The Incredibles snazzy living area. I want it . . . . with the Zanuso chair to boot!

The Beautiful Blonde with a Beauty Mark: Anne Francis . . . in Memoriam

A long time heartthrob of mine is gone. Actress Anne Francis, forever iconized for her role as the unforgettable love interest in the 1950s science-fiction classic "Forbidden Planet" and in the 1960s for the sexy private eye in "Honey West" on TV, has died at age 80.

The beautiful blonde with a prominent beauty mark, Anne appeared opposite such stars as Spencer Tracy, Paul Newman, Robert Taylor and Glenn Ford in some of the most popular films of the 1950s.

in "Forbidden Planet"

"Forbidden Planet" was a science-fiction retelling of Shakespeare's "The Tempest." The 1956 film had Commander Leslie Nielsen and his crew land on a planet soley occupied by hermit scientist Walter Pidgeon, his daughter (Francis) and their helper, Robby the Robot.

as "Honey West" with her pet ocelot

In "Honey West," airing from 1965 to 1966, Anne was a private detective played as a female James Bond, who happened to keep a pet ocelot, bested her worst enemies with her martial arts and just as cool with a gun. It was one of the first TV series to star a woman in an action series. She won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy award for her role in "Honey West."

from "So Young So Bad "

Among Miss Francis's other films:

• "Blackboard Jungle," the landmark 1955 film about an idealistic teacher (Ford) in a violent city school, Francis played his pregnant wife who is targeted for harassment by one of his students.
• "Bad Day at Black Rock" with Tracy and Robert Ryan
• "Rogue Cop" with Robert Taylor
• "The Rack" with Paul Newman
• "A Lion Is in the Streets" with James Cagney
• "Hook, Line and Sinker" with Jerry Lewis

the young starlett with Jeffrey Hunter in "Dream Boat"


with Tom Ewell and her dog Smidgeon, going over the script for "The Great American Pastime"

In television, Anne appearing in dozens of series:

• "Mission Impossible"
  
• "The Virginian"
  
• "My Three Sons"
  
• "Ironside"
  
• "Gunsmoke"
  
• "The Twilight Zone"
  
• "Charlie's Angels"
  
• "The Golden Girls"
  
• "Home Improvement"
• "Nash Bridges"

with dark hair as Jess Belle

Born September 16, 1930 in Ossining, New York as Ann Marvak, she grew up performing for radio and television and on the Broadway stage. Anne relocated to Hollywood when she landed a movie contract at MGM (and later went to 20th Century-Fox) acting opposite the biggest male stars of the day.

According to sources, Anne had married twice and is survived by a daughter and grandchild. This last Sunday she succumbed after a long battle with lung and pancreatic cancer, in Santa Barbara at age 80.

Anne's website: http://www.annefrancis.net

North By Northwest - the VanDamm Residence

1959 ... North By Northwest- VanDamm residence S.D., originally uploaded by x-ray delta one.

I've always loved this bit of mid-century fantasy architecture that Hollywood created for the Alfred Hitchcock thriller "North by Northwest" in 1959. When I think of the movie, I think of this wonderful home situated in the Black Hills of South Dakota. I don't know if anything can come any closer to being the epitome of MCM design.

The above still needs to be viewed in full screen to be properly appreciated. Look at the concept of blending the structure in with the landscape... the low, long flowing lines... the floating, gravity-defying living area levitated over the canyon drop-off... floor to ceiling windows everywhere... all elements popularized in 50's modern architecture. That's atomic living.

As for me? I wouldn't want to live there, as much as I love the scenic Black Hills... but having a good hunk of my home clinging from a drop-off?? That would wear on my acrophobic nerves to no end :P ...Yet it sure is inspiring to admire it's style!

What I'm Watching: "The Great American Pastime"

Have You Scene it ?? The Great American Pastime 1956, originally uploaded by Gitwithit.

The Great American Pastime (1956)
Starring Tom Ewell, Anne Francis , Ann Miller.

*Swoooon!*... Anne Francis is in this comedy, paired up with the humorously self-deprecating Tom Ewell (from Seven Year Itch).

The Great American Pastime - (Original Trailer) @TCM

Husband and father Tom Ewell is volunteered to coach a beleaguered peewee little league baseball team, the Panthers. Unfortunately the new coach soon learns that in teaching his players the honorable art of good sportsmanship, that no one is happy with him; not the players, not the parents, and not even his wife (Anne Francis). As if this wasn't enough trouble, the lead pitcher's single mother (Ann Miller) leaves the luckless coach with the notion that she's got more than just baseball on her mind, with hilarious consequences to follow! It's a laugh-a-minute riot when you play The Great American Pastime!

(Wow... I oughtta write movie synopsis's for a living...) ;D

Coolness Alert! Don't miss out on Miss Miller's swanky-sophisticated single-mom pad. Not too shabby ;)

More about Anne Francis at:

• The Official Anne Francis Web Site
  
• Brian's Drive In Theater

R.I.P. Dennis Hopper

Dennis Hopper (May 17, 1936 – May 29, 2010), most remembered for his "don't follow the rules" roles played in movies such as "Rebel Without a Case" (1955, with James Dean) and "Easy Rider" (1969, with Peter Fonda).

Sa-woooooooooon!

Was it so long ago (the 80's?), when AMC network used to be known as American Movie Classics? They showed nothing but vintage films. And they introduced me to the world of real classics, the GOOD stuff. And of these there were quite a few film makers and stars whom were featured recurrently, too. I devoured it all: Hitchcock, Anthony Quinn, William Holden, Steve McQueen, Natalie Wood...

