A Liebster Award for The Wonderful World of Cinema!

I’m so happy since Michaela from Love Letters to Old Hollywood nominated me for a Liebster Award! Thanks so much to her! I now have to answer Michaela’s 11 questions, share 11 things about me, nominate 11 other blogs for the Liebster Award, and ask them my own 11 questions. Tough job because there are so many great blogs!

Michaela’s 11 questions:

1- Who is your second favorite actor/actress, and why?

My second favorite actor is Marlon Brando and my second favorite actress is Grace Kelly (I have to make the distinction). Why? Well, they are, first, some of the first classical actors I discovered. I discover classic films with movies like High Noon and The Wild One. I had (and still have) a big crush on Marlon Brando (young…), but I also think he is an incredibly talented actor. Grace Kelly is one of the actresses I know the best. I have seen all her films and I am always amazed by her performances. Why are they not number one? Because I love James Stewart and Audrey Hepburn a little more, but before I discovered Jimmy, Marlon was my number one, and there was a time where I couldn’t choose between Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn as my number one favorite actress.

2- Favorite on-screen duo?

Hum, hard question! I don’t really have a number one favorite, but one I love very much is Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester. I think they were both hilarious and had a great complicity and chemistry together in Witness for the Prosecution and The Private Lives of Henry VIII.

3- Which actor/actress/director/etc. do you wish wrote an autobiography?

If she was still alive, that would have been Jean Simmons. She is one of my very favorite actresses, but I don’t know much about her life because she didn’t make a lot of interviews and no one wrote a biography book about her and she didn’t either. She was incredibly talented, but I would have like to know a little bit more about her life.

4- If you had the money, what film-related item would you buy in an instant? Memorabilia, a theater, old costumes…?

Casablanca’s piano was for sale to the auction not a long time ago. That’s what I would have bought because I play piano and, of course, it’s something unique!

5- What is your personal favorite flick from 1939?

I won’t be very original and go with Gone With the Wind. Yes, always Gone With the Wind! Well, it’s one of the greatest movies of all times! What more can I say?

6-Splashy 1950’s musicals or gritty 1940’s films noir?

Ok, that’s a cruel question, because I love both genres! Well, I’ll go with the film noir because three films noirs are in my top 10 (Strangers on a Train, Shadow of a Doubt and Sunset Boulevard), but I love musicals as well!

7- Is there a director you wish got more attention, during their time and/or today?

Hum, first one that came to my mind is George Seaton. He directed and also wrote some great movies (The Country Girl, Airport). As a screenwriter, he won two academy awards. His work was recognized at the time, but not today. I mean, people don’t talk much about him like they talk about Alfred Hitchcock or Stanley Kubrick.

8- Who do you think was Fred Astaire’s best partner?

I have only seen two Fred Astaire’s films, but I have to go with Audrey Hepburn (sorry Ginger!). She’s, first, my favorite actress and I think they make a lovely duo in Funny Face. Of course, Audrey didn’t dance like Ginger, but she had talent and seeing her and Fred singing and dancing together in this film is refreshing, different.

9- If you were allowed only one movie-related book, what would it be?

I’m not sure I perfectly understand the question. Do you mean, if I could have only one book about movies in my possession, which one would it be? Well, if I’m answering correctly to the question, I would choose Hitchcock/Truffaut. One of the most interesting books I’ve ever read. And it’s so nice to have the real master of suspense’s point of view about his own films!

10- Favorite Disney film? (I’ll include Pixar.)

Including Pixar, my favorite Disney film is A Bugs Life. It’s also my favorite animation picture. I think it’s very clever and I can’t get tired to watch it on VHS!

11- Is there a movie you’re ashamed to admit you hate/love?

Well, when I watched More American Graffiti (American Graffiti’s sequel) I really liked it, even a little bit more than American Graffiti. I liked how it was structured and loved the music. Then, I realized this film was not very well-rated. And we know how people, in general, feel about sequel…

And then, 11 things about me:

1 – When I was younger, I wanted to be an actress, then I changed my mind and wanted to be a movie director, then a screen writer or a film critique. Anyway, since I’m a child, I know I want to work in the movie business and never changed my opinion about that.

2 – I hate pigeons. It’s stupid, but they scare me. Of course, watching Hitchcock’s The Bird doesn’t help, but I keep watching it because I love it!

3 – I own two movie star’s autographs: one from Vera Miles in a letter she sent me, and one from Joan Fontaine in a No Bed of Roses’ copy I bought on eBay.

4 – My great uncle, Louis Saia, is a famous movie director, screenwriter, and play writer in Quebec.

5 – My favorite drink is mojito.

6 – At least once a year, I do a cross-country skiing expedition with my parents, my sister, my two cousins (girls), and their parents. We sleep in shacks without electricity. Much fun!

7- Except cinema, my other passion is dance. I just love dancing. I’ll probably start tap dance lessons in September. I wanted to do so for a long time.

8- I’m French-Canadian from Montreal (QC), but I also have Italian origins on my mother side. Italian culture is very important to our family. I also have French (from France) origins on both my mother and father’s side (but far away in the family) and some German origins on my father’s side (also far away in the family).

9- I’m a Harry Potter addict. I don’t know how many times I’ve read the books and seen the films but too many, and will probably read/watch them many times again.

10- One of my big (and new) project would be to do a road trip around the USA and visit all the states. I still have to figure which path to take.

11- I have a younger sister named Juliette. She is 18 years old (I’m 20).

The 11 blogs I nominate for the Liebster Award

In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood

Backlots

Smitten Kitten Vintage

Criterion Blues

Cinephilia

The Margaret Lockwood Society

Le Mot du Cinephiliaque

Outspoken and Freckled

Once Upon a Screen

Silver Screenings

The Motion Pictures

I would have liked to name much more!

My 11 questions for the 11 blogs I nominated:

1- If you had the chance to play any movie character, which one would you have choose?

2- Which movie made you discover the world of classic films?

3- What are your three most favorite decades in films?

4- With whom do you watch your films?

5- Which movie star do enjoy the most listening to their interviews and why?

6- What do you think was the best screenplay ever written and why?

7- You have the chance to visit one movie set during an entire day and discover its secrets. Which set do you choose?

8- You try to convince someone to watch classic films. What is your major argument to convince him or her?

9- Is there a movie everybody has seen you are ashamed to admit you never saw?

10- Do you own some movie posters? If yes, which ones?

11- You are invited to a costume ball and you have to dress up as a movie character or a movie star. Which one do you choose?

Thanks again Michaela! This is such an honour. 🙂 ❤