There's nothing more disheartening than realizing that the hot hot guy you're watching is, alas, Way Out of the Approvable Age Range. Siiiigh.

I, too, am enjoying comfort knitting today. Ever try doing scribble lace? It's just really thin yarn on really big needles - all in garter stitch!!! - and every couple of rows you throw in one row of a thicker yarn. That's it. Comfort knitting and it looks uber-classy.

Enjoy your movies and cat snuggles!

Perhaps an equivalent would be Eddie Murphy, for satisfactorily hot but not deadly, plus excellent entertainer?

Although I'm rotten at movie stuff. Not An Expert!

First?

Hey Laurie!
I'm a movieholic and I love me some Turner Classics. The movies back in granny's day were pretty cool. Romances are more romantic, drama more dramatic. Loved all those stars. women were always gorgeous and the guys were always cool. You gotta see "Bringing up Baby" with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn.

And any of those movies are perfect for cuddling. And I'm not talking about with cats and knitting...wink wink.

Laurie, you rock!

Can't wait to hear Grandma Purl weigh in on CAP's Olde Timey Hunk-Off '07!

Isn't it nice to have the time to ponder such questions and knit? Seriously. That's livin'! Congrats on the cozy chill time! You've certainly earned it.

I thought I was the only one who secretly wanted to be Nora Charles! There's a Thin Man box set, btw, should you need to indulge.

And Laurie? I bought your book for my recently-divorced sister (I hope dog hair can be substituted for cat hair in this case). If I sent you an SASE, would you be able to sign a bookplate for her? Or, better yet, bring the book tour to New England? Purty-please?

Mmmmm, Gregory Peck. He never got caught doing anything that would embarrass his momma. He probably had torrid affairs right and left and never let on, because that wouldn't have been gentlemanly.

I don't think Gene Kelly was considered a hunk, just an attractive dancin' machine. Rock Hudson was a hunk; Gene Kelly was something else. We don't really have musical comedy stars anymore who are as famous as the other celebrities without relying on their looks, but I'm thinking maybe like an American Idol winner would be the equivalent, who absolutely must have talent but doesn't necessarily need looks.

I LOVE Gene Kelly. Of course, I'm a tap dancer, so I would. And he reminds me of my Pop-Pop, so I've always considered him to be really handsome. I must be overlooking the moments of jerkness in An American in Paris. Incidently, I think he was in his 40s when this movie was made, and I think the female lead was a teenager. He grew up dancing at his mother's dance studio in Pittsburg I think...his dad probably worked in steel. If you haven't seen Singin' in the Rain...that one is worth Tivoing. Its my favorite. I really love Donald O'Connor (the goofy one).

I just posted about the cat scratchers. Also last night I got stuck watching old movings on TMC - they were having an Irene Dunne marathon and she was sort of funny in a gorgeous way. I watched all of some movie I had never heard of - Theodora Goes Wild for which the director won an Academy award and Ms. Dunne was nominated and part of another. Had to turn it off. My memory is that Gene Kelley was considered more like a Tom Hanks instead of a Clark Gable. Just my idea. See what Grandma (or even your mother) thinks. Give my love your Grandma (Frances?) lots. My mom died last holiday season at 93. Miss her this year and Grandma Purl always reminded me of my mom.

I thought I was the only one who had the hots for Gregory Peck! Lord, that man was just yummy.

But, my all time fav is Paul Newman. Cool Hand Luke. Those blue eyes were too perfect for words. *sigh*

Wow, when I first saw that screenshot of Gene Kelly, I thought it was Phil Hartman!

I always had a crush on Gene Kelly, frankly. Love him in "On the Town" and of course "Singing in the Rain." But there is no comparison to Gregory Peck--hummina hummina!

You can't go wrong with a Sister Act movie. It is sort of like Grease. Mindless entertainment with SONGS!

I finally get to post to something recent. I have been catching up on your archives. I am now in August 2006. The other day when I was near tears, your blogging kept me sane. You are hilarous! I got your book the other day from the library and fell in love with it, cried with you on various parts. Have never been married, but have went through the pain of lost love and the pain of not having as well. I too am in my 30's and sometimes when reading your blogs, swear we are related.

Gregory Peck very yummy, but my all time favorite-Robert Wagner. *sigh* love him. I also am a old movie buff. I have the cheapest cable available and it doesn't inlclude my TCM. I even tried to buy it alone and the "man" won't allow it. Therefore I must apease my addiction through the library.

Since you're into the lists and all, a few years ago, I watched every movie that was on AFI's list of 100 greatest movies of all time. It made me watch so many movies I wouldn't have watched on my own, but were quite good. And so many of them are referenced in different cultural references (like I never understood the Seinfeld episode where Elaine was yelling "Stella" until I watch "A Streetcar Named Desire" -- a movie I had sadly not seen until it was on the list!)

Have fun discovering some of these wonderful old movies!

Gene Kelly. Fred Astaire. Gregory Peck. Jimmy Stewart (It's a Wonderful Life). Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye (White Christmas). And Cary Grant!

Love their movies. Grew up watching those on late night tv with my dad and my sister. They bring back such wonderful memories.

Watched Barefoot in the Park a few weekends ago ----- Love me some young Redford.

Gene Kelly was my biggest movie star crush. I was convinced I was going to grow up and marry him. (In my kid brain, I thought he was the age he was in the movies. *g*) He was definitely considered a hottie back in the day. As for other amazing men, Mr. Cary Grant always makes me sigh. ;)

Oh, I love the classic movie channels. My favorite movie with Gene Kelley is Singin' in the Rain cause it's so funny. And I've always loved Gregory Peck, since he was in To Kill a Mockingbird (my favorite book of all time).

And I dream of doing the 'boring' stuff that you're doing. I used to have downtime and I miss it. I am so very jealous.

I am a Cary Grant girl. Sigh. Gene Kelly is probably the Tom Hanks of today. I love Tom Hanks. You should watch Gene in Singing in the Rain. He is just lovable. See when your other dancing leading man is Fred Astaire - who looks elfish... Gene Kelly is just gorgeous!

Look at pictures of the young Jimmy Stewart and tell me he wasn't hunk-ose. And unlike today's shallow celebs, he graduated with a degree in architecture from Princeton then he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in WW2 (having to work hard to gain enough weight to meet standards)- flew more than 20 combat missions in B-24s and received TWO Distinguished Flying Crosses and ended the war as Brigadier General. He and some other Hollywood patriots (what a far cry from today) also built a flying school in AZ that trained thousands of pilots during the war.

Jimmy Stewart or the current crop? I'd call Stewart a major hunk in all sense of the word.

Yes!!! I spotted Gregory Peck about seven years ago in the lobby of the Bellagio (or some other fancy hotel) in Vegas. I was awestruck - Atticus Finch! Right there in front of me! And he was every bit as striking in person even at his advanced age. He was with his family, so I didn't run up and slobber all over him - but not for lack of trying. My mom had to grab me and hold me back.

