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Wednesday, February 1, 2012

I'm Doing a Classic Film Survey!

First I'd like to apologize for missing the movie review on Sunday. It was a really crazy day and I couldn't get around to the computer. To that note, it's been a pretty wild week.

But that's not going to stop me from getting this survey started! I originally thought about doing this back in December, when I reached 50 followers. In the busyness of the holiday season it was hard to do, and so I set the date for mid-January, but, thanks to an overload of schoolwork, I couldn't do it then either. I had the survey written out and the banners and everything, but it just didn't seem like the right time to host my first blog event.

So we're doing it now! Kicking off February with a start! This is the month I was born in, so what better time for me to host a survey?

Lol. I have seen this type of a thing turn out really well for some blogs, so I'm crossing my fingers it'll work out nicely for my blog, too. :) It's 15 questions long and I worked hard to try to be as original as I could with the questions since surveys and movie memes have been done so many times before.

I made a banner for it - with Lucy, of course. If you're interested in doing this survey, please, by all means, answer the questions at your blog! That's the purpose, I really hope you all will participate because I'd love to see your answers! And if you do, be sure and leave me a comment with the link. :) Also, if you don't have a blog, or would rather not post the answers there, feel free to leave me your answers in the comments below.

That's about it! You're free to reply to this survey pretty much whenever! If any of the questions seem confusing, I've answered them myself below so you can see how they work. At the bottom I'll post a list of the questions without my answers so they can easily be copied and pasted. I hope you all enjoy this and a bazillion thanks to anyone who may choose to participate :) This is my first blog event, like I said, so I'm nervous and excited and can't believe I'm finally, you know, doing this - all at the same time. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a good turnout!

(I couldn't really think of a fantastic, exciting title for this movie meme so I'm just going with Classic Film Survey for now. :D)

Classic Film Survey
by Frankly, My Dear

1. Favorite Classic Disney?

I'll go with Cinderella (1950). If I ever take "Which Disney Princess are you?" quizzes (lol, don't laugh) I get Cinderella each time, though I definitely don't look all that much like her! I love the movie, and I love the music - A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes and So This is Love. This movie just makes me happy, and I adore it.

[via]

2. Favorite film from the year 1939?

So this pretty much goes without saying - Gone With the Wind (1939). I mean seriously, for what other reason would this blog be called "frankly, my dear"? :)

3. Favorite Carole Lombard screwball role?

I know, terribly mean question. I had to think it over myself for a little bit. But I'm coming up with Irene Bullock from My Man Godfrey (1936). I mean, she says stuff like, "GODFREY LOVES ME - GODFREY PUT ME IN THE SHOWER - GODFREY LOVES ME!" Who could ask for anything more?

4. Favorite off screen couple? (It's ok if it ended in divorce)

LUCY AND DESI DESILU LUCY AND DESI DESILU gee, I'm really going to have to mull this one over for a little bit!! I mean, there's honestly so many, I just don't know, I'm really going to have to think about it -


You saw this coming, didn't you? ;)

5. Favorite pair of best friends? (i.e - Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda, Joan Crawford and Barbara Stanwyck, etc.)

Well, yeah, I hope this makes sense. Basically your favorite pair of classic Hollywood actors that were really good friends in real life - like I said above, Jimmy and Henry, Joan and Barbara, are examples. I choose Olivia de Havilland and Bette Davis. They made a few movies together and Livvie stepped in when Joan bailed out of Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1968). They got along really well in real life, and as much as I love Bette, I can imagine she was probably a personality that wasn't always easy to get along with, but these two did!

6. Favorite actor with a mustache? (i.e: Charlie Chaplin, William Powell)

I basically mean a permanent one. It's okay if they shaved it off for a role or two, but I wasn't really thinking of vice versa. This reminds me of the Mustache Hall of Horror I did for Bette's blogathon back in November! lol. But the actor that truly rocks a mustache, in my opinion, is 


Clark Gable. Though he looked just as handsome without the mustache, perhaps sometimes more so, the mustache is just a part of Clark. What would Rhett Butler ever be without it?

