Stockholm, meeting Maureen O'Hara, there ARE some changes made & a temporary goodbye

As much as I tried to prevent my blog from becoming like my old diary ("Oh yes, by the way, it's not 1998 anymore, it's the year 2000 now!") I have to say: it's been a while, now isn't it?
I have left you all on the brink of going to Stockholm and Ireland, to meet up with three friends I made because of Youtube. So, I'd like to turn back the clock about two months (a while indeed!) and tell you about my journeys.

Stockholm was really fun. I loved the city, and talking about classics with Sara. I was a bit nervous at first but it turned out to be that it wasn't necessary at all because we could get along very well. And we watched seventeen (!) movies in ten days -- starting off with 'An Affair to Remember', accompanied by.. pink champain (Only real classics fan know why this should be the common way of watching 'An affair' -- and 'All About Eve' with a martini or a milkshake, for example)!

Together we headed to Dublin and met up with Ilaria. After two days of discovering the city we went to the airport where our travelling group would be completed by Karin. After a short flight we raced to Glengarriff with our rented car, because we were invited to a party at the golfclub Maureen O'Hara is the president of and which Maureen herself (!) would attend as well. We made it on time (despite taking one wrong turn and having to dress up -- what do you wear when meeting a movie legend?!) and there we finally were..

I believe I kind of squeaked and grabbed Ilaria's arm while murmuring "Oh my, I can't believe this" when we walked into the golf club and saw Maureen sitting there and looking amazing.
She was so nice and interested when we all introduced ourselves. Before she left, people had and wanted to have their picture taken with her, and they said to us we could have our picture moment tomorrow. But then Maureen looked at us and said: "They don't have a picture yet!" and started moving towards us so we could have a photo with her. It was a great night.

The next morning, however, I got a call. It was my mum, telling me that my dad, a heart patient, was brought to the hospital, that his condition was critical and that I had to come home as soon as possible. Suddenly it was like my life had turned into a bad soap opera. The girls were very sweet, comforted me and arranged a flight for that same day. I have never been so scared and wanted to go home so badly in my entire life, I can tell you.

After arriving home, my family and I experienced a few nerve-racking days. My dad had to have an operation, not without risks. But thank goodness, he made it. Altough he had to stay in the hospital for eight weeks and it will take much longer to revalidate, he made it and that's the only thing that matters. And since a week, he's home again! Finally, a happy ending to this summer.

It's no coincidence that I decided to write something here again today, because exactly one year ago, I posted my very first blogpost in here. I wanted to make a few changes in my life -- being more creative, spending more time with my friends and simply take a few new roads to break through the daily treadmill. And there are some changes made! In about two weeks, I'm going to England for five months as an exchange student -- something I'm very excited about! Also, because of this blog, I've been able to practice my writing (in English) a little. Another great thing about having this blog was the feedback and compliments on all of my drawings, which was such a motivation for me to draw more!

(speaking of my drawings, after I left Ireland, the other girls gave Maureen the drawing I had made for her, and took this picture for me:

And oh yes, and did I already mention that it's SIGNED?!)

I don't know exactly what I'm going to do with this blog now. As much as I enjoyed mainly focussing on classic hollywood and mixing that with writing about my life, I feel like it's not enough and beyond my abilities to keep a whole blog on. It also feels like lots of things I've posted here aren't that well written and/or interesting.. I do have lots of other interests besides Classic Hollywood (although classic film is an important part of me), but I wonder if that would be too much a random mix of subjects for one blog, haha.
Perhaps I just need a fresh start.. erase the old posts, change the title and url.. I need to figure out how, what and when again, just like one year ago.
But writing here again after two months also made me realize that I love blogging and that it wouldn't be good to quit doing it forever. Or even for about one year. So you'll see me around again on blogger (:

Before I finish this 'temporary goodbye-speech' of mine, I just wanted to say that I never, ever expected my blog to be read by so many people. Getting over fifty followers. All those nice, interesting, supportive and funny comments -- the idea that people take the time to read what I have to write and even enjoy it.. it's fantastic. So thank you. Thank you so very much for everything.

