I'm 17 years old; I'm a dedicated Huffle-claw; I have been knitting for 10 years, but I still like to knit simple little scarves; I've seen so many silent films I've lost count; I listen to Radiohead, Sigur Ros, Tin Hat Trio, Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards, & Chick Bullock; I love movies directed by King Vidor or Rene Clair.
Gosh, I've been silent a long time! Hopefully you all still remember me! :D I've had a very nasty case of writer's block, but that seems to have passed so I should be able to get back to blogging again! To get the ball rolling, I'm going to repost something that I had posted on my other blog, but what the heck, it's better off here what with the spacious layout and the silent film theme and all! So if you read this when I posted it the first time, just ignore and I will have some shiny new posts soon! :)
A few months ago, my mother and I were watching "Speedway" together (my mom is a William Haines fan too - how cool is that?) Well, we only got a few minutes into the movie before we realized that the film was not only set in Indianapolis, but was actually FILMED in Indianapolis too! We got a little too excited at the revelation and spent a minute or two screeching "THE CHURCH! THE CHURCH!" *
So now I can say that I have stood where William Haines AND Karl Dane once stood! To explain - last April we spent a night in Indianapolis in a hotel that is literally RIGHT where the opening scene was film! I have walked all around the road they drive down and what's more I have photographic evidence! Feast your eyes on screencaps of Indianapolis in 1929 and compare them to Indianapolis in 2010!
The elevated now...
...and the street view then.
The intersection now...
...and the intersection then.
(*This is the church we were screaming at*) The roundabout and church in front of the WWI Memorial now...
...and the church and roundabout then...
...and again here. You can see all the ivy on the church face is gone now - what a pity.
The WWI Memorial now (this was taken out of out hotel room window)...
...and Karl Dane driving in front of the WWI Memorial then.
The steps of the memorial behind the post office (1st photo) now...
It's true. I don't have asthma, but my allergies have been acting up lately. So for me it's more sneeze sneeze than cough cough. Not that that bit of info is relevant in any way. I just felt like mentioning it. ;)
Well, two of my all-time favorite classic film bloggers, Millie & Kate have started up a fantastic survey and it's so super that I wanted to be a part of it!
1. Which actors do you always (or did you always) mix-up? Promise not to laugh? I always (and I mean ALWAYS) confuse Tom Mix and William S. Hart. I've had this problem for about 2 years, and I don't know if I'll ever get over it. Every time I see a picture of one or the other there is a 100% chance that I will name them incorrectly. This is a massive social handicap. I can hardly leave the house for shame of it.
No WONDER I can't tell them apart!!! I've never SEEN two men look more alike, nor have such SIMILAR film stlyes!!!
2. Gidget or Beach Party? Well, of the two I've only seen "Gidget" so "Gidget"!
3. Favorite Movie Outfit? Now I'm not entirely sure how to answer this one: do you mean an outfit that I would want to own, or something so over the top that it becomes cool? Because if you meant the latter, oh, what a wealth of choices the silent era has to offer! Of course, there is Rudy Valentino's pearl undergarments, Theda Bara dressed up as Spider Woman, & Alla Nazimova with bubbles in her hair all spring instantly to mind. But if you meant the former, I would kill for Ann Christy's Coney Island outfit in "Speedy". I honestly am drooling every time I see it. And no, it may not be the most exciting outfit in the history of humanity, but I think it's really cute.
Does the outfit also come with a day at Coney Island with Harold Lloyd?
4. If you could be ANY character in ANY movie...who would you choose? I think the answer is in the caption for the above photo.
5. If you could marry ANY character in ANY movie...who would you choose? (Excluding any Dana Andrews' characters. Seriously. ;-D) Hmm. That's a tough one. Will Haines in "Show People" maybe? Harold Lloyd in "Speedy"? (did that suddenly become my favorite movie without me realizing it?) I like most of Karl Dane's characters (the ones where's he all sweet and friendly, and NOT a super-intelligent villian, for example), but it seems like he always dies at the end of his good-guy movies and I'm not in the mood to be a fictional character's widow.
Sorry.
6. If you could live in ANY movie...which would you choose? I don't know, maybe a Fred & Ginger movie when I could have oodles of cash from who knows where, dress in all the latest styles, travel to exotic locations, and dance whenever I so pleased.
7. Black & White movies you wish were in Technicolor, or vice-versa? I wish every single Georges Melies film ever made was in glorious Technicolor. I know, some of them were hand tinted, but I think they would be stunning all in color.
