Rachel Robbins
Bio
Writer-Performer based in the North of England. A joyous, flawed mess.
Please read my stories and enjoy. And if you can, please leave a tip. Money raised will be used towards funding a one-woman story-telling, comedy show.
Achievements (1)
Stories (79/0)
Three Classic British Films to Watch for the Fever-Dream Experience
I have been blessed/cursed with being a vivid dreamer. Last night, I dreamt about touring with Midge Ure from Ultravox, as his comedy support. (There was also a sub-plot scandal involving footballer, Wayne Rooney). Midge and I were stuck on a motorway in a camper van full of leaflets and I could feel the gentle humming of the engine as we panicked about making our next gig. I woke up with my hefty cat, sitting purring on my chest.
By Rachel Robbins3 months ago in Geeks
- Top Story - January 2024
Butterfly McQueen (8 January 1911 – 22 December 1995)Top Story - January 2024
During the filming of Affectionately Yours (1941), Merle Oberon told friends that the film was a “dud”. And she wasn’t wrong. It is a mis-step of a comedy, based on the idea that two intelligent and exceptionally beautiful women would care about and compete over a philandering liar. Big names and talents wasted on a silly, pointless script. It is not just my 21st century sensibilities that baulk at the chaotic, broad comedy. It did poorly at the time, finishing 166th at the box office for 1941, despite the three-way draw of Rita Hayworth, Merle Oberon and Dennis Morgan. It also had the talents of Academy award winner Hattie McDaniel in yet another maid role. And the unique voice and spirit of Butterfly McQueen is used merely to punctuate the comedy with shrieks and laughs. (Notice neither of them make it onto the poster…)
By Rachel Robbins4 months ago in Geeks
Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
Ah the Christmas movie! We all know the ones, where a corporate high-flying career woman reluctantly finds herself in small-town America, covered in snow, to end up in an outlandish meet-cute with a traditional man who teaches her the true meaning of Christmas.
By Rachel Robbins5 months ago in Geeks
Veronica Lake (1922 – 1973)
My 1940’s imaginary screen-writing persona knows that Hollywood studio executives worked without a Human Resources Department. There was no talk of employee well-being, anti-discrimination legislation, or duty of care. There were films. And there was money.
By Rachel Robbins5 months ago in Geeks
Thelma Ritter (1902 – 1967)
Margo Channing may well be the most talented actress of her generation, a star. But do you care what happens to her? Yes, yes you do, because in Mankiewicz’s award winning screenplay of All About Eve (1950), he has written the part of Birdie Coonan; Margo’s wise-cracking, streetwise, ex-vaudevillian best friend:
By Rachel Robbins6 months ago in Geeks
The Joy of a Solo Cinema Date
My old life was hard. I got bored with counting all the ways in which I was struggling. There was a point where I threw it all up in the air to see what landed. And amongst all the shattered pieces I found sharp, delightful, shards of joy.
By Rachel Robbins6 months ago in Journal