Idiot's Delight (#BOTB & Backstage Blogathon)

        Some of you might be old enough to remember "Double Features" at the theater.  Back then you'd buy a ticket to see not only two movies, but newsreels, cartoons, and other special features.   My allusion to this is because my post today has to do with movies.   And as I frequently do, I've combined two blogging events into a double feature of the Backstage Blogathon and Battle of the Bands.  Read on for more explanations of each event as well as my take on the film Idiot's Delight...

Backstage Blogathon

In the Backstage Blogathon (click on the link for more info and the list of participating blogs) participants pick a film made before 1970 that has something to do with the workings of show biz.  This is a blog hop that definitely fits my interests in show business.   In this post I'll be also presenting a Battle of the Bands between two songs from the film I've chosen.  But more on that later. First the film...  



Idiot's Delight

        When this film came on TCM this past November I was compelled to watch it and I'm glad I did.  I'd never heard of the film prior to that night, but after watching it I knew that I had my film for the Backstage Blogathon.

      What was not to draw me into watching this film?   It's a Clark Gable film made in 1939, the same year the actor starred in Gone With The Wind.  It's a film about vaudeville which is a subject that I'm very fond of.  And what about this:  Clark Gable plays the role of a vaudevillian song and dance man.  To my knowledge this is the only film where Gable can be seen singing and dancing and he does a pretty nice job of carrying it off.

       Based on an award-winning stage play, the film version of Idiot's Delight plays heavily on the comedic talents of Clark Gable.  The story is a fun romp that begins in the early days of vaudeville then spans World War One, the Great Depression, and the onset of the Nazi Occupation of Europe prior to the Second World War.  Gable's character goes from a relatively successful vaudeville act then through the decline of that entertainment era to the drudgery of touring small venues in Europe with a female back-up group called "Les Blondes".

        While passing through the Alps, Gable and the girls get stranded in a resort with an assortment of other travelers.  This is when things get interesting as we become aware that the Nazis have arrived and life as these travelers have known it is about to undergo some drastic change.

        No spoilers from me--you'll have to watch this film yourself if you're interested in the outcome.  Besides Gable's performance in the film, I enjoyed seeing another favorite actor, a young Burgess Meredith, playing the role of a peace activist.  He gives an impassioned antiwar speech that seems like a message from the scriptwriter--a unique interjection into the story.   Most of all I like the way show business and life on the road is depicted.   We see that all is not glitz and glamour as we see the reality of a typical performer's lifestyle.

         I found Idiot's Delight to be funny with fascinating political commentary and sexual suggestiveness without being overly lascivious or crude.  Nothing like we'd see in similar films in current times.  There is a smart subtlety to the dialogue.  There are also more serious and darker undertones that are not overbearing, but they exist as a matter of fact.

          Idiot's Delight is a show business film that I look forward to seeing again.  If you're a Clark Gable fan you've got to see this film if for no other reason than to see his song and dance performances.   I never knew he had that side to his talent.

Battle of the Bands

 Battle of the Bands is the blogging event first introduced by our friends at Far Away Series and  StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens twice each month on the 1st and 15th.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.

       I'm doing things a bit differently this time around in order to continue with my overview of the film Idiot's Delight.   In this Battle you don't have to necessarily judge according to the song versions presented here.   Vote instead on the song you like the best.   One song you undoubtedly know while the other is likely new to you.  Both songs appear in the film.

Clark Gable "Puttin' On The Ritz"  (1939)

        I'm sure most of you have heard this song.  "Puttin' on the Ritz" was written in 1927 by Irving Berlin.  Over the years the song has been heard in numerous movies and television shows.  In 1983 the song was revived to hit status by German synth-pop star Taco.  Whatever happened to that guy anyway?

        Here's "Puttin' on the Ritz" as performed by Clark Gable and Les Blondes in the 1939 film Idiot's Delight.  Don't necessarily judge the performance, but how much you like the song itself.




Ted Fio Rito   "How Strange"  (1939)

        This version isn't from the film.  However the song not only is part of the film soundtrack, but is also mentioned in the stage play by the original Russian name "Kak Stranna," originally a song by composer B.A. Prozorovsky and later adapted to English.  This song is quite different from "Puttin' on the Ritz", but maybe this style is more to your liking.





Time to Vote!

        This is nothing new to most of you, but if you're visiting a Battle of the Band post for the first time then let me briefly explain.  Please give each song version a fair listen to decide which one you prefer over the other.   If you don't like either then at least tell us which recording was least innocuous to you.  This comes down to your preference and it's as easy as that.

      Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours

Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ 

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

DC Relief Battle of the Bands

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Cherdo on the Flipside  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Janie Junebug Righting & Editing.
  
J. A. Scott  

Quiet Laughter

Holli's Hoots and Hollers

NovelBrews

Be ReInVintaged



Results on Friday January 22nd
      
        You've got a week to cast your vote, but try to do it soon so you don't forget!  I've got more planned for January including the opening of the A to Z Challenge Sign-Up List.  For information about the April A to Z Blog Challenge visit the official A to Z Blog.  


      My memoir blog Wrote By Rote is also participating in the Backstage Blogathon so I hope you'll visit that post as well.

       And if you've not yet signed up for the Lost & Found: Valentine's Blog Hop be sure to click the preceding link to read all about it.  

        Have you seen the film Idiot's Delight?   Have you read or seen the play?   Did you know that Clark Gable could sing and dance?   What are some films that took you by surprise?

The Boy Has Arrived (As Have My #BOTB Results)

Rain (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Out of Character in California

      El Niño has stormed in with great vigor here in Southern California. Cold, cloudy, and intermittently rainy, the predicted weather phenomena is dumping much needed precipitation on the drought-stricken desert land of SoCal and forecasters are promising more to come. Let's hope this rainfall takes care of some of the water problems and Governor Jerry Brown can shut up about it. Of course like any dutiful politician Governor Moonbeam will continue spouting off about something, be it a bullet train or whatever hokum he rattles about in the months to come.

       The problem with the rain is that now that I'm shaking off my sickness acquired during the holiday break, I'm trying to avoid getting all wet and cold so now I'm waiting for a break in the rain so I can restock our empty pantries after our vacation return. Now that we're home I guess we probably should start eating in again and stop going out for food. I think we need to eat sometimes, but probably don't need to be going to fast food joints or restaurants or wherever.

     

So what else is new?

      Well, we've got that Lost & Found: Valentine's Edition Blog Hop featuring your special stories and thoughts about the subject of love come and gone.  You can click on the preceding link in order to get more info and to sign up.  Or you can click on the badge in my sidebar.  We're getting good participation so far and I think we're going to get some excellent entries.  It happens on February 1st and if you do the Battle of the Bands on that day don't worry:  You can combine the two events with a song expressing the topic--so far a few of us will be doing just that.

     

         On January 15 I'll be joining in the Backstage Blogathon which will also coincide with a Battle of the Bands post. If you're a film buff you will definitely want to check this out. Click the badge in my sidebar for details.

Battle of the Bands!  Battle of the Bands!

        I've already mentioned it twice in this post so I might as well do it again.  After all today is the day when the winner of my most recent Battle is to be announced.   This Battle was a good one to start the new year--"What's New" was the song and the competing artists were Artie Shaw with Helen Forrest on vocals against the Nelson Riddle Orchestra featuring Linda Ronstadt on vocals. 

        The outcome of this Battle actually surprised me.  Since Linda Ronstadt was the more contemporary choice and most likely had the greater name recognition I figured her version to be the shoo-in.  Boy, was I off on that forecast!   

        As for my own vote I really wavered on my favorite as I love both of these versions.   It's hard to beat that big band sound of Artie Shaw to my ears and Helen Forrest does a splendid job with the vocals.  Though some voters found Ronstadt's version to be too slow, boring, and sad, I think she puts a sense of drama depicting a wistful conversational tone to what she is singing which to me is very appropriate for the melancholy sentiment of the song.  Nelson Riddle's orchestral arrangement is lush and dripping with sentimentality.  I really like what they do with the song.

         For me it was a tough choice, but in the end I'm going to go with the majority and choose the multifaceted arrangement of Artie Shaw's big band.  I hear the audience noise in the background of the recording and realize it was done live.  I wish I could go back in time to be there.  Great stuff!

Final Vote Tally

Artie Shaw with Helen Forrest              17 votes

Linda Ronstadt with Nelson Riddle      11 votes

       How's the weather where you are?   Do you usually eat home-cooked meals or take-out?    Were you surprised about the outcome of this Battle?

        Next Battle of the Bands post will appear on January 15th!  Hey, that's next Friday!

Something's Brewing

cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream and cocoa powder (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

         Something's brewing and I don't mean the hot chocolate or apple cider and I'm not talking about a belated Christmas pudding.  What's cooking isn't food or drink, but blogging activities coming up in the next month or so.  Now that this year is almost a done deal, let's look ahead to how 2016 will be kicking off.

