25 Films Inducted into the National Film Registry

See this link for the new list of 25 films now in the National Film Registry created by the Library of Congress in 1989 -

http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/980195/25-national-film-registry-selections-2012?utm_source=EmailDirect.com&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=1-1-13+celeb+Campaign

My favorite is A Christmas Story from 1983.  I watch it every year! 

I also really like A League of their Own (1992) and The Matrix (1999) and highly recommend all three if you haven't seen them already.

Remembering Sherman Hemsley & Chad Everett

Actor Sherman Hemsley, best known for playing George Jefferson on All in the Family and the spin-off The Jeffersons died on July 24th at the age of 74 of natural causes.  The Jeffersons ran from 1975 to 1985.  Here is a great clip from the show -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkvWvgST5HU&feature=colike

Actor Chad Everett also passed away this week.  He was 75 and had been suffering from lung cancer.  Chad was best known for playing dashing Dr. Joe Gannon on the TV drama Medical Center in the 70's.  That show ran from 1969 to 1976.  He also had a memorable role in "Airplane 2: the Sequel"  from 1982 -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrRdy4BAYp0&feature=colike

Rest in peace to both of these television icons.

Woody Allen's new film

I just read a good review of Woody Allen's new movie "To Rome with Love."  Here is an article about it -

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-woody-allen-rome-love-20120624,0,85973.story

Of course my favorite Woody Allen film has got to be "Annie Hall" from 1977.  It's one of the few comedies to win a Best Picture Oscar and Diane Keaton also won Best Actress.  Woody also won the Oscar for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay (with Marshall Brickman).  If you've never seen this classic romantic comedy, do yourself a favor and check it out.

He only lives twice..

At the end of the season finale of Mad Men on June 10th, the theme song from You Only Live Twice was played.  The classic James Bond film starring Sean Connery, came out in 1967 which is when the episode took place.  It's a great song by Nancy Sinatra and fits Don Draper perfectly since he lived two lives (as Draper and Dick Whitman).

Hope you enjoy it -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgFtQPgHyek&feature=colike

You Only Live Twice or so it seems,
One life for yourself and one for your dreams.
You drift through the years and life seems tame,
Till one dream appears and love is its name.

And love is a stranger who'll beckon you on,
Don't think of the danger or the stranger is gone.

This dream is for you, so pay the price.
Make one dream come true, you only live twice.

And love is a stranger who'll beckon you on,
Don't think of the danger or the stranger is gone.

Scene from season 5 finale

When a Woman Loves a Man

One of my favorite movies is Bull Durham starring Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins.  This romantic comedy from 1988 is about a fan who has an affair with a minor league baseball player each season.  This time she can't decide between the experienced catcher (Costner) and the up-and-coming new pitcher (Robbins).  The song "When a Woman Loves a Man" is by Joe Cocker and plays at the end of the movie.  Hope you like it as much as I do -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl6-vonIlpw&feature=colike

A Major League Love Story in a Minor League Town

Rita Hayworth is Stayin' Alive

My friend Sue just sent me this great clip from YouTube where someone spliced dance routines of Rita Hayworth in sync with the Bee Gee's classic song "Stayin' Alive" from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.  Saturday Night Fever is one of my favorite movies.  Some clever person did an outstanding job putting old movie clips together with the music.  I thought it was a nice tribute to the memory of Bee Gee Robin Gibb who passed away on May 20, 2012 of cancer at the age of 62. 

Enjoy -

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=mz3CPzdCDws

Do You Know Where You're Going To?

I was watching the movie Mahogany starring Diana Ross the other day.  This movie came out in 1975 and I remember really liking it at the time.  It still holds up today.  Anthony Perkins is such a creepy guy and Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams are so gorgeous!

Here is the theme song from the movie -

http://youtu.be/1-NEC6PXQ0M

Current book...

I've been reading That's Another Story the autobiography of British actress Julie Walters.  I've really been enjoying reading about her life beginning with her childhood.  Julie starred in the movie Educating Rita with Michael Caine.  I didn't know it was a play first.  I'm just starting the chapter where she talks about it.  The movie is the funny and moving story of Rita, a working-class hairdresser who starts taking classes and begins to want more out of life.  Michael Caine plays Frank, her tutor with problems of his own. 

Getting back to the book, Julie is a great storyteller and I recommend her book highly!  And be sure and check out Educating Rita if you have missed it.

Michael Douglas movies

I am a big fan of Michael Douglas.  He was in Seattle filming some scenes on location for the movie Disclosure (not one of my favorites) years ago.  I didn't get to see him but I actually went to the hotel where they were filming to see if I could catch a glimpse of Michael!  No dice, but it was fun anyway!

I really like Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct (we have both on DVD).  I  recommend both films, if you haven't already seen them.

When Harry met Sally

One of my favorite movies of all time!



Best movie Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal ever made!  Plus I love the great Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby (may he rest in peace).

"Are you crying? There's no crying! There's no crying in baseball!"

That memorable quote was from manager Jimmy Dugan (played by the always wonderful Tom Hanks) to Evelyn, one of the Georgia Peaches, in the classic 1992 film A League of Their Own.  By the way, Evelyn is played by Bitty Schram who starred as Sharona, Monk's first assistant on the USA show Monk.  It was fun to see her playing a different role.  Anyway, the movie is a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girl's Professional Baseball Team which started in 1943. 

This wonderful movie was directed by Penny Marshall and stars Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Madonna and Rosie O'Donnell.  Madonna really did a great job and the movie was perfectly cast.  It's touching, funny, moving and entertaining and if you haven't seen it, you really shouldn't miss it!