God Speed: Van Johnson (1916-2008)

Van Johnson was an underrated comedian and actor all-around. The picture above is of him in one of my favorite movies Yours, Mine and Ours (1968). I'll miss him for sure. God Speed Van Johnson!

L.A.M.B. Blog-a-thon: Holiday Affair (1949)

Here is my submission to the L.A.M.B. (The Large Association of Movie Blogs) Blog-a-Thon. The rules are to pick a favorite scene in a Christmas movie and write about it. Just to warn you, this will contain SPOILERS, but not to the extent that it will completely ruin the film for you.

Holiday Affair (1949)

Synopsis: Connie Ennis (Janet Leigh) is a widower with a young son, Timmy, and a divorce lawyer boyfriend, Carl (Wendell Cory). She leads a quiet life until she meets Steve Mason (Robert Mitchum), a department store clerk that catches her at her game when she's comparison shopping for a rival store. When Steve doesn't report Connie, he gets fired and the two keep running ino each other in different circumstances. Connie finds herself in a love square. Committed to Carl, yearning for Steve yet still mourning her dead husband.

People often talk about the meaning of Christmas. And in my opinion, they always get it wrong. To me, Christmas is about change. It takes place around the time of the Winter Solstice when we leave behind Fall and head into the depths of Winter. When the days cease getting shorter and start getting longer. And for many religious folks, it's when a certain baby was born bringing hope and change into the world. Christmas is a time of introspection and reflection. New Year's follows shortly after and during Christmas we are already thinking of those changes we want to implement in the new year.

Connie Ennis doesn't want things to change. She wants everything to go back to how it use to be when her husband was still alive. She craves safety, security and consistency. Especially after the traumatic and life-changing experience of losing her husband during the war and having to face raising her son by herself. When a new person, Steve Mason, comes into her life that sense of consistency is threatened. Even though she could be happy with Steve, letting him in would take her out of her comfort zone, something she's not ready to do.





My favorite scene in this movie comes towards the end. Connie needs to return some money to Steve. Her son Timmy had exchanged the train Steve had given him for Christmas so that Steve could use the money for train fare. Connie is scared to confront Steve and her boyfriend Carl sees this. He realizes he'll never have her and they "divorce". Now free, Connie willingly goes up to Steve's apartment. And this is what he says to her on learning that she and Carl are no longer together:

I guess that's my cue to propose again. But I'm not going to... Carl isn't the real threat to me. Maybe I'm not to him. This isn't two fellas and a girl. It's two fells, a girl and her husband. I can't fight a shadow. I tried, the competition's too tough. You were even going to play it safe and settle for someone you didn't love so you wouldn't be unfaithful to your husband... All anyone wants you to do is live in the present and not be afraid of the future. And maybe it can happen again if you quit pretending something that's dead is still alive."

Steve Mason is one of my favorite all-time characters just because he's so wise. He realizes that even though Connie is free from Carl, she's not free from the ghost of her late husband. If Connie is going to be with Steve, she needs to accept change, embrace it even. She needs to move forward with her life, even if it means taking a risk.

We are headed for very uncertain times in 2009. Contemplating now those changes that are currently happening or those that lay ahead, we need to be willing to accept and adapt. We can't cling to the past. We need to be willing to move into the future and to take a risk, any risk, because that might mean a chance at happiness down the road. It's going to be a tough Christmas. But not one without hope.

Buyer's Guide: Books for Classic Film Fans

Do you have a classic film fan in your life? Are you wondering what to get that person for Christmas? Sure you could get them a classic film on DVD but that is so predictable. And chances are, they already own it anyways. Instead get them a book. Yes, a book! Books are the classic film fan's darling. They are the perfect accompaniment to all those films they love so dearly. Treat a loved one (or even yourself) to one of these treasured tomes.

Biography
Ernie: The Autobiography

by Ernest Borgnine

ISBN: 9780806529417

$19.95

Hardcover

Citadel Press

August 2008

A charming and approachable autobiography about Ernest Borgnine's long life and acting career. Read my review of it here.

Jimmy Stewart: A Biography

by Marc Eliot

ISBN: 9781400052226

$14.95

Paperback

Three Rivers Press

September 2007

Don't listen to those reviewers who panned this. Eliot's biography of the late, great Jimmy Stewart is comprehensive and well-written. You will learn more than you will ever need to know of the man who made "Auw shucks" sexy.