-- Loes.

Tickets to a Classic Summer

It's about four in the morning. My Microsoft Word screen shows a freshly finished essay (the last one of the bunch) yet to be submitted, and on my floor lies an open suitcase yet to be fully packed! The last few weeks all I've been doing is writing like crazy, feeling like Hildy Johnson again, but now I slowly feel the 'His Girl Friday'-esque stress flowing out of me. Freedom for now!
Tomorrow (or actually, later today..) I have to submit the essay, arrange a couple of things at uni and head straight to the airport from there. Yes: *imaginary happytapdance* The Airport.

I'm going to STOCKHOLM to meet Sara, a friend of mine! I got to know her about a year and a half because of Youtube: I commented on her classic film tributes, she sent me a message, I replied and it wasn't until long that our mails became "as long as 'Gone with the Wind' ". We did find out that we are ridiculously similar in so many ways, and talked on MSN messenger for hours. The fact that this summer, there's a festival in Stockholm because of the Royal Wedding, made a pretty good extra 'excuse' to finally meet up in real life. :D I'm very, very excited about this, and you know what?

This isn't even ALL yet!

After spending ten days in Stockholm, we will head to IRELAND together. There we will meet up with two other Youtube-classic moviefriends, Ilaria and Karin. Then the four of us will tour through Ireland and go to the MAUREEN O'HARA FILM FESTIVAL, where Maureen herself will attend (!!!) some of the film screenings.

Doesn't this whole holiday sound like a classic movie fan's dream? It sure does to me. I can't wait. :D


Movies watched this year: 37 (For some reason I think this amount will somewhat... increase this summer, hihi)
Last Movie: The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2

More things you should NEVER say to a classic movie fan

And when I say never, I mean, really... never :P




"Oh yes, Howard Hawks.. he was a great actor."

" 'The Women'? Is a film from two years ago considered a classic as well then?"

"I think they should colorize all of these oldies, it will make them look much more cheerful!"

"Katherine Hepburn? Oh my, did Audrey have a SISTER?!"

"I don't think 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' has a really clear plot."

"This guy wearing a trenchcoat and playing in that boring war movie.. you know, what's his name.."

"Why did they talk so much and so fast?! And chasing a leopard? That was so.. unrealistic."

"I love classic movies! I mean, Jurassic Park I is one of my favorite movies ever."

"Of course I know Marilyn Monroe: She's the actress portrayed in these colourful paintings."

"So yeah, the movie was about a guy in a wheelchair, looking at his neighbours and discovers a murder -- that's about it, actually."

Have you heard it? They will make a great new film starring George Clooney! It's called 'The Birds'..."


*desperate gesture towards heaven*


Movies watched this year: 32
Last Movie: Prospero's Books

Something you do not expect to find in a psychoanalytical-related book

Last week I had to give a presentation about a text I did not understand at all. And when I say not at all, I mean it like.. in the "not understanding why Ted Turner colorized 'Casablanca' "-kind of way. Yes, I was that puzzled.

So, as every desperate-yet-geeky --or the other way around-- student would do, I headed to the library for explanatory books about the psychoanalytical theory I had to *shiver* talk about. I did find the books, and although they cleared up things for me a little, I still wasn't able to really grasp the text. Thank goodness, in the lecture, it turned out to be that it simply is a difficult text and that it wasn't just me being stupid ;D

One of the books I borrowed explained the theory with the help of illustrations, and one of the illustrations I simply HAVE to share with you:

Seriously, randomly finding Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart during these desperate research hours was the best thing that happened to me in that day, haha. I mean, it's a book that has nothing to do with anything classic film-related issues whatsoever!
What intigues me the most about this illustration though, is not the fact that it's in the book, but that the setting is 'Casablanca'-themed, and for some reason the person who has made the image, has used a photo of Lauren rather than Ingrid!