7. Favorite blonde actress?

So the platinum blonde image of Marilyn Monroe is pretty much the posterchild for Classic Hollywood - though Jean Harlow did it first, as I like to remind everyone - but there were several other actresses that rocked blonde locks!

My problem with answering my own question is: was Ingrid Bergman truly blonde? I would think that at least when she was young and doing pictures in the 40's, it was a dark, dirty blonde shade. (Because it photographed kind of dark in black and white). Later on, when you see her in color in movies like Cactus Flower (1968) and Autumn Sonata (1978), it's completely brown however. I know that people with a blonde/brown hair oftentimes find their shade of hair changing over the years, so perhaps is the case with Ingrid.

So I think Ingrid is a blonde. Therefore this would make this question hard. But since's she not completely blonde, and was brunette in the later years, I'll go with  Grace Kelly. She was totally blonde, and it was natural (though, of course, the actress you choose for your response could certainly be bottle blonde, too, however!). And she was blonde until she died in that awful car crash. So Grace. :)

8. Favorite pre-code?

I'm asking this question for my own benefit! Like I said, one of my film goals this year was to watch more pre-codes as I've barely seen any! So I'm hoping you all would be able to mention some great pre-codes for this question! As of, I'll go with It Happened One Night (1934), which isn't startlingly pre-code but, of course, a fantastic movie.


9. Which studio would you have liked to join?

This is kind of like how Harry Potter fans sort themselves into houses. -;) Classic Hollywood is famous, sometimes infamous, for it's studio system, with each studio having its distinctive qualities. You have several choices, like MGM, Warner Brothers, RKO, etc., just don't put yourself into Monogram!!

I'm going to have to go with MGM. I mean, the tagline for the studio was "more stars than there are in the heavens!". Plus, if I worked at MGM, I would be working alongside some of my favorite stars!!! Here's one of my favorite photos, a whole crowd of MGM stars gathered for Louis B. Mayer's birthday, at a time when Lucy, Greer, AND Kate were all working there:


10. Favorite common on screen pairing that SHOULD have gotten married?

Basically a couple that made several pictures together that really need to have gotten married in real life. :) Like, you know, Bill and Myrna, Errol and Olivia, Fred and Ginger, etc. I guess Kate and Spence could count, but since I kind of consider them truly married anyway, I'll go with Walter and Greer. The Pidgeons! One day, someday, I'm going to have a pair of pigeons and name them Walter and Greer. :D

11. Favorite I Love Lucy episode?

It's hard to pick just one, but for me, it'll have to be Lucy is Enceinte, from 1952, the famous episode in which Lucy tells Ricky she's pregnant. Perhaps it's not the funniest out of all the episodes, but it's certainly the sweetest. Knowing that Lucy and Desi's tears in the end were real just kills me. (This is in a teary reference to question 4, how can you not adore these two?)

12. Lucille Ball, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Natalie Wood, Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman, and Greer Garson - which one do you like the best?

Okay, this one was out of my own self-centered curiosity. If you read my blog often you'll probably know that these seven are my very favorite actresses, with Lucy being number one and the rest in no particular order. I was just curious about it, so I decided to throw it in. Don't worry, I won't be offended if Lucy isn't your number one ;)

But, she is, of course, mine.


13. Shadowy film noir from the 1940's or splashy colorful musicals from the 1950's?

I'm just getting into film noir (another film watching goal of this year), but I love it a lot. However, since I'm still wetting my feet in it, I'll go with the latter. Because also Singin in the Rain (1952) was really one of the films that drew me into my classic Hollywood obsession, and will forever be one of my favorites.

14. Actor or actress with the best autograph (photo preferred)?

This is in kind of a slight reference to What's my Line?. Whenever an actor or actress "signs" themselves in on the slate, I'm always entirely inquisitive about their autograph. It's usually pretty amazing. My favorite, of course, will be Lucy's. Our handwriting is actually quite similar, a fact I really revel in.


Her gorgeous signature on the bank card of hers that I own.

