No Time Like The Past

Vol. 12: Real Men Love Animals—Brando's RACCOON!

2012-02-28T18:38:00.000-08:00

I know... back to back Brando posts. What can I say? When I get interested in a topic I tend to stick with it. Not only was Marlon Brando one of the greatest actors of all time, he also look great in a t-shirt, AND loved animals. And that's a man I can get behind! That's a man that deserves two posts in a row!

I've had posts on here of Brando canoodling his cat, and walking his grandma's dachshund, but now I find out he also had a pet Raccoon named Russell—a gift from his mother! I've always had a fondness for Raccoons (the ones not digging through my trash). I love that they look like little bandits and they have tiny little hands. I would gladly have one as a pet, although my hubby might not appreciate that. When we met I had a pet hedgehog named Harley, and I'm pretty sure that's when he knew I was a little bit nuts :-)

I dug up some photos of Marlon with his buddy Russel. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Found Here: http://marlonbrando.tumblr.com/post/460143931/marlon-playing-with-his-pet-raccoon-russell-on

Found Here: http://petthedog.tumblr.com/post/4024594969/were-you-aware-that-marlon-brando-had-a-pet

Found Here: http://dorkydorkydorky.tumblr.com/post/6115054411/velvetheroine-marlon-brando-and-his-pet

If you can't be 'em… Dress like 'em!: Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy

2012-02-19T14:33:00.000-08:00

This past week I watched On The Waterfront for the first time. What a great performance from Marlon Brando! The more I see him, the more I love him. I'm sure most everyone has at least heard of this movie, with Brando's famous line "I could've been a contender!" and a performance that won him his first Academy Award for Best Actor (1954), and the movie got Best Picture as well.

But instead of writing about the movie, let's take a look at one of the coolest movie outfits—worn by Brando's Terry Malloy.

Terry Malloy dons two really cool jackets in the movie—my favorite being the plaid bomber jacket. If you want to look like Terry, try popping the collar every now and then. He wears black corduroy pants throughout the movie, cuffed at the ankles. If you want to go all out and become Terry Malloy you could take a few punches in the eye, but if not, you could just shave a line in right eyebrow to get the look. Here are my suggestions:

Clockwise from Left: Cheap Monday Renor Faux Fur Collar Jacket from Urban Outfitters; Black Corduroy Pants from Land's End; Canvas Shirt from L.L. Bean Signature; Stainless Steel Straight Razor from Super Safety Razors; Runnell Chukka from Johnston and Murphy; Black Plaid Bomber Jacket from Grind by CoffeeShop

Valentines Day Movie Meme and A Little Present

2012-02-13T19:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I made you guys this card!

For my Valentine's Day post I decided to take part in Forever Classics Movie Meme which consists of 14 questions relating to romance in films. I'm not over the moon about Romantic Movies in general, and haven't seen a ton of older romantic movies, so for this questionnaire, many of my answers will flash forward to the present.

And as always, feel free to suggest some great romantic classics to me—I promise I'll check them out!

1. What is your favorite romantic comedy?

Older: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Annie Hall
Newer: When Harry Met Sally, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, 500 Days of Summer

2. What is your favorite romantic drama?

- The Bridges of Madison County: Who would've thought Clint Eastwood could be so romantic? (Get out of the car Francesca!!)

- Philadelphia: I cannot watch this one without crying like a baby. Such a sweet, sad love story.

- Forrest Gump: I can watch this over and over and over again, and still I cry at the end when Jenny dies. Something about Tom Hanks, maybe.

- Lost in Translation: Such a true but innocent connection between two people

3. Worst romance film you've seen?
Pearl Harbor. First of all, I can't stand Ben Affleck (Sorry Ben fans). Secondly, this was the most annoying and twisted love triangle. Thirdly, it is SO LONG.

4. How do you feel about the majority of romantic films being labeled "chick flicks"?

I'm fine with it. Most of them are cheesy or overly sappy, so in general they're not my favorite. But they can be great when they're done well—when they are funny or can tug at your heart strings. The ones I mention here pass my test.

5. Favorite on-screen couple?

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, 500 Days of Summer (How are they NOT a real couple?)

6. Favorite off-screen couple?

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. They were just so beautiful and cute together.

7. Best kiss in a movie?
-Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway, The Thomas Crown Affair (Yowzaa!)

8. Favorite romantic scene?

There's a scene in Lost in Translation where Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) and Bob (Bill Murray) are laying in bed watching old movies, and are falling asleep talking, and Bob reaches out and holds onto her foot. It's small and sweet gesture that says more about their relationship than any love scene could.

9. Who are 2 film characters you wished had gotten together, but never did?
Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) and Bob (Bill Murray), Lost In Translation.

But really it's better that way. It would've ruined the entire reason this movie was great had they actually sealed the deal.

10. Two actors you think would have great chemistry, but have never done a film together?

Hmmm... I would love to see Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood in a movie together, but not in a romantic way of course, which is what I think this question is actually asking... SO, I'll say Steve McQueen and Claudia Cardinale, only because they're both gorgeous and I think it could be a pretty steamy couple.

11. Favorite romantic song in a film (doesn't have to be from a musical)?
In Your Eyes from Say Anything. How can you not love Lloyed Dobler (John Cusack) standing outside your bedroom window blasting that song on his boom box?

12. Best score from a romance film?

I really love the score from 500 Days of Summer.

13. Most romantic film quote?

“I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle in your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

—Harry (Billy Crystal) to Sally (Meg Ryan)

"This kind of certainty comes but once in a lifetime." -Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood) to Francesca (Meryl Streep)

14. A film you'd recommend to watch on Valentine's Day?

See questions 1 and 2, take your pick! Happy Valentine's Day!

What I love about Rawhide (Season 1)

2012-02-07T20:19:00.000-08:00

I just finished watching Season 1 of Rawhide, and I'm hooked. Season 2 has already arrived in the mail. I can't believe I've never seen one episode before. There is so much to love about this show—Let me count the ways, in no particular order:

1. The Best Theme Song Ever.

As I'm sure many of you know, when you watch an entire TV Series on DVD you have the added pleasure (and sometimes torture) of hearing the theme song over and over and over again, before each episode starts. Well in this case it's pleasure. It's just so much fun, with the whips cracking and Heeyahs! that sometimes (or most times) I like to sing along with it. And don't tell anyone, but I've even taken to calling my cats "doggies" when I yell at them. They don't seem to like it. My neighbors probably think I'm nuts.

2. Rowdy Yates
Yes, Gil Favor is the real man in this series, but I can't help it... Rowdy has my heart. He's just so gosh darn adorable. I never thought I'd see the day that Clint Eastwood got out-manned, but as it turns out, that's how he got his start—young, dumb and gorgeous. And ladies, Clint Eastwood does know how to smile, and he does it quite a bit in Rawhide. Poor Rowdy spends most of the time looking up to "Mr. Favor" and making stupid suggestions that cause him to be put in his place by Gil. I'm looking forward to see how his character grows with more experience as a drover.

Here are some little tidbits to look forward to:

3. Gil Favor. Trail Boss.
As I said before, Gil Favor is the real man of Rawhide. He's in charge and he let's you know it. I almost started a drinking game called "Gil Favor, Trail Boss" because he says this countless times during an episode, especially in the earlier ones. You would be toasted by the end. But Gil's got a job to do, he has to deliver the heard to Sedalia while keeping an eye on his surly group of drovers. Gil is all work, no play, but he's what I imagine a REAL Cowboy would be like, and that's cool.

4. Wishbone.
Wishbone is the grouchy cook/nurse/general housekeeper on the drove. His food isn't very good, but he tries. He's always telling the guys how it is and playing "mother". He's a guy who could use a chill pill, but he's hilarious and you will love him. Plus he has a "louse", Mushy, that's always at his side.

(Paul Brinegar, who plays Wishbone, is also in the High Plains Drifter in 1971 with Clint Eastwood. He plays the town bartender.)

Wishbone and Mushy

5. Cool and Unexpected Guest Stars.
A lot of the guest stars in Season 1 I had recognized from other westerns or television shows, but I'm probably a little too young to really spot them all. I'm looking forward to some of the later seasons when Lee Van Cleef and Charles Bronson guest star.

But I did (barely) recognize these two. Can you tell who they are?

Yep. That's a young Leslie Nielson on left and Martin Landau on the right.

6. The Formula.
There's definitely a formula to this show. Usually crew runs into a person or a group of people that need help, and Gil Favor, Trail Boss, is always the man to do the right thing. He stops to help, and madness ensues OR the crew finds themselves in the middle of some sort of bad weather, sickness or unwelcome territory, and madness ensues.

Many times they introduce a new character that is part of the crew. That new character will probably die.

I love this though. There is a comfort in knowing that there will be lots of drama, but no one you really care about will be hurt. So far at least.

7. Head 'em up! Move 'em out!
Almost every show ends with Gil screaming these lines, signaling all is well and they're back to work. I look forward to it. There was one show in Season 1 where Rowdy makes the call.

Look Magazine 1940: New York—Likes and Dislikes

2012-02-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

These are scans from a section in Look Magazine from January 1940 listing party-thrower Elsa Maxwell's New York City likes and dislikes. It's pretty interesting to see that not much has changed in 72 years...

The Likes:

"I like Broadway because it offers fantasy and an escape from the everyday cares of millions. I like the fabulous lights, the colorful crowd, the people that push up and down from Times Square. I like Broadway's surging sea of faces—eager, hopeful, beaten, curious, despairing… gum-chewing."

"I like the cultural opportunity that New York offers—the theater, the opera, motion pictures, the Museum of Modern Arts. I like the opportunity to doe new things and to be influenced by stimulating people and places."

"I like the climate of New York. I am thrilled each time I walk up Park Avenue in the spring. I like the definiteness of the seasons. I get drunker on New York's wonderful air than I could on champagne."

"I love the New York Newspapers and the people who make them—Pearson and Allen Dixie Tigh, Jimmy Fidler, Inez Robb, Walter Lippmann, and that best of society reporters, Cholly Kinckerbocker."

"I love "The New Yorker" because it debunks headliners, because of Peter Arno's unintentional wit, Fadiman's book reviews. I love the cartoons that tear me limb from limb—especially this one."

"I like the "21" Club. I don't consider it a night club, because here the food is both good and inexpensive, the people are intelligent, and you can carry on a conversation above the not-too-loud patrons."

The Dislikes:

"I dislike traffic in New York. Whether I am going to the opera or to Penn Station, I hate being held up while the curtain rises or the train leaves."

"I dislike the sameness in New York women. They're beautiful and wear good clothes, but they are all duplicates. There is so much sameness about them that it almost keeps me from going to Easter services."

"I dislike the socialite singers. Their languid crooning while a hot band tries to pep them up is too synthetic. The only thing I like about them is that they prove how good Mary Martin, Ethel Merman and Sophi Trucker are."

