Seven - minus one - days of.. ..Marilyn Monroe (2)

Since I am doing this series of Seven - minus one - days of.. ..Marilyn Monroe I want of course to talk about her costumes.. 

And since I have also a series called Perfectly Peachy on this blog dealing with my fashion idols - well.. I actually did just one post tagged with this label - and if you hear that the other style icon of mine is a Hungarian Mouse by the name of Bianca you might wonder about my style.. Nevertheless these series just fit into each other here today..

When it comes to costumes in Marilyn Monroe films I think I will go with one of my favourite films of hers.. No.. Two of my favourite films of hers as examples:

NIAGARA (USA, 1953) by Henry Hathaway and THE MISFITS (USA, 1961) by John Huston.  I love the clothes she is wearing in those films... And I will talk just about the costumes.. 

Especially NIAGARA might be my favourite film when it comes to shoes.. Oh.. please! Who of you is surprised to learn that I have a very soft spot for heels?? So of course I will watch out for nice shoes in movies.. I like the style of 1940s and 1950s shoes best just by the way.. And I also love nice negligees, lingerie and stockings.. - like these:

So back to these films.. I actually would love to have all of the costumes Marilyn Monroe wore in these flicks.. I simply adore every single piece. 

In NIAGARA Marilyn Monroe wore some really classy costumes.. And if you look carefully you can spot a little golden anklet - a chain on her ankle - she is wearing.. I love those.. Hers had actually two little golden pendants in shape of little hearts. 

One of my favourite costumes in this film is her black skirt with a white blouse and a red jacket.. 

~ see those shoes??? I love them!! ~

and then her white skirt with a red top:

~ simple - yet sexy.. ~

and I also love the black costume she wears in her last scenes.. 

~ very classy - and again my favourite shoes.. ~

But after all I love all her costumes here..

~ very elegant - right?
And again: please mind the heels! I love those, too!! ~

And for THE MISFITS:

My favourites are of course  - the beautiful black dress:

Then there is this lovely outfit with jeans and a short white blouse - I love that one, too..

I also like this combination of a really pretty blouse and blue jeans 

- I am actually not that fond of the boots.. 

And of course the famous cherry dress... 

Well.. I guess I better stop here..

What? You didn't see the anklet I was talking about??

Mhm..

Have another look:

~ see: there next to the one strap.. ??~

Thank you very much for visiting

Irene

(who actually owns one similar outfit to the ones Marilyn Monroe wore in NIAGARA - just look:) 

Fresh from cinema.. ..Brave

So.. Wednesday I met my sister and her boy-friend and we went to the movies to watch a film we were waiting for since... well... a long time...

Here it is:

BRAVE (USA, 2011) by  Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman and Steve Purcell

In a nut-shell:

10th Century, in the Highlands of Scotland: Merida (spoken by my beloved Kelly MacDonald) - daughter of King Fergus (great Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (yay for Emma Thompson) - is not too pleased that she   - according to her mother - shall behave more lady-like and interest less in archery. And what is worst: Now the sons of three Lords of other Clans are supposed to fight for her hand in marriage - but Merida (really not keen to be married to one of those just because of an old tradition) hopes that a little bit a magic can help her with her stubborn mother - but sometimes a little change can wake a beast also in the most refined woman.. 

This is a film for fans of...

... Scottish accents

... bears

... brave heroines

... feminist fairytales

... wood carving

Since this is a Disney Pixar film you will also be seeing a little short film.. LA LUNA - which is quite nice.. Well.. I was told it is - actually just the moment it started I found a really wonderful text message on my mobile phone - and wrote a long answer to it - just to find out that there was no net working in cinema (surprise.. surprise..) - I am aware that this isn't actually professional when it comes to film critics.. but well.. ANYONE is actually paying me for this.. so: I will do what I want.. - just btw. my phone was completely mute no one was disturbed.. And again: it was a wonderful message...

- Anyway: I saw parts of this short film and it looked rather nice..

BRAVE has several references to Steve Jobs (who was quite important to Pixar and who co-founded the computer firm Apple) - you just have to look and listen: There are sources saying that Merida trying to eat an apple and being interrupted in doing so is by several critics called a reference to the firm Apple - but well.. I don't know about that.. Could be just as good an "easy-to-design-for-an-animations-film"-fruit... But I think that there is a Lord MacIntosh might be no accident..

