Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Gone with the Wind

An American classic, Gone With the Wind was made in 1939, directed by Victor Fleming. It won eight Oscars.

Scarlett O'Hara, (Vivien Leigh) is a sassy, beautiful, southern bell living during the Civil War. She is faced with problem after problem, never giving up. When her house burns down, or her father dies, she just deals with it. Scarlett loves a man named Ashley, (Leslie Howard) but Ashley loves Scarlett's cousin, not her. Nobody ever told Scarlett no, so she chased and chased Ashley until they finally kissed, which is when she realizes that she didn't like Ashley at all.

Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) seems to be the only one who can help Scarlett. Rhett loves her because of her fire and independence, but that's exactly why he hates her too. Scarlett ends up marrying Rhett, because, well, Rhett has money and Rhett doesn't let her make the rules. They balance each other out. I wont tell you how it ends, I'll just say that it surprised me the first time I watched the movie.

Its  fun, interesting story everyone needs to watch. Ive never seen anything like it. The story is written beautifully and the acting is terrific. I also have to add that the costumes are gorgeous.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
www.imdb.com
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An Affair to Remember

Its another love story! Nickie Ferrante (Cary Grant) is traveling on a ship to meet his fiance in New York City. Nickie is charming and just loves women. He can't understand why a man should spend his entire life with one women when there are so many other women he has yet to meet! Terry McKay (Deborah Kerr) is also traveling on the ship, only she is taking a trip while her boyfriend is off working. The two meet and start falling in love during the cruse, with photographers trying to catch anything that might look "suspicious".

Nickie and Terry decide that if they still love each other after six months apart, they will leave their significant others and get married. They plan to meet on top of the empire state building, but it doesn't turn out according to plan. Terry gets hit by a car trying to reach the empire building and doesn't see Nickie waiting for her. Terry can no longer walk, and has no way of connecting with Nickie, all the while Nickie believes he was stood up.

A year goes by before the two run into each other again, and Nickie is still hurt after waiting for Terry to show up, when she never did. Terry is too independent to tell him what really happened to her, believing that Nickie couldn't afford to take care of her.

I'm not going to tell you how the movie ends, your just going to have to watch it. The movie was made in 1957 and directed by Leo McCarey. It was nominated for four different Oscars and won a gold medal.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Its a Wonderful Life

 I felt like this would be the perfect movie for Thanksgiving. "It's a Wonderful Life" is a heart touching story about a man named George Baily,(James Stewart)and his life in his hometown of Bedford falls. The movie shows George's life growing up in the small town all the way until he becomes an adult.
George has done so much for the town, but when he falls on hard times, George wishes he never existed. An angel hears George and grants him his wish. When he walks back to town, Bedford Falls is a dirty trashy mess. Finally George realizes his mistake and understands how one person can make such a difference.

The film was directed by Frank Capra and produced in 1946. It was nominated for five Oscars and won five other awards.
This movie was shot in California, but something that is kind of cool is in the movie, there is a scene at a high school dance, where George meets his future wife, Mary Hatch (Donna Reed). In the scene, everyone is dancing and someone presses a button that makes the dance floor open up into a swimming pool. Every one dancing jumps in, and the high school this was filmed at was Beverly Hills High School in CA.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
www.imdb.com
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This is the High school where the swimming pool scene was shot.

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Thursday, November 8, 2012

North by Northwest

This movie, I believe is Alfred Hitchcock finest accomplishment. If you like a good plot, talented actors, and films with wit and suspense, this is your answer.

In the film, Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant), becomes mistaken as a man named George Kaplan. Mister Kaplan was involved with some, shall we say, dangerous men, and is about to be "knocked off". When Grant tries to make since of this misunderstanding, he gets accused of murder and is wanted by the police and men he was already running from. Little does Grant know that he has just stepped into a web of lies laid out by the government to catch the bad guys. Thornhill never existed, but now Grant gets to play the bait for the government. By the end of the movie, Grant and his leading lady (Eve Marie Saint as Eve Kendell), are dangling from Mount Rushmore.

North by Northwest (1959) won several awards and was nominated for three Oscars. Starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint in Alfred Hitchcock's best film.

Always,
Avery


Sources Used:
http://www.imdb.com

Thursday, November 1, 2012

All About Eve


 A young aspiring actress wiggles her way into the tight circle of a famous actress, Margo Channing, (Betty Davis) and becomes her biggest fan. Eve (Anne Baxter) fallows Margo around, doing anything she wants or needs. Eventually she steals Margo's fans away and gains the trust of influential directors, play writes, and friends. Without Margo, Eve would have remain unnoticed.

All About Eve was produced in 1950 and won seven Oscars! The whit and humor is outstanding. I have watched this movie at least 5 times and I never tire of it. The acting is superb and the movie as a whole is wonderful.

Always,
Avery


Sources used:
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http://www.imdb.com

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Rebecca

Rebecca was directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940. So of course, its a great movie. A young women (Joan Fontaine) marries a rich widowed man named Maxium' de Winter, (played by Laurence Olivier), and moves into his mansion. His previous wife, Rebecca, has her personal touches throughout the entire house, and nothing has change since her death. The new Mrs. de Winter has a hard time living up to Rebecca, in every way. The house maid was very close with Rebecca, so when the newly married couples move in, she convinces Mrs. de Winter that Maxium doesn't love her. Eventually, the bride becomes jealous of a dead women, and uncovers secrets that were never meant to be found.

One particular scene in the movie takes place on Halloween, and the de Winter's are throwing a party. The maid suggests that Mrs. de Winter dress up as a previous family member, whose painting hangs on the wall.When Mrs. de Winter makes her grand entrance to the party, her guests are shocked and stare with their jaws on the floor. She cant figure out what is wrong, until she learns Rebecca had worn the same costume the previous year. That is when things really start to get interesting. Everything unfolds and gets more exciting as the audiences starting piecing information together.

Rebecca won the 1941 Oscar for best picture as well as best cinematography. This movie is interesting and contains drama and mystery. The end is truly creative, and your heart breaks for Mrs. de Winter. Maxium is a good husband, but doesn't pick up on the manipulation between the maid and his new wife.

This movie is somewhat similar to Gaslight (1940) because of the mind tricks and a women going mad. Other than that, nothing is similar. Rebecca truly is a one of a kind movie, and a must see. The scenery and details are special while the story line and actors keep you on the edge of your seat.

Sorry this post is so long. But it really is a good movie.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
http://www.imdb.com
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