"I hate night clubs because they bore me—because the food is too expensive, the society too cheap. You can't dance because there isn't room, you can't talk because the orchestra's too loud, you can't breathe because the air's too bad. They're the place where people go who have no other place to go."

"I dislike the debutante racket. Girls come out at 18 and "pass out" at 20. Too much publicity makes them forget that they should become useful members of society and possible mothers of future presidents."

"I hate Sixth Avenue because it is in a permanent state of upheaval. Either the elevated is being torn up or the subway is being build down every time I cross the street. It's an eternal, dusty bedlam."

Just Amazing

2012-02-01T17:44:00.000-08:00

Clint Eastwood, by Kevin Scanlon (http://www.kevinscanlon.com/)

I absolutely love the juxtaposition in this photo. Past/Present. Young/Old. Gunfighter/Musician.

I also absolutely love Clint Eastwood.

Favorite Scenes: The War Lover

2012-01-28T20:51:00.000-08:00

"Some men love war the way others love women.
This is the story of both kinds!"

I came to The War Lover through the strong recommendation of a new friend and fellow Steve McQueen fan. He felt that I would appreciate the similarities between Steve's character Buzz Rickson and the actor himself, and he was absolutely correct. This has become one of my top McQueen movies.

The War Lover has a fairly simple plot—Captain Buzz Rickson (Steve McQueen) is a reckless WWII B-52 pilot who goes head to head with his co-pilot Ed "Bo" Bolland (Robert Wagner) to win the affection of a beautiful lady, Daphne (Shirley Anne Field). Buzz Rickson, much like the actor himself, is the kind of guy who gets what he wants, when he wants it. He lives for the thrill of war and dropping bombs, as well as his love for women.

Steve McQueen was so comfortable in his character Buzz Rickson that it was hard to tell if he ever got out of character—or perhaps he was just playing himself.

"I have to stay in character," McQueen said. "I always try to immerse myself in the role I'm playing, and Buzz Rickson is no shrinking violet."

Marshall Terrill wrote in his Steve McQueen biography: "At the end of his 4-month stay [in England during filming], he had totaled a studio-owned automobile, race in his off-hours and smashed up his face, taunted his female lead, poured beer on an extra's head, sprayed mud on and executive with his motorcycle, and was kicked out of a plush suite at one of London's swankiest hotels."

"This character is kind of schizophrenic. He revels in war and destruction. He lives for killing. I've got too involved with him. By the time I get home at night, after a day's work, I'm physically and mentally exhausted." - Steve McQueen

Early on in the movie you see Buzz and Bo lead a team of pilots on risky a bombing mission, and after the bombs are dropped, you can see how much Buzz enjoys the thrill—He gets off on it! The look in his eyes says it all:

After this bombing mission, in which Buzz Rickson disobeyed orders and went under cloud cover to (successfully) bomb the hell out of the target, he moves on to his second love—hunting for some women. How does a man like Buzz Rickson choose his lucky lady for the night? Let's find out:

Besides choosing his ladies at random from his wall of beauties, Buzz also likes to hit the town, and he likes a little competition too. In this scene Bo spots the beautiful British beauty, Daphne across the bar, and you can see that Buzz already knows he wants her as well. It's on!

In his memoir "Piece of my Heart", Robert Wagner wrote that McQueen was not an easy man to be around. "I found Steve very self-conscious and very competitive, even about small things," Wagner recounted. "For instance, Steve was about 5'9", smaller than me, so he made sure never to have is wardrobe next to mine where anybody could see it. It's the sort of thing that strikes me as a wasted effort—why not use that emotional energy for something constructive? Steve was such a complicated man—always looking for conflict and never really at peace."

It turns out Daphne falls for the handsome, but decidedly more boring Bo. She had loved a man like Buzz once, and didn't want to go there again. I guess you can't blame her, but I think I'd still choose Buzz. Maybe it would have helped if she had witnessed Buzz's way with this cute puppy? (Nevermind that he only wanted this puppy after the owner of it died under his command...)

Never the one to give up, Buzz tries again with Daphne, sneaking up her apartment after Bo leaves. Daphne admits she finds him attractive, but it's still a no go—Buzz no-likey:

Shirley Ann Field and Steve McQueen clashed on set, and according to Mark Terrill's bio "it eventually became physical. Field said in one of the love scenes, they were supposed to end up on the sofa. She said that McQueen, however, got her there a little faster than she had anticipated. "Steve threw me so hard that I went up and over the sofa and out of the shot altogether. It took ten takes! I still have the scar on my lip," Field said.

Field, who was bleeding profusely, retreated into the arms of the picture's makeup man. While he was patching her up, he whispered in his Cockney accent, "Bite his bleedin' lip." Field says she took his advice. "So the scene started and I did just that, and it went along 'Bang!' and it was over. You see, I had to fight for attention in my early days and I was surrounded by 400 others. He just looked at me, knowing what I'd done, and I said, 'It takes one to know one.'"

Since I really enjoyed this movie and want you all to see it too, I won't give away the ending. Who gets the girl? Who survives the final mission? Are you a Robert Wagner girl (or guy) or a Steve McQueen girl (or guy)? These are all things you can find out by watching The War Lover.

Vol. 11: Real Men Love Animals

2012-01-14T19:53:00.000-08:00

Steve McQueen and a Kitty Cat

Steve McQueen and wife Barbara Minty

"Every time we got into a fight, he would bring a kitten home. When he passed away, I had thirteen cats that I drug up to Idaho with me. Altogether, we had thirteen fights the whole time we were together. That's not bad considering we were together for three-and-a-half years." - Barbara McQueen, Steve's third wife, married until he died

(read entire article here)

Book Review: The King, McQueen and The Love Machine

2012-01-07T16:10:00.000-08:00

A few weeks back I finished reading 1970s Model/Actress Barbara Leigh's (partial) autobiography: The King, McQueen and The Love Machine. This is only a partial autobiography because it really only focuses on a few years of her life in the early '70s when she became involved with three famous and powerful Hollywood men—Elvis Presley, Steve McQueen and James Aubrey, a high powered television and film executive, also known as "The Smiling Cobra" due to his reputation for being ruthless.

In my opinion, Barbara managed to write a "tell all" book without telling too much. By that I mean she tells all the juicy details of her relationships in a way that shows class—and she was respectful enough of these three men that she never told her story until after they had passed, nor did she use her relationships with them to further her career. I also got the feeling that Barbara really cared for each one of them, and I never felt they were just a notch on her belt—and from the sounds of it, they seemed to care for her too.

Barbara Leigh (quite a dish, huh?)

Things that surprised me:

Elvis was kind of boring.

Barbara tells of how she met Elvis while backstage at one of his shows in Las Vegas in the early '70s. She describes Elvis to be in his "Greek God" stage. She was dating James Aubrey at the time, and he had brought her to the show, where Elvis basically stole her from under his nose by getting her number and calling her the next day to fly her out to be with him. She never had any illusions that she was his only girl on the side (and he was still married to Priscilla at this time), but they became very close. Elvis liked to surprise her with gifts—sometime jewelry and sometimes a brand new brown 250 C Mercedes Benz—or he would send a helicopter in to pick her up for the night. But while all this sounds exciting and lavish, spending time with Elvis became a bit like groundhogs day. He had a routine and she always knew exactly how her night would go with him, and they usually ended with him taking and giving her a little pill to fall asleep. Once Steve McQueen came along, the routine just wasn't quite as exciting—even if it was The King.

Steve McQueen and Barbara Leigh in Junior Bonner

Steve McQueen was a sweetheart.

There has been much written about Steve McQueen and his numerous affairs and his three wives. It's been said he slept with almost every one of his co-stars while married, he held a gun to his wife Neile's head when he found out she cheated on him, he threw Ali MacGraw into a pool from two stories up during a fight, or that he picked up random women at grocery stores... most of which is probably untrue or exaggerated, but who knows. This is why I'm so glad Barbara told her story of their relationship—Barbara paints a much more caring and tender picture of Steve. I think he came out looking the best out of all three men.

Barbara met Steve while she was auditioning for a part in Steve's movie Junior Bonner. After the audition he ran after her and told her she didn't get the part, but he wanted her number. She liked his honesty and thought he was cute, so they went on a date. (She did end up getting the part when the original actress backed out) The two of them hit it off—they both came from difficult childhoods and broken families, and both started out as what she described as "PWT: Poor White Trash". Steve was in the process of separating from his first wife Neile, but was still technically married. Barbara liked that Steve was laid back, and always showed up for their dates with a six pack of beer. Unlike Elvis, who insisted she wear dresses, Steve liked her in jeans. The two of them were practically living together for the months they were filming Junior Bonner, and continued to go out on dates afterwards. Steve began to want to get more serious, and asked Barbara to move in with him—but she was still seeing Elvis and dating James Aubrey and didn't want to give them up. It was James Aubrey, after all, that she really loved. To make a long story short, Barbara found out she was pregnant, and was sure it was James Aubrey's child and had decided to break off her relationship with Steve to be with James. She went to James to tell him she was pregnant and he told her it couldn't be his because he had gotten a vasectomy years ago. Barbara was heartbroken and made the difficult decision to terminate her pregnancy. She decided to break off her relationship with Steve and told him the child was James'—something she would later regret. Steve was fragile at the time and going through a divorce, and she didn't want to burden him by telling him the child was his.

When the time came for Barbara to have the procedure, she had some major complications and had to be hospitalized for some time. The only person that came to visit her in the hospital was Steve—he would sneak in late at night and bring her hamburgers to cheer her up. James Aubrey never came to see her. This made Barbara feel even more guilty she never told Steve the truth. The two of them continued to remain friends, and she even put in a good word to Ali MacGraw whom he would marry a short time later.

Barbara Leigh and James Aubrey

Indian.

"Because of my high cheekbones, long hair and freewheeling style of dress, James nicknamed me "Indian," and that's all he ever called me."

James Aubrey never called Barbara by her name—just "Hey, Indian..." That should have been a red flag right there. It didn't bother her much, but to me it sounded demeaning and possessive—which is how that relationship played out. James Aubrey was the one that Barbara really loved. He was older, sophisticated and was not married. Barbara saw him as the father figure she never had and wanted a man that could teach her things and take care of her, but James Aubrey was not that man.

_____________________________________________

I would definitely recommend this book to any Elvis fan, Steve McQueen fan, or anyone who wants a taste of what it was like to be young, famous and beautiful in the "be here now" mindset 1970's. Besides what I've shared here there is much more about Barbara's life growing up and her struggle to start her own career while juggling her relationships, as well as many more interesting stories about Elvis, Steve and James. I started the book as a McQueen fan and ended the book as a Barbara Leigh fan.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T13:36:00.000-08:00

Joan Vohs

Jayne Mansfield

Marilyn Monroe

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year's Eve and wish everyone a fantastic 2012!

