Movie Clip Wednesday - Best Character Involved In A Non Traditional Gender Profession

That Movie Clip Wednesday dog tormentor, Boxer is too busy planning some kind of sadistic birthday abuse for her cute little 1-pound dog. So the lovely Joanna Cake again is performing the hostess duties she has become so good at doing. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. She has decided this week's theme to be - Best Character Involved In A Non Traditional Gender Profession.

Well, there's only one thing I can say about that - stripper/welder.  I guess that's two things.   Until Flashdance dance came along in 1983, I always thought women in construction looked like Rosie the Riveter.  I didn't know they could weld a pipe to the deck, swing from it and then tidy up with a nice, on-stage shower.  That's why I got into the construction field.  Boy, was I misled.  Believe it or not, Gene Simmons was considered for the part of Nick Hurley (Jennifer Beal's love interest in the movie). That would have been creepy.



I have absolutely no idea what movies people will leave over at Joanna's so you might as well go over and check it out. 

Movie Clip Wednesday - Best Love Story

That Movie Clip Wednesday work-a-holic, Boxer is too busy picking blackberries and making cake soup out of them. So the lovely Joanna Cake again is performing the hostess duties she has become so good at doing. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. She has decided this week's theme to be - Best Love Story.

I'm a dude - what do I know about love stories. You might say to yourself (or out loud if you want to seem crazy), Buzz, aren't you married? Isn't there a love story there? My answers are yes and yes. But the love story is only interesting (barely) to the Mrs and me. Hence my dilemma in picking a movie about the best love story - BORING. It's only interesting to the people it's about - from the dude perspective.

So instead of going for "best" (because in my world that doesn't exist), I'm going for "quirkiest" because that semi holds my interest. What a build up, huh? Alright, settle down people. I went with an obscure (read independent) little movie from 2002 called Secretary. This is about a woman (fresh out of a mental institution - just the way I like them) who becomes a secretary for a lawyer. The sado-masochistic relationship that these two have is entertaining, creepy and most of all - interesting. Maggie Gyllenhaal plays the secretary and James Spader plays the lawyer (but I'm not sure he knows he's doing a movie). Gwyneth Paltrow was originally cast in the role of Lee Holloway (secretary). I wouldn't have mind seeing that. Here's the trailer because it's the only PG clip I could find.



A little too over-the-top? I think this movie may be one of my better selections for Miss Joanna. Now, put your hands on the desk... Did I say you could leave a comment?

Movie Clip Wednesday - Movies on a Train

That Movie Clip Wednesday work-a-holic, Boxer is too busy...wait a minute, allow me to digress. I make sport of her from time to time because, well, there's a lot of material to work with. What she does to those poor dogs is borderline criminal. But she's had a tough year and she keeps up her blog, she's an aspiring artist, domestic traveler and overloaded business woman. So if she doesn't have time for her movie clip bastard child - well, it's understandable. She'll be back - eventually, oh she will be back.

So the lovely Joanna Cake again is performing the hostess duties she has become so practiced at doing. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. She has decided this week's theme to be - Movies on a Train.

Old Buzz is going to take liberties with the theme (not again! - son-of-a...) and choose a movie that is not technically on a train but centers around a train. A train we don't actually see until the very end. I'm talking about The Bridge On the River Kwai (1957) starring Obi-Wan Guinness. I love this movie because of this scene. The instant Colonel Nicholson realizes the mistake he's made in helping the enemy is priceless. On the first take of this scene, the explosions on the bridge didn't detonate. The train crossed over safely, only to crash down a hill on the other side. Bwahahaha And Alec Guinness never saw the bridge blow. He had completed all his scenes and returned to England when the explosion was filmed.




Okay, okay, here's another clip that keeps with the theme - for about 20 seconds. This is the funniest scene in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?



Planes, trains, automobiles...no, just trains over at Joanna's. All aboard!

Movie Clip Wednesday - Best Man Pretending To Be A Woman

That Movie Clip Wednesday work-a-holic, Boxer is too busy building a shinebox for her brand new boots. So the lovely Joanna Cake again is performing the hostess duties she has become so good at doing. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. She has decided this week's theme to be - Best Man Pretending To Be A Woman.

