"Callas Forever"

I just finished watching this movie directed by Franco Zeffirelli. It starred Fanny Ardant, Jeremy Irons and Joan Plowright. Now, I know there are many people that are not into Callas' voice saying that she isn't sweet and soft and this and that. I want to say that there is NO ONE that can act like that woman did in those roles for the Opera. I've been a fan of Callas' for some time now. Some of my friends that studied music and vocal performance say that there are better sopranos than she. Okay, fine. I'm not a brain-box about opera nor am I an opera-person, but I do know about standards and performance. She gives me chills.

She was a diva. Some say "difficult." But, dont' they say that about all geniuses? Don't they say that about brilliance? Their bar is held up way beyond where Icarus tried to go. And, I don't think it's difficult that they are. I'd say, strongly opinionated. They know what they want and usually are right. But, I must balance this off by saying that it can be too much for some. It's a double-edged sword working with genius, I suppose...

WELL...here is the trailer for the movie. I enjoyed it. I adore Fanny Ardant. I think she is a fiery and sensitive actress. I love watching her in interviews because she is so breathy and soft-spoken. You are seduced by her voice. It's so soothing. Lucky-gal! I also adore Joan Plowright. She has these puppy dog eyes that are very expressive. And though, she is quite adorable, watch out! Because when she turns on you, those eyes are like daggers!

The movie wasn't really what I had expected. But, like I said, I did enjoy it. One of my favorite scenes is when Callas and Larry go to Larry's boyfriend's (Michael) studio. There she sees all the paintings that Michael has painted while listening to her sing. Mm...

That Fanny Ardant is one fierce lady. But, I knew that since first seeing her in, 8 Femmes.

Musical Stylings with Sutton Foster

Performed at Joe's Pub in November 2006. Sutton Foster is one of my favorite Broadway performers. She is a PHENOMENAL performer, and extremely gracious and humble. I was lucky to meet her a couple of years ago after her performance of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE.

This is part of a series they call, "Don't Quit Your Night Job." She will be singing the melody of, "Gimme Gimme," (her 11 o'clock number from MILLIE) with different lyrics suggested by the audience, madlibs-style!

Sutton has appeared on a couple of episodes for the new HBO show, "Flight of the Conchords." A very Fun show!!! Check it out. Thanks to one of my best friends for introducing me to the show.

The Classic Dames Test

I saw this posted in the blog of one of my cousins. She got Katharine Hepburn. I wanted to take it, not only because I am filled with ennui (as usual!) BUT anything with classic dames and men, I'm up for! I took this quiz twice because there were some questions in which I'd definitely choose two answers for.

Carole Lombard
You scored 14% grit, 28% wit, 38% flair, and 33% class!

You're a little bit of a fruitcake, but you always act out in style. You have a good sense of humor, are game for almost anything, but you like to have nice things about you and are attracted to the high life. You're stylish and modern, but you've got a few rough edges that keep you from attaining true sophistication. Your leading men include William Powell, Fredric March, and Clark Gable. Watch out for small planes.

Please! Who doesn't love Carole Lombard? She was one of the great comediennes of film in the 1930s and early 40s. Sadly, she died in a plane crash while on tour selling war bonds. She was the kookiest thing in her movies and I always enjoyed her antics!

Myrna Loy
You scored 14% grit, 38% wit, 23% flair, and 40% class!

You are loaded with a quirky kind of class that people find irresistable. Men turn and look at you admiringly as you walk down the street, and even your rivals have a grudging respect for you. You usually know the right thing to say, do and, of course, wear. You can take charge of a situation when things get out of hand, and you do it with great poise and chic. Your wit and sense of fun endear you to your partner and every other man in the room. Your screen partners include William Powell and Cary Grant. You're quite a catch...if you want to be caught.

I Do want to be caught! I do!!! Oh, Myrna Loy! I remember waking up at 3am just to watch her in a movie called, "Thirteen Women." She played an "Oriental" out to get revenge on 13 girls that made fun of her in school, or tormented her. Something like that.

What is so great about Carole and Myrna is that they could keep up with whatever man they were playing against. They were just as quick, just as smart...perhaps even more! But, they kept their sensitivity and their femininity. They could be zany and sophisticated, vulnerable and acutely aware. Great, great actresses. They were able to do both drama and comedy. My kind of actresses!

http://www.okcupid.com/tests/4621123663119520922/Classic-Dames

"Funny Face" (And I could certainly use a release!)

That's right, Audrey! I could certainly use one of those, as well!

As you can see, Audrey is wearing all black except for her socks. Everyone probably knows this story but: Stanley Donen wanted her to wear white socks and she was stunned saying that it would ruin the black silhouette. He said that she would fade into the background and that there'd be no definition of her movement. She cried, came back on set, put on the white socks, and did the dance without a tear.

Audrey later wrote Donen and told him that he was right about the socks!

"V"

Let me start off by saying that I am not a science-fiction kind of a gal. BUT, for some reason, I Love, "V." It's not sci-fi to me, at all. I do like the sentimental idea of fighting for good. The Resistance against the Visitors. I Love everything about it, from the original miniseries to the Final Battle to the TV series. All of it. Including the music.

