Want to crash a party, but not sure how? Mimic Eve Peabody (Claudette Colbert) in Midnight.
Enter with Attitude
You don’t have an invite? So what. A pawn ticket will do. Who looks at a piece of paper when a woman is sufficiently glamorous?
Draw Attention to Yourself
You might think you’d be safer slipping into the background, but who will question your presence if you’re as much fun as this guy?
And who will kick you out if, Jennifer Lawrence-style, you make not one, but two ungraceful attempts to find seating, ensuring that other guests will not be the sole klutzes and/or drunken fools of the evening?
Relax
You’re in the door, so let the nerves go. After all, what’s to fear? Being caught could be amusing. Settle into some cushions, smile, kick off those high-heeled shoes.
Be a Generous Guest
Make sure you’re the kind of guest the host/hostess wants back. Buy gifts for the couples whose receptions you crash, like a guy from my high school did. Lead the chicken dance, cut the cake, make balloon animals. (In other words, channel Vince Vaughn in Wedding Crashers.) Join the bridge game when a mysterious man asks you, especially if he has a good line, as he does when meeting Eve: “You look charming, you look bored, you look as though you wouldn’t trump your partner’s ace.”
Play it right, and you could end the night like this:
Colbert is probably my favorite actress from the classic era. She is so natural in front of the camera, she never over acts. I have now seen about 25 of her films to date. Tomorrow Is Forever is a real special movie if you haven’t seen it. There is tons of meaningful dialogue in this Colbert/Welles/Brent home front war classic!
The one I’ve always been curious about is Cleopatra. I’ve never seen it, but I can see her in that kind of regal role. I’ve never seen Tomorrow Is Forever. But if it’s got good dialogue, I’m all for it:)
Leah
I have seen Colbert in Cleopatra and she is indeed regal in that role. I love films with lavish costumes and love B/W movies the best. But it would have been nice to see Claudette in glorious color in this period piece. Colbert also did The Sign Of The Cross, another epic type film with beautiful costumes.
I went to IMDB and counted 27 films of Miss Colbert that I have now seen. In addition to the great movie Tomorrow Is Forever, I could also confidently recommend the following: Imitation Of a Life, So Proudly We Hail, Remember The Day, Three Came Home and Without Reservations.
Most people think It Happened OneNight and The Palm Beach Story are the greatest things since sliced bread. I did enjoy these films but they didn’t knock me over. I believe Claudette is versatile but best doing drama. I just remembered one more classic of Claudette’s and that is Since You Went Away, this is a must see in the war on the home front film category.
Nice talking classic movies with you Leah. Always nice to find a new classic movie blog.
I loved Without Reservations. It’s like Colbert is the bore at the party, trying to talk shop when everyone else wants to enjoy themselves. And John Wayne is a perfect counterpart to her. Who would have guessed? Cracks me up every time. I should see more of her dramas. Nice talking them with you too! (I do think It Happened One Night is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Palm Beach Story I liked, but not close to as much) Leah