Fresh from cinema.. ..Snow White and the Huntsman

Well.. what better way to start a new month then with watching a film in cinema? That's actually what I did - and here is the film I just watched:

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN (USA, 2012) by Rupert Sanders

In a nut-shell:

When Snow White was a little girl her father - a widowed king - (Noah Huntley) was murdered by his second wife Ravena (Charlize Theron - just amazing..) in their wedding night (yup.. just in the moment when he wanted to start the fireworks.. Say, isn't that darling, hm?).
Since then Ravena's regency together with her brother Finn (Sam Spruell) put the whole country in fear and disaster for several years. Now Snow White (Kristen Stewart) can escape - and she will come back to fight the evil queen. She also will get some help by The Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth - who looks so much like my brother that I had the urgent feeling to call him.. my brother that is.. not Mr. Hemsworth..), her childhood friend William (Sam Claflin) and some very small men (Bob Hoskins, Ian McShane, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Eddie Marsan, Toby Jones, Johnny Harris and Brian Gleeson - did you count? Yes, actually eight men. You may guess why they're just seven in the end.. Hint: It's not because one is surprisingly having a burst of growth..)

~ Yes - That's SNOW WHITE .. uhm.. AND THE HUNTSMAN.. ~

If you like...

... fairy tales...

... Charlize Theron...

... really strange coincindences...

... some of the finest actors in "mini-parts"...

... dirty fingernails...

...you might also like this film.

~ Snow White -  Knight Bachelorette... ~

When you go to watch this film - never forget this rule: It is a fairy tale - do not ask for logic or explanations! It really was filled with strange happenstances: Snow White who is imprisoned for several years is amazingly  - besides having a great stock on candles (but no matches..) - wearing a really well fitting dress and very useful slinky pants.. Make a note: whenever you imprison your worst enemy since she/he was a child: Make sure to have a good tailor so to give them extremely well fitting clothes..
When she escapes - Surprise! - isn't that great?: there is a horse waiting for her on the beach.. Not just standing there - no, this horse couches on the beach until Snow White hops on it... Frankly: whenever I am on the run and see a horse lying on the ground: I would not just jump on it's back because I hope it might run away with me.. but that's just me..
There were several other things which were just presented to the audience - though they did not really make sense.. I am not asking a fantasy film to be realistic - but I do ask for films not treating their audience like all of them were idiots.. There were some points which are much "worse" (not really world shaking but worse than just that what I named before) - but I have trouble to point them out without going too much into detail..
That is actually the only point which irritated me - in the whole I liked that film.. Especially the visual tricks were great. How could I not love a film in which I get corvids and butterflies and a heroine called Ravena? What? She wasn't the heroine? oh.. well.. Never mind.. Charlize Theron was just wonderful! And when I wasn't already loving her - now I would be for sure! I also loved that here the evil Queen actually had a background story - it was kind of explaining why she acted the way she did.

The whole cast is amazing!  The little men were portrayed by really awesome actors! How could I not enjoy that! Intrestingly though some of them you would never think of as being small men in real life they all appeared like they were about 4'1'' /1,24m or so.. I mean: Brian Gleeson has "in real life" a height of 5'11''/1,80m - not very small in my book I must say.. but well.. I share the height of Toby Jones.. (5'5''/1,65m)

~ looking and acting great: Charlize Theron as Ravena ~

I think I have found a theme for this year: the aging and the vain woman.. I like both Snow White versions I watched this year in cinema - and I think together they would make a great double feature or themed movie night.. Though I think young children might prefer MIRROR MIRROR and be a bit scared by SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN. Actually this film was less scary then I expected it - not a single moment I was startlet..

Have a look:

So.. If you would like to see a film which I would describe as "LORD OF THE RINGS meets JOAN OF ARC" or "LORD OF THE RINGS for girls".. - maybe you'll give it a try - and spent about 127 minutes in this fantastic and not always reasonable film. 

~ ... ~

Thank you very much for listening!

Yours very well and truly 

Irene

Fresh from cinema.. ..Mirror Mirror

Well.. actually this time not sooo fresh from cinema for I watched this film last week on Friday in cinema.. - but I hope you'll forgive me this laxness with phrasing.. Here's the film I finally watched (and for which I waited like forever..)

MIRROR MIRROR (2012)

I really like this one.

