Classic Movie Legend Tribute: Tallulah Bankhead

Posted on January 31, 2013 by minooallen

Happy Birthday to Classic Movie Legend, Tallulah Bankhead, born January 31, 1902!

In the world of classic Hollywood, there are those I wish I could have worked with, those I wish I could’ve befriended, and those I wish I could have partied with. Tallulah Bankhead is the one I wish I could have partied with. I’ll be honest with you, faithful readers — I’ve only seen two of her films: Life Boat and Die, Die, My Darling. Most of my Bankhead knowledge comes from what I’ve read and one thing I could never stop reading was her quotes. I mean, half the reason I want to party with this lady IS the quotes. So, to celebrate this great star of the stage and screen, let’s look at some her best quotes.

…..

Tallulah Bankhead with John Hodiak in Lifeboat (1944, Alfred Hitchcock director)

“If I had to live my life again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner.”

“Nobody can be exactly like me. Sometimes even I have trouble doing it.”

…..

Young Tallulah Bankhead.

“I have three phobias which, could I mute them,would make my life as slick as a sonnet,but dull as ditch water: I hate to go to bed, I hate to get up and I hate to be alone…”

“They used to photograph Shirley Temple through gauze. They should photograph me through linoleum.”

…..

Ronald Colman, classic movie actorTallulah Bankhead at a party with Ronald Colman. Why can’t I be there?

“I’d rather be strongly wrong than weakly right.”

“They say it’s the good girls who keep diaries. The bad girls never have the time. Me, I just wanna live a life I’m gonna remember even if I don’t write it down.”

…..

Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub

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

Posted in Birthday Legends, Legends Tribute, Posts by Minoo Allen | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Classic Movie Legend Tribute: Ernest Lubitsch

Posted on January 28, 2013 by minooallen

 

Happy Birthday to Classic Movie Legend, Ernst Lubitsch, born January 28, 1892!

I want you to do me a little a favor. Read the following loglines from three different classic films:

“A stern Russian woman sent to Paris on official business finds herself attracted to a man who represents everything she is supposed to detest.”
 
“An old roué arrives in Hades to review his life with Satan, who will rule on his eligibility to enter the Underworld.”
 
“During the Nazi occupation of Poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier’s efforts to track down a German spy.”

 

Some pretty heavy stuff, am I right? I mean, death, political intrigue, and Nazis; those are all the things that make the greatest of dramas. And Ninotchka, Heaven Can Wait and To Be or Not to Be are all remembered as some of the greatest dramas to come out of the classic movie era. Oh, wait. My mistake, they’re all remembered as some of the greatest comedies to come out of classic Hollywood.

You see, that is great thing about birthday boy Ernst Lubitsch. He had the uncanny ability to take heavy, dark subject matters and find the inherent comical elements that exist within that reality. The amazing thing about Lubitsch wasn’t that he could simply make serious subjects hilarious; rather, it was that he did so using a lethal cocktail of sophistication, wit, and a slight splash of cynicism.  His humor didn’t rely on making the audience laugh AT the subject matter. No, his craft was far too elegant for the lowest common denominator. The beauty of the “Lubitsch Touch” was that it commented on the subject matter itself and the humorous situation inherent in such sadness.

…..

Ninotchka (1939, Ernst Lubitsch director)

…..

Heaven Can Wait (1943, Ernst Lubitsch director)

…..

To Be or Not to Be (1942, Ernst Lubitsch director)

…..

Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub

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

Posted in Birthday Legends, Directors, Legends Tribute, Posts by Minoo Allen | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Classic Movie Legend Tribute: Paul Newman

Posted on January 26, 2013 by minooallen

 

Happy Birthday to Classic Movie Legend, Paul Newman, born January 26th, 1925.

 

Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969, George Roy Hill director)

Let me tell you a little story about my freshman year at College.  The date is September 26th, and I had been a student in the Purchase Film Conservatory for less than a month. Still in the “getting to know you” stage of my college experience, it’s fair to say that most of my new acquaintance knew very little about me. However, one thing they did know about: my Paul Newman obsession. Not only did I decorate my dorm room with a matted picture of ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid era’ Newman, I also had various Newman’s Own product labels scattered between my Katharine Hepburn plaque and Billie Holiday posters. It was all very tastefully done, I swear. But I digress.

Paul Newman, actor, humanitarian, and all around good human being.

So, September 26th, 2008, a month into my freshman year of college, Paul Newman passed away. Still as big a star as he was in the 50’s, it was all over the news and was the talk of everyone in the film program. And, to great surprise, many of my new friends came up to me personally and offered me condolences about his death.  To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I should be flattered or creeped out, but I thanked them all none-the-less and chose to accept it.  There are worse things you can be know for during your freshman year of college other than being “Paul Newman girl”.

Paul Newman, making looking good seem far too easy since 1925.

…..

Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub

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

Posted in Birthday Legends, Legends Tribute, Posts by Minoo Allen | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Classic Movie Legend Tribute: D.W Griffith

Posted on January 22, 2013 by minooallen

 

Happy Birthday Classic Movie Legend, D.W Griffith, born January 22, 1875!

No doubt, D.W Griffith is one of the most controversial figures in the world of Classic Hollywood. He has already gone down in film history as one of the silver screen’s earliest and most prolific innovators. Although falsely credited with inventing the close-up and other technical achievements, his use of said techniques in terms of progressing the film narrative was a breath of fresh air to the burgeoning world of film. Through use of parallel editing (the cutting back and forth of two or more scenes that often happen simultaneously and in different locations) he transformed the very essences of filmic story telling. Yes, without a doubt, Griffith’s use of advanced camera and narrative techniques paved the way for the feature-length film, still the dominant film form in the world today. If only that’s where his legacy ended.

D.W Griffith

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post (about Butterfly McQueen), the world of Classic Hollywood was not without its flaws, and racism is definitely a dark page in the lexicon of classic film.  One of its worst perpetrators is a little film Griffith directed called The Birth of a Nation. Yes, while the three-plus hour Civil War epic was an innovation in narrative filmmaking, it also stands as being one of the most vile, racist films to ever come out of classic Hollywood. Rife with black face, Confederacy sympathies, and historically inaccurate representations, the film has become more famous, or in this case infamous, for its racists politics rather than its technical innovations. For this reason, despite directing over 400 films, Birth of a Nation stands as Griffith’s defining piece of work. Although Intolerance may have made more money and Broken Blossoms may have had better politics, the narrative of D.W Griffith will always be dominated by Birth of Nation and the controversy that surrounds it.

D.W Griffith’s controversial masterpiece The Birth of a Nation (1915, D.W Griffith director)

…..

Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub

Posted in Birthday Legends, Legends Tribute, Posts by Minoo Allen | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Classic Movie Legend Tribute: Patricia Neal

Posted on January 20, 2013 by minooallen

 

Happy Birthday to Classic Movie Legend, Patricia Neal, born January 20, 1926!

The first time I saw Patricia Neal, I was completely smitten. The film was A Face in the Crowd and I must have been in ninth or tenth grade. Now, although the film as a whole is absolutely amazing and most walk away remembering the bombastically boss performance of “pre-show” Andy Griffith, I remember being completely and utterly fascinated by Neal. For me, Neal was a different kind of leading lady. Though classic movies featured plenty of strong leading ladies, Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Jean Arthur obviously come to mind, their performances always seemed to be in the world of aristocracy even when playing characters of limited financial means. They never seemed grounded to this earth, and that was their appeal. Neal, however, was always grounded.

What draws me to Neal is her ability to play well-intentioned but flawed characters. Like most people in this thing we like to call the ‘real world’, her characters are full of contradictions. Strong yet vulnerable; tough yet giving, the characters Neal brought to life seem more real than the typical ones seen in the great classic film fantasy. Not only do they struggle to do what’s right, they struggle to understand what’s even right in the first place. My favorite example of this comes from; you guessed it, A Face in the Crowd. I guess this is about the time I should say spoiler alert, so *spoiler alert.*

Towards the end of the film when Neal makes the decision to expose Griffith for the power hungry, elitist monster he has become — the dilemma of the moment is all over her face. Sure, she could allow Griffith to ride the ignorance of his fan base to heights of political power. Sure, she could join him in his contempt for the unknowing masses. Sure, she could continue to play her part in the elaborate lie, after all, it’s what she’s been doing the whole movie. But she can’t; she realizes that the horrifying truth is better than the comforting lie and exposes Griffith for the man he has become. So, to pay tribute to this legend, let us take a look at some of these flawed characters, perhaps you’ll recognize yourself in some of them, I know I certainly do.

…..

Andy Griffith, A Face in the Crowd face, classic Movie actor, Elia KazanPatricia Neal, despite knowing better, lets herself get caught in to the Andy Griffiths Cult of Personality in A Face in the Crowd (1957, Elia Kazan director)

…..

Patricia Neal plays the world weary Alma in Hud. (1963, Martin Ritt director)

…..

Patricia Neal as the wealthy but lonely resident of 2E in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961, Blake Edwards director)

…..

Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub

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

Posted in Birthday Legends, Legends Tribute, Posts by Minoo Allen | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Classic Movie Legend Tribute: Cary Grant

Posted on January 18, 2013 by minooallen

 

Happy Birthday to Classic Movie Legend, Cary Grant, Born January 18th, 1904!

If there were an equation for the perfect Hollywood Male Star persona it would probably go a little something like this: ridiculou good looks + charm  ­+ debonair style  + self-deprecating humor + approachability – laughable machismo. To use an old cliché, the perfect Male Star must be someone “Men want to be and woman want to be with.” In terms of classic Hollywood, no star fit’s the bill more than Cary Grant.

