Original Movie Posters Blog

10 Amazing Movie Music Themes

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:46:00 +0000

As a collector of original vintage movie posters, I also have a passion for movie music themes. Think Star Wars. Now . . . imagine Star Wars without John Williams’ pulsating, awe inspiring music. The movie would not be the same. Movie music themes have been part of movies since the beginning of film. In the silent days, music was everything. Throughout history, some of the most famous movies are remembered not only for the movies themselves, but also for the music that was created by some extraordinarily talented composers.

We recently sold a wonderful, popular poster. When I corresponded with our customer, he said he only likes the popular movie music themes, such as Gone With the Wind, Star Wars, Robin Hood and the James Bond films. I can certainly relate to this. Throughout my life, though, I have accumulated many other extraordinary movie music themes of other films.

So, I would like to share with you some of my favorite movie music themes. These are in no particular order and I have many other favorites besides these, but as the saying goes, you’ve got to begin somewhere. If you get a chance to listen to any of these, let me know what you think. All of my art work has been created listening to a lot of these incredible compositions.

Parrish –This movie starred Troy Donahue, who was a heart throb to many young women in the early 1960s. The music was by Max Steiner and guess what . . . Max also composed the music from Gone With the Wind.

Robin and Marian – Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn were Robin Hood and Maid Marian. The music was by John Barry and it is gorgeous.

Antony and Cleopatra – Cleopatra had two lovers (in the film at least). One was Marc Antony and the other, of course, was Julius Caesar. The music I like best is Antony and Cleopatra. Considering Elizabeth Taylor fell in love with her Antony (Richard Burton) during the making of this movie, give a listen to this wonderful music by Alex North.

The Wind and The Lion – Wow, wow, wow! This music by Jerry Goldsmith is beautiful.

Defending Your Life – Michael Gore scored the music for this movie. I love the main theme, as it really captures the end of the movie, where the lead character has to truly find himself, in order for his soul to move forward. Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep were great. If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like, after you have passed into the next world, watch this movie.

Legend – The music by Jerry Goldsmith for this movie is the one you should listen to. There is some confusion as to whether Jerry Goldsmith or Tangerine Dream did the music. Personally, I love the Jerry Goldsmith version. To this day, I still think Tim Curry was the sexiest devil I’ve ever seen.

The Cardinal – This movie with Thomas Tryon was a major motion picture. My favorite part of the movie was the music by Jerome Moross.

First Born – This needs some explaining. About twenty years ago I watched a mini-series called First Born. The movie was about a scientist who mated a gorilla’s genes with a human’s. The result was a creature who was human looking but with gorilla overtones. I was glued to the set each week to see what would happen next. Hans Zimmer, who is quite famous now, composed the music and it is incredible. It matches the story and pulsates with passion. It took me several years to locate the music, which was on a tape. I bought it and had it recorded onto a cd. Dear Hans Zimmer, please re-release this for everyone’s listening pleasure. PS: See the mini-series. Food for thought.

Life As A House – Kevin Kline and Hayden Christensen made this movie come alive. The music is by Mark Isham and I listen to it all of the time and think about the father and son and how they learned to love each other and connect.

A Summer Place – Percy Faith was a remarkable musician. He recorded the most popular version of the theme to this movie. It lasted nine weeks at the top of the billboard charts. Max Steiner is credited for composing the music. So Faith or Steiner, when you have two musicians this powerful it is magical. Many people have heard this one, but if youhaven’t, give a little listen.

For those of you who are John Williams fans, did you know this? In the early days of John’s career, he was known as Johnny Williams and he composed the theme to a wonderful mystery series called Checkmate. If you get a chance, listen to it. It is not as long, but it is as good as Star Wars. Way to go Johnny . . .John!

I could go on and on, but I won’t. Stay tuned . . .

What is a Lobby Card or Still, and Why Collect Them?

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:02:00 +0000

Still - The Unholy Wife Diana Dors and Thomas Tryon

Lobby Card - Stewart Granger and Eleanor Parker

I have been collecting movie memorabilia since childhood. Now I am helping other people with their collections. What fascinates me the most is seeing the posters that our customers purchase. Rather than choosing the most famous films, like Gone With the Wind, so many people choose the more obscure films which have obviously struck a chord with them.

I have often said to my husband that we deal in memories. When people buy a vintage movie poster, they obviously go back in time. They remember where they were when they first saw this film, who they were with, and how it made them feel. Perhaps it was a first date. A first kiss. A day with their parents or child. Think about the special movies that sit in the back of your mind. Just thinking about those memories can warm your heart.

If you have a special movie or movies, please check out FFF Movie Posters and see if we have the poster or lobby card that rekindles that special spark in your mind.

I have often been asked what the difference is between a poster and a lobby card. I have a special passion for lobby cards, and I will tell you why. Simply put, lobby cards can be extraordinary. These cards are pictures of scenes from a movie. Below, you will see many differences between posters and lobby cards. Take a look at the example of Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger from 1977. The movie starred Patrick Wayne (the Duke’s son), Jane Seymour and Taryn Power (Tyrone Power’s daughter). The special effects of this movie were created by Ray Harryhausen, who was a master of special effects. The poster for this movie, as you can see, is colorful and represents all the derring-do of the movie. Now take a look of the lobby card next to it. This is an exquisite scene with Patrick and Jane (not Patrick Jane from The Mentalist!). If you liked this movie because you are a fan of Jane Seymour, the lobby card shows off her exquisite beauty. If you are considering buying the poster of Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, you might also want the lobby card if you want a great image of Jane Seymour or Patrick Wayne.

Now take a look at The Taming of the Shrew. The poster is great and represents the fun, passion and general excitement of the movie. But frankly, the lobby cards make me swoon. The pictures of Elizabeth Taylor are to die for. They are some of my favorite images of her and truly show off her unique beauty. When I heard that Lindsay Lohan was going to play the part of Elizabeth Taylor, I was devastated. All I could think of was the lobby cards of this movie and my mind went “Lindsay Lohan?” Take a look at these lobby cards and tell me what you think. Please don’t judge me harshly, but anyone who has read my blogs or gone on our website knows that I am one of Elizabeth Taylor’s biggest fans. I know that some of you may challenge me . . . so go ahead, I would love to hear from you.

To sum it up, lobby cards represent a moment in time and would make an exciting addition to complement your poster purchase.

There is an old expression that one picture represents a thousand words. Take a look at this picture.

What more can anyone say? I fell in love with this picture of Gene and I told my husband that “Gene wants me to have this picture.” Gene Tierney was a major film actress of the 1940s and 1950s. Her beauty and talent were legendary. Her movies were successful and her fan base was large. When I look at this picture I can go back in time and feel like I am with her at the height of her glory.

Stills are photographs of your favorite actors and actresses. Many times, the photographers like Richard Avedon and George Hurrell, who took these kinds of pictures, were as famous as the people they were photographing. Photography was indeed an art, and these stills were considered very valuable to the studios in marketing their talent to the public. So for my viewing pleasure, and I hope yours, take a look at some of my favorite stills.

The VIPs (Elizabeth Taylor)

Lana Turner

Hedy Lamarr

Captain Blood (Errol Flynn & Olivia de Havilland)

Patrick Wayne

Brigitte Bardot

Honky Tonk (Lana Turner & Clark Gable)

Jane Seymour

For added information, you might want to know that stills can be black and white, color or sepia.

