The Friday Five Good Things

Five good things that happened this week.

1. Organized the book shelves in the basement. Most of the books on the shelves had been read once and never read again. Those books will be donated to the library to make room for calligraphy books and reference material.

2. Had a chick flick Monday night and watched Lassie Come Home. Baby Roddy McDowell is so cute.

3. My friend, A, sent me a wonderful Halloween card she made. It has a witch riding a boom across the full moon. The witch is on a wobble spring so it jiggles. There was also a lovely note inside. Thank you, my friend.

4. Started another painting

5. From Ink: Herself brought home a piece of mail art addressed to me! Thank you, my dear FinnBadger. The snack on the card is just delicious looking. Perfect timing for the card, too, as today is my 17th birthday.

So, a Happy Birthday to Ink, Blessed Samhain, Happy Halloween, Happy Reformation Day, or just Have a great Friday!

How was your week?

Monday Night at the Movies - A to Z

 26 weeks sure whizzed by! The last movie, Z, is a bit of a cheat. Zorro. It should be The Mark of Zorro, the 1940 swashbuckler starring Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone.

Don Diego, an aristocrat, pretends to be a fop to hide his secret identity. As Zorro he champions the rights of the masses in early California.

While Guy Williams will always be the "real" Zorro for me, Power does a creditable job and cuts a dashing figure as well. The real entertainment from this film comes from the dueling scene between Rathbone and Power. Rathbone fenced during his school years and was quite accomplished at the sport according to his iMDB.com biography.  Rathbone has an elegant fencing style and is delicious as the evil Captain.

Pop some popcorn, sit back, and be entertained with this classic.

What's your favorite Z move?

Monday Night at the Movies A to Z and MyMemories Suite Software Giveaway

This week's offering, Young Frankenstein. All the flavor of the classic monster movies with the silliness of Mel Brooks. This one is sure to put a smile on your face, or at least make you groan at the bad puns. 


What's your favorite movie that start with the letter Y?


Don't forget you can still enter to win a copy of the MyMemories Digital Scrapbooking software. Leave a comment each day to increase your chances. The contest will remain open until noon EST on Friday, 30 September 2011. The winner will be chosen by Random.org and announced on Saturday, 1. October 2011.

First visit MyMemories.com. Look at the wonderful packages they have in their store. Don't forget to check out the free stuff, too. Then come back and leave a comment. Tell me which digital scrapbook kit(s) you liked.  Easy!

Monday Night at the Movies - A to Z

X. Hmmmm. The only movie starting with the letter X I have in my collection is The X Files, I Want to Believe. Mulder and Scully are called out of retirement by the FBI. Their talents are needed to solve the latest case, a kidnapped FBI agent and a priest who has visions of the agent. Typical day at the office for Mulder and Scully. If you enjoyed the series, you'll like the movie. Besides, it's always amusing to count how many times Scully calls out, "Mulder, where are you?"

Help me out. Besides, X-Files and X-Men, any other movies worth watching that start with the letter X?

Monday Night at the Movies - A to Z

I'm not a huge fan of romance movies, but I'm a sucker for The Way We Were. Robert Redford (deep sigh) and Barbara Streisand (meh). I never cared for Streisand (the movie came out in 1973, the year I graduated high school and most likely, I was jealous of her.), but there is such chemistry between Redford and Streisand in this period piece spanning the late 30s, WWII, the McCarthy Era, and the '60s. Opposites don't always attract, and what we want for others isn't what they want for themselves.

What's your favorite W movie?

Monday Night At the Movies - A to Z

The Vikings starring Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis. Secrets, revenge and betrayal. Half brothers vie for the love of the same woman and the fate of England. Forget the accents, pop some popcorn and enjoy this epic. You'll be humming the theme song for days.

Do you have a favorite movie that starts with the letter V?

Monday Night at the Movies - A to Z

Underwater action with U-571. A Navy sub commander and his crew are given a dangerous assignment. They must disguise themselves as Germans and infiltrate the crippled German sub, U-571. Once on board their mission is to locate the Enigma machine, the German's secret cipher machine. As if their mission isn't hard enough, their way home is destroyed. How will they complete their mission and save their lives? Make some popcorn for this edge of your seat ride.

What's your favorite movie pick for the letter U?

Monday Night at the Movies - A to Z

Richard Widmark plays tough drill sergeant Thorne Ryan in Take the High Ground. Taken from the field during the Korean War, Ryan's duty is to turn rag tag civilians into fighting men. He's good at his job, too good and his requests for transfer back to the battlefield go nowhere. Real life buddy, Karl Malden, plays Ryan's buddy, Sgt. LaVerne Holt. Holt has his hands full trying to keep Ryan from killing the recruits. All goes well until the sergeants fall for the same girl.


I was 8 years old when I first saw Take the High Ground. In the middle of my Combat phase crawling through the dirt and bushes in my back yard with Himself, this movie was right down my alley. Richard Widmark became my number one hero and this clip is my favorite scene from the movie.