In July of 2011 I started this blog after discovering how much I love old movies and movie stars, especially from the '50s, '60's and '70s, and Westerns! Because I was sure the people in my life were getting tired of me talking about movies they've either never seen or haven't seen in a million years, I decided to write it all here. It's been a lot of fun and It's been great meeting others that love the same things! I look forward to continuing on in 2012 and can't wait to watch more movies, read more biographies and share them here!

Vol 10: Real Men Love Animals: Lee Van Cleef

2011-12-30T20:39:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited for this volume of "RMLA" because these photos were a bit harder to find than others I've been posting. As you might know by now, I think Lee Van Cleef is pretty damn cool. The only reason he hasn't been on this blog as often as I would like is that since he wasn't quite as "A list" as the Eastwoods and the McQueens of the world, it's a little more difficult to find info on him. But lucky for me I found an awesome and friendly group of people over at TheBad.net that are not just Lee fans, but could act as a sort of Lee Van Cleef University. If you want to know anything at all about him, throw the questions to them and I'm sure they can help you. And thanks to one cool gal over over there—Alanna—I am able to put up these photos. She was kind enough to scan these for me from her collection. (Thanks!!)

As if Lee Van Cleef wasn't cool enough—here he (age 54) is poolside, along with his wife Barbara (39) and his pups:

Weekend Magazine, November 1979

Not only is there a dog in this photo, he is ALSO playing the guitar ::sigh::

Weekend Magazine, November 1979

Even though these next photos have nothing to do with animals, I think they show another side of Lee Van Cleef that most don't know about—The Artist. Meet Lee, The painter (and Jack of All Trades):

Weekend Magazine, November 1979

I keep thinking how cool it would be to have a Lee Van Cleef original hanging on my wall. Maybe for Christmas next year Santa??....

Weekend Magazine, November 1979

Whoop-de-do and Hickory dock!

2011-12-24T22:35:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays Blogger friends! I hope it's a great one filled with family and friends and lots of good stuff too :-)

Clint Eastwood, Santa Claus and Eric Fleming on the set of Rawhide

Steve McQueen posing by a Christmas Wreath with The Boys Republic

Marilyn Monroe hangs a wreath over the fireplace, 1951

Audrey Hepburn gets cozy with Mr. Claus :-)

Vol 9: Real Men Love Animals: Alain Delon

2011-12-18T19:56:00.000-08:00

To be honest, I've never watched a movie starring Alain Delon. I've only learned about him while researching other stars I like, like Brigitte Bardot and Claudia Cardinale. But he sure is pretty—almost TOO pretty for me, if that is possible. I've never been much into watching foreign films, and I know Alain Delon is French, but it is my new goal to watch one of his movies. Maybe I'll start with The Leopard, starring him and Claudia—Unless you've got any recommendations for me! (Deep down I keep hearing Steve McQueen's voice from The Cincinnati Kid—"What the hell are you going to Frenchie movies for anyway?")

I found these lovely photos of him with some puppies, a pigeon and even a lamb—catapulting him up a few notches in by book ;-)

Merry Christmas to me!

2011-12-18T15:29:00.000-08:00

One of my early Christmas gifts this year was The Complete First Season of Rawhide. Yee haw! I can't wait to get into this. I've never seen a single episode as of yet, and I'm looking forward to seeing a very young Clint Eastwood. I will let you know what I think.

Remembering Lee

2011-12-16T18:32:00.000-08:00

http://wild-wild-western.over-blog.com/article-32854137.html

22 years ago today the world lost one of the world's baddest dudes, Lee Van Cleef. Even his name is cool. His eyes will pierce right through you, and when he's on screen I DARE you to take your eyes off of him. If Lee's eyes don't get your attention, maybe his deep, distinct voice will! Lee is absolutely amazing in For A Few Dollars More and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and he managed to grab my attention away from Clint Eastwood, which is not easy to do!

Rest in Peace Lee!

Lee Van Cleef as Colonel Mortimer, For a Few Dollars More

Book reviews: Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon

2011-12-13T17:35:00.000-08:00

I just recently finished reading the first of my Steve McQueen bios that I've acquired, The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon by Marshall Terrill. I was told this was the bio to read, so I started there—and I can see why it is recommended. I really enjoyed this book and I have quite a few thoughts on it and on Steve.

My overall thoughts after reading this book is that Marshall Terrill presents Steve McQueen's life in a fair and even handed way. While there are times that you can tell Terrill is a fan, he doesn't gloss over McQueen's less than ideal qualities, nor does he harp on them. Instead, with the help of psychologist Peter O Whitmer PhD, he offers some insights into the possible/probable psychological make up of Steve, based on his difficult upbringing and observations on how he interacted with people. I am always interested in the psychology behind what makes people who they are, so I really enjoyed that, even though it was speculative.

Steve's childhood was atrocious. He was born to young parents in a small rural town, and shortly after his father abandoned him completely (and by the time he finally tracked him down in his 20's, his father had died just months earlier) and his mother (possibly a prostitute for a time) was in and out of his life. When she was in his life, she had him living with her physically abusive husband. But mostly Steve was raised by his grandparents and Uncle Claude on their farm—and this was the only stable and safe place he had.

"He was a fascinating, crazy, irascible, roguish, likable, dislikable guy. Yes, he was all those things." - David Foster

Steve and first wife Neile Adams

This background gave Steve many of the qualities that brought hims success and caused some to admire him and some to dislike him (sometimes both at the same time). His insecurities caused him to constantly feel the need to prove himself. He was competitive with his costars, always trying to steal the spotlight. Because of this he didn't make a lot of friends on set, but he was able to get the lines he wanted and shots he needed to become a superstar. It's understandable—Steve came from nothing, and everything he achieved he had brought about himself, and he was always afraid he could lose it all at any moment. His second wife Ali MacGraw once said that Steve always looked as if someone was going to steal his last helping of Mashed Potatoes.

Despite being described by people in the book as being competitive, selfish, brash and just plain nuts, many of these same people speak of him lovingly. He was also fun to be around, exciting, loyal, and could also have a very caring and sensitive side. I think with Steve you had to take the good with the bad.

Steve and second wife Ali MacGraw

Steve and third wife Barbara Minty

Steve was a bit of a loner at heart, but the people he got closest to in his life were women. He loved women, yet he also had a deep mistrust of them, stemming from his relationship with his mother. He was constantly testing the limits of their loyalty to him—including his many affairs which are chronicled in the book. I don't think he was ever faithful to any of his wives, but I do believe after reading this book that he truly loved the ones he chose to marry, and I believe each one of his wives—Neile Adams, Ali MacGraw and Barbara Minty—truly loved him.

One of my favorite parts of this book, surprising to me, were of the last years of his life, after he withdrew from Hollywood, trying to live a "normal" life. It seems he may have been happiest during this time in his life, but it wasn't to last long, due to his way to early death.

Steve McQueen in The Towering Inferno

The story of Steve McQueen is an exciting one, but also a sad one. He was a victim of his hard upbringing, but ended up hurting a lot of the people he loved the most in his adult life. But it's easy to admire him despite his flaws—he lived for himself, answered to no one and was free as a bird, and well... cool.

Happy Birthday Buscemi

2011-12-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

Even though you (as Nucky Thompson) broke my heart this Sunday night on the Season Finale of Boardwalk Empire (How could you Nucky?!?)— you still rock. You may not be the most classically attractive man on Earth, but the 1920's garb is becoming on you, even if no one else agrees with me.

Here's to you Steve! You rock at everything you do—Happy 54!

Nucky Thompson, Boardwalk Empire

Mr. Pink, Reservoir Dogs

Crazy Eyes, Mr. Deeds

Sometimes you just have one of those days...

2011-12-07T19:45:00.001-08:00

(Clint Eastwood, The Eiger Sanction)

Happy 96th Birthday Eli Wallach!

2011-12-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

The truly awesome Eli Wallach turns 96 today, proving that while the good may die young, the ugly will continue to kick it into old age. Eli Wallach has had some of the best parts in a bunch of my favorite old movies, to name a few—Silva Vacarro in Baby Doll, El Calvera in The Magnificent Seven, Guido in The Misfits, and of course, my MOST favorite of all time, Tuco in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. I tip my hat to you Mr. Wallach—Keep on truckin'!

Tuco (The Ugly), The Good, The Bad and The Ugly:

“When you have to shoot,
shoot, don't talk” - Tuco

Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef on the set of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Eli Wallach and Marilyn Monroe on the set of The Misfits:

Eli Wallach's (Silva Vaccaro) sits on swing with Carroll Baker (Baby Doll):

Coming Soon(ish)...

2011-12-04T17:05:00.001-08:00

I have been quite busy in the past few weeks watching movies and reading, but very lazy with my blog— and the things I want to post about are piling up. Here are the things I've got in the works for the blog that I'm going to try to get to this week:

1. I finished reading the first of my Steve McQueen bios that I've acquired, The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon by Marshall Terrill. I was told this was THE bio to read, so I started there—and I can see why it is recommended. I really enjoyed this book and I have quite a few thoughts on it and on Steve. (Oh, and I actually teared up in the part of the book when he died, so Terrill was successful at bringing me into his life.)

I have just started reading Barbara Leigh's bio "The King, McQueen and The Love Machine". It got some rave reviews and offers a glimpse into some rare personal moments in Elvis and Steve McQueen's life.

The last one in my possession is the new bio Steve McQueen: A Biography by Marc Elliot that I won in a contest Andrea held over at her awesome blog On the Marquee. (Thanks again!!) This book is much shorter than the Marshall Terrill bio and the reviews so far haven't been great, so I'll give this a go and see if he has anything new and interesting to offer.

2. I finally watched A Streetcar Named Desire. Marlon Brando—Just, WOW.

3. The Long, Hot Summer, with the great Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward and Orson Wells. Paul and Joanne fell in love on set, so this move seems extra special.

4. I picked up the "Dollars Trilogy" and "Kelly's Heroes" editions of Cinema Retro Magazine. I was very excited to find these at a bookstore and I'd love to share some of the rarer photos in them.

Inspiration?

2011-11-21T17:55:00.001-08:00

Part sincerely interested/Part wanting an excuse to post these bathtub photos:

Was the Clint Eastwood's Coogan's Bluff (1968) scene inspired by Steve McQueen's Cincinnati Kid (1965) scene? Let's examine and let me know your thoughts!

Coogan's Bluff:

VS.

