adventure-21903 Reviews

Palm Springs Weekend (1963)

" Troy Donahue,, Connie Stevens and Ty Hardin party in " Palm Springs Weekend"

[9/10 · 8 July 2021]

It was reported that Jack Warner was impressed by the smash hit business MGM Where The Boys Are that he commissione this Warner Bros film. What resulted was a smash hit film starring Troy Donahue the biggest star on the WB lot. Co-starring Connie Stevens a huge fan favorite who starred with Troy in two WB hits Delmer Davis duo Parrish and Susan Slade. Ty Hardin who was tV's Bronco was cast. Hardin was the star of WB's Wall of Noise co starring another WB star Dorothy Provine.. Filling out the Palm Springs cast were Bob Conrad star of WB's Hawaiin Eye TV show and Stefanie Powers on loan from her studio Columbia.

Norman Taurog directs in an easy light manner. Carol Cook- a great friend of Lucille Ball- does a nice job as the frantic motel manager where all are staying.

Troy Donahue had clout at WB coming off the romantic Delmer Davis Rome Adventure with Suzanne Pleshette whom he married in a big wedding the cost picked up by Warner Bros. Troy was given the star treatment billed over Claudette Colbert in the lushly romantic Parrish co starring three WB stars Connie Stevens, Diane McBain, Sharon Hugueny, Susan Slade with Ms. Stevens, Rome Adventure with Pleshette and Angie Dickinson, A Distant Trumpet, a Western directed by legendary Raoul Walsh again with Pleshette and McBain and another WB player William Reynolds. Troy had a close friend who was given the stage name Greg Benedict and thru Donahue's pull Benedict was given roles in WB films such as The Great Race and TV shows such as Hank, and had his biggest role in Palm Springs Weekend . Benedict served as Donahue's Best Man at his wedding to Ms. Pleshette. After Donahue left WB Benedict reverted to his given name Owen Orr , Troy Donahue had a star bungalow at WB, and was always first billed top billed but he asked for his release and Warner got furious and is reputed to have blackballed Donahue. His rise and fall would be a subject of a good book.

Watching this film one sees a great group of WB players: Donahue, Stevens, Hardin, and Conrad

TCM Network recently had a Ty Hardin day with Hardin in Merrill's Marauders, Wall of Noise, Palm Springs Weekend, The Cha[man Report, PT 109

I refer to these following movies as "studio pictures" Some of the WB films starring the WB stock company: Parrish (Donahue, Stevens McBain, Hugueny, Hampton Fancher)), Susan Slade (Donahue,Stevens) Claudette English (McBain, Chad Everett, Will Hutchins), Wall of Noise (Hardin, Dorothy Provine) Rome Adventure (Donahue, Pleshette), Fancher), Two on a Guillotine (Stevens), Black Gold (McBain), Palm Springs Weekend, (Donahue, Stevens, Hardin, Conrad) , Yellowstone Kelly (Clint Walker, Edd Byrnes), My Blood Runs Cold (Donahue). House of Women (Shirley Knight) The Couch, (ShirleyKnight),

There is a great group photo of Jack Warner with all the many WB contract players on the WB Lot, google it!

Gone with the Wind (1939)

David Selznick's Masterpiece

[10/10 · 7 July 2021]

David Selznick formed his own Independent studio with funds from such movie legends as Irving Thalberg and his wife screen star Norma Sheaere and Joh Hay Whitney. Selznick took over the famous Ince Studio and it became Selznick International.

David Selznick became obsessed with Gone With The Wind and had wanted Ronald Colman to play Rhett Butler or possibly Gary Cooper, the public made it known that Clark Gable was its choice and Selznick had to make this film in partnership with MGM down the road fro his own studio. Leslie Howard and Olivia De Havilland (on loan from Warner Bros) were cast.

The big question on who was to play Scarlett O Hara: Norma Shearer a Selznick shareholder was mentioned but a public out cry denied Norma the role. Jean Arthur, Paulette Goddard, Susan Hayward, were among those tested but Vivien Leigh magically appeared on the Selznick backlot and became the legendary Scarlett O Hrara winning the Oscar and becoming 2nd only to the great Garbo as Hollywood's greatest female star. (Note Bette Davis went thru life swearing she could have been Scarlett. Read Memo From David O Selznick where the great Producer turned down David (and Kate Hepburn and Joan Crawford)

Selznick was meticulous in production detail, and fired George Cukor for reasons never totally explained, the oft quoted story was that Gable thought Cukor was throwing the picture to Vivien Leigh. Victor Flemming replaced Cukor.

Gone With The Wind opened to dazzling reviews and today stands as one of the greatest films ever produced. Hattie McDaniel justly won the Best Supporting Actress Award.

Bravo Selznick, Gable, Leigh, McDaniel and all who made this glorious movie.

Vacation Playhouse: Alfred of the Amazon (1967) Season 5, Episode 3

Desilu "Vacation Playhouse" Alfred Of The Amazon. starring Wally Cox

[9/10 · 5 July 2021]

Lucille Ball ran Desilu and had a great programming chief Herb Solow.

Lucy always wanted Desilu to be a comedy factory but in reality Desilu under her tenure as CEO had the classic espionage series, Mission Impossible and one of the all time great tv shows Star Trek. A Third show Mannix joined the shows and Desilu had 3 hours of great dramatic programming per week along with La Ball's classic show "Here's Lucy. Lucy did have a smash hit Desilu comedy movie Yours Mine and Ours

Desilu had a $600,000 pilot development program - in 1966 dollars-and Lucy used that money for the Mission Impossible hit series and for the pilot of a Wally Cox show " Alfred Of The Amazon" which I saw on Vacation Playhouse many years ag. Vacation Playhouse was a summer replacement for Lucy's show and aired mostly Desilu unsold pilots Desilu show that aired unsuccessful pilots sometimes 2 or 3 times! Some of the failed shows were Frank Merriwell, Hey Teacher and Maggie Brown

Someone should write a book about Ms. Ball as CEO of Desilu. How about a title "Boss Lady"?

