Grace Kelly Films

I've been watching Grace Kelly's films this month, in the order in which they were released, and last night I finished the last one she made before retiring (right before her marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco). Some of the films I intentionally chose not to watch (and one I couldn't finish because it was so boring), but I will present them in order. In Grace Kelly's short seven-year career, she made eleven films before retiring to marry Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Film #1: Fourteen Hours (1951) - I didn't watch this whole film, because Grace Kelly appears in the film for about two minutes altogether. She appears for a few seconds in the beginning (see 14:12 in this clip), and then later in a scene in which a couple rethinks signing their divorce papers.

Film #2: High Noon (1951) - This film is described as "a Western for people who don't like Westerns." I think that's a pretty accurate description! Grace Kelly's role was a little limited in this film, and as a result she didn't have much opportunity to give a great performance. But I did think she was able to convey some depth to her character in one scene with the actress Katy Jurado:

Film #3: Mogambo (1953) - This was the one film that was so boring that I had to turn it off after about an hour. The movie was very slow paced and the screen writing was just awful. Grace Kelly's performance wasn't that great either, and I think it partly has to do with the poor screenwriting. She also didn't have a lot of substantial lines (at least in the first hour that I saw), and the amorous glances she gave to Clark Gable were silly.

Film #4: Dial M for Murder (1954) - I still feel like Kelly serves as a backdrop and catalyst for action on part of the main (male) characters in the film, but there are some really convincing and intense scenes in this movie. The scissors scene (when Kelly stabs her attacker) is very intense. This scene was filmed over and over in order for Hitchcock to get the effect that he wanted. Not only was this physically and emotionally draining on the actors involved, but Hitchcock himself allegedly lost twenty pounds in filming this scene and trying to get it right.

Film #5: The Bridges at Tokyo-Ri (1954) - I chose not to watch this complete film, partly because Grace Kelly's role was rather minor and partly because I don't really think William Holden is that compelling of an actor. But I did see this amusing clip of the family swimming in a bath house in Japan. I think Kelly gives a good sense of her comedic timing here, even in this short clip.

Film #6: Rear Window (1954) - This is one that I skipped because I've already seen it several times. This is clip of my favorite moments of her from this film. I think she has such an elegant and classy demeanor, with just the right hint of wit:

Film #7: The Country Girl (1954): This is the film for which Grace Kelly won an Academy Award in 1955. I have to say, that I think she really does give one of her finest performances in this movie. I like that she intentionally chose to look dowdy and unattractive - it was even her idea to wear her own glasses in the film. Her acceptance of this role really showed me that she didn't want to be just a glamorous blonde untouchable icon (which Hitchock wanted her to be), but she was willing to embrace a variety of roles, costumes and demeanors. Bing Crosby gives one of the most vulnerable and emotional performances I have ever seen, particularly the scene in his dressing room near the latter part of the film; it definitely is the best acting that I have ever seen him do.

Below is one of the more poignant scenes in the film, although I wish that the Grace Kelly didn't kiss the other male character in this scene - I understand how it is important for the plot but I feel like it ruins the moment:

Film #8: Green Fire (1954): This is one that I intentionally didn't watch because Grace Kelly thought that the film was terrible and she was embarrassed about her participation in it.

Film #9: To Catch a Thief (1955): This is another one of my favorite Grace Kelly films. I like the banter and dialogue that she and Cary Grant parry back and forth, and I learned that a lot of the dialogue between them was improvised. They have great energy and a dynamic that keeps the rhythm of the film more fast-paced and engaging. She also has some really great dresses in this film, particularly her blue evening dress.

Film #10: The Swan (1956) - This movie is entertaining and has some really fun comedic moments (like the curtsy shown about 2:00 in this clip). Grace Kelly's fencing is also pretty impressive, too! Her character is a little reserved and boring at the beginning of the film, but she becomes much more of an interesting character as the film continues. It's also interesting to watch this film, knowing that this is the first film that Alec Guinness made in Hollywood (I think he looks a bit like David Niven in this role as the crown prince).

