Movie Matinee Monday: Desk Set (1957)

Today I have for you a lovely Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy film, directed by Walter Lang (who also directed The King and I).

My opinions on the poster:

I like the vintage-style drawings.  Is it just me who feels that the big drawing of Kate and Spence kind of reminds you of a Rodgers and Hammerstein poster?

The stars:

Katharine Hepburn ~ as Bunny Watson

Spencer Tracy ~ as Richard Sumner

Gig Young ~ as Mike Cutler

Joan Blondell ~ as Peg Costello

The critic's opinions:

3.5/5 stars

It's a fairly traditional storyline at it's root: girl has a long "sort-of-engagement, but not really", and then meets another guy and falls in love.  The unique factor of this motion picture lies in it's research department of a television station setting.  Richard Sumner is on assignment: to install one of his smart computers (EMERAC) in the research library.  But he's ordered not to tell any of the research employees why he is there, and so all of the employees think they are being fired....and replaced by the said computer!!  At a few points the plot slows down considerably, and you wonder when it will pick up again.  I couldn't help but think that the huge computer in the film reminds me of IRAC in the 1970s Wonder Woman television show.  I love movies set in a business/professional setting, so there's that too.  Bunny is no idiot in this film.  She's practically a walking dictionary, able to recite off anything someone asks her, whether it's the amount of trees on Earth or the names of Santa's reindeer.  She's a smart woman, and I love her character.  Sumner originally thinks she's some kind of idiot, and gives her a complicated critical thinking test.....and she passes at 100%, and even answers spinoff questions that weren't on the test!  I was happy to see Joan Blondell in this film; she's best known as a 'blonde bombshell' actress of the 1930s, but she was wonderful in this.  She's one of Bunny's best friends, and gives her advice frequently.  The wide range of CinemaScope is perhaps a bit too much for this film; the only reason I'm glad it's so wide is so the viewers can see the whole library (I love it!). A few shots seem a bit stretched out.....like the actors or actresses are positioned as far away apart from each other as possible without looking ridiculous.  But, overall, Lang does a good job of filling the wide scope, so kudos to him for that.

The bottom line:

A wonderful under appreciated classic.  Great watch, if even just to see Joan Blondell in one of her later roles. I love practically any Tracy/Hepburn film, so it didn't take much for this movie to worm it's way into my heart.

My favorite film moments {I try to stay spoiler-free}:

~ When the giant computer goes crazy and starts spitting paper everywhere

~ When a new employee is brought in to manage the computer....she's completely annoying and ridiculous.

~ Bunny's critical thinking test: she positively aces it!!

~ The Christmas office party; 1950s style!

~ The ending......see it yourself to see why I love it so! :-)

Photographs:

Behind-the-scenes:

Movie trailer:

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Ta-ta, dahlings!!

Jan

Movie Matinee Monday: Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)

I'm very happy to say that after practically deserting Pure Golden for months, I am back!  I'm in the midst of re-designing the blog.  The only thing I can't decide on is whether or not I should change the header.  If I could have a few opinions on that, I'd really appreciate it. :-).  I also feel like a total numbskull here, but if someone could inform me how to center my images in a post, I'd appreciate that too.  In this post, all the images are set on center, but as you can see, they are not centered.  I set all of the section titles on center too...but after half of them obeyed.  I don't know why Blogger hates me.  But I hope it doesn't hurt your eyes too much. ;-)

I have a few weekly series planned, including the one you'll start reading in a moment: Movie Matinee Monday.  It will be a review of a classic film, along with photographs and other tidbits of info.  I have at least one other weekly series planned, which will most likely start next week.  Other than the weekly series, I also will do a classic Hollywood related post every week.

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My opinions on the poster:

It's fun, and I like the different construction items that are integrated into the poster.  I can't help but think that Mr. Grant looks a bit annoyed....maybe he's supposed to?  I don't feel the poster Myrna Loy looks much like her; her eyebrows are too curved, I think.

The stars:

Cary Grant – as Mr. Jim Blandings

Myrna Loy – as Mrs. Muriel Blandings

Melvyn Douglas – as Mr. Bill Cole

The synopsis:

When advertising executive Jim Blandings (Cary Grant) discovers his wife's (Myrna Loy) plan to redecorate their New York apartment, he counters with a proposal that they move to Connecticut. She agrees, and the two are soon conned into buying a house that turns out to be a complete nightmare. Construction and repair bills accumulate quickly, and Jim worries that their future hangs in the balance unless he can come up with a catchy new jingle that will sell ham.  [Synopsis courtesy of Google]

The critic's opinions:

4/5 stars

This is a very lighthearted, entertaining film, based on the novel of the same name that was published in 1946.  I love movies like this with family/life events, such as building a house or a wedding, such as Father of the Bride (1950).  Somehow they seem very realistic. However, I feel that this one in particular is a cautionary film, warning us to look out for hidden fees in house-building!!  Anyways, Mr. and Mrs. Blandings' dream house turns out to be a total nightmare, from a closet that persists in locking people in, to the flower sink floor that cost $1,250!!!  (And that's in 1948, mind you.) The film is actually quite well-known, and a remake was even made in the 1990s. There is no mistaking the film as a comedy.  It is not slapstick, though, but the kind of comedy that happens in everyday life, and the characters involved keep a straight face.  It has a witty and hilarious script that makes me smile every time I watch it.

