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Tommy Rall Dies: ‘Seven Brides For Seven Brothers’, ‘Funny Girl’ Dancer Was 90

Tommy Rall Dies: ‘Seven Brides For Seven Brothers’, ‘Funny Girl’ Dancer Was 90
Tommy Rall, the actor and dancer who brought Broadway skills to Hollywood films including Kiss Me Kate, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Funny Girl and Pennies From Heaven, died Tuesday of congestive heart failure in Santa Monica. He was 90.

His death was announced by friend Cynthia Wands on Facebook.

“A hospice nurse was by Tommy’s bedside,” Wands wrote, “and found a box that held the cards and letters that had been sent to him in the last few weeks. She spent the afternoon reading each one to him, and when she finished reading the last one – he peacefully stopped breathing and passed away.”

As a dancer in the 1950s, Rall shuttled between Broadway and Hollywood, choreographed onstage by Jerome Robbins, Gower Champion (Small Wonder) and Agnes de Mille (Juno) and directed on screen by Stanley Donen (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), George Sidney (Kiss Me Kate
See full article at Deadline »

Tommy Rall, Dancer in ‘Kiss Me Kate’ and ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,’ Dies at 90

Tommy Rall, Dancer in ‘Kiss Me Kate’ and ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,’ Dies at 90
Tommy Rall, the actor and acrobatic dancer who displayed his athletic dexterity in the classic MGM musicals Kiss Me Kate and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, has died. He was 90.

Rall died Tuesday of congestive heart failure in Santa Monica, his friend Cynthia Wands reported on Facebook.

On Broadway, the dynamic Rall performed for famed choreographers Jerome Robbins, Agnes de Mille and Gower Champion and appeared in productions including Miss Liberty, Call Me Madam and Milk and Honey.

Later, he showed up as Barbra Streisand’s princely dance partner in the parody of Swan Lake in Funny Girl (1968) and shared a vaudeville tap number to “...
See full article at The Hollywood Reporter »

Attention, Congress: The Movies Are Dying Again, For Real

Attention, Congress: The Movies Are Dying Again, For Real
Last week, just before the President’s diagnosis consumed us, Hollywood leaders joined in asking that Congress send coronavirus relief funds to exhibitors. Those were described as a life-and-death issue for theaters. A mortal threat. And who can doubt it? If the White House isn’t safe, movie houses are certainly still a question mark.

But the dramatic language of the plea—“our country cannot afford to lose the social, economic, and cultural value that theaters provide” warned a joint letter—couldn’t help but recall a peculiar truth about the movie business. That is, it is usually dying of something.

Strikes. New technology. Piracy. Star salaries. Something.

In fact, morbidity is an old habit in Hollywood. The trick is to know what is really an existential threat—this one certainly seems real—and what is just another stage death in an industry that is forever deciding the show is finally over.
See full article at Deadline »

Al Kasha, Oscar-Winning Songwriter of ‘The Morning After,’ Dies at 83

Al Kasha, Oscar-Winning Songwriter of ‘The Morning After,’ Dies at 83
Al Kasha, the songwriter who won Academy Awards in the 1970s for co-writing hit ballads for “The Poseidon Adventure” and “The Towering Inferno,” died Monday in Los Angeles. He was 83. No cause of death was immediately given.

As part of a songwriting team with Joel Hirschhorn, Kasha received two Tony nominations, four Golden Globe nods and a People’s Choice award, plus a pair of additional Oscar nominations for “Pete’s Dragon” in addition to the duo’s two wins for the Irwin Allen disaster movies.

“Write in Power,” tweeted Diane Warren, who succeeded Kasha as movie-theme royalty. “A great songwriter and lovely man,” she said, adding a broken-heart emoji.

The Morning After,” from 1972’s “The Poseidon Adventure,” is still remembered as one of the more indelible movie themes of all time, either despite or because of the fact that it appeared within the body of the film, being sung on
See full article at Variety »

Norma Doggett, Actress in 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,' Dies at 94

Norma Doggett, Actress in 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,' Dies at 94
Norma Doggett, the Broadway dancer who portrayed Martha, one of the lovely ladies in the classic 1954 Stanley Donen musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, has died. She was 94.

Doggett, a longtime resident of Forest Hills in New York, died May 4.

On Broadway, Doggett appeared in six musicals from 1948-59, working for Irving Berlin, Jerome Robbins, Moss Hart and Joshua Logan and serving as an understudy to the likes of Ethel Merman, Florence Henderson and Allyn McLerie.

