“So.. How ‘bout it then?”

To say it right in the beginning:

2009 I was more than avid to watch one special film – I waited for this “aaaaaages” – it was Richard Curtis’s THE BOAT THAT ROCKED – and I wasn’t disappointed at all.

It is still one of my all-time favourite modern flicks.. I know that a lot of people out there just loathe it. But not me – No, sir! I am officially in love with this film. It’s pure entertainment. It is unbelievable funny and it’s partly awful dramatic – it’s like a “catastrophe-musical”.. Yeah – okay – I am excited ... – and towards the end of this film I am absolutely always getting goose bumps.. yeah – kitschy, pathetic.. Whatever..

And now I am going to tell you a little bit about it – so relax, enjoy yourself and listen – but: Beware: I am completely disrespectful.. Wait – you knew that already, didn’t you?

So – why of all things do I start talking about modern movies with this film?

It’s easy – I was trying to seduce a very good friend of mine to watch THE BOAT THAT ROCKED – and it worked. Well, kind of...

…

He didn’t (yet)...

– but I watched it..

So: Dear friend, from now on I will let you alone when it comes to this film. ... Well... Maybe for today..

In a nutshell:

1966 – great times for British Rock’n’Roll – but BBC radio program only broadcasts less than 45 minutes of pop music – so the lovers of that music have to listen to Pirate Radio stations – which are anchored in North Sea and play Rock and Pop all-day (and -night) long – and so is Radio Rock..

Young Carl (Tom Sturridge) who is expelled from school is sent by his mother (Emma Thompson) to his godfather Quentin (Bill Nighy) – who (what a coincidence!) runs Radio Rock.. And with young Carl we get to know all those DJs of this pirate radio station..

Everything could be just nice – and Carl’s biggest problem could be to lose his virginity - if there wasn’t government minister Sir Alistair Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh) who – with a little help from his assistant Twatt (it’s all in the name.. - he is btw personated by Jack Davenport) - tries to close those pirate radio stations down..

Schmooze:

• The US title is PIRATE RADIO, the German one is RADIO ROCK REVOLUTION, in Italy the film is known as I LOVE RADIO ROCK and my favourite is the French title: GOOD MORNING ENGLAND ... yeah.. that’s what I call translation, baby!.. Isn’t it interesting that each of these countries has an alternate English title?? Think about that..

• Richard Curtis is responsible for such screenplays for films as FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL (1994), NOTTING HILL (1999) and LOVE ACTUALLY (2003) … It’s up to your decision if you’ll take that as a warning or a recommendation..

• Though the story is fictional it’s loosely based on popular pirate radio ship Radio Caroline – and so are most of the DJs loosely based on actual DJs..

You should watch this film if you...

• ... are a fan of 1960s music – in this case this film is a MUST. Hear me?!?

• ... are a fan of 1960s clothes

• … are disliking Philip Seymour Hoffman and want to change that. (- worked for two of my friends.. just btw… he is great in this one – but I am a fan already.. – so: don’t take my word – watch that movie!)

• … wished TITANIC (1997) would have had more free love and Rock’n’Roll.. ;”)

Ok – a little bit of an advance notice:

This film is hilarious – and a bit sad – and dirty – and naughty.. ;”) It contents “adult humor” and strong language.. I LOVE it!!

"Cuz if you shoot a bullet, someone dies. When you drop a bomb, many die. You hit a woman, love dies. But... if you say the f-word, nothing actually happens."

- Yeah, the Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is right - but I (for one) still try to avoid to use the f-word..

The cast is amazing. Ok, I fancy Rhys Ifans (that dreadful scumbag..) – but there is a lot of nice “material” on this ship - if I may say so.. I think I would go for more than half of the people on board and I include some gorgeous girls in this..

I love Felicity (Katherine Parkinson), the cook, who is allowed to stay because she is an “absolutely always-“ lesbian.. – and her love story is one sadly small but therefor very lovely part of the film.. It's like two minutes or so - but very cute..

