Saturday, October 3, 2015

Visas and Hitchcock

Hi everyone! It's been a long, long time... I apologize! I always say that I will post more frequently, but then life catches up with me.

This past summer was seriously the absolute greatest. I became engaged to my best friend, spent the last three months with him... we traveled to Florida together and discovered a bunch of fun local places that I never had the guts to go to alone. It was seriously the best and I can't wait to marry him next year! But before marriage... the visa process. We're going to be starting it this weekend/next week, and I'm so nervous! I hear horror stories about how long the process takes. I'm just so stressed thinking about it being denied. And then the money that goes with applying for it--yikes!

Speaking of horror though, my fiancé agreed that this month would be filled with watching Alfred Hitchcock films! He's never seen any, so it'll be a great movie filled month. I'm just wondering what movie I'll introduce him to first. I love several, but I'm leaning towards Rear Window, Psycho, or The Birds. I guess we'll see!

Friday, May 29, 2015

Two For The Road: Revisited

Several years ago, I wrote about the lovely movie, Two for the Road (1967). I had spent numerous nights in a week watching this movie, over and over... falling in love with Joanna (Audrey Hepburn) and Mark's (Albert Finney) story of ups and downs. It felt so realistic and so relatable and quickly became a comfort movie of mine. The "all-over-the-place" style of showing the story was ahead of its time, and it is definitely one  thing I really enjoy about the movie.

Fast forward six years later. It had been a long, long while since I've sat down and watched the whole thing (years, even). I had talked about it for several days, mentioning how much I loved it to my boyfriend. We had watched Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) recently, and he said, "Okay, next time it's your movie pick." I knew what my pick would be right away! I finally got to show my boyfriend one of my absolute favorite movies.

His thoughts? He loved it. Mine? I loved it even more than the first hundred times I had seen it.

We both laughed at the fact that Mark constantly misplaced his passport just to have Joanna "find" it. We loved seeing their relationship change--it grew out of nothing. They had met when Joanna was in the traveling choir. They got to know one another through hitchhiking and quickly started something. They got married and over time, you saw how much their marriage had changed. You saw their laughs and tears, as well as other great memories and big moments throughout their marriage. They did have some struggles and infidelities, but they worked them out. My boyfriend and I really enjoyed following Joanna and Mark's journey as they sort through any bumps they had along the road.

The chemistry that Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney was very evident and I think that's the biggest reason I loved the movie and thought it was so well done.

If you haven't gotten the chance to see it, I definitely recommend it! It's one of my favorite movies from the late 60s.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

I've been using Tumblr for over five years, and I have finally decided to make a classic movie one!

Tumblr is another type of blog site, but I usually concentrate on just pictures and gifs. So if you're interested, my classic movie tumblr is http://classicmoviecat.tumblr.com/ :) It will definitely be filled with pictures of actresses and actors, stills and gifs from great movies, and overall... classic movie fun!


Saturday, March 28, 2015

Catching Up & Literature Talk

Hey everyone! I know it's been awhile (please forgive me), and I apologize! I landed a new job on top of my other one and have been pretty busy with not only working, but spending time with my wonderful boyfriend and watching shows and movies. :3

This post will be a mixed medley of things, so bare with me. Maybe I'll just list my thoughts?

1. What would you guys like to see on this blog? Just classic movie related things? Classic anything? Life stuff? If you didn't already know, I love... classic stuff. I love retro things. Antiques are awesome. When it comes to classic, it covers not only movies...but shows, literature, music, and even items. I'm a collector of some things and really appreciate anything older than me that tells a story. Thoughts?

2. Classic Literature is fantastic. I haven't read too much since college, but it's still one of my favorite things to do when I get the chance. A few years ago, I discovered Out of Print Clothing and fell in love immediately. I don't own too much from them (a The Great Gatsby t-shirt and matching tote), but I'm fixing that! I ordered a Library Stamp t-shirt, as well as another The Great Gatsby t-shirt. I plan to match them with some nice skirts at work. Several other titles are on my list... I'm still hoping they bring back their The Catcher in the Rye and To Kill A Mockingbird items. I'd love a new pouch or tote in those titles!

