Show us your bones, Alfie.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
A Closer Look At...
...Ann Sheridan
Born Clara Lou in Texas, 1915
Youngest of five children
Was entered into a beauty contest by her sister in college where she won.
Part of her prize was a cameo in a Paramount film.
Worked bit parts at Paramount including time as a hand and leg model before heading to Warner Brothers.
Is said to have received as many as 250 marriage proposals in a week.
Was Max Factor's "Girl of the Year" in 1939.
Worked with Bette Davis, Ronald Reagan, Bogie, Jimmy Cagney, and Errol Flynn to name a few.
Married and divorced three times.
Was known as the "Ohmph Girl", which she hated.
Died at age 51 of cancer.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
Perfectly Polished
Nails are all the rage right now but don't be fooled, our ladies of the silver screen where all about their perfectly polished fingers. And if you ask me, I'll take red nails any day!
Courtesy of LIFE magazine
Bette polishing away.
Carole concentrating
Joan and her half moons
Rita files away
An iconic scene from The Women with Rosalind Russell and Dennie Moore
Don't mess with Joan and her fabulous talons!
Audrey and her perfect manicure
Friday, July 12, 2013
On An Island With You 1948
In the wake of Esther Williams death on June 6th, TCM played a 24 hour marathon. Did anyone watch? I ended up recording all of them and am slowing enjoying her films again. On An Island With You was her 12th film and a good one at that.
Esther is Roz, an actress who is filming a movie in the South Pacific with actor boyfriend played by Ricardo Montalban. They slather her in self tanner and throw a sarong on her and off they go.
For continuity they bring in Lieutenant Larry (Peter Lawford) to make sure they film looks legit. Little does Roz remember, but Larry met her a few years back and has had an obsessive crush on her ever since. He makes this very clear early on. Roz wants nothing to do with him.
He vents his frustrations to assistant director Buckley (Jimmy Durante) who helps him out best he can. Cyd Charisse is there too as Yvonne who seems depressed.
I want to steal Cyd's peasant top. Those colors!
Larry films a scene where he flies Roz around the island. When they yell, "cut" they realize Larry has flown away with Roz in tow! He takes her to the island where they met and tries to suck some face with her. She goes from mad to understanding to happy to irritated. Make up your mind woman!
One must not forget orange lipstick when
heading to the tropics.
The crew finds Roz and Buckley goes off to find Larry who is hanging out with the natives. Ricardo is furious but Roz starts to have a change of heart. Larry is still crazy about Roz, and doesn't seam worried that he is going to be arrested for kidnapping!
Roz still wants to marry Ricardo but she starts to question her love. Even a romantic synchronized swim can't get her mind of the current events.
You will have to watch this cute film to see who Roz picks. But really it is a no-brainer, who wouldn't want Peter Lawford?! This film is true to form with colorful dances, amazing wardrobe, and Esther swimming her heart out. Xavier Cugat has a beefy role in this film as himself naturally and is great.
I love films with him and his band! A must see!
Monday, July 8, 2013
The Palm Beach Story 1942
Gerry (Claudette Colbert) and Tom (Joel McCrea) are six years into their marriage and broke.
Gerry is home when the landlord brings over new tenants since they are being shoved out for unpaid rent. Turns out to be "The Weenie King". An old, deaf man who takes a liking to Gerry when he runs into her in the bathtub in her wrap!
The weenie king thinks she is a cutie and gives her $700 to pay off her dues. She is ecstatic and pays the bills, gets her hair done, and buys a new dress. Hubby Tom comes home and is irritated at her new found wealth and the way he thinks she earned it.
Now that the bills are paid they can get a divorce according to Gerry. They think they are unhappy together and Gerry wants to use her looks to get money to help Tom's business. He thinks she is crazy.
The next morning she shoves out and runs away to Palm Beach to get a divorce and meet a new rich guy to give her money. Tom wants to chase after her but he has no money. Good thing the weenie king turns up and gives him the cash! He plans to meet her at her in Palm Beach with open arms.
Meanwhile, Gerry uses her hotness to score a ticket on the train for free. This ticket comes with a price, as she is followed around by a mob of crazy drunk hunters who sing songs and shoot out train windows.
The conductor leaves the rowdy bunch's train car on the tracks and takes off, but that includes Gerry's purse, makeup, clothes, and ticket! She is trapped in her train bunk with noting but men's pajamas. As she is fixing how to get out of this mess, she meets her bunk neighbor and breaks his glasses. Fail.
He is forgiving and wants to help Gerry. He buys her lunch and she gets off at the next stop wit him and he spoils her with a new wardrobe and diamonds! Who is this guy? He is sweet, apparently rich, and quiet the OCD case. He writes all his expenses in a notebook for organization.
He's planning to get to Palm Beach by boat and asks Gerry to go wit him. She does and finds out he is J.D., one of the richest men in the world, and a bachelor to boot! He is meeting his 5 time divorced sister Princess Centimillia and her latest boy toy. Guess who is also waiting at the dock? Tom, with roses.
The four meet and Gerry tells the gang that Tom is her brother! He goes along with it but is mad.
Rich J.D. is falling for Gerry and Gerry realizes she is still in love with her hubby.
Gerry is in a pickle. If she marries J.D. she is set for life and Tom can get his business going too, but she won't have Tom, and Princess Centimillia is taking quite a liking to Tom as well. Should she choose for her pocketbook or her heart?
The plot of this film is weird and so unrealistic. But the costume design is great and I love a good Claudette film. Silly but fun viewing!
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