Oh, no, John, I don't hate you! I just hate basketball!

Eight weeks after its release in 1944, this film became the highest-grossing film ever in the history of MGM. What movie made such a stir?

Update: The fabulous Arthur Freed-produced Meet Me in St. Louis eventually brought in over $7 million at the box office. If you haven't seen this movie, definitely do so soon - it is nothing short of wonderful. Margaret O'Brien is absolutely rabid in it!

Aw shucks

All right, you guys - I give up. In the past week or so I've posted three trivia questions which were all answered correctly by our users here, and as exasperating as that was - your collective, extensive film knowledge deflates my ego so - even more frustrating was the fact that Blogger was not allowing me to edit my posts, giving me no means of publishing users' correct answers. Today, however, we'll give you your due credit and see if finally, finally, I can stump you.

Previous Questions, Answers and Winners:

"When I marry, it's gonna be somebody I've never seen before. I mean I won't know what he looks like or where he'll come from of what he'll be. I want him to sort of - take me by surprise." - Quoted from Barbara Stanwyck's character in The Lady Eve, 1941. Congratulations to veteran answerman Tillerman!



When Singin' in the Rain's Don Lockwood decides to make The Dueling Cavalier into a musical, he grabs the calendar off the wall and declares it his lucky day. Being after midnight, though, Cosmo points out that it's a new calendar date. What two days are in question?
Don's lucky day is March the 23rd, and Cosmo corrects him with the "'24th. Sure! It's 1:30 already - it's practically mornin'!'" Thanks for the correct post, Ky!


And finally, that androgynous mug I posted earlier this week does indeed belong to Katharine Hepburn. I loves me some Kate on the big screen, but I was not hip to that man's 'do, regardless of what part it was for. And yes, her biography is just rife with quotes and anecdotes that paint a perfect picture of what a unique, eccentric, almost radical person she really was, dressing exclusively in slacks to the point that MGM's wardrobe department began stealing the pants and jeans from her dressing room in hopes of weaning her off of menswear. This didn't cause her to resort to skirts, though - she just walked around in her underthings until all of her clothing was returned.

I'm thinking of jumping on...

I've been hearing a lot of good things about MGM's The Band Wagon recently, with directors and film critics hailing it as their favorite of the Freed Unit musicals, even going so far as to rank it above the beloved Singin in the Rain. Truth be told, I have seen parts of the film and was totally dazzled by its glorious Technicolor, its songbook, and of course, that Charisse-Astaire magic, but does it really trump Gene Kelly and Jean Hagen in Victorian period costumes? Diminutive Debbie Reynolds popping out of a cake? Donald O'Connor getting nailed in the face with a plywood beam? "Good Mornin'"? (Here I must stop - nothing can top "Good Mornin'".)
Have you seen The Band Wagon? If so, what did you think?

Wow

I happened to look up "epic masterpiece" in my deskside Webster's English dictionary today, thought not totally capriciously - I had been inspired by nearly four hours' worth of moviewatching this morning as I put off the inevitable mounds of homework and paperwriting I've to finish before tomorrow's classes beckon. Here's what I found:

epic n: An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero; adj: Heroic and impressive in quality; Surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size. See Figure 1.

masterpiece n: 1. An outstanding work of art or craft; 2. The greatest work, as of an artist; 3. Something superlative of its kind. See Arabia, Lawrence of.

Figure 1:

Stunning. Simply - stunning.

Fine Flicks

As busy as I was this past week, I still carved out enough time to watch some good ol' sixties flicks and revel in the brilliant colors of Edith Head designs, lush theme-song orchestrations, and even those archaic views on courtship and the eternal 'battle of the sexes' that I still subscribe to - obviously, the result of years of watching Doris Day movies. Anway, here are some gems I uncovered starring three of my favorite actresses:


The Wheeler Dealers (1963) - Ahh, the film that made "widget" a household word. After years as TV's suave and studly Bret Maverick, James Garner brings his smooth, fast-talking highroller to the big screen - this time, as a wealthy Texas oil man who invents a grand stock market scheme on a trip to New York. Lee Remick is as charming and pretty as ever (despite her character's propensity for wearing large bows - I'll overlook it because she's darling) and stands her ground as the lone female analyst in her Wall Street investing firm, braving the onslaught of mindless tasks being dumped upon her. The supporting cast sparkles, too: Jim Backus as the bullheaded boss and John Astin as a manic investigator guarantee a good time.