One night I tuned into the Boy on a Dolphin (1957) with a promising new starlet by the name of Sophia Loren....

I watched a lot of Sophia Loren after that :)

Drive-in Movie Feature - "The Day Hollywood Stood Still"

Baseball, Apple Pie, originally uploaded by Kiel Bryant.

Who couldn't delve into the subject of the Flying Saucer phenomenon in the Atomic Age without referring to the iconic contributions made by Hollywood? Fear not... I will not be the exception...


The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
My all, all-time fave. I can still remember being huddling in front of our tiny black and white set as a wee youngster, staring wide eyed as Gort makes his appearance down the ramp. Brimming over with one memorable scene after the other... but then, I'm a bit biased ;)

Stars Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Billy Gray (pre-Father Knows Best!) and Lock Martin as Gort.

	Day The Earth Stood Still-Bernard Herrmann - Gort - The Visor - The Telescope .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Also see:

• Gort! - Be a Friend of Gort
• hulu.com/the-day-the-earth-stood-still - Movie clips
• The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951 film) @ Internet Movie Database
  
• Site Guide - The Day the Earth Stood Still
  
• The Day the Earth Stood Still - Radio Broadcast
• TCM - The Day the Earth Stood Still
  
• Harry Bates-Farewell-to-the-Master - The original story that inspired the movie
• Fred Barton Productions, Inc. - Own your own Gort

War of the Worlds (1953) - This has to be high on everyone's list. I never passed up an opportunity to watch this as a kid, and would faithfully draw my impressions of the one-eyed invaders on paper. Most memorable moment is Anne's encounter, with the creature's hand on her shoulder. Also quite arguably the coolest saucer design ever seen on celluloid.
War of the Worlds (1953) Trailer


Invasion of the Saucer-Men (1957)
I never saw this until much later on cable. It's good-humored fun and who can resist the bug-eyed men in this one? Not to mention Frank Gorshin's short appearance! Everyone MUST see this one at least once if you're a true 50's movie fan.
Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957) movie trailer


Earth vs the Flying Saucers (1956)
Well, I've never been able to accept Hugh Marlowe as a hero scientist (after all, he was the anti-hero in Day the Earth Stood Still!) But this movie is flooded with saucer imagery. Most memorable scene(s) is the saucer crashing into the Washington D.C. memorial of your choice.
Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers (1956) Trailer


Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1957)
Pods from space take over an unsuspecting town's populace. Not a saucer movie, but definitely an otherworldly invasion flick.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1957) Trailer


It Came From Outer Space (1953)
Another hero scientist to the rescue tries to make peace with a stranded menace from outer space. I like the ending when one of the bug-eyed creatures disguised as the lead love interest shoots deadly sparks from her wand.
It Came From Outer Space


Invaders From Mars (1953)
I don't know... it seems like the movie runs on about 30 minutes longer than it really needs to be, but it's considered a classic, plus an original storyline told from a child's perspective.


The Blob (1958)
Steve McQueen + an infectious title tune + a big gob of man-eating space goo = Can't Go Wrong!
The Blob (1958) - Theatrical Trailer


This Island Earth (1955)
Not exactly an invasion storyline, but it does go in to quite a bit of detail into the sad story of Exeter and his dying other-worldly race. And there's saucers, the "interocitor", the "mu-tants" and a hero scientist to boot!
This Island Earth (1955) - Theatrical Trailer

Yes, the list can go on, and on... but the End is near.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for the thrilling conclusion of "Flying Saucer Hysteria Week" - only at Atomic Living!

---edited---
How could I have possibly left off The THING?
Bad, BAD me!!

The THING (from Another World) (1951)
This one tended to creep me as a kid (it didn't take too much!) I giant carrot-man (played by James Arness) from space terrorizes a polar research outpost. My favorite scene is the beginning when the search-party forms a wide circle around an object they find under the ice, then realize they've found a crashed saucer.
The Thing (1951) movie clip

The Little Fugitive (1953)

The Little Fugitive (1953) starring Richie Andrusco and Rickie Brewster, a film by Morris Engle, Ruth Orkin and Ray Ashley - Today we're revisiting one of my early posts so as to update with more information. Plus I wanted an excuse to blog about it again...



This movie was a ground breaker, no Hollywood flash here. It was pure, honest, and almost shocking for it's simplicity of realistic storytelling. Imagine a photographer following a real-life boy around for a day, with no script and no dramatized dialog. In fact most of what you see are real-life working-class people in Brooklyn and Coney Island, shot unobserved as they went on with their daily lives. But there is a story here, there's adventure, and there is drama. And the black and white photography, with all it's interwoven vignettes on real life living, is mesmerizing, captivating and unforgettable.

Poster & Ad:
Filmfanatic.org - little-fugitive-poster.jpg
Engelphoto.com - little_fugitive-poster.jpg

Additional links:
Engelphoto.com - Films
The Little Fugitive
Wikipedia.org - Little_Fugitive
N Y Times.com - The Little Fugitive

What We Watch - Mon Oncle

MON ONCLE by JACQUES TATI



Follow this link to watch all: Mon Oncle

Love the good-natured poking at post-modern living!

What We Watch - Mr. Hulot's Holiday

Mr. Hulot's Holiday - Jacques Tati


Sorry - no subtitles :(

What I've been watching...

The Little Fugitive


One of our 5-star faves.