~ Lords MacIntosh, MacGuffin and Dingwall.. ~

Hitchcock fans will be smiling when they learn that there is one Clan Leader by the name of MacGuffin.. ...

~ King Fergus and Queen Elinor...
- I adore that green dress.. ~

My sister and I agreed on Queen Elinor looking a lot like our mother.. and we were amazed that Merida wore a dress similar to one my sister owns.. (My siblings and their friends are active in medieval re-enactment groups..)

~ I love this poster.. it's so much "Jugendstil"/Art Nouveau.. ~

Of course history fans will notice that there are slight factual errors in this flick.. But besides: We just loved this film.. We had really great fun - it was hilarious and quite exciting - and: yes.. poor little me got teary eyed..

All we ever saw of this film before watching it in cinema was this clip.. and it was enough for us to decide to see the whole movie:



I think you might like to have a bit more info - well that is.. more pictures..:

 

Give this 100 minutes of film a try anyway - because even the shyest of girls can be very brave - I ought to know... And maybe you'd like to stay untill the end of the film.. a cute little scene follows the credits.. If you don't stay.. well.. no harm done either..

Thank you for escorting me to the movies!

Yours

Irene

Seven - minus one - days of.. ..Marilyn Monroe

As you will know tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's death. And though I'd like to remember her on every day of the year and not "just because it's her anniversary or her birthday" and blogland and all other media will be full of bits and pieces about her I will do my share, too.. You know that I either totally refuse on doing what all people do - or just carry it to excess.. So of course on this blog it'll be six posts about Marilyn Monroe.. 

So.. for a starter it might be reasonable to tell you why I love Marilyn Monroe so much. I actually own at least 11 books about her of which most of course are illustrated books.. And: yes, she is one of my favourite persons ever - which is not so much based in her acting ability but more in what I think was her personality and where we do resemble each other.. - Oh, come on! We all like people because they have something in common with us.. - or because we think we can sense kind of a resemblance.. Here are some things I like about Marilyn Monroe and what makes me love her so much:

1. For me it is in first place that I can totally relate to her feeling of being uncertain, unsafe and doubtful. That is not nice - especially when you're living in a world that asks for tough persons -  and it sure affects the way you're acting towards people.. No wonder that she was called "difficult"... This excessive vulnerability is something we have in common - and even if it is egocentric to love her because of that - I am honest. That's the way it is. I simply feel like we were sisters in mind.. Knowing she was having the same troubles makes me feel less lonely.. Besides that: many of the characters she would play in her career are a lot like me in several aspects - but I think I will talk about that later..

2. Of course: she is a style icon to me.. No wonder since I am a fan of 1940s to 1950s fashion - and we both are not actually built like sticks.. I will do a post on that topic too, of course. Her costumes - not the "not built like sticks"-bit.. For now I can say that though I am not at all copying her style and way of dressing since I am no Marilyn Monroe impersonator - I get much inspiration from her.

3. She loved animals. Enough said. You like animals? I am most likely going to like you. It's easy as that with me. 

4. She wanted to please people. It was important to her that people were happy - and so am I, too..

5. She was an avid reader - and several of the books she read were classics - though she took also some interest into other topics - she was eager to learn stuff and broaden her horizon -  and yes.. I like that.

Well.. That'll be that for the moment.. I am working on a post about my favourite leading men of hers, too.. Actually I have several ideas for posts right now.. I'll see which ideas will live to see the dawn of the day.. Tomorrow I won't post about her - I leave that to other blogs.. 

Thank you very much for your visit!

Irene   

Fresh from Cinema.. ..Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Yes.. Just after my last Fresh from Cinema post - here comes the next.. though there was actually a whole week between my visits there..

The film I watched Friday was

SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN (USA, 2011) by Lasse Hallström

In an nut-shell:

Sheikh Muhammed (Amr Waked) is very fond of Salmon Fishing. So he plans to bring this joy to his home country Yemen - which is actually a bit drier than Great Britain. Apparently this is a little problem when you plan on having a lot of living fish around.. So Sheikh Muhammed needs help to realize this project - and he finds avid help in consultant Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt) and not at all so avid in the beginning help by nerdy fish expert Dr. Alfred "Fred" Jones (Ewan McGregor).

