Freaky Fridays ~ Fickle Finger of Fate????

I was bored and just mindlessly "internetting" today when I ran across this old movie poster. I thought to myself - "Hummm, this was either an advertising ploy or it was a very racey interesting movie for its time." Noticing that the old hottie, Tab Hunter was in the cast, I decided to research a little further and this is what I found out, which ain't much!
From the Internet Movie Database:

"This little-known Spanish comedy, with an outrageous performance by Tab Hunter, was one of the many low-budget films made in Spain in the mid-late 1960s by producer Sidney Pink. These generally tended to be quirky films, much too quirky to be Hollywood products, and featured interesting American stars--Barry Sullivan, Guy Madison, Cesar Romero, Jeff Hunter, Rory Calhoun, and here Tab Hunter. Pink discussed this film in his autobiography, and he made it quite clear that he did not get along with star Tab Hunter. Hunter has always had a flair for comedy, and he is quite funny in this film, which is basically the standard "American overseas who gets caught up unintentionally in some intrigue" plot. Perhaps because he was outside of Hollywood and his Hollywood image while in Spain, Hunter lets himself go here with a performance that rivals his one in THE AROUSERS as his most over-the-top. Many of his gay fans will probably love this film if they can find a copy. The supporting roles--Luis Prendes as an annoying drunk who sticks to Hunter like flypaper, Gustavo Rojo and Fernando Hilbeck as comic impediments to Hunter's progress, Pedro Mari Sanchez as a boy who does chores for Hunter and eventually becomes a friend-- are handled well. Interestingly, the film was directed by Richard Rush, of Psych-Out and Stunt Man fame. How he got involved with this film and what he thought of it must be an interesting story. Unfortunately, the video copy of this that circulated in the budget bin in the 1980s is in black and white AND has cheesy new video titles-- the film was released theatrically in the US in 1967 in color. I hope someone will release this legitimately in color and with the full credits. I would love to have a commentary track by Tab Hunter himself, or director Richard Rush--or maybe they could be recorded separately and we could get both perspectives. Anyway, I won't be expecting a DVD release of this anytime soon. Still, the budget video of this can probably be found used, and it's a worthwhile purchase for Tab Hunter fans (such as me!) or fans of Sid Pink's 60s Spanish body of films. Hunter's autobiography is supposedly coming out next year, although I doubt that this film is significant enough to rate much coverage there. Hunter fans are also advised to check out his fine Italian western SHOTGUN (fine except for an awful musical sequence near the beginning) and his euro-spy film THE LAST CHANCE (and if anyone could help me with finding his other euro-film LEGION OF NO RETURN, please get in touch!). Overall, a fun low-budget comedy with Tab Hunter in fine form."

Well, if I ever see in in the dollar bin at the local discount store, I might buy it and see just exactly how good or bad it is... but I doubt THAT ever happens!


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fREaKy fRiDaY - Decor' Overdone?

This past summer we made over our kitchen. Mostly cosmetic stuff, like repaint, new border, re-surface the countertops, etc... We did break down and buy all new stainless steel appliances, too. (Yay!)

While I was pondering what type of border to purchase, (torn between a "coffee" theme or a "chef" theme)I happened upon this picture. Hummm, I thought to myself, that is a very nauseating interesting chef inspired kitchen...

Needless to say, I learned what NOT to do from this photo and I ended up with a very tasteful, subdued color palatte with a really cute chef-inspired theme.

Freaky Fridays ~ One Weird Movie! The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T

I had forgotton about this movie and probably for a good reason...it creeped me out when I saw it in the early 1960's as a kid! I remember it was on the early show one afternoon after school and since it was a Dr. Seuss title, I decided to watch it (being a kid and all!)

Now if you're 8 years old, taking piano lessons that you dread go to every week, this movie is the story of a nightmare that might really happen. Here is the premise (courtesy Wikipedia) of the movie:

"Young Bart Collins lives with his widowed mother Heloise. The major blight on Bart's existence is the hated piano lessons he is forced to endure under the tutelage of the autocratic Dr. Terwilliker. Bart feels that his mother has fallen under Terwilliker's ominous influence, and gripes to visiting plumber August Zabladowski, without much result. While grimly hammering away at his lessons, Bart dozes off and enters a fantastical musical dream, in much the same fashion as Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz.

In the dream, Bart is trapped at the surreal Terwilliker Institute, where the piano teacher is now a madman dictator who has imprisoned non-piano-playing musicians. He also built a piano so large that it requires Bart and 499 other boys (the 5,000 fingers) in order to play it. Bart's mother has been turned into Terwilliker's hypnotized assistant and bride-to-be, and Bart must dodge the Institute's guards as he scrambles to save both his mother and himself. He tries to recruit Mr. Zabladowski, who has been hired to install all of the Institute's sinks ahead of a vital inspection, but only after much skepticism and foot-dragging is the plumber finally convinced to help. The two of them empty their pockets and construct a noise-sucking contraption which ruins the mega-piano's opening concert. The enslaved boys cheerfully run riot, and the "VERY atomic" noise-sucker explodes in spectacular fashion, bringing Bart out of his dream.

The movie ends on a hopeful note for Bart, when the real-life Mr. Zabladowski finally notices Heloise, and offers to drive her into town in his jeep. Bart escapes from the piano, and triumphantly runs off to play."

Yes, it finally ends in a good way, but the majority of the movie dealt with being enslaved to play the piano all day...a nightmare for any 8 year old!
So if any of you have small children and have thought about buying this movie, take heed....DON'T! Your children will be happier and better human beings if you don't subject them to this film.

Freaky Fridays

Hello Bloglanders,
Sorry for not posting in the last a few days! I've had the coughing crud and been a little under the weather. (In more ways than one, our weather here in the Midwest has been CRAPPY!) Now for Freaky Fridays...

Ran across this link which talks about Celebrity Favorite Sunglasses for Under $100. WTH? These aren't prescription sunglasses? They're just plain ol' cheap plastic sunglasses that look the same as what I buy... at the Dollar Store or WalMart. I just don't get it. I could buy some cheapos and glue a monogram on them or dress them up with a bit of "bling" and spend under $10 total. Money to burn, I guess. I just prefer to make people wonder "who's behind those Foster Grants?" and laugh all the way to the bank!

Freaky Fridays ~ Chatty Cathy Revisited

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite dolls was my Chatty Cathy Doll. Mine looked just like the one on the left. I loved her little pink and white striped dress and white pinafore! I played with her until she absolutley fell apart. Humm, maybe I should have kept her head and Gothed her out?
Below is the work of artist D. L. Marian. An eerie resemblance to my Chatty Cathy, don't ya think? The artist's work averages around $265. Personally, I find it disturbing and can't imagine why anyone would want to own such a monstrosity. Its just plain "f-ugly"...