Quote of the Day/Week- Amy Winehouse

We continue quoting famous people who died in 2011 with a quip from English soul/pop diva Amy Winehouse (1983-2007) who died at age 27; her last public concert performance was in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 18. She passed away on July 23.

Winehouse was known for her signature song "Rehab," which was a huge hit in 2007 as well "You Know I'm No Good" and "Stranger Than Me." Since much of her singing was encouraged by pop music of the '60s, Scottish singer Adele has said that Winehouse was a major influence for her.

Here is the quote from Winehouse:

"Girls talk to each other like men talk to each other. But girls have an eye for detail."

Quote of the Day/Week- Elizabeth Taylor

This month we are quoting famous people who died in 2011, and we may very well continue that into next month. In February, we are also hoping to quote Oscar winners. Dame Elizabeth Taylor who died on March 23, 2011, at age 79, was a two-time Oscar winner. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress first for "BUtterfield 8" (1960) and then for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" (1966).

In 1960, she beat out Shirley Maclaine who starred in Billy Wilder's Oscar-winning film "The Apartment." But, Maclaine would win her own Best Actress Oscar for "Terms of Endearment" (1983). In 1966, Taylor won over sisters Vannesa Redgrave ("Morgan!") and Lynn Redgrave, who died in 2010, ("Georgy Girl").

Taylor's fans may want to set their tivos as her film "Father's Little Dividend," a sequel to the original "Father of the Bride" airs on TCM at 2:30 a.m. on January 15th.

Here is her quote:

"You find out who your friends are when you're involved in a scandal."

SIDEBAR: The answer to our last Bonus Road Trip question was C....it was a deliberate joke on my part as the answers for the last three entries in that series were all C.

Remembering Dennis Hopper (1936-2010)

Today, we remember our favorite Republican as actor/filmmaker/photographer/artist/art collector Dennis Hopper lost his battle to prostate cancer yesterday at the age of 74.

But, he leaves behind him a legacy of memorable films from "Easy Rider" to "Apocalypse Now!" to "Blue Velvet.

One film that many Americans are unaware that he starred is the brilliant Wim Wenders film "The American Friend" which was made in Germany in 1977. It was based on the Patricia Highsmith novel "Ripley's Game."

Here are some trivia bits we found about the film which is available on dvd through Netflix:

-In addition to Hopper, there are six other film directors in the film (alas most of them are deceased). Each of them play criminals. They include Nicholas Ray who actually directed Hopper, when he was 19, in "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955), maverick, independent director Sam Fuller ("The Big Red One," "White Dog") and famed French film director Jean Eustache who directed the 1973 classic "Mother and the Whore," which is also notable for being substantially more than three hours in length! Alas, Eustache committed suicide at a young age.

-John Cassavates was actually Wenders' initial choice to play Ripley (Hopper's part), but he declined. Though it was his recommendation that lead to Hopper's casting.

-Hopper improvised much of the dialogue including the line: "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself."

-The film marked the screen debut for Bruno Ganz who in recent years has played Hitler in the acclaimed German film "Downfall."

-Hopper and Ganz actually got into a fist-fight on the set!

Those who wish to see Hopper can see the western film "Hang 'Em High" (1968) with Clint Eastwood that was already scheduled to air on TCM tomorrow afternoon (Memorial Day) at 3:00 p.m.

There will be more on Hopper on our other blog "Politics, Culture and Others of Time."