Classic Movie Hub Blog

All in the Family: Jeanette MacDonald and Marie Blake

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Sisters Jeanette MacDonald and Marie Blake…

Marie Blake, also known as Blossom Rock (Rock being her married name), was born Edith Marie Blossom MacDonald on August 21, 1895 in Philadelphia to Daniel and Anne MacDonald. Marie was the elder sister of Jeanette MacDonald, who was born Jeanette Anna MacDonald in Philadelphia on June 18, 1903

Sisters in ‘Character’: Marie Blake as Grandmama in The Addams Family and Jeanette MacDonald as Naughty Marietta

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According to Jeanette MacDonald biographer Sharon Rich (who was also close friends with Marie Blake), Jeanette was happy that her sister Marie finally gained widespread recognition playing Grandmama, and for that reason, Jeanette never missed watching an episode of The Addams Family.

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–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

Posted in All in the Family (Family Connections), Posts by Annmarie Gatti | Tagged Jeanette MacDonald, Marie Blake, Naughty Marietta, The Addams Family | 3 Comments

Screen Queens: Judy Garland

Posted on June 28, 2013 by minooallen

Judy Garland: Queen of Them All

To call Judy Garland a gay icon is something of an understatement. Her life and legacy is more entwined with the gay cultural and gay liberation movement than perhaps any other star in this series.

Judy Garland in the role that made not only a star but THE gay Icon of the century – Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (1939, director Victor Fleming)

Garland’s relationship with the gay community began with what has become her signature role, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Her journey from self-persecution to self-acceptance was one that reflected the collective struggle of the gay community. Her heart-felt rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, her dream of a better world where trouble and suffering melted away, resonated with the persecuted minority. The song has since become somewhat of an unofficial National Anthem for the LGBTQ community and has obviously had an influence on the aesthetics of the culture.

I mean, the pride flag IS a rainbow guys.

Of course, Garland’s most influential moment in the gay community had to do with her death. When Garland died of an accidental barbiturate overdose in June of 1969, the gay community was stunned. After her funeral in New York City, a few mourning fans gathered at a small underground gay club called Stonewell Inn. Known by the police to be frequented by the gay community, the tavern faced random police raids and mass arrests. On June 28^th, 1969 one such raid happened. However, this night was different. This night, fueled by the loss of an icon, a few cosmos had tired of being persecuted for merely existing, so they fought back. Police soon lost control of the crowd and a full-scale riot broke out. Within weeks the riots lead to protests, and protests lead to mass political organization for the creation of safe spaces for everyone regardless of sexual identity or gender.

Judy Garland, tragic, beautiful, a beacon of hope for for last 50 years.

The Stonewall riots are considered the single most important event leading to the gay liberation movement. And for role as catalyst to this event, as well her influence of all things rainbows, Judy Garland in THE Screen Queen.

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Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub

Posted in Posts by Minoo Allen, Screen Queens | Tagged classic movie, Classic Movie Actress, gay lesbian, gay liberation, gay pride, Judy Garland, LGBT, lgbtq, pride, pride month, screen queen, somewhere over the rainbow, stonewall inn, stonewall riots, the wizard of iz, Victor Fleming | Leave a comment

Mini Tribute: Anne Revere

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Born June 25, 1903 Character Actress Anne Revere!

Anne Revere appeared in over 45 film and TV roles. She played her share of hard-working and wise mothers, as well as sympathetic and sometimes sharp-tongued friends. She won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for National Velvet and was nominated twice more for The Song of Bernadette and Gentleman’s Agreement.

And, my favorite bit of trivia about Anne Revere: she was a direct descendant of American Revolution Hero Paul Revere!

Anne Revere and her famous ancestor, Paul Revere

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Anne Revere as Elizabeth Taylor’s mother, Mrs. Brown, in National Velvet (1944, director Clarence Brown)

What’s the meaning of goodness if there isn’t a little badness to overcome?
-Anne Revere as Mrs. Brown in National Velvet

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Anne Revere as Jennifer Jones’ mother, Louise Soubirous, in The Song of Bernadette (1945, director Henry King)

Life goes fast, my child. It’s hard to believe how fast.
-Anne Revere as Louise Soubirous in The Song of Bernadette

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–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

Visit CMH’s BlogHub for more posts about Anne Revere by Veteran and Emerging Classic Movie Bloggers.

