A Double Dose of Liebster Awards

A few weeks ago, Quiggy, of The Midnite Drive-In, kindly nominated Silver Scenes for a Liebster Award. For those not familiar with the Liebsters, they are awards given in the form of a chain letter. One blogger nominates 5-11 other bloggers for the award who, in turn, nominate 5-11 more. What's the purpose of all this nominating business? Well, the idea behind the Liebsters is to discover more about your favorite bloggers, and for the nominating blogger to share a little information about themselves to their readers. You see, in order to accept the invitation you must answer 11 questions posed by the nominating blogger, as well as share 10 other tidbits about yourself.

Silver Scenes was extra special this summer because we received yet another nomination just a few days ago from Virginie of The Wonderful World of Cinema. Thanks Virginie! 

Since there are two of us behind Silver Scenes, myself ( Constance ) and my sister ( and editor ) Diana, we decided to answer the questions together. So there are 22 questions, with over 30-some responses.....yikes! ( By all means use the scroll bar if you get bored ). Diana's answers are in blue, mine are in black. 

Here goes! 

Quiggy posed some very interesting film related questions : 

1. What is your favorite genre of movie? 

Comedy films involving crooks/spies/gangsters. This was a genre that appeared mainly in the 1940s-1950s.   

The romantic-comedies of the 1930s-1960s. 

2. And what movie do you consider to be the paragon of that genre?

The Ghost Breakers ( 1940 )....or pretty much, any of the Three Stooges shorts. 

Father Goose ( 1964 )

3. With which actor or actress, living or dead, would you most like to have a one-on-one (strictly platonic) dinner and conversation date?

If I had to pick an actress, then Deborah Kerr or Ann Sothern. They wouldn't be judgmental and I can imagine them both having a lot of interesting things to say. As for an actor, hands down I would pick Don Ameche....just so I could sit across from him at a table all evening and watch his facial expressions. Sigh!

Fozzie Bear. I want to ask him where he gets the material for his gags. Waka, waka! Love those ties. 

4. If you were an actor or actress, which movie character would you most like to have played?

Miss Brodie from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie ( 1969 ). I know I could tackle the part of Sandy much better than Miss Brodie, but nevertheless, that's the character I would like to play. 

Miss Marple!

5. What is your favorite movie opening sequence, and, on the other side of the coin what is your favorite movie ending?

That's a tough one. There are a lot of really fantastic openings, especially among musicals and epics, but since this Liebster Awards is about sharing what's near and dear to bloggers, then I'll pick two of my favorites - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ( 1968 ) with that marvelous engine sound and cheering coming from the black screen and Murder Ahoy ( 1964 )....actually all of the Margaret Rutherford Miss Marple films had great openings. I'm sure I could think of 20-30 favorite endings if I put my mind to it, but the only title that pops out now is The Best Years of Our Lives ( 1946 ) and that great wedding scene with Teresa Wright and Dana Andrews. 

Charade ( 1963 )....I love the spiraling credits and the fact that it opens at Mageve ski resort with that great banter between Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant.

6. Which movie was the worst remake ever, and which one was the best?

In spite of what some critics say, You're Never Too Young ( 1955 ) was a fantastic remake of Wilder's The Major and the Minor, sometimes I think its even better than the original. Hmmm....now the worst? There were too many bad remakes made. How about Goodbye Mr. Chips? The Peter O'Toole version was a dog all around. 

The worst was The Truth About Charlie, a recent remake of Charade. The best was Little Women ( 1948 ), a remake of the 1933 classic. I love them both equally but the 1948 had beautiful Technicolor, an excellent cast, and a charm all its own. 

7. If you were a director, which movie would you like to direct? It can be one that hasn't been made yet or it could be a classic in which you replaced the actual director. 

The Chalk Garden. The 1963 version is very dear to me, but I saw a lot of potential in the story that was untapped. I would have liked to take the film in a different direction while retaining the cheerful color tone.

I have no idea. 

8. On average, how many new movies ("new" to you, not necessarily new theatrical releases) do you watch in a month?

This question is easy because we keep track of all of the new titles we see during the year. It averages out to about 7-8 per month with an additional 14-16 of repeat film viewings during a month. 

9. List at least one actor, actress or director you thought SHOULD have been given the Oscar as opposed to the one who did. Specify which movie they should have gotten said Oscar.

Eleanor Parker for Interrupted Melody ( 1955 ), in place of Anna Magnini for The Rose Tattoo. 

10. Which movie has the best dialogue (meaning most eminently quotable)?

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World! ( 1963 )

11.Which of your movie blog posts is the one of which you are most proud?

For television posts, it would probably be our review of Nanny and the Professor, but for film posts - The Chalk Garden and Picnic....two favorite films. 

_______________________________________________

Now for Virginie's questions...she has some really good non-film related questions : 

1. What is your favourite blogathon?

I've always enjoyed participating, and reading the entries for, the Me-TV Summer of Me Blogathon, but unfortunately The Classic TV Blog Association did not host it this year. Pooh! 

The Great Imaginary Film Blogathon.....it provides endless opportunity for bloggers to provide film plots to movies that should have been made. 

2. What subject do you like the most to write about on your blog?

Movies...especially those I love ( Time is too precious to waste on writing about bad films )

3. What is your current movie character crush (not movie actor, movie character)? 

Joe D. Ross ( Gene Kelly ) in Summer Stock was pretty dreamy.  

Hugh Halsworth ( Macdonald Carey ) in Let's Make it Legal ( 1951 ).

