Brian Schuck of the outre cool Films From Beyond The Time Barrier has graced me with a ‘seal of approval’ for the much coveted Liebster Award. I have been secretly yearning for one of these, so when he tapped me I cheered with glee and became choked with emotion, I truly did…

I’ve been referred to as cheeky, I think I’m always kind, I try to be very thoughtful about the subjects and themes I’m covering, whether it’s a film noir with a sociological underpinning or a classic horror film that I just can’t help injecting a bit of my kitchen table philosophy into, I like to think critically about things, not be too preachy, I loathe that, and I am well aware of how long winded I can be, and because often enough I like to create a visual essay for the film or show I am talking about, with the gazillion images I pack into one single post, (enough to wallpaper your guest bedroom with), someone still felt I deserved the award. I’m getting Verklempt…

So now it’s my turn to pass along this honor by answering 11 random things about myself, answer the 10 wonderful questions that Brian has asked me to illuminate you with, and then to pay it forward to 11 other bloggers so that they might feel the glow from the glory of being recognized as the stunning new kid on the block in the blogasphere by some extremely witty and wonderful thinkers and writers. I love this award because it shows appreciation for the work we’ve all done and connects us all together making the world an even more deliciously collective consciousness pot luck. I adore reading the random facts about the people behind the always informative, serious or humorous, absolutely enjoyable and entertaining blogs that are not only original, inspire nostalgic exultation, and are endearing and thought provoking little personal tributes to the world of arts and entertainment. The Liebster Award is like a big kiss on the mouth from a very appreciative fan. Well, maybe not so much like a stalker, but it’s a really swell compliment indeed…

Here goes:

THESE ARE 11 LITTLE THINGS ABOUT MYSELF:

• 1) I have gypsy blood
• 2) my two favorite sounds in the world are purring and rain pouring down
• 3) I name everything"¦and I do mean everything.
• 4) When I play my concertina Ruby it frightens the cats.
• 5) Garlic is not my friend anymore.
• 6) I never went to school, I used to hide behind the shed until my Austrian Grandfather would find me and throw out curse words in German then chase me around the house telling my mother"¦ who would then let me stay home and sketch super heroes, read my comic books, make my Aurora Models of Universal Monsters and watch Dark Shadows with her.
• 7) My mother was a ballet dancer until her breasts grew too large, they told her to teach, she declined.
• 8) Kids really did tease me when I was growing up, they called me MonsterGirl, a name I wear with extreme pride today!
• 9) I think Vincent Price is absolutely one of the sexiest men who ever lived…
• 10) I talk to trees, animals, insects and inanimate objects as if they truly knew what I was saying"¦ I also talk to the vacuum cleaner Pearl and thank her after every job well done.
• 11) I was told by a several psychics that I had been burned as a witch in a past life.

1. What is your guiltiest movie pleasure?

Valley of the Dolls (1967), “Boobies Boobies Boobies nothin but Boobies, who needs ’em” need I say more…

2. What is your favorite character actor/actress?

If you get to know me you find out that asking me to pick ‘just one’ of anything is like trying to eat one potato chip. It just can’t be done, therefor with your indulgence you might have to bare with me while I mention just a few"¦ sorry

Ruth Gordon is the one I’d pick if you absolutely held a gun to my head and forced me to choose just one… then there’s Shelley Winters, Joan Blondell, Mildred Dunnock, Thelma Ritter, Judith Evelyn, Jeanette Nolan, Agnes Moorehead, Burgess Meredith, Cecil Kellaway, Harry Townes, George Macready, Roddy McDowall, Maurice Evans and Barnard Hughes.

3. What movie would you show to an alien visitor to best illustrate the meaning of life on earth and being human?

The Wizard of Oz (1939), because the truth about life is that home is right there ‘within’ yourself, but so many people have to hit their heads during a tornado and meet a man behind the curtain and a kindly witch to figure that out.

4. What movie made prior to 1970 would you show to a teen or twenty-something who insists that nothing that old could be any good?

I baby sat 8 and I0 year old sisters a few years back and we watched Them (1954), Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Creature from The Black Lagoon (1954). It wasn’t hard to get them to think critically about the ‘other’ and I never underestimated the power of our imaginations. They had a profound understanding of invading the Creature’s domain when he wasn’t bothering anybody and imposing a colonial point of view on this poor Gil man. They understood that it was icky to have an arranged or deranged marriage between two unwitting people sewn together and brought to life by lightning and a galvanic battery, and by the middle of Them we were all sadly exclaiming ‘They’ve killed Gramps Johnson‘ they loved it"¦ and a new generation of classic horror fans were born.