Collectible Coffee Table Books

Lana: The Memories, the Myths, the Movies

by Cheryl Crane (daughter of Turner)

ISBN: 9780762433162

$35.00

Hardcover

Running Press

October 2008

This gorgeous, fully illustrated, over-sized hardcover book will make you want to become a Lana Turner fan, if you're not one already.

Jazz Age Beauties

The Lost Collection of Ziegfeld Photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston

ISBN: 9780789313812

$40.00

Hardcover

Universe (Rizzoli)

October 2006

Beautiful sepia photographs of actresses and Ziegfeld girls shot by the reknown photographer Alfrey Cheney Johnston. You'll find Norma Shearer and Louise Brooks amongst others here.

Silent Movies: The Birth of Film and the Triumph of Movie Culture

by Peter Kobel

ISBN: 9780316117913

$45.00

Hardcover

Little, Brown and Company

November 2007

Gorgeous hardcover filled with stills, poster art and photographs from the silent film era. Silent film fans will want to caress this book once they lay their hands on it. It doesn't hurt that the writing is excellent as well.

For the Woman in Your Life

Leading Couples

by Frank Miller

ISBN: 9780811863018

$19.95

Paperback with French Flaps

Chronicle Books

November 2008

The quintessential guide to favorite onscreen couples. Anyone who likes romance, will enjoy this book. Perfect accompaniment for viewing films on Turner Classic Movies. Read my review of it here.

For the Man in Your Life

Clark Gable: A Biography

by Warren G. Harris

ISBN: 9780307237149

$15.95

Paperback

Three Rivers Press

October 2005

This is a juicy no holds barred of the life and times of the King of Hollywood, Clark Gable. Gable was truly a man's man and reading about his exploits is just fun. Not for the faint of heart.

For Younger Kids

Footwork: The Story of Fred and Adele Astaire

by Roxanne Orgill

Illustrated by Stephane Jorisch

ISBN: 9780763621216

$17.99

Hardcover

Candlewick Press

September 2007

Fans of Fred Astaire or even just kids who like to dance, will love this picture book biography of the brother-sister Astaire dancing duo. You can read an interview with the author here.

Tuff Fluff

Written and Illustrated by Scott Nash

ISBN: 9780763639457

$5.99

Paperback
Candlewick Press

February 2008

Get the kids interested in Film Noir early with this madcap adventure. Private Eye Tuff Fluff is on the case to find Duckie's missing brain. You can download a fun activity sheet to go along with this book here.

For Older Kids

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Written and Illustrated by Brian Selznick

ISBN: 9780439813785

$22.99

Hardcover

Scholastic

March 2007

A heavily-illustrated tome takes readers on a visual journey following the young orphan Hugo. Very influenced by early French cinema, this is sure to be a hit with young reluctant readers. Won the Caldecott Award for excellence in Children's Book illustration in 2008.

Fiction for Classic Film Lovers

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

by Winifred Watson

ISBN: 9781906462024

$15.00

Paperback with French Flaps

Persephone Books

February 2008

It has all the glamour and drama of a classic movie with a more direct and uncensored edge. A must-read! The novel became a major motion picture starring Amy Adams in 2008.

M: A Graphic Novel

by Jon J Muth

ISBN: 9780810995222

$24.95

Hardcover

Abrams

April 2008

Fritz Lang's classic M (1931) comes to life in illustrator Jon J Muth's graphic novel. Read my review of it here.
Just Buy It Okay?

Movie Posters: 2009 Wall Calendar

by National Film Registry - Library of Congress

ISBN: 9780789317643

$13.99

Universe (Rizzoli)

August 2008

I know this isn't a book, but I had to mention it anyways. This is the best Classic Film calendar there is. I buy it religiously every year and have gotten it as a gift. It's a must-have.

Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide

by Leonard Maltin

ISBN: 9780452286207

$20.00

Paperback

Plume Books

February 2005

This is the OFFICIAL companion for any and all classic film buffs. It's an absolute must. And if your classic film fan already has one, a second back-up copy will prove to be infinitely useful.

Support the book industry. Buy books as presents this Christmas. And support your local independent bookstore. All links above are to the well-known and respected independent Powell's Books.