The Cincinnati Kid:

Steve McQueen and Tuesday Weld, The Cincinnati Kid

Finally Watched: An (old) Brando Movie—The Fugitive Kind

2011-11-20T16:44:00.001-08:00

You may recall a while back I saw this photo prompting me to want to see a Marlon Brando movie, pre-Godfather, when he was young and handsome. I'm still really new to watching classic movies so that explains my lack of ever seeing any Brando movies that wasn't The Godfather. I haven't gotten my hands on A Streetcar Named Desire yet, but The Fugitive Kind aired so that will go down as the movie that gave me the Brando bug. What a fascinating actor to watch—and easy on the eyes too.

I didn't know anything about this movie going in, but it turns out it is a Tennessee Williams screenplay, and I really enjoyed Baby Doll, which was written by him as well. Both movies surprised me as being a bit risque for their time.

Val and Lady

Val (Marlon Brando) is great as a drifter/musician who wears a snake-skin jacket and carries his guitar everywhere. Early on he runs into Carol (Joanne Woodward) who takes and interest in him and wants to go "Juking" with him.

"Juking? Oh! Well, that's when you get in a car, which is preferably open in any kind of weather. And then you drink a little bit and you drive a little bit, and then you stop and you dance a little bit with a jukebox. And then you drink a little bit more and you drive a little bit more, you stop and you dance a little bit more to another juke box! And then you stop dancing and you just drink and you drive. And then, you stop driving." - Carol

I had initially thought that Val and Carol would be the love story here, but I was very wrong. Val is more interested in his new employer, Lady Torrence (Anna Magnani), whom is a middle-aged, sort of homely (In my opinion) yet charming wife of an invalid. This makes for a much more interesting story—this movie kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending is dramatic and depressing, but I won't give it away for those who haven't seen it.

Lady:Are you a lady's man?
Val:It's been said that a woman can burn a man down... I can burn a woman down.

Poor Lady, she didn't have a chance in hell against Brando's charms:

A beautiful scene in Lady's confectionery:

A dramatic scene between Val and Lady, when Val discovers Lady has taken an interest in him as well, and a major turning point in the film:

Wanted: Steve McQueen and Lee Van Cleef (Dead or, preferably, alive)

2011-11-14T17:54:00.001-08:00

As I've been making my way through both Steve McQueen's and Lee Van Cleef's catalog of work I came upon an episode of Wanted: Dead or Alive, starring Steve McQueen and guest starring Lee Van Cleef—SCORE!! The series is great to begin with, being a western and one of Steve McQueen's first acting jobs, with some cool guest stars—I think it's under rated. (Under rated in that I never hear about it mentioned like you hear about Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Rawhide etc...)

This episode, called The Hostage, was a great find for me. Both Steve and Lee were young, handsome and in their prime—AND it's a Western, my favorite! The series follows Josh Randall (McQueen), a bounty hunter carrying a sawed off rifle. In this particular episode he tries to deliver Jumbo Kane (Van Cleef) and is taken hostage by the killer.

Enjoy a few screen shots from the episode and two particularly funny scenes between Lee and Steve:

Lee clocks Steve with his gun!...

BUT Randall retaliates by attacking Lee... with his crotch! Check out this move...

Vol. 8—Real Men Love Animals: Brando and Grandma's Dachshund

2011-11-13T16:23:00.001-08:00

There's nothing better than a young and beautiful Marlon Brando displaying his love of his grandma (while wearing her bathrobe) and her cute pup:

Breakfast in Grandma's Robe
Once filming on The Men began, Brando moved out of the veterans' hospital and into the small bungalow of his aunt in Eagle Rock, Calif. During this period Brando's maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Myers, was also a houseguest: "She was quite abashed because [LIFE photographer] Ed Clark took pictures of Marlon in a bathrobe, which happens to be hers," reported a production assistant amount the notes found in LIFE's achieves. Grandma Myers was also apologetic about the barbaric way Brando ate: "Bud doesn't bring the food to his face," she told LIFE. "He brings his face to the food." On Brando's lap as he slurps his coffee: his grandmother's dachshund, named Kurtze Beiner (supposedly German for "short legs")

Remembering Steve

2011-11-07T18:39:00.000-08:00

"When I believe in something, I fight like hell for it."

It's been 31 years today since the world lost Steve McQueen, at the all too young age of 50.  He is one of the most interesting, complicated and fascinating actors to ever grace the small and big screen. 

I'm currently reading one of three books about Steve, and whether or not you're a fan, his story is a good one. He lived lifetimes in his 50 years, overcoming struggles of abuse and abandonment to rise to the top be one of times most enduring actors and sex symbols. He was dubbed the "King of Cool", and loved fast cars, motorcycles, women and living life on the edge. 

Here's to you Steve!

Pretty people on bicycles

2011-11-01T19:26:00.000-07:00

Instead of celebrating the all too soon cold weather (yeah, Autumn's beautiful, but we go straight to Winter here...) I'm going to reminisce about the warm, long days of Summer with beautiful people riding bicycles:

Grace Kelly

Brigitte Bardot

As a kid I had a dream - I wanted to own my own bicycle. When I got he bike I must have been the happiest boy in Liverpool, maybe the world. I lived for that bike. Most kids left their bike in the backyard at night. Not me. I insisted on taking mine indoors and the first night I even kept it in my bed. ~ John Lennon

John Lennon

Clark Gable

Paul Newman

Get a bicycle. You will certainly not regret it, if you live. ~ Mark Twain

Claudia Cardinale

Audrey Hepburn

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving ~ Albert Einstein

Clint Eastwood & (ex) Wife Maggie

Steve McQueen

Marilyn Monroe

Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike.

~ John F. Kennedy

Happy Halloween! Muhahahaha!

2011-10-31T16:36:00.000-07:00

Let's celebrate this holiday with Vincent Price, the man who's voice can invoke fear in even the bravest of movie watchers. I picked up these photos, torn out of an old magazine, at a local vintage shop because I thought they were cool.

As a child of the '80's I will always have a special place in my heart for Vincent Price's addition to Thriller—spooked my for days as a child (and maybe just tiny bit still...)

Darkness falls across the land
The midnight hour is close at hand
Creatures crawl in search of blood
To terrorize yall's neighborhood
And whosoever shall be found
Without the soul for getting down
Must stand and face the hounds of hell
And rot inside a corpse's shell
The foulest stench is in the air
The funk of forty thousand years
And grizzly ghouls from every tomb
Are closing in to seal your doom
And though you fight to stay alive
Your body starts to shiver
For no mere mortal can resist
The evil of the thriller

Autumn with Dylan and Cash

2011-10-27T18:13:00.000-07:00

There's something about Autumn that makes me want to listen to only Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. (More than normal, that is.) Why? I haven't a clue.

Maybe it has something to do with the cooler weather and the colors are getting richer, and that the Autumn brings on a more serious and reflective mood than the Summer. It could also be that Bob and Johnny are two of the coolest and most fascinating musicians, in my opinion. I want drive with the windows down and listen to Bob sing about the Girl from the North Country or get cozy with a cup of Joe and listen to Johnny and his lady troubles.

What songs or musicians remind you of Autumn?

I ain't lookin' to compete with you
Beat or cheat or mistreat you
Simplify you, classify you
Deny, defy or crucify you
All I really want to do
Is, baby, be friends with you.

-Bob Dylan, All I Really Wanna Do

A Cardinal sang just for me
And I thanked him for the Song
Then the Sun went slowly down the West
And I had to move along
These were some of the things

On which my Mind and Spirit feed;
But Flesh And Blood need Flesh And Blood
And you're the one I need

-Johnny Cash, Flesh and Blood

Vol. 7—Real Men Love Animals: Moo!

2011-10-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

Steve McQueen and a Cow

circa October 1979, on the set of his final film The Hunter, about to kiss a baby calf

Kankakee River Valley, Illinois

Credit: Barbara McQueen—The Last Mile

James Dean and a bunch of Cows

"Amid Uncle's Cows, Dean smiles contentedly. Not overly fond of farming he has always liked animals because, he says, they accept him on his own terms." - Life Magazine

Elvis Presley and a Cow

If you can't be 'em… Dress like 'em!: Claudia Cardinale

2011-10-12T17:49:00.000-07:00

Let's take a look at the wardrobe of the drop dead gorgeous Claudia Cardinale, the 1960's/'70's Italian actress/bombshell. I loved her as Jill in Once Upon A Time in The West—one of the greatest westerns ever made, where she looked like this:

In her everyday life she had a great mod'60's style. Capris, mini dresses, chunky headbands and extreme cat-eye eyeliner were her wardrobe staples.

For this first look, I wasn't able to find any stylish striped capris, but I bet she would've liked these floral print ones:


Clockwise from Left: Cafe capri in floral taffeta from JCrew; Easy perfect shirt from Gap; A Hair of Elegance Headband from Modcloth; If you wanna be my lava flat from Modcloth.

Clockwise from top left: Row of Roses Headband from Modcloth; Bubblegum Poppies dress from Modcloth; Too Faced Liquif-Eye Liquid Eyeliner; White Mini Dress from Nordstrom; Little Bow Peach Headband from Modcloth;

As a bonus, Claudia was also a cat lover :-)

Well, Hello James Dean!

2011-10-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

I don't know for sure, but it might be considered a sin that it took me so long to finally watch the only 3 movies starring James Dean—East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant. For some reason I never felt too motivated to watch them, thinking he's probably overrated, being that he's so good looking and he died young. I felt this way about Marilyn Monroe too, before I watched her movies, and once I finally did I fell in love just like everyone else. It's the same with James Dean. I guess I've learned my lesson—sometime people know what they're talking about!

What I love about James Dean's performances, in all the movies, is that he was an incredibly sensitive actor, and he was able to convey so much emotion in his eyes. All my favorite actors have this quality—the ability to speak volumes without saying a word. He wasn't just macho cool, like I'd expected, but he was also vulnerable on screen. You can't take your eyes off of him—and that's saying a lot when your sharing the screen with beautiful talented people like Natalie Wood, Liz Taylor or Rock Hudson.

Now that I have a new appreciation for Jimmy I've been searching for some other video clips and I found this great screen test with him and the one and only Paul Newman. Simply adorable:

Here are some great pics from the set of Giant and behind the scenes with Liz:

Love Love LOVE this one (notice Liz is on the cover of the magazine he's reading):

How much do I love Jimmy in his glasses? A lot.

And we all know Jimmy was an animal lover, here with his Siamese cat—a man after my own heart!

Favorite Scenes: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

2011-10-06T18:55:00.000-07:00

I've been putting off this post because I'm completely intimidated by trying to talk about such a masterpiece (remember, I'm not a movie buff/expert by a long shot), and I love this movie so much I wanted to do it justice. But screw it, you guys know I'm not a movie buff, so you don't care, right? I'm not going to bother writing a synopsis because you've probably seen it, and if not, GO SEE IT!

