The Killers (1946) @ the Brattle

I finally got an opportunity to take my mother to The Brattle Theatre yesterday. They had a 1 pm screening of the classic film noir The Killers (1946) and not only did it work for both of our schedules, neither of us had seen this gem and getting to watch it on the big screen was a treat.

For every 1 classic film I watch, my mother watches 3. She's just the consumate consumer of old movies and she gave up Mexican telenovelas permanently to catch flicks on Turner Classic Movies. We both approach classic films in different ways. My mother watches, enjoys, discards and moves on to the next film. I, however, pore over minute details, do research and try to stretch out the film experience as much as I can. I think we both get different things out of classic films but bond over our mutual love for them.

So on Saturday I took my mom to Harvard Square, where we had a quick lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant and picked up coffee and macaroons at a new coffee joint. We headed over to the theater to pick up our tickets.

I directed my mom up to my favorite seats in the theater (balcony, last row, far right corner) and we did some pre-show bonding as she snacked on some popcorn.

When the lights dimmed, we were in for a treat. The Killers (1946) is an engrossing and suspenseful film noir. Burt Lancaster plays Swede, a former boxer and con artist who is killed by two hit men. Insurance investigator James Riordan (Edmond O'Brien) traces the complex trail of clues to piece together the events that led up to Swede's murder. Swede had been caught up with femme fatale Kitty Collins (Ava Gardner) and various other con artists in a heist that went terribly wrong, in the way that heists do in film noirs. I highly recommend this film to anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

Mom's reaction to the movie in her own words: It was good. Very suspenseful. It was interesting that they start with the murder and worked backwards.

After the film, we headed back to my car which required a subway trip outbound (parking in Harvard Square is a nightmare!). Funny enough, I saw my favorite T guy at the station. I introduced him to my mom and he was gracious enough to let us through for free! Come to find out, he's a big film fan and watches old movies on AMC and TCM! Us classic film fans are everywhere I guess.

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If you live in the Boston area, make sure you check out The Brattle Theater if you haven't already done so. Here are some upcoming showings that film noir enthusiasts will want to see.

The Killers (1946) - 4 showings today Sunday April 18th

Criss Cross (1949) - 2 showings Tuesday April 21st

Phantom Lady (1944) - 2 showings Tuesday April 21st

The File on Thelma Jordan (1950) - 3 showings Thursday April 23rd

Norma Shearer ~ The Athlete

Carrie over at Classic Montgomery just gave me an idea for a post! While most people envision Norma Shearer as a delicate glamour queen, they don't realize that she was somewhat of an athlete. She worked very hard to keep her figure slim and during her time at MGM, she had a personal trainer and was on a strict diet and exercise regimen. Norma got up at the crack of dawn to go out for long jogs and swims. For the film Marie Antoinette (1938), she trained with Agnes de Mille to learn the choreography for the dance sequences. She also played tennis, rode horses and did gymnastics. Later in life when she met and married her second husband, ski instructor Martin Arrouge, she took up skiing.

Here are a couple of pictures of Queen Norma Shearer in action. Enjoy!

Norma was no stranger to a nice bathing suit!

Norma trains with Agnes de Mille

Norma having some fun on the slopes

Norma leaps for the tennis ball.

Hot Chick ~ Pamela Tiffin

Female version of the Hot Toddy series...

Name: Pamela Tiffin

Stats: b. 10-13-1942. 24 films including romances and comedies in the early 60s and European exploitation films from the late 60s to the early 70s. She left the business in the mid-70s to raise her family.

Hotness Factors: Gorgeous slender brunette (sometimes blonde) with a face that could dazzle. Her sweet lilting voice is melodic and a bit intoxicating. She's the ditzy girl that drives men wild with desire and confusion. Even the most devoted womanizer turns to absolute mush in her hands.

Dudes She Digged: Married magazine editor Clay Felker in 1962 and divorced in 1969. She was rumored to have dated Pleasure Seekers co-star Gardner McKay. Then she married philosopher Edmondo Danon, with whom she had two kids and they are still married.

For Optimal Hotness Watch:

State Fair (1962) ~ Innocent farm girl makes suave State Fair announcer (Bobby Darin) change his womanizing ways.

The Pleasure Seekers (1964) ~ While in Spain, this all-American good girl makes suave Spaniard (Tony Franciosa) change his womanizing ways.

Come Fly With Me (1963) ~ A ditzy flight attendant makes suave Pilot (Hugh O'Brian) change his womanizing ways.

More on Pamela Tiffin to come...