The Housekeeper's Daughter (1939).

The Housekeeper's Daughter(1939). Comedy. Directed and produced by Hal Roach. Cast: Joan Bennett, Adolphe Menjou and John Hubbard. The screenplay was written by Rian James, Gordon Douglas, Jack Jevne and Claude Martin, based on novel by Donald Henderson Clarke.

The film begins when Hilda decides to visit her mother, who is the housekeeper for the Randalls. The Randalls go on vacation, while their son Robert stays behind to start his career as a reporter.

While, Benny is selling his flowers, he is a witness to Gladys Fontaine kidnapping and follows close behind while she is taken to Gangster Floyd's houseboat. Benny, wanting to save Gladys, puts poison in a cup of coffee meant for Floyd, but Gladys drinks it instead. The next morning, Robert reads about Gladys death in the papers and decides to cover the story, hooking up with reporter Deakon Maxwell and photographer Ed O'Malley. At a police station, they find Benny confessing to Gladys' murder. After a night on the town with Deakon and Ed, Benny suggests to the drunken Robert that he call his editor and tell him that Gladys was thrown from a houseboat.

Robert's story makes Floyd believe that the reporter knows what happened and puts out a contract on his life. While, Deakon and Ed are shooting fireworks from the roof, the gangsters think the fireworks are gun shots and they shoot back. Will the police get there in time?

Loved the cast of this fun movie, Joan Bennett, now a brunette, who reminded me a little of Heddy Lamar. Menjou of course always gives a wonderful performance. The rest of the cast were wonderful character actors including: William Gargan, Marc Lawrence, Donald Meek, George E. Stone and Peggy Wood. Also.. in his debut film, Victor Mature.

Peggy Wood (February 9, 1892 – March 18, 1978), did not perform in many films. Her few film appearances include co-starring opposite Will Rogers in the film, Handy Andy, Jalna, a cameo in the film, A Star is Born(1937), playing a movie studio receptionist. Other films: "Call It a Day" with Olivia de Havilland, "The Housekeeper's Daughter" with Joan Bennett, "The Bride Wore Boots" with Barbara Stanwyck, "Magnificent Doll" with Ginger Rogers and "Dream Girl" with Betty Hutton.

Wood's final screen appearance was as the Mother Abbess in the, The Sound Of Music (1965), for which she received an Academy Award nomination in the category of Best Supporting Actress. She was thrilled to be in the movie although she knew that she could no longer sing. Mother Abbess's performance of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" is dubbed by Margery McKay. Her co-star Marni Nixon wrote in her memoir, "I Could Have Danced All Night", that Wood especially liked McKay's singing voice because it sounded like her own.

In 1969 she joined the cast of the ABC-TV soap, One Life to Live as Dr. Kate Nolan and had a recurring role until the end of the year.

Happy 81st Birthday Gene Hackman

Happy 81st Birthday to veteran actor Gene Hackman. Starred in such classic films like Bonnie & Clyde (1967), I Never Sang For My Father (1970), The French Connection (1971, for which he won Best actor Oscar), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), The Conversation (1974), Night Moves (1975), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Superman (1978), Hoosiers (1986), Mississippi Burning (1988), Unforgiven (1992, Best Supporting Actor Oscar), Crimson Tide (1995), and Enemy of the State (1998).

Happy 74th Birthday Vanessa Redgrave

Happy Birthday to Vanessa Redgrave, who turns 74 today. Part of the distinguished Redgrave family, Vanessa's notable films include A Man For All Seasons (1966), Camelot (1967), Isadora (1968), Julia (1977), Howards End (1992), Mission Impossible (1996), and most recently Atonement (2007).

Happy Birthday: Dorothy Malone!

Dorothy Malone(born January 30, 1925). While performing at Southern Methodist University, she was spotted by a talent agent for RKO and signed a studio contract, making her film debut in the film, The Falcon and the Co-Eds (1943).

Malone's early performances were mostly in B-movies, many of them Westerns, from time to time she performed in small but important roles and Her first speaking role came in the film, The Big Sleep (1946). A story about a Dying General Sternwood, who asks Philip Marlowe to deal with his family's problems. Marlowe finds that most of the problems revolves around the disappearance one of Sternwood's employees who takes off with a mobsters wife. Malone played a young woman in the used bookshop, her glamor hidden behind glasses. Her character shuts down her shop to help Bogart's Philip Marlowe, find a first edition of Ben Hur. After her performance in the film, The Big Sleep, she became more popular.



Malone also performed in the film, Artists and Models(1955), with Martin and Lewis.



Malone became a blond for the film, Written on the Wind. Which, won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Later, she was offered roles in the films: Too Much, Too Soon(1958), with Errol Flynn. The movie tells the true story of Diana Barrymore, a actress who acted on both stage and screen was once part of the legendary Barrymore family.



