Sophia Loren Month: Marriage Italian Style | Houseboat

Dear Moviemainers, This month is Sophia Loren month.  I recently saw an interview with her and her son Eduardo; it was very good.  At the age of 81 she is still a very beautiful woman.  Two films I thought you would enjoy:  First is "Marriage Italian Style" 1964.  It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film.  This is a great film, with a wonderful plot.  See It !

Next up is one of my favorite Sophia Loren films, "Houseboat" 1958, also starring Cary Grant.  A widower takes his three children to live in  a houseboat and meets up with a lady running away.  She ends up being his housekeeper.  I love reading about how films get made.  This is a great one, at the time of this film Cary Grant's real wife (Betsy Drake) wrote the screenplay for her to act with Cary.  While making the film "The Pride and the Passion" he falls in love with Sophia and decides to put her in the film.  He gets the script changed a little, Betsy gets no credit for the film writing.  In the meantime the affair with Loren cools but now they have to make the film together.  Cary tried to get back together with her, but she decides to marry Carlo Ponti instead.  My favorite song now is from this film called "Almost In Your Arms", sung by Sam Cooke.  Listen for it in the background during the scene at the country club dance.  This song is stuck in my head; I hope you like it too!

Your Movie Diva,
Movielynne

Click here for "Marriage Italian Style" in IMDB.com


Click here for "Houseboat" in IMDB.com

Albert Finney Month: The Gathering Storm | The Dresser

Dear Moviemainers,     The month of April is Albert Finney month.    Although I have seen Murder On the Orient Express maybe eighteen times , I started thinking how great an actor Albert Finney is.    Every performance I have watched   him in  he totally is believable in the part.    Two films I think you will enjoy.

2002 The Gathering Storm   This was a made for TV miniseries starring Albert Finney as Winston Churchill and Vanessa Redgrave as his wife Clementine.   This film takes place before WW2 .    This TV miniseries received an Emmy award it is well done .  Some of the film was shot at Chartwell House the real home of Churchill's.

The Dresser   1983   Starring Albert Finney and Tom Courtney .   It is the story of a small Shakespearean  traveling troupe, and the lead actor known as Sir and his Dresser known as Norman.     The relationship between the two men , through out the years.

I hear Larry would like to host?  Email and let me know.  I hear that Larry wrote a book and redid the theater?  We have got to catch up!

Movielynne

Odd Man Out | Calamity Jane

Dear Moviemainers,  This month of March celebrates 4 years of the movie club (Do You Believe It ?).  I have had so much fun choosing the movies and being a part of this.  Most of all I would like to thank Carl for editing my script and posting the movie choices for the months.  Carl has a way of making me look good.  So here I go for another month of movies.  

Because it is March I always look for one great Irish movie.  This film was recommended by our waiter at T. Cook's restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona.  The waiter heard us speaking and thought it would be a great choice.  Odd Man Out  1947, starring James Mason and Robert Newton.  The effects of one man's struggle with the law and the political unrest in Northern  Ireland.  The ending was shot twice as critics thought the ending was too violent.  Roman Polanski has said this is his favorite film.

Next on the list is Calamity Jane 1953, starring Doris Day and Howard Keel.  It is a Wild West themed movie.  The song My Secret Love won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.  To me this is one of Doris Day's best films; one of my favorite songs is The Deadwood Stage better known to me as (Whip crack away!).

Have a Happy Saint Patrick's Day.

Your Movie Diva,

Movielynne


Click here to see Odd Man Out in IMDB.com


Click here to see Calamity Jane in IMDB.com

It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World | The Great Race

Movie Mainers, here are the movies for the month of February.  This month is about comedy and slapstick.

It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World  1963.  Epic comedy directed by Stanley Kramer.   Starring so many big stars beginning with Spencer Tracy.   The budget was 9.4 million box office was 60 million.    Just to orchestrate all these stars into a film dealing with their agents and money issues was something.   Some stars did not end up in the film either because they wanted too much money or had other commitments .  For instance, Groucho Marx who wanted way too much money and Bob Hope who had a conflict with another project.  This is truly a funny film.

The Great Race 1965.  A comedy written and directed by Blake Edwards,   Starring Jack Lemmon , Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood.    The pie scene is supposedly the best pie fight ever filmed.   It took 5 days to film the one scene.   At the time it was released it was not considered a success , but now has received a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.      

Please send me an email and let me know your thoughts on the film.

Your movie diva,
Movielynne

Click here for Mad World in IMDB.com

Click here for The Great Race in IMDB.com

Slingshot | Star Wars

The movies for January are... the first is Slingshot 2014  about the inventor Dean Kamen who spends 15 years working on a machine to make clean water .   this is Jim's pick.   He found it on Netflix, and very worth viewing more then once.   Second film is the original Star Wars 1977 This is a George Lucas film for anyone who is living under a rock.   Interesting to know George shopped it to all the major networks that said no because they felt it was too strange in the end, 20th century took the chance, it cost 11 million to make and it made 775 million ( good bet on this one ).   I am in Arizona right now, I hope there will not be to much snow this month, and remember enjoy the movies.   Your Movie Diva Movielynne

Click here for Slingshot in IMBD.com

Click here for Star Wars in IMBD.com

The Christmas Card

Dear Moviemainers,   It is that time of year,  Where does all the time go ?    I have only one movie to share with you for this month.    I also do not plan to announce any dinner, as always it is a busy time of year for everyone and it never works out, no matter what date, there will always be people who simply are over committed as we all are .     The film is The Christmas Card  2006 a made for tv movie for the Hallmark Channel.    Now I know what you are thinking  (chick flick )   well maybe some will see it that way.   It is about a small town that sends Christmas cards to soldiers in Afghanistan, and how it changed the life for particular soldier.    It was the highest rated telecast on the Hallmark channel and the actor Ed Asner was nominated for an Emmy for his role in the film.   I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, filled with lots of great memories.    Enjoy the movie and see you next year.    Your Movie diva Movielynne

Check out The Christmas Card in IMDB.com

Iris | Casting By

Dear Moviemainers , It is time for us to talk Turkey !     (and of course a Movie or two !)    This month we are doing two documentaries about two very interesting women,    The first is Iris, 2014. It is the story about Iris Apfel  who started working in a dress shop in New York , and was told by her employer "Iris you are not pretty and you never will be, but you have got style."   She became an Interior Decorator, and then co-owners of Old World Weavers.    She then gets noticed for the way she dresses at the age  of 94 years young she is still going strong.   I watch the film twice I found it so interesting.

Next is a film called Casting By, 2014   This is a documentary about the casting director Marion Dougherty  How she got a job in this business and how she became one of the top casting directors of all time  (although when you watch the film the word director in this role is an issue).  The number of people that became stars because,  she chose them for parts in  films, what can I say, she knew the right person for the right part, even though the directors of certain films didn't always agree.  I hope you enjoy these films and can be shown on Thanksgiving with your company as everyone will find these women very interesting.  

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Your Movie Diva, Movielynne.

PS  From Tom and Carl - We'll host the November movie club dinner at our house on Sunday 11/29 at 6:00, and show the documentary "Iris".  Please RSVP to Carl if you can make it. 

Check out Iris in IMDB.com

Check out Casting By in IMDB.com