15. A baby (or childhood or teenage) photo of either your favorite actress or actor (or both, if you'd like)?

Because, what could be cuter than a series of photos of Classic Hollywood stars when they were tots? ;D

Here's Lucy's (call me biased, but it's my favorite out of all the baby photos I've seen. SHE'S SO ADORABLE. And that bow!) --


And here's Cary's (he's a pretty adorable young boy, too, I think!) --


***

Well, there's my answers to my own survey, and now I want to see YOURS! Don't forget to leave me a comment with the link to your replies if you post it on your blog, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask me. :)

Here's the banner I made, and a copy friendly version of the questions:


1. Favorite classic Disney?
2. Favorite film from the year 1939?
3. Favorite Carole Lombard Screwball role?
4. Favorite off screen couple? (It’s ok if it ended in divorce.)
5. Favorite pair of best friends? (i.e: Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Crawford)
6. Favorite actor with a mustache? 
7. Favorite blonde actress?
8. Favorite pre-code?
9. Which studio would you have liked to join?
10. Favorite common on screen pairing that SHOULD have gotten married? 
11. Favorite I Love Lucy episode?
12.  Out of these actresses which one do you like best: Lucille Ball, Ingrid Bergman, Natalie Wood, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Greer Garson, Grace Kelly, or Katharine Hepburn?
13. Shadowy film noir from the 1940’s or splashy colorful musicals from the 1950’s?
14. Actor or actress with the best autograph (photo preferred).
15. A baby (or childhood, or teenage) photo of either your favorite actress or actor (or both, if you’d like.)

I hope you like it, and thank you to anyone who may participate! I really hope you do - those fingers are still tightly crossed - and yes, I mean YOU. ;)

[via]


39 comments:

VP81955 said...

1. Favorite classic Disney?
Probably "Alice In Wonderland"; it's so delightfully surreal.

2. Favorite film from the year 1939?
So many good movies that year, but think I'll go with "Stagecoach," if not the greatest western ever made, certainly among the most pivotal.

3. Favorite Carole Lombard screwball role?
Carole's my all-time favorite actress, and choosing one is like selecting your favorite child. But I think I'll throw a bit of a curve here and select Ann Smith from "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," for not only is it a fun role, but Hitchcock photographs Lombard with incredible luminosity.

4. Favorite off-screen couple? (It’s ok if it ended in divorce.)
Lombard and William Powell. It may have ended in divorce, but their relationship remained strong. They apparently had the maturity to realize they made better friends than lovers.

5. Favorite pair of best friends? (i.e: Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Crawford)
Lombard had so many friends in the film community, but I'll make this a tie between two pals of hers: Jean Harlow (they only knew each other for about two years before Jean's death, but they were quite simpatico) and Lucille Ball (who came to know Carole at RKO and always credited her as a comedic influence).

6. Favorite actor with a mustache?
Hate saying this on the anniversary of Gable's birth, but it's got to be Bill Powell.

7. Favorite blonde actress?
Carole Lombard. Surprised?

8. Favorite pre-code?
There are so many I love, but I think I'll go with "The Smiling Lieutenant" (1931), some saucy Lubitsch. Jazz up your lingerie!

9. Which studio would you have liked to join?
Paramount, circa 1930. Perhaps the most sophisticated of studios.

10. Favorite common on-screen pairing that SHOULD have gotten married?
How about Powell and Kay Francis, who were so good together in "Jewel Robbery" and "One Way Passage"? (Someone order a paradise cocktail, please.)

11. Favorite "I Love Lucy" episode?
The one at the Brown Derby, as Lucy goes Hollywood.

12. Out of these actresses which one do you like best: Lucille Ball, Ingrid Bergman, Natalie Wood, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Greer Garson or Katharine Hepburn?
Purely as actress, Ball. If the criteria is strictly film work (where Lucy had some success, but certainly not comparable to what she did in TV), I'd probably go with A. Hepburn.

13. Shadowy film noir from the 1940s or splashy colorful musicals from the 1950s?
On the whole, the latter, although in the wrong hands (e.g., MGM aside from the Freed unit), such musicals could look too overgrown for their own good.