So enjoy your journey through FFF Movie Posters. Check out the posters, lobby cards and stills. If there is something you are looking for and we don’t have it, let us know. Let us look for you. It gives me a thrill to do that, and what is a thrill if you can’t share it.

Jack Nicholson Turning 75 Years Old

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:35:00 +0000

He’s baaaaack! In fact, Jack Nicholson is such a strong and charismatic presence on screen that it seems that he’s always been with us . . . and will always be there! He is most famous for his dramatic portrayals of very troubled characters. He is the second most nominated actor for the academy award behind Meryl Streep. Jack has been nominated 12 times and won the Oscar twice, once for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and As Good as It Gets. Jack also won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Terms of Endearment. It should be noted, that in addition, he won seven Golden Globes, the Kennedy Center Honor Award and an American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award. WOW! He is an actor who has made his mark and left a lasting impression. And now he is turning 75 years old.

Jack Nicholson was the son of a showgirl, which may explain the attraction to some of the most beautiful women. He was brought up to believe that his grandparents were his parents. This was because of the speculation about who the identity really was of Jack Nicholson’s father. He was voted class clown in high school; and he also had the distinction of being in detention every day for a whole school year. Later, a theater and drama award at his high school was named in his honor. I’m sure he is grateful for his phenomenal success in his profession or who knows what award might have been given to him.

Jack’s first job in Hollywood was as a gofer for Hanna and Barbera at the MGM cartoon studio. He was so talented as an artist; he was even offered a position as an animation artist. Jack knew early on that he wanted to be an actor, so he declined this offer. He next collaborated with Producer Roger Corman. He made The Little Shop of Horrors, The Raven, The Terror and The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. He also made two low budget westerns but he believed that his film career was going nowhere.

It wasn’t until a part opened up in Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider that Jack Nicholson received his big break. He ultimately received an Academy Award Nomination for Easy Rider but it should be noted that he almost didn’t play this part. It had been written for Rip Torn but Rip came to blows with Dennis Hopper and for Jack, this was his lucky break. His star was finally born. Thanks to a quirk of fate.

Next Jack played in the academy award nominated Five Easy Pieces. This role was followed by Chinatown, Tommy, and The Passenger. I believe that One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was another breakout role. As Randle P. McMurphy, Jack Nicholson lit up the screen. He received his first Academy Award for Best Actor in this role. The following parts came his way: Goin’ South, The Shining, Terms of Endearment, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Reds, Prizzi’s Honor, The Witches of Eastwick, Broadcast News, Ironweed and A Few Good Men. Wow! I think that is the strongest word I can think of when I think of Jack Nicholson. To have played all of those interesting characters in so many stand out and strong films make Jack truly unique and iconic.

Later years saw him play Batman’s, The Joker. For his part, Jack made 60 million dollars. Following Batman, Nicholson played in Hoffa and the Academy Award winning film As Good as It Gets. In 2006 he played in Ron Reiner’s The Bucket List.

Many actors in Hollywood have played parts or characters in wonderful movies but Jack Nicholson’s unique characterizations have truly set him apart from the pack. Although he could play a leading man, it was in the character actor roles that he stood out and captured the audience’s appreciation.

Jack has always admired beautiful women. He’s dated Michelle Phillips, Bebe Buell, and Lara Flynn Boyle. He had a 16-year relationship with Anjelica Huston. This was followed by a relationship with Rebecca Broussard. They had two beautiful children together, Lorraine and Raymond. He has two other daughters, Jennifer and Honey from previous relationships. He was obviously a very busy man!

In California he lived next door to Marlon Brando and lived near Warren Beatty. Because of these three men, the street they lived on was called "Bad Boy Drive." Not even Errol Flynn had that recognition.

Jack is a die hard New York Yankees and Los Angeles Lakers fan. In 2011, Jack received an Honorary of Fine Arts degree from Brown University. Not bad for a boy who spent a year in detention!

Below are a collection of vintage movie posters featuring Jack Nicholson. See what memories they stir for you. His Easy Rider and Five Easy Pieces defined the 60’s decade. He is an actor’s actor. He has said that he was particularly proud of his performance as the Joker. His motto is “more good times”. Right on Jack! He has also said “I don’t want people to know what I’m actually like. It’s not good for an actor”. We all know Jack for the parts he’s played and for the memories he has created in our minds.

In 1980 Stanley Kubrick directed Jack in The Shining. When Jack walked in the room and said, “I’m back!” we all knew Jack had arrived.

Jack Nicholson’s birthday is April 22. He will be 75. Keep partying Jack! We love you. Happy Birthday and many more!

Five Easy Pieces (1970)

Chinatown (1974)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Goin' South (1978)

The Shining (1980)

Prizzi's Honor (1985)

The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

Man Trouble (1992)

“King of Cool” Steve McQueen - Vintage Movie Posters

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:58:00 +0000

Steve McQueen began his career on TV in Wanted – Dead or Alive. He parlayed his looks and charisma into a powerful movie career that spanned many years until his untimely death in 1980.

When McQueen was young, there was no reality television. You had to have talent in order to be successful and have a career of any longevity. Born Terrence Stephen McQueen, he worked while he studied acting by competing in motorcycle races.

His early life was traumatic because he was dyslexic and had an abusive stepfather. At 14 he left home and joined the circus for a short time. He also worked as an oil rigger, a trinket salesman in a carnival and a lumberjack. In 1947 he became a marine. He saved the lives of 5 other marines and received an honorable discharge in 1950.

In 1952 Steve started studying acting at Sanford Meisner’s Neighborhood Playhouse. It was during this time that he competed in motorcycle races. He made his Broadway debut in 1955 in a play called A Hatful of Rain. Soon thereafter he left for California. He was hired to appear in films Never Love a Stranger and the infamous The Blob. He debuted in the series Wanted – Dead or Alive in 1958. He finally had become a household name!

Frank Sinatra took a liking to Steve McQueen, and when they made a film together Never So Few he made sure that McQueen got plenty of close ups that earned him favorable reviews. In 1960, Steve became one of the stars in The Magnificent Seven. The success of this movie caused him to quit Wanted – Dead or Alive. His acting touches such as shaking a shotgun round before loading it and wiping his hat rim caused Yul Brynner to accuse him of trying to steal scenes. Yul also refused to draw his gun in the same scene as McQueen, not wanting to have his character outdone. The film The Great Escape made Steve McQueen a superstar. He went on to star in Love With a Proper Stranger, The Sand Pebbles, Bullitt, The Thomas Crown Affair, Le Mans, The Getaway (where he met his future wife, the beautiful Ali McGraw). He also stared in Papillon.

In 1974 Steve starred in The Towering Inferno, which became a box office success. He disappeared from Hollywood after this as he preferred to focus on motorcycle racing. He returned to acting in 1978 with An Enemy of the People, Tom Horn and The Hunter.

What is fascinating about Steve’s career are some of the movies he was offered but did not get to make: Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Ocean’s Eleven and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. He turned down the lead role in Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The part ultimately went to Richard Dreyfuss.

Steve McQueen died too young. He was only 50. If he had been given the gift of longevity, I’m sure his career would have produced many more powerful films. Take a look at some of the original vintage movie posters and lobby cards of Steve McQueen’s career. He left a legacy and he’ll always be Wanted – Dead or Alive. We miss you, Steve.

