TCM’s Star of the Month: Burt Lancaster

Posted on November 11, 2013 by minooallen

 

TCM Star of the Month

Burt Lancaster

This month Turner Classic Movies is celebrating Burt Lancaster as its Star of the Month. With a career spanning five decades and with more than 85 films to his credit, Lancaster has one of the longest and most prolific careers of any Hollywood star. He became a star seemingly overnight with his film debut in 1946’s The Killers and was immediately in two more film-noirs, playing up his brooding tough guy image. Although his rugged good looks and disciplined athletic physique could have easily led to being typecast, Lancaster decided to take his image into his own hands by co-founding his own production company, Hecht-Lancaster Productions. The company helped shape Lancaster’s career by allowing him the freedom to choose roles that challenged his abilities as an actor.

Burt Lancaster and Eva Gardner in The Killers (1946, Robert Siodmak director)

Few classic actors have a resume as rich and varied as Lancaster. In Hollywood, he gave life to characters as different as the slimy, unscrupulous J.J Hunsecker in Sweet Smell of Success to the complex convicted murderer, Robert Stroud, in Birdman of Alcatraz. He also managed to make both pop-culture and film history when he and Deborah Kerr locked lips on the beach in 1953’s From Here to Eternity. Always searching for more ways to challenge himself, Lancaster sought work outside the trappings Hollywood, finding European directors less conventional approach to filmmaking a glad welcome.  One of those “artsy” European films was Luchino Visconti’s adaption of the Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa novel, The Leopard.

 

Burt Lancaster in The Leopard (1963, Luchino Visconti director)

His role as Don Fabrizio Corera, Prince of Salina, ranks as my favorite of all of his performances. He exhibits his trademark quiet authoritative presence, but gone are the showy antics of a Hollywood narrative. He is hardly recognizable while draped in noble Italian finery and sporting a fine specimen of a mustache. Frustrating, haughty, and yet somehow sympathetic, Lancaster’s performance as the stoic and indecisive prince was nothing less than remarkable. The film, too, is an absolute classic and should be seen by all. If you haven’t had the chance to watch this masterpiece, you should probably clear your calendars on Wednesday, November 27th because it’s airing on 10:00pm on Turner Classic Movie. Seriously, do it. Cancel work if you have to. 

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Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub

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What a Character Blogathon 2013: Roscoe Karns

Posted on November 9, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

 

Believe You Me, Roscoe Karns is quite a Character!

“Fun-on-the-side Shapeley.” Yep, that was the very first time I encountered character actor Roscoe Karns. And, to this day, I still roll with laughter when I see the relentless, fast-talking Oscar Shapeley trying to ‘pick up’ poor (and quite annoyed) Ellie Andrews (played by Claudette Colbert) in It Happened One Night.  “Shapeley’s the name, and that’s the way I like ’em.”  Yep, I’m chuckling right now just thinking about it!  And although Karns will forever be ingrained in my mind, first and foremost, as ‘Shapeley,’ I still get a HUGE kick out of seeing him portray all those brash reporters, street-wise detectives and wisecracking friends in the films of the 1930s and 1940s, always delivering his special brand of sarcastic quip with machine-gun like speed.

Roscoe Karns It Happened One Night Shapely

Roscoe Karns appeared in 150 film and television roles throughout his 49-year film career spanning six decades (1915-1964)

Karns began his acting career in 1906 at age 15, first performing in a stock company, then moving onto the stage. By 1915, he was appearing in silent shorts and films. In 1927, he had a small role in the very first Academy Award winning film, Wings, quickly followed by an uncredited part in the first film Talkie, The Jazz Singer. By the 1930s and 1940s, Karns was playing stronger character and support roles, most notably in the films It Happened One Night, Twentieth Century, His Girl Friday and Woman of the Year.