14. Actor or actress with the best autograph (photo preferred).
I'll leave this to the calligraphers.

15. A baby (or childhood, or teenage) photo of either your favorite actress or actor (or both, if you’d like.)
Here's Carole Lombard as Jane Alice Peters in July 1918, three months away from her 10th birthday, aiding the war effort: http://carolelombard.org/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=965&fullsize=1

Unknown said...

Count me in! I'll be doing it soon, love the questions. but some are tough, you're too mean! Anyway, it is original, nicely done. can I resize the banner to fit my sidebar? I'd have to cut lucy just so the words would be readable, though on the post I'll include it all of course!

Irene Palfy said...

Great idea, Rianna! I think I can answer those questions this weekend.. Maybe.. :") Enjoyed your answers very much - and have to think a bit about my answers.. Have a great day!!

Dani said...

1. Favorite classic Disney?
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

2. Favorite film from the year 1939?
Golden boy. Bill Holden is really young and cute in this movie. And Barbara Stanwyck, as always, is amazing.

3. Favorite Carole Lombard Screwball role?
I haven't really seen many of her films, so I'll have to go with Ann from Mr. and Mrs. Smith, one of the few of hers I watched.

4. Favorite off screen couple? (It’s ok if it ended in divorce.)
Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward

5. Favorite pair of best friends? (i.e: Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Crawford)
Robert Redford and Paul Newman. I also like Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin.

6. Favorite actor with a mustache?
Clark Gable.

7. Favorite blonde actress?
I'll have to go with Grace Kelly as well. I've just realized that I don't have that many favorite actresses who happen to be blonde. I don't know if it's because I'm a brunette myself, but I like dark hair better. Having said that, I adore Grace and I think she had one of the best smiles I have ever seen.

8. Favorite pre-code?
Baby face (1933). It's really fun to watch Barbara Stanwyck as she sleeps her way to the top.

9. Which studio would you have liked to join?
Warner Bros. Some of my favorite actors worked there (including Natalie Wood and Barbara Stanwyck, I believe) and a lot of my favorite movies were made there. And my favorite director, Elia Kazan, worked there as well.

10. Favorite common on screen pairing that SHOULD have gotten married?
Natalie Wood and Robert Redford. They only made two movies together and then she made a cameo appearance in one of his movies, but I think they were the most gorgeous couple. Their children would have been extremely good looking.

11. Favorite I Love Lucy episode?
Mr. and Mrs. T.V. Show. This one was really funny.

12. Out of these actresses which one do you like best: Lucille Ball, Ingrid Bergman, Natalie Wood, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Greer Garson, or Katharine Hepburn?
Natalie Wood (she's my favorite actress).

13. Shadowy film noir from the 1940’s or splashy colorful musicals from the 1950’s?
Musicals.

14. Actor or actress with the best autograph (photo preferred).
I really like James Garner's signature.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6ehYIVcPt4/SVVxNuaK0PI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/HVmQu1luz3o/s320/James+Garner2.jpg

15. A baby (or childhood, or teenage) photo of either your favorite actress or actor (or both, if you’d like.)

http://tarnishedlady.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/young018.jpg

Meredith said...

Great survey! I'll try to do it sometime next week

Laura said...

Yay, inspiration! I'll try tackling this for my own blog hopefully tonight. Great stuff!

Page said...

I love this survey! What a fun idea. I'll add the logo to my sidebar with a link to your post. Your blog music is so beautiful I could stay here all day, but guess I'll go so others can get in.

Lovely!
Page

Rianna said...

VP: Thank you for participating, I very much enjoyed reading your answers! Carole had a lot of influence on Lucy indeed, she was a woman Lucy really admired. And I love that photo of Carole as a ten year old, she was adorable!

Maria: Yep, a lot of them are pretty tough (Laughs evilly)! Lol. Oh yeah, feel free to resize the banner as you wish, I can't wait to see your answers!

Irene: Wonderful! I'll be looking forward to reading your replies! :)

Dani: I loved your answers! I agree with you, what gorgeous children Natalie and Robert Redford would have made! I love that baby photo of Natalie. It's from a LIFE photoshoot, isn't it? I have many similar photos on my computer.