Posted in All in the Family (Family Connections), Character Actors, Mini Tributes, Posts by Annmarie Gatti, Quotes | Tagged anne revere, Anne Revere descendant of Paul Revere, clarence brown, Henry King, National Velvet, The Song of Bernadette | Leave a comment

Mini Tribute: Georgia Hale

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Born June 24, 1905 Silent Actress Georgia Hale!

Georgia Hale appeared in 22 films (21 silents and 1 talkie) but is probably best
remembered as Georgia the Dance-Hall Girl (Charlie Chaplin’s ‘crush’) in
The Gold Rush…

Georgia Hale and Charlie Chaplin in The Gold Rush (1925, Charles Chaplin director, producer and writer)

“If I could only meet someone worthwhile — I’m so tired of this place.” -Georgia Hale in The Gold Rush

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And the wonderful ending!

“Please, please, don’t put him in irons. I’ll pay his fare.”
– Georgia Hale in The Gold Rush

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A little bit of trivia: Chaplin hired Hale to replace Virginia Cherrill as the Blind Girl in City Lights after firing Cherrill for leaving the set for a hair appointment. Chaplin filmed some scenes with Hale, but ultimately decided to rehire Cherrill (at twice the salary) rather than scrap all of his work and re-shoot over 500 days of film.

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–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

Visit CMH’s BlogHub for more posts about Georgia Hale by Veteran and Emerging Classic Movie Bloggers.

Posted in Mini Tributes, Posts by Annmarie Gatti, Quotes | Tagged charlie chaplin, City Lights, Georgia Hale, The Gold Rush, Virginia Cherrill | Leave a comment

Screen Queens: Elizabeth Taylor

Posted on June 24, 2013 by minooallen

Elizabeth Taylor: Queen of Glamour

Of all the classic stars of yesteryear, no one took to the title of “Gay Icon” as much as Elizabeth Taylor.

Elizabeth Taylor, winner of ‘best jewelry’ from now until the end of time

Of course we can’t speak of Elizabeth Taylor, the Gay Icon, without speaking of her surface appeal – her glamour, her glitz, and her over-the-top lifestyle. No one had more jewelry, more rhinestones, or more husbands than the Divine Miss Taylor. I mean, just take a look at her most decadently glamourous role, Cleopatra. The cat-eye make-up, the gold-trimmed hair pieces, the technicolor wardrobe –surely that must have been the envy of every drag performer from New York To Tokyo. Yes, part of Taylor’s legacy within the gay community will always be for her glamour, however, it does not end there.

The most beautifully campy dress in the history of mankind as worn by Ms. Taylor in Cleopatra (1963, director Joseph L. Mankiewicz)

Of all the people listed in this series, no one has taken to the gay community like Elizabeth Taylor. In the early days of Hollywood, when being gay was something of a career killer, gay stars would go to Taylor for support and friendship. While Montgomery Clift struggled with his gay identity, often succumbing to alcohol as a coping mechanism, Taylor was at his side to the very end, offering support when everyone else had lost patience with the tragic star. And when Rock Hudson fell ill with the ignorantly titled “gay disease” that would later be know as AIDS, Taylor was there, too, helping him through that incredibly trying time. And her support did not end there. In the 1980’s, when AIDS was seen as a degenerate gay disease without support for finding a cure, Elizabeth Taylor became the first prominent celebrity to focus on, and bring attention to, HIV/AIDS charities. Motivated by the death of Rock Hudson, she helped organize the American Foundation for AIDS and her own charity organization, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which has since raised over 12 million dollars for AIDS research.

Glamorous and campy, caring and dedicated – this duality is why Taylor is such a beloved figure in the gay community. Because underneath all the jewels and the cosmos, all the make-up and the tabloids lies a very human, very nurturing heart with the courage to buck the norm and stand up for what is right. And for this, Elizabeth Taylor is Screen Queen.

Elizabeth Taylor at an American Foundation for AIDS conference

If you would like to make a donation to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation*, you can visit the website: http://www.elizabethtayloraidsfoundation.org/

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Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub

* Classic Movie Hub is not affiliated with The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Visit CMH’s BlogHub for more posts about Elizabeth Taylor by Veteran and Emerging Classic Movie Bloggers.

Posted in Posts by Minoo Allen, Screen Queens | Tagged AIDS, Classic Movie Actress, Classic Movies, Cleopatra, elizabeth taylor, Gay, gay pride, lesbian, LGBT, lgbtq, pride, pride month, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation | 1 Comment

Mini Tribute: Buddy Adler at Work

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Born June 22, 1909 Producer Buddy Adler!