In a nut-shell:

When the evil queen (Julia Roberts) shows her true colours and raises the taxes of the poor village people with some help by her servant Brighton (Nathan Lane) to finance a giant party for young Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer) who she intends to marry - her stepdaughter Snow White (Lily Collins) allies with seven not too tall rebels, who live in the woods and make a living out of their robbing business.. 

~Just great: Jordan Prentice as Napoleon, Joe Gnoffo as Grub, Sebastian Saraceno as Wolf, Lily Collins as Snow White, Martin Klebba as Butcher, Mark Povinelli as Half Pint, Danny Woodburn as Grimm and Ronald Lee Clark as Chuckles.. ~

So if you're a fan of...

... fairy tales

... Tarsem Singh's brilliant style of photography

... clean humour

... films you can watch with the younger members of your family

... daughters of musicians starting an acting career.. (said musician here is a certain Phil C. ...)

... great persons in small heights

please watch this film!

~ Prince (Armie Hammer)? What Prince??? I love her outfit! And Lily Collins is very, very cute.. ~

Ok - worst part first - just to get over with it: I am no outspoken fan of Julia Roberts. I think I would not decide to watch a film because of her. It's not like I would avoid to watch a film with her - she is just no cause to make me watch a film. Ok.. that was that. And now I can tell you that I enjoyed her performance in this film. 

Anyway: look at this picture to get a feeling for Tarsem Singh's amazing style: 

~ Evil Queen (Julia Roberts) in a gorgeous gown.. ~

If you've never seen a film by him before: Please, start with this one - his other films are maybe a bit more intense in the visual department (and by that real eyecandy..) but they're also more cruel and contain almost painful scenes and pictures. Whenever you have a chance to watch them on big screen please do so. These films are real, real happenings. (Anyone asking himself whether Tarsem Singh might or might not be one of my favourite recent directors? Stop questioning yourself, folks! He certainly is!! Hm.. I know other bloggers are fond of lists.. maybe I should do one.. at some point..)

~ I love the films of Tarsem Singh because of their wonderful looks.. ~

The seven bandits are just wonderfully casted! Of course Martin Klebba is doing one of his famous stunts (that guy would freak me out.. I would carry a first-aid-bag where-ever we would go..) 

As I said before: this film you can surely watch with children - there were lots of them around when my sister and I went to watch this one.. But I guess I am the only one to get nightmares by two marionettes.. (all the children around were laughing hard.. - and I was okay with it too while watching the film - a few days later I dreamt just a horrible little dream with those marionettes creeping up at me.. yes, ladies and gents yours Irene is a cissy.)

~ Julia Roberts' evil queen goes trough some treatments to keep her good looks - it's a bit satirical.. ~ 

But altogether: This film is really cute and has a lot of humour which will work fine with your (or other people's) children - and maybe with you, too - if you're not too high brow in that departement.. It's a cute and clean humour - you know: the kind that gives you the impression Disney would have produced this flick.. (no - it's actually no Disney film..) - the kind of at some times silly humour which has a prince under a puppy love spell acting like a dog.. 

~ trying to break a spell: Napoleon (Jordan Prentice) and Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer).. ~

Oh - and just by the way: Yours Irene was very pleased to finally see the King.. It was a certain actor she is very fond of.. an actor who was in LORD OF THE RINGS (2001-2003), ANNA KARENINA (1997),  and a certain recent TV show which's title contains another word for play and a special kind of seating furniture.. (2011) *cough, cough* .. DON'T SAY A WORD (2001), please.. 

Have a look - though the king won't appear..:

Oh - and yes: Lily Collins' eyebrows are a bit of the good old Elizabeth Taylor kind.. I actually liked that. Though it's quite unusual for a heroine in a film these days - isn't it?

I think this film is the cinematic equivalent of a slice of cake:  Once in a while one likes just to lean back and enjoy - and stop thinking too much.. 

Thank you very much for listening..

Yours very well and truly

Irene

Up to the Screen – Mr. Skeffington

This new series will feature books which became films. I'd like to read all those old bestsellers which at some point of their "career" became sparkling pictures on the big silver screen.. And maybe one or two of you like also to know a bit more about the persons who delieverd the stories which became classics - or maybe "just" movies ..  

I am going to start with a book which became not only one of my favourite books this year but also one of my favourite films ever – and which perfectly fits into the Mirror, Mirror series at this blog: 

MR. SKEFFINGTON (1939/40) by Elizabeth von Arnim.