Meredith: Lovely! I'll be looking forward to reading your answers :)

Laura: Thank you! :)

Page: Thanks! Oh, and I'm happy you like the blog music. :)

iluvcinema said...

This looks cool ... I would love to participate! I will try to have something posted next week. It is about time I go back to my classic movie roots :)

Tracy said...

I will participate and let you know! GREAT POST!

ps I LOVE LUCILLE BALL TOO! I have a huge collection of her movies, TV shows, pictures, books and scrapbooks!

Tracy said...

http://tracywee.blogspot.com/2012/02/classic-film-survery.html

Dani said...

Glad you liked the answers. And yes, I believe the photo is from a Life shoot.

Anonymous said...

Great questions

Madeleine said...

Here's mine Rianna! http://bettesmovieblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/riannas-classic-movie-survey.html

Dawn said...

I will add my post after Feb. 15th.

Unknown said...

This is awesome! I'm going to reply to this on my blog soon and I'll post the link in another comment when I do. I made a meme but no one replied..oh well. Your's is better =)

Caftan Woman said...

I had fun with your survey. I particularly like the way you phrased the "which studio" question by comparing it to the sorting hat. A magazine poll placed me in Hufflepuff. The rest of my family is in Gryffindor and teases me incessantly.

http://caftanwoman.blogspot.com/2012/02/frankly-my-dear-riannas-film-survey.html

iluvcinema said...

Here are my responses. This was a whole lot of fun!

iluvcinema said...

oops!
http://iluvcinema.com/2012/02/classic-film-survey/

Rianna said...

Great, I'll be looking forward to it! :)

Unknown said...

here's my post about it:
http://filmflare.blogspot.com/2012/02/classic-film-survey.html

I'm so sorry I couldn't answer some of those questions, I'll be sure do to so when I can have a proper answer!

Unknown said...

Here's my reply: http://elisalovesclassicfilms.blogspot.com/2012/02/frankly-my-dears-classic-film-survey.html

Laura said...

Heh, only about five days later: http://turntheworldoffwithhersmile.blogspot.com/2012/02/one-more-classic-film-survey-never-hurt.html

Ginny said...

Thanks for the fun survey Rianna! I just posted my answers here:

http://oldmoviesnostalgia.com/5056/classic-movie-survey/

You have a great blog! So happy to have found it.

rcocean said...

What a great Survey!

1. Favorite classic Disney?

The Jungle Book.

2. Favorite film from the year 1939?

The Wizard of Oz (sorry GWTW, better luck next time)

3. Favorite Carole Lombard Screwball role?

My man Godfred

4. Favorite off screen couple? (It’s ok if it ended in divorce.)

Desi and Lucy

5. Favorite pair of best friends? (i.e: Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Crawford)

Hank Fonda and James Stewart

6. Favorite actor with a mustache?

William Powell

7. Favorite blonde actress?

Grace Kelly

8. Favorite pre-code?

City Lights

9. Which studio would you have liked to join?

Paramount - WC Fields, Bing and Bob, lots of laughs

10. Favorite common on screen pairing that SHOULD have gotten married?

Powell and Loy

11. Favorite I Love Lucy episode?

Hard to choose. Probably, Lucy in Italy with stomping of the grapes, although the Bill Holden episode is good.

12. Out of these actresses which one do you like best: Lucille Ball, Ingrid Bergman, Natalie Wood, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Greer Garson, Grace Kelly, or Katharine Hepburn?

Ingrid Bergman

13. Shadowy film noir from the 1940’s or splashy colorful musicals from the 1950’s?

Colorful Musicals

Irene Palfy said...

Hey - finally my answers here: http://andthentheystartsprkling.blogspot.com/2012/02/frankly-my-dears-classic-film-survey.html

This was fun - and I hope you'll do this again next year..

Aubyn said...

Hey, Rianna. Finally got around to posting my answers. This was fun!

http://thegirlwiththewhiteparasol.blogspot.com/2012/02/classic-film-survey-from-frankly-my.html

Rianna said...

Hey, thanks for stopping by. Nice responses. I agree with you on a lot of them!

The Gal Herself said...