Love me some Gregory Peck. And I think Jimmy Stewart was the Tom Hanks of his day. All the other heartthrobs from that era (Rock Hudson, Montgomery Clift) were gay, unfortunately. Gene Kelly doesn't do much for me -- I'll be interested in hearing what your grandma has to say....

Oh, yes, and Cary Grant -- can't forget Cary Grant.

Yea! Knitting, old movies, kitty cats and cold weather!!

Know there's someone in South Pasadena 'grokin' your vibe'... ;)

What we need now is a marathon New Years' Knitting Party...hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

Cary Grant.

Cary Grant.

Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant Cary Grant.

Sigh.

(Though yeah, Gregory Peck? Definitely hot. And can we get some love for Gary Cooper? We can.)

Oh yah, and I agree with Steve. Bringing up Baby is my favorite classic movie. Hilarious in a cute, dorky way. Just my thing.

Laurie, if you haven't yet you MUST see "Bringing Up Baby"!

IMDB: http://imdb.com/title/tt0029947/

I agree with cursingmama - nothing beats a young Robert Redford. I have watch The Way We Were a couple of times a year. Those eyes and blonde hair make me melt!

Cary Grant...mmmmm.....

Gregory Peck, too. *sigh*

Gene Kelly=King of all Hunkdom! I grew up watching Gene Kelly movies and swooned my way through them all. I totally don't remember his jerk-moments from an American in Paris, I just remember the eye-candy dance scenes.

Cary Grant is also total swoonable, but always second place to Gene Kelly for me.

And don't forget Paul Newman and Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Not the same era as Kelly and Grant, but still vintage, now, and so hunky hunk hunk swoonworthy divine.

My problem with Gregory Peck is - yes, I can see that he's objectively good-looking, but I first saw him in To Kill a Mockingbird, and I was about 12, so he got typecast in my head as a "Dad" figure

Oooh, if you get a chance look out for The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (romance, Gene Teirney & Rex Harrison) and Gaslight (mystery/thriller, Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, Joseph Cotton, and Angela Lansbury as very young, very pert housekeeper). These two are my all time favorites.

Mmmmm... Gregory Peck in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'... Mmmmm... Insanely hot AND has principles and Southern manners...

Maybe it was just me but I thought his character was a real turd to the blonde woman who wanted to help him with his artwork, and she had a thing for him but she was so cool and calm and he was just really callous to her.

That was my take on it -- oh, and I thought it seemed odd that he would take her to the party and brush her off for the other girl. I just wasn't expecting that in a classic "romance" I guess.

It was entertaining and I'm not calling Gene Kelly the man a jerk, just the character in the movie seemed a little callous to me, you know?

I like catching up on old movies, I have so little free time that this teensy break has been HEAVEN.

Addendum: am I the only one who finds Paul Newman just as hot now as he was back in the day?

I LOVE GENE KELLY! Singin' in the Rain is one of my all-time favourites and I think pretty much everyone in my house growing up, with the possible exception of my dad, knew most of the words to it too...Singin' in the Rain would be a great chocolate eating, garter scarf knitting movie. I'm off to the video store on my way home from work now...yay old movies!

Can we get some love for Don Ameche? Franchot Tone (now he was HOT) or even a very young Burgess Meredith? No? Okay, nevermind. I used to cut high school to watch old b/w movies (quite the little rebel...) and the WWII propaganda movies were so romantic and thrilling and, and, and so patriotic!

and Stewart Granger, too! Sort of a cheap Cary Grant/Gregory Peck combo...

I don't know if Gene Kelly was a heart-throb back in the day, but I had a massive pre-adolescent crush on him after seeing him woo Judy Garland and dance in The Pirate. That lasted until, oh, about sixth grade. Don't judge me.

I love Gary Cooper myself, especially in "Morocco." (I'm also a huge Marlene Dietrich fan; that woman was pure mystery and class.)

Oh, I LOVE the old movies, too! My daughter came to love them when she was in high school back in the 90's.

I second, third and fourth the motion to watch Bringing Up Baby! In fact, that is my daughter's favorite old time movie. Some of the old movies are a bit goofy in their acting but that's part of their charm!

Anyone seen Backstage? With a very young Lucille Ball, Ginger Rogers, Ann Miller (14 at the time but lied and said she was 18), and I think Katherine Hepburn is in it, too, lots of movie stars. I first came across it in the 90's and have been trying to catch it on tv ever since without any luck. So I had the bright idea (don't know what took me so long!) to find a dvd copy online and yes! I will watch again next week after Christmas!

I am very jealous of your recent discovery of the classic movie channels. We, at our house, are completely tv-less. And I used to have three (3!!!) of those channels at my disposal.

Also, I am very impressed that you say you are new to the classic movie realm and yet you know who Nora Charles is. Unless you read Dashiell Hammett.

Sarah -- My very first intro to old movies were the Thin Man movies a few years ago, I have watched them all over and over, I love them so much. I just love Nora Charles and I think Nick is perfect and I love them as a couple and all those movies make me so happy. If you do a search on this website for "Nora" or "Thin man" you'll see some old entries I wrote about them...

How about some Cary Grant?? Philadelphia Story has a trifecta of CG, Jimmy Stewart and Katherine Hepburn.
or the ones he's in with Doris Day are also good. and you must see Wuthering Heights with Sir Laurence Olivier.
I love TCM!

Am I the only person who loved JAMES CAGNEY?

He could dance too!

Funny you should have this post; I was talking just the other day about the fact that my mother had the tv power when I was a kid and MADE us watch all these horrible 'old' movies. And now I am so glad she did! Yes, I love Donald O'Connor... he was vastly underrated I think.

I love TCM and AMC... sometimes they are the only good things on our gazillion channels of viewing pleasure.

And Steve Martin in 'The Jerk'. Have it on DVD and am working on wearing it out. LOVE a man who can make me laugh! Now THAT is sexy!
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Oh! And I love The Thin Man too! Thanks to Mom, of course!
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Oh, you made my day when I saw the pictures of Gene Kelly on your blog! I LOVE Gene Kelly! I echo the recommendation of Singin' In The Rain for a true classic, but I also recommend a few other Gene Kelly movies: Brigadoon and Me & My Gal. Brigadoon is pure musical fantasy, and once you get past the sound stage background, it is a beautiful movie! And Me & My Gal was Gene Kelly's movie debut, starring alongside Judy Garland. It is in B&W and not as silly as some of his other movies.

George Clooney, while I love him, is just the heir to the Cary Grant throne. Bringing Up Baby, North By Northwest, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, The Bishop's Wife (perfect for Christmas...). I could go on and on.

Also, THe Thin Many movies are awesome- so stylish!

Other Ruth -- I LOVE STEVE MARTIN. I think I have all his old movies memorized because my dad was a fan and he used to rent them when I was a teenager (remember how exciting it was to finally get a VCR??? I think we got one when I was about 14) and I was allowed to watch Steve Martin movies with the family. My parents were very strict about the TV watching and what we were allowed to see. No one would have ever dreamed of getting their own TV in their own room! LOL

I reccommend "Notorious" with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. I miss Turner. That is all I used to do--veg out with old movies. Sniff.