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Roscoe Karns as Shapeley in It Happened One Night

Karns with Claudette Colbert in It Happened One Night (1934, director Frank Capra)

“Well, shut my big nasty mouth! It looks like you’re one up on me. You know, there’s nothing I like better than to meet a high-class mama that can snap ’em back at ya. ‘Cause the colder they are, the hotter they get. That’s what I always say. Yes, sir, when a cold mama gets hot, boy, how she sizzles. Now, you’re just my type. Believe me, sister, I could go for you in a big way. ‘Fun-on-the-side’ Shapeley they call me, with accent on the fun, believe you me.”
–Roscoe Karns as Oscar Shapeley in It Happened One Night

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Carole Lombard, Roscoe Karn and Walter Connolly in Twentieth Century

Karns with Carole Lombard and Walter Connolly in Twentieth Century (1934, director Howard Hawks) 

“Save your dough, sire. I yield the lamp of learning to no one.”
–Roscoe Karns as consistently tipsy Owen O’Malley in Twentieth Century

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Roscoe Karns and Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday

Karns with Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday (1940, director Howard Hawks)

“Hey keep quiet down there! How do you expect us to get any work done!?!?!”
–Roscoe Karns as Reporter McCue in His Girl Friday

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Roscoe Karns as Phil Whittaker in Woman of the Year

Karns with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in Woman of the Year (1942, George Stevens)

“No women in the press box, it’s a rule as old as baseball. No women in the press box… Haven’t seen it happen in 20 years. Worst scandal since the Black Sox.” –Roscoe Karns as Sports Reporter Phil Whittaker in Woman of the Year
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Roscoe Karns as Rocky King, Detective

By the early 1950’s Karns was starring as Rocky King, Chief of Homicide (pictured above), in the popular weekly television series Rocky King, Detective, and from 1959 through 1962 he played Admiral Walter Shafer in the CBS drama series, Hennessey, starring Jackie Cooper in the title role.

You can watch an entire episode of Rocky King, Detective (“Murder Scores a Knockout”), via this legal download at the Internet Archive (original airdate July 13, 1952)

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Roscoe Karns Mans Favorite Sport

Karn’s last film was Man’s Favorite Sport? starring Rock Hudson as fishing ‘expert’ Roger Willoughby (1964, director Howard Hawks)

“Unpredictable fellow that Willoughby — real genius.” –John McGiver
as William Cadwalader
“Yeah, something’s wrong with him” –Roscoe Karns as ‘fisherman’ Major Phipps

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Roscoe Karns and Todd Karns, father and son character actors

Oh, and last but not least, for those of you who may not know, Roscoe Karns is the father of Todd Karns who played George Bailey’s (James Stewart’ s) younger brother Harry in It’s a Wonderful Life.  🙂

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A big Thank You to the fabulous Kellee (@IrishJayhawk66) of Outspoken & Freckled, Paula (@Paula_Guthat) of Paula’s Cinema Club and Aurora (@CitizenScreen) of Once Upon a Screen for hosting this fun What a Character Blogathon event! There are so many more wonderful Classic Bloggers participating in this event so please be sure to check out the other entries.

–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

 

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Mini Tribute: Lucille La Verne

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Born November 7, 1872 Character Actress Lucille La Verne

Lucille La Verne appeared in over 40 films including 1935’s A Tale of Two Cities (as ‘The Vengeance’). She played her share of vengeful, tattered old hags — most famously ‘appearing’ as the voice (uncredited) and model for the Wicked Queen and alter ego, the Old Hag, in Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).

Lucille Laverne as Snow White Wicked Queen and Old Hag in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1937

“This is no ordinary apple. It’s a magic wishing apple.”
-Lucille La Verne in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

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–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

Posted in Cartoons, Character Actors, Disney, Mini Tributes, Posts by Annmarie Gatti, Quotes, Voice Actors | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Musicals 101 (Part FIve): Busby Berkeley

Posted on November 2, 2013 by minooallen

 

Musicals 101: Busby Berkeley, King of the Backstage Musical

It’s only a slight exaggeration when I say that Busby Berkley invented the backstage musical. Sure, the genre existed before he entered the moving picture scene, but it was Berkeley who took the genre to new creative heights. And it’s Berkeley’s creation we picture when the term “backstage musical” is used. You see, as a choreographer first, director second, Berkeley had a deep understanding of the spectacle, favoring it over story-telling. This is why the backstage musical was such a perfect fit for Berkeley – it gave him the freedom to create spectacular musical numbers completely divorced from the time-space reality created by the films’ narrative. Berkeley had the freedom to bend the creative form to his will and, well, that is exactly what he did.

