There Are Many Greats Still With Us

Once again, I’ve decided to compile a complement to my yearly R.I.P. post. There are still several performers who made their mark in classic movies, from top box office stars to reliable support players, who are alive today. I've got about 170 people on this list--and I wouldn't be surprised if I've still missed someone. Please let me know in the comments if you've got a name to add!

Sue Lyon, 64

Tuesday Weld, 67

Yvette Mimieux, 68

Julie Christie, 69

Ann-Margret, 69

Gigi Perreau, 69

Peter Fonda, 70

Karolyn Grimes, 70

Samantha Eggar, 71

Richard Beymer, 72

Claudia Cardinale, 72

John Howard Davies, 72

Dolores Hart, 72

Millie Perkins, 72

Paula Prentiss, 72

Jane Fonda, 73

Margaret O'Brien, 73

Susan Kohner, 74

Robert Redford, 74

Dean Stockwell, 74

Diahann Carroll, 75

Julie Andrews, 75 (thanks samxart!)

Alain Delon, 75

Russ Tamblyn, 75

Brigitte Bardot, 76

George Chakiris, 76

Barbara Eden, 76

Sophia Loren, 76

Shirley MacLaine, 76

Joan Collins, 77

Kim Novak, 77

Marisa Pavan, 78

Debbie Reynolds, 78

Elizabeth Taylor, 78

Claire Bloom, 79

Leslie Caron, 79

Anita Ekberg, 79

John Gavin, 79

Mitzi Gaynor, 79

Tab Hunter, 79

John Kerr, 79

Rita Moreno, 79

Ann E. Todd, 79

Anne Francis, 80

Tippi Hedren, 80

Marni Nixon, 80

Robert Wagner, 80

Joanne Woodward, 80

Sybil Jason, 81

Anne Meara, 81

Vera Miles, 81

Terry Moore, 81

Don Murray, 81

Irene Papas, 81

Joan Plowright, 81

Jane Powell, 81

Elaine Stewart, 81

Rod Taylor, 81

Sada Thompson, 81

Ann Blyth, 82

Arlene Dahl, 82

Peggy Dow, 82

Sally Forrest, 82

Rita Gam, 82

James Garner, 82

Kathleen Hughes, 82

Martin Landau, 82 (Thanks kittypackard!)

Barbara Lawrence, 82

Nancy Olson, 82

Shirley Temple, 82

Harry Belafonte, 83

Honor Blackman, 83

Cora Sue Collins, 83

Lee Grant, 83

Rosemary Harris, 83

Gina Lollabrigida, 83

Roger Moore, 83

Estelle Parsons, 83

Sidney Poitier, 83

Barbara Rush, 83

Julia Adams, 84

Mona Freeman, 84

Andy Griffith, 84

Anne Jackson, 84

Gloria Jean, 84

Cloris Leachman, 84

Jerry Lewis, 84

Joan Lorring, 84

Marcy McGuire, 84

Betsy Palmer, 84

Jane Withers, 84

Patrice Wymore, 84

Lola Albright, 85

Denise Darcel, 85

Gloria DeHaven, 85

Farley Granger, 85

Julie Harris, 85

Martha Hyer, 85

Angela Lansbury, 85

Joan Leslie, 85

June Lockhart, 85

Dorothy Malone, 85

Colette Marchand, 85

Dickie Moore, 85

Dick Van Dyke, 85

Cara Williams, 85

Lauren Bacall, 86

Theodore Bikel, 86

Ruby Dee, 86

Stanley Donen, 86

Eva Marie Saint, 86

Ursula Thiess, 86

Richard Attenborough, 87

Valentina Cortese, 86

Betsy Drake, 86

Rhonda Fleming, 87

Glynis Johns, 87

Dina Merrill, 87

Peggy Stewart, 87 (thanks Elisabeth!)

Jean Stapleton, 87

Turhan Bey, 88

Jackie Cooper, 88

Doris Day, 88

Coleen Gray, 88

Janis Paige, 88

Juanita Moore, 88

Eleanor Parker, 88

Lizabeth Scott, 88

Harry Carey, Jr., 89

Carol Channing, 89

Nancy Davis (Reagan), 89

Deanna Durbin, 89

Barbara Hale, 89

Jane Russell, 89

Phylis Thaxter, 89

Esther Williams, 89

Mary Anderson, 90

Nanette Fabray, 90

Jayne Meadows, 90

Michele Morgan, 90

Noel Neill, 90

Maureen O'Hara, 90

Mickey Rooney, 90

Ann Rutherford, 90

Ruth Terry, 90 (Thanks Elisabeth!)

June Vincent, 90

Marge Champion, 91

Betty Garrett, 91

Louis Jourdan, 91

Joe Mantell, 91

Patricia Medina, 91

Patty Andrews, 92

Joyce Redman, 92

Diana Serra Cary (AKA Baby Peggy), 92

Audrey Totter, 92

Efrem Zimbalist Jr., 92

Ernest Borgnine, 93

Danielle Darrieux, 93

Phyllis Diller, 93

Joan Fontaine, 93

Zsa Zsa Gabor, 93

Lorna Gray, 93 (Thanks Elisabeth!)

Celeste Holm, 93

Marsha Hunt, 93

Googie Withers, 93

Olivia de Havilland, 94

Kirk Douglas, 94

Harry Morgan, 95

Patricia Morison, 95

Alicia Rhett, 95

Eli Wallach, 95 (Thanks kittypackard!)

Norman Lloyd, 96

Grace Bradley, 97

Risë Stevens, 97

Mary Carlisle, 98

Luise Rainer, 100

Barbara Kent, 104

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R.I.P. 2010

A diverse group of movie talents passed on this year, some of them among the biggest stars, others who had shorter careers, but who outlived many of their contemporaries. Regardless of the size of their impact, each of these people made their mark on classic movies. Please let me know in the comments if I have missed anyone who you feel belongs on the list!

