George

Eleven years ago today, George Harrison died. What a terrible day that was & he is so missed. But you can remember him by visiting the new George Harrison YouTube channel & watch the glorious Concert for George in its entirety (for 24 hours only). Remember to visit George Harrison (& UNICEF, too) for more information on how to keep up with news because there is always something to discover.

It's an under-the-weather day here so off for toast & tea & George. And a tumblr full of musicians with kittens.:) xoxo

(photograph of George at Shea Stadium via The Beatles)

Sunday at the Movies

The first real cold has settled in here. Groan. If not a cure, there is a balm for the suffering. Four Audrey Hepburn movies are currently on Netflix Instant (in the States): Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Charade, & How to Steal a Million. And it's early enough to rent one of the others - there are still rental shops, correct? 

If you'd like other film suggestions, try A Better Queue for Netflix; it's not perfect, but it's a start. One sees people complain on Twitter about the choices. Unless you spend all day, every day watching series television on demand (you know who you are) , there are plenty of choices. 

 If you prefer something French, this is from last summer. That feels like a million years ago. *sob* xoxo

PS: Roger Ebert is the best person to consult about Netflix Instant. Follow him on Twitter, too, & not just for film recommendations.

(Audrey looking out over Paris by Bill Avery)

Summer Ballet in Cinema

Three ballets are left in the Ballet in Cinema's Summer 2012 season: The Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadère, & La Source. Details of showings & cities are on the website.

ciao-pirouette-meow/GG/xo

PS: Ballet Beautiful has a July discount (15%) on their streaming videos. Enter BBJULY when checking out. We recommend highly!

(photograph crop detail by Prabuddha Dasgupta; tulle underskirt, Vivienne Westwood)

The Cinementals

GG's human servant is looking for reasons to be cheerful. Again. So here's something....

The Cinementals is a good site for some classic film inspiration - whether you are in the States or not; whether you have cable or not. News, reviews, & podcasts written in smart, snappy style. The Twitter page sums it up: what's new in old movies.

ciao-meow/the management

PS: Free film noir

(Casablanca still via doctormacro)

Arthur Recreates Scenes from Classic Movies

For a little Monday after the Oscars fun, visit Emily Cleaver's Arthur & his recreation of classic movie scenes. Arthur's range is extraordinary. From American Beauty to Zulu, he shows a lack of snobbery which is key in appreciating movies in all their glory.

There's also a calendar that raises funds for the NSPCC (in the UK) & the Make-A-Wish Foundation (in the States). Emily's literary website has reviews, fiction, & lots of good links. She's a cheerful & amusing tweeter, too.

ciao-meow/GGCM

PS: For another baby at the movies, see Don't Call me Oscar.

(photograph by Emily Cleaver)

Sunday Night at the Oscars

There's still time to put on a bit of a party for tonight's Oscar ceremony. Here are some suggestions for dinner, snacks & drinks. A list of nominees, a ballot. Play for honor or a bit of money (everyone adds to the kitty). You can watch the Red Carpet live online, too.

Top tip: if you don't have cable or satellite, follow people on Twitter. There are funny tweets & often live links for online viewing. If you don't have a Twitter account, what the heck are you waiting for? You don't have to do anything but create a good password & have fun.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph via IMDb)

Sunday Charade

Here at GG Central, we will be juggling the Super Bowl (yep) & Downton Abbey. But perhaps you're not interested in either option.

What about whipping up something French for supper & watching Charade with Audrey Hepburn & Cary Grant? You can watch for free online (in America). It's also on Netflix Instant. The movie is a lot of fun & actually kind of scary (spoiler alert: Audrey & Cary survive). There's pretty Paris scenery (& the witty opening is in Switzerland).

Have a great (rest of the) weekend, wherever you live!

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph via Doctor Macro)

Monday Night at the Movies

You can go to the movies any night of the week, even with just a laptop, by checking out Open Culture's listing of 450 Free Movies Online. Most of them are accessible in all countries. There are Westerns, silents, drama, documentary, film noir, & more. A favorite here, especially in these difficult times, are comedies. Check out His Girl Friday with Cary Grant & Rosalind Russell. It's funny & has several points to make that will seem quite 2012.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph via Dr. Macro)

Kings of Pastry

KINGS OF PASTRY Theatrical Trailer from Pennebaker Hegedus Films on Vimeo.

So far, this week seems to be going in the direction of "what's good for a coffee break." Giulia's editor recently watched Kings of Pastry (on Netflix Instant) while cooking dinner. Excessively diverting isn't the half of it. Definitely watch (or rent). Carol of Paris Breakfasts even has a label devoted to the Kings. Visit her for all the skinny. Definitely watch the trailer below.

ciao-sugary-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Le Portillon)

Sunday Dinner & a Movie - Manhattan

Groucho Marx, Willie Mays, the 2nd movement of the Jupiter Symphony, Louis Armstrong’s Potato Head Blues, Swedish movies, Sentimental Education by Flaubert, Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, those incredible Apples and Pears by Cezanne, the crabs at Sam Wo’s, Tracy’s face.-What make life worth living - character in Manhattan

One of Woody Allen's most brilliant films, Manhattan, is available on Netflix Instant again. Depending on where you are, there's still time to invite someone on a Sunday afternoon/evening walk (or go by yourself & people watch). If you haven't read a real Sunday paper in awhile, the Sunday Times is always fun (no matter how much we complain about newspapers today).

