Movie Still Monday: The Virgin Spring
This week’s stills are from yet ANOTHER Ingmar Bergman-directed movie, Jungfrukällan, AKA The Virgin Spring (1960). This gem inspired two other great (but less subtle) films, Last House on the Left and I Spit on Your Grave. It also inspired this week’s Movie Still Monday post with its sweet drop spindle action!
Spinning wheel? Bah. That is so 11th century. This was the only way to make yarn back in the day.
Just the flax, ma’am!
Being a hand-spinning spring virgin myself, I couldn’t really tell you exactly what she’s doing here.
But actress Birgitta Valberg definitely looks like she knows what’s going on!
Multitalented or merely a consummate thespian?
Movie Still Monday: Summer Interlude
This week’s set of stills comes from Ingmar Bergman’s 1951 film Sommarlek, AKA Summer Interlude.
Somewhere off in the wings, during a Swan Lake dress rehearsal…
You said it, dude. Just look off to your right a little and you’ll find out why!
Ah yes, there she is, a knitting ballerina — something strange indeed. Well, she’ll have put down her WIP to go out on stage in a minute. Bummer!
Better stop and count those stitches before she has to frog the whole damn thing; now THAT would be a tragedy!
Movie Still Monday: L’Atalante
This week’s stills come from the 1934 Jean Vigo film L’Atalante, starring the loverly Dita Parlo.
New bride Juliette is knitting onboard her hubby’s canal barge. A sweater, peut-être?
Well, you know what they say: if you’re going spend the time needed to knit a sweater for your man, make sure he’s a keeper.
And of course, don’t forget to take proper measurements.
Later, Juliette sports a très belle crocheted shawl as she sits morosely meditating in the fog.
But why so glum, Tristesse?
It could be that whole “newly married and living on a canal barge filled with cats” thing.
Or maybe the sweater didn’t fit.
Trailer:
Movie Still Monday: Viridiana
This week, some frames from Luis Buñuel‘s 1961 film Viridiana, starring the beautiful Silvia Pinal.
In this scene, novitiate Viridiana has a somnambular journey, walking into her uncle’s room with a basket of tasty looking yarn. (Don’t let the gams distract you.)
But instead of doing some sweet sleep-knitting with her nocturnal stash, she immolates it in the fireplace!
Those poor, sacrificial skeins! Oh, the human-knitty!
I can’t look. Oh, wait… yes I can!
Trailer:
Movie Still Monday: The Patty Duke Show
Yeah, not a movie, but a TV series this week: the 1960’s Patty Duke Show.
Patty’s mom Natalie curls up on the couch with some needles for some “woman’s work.”
At least I think that’s what they called it back then.
Movie Still Monday: The Color of Pomegranates
Sergei Parajanov’s 1968 masterpiece The Color of Pomegranates (Sayat Nova) is not only one of the best films I’ve ever seen, it is also one of the most craft-laden films I have ever seen!
It’s got tatting!
Loom weaving!
Some holier than thou knitting angels (work those toe-up socks, kids!)…
…complete with their “close-knit” family members.
It even features the yarn making process, beginning with the fleece…
…up to the dyeing process.
And, of course, more hanks of yarn than you can shake a kemenche at.
Haven’t sufficiently whetted your appetite? Watch the блин trailer:
Movie Still Monday: Burnt Offerings
This week’s still is from the 1976 horror movie Burnt Offerings, starring Oliver Reed, Karen Black, and that totally intimidating bitch Bette Davis, shown here doing a little poolside craftin’!
Smoking while knitting, huh? Well, that’s killing two birds with one stone, I guess.
Movie Still Monday: Suburban Commando
Wherein Sir Terry Bollea (AKA Hulk Hogan) encounters a melon-thumping granny, ripe for the picking. 
Bet you can tell she’s a granny from those squares she wears, huh? Huh? This seems like a typical case of Hollywood ageism mixed with some severe craft stereotyping… real crochet-cism in action! I mean, when will these pesky movie PA’s realize that crochet is ageless — and more importantly — that an afghan does NOT a shawl make?