Cary Grant

Cary Grant’s appeal to mainstream audiences knew no bounds. He was as good-looking as Rudolph Valentino, as humorous as William Powell, as stylish as Fred Astaire and as approachable as Jimmy Stewart. His appeal was universal; men, women, children and anything in between all loved the man.  But why? What is it about Cary Grant that makes him so universally adored? Well, let’s go back to the equation, shall we. Not only was he handsome, charming, and oh-so debonair, but, most importantly, he knew he was all of these things and didn’t take it seriously. Look at his role, David, in Bringing Up Baby.  

Cary Grant, being “gay all of a sudden” in Bringing Up Baby. (1938, Howard Hawks, director)

Grant could have played the character cool and calm; a suave, worldly scientist almost apathetic to the fact that he was about to complete a multi-million dollar project, sure to propel him forward in the world of paleontology. However, he didn’t. Instead, Grant did quite the opposite, creating a nervous, anxious, stuttering, geek of man, struggling to keep up with the unorthodox antics of Katharine Hepburn’s Susan. He was goofy; he was awkward; he was able to laugh at himself. And it was this self-deprecating humor that the audience loved.  Here is this great looking man with charm oozing from every pore, yet, here he is, willing to make a complete fool of himself.

And that is the appeal. The utter disregard for what is classically “manly” and “alpha,” in favor of humor and humility. Sure, Grant could (and did) play the alpha male as well as anyone else, but it’s the so-called “betas” that gained him universal appeal.

Ann Sheridan, I was a male war bride, classic Movie actress, Howard HawksCary Grant showing some legs with Ann Sheridan in I was a Male War Bride. (1949, Howard Hawks director)

…..

Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub

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

Posted in Birthday Legends, Legends Tribute, Posts by Minoo Allen | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mini Tribute: Todd Karns

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Born January 15, 1921 Actor Todd Karns!

Todd Karns appeared in over 35 film and TV roles — most famously as Harry Bailey (Jimmy Stewart‘s brother) in It’s a Wonderful Life.  Todd Karns also just happens to be the son of veteran Character Actor Roscoe Karns 🙂

“A toast to my big brother George: The richest man in town”.
-Todd Karns as Harry Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life

Todd Karns in It's a Wonderful LiveTodd Karns in It’s a Wonderful Life (photo)

…..

Father and Son: Roscoe Karns and Todd KarnsFather and Son: Roscoe Karns (as Shapely in It Happened One Night) and Todd Karns (as Harry Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life) (photo)

…..

Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

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

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

Mini Tribute: Gwen Verdon

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Born January 13, 1925 Stage and Screen Actress Gwen Verdon!

From leg braces to Broadway star (talk about inspirational!) – Gwen Verdon’s mom enrolled her in dance classes as a child to help strengthen her legs due childhood rickets.

“Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets, and little man, little Lola wants you!”
-as Lola in Damn Yankees

…..

–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

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

Posted in Dancing, Mini Tributes, Music, Posts by Annmarie Gatti, Quotes, Video Clips | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Mini Tribute: Voice Actor Jack Mercer

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

Born January 13, 1910 Voice Actor Jack Mercer!

Jack Mercer began his career as an ‘inbetweener’ (apprentice animator) at Fleischer Studios. Soon afterwards he was ‘discovered’ by Fleischer, and most famously became the voice of Popeye the Sailor and Felix the Cat. Mercer also voiced the roles of Wimpy and Poopdeck Pappy (from Popeye) and The Professor and Genie (from Felix the Cat). Mercer also wrote scripts for many cartoons and cartoon series including The Deputy Dawg Show.

Popeye the Salior, Felix the Cat, and their voice Jack MercerPopeye the Sailor, Felix the Cat, and their ‘voice’ Jack Mercer (photo)

…..

But Professor!
-Jack Mercer as Felix the Cat

…..

 –Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub

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

 

Posted in Cartoons, Mini Tributes, Posts by Annmarie Gatti, Quotes, Voice Actors | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Classic Movie Magnet Madness Giveaway: THE LAST MAGNET Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Today’s Entry Task)

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Annmarie Gatti

The VERY LAST Magnet is Now Up For Grabs!

And the Last Entry Task…

In order to win a Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Classic Movie Magnet, be the FIRST person to TWEET the correct answer to the following question — (US and Canada entries only please, sorry)

The Question (TWEET your answer):
In the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, what veteran Character Actor played the role of diamond merchant, Sir Francis “Piggy” Beekman?

If you need help finding the answer, click here…

Charles Coburn and Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer BlondesMarilyn Monroe (as Lorelei Lee) and ‘_________’  (see above question) as Sir Francis ‘Piggy’ Beekman in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (photo)

…..

FYI: the magnets are beautiful — and courtesy of rickroden.com (and he ships worldwide!)

Contest Information and Rules.

Good Luck!

–Annmarie Gatti from Classic Movie Hub

Posted in Character Actors, Contests & Giveaways, Magnets, Posts by Annmarie Gatti, Trivia Questions | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment