A Few Questions About General Hospital

As I mentioned last week, I have become a General Hospital brand ambassador. This week I want to talk to those of you who do NOT watch soap operas (or at least do not watch General Hospital). Why do you not watch them? What could ABC do that would get you to watch General Hospital? Also, please finish this sentence: "Soap operas are _____________." And please explain your statement if you would.

And just so I don't leave out those who do watch the show....
How could ABC get more moms to watch General Hospital? (feel free to answer this if you're a non-viewer too)

Dear FTC: I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other General Hospital branded items to facilitate my review.

America's Presidents (up to 33rd)

We may be a week past due
when talking about President's Day,
but I found this video after the fact.
Enjoy this video about what was taught
about our Presidents back in the 1950s.
How much do you know about the Presidents
talked about in this video?
Enjoy this History lesson.

Sing Along With Barbie DVD Blog Tour

The barbie doll. It was invented in 1959 by Ruth Handler (co-founder of Mattel). Her daughter was named Barbara. The Ken doll? Yep - named after Ruth's son.

Generations have since enjoyed Barbie doll play time. It's something my children enjoy. It's something I enjoyed when I was a little girl. My mother also enjoyed Barbies when she was young. Many families have passed down their own Barbies through generations.

Flash forward to 1987. Barbie makes her first film debut as Barbie And The Rockers. Then, after a fourteen year absence, Mattel commissioned Barbie to star as a heroine in several princess or fairy-themed movies. Barbie dolls would also be made to accompany these movies.

The Nutcracker (released in 2001) was the first of 16 Barbie movies to be released on DVD (4 of them being part of the Fairytopia series). My little girls own most of them and are super excited for the new release of "A Mermaid Tale," coming soon.

My girls and I were really stoked to hear about the Sing Along With Barbie DVD that was recently released. All three of my girls love to sing and dance and they adore their Barbie movies over any other movies in their collection. So this was a must for our Barbie collection. The DVD features a karaoke-like sing along including the highlighted words across the bottom of the screen. While my younger two are too young to read those words (and choose to sing it by heart), I do think it is easy to follow along with. In fact, I find myself looking at them when my kids wants me to sing along with them. I don't know the words by heart like they do. lol This is a great DVD for all ages - I have a 2, 3, and 7 year old who all enjoy this as if it were made specifically for them.

Another feature I love about this DVD is the price! At only $9.99 (at Best Buy & Target), it's more affordable than most other movies for children. I would have paid a lot more to see the joy on my daughters' faces as they danced and sang to their favorite Barbie movie tunes. Even if you have never watched any of the Barbie movies, I think this would be a great place to start. The story lines in Barbie movies are great, but the music is the best part (in our opinion).

Dear FTC: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Mattel. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Simplicity Challenge

Today I have been able to do a lot of reflection on the way things were. By that I mean before cell phones, before DVR, before cable, before... well.... technology. We have made the switch from having several providers to paying one bill under AT&T's U-verse. I've been forced into a technology withdrawal while the technician installs everything. This means no television, no phone, no Internet.

Having been born in 1979 (no, I don't mind saying so), I saw the revolution of computers, cell phones, email, digital television, and yes... texting. Today I was forced back into the day before any of this existed.

Most people can't imagine how women of the 1950s were able to get everything done and not go crazy or miss time to themselves. I mean, we can barely do this and we have so much technology out there that is supposed to make it all easier. Right?

I never realized how much time those things take away instead of give. Today I experienced more time to spend with my children, more time to cook and clean, more time to plan out the rest of the week and even more time to myself. I found myself looking over at my computer wondering who might have emailed me or what deadlines are for this week and even what my friends are up to via status updates on Facebook. A part of me even wanted to show off how much time I was spending with the kids or that I was enjoying time to myself during their afternoon nap. But I survived.

Life was amazing before technology. Of course, what can you miss that you didn't know existed? Now that I have spent time away from all of it, I really want more of that in my life. When life is getting stressed out and I'm being pulled in a million different directions, that this is what I need. A day without technology. Of course, it's easier to do when the opportunity to cave in and turn on the television or check my email isn't there. But I will certainly challenge myself to get back to the basics and spend more time away from technology. I'll let my voice mail catch calls more often. I'll turn off my television during most of the daytime and let my DVR record what I would normally watch. Hey, you can't expect a girl to give up her soap operas! lol My computer usage can certainly be limited to work time. I may even schedule myself hours for work instead of having an open office all day. Any emails that are delivered after a certain hour won't be read or responded to till the next day. I want to write and mail more letters. I may even make the effort to visit friends to see how they're doing rather than sending an email or waiting for a Facebook update. While it makes sense that this is what I should be doing anyway, I know there are more women out there like me who rely so much on technology and really miss out on simplicity.

Now... I challenge all of you to spend at least one day without technology. I'm curious to hear how your day went. How did you spend your time? Was your life easier or harder? Did you find you had more stuff for the important things? Can your household survive without your cable, cell phone, and internet? Is this something you could challenge yourself to do at least once a week?

General Hospital Brand Ambassador

I've been holding in a pretty exciting announcement that I can now share with you. I have become a General Hospital Ambassador!

What does this mean? Once a week (for a few weeks at least) I'll be talking to you about the show. Whether it's giving you the inside scoop on upcoming shows or letting you know about giveaways, you'll here all about it right here on Homemaker Hero! I am really excited about this opportunity because for the past year I've contemplated adding a soap opera feature to this blog - where we can talk about story lines. This gives me that opportunity to talk about General Hospital. Soap operas can be a big part of a homemaker's life. While I know this kind of thing isn't for everyone I hope those of you who do not watch General Hospital will stick around. You'll either be inspired to watch or you won't. I hope you'll at least give me that opportunity to let you know about the show and share my love for General Hospital with you.

I'd love to hear how many of you are already fans. Hopefully I'll turn a few more of you into fans in the next few weeks. As for me, I've been a fan since I was a little girl. My grandmother got me into it back in the early 1980s. Because of having to go to school, she would tape the show for me (back when you could record on VHS) and I'd watch it with her after school.

So what's the exciting news for this week?

Thanks to General Hospital and Mom Central, one lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive a trip to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital and have a walk-on role!! Everyone is welcome to enter by clicking here. Enter soon because this contest will end February 28th. It would be fabulous to see a Homemaker Hero fan on General Hospital, wouldn't it?

Stay tuned for more about General Hospital in the upcoming weeks!

“I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other General Hospital branded items to facilitate my review.”

The Home Economics Story 1951

Home Economics -
it's not just for homemakers.
While I receive a lot of traffic from
those who are homemakers and mothers,
there are a lot of visitors who are
working women.
Did you know that home economics skills go
way beyond being a homemaker?
This is a pretty long video
compared to usual
(it's 25 minutes)
but it's definitely a great way
to learn how to apply the home economics
side of this blog to a career outside of the home.