Roy Ward Baker
Director, A Night to Remember (1958), The Vampire Lovers (1970)

Claude Chabrol
Director, Les cousins (1959), Les bonnes femmes (1960)

Cammie King Conlon
Child Actress, Gone With the Wind (1939), Bambi (1942)

Robert Culp
Actor, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), Sunday in New York (1963)

Tony Curtis
Actor, Some Like it Hot (1959), The Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

Doris Eaton Travis
Dancer/Actress, The Broadway Peacock (1922), High Kickers (1923)

Blake Edwards
Director, The Pink Panther (1963), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Eddie Fisher
Singer/Actor, BUtterfield 8 (196), Bundle of Joy (1956)

John Forsythe
Actor, The Trouble With Harry (1955), Kitten With a Whip (1964)

Peter Graves
Actor, Red Planet Mars (1952), Stalag 17 (1953)

Kathryn Grayson
Singer/Actress, Kiss Me Kate (1953), Showboat (1951)

June Havoc
Actress, Gentleman’s Agreement (1947), My Sister Eileen (1942)

Dennis Hopper
Actor, Rebel Without a Cause (1955), Giant (1956)

Lena Horne
Singer/Actress, Cabin In the Sky (1943), Stormy Weather (1943)

Joyce Howard
Actress, Terror House (1942), They Met in the Dark (1943)

Dino de Laurentiis
Producer, La Strada (1954), Nights of Cabiria (1957)

Kevin McCarthy
Actor, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), Death of a Salesman (1951)

James Mitchell
Actor, Stars in My Crown (1950), Border Incident (1949)

Mario Monicelli
Director, Big Deal on Madonna Street (1958), The Girl With a Pistol (1968)

Helen Alice Myres (AKA Baby Marie Osborne)
Child Actress, The Maid of the Wild (1915), Captain Kiddo (1917)

Patricia Neal
Actress, Hud (1953), A Face in the Crowd (1957)

Ronald Neame
Cinematographer/Writer/Producer/Director, The Horse’s Mouth (1958), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)

Leslie Nielsen
Actor, Forbidden Planet (1956), Tammy and the Bachelor (1957)

Fess Parker
Actor, Old Yeller (1957), Westward Ho the Wagons! (1956)

Neva Patterson
Actress, An Affair to Remember (1957), Desk Set (1957)

Arthur Penn
Director, The Miracle Worker (1962), Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Ingrid Pitt
Actress, The Vampire Lovers (1970), Countess Dracula (1971)

Meinhardt Raabe
Actor, Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Lynn Redgrave
Actress, Georgy Girl (1966), Gods and Monsters (1998)

Jean Simmons
Actress, Hamlet (1948), Elmer Gantry (1960)

Gloria Stuart
Actress, The Invisible Man (1933), The Old Dark House (1932)

Classic Links

The 2010 picks for the National Film Registry were announced yesterday. I’m particularly thrilled to see The Pink Panther (1964), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945) and Make Way For Tomorrow (1937) on the list-- CNN Blog

A wonderful review of The Ladykillers (1955) that rightfully focuses on the lady— Ferdy on Films

Robert Osborne reminisces about the dearly departed of 2010— Zap2it

Classic movie stars share their childhood memories of the movies—Java's Journey

Gwynth Paltrow is rumored to be playing Marlene Dietrich in a two-part television movie. I can’t picture how this could work. Dietrich is inimitable, though I’ve seen a couple of drag queens come close; they seem to understand the value of camp in her persona— Collider

I'm Dying to See Burt Lancaster on Sesame Street!

Ever since I read this item about James Earl Jones and Burt Lancaster performing on early episodes of Sesame Street, I've been dying to see Lancaster recite the alphabet. He also did a segment where he does push-ups while counting. I must see these clips!

I've seen this James Earl Jones clip (and another of him counting) in several places online:

 

So where is Burt? Is this on a DVD I'm not aware of? Or is there a clip floating out there somewhere?

By the way, I think it's hilarious that James Earl Jones thought the Muppets would scare children, because I think his intense, steely-eyed rendition of the alphabet is much more intimidating (if very cool). He kind of looks like he wants to start a fight.

The pic is from Muppet Wiki. Isn't it fantastic to know that there is a Muppet Wiki?

Classic Links

This post is mostly about alternate names for Snow White’s seven dwarves, but I was most interested in the clip from the premiere of the movie-- Mental Floss

An Instant Play find: Sleep My Love (1948) with Claudette Colbert-- Laura's Miscellaneous Musings

A couple buys an old car from It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)—the one that George Bailey crashes into a tree!-- USA Today

Quote of the Week

The way von Stroheim treated time was like any artist should treat time. He just ignored it.

-Fay Wray

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Re-post: Deanna Durbin Sings Silent Night

[This is a re-post from exactly a year ago. I may need to make this post a yearly tradition. I can't think of a better way to celebrate Christmas]

I get the chills every time I hear Deanna Durbin's low-key, but lush performance of Silent Night from the murder mystery-musical-comedy-noir (and how many of those exist?) Lady on a Train (1945). While she sings to her father to ease the pain of being apart on Christmas Eve, even the thug listening at the door is moved to tears (though he still goes through with the secret theft his boss has ordered). Given the underlying threat of danger, it's an oddly peaceful and hopeful scene.

Classic Links

I love this essay about the Days of Wine and Roses—it touches on both the 1962 film and the more harrowing 1958 TV version— Sunset Gun

This is a great list of lesser-known holiday films. I didn’t even know about some of them— Comet Over Hollywood

So what is your favorite version of this tune?— Via Margutta 51

This is one of my favorite pics of Bette Davis. She knows how to wear that fur hood— She Blogged By Night

The Toronto Film Festival’s 100 essential movies. This is a wonderful list, and a good starting point for looking to explore world film and classic Hollywood-- /Film

Classic Links

Millie’s review has inspired me to finally check out the German beach party movie Hot Summer (1968) been hanging out in my instant play queue for a while (and if you like this flick, check out East Side Story (1997), the most entertaining documentary you'll ever watch about communist musicals)-- Classic Forever

Spies (1928), directed by Fritz Lang-- She Blogged By Night

A nice, brief tribute to Grace Kelly’s style. Interesting trivia-- All Good Things

Jane, Peter and Henry Fonda—looking gorgeous, but tense. I’ve never seen anyone look so uncomfortable in a hammock. Classic Film Scans

Classic Links

This is a nice tribute to Blake Edwards-- Blogdanovich

Oooh, a new book about “bad” movies: 150 Movies You Should (Die Before You) See-- Motion Picture Gems

I love the way Katharine Hepburn describes John Wayne here. It has helped me to appreciate him more-- The Sheila Variations

Ah, look how happy Ann-Margret is making the fellas at this USO show-- Film Noir Photos

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes(1945)—sweet, but not too sweet-- Movie Classics

Quote of the Week

Half the people in America are faking it.

-Robert Mitchum

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Classic Links

R.I.P. Neva Peterson [An Affair to Remember (1957)]— Google AP

The Fake Criterion Collection on Tumblr. Pretty funny. The Skin Deep one is almost poignant now-- Fake Criterions ( via Mental Floss)

Oh—my beloved moon. The true start of movie magic (after a few great practice runs)This is a great post about the early days of moviemaking-- A Mythical Monkey Writes About the Movies

Another fantastic gallery from Lolita. Amazing pics-- Lolita's Classics

A fond—and funny—fan memory of Joan Fontaine--The Kitty Packard Pictorial

Wow—dolls just make everything creepier—don’t they?-- If Charlie Parker Were a Gunslinger. . .

The adorable Toby Wing -- Allure

RIP Blake Edwards, 1922-2010

R.I.P. Blake Edwards—you deserve immortality for The Pink Panther (1963) alone, [though I can't forget My Sister Eileen (1955), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), Experiment in Terror (1962),Days of Wine and Roses (1962), A Shot in the Dark (1964), The Party (1968) –birdy num-nums!-and Victor Victoria (1982). Okay, Skin Deep (1989) kind of made me laugh.]

Edward Copeland on Film

Edwards and Sellars on the set

NPR

The Guardian:
Obituary
Gallery
Clips


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Re-post: The Forties Goldmine of Christmas Movies--Part I

[I had a lot of fun writing this post last year, so I thought I'd give it another run in 2010]

Have you ever noticed how many great Christmas movies came out of the forties?

The era produced not only some of the most beloved titles, such as It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Christmas in Connecticut (1945), The Bishop’s Wife (1947), and Holiday Inn (1942), but also several movies with memorable holiday moments. Here are a few that come to mind:

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Never have I wanted so badly for a group of characters to find a happy place to celebrate Christmas. It practically turned the end of this movie into a suspense flick for me.

They Live by Night (1948)
Cold-eyed gangster Howard Da Silva demonstrates how to thoroughly terrorize a young couple by simply crushing an ornament. It’s as if he’s threatening to cancel Christmas.

Christmas Holiday (1944)
Deanna Durbin has a bleak Christmas Eve as she pines for her jail bound husband.

Lady on a Train (1945)
A happier Durbin’s intimate phone performance of Silent Night is a peaceful interlude in the midst of a chaotic murder mystery.

Lady in the Lake (1947)
Robert Montgomery’s Christmas noir, complete with an angelic choir on the soundtrack.

Penny Serenade (1941)
Christmas is a troubling season for a struggling couple played by Cary Grant and Irene Dunne in this classic tearjerker.

Meet Me In St Louis (1944)
Judy Garland’s moving rendition of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas makes such an impact that this mostly non-holiday movie is still satisfying Christmas viewing.

Check out part two: more fine holiday movies from the forties (I promise they will be happier than this bunch)

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Classic Links

There are lots of great classics in the eighth list of this fantastic Netflix instant play suggested viewing series-- Rupert Pupkin Speaks

I still miss having Paul Newman in the world. Here’s a great gallery of pics to remember him by-- Lolita's Classics

Laura pays tribute to Van Heflin on the centennial of his birth-- Laura's Miscellaneous Musings

It’s funny how time can make advertising more charming. Here are some starry RC cola ads-- And . . . Scene

Classic Links

Get out your hanky (or pull down your sleeve)—it’s time for TCM Remembers 2010. I’m always surprised by how many greats pass in a year.— Motion Picture Gems

A Q&A with Ann Harding’s biographer. There’s loads of great bio info. and pics here.— Movie Morlocks/TCM

Bogdanovich writes about Buster Keaton— Blogdanovich

Monica Vitti in The Girl With the Pistol (1968)— Mondo 70

The greatest film noir posters: part III— Where Danger Lives

Quote of the Week

I have to think hard to name an interesting man who does not drink.

-Richard Burton

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Classic Links

100 flicks in the public domain (and where to find many of them)— Toronto Sun

Anna May Wong being elegant in a trio of cheesecake pics— She Blogged By Night

The top movies of the 1920s-- David Bordwell

Hooray for the Hollywood news from May 1, 1932! I love this blog-- Hollywood Heyday

There’s a campaign to get a Charlton Heston stamp. Movie stardom aside, I think he is aesthetically well-suited to stampdom— IMDB

James Franco to write and direct a Sal Mineo biopic. Has this man found extra hours in the day or what?— IMDB

Classic Links

A tribute to Eli Wallach on his 95th birthday yesterday-- EW

It looks like there’s going to be a lot of interesting history to soak up at the Oscars website over the next 80+ days-- Alt Film Guide

The color palette of Playtime (1967), Tati’s most visually appealing movie-- Cinema Styles

Deanna Durbin promoting Christmas Holiday (1944) in Life Magazine-- The Amazing Deanna Durbin

Mickey Rooney gets tough in The Last Mile (1959)-- Where Danger Lives

I’m excited that Screaming Mimi (1958) is coming to DVD!-- Classicflix Blog

Classic Links

This is a fun movie screenshot quiz-- Movietone News

One of Louise Brooks’ bests flicks, Diary of a Lost Girl (1929)-- Silent Volume

This is an interesting analysis of Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (1960).-- Motion Picture Gems

Brigitte Bardot a Don Juan? I buy that-- Sunset Gun

More great film noir posters— Where Danger Lives

Quote of the Week

If so many people love me, how come I'm alone?

