An Award for And then they start to sparkle! Actually twice - because it's sweet..

AND THEN THEY START TO SPARKLE just hit the jackpot!!

which means: Yay, awards again!!!! Thank you all soooo much!!

(but I'll still go on and write - won't stop me just throwing awards at me.. oh, no!!)

Monty @ ALL GOOD THINGS gave this "THE IRRESISTIBLY SWEET BLOG AWARD" to this blog:

- while Dawn @ NOIR AND FLICK CHICKS gave this "THE IRRESISTIBLY SWEET BLOG AWARD":

The rules are the same - that's why I think it's the same award - just "dressed" differently.

Anyway - Dawn and Monty both had the nicest words for me and this blog - and I don't know how to say thank you in a more adequate way..

So for I know (like everyone else does who at least one time peeked at his blog) that Monty is a big fan of Cary Grant - and after a little research (yeah.. ok.. I asked Monty..) I found out that Dawn likes Doris Day ...

Dear Dawn and dear Monty:

Just like Doris Day and Cary Grant you two are a great team - so: This one is for you!

Ok - enough fun - here we go:

The rules

1) Thank and link to the person who nominated you.

2) Share 7 random facts about yourself.

3) Pass the award to 12 of your blogging buddies.

4) Notify the recipients

1. The persons who nominated this blog:

• Ok - here we go: Thank you very much, Dawn @ NOIR AND CHICK FLICKS ( - Don't you all just adore this blog title??) and Monty @ ALL GOOD THINGS for passing these awards to this blog!

2. Seven random facts about me:

• I am very inconsequent. Ask me something - ask me again five minutes later: It's like talking to another person, I am afraid..
  
  
• I love to take cold showers - let's be honest: sometimes I am a bit "shy" to take them (It's ice cold water - for heaven's sake!!) - but afterwards I am just feeling great.. (It's ice cold water - for heaven's sake!!)
  
  
• My favourite melody is PERFIDIA - especially the original version of Xavier Cugat..
  
  
  




• When my sister and I watched UP (2009) in cinema - I cried during almost all of the movie.. (Yes, I am talking about that Disney Pixar film..)
  
  
• My refrigerator is filled with several flacons perfume and also some packages of my favourite juice (= apricot-orange) - and not much else.
  
  
• I wear a green ring for some years now - and: No, I had no idea about the connection to GREEN LANTERN.. ~ "someone" out there had to tell me.. ~ ;")
  
  
  
  (yeah, this is actually me.. blimey.. Irene has a face!! well.. kind of..
  and right now the green ring has the place of the black one - which is now resting in "happy ring-ing ground" or where ever little broken rings go to..)
  
  
• I don't know how many films, books, plants or heels (= all things which I love..) I've got - but I am pretty sure that I live with just two cats..
  
  

3. Passing the award (- blogs are linked)

~ of course all nominees are free to turn this award down ~ :

• Natalie @ THE GLAMOROUS GUIDE TO UNCONVENTIONAL LIVING - love her blog - and I am more than glowing for her idea of dressing up as BARBARELLA for Halloween!! Yay for that!!!
  
  
• Kathy @ GORGING MYSELF ON MOVIES - I hope that Kathy will return to writing again and again and again, because I always enjoyed her posts.. ;")
  
  
• Laurie AE @ BUTTERCUP BUNGALOW - always so beautiful pictures.. and especially her Ladies in Lilac post was delicious..
  
  
• Kelly-Marie @ A HAREM OF PEACOCKS - sheer beauty - please be sure to look at her lovely OUT OF THE MID-WOODS TWILIGHT -post. ~ No - don't be afraid! - There's no sparkling teenage vampires relation.. *ahem* ;"p ~
  
  
• Garofit @ A CAT AMONG THE PIDGEONS - another lovely vintage fan.. ;")
  
  
• Brittany @ VA-VOOM VINTAGE - because her blog is just lovely - and she is such a sweet lady!
  