Dinner at Eight (1933)

MGM's All Star with Marie Dressler, John Barrymore , Wallace Beery and the fabulous Jean Harlow

[10/10 · 21 May 2021]

David Selznick while at MGM produced this splendid film starring the much admired Marie Dressler who was one of the biggest box office stars of her era, and won an Oscar. And also starred Wallace Beery, John Barrymore, Louise Closser Hale, and the fabulous beautiful; sexy glamorous Jean Harlow.

The famous stars all assemble for a dinner party and there is a run up to the Party with brief stories about each of them. Marie Dressler was as famous as any star during her time at MGM and wa s first billed in this film directed by George Cukor.

This film was famous for its impact on interior decorating with a sharp, modern look.

Jean Harlow looking fantastic in her slinky sexy white silk gown is impossible to resist was only 22 when she starred in this film and was splendid. Jean Harlow was beloved by her MGM castmates and fellow contract stars and she was called "Baby" As we all know Harlow died at 26. Several books have been written about Harlow and er MGM colleagues such as Joan Crawford denounced them.

Good Neighbor Sam (1964)

Jack Lemmon and Dorothy Provine are Great in Columbia comedy

[9/10 · 21 May 2021]

Jack Lemmon was a major star at Columbia. Lemmon worked with Columbia's great Leaing Ladies, Rita Hayworth and KimNovak. In this comedy Lemmon co stars with gorgeous Romy Schneider and dazzling Dorothy Procine on loan from her studio WB.

Dorothy Provine was star of one of my favorite TV shows The Roaring 20's starring Donald May, Mike Road and Dorothy who in every episode dazzled us with a song.

Dorothy Provine was in 2 of the major comedy all star films in the 60's: The Great Race with Jack Lemmon, Natalie Wood, and Tony Curtis, and Stanley Kramer's It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World with Spencer Tracy and an ensemble of great comic actors. Dorothy also was starred in WB's neat race track drama Wall of Noise with Ty Hardin, Suzanne Pleshette and Ralph Meeker.

This is a hilarious film laugh out loud and Lemmon is terrific and so are his leading ladies Dorothy Provine and Rome Schneider.

I liked the early Lemmon in his films such as the masterpiece Some Like It Hot, and Phfft with Kim Novak and Judy Holiday, and The Notorious Landlady again with Kim Novak.

Ship of Fools (1965)

Stanley Kramer's Ship Of Fools (Columbia)

[9/10 · 25 April 2021]

Stanley Kramer was a great moviemaker Judgment At Nuremberg, Guess Whose Coming To Dinner etc and beat David Selznick for the movie rights. David Selznick wanted this property for Jennifer Jones. David wanted Every Property for his edgy, glamorous, talented Oscar Winning Wife.

Stanley Kramer wanted Kate Hepburn to star but Ms. Hepburn was tending to Spencer Tracy but gave encouragement to the star signed to play the lead the legendary Vivien Leigh. Vivien Leigh was legendary as Scarlett O'Hara and as Blanche DuBois winning Oscars for those two performances. Vivien Leigh only made a few movies Ms. Leigh was battling mental illness and only with Hepburn and Director George Cukor's help did Vivien Leigh complete the film Leigh lived at Cukor's during filming.. Vivien Leigh was given first billing, top billing on this film.(Hepburn was a great lady who was spectacular tending to her great Love Spencer Tracy. ( Susan Hayward felled with brain cancer was tended to by Hepburn. ) Simone Signoret is grand as the Countess and Lee Marvin, Elizabeth Ashley and George Segal are terrific. I fell for Liz Ashley in The Carpetbaggers but her career stalled as she fell in love with George Peppard o and became Mrs. Peppard.

Simone Signoret a great actress was married to Yves Montand who was co starred with Marilyn Monroe in Let's Make Love. Montand, Signoret, MM and Arthur Miller were close friends sharing dinner. Miller and Signoret went back to NY and Paris respectively. MM and Montand began their affair.. MM and Montand were not discreet about their affair. Signoret got off 2 really great quotes " If Marilyn is in Love with My Husband s she has great taste for I am in love with him too". Signoret e noted a silk scarf MM gave her and said if I fold it nicely the fray doesn't show". Signoret never let her emotions of the MM Montand affair fray. Signoret won the Oscars to great ovation for Room At The Top a great performance many feel it was the industry's way of recognizing Signoret's class during a very stressful time.

I feel Audrey Hepburn gave the greatest performance that year in The Nun's Story.

I wish Ship of Fools had been shot in Color. The Port of Bremerhaven set looked artificial. This movie was filmed on soundstage at Columbia.

The movie is very dramatic

This Picture was nominated for Best Picture, Actor, Actress.

Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man (1962)

Starring Richard Beymer

[9/10 · 25 April 2021]

20th Century Fox had some very fine young actors and actresses under contract. Hope Lange, Gardner McKay and Diane Baker. (Note Marilyn Monroe was also under contract at 20th bur MM was a mega star, the biggest in the wold)

Producer Jerry Was who was responsible of some great movies such as Joan Crawford's Mildred Pierce, and Jane Wyman's Johnny Belinda both of which won Oscars for Crawford and Wyman, went to 20th to Produce MM's Lets Make Love, and The Best of Everything with a cameo by Crawford and starring Hope Lange, and Diane Baker.

Martin Ritt a great Director helmed this fine movie.

Richard Beymer was given the big build up by 20th and co starred with Joanne Woodward in " The Stripper" appeared with many other stars in Zanuck's "The Longest Day" , and was on loan out to Columbia for Roz Russell's drama " Five Finger Exercise" and went to UA on loan out for Robert Wise's Oscar Winning " West Side Story". Mr. Beymer was shunned by Natalie Wood on West Side Story, very un becoming. They were suppose to be intense lovers in the movie!