Cary Grant is great as the impulsive, loving, and slightly proud Mr. Blandings.  The expressions that Mr. Grant is able to make for the role are perfect, from his exasperated look at the man digging the well, to the jealous look at the 'old family friend'.  Although the film is fairly popular, it isn't one of the roles that would 'come to mind' when you mention him, especially not to a person unfamiliar with Old Hollywood.  I always felt that such roles were Arsenic and Old Lace or Bringing Up Baby.

The film isn't one of Myrna Loy's better known roles either, as she is better known for her starring role in The Thin Man series of movies.  Despite that, this is the film that clinched her place as one of my favorite classic actresses.  She has a soft way of speaking, and is incredibly convincing as Mrs. Blandings.  I don't know how to explain it, but she actually 'became' that role.  It's lovely and amazing, and I love it.  She's still a typical woman in classic Hollywood films though, fussing about her clothes and her flower sink, and insisting ever bedroom has two closets.  I adore her character.

Melvyn Douglas plays the 'old family friend', Bill Cole.  Apparently, Mrs. Blandings used to date him in college, and that doesn't go over well with Mr. Blandings!!  It's funny; sometimes Cole is a likable character in the film, and other times he drives me crazy.  He delivers a lot of snarky lines, which are sometimes hilarious, and other times you want to give him a punch in the nose.  He adds a lot to the picture, though, as a three-dimensional character.  And, some of his snarky lines are good for laughs.

The bottom line:

A very entertaining family film with two big stars in the billing.  Do not miss it.

My favorite film moments {I try to be spoiler-free}:

When Muriel is trying to explain to the painters what colors she wants.  "No, not the yellow dot by the hollyhock bush.  The little blue dot over there.  Yes, exactly that color."

Dicussing the difference between a rock, ledge, and a boulder.

Going around in circles while driving, and always coming back to the same bridge.

Photographs:

Behind-the-scenes:

Movie trailer:

The Impeccably Awesome.....Hair Scarf

Yep, I'm writing an entire post on hair/head scarves.  ;-). You know, those impeccable, vintage, classic hair scarves worn in the 50s? Uh huh, those.  This topic came to my mind yesterday, because it's gotten pretty chilly around here, and I wear one when it gets cold.  Actually, I'd wear one all the time, just because I love them so much, but then I get accused of looking like a peasant or something like that......so, I don't.  But who cares what other people say?  I'm considering wearing one all of the time anyway.  In any event, my sister can't stand my hair scarves.  Can. Not. Stand. Them.  I don't even know why, I guess it just drives her crazy.  Which is odd.  Which also means I get picked on a lot from her on said hair scarves.  So, I'm here to present to you the case of the awesomeness of vintage-style hair scarves. :D

Hair scarves were worn especially in the late 40s and the 50s, and the 60s too, to protect women's hairstyles, and also keep them pristine in the wind when you're in the car traveling.  To be fair, I haven't particularly got a 'hairstyle' to protect, but I wear it anyways. ;-). There's even a certain way of wearing one, called the Grace Kelly Wrap, named after....you guessed it, Grace Kelly.  She wore hers this way, and this is also the way I generally wear mine.  I don't usually do the 60s triangular style hair scarf, event though I like them too. Most women/girls nowadays consider hair scarves super duper old fashioned....and I don't mean old fashioned like cool retro or something.  They actually think its old fashioned; as in, "why in the world would you wear that?  Nobody does that anymore; how silly!!"  Yeah, that kind of old fashioned. But stupid as it sounds, hair scarves make me feel sorta elegant, I guess, and like I'm in an old movie.  Kind of Grace Kelly-ish too!! :-).  Plus I think hair scarves give a kind of elegant chic air, nice and vintage.  I also think they frame your face very well.  The good thing is, hair scarves were back in trend for 2013-14, but I still didn't see many people wearing them.  I suppose that didn't go too well, so they're 'out of style' again.  But I'm going to keep wearing them anyways. :-)

So, you've probably gotten the idea that I love my hair scarves. Which I do.  :-). And after all that blathering about them, I'm going to close this post with pictures of these lovely ladies wearing hair scarves.  (I do not own any of the pictures). Enjoy!! :-)

Grace Kelly

Elizabeth Taylor

The scarf style in the first picture shows the triangular 60s style.  I don't usually wear mine like that though. :-)

Audrey Hepburn (my favorite actress of all time <3)

The style shown here is what most made me want to wear hair scarves.  It just looks so elegant. :-). This is also how I usually wear them.

Again shown here is the 60s scarf style.

And again the 60s style here.

Jackie Kennedy Onassis

Thank you very much for reading!! :-)

Happy Thanksgiving from Pure Golden! :-)

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!! :-). Hope you all have a lovely day!!

Now, Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday, admittedly.  That goes to Christmas (only 4 weeks to go!). But I do love Thanksgiving.  Plus it gives me an excuse to stuff my face without looking like too much of a pig (oink!). I do like to eat.  Lest you get an image of me actually overeating, let me assure you I don't.  It's more the sort of thing like Ethel is always getting teased about on I Love Lucy.  Hey, food is yummy, you know? ;-). And my favorite is pumpkin pie.  Now before all of us go be pigs this afternoon, let me share some Old Hollywood Thanksgiving pictures with you!!  Hope you enjoy!!

Hello again!! :-)

Ok, so I had started Pure Golden Classics earlier this month, at puregoldenclassics.blogspot.com. One  small problem.  When I tried to login earlier today to do a post, I couldn't remember my password or username!  Oops! :/. So I redid the blog.