Doggett had auditioned for Seven Brides choreographer Michael Kidd in 1953 for a job as Gwen Verdon's understudy in the Broadway musical Can-Can, and he remembered ...
See full article at The Hollywood Reporter »

Mike Patton’s Advice for Life in Quarantine: ‘Hang Tough, Watch Epic Films’

Mike Patton’s Advice for Life in Quarantine: ‘Hang Tough, Watch Epic Films’
As the world fights a pandemic, we’ve been reaching out to some of our favorite artists to get their takes on these unprecedented times. Here’s what Faith No More and Mr. Bungle singer Mike Patton — who just released Necroscape, an enveloping and unsettling avant-rock odyssey by tētēma, his collaborative venture with Australian composer Anthony Pateras — had to say in response to a few quarantine questions via email.

What are you doing with your unexpected time at home?

Writing. Writing. Writing. Working on several records at once, which isn’t abnormal for me,
See full article at Rolling Stone »

Stanley Donen movies: 15 greatest films ranked worst to best

Stanley Donen movies: 15 greatest films ranked worst to best
The late Stanley Donen would’ve celebrated his 96th birthday on April 13, 2020. The legendary filmmaker — the last of the directors from Hollywood’s golden age — passed away on February 21, 2019, leaving behind a legacy of classic movies filled with color, song, and dance. In honor of his birthday, let’s take a look back at 15 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.

Born in 1924, Donen got his start as a dancer. It was in the chorus line for George Abbott‘s production of “Pal Joey” that he met Gene Kelly. The two became quick friends, and Donen started working as Kelly’s assistant, helping him choreograph his intensely acrobatic dance sequences.

The two turned to filmmaking with “On the Town” (1949), a lavish Technicolor musical about three sailors on a 24 hour shore leave in New York City. They teamed up again for perhaps the greatest movie musical of all time: “Singin’ in the Rain
See full article at Gold Derby »

John Callahan Dies: ‘All My Children’ Star Was 66

John Callahan Dies: ‘All My Children’ Star Was 66
John Callahan, a soap opera veteran with roles on All My Children and Days of Our Lives, died Saturday morning, according to his former wife and co-star Eva Larue. He was 66.

“Wing You to Your Rest my Dear Friend. Your bigger than life, gregarious personality will leave a hole in our hearts forever. We are devastated-My great friend, co parent partner, and loving father to Kaya,” Larue shared on Instagram. “You gave the best, most beautifully written tributes, and I am at a complete loss for words right now for you. I hope Heaven has baseball and that your team always wins! The Yankees has just lost their biggest fan.”

More from DeadlineRoscoe Born Dies: 'The Young And The Restless', 'All My Children' Actor Was 69Jason Davis Dies: 'Recess' Voice Actor Was 35Marsha Kramer Dies: 'Modern Family' Actress Was 74

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May Flights of Angels
See full article at Deadline »

‘Call of the Wild’ Composer on How Music Became Protagonist Dog’s Voice

‘Call of the Wild’ Composer on How Music Became Protagonist Dog’s Voice
Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild” ranks as one of the most famous books about a canine ever written. So director Chris Sanders knew that the composer of his film adaptation simply had to be a dog lover.

Luckily, Sanders’ “How to Train Your Dragon” composer, John Powell, has two standard poodles. And when Powell watched a full-length animatic version of the film, long before there was even a rough cut, he wasn’t the only one who appreciated the work. “My older dog Chase sat and watched the whole thing with me on the couch,” the composer reports.

Powell (who earned an Oscar nomination for his 2010 “Dragon” score) was also the right choice, Sanders says, for “his ability to transport us so fully to a time and place” — in this case the Yukon Territory during the Gold Rush days of the 1890s. The music needed to be “something a little bit folksy,
See full article at Variety »

Oscar front-runner Joaquin Phoenix (‘Joker’) goes deep with Anderson Cooper on ’60 Minutes’

Oscar front-runner Joaquin Phoenix (‘Joker’) goes deep with Anderson Cooper on ’60 Minutes’
Expected Oscar nominee Joaquin Phoenix pours his heart out to interview Anderson Cooper on a segment of “60 Minutes” this Sunday on the eve of the announcement of the nominees for the 92nd Academy Awards whose ceremony will air on February 9 on ABC.

The star of “Joker,” the first R-rated film to pass the billion-dollar mark at the box office worldwide, has already claimed his second Globe — following his win for playing country legend Johnny Cash in 2005’s “Walk the Line” — as the deranged and abused clown Arthur Fleck who transforms into Batman’s nemesis the Joker.

SEEKeep it real? Or can Joaquin Phoenix (‘Joker’) crush this recent Oscar trend?

