Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Movie Time Meme 
 

1. What is your all-time favorite costume? Natalie Wood in Splendor in the Grass. The outfit in her last scene provides the perfect visual coda. It's clean and white and fresh, befitting her escape from the drab, repressive surroundings that caused her so much pain.

2. What classic film would you nominate for a remake? The Americanization of Emily (1964). The way the Iraq war was marketed to us with embedded reporters (remember poor David Bloom of NBC?) makes me think this is a story that could powerfully be retold for modern times.
 
3. Name your favorite femme fatale. Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Though if she were here, I'm not sure she'd accept the title, saying, "I'm loud and I'm vulgar, and I wear the pants in the house because somebody's got to, but I am not a monster."

4. Name the best movie title. The Strange Loves of Martha Ivers. I've never seen the movie, but it's on TV a lot and I think, "Wow, that sounds like a trashy good time."

5. Describe the worst performance by a child actor that you’ve ever seen. Cammie King as Bonnie Blue Butler in GWTW. Didn't even have to give this one a moment's thought.

6. Who gets your vote for most tragic movie monster? Frankenstein.

7. What is the one Western that you would recommend to anybody? Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Because Newman and Redford are the coolest guys who ever lived.

8. Who is your ideal movie-viewing partner? For old movies? My mom.

9. Has a film ever made you want to change your life? If so, what was the film? The Way We Were. I often (still) find myself tamping down the truest part of my personality to fit in, and I (still) always hate myself for doing it. I believe this is the twenty-second time I've mentioned that movie in this blog ...
 
10. Think of one performer that you truly love. Now think of one scene/movie/performance of theirs that is too uncomfortable for you to watch. Judy Garland. Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938). I hate how she's the talented ("I sing, you know") but plain girl in contrast to Ann Rutherford and especially Lana Turner, because I have read how much those comparisons hurt her in real life.

11. On the flip side, think of one really good scene/performance/movie from a performer that you truly loathe. June Allyson in Little Women. I know, I know! She's not even really very good in that. 

12. What is your favorite romantic comedy? When Harry Met Sally. All the recent talk about Nora Ephron reminds me how completely credible those two characters and their romance were. 

13. What is your favorite drama? The Way We Were (Ding! Ding! #23)

14. Worst film you've seen? Town and Country. Starred Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn, Garry Shandling and Warren Beatty. And it could not suck more. Staggeringly bad. Not even funny-bad. Just bad.

15. How do you feel about the majority of romantic films being labeled "chick flicks"? I don't think about it, one way or the other.

16. Favorite on-screen couple? Nick and Nora Charles -- William Powell and Myrna Loy -- from The Thin Man movies.

17. Favorite off-screen couple? Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward

18. Best kiss in a movie? William Hurt and Holly Hunter sneak out of the Correspondents Dinner in Broadcast News.

19. Favorite scene? "Boobies!" From Valley of the Dolls

 

20. Who are 2 film characters you wished had gotten together, but never did? Mary Poppins and Bert the Chimney Sweep. (Though I have my suspicions ...)

21. Two actors you think would have great chemistry, but have never done a film together? Jennifer Aniston and Hugh Grant

22. Favorite song in a film (doesn't have to be from a musical)? A Hard Day's Night

23. Best score from a film? Help!

24. Best film quote? "Leave the gun, take the cannoli." The Godfather.

25. A film you'd recommend that is a "Must See" for us to watch? A Hard Day's Night. It's not only very, very funny, the performance footage at the end makes a wonderful Beatlemania primer.