4. Do you wear perfume? If yes, which one?

Of course. My two favorites are Mistrel Reve D'Or and Paris Hilton's Can-Can. Although I would love to try that oldie-but-goodie Charlie. 

Yes. My favorite is Liz Claiborne's Curve. 

5. Can you sing? (I mean, can you sing well lol)?

Yes, I can sing...Diana and I are both sopranos in our local church choir. We don't sing well, but that doesn't stop us from singing!  

6. Do you play a musical instrument?

Yes, six of them. The accordion and piano are my favorite instruments to play, but I also dabble with the guitar ( acoustic and electric ), clarinet, and violin. Jack Benny's violin playing sounds like Andre Rieu compared to mine!

No. Does humming count?

7.  What is your favourite cinematographic moment. It can be something that lasted just 3 seconds in a film.

There are hundreds of those. Off the top of my head....the horse riding sequences through Sherwood Forest in The Adventures of Robin Hood ( 1938 ) and the scene where Mrs. Muir meets Captain Gregg on the road after her encounter at the beach with Miles in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir ( 1947 ). Both of those scenes were filmed very well. Actually, any scene that captures shafts of light with shadows from nearby trees are cinematographic favorites. 

8. Have you ever written fan mail? Did you receive any answers?

Yes, several years ago I wrote a letter to Dame Vera Lynn thanking her for her contributions to Britain and the influence her music had on my life. She responded - with airmail! - and also included an autographed photo. That was proof positive of what a classy lady she is. Incidentally, Dame Lynn will be turning 100 years old next March. 

No, I never did. Too shy. 

9. When you started your blog, do you remember what was the first blog you followed and what was the first blog to follow you?

Yes, I believe I followed The Classic Film and TV Cafe first because I was acquainted with Rick through the TCM classic film union ( sadly, it's no longer in existence ) and also because I love his taste in film/television. We share very similar tastes in film, even if we don't blog about the same movies. Doctor Sabelotodo was the first person sweet enough to follow Silver Scenes.....again, he was another acquaintance from the CFU.

10. What is the last book you read?

"Danny Dunn and the Voice from Space" by Jay Williams. Last night I started "The Hairy Horror Trick" by Scott Corbett. You can see what a refined taste in literature I have. 

"101 Secrets for your Twenties" by Paul Angone. Non-fiction, obviously. 

11. What would be your dream house?

Oh heck, I could write for days on this subject. We grew up and still live in a 1950s ranch, so ranches are my way of life. I especially liked Janet Lagerlof's house in Good Neighbor Sam ( 1964 ), only I would like it to be on at least an acre of property with room for a woodland garden and some Monterey pines. 

Either a 1960s seaside-style ranch or a bungalow, preferably near a large body of water. 

________________________________

Ten random facts about us : 

1. We're sisters, two years apart in age...and getting older everyday. 

2. We've been watching classic films since we were 6-7 years old, beginning with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Disney classics, and the James Bond films. 

3. Speaking of James Bond, we're both big Bond fans and have seen all the Bond movies several times over. 

4. When we're not goofing off at home we sell original movie stills online through our business Silverbanks Pictures. Check out our side banner to see our store! ( Might as well give a plug )

5. My ( Connie ) goal in life is to write/sell educational books for homeschoolers. Diana wants to have a job where she sits behind a counter in a small shop and uses a cash register. Something like in A Shop Around the Corner. 

6. Our grandmother use to work as a usher at a movie theater in Serbia back in the 1930s. She grew up loving movies and passed that love onto our dad and uncle who, in turn, passed it onto us. 

7. We're both learning languages this year....Diana is learning German ( our family tongue ) and I'm learning French ( our dad was born in France ). 

8. One day we hope to own a 1970s car, either an old Volvo or a small sedan like a Chevy Nova/Olds Omega. 

9. Saturday is our favorite day of the week. Hookey day!

10. We hope to take a cruise this autumn. It's been ten years since our last cruise and it's high time we hit the high seas again. 

______________________________________________

Finally, here are 11 questions for our nominees to answer : 

1. If you could travel back in time, which year would you travel back to? And why?

2. Who is your favorite underrated actor/actress?

3. What movie/television show do you enjoy as a guilty pleasure? ( It is the program that you would never admit to anyone that you really like )

4. Do you listen to old-time radio? If so, which is your favorite program?

5. How many hours do you spend staring at screens ( computer/television/phone )? 

6. If you could be mayor of your town what would be the first change you would make? 

7. What is one subject/skill you feel all students should learn before they turn 20-years-old?

8. What would you like your obituary to read? ( Aside from "he/she died too soon" )

9. Which movie character do you feel the strongest bond with? To clarify, list which character you think is the most similar to yourself in nature and appearance. 

10. What is your favorite classic television show? 

11. Do you watch classic British films? If not, ( shame on you! ) state why. 

_________________________________________

And now for the nominees ( if you read this far, you deserve your nomination! ) : 

Matte Shot ( http://nzpetesmatteshot.blogspot.com/ )

Hamlette's Soliloquy ( http://hamlette.blogspot.com/ )

Caftan Woman ( http://www.caftanwoman.com/ ) 

In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood ( https://crystalkalyana.wordpress.com )

Michael's TV Tray ( https://michaelstvtray.com/ )

Made for TV Mayhem ( http://madefortvmayhem.blogspot.com/ )

Classic Forever ( http://classicforever.blogspot.com/ )

Stars and Letters ( http://starsandletters.blogspot.com/ )

Once again, thank you, thank you, thank you to Quiggy and Virginnie for nominating us as Liebsters!