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12 Angry Personalities

In honor of director Sidney Lumet (who died earlier this year) here's some thoughts on one of my favorite movies by him: 12 Angry Men.

I've mentioned before how I enjoy trying to pick out different temperaments/personality types when I watch movie characters. Ensemble casts provide a nice opportunity for type matching, and one of my favorite films along these lines is 12 Angry Men. Set in the rather claustrophobic confines of a jury room, the movie gives 12 actors a chance to showcase 12 distinct characters with interesting personality differences. I recently rewatched the movie with the purpose of analyzing the 12 personality types represented according to David Keirsey's temperament sorter.

First, it might be helpful to explain briefly how these types are divided. Each personality type is represented by four letters made up from these possibilities:

E for Extroversion or I for Introversion 

(sometimes the easiest to spot, outgoing vs. reserved people)

S for Sensation or N for iNtuition 

(an S focuses on actual, concrete things, an N looks at possibilities and ideas)

T for Thinking or F for Feeling 

(deciding with head or heart, objective vs. subjective)

J for Judging or P for Perceiving

(Js are more organized, scheduled and faster with decisions and tend to see things as more black or white, Ps like to keep options open and are more flexible)

There are 16 possible combinations from these letters which in turn divide the temperaments into four categories:

Artisans (SPs) are action types and more impulsive

Guardians (SJs) are responsible, helpful, steady

Idealists (NFs) are intuitive, soulful, ethical

Rationals (NTs) are logical, ingenious, and theoretical

Confused yet? Don't worry. I'll break it down more specifically for each of our 12 jurors. (When writing out the letters that make up the types below, the capitals are for ones I feel more certain about, while the lowercase letters are ones I am not as sure about, or where the character only leans slightly more to one letter.)

Juror #1 - Guardian (eSfJ )
The foreman of the jury seems like a bit of a natural leader, and turns out to be a high school assistant coach in his regular life. He's organized, making a page to track guilty and not guilty votes, but he's also careful to weigh everyone's opinions carefully before committing to any action. At one point his feelings get hurt, but he rallies before long. Overall, he does his best to keep the rest of the jurors on track, giving weight to tradition and authority, perhaps as a mix of his position and his personality.


Juror #2 -  Guardian (ISfJ)
Mild and meek, Juror #2 is a bit too easily swayed. But he's also concerned about what's right, doesn't like when the plans for talking around the table in order change, and is quite happy to help out by timing the recreation of the old man's walk. His occupation (he works at a bank) is a classic Guardian logistical job.


Juror #3 - Guardian (EStj)
While some things about juror #3 had me viewing him as an Artisan at first, breaking it down he seems to be more of a Guardian. This very excitable juror is the last to change his vote, and while his stubbornness could be seen as being based more on emotions than facts, he starts off with his little notebook with facts of the case and tries to insist that he has no personal feelings on the matter. He takes everything about the trial very personally due to being stuck in thoughts of his own past. His forceful personality is used to getting its own way and being in control; perhaps this is what he's like in managing his messenger service. He's not very tolerant of other people's viewpoints when they don't match up with his. He also sometimes speaks without thinking, even when it's to the detriment of his own arguments.


Juror #4 - Rational (iNTJ)
A broker, #4 has very strong opinions and isn't afraid to defend them. He's self-confident almost to the point of arrogance. While others are swayed or influenced by emotional appeals, this juror is only concerned with logic, relying on facts to support his position that the boy on trial is guilty and didn't have a convincing alibi. He's more truthful than tactful and comes across as rather cold, not even seeming to sweat while everyone else is suffering in the heat. He finally is persuaded and votes not guilty when he has a reasonable doubt about the testimony of an eyewitness.
 

Juror #5 - Guardian (iStJ)
This juror takes a pass at first in explaining why he voted guilty, but eventually opens up with his own ideas and opinions about the case. Despite being defensive about his background, he is not afraid to stand up for himself when he changes his vote. And he's quite certain about how the boy would have handled a switchblade; when he's sure, he's sure. Takes being a juror seriously.


Juror #6 - Artisan (IStP)
This juror is not so good on remembering the details and is at first most concerned about motive. As suits an Artisan, he does physical work, at one point talking about a painting job and also explaining he's a working man that lets his boss do the supposing. In general he stays rather quiet, letting more extroverted jurors do a lot of the talking, but when something strikes him he speaks up, occasionally forcefully as when defending the old man. Slow to decide, listens, then acts.



Juror #7 - Artisan (ESFP)
Impatient due to the ballgame tickets burning a hole in his pocket, Juror #7 blows with the wind, forming strong opinions without needing facts to defend them. He behaves very emotionally, is quick to take offense. He's also quick to talk and sometimes loud, can't sit still and jokes and whistles. He plainly wants to be more active than the restraints of being on a jury would allow. While this marmalade salesman is not above making fun of people, in general he's a people person and feeds off the energy of others.


Juror #8 - Idealist (iNFj)
Juror #8 has one of the strongest and most interesting parts. While he's quiet and thoughtful at the start, he has to stand on his own and attempt to make a convincing argument to take some time to talk before sending in a final verdict. This architect is definitely more focused on the big picture, making his opening plea almost exclusively about what might possibly be wrong with the case. He's concerned about truth and justice but is also very compassionate.


Juror #9 - Guardian (IsFj)
This man may be a bit timid in part due to his old age, but his quiet nature also makes him insightful, noticing very specific details about witnesses that many others on the jury missed. He's the first to change his vote to not guilty, mostly to give #8 a chance to make his case and out of respect for his motives in gambling for support. In talking about the older man that gave testimony it's almost as though he's talking about himself, revealing that he wants to be useful and to do something valuable, even if it's just this once as a juror.


