The Lorax Premier - From The Orange Carpet

The sun was out and orange with a dash of yellow was the color of the day. We've seen red carpets, we've even seen green, but the bright orange one, signifying the color of the film, welcomed everyone at the entrance of Birmingham Cineworld who were hosting the premier of the new animation, Lorax, based on the ever famous Dr. Seuss book. The event was also the very first UK premier for a film outside of London.

The event was beautifully organized with gracious hosts and a sense of joy and laughter all around with the Lorax character dancing and mingling on the carpet along with balloon makers and face painters. My sources inside the theater, wife and daughter, informed me the ambience was that of fun and frolic with cupcakes, candy-floss, sweets, Lorax mustaches, along with other goodies, in abundance to keep the young and the young-at-heart pleasantly satisfied.

Emile Heskey, Danielle Lloyd, members of the American Olympic Team, and Joe Egan were among the celebrities who walked down the orange carpet. Joe Egan, who has acted in the Sherlock Holmes films along with a part in the Indian film Ra.One epitomizes the "big lovable" character especially when he said one of his dreams was to walk down the red carpet with his mum. Called "the toughest white man on the planet" by Mike Tyson he modestly talked about how he's enjoying and loving slowly but surely rising up in the entertainment business making a name and mark for himself and can be seen next in the film Crying Wolf.

As expected, the arrival of Danny DeVito was greeted with unanimous cheering from all the fans present around the carpet. A legendary actor, he met with his fans and members of the press with the same kind of excitement and enthusiasm only a newcomer promoting his first movie has. Visiting Birmingham for the first time he was quick to point out that the much needed sunshine probably had something to do with the "Lorax" being in town. Crediting the entire team of the movie including producers, writers, and animators, he spoke about doing the voice for the movie in Russian, German, Spanish, and Italian himself. On stage, he emphasized the message that Lorax gives and how it is important that "if you see somebody abusing something, stop 'em".

I do hope that having the first ever UK premier of a major movie outside of London starts a new trend. The event was thoroughly enjoyed by all present especially the children. You can watch a video I made of my daughter about her experience on her return below. Both my wife and my daughter enjoyed the film and the orange Lorax 3D glasses for the children were a nice little addition to the goodie bag.

I would also like to thank the wonderful people at DDA PR and Prepared PR who organized my very first press pass which I will cherish forever.  

Great On Screen Couples: Cary Grant and Carole Lombard

Ok for the few people in blog land who may not know this...Cary Grant and Carole Lombard are my favorite actor and actress ever. I love them more than any other actors and actresses. And while I think Irene Dunne is Cary's best on screen partner, due to the three wonderful films they made together (The Awful Truth, My Favorite Wife and Penny Serenade), Cary and Carole had some great chemistry of their own. True they only made one full film together in 1939's In Name Only, they co-starred early in their career in The Eagle and The Hawk with Fredric March, but they shared no scenes together. Also just learned from VP81955 that Cary had a role in one of Carole's earlier films, Sinners in The Sun and they do share the screen together. Must track that down to watch that one. Thanks VP!

So it is with In Name Only, one terrific romantic drama from the golden year of 1939 that showcases my two favorite people working their magic. Cary is Alec Walker, a wealthy New Yorker in a loveless marriage to Maida (the amazing Kay Francis) who meets the beautiful and caring Julie Eden, a widow (played by Carole) with a young daughter. Alec and Julie hit it off immediately but Maida will not let him out their marriage. She will hold onto Alec even if it makes him miserable.

So this is a true romantic tear-jerker with an love triangle that just won't give an inch, especially by Maida.
Top notch drama and it's great seeing Cary and Carole in a film together. A nice change of pace of Carole in one of her few dramatic roles. She proves she can hold her own with the Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburns. Her pairing with Cary is just wonderful to see. I mean I would have loved for them to team up again for a screwball comedy but sadly that would not happen.

