Nothing but the awful truth - last time on this blog..

This will be the last time that I post a part of the longtime interview with Monty at AND THEN THEY START TO SPARKLE - from next Sunday on these interviews will be posted at Monty's and my new blog LET THE SHOW BEGIN.

So for the last edition here I asked Monty:

What's the perfect way for you to watch a film?

The perfect way for me to watch a film would be at home on my sofa with no distractions. Its great to watch them with Stephanie and our two dogs Molly and Lucy right beside us as well. But I wouldn’t want a crowd of people if you know what I mean. You can enjoy it that much better. And besides most of our friends and family aren’t that into classic movies. Stephanie wasn’t before she met me, but now she likes them. So there are few and far between friends that will come over to watch movies with us. If they do it will be modern films which is cool.

Do you eat/drink during watching a film? If so: What's the perfect dish?

Usually snack on either popcorn and drink sweet tea or juice. And sometimes I will bake some cinnamon rolls. Goes great with movie. At the cinema we sometimes get popcorn if it’s hot and something to drink.

Thank you very much, Monty for answering these question!

Please visit us next week at LET THE SHOW BEGIN

Thank you all for listening

Yours

truly

Irene

Nothing but the awful truth - Halloween special

As you all might know (not so much if you're living in Germany where shops are telling you to buy your Christmas stuff since September..) tomorrow is Halloween..

Sol I asked Monty to recommend some Horror films to watch – here are his picks:

1. To watch with the whole family

I would say for the whole family to watch which would mean light on the blood and gore I say go with The Innocents or The Others…both are really good and effective with any blood.

2. To watch with “the boys”

To watch with the boys go with something like 30 Days of Night which feature lots of violent ways to take out a vampire..maybe to intense for the ladies.

3. To watch on a date

For a date how about the classics like Jaws or Psycho

4. To watch alone

To watch alone, I would choose Alien because it is very effective in getting the hair on the back of your neck aroused and the fewer people the better.

5. To never watch in the dark

Salem’s Lot (79 version) by far is one of the creepiest movies ever. Watch with the lights on if not you will have some nightmares. Trust me.

6. To watch only in the dark

Silence of the lambs to enhance it even better.

7. To watch because of an actor/actress

ooooohhhh, go with Kathy Bates in Misery or Dolores Claiborne..terrific performances in both films

~ Irene adores Kathy Bates.. she is just marvellous! ~

8. To watch because of the topic

for some of the classic monster movies: go with any of the Universal classics such as Dracula, The Wolf Man and Frankenstein.

Or the big horror ones such as The Exocist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, The Omen, Rosemary’s Baby, etc.

9. To avoid

BloodRayne, Jason X, Ultraviolet, Jaws 4, The Excorcist 2, are just some of the ones to avoid.

Thank you, Monty. I hope that our readers now have caught some ideas what to watch this Halloween. Is there any film you’ll watch every Halloween? Kind of “Hawe’s Halloween Classics”..?

I usually watch Psycho every Halloween or some Hitchcock film.

As far as a more modern film, The Descent is one of my favorites, that I watch around this time every year.

I see.. At Palfy’s every year I MARRIED A WITCH (1942) and ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (1944) are shown – as are THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993) or CORPSE BRIDE (2005) - and there is of course the Palfy ADDAMS FAMILY marathon (the original TV show of course..).. All of them no "real" horror films – but they are really nice to watch. But let’s go on with the interview:

What makes a Horror film really creepy for you? What scares you the most?

I love it when something jumps out of nowhere or from the shadows to give a scare. Sometimes not seeing something is more scary than actually seeing it.

Oh, I completely agree with that, Monty..

Is there anything you are afraid to watch? One film you don’t want to watch because you think it might be too scary? Or one you were afraid to watch? Maybe one which later was quite lame?

I don’t think there is one..well I haven’t came across one yet.

The Excorcist still gives me the creeps but I will watch it. Sometimes with the lights on though. When I was a kid, it used to the first Alien film. Scared the crap out of me. It’s a great film, I just don’t get scared when I watch it now.

I see. Thank you again, Monty, for your answers.

A happy Halloween to everyone!!

~ Here is Steven Spielberg with Bruce, the mechanic shark during the filming of JAWS.. - also one of Irene's favourites "Horror" films.. ~

Thank you very much for listening

Irene

Nothing but the awful truth (5)

And again a new issue of the interview series with Monty Hawes.

