Sunday Movie Review: "Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944)

I'm not dead, promise. I know, I missed the review last Sunday, and I'm terribly terribly sorry as usual. But I assure you now that I'm done and graduated, and on summer vacation, I'm going to be spamming you with posts; I'll probably even revert to my two posts a week schedule. Thank you thank you for not unfollowing me or anything :)

I've seen a lot of great movies lately but for this Sunday I have chosen a movie I actually saw (for the first time, anyway) a few years ago: Meet Me in St. Louis (1944). The reason for this is because today is Judy Garland's 90th birthday! Though not a *favorite favorite* of mine, she was definitely a fabulous actress, one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, and a lady I happen to adore. (Plus, that VOICE!).

So here we go. (And excuse me if this review is even weaker than usual, I haven't seen this movie in like half a year so I had to jog my memory and such).

***

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944): Cast, plot details

In the year before the 1904 St Louis World's Fair, the four Smith daughters learn lessons of life and love, even as they prepare for a reluctant move to New York.

[from IMdb]

• Judy Garland as Esther Smith
• Margaret O'Brian as Tootie Smith
• Mary Astor as Anna Smith
• Lucille Bremer as Rose Smith

THE VERDICT: ★★★★

A sweet coming of age film about a St. Louis family at the turn of the century, led by Judy Garland in a  wonderful performance and filled with great music

This might very well be my favorite Judy Garland movie (because I'm dumb and haven't seen A Star is Born, though don't worry, I'm not so stupid to have not seen The Wizard of Oz - but I *do* like this movie better, still). The thing about me and musicals is that if I were employed at MGM in the 40's, chances are I wouldn't be hanging around the Arthur Freed unit as much. But when I do like a musical, I really love it, thus resulting in several being some of my favorite films (like Singin in the Rain and The Sound of Music).

Though Meet Me in St. Louis isn't one of my all-time favorite films, it's still a musical that I happen to adore. Maybe the number one reason is Judy Garland because was anyone woman ever so built for a musical? 

Anyway, seeing it's Judy's 90th, I guess it would be fitting to focus on her for this review. The music in this film is some of my favorite and I know a great deal of the songs lyric for lyric. Most of my favorites are, appropriately, sung by Judy. Besides the film's title song, which is quite obvious ("Meet me - in St. Louie - meet me at the fair - we can dance the hoochie coochie - and you can be my tootsie wootsie!"), I absolutely adore The Trolley Song! I remember watching some TCM segment about this in which someone was talking about someone in charge of this film's production insisting there be a song about a trolley in the movie, and so this was the result. 

Another scene from this movie that I always remember is Judy and Margaret O'Brien singing Under the Bamboo Tree, or the one that goes like, If you like a me, like I like a you, then you like a me too... or something like that... Anyway, you can watch it here. Absolutely adorable scene I think. And this isn't to forget Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas; though the song wasn't written for this movie, I believe, this is my favorite version of it. And last but not least, The Boy Next Door, which also contains some absolutely gorgeous closeup shots of Judy and her fantastical red hair which POPS in the Technicolor.

The music aside, I of course love her performance in this movie. This film is very much a character study of the Smith family in 1910s St. Louis and in the months they spend preparing for the World Fair, and I enjoyed watching the growth of Judy's Esther character throughout the film. I especially love all the spunky things she does in this movie.

Judy, Judy, Judy is all I've talked about so far so I will pause and talk a little bit more about the rest of the film. Maragaret O'Brien is one of my favorite child actresses. Annoying to some perhaps but I always liked her performances. This is a good example. I always remember the scene right before her cake walk dance with Judy where she sings to the group of adults, "I was drunk last night, dear mother!" and how she causes the Halloween fiasco scene. So yes, she is one of my favorite things about this movie, even though she goes all abominable and kills all the snowmen after Judy sings Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

It should also be added that Lucille Bremer (who danced with Fred Astaire in Ziegfield Follies) and Mary Astor are wonderful as the sister and mother. Marjorie Main makes an appearance as the maid. This is a feel good sort of movie and everything about it just makes it the kind of movie you would want to watch over and over.