Phoenix, who made his acting debut along with his late brother Phoenix, in 1982 on the TV series “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” opens up to Cooper about the overdose death of his older sibling outside of the Los Angeles music venue
See full article at Gold Derby »

River Phoenix movies: 15 greatest films, ranked worst to best, include ‘Running on Empty,’ ‘Stand By Me,’ ‘Indiana Jones’

  • Gold Derby
River Phoenix sadly was one of those actors whose career burned bright for only a few years and then ended way before its time. August 23, 2019, would have marked his 49th birthday but tragically the gifted young actor only made it to age 23.

Phoenix and his siblings (including Joaquin Phoenix) began acting as children. He found his first job in a television show based on the popular film “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” That show only ran for one season, but Phoenix would continue to work on TV for the next few years. In 1985 he would have his breakthrough in a supporting role in an acclaimed all-star TV movie called “Surviving” and then that same year in his first feature film “Explorers.” The following year would mark an even bigger breakthrough when he starred in the sleeper hit “Stand by Me” as one of four childhood friends who go looking for a dead body.
See full article at Gold Derby »

River Phoenix movies: 15 greatest films ranked from worst to best

  • Gold Derby
River Phoenix sadly was one of those actors whose career burned bright for only a few years and then ended way before its time. August 31, 2019, would have marked his 49th birthday but tragically the gifted young actor only made it to age 23.

Phoenix and his siblings (including Joaquin Phoenix) began acting as children. He found his first job in a television show based on the popular film “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” That show only ran for one season, but Phoenix would continue to work on TV for the next few years. In 1985 he would have his breakthrough in a supporting role in an acclaimed all-star TV movie called “Surviving” and then that same year in his first feature film “Explorers.” The following year would mark an even bigger breakthrough when he starred in the sleeper hit “Stand by Me” as one of four childhood friends who go looking for a dead body.
See full article at Gold Derby »

Russ Tamblyn’s Career Had Legs After Childhood

Russ Tamblyn’s Career Had Legs After Childhood
With an acting career that spans work for Cecil B. DeMille and Joseph Losey to Quentin Tarantino and David Lynch, Russ Tamblyn’s creativity and longevity is proof that there’s life after child stardom. In Tamblyn’s case, there’s also been a bounty of juicy film and TV roles long after his legendary legs no longer kicked up movie musicals such as “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and “West Side Story.” His decades in film and TV include all genres, from Robert Wise’s suspense classic “The Haunting” to George Pal’s colorful kidfare, such as “Tom Thumb” and “Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm” and Lynch’s “Twin Peaks” series. It’s a career he explores in his upcoming memoir, “Dancing on the Edge.”

It was in 1948, eight years before the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. touted his arrival as “Most Promising Newcomer,” that Tamblyn first appeared in
See full article at Variety »

‘The Killer’ at 30: John Woo Explains How He Shot His Action Classic Without a Script

‘The Killer’ at 30: John Woo Explains How He Shot His Action Classic Without a Script
John Woo’s “The Killer” is one of the most influential action films of the last three decades, and as its 30th anniversary approaches, he told a Los Angeles audience Thursday how he staged some of its unforgettable scenes with no script.

Secret Movie Club presented the film in 35mm at the Visa Theater, and started with a live Woo Q&a. Secret Movie Club programmer Craig Hammill started with a straightforward question for the director, whose Hollywood films include “Face/Off” and “Mission: Impossible II.”

“You’re know for making some of the best action sequences of all time,” Hammill said. “Do you storyboard those sequences or do you come up with the shots once you’re on the set?”

Also Read: When Sacheen Littlefeather and Marlon Brando Fought John Wayne for the Soul of the Oscars

Woo’s response drew delighted laughter from the sold-out crowd.

“No, I’ve
See full article at The Wrap »

What is Katrina Kaif scared of and likes to stay away from?

Bharat Actress Katrina Kaif gets scared easily, and that's why she likes to stay away from horror films.

She opened up about it during a conversation on IMDb original series "The Insider's Watchlist", read a statement.

Asked if there is a genre she doesn't watch, Katrina said: "Horror. I'm too scared, it scares me. I don't want to be scared."

Also Read:?Bharat: What made Katrina Kaif to say thank you?

But the actress has some 'go-to' movies.

"Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, Hugh Grant movies can really get you out of a bad mood. Sleepless In Seattle, Pretty Woman, Four Weddings And A Funeral?-- there's an innocent, pure, joyous quality about those films," she said, adding that "Gossip Girl" is her guilty pleasure.

She said she is a big fan of "classic cinema, with my spectacle and the songs and the drama".