Homemade Ranch Dressing

A couple of weeks ago, I went on a mission to figure out how to start making my own salad dressings. I found a great recipe for blue cheese dressing thanks to my love of all things Albuquerque (and picking up a New Mexican cookbook). This week, I'm inspired by my love for the South and the fact I will probably never move North. We Southerners love ranch dressing! I personally eat ranch dressing on almost everything - fries, sandwiches, chicken, and especially for dipping my raw veggies. I even like to mix it with other condiments like ketchup. I searched high and low for an easy yet delicious recipe for ranch dressing. Try it out and let me know what you think. Which version do you prefer - homemade or store-bought?

HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSING

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• 5 cups mayonnaise
• 5 cups whole yogurt
• 1/4 cup 2% milk
• 2 tablespoons chopped celery leaves
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
• 1 1/2 tablespoons diced onion (sweet or red)
• 1 clove garlic, diced
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• salt and pepper (to taste)

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Dice the onion and garlic. Also dice the dill and celery leaves if you didn't already buy it that way.
2. Combine all ingredients into a large bowl and whisk it all together till well blended.
3. You may adjust seasonings to your taste buds.
4. Let it sit in the refrigerator for one hour before serving for the flavors to blend well together.

Don't forget about these other easy homemade recipes:

• HOMEMADE BLUE CHEESE DRESSING
  
• HOMEMADE COOKIE DOUGH
  
• HOMEMADE GRAVY
  
• HOMEMADE BARBECUE SAUCE
  
• HOMEMADE HORSERADISH SPREAD
  
• HOMEMADE DILL RELISH
  
• HOMEMADE TARTAR SAUCE
  
• HOMEMADE MAYONNAISE
  
• HOMEMADE MUSTARD
  
• HOMEMADE KETCHUP
• HOMEMADE PEANUT BUTTER
• HOMEMADE PANCAKE SYRUP

photo credit: christies corner

1950's Mood Music

Now that we've successfully made it though the Ten Days of 1950's Romance Movies, I thought you might also enjoy a few music selections. Below you'll find some of my favorite love songs from 1950-1959. Hopefully these will help set the mood!

1950: Mona Lisa Nat King Cole
1951: Hey Good Lookin' Hank Williams
1952: Tenderly Rosemary Clooney
1953: You You You Ames Brothers
1954: I Got A Woman Ray Charles
1955: Wake The Town And Tell The People Les Baxter (note: Unchained Melody is just so overplayed)
1956: In The Still Of The Night Five Satins
1957: You Send Me Sam Cooke
1958: To Know Him Is To Love Him Teddy Bears
1959: I Only Have Eyes For You The Flamingos

And for those "anti-valentine's day" folks out there, these are for you:
1950: The Tennessee Waltz Patti Page
1951: Cry Johnnie Ray
1952: I Went To Your Wedding Patti Page
1953: Your Cheatin' Heart Hank Williams
1954: They'll Be No Teardrops Tonight Tony Bennett
1955: Why Do Fools Fall In Love Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
1956: Singing The Blues Guy Mitchell
1957: Bye Bye Love Everly Brothers
1958: Since I Don't Have You The Skyliners
1959: The Big Hurt Miss Toni Fisher

Madly In Love With Me

Everyone knows tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Not everyone knows that today is Madly In Love With Me day. Madly In Love With Me is a self-love movement. It was created to raise the awareness of self-love among women and girls around the world… and to provide a pathway that gives those women and girls the guidance, support, wisdom and inspiration they need to freely and fully live and love the women they are, free of self-criticism, self-hatred, and self-abuse.

Most of us cannot define what self-love really is.

It’s more than self-esteem, broader than self-worth, and deeper than self-confidence. But what exactly is it? Dictionary.com defines self-love as ‘conceit, vanity, and narcissism!’ Is it any wonder that we live in a world in which so many girls and women don’t truly love themselves? It’s time to take a stand to reclaim ‘self-love’ for what it truly means, by redefining it for ourselves!

I will be challenging myself and all of my readers to explore the definition of what self-love means for each of us and learn to love who we are.

To accept this challenge is to believe:

1. Every woman desires to be loved, deeply, for herself.
2. Every woman desires to be free to fully express herself.
3. Self esteem is not enough. Lasting happiness demands self love.
4. The love, freedom and happiness every woman seeks can only come from inside of herself.
5. Finding that love, freedom and happiness within ourselves is a journey that deepens over a lifetime. Although we feel it more and more as time goes on, falling in love with ourselves is something we do forever.
6. All women deserve to love themselves… to have fun doing it… and to have the company of other women along the way.

Click here to listen to founder Christine Arylo talk candidly about why self-love, not just self-esteem, is a must-have for every woman and girl on this planet.

I will be participating in the following challenges and encourage you to do the same. There may be a little something special for your participation! *wink wink*

CHALLENGE 1. Start your own self-love affair or throw a self-love soiree’ for you and the women and girls you love by signing up to receive your free Madly In Love With Me Kit. Once downloaded, leave a comment (including your email address) with:

• Let me know the self-love dare you took and why.
• Let me know the self-love vow you took and why.

After you've completed all three steps (the download and answering the two questions), you will be entered to win a beautiful Me heart token necklace from Christine Arylo and Homemaker Hero! One entry per person (you must do all three steps for it to count). This contest will end February 26th. Questions? Email homemakerhero@gmail.com

CHALLENGE 2. Write your personal self-love Manifesta. Write it so it expresses what you feel self-love is – what is looks and feels like, what a woman who embodies self-love looks and feels like. Take us into self-love. It could be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be as long as you keep it to 200 words or less. Keep reading to see the self-love Manifesta that I wrote myself or click here to read the original self-love Manifesta. Once you write your own, enter it on Facebook and you will become eligible to win more prizes from Christine Arylo! They will send all Manifestas that they receive to dictionary.com as a petition to change their current definition of self-love (which is 'conceit, vanity and narcissism! OMG!!).

My Own Manifesta: Self-love is more than love and more than myself. Self-love is recognizing and focusing on my strength and not the challenge. It is looking in the mirror and loving my eyes instead of hating my hips. Self-love is being so honest with myself that I forget how to lie to anyone at all. It's compromise without sacrifice. Self-love is about learning to appreciate myself so that I will know how to appreciate others, and not the other way around. It's understanding how words will no longer hurt me. Self-love is knowing how to live well and living even better than that.

Dear FTC: I am working with Christine Arylo as part of this blog campaign. I received the necklace from her to offer as the giveaway on my blog.

Ten Days of 1950's Romance Movies: 1959

YEAR: 1959

It was the year Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th states. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences sponsors the first Grammy Award ceremony for music recorded in 1958. Jack S. Kilby of Texas Instruments (US) supervises the development of the first integrated circuit. These four romance movies were released, have since become some of my favorite romance movies of the 50's and may potentially become the movie you watch with your sweetie on Valentine's Day 2010.

