Sweet Memories of Davy Jones

Such sad news today to read that Davy Jones of  The Monkees passed away of a heart attack.  

Davy Jones was my first crush and a special part of my youth. I think he must have started my love of men with British accents. I remember the thrill of getting my first Monkees album and sharing the experience of watching the TV show with my friends at school. Hard to imagine today, but those were the days way, way, before the Internet and we had no fan forums or Twitter to share our love with fellow fans, only fan magazines and the phone. 

I remember going with my friends to The Monkees concerts and well remember my best friend's father who was the designated chauffeur for these special events.  Her poor sweet dad had infinite patience with us (I really didn't understand how much patience until much later in life). There he was, always with good humor, going with us to the concerts, hearing our screams in the car, and listening to our music on the radio as we sang along. I wondered today what happened to all of them who I lost touch with long ago. I also felt my own mortality a little bit more today.

My affections for darling Davy had its time and place. I moved on and was not one of those fans that followed The Monkees after they reunited in the 80's and 90's and even in more recent years. I never bought tickets to their reunion concerts. But today I realized that Davy Jones had never left a part of my heart, and his death has brought both great sadness and sweet memories. 

Here's a video of my favorite song, Daydream Believer:

Thank you Davy Jones.

What is Jean Dujardin's Next Role in a Hollywood Movies?

The Best Actor Oscar in 2012 goes to Jean Dujardin for The Artist, and like all European actors Hollywood has him in mind for all movie villain roles from now on. 

See Dujardin's audition video for his next big Hollywood role:

Jean Dujardin's Villain Auditions from Jean Dujardin

Lawrence of Arabia: Auction of Rare Books by T.E. Lawrence

I may have mentioned in this blog before that my favorite film of all time is Lawrence of Arabia and because of loving the film I've read books by and about the real man, T.E. Lawrence.

If I had a spare $100,000 I would head to London on March 27 to bid on a collection of books by T.E. Lawrence, including his rare work The Mint.

 Bonhams Fine Books, Maps and Manuscripts will auction The Mint and also a rare edition of Lawrence's book Seven Pillars of Wisdom in March.  Each publication will be sold separately.

The real T.E. Lawrence

I read Seven Pillars of Wisdom a long time ago. The one for sale is a signed privately printed first edition and a personal gift to Lawrence's solicitor (lawyer).  If you've seen the 1962 film with Peter O'Toole then you know the subject of this book, Lawrence's account of his role in the Arab Revolt (1916-1918) during World War I. 

Not the edition on sale by Bonhams

I had not heard of The Mint before reading about this auction and I am intrigued by the description of the book. Having read a couple of biographies of T.E. Lawrence I am familiar with this strange period in his life.  For some reason after having achieved world wide fame as Lawrence of Arabia and achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army, he enlisted in the RAF under an assumed name in the early 20's. The Mint is Lawrence's account of his life in the RAF (he was discovered but later allowed to enlist under his own name). Apparently the RAF requested that he not publish the book until 1950, but Lawrence died in a motorcycle accident in 1935. 

Lawrence only completed a draft of this work and it was edited by his brother after his death. The Mint was published  in 1936 first in the US at a price of $500,000 (and that was real money in those days),  and later in a limited edition of 50 in the UK. The copy on sale next month was owned by the brother, Professor Arnold Lawrence, who gave it to the lawyer, Edward Eliot, on loan. The edition has the signature of Lawrence's brother and lawyer. 


To read more about the sale you can go to Bonhams website at the link below:


http://www.bonhams.com/eur/press/7559/


In the meantime, while I wait to win the lottery before March 27, I will watch David Lean's great film again with Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn, and literally a cast of thousands.

FanstRAvaganza3 is Heating Up: Meet the Team

See the list below for my fellow Tagteamers for FanstRAvaganza 3.  I'm looking forward to joining this wonderful group of fellow Richard Armitage fans March 12-18 for what promises to be a FANtastic event. 


Many of the participants on the list are new to me too and I'm looking forward  to all the new places to explore.  I am amazed that Richard Armitage inspires so many of us to go out into the world and explore our creative selves. 

A is for Armitage

An Obsessed Fanatic

Avalon's Realm

C.S. Winchester

Cerridwen Speaks

Crispin's Eclipse

Do I Have a Blog?

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Country Life

Feminéma

Fly High!

Funky Blue Delphinium

I Want to be a Pinup!

