Our moral for today is that it pays to waste time snooping around in other people’s blog archives, because I found an immensely fun-looking tag from a classic movie blog party which Cordy at Any Merry Little Thought hosted…um, just about exactly seven years ago. I’ve been really into classic movies lately, so although I think it’s fair to say I am more than fashionably late to the party, I couldn’t resist pulling this tag out of blog-oblivion and answering Cordy’s fun questions.
Would you rather dance with Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly?
Both are fantastic dancers (obviously) but I would definitely choose Fred Astaire. I love his dancing style; there’s such an effortless-looking fluidity to it. I feel like Fred was very good at making not just himself but also his partner look effortless and graceful, and I’m pretty sure I would need all the help in that department that I could get.
And his overall ✨vibes✨ are just more to my personal taste.
Would you rather star opposite Cary Grant or Gregory Peck?
Hmm, that’s hard. I probably like Gregory Peck better, but I might go with Cary Grant anyway. I feel like it would be more fun to be in a Cary Grant movie.
Though truth be told I have watched shamefully few movies with either of them, which should be remedied.
Would you rather be serenaded by Howard Keel or Bing Crosby?
Bing Crosby – I love his voice. Howard Keel has a great voice too, but again Bing’s is more to my personal taste.
Would you rather share an airplane ride with Danny Kaye or Donald O’Connor?
Oof, that’s mean. Couldn’t I choose both? Couldn’t they be sitting in front of me making witty repartee while I quietly enjoyed myself in the seat behind them? No?
Fine then, if I must choose just one I suppose I’ll go with Danny Kaye.
(Does anyone else tend to think of Danny Kaye and Donald O’Connor together, by the way? They sort of share the same spot in my brain.)
What classic movie outfit would you steal? (No you cannot say all of them! ;))
This was actually the hardest question for me – unless they’re extraordinarily memorable, movie outfits often don’t stay in my head. But I finally thought of a good one: Baroness Schraeder’s lavender dress in The Sound of Music, the one that she wears in that scene where she’s awkwardly trying to bond with the children.
Isn’t it simultaneously so lovely yet so practical and comfortable-looking? I think a deeper purple would suit me better and the belt section is a bit wide for my tastes, but nevertheless if I had that dress I would wear it constantly. Say what you like about the Baroness (I rather like her, actually, but another day for that post), but she had pretty great fashion sense.
Would you rather be cast in a classic noir film or a classic western?
My exposure to both is shamefully scant; the classic movies I’ve seen tend to fall more into either straight drama or musical/comedy. I would like to watch more of both (I have a special desire to see The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, influenced in no small part by the Gene Pitney song), but noir as a genre seems in general more up my alley than westerns, so I’ll go with that.
Would you rather go on a shopping spree with Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly?
I would say Audrey Hepburn, but it’s also not a completely fair comparison, since I’m much more familiar with Audrey in general. I have yet to actually see Grace Kelly in a movie – which, again, should be remedied.
Would you rather solve a mystery with William Powell or Myrna Loy?
While I haven’t seen the Thin Man movies, I have seen both William Powell and Myrna Loy separately in other movies – I like them both, but I believe I’ll go with Myrna Loy. I think we could have a fun time sleuthing together. (Provided it wasn’t too frightening of a mystery, in which case I would probably chicken out pretty fast.)
Would you rather imitate Jimmy Stewart’s voice in front of Jimmy Stewart, or imitate Maureen O’Hara’s “temper” in front of Maureen O’Hara?
Good heavens, what a question! I feel like voice-imitation is less daunting than acting-imitation, and from what I know Jimmy Stewart seemed like a pretty chill and self-deprecatory sort of guy…so I suppose that would be the better option? I don’t know though, that would still be awfully embarrassing. This is a dreadful scenario to envisage. Let’s stop.
~
Man, that was a lot of fun! If you want to steal this tag like I did, I can wholeheartedly recommend the experience.
Do you have any classic movie recommendations for me? Who are your favorite classic movie stars? How would you answer these questions?
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Hello Lizzie!
This was such a fun read – I may ‘steal’ this tag from you… 😂
My top three classic movie recommendations are:
1. “Casablanca”
2. “Charade”
3. “Gentleman’s Agreement”
My favorite movie stars… Gregory Peck, Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelly, and Audrey Hepburn.
Wonderful post!
Oh, please do – it would be really fun to see your answers!
Casablanca’s one of my favorites too. I was intrigued by Gentleman’s Agreement when you mentioned it in your recent blog post – I may have to check it out!
Ah, such great choices! Jimmy Stewart and Audrey Hepburn are a couple of my favorites as well.
Ooh, Lizzie, this is fun. I’d also love to hear your thoughts on Baroness Schraeder. That would be a very unique post!
Heh, perhaps I shall have to go ahead and write a post about her then ;D Thanks so much for reading!
Ooh, what delightful fun this is!!! All the way up to where I cannot properly steal it out of having met too few of the people in it😢 (Like… Maybe two or three, some properly, some not. Which is obviously Not Sufficient.)
But then, maybe I’ll just read it twice and get the same amount of fun out of it as otherwise. (Does it work that way, I wonder? Here’s hoping XD)
Also, the picture with Bing Crosby and the I-Know-Now-It’s-A-Pipe… SAME😆🤣 (Also, your wording there is Spot On, and made the scribbler in me happy :P)
Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Which people here do you know? (Besides Danny Kaye, who obviously I know you know.)) Perhaps you can just make a few more classic movie actor acquaintances, and then you can steal it with impunity ;D
(Heh, I don’t know if it works that way or not….but I’m very touched at the thought :D)
Okay, I’m glad that I’m not the only one xD Doesn’t it really look rather that way?? If you look quickly and don’t notice the pipe stem? (Aw thank you…it’s always so lovely to hear from a fellow scribbler that one has managed to hit on just the right wording for things ;))
Oh, this was so fun to read!!
