William Randolph Hearst really, really wanted Marion Davies to be the toppermost of top dramatic actresses. Yeah, he looked at this wonderful, natural comedienne and thought, "Hmmm. She must be Sarah Bernhardt. I will make her Sarah Bernhardt." Oh, Hearst tried. He tried so hard. Like in 1922's When Knighthood Was In Flower, when Davies played Mary Tudor. It's … Continue reading Throwing Pillows At Henry the Eighth
Stage To Screen: Mister Roberts
They say that truth is stranger than fiction, and some life experiences beg to be made into stories. Mister Roberts is one of those. Originally a novel by Thomas Heggen, it was published in 1946, premiered as a play in 1948, and released as a film in 1955. The story takes place very late in the war. … Continue reading Stage To Screen: Mister Roberts
The Man Behind the Curtain
While Broadway is considered the pinnacle of a performer's career, in the early twentieth century the Ziegfeld Follies were the pinnacle of Broadway. These lavish shows featured comedy acts, music, and dancing. Most famously of all, there were women in strategically skimpy and unusual costumes walking down stairs as if descending from heaven. To be … Continue reading The Man Behind the Curtain
Taking Up Room 