To be honest, I don't like this theme at all. I have no desire to dress as a woman or see another guy dressed as a woman. It's not homophobia, it just creeps me out to no end. So to that creepy end, the very first thing I thought about for this category was a small scene from Gangs of New York. Of course I couldn't find a clip, but there is a scene where there is a church dance and the church reverend is walking down a line of women to pick the queen of the dance. He gets toward the end and there are 2 of the worst looking transvestites (heshes as they call them in the movie) I've ever seen. Five-oclock shadows and all. I laugh every time I see that scene.

So, speaking of creepy guys, I settled for 1993's Mrs. Doubtfire. Robin Williams is a fairly convincing old woman and and it's kind of funny. Interestingly, in real life Robin Williams divorced his wife in order to marry his nanny. In this film he divorces his wife and becomes her nanny. Bwahahahaha



If you're in to this kind of thing (not that there's anything wrong with it), man-up and head on over to Joanna's to see - well, God only knows what.

Movie Clip Wednesday - Best Movie From A TV Series

That Movie Clip Wednesday eggplant humiliater (is there a PETA for vegetables?), Boxer is truly a one-woman-show for the foreseeable future. So the lovely Joanna Cake again is performing the hostess duties she has become so good at doing. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. She has decided this week's theme to be - Best Movie From A TV Series.

I've actually done several posts (different themes) about TV series that made good movies. Police Squad brought us the Naked Gun movies, Get Smart and The Brady Bunch turned out to be good movies and, of course, the biggest movie franchise from a TV series of them all (and Joanna's post this week I suspect) - Star Trek. So what's left? What am I to write about?

There is ONLY one other great movie based on a TV series. And that would be 1987's - Dragnet. Alright, settle down...I'll clear the room! OK, maybe not the the BEST movie based on a TV series, but I liked it. I thought Dan Aykroyd did a good job as a modern-day (for 1987) Joe Friday. And a young Tom Hanks is always funny. This scene is a spoof on what made the TV show so interesting - the witness's statement. You may recognise Kathleen Freeman, who plays Enid Borden, as the infamous Sister Mary Stigmata ("The Penguin") from The Blues Brothers (or not).



I'm sure Joanna has some interesting movies based on TV series (Khan!!!!!!!) over at her blog.

Movie Clip Wednesday - Best Woman Pretending To Be A Man Movie

That Movie Clip Wednesday Stripper Chair Finisher and Dog Tormentor, Boxer is too busy checking out potato farming in Idaho (she's all over the place this week). So the lovely Joanna Cake again is performing the hostess duties she has become so good at doing. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. She has decided this week's theme to be - Best Woman Pretending To Be A Man Movie.

I can only think of three movies that fit the category. Victor/Victoria - sort of a musical that I didn't like very much; Just One of the Guys - an 80s teen movie that had a good-looking lead (Joyce Hyser) that couldn't act; and Yentl - Barbra Streisand - 'nuff said. So at the risk of blogger jinx, I chose none of them.

My original thought was to use 1991's Robin Hood where Uma Thurmon's Maid Marian infiltrates the Band of Merry Men as a boy. Who'd of thought I couldn't find a clip of that - right? So I decided to take a bunch of verbal abuse and go with 2000s Charlie's Angels (remake). Yeah, I know it's a not-so-good T&A movie, but I thought in this scene, Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore did a fairly good job dressing as guys. And Lucy Liu as a dominatrix was just gravy.



Girls will be boys over at Joanna's, so head on over and check it out, but leave your girly dresses at the door.

Movie Clip Wednesday - New York, New York

That Movie Clip Wednesday Small Business Rabble Rouser, Boxer is too busy hiding her business from the IRS. So the lovely Joanna Cake again is performing the hostess duties she has become so good at doing. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. She has decided this week's theme to be - New York, New York.

