Pawsome Pet Pictures: Sylvia Sidney.

Personal Quote:

"What did Hitchcock teach me? To be a puppet and not try to be creative".

"Gone Fishing"

Sometimes our favorite classic movie stars took time from the set to do a little recreational sport fishing. I wonder what they used for bait?

Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggio

Dorothy Lamour

Irene Dunne and  Melvin Douglas

Jane Russell

Doris Day(on left)

Rock Hudson

Gary Cooper

Gail Russell

Greta Garbo

Jean Harlow (on right)

Helen Walker

Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggio

Lana Turner

Marilyn Monroe

Ginger Rogers

What I'm watching this Week..

Ralph Bellamy (June 17, 1904 – November 29, 1991). During his career, he played leading roles as well as supporting roles and received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in, The Awful Truth (1937) and played a similar part, in His Girl Friday (1940). He was a founder of the Screen Actors Guild and served as as a four-term President of Actors' Equity from 1952–1964. His final performance was in Pretty Woman (1990). To celebrate his birthday on June 17th TCM is showing the following films in his honor:

Ever In My Heart (1933)
Flying Devils (1933)
Headline Shooter (1933)
Picture Snatcher (1933)
Spitfire (1934)
This Man is Mine (1934) The Awful Truth(1937)
Boy Meets Girl(1938)
Sunrise At Campobello(1960)

Sammy Cahn (June 18, 1913 – January 15, 1993) is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs. He had a series of hit recordings with Frank Sinatra during the singer's time at at Capitol Records, but also enjoyed hits with Dean Martin and Doris Day. He played the piano and violin. He won the Academy Award four times for his songs, including the popular song "Three Coins in the Fountain". TCM is celebrating his June 18th birthday with the following films:

Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)
Tonight and Every Night (1945)
Anchors Aweigh (1945)
Robin And The 7 Hoods (1964)
Romance On The High Seas (1948)



Video: The song from the film Three Coins in the Fountain (1954).

Donald Ogden Stewart (November 30, 1894 - August 2, 1980). After the war he started to write and found success with A Parody Outline of History, a satire of The Outline of History (1920) by H. G. Wells. Soon after, a friend of his got him interested in theater and he became a noted playwright on Broadway in the 1920's. He was friends with Ernest Hemingway (he was the model for Bill Gorton in Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises). He adapting some of his plays to film, but on first entering Hollywood he had to adapt the plays of others as his own were shelved. He had a small part in the film, Not So Dumb. By the 1930's he had become known primarily as a screenwriter and won an Academy Award for The Philadelphia Story (1940). On June 19th TCM is showcasing the Stewart's films:

Holiday (1938)
Keeper Of The Flame (1942)
No More Ladies (1935)
A Woman's Face(1941)
The Barretts of Wimpole Street(1934)

Mamie Van Doren, (born February 6, 1931 or 1933 according to her), is an actress, model, singer and sex symbol that was one of the first actresses to imitate the look of Marilyn Monroe. Van Doren is best remembered for bringing the rock 'n' roll-style of music into the "B"-musical, Untamed Youth (1957). June 20th is your chance to rock out with her films:

Untamed Youth (1957)
The Beat Generation (1959)
Born Reckless (1959)
Guns, Girls and Gangsters (1958)
Vice Raid (1959)
Sex Kittens Go to College (1960)
The Girl In Black Stockings(1957) Video:

Friday Night Spotlight: Noir Writer Jonathon Latimer.(October 23, 1906 – June 23, 1983) was a a journalist at the Chicago Herald Examiner and later for the Chicago Tribune, writing about crime and meeting Al Capone and Bugs Moran. In the mid-1930's, he began writing fiction, starting with a series of novels featuring private eye William Crane, in which he began combining crime fiction and comedy. If you would like to check out some of his work, TCM is spotlighting him June 21st with the films:

Nocturne (1946)
They Won't Believe Me (1947)
Double Indemnity (1944)
The Postman Always Rings Twice(1946)

June 22nd. TCM, is going to show actress Mona Maris's classic film, The Falcon in Mexico (1944). A story about an artist's daughter, who becomes suspicious when paintings by her supposedly dead father begin turning up in New York. When a gallery owner is murdered, the Falcon and Miss Wade head for Mexico City to investigate.

Mona Maria, dreams of becoming an actress began during World War I, when she was a student living in Luders, France. Together with her classmates she wrote, directed, and presented short plays to entertain soldiers. After graduation Maris moved to England, where a prominent director noticed Maris and offered her a five-year contract. Her Hollywood film career began with the 1925 movie The Apache and continued until the 1980's when she performed in Camila (1984). It was her inability to speak English which nearly ended Maris' film career. From 1931 until 1941 she starred in nineteen Spanish-language versions of successful American pictures.
Maris also appeared in seven English dialogue movies for three studios.