I guess this person knew that Lauren and Bogie were married? Perhaps the illustrator was a fan of them as a couple? (But then again, how couldn't one be? :D) It could've been that (s)he liked both Lauren and 'Casablanca' and wanted both these element to grace the illustration? Or maybe the illustrator wasn't a classic Hollywood connaisseur at all and mixed up Ingrid and Lauren? But no, it's too much of a coincidence that (s)he picked exactly the actress Bogie really loved instead of Ingrid, isn't it?

Hum. Maybe I'm putting way too much thought in this fact, but really, these are the first questions that hopped into my mind when I noticed the image ;D And I am still wondering -- oh, the mysteries one faces in this world!


Movies watched this year: 31
Last Movie: Four Weddings and a Funeral

Quotes and a Drawing IV: Sophia Loren

Wise words by Sophia Loren, drawing made by me!

“If you can learn to use your mind as well as your powder puff, you will become more truly beautiful.”

“I really don't care much about the weather, because when you are surrounded by very nice people and the people you love, you don't really care about the weather, do you?”

“I've never tried to block out the memories of the past, even though some are painful. I don't understand people who hide from their past. Everything you live through helps to make you the person you are now.”

“I’m convinced that outward beauty is directly connected with inward beauty. Eyes are not simply beautiful because they are big and wide set, but also because they express something that radiates form the inner woman.”

“Clothes make me vulnerable and beautiful, shy and daring. With clothes you can - just like your mood - take every turn.”

“Success, I would find out, is interior. It has to do with self-fulfillment and the joy of living.”

“My life has been almost completely fulfilled. I said 'almost' but I have no regrets. I'm proud of what I've done with myself.”

“When the lights went down and I was alone with Rita or Linda or Tyrone, I was suffused with the feeling that that's what I was put on earth to do, to act, to express myself, to let out whatever feelings I had inside.”

“It's better to explore life and make mistakes than to play it safe. Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life.”

“Styles go in and out of fashion, fads appear and disappear, gowns are short, then long, and then short again. There is nothing solid on which one can rely. The only really concrete things on which you can depend, although they may seem abstract, are your relationship with your surroundings, your estimation of yourself, and the feeling you have of what kind of person you want to be.”

“The most indispensable ingredient of all good home cooking: love, for those you are cooking for.”
“I always wake up early and jump out of bed – sometimes not wanting to, because one can always find an alibi not to exercise – and then I take a walk for an hour. And as I walk round the park I always think, 'Maybe round the corner I am going to find something beautiful.' ”

“Style must be adapted to the woman and not vice versa. The same can be said of clothes.”


Movies watched this year: 31
Last Movie: Four Weddings and a Funeral

Rivers and Films do have something in common

"What I love most about rivers is: You can't step in the same river twice" is wat Pocahontas --to keep up with the Disney theme-- sings in the song 'Just around the Riverbend'. I honestly believe that with films, it's exactly the same: You can't watch the same movie twice.

When you watch a motion picture for the second (third/fourth/fifteenthhumIguessIhavewatchedCasablancaaboutthatmanytimescough) time, the way you experience it will never be the same as the first time you've watched it.
The most obvious reason is that you know (parts of) the plot by now; you'll probably remember when the suspense, kisses and that one snappy conversation you really loved take place, and you can recall when the leading actor has his "No, don't move to the other side of the world with your new fiancee, because I've loved you all along this film, but I couldn't tell you this right from the start for the sake of giving the viewers a film in the first place!"-moment too.

I also think that it really matters how you feel and how life's going when you watch a film again.
For instance: when one of the characters feels happy, does a tapdance and fitting music seems to come from somewhere out of the sky, it's not only likely that you're watching a musical, but also that the way you perceive this particular moment depends on whether you're sad or happy. When you weren't feeling great the first time you've watched the musical, you might have been thinking: "Snap, I'm jealous; wish my life was all about tapping and singing in unison, instead of climbing mountains of homework.." -- However, when you were feeling great the second time, your thoughts could've looked like: "Woohoo, this is EXACTLY how I feel too! I love this character, (s)he's just like me!"
The way you look at a film depends on how you feel -- your mood influences which quotes, soundtracks and moments, just to list some examples, stand out. (Sidenote/yellow post-it paper kind of remark/by the way: This all also goes, in my opinion, for watching a movie for the first time).

