Several days ago I was approached by a good blogging friend of mine, Vince Paterno over at the marvelous and meticulously researched Carole & Co. Vince was in the process of putting together a blogathon dealing with romantic comedies from the classic era and asked if Backlots would like to co-host. I eagerly agreed!
Though Backlots has put together several blogathons in the past (our annual Dueling Divas blogathon is always a hit, and the Hitchcock Halloween blogathon this past October went off without a..well..hitch!), this is the first time I will be collaborating with one of my fellow bloggers on such an endeavor. Vince is extremely knowledgeable about classic film and, as you can see from his blog, he has an especially abiding love for and expertise on the subject of Carole Lombard, making a romantic comedy blogathon a perfect fit for Carole & Co. and a wonderful area of collaboration for our two blogs.
It Happened One Night, 1934.
For this blogathon, participants are asked to write about a romantic or screwball comedy that piques their interest, and send it to either Vince or me. We will both post the entries on our pages, and I encourage my readers to visit Vince’s site as well once the entries are posted to see discussions happening at Carole & Co. in addition to our own. They are always thought-provoking and very intelligent.
The blogathon will take place between May 1 and May 4, so you have a bit of time to put romance on the front burner and start thinking about those movies! Here are the participants thus far:
STARDUST: It Happened One Night (1934)
CRITICA RETRO: Meet John Doe (1941)
THE LADY EVE’S REEL LIFE: Love is News (1937)
TALES OF THE EASILY DISTRACTED: There’s Always a Woman (1938)
SPELLBOUND: Love Crazy (1941)
THE FILMATELIST: An examination of the films of Eric Rohmer
THEY DON’T MAKE ‘EM LIKE THEY USED TO: Day-Time Wife (1939)
ALL GOOD THINGS: Hands Across the Table (1935)
THE THRILLING DAYS OF YESTERYEAR: Easy Living (1937)
SILVER SCREENINGS: Tillie’s Punctured Romance (1914)
TWENTY-FOUR FRAMES: Annie Hall (1977)
LOVE IS A FIRE: Woman of the Year (1942)
THE VINTAGE CAMEO: Ninotchka (1939)
THE JOY AND AGONY OF MOVIES: Sabrina (1954)
CAFTAN WOMAN: The Merry Wives of Reno (1934)
THE GIRL WITH THE WHITE PARASOL: Midnight (1939)
THE HITLESS WONDER MOVIE BLOG: Smarty (1934)
CAROLE & CO.: Lady By Choice (1934)
THE GREAT KATHARINE HEPBURN: Without Love (1945)
GIRLS DO FILM: The Lady Eve (1941)
BLONDE AT THE FILM: The More the Merrier (1943)
THE MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE: Monkey Business (1952)
MOVIES, SILENTLY: The Merry Jail (1917)
CARY GRANT WON’T EAT YOU: Ball of Fire (1941)
SPEAKEASY: The Richest Girl in the World (1934)
IMAGINEMDD: The Philadelphia Story (1940)
CLASSIC MOVIE HUB: The Thin Man (1934)
LET’S GO TO THE MOVIES: Some Like It Hot (1959)
I SEE A DARK THEATER: Over 21 (1945)
I look forward to reading all your entries!
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Backlots 
If it’s not taken already, I’d love to write about It Happened One Night! My second choice is My Man Godfrey. I’m really excited about this blogathon – it’s sure to be a huge hit! My site is Stardust at http://bwallover.blogspot.com and my Twitter handle is @callmeveebee
Sounds great! I’ll mark you down for It Happened One Night!
Thank you for the plug — and your co-operation! It promises to be plenty of fun. (I should also note that entries need not be restricted to the classic era; if you wish to write about a more recent romantic comedy, or compare and contrast, by all means do so.
I had my doubts, but already mad up my mind: I want to write about Meet John Doe!
Kisses!
I’m thinking “Love is New” with Tyrone Power and Loretta Young (one of the offspring of “It Happened One Night”)
Sounds great! Is this Patty? You’re still logged in with the CMBA email!
Hi Lara – yes, that was me, I forget that I have to sign out of CMBA’s WordPress account (our election survey account is a WordPress account) and into my own to post on WordPress blogs (too much to remember these days).
Ok, just wanted to make sure so that I sign the right person up 🙂
Swell idea, Lara! I don’t suppose a film from a couple of years ago would count, would it? Either way, I know it’ll be a swell Blogathon, either way :-)!
Thanks, Lara
I meant “Love is News,” by the way…
Vince conceived the blogathon as being about both classic and non-classics. So a movie from a couple of years ago would be ok!
OK, Lara, I’ll come clean: I was shamefully going to ask if I could write about THE PALM BEACH STORY even though I’ve already blogged about it last year, in our 2013 Mary Astor Blogathon. Can I help it if THE PALM BEACH STORY is my favorite comedy? 🙂 However, rather than do retreads, I found another swell romantic comedy with many of the kind of things I like in — in this case — a comedy, including my fave Mary Astor, and she’ll be TCM’s Star of the Month to boot! So I’d love to join the Romantic Comedy Blogathon with Carole & Company for the 1938 comedy-mystery THERE’s ALWAYS A WOMAN, if you’ll have me! Please let me know. Either way, I know it’ll be a great Blogathon! Thanks!
Of course, Dorian! We’d love to have you on either THERE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN or THE PALM BEACH STORY, whichever strikes your fancy. Should I sign you up for THERE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN? If you change your mind back to THE PALM BEACH STORY just let me know!
