Beautiful Girl

Showing posts with label old movies. Show all posts

Casablanca

It's one of those classic movies that books always refer to and movies quote and people talk about. I was not at all sure I would like it, but I needed to see it.

Remember that time I felt the same way about West Side Story? That was an unfortunate incident. But at least now I know what every one is talking about, and can barge in on conversations and spew my unpopular opinion.

Anyways.

I liked this movie. A lot. I hadn't seen Humphrey Bogart in anything before, and some of my friends love him,

and some of them hate him, which made me curious about what my opinion would be.

Well, I love him. He's certainly not drop-dead-gorgeous though. His head...wow. It's (putting it nicely here) unusual.

I tend to get bored/annoyed with movies that have a bunch of political stuff. I like relational drama, not political drama. This definitely had some semi-confusing political stuff (my intelligent sister helped me out),

but it was really interesting and important for the story.

I loved the characters--they were complicated and real and hurting.

Wonderful scene.

The whole movie was touching and dramatic in the kind of way that if you are in the wrong mood,

you might be "oh, wow, that's stupid/corny/sappy", but if you are in the classic-movies-are-the-best-and-boy-I-wish-I-lived-back-then-when-guys-wore-coats-like-that mood, it makes you weep.

I have heard a lot about how the ending was lame, so I kept waiting for it...but it ended well. I mean, if you wanted {SPOILERS}them to do what was "romantic" and happy, instead of what was right,

I can see where the ending would be disappointing.

So what did you think of it?

"Gone With the Wind"

It's time.

This post as been brewing for my entire life.

Gone With the Wind is in my top three favorite books of all time.

I was literally raised on the book. When I was super young, my dad read it out loud to all of us kids.

He skipped all of the slightly racy scenes,

substituted "phooey!" for the bad words,

and attempted Mammy's accent in a truly memorable manner.

I loved it.

I finally read the book for myself, and watched the movie just in the past year.

They are both a part of my soul.

I realize that's rather awkward, since, despite the novel and movie being tremendously popular...

many people don't like it at all.

That's okay. The whole ambiguous ending, very, very foolish Scarlett, morally questionable Rhett...

these are all reasons why some people don't get/don't like/hate the story.

My reasons for loving it are these:

1. Rhett Butler
To be honest, I'm absolutely crazy about him.

He is my favorite fictional character of all time.

That does not mean that he is my favorite fictional hero of all time.

Because he really has issues, folks.

But how could I not love a man in a white suit??

I could talk about his hair for a good while, too.

But really.
His personality is just so interesting. It's unusual how the story is about a man who loves a woman,

when the woman doesn't love him.

Usually, it's vice versa.
All of the quirks and intricacies of his personality are so fascinating.
He is an awesome character.

This is one of my favorite scenes ever.

Scarlett is having a bad dream and Rhett comforts her.

It's one of the very few times where they are both being genuine,

and you can tell how much he loves her.

*sob*

And, even though Clark Gable is one of my favorite actors ever,

I loved Rhett Butler before I watched the movie

2. Scarlett.

Yes, she's a selfish, senseless brat. She is so human.

And although there are certain things she does that I would never do,

I really can identify with her.

I would totally fall in love with Rhett immediately (if not before), but she did, too!

She just didn't realize it. I am pretty sure I would know right off that I was in love with him.

In general, I tend to understand my feelings about people.
(by the way, I can't stand her hairdo in the picture above. gack)

See how cool and distant she is being?

*snort*

Ashely is a wretch,

and I hate him.

She has such a distorted, glorified version of him in her head.

I'm pretty sure I could never fall in love with a man named Ashley.

I mean, wouldn't that give you a little hint as to his personality?

Ugh.

I think Vivien Leigh is perfect for the part--she's beautiful,

but in an unusual and sometimes alarming way.

And she has killer eyes.
I am so jealous because she can raise one eyebrow perfectly.
I hope that in heaven, I can raise one eyebrow.

This scene is sad like nobody's business.

I actually get kinda annoyed with Melanie, right along with Scarlett,
but then realize how awesome she is by the end.

3. the movie is just plain epic

Especially for it's day. 1939? You guys, that was long, long time ago.

And I mean epic in the dictionary definition kinda way.
The war scenes, the costumes, the drama... it's just far ahead of it's time.

Her costumes are lovely... even though most of them are rather historically inaccurate.

Why can't we wear hoopskirts anymore??

I love the dress she makes from the curtains.

I want to literally rip Scarlett into tiny shreds during this scene.

And Rhett makes me want to burst into tears.

4. the ending

I love how just when she finally comes to her senses and realizes she's desperately in love with him,

it's too late.

Because we all know what he says...

"Frankly, my dear...I don't give a darn."

Talk about tragic!

The horrible longing for what could have been,

if only she had realized she loved him sooner.

I love it.

Yep. I love Gone With the Wind and that's why.

And now I want to you know why

you

love or hate the book and movie.

And if you haven't seen or read it... what can I say, except

go do it right now.

How to Steal a Million

This is an adorable movie. It was made in 1966, which is a drawback, since some of Audrey Hepburn's clothing is truly awful. However, some of her clothes are cute. And she is cute, as usual.

The movie is about Paris, art, Audrey Hepburn, and a tall, blond, blue-eyed bad-boy type.

What could be better?

The hero is Peter O'Toole, whose voice was so familiar...

so I looked him up and found out that he is the voice for Anton Ego from Ratatouille!

Anyways, he was just darling.

This outfit was navy and white, and I loved it.

Thankfully, most of her outfits were not the appalling boxy shape of the 60's...so that was a relief.

So I recommend it. There is a naked statue... just so you know... if that bothers you.

Most movie stores, mired in their folly, do not have it, so here it is on Netflix.

"Sabrina"

I watched the '95 version of this movie (with Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond) a few months back, and did not care for it. So I was eager to watch the older one, since I love Humphrey Bogart and I love Audrey Hepburn, and thought they would fit the parts beautifully.

Well, I loved this version. It was hysterical. Humphrey Bogart is heartrending in Casablanca; here, he is hilarious. I love his line: "I wish I was dead with my back broken."

Where I felt like the '95 remake was awkward, dragging, and uncomfortable, this version was witty, energetic, and lovely. This is partly because the 90's are just so not my thing. Unfortunately, I was born in the 90's. But I try to forget that. The 50's however... Basically, if anything is not from the 20th century, it should be from the 50's if at all possible. This version had me screaming, yes, screaming with laughter, and diving for the remote to rewind scenes over again.

Audrey Hepburn was born to be in this role--she is perfect as the day-dreaming, Cinderella-esque character. The elderly Duke who took her under his wing in Paris was much preferable to the creepy Frenchman who teaches her the ways of the world in the '95 version.