Friday, September 23, 2011

Christmas Cookies and Four Flicks

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends the week has wound down and the weekend is here - woo hoo!!!  Nothing special planned, but just knowing that there are two lovely days ahead is super!!
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Something you might not know about me and that I will share today is I enjoy baking - yes, that's right I do love to cook and bake things - you might have figured that out from a few of my prior posts.  Something you really might not know -  a thing I buy every year for as long as I can remember - as soon as I see one of these....


.... in the Fall I snap it up and just start thinking/dreaming of Christmas baking and what I want to make.  It doesn't have to be Better Homes and Gardens - it just has to be a new big thick magazine of Christmas Cookies!! I have a pile of them I keep in a box I haul out every now and then during the year when I need a "shot of Christmas."  This issue has some pretty tasty looking treats and I will certainly enjoy the baking and will let you know what works and what doesn't as I make my way through different recipes.
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Now, on to some films I think are pretty good and you might enjoy...... first up  "If you Could Only Cook" - 1935 - starring Jean Arthur and Herbert Marshall, Leo Carillo and Lionel Stander.


This really delightful film is another overlooked, underplayed outing for the marvelous Jean Arthur.  It combines the trademark cracked voice with her razor wit in a hilarious screwball scenario of a homeless gourmet cook and butler who become employed by a gangster.  

The second film - "Fury" - 1936 - starring Sylvia Sidney and Spencer Tracy


Based on the story "Mob Rule" by Norman Krasna. Joe Wilson and Katherine Grant are in love, but he doesn't have enough money for them to get married. So Katherine moves across the country to make money.  Joe eventually follows but is mistaken for a criminal and is thrown in jail.   Through the course of the movie, Fritz Lang shows us how a decent and once civilized man can become a ruthless and bitter man. A strong movie with some superior acting - that all sort of works out in the end.

The next film is a cute fluff piece I had not heard of - "The Rage of Paris" - 1938 - starring Danielle Darrieux, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Mischa Auer and Helen Broderick.


From IMDB  "Nicole has no job and is several weeks behind with her rent. Her solution to her problem is to try and snare a rich husband. Enlisting the help of her friend Gloria and the maitre'd at a ritzy New York City hotel, the trio plot to have Gloria catch the eye of Bill Duncan, a handsome millionaire staying at the hotel. The plan works and the two quickly become engaged. Nicole's plan may be thwarted by Bill's friend, Jim Trevor, who's met Nicole before and sees through her plot."  Big bucks where spent of this film  - Gowns by Vera West and set design by Russell Gausman - totally worth a look - at 78 minutes it moves along quickly.

The last film today is a propaganda film from WWII - and once again you know how I love my WWII films.  The film is called "This Above All" - 1942 - starring Tyrone Power and Joan Fontaine - 


In a nutshell - Aristocratic Prudence Cathaway, played by Fontaine, shocks her family by enlisting in the WAFs.  After enlisting, a fellow WAF sets her up on a blind date with handsome, but moody, Clive Briggs, played by Power.  Prudence learns Clive is a deserter, but still loves him and senses he'll eventually prove himself a patriot. A good film with two top notch actors looking their top notch best - even during the Blitz!!  The film won an Oscar for Art Direction and you can see why in the sets and cinematography - all beautiful!!

There you go - 4 films worth a look!!
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Another week wrapped up  - thanks for stopping by - do come again!

Take care,
edgar


23 comments:

  1. Love that cookie magazine! Reminds me of a christmas cookie book my mom has somewhere in her house. We use the sugar cookie recipe from it and seeing it makes me get excited about Christmas!!

    I think I would love to see "The Rage in Paris" then the Spencer Tracy movie. Old movies are the best!!

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  2. Edgar I love ALL Christmas mags, BHG a bit of a fav. Love your four flicks. Always been a bit partial to Greer Garson's "Blossoms in the Dust" 1941 makes me cry everytime, that and "It's a Dogs Life" 1955 love the name of one of the characters 'Jeremiah Edward Emmett Augustus Nolan' That's five dogs named in one go (:@ LiBBiE in Oz

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  3. It's time to start stocking up on flour, sugar and all the other cookie baking ingredients so you'll be ready. I always attempt to try one new cookie recipe every Christmas. Haven't seen this new magazine yet so I'll be on a lookout. Let us know what you bake in case I need to have that yummy aroma coming from my kitchen too!! Have a great weekend Edgar!

