Why Sir Alfred Would Love Survivor!

Yes, you did indeed read that title right. And no, I am not {more} insane {than usual}.

I speak the truth.

(Hehehe, I had so much typing that...no idea why!)

Recently while watching an episode of Survivor it dawned on me....Alfred Hitchcock would LOVE this show.

My mum always likes to "defend" our love for Survivor by saying, "Well, it's a, um, great study, in, uh HUMAN NATURE!" YES! It's true. We watch Survivor for it's great educationalness (I just discovered today that lucidity and lucidness are both real words, so I'm gonna pretend that is too!). Really.

Anyway, this latest season of Survivor, titled, Heroes vs. Villains, brings back the greatest "heroes" and the greatest "villains" of the show's past seasons. What's truly Hitchcockian (that actually IS real word. Not lying.) about this season, is that almost IMMEDIATELY one roots wholeheartedly for the "villains" (except for the random weirdies who delight in the honorable, true, BORING "heroes").

Seriously.

The first challenge was simple and clear. Be the first person to dig a flag out of the sand, try to get it back to your mat, and get rid of any opposing tribe member in your way. ANY WAY. And you win flint, aka fire, aka water. Unfortunately {for them}, the heroes almost immediately had a broken toe, a completely dislocated shoulder, and uh, some missing clothes. But, instead of being shocked and disgusted by the villains behavior, we cheer them on and hope for more.

That's just sick and twisted.

And, I can just imagine Alfred Hitchcock laughing and rubbing his hands together gleefully.

The reason we love the villains is because they are fascinating. They amaze us, make us laugh, and they NEVER bore us. The same cannot be said for the heroes.

Hitchcock also loved his villains. He loved them FAR more than his heroes. If you look at films like: Strangers On A Train, Psycho, Dial M For Murder, Stage Fright, Life Boat, Jamaica Inn, Shadow Of A Doubt...really almost EVERY Hitchcock, you will see that he makes his villains fascinating, clever, and complicated. His heroes are very often boring, bland, and simplistic.

Hitchcock once said, "The more successful the villain, the more successful the picture". The same is ABSOLUTELY true of Survivor. Most of their most famous and often BELOVED contestants were villains. Boston Rob and Evil Russell (both playing in this season) are both considered to be two of the most horrible and greatest contestants ever. Boston Rob lies and back-stabs all the way - while managing to charm everyone into loving him and believing him. Evil Russell makes alliances with everyone and manipulates their minds - but is looked upon by most with awe and respect.

On a recent episode Boston Rob (who had been trying so hard to be "the diplomat" this season) passed out in the jungle from dehydration and exhaustion. Afterward he said: "When I finally came to, I had a moment of clarity, And that was, Stop trying to be the good guy. Because I'm trying to be so good, I physically made myself sick. Just do what everybody wants you to do and be the villain."

Hitchcock would LOVE this guy.

Crime NEVER pays, but one always gets the feeling Hitchcock kind of wished it did. This is especially shown in his Alfred Hitchcock Presents, when the villain very often got away with it - until Sir Alfred came back at the end of the show and explained that the villain really, um, "DIDN'T" get away with it (my favorite is when the villain ends up being eaten alive by his own chickens...classic!).

The same is, sadly, very often true with Survivor (with a few RARE exceptions). See, after lying, cheating, and back-stabbing your way to the top two (or three) the very people you voted out get to vote and decide who WINS the $1,000,000!

Needless to say, both Evil Russell and Boston Rob came in second on their respective seasons. Haha! (I mean, Rob DID end up marrying the winner...but THAT is beside the point! ;-D)

Maybe this season will be different, and one of the villains will win. But, I doubt it. They'll probably just end up killing each other first (ala Notorious), but there's always hope! Haha!

Anyway, what I've been trying to say here is NOT that you should immediately go out and watch Survivor (although you REALLY should! ;-D), but that although it may be, *GASP*, reality TV...it's reality TV that The Master of Suspense himself would approve of.

Or maybe, I'm just trying to validate my addiction to this show. Hmmm...






-Millie!

{Please don't send me hate mail because of this! ;-D I really do adore Sir Alfred. He's my favorite director EVER. Heck, I've hosted a birthday party for him TWO years in a row now!}

Happy Birthday Mr. Randall!

Everyone knows you were the coolest!

February 26, 1920 – May 17, 2004

The Slender Thread (1965) = WOWZIE KAZAM!

