Swing High, Swing Low(1937).

Swing High, Swing Low(1937). Romantic/musical starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray. This is the second film adaptation, after The Dance of Life (1929) and before When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948).

While traveling by cruise ship, Maggie King, masquerading as a hairdresser to pay her way to California, meets a soldier named, Skid Johnson. After they arrive, Skid offers to drive Maggie and her friend Ella into Panama City and introduces them to his roommate, Harry. Skid, gets into a fight defending Maggie, at a night club and they both land in jail.



After they go before a judge the next morning, Maggie's, ship has sailed on without her. Harry and Skid, invite her to move in with them. Skid, gambles away his trumpet and Maggie convinces Murphy, the owner of a cafe, to give her the money to buy back Skid's trumpet and then hire him to play at the club.

After Maggie, becomes angry with Skid, who spent the night with Anita, a girl who works at the club. Skid, decides to marry to Maggie.

A New York agent, tells Skid about a job in New York at the El Greco. Skid is a big hit, with Anita's help, but.. he keeps putting off sending money for Maggie's ticket to join him. Concerned Maggie, borrows money from Murphy and sends a telegram to Skid, but .. Anita, sees it first and tosses it out. When Maggie, arrives in New York, with no one to meet her, she calls Anita's room and Skid answers the phone. Heartbroken, Maggie files for divorce, will Maggie have a change of heart and get back together with Skid?

Please click here to view the full movie Swing High Swing Low.

Fun Fact:

The lead was originally offered to Gary Cooper, who turned it down, then to Bing Crosby, who also turned it down, then to Fred Mac, who took it.

I loved the night club scene with Anthony Quinn. Wonderful little movie for all Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray fans.

Jean Dixon (July 14, 1896 – February 12, 1981). While living in France, she studied dramatics under Sarah Bernhardt. She was on the Broadway stage a number of years before Hollywood called her in 1929. She mostly played the streetwise, smart-mouthed friend of the leading lady. Her most famous performance was in the film, My Man Godfrey (1936).

Filmography:
The Lady Lies (1929)
The Kiss Before the Mirror (1933)
Sadie McKee (1934)
I’ll Love You Always (1935)
She Married Her Boss (1935)
My Man Godfrey (1936)
You Only Live Once (1937)
Swing High, Swing Low (1937)
Holiday (1938)
Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)

Happy Thankgiving from Rita and all of us here at N and CF.

Battle of the Blondes: Betty Grable VS. Doris Day.

Betty Grable and Doris Day, were/are both talented singers and dancers. They were/are often called, "Sweethearts of the Silver Screen".

Betty Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973), was famous for having the most beautiful legs in Hollywood and insured by her studio for $1,000,000 with Lloyds of London.

Grable, performed in many musical films of the 1940s such as: Sweet Rosie O'Grady (1943). A musical film, which takes place in the 1880s, when American Madeleine Marlowe, is performing in the London musical comedy group while engaged to Charles, the Duke of Trippingham. Charles promises her, that they will be married in New York, where she is to star in a new show.

After boarding a ship, Madge's traveling companions Arthur Skinner and Edna Van Dyke, show her a copy of the, The Police Gazette, where the article reveals that her real name is, Rosie O'Grady and that she started out singing in, a beer garden named, Flugelman's. The article, also revels that the duke is only interested in Madge's money. Angry, Madge plans to confront, Sam the newspaper reporter who wrote the story.

When Madge's boat docks, she is met by reporters. Sam "rescues" her and tries to get more information about her engagement, but when Madge learns his true identity, she tells everyone that she and Sam are engaged.

Police Gazette's editor, Tom Morgan, fires Sam for making a laughingstock of the paper. Sam, begs Madge for a truce, but she continues playing up their "romance" to reporters.

Not liking being called a fortune hunter, Sam decides to get even with Madge and serenades her with a song he has written called, "Sweet Rosie O'Grady." Sam then insists that she join him at Flugelman's.

Sam and Madge, have called off their feud and have had to much to drink when they return to her hotel. Charles, has come to New York to surprise Madge and is not too happy to see them together. Madge, becomes angry and she breaks off their engagement.

