Author Archives: Marya E. Gates
Help Save Pickfair Studios!
An important part of Hollywood history is being threatened. You can read all about the history of Pickfair Studios and what efforts are being waged to save this historic place here. You can also sign the petition here. For the love of film history, please take two seconds and sign it! Film history is America’s history and it should be preserved!
Movie Quote of the Day – The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming, 1966 (dir. Norman Jewison)
Pete Whittaker: Ask them if they’re Russians!
Walt Whittaker: Peter, be quiet.
Lieutenant Rozanov: [thick Russian accent] Very clever little boy. Very, very clever, to see that my friend and I are foreigners here, but of course not Russian, naturally. What would the Russians be doing on United States of America island, with so many animosities and hatreds between these two countries? It is too funny an idea, is it not? No, we. . .we are of course. . .Norveegans.
Walt Whittaker: Norweigans?
Lieutenant Rozanov: On a small training exercise for the Nyaato countries…
Alexei Kolchin: NATO!
Lieutenant Rozanov: NATO countries, of course, yes. Ah, to reach place of power motorboats it is necessary to make borrowings of automobile, for a short time only, sir.
Walt Whittaker: Uh…uh…may, may I ask you something, please?
Lieutenant Rozanov: Yes, of course.
Walt Whittaker: Are, are there nine of you out there, and are you all Russians with machine guns, and does one of you look like Uncle Ha. . .I meant, look like a wrestler?
Lieutenant Rozanov: Unnnnnnngh. . .I am sorry to, uh, comply with your statement, but misfortunately, all of the answers to these questions are. . .yes.
Movie Quote of the Day – The Bridge on the River Kwai,1957 (dir. David Lean)
Colonel Saito: Do not speak to me of rules. This is war! This is not a game of cricket!
Movie Quote of the Day – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, 1986 (dir. John Hughes)
Ferris: Yep. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it.
Movie Quote of the Day – Sudden Fear, 1952 (dir. David Miller)
Lester Blaine: Miss Hudson, in your own native city of San Francisco, there’s an art gallery in the Legion of Honor in which there’s an oil painting of Casanova. It’s quite obvious that you have never seen this painting. For your information, Miss Hudson, this is what Casanova looked like. He had big ears, a scar over one eye, a broken nose, and a wart on his chin, right here. I suggest, Miss Hudson, that when you return to San Francisco, you visit this gallery and see this painting!
Casablanca 70th Anniversary Edition
A few weeks ago I did an interview with Stephen Bogart as he was promoting the new Warner Bros. Smithsonian Theater in D.C. The theater’s first showing was a gorgeously restored digital print of Casablanca, which celebrates its 70th Anniversary this year. Last night Fathom Events did a one-night only screening of the classic film in theaters across the nation. I am in North Carolina right now on business (related to this site actually; more info on that coming soon!), so I was able to see the film with my friend Kate. I saw it in theaters once before when I was in college, but it is a film that just gets better and better with each additional viewing.
Next Tuesday Warner Bros. is releasing the swankiest Blu-ray edition ever as part of the film’s 70th anniversary. Not only does it feature a brand-new restored digital transfer, but the set comes with so many fantastic special features and goodies. I have definitely pre-ordered this baby and you should, too!
Movie Quote of the Day – Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, 1991 (dir. Nicholas Meyer)
General Chang: I can see you, Kirk.
Captain James T. Kirk: Chang.
General Chang: Can you see me? Oh, now be honest, Captain, warrior to warrior. You do prefer it this way, don’t you, as it was meant to be? No peace in our time. “Once more unto the breach, dear friends.”
Movie Quote of the Day – Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, 1965 (dir. Russ Meyer)
Billie: Mr. Host, I’m of legal age for whiskey, votin’ and lovin’. Now, the next election is two years away, and my love life ain’t getting much better, so how about some of that one-hundred-percent?
The Old Man: I’m glad for the company; good whiskey’s meant to be shared.
Movie Quote of the Day – Broadcast News, 1987 (dir. James L. Brooks)
Tom Grunnick: What do you do when your real life exceeds your dreams?
Aaron Altman: Keep it to yourself.
Movie Quote of the Day – Death Becomes Her, 1992 (dir. Robert Zemeckis)
Ernest Menville: Where did you put my wife?
Second Doctor: She’s dead, sir. They took her to the morgue.
Ernest Menville: The morgue? She’ll be FURIOUS!
the diary of a film history fanatic 