Fun Questions on Classic Film

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I’m sorry, my readers, for being so tardy with my posts. I’m still recovering from an overloaded June. But while I was buried in projects, something very nice happened! Thank you, Brittaney of The Story Enthusiast, for honoring me with the Sunshine Blogger Award! It’s an award for those who inspire positivity and creativity in the blogging community, and I’m so grateful to her for considering me worthy of it.

Check out her creative, clever blog. Her answers to the questions she was asked alone show just why she deserved the Sunshine Blogger Award herself. I particularly like her unusual take on Carole Lombard in a recent post, which makes me want to check out some of that star’s dramatic films!

Those nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award thank their nominator and link to his/her/their blog, answer the 11 questions their nominator asked, nominate up to 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions, notify nominees via comments on one of their posts, and list these rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in their post and/or on their blogs.

First of all, Brittaney of The Story Enthusiast, here are my answers to your great questions!

1. What British or International film would you recommend to a friend who has never seen one? The Red Shoes. It’s beautiful, haunting, and very weird. Can’t take your eyes off of it.

2. Which classic film director do you prefer and what is your favorite of their films? Preston Sturges, especially Lady Eve.

3. Which character actor or actress do you think would have made a great lead? Jack Carson. Charming, funny, handsome. Steals every scene he’s in.

4. What child actor do you believe should have had success as an adult but didn’t? Peggy Ann Garner. I adored the book A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and she managed to make me love the film too—quite a feat.

5. What film do you love, but dislike the ending? Wait Until Dark. It’s about to end well, then that submissive moment. Doesn’t fit. Doesn’t work. Makes me angry.

6. Whose onscreen wardrobe do you covet and would like to claim for your own? In theory, Shanghai Lily (Marlene Dietrich) of Shanghai Express. Because I want the style and moxie to pull off feathers and sequins during the daytime, and on the most trivial of occasions. (I would have liked to see her Zoom sessions in quarantine.) In real life, I’m more of a jeans woman, but that wardrobe looks FUN.

7. Which original film do you think could be improved as a remake and who would you cast? The Mad Miss Manton. So much wasted opportunity there. A young woman and her socialite pals solving crimes? That could be so much funnier than the original. Find some comedic actresses who have some versality as writers/directors/producers/musicians so that they they can ad lib–say Issa Rae, Awkwafina, Abbi Jacobson. Add in Melissa McCarthy, Bette Midler, and Christine Baranski as their wiser elders. Rachel Bloom writes and directs, with bonkers feminist musical numbers. And as for the Henry Fonda character? Not sure he’s needed.

8. Which classic film actor or actress do you think would be successful in today’s film industry? William Powell. He’s an amazing smartass on film, and everyone would love following him on Twitter/Instagram.

9. What film trope do you never tire of seeing? The witty female sidekick. Especially if it’s Eve Arden.

10. If you could adapt a piece of classic literature that has not yet been made into a film, what book would you choose and who would you cast in the main roles? Evelina would be fabulous onscreen. Given Elle Fanning’s performance in The Great, I’d cast her, and maybe Nicolas Hault as Sir Clement because he’d have enough humor to make those speeches (which would be abridged) funny as well as annoying. Carol Kane would make a great Madame Duvall. Lord Orville? Maybe James Marsden, who could be adorably perfect.

11. Which of today’s modern actors or actresses do you think would have been successful in classic films and why? Christina Applegate would have rocked classic screwball comedies. She has the presence, the timing, the zaniness, and the dry humor. She even has the look.

For this award, I am nominating film (or sometimes-film) bloggers I admire who are fairly new to me/whom I haven’t given tributes to yet. Thank you for your great work! (If any of you nominees don’t have the time to complete this Sunshine Blogger Award post on your own blog, just know that I am a fan and wanted to give you a shout-out.)

Hollywood Genes
Dubsism
The Classic Movie Muse
Classic Film Observations & Obsessions
Old Hollywood Films
Make Mine Film Noir
Silver Screen Modes
That William Powell Site
A Small Press Life
Musings of a Classic Film Addict
Down These Mean Streets

Here are my questions for you:

  1. Which party you’ve seen on film would you want to join?
  2. Which cinematic character would be the WORST party guest?
  3. Which Hitchcock scene do you find the creepiest?
  4. Which film’s writing blows you away?
  5. What actor (past/present) does the best job throwing a (funny or serious) tantrum onscreen?
  6. Who is your favorite movie sidekick?
  7. What classic movie should become a TV series on Netflix/Hulu?
  8. Which of your go-to films is one others don’t appreciate?
  9. What is the best sports scene in a film?
  10. What’s the funniest scene on film?
  11. What’s your favorite (or one of your favorite) one liners/small bits of dialogue?

Thanks again, Brittaney of The Story Enthusiast!

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15 Comments

  2. Aww, thanks for your kind words Leah. I’m so glad you were able to participate. You had some really great answers to my questions.

    I’ve always been partial to The Mad Miss Manton due to Barbara Stanwyck’s presence. But your suggestions to improve it sound amazing!

    I second your opinion on William Powell. Today’s men would do well to copy his wit and snark, not to mention his approachable sophistication.

    And who doesn’t love Preston Sturges and Eve Arden? She’s another one who would have made a great lead like Jack Carson.

    Your questions are so creative. I can’t wait to see how everyone answers them.

    Reply

    • Thanks again for the nomination! And yes, Stanwyck definitely makes it a better film than it had any right to be! Eve would have been a fabulous lead. I grieve a little every time she leaves the screen. Yes, Powell’s style and wit are really the gold standard, aren’t they? I want to hang out with him so much.

      Reply

  3. Like Margot, I very much appreciate the thought, but nobody in the sports blog world does these things, and everybody I know in the film blog world has already been nominated. But since you nominated me, I will at least answer your questions:

    1) The Toga Party from Animal House.
    2) Clubber Lang from Rocky III.
    3) The Conversation
    4) Tie – Either the “Eyeless Corpse” scene from The Birds or when we find out the real “Mrs. Bates” in Psycho. And I wanted to see more of naked Janet Leigh in the shower…
    5) Chevy Chase in Vacation
    6) Jerry Reed’s “Snowman” from Smokey and the Bandit
    7) The Right Stuff
    8) 1941
    9) Comedic: The “Terrible Masturbators” scene from Slap Shot. Dramatic: The “Luckiest Man on Earth” speech from Pride of the Yankees
    10) The “Diaper Chase” scene from Raising Arizona
    11) “Honey…can we get another frying pan? I’m a little squeamish cooking with the one we use to kill people.” – Eating Raoul

    Reply

    • I love these answers so much. I’m totally with you on so many of them–especially the diaper scene in Raising Arizona! I’ve never seen The Right Stuff but always wanted to after I heard Tom Wolfe giving hilarious anecdotes about the making of it years ago. What is that last film??? I need to check that out:) But your best answer is definitely number 2. Clubber Lang would, indeed, be a horrifying guest.

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