My Pick for a Classic Warren Beatty Film: "Splendor in the Grass" (1961)

Thought the Clutter is an entertainment blog that published a List of 28 Warren Beatty Movies, Ranked Best to Worst.  I have never been a huge fan of Warren Beatty.  There is no denying he was tall, dark, and handsome.  But frankly, I really admired his sister; the enormously talented actress Shirley MacLane.  However, giving credit where credit is due:

"Warren Beatty is an American actor and filmmaker who is the second person to be nominated for 'Academy Awards' for acting in, directing, writing, and producing the same film – which he achieved twice for the fantasy-comedy film 'Heaven Can Wait' (1978) and for the historical epic 'Reds' (1981). Of his total 14 'Oscar' nominations, he won the award for 'Best Director' for 'Reds' (1981)."

Posterazzi Splendor In The Grass Warren Beatty 1961 Photo Poster Print, (16 x 20)

That quote/fact was lifted from the TTC article list mentioned above.  Kudos to Mr. Beatty for his achievements.  Even so ... his movies never made it to my 'Oh I'm dying to watch or re-watch this list!"  However, if I were going to pick a classic film starring Warren Beatty, it would have to be “Splendor in the Grass” (1961).   Yes, the fact that Natalie Wood was the leading lady had a lot to do with it.

Warren Beatty | Biography, Movies, Sister, Wife, & Facts | Britannica ~ https://t.co/xGejmb6Toa
*Img: #WarrenBeatty & #NatalieWood in a promotional photograph for Splendor in the Grass (1961), directed by Elia Kazan. © 1961 Warner Brothers, Inc. #classicmovies #Entertainment pic.twitter.com/iajOol40BC

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) May 5, 2022

The Pink Panther (1963) ~ Both the Movie and the Soundtrack are Classic!

The Pink Panther is a 1963 British comedy film.

Both the Movie and the Soundtrack are Classic!

Peter Sellers was the perfect person to play the clumsy French detective Jacques Clouseau.  His job is to prevent a notorious thief from stealing a world famous jewel known as "The Pink Panther" which belongs to a princess.

Image credit: Amazon

The Pink Panther Theme Music ~ youtu.be/lp6z3s1Gig0 

The Pink Panther | Soundtrack Suite (Henry Mancini) ~ youtu.be/ilull9eS3mQ 

I like the original music from the original Pink Panther movie. Henry Mancini won an award for it and he said he can't believe he received an award for making up such fun music. 

They remade the Pink Panther movie in 2006 ("The Pink Panther 2") and it starred Beyoncé and Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau. Beyoncé also contributed to the soundtrack. I didn't care too much for the remake or the music from the remake. Even though I enjoy the comedic genius of Steve Martin, he could not top Peter Sellers.  I'm sure even Mr. Martin would agree with me.

Nope!  My mind was not changed, The original movie released in the 1960s and the soundtrack to the movie are both vintage classic memorable entertainment!

I would not recommend the 2006 remake; however I would recommend:  "The Return of the Pink Panther" (1975); "The Pink Panther Strikes Again" (1976); or any of the many other sequels to the original Pink Panther movie which starred Peter Sellers.  I would also recommend the hilarious animated TV series "The Pink Panther Show" (1969).


The Pink Panther | film by Edwards [1963] | Britannica

** In Memory Of:

Peter Sellers CBE (1925-1980)

David Niven (James David Graham Niven) (1910-1983)

Goodfellas: REMASTERED - Ending Scene | My Tribute to Ray Liotta (1954-2022)

I am in the habit of checking my Twitter account every day. It is usually the first online in the morning. I don't use Twitter as my reliable news source. But every once in a while they will tweet a bona fide fact about a current event that blows me away like the death of Ray Liotta (pronounced "Lee-oh-ta"). Only 67 years old. 

I once heard him say in an interview that he was adopted. ("Due to extreme poverty, the biological parents abandoned Ray immediately after his birth. ..." ~  Source)  That me think: So? Is he really Italian or was he just raised Italian? I know.  It's a stupid thought. But hey! Don't we all think stupid thoughts? No matter his biological heritage, it looks like his parents, Mary and Alfred Liotta, raised him to be a real good guy; not a fictional "Goodfella". Although ... I must say that he played the part of a gangster quite well. He was cast as Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese's movie "GoodFellas" (1990). In my humble opinion, it's his most memorable role.  It's a cult classic and won 6 Academy Awards.

Image credit

 

In Memory of: Raymond Allen Liotta (1954-2022)

American actor and producer

RELATED LINKS:

• Ray Liotta Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements | The Famous People
• Ray Liotta - Early Life, Movies & 'Goodfellas' | Biography
• Ray Liotta Biography, Life, Interesting Facts | Sun Signs

Will Smith Received an Oscar and the Academy Award Committee Should TAKE IT BACK!!

The Oscars: The 94th Academy Awards Award ceremony.
Ooh la la! (Yawn.)

I stopped watching entertainment awards programs years ago. Mainly, because most of the movies being made were, in my humble opinion, not Oscar-worthy AND also because the program to present the awards had become BORING!

So even though I knew when the 94th Oscars awards program was going to be aired, I intentionally found something else better to do. I wake up the next day and social media is ON FIRE!! Evidently, Will Smith SLAPPED Chris Rock. For the record, I have never really liked either of them as entertainers. I never liked Chris Rock's as a comedian AND never liked Will Smith as an actor. Regardless of my personal opinion, I knew the rest of the world thought they were two really great guys! So to see one of them square off with the other one and it's not “scripted”, but a genuine moment of intense anger on a program like the Oscars … I didn't know what to think!

But now that I have had a chance to think about it:

* Yes. Chris Rock's comedy was tasteless. But his comedy has never really been tasteful.

* Yes. I know Will Smith's wife Jada is growing though a health crisis and it is hurting her, which means, if you are her husband and you love your wife, you're hurting too.

Sometimes … comedians are insulting, heartless, callous, and inconsiderate. They say things and give no thought to how offensive their words might be. I have always said when it comes to comedy, there are “lines” that you should not cross over. Everything in life can NOT be turned into a joke or comedy material because EVERYTHING IS NOT FUNNY!!! Comedians should KNOW where to draw the line. But evidently, these days, comedians say anything to get a laugh and don't care who they offend!

Personally, I think that's WRONG!

On the other hand, what Will Smith did … SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED. Yeah yeah yeah … his excuse or reasoning or justification for what he did is … LOVE MAKES PEOPLE DO CRAZY THINGS. Oh oh oh … the things we do for love and all that jazz.

This night was not a “Will Smith ONLY Night”. This night was a night that was supposed to be the high point in the careers of many people in the entertainment industry and all everybody was talking about was … Will Smith SLAPPED Chris Rock.

Then they awarded Will Smith an Oscar. 

THE AWARD SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY!!

There is no debating this, Personally, I didn't think Chris Rock's joke was really all that offensive. But I think Will Smith's reaction and what he did … OFFENDED EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS NOMINATED AND/OR WHO RECEIVED AN ACADEMY AWARD THAT NIGHT.

Did Will Smith think he looked like a knight in shining honor rescuing his damsel in distress?

WELL HE DIDN'T!!

His behavior was SHAMEFUL … and he brought SHAME to a prestigious awards ceremony honoring the hard work of many many people, who struggled to get to this one memorable moment in time in their career … which will likely not be remembered because that is the precise moment that Will Smith CHOSE TO ACT A FOOL!!!

Does he think that he or his spouse are the only people who have ever been offended by a joke?

Chris Rock may have offended Will Smith and his wife.

BUT WILL SMITH HAS OFFENDED THE ENTIRE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY!!!

He does NOT deserve that Oscar. 

THE OSCARS COMMITTEE SHOULD TAKE IT BACK!!

MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT VIOLENCE!

* * *

That was a slap!  What about ... the next time?????

Classic Movie ~ Vintage Bette Davis : Jezebel (1938)

When I was growing up Sunday afternoon were special.  My big sister and I loved to watch movies on TV. We especially both loved Bette Davis; whether she was a bad lady or a good girl, she was a SUPER STAR!! 

In this particular movie, she was Julie Morrison, a brazen sassy boldacious Southern belle. She dared to be an independent woman with a mind of her own, who challenged society's norms. In the process of her being rebellious, arrogant, and contrary, she caused a rift between her and her future husband. What did she do that was so outrageous and shaemful? Uumm … she showed up to a party in a red dress!

I was very young at the time and being that red is my favorite color, I didn't get what all the huffing and puffing was about. My older sister explained to me that refined and cultured women in polite society would never wear a red dress. That's the mark of a whore!! A wicked woman!! A she-devil!!

With that very clear and graphic explanation provided by my big sister, I was able to better understand this scene and this line in the movie; and that also explains the name of the movie.

“𝙄 𝙥𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙄 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚.” ~ Bette Davis - JEZEBEL (1938)

♦ Bette Davis - "I'm Kneeling To You" from Jezebel (1938)

♦ Filmsite Movie Review: Jezebel (1938) ~ "The film earned a total of five Academy Award nominations with two major Oscar victories. Bette Davis won her second (and last) Academy Award for her portrayal of the tempestuous, manipulative Southern ante-bellum New Orleans belle for Warner Bros." 

Original Source

Bette Davis Movies on Amazon Prime Video

Related Posts:

 

* Another Man's Poison (1951) 

* Bette Davis Quotes