You just realized that you have TCM? I cannot survive without that channel and Independent Film Channel. Because I will not pay for those premium channels.

And I always watch the Sister Act movies when they are on.

And Gregory Peck has been my ideal man since the first time I saw "To Kill a Mockingbird" as a kid. Because I grew up addicted to classic movies. Maybe that's part of the reason why I'm still single. lol

I will second all the other Cary Grant fans out there. He ROCKS. Arsenic and Old Lace is great, as well as I Was A Mail Order Bride.

Laurie, I've often wished I was Myrna Loy, too. Especially those dressing gowns and her hats. Not to mention the martinis.

Laurie, did you find the John Deere picture I sent to your email?

It looks like a Norman Rockwell 'wannabee' guy did it.

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AND! There's a 'Bob' in the picture!
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Here's the John Deere pic ==> http://www.twango.com/media/Bratfink.public/Bratfink.10593?sort=5

Okay. Gene Kelly? I totally had the hots for him when I was about 12 or so. He *so* beat out the fancy-schmancy likes of Fred Astaire.

Ahem. When I was 12, I was into really old movies ...

Agree w/ Tsockarina about Cary Grant.
Agree w/ Pegkitty about Gregory Peck.

One cool thing about Cary Grant is that when you think about his movies, the leading ladies gave memorable performances, too -- Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Katherine Hepburn, etc. As much as I loooove George Clooney, his female co-stars just disappear. The only contemporary male actor I can think of where you remember his female co-stars' performance as well as his is Richard Gere.

I would also like to recommend "Ball of Fire" with Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. It's a romantic comedy.

And The Other Ruth, you are not alone in your love of James Cagney. I used to love "The Strawberry Blonde."

Oh, and another good one with Laurence Olivier, besides "Wuthering Heights," is Rebecca. Of course, I am partial to the older Hitchcock. I also recommend "Suspicion" with Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine.

I LOVE the Sister Act movies! Go Whoopi! :-)

You can have Gregory Peck; I'll take Cary Grant over everyone else any day of the week!

Jess.....I agree about Paul Newman, he's aged really well. Very handsome man.
I'm not a huge old movie buff, but I enjoyed From Here to Eternity. Another favorite is Gone with the Wind.

I'm a total classic movie whore. I think what was done back then beats the pants off of 90% of what they make today.

If you like Gregory Peck, try Roman Holiday (I think that's the title). Also, if you get the chance, TIVO the original Perry Mason series with Raymond Burr. It used to run pretty regularly on the classic movie channels, if I remember right. Nothing relaxes me like Perry Mason -- the balance of the world is disturbed by wrongdoing and skullduggery, and then Perry Mason comes along, and he's big, and imposing, and calm, and ALWAYS RIGHT, and he makes everything better.

Another really good one is 'The Lady Vanishes'. I think Peck's in that one too, but I can't remember. I watched it during a crazy knitting fest one christmas when I was trying to get a sweater for my father finished on time.

Email me if you're interested, and I'll go through my old Netflix viewing list for other old movies that I really liked.

Ooooh... how about 'The Enemy Below' [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050356/]with Robert Mitchum [no relation to the deodorant] and Curt Jergens?

I loved R.M. as a youngster. A manly man, and I LOVED this movie!
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Gene Kelly = total heartthrob, definitely. I'll echo all the others, if you haven't watched Singin in the Rain yet, it's a must-see.
Love all those all time movie stars, and knitting with some chocolate and some Jimmy Stewart (or Cary Grant, or G Peck, or....) sounds fabulous.

OMG How come no one has mentioned Bogart?! O_O Is he just too obvious? I love him.

If you haven't seen Sabrina (the old version, with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart), you should make it a priority. I adore that movie.

And I have to second what Purplekat said about Perry Mason. I really enjoy that show.

Other Ruth - James Cagney singing and dancing - yes! I watched "Yankee Doodle Dandy" every July 4th for years; love that man.

Don't know about Gene Kelly, but Gregory Peck, definitely swoon material. (In my day swooning was in. Do not judge.)

I always had a thing for Dustin Hoffman myself. Or Malabrigo, if Dustin's not available.

I would marry Gregory Peck, but before that, have a hot affair with Cary Grant. mmmm, Cary.

OH you have fabulous taste! Have you seen Roman Holiday? I am sure you must have! It is wonderful Peck p0rn (hmm). It's all in his EYEBROW! He just has this way of arching it that almost sends me into spontaneous orgasm. As long as you don't remember that a few years later he ended up with those wild and woolly old man eyebrows.

"The Long Hot Summer" Paul Newman and JoAnn Woodward... has to be the tops on my old movie list...Paul Newman buff, buff, buff.

Agree with Frances on 'The Philadelphia Story'...timeless classic!

Gene Kelly wasn't really considered a 'hunk' in the day, he was the music man, the dancer. His dancing was different than Fred Astair's because he was much more physical while Astair was more chic.
I am a huge classic movie fan, faves actors and actresses include, Bette Davis, Gary Grant (must see "Arsnic and Old Lace"!), Clark Gable, Mickey Rooney. Yes Mickey Rooney, if he had been taller he'd have been taken more seriously as an actor. Catch him in the "Andy Hardy" movies.

I think Gene Kelly is more like Harrison Ford. Interesting looking and no particular category of character.

Cary Grant, now. Yummy. Ancient, but yummy. Arsenic and Old Lace is the funniest movie from back in the day and starring Mr. Yummy.

The Sister Act movies ROCK! Love those. Thought I was the only one who did!

I have to vote for Cary, but Gregory is right on up there, too. He seemed so capable and trustworthy - you just knew everything would be OK if he was there. Maybe I am basing all this on his Mockingbird character, but still. Sigh. Why aren't there more actual real men like that around???

P.S. I got to meet Paul Newman when I was about 12 (um, 30 years ago...ouch). His wife Joanne was my babysitter's niece and they invited us to go watch him race at Road Atlanta. This is back when he was first getting into the car racing thing. I can STILL remember how vivid his blue eyes were...

Call me crazy, but every time I see that "An American in Paris" is going to be on, I make sure to be right there watching exactly 1 1/2 hrs into it just to see that sublime ballet scene at the end.....pure bliss. From what I've read, Gene Kelly was a little bit of a jerk in real life, though exquisitely talented, and fairly attractive in my book. I'm a huge old movie lover (really, I watch no other TV besides TCM, RetroPlex and Jeopardy!) and must enter my vote for the sexiest old movie actor as Robert Mitchum.

I agree about Gregory Peck being hot. I actually had breakfast with him back in '66. I went to college with, and dated his son, Jonathan, and had some sleepovers at their house. Jonathan looked just like his dad, and was also very quietly sexy and intense. sigh

Another Gregory Peck - Roman Holiday fan here! As an added bonus you get to watch Audrey Hepburn be beautiful.