The song I've started this post with is actually the cause of me writing this, because as I wrote before, it made me realize that fifteen years after I first listened to it, It has a different meaning for me now --it's more meaningful, if you will. (: While I thought about this fact, I came to the conclusion that this isn't only the case with this song from 'Pocahontas', but with the film in general. And with all other movies I've seen twice or um, even more often.. So age sure plays a part as well in the way you interpret a film!

All the points mentioned above are only a few things that will make watching a film again a different experience every single time. If you watch a film either at night or when it's broad daylight influences the experience too, and so does the weather (No, I'm so not kidding in here -- seriously, try watching the same film noir both during a dark, dreary night and a bright sunshiny day ;D), if you watch a film when you're in love or not, with others or alone, on a big silver screen or on Youtube. Knowing more about the genre, actor, actress, era than the first time you've watched it.. the list of things that will play a part in seeing a film diferently the next time could go on and on.

The sentence "The water's always changing, always flowing" follows after the first line of 'Just around the Riverbend' -- films really are like this streaming water. And no, of course nothing changes inside the film itself, the film seems (a little/lot) different, because by the time you watch the film again, you and the circumstances have changed.


Movies watched this year: 30
Last Movie: An Education (And it was really great :D)

Disney's Jazz

Because of writing my last post and the comments I got on it afterwards, Classic Disney film-related thoughts were happily flowing in my mind for the last couple of days, and in particular the songs in Classic Disney films.
I always thought that I started to know and like swing/jazz after my first encounter with Frank Sinatra's voice and Gershwin tunes -- but I've discovered that this isn't true at all. Oooh no. I think it's all because of Disney; just watch and listen to this, this and this.. and this too! (Oh, aren't hyperlinks great? They are like screwball comedies, you never know where you're going to end up. Therefore they are the perfect way to RickRoll somebody.. But, I would never do that! *I swear* It's safe to click, really: never gonna let you down ;D)

A reminder: In the good ol'days of the 1990s and videos, one wasn't able to choose a language from a menu with languages from all over the world; you simply bought a tape (subtitled) in your first language. Since Disney -- and other children's films as well -- are always dubbed, I never got to know the English versions of the Disney songs in the pre-internet/Youtube days. Now you might think: "I know that Loes, and why are you bringing this up in the first place?" Well, because after hearing the English versions later in life, I figured that some of the voices did sound so... familiar to me.

Of course: Disney always picked the best actors, actresses and singers to work with, but HOW swell is it that in the 1955 film 'Lady and the Tramp' the character Peg was created for nobody less than Peggy Lee? (And what about the fact she co-wrote the lyrics of six (!!) songs in that movie too?) That Phil --The Jack Benny Show-- Harris did the voices of both Baloo in 'Jungle Book' and Thomas O'Malley in 'The Aristocats'? That the voice of Duchess in the latter belongs to Eva Gabor, and Louis Prima did the voice of King Louie in 'Jungle Book'?

Seriously, I never really realized classic actors/singers I listen to or know now, were voice actors and singers in Disney Classics as well! Altough I didn't hear them singing in the versions I've watched as a child, the music was the same, and the Dutch singers did truly wonderful renditions of the songs too (I dislike dubbing, except when it's done in children's movies. And Disney always does a great job with picking the voices). So, I guess that watching lots and lots of these films as a child unintentionally yet obviously layed the foundation for my love for old time songs.. (;

Movies watched this year: 28
Last movie: Monster-In-Law (Yeees. Sometimes I just feel like watching movies like this, okay ;D)

Movie memories

Let's picture the setting the biggest part of this particular blog is placed in. The year? A day in 1995. The place? A cinema somewhere in The Netherlands. The event? A little girl going in that certain year to the pictures for the first time in her life.

