State Fair 1945 // Review

Eva, this post is for you. :-)

Several months ago, I was lying in my bed, feeling cranky. I can't quite remember what I had, but I wasn't feeling well, and I went to Youtube to find something for myself to watch - something that would cheer me up a bit. I chose 'State Fair' for several reasons.

1. I had heard of it quite a lot and it looked so charming. (I was already head-over-heels in love with the costumes before I watched it, of course.)

2. It looked liked something the rest of my family wouldn't really enjoy that much (so it would be okay for me to watch on my own, as they didn't really miss out on anything.)

3. It looked like something that would cheer me up.

4. It was on Youtube. (Ha.)

So I watched it. I, WOW, I loved it. It was that delightfully charming and that yearning-to-dive-in-kind-of-movie. I loved it disastrously much, and I wanted to be Marge Frake and wear her darling frothy frocks and go to a fair and meet my future husband there. I seriously lived in a dreamy haze for the next day(s) - I lived with my head in State Fair, wearing the clothes and buying lollies with a dignified gentleman. It's the kind of dream old-movie-style movie, with nothing heavy or teary about it - a movie to cheer you up, a movie to dive into, like a bag of coloured candy. *Sigh*

The Story is about a sweet little family - Stubborn-and-good-old-Pa, Practical-and-loving-Ma, Fun-and-dorky-brother Wayne, and dreamy-whimsical-beautiful-protagonist Marge - who live rather happily in a green-budded farm. The movie starts with them packing to go to the annual State Fair in town. It is obviously a big thing for the family. It seems to be a big thing for everyone - neighbours flock together and talk about that. Mr Frake starts betting about his pig to one of his neighbours, and Wayne phones his girlfriend to ask her if she'll come too.

How can you not like a movie with such an endearing family? :-)

Marge is in a relationship with some kind of weird guy who she obviously doesn't want anything to do with, and Wayne gets his share of disappointment when his girlfriend says she can't come. So both the siblings are rather glum-faced in the beginning. Marge, because she seems stuck with that weird guy and millions of rosier dreams (I have to admit, Marge is a bit whiny in the beginning - but she's adorably whiny, so it doesn't matter at all), and Wayne, because his girlfriend couldn't come. But glum-faced or not, they head off with their caravan to the State Fair, Pa's pig, Ma's alcohol-filled-stews, and all.

The brother and sister find their own way in the colourful, sprinkled-with-cosy-lights and little stalls of attractions, and meet their own new friends. Oh, my goodness, there are so many reasons why I want to DIVE in this movie. The balloons. The competitions. The music. The dances. The hats. The singing couples. The bets and tensions. The little stalls. The popcorn and the lolly sticks. The family, cosy, atmosphere. The colourful evenings, with all the lights. So safe and darling.

Marge meets her Mr Handsome when she tries one of those whizzing-screaming-trains. She clings to the stranger (but-not-stranger-for-long-ha-ha) next to her, only realising her embarrassment when the train comes to a stop. But the stranger happens to be the most dignified, gentlemanly guy ever, and they become good friends and meet up evening after evening, afternoon after afternoon, in the cosy bubbles of the State Fair. They go on Merry-go-rounds, buy red Lolly-pops, all together. They even steal a hug or too and sing 'It's a Great Night for Singing' in the Starlight together.

This couple must be the most handsome couple in cinema history. Jeanne Craine and Dana Andrews are so ridiculously perfect in their roles. A couple struck by moonlight and everything twinkly and beautiful. *Le sigh*

Wayne meets a red-headed, bright-eyed singer, and, not realising she's married, he forms a quick boyish crush on her. They also go through some enjoyable evenings together - dancing and singing some plain-fun songs. But the relationship ends promptly when Wayne realises she's a married woman, and in the end he's happily riding his old girlfriend in his car again. Wayne is the kind of easy, fun guy who gets along with life. I really love Wayne. :-)

As I said, this movie is just so DREAMY. It's just like Marge - dreamy, twinkly, gorgeous, romantic, sweet, kind. While I understand why some people wouldn't like it (because I don't think my siblings would be this crazy about the movie as I am - it's not really the kind of movie for middle-aged-boys who like a bit of action and who loathe romance, right?), I have to admit it has entranced my heart a little. I'm fond of this musical.