Last night, I had an AWFUL sore throat and couldn't sleep at all. So, I was sort of just browsing around on YouTube at 2am...wasting my life away as usual...when I saw one of my FAVORITE channels {Ingy-adorer/Miss-Vintager} had added a full movie!

I decided to check it out. I was planning on watching the first few minutes, to see if it was interesting or not. And heck, it WAS Sidney Poiter's birthday. One MUST honor ALL classic film star's birthdays! ;-D

Anyway.

The first thing I saw was the Space Needle.

I was so watching the whole film.

I am a native Washingtonian. I love my state. It's the most beautiful/coolest place in the entire world (Seriously. I refuse and debate on the subject!).

So, I ADORED this movie. It was filmed on location in Seattle and I loved being able to recognize the "sights". Besides the Needle, we get to see Seattle Center, The Pacific Science Center, Lake Union, The University of Washington (that's the college Sidney attends), and SO many other landmarks, streets, and places it would take too long to type out.


^Sidney Poitier, with director Sydney Pollack.


But, besides the OBVIOUS Wowzie Kazam Geniusness of setting the film in Seattle, it was also brilliant in other ways.

Sidney Poitier and Anne Bancroft both give amazing performances (and I'm not usually a big fan of Bancroft).

The basic premise of The Slender Thread is this: Sidney Poitier is a college student who volunteers at a crisis call center. He is left alone there one night and gets a call from Anne Bancroft, who tells him that she has taken a bunch of sleeping pills. Sidney desperately attempts to keep her talking...while finding out more information about her. As the film progresses we see WHY Anne is committing suicide and we see the crazy search from the phone company, police department, etc to find out who she is and where she lives.

It was a really well-made film. Fascinating, gripping (Now, THERE'S a new descriptive adjective! ;-D), and all-around just brilliant. It almost went as far as making me a fan of Anne Bancroft! :-O



In short, (this is a semi-review, after all) I loved the movie. I DEFINITELY recommend it. Not only for the interesting story (based on a true story), the great performances, AND THE COOLNESS THAT IS SEATTLE, but also because it has like several Wild Wild West villains in it (Crazy Dork Alert...run for you lives!).

Not joking! I immediately connected Ed Asner, H.M. Wynant, and Jason Wingreen as all being Wild Wild West alumni!

Uh...yeah...anyway...

Watch the full movie on YouTube:



Or if you're too lazy, watch a cool video made from clips of the film:



Well, I guess that's all. I keeping thinking I'm forgetting something, but oh well!

-Millie!

For Casey:

Jake (Jack Elam): I was raised in Indiana myself.

Jason (James Garner): Well, that could be a good thing...or a bad thing.

-Support Your Local Sheriff!

Because everyone knows Casey's the coolest Indianian ever! ;-D

Goodbye to a Childhood Hero...

Kathryn Grayson.

I remember watching her in Kiss Me Kate when I was four.

I remember braving the depressingness of Show Boat just to see her.

I remember searching her name in my library's database so I could order as many of her films as possible. The Desert Song, Lovely To Look At, The Toast of New Orleans, Anchors Aweigh, Two Sisters From Boston, 'Till The Clouds Roll By, Andy Hardy's Private Secretary...I loved her in them all.

She was a hero of mine.

Kathryn wasn't any "normal" musical star of the 40's and 50's. Her characters weren't just pretty, demure young ladies...who also "happened" to sing. Her characters were strong, witty, and (for lack of a better word) spunky (oh, I hate that word)!

Kathryn held her own against any of her costars - male or female. She was a perfect match for her oft-leading man Howard Keel.

It's especially fun to watch them in Kiss Me Kate. Watching them fight it out in "real-life", onstage, in witty banter...and in song...is simply hilarious.

I can't imagine anyone else playing Lilli/Kate. I mean WHO else could have sung "I Hate Men" like her?

{See a bit of the number starting at 1:55}

What I'm trying to say, is that Kathryn Grayson means so much to me. She has since I was four. I have a letter all addressed and ready to mail sitting on my desk. But, now she'll never know how much I love her films. How they were - and still are - my escape whenever I'm sad.

Kathryn was wunderbar at everything she did. Her voice was unearthly, her talent was brilliant, and her beauty...well Howard Keel once said, that she was the most beautiful woman in the history of movies.

She certainly will be missed. But, her vibrant, wonderful performances will never leave.

Rest in Peace, Miss Grayson.


