Magical Movies: The Uninvited

It is late Tuesday evening, my friends.
The night before Halloween. A perfect time
for a nifty ghost story.

It is The Uninvited (1944) starring Ray Milland
Ruth Hussey ,as siblings Rick and Pamela Fitzgerald.
On vacation, they become smitten with a lovely old
house called Windward House.


They seek out the owner to buy it. Much to the
chagrin of owner's granddaughter, Stella,( played
by Gail Russell.) She lived in the house when she was a little girl.
It is the only connection she has to her mother.


The Fitzgeralds buy the house
knowing it's reputation as a haunted house. They
have no idea how haunted it is; and, how truly the dead can
affect the living and the present.


That's all you really need to know. It is full of
wonderful performances and a truly great story. It
holds up 74 years later.

Here is the trailer for you:




Here is a link to watch The Uninvited for
free. Enjoy, my friends.

A Haloween inspired story: Penelope and The Masked Man

Happy Friday, my friends. I was supposed to do magical movies/TV every Friday this month. Actually, I'm feeling inspired to share a lovely romantic Halloween story, instead. If your looking for ideas for magical movies/TV go to this older post

Here is the story:

Penelope entered the ballroom feeling slightly foolish. She had on the long velvet red gown that she had brought long ago but had laid in her closet for years.

Her friend, Sawyer, swept her into the crowd of important people he wanted her to meet. Penelope, a renowned portrait artist, was admired for her art. Some admired for her beauty: honey colored eyes, slightly plump frame, caramel colored skin set in an oval face with a friendly smile.

After the 30th hello and second glass of champagne, Penelope excused herself to go outside on one of the numerous balconies. The October night had a slight chill in the air. The cool wind felt refreshing to her. Her thoughts drifted to her now ex husband who today was on his honeymoon.

"Don't think about him" Penelope said to herself.
"Quite right" came a masculine voice from behind her.

A tall man dressed in white gloves, an elegant tux with a half mask covering most of his sepia skinned face stepped into her view.
Penelope smiled at the man."The Halloween Ball isn't till next weekend."
The man chuckled. "We all wear masks in one way or another. Forgive me for saying whoever made you sigh isn't worth your time."
"Yes, I know. My friend Sawyer dragged me here to the party. I've haven't...my...I'm recently divorced. My husband remarried. Here I am talking to a man in a mask. Please excuse me, I'm not myself."
The man extended his hand to Penelope. "Sometimes the best option is to dance."
"There is no music."
"We don't need music."

So it is, that the masked man swept Penelope into his arms. They danced together under the October night. Penelope usually cautious felt strangely safe with this man.

Soon, Penelope was aware of Sawyer's voice calling to her. She realized the masked man had danced out into the garden.

"Your being summoned."
"Yes"
The man reached under his cape to produce a dark rose. "This is for you. I'll be at the Halloween Ball dressed as this. Will you come?"
"I don't know who you are?"
"Yes, you do. You danced with me because you trusted me."
"Penelope" rose Sawyer's voice on the wind.
Penelope looked at the man's eyes. They are brown with hints of gold in them. His eyes radiated warmth and something else she couldn't place. Penelope tired of feeling like she had been getting the short end of the stick said: "Yes."
The masked man smiled. He gently caressed her face and bowed to her.
"There you are."
Penelope turned to Sawyer coming down the garden path. She then back to her masked man and saw he is gone.


"Are you okay?"
Penelope smiled. "Yes, I am. Is there still tickets for the Halloween Ball?"
Sawyer looped his arm with Penelope."I got a ticket for you just in case. I knew if I dragged you out tonight, you would come."

Penelope allowed herself to be brought back to the party. Her thoughts about next Saturday to see the masked man made her face glow. Which had many people comment to Sawyer later, she was one of the most beautiful ladies at the party.

Magical Movies: Kate and Leopold

Happy Friday, my friends. The past two weeks have been busy for me. I missed last week's Magical Friday Movie for Halloween. I'm going to have Magical Movies for you today and Monday.

Halloween for me is all about Magic, doors between worlds opening and fantasy manifesting to reality. Today's movie choice fits that. The delightful time traveling romance Kate and Leopold (2001) starring Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman.


Hugh Jackman is Leopold, the Duke of Albany from 1876. A man full of inventions is being chastized by his uncle to marry for wealth to carry on the family name. Twice on the same day he says a strange man taking pictures and sketching things which is Liev Schreiber who plays Stuart. When Stuart slips into Leopold's home, he is discovered. Leopold wants to know who he is, Stuart races away. They follow in pursuit all the way to unfinished Brooklyn Bridge. After a tussle, they both fall off the bridge to modern day New York. Stuart has found a portal and yes, I should mention, that Leopold happens to be his many times removed grandfather. Oh, yeah.



