I'm just an old load of hay.

Loretta Young is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful actresses that ever lived. Isn't she just perfection?


Photo is from Doctor Macro.

"It was written by a Latin, a gondolier who sat in his home out in Brooklyn and gazed at the stars."

Last week's quote: "All right. I give up. What is it? The headlight of a locomotive?" was from Kiss Me Kate.

This week's quote is: "It was written by a Latin, a gondolier who sat in his home out in Brooklyn and gazed at the stars."

New fish. Same hook.

So, I thought of an idea for a new segment today. I'm not sure how well it will work. And, to be honest, I'm not sure how often I'll do it, but it's worth a shot, right?

I was got the idea from listening to Marilyn Monroe's rendition of "Lazy" in There's No Business Like Show Business. Whenever I think of that song, I automatically think of Bing Crosby's rendition in Holiday Inn. I think it's kind of funny how the same song can be presented in so many different ways. Even when it's presented in a similar way, it can have a different effect. So, I thought I'd start a new series (that will be just as sporadic as my other series) that will compare songs covered by different performers. The trouble with this new segment is that I already have some songs in mind and two of them (today's included) involve a Marilyn Monroe song, which is pretty difficult to compare to anyone else because she kind of automatically makes everything sexy and that's hard to compare. And then I have a lot of Bing Crosby (today's included) which is also hard because he had a very particular style. But then, that's kind of the point. So, onward.

Today, I'll be showcasing two renditions of "Lazy" by Irving Berlin. The first, sung by Bing Crosby in Holiday Inn. This one is done in Bing's crooning style and is given an ironic, comedic twist. I never realized, listening to this version, how beautiful the tune is because I was too busy laughing at (and feeling sorry for) him in this montage. Just the same, this is a great version because this is one of the first scenes I think of when I think of this movie.

Bing, being lazy.

Marilyn, being lazy.

The second, sung by Marilyn Monroe in "There's No Business Like Show Business." I don't really understand why they threw the Donald O'Connor and Mitzi Gaynor into the mix, but since I like them together so much, I don't mind. Marilyn's delivery of this song is, obviously, very different. The way she draws out every word and every note makes the song much sexier and also, in my opinion, showcases the tune a bit more. While we are distracted by the way she's lounging on that couch, it fits so well with what's she's singing that I notice the song itself a bit more. But what I find funny about this version is that this song isn't necessarily sexy but Marilyn manages to make it so. P.S. I wish I could pull of Marilyn's outfit.



Both pictures were found on Doctor Macro.

Somewhere between a healthy Winesap and unripened Johnathon

Myrna Loy is, in my opinion, one of the best comedic actresses that ever lived. And this (much talked of) scene is among her (many) best. She's so darn cute!

"All right. I give up. What is it? The headlight of a locomotive?"

Last week's quote was: "Think of my life-long sorrow... if you caught pneumonia and died" which was from "Baby, It's Cold Outside" from Neptune's Daughter. The song was written by Frank Loesser and performed, in the film, by Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban and, later, Betty Garrett and Red Skelton.

Well done to amz and to emma wallace for correctly identifying it! Also, well done to MC for correctly guessing the quote from Roberta. And to terryhogan for correctly identifying the one from The Harvey Girls. And also to Amanda Cooper for getting the one from On the Town. Hooray!! You're all wonderful!

This week's quote is:

"All right. I give up. What is it? The headlight of a locomotive?"

We're after the same rainbow's end.

So, first on the agenda for today is a little shameless plug for myself and then another plug for someone else. Hooray!!

First, is a new video I made - this one's a tribute to the oh-so-lovely Audrey Hepburn.



I hope enjoyed it! Now, on a similar subject - as you may or may not have noticed, that song was performed by my good friend Emma Wallace. I'm not sure how many of you follow her blog but she has, for some time, spoiled us all with some really wonderful song sketches. Now, she's offering a really exciting opportunity: to be among the first to join a song sketch subscription service. How exciting is that!? It's an incredibly good deal: $4 a month for a weekly song sketch - basically the equivalent of a weekly iTunes purchase (and, in many cases, cheaper). Except that it's an exclusive song that only a small and lucky few will have the opportunity to enjoy. For full details, visit her blog here. She only needs a dozen more people to sign up before she meets her goal, so the sooner you sign up, the sooner we'll get our song sketches.

In Roger's flick, it, like, rains.

I'm afraid this is quite belated. I was supposed to have this up on Monday but I hadn't written my August posts yet. And then on Monday I worked until 9:45 and then on Tuesday I worked at 7 so wound up on not having time. But enough of my excuses...

So, one of my favorite Audrey Hepburn movies is Paris When It Sizzles, which, incidentally, I believe should have been titled The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower (the title is symbolic, of course; she doesn't actually steal the Eiffel Tower). And this is one of my favorite scenes. It's so wicked funny!