The relationship between Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy is the stuff of legend. They were together for twenty-six years, and while morally their relationship may raise some red flags, it was always good to see their love for each other every time they locked eyes. Almost twenty years after Tracy's death, Hepburn, along with many … Continue reading To Spencer, With Love
What’s There Is Cherce
Katharine Hepburn was famously athletic for most of her life. She played sports of all kinds and loved swimming in the ocean. It was only a matter of time before a role came along that would show off her abilities, and that was the title character in 1952's Pat and Mike. Pat Pemberton is a widow … Continue reading What’s There Is Cherce
Boys Town Revisited
Everyone knows (and is probably sick of) the way sequels, prequels, and remakes are such a big part of Hollywood's output nowadays. We've been down Reboot Road plenty of times just on this blog. Classic Hollywood was no different than today in terms of capitalizing on older properties, although the new-to-retread ratio was obviously different. … Continue reading Boys Town Revisited
He Ain’t Heavy, Father, He’s My Brother
Time to talk about Spence and Kate! December of this year will be the one-hundredth anniversary of Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, better known as Boys Town. Father Edward J. Flanagan, an Irish priest working in Omaha, Nebraska borrowed $90 and sought to provide a home for homeless, neglected, or delinquent boys, where they could receive … Continue reading He Ain’t Heavy, Father, He’s My Brother
They’re He-ere
The idea of life on other planets has always intrigued and fascinated some people. Me, I've never been one to believe in extraterrestrials. If they're out there, let them stay out there, and if they don't exist, then okay. I don't really care one way or the other, but when it comes down to it, … Continue reading They’re He-ere
Somebody’s Watching Me
Here's June... So many of the early stars got their start on the stage, such as on Broadway or in vaudeville, and June Allyson was no different. She went from working in Vitaphone shorts and in the choruses of various Broadway shows to her first lead in the successful 1941 musical, Best Foot Forward. M-G-M soon bought … Continue reading Somebody’s Watching Me
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
Moana Becomes A Man
Have you seen Disney's Moana? I watched it on Netflix a few months ago, and thought it was all kinds of cute and fun. Plus, Moana hasn't worn out its welcome like some films that shall remain nameless (Hint: "Let it go, let it go..."). Also on Netflix is another version of Moana from 1926. Uh huh. Silent. It's always … Continue reading Moana Becomes A Man
All By Himself
From the good to the mad to the lonely. And why shouldn't our hero be lonely? He's the last man in a world full of zombies. At least, that's what he thinks... The sixties and seventies were a funny time in Hollywood. The studios were in transition, and since they were no longer allowed to … Continue reading All By Himself
Monster Mashup
We've seen the good, and now we get to see the mad. The very, very mad. Universal got a lot of mileage out of their monster movie franchises. The granddaddy of the talkie era was, of course, Dracula, originally played to great effect in 1930 by Bela Lugosi and Carlos Villareas (in the Spanish language version). … Continue reading Monster Mashup
I’m From the Government, and I’m Here To Help
It's the Movie Scientist Blogathon! Great Scott! We're looking at good scientists today, and what's better than saving all of mankind from a mysterious bacteria? Remember how the Apollo 11 astronauts were put in a mobile quarantine facility to make sure they didn't bring anything infectious back from the moon? Who hasn't seen the pictures … Continue reading I’m From the Government, and I’m Here To Help
Stage To Screen: The Women
September 1, 1939 was the day the Second World War started. It was also the day the M-G-M film, The Women, premiered to great fanfare. Three years previously, The Women was a successful Broadway play by Clare Boothe Luce, with a respectable six-hundred sixty-six performances to its credit (or six-hundred fifty-seven, if you believe Wikipedia). Directed by George … Continue reading Stage To Screen: The Women
The One Who Loves People
Nu kör vi... (That's "Here we go..." in Swedish--thank you, Google Translate. 🙂 ) Gladys Aylward was born in London in 1902. She felt strongly called by God to be a missionary in China, but unlike most women who went to China at that time, she wasn't highly educated or trained in a useful vocation such … Continue reading The One Who Loves People
Once Upon A Time
Cinderella, like Treasure Island, has been done over and over and over again. Only instead of the adaptations all drawing on a single original source, every culture has its own version, the earliest-known being found in ancient Greece. Some versions have one royal ball, some have three, some have a fairy godmother and one has a … Continue reading Once Upon A Time
It’s Good To Be King
Entertainment's Great Family has arrived. Turbulence seems to run in the Barrymore clan. Drew Barrymore's grandfather, John, was an incredibly respected actor (even his profile was highly renowned). He also suffered from alcoholism, to the point that he began to forget lines and gain weight. His relationship with his wife, Delores Costello disintegrated--she finally called … Continue reading It’s Good To Be King
Do You See What I See?
Good evening... (Well, it may not be evening when you read this, but you know how Hitchcock always said it on his TV show) Anyone who's familiar with the apartment life dynamic knows what happens when lots of people are literally living on top of each other: stories will accumulate. Lots of stories. Many of them can be … Continue reading Do You See What I See?
Show Me Some Attitude
Disclaimer: Save the Last Dance is not exactly a family-friendly film. It's not Showgirls or anything, but it's not G-rated either. IMDb has a Parents' Guide if anyone feels cautious. There's something visceral about performing because there's so much emotion involved--it becomes part of a person's identity, and it's definitely a release. If that outlet is cut off for whatever … Continue reading Show Me Some Attitude
Taking Up Room 