You will maybe spot some naked breast - as I now learned it is possible that this scene is cut from the US release.. It is a homage to Jimi Hendrix’s “Electric Ladyland” album-cover.. You can see it here:

~ this is the US version, folks.. you can imagine what we Europeans are allowed to see, can't you? ;"p ~

And you have the chance to see Nick Frost (Dr. Dave in this film) in almost all his glory.. But don’t be afraid: No “(almost) real sex-scenes” in this flick.. ;”)

The cast is really just marvelous – yeah! I can’t say that often enough. We have the always great Bill Nighy, who is magnificently arrogant and arrogantly tongue-in-cheek - just like I love him to be - and we have Philip Seymour Hoffman, who is rocking cool, of course the awful Rhys Ifans, Kenneth Branagh (stiff as a broomstick..), Chris O’Dowd who is hilarious and tragic and makes me want to cuddle him ~ how could I not go for a guy named simple Simon?? ~ , a very stylish Emma Thompson, the lovely and very sweet Gemma Arterton (I adore her!!), stunning January Jones, cute Talulah Riley - and I especially love Ike Hamilton (Harold – who is maybe not saying soo much – but he is amazing - even without words – and I will state here and now that I like this tooth space.. It’s adorable..) and the very funny Rhys Darby (Angus) and many, many more..

And you GUYS may like to know: The men who apparently have the most sex in this film are the chubby one and the one who hardly says a word (and I do not refer to Harold..) – okay the last one will please the eye of some girls around here– but maybe you boys can learn a new “line”… - tell me if it works.. ;”p

For us girls it’s harder: we have to be gorgeous to get some fun it seems.. Oh – and a fringe helps obviously.. ;”)

But I would say: The girls around this blog are quite amazing - aren’t you, ladies?? See! I knew it! ;”)

Quotes corner:

The film gave me some wonderful quotes which made their way into my daily life:

“Walk woodpecker way!”

is used very often by my sister and me, when one of us notices that the other one is about to do something really idiotic and should change her plans. – Coming to think of it: my sister says this a lot more often than I do… hm…

Or we have:

“Aww.. You look like a unicorn – in a negligee..”

Ok – if you ever say that to me when I am sitting on your bed – get ready to pick your teeth up from the floor - and I don't care how cute you are.. Just mentioning it..

Let's face the music:

The Soundtrack is just amazing – it isn’t always true to the decade – e.g. The Who’s “WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN” for sure wasn’t released in 1966. I am a The Who fan – and in this case I won’t get fooled again either – but it doesn’t matter – the song fits perfect into the scene. – And I also don’t care about the Muddy Waters-error..

Hans Zimmer wrote the one additional piece of music – and he is not credited for that. He did it as a favor for Working Title..

Gee, I could do a whole entry about the score - there are over 50 songs I guess which are used here.. - AND: There is even one Ennio Morricone tune! It’s the theme of FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE!!! – and of course it makes a great scene even greater! Ok, maybe the scene is just idiotic – or pathetic – Anyway - I like it.. ;”)

This scene didn’t make it into the film but so you have a chance to meet the team:

(I would cheer for Angus.. I would be alone with this– but I would cheer.)

- and now let's attend a wedding:

And finally - the trailer:

Hm.. I have the strange feeling I once stated my entries for newer films would be less long..

Doesn't seem like I am able to do that..

Sorry.

(Nah.. not really..)

"I've always lived for news and weather. Happy to die for them, too. Especially the weather."

Thank you for listening!

Yours (very well, groovy and) truly

Irene

Let's face the music - and talk : poll results

Hi there!

I know, I know.. it feels like years that you voted for your favourite Ennio Morricone tune - and it was a bit of a tug-of-war between A FEW DOLLARS MORE and THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY..

But finally THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY won this race by 3 : 2 .. (and don't you dare to decide which of these lovely ladies on the picture is the bad or any else one! ...)

So here you have the winner again - and this time I show you the opening credits.

I don't know how you feel about opening credits - but I like it when I get something to watch - and not just names and such.. - I am an avid reader but in films I act like a true illiterate and a voluntary illiterate in addition.. - like when you just learned to read but still want your mom to read stories to you.. (and I won't reveal that most of the time the letters on TV-screen start to blur right before my eyes.. curse you - mean, lazy peepers of mine..)

(Film-folks: Make the letters big and don't let them fly over the screen that fast, please - esp. when it comes to end credits!)

And I just like this intro to THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY- it's so much 60s.. -it's artistic in a typical late 60s style - and at the same time you see that it is made to fit in a classic-wild-west-style..

Here we go - watch, listen and enjoy - and don't mind my silly chuckle when the man's voice sings "ahahaha"... *hihihi* I love that!! ... :

Thank you all for voting!

Yours (very well and) truly

Irene

New paths and such on And then they start to sparkle

Hey, folks!

