Anyone have a birthday on February 29th, or know someone born on that day? It’s an interesting concept, having a birthday every four years–it must feel a little surreal. I’ll bet people born on that day celebrate like no one’s business.
In that vein, I thought it would be fun to commemorate Leap Day next year by holding a blogathon. How often do we have a chance to post on February 29th? It’s a great target of opportunity.
This Leap-fest will have four categories:
- Movies or TV shows starring celebrities born on February 29th (see a list here). Bio-type posts work, too.
- Movies or shows that have a connection to Leap Day in some way.
- Movies or TV shows that play with time, e.g., Interstellar, Outer Limits, Back To the Future, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, etc.
- Any movie or TV show you’ve always wanted to review but never had the chance to. It’s your February 29th, after all. 🙂
Here are the rules:
- The blogathon will officially take place on February 29th, but entries can be submitted on the days surrounding it. New material only, please.
- Since this is a big topic, duplicates are tabu unless approached from different angles. For instance, one person could do a straight review of a film while another includes it as part of a list.
- Entries can be sent to me via the Comment section, Twitter and Instagram (both @TakingUpRoom), my Contact page, or via e-mail (rebeccadeniston@gmail.com)
- Films, shows or celebs can be of any era, as long as they fit into one or more of the categories above.
- Grab a banner and advertise the blogathon!
The Roster
Taking Up Room: Time Bandits (1981)
The Classic Movie Muse: Portrait of Jennie (1948)
Thoughts All Sorts: Leap Year (2010)
MovieRob: Pirates of Penzance (1983)
Dubsism: The Green Berets (1968)
Poppity Talks Classic Film: The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
Caftan Woman: Midnight Mary (1933)
18 Cinema Lane: Finding Forrester (2000)
The Midnite Drive-in: Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939)
Musings of A Classic Film Addict: Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
Overture Books and Film: I Dood It (1943)
Crítica Retrô: Beggars of Life (1928)
It Came From the Man Cave!: Big Bad Mama (1974)
Cary Grant Won’t Eat You: Somewhere In Time (1980)
Pure Entertainment Preservation Society: Lady of Burlesque (1943)
Midnight Movie Monster: The Candy Snatchers (1973)
MovieMovie BlogBlog II: Gone With the Wind (1939)
The Banners
What a cool idea! May I write about Portrait of Jennie (1948)? My blog is The Classic Movie Muse at http://www.theclassicmoviemuse.wordpress.com.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, and absolutely! Thanks for joining. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh. Can I do Leap Year please?
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a great idea–it’s all yours. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Rebecca! I would love to write about ‘The Fabulous Dorseys’ (1947), starring Jimmy Dorsey who was a Leap Year baby. 😀
LikeLike
Ah, cool! Thanks for joining, Erica. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your unique concepts for these blog-a-thons. So, I’m putting a claim in on 1968’s The Green Berets – featuring Edward Faulkner who was born on February 29th, 1932.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, J-Dub! I try, lol. And definitely–that sounds cool. Thanks for joining. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for having me! Just updated my 2020 Blog-A-Thon page to include this one!
https://dubsism.com/2020-movie-blog-a-thons/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice! This will be fun. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
For starters I’d like to do Pirates of Penzance (1983) (do u know the connection? to 29th Feb)
I’ll see wjat else I can come up with
LikeLike
Cool, thanks for joining, Rob! And I only know a little about Gilbert and Sullivan, so I’m just going to guess–is one of the characters born on Leap Day?
LikeLike
yep!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool–looking forward to this!
LikeLike
On Feb 29, 1940 the Academy Awards presentation was held. “Gone with the Wind” was the big winner, of course, but among the losers, in 10 out of 11 of the categories for which it was nominated, was Frank Capra’s “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, that’s interesting. Did you want to write about “Mr. Smith”?
LikeLike
Sure.
https://www.midnitedrive-in.blogspot.com
LikeLike
OK, cool. Thanks, Quiggy, I’ll put you down for it. 🙂
LikeLike
Hi, can you add me with Lethal Weapon 2, the Villain is Joss Ackland’s birthday was on 29th Feb.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually if you can review absolutely anything as you say change this to The Tamarind Seed.. so got it in my head atm and be wrong not to, thats if I can review absolutely anything.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, that’s cool. And it’s all good. I was afraid the topic would be too narrow, so I added the anything-goes angle, lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just seen Ackland in The House That Dripped Blood. Will change to that one. Hope all is good will you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure, that’s fine. I almost wish the blogathon was longer so people could write about more stuff, but it kinda defeats the whole Leap Day thing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
With the time zones I am sure it will fall on about 3 days.. so its kinda like a leap year one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s true. It’s not just leaping, it’s high hurdles, lol. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful idea! I’ve written about a few of Birthday Boy William Wellman’s movies, but not Midnight Mary. February 29th will be just the day for it.
– Caftan Woman
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Paddy Lee, and nice! Thanks for joining. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for putting up with my dithering Rebecca – New Year resoulution to be more decisive in Blogathons! (broke it this year)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome, Gill–I know the feeling. Too many good choices for movies. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is, and thought it only fair to honour such a unique blogathon topic (which can only happen every 4 years!!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a really good point, and it’s something to think about. “The Every Four Years Blogathon” might just have to be a thing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Rebecca! Another great idea for a blogathon! I’d like to sign up, but have no idea what I’m going to talk about yet. Back in September, during my Siskel and Ebert blogathon, you mentioned that you were a Dolly Parton fan. I just published my review of ‘Christmas at Dollywood’, so here’s the link if you want to check it out!
https://18cinemalane.wordpress.com/2019/12/10/take-3-christmas-at-dollywood-review/
LikeLike
Hi, Sally–thanks, and that’s fine! I can put you down as TBD if you want, And wow, can’t wait to read it. Thanks! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome! When I come up with a post idea, I’ll let you know. Can’t wait for February 29th! 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, same here! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I finally picked the film I’m going to review! For several years, I’ve wanted to see the movie, “Finding Forrester”. It has also been on my DVR for a little while, so now I have an excuse to watch it!