The Blob (1958)

The Magnificent Seven (1960)

The Honeymoon Machine (1961)

Hell is For Heroes (1962)

The War Lover (1962)

Baby the Rain Must Fall (1965)

The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

Nevada Smith (1966)

The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)

Bullitt (1968)

The Reivers (1970)

On Any Sunday (1971)

Junior Bonner (1972)

The Getaway (1972)

Papillon (1973)

The Towering Inferno (1974)

The Hunter (1980)

Original Movie Posters Featuring Icon Clint Eastwood

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:46:00 +0000

Clint Eastwood’s Hollywood career has spanned over 50 years and run the entertainment gamut from television to the big screen. His grizzled face is as much an icon as the many roles he’s played over the years, one that has adorned a plethora of amazing original movie posters.

Eight years on the TV series Rawhide as Rowdy Yates groomed Eastwood to become a legendary fixture in spaghetti westerns such as A Fist Full of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Trading in the dusty desert for urban enforcement, Eastwood went on to play San Francisco’s Police Department Inspector Harry Callahan in the 1971 thriller Dirty Harry. By 1988, Eastwood headlined a total of five films starring the character.

Clint’s talent is so great that he was able to star and direct some of the most popular and well acclaimed movies of this generation. He was never one to be pigeonholed into a genre or a character. He played in westerns, comedies, action packed adventures and, in later years, he directed and starred in some of the most important films of recent times. Movies like Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Changeling and Grand Torino were seriously thought provoking films.

Clint received four academy awards for Unforgiven, and Million Dollar Baby as producer and director. I have to be honest; my three favorite Clint Eastwood movies are Play Misty for Me, The Beguiled, and Changeling. Clint has the ability to be all things to all people. He could do it all and he could do it well.

Congratulations Mr. Eastwood, you have entertained generation after generation and are truly an icon.

They say that one picture says a thousand words. Please enjoy these original movies posters spanning Clint Eastwood’s career (click any of them to view a larger version). Which one of these Clint Eastwood original movie posters is your favorite?

For a Few Dollars More (1965)

Hang 'Em High (1968)

Coogan's Bluff (1968)

Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Paint Your Wagon (1969)

Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970)

Kelly's Heroes (1970)

Play Misty For Me (1971)

The Beguiled (1971)

Joe Kidd (1972)

Magnum Force (1973)

Dirty Harry / Magnum Force (1973)

The Eiger Sanction (1975)

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

The Gauntlet (1977)

Firefox (1982)

Sudden Impact (1983)

Tightrope (1984)

City Heat (1984)

Unforgiven (1992)

Browse our current select of Clint Eastwood original movie posters for sale.

Spring Break . . . Where the Boys Are

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:46:00 +0000

Every generation of young girls have wondered Where the Boys Are! This will continue to the end of time. In 1960, a memorable film was produced in Hollywood. Some of the top actors and actresses in young Hollywood were in this movie. George Hamilton, Paula Prentiss, Yvette Mimieux and Dolores Hart starred in this film. Connie Francis sang the title song, Where the Boys Are, which became an instant hit and to this day, people can recall the song.

The movie touched a chord because it taught my generation how great (or not) Spring Break can be. After Where the Boys Are came out, every young person wanted to go to Fort Lauderdale for Spring Break. I never went, but I saw the movie four times. In my mind I was there.

Imagine the remake of this movie today. Better yet, let’s not. With all the girls going wild and the reality shows pushing the envelope today, we don’t need Spring Break anymore. Sometimes, it seems as if life is a perpetual Spring Break!!! For a sense of nostalgia see the original. Marvel at this movie! See how times have changed. Have we moved forward? You be the judge.

Elizabeth Taylor Tribute – She Lit Up The Screen

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:51:00 +0000

Sometimes, it seemed as if Elizabeth Taylor’s beauty obscured her talent on screen. In truth, however, Elizabeth’s talent matched her beauty. Later in life, she became an icon as an AIDS activist. With tremendous dedication and compassion, she helped raise awareness of this disease to raise money for many of the victims.

Her personal life was played out on the front pages of magazines and newspapers throughout her life. Consequently, she became larger than life.

Throughout her career she made many important and wonderful films that have survived the test of time. I fell in love with Elizabeth Taylor when I saw The Last Time I Saw Paris. Perhaps it was her beauty that first captivated me as a child. But her performance in this film rang true and made the movie come to life. It was a movie I never forgot.

As a tribute to Elizabeth, I would like discuss some of her most important films and why they should be watched and recognized for their contribution to film history. When she was very young, she had small parts in other movies, like Lassie Come Home and Jane Eyre. At twelve, her portrayal of Velvet Brown in National Velvet ensured that Elizabeth Taylor would always have her place on the screen.

Her portrayal of Angela Vickers in A Place In The Sun was unforgettable. She was only a teenager and yet, she could play love scenes as well as women much older than her. Hedda Hopper, who was a gossip columnist at that time, was quoted as saying, “Elizabeth, where did you learn to play love scenes like that?” Elizabeth became a Femme Fatale in this movie.

In Giant, Elizabeth plays Leslie Benedict, the wife of Rock Hudson’s character, Bick, who has a huge ranch, Reata, in Texas. As his wife, she moves to Texas to begin her new life. Leslie’s loving and compassionate nature has an uplifting effect on the people at Reata. Then, James Dean in his final film role, as Jeff Rink becomes enthralled with Leslie. The conflict between Rock Hudson and James Dean over oil, and Elizabeth Taylor makes this a true Giant of a movie. If you haven’t seen this one, rent it. All three principals were phenomenal.

Elizabeth was not happy with many of her movies in the early 50s. But, Giant and A Place In The Sun were her true crown jewels. The late 50s were Elizabeth’s powerful years on screen. Her beauty was at an all time high and, she startled audiences with three more remarkable performances.

The first one was as Susanna Drake in Raintree County. Elizabeth plays a southern belle who visits Indiana and falls in love with Montgomery Clift’s character, John Shawnessy. Although Susanna and John love each other, the conflict between the north and the south comes between them as they strongly disagree over the issue of slavery. As a tortured soul, Elizabeth gives a deeply moving performance. I believe that Raintree County suffered because it was compared to Gone With The Wind. Elizabeth’s beauty and performance, as well as the lush scenery, music and costumes are what made this movie memorable.

The second role was as Maggie in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. Sadly, the censors of that day would not allow the full scope of Tennessee William’s story come to fruition so the movie, on some levels was confusing. Both Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman as, her husband, Brick were wonderful. Burl Ives as Big Daddy sparkled in a one of a kind role. Elizabeth suffered the loss of her beloved husband, Mike Todd, during the filming of this movie. But she returned to the set and gave a shocking performance as the neglected wife of a handsome husband.

Her third and best role was as Catherine Holly in Suddenly Last Summer. I never like to give away the plot of this movie. I believe that everyone should see it, for it is truly shocking. It is so shocking that Elizabeth wore a very sexy white bathing suit to lure audiences into the movie. Watching her play against Katherine Hepburn is thrilling. Both ladies were nominated for Academy Awards and I believe that is why neither won. In my opinion Elizabeth should have won the Academy Award for this movie.

