Solitaire (Clara Vine series #5) by Jane Thynne

This is the final book in the series

Summary
-1940 has come. WWII is still raging on. Anti-British propaganda is everywhere. Clara Vine is now facing a new mission. She is summoned to the office of German High Command officer Joseph Goebbels. He sends her on a mission to Paris to spy for the Nazis, unaware she has been spying on them for years and sending this information to British Intelligence. Despite the fact she does not like being told to be a spy for the Nazis, she looks at the Paris trip as a way to escape to her home country of Britain.

The Pursuit of Pearls (Clara Vine series #4) by Jane Thynne

This is the fourth book in the series

Summary
-With 1939 starting, the drums of war are still pounding. Clara Vine is still pumping out movies at Ufa Studios, which is now Nazi-run and churning out movies to appeal to the masses. She is still spying on the Nazi elite and passing it to British Intelligence, with out trying to arouse suspicion from those she spies on. She is incredibly shocked to find out that a young woman named Lottie Franke, who was studying under Clara to learn about fashion design, is murdered on the grounds of the Faith and Beauty School, just one of a dozen Bride Schools and other culture-based schools to groom women into the perfect Nazi wives. The press have a field day, claiming this is the act of a mad man, but Clara will investigate to see if it is just that or her death was the result of trying to keep a secret

The Scent of Secrets (Clara Vine series #3) by Jane Thynne

This is book #3. This series is good for those who love WWII-era historical fiction with a touch of romance

 

Summary

-Clara Vine is back. This time she's in Paris, taking a lovely break away from the hustle and bustle of Berlin. She's in Paris, doing research for an upcoming film. She is approached by a member of British Intelligence, who hands her a mission that seems impossible-get close to Eva Braun and learn as much as you can. Clara is horribly confused about how she is even going to get close to Hitler's secretive girlfriend. Eva Braun is Hitler's secret girlfriend, a woman with a fragile mental state and kept almost a virtual prisoner, away from the prying eyes of Berlin. She manages to do it and in the process learns that Eva desperately wants to pursue acting as a career and even introduce her own line of perfume, which she will call The Scent of Secrets.

Woman in the Shadows (Clara Vine series #2) by Jane Thynne

This is the second book in the series

Summary
-1937. Berlin. Actress Clara Vine is on her way to the top. Her success at Ufa Studios is on the rise and in other parts of Berlin, so is Nazism and raging support for the German High Command. She takes on her daily life-acting at Ufa Studios, partying it up and befriending Nazi wives like Magda Goebbels, Annaliese von Ribbontrop, Emmy Sonnemann and of course passing on information to British Intelligence.

-Of course, her focus on this is shattered by the death of someone close to her. Anna Hansen was a dancer in one of Berlin's more notorious dance clubs. Out of the blue she goes from dancing in those clubs to attending one of Hitler's notorious Bride Schools, a series on institutions created to groom women into perfect Nazi wives. When she is found dead on the grounds of the school, the school is only too eager to hush it up. Clara is determined to investigate it while trying to keep one step ahead of the Gestapo, who is also investigating

Black Roses (Clara Vine series #1) by Jane Thynne

This is one of those series of books that seems to take place during WWII. A lot of people, including myself, seem to be interested in that particular era of history. Maybe it's because there are so many intricate events during that time? Who knows! Even when it's historical fiction, it's still great to read about. This particular series, by British author Jane Thynne, centers around a half German, half English actress named Clara Vine who gets involved with the spy game, spying for British intelligence while working at a Nazi-run studio in Berlin, the very heart of Nazi Germany, called Ufa Studios

Summary
-Berlin, 1933. Half German, half English actress Clara Vine has just stepped foot in Berlin, hoping to make it in the movie industry. Her biggest hope is start working at the famed Ufa Studios, known for making stars out of people like Marlene Dietrich. But fate has other plans. By the purest of chances, Clara ends up befriending Magda Goebbels, Annaliese von Ribbentrop and Emmy Sonneman, whose husbands are members of the German High Command. Hitler now has plans to create a master race, a pure white Aryan race and as a result, Clara is approached by Leo Quinn, who asks her to take a chance and spy for Britain, since she is friends now with the wives of the German High Command

