History Films You'll Love

I love history, but I also love modern medicine, microwaves and the ability to buy what I eat instead of growing it. Luckily, modern life allows history buffs like me to enjoy a taste of history through movies. Since I'm obsessed with period pieces (I'm a historical romance novelist, after all) I'll watch any movie with a costume and an accent. As a result, I've seen some great movies, some terrible movies, and some that are just great fun.

Below is a sampling of the good, the bad and the fun to watch. This list only represents a small portion of the movies I love. So feel free to post your own favorites. I'm always on the lookout for another flick to add to my to be watched list.

There's something decadent about watching Dangerous Liaisons. The costumes are rich, the story is intriguing and the characters are down right evil. It's wicked fun and a lot less calories than chocolate.

Who can resist the scene in Dangerous Beauty when Veronica's mother instructs Veronica on the art of pleasing a man? The story is a little trite at times but the chemistry between Veronica and Marco is sizzling, and Venice provides the perfect backdrop for their complicated love.

How sexy is Rupert Everett in An Ideal Husband? This film combines all the pithy dialogue one expects from Oscar Wilde with excellent actors and lush costumes.

As much as I enjoy King Arthur, I'll be the first to admit it isn't a great film. However, I can't resist Clive Owen and Ioan Gruffadd in Roman costume.

Also, the soundtrack is amazing.

Vanity Fair is gorgeous and it's fun watching Rebecca scheme her way up the social ladder. Also, James Purfoy is really sexy in his uniform. However, the period detail isn't perfect and neither is Reese Witherspoon's accent. I've read William Makepeace Thackery's novel and the movie is a good adaptation of the lengthy tome.

300 and 300:Rise of an Empire. Beefcake. Need I say more?







Love and Friendship. This isn't the best Jane Austen adaptation I've ever scene, but Kate Beckinsale's witty dialogue makes this film a must see.


If you love history then you will love my books because there's a lot of history in them.

For other posts on historical films, click here and here. 

Tomorrow is Another Day. And Yesterday is History

Sometimes, I think I spend too much time reading non-fiction history. I realized this the other day when a friend of mine asked me to explain the difference between a Queen Consort and a Queen in her own right. Without hesitating, I explained. I also veered into an explanation of Salic Law and how it didn’t exist in Britain.

Yes, these are the kind of facts I keep in my head, the kind I wait eagerly to whip out when an opportunity arises. Once, I was in a Denny’s near a college when three girls in the next booth started discussing William Wilberforce. I nearly jumped over the booth to join in the conversation. Yes, my enthusiasm for history is that powerful.

Combine my love of history with my equally powerful love of movies and watch out. Someone I know who lives in Virginia once said, “You know where they filmed Gone with the Wind, don’t you?” Without blinking, I said, “Yes, in Culver City on the MGM lot.” My friend then tried to correct me and tell me that the Twelve Oaks staircase scene was filmed in Virginia, according to some sign in some hotel in Richmond. Now, if there is one thing I know besides history, it’s Gone with the Wind trivia, and I know for a fact they did not shoot that scene in Virginia. Thank heavens for Google, or I’d have had to pull out one of my five books on the filming of Gone with the Wind in order to prove I was right. Remember those big, glossy coffee table books that used to be a film buff’s go to source before Google and IMDB?

Yes, folks, these are the kinds of facts crowding my mind. Gone with the Wind and golden age of Hollywood trivia to help me make my novel, Studio Relations, more authentic and believable. Also, through my writing, I’ve been lucky enough to meet other history buffs. I’ve spent a great deal of time before signings or panels talking to other writers about Tudor England, the American West and Regency England. Speaking with other writers who love history helps remind me that I’m not the only one obsessed with history. My obsession is probably a sickness, and I’d do something about it except that Gone with the Wind is on TCM tonight.

Thankfully, I also love writing about history, so I’m able to use all this great knowledge to entertain people. I used a great deal of my

If you love history then you will love my novels because there is a lot of history in them.

For more posts about movies and writing click here and here.

