Picture Of The Day

Judy Holliday, hangin out.

Grab Your Wallets!

On November 29th, the Kerry Taylor Auction House in London will be hosting a "Passion For Fashion" auction. Items range from twenties gowns to recent designer threads, but the most exciting items 

(at least to an oldie film nerd like myself) are two pieces worn by Liz Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. Audrey's being the most thrilling.

For around $96,000 (projected) you can own Audrey's Edith Head designed dress shown in Roman Holiday and then altered for Audrey to wear as she excepted her first and only Oscar for the same picture. 

On a side note, the dress measures 32" bust, 24" waist, which seemed larger than I though Audrey would be. 

Next up is Elizabeth Taylor's fab Balenciaga gown worn in 1964.

Check out more at http://www.kerrytaylorauctions.com

A Closer Look At...

...Claude Rains

Born in London in 1889.

Made his first stage presence at the age of 11.

Served in WWI and was involved in a gas attack that left him blind in one eye for the rest of his life.

Failed his first screen test but was later hired after someone heard his voice from his screen test from another room.

Worked in theater until discovered for film in 1933 for The Invisible Man.

Became a US citizen in 1939.

Was nominated four times for Notorious, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Casablanca, and Mr. Skeffington

Was married 5 times, divorced 4 times and widowed once.

Narrated Bible stories for children.

Died  in New Hampshire in 1967

Call Me!

Who knew this profound invention would be such a great prop piece!

Anita calling collect.

What's wrong Barbara? Miss your wake up call?

Hard to imagine Audrey ever having to wait by the phone.

Howard, the ultimate multi-tasker.

Hedy unimpressed with the telemarketer.

Natalie ordering pizza.

Doris, finally happy with her party line.

Does this man ever wear clothes when he is on the phone?

"Hello operator? Help. I am confused."

Old And New

When we watch our favorite oldies on screen they are beautiful and young. Nobody has botox or a brow lift. No lip fillers, no boob jobs. They shine just as they should. As they aged, some looked great, some not as much, but the faces we burned in our memory are still there. I can't help but smile and laugh a bit when I see these stars as newbies and as old veterans.

David Niven

Ava Gardner

Bette Davis

 Buster Keaton

Gloria Swanson

Gloria Stewart

Mr. Grant

Joan Crawford

Desi Arnaz

Jimmy Stewart

Olivia de Havilland

Robert Mitchum

Kat Hepburn

Picture Of The Day

Don't do it, Buster!

Farewell Halloween, Until Next Time

This year, Halloween came and went fast. As usual, the fiancee and I attended my good friends Amber and Bob's amazing annual Halloween bash. So what did the oldie film nerd dress up as for Halloweenie?

Baby Jane Hudson of course. A few people didn't recognize me with a blonde wig, one person thought I was Pollyanna, and several people started singing, "I'm writing a letter to Daddy..."

 Overall I must say I was pretty jazzed about my efforts. 

Did anyone else dress up as an oldie?

Foreign Film Poster Friday

"The Two Mrs. Carrolls" 1947

"Top Hat"

In the fourth of ten films Ginger and Fred would do, "Top Hat" could be one of the best. This film has the most dance sequences the pair would ever do in a film and grossed over 3 million dollars. 

Fred plays Jerry, an infamous American dancer in England to work for silly man and show producer Horace, (Edward Everett Horton). While working on a dance number, sleeping beauty downstairs (Ginger)calls the hotel manager and complains. Horace goes downstairs, Ginger aka Dale goes up to give the loud man a piece of her mind.

Jerry is in love and Dale is annoyed. He promises her to be quiet and once she goes back down stairs Jerry does a "quiet" dance for her using the sand of an ashtray. All fall asleep.

The next day, Jerry sends Dale flowers from her "silent admirer". Nice touch Jerry. Here we see Lucille Ball with a one liner part. How I love Lucy before she was big! We learn that Dale as a sugar daddy already who in my opinion is gay.

Dale is still mad at Jerry even after a personal apology. She is going to the stable to ride when what do you know, Jerry hitches the buggy and drives her there himself. 

Dale is still not impressed.

Jerry waits around and when the rain comes, he tries to rescue Dale. After some song and dance, Dale gives in and likes Jerry.

 The next day, the big mix up occurs. Jerry is staying in Horace's hotel room. Horace is married to Madge who is away in Italy (we'll get to that later). Dale thinks Jerry is Horace and married! Boy is she mad! She smacks him right across the face in public! Jerry is confused. Dale and boy toy head off to Italy to hang with Madge who are friends. Jerry is sad, but the show must go on!

Jerry finds out Dale is in Italy and goes after her. The sets for Italy are amazing. They took up two studios at RKO and were the largest sets constructed up until 1935. Wow!

 Dale tells Madge that her hubby whom she thinks is Fred, is getting fresh with her! Little does she know soon enough that the mix up will be fixed up and her and Jerry will innamori (that's Italian for "fall in love")

"My hubby did what?"

They dance cheek to cheek and the rest is history. Ginger's costumes are fabulous. This was the first film specifically written with Ginger and Fred in mind.