Hogan's Heroes (1965)

This show is one of my favorites. It's hilarious. You almost can't believe the Nazis are so stupid on this show, rofl!!! I love the part in the opening credits where the exit for the escape tunnel comes out underneath a German Shepherd's doghouse and the dogs are just looking at them with that adorable, friendly look on their face, rofl!!

Summary
-Inmates from various military forces at a German prisoner of war camp concoct spy and sabotage missions right under the noses of their Nazi minders

Cast
-Bob Crane: Col. Hogan
-Werner Klemperer: Col. Klink
-John Banner: Sgt. Schultz
-Richard Dawson: Newkirk
-Robert Clary: LeBeau
-Larry Hovis: Carter
-Ivan Dixon: Kinchloe
-Leon Askin: Gen. Burkhalter
-Sigrid Valdis: Hilda
-Howard Caine: Maj. Hochstetter
-Dave Morick: Corporal Sontag
-John Cedar: Cpl. Langenscheidt
-Leonid Kinskey: Vladamir Minsk

Did You Know?
-Werner Klemperer, Howard Caine, Leon Askin, John Banner, who played German High Command officers Klink, Hochstetter, Burkhalter and Schultz, were in real life Jewish. They all served in the US Armed Forces during WWII. Klemperer was born in Cologne, Germany. Banner and Askin were born in Vienna, Austria. The three of them had emigrated to the US, fleeing the Nazi regime. Werner Klemperer is half Jewish.


Werner Klemperer as Col. Klink

Howard Caine as Major Hochstetter

Leon Askin as General Burkhalter

John Banner as Sgt. Schultz.
I don't know why, but the look on his face is hilarious!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Robert Clary, who played French military officer LeBeau, was a survivor of The Holocaust

-Larry Hovis, who played Sgt. Andrew Carter, refused to remove his wedding ring for the show. Because of this, he is almost always seen wearing gloves
-Despite the fact that the show was incredibly popular on air, the show was canceled because it was suggested that the show appealed to older or rural audiences like The Beverly Hillbillies or Green Acres did.
-Richard Dawson, who plays RAF officer Newkirk, was told by then CBS president Mike Dann, to use a Cockney accent rather than his actual Liverpool accent. Dann thought that the Cockney accent would sound more familiar to those in America who watched the show. Then not too long after, The Beatles would become famous and successful in America, with their strong Liverpool accents, thus having Americans more accustomed to hearing it. Dawson then claimed to bring this to the attention of Dann and joked with him about the decision

-In the opening credits, the car seen leaving the camp is a Mercedes model G4 Parade Car. This car had six wheels, three axels and four wheel drive on the rear wheels. This and other Mercedes models were popular with the elite of the German High Command

-Despite the fact that Klink acts like a coward, he has various military decorations on his uniform, for his combat service in WWI and WWII

-The pilot episode of the show, shot in black and white, featured a Russian character played by actor Leonid Kinskey. He did not continue with the show because he did not feel comfortable being on a show with Nazi characters in a comedic setting

Leonid Kinskey

-As of April 1, 2018, the only cast members from the show that are still alive are Robert Clary (Corporal LeBeau) and Kenneth Washington (Sgt. Baker), who replaced Ivan Dixon
-Corporal LeBeau was nicknamed "Cockroach" because of his short height by Col. Klink and Sgt. Schultz
-John Banner, who plays Sgt. Schultz, died on his 65th birthday in his hometown of Vienna, Austria
-Whenever Hogan wanted to kiss up to Col. Klink, he would often call Col. Klink "The Iron Colonel" or "The Iron Eagle"
-Harold Gould, who played General Von Schlomm, was Jewish in real life. He served with the US Armed Forces during WWII
-Richard Dawson, who plays RAF officer Newkirk, was originally cast to play Hogan. But he felt that with his Liverpool accent it would be unbelievable for audiences in America