What You Can Learn About Conflict By Watching Robin Hood

Normally, I love just about everything on BBC America but I can't get in to the Robin Hood series because there are too many plot holes. However, after having seen the preview for this past Saturday's episode, I knew I had to watch. Richard Armitage shirtless. Need I say more? It was worth spending an hour of my life watching the weakest dramatic conflict I've ever encountered just to see RA without a shirt. That and the accent, I just love listening to his accent.

Speaking of weak dramatic conflict, the Robin Hood episode helped emphasize the importance of conflict in a story. Robin Hood movies work because the conflict between Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham is focused. Each character has a goal that is in direct conflict with the other's goal. The pursuit of their goals drives the story and therefore the conflict.

The problem with drawing the Robin Hood story out over a number of episodes is that it weakens the conflict. Conflict has to be character driven, not contrived simply to move the plot from point A to point B. Watching Saturday's episode, it was obvious that the conflict no longer stems from the characters' goals but is artificially forced in order to continue the series. After an hour, all I wanted was for Robin Hood to shoot the Sheriff or vice versa, anything to put the poor conflict out of its misery.

To see a more focused conflict in action, watch Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. Yes, it's a bit campy, but Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham is a great villain whose goals are in direct conflict with Robin Hood's. Throughout the movie, the Sheriff continually ups the stakes for Robin. This forces Robbin to rise to meet each new challenge and in doing so, to deal with his inner strife of having failed his father and his friend. Robin refuses to fail the people he has vowed to protect and he grows and changes as a hero because of it. Sadly, he lost his British accent in the process.

So, when dealing with conflict, remember to make it character driven and to make sure it is both external and internal for the hero. It also doesn't hurt to think of Alan Rickman and Richard Armitage while you write. It might even inspire you!

If you enjoy conflict then check out my books. They have lost of conflict in them. www.Georgie-Lee.com

What Classic Hollywood Can Teach Us About Writing

We live in an age when anything can and usually does end up on screen. Characters have no problem discussing the most intimate topics or being placed in compromising situations, but this wasn’t always the case in Hollywood. In the mid 1930s, the Hays Code was introduced and film producers faced strict rules about what could and could not be said or portrayed on film. Working under these restrictions, filmmakers and screenwriters became very creative when dealing with adult subjects. It is this creativity that writers can learn from to bring depth and subtext to their own writing.

A great example of using subtext is the classic Tyrone Powers, Gene Tierney film The Razor’s Edge. In one scene, the heroine wants to get pregnant by her fiancé so he won’t leave her. In 1946 when the film was made, the heroine couldn’t simply come out and admit her scheme. She and the hero had to dance around the subject yet, listening to the dialogue, it is obvious what is being discussed in the scene. It’s an excellent example of how characters can say everything while saying nothing.

Classic Hollywood films can also provide a great lesson in how to pepper in backstory through dialogue. His Girl Friday with Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant is a great example of how to use witty dialogue for both characterization and backstory. In the film, Russell and Grant play a divorced couple who work in the newspaper business. Most of the film takes place in the office of Grant’s newspaper, but there is no voice over telling us what happened to make Grant and Russell get a divorce. Instead, their past relationship is revealed in their verbal exchanges with the characters providing just enough information so the viewer knows what happened, but not so much that the action of the story stops for an info dump. The Philadelphia Story is another great film, staring Cary Grant, James Stewart and Katherine Hepburn where dialogue is successfully used to reveal backstory. The best example is with the character Liz, who is Stewart’s camerawoman, and the way she reveals her previous marriage. There are only about 3 lines where the ex-husband is mentioned but each paints a vivid picture of who he was and why the marriage didn’t last.

His Girl Friday is also a great film to watch if you are looking to add zing to your dialogue. At Times, Grant and Russell speak so fast that they practically step over each other’s lines. However, the way each of them speaks reveals their character and gives the viewer a sense of the fast paced life of a 1940’s newsroom.

