Smart Art (Eat, Drink, and Be Quarry Edition)

 

French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born on this day in 1841 (he died in 1919.) Let's take a brief look at what's probably his most famous painting, along with a quote from someone who seems intent on combining his screen image with his passion for art:

For over thirty years I made periodic visits to Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party in a Washington museum, and stood before that magnificent masterpiece hour after hour, day after day, plotting ways to steal it.

--Edward G. Robinson

Robinson leaving the museum after a guard noticed him. 

Vital Viewing (Keep Up Your Premiums or Else It's All for Nought Edition)

 Actress Barbara Stanwyck was born on this day in 1907. Three years before her death in 1990, Stanwyck received the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award, and, in the forthright manner that had become her persona, showed her appreciation:

During her acceptance speech, Stanwyck made mention of...

...filmmaker Billy Wilder, who she claimed taught her how to kill (and then threw in a "Thank God!" for good measure.) What's she talking about? Let's take a quick look at her 1944 tutorial:

 

Jumpin' Jehosephat! Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray make two very ruthless people.

Even while grocery shopping!

But don't be too alarmed. They mellow out later on. After all...

...who has time for Murder One while raising a family?

Quips and Quotations (Screen Legends Hobbies Edition)

I touch them sometimes, with the flat of my hand very gently, amazed again and ever again that little tubes of long-dried pigment could be arranged in such lovely order, that an instant of times gone by, people long dead, music faded away, eyes long ago dimmed and empty, could suddenly be alive once more and very real

--Edward G. Robinson, a noted art collector in his later years.

Holywood

A couple weeks back I watched The Ten Commandments for the millionth, billionth, trillionth, gazillionth time.

A brief synopsis.

Yul Brynner loves Anne Baxter who loves Charlton Heston who loves Yvonne De Carlo.

Meanwhile, Edward G. Robinson loves Debra Paget who loves John Derek.

No wonder it's a film about faith.