Jim Thome

Jim Thome,

James Howard, "Jim" Thome (pronounced /ˈtoʊmeɪ/; born August 27, 1970 in Peoria, Illinois) is an American Major League Baseball designated hitter for the Minnesota Twins.

MLB career

Cleveland Indians (1989-2002)

Thome was originally drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 13th round of the 1989 MLB Draft. He made his Major League debut on September 4, 1991 as a third baseman against the Minnesota Twins. He was 2 for 4 in that game, with his first hit coming off pitcher Tom Edens in the fourth inning. He hit his first career home run on October 4 against New York Yankees pitcher Lee Guetterman.

Originally a third baseman, he was shifted to first base when the Indians traded for Matt Williams in 1997.

At the plate, Thome hit 25 home runs and 73 runs batted in with a .314 batting average in 1995. Thome then hit 38 home runs in 1996 and 40 in 1997. Thome soon became a prolific home run hitter, once hitting a 511-foot (156 m) shot at Cleveland's Progressive Field (then known as Jacobs Field). It is the longest home run ever recorded at a Cleveland ballpark.He hit 49 home runs with the Indians in 2001, followed by a career-high 52 homers in 2002.

Thome has been nicknamed "The Thomenator," "The Pride of Peoria," and more recently as a member of the White Sox "Mr. Incredible"."Wildly beloved by Indians fans, a Plain Dealer fan poll in 2003 named Thome the most popular athlete in Cleveland sports history. Some of Thome's trademarks are his high socks that he helped make popular again in the mid-'90s, at a time when players wore their pant cuffs down around their ankles and his batting stance in which he holds the bat out with his right hand and points it at right field before the pitcher comes set, a gesture he borrowed from "The Whammer" in the film The Natural.

Philadelphia Phillies (2002-2006)

After the 2002 season, Thome accepted a six-year $85 million offer from the Philadelphia Phillies. Thome hit 47 home runs in his first season with the Phillies to finish one behind Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt's single-season team record of 48 in 1980.

On June 14, 2004, Thome hit his 400th career home run to the left-center field seats at Citizens Bank Park.[6], surpassing Al Kaline for 37th on the all-time home run list. He ended the 2004 season with 42 homers, giving him 423 for his career, which placed him 35th on the career list.

Thome in 2005.

Injuries caught up with Thome during the first half of the 2005 season, where he hit only .207 with seven home runs and 30 RBI going into the All-Star break. He had season-ending surgery on his right elbow in August. Ryan Howard proved to be a very successful replacement at first base in the 2005 season, leading all National League rookies in home runs and winning the NL Rookie of the Year award. The emergence of Ryan Howard made Thome expendable to the Phillies. On November 25, 2005, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox along with $22.0 million. The White Sox sent CF Aaron Rowand and minor league pitching prospects Gio Gonzalez and Daniel Haigwood to Philadelphia in return.

Chicago White Sox (2006-2009)

Thome became the White Sox's regular designated hitter in April 2006 and flourished in his first season in Chicago. In April, he set the team record for most home runs in the month of April (10), beating Frank Thomas's record by one. He also set a major league record by scoring in each of the White Sox first 17 games. The modern and AL record for consecutive games with a run scored is 18 held by Red Rolfe (1939) and Kenny Lofton (2000). For the season, Thome hit 42 homers, batted in 109 runs, and hit .288. He also struck out 30.0% of the time, the highest percentage in the American League.

On April 15, 2007, Thome was one of three White Sox players (also two coaches) who wore jersey number 42 in recognition of the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's Major League debut in the White Sox vs. Indians game in Cleveland. Thome pinch-hit for Brian Anderson in the ninth inning and hit an infield single. Alex Cintron, also wearing 42, pinch ran for Thome.

On September 16, 2007, Thome hit his 500th career home run off Los Angeles Angels pitcher Dustin Moseley. The home run was a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth inning with one man on base, which gave the White Sox a 9–7 victory. Thome became the 23rd major leaguer to reach the milestone and the third in the 2007 season (the others were Frank Thomas and Alex Rodriguez) as well as the first ever to do it with a walk-off shot.