Ah yes, it's a musical. That means I must talk of the songs, right? This musical doesn't have as many songs as most musicals, but it is a very toe-tappy, music-filled movie nonetheless.

The songs are ridiculous fun. Some of them are more dreamy and wishful. The one Marge sings in the beginning - 'It Might as Well be Spring' - is a bit kind of whiny, but, don't worry, it's worth it, because she sings it in one of the prettiest bedrooms in cinema history and she sits on the windowsill in the most elegant manner ever possible during part of it. It's just visually stunning, this movie is.

My favourite is, easy, 'It's a Grand Night for Singing.' It's the theme song of the Musical, and no wonder. It's crazily swingy and joyful and impossible-not-to-smile. :-) I also love the silly song 'Isn't it Kinda Fun' - I don't really approve of the lyrics, but it's just SO MUCH FUN. :-D 'All I Owe' is also lovely.

JUST LOOK AT THEIR SMILES.

Now I have to talk about my main love for this movie - the Costumes. THE COSTUMES. They are to die for. Every piece. Especially Marge's wardrobe - especially Marge's wardrobe. AH. *Another big sigh, because hey, it's that kind of 'sigh' movie.*

Marge has one of my favourite movie-wardrobes EVER. If you know me and my millions-of-zillions-of-favourite-movie-costumes, you have to realise that this sets the standard high. Marge's wardrobe is to die for. She has the adorable crunchy look (yes, the delicious curly top does help finish off the look) - with beautiful girlish aprons, starry puffy sleeves, flowered bodices, and cherry-decorations. I LOVE EVERY COSTUME IN THIS MOVIE. There, I just said it.

This movie was made in 1945, so I like to think that girls my age watched it to celebrate the end of the War. What an excellent way to celebrate something, don't you think? :-)

Oh, one last thing: Eva is considering doing a State Fair week, everyone. Do comment and tell her that you're interested! :-)

Have you seen this musical?

As crazy about it as I? :-D

Roman Holiday 1953 // Review

Because this is a black and white movie, I have to admit I didn't think I would get very much sucked into the story. I thought it would lack vividness, perhaps, and - well - colour. 

But blimey, I was wrong. Although this movie is black-and-white, it was very colourful and charming and sparkly with real-ness. I can easily imagine all the colours - the yellow sandiness of Rome, the brown-grey bricks of the building, the greeny shades of Joe's bedroom, the soft-pinkines of Ann's dress and hat in the last scene, and the soft green of the motorbike in Rome. It's probably the colourful-est black-and-white movie made, ever. It's sunny, it's nostalgic, you form good friends with it immediately.

I LOVED IT.

It bought me into a queer, candy-like, world-of-golden-summers nostalgia. It left me super angry, and super in love. I mean, it's a one-day romance in the yellow sunlight of Rome - how adorable and quirky is that?!! It also made me - I, who hate travelling! - want to go to Rome. Oh, let's just start the review. :-)

My sister pointed out, after I had written my review of Belle, that I often forget to summarize the story of the movie I am reviewing. I pass on to the gushing and the characters immediately. So this time I'll tell you what the story is about:

Princess Ann, beautiful heiress to the throne, is on a trip in Rome, with a very big and packed schedule before her. She has a stress-panic-evening in her bed on evening, tired of all the work and pretending-to-be-happy, and acting-super-glamorous's, and the doctor gives her a dose of 'very harmless' drugs. Going out into Rome that evening, she falls into a hazy waze of sleepy dose on a bench, where she meets Joe Bradley.

Joe Bradley feels he has to look after this young girl sleeping on the bench, and takes her to his apartment. When he realises she is, in fact, the much-talked-over princess, he takes his chance to win a lot of money, and takes the Princess on a trip where she does all the kind of things she always wanted to do. They fall in love and he eventually does not publish any pictures or stories of the Princess. SPOILER - They end up separated (more about the sniffle-worthy ending later, I'm afraid.) - END OF SPOILER.

Audrey Hepburn as Princess Ann (spelt without an E, oh dear!) was, as the natural observer, a delight to watch. Goodness, how beautiful is this actress!!!! - I simply cannot take it in. Those perfect eyebrows! That charming light-up-the-room kind of smile! This was Audrey's first leading role - the movie that made her famous, and she is, simply put, iconic as Ann. 

I love how we go behind the curtain and see such a different, younger, real Ann. Her character, when in public, doing her duties, is graceful, swan-like and poised (even when loosing a shoe, ha), and then we see her girlish, care-free, normal side when she escapes and does the things she's always wanted to do. She was beautiful, adorable, warm.

By the way, did you know that Audrey Hepburn was born in Belgium? I'm really proud now.

OH MY GOODNESS. Joe Bradley. He's probably my new favourite movie hero!

I loved him so much that, believe it or not, he's been put right next to Mr Knightley and Matthew Crawley and all those much-talked over gentlemen on my blog, he really has! I love him! Seriously, he gave me so many of those little creamy feelsy feels inside. His way of arching one eyebrow, his twisted little grin, his twinkly eyes, messy apartment, funny dry lines and, oh such a gentleman! And the fact that Gregory Peck is achingly handsome doesn't really help. =)

He really is a Gentleman. With a capital G, by all means.

I hope no-one ever makes a re-make of this movie. If 'they' will, I won't watch it, because 'they' are sure to make something very unsuitable of the whole share-an-apartment-thing. But it was very appropriate in here - Jo Bradley is such a gentleman - he was a bit disturbed with the whole business, but he did it very well and distinguished-like. 

As I told my dad, 'If they would make this movie now, they would make something very inappropriate of the story.' But it's an old movie, and it's super good and trustworthy. It totally behaves, and I love it. :-)

JOE AND ANN WERE ADORABLE TOGETHER.

As I said, they gave me so many feels. The smiles they exchange. The funny lines. Their strong, one-day, we-understand-each-other relationship was just so perfect. I'm sinking in their adorableness right now, looking at that gif. I love how they make each other smile. Joe finds Ann absolutely charming and just a plain-adorable-doll he wants to look after. Ann finds Joe so easy and funny. They were made for each other, don't ya think?

I also loved the scene where they pretended they were a married couple. 

Let me talk about this scene. It didn't scare me, because I had seen the scene (or scene the seen?) beforehand (when it did kind of scare me for a moment), so I just sank in the adorable-couple-ness of it. I love how he teases her. I love it when people tease people in the kind of nice, adorable way. I know an elderly man at Church and we always really dryly tease each other and I just really like it.  Oh, I just LOVE Joe Bradley. It's so HIM, to do that. With his hand. 

And then she falls in his arms of giggling relief, a little embarrassed, he grinning. Then he teases some more and I just want to be Princess Ann. Oh for a holiday in Rome with Joe Bradley! :-D

The costumes in this movie were drool-y elegant. There aren't that many, and the main dress we see on Ann is her charming, simple two piece costume featured in a lot of the pictures in this post. I love the little striped bow around her neck - it's so holiday-ish and beach-ice-cream-like.

The other costumes we see Ann wearing are very royal and elegant. They remind me a lot of the dresses Queen Elizabeth wore in the fifties. Strings of pearls, gloves, flare-y, mid-calf dresses. And her sparkly earrings. AND HER HATS. As I said, although this movie doesn't have colour, I just know all the colours of the dresses. The one she wears in the above picture is dark burgandy red. Right?

No wonder this movie received a reward for costume design!

This movie was also really quite funny. Joe Bradley has a way of performing his lines that just makes my face crack into a crazy smile immediately. 'Honey, I haven't worn a nightgown in years' made me smile. And oh, the way he pushed his friend on the ground and went, 'Oh, dear, you slipped again!'

The chauffeur of the taxi when Joe met Ann first made me laugh too, when he tried to explain what he meant by 'bambino.' HAHA. Some very quirky side-characters in here.

Ready for this, dear fellow-Roman-Holiday-viewers? This is the part where I talk about the ending of Roman Holiday.

WHY. IT MADE ME SO ANGRY. I was screaming inside my brain, inside my everythings, I was screaming, 'Oh no! Oh no! They ARE a couple! They can't end like that!!!! NO!' I had a private panic attack, and you're lucky that I didn't fall dead of anguish and grief in my soul. Don't laugh, this is really serious, okay? I couldn't stand to see these two beautiful people so upset. Their eye contact - so quietly happy and hugely sad - almost gave me goosebumps - it was so achingly adorable.

The last scene was really hard to watch. That's all I can say. 

Let's end this post quietly. I have been quietened in sadness and scratchings inside me. *Sniffles*

Have you seen Roman Holiday?

Let's rewrite an ending together.