Otherwise I’d force everyone else to watch Robert Wise’s The Haunting (1963), Rosemary’s Baby (1968)or anything of Val Lewtons.

5. What movie or actor/actress that you were indifferent about or maybe even disliked at the start, has grown most in your estimation over the years?

Here I go again not naming just one, and I never disliked any of these actresses- Carol Lynley, Salome Jens, Eileen Heckert, Lois Nettleton, Teresa Wright, Kim Hunter and Myrna Loy.

6. What movie or actor/actress has declined the most over the years?

Citizen Kane (1941) I think it’s highly over rated, I’ve tried to re-experience it several times with an open mind but it just doesn’t resonate with me"¦ uh oh…here come the angry villagers with their hay forks, bale hooks and torches blazing… look out!

7. What actor or actress is most like you?

Let’s see, I am feral but classy, intuitive, passionate, kind , worship cats, believe in magic am sexy but not drop dead gorgeous, considered humorous, quirky, whimsical and delight small children and old people and my hair at times has been a bit frightful yet I never ‘scared the horses’,"¦As Queenie In Bell Book and Candle I was child-like and loved talking to cats. I must be"¦ Elsa Lanchester

8. Which would you prefer to do: direct, produce or write?

Well writing for sure, but I’d love to Edit  or be involved in the Casting process.

9. What 3 neglected, underdog movies are most deserving of a revival on TV, DVD and/or online?

Oh Liebster gods forgive me for breaking the rules but, I can’t just pick 3, off the top of my little knotty head (I bang it a lot) Sam Fuller’s The Naked Kiss (1964), Mark Robson’s Bedlam (1946) Thorold Dickinson’s The Queen of Spades (1949), Joseph L. Mankiewicz Suddenly, Last Summer (1959), Edward Dmytryk’s Walk on the Wild Side (1962), Aldrich’s Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte (1964), Max Ophüls Caught (1949), No Way Out (1950),Henry Hathaway’s The Dark Corner (1946), Phantom Lady (1944), Nightmare Alley (1947), The Man Who Laughs (1928), The Bad Seed (1956) The Killers (1946), Dead Ringer (1964), The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)

10. Boris Karloff or Bela Lugosi?

I’ve been saying it for years that I wish Boris Karloff was my grandfather. His lilting tone of voice, his gentle manner, and the dimension he brings to every role has made me love him like a kindly grandfather I wish could read me scary bed time stories with a warm glass of milk. In addition to his reputation as a true gentleman and an advocate for actors, his contributions are memorable and timeless treasures…

11. What unfamiliar movie genre terrain are you most keen to explore?

The Spaghetti Western…

Now it’s time to pass this torch along to the next group of worthy bloggers:

If you don’t see your blog here, please don’t hate me, it’s either because you’ve been tagged already, have a Liebster or it’s just that I purely have too much on my mind and couldn’t think of all of you as much as I do adore you…

CURTAIN CALL: Here are the 11 I pass the Liebster torch along to-

Cinema Enthusiast
Goregirl’s Dungeon
Furious Cinema
OCD Viewer
MonsterMinions
And So It Begins
Mettel Ray Movie Blog
Forgotten Films
Film Squish
The Motion Pictures
Silver Screenings

And if they should want to answer my 11 questions, it would be these little nuggets to chew on:

1-The Addams Family or The Munsters?
2-If you had to pick the most compelling cinematic ghost story which would you choose?
3-Who is your absolute favorite actor/actress and what would you like to ask them if you had the chance?
4-Which do you feel is the best film adaptation of a literary work?
5-What director do you feel really pushed or pushes the boundaries of film making and why?
6-Can we take Citizen Kane off the number one film of all time list for just a moment and suppose there is another, what would that be?
7-You’re trapped in an elevator for 26 hours, who would you want to be sweaty and thirsty with?
8-If you were an archetypal character from either, literature, film or television who would it be?
9-Who in your opinion is THE worst film, television or cartoon villain of all time?
10-Who is the most sympathetic character in a film?
11-What novel would you like to see adapted to the screen?

Auf Wiedersehen-der MonsterGirl