Movie Monday -- All About the Music

Share on your blog movies with a music related theme and link back here at The Bumbles. And don't forget to visit your fellow participants!

Dreamgirls (2006). The lives and loves and struggles of the artists who created The Motown Sound. OOPS! I didn't mean to say "The Motown Sound." This is pure fiction, not at all about Diana Ross and the Supremes and Berry Gordy and Marvin Gaye.

A Hard Day's Night (1964). The black-and-white Beatles classic I mentioned last week. This week it makes the list because the catalyst for all that follows is a scheduled TV appearance by The Beatles, and all the havoc that ensues because of Beatlemania. The concert sequence at the end is unforgettable.

Loving You (1957). Elvis as Deke Rivers, a naive delivery boy who knows how to swing a guitar. Lizbeth Scott and Wendall Corey are the sophisticated showbiz types who recognize The Next Big Thing when they see it. They train him and groom him and eventually Deke goes from making girls swoon at local sock hops to a major TV appearance. It's so close to the true story of a certain poor, young Memphis truck driver who knows how to swing a guitar it's almost cinema verite.

A White House Christmas

I'm positively hypnotized watching Oprah and the Obamas discussing Christmas on Pennsylvania Avenue. I admit that I'm tickled to know that Santa will be stopping by for the first time since (I believe) Caroline and John Kennedy. And I'm happy to see that Bo has nobly taken over from India and Barney.

But I'm sad that it looks like I won't be getting a White House holiday card this year. The Clintons were very good about keeping me on their Christmas List. This is their 1994 card, my favorite because it introduced me to Thomas McKnight. I now have McKnight prints in both my living and bedrooms.

He has his good moments, too.

Reynaldo, I mean. Yes, he's a nutball feline. Yes, he's destructive. Yes, he's hyper. Yes, he's manic. But he's also affectionate and happy. He loves me and the other two cats and he fills our little home with activity and joy.

Like today. I don't interfere with the cats' toys, except to toss them back into the toy box on those rare occasions that they get in the way of my vacuuming. Yet somehow today, Rey has dug out his old Christmas themed catnip toy, all on his own, and is merrily singing and batting it about. It's as though he knows it Christmastime.

Good, gimmicky fun

As I was finishing my Christmas shopping, I impulsively slipped in and saw Jim Carrey as Scrooge in the 3-D Disney Christmas Carol. A pretty faithful retelling, the movie reinforced my holiday spirit, and it was fun to sit there in the dark wearing those goofy glasses.

I am now done with my Christmas shopping. Last gift: moisturizer spray for my boss. Hopefully the pump spray will enable him to treat the dry skin on his back, and he won't have to wriggle against my doorway to alleviate that itch anymore. I mean, he' s supposed to be an authority figure. Perhaps this will help him maintain his dignity.

Sunday Stealng

Sunday Stealing: The 6 Ws Meme

Who...

Is easy to love? Don Draper from Mad Men. Sigh.

Do you just wanna smack? Kathie Lee Gifford. Admit it. You want to smack her, too, don't you?

Do you trust? My friend Kathy. She's scrupulous-bordering-on-sanctimonious. It makes her a pain in the ass at times, but I never doubt her trustworthiness.

Do you talk to when you're alone? Neely, the pill-popping, booze-guzzling, leather-lunged diva played by Patty Duke in Valley of the Dolls. Who else?

What...
Dangerous things do you do while driving? Since I haven't been behind the wheel since the Reagan years, the very act of driving would be dangerous.

Are you allergic to? Bee sting.

Is Satan's last name? Ono.

Is the freakiest thing in your house? You mean other than me?

When...

Is it time to turn over a new leaf? Tomorrow morning.

Will you be all that you can be? When I join the army.

Is enough enough? When it hurts.

Do you go to the dark side? When my temper gets the best of me.

Where...

Are your pants? In the hamper.

Is your last will and testament? In a safety deposit box.

Is your junk food stash? I don't keep any in the house because it's such a weakness of mine.

Is Carmen Sandiego? I don't care anymore.

Why...
Was the Lone Ranger alone? Why are you dissing Tonto?

Was The Scarlet Letter scarlet? To highlight Hester's bloodshot, tear-rimmed eyes.

Are musicians sexy and plumbers not? Faulty premise --check out Mike Delfino on Desperate Housewives.

Are there no seat belts on school buses? I didn't know this. There should be seat belts on school buses!

Would you...
Swim the English Channel for a doughnut and coffee? If not that, what? There is nothing I would do for a cup of coffee. I hate coffee. Sorry.

Forgive someone who deliberately hurt you? Yes. Haven't we all?

Rather believe a lie if it hurt you less than the truth? Perhaps. I need more information before I can answer this.

You still be alive if you were sucked out of an airplane window? Gee, thanks. I'm flying at the end of this month. This is a mental picture I really appreciate.