A little tribute video I made for her:

Rest in peace lovely lady...

The news just broke that Kathryn Grayson died yesterday.

I'm so upset...I don't know what to say.

I'll miss you Miss Grayson. You've meant SOOO much to me since I was five years old and watching you sing in Kiss Me Kate.

Photo of the Day!

Steve McQueen, his wife Neile Adams, and their daughter Terry...

Favorite Quote of Today!

"You can always pick out actors by the glazed look that comes into their eyes when the conversation wanders away from themselves."

-Michael Wilding (aka Like THE coolest person ever! Haha!)

They Could Read the Phonebook to Me: Michael Redgrave

Next up in my new series of favorite voices is none-other than the utterly cool British actor Michael Redgrave.


^He totally made that creeper mustache look cool...REALLY. haha...

Michael Redgrave has a voice that is simply...cool (I use that word a lot, but I MEAN IT! ;-D). First of all, I should mention that I automatically ADORE every British accent, I just do. But, Sir Redgrave had an especially amazing voice.

Definitely my favorite Redgrave performance comes from The Lady Vanishes. His carefree, slightly arrogant musician, with the aforementioned mustache, is just too much fun to watch!



^This scene from the film is where we first meet Michael's character. And we get to hear that irrepressibly cool voice - as he annoys everyone else in the hotel with his loud "music-making".

Dead of Night holds what I believe to be Sir Redgrave's greatest performance. His Max, is simply brilliant. If you haven't seen the film already you may not want to watch this clip!



^Michael Redgrave's voice is put on special display in this film, because he plays a ventriloquist. So he voices his character AND his character's "dummy". It's fascinating. Plus, watching the film progress we hear his character's voice become more frantic and nearly impossible to understand. BRILLIANCE.


Last month, thanks to Kate, I had the privilege of watching No, My Darling Daughter, for the first time. I fell completely in love with the film! SERIOUSLY. Michael Redgrave is utterly hilarious as Juliet Mills' father. This is all I could find on YouTube to share from this movie. However, you DO get to see/hear the opening credits. Sung by....Sir Michael Redgrave. Sheesh, he does everything with the utmost coolness!



^Not gonna lie that is now going to be stuck in my head for approximately 4 months...

Also, I LOVE the way he says, "The rrrat!"

And just for some more coolness, Sir Redgrave's last scene in The Lady Vanishes (aka SPOILER ALERT! ;-D). In this we get to see a different side of the carefree...GILBERT....THAT'S HIS CHARACTER NAME. (Whoa, sorry about the caps!) I've been racking my brains trying to remember...I COULD have just looked it up, but IMDb is for suckers...(totally kidding...I LOVE IMDb...) Okay, a little off track, anyway, here we get to see a bit more serious side of...heh heh heh...GILBERT....

Nevermind...JUST WATCH THE CLIP! ;-D



Michael Redgrave was a brilliant actor, and he often used his voice in furthering his characters along. And when it comes down to it, his voice was really just (looking for a word that isn't "cool"...um...checking online thesaurus...uh... "hunky dory, keen, meritable, peachy, super-duper..." WHAT THE HECK?!?) well, I guess his voice was just stupendously amazingly cool. I could listen to it for HOURS.

Forgive me for this not-at-all lucid post. I am still rather ill...AND definitely tired. And a tired, delirious 15-year-old is NOT a very lucid thing...especially not when in normal conditions they are known at The Insane Millie...

...And now I think I'll go watch The Lady Vanishes...ahaha!

-Millie!

Come back soon to find out which Swedish actress has voice I adore utterly. It's going to be a REAL surprise! ;-D

Photo of the Day!

I will now translate the thoughts of the people in this photo:

Paul Anka: I am so mad. Why the heck did they have hire Bobby to sing with us. WE ARE NOT SINGERS. Sheesh. I'm so mad, I'm just gonna sit here and look dramatic.

Pat Boone: I'm just going to stand next to Bobby and copy his expressions exactly. Maybe some people will think I'm as cool as him then.

Frankie Avalon: um----

Okay, I'm kinda mean....;-D

HOWEVER, Poor Bobby DID have to go on a summer concert tour with Frankie, Paul, and Fabian when he was just starting out in '58. It was difficult for him. Haha.

Later, Frankie (who is ALWAYS nice, if not hugely talented) was quoted in Dream Lovers (written by Dodd Darin) as saying that Bobby was way more talented and serious than they were and he felt sorry that he had to come on the tour with them (SOMETHING like that, because I can't find the exact quote right now...hahaha!)

