Oct 28, 2012
Quote of the Week
I was a stage child out in San Diego, and one day I went to the movies. Afterward, I climbed up in the projection room, got the address of D. W. Griffith's company in New York from a can of film and sent him a scenario. It was accepted at once. I got $25 and I said, "This is where I quit acting."
-Anita Loos
Quote Source
Oct 26, 2012
Classic Links
Rear Window is coming to Broadway? Actually, I can see how that could work--About.com
The life and times of the MGM lion. I've always thought the first lion they used had such a funny looking mane. Kind of mullety looking--Mental Floss
This biography is a beautiful start to the Carole Lombard Filmography Project-- Backlots
How to be Cleopatra Taylor-style for Halloween--Comet Over Hollywood
Elizabeth Taylor is now the highest-earning dead star, which is a good thing, because I think most if not all that cash goes to her AIDs foundation--The Guardian
Though Jeanne Eagels didn't have film acting figured out, there's no denying how magnetic she is in The Letter (1929)--Noir and Chick Flicks
I didn't even know color footage existed of Monroe's birthday serenade to Kennedy. It makes me sad that investors are becoming increasingly interested in movie memorabilia. I always hope that these items will go to people who love them and want to share them with others--MSNBC
Image Source
Oct 21, 2012
Quote of the Week
A director must realize what is inside of a person, bring it out, and eliminate the flaws.
-Dorothy Arzner
Image Source, Quote Source
Oct 19, 2012
Classic Links
I'm curious about The Girl--the Hitchcock/Tippi Hedren biopic. Sienna Miller seems to do well playing real people. Her personality doesn't overwhelm her performances--
Salon
I've always loved the poster for The Come On (1956), but never had a clue about the movie. This review makes it sound pretty good, but I can't picture anything living up to Anne Baxter's pose. If movies were just like their posters, I'd probably never do anything else but watch them--
Noir of the Week
An interesting article about costumes in the movies, including several classics, written to mark the opening of a new exhibit in London--
The Guardian
This is a fascinating interview with Kim Novak. I love the anecdote about her and Jimmy Stewart on the set of Bell, Book and Candle (1958). I think I may have heard it before, but I like the way she tells it here--
The Telegraph
A great tribute to the best of Miriam Hopkins' work: the movies from her pre-code era--
Immortal Ephemera
This book of D.W. Griffith interviews sounds interesting--
Alt Film Guide
Oct 14, 2012
Quote of the Week
A lot of the time if you've got a really good cameraman you don't need a director.
-Robert Mitchum
Image Source, Quote Source
Oct 12, 2012
Classic Links
I think Anthony Hopkin's Hitch looks promising, and I love that Alma Hitchcock is featured in this film--YouTube
Georges Méliès's Robinson Crusoé film resurfaces in Pordenone. There have been so many wonderful early film discoveries lately. It makes me wonder what else is out there waiting to be discovered.--The Guardian
I love this profile! 105-year-old Sadie Mintz used to rent jewelry to the movie studios. She even supplied Marilyn Monroe's earrings for Some Like it Hot (1959).
Threaded/Smithsonian
I don't see how Tippi Hedren could have been a "big star," but I do think it's sad that the man who discovered her also destroyed her career.--NY Times
This is a great profile of Lana Turner. Fantastic photos too--The Classic Screen
I never get tired of the story about Cary Grant being offered the role of Bond--The Guardian
Nicole Kidman is too Nicole Kidman-ish for me buy her as Grace Kelly--Alt Film Guide
Oct 7, 2012
Quote of the Week
I have wasted the greater part of my life looking for money and trying to get along. Trying to make my work from this terribly expensive paint box, which is a movie. . .it’s about 2% moviemaking and 98% hustling. That’s no way to spend a life.
-Orson Welles
Image Source, Quote Source
Oct 5, 2012
The Return of Classic Links
After a nice loooong break Classic Links is back! I've really missed doing this, but I don't have as much time to post anymore, so going forward I will post links on Friday. If I find something I absolutely must share before the end of the week, I'll probably throw it up on Twitter, so do follow me there if you haven't already: @classicmovieblg.
It was fun to do Haiku month again. Thank you all for your support of both the event and my new ebook. If you haven't grabbed a copy yet, rush over to Smashwords now to get some fabulous 5/7/5 fun, much of which is exclusive to the book!
Now on to the links:
Be sure to check out Monty's Hitchcock upcoming leading lady tournament. You go kick some butt Ingrid Bergman!--All Good Things
Harpo Marx, harpist--Mental Floss
Those crappy cars in the driveway behind Harold Lloyd's former home depress me--My Love of Old Hollywood
Yesterday was Buster Keaton's birthday, but you can still watch this short today--A Mythical Monkey Writes About the Movies
For the first time since they came to the Smithsonian, Dorothy's ruby slippers are going on a trip, across the sea even, to London--The Guardian
An astrophysicist analyzes the Bond gadgets--NPR
Oct 3, 2012
Retro Review-- Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry
I'm fortunate to have some very important pieces of jewelry. I don't believe I own any of the pieces. I believe that I am their custodian, here to enjoy them, to give them the best treatment in the world, to watch after their safety, and to love them. --Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry
Elizabeth Taylor
Simon & Schuster 2002
The 33.19-carat Krupp diamond. The 69.42-carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton diamond. Burmese rubies and diamonds from Cartier. An emerald and diamond suite from Bulgari. This is just a tiny portion of Elizabeth Taylor's epic collection of jewelry, made up of hundreds of lavish pieces.
I've never thought much about fine jewelry before reading Taylor's biography of her massive collection. I love my wedding ring, because it is my grandmother's diamond and my husband and I designed it together. Other than that, I've never had or desired any other jewels. That's why it surprised me how mesmerized I was by the astounding pieces in Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry.
I ordered the book from the library after reading Furious Love, the biography of Taylor's relationship with Richard Burton, last year. The passages in that book about Taylor's jewelry collection fascinated me. She and Burton would just casually wander into a jewelry store and drop thousands of dollars on a whim. Normally, this sort of behavior would disgust me, but I got wrapped up in their obsession with the jewels. I could see how the beauty and history of the gems impressed them as much as the game of obtaining them.
![]() |
Taylor and Burton, her partner in jewelry collecting |
The book contains 125 photographs of her jewelry, several accompanying shots of Taylor wearing the pieces and some of her memories of specific pieces in the collection. The photo captions shared more history of the pieces, which I found a great complement to Taylor's memories. I loved reading her thoughts about the jewelry, because while she adored the jewels themselves, she also looked upon them as mementos of the people she loved, famous men like Mike Todd, Richard Burton, Michael Jackson and Malcolm Forbes.
What surprised me the most was how mesmerized I was by the photos of the jewelry. I had no idea how elaborate the designs could be. Up close, I could admire the artistry of each piece. They didn't seem so frivolous to me when I saw the craftsmanship that went into every detail. It is fascinating to see what jewelers are capable of creating. I accepted that skill as an art for the first time.
![]() |
Taylor with Eddie Fisher, wearing earrings from Mike Todd |
Taylor also had a trio of rings with tiny diamonds, one as small as 1/8 of a carat, which she called the Ping-Pong Diamond. She loved wearing that with the Taylor-Burton diamond, her smallest and largest pieces, and joking about them when she went to parties.
That sense of humor about the jewels, and the fact that Taylor would let anyone admire, touch and even wear her jewelry endeared her to me. She really did just want to share all that beauty with the world. After seeing the gorgeous photos of those pieces and reading a bit about their history, I can understand why she would want people to see them and delight in their beauty with her.
Photos from Classic Film Scans, Cover image from Good Reads
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)