Silver Screen Romance

On May 26, 2013June 5, 2013 By Renee Lou Dallow ( Bourgeoise Bloomers )In old movie magic

All the world loves a lover they say

And I’ve found this to be true

So if you feel you’ve lost your way

This may be the answer for you

'The Truth about youth' — ‘The Truth about youth’

A great classic screen romance

With movie stars of old

Guaranteed to keep you entranced

And turn your dreams to gold

Whether it’s tough guys on the take

Or femme fatales on the run

Someone is pining for what’s at stake

At the time of the setting sun

Love will find a way through the maze

And all will be neatly resolved

'To have and have not' — ‘To have and have not’

When lovers lost in each other’s gaze

arms outstretched ready to hold

the one who’s made it all worth while

who’s made us laugh and cry

'Bill of Divorcement' — ‘Bill of Divorcement’

And done it with panache and style

Vowing love would never die.

When you see romance on the silver screen

There is magic in the air

'Gone With The Wind' — ‘Gone With The Wind’

Like me you’ll remember a favourite scene

And want to linger there.

Doris Day: Little Miss Perfect?

On May 9, 2013May 11, 2013 By Renee Lou Dallow ( Bourgeoise Bloomers )In old movie magic1 Comment

Love-Me-or-Leave-Me_

In the 40s and 50s Doris Day was the girl next door. All sugar and spice. That was the image people fell in love with. She was blonde,blue eyed and impeccably groomed. Matter of fact that describes nearly all the so called celebrities gracing our screens now. Oh well back to Doris ….

She could be goofy too. On screen she had a definite persona and it was good. Real good. She could sing,dance and act with the best of them but always as the sweet innocent ingenue?

While all was fluffy happy endings on film her personal life was not quite as cheery. Doris married four times and had one son. Of those four marriages it was the third to manager Marty Melcher that lasted the longest. When he died in 1968 Doris apparently found herself bankrupt as dear Marty had squandered most of her earnings on bad business investments.

She did,however, manage to recoup most of her losses and went on to marry again as well as star in her own show. ‘The Doris Day Show’ was a huge success and was , of course, squeaky clean from start to finish. Doris is an animal rights activist and still going strong.

But was the Doris audiences loved so much for her holier than thou dedication to moral puritanism really such a goody two shoes in real life? Can anybody be that perfect? Should anyone be that perfect? What if she actually did have a few little imperfections? What if …

She wore fur?

She used to smoke?

Acted like a regular Mata Hari?

Or gave someone the finger while knitting?

Let’s face it. Nobody’s perfect.

Bisous

Betty Bourgeoise

Two Waterloos

On May 5, 2013May 6, 2013 By Renee Lou Dallow ( Bourgeoise Bloomers )In old movie magic

There were at least two versions of Waterloo Bridge. The 40s version with Robert Taylor and Vivienne Leigh and the 30s version with Mae Clark and Douglas Montgomery. The Taylor- Leigh version was much more romantic while the Clark -Douglas pairing actually tried to fight off sentiment. A sort of tell it like it is deal. Set in world war 1 the 30s version has grit. It’s young hero suffering from a bad case of first love when he meets the doomed but quick witted Myra on the bridge and walks her back to her grim boarding house.

What follows is banter. Lot’s of it. He is a wild eyed, young idealist and she is a tough, take no prisoners kind of a girl but with a heart of gold. Because she knows the score she does everything she can to resist his charms but eventually gives in and marries him. This ‘Waterloo Bridge” is very different from it’s more famous 40s counterpart. The main characters are floored from the beginning. The treatment of the characters and of the storyline is in your face. The second version ,however, sees Myra as a young ballerina falling hopelessly in love with a handsome officer during the second world war and agreeing to marry him straight off. But their wedding plans hit a hurdle when there is no justice of the peace to do the deed in time and he must return to duty leaving Myra to fend for herself having lost her place in the corps de ballet because of her determination to spend as much time with him as possible.The difference is that here Myra is sweet and innocent from the outset and the change in her circumstances completely unravel her.

To continue with more of the storyline here would give the ending away for those who have never seen or heard of either film. Take the time to watch and get yourself completely lost in the romance and tragedy of it all. Same story different wars. So what’s changed?