With the holidays right around the corner I have to recommend White Christmas - Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye (love me some Danny Kaye) and Rosemary Clooney. Singing, dancing, silly romance, and a war hero...can't go wrong.

Ok, I've lurked here for *ages*-- and love your writing and your kitties! Somehow I'm not surprised, though, that I finally delurk for movies! *sigh* Love Gregory Peck (I think he's at his dreamiest in Roman Holiday.)

If you want more old-movie heart-throbs, I recommend the several underrated actors: John Payne (there's a lovely beefcake picture of him by George Hurrell *fans self*), Dana Andrews, Joel McCrae (The Palm Beach Story is one of my all-time favorite movies) and Fred MacMurray (pre-My Three Sons.)

Other amazing movies that others haven't mentioned yet: The Awful Truth, Charade, His Girl Friday (all with CARY!), Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (Jimmy Stewart!), pretty much anything with Rosalind Russell or Carole Lombard.

Oh! And if you want more dancing goodness-- My Sister Eileen (the 1955 version) and Kiss Me Kate both have Tommy Rall and a young Bob Fosse. Their challenge dance in My Sister Eileen is incredible.

And, um, sorry for the wordiness. Eep!

I didn't read all of the comments so excuse my repeat:

tcm.com (turnerclassicmovies.com)has a database where you can get information on all kinds of movies--I don't think they have to be exclusive to tcm

Cats are the very best blankies on cool nights. I rush home to the cozy knitting chair also. I'm working on a passel of ribbed-brim hats (your recipe!) for the homeless shelter.

Happy Solstice to All!

I almost mentioned Franchot Tone as a classy cutie, and thought no one else would know him, but there was martha in mobile, so at least I'm not alone! TCM also shows a lot of what are known as "Pre Code" movies, prior to the production code in mid 1934 movies were quite racy (for that era) with married women openly having affairs, taking advantage of men, being prostitutes and kept women, having babies out of wedlock, just doing all sorts of naughty things and some of the most popular and enduring actresses got their start in these movies--Myrna Loy, Norma Shearer, Barbara Stanwyck, Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo to name a few. Great movies and they were quite empowering to women in that era, check them out if you notice they're playing-- you'll be highly amused and enlightened!

I skipped reading the comments so I could tell you what the BEST Gregory Peck movie in the world is.

Rent, or buy, or Tivo yourself a copy of "The Big Country". That has got to be one of the best movies I've ever seen. Peck is absolutely the most handsome thing on the screen in that movie, and if you think Jimmy Stewart is charming, you're just going to melt when you see Gregory Peck on the screen.

The way his character reacts to people thinking he got lost out on the prairie (he's a ship captain! How's he going to get lost on the prairie? as long as he's got the sun, the stars or the moon, he wont get lost) And that wonderfully deep, clear voice that is apparently a lost art in men nowadays. I dont care that if he were still alive he'd be old enough to be my grandfather. He was just so good looking. (I'm all verklempt now!)

I think Burl Ives is in The Big Country too, oh, and dont forget Charleton Heston. My dad bought me a dvd copy of the movie a couple of years ago for Christmas, and we sat down and watched it on the big screen tv. Totally captivated by this movie.

I love old movies. Charlie Chaplin is one of my favorite actors (so is Harold Lloyd, another silent star). Anything with Jimmy Stewart, Gregory Peck, Charleton Heston, and especially James Cagney (Made it MA! Top of the world!!! *boom!*)

I am so totally in love with Rhett Butler. Mom used to drag me to the old Varsity Theatre in Dinkytown and watch all those wonderful old musicals. There is a GIANT picture of Rhett and Scarlett about to kiss up on the wall at my video store in New Brighton. I think I may bat my eyelashes at those 20-somethings and make one of them take it down for me...

As for the ladies - I always wanted to grow up and be either Katherine Hepburn or Marlene Dietrich. I love to watch Katherine in "On Golden Pond" - Still in total control of herself with her chin held oh-so high!!!

Jess, YES!!! Paul Newman, no one will ever top him. I watched Nobody's Fool the other night, I watch it most every time it's on, Paul Newman and Bruce Willis, heaven I tell ya!!

Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire will always be my dancing faves. I used to see them both when I was a child, riding my bike to the Newberry's Drug Store on Beverly Dr., in BH. Many of the old-time movie stars living in the area and would walk around the streets and do their shopping. Doris Day used to ride her bike to the bakery on Canon Dr. Imagine stars of today trying to do that and dodging the paparazzi!!!

I'm partial to the noir film stars of the day, John Garfield, Robet Mitchum, Humphrey Bogart, some Burt Lancaster films. Those guys were hunky AND mysterious!!!

Another vote for Gene Kelly and Singing in the Rain. And those MGM musicals. Ah. Among my faves- the Marx Brothers.

A New Year's Eve (semi-)tradition some friends of mine and I have started is to watch the Three Stooges marathon with the sound turned off while playing a CD of classical music from movie soundtracks. You'd be surprised how often the action and music synchronize, it is HYSTERICALLY funny.

Martha in Mobile struck a nerve with Stewart Granger. He is great in "The Prisoner of Zenda". He is wonderfully romantic and plays opposite Deborah Kerr. I always wanted to be her.

Want mushy romance and Cary Grant? "An Affair to Remember" again with Deborah Kerr. Their on screen chemistry is fun and I choke up at the end of that movie every time. Oh, the look on his face when he sees the painting and puts two and two together. Lordy lord.

I've always had a crush on Gene Kelly. Count me as one more vote for "Singing in the Rain" and "On the Town"

I fell in love with Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird". He was good in "Spellbound" that's a Hitchcock movie he made with Ingrid Bergman. She's another woman I wanted to be. Oh, she did "Notorious" with Cary Grant. That's another good one.

Then there is Gary Cooper, Montgomery Clift, Rod Taylor...

Purplecat - I'm not sure if we are thinking the same movie, but the version of "The Lady Vanishes" has, I think, a British actor in it - Robert Donat? John Mills? Not sure.
And, although this plants me firmly in the "costume epic" class - I have to put in a vote for Tyrone Power and Eroll Flynn as "the hunks". Both of them really had very short careers in comparison to Cary Grant for example, but in their time, they were "swoon-worthy".
Also, for the comment about George Clooney and his female leads being wishywashy - that is the fault of the screen writers. The period movies we are talking about - the 30s through the 50's -- women were written really good parts. Can you imagine movies like "The Little Foxes" or "Jezebel" being written now? All the screen writers want to put in are wimpy bimbos - except for Jody Foster films, but she does her own.
And, if I may throw my favorite Cary Grant film on the pile - "I Was A Male War Bride" with Ann Sheridan. Ann Sheridan is a favorite of mine also -- she is absolute pure and unadulterated hilarious vamp in "The Man Who Came to Dinner" - which is also the only movie I ever saw that allowed Bette Davis to be funny - and she was very very funny in it.