Just Another Armitage Fan

La Loba

Me, My Thoughts & Richard Armitage

Melanie's Musings

Mr John Thornton

Musings & Other Enigmas

Phylly's Faves

Searching for MY Mr. Darcy

Something About Love (A)

thearmitageeffect

y que iba yo a contar

and me

White Rose: Sincere and Simple Thoughts

To Keep up with any new blogs and sites that join the team visit Servetus blog HERE.

For the latest news make sure to visit the Core Blogs:

Jonia’s Cut,DistRActed Musings of One ReAlity, An RA Viewer’s Perspective from 33° 0′ South of the Equator; bccmee’s Richard Armitage Fan Vids & Graphics; CDoart: Richard Armitage & History & Spooks; Confessions of a Watcher; DistRActed Musings of One ReAlity;me + richard armitage; RAFrenzy; Richard Armitage Fan Blog; The Squeee

_____________________________

If you are curious about why such a large, international, and diverse group are inspired by Richard Armitage and his work, or are curious about him because of  his role as Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit, I encourage you to visit our blogs and websites during FranstRAvaganza and find out more.

Five of My Favorite Romantic Films - Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day My Readers and Friends!  

To commemorate the day I thought I would revisit five of my favorite romantic movies of all time. 

A Room with a View (1985)

The first time I saw this film I wanted to find a time machine and go back to Florence in 1900 and be Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter). Of course these days I’m more like her chaperone Charlotte (Maggie Smith).  This is the ultimate romantic film full of magnificent performances by masterful veteran character actors like Maggie Smith and Judi Dench together with talented future stars of the screen like Daniel Day-Lewis and Helena Bonham Carter.  Top this with the gorgeous backdrop of Florence, Italy and beautiful locations in England and you just have to swoon at the love story of Lucy and George (Julian Sand).

Truly, Madly, Deeply (1991)

Imagine the feeling of loss if the love of your life dies suddenly and you become inconsolable in your grief unable to move on.  Imagine that he suddenly comes back into your life and home as a ghost.  What would you do? How would you feel?  Would you try to keep him there forever? Is the man you’ve idealized in your grief truly the particular person you lived with for years? One of the most beautiful and most funny films I’ve ever seen about love and loss. A heartbreaking and hilarious performance by Alan Rickman, and a sweet and sad performance by Juliet Stevenson.  

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Inspired by another favorite romantic film of mine, An Affair to Remember (1957) with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, this is the ultimate “meet cute” romantic comedy.  Tom Hanks plays Sam the perfect regular guy next door and a widower with an adorable son.  Oh yes, he lives in Seattle. One day lonely but adorable Baltimore reporter Annie, played by improbably cute Meg Ryan, listens to Sam’s love story with his late wife and his yearning for a new partner to spend his life with.  Much mayhem and travel ensues until the meeting scene between them in the Empire State Building (see An Affair to Remember).

Persuasion (1995) 

If only we could meet the love we let go in our youth again and persuade him to try again.  This 1995 version of Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion is my favorite of all.  Amanda Root as Anne Elliott and Ciaran Hinds as Captain Wentworth are perfection in this film.  No matter how many times I watch it I feel the yearning of Anne and the pride of Wentworth and wonder why we so often neglect to follow our heart. 

How to Steal a Million (1966)

 A caper comedy/romance of the type they don’t make any more starring two movie legends, Peter O’Toole and Audrey Hepburn.  Both are at their most charming and handsome in this tale of the art thief (or is he?) and the heiress (or is she?) and the greatest museum heist of all time.  

Happy Valentine's Day

Classic Style - Richard Armitage and Company

I love the style of the recently revealed Richard Armitage photo. Hope we see more of his classic movie star looks and style in the future.  


Armitage elegance in the company of Hollywood legends Errol Flynn, Gary Cooper, and Gregory Peck. A perfect fit. 

(Richard Armitage photo from RichardArmitageNet.com)

New Film - "Cleanskin" Two Trailers (update): Sean Bean, Charlotte Rampling

Sean Bean plays a British government agent that must stop a terror cell.  The film opens in the UK on March 9, but no word yet on when it will open, if at all, in the US or internationally. 

Update:  Feb 5, 2012 - a second version of the trailer:

An interview with Sean while filming Cleanskin last year:


http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/782992/sean_bean_interview_cleanskin_bond_borimir_and_black_death.html

Update Feb 13, 2012: Cleanskin gets distribution deals for North America, France, Germany, India, China and more:

http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/salt-cleans-up-with-cleanskin/5037925.article