I watched Vivien Leigh in "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone" this afternoon

[joeybee12]

Ah--Rome in the 50's! And it looks just the same as it did this past September when I was there! The Eternal City!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. I'm Going to Rome for Thanksgiving!

Thanks for the pre-trip movie suggestion!

[joeybee12]

4. You should also watch the 1977 BBC version of "I, Claudius"

It's wonderful and really does give you a great background of all the names you'll be seeing attached to some of the ruins, and also some historical perspective.

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. But the traffic is worse!

Where did you end up staying in Venice?

[joeybee12]

3. God I can't remember!

Yes I can--Hotel San Carlo in the Mestre section--a 10 minute train ride to the lagoon. Trains run every 10 minutes or so, and actually i sort of like d the Mestre--mainly a residential area, but very clean. Venice is always crowded, and it was nice to get away.

The last time I was in Venice I stayed on The Lido at a Best Western--$50 per night in winter--$250 in summer.

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. last time I was there,

stayed at the Rialto Hotel, just down from the bridge. If I leaned out of the window and craned my neck, could see the Grand Canal. mmmmm. I love Venice. Was there in October several years ago, had acqua alta twice. Rolled up my pants legs and waded around Pizza San Marco barefoot, LOL.

[joeybee12]

8. The lagoon had overflowed a little this past Septmeber

It sort of washed over the docks and that area, but never got as far as the piazza San Marco or anything a little farther removed from the water.

[greatauntoftriplets]

10. One day that I was there it was so bad...

..they had the air raid sirens going. Lots of flooding all over the place. It was raining and the bad floods usually take place later than September. Luckily, I was on my way to Verona that day. But when I returned in the late afternoon, you could see the garbage washed up from the canals and rios all over the place.

The next day when I cavorted barefoot, I made sure to wash my feet and legs VERY WELL.

[joeybee12]

13. I would really love to see it flood--I guess it usually happens in

January, when it does happen at all. But nothing the time I was there in January.

Did you get to see the Peggy Gugenheim Museum? That and the original bronze horses inside the Basilica were my favorites.

[greatauntoftriplets]

16. Yes, but the Guggenheim is a bit too modern for my taste.

I did see an exhibit called I Celti at the Palazzo Grassi when I was there (oddly enough, I just looked for a link to this last weekend, but could not find one.) Celtic artifacts from centuries ago. I have a poster from the exhibit hanging in my upstairs hall. I also love the frescoes the Doges Palace ceilings, and the art in the Accademia is beyond belief.

[joeybee12]

17. What I really like about the Guggenheim was the area of town it was in

The Accademia--it is not crowded like the San Marco and other areas, so that was a very pleasant treat just to walk there and not be mobbed by people.

Also, it wasa very sunny, beautiful day, and you can sit out the patio out back that is actually OVER the canal--ah, it makes you feel rich!

[greatauntoftriplets]

18. Sadly the population of Venice is declining quickly

because it costs so much to live there. One night, I joined a demonstration outside my hotel protesting the cost of living there. Stepped out to walk around and find a place for dinner, and there was a candle vigil. I asked someone who I figured spoke English and found out what was going on. Bought a candle for myself and joined them. It was a sad moment, and I had to go home the next day.

[joeybee12]

19. Should have been there in the early part of the 20th century before

Venice's renaissance or rediscovery--you could get a place there for a song--no one wanted to live there. Now it's too popular. That's probably why so many people live in the Mestre.

[nomaco-10]

5. She was a fascinating person....

Her biography is a must read. She was a tortured soul that suffered from manic depression. Olivier really loved her and their's was a great love affair, but he couldn't endure her illness, a really good read. Sorry I can't remember the name and author, but shouldn't be too hard too find.

[latebloomer]

7. "Vivien Leigh" by Anne Edwards

Engrossing read-- her life was full of glamour and madness.

[joeybee12]

9. I think I may have read that, but somewhere I read where she and Warren

Beatty didn't get along on the set. It was mainly his fault--he would swear at her because she was very proper and courteous to everyone--you know, very British. He thought she was stuck up.

He's really bad in this movie.

She's very good--never gave a bad performance.

[nomaco-10]

11. Thanks for the info, it's been

many years since I read it, but I remember being enthralled by the book as well. It was really interesting to read how much she abhorred starring in Gone With The Wind and her thoughts on Clark Gable were unexpected. She was beautiful, complicated and was surprisingly insecure despite her immense talent and beauty.

[joeybee12]

12. Yeah, she was very enthusiastic when shooting began, but it just

wore on her. I think she and Olivia DeHavilland really enjoyed working with George Cukor at the beginning of the filming of GWTW, but then he was fired, and the other guy took over--the guy Clakr Gable wanted. In fact, George got Cukor fired--made some nasty comment about George's homosexuality, and wanted a male director.

Victor Fleming--that's who took over.

He also took over from George on The Wizard of Oz!

[nomaco-10]

14. You know your movie stuff! Come join in on....

one of the movie threads tonight, they're alot of fun!

[joeybee12]

15. I should, but I think I'm going to log off soon--and continue watching

High Anxiety! Not my favorite Mel Brooks, but the fruit cup scene at dinner is hilarious!