25 members of Thome's family and friends were in attendance to witness his milestone, including his father and wife. The game in which Thome hit the home run was also the Jim Thome bobblehead giveaway day at U.S. Cellular Field. Thome rounded the bases pointing upward in homage to his mother, who died from breast cancer in January 2005.

Thome in 2008.

On June 4, 2008, Thome hit a 464 foot home run—the ninth longest home run in U.S. Cellular Field history—off of Kansas City Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar in a 6–4 White Sox victory. On August 14 of that year, Thome hit the first of four consecutive home runs by the White Sox. On September 30, he hit a solo shot in the AL Central Tiebreaker game which proved to be the difference as the White Sox defeated the Minnesota Twins 1–0.

Thome's hitting continued to be strong in 2009, and on June 1, he hit his 550th career home run in a win against the Oakland A's. On July 17, 2009, Thome hit a grand slam and a three-run homer in the same game for a career-high seven RBIs. On August 15, Thome passed Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson and moved up to 11th on the all time home run list with 564 home runs.

Los Angeles Dodgers (2009)

On August 31, 2009, Thome was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers with cash for minor league infielder Justin Fuller. Thome's only appearances with the Dodgers were as a pinch hitter. He had four hits in seventeen at-bats with the Dodgers.

Minnesota Twins (since 2010)

On February 4, 2010, Thome signed a one-year $1.5 million deal (plus a possibility of 750K in performance incentives), with the Minnesota Twins.

When the Twins opened their new ballpark, Target Field, on April 12, 2010 in Minneapolis, Thome, for the third time in his career, was a part of an organization that celebrated the grand opening of a brand new home ballpark. The other two openings he was part of were the 1994 Cleveland Indians as they opened Jacobs Field (now known as Progressive Field), the 2004 Philadelphia Phillies as they opened Citizens Bank Park. He hit his first homer with the Twins on 4/8/10, during the season-opening road trip. Thome hit his first triple since 2004 on June 28, 2010, in a home game.

On July 3, 2010, Thome hit his 573rd and 574th Home Runs. In doing so he displaced fellow Twins player Harmon Killebrew as the #10 all time home run hitter. The game was stopped and the Twins played a pre-recorded message from Harmon Killebrew congratulating Thome on the achievement during which he said, "...I'm glad he was able to hit it in a Twins uniform. I only wish I could have been there to see it."

On August 17, 2010, Thome hit the first walk-off hit in Target Field, bombing a 2 run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning against the White Sox. It was his 12th walk-off hit.

Career summary

In his career to date (through July 5, 2010), Thome has a .557 slugging percentage, and a .404 on-base percentage. He is considered one of the most complete power hitters of his era due to his ability to create extra base hits, maintain a solid batting average for a power hitter (his career batting average is .277), and ability to get on base. Despite this he is still very prone to striking out. He is #2 in the all time list of strikeouts for a batter, and the #1 active player.

Thome has been named Player of the Month three times: July 2001, September 2003 and June 2004. He is one of only six players to be named Player of the Month in each league (Vladimir Guerrero, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Gaylord Perry and Dave Winfield are the others).

Jim Thome has the fifth-lowest career AB/HR (at bats per home run) average in major-league history. His 13.68 (about 1 HR every 14 times he comes to bat) is eclipsed only by Mark McGwire (10.61), Babe Ruth (11.76), Ryan Howard (12.16), and Barry Bonds (12.90). Stretching behind Thome, all with averages greater than 14, are such hall-of-famers as Ralph Kiner, Harmon Killebrew, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Jimmie Foxx, and Mike Schmidt, in that order.

Although once a fine first baseman, with a career fielding percentage of .994, injuries have hampered Thome so that he is almost completely limited to the DH position. Thome played one game at first base for the Chicago White Sox in 2007, but he has not played the field since.

Only 9 major league players have more career walks than Thome.