Next she went on to film, The Tarnished Angels (1957). With Rock Hudson,
Robert Stack and Jack Carson. A story about a World War I flying ace Roger Shumann, who makes a living during the Great Depression as a pilot at airshows with his wife LaVerne, son Jack and mechanic Jiggs.

Reporter Burke Devlin, becomes interested in Roger's lifestyle of the former war hero, but does not like how he treats his family. Roger makes a deal with wealthy Matt Ord for a plane in exchange for a few hours with his wife. Tragedy soon follows.



Dorothy Malone's personal favorite of her films was, One Sunday Afternoon (1948)and the remake of, The Strawberry Blonde (1941). But, she also enjoyed doing westerns, Two Guys From Texas (1948) and South of St.Louis (1949), she loved being the only women on the set. She deeply regrets, that she did not audition for the film, The Big Country (1958), made by her favorite director, William Wyler.

beyond the Ear Tattoos - The area of expertise of Ear Tattoos

beyond the Ear Tattoos - The area of expertise of Ear Tattoos

Many women folk are inking their bodies these existence. Apart from detecting the astounding and beneficial artwork, more women folk are nowadays deciding on exceptional body locales to ink, and succeeding the ear tattoos are becoming general.  varying the undertaking tattoo, you could without difficulty protection up the ear tag also your extensive hair when you don't desire to come into sight it. If there is a trot out about confessing your tattoo at the administrative center or in school, this will be a accepted body place to imagine.

Tattoos in this address are regularly juvenile, save for the designs would be especially appealing. There are with regards to endless alternatives you could assign for such a adolescent district. You could have a feminine and charming organization or firm and mediaeval make artwork. a couple of the regular subsequent to the ear tattoos for women folk are the astrological indications, personalities, ducks, hearts, vegetation, cartoons and butterflies. You could yet agree to have someone's point out harshly fixed subsequent to your ear to suggest a nearby relationship.

everybody has a various worry threshold. one or two workforce search out inking an ear tattoo is first-class and barely bled, when others capture it excruciating as this zone has less chubbiness innards in between the skull bone and the skin. You may well imagine stricken when the needles hammer the bone. then again, it is a absolutely express system as succeeding the ear tattoos only occupy a precisely tender place.

As ear tattoos will have more occurrence to sunshine, you may perhaps demand to refuge your plot in addition to sun hamper lotion to slow down the authorize from altering color or weakening. given that succeeding the ear tattoo is very discernible when you solicit to become visible it, you should get your hands on a organization which impress you or has perfection to you. For ladies who are on apex of the brand new generate and tattoo propensity, you might agree dying your hair, realizing your nose pierced and inducing your beyond ear inked.

Hena Tattoo ( 1 )

Hena Tattoo ( 2 )

Hena Tattoo ( 3 )

This week on N and CF.

I will be celebrating the amazing actor, Gary Cooper (pictured above) this month. I just added Gary Copper Signature DVD movie collection, to my ever growing DVD library. So please look for my Gary Cooper movie reviews and pictures sprinkled through out the month of February here on N and C F and also on Saddles and Spurs: The Great Westerns page. Located on the side bar.

Happy Birthday: Clark Gable (February 1, 1901 – November 16, 1960). Was nicknamed "The King of Hollywood". During his long film career, Gable performed opposite with some of the most popular actresses of the time. Joan Crawford, who was his favorite actress to work with was partnered with Gable in eight films, Myrna Loy performed with him seven times and he was paired with Jean Harlow in six films. He also starred with Lana Turner in four films and with Norma Shearer in three.

ON TCM: Feb. 3, 2011. Witness For The Prosecution(1957). Courtroom drama film based on a short story (and later play) by Agatha Christie dealing with the trial of a man accused of murder. This trial film was the first film adaptation of the story, stars Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, and Charles Laughton, and features Elsa Lanchester, Laughton's wife. The film was adapted by Larry Marcus, Harry Kurnitz and the film's director Billy Wilder.

On TCM: Feb. 3, 2011. For Whom The Bell Tolls (1943). Please click picture on side bar to read review. Based on the novel by Ernest Hemingway. It stars Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, Akim Tamiroff and Katina Paxinou. This was Ingrid Bergman's first technicolor film. Hemingway handpicked Cooper and Bergman for their roles.

Happy Birthday: Ida Lupino (4 February 1918– 3 August 1995) was a pioneer among women filmmakers. In her 48-year career, she appeared in 59 films and directed nine others. She also appeared in serial television programmes 58 times and directed 50 other episodes. In addition, she contributed as a writer to five films and four TV episodes.

