A Closer Look At...

…David O. Selznick

  David was born in Pittsburgh in 1902. He studied at Columbia before moving to Hollywood to become an assistant story editor for MGM. In 1930 he married the daughter to Louis B. Mayer but they divorced in 1948. He created Selznick International Pictures and distributed through United Artists. He went back to work for MGM after Irving Thalberg went ill. David was known for Gone With The Wind, Rebecca, A Star Is Born, and the Adventured Of Tom Sawyer, to name just a few. A fun fact is that he added the “O” in his name for no reason, and it represented nothing. In North By Northwest, Cary Grant's character Roger O. Thornhill had his mystery middle initial in ode to David, as his also held no meaning. Sadly his daughter committed suicide after jumping out a window in 1976.  He was nominated for 10 Oscars and won 3. David dies in 1965 after a heart attack at the age of only 63.

Picture Of The Day

Clint Eastwood: strong man in training.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

I have to admit, I have been preoccupied watching re run after re run of Downton Abby. Once you get up in that show it's hard to get out! I did manage to squeeze in one of my favorite Cary Grant films, "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House". My Hollywood boyfriend stars in this adorable flick with Myrna Loy and Melvin Douglas.

Cary plays Mr. Blandings, or Jim to his wife Muriel, who is played beautifully by Myrna. Jim is in the ad trade and they live with their two opinionated daughters in a tiny apartment in New York City. Oh, they also have a maid and a bird. Talk about cramped!

Love the art deco bathroom sconce!

Muriel gets the idea to redecorate which gets Jim into thinking about moving to the country. Bff Bill, who has a hand in everything and is Muriel's ex college beau, joins along. 

The house is in shambles, a real "fixer upper" but the Blandings see potential and decide without any inspections to splurge and buy the "historical" property. 

Right away Jim tells them they have made a mistake. The house needs new everything and Jim over payed. But the couple is in love with the house and hire inspectors to assess the damage. 

After the inspectors tell them to tear it down, they get to work on a new floor plan. 

They get way over excited and way over budget. Muriel insists on a flower room! Each imagine what their dream house would 

look like. 

Here is Muriel's:

A bit over the top Muriel?  Here is Jim's: 

Here is reality:

As the house progresses and Jim's check book gets thinner, problems arise involving just about everything. Jim needs a new Wham ham slogan or he is dust at work. Muriel gets friendlier with Bill, the daughters get snooty with their homework, and every possible issue comes up with building the new house. 

Finally the house is done. Or...almost done. But will their marriage survive the hassles of it all?  

Irene Dunne was set to play the female lead since Grant and her where always a blockbuster match. But she was busy. I think Myrna ended up the right choice in the end.

There are so many cute scenes in this film. The bathroom door always locking people in, the drilling for water scene, the part where Jim finds the bill for Muriel's secret add-on flower room that was vetoed due to budgets. The 1986 "remake" of this film, "The Money Pit" with Tom Hanks is also wonderful, and I rarely say that about a remake. Both films have great characters and make me laugh. But with Cary Grant in one of them, you know which one is my favorite. 

Everyday Alfred

Think of your cholesterol, Alfred!

The Bear Rug

What is it with bear rugs and leading ladies? This must have been the latest thing back in the silver screen days. So I must ask, when did the past time of lying on a bear rug and posing loose it's pizazz? 

Here are some of our favorite gals to enjoy...

Marilyn relaxing in a house of death.

Ann Sheridan on a rug on a rug.

The trend setter Jean

Jayne's cheetah is terrified he'll end up like her swimsuit

Don't mess with Lisbeth Scott and her polar bear!

Gloria Swanson on a humongous tiger rug

1950's Born Yesterday

"Born Yesterday" has quickly become a favorite. Let's take a look at this empowered film with Judy Holliday and Bill Holden.

Judy stars brilliantly in this film with Mr. Holden as her side kick. Judy plays Billie, a mobster's fiancee who follows him around, takes orders, gets yelled at, and knows nothing about nobody. Broderick Crawford plays Harry, her tough guy beau who is looking to get in with some slime ball congressmen in Washington DC. William plays Paul, a reporter who meets Harry and the gang during an interview. 

Harry wants Billie to meet some important people and act proper, but Billie isn't interested and really doesn't know how. Instead of talking politics she would rather sing and dance. She was a chorus girl at one time. She even had lines!

Harry tracks down Paul to teach Billie some manners and get her to know her way around. Paul says yes since he thinks Billie is a doll.

A very cute scene is when Paul asks Billie to read the newspaper and circle anything she doesn't understand. The next morning she has the whole paper circled, and mentions from time to time how she wants to circle Paul when he is talking!

During an early lesson, Paul and Billie kiss. Billie is keen on Paul, but Paul doesn't want to mess with a mobster's girl especially since this one is a real a-hole.

Paul takes Billie all over Washington DC and she starts to slowly learn and grow interest in all sorts of things, including Paul. 

Before you know it, Billie is on to Harry's scheming and knows he is a dirty rat. She wants no part in his business anymore. 

Tough guy Harry is so mean to Billie, that eventually Billie gets wise and is more educated than him! She begins to stand up for herself.

This is one articulate fight!

Paul is in love, but doesn't know what to do about Harry. Billie wants out but knows Harry won't let her go so easily. What to do? 

Judy starred in the Broadway version of this story and nailed it. Surprisingly, Judy was almost last on the list for playing Billie in the film, but it turned out in her favor. Judy won the Oscar for her part. 

Picture Of The Day

Buster and his mini me.