What's your favorite movie that starts with the letter T? Who's your favorite movie hero?

Monday Night at the Movies A to Z

I must have seen Shenandoah a hundred times, and I never get tired of it. I just love James Stewart as no nonsense farmer, Charlie Anderson. Anderson won't support his Confederate homeland because he doesn't believe in slavery. He's opposed to the North because he doesn't believe in war. His hope is to mind his own business and his farm. Charlie's plans are dashed when his youngest son, mistaken for a confederate soldier, is taken prisoner. Charlie moves heaven and earth to try to find his boy.

As many times as I've seen this movie, I always get teary eyed especially at the ending.

What's your pick for the letter S? I think I know your pick, Erica. Something to do with yellow ribbons? (-;  I was torn between that movie and Shenandoah.


And don't forget, there's still time to enter the drawing for the log cabin quilt square. Just leave a comment. Winner will be announced tomorrow.

Monday Night at the Movies A to Z

R is for revenge in Run Silent, Run Deep an action packed underwater Moby Dick story. A year after skippering a desk after his first command is sunk, hard bitten Commander Richardson (Clark Gable) is given another chance to command the sub USS Nerka.  Command of the Nerka was supposed to go to its XO, Bledsoe (Burt Lancaster). Richardson pushes his crew to the brink of mutiny as he pursues the Japanese ship he believes sunk his first sub. Taking the boat into the Bungo Straits, a submarine graveyard, Richardson gets to confront his white whale unaware of a greater danger to his command. Over look the fact that both of the major stars are a little long in the tooth to play their roles, the acting is superb in this gripping tale.

Edumacate me. What's your favorite movie that starts with the letter R?

Monday Night at the Movies A to Z

A classic, dog view (what my girlies call a black and white film) melodrama, the 1950 Panic in the Streets. A public health officer (Richard Widmark) and a police detective (Paul Douglas) in a 48 hour race to track down an invisible killer, bubonic plague, before the plague spreads through the city and causes wide spread panic. It's an exciting melodrama with a chilling theme that is still relevant today.

In an interview about his work, Widmark revealed an interesting fact about the film and working with Walter Jack Palance. Palance was a method actor, one who gets into the skin of his character, becomes his character. When you watch the clip, if you think the scene where Palance's character knocks out Widmark looks very realistic, it is.  Widmark said Palance replaced the rubber prop with a real gun because he wanted realism in the scene. Palance achieved his goal as he nearly brained Widmark. Widmark ended up with a couple of stitches in his head and a concussion.

You know the drill. Expand my horizons.

Monday Night at the Movies: A to Z

This should have been filed under G, but this is my O pick: Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, one of the best horse operas even if it has a hokey theme song. Larger than life lawman, Wyatt Earp (Burt Lancaster) wants to retire and settle down in Tombstone, Arizona. He ends up defending gambler, Doc Holliday (Kirk Douglas) to rid the territory of the notorious Clanton gang. When one of Earp's brothers is killed by the Clantons, Earp seeks revenge in a bloody showdown at the O.K. Corral.

One of the fun facts of this movie: Watch for DeForest Kelley ("Bones" in the original Star Trek) as Morgan Earp. Then find the 3rd season Star Trek episode, Spectre of the Gun. Bones is cast as one of the Clanton gang in a bizarre intergalactic showdown and nod to Kelley's role in the original film.

Monday Night at the Movies - A to Z

This week's choice, The Natural. Centered in America's favorite past-time (no, not watching movies) baseball, and rooting for the underdog. Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) makes a comeback as an aging ball player to the game he loves best.  It's a story of second chances, forgiveness, and believing in one's ability. Wound through the story is an other wordly thread of  magical forces and sports superstition. We all know you don't need the feather to fly, but it doesn't hurt to have a patch with a lightning motif just to hedge your bet.

If you can't make it to the Fourth of July fireworks, there's a spectacular display in the movie.

Get me out of my rut, what's your favorite movie that starts with N?

Monday Night at the Movies - A to Z

This week's pick The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence.  Jimmy Stewart as newly minted lawyer, Ransom Stoddard comes to the West to bring law and order with his law books. Before Stoddard even steps foot in Shinbone, he meets the silver handled whip of the terror of the territory, Liberty Valence (Lee Marvin). Tom Doniphon (John Wayne) the only person in Shinbone able to stand up to Valence comes to the aid of the young lawyer.

The territory is up for statehood and an election is to be held to choose two representatives to attend a convention at the territorial capital. Valence tries to bully the townsfolk into picking him. Stoddard and the publisher and editor of the local newspaper are chosen. Valence viciously attacks the editor and calls Stoddard out to a shoot out. A legend is born, but who is the man who shot Liberty Valence?

What's your pick for me this week?