As you all know I am this month’s guest at my good friend Monty’s blog ALL GOOD THINGS - and it seems that I will stay guest fur July, too – is that awesome or what?? Bless that guest who jumped off – the Irene Palfy Show now has a prolonged season at ALL GOOD THINGS..

Being a guest at Monty’s means first and foremost I am talking shop and answer some questions about my liking and disliking in movies. One question was to name my favorite modern films – which I did - of course..

Now, Desiree – lovely lady, who has a great blog about the amazing Rosalind Russell -> please visit it HERE – asked me which I would recommend most. That is hard to do in a comment form – and hard to follow for her, too. So your poor Irene had to do some thinking.. *ouch*

Right now I am in a “modern film mood” – which is why I am neglecting you poor guys.. ;”) ~ yeah, let’s pretend you miss me, ok? ~

So I thought: Hey, let’s do some posts in which I talk about modern films ~ and smuggle in some films I did not mention in that answer I gave at Monty’s.. “gee – does Irene has secrets? Mysterious gal..” ;”p ~

It won’t be as extensive as the posts about classics – but there is more than b/w films out there, isn’t it? ;”) And don’t you start that: “Yeah – there is also Technicolor,too”-stuff at me – hear me?! You know very well what I am talking about..

So, please prepare for some meanderings around here, ok?

Thank you for listening! ;")

Yours (very well and) truly

Irene

Goodbye Peter Falk

The man who I liked best in POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES (1961), who was hilarious in MURDER BY DEATH (1976) and ROBIN AND THE 7 HOODS (1964)

and who teached me (yeah - and Natalie Wood - which makes us kind of classmates, doesn't it? ..) how to blow chewing gum bubbles in PENELOPE (1966)

has passed away.

Goodbye, Mr. Falk!

Let's face the music - and talk (1. Ennio Morricone)

I highly react to film music. I can’t help it – and I won’t help it. :”)

But I will try and - if I can - establish a little series in which I will write about scores, composers – and ways more about my enthusiasm for these awesome pieces of music that we often hear but seldom realize. I might pick one composer or one movie or... - we'll see..

This is going to be quite personal – but you can avoid to read to much about "yours truly" because I will name every post LET’S FACE THE MUSIC – AND TALK - so you will know when to hide..

So let’s start with the music I grew up with:

Maybe you should know that I grew up with a father who is a great fan of western and adventure films and whatever. – Let there be some dirty “real men” who know how to use their fists and now and then spit out a sassy sound bite – my dad will love it.

Can’t imagine anything more lovable when thinking of my highly intelligent dad than this big man laughing about some silly jokes and a fat guy socking a bunch of meanies – yeah, my dad is great. We had some fights and not so very beautiful moments but I think we go along now. (Yes, I moved out years ago – how could you guess that? Well, it seems that I am starting to become nostalgic and forget things – don’t we all?)

Some of the films my daddy loves have the greatest score you can imagine. He and my mother also have a large collection of records – and some of them content the music of one man on whose genius my family agrees completely about. It is the Italian composer and conductor

Ennio Morricone.

I think his name is best know from several “Spaghetti Western” scores (though he wrote music for “only” 30 -40 of them).

2007 he received an Honorary Oscar for his life achievement – and he was nominated for several other awards of which he won a lot..

Hans Zimmer once called him his favorite composer in the world – and Hans Zimmer isn’t bad himself, is he?

Ennio Morricone worked also with Brian de Palma for THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987) and MISSION TO MARS (2000), with John Carpenter for THE THING (1982), with John Boorman for THE EXCORCIST II (1977) and with Wolfgang Petersen for IN THE LINE OF FIRE (1993) - to just name a few.

But for me - and presumably many others - he will always be the man who wrote music like these:

MY NAME IS NOBODY (1973) – one of my father's favorite films.. And - you know: there are Terence Hill’s famous blue eyes.. I am a fan of dark eyes.. - but this man.. well.. – let’s change the subject. This Nobody was pretty cool.. and this melody is one of the most cheerful I know:

THE BALLAD OF SACCO AND VANZETTI (1971) – which is quite political – read more about Sacco and Vanzetti and ask wiki.

The song was originally written for the Italian docudrama SACCO E VANZETTI (1971) but is also used for GERMANY IN AUTUMN (1978) and in Wes Anderson’s amazing THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU (2004).