In a nut-shell: 

Lady Frances “Fanny” Skeffington is going to be 50 years old in a few days. After a heavy illness she lost all her beauty which she once was so famous for. But what’s even worse: She starts to see her ex-husband Hiob Skeffington everywhere. In the few days until her birthday she will meet some of her old admirers again – but time changed many things not solely her beauty.. 

 The author - also just in a nut-shell: 

Elizabeth von Arnim was born as Mary Annette Beauchamp August 31, 1866. 

In 1891 she married Henning August von Arnim-Schlagenthin which made her a  German citizen - because her husband was German. They lived for some time in Berlin, Germany - and later moved with their children to a manor in Pomerania (which would by now be an area in East Germany/ West Poland). 

Her first novel was published anonymous in 1898. Later she changed her nom de plume into Elizabeth - and she also liked to be called by that name privately. 1908 the family had financial troubles - and private one, too: Elizabeth divorced her husband and moved with her five children to London. 

~ H. G. Wells ~

She and author H.G. Wells (You might know one or two films based on one of his books: - THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933) or THE TIME MACHINE (1960) or maybe WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005) .. - he will be featured in this series too - that's for sure!) became lovers for some years in which she for some times lived with her cousin - author Katharine Mansfield - until she left H.G. Wells in 1913 for Frank Russell - a British politician. 

When WWI broke out Elizabeth changed her citizenship back into a British one. She and Frank Russell married in 1916 - the same year (in which also died one of her daughters..) she run away from her husband which caused a scandal in London's high society - though she came back to him in 1917 and tried to save their marriage - not with much success though they stayed married until Frank Russell died in 1931. 1939 Elizabeth emigrated to the United States. She died February 9, 1945 in Charleston, South Carolina - her ashes were brought back to England in the autumn of that year.

Elizabeth von Arnim is one of my favourite authors - which is based mainly in her very ironical style..

Wanna see more of Elizabeth von Arnim's works?

Besides MR. SKEFFINGTON which was brought to the big screen in 1945 with Bette Davis and Claude Rains in the leading parts - there is only one other of her novels adapted for film - but that two times: THE ENCHANTED APRIL (1922). In 1935 with Ann Harding and my beloved Frank Morgan (and I really would love to see this film some day.. )

~ isn't he adorable??  She is too - yes.. but he IS Frank Morgan!! ~

and in 1992 with another actor I love: Alfred Molina. Besides him Joan Plowright,  Jim Broadbent and Miranda Richardson were also part of the cast - another one I am yet to see.. - That cast really sounds amazing!  

Besides those films there was a Television play in 1958 based on THE ENCHANTED APRIL.

About the book MR. SKEFFINGTON:

Unlike the film the book is set just on these few days until Fanny’s birthday - and in London, England. The famous end scene is pretty much the same like in the film – and though you know what will happen: It’s amazingly exciting! 

The tone of the book is - as almost always when it comes to Elizabeth von Arnim's books - quite ironical. And I just love that!

~ Any questions left WHY I love this film? ~

Another thing which is in my opinion a bit different from the film: Fanny is a much sweeter and loveable person in the novel – which does not mean that Bette Davis didn’t do a good job in the film – she certainly did. As I said before it's one of my favourite films..

The German title of the book is DIE SIEBEN SPIEGEL DER LADY FRANCES (= The seven mirrors of Lady Frances) – and I had the lucky opportunity to read this book in a 1958 print – and this one issue was even never read before: I actually had to cut some of the pages! That was a bit sad - but somehow pretty marvellous, too. 

~ just a little side note: Fanny Skeffington's birthday is March 12 .. ~

I really can relate to Fanny in the book - and I guess aging and loosing your atractivity was always a problem the female part of the world population had to deal with.. Nevertheless this book left me very positive - and I think I might re-read it some day..

I certainly both recommend the book and the film - no matter how old and/or (un-)attractive you might be..

Yours 

Irene

Do you remember.. ..Laird Cregar?

~ This is part of the Gone too soon Blogathon
hosted by Jnpickens @ COMET OVER HOLLYWOOD  ~

As followers of this blog know (hello to all of you who visit via COMET OF HOLLYWOOD, too!!) since February this blog is themed: "Mirror, Mirror - It's all in the looks" is dealing with all ways of posts/ topics I can relate to this theme.. It was meant to run just for February - but with a miniseries about Berlinale Film Festival I overrun myself here a bit - so I prolongued the theme.. 