It Happened To Jane. Jane Osgood is trying to support her two young children by running a lobster business. After one of her shipments is ruined by inattention at the railroad station, Jane decides to take on Harry Foster Malone, director of the line and the "meanest man in the world". With the help of her lifelong friend - and lawyer - George Denham, Jane sues Malone for the price of her lobsters & her lost business. What she ends up with is a lot more than either of them bargained for. This movie stars Doris Day and Jack Lemmon. Interesting facts: Doris Day wrote that her manager/husband Martin Melcher was terribly concerned over the box-office failure of this film and The Tunnel of Love . Their failures caused Day to drop out of the Top Ten Box Office Stars. Day and Melcher had words about him hustling her into almost any film for the money instead of waiting to find good scripts that would have produced better results. Jack Lemmon wrote that he thought this was a good, funny movie that didn't do well because of its "terrible title". He thought he and Doris Day had very good chemistry together, and he regretted that they never did another film.

Sleeping Beauty. Princess Aurora is cursed by the evil witch Maleficent - who declares that before Aurora reaches her 16th birthday she will die by a poisoned spinning-wheel. To try to prevent this, the king places her into hiding, in the care of three good-natured but not too bright fairies. This movie stars the voices of Mary Costa and Bill Shirley. Interesting facts: In both Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella , the main character's friends surprise her with a new dress, calling out, "Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! Happy birthday!" When the fairies discuss how to help the king and queen, notice that Merryweather magically creates cookies in the shape of Mickey Mouse. Disney Studios has no record as to who provided the voice for the queen, Briar Rose's mother. Second only to Dumbo (who didn't speak at all), this Disney title character has very few lines of actual dialogue throughout the entire film, which is actually about the three fairies who protect her, not about the Sleeping Beauty herself. Rose/Aurora is only featured in the film in very few scenes and hardly says anything. She doesn't utter a single word in the second half of the film, neither before nor after she falls under the spell. Her first line comes 19 minutes into the film, and her last line comes 39 minutes into the film. However, she does sing two songs during that time. The elaborate background paintings usually took seven to ten days to paint. By contrast, a typical animation background takes one workday to complete. This was the first Disney animated feature to be created for the 70mm format.

Some Like It Hot. Two struggling musicians witness the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and try to find a way out of the city before they are found and killed by the mob. The only job that will pay their way is an all girl band so the two dress up as women. In addition to hiding, each has his own problems; One falls for another band member but can't tell her his gender, and the other has a rich suitor who will not take "No," for an answer. This movie stars Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and more! Interesting facts: Marilyn Monroe required 47 takes to get "It's me, Sugar" correct, instead saying either "Sugar, it's me" or "It's Sugar, me". After take 30, Billy Wilder had the line written on a blackboard. Another scene required Monroe to rummage through some drawers and say "Where's the bourbon?" After 40 takes of her saying "Where's the whiskey?", 'Where's the bottle?", or "Where's the bonbon?", Wilder pasted the correct line in one of the drawers. After Monroe became confused about which drawer contained the line, Wilder had it pasted in every drawer. Fifty-nine takes were required for this scene and when she finally does say it, she has her back to the camera, leading some to wonder if Wilder finally gave up and had it dubbed. A cabaret dancer (a man who played women on stage) tried to teach Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon to walk in heels. After about a week, Lemmon declined his help, saying he didn't want to walk like a woman, but a man trying to walk like a woman. Marilyn Monroe was pregnant during the filming, as a result she looked considerably heavier. She had no known children and several miscarriages in her life. Due to her pregnancy, most of the publicity still photos were posed for by both 'Sandra Warner' (who had an uncredited role as one of the band members) and Monroe's frequent stand-in Evelyn Moriarty with Monroe's head superimposed later. The last door Jerry and Joe open in the office building where they are looking for work says "Jules Stein, President" stenciled on the door. Jules Stein is a real person who founded the Music Corporation of America, also stenciled on the door. Billy Wilder played cards with Stein. In 2008, a Californian man who found a little black dress in his closet was stunned when appraisers for U.S. TV series "Antiques Roadshow" determined it once belonged to Marilyn Monroe. The frock - which Monroe was sewn into for Some Like It Hot - was estimated to be worth $250,000

Pillow Talk. Interior decorator Jan Morrow and composer Brad Allen share a phone line. Brad keeps the line occupied all day talking to his girlfriends, which annoys Jan terribly and animosity between them builds up. They however have never met and when by chance Brad sees Jan, he decides to add her to his list of conquests. Knowing however how she feels about him, he poses as an innocent Texan country boy named Rex Stetson to win her, a plan which seems to work. This movie stars Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Randall and more! Interesting facts: In the diner scene near the end, the restaurant patrons were supposed to deck Tony Randall, who would fake a reaction to the blow and slide down "unconscious" in the booth seat. However, during filming the actor overestimated his hook and accidentally knocked out Randall for real. The shot wound up being so good that the accidental knockout is the one shown in the film. Towards the end of the movie Rock Hudson picks up Doris Day and carries her through the lobby and down the street. After many takes, Hudson's arms were hurting, so they created a sort of sling which held Day in a crate-like device and hooked over Hudson's shoulders to evenly distribute her weight. Spanish TV screened "Pillow Talk" on 20th July 1969 while everybody was waiting for the Apollo landing on the Moon. Suddenly, the film stopped and Spanish people could see the landing directly. The film was not reshown on TV until 1999, when Spanish viewers could, at last, see the ending!

Ten Day of 1950's Romance Moves: 1958

YEAR: 1958

It was the year the US Supreme Court rules unanimously that Little Rock, Ark., schools must integrate. The cost of a first-class stamp increases from $0.03 to $0.04. Alvin Ailey establishes the American Dance Theater. Billboard debuts its Hot 100 chart. Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool" boasts the first No. 1 record. Rock-n-Roll hunk, Elvis Presley, is inducted into the US Army. These three romance movies were released, have since become three of my favorite romance movies of the 50's and may potentially become the movie you watch with your sweetie on Valentine's Day 2010.

Gigi. Weary of the conventions of Parisian society, a rich playboy and a youthful courtesan-in-training enjoy a platonic friendship, but it may not stay platonic for long. Gaston, the scion of a wealthy Parisian family finds emotional refuge from the superficial lifestyle of upper class Parisian 1900s society with the former mistress of his uncle and her outgoing, tomboy granddaughter, Gigi. When Gaston becomes aware that Gigi has matured into a woman, her grandmother and aunt, who have educated Gigi to be a wealthy man's mistress, urge the pair to act out their roles but love adds a surprise twist to this delightful turn-of-the 20th century Cinderella story. This movie stars Leslie Caron and Maurice Chevalier. Interesting facts: Gaston's walk through Paris while singing "Gigi" uses camera magic to make parts of Paris which are miles apart seem adjacent to each other. This technique, called "creative geography", was created and named by French filmmaker Jean Cocteau. The cat in the movie reacted violently whenever it was in a scene with Leslie Caron, but director Vincente Minelli insisted on having that particular cat, so it had to be heavily drugged. This is especially obvious during "Say a Prayer for Me Tonight". The cast had to mouth the songs as production was so swift that the score had yet to recorded by the time it came to filming. The day after the movie won nine Oscars, M.G.M telephone operators were instructed to answer all phone calls with "Hello, M-Gigi-M."

South Pacific. This one is also in my top 3 picks for 1950's romance movies. Can a girl from Little Rock find happiness with a mature French planter she got to know one enchanted evening away from the military hospital where she is a nurse? Or should she just wash that man out of her hair? Bloody Mary is the philosopher of the island and it's hard to believe she could be the mother of Liat who has captured the heart of Lt. Joseph Cable USMC. While waiting for action in the war in the South Pacific, sailors and nurses put on a musical comedy show. The war gets closer and the saga of Nellie Forbush and Emile de Becque becomes serious drama. This movie stars Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, and John Kerr. Interesting Facts: The love scenes between characters Joe Cable and Liat were considered shocking by the still conservative standards of the late 1950s. Rossano Brazzi's singing voice was dubbed by Giorgio Tozzi, Ken Clark's by Thurl Ravenscroft, and John Kerr's by Bill Lee.

The Matchmaker. It's 1884 in Yonkers, New York. Dolly Gallagher-Levi is a Jane-of-all-Trades, but her latest and most lucrative venture is as a matchmaker, setting men up with women with the intention of matrimony. This job is ironic as she was previously married herself, not enjoying the experience. Her latest client is older penny-pinching retail store owner, Horace Vandergelder, who works his two young meek clerks, Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker, to the bone. As Horace won't give them a day off, Cornelius and Barnaby plot to close the store and sneak into New York for the day, their mission to meet and kiss a girl. In New York, Cornelius spots Irene Molloy, a young female milliner upon who he sets his sights. On their meeting, Cornelius is unaware that she is also one of Horace's possible brides. Beyond what happens between Horace, Cornelius and Irene, Dolly herself may be ready for matrimony again despite her words to the contrary. This movie stars Shirley Booth, Anthony Perkins, and Shirley MacLaine. Interesting facts: Basis for the musical "Hello, Dolly", first on Broadway in 1964 and later on film: Hello, Dolly!. The Broadway musical play adaptation of "Hello Dolly!" opened at the St. James Theater on January 16, 1964 and ran for 2844 performances, setting a Broadway longevity record. "Hello Dolly!" also won the 1964 Tony Awards for the Best Musical and Best Score. The stage version of "The Matchmaker" opened in New York on December 5, 1955 at the Royale Theatre and closed on February 2, 1957 at the Booth Theatre. Ruth Gordon starred as Dolly Levi and Loring Smith as Horace Vandergelder. Robert Morse as Barnaby Tucker was the only actor to reprise his role in the movie version.

California Blooms Giveaway Winner!

Remind me next time I host to a giveaway
to make sure to mention
leaving separate comments for your entries. lol
It was a little difficult to count up all of the entries
but I came up with a definite 37.

It's a lucky 13 for Mama Locs!!!!!
I'll email you to get your shipping information
and the flowers will be on their way to you.

Don't forget, all of you can still receive 15% off
by using coupon code: AE210

Thanks to everyone for entering!
I'm super excited to be able to
bless my readers with giveaways
whenever I can.
Today is especially great because
I'm able to give something away on my birthday
to bless you on Valentine's day.

Whatever it is you're doing and whomever you decide
to spend Valentine's Day with,
I hope you will enjoy it.

Ten Days of 1950's Romance Movies: 1957

YEAR: 1957

It was the year The "Little Rock Nine" intergrate Arkansas high school. Eisenhower sends troops to quell mob and protect the students after Gove. Orval Faubus defies federal order. Leonard Berstein's West Side Story debuts on Broadway and brings violence to the stage. Leave It to Beaver premieres on CBS, ushering in an era of television shows that depict the ideal American. Temporary artificial heart invented by Willem Kolff. Clarence W. Lillehie and Earl Bakk (US) invent the internal pacemaker. Another "rat pack" actor, Humphrey Bogart, dies. These three romance movies were released, have since become three of my favorite romance movies of the 50's and may potentially become the movie you watch with your sweetie on Valentine's Day 2010.

An Affair To Remember. Handsome playboy Nicky Ferrante and beautiful night club singer Terry McKay have a romance while on a cruise from Europe to New York. Despite being engaged to other people, both agree to reunite at the top of the Empire State Building in six months. However, an unfortunate accident keeps Terry from the reunion, and Nicky fears that she has married or does not love him anymore. Will he discover the truth behind her absence and reunite with his one true love, or has fate and destiny passed them by? This movie stars Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant. Interesting facts: Deborah Kerr's singing was dubbed by Marni Nixon, who also dubbed her in The King and I the previous year. Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant improvised many of their scenes throughout filming, and a number of lines that made it to the final cut of the film came from the actors' improvisation. References to this movie in Nora Ephron's Sleepless in Seattle, revitalized interest in the film, and led to 2 million additional sales of the 1957 classic on VHS. Nickie and Terry make their conditional promise to meet in six months at exactly the halfway point of the film (59-1/2 minutes into the 119-minute movie).

The Pajama Game. Employees of the Sleeptite Pajama Factory are looking for a whopping seven-and-a-half cent an hour increase and they won't take no for an answer. Babe Williams is their feisty employee representative but she may have found her match in shop superintendent Sid Sorokin. When the two get together they wind up discussing a whole lot more than job actions! This movie stars Doris Day and John Raitt. Interesting facts: 39% of the cast is from the original Broadway production. This was John Raitt's only leading film role. A song written specifically for Doris Day, "The Man Who Invented Love" (music and lyrics by Richards Adler), wound up on the cutting-room floor. Currently, the recording can be listened to on the soundtrack CD from Collectables, and the footage can be watched on the DVD from Warner Home Video.

Love In The Afternoon. In Paris, detective Claude Chavasse is hired to follow a wife suspected of infidelity with the notorious American libertine Frank Flannagan. When the husband learns that his suspicions are accurate, he tells Claude of his plan to kill Flannagan. Claude's daughter Ariane overhears the threat and warns Frank of the coming trouble. She then plays the part of a worldly socialite with a list of conquests as long as Flannagan's. The bemused ladies' man returns to America the next day and Ariane, completely in love, follows his romantic escapades in the news. She sees him again in Paris the following year, and resumes her worldly guise, telling tales of former lovers when they meet at his hotel in the afternoon. Frank, amazed by the mystery girl and surprised to find himself jealous of her past, hires Claude to uncover more information about her. When the detective realizes what has happened, he asks Frank not to break his daughter's heart. This movie stars Gary Cooper and Audrey Hepburn. Interesting facts: The original ending of the film just showed the two lovers departing together on a train, which threatened to land the film on the Catholic Legion of Decency's "Condemned List." As a result, Maurice Chevalier was called back to do the voice-over heard at the close of the film, in which he reports that the couple are "now married and serving a life sentence in New York City." To dispel any impression that Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper actually have sex in their many afternoon meetings in his hotel room, a line was dubbed into the release print. When his back is turned to the camera in Chevalier's office, Cooper is heard to say, "I can't get to first base with her." Gary Cooper was very pleased with his performance and was very disappointed that the majority of critics thought him miscast due to his age. Indeed, the film's box office failure was largely attributed to him being considered too old to play Audrey Hepburn's lover. In April 1958 he had a full facelift, but the procedure was largely unsuccessful.

Ten Days Of 1950's Romance Movies: 1956

YEAR: 1956

It was the year Autherine Lucy, the first black student at the University of Alabama, is suspended after riots. With many hit singles (including "Heartbreak Hotel"), Elvis Presley emerges as one of the world's first rock stars. Kay Thompson's Eloise, the Plaza Hotel's most famous guest, is a bestseller. The Wizard of Oz has its first airing on TV. These three romance movies were released, have since become three of my favorite romance movies of the 50's and may potentially become the movie you watch with your sweetie on Valentine's Day 2010.

The King And I. Mrs. Anna Leonowens and her son Louis arrive in Bangkok, where she has contracted to teach English to the children of the royal household. She threatens to leave when the house she had been promised is not available, but falls in love with the children. A new slave, a gift of a vassal king, translates "Uncle Tom's Cabin" into a Siamese ballet, expressing her unhappiness at being with the King. She attempts to escape with her lover. Anna and the King fall in love, but her British upbringing inhibits her from joining his harem. She is just about to leave Siam when she hears of the King's imminent death, and returns to help his son, her favorite pupil, rule his people. This movie stars Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner. Interesting facts: Although this movie was filmed and promoted in the then-new 55 mm CinemaScope 55, it was actually shown in the standard 35 mm CinemaScope, with 4-channel stereo rather than the 6-channel stereo originally promised. CinemaScope 55 was discarded after being used on only two feature films (this and Carousel). The cost of the film was ten times more than that of the original lavish Broadway production. The short scene in which Anna is taken through the streets of Bangkok to the King's palace by the royal entourage required 25 sets on a three-acre area on the Fox backlot, not counting the stables for the elephants used in the sequence. Baking under the hot lights on-set, Deborah Kerr lost over 12 pounds, and would often refer to herself as "The melting Miss Kerr". Although Walter Lang is given sole directorial credit on the film, Yul Brynner repeatedly clashed with him and made many of the directorial suggestions which found their way into the finished film. The reality of the "Shall We Dance" sequence was that Deborah Kerr suffered continual bruising from the hoops in her skirt, and Yul Brynner - a chain smoker who had already lost a lung to his habit - had to take oxygen in between takes.

Giant. Texan rancher Bick Benedict visits a Maryland farm to buy a prize horse. Whilst there he meets and falls in love with the owner's daughter Leslie, they are married immediately and return to his ranch. The story of their family and its rivalry with cowboy and (later oil tycoon) Jett Rink unfolds across two generations. This movie has a great cast of stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, and more! Interesting facts: After James Dean's death late in production, Nick Adams provided Rink's voice for a few lines. James Dean called the shooting style of director George Stevens the "around the clock" method, because Stevens would film a scene from as many different angles as possible, which made everything seem to take longer to do. George Stevens made the film for no upfront salary but a percentage of the (substantial) back end profits. It was the highest grossing film in Warner Bros. history until the release of Superman in 1978. In the 40s and 50s the usual policy for films where characters would start young and get older was to cast older actors and de-age them to show them as their younger selves. "Giant" took the then largely radical step of doing the opposite - casting younger actors and using make-up to make them appear older. Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor went for get-to-know-you drinks one night at the very start of the production. They both got exceedingly drunk, finishing the evening at 3:00 am. Their call-time was 5:30 am. Fortunately the scene being shot that morning was a wedding scene with no dialog, so instead of talking, all they had to do was look lovingly at each other. The two actors were concentrating so hard on not being sick that they were quite surprised when some of the people on-set started to cry, so convinced were they of their supposed looks of adoration at each other.

Carousel. Billy Bigelow asks for permission to be sent down "from above" for one day to try and make amends for mistakes he made in life. Billy worked at the carnival as a carousel barker, which is where he met Julie. The carousel owner, Mrs. Mullin, fired him because of jealousy, and he and Julie got married. Billy got into bad habits when he couldn't find a job and they were forced to live with Julie's cousin Nettie after Julie was fired from her factory job for staying out late with Billy. When Julie told him she was pregnant, he felt compelled to somehow find a way to support his family, but the only option seemed to be falling back into crime with his old pal Jigger. This movies stars Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones. Interesting facts: At the time that this film was released, it was not successful at the box office, but the film's soundtrack album did become a national best seller. This film was originally meant to be filmed in both standard 35mm CinemaScope and CinemaScope 55 (55mm). Early in production it was discovered that both prints could be made from the one negative, and so it was filmed in 55mm CinemaScope only. Standard 35mm CinemaScope prints were made for release, and like The King and I, this film was never shown theatrically in the 55mm format. Frank Sinatrawas cast as Billy, but backed out because each scene had to be shot twice (once in 35mm, once in 55mm). Three weeks after he left, they found a way to film the scene once on 55mm, then transfer it onto 35mm.

High Society. C.K. Dexter-Haven, a successful popular jazz musician, lives in a mansion near his ex-wife's Tracy Lord's family estate. She is on the verge of marrying a man blander and safer than Dex, who tries to win Tracy's heart again. Mike Connor, an undercover tabloid reporter, also falls for Tracy while covering the nuptials for Spy magazine. Tracy must choose between the three men as she discovers that "safe" can mean "deadly dull" when it comes to husbands and life. This movie stars Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and more. Interesting facts: Grace Kelly, recently engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco, wore her actual engagement ring for as character's engagement ring. This was Grace Kelly's last feature film before retiring from acting. Features the song "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?" which gave the successful TV quiz show its title. Louis Calhern died in Japan just after making this film, making High Society his last screen appearance.

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Ten Days Of 1950's Romance Movies: 1955

YEAR: 1955

It was the year Rosa Parks refused to sit at the back of the bus, breaking the Montgomery, Ala., segregated seating law. Gunsmoke debuts on CBS, and will go on to be television's longest-running western. James Dean dies in a car accident at age 26. Albert Einstein also died this year. These three romance movies were released, have since become three of my favorite romance movies of the 50's and may potentially become the movie you watch with your sweetie on Valentine's Day 2010.

