Hello, movie lovers! I thought I’d take a break from reviewin’ today to share my answers to some movie questions I’ve seen floating around YouTube lately. (I rephrased some of the questions. I’m also not sure who came up with this/where it came from, but credit to the creator, of course!)
1. If you need a good cry, which movie do you grab?
I mentioned this in a recent post on movies that “play with my emotions,” but Life is Beautiful (1997) makes me cry like a little baby. It’s a fantastic film and I’ve never been able to get through it without bawling.
2. Out of all of the movies you own, which is your favorite?
I’ll have to say Forbidden Planet. It isn’t my favorite film of all time, but it’s one of my favorite sci-fi films and the edition I own (the 50th anniversary blu-ray) is just phenomenal. You won’t find a more crisp and visually stunning print of it. The special features include an extra film and a Thin Man television episode. Endless enjoyment.
3. If you could be best friends with a movie character, who would it be?
The title character of Auntie Mame. She’s kooky, she’s a little bit crazy, but you’d always be sure to have a great time with her. Plus, who wouldn’t want to hang out in that amazing apartment from the 1958 film?
4. If you could only recommend three movies to someone, which would you recommend?
It’s Love I’m After, Ashani Sanket (review coming next month) and The Big Sleep
5. Which movie character has the best fashion sense?
I loooove movie clothes. I’ve done a series on some of my favorites (which I may start up again soon), and there are just way too many characters with great wardrobes. My most recent favorite discovery would have to be Irene Dunne’s wardrobe in Theodora Goes Wild. In modern film, Kate Winslet’s outfits in Titanic are the pinnacle of greatness to me. I want to live in every single one of them. My favorite overall might be Rosalind Russell’s outfits in The Women, because they reflect her character so well and have such odd details.
6. Which movie inspires you most?
There isn’t a specific film that I put on when I want to feel inspired, and to be quite honest I don’t watch many inspirational films. I’m all about crime dramas, 1930s comedies and cheese for the most part. I did recently see The Southerner (1945), though, and found it to be very inspirational. I can’t help but love the hard-working family in it. They persevere through a lot of trouble, and the film doesn’t even end necessarily happily for them, but they remain dedicated. Full review for that film will be posted next month!
7. Which movie character lives the life you’d like to live?
Don’t judge me for liking this cheesy film, but I’ve always wanted to be Rachel Weisz’s character in The Mummy (1999). When I was a kid I wanted to be an Egyptologist and was so jealous of her. I wanted (and still want) to LIVE in that library she works in at the beginning of the film. And now I’m in school with hopes of becoming a librarian eventually, so she’s still livin’ my dream.
8. Which movie can you watch over and over again?
There are so many! All of the movies I own on DVD with the exception of some of the box sets are films that I could watch endlessly. To Catch a Thief is one of my most re-watched films. I put it on whenever I’m grumpy and it (and of course Cary Grant, in all of his luminescent, too-tan glory) never fails to brighten my mood.
9. Where do you typically buy your movies?
I buy ’em wherever I can find ’em. My favorite place to buy used DVDs is Dearborn Music. I walk out with an enormous stack every time I visit that store. I also buy used on Amazon a lot. The Goodwill in my city has a pretty great selection sometimes, including some still-in-the-shrink-wrap classics on VHS. My library sometimes has good stuff at the monthly book sales. FYE was a good source, but the one nearest to me closed (and it was a sad day in America. RIP “Buy 3, get 2 free” expeditions). I only buy new DVDs if they are severely clearanced (i.e. the Best Buy $4.99 bin) or if the price difference between new and used isn’t much (with the exception of box sets, which I usually buy new). Why spend the extra money when you can find stellar copies of films that are previously viewed?
10. If you could have a romantic relationship with a movie character, who would it be?
I’m going to be predictable and choose one of Cary Grant’s characters, because we all know how much I love him. I’ll go with Dr. David Huxley in Bringing Up Baby because he’s a paleontologist and he hangs out with Asta. (Skippy/Asta is Hepburn’s dog in the film, but we can knock her out of the picture and steal the dog, right?) If it didn’t work out with David I’d be a homewrecker and go for Mr. Blandings.
Feel free to snatch these questions and answer them on your own blog!
The Motion Pictures 
Related to Question #1, there are two things I can watch that will always get me a little misty: the ending of ‘Notorious’, where your dream date Cary Grant rescues Ingrid Bergman from a slow poisoning at the hands of Claude Rains and his witch of a mother, and if I’m allowed a non-cinematic entry, Kirk Gibson’s at-bat in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, which I consider the most perfectly-realized moment in baseball history.
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Notorious is such a great film. It takes a lot for me to get teary-eyed when watching something. On the topic of sports though, there are a couple of Red Wings moments that make it happen.
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If you’re a hockey fan, like I am, check out a YouTube video called ‘Together We Can’, about what hockey means to people, and how the strike is affecting them. Another one that may start the waterworks!
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Just watched it. Powerful video. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t tear up a bit when they showed the octopus followed by the Wings flag! I also like the clips used from Network, because I don’t know about other arenas but that’s always part of the “pump up the crowd” movie montage at the Joe. The lockout is killing me.
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Glad you liked it. I’m in Phoenix, and follow the Coyotes, where I live only ten minutes away from the arena, and go (went) to games all the time; these rampant lockouts are really starting to chap my backside, too. Thankfully, I have homemade copies of games I’ve recorded over the years to keep me occupied in the meantime.
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Still going through the archives. So much to read. I can’t keep up.
Thought I’d answer some of these. Sounds like fun.
1) I never need a good cry. But I can’t watch The Artist without crying, which I normally don’t do while watching movies – especially when out in public, but The Artist gets me every time. Think this one should only be watched at home! (Shouldn’t that be: don’t try this at home?)
2) Hands Across The Table. Fred MacMurray and Carole Lombard play off each other so well.
3) Julia Child in Julie & Julia. Love the movie and book. Wish I’d read it before my ill fated trip to Marseille. Might have changed the course of history!
4) Gilda, Dodsworth, Holiday. (Will probably change my mind tomorrow. That’s a hard one to answer.)
5) Ann Smith in Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Her nightgown in the opening scene – classy sexy. The gown she is wearing when Jeff asks her out in front of David – nice silhouette. The evening gown and dress coat (not to mention jewelry) she wears when out with David – divine. The fur lined coat she wears at the ski lodge – me want!
6) The Lady Eve. Inspires me in the most superficial way: makes me want to polish my nails, dress better, be flirtatious, and generally act like life’s a screwball comedy.
7) Linda Stanhope in Wife Vs. Secretary, married to adoring husband Van, played by Clark Gable. Not bad. Not bad at all.
8) To Have And Have Not. Watching Bogie and Bacall fall in love: magic!
9) Varies. I don’t buy that many movies, to be honest.
10) Peter Warren, It Happened One Night. Life would be a fun adventure.
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With posting every day I can barely keep up with myself, haha. I missed fewer than 10 days last year (if you don’t include the 17 days in January before I started the blog :P), so you’ve definitely got a lot of reading material to sift through! I like your answers, and I’ll have to add Hands Across the Table to my watch list! :)
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