancers in men.  Every November, men grow moustaches in support of the cause, and Bette decided to advertise this worthy venture with a blogathon about classic stars with moustaches.  Click on her link above to find other participants and more information about Movember.  Also, click on this link if you would like to make a donation for the cause:  http://us.movember.com/donate/   I wanted to participate, and decided to try to find pictures of famous moustached stars without their moustaches ... some still look great, others not so much.  See what you think ...

George Brent -- doesn't need a moustache to look great!



Love this one -- somebody managed to make handsome, distinguished
 Basil Rathbone look terrible with no moustache and a bad toupee in
"Tower of London" ...  Plus, we get a bonus pic of Boris without hair!

Errol Flynn in "The Prince and the Pauper" ...
well, really, does he ever look less than gorgeous?

John Barrymore, the Great Profile doesn't need his moustache to look great!

William Powell in "Love Crazy" ... much better with a moustache ...
However, it would be a definite handicap here!

Clark Gable in "Night Nurse" ... still imposing without the
 lip brush ... boy, Barbara Stanwyck isn't afraid of anybody!

Vincent Price in "The Mad Magician" ... he may be crazy,
but he is just as distinguished and handsome ...

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. ... what a cutie, with or without!

I tried and failed to find a picture of David Niven without a moustache, even in his very young years ... I think he must have been born with it!

ADDENDUM:  OOPS!  FlickChick reminded me of David Niven in Wuthering Heights, sans moustache!  So here he is, looking a little stunned (maybe he just got it waxed off), but just as handsome as ever!