So, the question you have to ask yourself is... was Max Schreck a vampire, or was he just a method actor who got a little too into his roles? That's been debated forever, it's the stuff of legends, and the really cool thing, the thing that I think about in the middle of the night when I am enjoying one of my fits of insomnia, what if he was a really a vampire? Hey, throughout my whole life, weird stuff has happened, the Bermuda Triangle, the ghost of flight 401, Area 51, so what if he was an actual, honest to goodness, walking talking, acting... vampire? This movie lets you in on the story of, what if? It has some genuinely funny moments, and some moments when you'll squirm just thinking about what you have just seen! Willem Dafoe was nominated for an Oscar, for Best Supporting Actor, for his portrayal of Max Schreck, and in my opinion, he should have one, because I can't imagine anyone else in this role, just as I doubt that anyone else could have played, Count Orlock, in Nosferatu, the way Max Schreck did!
This is a movie to watch in a dark room, to feel the full affect.
Here is a little treat... the full version of the original film.
"It's spider season. Every year, right about now, thousands of the godless eight-legged bastards emerge from the bowels of hell (or the garden, whichever nearest) with the sole intention of tormenting humankind."
~Charlie Brooker
Are you afraid of spiders? YIKES... I am! It's called, Arachnophobia! I know they are good for the planet, and I have been bitten by more of the other creatures roaming around, but damn, it's a lifelong fear and I just haven't ever been able to move on from it! I have no idea when it began, but there it is, so let me tell you, it took a lot for me to watch this movie, for more reason than one. You see, Arachnophobia was filmed in the small coastal hamlet of Cambria, California, one of my favorite places on earth! The town is kinda famous with the coastal dwellers, for being the home of many a spider, especially the jumping spider! Finding that out made me hypervigilant about who was joining me on my tuffet! I haven't visited Cambria in years, not because of the spiders, mostly it was a matter of time, or finances, or the fact that we moved to Stockton, but I know if I am ever lucky enough to visit there again one day, I will be on watch, but so very happy to be there! Anyway, watch the movie. It's a bit creepy crawly, but it shows off the very best of Cambria, it has heart, and there are some genuinely funny moments that will remind you that phobias are, for the most part, big fat creepy liars! Personally, I think it's one of the best movies of the 90's, at least for the horror movie genre. So go have some fun!
I hadn't seen this movie in probably 30 years, and then there it was, right there on Prime! So, being that this is the season of monsters, real or imagined, I decided to watch it. To my surprise, it was better than I remembered it being! Corny in parts, but also compelling. As werewolf movies go, this is a pretty good one to sink your teeth into. Yes, I know, corny! But that's just the monster in me, this time of year!
Go... shoo... go watch it while it's still available! Now, enjoy this refreshing commercial from way back in the 1970, featuring, David Naughton, singing the Dr. Pepper song. Can you believe it's the same guy from the movie!? Sorry the quality isn't great, but it's cool all the same. And a nice memory of one of the greatest commercials from back in the day!
This is definitely my favorite movie of 2005. We could all identify, we were a nation with struggles. Then, just three years later the housing crisis happened, and it all got worse. LOL. But this movie, while dealing with similar realities, made me laugh about how absurd it all was. Life, got absurd. Laughably, terrifyingly absurd. In 2008 and 2009, I would drive down the streets of the city I was living in, and see, what felt like every other house, with a "FOR SALE" sign in the front yard. And some long established businesses too. Well, fast forward... and here we are. Brent Crude closed yesterday at $98.60 and the Dow closed down - 248.34 or .92%. Welcome to America being "great again." So, watch this movie how got it right, it's funny, relatable, and so, sit back, relax, and laugh, it's all we can do! LOL. Both the original, and the 2005 versions are available right now on YouTube. Don't miss them!
"I'm very sorry to see you here Mademoiselle Forgive me for saying, but you're embarking on hazardous journey in troubled waters.
You face who knows what currents of misfortune."
~Hercule Poirot ( Peter Ustinov )
Death On The Nile
By, Agatha Christie
Elegant clothing, beautiful music, romance and murder set against the beauty of the Nile! What's not to love in this movie? And if that wasn't enough, the cast is fabulous! Peter Ustinov, Mia Farrow, Lois Chiles, Jane Birkin, Maggie Smith, Bette Davis, Olivia Hussey David Niven, Angela Lansbury, Jack Warden, and Sam Wanamaker, make up the perfect cast! I know, I know, there was a recent remake of the Agatha Christie novel, in 2022, but you know me, I love the movies from the 70's, the last of the truly elegant films, and so, this is my favorite! Oh my, the clothing... every attention to the elegance of the 1930's Art Deco era, my favorite! If you haven't seen this version of, Death On The Nile, be sure to catch it! It's available right now on Prime. It's perfect for a Saturday afternoon, when you just need to not know anything exists, except for the gem of a movie!
