BFI re-release classic film Gone With The Wind Nationally in Leigh’s centenary year

We all know it’s Vivien Leigh’s centenary celebrations this year. I’ve also made clear on the blog that BFI in London were showing a lot of her films, some well known some not so. It’s now been announced that Civil War epic Gone With The Wind will be re-released in cinemas NATIONWIDE! Yes that means that coming to a cinema near you, in the next few weeks, you’ll be able to watch Vivien & Clark portray one of the worlds best known couples.

Gone With The Wind won 10 Academy Awards in 1940 and when you watch it you will easily see why. It was the first colour film to win the Best Picture Academy Award, remember Wizard of Oz was filmed and released in the same year. The film is a romance set in the American Civil War and contains something to keep everyone happy. Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara a feisty Southern Belle who as a difficult love life. Clark Gable who plays Rhett Butler the very handsome suitor who eventually wins Scarlett’s hand. There’s war, break ups and make ups, big life upheavals, sorrowful deaths and dresses made out of curtains.

I’ve just checked and even Cineworld are having a showing (check their site for listings near you.) Locally for me we have Showroom in Sheffield who are having a showing a day 20th December to 24th December. What a perfect way to spend the Christmas week. Obviously some cinemas will include the interlude within the film so don’t worry about having to sit for four hours.

Re-releases from the BFI are big news for old Hollywood lovers because they use the original negatives and make the colours, sound quality and overall viewing experience more vibrant and beautiful than ever before and yet you still feel the originality of the film you love.

I hope you’re all going to try and go! Check for listings with your local cinemas as Gone With The Wind will be shown in over 70 cinemas across the UK. As it’s a romance it’s a great excuse to take your partner with you!

Gone With The Wind Listings for Showroom Sheffield

Click here to see where Gone With The Wind is been shown near you!

Happy Birthday Judy Garland!

Judy Garland A.K.A  Frances Ethel Gumm was born today in 1922.

Judy starred in a lot of films from a young age, but is probably mostly known for playing Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz when shewas around 16. However, go back to when these movies were first released, Judy was known almost by everyone as one of the best/most natural performers of her time. She still probably is one of the best performers of all time. if Fred Astaire described her as, “The Greatest Entertainer who lived,” Then it shows even in a famous Hollywood actor’s eyes, Judy’s abilities to capture audiences was above amazing.

If you watch Judy perform in any of her films such as, Meet me in St Louis, Easter Parade, The Pirate. You can see how much acting and musicals have changed since the amazing era of the 1940s/1950’s. I’m not dissing today’s movies/acting abilities but back in Judy’s era the acting seemed more natural, there was less technology to factor into movies, no one was CGIed, everyone gave their best performance as film wasn’t something that could be rewrote as easy as today.

Although she was a fantastic and incredible looking woman, Judy still struggled with image issues never truly believing she was beautiful. She might not have believed it but Garland fans would agree that on 10th of June 1922 a gorgeous star was born who rewrote acting and singing standards forever.

To finish this post off. One of my favourite Quotes said my Judy- “Someday he’ll swoop down like a chickenhawk and carry me away.” And the awesome video that involves that quote… It also involves Gene Kelly :3

Christmas presents you may actually want.

So did you know December= Christmas? Yeah it was a shock for me too.

Why run around the shops searching for the perfect present you probably won’t even find? Here’s my guide to the top 5 quirky and fabulous presents you could buy for the weird person in your life.

Hollywood Costume Exhibition @ V&A Museum, London

N.B. Quite uncanny but I’m watching Wizard of Oz while writing this. This year sees, in my eyes, an exhibition that has been a long time coming. The V&A have managed to get hold of some of the most memorable …