Movie Still Halloween-day
In case you weren’t frightened enough this Halloween, check out this absolutely terrifying granny square sweater/wardrobe travesty from an episode of Roseanne!
Even Laurie Metcalf herself looks totally petrified by this horrifying fashion disaster.
If only everyone could just be as creative with their costumes.
Happy Samhain, everyone!
Movie Still Monday: Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Some stills from the 1957 Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode “The Glass Eye” starring Miss Daisy herself, Jessica Tandy.
Not only does this fantastic episode involve romance, ventriloquism, and a glass freakin’ eye, it also stars a very young Billy Barty and virtually unknown William Shatner!
Barty + Shatner + Tandy x Ventriloquism + Crochet ÷ Hitchcock = Happiness
Watch the episode here:
[hulu http://www.hulu.com/watch/48281 width=600]
Movie Still Monday: Famous Afghans
Socialite Patricia Hearst is most famously known for being kidnapped by the radical guerilla group The Symbionese Liberation Army in the mid 1970s, held captive for several months against her will, and brainwashed into becoming a tool for their violently militant, left-wing cause.
After myriad misadventures, crime sprees and rabble-rousing, Hearst was captured and imprisoned for over a year in a California correctional facility, during which time she was evaluated, analyzed and “deprogrammed.” During her time served, she suffered from malnutrition, a collapsed lung and much public ridicule and resentment.
But through all her ordeals, Patti kept herself sane. How, you ask?
The power of crochet.
Movie Still Monday: Ramona
I grew up reading Beverly Cleary’s Ramona books pretty religiously, so when PBS released a television show version of the stories in 1988 starring a young Sarah Polley, I was super excited and watched every episode.
But little did I know that over 20 years later, I would be re-examining the show and caring more about her stuffed animals than the actual story line.
In this scene, little Ramona clutches her crocheted elephant tightly with her stained blue hands. Wouldn’t you?
We all know what happened to Sarah Polley, but what about that elephant? Where is it now? The set designer’s basement? An Ontario film studio prop room? Sarah Polley’s memento shelf?
Inquiring minds need to know.
Movie Still Monday: Billboard Dad
This week’s entry in the Movie Still Monday category “Famous Afghans” is the 1998 Dualstar straight-to-video feature, Billboard Dad, starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
If you’re ever wondering, does Shove actually WATCH these movies? The answer is YES.
All by myself, too.
Mary-Kate and Ashley like to watch movies too! But this one looks confusing and they have pressing questions…
Such as: “Dad, how was this afghan constructed? In strips? Back and forth? What the hell kind of yarn is this? Why did the set dresser feel this monstrosity was necessary to complete the scene? WHY, DAD, WHY?!!”
Movie Still Monday: Hobo With a Shotgun
This week, a still from Hobo With a Shotgun (2011), starring Rutger Hauer:
Because even violent, fed-up hoboes need to snuggle up with crochet sometimes.
Movie Still Monday: Holy Mountain
Re-introducing a new/old/renamed segment, formerly known (one time only) as Hookin’ at the Movies, now known as Movie Still Monday! This way, if I call it “Movie Still Monday” I figure I’ll be forced to keep up with it on a weekly basis, or at least until I run out of stills.
This week, a still from Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Holy Mountain (1973):
Looks like she’s knitting, huh? Maybe a scarf?
Wait… that scarf looks a lot like a snake cozy. And that knitting looks a lot like CROCHET!
Oh well, that’s magical realism for you.
New segment: Hookin’ at the Movies
Wherein I share stills from (oftentimes unwatchable) movies, miniseries and TV shows displaying hilarious, dubious or questionable crochet tendencies.
From A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song :
Ooooh… no thanks. Socks crocheted by Lucy Hale sound about as appetizing as a macrame bra made by Selena Gomez.
Croshame 