Category Archives: Guest Posts

Robert Taylor: Male Beauty, Masculinity and Stardom in Hollywood – Exclusive Guest Post by Author Gillian Kelly

Celebrating Robert Taylor with Author Gillian Kelly After dedicating 10 years to researching and writing about Robert Taylor, I was delighted to be asked to be a guest speaker at Gage County Classic Film Institute’s 110th birthday celebration for the … Continue reading

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Play It Again, Max: Casablanca and the Battle over “As Time Goes By”(Exclusive by Author Steven C. Smith)

Casablanca and the Battle over “As Time Goes By”(Exclusive by Author Steven C. Smith) By mid-1941, Max Steiner had already scored over thirty films at Warner Bros. since becoming that studio’s highest paid staff composer in 1937. Many of his … Continue reading

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Working Night & Day: Max Steiner, Fred Astaire, and the RKO Movie Musical (Exclusive by Author Steven C. Smith)

Max Steiner, Fred Astaire, and the RKO Movie Musical(Exclusive by Author Steven C. Smith) In 1933 — the same year he recorded his landmark score for King Kong —Max Steiner achieved another ambition he’d sought since becoming RKO’s musical director: … Continue reading

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A Visit to the Lucy-Desi Museum, Lucille Ball Memorial Park and More: A Pictorial (Guest Post)

A Visit to the Lucy-Desi Museum and moreSpecial Guest Post by Lucy fan, Lucy Ortiz When I was born, my parents decided to name me after the I Love Lucy show. As an adult, I realized I had some things … Continue reading

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“Where Is the Music Coming From?”: Max Steiner and The Birth of Modern Movie Music (Exclusive by Author Steven C. Smith)

Max Steiner and The Birth of Modern Movie MusicExclusive Guest Post by Author Steven C. Smith An international crisis triggers record unemployment. Hollywood executives panic, as movie theaters shut their doors. And one studio faces likely closure, putting all its … Continue reading

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“La Marseillaise” Plays, as Rick, Ilsa and Refugees Find Their Footing in Casablanca (Guest Post)

“La Marseillaise” Even more than the famous “Here’s Looking at You” scene, the “La Marseillaise” scene in Casablanca is the one scene in the film that evokes more emotion from audiences than any other, as it propels the narration in … Continue reading

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Marilyn: Behind the Icon – The Prince and the Showgirl

Marilyn: Behind the IconAs Producer and Star, Monroe Dazzles inThe Prince and the Showgirl Director Joshua Logan considered the collaboration of Marilyn Monroe and Sir Laurence Olivier “the best combination since black & white.” After renegotiating her contract with 20th … Continue reading

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Marilyn: Behind the Icon – Bus Stop

Marilyn Monroe Triumphs in Bus Stop “Hold on to your chairs, everybody, and get set for a rattling surprise,” announced crusty New York Times critic Bosely Crowther, “Marilyn Monroe has finally proved herself an actress in Bus Stop. She and … Continue reading

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Marilyn: Behind the Icon – The Asphalt Jungle

Marilyn: Behind the Icon – The Asphalt Jungle,Monroe’s Break-Out Performance In April 1955, Marilyn Monroe appeared on Edward R Murrow’s television series Person to Person featuring celebrity interviews. From his armchair in a studio, Murrow conversed with Monroe, who appeared … Continue reading

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Marilyn: Behind the Icon – Clash by Night

RKO’s Clash By Night, Marilyn Monroe’s thirteenth film, opens with a dramatic soundtrack as waves crash against coastal rocks, director Fritz Lang’s metaphor for the sexual tension to follow. Worldly but weary Mae Doyle (Barbara Stanwyck) returns home to a … Continue reading

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