I just wanted to agree with Erin above. Gregory Peck is wonderful in Big Country. Until I read her post I thought I was the only person in the world who loved that movie. I saw it pretty recently on one of the classic channels. Big Country also features a hunky young Charlston Heston. I always thought that Peck's sea captain character was very similar to Atticus Finch as he was portrayed in the book. Enjoy your well-deserved downtime Laurie!

I grew up watching all those old movies on TV, before Turner bought them all. Fred Astaire was the sophisticated classy dancer of those old movies, while Gene Kelley was the muscular, working-class athletic dancer. He wasn't a great actor, or singer, but was a male lead type, somewhat hunky. I can't think of any equivalent contemporary actor.
Cary Grant, yummm, but Gregory Peck, too. I saw an interview with Gregory Peck, and he said that almost every role he played (at least at the beginning of his career) had been offered first to Cary Grant. He was sort of a second-best Cary Grant to the studio he was contracted to. And, from all reports, a gentleman and all-around decent human being.

I think your taste in old movies -- and movie stars -- is impeccable. LOVE the old song and dance ones, especially with Gene Kelly and Danny Kaye. My sister and I always have to sing along with the song "Sisters" in "White Christmas" (Danny Kaye and Bing, baby!).

Oh it must be something in the air. Even here in sometime warm/cold NC I just want to do the same. LOL I have even been TiVoing old movies and found a new station Chill and taped a bunch of old Hitchcock movies. Thank God for TiVo and DirecTV.

Hugs!!!!

You know, I have that fantasy too. Except sometimes the guy looks like Montgomery Clift and I am all "HOLD ME! I'VE BEEN SO LONELY!" like Elizabeth Taylor in ::Suddenly Last Summer::, only without a crazy-ass aunt waiting in the background to have Monty lobotomize me.

We're about to have a big snowstorm tomorrow...and my dad just bought a plasma tv last week.

I'm hauling out my copy of The Big Country, and my most favorite Charlie Chaplin film, City Lights. The final scene of that movie is such a beautiful ending. (not saying what happens, you have to see it for yourself) I love silent movies. They're universal films, because you dont need dialogue.

I'm just going to sit and crochet or maybe knit and just relax and enjoy the snow day. I live in Omaha, and it's been a bad month after that stupid kid shot up the mall. I need to just sit and watch a movie that'll be easy to get engrossed in and forget about the shootings, and eat popcorn and chocolate Raisinetes. (warm popcorn + Raisinetes = MmmmMMMmmmm!!)

I have no idea if Kelly was ever considered a heart-throb in his time. He always played to slick, jack-ass, ham who wanted the girl who knew better. Take a look at "For Me and My Gal" with Judy Garland.

There was a PBS documentary on Kelly a few years back, and one of the commentators made the perfect analogy:
"You give your heart to Fred Astaire but you save your body for Gene Kelly".

Yea for coldness! It's finally gotten could over here in Georgia. Gotta love the south!

"an american in paris" is one of my all time favorite movies. the music, the dancing, a very young leslie caron (another one of her movies, gigi, is a must see.)

anyway, the blond lady wanted sex in exchange for helping him with his painting and he wasn't going to be anyone's gigolo.

by the way, gigi is a romantic musical but it's about a young girl being groomed to be a rich man's mistress. but it's still good.

Okay--
The Philadelphia Story has Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. Wonderful movie!

Don't forget Holiday with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.

And anything with Mr. Spencer Tracy--especially
Inherit the Wind, Pat and Mike, Captains Courageous, Woman of the Year, Father of the Bride.

Humphrey Bogart--The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca (this one makes me cry everytime) and The African Queen.

I love Turner Classic Movies!

You have some great movies mentioned here. I'll mention one of my favorite movies: Penny Serenade with Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. It will air on TCM next Friday morning the 28th at 3AM, yes, the early hours of the morning, or the butt crack of dawn. (Check local listings, just in case.) It makes me cry every time I see it. And for those of you who mentioned Bringing Up Baby it airs Monday December 31st at 12PM. (Again, check local listings.) I love TCM!

Oh, what about comedies?

Anyone like the Marx Brothers? My favorites were always Harpo and Groucho.

Gregory Peck...my personal favorites are, "Twelve O'Clock High," and, best, "To Kill A Mockingbird." Fabulous. Our son is named Atticus. There are some really great old movies. I love TCM, especially for knitting. Another favorite movie of mine is "The Quiet Man." I never get tired of watching it.

Ang

Gregory Peck-LOVE him as Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird" but for that kinda bad boy hot guy I watch "Roman Holiday". So romantic! But I also love John Wayne in "The Quiet Man", William Holden in "Stalag 17" (also has a young Peter Graves--and I have to say that "Hogan's Heros" came from this movie and I loved watching that on TV as a young child even though all the double entandres (is that how you spell it? I am no good at french!) went over my head) and in "Sabrina", Alan Ladd in "Shane", Ray Milland in "Three Smart Girls" (although I hated him in "Love Story"-also a great tear jerking movie), and, of course, Cary Grant in "The Philadelphia Story" and "His Girl Friday". Oh, this list could go on forever! Enjoy the TCM and AMC! I love me some classic movies!

OMG! I forgot to add "From Here to Eternity" w/Burt Lancaster AND Montgomery Clift--but Burt is SUCH a hottie in this movie! You must watch this one!

I have to ask, why didn't you watch tv as a kid?

Gregory Peck. Sigh. And don't forget Burt Lancaster. Hubba-hubba.

(...excuse me, I am feeling rather faint and must continue this whilst reclining on the couch....)

Gene Kelly would be more like Tom Hanks, I think. If you brought him home your mother would say, "what a nice young man" and wouldn't be worried about anything bad happening.

I love old movies. One thing that resonates with me regarding old movies is that young women back in the day got to keep their clothes on and act like grownups instead of bubbleheads. The star might have been only 18 or 22, but she would dress like a woman, talk like a woman and otherwise radiate maturity.

If you want a really good oldie goldie, check out 'The Thin Man' series or any Cary Grant movie. One of the older ones that is a riot and noone seems to watch anymore, is 'Arsenic and Old Lace' starring a very young Cary Grant. I'm sure that the cats would approve.

Enjoy the movies and you scarf!

Girl, you gotta watch "The Philadelphia Story." It has a hot-looking Jimmy Stewart and an even hotter Cary Grant. Seriously, it's tough to choose between the two.

Watch it again and again...

I also forgot to recommend "Charade" with a beautiful Audrey Hepburn and a lovely mature Cary Grant. I own this DVD.

Also, check out "Laura" with Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney. Most gorgeous couple you've ever seen.

In my opinion, Gene Kelley will always be a heartthrob. Rent 'Singing in the Rain'. Or 'Marjorie Morningstar,' but you may bawl your eyes out at that one. I did.

Also, if you are a Jimmy Stewart fan, rent 'The Philadelphia Story' (not about gay Tom Hanks) and 'Harvey.' I think you'll love them. I also second renting 'Charade.' That is an awesome movie.