Buddy Adler produced 24 movies in a span of only ten years (1948-1958) including the classic films From Here to Eternity (for which he won the Best Picture Oscar), Love is a Many-Splendored Thing, Bus Stop, Anastasia, South Pacific and Heaven Knows Mr. Allison… Unfortunately Adler passed away in 1960 at the young age of 51, but luckily he left us with many film gems.

Buddy Adler and Marilyn Monroe during filming of Bus Stop

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Montgomery Clift, Buddy Adler & Burt Lancaster on the set of From Here to Eternity

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From Here to Eternity Oscar winners: director Fred Zinnemann, supporting actress Donna Reed, producer Buddy Adler and screenwriter Daniel Taradash

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–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

Posted in Behind the Scenes, Mini Tributes, Posts by Annmarie Gatti, Producers | Tagged Buddy Adler, burt lancaster, bus stop, Daniel Taradash, donna reed, fred zinnemann, from here to eternity, marilyn monroe, montgomery clift | Leave a comment

Mini Tribute: Billy Wilder at Work

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Born June 22, 1906 Legendary Director Billy Wilder!

There’s really nothing ‘mini’ about this Tribute except for a lack of ‘written’ content — but, really, anything I could say here would be a gross understatement anyway. So, here is a Pictorial Tribute to Billy Wilder ‘at work,’ featuring behind-the-scenes photos from some of his most memorable films.

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Some Like It Hot (1959):

Billy Wilder filming Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe

Tony Curtis and Billy Wilder

Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon

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The Apartment (1960):

Billy Wilder directs Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine

Tony Curtis visits Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon on the set

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The Seven Year Itch (1955):

Billy Wilder directing Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell

Marilyn Monroe and Billy Wilder, Monroe in the iconic Subway Grate Dress

Billy Wilder and Marilyn Monroe preparing for the iconic Subway Grate Scene

Billy Wilder, Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell

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Double Indemnity (1944):

Barbara Stanwyck and Billy Wilder

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Sunset Blvd (1950):

Billy Wilder, Gloria Swanson and Cecil B. Demille

Billy Wilder behind the camera filming Gloria Swanson

Billy Wilder filming Gloria Swanson and William Holden

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Witness for the Prosecution (1957):

Charles Laughton, Marlene Dietrich, Tyrone Power and Billy Wilder

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Sabrina (1954):

William Holden, Audrey Hepburn and Billy Wilder

Billy Wilder directing Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart

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–Annmarie for Classic Movie Hub

Posted in Behind the Scenes, Directors, Mini Tributes, Posts by Annmarie Gatti | Tagged audrey hepburn, Barbar Stanwyck, billy wilder, charles laughton, Double Indemnity, gloria swanson, humphrey bogart, jack lemmon, marilyn monroe, Marlene Dietrich, sabrina, Seven Year Itch, Seven Year Itch Subway Grate, Shirley MacLaine, some like it hot, Sunset Blvd, the apartment, Tom Ewell, tony curtis, Tyrone Power, william holden, Witness for the Prosecution | Leave a comment

CMH Classic Movie Events Calendar!

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Classic Movies on the Big Screen and much, much more!

For me, there’s nothing like watching my favorite Classic Movies on the Big Screen with like-minded fans! My only frustration has been in trying to keep track of when and where these classics were playing. That said, I am so happy to announce the official launch of CMH’s Classic Movie Events Calendar!

The CMH Events Calendar is a listing of classic movie screenings, film festivals, lectures, blogathons, TCM Parties and more — essentially any event that is Classic-Era-ish-related (pre-1980). And — the best part is that ANYONE can contribute to it. So if you know of a Classic Movie screening or event in your home town or city (or if you’re running a Classic Movie Blogathon) PLEASE feel free to add it to the schedule so that other fans can learn about it. It’s really simple to do! And it will be much appreciated by me — and other classic movie fans!

Thanks and here’s to Happy Classic Movie Related Outings!