Borrowing tags is one of the most useful forms of bloggish activity, in my opinion ;P… this is a very good tag, too. Shamefully, I have only seen movies featuring about three of these actors and actresses – I need to up my game!
Oh, the Baroness! Well, she has an amazing sense of style! And, actually, it’s not really her fault the Captain isn’t who he was pretending to be. Do write that post, Lizzie – it would be great fun to see!
Oh, which actors/actresses have you seen before? There are so many classic movies I still need to see too – maybe we should all start a film club ;D
She does indeed, and no, it really isn’t. ;P I really should write it! (Though don’t hold your breath, because every time I say I’ll write a post I usually get to it half a year later if we’re lucky xD)
I’ve seen Audrey Hepburn (one of my favourite actresses) and Donald O’Connor – oh, and Gregory Peck, in a few war films. Ha, a film club would be fun 😉
Oh, I know the feeling…
By the way, this is random, but have you heard that they’re making an adaptation of “The Magician’s Nephew”? I’m not sure what I think, but they’d better do it right…!
Oh of course – since we’ve literally just been talking about My Fair Lady, I should have guessed Audrey Hepburn would be one, heh. What have you seen Donald O’Connor in? I’d like to see him in more things.
I hadn’t heard that! Hmm, I’ll admit I’m skeptical…it would be wonderful if they actually did a good job, but I kind of doubt they will. Do you know who’s making it and/or who’ll be in it?
It has taken me far, far too long to reply! I’ve seen him in “Singing in the Rain”, which I would very highly recommend if you haven’t seen it!
Greta Gerwig, of 2019 Little Women fame, is making it, and it has Carey Mulligan in it plus several other actors of whom I haven’t heard (as I’m better with actors from fifty-odd years ago than current ones xD). I, too, doubt they will make it right. It’s the sort of book that needs total simplicity in adaptation (i.e. no trying to be clever) but also an appreciation of the depth and brilliance of Lewis’ work. Maybe we should make our own version instead?!
I have seen Singin’ in the Rain, and I love Donald O’Connor in it! I know he starred with Debbie Reynolds in another musical called “I Love Melvin,” which I’m rather interested in seeing.
I’m assuming Carey Mulligan would be Digory’s aunt? I can see that working…but I’m not sure I like the idea of Greta Gerwig directing. Especially since I was just looking up the movie a bit, and while I also don’t know the other actors cast, apparently there was talk at one point of having Meryl Streep voice Aslan?!? I don’t want to judge the movie too much before it’s even made…but…I mean to say!
Hello Lizzie! I’ve been following you for a while now (I think I found you through Mildly Mad?), and wanted to let you know I nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award over at my blog. 🙂
https://todaywithmissk.blogspot.com/2025/09/sunshine-blogger-award.html
Thank you so much, Miss K! I had run across your blog some time ago; it’s lovely to finally get to meet you! 🙂
You’re welcome! It’s great to finally meet you too, even though I won’t be around much longer. 🙂
Lol, it did kinda look like a pistol once you said so!
We’re twinning!! I also, was snooping in someone’s blog archive and found a tag I wanted to do! Speaking of which, I tagged you in it!!
Doesn’t it rather? xD
Oh what fun; thank you so much!
Haha nice moral! I’m not nearly well-versed enough in classic cinema to answer most of these, but I’m here to invite you to another tag 😉 https://stephaniesninthsuitcase.com/2025/09/21/oddly-specific-things-i-love-in-books-tag/
Oh, thank you so much! I look forward to doing it 🙂
Excellent post Lizzie!! Your answers are so thoughtful and genuine!
Some movie recommendations for you:
1. It Happened One Night/ Love on the Run- both are really good and the later is a bit of a remake, but it’s so fun!
2. The Shop Around the Corner- family classic, so so so good!
3. The African Queen- another family favorite!
4. Dear Ruth- William Holden again, but a comedy and it’s hilarious!!
Oh, thank you for the suggestions! I’ve heard a good bit about It Happened One Night and The African Queen, but never watched them – it’s good to hear you recommend them so highly! (:
Having to choose between Cary Grant or Gregory Peck is so hard. XD If you haven’t seen Bringing Up Baby and Arsenic and Old Lace I would absolutely recommend those as they are two of my favorite comedies, period, and that’s all due to Cary Grant. And then Charade is just SO much fun.
Lol, now that you’ve mentioned it, Bing’s pipe does kind of look like a pistol. XD
I’m finally getting around to commenting on posts MONTHS late, but have you been able to watch The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance?? That’s one of my all time favorites <3 It challenges and shapes the western genre in all the best ways.
I have never heard of Three Little Words but that picture is ADORABLE and I now want to watch it ASAP.
I’ve seen bits and pieces of Bringing Up Baby, but never the whole thing…I likely will sometime; screwball comedies aren’t usually my cup of tea, but that one is just Iconic.
Doesn’t it? xD
I haven’t yet, but hopefully soon! (Oh, it looks like it’s free on Youtube right now…this is good to know.) I have finally watched a western (High Noon) so my exposure to the genre is growing, at least. 😛
It IS, isn’t it? I haven’t gotten to see the movie yet (I’m not watching Fred Astaire movies during Lent, so it’ll be awhile…sadness) but it looks like a good one! It’s a sort of biopic of the real-life writing songwriting team Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar, and apparently it was one of Fred’s favorites of his own movies.