Madge, decides to take advantage of the publicity and produce a new show around Sam's "Sweet Rosie O'Grady" song.

This is a Musical remake, "Love is News (1937)", which starred Loretta Young. Fox tried again with this story in 1948 titled, "That Wonderful Urge", starring Gene Tierney.

Down Argentine Way (1940). Made a star of Betty Grable in her first leading role and introduced the colorful Carmen Miranda. The film also starred Don Ameche, The Nicholas Brothers, Charlotte Greenwood, and J. Carrol Naish.

 Please click here to learn more about the classic film, Down Argentine Way(1940).

Doris Day (born April 3, 1924). Her entertainment career began, while performing as a big band singer in 1939, with her first hit song, "Sentimental Journey", in 1945. After leaving the Les Brown and His Band of Renown to try a solo career, she started her partnership with Columbia Records. In 1948, she auditioned for Michael Curtiz, which led to the lead in, Romance on the High Seas, her first film with her friend, Jack Carson.

With a legendary Hollywood "girl-next-door" image she performed in 39 films. She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in the film, Pillow Talk.

Another favorite Doris Day film, Tea for Two (1950). A Musical directed by David Butler. The screenplay by Harry Clork and William Jacobs was inspired by the 1925 stage musical No, No Nanette.

Please click here to learn more about the classic film Tea For Two(1950)

Another favorite Doris Day film, That Touch of Mink (1962). A Romantic/comedy starring Cary Grant and Doris Day. The film co-stars Gig Young, John Astin, Audrey Meadows, and Dick Sargent. Baseball players: Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Yogi Berra make cameo appearances.

Please click here to learn more about the classic movie That Touch of Mink(1962)

Video: Full Movie.

Madge Kennedy: Pioneer Actress.

Madge Kennedy: Pioneer Actress.It is virtually unique to encounter an actress who had not only been a silent star, but an equally prominent performer on the Broadway stage, but Madge Kennedy was such an actress.




Although born in Chicago, on April 19, 1891, Madge and her family moved to California and then to New York, where the actress began her professional stage career in 1910. When Samuel Goldwyn formed his own production company in 1917, Madge was the third star he signed, following Mabel Normand and Mae Marsh. Between 1917 and 1920, Madge starred in 21 five-reel features for Goldwyn, beginning with “Baby Mine.” When Madge’s contract with Goldwyn expired in 1921 after her last films, “The Girl with a Jazz Heart,” “The Highest Bidder,” and “Oh Mary Be Careful,” she decided to return to the stage. Madge’s return to stage was in “Cornered” (1920), and although she was to make six independent feature films between 1923 and 1926, she primarily devoted her energy to theatrical work. “Poppy” with W.C. Fields, which opened at New York’s Apollo Theatre on September 3, 1923, is the most famous of those stage productions.

With her first husband Harold Bolster, a former Goldwyn executive who died in 1927, Madge formed an independent film production company, Kenma Corporation. Madge produced and starred in “The Purple Highway” (1923) and “Three Miles Out” (1924), both relatively unsuccessful.

In the 1930’s, Madge’s career began to falter. She made her last Broadway appearance in “Bridal Wise” (1932). That might have been the end of Madge’s career had it not been for three fans, Ruth Gordon, Garson Kanin, and George Cukor. In the summer of 1951, the trio was involved in pre-production of “The Marrying Kind,” which the Kanins had scripted and George Cukor was to direct. Judy Holliday and Aldo Ray had been cast in the starring roles, but the three were looking for someone to play Judge Carroll, in whose divorce court Holliday and Ray would air their marital differences. “The Marrying Kind” was followed by fourteen film roles including “Lust for Life” (1956), “North by Northwest” (1959) and “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” (1969).

Madge’s later years weren’t easy and she relied upon a pension from the Actor’s Fund to pay the bills. Madge died on June 9, 1987. She was 96 years old.

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Esther Williams

Esther shows some love to a turkey...

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Brigitte Bardot.

Personal Quote:

"I am really a cat transformed into a woman... I purr. I scratch. And sometimes I bite".

Battle of the Blondes: Janet Leigh VS Brigitte Bardot.