3. I pre-ordered Go Set A Watchman and I'm so excited to read it! It's a shame that I have to wait until July to do so, but it looks like it'll be a great read! It really makes me want to read To Kill A Mockingbird again... or at least, see the movie. ♥

So there you go! Those are my recent thoughts for the week. I really do plan to update my other blog, too. Ahh!

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Classic Movie Gift Ideas

Hey everyone!

Since Valentine's Day is coming up, I decided to browse Etsy for inspiration on gifts ideas and wish lists. Searching through a bunch of categories from rings to housewares, I came across some beautiful classic movie inspired gifts! I feel like some of these are lovely gifts--not only for Valentine's Day, but for any occasion really. So take a peek! Maybe every so often, I'll post some great classic movie inspired Etsy gifts that I've found. :)




Roman Holiday Audrey Hepburn - Spiral Notebook

It's a Sin to Kill a Mockingbird. Bookpage Link Bracelet


Directed By Alfred Hitchcock Tote Bag


James Stewart as Scottie Ferguson from Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo Hand-Cut Paper Silhouette Portrait


There you go! I've been on a large Hitchcock kick lately, so that might explain why three out of the five items are related to him! I just can't help myself.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Go Set a Watchman: A To Kill a Mockingbird Sequel

If you are like most people all over social media today, you may have seen that both Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird were trending. And for good reason, too! All over Facebook and twitter, I saw people going crazy over this news.

If you haven't yet heard about it, it was announced that Harper Lee will be publishing a new novel. The 304 page book, Go Set a Watchman, will be Lee's first book in over 50 years. It is also essentially a sequel to her 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird, despite being written beforeIt still takes place in Maycomb, Alabama, but twenty years later. We get to see Scout all grown up!

I remember having to read that book in high school, all the way back in tenth grade. Many of my peers dreaded reading it and doing the assignments, but I quite enjoyed it. So as someone who absolutely loves To Kill a Mockingbird and considers it one of my all time favorite books, I'm super excited about this!

As a film fan, I thought the 1962 movie was a great adaptation and I couldn't picture anyone else as Atticus Finch (or even Boo or Scout, for that matter). I wonder if it'll be made into a movie eventually, as well?

Is anyone else excited to read this? Or even possibly see it made into a film?

Happy 31 Days of Oscar!

Hey everyone! It's been a long, long time... but I finally had the urge to write again!

Over the last few years, I've been busy with other aspects of my life--relationships, work, and other interests of mine. My movie watching has drastically decreased, but I am hoping to get back into the groove of it again... and this time of year always makes that happen!

I've been catching some wonderful movies lately. I watched The Great Lie (1941) for the first time yesterday, and also watched Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) with my boyfriend across the pond last week. I'm starting to get him interested in classic movies and I am pleased to know that he is actually enjoying them. :)



Anyway, I hope to catch a bunch of great movies during this year's 31 Days of Oscar, both usual favorites and new discoveries. I feel like it is one of the best schedules that they have had in years (I really do miss the "University" year though...). Definitely on my list this year:
  • North by Northwest (1959)
  • The Thin Man (1934)
  • The Awful Truth (1937)
  • Bonnie and Clyde (1967)*
  • You Can't Take It With You (1938)
  • Splendor in the Grass (1961)*
  • Rebel Without A Cause (1955)*
  • Gone With The Wind (1939)
  • The Philadelphia Story (1940)
  • Casablanca (1942)
  • Gaslight (1944)
  • Duel in the Sun (1947)
  • Twelve O'Clock High (1948)
  • Born Yesterday (1950)
  • The Birds (1963)
  • Roman Holiday (1953)
  • From Here to Eternity (1953)
  • Giant (1956)
  • Pillow Talk (1959)*
  • Psycho (1960)
  • The Apartment (1960)
  • To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
  • Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
  • Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
  • 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
  • Network (1976)
  • Annie Hall (1977)*
  • Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
  • The China Syndrome (1979)*
  • San Francisco (1936)*
  • The Artist (2011)*
I'll see as many movies as I can, but those are definitely on the top of my list! What about you guys? Any movies you're interested in seeing for the first time or for the tenth time? Let me know!

*Indicates a movie I have not seen before