The more obstacles they find in their way the eager they get to realize the project - pushed by Primeminister's press secretary Patricia Maxwell (Kristin Scott Thomas), who is hoping for a "good will" story about an Anglo-Arab co-work - since stories from Afghanistan aren't actually the best PR possible..

When Harriet's new boy friend Capt. Robert Mayers (Tom Mison) is reported as missing in action in Afghanistan Fred tries to solace her as much as possible. With the outcome that both develop a feeling of attachment which finally leads into Fred leaving his icy wife Mary (Rachael Stirling).. - But then kind of a wonder happens - and Patricia winds a perfect heroic love story for the press...

If you happen to like...

... Kristin Scott Thomas being queen of beasts

... fishing

... skinny casts

... thankful lovers

... characters who are discussed to suffer from Asperger syndrom (yes.. I am refering to Fred - who maybe or maybe not..)

... it could be possible that you'll also like this film!

Yes.. you guessed it.. again I start with something that bothered me (I guess there is simply more that bothers me in more recent films..): Besides I am not a fan of fishing (you know: killing living creatures as a sport..) there was one main problem for me: Kristin Scott Thomas' language.. I really like Kristin Scott Thomas - but I could not get over that language she used! Well, merely the language of this film is a bit harsh - and in the beginning of this film that really put me of. I do not know whether it was just in the beginning that rude - or if I got used to it while watching this movie. I dislike harsh language - but just right today used some of it and hurt a person who is really important to me.. We are good now again I think.. but still I am so very ashamed...well... ok.. back to this movie.. Please keep in mind that I watched a German dubbed version - so maybe it's just sunshine and lollypops in the Original version...

Amr Waked who is really nice to look at (and.. gee.. I did look..) just re-vived my idea of making a series about Egyptian actors here.. I liked him in CONTAGION (USA, 2011) by Steven Sonderbergh - but.. well... here he was really outstanding.. Well.. okay.. Mostly because his language was not harsh at all I guess.. Still I have to confess that the whole main cast was a bit too skinny for me - and though I will agree on Ewan McGregor being a very cute nerd here and that he ages really nice in general - I still cannot really get what makes other females drool over him.. I think I am slightly odd.. One thing I have to mention nevertheless: when Fred is allowed (!?!!) to have sex with his wife ("so.. that shall be enough..") and we witness the last seconds of that.. ... uhm.. yes..  ..in the end he does the cutest thing ever by saying "Thank you." to his wife.. Oh.. I was about to burst out into tears...

Tom Mison - for whom I had the warmest feelings when he appeared as Mr. Bingley in LOST IN AUSTEN (UK, 2008) - and most of my female friends know that when it comes to PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen I am not at all like most other ladies having a thing going on for dashing Mr. Darcy but for the very sweet and by that a bit boring Mr. Bingley.. - here was very nice, too.. A very sweet character he played - but actually most male characters here were very likeable.. As always the females were just gorgeous to look at.. And lately I watched a lot of Emily Blunt films - and I think I will go on with doing so..




So - though I had my problems with this film I really liked it and I do recommend this 107 minutes of a really never dull film..

Thank you very much for escorting me to the movies!

Yours

Irene

Fresh from Cinema.. ..A Foreign Affair

Some of you might remember that in the beginning of this year I was ardently telling you about a series of a Hanover, Germany cinema which was called Filmcafe and which showed classic films. Well.. I do not know what happened but after they showed CASABLANCA (USA, 1942) which I enjoyed tremendously of course - they never went on with classic films there. (Shame on them.. well.. Now I spent my money on other things..) 

After all there are several cinemas in Hanover and one of my favourites is a very small cinema showing a really interesting program aside from the big blockbuster films.. Usually they show of course recent films - but now and then.. Well.. - last week I was unbelievable lucky to get the chance to see a classic there:

A FOREIGN AFFAIR (USA, 1948)
by one of my favourite directors: Billy Wilder.

In a nut-shell:

Berlin, Post WWII. Congress woman Phoebe Frost (Jean Arthur) comes alongside with some other congress members to investigate the morals of the G.I.s in occupied Berlin. Soon she finds out that night club singer Erika von Schlütow (Marlene Dietrich) - who once was the girlfriend of a high-ranked Nazi - now is protected by an US officer.. To learn more she asks Captain John Pringle (John Lund) to be of help - not knowing that he is Erika's lover.. Things get really complicated when Phoebe falls for John - and John finds out that his heart merely beats for a little congress woman from Iowa than for a German Fräulein..