Busby Berkeley

His most celebrated innovation was his use of the chorus line. By using massive amounts of female chorus line dancers know as “Berkeley Girls,” he was able to create perfect geometric forms composed of the human body, creating the illusion of a human kaleidoscope. The point was not to demonstrate the talents of one star, but to create a spectacle out of a collectivized group of women. Many film scholars commented on how his use of the female body, such as sectioning off legs to create triangular geometric shapes or the matching costumes each dancer wore, demonstrated the loss of female agency for the sake of spectacle.

Those are all people, if you didn’t know. 42nd Street (1934, director Lloyd Bacon)

If we look at Berkeley through a more historic lens, his work also takes on the added depth of political engagement. Where American once prided itself on its rugged individualism, a little thing called Black Tuesday, aks the day the stock market crashed and burned, called into question the validity of that public mind-set. Soon, the newly elected FDR would put in effect his New Deal policies and Berkeley’s work could be seen as a direct response to depression-era politics.  Because the spectacle of Berkeley’s films is reliant on the illusion of the “kaleidoscope effect,” created by the synchronized movement of aesthetically identical dancers, his work is often seen as physical depiction of the collectivist-spirit of the New Deal, even though Berkeley himself would deny any such significant meaning to his work.

A sea of never ending legs. Dames (1934, director Busby Berkeley)

Moreover than his accidental political overtures, Berkeley gave the genre a sense of limitlessness, taking full advantage of backstage musical formula. Because the numbers took place on a stage, a venue born of fantasy, Berkeley refused to follow the logic of the narrative world created by plot.  He realized when the narrative world stops, anything is possible. This is the ultimate contribution of Busby Berkeley.

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Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub

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Happy Halloween!

Posted on October 31, 2013 by minooallen

Happy Halloween!

All Hallows Eve is upon us and you know what that mean: tricks, treats, scary ghouls and scary movies. However, if being terrified is not exactly your thing then fear not, for we here at CMH have the thing for you. Below are some behind-the-scenes pictures of our favorite classic movie monsters. Once you’ve seen them like this, you’ll never fear them again…maybe.

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Nothing much going on here. Just Dracula chattin’ with the in-laws at his local Gentlemen Club. I believe the topic of the night was gardening.

Todd Browning, Bela Legosi, Horace Liveright and Dudley Murphy. Behind the scenes of Dracula (1931, Todd Browning director)

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The Wolfman’s weekly perm. Just because you’re a lycanthrope doesn’t mean giving up on personal grooming. 

Lon Chaney Jr. Behind the Scenes of The Wolf Man ( 1941, George Waggner director)

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Even the Frankenstein Monster enjoys his afternoon tea. What do you take him for, a barbarian?

Boris Karloff Behind the Scene’s of Frankenstein (1931, James Whale director)

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The Mummy covering an old tattoo. I told him “Ankh-es-en-amon Forever” might not be such a good idea.

Boris Karloff behind the scenes of The Mummy (1931, Karl Freund director)

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Dude, I’m not sure Vincent Price even knows where he is.

Vincent Price and Peter Cushing Behind the Scenes of Madhouse (1974, Jim Clark director)

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Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub

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13 Favorite Halloween Flicks

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Dana Walas

13 Fun and Scary Classic Halloween Films

Halloween is without a doubt my favorite holiday. It’s also my family’s favorite holiday, so I grew up watching a variety of scary movies around the month of October. Here’s my list of classic films that are perfect for getting in the Halloween spirit!