I found this wonderful survey through Rachel at Girl with the White Parasol. I too am a great fan of Godfrey, though my favorite quote comes from Mrs. Bullock: He's the first thing she's shown any enthusiasm for since her pomeranian died last summer. The question I had the hardest time with was #12 because (except for Garson), I am a fan of each one. Hope you'll come by to see my answers, and to see how your banner looks on my blog.
http://onegalsmusings.blogspot.com/2012/02/classic-film-survey.html

Natalie said...

Yippee! Rianna, I'm so glad you finally did this! I've been waiting! :D Here are my answers: http://theswingmood.blogspot.com/2012/02/frankly-my-dear-its-survey.html

Vulnavia Morbius said...

So here's my entry. Way late, but what the heck. ;)

monty said...

Hey Rianna..I just completed my answers to your survey and my post is up. Enjoyed it. Thanks for doing this. Here's my link...http://poohtiger-allgoodthings.blogspot.com/2012/02/classic-film-survey-hosted-by-frankly.html

Karen said...

I loved your survey, Rianna - it's the first one I've ever done, and it was so much fun! What a great idea. My responses are here: http://shadowsandsatin.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/frankly-my-dear-its-classic-movie-survey-time/

VP81955 said...

Tracy, please get in touch with me so I can find a way to read your blog. Thank you in advance.

Crocheted Lace said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Crocheted Lace said...

1. Favorite classic Disney?
"The Whale Who Sang at The Met" & "Dumbo". Biggest disney tearjerkers.
2. Favorite film from the year 1939?
Way too many great films to have a single favorite. "The Old Maid" came first to mind.
3. Favorite Carole Lombard Screwball role?
"Twentieth Century". The best of any screwball comedy, one of the best comedies ever. I am indifferent to most screwball comedies.
4. Favorite off screen couple? (It’s ok if it ended in divorce.)
Barbara Stanwyck & Robert Taylor.
5. Favorite pair of best friends?
James Cagney and Pat OBrien. I read somewhere that Gene Fowler, Albert Dekker and John Barrymore were good friends and drinking buddies. Might have been some interesting conversations before they got really blotto.
6. Favorite actor with a mustache?
Ronald Colman and Warren William.
7. Favorite blonde actress?
Ann Harding - she was a natural blonde too!
8. Favorite pre-code?
So many to chose from!! "Life of Vergie Winters", "Confession" (Kay Francis)
9. Which studio would you have liked to join?
I have no talents like that a studio would want.
10. Favorite common on screen pairing that SHOULD have gotten married?
Jack Carson & Jane Wyman. They projected such cheerful lust.
11. Favorite I Love Lucy episode?
NONE. I despise I Love Lucy.
12. Out of these actresses which one do you like best: Lucille Ball, Ingrid Bergman, Natalie Wood, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Greer Garson, Grace Kelly, or Katharine Hepburn?
Ingrid Bergman and Greer Garson
13. Shadowy film noir from the 1940’s or splashy colorful musicals from the 1950’s?
NOIR!
14. Actor or actress with the best autograph (photo preferred).
Not really interested in autographs so I'll go with a personal item.
I have an autographed photo of Wolfgang Preiss similar to this:
http://bilder.auxion.de/normal/171/1718//Preiss-bccbcb265e97819d3b27d61adb90a577.jpg
I'd post my photo but don't have a scanner. I once wrote Preiss a fan letter (in German) and he wrote back and sent a photo. He was 90 years old. He was a very popular actor in Europe and apparently was very generous with autographed photos. Film fans say no one wore a Wehrmacht uniform better than Preiss. (Well maybe Maximilian Schell) He seems to have been the "go to" actor when a movie needed a Wehrmacht officer. Besides that, he was a very good and versatile actor with a marvelous voice.

Rianna said...

Hi, thanks for participating. Nice answers, though I strongly disagree with you number eleven. I Love Lucy is the best and I could never "despise" it. But each to their own, I suppose! :)

Anonymous said...

I finally did the survey!

http://blamemameblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/frankly-my-dear-classic-film-survey.html

Unknown said...

Excellent survey. I have got many things by you.
Survey Templates

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