Juror #10 - Artisan (EsFp)
If you can ignore for a second this juror's bigotry and his nasty cold, you can see that he's still an outspoken loudmouth with strong opinions. He has an ugly emotional outburst and seems crushed when he loses the ears of the others.




Juror #11 - Rational (INTp)
Even before he votes not guilty, this respectful watchmaker raises questions about whether or not the boy would have come back to the scene of the crime. When called out about it, he says he doesn't believe he has to be loyal to one side or another, he's just asking questions. But he does get very upset when juror #7 changes his vote seemingly without any good logical reason. And he's quick to correct the other jurors when they get their facts (or grammar) wrong.


Juror #12 - Idealist (ENFP)
An ad man, juror #12 is given to colorful speech, is easily distracted and spends his time doodling, and also seems rather insecure in his opinions, being the only member of the jury to swing back and forth with his votes. He likes to talk, likes coming up with new ideas, decides emotionally and to please people but has some problem with follow-through.


At one point a juror comments, "Nice bunch of guys, huh?" and is answered: "They're about the same as anyone else." The movie showcases a nice cross-section of people and personalities in one very specific pressurized situation.

We can begin to see these personalities at work right from the start of the movie. The more Extroverted characters (#s 3, 7, 10 &12) are the ones at the beginning striking up conversations in the jury room before any official discussion starts, while the Introverts (like #s 2, 4, 6 & 11 ) are more quiet. The Sensory types (#s 1, 2, 3) are more apt to get lost in specific details, while the iNtuitive ones (#s 4, 8, 11), while perhaps talking about specific parts of the case, are more concerned with the overall ideas and bigger picture. Those making decisions based on Thinking (#s 4, 11) find the emotional perspective and outbursts of the Feelers (#s 7, 10) unconvincing and even annoying. The Judging types (#s 3, 4) feel more strongly that things are black and white, while the Perceivers (#s 7, 12) blow with the wind a bit more, even with their votes.

Interestingly, the population in general is made up of more Artisans and Guardians, with Idealists and Rationals being a smaller percentage. Assuming my guesses are at least mostly correct, this reality is also reflected in the fictional jury room of 12 Angry Men.

Of course, the characters in the movie also have other aspects of their personalities which are not dependent on temperament types. Juror #3 has strong personal feelings based on his relationship with his estranged son, #5 comes from a bad background and so is sensitive to talk about slums, #10 is openly and obnoxiously prejudiced. There's also variety in age and backgrounds. These traits/experiences are not specific to any type, yet they do have a big impact on character as well.

Overall, the movie is a great example not only of how the justice system works, but how different personality types relate and interact. As such it has stood the test of time and holds up well even with repeated watchings. I don't suppose that the different characters were made up based on any temperament sorter, yet in representing different types of people the personalities ring true and are quite fun to analyze.

If you'd like to learn more about temperaments and personality types, I'd recommend checking out these sites: TypeLogic, BestFitType and Keirsey.com. If you're already into personality types and you agree or disagree with my conclusions, let me know, I'd love to hear another perspective!

1 Plug, 10 facts, 20 quotes

First, a quick plug (or plea) for those of you readers that are LAMBs. You probably know it's time again for the LAMMY awards, and I'd appreciate some nominations in these (and whatever other categories) you'd consider me for. Thanks!

Next, I've been tagged by The Movie Ness for the latest meme going around. So here's 10 Movie Facts About Me:

1. When I was growing up, I wanted to be Princess Leia.
2. I'm not big on movie snacks at the theater, but if my friends get popcorn I always end up eating some.
3. I don't remember a time when I hadn't seen classics like Citizen Kane, Singin' in the Rain, Some Like it Hot, etc. I was raised on them.
4. I really hate when people are loud at the theater, talking through a movie. I got mad enough once to tell some people off before moving seats. (At home, though, I don't mind movie talk, as we can always rewind and are often rewatching anyway.)
5. I love spotting character actors from one movie to another. (When I don't know their names, I call them by the previous character name I recognize.) I'm always so pleased to yell out, "Hey, it's so-and-so from whatever-movie!" as if I've just seen an old friend!
6. I still watch my VHS tapes. While I've upgraded a bunch of favorite movies to DVD, I kept the VHS copies and store them in the bedroom (theater 2) for easy viewing.
7. I've never been to a drive-in movie, but I would really like to go. (If only I could find one somewhere!)
8. The only movie I ever went to see by myself  was A.I.
9. I wish my life could be more like a musical.
10. I'm excited (and trying to prepare for disappointment) about the Tron Sequel. I want this shirt to wear when I go see it.

And finally, a little while back (on a blog that no longer seems to exist) I played a game where the readers could guess the source of 20 movie quotes. I found it fun and thought I'd try it here as well. I'd like to say no cheating (as in, no help from google!) and although I can't really enforce it, I trust ya'll. Just comment with your answers for each number and I'll mark them off as they are gotten. (Hint: There's both classics and newer movies represented here.) Have fun!

1. Well, here we go, fast and loose. - The Hustler
2. I'll tell you right out, I'm a man who likes talking to a man who likes to talk. - The Maltese Falcon (Alex)
3. I like to like what's better to like. - Born Yesterday (NoirGirl)
4. Don't you think that daisies are the friendliest flower? - You've Got Mail (Jess)
5. Lay off 'em, you'll live longer. - The Palm Beach Story
6. No matter what you think you think you think the same as I think. - Adam's Rib (Java Bean Rush)
7. People? I ain't people. - Singin' in the Rain (trulymadlygeeky)
8. It's not a pretty face, I grant you, but underneath its flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character. - An American in Paris (Java Bean Rush)
9. I'm fine all over! - The Apartment (Alex)
10. You ate a lonely dinner, then got into the tub to read. - Laura (NoirGirl)
11. Let us be crooked but never common. - The Lady Eve (Java Bean Rush)
12. Sometimes he said I laughed too much. - The Third Man
13. He's just kissing her for you. - Take Me Out to the Ball Game (Java Bean Rush)
14. What care I for colds when there is such a man? - Sense and Sensibility (Jess)
15. Could you say that in English? - Guys and Dolls
16. I've seen detergents leave a better film than this. - The Muppet Movie
17. I want my two dollars! - Better Off Dead (Alex)
18. Pay the two dollars! - North by Northwest
19. Let's just keep this brain melting stuff to ourselves. - Back to the Future (Alex)
20. There's a double meaning in that. - Much Ado About Nothing (trulymadlygeeky)

