Greer Garson....Refinement personified.

While some of you may not be familiar with Greer Garson, she was one of America's top 10 box office draws in the 1940's.  She was smart, witty, beautiful and an absolutely brilliant actress. What some people may also not know is that she was quite well educated.  She had degrees in both French and 18th Century literature.

Two of her most famous movies (and also my favourites), were Mrs. Miniver and  Random Harvest, both from 1942. In both movies Greer played characters that were strong when dealing with the hardships thrust upon them, yet still totally lovable and endearing.  It is with good reason that she won an academy award for Best Actress for her role in Mrs. Miniver.  That movie warms my heart for so many different reasons....
I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised though to discover that she eventually married the actor that played her son in the film, Richard Ney.  (He was 15 years her junior....you go, girl!)

She seemed very refined, yet completely down-to-earth and very relatable. She was quite well known for her good nature and by all accounts she was apparently a joy to work with.  It's always refreshing to hear of a celebrity who wasn't ill-tempered and difficult to deal with.  My, how times have changed...!!!

Thanks to InspectorGrant for the video.

Ruth Gordon - Maude or Ma, I'll take you either way....

I love that such hilarity can come from such a classy lady!!  (Mind you, Bud Cort & Tom Skerritt hold their own in this as well.)  Would you believe she was around 75 years old when this movie was made?? Not too many actresses have a career renaissance at that age.....

She was also pretty fabulous in "Every Which Way But Loose".  The scene with her and her shotgun against the bikers can only be seen to be believed!

She also had quite a prolific career behind the scenes of the camera.  I was amazed to discover that she helped pen the screenplay for the classic movie "Adam's Rib" starring Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn.  Her writing partner was her husband at the time, Garson Kanin.  She even received an Academy Award nomination for her work on this.

Her offbeat humour will always be the best in my book!  I love the fact that she delivered her comedy like it was the most natural thing to say, and from such a tiny little woman, to boot......

All I can say is - "Yay Ruth"!

Thanks to nikki04movies for the video clip....

Such a sexy Scotsman.....

How could you not love Sean Connery?  I love the fact that he's both feisty and stubborn.  AND that he has a kickass scottish accent!! 

It's not that hard to believe that he's been just about everything in his life.  He was a body builder in the fifties (and I've seen the pictures to prove it.)  I don't think was ever a better Bond than him, he is super suave and has the swagger to match.  Not to mention that he looks damn good in a suit!

He is never one to be typecast though, as you can tell from some of the varied movie roles he has taken on.  Who else could be Indiana Jones' father or pair up with Nicolas Cage in "The Rock"?   I've long felt that Finding Forrester was one of his best roles.  If you haven't seen it yet, hurry up and do so.....

I also love that he is stands adamantly behind the things that he believes in.   His two tattoos are celebrating his parents and his beloved Scotland.   He fiercely supports the idea of Scottish independance and is very vocal about it.  

Although he is getting up there in age, I truly hope he decides not to throw in the towel on acting.  If he does, he'll just have to live on in our hearts.  Throbbing hearts, that is......

Nobody ever kissed me the way you do..........

Burt Lancaster. Siiiiggghhhhh!!!!  He was talented and smart, yet definitely not hard to look at either....  The George Clooney of his day, I suppose.

This scene from Here to Eternity is an absolute classic.  I find it hard to believe this was considered controversial when it was released.  It was due to the passion in their embrace and their kiss, combined with the fact that Deborah Kerr's character was another man's wife.  These days, people rarely would think twice about this, let alone be bothered by it.

He must have been pretty comfortable in his own skin.  I've seen many photos where he is nearly naked or completely so.

He was as close to a sex symbol as one could get at the time.  The fact that he flaunted his muscular physique is kind of sexy in its own right.  He was quite athletic and apparently a gymnast in his early days.

The best part about him, is that he was so much more than just a pretty face. If you've even seen any of his movies, you'd see this. Watching "From Here to Eternity" is where I'd start, but don't forget to see "Elmer Gantry."  His flashy suits and demeanor are really quite a sight.  His character rides the road to debauchery while outwardly appearing to take the moral high road.  Quite a performance.....

On that note, enough reminiscing about Burt Lancaster and the perfect physical specimen that he was, I think it's time for a cold shower myself.....lol

Thanks to ledmonnoir for the video.

Ingrid Bergman

The sensitivity and vulnerability Ingrid Bergman portayed in many of her roles was always quite well balanced with a tremendous sense of inner strength.

This scene from the 1944 movie Gaslight (which she won an Academy Award for) is a perfect example of this.  Throughout the movie, you watch her sanity gradually start to slip - thanks to her conniving, devious husband - only to see her strength shine through when it is needed most. This is one of my favourite films of hers, and she plays the tormented soul quite brilliantly.

She played a similar role in Joan of Arc (1948).  Throughout the movie, she encountered resistance constantly.  In the face of persecution and betrayal, Ingrid plays Joan with such strength and conviction. Once imprisoned (which are some of the best scenes of the whole movie), she shows that her sense of hopelessness is overcome with her profound devotion and faith.

While some of her other movies such as Casablanca or Notorious are better known or more well-respected, I encourage you to see these films to see the subtle nuances and emotional strengths she is capable of.

Thanks to clattermachine for the video clip.

Rugged and handsome, just the way I like them.......

Whether it was the cool demeaner, the sexy swagger, or the deep voice that first attracted me to Robert Mitchum, I will never really know.  He is very nice to look at, and he could act circles around any of his peers.

While almost always cast as the bad guy, I'm sure he was a big softy.  All I ever heard about him was how much of a rebel he was in life, but I find it completely ironic that he was married to the same woman from 1940 until the time of his death in 1997 (a remarkable 57 years).  Either she was pretty good at looking the other way, or he was in truth, a loyal, faithful husband.  (I choose to assume the later.)

Quite a feat, I'm sure, as women everywhere would swoon whenever he took his shirt off.  He was a man's man and knew how to have his way with the ladies (if only on film.) I don't think any woman alive would ever want to kick him out of bed.

Not this woman anyway - his deep, sultry voice makes me quiver and become weak in the knees....

Josephine Baker - the pride of Paris (via St. Louis, Missouri...)

I've always loved the fact that Josephine Baker, a definite source of pride for Parisians, was not only American, but middle-American no less!

I also like that she could REALLY shake her booty - long before Beyonce.   Who could ever forget that banana dance?!?!

Born Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri in 1906, her heyday was in the 1920's.  She was best known as a dancer and a showgirl, but she fancied herself a singer as well.

She was a beautiful woman, who definitely owned her own sexuality (as much as one could in that era....).  I didn't realize though, that she had such a big heart as well.  In her life, she adopted 12 children from many different nations, and called them her "rainbow tribe."  Look out Brad & Angelina!!

Her activism was something she was also known for.  Later in her life, while touring in the States, she refused to perform for segregated audiences and, in turn, became instrumental in some venues integrating.

I always love women who are a little ahead of their time.  I'm sure if she was younger in the sixties, she would probably have been a Playboy bunny, who knows.......

You go girl!!