The Sunshine Blogger Award

Last Tuesday, the lovely Virginie of The Wonderful World of Cinema nominated me for a Sunshine Blogger Award. I didn't even know that such an award existed! All I can say is thank you so much! Blogging has been my life for the past year and a half, so knowing that people are enjoying what I write makes me very happy indeed. The rules of the Sunshine Blogger Award are extremely similar to those of the Liebster Award: first, you have to thank the person who has nominated you; then you have to answer the questions that they have left for you, nominate other bloggers and write the same amount of questions for them to answer. Finally, you have to notify the bloggers you have nominated, so that they can reply. Once again, thank you so much, Virginie, for nominating me and now, without further ado, let's get on with the show.

 

 

Answers to Virginie's questions:

1. Except for the USA, which country do you think makes the most interesting movies?

I would say the United Kingdom and Germany. Besides American films, those are the kinds of pictures I tend to watch the most. If you're interested, some of my favourite British films include The Innocents (1961), The English Patient (1996), Pride & Prejudice (2005), An Education (2009) and Never Let Me Go (2010). As for German films, I love Good Bye, Lenin! (2003), Before the Fall [Napola — Elite für den Führer] (2004), The Red Baron [Der Rote Baron] (2008), Oh Boy! (2012) and, one of my personal favourites, Free Fall [Freier Fall] (2013). 

 

2. If your life had to be like a movie, which movie would you choose?

Either something happy and fluffy like Singin' in the Rain (1952) or something daring and exciting like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969).

 

 

3. Which movie star inspires you the most?

In terms of classic stars, three people immediately spring to mind: Katharine Hepburn, for being so fiercely independent at a time when women were still looked upon as being inferior and submissive to men; Olivia de Havilland, for standing up to the authoritarian studio system and for reaching 100 years old looking fabulous; and James Stewart, for his kindness, dignity and sense of patriotism. As for «modern» movie stars, I would say Jared Leto, Zachary Levi (not really a movie star, but I love him to bits) and Carey Mulligan.

 

 

4. What's your favourite catastrophe movie of the '70s?

The only 1970s catastrophe film that I have seen so far is The Towering Inferno (1974), with Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Faye Dunaway and Fred Astaire (and a bunch of other people), so I guess I have to say that one. However, I have seen it such a long time ago that I can barely remember what happened in it. Catastrophe movies are not really my thing, to be honest.

 

 

5. To you, who is the most iconic actress and actor of all times?

I would say probably Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, not just because they were named the #1 greatest screen legends by the American Film Institute, but also because they are two actors that I think everyone has heard of, even if they are not classic movie fans. They were both incredibly talented and when they came together on screen, as they did in The African Queen (1951), it was like watching a masterclass in acting. Although their styles and techniques were completely different — Kate tended to overact slightly, while Bogie was more natural and simplistic — they complemented each other extremely well.

 

 

6. Is there a book you would like to see a movie adaptation of? Who would star in it?

The first one that comes to mind is The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, because it is (as of now) my favourite book. However, that would be a really difficult story to adapt to the screen. It would have to be very carefully thought out and have the absolute best people in the business working on it. But I think a young Leonardo DiCaprio would have made a good Holden Caufield.

 

 

7. You think Audrey Hepburn made her best movies with Billy Wilder, William Wyler or Stanley Donen?

I have to say William Wyler, simply because Roman Holiday (1953) is one of my favourite films.

 

 

8. If you had the chance to own the costumes of one movie, which one would it be?

Surprisingly enough (or maybe not), I am going to say Brooklyn (2015). I absolutely love the clothes Saoirse Ronan wears in that film. There is this other film called Miss Meadows (2014). It is the weirdest film and James Badge Dale is really the only reason why I watched it, but the outfits Katie Holmes wears in it are so pretty!

 

 

9. What do you think was the prettiest Oscar dress?

The first one that comes to mind is the white floral Givenchy dress that Audrey Hepburn worn to the 26th Academy Awards, when she won Best Actress for Roman Holiday. It is such a beautiful and timeless dress, and she looked beautiful in it. Others that I love include the 1955 vintage Christian Dior gown that Reese Whiterspoon wore when she won Best Actress for Walk the Line (2005); the embellished Armani Privé gown that Cate Blanchett wore in 2014, when she won Best Actress for Blue Jasmine (2013); and the flowy pale blue Prada gown worn by Lupita Nyong'o that same year, when she won Best Supporting Actress for 12 Years a Slave (2013).

 

 

10. The ugliest?

Definitely that swan thing that Björk wore to the 2001 Oscars. Seriously, what the heck was that!? Oh, and that black sheer number worn by Cher when she won Best Actress for Moonstruck (1987). Or that other hideous vampire-like outfit she wore in 1986. Again, what the heck.

 

 

11. If you could go back in time, what would you change from the movie history? But you can choose only ONE thing.

That's a difficult question. I think I would stop Carole Lombard from dying in that plane crash. It's just so heartbreaking. She was so young and had so much more to give. The same can be said of James Dean and that stupid car accident. But I can only choose one thing, so Carole it is.

 

 

Bloggers I nominate:

Since a lot of the people I was going to nominate have already been nominated, I will just name:

• Classic Reel Girl
• Christina Wehner
• Simoa Writes
• Stars Are Ageless

My questions:

1. In a «Sexiest Man Alive» list made in the Classic Hollywood era, which actor would rank #1?
2. Favorite Humphrey Bogart/Lauren Bacall film?
3. What book are you reading at the moment?
4. Last film you saw?
5. Which classic star would you like to go out on a date with?
6. Most underrated movie of all time?
7. Most overrated movie of all time?
8. Which historical figure/famous person would you like to see portrayed on screen?
9. What film can you watch over and over again and never get tired of?
10. Favorite «modern» movie (post-1980)?
11. Random question: If you were a dessert, which dessert would you be?