1.  House on Haunted Hill (1959)  
For me, House on Haunted Hill embodies the spirit of Halloween perfectly. Complete with walking skeletons and corpse heads, it’s a brilliant combination of silly and spooky. In retrospect, the film’s cheesy effects shouldn’t scare me now that I’m an adult but there are still scenes that make me squirm. It’s horror on a budget, and it works.

House on Haunted Hill 1959 film

House on Haunted Hill, 1959. Directed by William Castle. Starring Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart, Elisha Cook Jr., Richard Long, Carolyn Craig.

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2. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein(1948)
This is the best Halloween movie for someone who’s not a fan of getting scared. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is a fun Halloween comedy that features all of the classic Hollywood monsters together in one film.

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, 1948. Directed by Charles Barton. Starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Glenn Strange.

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3. The Haunting (1963)  
The Haunting is one of the most impressive horror movies I’ve ever seen. It’s absolutely terrifying and there are hardly any special effects. All the fear from this film comes from the ideas and the acting, which is what makes it so exciting.

The Haunting 1963

The Haunting, 1963. Directed by Robert Wise. Starring Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn.

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4. Frankenstein (1931)
Frankenstein is an absolute classic and a must-see for any Halloween fan. Boris Karloff as the creature is a horror icon and this film is pretty much required viewing for classic Halloween scariness and fun.

Frankenstein 1931

Frankenstein, 1931. Directed by James Whale. Starring Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, Boris Karloff.

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5. Dracula (1931)
Like Frankenstein, Dracula is a Halloween essential. I mean, Halloween wouldn’t be what it is without vampires, right?

Dracula, 1931Dracula, 1931. Directed by Tod Browning, Karl Freund. Starring Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, David Manners.

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6. Tales of Terror (1962)
Tales of Terror is a compilation of three Edgar Allen Poe short stories, and each is as different from the next. It begins with the bone-chilling story “Morella” and in all honesty I still can’t watch the scene where Morella’s ghost is floating around the old house. The next episode “The Black Cat” is more comedic, however, and Vincent Price as the famous wine-taster Fortunato Luchresi is priceless. Ending with “The Case of M. Valdemar”, with Basil Rathbone playing what could be his creepiest role, Tales of Terror is a wonderful blend of dark Poe tales.

Tales of Terror 1962

Tales of Terror, 1962. Directed by Roger Corman. Starring Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone.

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7. The Haunted Palace (1963)
At first glance, The Haunted Palace is your typical cursed old house tale, but then you find out about the cursed mutant townspeople, the evil ancestors being burned at the stake, and the mysterious primeval creature in the dungeon — which makes for one pretty scary film.

The Haunted Palace 1963

The Haunted Palace, 1963. Directed by Roger Corman. Starring Vincent Price, Debra Paget, Lon Chaney Jr., Elisha Cook Jr.

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8. The Exorcist (1973)
Nothing says Halloween better than a can of Anderson’s Pea Soup (Campbell’s didn’t have the right “effect”) being vomited onto a priest. Also exorcism.

The Exorcist 1973

The Exorcist, 1973. Directed by William Friedkin. Starring Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller.

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9. Nosferatu (1922)
Nosferatu is in the Horror Hall of Fame and for good reason. To pull off such a frightening film with no sound and limited technology is absolutely amazing. It is no wonder that the film is considered a masterpiece of silent cinema. Well done, Murnau. Well done.

Nosferatu 1922

Nosferatu, 1922. Directed by F.W. Murnau. Starring Max Schreck, Greta Schröder, Ruth Landshoff.

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10. House of Wax (1953)
House of Wax features a compelling story and a strong cast (including a very young Charles Bronson) but the real magic is in the wax figures and Vincent Price’s character Jarrod’s obsession with them. It’s like a love story turned tragic as all hell breaks loose and Jarrod goes to extremes to perfect his “children”. Plus wax figures are just creepy in general.