Okay, this photo of the day was random...

Photo of the Day!

I kinda DON'T want to tell you HOW long I've been waiting to use this photo...it's actually kinda pathetic!

Haha!

Anyways, Carole + Robert = WOWZIE KAZAM AMAZINGNESS!

Top Ten Favorite Screen Couples............um....with narration by The Millie.....

SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKE AWAY MY WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER. Yes.

Anyway, late last night/early this morning I made a little video of my top ten favorite screen couples.

For those of you, who would rather not watch my video, I'll post the list below the video (MINUS MY CRAZY-COOL....um, well really just crazy...COMMENTARY!). Also, you'll be missing out on the video clips of each couple!






First a few important necessities...HOW THE HECK DID I FORGET TO PUT IN HIS GIRL FRIDAY???!??!

Second: Frankie is actually a full FIVE inches taller than Annette. Yet, the appear to be the same height. My best fleshie and I finally decided that all the blame rests with Annette's VERY tall hairstyle!

^That actually had nothing to with anything. I just find it fascinating! ;-D

The list, for you lazy people, who are breaking my heart by not watching my video! ;-D

10. Audrey and Gregory in Roman Holiday

9. Frankie and Annette in Beach Blanket Bingo

8. Hayley Mills and Peter McEnry in The Moon-Spinners

7. Fred and Ginger in Swing Time

6. William Powell, Myrna Loy, Nick Charles, Nora Charles.

5. Rock and Doris in Pillow Talk

4. Irene and Cary in The Awful Truth

3. Dana and Gene in Laura

2. Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee...in everything

1. Joel McCrea and Jean Arthur in The More The Merrier

AND TONS AND TONS of Honorable Mentions which only people watching the video will know! HA! ;-D


Happy Valentines Day, EVERYONE! :-D

-Millie!

They Could Read the Phonebook to Me: Peter Lorre

Because I already don't have enough (failing) series, I decided to add another one! ;-D

Waaaay back, well MONTHS ago, I started working on a post of my favorite voices. It got so, so, so, so long - it wasn't even funny.

So, I decided to just make it a series. One voice at a time until I'm done (which will be in like five years). I'm starting out with one of my very favorites voices EVER!

Mr. Peter Lorre.



Peter Lorre is not only one of my top twenty favorite actors, he also has seriously one of THE coolest voices ever. It is unique and instantly recognizable. I LOVE it.

Watch one of my favorite scenes from probably my favorite Lorre film:



I simply adore listening to him (slightly drunk) arguing with Jonathan over who has a higher body count - the aunts or Jonathan. His exclaim of, "Don't brag!" always makes me laugh hysterically.

Now here is poor Peter attempting to hide his voice from the What's My Line panel. He gives it a valiant try, but even his high squeaks of "uh huh" and "uh uh" are instantly recognizable:



And although, this post is all about his voice, his facial expressions are really too amazing. That look of defeat on his face as he is forced to admit who is, it just priceless!

Embedding was disabled on this next clip, so I just had to post a link:

Casablanca clip

His famous scene is Casablanca is just too great. He's in the film for all of five minutes, yet he leaves as one of THE most memorable characters. I, of course, tribute this ALL to his voice! ;-D SERIOUSLY, his "Hello, Rick!" is like the coolest thing ever!

Okay, he doesn't necessarily talk much in this clip, but the description of him, and the murmurs of German are too amazing. And that sigh/laugh at the end = brilliance.



Now, this is Peter Lorre being cool and singing AND dancing in Silk Stockings (Just for the first couple of minutes):



His sorta hopeful, "Siberia, I don't know...maybe it won't be so bad after all" is just fascinating. It's obviously comedy. (And he was really a brilliant comedian, utterly underrated though.) But, it becomes so funny because he plays it completely straight. It adds definition to this tiny supporting role in a Fred + Cyd musical!

In this clip Peter's part starts at 5:00 and goes to about 7min or so:



Peter plays a spoof of all his sly, foreign villains in this film, and it's just great! Of course his character, Kismet, is working on getting his American citizenship, which is why he's memorizing facts about the American government. I don't know why, but I get SUCH a kick out of the way he say's "STUPID!" It's just so distinct. And SOOO Peter.

Okay, well, I think that MAYBE that's enough clips of Peter Lorre! ;-D But, really, I just adore everything about his voice. It's cool. It's one-of-a-kind. It's unforgettable. And, really that just sums up Mr. Lorre himself.

-Millie!

Come back very soon for my next installment featuring a British actor, who I could listen to for HOURS!

Photo of the Day!

Awwwwww....

C or K reative Blogger Award.

I am SUCH a diplomat! Really. I amaze myself with my peacemaking skills at times. (I mean times when I'm NOT bashing Jimmy Stewart, Katharine Hepburn, Marlon Brando, or various other beloved stars....)

Anyway...

I have been awarded the, uh, C or K reative Blogger Award by 4 marvelous people!

CK Dexter Haven of Hollywood Dreamland who stuck with the original K spelling.

Kate-Gabrielle of Silents and Talkies who was the first to rebel and go for the C spelling.

Sarah of Cinema Splendor who blindly followed in Kate's footsteps.

Harley of Dreaming in Black in White who likewise went for the C.

Ahem....now for the IMPORTANT rules....which NOBODY....you know who you are (;-D) seems to be following, so I'm certainly not going to either!

Rules
1. Copy the logo and place it on your blog. [Or C or K reate your OWN super-cool logo...ahah!]
2. Link to the person who nominated you for this award. [I actually did that! YAY!]
3. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting. [I really could care less about listing things people find interesting. Really. I'm more concerned about what my gnome friends find interesting.]
4. Nominate 7 other bloggers, and post links to the 7 blogs you nominate. [Hmm, I suppose I could follow this rule...if ABSOLUTELY necessary!]
5. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated. [Twitter's the way to go, folks!]

CRAZY COOL [actually not really] FACTS ABOUT ME:

1. I was actually not gonna post any facts and was just going to be lazy and link back to the last time I got this award. But unfortunately I was already lazy and posted no facts the first time I received the award (which I accepted late), so...um...

2. I have approximately 500 posts promised in the last year, that I've never done! I was looking at an old post the other day and realized I promised a semi-review for a film I can't even remember! [EDIT: Turns out THIS is the movie. I can't for the life of me remember anything about it!]

3. I still haven't made up a song about Ricola to the tune of the Dick Van Dyke Show theme...

4. I recently discovered that Auntie Casey's favorite word is "risque" (the quotations marks are ALWAYS necessary). Not kidding. She uses it like ALL the time.

5. This was my original photo choice for the award:



Because Burl Ives looks so stinkin' cool holding the statue of Caesar. However I was scared off by Pete Duel's frankly rather frightening sideburns....

6. I've recently started making classic movie finger puppets. They're actually pretty weird.

7. I like cheese. REALLY. My older sis and I are actually starting cheese club. [Don't laugh!] We spent a good part of Monday afternoon sampling cool cheese and listening to Sinatra...

Oh my gosh, I almost just ended the post without giving the award away...SHEESH!

Anyway to 7 splendidly cool amazing genuinely WOWZIE KAZAM blogs I award the C or K reative Blogger Award!

Ginger at Asleep in New York {She's back! AND BLOGGING EVERY SINGLE DAY! HALLUCINATE! [for those who are not familiar with the Milliesaurus...that means Hallelujah!] }

Amanda at A Noodle In A Haystack {LOVE, LOVE, LOOOOVE this blog!}

Merriam at Bygone Brilliance {This IS Merriam. Effortlessly cool and amazing.}

Nicola at Vintage Film Nerd {A REVIEW EVERY SINGLE DAY! Not kidding. That crazy.}

Sally at Flying Down To Hollywood {Favorite "newer" find! Simply amazing. I utterly adored her recent post on The Great Race!}

Emme at songs I sing {She inspires me.}

AND

Kate at The Grapefruit Chronicles {Only Kate could make a cool blog about grapefruits. Seriously.}

Wellssss....that's about it! Thanks for reading! And thanks beyond ever so to the four amazingly wonderful people who made my days by giving me the award!

-Millie!

Photo of the Day!

Need this dress, necklace, hair, and also preferably the face as well...(unfortunately Harley already has dibs on the eyebrows...)

Oh, and I'm not really strange or anything...;-D

Photo of the Day!

Flawless...

Photo of the Day!

Because Jean Arthur is THE most adorable person EVER!

Photo of the Day!

Myra Loy, because she's the coolest!

Photo of the Day!

For today's Photo of the Day, I just randomly scrolled through my photos with my eyes shut and clicked on one. This was it!

Sandra Dee in If A Man Answers!