Wednesdays Film Review - What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? 1962

What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? 1962

"What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?" is a thriller/horror film directed by Robert Aldrich and based upon a novel of the same name by Henry Farrell.

Main Cast:

"Baby" Jane Hudson: Bette Davis 

Blanche Hudson: Joan Crawford

Elvira Stitt: Maidie Norman

Elwin Flagg: Victor Buono

Young Jane: Julie Allred:

Young Blanche: Gina Gillespie

Dehlia Flagg: Marjorie Bennett

Mrs. Bates: Anna Lee

Liza Bates: B. D. Merrill

Ray Hudson/The father: Dave Willock

Singing voice of young Jane: Debbie burton

This is the chilling story of two sisters named Jane and Blanche Hudson. In 1917, Jane is a popular childstar with the stagename Baby Jane. She is her fathers favorite and very spoiled, while Blanche is completely ignored by the father. When Jane is on stage, Blanche and their mother watch from backstage. Blanche is angry and jealous of Jane, and the mother tells Blanche, that one day Blanche will be the star, and that she must remember to be kind to Jane, when that happends. The years pass and Blancche becomes an icredibly famous film star, while Jane becomes a has-been. Yet, Blanche has it written in her contract, that for every Blanche Hudson film which is produced, a film with Jane must be made. However, Janes films are not selling well and she begins to drink heavely. One night, after they have been at a party and Jane is extremely drunk, the two sisters drive home. One sister gets out to onluckthe gate, and the other tries to run her over.

Blanche is crippled and confined to a wheelchair.So is no longer able to have a carrier in the filmindustry.

Several years later they live together, and Jane takes care of Blanche. Their relationship becomes more and more tense, when the insane Jane learns that Blanche would like to sell the house and have Jane committed to an asylum. Jane is longing for her childhood and stardom and keep portraits of herself and her father everywere, plays her old signature songs, wears the same clothes (in larger versions) and keeps her hair in the same curls. Age has not been kind to Jane as it has to Blanche and Jane wears heavy makeup in an attempt to hide this. As their relationship becomes more hostile, Jane begins to psycologically torture Blanche and even becomes violent. Her obsession with her former life becomes deeper and she hires a pianist to help her revive her act even though nobody remembers her anymore. Blanche begins to fear for her life and tries to get help. But maybe Jane is not the only one with a dark side.

This film is a classic. And for good reason. It is absolutely epic. Unlike many other films of this era, which have a tendensy towards overacting, a huge part of this perfectly subtle. Even if this film is a black and white it surely could still scare children today. Bette Davis portrays the insane woman Baby Jane a finesse which grant the character multible faces. One minute she is a lost little girl in an old womans body - the next a grotesque abuser. Even if Davis and Crawford disliked each other to the point of sillyness, it certainly dosn't affect their acting, as the parring on screen has an amazing result. Joan Crawford is able to give Blanche such dimensions and makes her agony so believable, that it is heartbreaking.

My final tribute must go to the two childactresses, Julie Allred and Gina Gillespie, who, dispite that they are only present in the first part of the film, are doing and incredible job. They imbody all they agonies to come in their performance - especially Gine Gillespie whose performance as young Blanche is impressive.

 I give this five black cats.

Wants of the week! (7) - The Space Edition

1. WON HUNDRED "mila" top, farfetch.com

2. Silver Treggins by POP CHP, styleserver.de

3. Blue lipstick from Lime Crime

4. Atelier Swarovski Large Crystal Ring, boutique1.com

5. Jill's black crystal leaf brooch,  fantasyjewelrybox.com

6. Jason Wu Black Belted Jersey Dress, stylebop.com

7. Silver eyeshadow from Lancôme 

8. Alberta Ferretti Galaxy-Print Silk Dress, theoutnet.com  

9. Serigo Rossi Uptown Zinco Piper Pumps, intermixonline.com

Wednesdays Film Review - Some Like It Hot 1959

Some Like It Hot 1959

"Some Like It Hot" is a film created in 1958 and released in 1959. 

Main Cast: 

Joe/Josephine/Junior: Tony Curtis

Jerry/Daphne: Jack Lemmon

"Sugar" Kane Kowalczyk: Marilyn Monroe

Osgood Fielding III: Joe Evans Brown

"Spats" Colombo: George Raft

Sweet Sue: Joan Shawlee

The year is 1929. Two young musicians named Joe and Jerry are in Chicargo, where they withness "the Valentine's Day Massacre". Seven gangsters are killed by another gang, let by Spats Colombo. When the withnesses are discovered, they flee - barely escaping death and with holes in their instruments. They deside that going to the police is way to risky as they would be murderer before they could testify. They disguise themselves as women and take a job playing in an all women band conducted by Sweet Sue. They take the names "Josephine" (Joe) and "Geraldine" (Jerry), but Jerry quickly changes his name to "Daphne", because he never liked "Geraldine". 

The band travels by train towards Florida, where they are to play. During the trainride, they meet the band ukulele-player and vocalist, Sugar Kane, who is a heavy drinker and tries to hide alcohol from Sweet Sue as it is not allowed in the band. Sugar has often been caught, and when she drops a bottle during a rehearsal, she is immediatly suspected to be the owner. However Jerry takes the blame - winning Sugars thrust. During the trainride both boys fall in love with Sugar, and have to struggle not to reveal their secret. Joe learns that his male persona is exactly Sugars type, but also that she has joined the band in order to escape these men. Sugar plans to find a millionare in Florida and get married. 