Both Janet Leigh and Brigitte Bardot, were well known as the "sex kittens" of their era.

Janet Leigh (July 6, 1927 – October 3, 2004). Discovered by actress Norma Shearer, landed a contract with MGM and began her film career in the late 1940s. She performed in Alfred Hitchcock's, Psycho (1960) and Living It Up(1954). She also played more dramatic roles: Safari (1958) Touch of Evil (1958) and The Manchurian Candidate (1962). She also performed in one of my favorite Musicals, My Sister Eileen (1955). Directed by Richard Quine. It stars Janet Leigh, Betty Garrett and Jack Lemmon.

Ruth and her "blonde bombshell sister Eileen,(that all the boys go gaga over), come to New York looking for "fame and fortune". After they find a small apartment, Ruth catches the eye of playboy publisher Bob Baker, after she submits a story about her sister Eileen. She tries to keep his attention by convincing him that she and the gorgeous, Eileen are one and the same person.

This is a very charming musical with a wonderful score by Jule Styne. Betty Garrett and Janet Leigh, both shine in their performances. And the film spotlights some wonderful choreography by Bob Fosse.

Houdini (1953). Biographical film about the life of the magician, Harry Houdini. Directed by George Marshall, based on the book Houdini by Harold Kellock. The music score was by Roy Webb and the cinematography by Ernest Laszlo. Costume design by Edith Head.

Brigitte Bardot(September 28, 1934). By the time she was 15 Brigitte was modeling and posed for the French magazine "Elle". She performed in her first french film, Crazy for Love (1952). She made her first US film in, Act of Love (1953) with Kirk Douglas. Brigitte's "sex kitten" sexuality took the US by storm. In 1965 she appeared as herself in, Dear Brigitte (1965) with James Stewart (she only appeared in one scene). Just before she turned 40, Brigitte retired from movies after filming, The Edifying and Joyous Story of Colinot (1973).

I'm really looking forward to viewing these two Brigitte Bardot films listed below:

And God Created Woman (1956). A French drama film directed by Roger Vadim and starring Brigitte Bardot. This was the film that created her "sex kitten" image.

A Very Private Affair(1962). A French film directed by Louis Malle and starring Brigitte Bardot.

The Wrong Man (1956).

The Wrong Man (1956). Alfred Hitchcock film which stars Henry Fonda and Vera Miles. The film is based on a true story of an innocent man charged for a crime he did not commit. The story was based on the book The True Story of Christopher Emmanuel Balestrero by Maxwell Anderson and the article "A Case of Identity" (Life magazine, June 29, 1953) by Herbert Brean. It was one of the few Hitchcock films based on a true story, and unusually for Hitchcock, the facts of the story were not changed much.

The story begins when Manny, a Stork Club bass fiddle player, returns home to find his wife Rose still awake, with a toothache. Manny suggests, that they borrow against her insurance, to pay for the dentist.

Knowing, that he has to be home at 5:30 to give his two sons music lessons, Manny visits the insurance company to see about the loan. There, the clerks believe that he looks like the man who robbed them a month ago. They call the police, who wait outside Manny's home to pick him up and drive him to the station. After.. asking Manny about his finances, the police believe that he has a motive to steal money.

They drive him to the places that have been robbed and ask the clerks if he is the man who robbed them. Many of the victims are not sure if Manny, is the thief, so the police ask the insurance clerks to identify him.

Because Manny's printing is similar to the robber's, they ask him to print out a note. Manny, misspells the word "drawer" as "draw," which is the same way the robber spelled the word and they take him into custody.



Rose, worries that he has been in an accident, because has never been late before. By the time the police notify Rose, Manny's mother and sister and brother-in-law, Gene are waiting with her.

The next morning, Manny is taken to the felony court where a trial date is set. Even with his attorney's request for leniency, the judge sets the bail at $7,500. After she raises the money for Manny's bail, Rose calls lawyer Frank D. O'Connor, who has been recommended to Manny's mother.

O'Connor, asks Manny, to try to remember where he was on the dates of the robberies. The Balestreros, remember that they were vacationing in Cornwall, New York playing cards with three men.

Rose and Manny, try to track down the three men with no luck. Manny, then remembers at the time of the second robbery, he was at his dentist, who confirms that he was there. They hope to use the information in court.

Rose, becomes extremely depressed and when her behavior deteriorates, Manny takes her to a doctor, who admits her to a sanitarium for her own good.

As Manny's trial begins, one of the jurors, who has already made up his mind about the case, asks the judge if they "have to sit and listen to this?", the judge calls for a mistrial.

Soon after, a man holds up a delicatessen. The owner signals to her husband, who holds him, while she phones the police. The robber is arrested and brought into the police station, where, in the hallway, he passes a detective working on Manny's case. The robber looks a lot like Manny and the detective follows up on his hunch. Will The charges against Manny be dropped and the right man be charged with the crime?

Henry Fonda, gives one of his grimmest performance and Bernard Herrmann's score is very effective building on the suspense.

Fun Facts:

When Manny (Henry Fonda) is taken to prison was filmed in a real prison...as he is led to his cell , you can hear one of the inmates shout, "What'd they get ya for, Henry?" and several of the other prisoners laughing.

Alfred Hitchcock: narrating the film's prologue. The only time he actually spoke in any of his films.

Sir Anthony Quayle (7 September 1913 – 20 October 1989). His first film role was a uncredited Italian wigmaker in the film, Pygmalion(1938). Other film roles include: Alfred Hitchcock's The Wrong Man, The Battle of the River Plate (both 1956), Ice-Cold in Alex (1958), Tarzan's Greatest Adventure (1959), The Guns of Navarone (1961), H.M.S. Defiant, David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia (both 1962) and The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964). He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1969 for his role as Cardinal Wolsey in, Anne of the Thousand Days.

This Week on N and CF.

ON TCM Nov. 21st. My Sister Eileen (1955). Musical directed by Richard Quine. It stars Janet Leigh, Betty Garrett and Jack Lemmon.

ON TCM Nov. 21st. Houdini (1953). Biographical film about the life of the magician and escapologist Harry Houdini. It was made by Paramount Pictures, directed by George Marshall and produced by George Pal from a screenplay by Philip Yordan, based on the book Houdini by Harold Kellock. The music score was by Roy Webb and the cinematography by Ernest Laszlo. The art direction was by Albert Nozaki and Hal Pereira and the costume design by Edith Head.

ON TCM Nov. 21st. And God Created Woman (1956). A French drama film directed by Roger Vadim and starring Brigitte Bardot. Though by no means her first film, it is widely recognized as the vehicle that launched Bardot into the public spotlight and immediately created her "sex kitten" persona.

ON TCM Nov. 21st. A Very Private Affair(1962). A French film directed by Louis Malle and starring Brigitte Bardot.

Video: Brigitte Bardot, singing and dancing first of 4.



ON TCM Nov. 23rd. Sweet Rosie O'Grady (1943). A musical film about an American singer who attempts to better herself by marrying an English duke, but is harassed by a reporter. It stars Betty Grable and Robert Young.

ON TCM Nov. 23rd. Down Argentine Way (1940).  It made a star of Betty Grable in her first leading role and introduced audiences to Carmen Miranda. The film also starred Don Ameche, The Nicholas Brothers, Charlotte Greenwood, and J. Carrol Naish.

ON TCM Nov. 23rd. Tea for Two (1950). Musical film directed by David Butler. The screenplay by Harry Clork and William Jacobs was inspired by the 1925 stage musical No, No Nanette, although the plot was changed considerably from the original book by Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel, and the score by Harbach, Irving Caesar, and Vincent Youmans was augmented with tunes by other composers

ON TCM Nov. 23rd. That Touch of Mink (1962). Romantic comedy starring Cary Grant and Doris Day. The film co-stars Gig Young, John Astin, Audrey Meadows, and Dick Sargent. In addition, baseball stars Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Yogi Berra make cameo appearances.

Brigitte Bardot Smoothie.

1/2 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup milk or vanilla yogurt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. brown sugar
4 ice cubes

Combine INGREDIENTS in BLENDER and PUREE until SMOOTH. Pour the SMOOTHIE into small glasses (this drink is rich) and GARNISH each with a dollop of VANILLA YOGURT. For a fun, add a PINCH of CINNAMON.

