ThinkSoul25
Turner Classic Movies
Freshly Brewed Coffee & TCM Romance
Whew, it feels so good to finally take a moment to myself and write on my blog. I know its only been a few days since I’ve written a post, but my soul can’t go too long before it begins craving a desire to express itself. Normally if I don’t write, then I would paint or draw, but everything is packed up since I’m moving next week.
So, in the midst of school work, writing resumes (my paid freelance gig), and mentally preparing myself to move yet again, I’ve been passing my time sipping on freshly brewed coffee, watching classic films, and reading some good cozy books(thank you Amazon.) Oh, and aside from romantic films, I found myself watching all three Lord of the Rings films in consecutive order; felt like having my own LOTR marathon.
LOTR is of course far from being romantic, but it was a nice break from my recent TCM obsession. Perhaps because I’m a single girl in my twenties, or maybe it’s because every now and then I’m a sucker for romance, but I just really love a girly moment drinking coffee, cuddling up on my bed, and watching Clark Gable fall in love with a random stranger.
If you haven’t watched a film starring Clark Gable, then boy I must say you are missing out! I’m a huge Gable fan and I stayed up till 2am last night watching the classic film Test Pilot starring Clark Gable, 
Spencer Tracy, and Lionel Barrymore. The leading lady in that film isn’t one of my favorites (I love Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, and Lauren Bacall) but she did a pretty good job falling in love with Gable in one day and marrying him. Gable has that effect on women.He’s sort of a classic heart throb that I throw into my categorization of all the 1940s romantic movie leading men; the list includes Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, and Errol Flynn.
Now that is just a small list of the leading men I personally like, but there are of course many more. And when it comes to instilling fear, I have to totally say the award goes to Robert Mitchum in the film Cape Fear. If you haven’t seen the classic film Cape Fear, then you need to watch it. The film is a superb thriller driven by suspense and the reality of how crazy stalking can be. Excellent film.
Speaking of thriller, I should devote a post to classic thrillers since this is Halloween month, so stay tuned for that post coming soon.
So let’s get back to the topic, romance! There is just something so refreshing about watching a classic film where a stranger meets someone that catches their eye and they find themselves falling in love. Most films nowadays have to rush straight to showing the sex, but the films of the 30s and 40s focused on the conversation, the flirtatious banter, and the passionate throws of kisses. Even an occasional slap was followed by an aggressive kiss of passion, as if to say “I love you so much, I don’t want to ever hurt you again. Forgive me!”
I could make an argument for the amount of slapping in classic films, but then again you can form essays on how booze and cigarette smoking as a lifestyle prominent. It’s rare you watch a film from the 40s and see an absence of liquor or some beautiful leading lady smoking a cigarette in a stunning evening gown; I’m surprised they never portrayed the reality of how harsh your voice can become. But then again, classic films are supposed to romanticize relationships, show us the intrigue of mystery in film noir, and enlighten us with stunning simplicity driven by complex lighting and shadows.
The romanticism infused with intrigue is why I truly love classic films and have an ongoing obsession with TCM. I hope that channel never goes away, it is essential in showcasing the history of film! And my favorite thing about TCM is the days they devote to film noir. The allure of murder, gangsters, and romance is such a phenomenal combination that I’m going to say most women love. Their is something devilishly sexy about the bad boy appeal, the daring stranger who can charm our pants off. And a film that perfectly captures that entire vibe is my favorite noir film, The Big Sleep.
The Big Sleep is a complex crime thriller with steamy romance that was based off Raymond Chandler’s 1939 novel, but was officially brought to life on the big screen in 1946 by Howard Hawks. The film stars one of Hollywood’s most iconic couples, Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall. The two had a romance on-screen, but they were also married in real-life and had children together. Sadly, their romance ended when Bogart died, but the memories of their undeniable love & attraction will always be on-screen.
There are so many reasons why I love The Big Sleep. It’s the type of film that mimics the type of day dreams I find myself having about a steamy romance set in a film noir atmosphere. In the midst of all the chaos, Bogart is that cold-hearted detective Phillip Marlowe who finds himself in the midst of a “hazy” 
private investigation, and he finds himself falling in love with the beautiful Mrs. Vivian Rutledge, portrayed by Bacall. I could sit here and describe the plot to you, but it’s such a complex classic visualization of film noir that you must-watch for yourself. If you like Double Indemnity then you’ll find this film a treat; a complex dosage of character motives.
Wow, I’ve actually talked about these films so much that now I must go watch them yet again! I’ve seen so many films from the 1940s over and over again, and the romantic inside of me never gets tired of them. The intrigue of boy meets girl infused with complex plots are timeless pieces of cinema that shouldn’t be ignored. So, if you have some time to relax, I highly advise you grab a cup of coffee (tea is good too) and turn your television to the TCM. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. 
Other Posts I’ve Written About My Love of TCM
The Silence of Love: ‘The Artist’
I love the elegant sophistication of black and white films, especially films that come from the 20s-40s era (big time range, lots of good movies.) It’s not just the lack of vibrant colors that makes the B&W films so good, but it’s also the stunning simplicity yet intricate characters that makes the films warm my heart.
TCM is home to a lot of classic movies, but in 2011 Lithuanian-French filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius decided to bring back that classic era with his award-winning film, The Artist. 
For months I had been wanting to go see The Artist,but I never could find the time (or someone to accompany me) to see the film. Part of me wishes I would have seen the movie when it first came out in select theatres, but I’m glad that I was finally able to buy it OnDemand and watch it yesterday afternoon.
The Artistis one of the best films I’ve seen in quite some time. I’m so in love with it…I’m going to watch it again, again, and yes, one more time…again. The film follows the riveting story of silent film star George Valentine (Jean Dujardin.) He’s got all the charisma, suave, and irresistible charm that makes fans go crazy over him. Oh, and he is extremely cocky, but it’s charming. It’s not the annoying kind of cockiness, it’s just this attitude of a 1920s Hollywood movie star.
George Valentine has got it all…until he meets Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo.) This random beauty ends up bumping into him and they have this immediate chemistry that is unexplainable. Since the movie is entirely silent (except for a few moments of a dream and the end,) you truly get to experience the silence of love. Facial expressions and gestures between George and Peppy truly lets us know that there is some magical connection between them. Perfect strangers…love at first sight.
The film follows the story of George’s decline as an actor, which is due to the introduction of Kinograph studios deciding to make only the “talkies” (movies with sound.) Once a Hollywood hotshot, George is slowly becoming replaced by Peppy and her rising stardom. The studio drops George, picks up Peppy and she becomes Hollywood’s “it girl.” So throughout the film you get to see the striking contrast of his fall and her rise, yet still feel the unspoken love they share.
My favorite aspect of the film is truly silence. I’ve always enjoyed classic silent films, so the lack of sound didn’t bother me; the experience is enhanced. The facial expressions convey so many emotions, and Jean Dujardin is such an amazing actor. Honestly, the film had a lot of great actors, including the dog. George’s main companion through his trials and tribulations is this incredibly well-trained Jack Russell Terrier, Uggie. The dog isn’t just an extra on the set, he truly is a main character in the film.
Oh I must also mention the film won three Golden Globe Awards: best actor, score and best motion picture musical or comedy, as well as numerous Oscars. Critics and awards don’t help me decide whether a film is good (okay, sometimes,) but honestly The Artist is just such an amazing film and I knew it was going to be stunning when I first saw the trailer.
The Artist the perfect combination of love, tap dancing, comedy, sorrow, redemption, and the ultimate reality of how powerful silence can be. If you’re looking for a great film to watch that stays in your mind and heart, then you should truly check out The Artist. It will leave you laughing, crying, nervous at a particular scene (I’m not going to include a spoiler,) and it will make you think about love at first sight and the reality of chemistry between strangers, especially non-spoken connections. Ah, the silence of love…
©Jasmine McGee.ThinkSoul25. http://thinksoul25.com
Classic Horror Masterpiece: The Haunting (1963)
Halloween is finally here! It’s the day when it’s so okay for girls to dress slutty, guys get free passes to stare at them and not be slapped, and it’s that time of year when it’s okay to terrorize little kids with classic horror flicks. Movies like Paranormal Activity, Saw, and other popular Halloween related movies aren’t really that scary in my opinion. If it’s not about all the blood and gore, which is just disgusting, then it’s about a bunch of demons, ghouls, possession, and big budget scare tactics.
The scary movies that come out nowadays have the potential to be very scary, but at a certain point it loses that original vibe that makes a 
classic horror film. When I was attending the Colorado Film School, I had the opportunity to learn why the best horror films ever created came from the 50s, 60s, and of course the 80s. I was exposed to a lot of different film titles, but the film that stood out the most was a chilling movie called The Haunting.
The Haunting, the original 1963 film (remake was horrible,) is a classic horror masterpiece that will scare the crap out of you. It’s not filled with a lot of blood slashing and upfront confrontations with a supernatural being, but it’s driven by a subtle element of horror and detail that is psychologically teasing. It’s one of those rare horror films that focuses is what can’t be seen. In the film you never see a murder or the supernatural force tormenting the family, but the details in the 
narration and the visual effects, including amazing sound, create such a chilling sense of fear.
Robert Wise‘s The Haunting is truly a one of a kind horror masterpiece that was revolutionary during that time period. While some studios wanted to opt for bigger thrills, introducing more blood, deaths, and monsters, Wise decided to embark on creating the perfect psychological horror film. Even if you don’t get all terrified, you will still feel jumpy and mental be over analyzing each detail and sound. There are some moments in the film that catch you off guard and have you pondering what on earth could possibly happen next? Was it a murder? Did a supernatural force shake the door? Is a priest going to save the day? Should they run? Etc,etc,etc. You just can’t help but to begin rattling off questions.