On TCM: Feb. 6, 2011. Wings(1927). A silent film about World War I fighter pilots, directed by William A. It was the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture and the only silent film ever to win Best Picture. Cast: Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Richard Arlen. Gary Cooper appears in a scene which helped launch his career in Hollywood and also marked the beginning of his affair with Clara Bow.

On TCM Feb. 6, 2011. The Pride Of The Yankees (1942). It stars Gary Cooper as Gehrig and co-stars Teresa Wright as his wife Eleanor and Walter Brennan as a sportswriter friend. Yankee teammates Babe Ruth, Bob Meusel, Mark Koenig, and Bill Dickey play themselves, as does sportscaster Bill Stern.

There have been many unforgettable romances portrayed on the big screen throughout Hollywood's history. And for the month of February to celebrate Valentine's day, Monty and I are are going to focus on "Great Screen Couples" , on our shared blogs. Please click picture on side bar to read reviews. Beginning Feb. 1, 2011.

Also, just to let you know. .. The butterfly background on N and CF Musical page is no longer available, so I had to find a new background. I hope you like the change as much as I do. :)

Have a great week at the movies. :)

Silent Film Star: Gertrude Olmstead .

Gertrude Olmstead (November 13, 1897 – January 18, 1975). Appeared in 56 films between 1920 and 1929. Her first credited film role was in the film, The Fox(1921). Today her best known role is, opposite Rudolph Valentino in the film, Cobra(1925). Valentino plays Count Rodrigo Torriani, an Italian noble, who  has a weakness for women. The production of Cobra was troubled by production costs. Also, Paramont Pictures , was unhappy with the final film and believing it would flop, held off releasing it until Valentino appeared in a more successful picture. When the film, Cobra was released in late 1925, it proved to be Valentino's comeback feature. Video: 1 of 8.



After sound films became popular her career faded and she retired from acting in 1929. In 1926, she met MGM director Robert Z. Leonard, and they were married June 8 of that year. Leonard and Olmstead remained married until his death in 1968.

Filmography:

Tipped Off (1920)
The Driftin' Kid (1921)
Sweet Revenge (1921)
Kickaroo (1921)
The Fightin' Fury (1921)
Out o' Luck (1921)
The Fox (1921)
The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1922)
The Loaded Door (1922)
Cameo Kirby (1923)
The Monster (1925)
Cobra (1925)
The Boob (1926)
Becky (1927)
Torrent (1926)
The Show of Shows (1929)
Sonny Boy (1929)

Video from the silent film:Torrent(1926). Pictures of Greta Garbo .

Torrent (1926). Romantic/drama/silent film directed by Monta Bell. Based on a novel by Vicente Blasco Ibanez. Torrent was the first American film
starring Swedish actress Greta Garbo. The film also starred Ricardo Cortez.
The title refers to a flood that occurs in the small town where most of the action takes place, which brings the couple together.

Fun fact:

Joel McCrea doubled for Greta Garbo in a horse-riding scene.

Please click here to view past Greta Garbo reviews.

Impressions Of The ashen Ink Tattoo

Impressions Of The ashen Ink Tattoo

Our bodies are vessels of self-expression; we drape them in fabrics, adorn them along furthermore jewelry, and color our faces, and we still variety permanent alterations to our skin by channel of piercings and body knack. These years, tattooing has develop into a very different skill kind in addition to an however more different recipient, and an ever-increasing measure of recruits are brushing off the end loitering tattoo taboos to lay their bodies out as canvasses for the tattooist's needles and inks. This had led to novelty in tattoo talent, and there are a few energetic niches into which tattooists are creating a unsure coming, equivalent to the ashen ink tattoo.

When various workers mull over about body ability, they consider of stark and without delay nice-looking visuals, and this is largely trade exhibition. however the least tattoo of luminaries on a wrist, arranged to be isolated, bangs when unearthed. Not each person, except, wishes to be purely courageous in how they hole themselves; one or two employees ecstasy in examining their boldness opposed to the minimalistic or the subtle. For many of these staff, a pallid ink tattoo fills this aim. methodized of a thicker, higher aspect ink, the made ready colorless ink tattoo is pretty pale, could come into view a bit embossed, and will suffer a resemblance to branding or scarification as soon as totally healed.

agreed upon the plants of this ink, even though, accomplishing a sallow ink tattoo could be its own game in faith. Many workers who have embraced this route have got hold of their skin to be unreceptive to the ink, a gamble that is proportionate to the shadows of one's skin. Others seasoned annoyance and top-notch lessening, over again because skin realizes not regularly stock anyways to these inks. The tattoo will under no circumstances be a uncontaminated, shining colorless either and forever the ink will adopt a crimson or yellow tint beyond moment.

attaining a ashen ink tattoo yet requires a longer set of rules as the tattooist will have to go higher than it multiple times to confirm that the ink eliminates and can still demand a follow-up talk to. These reasons are always brought up by body artists in way out to why they decline to provide the ashen ink tattoo. The probable for disappointment - and as a result purchaser disenchantment - is somewhat costly, and more tattoo artists may possibly understandably reasonably keep away from litigation than award ashen ink options.

additionally, those who are aware of the troubles and pay money for a colorless ink tattoo apart from are all the time pleased and the responses. A well-done pallid tattoo will gorgeously ghost across its happen of skin and whisper its ambition also a commendable mangle of intrigue. It could not offer the boldest gizmo to variety a state, save for that easily makes them commendable for understated messages. carry an eye out for added developments in pallid ink appeal because as its quality continues to stand up, so exaggeratedly will the putting your all into for tattoo experts to learn this smart tattoo type.

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Flower Tattoo Design ( 1 )

Flower Tattoo Design ( 2 )

Flower Tattoo Design ( 3 )

"Torrent” (1926)

“Torrent” (1926) is a silent romantic drama starring Ricardo Cortez, Greta Garbo and Gertrude Olmstead. Directed by Monta Bell and adapted from the novel by Spanish author, Vicente Blasco Ibanez, “Entre Naranjos,” this film is a story of lost love and missed chances. Leonora Moreno, a peasant girl, played by Greta Garbo, and Rafael Brull, played by Ricardo Cortez, have grown up in the same Spanish village. Although they are in love, Rafael is from an aristocratic family and dominated by his mother, Dona Bernarda Brull, played by Martha Mattox. Dona Bernarda forbids the relationship causing Leonora’s family to be kicked out of their home. Leonora’s father, Don Pedro Moreno, played by Edward Connelly, decides to take his daughter off to Paris where her trained voice is sure to be a hit. Meanwhile, her mother, Dona Pepa Moreno, played by Lucy Beaumont, is left behind to work as a maid for Dona Bernarda. After Leonora leaves for Paris, Dona Bernarda convinces Rafael that Remedios Matias, played by Gertrude Olmstead, would be the ideal wife for him mainly because her father, Don Matias, played by Mack Swain, has grown rich in hog raising, and he becomes engaged to her. While living in Paris, Leonora becomes a famous opera singer, La Brunna, and develops a reputation for being a loose woman. When Leonora returns to her home to see her mother, she and Rafael meet again and their love is rekindled. Unfortunately, Dona Bernarda separates them again, and he marries Remedios. Years later, Leonora and Rafael meet again. She is still beautiful, but he looks older than his years and is an unhappily married man with two children. The ending is surprising.











“Torrent” (1926) was Garbo’s American film debut and it helped establish her as a big star. With magnificent sets and costumes, this was MGM filmmaking at its best. The special effects must have been quite remarkable for their time. With no language barrier to deal with, the Swedish actress was able to play a Spanish peasant turned temptress with no disbelief from the audience. Handsome Ricardo Cortez was quite convincing as a Spaniard and does an admirable job appearing foolish and growing old ungracefully. One of the things I liked most about the film was the use of sepia, blue, lavender and red hues throughout. I liked the scene where Cortez braves the torrent in a row boat trying to rescue Leonora. One of my favorite scenes is when a lovesick Cortez wanders back to Garbo’s home and tells her he needs her and they dissolve into each other’s arms. The scene in which Cortez and Garbo are lying near the orange blossoms is breathtakingly romantic and very well done. “Torrent” is worth watching just for its stunning cinematography and Garbo’s impressive American film debut.

Ricardo Cortez, who looked like Latin Lover Rudolph Valentino, was invented, named and groomed to become a direct rival. Ironically, he wasn’t Latin at all, having been born Jacob Krantz to an Austrian Jewish family in New York City. He became starstruck growing up in Manhattan, began playing bit parts in New York-based films, and after moving to Hollywood, his appearance in a dance contest won him a Paramount contract. Jesse Lasky of Paramount was in the audience and noticed how much Krantz resembled Valentino. Lasky immediately offered Krantz a contract and began preparing him to take Valentino’s place. Lasky’s secretary picked the name Ricardo Cortez when it was decided the young actor needed a Latin name. Krantz stuck with his new name and went on to make ninety pictures from 1924 to 1958, all under the name of Ricardo Cortez. He also achieved a considerable degree of prominence during the silent era with films such as “Argentine Love” (1924), “The Spaniard” (1925), “The Swan” (1925) and “Torrent” (1926). Cortez moved easily into talkies and starred in such films as “The Maltese Falcon” (1931), “Symphony of Six Million” (1932), “Midnight Mary” (1933) and “Torch Singer” (1933). When Cortez retired from the film business, he went to work as a stockbroker on Wall Street. Cortez died in New York City on April 28, 1977. He was 76 years old. He was the brother of noted cinematographer Stanley Cortez (born Stanislaus Krantz).


Dona Bernarda has in mind Remedios Matias, played by Gertrude Olmstead, as a daughter-in-law mainly because her father, Don Matias, played by Mack Swain, has grown rich in hog raising.

Happy Birthday Donna Reed (1921 - 1986)

Happy Birthday to Donna Reed, one of my favorite actresses. She appeared is such classics as It's A Wonderful Life, From Here To Eternity, The Courtship Of Andy Hardy, They Were Expendable and lots more. And of course she was the star in her famous long running comedy series, The Donna Reed Show. Happy Birthday Donna!

From the Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 5: Backfire(1950).

Backfire(1950). Noir. Cast: Virginia Mayo, Gordon MacRae, Edmond O'Brien and Viveca Lindfors.

This movie mystery is told in flashbacks: About a returning serviceman in a VA hospital recovering from a spinal injury. During his recovery he falls in love with his nurse and begins to make plans with his friend Steve to buy a ranch together.

While still in the VA hospital, Bob begins to have nightmares that his friend Steve is in danger. Late one night, he’s visited by Steve’s girlfriend, who tells him that .. Steve, is badly injured. Bob falls asleep before he can find out more. The blurred vision give a hallucinatory quality to the scene.

After Bob, is released from the hospital he has plans to spend a romantic weekend with Mayo. Their weekend plans come to an end when he’s picked up by cops and taken to the homicide division. There he’s told that his best friend is the main suspect in the killing of a well known gambler. Bob, wants to help his friend clear his name.

I really enjoyed seeing MacRae in a film noir. I mostly know him from his performances in musicals. The rest of cast members all give good performances and there are plenty of flavorful character actors in supporting roles. I thought the film was suspenseful and very entertaining.

Dane Clark (February 26, 1912 – September 11, 1998) was an American film actor who was known for playing, as he labeled himself, "Joe Average".

He graduated from Cornell University and earned a law degree at St. John's University School of Law in Queens, New York. During the Great Depression, he worked as a boxer, baseball player, construction worker and model.

Clark got his big break when he was signed by Warner Bros. in 1943. He performed in war movies: Action in the North Atlantic (1943), his breakthrough part, opposite Humphrey Bogart, Destination Tokyo (1943) with Cary Grant, and Pride of the Marines (1945) with friend John Garfield. According to Clark, Bogart gave him his stage name.

Viveca Lindfors (29 December 1920 – 25 October 1995), was a Swedish stage and film actress. She trained at the Royal Dramatic Theatre School, Stockholm. Soon after, she became a theater and film star in Sweden. She moved to the United States in 1946 after being signed by Warner Bros. She appeared in more than one hundred films such as: Night Unto Night, No Sad Songs for Me, Dark City, King of Kings, Creepshow, and Stargate.

In the last years of her life, she taught acting at the School of Visual Arts in New York.

Pawesome Pet Pictures: Clark Gable.

Personal Quote:
The things a man has to have are hope and confidence in himself against odds, and sometimes he needs somebody, his pal or his mother or his wife or God, to give him that confidence. He's got to have some inner standards worth fighting for or there won't be any way to bring him into conflict. And he must be ready to choose death before dishonor without making too much song and dance about it. That's all there is to it.

Susan Hayward.

Susan Hayward (June 30, 1917 – March 14, 1975). After working as a fashion model in New York, Hayward travelled to Hollywood in 1937 to audition for the leading role in the film, Gone With the Wind (1939). Even though she was not selected, she landed a film contract and performed in many small supporting roles. By the late 1940s she won the first of five Academy Award nominations for Best Actress, for her performance in the film, Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman (1947). Later in he career she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her performance of a death row inmate in the film, I Want to Live! (1958).

TCM is showcasing Susan Hayward with the films listed below:

Girls on Probation (1938). A dizzy young girl falls into crime but wins her lawyer's heart. Cast: Jane Bryan, Ronald Reagan, Henry O'Neill. Dir: William McGann. After Jane, is caught wearing a dress that Bromley stole, Bryan has a meeting with future D.A. Ronald Reagan, whose girlfriend turns out to be a very young, SUSAN HAYWARD. Later Jane Bryan, innocently meets up with her friend, Bromley, who leads Bryan, into BIG trouble where they both land in jail. Bromley, is vicious and will do anything to please her boyfriend. I do not want to give it away, but... a great ending..

My Foolish Heart (1949) A young innocent life is shattered when she falls for a World War II flyer. Cast: Susan Hayward, Dana Andrews, Kent Smith. Dir: Mark Robson. You will get caught up in Andrews and Hayward's first meeting when sparks begin to fly. Andrews, never looked more handsome and this maybe one of my favorite Hayward's performance. "My Foolish Heart", is a wonderful film to curl up with a box of Kleenex on a early Tuesday morning.

Thank A Fool (1962) A woman once convicted of euthanasia gets a job caring for her prosecutor's wife. Cast: Susan Hayward, Peter Finch, Diane Cilento. Dir: Robert Stevens.

Top Secret Affair (1957) A female publishing magnate tries to keep a general she hates from securing a prestigious appointment. Cast: Susan Hayward, Kirk Douglas, Jim Backus. Dir: H.C. Potter. I enjoyed Kirk Douglas's second performance in a comedy. His first since, My Dear Secretary. Susan, gives a very funny performance when she tries to drink Douglas under the table at a nightclub. The film was to star Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, but.. Bogart's terminal illness forced him to leave the film. He was replaced by 'Kirk Douglas'. Bacall left to stay at home with her dying husband, and was replaced by 'Susan Hayward'.

Stolen Hours (1963). An American heiress with an incurable disease falls in love with her surgeon. Cast: Susan Hayward, Michael Craig, Diane Baker. Dir: Daniel Petrie. 

Where Love Has Gone (1964) Family secrets come to light when a teen-ager murders her mother's lover. Cast: Susan Hayward, Bette Davis, Michael Connors. Dir: Edward Dmytryk.

 

Honey Pot, The (1967) A millionaire fakes a terminal illness to fleece his former girlfriends. Cast: Rex Harrison, Susan Hayward, Maggie Smith. Dir: Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

It Should Happen to You (1954).

It Should Happen to You (1954) . Romantic/comedy. Cast: Judy Holliday, the first screen appearance of Jack Lemmon. Other cast members: Michael O'Shea, Vaughn Taylor, Connie Gilchrist, Walter Klavun, Whit Bissell, Constance Bennett, Ilka Chase, Wendy Barrie and Melville Cooper. The film was directed by George Cukor and filmed on location in New York City. Screenwriter Garson Kanin originally intended the script as a vehicle for Danny Kaye, but Kanin's wife, Ruth Gordon, suggested casting Judy Holliday instead. The title was initially, A Name for Herself.

Lemmon had a meeting with studio boss Harry Cohn, who feared that critics might use jokes about the name "Lemmon". He wanted Lemmon to change his name to "Lennon." Lemmon said that if he did that people might confuse his name with "Lenin" and associate his name with Communism, a very real concern in the 1950s. He decided to keep the name Lemmon and went on to become a Hollywood legend.

Small time filmmaker Pete Sheppard, meets Gladys Glover, in New York City's Central Park, while filming her feeding peanuts to the pigeons. Gladys shares with him that she has just been fired from her modeling job and now wonders how she can make a name for herself. Pete tells her that, " she is the only one who can make her dreams come true". Later, while walking barefoot in Columbus Circle, Gladys sees a huge billboard for rent, she envisions her name written there and decides to rent it for the three-months. Several days after Gladys has her name painted on the billboard, businessman Evan Adams III, tells his advertising firm, that his soap company usually rents the billboard for the spring season and wants Gladys to give it up. Gladys meets with Evan and the agency representatives, but refuses their money and an additional five hundred dollars. Back at her apartment, Gladys learns that Pete has just moved into her building. She asks him to visit Columbus Circle to see her bill board.

She eventually makes a deal with the advertising company to have her name posted on 10 billboards posted throughout city. Suddenly, all of New York is curious about who Gladys Glover is. Evan Adams III also has eyes for Gladys.



Fun Fact:
The background music playing during the scene when Peter Lawford is trying to romance Judy Holliday is also used during several scenes in the film, From Here to Eternity (1953) .

I loved the on screen chemistry between Judy Holliday and Jack Lemmon. This film maybe my favorite Judy Holliday performance. Is this the first time someone became famous for doing nothing??

Judy Holliday (June 21, 1921 – June 7, 1965). Kanin, together with George Cukor, Spencer Tracy, and Katharine Hepburn, wanted to promote Holliday by offering her a part in the film, Adam's Rib(1949). She got rave reviews and Cohn offered her the chance to repeat her role for the film version of Born Yesterday. She won the first Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and at the 23rd Academy Awards, Holliday won the Academy Award for Best Actress, over Gloria Swanson, nominated for Sunset Boulevard, Eleanor Parker, for Caged, and Bette Davis and Anne Baxter, both for All About Eve.

In 1954, she starred with a new young star Jack Lemmon in the popular comedy It Should Happen to You, and again (in 1954), in Phffft!.

She was best known for her ability to shift her mood quickly from comic to serious is one. George Cukor said that she had "in common with the great comedians...that depth of emotion, that unexpectedly touching emotion, that thing which would unexpectedly touch your heart."
Please click here to view past Judy Holliday reviews.

List of Judy Holliday Films :

1944 Greenwich Village
1949 Adam's Rib
1950 Born Yesterday
1952 The Marrying Kind
1954 It Should Happen to You Gladys Glover
1954 Phffft!
1956 The Solid Gold Cadillac
1957 Full of Life
1960 Bells Are Ringing

Father Takes a Wife (1941).

Father Takes a Wife (1941). Cast: Adolphe Menjou, Gloria Swanson, John Howard and Desi Arnaz .

Shipping magnate Frederick Senior Osborne, enters his sons office one day and announces that he is turning the business over to him and plans to marry actress, Leslie Collier. later that night when he and his wife Enid meet Leslie, they talk about Senior and Leslie's age difference. After dinner, the Osbornes attend Leslie's farewell stage performance, where Senior becomes jealous over the attentions of Leslie's leading man. During their honeymoon cruise to Mexico, they discover a stowaway, singer, Carlos Bardez. Feeling sorry for the impoverished Carlos, Senior offers to help him. Once the three arrive home, Leslie appoints herself Carlos' impresario, which the Senior is not to happy about. On the night of Carlos' debut, Leslie comes home very late, angry Senior decides to move in with Junior and Enid. Trying to help, Junior invites Carlos to move in with him and Enid. Things don't go as planned when Leslie moves out of the house and refuses to speak to Senior.

Meanwhile, at Juniors house, same thing happens when Enid takes over the role of Carlos' impresario and Junior leaves in a jealous rage, on the night of Carlos' concert. Father and son then plan to rid themselves of Carlos once and for all, by sending him on a sixty-five city concert tour. Soon after, at their doctor's office, Enid and Leslie meet and both learn that they are pregnant. What will happen next?

Swanson looks gorgeous her beautiful clothes and I thought she gave a wonderful performance. Menjou is very believable playing the jealous spouse.  Arnaz gives a fun performance. This film did remind me a little of one of my favorite films,SUNSET BLVD. Trivia buffs may want to watch for unbilled performances by Loretta Young's ex-husband Grant Withers (as Judge Waters) and Ginger Rogers' future husband Jack Briggs (as Menjou's chauffeur).

FATHER TAKES A WIFE, deserves at least one viewing for the chance to see Gloria Swanson, in a sound motion picture.

Gloria Swanson

Florence Rice (February 14, 1907 – February 23, 1974), became an actress during the early 1930s and after several Broadway roles, eventually made her way to Hollywood. Rice was cast at first as the reliable girlfriend. During the 1930s, MGM gradually provided her with more substantial roles.

Rice never became a major figure in films, but performed in a number of screen pairings with Robert Young. Her best known  performances are in the films: Double Wedding (1937), Sweethearts (1938) and At The Circus (1939).

Page Miss Glory (1935).

Page Miss Glory (1935). Romantic comedy. Cast: Marion Davies, Pat O'Brien, Mary Astor and Dick Powell. It was based on the play of the same name by Joseph Schrank and Phillip Dunning.

Small town girl Loretta Dalrymple, arrives in New York City and finds a job as a chambermaid in a luxurious hotel. Also, staying at the hotel is con man Wiley and his photographer partner Ed Olsen, who are three weeks behind on their hotel bill. Click and Ed, come up with a plan, to put together a picture of a beautiful woman, by combining the best features of several Hollywood beauties and enter the picture as "Dawn Glory" in a nationwide beauty contest for the $2500 prize. Which they win.

Bingo Nelson a pilot, immediately falls in love when he sees her picture. After flying a serum to Alaska through a blizzard, he proposes to Dawn on national radio. As a result, reporters want to interview Miss Glory, putting Click in a tough spot. Slattery of the Express digs up Click's checkered past to try to blackmail him into giving him an interview. Ed's girlfriend Gladys Russell finds Loretta trying on a dress delivered for Dawn. Earlier in the day, Loretta had her hair styled in the new hairdo called, "Dawn's bobb". Gladys and Ed think that she looks a lot like the "picture" and decide to pass off Loretta as Dawn. Soon, advertising endorsements and royalties come rolling in, making Click and Ed rich.

Meanwhile, Loretta has fallen in love with a newspaper picture of Bingo. Now, that she is famous she hopes she will meet Russell and when she does.. the troubles begin.

Marion Davies, shines in this fun film from beginning to end. Dick Powell, Mary Astor and Patsy Kelly, are all wonderful. This one of Davies' last pictures and she was pushing 40, but.. she is brave to play half the film as the dowdy country girl. Davies was a star for 20 years and made the switch to talkies.

Patsy Kelly (January 12, 1910 – September 24, 1981). Kelly, like many New York actors, made her screen debut in a Vitaphone short subject filmed there. Producer Hal Roach hired Kelly to co-star with Thelma Todd in a series of short-subject comedies. The Todd-Kelly shorts created Patsy Kelly's image: a brash, wisecracking woman. Later, in the series showcased Kelly's dancing skills. Thelma Todd died in 1935, and Kelly finished out the series.

Patsy Kelly then moved into feature films, often playing working-class character roles in comedies and musicals. One of her memorable roles was as Etta, the cook, in the five Academy Awards-nominated comedy, Merrily We Live(1938).

On television she performed in shows: The Man from U.N.C.L.E, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Wild Wild West, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. She also made a memorable performance as Laura-Louise in the film, Rosemary's Baby (1968).

Kelly performed as the housekeeper Mrs. Schmauss in the film, Freaky Friday(1976). Her final movie performance was in the Disney comedy, The North Avenue Irregulars(1979).

Patsy Kelly movies I have seen:
1935 Page Miss Glory.
1938 There Goes My Heart.
1938 The Cowboy and the Lady.
1941 Topper Returns.
1960 Please Don't Eat the Daisies.
1968 Rosemary's Baby.

Since You Went Away(1944).

Since You Went Away(1944). Directed by John Cromwell. Produced by David O. Selznick from the novel Since You Went Away: Letters to a Soldier from His Wife by Margaret Buell Wilder. The music score was by Max Steiner and the cinematography by Stanley Cortez, Lee Garmes, George Barnes (uncredited) and Robert Bruce (uncredited). Cast: Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones, Shirley Temple and Joseph Cotten with Monty Woolley, Robert Walker, Lionel Barrymore, Hattie McDaniel, Agnes Moorehead, Guy Madison, Craig Stevens, Janelle Johnson, Keenan Wynn, Florence Bates, and Alla Nazimova.

Fun Fact:
At the time, the longest and most expensive Hollywood film since David O. Selznick's, Gone with the Wind (1939).

The story begins on January 12, 1943, when Anne questions her husband's decision to leave his family and his well paying job to fight in the war. Anne has to let Fidelia, the family's housekeeper go, as she can no longer afford to pay her wages. Because of the housing shortage they decide to take in a border by the name, Col. William G. Smollett, a retired army officer. Soon after, Fidelia asks to move back into the house, offering her housekeeping services as rent. To complicate matters even more, is the romance between Anne's daughter Jane and the Colonel's grandson.

This film captures perfectly the worry of those who with loved ones fighting in the war. Watch for the unforgettable scene when Mr. Mahoney leaves the movie theater. Also, one of my favorite Jennifer Jones performances. You will need a box of Kleenex for this film.

Robert Walker(October 13, 1918 – August 28, 1951). While attending the AADA, Walker met aspiring actress Phylis Isley, who later became the film star, Jennifer Jones. The couple were married in Tulsa, Oklahoma on January 2, 1939 and moved to Hollywood to find work in films. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned and they moved to New York. Walker soon found work in radio while Phylis stayed home and gave birth to two sons, actor Robert Walker, Jr., born April 15, 1940, and Michael Walker, born March 13, 1941. Soon after, Phylis was discovered in 1941 by producer David O. Selznick, who changed her name to Jennifer Jones. She landed the role in the film, The Song of Bernadette (1943).

The couple returned to Hollywood, where Walker started work on the war drama, Bataan (1943). Walker's charming demeanor won him roles as the "boy-next-door in films: See Here, Private Hargrove (1944) and Her Highness and the Bellboy (1945). He also appeared in the film, Since You Went Away (1944) in which he and his wife portrayed doomed young lovers. In real life, they divorced shortly after.

Also that year, Walker starred in the film, The Clock, opposite Judy Garland, in her first  dramatic film. Although Walker, continued to work steadily in Hollywood, he was distraught over the divorce and he suffered a nervous breakdown.

In 1946, Walker starred in, Till the Clouds Roll By, where he played the song writer Jerome Kern. He starred as composer Johannes Brahms in, Song of Love (1947), which co-starred Katharine Hepburn. Later, Walker starred with Ava Gardner in the film, One Touch of Venus(1948).

Soon after he was hired by director Alfred Hitchcock for one of his best performances, Strangers on a Train (1951).

Silent Film Star: Dolores del Río. "Princess of México".

Dolores del Río (August 3, 1905 – April 11, 1983) was a Mexican film actress. She was a star of Hollywood films during the silent era and in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Later in life, she became a famous actress in Mexican films. She was generally thought to be one of the most beautiful actresses of her era, and was the first Latin American movie star to have international appeal. Please check out my Dolores Del Río page, located on the side bar. Dawns Delores Del Rio Blogspot.