Goodbye to a Legend

Miss Taylor

1932 - 2011

Picture of the Day

Before the strict film codes in the movies (like the rule that a ladies foot must be on the floor when kissing a gentleman, no hanky-panky on the bed) Claudette Colbert starred in Cecil B. DeMille's picture "Sign of the Cross". She floats around in her tub of milk with enough cleavage to make Howard Hughes jealous. Here she is bathing in donkey's milk (since when is scrubbing with donkey's milk considered elite?) which wasn't really donkey's milk but powdered milk that got so hot under the studio lights that it started to curdle. 

Wasn't that a fun day to be on set!

"Fur"tastic!

No vintage wardrobe is complete without fur. Coat or collar, wrap or cuffs it didn't matter. People hate real fur nowadays, but in the golden years, if you wore fur, you were in. I like real fur. Yell at me if you want, but think...it's vintage, it's already dead, I am recycling! 

Lets look at a few leading ladies who knew the real meaning of being "fur"tastic!

Gloria

Greta

Mae

Bette

Louise

Joan

Gertrude

Hedy

Oh the good ole' days...

"Houseboat"

On this gloomy first day of Spring I thought I write about a cheery picture, and one of my top five favorites, "Houseboat". 

You can't go wrong with Cary Grant and Sophia Loren. This film was originally written by Cary's wife #3, but since he was having a wild affair with Sophia, she found out, the film was shelved, then re-written, and finally filmed looking nothing like it's original. That's OK with me because "Houseboat" is one I can watch over and over again.

The film starts out with Cary reuniting with his three estranged kids who's momma has just died. He works in Washington so he decided to take them to his tiny apartment and show them around town. Realizing his parenting skills suck he suggests they get a nanny. While out on the town one of his kids runs away and meets runaway herself Sophia Loren. She's visiting from Italy, naturally, and hates her life with her dad.

When she brings his kid back to the apartment Cary decides to hire her because she is smoke'in hot and because his kids like her. He also thinks she is poor because she is a little ragged due to the runaway. Little does he know she is rich and has no idea how to make coffee.

Since they all can't fit in the apartment they move to a houseboat owned by  new friend and "Italian Stallion" Angelo who also is a repair man and works at the market. Cary soon learns she doesn't clean, or cook, or do the laundry, she just looks hot and helps revamp the new digs. The kids love her until they see her sucking face with their dad and are afraid she will try to take over as the mom.

In the process, Cary's sister-in-law is newly single and on the prowl for Cary. She and her friends make fun of Sophia when Cary tries to take the help to a formal ball. Cary decides to marry his sister-in-law, then seconds later changes his mind when he realizes he wants Sophia. Angelo wants a piece of Sophia until she pretends she wants to marry him and then he is fast out the door.

In the end, everyone makes up and there is a happy ending for all. I love the adorable song Sophia sings throughout the film and there are several cute scenes when Cary is at the laundromat and when the kids are painting the house.

Cary Grant was madly in love with Sophia at the time he signed on this film, and it has been said he loved her more than any other woman he was with. When she dumped him and quickly married, Cary was crushed and tried to back out of the film. The director promised him he would make the filming go smoothly and Cary decided to continue. 

Drama with a capitol "D"

Didn't have work today so I decided to stay in my jammers, make some lunch, and head for the stack of movies on my nightstand.

I popped in "Written On The Wind", sat back, and soaked in the fierce-ness. This movie stars Lauren Bacall, Rock Hudson, Robert Stack, (yes, the guy from Unsolved Mysteries) and Dorothy Malone, who won the Academy Award for best supporting actress for this film.

Lauren Bacall meets childhood best friends Rock and Robert. Rock has a thing for her but Robert marries her first (23 minutes in mind you, they waste no time in 1956). Robert is heir to a huge oil company and he is known for being a playboy and a drunk. Robert's hussy sister (Malone) has a thing for Rock and they all live under the same roof. 

When Robert marries Lauren he shapes up and they are happy. Meanwhile, Dorothy tries to make the moves on Rock, but he isn't interested because he's gay he thinks of her like a sister. All is well until Robert finds out he can't have kids. Bummer. He goes on a drinking bender and Lauren turns to Rock for support. 

Rumors swirl, fights break out, gals get slapped, and threats are made. Before it gets too soap opera-y serious drama ensues and the ending produces a murder. 

 I liked it, but apparently Humphrey Bogart hated it and told Lauren not to do any more movies like this again. Like a good wife she listened because her next film was "Designing Women". I would recommend it for anyone who wants to see catty girls and Rock Hudson looking good.

Best Dressed

Joan Crawford wore this fabulous dress in "The Women", which is by far my favorite movie ever. This dress was designed by Adrian who was the chief designer for MGM. When his contract was up he opened up shop in Beverly Hills while doing freelance for movie studios. If you are watching a movie with fancy dresses in the 20's through 40's, he is most likely the designer. 

This dress is one of his best. I love the material and the side cut outs. I would attempt to try and copy it, but I don't think  the local Joanne's Fabrics has the materials. But I can still look at these pictures and dream.

Quote of the Day

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."

-Judy Garland