Baseball and personal life

On Mother's Day, May 14, 2006, Thome was one of more than 50 hitters who brandished a pink bat to benefit the Breast Cancer Foundation.

Off the field, Thome is putting all 10 of his nieces and nephews through college. It was reported on ESPN's SportsCenter that shortly after his nephew, Brandon, was paralyzed in a tragic accident, he asked Jim to hit a home run for him; not only did Thome fulfill the request but he hit two homers in the game. In a 2007 poll of 464 Major League Baseball players, he was voted the second friendliest player in a tie with Mike Sweeney.

On September 16, 2007, on "Jim Thome Bobblehead Day" at U.S. Cellular Field, Thome hit his 500th career home run, becoming the 23rd player in baseball history to accomplish the feat. His 500th career home run was a walk-off winner; he is the only player to accomplish that feat.

Jim Thome currently lives in Hinsdale, Illinois.

On November 16, 2007, Thome and his wife, Andrea, welcomed their second child, son Landon. They have a daughter, Lila Grace.

(source:wikipedia)

Ximenes Mariana

Mariana Ximenes do Prado Nuzzi, commonly known as Mariana Ximenes (born on April 26, 1981 in São Paulo) is a Brazilian actress. In 2003, she was one of the lead actors in the TV Globo telenovela Chocolate com Pimenta, where she portrayed the character Ana Francisca. In 2005, she played the role of Raíssa in the TV Globo telenovela América. In 2006, she was one of the lead actors in the TV Globo telenovela Cobras & Lagartos, playing the role of Bel; and in 2008, one of the stars of A Favorita, by the TV Globo.
Mariana Ximenes also appeared in several movies, including "O Invasor" in 2002, O Homem do Ano in 2003, Uma Estrela Pra Ioiô in 2004, and Gaijin - Ama-me Como Sou, in 2005. She has also appeared in the miniseries A Casa das Sete Mulheres in 2003, where she played the role of Rosário

Source:wikipedia

Charlie Sheen

Carlos Irwin Estévez (born September 3, 1965), known professionally as Charlie Sheen, is an American actor. His character roles in films have included Chris Taylor in the 1986 Vietnam War drama Platoon, Jake Kesey in the 1986 film The Wraith, and Bud Fox in 1987 film Wall Street. His career also included more comedic films, such as Major League, the Hot Shots! films, and Scary Movie 3 and 4. On television, Sheen is known for his roles on two sitcoms: as Charlie Crawford on Spin City, and as Charlie Harper on Two and a Half Men.

Early life

Sheen was born Carlos Irwin Estévez in New York City, the youngest son and third of four children born to actor Martin Sheen and artist Janet Templeton. Martin adopted his stage name in honor of the Catholic archbishop and theologian, Fulton J. Sheen, with Charlie also taking this stage name.His parents moved to Malibu, California after Martin Sheen's Broadway turn in The Subject Was Roses. Sheen has two brothers and one sister, all of whom are actors: Emilio Estevez, Ramon Estevez, and Renée Estevez. Sheen attended Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California, where he was a star pitcher and shortstop for the baseball team. He also showed an early interest in acting, making several Super-8 films with his brother Emilio, schoolmates Rob and Chad Lowe, and early friend Chris Penn. Just a few weeks before graduation, Sheen was expelled from the school for poor grades and bad attendance.