The last movie in this series was the weakest. Elizabeth hated the role and did not want to play it, but she was under contract and she had no choice. She plays Gloria Wandrous in Butterfield 8. Elizabeth called the role that of a prostitute. Frankly, it was. She did it well, but I have always believed she received the Oscar for this movie because of the three that came before it. Elizabeth almost died of pneumonia before she won the Academy Award for this movie. When Eddie Fisher walked her to the stage to accept her Oscar, her tracheotomy scar was fully visible.

In 1962 Elizabeth made Cleopatra. She fell in love with Richard Burton and literally all hell broke loose. Was Cleopatra a good movie? See for yourself and decide. She is exquisite, so on that level you will not be disappointed.

She won a second Academy Award for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. She intentionally gained approximately twenty pounds and allowed the make-up artist to age her, so that she could play the part of Martha. She was thrilled to receive the award, but she truly wished that Richard could have won for playing George. The night she won that Oscar, I threw a party in my dorm room. I, frankly, think I may have been more excited then Elizabeth was when she received it.

For all Elizabeth fans, rent The Taming of the Shrew (1967). As a former actress myself, I know how difficult it is to work with Shakespeare’s dialogue. It is a challenge and I am always amazed when I see it done well. Elizabeth was sparkling and magnificent in her role as Katharina.

Elizabeth made many movies after this time. Some of them good, some of them better than that. If you are a true Elizabeth fan see all of her films and judge for yourself which ones you like. She also performed on stage and received rave reviews.

When Rock Hudson passed away, she became an AIDS activist. She helped found the American Foundation for AIDS Research and 6 years later, in 1991 created her own Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. She started a perfume line and performed on television. She lived a full, exciting and challenging life. Blessed with incomparable beauty and talent, her life was not without its challenges.

I have been collecting Elizabeth memorabilia since I was a little girl. When she made Cleopatra, I copied her make-up. When she made The Taming of the Shrew, I copied her hairstyle. Elizabeth lit up my life; she lit up the world; she lit up the screen. This is my tribute to Elizabeth Taylor.

Kim Novak: Bell, Book and Candle in the Night

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:28:00 +0000

Kim Novak was one of the most beautiful actresses in the 1950s, and 1960s. With her short blonde hair and “come hither” eyes, she embodied the strong and the mysterious. Her movies were astonishingly successful and well received. Take Picnic, Pal Joey, Jeanne Eagels, The Eddy Duchin Story, The Man with the Golden Arm, Bell, Book and Candle and, of course, the extraordinary Vertigo. These were some of the most successful movies of their day.

What a body of work she created. Kim decided early in her career, however, that Hollywood was not where she wanted to spend her entire life. Kim’s great love was for animals. She married a veterinarian, Dr. Robert Malloy and together with her husband she loves caring for animals.

Later in her career she came out of semi-retirement and even appeared on TV in the night time soap opera, Falcon Crest.

Whenever I think of actresses who’ve had great careers, she is always at the top of my list. She reached the pinnacle and she did it her way. Kim, your fans still love you and appreciate your contribution to film history.

A Taste Of Art ArtWalk - Thursday, January 19, 7-9pm

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:12:00 +0000

To all of our Barrett-Jackson car enthusiasts, golfers and other winter visitors, Welcome to Scottsdale!

There are many things to do while visiting our city, but there are some that shouldn’t be missed. One of them being the 4th Annual “A Taste of Art ArtWalk”, January 19th from 7 to 9 pm, which takes place in the Scottsdale Art District.

This spectacular event is sponsored by the Scottsdale Gallery Association (SGA) in conjunction with the City of Scottsdale. It is an evening filled with art, musicians performing on the streets and some of the most amazing cuisine in Scottsdale.

We invite you to stop by Femmes Fatales & Fantasies and meet Sherry Goldberg, a local artist who has resided in the Paradise Valley area for over 30 years. In addition to enjoying the breathtaking art of Sherry Goldberg, Femmes Fatales & Fantasies also exhibits rare one of a kind vintage posters. New posters and stills! Take a walk down memory lane.

Femmes Fatales & Fantasies is located at 7013 E. Main Street, west of Marshall Way and across the street from the well known Mabel’s on Main.

We hope to see you then.

Was Errol Flynn Really a Bad Boy?

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:09:00 +0000

Frankly, I think Errol Flynn got a bad rap for being a “bad boy”. With hindsight being 20/20, how bad, really, was Errol?

Although he was charged with rape in the early 1940s, during the trial, the truth came out that Errol never raped anyone. Frankly, women were lined up around the block for their chance at a night, or more, with the handsome swashbuckler!

When you look at stars today, like Charlie Sheen and Mel Gibson, or many of the other now famous celebrities, you would see that Errol’s life was relatively normal and quiet compared to some of the famous people today. If Errol were alive today, would anyone even pay attention to what he did?

Let’s look closely at the career of Errol Flynn. I think everyone should go back and see movies like Captain Blood and the original Adventures of Robin Hood. You’ll see a man that could take a fantasy character, like a pirate, and imbue him with a reality and compassion that many actors of today cannot convey on-screen, as well as he did. With all the handsome actors in Hollywood today, I don’t think any can compare with the charisma and screen presence that was Errol Flynn. I would like to hear back if anyone disagrees with me.

For fans of Errol Flynn, I have included three of my favorite images in this posting. To view additional Errol Flynn posters and stills, visit our home page and search for Errol Flynn. Enjoy!

Errol, we miss you!

Clark Gable: Life’s Lessons

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:08:00 +0000

How often have rumors or innuendos played a part in your life and changed what you might do in any situation? How vulnerable are we, as people, to hearing something about ourselves, or someone we love.

We have all heard of the great love affair between Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. But, the true course of love doesn’t always run smoothly. The truth was that Clark Gable had issues with commitment and monogamy.

Shortly before she died, beautiful Carole Lombard went on a trip to sell war bonds to help her country during WWII. Clark was supposed to go, but did not want to. Carole, ever the patriot, went with her mother and agent. At the time, Clark Gable was making a film with the beautiful Lana Turner. Carole had heard rumors that Clark and Lana were romantically involved on the set of Honky Tonk. Carole was extremely distressed.

When the war bond trip finished, Carole, her mother and agent were getting ready to head home. She had begun the war bond trip by train, but now she was in a hurry to fly home because of the rumors about Clark and Lana. Her mother was a numerologist and she begged Carole not to fly home. She explained that the numbers were all wrong and that the flight would be dangerous. But, Carole was determined to find out what was going on with her marriage and her husband.

On the tarmac, a coin was tossed to see whether Carole, her mother and agent would fly or take the train home. Unfortunately, Carole won the toss of the coin and the three of them boarded the plane.
Sometime a few hours later, somewhere over Nevada, Carole’s plane went down. All aboard were killed. It was Clark Gable himself, driven by his friend, Spencer Tracey, who went to the Nevada area to look for his wife, only to learn that she had died in the crash.

Whether Clark was having an affair with Lana is unimportant. Clark learned a tragic lesson of life. Our actions have consequences and if we believe rumors, we can sometimes take impulsive actions, which should not be taken. This was a life altering experience for Clark Gable. He matured after this. He joined the Armed Forces and became a hero in WWII. He never recovered from the loss of his beloved Carole, and their relationship, I believe, is a lesson for all of us: to appreciate what we have, and perhaps not take chances when we don’t have to.

Brigitte Bardot - A Journey through Time

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:10:00 +0000

Wow! The photos and posters of Brigitte Bardot remind me of what she meant to French Cinema.