This weeks Silent film movie on TCM:  Kean (1924).  A film about the career of a Shakespearean actor, who's life is ruined when he falls in love with a society woman.

Barbara Stanwyck, is The Girl with the White Parasol favorite actress and she has decided to hold a Barbara Stanwyck Blogathon, from July 16 to July 22. Please click on poster located on side bar to join in on the fun.

I plan on continuing sharing my movie reviews on the films featured on Pre-Code Hollywood DVD box-set. Please click on poster located on the side-bar to read reviews as I go along.

I did happen to catch a little of Ben Mankiewicz with his father on TCM.  It was nice to see another side of Ben. His father Frank Mankiewicz had some great stories about U.S. political history and films. He is still going strong at age 89. They even talked about Franks love life..

Please click here to read what the Washington Post has to say about the TCM hosts

Silent Film Star: Billie Burke.

Billie Burke (August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970), she toured the United States and Europe with her father, the singer and clown Billy Burke.

Billy Burke

She returned to America to perform on Broadway: Mrs. Dot, Suzanne, The Runaway, The "Mind-the-Paint" Girl, and The Land of Promise from 1910 to 1913, along with a supporting role in, The Amazons. There she caught the eye of producer Florenz Ziegfeld, marrying him in 1914. In 1916, they had one daughter, Patricia Ziegfeld Stephenson (1916–2008).

Burke was quickly signed for the movies, making her film debut in the title role of the film, Peggy (1916). A silent comedy produced and directed by Thomas Ince and stars Billie Burke in her movie debut. The film is about Peggy Cameron, a high spirited American debutante who is sent to visit her Uncle Andrew and cousin Colin in Scotland.

She loved the stage more than movie-business, not only because it was her first love, but also because it allowed her to have speaking parts. But when the family lost their fortune in the Crash of 1929, she returned to performing in films.

In 1932, Burke made her Hollywood comeback in the film, A Bill of Divorcement, directed by George Cukor. Starring John Barrymore and Katharine Hepburn in her movie debut. The movie is about, after spending fifteen years in an asylum, Hilary Fairfield escapes from the institution. When he finds his way home he finds that things at home are not quite the same. His wife has divorced him and is planning her next marriage. His daughter has grown up and is also planning her marriage. Burke played Katharine Hepburn's mother in the film. Despite the death of Florenz Ziegfeld during the film's production, Burke resumed filming shortly after his funeral.

In 1933, Burke was cast as Mrs. Millicent Jordan, a scatterbrained high-society woman hosting a dinner party in the comedy Dinner at Eight, directed by George Cukor, co-starring with Lionel Barrymore, Marie Dressler, John Barrymore, Jean Harlow and Wallace Beery.

In 1936, MGM filmed a biopic of Florenz Ziegfeld, a film that won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Actress (Luise Rainer as Ziegfeld's common-law wife, Anna Held). William Powell played Flo Ziegfeld and Myrna Loy played Burke.

In 1937 she performed in the first of the Topper films, about a man haunted by two socialite ghosts, played by Cary Grant and Constance Bennett, in which she played the tremulous and daffy Clara Topper.

Her performance as Emily Kilbourne in Merrily We Live (1938) resulted in her only Oscar nomination. Dizzy society matron Emily, hires ex-cons and hobos as servants. Her latest find is a handsome "tramp" who shows up at her doorstep and soon ends up in a chauffeur's uniform. He even catches the eye of Geraldine.

In 1938 she played Glinda, "the Good Witch of the North", in the musical The Wizard of Oz (1939), directed by Victor Fleming, with Judy Garland.


Burke had worked on a Garland film, Everybody Sing, in which she played Judy's histrionically hysterical actress-mother.

Another successful film series both directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, and Elizabeth Taylor starting with:

Father of the Bride (1950).

Father's Little Dividend (1951).

Burke wrote two autobiographies, both with Cameron Van Shippe, With a Feather on My Nose (Appleton 1949) and With Powder on My Nose (Coward McCann, 1959).

On CBS Radio, The Billie Burke Show was heard on Saturday mornings from April 3, 1943 until September 21, 1946. Sponsored by Listerine, this situation comedy was initially titled Fashions in Rations during its first year. Portraying herself as a featherbrained Good Samaritan who lived "in the little white house on Sunnyview Lane," she always offered a helping hand to those in her neighborhood.

She worked often in early television, appearing in the short-lived sitcom Doc Corkle (1952).

She was a guest star on several TV and radio series, including Duffy's Tavern.

On television, Burke starred in her own talk show, At Home With Billie Burke, which ran on The Dumont Network from June 1951 through the spring of 1952. Burke may have been the first female talk show host.