There are many movies that prominently feature New York City including Ghost Busters, Saturday Night Fever and The French Connection. But the one I like the most and that I think features the "real" NYC is 1976's Taxi Driver. The sleaze and corruption of this city can turn cab drivers into cynics and is what made Travis Bickle the vigilante anti-hero we all know and love (are you talking to me?). This scene describes his feelings about the city and how it is affecting him. Jeff Bridges was considered for this part. I don't know, I can see the Dude saying "I take people to the Bronx, Brooklyn, I take 'em to Harlem. I don't care. Don't make no difference to me. Come on, man. I had a rough night and I hate the fuckin' Eagles, man!



And as an added (non-embedded - friggin' YouTube) bonus, what trip to NYC would be complete without a ride on the subway? My other favorite NYC movie with my favorite NYC actor - King of New York Subway Scene.

So , do you want to be a part of it, New York, New York? Let that British Big City girl Joanna make a brand new start of it, right there in old New York (well, I hosed that all up).

Movie Clip Wednesday - Best Garden Scene

That Movie Clip Wednesday Blog Summit traveler, Boxer is still detoxing from her New Mexico road trip and I'm finally back after a 2 week (12 days too long) hiatus on the kid's vacation. And the lovely Joanna Cake again performed the hostess duties in the face of dwindling participation. Well fear not Joanna - I'm back. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. She has declared this week's theme to be - Best Garden Scene.

The themes are getting narrower and narrower, requiring much thought and movie memory (both of which are in short supply for me as I get older) - I like it though. So what constitutes a garden? A cotton field like the one in Places in the Heart or a cornfield like in Field of Dreams? Maybe a non-traditional garden such as a cemetery in Gardens of Stone or the infamous human garden in Motel Hell (I almost went with that but it's not for the squeamish)? Karl's Victory Garden PBS educational film (I'm sure there's some kind of espionage going on in there)?

No, I went with the more traditional backyard garden. The infamous Italian garden where basil and tomatoes grow - and the Godfather dies. Coppala's directing of this scene is outstanding, especially the end where Don Vito drops over in the background and grandson Anthony continues playing in the foreground. I always thought it was funny that in this scene, Vito takes the bug sprayer away from Anthony and puts it right next to the food. If he didn't die in this scene, he would have kicked a couple of days later from DDT. This scene also features the Godfather Orange Theory where someone dies in any scene that features oranges.



So, What's the gardeners favorite movie? War and Peas. No? How about a gardening quip from Rodney Dangerfield: My wife's a water sign. I'm an earth sign. Together we make mud.

Go over to Joanna's and I'll stop right here.

Movie Clip Wednesday - Movie One-Hit Wonder

That Movie Clip Wednesday Advent Wreath builder, Boxer is still too busy making tent chandeliers (yeah - I know - where does she get the energy?) to care for the wayward child that she gave birth to. So the lovely Joanna Cake again will perform the hostess duties. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. She has declared this week's theme to be - Movie One-Hit Wonder.

Tough, tough category. I gave this a fair amount of thought as to what constitutes a one-hit wonder. It would have to be a recognizable character (not necessarily the lead) that may have had an impact on the movie industry or culture. And then the actor/actress basically faded into obscurity.

I came up with several actresses who I believe made one good, solid memorable film. And even though they may have continued acting, they never scored big again. They would be Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Mia Sara in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Both of whom I've previously posted on. Actors such as Chris Makepiece in Meatballs and Ilan Mitchell-Smith from Weird Science also come to mind. And an argument can be made that James Dean was a one-hit wonder with East of Eden, but I truly believe he would have had many more successes had he not died. Same deal with Heath Ledger.

No, I'm going with a semi-obscure Steven King based movie - 1983's Christine starring Keith Gordon. He played the nerdy mechanic wannabe Arnie Cunningham who fixes up an old (possessed) 1958 Plymouth Fury in order to get the girl. Kieth Gordon did go on to have a semi-memorable part in Back to School but was pretty much upstaged by Rodney Dangerfield. He has since gone on to direct some 15 films and TV series including Showtime's Dexter, but he never acted in a memorable film after Christine.



See who everyone else thinks is a one-hit wonder over at Joanna's. There won't be any seconds.

Movie Clip Wednesday - Best Gunfight Scene

That Movie Clip Wednesday domestic traveler, Boxer is still drying out from her sojourn to the southwest. So the lovely Joanna Cake again will perform the hostess duties. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. She has declared this week's theme to be - Best Gunfight Scene.