50 years ago, Brigitte Bardot represented French movies. She was the French Marilyn Monroe and an icon of her time.

Now, Ms. Bardot helps animals. Perhaps that is the best reason for aging. As we age, we can finally come to a place where we can stop thinking about how beautiful we are, and think about the others in this world who need us. That is truly a special transition.

We hear so much now about 40 being the new 30. But where does that leave the 30 year olds? Are they the new 20? We know that the 20 year olds can’t be 10, so one decade is going to be pretty overcrowded. Is this truly what we need or want in this society?

So this is our problem. Although we want to live forever, we don’t want to get older. So let us be who we are. Whatever age. Perhaps “new and improved”. Perhaps not. Perhaps just the fact that we have become wiser, and understand our place on this earth is truly the blessing of life. I believe Brigitte Bardot taught me that. And while I appreciate the beauty of her posters, I think she had many other gifts to offer.

Toulouse-Lautrec, Lorenz Hart, Judy Garland: The Three People I Wish I Could Hug

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:42:00 +0000

As I look at the posters, I reflect upon how beautiful, handsome and powerful most of these people look in the renderings that the artists have drawn for the posters. As we all know, life doesn’t exactly imitate art in that way, and people are vulnerable.

With all due respect to Baz Luhrmann and the exquisite Nicole Kidman, the 1952 movie Moulin Rouge was far superior to the one that came later. I believe that many people feel as I do. If you are going to tell a story about a person’s life or a place in time, I think a director or producer owes it to the public to at least keep it realistic, so that future generations understand history, and not a figment of the imagination.

My complaint regarding the updated Moulin Rouge was that the music was not at all what was played in the late 1800’s in Paris at the real Moulin Rouge. To make matters far worse, Toulouse-Lautrec was portrayed as a fool.

I love Toulouse-Lautrec. I love the original Moulin Rouge. Director John Huston brought the people of that time to life. Toulouse-Lautrec was a talented artist who would sit in the Moulin Rouge each night and sketch the performers and the patrons. At 13 and 14 years of age, Toulouse-Lautrec broke first his left thigh bone and then his right thigh bone. These breaks never healed properly and left him disabled. Through his art, however, people today can see what life was really like at that time. The original film Moulin Rouge was authentic and portrayed the dancers, singer Jane Avril and the patrons with sensitivity and reality. The music in this film was consistent with the era. The costumes fit that time. Jose Ferrer, who ultimately received the Oscar for his portrayal of Toulouse-Lautrec, was a revelation. After I saw that movie, I wanted to hug Toulouse-Lautrec. I wish I could have told him how wonderful he was, and how much his work moved me. I hope, if we’re able to make contact with the other side, that he receives my thoughts and knows to this day how much people like me appreciate him, and his gift.

Toulouse-Lautrec’s story reminds me of Lorenz (Larry) Hart, Richard Rodgers’ first partner, before Oscar Hammerstein. Larry Hart was a sensitive, loving and talented spirit. But like Toulouse-Lautrec, he was extremely short and he felt unattractive. If he tried to approach a woman to whom he was attracted, invariably he would be rejected and this led him to become an alcoholic. For those who don’t know, Lorenz Hart contributed to music with magnificent songs like Falling in Love with Love, Johnny One-Note, My Funny Valentine, Isn’t it Romantic and Where or When. These songs are still being recorded today and will continue to play forever. He also wrote My Heart Stood Still, as well as With a Song in My Heart. Richard Rodgers wanted to continue working with Hart, but found it difficult. When Rodgers met Hammerstein, a new partnership formed. Larry Hart was devastated. On the opening night of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma, Hart was in the audience. After the play, he congratulated Richard Rodgers and told him he had a hit. Shortly thereafter, Larry Hart passed away. But Larry, too, is one person that I wish I could hug, and tell him how much I love him and appreciate his work.

Lastly, we come to Judy Garland. I’ve read many biographies about her and my heart has always gone out to this talented, vulnerable woman. Although she had tremendous success, she suffered from debilitating insecurities. Although she was a beautiful actress, the studios never portrayed that side of Judy. They allowed Lana Turner and Hedy Lamar to be glamorized, and Judy always felt like a poor third. Judy, if you can read this or hear my voice, history will always remember you and your contribution to films. Your voice will live on forever and because of you, perhaps we will all look Somewhere Over the Rainbow for what we seek.

Julie Christie

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:21:00 +0000

Julie Christie. What more can anyone say? Julie Christie exploded on the screen in the 1960’s. With incredible talent and beauty, her career was launched. She won an Academy Award for Darling. As a result, she had the ability to choose any part she ever wanted.

Fast forward (oh my goodness!) 45 years, and Julie is just as beautiful and just as talented. She can still pick and choose any part she wants to play.

There are very few actors or actresses that can move across the decades as smoothly as Julie has done. From Doctor Zhivago, Far From the Madding Crowd and Shampoo to the beautiful and touching Away from Her, Julie has amazed and touched our souls.

It is an inspiration to all people to have watched this woman go through life with dignity, courage and grace. It should be a lesson for the ages. Thank you, Julie.

It’s No Bull

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:10:00 +0000

It’s no Bull. Well maybe it is. . . actually it is a bull, a lion, and some dwarfs. Now I am being politically incorrect, but it is about a princess, a prince, a wicked witch and even a big bad wolf.

I’m talking about animation. You can do things in animation that you could never do in “real life”. Take Donald Duck. He could get angry, explode and yell in ways that Robert Young and Robert Reed could never do on Father Knows Best and The Brady Bunch.

I learned about life from animation. Take Lambert the Sheepish Lion. The story goes like this; back when storks delivered babies, the stork accidentally delivered a baby lion to an “expectant” mama lamb. Naturally, she was horrified. All of her friends had baby lambs and she had a lion to raise. Growing up, Lambert tried to be like a lamb but every time he butted heads with the rest of his flock, he got knocked on his keester and knocked out. He grew up afraid and frankly, quite sheepish in his own way. It wasn’t until one night when the big bad wolf got his mama, that he found his power . . . as a lion. After that, Lambert was the hero of his pride. So the moral of the story is never give up, you never know when you will find your power . . . just when you need it.

With Ferdinand the Bull, I learned that it’s ok if you don’t want to fight. Ferdinand grew up to be a very powerful bull. When the matadors saw him, he was their first choice to go into the ring. There in the middle of the ring, a beautiful lady threw a flower. That was it for Ferdinand. There was no way he would fight. He just wanted to smell the flower. So, from Ferdinand we can all learn an important lesson. If you don’t want to fight just say “no”. You will probably have a more peaceful life. . . if the rest of the world doesn’t walk all over you.

So let’s go back to some of the other animations to see what we can learn from them.

With Snow White, I learned never to take a poison apple from a wicked witch. And hell, if you do eat the apple, hopefully you will make friends with some loving dwarfs and be rescued by a handsome prince.

Cinderella taught me that if you lose your shoe on the castle steps, just leave it there. A handsome prince might come by and make your quest for love much easier.

Sleeping Beauty taught a very important lesson: never use a spinning wheel. Frankly, how many of us know how to use a spinning wheel? With our lack of knowledge we would have to prick ourselves. But even if you are cursed and have to sleep for 100 years don’t worry. It will all work out in the end.