Then we meet Meg Ryan as Kate McKay. Kate is all logic, tell like it is mentality. Still licking her wounds from her breakup with Stuart. After an unforseen accident with Stuart, Leopold is left alone in modern day New York. And Kate is charged to look after him. Of course, the two have a rocky start. And the rest..well you have to see for yourself.



I adore Time Travel movies. They can get tricky. If you see time as linear,then you'll be upset a bit with the premise. I see Time as circular where the past, present and future co-exist together. Add, that it's now Halloween time, well why couldn't a 21st century woman fall in love with a 19th century Duke?




Truly, Hugh Jackman is really charming in this. Meg Ryan, who I miss seeing on the screen, shines using a glow of edge and vulnerability to make Kate believable. They have great chemistry together. I'm sorry they only worked together on this film. You have a great supporting cast with Brekin Meyer, Natasha Lyonne and Bradley Whitford. Look out for future Oscar nominee and recent Emmy winner Viola Davis in a small role in this.

It is a delightful sweet movie. Perfect for this Magical time of Halloween. It will make you think of as Leopold refers to live at a slower pace. Enjoy, my friends.

Of course, I have the trailer for you:



P.S. I like the clothes Meg Ryan wore in the movie.

October is here....

Happy October, my friends. It's a special month since I adore Halloween. My little's one birthday is this month too, so it makes it extra special. For four fridays starting next Friday, I am going to be doing a Magical Movie to watch for this month. Think more magic, less gore. I'm not really into blood and gore. Look out for Magical Friday Movie all this month. To whet your appetite, here is a sneak peak.

The Full Moon and The Good Witch

Happy Friday my friends. This is going to be an extra long post.
Sit back and enjoy. Have a nice drink or tea, depending on your
taste.

It's going to be an extra special Friday tonight because it's
a Full Moon. This is the Full Moon in Aries. So all my
sun and moon sign Aries, my moon sign is in Aries, this
is our extra special moon.

If you don't know what your moon sign is, you can google
moon signs. I know some free sites will come up that
you can find that out.

My understanding of the moon sign it's like your shadow side.
The part of you that you may keep hidden or that gives you
depth as a person.


Aries energy is full of fire, power, passion and movement.
Red, orange and even a deep yellow candle is great to burn
tonight and tomorrow. Or if you are feeling mellow, you can connect with the
lovely Friday energy with a pink candle. Friday is all about love,
romance and happiness.

It's also Magical Movie Friday here at Swan of Dreamers. Last week,
I recommended Miracle in The Rain.Today's movie is The Good Witch series that is aired on the Hallmark channel.


I absolutely love this series. It stars Catherine Bell as the enchanting
Cassandra Nightingale. In the first movie she moves in to an ordinary
small town called Middleton.



She inherits the local "haunted" house that was owned by one of her ancestors
called the Grey Lady. She also opens a store called Bell, Book and Candle.
Her reputation as a witch delights and repels the town. She is befriended by the local sheriff Jake Russell played by Chris Potter and his family. Cassie also encounters prejudice which may drive her out of her new home.

What I love about the series is that Cassie is a warm and good hearted
person. She doles out great wisdom with her magic. It's a really good
family friend series.

There are six movies in the series. Here they are in order.

1) The Good Witch
2) The Good Witch's Garden
3) The Good Witch's Gift
4) The Good Witch's Family
5) The Good Witch's Charm
6) The Good Witch's Destiny (which comes out on Oct 26th)

I also heard they are going to start filming a seventh film
soon!! Woo hoo.

Here is a trailer for the first movie. Enjoy my friends.



PS. If you are a new subscriber, please say hello in the comments

Miracle in The Rain

Happy Friday, my friends. Friday is the perfect day
to kick off my Magical Movies for October. For three
Fridays in a row, I'll be sharing movies that have a
magical feel to them.

This Friday's movies is a lovely romantic gem that I found
via Warner Instant Archive. You pay 9.99 a month
and get to watch unlimited movies. It is filled with
a slew of classic movies that I love.

Miracle in The Rain (1956) stars Jane Wyman and
Van Johnson. Jane is Ruth Wood, a lonely office worker
and dutiful daughter who lives a quiet life. On a rainy
afternoon she meets Van, a lively soldier named
Art Hugenon, who charms his way into Ruth's life.



