An Independence Day Treat from TCM, The Flag: A Story Inspired By the Tradition of Betsy Ross (1927) is a rare example of 2-strip Technicolor silent short from MGM. Score added by Vivak Maddala in 2002. Directed by Arthur Maude. This is the romanticized patriotic story of George Washington (Francis X Bushman) trying to talk Betsy Ross (Enid Bennett) into creating a flag for the country. Only 20 minutes long. Unremarkable plot, but stunning to watch. The 2 color process is an aesthetically pleasing medium for Betsy's creamy white complexion against a patriotic palette of rich reds and navy blues.
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Flower Drum Song' s "I Enjoy Being A Girl" | GAP Commercial Video Clip
Flower Drum Song is a 1961 film adaptation of the 1958 Broadway musical play Flower Drum Song, written by the composer Richard Rodgers and the lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The film and stage play were based on the 1957 novel of the same name by the Chinese American author C.Y. Lee. This movie was unusual (for its time) in featuring nearly all Asian American cast members (one of the few speaking Caucasian parts being that of a mugger), including dancers, though two of the singing voices were not by Asian ones. Starring in this movie were Nancy Kwan, James Shigeta, Benson Fong, James Hong, Reiko Sato and the original Broadway cast members Jack Soo, Miyoshi Umeki and Juanita Hall (an African American actress who previously played the Pacific Islander Bloody Mary in the Broadway and film productions of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific).
Among various changes for the film, the song "Like a God" was changed from a song into a beat poetry presentation. The singing voice of the character "Linda Low" was that of B. J. Baker, a non-Asian studio singer who had worked with Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, the Righteous Brothers, and Sam Cooke. The song "Love, Look Away" was also dubbed in by the American opera singer Marilyn Horne.
In 2008, Flower Drum Song was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Although the score of Flower Drum Song did not produce many hit tunes, its song "I Enjoy Being A Girl" has been widely used in other movies. The song has become familiar to many Americans, perhaps most recently with Sarah Jessica Parker in a nationally telecast Gap company commercial. It was covered by the lesbian folksinger Phranc. As of October 2006, there were 13 versions of the song on YouTube, including performances by Pat Suzuki and parodies based on Harry Potter and Battlestar Galactica.
Here's the Gap commercial as well as the original rendition from the film:
Among various changes for the film, the song "Like a God" was changed from a song into a beat poetry presentation. The singing voice of the character "Linda Low" was that of B. J. Baker, a non-Asian studio singer who had worked with Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, the Righteous Brothers, and Sam Cooke. The song "Love, Look Away" was also dubbed in by the American opera singer Marilyn Horne.
In 2008, Flower Drum Song was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Although the score of Flower Drum Song did not produce many hit tunes, its song "I Enjoy Being A Girl" has been widely used in other movies. The song has become familiar to many Americans, perhaps most recently with Sarah Jessica Parker in a nationally telecast Gap company commercial. It was covered by the lesbian folksinger Phranc. As of October 2006, there were 13 versions of the song on YouTube, including performances by Pat Suzuki and parodies based on Harry Potter and Battlestar Galactica.
Here's the Gap commercial as well as the original rendition from the film:
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Funny Girl
Fanny Brice (October 29, 1891 – May 29, 1951) was a popular and influential American illustrated song "model," comedienne, singer, theatre and film actress, who made many stage, radio and film appearances but is best remembered as the creator and star of the top-rated radio comedy series, The Baby Snooks Show. Thirteen years after her death, she was portrayed on the Broadway stage by Barbra Streisand in the musical Funny Girl and its 1968 film adaption.Funny Girl is a 1968 American musical film directed by William Wyler. The screenplay by Isobel Lennart was adapted from her book for the stage musical of the same title. It is based on the life and career of Broadway and film star and comedienne Fanny Brice and her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nicky Arnstein.
The film was produced by Brice's son-in-law, Ray Stark. The score is by Bob Merrill (lyrics) and Jule Styne (music).
Barbra Streisand, reprising her Broadway role, won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance, an honor she shared with Katharine Hepburn for The Lion in Winter.
In 2006, the American Film Institute ranked the film #16 on its list commemorating 100 Years of Musicals. Previously it had ranked the film #41 in its 2002 list of 100 Years ... 100 Passions, the songs "People" and "Don't Rain on My Parade" at #13 and #46, respectively, in its 2004 list of 100 Years ... 100 Songs, and the line "Hello, gorgeous" at #81 in its 2005 list of 100 Years ... 100 Movie Quotes.