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  4. Can't wait to hear what you are baking for Christmas. I made your honey bun cake last night. My husband loved it as always.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  5. One thing I love about the holidays is baking.

    Fun older movies! Hey...any suggestions for older movies that are a bit on the mystery/spooky side for Halloween?

    Have a great weekend.

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  6. that cookbook looks very tempting...
    who doesn't love a new cookbook???

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  7. Yum! I can't wait to see your holiday cookies! I love baking at this time of year! The aroma of baked goodies make the seasons all the more special. Very nice movies. I love watching the classics too. So much better than what the come out with now I think. Have a wonderful weekend Edgar!

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  8. It just isn't Christmas without Gram's cranberry bread and good old sugar cookie cut-outs.

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  9. I will have to look at the store for that one, I too buy it every year even though i really don't bake (my daughter caitie does the christmas baking). LOL She is 20 and has been doing it for years now.

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  10. I love the BHG Christmas Cookie issue. I love baking for gifts and don't mind being on the receiving end either :) Always enjoy seeing your movie recommendations. Enjoy your weekend!

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  11. oooo I see you as a bit of a cookie monster heheheh .... I can almost smell the cinnamon :) love mouse xxxx

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  12. Ooh; I think I spy some french macarons at the bottom of the image there! This expensive treat has become really popular around here the last few years--I love 'em!

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  13. I have a number of those BH&G cookie issues that I've collected. Each year I bring them out and pour over the recipes, trying to decide which ones I'll try.
    I love to bake and now that I'm retired I'll have so much more time to enjoy it.

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  14. I collect Christmas cookie cook books as well - have a whole shelf of them. I start baking for the holidays the first part of November, and I continue until after the first of the year. Love it!

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  15. I love to get the fall baking book/mag that Land O'Lakes puts out every year as well as Christmas baking books. Have a good weekend.

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  16. I love baking too, but DH is not interested in eating anything but pizza.
    I usually participate in a Christmas cookie exchange each year. It is so much fun - we are about 6-8 people swapping dozens of cookies. I always end up throwing away most of the cookies though....

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  17. I watched The Young In Heart last week and loved it. The Rage of Paris is already in my Netflix Queue, thank you for the recommendations.

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  18. What a nice idea, to look for the christmas cookie magazine! Now you have got me thinking about baking. I love to bake also, but don't do it much, since we tend to eat too much of it when I make something.... :(

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  19. I know not everyone is a long-time reader/follower...so this is said with humor...you love to bake, really? I love your baking, films and stitching! As well as your updates about life in general.

    I will have to check out the movies - I just recently saw a clip for an Audrey Hepburn movie I've never seen and she's my fav... "Charade". My list is growing.

    Looking forward to pics of the Christmas cookies - I am working on an apple crisp today (apple time in Michigan and they are abundant and delicious this year) and maybe a coffee cake...

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  20. I buy a cookie book every year also. Despite that, I make the same five or six - the family doesn't go in for "new" at Christmas.

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  21. I too am helpless in the face of new Christmas cookie magazines!!! I generally make a list of about a dozen I want to try every year, whittle it down to 8-10, and then end up only being able to make about 6-8 on my two dedicated baking days. I need to make less complex cookies. =)

    Keep up the wonderful movie recommendations!

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  22. I love Christmas cookies too. My mom and I have one we bake that's just a pita to make, but is soooooooooooo worth it!! It's a jelly filled cookie. You make the dough (which is very doughy, and not firm at all) and then you're supposed to roll them (yeah, right) into balls and then in egg whites (whipped) and nuts (pecans, chopped). Then you Thumbprint them, bake them for a few, fill the thumbprints with jelly and bake again. Delicious. If you're interested, I could email you the recipe!!

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