My 10 Favorite Kate Hepburn Movies

Before I begin this post: guys, I forgot something REALLY IMPORTANT in my last post. I've been accepted into the Classic Movie Blog Association! Initiation is based on voting by other members, so thank you to any CMBA members that might have voted for me. :) I was really excited to get in - I've been awaiting membership since I got this blog last July! So I was really rather happy and I didn't mean to excuse it so rudely, it just totally slipped me somehow. Thanks again, guys!

It's not really Katharine Hepburn's birthday or anything, but I was just thinking about how so many of her films are my favorites. Not to mention I've seen a lot of her filmography, so I thought it would be fun to make a list like this! Of course, I haven't seen everything of Katharine Hepburn's, and there are still a few really prominent films of hers that I need to see: like On Golden Pond (1982), The Lion in the Winter (1968) and Morning Glory (1937). So this is just a list from my opinion on what I've already seen - a lot of her films albeit not ALL.

(THIS IS IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)

10. Little Women (1933)

The book "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott is one of my favorite books and I've seen all the onscreen adaptions. Though I like the other two versions well enough, this is easily my favorite, mostly because of Kate. She makes the perfect Jo. When I read the book as a little girl, I was set on being a tomboy, and therefore Jo became my favorite character. Besides, she liked to write, like me. :) Today I'm far from a tomboy - as you might be able to tell from all the pink and polka dots on this blog - but I think Jo might still be my favorite character. Kate gave her justice better than any actress who ever played her, because to be honest, I think Katharine Hepburn and Jo March are very much alike: strong willed, feminist, tomboyish, etc. This also contains nice supporting cast members like Joan Bennett and is directed by George Cukor, Kate's favorite director.

9. Summertime (1955)

I'm not going to get into this one that much for two reasons. #1: Not many other people like this film so oftentimes I feel kind of stupid when I rave on about it, though I just fell in love with it last week. And #2: I just did this week's Sunday Movie Review about it, you can read all the things I like about this film here. A lot of it has to do with a really delicate performance by Kate that is unlike anything she did before, her romance with Rossano Brazzi, and the beautiful setting of Venice, Italy. Anyway, this movie is kind of the dark horse of this list since no one likes it. I guess everyone's entitled to an opinion, though, and I liked it a lot.

8. Alice Adams (1935)

It's been a few years since I saw this one, so I can't get into intense detail about why I liked it, but I do remember enjoying it! :) In the review I'd written at the time I basically said that this film was really charming, refreshing, and I liked the realistic way it dealt with domestic issues. And though Alice Adams wasn't always a completely likable character, I really loved the way Kate played her. Also, how can you turn down a film which has a cast that includes the likes of Fred MacMurray, Hattie McDaniel, and Hedda Hopper - in addition to Kate. 

7. Stage Door (1937)

I just love this film for so many reasons. I love the characters and I love the plot, and most of all I love the cast. It's very rare to find your favorite actresses in a movie together, because usually a leading actor plays with a leading lady - so, unless your favorite actress is a character actress... But for me this film is one of those rarities. Kate and Lucy. KATE AND LUCY. Oh my gosh. <3 And then of course you have the others like Ginger Rogers and Ann Miller (who I can't believe was only 13!) - but back to Kate and Lucy. Oh, how I would love to go on and on and about some of the backstage stories about the two of them but I properly ought to return to the movie. ;) It's a wonderful film and one of my favorites that I don't talk about all that much. It's fun to see actors, playing, well actors - or better yet, well established actresses playing hopefuls trying to break into the business. "The calla lillies are in bloom again!" And it's funny, because in the Italian movie episode of I Love Lucy - the one in where she famously stomps grapes - she dramatically declares the same line that was such a big deal to Kate Hepburn in this movie.

6. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

I think a movie like this would be a big deal in 1967. Though Sidney Poitier was already helping break the barrier of miscegenation, this film prominently displayed a happy interracial couple, not to mention that Poitier's character was a very successful doctor. That being said I think it's really commendable for both Kate and Spence to take on a project like this in such a tumultuous time as the 1960's. This was their final film together and Kate never watched it, she never could - because Spence died before the film was even released. I believe she had to take some kind of a salary cut to convince the producers to cast him in this, as they weren't even sure he would make it through the filming. But if there was one way to cap off their string of eight films (this being the ninth), this was definitely it. And aside from the plot and what it dared to do, since this is the last Hepburn/Tracy film it's certainly sentimental for the viewer. Watch Kate's eyes during Spencer Tracy's big speech about equality at the end of the film. I think it was more than an acting - I think she knew the end of this great partnership was about to come to a close. 