I watched this movie after seeing and loving Clint Eastwood in Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More (hence discovering the amazing Lee Van Cleef). Director Sergio Leone knows his way around a close up and gorgeous scenery and GBU just builds on that. And I can't talk about this movie without mentioning the musical score by Ennio Morricone—brilliant! Listen to it on you iPod and anything your doing will feel EPIC. I have no idea how to post music here, so you'll just have to check it out on your own if you haven't heard it.

The unexpected highlight of GBU, for me, was Eli Wallach as "Tuco—The Ugly"—The comic relief/mexican badass with a personality you can't help but love, with some quotable lines to boot ("Hey Blondie! You know what you are?! Just a dirty son of a b----!!!") And I'm happy to say Eli Wallach is still around and kickin' at the impressive age of 95!)

Blondie and Tuco

Blondie ::swoon::

The bad, but handsome Angel Eyes

Clint Eastwood's "Blondie—The Good" is cool as a cucumber and maybe a teensy bit more "good" than the other two, which isn't saying much. Lee Van Cleef's "Angel Eyes—The Bad" is downright evil (a far cry from his character in FAFDM) and you certainly aren't rooting for him… but he has the coolest name!

Here is my love letter to The Good, The Bad and The Ugly:

Blondie and Tuco Team up:

click to animate

"Every gun makes it's own tune"
(and Blondie keeps kittens in his hat):

click to animate

Tuco is too cool for words:

RIP Steve Jobs: iThank You

2011-10-05T17:27:00.000-07:00

So sad to hear of Steve Jobs passing. I'm a Graphic Designer and perhaps a bit of an "Apple snob", but there's just nothing better, more user-friendly and just plain beautiful than the Apple computer products. So thanks to Steve Jobs for making what I do possible.

In honor of a great innovator, here are some photos from my very favorite ad campaign:

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do. - Apple Inc.

If you can't be 'em… Dress like 'em!

2011-10-04T20:37:00.000-07:00

I'm going to try something new with this post. When you spend a lot of time watching old movies and pouring over old photos you begin to develop an appreciation for the unique styles that defined the times or even the styles that defined the person. Most of us will never know what it's like to be a Hollywood star or a Rock star, but why can't we dress the part and feel like it once and a while?

First one up is for the guys, or the gals who shop for their guys. I'm starting with Steve McQueen not only because I'm quite fascinated with him recently, but also because he has such a distinct style that oozes cool, but is also very easy and accessible. He looks put together, but doesn't look like he's trying—what every guy wants and what every girl is drawn to. I've included some of my particular favorite looks, but there are so many more outfits that were just as sharp.

Without further adieu, here's how to dress like Steve McQueen:

Clockwise from Top: Iconic Four Ply Cashmere Shawl Collar Cardigan by Drake's London; Classic Fit Striped Oxford by Ralph Lauren; Emerson Vintage Straight Chino by Banana Republic; Steve McQueen Suede Boot by Common People


Clockwise from Top: Garment Dye Polo by Dockers; Steve McQueen Special Edition Sunglasses by Persol; Vintage Slim Fit Jeans by J.Crew; Chuck Taylor All Star White Sneakers by Converse;

And then there are those looks that I would strongly discourage those out there that are NOT Steve McQueen from wearing, such as:

The short-shorts - Not many can pull these off

Too much matching denim - Very tricky to wear if your not the King of Cool

Rafael Santiago paints tough guys

2011-09-28T19:37:00.000-07:00

I ran across Rafael Santiago's website, an artist, sculptor and filmmaker. What caught my eye were the surreal portraits of many of the very stars I like to blog about regularly. I'm guessing he's probably a fan of the tough-guy westerns as well, and apparently, cute teddy bears. I think my favorite is the Steve McQueen.

Check 'em out. I've included some interesting background about the pieces from an interview I found here.

The Good, Ink on Watercolor

EA: Who is the little parachuting teddy bear that sometimes appears in your work?
RS: He made his first appearance in the “Smokin’ Aces” show in the triptych for, “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.” His name is “TEO” and he serves two purposes: He is a time traveling Teddy Bear and there are no dimensional barriers that can block his journey. He is an explorer like Magellan. Secondly, when witnessed by his subjects he serves as a source of inspiration.

I like to think of myself as being sort of a "TEO" with no dimensional barriers to block my journey ;-)

The Bad, Ink on Watercolor

The Ugly, Ink on Watercolor

“Bad Ass Bronson” Ink on Arches Paper

EA: What is the story with the floating cigarettes?
RS: The portrait, “Kool Enlightenment,” started it all. I bartended when smoking was allowed here in NYC and everyone that smoked had their own way of smoking their cigarettes. At the end of the evening, after a night of drinking and smoking, the cigarette buttes left behind seemed to portray a personality, a signature, if you will, of the person who smoked them. The floating cigarette in the drawing creates a sense of motion and a symbol of ‘personal vices.’

“Cellular Brando”, Ink on Arches Paper

EA: Many artists tend to stick to mostly female figures, but with you it's almost the opposite, what is it about doing male portraits that fascinates you the most?
RS: Well, actually I extensively studied the female figure for many years. My work for the documentary, “Beyond Black Rock” was a sculpture of a female. Many portraits from this time period featured all types of female figures. The male face is a fairly new subject to me. I did not do this consciously; it just worked out that way. The portrait of “Steve McQueen,” ignited the fire for me. Characters like Steve McQueen intrigue me. It’s that intensity and passion for life, the ability to bypass obstacles and living in the moment that I can relate to.

“Smoke N Aces”, Ink on Arches Paper

I'd love to hear your thoughts on these!

I love the 20's

2011-09-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

The potential for this blog to take a turn for the 1920's just went up exponentially due to the beginning of Season 2 of Boardwalk Empire (one my favorite shows on television) and the amazing Ken Burn's "Prohibition" documentary that will begin airing on October 2nd. A few months back I went to a preview for the documentary with a Q&A with Ken Burns, and it's going to be great, just like all of his documentaries.

The roaring 20's was such a fascinating and unique time in history. The fashion was unlike anything before or after—drop waist dresses, beading, feathers, finger waves and bob haircuts for the women; three-piece suits and hats for the men. In fact, I find the 20's mens fashion so appealing that I actually find Steve Buscemi's Nucky Thompson attractive. (Go ahead, laugh—I get that a lot).

I'm going to blame the suit and the carnation ;-) Am I alone?

1920's lady

Besides the fashion, the 20's seems like a blast. I would love get dressed to the nines and head out for a night out on the town, sipping forbidden drinks and dancing the night away.

The women of the time were even more progressive than in later times in history. The gained the right to vote and slowly began to realize they could be both mothers and career women—and have fun too!

I also love that way back in the 20's there was a much more liberal view of same-sex relationships. From Wikipedia:

"In 1927, Mae West wrote a play about homosexuality called, The Drag, and alluded to the work of Karl Heinrich Ulrichs. It was a box-office success. West regarded talking about sex as a basic human rights issue, and was also an early advocate of gay rights."

I have an all new respect for Mae West.

Since I'm on the topic of the 20's, I thought it would be fun to share some family photos we recently found of my great-grandparents from the time:

My great-grandmother Bertha, on my father's side:

My great-grandmother Doris, on my Mother's side:

Doris on the far right, in the fabulous dress. I believe she's in front of her family's hotel.

My great-grandfather Donald, on my Mother's side:

Love is in the air

2011-09-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

Since today is my 1-year anniversary of marriage to my wonderful husband, I thought I would celebrate by posting some of my favorite photos of famous couples from back in the day. Many of them didn't last—But it IS Hollywood after all. Enjoy!

Joe DiMaggio & Marilyn Monroe

Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall

How gorgeous is she??

Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton

Frank Sinatra & Ava Garner

Steve & Neile McQueen

Clint & Maggie Eastwood

Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward

Johnny Cash & June Carter

John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Vol. 6: Real Men Love Animals: Dogs

2011-09-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

Marlon Brando and family dog, 1951 (http://www.stephendaitergallery.com/dynamic/artwork_display.asp?ArtworkID=2055#)

Knick-Knack Paddywack, Give a dog a beer...

Montgomery Clift sharing a cold one with a friend :-)

Steve McQueen at home on Solar Drive in the Hollywood Hills with his dog and Land Rover circa 1963 (IMDB.com)

Steve McQueen

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward with family dogs

And of course Clint—this man loves his animals!

I suddenly have the desire...

2011-09-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

...to watch A Streetcar Named Desire after seeing this photo:

I don't know much about Marlon Brando besides The Godfather and such, but I am now on a mission to watch some 50's and 60's Brando movies. Will report back!

My Home Sweet Home

2011-09-11T18:11:00.000-07:00

Each and every one of us remembers exactly where we were 10 years ago today. It's hard to believe 10 years has already passed, and at the same time, it's hard to believe only 10 years has passed. But I'd like to focus on the positive that came from such a tragic event. Ten years later I'd like to remember this:

On that day and the weeks and months to follow, we were unified, as Americans and as human beings. We helped our neighbors, we hugged our friends and families, We hung our American flags and we realized how important our country was to us. Wouldn't it be great if we could harness that feeling and keep it with us everyday, even when we're not being tested?

Since this blog is about past times, let's look back at some of patriotic images from Life Magazine in the 1940s:

December 1940:

In Los Angeles, "Million Dollar Theater" affirms its Americanism in letters even larger
than those announcing its double feature: Spy Bureau and While Thousands Cheer.


"The Patriot" is the new Hollywood drink of red, white and blue liqueurs with an American flag stuck in pineapple on top. Imbibling patriots: Elaine Barrie (ex-Barrymore).

July 1940:

The star-spangled bandana combines bright colors for beach wear with a noble utterance. Bandana can
be worn as a scarf, or as shown here, triangulated and wrapped o'er the ramparts in halter style.

Flag bag has stars and stripes appliqued in felt. With it this girl wears
gold-plated spread-eagle pin with the inset enamel, rhinestones.

Betsy Ross Bumbershoot has a nucleus of red-and-white concentric stripes, an outer field of stars, a handle of red.

September 1940:

Rolls and rolls of U.S. flags, printed to take care of new boom in flag sales,
are stacked at Annin & Co. waiting for hemming and cutting

In the flag factory flags are first printed on long rolls of cloth, then sent through these machines
which hem the sides. Next, the cloth is cut into individual banners.

January 1941: How to Salute the American Flag

Finally, I'd like to remember those who lost loved ones and those who sacrificed their lives to save friends and strangers alike. You will never be forgotten.

Vol. 5 - Real Men Love Animals: Cats & McQueen

2011-09-08T18:31:00.000-07:00

Since I'm on a roll with Steve McQueen, I might as well keep rolling.

I picked up William Claxton's Book of Steve McQueen photos on a closeout sale at Borders Bookstore and it's got some really great shots, Including these:

"Steve embraces the family pet, Kitty Kat, in the kitchen of his new home. His tenderness to the
little pet provided a wonderful contrast to his tough-guy image. Los Angeles, 1963.

