What's in a name... Huckleberry Finn is by far Mark Twain's most infamous and incorrigible character, and from the time Twain published The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1884 no one has ever been indifferent to young Finn. There was, however, one time when he came very close, and that was the 1939 film adaptation starring … Continue reading I’m Your Huck Finn
Andy Hardy In the Big City
We are family... Few families were as quintessential to the nineteen-thirties and forties as the Hardys, with the focal point, being, of course, Andy Hardy. Between 1937 and 1946, movie audiences could expect to see at least one Andy Hardy film from MGM a year. Since they used mostly existing sets, they were not only … Continue reading Andy Hardy In the Big City
Stage To Screen: Babes In Arms
We all know that before there was Rodgers and Hammerstein there was Rodgers and Hart, and their 1937 hit, Babes In Arms became Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney's third movie and first musical together, not to mention the first of their famous barnyard musicals. It was also Arthur Freed's first official producer credit and Busby Berkeley's first … Continue reading Stage To Screen: Babes In Arms
Page To Screen: Breakfast At Tiffany’s
Few movie openings are as iconic as Breakfast At Tiffany's. Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly gets out of a cab in the early morning on Fifth Street in Manhattan dressed to the nines, walks up to a Tiffany's display window, then pulls a cup of coffee and a croissant out of a paper bag. After staring dreamily … Continue reading Page To Screen: Breakfast At Tiffany’s
Andy Hardy Grows Up (Again)
Here we go... There were sixteen Andy Hardy movies made between 1936 and 1958. They were relatively cheap and quick to shoot, audiences loved them, and they were a lot of fun. They were also a way to showcase up-and-coming young actresses such as Judy Garland, Donna Reed and Esther Williams. One of 1941's Hardy … Continue reading Andy Hardy Grows Up (Again)
During World War Two: You’re In the Armed Forces Now
Between 1941 and 1942 America's military went from approximately 1.8 million to almost four million, and by the end of the war around twelve million Americans were in the Armed Forces. The popular myth about the United States in the period immediately following Pearl Harbor is that recruitment offices were jammed with volunteers, but according … Continue reading During World War Two: You’re In the Armed Forces Now
The Hardys Take Manhattan
Anything that can go wrong... MGM made sixteen Andy Hardy films. It might sound funny to us today, but movie serials were the thing before the advent of TV, and the Hardy movies were easy and quick to shoot because they used the same sets and mostly the same cast every time. Plus the stories … Continue reading The Hardys Take Manhattan
During World War Two: With A Little Help From My Friends
After Britain and Germany declared war in 1939, there were roughly two years in which America, for all intents and purposes, laid low. Sort of. Not really. The first Neutrality Act was signed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt on August 31, 1935, and it would be renewed several times over the next few years. The Act … Continue reading During World War Two: With A Little Help From My Friends
Stage To Screen: Girl Crazy
Amazing as their music is, a lot of George and Ira Gershwin's musicals aren't presented today in their original forms, and while Girl Crazy is no different, it has stayed more intact than the vast majority of its mates, at least in terms of its music. Girl Crazy marked the debut of such classics as "I Got … Continue reading Stage To Screen: Girl Crazy
Page To Screen: The Black Stallion
Who else had to read The Black Stallion for school? I did. Fourth grade. I can't remember anyone complaining about it. In fact, Black Stallion books were kind of the rage in my class. For those who haven't experienced it, the novel follows New York City teenager Alec Ramsey and his friendship with a mysterious, very wild … Continue reading Page To Screen: The Black Stallion
Christmas In Carvel
Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noel! ¡Feliz Navidad! Fröhliche Weihnachten! Feliz Natal! Erry-may Istmas-chray! 🙂 Before the advent of TV, studios invested in movie serials, and one of MGM's most popular franchises was the Andy Hardy series, which followed the adventures of its young protagonist in the Midwestern (?) town of Carvel. The films were sure bets … Continue reading Christmas In Carvel
I Want Torpedo Juice
Presenting Mr. Keaton... Although he's best known for his silent films, Buster Keaton had an extensive film career after talkies came in, right up until his death. One of his last films was 1965's How To Stuff A Wild Bikini. We've been here before, but this time we're going to take a closer look, if that's … Continue reading I Want Torpedo Juice
TEDDYx Talks
One of Robin Williams' many unforgettable roles was that of Teddy Roosevelt in the Night At the Museum series. It wasn't the only time Williams played a President--he also took a turn as Dwight D. Eisenhower in The Butler--but his Teddy is memorable as well. While the real Roosevelt famously said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick," … Continue reading TEDDYx Talks
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
Mick and Jootes
One of Old Hollywood's sweetest stories is the long-enduring relationship between Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. They knew each other almost all their lives, and while romance never entered the picture, there was always more than friendship there. Both started in vaudeville at very young ages (Mickey was eighteen months old, while Judy was two-and-a-half), … Continue reading Mick and Jootes
Taking Up Room 