PHOTOS & TRIVIA

• Judy Garland recorded The Trolley Song in one take (no surprise there!)
• Judy and Vincente Minnelli met for the first time on the set of this movie, and would later marry. Judy said it was because she felt extremely beautiful during the filming of this movie. It shows on screen.
• Van Johnson was originally cast as the male lead across Judy.

A MOVIE TIDBIT

***

Writing this review has really made me want to see this movie again, and lucky for me they're showing it later today on TCM as part of Judy's birthday celebration, so... if you haven't seen it yet, go watch it!

Happy 90th Birthday, Judy! :)

    

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Holiday Gift Guide for Classic Film Lovers

So, I've been seeing holiday gift guides for classic film lovers popping up at all of my favorite blogs recently, and so I thought I'd join in on the fun! Here are ten items sure to please most any classic film lover. Books and movies particularly. I've picked items that have come out this year, and have tried to vary it with gifts for both sexes. Like I said, there have been several guides already written so I've done my best to be original! And speaking of other guides, the most original by far however must be Clara's: go and read it. Best list of presents I've ever seen. ;)

Holiday Gift Guide for Classic Film Lovers

You can click on the link to be taken to where you can purchase it online. :)

MOVIE:

Cary Grant: The Early Years

I really love the idea of this box set, I honestly think it's so clever! It contains Cary Grant's early films, before he became the suave, debonair movie star we all know. This box set contains three, rare movies from 1935: "Devil and the Deep," "The Eagle and the Hawk," and "The Last Outpost." His co-stars in these movies include Gary Cooper, Charles Laughton, and Tallulah Bankhead. This also has some great special features which include lobbycards, publicity stills, etc. PLUS, to top it off, it's on sale for 14% off at TCM (check the link up there). It's one of their best sellers, and this would make a great gift for any Cary Grant fan. Someday I honestly hope this set is mine. 

BOOK:

Judy: A Legendary Film Career

This is about a 350 book detailing Judy's legendary film career, written by John Fricke. Amazon has got it for good price currently. I myself haven't read this book - I don't think I've ever mentioned this, but I like Judy better as a singer than an actress. In fact, she's one of my favorite singers. I like her and I think any Judy fan will really enjoy this. It's gotten excellent reviews and TCM made it the book of the month in their magazine back in August, when it was first released. [Also, what a lovely cover it has! I think that's a sign of excellent pictures.]

BOOK:

Picture Show: Classic Movie Posters

This is kind of pricey, but I've still been eyeing this! It's filled with eye candy, 150 posters compiled from TCM's archives. If you read my Sunday Movie Reviews, you know that I enjoy movie posters and critiquing them. Posters from the Golden Era are often so nicely and neatly done they nearly seem like pieces of art themselves: paintings of movie stars, like the one on the cover of this book, are my personal favorite. This book has posters from seven decades of films, and from such studios as RKO, MGM, and Warner Brothers!

MOVIE:

Jean Arthur Comedy Collection

This is pretty exciting for us Jean Arthur fans: Jean's first box set! I'm happy she's finally getting one, and it just so happens I haven't seen any of the movies this box set contains. The movies are as follows: "Adventure in Manhattan (1936)", "More than a Secretary (1936)", "The Impatient Years (1944)," and "The Public Menace  (1935)". A four disc set filled with Jean to get you laughing - pretty tempting, isn't it?

  MOVIE:

Greatest Gangster Films Collection: Prohibition Era 

I don't think I've mentioned this before, but I really love the Roaring Twenties. I simply adore this era of speakeasies, flappers, gangsters, jazz music, and F Scott Fitzgerald. I once even had a roaring twenties themed birthday party. BUT, anyway, back to the box set - that's why this drew my eye. I haven't seen that many gangster movies, but this looks like a great set of movies all set in the Roaring Twenties. It includes "Little Caesar (1930)", "Smart Money (1931)", "The Roaring Twenties (1939)," and "The Public Enemy (1931)". Actors in these films include James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, and Humphrey Bogart. Sounds exciting, doesn't it??!!

