Dear Moviemainers,
March marks the anniversary of five years, we started the club. I have so enjoyed choosing the films for the club and all the dinners we have shared through the years. It is March well I just can not help it we need at least one Irish film for the month. I was thinking of Ryan's Daughter 1970 You know the big David Lean film , the music is haunting , but once again just like Lawrence of Arabia , he could have cut out at least one hour from the film. Way to long to keep me interested. I remember seeing an interview that Dick Cavett did with Robert Mitchum talking about the making of Ryan's Daughter. Robert spoke of Staying at one of the most expensive hotels in London first class everything paid for no budget the skies the limit for 3 weeks at a time waiting for David Lean to finish a few scenes , and then return to Ireland when they needed him for some scenes (Ever wonder why films were always over budget?) I remember watching a documentary of David Lean's film Doctor Zhivago how he shot the film. The winter vacation palace covered in snow at one scene, the next time it is fall and he paid an artist to hand paint leaves in the color of orange and brown and then hand glue them onto the tree. How much did that cost? I remember watching a documentary on how Merchant and Ivory would make a film. They would always be on a tight budget. They would rent a house instead of allowing the stars to stay in a hotel, and Ismail would cook breakfast for everyone, that is how to stay on budget.
Enough on my rambling of movie trivia (though I never tire of it). The first film up for March is Ondine, 2009 about a Irishman who goes fishing and catches a women in his net alive. He believes that she has some kind of power that brings him good luck.
Next film up is The Best Offer, 2013 starring Geoffrey Rush and Donald Sutherland. The story is about an auction dealer who gets involved with a mysterious women suffering from agoraphobia. It deals with love and betrayal This one is Jim's pic. The film has an Italian director and I stumbled on to this film. Jim liked it.
I hope you enjoy and remember Happy Saint Patrick's Day.
Your movie Diva
Movie Lynne
Click here for "Ondine" in IMDB.com
Click here for "The Best Offer" in IMDB.com
Dear Moviemainers,
Before I begin to speak of the films for the month let me speak on Mary Tyler Moore's passing away. Now I am turning 60 this year (Yes I am kicking and screaming and saving up for my face lift, which reminds me of Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard's favorite line "Mr. Demille I am ready for my close up", well I am not ready for mine yet!). Forgive me I digress, I wanted to be Mary Tyler Moore when I was younger. I was in Junior high when that show premiered. She played the part of an independent woman. I loved her apartment and I loved her best friend Rhoda. Although she was wonderful in Ordinary People, she really did not do many films. It is kind of funny as stars pass away I always think of time standing still and them not aging. Mary was 80 years old and she had been ill for two years and almost blind.
It is February and here are the movies for the month. I am thinking everyone would think I would pick two romantic films this month but I am taking it in a different path. First one up Mrs. Brown 1997. I thought since Masterpiece Theater is showing Victoria, you all would enjoy this film. Although you have seen Judi Dench on tv and in the movies, this is her first starring role. She is primarily known for the theater work. Also starring Billy Connolly who you know as a stand up comedian. The film tells the story of Queen Victoria during her mourning of Prince Albert in the year of 1864. The servants suggest to the Queen she should go outside for fresh air and a ride on her Royal horse. A Scotsman shows up to be her groom and stirs the pot in the castle. Based on a true story I hope you enjoy this film.
Next up is Consuming Passions 1988 Starring Vanessa Redgrave and Johnathan Pryce. It is the story of a chocolate factory worker that by accident pulls a lever and 3 men fall into the mix and human flesh gets mixed into the candy. Customers love the taste (I warn you this is a dark quirky comedy). This is a small little English film that not many people know about. The English just have a way with their funny sense of humor. So you see although, yes it is Valentine's Day, there is no romance this month but there is friendship and yes by God there is candy!
I will be in Maine the third week of March and look forward to seeing you.
Take care and Happy Valentine's Day.
Movielynne
Click here for Mrs. Brown in IMDB.com
Click here for Consuming Passions in IMDB.com
Dear Moviemainers, Happy New Year! After consideration, how could I not do a Debbie Reynolds month so here goes. I chose two films that you may not have seen and are not as well known as The Unsinkable Molly Brown and Singing In The Rain.
1. The Catered Affair 1956 starring of course Debbie Reynolds, Rod Taylor, Ernest Borgnine, Barry Fitzgerald and Bette Davis. This is a story of a working class family living in the Bronx. The daughter is going to be married and the only thing the mother wants is to give her daughter a beautiful wedding. The cast of characters and the setting make this drama well done. Although this is not one of Debbie's favorite films (she had problems with the director but I think she is wonderful in the role). The script was written by Gore Vidal from a Paddy Chayefsky play.
2. Mother 1996 Albert Brooks film starring Albert Brooks and Debbie Reynolds. This was the first major film for Debbie in twenty years. This film also made more money then any other Albert Brooks film with him as director. This is a comedy -Drama about a man who is a novelist that moves back in with his mother to try to figure out why his relationships with women fail.