So, if you're having trouble with dialogue, subtext and dropping in backstory, and you need some examples of how it’s done well, check out one of these great classic films. And, if you get a chance, please check out my novel Studio Relations. Set in 1935 Hollywood, it is the story of a vivacious female director and a handsome studio executive who must overcome their professional differences to find love during Hollywood’s golden age. 

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Classic Hollywood Christmas Movies

Who doesn't love curling up on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate and watching a Christmas movie?With the official start of the Christmas season about to kick off, I wanted to offer a few of my favorite classic Hollywood Christmas film. If you haven’t already seen these films, I hope you discover at least one new holiday favorite. If you have seen them, then I hope you’re inspired to watch them again.

Christmas in Connecticut. Barbara Stanwyck plays a ladies’ magazine writer who must pretend to be the domestic goddess she portrays in her column in order to fool her publisher boss. The plot is fun, the dialogue witty and the chemistry between the hero and heroine sparkles.

The Bishops Wife. This 1947 classic stars Cary Grant, David Niven and Loretta Young. Cary Grant is spectacular as usual as an angel who comes to help an Episcopal Bishop remember the important things in life.

A Tale of Two Cities. The 1935 version with Ronald Colman is excellent. Now, I realize it isn't strictly a Christmas movie and it can be a bit heavy at times, but some of the story does take place at Christmas. Ronald Coleman's portrayal of Sydney Carton is very moving and well worth watching.

Miracle on 34^th Street – The original 1947 version is a heartwarming classic about a man on trial for claiming to be Santa Claus and the little girl who believes in him. This is Natalie Wood’s first film role and the one that shot her to fame.

Whether you’re done shopping and ready to coast through the rest of the holidays, or you have just come home from braving the mall, pour yourself a cup of hot chocolate, pop some popcorn and get in the holiday mood with one of these heartwarming films. Afterwards, please consider curling up with my classic Hollywood novel, Studio Relations. Set in 1935 Hollywood, it is the story of Vivien Howard, a vivacious female director and Weston Holmes, a handsome studio executive who must overcome their professional differences to find love during Hollywood’s golden age.

www.Georgie-Lee.com

History Horror Movies for Halloween

Sometimes, the past can be just as frightening as a post apocalyptic future. Today, I offer a list of scary movies set in the days of yore. Some are gory, some are spooky and some are both. I hope this list helps you find a new favorite flick in time for Halloween!



Snow White: A Tale of Terror
A medieval and creepy take on the Snow White story with a nasty wicked queen played by Sigourney Weaver and a gutsy, heroic Snow White.















The Countess
A Renaissance story of Erzebet Bathory, the original lady Vampire who bathed in the blood of virgins. This is one wicked woman.

Sleepy Hollow
Colonial America with a headless horseman, Johnny Depp and a good bit of gore.














Brotherhood of the Wolf
Spine tingling chills, suspense and intrigue in 18th century France.

The Mummy.
Ancient Egyptian curses and rotting corpses at their best. This movie straddles both the ancient world and the 1920s.
















The Victorian era is a popular one for horror films, so here are a few films set in the Victorian England to scare you.

Braham Stoker's Dracula
The creepiness of gothic Victorian England combined with the strange allure of a blood sucker.

The Woman in Black
More spooky Victorian houses to keep you up all night.












Gaslight
More mental thriller than horror film,
it will mess with your mind.



When you're done with these scary tales check out my books because you enjoy romance too. www.Georgie-Lee.com 

4th of July Films

Happy 4th of July everyone! I hope you get a chance to get out and enjoy the great weather. Are you looking for a few good films to get you in the patriotic mood? Or maybe you just want something to watch while you relax after the BBQ and fireworks. Look no further. Here is a list of films for you to check out during the long weekend, so grab some popcorn, heat up a hot dog and enjoy!

The Patriot

I really enjoyed this film. Jason Isaacs is a great bad guy and Mel Gibson is a hero to root for. In many ways it is Braveheart set in America but it is still a great film.

Revolution

A much gritter depiction of Revolutionary America, but that's what you expect from a movie staring 

Al Pacino.