BOOK:

Breakfast at Tiffany's: The Official 50th Anniversary Companion

Among the many anniversaries this year was Breakfast at Tiffany's fiftieth birthday! This book, written by Sarah Gristwood, is big and gorgeously illustrated, and it's that lovely shade of blue! I remember seeing it on a display at the bookstore, and I didn't buy it because it was slightly pricey, but it's really a lovely book. I also recommend this book about the making of the movie. I read it earlier this year and it's beautifully written, engrossing, and perfect for anyone who is a fan of the movie.

MOVIE:

Astaire and Rogers: 10 Film Collection

This is definitely pricey at nearly sixty dollars, but it contains all ten films that Ginger and Fred did together in a gorgeous format (I adore that cover). I think this is the perfect gift for any hardcore Ginger and Fred lover, and honestly, who doesn't love the both of them together? This has got everything from "Flying Down to Rio" to "The Berkleys of Broadway." [This is a much cheaper option, however it's only got four of the ten movies. Still a nice package.]

MOVIE:

Tracy and Hepburn: The Definitive Collection

This is another sparkling set, containing all NINE of Kate and Spence's films. Gee, this one I'm totally also craving. I mean, all NINE movies that's pretty awesome you know! Like with the last one, there are other cheaper options but they don't contain all nine movies and I absolutely love the cover of this set. Also, for Tracy and Hepburn fans: you might want to check this book out, too, a very very very thorough biography of Spence (more than one thousand pages, to be exact. Thorough you think?)

BOOK:

TCM Classic Movie Trivia

This book, compiled by TCM and containing 4,000 questions, has been pretty popular this year! It looks really fun and I'm sure is filled with so much trivia. This is another one I have been contemplating to get - I read TCM's "Leading Ladies" book this year, and it was really nicely put together with beautiful pictures and a lovely format. TCM's books don't disappoint, so I have a feeling that this one will be good.

***

Well, there's my list of ten items!! Which ones have you got your eyes on?

By the way, TCM came out with their memorial video for the stars who died this year. This was another rough year - we lost Peter Falk, Cliff Robertson, Jane Russell... but for me the hardest would have to be Elizabeth Taylor.

It's lovely, I think, though I nearly thought they had somehow forgotten Elizabeth Taylor! They had me worried for a little bit... lol.

Sunday Movie Review: "Christmas in Connecticut" (1945) ❅

You see that snowflake up in the title bar? That snowflake means something exciting! It means the start to my Four Sundays of Christmas! :D

Christmas is my favorite holiday, and Christmastime is the very best time of the year for me. Shimmery presents under the tree, mountains of snow, Christmas carols lilting through the crisp winter air, warm winter clothes, and two weeks off of school - all of it has me bursting with the holiday spirit, and I adore it. 

Hand in hand with Christmas comes "movies," and not just because Christmas vacation allows me the opportunity to divulge in a movie nearly every night, but because there are so many awesome classic Christmas movies to watch! 

I think a great way to share with you my favorite Christmas movies would be to review one each week for my Sunday Movie Review. According to the calendar, there's a total of four Sundays in December, the last one being Christmas itself. On each of these Sundays, starting today, the 4th, I'll be sharing with you lovely classic Christmas films. The snowflake is my little emblem of approval. :)

Also, Sally over at the lovely Flying Down to Hollywood is hosting "12 Days of Christmas," which basically calls for twelve reviews of holiday films. I think she did this last year, but then again, I wasn't a blogger yet. ;) Anyhow, I snatched up a spot this year, and one of the films I will review for my Four Sundays of Christmas will also be a part of that blogathon. More on that when we come around to it!

Finally, I know I already have my little phonograph of songs for you on this blog, but with each post I'd like to include a classic Christmas carol to get you in the mood. So each Sunday this December, we'll have a classic movie and song, too!

This week's movie is "Christmas in Connecticut," (1945) with Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan. This week's carol is from Judy Garland in the 1944 movie, "Meet Me in St. Louis". (Some people consider it a Christmas film; as much as I love the movie, I don't really think so, because only a portion of the movie takes place on Christmas - and besides, the St. Louis Fair came in the spring!) Anyway, I'll just shut up and let you enjoy Judy's glorious voice:

 "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (1944) by the always lovely Judy Garland.

