Classic Film Survey!

A big thanks to Bette over at Bette's Classic Movie blog for a great survey!

1. Favourite Actor? Fredric March
2. Actress? Joan Crawford
3. Judy Holliday: love her or hate her? Love her!

4. Steve McQueen, Errol Flynn and Laurence Olivier. Who out of the names listed do you think would be most likely to don a sword and shield and confront a dragon? Currently reading David Niven’s Bring On the Empty Horses and he used to live with Flynn and said the man lived for fighting.


5. From dragon slaying to sheer madness (not that much of a leap), which crazy movie do you like best: Sunset Boulevard or Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? Definitely WHTBJ! It has my two favorite actresses in it!

6. What do you think is the best movie book ever made? To Kill A Mockingbird
7. Who do you think is the most attractive male movie star? Fredric March
8. Female movie star? Vivien Leigh
9. If you had to be a maid/butler to someone, who would it be? Joan Blondell- I bet she would have been fun to work for.



10. Who do you think Cary Grant worked best with? Katharine Hepburn



11. Do you like black and white movies more than colour movies? Yes! Yes! Yes!
12. 1930s films or 1960s films? 1930s
13. Who would you rather be: a Margo Channing or an Ilsa Lund? Definitely Margot- so smart and independent!

14. Is there ever a film you have seen that you thought would be funnier if meerkats played the leads? Ha! Funny! Probably any of the Marx Brother films.
15. What is your favourite "Oh my goodness" phrase from a movie? Joan Crawford’s line in The Women: “There's a name for you ladies but it isn't used in high society outside of a kennel." Most classy way to call someone the b-word!



16. Favourite "Yee Haw" classic movie phrase? McClintock! Is full of great quotes. I especially like the scene that involved this one, “I know, I know. I'm gonna use good judgement. I haven't lost my temper in forty years, but pilgrim you caused a lot of trouble this morning, might have got somebody killed... and somebody oughta belt you in the mouth. But I won't, I won't. The *hell* I won't!”
17. You and your family have to agree on a movie for a night in. What will it always be? Arthur
18. Doris Day: Dramatic or Frothy? Not sure what you mean by frothy. She was great dramatically in Man with a Horn and hilarious in That Touch of Mink. I prefer her funny though.

19. What male team did you think did a great job in a movie, but never made another one together? Gary Cooper and Fredric March in Design for Living.


20. You have been asked by your friend to choose your favourite movie title. What is it? Death Takes a Holiday.
21. This is just out of curiosity... have you at some point experienced rivalry on a I-have-seen-that-and-you-haven't level? Nope.
22. Most romantic film you have ever seen... The Quiet Man.



23. What was the film that really got you into old films? The Thin Man.

Tonight on TCM! Charlie Chaplin Magic!


The Kid( 1921)
In this silent comedy, an adoptive father schemes to keep his son. Cast: Jackie Coogan, Edna Purviance, Carl Miller, Charles Chaplin Dir: Charles Chaplin


The Pilgrim(1923)
In this silent film, an escaped convict poses as the new pastor of a small-town church. Cast: Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Kitty Bradbury, Mack Swain Dir: Charles Chaplin

Amanda's Survey!

Thanks to Amanda from A Noodle In A Haystack for coming up with this awesome survey!! If you wanna have some fun- you should take it and let her know!



1. What is your favorite movie starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, excluding all of The Thin Man films?

     I Love You Again

2. Name a screen team that appeared in only one film together but are still noteworthy for how well they   complimented each other.

Constance Bennett and Brian Ahern- Merrily We Live

  

3. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' best film together?

    The Barkleys of Broadway

4. Your favorite actor named "Robert"?

     Robert Montgomery

5. An actor/actress who, when you see one of their movies, you always wish that someone else was in his/her role?

I wish I could see how Bette Davis and Joan Crawford would have handled certain roles that helped their careers. Specifically, I would like to see Crawford in All About Eve and Davis in Mildred Pierce. I think either one would still be a fantastic film to watch.

6. An actor/actress that someone close to you really loves that you can't stand or vice versa?

Those close to me realize that to say Gwyneth Paltrow is an acting powerhouse is the quickest way to become a non-entity in my life. Slower but justifiable substitutes are Alan Cummings, Linda Fiorentino, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

7. An actor/actress that you both agree on completely?

Most everyone I know agrees that Kevin Kline, Emma Thompson, and Cate Blanchett are phenomenal actors.

