Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor

For the next several weeks, I will be highlighting films starring Elizabeth Taylor -- in what I consider some of her best performances as an actress.

The first film is Who's Afraid of Virigina Woolf?

Based on the play by Edward Albee, the film featured Elizabeth Taylor opposite Richard Burton as the battling and drunken duo, Martha and George. Taylor played a character considerably older than her 32 years and successfully managed the haggard look with weight gain, makeup and unglamorous costumes. Under the masterful direction of Mike Nichols (in his directorial debut), Taylor gives a searing performance. There is never a dull moment as this dark story plays out over the course of an evening. Often funny, the film is an emotional roller-coaster also featuring excellent performances from Burton, George Segal, and Sandy Dennis (her film debut). The film received five Oscars including a Best Actress award for Elizabeth Taylor.

Elizabeth Taylor Dead at 79

The end of an era.

Read the New York Times obituary.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

My film pick for St. Patrick's Day, check out The Last Hurrah directed by John Ford and starring Spencer Tracy as Frank Skeffington, the Irish-American mayor of a New England city. Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, Frank Skeffington is based on James Michael Curley, the multi-term Mayor of Boston serving in the early -mid 20th century. A changing world and the changing nature of "big-city" politics eventually leads to Skeffington's decline. Masterful acting from Tracy and an a-list supporting cast including Pat O'Brien, Basil Rathbone, Donald Crisp, and John Carradine.

Watch Elvis this Spring Break!

Have some fun this spring break by watching a few films starring Elvis Presley.

Presley rose to fame in the 1950s to become one of the most celebrated performers in America. As a singer, he helped popularize rock 'n' roll music with his unique sound and his famous dance moves which usually created near hysteria from fans. His music topped record charts with such major hits as "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog." He was heard on radio and seen on television with appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. By 1956, already a major star, he turned to film acting and took on roles ranging from somewhat autobiographical story lines to romantic musicals. He received positive reviews for a number of his films including Jailhouse Rock and Viva Las Vegas.




Check out these films from Butler Media!

• Blue Hawaii


• Double Trouble


• G.I. Blues


• Girl Happy


• Harum Scarum


• It Happened at the World's Fair


• Jailhouse Rock


• Kissin' Cousins


• Live a little, love a little


• Speedway


• Spinout


• Stay Away Joe


• Tickle Me


• Trouble With Girls


• Viva Las Vegas

Dark Shadows

Dark Shadows aired on the ABC television network from 1966 -1971. Best described as a Gothic soap opera, meet Barnabas Collins, the vampire, Victoria Winters, and other family members as they encounter werewolves, ghosts, witches and other monsters. You will find familiar plot elements, very cool sets, unforgettable music -- and likely become transfixed by the characters and storylines. Never a dull moment in Collinsport!



Tim Burton is directing a film version starring Johnny Depp as Barnabus. Look for the film in 2012. For now, you can view hundreds of episodes on DVD now available from Butler Media!

Six Degrees of an Oscar Nominated Film!

Nominated for Best Picture, The Fighter was directed by David O. Russell (Best Director nominee). This bio-pic tells the story of professional boxer Micky Ward and the tumultuous relationship with his half-brother, Dicky Eklund. Love overcomes all kinds of struggles in this story with superb performances by Christian Bale (Best Supporting Actor nominee), Mark Wahlberg (sadly overlooked), Melissa Leo who gives an outstanding performance as the mother (Best Supporting Actress nominee), and Amy Adams (Best Supporting Actress nominee).


Six Degrees brings us to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (d. Ang Lee).


Butler Media
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Proximity Operators for Full-Text Searching

Sarah Witte, Reference and Women's Studies Librarian, posted to the Butler Library Blog an essential resource for proximity searching in full-text databases. Created by Bob Scott, DHC Head, the list is an aid to understanding the different choices in syntax depending on the database provider. It is frustrating that this is not more uniform, but well worth the effort.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

My recommendation, an unexpected love story -- The Awful Truth. The film was directed by Leo McCarey, the screenplay based on the play of the same name and written by Arthur Richman. The featured actors include Irene Dunne, who was nominated for Best Actress, and a fabulous Cary Grant. The real treat, Skippy! A true scene stealer, Skippy, as Mr. Smith, the dog in the forefront of a custody battle, displayed both great range of emotion and outstanding comedic talent. You may recognize Skippy as Asta (credited as) in M-G-M's The Thin Man series and Bringing Up Baby.

I suggest a new Oscar category -- Best Featured Dog or Cat! Skippy aka Asta -- deserves the Academy Award for Best Featured Doggy!

McCarey won an Academy Award for direction. Also starring, Ralph Bellamy. In the same year, McCarey also directed the brilliant and heart wrenching film, Make Way For Tomorrow.

The Awful Truth

Butler Media

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Six Degrees of an Oscar Nominated Film!

Written and directed by the Coen brothers, True Grit (2010) is nominated for 10 Oscars including Best Picture. Its wide appeal has made this the highest grossing film for the Coen brothers. It is the second adaptation of the Charles Portis' novel, the first adaptation produced in 1969 starred John Wayne.

The trail of six degrees begins with Jeff Bridges and ends with Being John Malkovich -- the featured DVD of the week!

Being John Malkovich

Butler Media

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Six Degrees of an Oscar Nominated Film!

Nominated for 8 Oscars including Best Picture, The Social Network, chronicles the contentious events that led to the founding of Facebook. If you follow the first degree to Aaron Sorkin, nominated for his screenplay, you will eventually get to Kinsey!

Kinsey

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