House of Wax 1953

House of Wax, 1953. Directed by André De Toth. Starring Vincent Price, Phyllis Kirk, Paul Picerni, Charles Bronson.

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11. The Omen (1976)
It’s pretty much law that all children in horror movies have to be absolutely terrifying. And, this film is a prime example, for sure. What I find really scary about this movie, however, are all the strange occurrences that happened during filming. After reading the stories about how this movie is cursed, watching it is a six times worse.

The Omen, 1976

The Omen, 1976. Directed by Richard Donner. Starring Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, Harvey Stephens.

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12. Mr. Sardonicus (1961)
William Castle is known for cheesy fun horror, but Mr. Sardonicus is surprisingly dark. It’s mysterious and unnerving and there are some serious psychological elements at work. But all that aside, the film teaches a very valuable lesson about what a ghoul really is (and why it’s such a bad idea to be one).

Mr. Sardonicus, 1961.

Mr. Sardonicus, 1961. Directed by William Castle. Starring Ronald Lewis, Audrey Dalton, Guy Rolfe

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13. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is such a classic story and it’s been made into many films, but what gets Rouben Mamoulian’s 1931 version onto this list is the hands down best Jekyll to Hyde transition I have ever seen. EVER. I am consistently blown away by it, even after finding out how it was done.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 1931

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 1931. Directed by Rouben Mamoulian. Starring Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins.

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–Dana Walas for Classic Movie Hub

Posted in Best of Lists, Guest Posts, Halloween, Holiday Tributes, Horror, Posts by Dana Walas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas honors Audie Murphy with Legislative Medal of Honor

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

 

Audie Murphy awarded Texas Legislative Medal of Honor

Governor Rick Perry will formally present the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor posthumously to Major Audie L. Murphy on October 29, 2PM in a public ceremony in Farmersville, Texas.  The award will be accepted by Murphy’s sister, Mrs. Nadine Murphy-Lockey.

Audie Murphy

Murphy was America’s “most decorated” World War II combat soldier, earning an unprecedented thirty-three decorations, medals and citations, including the US Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit and a Purple Heart.  Throughout his military career he received every valor decoration the service awarded at that time and some of them he received twice.

Audie Murphy Medals

After the war, Audie Murphy appeared in over 50 films, spanning a 21-year career — most notably playing himself in the 1955 autobiographical war film To Hell and Back (based on his 1949 memoirs) which set a box-office record for Universal which wasn’t broken until Jaws was released in 1975.

To Hell and Back, Audie Murphy

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–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

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Preserving History: The Essanay Studios Indiegogo Campaign

Posted on October 28, 2013 by minooallen

Preserving History: The Restoration of Iconic Essanay Studios

The Famous terracotta entrance to present-day Essanay Studios.

History is such a beautiful thing. Like a giant puzzle with endless pieces, History provides us with context for concepts and events as infinite in scope as Humanities’ past. History provides us with the many legends that help us understand who we are as human beings and how we have evolved over time. By studying history, by studying its patterns and cycles; its glories and its atrocities, we can create a blue print for our future because, as the famous saying goes, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

And of course, another beautiful thing about history is that it does not just live in books. It lives in the paintings at the MET, the peaks of The Selimiye Mosque; in the fields of Gettysburg and the ruins of The Colosseums. History is all around us like an all-encompassing reminder of our collective culture: of our humanity. However, for history to survive, for us to remember where we came from, it sometimes takes a little effort.

Restoration is an important part of historical preservation. It offers us a new link to our collective past, giving us a fresh perspective and appreciation of our history. And that is just what the Indiegogo Campaign for the Restoration of Essanay Studios is trying to do.

Essanay Studios at the turn of the century.

