Month: July 2020

Beyond Melanie: Olivia de Havilland

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Olivia de Havilland in My Cousin Rachel

It’s always bothered me that Olivia de Havilland; the passionate, strong-minded, long-lived Hollywood star; is best known for a meek maternal role.

Did she perform it well? Oh yes. She imbued Melanie with incredible strength, empathy, and grit. But to be best known for Gone with the Wind in your obituary isn’t exactly a selling point in 2020. The mawkishness of the role has always annoyed me, especially because Olivia de Havilland is most riveting when she’s hard boiled. (She would have been great in noir.)

This was, after all, not a meek woman, convincingly as she nailed that famous steel magnolia part. This is the actress who sued her studio for extending her contract—and won. (A stupefying victory, given the long list of actresses whose studio fights got them nowhere and killed their careers.) And so I’d like to highlight a few of my favorite roles, which bear no resemblance to Melanie.

The Heiress (1949). I’m not alone here. This film won her an Oscar, an award she richly deserved. She plays a shy, undervalued, vulnerable “spinster” wooed by a handsome man (Montgomery Clift) who is likely after her wealth. Her growing strength as she begins to suspect him and question her father is something to see. Wow.

My Cousin Rachel (1952). A sexually and socially confident, cosmopolitan widow (de Havilland) meets the naïve young cousin/heir (Richard Burton) of her dead husband. At first, he suspects her of murdering her husband, then he falls for her, and then he suspects her again. Did she, or didn’t she? The book version leaves the answer open, the movies less so. The 1952 film itself is a mixed bag, but when it comes to embodying a fascinating heroine, de Havilland knows what she’s doing. (You know I think so when I say Rachel Weisz, whom I love in everything, couldn’t hold a candle to her in the remake.)

Hush … Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964). I love some bonkers Bette Davis-de Havilland banter. Is it as fun as Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? No, what could be? But it’s still a blast to watch, thanks in large part to de Havilland’s scheming character.

The Adventures of Robinhood (1938). OK, this is a bit of a sentimental choice, but de Havilland doesn’t play a weakling version of Maid Marian. She’s got some serious spirit, especially for the time this film was made. de Havilland’s stunning beauty in it explains the string of hearts she left in her Hollywood wake. And Errol Flynn’s and her dazzling chemistry, not to mention their ridiculously good looks, reveal why they were paired together so frequently. Plus, the film is just a hoot, with the cast clearly having Ocean’s 11-level fun on the set.

There’s much more to say about de Havilland. This list alone shows her incredible range as an actress. I don’t have the expertise to discuss her recent lawsuit, sister feud, or any of the myriad other topics that make her a compelling subject. I strongly recommend you check out some of my peers’ posts on The Classic Movie Blog Association’s blog roll (see right column). de Havilland has never been one of the stars I follow. Frankly, I find her a bit scary. Intimidating. Hard to know. (About as far from Melanie as it’s possible to be.) But you can’t ever discount her. And when she’s on the screen, you don’t want to watch anyone else.

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Psych 2: Lassie Come Home: The Banter I Was Missing

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I think it was about five minutes into Psych‘s new movie that I realized just how much I was smiling.

How to explain the effects of Psych? It’s my emotional yoga. When I can’t sleep, I lie on the couch and play episodes till I do. It’s my white noise when I’m doing mindless busy work. And when I really need a pick-me-up (and who doesn’t right now?), I can put on an episode–even my least favorite–and laugh so much. (This despite the fact that I’m surely close to having the whole show memorized by now.) It doesn’t matter if I’m sad, worried, stressed; Psych‘s hilarious dialogue and antics always makes me smile. And the movies are no exception.

Lassie Come Home is both a typical episode and a tribute to Timothy Omundson (Lassie), whose stroke prevented his full participation in Psych: The Movie. But sweet as the tribute to Lassie is, it’s the Shawn and Gus team-up that’s the highlight, as always. I could listen to them banter all day long. This is still the best bromance I’ve seen on TV.

A favorite moment is when Shawn and Gus are trying to get a man to admit he’s faking an illness by tickling him. Shawn (James Roday Rodriguez) begins the badgering of the man like this: “Tough guy from the old neighborhood. Probably didn’t even cry when Liz Berkley got addicted to speed in Saved by the Bell.“

Now that’s a pop culture reference!

As usual, there were some funny cameos, with Sarah Chalke, Scrubs alum, directly referencing her scrubs, and Kadeem Harison from A Different World showing up, reminding fans that Dwayne Wayne was Gus’s (Dulé Hill) early hero (see that bizarre werewolf episode, “Let’s Get Hairy”–Season 4, Episode 8). Chalke was an inspired addition–she fits right in. My other favorite new character was Morrissey, Chief Vick’s (Kirsten Nelson) dog. And current fan or not, you will love a wonderful breaking the third wall moment, when Shawn refers to Psych fans (Psychos), and Gus rips him in response.

Way back when I started this blog, I recommended The Thin Man to Psych fans. But that recommendation goes both ways. Are you a fan of delicious flavor–i.e., funny dialogue? Do you love pop culture references? Do you prefer the relationship between detectives (and their loved ones) to the mystery itself? Do you enjoy some childishness in your leads, as long as it’s funny? (If you’ve forgotten how immature Nick Charles is, watch his classic performance at his in-law’s house in After the Thin Man.)

If you share my preferences, why are you waiting to watch the series, much less Lassie Come Home? I envy you the eight seasons and three films (if you include the musical) you have yet to watch! And if you’re already a Psych fan, you’ll be so happy to have Shawn and Gus back–even for a little while.

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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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