Gregory Peck is my all time favorite. He was in a lot of movies. I loved him in the Horatio Hornblower series as well as any western.

Others were Burt Lancaster, Henry Fonda, Randolf Scott, Clark Gable, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn, Richard Widmark and many more.

I just watched An American in Paris this month too. Gene Kelly is a stud ( as we used to say, back in the day).

yes, Yes, YES! All of the comments above! I love classic movies. My friends despair of my dvd collection; they haven't heard of most of them. I do have a small section of contemporary movies and tv series, but mostly it's classics from the 30s through 60s, westerns, drama, romantic comedies, musicals. Love. Them!

Gene Kelly, Gregory Peck, Burt Lancaster, Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Cary Grant, Bing Crosby, all great actors. I think movies in those days had to be more entertaining and engaging. Look at what passes for a "good" movie now. No comparison.

I must be in the minority because I prefer "High Society" with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and the elegant Grace Kelly to "The Philadelphia Story". But I love "On the Town".

"The Awful Truth" always makes me laugh - Irene Dunne and Cary Grant had such great chemistry.

"Singin' in the Rain" is aces. Donald O'Connor and Gene Kelly were hilarious in that movie, and the dancing exquisite. (Until that stupid Viagra commercial ruined it all ... ugh.)

"The Country Girl" is a good drama with Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and William Holden.

Robert Mitchum fans should check out "The Grass is Greener". Funny.

Glenn Ford - "The Big Heat" is a good "film noir".

Man, I could go on and on! If you like Maureen O'Hara, "The Quiet Man" with John Wayne is good.

I don't get TCM or AMC - would have to replace my entire satellite setup. I can buy a LOT of dvds for that price!

Happy knitting and movie watching!

Am I the only guy writing comments? Straight guy, that is...

Love that Laurie!

Ok I commented already, but I've got to return to add How to Marry a Millionaire. It is hysterical. Monroe, Bacall, and Grable as three women looking for a rich man. (Perhaps just as relevant today...)

Also, if you like musicals, I absolutely ADORE My Fair Lady. Rex Harrison is to die for.

Sorry people...........

this list begins and ends with

Yul Brynner.................in anything!

Happy Holidays

ZOMG! I just found Noro Transitions today, so I can finally make the first scarf in your book, Laurie. I'm so STOKED!!!! You were right though, this stuff is insanely expensive.

I hear ya sister! My VCR died and we hooked up a new DVD/VCR combo tonight just in time to watch Miracle on 34th Street and White Christmas.

I haven't graduated up to Tivo yet.

Not movie related, but I was searching for patterns today and came across this little gem that made me think of you.

http://www.grittyknits.com/ViewPost897.aspx

Those colors aren't my taste, but it's prettier than a brown bag!

Shari from Ohio,

I have to agree with you. "The Magnificent Seven" is one of my favorite movies...Yul was excellent in that, and ohmygosh..."The King and I" is one of the best musicals.

Even his bad movies were good...

Earlier tonight, I was trying to think of a good present-time actor that would compare to Gregory Peck...I couldnt think of any one, until I realized that "Quigley Down Under" was on. Tom Selleck reminds me a lot of Gregory Peck. He's gorgeous, he's got the deep voice, he looks good in chaps. (I'm still trying to forget the kissing scene he had with Kevin Kline in "In & Out", but he doesnt have his mustache in that movie, so it's easy to forget) Tom Selleck is almost as old as my dad, and I still think Selleck is one of the most gorgeous men on tv. (only reason I watch Las Vegas now is because of Selleck) I love the westerns that Tom Selleck has been doing. I'm going to have to find the money to get the Magnum P.I. dvd sets someday.

I remember watching "Splendor in the Grass" as a teenager and literally drooling over the main actor having no clue it was Warren Beatty who seems pretty darn slimy to me as an adult.

I'm kind of hoping I age better (my apologies to all who think he's hot - to each her own, you know?).

I never understood Jimmy Stewart either. In It's a Wonderful Life, he was the main character, but there wasn't enough heat between him and Donna Reed. Gregory Peck is good, but my all time favorite is Cary Grant. ~sigh~.
and sitting there with a cat on your lap, knitting while watching old movies sounds WONDERFUL to me!!!

OMG! I love An American in Paris!! That's one of my absolute fave movies!!! I watched it for the first time a few months back and now I'm trying to get my hands on a copy of it! LOL

My classic movie heart throb is Paul Newman cause he's just DREAMY.

I just wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas, sweetie! I hope you have a wonderful day and be sure to take some time to be very proud of yourself for all you've accomplished in 2007. You deserve every bit of the greatness that blessed you this year and my wish for 2008 is that you get even more!

Thank you for sharing so much of yourself here on your blog, and have a very Merry Christmas!! Big smooches to Bob, Frankie and Sobakowa and to you too!!!

Rock Hudson and Doris Day movies are very fun. Watch Pillow Talk then watch Down with Love (Renee Zelleweger and Ewan McGregor).

For sheer "they just don't make men like that anymore" droolfests:

Robert Mitchums' shirtless bad-boy-who-wants-to-be-good tempting Deborah Kerrs' I'm-desperately-trying-to-stay-a-good-girl in "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison"...

Paul Newman (looking like a young god)as the long suffering husband of love starved wife Elizabeth Taylor (in all her womanly glory) in "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof"...

I swear your tv will melt!

Overlooked Bogart: Mr.B, Lauren Bacall,
Edward G. Robinson("there's only ONE Johnny Rocco!"),Hurricane, Small Island, Mobsters:
"Key Largo"

Merry Christmas!!

I wish we could get back to the days of musical movies (And the stars of them become big names) - Not just Gene Kelly, but Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire (as much as I don't really like him thanks to watching Holiday Inn first, and he's such a jerk in it, and besides I like Danny Kaye's dancing in White Christmas better...) I just watch White Christmas again for the umpteenth time, and I swear one of these days I am going to find some way to replicate one of Rosemary Clooney's dresses and go as her in White Christmas for halloween...

One that you've GOT to see is Robin and the Seven Hoods though... I'm not a Sinatra fan, but there's one scene with Sinatra, Dean Martin and Bing Crosby all singing together, that just would be impossible to ever get that many big name stars (and big name stars who can sing) together on the screen anymore... (and Dean and Bing sing circles around the overrated Sinatra which makes me happy =)

Here in Iowa, the sky has been either dark, kind of dark, or really dark for about three months now. And we've had either lots of snow or freezing rain on the last three Saturdays, making driving hazardous at best. I've been on a jag, watching silent films. Especially Rudolph Valentino. I had thought silent movies were all about the Keystone Cops or Charlie Chaplin, but most of those movies actually had some adult themes, smut, and grown-up humor. (Some of it seems relevent today---some of the opinions expressed about WWI mirror what we are saying today.) Dear Rudy has been dead since 1926, but he's still amazing on film. Watching these movies has also made me want to read about WWI, the women's movement at that time, and learn more about the art, etc. of the 1920's.