-Doris Day

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Classic Links

A personal memory of seeing Julie Harris perform, in celebration of her 85th birthday yesterday— Laszlos on Lex

Peter Sellars recites the Beatles. How goofy. I love this blog— Retrospace

Too bad Jim Carrey, Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro will no longer be starring together in the Three Stooges biopic. I would have liked to have seen that. Maybe not the whole movie, but I would have definitely been interested in checking out the trailer. I wonder who they’ll pick now?— Cinematical

Is anyone else mourning the decline of horse roles in film? I’ve never thought about it.— The Guardian

RIP British actress Joyce Howard, 88-- IMDB

Classic Links

This tribute by David Zucker is the most touching piece I’ve seen about the passing of Leslie Nielsen. It kind of choked me up. They had a delightful personal and professional relationship-- /Film

Leslie Neilsen talks about Forbidden Planet (1956)— Leonard Maltin's Movie Crazy

Here’s an interesting idea: Roman Holiday—the video game. Classic movies as video games. That opens up a world of interesting possibilities. What would you want to play?— Via Margutta 51

RIP Italian director Mario Monicelli-- The Guardian

I love the thought of Burt Lancaster and James Earl Jones working on early Sesame Street episodes!-- IMDB

Ann Savage’s ferocious performance in Detour (1945)- The Sheila Variations

Part five of an amazing series of lists: interesting flicks on Netflix instant play. I will never have time to watch all the titles I’ve culled from these lists, but it is lovely to know I can watch them at the press of a button-- Rupert Pupkin Speaks

Ida Lupino in the underrated Private Hell 36 (1954)— Discovering Ida

Classic Links

RIP Leslie Nielsen, 84-- Cinematical

I love this Gloria Grahame gallery. She seems like she was truly a tough dame-- Film Noir Photos

I’ve been enjoying this blog lately. Here’s a nice tribute to Myrna Loy-- My Love of Old Hollywood

Part I of the greatest posters of film noir. This is going to be a fantastic series-- Where Danger Lives

Joan Fontaine in Flight to Tangier (1953) Olivia and Joan: Sisters of the Silver Screen

Quote of the Week

If I'm such a legend, then why am I so lonely?

-Judy Garland

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Classic Links

I think Tarzan and His Mate (1934) is a class above the other movies in the O’Sullivan/Weismueller series— Via Margutta 51

This is a lovely tribute to Fay Wray. She doesn’t get nearly enough attention— My Love of Old Hollwyood

1920s wedding dresses were so cool. I often wish I would have gone with that style for my own wedding— Perpetual Flapper

I love this short, but effective review of The Lodger (1944)— Persblanc's Classic B-Movie Reviews

Classic Links

The film preservation blog-a-thon returns! This time we know what we are saving—and it’s film noir-- Self-Styled Siren

RIP beloved Hammer horror icon Ingrid Pitt-- The Guardian

24 Hours (1931): pre-code, Kay Francis and Miriam Hopkins—sounds grand!-- Classic Movies Digest

Ida Lupino as a spinster-type in Jennifer (1953)-- Where Danger Lives

Classic Links

Orson Welles looking particularly owl-like in Chimes at Midnight (1965)-- Movie Classics

I’ve been wanting to see Make Way For Tomorrow (1938), but it sounds so like such a bummer. I know it sounds shallow, but I don’t want to be sad!-- The Guardian

What a great way to celebrate a blogaversary—the 100 greatest posters of film noir-- Where Danger Lives

Rita Tushingham, the bright-eyed star of 1960s Britain-- Movietone News

I love these pics of movie stars on the set, especially the shot of Liz Taylor and James Dean horsing around. It looks like they had a lot of fun together.-- Vintage Stardust

Quote of the Week

I have to act to live.

-Laurence Olivier

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Classic Links

Hey Joan Crawford fans—here’s a compelling argument that the infamous wire hangers episode never happened (not that her adoptive daughter’s book rang loudly with truth in the first place)— Village Voice

The complete new version of Metropolis (1927) is now on Netflix instant play.— The Criterion Cast

A nice remembrance of child star Baby Marie Osborne— NPR

The Jimmy Stewart Museum is in danger of closing—WJACTV.com

An amazing review round-up—

Watch Murder By Contract (1958) and just try to get that snappy soundtrack out of your head— Ferdy on Films

The heartbreakingly romantic Le Notte Bianche (1957) with Jean Maris and Marcello Mastroianni, sigh— Criterion Reflections

Brother Orchid (1940) Edward G. Robinson is remarkable in this flick— Out of the Past

Simmering screen couple Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell in Street Angel (1928)-- The Big Parade

Classic Links

R.I.P. silent child star, stand-in and costumer Marie “Baby Marie” Osborne— Alt Film Guide

Warner Bros. Wants Robert Zemeckis to Direct Wizard of Oz Remake Based on the Original (Remember Psycho (1998)? Yikes. Want to bet it this Oz will be in 3D?)-- /Film

Fellini's I Vitelloni (1953)— Motion Picture Gems

These promo pics of Jane Greer are racy for 1947! They’re actually pretty cute, because she looks like she’s being Jane—not Out of the Past Kathy— Film Noir Photos

Classic Links

Another great movie survey. Nice work Bette! Have fun with it bloggers.— Bette's Classic Movie Blog

I wish I had time to listen to these radio programs starring classic stars. They look wonderful— Java's Journey

Two fine posts from Via Margutta 51:
Ginger Rogers reads Alice in Wonderland
Top ten movies directed by Mitchell Leisen

Paulette Goddard and Fred MacMurray in Standing Room Only (1944)— Laura's Miscellaneous Musings

Joan Blondell and Warren William in Smarty (1934)— Screen Snapshots

Jean-Luc Godard and charges of antisemitism The Guardian

Quote of the Week

So many beautiful women and so little time.

