Back!
Just got back from the trip ... wasn't expecting a lot of mail ... and i sure enough, just four envelopes in a span of 1 1/2 weeks. They are:
Jet Li
"ROGUE"
Rogue Films Corp.
3330 Bridgeway Street
Vancouver, BC V5K 2H9
06-Mar-06 - 05-May-06
Sent thrre pics but only received one signed .. the ugliest one too .. other people had more than one picture signed .. and the envelope wasn't sealed ... so, i am suspicious of the mail people ... they better not have stolen from me .... grrrr
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peggy Dow
2121 S Yorkstown Ave
Tulsa OK 74114
I sent this some time in 2004. I never thought I would get a response but after two years, she sent a print-out autographed picture and added additional postage. The postman played another jokes on me by making me get the photo from the post office ... some 15+ blocks away ... it didn't stop the postman from bending the autographs BEFORE!!!
Ms. Dow was in Harvey .. with JAMES STEWART!!! She played the nurse.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January Jones
c/o Altman Greenfield & Selvaggi Management
11766 Wilshire Blvd, #1610
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Sent two small 4*6-ish sized pictures and received it signed ... she paid for postage and took less than 3 weekes :> She's an played Hannigan's little sister in American Wedding.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gina Holden
C/o Kirk Talent Agencies Inc.
#402 134 Abbott St.
Vancouver, BC Canada V6B 2K4
Email used: fanclub@ginaholden.net
Didn't think she would actually response because i only sent her an email but she did! She sent an autograph along with a letter and paid for postage. Thanks Ms. Holden!
She was in Final Destination 3 and the now cancelled tv series -- Da Vinci's Inquest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's all Folks!!
Carnival of Souls (1962)
Carnival of Souls (1962)
Directed by Herk Harvey
Candace Hilligoss .... Mary Henry
Frances Feist .... Mrs. Thomas, Landlady
Sidney Berger .... John Linden
Art Ellison .... Minister
It's truly life after death ... The Carnival of Souls is a low budget independent film made in 1962. It is categorized as a horror film but unlike the horror movies today, there is no blood /gory violence ... I believe it was rated G when it first came out ... The movie begins with Mary Henry (Hilligoss) surviving a drag race, in which her two friends died when the car accidentally plunges into the water below. After the incident, Mary is determined to leave the small town in Kansas and work in Salt Lake City (yes, as though that is any better ...) as an organist for a church ("She can moves souls with the organs .. or something to that extent .. says the minister). While in Salt Lake, she is attracted to an abandon carnival and is haunted by an apparation. She soon begins to experience bizzare occurances where no one can hear her or see her .. as though "[she doesn't] belong in the world". Eventually, it leads us to the climax where the apparations (yes, now there are more than one) are chasing her ... all the way to the beach ... and then ... nowhere. [SPOILERS] although one can pretty much sees it near the end .... her soul is 'collected' ... she realizes she's dead when she sees her corpse with the carnival of souls ... the 'living' people realizes it when the car is lifted and found not two but three bodies ... [END SPOILERS] Well, the film had me fooled for a while because i thought it is the ghost who wants Mary's help ... seeing that she did survive a car crash and might have had connections with the other side ... and there is also a shot of the ghoul beneath the water, which might suggests (to me anyways) that he was drowned and is asking her to identify the body ... then there are the 'carnival of souls' and they look very much in the 20s and so i also thought that perhaps there was a horrific accident that occured ... but then wouldn't the people in the city know about it? So, I've deducted that Mary must be extremely strong-willed and that she refuses to believe she has passed away ... her will is so strong that living beings were able to see her as well ... Plus, contrary to other movies dealings with ghosts .. the church has nothing on her (as she ironically works in one) ... Still, what makes this movie work is due in part to the eerie organ music that can be heard throughout the film ... hear music = something must happen! It's mostly the anticipation and rarely the action that scares most people anyways ... (take Psycho for instance) ...
7.5/10 - I am not a fan of horror films but this one seems to work .. the film starts out really quickly, the crash before the credits even .. slows down int he middle and really picks up in the end .. with no blood or weapons in between :>
First Love (1939)
First Love (1939)
Directed by Henry Koster
Deanna Durbin .... Constance (Connie) Harding
Robert Stack .... Ted Drake
Eugene Pallette .... James F. Clinton
Helen Parrish .... Barbara Clinton
"First Love" takes a Cinderella angle where Constance (Durbin) is an orphan who has recently finished school and must live with her Uncle Jim and his spoiled family. The Clinton family composes of Jim (Pallette), the nonsensical uncle; Grace, his ditzy wife; Walter, the lazy son; and Barbara (Parrish), the evil daughter and Connie's cousin. Connie wins the heart of all the servants in the house with her singing of "Amapola", which is extremely well sung. She then mets and falls for the "most avaliable bachelor of the season" in Ted Drake (Stack), who also happens to the object of interest of Barbara. The Drakes organizes a ball and Barbara tries to prevent Connie from going. Still, with the help of the servants, she attends and wows the crowd (especially Ted) with her singing. On the other hand, the Clinton family is held up by the cops (who are friends of the servents) but only until midnight ... Mishaps and lies leads to Connie to leave, but an old friend brings Connie and Ted together and "they lived happily ever after." (Near the end, the father, who never participates in any of the family events, explodes on the entire family .. very unexpected for a family movie.) I think this take on Cinderella is really good, much better than a lot I've seen. The film takes the whole approach without using any magic (except for Connie speaking to her reflection .. and the reflection spoke back!) but with the help of servants. The coach is the cop commissioner's car and the dress .. is purchased :P. Naturally, the singing is the best part of the film, as Durbin sings Puccini's "One Fine Day", "Home Sweet Home" and the previously mentioned, "Amapola".
7.0 - yes, I really like musicals .. and I have tendancy to give them high ratings ... but I don't necessarily look for the plot to see whether or not there were any connections or if it really even made any sense ... the purpose of musicals is to showcase the actors' talents ... and Durbin does an admirable job in singing those wonderful songs.
Mail!
Julie Christie and DidoThe day after the long easter weekend I got 2 envelopes in my mail! One is from Julie Christie, who was filming a movie in Toronto and the other from the singer, Dido. I sent three photos and an index card and she graciously signed them all. I sent SASE. I sent Dido a letter and a SAE but the SAE was not used. 
The addresses i used were: Julie Christie
AWAY FROM HER
Pulling Focus Pictures Inc
65 Heward Ave., #B206
Toronto M4M 2T5
Canada
~
and
~
Dido
Nettwerk Management
8730 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 304
Beverly Hills, CA, 90211USA
Something in the Wind (1947)
Something in the Wind (1947)
Directed byIrving PichelDeanna Durbin .... Mary Collins
John Dall .... Donald Read
Donald O'Connor .... Charlie Read
Jean Adair .... Aunt Mary CollinsYes, the DVD finally worked but I was only able to watch "Something in the Wind" and not "Three Smart Girls", which were both on the same side of the disk. The DVD quality (of this movie at least) wasn't terrible like i expected. Futhermore, Universal actually put time and effort into making the box decorative. Seeing this boxset made me kind of dissapointed at the one for Carole Lombard's collection, both of which were distributed by Universal. Anyways, to the movie .... Something in the Wind was one of the latter movies of Deanna Durbin's Career (she quit at 27!). I really haven't seen any other movies by Ms. Durbin except for "Christmas Holiday", which co-starred Gene Kelly and it was a film noir ... Something in the Wind began with Mary Collins (Durbin) being mistaken for her Aunt Mary Collins, who had been receiving financial assistances from the late Patriarch of the Reads family. Donald Read (Dall) had plans to be marry Clarissa and does not want this "scandal" to ruin the family's good name. Charlie (O'Connor) was the third cousin of Donald and saw through Mary (Mary had claimed she was indeed THE Mary Collins and had even added a baby on the side after Donald and Charlie kidnapped her to their house). However, Charlie aided Mary because he was in love with Clarissa and he believed that Clarissa only wanted to marry Donald for his money. A few songs here (including an unconventional jazz number for Durbin) ... a few dances there ... and surprise! ... Mary and Donald get together. In addition to the jazz number, Durbin also sang an operatic duet with Tony (Jan Peerce) while in the jail cell! The movie was entertaining and I actually had some laughs. It was rather silly but I think the purpose of the movie was to showcase the voice of Ms. Durbin anyways. 6.8/10 - There just wasn't that "something" there .. plus, Donald O'Connor was more entertaining than the male lead, Dall, who was pretty wooden. John Dall was also in Hitchcock's "Rope" and "Gun Crazy", which was a very entertaing Bonnie and Clyde-ish film noir.
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Cast includes:
Peggy Lee .... Darling/Si/Am/Peg (voice)
Barbara Luddy .... Lady (voice)
Larry Roberts .... Tramp (voice)
Bill Thompson .... Jock/Bulldog in Pound/Policeman at Zoo/Dachsie/Joe (voice)Haven't seen any Disney movies in a while so I thought I would give this movie a chance. Well, this was a typical disney movie but with its main characters as dogs. I think I prefer Bambi more than this one ... it was more heart-wrenching. The plot is basically the "upper class" dog (Lady -- i swear that was what they called her and not Darling) mets with "lower class" stray dog (Tramp) and they fall in love (there's much more in between but no point in giving the entire movie!). The most famous scene was of course the sequence where Lady and the Tramp share a plate of spaghetti, which leads to a kiss -- as seen on the cover! The song "Bella Notte" was truly lovely to the ears. The materials in the movie was somewhat dated and sometimes politically incorrect. For examples, there was a scene with the dog pound, which is suppose to represent a jail and those strays that were in it were either thugs or "immigrant" dogs. There was also the dumb beaver, which I think was suppose to be Canadian and those evil Siamese Cats who looks and have a chinese accents. Still, those were probably used as identifiers AND it WAS made in 1955 so I'll let it past :P. The end was satisfactory, there was a little tweaking but it was ok ... :>7/10 - Bella Notte saved the day.
Easter Parade (1948)
Easter Parade (1948)Directed by: Charles WaltersCast Includes:
Judy Garland .... Hannah Brown
Fred Astaire .... Don Hewes
Peter Lawford .... Jonathan Harrow III
Ann Miller .... Nadine HaleEaster Parade was one of those wonderful MGM musicals that came out during the 1940s. I forgot about easter until i saw this movie on TV .. (about that ... why did CBC cut into commercials during a dance sequence?? granted it was *almost* over but still!) So why is this film a classic? Well ..this was the only movie that Garland and Astaire made together and it was truly a treat to watch. Astaire wasn't suppose to star in this one, as Gene Kelly was scheduled to play Don but he broke his ankle before production .. and hence providing us with this rare but wonderful pairing! Already, the first dance sequence with Astaire and the drums started the show with a bang. Afterwards, there was Garland and her wonderful voice singing "I Want to Go Back to Michigan". Lawford also made contributions with "A Fella with an Umbrella" and Ann Miller with "Shakin' the Blues Away". Ann Miller was an extraordinary dancer, her dance sequence to shakin the blues away was really memorable. Still, the movie belonged to Judy Garland. It showcased her singing talents as well as her tap dancing abilities. The sequence of "A Couple of Swells" was great and frankly, not a lot of female leads back then would attempt to make themselves ugly for laughs but Garland did and it really worked too as i think it fitted her personality. FYI - the plot: Don (Astaire) and Nadine (Miller) were a dance team until Nadine decided to go solo. Don, who is in love with Nadine, found a new partner in Hannah (Garland). Hannah also meets Johnathan (Lawford) and Johnathan likes Hannah .. but Hannah likes Don but Don is still in love with Nadine (there's a love SQAURE for you!). Then of course there were the mishaps in their early partnership and the need to find 'gigs'. In the end, all is well and Garland gets her man (the song,"Easter Parade", is still stuck in my head)!9/10 - definately one of the best easter movie (and one without relating to the bible or easter bunnies!) I felt bad for the Johnathan character .. but he appeared to be a sleeze anyways and shouldn't be too difficult for him to move on :P
My Man Godfrey (1936)
My Man Godfrey (1936)Directed by: Gregory La Cava
William Powell .... Godfrey Smith/Godfrey 'Duke' Parke
Carole Lombard .... Irene Bullock