 

-While in the US Armed Forces, Leon Askin was a supply sergeant, Werner Klemperer was a technical sergeant and John Banner was a master sergeant. Howard Caine was in the US Navy and his rank is unknown

-When John Banner created the character Sgt. Schultz, he suggested that actors of Jewish descent play the German High Command officers. When asked why, he said "Well, who better to play Nazis than us Jews." He also joked that no matter what he did, he could never get past the rank of Sergeant

-The scar on General Burkhalter's face is from an old duel. But it's not a fake. He actually got the scar from being beaten brutally by the real Nazi SS simply for being Jewish. His birth name is Leo Aschkenasy

-It was the idea of Werner Klemperer to have Col. Klink carry a riding crop and wear a monocle.

Halloween (2007)

This is a remake of the classic scary movie only directed by goth rocker Rob Zombie

HINT: Do not let your kids see this movie unless you tell them that it's not real. I don't mean to sound old school, but some kids can't handle obsessively gory and bloody movies like this. I just say this so that you won't have to worry about your kids having nightmares. Some parents are a little old school like that!!

Summary
-After being institutionalized for 17 years, Michael Myers escapes the mental hospital and flees to Haddonfield to find his sister Laurie Strode

Cast
-Malcolm McDowell: Dr. Sam Loomis
-Brad Dourif: Sheriff Lee Brackett
-Tyler Mane: Michael Myers
-Daeg Faerch: Michael Myers, aged 10
-Sheri Moon Zombie: Deborah Myers
-William Forsythe: Ronnie White
-Richard Lynch: Principal Chambers
-Danny Trejo: Ismael Cruz
-Scout Taylor-Compton: Laurie Strode
-Danielle Harris: Annie Brackett
-Skyler Gisondo: Tommy Doyle
-Jenny Gregg-Stewart: Lindsey Wallace
-Hanna Hall: Judith Myers
-Kristina Klebe: Lynda

Did You Know?
-Malcolm McDowell instigated hysterical laughter in the other actors and actresses and in the process ruined many takes
-The reason William Forsythe's leg is in a cast is because he had injured his leg prior to shooting the film.

-Of all the actors to play Michael Myers, Tyler Mane is the tallest at 6'8''

Tyler Mane (right)

-Prior to directing this new remake, Rob Zombie wanted to be respectful and call up original Halloween director John Carpenter for his blessing. Carpenter was more than happy and encouraged him to "make it his own".
-The production of the movie was delayed due to the death of Moustapha Akkad, who had produced all eight of the original movies. He died as a result of severe injuries sustained from terrorist attacks in Jordan in 2005
-Originally, Sheri Moon Zombie was supposed to play Lynda while actress Danielle Harris was to play Laurie

-Rob cast his wife Sheri Moon Zombie to play Michael's mother, which would explain why Michael grew so tall

-The band Kiss plays a major role in the film. In the opening scene of the movie, the song "God of Thunder" is heard playing. Later on, Michael is seen wearing a Kiss t-shirt showing their Destroyer album. Kiss was a major influence on Rob Zombie's career in music and the inspiration for his makeup and clothing for his band White Zombie

-Out of all the female leads in the movie (all the girls are supposed to be of high school age, including Judith Myers), the only girl who was actually high school age is Scout Taylor-Compton. Compton was actually a teenager at the time of filming, much like Jamie Lee Curtis was in the original 1978 film Halloween.

