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Two Years of Back to Golden Days

On February 27, 2015 I made the spontaneous decision to create a classic film blog. At the time, it was just a way for me to share my passion for the wonderful world of Old Hollywood and the people that were part of it. I had no idea that my little corner of the Internet would become such a big part of my life — and all due to you lovely people who read my articles and take the time to comment. So, all I can say is thank you so much and here's to another year! 


Let's revisit all the exciting things that happened on this blog since February 27, 2016.

In March, I participated in the Classic Movie Quotes Blogathon hosted by The Flapper Dame. My entry was about my favourite film quote of all time: «Here's looking at you, kid.» from Casablanca (1942). A few days afterwards, I entered the Marathon Stars Blogathon hosted by In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood and The Wonderful World of Cinema. The idea was to basically explore the body of work of an actor/actress from whom we had not seen many films, but that we were curious to discover. I picked Ronald Reagan because I had fallen slightly in love with him after watching (countless times) this brilliant Warner Bros. blooper reel (he appears towards the end of it). I called my post Seven Days of Ronald Reagan. Also in March, I shared with you the first silent film I ever saw, A Woman of Affairs (1928).
 
 
In April, there were four amazing blogathons. The first was hosted again by In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood and honored Bette Davis. I wrote about Now, Voyager (1942), my favorite film of hers. The second was the Beyond the Cover Blogathon, hosted by Now Voyaging and Speakeasy, and it required us to write about a film adaptation of a book. I chose Wuthering Heights (1939), even though I am not a fan of the film or the book. I explain why in my article. Then, In the Wonderful World of Hollywood hosted the Golden Boy Blogathon to honor William Holden, one of my favorite actors. My article was about Stalag 17 (1953), for which he won the Oscar. Lastly, there was the Star-Studded Couple Blogathon hosted by Phyllis Loves Classic Movies. Guess who I wrote about? Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman, of course.
 
 
May started with a blogathon hosted by Flickin' Out honoring Audrey Hepburn. I wrote about Roman Holiday (1953), one of my all-time favourite pictures. Classic Film & TV Café hosted the 5 Movies on an Island Blogathon and I, of course, had to enter. It was quite difficult to come with only 5 films, but I managed to do it. The third blogathon in May was hosted by Classic Reel Girl and celebrated dance in film. My article focused on the screen partnership and real-life friendship of Gene Kelly and Judy Garland. Then there was the Animals in Film Blogathon hosted by In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood. I entered with an article on Bringing Up Baby (1938), which incidentally was the first black & white film I ever saw. Also in May I put together my top 10 favourite James Stewart of the 1930s.
 
 
In June I took part in three blogathons: the Royalty in Film Blogathon hosted by The Flapper Dame, which I entered with The Swan (1956); the Athletes in Film Blogathon hosted by Once Upon a Screen and Wide Screen World, which I entered with The Stratton Story (1949); and the Classic Courtroom Movie Blogathon hosted by Second Sight Cinema and CineMaven's Essays from the Couch, which I entered with The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946).
 
 
July was a special month, as it marked Olivia de Havilland's 100th birthday. As such, I wrote a series of articles to honor her: a tribute to her wonderful life and career; an overview of her famed lifelong feud with her sister, Joan Fontaine; and I also entered the Olivia de Havilland Centenary Blogathon hosted by Phyllis Loves Classic Movies and In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood, with an article about To Each His Own (1946). In addition, I entered the Films of 1932 Blogathon hosted by CineMaven's Essays from the Couch and Once Upon a Screen with Taxi!; and the Joan Crawford Blogathon hosted by In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood, for which I wrote about Dancing Lady (1933). I July I also had the honor of being nominated for a fourth and fifth Liebster Awards. Thank you so much to the people who nominated me.
 

In August there were not three, not four, but FIVE amazing blogathons that I just had to be part of. For the Classic Movie History Blogathon hosted by Movies Silently, Silver Screenings and Once Upon a Screen, I wrote a piece on the evolution of colour film, closely analysing the restrained mode of colour design in The Trail of Lonesome Pine (1936). For the Alfred Hitchcock Blogathon hosted by Coffee, Classics and Craziness, I entered an article about Suspicion (1941). For the Film Noir Blogathon hosted by The Midnite Drive-In, I chose to write about Double Idemnity (1944). For the 2nd Annual Barrymore Trilogy Blogathon hosted by In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood, I picked Dinner at Eight (1933). Lastly, for the 2nd Wonderful Ingrid Bergman Blogathon hosted by The Wonderful World of Cinema, I entered a piece on Spellbound (1945). In the middle of all this «blogathon-mania,» I managned to find the time to write a tribute article celebrating Van Johnson's 100th birthday.
 

September and October were quiet on the blogathon front. But a very exciting thing happened in October: I got nominated for a Sunshine Blogger Award, which made very happy. That month I also shared with you my top 20 favourite classic movie quotes.

In November I turned 27, so I started the month by telling you about 27 of my favourite «modern» films. Then I let my fascination for History and Genealogy take hold of me and I delved into the royal ancestry of Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine. Did you know that they were direct descendants of King Edward I of England? Well, you know now. Pretty cool, right? Also in November I participated in the 2nd Wonderful Grace Kelly Blogathon hosted by The Wonderful World of Cinema with an article about Grace's relationship with Prince Rainier of Monaco, another fascinating subject. I called it Grace & Rainer: A Royal Romance.
 

December started with the Cary Grant Blogathon hosted by Phyllis Loves Classic Movies, for which I wrote about The Awful Truth (1937). Then there was the Kirk Douglas 100th Birthday Blogathon hosted by Shadows and Satin, which I entered with a piece on The Vikings (1958). For the Vincente Minnelli Blogathon hosted by Love Letters to Old Hollywood, I wrote about Some Came Running (1958), one of my personal favourites. For the Humphrey Bogart Blogathon hosted by Sleepwalking in Hollywood and Musings of a Classic Film Addict, I chose to participate with The Caine Mutiny (1954). Also in December, I did some research about the Hollywood Canteen and investigated the royal ancestry of Humphrey Bogart. To say goodbye to 2016, I shared with you a list of all the films I had seen throughout the year.
 

In January, I took part in the Profane Angel Blogathon hosted by In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood and Phyllis Loves Classic Movies to honor the wonderful Carole Lombard. I chose to write about her work during the war and the tragic plane crash that took her life, which is a subject that has always intrigued me. I called it The Final Hours of Carole Lombard.

In February, I entered the 90th Years of Sidney Poitier Blogathon hosted by The Wonderful World of Cinema with a piece on the highly underrated film A Raisin in the Sun (1960). Because February is «Oscar month,» I also posted a series of Oscar-related articles: my top 10 favourite Best Pictures winners from 1929 to 1969 and from 1970 to 2015; my 15 favourite Best Actor-winning performances; and my 15 favourite Best Actress-winning performances.
 

And there you have it — a compilation of some of the most interesting articles I wrote during my second year of blogging. Once again, thank you so much for being so nice and for sticking with me and here's to many more years of Back to Golden Days.  

Comments

  1. Phyl2 March 2017 at 20:36

    Congratulations on two years of fantastic blogging!!! Not only did we both start our blogs just a few months apart, but there's only a one month difference in our ages! ;)

    This is such a great idea to highlight all the blogathons you've been in over the past year!

    You always write such high quality, book-worthy posts and I never leave without learning something new :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cátia3 March 2017 at 20:59

      Aw, thank you so much, Phyl! That means a lot. :)

      Delete

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