8. Complete this sentence: Virginia O'Brien is to Ethel Merman as...

Spencer Tracy is to Fredric March…is that right? Both are great dramatic actors, displayed wonderful comic genius, and were/are highly regarded in the history of classic cinema as spectacular leading men.

9. What is your favorite film starring Ray Milland?

Dial M for Murder.

10. You had to have seen this one coming: what is your favorite movie of the 1960s?

The Pink Panther. A family favorite.

11. An actor/actress that you would take out of one film and put into a different movie that was released the same year?

Because they are my ever-fluctuating favorites and because Joan Crawford was the queen of the face-slap, I would like to have seen Crawford play Bette Davis’ Kit Marlowe in Old Acquaintance. Davis (who in real life didn’t like Miriam Hopkins) shook Hopkins Millie Drake- Crawford would have taken it to a whole new level- probably Cagney style.

12. Who was your favorite of Robert Montgomery's leading ladies?

Though I love Joan Crawford, my favorite pairing with Montgomery was Norma Shearer and the best movie they ever did together, in my opinion, was Private Lives. The fight scenes are priceless!

13. You think it would have been a disaster if what movie starred the actor/actress who was originally asked to star in it?

Jean Arthur for Gone with the Wind- she was once Selznick’s paramour and was slated up to almost the last moment to be Scarlett O’Hara. Can you imagine? I can’t, I literally cannot. I love her but not for Scarlett.

14. An actor/actress who you will watch in any or almost any movie?

Fredric March

15. Your favorite Leslie Howard film and role?

Pygmalion for both the movie and role.

16. You have been asked to host a marathon of four Barbara Stanwyck films. Which ones do you choose?

Babyface, Sorry Wrong Number, Meet John Doe, and My Reputation- that was hard!

17. What is, in your mind, the nearest to perfect comedy you have ever seen? Why?

Arthur (1981). It’s full of witty repartee, especially from John Gielgud, it has several laugh-out-loud moments, and features a wonderfully vibrant and wise-cracking Liza Minnelli. Best of all, it’s a family favorite and hardly a month goes by without one of us quoting a line from it- mostly, “I’m going to have another drink, would you like another fish?”

18. You will brook no criticism of what film?

Inherit the Wind. March admittedly hammed it up and wonderfully so. He and Tracy are spectacular! The subject matter was enthralling. The dialogue, especially in the courtroom scenes is fantastic. Inherit the Wind is a well-rounded entertaining film.

19. Who is your favorite Irish actress?

Maureen O’Hara

20. Your favorite 1940s movie starring Ginger Rogers?

The Major and the Minor- confidentially, I haven’t seen yet but I know I am going to love it.

21. Do you enjoy silent movies?

Some. Especially if they contain John Barrymore or Marion Davies.

22. What is your favorite Bette Davis film?

Sooooo hard! The Little Foxes.

23. Your favorite onscreen Hollywood couple?

William Powell and Myrna Loy

24. This one is for the girls, but, of course, the guys are welcome to answer, too: who is your favorite Hollywood costume designer?

Adrian

25. To even things out a bit, here's something the boys will enjoy: what is your favorite tough action film?

Cagney’s The Public Enemy.

26. You are currently gaining a greater appreciation for which actor(s)/actress(es)?

Spencer Tracy and James Cagney

27. Franchot Tone: yes or no?

No. Good question too. I was just watching him in Man Proof and thinking about how uninteresting he is to me. My normal reaction to most films he’s in.

28. Which actors and/or actresses do you think are underrated?

Joan Blondell, Constance Bennett, Miriam Hopkins, Walter Brennan, Agnes Moorehead, and Geraldine Page.

29. Which actors and/or actresses do you think are overrated?

James Dean and Marilyn Monroe. I am always dubious of people who die young.

30. Favorite actor?

Fredric March

31. Favorite actress?

It changes constantly between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

32. Of those listed, who is the coolest: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Steve McQueen, or Patrick Stewart?

Well Steve McQueen is known as the King of Cool but my money will always be on Newman.