Battle of the Bands  

         Tossing It Out will continue to participate in the Battle of the Bands postings on the 1st and 15th of each month.  You're always welcomed to join us with your own song Battles, but even if you aren't posting your own contest I hope you'll visit mine and vote on your favorite version.  The first Battle on my blog for 2016 will come up on Friday January 1st.   The song I'll be using will be an oldie.  It isn't new, but I won't tell you what.   Though in a way I've hinted at the song in the previous sentence--the words of the title are there.

Insecure Writer's Support Group

          The Insecure Writer's Support Group has been hosted by Alex J Cavanaugh for a few years now.   Tossing It Out has been a part of this event since it first appeared in the blogosphere.

Backstage Blogathon

          On January 15th I'll be joining in on the Backstage Blogathon where participants pick a film made before 1970 that has something to do with the workings of show biz.  This is a blog share that definitely fits my interests.   In that same post I'll be presenting a Battle of the Bands with a song that I think is appropriate for the film I've selected.  

A to Z Challenge

          Sign-ups for the 2016 April A to Z Challenge will open on Monday January 25th.  For information about the A to Z Challenge visit the A to Z Challenge Blog.  Lot's of things start happening once sign-ups open.  Watch the blog site.

Lost and Found:  The Valentine's Edition

         On February 1st I'll be involved in this blogfest in honor of Valentine's Day.  Posts can be about anything concerning the subject of love discovered or love lost.   More details on this after the 1st of January.   I'll be combining my "Lost and Found" post with a Battle of the Bands song pick based on this same topic of love.


Watch This Space...

         Hope everyone had a great Christmas and are enjoying some holiday time.  Have a safe New Year!  

           Do you have any special plans for the upcoming year?  Do you know what you're doing tomorrow?     Are you a planner or a take things as the come sort of person?

Something to Look Forward to

Coming Tomorrow!

        Thanksgiving is now history and we've gotten through another weekend.  Now I'm looking forward to the next big thing--and I don't mean Christmas.

          What I'm talking about is my blog post for tomorrow.  Coming up I have another combination post for the Insecure Writer's Support Group and Battle of the Bands.  As has become my custom when I'm participating in more than one blog event, I've tied together my BOTB song pick with the theme of my #IWSG post.  Hope you'll enjoy what I have in store.   I'm anxious to free this song from my brain as it has been lingering in my head for many days now.

          I think it's a pretty great tune--not exactly a Christmas song, but certainly a timely song.  I was singing it yesterday as my wife and I were out driving and she liked it a lot.  And I can think of at least one blogger who will appreciate the song as well as one of the artists I'll be featuring.  In the end though I hope this song will stir souls and have meaning for most of you.  Considering the times in which we are living, I can't help but think the subject matter will touch all of you in some way.

         And that's just tomorrow.  There are more things coming your way in the days, weeks, and months to come.  Let's hope they're all or mostly all good things.

What's Ahead?

         We can count out those easy open beer cans since pop tops have long been the norm.  And who uses a "church key" anymore anyway?  No, I'm not talking technological advances here.  And I'm not talking Christmas, New Year's, or any other special event day though all of those are certainly coming and would be appropriate to talk about.  I'm just biding my Monday post day time to provide a preview of what's coming up at Tossing It Out.

          My BOTB results post will appear on Monday December 7th along with the December Question of the Month.   This month Michael at A Life Examined has posed what I think is kind of a tough one, but I'll come up with some kind of answer, you can be assured. 

           There will be another Battle of the Bands post on December 15th which will be similar to my first December BOTB post.  Then things might get a little sketchy between that post and the January 1st BOTB post--you know, Christmas holidays and all.   

            But then along with my January 15th Battle of the Bands post I'll be participating in the Backstage Blogathon hosted by Movies Silently and Sister Celluloid.  You might have noticed the badge for this at the top of my sidebar.  Once again the post of that day will be a combined post with a common theme.

             In February I'll be dwelling on thoughts of love and other unrelated things.  That's still a ways off, but I'm thinking on ideas already.

            Speaking of the not so distant future, something will be coming our way in April that I'm sure you can guess.  It has something to do with the alphabet.   Most of you probably know what I'm talking about, but if you scroll down my side bar you can get some hints.   It's something that I've been doing every April for the past few years along with many other bloggers.   We'll speak more of that later.

           No matter how troubled the times are that we live in, we just keep moving forward as though things will get better.  I for one believe they will.

           Do you sometimes feel unsettled about where our world is going?    What are some of the things that are troubling you these days?   Are you planning to participate in any of the events I've mentioned?   

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