Richard Beymer was cast as the star of this movie based on Hemingway's work. Richard Beymer does fine and the film is beautifully photographed and top notch production values. Paul Newman a true mega star does a cameo in this film. Diane Baker is also cast in this film

I liked this film and liked Richard Beemer's work in this and other films and wish he moved up to super star rank . Mr. Beymer worked with Paul Newman, Roz Russell, Joanne Woodward, among others and was directed by George Stevens, and Robert Wise two of the all time best. I do not know why Beymer after leaving 20th his career fizzled.

Pal Joey (1957)

"Rita Hayworth Is Columbia Pictures".

[10/10 · 21 April 2021]

George Sdney a great Director was hired to guide Frank Sinatra in this musical drama, In interviews George Sidney was vey complimentary of Kim Novak

Columbia assigned its number one star Rita Hayworth as the star and Frank Sinatra ceded billing to Ms. Hayworth saying " Rita Hayworth Is Columbia Pictures". Splendid Sinatra who sings like not other! The Man was fantastic.

Barbara Nichols who made fame as a "tough talking dame" was a sweet lady in private and died far too young.

The Piece de resistance for me is Kim Novak, overwhelmingly beautiful with a wow-wee figure and a face not seen since Helen of Troy. Gorgeous. I enjoyed seeing Kim dance in Pal Joey.

Ms. Hayworth a truly great movie star. Looks beautiful as does Kim. One great Lady star about to exit Columbia and one great Lady star set to take her place as Queen of the Columbia Lot.

Kim has commented that Sinatra was great to her while filming The Man with The Golden Arm, but was obnoxious during Pal Joey but realized her was in character for this film. They remained friends until Sinatra's death.

PS. Hayworth would.be escorted parties by Lucy Ball and Gary Morton, and a great star Susan Hayward would give her company at a party honoring tough mannered director Henry Hathaway. Everyone loved Rita Hayworth: Kim Novak noted that some in the media tried to manufacture a "feud" but the two great Stars would have none of it and were friendly.

Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, Glenn Ford, were supporters and many many others before Rita's deluge into Alzheimers was a tragedy.

Columbia had he beautiful stdio dining room named after Rita Hayworth but the closed pit. Hey Columbia time to name another studio property after La Haywoth.

Lucy in London (1966 TV Movie)

Lucy In London: Brilliant Desilu Showcase For Ms. Ball

[9/10 · 20 April 2021]

Lucille Ball flew to London (on a much missed Pan American, a great Airline) to star in "Lucy In London". Pan American was the original worldwide airline with non stop flights from Los Angeles and New York to London, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, Rio, Buenos Aires, among many many other cities. Pan Am also had a thriving domestic network LA-NYC, LA-Honalulu, Chicago-NY, Miami-NY etc

Lucy carefully emphasized a conservative appearance on her smash hit Desilu comedy series The Lucy Show and its successor Here's Lucy.

I always felt there were 3 Lucy's". Lucy Ricardo a madcap comedienne, which was an act; Lucy admitted she herself was not funny; Lucille Ball, Star and Lucille Ball Morton a brilliant business woman. The 'Business' Lucy bet her fortune on Mission Impossible and Star Trek. Both of these shows were expensive to shoot, and lost money in their initial broadcast but made millions in syndication. , but Lucy persevered and had a 3rd hit TV Show Mannix.

Lucy In London shows Lucille Ball with a great sexy figure and shows a different side of the fabled Lucy.

This was a Desilu Production. The only Desilu production filmed overseas. Lucy had am exec Peter Cary who ran Desilu International selling series such The Untouchables, GreatestShow On Earth, and Mission Impossible and Star Trek and Mannix.

Lucy wanted Desilu to be a "comedy factory" and had pilots such as " Hey Teacher". Ethel Merman's "Maggie Brown" and a TV version of the famous "Frank Merriwell" books and a Wally Cox comedy "Alfred Of The Amazon" but alas they did not sell etc etc. . Desili packaged all of these failed pilots into a summer replacement series called "Vacation Playhouse where Desilu could amortize the costs of these failed pilots.

Two pilots "Police Story" starring Steve Ihnat and "The Long Hunt Of April Savage, a Western did not sell either. The Long Hunt Of April Savage is a curious story: It was placed on the ABC schedule bu from what I can develop its creator Sam Rolfe refused to proceed with the series and ABC dropped it, incurring the wrath of Lucille Ball and Executive Vice President Herb Solow.

Paramount has the beautiful "Lucy. Bark" on the site of the Desilu Gower property. A great tribute to a Great Star.

The World of Suzie Wong (1960)

Paramount's The World Of Susie Wong; William Holden Superstar

[10/10 · 17 April 2021]

Paramount cast William Holden who was he perfect male leading man-with a roster of great hits: Golden Boy, Sunset Blvd., Born Yesterday, Stalaag 17 (Oscar), Sabrina, The Bridges Of Toko Ri, Picnic, Love Is A Many Splendored Thing,The Bridge On The River Kwai as the star of this film shot in the UK but set in Hong Kong. The glamour of Hong Kong is demonstrably set on the screen. France Nuyen was cast but was replaced during filming with sexy Nancy Kwan. Holden and Kwan are perfect together.

Holden in his celebrated career worked with just about every great Leading Lady of the era: , Gloria Swanson, Susan Hayward, Lucille Ball, Barbara Stanwyck, Judy Holiday, Sophia Loren, Kim Novak*, and a few Holden also romanced Audrey Hepburn Grace Kelly, Capucine and Stefanie Powers. (There was one great star Holden did not get along with : Jennifer Jones which is amazing as their on screen chemistry in Love Is A Many Splendored Thing is awesome

Richard Quine who made those great Kim Novak movies at Columbia, Bell Book And Candle, and Strangers When We Meet etc directs this film very well. Kim made movie history in Hitccock's masterpiece Vertigo and also worked with Billy Wilder, and Otto Preminger but I feel Quine was her greatest Director. A review of Richard Quine's work is important. Quine had a great body of work and directed many of the great stars of the 50's and 60's: Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, Judy Holiday, James Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden, Merle Oberon, Willian Holden, Roz Russell, Tony Curtis etc

Ray Stark a major Producer who had Rastar as a very important indie producer produced this film for Paramount.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

MM Means Magnificent Marilyn

[10/10 · 10 April 2021]

Director Howard Hawks who worked with Hollywood's best: John Wayne, Rita Hayworth, Cary Grant, Jean Arthur etc guided the fabulous Marilyn Monroe in this wonderful film from Marilyn's home studio 20th Century Fox. Co starring Jane Russell who became a trusted friend and ally to MM, this a a wonderful piece of showmanship.