–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

Click here to Visit CMH’s Classic Movie Events Calendar

Posted in CMH Features, Events, Posts by Annmarie Gatti | Tagged Classic Movie Blogathons, Classic Movie Events by Location, Classic Movie Events Calendar, Classic Movie Festivals, Classic Movie Lectures, Classic Movie Screenings, Classic Movie TCM Party Events, CMH Classic Movie Events Calendar, List of Classic Movie Events and Film Festivals | Leave a comment

Marilyn Monroe & Jane Russell setting Handprints in ‘stone’

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Just for Fun: Then and Now…

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell setting their handprints in ‘stone’ at Grauman’s Chinese Theater on June 26, 1953 during Imprint Ceremony #104

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And the imprints now (photo taken at the TCM Film Festival April 2013)

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–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

For a complete list of Classic Movie Star Handprints/Footprints (and Ceremony Dates) in the Grauman’s Theater Courtyard, click here.

More posts about Marilyn Monroe at CMH BlogHub.

More posts about Jane Russell at CMH BlogHub.

Posted in Grauman's Chinese Theater, Just for Fun, Posts by Annmarie Gatti | Tagged Footprints, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Handprints, Imprint Ceremony, jane russell, marilyn monroe | Leave a comment

Beyond Casablanca: Exclusive Interview with Author Jennifer Garlen

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Beyond Casablanca Exclusive Interview with Jennifer Garlen…

Well, it’s been over a month now since our Beyond Casablanca: 100 Classic Movies Worth Watching Book Giveaway — and since I keep referring back to the book for ideas on what classic movies to watch next, I thought I’d circle back around with author, Jennifer Garlen, for a quick interview. Jennifer is an independent scholar who has penned a number of pop culture books (see list below) and also writes for Examiner.com and her classic movie blog Virtual Virago.

PS: If you didn’t win the book, you may want to do yourself a favor and buy a copy. It really is a wonderful read 🙂

And now for the interview…

CMH: What inspired you to write BEYOND CASABLANCA?

Jennifer: I have been teaching film units and courses for quite a few years, and my students were always asking me what they should watch next. I realized that a lot of people are interested in watching classic films but don’t necessarily know where to go once they have seen the really big “must-see” pictures that everyone always talks about. Most movie guide books are either all-inclusive or not really focused on classic movies as their core topic. It seemed like a niche that needed to be filled.

CMH: How did you become interested in classic movies?

Jennifer: I have been a moviegoer, to borrow Walker Percy’s term, all my life. As a kid I loved to watch old movies with my father and my grandfather, and they were big fans of the old Westerns, which I still adore. I became a lot more serious about film when I was studying English Literature in college and graduate school; if I hadn’t majored in English I probably would have gone to film school, although I don’t think either is likely to pay the rent these days. Teaching film was a way to get students to think about narrative concepts and conventions in lower level classes, but it eventually became an end unto itself. These days my academic work tends to occur in the intersections of literature, film, and popular culture, which explains why you’ll find me writing about Jane Austen, the Muppets, and classic movie musicals all at the same time.

CMH: What was the hardest part about creating the book?

Jennifer: Limiting the collection to just 100 films was absolutely the hardest part of the process. I revised and weeded my list so many times, and I hated to leave out personal favorites. Still, I had to reach a balance in terms of genres, decades, stars, directors, and other elements, so I eventually let some great movies go. I also chose to include some more obscure films because I think they deserve the attention and don’t usually get it, like CHARLEY’S AUNT and HOBSON’S CHOICE.

CMH: Do you have a favorite classic movie or star?

Jennifer: That is such a hard question! I can probably give you a top ten list, but narrowing it down to one is just torture. I do particularly enjoy BRINGING UP BABY, RIO BRAVO, and FORBIDDEN PLANET; that tells you something about how eclectic my tastes are. As for stars, I love all of the A-listers but have a real soft spot for character actors. I’ll watch anything with Marjorie Main, Spring Byington, Charles Laughton, or Elsa Lanchester, just to name a few.

CMH: Is there going to be a follow-up book?

Jennifer: Maybe. I’m continuing to write and post reviews of films to my blog all the time, but there are a lot of really excellent pictures that I’d love to include in a second book. I’m giving the first book a year or so to see how it goes. If people like it, then I might do another one. A lot of people have already given me advice about what the focus of the next one should be!

Jennifer Garlen is an independent scholar, writer and speaker in Huntsville, Alabama. She teaches courses on literature, popular culture and film for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UAH and LearningQuest. You can visit Jennifer at Virtual Virago, Examiner.com or follow her at Twitter via @garlengirl.

Jennifer Garlen’s Pop Culture Books available on Amazon:

Plus Exclusive Barnes and Noble Classics – with Introductions by Jennifer: