The Sunshine Blogger Award

Last week, I was completely surprised to receive an award I was lucky to get twice in 2016: the Sunshine Blogger Award. Realizing that she had missed her own 2016 nomination, Gill over at Realweegiemidget Reviews decided to retroactively respond to the award and has graciously passed it on to me and ten other bloggers. Gill is always one of the first people to sign up for my blogathons and she has been a great supporter of my blog for a while now, so it's very much appreciated!

The rules of the award are as follows:

- Answer the 11 questions posed by the blog that nominated you.

- Nominate 11 other blogs.

- Ask 11 questions of my own for my nominees to answer.

Unfortunately, because I'm starting work on my master's thesis and prior commitments, I just don't have the time to complete all of the award's rules. (I also never seem to have luck when it comes to nominating others.) However, I still tried to answer Gill's questions, which I hope will suffice!

Your perfect romantic movie stars you opposite which actor/actress as your love interest?

I don't even have to think twice: Cary Grant!

What movie always makes you cry?

It really doesn't take much for a movie to make me cry, so there are a lot of potential answers here. For now, I'll go with 1954's A Star is Born. Judy Garland and James Mason's tender yet electrifying performances leave me in a puddle of tears every time.

What film do you think didn’t need a sequel?

I can't think of a specific example, but I'm so tired of today's films constantly getting sequels. I can understand superhero movies needing them -- after all, there is a lot of mythology to cover and I enjoy many of them -- but the idea of silly comedies or bland dramas getting sequels is ridiculous.

What's your favourite film or TV reboot?

I'm not sure if this counts, but I love the Mission: Impossible series with Tom Cruise. (Except for the second film, thanks to its atrocious directing.) The last three entries -- Ghost Protocol, Rogue Nation, and Fallout -- are some of the best action films I've seen. I also have a bit of sentimental attachment to the first one because I watched it for the first time while studying in Prague, where it was partially filmed -- and then I got to visit the city's Barrandov Studios and see actual furniture that was in the movie. It's also a series that I've been able to geek out over with my dad, so that's been fun.

I also must mention the 2015 film version of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. I am obsessed with it. It is so so so good, and I will forever be sad that we didn't get the planned sequel because it disappointed at the box office when it really shouldn't have. I need another film with Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, and Hugh Grant in my life!

Who’s your favourite film or TV villain?

This might be cheating a bit, but Disney villains are just incredible. I have always been in awe of how delicious they are. Jafar, Maleficent, Cruella de Vil, the Evil Queen, Lady Tremaine, Dr. Facilier, Hades, Ursula... they're all magnificent in their own ways, and completely unforgettable.

Who was your first love in the movies?

This question made me sit and think. I'm sure I had little crushes growing up, but the first time I actually fell head over heels for someone in the movies was probably -- surprise, surprise -- Cary Grant as John Robie in To Catch a Thief. That first close-up of him was like a jolt to my system. The whole film is really important to me for a variety of reasons, but a primary one is that it was my introduction to Grant, an introduction that I can still remember vividly ten years later.

What film could you watch over and over again?

Again, there are a handful of contenders here. (My parents actually used to kid me about how many times I'd watch a film.) I'll go with the first one that came to mind: When Harry Met Sally. I honestly think it's a perfect film, and it's definitely one I return to every year.

What's your favourite (and most disliked) autobiography (book)?

My favorite autobiography... I used to say it was Katharine Hepburn's Me, which is still incredible, but as I prepare for my master's thesis, which is about Esther Williams, I keep returning to The Million Dollar Mermaid and it's just such a good read. It's gossipy, yes, but it also has a lot of valuable insight into classic Hollywood and any time spent with this funny, lovely, and strong human being is time well spent.

I haven't come across a lot of autobiographies I didn't like, but I do remember being unable to finish Bing Crosby's. It was still relatively early in my old Hollywood education, so I didn't understand many of the films or people Crosby talked about. When he started blabbering on about golf, a sport I care nothing for, I just closed the book, returned it to the library, and haven't revisited it since -- but I probably should.

What's your favourite (and most disliked) biopic?

This is a toughie! My favorite biopic is probably Yankee Doodle Dandy. I know it's not super accurate, but Michael Curtiz's masterful direction and James Cagney's astounding performance give me goosebumps (and a few tears) every time.

As for least favorite... I remember seeing a really terrible Lifetime movie about Marilyn Monroe many years ago. I can't even remember the name of it, that's how much I wanted to forget it.

If you could interview anyone for your blog, who would it be? What would you ask them first?

Anyone? Dead or alive? If the person was one still with us, I'd choose Jane Powell. I love her and I'm sure she'd have many delightful stories. My first question would probably be about what it was like to work with Howard Keel since I'm such a huge fan of him and their work in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Oh, or Mitzi Gaynor! I listened to her recent interview with Leonard Maltin on his podcast and she is so sassy and fun. It'd be great to talk to her about Donald O'Connor, whom she adored.

If the person I had to pick was no longer with us, I think I'd go with Fred Astaire. From everything I've read, he was one of the sweetest men in Hollywood, in addition to being one of the most brilliant. I'm not sure what my first question would be... I'd probably just sob the whole time, if we're being honest. (I'm beginning to realize how unstable I sound. I promise I don't cry all the time. Just, like, 70% of the time. Maybe 75%.)

Who or what is your dream blogathon subject?

I've been proud of all the blogathons I've done, especially the ones for people I couldn't imagine life without, like Van Johnson and Doris Day. This will shock no one, but I'd love to host an Esther Williams blogathon. It just doesn't seem feasible, though. Her filmography is only about a dozen films; her TV work is hard to find; and I don't think I'd get many participants. It feels like something I'd be doing more for myself than for the enjoyment of others.

Thank you, Gill!