The film was produced by Brice's son-in-law, Ray Stark. The score is by Bob Merrill (lyrics) and Jule Styne (music).
Barbra Streisand, reprising her Broadway role, won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance, an honor she shared with Katharine Hepburn for The Lion in Winter.
In 2006, the American Film Institute ranked the film #16 on its list commemorating 100 Years of Musicals. Previously it had ranked the film #41 in its 2002 list of 100 Years ... 100 Passions, the songs "People" and "Don't Rain on My Parade" at #13 and #46, respectively, in its 2004 list of 100 Years ... 100 Songs, and the line "Hello, gorgeous" at #81 in its 2005 list of 100 Years ... 100 Movie Quotes.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
TCM Classic Film Festival
TCM's exclusive coverage of the first TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood.
Worth Retweeting
TCM graciously provided passes!Hopefully they will provide them next year & I will have the money for LA trip!
Death of a Scoundrel & The Falcon's Brother feature Sanders Brothers
Death of a Scoundrel and The Falcon's Brother are the only two films to feature real-life brothers George Sanders and Tom Conway. They play brothers in both films. George Sanders was the lead in The Falcon film series. In 1942 Sanders handed off the Falcon role to his brother Tom, in the The Falcon's Brother. Conway was born as Thomas Charles Sanders. The brothers tossed a coin to decide which would change his surname to avoid any confusion with each other.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Origin & History of the Maltese Falcon Prop
The "Maltese Falcon," itself is reportedly based on the "Kniphausen Hawk," a ceremonial pouring vessel made in 1697 for George William von Kniphausen, Count of the Holy Roman Empire. It is modeled after a hawk perched on a rock and is encrusted with red garnets, amethysts, emeralds and blue sapphires. The vessel is currently owned by the Duke of Devonshire and is an integral piece of the Chatsworth House collection.
There were several 11-1/2 inch tall falcon props made for use in the film due to the fact that Humphrey Bogart dropped the original during shooting. The original is on display to this day in Warner Brothers' movie museum, its tail feathers visibly dented from Bogart's accident. Some of the copies of the falcon were cast of plastic resin, and some of lead. Only two 45 lb. lead falcons and two 5 lb., 5.4 oz resin falcons are verified to exist today. One lead falcon has been displayed for years at various venues. The second, which was marred at the end of the movie by Sydney Greenstreet, was given to William Conrad by studio chief Jack L. Warner. It was auctioned off in December 1994, nine months after Conrad's death, for $398,500 to Ronald Winston of Harry Winston, Inc. At that time, it was the highest price paid for a movie prop. It was used to model a 10 lb. gold replica displayed at the 69th Academy Awards. The replica has Burmese ruby eyes, interchangeable claws (one set of gold, one set of coral) and has a platinum chain in its beak with a 42.98 flawless diamond at the end. Its value is estimated at well over $8 million. The lead and resin falcons are valued in excess of $2 million. Adam Savage, co-host of Mythbusters, has gone to great lengths to create an accurate replica.
There were several 11-1/2 inch tall falcon props made for use in the film due to the fact that Humphrey Bogart dropped the original during shooting. The original is on display to this day in Warner Brothers' movie museum, its tail feathers visibly dented from Bogart's accident. Some of the copies of the falcon were cast of plastic resin, and some of lead. Only two 45 lb. lead falcons and two 5 lb., 5.4 oz resin falcons are verified to exist today. One lead falcon has been displayed for years at various venues. The second, which was marred at the end of the movie by Sydney Greenstreet, was given to William Conrad by studio chief Jack L. Warner. It was auctioned off in December 1994, nine months after Conrad's death, for $398,500 to Ronald Winston of Harry Winston, Inc. At that time, it was the highest price paid for a movie prop. It was used to model a 10 lb. gold replica displayed at the 69th Academy Awards. The replica has Burmese ruby eyes, interchangeable claws (one set of gold, one set of coral) and has a platinum chain in its beak with a 42.98 flawless diamond at the end. Its value is estimated at well over $8 million. The lead and resin falcons are valued in excess of $2 million. Adam Savage, co-host of Mythbusters, has gone to great lengths to create an accurate replica.
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