Category Archives: Film History

Background on history of film

Nothing But My Favorite Trailers🎬

Posted by donnamarie on

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I was working on a post the other day and the TV show Nothing but Trailers was on in the background. It got me thinking about some of my all-time favorites and what constitutes a great trailer.

First of all, it can’t just be a series of scenes from the movie. That really irks me! What’s the point of me going if you’ve already given me your best shots? Just lazy.

An excellent trailer peaks your curiosity gets your heart stirring and demands that you’re first in line to see it. An incredible trailer gives you minimal information but builds the anticipation with atmospheric music, punctuation shots, and an ending that elicits the core emotion of the film.

This is the criteria I applied to the following trailers and is the basis for them being some of the most memorable.

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Number One has got to be the 1979 sci-fi classic – Alien. “In space, no one can hear you scream.”

Starring Sigourney Weaver, director Ridley Scott scared the crap out of me and the little boy sitting in front of me at the theater. Oh, and to make matters worse, I was pregnant at the time. Yikes! (if you’ve seen it you understand, if you haven’t, what?? You must!) And my girl Sigourney Weaver showed the world what a badass woman in space looks like.

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Sigourney Weaver

This is the epitome of an incredible trailer. Little bits and moments and truly haunting music. My heart was racing and I had no idea of what I’d just seen.

The visuals were outstanding! There was absolutely nothing familiar in the images coming off the screen. The Alien and its accompanying elements were designed by Swiss surrealist artist H. R. Giger. (I don’t know how he slept with those images in his head) The film received both critical acclaim and box office success, receiving an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

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Number Two is the sci-fi thriller –The Dark Knight (2008) – “Why So Serious?”

First of all, Heath Ledger. Second of all, Heath Ledger!! Even in the trailer, his intensity shines thru. He draws you in and you’re compelled to see more. His Oscar-winning performance was incredible and the most talked about that year.

Ledger almost made a complete sweep of over twenty awards for acting, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

Heath Ledger

Unfortunately, we lost him, but his genius as The Joker lives on. Starring Christian Bale as the caped crusader and directed by Christopher Nolan, when I saw this trailer I knew where I was going to be on opening night. Totally lived up to the hype.

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Last, but certainly not least of this compilation is the original master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock’s – Psycho (1960) “…she just goes a little mad sometimes.”

This trailer shows Alfred Hitchcock taught the world just how horror is done. Fits every criterion for an incredible movie trailer and then some. Starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins, my heart is racing right now re-visiting this magnificent piece of cinema.

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Sir Alfred Hitchcock – (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980)

Hitch’s stylistic trademarks include the use of camera movement that mimics a person’s gaze, forcing viewers to engage in a form of voyeurism. In addition, he framed shots to maximize anxiety, fear, or empathy and used innovative forms of film editing. (Wikipedia)

To quote me, “An incredible trailer gives you minimal information but builds the anticipation with atmospheric music, punctuation shots, and an ending that elicits the core emotion of the film.”

An unquestionable classic!

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Now that I’ve shared some of my faves, I’d love to hear some of yours! 😎

 

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Happy Birthday, Harry and J.K Rowling!

Posted by donnamarie on

Hedwig and Harry

Today we celebrate two very special birthdays; Harry James Potter, born in England on July 31, 1980, and the creator of this beloved wizard, J.K Rowling. This gifted writer created a magical world, a wizarding world that changed our culture forever. Following the saga of Harry and his best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermoine Granger, Rowling energized a generation of children to read.

J. K Rowling

I am a Harry Potter head for sure. I celebrated my 60th birthday last year at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Florida. I was also one of the millions who visited Universal upon the inauguration of the “Wizarding World.” I’ve read all of the books 3 times over and love the overarching message of the power of love and friendship in this best-selling series.

Let’s take a little trip down memory lane with our favorite wizards!

Emma Watson (Hermione Granger)

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)

Then and Now

Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley)

Then and Now

Original Dumbledore

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Albus Dumbledore

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Michael Gambon

“He Who Shall Not Be Named” aka Voldemort

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Ralph Fiennes

Fight for Harry

Severus Snape

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Alan Rickman

 

Friends and Family

Sirius Black – Gary Oldman
Molly Weasley – Julie Walters
Professor McGonagall – Maggie Smith
Hagrid – Robbie Coltrane
Ginny Weasley – Bonnie Wright
Fred and George Weasley – James & Oliver Phelps
Neville Longbottom – Matthew Lewis

Boo, Hiss!

Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy)
Josh Herdman (Gregory Goyle)
Jason Issacs

Can You Name these Harry Potter Characters?

List of Harry Potter cast members

Happy Birthday, Harry Potter!

 

“How Civilized Are We, really?”

Posted by donnamarie on

Turner Classic Movies Big Screen Classics

Planet of the Apes (1968)

TCM’s Classic Movies Series is the perfect opportunity to re-visit or perhaps attend for the first time the theatrical screenings of – “Planet of the Apes”, “Animal House” and “The King and I”.

Each film will include a special TCM-produced commentary by host Ben Mankiewicz who will provide exclusive insights, behind-the-scenes looks and more.

I’m a big proponent of heading to the theater to watch an anticipated movie on the big screen. Even though we have the convenience of DVDs and streaming, nothing beats the experience of sitting in the dark and enjoying a great film with fellow movie lovers.

Planet of the Apes may make you question just how civilized and superior humans really are to our primate relatives. It serves as a metaphor for man’s frailties and social prejudices. It holds up a mirror for people to challenge the idea of humanity.

A science fiction film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, it stars Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Whitmore, James Daly and Linda Harrison. The screenplay by Michael Wilson and Rod Serling was based on the 1963 French novel La Planète des Singes by Pierre Boulle.

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The film tells the story of an astronaut crew who crash-land on a strange planet in the distant future. Although the planet appears desolate at first, the surviving crew members stumble upon a society in which apes have evolved into creatures with human-like intelligence and speech. The apes have assumed the role of the dominant species and humans are mute creatures wearing animal skins.(Wikipedia)

Join Astronaut George Taylor (Charleton Heston) as he attempts to uncover the truth after waking up on a desolate planet and discovering that apes are in control! See the classic that bravely challenged social issues and made people ask the question, “how civilized are we, really?”

 

In Select Cinemas Nationwide 

Get your tickets today!

 

 

Pioneers of Television Special: Robin Williams Remembered | PBS Charlotte

Posted by donnamarie on

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I love Robin Williams. His talent was beyond compare. I’ve written about his unique gifts in a previous post and how deeply his passing affected me. So, I was very excited to see that PBS is paying tribute tonight at 10pm to this comedic genius.

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This tribute to actor and comedian Robin Williams features one of his last full-length interviews for the Pioneers of Television series, including never-before-seen comments on his life and comedic and dramatic work, as well as tributes to Williams by those who knew and worked with him, and clips from his career.

In 1998, Williams won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Dr. Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting. In addition, Williams was nominated thrice for Best Actor for his performances in Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society and The Fisher King. He also received twoPrimetime Emmy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four Grammy Awards throughout his career, and was inducted as a Disney Legend in 2009. (Wikipedia)

Join PBS Tuesday, July 19 at 10 PM for a remembrance of one of the pioneers of comedy, Robin Williams.

Make sure to watch!

For a Preview trailer, click on the link below.

http://www.wtvi.org/pioneers-of-television-special-robin-williams-remembered/10276

Most Quotable Films Part Two 👏🎞

Posted by donnamarie on

As I write on my About page, I’ve loved movies ever since I was a kid at the Saturday matinees. When the VCR was developed, I was in heaven. The ability to view my favorite films whenever I wanted was a day I had envisioned since childhood.

This post is Part 2 of Most Quotable Films and features some of my favorite, most notable quotes from my best-loved movies.

My family has a lot of fun reciting movies and my children were raised watching and memorizing movie lines.There are way too many quotable films to name, but here goes:

CaddyShack (1980)

CaddyShack is a raucous joyride of quotes. How could it help be starring Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, and Bill Murray?  I don’t know how any of the cast could keep a straight face during filming. One of my favorite scenes is in the pool with the candy bar. Not going to give it away so give it a look-see.😂

 

Blazing Saddles (1974)

Starring Gene Wilder, Clevon Little, Harvey Korman, and Madeline Khan, this Mel Brooks film has to be one of the funniest flicks of all time! It offends everyone and in a past post titled “Too Blazing Hot”, I posed the question if this movie could be made today because of its’ incorrectness in practically every scene. However, this satire of western films lasers in on a myriad of stereotypes and folklore. My husband’s favorite scene was the villains around the campfire. After seeing it he insisted on us returning to the theater for what turned out to be an afternoon of non-stop belly laughs. If you haven’t already, make it a point to see this classic.

Young Frankenstein (1974)

Yet another Mel Brooks masterpiece, Young Frankenstein pays homage to the original Frankenstein and its’ sequels. I’m a huge Universal monster fan and was blown away with Brooks’ accuracy in the scenes and references to all the films. Absolute genius!

I’ve only touched on a minuscule number of quotable films. Let me know some of your favorites in the comments!

Most Quotable Films 🎥 🗣

Posted by donnamarie on
“A Few Good Men” (1992)
“Fight Club” (1999)
“The Sixth Sense” (1999)
“Pulp Fiction” (1994)

As I write on my About page, I’ve loved movies ever since I was a kid at the Saturday matinees. When the VCR was developed, I was in heaven. The ability to view my favorite films whenever I wanted was a day I had envisioned since childhood.

I have two children and raised them to be movie junkies, as well. We frequently have conversations laced with film quotes like – “It doesn’t have to be gold” from the Billy Wilder classic, “Some Like it Hot!” or “Do or do not. There is no try.” from the wise Yoda in “Empire Strikes Back”.

This post features some of my favorite, most notable quotes from my best-loved movies. There are way too many to name, but here goes:

The Godfather Trilogy

Trivia: Marlon Brando boycotted the Academy Awards and turned down his Oscar for Best Actor in protest of the treatment of Native Americans in film and on television. Al Pacino also was a no-show for being nominated as Best Supporting Actor and not Best Actor. He had more screen time so didn’t appreciate the slight.

The Princess Bride (1987)

Beloved intergenerational classic in my family. Hilarious and definitely quotable!

“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” Inigo Montoya

Some Like it Hot! (1959)

This Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe comedy vehicle has always been close to my heart because, for its time, was the most subversive film I’d ever seen. And I mean that in a good way! Cross-dressing, gay marriage, it’s brilliant! In my top 5.

My top-pick ending of all time!

Forrest Gump (1994)

Tom Hanks “made his bones” to quote The Godfather in this remarkable cinematic triumph. Forrest Gump will probably go down as one of the most quotable films of all time! “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get”.

Wizard of Oz (1939)

1939 is considered to be the most amazing year in the motion picture industry for the quality of films and audience attendance. “Gone With the Wind”, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and “The Wizard of Oz”, which is one of the most beloved works of our time. It continues to tug at our heart strings with every generation.

“Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking.” Scarecrow

This group is just a sampling of some of the best. Stay tuned for Part Two of the Most Quotable Films. In the meantime:

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Share some of yours!

Bernie Worrell R.I.P

Posted by donnamarie on

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Dr. George Bernard “Bernie” Worrell, Jr.

(April 19, 1944 – June 24, 2016)

Bernie Worrell, composer and keyboardist, lost his fight with lung cancer on Friday. He was 72. Worrell was one of the original funk masters performing with the “Parliament/Funkadelic” and the “Talking Heads”. (for which I will always remember his frenzied playing style)

Worrell was classically trained. Taking up the piano at age 3, he later studied at the Juilliard School and the New England Conservatory of Music.

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Parliament/Funkadelic

Among the many P-Funk jams he co-wrote, played on, or co-produced were “Flash Light,” “Atomic Dog,” “Aqua Boogie,” and “Red Hot Mama”.

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David Byrne (Talking Heads) and Bernie Worrell

David Byne of “The Talking Heads” remarked at a benefit concert for Worrell earlier this year – “He gives you the theology of funk. Bernie can take the music to a very cosmic place.”

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Worrell released several solo albums, including “All the Woo in the World” and “Funk of Ages”. Presented by Prince, Bernie Worrell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with other members of Parliament-Funkadelic in 1997.

In 2015, Worrell appeared in the movie Ricki and the Flash as the keyboard player in Meryl Streep’s band. The movie reunited Worrell with director Jonathan Demme, who had directed “Stop Making Sense”. (If you haven’t, I highly recommend checking out Stop Making Sense!)

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Talking Heads – “Stop Making Sense”

During May 2016, the New England Conservatory of Music gave Worrell, who studied at the school until 1967, an honorary Doctor of Music degree.

The following video is – “Stranger: Bernie Worrell on Earth”. It is a documentary film about Worrell’s life, music and impact.

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I’ve Got the Music in Me Two!

Posted by donnamarie on

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I’ve loved musicals my entire life. Going back to Frankie and Annette in the beach movies when a mandatory song would break out and a beach full of teenagers would get busy doing the watusi.

Frankie and Annette

Some musical numbers stand out more than others. This is Part Two of a glimpse into some of my favorites.

Streets of Fire 1984

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I’ve written about Streets of Fire before as my guilty pleasure. It’s a rock ‘n roll tale about gangs, ex- lovers (Diane Lane and Michael Pare) and some fantastic music! I give mad props to Fire, Inc. featuring Holly Sherwood (on lead vocals), Rory Dodd, and Eric Troyer for their music in the song “Nowhere Fast”. (Diane Lane did not sing) First, because it’s the right thing to do and second, they kicked butt!!

I got into the film primarily because of the musical sequences even though it failed critically and commercially. Its musical score, however, by Jim Steinman, Ry Cooder, and others, as well as the hit Dan Hartman song “I Can Dream About You”, from the film’s soundtrack, helped it attain a cult following.

Fame 1980

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I’ll round out this post with one of my favorite inspiring films, Fame. Produced by David De Silva and directed by Alan Parker, its screenplay is by Christopher Gore, choreography by Louis Falco and musical score by Michael Gore.

Starring Irene Cara, it’s a peek into a year of study at a New York school of performing arts. As a result of being fired up by this movie, I took my love of musicals and turned it into a path as an actress in community theater.

“Fame, I’m gonna live forever, baby remember my name!”

 

I’ve Got the Music in Me!

Posted by donnamarie on

dancers1

I’ve loved musicals my entire life. Going back to Frankie and Annette in the beach movies when a mandatory song would break out and a beach full of teenagers would get busy doing the watusi.

Frankie and Annette

Some musical numbers stand out more than others. This is a glimpse into some of my favorites.

Little Miss Sunshine 2006

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Technically not a musical, the plot involves young Olive’s (Abigail Breslin) pilgrimage to the “Little Miss Sunshine” Beauty Pageant. Of course, everything that could go wrong does which is both totally hilarious and sad. But, Olive’s dance performance at the competition is worth everything as she gives it her all with choreography conceived by her beloved grandfather, played brilliantly by Alan Arkin. Arkin won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

What warms my heart is the love and commitment of Olive’s family (Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, and Paul Dano) who support her and her dreams. Do your thing, Olive. Awesome!!

 

Rocky Horror 1975

Truly a classic, this cult marvel became a must see and do experience when audiences began participating with the film at the Waverly Theater in New York City in 1976. Based on the 1973 musical stage production The Rocky Horror Show, the music, book, and lyrics are by Richard O’Brien. The production is a parody tribute to the science fiction and horror B movies of the 1930s through early 1970s.

The film stars Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick along with cast members from the original Royal Court Theatre, Roxy Theatre and Belasco Theatre productions. Tim Curry was magnificent as Dr. Frank N. Furter. (“I’m just a sweet transvestite…”) Love this number and the Dr.’s strut.

Chicago 2002

What’s hotter than Jazz, sex, scandal, and murder? The incredible dance numbers in the movie Chicago!

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Chicago tells the story of  Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Zellweger), two murderesses who find themselves in jail together awaiting trial in 1920s Chicago. Directed and choreographed by Rob Marshall, and adapted by screenwriter Bill Condon, Chicago won six Academy Awards in 2003, including Best Picture. The film was critically lauded and was the first musical to win Best Picture since Oliver! in 1968.

Let’s keep this party going by checking out Part Two of “I’ve Got the Music in Me!” in my next post to see more music favorites.

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