Well, I'm short on time because I just found out the theme on Tuesday night. But there is only one movie gunfight that comes to mind immediately, and that's 1995's Heat. It stars Robert Deniro, Al Pacino, Val Kilmer and Tom Siezmore in one of the most intense, sociopathic street fights that I've ever seen on film. What really makes this fight is the sound, and I have an HD version for your veiwing pleasure. It is a little long, but you won't be able to stop watching once you start. Warning - graphic, unadulterated violence - Oh yeah!



The rest of the movie isn't very memorable, but it's worth watching just for this scene. Head on over to a Joanna's for more carnage.

Movie Clip Wednesday - Best Flood Scene

That Movie Clip Wednesday birth mother, Boxer is still an absentee parent. So the lovely and scantily clad Joanna Cake again will perform the hostess duties. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. She has declared this week's theme to be - Best Flood Scene. I think I proposed this one because it was on my mind with the resent events in the low lands of the Mighty Mississippi.

What I had in mind was not your standard Ten Commandments parting of the Red Sea type flooding (although that was pretty cool). Or your typical farm flooding like Mel Gibson's The River. No, I'm talking about the worst possible place to have a flood, and that's at sea. If you're in a ship or a submarine, the ability to float means an awful lot. There are some great sea flooding scenes from The Poseidon Adventure and The Perfect Storm, to Das Boot, Gray Lady Down and Crimson Tide.

I decided to go with a more "instantaneous" nautical flooding scene, and that was the mini-sub implosion scene in 1989's The Abyss. When that glass starts cracking and you know it's just a matter of seconds before Lt. Coffey is done, that's edge-of-your-seat suspense. The rest of the movie gets a little hokey and there is the whole plot twist at the end, but I love this scene.

Everyone should be up to their necks with this theme (groan) so head on over to Joanna's for more interesting water sports.

As a special bonus and at no extra charge to you, the consumer (I thought of this one after I did the write-up), I present to you what I think is one of the funniest flood scenes ever. It's a little long but worth the watch.

Movie Clip Wednesday - Movies That Make You Think Of An Ex

That Movie Clip Wednesday Film Buff, Boxer is off doing still-lifes of naked dolls (it frightens me just to say that). This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. So the lovely and provocative (because she has a great story to go with her theme this week) Joanna Cake again will perform the hostess duties. She has declared this week's theme to be - Movies That Make You Think Of An Ex. Talk about a buzzkill.

I only have 2 ex-girlfriends (of note) and one I talked about here already. The other one I don't ever recall taking to a movie or can even associate with a movie. I really thought about it too. I dated "E" toward the end of college and for a year or so after. And after college she became geographically undesirable (2 hour ride) and we ended up going our separate ways. She was a red-headed Irish girl who was a first generation American. As such, she had a fierce love of Irish bands. Most notably - U2. So when I hear 1981's Gloria - I always think of her. I'm thinking about her now...



Head on over to Joanna's if for no other reason than to just hear her date story. Very hot.

Movie Clip Wednesday - Most Memorable Thin Man Role In A Movie

That Movie Clip Wednesday Film Buff, Boxer is off on an adventure at Chickory, so she won't be hosting anytime soon. One can only imagine what's going on there. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. So the lovely Joanna Cake again will perform the hostess duties. She has declared this week's theme in Karl's honor - Most Memorable Thin Man Role In A Movie.

This is a stumper because I've never seen any of the Thin Man series all the way through...just select scenes...from Karl. So I did some Googling and found a character that I see all the time as a crossword puzzle answer - Asta. So here's a funny clip of Asta in action from After the Thin Man (1936). That Mrs Asta sure is a tramp.

I'm really curious as to what will turn up at Joanna's. But one thing you can bet on - it'll be in black and white.

Movie Clip Wednesday - Hottest Vixen in A Teen Comedy

That Movie Clip Wednesday Film Buff, Boxer is not only on hiatus, she doesn't even participate anymore. What's up with that? This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. So Joanna Cake again will perform the hostess duties. She has declared this week's theme in my honor - Hottest Vixen in A Teen Comedy. Should I be flattered? Embarrassed? Arrested? You people decide.

(UPDATE)This explains it perfectly (except change the 40 to a 51):



This theme is right in my wheelhouse but I had difficulty not only deciding on a favorite, but one that is supported by YouTube. Let's start out by saying the number one pick for this theme, hands down, is Phoebe Kates from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Carrot scene? Pool scene? Bueller? I used that clip before and I figured Karl would pick it anyway.

Speaking of Ferris Buller's Day Off, this was going to be my choice if I could find a video clip of Mia Sara at the pool (again with the pool). But You Tube failed me. Mia Sara was unbelievably hot in this movie but then she made some bad movie choices and faded into obscurity. She was married to Jason Connery, Sean Connery's son, but that's about it.

Which brings me to my choice for today. This actress was way hot in this movie and she had the sexy British accent (I am not kissing up to Joanna - well maybe a little) to go with the looks. Of course I'm talking about Kelly LeBrock in 1985's Weird Science. Although Bill Paxton's Chet character stole the movie, Kelly at least looked great in every scene. Not so much today though - she didn't age well - and she's only 2 weeks older than me! I guess being married to Steven Seagal will put some hard miles on a woman. Anyway, here's a clip of the very first time we see her:


So how could you not want to see what everyone picks this week? Go over and visit Joanna for more hot vixens.

Movie Clip Wednesday - Best Movie Wedding Scene

That Movie Clip Wednesday Film Buff, Boxer wants to take a little break from Movie Clip Wednesday. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. So Joanna Cake has graciously picked up the standard and is running with it. And because she's British and they have that royal weeding thingy going on over there this weekend, her first theme out of the chute is Best Movie Wedding Scene.

Weddings can bring a dramatic element, a comedic element or a mushy boring element to a movie. The mushy boring ones like My Best Friend's Wedding or The Wedding Planner I can do without. A dramatic one and best movie wedding without a doubt (in my opinion) is Connie and Carlo's wedding in the opening of The Godfather. I like the old-timey-ness, the music and all of the subplots going on during the wedding. It's really too long of a scene to present here, so I'll just say it's the best and move along.

That leaves the comedic element and for that one I chose to go with Frank the Tank's wedding in 2003's Old School. Not so much the wedding but the reception. And what made the reception was The Dan Band. They are known for performing originally female-performed pop songs, with added obscenities and swearing. They were also in 2009's The Hangover. When you see this clip, listen carefully to the vocals and also look at he older dancers on the floor.



So there you have it. I wonder how Will and Kate's wedding would go over with this band? Anyway, get out your Kleenex (because there's always crying at weddings - what?) and head over to Joanna Cake's for more zany nuptial madness. And thanks to our new hostess for continuing the MCW tradition.

Movie Clip Wednesday - Best Movie from Outer Space

That Movie Clip Wednesday Space Age Barbarella, Boxer wants us to leave the confines of earth for this week's Movie Clip Wednesday. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. This week's theme is Best Movie from Outer Space or Best Movie Set in Space, depending on which part of her blog you're reading. I will go with the latter because, quite honestly, I don't know any movie that has come from outer space with the possible exception of Caddyshack 2.

Well, this isn't the best movie set in space, but I like it a lot and it's keeping with my recent movies-from-the-80s sub-theme. That movie would be 1984's The Last Starfighter. It's a movie about a boy (Lance Guest was 24 when the movie was made) who is recruited through a video game to "defend the frontier against Xur and the Ko-Dan armada". One of the first movies to use CGI, it has some good battle scenes and some good sets. It's kind of a Star Wars knockoff and has a certain Spielberg-esque quality to it. This was Robert Preston's last film.

And this is a first for me. I have secured the services of both Hulu and YouTube to show the actual scenes that I wanted to show (God, I hope it works). The 2nd clip is the infamous "Death Blossom" scene. I always thought that was cool name for a weapon of last resort. Make sure you click on "A Gung Ho Iguana".

A Gung Ho Iguana The Last Starfighterat MOVIECLIPS.com

If you're looking for some good alien-on-alien scifi action, then head on over to Boxer's, Princess Leia of the bloggoshere.