Alice Brady .... Angelica Bullock
Gail Patrick .... Cornelia Bullock
My Man Godfrey is a romantic comedy made in the 1930s and still one of the best Carole Lombard films out there. I bought this movie for around 10 dollars and expected the film to be in poor quality ... but the quality turned out to be very good! There is even a colourized version but it looks like something out of the 50s so i stuck with the original black and white version. The film was really good! It was really more of a William Powell movie as it was more centered on him rather than Lombard. I actaully prefer Gail Patrick's character, Corenelia - the evil sister, much more to Lombard's Irene. Cornelia was scheming but she was truly a dynamic character and realizes she was wrong in the end ... Irene doesn't seem to be aware of what is going on but she's honest and direct .... The plot consists of Irene and her sister going to a 'city dump' where they try to find a forgotten man in order to complete their scavenger hunt. Here Irene meets Godfrey, a homeless man, whom she later makes the family butler. Godfrey, albeit homeless, was actually an educated man who is more sane than most of the Bullock family. Irene falls in love with Godfrey and .... The best part of the movie was really the dialogue, movies these days really don't put much thought into them anymore (and even with the silent films back then ... "[they] had faces"!).
Ratings: 8/10. Really entertaining!!
Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935)
Time for a movie review! (It is a blog and since all finals are through ... i have to occupy myself somehow ... :>)
The Gold Diggers of 1935
Directed by: Busby BerkeleyCast includes
Dick Powell - Dick Curtis
Adolphe Menjou --Nicolai Nicoleff
Gloria Stuart .... Ann Prentiss (yes! the same Ms. Stuart in Titanic)
Alice Brady .... Matilda PrentissThis is supposedly the second installment of the Gold Diggers series although there were some other spectacular movies that are similar to it (like Dames and Fashions of 1934). It was also the first time Berkeley directed the entire movie -- not just the dance sequence). There is no Ruby Keeler in this one but there is the very young and beautiful Gloria Stuart. The movie was not good as the previous ones like 42nd street and Gold Diggers of 1933; in fact, there wasn't really a plot and the characters weren't very interesting. The final musical sequence the "Lullaby of Broadway" was the best part in the entire movie but even that was different as it wasn't like the 'happy' magical dance sequence we are use to seeing ... but rather nightmarish! I found is chaotic, as though it was a nightmare with not much control .. but it's probably due to the hard stomping taps. In any case, the movie was "ok". The last sequence was too little too late .... and the gold digger .. actually got away with it!! --- 4/10 (although i was really tired and maybe should watch it again).
Tony Leung Chiu-Wai
Tony Leung Chiu-Wai
Jet Tone Films Ltd
21/f park commercial centre
no.180 tung lo wan road,
hong kong
sent: 03/17/06
response: 04/13/06
2 signed 4*6 --
Siu Ta
Siu Ta
Edna Talent Management
318 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ONM5T 1G5
siu@urge2film.com
sent: --/--/--
response: 04/11/06
She sent autograph and replied my email :> Great Canadian actress!!
Daniella Sarahyba
Daniella Sarahyba
IMG
304 Park Avenue S, Penthouse North,
New york, New york, United States
Sent --/--/06
Received: 06/04/06
Sent SASE (my last stamp) and two pictures and received them both signed plus an additional picture and a note ... very nice to her fans :> Hope she has a wonderful and last career :P
Drew Fuller
Drew Fuller c/o Endeavor Talent Agency9701 Wilshire Blvd, 10th Floor Beverly Hills CA 90212 USAsent: December 2004received: April 4th, 2006Sent Letter and Sase and got back photo + signed index card
Gwendolyn Osborne
Gwendolyn Osborne
pir@tvc.cbs.comReceived on April 3, 2006
A preprint promo from the Price is Right (not the one on the left)
