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The Mini-Skirt Mob (1968): Allow me to introduce you to The Face of Pure Evil

I watched The Mini-Skirt Mob for Sherry Jackson, because she's one of my favorite TV actresses. And she was quite cool in this...even if she did get the abused character. She kept getting beaten up, gagged and tied, almost blown up with Molotov cocktails, forced to trek through the scorching desert on foot, AND basically run over with a motorcycle. The person responsible for this madness? The Face of Pure Evil.

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Peter Falk.

September 16, 1927 - June 23, 2011

I don't even know what to say right now. Peter Falk is not only one of my favorite actors ever, but also one of my favorite PEOPLE ever.

Peter Falk was always brilliant. In movies, he could play Jack Lemmon's evil, dim-witted assistant Max (The Great Race); he could play a brutal violent man (Murder Inc.); he could play a singing Guy Gisborne (Robin and the 7 Hoods); he could play a convincing psychiatrist (Pressure Point); he was widely regarded for his art house films with John Cassavetes. These are just a few of his many awesome film performances.

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Jessica (1962): I...I...I...just don't know what to say.

I almost ALWAYS only write actual semi-reviews for films I utterly loved, films I utterly hated, or films that are completely and brilliantly idiotic. I never blog about harmless, forgettable movies (for those I write a couple sentences on my 2011 in Film page). But, I have to with Jessica....because I don't even know whether I'm supposed to love it or hate it or ridicule it. I AM HOPELESSLY CONFUSED.

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Ring of Fire (1961)

Ring of Fire is a '60s film. It stars David Janssen. It has an epic theme song. It has sullen, punk gangster teenagers (led by Frank Gorshin...which is just weird). IT TAKES PLACE AND WAS FILMED IN WASHINGTON. GLORIOUS WASHINGTON.

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Farley Granger.

July 1, 1925 - March 27, 2011

This is truly sad news. :'(

I've always liked Farley Granger. He was such an interesting actor. He could play wild, and he could play REALLY wild, and he could also play completely normal "heroes."

Two of my favorite roles of his are The Girl on the Red Velvet Swing, where he is seriously terrible, and Strangers On a Train, where he is the all-American tennis star.

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Jane Russell.

June 21, 1921 – February 28, 2011

Jane Russell was a very special lady. Gorgeous, hilarious, talented, a brilliant actor-- she could do anything. Jane Russell was always the outspoken one; she had beliefs, ideas, thoughts...and she said them. I love watching her in movies. I don't think anyone could help but love her. She's not in any way a forgettable actress, or person.

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Anne Francis.

September 16, 1930 - January 2, 2011

Anne Francis was such a wonderful actress and person. And although she lived a full and long life-- her death has still come as a shock. Honey West was never supposed to die.

How can I put into words the extreme coolness, awesomeness, and groundbreaking nature of Anne Francis?!

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“without a hurt the heart is hollow…”

Bobby Darin

May 14, 1936 - December 20, 1973

I really wanted to write an amazing post about Bobby's brilliance and perhaps about his continuing influence. But, I just can't find the words.

He was genius. He conquered music, film, television, and of COURSE live performing. I think the most striking thing about Bobby is that it is impossible to listen or watch him without "feeling" exactly what he's trying to convey.

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Kevin McCarthy.

February 15th, 1914 - September 11th, 2010

Kevin McCarthy was such an amazing actor. Instantly recognizable, I'm convinced he appeared in every [cool] TV show ever created. And he was ALWAYS brilliant. He was also a very hardworking actor; his film and television credits begin in 1944 and don't end 'till 2010!

He will be missed.

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Goodbye to a childhood hero…

Kathryn Grayson.

I remember watching her in Kiss Me Kate when I was four.

I remember braving the depressingness of Show Boat just to see her.

I remember searching her name in my library's database so I could order as many of her films as possible. The Desert Song, Lovely To Look At, The Toast of New Orleans, Anchors Aweigh, Two Sisters From Boston, 'Till The Clouds Roll By, Andy Hardy's Private Secretary...I loved her in them all.

She was a hero of mine.

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What Jean Simmons Meant to Me…

I am currently curled up on the couch eating Redvines licorice and watching Guys and Dolls.

The news that Jean Simmons had died hit me rather hard. I adore Jean. I think she is gorgeous and a brilliant actress. But, she means so much more than that to me. She was one of those rare actresses that I actually connected to, that I felt like I knew. For instance, I love Rita Hayworth but, I don't feel like I know her. Jean to me was like Ingy, Audrey, and Carole are to me.

In fact, I loved her before I even knew who she was.

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