***

The post: Adorable and exciting, setting the mood for the actual film.

The plot:

In this welcome addition to the canon of mandatory yuletide viewing, Barbara Stanwyck plays Elizabeth Lane, a magazine columnist who touts herself as a blissful wife, mother and expert homemaker living on an idyllic Connecticut farm. Trouble is, it's all a lie. When her pudgy publisher (Sydney Greenstreet) cooks up a scheme to boost circulation by having Elizabeth entertain a war veteran (Dennis Morgan) on Christmas Eve, will her charade unravel? [from Netflix]

The starring players:

• Barbara Stanwyck as Elizabeth Lane
• Dennis Morgan as Jefferson Jones
• Sydney Greenstreet as Alexander Yardely 
• S.Z "Cuddles" Sakall as Felix Bassenak

The verdict:

4/5

To begin with, I absolutely adore this plot! I wouldn't call it a screwball comedy, but it certainly has many of the elements of one, beginning with the fact that it's based on a complete misunderstanding. It's heavy on the comedy but the romance is sweet and sincere, and the balance of both really complimented each other. Anyway, the plot itself swells with promise and it was done so satisfyingly right!

I tend to like Barbara Stanwyck best in comedies: "The Lady Eve," "Ball of Fire," and then there's this. I think she did dramas more often, but I always enjoy her the best in a nice romantic comedy like this. She's really quite perfect as Elizabeth Lane, who is forced to deal with this hilarious predicment she has gotten herself into. She also has good chemistry with the leading male, Dennis Morgan.

Which brings me to him: I honestly had never seen him anything before this movie. I hear he got his big break opposite Ginger in "Kitty Foyle," five years before this, but I haven't seen latter mentioned film (yet). Anyway, I did enjoy his performance in this, though I don't plan to add him to my all time favorites list; and he sings a very lovely song in this. As I mentioned before, he and Barbara do well together. Sydney Greenstreet plays the magazine publisher and he is nicely cast, if a little jollier then usual.

And that brings me to Cuddles Sakall, who is likely my favorite character actor ever. I love him in everything I see him in! He is always adorable and funny in that blubbering way of his, and he is a total scene stealer in this film. He plays a cook trying to master the English language and boy, is he a riot. He confuses several English phrases, for example, in one of my all time favorite screwball lines: "Hunky dunky," instead of "hunky dory." So now of course I say "hunky dunky" all the time.

Overall, I really adore this film. I love it for it's a hilarious holiday film. Holiday movies in general tend to be sappy, mushy, sweet, etc. and though there is certainly nothing wrong with those mentioned adjectives, especially for holiday films, it's nice to get a little change into your holiday lineup once in a while, which makes "Christmas in Connecticut" totally perfect.

This is also a real underrated film, one that perhaps slips under many people's radars, so I strongly encourage you to give it a watch this holiday season. It has a little bit of a slow start, but afterwards you're in for a treat. The main and supporting actors are excellent, the dialogue is witty and crackles with romantic intrigue, and overall it's a very satisfying, feel good comedy - a lovely combination of screwball meets romance meets holiday flick.

The bottom line:

This is a refreshing holiday film because it stands out from the sappier movies that are so common this time of the year. It might not actually be the most "Christmasy" film, but I still strongly suggest you give it a watch. You won't regret it; this isn't one to skip. So the bottom line is watch it!

Some photos:

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Some trivia:

• The Connecticut home in this is the same set used for my favorite screwball comedy, "Bringing up Baby." (Now I totally want to live in this house).
• Elizabeth Lane was loosely based on a Family Circle magazine columnist by the name of Gladys Taber; however, while the film Elizabeth Lane was, to put it bluntly, a fraud (I mean that in the sweetest way), the real life Gladys Taber was the Martha Stewart of the 40's, and lived on an actual farm.

A movie tidbit:

Forget "a tidbit," I couldn't find any on Youtube besides the trailer - I instead, however, found the whole movie, and I'd rather post that. ;) 

***

That's the first Sunday in my little Christmas blogathon. I'm really into the holiday spirit - we put up the tree yesterday, and I'm all aglow. I can't believe it's really Christmastime again! (Yes, I do get like a little girl when it comes to Christmas).