8. Favorite Movie Soundtrack? Depending on my mood, either "Amelie" or "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
Two very much different styles of music, but I like them both anyway!
9. Favorite Movie Dance Sequence? Hard to say, but really any time Fred Astaire starts dancing, I can't help but smile.
♥
10. Coolest Movie Star? (Cough, cough, BOBBY DARIN, cough, cough) Hoagy Carmichael. (Duh!)
Who cares if he's not in the movie for very long? He's still radiates cool!
11. Sophia or Gina (Oh, how Kate enjoys replaying Gina's sad defeat OVER AND OVER!) Honestly, neither. *Runs for cover*
12. "Isn't It Romantic" in most Billy Wilder films, or "Red River" in most John Ford films? Um...
13. If you could re-cast ANY role in ANY movie, what would it be? Well, Buster Keaton was supposed to get Lionel Barrymore's part in "Grand Hotel", so I'll go with that. Not because Lionel was bad in that part, but I'll take any excuse to watch Buster's movies. :)
14. Favorite movie character with your first name? Are there any characters named Elizabeth? I don't think I've seen any apart from "Pride & Prejudice".
I guess you win by default.
15. One movie that should NEVER be remade? (under THE THREAT OF A SLOW, PAINFUL DEATH!) Anything directed by King Vidor. Or any of the German Expressionist films.
King by name, king (of movies!) by nature.
16. Actor or Actress who you would love to be best friends with? Probably Charley Chase, but all of the Roach lot sounds fun to be around!
17. Are you an Oscar or a Felix? I'm ALL Oscar.
18. Actor/Actress you originally hated and now love?Marion Davies.
19. Actor/Actress you originally loved and now don't like? I never LOVED him, but I just can't tolerate Clark Gable any more.
20. Favorite performance that was looked over by Oscar? (Not to be confused with the aforementioned Oscar of Felix fame.) That would have to be "He Who Gets Slapped", I think Lon Chaney should have won an Oscar for ALL of his movies.
21. Bewitched or I Dream of Jeannie? I'm going to have to go with "I Dream of Jeannie" on this one, because I don't like the second Darren.
22. Hannibal Heyes or Kid Curry? (Hint for those who don't know who they are: pick Kid Curry.) I won't rock the boat, so Kid.
23. Favorite Style Icon: Fred Astaire or Cary Grant? Carey Grant.
Stud.
24. Single most favorite movie scene EVER? Laurel & Hardy dancing in front of fake wild west backdrop in "Way Out West".
25. Movie you really "should" see, but have subconsciously been avoiding for who knows what reason? That would probably be "M". Everybody is always raving about how good it is and I do really like Peter Lorre, but I HATE gruesome movies.
26. Movie quote you find yourself most often repeating in real life? "He's bonafide!"
27. 50's Westerns or 60's Spies? (I can't even answer this myself...but you have to! MWAHAHAHA!) That's a tricky one. I might have to go with 60s spies, because Emma Peel is awesome.
28. Favorite splashy, colorful, obnoxious 50's musical? I would probably have to go with "Silk Stockings" because Peter Lorre dances and sings in it.
29. Favorite film setting (example: Rome, Paris, Seattle, Siberia, Chile, Sahara Desert, etc) I generally seem to like films set in Paris, but that's not a very original answer. :(
30. If you could own the entire wardrobe of any film, which would it be?"It". I thought the movie itself was okay, but I LOVED her clothes.
31. Carol Burnette or Lucille Ball? Technicolor Tessie.
32. Favorite Voice. Ever. Period? Cliff Edwards of course!
33. Favorite movie that takes place in your home-state? I can't think of any films that are set in Kansas. :/
34. Which actors would you want for relatives? (Mother, Father, Grandma, Crazy Aunt, annoying cousin, older brother, etc...) I'd love Lionel Barrymore for a Grandpa, like in "You Can't Take It With You".
I've been a busy one! Lolita of Lolita's Classics (a simply super blog that all of you should be following!) asked me to be her first guest blogger, so I wrote up a little review on Harold Lloyd's masterpiece "The Kid Brother", 1927. I hope I did the movie proper justice!
First of all - how does everyone like the new header? :)
And now to business. I was very pleased with the response all of you gave for part 1 of the silent star's homes, and I hope you like this second part of the series just as much! Again, if you click on the photograph you can view a slightly larger version, as these are really best when viewed as large as possible.
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