My favorite scene from the movie...
Be sure to keep a lookout for a silly goof early in the film. It's so funny!
One thing is certainly true about Tom Cruise, he makes big screen movies. I didn't get a chance to see this movie in a theater during it's original run, only on the big screen TV almost 10 years after it's release, but I am sure it was spectacular to see, because even on my 32 inch tv, it was amazing! This is one of my favorite Steven Spielberg films, but I should also say, this might just be my favorite Tom Cruise movie. The trouble with that last statement is that I keep going back and forth about just which Tom Cruise film is my actual favorite! The man has made some excellent career choices when it comes to his films. Although, two of his best films are barely mentioned in passing, at least as far as I can tell, Magnolia, and Collateral. Anyway this version of the, War Of The Worlds, differs from the original 1952 version, as you might imagine, because of, well, special effects, obviously, but otherwise it is much more disturbing. Tim Robbins as Harlin Ogilvy, is noting short of nightmarish! He is a man who has broken from reality, but in his shoes, I am pretty sure I wouldn't have fared much better, and that's the haunting reality! Want a little bit of Halloween chills early? This movie is a pretty good start!
Are we ready to absorb the movies message yet? Probably not.
"I'm gonna get that gun of mine... and up till now I've been forgiving and forgetting, because that's how I was brought up. But "ill tell you one thing: if you ever say another thing about me, or make another indecent proposal, I'm gonna get that gun of mine and I'm going to change you from a rooster to a hen in one shot."
~Doralee Rhodes ( Dolly Parton )
9 To 5
Two amazing performers left us exactly one week ago today, Dolly Parton and Time Curry. It would be wrong to not make this post a double feature, as both brought so much to the big screen, in two very different directions. My favorite movie that Dolly Parton did was 9 To 5. What a way to make a living! I loved the song, and hummed it often with my pals, boy and girl, when we worked at both the title company and the marketing offices. My pal, Steven, and I, worked at both companies, so it was an especially humorous inside joke that no one else got! Our actual hours were 8:30 to 5:00 but the truth of the story, and of the song, still held true... office workers rarely get the appreciation they deserve!
Dolly, Jane, and Lily brought it to life, as did Dabney Colman as their egotistical chauvinistic, misogynistic boss, and boy did I meet my share of those! And it was perfect! As 1980's movies go this was one of the best. The movie is directed by Colin Higgins, who never made a movie I've hated. Silver Streak, Foul Play, Harold and Maude, and 9 to 5 are all masterpieces! But this one has Dolly Parton in it, and that makes it all the more special! Dolly was a star in her first movie role as, Doralee Rhodes, and her star shined brightly!
9 To 5 Official Video
Stephen King's
"IT"
"I'm every nightmare you've ever had. I'm your worst dream come true. I'm everything you've ever been afraid of."
~ IT
Stephen King's "IT" ( 1990 )
In 1990, network tv introduced one of the scariest movies of all time, Stephen King's, IT. I am sure that you have either seen this version, or the remake that was done in 2017 and It Chapter 2, which was released in 2019. The remakes weren't for me, oh they were fine, but they just didn't scare me the way the original did! Tim Curry's portrayal of Pennywise was incredible. He brought the evil clown to life, and even if you never had a particular fear of clowns before, this clown would definitely haunt your dreams. He did mine! Tim Curry was such a good actor. Watching him as Pennywise, didn't make you think of Dr. Frank-N-Furter from the, Rocky Horror Picture Show. That's a good thing. Not all actors can shed an iconic roll, to move between movie rolls, but Time Curry did, and he did it brilliantly! Watch, IT, and you'll see the depth of his talent! I still worry about Pennywise showing up one day, having shed, Derry, in search of a new place to call home.
Beep, Beep Ritchie.
"Let go. Be afraid. You taste so much better when you're scared."
I love The Italian Job, for so man reasons, not the least of which is it's use of my beloved Mini Cooper! In fact both this version of the film, and the original, paid tribute to the coolest car ever! But both movies are rather excellent suspense movies! The have different feels, but the same general story, both are the heists of a lifetime, with some romance along the way! I give it 5 popcorn buckets. Now... go watch it! In fact go watch them both if you can find them! The two make a great double feature!