Before I go, a few weeks ago I decided to take the plunge and make a Tumblr. There is a large Classic Hollywood Tumblr community, lovely sites with real beautiful photos and GIFs - and even though I'm really more of a words person than a photo person, I thought I'd give it a try. Since I'm so devoted to this blog which has the vast topic of all Classic Hollywood, I thought I'd be a lot more narrow with my Tumblr and make it solely about Lucy; a total tribute to her. If you'd like to visit it, go here, and feel free to follow me because I'm pretty sure I have like zilch followers.

I don't think I'm quite cut out for Tumblr, though! I'm terrible at making GIFs and the design of it confuzzles me for sure. Now I have so much more respect for people with such pretty, neat, Tumblrs and nicely edited pics and all of that, because all I can do, really, is reblog. ;) So don't fret over losing me to Tumblr anytime soon.

Isn't she the loveliest? Yes, Lucy, I do it all for you, dear!

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PS: I do believe this is my 100th post!! ;D I wish I could have cooked up a more exciting way to celebrate instead of a little "PS" note, but oh well. I've nearly reached 50 followers, and when I get one more follower I think I have something in mind to help me celebrate both milestones! 

Happy Halloween! ♥

Hello readers,

I'm having a great day. I discovered that I got one of the leads in the school play, and it also happens to be Halloween, which is one of my favorite holidays! ♥


Though now I'd probably have to list Christmas as my favorite holiday, when I was a little kid Halloween was my favorite. Trick or treating always seemed so exciting - though, to be fair, it was never the candy I cared about. Yes, I love candy (I'm a confessed chocoholic), but for me it was more fun to dress up and just that I had the opportunity to run around the neighborhood at night, in the cool Autumn air, thrilled me.


I still love Halloween, only now that I'm older and not trick or treating, you kind of grow out of the fun of it. But I still love the spookiness, the crisp Autumn air (all the snow has melted, but it's still nice and chilly outside), snatching candy and seeing all of the neighborhood dressed up in costumes and decorations (though let's be fair: my neighborhood is a little on the dull side. A pumpkin and maybe a wreath of glittery leaves is enough to cause excitement).


Anyway, in honor of Halloween I did a review for one of those classic, cheesy, but still fun horror flicks for yesterday's SMR (you can read it here) and today here's my attempt at scrapping up some Halloween/classic movie related stuff.


A lot of these photos have been circulating around the blogosphere lately for Halloween; nothing really original but it's hard to find Halloween/classic movie stuff so I gave it my best! :) 

Lucy! <3

Joan Crawford

Judy Garland

Pier Angeli

Debbie Reynolds (sorry for the blurriness!)

Carole Lombard, Clark Gable and company [they're dressed up, so I guess it counts as a Halloween photo..]

Carole and Vivien with black (well, blackish for Vivien..) cats.

And, one of the most awesome Halloween stories ever about Lucy, told by her daughter, Lucie Arnaz --

HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! ♥

Here's Looking At You, Kid #1

Update: This edition of "Here's Looking at You, Kid" is now closed. See the results here and stay tuned for upcoming editions in which you can leave your guesses! :)

Okay.... it's time for the first organized "game" here on Frankly, My Dear! Alright, alright. I know I did the baby picture of Ava last week but.... this is more... organized. Yes. That's the word.

This is a game I used to play with my dad even before I started blogging; I would cut out an Old Hollywood's celebrity's eyes out of a picture and have my dad guess which celebrity it was. Now, I thought it would be fun to bring it to the blog. It is called, of course, "Here's looking at you, kid."

I have two pairs of eyes for you today. One is a woman and the other is a man. Here's the woman:

And the man's:

So, all you have to do is comment with your guesses! You can guess just the guy or the girl or both - it's up to you. All guesses are very much appreciated ;) and I'll reveal the face behind the eyes in a week or so. 

Of course, I found another amazing Old Hollywood picture. Yeah, I think I have an obsession.

Lucy and Judy Garland dancing - pretty awesome, hmm???