Burke tried to make a comeback on the New York stage. She starred in two short-lived productions: This Rock and Mrs. January and Mr. Ex. Although Burke got good reviews, the plays did not.

She appeared in several plays in California as well, although her mind became clouded, and she had trouble remembering lines.

In the late 1950's, her failing memory led to her retirement from show business, although her explanation for that was, "Acting just wasn't any fun anymore." Her last screen appearance was in Sergeant Rutledge (1960), a Western directed by John Ford.

 She died of natural causes, aged 85, in 1970 and was survived by her daughter, Patricia, and four grandchildren.

 For many years Burke's framed photo was displayed above the exit staircase at New York's Ziegfeld Theatre, but it vanished after renovations. However, an opening night program, bearing a picture of Burke, from her 1912 triumph The Mind The Paint Girl (Sir Arthur Wing Pinero) is still displayed in the lobby of the Lyceum Theatre in New York City. A park in the New York City suburb of Hastings on Hudson, New York, is named the Burke Estate.

Pre-Code: Hot Saturday(1932) with Cary Grant.

Hot Saturday(1932). A drama film directed by William A. Seiter. Cast: Nancy Carroll, Cary Grant and Randolph Scott. Based on the novel Hot Saturday by Harvey Fergusson.

The film was Cary Grant's first movie as leading man.

Carole Lombard was mentioned for the role eventually played by Nancy Carroll.

Hot Saturday was released on DVD as part of a three disc, six film set entitled Pre-Code Hollywood Collection on April 7, 2009.

Young people in small town America, enjoy spending their Hot Saturday nights at Willow Springs, a lakeside dance hall. Wealthy, Romer Sheffield, owns a summer home on the lake, sets his cap for Ruth Brock, who works at the town bank owned by Mr. Randolph.

To please Ruth, Romer hosts a party for her friends on Saturday evening. Although Ruth arrives at the party with Connie, she spends the evening with Romer, when she returns to the party she finds that everyone has left for Willow Springs.

When Ruth and Connie go for a boat ride, she refuses to neck with him and he leaves her stranded on the beach. Walking through the woods, Ruth finds Romer's house and innocently spends the night with him.

When evil Eva, the banker's daughter, sees Ruth arriving home in Romer's car, she starts a rumor that Ruth spent the night with Romer.

After arriving home, Ruth finds Bill Fadden, in her kitchen. Bill is about to leave on a geological survey.

Ruth's reputation is ruined by Monday morning and to make matters worse Mr. Randolph fires her. Although her father defends her, Ruth's mother believes the gossip and is more worried about the family's loss of income than Ruth.

Ruth runs away in a rain storm to Bill's camp, where they make plans to marry.

While at Willow Springs dance, Romer, asks Ruth to dance, but leaves when he learns she is to be married. Bill, overhears Connie talking about the scandal and is furious that Ruth did not tell him about Romer. Realizing Bill does not trust her, Ruth leaves with Romer. Who is Ruth going to decide to marry?

Nancy Carroll, (who looks a little like Claudette Colbert), does a wonderful job in her performance as an innocent young girl, who is almost destroyed by evil gossip. Cary Grant, is very charming cad and a joy to watch. The ending is a lie that turns into the truth..

Nancy Carroll (November 19, 1903 – August 6, 1965), she and her sister once performed a dancing act in a local contest of amateur talent. This led her to a stage career and then to the screen.

She began her acting career in Broadway musicals.

She became a successful actress in "talkies" because her musical background enabled her to play in the movie musicals of the 1930's.

Her film debut was in Ladies Must Dress in 1927.

In 1928 she made eight films. One of them, Easy Come, Easy Go, co-starring Richard Dix, made her a star.


In 1930 she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Devil's Holiday.

Among her other films:  Laughter (1930), Paramount on Parade (1930), Hot Saturday (1932) with Cary Grant and Randolph Scott, The Kiss Before the Mirror (1933) directed by James Whale, and Broken Lullaby aka The Man I Killed (1932).

Under contract to Paramount Pictures, Carroll often balked at the roles being offered to her and earned a reputation as a recalcitrant and uncooperative actress.

In spite of her ability to successfully tackle light comedies, tearful melodramas, and even musicals, and as well as garnering considerable praise by the critics and public (she received the most fan mail of any star in the early 1930's), she was released by the studio.

In the mid-1930's under a four-film contract with Columbia Pictures, she made four rather insignificant films and was no longer an A-list actress. Carroll retired from films in 1938, returned to the stage, and starred in the early television series The Aldrich Family in 1950.

In the following year, she guest starred in the television version of The Egg and I, starring her daughter, Patricia Kirkland.

On August 6, 1965, she was found dead after failing to arrive at the theater for a performance. The cause of her death was an aneurysm. She was 61 years old.