From Bambi, I learned the most important lesson from Thumper’s mother, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.”
Frankly, a lot of people could learn this lesson in this aggressive, in your face, society.

So from Snow White to Nemo, to Avatar, animation has always been and always will be a part of our lives. We can learn lessons if we are open-minded and in many ways, childlike and accepting. But remember, all of these stories have a big bad wolf or a wicked witch, so never let down your guard and beware.

Man or Monster

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:44:00 +0000

Although Halloween has passed, horror films have been a Hollywood staple since the beginning of film. Many people enjoy the thrill of this genre, with the blood, gore and suspense.

Film noir movies, however, scare me more than any horror films. Real people doing dastardly deeds. These things can actually happen . . . and do. When it comes to man versus monster, man scares me more than any monster.

Sometimes, man is the monster. Check out some film noir movies. Everyday people in very frightening situations with very scary realistic characters. Take Uncle Charlie in Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt. A seemingly wonderful man . . . who might be a serial killer. Or take handsome Jeff Bridges in Jagged Edge. He scared me more than Godzilla ever did.

I see people killing each other on Dateline, 48 Hours, and 20/20 all of the time. These are true stories of normal looking people who commit homicidal acts. Women killing men, men killing women, children killing, period. Godzilla doesn’t seem so scary after all.

Some of the best film noir movies are This Gun For Hire with Veronica Lake and the sorely missed Laird Cregar, who died before his time. Laird was a wonderful actor who also played in Hangover Square and The Lodger. Veronica Lake had a short but potent career in film noir movies. With her long hair covering one eye, her come hither looks inspired a generation of women to impersonate Veronica. It wasn’t until the war years when women were working in factories and couldn’t cover their eyes, that Veronica’s power on film lessened and Hollywood lost a truly talented performer.

Tyrone Power ignites the screen in my favorite, Nightmare Alley. Or watch Humphrey Bogart’s character disintegrate in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. This is real fear and these things can actually happen.

So, next year when you look for a costume to wear on Halloween, think about wearing a t-shirt and jeans, if you want to be really scary. Maybe I’m being cynical . . . or maybe just scary.

P.S.: One last thought . . . one of the most frightening images I can remember is that of the clown, Pennywise, in Stephen King’s It, played by the inimitable Tim Curry. A murderous clown coming out of a sewer. I haven’t been to the circus since. Way to go Stephen! Another scary movie is Midnight Lace with Doris Day. When this creepy surreal voice tells her, as she is walking by herself in the park, at night, in the fog “Mrs. Preston, I’m going to kill you, Mrs. Preston.”, it was unforgettable. To this day, I will never go to the park on a foggy night. It’s not going to happen. What’s your scariest movie?

Judy Garland: Hold It, You Three Dirty Hams!

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:10:00 +0000

I love the stills from The Wizard of Oz. The Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion and Dorothy were four of the most loveable characters in motion picture history. Not only were they loveable by themselves, but all together, they presented a united front of friendship and a powerful partnership. They inspired generations of children and adults, and will continue to do so for as long as there is a planet.

What many people don’t know is that there was not love, kinship and camaraderie on the set. Jack Haley, Burt Lahr and Ray Bolger were three talented performers. Sadly, their kindness did not always extend to their co-star, Judy Garland. Victor Fleming was the director on the set, and he was constantly up in the air in a boom box so he could see what was going on with his characters and the Munchkins.

We all know “follow the yellow brick road”, and I’m sure we all remember the four of them dancing down the yellow brick road. What happened in reality is that many times, Jack, Burt and Ray closed ranks and danced down the yellow brick road leaving Judy behind them, dancing by herself.

Fleming would yell from his boom box, “HOLD IT, YOU THREE DIRTY HAMS! LET THAT LITTLE GIRL IN THERE!” They’d have to open ranks and allow Dorothy to be part of the group. I’ve read this story many times, and it always made me sad for Judy. When Judy told about this in a televised biography, she was able to reflect back on it with humor. What an honorable spirit and human being; truly one of the great talents of anyone’s lifetime.

Natalie Wood: Let Her Entertain You

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:25:00 +0000

Natalie Wood had to be one of the most beautiful and vulnerable actresses. Her career began as a child, because her mother felt that Natalie had the ability to be a great actress. Her mom had to be one of the original “stage mothers”. As a young adult, Natalie carved her own destiny and became a major star. Natalie earned the success that she richly deserved.

How tragic that she died so young, and in such a horrible way. What makes her death more profound was that she carried the fear of dark water throughout her life.

The reason Natalie had this fear was that during the filming of The Star with Bette Davis, Natalie fell into dark water and almost drowned. As a result of this accident, she had a scar on her wrist and always wore bracelets to hide it.

I’ve read many biographies on Natalie Wood, and I understand that the aging process took a toll on her emotionally. It is not easy being one of the great beauties of the silver screen, and then find yourself getting older, and being offered fewer parts.

Natalie died right before the age of the night-time soap operas, like Dallas, Dynasty and Falcon Crest. If she had lived longer, she would’ve been one of the brightest stars of these night-time soaps. At that point, age would not have mattered. Natalie would have been able to make the pivotal change and face the next phase of her career.

Sadly, she never had that chance. But to all of her fans, she will always be one of the brightest stars, and one of the best remembered actresses of all time.

Ava, We Miss You

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:58:00 +0000

The posters of Ava Gardner are gorgeous. Besides bringing back wonderful memories, it makes one long to see her films again. Ava Gardner never felt confident, despite her great beauty and natural talent.

She was always afraid of Hollywood. Ava had been discovered because her sister sent her photo to a talent agent in Hollywood. He was struck by her beauty. So her career was born.

After short lived marriages to Mickey Rooney and Artie Shaw, she finally settled down to a tempestuous marriage, to Frank Sinatra.

I have to say this; I believe Frank Sinatra loved her to the very end. Sometimes people can love each other, but their personalities and their careers collide, and it just doesn’t work. Loves that last forever are truly rare.

Just seeing these posters makes me want to see all of Ava’s movies again.

Grace Kelly: There but for Grace

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:37:00 +0000

The poster for The Swan has to be the quintessential portrait of beautiful Grace Kelly. For all of us Grace Kelly fans, this would be the poster to have, although the movie doesn’t quite live up to the poster.

I’ve often wondered what would’ve happened if Grace had not met Prince Rainier. I believe that Grace traded in one fantasy life for another. Despite the beauty of the Pink Palace in Monaco, and despite the title of “princess”, I’ve often wondered if Grace did not have some regrets about giving up that phenomenal career that so few are privileged to have in Hollywood.

Despite three beautiful children, I often have believed, because I’ve read many biographies, that Grace longed to return to Hollywood and her identity as an actress.

Hitchcock desperately wanted her to return to films for the role of Marnie that ultimately went to Tippi Hedren. But, Rainier would not let Grace return to films. He told her that the people of Monaco would not accept their Princess performing in love scenes. Especially love scenes with Sean Connery!

With all due respect to her children, I wish that Grace could have returned to films and lengthened her legacy. From what I know, Prince Rainier lived the life that he wanted to live, without reservations. Did Grace not deserve to enjoy the career she fought hard to get?

This is just a thought from someone who has seen all of Grace’s films and wished there were more. As Eddie Fisher once sang, “Wish You Were Here”.