Who was the mysterious, Deep Throat? Well, now we all know it was, Mark Felt, former, Deputy Associate Director of the FBI, but in 1973, things were a little bit more, well, mysterious! We didn't even know when this funny, what-if, movie came out, who, Deep Throat, was. We didn't learn his identity until much later, when Felt revealed himself to be the source of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's Washington Post articles exposing the crimes of the Nixon White administration. Watergate was quite the smear on American politics, Nixon betrayed the trust of American's who supported him. It took a long time for some to recover from it. Fast forward and here were are! The Nixon era makes current American politics seem... quaint. But perhaps one day we will all laugh about the times we are currently living in. Time does heal all wounds, and it also wounds all heels, so there's that. I hope so, and watching comedies that bring what was possible, into what could be, works for me! I love funny movies about politics, but this movie is more than funny, it's got heart, and you'll feel patriotic just watching it! Well, that might be a bit of an overstatement, but you'll cheer for Betsey and Arlean, and doesn't that feel good?
This movie comes with a pretty delicious recipe for, Hello Dolly bars, also known as, 7 Layer bars or Magic Cookie bars. Here is the recipe, minus the little extra "magic" provided by Betsey's brother, Larry. Although I like Larry's variation too!
Hello Dolly Bars
Searched and sourced from AI Assistant
1/2 cup ( 1 stick ) of butter, melted
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cups chopped walnuts or pecans
1 cups sweetened flaked coconut
1 14oz can Sweetened condensed milk
Set oven to 350 degrees.
Put the butter inside your 13x9 inch baking pan,
and let melt in the oven or microwave.
Mix the graham crackers and press into the melted butter to form a base.
Sprinkle the Chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, chopped nuts,
and coconut evenly over the crust layer.
Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the top layers,
so it sinks into the layers.
Bake for 25 - 30 minutes until the edges are golden brown.
Cool completely before cutting into squares.
Note:
You can substitute chopped dried fruit such as apricots or cherries, for the coconut.
And now, a little music from the era... some of my very favorite songs from the early 1970's.
Tillson: Mr Meyers, can you tell us the basic theme of Oedipus?
Moose Meyers: Uh... yeah. That's the guy who had something wrong with his eyes. Yeah. He had eye problems.
Tillson: Miss Knight, perhaps you can help Mr. Meyers with the theme of the Oedipus legend.
Mirriam Knight: Easy. A guy can't kiss his mother and get away it.
~Mirriam Knight ( Stockard Channing)
Once in a while I get lucky, and a truly fabulous film from my childhood becomes available, and this is one of those movies folks! I love to share movies that stood out for me as a kid, to share a bit more about myself, and let me tell you, this movie left an impression! The, Girl Most Likely Too...,, was originally featured on the, ABC Movie Of The Week, in 1973, and it still holds up to all the elements that made it a great film, all the way back then! Stockard Channing and Ed Asner lead the cast, with a few familiar faces from back in the day like, Annette O'Toole, Larry Wilcox, Dennis Dugan and Fred Grandy!
I had already loved Ed Answer for years, but this movie made me a Stockard Channing fan for life! It's a great movie if you've ever contemplated seeking revenge on someone, and while I know the whole revenge thing is getting pretty old right about now, this movie manages all the ironic humor it can find, while reminding us to not take it all too seriously! It delivers all the luscious guilty pleasure as good as any beach read! My inner psycho applauded this film when I was 11 years old, and I never forgot it. Today, I could live vicariously through it, and be quite happy!
Now click on through the link, and go have some fun!
Note: This is Stockard Channing's first credited screen role!
"We fuck each other all the time, without even realizing it. We fuck every living thing on the planet over and over and think it will be fine because we use paper straws and order free-range chicken. And the sick thing is, I think deep down we know we're not fooling anyone."
~Amanda Sanford ( Julia Roberts )
Leave The World Behind
From the book, Leave The World Behind
By Rumaan Alam
"Well, when I couldn't fall back asleep thus morning, I came over here. To watch thr sunrise. And I saw all these people starting their day with such tenacity. Such verve. All in an effort... make something of themselves. Make something of the world. I felt so lucky to be a part of that. But then I remembered... what the world is really like. And I came to a more accurate realization. I fucking hate people."
~Amanda Sandford ( Julia Roberts )
Leave The World Behind
Do you ever wake up one day, and think to yourself, I can't take one more day of humanity? I know I do, often. Like the character of Amanda, I have, at times, become weary of of being around people in 2026! Things are so selfish and scary. The glee and glow, for some Americans, comes not from living the American dream, but rather the thought that we would all be better off if a nice little civil war would take place, to save America from... us. This movie addresses one such path towards the end of the world, through frightening means.