John Adams

Are you stuck at home sick and need a marathon to help you celebrate the 4th? This is the mini-series for you. An excellent portrayal of one of the founding fathers by Paul Giamatti.

The Crossing

Jeff Daniels stars as George Washington in this film about the Battle of Trenton and the famous crossing of the Delaware River. 

Jefferson In Paris

Looking for something a little different? Do you love Merchant Ivory films? I do. This beautifully shot movie deals with Thomas Jefferson's time in Paris as the French Ambassador. It isn't exactly Revolutionary War but it is a gorgeous film.

Have a Happy 4th of July everyone! You need a book for the holiday so check out mine
www.Georgie-Lee,com

Classic Hollywood Films for Halloween

Halloween is almost upon us. If you live on a street like mine where no trick-or-treater is going to climb a steep hill just for a mini-Snickers, then it’s a great night to watch a Halloween film. Scary movies like Halloween or A Nightmare on Elm Street are great, but I also love classic ghost stories, and by classic, I mean films from the golden age of Hollywood.

There isn’t a splash of red anywhere in these great old pictures, but they’ll make you laugh or send chills up your spine as fast as any modern movie. So, if you’re looking for a new film to round out your Halloween night, check out my list below, and don’t be afraid, there isn’t a Dracula or Abbot and CostelloMeet the Mummy to be found.

Arsenicand Old Lace – It isn’t a ghost story but it does take place on Halloween. It’s a fun, zany romp with the creepiness of a serial killer mixed with the dashing humor of Cary Grant.

IMarried A Witch – Veronica Lake is the original sultry witch with the peek-a-book hairstyle in this paranormal romance. She comes back from the 17^th century to get revenge on the man whose ancestors burned her at the stake, and inadvertently falls in love with him.

Topper – Another Cary Grant classic. He and Constance Bennett play a husband and wife who die then return as ghosts to spend some of their afterlife teasing their old banker friend. Not a scary film but a ghost of a great time.

The Uninvited – For a creepier ghost story, check out this Ray Milland classic. It has all the elements of a classic scary movie including a haunted mansion, a séance and a ghostly possession.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir – A romantic love story between a widow and the ghost who haunts her idyllic seaside home, starring Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney.

When you're done with these scary tales check out my books because you enjoy romance too. www.Georgie-Lee.com 

Here's Reading About You, Kid.

Some time ago, The Daily Mail ran a fun piece on lingerie ads from 1933.

(read it here).

The story caught my eye because 1) I love the glamour, the sophistication and the movies of the 1930's and 1940's and 2) my novel, Studio Relations is set in 1935 Hollywood, so I had to really research the time period, including the clothing. I enjoyed delving into the days when glamour didn't just mean the magazine and women aspired to it every day. Yes, I know the depression was raging, but like movie audiences back then I want to focus on the beautiful things.

If you like vintage Hollywood and are looking for a great book to while away an afternoon with, check out some of these great books.

Wilshire Boulevard: Grand Concourse of Los Angeles. This book has lots of great pictures of Los Angeles and Hollywood from the first half of the 20th century. I used to work on Wilshire Blvd s it was a real treat fr me t check out what it used to look like.

Bogie and Betty: The Lives and Legacies of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. A power couple who fell in love on set and went on to both marry and work together. An excellent read.

Life is a Banquet the autobiography of Rosalind Russell. She starred in films such as His Girl Friday alongside Cary Grant and The Women. Her career stretched from the golden age until well into the 1970s and it was a fascinating read..

Self-Portrait by Gene Tierney is another great read. She had her share of struggled both personal and professional at the height of her career, yet she never allowed them to defeat her.

The MGM Story - This large books cover the history of MGM studios and is accompanied by beautiful pictures. I once worked on the old MGM lot, now Sony Pictures, and it was a treat to step inside the old soundstages where such iconic films as Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz were filmed.

Lana by J. Morella is the biography of Lana Tuner written with her help. This woman had a soap opera of a life and a career and it is both juicy and tragic reading.

And just for fun!

If you enjoyed hearing about these books then please check out mine. www.Georgie-Lee.com