This was one of my favorite songs – and I still love it very much. It has a wonderful melody – very powerful. When I was a kid I used to hear it over and over at night and cry a bit.. Though I had no clue what this song was about. I always was an odd chick.. Maybe it was the organ..

But let's listen to Joan Baez:

THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY (1966). Okay - who of you still says he/she doesn’t know anything musical by Ennio Morricone?

How can you possibly have survived till this day and don’t know this tune?? I use this one rather often to tease my sister – whenever she starts to give me the evil eye (just before she is about to “explode”) and the strain becomes really hard for me I start to hum this melody – including some sounds which may remind you of a duck in change of voice.. In most cases I think this melody saves my live, because my sister starts to laugh – and if someday it won’t be working anymore – well, it’ll be the perfect score.. ;”)

A FIST FULL OF DOLLARS (1964) – I just love how this melody builds up: First you hear a soft guitar, then a whistle is added and after that this trill and so on – it’s just awesome!:

For the fans: ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (1968) – this one kills me. This is an unbelievable heavy piece of music – very dark and it is able to depress me. I guess that I couldn't possibly make a post about Morricone an leaving this one out..

And finally – you get a scene to see how Ennio Morricone’s music can make a scene quite impressiv which would be a bit dull ~ yeah! I said it. Just a bit, boys! Keep your shirt on! I don't say it's bad - I just say it's better with music. ;"p ~ :

It's from A FEW DOLLARS MORE (1965) and I post this scene in Italian – so you can completely concentrate on the music and the pictures. (Won’t work so good, if you’re able to speak Italian – but I just couldn’t find a version in “Elvish”..)

It's the finale - so you should be prepared of spoilers.. ;")

( I think this is kind of a favorite scene for mothers: “See? Even Clint Eastwood is able to clean up!”)

Tell me: Do you like Ennio Morricone's music? Have you got a favorite melody by him?

Just for fun I am adding a poll so you can vote for your favorite melody of those I presented here – quite interactive, eh? ;”)

Thank you very much for visiting this blog – and I hope you liked what you saw.

Yours (very well and) truly

Irene

Que sera?

My very good friend Monty of ALL GOOD THINGS has started the CLASSIC MOVIE ACTOR TOURNAMENT !!- and the Silent/ 30's Era is halfway through - today it is Clark Gable vs. James Cagney and William Powell vs. Errol Flynn. - and as always I am in the hm.. how shall I call it..: "non-winning team".. *sigh* - but maybe you can help that.. ;")

Just kidding - but I'd love you to go and vote for your favourite! But stay fair and vote just one time and don't push your favourite by unfair voting, please!

(Buster Keaton seems to be a bit depressed because he is out - don't be sad, Buster! I still love you, honey!!)

This month I am also a guest at Monty's blog who will asking me some questions and tries to make a star out of me.. Gee, I am feeling a bit like Judy Garland - you think I may get socked in the night I am finally going to win the Oscar? ;") ~ I am frequently training my Thank-you-speech for that Oscar night.. you all will break out in sobs, that's nothing you can avoid. Trust me! I am just about to look for the perfect dress.. ;"p well, not really.. ~

For I am a social star I am not the only leading lady this month on Monty's blog - I share top billing with Doris Day!! Can you imagine that?! ~ I am going to faint any minute.. ~

(Gee - Doris is almost ready - I got to get my make up, too!!)

That's it for June - and now we're talking about July:

I will attend PARIS IN JULY of BOOKBATH - which means on my bookblog ALL THAT GLISTENS COULD BE OLD I will be talking about books I read, which are setted in France or from French authors or whatever else, on my blog NOT SOPHISTICATED I will post some French music and maybe some other things connected with that theme - and of course here I will concentrate on films that are setted in Paris or France at all or have French actors in it or whatever - some tiny bits and pieces I think.. ;")

And for not being too onesided and also being a good guest I will ask Monty to be my guest in return here. Then he will answer some questions and I hope that he will tell us something about his blogs.. (That man is quite engaged.) This way I think there will be some post to release you from my french fixation in July.. ;")

Well, that's it for now - you now may enjoy your week-end!

Yours (very, very well) and truly

Irene

85 years - oh my!

"I'm not interested in money, I just want to be wonderful"

Today Marilyn Monroe - another of my heroines would be 85 years old - so happy Birthday Norma Jean!

"Please don't make me a joke. End the interview with what I believe... I want to be an artist, an actress with integrity."