5. The African Queen (1951)

Kate and Bogie were really good friends in real life. In Bogie's last weeks as he began to succumb to his cancer, Kate and Spence would visit nearly every night, which I think is terribly sweet. It's wonderful to know that these two legendary actors (if you go by the AFI's list of 100 stars, Kate's #1 for women and Bogie for men) were good friends in real life. Though it's a bit peculiar seeing them as lovers in this, their friendship really shines through in a film like this. The characters are a lot of fun to watch, and seeing this is the film that finally got Bogie that long deserved Oscar, it's quite easy to like this movie. Plus, there's a great treasure of memories that are behind the filming of this movie, which Kate wrote about in her book, How I Went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall, and Huston and Almost Lost my Mind. I haven't read it - not yet - but I'm sure it must be a fun read. I like that they were all friends, Kate and Bogie and Bacall and Huston.

4. Woman of the Year (1942)

It's really hard for me to pick a favorite Hepburn/Tracy pairing, but if you boiled down to it, it's either this or Adam's Rib (1949). I love the characters that Kate and Spence play in this. Tess Harding is a symbol of femininity in an era where woman were expected to stay at home and do the cleaning and the cooking. People take her seriously, and she is important, whereas the character Spence plays is simply a sports reporter. Despite the fact that he's a man, Kate's character is of more importance. But to counter this, or make it more equal, Spence's character is oftentimes a lot easier to like. Another thing that balances out this movie really well is the ending, which, instead of asking Tess Harding to become the average housewife like you may expect it to, offers a compromise that the viewer can be satisfied with. This was the first Hepburn/Tracy pairing, the film that they fell in love on the set of, and I think you can really see that on film. I think out of all the couples they played, Tess Harding and Sam Craig are the most romantic, perhaps because it's their attraction to one another that becomes the glue in keeping the two of them together.

3. Adam's Rib (1949)

As I said in the last one, it's hard to pick a favorite Hepburn/Tracy but this film and Woman of the Year (1942) are the strongest contenders. Once more Kate is playing a very successful woman, though this time Spence is right on her par. They are husband and wife lawyers, Amanda and Adam Bonner. This film is one I can watch over and over again because it's so riveting each time around. Though Amanda Bonner definitely twists the jury in her favor in such a way that might not realistically work, she easily has you taking her side. She's persuasive, to say the least. :) Also this has Judy Holiday playing the woman in the hot seat and I just love her in it each time I watch this movie. 

2. The Philadelphia Story (1940)

This film was the turning point in Kate's career. Before this, you know, she was actually box office poison, or at least, that's what the critics said. Which is pretty awful because she made some of the best films of her career before 1940 and won that Oscar for Morning Glory (1937). But anyway, if there was a film to turn around her career this was definitely a good one to do it. Tracy Lord is simply fabulous, perhaps a little crazy to have divorced C. Dexter Haven (or AKA, Cary Grant), but I love her anyway. Needless to say Kate is perfect as her. AND THEN THERE IS CARY GRANT AND JIMMY STEWART. So back in #7, I said how it's hard to find your favorite actresses together in a film and the same goes for actors, but this movie does just that. My number one favorite actor and my number two favorite actor together, it's enough to make a girl weep, it really is. :) Did you hear the story? Which story? The Philadelphia Story. Oh, and Cary pushes Kate down. I love this movie. 