In Name Only is one of my all time favorite films. If you have never seen it, watch it immediately.

Notes:

This movie was intended to be a reunion for Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn, but following the failure of Bringing Up Baby at the box office from the previous year, Hepburn left RKO being after deemed "Box Office Poison". Carole Lombard was subsequently brought in as her replacement.

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie onDecember 11, 1939 with Carole Lombard, Cary Grant and Kay Francis reprising their film roles.

Filmed on location in San Marino, California

Great On Screen Couples: Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart

One of Hollywood's most beloved on screen couples has to be Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart. The pair made four films together: Next Time We Love (1936); The Shopworn Angel (1938); The Shop Around The Corner (1940); and The Mortal Storm (1940). I have seen the last two films and like them very much. Now just need to see their first two films.

The pair met in 1931 when Stewart stage-managed a touring play starring Sullavan. They even dated briefly during this time period. They did not act together until landing in Hollywood. Sullavan had already scored some hit films including Next Time We Love (1933). She requesting Stewart for their first film together, Next Time We Love. History says that Stewart was so inexperienced that he was about to be fired until Sullavan took it upon herself to rehearse each night with him, refining his acting skills. And it worked.

Their next film, The Shopworn Angel (1938), was intended for Jean Harlow. But Jean's untimely death opened the door for Sullavan, who once again requested Stewart as her leading man. This film showed that Stewart could be a true romantic star.

After the success of Angel, Universal got the pair together again for probably their most known and beloved film, The Shop Around The Corner. It is considered one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time. Certainly having Ernst Lubitsch as director did not hurt.

For their final film together, a somber and dramatic piece called The Mortal Storm. Audiences did not like this pairing as much as their previous films and would end their pairings. Stewart would enlist in the army while Sullavan would return to Broadway. But their place in history of greatest film couples is firmly entrenched.

Notes:

The Shop Around The Corner was remade twice. In 1949 with Judy Garland and Van Johnson called In The Good Old Summertime. And in 1998 with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan called You've Got Mail. For my money, the original is by far the best.

Norma Shearer was so impressed by Stewart's performance in The Shopworn Angel that she set her sights on him. They dated for six weeks.

While at Princeton, Stewart asked Sullavan to attend a school reception with him. Sullavan would later say that it was the longest, slowest, shyest but most sincere invitation she had ever received.

Notes provided by TCM's Leading Couples.

Great On Screen Couples: Doris Day and Rock Hudson

Believe it or not, we missed one of the biggest on screen couples of all time for our first year of posting about great screen couples last year. Don't know how we missed Doris Day and Rock Hudson but we did. Well better later than never as this year I will talk about a really terrific couple who made three wonderful films together. Pillow Talk (1959), Lover Come Back (1961) and Send me No Flowers (1964). I have seen all three films multiple times and they are all entertaining.

Doris had been churning out bright and cheerful musical comedies since the late 40's while Rock burst on the scene in small roles in films in the late 40's and early 50's. He found his footing in some of the most known melodramas of the 50's in All That Heaven Allows, Magnificent Obsession, Written on the Wind, and of course Giant. But he really had never done comedies. So when the idea of Pillow Talk came around, Doris was all for it while Rock turned it down three times. It took meeting Day and a great screenplay to change his mind. He and Doris had instant chemistry and the rest is history. Pillow Talk was one of the biggest hits of 1959, earning around $7.5 million. Doris would wind up being the top film star for five years straight beginning in 1959 (which is still a record). Rock was number two.

So a follow-up film was green lit called Lover Come Back in 1961. And once again, another hit for the pair. I found Lover Come Back to be particulary sharp and biting and showing how wonderfully easy Day and Hudson could perform together.

They went their separate ways for their next films. Doris would team with James Garner for The Thrill of It All and Move Over Darling both in 1963. And while they had good chemistry, it was nothing like her and Rock. Hudson meanwhile paired with Gina Lollobrigida for the engaging Come September.