Haha, okay, it's not too hard to guess that girl is me. Altough I was only five years old, I do remember the cinema that was once a theatre, chairs furnished with thick red velvet and ditto curtains draped alongside the screen. Everything was impressive and big, which had certainly nothing to do with the fact of me being small. Of course I wasn't stepping through this new place in my life alone, I was there with my mother, the girl-next-door and my best friend in-one (she still is) and her mother.

The film? Disney's 'Pocahontas'.

I can't recall the exact thoughts I had during the film, only that I really enjoyed it (and that one of the mum's had brought lollipops, yellow-pink ones -- the selective memory of a five-year-old is clearly evident at this point!). I also do remember that my friend was crying at the ending of the film. Which is totally logical, since the film is romantic and the ending is like a sadder version of 'An Affair to Remember'!

Something I do not remember myself anymore, but which is a typical "I'm-your-mother-and-I-remember-this-for-you-so-you-can-use-it-as-an-anecdote-in-your-later-life" thing I'm told, is that all the way through home, I was singing a medley of the songs in 'Pocahontas', filling in the words I couldn't exactly remember with my fantasy. Out loud. And I wasn't an exuberant kid at all, so the film really must have made a big impression on me ;D

I still love Disney's 'Pocahontas'. I haven't seen the film since our VHS player broke, which is.. quite a few years ago, but I do have some of the songs on my MP3 player -- just like writing this post, they do bring back fond memories of my chilhood! (When they released the film on video, I have watched the tape many, many times after my first trip to the cinema). I also appreciate the songs in another way, now I really listen to ánd fully understand the lyrics. 'Just around the Riverbend' (linking to the version I grew up with.. ;P): for example, is about longing for more in life, taking risks, being curious what the future brings, the hardships of making decisions.. I can totally relate to that right now.

No matter what your age is, whether you're five, or twenty... I have discovered that Disney sort of grows with you. And so did some other childhood favorites of mine -- It was, for example, still nice to watch 'A Little Princess'. Okay, this isn't the case with all Children's movies, but watching some of these films again in later life, made me see and get even more than I did when I was a kid. Clever dialogue, meaningful quotes and songs: you're never "too old" for Disney.

Movies watched this year: 26
Last movie: Born Yesterday

An Award!

Yay! The reason for this exclamation is that Pearl from Hung in the Imbalanced also nominated my blog for the:
Thank you very much! I truly feel honoured :D

Now there are a few things left for me to do as a part of receiving the Award:
-Thank the person who gave you the award.
-Share 7 things about yourself.
-Pass the award to 15 bloggers, who you have recently discovered, and who you think are fantastic.
-Contact the Bloggers you picked and let them know about the award.

Seven Random Facts about me (Easy, since 'Random' is practically my middle name -- just look at the tags in the sidebar... yes ;D):
1) I love to read quotes! (AND. I can even quote a famous film star to explain why: "I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have, beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognized wiser than oneself." - Marlene Dietrich)
2) My favorite font to write in is Georgia (obviously, haha) and I use it whenever I'm allowed.
3) I follow drawing classes at the nearby zoo for ten years now and still enjoy it as much as I did when I first started!
4) A few weeks ago, a big lock of my hair got stuck in a comb, and the only solution was cutting part of it off.. and now I can (unintentionally) have a self-made bang when I decide to neglect my beloved bobbypins ;D
5) Birds are my favorite animals, I think they are adorable.
6) I'm Dutch! (Hence the grammatical errors in some *all?* of my posts ;D)
7) The only perfume I wear (since I'm fifteen) is 'Pure Poison' by Dior -- J'adore it (;