The Hoodlum Saint(1946)

The Hoodlum Saint(1946). Drama, Cast: William Powell and Esther Williams.

After World War I, Major Terry O'Neill returns to Baltimore, expecting to pick up where he left of at his newspaper editor job. However, the paper has changed owners and his friend and former editor, has been told to cut costs. Disappointed, Terry leaves the building and runs into two of his crooked buddies, "Fishface" and "Three Finger". When they are arrested, it takes all his money to pay their fines.

Now needing a job, he crashes a high society wedding party in the hope of meeting businessman Lewis J. Malbert. When a guard asks to see his invitation, Terry quickly grabs guest Kay Lorrison and kisses her, she slaps Terry in the face. After he catches the brides bouquet and hands it to her they become friends.

She introduces him to her uncle, publisher Joe Lorrison, Terry impresses him with his ideas and lands a job. He and Kay, masterminds a newspaper campaign against Malbery. Terry surprises his boss by quitting his job to go to work for Malbery in New York. Snarp, Fishface, Three Finger and "Eel" tag along to open a pool room.

After three years, he is promoted to executive vice president of the company and returns to Baltimore to see Kay. He finds her getting married. After which, He begins dating Nightclub singer "Dusty".

Eventually, Kay comes to see him, to tell him that she is now a widow and still in love with him. He takes Kay to meet Dusty, who realizes she has no chance keeping her man moves on, but... is not too happy about it. Kay, soon realizes that Terry has become hard and cynical, with the passing of time and she breaks it off with him him.

When Snarp's bookmaking business was uncovered, Terry secretly has Snarp freed, but wants him to believe that his good fortune was because of Saint Dismas.

Terry loses everything in the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Nearly all his friends and associates, who invested in the stock market on his advice, turn against him. A reformed Snarp tries to get Terry to put his faith in Saint Dismas.

Dusty, comes to his aid and offers Terry an expensive bracelet he once gave her, but he turns her down. Hurt by his rejection, she takes over a charity Snarp set up for Saint Dismas, planning to steal the donations and put the blame on Terry.

When Terry leaves town on business, he become ill and is cared for by Father Nolan. Will Kay and his friends come through to prove his innocence?

Video: Movie trailer.



I have been really looking forward to watching this film for a long time. Williams is wonderful in her role and Powell is his usual charming, fast-talking self(maybe a little to old for Esther's love interest). Lansbury, plays a glamorous night club singer(you can tell her voice is dubbed). James Gleason, Frank McHugh and Rags Ragland, all make the cutest crooked buddies.

James Gleason (May 23, 1882 – April 12, 1959) Coming from theatrical stock, as a schoolboy he made stage appearances while on holiday.

He began earning his living at the age of thirteen, being a messenger boy, printer's devil, assistant in an electrical store and a lift boy.

He enlisted in the army at age 16 and served 3 years in the Philippines. On discharge, he began his stage career.

He played in London for two years and following his return to the United States, he began in films by writing dialogue for "comedies". He also wrote several plays.

His first film acting was in the film, The Count of Ten (1927).

In 1931, he co-starred with Robert Armstrong in the radio sitcom Gleason and Armstrong. Balding and slender with a craggy voice and a master of the double-take, Gleason portrayed tough but warm-hearted characters, usually with a New York background.

He appeared in several movies with his wife Lucille.

Gleason co-wrote The Broadway Melody, the second film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture and had a small uncredited role in it.

Gleason also co-wrote and briefly appeared as a hot dog vendor in the 1934 Janet Gaynor vehicle Change of Heart.

He played a milk cart driver who gives lessons in marriage to Judy Garland and Robert Walker in the 1945 film The Clock, while Lucille played his wife. In the same year, he played the bartender in the film adaptation of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Gleason also is remembered for playing police inspector Oscar Piper in a series of six Hildegarde Withers mystery films during the 1930's, starting with Penguin Pool Murder.

He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as boxing manager Max 'Pop' Corkle in the 1941 film Here Comes Mr. Jordan.

Gleason also appeared on television:  Reed Hadley, The Public Defender, The Real McCoys, and the Christmas 1957 episode of John Payne's The Restless Gun on NBC.

In "The Child" Gleason and Anthony Caruso played Roman Catholic priests who run an orphanage.

James and Lucille Gleason had a son, actor Russell Gleason (1908-1945), who died after falling from the window ledge of a hotel in midtown Manhattan, on Christmas night in 1945, just before his army regiment was due to leave for a posting in Europe.

Russell's most prominent role had been as Muller in the Academy Award-winning version of All Quiet on the Western Front (1930).

Russell Gleason was married to Cynthia Lindsay, a former Busby Berkeley chorus girl who later wrote a biography of family friend Boris Karloff.