33. What is your favorite movie from each of these genres:

Comedy:
The Thin Man Series

Swashbuckler:
Closest I have come to a swashbuckler is The Affairs of Cellini.

Film noir:
The Maltese Falcon

Musical:
Meet Me in St. Louis

Holiday:

Holiday Inn

Hitchcock:

Vertigo

 

Tonight on TCM!

This is the last Tuesday TCM will be featuring their star of the month Fredric March. Check out the great line up!

Classic Film Survey!!

Thanks to Amanda from Noodle in a Haystack! I love a good survey! Here are my answers:


1. What is your all-time favorite Clark Gable movie? It Happened One Night.

2. Do you like Joan Crawford best as a comedienne or a drama-queen? Drama queen! Nothing like Joan turning on the waterworks.

3. In your opinion, should Ginger Rogers have made more musicals post-Fred Astaire? I have only seen one Rogers and Astaire collaboration and the name of the film escapes me. I will say that I found her especially adorable in Gold Diggers of 1933.

4. I promise not to cause you bodily (or any other serious) harm if you don't agree with me on this one. So please be honest: do you like Elizabeth Taylor? Hm? I have always been indifferent to Taylor. I think she was lauded for her beauty first and her talent second. Though I do think she gave a wonderful performance in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Absolutely wonderful.

5. Who is your favorite offscreen Hollywood couple? Fredric March and Florence Eldridge.

6. How about onscreen Hollywood couple? William Powell and Myrna Loy.

7. Favorite Jean Arthur movie? The Ex-Mrs. Bradford.
8. What was the first Gregory Peck movie you saw? The Yearling.

9. What film made you fall in love with Alfred Hitchcock? (And for those of you that say, "I don't like Hitchcock" -- what is wrong with you?!) Vertigo. Love Vertigo.

10. What is your favorite book-to-movie adaption? The Thin Man. Although I would like to see how A Tree Grows in Brooklyn with Joan Blondell was adapted. It was a favorite of mine growing up.

11. Do you prefer Shirley Temple as a little girl or as a teenager? Little girl.

12. Favorite character actor? Geraldine Page.

13. Favorite Barbara Stanwyck role? Sugarpuss O’Shea from Ball of Fire. You dig my crazy jive? Let's drum boogie!

14. Who is your favorite of Cary Grant's leading ladies? Oh! Hard one! Katharine Hepburn followed very closely by Irene Dunne.

15. Bette Davis or Joan Crawford? Seriously. This is getting harder. Joan Crawford.

16. What actors and/or actresses do you think are underrated? Off the top of my head: Fredric March, Constance Bennett, Miriam Hopkins, Walter Brennan, Marie Prevost, Agnes Moorehead, Geraldine Page, Joan Blondell.

17. What actors and/or actresses do you think are overrated? Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean.


18. Do you watch movies made pre-1980 exclusively, or do you spice up your viewing-fare with newer films? Mostly classic thanks to TCM!

19. Is there an actor/actress who you have seen in a film and immediately loved? If so, who? Fredric March, Design for Living (noticing a trend yet?)

20. Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire? Fred Astaire. Why? Really haven't seen a full film of Gene Kelly's but I have seen and do love Holiday Inn.


21. Favorite Ginger Rogers drama? Closest thing to drama I have seen her in is Stage Door.

22. If you wrote a screenplay, who would be in your dream cast and what roles would they play? (Mixing actors and actresses from different generations is allowed: any person from any point in their career.)
Four characters- definitely a comedy:
Main male lead: William Powell
Second male lead: Robert Benchley
Main female lead: Rosalind Russell
Second female lead: Miriam Hopkins

23. Favorite actress? Joan Crawford

25. Favorite actor? Fredric March

26. And now, the last question. What is your favorite movie from each of these genres:
Drama: A Star is Born (1937 version)

Romance: The Quiet Man

Musical: Meet Me in St. Louis

Comedy: Design for Living

Western: The Outlaw Josey Wales

Hitchcock (he has a genre all to himself): Vertigo



Tonight on TCM!
Woman Of The Year (1942)Opposites distract when a sophisticated political columnist falls for a sportswriter. Cast: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Fay Bainter, Reginald Owen Dir: George Stevens