Flynn, Damita, Lombard & Dietrich

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 21:07:00 +0000

They say that one picture is worth a thousand words. Have you ever looked at a photograph . . . I mean really looked at it? Nowadays, with digital cameras and cell phone cameras, we take hundreds of pictures; quickly, and probably discard them just as quickly.

In times past, it took time, effort and money to take a picture of someone. Look at old photos. Look at the people’s faces, their expressions, where their eyes are, where their arms fall. All of these characteristics say so much about the person. In the early part of the twentieth century, daguerreotypes, and subsequently photographs, said so much about family members and the family itself. Everyone looked serious as if this one photograph that was taken once a year would be what future family members would always remember.

Later on, people began smiling more as their picture was taken. Now they smile and take their clothes off. So a lot has changed in the ensuing years.

Let’s look at the photograph of Errol Flynn, his wife, Lili Damita, Carole Lombard and Marlene Dietrich in 1935. I was captivated by this photograph and had to have it for my collection. My husband asked me what it was about this photo that I loved so much. By reading everyone’s faces and demeanors, I could see what they were thinking and feeling.

Errol Flynn had yet to make his mark on Hollywood, but look how hopeful he looked, as if he knew that destiny was about to shine on him. Within a short time, he would make Captain Blood and Robin Hood, and his place in Hollywood history would be assured. Errol passed away on October 14, 1959. Although he has been gone for over forty years, the people who loved him will always recall his dashing presence.

Lili Damita, Errol’s wife, doesn’t look nearly so self-assured. Lili had been a leading lady for many years before she married Errol. She was a few years older than him. Although she campaigned for him to get the part of Captain Blood, she knew as his star ascended that her marriage was destined to fail. I can see that in her face. . . the fear, the insecurity.

Carole Lombard was a beautiful, talented, and generous actress who lost her life during WWII selling war bonds. In this photo, she appears exactly like she did on film; outgoing, fun loving, a joy to behold. I sometimes thought that Carole put on this persona because it was expected of her. She was one in a million.

Last, but definitely not least, there is Marlene Dietrich. Marlene was a gifted, talented and very loyal woman. She hailed from Germany and loved her motherland very much. As Adolph Hitler took over Germany, Marlene felt that she could not stay there and support the Nazi regime. She moved to the United States and began making movies here. When the war began, her mother remained in Germany and Marlene was not able to see her for the duration of the war. Hitler and Goebbels begged Marlene to return home and support the German cause. They promised her unparalleled stardom if she returned. Marlene staunchly refused. Instead, she went on trips to entertain the Allied Powers and she even fought with the troops on the front lines. She became their mother, their girlfriend and paragon of virtue. She was a true heroine. When the war was over, every country in the world recognized her with a peace award, except Germany. In her lifetime, she never felt fully comfortable going back to Germany, although she loved many German people, and they loved her. Her final resting place was in her beloved Berlin. In this photograph, I can see Marlene’s composure, but there is uneasiness in her eyes. Hitler was on the march and Marlene knew what was coming. She wasn’t going back but would the American audiences accept her, as a German actress, in the future?

Next time you look at old photographs, look at them carefully. For your ancestors these were treasures, as they were very rare. Technology has brought us very far. Let’s always hope that our spirits advance with technology.

Ben-Hur: The Bible Saves Hollywood!

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:59:00 +0000

Picture this: it is the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Television is the new invention that is sweeping the nation and capturing the audiences. Moviegoers are drifting away from the theatres to stay home and watch the little box. Hollywood was in a state of extreme agitation. What to do? What to do? Inventors came up with Cinemascope and Todd-AO, but with wider screens the producers needed great stories and they turned to the bible.

On September 27, Ben-Hur will celebrate its 50th Anniversary with a Blu-ray version. While Ben-Hur was a remarkable movie in every way, it was not the only biblical story that enticed moviegoers back to the theatre.

Movies like the Ten Commandments, Sodom and Gomorrah, Samson & Delilah, Salome and others captivated moviegoers in the 1950’s. The stories were action packed, well acted and directed. In the case of the Ten Commandments and Ben-Hur, there were more than enough extras in the cast to fill the Cinemascope screen.

Kudos should be given to all the actors who performed in those films, especially Charlton Heston. As Moses and Ben-Hur, he became the classic hero for those movies.

As I ponder the new Blu-ray version, I began to think about what director, William Wyler, would say about his great epic appearing on TV. But TV’s are not little boxes anymore. I think he would be proud. Amen.

Time Out of Mind

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:51:00 +0000

Some images last forever. Jane Russell and her push-up bra in The Outlaw; Rhett Butler telling Scarlet (finally) “Frankly, My Dear, I don’t give a danm!” and Audrey Hepburn in her slinky black dress, upswept hairdo and long cigarette holder in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Audrey made many movies, all of them successful. She even won an Academy Award for Roman Holiday, in 1954. But all things considered, it is Audrey as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s that we will always remember. I think she would be happy.

1961 . . . That was the year Breakfast at Tiffany’s was made. Fifty years. . . Fifty years can be as if in the twinkling of an eye or it can be an eternity, depending on where we are and who we are. Yet, when we look at Audrey in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, we can easily go back in time. On September 20, the world will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of this wonderful movie with a Blu-ray version.

But think . . . in the last 50 years, so much has changed. Forever. The world was different when Audrey Hepburn made this movie. As the sixties dawned, we had the youngest president, John F. Kennedy, in the White House with his beautiful wife, Jacqueline, and the world believed in Camelot. But in the next ten years, the world would reel from the changes.

The 60’s brought the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. We didn’t believe in Camelot anymore. But perhaps Camelot never existed. It was all an illusion. Movies became more cynical, but aside from the movies, let’s look at some of the inventions that have been created and have changed our world since the dawn of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

ATM
Cell phone
DNA testing
GPS
Gas grill
Cable TV
Airbag
Weed whacker
HDTV
Answering machine

Post-it Note
Food processor
Videogame
MP3 Player / Ipod®
MTV
Scanner
Call Waiting
asik surgery
Social media
Bar-coding

Personal computer
Internet
Blu-ray
Digital camera
Texting
Handheld video camera
Color printer
Cordless phone
Excessive Cosmetic Surgery
Botox

The list goes on as you, yourself, will think of more things. I would love to hear from you. What inventions have you thought of? Do you believe they were for better or worse, or are they a double edged sword?

But if we watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s and see Audrey Hepburn work her magic on film, we can go back in time and remember when life gave the illusion of being simpler. If you think I am being cynical, think again.

In 1999, when Princess Diana died, everyone criticized the Paparazzi for following her and taking her picture everywhere she went. Yet, haven’t we now, become a nation of Paparazzi? Everywhere we go, anyone can pull out their phone and take our picture, without our permission, and post it online for all of the world to see. Some would be flattered, some would call it bullying. Has life really improved? Do we really care? Has technology and all the inventions made the world a better place? Some would say yes, some would say no. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and we are all the beholder.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s is writer, Truman Capote’s, jewel in time. It deserves to be celebrated and appreciated once again. The score of the movie and song, Moon River won Academy Awards. Moon River is as recognized today as it was back then. Maybe we all are after the same rainbow’s end. Let’s hope there will be a rainbow.

Elizabeth Taylor: She Did It Her Way

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:56:00 +0000

This week, all Elizabeth Taylor fans are mourning her passing. She lived a long and colorful life. She danced to her own drummer and inspired many emotions in people throughout the world.