Upon their arrival in Florida, a millionare named Osgood becomes sweet on Daphne. Joe creates a second character posing as a millionare named Junior in order to win Sugars love. She instantly falls for him. They have dinner on Osgoods yacht, while Jerry is keeping Osgood on land. Osgood proposes the Daphne, who accepts. Jerry believes he can have an anullement after the wedding and a large settlement. 

Meanwhile Joe is forced to leave Sugar (Junior leaves) as he has had her and are no longer able to continue the charade. Joe and Jerry discovers that the gangsters are at the hotel for a gathering. Spats Colombo and his men recognise the musicians and chase them. However these gangsters are murdered by other gangsters as revenge for the original massacre. Jerry and Joe withness this as well, and are now chased by the other gangsters - and still wearing womens clothes. The meet up with Osgood and flee to the yatch - saying Daphne wants to elope and get married quickly. Sugar runs to join them, and announces that she loves Joe and doesn't care that hes just like the guys she left behind. Daphne tries to convinse Osgood, that they can't marry.

Osgood is not affected by the desperate Daphne, who eventually takes of the wig and cries: "I'm a man!"

Osgood simply replies: "Well, nobody's perfect."

Marilyn Monroe is always pleasant to look at, this is certainly some of her better work. Even if the acting on her part is rather weak, she does provide excellent comedy. So, even if you're not a Monroe fan this is acceptable. 

Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon are definently the ones, who will drag you in to this. The many colourful charactes the both portray are provoking and humorous.If you are a Monroe fan, this is a MUST SEE. However this film is a great chickflick and/or family film, but it's not a major cinematic experience.

 

 

 

Portraits: Anna May Wong

Anna May Wong (1905-1961)

Wong Lui Tsong was a Chinese-American filmstar, and the first ever Asian-Amercan to become an international star. She was born in Los Angeles and had her first (uncredited) role as an exstra in The Red Lantern of 1919. In 1921 she appeared in her first credited role in Bits Of Life. She went on to star in such films as The Toll Of The Sea 1922, Piccadilly 1929 and Daughter Of The Dragon 1931.

Wants of the week! (5)

1. Armani Jeans Shirt

2. D&G Pink Medium Dory Cross Body Bag

3. Green 80's Glasses

4. Alexander McQueen Heart Peep Toe Skull Pump

5. Mid Pink Ponteroma Jacket from debenhams.com 

6.  Glamour Cat Ring in Bootsie from modcloth.com - SO CUTE! MIAV!

Wedneydays Film Review - Holiday 1938

Holiday 1938

  

"Holiday" was a remake of a film of the same name from 1930, and was directed by George Cukor. 

Main Cast:

Johnny Case: Cary Grant

Linda Seton: Katherine Hepburn

Julia Seton: Doris Nolan

Ned Seton: Lew Ayres

Professor Potter: Edward Everett Horton

Mrs. Susan Potter: Jean Dixon

Edward Seton: Henry Kolker

The plot of this film is relatively simpel. The young man, Johnny Case, was born with nothing, but succeeded in making something of himself. He falls in love with a beautiful young woman named Julia Seton, and is eventually introduced to her father and siblings. He learns that Julia is in fact quite rich, and that heer family leads a life in luxury. He himself is thinking about stopping work, and try to enjoy life more. One must keep in mind that this was during the depression, and that sort of thing would have been unthinkable and provoking to the audience with there being no jobs at the time. He wonders how he going to tell Julia and her ambicios father. They are shocked and a distance evolves between Julia and Johnny. However he find a soulmate in Julia's sister Linda, who a free-thinking creature. Now, Johnny has a difficult choice to make. Pursue his bold dreams or stay secure in Julias arms?

The film is a good romantic "chick-flick" or whatever. Katherine Hepburn does this very well, but I must admit that some of the characters, for an example Julia Seton (Doris Nolan) seem somewhat "cartoony". It becomes a joke. This is however sort of a commedy, so to many this will go unnoticed, but if you are looking for an experience,  this is not the way to go. But this is certainly suitable for an evening with the girls and icecream.

 

 

Czech Republic: Prague, Second Trip, Day 1

This being my first travel post since I changed blog, I'm very exited to share this trip with you. If wish to see the pictures from my former trips to Berlin and Paris, they are still available at amadeacordula@blogspot.com for som time. Now this is my second trip to Prague, which I must say (and bear in mind I have been to many wonderful place; Germany, France, Egypt, Malta, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Spain, Austria ect.) is this most beautiful city in which I have ever been. The architecture of this place is simply stunning. People here are very friendly and most people speak English so communication will not be a problem for you. The city is a mecca for historically interrested people, as it is so wonderfully intact and contains wonderful examples of gothic, rennaissance, rococo, victorian, Sovietstyle buildings. Today I took a  with one of the guided touristboats, which can be recommented for those who are unfamiliar to the city and short on time. I then went shopping in the old city/city centre. I'm staying at hotel Amarilis at Stepanska 18, which is a quite good hotel at an affordable price.

Here are a couple of pictures I shot today:

Charles Bridge:

View from Charles Brigde:

Streets of Prague (me in the first photo as well):

Týn Church in Old Town Square

Astronomical Clock/Orloj