Marilyn is fabulous, peerless, unforgettable singing Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend.

Jane Russell became a great true friend of MM and called her "Bondell" due to her blond ness!

Marilyn and 2oth had a very unusual relationship. 20th had the most famous star in the world but had a difficult time starring MM. From 1956-1960 20th only cast MM in one film "Bus Stop" where she gave an performance worthy of a nomination. Ms Monroe's greatest hit "Some Like It Hot" was a Billy Wilder comedic masterpiece at UA.

Marilyn was not a morning person, why didn't 20t scheudle MM in the afternoon.

This is the movie where MM finally got her star dressingoom on the 20th lot. Some Exec at 20th delayed giving MM her own dressing room, but MM shot back " I Am The Blonde". She was! And MM is part of history

See Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and enjoy a great artist at work: Marilyn Monroe.

I Thank a Fool (1962)

Susan Hayward in MGM 's I Thank A Fool

[9/10 · 8 April 2021]

Susan Hayward replaced Ingrid Bergman, her longtime friend, in this film. Susan stated "If Its Good Enough For Bergman it is good enough for Me". Susan was a supporting player in Ingrid's "Adam Had Four Sons" and always grateful for Ingrid's help on that Columbia film.

Susan plays a Doctor prosecuted for the euthanasia of a patient. This presented a personal problem for Susan as her husband Floyd Eaton Chalkley, a former FBI agent, was a devout Roman Catholic and with Susan's help the Chalkley's converted an old chapel to a thriving beautiful Catholic Church donated on land from the Chalkley's.

Our Lady Of Perpetual Help is the name of the small church (more like a chapel), Mr and Mrs Chalkley are both interred at the cemetery

Susan went to the Director and mentioned She was uncomfortable with the euthanasia theme and it was softened by MGM

Peter Finch co stars wth Susan Hayward. The movie is set in the British Islands the photography is awesome, and Ms. Hayward looks very beautiful.

Susan and co star Peter Finch were known for there professionalism.

PS. Susan turned down MGM's "Sweet Bird Of Youth". Hedda Hopper said it was a mistake writing "Susie made her fame playing shady ladies: Lucille Ball turned the star role down, as did Ava Gardner. Geraldine Page gave a brilliant Oscar nominated perf as a fading drugged up movie star. Other films Susan was considered for were the remake of Stella Dallas, ( no one could top the great Stanwyck), Elephant Hill with Rock Hudson and Heaen Tain with Deborah Kerr.

Gunsmoke (1955–1975)

Jean Arthur: Returns to Hollywood in a Great Gunsmoke Appearance

[9/10 · 29 March 2021]

Jean Arthur, the great star of the 30's and 40's returned to Hollywood in a Gunsmoke episode.

Jean Arthur having been away from filming for about 15 years, Ms. Arthur arrives via Stageciach and looking fantastic. Jean Arthur was born 1900 but listed 1908 as her birth year. In Gunsmoke everyone raved how great she looked for 57, but in reality Jean Arthur was 65! Jean Arthur who worked in Silent films and then s a great movie star knew the camera and the camera love Jean Arthur. And the voice!

Jean. Arthur gave a great performance in Gunsmoke and gave her the confidence to ok a possible tv series

Read John Oller's book "The Actress Nobody Knew" to learn all about this great star who worked with Frank Capra, Billy Wilder, George Stevens, Hoard Hawks etc and co starred with Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, Rita Hayworth, John Wayne, Ronald Colman, Marlene Dietrich, Joel McCrea and most famously with James Stewart.

Jean Arthur a former flame of David Selznick was one of the finalists to be Scarlett O Hara.

Ms. Arthur quit the play Born Yesterday and the role went to Judy Holiday for her peerless performance in the film version of Born Yesterday winning the great Judy an Oscar. Ms. Arthur turned down supporting roles in Steve McQueen's Junior Bonner and Ross Hunter's disastrous remake of Lost Horizon. ( Am a big Ross Hunter fan but Lost Horizon was such a flop it ended his great career Pillow Talk, Imitation Of Life, Back Street, Airport etc all of which made millions for Universal.

Ms. Arthru was supposed to star in First Monday in October in a play especially written for her about the first female Supreme Court Justice but quit that too!

The Jean Arthur Show (1966)

Legendary Jean Arthur with Ron Harper in The Jean Arthur Show,

[9/10 · 29 March 2021]

Jean Arthur filmed Shane and then was away from filmed work for 15 years. It took Lucille Ball, CBS Biggest Star and CEO of Desilu to entice Ms. Arthur to return to work. Lucy and her programing chief flew to Carmel discuss with Ms. Arthur to do a pilot of "Mrs. Aris Goes To Paris" . Lucy invited Jean Arthur to fly down to Hollywood and observe the filming of The Lucy Show. Ms. Arthur was impressed. Lucy was. A supporting player in a Jean Arthur film in the 1940'sand now the tables were turned with Ms. Ball being the greatest star of her era on TV and CEO of Desilu.