I became an Elizabeth Taylor fan when I was six years old. Someone once asked me to explain my love of Hollywood Greats. My response to them was, “Who knows why someone goes ‘wow, yeah!’” Isn’t that true with all of our life experiences? It explains why we have a passion for chocolate over vanilla, or one entertainer over another. It is a pure gut feeling.

At nine years old, I was on the playground when the story about Elizabeth Taylor, Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds broke. Mike Todd had died and Elizabeth had fallen in love with Mike’s best friend, Eddie Fisher. Eddie, however, was married to Debbie Reynolds at that time. My friend, who was a Debbie Reynolds fan, looked at me, hands on hip, and said “Now what do you think of your friend, Elizabeth Taylor?” Elizabeth Taylor? My Friend? I could only wish. My response was “You can’t break-up a happy marriage.” What did I know, I was only 9, but I was quoting Elizabeth. I was her pint size press agent.

A few years later, Elizabeth Taylor fell in love with Richard Burton. This time, my friend did not say anything, but if one picture says a thousand words, her look to me said it all. Never mind, I still loved Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Taylor was an icon. She was beautiful, talented, generous and loving. Her gifts were many, and when she stumbled, she “owned it”.

All of us experience many events in our lives. None of us live perfect lives, but Elizabeth’s life was lived on the front pages of the newspapers. Perhaps she was lucky. If she were young today, she would be on CNN every hour on the hour. Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan would have to make room for her. Elizabeth was in that transitional stage. Case in point: back in the 1930s, Clark Gable was a major star and married to Carole Lombard. He was also a womanizer and having an affair with Lana Turner. Hollywood and the press were more conservative and kept many secrets from the public.
Clark also is reputed to have had a child with Loretta Young, but this was also kept secret. The studios did not want their stars tainted by any scandal and they protected them at all cost.

When Elizabeth Taylor was a young woman in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the paparazzi came into focus and have remained so to this day. Elizabeth and Eddie were photographed everywhere and criticized publicaly. When Elizabeth met Richard, again the paparazzi followed them everywhere and the world was consumed with what was going on in Elizabeth Taylor’s life. But even then, compared to today, this was mild.
So perhaps, Elizabeth was lucky.

Today, any celebrity caught in any scandal is news worthy on a continuous basis. Now, however, we have taken an even darker turn. We celebrate scandals and the celebrities make even more money for having been involved in a scandal. Bad news is better than no news. The internet has even contributed to the phenomena of celebrating and rewarding bad behavior.

Elizabeth Taylor received her first Academy Award in 1960 for Butterfield 8. Having seen all of Elizabeth’s films, my first reaction was “Butterfield 8?” Frankly, I didn’t think it was a great film and while she looked gorgeous in it, I didn’t think it was an Academy Award winning film on any level. Elizabeth Taylor deserved the award for Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and the unforgettable, Suddenly Last Summer. She was denied the award because of the Liz, Debbie and Eddie scandal. Between Suddenly Last Summer and Butterfield 8 she had become ill with pneumonia and almost died. As a result of this, they gave her the belated Oscar.

When Elizabeth was nominated for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, I was in college and I threw a giant party for her in my dorm. When she won I was so excited that I was jumping off walls. She truly deserved this Academy Award.

In her later years, she became an Aids Activist and an inspiration to millions of people around the world. She taught us that life is a journey. Live, love, laugh and learn.
When she passed, I felt as though I had lost a friend. So to my little friend on the playground, I’ll say this so many years later, Elizabeth Taylor was a great actress, a great humanitarian, a wonderful friend and a loving mother. That is how I will remember her.

Optical Illusion

noreply@blogger.com (fffmovieposters) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:32:00 +0000

Optical Illusion, in the land of confusion, in the age of delusion, where lies the truth? Many years ago, my daughter was a strong competitor in speech and debate. She competed in many categories and one of them was impromptu speaking. This is where students are given either a phrase or a word, and they have two minutes to come up with and deliver a seven minute speech.

After one round of competition, my daughter came out and handed me a phrase and asked “What does this mean”. The phrase was “no good deed goes unpunished”. I was aghast I had never heard this saying before, and not only that, I thought it was a horrible idea to pass on to children. As parents, we always try to teach children “to do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. I then gave the phrase to another parent who was also aghast. He said to me, “What are they doing, giving kids these kind of sayings? We are trying to teach them to do good.”

Several years later, I heard the expression “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Oh my goodness! Now, I was really afraid. Every time I did a good deed or tried to help in a certain situation, I wondered how I was going to be punished or was I on the road to hell. Through the years, I learned that we always have to strive to do good no matter what terrible thing might befall us. That was the lesson, but it took me many years to come to this understanding. Still, in the back of my mind, every time I do good I wonder. . .

We live in a world where truth is ambiguous, not black and white. In fact, it appears that there can be many truths depending on who perceives what is happening or tells us what is happening. Let’s take the movie Wag the Dog. In this movie, a fictitious war was created for the public. It looked as if it were a real war, and the masses of people believed it was a real war, but it wasn’t. It was manufactured by certain people to manipulate the masses. So every time we look at the news, is what we see really true? Are we being manipulated? Questions, questions.

Now let’s take people I hope that if any young people ever read this, they learn that they are not trapped into believing that they are failures in life just because of some bad experiences in their youth. We can reinvent ourselves, and this has been done throughout history by some of the iconic celebrities. Take Frank Sinatra. Never, except maybe for Michael Jackson or Elvis, has there been a more powerful entertainer in show business. Consider that he began performing just out of his teens and remained at the top of his field until his death at age 80. He was the leader of the Rat Pack, which included Sammy Davis, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop and other various people from time to time. As a matter of fact, all the hoopla and the screaming of fans first began with Sinatra, and then filtered down to Elvis and The Beatles, etc.

I recently read Frank Sinatra’s biography and learned that he did not serve in WWII. At the time of the war, to many soldiers and civilians, Frank was considered a draft dodger. There were times he was actually afraid to perform because of the back lash of his decision not to serve in the armed forces.

But years pass and perception changes. Frank actually suffered from a lack of popularity in the late 40s and early 50s. His days of making the teens scream had passed and he definitely needed a new path. When he was hired for From Here to Eternity and won an Oscar, his fortune changed again and he was back on top, never to reach bottom again. Never would they say that Frank didn’t serve in WWII. All of that was long forgotten and far in the past.

We never get stuck because as time passes events and perceptions are always changing. Movies like Fantasia can come out and fail, and yet years later be considered classics. So perhaps, the message of this blog is never feel like a failure or that you have come to a bad end. Simply, there is no end. One day marches into another. Fortunes and perceptions rise and fall.

There was once a young man who wrote a book, and he couldn’t get it published. He committed suicide. After his death, his mother sent his book out to publishers and she was able to get it published. How tragic it was for this young man not to see his success. Later, he even won the Pulitzer Prize.

On another note, musical, when Fred Astaire was trying out for the movie studios as a young man, one movie executive wrote, “can’t sing, can dance a little”. Wow, how wrong can you get?

On a more recent note, Kaley Cuoco from the Big Bang Theory was told “she was the worst actress in class and she would never make it”. Wow, how wrong can you get?

And when you watch the news, always question what you see and what you are being told. Is it really true? How do you know?