Lifetime Achievement Viewing

Some time ago I had made set goals to watch every single film which feature my top favorite personalities. I say personalities because these are people I am captivated by and it extends beyond any acting abilities or their appearance in good stories (sometimes they lack both!). Hunting for those films reach makes watching their work even more enjoyable.

Norma Shearer ~ 17 out of 61
Bobby Darin ~ 5 out of 14
Sandra Dee ~ 10 out of 24
Marilyn Monroe ~ 25 out of 29
Blonde Bette Davis ~ 14 out of 33
Doris Day ~ 17 out of 39

Lately I've come across a few more opportunities to advance towards my final goal. Sandra Dee's Tammy Tell Me True (1961) and Tammy and the Doctor (1963) were released on DVD a few months ago and Netflix just added it to their extensive library. I immediately added it to my queue, bypassing the original film Tammy and the Bachelor (1957) with Debbie Reynolds, which I guess I really should have seen first to fully understand the storyline. But while Debbie Reynolds is cute, I've always found Sandra Dee even cuter and much more fun to watch on screen!

With The Forbidden Hollywood Collection Vol. 2 I got an opportunity to see The Divorcee (1930) and A Free Soul (1931) in their entirety. Two marks on my list. But these I knew would eventually turn up on DVD. However, two more even rarer opportunities presented themselves recently. My friend Frank is a Laurel & Hardy fan and let me borrow one of his DVDs which contains the short film Stolen Jools (1931) a comedy which features many MGM stars, including Norma Shearer. And TCM recently had a Robert Montgomery marathon (one of Norma's best-known leading men), and they showed Their Own Desire (1929), (which I taped) an elusive film I know very little about but am very happy to see.

There are other actors whose film work I'd like to view in their entirety, but making a goal of it would be quite a feat, and very likely impossible (Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas, etc). Those whom I think may be manageable and whom I would like to add include:

Kim Novak
George Sanders
Tom Conway
Dennis Morgan
Bonita Granville
Susan Peters
Richard Barthelmess

Do you have anyone whose life's work is your goal to consume? Or have you already seen the entire canon of films of a favorite star? Let me know!

The Graduate... Me, not the Movie

Yesterday, I sort of kind of graduated. With a star my name on the program, I walked across stage and got a diploma... folder (empty). I have 4 more credits left, one more class, and I'm done. But instead of waiting until next year's commencement, my school let me "graduate". I got to wear a funky robe with flippy flaps and a cool white, purple, yellow and black hood (which none of knew how to wear!). It was a great psuedo-moment spurring me on to finish that one last class so I can receive my diploma and validate that experience (which was genuinely great).

When I got to work this morning several presents were awaiting me. My department got me flowers, a card, a plush and a cake for congratulations. I was truly honored!!! The other present was very unusual. So unusual, but so great that it merited a post on this blog. Alongside a musical card that played graduation music, was seemingly inconspicuous wrapped present. As I tore off the beautiful wrapping paper, my jaw dropped as I saw what was inside. It was the Billy Wilder Film Collection Boxed Set. My colleague and friend Susan has given me this amazingly thoughtful gift. It came complete with a gift receipt which I promptly ripped into pieces and threw away because there was NO WAY I would ever return this. I now own Some Like it Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960), The Fortune Cookie (1966) and Kiss Me, Stupid (1964). Yay!

Thank you Susan!!!

Dinner and a Movie and a Nightcap

I've been out of the loop lately, hence no recent posts. Ever since classes ended I've been watching contemporary movies such as 300 (2006), Lars and the Real Girl (2007), The Condemned (2007) (I know I'm sorry, I was sucked in by the concept) and La Vie En Rose/La Môme (2007).

Yesterday, however, I treated myself to something really special. My friends Kevin and Dana and I went out for dinner and a movie. We went to Harvard Square and stopped at Veggie Planet for some vegetarian pizzas. It's a really cool place that not only serves delicious food but also makes a point to be mindful in how they run their business. They donate to worthy causes, use cheeses with vegetable renet and organic produce on their pizzas and they support a non-profit bakery by exclusively using their dough. A pizza you can feel good about eating. And that's what we did.

Afterwards we headed to the Brattle Theatre for a 7 pm showing of The Apartment (1960). The Brattle is another local gem. This theater shows a variety of classic films (one of the reasons why I love them so) as well as indie and foreign flicks. Their schedules are based on themes, concepts, particular actors or directors, marathons, etc. (I bet you are seething with jealousy right about now, wishing you had a place like this nearby). Yesterday night, they were featuring two films by director Billy Wilder, (the other one being Some Like it Hot).

I LOVE The Apartment. This is one of my top favorite films ever. I like to consider it one of the original romantic comedies. But calling it a romcom is also doing it a disservice. It's a comedic romance with a dramatic edge. It's an office drama with something extra. I love the chemistry between Jack Lemmon and Shirely Maclaine. They are both lovable pushovers that you root for until the end. And you cheer for them when they tap into that inner strength they never knew they had! I think Jack Lemmon was just absolutely adorable (he reminds me somewhat of my dad) and Shirley Maclaine is arguably one of the most captivating women on screen. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of Irma la Douce so I can see these two in action again.

Watching this film on the big screen was a genuine treat. There were things I got to experience (dramatic music and spotting a clever positioned product placement!) that I couldn't watching this film at home. Aftewards, Kevin and Dana and I headed further into Harvard to find ourselves another treat for a nightcap. We went to the BerryLine which was highly recommended by the blog of all blogs WeAreNotMartha.com.

Even at 9:30pm, this little shop had a line out the door! They have the most amazing frozen yogurt. You can build your own treat by selecting one, two or three toppings from an array of fresh fruits or other sweet selections. I ate my mango & strawberry topped yogurt with absolute delight. The perfect nightcap to a great outing. I could definitely get used to this!