-John Barrymore

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Classic Links

RIP Dino de Laurentiis-- The Guardian

Movies for Mad Men fans going through withdrawal— Movie Morlocks/TCM

A nice collection of flicks gathered in celebration of the Veteran’s Day holiday yesterday-- Riku Writes

The devastating Heroes For Sale (1933)— Another Old Movie Blog

Eli Wallach on NPR’s Fresh Air, 1990—re-aired to celebrate his honorary Oscar— NPR

Classic Links

The rare Something to Live For (1952) with Joan Fontaine, Ray Milland and Teresa Wright is on YouTube, for now. Catch it while you can!— Self-Styled Siren

Hitch’s impeccable set design for Dial M for Murder (1954)— Alfred Hitchcock Geek

Another reason to love archive DVDs: James Coburn ambling through Duffy (1968)— Flickhead

I didn’t know that Martin Scorsese’s long-time editor Thelma Schoonmaker was married to Michael Powell—interesting.-- The Guardian

Adolph Zukor, the architect of Hollywood-- Slate

The Night of the Hunter (1955) gets a Criterion Collection release.-- Slate

Classic Links

If you didn’t catch this over the weekend, Doris Day recently gave a rare interview. I first saw this on Java’s Journey—Raquelle at Out of the Past also posted about it. I haven’t had a chance to listen yet!--
Java's Journey
Out of the Past

The first film version of Frankenstein (1910)-- Film Ab Initio

I like these reviews of strangler pictures. I didn’t realize how many there were!— Lazslos on Lex

These shots of the locations from Union Station (1950) are great because the station looks so much like it did 60 years ago. What a gorgeous building-- Dear Old Hollywood

How classics transfer to Blu-Ray-- New York Times (Via The Night Editor)

Thank you to Raquelle for letting us media-reviewing bloggers know about the FTC rules about disclosure of review copies received. This ruling bugs me. I don’t make endorsements; I write reviews—and getting a book—or more often a PDF of a book isn’t going to sway my opinion any more than that of a professional reviewer. I don’t want you all to spend money on something that isn’t good—so I stay on the up and up! But disclose I will.-- Out of the Past

Quote of the Week

It was a dedicated life then. You had no social life. You had to have lunch or dinner, but it was always spent talking over work—talking over stories or cutting or titles.

-Lillian Gish

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Classic Links

I think Eli Wallach works harder at age 95 than I ever will— The Guardian

Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell and their beautiful chemistry— The Big Parade

Alain Delon will be 75 soon. I love having an excuse to mention him— Movie Morlocks/TCM

Bette Davis was dishy when she was young. Maybe the Girl From 10th Avenue (1935) wasn’t one of her best, but she looked fantastic— She Blogged By Night

George Lazenby, my favorite Bond (He got Diana Rigg—how could there be a better Bond than that?), is writing his autobiography.— IMDB

Classic Links

Oh sheesh—I missed Ann Rutherford’s birthday yesterday. I love her! Laura wrote a nice tribute-- Laura's Miscellaneous Musings

The new TCM series Moguls and Movie Stars sounds fantastic—
Movie Morlocks/TCM
The Shelf
New York Times

A couple of dreamy Burt Lancaster pics and a good viewing list of his best flicks— Art, Movies, Wood and Whatnot

Raquelle’s take on Roy Blount Jr’s Duck Soup/Marx Brothers book— Out of the Past

A nice tribute to Glenda Farrell, lots of screenshots— Allure

The results of the TCM survey that compared today’s stars with the stars of the past. The result: there is no comparsion!— TCM

Book Review: Hail! Hail! Euphoria! Presenting the Marx Brothers in Duck Soup the Greatest War Movie Ever Made

Hail! Hail! Euphoria! Presenting the Marx Brothers in Duck Soup the Greatest War Movie Ever Made

Roy Blount. Jr.

HarperCollins, 2010

If you want to know the definition of a “gookie”*, then you must read Hail! Hail! Euphoria! Roy Blount Jr. approaches his history of the Marx Brothers classic Duck Soup (1933) as a well-read fan, and he gleefully geeks out on bits of trivia like this one.

Hail! Hail! Euphoria! weaves a buoyant shot-by-shot analysis of the anarchic comedy with anecdotes, history and gossip about the Marx clan. There’s a nice history of the brothers, including a revealing tribute their devoted and determined mother Minnie (she sounds like a character. I would have liked to have seen her in the movies). Blount also pays tribute to matronly straight woman Margaret Dumont and director Leo McCarey, who was out of his element with the Marx boys, but directed a masterpiece nevertheless.

Blount’s research is extensive, and there are footnotes on nearly every page. Sometimes the footnotes take up most of the page. This often drove me crazy; I even threw the book down a couple of times because I was tired of constantly switching gears.

Despite my little fits, I couldn’t think of a bit of information that I didn’t want in the book or of a better way that it could have been presented. The movie is crazy, and the Marx Brothers are crazy, so a decent book about them has got to be crazy as well. I realized I was like one of the Marx's dupes—this book was kicking me in the butt, cutting the pockets out of my trousers, and destroying my hat, but it was brilliant, so I had to take it.

Hail! Hail! Euphoria! will be rewarding for classic movie fans and goofy bliss for Marx Brothers lovers.

*The Gookie is one of Harpo Marx’s most familiar crazy expressions—he bugs out his eyes, puffs out his cheeks and makes a fish face with his lips.

Classic Links

Was anyone a classic movie star or character for Halloween? I just realized last night that I’ve never done that for a costume. I’ll have to think of something for next year.

Lizzie (1957), with the underrated Eleanor Parker and the always-welcome Joan Blondell— And Then I Watched

This is a great tribute to the versatile Vincent Price— Silents and Talkies

Kate Gabrielle has set up a gorgeous new site with huge, high quality scans of classic movie star pics. She welcomes submissions.— Classic Film Scans

Bogdanovich writes about Psycho (1960) and the traumatic experience of being in the audience for the first press/audience screening— Blogdanovich

Peter Pan (1924), with the perfectly-suited Betty Bronson and a much too brief appearance by Anna Mae Wong as Princess Tiger Lily— Silent Volume

Amanda's Cinema Survey

I finally got around to tackling the yearly survey from Amanda of A Noodle in a Haystack. It was lots of fun. Thanks for putting this together Amanda:

1. What is your favorite movie starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, excluding all of The Thin Man films?

Love Crazy (1941) is hilarious. The first time I saw it, I couldn't believe I hadn’t heard of it before. Why isn’t it a huge classic?

2. Name a screen team that appeared in only one film together but are still noteworthy for how well they complimented each other.

It was great luck that Carole Lombard and Cary Grant had the chance to work together in In Name Only (1939)

3. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' best film together?

Swing Time (1936)

4. Your favorite actor named "Robert"?

Robert Mitchum

5. An actor/actress who, when you see one of their movies, you always wish that someone else was in his/her role?

I don’t get Greer Garson.

6. An actor/actress that someone close to you really loves that you can't stand or vice versa?

My husband doesn't get Kim Novak, but I adore her.