The Seven Year Itch. Like many other Manhattan husbands, Richard Sherman sends his wife and son to the country for the summer, while he stays behind to toil. Though reveling in temporary bachelor freedom of lifestyle, he's resolved not to carouse and philander like some others. But his overactive, over-vivid imagination goes into overdrive when a delightfully unconventional, voluptuous blonde moves in upstairs. This movie stars Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell. Interesting facts: Marilyn Monroe's lifelong bouts with depression and self-destruction took their toll during filming; she frequently muffed scenes and forgot her lines, leading to sometimes as many as 40 takes of a scene before a satisfactory result was produced. Marilyn Monroe's constant tardiness and behavioral problems made the budget of the film swell to $1.8 million, a high price for the time. The film still managed to make a nice profit. The movie premiere was on June 1st, 1955 which happened to be Marilyn Monroe's 29th birthday. Despite being one of the most iconic images in pop culture history, as well as one of the most recognizable photographs of Marilyn Monroe, the famous full-length image of Monroe standing with her dress being blown up never actually appears in the film. The shot used in the film is only of her legs, cut with reaction shots, and never shown full-length.

Marty. Marty is a 34-year-old butcher whose Italian family is constantly after him to get married. He meets plain-looking schoolteacher Clara. They are both lonely, unglamorous people who have resigned themselves to their unloved lives. But they manage, in time, to grope their way to love. Stars Ernest Borgnine and Betsy Blair. Interesting facts: At 91 minutes long, this has the shortest running time of any film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. The only time in film history that the producers spent more on a film's award campaign ($400,000) than they did on making the movie ($343,000). The film, which cost only $340,000 to make and generated rentals of $3,000,000 at the domestic box office, reportedly was one of the most profitable movies ever made. This is the remake of a 1953 TV movie of the same name, with Rod Steiger in the title role.

Guys and Dolls. All the hot gamblers are in town, and they're all depending on Nathan Detroit to set up this week's incarnation of "The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York"; the only problem is, he needs $1000 to get the place. Throw in Sarah Brown, who's short on sinners at the mission she runs; Sky Masterson, who accepts Nathan's $1000 bet that he can't get Sarah Brown to go with him to Havana; Miss Adelaide, who wants Nathan to marry her; Police Lieutenant Brannigan, who always seems to appear at the wrong time; and the music/lyrics of Frank Loesser, and you've got quite a musical. Stars Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine, and many more. Interesting facts: After filming repeated takes of the scene where Sky (Marlon Brando) and Nathan (Frank Sinatra) first meet, they had to quit for the day when Sinatra had too much cheesecake. He said he could not take one more bite. Practical joker (some would say jerk) Brando, knowing how much Sinatra hated cheesecake, purposely flubbed each take so that Sinatra would have to eat piece after piece of cheesecake. The next day, they came back and shot the scene perfectly on the first take. Frank Sinarta loathed the non-singing Marlon Brando for getting the starring role, while Sinatra got a lesser part. His nickname for the sometimes barely coherent Brando was "Mumbles."

Oklahoma!. Another top 3 movie for me - although I may be a little biased knowing I am originally from Oklahoma. Set in the times of the early 1900s', the musical is partially about the Indian Territory becoming the state of Oklahoma. Curly is a stubborn cowboy who had trouble admitting his feelings to Laurey, as does she. They both love each other, but have much difficulty telling each other because of their stubborn behaviors and reputation. The story is also set around Ado Annie trying to choose between Will, who has strong feelings for her, and the peddler, who thinks he's a ladies' man and doesn't really want to marry her. Judd, Laurey and Aunt Eller's hired hand, tries to come between Laurey and Curly, because he is alone and has feelings for Laurey. Aunt Eller is a peppy and friendly middle-aged woman who pretty much knows everyone, and everyone respects her. Stars Gordon MacRae, Gloria Grahame, Gene Nelson, and more. Interesting facts: Shot on location in and around Nogales, Arizona, because the real Oklahoma in 1955 was so heavily farmed and developed that few suitable areas could be found that resembled the highly-rural and undeveloped Oklahoma of the turn of the century when the musical is set. This was Fred Zinnemann's first musical, and it cost a then-astronomical $6.8 million. The interiors were shot at MGM in autumn of 1954, the first time that an outside production company not releasing through MGM was allowed to film a feature there. The song "Kansas City" was edited for censors. Will sang it, "I could swear that she was padded from her shoulders to her heel. And then she started dancing and her dancing made me feel that every single thing she had was absolutely real." In the original play script it went, "I could swear that she was padded from her shoulders to her heels. And later in the second act when she began to peel. She proved that everything she had was absolutely real." Filmed in both CinemaScope and Todd-AO. When both films are seen together, subtle differences may be discerned in such areas as line readings and overall pacing. Tone deaf, Gloria Grahame, who played Ado Annie, sang without dubbing, which required that her songs to be edited together from recordings made almost literally note by note.

Ten Days Of 1950's Romance Movies: 1954

YEAR: 1954

It was the year Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka the Supreme Court unanimously bans racial segregation in public schools. The World Series is broadcast in color for the first time. The first children receive Dr. Joah Salk's polio vaccine. These three romance movies were released, have since become three of my favorite romance movies of the 50's and may potentially become the movie you watch with your sweetie on Valentine's Day 2010.

Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. This is actually in my top 3 for the 1950's. Adam, the eldest of seven brothers, goes to town to get a wife. He convinces Milly to marry him that same day. They return to his backwoods home. Only then does she discover he has six brothers - all living in his cabin. Milly sets out to reform the uncouth siblings, who are anxious to get wives of their own. Then, after reading about the Roman capture of the Sabine women, Adam develops an inspired solution to his brothers' loneliness. This movie stars Howard Keel and Jane Powell. Interesting facts: Scenes for the widescreen version were shot in the morning and, for the normal ratio, in the afternoon. Because there was no way of distinguishing between them and the Town Suitors, MGM decided to make all the Pontipee Brothers red-headed. MGM considered this a B movie - they had higher aspirations for the more expensive Brigadoon. For this reason, they slashed the budget on "Seven Brothers", forcing Stanley Donen to use painted backdrops instead of location filming. For the brides costumes, designer Walter Plunkett went to the Salvation Army, found old quilts and turned them into dresses. The censors weren't too happy about the line in the song "Lonesome Polecat" where the brothers lament "A man can't sleep when he sleeps with sheep". By not showing any sheep in the same shot as the brothers, the film-makers were able to get away with it. Only four of the brothers were dancers. Russ Tamblyn (Gideon) was an acrobat, and Jeff Richards (Benjamin) was an actor. Benjamin rarely dances in the movie. Rehearsals for the barn-raising sequence took 3 weeks This movie was shot in only 48 days. Reportedly Howard Keel's personal favorite of his movies.

Rear Window. I know, this is not what you'd expect to be under "romance movies" but it does have a romance within the story line and would be an easy sell for your sweetheart to watch on Valentine's day. Believe it or not, most movie websites do include this when searching for romance. Professional photographer L.B. "Jeff" Jeffries breaks his leg while getting an action shot at an auto race. Confined to his New York apartment, he spends his time looking out of the rear window observing the neighbors. He begins to suspect that a man across the courtyard may have murdered his wife. Jeff enlists the help of his high society fashion-consultant girlfriend Lisa Freemont and his visiting nurse Stella to investigate. Stars James Stewart and Grace Kelly. Interesting facts: All of the sound in the film is diegetic, meaning that all the music, speech and other sounds all come from within the world of the film. While shooting, Alfred Hitchcock worked only in Jeff's "apartment." The actors in other apartments wore flesh-colored earpieces so that he could radio his directions to them. The love affair between war photographer Robert Capa and actress Ingrid Bergman is believed to be Alfred Hitchcock's inspiration for the film's romantic aspect. One thousand arc lights were used to simulate sunlight. Thanks to extensive pre-lighting of the set, the crew could make the changeover from day to night in under forty-five minutes. Once during the filming, the lights were so hot that they set off the soundstage sprinkler system. The film was inspired in part by the real-life murder case of Patrick Mahon. In 1924, in Sussex, England, Mahon murdered his pregnant mistress, Emily Kaye, and dismembered her body. In the modern interview, Alfred Hitchcock claimed that Mahon threw the body parts out of a train window piece by piece and burned the head in his fireplace. Another modern source, however, states that Mahon quartered the body and stored it in a large trunk, then removed internal organs, putting some in biscuit tins and a hatbox and boiling others on the stove.

White Christmas. My favorite Christmas movie of all time. After leaving the Army after W.W.II, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis team up to become a top song-and-dance act. Davis plays matchmaker and introduces Wallace to a pair of beautiful sisters (Betty and Judy) who also have a song-and-dance act. When Betty and Judy travel to a Vermont lodge to perform a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to find their former commander, General Waverly, is the lodge owner. A series of romantic mix-ups ensue as the performers try to help the General. This movie stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. Interesting facts: The first film produced in Paramount's wide screen process "VistaVision". The Vermont inn is the remodeled Connecticut inn set from the movie Holiday Inn which Bing Crosby also starred in singing songs written by Irving Berlin. The "Sisters" comedy act that Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye perform was not originally in the script. They were clowning around on the set and the director thought it was so funny that it was written in. Even though Betty was the elder of the Haynes sisters, Rosemary Clooney was actually seven years younger than Vera Ellen in real life. According to Rosemary Clooney, the "midnight snack" scene in which Bob Wallace expounds on his theory of what foods cause what dreams was almost entirely improvised. Though Rosemary Clooney couldn't be on the original album due to contractual conflicts, she recorded the song "Sisters" with her real-life sister, Betty Clooney. On the official album, Peggy Lee recorded the song and sang both parts via overdubbing, a new technology in 1954. Third of three films to feature Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas".

Ten Days Of 1950's Romance Movies: 1953

YEAR: 1953

It was the year Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was inaugurated President of the United States. The first issue of TV Guide magazine hits the newsstands on April 3 in 10 cities with a circulation of 1,560,000. Lucille Ball gives birth to Desi Arnaz, Jr. on the same day the fictional Little Ricky is born on I Love Lucy. The first successful open-heart surgery is performed in Philadelphia. These three romance movies were released, have since become three of my favorite romance movies of the 50's and may potentially become the movie you watch with your sweetie on Valentine's Day 2010.

Calamity Jane. Deadwood, Dakota Territory, is largely the abode of men, where Indian scout Calamity Jane is as hard-riding, boastful, and handy with a gun as any; quite an overpowering personality. But the army lieutenant she favors doesn't really appreciate her finer qualities. One of Jane's boasts brings her to Chicago to recruit an actress for the Golden Garter stage. Arrived, the lady in question appears (at first) to be a more feminine rival for the favors of Jane's male friends...including her friendly enemy Wild Bill Hickock. This is the story of Calamity Jane, her saloon, and her romance with Wild Bill Hickok. Stars Doris Day and Howard Keel. Interesting facts: Doris Day has often cited this particular movie and title role as her personal favorite among her 39 film appearances. Doris Day recorded the song "My Secret Love" in only one take. Warner Bros. studio head Jack Warner decided to make "Calamity Jane" after he tried - and failed - to buy the movie rights to "Annie Get Your Gun" as a vehicle for Doris Day. He not only drew on another legendary "wild woman" of the Old West for his heroine, he hired the same male star, Howard Keel, who'd appeared in the film of Annie Get Your Gun.

From Here To Eternity. This movie is what would happen if a man's favorite action/war movie had bred with a woman's favorite soap opera. It's 1941. Robert E. Lee Prewitt has requested Army transfer and has ended up at Schofield in Hawaii. His new captain, Dana Holmes, has heard of his boxing prowess and is keen to get him to represent the company. However, 'Prew' is adamant that he doesn't box anymore, so Captain Holmes gets his subordinates to make his life a living hell. Meanwhile Sergeant Warden starts seeing the captain's wife, who has a history of seeking external relief from a troubled marriage. Prew's friend Maggio has a few altercations with the sadistic stockade Sergeant 'Fatso' Judson, and Prew begins falling in love with social club employee Lorene. Unbeknownst to anyone, the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor looms in the distance. There's a long list of stars in this movie including Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, and Frank Sinatra. Interesting facts: Frank Sinatra had to campaign especially hard to get this part as his career had hit a low point by this time. Deborah Kerr was romantically involved with Burt Lancaster while filming this movie. This movie was shot in a mere 41 days and for only $1 million. The film helped to popularize Aloha shirts. The novel was deemed unfilmable for a long time because of its negative portrayal of the US army (which would prevent the army from supporting the film with people and hardware/logistics) and the profanity. To get army support and pass the censorship of the time crucial details had to be changed. The brothel became a night club, the whores hostesses. The profanity was removed, the brutal treatment in the stockade toned down and Captain Holmes removed from the army instead of promoted. Original novelist James Jones was not happy with the film, as he considered it to be too sanitized.

Roman Holiday. Princess Anne embarks on a highly publicized tour of Europian capitals. When she and her royal entourage arrive in Rome, she begins to rebel against her restricted, regimented schedule. One night Anne sneaks out of her room, hops into the back of a delivery truck and escapes her luxurious confinement. However, a sedative she was forced to take earlier starts to take effect, and the princess is soon fast asleep on a public bench. She is found by Joe Bradley, an American newspaper reporter stationed in Rome. He takes her back to his apartment. The next morning Joe dashes off to cover the Princess Anne press conference, unaware that she is sleeping on his couch! Once he realizes his good fortune, Joe promises his editor an exclusive interview with the princess. Roman Holiday stars Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. Interesting facts: When filming the scene where the princess (Audrey Hepburn) says her goodbyes to Joe, the inexperienced Hepburn was unable to produce the necessary tears, eventually causing director William Wyler to complain at the number of wasted takes. Hepburn promptly burst into tears and the scene was filmed successfully. After filming, Gregory Peck informed the producers that, as Audrey Hepburn was certainly going to win an Oscar (for this, her first major role), they had better put her name above the title. They did and she did. Roman Holiday was shot in black and white so that the characters wouldn't be upstaged by the romantic setting of Rome. This was the first American film to be made in its entirety in Italy. A lot of the film's success was attributed to the public's then fascination with Britain's Princess Margaret who was creating a stir over her much publicized relationship with commoner Peter Townsend. (The Princess was forced to renounce her true love because he was divorced and marry more "suitably".) At the end of production, Paramount Studios presented Audrey Hepburn with her entire wardrobe from the film, including hats, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. These gifts were intended as wedding presents; however, soon after production, Hepburn ended her engagement to James Hanson.

Ten Days Of 1950's Romance Movies: 1952

YEAR: 1952

It was the year 56 million people watched Richard Nixon's "Checkers" speech on TV. Television's first magazine-format program, The Today Show, debuts on NBC with Dave Garroway hosting. The Jackie Gleason show (The Honeymooners) debuts on CBS, beginning a two-decade run. The first plastic artificial heart valve is developed at Georgetown Medical Center. It was a tough year for romantic movie releases, but these three were released, have since become three of my favorite romance movies of the 50's and may potentially become the movie you watch with your sweetie on Valentine's Day 2010.

Singin' In The Rain. In 1927, the former stunt Don Lockwood becomes a successful actor with the company of his best friend Cosmo Brown forming a romantic pair with the actress Lina Lamont. In the period of transition from silent movies to talking pictures, Don accidentally meets the aspirant actress Kathy Selden while escaping from his fans and fall in love for her. Lina has troubles with the sharp tune of her voice, and Cosmo and Don decides to dub her, using Kathy's voice, to save their movie. When the jealous Lina finds the strategy of the studio, she does not want to share the credits with Kathy and tries to force the studio to use Kathy in the shadow to dub her in other productions. But when Lina decides to speech and sing to the audience, the truth arises. This movies has a huge cast of stars like Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell, Cyd Chariesse (who probably just had a baby if you remember my interesting facts from yesterday's movie picks), and more. Interesting facts: The script was written after the songs, and so the writers had to generate a plot into which the songs would fit. Gene Kelly had a 103-degree fever when he danced to the title song. The director wanted to send him home, and film the scene another day, but Kelly wouldn't hear of it. He eventually convinced the director that the massive preparations would be wasted, and to allow at least one take. That's all it took - one take - and Kelly went home to recuperate. The rain consisted of a mixture of water and milk so it would show up better on film but it caused Gene Kelly's wool suit to shrink. Filming of the Cyd Charisse dance number had to be stopped for several hours after it was discovered that her pubic hair was visible through her costume. When the problem was finally fixed, the film's costume designer Walter Plunkett said, "It's OK, guys, we've finally got Cyd's crotch licked." Some costumes from this movie were later used in the movie Deep In My Heart (1954). Gene Kellyinsulted Debbie Reynolds for not being able to dance. Fred Astaire, who was hanging around the studio, found her crying under a piano and helped her with her dancing. Cyd Charisse had to be taught how to smoke for her vampy dance sequence. The original negative of this film was destroyed in a fire. A microphone was hidden in Debbie Reynolds' blouse so her lines could be heard more clearly. During one of the dance numbers, her heartbeat can be heard, mirroring what happens to Lina Lamont in the movie itself. Debbie Reynolds remarked many years later that making this movie and surviving childbirth were the two hardest things she's ever had to do.

Ivanhoe. While this is about as romantic as Robin Hood, it is romantic enough to hold the interest of a woman and has a good enough plot to hold the attention of a man. Returning from the Crusades in the Holy Land, Ivanhoe learns that King Richard the Lionheart is imprisoned in Austria. Once in England, his pleas to pay the ransom fall on deaf ears as Prince John and cronies enjoy their current situation far too much. Joining forces with Robin of Locksley, Ivanhoe takes steps to raise the money all the while trying to re-establish his relationship with his father who disowned him years previously. Stars Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor. Interesting facts: Released in the summer of 1952, Ivanhoe was MGM's highest grossing film for the year and one of the top four moneymakers of 1952, grossing over $6.2 million. the film had taken in $1,310,590 at the box office in thirty-nine days of limited release, setting a record for an M-G-M film. According to Motion Picture Almanac, the film was the second highest-grossing film of 1952, taking in more than $7,000,000 at the box office. Elizabeth Taylor considered herself to be miscast as Rebecca, and during filming there was talk of replacing her with Deborah Kerr, Robert Taylor's co-star from he movie Quo Vadis. Scriptwriter Marguerite Roberts was a member of the American Communist Party and in 1951 she was ordered to appear before the House of Un-American Activities Committee. Roberts and her husband John Sanford refused to name fellow members of the party and were both blacklisted. M-G-M received permission from the SWG (Screen Writer's Guild) to remove Roberts' name from the film after she refused to testify before HUAC.

The Quiet Man. Sean Thornton has returned from America to reclaim his homestead and escape his past. Sean's eye is caught by Mary Kate Danaher, a beautiful but poor maiden, and younger sister of ill-tempered "Red" Will Danaher. The riotous relationship that forms between Sean and Mary Kate, punctuated by Will's pugnacious attempts to keep them apart, form the main plot, with Sean's past as the dark undercurrent. Stars John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Interesting facts: At the film's conclusion, after the credits, we see Kate and Sean standing in their garden waving good-bye. Maureen O'Hara turns to John Wayne and whispers something in his ear, evoking a priceless reaction from Wayne. What was said was known only to O'Hara, Wayne and director John Ford. In exchange for saying this unscripted bit of text, O'Hara insisted that the exact line never be disclosed by any involved parties. In her memoirs she says that she refused to say the line at first as she 'couldn't possibly say that to Duke' but Ford insisted, claiming he needed a genuine shock reaction from Wayne. The line remains a mystery to this day. When Sean and Mary Kate take their wagon into town a store called "Emily O'Connor" can be seen in the background. This is actually a crafts store and is still in business to this day. John Ford first read the story in 1933 and purchased the film rights for a mere $10. It took him another 12 years to actually drum up enough financing, and another 10 years to get the film made. This is one of the few Hollywood movies in which you can hear spoken Irish. During the scene where John Wayne first kisses Maureen O'Hara, she slaps his face. When he blocked the blow, she broke a bone in her hand. Since the movie was being filmed in sequential order, she couldn't wear a cast to fix the broken bone. Although made in 1952, is was Republic's first production to be shot outside the United States.