Article of the week is from:. Classic Film TV Blogspot. Speaking To Scarlett Ohara.  Kim, wanted to try something different with her GWTW review and she succeeded.

For the Boys Blogathon

Participating blogs:
As Time Goes By
Backlots
Bette’s Classic Movie Blog
Blame Mame
Comet Over Hollywood
Dear Mr. Gable
Frankly, My Dear
Hollywood Revue, The
Jeremy Gurto
lilliangish.net
Most Beautiful Fraud in the World, The
Noir and Chick Flicks
Pussy Goes Grr
Sinamatic Salve-ation
Sittin’ on a Backyard Fence
Tales of the Easily Distracted
True Classics
Undy a Hundy

What I think men most like about the western/film noir actor Robert Mitchum, is how he swaggered through the wildness of his youth and became very independent man. Without a doubt, one of Mr. Mitchum's best films is also his favorite performance, The Night of the Hunter (1955). His performance as Reverend Harry Powell, is considered by many to be one of the most suspenseful of his career.

The film begins when family man Ben Harper, is sentenced to hang for his part in a robbery in which two men were killed. Before he is caught he hides the stolen money, telling only his son John, where the money is.

Reverend Harry Powell, a serial killer and posing as preacher with the two words "LOVE" and "HATE" tattooed across his knuckles, shares a prison cell with Harper. While Harper sleeping, Powell over hears him say: "And a little child shall lead them."

Powell, now believes that Harper's children, are the only ones who know the secret of where the money is and to win their trust, marries their mother, Willa. Powell, asks the children about the money and John becomes suspicious of Powell and does not trust him. Willa, overhears her new husband questioning the children and now that she knows the truth, he kills her.

After Powell dumps her body, you see a beautiful/horrific under water scene of her sitting in the car at the bottom of the pond. He learns where the money is and the children escape down the river with the money. The river scene is one of many moments of pure beauty and the music keeps you drifting along.



 They find safety with an eccentric old woman named, Rachel Cooper. Powell, eventually catches up with them, but Rachel knows that he is evil and takes matters into her own hands.

The cat and mouse game, between Reverend Harry Powell and young John, will keep you sitting on the edge of your seat.

Goldie Hawn's Later Career.

Goldie Hawn's career slowed down after leaving Hollywood in the late 1980s, but began a comeback with the action/comedy, Bird on a Wire(1990), with Mel Gibson, who plays a FBI informant, who has kept his new identity secret for 15 years, now an old flame has found him, while some thugs are out to kill him..

Hawn's next successful performances were in the films:

Deceived(1991). Thriller starring Goldie Hawn and John Heard. The film begins with Adrienne Sauders, happily married to her art dealer husband, Jack. A friend tells her that she saw Jack in town, when he told her that he was on a business trip. Adrienne, confronts him, but he denies being in town. Soon after, a museum curator is murdered and a treasure that Jack bought for the museum is proved to be a fake. All evidence points to Jack and her world turns upside down, when police tell Adrienne that Jack was killed in a car accident. Adrienne, soon learns that her husband was not who he claimed to be and now she and her daughter lives are in danger.

I loved how the camera caught pieces of the truth slowly building on the suspense. The score works perfectly with the plot. This is one of those films that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Video: First of 7.



Criss Cross (1992). A feature film directed by Chris Menges, based on the novel by Scott Sommer. Cast: Goldie Hawn, Arliss Howard, Keith Carradine, Steve Buscemi, and David Arnott.

Single mom Tracy Cross, lives with her 12-year-old son Christopher in, Key West, working as a waitress. She becomes a stripper to support her family which upsets Chris. A man from a local restaurant is involved in a drug-smuggling ring and Chris goes to work for him to earn enough money so his mother can quit stripping.

Joe, a undercover agent, working to bring down the drug ring, strikes up a friendship with Tracy and her son, which complicates his job.

Next, Goldie, received much attention for her role opposite Bruce Willis and Meryl Streep in the 1992 film, Death Becomes Her. A dark/slapstick/screwball comedy/fantasy film directed by Robert Zemeckis. The film focuses on a pair of rivals who drink a magic potion that promises eternal youth.

