Happy Fourth of July to all the Americans reading this (and welcome to everyone else as well)! At the exact time this post goes up (9 AM PDST), my son and I will be sitting in on a 9 AM screening of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny at our local mall. I've heard … Continue reading The Betty Grable Blogathon: Wrapup
How To Make A Movie Out of A Pin Up (Or Not)
Here's Miss Betty... We all know Betty Grable's swimsuit pin-up got ginormously popular. It was a remarkably simple idea that took off because of its fun, playful mystery. Betty wanted all who saw her to follow her and see what she had in store. Even then, retouches were made; namely, the seaming on the back … Continue reading How To Make A Movie Out of A Pin Up (Or Not)
The Betty Grable Blogathon Has Arrived
It's time, y'all...woo hoo! Three days of celebrating Betty Grable, her many talents, her films, and the fun she brought to so many people. Who's ready for this? As always, if anyone would like to join us, please feel free to do so (here are the rules). Just leave me a comment either here on … Continue reading The Betty Grable Blogathon Has Arrived
My Four Favorite Noirs
Happy National Classic Movie Day! I'll be honest: Noirs aren't my default choice when it comes to movies. I guess it depends on my mood. Sometimes I've looked at those shadowy scenes and wondered if the characters have ever seen daylight or worn any outerwear other than a trench coat and a fedora. Or ever … Continue reading My Four Favorite Noirs
Somewhere Over the Film Noir
Betty Grable and Carole Landis don't really come to mind when one thinks of film noir. They're fun and nice and pretty and hardly the type for dark and stormy nights, but dark and stormy is exactly what they get in 1941's I Wake Up Screaming, a murder mystery based on the Steve Fisher novel, Hot Spot. Well, … Continue reading Somewhere Over the Film Noir
Hit the Dance Floor
Tap, tap, tap... In 1936 Fred and Ginger were two years into their partnership, and Follow the Fleet was one of two movies they made that year. The film sports some Hollywood heavyweights and soon-to-be-heavyweights but is itself pretty lightweight. However, it's classic Fred and Ginger. Sparky chemistry, magical dance sequences, and fun. "Bake" Baker (Fred Astaire) … Continue reading Hit the Dance Floor
Oh Me, Oh Miami
Who else misses traveling? Walking around a public place without a mask? Eating in a restaurant? Large crowds of peaceful people? Good sense? Sigh. Yeah, we're not going to think about that too much. Actually, we're gonna go to Miami with Betty Grable in the 1941 film, Moon Over Miami. A colorful, light-as-air film, it … Continue reading Oh Me, Oh Miami
Just the Two of Us
It's the Dynamic Duos! Betty Grable and Don Ameche were each icons in their own right. Ameche was a durable lead actor who did everything from drama to comedy to musicals, whether on the screen or on the radio. Betty, was, of course, the A-number one pinup of the Second World War, and a popular … Continue reading Just the Two of Us
Reblog: Screen Guild Theatre July 4th Triple Feature
Happy Independence Day to all my American readers! Hope you like Aurora's new post as much as I did. 🙂
Taking Up Room 