1. Bringing up Baby (1938)

I said this list was in no particular order... but I really mean it when I list this movie as number one. It's one of my all time favorite movies, ever. :) To begin with, I'm sentimentally attached to it because it's, as I mentioned before, one of the first classics I ever watched. I loved it so much I watched it over and over, I had it rented out for a month I think, I was so in love with this movie. I find Kate Hepburn positively adorable in this and I think I might want to be Susan Vance when I grow up. :') And then well, Kate and Cary Grant, I mean I don't really need to go there because if you've seen anything, just anything with the two of them, you know how wonderful they are. And then there's the leopard, Baby - I'm actually tearing up a little bit, I JUST LOVE THIS MOVIE SO MUCH! It's definitely my number one screwball comedy! Oh my gosh, so many wonderful lines, too! Like, "Susan, he's eating your car!" And so many favorite scenes! Like when Kate tricks Cary into coming over by pretending to be "attacked" by her leopard, or even the part when she's trying to catch olives in her mouth. Gahhh, this film is so perfect. :3 I can't believe it wasn't well liked in 1938. I'll leave you with I can't give you anything but love, baby.... Oh my goodness I could go on about this movie for FOREVER, for forever I tell you!

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So, there you have it, my ten favorite Katharine Hepburn movies. Which of her movies are your favorites???

Again, thank you to all who may have voted me into the CMBA! I can't believe it'd slipped me earlier because I appreciate it so much. I guess my brain was just boggled with all the crazy homework I've had lately, forgive me! :) 

Oh by the way! So every year at school we do this big fundraiser where we put on cultural performances, except this year my class is doing America in the 1940's instead of a country - I know, I was absolutely thrilled! Therefore, we're learning the jitterbug - and it's SO much fun! I pretty much have two left feet but even I'm doing pretty good with this dance, which to me is just further proof that I was totally born in the wrong era. I keep wishing on 11:11 and blowing away eyelashes, but no matter what I do I'm still firmly stuck in 2012. ;) 

P.S: I'm really pleased with the way the Oscar nominations turned out, are you? I noticed a lot of people didn't like it, but then again, I really do not keep up with new movies, I was just pleased so many of the nominations were performances or movies that took place in the 20th century. 

Sunday Movie Review: "Summertime" (1955)

Hello friends!

So for this week's SMR, I'm reviewing Summertime (1955). I'd seen parts of this film like two or three years ago and I hadn't remembered it as being particularly riveting though I love Kate Hepburn more than words can say. Anyways, as I'm now compulsively watching films in my free time (though there tends not to be a lot of it, thanks to school) to complete my 250 films goal, I found it on Youtube the other day and decided to give it a try. I'm really glad I did <3

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The poster: When I first saw it, I wasn't all that crazy about it. And then I took a second look and realized I actually liked it, especially the sketch of Kate on the right, though I still find it a tad bit too wordy.

The plot:

Dreams of romance for American spinster Jane Hudson (Katharine Hepburn) become a bittersweet reality when she meets a handsome but married antiques dealer (Rossano Brazzi) while vacationing in Venice, Italy. David Lean directed this sensitive portrait of an independent woman who finds that, even in a beautiful European city, her sense of loneliness is unavoidable, and her initial disgust with the idea of an illicit love affair doesn't last. [from Netflix]

The starring players:

• Katharine Hepburn as Jane Hudson
• Rossano Brazzi as Renato de Rossi

The verdict:

★★★★ 1/2

I'm going to tell you right away, I really loved this movie (as you might be able to tell by my star rating). I mean, there are several faults in it, the more I think of it, but whilst watching I was honestly just too charmed and endeared with this film and so I'm going to stick with my original rating of giving it four and a half stars.

So sure, the plot isn't exactly original and it could use some work. But the setting of Venice, Italy is absolutely gorgeous. Italy is one of those places I lust about traveling to one day, and this film would honestly encourage you all the more to visit there. The absolutely gorgeous cinematography really seemed to capture the spirit and the color of the beautiful city. 

Setting the scene with Venice already gets the movie off to a good start, and then there is Katharine Hepburn. Oh my, this film just reminded me why I love Kate as much as I do. I like seeing her in this "spinster" role a lot. We usually associate Kate with the more strong willed, independent woman roles. So seeing her in a role as gentle, demure, and quiet as this is a novelty but definitely a treat. I love Kate in her usual roles but I really liked seeing her in this. Her character is quite fragile but she steals she show playing it. And at forty-eight, she is absolutely beautiful.

I had never seen anything with Rossano Brazzi before and I really liked him in this. I mean, he wasn't exceptional or anything - and he couldn't counter Kate in her spectacular performance - but I still liked him. (I mean, that accent, how can it not win you over?) His character in the beginning was a little awkwardly overbearing but you get to like him. And all the while you really want the two main characters to get together and when they do, it's so rewarding!