Day and Hudson would reunite in 1964 for Send Me No Flowers, which is my favorite of their films. It was the first to show them as a married couple. And they still had some zing. Should also be noted that Tony Randall co-starred with the pair in all three films and he was aces.

Doris and Rock with Tony

I have done a marathon of these three films several times and it's a wonderful experience. All are great comedies showing one of Hollywood's best onscreen couples.

Notes:

Both stars went to TV after their film careers cooled off in the 60's.

Rock nicknamed Doris "Eunice Blotter" and Doris called him "Roy Harold"

Doris on first meeting Rock: "I had never met Rock Hudson before, but the very first day on the set I discovered we had a performing rapport that was remarkable. We played our scenes together as if we had once lived them. Every day on the set was a picnic."

Great On Screen Couples: Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh

One of my favorite on screen couples was Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. At one time, they were a real life couple. Married from 1952 - 1961 and had two daughters, Jamie Lee and Kelly. They starred in 5 films together: Houdini (1953), The Black Shield of Falworth (1954), The Vikings (1958), The Perfect Furlough (1958) and Who was That Lady? (1960). Proud to say I have seen three of them: Falworth, Furlough and Lady. I think they had a pretty good chemistry together. Being married in real life made their on screen coupling work that much better.

Stunning!

Leigh's career had begun  few years earlier with roles in such films as The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947),  If Winter Comes (1947) with Deborah Kerr and Hills of Home (1948) sharing the screen with Lassie. One of her first big roles came in the underrated holiday classic, Holiday Affair (1949) with Robert Mitchum. Meanwhile Tony Curtis start came a little slower. Houdini was his first major film after bit parts and uncredited roles. But then he had a slew of great films in the 50's such as The Sweet Smell of Success (1957), The Defiant Ones (1958) and of course Some Like It Hot (1959).

We just wanted to stop by to say hi to everyone!

After the couple divorced in 1962, each enjoyed a strong run in the 60's. Leigh of course was unforgettable in Psycho (1960). But she also had strong follow up films with The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Bye Bye Birdie (1963), and Wives & Lovers (1963). Curtis was equally good in Spartacus (1960), Sex and the Single Girl (1964) and The Great Race (1965).

You can tell how in love they are by this photo can't you

For a time Leigh and Curtis was one of Hollywood's best and biggest couples. Sadly all good things must come to an end. And their union did. But we do have the five films they did together and their legacy lives on with daughters Jamie Lee and Kelly, both actresses themselves.

The entire family..so happy

And were they not just super gorgeous? I think so.

Janet is like "No..get out" while Tony takes a little nap

enjoy this wonderful video of the happy couple!

Great On Screen Couples: Groucho Marx and Margaret Dumont

The only woman who could hang with Groucho was Margaret Dumont. Although Thelma Todd was game as well. The pair starred together in seven films and were a delight to see them in. Now granted Groucho was part of the Marx Brothers but Dumont gave him a great foil in film after film. Now, she was usually the butt of many of his jokes but their was denying their chemistry. The comic shenanigans Groucho pulled on her were classic and often left viewers side-splitting with laughter.

Dumont first paired with Groucho and his brothers on Broadway in 1925 for The Cocoanuts. Followed by Animal Crackers in 1928. Hollywood came a calling with the advent of talking pictures and The Cocoanuts was the first feature they made in 1929. Other films followed with regularity and success: Animal Crackers (1930), Duck Soup (1933), A Night At The Opera (1935), A Day At The Races (1937), At The Circus (1939) and finally The Big Store in 1941. Dumont was not cast in Go West (1940) and audiences and most fans feel that it is the weakest of the films. She was quickly brought back for The Big Store.

But after that film, Dumont would not work with Groucho or the brothers again. She would star with other comedians like W.C. Fields, Red Skelton, Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello and Danny Kaye. But she was always at her best with Groucho. Her flustered expressions at Groucho's jokes are timeless. I don't think there was a better actress who could work the screen like Dumont with Groucho as she played it straight to Groucho's irrevant characters.