-Actress Danielle Harris, who played Annie Brackett, was 29 when the film went into production and released three months after her 30th birthday
-John Hurt was considered for the role of Dr. Sam Loomis
-Malcolm McDowell, who plays Dr. Sam Loomis, has never seen the original Halloween from 1978

-The car that Deborah Myers drives is a 1970 Dodge Super Bee

Day 26-Lyrics of Five Songs You Can Relate To

This should be good...
https://never3nding.tumblr.com/post/2660644142/tumblr-30-day-challenge

1.) Never Change-Puddle of Mudd

Someone's always telling me I'm no good

Well I don't care what you say

Someone's always giving me a hard time

Well I live day to day

Someone's always putting me in my place

Like I don't know where I am

So I'll just sit here in the corner without any direction

Maybe it's all it's all in my head

I think that it's something something you said

I understand some things will never change (Never Change)

Never change

Someone's always kicking me to the curb
Well it's grinding up my face
Someone's always pushing me to the side
Like I'm standing in the way
Someone's always getting up in my face
Like I don't know who I am
So once again I'm in the corner without any direction

Maybe it's all it's all in my head
I think that it's something something you said
Understand some things will never change (Never change, Never change)
Somebody's always out to get me
Somebody's always trying to kill me
Understand some things will never change (Never change, Never change)

Why did you have to go and change?
Couldn't you just have stayed the same?
Why did you have to go insane?
Understand some things don't change
Never change
No they don't No they don't Don't change

Maybe it's all it's all in my head
I think that it's something something you said
Understand some things will never change
Somebody's always out to get me
Somebody's always trying to kill me
Understand some things will never change

Why did you have to go and change?
Couldn't you just have stayed the same?
Why did you have to go insane?
Understand some things don't change
Why did you have to go and change?
Couldn't you just have stayed the same?
Why did you have to go insane?
Understand some things don't change

Some things will never change
Some things never change
Some things never change
Never change

2.) Blurry-Puddle of Mudd

Everything's so blurry and everyone's so fake
And everybody's empty and everything is so messed up
Pre-occupied without you I cannot live at all
My whole world surrounds you I stumble then I crawl

You could be my someone you could be my scene
You know that I'll protect you from all of the obscene
I wonder what you're doing imagine where you are
There's oceans in between us but that's not very far

Can you take it all away
Can you take it all away
Well you shoved it in my face
This pain you gave to me
Can you take it all away
Can you take it all away
Well you shoved it my face

Everyone is changing there's no one left that's real
To make up your own ending and let me know just how you feel
'Cause I am lost without you I cannot live at all
My whole world surrounds you I stumble then I crawl

You could be my someone you could be my scene
You know that I'll protect you from all of the obscene
I wonder what you're doing imagine where you are
There's oceans in between us but that's not very far

Can you take it all away
Can you take it all away
Well you shoved it in my face
This pain you gave to me
Can you take it all away
Can you take it all away
Well you shoved it my face
Explain again to me

Nobody told me what you thought
Nobody told me what to say
Everyone showed you where to turn
Told you when to runaway
Nobody told you where to hide
Nobody told you what to say
Everyone showed you where to turn
Showed you when to runaway

Can you take it all away
Can you take it all away
Well you shoved it in my face
Explain again to me
Can you take it all away
Can you take it all away
Well you shoved it my face
Explain again to me

Explain again to me

Explain again to me 

3.) Loser- 3 Doors Down

Breathe in right away.

Nothing seems to fill this place.

I need this every time

So take your lies, get off my case.

Someday I will find

A love that flows through me like this

This will fall away, this will fall away.

 

You're getting closer

To pushing me off of life's little edge

'Cause I'm a loser

And sooner or later you know I'll be dead

You're getting closer

You're holding the rope and I'm taking the fall

'Cause I'm a loser, I'm a loser, yeah

 

This is getting old.

I can't break these chains that I hold

My body's growing cold

There's nothing left of this mind or my soul.

Addiction needs a pacifier, the buzz of this poison is taking me higher.

This will fall away, this will fall away.