~ Well.. who of those three might be not aware of the real situation?? ... ~

Do you like...

... Billy Wilder films?

... Jean Arthur?

... films set post WWII?

... Marlene Dietrich?

... German Fräuleins and G.I.s?

...well - maybe you should watch this film!

~ Notice something there, Miss Arthur? ~

You know that I am always honest about my feelings and everything else - so I have to admit that I was not too ethusiastic when I first saw this film years ago. Maybe it was simply to cynical for me.. And yes.. since I am a German Fräulein myself in a certain way it was kind of hard for me to see how all those characters seemed to act just out of egoism. Yes.. I know.. Quite naïve.. Well.. Over the years I just grew fond of this film. I really do like it - and that I now had the opportunity to see it on big screen made it even better for me. 

Since I love the "German Fräulein (and allied Soldier resp. G.I.)" theme that much I might do a little series about that.. I will have to think about how that one could look...

~ G.I.s chatting up giggling German Fräuleins.. ~

I love Erika von Schlütow.. Though having a family name with an Umlaut apparently is kind of vulgar in Phoebe Frost's point of view.. Fräulein von Schlütow for sure knows how to survive.. and believe me when Marlene Dietrich says: "Oh.. Johnny..." even a German accent can be sexy.. I could listen to her saying that over and over again.. She makes "Johnny" one of the most attractive names ever.. sorry.. now I am rambling.. you really have to hear it.. And: yes.. somehow I can relate to her.. maybe it's just the national background.. I do not know.. Oh - and please: have a good look at post war Berlin... It looks at the same time creepy and kind of poetic.. 

~  Millard Mitchell as Col. Rufus J. Plummer
showing destroyed Berlin to congress men (and woman)..  ~

Jean Arthur is very, very cute as Phoebe Frost - and she really has some unbelievable funny scenes.. like in the beginning of the film when she puts her things away - completely deadpan and very, very long-winded.. Jean Arthur is one of the most funny actresses I know. 

~ yes.. a key scene.. indeed.. ~

Also John Lund is quite good in his part - though he has the bad luck to star against two great leading ladies.. Millard Mitchell who plays his superior has some quite funny lines in this film - and for sure will give most of you some laughs.. Please watch out for the pianist in this film - like in Billy Wilder's ONE, TWO, THREE (USA, 1961) it's Friedrich Hollaender. You will hear one of Billy Wilder's themes as this film also has the melody of "Isn't it romantic?" - a song I really like.. There are a lot great songs in this film - and even Jean Arthur will be singing..

~ getting sentimental - and musical.. ~

To see classics on big screen is something I really enjoy - it is great to sit in a room with others who will laugh at scenes or shriek at several moments just like you.. It brings a film to live - and I will not even start to tell you how marvellous it is to see those beautiful classic ladies in all their charms like that..

~ Marlene - and her good friend Friedrich Hollaender at the piano ~

As most of you will know the filming wasn't too harmonic since Jean Arthur and Marlene Dietrich didn't get along too well - and also Billy Wilder who got his nerves worn out stated later:

"I have one dame who is afraid to look at herself in a mirror and another who won't stop looking!" 

I think that Billy Wilder was a genius when it comes to films - but not neccessarely a gentleman or easy to be with - and for sure no genius in diplomacy.. 

~ defenitively a kind of "Star Wars" going on.. if you pardon the pun.. ~

CASABLANCA-fans might like to watch out for Ilka Grüning - who was Mrs. Leuchtag there (the refugee German lady heading for USA with her husband). In A FOREIGN AFFAIR she played a "German wife".

~ yes.. the ways a German Fräulein works...  *wink* ... ~

At last just one little hint - when you (like me) happen to like Marlene Dietrich's Erika von Schlütow you might be interested in WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (USA, 1957) also by Billy Wilder - where she actually plays another character which is kind of related to this German Fräulein... It could be easily taken as a spin off.. ..but of course that's just my opinion..

~ sigh.. just have a look at her shoes.. no question left why I love her - hm? .. ~

Thank you very much for going with me to the movies! 

Yours 

Irene