Monday's Millinery Musings - Hat Movies

By guest blogger Jennifer

Jennifer's Etsy Store

I adore movies and my favorite place to see them is in the lovely old Sebastiani Theater on the plaza in my hometown of Sonoma. Thanks to extensive refurbishing about 7 years ago the theater is enjoying a "second spring". The Sebastiani showed its first movie, Fugitive Lovers, on April 7, 1934.

Answers.com movie review says about Fugitive Lovers: "Escaping from her gangster boyfriend Legs (Nat Pendleton), chorus girl Letty (Madge Evans) boards a Greyhound bus bound for California. Likewise a passenger -- albeit a non-paying one -- is Porter (Robert Montgomery), a fugitive from justice. As the bus rolls ever onward, hero and heroine are inexorably drawn together, despite the looming twin threats of arrest and/or extermination."  Pretty exciting stuff in 1934!

Although this is an old photo, the theater still looks much the same. A tiny wooden ticket booth, just big enough for one person, stands at the entrance of the long passage to the front door and current lobby where tickets are sold. Inside the booth sits the "ticket taker".

Years ago I asked her name and was told then that she had no name.  I think of her as Lily, sometimes Edna or Mavis depending on her outfit, which changes every once in awhile. Notice that she is wearing a hat, you can just see it...a little ribbony clam shell affair. Although LilyEdnaMavis can't sell you a ticket, she has great presence and I check in with her several times a week when I walk to town.

But all of this is diverting me from the true purpose of this post which is to give you a list of some of my favorite hat films (and please, please, PLEASE share yours with me) :

Coco Chanel (not the recent Coco Before Chanel which has only a few interesting hats)
Enchanted AprilOut of Africa
The Moderns
Mrs. Parker and Her Vicious Circle
Henry and June 
Little Dorrit (Charles Dickens BBC Series)
Marie Antoinette (for color, costume, feathers, silk, over-the-top hair and hats)

Until next time,  let's pop some corn, put up our feet and go to the movies!

March in books and movies

End of another month, so time to share with you the movies I've watched and the books I've read. Let me know if you've watched any of them or read them too.
Movies
Gideon's Daughter
Seven and a Match
24: Redemption
Dirty Filthy Love
Transsiberian
Kinamand
Penelope
Memento
The contract
The Vanishing
Breaking and Entering
Mortal Danger

I have to say that I loved Gideon's Daughter. A major part of that is, I confess, due to the fact that Bill Nighy starred in it and I have a bit of a soft spot for Bill Nighy. Basically, I think he is wonderful.......And I know all the words he says are scripted but .....he does have that dry, understated sense of humor..... and he makes me melt! What more can I say! I just enjoy watching him!






Kinamand was also a sweet film too. Quite tender.





We also saw the live HD broadcast of two of the Met Opera's at the movie theater too:
Madama Butterfly
La Sonnambula

In Madama Butterfly, they used puppetry for Butterfly's little son and in a few others places. I tell you, I have never seen such wonderful puppets. Each puppet was "brought to life" by three people - one with the head and one arm, one with the other arm and the body and the third person bent over all the time with the legs and feet. The emotion the puppeteers got from these puppets - especially the little boy were absolutely amazing. I cried. It was heartbreaking. It was so incredibly beautiful and moving - and for me - so unexpected.
La Sonnambula was wonderful too - I highly recommend both of the operas and if you have a chance to see any of the HD broadcasts - take it! I guarantee you won't be disappointed. They have been a highlight of our winter.

Books
I haven't read many books this month. Just don't seem to have had the time..... Anyhow I have read:
Gomorrah by Roberto Saviano
Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer
...although I haven't quite finished Paths of Glory.....just a little to go.

I enjoyed Paths of Glory but it's not quite as gripping as the other Jeffrey Archer books I've read. The book is all about Mallory who tried to be the first to climb Mount Everest. As I haven't finished the book, I can't give anything away....but I'm eager to get to the end to see what happens. If you've never read Jeffrey, do give him a try. The others I've read are "Not a penny more, not a penny less" and "Prisoner of Birth". Both highly recommended.


So what have you been watching and reading? Do share your month in movies and books!

January in movies and books

As it's the end of the month, thought I'd share with you the movies I've watched this month and the books I've read this month. A regular post thing each month.... I'll tell you my favorites and maybe you can share your favorites too.....

January in movies:

When did you last see your father
The Reader
Kenny - Portaloo Delivery Man
Next
Enduring love
Milk
The curious case of Benjamin Button
Filth
La Rondine - Puccini (yes, an opera, but I saw the live HD broadcast of it from the Met at the movie theater!)

My definite favorite was The Reader. Highly Recommend it. Kenny was actually a really different movie - odd subject and just amusing. If you want something different, try Kenny - but don't blame me if you don't like it!!








January in books:

The Creative Entrepreneur - Lisa Sonora Beam
Prisoner of Birth - Jeffrey Archer
The Broker - John Grisham
Bordeaux - Paul Torday

My favorite was Prisoner of Birth. I listened to it as a audio book while I was driving to and from the city and got so excited in parts I had to switch it off and concentrate on driving instead! Jeffrey Archer is just a wonderful story teller. If you haven't read any of his - give them a go. Last month I tried "Not a penny more, not a penny less" which I loved, but this one was even better. And I'll read another one of his next month - just gripping stories. Good easy reads that really engage you.....

So what was the best movie you saw this month and what was the best book you read? Let's share some recommendations......