Monday Night at the Movies - A to Z

The Long Ships begins with Rolfe (Richard Widmark), a shipwrecked Viking trying to make his way home. He tells stories and legends especially about a bell called The Mother of Voices. The bell is made of solid gold and is as tall as three tall men. Rolfe's story attracts the attention of Ali Mansuh (Sidney Poitier), a Moorish prince who is obsessed with finding the bell. Imprisoned in the prince's tower and threatened with torture unless he tells where the bell is, Rolfe makes a daring escape and returns home. His hope is to obtain another ship and crew to go after the bell. The only ship available is the king's death ship. Rolfe and his brother Orm (Russ Tamblyn) steal the ship and kidnap the king's daughter as insurance.  Another shipwreck, captured by Mansuh, a mutinous crew, and chased across the seas by the Viking king, will Rolfe live long enough to find the bell?

Real life best friends, Widmark and Poitier play off each other well. Make some popcorn for this action packed Viking saga. The opening titles are worth the price of admission. Too bad, Widmark wasn't allowed to narrate the opening sequence.

Edumacate me. What's your favorite movie starting with the letter L?

Monday Night at the Movies - A to Z

One of my favorite movies, Kiss of Death, a film noire classic starring Victor Mature and Richard Widmark in his screen debut role.

Nick Bianco (Mature), a small time jewel thief is doing time in Sing Sing. The Assistant D.A. wants to cut him a deal if he'll turn evidence against Tommy Udo (Widmark). While he's out Nick is reunited with his little girls who have been in an orphanage after the suicide of their mother. Nick also meets Nettie, who used to babysit for the little girls. Nettie has loved Nick since that time and they marry. Nick gets a taste of a normal life and he likes it.  The plan unravels when Udo beats the rap on the A.D.A.'s case and Nick is marked as a squealer. In order to have everyone get what they want, Nick must take things into his own hands to protect his family.

Widmark's performance is chilling and shocked the 1947 audience for Udo's violence. His maniacal laugh became his trade mark. In an interview, he stated the laugh came out when he forgot or blew his lines.

Ignore the fact that over the 3-5 year story timeline, Nick's girls never age. It's a suspenseful story with a thrilling showdown between Nick and Tommy Udo.

Edumacate me. What's your favorite K movie?

Monday Night at the Movies - A to Z

The J choice for this is week is the taut drama Judgment at Nuremburg. An American judge is chosen to preside over the trial of four German jurists accused of passing legislation to legalize Nazi atrocities.  The judge (Spencer Tracy) must walk a tightrope between upholding the letter and spirit of the law and bowing under political pressure. He also has to act as referee between the military prosecuting attorney played by Richard Widmark and the counsel for defense played by German actor, Maximillian Schell.  The pace of the movie can be slow at times, but the courtroom scenes are tense. The star studded cast also includes Burt Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, and Montgomery Clift. Schell won the 1961 academy award for Best Actor.

Do you have a J recommendation for me?

Monday Night at the Movies - A to Z

My choice for the letter I is the costume drama Ivanhoe, based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott. Himself calls this movie a horse opera in armor. Normans versus Saxons. Romance, loyalty,  chivalry, forbidden love, damsels in distress, and an epic showdown battle, this movie has it all.

When King Richard the Lionhearted is kidnapped and held for ransom, Wilfred of Ivanhoe (Robert Taylor) takes it upon himself  with the help of Jewish merchant, Isaac of York and Isaac's lovely daughter, Rebecca (Elizabeth Taylor),  to raise the kingly sum necessary to free Richard. Thwarting Ivanhoe's plans are Richard's younger brother, King John who would rather have the throne than his older brother ruling as England's rightful king.

Do you have a favorite movie that starts with the letter I?

Monday Night at the Movies - A to Z

The Hunt for Red October based on the novel by Tom Clancy. The book is thrilling and the movie doesn't disappoint. The Soviet navy just launched its newest, technically superior nuclear submarine commanded by Capt. Marko Ramius. Ramius is driving the boat to the east coast of the United States. Is he a madman bent on planning a nuclear attack on the US or is he trying to defect? CIA analyst, Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) has only a few hours to decide and to prevent a nuclear and political disaster. Next time Jack, send a memo.

Great cast: Sean Connery, Scott Glenn, James Earl Jones, Sam Neill, and Alec Baldwin. This is my favorite of the Jack Ryan novels and movies and I like Baldwin's preppy look over Harrison Ford.  Let me know if you love this movie. Just ping me. One ping only.

Broaden my horizons. What's your favorite movie that begins with the letter H?

Monday Night at the Movies - A to Z

One of my favorite movies to watch when I'm alone, the haunting romance The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Gene Tierney is so beautiful as widow Lucy Muir and Rex Harrison very dashing and commanding as Capt. Gregg. This is probably the movie that gave people the idea it's very easy to get a book published and you can make a fortune to boot. (-;

Expand my horizons, what's your favorite movie that starts with the letter G?