Marlon on a Wednesday: Jazzy Paris

This isn't completely Marlon-focused. I love the score Gato Barbieri composed for Last Tango in Paris, and had to embed a bit here. When I first watched/listened to this via YouTube, I actually did not recognize the music. While I am sure the beginning sixty seconds or so do not make a splash in the film, once the sax kicks in, I feel all too familiar. It's like I am walking the Parisian streets with Marlon and Maria Schneider again (nerdy fantasy).

Sweet Saturday Song

Transported, courtesy "Easy Virtue" (1928)

I watched Easy Virtue last night, a silent film directed by Alfred Hitchcock! I had never seen any of his silents. Honestly, I did not think it was a very good movie. The plot centered around a divorced woman, Larita, who escapes her scandalous past by traveling to the Riviera. There, She falls in love with a man, John, and marries him. However, when John takes her home to his family, his overbearing mother distrusts Larita, terrorizes her, and turns John against her. It sounds good enough, but for some reason it was not my cuppa. Despite this, in true Hitchcock style, lovely moments of costumes and scenery abounded.

Isn't this hat divine?? I never use that word to describe anything, so it must be!

By the way, this silent inspired the Easy Virtue remake a couple years ago with Jessica Biel. Or at least, that is what I assume. Their IMDB plot descriptions seem quite similar. 

~F. 

Black, White, Striped

I feel like such a tease posting black and white photos of a dress I have never taken blog photos of before. For the record, it is black and navy-striped. Still, I kind of like these photos, even if I do not think they do this dress complete justice. They are like looking at the old-filmy screen cap versions of me.

~F.

Marlon on a Wednesday: The Inventor

Did anyone else catch this NPR story over the weekend? I really kind of freaked out when I saw it. Even though the drum tuning invention is not "new" news to me, Marlon's drumming has always been one of my favorite things about him, and it is SO nice to read something positive about him.

Check it out:

Marlon Brando's Lost Musical Innovation

The article also features a video of Marlon playing the drums during an Edward R. Murrow interview.

Grandview

I took this photo walking around St. Paul a couple months ago. One aspect of the Twin Cities I am really looking forward to once I move there (in just three weeks!) is its gigantic selection of old movie theaters. They are still beautiful, as I imagine they were in the 1920s, and seem to be everywhere, like Starbucks. I am already pondering which one I may visit first, and what movie I may see!

By the way, and completely unrelated to this post, I had to give myself a pat on the back for some awesome timing with yesterday's Rebel Without a Cause post. It's going to be on TCM ... right now, pretty much. If you have TCM, and have not seen it yet, or want to watch it again, I recommend it. It's a lot of fun. 

Also on the TCM line-up today is City Lights with Charlie Chaplin and Pygmalion with Leslie Howard. Needless to say, I abandoned my boring plans, exchanged my slightly uncomfortable dress for PJs, and brewed some Earl Grey tea. Whatever, it's Saturday!

~F. 

Transported, courtesy Natalie, Jimmy, and Rebel Without a Cause

I feel I have been blogging about Natalie Wood a lot lately, but in my opinion, there can never be enough love for her. So, here I go again! This is a fantastic interview from the 1970s where Natalie discusses James Dean and Rebel Without a Cause. It's funny I love this because few films have disappointed me as much as Rebel. The first time I watched it years ago, I prepared myself for something "deep" and "brilliant," but instead thought the film melodramatic and over-acted, especially on Jimmy's part. However, after a few more viewings, I am less critical (it is difficult to resent Sal Mineo's character), and even respect Jimmy's acting more. Thank you, Giant.


Anyway, as Natalie says in the interview, she and Jimmy developed a close friendship, and she seemed to admire him quite a bit. It's interesting to listen to her speak about Jimmy's cultural significance because she was so, well, "Hollywood," compared to him, and definitely exhibited a different style.