Hollywood was rife with actors, directors, writers, and others who had fled Europe when Hitler came to power and who still had relatives living under Hitler's thumb. Those who stayed behind, especially if they were Jewish, were subjected to the same treatment as anyone else, often dying by execution, in prison or in death camps … Continue reading During World War Two: It’s An Expat Thing
During World War Two: Dueling Canteens
It can't be denied that Hollywood, and for that matter, Broadway, were in an unique position to help the troops during the war. Support for the war effort was overwhelming in these industries, especially once the last holdouts stopped tiptoeing around the Nazis and the other Axis powers. Not to mention, seventy-nine percent of Americans … Continue reading During World War Two: Dueling Canteens
Smile Politely And Stab Cleanly
We all know how much Bette Davis loved heavy, meaty, dramatic roles, and her turn as Regina Giddens in 1941's The Little Foxes sure gave her something to sink her teeth into. I tried watching this movie on the plane to South Dakota last summer, but there was no sound and the remote was in the … Continue reading Smile Politely And Stab Cleanly
Impressing Bette Davis
Miss Moorehead is back... One thing that can be said about Agnes Moorehead, and Bette Davis for that matter, is that in an industry that prizes youth above talent they managed to stay relevant. And they did it without seeming contrived or going under the knife, thank you very much. A flagship example of their … Continue reading Impressing Bette Davis
The Show Must Go On
Some crazy, crazy stuff hit theaters during the Second World War. Audiences were receptive to it, as they were looking for an escape from worry or bad news. One of the craziest was 1943's Thank Your Lucky Stars. Warner Bros. not only crammed in every star it could, but many of them act delightfully out of character. … Continue reading The Show Must Go On
Bette’s Secret Win
Welcome back, Ms. Davis... 1939 is deservedly called the single greatest year in motion picture history, because more classics were produced in that period than in any other. The juggernaut was, of course, Gone With the Wind, but there were many, many movies that stood out more quietly. One of these was Dark Victory. It was an unusual subject … Continue reading Bette’s Secret Win
All the World’s A Stage
Happy birthday to Ms. de Havilland! I'll admit, while I'm very familiar with Olivia de Havilland in Gone With the Wind, I've never really had the opportunity to look at much of her other work. It's one of the reasons I love participating in blogathons--it's fun to explore new films and information. The 1937 film, It's Love … Continue reading All the World’s A Stage
Page To Screen: Of Human Bondage
About a year ago, I reviewed the 1934 film, Of Human Bondage, starring Leslie Howard and Bette Davis (Read it here), and at the time, I found it to be a downer, full of manipulation and abuse. In spite of that, I jumped at the chance to buy the novel at a library sale. When … Continue reading Page To Screen: Of Human Bondage
Amarillo Or Bust
Miss Bette's back, y'all... We all know how studios liked certain stars in certain roles. It streamlined the whole casting process to know who could play gangsters, or high society types, or ingenues. Every once in a while, though, studios did color outside the lines, and one example of that is 1941's The Bride Came C.O.D. A … Continue reading Amarillo Or Bust
Page To Screen: Now, Voyager
A little housekeeping: As of today, "Page To Screen" will be appearing here on the first Wednesday of the even-numbered months (as if it's had much time to be anywhere 🙂 ), while the odd-numbered months will feature a companion series. More details coming later. Onward... Now, Voyager is one of Bette Davis's best-known films … Continue reading Page To Screen: Now, Voyager
Bette’s War
During the Second World War, most stars worked to support the fight. Jeanette MacDonald joined the American Women's Voluntary Service (AWVS). Rita Hayworth donated the bumpers off her car for scrap and replaced them with wooden ones. Many, many actors, directors, and crew members, like Jimmy Stewart and George Stevens, enlisted in the Armed Forces. … Continue reading Bette’s War
Sailing Forth
In Of Human Bondage, we saw Bette play a cruel, gold-digging vixen keeping a romantic young man in her clutches. Eight years later, the shoe was on the other foot when Bette took the role of Charlotte Vale, a woman controlled by her mother, in the 1942 film, Now Voyager. Not only is the movie an interesting … Continue reading Sailing Forth
Bye, Mildred
Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy blogathon (OK, I couldn't resist 🙂 ). It's a fact of life that not all attraction is mutual. It's also a fact that sometimes relationships happen because one person wants to throw the other a bone. It is yet another fact that abuse can come from … Continue reading Bye, Mildred
Taking Up Room 