Happy Holidays CAP and felines!
(And y'all posters too!)

Tonight on Turner Classic movies are two GREAT old movies! Cary Grant in The Bishop's Wife, (oh YUMMY YUMMY!!) and the Bells of St. Mary's with Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman. A little preachy but WELL worth watching!!

On the Beach is one of my favorite movies. Paul Newman is just as hot now as he was then. Oh, did filming in B/W make everyone seem older than they really were?

Brenda,

Rudy Valentino was THE heart throb of the 1920s. Women went nuts over him. Men got all ticked off when they saw the love scenes in his movies and would leave the theatres angry.

Did you know he published a book of poetry?

I used to have a video tape of one of his movies. I watched it so much, it got worn out. I'm going to try to get a collection of his movies on DVD someday.

Gene Kelly had the best lookin' arse in Hollywood! Check it out in the movie where he dances with Jerry the cartoon mouse.

Did I just post that???? My bad.

Love love love Gene Kelly. Have since I was little and saw him in some movie tap dancing with roller skates on. And, American in Paris!?!?! The music, the sexy dancing, Gene Kelly with the tight ass and the ... well, I love him. And then you throw in Gregory Peck!!! To Kill A Mockingbird. Say no more. Le sigh extraordinaire.

I forgot ... Steve MacQueen and Gary Cooper. Wacka Wacka.

A few weeks ago I rented from Netflix "A Face in the Crowd" (1957) - Andy Griffith like you have never seen him! And Patricia Neal and Anthony (Tony) Fransciosa and Walter Matthau. And Lee Remick as a 17-year-old cheerleader vixen. They all looked so young!

I love Gene Kelly too. I always thought he was a hunk, but I am a sucker for anyone with that much talent. I agree, you must see Singing In the Rain if you have not already. It's one of my favorite movies of all time. I have my TiVo set to record suggestions and the other day it recorded a Gene Kelly movie I had never heard of. So I asked my mother (the dance teacher) about it. Here's how the conversation went:

Me: My Tivo recorded a Gene Kelly movie I have never heard of.
Mom: Is it 'Les Girls'? Because that's the one I've never heard of.

Oh brothah. Do we really all become our mothers?

Merry Christmas and all that jazz.
~Amy

Could I please add Tony Curtis?? Hot, hot, HOT.

I just watched "Imitation of Life" a couple of days ago. NOBODY can do a head scarf and pointy shades like Lana Tuner.

Gene Kelly is and will always be a heart throb to me! He is my favorite! :) I don't know if he was back in the day or not (I'm not that old you know!) but boy - he sure does it for me!! Singin' in the Rain is my favorite movie of all time! :)

Have you seen any old Marlon Brando movies? Watch "A Streetcar Named Desire" and you may just change your mind about Gregory Peck. I can't imagine any hotter, sexier old movie star than Marlon Brando!!

Dorothy. Are you suggesting that Harrison Ford is not majorly hunkariffic? I'd take him over George Clooney any day, among more modern stars. If you need to compare Gene Kelly to a not-as-much-hunk-as-Clooney, you can't use Harrison Ford. Otherwise I will have to have words with you.

I agree with all of you! All those men are or were HOT! I could watch Gene Kelly dance all day but I could enjoy nearly as much watching Fred Astaire dance. The first present day actor that came to my mind as similar to Gene Kelly is John Cusak (although he's not a dancer..who is these days, only one I can think of is Patrick Swayze, oh yeah, he is worth thinking about!)I took notes while reading your comments and now I am heading for Netflix to upgrade my queue since I don't have cable TV out here in the sticks. Some movies I need to see!
Jan

Gregory Peck really melts my butter as well, but I have one little known fave who died young and didn't make too many movies that beats him. His name is Jeff Chandler. Next time you see one of his movies on TMC watch it, watch it WATCH IT!!

I can't believe how left out Gary Cooper is. Only one mention. The man was divinely beautiful.
Gene Kelley was amazing. I always loved him and Brigadoon is one of my all time faves but there is a scene in a movie he was in with sinatra where they are sailors in the Navy. He is speaking reeeeeaaallly sexy to a girl on the phone and I swear to the gods I flushed and sat there with my mouth hanging open like an idiot, he was THAT good. Now thats some serious talent.
Jimmy Stewart was great when they would let him be funny. That scene in Its a Wondeful Life when the girl is in the hydrangeas naked and he gets this devilish look and says "Well...this is a very interesting situation!!"

Wow, can't believe that it took so long to mention Clark Gable, and that, except for an extended drool over Rhett Butler, he was given such cursory treatment! This guy was the King of Hollywood in the 30's. The last part of his career wasn't very good; he was under contract to the studio, and they put him in some baddies. But his last movie was "The Misfits" - he died within days of finishing filming. FABULOUS movie, if you haven't seen it - Gable, Clift, Monroe!

Anyway, Clark Gable's looks weren't perfect - his teeth weren't great, and his ears stuck out. But he had such presence; besides the immortal Gone With the Wind, check out Boomtown or It Happened One Night. He came across as a kind of regular guy, but sexy as hell. I was sitting here thinking about it as I read. The only way I could think to put it is; if you were to put your face against his bare skin, it wouldn't smell like cologne or scented soap, but like MAN - in the best possible way!

Also liked Errol Flynn, before his dissipation ruined him. And though not a great actor, Tyrone Power was one of the most flat-out beautiful people ever!

Trish -

I'd forgotten about Jeff Chandler - OOOHHH, Yeah!!!

Definitely Gregory Peck. Those eyebrows! That *mouth! Cary Grant, of course. Charlton Heston. Gary Cooper. Humphrey Bogart, especially in The African Queen. And let's not forget Henry Fonda, or Burt Lancaster, who had a bod to die for. (Did you know he was a gymnast and circus acrobat?) Oh, and younger James Garner on TV, in Maverick! ::thud:: And foreign films - Toshiro Mifune (Lord Toronaga in the mini-series Shogun) in The Seven Samurai and the Story of Musashi. Or anything else, really. (And I wasn't allowed to watch much TV either, especially when Dad was around - 2 hours a night, at most, and had to have all homework done first - but during the day when old movies were running, Mom would let that slide a little, heheh.)

And for movie recs...it's from the 60's, so hasn't quite attained Really Old Movie status, but one of *the* best comedic Westerns out there is The Hallelujah Trail. Starring Burt Lancaster and Lee Remick, with a host of others. (Brian Keith, Jim Hutton - now there's one to swoon over! - Donald Pleasence [one of the Best. Comedy. Roles. Ever.], Martin Landau as Walks-Stooped-Over [another BCRE], and tons more.) Buy it. Seriously. You may scare the cats from laughing. My elder cyber-sis and I insisted we get it from Netflix to watch with our younger cyber-sis when we were visiting her one year, and she was *literally* on the floor having hysterics. It was almost as much fun watching her reactions as it was seeing the movie again! Getting a wagon train's worth of whiskey safely to Denver is just the start of it... [veg]

Henry Fonda.