William Claxton spent a few years shooting Steve, roughly between 1963 and 1965. In his forward he described what it was like meeting and being around him:

"I then turned to meet.... McQueen. He didn't offer his hand; he just stared at me with his intense steel blue eyes. (Later he would say to me, "Clax, I really zapped you with my look, didn't I?") His look was chilling. I felt that he knew everything about me in a split second. I thought, "Oh shit, what have I got myself into with this guy?" He was both seductive and threatening. Time would prove that my hunches, instincts, whatever you want to call them, were right about this unusual actor. He was street-smart, animal-like, non-intellectual, and hip. In fact, he brought new meaning to the word hip: he was super-hip."

I'm sure I will share more of these photos in the future, since I'm finding McQueen rather fascinating the more I learn.

The Blob (1958)

2011-09-06T18:36:00.000-07:00

So after watching The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) last night, tonight I watched The Blob (1958), which came 10 years earlier, just before Steve McQueen became a super megastar. The Blob's plot, as described by IMDB is "A mysterious creature from another planet, resembling a giant blob of jelly, lands on earth. The people of a nearby small town refuse to listen to some teenagers who have witnessed the blob's destructive power. In the meantime, the blob just keeps on getting bigger"

I have to say I really enjoyed it. I've been dying to see some of the old campy horror/monster movies of the '50s. To start, they have the BEST movies posters. Although it seems the visual effects possible at that time (or budgeted) were no match for the artist's poster renditions.

Yeah, the effects are pretty terrible, but nowhere near as bad as I expected. The Blob kind of looks like a giant ball of Smuckers strawberry jam. And yeah, The Blob is slow moving/oozing, and maybe not as terrifying as we're used to these days. But The Blob was scary in a charming way I suppose. It was scary in a poodle skirt and bobby socks kind of way. Not so dissimilar to The Twilight Zone that I love so much. It DID after all consume approximately 40 people in one night. And besides, the theme song at the beginning is seriously catchy!

You can hear the theme song and see the opening scene here:

One observation I have after watching The Blob was that, even in such a low budget movie with a mediocre script, Steve McQueen rose above, and you can see that he has star power. I believed in him when he talked about the blob. (My dad was right about Steve!)

::Spoilers::

At the end of the movie they discover the Blob cannot function in extreme cold, so they freeze it and send it to the Arctic. The last lines in the movie are:

Lieutenant Dave:At least we've got it stopped.
Steve :Yeah, as long as the Arctic stays cold.

So, that left me wondering, if global warming is real—are we in BIG trouble??

::end spoilers::

Favorite Scenes: The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)

2011-09-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

Last night I finally watched the original Thomas Crown Affair. I've never seen the remake, so I can't compare it to that. I really loved Steve McQueen and the beautiful Faye Dunaway, and I thought they had great chemistry and looked amazing. The movie was stylish and very mod. While the plot may be a bit on the weak side, I still really enjoyed this movie and my appreciation for Steve McQueen continues to grow.

I found this video the other day, Steve McQueen: King of the Close Up, which looks closely at his strengths and weaknesses as an actor. I agree with the creator of this video that Steve McQueen is most riveting to watch when in a close-up shot.

Steve McQueen: King of the Close-Up from Jason Bellamy on Vimeo.

The famous game of Chess between Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway was my favorite scene from The Thomas Crown Affair. If you ever want to know how good Steve is in close-up shots (or how blue his eyes are), you just need to watch this. This may be the sexiest game of the chess to ever have been played... and funny.

Say Cheese! (Lazy Sunday Post)

2011-09-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

James Dean

Marilyn Monroe

Brigitte Bardot

Paul Newman

Clint Eastwood

Elizabeth Taylor

Frank Sinatra

Bob dylan

Yul Brynner

Favorite Scenes: Coogan's Bluff

2011-09-02T20:05:00.000-07:00

And here is another installment of "Favorite Scenes", which will be another Clint Eastwood movie. Most of them will be. I love Clint, what can I say?

Coogan's Bluff (1968) is the perfect transition from Clint "Cowboy" to Clint "Law Enforcement". Coogan is both. The movie falls in the years right between the Dollars Trilogy and Dirty Harry. Coogan is a deputy from Arizona that travels to New York to track a fugitive, all while wearing a cowboy hat. The running joke is that the New Yorkers assume this cowboy must be from Texas, but no, he always has to correct them... Arizona. This is the first movie I saw Clint play a ladies man, and he's good at it.

There's some good chase scenes, and some fight scenes, but these are MY favorite scenes. So here are some of the ones I like (gratuitous as they may be):

Right at the beginning we get this little gem:

Click to animate

Since Coogan's been out in the dusty, dirty dessert tracking a fugitive, his gal obviously wants him to take a bath before he starts to get fresh. But Coogan has another idea:

[Coogan is taking a bath, a busty woman is washing him, Coogan throws the soap, aiming for her cleavage, and misses]
"Millie, Coogan's Girlfriend:Need a bigger target?
Coogan:There ain't any in this county. " (IMDB.com)

Click to animate

Once Coogan gets to New York City, he sets his sights on Julie, a probation officer. She doesn't think this cowboy is quit her type, but he convinces her otherwise:

Julie: Sorry, Mr Coogan. You’re not my type.
Coogan: Oh? How can you tell?
Julie: The hat, maybe…
Coogan: Oh, that? That comes right off.

Click to animate

For My Dad on his Birthday: Steve McQueen

2011-08-30T18:49:00.000-07:00

My dad had one thing to say after reading this blog: "Where's the Steve McQueen?". And he's absolutely right. The King of Cool should be on here, so here goes!

I feel like more people these days should know about Steve McQueen, but it seems like many don't. I know I didn't until I finally caught The Magnificent Seven, and I was missing out! I've since watched him in Bullitt, The Great Escape, and The Towering Inferno. I still have a lot more to catch up on, and I'm looking forward to it.

For all of the great roles he had, he turned down some seriously impressive roles including the lead role in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Ocean's Eleven, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Apocalypse Now and Dirty Harry.

" McQueen was an avid motorcycle and racecar enthusiast. When he had the opportunity to drive in a movie, he performed many of his own stunts.

Perhaps the most memorable were the car chase in Bullitt and motorcycle chase in The Great Escape. Although the jump over the fence in The Great Escape was actually done by Bud Ekins for insurance purposes, McQueen did have a considerable amount of screen time riding his 650cc Triumph TR6 Trophy motorcycle. It was difficult to find riders as skilled as McQueen. At one point, due to clever editing, McQueen is seen in a German uniform chasing himself on another bike." - wikipidia

Pretty darn cool.

"I live for myself and I answer to nobody."

- Steve McQueen

"I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth."

- Steve McQueen

"There's something about my shaggy-dog eyes that makes people think I'm good."

-Steve McQueen

Happy Birthday Dad!!

Apparently you just run for an extended period of time...

2011-08-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

"Veronica and I are trying this new fad called uh, jogging. I believe it's jogging or yogging. it might be a soft "j". I'm not sure but apparently you just run for an extended period of time. It's supposed to be wild." -Ron Burgundy, Anchorman

So, I'm a jogger, or someone who likes to run for an extended period of time. And folks, it is wild! And since I am in the middle of training for my second half-marathon with my father, I thought, why not do a post combining two of the things I love—running and retro! So, I started looking for photos of stars of yesterday jogging or at least some retro jogging suits, but no such luck (at least before the '70's)—I forgot how new jogging was.

What I did find, though, was a quite hilarious article in Life Magazine from 1968, making fun of us joggers and our new sport. The writer of this article seemed to get a good laugh at our expense, and the expense of the new book called "Jogging", although I'm sure he never once went out for an extended run himself.

Well, now it's our turn to laugh some 40 years later. Jogging has caught on, and this "nowhere sport" continues to grow. Unless your a runner/jogger, it's hard to know how difficult, yet rewarding it can be, because we make it look good! So, at least while I'm running, I'll be thanking my lucky stars I'm living in 2011 and not 1968.

Long before Nike's "Just Do It."and Under Armor's moisture wicking technology, we were "secret joggers—a vast underground army about to surface". I hope you get as much of a laugh from this as I did:

The Pious Pad-Pad-Pad of Jogging

The highest inaugural rite that the government can bestow on its programs of outdoor exertion—now that Pierre Salinger has retired from this kind of work—took place recently when four jogging trails were opened near Washington D.C. Secretary of the Interior Stewart I. Udall led 40 people, including several congressmen and 10 members of a Baltimore jogging club, on a two-mile jog over one of the new trails, ending with a speech in which he predicted that "jogging is going to catch on nationwide." Soon, across America, we can expect to hear the rhythmic pad-pad-pad of the sneaker and the rustle of the sweat suit. Hearty cries of "Well jogged!" will mingle with the chirping of birds in the virgin air.

Impossible, you say. There aren't that many joggers—or sweat suits— in all the land. But Udall seems to know what he is talking about. Last summer a book was published called Jogging, and it has sold 300,000 copies. This can only mean that the country is infested with secret joggers, a vast underground army about to surface, exuding muscle tone and proving to our enemies that democracy, though overweight, is not soft.

Just where jogging fits in the broader realm of athletics is hard to say. One of the book's authors, William J. Bowerman, is a track coach—his domain is sport; the other, W. E. Harris, is a heart specialist—his domain is therapy; and their definition falls somewhere between: "A steady or easy-paced run alternating with breath-catching periods of walking," or "a kind of running, generally slow regular trot." The final word will probably go to the joggers themselves, and I'm sure we can count on them to lord it over the rest of us who prefer the more established sports. (There is nothing quite so pious as a nonathlete who has suddenly discovered physical fitness.)

But America wasn't build by joggers. What kind of sport is this? It's a nowhere sport, east of shuffleboard and west of quoits. Can Jogging hold up its head in our bookstores alongside Karate, the Art of Empty-Hand Fighting, or The Skin-Diver's Travel Guide, or Judo for the West, or any of the chapters in Surfing, such as "Judging and Handling Rips and Undertows"? These are proud titles. Even Badminton Complete has a certain bravado. What other country would claim to know badminton complete, down to the last feather?

We are sportsman in America, not joggers—a breed finely honed to meet the tests of the 20th Century life. Watch the New Yorker sprint for a subway: through the turnstile and down the stairs, twisting his body sideways to miss the double jab of the closing doors. What grace! What timing! Watch the jaywalker in action: one of nature's noblemen, dodging and feinting among the sullen monsters of chrome. Watch airline passengers as the wrestle their luggage off the moving rack, or mothers as they jockey their shopping carts into position at the supermarket.

