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Tag Archives: Joan Crawford

Who Says You Can’t Get A Head?

An exceptional cast!

Yesterday I decided at have a severed Head Sunday.  Today I thought I would write about it in lieu of my usual Monstrous Monday Post.  I began with Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte with Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Joseph Cotten, Agnes Moorehead, Victor Buono, and Mary Astor.  Just to name everybody.

One of my favorite shots.

I love Hush, Hush but do not pop it in very often, because it is so long.  I guess I have a short attention span, but I do enjoy watching several movies of 90 minutes or less.

She feels strongly about it.

A few days ago I was disappointed to be unable to find my DVD of StraitJacket (starring Joan Crawford,  of course). Yesterday I had better luck.  In fact, I was surprised I had not found it before, because it was not that far out of alphabetical order.  However, I feel it was just as well I had not watched it before, because it fits so well with my Severed Head theme of the day.

And here are a couple of the heads!

It seems this post is longer on pictures than words, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.  I’m not even sure it can count as a Severed Head Sunday since I only watched two movies with severed heads.  Full disclosure:  my first movie was Rope, which features a strangulation, but the victim’s head remains attached (that did not require a spoiler alert; it happens in the very first scene).

No matter.  It is Monday, and it has not been as monstrous as it might have been.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Throwback? Non-Sequitur? It’s a Mystery!

Wordless Wednesday turned out pretty good (or do I flatter myself?), so I thought I would go for a Throwback Thursday Post. I’ve had those before. If I throw back to something I have thrown before, sorry.

A couple of suspicious individuals.

Here is an appropriate memory: a murder mystery dinner theatre which benefited the Herkimer County Historical Society. It was titled Secrets at Suiter House. It is appropriate, because I am currently writing and recruiting actors for another murder mystery, as yet untitled.

This is not how this looks today, but tomorrow…?

I am having a great deal of trouble navigating my Media Library, as indeed I did yesterday. As a matter of fact, yesterday I sought but did not find a picture of snow. Now I was looking for another murder mystery picture and found snow. No matter. I can just bill this as a Non-Sequitur Thursday Post.

I hate to play the illness card again, but can I just say I am still not feeling the least bit well. What the hell, body? I have things to do and blog posts to write! Can I find one more picture to pull this post together?

I loves me some Bette and Joan.

This picture is appropriate for both a Throwback and Non-Sequitur Thursday Posts. It is a publicity shot from when Joan Crawford and Bette Davis were set to star in Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte in 1964. Crawford subsequently left the production. That is pretty far back. Come to think about it, it is not a complete non-sequitur, because the movie is a murder mystery. It’s a good movie. I highly recommend it.

I am not sure I can recommend this blog post, but you’ll have that. If only I could think of a title…

Joan Will Forgive Me

Aaaand here is my Lame Post Friday post, being pecked in one letter at a time on my Tablet early Saturday morning. Ah, my wonderful husband, Steven, just brought me a cup of coffee. Soon those brain cells will start moving.

OK, I don’t really have much this morning, but I swiped a cool picture off Facebook to share.

Things that might have been.

I don’t know about coimetromania, but the picture is Joan Crawford and Bette Davis in a publicity shot for Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte. Joan was later replaced by Olivia de Havilland. I love that movie, but I also would have loved to see it with Joan in the part.

Incidentally, I know that by proper rules, I should be referring to Joan as “Crawford” or possibly “Ms. Crawford.” Those just don’t feel right to me. “Miss Crawford” would be more correct to the period the movie was made, but I don’t much like that either. Have I had this discussion before? Sorry to repeat myself.

So this is my Late Friday Lame Post: cool picture, dither paragraph regarding usage. Let’s see if I can make my Saturday post (Saturday Evening Post?) On time.

Short Straitjacket Post

This will be a Tired Tuesday Post. For one reason, I am so tired I almost forgot to make a blog post. What’s that all about, me?

Me, trying to sleep. The heads represent my petty problems.

When in doubt, throw in a picture. This is Joan Crawford in Straitjacket, a William Castle classic involving Crawford chopping off a couple of heads. I think many of us have considered taking an axe to our enemies, figuratively speaking, of course. Then perhaps we realize that violence is not the answer, and severed heads make rather a mess. Or so I have heard.

Teeheehee.

Here is the end shot from Straitjacket. It has always amused me.

A much better use for an axe.

I guess this is a Straitjacket post. And a short post. But why not end on Joan Crawford with a cake? Maybe tomorrow I will try again for the post I just couldn’t finish on Monday. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

Note to Self: Get a Chaise Lounge

Here I sit, watching Berserk, Joan Crawford’s penultimate movie and wanting to make a blog post. I refrained from having Lame Post Friday, but I am afraid this will be Wrist-to-Forehead Sunday. I would like nothing better than to swoon on a handy chaise lounge, posed dramatically with the back of one wrist against my forehead.

There’s my Joan!

I don’t have a picture from Berserk in my Media Library, so I add one from I Saw What You Did. I find this one sufficiently dramatic for the occasion.

She looks pretty berserk here.

I add this shot from Straitjacket just for good measure. Who doesn’t love Joan Crawford with an axe?

I think it must be pretty clear that I am tired. In fact, if I did have a chaise lounge to swoon upon, I don’t know that I have the strength to get my wrist up to my forehead. I say there is no point in swooning if you cannot pose dramatically. But maybe I can find another picture to entertain.

The middle one is me headed for bed.

I swerve into non-sequitur territory with a picture of zombies. Joan Crawford never did a zombie movie. I expect I’ll be too tired to pop in Night of the Living Dead after Joan is done going Berserk. But perhaps I can summon enough energy to swoon properly.

I Do Love a Severed Head Sunday

This is the man of the hour.