Essanay Studios has an interesting history. Founded in 1907 by George K. Spoor and Gilbert M. “Broncho Billy” Anderson, Essanay had an important role as one of the top film studios during narrative films’ formative years. The film studio boasted some of silent films’ greatest stars such as Bebe Daniels, Wallace Beery, Edward Arnold, Gloria Swanson, Francis X. Bushman — and its most famous player, Charlie Chaplin. In fact, it was while under contract at Essanay Studios that Chaplin filmed The Tramp and crafted his now signature character into the lovable, pathos-riddled character that won the hearts of the entire world.

Charlie Chaplin with Ben Turpin and Charlotte Mineau in His New Job (1915, Charlie Chaplin director)

The Studio, however, would only enjoy a short time atop the silent film studio totem pole. Thanks to Chicago’s relentless winds and unpredictable weather, filmmakers sought locations that offered more control over their projects and within a decade nearly every major studio either went west or went broke. Although Essanay did open up a California branch of their studio (the Essanay-West studio in Niles), by 1920 the company ceased production all together.

However brief their reign as champion of the Silent Era, Essanay undoubtedly remains an important contributor to film development, having released over 1,400 films including the first American Sherlock Holmes (1916), the first American A Christmas Carol (1908), the hugely popular Broncho Billy westerns, and 14 Charlie Chaplin comedy shorts.

By donating just five dollars, you can help preserve film history, by helping to restore Chicago’s rightful place in the lexicon of American Film History. But don’t just take my work for it. Check out the Video below and see for yourself.

Help to Restore Essanay Studios

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Minoo Allen for Classsic Movie Hub

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Mini Tribute: Mark Sandrich at Work

Posted on October 26, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Born October 26, 1901 (?) Director Mark Sandrich!

Director Mark Sandrich began his film career working in the prop department, then moved on to directing shorts, and finally to directing feature length films.  During his 20-year film career, he directed over 75 shorts and films but he is probably best known for his work with Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Bing Crosby: The Gay Divorcee, Top Hat, Follow the Fleet, Shall We Dance, Carefree, Holiday Inn, Blue Skies.

So, to celebrate his successful musical career, let’s take a look at some fun behind-the-scenes photos…

Mark Sandrich, Ginger Rogers, Jerome Cowan, Shall We Dance Behind the ScenesGinger Rogers, Jerome Cowan and Mark Sandrich on the set of Shall We Dance (Mark Sandrich director, 1937)

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Mark Sandrich and Ginger Rogers Behind the Scenes Top Hat

Mark Sandrich and Ginger Rogers, Behind the Scenes at Top Hat (1935)

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Choreographer Hermes Pan, Director Mark Sandrich, Ira Gershwin, musical director Nat Shilkret, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, George Gershwin at the piano Production Still from Shall We Dance

How much talent can fit in one room???  Back row (left to right): Choreographer Hermes Pan, Director Mark Sandrich, Ira Gershwin, Musical Director Nat Shilkret; Front Row Seated (left to right): Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, George Gershwin (at the piano); on the set of Shall We Dance (1937)

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Mark Sandrich, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire and Irving Berlin

Mark Sandrich, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire and Irving Berlin

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Mark Sandrich and Fred Astaire

Couldn’t believe my eyes on this one, but yes indeedy, Mark Sandrich is dancing with Fred Astaire!

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–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

 

 

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All in the Family: Joan Bennett and Constance Bennett

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti


Sisters Joan Bennett and Constance Bennett…

Constance Bennett was born Constance Campbell Bennett on October 22, 1904 in New York City. Her elder sister, actress Joan Bennett, was born Joan Geraldine Bennett on in Palisades, New Jersey.  Middle sister, actress Barbara Bennett was a little-known silent film actress, born on August 13, in 1906, also in Palisades, New Jersey. Their father was silent film star and matinee idol Richard Bennett and their mother was stage actress and literary agent Adrienne Morrison whose father was the stage actor Lewis Morrison.

Sisters Joan Bennett and Constance Bennett

Sisters Joan Bennett and Constance Bennett

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Barbara Bennett actressMiddle sister Barbara Bennett

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–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

 

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