Love and Cinema

"The average Hollywood film star's ambition is to be admired by an American, courted by an Italian, married to an Englishman and have a French boyfriend."
the very opinionated, Katherine Hepburn

In love with the idea of love? Praise or blame cinema. I remember Sunday afternoons upstairs in my mom's bed, watching old movies with her. I thought the young and rakish Cary Grant was the end-all-be-all. I love a good old movie, especially an upbeat romance. So here is my "Must See Movies" that are sure to inspire a bit of amore (in no particular order):

1. How to Steal A Million (Hepburn, O'Toole)
2. Love in the Afternoon (Hepburn, Cooper)
3. It Happened One Night (Gable, Colbert)
4. Sense and Sensibility (the Emma Thompson version, of course! The end, where she breaks down into hysterical laughter/crying gets me every time. Such relief!)
5. The Philadelphia Story (a great line-up: Grant, Hepburn, Stewart).
6. Roman Holiday (Peck, Hepburn and the VESPA!)


7. The Awful Truth (Grant, Dunne)
8. What's Up Doc? (How did cute Ryan O'Neil get so messed up?)
9. Room with a View (for all you anglophiles)
10. Far from the Madding Crowd (Julie Christie)

Okay, this is my list for today. Ask me tomorrow and it would surely be different, but, hey, such is love - fickle.

Please tell me a movie you enjoy but, whatever you do, don't tell me "The Way We Were." That movie makes me cry a river, not a pretty sight. Lots of snot, tissues, red face.

I am Woman, Hear Me Roar.

Once, a long time ago, I had to research Joan of Arc and, with a friend, create a video depicting important moments in her life. As I remember it, we were quickly approaching summer vacation and I and my friend were already a little giddy. Anyhow, I loved researching this gutsy, probably slightly off-kilter woman. I remember we decided to enact her final moments in the throes of death with Morrison's "Come On Baby, Light My Fire," playing in the background. Yes, the ham in me was in rare form. We had a blast. Anyhoo, this is leading to my love of learning about gutsy, vivid women (you many not have seen that coming).

I just read 2 biographical books that left me ready to confront dictators, convert millions to a cause or traipse across Africa. Seriously, you read about these women and you wonder how you will ever be satisfied with laundry and internet shopping again. Inspired and disillusioned all at once - who knew a book could do such a thing?

So, first book up: Dancing to the Precipice, by Caroline Moorehead. This biography follows the life of Lucie De La Tour Du Pin. Born in 1770 to an elite family within the French aristocracy, she lived through the tumult of the French Revolution and its repercussions. She was first a lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette and then in the intimate circle of Napoleon. Just so you don't think this girl is fluff, she also managed, during the French Revolution, to escape with her family to New York where she ran her own successful dairy farm, only to return several years later. Crazy.

Fair Warning: Lots of french names go whizzing by and that can get a bit old.
Next up: Wildflower, Mark Seal. For all of you who love Out of Africa or West with the Night, this book will surely be more than comfortable in their company. Joan Root grew up in Kenya in the 1930s and was the silent partner to her husband/adventurer/filmmaker, Alan Root (hiss). Their nature films were huge in the 1960s and Joan was devoted to the success of her husband and to the preservation of her beloved Africa. I will not spoil the ending, suffice to say, how this woman did not machete chop dear Alan, I'll never know. Joan was both tenacious and tender at the same time - a rare achievement.

So both books are very well written and inspiring. They also leave you with a foreboding feeling that a life well lived - adventure, integrity, people to love - does NOT entitle one to a happy ending, as so aptly exemplified by dear Joan of Arc.

Please share your latest books that you've loved.