From the moment I started this theme I planned to do a post about one of my favourite actors. My followers know by now that I have two #1 actors (Vincent Price and Peter Lorre) following those two with just a smidge difference are my two #2 actors: John Garfield - and Laird Cregar.

The original idea was - after I posted about Karl Dane to start another series here: The Do you remember? series.- Actually it's a bit strange with me: whenever I learn something new to me I am immediately sure that everybody else knews it for years - that it is common knowledge. So I felt a bit silly to write about him - but then I was very suprised to learn that not every single person in the world knew about Karl Dane.. 

~ The Great Dane - and a German Sheperd.. ~

Frankly - it felt quite cool to get people to know him and I decided to start a series in which I feature some favourites of mine - even if everybody knows all about them - just my own declarations of love for those people.. 

Anyway - though I had this experience with the Karl Dane post - I am again very sure that most people know about Laird Cregar. (I have a feeling like some people are actually here to read a bit about him..) 

I am very, very happy to be part of a giant blogathon dealing with those people who are "gone too soon". So for I was anyway about to post about Laird Cregar I decided to join the party and connect with some other bloggers around - and I hope that you people will at least not be too much disappointed with my try.. 

So - finally:  

Here we go - and here's our guest:

~ Laird Cregar ~

Have some facts about him (including his filmography):

Laird Cregar was born Samuel Laird Cregar on July 28, - the year was either 1913, 1914 or 1916 - there are several sources saying different things.. Most sources state 1913 though - and they all agree about that he was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.. 

~ Young Samuel Laird Cregar
- who dropped his first name Samuel when he decided to become an actor.. ~

He went to school in England at Winchester Academy, where his parents sent him to. There he was working as a page boy and bit player at the Stratford-upon-Avon Players. Back in America besides other jobs he did to simply survive he trained to become an actor. There were times that he was that flat broke that he had to sleep in his car. He made some impressions on stage with an one-man-show in which he portrayed Oscar Wilde. 

~ still young.. but no film star yet.. ~ 

His film debut was in 1940 when he had a little part in OH JOHNNY, HOW YOU CAN LOVE - it was merely a walk-on part - but finally a start.. The same year he also had a little part in a Warner Bros. B-movie Western GRANNY GET YOUR GUN starring Harry Davenport and May Robson. 

~ Belgium poster for OH JOHNNY, HOW YOU CAN LOVE (1940) ~

In 1941 - after accepting a studio contract from 20th Century Fox - he had three appearances in films which gave him a bit more of a funny image:

In HUDSON'S BAY (1941) he was a zany fur trapper - I must admit that I do not know this film. But for I adore Paul Muni I really, really want to see that one!

~ Publicity still for HUDSON'S BAY
with Paul Muni and John Sutton ~

In BLOOD AND SAND (1941) which starred Tyrone Power,jr and Linda Darnell  he was a vain critic - can you get a better cast? Hardly.. 

 and in CHARLEY'S AUNT (1941) his character had to fawn over/ make love to Jack Benny's character who was pretending to be a woman.. For Laird Cregar who was reportedly homosexual this part could be at the same time just an easy bit and a real challenge.. There are sources saying that he had the tendency to fall in love with his leading men - but I don't know whether that is true or not. All I can say that you work really, really close together with your partners when you're an actor - and that sometimes it's hard to seperate acting from "mere feelings".. 

~ Edmund Gwenn and Laird Cregar - longing for a little loving of Ms. Jack Benny.. ~

Another interesting thing about this film: though he was supposed to act as the father of James Ellison - he was actually younger than Ellison who was born in 1910..  Because of his tall and due to his weight of about 300 pounds (ca. 136kg) very impressive figure he always appeared to be older than he actually was: not even 30 at that time..

~ aside a film camera.. sporting a very cute space width.. ~

But the same year he had a part in a film which showed him from quite a dark and diabolic side - a part which would lead to other parts of that kind. He was really very, very impressive here. His acting is one of the finest you can find.. Well, in my opinion it is for sure.. 

~ in I WAKE UP SCREAMING (1941) - really madly in love.. ~

Then followed a part as a classic villain of this time periode: Gestapo officer Herr Funk in JOAN OF PARIS (1942) opposite  the always wonderful Paul Henreid and the fantastic Michèle Morgan.

