Just a few of my favorite Classic Movie Kisses in celebration of Valentine’s Day…
Jean Arthur and Joel McCrea from The More The Merrier (GIF from Bellecs Tumbler)
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Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot (GIF: Classic Movie Hub created by Deadly Elegance)
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Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in Gone With The Wind (GIF: Classic Movie Hub created by Deadly Elegance)
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Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub
Friendship is something most people strive for. Humans are naturally social, pack-like animals. We like to be in groups, we like to play on teams, and in general, we like other people. However, we tend to not like all people. If you’re smart, you try to choose your friends carefully. And for me, Thelma Ritter, or at least the characters she played, have always been the kind of friends I would want.
Thelma Ritter was a character actor, through and through. She made her fame by playing sassy, street-wise, working class supporting roles. She was always the little bird in the leading stars’ ear, their sass-talkin’, moral guide through the narrative of their lives. She offered an ear to listen when needed, and a mouth to speak up when the lead star needed to shut up. Above all what I always admired about the Ritter character type was her loyalty. Whatever crazy schemes, ideas, or notions her lead stars seemed to concoct, she was always right there next to them, usually telling them – first by telling them how crazy they sounded then by joining in on the crazy. She was what is sometimes referred to as a “ride or die,” buddy –a loyal friend who will follow you to the end — the type of friend I’ve always wanted. So, to celebrate this great figure in female friendship let us take a look at some of her most “friendly” roles.
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Thelma Ritter as Bette Davis‘s blunt talkin’ maid in All About Eve (1950, Joseph L. Mankiewicz)
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Thelma Ritter as James Stewart‘s sassy nurse in Rear Window (1954, Alfred Hitchcock, director)
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Thelma Ritter with drinking buddy Rock Hudson in Pillow Talk (1959, Michael Gordon)
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Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub
Some stars are created. They spend years perfectly crafting their screen images, refining everything from their manner of speech to the way they dress to the minutia of a little thing called their past. Others stars just, well, are. They exist in the world of classic Hollywood just as they exist in “real life.” Jack Lemmon is one of those stars.
Unlike other studio-era stars, Jack Lemmon wasn’t pressed with the task of projecting an image to the audience. Because he didn’t have to maintain an illusion of glamour or sophistication, he was free to explore his craft in a myriad of varying characters. Whether playing a cross dressing bass player, a married alcoholic or a grumpy old man, Lemmon always seems completely genuine and lost in his role. He was actor before he was a star, and that’s why we love him. So, let us celebrate this great actor’s birthday by looking at some of his greatest classic movie roles.
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Jack Lemmon with Shirley MacLaine in The Apartment (1960, Billy Wilder director)
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Jack Lemmon with Lee Remick in Days of Wine and Roses (1962, Blake Edwards director)
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Ving Rhames giving Jack Lemmon his award at the 1998 Golden Globes because, really, what better role can you play than an influence and inspiration.
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Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub
Visit CMH’s BlogHub for more posts about Jack Lemmon by Veteran and Emerging Classic Movie Bloggers.
I often wonder to myself if any of my classic movie favorites would translate to modern film stardom. As much as I love people like Fred Astaire, Greer Garson and Cyd Charisse, I have a hard time believing they would be half the stars in today’s Hollywood climate as they were in the Golden Age. There is one star, however, I feel would have benefited by being born 100 years later: Ramon Novarro.
Ramon Novarro looking more modern than a person born before the twentieth century should be allowed.
Yes, of all the Classic Hollywood stars, I feel Novarro is the one can most translate into modern success. And it’s not simply because of his dark good looks or acting ability. The reason is because he seemed to have more modern view of the world; he seemed to be ahead of the time. Just look at this quote about his view on modern movies:
“I was always the hero – with no vices – reciting practically the same lines to the leading lady. The current crop of movie heroes are less handicapped than the old ones. They are more human.”While I thoroughly enjoy watching Ramon Novarro, perfect hero/lover, I would love to see Ramon Novarro, broken hero/tragic lover as much as I’m sure he wanted to see, too. But until I get enough money to hire a team of mad scientists to build that time machine I’ve always wanted, all I can do is continue speculating and enjoy my perfect hero, Ramon Novarro.
Ramon Novarro as the perfect hero in Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925, director Fred Niblo)
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Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub
Ida Lupino appeared in over 100 roles including They Drive by Night, The Sea Wolf, High Sierra, The Hard Way, Road House, On Dangerous Ground and Escape Me Never.