I will be back in Maine late January and hope to see you then. Wishing all of you a Happy Healthy New Year.
Your movie diva,
Movielynne
Click here for The Catered Affair in IMDB.com
Click here for Mother in IMDB.com
Dear moviemainers,
Happy Holidays! I have chosen two films I hope you enjoy while sitting around a fire during this busy holiday season. First up is the film called The Ref, 1994 starring Denis Leary, Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey. Denis plays the part of a thief who kidnaps a couple when things go wrong for him. Little does he know this is a couple going through marital problems and having to spend time with these people until the coast is clear for him to get out of town will put him over the edge.
Second film for the month is Beyond Tomorrow, 1940. This is a little known film about three men trying to help a young couple get together, taking place on Christmas Eve. The film does not have lead actors, instead the cast is made up of veteran character actors.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and I hope to see you at the next movie club supper.
Movielynne
Click here for The Ref in IMDB.com
Click here for Beyond Tomorrow in IMDB.com
Dear Moviemainers,
Well here we are into the month of November. Let us talk turkey and a movie. First up is a request we had for the film Camille, 1936 starring Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor. This is a romantic drama considered one of the best Greta Garbo films... it is a story of a woman who loves two men and the journey it takes her; bring your kleenex!
Next up is What's Cooking, a comedy drama from 2000 starring Mercedes Ruehl, Kyra Sedgwick and Lanie Kazan. This film tells the story of four families and how they celebrate the holiday. This is a film I found for the Thanksgiving holiday; there are touching moments and some comedy here. As for Thanksgiving, I have a great recipe for cranberry relish... email me if you want it.
In last month's announcement I told everyone about what a great time we had at Larry's Park Street Cinema. I'll attach a couple of pictures here, and I look forward to more movies at Larry's in the future!
Have a wonderful holiday.
Your movie diva,
Movielynne
Click here to see Camille in IMDB.com
Click here to see What's Cooking? in IMDB.com
Dear Moviemainers:
All of you who missed movie time at Larry's, well what can I say... YOUR LOSS! It was a fabulous time. We started with dinner at Ginny and Don's house with brie and crackers and then pulled pork (you might ask yourself why am I discussing the food... it's because I want everyone to know what they missed!). We then left for Larry's house two streets over. The two films shown were The Woman In Red and The Uninvited (my favorite ghost story). I have to admit I came back to New England for 10 days with appointments and a wedding to attend... yet this was the best evening of my 10 day visit! Larry's theater is amazing and if you get the opportunity to go do not miss it.
The first of two films we watched, The Woman In Red, was in tribute to Gene Wilder. He directed, produced, and starred in this film. Everyone laughed while watching it (I do not laugh enough in my life so it was a treat to think everyone got why I wanted to show this film). You cannot get this on Netflix without a long wait... but there's no wait at Larry's cinema! The other film is The Uninvited from 1940 starring Ray Milland (it's my personal favorite ghost story and I watch it every year in October). Okay, enough about what you missed.
For the month of October it is the 1946 movie The Spiral Staircase, starring Dorothy McGuire, George Brent and Ethel Barrymore. It is a suspenseful murder thriller and is considered one of the best psychological thrillers and is Larry's favorite. I do not want to give much away but it is about a disabled woman and a girl in a house in New England with a serial killer on the loose. Stay tuned and thanks for watching Lynne's picks.
Your Movie diva,
Movielynne
Click here for The Spiral Staircase in IMDB.com
Dear Moviemainers here are films for the month of September This month is Clint Eastwood Month. He is best known for spaghetti westerns and the Dirty Harry films.. I like the fact that he directs and stars in almost all his own films. Surprise I did not choose a western although he has made some great ones. First film up is Play Misty For Me 1971 This is Clint's first time as a director and filmed in Carmel. It also has Jessica Walter and Donna Mills in the film. This is a story of a disc jockey who gets way to involved with a crazy fan. Next film is Absolute Power 1997 Now I chose this film because of the screen writer William Goldman who not only do I love the way he writes but I just loved two books by him called Adventures in The Screen Trade and More Adventures in the screen trade. if you love films you will want to read these two books by him. This story is about a jewel thief who sees something he shouldn't while robbing a house. It stars Judy Davis, Ed Harris and Laura Linney. One last story about Clint is the one The Burt Reynolds likes to tell. Clint and Burt got fired on the same day while on a film set. The producer explained that Clint was being fired because he talked slow had a chipped tooth and a Adam's Apple. Burt was being fired because he could not act. As they walked out of the studio Burt said to Clint " Wow I feel bad for you Clint, I can learn to act but you will never get rid of the Adam's Apple. I hope you enjoy these films. I look forward to seeing you all at Larry's house on October 7 for Movie night. more to come about the evening to follow . Thanks for watching Movielynne
Click here for Play Misty For Me in IMBD.com
Click here for Absolute Power in IMDB.com