I haven't seen it in such a long time! I remember LONG time ago FX re-aired it and I was elated. I would get to see Juliet (the do-it-for-good scientist), Diana (the crazy lizard bitch), Mike (the avenger) and Ham (the vigilante) all over again. I'd go through the birth of the twin babies that turned into lizards! I'd go through all those horrifying images of the Visitors eating rats, birds, and the like. I can't believe I love it! Even though, at times it was disgusting. Odd. I mean, I'm a scaredy-cat. Truly. But, "V," was something else to me.

Juliet (Faye Grant) and Diana (Jane Badler) were my two favorites. And I always couldn't wait for Mike (Marc Singer--yes, the Beastmaster) and Juliet to get together (in that way=P)!

I was so young when it first came out and I still remember. I still can't believe I wasn't terrified of the Visitors. I also remember my deep, Deep disappointment when it was no longer on air on NBC. Sad, sad days for a little afraidy-girl. I was probably frightened yet I kept watching. I was fascinated.

I really should buy the DVDs.

Fighting back:


Mike is gonna kick your lizard ass!


This is what happens when you sleep with the enemy:


Watch out admiral-lizard! Juliet's gonna get your lizard face!


Diana (beautiful-bad) slaps Juliet (beautiful-good) & the beginning of conversion:

Krzysztof Kieslowski's Color Trilogy, "Trois Couleurs: Bleu, Blanc, Rogue"

Three touching stories. Complex people. Coming together in the end. What is familiar survives. Love the recurrence of the old, crouched-over lady trying to put her glass bottle into the recycling bin. Beautiful and tender.

Juliette Binoche in Bleu (1993)


Zbigniew Zamachowski & Julie Delpy in White (1994)


Irene Jacob & Jean-Louis Trintignant in Red (1994)

Gena Rowlands (One Ferocious Mama)

If I had to pick ONE American actress to be my absolute favorite, that woman would HAVE to be Gena Rowlands. This woman is out of this world! She is a masterclass. One tough broad, vulnerable to the core, receptive, aware, smart, gorgeous, sensitive... She's the real deal. Her films with her late-husband, John Cassavetes, were stories of the life inside. They were about love and the lack of it. About REAL people. Flaws and weakness all over the place. Mistakes and regrets bleeding onto film. Very raw and full of depth.

My "first" Gena film: Gloria 1980 (I say "first" because I actually saw her in, "Another Woman," first. But, this is the one that perked me up and I took notice. Same thing happened with Romy and Stéphane--it took me another look at them in another film to take notice)

Minnie and Moskowitz 1971 This is the blind-date scene from the film. Oh.My.God. The blind-date from Hell. HELL. One of the funniest scenes and I wish it were in its entirety; from the point where she meets him in the museum to the fight in the parking lot. Val Avery is magic. Gena and her face are priceless! I'd LOVE to do this scene one day.

A Woman Under the Influence 1974 Mm-mm-mm! This is a lesson in madness. A demonstration of destruction. An already fragile mind breaks and must live on with those broken pieces.

Love Streams 1984 I was able to win this film on ebay. I've got to pop it back in. The lives of the brother and sister (played by John and Gena)...man!

A Child is Waiting 1963 I was lucky that TCM aired this movie. I was able to record it on VHS. It's a heartbreaking story.

Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daugther 1979 I have never seen this. I wish I could get my hands on it!!! But, I'm always getting outbid, dammit. Bette Davis and Gena together. Whoa! In the beginning after meeting her, Bette said something to this affect, "Is that moose gonna play my daughter?" But, she ended up Loving Gena. Who wouldn't love her, though? (This is the only film in this batch not directed by John)

Susan (Freakin') Hayward

What a dame! This woman is fierce. She is able to be steely, fragile and unflattering. What a broad!!!

I have seen her in so many movies. Here are a few clips of her in action.

clip from: With a Song in My Heart 1952
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3jNHcGP_4o0
Susan played the singer, Jane Froman in the movie. There is a touching scene with Susan and Robert Wagner that always seems to choke me up.

clips from: I'll Cry Tomorrow 1955
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FWFyucH2oCs
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1QpC0leJ-vU
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BNcqUICDpzE
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MEFulD0X36w
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-TOrtH86_Io
This is a movie based on Lillian Roth. What a life. Susan did her own singing. Fierce.

from: I Want to Live 1958

She won the Academy Award for this movie. Her stuff at the end of the movie (not to take away anything from the first half, at all)! That turn of hers, the back and forth...*le whew*

from: Valley of the Dolls 1967

I mean, honestly, who doesn't like a little bit o' camp? This movie is awful! But, a lot of fun (in an AWful way). And, yes. I own it. "Boobies, boobies, boobies!"

"The Counterfeit Traitor"

Lilli Palmer is another one of my all-time favorite actresses. She's got grace, elegance, wit and some mean acting chops! Here are a few scenes from the first film I saw her in (that I'm aware of as my first film of hers...it could have been something else like, "The Pleasure of His Company," but I'm old and I don't remember):

To learn more about Lilli, you should check out her autobiography Change Lobsters---and Dance. You will find her to be candid, witty, charming, intelligent and loving. I got a lot out of it as an actress but mostly as a human being. Lilli was a strong woman. She is the personification of perserverance. Truly. Her book was enlightening, inspiring and motivating. On top of all that, she's one helluva writer. I couldn't put her book down. I finished it in 3 days. One of my favorite books.

http://www.myspace.com/lillimariepeiser

A Long Overdue Birthday Present...

...for Serein---

Musical Stylings with Isabelle Huppert and Françoise Hardy: "Message Personnel"

The first time I ever heard this song was when Isabelle Huppert sang it in, "8 Femmes." She is brilliant. Just watch and you'll witness what I speak of. It's a bit cheesy but she's Very good.

I believe that Françoise Hardy is the originator of the song. Françoise has become one of my favorite French Pop singers. Though her range is limited, she more than makes up for it with her simplicity and her investment in what she sings. She is also a songwriter and was in a couple of movies. She made an appearance at the end of, "What's New, Pussycat?" Yes, I have seen that movie. I own it. Why? Romy's in it.

Born in February...

This was from a bulletin my best friend posted on myspace. I found it fun to comment on! Ha! Plus, I'm feeling super silly.

Abstract thoughts (Sure...?). Loves reality and abstract (I don't know if I love them). Intelligent and clever (I'll take that). Changing personality (For the better, yes. For the crazy, no.). Attractive (I won't go there...my best friend might slap me. Hard.). Sexiest out of everyone (Um...). Temperamental (Sometimes). Quiet, shy and humble (I'll take those...but if I'm with my friends...that's another story!). Honest and loyal (Yes). Determined to reach goals (Yes, again). Loves freedom (Yeah). Rebellious when restricted (Depends). Loves aggressiveness (Yeah. That would be a BIG FAT NO! *EW*). Too sensitive and easily hurt (Yep). Gets angry really easily but does not show it (I show it. Though, not all the time). Dislikes unnecessary things (Yes). Loves making friends but rarely shows it (I don't know how to take that one...). Horny (Oh, God! No. Do urges count? Plus, do I look like a French 60's film star to you?). Daring and stubborn (No and sometimes). Ambitious (Not at this moment). Realizing dreams and hopes (Yes, would love to). Sharp (Oh, yeah. My history teacher called me, "Astute"=). Loves entertainment and leisure (Hello!). Romantic on the inside not outside (Very true). Superstitious and ludicrous (Occassionally and yes). Spendthrift (Mm...sometimes). Tries to learn to show emotions (Hm...I don't have to learn that!!!).

They should add, "Extremely dorky." Yes, I know. I am dorky. Especially, for making a silly entry like this. But, admit it, you had a ball reading this post! =PPP

Romy Schneider (tidbits)

While researching about Stéphane Audran, I came across a bit on Romy that was said by Claude Chabrol (which was posted here, previously: http://redshoesonathuuursday.blogspot.com/2007/08/mortelle-randonne-or-when-ugly-is.html):

"There have been some people I’ve found tricky. Dear Romy [Schneider], for example. She cheated me. She said, ‘I warn you, I don’t have an ounce of humor.’ Amazing! A girl who can say such a thing. The trouble was, it was true. It went well. But she spent as much time acting in between takes as in front of the camera. We had a fight at the dub."

I thought of my friend from Europe who has such a wealth of knowledge on Romy (and is also a DJ) and I shared the quote with him. He wrote back that he had never heard that before and started to exchange more tidbits on Romy with me:

*In "César et Rosalie," she didn't want other actresses to get too many scenes. I thought that he meant she was talking about Isabelle Huppert in the movie, but no, she meant Gisela Hahn (yikes!). After a previous version she had them cut out all the scenes. (Eeks!)

*César was getting too much so she changed some parts of the script. (Whoops!)

*Claude Sautet said that it was, "because she is an absolute person." He couldn't say, "No," to her. He loved her. (Who could blame him? Really?)

*She was a diva sometimes; she knew what she wanted; she changed the script if she didn't like it; she was the star

*She had rights in her contract to control the final cut in her films

*In "Max et les ferrailleurs," she wanted to play the small role of the prostitute. She changed that character into a main role. (I have YET to see this movie!!!)

Wow. For some reason, this doesn't rub me the wrong way as today's "actors" bother me. She was the real deal and there are so few that are the true blue thing in our world-society of celebrity. I have YET to see a film of hers in which she disappoints me. She is always exquisite and delicious. She never fails to amaze me.

You must remember, I feel this way because I am UTTERLY bias when it comes to Romy. I'm not necessarily okay with her behavior, nor do I condone it yet in my moonstruck eyes, she can do no wrong. Even though, she was no saint (but, honestly...who is?=P)!!! Ha! I do take her flaws, her weaknesses, &c. There is NO denying that she is Greatness. Try to say otherwise to my face. I dare you. Go on. I DOUBLE dare you. And let's see if your mother will recognize you.

I Love her. I can only imagine if she were alive today what abundance she would produce. It's sad to think that we'll never know.


Currently listening to: The English Patient (Original Soundtrack Recording)