LikeLike
Cool, it’s all yours!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! Looking forward to the blogathon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome, and same here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Rebecca! You always think of such wonderful blogathon topics! It’s taken me a while to think of what to write, but I really want to show some love to Dinah Shore, so can I please review Fun and Fancy Free (1947)? Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Samantha! Thank you–backatcha! And very cool, I’ll put you down for it. Thanks for joining. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Rebecca. This is a great idea for a blogathon and is there still time to sign up? If so I would like to write about I Dood It. Jimmy Dorsey was in that movie and I had no idea he was born on February 29th. My blog is here if you neded that information. https://www.overturebooksandfilm.com/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Christine, and thank you! There’s absolutely still time to sign up. And that’s so cool–I didn’t know Durante was born on the 29th. I’ll look forward to reading your review. Thanks for joining. 🙂
LikeLike
Hi, hope all good with you. Can you readd me with my original review choice – I just realise over subscribed at this time. So please add me with my Lethal Weapon 2 choice. If someone else claims this topic though before then, let them have it! Happy New Year! Gillx
LikeLike
Hi, Gill, and yeah, we’re all good. Just busy again, lol. And sure, I can do that–I think you’ll be fine. Hope you’re doing OK. Happy New Year! x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for that, all ok over here. Hope you have a fab New Year too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, same to you!
LikeLike
I’d like to write about Beggars of Life (1928(, made my one of my favorite directors, William A. Wellman, born on February 29th.
Kisses!
Le
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, cool, that’s our second Wellman movie. Thanks for joining, Le! Kisses!
LikeLike
I would love to jump in with Big Bad Mama from 1974 starring Susan Sennett who will be celebrating her 68th I mean 17th Birthday.
It Came From the Man Cave!
http://www.mda4life.blogspot.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely! Thanks for joining. 🙂
LikeLike
Could I take Somewhere In Time? It has the benefit of being on theme and being a kind of film I typically don’t cover.:) Great blogathon idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, sure, that’s a great idea. Thank you, and thanks for joining. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks! I look forward to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Rebecca,
I’d like to write about “Lady of Burlesque,” if that hasn’t already been claimed. It was directed by William Wellman, who was born on Leap Day,
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Tiffany, and absolutely! Thanks for joining. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is anyone welcome to grab a banner and join? I would be happy to cover 1973’s “The Candy Snatchers” starring leap baby Susan Sennett as the titular Candy.
I cover cult/horror/exploitation movies and my blog can be found at:
http://www.midnightmoviemonster.blogspot.com
Please do let me know so I can get started ASAP and get this done early 🙂
Thank you in advance for hosting, and the info
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure, that would be great, and you’re very welcome. Thanks for joining. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for your lightning fast response! I have one film to finish in queue, then I can get started on Candy. Do I post the banner and review as soon as it is finished? On 2/29?
(This is my first blogathon, so I have much to learn, and want to get the protocol dow. Thanks again for being patient with all the questions.)
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re very welcome! I usually don’t respond *that* fast, lol, but I was doing something on my Dashboard so I saw your comment right away.
And sure, that’s how it works. A lot of bloggers will put the banner somewhere on their home page before the blogathon, maybe linking the image to the hosting blog’s info post. And in this case you would publish your post on the 29th, but most blogathons are more flexible–some people publish a day or two before and send it to the host early. Then you put the banner on your blogathon post and link to my “Such-and-such blogathon has arrived” post.
I hope this isn’t too long-winded–this blogathon thing is pretty simple. And don’t worry, you can ask me questions anytime. It’s all good. Glad you’re joining the blogosphere. Hope you have fun. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here’s the post, happy leap day!
https://midnightmoviemonster.wordpress.com/2020/02/29/the-candy-snatchers-1973/
Banners already on, as well as a text link I’ll update once you do the host post 🙂
Thank you again for letting me participate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very cool, and you’re welcome! This will be fun. 🙂
LikeLike
Is it too late to enter the blogathon? You said we could write about any movie. I’d like to do GONE WITH THE WIND. (Let me warn you, my review will be less than reverent.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure, Steve, that’s fine–thanks for joining. I’m definitely curious. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My blogathon entry is now live at: https://moviemovieblogblogii.wordpress.com/2020/02/24/gone-with-the-wind-the-case-against/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool, thanks, Steve!
LikeLike
My link is up! Thanks! http://carygrantwonteatyou.com/somewhere-in-time/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very cool, and you’re welcome! Looking forward to reading it!
LikeLike
https://midnitedrive-in.blogspot.com/2020/02/hurrah-for-smith.html
Mr. Smith has gone to Washington now.
LikeLike
Ah, cool! Looking forward to meeting him there. Thanks. 🙂
LikeLike
Happy February 29th!
Here’s Bill Wellman’s Midnight Mary from 1933.
https://www.caftanwoman.com/2020/02/the-leap-year-blogathon-wild-bill.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! Thanks, Paddy Lee. 🙂
LikeLike
Here’s my review of Fun and Fancy Free! Thank you for hosting, for helping me discover Dinah Shore, and for giving me a great way to celebrate Leap Day!
https://musingsofaclassicfilmaddict.com/2020/02/29/the-leap-year-blogathon-fun-and-fancy-free-1947/
LikeLike
Thanks, Samantha, and you’re welcome! Glad we could do this.
LikeLiked by 1 person