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
A Highly Ordinary Life
Producer Lynn Novick once called the generation that fought World War Two "reticent," and this is absolutely true. These men believe that they're no one special, and that they went to war because they knew they had a duty to defend their nation. Most of them weren't career soldiers but regular guys who went off … Continue reading A Highly Ordinary Life
Waiting For Judgement
What happens after death is an interesting question, maybe a little scary, but very important. I definitely didn't start this blog to proselytize, and I'm not going to start now, but death is something we'll all face someday. The problem is, no one who dies can tell the rest of us what it's like--all we … Continue reading Waiting For Judgement
Into the Wild Blue Yonder
And we're off... 🙂 Have you ever explored a B-17? I had the opportunity a few years ago, which was an amazing experience. The plane was the same one that appeared in the movie, Memphis Belle, and it's not only beautifully maintained, but it still flies. There was so much more to seeing the plane than being where Sean … Continue reading Into the Wild Blue Yonder
And the Oscar Goes To…
Ah, the Oscars are upon us yet again. It's hard to believe, but this year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hits the big nine-oh, which is a pretty impressive milestone. Speaking of milestones, I think it would be great if the Academy added the "First" category, a special award given to films … Continue reading And the Oscar Goes To…
Film Gris
Dick Powell had an interesting career. He went from being a crooner and a radio personality to a straight-ahead actor, best-known for playing hard-boiled types. While he had a lot of successful films to his credit, he did produce a turkey now and then, or something close to it. 1951's Cry Danger is one of those, but … Continue reading Film Gris
Under the Big Top
As many of you have probably heard by now, Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus will be ending their 146-year run and heading for the history books. A very few folks have been presumptuously gloating, but I won't name names here. More often than not, though, a lot of people feel rather melancholy over the … Continue reading Under the Big Top
Forgotten Man, Where Art Thou?
Here we are again. How were everyone's holidays? Did anyone else feel like they just zipped by? Yeah, me too. And yep, the eagle, er, angel has landed. The Great Depression looms large in twentieth-century history. Roughly twenty-five percent of the American public were unemployed in 1933, and farmers in particular found themselves displaced. Bankers … Continue reading Forgotten Man, Where Art Thou?
That Darn Bat
Every once in a while, even busy supporting players have to break out of their ruts, and Agnes Moorehead was no exception. In 1959 she got top billing in The Bat, opposite Vincent Price. A mildly suspenseful and slightly campy film, The Bat is an entertaining example of what Agnes could do with a lead role. Director … Continue reading That Darn Bat
God Dag (Good Day), Bruna
Confession time: I've only seen six of the eighteen movies Agnes Moorehead made at M-G-M while she was a contract player there. According to The MGM Story by John Douglas Eames, Agnes's first movie for the studio was The Youngest Profession in 1943 and her last was The Singing Nun in 1966. While she was always superb, most of her … Continue reading God Dag (Good Day), Bruna
There’s A War On, Darling
Agnes Moorehead was a busy lady her entire life, and she was all over the place during the forties. While under contract at M-G-M, Agnes was loaned out to various studios, including Selznik International, where she made one of my all-time favorite movies, Since You Went Away. Very loosely based on a book of the same name … Continue reading There’s A War On, Darling
Back To Stars Hollow, Part Two
Warning: Sorry, but you're no safer from spoilers today than you were in Part One. Less so, in fact, since I will be revealing the mysterious final four words Ms. Amy's been holding in her head for years. If you haven't watched A Year In the Life yet, well, you know what to do. When we … Continue reading Back To Stars Hollow, Part Two
Back To Stars Hollow, Part One
Warning: There are spoilers a-plenty here, so if you're planning on watching A Year In the Life and haven't yet, go watch first. Unless you like spoilers, which I totally get. Anyhoo... If you remember my review of the MacGyver redux, you already know my position on Hollywood's reboot craze. Retreads, prequels, sequels, and adaptations make up more … Continue reading Back To Stars Hollow, Part One
Hidden and Hiding
I'll level with you guys--it's been a tough year. Who hasn't had it tough? For me, it's family stuff, car stuff, money stuff, and don't even get me started on the election. Ugh. After a while life begins to feel colorless and closed-in, which can be dangerous or at least supremely stinky, and the best … Continue reading Hidden and Hiding
The Infamous Mr. Oboler
Radio shows are kind of enigmatic to my generation. My parents and grandparents listened to them, but all I knew about that sort of thing were the Christian audio dramas I heard on Family Radio sometimes. Yes, they do exist. No offense to anyone who likes them, but the ones I heard in the eighties … Continue reading The Infamous Mr. Oboler
Taking Up Room 