 

You're getting closer

To pushing me off of life's little edge

'Cause I'm a loser

And sooner or later you know I'll be dead

You're getting closer

You're holding the rope and I'm taking the fall

'Cause I'm a loser, I'm a loser, yeah

 

You're getting closer

To pushing me off of life's little edge

'Cause I'm a loser

And sooner or later you know I'll be dead

You're getting closer

You're holding the rope and I'm taking the fall

'Cause I'm a loser, I'm a loser, yeah

 

You're getting closer

To pushing me off of life's little edge

'Cause I'm a loser

And sooner or later you know I'll be dead

You're getting closer

You're holding the rope and I'm taking the fall

'Cause I'm a loser, I'm a loser, yeah.

 

 

4.) Fine Again-Seether

It seems like every day's the same

And I'm left to discover on my own

It seems like everything is gray

And there's no color to behold

They say it's over and I'm fine again, yeah

Try to stay sober feels like I'm dying here

 

And I am aware now of how

Everything's gonna be fine one day

Too late, I'm in hell I am prepared now

Seems everyone's gonna be fine

One day too late, just as well

 

I feel the dream in me expire

And there's no one left to blame it on

I hear you label me a liar

'Cause I can't seem to get this through

You say it's over, I can sigh again, yeah

Why try to stay sober when I'm dying here

 

And I am aware now of how

Everything's gonna be fine one day

Too late, I'm in hell

I am prepared now

Seems everyone's gonna be fine

One day too late just as well

 

And I'm not scared now

I must assure you

You're never gonna get away

And I'm not scared now

And I'm not scared now no

 

I am aware now of how

Everything's gonna be fine one day

Too late, I'm in hell

I am prepared now

Seems everyone's gonna be fine

One day too late, just as well

I am prepared now

Seems everything's gonna be fine for me

For me, for myself

For me, for me, for myself

For me, for me, for myself
 

5.) Bring Me to Life-Evanescence 

How can you see into my eyes like open doors?

Leading you down, into my core

Where I've become so numb, without a soul

My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold

Until you find it there, and lead it, back, home

 

Wake me up inside

Wake me up inside

Call my name and save me from the dark

Bid my blood to run

Before I come undone

Save me from the nothing I've become

 

Now that I know what I'm without

You can't just leave me

Breathe into me and make me real

Bring me to life

 

Wake me up inside

Wake me up inside

Call my name and save me from the dark

Bid my blood to run

Before I come undone

Save me from the nothing I've become

 

Bring me to life

Bring me to life

 

Frozen inside, without your touch

Without your love, darling

Only you are my life

Among the dead

 

I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems

Got to open my eyes to everything

Don't let me die here

Bring, me, to, life

 

Wake me up inside

Wake me up inside

Call my name and save me from the dark

Bid my blood to run

Before I come undone

Save me from the nothing I've become

 

Bring me to life

Bring me to life

Bring me to life

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

This is the only movie in the Halloween series not to feature masked killer Michael Myers

Summary
-A suspicious murder-suicide in the emergency room of a hospital forces an on-call doctor to investigate it. It leads him to a predominantly Irish town in California where the owner of a toy company is trying to kill as many people as possible using Halloween masks and through a stone stolen from Stonehenge as part of an ancient Celtic ritual

Cast
-Tom Atkins: Dr. Daniel Challis
-Stacey Nelkin: Ellie Grimbridge
-Dan O'Herlihy: Conal Cochran
-Michael Currie: Rafferty
-Ralph Strait: Buddy Kupfer
-Jadeen Barbour: Betty Kupfer
-Brad Schacter: Little Buddy
-Nancy Kyes: Linda Challis
-Garn Stephens: Marge Guttman