Movie Clip Wednesday - Best Party Scene

That Movie Clip Wednesday Birthday Girl, Boxer wants us to celebrate (belatedly) her birthday with this week's Movie Clip Wednesday. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. This week's theme is Best Party Scene. After having deferred her birthday celebration to do a tribute to Liz Taylor, the inventor of the vodka fountain has decided to revisit the topic of parties (she is presumably dried out by now). Party scenes? - well there are the classics like Animal House, Revenge of the Nerds (wonder joints?) and Old School. But in honor of the birthday girl, I wanted to go a little more off the beaten path (Buzz, that's different for you).

And once again, thanks to YouTube, I had to go with my third choice because of clip un-availability. But my first choice was the morgue party scene from 1982's Nightshift with Michael Keaton and Henry Winkler. This was the first time I ever saw Keaton and he was funny. The whole scene with the fraternity partying with hookers in a morgue to the blaring sound of Van Halen's You Really Got Me reminded me of - Boxer.

Chuck Lumley: As we sit here and idly chat, there are woman, female human beings, rolling around in strange beds with strange men, and we are making money from that. Bill Blazejowski: Is this a great country, or what?

My second choice was 1984's Bachelor Party. The first Tom Hanks movie I can remember (although I did see him first in Bosum Buddies) featuring the very hot (although now Charlie Sheen certifiable) Tawny Kitaen. Who can forget the hotel party with the drugs, the hookers, Angel and The Reruns (big hair B-52s styled girl band) and bestiality, all of which reminded me of - Boxer.

Rudy: Let's have a bachelor party with chicks and guns and fire trucks and hookers and drugs and booze!

So the clip I offer today - my third choice - is Rodney Dangerfield's Back To School (1985). The Oingo Boingo party in the dream dorm only reminded me of Boxer because of the hot tub scene. The clip is a little long (Well, maybe you can help me straighten out my Longfellow) but here's Rodney with some of his best one-liners:

So there's your party scene Ms. Mayhem. I hope you all enjoyed my little romp through the puke and beer cans.

Trendy Man: Mr. Melon, your wife was just showing us her Klimt.
Thornton Melon: You too, huh? She's shown it to everybody.

Movie Clip Wednesday - Favorite Elizabeth Taylor Movie

That Movie Clip Wednesday Mistress of the Wishy Washy, Boxer is changing her already posted theme to honor the passing of a Hollywood starlet in this week's Movie Clip Wednesday. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. This week's theme is Favorite Elizabeth Taylor Movie. I had the party theme about half way done - DAMN YOU FICKLE WOMEN! I feel better now.

That said, I'm not much of a Liz Taylor aficionado. I mean, there's Cleopatra which is an epic, grandiose spectacle - but a little boring to me. And there's the one I'm choosing because for some reason, I've seen it several times on TV and liked the hometown feel to it. Even though it's a chick movie for the most part. And that movie would be Raintree County (1957).

It's like a scaled down Gone with the Wind. Liz, Montgomery Clift and Eva Marie Saint (who is really hot in this) give outstanding performances. Here's the trailer clip: Interesting fact from IMDB: On May 12, 1956, during the shooting of this film, Montgomery Clift was involved in a serious car accident on his way back home from a party at the house of Elizabeth Taylor. His friend Kevin McCarthy witnessed the accident from his car, drove back and informed Taylor and her then husband Michael Wilding, who immediately drove to the location together with Rock Hudson. Taylor entered the car through the back door, crawled to the front seat and removed the two front teeth from Clift's throat that threatened to choke him. Hudson finally managed to pull him out of the wreck and together they protected him from being photographed until the ambulance arrived. This was necessary because soon after the emergency call had come in to the local police station, reporters were already on their way and arrived at the scene when Clift was still in the car. The accident was well publicized. After nine weeks of recovery and with plastic surgery, Clift returned to the movie set and finished the film, but with considerable difficulties. His dashing looks, though, were gone forever. If you notice in some scenes, his nose and chin look different, and the left side of his face is more or less immobile.