These are our athletes, and they wouldn't be caught dead jogging—they want something really good to be caught dead at. Jogging requires no "special skills," the authors admit, and is sanctified by no body of scholarship of the kind that hedge every decent sport—there is no Jogging Hall of Fame, no museum of early sweat pants. The authors don't even know who the first jogger was. "Maybe," they say, "it was one of the Greeks. They were fond of physical exercise, particularly running."

Apart from this omission, however, Jogging could well be called Jogging Complete. It fills 127 pages and is crammed with helpful schedules, progress charts and pulmonary-vascular lore. It sincerely wants to make you fell better, live longer, look better ("women joggers report a decrease in loose fat") and have a swell time ("if possible, jog with someone of the same ability").

And yet there is something about the drawing on its cover that gives me pause. It shows a boy of about 12 jogging easily, looking over his shoulder at his parents, in sweat suits, jogging half a dozen paces behind. The mother is doing fine; the father's face however, is edged with pain, with the sudden knowledge that he is never going to catch up.

This is no mere sketch of three people off on a family jog. It is a visual rendering of the generation gap and is meant to point a moral. Though the son is in the very act of dropping out, the parents will catch him because they are in tip-top shape and do fun things together.

But I don't think the boy is buying it—and I'm not either. "You and your finking jogging," he seems to be saying, picking up speed and heading for San Francisco.

- William Zinsser, Life Magazine, March 22, 1968

If it's not Scottish, it's crap—Happy 80th Connery!

2011-08-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Bottoms Up!

Jim Beam Ad - Life Magazine, Nov 1966

Jim Beam Ad - Life Magazine, June 1967

Vol. 4 - Real Men Love Animals: Cats, Dogs and More

2011-08-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

The Cats:

Paul Newman with his Siamese... that sits on his shoulder! There's so much to love about this:

Marlon Brando loves his kitty. Maybe a little too much.

The Dogs:

Clark Gable and his pup, in 1931:

From book "Hollywood Dogs" Original found HERE

Humphrey Bogart with his two Scottish Terriers:

From book "Hollywood Dogs" Original found HERE

Rock Hudson:

Photo from Photoplay Magazine, April 1954

Yul Brynner with his family and dogs Chante and Pancho:

... and the Squirrels:

Fistful of Dollars, again. Why not?

2011-08-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

So, I know I already posted about my favorite scene from Fistful of Dollars here, but I thought I'd do the extra leg work and create an animated version. I did it for For a Few Dollars More, so I thought it was only fair. This might be the weakest movie in the "trilogy"—but that's not saying much since they're all masterpieces in my opinion—this scene stands out as one of the best. The flipping of poncho. The death stare. The quick draw. The taking down of four men in the blink of an eye. The humor (which really doesn't translate in my .gif). It really doesn't get much better.

Not to mention that right before this scene he asks the undertaker to get three coffins ready, and upon walking back says "my mistake, four coffins". Clint, you are too cool for words!

You know your in trouble when he throws that poncho (or is it serape?) over his shoulder:

Pinup Queens: Photoplay Magazine 1954

2011-08-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

Just picked up an April 1954 issue of Photoplay magazine, one of the first to discuss the private lives of celebrities, and there were some gorgeous celebrity pinup photos in there I wanted to share, along with the blurbs that were written next to them. The colors of these just blow my mind!

This pinup queen got lost and her studio couldn't find her. But Joe did--now Miss Monroe is signing her name, Mrs. DiMaggio!


Powolny • Marilyn's a dance-hall girl in "River of No Return"

Rhonda Fleming admits she's the lazy type--but this gorgeous red head doesn't have to work at getting attention from the boys.

Stern • Rhonda is currently in "Yankee Pasha"

A sultry Lorelei, with a siren beauty men can't forget, Ava continues to hypnotize the public--as well as Frank Sinatra!

Apger • Ava Gardner is filming "The Barefoot Contessa"

If anyone thinks having a baby cost Ginny per pinup figure, they'd better start looking again. It's worth a second look.

Six • Virginia Mayo is in "The Talisman"

There's only one word for pinup beauty like Elaine Stewart--and that's what the boys are saying. "Wow!"

Apger • Elaine appears in "Brigadoon"

The Unknown

2011-08-19T08:44:00.000-07:00

As my husband and I settled down after a long day at our beach vacation rental, we flipped on the TV to watch for a few minutes before we fell asleep, and stumbled across an old 1920's silent movie. Now, I haven't really watched many silent movies and I didn't think 1:00 in the morning was a good time to start, what with all the reading that involves—but this one was fascinating. We had no idea what we were watching and no way to find out... the TV was so ancient it had no menu option—the horror!

I had to look it up as soon as we got home and it turns out that the unknown movie we were watching was actually called "The Unknown" a Lon Chaney movie from 1927, and I had no idea the beautiful actress was actually Joan Crawford (who I really only know of from watching "Mommy Dearest"). Who knew how gorgeous she was? (Proof in photos below)

This movie was truly strange, and fascinating—all amplified by the "over acting" required by silent movies. Here is the description from IMDB:

Alonzo is an apparently armless knife thrower who uses his feet to encircle Estrellita with blades. Zanzi is killed by Alonzo (who really does have arms). Estrellita allows herself to fall in love with Alonzo (she fears men's arms), so he goes to a hospital and has his amputated. Meantime Malabar cures Estrellita of her fear of men's arms, so Alonzo tries to have him killed during a circus act.

Written by Ed Stephan

I have to admit I came in late and fell asleep before the end—it was a LONG day—but it definitely made an impression. I'll have to check this one out again.


Lon Chaney and Joan Crawford, The Unknown (1927)

She really was beautiful, before the eyebrows happened!

Joan Crawford

Happy 75 to The Sundance Kid

2011-08-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

(photo "enhanced" by myself)

“Health food may be good for the conscience but Oreos taste a hell of a lot better.” -Robert Redford

I truly hope it's the Oreos that got him this far, because that's what I call livin'!

While I'm Away… Some Eye Candy

2011-08-13T07:28:00.000-07:00

Clint Eastwood

Paul Newman

Montgomery Clift

The Fab Four

Bob Dylan

Yul Brynner and Frank Sinatra

Enjoy!

It can always get smaller

2011-08-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

In 1945, the Life Magazine writers couldn't see how it would be possible for bathing suits to get any smaller—boy would they be in for a shock today!

Article excerpt and photos from Life Magazine, July 9, 1945:

Bathing Suits: They Have Come A Long Way But Cannot Go Any Further

In 1905 a lady's bathing suit was made of ten yards of material. In 1945 it is made from one. Between these to statistics and these two dates lie a social revolution and an annually expanding area of bare, brown flesh. The revolution has made it quite permissible for even the most proper women to appear on public beaches in costumes which used to be seen only in the rowdiest cabarets.

Since 1930 U.S. bathing-suit manufacturers have made money by cutting something more off their suits each year. Neither sermons nor ordinances nor arrests have slowed the steady progress from bloomers to one-piece suit to bra and diaper pants, and progress recorded on the following pages in a series of suits modeled by Pamela Randell. But in 1945 both maker and wearer are at the end of their rope; there is—or seems to be—nothing more to cut off.

Vol. 3—Real Men Love Animals: Miscellaneous

2011-08-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

In 1957, Elvis fans from Australia sent him a Wallaby. Elvis said "Somebody came over and told me I was getting a wallaby. Boy, was I disappointed when I opened the crate and found a baby kangaroo!" He also said " I tried to train him a little bit, but who's got time to fool around with a kangaroo? I'm gonna give him to the Memphis Zoo." Smart choice Elvis... but he is pretty cute!

Clint Eastwood cradles an armadillo in his arms during filming of "Two Mules For Sister Sara" on location in Mexico, Oct. 27, 1969. Photo: (AP Photo) / BE

According to Gael Greene, who documented her affair with Eastwood (which perhaps I'll discuss another time) during the "Two Mules For Sister Sara" also talked about Clint's love of animals:

Suddenly, there was a commotion behind his trailer. Some locals had roped an iguana and were dragging it to the prop tent in hopes of cashing in. Clint recoiled. “I sometimes wonder who is the zoo. The animals or the people,” he said. He disappeared, returning with the writhing iguana, getting slashed by its whiplash tail.

“I bought it for five pesos,” he said, hitching the beast to an awning stake. “What do you think they eat?” After lunch, while setting the beast free, he backed into a cactus. The makeup crew was still plucking quills from his back when I hitched a ride back to the hotel.

Dylan, unshaven and protesty. Protestiest.

2011-08-08T18:26:00.000-07:00

Check out this article from 1964 Life Magazine. Warning Moms and Dads! Hide your daughters—there's an angry, sloppy, unshaven (gasp!!) folk singer on the loose. Of course, these are just some of the reasons I love Bob so much, and I'm guessing I probably would have then, had I been around in 1964.

The Angry Young Folk Singer—Bob Dylan is sloppy, steamed-up and successful

Bob Dylan, who is quite possibly your children's favorite singer, is not exactly the image of the clean-cut boy you'd like your daughter to bring home to dinner. He is sloppy, disheveled, unshaven. He talks angrily and irreverently. But he is the most important writer of folk songs in the last 20 years. His biting protests against poverty, injustice, segregation and war are vitalizing a fold movement which was bogging down in dying cowboys and blue-tail flies. And Dylan has become one of the three or four best-selling fold singers around.

Unlike the new crop of well-scrubbed collegiate fold groups, Dylan scorns clothes, baths and razors. “I come on stage the same way I go anywhere”, he says. “I mean, are all those people pay to see me look great?”

Dylan, who is 22, took up folk singing after he flunked out of college four years ago. He bummed around the country, picked up a guitar along the way, began singing his songs in bars and coffeehouses. Last year’s Newport Festival made him famous and now he does not know how to cope with success. “My records are selling and I’m making money.” he says. “But it makes me think I’m not doing right. Man, I’m going through a weird time.”

- Excerpt and images from Life Magazine article, April 10, 1964

And here are some Ah-mazing quotes from Bob Dylan, regarding the idea that he is or is not in fact a protest singer. Sometimes he thinks he is, sometimes not, and other times... your guess is as good as mine.

Reporter: I wonder if you could explain a bit more about yourself and your kind of songs. What do you think of the kind of protest song tag?

Bob Dylan: I don’t, uh, … oh, God. No. I’m not, I’m not gonna sit here and do that. I’ve, you know, I’ve been up all night, I’ve taken some pills, I’ve eaten bad food and I’ve read about wrong things and I’ve been out for a hundred miles an hour car ride and, uh, I’m just not gonna sit here and talk about myself as a protest singer or anything like that. [...] Rainy Day Women happens to deal with a minority of cripples and orientals and, you know, and the world in which they live, you realise, you know, you understand, you know. It’s a sort of North Mexican kind of thing, uh, very protesty. Very very protesty. One of the protestiest of all things I ever protested against in my protest years.