Film #11: High Society (1956) - This film was made after Grace Kelly's engagement to Prince Rainier. MGM offered her wardrobe from the film as a wedding present, and she even wore her own engagement ring in the film. One favorite moments in this film is when she sings with Bing Crosby. I think she has a nice alto voice and they blend nicely. In Grace Kelly's biography by David Spoto, he writes that her lighter, less trained singing voice is akin to Audrey Hepburn's voice in Moon River, but I disagree. I think that she has a more stable tone and purer sound than Hepburn.

The other scene in this movie that I love is when Grace Kelly tries to be an eccentric wealthy woman when she meets the reporters from Spy magazine. Her sense of comedy is really entertaining and fun:

Later on in life, after becoming the Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly made another film called Rearranged (1979). She actually plays herself, the Princess of Monaco, in the film. To date, it hasn't been released by Grace Kelly's family, but i hope they decide one day to share this short film with Grace Kelly fans.

Memorial Day Weekend: Sun Lakes-Dry Falls

This year I have developed a bad habit of wanting to go on a little family vacation at the last minute. Such was the case with our trip to Portland in January, our snowshoeing trip in February, our trip to the Grand Canyon in April, and now, most recently our camping trip over Memorial Day weekend. I decided that we should go camping just the Thursday night before, and we literally found the last online reservable campsite that was available for Memorial Day weekend. It was in the Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park (see map), so fate decided where we were going to go!

We decided to spend one night in Ellensburg, since we knew we would have a late start (I also had to lead a tour at the art museum that weekend). It ended up being a very fun little stay; we slept at a motel and ate dinner in a really cute cafe. I also was glad to have internet access, because I was trying to give students feedback on their essays that were due the following Tuesday!

We arrived at the Sun Lakes-Dry Falls park around lunchtime and set up our tent. We ate lunch at our site, and then went over to the Visitor's Center to learn more about the falls that used to be in this area as a result of Ice Age flooding (coming from the glacial Lake Missoula). We learned at the center that there were several periods of flooding that occurred in the Ice Age. It's impressive to think that these falls originally were four times the size of Niagra Falls! The talus rocks that have built up at the base of these cliffs did not originally exist when the falls formed; the buildup of rock has occurred with weathering and erosion.

In the early afternoon we took a hike along the Deep Lake trail (1.6 miles long). We timed it this way, so that Lucy could have a nap in the backpack (see picture below). It was really fun to go on this trail, because it was so diverse. Although we walked near the shore, sometimes the trail consisted just of piles of rocks. Other times we walked through tall grasses or higher up on cliffs. There wasn't very much shade at all, and the cliffs started to get a little bit high near the end, so we ended up turning around after walking for about a mile down the trail. Maybe one day we will go back to see what lies on top of the cliffs!

Sammy on the hike. This is just about the place where we turned around.

We tried to go swimming in Mirror Lake after our hike, but the water was a little too cold. I think we only stayed for about twenty or thirty minutes! This lake was a short two minute drive (within the park) from our campsite.

 Sam says he likes to go camping so he can eat s'mores. Maybe that's why we all go!

It was really windy during dinnertime and it was also windy during the night. We didn't think about this, but it makes sense that so much wind would blow through the campsite, since it is nestled at the base of two Ice Age cliffs. The wind just funneled through the area. We still were able to make dinner and enjoy some miniature golf at the resort located next to the campsite. I think if we came back to this area, we would want to stay in one of the resort cabins to avoid the wind!

We went boating in a pedal boat on Memorial Day morning. Lucy and I sat in the back to help distribute the weight, but I realized that left J do to most of the pedaling (although Sam helped a little bit). 

This was such a fun weekend. Lucy did great on this camping trip. It took her a while to fall asleep, but she didn't cry or flip out in the tent, so that was good. I realized that this is the first camping trip that she would even remember, even though she was the fourth camping trip she's undergone in her little life.