Career

Sheen started acting in 1974 at the age of nine, appearing in a small role alongside his father in the television movie The Execution of Private Slovik. Sheen's film career began in 1984 with a role in the Cold War teen drama Red Dawn with Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, and Jennifer Grey. Sheen and Grey reunited in a small scene in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). He also appeared in an episode of the anthology series Amazing Stories. Sheen had his first major role in the Vietnam War drama Platoon (1986). In 1987, he starred with his father in Wall Street. Both Wall Street and Platoon were directed by Oliver Stone; however, in 1988, Stone approached Sheen about starring in his new film Born on the Fourth of July (1989), only to later re-cast Tom Cruise in place of Sheen. Sheen was never notified by Stone, and only found out when he heard the news from his brother Emilio. Sheen did not take a lead role in Stone's subsequent films[4], although he does have a cameo role in Stone's sequel to Wall Street.
In 1987, Sheen was cast to portray Ron in the unreleased Grizzly II: The Predator, the sequel to the 1976 low budget horror movie Grizzly. In 1988, he starred in the baseball film Eight Men Out as outfielder Happy Felsch. Also in 1988, he appeared opposite his brother Emilio Estevez in Young Guns and again in 1990 in Men at Work. Also in 1990, he starred alongside his father Martin Sheen in Cadence as a rebellious inmate in a military stockade and Clint Eastwood in the buddy cop action film The Rookie. In 1992, he starred in "Beyond the Law" with Linda Fiorentino and Michael Madsen. In 1997, Sheen wrote his first movie, Discovery Mars, a direct-to-video documentary revolving around the question, "Is There Life on Mars?" The next year, Sheen wrote, produced and starred in the action movie No Code of Conduct.
Sheen appeared in several comedy roles, including the Major League films, Money Talks, and the spoof Hot Shots! films. In 1999, Sheen appeared in a pilot for A&E Network, called Sugar Hill, which wasn't picked up. In 1999, Sheen played himself in Being John Malkovich. He also appeared in the spoof series Scary Movie 3 and follow up Scary Movie 4. In 2000, he was cast to replace Michael J. Fox on the sitcom Spin City; the series ended in 2002. In 2003, Sheen was cast as Charlie Harper in the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men, which followed the popular Monday night time slot of Everybody Loves Raymond. Sheen's role on Two and a Half Men was loosely based on Sheen's bad boy image.Sheen appears as Dex Dogtective in the unreleased Lionsgate animated comedy Foodfight.




Political views and activities

Charitable activities
Sheen was the 2004 spokesperson for the Lee National Denim Day breast cancer fundraiser that raised millions of dollars for research and education regarding the disease. Sheen stated that a friend of his died from breast cancer and he wanted to try to help find a cure for the disease.
A major donor and supporter of Aid For AIDS since 2006, Sheen was honored with an AFA Angel Award, one of only a few ever given, at the non-profit's 25th Silver Anniversary Reception in 2009.[8] In addition to his financial support, he has volunteered to act as a celebrity judge for several years for their annual fundraiser, Best In Drag Show, which raises around one-quarter of a million dollars each year in Los Angeles for AIDS assistance.[He has brought other celebrities to support the event, including his father, actor Martin Sheen. Sheen's interest in AIDS was first reported in 1987 with his support of Ryan White -- an Indiana teenager who became a national spokesperson for AIDS awareness after being infected with AIDS through a blood transfusion for his hemophilia.
Sheen also launched a clothing line for kids, called Sheen Kidz, in 2006.


September 11 attacks
On March 20, 2006, Sheen stated that he questions the US government's account of the September 11 attacks. Sheen said during the interview that the collapse of the World Trade Center towers looked like a controlled demolition. He urged critics not to attack him personally, but to challenge him on the facts.
Charlie Sheen has since become a prominent advocate of the 9/11 Truth movement.On September 8, 2009, Sheen appealed to US President Barack Obama to set up a new investigation into the attacks. Presenting his views as a transcript of a fictional encounter with Obama, he was characterized by the press as believing the 9/11 commission was a whitewash and that the administration of former US President George W. Bush may have been responsible for the attacks.



Personal life

Sheen and his girlfriend Paula Profit had a daughter, Cassandra Jade Estevez (born December 12, 1984).In 1990, Sheen accidentally shot his then-fiancee, Kelly Preston,in the arm; a minor wound needing two stitches. The relationship ended shortly thereafter. In 1995, Sheen married Donna Peele. The marriage lasted a little more than a year, from September 3, 1995 to November 19, 1996.[citation needed]. Sheen was named as one of many clients who visited brothels owned by Heidi Fleiss in her courtcase in 1995.. When questioned about this, Sheen responded "I love sex and I can afford it". Sheen's long-term relationship with former pornographic actress Ginger Lynn in the late 1990s garnered much media attention. He was also involved for a time with former pornographic actress Heather Hunter.
On May 20, 1998, Sheen tried injecting cocaine, accidentally giving himself an overdose. He was hospitalized, but discharged from the hospital soon afterward. His father Martin Sheen issued a public appeal for fans to pray for him and reported him for violation of parole. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and Charlie was sent to rehab.
On June 15, 2002, he married actress Denise Richards after meeting her while filming Good Advice in 2001. They have two daughters, Sam J. Sheen (born March 9, 2004) and Lola Rose Sheen (born June 1, 2005). In March 2005, while she was still pregnant with their daughter Lola, Richards filed for divorce from Sheen, accusing Sheen of abusing drugs and alcohol and threatening Richards with violence.Sheen and Richards' divorce was made official on November 30, 2006. Sheen and Richards were engaged in an acrimonious custody dispute over their two daughters. but have since made peace with each other, with Sheen stating in April 2009 that "we had to do what's best for the girls."
On May 30, 2008, Sheen married Brooke Mueller (also known as Brooke Allen), a real estate investor.This was the third marriage for Sheen and the first for Mueller. The couple's twins, Bob and Max, were born on March 14, 2009.
Sheen was arrested on charges of domestic violence, including second-degree assault and menacing, against Mueller on December 25, 2009. He was released from jail after posting an $8,500 bond. In a court appearance on February 8, 2010, Sheen was formally charged with felony menacing, and third-degree assault and criminal mischief, both misdemeanors. On May 29th UsMagazine.com reports Sheen is near a plea deal that would see the felony menacing charge dropped. He will plead guilty to one of the other charges and may spend up to 45 days in Aspen county jail.
In February, 2010, Sheen announced that he would take a break from Two and a Half Men to voluntarily enter a rehab facility. CBS expressed support. The decision to check himself into the facility for treatment, followed his wife's treatment in a different rehab facility. Sheen's rehabilitation was considered "preventive." In March, Sheen's press representatives announced that he was preparing to leave rehab and return to work on the popular sitcom. On May 18, 2010, Charlie Sheen signed an agreement to return to the sitcom for another two years for a reported $1.8 million per episode.



Awards and honors

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Charlie Sheen
In 1989, Sheen, along with John Fusco, Christopher Cain, Lou Diamond Phillips, Emilio Estevez, and Kiefer Sutherland, was honored with a Bronze Wrangler for their work on the film Young Guns. In 1994, Sheen was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard. For his work on the political sitcom Spin City, Sheen gained two ALMA Award nominations and won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy. Sheen also won an ALMA Award, gained three Emmy Award nominations, and two Golden Globe award nominations for his role in the sitcom Two and a Half Men.