In 1949 Lupino stepped behind the camera — to write, produce and direct — becoming a widely respected pioneer for women filmmakers. Lupino was the first woman to direct a film noir (The Hitch-Hiker 1953). She also directed the 1966 family comedy The Trouble with Angels starring Rosalind Russell and Hayley Mills, as well as numerous TV show episodes including episodes for The Donna Reed Show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Have Gun Will Travel, G.E. True Theater, The Rifleman, The Untouchables and Gilligan’s Island.
And, last, but certainly not least, Ida Lupino appeared as the villainess Dr Cassandra Spellcraft on TV’s Batman!
Ida Lupino as Dr Cassandra Spellcraft from TV’s Batman, with Howard Duff as Cabala (photo)
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Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub
Visit CMH’s BlogHub for more posts about Ida Lupino by Veteran and Emerging Classic Movie Bloggers.
Character Actor Walter Catlett appeared in over 150 roles including Bringing Up Baby (the constable that locks everyone up in jail), Yankee Doodle Dandy (the distracted stage manager), Mr Deeds Goes to Town (the drunken poet who offers to take Cooper out on a bender)!
Walter Catlett with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby (photo)
“Now you know that’s silly! There never was a leopard in the whole state of Connecticut!”
-Walter Catlett as the Constable in Bringing Up Baby
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Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub
To me, Ida Lupino is one of best female role models in the world of classic film. She had the gall of Katharine Hepburn, the independence of Bette Davis, and the talent/work ethic that rivaled any of her contemporaries. It’s always been a wonder to me why she hasn’t been embraced as an Icon of female independence in the way that Hepburn and Davis have been. Much like Hepburn and Davis, Lupino wouldn’t allow the studios to dictate her career. She famously barged into William Wellman’s office, unannounced, to audition for a role she wasn’t offered. She got the role, FYI. She also stood by her principles, refusing to act in roles she felt were no longer appropriate for her as an actress, often being placed on suspension for doing so. In fact, it was while on one of her many suspensions that she became interested in taking on another role – the role of director.
As a woman attempting to break into the male-dominated world of directing, I must admit this is one of the reasons I have such respect for Lupino. It’s hard enough breaking into the industry now, let alone 70 years ago when second-wave feminists were busy, you know, being born. For Lupino to direct was a HUGE deal. While on suspension, she would take that time to simply observe the process of filming and editing to gain a better understanding of the work that went to filmmaking. She would eventually go on to create her own independent company, The Filmakers, where she would act as producer, director and screenwriter for several low-budget, issue-oriented films. With the freedom to do as she pleased, she was unafraid to tackle taboo issues such rape, abuse, and sexuality. A truly modern woman in an era where that just wasn’t accepted.
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Ida Lupino acts in High Sierra (1941, Raoul Walsh director)
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Ida Lupino directs the movie Outrage (1950, Ida Lupino director)
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Ida Lupino as herself, a role model for young women everywhere.
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Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub
Visit CMH’s BlogHub for more posts about Ida Lupino by Veteran and Emerging Classic Movie Bloggers.
Character Actor John Fiedler appeared in over 185 film, TV and voice roles — most notably in 12 Angry Men (Feature Film Debut as Juror #2), The Odd Couple (as Vinnie), True Grit 1969 (as Lawyer Daggett) – & the adorable Piglet in Disney’s Winnie-the-Pooh!
“There are elements of Piglet that are me: the shyness and the anxieties and fears. Even after all these years. The more you know, the higher your standards are and the more you have to lose.” – John Fiedler
John Fiedler as himself and John Fiedler as Piglet (photo)
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Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub
Character Actor Victor Buono appeared in over 95 film and TV roles — most notably in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (Supporting Actor Nominee), Robin and the 7 Hoods, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte, The Greatest Story Ever Told -& of course Batman as the villainous King Tut!
Being on ‘Batman’ allowed me to do something we actors are taught never to do: overact. -Victor Buono
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Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub
Character Actor S. Z. “Cuddles” Sakall appeared in over 100 films. He started his career in Hungarian and German silent films and early talkies, but is probably best remembered for his Hollywood era films including The Devil and Miss Jones, Ball of Fire, Casablanca, Christmas in Connecticut, The Dolly Sisters, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Cinderella Jones and In the Good Old Summertime.
“Everything is hunky dunky!” -S. Z. Sakall
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S. Z. “Cuddles” Sakall as Carl, the head waiter, in Casablanca (photo)
Customer: Are you sure this place is honest?
Carl the Head Waiter (S.Z. Sakall) Honest? As honest as the day is long!
-in Casablanca
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S. Z. Sakall and Barbara Stanwyck in Christmas in Connecticut (photo)
Watch now. I show you how to flip-flop the flop-flips.
-S.Z. Sakall as Felix Bassenak in Christmas in Connecticut
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Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub
