Going Through the Era's {Matinee Saturday} - 1940s

I'm linking up to Bramblewood Fashion's Going Through the Era's event!



This week {March 11th-17th} is the 1940s.

Today's theme is...Matinee Saturday!

{do movie reviews of movies from the era. share your favorite Actors/Actresses, fun movie trivia, etc....}

And I thought choosing a film from the 30s was difficult. Ha!

But then, I have so many favorite movies that I think any era is going to involve hard decisions. :) 

A popular genre during the 40s was what is now called film noir.
Detectives, double crosses, trench coats, fedoras, crime, black & white, shadows, mystery, and the femme fatale are what characterize the film noir genre.

I must confess that there's nothing I love more than a good detective story, especially when you get to figure out whodunit as the main character discovers clues.

The Maltese Falcon (Humphrey Bogart), Call Northside 777 (Jimmy Stewart) and Laura (Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews) are three of my favorites.

The 40s are also when all of my absolute favorite Alfred Hitchcock films were made.
{many of these would also be in the film noir genre}

Shadow of a Doubt

Notorious

Saboteur

Rebecca

Spellbound

Suspicion

 

After much pacing of the floor, muttering to myself, and some careful consideration, I finally decided on...

"We just sort of go along and nothing happens. We're in a terrible rut. It's been on my mind for months. What's gonna be our future?"  So muses Charlotte "Charlie" Newton (Teresa Wright), a typical teenager living in a typical family in a typical 1940s American home.

Charlie impulsively decides to send Uncle Charlie, her mother's younger brother whom young Charlie is named after, a telegram begging him to come for a visit.   But he's already on his way, having suddenly decided to pay them a visit.

Suddenly, the world seems bright, new and exciting once more! 

Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotten

  

But all is not as it seems.   What secret is Uncle Charlie hiding?  Why did he tear an article out of the newspaper, that he doesn't want young Charlie to see?  What are the two men working on a "national survey" really up to?  Could young Charlie's life be in danger when she finally discovers the terrible truth?

Joseph Cotten

 

Called Hitchcock's finest film by some, and Hitch's personal favorite, Shadow of a Doubt will keep you in suspense right to the very end!

Have you ever watched Shadow of a Doubt?  What did you think of it?

I'd love to know!

.....

Happy Trails, y'all!

P.S.
Another of my absolute favorite films from the 40s is Random Harvest.

You can read my review here, if you want to:)

P.S.S.
I feel like I neglected so many of my favorite films...oh well.

Going Through the Era's {Fashionable Friday} - 1940's

I'm linking up to Bramblewood Fashion's Going Through the Era's event!

This week {March 11th-17th} is the 1940s.

Today's theme is...Fashionable Friday!

{Sew something from the era using vintage, or reproduction patterns. Share your vintage clothing that you own. Do a hairstyle and/or makeup look/tutorial from the era. Do an outfit post.}

I decided to do a 40s inspired outfit today.

My darling red gingham dress that I'm sewing using a 40s pattern isn't finished yet, plus it's definitely a summer dress.  I'd rather wait and share it when we finally get warm weather up here.

Without further ado, my 40s inspired ensemble...

As it was raining/snowing/sleeting/whatever, I decided an umbrella was in order.

It was also approximately 36*F outside.

Charming.

 

o u t f i t

broken umbrella.....who knows?!

black & white polka dot dress - Goodwill

vintage gloves -antique store

red bow belt - made by me (available from my Etsy shop)

black flats - Fred Meyer

Happy Trails y'all!

P.S.

As shameless as this may be, I wanted to let those who don't usually read my blog know about...

the Silver Screen Blog Party!

{March 18th - 31st}

Please forgive the advertising, but as it's a complimentary theme to Ashley's Going Through the Era's event, I thought I'd risk it;)

I have some marvelous giveaway sponsors.

Giveaways are always fun=)

Going Through the Era's {Random Wednesday} - 1940's

I'm linking up to Bramblewood Fashion's Going Through the Era's event!

 This week {March 11th-17th} is the 1940s.

Today's theme is...Random Wednesday! 

{share photos/magazine scans/dishes/cleaning recipes/things you own from the era/etc...}

Ready for more old family photos?!

Well ready or not, here we go...

First off, this one should have gone in the 30s post, but for some reason didn't make it in...

Clifford Raymond Miller

That little cutey is my Grandpa Cliff. :)

In my 30s post, you meet my Great Grandpa Anton "Tony", Great Grandma Ann "Annie" and their daughter Barbara.

Here they are in the 40s, although I have no pictures of Tony from this era.

Barbie Kern

My Grandma still plays the violin, also the piano and guitar.
A love of music is something I definitely inherited from her.

Barbie

The Kern family car, a Chevy

According to the note on the back, this car was wrecked sometime around 1945-ish.

Barbie and her dog Toy

Ann and Barbara Kern - 1946

Ann Kern and Toy -1946

Barbie and Toy - 1946

Remember the cute little boy in the first picture?  

Well here's his family during the 40s...

Loretta, Clifford and Yvonne Miller 

(I'm not sure who the little boy is - maybe a cousin)

I believe they were dressed up for a school play.

Clifford and Loretta in the back with Yvonne and Eileen in the front.

The baby of the family, Eileen, was tragically hit by a car and killed when she was very young.

The Miller kids

And that's all for the 40s.

Happy Trails y'all!

Going Through the Era's {Fun Monday} - 1940's

I'm linking up to Bramblewood Fashion's Going Through the Era's event!

This week {March 11th-17th} is the 1940s.

Today's theme is...Fun Monday!

{share games, TV shows, music, radio shows and books from the era}

....

The Andrews Sisters were in high demand during the 40s, and were the most profitable stage attraction in the nation.

I just love their songs Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Bei Mir Bist Du Shon, and Oh, Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!

{Fun Fact: those of you who watch the Narnia movies may recognize Oh, Johnny, etc. as it was used during the hide and seek scene in LWW.  You probably all knew that already, but you never know...}

One of the popular crooners of the day, and someone who has been one of my absolute favorite singers for as long as I can remember, is Bing Crosby.

Here's his version of Don't Fence Me In, one of my favorite songs, sung with the Andrews Sisters.

After checking out Hanne-col's post for today, I realized I'd excluded two of my favorite entertainers...
Roy Rogers and Dale Evans!
Several years ago, I fell madly in love with Roy and Dale.  All I watched were their movies.  All I listened to were their songs.   For about a year:)
And I still love them very much, but they've had to make room for others whom I have come to love.
But here are a few of my favorite songs from one their movies...

They just love giving each other a hard time and are so, so cute together! :)

I love all of their films, but I think that Lights of Old Santa Fe is my very favorite.

.....

The Patty Lou books by Basil Miller are a series of Christian adventure book for teen-age girls from the 40s.
There are only 3 book in the series from what I can tell - there isn't any information on these books online that I can find - Patty Lou of the Golden West, Patty Lou's Pot of Gold, and Patty Lou of the White Gold Ranch.

I own two of them, although I must admit that I've only read one of them, Patty Lou and the White Gold Ranch.  I received the other book as a present from a friend last year and just haven't gotten around to reading it yet.  You know how it goes - so many books, so little time. ;)

Anyway, the one I have read was both interesting and fun to read, with a good Christian message.

My books are both marked Second Edition 1943 and were published by Zondervan Publishing House.

Basil Miller also wrote a Christian adventure series for teen-age boys, about a boy named Ken.  I have the first book in that series, Ken Rides the Range, but can't find it right now.  I enjoyed reading it very much, though.

I've seen copies of these books in antique stores for about $4 each, and I'm sure you could find them on ebay, if you are so inclined.

.....

Happy Trails, y'all!

Movie Review: Random Harvest

Shell-shocked.  

He can't remember who he is or where he comes from and his shattered nerves make it difficult for him to speak.  

They call him Smith.

1942

Our story begins at the end of WWI at the Melbridge County Asylum in England, the military wing.   On an especially foggy evening, when the guard's backs are turned, Smith (Ronald Coleman) makes his escape and wanders about the town of Melbridge.  Confused and disoriented he is found by Paula (Greer Garson), a dancer/singer with a traveling troupe of performers.  Paula feels sorry for Smith, whom she calls Smithy, and decides to help him recover.  They travel to the country where Smithy soon regains his confidence and his speech.  And they fall in love.  But what will happen when Smithy disappears?  Will Paula ever find out what happened to her husband?

I love this movie.  My mom loves this movie.  My brother loves this movie.

It's beautiful and romantic, yet suspenseful and mysterious.

Greer Garson is stunningly beautiful as Paula and Ronald Coleman is superb in his role as Smithy.  And he has an awesome accent. =)

Definitely a film that we need to add to our personal library.

And here's several LUX Radio Theater versions, if that's your cup of tea.

Happy Trails, y'all!