(500) Days of Summer (Review)

Right from the get-go, the somewhat annoying narrator of (500) Days of Summer warns us not to expect a love story. Someone should have told Tom Hansen. Oh wait, someone did. The girl of his dreams, Summer Finn, makes it clear up front that she isn't looking for a boyfriend, that she doesn't even believe in love. (Her following actions could be said to send a bit of a mixed message, though.)

The movie takes a unique, non-linear look at the relationship between these two, showing the ups and downs of their time together as Tom tries to make sense of their break-up. Most of his memories of the past idealize Summer, but a shift in perspective later makes us question all we've seen through his eyes. (We should have known better than to trust someone who misinterpreted the ending of The Graduate.)

Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is slightly emo but earnest, sweet and so clueless that he relies on his little sister for relationship advice. Summer (Zooey Deschanel) is quirky and cute, sometimes maddeningly contradictory, but with an aura about her that (almost) justifies Tom's obsession. (Maybe it's her amazing eyes, highlighted by the signature shades of blue she surrounds herself with even in her apartment.)

The movie utilizes nontraditional ways of telling the story, including animation, putting a grieving Tom into foreign films, and, perhaps most effectively, a split screen segment emphasizing the vast gulf between Tom's expectations and reality. The music, good throughout the film, is especially excellent at this moment. ("Never ever saw it coming at all...")

For all its protestations about not being a love story, (500) Days of Summer is still a story about love. And, through its characters, it has some interesting things to say about it. Summer questions the meaning and reality of love, pointing out how most marriages end in divorce. Tom, on the other hand, asserts that you know love when you feel it. (While Tom and Summer seem to exchange viewpoints for a time, in the end they are still who they always were: an idealistic guy and a girl that does whatever she wants.)

If we can't quite see ourselves on one side or the other of this story, as either the hopeless romantic or the fiercely independent personality, we can probably recognize the types and why they make an uneasy match. Tom tries so hard to put Summer into a box as "the one" that he can't see she doesn't really fit. His wise-beyond-her-years-sister sees it: "Just 'cause some cute girl likes the same bizarro crap you do? That doesn't make her your soulmate." (Fair enough. But what does?)

At one point Tom goes on a tirade against greeting cards, movies and pop songs and the way they keep people from saying what they really feel while creating unrealistic expectations. But ultimately (500) Days turns into one of these movies, with an ending that promotes the ideas of fate and soulmates. (While it's not the happily-ever-after of your typical love story, the ending's still blindly optimistic, and maybe a little too cute.)

(500) Days of Summer is unique and fresh, an intelligent and unusual romantic comedy. (It's just not as brave as it pretends to be.)

Movie:
Rating:

(Although I could do without a couple of scenes and would probably like the TV edit.)

Soundtrack:
Rating:

("Bad Kids" is the only real clunker.)

I leave you with a music video, not from the movie, but with its two stars dancing to Zooey's song "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" from her band She & Him. (I can't watch this without smiling.)

Feeling Fabulous!

An embarrassingly long time ago, Clarabela at Just Chick Flicks tagged me for the Fabulous Blog Award. I am grateful, though slow to react, and now in honor of award season I'm here saying thanks (I think Just Chick Flicks is fabulous, too!) and passing it on. The rules (there's always rules to these things, you know) are to link back, post, write 5 random things, tag 5 more people...

So here's those 5 things you may or may not be interested in knowing about me:

1. Like the person who tagged me, I look younger than I really am. When I was a teen getting kids' menus this bothered me more, but the older I get the more OK I have become with still getting carded. ("Let's just say I'm old enough to know what to do with my young feelings.")
   
2. I love cheese. I've never met a cheese I didn't like. But I do love some more than others. One of my favorites is Manchego. Yum!
3. I graduated high school a year early. Not so much because I'm so smart, but because I had the credits and was ready to get out and move on with the rest of my life.
4. I stink at real bowling, but I'm really good at Wii bowling.
5. I have this strange thing about numbers, being comfortable with some and uncomfortable with others. Like, say the number of blogs I'm following is 30, or 33, or 35, that's all good. If it's 38, it really bugs me, and I seriously consider unfollowing 3 or adding on 2 more. (I said it was strange!)
   

And here's my tag-you're-it picks:

Kate Gabrielle of Flapperdoodle (Who is currently having an unfounded crisis of confidence in her art, as well as an awesome sale.)

The other girls keeping my Chain O' Movie Reviews going:
KC at Classic Movies
Amanda Cooper of A Noodle in a Haystack
and Sally, who's Flying Down to Hollywood (I only recently discovered this blog, but I love it!)

And, to round out the 5, (good thing it's 5 and not 6, which would bug me) a blog I've enjoyed reading for a while but have only recently gotten around to following:
Insight Into Entertainment

That's all, folks. Feel free to talk about awards in general, or the Golden Globes in particular (Avatar? Really?) in the comments.

2009 Movie Consumption

As I mentioned previously, in 2009 I decided to keep track of every movie I watched during the year. Now that we're a few days into 2010, I've had time to process that list. Here's the results:

Number of movie viewings in 2009:
141 (45 new and new-to-me, 96 rewatchings.)

What's included in this number? See below (links are to my reviews).