Penelope (1966) - Edith Head, Natalie Wood and kleptomania - three elements of this film that excite and intrigue me far more than they should. But seriously, who could ask for more? Nat is endlessly elegant in a parade of Head-designed Givenchy and well-coiffed wigs as she holds up her husband's bank for $60,000, then nonchalantly shows up to her analyst's office to alert him of her doings. Numerous glitzy flashbacks chronicle her earliest larcenous larks and her early days of courting husband James (Ian Bannen), though none fully answer her question as to why she loves stealing so much. Peter Falk even joins the cast and waxes elements of his future Columbo persona as the police Lieutenant investigating the crime. Sure, it's no Splendor in the Grass, but for Natalie fans it's a decadent little confection of a flick.


Divorce, American Style (1967) You all know that Debbie Reynolds has always been, and will always be, my favorite movie star of the 1950's and '60's, so to see her in a film focused on her failing marriage to screen husband Dick Van Dyke is a tougher for me to take than, say, a lighthearted romance like Tammy and the Bachelor or The Mating Game. Nevertheless, the leads are quite compelling here, and while the plots gets mired down with some unnecessary complications that intend to satirize the state of a divorcee's lifestyle (note the looks pregnant fiancee Eileen Brennan's bulging belly gets), Dick & Deb manage to sparkle in the end. The cinematography is quite evocative and interesting and, paired with a lush score that completely paces the movie and the emotions it attempts to inspire, makes for a decent film.

My hobby is stuffing things. You know - taxidermy.

In Alfred Hitchcock's classic "Psycho", how much money does Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) embezzle from the realty office she works at?
Update: The mendacious Miss Marion Crane pilfers a cool $40,000 from her place of employment and makes a run for it.

Who else loves this movie as much as I do? Hitchcock, Janet Leigh, Tony Perkins, Robert Bloch, Bernard Hermann's incredible score and of course, the man who seems to have starred in every single movie ever made, Martin Balsam. And oooh, how did I forget John Gavin? (Such a terrible actor, such an attractive man...what a shame.) Between the inventive cinematography, the supercharged tension simmering just beneath the film's surface, and the horrific truths about Norman and his mother, Psycho is nearly as perfect as a Hitchock movie can get.


What is your favorite scene from Psycho?

Brilliant on the Big Screen

I have just found the most incredible website ever. Hollywood Blvd, a unique cinema/restaurant establishment just outside of Chicago, features a silver-screen showing every month, complete with any of the original cast members they can round up. This month's screening? Gone With the Wind, resplendently shown in all of its cinematic glory, will also be attended by the actress who played little Bonnie Blue Butler, Scar & Rhett's pride and joy, who meets her fate with...well, in case you haven't seen the film, I'll save the spoilers. (Then again, if you haven't seen Gone With the Wind...what are you doing on this site in the first place?!) Check out their Now Playing guide to see what else they have in store for the spring.
Great...Hollywood Blvd is just one more thing that makes me regret moving away from home; how did I not know about this years ago? Oh well, you Chicagoans take advantage of this opportunity - just know that it's your responsibility to let me watch these films vicariously through your attendance!

In an extension of those thoughts, I've been searching with much futility for movie theatres that do show classic films on a regular basis - you know, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Ben-Hur, The Wizard of Oz. Where are all of these fabulous films being shown in darkened movie houses, and why can't I find them? If there are any near where you live, posting information here might be of a great help to others (or give me a jumpstart on planning my summer vacation, hmmm....). And remember, we're not constrained to the U.S. either - I'll take my classic cinema where I can get it.

The Birthday Boys

March 22 marks the birthdays of three important men in film history, two living and one, sadly, gone to that great casting call in the sky:

Stephen Sondheim, famed composer and lyricist, is 75. Sondheim grew up in New York City, studied under the legendary Oscar Hammerstein II, and wrote some of the most famous lines in soundtrack history - he can claim credit for the lyrics accompanying the scores West Side Story and Gypsy, to name a few. Oscars: One, but I think his seven Tony Awards speak more to his accomplishments.