  
• Jann @ HEADY WITH HAPPINESS - because if there is one blog which deserves this special award it's cerntainly hers.. just too sweet.. ;")
  
  
• Classicfilmboy @ CLASSICFILMBOY'S MOVIE PARADISE - because this man is doing awesome work. Just love that blog!! ~ and his avatar picture.. *ahem* ;"p
  
  
• Perfect Number 6 @ NO TIME LIKE THE PAST - because this blog though relatively new is quite gorgeous! Perfect Number 6 has not only quite a cool name but also quite an eye for great pictures.. I love her posts.. - and hope it's okay for her to receive this award.. - don't want to be too bold.. - but, dahhhrling, sooner or later you'll receive some awards - your blog is simply too good.. ;"p
  
  
• Glamour of the Past @ MY VINTAGE LIFE - because I really like her and her very elegant style and taste.. ;")
  
  
• Susan @ SUSAN'S DIARY - VINTAGE STYLE MEETS HEAVY MUSIC - just a great blog.. And Susan is pretty cool.. - and yay! for every fellow burlesque fan out there!!! :")
  
  
• Millie @ CLASSIC FOREVER - I especially loved her post about eyebrowraising.. -> read it HERE. - and we agree on some of our favourites Hitchcock Villains -> read it HERE..
  

That was that - and now excuse me - I have to do some little nudging so that everyone will know about this nominations..

Thank you all so much for listening

Yours (very well and) truly

Irene (proud awardee)

The Irene Palfy Show - Episode 2 (A Visit From An Angel)

After an unexpected delay, we finally have episode 2 of The Irene Palfy Show. I take full blame as I was under the weather and so busy with a million other things. And as head writer of Irene’s show,

It is my job to get it done. But here we are with a fresh new show…cue theme music as Irene dances

Down the streets of Hanover, happily greeting all those she meets…

In front of a live audience, the applause is deafening when the announcer introduces Irene…but instead of Irene, out comes…me…

“Hi everyone. Just wanted to introduce myself and get the show started today. I think Irene is feeling

A little sick today so I was going to host the show, if that is ok with everyone?”

The crowd responds favorably and I open up the floor for questions….

“Is Irene ok?” asks a young woman.

“Oh she is fine. She’ll be good as new. But the show must go on right.”

And  before I can continue out comes Irene and the crowd just goes crazy…I turn around and there is Irene.  A pleasant surprise.

“Ummm…Monty..what are you doing here?”
“Hi Irene. Fancy seeing you here. I heard you were sick and they needed someone to cover for you.”
“How nice of you Monty. Except I wasn’t sick. My dressing room door was locked. I couldn’t get out. You wouldn’t  know anything about that would you?”

“Me. No. Who would do something like that?”
“And you’re not here because of my special guests are you?”
“Irene, I don’t even know who the guests are for tonight. No clue.”

“Monty…really. You didn’t know that Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu of Charlie’s Angels were going to be here?”
The crowd erupts after Irene says those names.

“Really. All three of them? I had no idea. Awesome!”
“Yeah, well something came up and only Cameron is here. But I can take it from here.”
“Irene, I can do the interview with Cameron if you like. If you want to get some rest and all.”
“I’m fine Monty…you are such a gentlemen, but I got this.”
“Oh, ok..well tell Cameron I said Hi.”

“I will..bye Monty…Don’t know what I would do without you.”

I exit stage left to leave the show in Irene’s hands….

“That Monty…I have to tell you he is a great friend and knows a lot about movies but you have to watch out for him. I think it was him that locked my door. Just so he could meet Charlie Angels. But it’s good, we will continue on. I’m glad to be back for my second show. I was going to bring my cats

Mina and Lucy, but I don’t think they are ready for the spotlight. They seemed a tad nervous about coming on here. So after the break we will be talking with the lovely Cameron Diaz.”

After a brief interlude and some dancing from Irene’s girls….we are back with Irene talking with Cameron Diaz..

“So Cameron. You had a big summer hit with Bad Teacher. How was it making that movie?”
“My god it was so much fun. I hadn’t did a raunchy comedy like that since The Sweetest Thing. I love those type of movies where anything goes.”
“I see. And working with your ex..Justin Timberlake. Was that weird?
“Naw..not really. We ate lunch a few times while making the movie and got along great. He has moved on and I have as well.”

“So what’s up next for you Cameron?”
“I got a few more movies lined up. Just keeping busy.”
“I know my friend Monty would have loved to have met you but he did  have one question for you. And I must confess..it’s the same question I have. Will you and the other girls do another Charlie Angels movie?”
“I would love to..but it seems there is a new series about the Angels coming out on TV, so I think the film series is done. Which makes me sad, because I had a great time making those movies.”
“Oh I love those movies. Especially when you guys dance. They’re so good and just amazing”
“Thank you Irene for saying that”

“Oh thank you Cameron for coming on my show.”

And with that another show has wrapped. Cue some Dean Martin music and Irene's dancing girls. And hopefully episode 3 won't be too long in coming.

Good night everyone!

Completely having kittens (8)

This is part of a meme hosted by Michelle @ THE TRUE BOOK ADDICT.

Our guest this week is Ursula Andress with a really beautiful cat:

..

..but actually - that cat had another date - and no time for doing stupid publicity stills:

Oh - there's just one more thing... (8)

No - I am not afraid to use poor puns! (Please don't leave this blog though..)

It's still summer - and it's quite warm..

So here we have Jean Harlow on the rocks!

“You can play house later.”

These days some of us have to live with hot weather (and what is hot or not I'll leave to your own decision - as always..) - anyway: There are some films which in my opinion are quite good picks for hot summer days - and this post is dealing with one of them..

(well - any idea??)

Once upon a time William Alland – who was a member of Orson Welles’s Mercury Theater and played the journalist in CITIZEN KANE, you know: whose face you’ll never see.. ;”) – was at a dinner party at Orson Welles' when Mexican cameraman Gabriel Figueroa told a story about a half-fish / half-human being which should be living at the Amazonas area.

William Alland later made a film script from this story, which – directed by Jack Arnold - brought you one of film history's most beloved monsters - and also in 3D:

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954)

In a nutshell:

Dr. Carl Maia (Antonio Moreno) found a skeletal hand with webs in a lagoon at the Amazonas – he travels to the USA to get a team of scientists for an excursion.

When they arrive in the lagoon the waiting research team of Dr. Maia has been killed. Very soon the "still alive team" finds out that the missing link between humans and fish really exists: a gill-man (Ricou Browning for underwater parts / Ben Chapman ashore), who starts to take interest in Kay Lawrence (Julia Adams), the only women of the team. When the team’s boss Dr. Mark Williams (Richard Denning) decides – against the will of ichthyologist Dr. David Read (Richard Carlson), who is engaged to Kay - to bring back that creature to the marine institute (not necessarily alive..) instead of just some pictures of it – the situation really starts to become tense for the team..

Watch out for:

• The marks of the gill-man on Richard Carlson's body after the fight! - Isn't that just great? I love that they were that accurate in this aspect!
  
  
• You can spot some sharks in the marine biology institute!! Yay for that! (I LOVE SHARKS!!! – marvellous creatures..)

Schmooze:

• The original title for the film was “BLACK LAGOON” - but apparently Universal Studio bosses didn't find it appealing enough.
  
  
• Though the plan of William Alland was not to show the gill-man for more than the first half of the film because of the higher suspense effect - the studio decided to show it rather early in the film - the costume was apparently to expensive to be not shown..
  
  
• It is said that Ingmar Bergman watched this film every year at his birthday..
  
  
• When Jenny Clark of Cambridge University discovered a new fossile - she named it Eucritta melanolimnetes - which is greek and means: creature of the black lagoon.. ...
  
  
  


• The stuntman who did the “gill-man is on fire” bit was Rock Hudson’s stuntman..
  
  
• Ricou Browning also worked on TV-show FLIPPER and for the underwater shots of THUNDERBALL (1965) and NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (1983).
  
  
• There was a $ 500,000 insurance for Julia Adams's legs – though they weren’t shown that often in her films – which would be mostly western.. - good for those of you who like to look at women's legs: In this film she is showing them quite a lot..

• The gill-man also appeared in an episode of TV show THE MUNSTERS (1964) - as Uncle Gilbert (I don't know about you - but I think this is funny.. It's the perfect name!)
  
  
• The actors who personated the creature could hardly see while wearing the costume. One time Ben Chapman had to carry Julia Adams into to creature’s cave – he misjudged the distance to the wall – and knocked Miss Adams almost unconscious.. ~ ouch! ~

Spoil the fun - the tricks they used:

• For the scenes in which the scientists use some chemical product to slightly poison the gill-man and these products dissolve underwater they actually used cream.
  
  
• So that the audience could tell which character they see in the underwater scenes the studio decided that Richard Carlson’s character carries 2 tanks while Richard Denning’s character carries 1 tank.

Murphy’s law:

• The wet footprints of the creature doesn’t match the way it walks – to remind Ben Chapman that he had to shovel his feet there were added some weight into the creature-suit, so that he would have troubles to lift his feet..

Buttons and Bows:

Hollywood costumes are awesome. I love most of them and get some inspiration from films - but actually I don't have that often the opportunity to wear those fancy dresses..

So I am always amazed by simple and "all-day" outfits: though back then the white bathing costume she wears in this movie was quite racy, the wardrobe of Julia Adams in this film is just great:

Let's face the music:

For this film the talents of Hans J. Salter, Herman Stein and Henry Mancini were used. The three-note-creature-theme is probably one of the most famous film themes ever. The composers were instructed to use it as much as possible - not quite the dream of a composer, I guess..

Never-ending story (sequels and remakes):

• There are two sequels:
  
  REVENGE OF THE CREATURE (1955)
  
  THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US (1956)
  
  
• I am very excited because for 2012 there is a remake announced! - Though I am pretty sure it'll have a tough time beating this gem..

Ricou Browning once told a nice little anecdote:

One time while shooting underwater he noticed that he had to use the washroom – so he gave signals that he had to make a pause and decided instead of been carried by boat there that he would rather swim underwater to the shore.
When he arrived at the shore and climbed up the ladder there – the first thing he spotted were a child and the child’s mother just in front of him. The child started to scream. Ricou said “Boo!” – the child started to scream even more and ran away – followed by his mother. Ricou ran after them shouting: “It’s okay!!” – Surprisingly this didn’t help at all..

After that Ricou Browning didn’t scare people that often anymore.. ;”)

Let's have a look:

Quotes corner:

“You don’t sound like a scientist, but like some big-game hunter out for the kill.”

I am a bit too imaginary – so leaving things to my imagination and not showing them just does the trick for me. Showing how bodies are ripped, throats cut etc. just makes me think about the technique and make up and stuff like that – the real horror for me is just leaving me on my own – my brain can do horrible things to me.. That’s why even mainly considered poor films are that much enjoyable for me.. ;”) I just add things..

(When my sister and I watched this film for the first time she made fun of me because I actually was a bit appalled by scenes in which Julia Adams didn't know how near the gill-man was.. and the "Dr. Maia's team is going to be killed"- scene really appealed to me.. my sister was like: "Oh, please: there isn't even bowel - you're a sissy!")

I just adore the underwater scenes. (yes - I love bubbles..)

And I think the Julie Adams swims ”with” the creature scene is just awesome. Though it is another actress you’ll see when Kay is shown from an underwater angle.

Just btw: I would not swim in that water - by all means: dangerous catfish? Water I don’t know?? Amazonas?? Uhm.. no.. Thank you very much.. though.. I do swim in the North sea and the Baltic sea – and there are sharks.. (I never spotted them but they are there.. ;”) – I made some acquaintance with some other fish and underwater animals though..) hm.. maybe I'll rather stay out of the water from now on..

I love that the Julie Adams’ character Kay is not “just” the wife of someone of the crew but a scientist herself. Yeah, she is not the boss – but she isn’t a lovely little piece of decoration either. That’s great. She is there on this boat because she has a “task” – not just because a wife will go wherever her husband goes.. Lovely image – but I really prefer the “woman with a mission image”.

And of course I have great sympathy for that poor creature!! That lovely little thing.. so alone – and then some idiotic guys start to poke around in its home and attack it.. Just like Marilyn Monroe’s character in THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH said: “It just wanted to be loved.”

There are some scenes which actually could be translated as antipollution-appeals : E.g. the scene in which Kay stands on board of the boat and smokes - afterwards she just throws her cigarette into the water - where the gill-man is hiding and looking up to her - and that cigarette.. This scene is a bit sad in my opinion.. but as I said before: I am totally in the gill-man's team! (actually I look quite cute in green, too..)

You know, I think Jack Arnold has quite often such undertones in his films.. but maybe it's just me..

“Whatever the species may be, if you let it alone, it won’t bother you.”

Thank you very much for listening!

Yours truly,

Irene - also a lovely creature herself.. ;")

Some puppy love.. (1)

From now on Tuesday will be "the day of the dog picture" on this blog..

Enjoy, please!

Our first guest on this is..

.. well - no surprise at all, I guess..

Miss Marilyn Monroe - and a very amiable friend!!

Yes, I think this is "the beginning of a beautiful" series.. ;")

This is for Irene...

Irene was without the internet today which made her life a little ehhh...so for you Irene, this little ditty from Ferris Bueller himself...
http://youtu.be/vltUWa_tOhE