Also, the random-est tiny thing ticked me off the other day. Me being as random as I am, I think I'll write about it - it has to do with Old Hollywood anyway, and I'm pretty picky about this stuff! So I was reading this book called "Ingenue", which takes place in 1924 and is about flappers and mobsters and all that jazz. In one point in the book this magazine editor says, "...While every other writer gushes about Barbara Stanwyck's newest headband, my magazine's going to be digging deeper..." Of course, I, being a particular about Old Hollywood as I am, found something fishy in this statement. I was all, "What? Stany wasn't a 20's star." I did my research and figured out that Stany was born in 1907 and didn't make her film debut until 1927, as an extra or something, though this book takes place three years before. I rolled my eyes and  was all, "WELL, MRS. -INSERT WRITER'S NAME - DO YOUR RESEARCH NEXT TIME!" hmph. It was an awful book, anyway. ;)

Well, I probably wasted your time with that random little bit there, but I get rather protective of Classic Hollywood, you see. Anyway, be sure and leave me your guesses. 

Au revior, mon ami :) and happy labor day to those of us in the US!

(^^ More badly broken French. Rosetta Stone kills.)

Old Hollywood Celebrities and Their Children: A Lookalike Contest

Hi everyone,

Today, as promised, will be a lookalike contest. What is this? Don't understand? Basically, I have chosen five celebrities (based on the grounds of who were most eligible for this contest to begin with, and the available of photos of the celebrity's offspring) and their children. The contest will be which offspring looks most like their celebrity parent. For example: you have parent A and child A, then parent B and child B. Do A and A look more like each other than B and B do? It sounds a little confusing, I suppose - and I can't explain it very well, I guess - but you ought to understand as you read on.

Here are the contestants:

Ingrid Bergman and Isabella Rossellini
Grace Kelly and Princess Caroline of Monaco
Lucille Ball and Lucie Arnaz
Judy Garland and Liza Minelli

FOURTH PLACE

Grace Kelly and Princess Caroline of Monaco

(or "The Two Princesses")

Really, none of Grace's three children - Princess Caroline, Princess Stephanie, and Prince Albert - look anything like her. They don't even look that much like their father, so you can't really tell who they went on. I chose Caroline for the contest because she seemed the most eligible out of the three. Still, she doesn't look much like Grace at all. If anything, she seems to have inherited some of Grace's polish, as the "Vogue" cover shows. So though she can act like her mother, she simply doesn't look like her.

THIRD PLACE

Lucille Ball and Lucie Arnaz

(or "The Two Lucys")

Yeah, I never saw an resemblance here either. Lucie looks a lot like her father, and so does her brother, Desi, Jr. I guess if you squint you can see some resemblance.... but truthfully, if I had seen her as some random woman on the street - and I wasn't a Lucy fan so I wouldn't have recognized her - I would never say, "He,y, she looks like Lucille Ball!" I wouldn't.

SECOND PLACE

Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli

(or.... no, I've got nothing on this ;])

Yep, I never really thought they looked alike.... and then I saw the above picture, and I was like, "Whoa!" I mean, I always thought Liza looked a lot like her dad (director Vincent Minnelli) but after seeing that picture, I came to the conclusion that they were quite worthy of second place. Judy, Judy, Judy...

FIRST PLACE (drumroll please....)

Ingrid Bergman and Isabella Rossellini

(or, uhm, the winners?)

I swear to God, they are like twins. Seriously, they can be mirror images of each other. I mean, maybe not the old Ingrid and today's Isabella, but the ages they are in the photo above. Of it, Isabella said something along the lines of, "I've got my mother's features, but an Italian expression." Maybe so, but there's no denying the resemblance  And if that isn't enough proof.... look at this:

 That is Isabella spoofing her mother's Ilsa Lund ("Casablanca") image in an episode of "Tales from the Crypt" entitled "You, Murderer." The resemblance is uncanny!

Well, that's it for today, but I'm thinking of doing a little "Switched at Birth" segment tomorrow for a follow up! Whaddya think?

Ciao!

The Big 10 - Actresses I Like, But... (Plus: Poll Results!)

Hello there, all of you out in Blogland!