When, they both are killed in their fight over a mortician, the potion revives them as the undead and they are forced to maintain their deteriorating bodies forever. Death Becomes Her won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

Goldie Hawn's, performance was very unique, especially in the beginning when Goldie plays a overweight cat lady.. OMG!!

Video; Behind the scenes.

Earlier that year, she starred in the film, House Sitter (1992), a screwball/comedy with Steve Martin. Directed by Frank Oz. The story is about a con-artist, who worms her way into the life of a architect by claiming to be his wife.

The teaming of Martin and Hawn, turned out to be a hilarious combination. The tricky situations she gets Martin and herself in, are really funny.

Hawn, took a break when she cared of her mother for four years, while she was battling cancer, she lost her fight in 1994. Hawn, made her come back as producer of the comedy, Something to Talk About, starring Julia Roberts and Dennis Quaid, as well as making her directorial debut in the television film, Hope (1997) starring Christine Lahti and Jena Malone.

Hawn returned to the screen in 1996 as the aging, alcoholic actress Elise Elliot in the great comedy, The First Wives Club. Having Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton together, for a film that sure to be wonderfully entertaining. The film is about, how three women get even with their ex-husbands. Another reason to watch, The First Wives Club, is the amazing supporting cast: Maggie Smith and Sarah Jessica Parker, Stephen Collins and Stockard Channing.

Goldie reunited with Steve Martin for the comedy, The Out-of-Towners (1999), a remake of the 1970 Neil Simon hit. Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin play a husband and wife of 27 years who's last child, is sent off to Europe and then they head off from Ohio to New York.

In 2001, Hawn was reunited with former co-stars Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton for the romantic/comedy, Town and Country. Directed by Peter Chelsom. Beatty plays New York City architect Porter Stoddard, with Keaton as his wife and Hawn and Shandling as their best friends.

As of 2011, her last film performance was in the film, The Banger Sisters (2002), with Susan Sarandon and Geoffrey Rush. The story begins when Suzette is fired from her job as bartender, she then decides, to travel to Phoenix, Arizona to see her old best friend, Vinnie. Stranded, at a service station, she picks up Harry Plummer, a neurotic author, who is also on his way to Phoenix.

Suzette, has a chance meeting with Vinnie's daughter Hannah, who after some recreational drug use, passes out in Harry's hotel room. When she drives her back to her parents home... She finds Vinnie, now leading the life of the perfect wife and mother.

Suzette, brings back all those "wild memories" for Lavinia and she decides to relive the old days by going dancing with Suzette.

This is a fun and sexy chick flick for a more mature audiences, with a message about being true to yourself.

Hawn announced in an interview with AARP's magazine that her next film project would be called, Ashes to Ashes and co-star Kurt Russell. The film is about a New York widow who loses her late husband's ashes in India. As of 2011 the project has yet to go into production.

Please click here to view Doriantb's Fowl Play post.

Please click here to view Goldie Hawn past reviews.

Keep Your Powder Dry(1945).

Keep Your Powder Dry(1945). Drama starring Lana Turner, Susan Peters, and Laraine Day. The film was directed by Edward Buzzell and written by George Bruce and Mary C. McCall, Jr.

One sunny morning Valerie Parks, is told by the family attorney, that she will not receive her trust fund until she proves that she deserves it, so she decides to join the WACS. Next.. on the list to join, Ann Darrison, who decides to enlist after her serviceman husband John is sent overseas. Last, but not least is Leigh Rand, the daughter of a military family, who also decides enlists.

The three new recruits, meet on the way to the Ft. Des Moines training camp and Leigh and Val, instantly develop a dislike for each other and Darrison becomes the mediator, when all three are assigned as mechanics, in the same unit. Leigh challenges Val, saying she never will complete basic training. Val, proves her wrong and does very well in class. Val and Leigh, eventually become friends and all three girls are accepted into Officers' Candidate School.