-Press Conference, Hotel Marina Vedbaek, Denmark 30th April 1966
(source: http://idler.co.uk/features/the-freespieling-bob-dylan/)

Reporter: Why don’t you write protest songs anymore?
Bob Dylan: All my songs are protest songs. You name something, I’ll protest about it.

-Press Conference, Hotel Georges V, Paris, 23rd May 1966
(source: http://idler.co.uk/features/the-freespieling-bob-dylan/)

Reporter: How many people who major in the same musical vineyard in which you toil, how many are protest singers? That is, people who use their music, and use the songs to protest the uh, social state in which we live today, the matter of war, the matter of crime, or whatever it might be.
Bob Dylan: Um... how many?
Reporter: Yes. How many?
Bob Dylan: Uh, I think there's about uh, 136.
[People around him giggle. The reporter doesn't laugh]
Reporter: You say ABOUT 136, or you mean exactly 136?
Bob Dylan: Uh, it's either 136 or 142.

-No Direction Home

Favorite Scenes: For a Few Dollars More

2011-08-07T18:16:00.000-07:00

Let me first start out by saying that I am no movie buff. I never would have even called myself a movie lover—a casual watcher maybe. But some months ago I caught some Clint Eastwood westerns on AMC, Hang 'em High and High Plains Drifter to be exact, and fell hard for Clint—and westerns in general. So I started watching more of them, which in turn introduced me to some other amazing actors and actresses from the past, and I've been following the trail of amazing actors to more amazing movies (some westerns, some not). I guess now I might consider myself an OLD movie lover. There is a beautiful quality to many of the older movies, especially technicolor, that just doesn't exist today. The colors were a little too saturated, and it feels more like art than real life. And the stars at the time were able to maintain their mystique without the throngs of Paparazzi following them on their daily jog—they remained untouchable and perfect, and still do to this day. As I go through these old movies for the first time, I think I'll use this space to gush about them—since most people these days would rather discuss Transformers with me than The Magnificent Seven. So I don't plan on giving movie reviews so much as I will talk about the things I loved (and maybe the things I didn't)—Just one gal's opinion.

Since I already posted early on about my favorite scene from Fistful of Dollars (1964) I want to start with Sergio Leone's For A Few Dollar More (1965). In my opinion Leone's "Spaghetti Westerns" are by far the most beautifully shot. They are dark and funny, and I really appreciate that. While Fistful of Dollars is fun to watch, I think For A Few Dollars More (FAFDM) is much stronger. The storyline is more interesting and it has one of the best western villains ever — El Indio. But, by far, one of the best things about FAFDM is actor Lee Van Cleef, who plays Colonel Mortimer. I went in thinking Eastwood was awesome, and came out wondering if Van Cleef was just as, if not more awesome.

Colonel Mortimer looking at El Indio's Wanted Poster.

Clint Eastwood plays The Man With No Name, called Manco, a young bounty hunter on the trail of El Indio. Van Cleef's Colonel Mortimer is an older bounty hunter on the trail of the same bandit. There is some competition and they're keeping a close eye on one another.

Colonel Mortimer's looks pretty darn cool with his yellow pipe too:

One of my favorite scenes in FAFDM comes when Manco and Mortimer go head to head to establish who's in charge by exercising some good ol' fashioned hat shooting.

Manco starts by shooting Mortimer's hat down the street:

And then Mortimer shows Manco that he's a total badass:

This movie is definitely worth watching, and is one of my favorites. I've read many reviews and most think the The Good, The Bad and The Ugly or Once Upon a Time in the West are Sergio Leone's best westerns. After a few viewings I would agree, but I think For a Few Dollars More is more accessible—shorter and action packed—and just as beautiful. If you've never seen Lee Van Cleef, you absolutely need to watch this one, and if you've never seen Clint Eastwood, then I'm sorry for you ;-)

*All animated gifs selected and created by myself.

Mr. Ed pranks the world's coolest guy

2011-08-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

So, as a Clint Eastwood fan and a former kid who loved to watch some Mr. Ed on Nick at Nite, I was super excited to find these clips of the two together. This originally aired in 1962, right before Clint, at that time starring on Rawhide, got started in his western movies.

Premise: Clint Eastwood is new in town and Mr. Ed decides to mess with him over a party line.

I'm sure glad Party Lines no longer exist. But on the other hand, it could make for some fun times ;-)
I also really enjoy that Clint calls his lady "sweet talker". (Side note: His lady on the phone is the same girl from the famous Twilight Zone "Eye of the Beholder", who's all wrapped in bandages.)

Alan Young (Wilbur) and Clint Eastwood

You better control your talking horse!

The Gunfighter, The Cop and G.I.

2011-08-02T19:17:00.000-07:00

So I was just looking back at my blog since I began, and it's surprisingly short on the Eastwood. I mean, I did list his name first in my favorites after all. I'm a pretty new fan, but it hit me hard—so cool, so handsome. So many movies to talk about—where to start?

Maybe I'll start with Clint the Gunfighter/Cowboy/Man with No Name:

And maybe next Clint the Cop/Detective:

And then on to Clint the G.I.:

At least that's the order in which I prefer my Clint Eastwood movies. These characters comprise a good deal of of his roles, but there are other great ones I want to talk about too (The DJ, the Ape-owning fighter, the Old guy who wants you off his lawn). I'll start that another night. But at least this post takes care of my lack of Clint on the blog, for now.

A Case of the Mean Reds

2011-08-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

“ You know those days when you get the mean reds?

The mean reds, you mean like the blues?

No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling? ”

- Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) - Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Audrey Hepburn

Sophia Loren

Elizabeth Taylor

Marilyn Monroe

Brigitte Bardot

Anita Ekberg

Claudia Cardinale

Montgomery Clift wants to lay his head in your lap

2011-07-30T17:24:00.000-07:00

And who are you to stop him, really?

Montgomery Clift on the set of Red River 1948

Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor - A Place in the Sun 1951

Montgomery Clift and Marilyn Monroe - The Misfits 1961

Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor - Raintree Country 1957

The Original "Snuggie"?

2011-07-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

These photos appeared in Life Magazine in 1954 as a spoof on the new stretchable tube dress, by fashion photographer Fred Anderson. Something about this reminds me of a (slightly more stylish, way more awesome) Snuggie.

Vol. 2—Real Men Love Animals: Dogs

2011-07-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

Clint Eastwood is a big softy for a Dachshund puppy

Is that a puppy in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me? In all seriousness—It doesn't get better than this:

Cary Grant carries puppies in his pocket

Frank Sinatra relaxing with his buddy

Paul Newman

I wonder if that's Newman's Own dog food?

Paul McCartney and his Old English Sheepdog Martha, the inspiration behind "Martha My Dear"—lucky dog!

Steve McQueen and Mike, his Malamute. Wake up Steve!

Steve McQueen is so cool his dog is practically a wolf.

Happy Monday

2011-07-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

Part of a 1942 Advertisement for Walk-Overs

(Photos Courtesy of Life Magazine)

Hey There Cowboy: 1945

2011-07-24T17:18:00.000-07:00

If the Early West were to meet the 1940's, this may be what it would look like, from Nevada's first national style show titled "Bonanza Fashions".

Jane Trent depicts the city's theme "The Early West in Modern Splendor" over the entrance of Last Frontier Hotel

Ella Raines

The western toile on this dress is awesome:

Ella Raines models top feature dress depicting an early frontier scene, with old locomotives, cancan girls, gamblers and covered wagons.

(Photos courtesy of Life Magazine, November 12, 1945)

Heat Wave: Retro Bathing Suits

2011-07-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

It's 100 degrees out, and feels hotter, so it's got me thinking about beaches and pools... and that's got me thinking about the perfect suit, retro style.

Cooling off in 1947:

A day at the beach in 1950 (with some big straw hats):

... and in 1965:

(All photos courtesy of Life Magazine)

Baby Doll (1956) - Too Sexy for the '50's

2011-07-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

After seeing Eli Wallach play Tuco—one of the best characters ever—in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly I decided I had to check out some of his other movies, (including some great ones like The Misfits and The Magnificent Seven), which brought me to his first role in Baby Doll. Glad it did!

Baby Doll (Caroll Baker) is a thumb-sucking, 19 year old virgin child bride (who sleeps in a crib...), married off to Archie Lee, a cotton gin operator who made a deal with her father not to consummate the marriage until she is 20 years old. Silva Vacarro (Eli Wallach), a competing cotton gin operator, suspects Archie Lee of burning down his gin and takes revenge by seducing Baby Doll.

This movie leaves everything to the imagination, and still manages to be sexier than most movies out today.

Case in point:

"In a swing, at the start of controversial sequence, Baby Doll sits with Silva. She breathed so passionately that censors advised heavy breathing be toned down." - Life Magazine 1956

Eli Wallach as Silva Vacarro, Life Magazine

Interesting Fact 1: The term "Baby Doll Dress" came from the dresses Caroll Baker wore in the movie.
Interesting Fact 2: Marilyn Monroe wanted this role badly, but the director chose lesser known Caroll Baker instead.

Caroll Baker as Baby Doll, Life Magazine

Moving to: 1968

2011-07-20T19:24:00.000-07:00

I'm putting the new Cream record on and getting cozy on the shag rug in front my groovy fireplace.

Kentile Floors - Vinyl Tile Ad - 1968

Vol. 1—Real Men Love Animals: Cats

2011-07-19T19:33:00.000-07:00

Clint Eastwood

Marlon Brando (Photo: http://www.thecatalyst.typepad.com/)

James Dean (Photo: http://www.thecatalyst.typepad.com/)

George Harrison (Photo: http://www.thecatalyst.typepad.com/)

Bob Dylan

Hair vs. Bald?

2011-07-18T18:37:00.000-07:00

On Yul—I vote bald all the way!!
(although either way, it ain't too shabby)

“People don’t know my real self, and they’re not about to find out.”

- Yul Brynner

Photo from Life Magazine, November 10, 1958

2011-07-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

“I just hate to fight with anybody — when you win, you lose.
You know...in your heart.”
- Roslyn (Marilyn Monroe), The Misfits (1961)

Real Women Have Curves.

2011-07-18T18:31:00.000-07:00

In 1947, when Marylin Monroe was only 19 and still very much Norma Jean, she was out of work in Hollywood, trying without success to make ends meet by modeling. A friend, William Burnside, tried to help out by introducing her to a famous fashion photographer named Paul Hesse. Unfortunately, Hesse pronounced young Norma Jean “too fat” and made her cry. To patch things up, Burnside took her down to the beach and made these previously unpublished pictures of a girl who was never really too fat at all.
From Life Magazine - July 23, 1971

The Magnificent Seven (1960)

2011-07-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

Finally watched it—Magnificent indeed. What a badass cast!

Chico (Horst Buchholz) and Chris (Yul Brynner)

Major side-effect of viewing this movie: A new found love of Yul Brynner.