Old movies I just discovered (or finally managed to sit down and watch all the way through):

• Anna Karenina (1935)
• The Asphalt Jungle
• Easy Living (1937)
  
• The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935)
  
• I'll Be Seeing You -- Watched while I was on a Ginger kick. Crazies on vacation find each other and fall in love, the moral being that if you settle for second best, it may just turn out to be first best. This movie includes what just may be the worst advice ever given by an aunt. The rather pedestrian script is elevated by the acting, especially Joseph Cotten's tender performance.
  
• Idiot's Delight -- I'd seen the clip of Clark Gable singing "Puttin' on the Ritz" before, but it was neat to finally watch it in context.
• Key Largo -- How did I never see this wonderful film before? I liked seeing a more subdued side of Bacall.
  
• Kitty Foyle
• The Lady From Shanghai
• The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
  
• Meet John Doe
• Modern Times
• Ninotchka
• Random Harvest -- I was surprised at first by how much the movie differed from the book, but really the plot twists in the book would just not work on film.
  
• The Secret Garden (1949)
  
• The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934) -- Loved Leslie Howard, not so keen on Merle Oberon. Favorite lines: "It rhymes!" "Oh, yes, it's a poem!"
  
• Son of Paleface -- The enjoyment here was not so much from watching the movie as from making fun of it.
  
• Stage Door
• The Women (1939)

(Guess I'm slowing working at rounding out my 1930's movie knowledge.)

A surprising number of documentaries:

• The Business of Being Born (recommended for anyone expecting or thinking of having a baby)
• Following Sean
• Man on Wire
• Maxed Out
• Seven Up (a few in the series)
• Word Wars -- Fascinating look at the world of competitive Scrabble, I watched this after I read the book Word Freak. The one moment that sums it all up is the interview of a young boy playing in a lower division of a tournament. When asked if he wants to make it to the top division someday, he explains how he doesn't want to become super obsessed to the point of not having a job (like the characters we've been following all along). Ouch.
• And from Ken Burns: Jazz, The National Parks, Lewis & Clark

Movies made in 2009 that I actually managed to see in 2009:

• He's Just Not That Into You
• Julie & Julia
• Star Trek
• Up -- I love how Mr. Fredricksen looks like Spencer Tracy, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner era. The brilliant visual storytelling that sets up the background of Carl and Ellie is the best part of the film, and leaves me teary-eyed every time.
  

(Of these, only Julie & Julia and Star Trek were actually seen in the theater.)

Some other new-ish movies I watched:

• Chicken Little
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Flash of Genius
• Last Chance Harvey
• Metropolis (2001 anime)
• Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day
  
• Music and Lyrics
• Radio -- Touching based-on-a-true-story movie.
  
• Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

The Worst Movies I saw in 2009:

• The Magnificent Ambersons (2002)
• Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist -- I hated this film. Perhaps I'm just not the intended audience, but this movie has the distinction of being the only movie this year I couldn't even watch all the way through. I didn't think it was at all charming but instead found it gross and vulgar and turned it off. (I weep for the future.)

Movies I hadn't seen in a while that I was really happy to rewatch in 2009:

• The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)
  
• Benji -- I'm a sucker for cute dogs. And "I Feel Love" is such a great 70's theme.
• Breaking Away
• It's Always Fair Weather
  

Double Rewatched:
(I did a lot of rewatching of old favorites as always, but I revisited these movies more than once in the year.)

• Alice in Wonderland (1951)
  
• The Apartment
• Casablanca
• Double Indemnity
• Gone with the Wind
  
• Laura
• The Maltese Falcon
• North by Northwest
• The Third Man
• The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
  
• WALL-E
• You've Got Mail

That's it for my list. I'm glad I kept track of the movies I watched in '09, and now I'm already two movies into 2010! This year I'm sure I'll keep rewatching my favorites while supplementing with Netflix, and maybe I can catch a few more flicks while they're still in theaters. Hopefully it will be another good year for movies... and Moviewings!

I bet you watch that movie every year...

This year, I'm doing something I've never done before. I'm keeping track of every movie I watch.

I've always saved my ticket stubs when I've gone to the theater, but I've never actually written down every movie I've seen in a year. But at the end of 2008 when everyone was blogging about what movies they had seen over the course of the year, I found myself trying to remember, and guessing, and wondering about my movie log. This year, I'll know for sure.

And as I've been keeping track, I've confirmed what I thought last year anyway: while I like to watch new and new-to-me movies, most of my film time is spent revisiting my favorites. Yep. I'm a Rewatcher.

I've started wondering if others fit this pattern as well. Do you find yourself returning to familiar favorites often? Introducing them to friends, or thinking of some quote and then feeling compelled to watch the whole thing? Does some event or circumstance go along with a certain movie for you?

For me, some favorites that get a lot of play include the movie from which I've taken (and modified) my post title. In You've Got Mail, which I tend to watch when autumn comes around (Don't you love New York in the fall?) or anytime it's replayed on TV, Tom Hanks says "I bet you read that book every year" about Pride and Prejudice. (The BBC film version of which I happen to turn to whenever I am really sick, along with Laura.) I also seem to go on a Civil War kick maybe once a year, which leads to reviewing the whole Ken Burns' documentary, often followed by Gone With the Wind, which occasionally leads to the excellent The Making of a Legend. Add to all that the frequent plays of other favorites. And somehow I'm never bored with them.

I know there must be people out there like me, but I'm sure there are other movie watching types as well. Here's a few profiles I've sketched out:

The Rewatcher:
This type is content to watch the same movies over and over again. If the film was great the first time, why wouldn't it be great to watch again? Perhaps this person is comforted by the familiar, viewing favorite movies as old friends. Maybe he or she is delighted to discover new insights or nuances in the films that got worn out in the VCR. (And yes, this person still has a VCR. And doesn't want to re-buy everything on Blu-ray.) Maybe in an unsure world, the Rewatcher is pleased to know that some things always remain the same. This doesn't mean you will never get a Rewatcher to sit through a previously unseen film, but you'll probably have the most success if the new movie features actors he or she already loves. And if the Rewatcher likes the movie, it will quickly be added to the replay queue.