Jean Arthur was signed by Universal to star in "Mothers Word Is Law" produced by Richard Quine who directed those great Kim Novak movies at Columbia: Bell BookAnd Candle, Strangers When We Meet and The Notorious Landlady! Quine signed Ron Harper to star with Ms. Arthur as a 'Mother -Son' legal practice. Ms. Atthur was stylish in Nolan Miller creations and Universal was optimistic of the show's future re titled "The Jean Arthur Show"

CBS slotted the show at 10PM possibly too late for Ms. Arthur's aged fans. Ms Arthur claimed she was born in 1908 and all marveled how youthful she looked for a woman in her late 50's in reality Jean Arthur was born in 1900 and more remarkably she looked in her orly 50's rather than 66! The Network gave up on Ms. Arthur too soon. I feel if Jean Arthur had done the Desilu pilot that Ms. Ball would have had the power with CBS Bill Paley to keep the show running despite weak ratings. Too bad Universal couldn't find a Director assignment for Frank Capra doing one episode. More to the point a cameo was on for the great Capra on the Jean Arthur show would have been great. Arthur and Caprrs made several films when both were at Columbia that are now legendary.

Ms. Arthur was a recluse in Carmel and frankly her show failed because she lost her audience. Jean Arthur never appeared on the Annual Oscar show and or a Playhouse have done a Playhouse 90 but didn't do shows like that.

Jean Arthur returned to Carmel and passed on playing Steve McQueen's Mother in "Junior Bonner" and also a supporting role in Ross Hunter's disastrous remake of" Lost Horizon".

Jean Arthur like Susan Hayward, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe had unique voices. A quality missing today.

Read John Oller's great book," The Actress Nobody Knew' to learn more of this magical actress who worked with the best of Hollywoo: George Stevens, Howard Hawks, Billy Wilder and most notably Frank Capra, and her co stars were the top talent in Hollywood: Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, .John Wayne, Rita Hayworth, Cary Grant, and my favorite Joel McCrea who was splendid in " The More The Merrier".

Hoosiers (1986)

Gene Hackman Stellar Performance

[10/10 · 19 March 2021]

Hoosiers stars the great Gene Hackman in the role of basketball coach who has had problems in his life and co stars Barbara Hershey and Dennis Hopper.

The movie has a midwestern feel and is beautifully directed and photographed. Dennis Hopper is great in the role of a troubled alcoholic Dad

I have been a fan of Ms. Hershey since her role in a small Allied Artists film Let Summer

Special note should be made to the thumping music that Jerry Goldsmith gave this movie.

I highly recommend this sports.drama movie. The ending is fantastic

Postcards from the Edge (1990)

Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine are Brilliant Postactds From The Edge" Columbia

[9/10 · 19 March 2021]

As a great movie fan especially of the 1960's I followed Debbie Reynolds career in particular. The movie is all about Debbie although the late great star denied it.

Mike Nichols cast Meryl Streep as Carrie Fisher and Shirley MacLaine as Debbie. It is rambunctious fun. Debbie did Unsinkable Molly Brown and Shirley thought she had it. Shirley made an angry phone call to Debbie and he Director of Molly Brown asked Debbie to yield it to Shirley but Debbie held on and got an Oscar nomination. Debbie did a great job in that MGM hit and got a nomination.

Another bit on "inside baseball". Connie Stevens a big. WB star wanted very much to play the young wife in Whose Afraid Of Virigina Wolf? Mike Nichols the Director said no. Connie went out a got hundreds of actors and actresses to beg Nichols in a petition to give Connie a test. He still refused. Guess whose Hollywood mansion Nichols had Columbia rent for this movie? Connie Stevens! Frankly those scenes could have been done on a soundstage at Columbia.

Meryl/Carrie has a drug and alcholhol problem and Debbie/Shirkey has a drinking problem. The repartee is priceless.

Gene Hackman. Richard Dreyfus, and Dennis Quaid along with Annette Being are terrific. A fabulous turn is done by Mary Wickes in the role of Debbie's opinionated Mother. Gary Morton( Lucy's husband) plays Carrie/Meryl's money manager who runs off with her money.

This is a wonderful movie with Shirley belting out "I'm Still Here"

Shirley MacLaine captures "Debbie" and Meryl brings us "Carrie'

Merle choses tige movie and creates a sensational ending signing.

Midnight Lace (1960)

Doris Day Box Office Megastar

[9/10 · 16 March 2021]

Doris Day gained fame as a singer and her music is legendary.

Doris Day a superb actress, and was #1 at the Box Office 5 years in a row! It bothers me that the Academy never awarded Day an Honorary Oscar. Comedy is a great skill and Doris was brilliant in comedy but also in Drama.

Doris Day made a tremendous smash hit Pillow Talk at Universal for Ross Hunter.Doris went back to work at Universal for this mystery suspense film which was another Doris Day smash hit. This was another Ross Hunter-Doris Day hit!

Midnight Lace was filmed entirely at Universal and the art direction is great with sets on the soundstage at Universal and its fabled back lot recreating London. The story:. Doris is the wife of Rex Harrison who is excellent as Day's husband. Director David Miller would do 3 films at Universal in a row that were hits: Midnight Lace, Back Street and a dram Lonely Are The Brave

Universal as grooming John Gavin and he made Ross Hunter's smash hit Imitation of Life with Lana Turner, and would follow this film with another Ross Hunter soap opera Susan Hayward's great Back Street. Gavin would also do Kirk Douglas' big hit Spartacus at Universal. The studios in those days groomed talent. Midnight Lace is a fine film mostly for Ms. Day. Myrna Loy has a supporting role, and it is a bonus to see Ms. Loy in this film. Ross Hunter always found a part in one of his movies for such stars of yesteryear: Anna May Wong (Imitation of Life), Constance Bennett (Madame X Lana Turner) Virginia Grey (Back Street Susan Hayward), and Ms Loy again in Airport! Hollywood could use another Ross Hunter!