Filmography

Films
Year Film Role Notes
1974 The Execution of Private Slovik Kid at Wedding NBC TV-movie; uncredited part.
1979 Apocalypse Now Extra[50]
1984 Red Dawn Matt Eckert
Silence of the Heart Ken Cruze CBS TV-movie
1985 The Fourth Wise Man Captain (Herod's Soldiers) TV-movie
Out of the Darkness Man Shaving CBS TV-movie
The Boys Next Door Bo Richards
1986 Lucas Cappie
Ferris Bueller's Day Off Garth Volbeck-Boy in Police Station Cameo
Platoon Private Chris Taylor
The Wraith Jake Kesey
Wisdom Hamburger Restaurant Manager Cameo
1987 Wall Street Bud Fox
No Man's Land Ted Varrick
Three for the Road Paul
Grizzly II: The Predator Concert Ron Unreleased
filmed in 1983
1988 Never on Tuesday Thief Uncredited Cameo
Eight Men Out Oscar 'Happy' Felsch
Young Guns Richard "Dick" Brewer Bronze Wrangler Award
1989 Tale of Two Sisters Narrator also writer (poems)
Major League Ricky 'Wild Thing' Vaughn
Catchfire Bob Cameo
1990 Cadence Pfc. Franklin Fairchild Bean
Courage Mountain Peter
Men at Work Carl Taylor
Navy SEALs Lt. (j.g.) Dale Hawkins
The Rookie David Ackerman
1991 Hot Shots! Lt. Sean Topper Harley
1992 Beyond the Law William Patrick Steaner/Daniel "Dan" Saxon/Sid
Oliver Stone: Inside Out Himself Documentary
1993 National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 Gern, Parking Valet Cameo
Deadfall Morgan "Fats" Gripp Cameo
Hot Shots! Part Deux Lt. Sean Topper Harley
The Three Musketeers Aramis
1994 Charlie Sheen's Stunt Spectacular Himself TV-movie
Terminal Velocity Richard 'Ditch' Brodie
The Chase Jackson Davis "Jack" Hammond also executive producer
Major League II Ricky 'Wild Thing' Vaughn
1996 Loose Women Barbie Loving Bartender Cameo appearance
Frame by Frame
All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 Charles B. "Charlie" Barkin (only voice)
The Arrival Zane Zaminsky
1997 Money Talks James Russell
Shadow Conspiracy Bobby Bishop
Bad Day on the Block Lyle Wilder also known as Under Pressure
1998 Postmortem James McGregor
A Letter from Death Row Cop #1 Cameo
No Code of Conduct Jacob "Jake" Peterson also executive producer and writer
Free Money Bud Dyerson
Junket Whore Himself Documentary
1999 Lisa Picard is Famous Himself
Five Aces Chris Martin
Being John Malkovich Himself Cameo
2000 Rated X Artie Jay "Art" Mitchell Showtime TV-movie
2001 Good Advice Ryan Edward Turner
Last Party 2000 Himself Documentary, uncredited
2002 The Making of Bret Michaels Himself Documentary
Pauly Shore Is Dead Himself Cameo
2003 Scary Movie 3 Tom Logan
2004 The Big Bounce Bob Rogers Jr.
2005 3 & 3: The Guilty Hearts Charlie Sheen segment "Spelling Bee"
2006 Scary Movie 4 Tom Logan Cameo
2010 Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps Bud Fox Cameo
unreleased Foodfight! Dex Dogtective voice role


Short films
Year Film Role Notes
1986 A Life in the Day
1989 Comicits Himself also producer
2003 Deeper Than Deep Charles "Chuck" E. Traynor
2004 Spelling Bee Himself from 3 & 3
[edit]Television
Year Title Role Notes
1986 Amazing Stories: Book Three Casey Episode: "No Day at the Beach"
1996 Friends Ryan Episode: "The One with the Chicken Pox"
1999 Sugar Hill Matt unsold pilot
2000–2002 Spin City Charlie Crawford won, Golden Globe award
nominated, two ALMA Awards
2003–Present Two and a Half Men Charlie Harper Gained various awards and nominations.
2006 Overhaulin' Himself Episode: "LeMama's Boy"
2008 The Big Bang Theory Himself Episode: "The Griffin Equivalency"
2009 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Himself
2009 Lopez Tonight Himself
2010 Family Guy Himself Episode: "Brian Griffin's House of Payne"
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Sheen
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Victor Victoria

Victor Victoria is a 1982 musical comedy film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that involves transvestism and sexual identity as central themes. It stars Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston, Lesley Ann Warren, Alex Karras and John Rhys-Davies. The film was produced by Tony Adams, directed by Blake Edwards, and scored by Henry Mancini, with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. It was later adapted in 1995 as a Broadway musical. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won the Academy Award for Original Music Score. It is a remake of Viktor und Viktoria, a German film of 1933.

Production

The screenplay of Victor Victoria was adapted by Blake Edwards (Andrews' husband) and Hans Hoemburg from the 1933 German film Viktor und Viktoria by Reinhold Schünzel. According to Blake Edwards, the screenplay took only one month to write. There was also a 1935 remake named First a Girl, made in the United Kingdom and directed by Victor Saville, about a woman who stands in for a female impersonator and becomes a hit. Julie Andrews watched the 1933 version to prepare for her role.

Plot summary

In 1930s Paris. Victoria Grant (Julie Andrews), a struggling soprano, is unable to find work. She bombs an audition at Chez Lui, a tawdry night club where Carroll "Toddy" Todd (played by Robert Preston) also works. In the evening of that day Toddy starts a fight at Chez Lui after finding out that his boyfriend was dating a woman and is subsequently fired. Later that night Victoria runs into Toddy at a Paris restaurant where she is scheming to plant a cockroach in her food in order to get her meal for free, trying to foil the waiter (Graham Stark). The plan goes awry after the cockroach goes missing and ends up on a woman's leg, starting a riot in the restaurant, which Victoria and Toddy use to escape. They spend the night at his apartment. The next day Toddy's boyfriend shows up to pick up his things and when he insults Toddy Victoria breaks his nose and takes his spare clothes, as hers were ruined by the previous night's rain. At the sight of Victoria dressed as a man Toddy hits upon a plan to help both her and himself: Victoria will pretend to be a man pretending to be a woman, and get a job as a female impersonator in a nightclub. In order to enhance the ruse, Toddy will pretend to be her gay lover.

Soon Victoria's new persona, "Count Victor Grazinski", becomes the toast of Paris. As money and fame start to turn her (and Toddy's) lives around, an additional complication arises. King Marchand (James Garner), a gangster and nightclub-owner from Chicago, finds himself at first attracted to Victoria and repelled by "Victor". This encourages his burly bodyguard, "Squash" Bernstein (Alex Karras), to come out of the closet, but it enrages Marchand's whiny-voiced, peroxide-blonde spitfire girlfriend Norma (Lesley Ann Warren).

Marchand starts to investigate Victor, sure that a man like himself could never fall for another man but in the end declares that he does not care if Victoria is a man. Norma becomes more annoying and tawdry, in contrast to the classy Victoria, and King finally has Squash send her home to Chicago so that he is free to pursue Victoria, and has to live up to the image that he is living with a man. Victoria must come to terms with what she really wants out of life: to be true to herself by giving up her career and fame in Paris to be with the man who loves her and whom she loves, or to continue with her duplicitous profession and risk losing Marchand.

In a subplot of the film, the owner of the Chez Lui club also is trying to investigate Victor, since he suspects that "he" is the soprano whom he rejected from his club.

The vocal numbers in the film are presented as nightclub acts. However, the lyrics or situations of some of the songs are calculated to relate to the unfolding drama. Thus, the two staged numbers Le Jazz Hot and The Shady Dame from Seville help to present Victoria as a female impersonator. The latter number is later reinterpreted by Toddy for diversionary purposes in the plot. And the cozy relationship of Toddy and Victoria is promoted by the song You and Me, which is sung before the audience at the nightclub.

Awards

The movie won the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score. It was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Robert Preston), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Julie Andrews), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Lesley Ann Warren), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Rodger Maus, Tim Hutchinson, William Craig Smith, Harry Cordwell), Best Costume Design and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

American Film Institute recognition

2000: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs #76

Cast

Julie Andrews as Victoria Grant

James Garner as King Marchand

Robert Preston as Carroll 'Toddy' Todd

Lesley Ann Warren as Norma Cassidy

Alex Karras as 'Squash' Bernstein

John Rhys-Davies as Andre Cassell

Graham Stark as Waiter

Peter Arne as Labisse

Herb Tanney as Charles Bovin

Michael Robbins as Manager of Victoria's hotel

Norman Chancer as Sal Andratti

David Gant as Restaurant Manager

Maria Charles as Madame President

Malcolm Jamieson as Richard DiNardo

John Cassady as Juke

Glen Murphy as boxer

(source:wikipedia)