The Explorer:
Polar opposite of the Rewatcher, this type thrives on always finding something new to watch. They have no trouble at all picking up a random rental, borrowing from friends, or trusting that anything on TCM is worth adding to the DVR. This type is found waiting in line on opening night, wanting to be the first to see and review anything new. While this doesn't mean that the Explorer has no standards, he or she is probably pretty open-minded, finding something to like in almost any film. This type has a never-ending, out of control Netflix queue, and would usually prefer seeing something fresh, or something not watched in a while, instead of viewing the same favorites month after month.

The Picky Viewer:
Here's someone who doesn't mind waiting to see what the consensus is about a film before watching it. This person doesn't want to waste time on junk. He or she may take a chance on the recommendations of friends, if they haven't been burned by being disappointed in their taste before. Perhaps they rely on Netflix Movies You'll <3, or a critic they tend to agree with, or perhaps they only rely on their own judgment, being able to tell from the previews if a movie is worth their time. And if they don't like a movie? Look out. This type is critical. But that just may be the only pleasure the Picky Viewer can derive from watching a sub-standard film.

The Movie Date:
This is the most passive of movie watchers, content to go along with more opinionated friends and family when choosing movies. This doesn't mean that Movie Dates always like everything, or that they don't have their favorites, but in general they are the quiet ones more easily entertained, happy watching whatever as long as everyone else is happy.

What do you think, do you fit into one of these categories? Or are you a hybrid of the above, or perhaps in a category I didn't come up with yet?

What's better than a witty woman?

A bunch of witty women, of course! And it seems that the only requirement for being able to stay in the Footlights Club boarding house in the movie Stage Door is this: You must be a wise-cracking female. (OK, you must be an aspiring actress, as well.)

Katharine Hepburn as Terry Randall passes on both counts. She waltzes into this world of theater hopefuls with a few minor differences: she has money and she takes her craft seriously. She quickly butts heads with the girls, particularly her down-to-earth roommate Jean (Ginger Rogers). The women in the movie date, dish, and dream of landing the perfect part, with mixed results.

Less important to the movie than the overall plot is the sheer star power and the sharp writing. In addition to Hepburn and Rogers, the women at the Footlights Club include Eve Arden, Lucille Ball, and Ann Miller. (I'm almost ready to believe they really did all live like this, waiting to get their big breaks.) And here's just a sampling of some of the endless snappy dialogue:

"Evidently you're a very amusing person."

"Unfortunately I learned to speak English correctly."
"That won't do you any good here, we all talk Pig Latin." (Ginger isn't bluffing.)

"If it's not food, it's men. Can't you talk about anything else?"
"What else is there?"

"May I come in?"
"Oh, sure, I guess you'll be safe. The exterminators won't be here until tomorrow."
"How did they miss you on their last visit?"

One other very minor thing I loved about the movie: Ginger's character sleeps with a little doll! Sure, she's a hard-talking, ambitious, independent woman making it in the big city. But when it comes right down to it, she's still just a little girl with dreams.

Stage Door is one of those movies that lived for a long time on my Mostly-Seen list; that is, I had seen bits and pieces of it here and there and had a vague idea what it was all about. The sad thing about the movies populating this list of mine is that when I finally take the time to watch them from start to finish, I am almost always pleasantly surprised by the bits I'd been missing and wonder why I didn't watch the whole movie sooner. Stage Door was no exception, and I've happily moved it from my list of Mostly-Seen Movies to the Finally Watched! list.

4/5 wings

Month O' Musicals: The Wizard of Oz

Vital Stats:
Year: 1939
Director: Victor Fleming
Stars: Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Frank Morgan, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton
Based on the novel by: L. Frank Baum

Summary:
Dorothy Gale and her little dog Toto are swept away in a cyclone and transported to the magical land of Oz. In her quest to return back home, Dorothy follows the yellow brick road in search of the wonderful wizard of Oz, making new friends (and a dangerous enemy) along the way.

Memorable Moments:
The beautiful song "Over the Rainbow" made it to the top of AFI's 100 Years 100 Songs list. Many other aspects of the movie (the ruby slippers, the yellow brick road, "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my", "I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore") have been referenced elsewhere, showing the fairytale's wide appeal and cultural impact.

What I love about it:
It's hard to be objective about a childhood favorite, and it's very possible that nostalgia plays a part in why this one is close to my heart. Anyway I'm not alone; the movie seems pretty universally beloved. But one unusual thing I like about the story is the four main characters' connection to the four main temperament types outlined by David Keirsey. In the book People Patterns, these characters are referenced (along with other book and movie examples) to show how different temperaments behave. Dorothy is the stable Guardian, cautious and yearning for home; the Scarecrow is the quick-thinking, brainy Rational who figures out how things work; the Tin Man is the dreamy Idealist with the kindest heart of all; the Lion is the excitable Artisan who values courageous action above all else. I think it's a lot of fun trying to guess where people (and movie characters) fit into the different personality/temperament types, and these four make a good starting place (and reference point) for the basics. What's your personality type?

Month O' Musicals: Oklahoma!

Vital Stats:
Year: 1955
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Stars: Shirley Jones, Gordon MacRae, Gloria Grahame, Rod Steiger, Eddie Albert, Gene Nelson, Charlotte Greenwood
Choreographer: Agnes de Mille
Songwriting: Rodgers & Hammerstein

Summary:
Set in Oklahoma territory, it's a simple tale of cowboys and the women they love.

