I’m in a visual mood today. So, I give you the inspiration for the hero of my current WIP…
That’s Karl Urban, who you might also know as Éomer, from Lord of the Rings, or Bones from Star Trek.
Still a little bit on a movie kick…and since I don’t actually have any of Monday’s Disney movies in the house…I pulled out a favorite Hitchcock: To Catch A Thief. Got my Cary Grant fix…my Grace Kelly fix…my French Riviera fix…
I had imagined I was quite the Hitchcock connossieur, but when I actually went to look up all the movies Alfred Hitchcock produced/directed on Wikipedia, it was clear I have a good amount of viewing still to do. Not a problem.
A few of my favorites:
1. Rear Window
A photographer based on Robert Capa, must temporarily use a wheelchair; out of boredom he begins observing his neighbours across the courtyard, and becomes convinced one of them (Raymond Burr) has murdered his wife. Stewart tries to sway both his glamorous model-girlfriend (Kelly) and his policeman buddy (Wendell Corey) to his theory, and eventually succeeds
What I love: the cinematography is wonderful, the idea is clever, and Grace Kelly is divine.
2. North by Northwest
In North by Northwest, Cary Grant portrays Roger Thornhill, a Madison Avenue advertising executive who is mistaken for a government secret agent. He is hotly pursued by enemy agents across America, one of them Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint), who turns out to really be an American double agent.
What I love: the confusion, the danger, the tension…that scene where Cary Grant is nearly mown down by a crop duster!
3. Dial M for Murder
Ray Milland plays the scheming villain, an ex-tennis pro who tries to murder his unfaithful wife Grace Kelly for her money. When she kills the hired assassin in self-defense, Milland manipulates the evidence to pin the death on his wife. Her lover, Mark Halliday (Robert Cummings), and Police Inspector Hubbard (John Williams), work urgently to save her from execution.
What I love: the utter audacity of the crime, Grace Kelly’s fighting spirit, the scissors!!
4. To Catch a Thief
(pairing Cary Grant and Grace Kelly…clearly, Kelly is a favorite, both of mine and Hitchcock’s.)
Grant plays retired thief John Robie, who becomes the prime suspect for a spate of robberies in the Riviera. An American heiress played by Kelly surmises his true identity, attempts to seduce him.
In my mind this isn’t exactly classic Hitchcock, but it’s got so much to love…a visual feast…
So…what’s your favorite??
[Summaries courtesy of Wikipedia]
Whew! That was a wild ride. Never in my wildest imaginings did I expect such an awesome response for this giveaway–that was unbelievable! Clearly there are some book lovers out there who are willing to go the distance to win books or book paraphenalia or gift cards to buy books! Clearly you are a tasteful group!
In terms of a winner, well here’s the thing…I am experiencing technical difficulties. The Random Number Generator picked a random number, I cross-referenced it with my spreadsheet, and checked that the requirements for entry had been met…and hit a roadblock. I’m hoping to have this resolved today in order to announce the winner. If I cannot get it resolved, it’s back to the Random Number Generator, so stay tuned.
But now it’s time to get back to normal here on the blog. Normally, I talk books and whatever else strikes my fancy. And today, I’m talking Disney movies…not the new ones…the oldies. And not the animated ones–the live action ones that were just good, clean fun, minus the special effects. Bascially, the ones some of you have missed out on, and that’s a darn shame.
Over the past few years I have systematically been checking out all the old live-action Disney movies that I loved when I was a kid and watching them with my boys. These are kids who LOVE video games and cool special effects. But they also love slapstick humor and out-and-out silliness, and they have loved these. Here are my top five. Please feel free to list your faves in the comments. I’d love to think I’ve missed one or two…
1. The North Avenue Irregulars…a CLASSIC, full of hilarious hi-jinks
2. The Apple Dumpling Gang…two kooky but loveable small-time thiefs foil some true criminals
3. The Swiss Family Robinson…a shipwreck, pirates, an ostrich race, and a little romance
4. Mary Poppins…practically perfect in every way
5. The Absent-minded Professor…so out of control, it’s cringe-worthy
Runners up: The Parent Trap, That Darn Cat, The Shaggy Dog, Candleshoe
Anybody else got a favorite?
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