Hollywood's Golden-Era: 6 ways old is better

Hollywood Glamour.

I love old Hollywood. I don't know why. Even though my last novel, Fly Away Home, has nothing specifically to do with Hollywood Glam, I can definitely say that the shimmer-glimmer-glamour of the 1930's, 1940's, 1950's cinema-life impacted the general DAZZLE of FAH.

 Only in the last several years have we started watching these old awesomes, so I'm a little behind the times. But oh do I love old movies now. What makes me love them so?

Let me count the ways...

1.) Appearance

Is it just me, or did they grow them handsomer/more beautiful back then?

 (Left to Right: Grace Kelly, Priscilla Lane, Ingrid Bergman, Gene Kelly Gary Cooper, Gregory Peck, Deanna Durbin)

I mean seriously now, folks. Have you ever walked down the street and met someone who looked like Gregory Peck? I think it's something in the water. Or maybe it's just the fact that people way back when took care with their appearance.

2.) Humor

I love the sometimes-corny musical humor, the slapstick stage-hand gags, the funny dancing, the witty lyrics. It's all so simple and relaxing, clean, family-friendly, clever. 

Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly in "Anchors Aweigh"

3.) Values

Like I said, old movies have better values. One of my besties grew up in a family where they weren't allowed to watch any movie made after 1960. Hence, she's my go-to for which movies are the most amazing. With most of the old classics you can be certain there won't be a mad dive for the remote when a "shocking part" comes up. Relaxing. Entirely. (Weren't the kids in My Favorite Wife {1940} adorable?)

 

4.) Dancing & Music

In our family, we proclaim loudly that there is a song lyric for any occasion. Our love of Broadway was born from a love for old musicals, and these still have a place deeply imbedded in our hearts. (Though The Sound of Music was probably the oldest of the movies we saw growing up) And I swear you'll never see dancing again as good as that given us by Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and so many others.

5.)  Wit

The best of the old movies are often referenced in the writing how-to books and I love to watch films like Casablanca to hear the verbal sparring, the fencing-with-words, or the downright awesome-sauce of a brilliantly constructed screenplay. Here are some quotes from my favorite old movies:

Nick Arden: (discussing how to tell the children that Ellen is their mother) "Would it help if I wrote a letter?"

Ellen Arden: "Oh yes. 'Enclosed, please find your mother.'"

-My Favorite Wife (1940)

Jerry Mulligan: "Back home everyone said I didn't have any talent. They might be saying the same thing over here but it sounds better in French."

-An American in Paris (1951)

Captain Renault: "What in Heaven's name brought you to Casablanca?"

Rick: "The health. I came to Casablanca for the waters."

Captain Renault: "The waters? What waters? We're in the desert."

Rick: "I was misinformed."

-Casablanca (1942)

Irving Radovich: "She's fair-game, Joe. It's always open season on princesses."

-Roman Holiday (1953)

6.) Costumes

I love vintage fashion (but you already knew that) and in these Golden-Era films, fashion shines. Some of it is downright absurd, and some of it is absolutely adorable. Glamorous, cute, insane or awesome, the clothes in these movies are (in the main) so much cooler than today's modern movie.

These, then, are my top six reasons why I love old movies. I only wish Netflix had more uploaded! I can't seem to find any of the ones I'd like to see on there. Below is a list of the B&W (Black and White) films I've seen. When I say "Black and White" it's a general term for movies made in the 40's and 50's. Technically, some of them were made in color, but I'm a sloppy hand at categorizing. ;)

My Favorite Wife (1940)

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

An American in Paris (1951)

Anchors Aweigh (1945)

This is the Army (1943)

My Fair Lady (1964)

Holiday Inn (1942)

The Music Man (1962)

Carousel (1955)

The Importance of Being Earnest (1952)

Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Singing in the Rain (1952)

Roman Holiday (1953)

Cinderella (1957)

State Fair (1945)

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

Oklahoma! (1955)

Charade (1963)

Sabrina (1954)

Funny Face (1957)

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Casablanca (1942)

The African Queen (1951)

Captain Kidd (1945)

I think that's most of them! (I intentionally failed to mention any Shirley Temple films. Somehow those don't exactly count.) What are some of your favorite old films? Any must-sees that I've missed? I know I am totally missing some Grace Kelly films as well as needing to re-watch most of these. (I don't really remember Singing in the Rain at all.) Any-who, this was a fun post to write up and I'm glad to see that my list of Have-Seens is actually not so very short after all. And as an interesting piece of trivia, I can totally recommend any of these movies to any of you as far as my judgment takes me. See? Isn't that amazing? No "Well....umm...there's that ONE part..." ;) Toodle-loo, darlings, and in the words of Teddy, "CHARRRRRRRGE!"

Movie Night: Wives and Daughters

The title little lets on the subtle, sweeping drama that underlies this sweet film. I read Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters a year or two ago, so you can imagine my delight when a friend introduced me to the film version not long after. (Wives and Daughters 1999, BBC)

Molly Gibson played by Justine Waddell

Molly Gibson, sweet, unassuming, and full of a fierce loyalty to her father, lives in the little town of Hollingford with little to vex her. Her mother died when she was very young so she and her father are best friends and companions. It seems everything will continue on in its simple, happy way...that is, until the story gains a Cinderella twist.

Father and Daughter... :) So sweet.

Mr. Gibson (Bill Paterson) makes an ill-advised marriage to a foolish, silly-minded woman: Hyacinth Clare Kirkpatrick. (Francesca Annis) He thinks it a very good idea--after all, with the young men beginning to buzz around Molly, what is he to do? So he proposes to the former governess of Lord and Lady Cumnor's daughters, and life for Molly is forever changed.

In the meantime Molly has befriended the old and established family at Hamley Hall: Squire Hamley (Michael Gambon), the cheerful but ill Mrs. Hamley (Penelope Wilton) and their two sons: Osborne (Tom Hollander) and Roger Hamley (Anthony Howell). Molly is attracted to Roger for his good sense and gentleness to her during the trial of gaining a new mother. (and such a woman!) They strike up a sweet, brother-sister friendship, and Molly begins to feel the delights of being loved by such a sweet, old-blooded family. After all, Molly is a little shy and a bit of a loner herself so she and Roger who is not his mother's favorite child are a natural pair. :)

Tom Hollander as the poetry-writing Osborne Hamley

In the next few weeks Molly's sweet spirit conquers her prejudice over her father's wife, Mrs. Gibson, though the selfishness of her new mother is nearly unbearable at times, especially when it interferes with Molly's ministrations and visits to the invalid Mrs. Hamley. But there is little time to bemoan her lot--Molly is not that kind of a girl anyway--for Mrs. Gibson's daughter, Cynthia Kirkpatrick is coming home to Hollingford after being away at school for a number of years.

L-R: Mr. Gibson, Mrs. Gibson, Cynthia, and Molly

When Cynthia arrives, Molly is befuddled and a bit confused at the mixture of candidness and reserve, charm, and reticence that her new sister shows.

All of Hollingford is soon charmed by the beautiful Miss Kirkpatrick (Keeley Hawes) with her wit and vivacious spirit. She is new and unique and utterly capable of bewitching the heart and soul of the pokey old town.

Molly loves Cynthia in her unquestioning way, but there is something strange going on. A secret somewhere about. Thrown into the charming Cynthia's shadow, Molly continues loving her family, the Hamleys, and the other folk in the little English country-town.

But Molly's is not to be an entirely happy, sunny lot. She learns a secret of Osborne Hamley--a secret that could jeopardize his inheritance because of his father's prejudice and she has sworn not to tell. Her beloved Mrs. Hamley dies, widening the rift between Osborne and Squire Hamley. Cynthia is consistently charming away every suitor that comes for Molly. But the chief thorn in Molly's crown is one that she tries not to mind because of her love for both parties involved:

Roger Hamley is deeply in love with Cynthia and has proposed directly before leaving for Africa. Molly's heart is broken  but she is too generous and loving to hang onto her jealousy. She will continue loving both Roger and Cynthia while burying her own feelings.

But the horizon grows even dimmer. Cynthia does not appear to love Roger the way she ought and demands their engagement remain a secret, yet she clings to her promise of marrying him with a vengeance that little matches the way she speaks of him. It almost appears to Molly that she is marrying him as an escape from...something.

Cynthia unaccountably breaks off her engagement with Roger Hamley and tells Molly her deep secret: She has long been engaged to another man--a cruel, heartless man who "loves" her so much she has become his obsession.

Osborne Hamley dies and Molly is left with the difficult task of being the confidante of two different people with deep, complicated secrets, unable to relieve her heart by telling them to anyone else. It is up to her to bring everything back to where it ought to be, all while denying her own heart that longs for Roger as Cynthia's never could. But trouble comes knocking on Molly's door as she tries to help. Her good name and character begin to be questioned by the busy-bodies of Hollingford. Everyone begins suspecting Molly of some scandal involving the man she is trying to rid Cynthia of. Only Lady Harriet (Rosamund Pike) who has long been a patroness of little Molly Gibson believes she is innocent and does everything in her power to set things straight.

Will it all come right? Will Molly, Cynthia, Roger, and all the rest of this cast live happily ever after? I will not say. I will not promise anything, for you must be surprised. But I will tell you that everything turns out as it ought to, including the sweetest non-physical proposal you've ever seen!

Cons: I imagine there is a bit of British language in this movie, though I can't recall exactly. Osborne Hamley is seen in bed without his shirt on. Cynthia in particular wears several rather low-necked dresses. She is a bit of a flirt, as well.

Pros: This movie has a simplicity and yet complexity about it that works well with the setting of an old feudal town in the English countryside. Molly is one of the most upstanding, loveable, and truly good heroines in period drama. (Second only, perhaps, to Esther Summerson or Amy Dorrit) Her purity and innocence are refreshingly show-cased next to Cynthia's worldly-wise womanliness.
Roger and Molly's relationship (for yes, of course they get together at the end! :) is sweet, innocent, and utterly cheer-worthy.

Tears mixed with rain...so sweet!

The proposal is Mama's hands-down favorite.

Love this scene where Roger (not shown) realizes his little Molly-sister has grown up!

You will find this movie a leisurely, yet emotional drama of the complexity of family and small-town life. You will laugh, cry, cheer, and want to hurl the DVD cover at several people's heads. But I assure you, Wives and Daughters will become a beloved piece of your heart, even though it is not as showy and flashy as some of the other "great" films. :) <3

Wasps' nests, anyone? ;)

I would have included some quotes from this darling movie, but unfortunately, imdb.com had only two, and those really had very little to do with the best parts of the movie! You shall simply have to watch Wives and Daughters for yourself as soon as possible to get the full effect! :)

Capering and Cookery: Tomato Bisque Soup

First off, Capering and Cookery is the name of the Recipe/Cooking Series I'm beginning on this blog. :) It is a name that has three reasons:

1. It sounds much like a historical-dance-society's name: Capering and Kickery and I've always liked that.
2. Fancy recipes seem to use a lot of somethings called "capers". I had always thought they were a sort of mushroom or something, like truffles. Come to find out they are pickled chrysanthemum buds!
3. I like the name. It sounds bouncy and inspirational. :D

That being settled, I've come to teach you how to make the most amazing Tomato Bisque Soup. I don't use a recipe--I just do it by eye. But the other evening when I made it I tried to pay attention to quantities. This recipe should serve about...6-8 people I should think. (I usually make twice that quantity for my family) I had taken pictures documenting the whole process but Dad told me that we simply cannot put a single picture more on this computer or it will crash (Oh the joys of having a photographer for a sister) and so you will not get them, I'm afraid. But do not be afraid--it is a very simple recipe. :D

image courtesy of pinterest

Tomato Bisque Soup:

• 3 ribs celery
• 1 smallish onion
• 1 stick of butter
• 1/4 c. flour
• 2 cups milk
• 64 oz. tomato juice
• 1 large (4-inch or so) can crushed tomatoes
• mixture of basil, oregano, and a little thyme
• salt
• pepper
• 2 tsp. sugar

Right. So here's the deal. You will start off by melting the butter in a large soup-pot on the stove. Meanwhile, finely chop the celery and onions. I like to make them small enough that they are pretty much diced onions and celery...not really chopped.

Throw 'em in the butter and saute over medium heat for 8-10 minutes--you want them to be translucent and soft, but not mushy.

Add your milk and stir well over low heat. Now you are in the middle steps of making a roux. (pronounced "roo") A roux is basically what Southern people call "white sauce". Its base is butter, milk, and flour. So using a whisk--and this is really important--stir in your flour. Make sure you whisk out all the flour-lumps, otherwise you might end up with lumpy bisque and that won't look good.

Continue stirring over low-medium heat. Once your roux has thickened till it is about the consistency of thinned sour-cream, dribble in your tomato juice and whisk together. When that is done, add your crushed tomatoes. If it is a little thick for you, feel free to add more tomato juice or even a little more milk--a bisque, however, ought to be on the thicker side of things, as it is a creamy soup.

Salt and pepper to taste. Add Italian herbs and sugar--the sugar is to cut the acidity of the tomatoes. I don't like thinking of adding sugar to soups and things, but when you are dealing with tomatoes it is a must. I even do it to pizza sauce!

Heat the brew on medium-high, stirring continuously. When heated, serve immediately and enjoy!

Servings: 6-8
Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty level: Easy-Medium (It would be an "Easy" recipe, only the roux makes it a little harder)

I can attest that this is a stinkin' amazing recipe--I don't usually go for the whole tomato-soup thing, but this is incontestable. We usually pair it either with a salad and homemade foccacia bread, or with tuna-salad sandwiches. Either way, it is a superb, elegant, and easy recipe to whip up when you're feeling ready for something a bit different than usual. Try it and let me know how it comes out. :)