Memorable Moments:
The sweet ballad "People Will Say We're in Love" and the dance to the fun "The Farmer and the Cowman" are both great, while the auction scene is an especially nice mix of comedy and drama.

What I love about it:
Another title with an exclamation point! "Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry..." The highly entertaining secondary love story between all-or-nothing Will Parker and the girl who can't say no, Ado Annie. Gordon MacRae's gorgeous singing. And Aunt Eller.

I can't decide if I want a relative like Aunt Eller or if I just want to be her. There is something so appealing about being an old woman able to say and do whatever you please, including pulling a gun on someone and making him sing.

Some of my favorite examples of Aunt Eller's wisdom:

"Why don't you grab her and kiss her when she acts that-a-way, Curly, she's just aching for you to, I bet."

"Let's not break the law, let's just bend it a little."

"You've got to get used to having all kinds of things happening to you. You've got to look at all the good on one side and all the bad on the other side and say well, all right then, to both of them."

and of course "I don't say I'm no better than anybody else, but I'll be danged if I ain't just as good!"

Month O' Musicals: That Thing You Do!

Vital Stats:
Year: 1996
Director: Tom Hanks
Stars: Tom Hanks, Tom Everett Scott, Johnathon Schaech, Liv Tyler, Steve Zahn, Charlize Theron, Ethan Embry, Giovanni Ribisi
Writer: Tom Hanks

(While not a film musical in the classical sense, there's so much music in it that I'm including it in my Month o' Musicals.)

Summary:
One-hit band The Wonders journey from obscurity to fame and back again with fun nods to the various musical styles of the 60s along the way.

Memorable Moments:
The catchy title song is played so repeatedly it's bound to get stuck in your head for a while after watching.

The first time the band members hear their song on the radio captures the excitement perfectly.

What I love about it:
Exclamation point in the title. Glimpses of Chris Isaak, Rita Wilson and Peter Scolari. But most of all, Steve Zahn. Who is Steve Zahn?


"Are you crazy? A man in a really nice camper wants to put our song on the radio! Give me a pen, I'm signing, you're signing, we're all signing!"

Month O' Musicals: The Music Man

Vital Stats:
Year: 1962
Director: Morton DaCosta
Stars: Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, Buddy Hackett, Hermione Gingold, and a very cute (lisping) Ron Howard
Writer: Meredith Wilson
Choreographer: Onna White

Summary:
Traveling salesman Professor Harold Hill arrives in River City, Iowa and begins working his con: selling band instruments and uniforms and instruction books, organizing a boys' band with himself as the leader. He's got everything perfectly timed right down to the last train out of town -- until he gets his foot caught in the door by falling in love with the local librarian.

Memorable Moments:
The beautiful "Till There Was You", the rousing "Seventy-Six Trombones", and the cautionary "Ya Got Trouble" are the stand outs. But the "Shipoopi" dance, arrival of the Wells Fargo Wagon, barbershop quartet songs, and contrapuntal melodies are also pretty swell.

What I love about it:
Probably because he perfected the role on Broadway, Robert Preston is perfectly charming as the fast-talking con man. When I saw the show on Broadway myself several years ago, the lead actor did his best Robert Preston impression for the part, and I don't know that there's any other way to play it. (Well, Matthew Broderick tried in the 2003 TV version, but his lethargic performance left me cold.)

I also love the rapid-fire delivery and broken up syllables of the songs. "Rock Island" and "Trouble" are especially snappy, but the other songs have great lyrics, too. Take "Marian the Librarian" as an example: "It's a long lost cause I can never win/For the civilized world accepts as unforgivable sin/Any talking out loud with any librarian/Such as Marian..." The songs make for a mouthful of words quite fun to memorize and repeat. And shouldn't any good musical leave you singing?

Month O' Musicals: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

Vital Stats:
Year: 1964
Director: Jacques Demy
Stars: the beautiful Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon, Marc Michel
Music by: Michel Legrand
Language: French, with subtitles

Summary:
Genevieve, the daughter of an umbrella shop owner, and Guy, an auto mechanic, are in love. But can their love survive the separation forced upon them when Guy is drafted and goes off to war?

Memorable Moments:
As all the dialogue is sung, there are no musical numbers in the film, but one haunting recurring musical theme is the song "I Will Wait For You". Also notable: the film's use of gorgeous, vibrant colors.


What I love about it:
Even though every conversation is done in song, this never feels forced because the feelings expressed have a very natural flow. Here are two examples of how the lines go from one thought to another: "Guy, I love you./You smell like gasoline.", "Do you love me?/A mambo, let's go!/I should have changed shoes." I love the way this captures a sense of mundane reality even though everything is spoken musically.

Also interesting to me is the way Catherine Deneuve's character changes hair styles throughout the film. There's a study there as she progresses from an innocent young girl (hair pulled up and away from her face), to a wiser woman (hair done more naturally and covering more of her face), to an older woman of changed status (with an elaborate updo).

The whole movie is not only beautiful to the eyes but also a poignant, mesmerizing look at love and how it is impacted by outside pressures and circumstances. It's a work of art.

Month O' Musicals: State Fair

Vital Stats:
Year: 1945
Director: Walter Lang
Stars: Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews, Dick Haymes, Vivian Blaine, Fay Bainter, Charles Winninger
Choreographer: Hermes Pan
Songwriting: Rodgers & Hammerstein

Summary:
As corny as its Iowa setting, the movie follows the Frake family's trip to their great state's annual fair. Will Father Abel's prize boar Blue Boy win the grand award? Will Mother Melissa's views on liquor affect her chances of winning the mincemeat competition? Will sister Margy hear words that she has never heard from a man she's yet to meet? Will brother Wayne end up with the glamorous singer he meets at the fair or will he return to the girl back home?

Memorable Moments:
The movie has some lovely songs, including "It Might As Well Be Spring", "It's A Grand Night For Singing", and even the silly "All I Owe Ioway". There's also a great bit with Harry Morgan involving Wayne's quest to get even with the guy who cheated him at the ring toss game at the previous year's fair. ("We're having fun here!")

What I love about it:
The pig snorting along to "Our State Fair" is brilliant. I also find rather amusing the scene with Margy's really unromantic boyfriend Harry. But most of all I love watching Dana Andrews. Sometimes my family calls him "that cute little Dana Andrews" just for me. Despite his dubious choice of "bobby locks" as a pet name, he's charming and suave and very watchable as the newspaperman who sets out to investigate Margy. How's this for an invitation: "What'd be wrong with you and me sitting down over there and exchanging our ideas of life over a Coke?... I'm not saying it's a great idea, I'm just asking what's what's bad about it? What could we lose? Let's give it five minutes. What do you say?" What follows? Fun on a roller coaster, of course.

Month O' Musicals: Anchors Aweigh

Vital Stats:
Year: 1945
Director: George Sidney
Stars: Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Gene Kelly, Jose Iturbi and a very young Dean Stockwell as the runaway child

Summary:
Two sailors on leave ("when they give you leave, you gotta leave") try to help an aspiring singer get an audition at MGM.

Memorable Moments:
Frank Sinatra crooning "I Fall in Love Too Easily" and Gene Kelly dancing with the animated Jerry Mouse. ("Look at me, I'm dancing!")


What I love about it:
The above scenes are great, but I really love the bit where the boys try to scare off a would-be suitor of the girl they're both falling for by singing a funny version of "If You Knew Susie" (with altered lyrics like: "S is for sincerity, which she's got none of...")

Month O' Musicals: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Vital Stats:
Year: 1953
Director: Howard Hawks
Stars: Jane Russell, Marilyn Monroe, Charles Coburn, Elliot Reed, Tommy Noonan

Summary:
Lorelei Lee is engaged to be married to the very rich Gus Esmond. The two plan to sail to France for their wedding, but because his father does not approve of the match, Gus backs out on the trip. Lorelei takes the transatlantic cruise anyway along with best friend and fellow showgirl Dorothy Shaw. Along the way the two get mixed up with an aging millionaire, a detective, a bunch of Olympic athletes, and one diamond tiara.

Memorable Moments:
Best remembered is the iconic number "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend", the anthem of gold-diggers everywhere.


What I love about it:
Dorothy Shaw has got to be the best friend ever. She looks after her somewhat dim companion without ever getting really mad, even when her friend's antics put her in a jam. She never appears jealous or desperate, either, even as a definite non-blonde in a movie that declares men to be partial to fair-haired women.

I attribute this coolness to Jane "I wouldn't believe anything you said if you had it tattooed on your forehead" Russell. She more than holds her own and gets plenty of attention, including keeping to herself a whole pack of Olympic athletes (who, I'm glad to say and thanks to the censors, fortunately have a black stripe on their otherwise nude-colored shorts). She's smart and witty and wonderfully confident, and just as essential to the film as Marilyn.

Month O' Musicals: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Vital Stats:
Year: 1954
Director: Stanley Donen
Stars: Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Russ Tamblyn, Julie Newmar (Catwoman in the 1960s Batman), Tommy Rall
Choreographer: Michael Kidd
Lyrics: Johnny Mercer

Summary:
Backwoodsman Adam Pontipee comes into town one day shopping for lard, molasses, chewing tobacco, and something he can't find behind the store counter: a wife. Amazingly enough, he gets a hard-working woman named Milly to agree to marry him, although he fails to mention to her that he has six other scroungy (slummocky, in the version I grew up watching) brothers back home. It's not long before she has them all cleaned up into mighty good-looking boys, ready to catch the eyes of the girls in town. But it's not only the girls' hearts that the brothers end up stealing away.

Memorable Moments:


The choreography really shines in the energetic, acrobatic dance at the barn raising. The tension built up between the brothers and the townsmen as they vie for the girls' attentions climaxes in a pretty funny fight scene.

What I love about it:
The wonderful Johnny Mercer lyrics in songs such as "Bless Yore Beautiful Hide", "Lonesome Polecat" ("Can't make no vows to a herd of cows.") and "Sobbin' Women".

I also find it amusing trying to choose a favorite brother out of the seven. My pick used to be the cute baby brother Gideon, but I'd say now he's just too young for me. Who's left? I find it hard to pine for Adam since he's taken so early in the movie. (Also, despite his nice singing voice, he seems a bit selfish and arrogant.) I'm afraid Benjamin belongs in the pretty but dumb category. Caleb, Daniel and Ephraim all kinda blend together for me -- two of them sport facial hair that is too reminiscently backwoodsy, and the clean-shaven one of the three is rather bland and boring.

My pick would have to be Frank. Although he does seem to have a bit of a temper (mostly seen in his sensitivity to being teased about his name) he's also the best at the handshake-wrestling-on-wood-boards thing. And he's got a chin dimple. I like chin dimples.

Overlooked Oldies: Holiday

Giving the label "overlooked" to some movies seems to me a risky thing to do. It begs for people to pounce on the choice, saying "That's not an overlooked movie! Everyone has seen that! What are you talking about?" My purpose in making a list of Overlooked Oldies is to highlight some movies that are worthy of watching even though they haven't gotten as much attention as some other classics. They might not be the most obscure films ever, but they're not the movies on the top of everyone's classic must-see lists, either. If you haven't seen the movies that always seem to make these lists (like Citizen Kane and Casablanca) by all means do so. My selections are meant to supplement and round out such lists.

Now I'll stop being defensive and share my next Overlooked Oldies pick: Holiday. Not The Holiday or Roman Holiday, just Holiday.

This 1938 George Cukor movie stars Cary Grant as Johnny Case, a self-made man recently engaged to the beautiful Julia Seton (Doris Nolan). Since their courtship has been brief, he knows very little about her, and is thus shocked when he goes to meet her family and finds out how rich they are.