One day, Capt. Bill Barclay, a friend of Ann's husband, arrives at their base to visit Ann. Later, Bill meets Val and asks her on a date, Leigh, who is attracted to Bill herself, reminds them that enlisted WACS are forbidden to date officers. Leigh arranges for Val, to be assigned to duty that night to prevent them from meeting. Which angers Val and so ends their friendship.

Later Val, receives a telegram from her attorney, telling her that he is in town, she goes to meet him. Instead, she is met by her old friends Harriet and a drunken Junior Vanderheusen. Val tells her friends, that she plans to stay in the military and gives them a piece of her mind. Insulted, Junior spills his drink on Val's uniform.

Knowing that she cannot return to the barracks smelling of alcohol, Val goes to see Leigh, who is on leave and staying in the next room. Val, begs her to bring her a clean uniform in the morning. Leigh agrees, but when she returns to the hotel the next morning with the clean uniform, she runs into Junior in the elevator.

After learning from Junior, that Val only joined the military to receive her inheritance. Leigh, launches into a campaign to get rid of Val. Two days before graduation, Val, unable to stand her abuse, slaps Leigh in the face and marches off the field.

Later when Val, refuses to stick up for herself to their commanding officer, Lt. Colonel Spottiswoode. The officer calls Leigh, before the board and informs her that her platoon has rated her unfit to be an officer. Leigh, takes the blame for Val's outburst.

Col. Spottiswoode goes to see Anne and informs her that her husband has been killed in combat. When Leigh and Val, hear about Ann's loss, her courage shames them into staying the corps.



I recently saw this classic movie on TCM for the first time. I would call it a female version of a WWII buddy movie. Agnes Moorehead, Natalie Schafer and June Lockhart have supporting roles.

Susan Peters (July 3, 1921 – October 23, 1952). Her first job was to read with potential actors in their screen tests. Before long she had impressed studio executives with her own talent, and they began casting her in films.

For the first two years she used her given name and played small, uncredited parts in the film, Meet John Doe (1941). Her first substantial role was in the film, Random Harvest (1942), which earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination. MGM, cast her in the starring role in the film, Song of Russia (1943).

Peters was married to the actor Richard Quine on November 7, 1943. A couple of months after performing in the film, Keep Your Powder Dry, Peters and her husband were duck hunting when a rifle accidentally discharged, causing a bullet to be lodged in her spine. The accident left her permanently paralyzed from the waist down. Peters attempted to continue her acting career.

MGM continued to pay her salary, unable to find suitable projects, Peters left the studio. She returned for the lead role in, The Sign of the Ram (1948). Unfortunately, her disability made her a difficult actress to cast.

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Lauren Bacall

While Lauren cleans, her doggie is being ever so good...

In Memory: Karl Slover (September 21, 1918 – November 15, 2011).

Karl Slover (September 21, 1918 – November 15, 2011) was a Slovak-born American actor and was one of four surviving munchkins from the film, The Wizard of Oz.(1939). A lifelong bachelor, Slover lived in Dublin, Georgia until his death at 93.

At the the age of 9 years old, Slover's father, sent him to Berlin, Germany to join up with a traveling midget show. After working with the show for several years, Slover moved to the United States where he joined another traveling show. It wasn't long before Slover began appearing as midgets in films: The Terror of Tiny Town, Block-Heads, Bringing Up Baby and They Gave Him a Gun.

Slover was working in Hawaii when his circus manager sent him to Hollywood, where "little people" were needed for an upcoming film called The Wizard of Oz. At the age of 21 and standing just 4 feet 4 inches (making him the smallest of the Munchkins), Slover played the parts of four munchkins in the movie: the first trumpeter, a soldier, one of the sleepy heads, and was among those who sang 'Follow the Yellow Brick Road'.

After filming 'Oz', Slover began working for the 'Original World Famous Singers Midget Show' where he sang and danced throughout the United States. When the show ended in 1942, Slover joined the Royal American Carnival in Tampa, Florida.

Slover, participated in several celebrations related to the Wizard of Oz. Every June, Slover attended festivities celebrating Judy Garland's birthday at the Judy Garland Museum and Birthplace in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. In November 2007, Slover joined seven other surviving munchkins in Hollywood where honorary mayor Johnny Grant unveiled a star dedicated to the munchkins on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.