Then pick up some take-out (semi-healthy is available) or stop by the market for quick cold dishes on your way home. Queue up the film & have a great Sunday evening!

xo from us at GG Sunday Central

(photographs via IMDb & Every Woody Allen Film)

Splitscreen: A Love Story

Splitscreen: A Love Story from JW Griffiths on Vimeo.

Currently flying around the web is this creative video by James Griffiths, winner of the Nokia Shorts Competition 2011. Griffiths won the $10,000 grand prize and his movie will be showcased at the 2011 Edinburgh Film Festival. Incredibly, this cute movie was all shot on the Nokia N8 mobile phone. -- via My Modern Metropolis

Ma che carino! (Cough cough. It cheered us up. Wheeze.)

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph via Vintage Gal)

Just One More Thing...

Have a great weekend...

But wait...thirty-two episodes of Columbo are available on Netflix Instant. A Woman Under the Influence & Murder, Inc. (for which Peter Falk received his first Academy Award nomination) are both available, as well. For The In-Laws, Wings of Desire, The Sunshine Boys, & so many others, hie thee to a video store if you still have a membership or order it on Netflix DVD. Expect a delay.

Rest in peace, Peter Falk.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph via CanalB)

Have a Classic Saturday

Several Jeanne Moreau films are available on Netflix Instant right now. If you can't get out to the movies tonight, that would be a great bet. You can sign up & watch right away (no, we do not work for Netflix!) Jules et Jim is available until Tuesday, the 21st. After that it will be DVD only for awhile. Have a great Saturday!

ciao-meow/GG Film Central

(photograph via Jeanne Moreau Is My Hero - same here!)

The Freedom Riders

Watch the full episode. See more American Experience.

Celebrate the bravery of the Freedom Riders by watching the movie tonight on PBS. If you aren't in the States, please visit the links. It may be available via the website soon. There are excellent links on the interactive website for you to teach children & young adults about this crucial turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.

Check the link to see if the traveling exhibit will be coming to a town near you.

ciao-meow/GG

(photograph of Julia Aaron & David Dennis by Paul Schutzer for LIFE)

Sunday Spanish Dinner & a Movie

...flamenco music & Javier Bardem.

We received an email about lovely Elena Parker's new series on Food52, Dinner & a Movie & instead of cooking something up, we'll leave it to the pros. Check out Elena's wonderful choices for a Spanish-themed menu in keeping with the spirit of Vicki Cristina Barcelona. It's delicious & quite easy, too.

Emilio de Benito plays Granada in the very romantic Spanish flamenco guitar scene (video).

ciao-olé-meow!

(VCB film still by Victor Bello via IMDb )

Two Royal Weddings

The AFI Silver Theatre near GG Central is showing The Young Victoria & Royal Wedding (Fred Astaire dancing on the ceiling) in a tongue-in-cheek tip of the top hat to the royal wedding across the Pond next Friday. We don't want to take any business away from the Silver (& we will be seeing Jane Eyre there soon) but both films are available on Netflix Instant. These two films could not be more different but they're enjoyable in their separate ways.

Have a great Friday evening!

ciao-meow/GG's editor

(photographs via IMDb)

Film Fun

For some fun, read Juliet Lapidos' article I've Seen Every Woody Allen Movie in Slate. Then skip over to rank your favorites, the merely good, & the ones you'd toss into the chipper. Voting ends April 5.

Have a terrific weekend. It's cold here (still). Fume.

ciao-kvetch-meow/GG Film Central

(Annie Hall/Brian Hamill, still photographer/imdb)

Byrne on Burton

Studiously ignoring the baking of cookies, the cleaning of the apartment, the taming of a certain feline (a lost cause). More fun to read things like Gabriel Byrne's review of Furious Love & his remembrance of Richard Burton on the Irish Times website. GG's editor feels the need for a full-length hooded cloak--now. (Last summer bricolage post on Richard & Elizabeth)

(photograph is via The Burtons tumblr. There's an amusing entry about the meeting of a bellhop & Burton, here.)

Happy Valentine's - Week's End

If you're in the Washington, DC area, Catapalooza II at the Washington Animal Rescue League is ON for Sunday. Stop by even if you're not adopting because the shelter is a great place to meet people, too. GG needs a lot of consoling today because she's had a very difficult week. Even her ears are drooping. Her editor will try to take her home very soon. (We promise, GG!) Meanwhile, she's lying on a sofa watching The AristoCats (at her friend Hermione's house) & pretending to be French.

ciao-meow & bon week-end/GG Central In Exile

[film still of Duchesse & Marie from Walt Disney's The AristoCats via we heart it]

Everybody Wants to be a Cat - Week's End

Everybody wants to be a cat,
because a cat's the only cat
who knows where it's at...--The Aristocats

Some Thursday afternoon fun via stlyrics. Update: The video disappeared from stlyrics but we found the person who made the YouTube video (bea142 --thanks!), here.

ciao-meow/GG Central Cinema