“Nitz, Toto!”
I would love to participate in your blogathon! Has anyone taken Love Crazy yet? If not, please sign me up for it!
No, that’s a fantastic one! It’s yours!
Yay! Thank you!
I’d like to do “Tillie’s Punctured Romance” with Charlie Chaplin, if it hasn’t been spoken for.
This is an awesome idea. Can I do Hands across the Table?
Okay, Lara – I thought long and hard and I’m going to go with one of my favorite Jean Arthur films, Easy Living (1937).
Ivan
Thrilling Days of Yesteryear
You got it!
Sure thing! You’re on the list!
Great! You’re in!
Lara, I will do ANNIE HALL is its available.
Lara, you had me at “Nitz, Toto!” — in the very best way, of course! 🙂 I’m looking forward to being part of the Backlots/Carole & Company Super- Blogathon! Thanks so much for including me for THERE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN, and I’m really looking forward to yours and everyone’s Blogathon fun and merriment! 😀
Thanks, everybody — look forward to your contributions!
I’m so happy to see that someone is doing ANNIE HALL! One of my all-time favorites. You’re in!
I watched THE PALM BEACH STORY with a babysittee once, and Toto completely cracked her up. We’re so happy to have you in the blogathon, Dorian!
Love this! Could I snag NINOTCHKA, if it’s available?
Oh, please do!! I’m excited to have NINOTCHKA in the mix!
Hi Lara. I’d love to do the original version of SABRINA, if it’s still available.
Would love to contribute a piece on “Merry Wives of Reno”.
Definitely! You got it!
Hi, Lara. I’m so glad you and Vince are tackling a blogathon together. Two great minds for the price of one! I wanted to ask if I could tackle MIDNIGHT (1939), one of my personal faves.
Absolutely! You’re in!
I’m in. Gimme awhile before I come up with something to write about.
http://widescreenworld.blogspot.com
Cool! Just let us know!
I’ve chosen my own entry for the blogathon — “Lady By Choice” (1934), Carole’s final film for Columbia.
I love that movie!
May I write about Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in WITHOUT LOVE (1945)?
If I’m not too late, please please please may I write about The Lady Eve? Love this blogathon idea!
Of course you may! You’re in!
You got it!
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE The Lady Eve! Cannot wait!
Hello! I’d love to participate if there’s still time and space! I’d like to write about one of my all-time favorites, THE MORE THE MERRIER. Thanks so much! Let me know it that’s alright!
Please do!
Hi, Lara — Please put me down for “Monkey Business” (the Rogers-Grant one, not the Marx Brothers one). Thanks!
You got it!
Hi there! Sounds like a blast. If possible, I would like to cover a sassy little number called The Merry Jail (1917), one of Ernst Lubitsch’s earliest surviving romantic comedies.
You’re in! Sounds like fun!
hi, put me down for The Richest Girl in the World please and thank you!
You got it!
Has anyone called Born Yesterday? I have it on DVD and am itching for a reason to watch it.
It’s all yours! That’s such a fun movie.
Hello. I would love to participate in this blog-a-thon. If it’s not already taken, I would like to write about the Thin Man. Although not a “typical” screwball or romantic comedy, I think of any couple screwier than Nick and Nora Charles.
Minoo
Classic Movie Hub
You got it, Minoo! I love those two so much. I would be upset if nobody wrote about them!
If it’s not too late to join in this blogathon, I’d like to write about The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek.
Sure thing!
Can I participate, contributing a piece on My Favorite Wife (1940) via Outspoken & Freckled? Here’s my blog link… http://www.kelleepratt.bligspot.com – Thanks!!
Hi! Could I grab The Awful Truth? If someone’s already got it, I can do Theodora Goes Wild.
Beth (Mildred’s Fatburgers)
Could I write about The Awful Truth?
Beth (Mildred’s Fatburgers)
Hi could I get involved and write about Some Like It Hot?
Definitely! You are added!
Brilliant 🙂
Hi! I’m going to try one more time: May I write about The Awful Truth?
YAY! What a fun topic for a Blogathon. I’ll be looking forward to reading all the entries and I’ll get a banner up to promote it right away.
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You sure may!
Hi, I was thinking to write about Stolen Kisses if it’s ok with you.
Hi, I’ve only just happened upon your blog but would love to join in. Can I take Bringing up Baby, please?
I’ve had a change of heart and would like to write about 1942s “Footlight Serenade” for the blogathon. I like my romance with a little song and dance. Would that be okay?
Of course! I’ll change it 🙂
Thanks.
Hi! This is my first Blogathon, and if it’s not too late, can I sign up? I’d like to do OVER 21, if possible. Thanks! 🙂
Definitely!
Hi! I would like to do “Arsenic and Old Lace” My twitter name is @tracyhepburnfan
Sure! Love that movie!
If it’s not too late, I’d love to do “Heaven Can Wait” (the Lubitsch film).
Here’s the link to my post on It Happened One Night: http://bwallover.blogspot.ca/2014/04/the-romantic-comedy-blogathon-it.html
It just went live this morning 😉
Thanks! Vince and I will put it up on our sites on May 1 🙂
Just wanted to check — is it too late to do “Heaven Can Wait” (Lubitsch)? Thanks!
Of course you can do that! Can’t wait!
(Hee hee) Thanks! Looking forward to all the posts!
Hi Amy! Great! Do you have a blog? Or how are you going to submit your post? Let me know your blog name and I’ll put it on the list 🙂