Before you know it, Ruth and Art are falling in love.
This is wartime. His leave time is up and he is
being sent abroad. The two promise to keep in touch
and marry when he returns.

Now, what happens next. Well, I can't tell you that.
You just have to watch the rest of the movie.
Jane Wyman and Van Johnson are pure magic on
screen together. It's one of those films that you
watch once and stays with you afterward.

Of course, I found a clip for all of you that
shows Jane and Van's first meeting.



Miracle in The Rain goes on my personal remake list.
A lovely film that reinforces the power of love against
all odds.

Enjoy!

Magical Movies: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

Lucy Muir (Gene Tierney) to start a new life as an independent widow moves her daughter, Anna, and her maid, Martha, to lovely house called Gull Cottage by the sea. The hitch is the former owner, Captain Daniel Gregg (Rex Harrison) doesn't want the house occupied. He's not leaving at all even if he died four years ago!

So begins the delightfully romantic The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947). I remember as a kid watching the reruns of the tv series based on the movie. I enjoyed the series, the movie is well so much more.

Gene Tierney is wonderful mix of ethereal and strength as Lucy. You believe she falls in love with Gull Cottage as soon as she sees it. Personally this has to be one of my favorite movie houses in all of cinema. No ghost is going to scare her out of her home, she stands up to the wily Captain Gregg from the first time he appears. Rex Harrison is perfect as the Captain. I know he is best known and loved for playing Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady. This is my favorite role of Rex. He is sexy, swashbuckling and sensitive all in one breath. Watching Gene and Rex spar and then fall for each other is simply lovely.



I can tell you more about the plot. You know by now, I don't like to give it all away. Just watch and you too will wish you had a your own Captain Gregg haunting you.
Though I feel the film is perfect as it is. I can see a remake. The key to a good remake is to find the right Captain Gregg. Denzel Washington or Gerard Butler can play the role easily. Seriously, the last romantic comedy Denzel has done was The Preacher's Wife. He didn't even get the girl in that one! I think Denzel is way over due.

Enough about my remake ideas. As always, here is fan video I found on you tube of the movie.



If you have never seen The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, now is the perfect time. If you have already, it's always nice to visit Lucy and Captain Gregg. They are worth many visits.

PS. Look out for a young Natalie Wood as little Anna.
2nd PS. I do like the name Lucia after seeing the movie again.

Magical Movies: Portrait of Jennie

I'm continuing my every Friday in October celebration of magical movies with Portrait of Jennie.

I have to share back story with you. Long before I fell for Montgomery Clift, my heart belonged to Joseph Cotten. I still adore him, whenever they show one of his movies I am compelled to watch. I especially loved when Joseph was teamed with Jennifer Jones. They did four movies together: Duel in the Sun, Since You Went Away, Love Letters and my personal favorite, Portrait of Jennie.

Portrait of Jennie (1948) stars Joseph Cotten as frustrated artist Eben Adams. On one magical night he meets a lonely girl named Jennie Appleton played by Jennifer Jones. I could tell you more, that would spoil all the delights that are in this movie. Suffice to say, their love for each other inspires art, courage and bending time itself. Does it all sound grand? It is. Ethel Barrymore (Drew's great-aunt) plays the gruff Spinney who encourages Eben's paintings is wonderful as well.

If you have never seen this before, your in luck: it's on DVD! I do have to get my own copy. I should add it is filmed beautifully in black and white with Debussy's music beautifully highlighted in the film.

For me, Portrait of Jennie is on my personal short list of films that I feel should not be redone. Before I go, I want to thank you all for sharing your words of wisdom and thoughts on dealing with grief. It gave me great comfort.

Here is a few clips of the movie. Enjoy and Happy Friday.

Magical Movies: The Enchanted Cottage

I thought I do something different for Fridays in October. I'm going to share movies I love which are romantic and have a touch of magic in them which is perfect for this time of year.

The Enchanted Cottage from 1945. I talked about it here. It stars Dorothy McGuire and Robert Young as two lonely people who are transformed by love. This to me is another classic movie which can be remade and cast with actors of all races. (I have a running list of movies I love to be remade properly and with respect to the original film.) The underlining theme of the effects of war is just as strong as it was in 1945 as it now is 2009.

Turner Classic Movies plays it from time to time. Hopefully someone will get a clue and put it out on DVD. For all my fellow Romantics out there, this is one not to miss.

Here is the trailer for it.




PS. This film is a remake of the original silent version. Which I have never seen but I love to watch.