Dance

These photos are not that pretty, but I had to share the great harem pants I bought months ago. They may or may not be hideous ... I am so into them I do not know or care. Also, I could not decide on shoes, so I decided to go barefoot, and use some of my past dance training. Ha. 

Also, I posted this on my Twitter, but due to lack of content inspiration, I decided to set up a Formspring. So far I have been asked a grand total of ONE question ;-) Here we go:

If one life just bled into another going from past life to current life, who do you think you were in your past life?

Hard question! This may sound arrogant, but I like to think I have a special connection with the actor, Natalie Wood. I read one of her biographies a couple years ago, and felt I related to some aspects of her personality and experiences. Also, when I watch her films, I root for her characters more than any other actors'. I just want everything to turn out for them. So, basically, I may have been her in my past life, in my opinion. Or not!

~F. 

Dancing in the 1920s: Charleston

Gotta love the Charleston. I actually learned how to do it at one point, not nearly as well as the people in this clip, but well enough! Here are some flappers and gents dancing the Charleston and others.



~F.

Transported, courtesy Annette Hanshaw

Annette Hanshaw was a popular Jazz Age-era singer. I imagine she is little-remembered today (I came across some of her songs completely by chance), which seems too bad. I love listening to vintage music that transports me to its recording time. Annette does that. When I listen to her sing, I imagine being a flapper who falls in love, experiences a broken heart, and then falls in love again. It may sound weird, but I cannot help but feel she takes me away for awhile.





I believe much popular music today tends to be a little over-the-top, so it's refreshing to listen to something more simple and romantic. However, who knows? Some people in the 1920s may have thought Annette was a little much.

~F.

Harvey (1950)

Elwood P. Dowd is a gentle man who makes friends wherever he goes. He shakes new acquaintances' hands, offers them his "card," and invites them home for dinner. Yet others misunderstand him. He supposedly spends hours in saloons, and dotes on a invisible, giant rabbit-friend named Harvey. Because of this, the sister and aunt he lives with think him crazy and an embarrassment. They want his quirks to disappear.

So begins the premise of Harvey, a film released in 1950, and starring James Stewart, Josephine Hull, and the rabbit, Harvey. I heard many positive reviews before viewing, but I did not anticipate the delight I felt throughout. Harvey is one of the best films I have seen in awhile. I love the humor Hull provides, and the affection Stewart, as Dowd, shows Harvey, and everyone around him. I always forget what a great actor I consider Stewart until I watch one of his films. He creates relatable characters, and I easily empathize. In my opinion, no other actor during that time or since (with the exception of perhaps Tom Hanks) portrayed these "everyman" souls quite like him.

I think the film also captures the idea that everyone remains more than others give them credit. Dowd reveals himself as someone who has seen a lot of life, and exists as he does because of his experiences. However, few people appreciate what he can offer, particularly his family. His friendship with Harvey balances this out, but I still wanted his relatives to cut him some slack.

I adored that rabbit, by the way. He completely stole my heart.

In all, I recommend this if you want a feel-good movie with a happy ending. I think I made it sound more dramatic than it is. It is actually a comedy! I re-watched it as soon as I finished it.

~F.

Dancing in the 1920s: The Waltz and The Baltimore

It has been awhile since I have shared 1920s dance videos. I love dancing, especially from this era. It seems so romantic. These prove no exception.

The Waltz:


The Baltimore:


What do you think? Any favorites from the two? I had a hard time picking between these dances, so I had to post both.

~F.

Vintage purple skirt and floral jacket

Marlon on a Wednesday: "What's a rhinestone?"

Last night I watched one of my favorite movies, A Streetcar Named Desire. I think Tennessee Williams' writing is brilliant, and Marlon plays one of my favorite characters ever. As Stanley Kowalski, he hardly portrays the gentle sort. He shouts, throws radios and dishes, and demeans his wife Stella and her sister, Blanche. At the same time, he slurs words together like a little kid, and daintily picks a stray thread from Stella's dress as he relates gossip. Stanley exhibits so many layers I always look forward to exploring.

While I would not want to know (and certainly not live with) someone like this, I find Marlon's performance spellbinding. I saw a theater production of Streetcar last fall, and while I enjoyed it, I do not think anyone else can play Stanley. He captures the turbulence and humor perfectly. Despite how unlikeable Stanley seems, Marlon also shows moments where I understand why Stella fell for him.

This scene, which I consider one of the more humorous, explores Stanley and Stella's relationship. Stanley digging through Blanche's dresses, describing his "acquaintances," and tossing snarky comments cracks me up. YouTube will not allow embedding, but follow the link to watch:

What's a rhinestone?

~F.