And then Kate and Brazzi as a couple were really exceptional I thought. They had some really sweet scenes together. Though they play more middle aged lovers, the spontaneity of their relationship was more of something you'd see in a pair of young lovers. I guess this could be annoying to some people but it didn't bother me all that much. I really liked the two of them as a pair, it was quite believable. Kate was actually eleven years older than Brazzi, which I didn't know until after I finished watching. I think they were really wonderful together.

The film basically centers around the two of them. There's an adorable young Italian boy who tags around Kate's character and the two really begin to bond. I liked his character a lot, he was just so cute!

You have all this, nicely glossed over with the theme of "Summertime in Venice". Now, I do see where the faults in this film are and they're certainly there. The romance is kind of rushed into the last half an hour of  the film I thought (though, to counter that, it was a very sweet thirty minutes). The plot lacks originality perhaps (it kind of reminded me of Now, Voyager, except with older lovers). It was slightly predictable, and you knew from the start that this relationship was bound to be bittersweet - so enjoy it while it lasts. The ending scene certainly broke my heart a little bit.

I was looking at the reviews for this film and a lot of people didn't like it all that much. And others enjoyed it but perhaps weren't raving about it as much as I am. I don't know, I guess it kind of put me under a spell or something. It just seemed so quiet and pretty. Kate was wonderful and it's enjoyable watching her delicate relationship with Brazzi grow.

The bottom line:

I don't really want to focus on the bad things about this movie because I just really liked it a whole lot. It was lovely, and it's Kate Hepburn like you've likely never seen her before. I strongly suggest you give this one a watch. I don't think it's the film that just anyone might really enjoy, maybe you have to be in the mood for it or something, but I definitely liked it a lot and I can't help but recommend it for you to watch. Even if you don't like Katharine Hepburn, give this one a try because she was certainly cast against type. 

Some photos:

[via]

Some trivia:

• In her typical way, Kate didn't want to use a stunt actor for her fall into a Venetian canal in this film. So she did it herself, but the dirty water gave her an eye infection that would last her for the rest of her life. (You can read more about it here.)
• This was David Lean's favorite out of all the films he did.

A movie tidbit:

Oh, I'm just going to post the whole thing. :)

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That's all for this Sunday. Until later! :)

Happy Birthday, Cary! [5 Things I Love]

Today a lot of blogs and websites are not posting or are blacking out to protest SOPA, or "Stop Online Piracy Act". I too hope that SOPA isn't passed. It would mean a lot of terrible things for Classic Hollywood communities like ours, and hadn't it been Cary Grant's birthday, I probably would have gone ahead and done something to protest SOPA today, too.

But I just can't. It's Cary Grant's birthday, and he's my favorite actor, so I am totally against SOPA - but, today, I must...

Because you know, he just happens to be perfect and I plan on growing up and marrying Cary Grant someday. Him being dead is only a minor detail, I'm working on it. :)

Seriously, though, Cary has been my favorite actor since I saw him in "Bringing up Baby", which was at the very beginning of my classic film obsession. I honestly think he was the pinnacle of classic actors, I mean - I think very highly of classic actors. They were handsome and charming and smartly dressed and and they knew how to treat a woman. Cary had all this and then some.

So to celebrate his birthday, I'm using my usual birthday treatment, the five things I love the most about that person.

"Everyone likes the idea of Cary Grant. Everyone thinks of him affectionately, because he embodies what seems a happier time, a time when we had a simpler relationship to a performer. We could admire him for his timing and nonchalance... he appeared before us in radiantly shallow perfection and that was all we wanted... we didn't want depth from him, we asked only that he be handsome and silky and make us laugh." 
[-Pauline Kael]

#5: His voice.

Okay, so in the female department, Greer Garson's obviously got it, hands down  - but, in the males, I think Cary had the best. You can't describe his voice, it's obviously a British accent, but then there's something else to it - anyway, I'm sure you've all heard his voice before so you know what I mean. There's just something about the way the enunciation of his words (for example - listen to Cary say, "Hello!" in any picture, just any picture and you'll get what I mean) - yes, I pay that much attention - and it always works to his advantage and gives him a really smart delivery.

#4: He was the most stylish man in films.