I rented The Grapes of Wrath a few months ago, and HUBBA HUBBA. All I really ever knew of him before was On Golden Pond when he was old. My goodness, he was a hunk in his early years. There's lots of sweaty, grime-yness going on in The Grapes of Wrath. Whew...

Sister Act holds a special place in my heart: it was the the movie my husband and I went to on our first date. Odd choice, perhaps. But "safe", you know? Gregory Peck makes my knees go weak--I love him in his movies.

You should check out William Holden in Born Yesterday, well really in anything from the 40s and 50s. If you like Gregory Peck, well, you will enjoy Holden playing smarty mcsmartypants. I love the dreamy dark haired leading men....

kat

Gregory Peck selected my mom as "the most beautiful girl at San Diego State College" and her picture was put on the news letter that went out to all the men fighting WWII from San Diego.

Yeah, Mr. Peck was gorgeous, classy, elegant, handsome, faithful...the best. Wish his tribe would increase.

Gregory Peck selected my mom as "the most beautiful girl at San Diego State College" and her picture was put on the news letter that went out to all the men fighting WWII from San Diego.

Yeah, Mr. Peck was gorgeous, classy, elegant, handsome, faithful...the best. Wish his tribe would increase.

Gregory Peck selected my mom as "the most beautiful girl at San Diego State College" and her picture was put on the news letter that went out to all the men fighting WWII from San Diego.

Yeah, Mr. Peck was gorgeous, classy, elegant, handsome, faithful...the best. Wish his tribe would increase.

I loved those old movies the first time around, hadn't really thought about reviewing them and knitting at the same time. But then haven't really done much knitting in years. However, the idea of knitting some hats and scarves up for the homeless with the yarn I still have left, might work for me. That is if I'm not so darned pooped out from working horses that I have any energy left to move my fingers.......lol

Dude. Have you seen "Big Country"? Greg is supremely admirable in that picture, and still hot. That's what men should be like.

Jimmy Stewart for me! Just finished watching It's A Wonderful Life again.

Although, maybe it's not healthy to be lusting after someone who's dead? Yuck.

well its good to know that I am not alone when it comes to fantasizing old movie stars. I liked clark gable..the whole rustic movie look but me and my mother agree(another old movie star lover) that peter o'toole in his heyday was rather a hottie o.O
http://www.salehbadrah.com/poetictouch/ptfiles/ptblogimages/peterotoolearabia250.jpg

Okay, so I'm way behind in blog reading and just read this, but I'm totally with you on the whole Gregory Peck thing. He is SO my old movie boyfriend.

Okay now I hafta add MY two cents worth! CLARK GABLE was da man of that era! Talk about sexi!!! Ya'll take it from me, a truly rag to riches story. I have and read his bio, "Long Live The King" or something similar, so don't quote me! :)

Also you can't get much HOTTER than Marlon Brando in "A Streetcar Named Desire" he was a real HOTTIE! back then!

I drooled my way through the film version of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' in middle school... Gregory Peck is one pretty man.

I am so crazy about Gregory Peck, I own Roman Holiday and watch about every 3 months. Looks, great voice, charm and intelligence, my ideal man! (But don't tell my cat, Cadfael, he thinks he is my ideal man, I don't want to disappoint the little furbee.

Someone once said that Fred Astaire was a better dancer than Gene Kelly. I love watching both, but I have to say it's really apples and oranges. They had different styles and each was superb in his own way. American in Paris is probably my favorite movie - I love the art ballet, especially all the attention paid to the Toulouse Lautrec paintings. In another movie, Gene Kelly dancing on roller skates was so inventive! (Between TCM and Netflix,I can be kept busy for ages!) I agree that his sex appeal could compare to that of John Cusack, another of my favorites. An offbeat kind of everyman - one with happy feet and the other with funny quips. She doesn't get as much attention, but his sister Joan Cusack is fabulous!
Just bought your book for my cousin who is going through a nasty divorce. She is about to have neck surgery, which will entail a lengthy recuperation. I'm going to send her the book, knitting needles and skeins of purple (her favorite color) yarn!

I think Gene Kelly is one of the hottest guys ever to have lived. He's right up there with the young Peter O'Toole and the up-until-he-got-super-old Sean Connery. I'm sure he was a heart throb in his day. I have no problem having crushes on old time movie stars, I'm as likely to meet and or be wooed by them as I am by say Joaquin Phoenix and it's the fantasy that counts anyway. I've heard that Gene Kelly was gay anyway so the time difference doesn't matter much!

I think the point was well made early on by Ewe-niss:

"Look at pictures of the young Jimmy Stewart and tell me he wasn't hunk-ose. And unlike today's shallow celebs, he graduated with a degree in architecture from Princeton then he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in WW2 (having to work hard to gain enough weight to meet standards)- flew more than 20 combat missions in B-24s and received TWO Distinguished Flying Crosses and ended the war as Brigadier General. He and some other Hollywood patriots (what a far cry from today) also built a flying school in AZ that trained thousands of pilots during the war.

Jimmy Stewart or the current crop? I'd call Stewart a major hunk in all sense of the word."

Honestly, I LOVE LOVE LOVE old movies and the actors and actresses back in the day. Their personal lives were kept more-or-less personal. They really did have elegance, charm, and humor, often in one smashing combination.

But one person nobody has mentioned yet: Ronald Reagan. Sure he was our president, but he was a wonderful actor with a lot of wit, good looks and athletiscm- and a patriot. For all of the elegance and charm of Hollywood's Golden Age, he certainly shined a light on the hidden tarnish of communism that was so fashionable among the famous and intellectuals of that era. There was a communist black list in Hollywood and some (if not many) of the actors we all adore were listed on it.

The actors I enjoy watching in no particular order are:
Jimmy Stewart
Fred Astaire
Gene Kelly
Bing Crosby (another not mentioned here by anyone)
Ronald Reagan
Gregory Peck (what about his amazing role in "Gentleman's Agreement")
Cary Grant
George Peppard (remember? from "Breakfast at Tiffany's") Christopher Plummer (I love his stately elegance in Sound of Music)
Humphrey Bogart

(sorry for the run-in text! I could NOT get html to work on here. So that's why you have a giant glump of text with no paragraphs or line breaks. Argghh...)

ah, never mind! Apparently the preview section doesn't preview everything!

I, too, am an TCM nut, and I have harbored a secret crush on Gene Kelly for years, since I was a pre-teen. I agree that you can't beat some of those classic movies stars, especially Cary Grant (so debonair!), Gregory Peck, and I always liked a younger Robert Young (very cute in the pre-Marcus Welby, Father Knows Best days) and Ray Milland. A few years ago, Robert Redford left a (recorded) message on my answering machine, reminding me to vote. I refuse to get rid of the old machine because I don't want to lose that message.

OMG I want that haircut!! SO CUTE!!!