I pause in the midst of my Severed Head Sunday to make a blog post.  I was semi-useful yesterday,  getting my container garden planted and hauling lawn chairs out of the garage.  Today I am watching William Castle movies and chilling.  I went for a long run this morning,  which may count as useful, and I took a nap.  That has been my day, and here is my blog post.

I just love Joan Crawford!

 

We started with Straitjacket with the wonderful Joan Crawford.  There are several severed heads in that one.  I have to respect Joan Crawford (I don’t feel right calling her just Joan or even Ms. Crawford) (Come to think of it Ms. wasn’t even a thing in those days).  She kept working, even if it meant taking part in cheesy horror movies.  Of course, I LOVE Castles oeuvre, but they do not garner the respect of Oscar nominees.

And who doesn’t love Vincent Price?

We moved right along to House on Haunted Hill, a longtime favorite of ours.  You don’t see any heads actually get severed in this one, but you hear about it and you see a couple along the way.

A delightful publicity shot.

I don’t know what we will watch next.  None of our other Castle features involve severed heads.  Alas!  But I hope you are all enjoying your Sunday as much as I am mine.

 

Will the Real Monster Please Stand Up?

I am going to make a fast Monstrous Monday post and not offer any excuses.  I hope.  In fact, a few little excuses may worm their way in, that is just how my mind works.  Never mind, let’s just fine a creature I have not shared recently.

I know, this is not a monster! Unless you ask Joan Crawford.

I was scrolling through my Media Library looking for a picture of Nosferatu when I came across this one.  This is the one I was looking for yesterday of Bette Davis in Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte.  Well, I think a psyco biddy in a graveyard is perfectly acceptable for Monstrous Monday.

“You were looking for me?”

Here’s my guy, Count Orlok.  Regular readers know Nosferatu is my favorite.  Full disclosure:  I do not pop the movie in very often, because I find it is too much effort to watch a silent movie.  You have to pay close attention, so it is not easy to knit at the time.

“What do you mean, Bette Davis isn’t a monster?”

I thought I would throw in another psycho, although I am not sure I would classify Joan Crawford as a biddy in Straitjacket.  What do my readers think?  Please express your opinions in the comment section.

In the meantime, I am over 200 words.  I’ll just close with one more monster picture. Happy Monday, everyone.

“Who are you calling a monster now?”

 

Monday Movies

How about Monday Movies instead of Monstrous Monday?  For one reason, we watched a couple of movies I think I have pictures of in my Media Library.  But can I find them?

And you thought you had some strange bedfellows!

Our first feature was Straitjacket,  a William Castle movie starring Joan Crawford.  Steven was feeling down, and I thought a sweet, uplifting story about ax murders would cheer him up.  Who doesn’t love a good ax murder?

Is all permissible for Science?

Our second feature was The Tingler, another William Castle, this one starring Vincent Price.   Who doesn’t love Vincent Price?

Another questionable act of Science.

And here is another scene from that movie.  After The Tingler we took a break from movies to fix and enjoy dinner.

Speaking of murder…

Monday, of course is Dateline Day, with multiple episodes airing on OWN.  I have in fact lost track of The Valentine’s Day Mystery while I wrote this.

I like cake, too.

Looping back to Straitjacket,  here is Joan Crawford again.  She sure takes the cake, doesn’t she?  Any way you slice it, she is sweet.  I ax you, is that a star or what?

Now all the pun hating readers are groaning while all my fellow punsters are coming up with further plays on words.  And that gives me an idea for another feature:  Monday Punday.  Sunday Punday could work to.  I hope you’ll all stay tuned.

 

I Made It To 200 Words!

I guess it’s Monstrous Monday after all.  Never mind why; explanations are tiresome. I just needs me some Nosferatu.

“You were looking for me?”

Well, that took a little scrolling through my Media Library.  I may not make my usual goal of 200 words, but I will share a few more monsters.  Who doesn’t love monsters?  Oh I know some people don’t,  but why would they read my blog?

Joan would like to axe you a question.

Here is a monster of the human variety, Joan Crawford in Straitjacket.  A William Castle movie about axe murders, what’s not to like?

I love the coloring.

Here are a few scenes from House on Haunted Hill,  another wonderful Castle flick. I just don’t imagine the skeleton is any relation to our Bonita, who graced yesterday’s post,  although I do see the resemblance.

“I know you were looking for me.”

Regular readers might have expected to see The Brain from Planet Arous, which I often show when I seem to be posting without getting much use out of my own.

OK, I tried not to say it, but I will:  I am STILL not feeling well.  I must learn how to write when I am ill.  And I will.  Starting tomorrow.

 

Chillaxing with Joan and Others

I understand the frustration,

I was scrolling through my Media Library,  looking for a picture I was sure I had from The Invisible Man starring Claude Rains. Then I found this lovely shot of Joan Crawford in Straitjacket, which we watched earlier.  I said this morning that Steve and I were going to spend the day “chillaxing,” a word I had never actually used in a conversation before.  Then I noted that chillaxing would be best enjoyed with an actual ax.

What a waste to not let the great Rains use his face!

Here’s my boy Claude, with the lovely Gloria Stuart.  The movie also features another favorite of ours, Una O’Connor.

“Somebody’s been sleeping in my bed!”

I couldn’t find Una, but here’s another picture of Joan in Straitjacket.  You may have guessed by now this is going to be a particularly foolish Monstrous Monday post.  I only feel happy to be posting on Monday and not early Tuesday morning.

We had a fun weekend, and I took today off for rest and recovery.  I don’t know how wisely I used my time, but we have enjoyed watching a few Halloween movies.

Now there’s a good use for an ax!

Now that my murder mystery is over, I hope to get back to more and better writing.  Starting with tomorrow’s blog post.