~ Publicity Still for JOAN OF PARIS (1942) ~

Also in 1942 he worked like many other stars of that time in Hollywood Canteen - here he is carrying a dinner tray:

It followed a Screwball comedy - starring Gene Tierney and Henry Fonda: RINGS ON HER FINGERS (1942). Here he was part of a crooked couple - the other half was: My beloved Spring Byington!! Too amazing for words.. 

~ Publicity Still for RINGS ON HER FINGERS (1942 )  ~

Afterwards he was in the film which might be one of his best-known: THIS GUN FOR HIRE (1942) - which marked the breaktrough for Alan Ladd (In 1943 Laird Cregar reprised his film character in a Lux Radio Theater version).

~ in THIS GUN FOR HIRE (1942) - still not even 30 years old.. ~

I found a cute little snippet of a publicity shot for THIS GUN FOR HIRE - showing 6'3'' (1,90m) high Laird Cregar and his tiny leading lady Veronica Lake (4'11½'' / 1,51m):

~ ... ~

A drama with Maureen O'Hara, George Montgomery and again John Sutton followed: TEN GENTLEMEN FROM WEST POINT (1942). Sorry.. But I haven't watched this film yet - so I can't give you any infos about Laird Cregar here.. 

~ Spanish poster for TEN GENTLEMEN FROM WEST POINT (1942) ~

In THE BLACK SWAN (1942) he teamed again with Tyrone Power, jr. - and again his part was more funny when he portrayed historical character Sir Henry Morgan.. I am not really overwhelmed by this film - but his part  makes it at least bearable for me.. So does the presence of a ridiculous looking George Sanders - and also Anthony Quinn and the fantastic George Zucco.. An amazing cast in a film which leaves me a bit startled.. 

~ in THE BLACK SWAN (1942) ~

In 1943 he had a part in HELLO, FRISCO, HELLO - another historical setted film.. I am yet to see this film - so I can't tell you anything about his part here.. I am sorry again..

~ Poster for HELLO, FRISCO, HELLO (1943) - well.. obviously.. ~

Again with Gene Tierney (though they had no scene together) he worked in Ernst Lubitsch's HEAVEN CAN WAIT (1943). He had started to loose weight - and looked in my humble opinion gorgeous as "His Excellency" who is actually no one less but the devil.. This is (as I believe) the first part I ever saw him in - and I fell for him immediately. He was not only tall and elegant - but also very witty and impish.

~ dashing in HEAVEN CAN WAIT (1943) ~

In 1943 he was in HOLY MATRIMONY with Monty Woolley and Gracie Fields. And again: A film I am yet to see.. 

~ Maybe it's just me.. But I think Monty Woolley and Laird Cregar bear a certain  resemblance.. ~

His second to last film was THE LODGER (1944) - in which his character was suspected to be Jack the Ripper.. Again his acting is marvellous. Besides this film has the great Sara Allgood and again George Sanders.. This film will be reviewed at this blog this year.. (just saying..)

~ with loosing weight he also started to look younger..
well.. maybe because he also had  some plastic surgery.. ~

His last film also paired him again with Linda Darnell and George Sanders: HANGOVER SQUARE (1944) - which is more than just worth a look.. I love this film from A-Z - it even has a cat.. 

~ as an talented musician with strange blackouts in HANGOVER SQUARE... ~

Tragedy had it that Laird Cregar who became more and more obsessed with his weight lost so much of it in such a short time that his body had trouble to deal with it. 

~ besides undergoing a at that time in late 1944 new procedure (stomach bypass surgery)
 he did a lot of sports to loose weight.. ~

~ happy with his achievements.. ~

On December 9, 1944 at the age of 31 (taking that he was born in 1913) he died due to a heart attack. Vincent Price delivered the eulogy at Laird Cregar's funeral. In one of his last interviews Laird Cregar said:

 "I have a feeling the studio is almost beginning to consider me an actor now, instead of a type."

And though I have no idea what would have happened when Laird Cregar would have lived for let's say 50 more years - I would have hoped for some films together with Vincent Price and Peter Lorre.. I am sure that - whatever parts he would have gotten then: he would have succeeded in them. 

His epitaph reads

"I am with you always."

- and for me for one he always will.

 .....

Thank you very much for listening!

Yours truly

Irene