So today in films men dress in undershirts with a plaid shirt thrown on top of it and jeans or something - and to be fair, the women are not much better - but Classic Hollywood Actors were so different. Always a stylish tuxedo and Cary takes the cake, not just for the clothes but the way he wore them. It definitely added to that charming appeal of his, that eluded him as a true movie star. I mean honestly, how often do you see a well dressed male movie star anymore unless it's a red carpet event? (And even - to some certain extent... I don't get the whole sneakers and a tux thing...)

#3: The films and the characters in general.

So many of my favorite films star Cary Grant - like Bringing up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, Notorious, An Affair to Remember... I could just go on and on. He was a very versatile actor I think and could play such a variety of characters. Bringing up Baby and The Philadelphia Story were totally screwball and then you have much more dramatic roles, like, for example Notorious and An Affair to Remember. He played harsh characters, kind characters, romantic characters, funny characters, clever characters - though my favorite of them all certainly's got to be David from Bringing up Baby. 

#2: His leading ladies.

So Cary worked with four out of my seven favorite actresses - that four being Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, and Katharine Hepburn. The three he didn't work with are Lucy, Natalie Wood, and Greer Garson. If he and Lucy had made a movie together I would just - I honestly don't know, I'd probably just die with happiness! Of course, in her movie career Lucy was more of a B actress and Cary a leading man, so I can kind of see why this didn't happen... but still :( Natalie Wood was obviously way too young and it would be weird, but GREER GARSON? So with Lucy you have the excuse of the whole B movie thing but honestly, Greer? She was the top box office draw during World War II! And they were both BRITISH! Couldn't there have been some wartime collaboration between the two?? This was honestly a big screw up. The only thing they did together was a radio performance of "Bedtime Story", which is all I have to cling to. ;D Out all of his leading ladies, my favorite's got to be Ingrid all the way. I've said it before, I wish they had gotten married! Though they were really good friends in real life and he accepted her Anastasia Oscar on her behalf - that's simply not going to cut it for me. Literally more than fifty percent of the photos in my Ingrid Bergman photo folder are of him and Ingrid with tags like "please get married." But seriously, though, they had wonderful chemistry!

#1: HE'S CARY GRANT. 

This man was just terribly awesome in general. A face like they typically helps but I also love his personality, always grinning and most of the time he got along very well with his co-stars. "Cary Grant" has become, oftentimes, more of a label or a personality than the actual man himself. Today he's used as the posterchild for the Classic Hollywood actor, oftentimes as Marilyn is used for the Actress. This would usually annoy me and set me against Cary, but it's impossible, I like him too much! Perhaps it's just me, but I think he truly lived up to all he was made out to be, and he will always be my favorite actor. <3

Happy birthday, Cary!

***

Well, there it is. I know from my own dashboard, and from taking a look at Google and Wikipedia, that much of the Internet has been silent today in honor of the fight against SOPA. I would've like to been, too. But I need to write a birthday post for Cary, I just couldn't restrain from doing so. -;)

Sunday Movie Review: "Man's Favorite Sport?" (1964)

Hello dears,

I watched like five films this week (I'm watching movies compulsively, because I calculated that I pretty much need to watch twenty films per month to reach my goal of 250 by the end of the year), and they were all decent/good but then I felt like tearing a film to shreds today so I chose Men's Favorite Sport? (1964) to review. And, oh, I realized I'd never reviewed a film from the 1960s for an SMR before.

Don't worry, I won't be too terribly mean. *cackles*

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The poster: Uhm, why is Paula Prentiss sticking her tongue out in a totally pre-code way? NOT APPROPRIATE.

The plot:

In this entertaining 1960s comedy, Rock Hudson plays Roger Willoughby, a fishing gear salesman for Abercrombie & Fitch who's ordered by his boss to participate in a fishing competition. There's only one problem: Roger's never worked a rod and reel in his life! But he goes along with the charade, until he meets the beautiful Abigail Page (Paula Prentiss) ... and becomes involved in a sport of a very different kind. [from Netflix]

The starring players:

• Rock Hudson as Roger Willoughby
• Paula Prentiss as Abigail Page
• Maria Perschy as Easy Mueller
• John McGiver as William Cadwalader

The verdict:

★★ 1/2

So... well...