7. An actor/actress that you both agree on completely?

My husband is on board with me about James Cagney. He didn’t like him much personally after reading his autobiography though. I told him, he’s an actor, they have big egos!

8. Complete this sentence: Virginia O'Brien is to Ethel Merman as...

Hedy Lamarr is to Paulette Goddard (I based my choice on facial expressiveness--is that a word?)

9. What is your favorite film starring Ray Milland?

The Univited (1944), I liked him as a romantic hero.

10. You had to have seen this one coming: what is your favorite movie of the 1960s?

La Dolce Vita (1960)

11. An actor/actress that you would take out of one film and put into a different movie that was released the same year?

I would have loved to have seen Marilyn Monroe star in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) . I thought Audrey Hepburn was a great Holly Golightly, and it has long been one of my favorite movies, but I always wonder how Monroe would have approached the role.

12. Who was your favorite of Robert Montgomery's leading ladies?

Ms. Shearer

13. You think it would have been a disaster if what movie starred the actor/actress who was originally asked to star in it?

Hedy Lamarr in Casablanca (1942) *shudder* (I do like Hedy Lamarr—in the right role)

14. An actor/actress who you will watch in any or almost any movie?

Cary Grant (almost Bette Davis, but I can’t bring myself to watch all of Wicked Stepmother (1989))

15. Your favorite Leslie Howard film and role?

The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934)

16. You have been asked to host a marathon of four Barbara Stanwyck films. Which ones do you choose?

Baby Face (1933), The Lady Eve (1941), Double Indemnity (1944),The Furies (1950)

17. What is, in your mind, the nearest to perfect comedy you have ever seen? Why?

My Man Godfrey (1936), because the cast selection, timing and quips were all so perfectly executed.

18. You will brook no criticism of what film?

Oh many! Maybe just classics overall.

19. Who is your favorite Irish actress?

Maureen O’Sullivan. Girl-next-door with a hint of glamour.

20. Your favorite 1940s movie starring Ginger Rogers?

I’ll Be Seeing You (1944) was beautiful and heart-wrenching.

21. Do you enjoy silent movies?

Yes! Especially comedies.

22. What is your favorite Bette Davis film?

All About Eve (1950)

23. Your favorite onscreen Hollywood couple?

Myrna Loy and William Powell--they always seemed to enjoy each other's company.

24. This one is for the girls, but, of course, the guys are welcome to answer, too: who is your favorite Hollywood costume designer?

Adrian--he helped to make actresses like Joan Crawford, Jean Harlow and Garbo look like goddesses.

25. To even things out a bit, here's something the boys will enjoy: what is your favorite tough action film?

The Most Dangerous Game (1932)

26. You are currently gaining a greater appreciation for which actor(s)/actress(es)?

Alain Delon

27. Franchot Tone: yes or no?

Yes, based on I Love Trouble (1948).

28. Which actors and/or actresses do you think are underrated?

Veronica Lake

29. Which actors and/or actresses do you think are overrated?

Greer Garson

30. Favorite actor?

Cary Grant

31. Favorite actress?

Bette Davis

32. Of those listed, who is the coolest: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Steve McQueen, or Patrick Stewart?

If we’re just talking cool—McQueen

33. What is your favorite movie from each of these genres:

Comedy: My Man Godfrey (1936)

Swashbuckler: The Crimson Pirate (1952)

Film noir: Nightmare Alley (1947)

Musical: Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)

Holiday: Remember the Night (1940)

Hitchcock: I suppose Hitchcock is a genre! Notorious (1946)

Here's the link to the survey if you'd like to give it a shot, but note that Amanda will only be posting results for one more week.

Quote of the Week

Nudity on stage? I think it's disgusting. But if I were twenty-two with a great body, it would be artistic, tasteful, patriotic and a progressive religious experience.

-Shelley Winters

Image Source

Saturday Morning Cartoon: The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)

This deliciously creepy 'toon is definitely not for the kids. James Mason flawlessly narrates a surreal animated version of the classic Poe tale. Mason had such a talent for creating crazed, but strangely sympathetic villains. His tone fits the bleak, mysterious animation perfectly.

The flick has an interesting history. Apparently, it was originally meant to be made in 3-D, though there is no evidence that it was ever exhibited in that format. It was also the first cartoon to receive a British X-rating. Though it was nominated for an Academy Award, the 'toon lost out to a Disney short. In 2001, it was selected for the National Film Registry as a historically significant film.

Classic Links

The Sound of Music cast reunites on Oprah. Neat, and sort of hilarious. Was it O’s idea?— The Guardian

The lesser-known and intriguing film noir Edge of Fury (1958)— Where Danger Lives

I like this take on the recent Charlie Chaplin time traveler craziness— The Kitty Packard Pictorial

Esther Williams wins another fan with the gorgeous Jupiter’s Darling (1955)— Cinema OCD

Zero for Conduct (1933), one of the best flicks ever made about rebellion— A Mythical Monkey Writes About the Movies

Classic Links

This is an interesting review of Carnival of Souls (1962), the great independent horror flick-- Movie Morlocks/TCM

The people who work with Sony Pictures CEO Michael Lynton must get tired of smacking themselves in the head whenever he speaks--Alt Film Guide

Movie studios didn’t waste time when they rejected scripts in the 1900s-- Cinematical

A woman on a cell phone at a Charlie Chaplin premiere? Hmm, I can think of a lot of other things this woman could be doing. I do think it’s interesting that this story has popped up during the Back to the Future 25th anniversary celebration. How amusing that this fellow has spent so much time on this. It certainly could make some cash for his “cause”-- Cinematical

Classic Links

This is a lovely gallery featuring the fashions of Marlene Dietrich. She could really wear a tux— The Huffington Post

Pussies galore! (Kittens make any post better.)-- Out of the Past

Amanda of Noodle in a Haystack has put out a fun new movie survey. I think I’ll try this one myself!— Noodle in a Haystack

I hated Peeping Tom (1960) for being so unsettling, but it is beautifully filmed, brilliantly original and has one of the most sympathetic psychos I’ve ever seen— Movie Morlocks/TCM

If you love restrained, atmospheric horror, you must see The Ghost Ship (1943)— Pussy Goes Grrr

Quote of the Week

Men are creatures with two legs and eight hands.

-Jayne Mansfield

Image Source

Classic Links

I’ve never heard anyone describe Hitchcock’s movies like this. She makes some good points— The Guardian

I keep forgetting how amazing Lon Chaney was. How could I?— The Big Parade

The Siren pays tribute to birthday gal Joan Fontaine-- Self-Styled Siren

True stories about 10 horror classics— Obsessed With Film

Free classic zombie movies online. The kind without all the guts. Sounds good to me.--AMC

Classic Links

Kim Novak has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Let’s think healing thoughts for her.— ABC.com

I’m so excited to see both versions of Lon Chaney’s The Unholy Three coming out on DVD-- Classicflix

A short blurb about Ernest Borgnine, including info. about what he’s up to these days and his small role in Red (2010)--- Slate

Must read this book: Adventures of a Hollywood Secretary— The Kitty Packard Pictorial

Classic Links

RIP Barbara Billingsly—not a classic movie star, but of the time, and too wonderful to ignore.— EW

$606,000 for ten Audrey Hepburn stamps? I don’t get it. At least the money is going towards a good cause— IMDB

99 River Street (1953) has a powerful cast, especially clever Evelyn Keyes-- Mondo 70

Quote of the Week

I've never sought success in order to get fame and money. It's the talent and the passion that count in success.

-Ingrid Bergman

Image Source

Classic Links

This is a fantastic list of classic horror flicks— Pussy Goes Grrr

A vintage article about Ingrid Bergman’s stage performance as Joan of Arc— The Guardian

Now Sony is opening its vaults—yay!— Movie Crazy

Cary Grant’s last interview-- Via Margutta 51

So do you still have your VHS tapes?-- Classic Montgomery

There’s something about Mary Astor— A Shroud of Thoughts

Ernest Borgnine crackes me up— IMDB

Classic Links

Have you seen Psycho (1960) recently? I watched it again this summer; it was the first time in years. It plays in perfect tempo, like a piece of well-crafted music— Cinematical

Mr. Maltin reviews the new Cecil B. deMille bio. Sounds like a good one— Movie Crazy

Loony Tunes will release its notoriously racist cartoons. I watched these on YouTube, and found them historically interesting, but I can’t imagine having them in my home. I’d feel like they were burning a hole through the shelf in my entertainment center-- Cinematical

Vanity Fair explores Marilyn Monroe’s newly-published diaries--Noir and Chick Flicks

Classic Links

Oh yay—I missed this blog. Never fails to entertain. Here’s the Hollywood gossip from 4/30/32-- Hollywood Heyday

A little something about lovely Gail Patrick— A Mythical Monkey Writes About the Movies

10 top 10 lists in celebration of 10/10/10— Riku Writes

I love this recurring film locations feature. This time we see the locations for the Doris Day musical April in Paris (1952)-- Dear Old Hollywood

A review of Old Maid (1939) that opens with a reference to stick insects. This sort of freedom is what I really like about blogging-- Bette's Classic Movie Blog

Quote of the Week

Anyone who says he can see through women is missing a lot.

-Groucho Marx

Image Source

Classic Links

My blogging buddy Monty, of All Good Things, was kind enough to have me as a guest on his blog. Some of his questions were painful to answer!— All Good Thinks

Sheila continues her Joan Blondell lovefest. I approve— The Sheila Variations

Rent Carol Lombard's house. Sadly, it just looks like a random house, but the vintage pics of Carol enjoying Billy Haines' lovely interior decoration are gorgeous.-- Curbed

A new booka about Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland is out. Please let it be juicy, but not sleazy.-- Olivia and Joan: Sisters of the Silver Screen

RIP Roy Baker, 93, director of the best Titanic movie (in my less-than-humble opinion), A Night to Remember (1958) [it bums me out that my beloved Guardian got the date of that Marilyn Monroe movie wrong]-- The Guardian

Classic Links

This is a beautiful message from Jill Curtis to her husband's fans— Tony Curtis: The Art of Hollywood

Leonard Maltin’s personal memories of Gloria Stuart, including her visit to his class— Leonard Maltin

What you should know about Google TV— Criterion Cast

RIP British comedy star Norman Wisdom— The Guardian

Here are some clips of Wisdom’s career if you, like me, didn’t know who he was— The Guardian

Stars and their cars—vroom vroom!— And. . .Scene

I can’t picture a guy working a cigarette holder like this today-- Via Margutta 51

Classic Links

The astonishing Barrymore legacy The Guardian

This is a great post about the powerful My Forgotten Man number from Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)— The Sheila Variations

Warren Beatty in Mickey One (1965), directed by Arthur Penn— Edward Copeland on Film

I have mixed feelings about this new book of Marilyn Monroe writings. She willed the materials to Lee Strasberg, but did she mean for them to be published?-- IMDB

I love this James Dean photo. I wonder how he got out of the can?— Classic Forever

Quote of the Week

I do not regret one professional enemy I have made. Any actor who doesn't dare to make an enemy should get out of the business.

-Bette Davis

Image Source

Classic Links

RIP Tony Curtis

It was great to see Tony Curtis living out his final years. He was the friendly artist--often in a white sweater, shorts and a cowboy hat--active, content and open to the many questions of his fans. I think I will remember him as much for those graceful years as I will for his Hollywood heyday. I found lots of great links paying tribute to this fascinating man:

IMDB obituary— IMDB

Some tributes from friends and family— The Guardian

Another nice tribute-- The Sheila Variations

This is a great gallery of Curtis pics— The Kitty Packard Pictorial

Here’s an almost amusingly diverse collection of clips from Curtis’ career-- The Guardian

Tony Curtis of the underpass!-- Flickr (via Dlisted)

Tony had a great blog in his later years— Motion Picture Gems

And then of course there’s the TCM marathon. The schedule is at the end of this lovely tribute-- Movie Morlocks/TCM

 -------------------------

Another passing, Academy Award-nominated Joe Mantell, 94— IMDB

Kim Novak is going to do a three-part interview on TCM— TCM Image Source

Classic Links

RIP Gloria Stuart— The Guardian

Locals remember the filming of The Misfits (1961)— Las Vegas Review-Journal

Living free in Daisies (1966)— Lolita's Classics

Silent crime flick Underworld (1927)— Mondo 70

Classic Links

This is a sweet story about Ann Rutherford befriending a young fan and aspiring film historian— Ohio.com

I love hearing about big audiences lining up to watch classic movies. This particular crowd laughed through a Laurel and Hardy flick— The News

I think Peter Bogdanovich is the only blogger who can start several reviews with a memory about hanging out with the star, director, etc. Here he writes about Stagecoach (1939) and meeting John Wayne— Blogdanovich

Buster Keaton beefcake? I suppose he would have to be in great shape to do all those stunts-- Asleep in New York

Quote of the Week

The world never puts a price on you higher than the one you put on yourself.