Checkout which Film made Katrina to become an actor.
See full article at GlamSham »

Stanley Donen movies: 15 greatest films, ranked worst to best, include ‘Singin’ in the Rain,’ ‘Charade,’ ‘Funny Face’

Stanley Donen movies: 15 greatest films, ranked worst to best, include ‘Singin’ in the Rain,’ ‘Charade,’ ‘Funny Face’
The late Stanley Donen would’ve celebrated his 95th birthday on April 13, 2019. The legendary filmmaker — the last of the directors from Hollywood’s golden age — passed away earlier this year on February 21, leaving behind a legacy of classic movies filled with color, song, and dance. In honor of his birthday, let’s take a look back at 15 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.

Born in 1924, Donen got his start as a dancer. It was in the chorus line for George Abbott‘s production of “Pal Joey” that he met Gene Kelly. The two became quick friends, and Donen started working as Kelly’s assistant, helping him choreograph his intensely acrobatic dance sequences.

SEEGene Kelly movies: 12 greatest films ranked from worst to best

The two turned to filmmaking with “On the Town” (1949), a lavish Technicolor musical about three sailors on a 24 hour shore leave in New York City. They
See full article at Gold Derby »

Howard Keel Centennial: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

We're celebrating music man Howard Keel's centennial this week. Here's Lynn Lee...

In many ways, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) marked the peak of Keel’s MGM career, coming after his breakout role in Annie, Get Your Gun and his star turns in Showboat and the less-successful but still-classic Kiss Me, Kate! Keel’s film career would fade in the years that followed, although he continued to enjoy success on the stage and in later life would find TV fame with his role on “Dallas.” It was Seven Brides, though, that captured Keel in his screen prime as an appealing and charismatic musical actor who managed to make a problematic character (to say the least) surprisingly compelling.

Full disclosure: Seven Brides was one of my favorite movies growing up, and remains one of my all-time favorite musicals. As a young child I loved it even more than West Side Story
See full article at FilmExperience »

How has March been for you?

It's true that there are three days left in March but we're recapping early because we're willing the month to end. The point is that March is always a bit slow at Tfe given the post Oscar-crashing and then the malaise that hits. But we do what we can. Expect much more in April now that we're getting back on the dance floor. Here are a dozen highlights from the month that is almost up that we hope you didn't miss.

• Us Reviewed - Jordan Peele does it again

Jennifer Jones Centennial - because Love is a Many Splendored Thing

• Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - what a tease

• Shrill with Aidy Bryant - already one of 2019's best TV shows

• Four Weddings and a Funeral - still nearly perfect on its 25th anniversary

• Tea with the Dames - Judi + Maggie + Joan + Eileen = a soothing streaming distraction

• Posterized: Julianne Moore
See full article at FilmExperience »

TCM Schedules Stanley Donen Tribute Night: Five Movies & Vintage Robert Osborne Interview Special

TCM Schedules Stanley Donen Tribute Night: Five Movies & Vintage Robert Osborne Interview Special
The late, great director and choreographer Stanley Donen might not have made Oscar’s “In Memoriam” segment, but Turner Classic Movies will do its part to set things right: TCM has scheduled a five-film tribute to the iconic MGM musical genius for Monday, March 18.

In addition to the film list (see it below), the evening will begin with TCM’s 2006 Private Screenings special, with Donen discussing his work with the channel’s one and only Robert Osborne (the well regarded host passed away in 2017).

Donen died Feb. 21 at age 94, though his passing wasn’t confirmed until the day before the Feb. 24 Oscar telecast. Still, his omission from the memorial reel drew considerable social media outrage.

Here is the TCM tribute schedule of Donen films (along with TCM’s movie descriptions) set for March 18:

8:00 p.m. Private Screenings: Stanley Donen (2006) – Director Stanley Donen discusses his life and career with host Robert Osborne.
See full article at Deadline »

‘A Star is Born’: Lady Gaga broke the Oscar curse when ‘Shallow’ won Best Original Song

‘A Star is Born’: Lady Gaga broke the Oscar curse when ‘Shallow’ won Best Original Song
We weren’t surprised that Bradley Cooper‘s remake of “A Star is Born” lost seven of its eight races at the Academy Awards. After all, there is an Oscar curse on this classic tale of Hollywood. The first three versions of “A Star is Born” earned 17 nominations but won just two. The original 1937 film claimed the screenplay award while the 1976 musical remake won Best Original Song (“Evergreen”) for its leading lady, Barbra Streisand. She was the first female composer to win this Oscar; Lady Gaga became the 11th when she won for “Shallow.”

Let’s take a closer look to see how each of the four films fared at the Oscars.

2018 version

Cooper cast Lady Gaga in her first starring role. Reviews for the film were ecstatic praising the first-time helmer and his leading lady. It was the early frontrunner to sweep the Oscars and earned bids from 12 of
See full article at Gold Derby »
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