This film should have a lot going for it. It has Rock Hudson, who is one of the masters of 1960's fluff (you know, all the pictures he made with Doris Day, I simply adore them), and then Howard Hawks as the director. Even Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer did the music ("Moon River", if you're not familiar with these two brilliant people).

I really like John McGiver, too, he's one of my favorite character actors. He played the salesclerk at Tiffany's in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), and he also appeared on an episode of The Lucy Show. I had never heard of Paula Prentiss before, but apparently she had a decent career in the 1960's.

Anyway, I went into this hopefully for the latter mentioned reasons (minus Paula Prentiss, my never having heard of her made me entirely suspicious), but anyway, I'm just going to tell you now: it was really disappointing.

A lot of the problems start in the plot. I read in IMdb that this was supposed to be a kind of a tribute to the Pinnacle of Screwball Comedies, Bringing up Baby (1938) - which is a flawless film. You can see that in certain parts, Abby and Roger meet over a mixup with their cars, as did David and Susan in The Perfect Film, and there's also a scene in which Easy tears her dress and Roger must walk behind her to cover up the tear, like in Bringing up Baby. Whilst doing so, he calls out, "I'll be with you in a minute, Mr. Cadawalader!"

Well, that was very nice and all, but honestly you shouldn't even compare these two films in the same sentence. As I was saying, a lot of the faults fall in the plot, it's absolutely USELESS. I mean, how much can you really squeeze out of Rock Hudson learning to fish? I get that the point of screwball comedies - which I think this was supposed to be - is to take an ordinary situation and make it extraordinary by throwing in plenty of pratfalls, encouraged by the "Let's misbehave!" quality.  I love that about screwballs. But the thing is, it can be tricky to do it right, and I don't really think that this film got it right.

I really like Rock Hudson, he is one of my favorites, but I think he did a lot better with romantic comedies than the more physical comedy of a film like this. Still, I have to list him as one of the best things about this movie. (And I found it amusing that he works for "Abercrombie & Fitch", a camping store, whereas today  that brand is usually associated with a popular clothing store). And my first film with Paula Prentiss definitely didn't make me into a big fan of hers. I mean, she was okay - but her voice was really annoying because at random times she would just pick up a Southern accent, it was weird. I know that sounds petty and picky, but... and it didn't help her, either, that as an overall I just didn't like this film. But to her defense, she wears some very cute sixties outfits.

The script rambles on and on. Characters would just sit down and have a conversation about the most terribly boring things and you'd shut your eyes and wait for it to end. And then whereas the pratfalls were a little funny, they were still totally predictable. TOTALLY predictable. 

On the plus side, it's always nice to see Rock Hudson - and then Howard Hawks, directing too. The cheery, bright setting of San Francisco in the 1960's makes you just want to jump inside the movie screen, but those three things there - and oh, John McGiver - are about the highest points of the film.

The bottom line:

This is going to land up being a waste of your time, even if you really like Rock Hudson and/or Howard Hawks, so I suggest you skip this one. It's also way too long at two hours, and it's going to feel longer than that. I honestly thought it was never going to end! :/

Some photos:

Some trivia:

• Cary Grant was actually offered the leading role in this and turned it down because he was 59 and Paula was 24. Now, you all know how much I love Cary, but good job on his part for turning this down! I usually believe any film can be made better with the addition of Cary Grant, but he's right, 59 and 24? That's totally ridiculous (not to say Cary wasn't still handsome at 59, it's just, you know, there are some limits...)
• Filming began in late 1962 but this was not released until 1964

A movie tidbit:

Here's the whole film, because you know, this film really really needs to be online for all the world to watch and enjoy. (Yeah, I'm being sarcastic). 

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Hey, you know, sometimes it's pretty fun to write a bad film review. :)

Till later!

The actress who had a sweet way with a sharp line

"Some actresses take us by storm. Some steal quietly into our hearts. Myrna Loy had a sweet way with a sharp line, and she could communicate more with a delicately raised eyebrow than most performances can with a raised voice."

- Anjelica Huston, 1991

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No, today isn't Myrna Loy's birthday. That was August 4th. And usually I only utilize one particular occasion to write solely about an actor: a birthday. But I'm going to make an exception for Myrna Loy because I have neglected her so much on this blog. And I really really like her. And I want to talk about her!