Two sidebar notes: Marty Melcher universally disliked in Hollywood was a Producer of all of Day's films. Doris and Melcher had an open marriage and Day said she never knew what the Production company "Arwin" stood for. Day made millions but Melcher squandered it away. Designer "Irene " was a big name in Hollywood and designed Doris Day's chic wardrobe, but soon after the film was completed this accomplished woman jumped from a window and committed suicide

Finally, Doris made the following films at Universal, Pillow Talk, Midnight Lace, Lover Come Back, The Thrill Of It All, Send Me No Flowers, and That Touch Of Mink. All of these films were smash hits. PS Universal wasn't the mega studio it is today: Rock Hudson was King of the Lot with Magnificent Obsession, All That Heaven Allows; Come September, ; Alfred Hitchcock, The Birds, and Torn Curtain; Cary Grant Operation Petticoat, Charade; Sandra Dee If A Man answers,

Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955)

Jennifer Jones and William Holden in a huge Movie Blockbuster (20th Century Fox)

[10/10 · 8 March 2021]

Jennifer Jones, a great star with 4 Oscar nominations in 5 years: Song Of Bernadette, Since You Went Away, Love Letters and the rambunctious Duel In The Sun got her 5th and final nomination for her great performance in this movie directed by Henry King (who directed Jennifer in her Oscar winning Song of Bernadette).

This was a 3 picture deal David Selznick negotiated with 20th: Love Is A Many Splendored Thing, Good Morning Miss Dove and The Man In The Grey Flannel Suit. Jennifer turned down The Sun Also Rises (Ava Gardner), and wanted The Barefoot Contessa (Ava Gardner), My Cousin Rachel( Olivia DeHavilland) and Picnic (Kim Novak)...Jennifer was too old to play the part of Madge done so brilliantly by Kim Novak. David Selznick wanted to do War and Peace but another Producer did it with Audrey Hepburn. Jennifer also wanted to do Tea And Sympathy (Deborah Kerr). One movie Jennifer seemed to have a lock on was "Mary Magdalene" Jennifer would have been great. David Selznick wanted to produce it but it fell apart. The Selznick's discussed a movie about the Duchess of Windsor but that too-thankfully never happened. Recent stories in the Netflix series The Crown portrayed the Windsor's as Nazi sympathizers. Jennifer was a complicated creature leaving Robert Walker for the most famous Producer in Hollywood David Selznick. Jennifer became a huge worldwide star but if one reads the books on JJ she attempted suicide more than once. After David Selznick died JJ had fling with Stephen Boyd and a Psycologist who was treating her. There is a book titled "West Of Eden" about the Warners, The Steins etc that made Hollywood and a big portion of the book on Jennifer Jones

David Selznick at the time of his death was in talks with Ross Hunter for Jennifer to star in one of Hunter's famous "sob" store Ala LanaTurner in Imitation of Life, and Susan Hayward in "Back Street" and exotically beautiful, edgy Jennifer and Ross Hunter would have been a perfect match

The movies costumes won the Oscar for a color production. Susan Hayward up for the Best Actress Oscar awarded the Oscar to her long time friend and costume designer Charles LeMaire at 20th Century Fox

This movie was a huge box office hit. Years later Jennifer and Henry King would be re united for Tender Is The Night also at 20th and Bill Holden and Jennifer would be among the constellation of stars in The Towering Inferno a joint production of 20th and Warber Bros

The theme song "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" was a tremendous hit. This was not a David Selznick production but that did not deter the fabled Producer to cease his legendary memo's to 20th head of Production Buddy Adler and and director Henry King. One memo noted that Jennifer felt her makeup needed to make her more Eurasian and that her hairstyles made her look older than she was. A well repeated story was that William Holden -who loved women is an understatement-sensed the friction between Jennifer and himself and gave her a bouquet of roses only to have Jennifer throw them back to Holden.! Yet on the screen the chemistry was terrific

The story is about a very attractive, married war correspondent played by virile Bill Holden who meets a truly beautiful Eurasian doctor in romantic Hong Kong . It is difficult to imagine any other Stars that could have done a job better than Bill Holden and Jennifer Jones. Both are perfect. Holden was an academy award winner for Stalaag 17 and Jennifer rose to worldwide fame as the meek peasant girl who has visions of the Virign Mary in the classic Song of Bernadette. Which won Jennifer her Oscar.

Back story: Jones and Holden both gorgeous to the camera and great stars did not get along at all during the filming of the movie.. Jennifer is likely the only female star that Holden did not charm: Kim Novak, Sophia Loren, Susan Hayward, Lucille Ball, Barbara Stanwyck,, Gloria Swanson, Judy Holiday, were big Holden fans and Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Capucine, were among his co stars with whom he had affairs. One co star Stefanie Powers has developed the William Holden Foundation in Kenya in honor of Holden, the great love of her life.

Director Billy Wilder, my candidate for the greatest Hollywood Director ever: Sunset Blvd, Double Indemnity, A Foreign Affair, Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, considered Holden a great actor, ad I said in this review Holden was named Best Actor for Stallag 17.

Bell Book and Candle (1958)

Kim Novak: Movie Star: Richard Quine's Bell, Book and Candle

[10/10 · 5 March 2021]

Kim Novak explosive rise in 4 short years from a supporting player in Phfft with Jack Lemmon and Judy Holiday via Picnic, Pal Joey, and loan outs to RKO for The Man With The Golden Arm and Hitchcock's Vertigo made Kim the #1 Star in the world. Kim was magic at the box office and one magazine profiled Kim with the title "Box Office Blonde"

Bell Book and Candle was a hit Broadway play and James Stewart was signed on as co star. Cary Grant wanted to star opposite Kim but Stewart beat him to it. Interesting: Billing in Hollywood is a sacred creed: Kim was listed in support of Jack Lemmon beneath the title in Phfft but Kim along with Stewart were listed above the title for this film, and Lemmon beneath the title! Kim and Lemmon were friends and would costar years later in the Notororious Landlady at Columbia with Kim first billed! Over Jack Lemmon

This film is the zenith of Novak's stardom directed by her lover and famed director Richard Quine. Kim is gorgeous to the max in this film and the film was a hit hit. James Wong Howe was quoted as saying Kim was one of the 5 greatest beauties ever photographed and Jean Louis made Kim''s costumes. Interesting that Vertigo which also paired Novak and Stewart was not well received at the time of its premiere but since then has been regarded as the greatest American movie of all time.

Columbia ass named a theatre on the Culver City Lot after Kim Novak a fitting tribute to a great star who brought millions into Columbia. The other stars with on lot study theatres are Cary Grant , Burt Lancaster, Bill Holden, and Ms, Novak who is the only female star with a studio building named after Kim. Rita Hayworth had the Rita Hayworth Dining Room, the Executive commissary but Columbia closed it Time to get bust announcing another building after Rita. After all Frank Sinatra once said when he accepted 2nd billing to Rita saying "Rita Haywith Is Coumbia Pictures".

Portrait in Black (1960)

Portrait in Black: Lana Turner: Another Universal Ross Hunter Smash Hit

[5 March 2021]

Lana Turner glamorous movie star had returned to the zenith of stardom in this lavish Ross Hunter film. Ross Hunter is one of the reasons Universal found great success. Universal at the time of this movie wasn't the mega company it is today. Let me explain Ross Hunter with his soap operas Lana Turner's Imitation Of Life, Susan Hayward's Back Street, and this fine film, along with Hunter's produced Doris Day's smash hits Pillow Talk and Midnight Lace along with Rock Hudson's film Last Sunset, and A Gathering of Eagles, and co star with Day in Pillow Talk and Cary Grant's films That Touch of Mink (with Doris Day), Charade with Audrey Hepburn, Spartacus with Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Tony Curtis made Universal the great studio of the 60's. Alfred Hitcock made The Birds, Marine. Torn Curtain at Universal.

Portrait in Black is about Turner and co star Anthony Quinn murdering Lana's abusive husband Lloyd Nolan and co starred Universal contract stars Sandra Dee and John Saxon. The film was a smash hit as the ladies who go to matinee's loved Lana Turner despite her scandal plagued personal life with many husbands, countless lovers and the Stompanato murder!

Ross Hunter used Virigina Grey as a good luck harm in this film along key roles in Back Street, Flower Drum Song, Imitation of Life, Portrait in Black, Rosie and Arport.and Ms. Grey was a friend of Lana's and LT got Grey small pivotal roles in her films Love Has Many Faces at Columbia , Bachelor in Paradise at MGM

Terms of Endearment (1983)

Paramount's huge hit Terms Of Endearment : Shirley MacLaine's Oscar

[9/10 · 18 February 2021]

Shirley MacLaine said she used Martha Mitchell for her insight to her role o Aurora, t " Shirley MacLaine won the Oscar. One of her co nominees was Debra Winger. Ms. Winger did not get along with hMacLaine. While Bette Davis and Joan Crawford loathed each other during the filming of Baby Jane they were civil , J

Debra Winger had 2 back to back Paramount smash t hits John Travolta's Urban Cowboy and Richard Were Officer and A Gentleman, Debra Winger arrived at this Paramoun Pictures location River Oaks Texas with top billing over MacLaine. Debra a very talented actress was superb in this movie.

Shirley had the better agent or lawyer but was able to secure billing this way: On Print ad's and the media Debra got first billingacLine got top billing on the credits as the movie ended. The movie is seen so often no one recalls Debra Winger th top tMacLaine .won the Oscar with Winger sitting a fw rows behind Winger. Debra Winger was thought to be the winner. The Academy seemed to award young actresses: Jennifer Jones Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren, Jonne Woodward, Judy Holiday, Ingrid Bergman, Norma Shearer, etc., MacLaine and Winger both powerful actresses do not speak kindly of each other .

Jack Nicholson plays Aurora neighbor, Jeff Daniels her son in law Flap married to Winger, John Lithgow plays a romantic interlude with Winger. The movie is brilliantly directed and there was genuine suspense on who would win win the Oscar: Veteran Shirley or new star Debra. Shirley won and walked up to Debra and said "this is half yours , which Debra said I will take it". This has grown into a feud with Shirley still a great star pushing 90, and Debra has seen better days.

Jennifer Jones optioned this story and wanted to star in the film as Aurora. It would have been a decidedly different performance. Jennifer who was a great star of the 40's and 50's wanted to re start her career. Her real daughter Mary Jennifer Selznick jumped from a high rise overlooking the 20th Century Fox backlot. Miss Jones and her daughter had a very difficult relationship. Jennifer was a great star Song Of Bernadette, Love Is A Many Splendored Thing, Tender Is The Night . Et al. Jennifer sold this movie property and also wanted to star in another movie as Jean Harris but Ellen Burtyn got that plum role. Jennifer Jones retired and lived the life of a rich matron of Beverly Hills married to billionaire Norton Simon.

Finally this was a huge moneymaker for Paramount. However I would have voted for The Right Stuff!

Lawman (1958–1962)

Bravo Warner Bros Stars : John Russell and Peter Brown

[9/10 · 13 February 2021]

Lawman was a Warner Bros western. Jack Warner's studio had several great Westerns on the Air and seen now in syndication or on cable it is like visiting old friends. At one time they had 3 separate backlot streets for the many westerns shooting there. Maverick, Cheyenne, Sugarfoot, Bronco etc

John Russell was the Marshall and Peter Brown the Deputy .I like seeing this show on cable. Peter Brown was extraordinarily handsome and magnetic and was loved by women and definitely made a name for himself with the ladies. He did a magazine layout with one of his female friends and was married I believe 4 times.

It is awesome to see in addition to the stars Messrs. Russell and Brown WB stars such as Will Hutchins, Grant Williams, Edd Byrnes, , Jack Kelly, Robert Logan, William Reynolds, Gary Vinson, Mike Road, Ty Hardin, Van Williams, Andrew Duggan. Bob Conrad, Donald May. Watching Lawman, Sugarfoot, Cheyenne, Maverick one could see these actors in various roles. Beautiful women such as Connie Stevens, Dorothy Provine, Diane McBain also were in the various WB shows. In addition to being cast in various shows these actors were cast in supporting roles of WB pictures.