The other Seton children are Linda (Katharine Hepburn) and Ned (Lew Ayres). The sibling relationships can be summed up in this bit of dialogue:

Linda: "Well, I know you wouldn't expect it of a man in father's position, but the fact is, money is our god here."

Julia: "Johnny, it isn't true at all."

Ned: "No? What is then?"

Julia is the most like her father and shares his reverence for riches while Linda is fed up and looking for something else to do with her life. She is thus known as the black sheep of the family. Ned tends to agree with Linda although he appears to have given up on his dreams, spending his time drinking instead of fighting his father. It's quite heartbreaking to watch him, actually.

The movie is not named for any holiday celebrations (although there are two very different New Year's Eve parties in the film). The title instead refers to Johnny's goal of taking some time off to enjoy life. He's been working since he was ten and is now ready for a break to find out why he's doing it. His plan is this: "Retire young, work old. Come back and work when I know what I'm working for."

Julia and her father have other ideas for Johnny and try to pressure him into a new job and way of thinking. More understanding of Johnny's plan is sister Linda. You can probably guess how things will turn out, but it is still fun to go along with these characters for the ride.

Other things that make the movie enjoyable: the moments that showcase Cary Grant's acrobatic skills ("Can you do a back-flip-flop, can you really?") and Johnny's down to earth friends Nick and Susan Potter, played by Jean Dixon and wonderful character actor Edward Everett Horton.

If you've seen and enjoyed The Philadelphia Story and Bringing Up Baby, don't miss Holiday, another great pairing of Grant and Hepburn.

What's Tom Hardy doing in Marie Antoinette?

The first time I saw him was as Shinzon, the evil Picard clone in Star Trek: Nemesis. With the veins popping out on his bald head, the crazy costume and his creepy agenda, he is a loathsome offensive brute, yet I couldn't look away. There was something about his quiet power, the smoldering intensity reminiscent of early Brando. "Who is this guy," I thought, "and what does he look like with hair?"

The answer to both questions came when I watched The Virgin Queen. As Robert Dudley, the childhood friend and love interest of Queen Elizabeth I, Tom Hardy is alternately charming and manipulative. Even though I knew Elizabeth never married, I found myself wondering how she could resist such a man. His portrayal leaves open for interpretation whether Dudley was more interested in Elizabeth for herself or for her power as queen. ("Cannot a man love both?" is his answer, which probably amounts to the truth.)

Now for my third Tom Hardy spotting and the reason for the title question of this post. Confession: I was much more interested in Marie Antoinette when I heard that Tom Hardy had a role in it. Though small, his few moments on screen as Raumont are charged with the strength of his presence. He appears in one short scene at a party where, after being thanked for providing the oysters, he plays along with a silly guessing game while the queen and Count Fersen make eyes at each other. In the following scene, Raumont expresses to the queen's friend his disapproval (and jealousy?) of Marie Antoinette's interest in the count. It goes a little something like this:

Raumont: "Our queen seems rather fond of looking at Count Fersen."

Queen's Friend: "Well, he's easy on the eyes."

R, after a piercing look in the count's direction: "Don't you think she favors him too clearly?"

QF: "Just because it is not you."

R: "Don't you think it unbecoming to our queen, I mean, he has quite the reputation."

QF: "He amuses her and she likes to be amused. There's nothing unregal in that, Monsieur."

The funny thing is, this exchange wouldn't have been entirely out of place in The Virgin Queen, as just these sorts of things could have been said about Elizabeth and Dudley. The lines feel a bit hypocritical, coming as they do from the man who played another queen's favorite. It is almost as if Robert Dudley has appeared in a new century with a new costume, still wanting to be as close as possible to whatever queen is at hand.

Given that this scene amounts to the meat of Tom Hardy's role in Marie Antoinette, it seems that he is in the movie specifically for a little inside joke. I don't know how many people saw both Marie Antoinette and The Virgin Queen and made the Tom Hardy connection, but I for one found this moment rather amusing due to the casting choice.

One Hybrid Movie Meme

Don't know where they started, but I found two movie memes here and here. I am merging the best bits (that is, the questions I want to answer) from each into one hybrid movie meme.

1. One movie that made you laugh: The Palm Beach Story

2. One movie that made you cry: A River Runs Through It

3. One movie you loved when you were a child: The Wizard of Oz

4. One movie that you have seen more than 10 times: Citizen Kane

5. One movie you've seen multiple times in the theater: Apollo 13

6. One movie you walked out on: Cabin Boy

7. One movie that you can and do quote from: Joe Vs. the Volcano ("I know he can get the job, but can he do the job?", "I'm not arguing that with you!", "I have no response to that.", "Brain cloud," with the accompanying hand gesture over the top of the head.)

8. One movie you loved, but were embarrassed to admit it: 13 Going on 30

9. One movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven't gotten around to watching yet: Ninotchka

10. One movie you hated: Signs

11. One movie that scared you: Touch of Evil

12. One movie that made you happy: Stranger Than Fiction

13. One movie that made you miserable: The Conversation

14. One movie musical for which you know all the lyrics to all the songs: Oklahoma! (yes, even "Pore Jud is Daid")

15. One movie that you have been known to sing along with: Evita

16. One movie you would recommend that everyone see: 12 Angry Men

17. One movie character you’ve fallen in love with: William Holden as Paul Verrall in Born Yesterday. (I think it's the glasses.)

18. One actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie: Dana Andrews

19. One actor that would make you less likely to see a movie: Can I choose a writer instead? Anything adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel. (Sorry, Nicholas Sparks.)

20. One of the last movies you saw: Across the Universe

21. One of the next movies you hope to see: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

If you want to play along, consider yourself tagged!