Myrna and I go back long ways. There are about three or four films I credit to the beginning of my classic film obsession. Technically it would be "The Sound of Music" (1964). For about a year I was obsessed with that movie, and it was my, hands down, favorite film. I watched it over and over and I knew every character, every line, every song (I think I still do). I honestly abused our DVD player with that film. But it wasn't until about year later that I became obsessed with classic film on a whole. I think it was one summer night when I sat around bored in our house, honestly playing with a ball or something, and my dad came up and invited me to watch a film with him in our basement (we have a movie theater there).

Well, I went down to watch it and that film turned out to be "Love Crazy" (1941), with William Powell and Myrna. I guess I was pretty open minded as a little kid, because I don't remember asking, "EW?! This is black and white?!" or "Who the heck are these people?". I just watched it. It was the first screwball comedy I had ever seen and mind you, screwballs don't exist anymore. Humor today tends to fall under the categories of either a) satire, b) raunchy, or c) disgusting.

Well, it was my first experience with a screwball comedy and I couldn't believe how funny it was. I split my sides and laughed out a lung during the whole film. I instantly declared it one of my new favorite films. I was on the verge of classic film, and then "Singin in the Rain" (1952) caught me hook and sinker and I never really went back. I asked my father, "Could you show me some more old movies?" And the rest is history. 

So though looking back there are certainly better screwball comedies, I will always have a sentimental attachment to "Love Crazy" (1941), and the sweet actress with a cute upturned nose that starred in it alongside William Powell.

Myrna Loy was voted "The Queen of Hollywood" (to Clark Gable's King) in 1937. And though she and Clark made a few films, her most famous co-star in the movies was easily William Powell, with whom she made fourteen films, half of which she starred as Nora Charles to Powell's Nick in the stylish "The Thin Man" series.  Nora Charles, the sophisticated female Sherlock, is probably Myrna's most familiar role. (I have not seen all "The Thin Man" films yet, I tend to watch those gradually over time. I think I'm up to "Shadow of the Thin Man" by now.)

The other night I felt like watching something, so I went on pay-per-view and checked out what TCM had (all their movies are actually free. I honestly don't know what I'd do without Turner Classic Movies). One of the films was "Evelyn Prentice" (1934), and the plot sounded promising, and it had Bill and Myrna in it, so I went for it. It had been a while since I'd seen a Myrna Loy film and it reminded me what a wonderful, beautiful actress she was and how terribly I've neglected the actress who had a "sweet way with a sharp line" (in the words of Anjelica Huston). 

Myrna Loy was a personification of refined beauty, sophistication, and style. She had a clever way about her and could portray the strongest emotions in the most subtle of ways. She wasn't the chew the scenery type. And not like there's anything wrong with the latter mentioned actress. You think of Bette Davis, perhaps, when it comes to chewing up scenery - and I love Bette Davis. But still, Myrna was a delicate actress. She didn't even have much of an education in acting, but she knew how to make a character seem real, natural, effortless, even down to the pauses between her lines like we would have in real life.

She was called "the perfect wife," because the characters she played were oftentimes the perfect wife. You think of Nora Charles, a sophisticated mix of sleuth, the perfect hostess, the dependable woman. Despite this, when Myrna started out she was actually oftentimes stereotyped as the "vampy" woman, jungle princesses and the like. But studios began to recast her and soon she was "the perfect wife," though she herself didn't really like the label.

She was a woman before her time. She was quoted as saying, "What about a black person walking up to the steps of a courthouse with a briefcase?". In the 60's she became a big supporter of the Civil Rights Movement, and served as an adviser to the National Committee Against Discrimination in Housing. She called her work in the pre-Civil rights film, "Hams and Eggs at the Front" (1927) "shameful". She was a liberal and a feminist.

Myrna was never awarded the Oscar, but in 1991 she was given an Honorary Award, which is where the quote from Angelica Huston comes from. Myrna accepted the award from her New York apartment and said very simply, but genuinely with the elegance she'd exhibited all her life, "Thank you. You've made me very happy." 

She had a quiet way about her, but she was a beautiful actress who also happened to be a very incredible human being. I think people tend to overlook her, I was overlooking her, but Myrna deserves more than that. So a new vow: talk more about Myrna this year. Because I like her quite an awful lot.

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"Life, is not a having and a getting, but a being and a becoming."

- MYRNA LOY (1905 - 1993)