With one of the most frustratingly recognizable faces in cinema history (calling his name to mind, however, proves a bit more difficult), Karl Malden celebrates his 94th birthday today. You may remember Malden as Stanley Kowalski's poker-playing buddy in Streetcar Named Desire, as the frustrated stepfather in Gypsy, or even as scruffy, rapids-rafting papa to Debbie Reynolds' Lili Prescott in the epic How the West Was Won. Oscars: One, for his supporting part in Streetcar, 1952


Rogue gunslinger Artemus Gordon's (The Wild, Wild West) real-life counterpart, actor Ross Martin, was born Martin Rosenblatt on March 22, 1920, in Grodek, Poland. Martin died in 1981 and left a staggering filmography - he played a myriad of cameos and appeared in dozens of popular sitcoms throughout his career - though his focus was more on the medium of television rather than big-screen projects. Oscars: One nomination for his role in Blake Edwards' 1961 Experiment in Terror; I still think he deserves some posthumous gold for playing the sly, swarthy swashbuckler in The Great Race.


Just so you know, Artie, when my sisters and I used to take cap guns and play The Wild Wild West in our backyard, I was always you. And by the way, whatever happened to Miguelito Loveless....?

Games That Lovers Play

Actress Debbie Reynolds and crooner Eddie Fisher were married in typical celebrity style in September of 1955; daughter Carrie Fisher - yep, Princess Leia - came along in late '56. What famous movie-related mogul did Eddie and Debbie name their newborn son for in 1958?

Elizabeth Taylor, Eddie Fisher, and then-wife Debbie Reynolds

Update: Todd Emmanuel Fisher was named for his father's best friend, innovator and producer Mike Todd. Todd is best-known for co-creating the revolutionary method of wide-angle cinematography which, too, was named for him, Todd-AO. Todd, married to superstar Elizabeth Taylor in February of 1957 (her third husband in less than seven years), was killed in a plane crash the following March - ironically, on this date, the 22nd - in a private plane called The Lucky Liz. Todd Fisher was less than a month old at the time of his namesake's death.

Eddie Fisher, meanwhile, was apparently a bit too good at consoling his late best friend's lovely widow - he filed for divorce from darling wife Debbie after the public got wind of the lurid affair he was having with Miss Taylor, and proceeded to marry the widowed Elizabeth in May of 1959; their marriage lasted less than five years. I'm not certain what Taylor or Fisher have to say, if anything, about their scandalous behavior, but then again, I'm not sure I care. Reynolds and Taylor have worked together since then, supposedly on friendly terms - but I recommend reading Debbie Reynolds' autobiography for the most heartbreaking aspect of the whole messy love affair.

Duuuuuke!

John Wayne (1907-1979)

After watching The Quiet Man this weekend, I discovered I was genuinely intrigued with Marion Morrison - that perpetual cowboy, the face of the American Old West, the hero that made John Ford a household name. Having only seen two of his films (the other being Ford's Fort Apache), I was pleasantly surprised to find that John Wayne seems as stoic and patriotic in real life as he does onscreen.

Some interesting facts on Duke....

He was born in Winterset, Iowa, but grew up in Glendale, California.

His nickname, Duke, comes from the name of an Airedale he had as a child.

He played football at USC - Thanks for the post, Cardinal Martini!

Wayne was married three times in the course of his life, and fathered seven children. His son Ethan was named for Wayne's character in The Searchers, Ethan Edwards.

He holds the record of the actor with the most main character parts onscreen ever. In 131 of his 142 films, Wayne played the lead role.

Wayne's only Academy Award was for his performance in 1969's True Grit.

He acknowledged a special chemistry and genuine friendship with
co-star Maureen O'Hara, with whom he starred in five films. O'Hara later flew to Washington, along with Elizabeth Taylor, to give testimony to Congress in support of awarding Wayne with the Congressional Gold Medal. The medal was posthumously awarded in 1980.

Wayne on Wayne:

"I was trying to play a man who gets dirty, who sweats sometimes, who enjoys kissing a gal he likes, who gets angry, who fights clean whenever possible but will fight dirty if he has to. You could say I made the Western hero a roughneck."

"I am a demonstrative man, a baby picker-upper, a hugger and a kisser--that's my nature."

"God-damn, I'm the stuff men are made of!"

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday."

"I don't want ever to appear in a film that would embarrass a viewer. A man can take his wife, mother, and his daughter to one of my movies and never be ashamed or embarrassed for going."

"I never trust a man that doesn't drink."


Are you a John Wayne fan? What is your favorite Duke film?

That's "Betty Bacall" to you

Beautiful Lauren Bacall, wife of the late screen veteran Humphrey Bogart and glamorous star in her own right, has an impressive filmography. Though she captivated audiences in such classic films as To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep, Dark Passage, and Harper, Bacall has only been nominated for one Academy Award in her lifetime - for what film was she nominated, and what was the year of its release?

Update: The Former Mrs. Bogart's only Oscar nod so far has been for her role in The Mirror Has Two Faces in 1996. Congrats to Shelly for knowing her flicks!

(Has anyone seen this movie? I haven't - all I know is that for me, Barbra Streisand and Jeff Bridges do not a pretty couple make. Babs should stick to Robert Redford if she wants us to rent her romantic movies.)

"You run...and you keep on runnin'"

Identify the movie from which this quote was taken:

"'I'd give something to know what goes on in my brother's temperature dreams. I know what goes on in mine. '"

Update: The Martin Ritt-directed drama The Long, Hot Summer (1958) is the source of this quote (Clara Varner's friend Agnes says it). In a terrible upset, movie master Tillerman has once again swept the boards, devastating all the young Paul Newman lovers (and I know you're out there) who would've loved the chance to show off their cinema smarts. Newman and now-wife Joanne Woodward, one of Hollywood's most enduring star couples, married shortly after this film was completed, and remain happily so today.


Okay, I've got another Long, Hot Summer trivia question. When Ben and Clara (Newman and Woodward) are alone in Varner's General Store for the first time, Ben tries to impress her with his salesmanship, and Clara eventually asks for an aspirin. Ben tells her he doesn't have headaches; what does Clara say he also lacks?

Update: Tillerman's done it again. Ben Quick tells Clara he doesn't "have headaches," to which she adds: "Or scruples." Congrats for the third time for answering correctly, Tillerman!

Singin' in the West Side

Though not having a significant role in both films, what movie star is in two major musicals: 1952's Singin in the Rain and 1961's epic West Side Story? Post your answer using the Comments link.


Update: Singer/dancer/actress Rita Moreno played the bit role of Zelda Zanders in Singin in the Rain', then starred as fiery Puerto Rican Anita in West Side Story. Moreno, who was born in Puerto Rico in 1931, won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in Story.


Congrats to Ky for knowing this trivia tidbit!

Fine Flicks

Some great movies I've had the privilege of viewing in the past few weeks:

The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968) Anthony Quinn, Sir Laurence Olivier. This beautifully-filmed drama focuses on the relevancy of the Catholic Church in turbulent, modern times - specifically, in 1968, just three years after the final convening of the Second Vatican Council in Rome. Though confusing to those unfamiliar with Roman Catholic doctrine, policy, and tradition (as well as to those to whom the Chinese-Soviet feud that escalates in one of the film's many sub-plots is foreign), it is nevertheless a typically outstanding performance by lead Anthony Quinn, full of the rich scenery of the Vatican and Saint Peter's basilica and rife with tension as we witness the selection of a new pope. The struggles, the questions, the self-doubts and the loneliness of the men of the cloth are artfully presented here, humanizing them to a degree that makes their unshakeable faith even more poignant and beautiful. I particularly appreciated the scenes depicting the preparation, funeral, and burial of the dead pontiff, as some traditions and customs which shroud the innerworkings of the papacy are as old and curious as the crown itself - and certainly not made public to even the most faithful of followers. As honest and critical as the film's stance on organized religion aims to be, the beauty of the faith that is highlighted here still burns at the film's core, carrying it to epic status. Don't pass up the chance to see this movie.


Swing Time (1936) Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers. The lightness, the music, and that unmistakable allure of "Fred and Ginger" really surprised me - Astaire is a charming crooner; Rogers is sweet, quick-witted and beautiful. Watching them dance and romance together is a true delight, and hey, for being 70 years old, this movie is still truly funny (I never envisioned a "pants theft" as part of a Fred Astaire film, but wow).




The Pride of the Yankees (1942) Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright. Director Sam Wood (Natalie's surname-sake) has been quoted as underestimating Cooper's subtle, low-key method of acting while filming Pride, only to be subsequently blown away by the larger-than-life performance that comes across onscreen. I found Cooper absolutely charming as legend Lou Gehrig, from his start as the child of hardworking immigrants, through 2,130 games in a row with the Yanks, all the way until that unforgettable speech. Sure, it doesn't delve into the true Gehrig the way I would have liked, but Coop's kinda handsome, no? A good film nonetheless.

You guess? Don't you know?

We've got a two-part question for you this time, as last week's trivia champion Amelia Lucia answered not one but two questions concerning 1940's The Philadelphia Story. This week we'll focus on a film that marks the signature collaboration of three of Hollywood's most eminent figures during the 1960's - director Blake Edwards, composer Henry Mancini, and gorgeous actress Audrey Hepburn - yes, it's Breakfast at Tiffany's. Let's see how much you know about this 1961 classic cinema confection.

1.Holly Golightly's (Audrey Hepburn's) neighbor Paul Varjak (George Peppard) has one published book to his credit, a compilation of short stories that he gives her as a housewarming gift. What is its title?
and,
2. Paul quotes a newspaper review of his book to Holly, complete with the month, day and year it was published: "...so said the New York Times book review, ________." According to his quote, what is the exact date?

Update: Wow, talk about a record here....less than three hours after I posted this doozy, fellow blogger Tillerman bowls over the Classic Film Trivia with two concise, and correct, answers: Paul's book, Nine Lives, was reviewed in the New York Times on October 1, 1956.
Congratulations to Tillerman for posting correctly, and first! I think Paul and Holly are chatting about his incredible film knowledge in the photo above.

Yar, it's the Voice of Doom

In George Cukor's delightful The Philadelphia Story, mischievous reporter Macaulay Connor (Jimmy Stewart) pranks the woman whose house he is visiting by calling her from the maids' chambers and telling her her "days are numbered". Who does he say is calling?
Update: Macaulay replies, "This is the voice of doom calling" when Mrs. Lord asks. Congratulations to Amelia Lucia for being the first poster AND the first to get it right!

Bonus Triva Question: What word do both Tracy (Katharine Hepburn) and Dexter (Cary Grant) use to describe the oceanic vessel upon which they had their honeymoon?

Update: They use the word "yare," as in, "Ah, she was yare, wasn't she?" "She certainly was yare."

Congratulations to my dear friend and fellow classic movie maven Amelia Lucia for getting both answers unquestionably correct. Let's hope this week's trivia question gives everyone more of a challenge!

Divine on DVD

I believe it was Breakfast at Tiffany's that started it. Once I heard the strains of "Moon River" on the Blockbuster rental VHS, I knew that I would have to own that movie, and no less than a restored, remastered DVD version would do. After securing it at Target for a handy $7, my passion for acquiring great films on DVD took off - and I've found the internet to be an extremely useful tool in buying some of the best movies available. Price is an important factor for me, so if it is for you as well, I've compiled some efficient, trustworthy sites that will aid in saving you money and expanding your collection.

Barnes and Noble online booksellers have a well-categorized, easy-to-navigate, reasonably-priced list of great classic films available on DVD. While I do dispute the rankings of most of these movies in AFI's 100 Years, 100 Films, I do appreciate B&N's handy organization of them, making finding and purchasing these classics easier than ever. Check out their 100 Greatest Films page and maybe pick up a little something for yourself. Even better? B&N's outrageously low prices on past Oscar picks prove to make online shopping worthwhile, with beautiful boxsets and gorgeous special editions of your favorite films available.
Dubious of spending $16.98 on a film you're certain you saw at Target for $9.98? That's where DVD Price Search comes in - just enter your film's title, and the online engine will scour all e-merchants who carry that movie, then rank the prices and compare shipping costs. It's no surprise that our friend Deep Discount DVDs is nearly indisputed as the most wallet-friendly place to pick up your favorite movies (be sure to take advantage of the free shipping if you're not in a hurry!).
Finally, don't ever pass up a good bargain hunt on the world's most reliable online auction site, eBay (in the past week alone, I've spent less than $30 total on four of my favorite films on DVD from courteous, efficient eBay sellers). Beyond scrutinizing e-merchants and being aware of payment methods they accept, their return policy, and an accurate description of the item's condition, all you need is a little patience and a few extra minutes a day to keep up with your bidding. I also highly recommend using Paypal as a free, user-friendly, and super-safe way to pay for your purchases online.
My favorite eBay finds? Barefoot in the Park for $3.26, Victor/Victoria for less than $7, and The Godfather Trilogy in perfect condition for $20.00. See what you can come up with!

Birthday Beauty

Happy birthday, Cyd Charisse!
In honor of the lovely, leggy Cyd's 85th birthday, TCM is hosting a day of her most beloved films, including The Band Wagon, Silk Stockings, Brigadoon, and It's Always Fair Weather (see the schedule!). You can check out a fantastic website devoted to Miss Charisse here.



Who is your favorite dance partner of Cyd's? I myself like her with Mr. Kelly....post your comments below.

This Week in TV

Turner Classic Movies' ambitious 31 Days of Oscar promotion culminates this evening with coverage of the Academy Awards ceremony, but that doesn't mean the best of classic cinema won't be on the tube nearly every night in March anyway. Some of this week's highlights include:

High Society (1956) The musical version of George Cukor's highly successful The Philadelphia Story replaces Hepburn, Grant, and good ol' Jimmy Stewart with the lovely Grace Kelly, mischievous Bing Crosby, and good ol' Frank Sinatra. Worth a watch, as it's an amusing re-interpretation of the original. 3-5-06, 8:00 am E

The Merry Widow (1934) Maurice Chevalier is an irrepressible ladies' man (seriously, what else can he play?) and Jeannette Macdonald is the object of his affe...lust in this stunning, black-and-white musical. 3-7-06, 5:15 am E

The Philadelphia Story (1940) Funnily enough, TCM airs this after High Society, but it's a delight whenever you happen to catch it. Between drunken Uncle Willie, drunken Katharine Hepburn and drunken Jimmy Stewart - crooning "Sometime Over the Rainbow" in swim trunks and robe, no less - this is one of MGM's finest. Isn't Kate so lovely? 3-7-05, 10:00 pm E

The Band Wagon (1953) Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse pair up to hit the road together in this glorious Technicolor musical. My favorite sequence? Undeniably, Cyd's gorgeous, golden, glittery gown in "There's a New Sun", though you can't help but have some affection for homely Fred by the film's end. Definitely a delight. Happy birthday, Cyd! 3-8-06, 8:00 am E (see TCM's daylong lineup of Cyd's birthday movies on their website!)

DuBarry Was a Lady (1943) Take riotus Red Skelton and the lovely Lucille Ball...add one part Gene Kelly and a dash of Technicolor....squeeze in some juicy plot, a jigger of zany comedy, and a modicum of romance...shake well. What do you get? Well, whatever it is, don't drink it - but do watch this flick. DuBarry is a comedic gem. 3-9-06, 4:oo am E

Pillow Talk (1959) If you don't know this succulent sex comedy by now...what are you doing wasting time on here?! Doris Day and Rock Hudson star, but a drunk Tony Randall and a drunker Thelma Ritter as the world's most useless maid may just outshine them a bit. 3-10-06, 10:00 pm E

Duck Soup (1933) One of the Marx brothers - you tell me which one - becomes dictator of a kingdom and declares war on a neighboring nation. Could you really ask for much more? Leo McCarey directs this, the most classic of all screwball comedies. 3-10-06, 3:30 am E

The Pride of the Yankees (1942) Gary Cooper's underrated performance as ailing baseball star Lou Gehrig is certainly a must-see movie. 3-12-06, 2:00 pm E

12 Angry Men (1957) One of Hillary's personal faves is this small-budget, grippingly-tense drama about a jury of men struggling to determine the fate of a young boy accused of murder. Star Henry Fonda was so intrigued and touched by the film's script, he financed the project himself - yeah, it's that good. 3-12-06, 10:00 pm E

For complete listings for the month of March, visit Turner Classic Movies; additionally, you can use TV-Now's technology to find every film and television appearance your favorite star will be making for the next eight weeks.

Discussion Junction

Elizabeth Taylor celebrated birthday number 74 this past week, prompting Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and American Movie Classics (AMC) to show a number of seven-times-married star's films - namely, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, National Velvet, Butterfield 8 and A Place in the Sun.


What do you think about Elizabeth's legacy as a Hollywood Legend? Is it deserved? Do you rank her among the most classically beautiful actresses of MGM? What is your favorite Elizabeth Taylor film or character? Post your comments below.

Miss Melanie's Dilemma - Sunday's Trivia Question

Sunday's Trivia Question: In David O. Selznick's grand 1939 spectacle "Gone With the Wind", what book does Melanie Wilkes (Olivia de Havilland) read aloud to the nervous women sewing at her parlor table as they await news of their husbands and brothers who have gone on a dangerous murder mission?

Answer: Melanie reads from "David Copperfield", starting with the very first sentence of the book.

Try your luck on our current Triva Question!