Here are some notable facts about the pair:

When Dumont started work on A Day At The Races, she told co-star Maureen O'Sullivan, "It's not going to be one of those things. I'm having a very serious part this time."

Groucho once said that many people believed they were married in real life, even though they were not.

Dumont gave Groucho the nickname Julie, short for his birth name Julius.

Perpetuating Groucho's joke on the subject, film critics and historians have incorrectly stated for decades that since Dumont never broke character or cracked a smile at Groucho's jokes, she did not "get" the Marx Brothers' type of humor. The fact is she knew the jokes were funny indeed, but as a seasoned actress and a professional kept a straight face no matter what.

One of their best scenes together.....

Great On Screen Couples: Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon

My first couple that I will talk about is the amazing pair of Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. The stars made eight films. And in seven of them, they played a married couple. Always portraying their characters with grace, dignity and good manners. Now out of the eight films they made, I'm sorry to say that I have only seen two of them: Mrs. Miniver and Julia Misbehaves. The other six films they made together are Blossoms in the Dust (1941, their first); Madame Curie (1943); Mrs. Parkington (1944); That Forsythe Woman (1949); The Miniver Story (1950); and Scandal at Scourie (1953).

I love Mrs. Miniver and think it's one of the best films ever made. So I am anxious to see their other films. Julia Misbehaves was pretty good as it was nice seeing the couple in a rare comedy. While onscreen, the pair showed great natural chemistry. I remember watching Mrs. Miniver for the first time many years ago and just enjoyed how they interacted with each so easily and fluidly. It was like watching a great dance team perform unbelievable dance routines. Greer and Walter was about as great a screen couple there was. Right up there with Bogie/Bacall, Gable/Harlow; Tracy/ Hepburn and others.

Eight films over a span of 12 years was an impressive run by this pair. Check out some stats about their history.

Madame Curie was Walter Pidgeon's favorite of his eight films with Greer.

Greer usually wore perfumes chosen to put her in the mood for different types of scenes. Pidgeon gave them his own pet names, like "give him a chance" and "Show him no mercy".

Blossoms in the Dust brought Greer the first of five consecutive Best Actress nominations, tying Bette Davis record (1938-1942) which still stands to this day. Greer would win a Best Actress Oscar for Mrs. Miniver.

Walter was nominated two consecutive years for Best Actor with Mrs. Miniver (1942) and Madame Curie (1943).

That Forsyte Woman (1949) was the only film the pair play an unmarried couple. Greer's character was married to Errol Flynn in that film.

Here is a video clip of Greer meeting Walter for the very first time on screen

in Blossoms in the Dust:

Denzel Prepares For a Role

Favorite skit from this weekend's SNL: new cast member Jay Pharoah with a dead-on Denzel Washington impression...

The 100 Best Movie Insults Video

from Henry Hanrahan, "The 100 Best Movie Insults in Under 10 Minutes"
some classic stuff..

only they missed:
"Kid, if anything happens to my daughter, I've got a 45 and a shovel and I doubt anyone would miss you" - Dan Hedaya, CLUELESS

Betty White + SNL = Awesome!

A Rather Blustery Day

Yesterday afternoon...

The Best Dance Scene Ever: Carmen

The rehersal scene for the tobacco factory fight in Carlos Suara's flamenco Carmen. Choreographed by Antonio Gades, this is the most exciting dance scene in any film, in my opinion (but I could be wrong..)

Camera Man: the Human Camera

Stephen Wiltshire has been called the "Human Camera." In this short excerpt from the film Beautiful Minds: A Voyage into the Brain, Wiltshire takes a helicopter journey over Rome and then draws a panoramic view of what he saw, entirely from memory.

100 Quotes in 200 Seconds Video

[Thanks to Beth G for finding this one, she's a fellow cinemaniac]

The Evolution of Dance