Some of you may know that Monty likes Horror films – actually he is a real coinesseur – and does an annual series wih Horror films on his blog HERO WORSHIP - and another annual series about classic Horror films on ALL GOOD THINGS – this year yours Irene is taking part in this and also presents some more or less scary films..

So it was a quite natural thing to ask him a bit about Horror films..

Monty, what do you like most about Horror films?

As to why I love horror movies is not just for the blood and gore. I just love seeing the resolve of people trying to get out of the clutches of a maniac or trap or some type of predicament. To see what they are willing to do and are capable of doing. And I must admit I get a serious adrenaline rush when a chase is occurring or something scary about to happen. Puts me on the edge. Some of my favorite horror movies are Jaws,

The Descent, The Innocents,Silence of the Lambs, The Thing (82 version), Feast, Psycho, Halloween, Fright Night, Dracula (pretty much all versions), Repulsion, The Excorcist, The Birds. EvenFriday the 13^th (well part one and two were good), Underworld, Seven, Whatever Happened to baby Jane?, Alien, The Ring, Scream, The Uninvited, My Bloody Valentine, Dog Soldiers, Final Destination, Poltergeist, Wrong Turn, Single White Female, Misery and of course An American Werewolf in London.

Some of my fave horror stars are Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee,

Ingrid Pitt, Elvira, Amy Steele, Kate Beckinsale (lately she has been doing a lot of horror films), Kathy Bates, Anthony Perkins to name a few.

Great question Irene and perfect timing.

Thank you, Monty.. Tell us, please:

What makes a horror film really creepy for you? You know: What scares you the most?

I love it when something jumps out of nowhere or from the shadows to give a scare. Sometimes not seeing something is more scary than actually seeing it.

I agree, Monty. Thank you for your answers! As always great!

Please, visit next week – when Monty is going to recommend some horror films for Halloween..

Thank you all for listening

Yours

Irene

Nothing but the awful truth (4)

Another issue of the weekly interview with Monty Hawes.

I like to watch films setted in the time of the year we actually have - this is no must - but it adds kind of a nice feeling. So I asked Monty for some suggestions:

Monty, please name some autumn films, which you can recommend for this time of the year.

Here are some choice autumn films of mine:

At the top of the list has to be Picnic with William Holden, Kim Novak and Rosalind Russell. Just a great romantic drama set in a small town that looks gorgeous.

~ Labour Day picnic.. ~

Yes, that film would have make it into my list too, Monty..

Meet Me in St. Louis is another good one as I remember it has a scene set around the fall time too.

~ horrible, horrible things can happen around Halloween.. ~

That is an amazing film - which fits into each and every time of the year, I think. It's great.

The Trouble with Harry is one Of Hitch’s most underrated films and has a lovely setting and a terrific Shirley MacLaine.

~ ah, yes.. spending one's time in the woods during the fall time.. lovely.. ~

Monty, this one would be my No.1 classic autumn film - glad you name it here! It's one of my favourite Alfred Hitchcock films!

Remember the Titans set during football season for a high school team with Denzel Washington in his best role. I love this movie. Have seen it like 30 times.

~ more men spending their time in the woods.. hm.. a new series? ~

Dead Poets Society with Robin Williams reining in his comedy a bit for a great film. I didn’t think I would like this film when it first came out and it does have some sad parts but it’s also an amazing movie.

~ Also no indoor society.. ~

Practical Magic is a good one too with the pairing of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as modern day witches.

~ of course the ladies aren't spending their time indoors when the autumn nights are cosy & nice.. ~

Well, Monty - that's another one that is on my list, too - watch this one every year..

Those are about all I can think of right now.

Well, that is a great list of films - and I think everyone can pick her/his favourite from them. There are some nice movie evenings ahead.. Thank you for answering Monty!

Love your list - and it's great that you share your knowledge about films with us! I for sure have to check out REMEMBER THE TITANS..

From my list I would like to add (..only a few films.. don't worry..)

Just three of my favourites:

I love this film:

MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY (2008)

~ few outdoor scenes - but the leaves are falling indeed.. ~

and then - one of my all-time favourite modern films :

FROM HELL (2001)

~ though no one really notice it in this film : the "Ripper"-murder happened from August - November 1888. ~

and last but not least maybe my #1 favourite modern film:

GOSFORD PARK (2001)

~ more people outside.. - of course many beautiful indoor scenes.. ~

Thank you all for listening!

Yours (very well and) truly

Irene

Nothing but the awful truth (3)

Ah.. it’s Sunday again – time for the weekly interview with Monty..

Let’s start right now:

Monty, your followers know that you are a fan of 1930s and 1960s films – why is that so?

