Classic Links

Yay—a new Kim Novak movie collection is coming out! I finally get to see Middle of the Night (1959)!— ClassicFlix

A Jean Seberg interview from 1968 (lots of interesting tidbits—including her strong political views and Lee Marvin’s claim that she and Claudia Cardinale were Toshiro Mifune’s favorite actresses!)— indieWire

 The early homes of Bette Davis— Dear Old Hollywood

 This is an amazing post about the development of color in film. There are also a few clips here showcasing the early use of the process—some as early as 1912-- All Talking! All Singing! All Dancing!

A brief history of movie serials, with lots of 1930s title card shots— Allure

Monday Serenade: Bette Davis Sings--Again

Oh Bette Davis, even from beyond the grave, you keep giving and giving. Here she shares her golden throat with a performance of Single on The Hollwood Palace (1965).

Quote of the Week

My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income.

-Errol Flynn

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Saturday Newsreel: The Stars Arrive

Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Taylor, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy chat with reporters as the Queen Elizabeth approaches the shores of Southampton. (I can't believe Taylor has to maintain that teeny little mustache while on vacation; what a drag.)

Classic Links

The thoroughly modern Nell Shipman in The Grub Stake (1923)— Another Old Movie Blog

Hondo (1953) was the first 3D movie I attempted to watch on TV. They had this promotion just for the showing where you could get free 3D glasses at a local electronics store. I don’t remember it working at all.-- TCM/Movie Morlocks

A 1940 UK review of Gone With the Wind (1939)— The Guardian

I’ve been enjoying this history behind the flick series—this piece is about Spartacus (1960)-- Cinematical

Classic Links

Classic movie LAMBs (Large Association of Movie Blogs) now have their own chops! -- LAMB

Before there was A Star is Born, there was What Price Hollywood (1932)-- Self-Styled Siren

This is an excellent film noir viewing list-- Rupert Pupkin Speaks

See how Airplane! (1980) liberally borrowed from Zero Hour (1957)--/Film

An interview with Tony Curtis-- GQ

Classic Links

I love this pic of long time friends Joan Crawford and Barbara Stanwyck-- Joan Crawford Deluxe Suite

Great pics of the gorgeous costumes from That Night in Rio (1941)-- Livin' Vintage

An interesting review of Edward Dmytryk’s (one of the Hollywood ten) 1978 memoir-- Pesblanc's Classic B-Movie Reviews

If you haven’t had a chance to check out the 40 greatest unloved films list—it’s pretty darn good-- Cinematical

Interesting tidbits about Jayne Mansfield (including at least one NSFW pic)-- The Kitty Larue Review

Classic Links

An amusing, and sometimes odd collection of ads featuring classic stars— Skeins of Thought

Venice, Italy in California? Check out how Hollywood mastered local location filming in 1927— /Film

How Katharine Hepburn turned her bad box office around— Classic Movies Digest

I’ve always wondered what Sharon Tate could have accomplished. She had unique presence, and an interesting intelligent bombshell persona— Noir and Chick Flicks

Brando’s estate sues a leather jacket maker-- IMDB

TV Tuesday: Kim Novak in 1956 and 1985

I found a pair of interesting Kim Novak interviews--filmed decades apart from each other. The first is on a British television program, filmed in 1956. Novak attempts to be soft-spoken and gracious, but some of the questions seem to raise her ire. She especially seems to struggle to find something kind to say about Tyronne Power. This woman was obviously too strong to be destroyed by the sex symbol label, as so many actresses were.

 

In this 1985 clip from Entertainment Tonight, the interviewer visits her at her Carmel, California property. It's striking how much more secure she seems here. It appears that her self-imposed exile from Hollywood had exactly the effect she had hoped for.

 

Novak would go on to a guest run on Falcon Crest and supporting roles a couple of independent features, but I don't think she found the plum role she was hoping for. However, I hear she is still living a lovely life in rural Oregon.

Classic Links

They’ve added some interesting stars to TCM Summer Under the Stars this year— TCM

A video tour of Warner Bros ranch-- Dear Old Hollywood

RIP Evelyn Dall-- The Guardian

Lots of well-written reviews:

Tabu (1931)-- Silent Volume
Lola Montes (1955)-- Mondo 70
Band Wagon (1953)-- Astaire and Kelly
The Asphalt Jungle (1950)-- Edward Copeland on Film
Mark of Zorro (1940)-- A Shroud of Thoughts

Quote of the Week

The real actor has a direct line to the collective heart.

-Bette Davis

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Saturday Newsreel: Stars Among Stars

A gaggle of stars gather for the 1942 Academy Award Ceremonies. Can you imagine what it would have been like to sit in a room with this glamorous crowd? What a thrill it would be to look across the room and see Cary Grant or Norma Shearer. The thought gives me chills!

Classic Links

A bunch of pics of Brigitte Bardot looking in the mirror—it’s interesting how objectively she looks at herself. She seems totally lacking in vanity.-- Vintage Belle

Eli Wallach had his best bad guy role in The Lineup (1958)— Cinematical

Richard Conte in the not-so-noir Hollywood Story (1951)-- Where Danger Lives

The TCM Lena Horne tribute is tonight-- Just a Cineast

Classic Links

I’m excited that Chicago (1927) is finally going to be on DVD!— Classicflix

Actor salary rebellions and other Hollywood controversies from April 24, 1932— Hollywood Heyday

Here’s a handy list of resources for classic movie lovers— Motion Picture Gems

RIP Pamela Green— The Guardian

Classic Links

Randy Jackson wants fans to be able to visit Michael Jackson’s tomb, which now rests in a private area of Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The tombs of Clark Gable and W.C. Fields are also in this area. Their grandsons have differing opinions on the matter. . .--IMDB

I missed Nancy Kwan on my birthday list! I must go fix that. (thanks Monty)— All Good Things

Claudia Cardinale and Alain Delon at Cannes— Alt Film Guide

Review Round-up:

Destination Murder (1950)– Noir and Chick Flicks
The Whole Town’s Talking (1935)-- And. . .Scene

Classic Links

The Stanley Kubrick movie quiz (harder than I expected)-- Mental Floss

Some interesting trivia about North by Northwest (1959)-- Blonde Episodes

William Powell as a pre-Nick Charles detective-- A Mythical Monkey Writes About the Movies

TV Tuesday: John Wayne for Great Western Bank

The steadfast, honest and easygoing persona that John Wayne had on the screen transcended not only genre, but fiction. That's why he was the perfect pitchman, people trusted him. And shucks, I almost got emotional when he started talking about his kids!

Classic Links

The wisdom of Sophia Loren— Vintage Belle

Silent movie organist Rosa Rio dies at 107. She got her start at age ten, which means her career lasted 97 years!-- Twenty-four Frames

Tentacles (1977) sounds horrible. I must see it.— Movie Morlocks/TCM

An interesting review of the newly-restored Metropolis (1927)— LA Times Blog

I think he’s talking about a sort of movie attention disorder, and sometimes I’m afraid I have it myself— Kid In the Front Row

Monday Serenade: Lena Horne on Sesame Street

I found these Sesame Street clips as I was trotting down memory lane with Lena Horne (via YouTube). This is my favorite version of Bein' Green. (When I played the clip, an ad for True Blood popped up. Hmmm, I know this is vintage Sesame Street, but I still think they're a bit off target with their demographic.)

 

I remember this one! Yes, I was lucky enough to be a child of the seventies and learn my ABCs from Ms. Lena. (I was also serenaded by Morgan "Easy Reader" Freeman on The Electric Company. Ah, what a great time for kiddy TV.)

 

That clip also had the True Blood ad. What the heck?

Quote of the Week

The saddest thing I can imagine is to get used to luxury.

-Charlie Chaplin

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Saturday Newsreel: The 1966 Academy Awards

This is actually a backstage interview with Lana Turner, Kathryn Grayson and James Garner. Aren't they glamorous? I love the ladies' big '60s hairdos and fancy jewelry. At the end, there's brief silent portion with other winners from the night, including Julie Christie in that amazing gold dress she wore to accept her statue for Darling (1965). Also making an appearance: Shelley Winters, Lee Marvin, Martin Balsam--and I think George Sanders? Am I missing anyone?

Classic Links

Lots of great cheesy stuff soon to make it to DVD—including Harlow, Once is Not Enough, Where Love Has Gone and Skidoo!-- Thrilling Days of Yesteryear

Have you seen Der Golem (1915)? I liked it, but I couldn’t stop wondering what the Golem’s voice would sound like if he could speak— David Bordwell

Two Marilyn Monroe biopics? Ech, can’t we just leave it alone?-- /Film

The Rear Window guide to properly spying on your neighbors— Via Margutta 51

A candid of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton is auctioned off. I’m always so curious about the people who buy this stuff.-- The Telegraph

Tony Curtis wants to work again. Somebody find this guy a part; I want to see what he can do!-- IMDB

Classic Links

More fabulous stories from the TCM film fest. This lady met Cheryl Crane, Lana Turner’s daughter!-- Classic Film and TV Cafe

The story of Robert Mitchum, a pair of boobs, and a scandalous photo— Out of the Past

Check out that hair—wow— If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger. . .

The monocle-riffic Fritz Lang— Cinematical

Classic Links

Anjelica Huston and crew member April Allen tell amazing stories about the making of The African Queen (1951)— The Guardian

This is an interesting pic of Mary Pickford. It’s unusual to see her looking so serious; it strips away her childish image— Vintage Images

A new Robert Mitchum Tumblr blog from Raquelle of Out of the Past--Heck Yeah Robert Mitchum

Cass Timberlane (1947), with Lana Turner and Spencer Tracy-- Immortal Ephemera

Movie magazines and serialization— The Kitty Packard Pictorial

Interviews with Lynn Redgrave and Hayley Mills

I just found the link to this clip in my bookmarks. It's an excerpt from the 2008 British television documentary Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll: The 60s Revealed. I'm not sure when or how I found it, but it seemed an appropriate time to share it, as it has a nice interview with Lynn Redgrave. There's also a bit from a 1967 interview with Hayley Mills where she struggles with her Disney past.

Classic Links

David Thomson celebrates Lena Horne with straight talk— The Guardian

Glynis Johns in British movies-- Movietone News

RIP Adele Mara— Thrilling Days of Yesteryear

When Strangers Marry (1944)-- Where Danger Lives

Classic Links

Goodbye to the amazing Lena Horne:

Two remarkable talents-- If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger

She was such an exciting, expressive performer-- If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger

Horne: A Lady Not for Turning— The Guardian

This obit has some nice pictures and clip from Stormy Weather (1943)— Motion Picture Gems

A couple of clips from the Siren— Self-Styled Siren

A short obituary— All Good Things

The New York Times obituary— New York Times

My only non-Lena link today:
Notorious (1946) on the big screen— Cinema OCD

Quote of the Week

All creative people should be required to leave California for three months every year.

-Gloria Swanson

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Classic Links

Constance Bennett discusses her beauty routine. Pretty funny—she talks about starting with a clean base, and she’s already got a full face of make-up-- And. . .Scene

A masterclass with cinematographer Jack Cardiff— The Guardian

Ten famous stage mothers— Mental Floss

The history behind the setting of Doctor Zhivago (1965)— Cinematical

A lovely story from the days before VHS, when it was an event when a great movie was scheduled on TV— Classic Film and TV Cafe

Classic Links

Behind the scenes in Hollywood, 1932— Hollywood Heyday

Bette Davis in Hell’s House (1932)— She Blogged By Night

My Name is Julia Ross(1945), with Nina Foch— Laura's Miscellaneous Musings

RIP movie villain Martin Benson— The Guardian

How about Bette Davis Trivial Pursuit?— Noir and Chick Flicks

Classic Links

Orson Welles and television (this is a long one, but it’s interesting)-- Film And Education Research Academy (via The Night Editor)

I love this list of great movie lines— Riku Writes

Robert Taylor in a darker role— Skeins of Thought

Bardot returns to St. Tropez— IMDB

Classic Links

Lynn Redgrave obituary— The Guardian

And a gallery of pics from Redgrave’s career-- The Guardian

A touchingly personal review of Last Holiday (1950)— Silents and Talkies

This is a particularly glamorous Dietrich pic—fancy!— Art Deco

More pieces of Marilyn Monroe for sale—this time the famous Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend gown— IMDB

TV Tuesday: Betty Grable in 1969

Here's Betty Grable on British television in 1969, handling silly questions with her trademark ease and warmth. I'd love to see the full interview (without that mark over her face!)

Classic Links

RIP Lynn Redgrave-- Thrilling Days of Yesteryear

An Q&A with Debbie Reynolds-- The Guardian

Lots of pics of the famous Brown Derby-- Blonde Episodes

A lovely new blog about sisters Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine— Olivia and Joan: Sisters of the Silver Screen

Everything you ever wanted to know about the script for Duck Soup (1933)-- A Mythical Monkey Writes About the Movies

A review of Antonioni’s Il Grido (1957)-- The Korova Theatre

Monday Serenade: Flying High (1931)

Kathryn Crawford charmingly introduces We'll Dance Until the Dawn while trotting around the dance floor with Pat O'Brien. The lively production number that follows bears the unmistakable mark of Busby Berkeley. Crawford and O'Brien were actually supporting players; Bert Lahr (AKA The Cowardly Lion) and long-legged Charlotte Greenwood are the headliners of this comedy-musical. Flying High (1931) is available from the Warner Archives collection.

Quote of the Week

It's not whether you really cry. It's whether the audience thinks you are crying.

-Ingrid Bergman

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Saturday Newsreel: Stars Meet the Queen

I love the elegance and grace of the glamorous crowd assembled here to meet Queen Elizabeth. Gary Cooper looks particularly distinguished.