Strange happenings. Coincidences. Conspiracy theories and a sudden lack of connection to the outside world, and it's affect on an America used to being plugged in all the time! It all leads to the feeling of being on the outside looking in, all while feeling all to aware that life has gotten very, very, real when you weren't looking. The collection of eerie moments in this film are terrific, one such involved the arrival of an large container ship, on the shore of a pristine beach! Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawk are perfect as a couple who are almost polar opposites, but who used those differences to apply critical thinking to their new circumstances. Two different perspectives is a good thing!
But soon, it turns out to be about more then just them trying to figure it all out! Is it danger calling, help calling, or is it something eerily different?
I don't want to give it all away, so go watch the movie! There is a cool tie-in to the television show, Friends, so here is a little music that fits very well with the movie!
This film was not a hit movie, and for the life of me I don't know why? It only made $750, 012 on it's worldwide opening, and it did open to limited distribution, so I suppose when a film has that much working against it's hopeless. But despite all that, this movie is anything but hopeless! Juliane Moore, plays, Evelyn Ryan, a real life mid-century American housewife, who mostly carried her family, 10 children, by winning contests, after her husband, played by Woody Harrelson, was injured in an accident. Right now it's rent only, but if you a looking a movie about creativity and resilience, then choose this one. It will stay with you!
Which is as crazy as believing stuffed animals are gold."
~Robbie (Elizabeth Banks)
The Beanie Bubble
Did you collect Beanie Babies? I did, kinda. How can one "kinda" collect something? Well, here's the thing, I bought them mostly for my niece, and for my mother. In my niece's case, it was an incentive to keep getting those A's, but with my mother, well, she was in the early stages of Alzheimer's, and she liked having the little animals around. Her cats enjoyed them too. Now, about me, I have always loved stuffed animals, my insane collection goes all the way back to a stuffed turtle my brother sent me from Viet Nam. It was a green and lite blue turtle about 14 inches wide, and it remained on my bed until I got married. I eventually placed my friend, Timmy, in my cedar chest where he remains to this day.
But this movie isn't about sentimental collecting of adorable stuffed animals. This movie isn't really about the toys or the crazed customers who bought them, The movie is about the business of building a company, which sold fairly cheap little toys to mostly crazy ladies, and which carried a corporate crazy all it's own. Inspired by true events, we get to see the manipulations and backstabbing that built the brand, Ty. So, pop some popcorn, sit back, cuddle your favorite Beanie Baby, and enjoy the ride.
Personally, my favorite Beanie Baby was the Princess Diana bear, sigh, which I haven't seen in years. If you were lucky enough to find the bear with the misspellings, well, there's one going for $50,000 on eBay. I wasn't that lucky, I got the reissued one, but I loved her all the same.
I am pretty sure everyone on the planet has seen, Dirty Dancing, but if you haven't, it's the ultimate rom-com, which always makes me sob my eyes out. And for those reasons I won't recap the plot, I will just say, Patrick Swayze was amazing. What a performer, be it dancing, singing, or being impressive as an actor. My two favorite Swayze films are Dirty Dancing, and Too Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar. Jerry Orbach, another lost favorite actor of mine, delivers a heartbreaking turn as the perfect father, who expected perfection from his eldest daughter, Baby.
Baby: "Me? I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of what I saw, I'm scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I'm scare of walking out of this room, and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I'm with you."
Trivia: "Hula Hana" was co-written by actress, Julia Brucker, who played Baby's sister, Lisa Housman, and choreographer, Kenny Ortega.
Watch the movie, and just try to get the song, I've Had The Time Of My Life, out of your head!
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
while loving someone deeply gives you courage."
~Lao Tzu
Love on top of the Empire State Building. Not quite Sleepless in Seattle, but I think it works for them! My husband proposed to me on a carnival ride in Santa Cruz. It was romantic. It was fun. But I suppose it's all in the eye of the beholder. Was this a stunt? Of course! Was it a guy who just wanted to propose like very few have ever done? Sure! Did it cost the fine tax payers of New York City a good bit of change? You bet! But what a cool thing to have tax dollars go to. However, I sincerely hope no one else tries this ever again. These people know what they are doing, they are the daredevils featured in the documentary, Skywalkers: A Love Story. I haven't seen this documentary yet, but I probably will this weekend. It like the idea of living your dreams with someone. I was lucky enough to. I mean, love conquers all. For this couple, love was in the air. Love means never having to say you're sorry. Whatever you call it, it was love, in a New York minute.
Watch the video above, read all about it here, and enjoy all the love and misdemeanors from the rooftop!