Now we come to another fun part of receiving this award: Passing it on to fifteen people who deserve one too, of course!
*drumroll*
1) Kallim from Spectacular Cinema: From the Classics and into the Beyond
2) Tharwa from Classic Gal
3) Sarah from And...scene!
4) Alexis from Ingrid Bergman Life and Films
5) Kate Gabrielle from Scathingly Brilliant
6) Dawn and Paul2 from Gene Tierney Movie Page
7) 50sGal from 50s times
8) Francy from Pixie Drive-In
9) KC from Classic Movies
10) Camille from Pick yourself up
11) Maria from Let Yourself Go
12) Janet from Writing little mademoiselle.
13) Ricki from Beauty is a thing of the past
14) Monty from All Good Things
15) Lauren from Grayscale


There you are -- I sure hope you all will like it! (:

Movies watched this year: 26!
Last movie: Born Yesterday

JANE RUSSELL in 'Gentlemen prefer Blondes'

College-free week at uni has just ended for me -- and before this name makes you think that I've had sort of a holiday the past week, I have to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. As a matter of fact, they better change that word into: "You don't have lectures but have to write a gazillion essays and study for an exam and therefore you'll only sleep three hours a night and eat too much comfort food and drink too much caffeinated soda and almost use your keyboard as a pillow-week", but I guess that was too long (and lacked a certain motivational spirit). Anyhoo, I passed the exam (yay!) but wasn't able to write the fourth and last essay (okay, so it weren't a gazillion essays, but it certainly felt like it), and I have to do that later, but then I won't have a re-examination anymore *shivers*. I submitted a quite.. bad paper too ;D BUT: I have a good feeling about the two other essays nevertheless. Now you might think: "Well, this is all good and well, thanks for sharing -- but when is this post going to live up to its title?" And you also may have a point there. So, I'm sorry dear reader, it is now! ;D

'Gentlemen prefer Blondes' is the only Jane Russel-film I've ever seen, *confession of the day* but I think she's really good in it. For some reason, before watching 'GpB' I thought Jane was always only.. another actress the studios used to decorate a scene. But, I was wrong -- how wrong I was!
Jane has a great comic timing: the way she delivers her lines is so funny, with a hint of the typical 1940s Hawksian (Hawksian? Is that a word? Either way.. I mean, an actress in an Howard Hawks film *Insert a quick writing-break in here because of me Googeling 'Hawksian'* Oh goodness. The word even has its own Wikipedia page! Okay. So I didn't just made it up! Yay ;D) femme fatale. It seems like Mr. Hawks must have thought while directing: "Okay, so my Hawksian (Yes, now I know it's an official word I'm going to use it!) woman works great in the Film Noirs I've made, so let's transport her to a cheery, technicolored musical!" Which was, for sure, a very good decision.


But. There is one thing I have to get off my chest: I think her performance is a little underrated nowadays: When I was looking for the song 'Bye Bye Baby' on YouTube (which I consider, judging from my own experience, as a very influential website when it comes to getting to know classic films, actors and actresses) because I wanted to favorite it on my page (I mean, come on: it's such a swell and catchy song :D), the first videos one sees are almost all titled "MARILYN MONROE sings 'Bye Bye Baby' "or "Gentlemen prefer Blondes: Marilyn singing..." etcetera (you'll even find a Spongebob musical-version of the song, but that aside).
Having said this, I immediately want to state that I having absolutely nothing against Marilyn: I like her films, I think she's a fine actress and not just 'playing herself' as some people like to argue. And I know that part of the reason why Jane's 'tough-yet-really-hilarious' remarks do work so well is because they're placed opposite to the 'selective-smart-blonde' behaviour of Marilyn's character. They complement each other perfectly.
I just wanted to put emphasis on the fact that I think Jane is really good in 'GpB' as well, and that she deserves it to be in the spotlight (just as much as Marilyn) when it comes to that film. Period. (:

Movies watched this year: (still) 25 (But that's going to change soon, because I think I deserve a day without doing anything uni-ish and enjoy a good film instead. :D)
Last movie: Lost in Translation