Donald May plated a FBI agent in Fred McMurray's Kisses For My President, Messrs Brown and Hardin were in Merrill's Marauders, William Reynolds was in Troy Donahue's great Western A Distant Trumpet but so was Diane McBain Gary Vinson was in a Majority of One with Roz Russell and Alec Guiness, Clint Walker and Edd Byrnes were in Yellowstone Kelly, WB had its major contract stars Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Ty Hardin , and Bob Conrad in Palm Springs Weekend. WB StarsTy Hardin and Dorothy Provine were great in Wall of Noise directed by a fine director Richard Wilson. I saw one episode an none other than Robert Redford was in the cast!

There is a great group picture of Jack L. Warner walking in a WB backlot street with all the WB Stars such as Angie Dickinson, Troy Donahue, Natalie Wood, Efrem Zimbalist, Shirley Knight, and all of the actors and actresses mentioned above. They problem if that is the correct term is that there were so many actors with few movie roles to go around. Troy Donahue was starred in one big WB movie a year. Hampton Fancher, Chad Everett, were in his movies.

It was a wonderful era

RIP Russell, Brown, Zimbalist, Donahue, Conrad, Williams, Vinson, Road, Hardin,

Joy of Living (1938)

Irene Dunne A Glaring Example of a Star/ Actress Overlooked for an Honorary Oscar

[9/10 · 6 February 2021]

Irene Dunne was Queen of RKO and that includes great stars such as Katharine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers. In this film is a lovely performance by another RKO female star the great Lucille Ball who would en up owning the RKO Studios n Culver City- the SEkznick Studio where Gone With The Wind, and Rebecca were filmed!- and Gower RKO and in addition Cahuenga Studio rename d Desilu Cahuenga. Lucy owned and ran the 3 Desilu Studios.

Miss Dunne is the star of this movie and in a fine supporting role Doug Fairbanks Jr. I met Mr. Fairbanks in NYC as we were talking on Park Avenue, ever the gentleman, we chatted about the great days of Hollywood and I mentioned David Selznick and Farirbanks said that Selznick was unique in his love of literature. Irene Dunne's great comedic flair and singing are featured in this delightful movie.

Irene Dunne the great star of Cimmarron, Back Street, The Joy Of Living, My Favorite Wife, A Guy Named Joe, Penny Serenade, Anna and the King, Life With Father, I Remember Mama, Roberta had a body of work that should have given her a Honorary Oscar. Miss Dunne is the most glaring example of a star overlooked for an Honorary Oscar! Irene Dunne was a practicing Catholic attending daily Mass and a Conservative epublican. Dunne was also a big benefactor of St John's Hospital and got MGM to award a percentage of the profits from How The West Was Won, a gigantic hit. Why couldn't MGM entice Ms. Dunne to make a cameo in How The West Was Won. Ross Hunter tried to get Ms. Dunne to star in The Heaven Train about a group of Nuns traveling in a wagon train. Susan Hayward and Deborah Kerr were also suggested as stars. William Frye a close friend of M.s Dunne offered her a Rolls Royce! If Ms. Dunne would star in a movie Frye movie.at Universal. Regretablt neither Hunter nor Frye could entice the great Irene Dunne to retu!n to films.

I Married a Witch (1942)

Great Veronica Lake, Superb March, Splendid Susan Hayward

[9/10 · 31 January 2021]

Paramount had a number of great lady stars such as Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard, and Veronica Lake. A newcomer was Susan Hayward who shines in this movie.

Veronica Lake was a huge star at Paramount but her star fizzled and she ran out of gas ending up waiting on tables. Frederic March is his usual great self. Having worked with the greatest female stars in Hollywood such as the great Garbo.

Frederic March was in NYC the night Susan Hayward who won the Best Actress Award by the NY Film Critics. March went out of his way to say that "Susan Hayward is a great actress, every inch of that woman is an actress.

It's not where you start it's where yo finish as Lake sadly fell from the pinnacle of her great stardom and Hayward , an Academy Award Winner became one of the greatest stars of the 40-50-60's.

Frederic March was a great actor who worked with the greatest: Spencer Tracy, Jennifer Jones, William Holden, Kim Novak, Burt Lancaster, Carole Lombard, Paul Newman, Merle Oberon, and my favorite scene the homecoming with Myna Loy n William Wyler's masterpiece The Best Years Of Our Lives.

Only the Lonely (1991)

Maureen O Hara is Splendid in John Candy's Great Film

[10/10 · 22 January 2021]

John Candy was signed for this movie "Only The Lonely" and the Producers wanted long retired Maureen O'Hara to star as John Candy's possessive Mother. Miss Ohara was retired for 20 years when 20th Century Fox approached her to do this movie. Maureen O Hara tentatively agreed but insisted on meeting M. Candy. Ms. O' hara heartily approved and became John Candy's biggest booster.

This film shot in Chicago has a "Catholic" feel to it which I enjoyed. Candy falls for a lovely girl who works as a funeral home assistant. Ms. OHara's character refers to her as a "ghoul". I am not going to give away the ending but suffice to say Ms. OHara is brilliant and John Candy died far too young.

Anthony Quinn co stars as Ms. O Hara's neighbor and is great trying to woo Mss O Hara. The "windup" is fantastic.

The film is well produced and directed, top notch production values.

Lastly, the great star of Hunchback of Notre Dame, How Green Was My Valley, The Quiet Man, The Miracle on 34th Street, The Long Grey Line McClintock, and Parent Trap, co star with Duke Wayne, James Stewart, Henry Fonda, and Tyrone Power (my vote for the two greatest looking couple -Tyrone Power and O'Hara ever on the Silver Screen) -was awarded an Honorary Oscar presented by by Clint Eastwood and Liam Neeson.

The Mystery is why O Hara was never nominated. There is a story in O Hara's best selling autobiography where her friend RoddyMcMcDowell tells her she will never get a nomination!. The Actress branch nominates Actresses. Maureen was a tough woman and may have rubbed some the wrong way? In her book O Hara cites her on going trouble with the great John Ford and attests that Ford stopped her from getting a nomination. This is with out proof

RIP O'Hara, and Candy.