I'm sorry for my rant yesterday. Well, actually, I'm not sorry... but anyway, I'll just inform you all that I'm feeling better. It took a few weeping sessions to get through, but I'm okay. I think.

Anyway, I'll just busy myself in my Blog, a good use of technology. So, before I get into today's topic, I'd like to give the final results of the "1939 Golden Year of Film" poll. Your options were -

• "Goodbye, Mr. Chips"
• "Wuthering Heights"
• "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"
• "The Wizard of Oz"
• "Stagecoach"
• "Ninotchka"
• "Dark Victory"
• "Of Mice and Men"
• "Love Affair"
• "Gone with the Wind"

9 votes came in. "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" is the winner with four, "Gone with the Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz" tie at two each, and "Dark Victory" comes in third place with one. The rest didn't receive any votes at all! :(

I'm telling you the results because the poll will be going down in a little bit and replaced with a poll about Natalie Wood in honor of her upcoming birthday. Be sure and vote, vote, vote!

Okay, now, down to business. A few days ago I posted a Blog about my ten favorite actresses of all time. I closed the blog with a promise to post about ten actresses I like, but haven't seen enough of their movies and hope to.

Well, here is the blog as promised! (: (This is an no particular order):

1. Greta Garbo

"My Favorite Swede", as I like to refer to her, will always be Ingrid (: 

But Garbo is classic, and therefore I vow to watch more of her. (Btw - don't you adore her hair in that photo? I want it!)

2. Barbara Stanwyck

Maybe it's just me, but I've realized a lot of appeal for Barbara, or "Stany", and that's encouraged me to see more of her. Unfortunately, I have only seen her in "The Lady Eve," "Double Indemnity," and "Christmas in Connecticut."

3. Rita Hayworth

If you've visited my "Favorite Movies and TV Shows" tab, you're well aware that I've listed "Gilda" as one of my favorite films. That's a Rita film, but it's among the few I have seen! I need to see more of the "Love Goddess" - did you know one of my aunts was named after her?

4. Ava Gardner

I like Ava, but haven't seen enough of her either. I hope to watch "Mogambo" - I hear it is not a terrific film, but apparently Ava is hilarious in it and that I'm looking forward to! (So says Via Margutta 51, another Blog)

5.  Lana Turner

Yep, that's right. I haven't seen enough of the "The Sweater Girl," either!

6. Lauren Bacall

Yes, Lauren, too! How embarrassing.. :) Actually, I recently saw her in "Sex and the Single Girl," with Natalie Wood, Tony Curtis, and Henry Fonda. Not the best movie, but she's hilarious.

7. Judy Garland

Judy, Judy, Judy! I've seen some of her essential films, and that I am proud of - "The Wizard of Oz" and "Meet Me in St. Louis," is what I mean, of course. I've also seen "In the Good Old Summertime", and her spot in "Ziegfield Follies" (which I watched because of Lucy). However, she's so talented, and I can always see more of her.

8. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford 

^^ Oh my God, what an interesting photo! Anyway, I have seen both Bette and Joan's films. I am reading Joan's biography currently - as the sidebar will tell you - and hope to jump into Bette's afterwards. This is in all in impending research for a "Bette vs. Joan" Blog I hope to do soon!! What side am I on? I still need to figure out! 

9. Vivien Leigh

Yes, Scarlett O'Hara herself! And this Blog is called Frankly My Dear! 

10. Carole Lombard

She and Lucy were great friends and Lucy always insisted that Carole was the real Queen of Comedy. There is also a rumor that Carole appeared in Lucy's dreams while Lucy was contemplating on whether or not to do "I Love Lucy," and Carole encouraged her (in the dream) to "give it a whirl." (Thank you, Carole!) I've seen her in "Nothing Sacred" and "To Be or Not To Be," and quite enjoyed her, so I hope to see more of her in the future. It's sad how she died so young (in a plane crash) and her marriage to Clark Gable sounds interesting!

Well, there it is! Of course, I haven't not seen any of their movies - that would be shameful! - I just want to see more, I guess. So I'll add tons of movies featuring these ladies into my Netflix queue, I guess!

What about you? Which actresses do love - but want to see more of? (If that makes any sense. :D)