Liz made 3 movies with Clift, this, A Place in the Sun and Suddenly Last Summer. They were scheduled to make a fourth movie (Liz put her salary for the film on the line as insurance), Reflections in a Golden Eye but he died before shooting. So Liz had a very compassionate side to her that didn't come across in her films or show up in the media (as far as I'm concerned).

So if you're not doing anything, head on over to Boxer's for some more Liz inspired devotion.

Movie Clip Wednesday - Best Hitchcock Film

That Movie Clip Wednesday Maven of Murder, Boxer is going old school horror/mystery for this week's Movie Clip Wednesday. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. This week's theme is Best Hitchcock Film. This is a tough one for me because I just used Hitchcock's Life Boat for a theme a few weeks ago. And there are a finite number of good films that he made, so I predict a lot of blogger jinx on this one.

Anyway, I was flipping through the channels a couple of weeks ago and landed on my selection for this week. The Pudge came in and started watching with me and I explained that this was classic horror for 1963. At 12 years old, he couldn't believe people were afraid of The Birds. For someone who's seen movies like Resident Evil and District 9 and played video games like Bulletstorm, I would have to agree with him. I told him it was more like Jaws in that the unknown and unseen can be scary. He wasn't buying it. Then I told him to look at Tippi Hedren's mint green dress. That still wasn't enough. Then we got to this scene and he all of the sudden found some interest. Explosions and guys on fire will do it every time.

And I forgot that Suzanne Pleshette was in this too. An interesting side note (to me). About 12 years ago we were down at Universal Studios Orlando and they had an attraction called "Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies". It's not there anymore but part of the show was a made-up scene from The Birds in 3-D. We had the glasses on and I remember it being some of the best 3-D I had ever seen. The Boy was like 6 - 7 at the time and he still remembers it too.

I don't think there's any question that Hitchcock was a master film maker. He was pretty funny too as revealed in some of his cameos. So head on over to Boxer's and see what Hitchcock classics she has in store.

Movie Clip Wednesday - Best Drug/Drunk Scene from a Movie

That Movie Clip Wednesday Gypsy - Acid Queen, Boxer is riding the magic bus for this week's Movie Clip Wednesday. This MCW Meme has everyone picking a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme while trying to keep the clip or clips to around 3 minutes long. This week's theme is Best Drug/Drunk Scene from a Movie. Oh, there are so many movies with great drug and alcohol scenes. Cheech & Chong's car ride scene in Up in Smoke, any scene from Arthur, the Vincent Vega heroin scene from Pulp Fiction and the diet pill scene from Requiem for a Dream are just a few. I really wanted to show the Jerrytown scene from PCU. This is a lesser known college movie with Jeremy Piven but I couldn't find the clip. But I laugh hysterically every time I see this snappy repartee between Gutter (Jon Favreau) and Mersh (Jake Busey - son of Gary Busey):

Gutter: Listen, Mersh, uh, I gotta get beer for this party tonight...so I'm gonna be a little late for my ride to Hartford.

Mersh: Oh, sorry, Gut man. No can do. [Chuckles] The grand master of funk...descends on the civvy at 8:00 man, and we will be there.

Gutter: Mersh, you hate punk.

Mersh: Funk, Gutter. Funk. George Clinton. [Laughing] Parliament Funkadelic. Dude! Aren't you a music major?

Gutter: Yeah.
[All Laughing]

Gutter: Well, what am I supposed to do?

Mersh: Have a bong hit.

Gutter: What good is that gonna do me?

Mersh: Just one little binger to brighten up your day. Come on, man. [Laughs]

Gutter: Just...one...hit....

It's a lot funnier in clip form. PCU is definitely worth watching if you've never seen it.

Anyway, I went with my 2nd best scene that I could find a clip for. That would be 1980's Where the Buffalo Roam with Bill Murray and Peter Boyle. Murray plays Hunter S Thompson and is really funny in the part. I saw this in 1982 and it was the first time I had ever heard of Thompson. And this is way better than Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Although I will say that Johny Depp seems to turn up in a lot of drug and alcohol scenes. For some reason, I find Murray doing coke funny. I don't know - you decide.

You want to see some more mind-altered freak outs? Than toke, pass and head on over to see Boxer - you'll forget you did.