I honestly can say that The Haunting is perhaps one of the scariest psychological horror films I have seen. It doesn’t have all the visual thrills and gore, but it’s such a powerful suspense film that is propelled forward with excellent characters, mind blowing set design, and eerie sounds that will give you the spooks! It’s a film that I’d highly recommend watching, and today you’re in luck! Turner Classic Movies has an all day classic horror movie marathon called “The Monster Mash!” It’s a great selection of some classic horror masterpieces from the 50s and 60s. Dracula Has risen From Grave is about to go off now, but then lineup is: The Curse of Frankenstein, Frankenstein Created Woman, The Mummy, The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb, Village of the Damned, Night of the Living Dead, a segment called “A Night at the Movies,” then The Innocents, and finally at 2am EST The Haunting.
The Haunting is worth staying up till 2am to watch, but since I barely sleep anyways I’ll be up eating popcorn and trying not scream. It’s best to cut off all the lights, get comfy, and settle in for a petrifying psychological horror film that focuses on what can’t be seen. As the movie tagline says, “You may not believe in ghosts, but you cannot deny terror!”
The Original Trailer for The Haunting (1963)
Great Fan-made trailer
The First 7 Minutes of the Film!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAo6WwpV3jk
©Jasmine McGee.ThinkSoul25. http://thinksoul25.com
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The Timeless Fashion of the 1940s
Barbara Goalen in Fashion Shot by John French
As I often watch classic films from the 1940s and early 50s, I always wonder what it would be like to wear evening gowns and siren suits everyday. I know there are a lot of women out there who wear dresses, heels, and glamorous clothes on a daily basis, but the fashion of the 40s was all about tailored class versus trendy sex appeal. In many ways the fashion of that decade can be noted as the emergence of office attire, i.e. work suits for women.
The women didn’t just wear suits and tailored dresses just to impress, but it was also a reflection of the rations that had been implemented during WWII. The war didn’t just have a great social impact on humanity, but it also changed the livelihood and fashion of the average woman. While the men were off fighting to serve and protect our country, the women were left at home taking on new job opportunities and exploring a new sense of fashion to fit their work needs. While rations on items such as sugar, beef, coffee, butter, and canned goods were put in place, rations were also placed on fabrics. The amount of material allotted to an outfit was limited, so women began wearing tailored suits, pencil skirts, and tailored dresses during the daytime. However, when the evening came it was their time to shine and adorn themselves with jewelry and beautiful evening gowns that would leave an eligible bachelor speechless.
Fashion trends of the 40s and early 50s, even the early 60s, are still alive today. There may not be rations and a ration point system on the amount of fabric purchased, but designers still present timeless looks that are a staple of class for the everyday woman.The tailoring doesn’t just have to be a plain jane look; some suits are very asymmetrical when it comes to the cut and form. I think the true beauty of a woman is when she is able to pull off a variety of styles, even wild and avant-garde looks, but she also knows how to look flawless and pristine in a tailored suit or dress.
Some women don’t wear tailored clothes on a daily basis, but I’m the type of woman that can’t wait to have a lavish wardrobe filled with tailored pieces. There is something so subtle yet ravishing about a pencil skirt hugging my curves and a tailored jacket that leaves a hint of peek-a-boo cleavage. I don’t have the money yet to afford all the clothes I want (last year of college, waiting to graduate and get job writing,) but watching classic films and viewing the photography of John French has inspired me to keep my eye on the prize; a year from now I’ll be working that full time job in a office and wearing tailored suits and pencil skirts that make me proud to be a tall curvacious woman.
A lot of fashion trends come, then go, then come back for a celebrity trending season, then go out of season again, and then attempt a comeback but quickly get replaced a day later. I totally understand the whole concept of trends and originality, but I also love the timeless look of a good old fashioned tailored look. The women during the 1940s and 50s knew how to transition from an tailored suit 
into a stunning evening gown that could ensue “Who is that woman” whispers in a crowded room. You know the type of whispers I’m talking about! Usually in the movies the sexy damsel will strut into a room with a “come hither” sultry look that catches the eye of the leading man. Watching play out in a classic film is priceless! Even today that “come hither” moment still takes place.
We’ve all been somewhere and have seen a stunning woman walk with such such confidence and class that we immediately wonder who could that woman be. Women, we usually admire her outfit, or some women tend to just hate (I don’t like hating on other females.) In contrast, a man will see this sexy woman and might be captivated by her looks; he might even take that daring step and be the one to approach her.
The transition from day to night, infused with such passionate stories of love and triumph, are truly what make watching classic films from the 40s an amazing experience. Those films may be in Black and White (which I love!) but the fashion and elegance that those women exude are timeless looks that every woman should consider. A alluring, sexy, and confident woman knows how to wear any style or trend, but she has an irresistible vibe of class that makes the statement come to life.
©Jasmine McGee.ThinkSoul25. http://thinksoul25.com