-Sonja Henie

Image Source

Classic Links

It sounds like Mickey Rooney had a wonderful 90th birthday celebration— IMDB

Seeing Cleopatra (1934) at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood— Laura's Miscellaneous Musings

A lovely tribute to the Film Foundation, in celebration of its 20th anniversary, and a call for support— The Kitty Packard Pictorial

The first Native American movie director? This is an amazing article— The Guardian

Having just watched Mothra Vs. Godzilla, I think I will have to continue with this DVD double feature of Gamera Vs. Guiron and Gamera Vs. Jiger—those are some funky looking monsters— The Criterion Cast

The John Wayne quiz— The Telegraph

Classic Links

Ah, I love Bonita Granville— Immortal Ephemera

Lee Marvin: a real tough guy— Cinematical

Lionel Rogosin and the Bowery in the movies— Walking Off the Big Apple

I’m looking forward to the posts for this Katharine Hepburn event— LAMB

Classic Links

This is a great recent interview with Olivia de Havilland— Bloomberg

The continuing sibling rivalry between Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine-- Olivia and Joan: Sisters of the Silver Screen

A talk with Catherine Deneuve— NY Times Blog

Godard donates money to help pay for the legal costs of a man found guilty of illegally downloading mp3s-- Criterion Cast

Great spy camp: Secret Agent Super Dragon (1966)-- Movie Morlocks/TCM

Quote of the Week

Nobody can forsee what will please the critics. Every artistic activity is, and always will be, a poker game.

-Marlene Dietrich

Image Source

Classic Links

King Kong: The Musical. Wow, what the heck? That might actually be pretty good— IMDB

At age 80, Tippi Hedren is still working hard to fund her Roar Foundation— Alfred Hitchcock Geek

David Thomson writes about Claude Chabrol— The Guardian

Marilyn Monroe’s house sells for $3.85 million-- LA Times

Book Review: Jack and the Jungle Lion

Jack and the Jungle Lion
Stephen Jared
2010

A dim-witted matinee idol, a drunken pilot and a gorgeous movie animal trainer with two young wards crash-land in the Amazon jungle. With nothing but determination to survive, the group battles enormous snakes, angry natives and their own weaknesses in their quest to return to civilization. Will they make it out alive? Will the movie star woo the feisty trainer? Will everyone end up happy in the end?

I’m not going to spoil anything for you by saying upfront that the guy does get the girl—it is beside the point. I enjoyed the ride that got me to that happy ending. Jack and the Jungle Lion tells a well-worn story, but the characters really pop. I reveled in the warmth, excitement, and earnest energy of this lively adventure-romance.

There are lots of winks and nods to classic Hollywood throughout the story, and Jared evokes lots of familiar "types" from the era. The book itself has the crackle and snap of a thirties comedy. There’s also plenty of the cliff-hanging action of a Saturday morning serial. However, the plot made me think of more recent action throwbacks such as the Indiana Jones series and Romancing the Stone.

At 115 pages, Jack and the Jungle Lion was a brisk read. I became fond of the characters—and I hope to see them in further adventures.

Stephen Jared is an actor and writer. I recognized him immediately from a series of commercials he’d done for Jack in the Box (remember “Phil in the Box”?). He appears to be equally devoted to each profession—with regular appearances on commercials and television shows and writing projects from screenplays and articles to a children’s adventure story.

Check out some of Stephen’s articles here. This guy loves classic Hollywood.

For more information on the book, check out the official site for Jack and the Jungle Lion.

Classic Links

The Sony MOD program launches with an impressive list of titles— ClassicFlix Blog

Mickey Rooney and his A-list pals— CNN Entertainment

I love this essay about Forbidden Planet (1956)— Cinematical

The 1910 version of The Wizard of Oz— Film Ab Initio

Josh Brolin calls Megan Fox the “new Hepburn”, as in Katharine Hepburn. Say wha’?— IMDB

Great Quotes: Tough Dames and Femme Fatales

I’ve wanted to do another favorite quote post for some time, and this clip from the film noir 99 River Street (1953) finally inspired me to get it together.

This marvelously tense scene is equally frightening and sensual. Evelyn Keyes tries to seduce a dangerous-looking man—and she doesn’t seem to be at all concerned by the murderous look in his eyes. She is confident that she has power over him, a sentiment she makes clear with this suggestively cooed closing line:

I don’t believe in sometime. With me, it’s now or never.

Tough noir dames and femme fatales always have the best lines. In this particular flick, Keyes is actually a decent gal just posing as a dangerous lady so that she can help the leading man, but she’s pretty darn convincing.

Here’s a few more that I’m fond of:

Bart, I've been kicked around all my life, and from now on, I'm gonna start kicking back.
-Peggy Cummins in Gun Crazy AKA Deadly is the Female (1950)

You're not strong or weak enough.
-Marie Windsor in Force of Evil (1948)

I don't go to church. Kneeling bags my nylons.
-Jan Sterling in Ace in the Hole (1951)

It isn't fair. I never had anybody but you. Not a real husband. Not even a man. Just a bad joke without a punch line.
-Marie Windsor in The Killing (1956)

Say who do you think you're talking to - a hick? Listen Mister, I been around, and I know a wrong guy when I see one. What'd you do, kiss him with a wrench?
-Ann Savage in Detour (1945)

You shouldn't kiss a girl when you're wearing that gun... leaves a bruise
-Claire Trevor in Murder, My Sweet (1945)

. . . the lie was in the way I said it, not at all in what I said. It's my own fault if you can't believe me now.
-Mary Astor in The Maltese Falcon (1941)