The 30’s and 60’s are my favorite decades when it comes to watching classic films. I mean I like the 40’s and 50’s as well but I like the 30’s and 60’s more.

As for why let me start with the 30’s. Since screwball comedies are my favorite type of films they fit perfectly in the 30’s. Because the 30’s to me are when screwballs ruled and they were at their golden best.

For the 60’s I love that era because the times were changing and new style of film was emerging. The spy films, the westerns, the sex comedies, the dramas, even the musicals were now being done very differently. And the films of the 60’s had some of the coolest fashions, music and settings ever caught on film.

~ It's Raquel Welch demonstrating the 1960's films! Mhm.. maybe not musicals.. - but I bet she is also a spy.. ~

Speaking of settings, Monty:

Which settings are your favourites? Why? Are there settings you don’t like?

I love to see settings in the countryside or on a farm. See foreign lands. Different countries. Films set during the fall or wintertime. Small towns are good too. Big metro cities are ok but not my favorite setting. Too many people and stuff going on kind of distracts from the film sometimes. Other nice settings would be maybe on an island or at a resort.

~ How about we all go and film our own movie

- at Tunnels Beach, Kauai, Hawaii?? *sigh*~

Maybe in a historic town or something similar. Great question Irene again.

Thank you, Monty.

Which film setting would you like to visit?

It doesn’t matter if you just like to walk the footsteps of some actor and visiting “the real place where Cary Grant ran through a field” or would like to be transferred in kind of a fantasy land – like dreaming of Oz becoming real and you’re walking down the yellow brick road and have to avoid heaps of poppy..

Wow..which film setting would I like to visit? Another great question. Off the top of my head I would have to say Sherwood Forest in Robin Hood. Just looked so lush and vibrant even though you had a lot of despair going on.

Once Robin got things straight it’s the perfect place to be I would imagine.

Oohhhhh and Pirates of the Caribbean would be very nice as well.

Oh, Sherwood Forest! … Nice, Monty. A mixture of each and every Sherwood Forest I ever saw arises into a pretty sight in my mind’s eye..

~ "Come visit Sherwood Forest - it's full of adventure!

Robin Hood and his Merry Men will await you.."

(tourists - they are EVERYWHERE..)~

Thank you so much for answering, Monty!

Hope you all will be back for the next issue..

Thank you very much for listening

Yours (very well and) truly

Irene

Nothing but the awful truth (2)

Last week our new series Nothing but the awful truth started – today we go on with part 2 of interviewing Monty:

Monty, please tell us: What do you like most about films?

What do I like most about films? I would say being part of that particular setting for that movie. To be emeshed with all the characters and the story. I like for films to have a great plot and then characters that you care about and can sometimes relate to.

Just love watching them interact with each other in whatever situation the movie calls for.

~ Cary Grant obviously interacting with May Robson in BRINGING UP BABY (1938)~

It’s an awesome experience.

"An awesome experience" – I agree, Monty. Last week you mentioned that you like screwball comedies the most – you also have a blog just dealing with them..

What makes screwball comedies so appealing to you that they are your favourites?

I love screwball comedies because they are so just fun. I mean, when you take posh, high society types, who normally you wouldn’t think to be involved in such hi-jinks, it’s a treat to see. Prime examples would be My Man Godfrey and Bringing Up baby. But then there are also regular common folk that are just as hilarious to watch as well. And you just can’t go wrong with a screwball comedy. Guaranteed laughs mixed with some romance and every now and then some drama or moral complications ala His Girl Friday.

~ Three guesses: This publicity still arises from which movie??? ~

Which is by the way the first classic movie I remember seeing and is my favorite movie of all time. But I’m sure you know that by now. Anyway, I could watch screwball comedies all day long, everyday for the rest of my life. I’m so glad there were so many done and so many classic stars got involved making them. Cary Grant, Carole Lombard, Irene Dunne, William Powell, Myrna Loy, Jane Wyman, Jack Carson, Katharine Hepburn, the list goes on and on.

~ Irene Dunne is telling Ralph Bellamy: "Sorry, dear - you're not on the list.. yet.."

(- Cary Grant of course made it..) ~

I can talk all day long on this subject. Would make a good post on Screwball Cinema. I think I shall that pretty soon. Got me thinking about screwball comedies now. Awesome question Irene. Thank you.

Well.. Thank YOU, Monty! I enjoy doing this interview very much – and I would love to read that post – and many others around here would love to do that, too – I am sure of that.

For those of you who want to sneak a peek at Monty's screwball comedy blog right now - here is the link:

SCREWBALL CINEMA.

Please visit again next week when Monty will tell us:

Why are the 1930's and 1960's Monty's favourite classic film decades?

(Well.. yes.. now that you mention it: you may visit again way sooner.. this blog likes to be looked at.. vain little thing..)

Thank you very much for listening

Yours (very well and) truly

Irene

Nothing but the awful truth (1)

Hey friends and followers of And then they start to sparkle!!

Monty (who as you all know writes for this blog, too) keeps interviewing guests at his blog - and not being interviewed himself..

That's unfair, isn't it? Especially because he is a great person - and one of my best friends..

Now you'll have the chance to learn more about him and his opinions and thoughts about films and blogging about them.

Instead of doing just one short interview I am going to do a long running series here – which means: Every Sunday you’ll have the chance to meet Monty here where he will be answering some questions (at least one a post) I have thought of.

So.. Let's start right now with my first questions:

Monty, why do you blog - and why especially about films?

"Oooooohhh..good question. Well I love movies. That is my number one passion.

Ever since I was a kid, I was always watching a movie or TV. Most other kids were outside playing, I was inside watch something. Even thru my high school years I was considered a social butterfly because I didn't go to parties and such. Rather stayed home and watched movies. So when blogging came along, that was the perfect way for me to express my feelings.

During my military days I kept a notebook of reviews and stuff written about movies and I still have it to this day.

~ seems like Monty's favourite star Cary Grant believes in notebooks, too.. ~

I may start posting some of those ideas. What do you think?"

Monty, I would love to read your first ideas! I own similar notebooks - I filled them since I was teenager with thoughts about all those films I watched and stars I liked or disliked.. So I am pretty excited to find out you have some "hidden treasures".. I am sure there are some people out there who would like to read them, too..

I think it would be interesting to find out what changed during the years - your opinions and feelings towards some films and persons.. the whole "becoming Monty"-story..

"Cool..I'm glad I saved all my journals and such. They are from about 20 years ago so that will be quite different from now...well, maybe. I'll see.

Anyway blogging is cool and I've met similarly liked people such as you. Because most of my friends and co-workers don't have a clue if I starting quoting classic movies and stars. For example if I said Maggie the Cat, they would have no idea I would be talking about Elizabeth Taylor, which is just sad.

~ Elizabeth Taylor as Maggie the Cat in one of my (=Irene's) favourite films .. ~

So by blogging I came share my thoughts and feelings on my favorite love and meet other people who have the same taste as me. It's awesome."

Monty, I am sure most film bloggers have made alike experinces..

Why did you call your blogs the way you did?

"How did I name my blogs?

Ok let me start with Screwball Cinema which was kind of easy. My favorite genre being screwball comedies I was surprised no one had a blog named Screwball Cinema. So I grabbed it and used it for my own.

Hero Worship came about after a second attempt. My first was called Welcome To Risa, which is a reference to a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode. But unless you're a Trek fan, you wouldn't know that. So I decided to be broad with a title and since so many people worship super heroes and movie heroes so much..I thought why not call it Hero Worship. It stuck and I'm glad I made the change. Welcome To Risa just didn't have that much of an appeal.

~ To be honest: I was about to post kind of a spoof picture - but I once made a joke about Wolverine - and I won't go through a situation like that with Monty again.. *ouch* ~

And lastly, my main blog All Good Things is in reference to the English proverb All Good Things Must Come To An End. I also know it from another Star Trek episode. I dropped the last part which was way too depressing and such and kept All Good Things..meaning all good things about classic movies and stars.

So there you go Irene..the way I came up with all my titles to my blogs. Excellent question btw."

Thank you very much, Monty!! I wouldn't have known about that Risa.. - the name "HERO WORSHIP" also seems to give you more freedom to post about things not connected to STAR TREK, doesn't it?

Glad you skipped the end of the All Good Things proverb - you have here one of the most positive blog names I saw yet..

I am going to leave the topic blogging for now - so I want to say:

Thank you for doing so much around here in blogland. I always like to visit your blogs - and I hope that you will go on with all this work you do. I really appreaciate that - and apparently many others do, too.

Please visit again for next week when Monty will answer the following question

(before I come back to his favourite genre..) :

What does Monty like most about films?

In the meantime - please visit the blogs written by Monty and talked about here:

ALL GOOD THINGS

SCREWBALL CINEMA

HERO WORSHIP

Thank you all for listening

Yours (very well and) truly

Irene