Did You Know?
-The only reason that Michael Myers did not appear in this movie is because this movie underperformed at the box office. So John Carpenter brought Michael Myers back in the other Halloween movies
-"London Bridge is Falling Down" was chosen as the official theme of the Silver Shamrock company because it was in the public domain, which means there is no copyrights or anything saying it can't be used
-When Ellie and Daniel register at the motel, looking for any trace of Ellie's dad staying there, the rest of the names are the crew members
-For the location of the Silver Shamrock factory, a milk factory was used
-The voice going over the intercom warning Santa Mira residents of the approaching curfew is none other than Jamie Lee Curtis
-Tom Atkins, who plays Daniel Challis and Garn Stephens, who plays Marge Guttman, were actually married at the time of the movie
-The actors who plays Cochran's robotic henchmen were found through looking for movie extras. Writer/director Tommy Lee Wallace wanted to cast redheads as the henchmen to keep in tune with the predominantly Irish theme of the movie
-Nancy Kyes, who plays Challis' ex-wife here, was pregnant with her first child during filming
-The building used as The Dublin Inn was destroyed due to a fire in the 1980s
-Ellie's father, Harry Grimbridge, checked into room 13, the most unlucky number
-When Harry Grimbridge was admitted to the hospital, he was prescribed the same drug as Dr. Loomis mentioned to Nurse Chambers in the first film. It was Thorazine, a narcotic used by medical staff to suppress mental, mood and psychotic disorders
-Nancy Kyes, who plays Challis' ex-wife and mother of his two kids, also plays Annie Brackett in the first Halloween film

Halloween II (1981)

This is a sequel to the John Carpenter-directed film

Summary
-After Laurie Strode is rushed to the hospital with a knife wound sustained from Michael Myers, Sheriff Brackett and Dr. Sam Loomis search for the killer

Cast
-Jamie Lee Curtis: Laurie Strode
-Donald Pleasance: Dr. Sam Loomis
-Charles Cyphers: Sheriff Leigh Brackett
-Jeffrey Kramer: Graham
-Leo Rossi: Bud
-Pamela Susan Shoop: Karen
-Ford Rainey: Dr. Mixter
-Gloria Gifford: Mrs. Alves

Did You Know?
-This film would make the song "Mr. Sandman" by The Chordettes once again popular
-This is the only Halloween movie to show the morning after, the 31st. Every other movie ended on Halloween night
-In the entire series, Dick Warlock, who played Michael in this movie, is the shortest actor to play that character. He had to wear lifts to appear taller
-According to Leo Rossi, who played EMT Bud, the water in the hot tub was freezing cold
-The movie was filmed at Morningside Hospital. The hospital was slated to be destroyed. After filming, it was replaced by Harvard Yard Senior Apartments
-Some say that the hospital is too dead, even for a somewhat busy night shift. Rick Rosenthal, the director, said he based this on an experience he had with his wife where they were once in the hospital late one night and it was almost completely deserted apart from a few doctors and nurses
-During the scene where the mother and son leave the hospital following the boy biting a razor blade in an apple, this is a reference to a true story. This was based on popular fact of children getting fruit for Halloween, not knowing razor blades were hidden inside. Also, kids who did get razor blades hidden in fruit, in addition to pins/needles hidden in fruit, were often targeted specifically, not just randomly.
-The word painted in blood on the chalkboard is Samhain. This is a reference to an ancient Irish holiday on October 31, the Festival of Samhain. But Dr. Loomis refers to it being some sort of god of worship, the "Lord of the Dead". Samhain is a Gaelic festival that marks the end of the harvest season in Ireland and marks the beginning of winter, the darker half of the year.
-John Carpenter made numerous references to Bowling Green, Kentucky in the movie. Smiths Grove and Russellville are nearby towns. Bowling Green is in Warren County, where Haddonfield is set.
-Dick Warlock was 41, but supposed to be playing 21 year old Michael Myers
-Pamela Susan Shoop, who played Karen, got an ear infection from the hot tub water being dirty
-The 17 year old boy dressed like Michael Myers and hit by the car, only to be engulfed in flames later, was revealed to be Ben Tramer, the boy from the first Halloween movie whom Laurie had a crush on