From Here to Eternity

From Here to Eternity
Released Date: October 15, 1953
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Actors: Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, Frank Sinatra, Philip Ober, Mickey Shaughnessy, Harry Bellaver, Ernest Borgnine, and Jack Warden

     There are a lot of movies on the attack of Pearl Harbor. Some are big movies, some are documentaries but all are fantastic. Such an incredible story and such bravery from our Military Men. You couldn't have a more perfect cast. During this movie Burt Lancaster, who was a tad older than Montgomery Clift, was nervous while shooting because he was such a huge fan of Clift. Frank Sinatra was fantastic as well. Montgomery Clift was going through stuff, and was drinking on the set. He is known to have had kept a bottle with him at all times and would stick pills in the bottle. He had a very dangerous addiction, one that cost him his life. You know it was great because the movie was the tenth highest grossing film in the 1950s. The movie grossed $18 Million dollars. If you have not seen this movie, I'd  highly recommend you do so.

     It is 1941, on the beach of Hawaii. Pearl Harbor, the military base. Robert E. Lee Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) was a boxer in his early days. But because of an accident during one of his fights, he no longer wants to box. He is in the Army, a true American. Sgt. Milton Warden (Burt Lancaster) takes Prewitt under his wings and watches out for him. The boys take on love, Prewitt with Lorene (Donna Reed) and Sgt. Warden with the Captain's wife, Karen Holmes (Deborah Kerr). This affair has one of the biggest known scenes in hollywood history, the beach scene with Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster. It is a beautiful scene. They are taking a chance on love, but they can't help themselves. Meanwhile, Angelo Maggio (Frank Sinatra), a friend of Prewitt's, is drinking heavily and even going A-Wall. So much is happening during the days before the attack. But every scene makes you wish you were on the beach of Hawaii. The movie shows a love between army men. It is such a beautiful film, so please see it, put it on your bucket list!

     Oh, and one more cool piece of  information, the Captain, Philip Ober, was married to I Love Lucy's Ethel. Thought that was very interesting.

Snow

DOES ANYONE ELSE LOVE SNOW IN THE MOVIES?
WATCHING A BLACK AND WHITE SNOWFALL IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IN CLASSIC CHRISTMAS MOVIES!!! IF YOU WATCH ANY OLD MOVIE WITH SNOW, IT IS JUST SO PEACEFUL AND BEAUTIFUL!!!

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

Released Date: 1938

Ebenezer Scrooge (Reginald Owen) was a grumpy old man. Always shutting people out of his life and never really caring about anyone (even himself) or anything (except money). On Christmas Eve, after a long day at the office, Scrooge went home to unexplainable events. His door, for instance, had a knocker on it with an animals face on it, but when he  went to open his door, the lion changed into what he believed was his late work partner's face. He went inside quickly and shook it off. Scrooge sat down with his meal, in his cold house. When all of a sudden, a ghost appeared. It was in fact, his late partner's ghost. Marley (Leo G. Carroll). Marley's Ghost, weighed down by chains, explained that Scrooge would have three ghosts appear that night to explain what being a grump would lead in his life. He already didn't have friends or loved ones near.  Even Scrooge's nephew didn't bother to see him much. Scrooge went to bed with a odd feeling, and was awoken out of his sleep late into the night by the first ghost. She was the Ghost of Christmas Pasts. She showed him the life he was leading was a lonely one. He shut his nephew out after his sister died. And was always sitting down working on his notes in class, instead of running around with friends outside in the snow. After the Ghost of Christmas Pasts took Scrooge back to his nice warm bed, Scrooge fell back to sleep. Then the Ghost of Christmas Present appeared, and showed Scrooge what his coworker, his family and even people that knew him from around town were saying about the old man. About how evil and nasty Scrooge is, and how he has no happiness. A new light began to show in Scrooge. He was upset and hurt by what he was seeing. And realized that he didn't want to see that anymore. So the Ghost of Christmas Present took Scrooge back to his home. He again,  fell back to sleep. The the Ghost of Christmas yet to come, came. And showed Scrooge in the grave!!! Without a flower or notes, or any sign of love around his grave. Scrooge was upset and the Ghost then showed him what people were saying about his death. Nobody seemed to care. Nobody was sad of his passing. Scrooge began to cry and scream. He wanted to be happy. He awoke, punching his bed, in his home. He was up and seemed light and gay. He started laughing and joyously parading about his house. Scrooge then opened his window and saw a little boy outside, Scrooge asked him what day it was. The boy replied that it was Christmas day. He got dressed and began going about through the town and stopping by his nephew's house and showed his nephew his new side. One that made his nephew proud. He started his new life the way life is meant to be.

CHRISTMAS

I absolutely love Christmas. I love the music, lights, snow, Christmas trees, movies and of course spending time with the family. But this year, theaters across the world will be showing Christmas in Connecticut and A Christmas Carol. Everyone should go see it. I  was fortunate that the 7:00 PM showing was still available. The 2:00 PM was already sold out! 

Adolf Hitler and Clark Gable

During WWII, Adolf Hitler offered a reward to any German Soldier who could capture screen legend, Clark Gable, alive. The "Gone With The Wind" star -- who was then flying combat missions as a B-17 gunner -- was reportedly the Fuhrer's favorite actor, in part because of his German ancestry. Despite news of the bounty on his head, Gable continued to serve and later earned the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. 

Ladies They Talk About

Ladies They Talk About
Released Date: February 4, 1933
Directors:Howard Bretherton and William Keighley
Actors: Barbara Stanwyck, Preston Foster, Lyle Talbot, Dorothy Burgess, Lillian Roth, Maude Eburne, Ruth Donnelly, Harold Huber and Robert McWade

     This is by far my favorite Pre-Code film! Watch it, and it might be your favorite too.

     This movie begins with a woman at a telephone booth, she is calling the police to inform them that there is a man running a muck and stabbing people left and right. When she leaves the booth, she has a sly smile on her face. We then see her getting into a car with her dog in her arms. She is still smiling and nothing seems to be happening around the area, people don't seem frightened or scared. She goes into the bank, a few minutes before opening because she had a train to catch. Or so she says. Then the boys she got into the car with, come inside and hold up the bank. Nan (Barbara Stanwyck) the woman who helped hold up the bank, ends up going to jail. The prison seems like home. Women are sitting around reading, and talking, smoking and laughing, they all also get to listen to the radio. It does not seem like jail. It seems like an okay place to be. But Nan tries to escape and ends up getting more in trouble with the law. It is such a great film guys, I hope you'll watch it and soon!!

True Confession

True Confession
Released Date: December 24, 1937
Director: Wesley Ruggles
Actors: Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, John Barrymore, Una Merkel, Porter Hall, Edgar Kennedy, Lynne Overman, Irving Bacon, and Fritz Feld

     Carole Lombard's birthday was two days ago. And I have to say, TCM had a great lineup of movies staring Lombard. This was not shown on that day, but I did see it during her day on TCM's Under The Stars. I fell in love with it immediately. Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray and Una Merkel are amazing together. So funny and so witty. Also John Barrymore, who is Drew Barrymore's grandfather. I can't tell you how great this cast is. I seriously laughed through the whole thing.

     Helen Bartlett (Carole Lombard) becomes worried about money after her husband Kenneth (Fred MacMurray) says no to yet another client. Kenneth is a lawyer, and will only take clients that are truthful. He also won't take on a client that actually did the crime they are being charged for. Which is very good but also really bad. Because that means less clients. His wife Helen sends him a client, that stole chickens to sell for money. When Kenneth asked him if he stole the chickens the man said no. But when Kenneth asks him for money, the man said that he would give it to him after he sells the chickens. When Helen hears that Kenneth said no to the man, she gets herself a job. They are very poor, but Kenneth does not want his wife to work. So she gets the job but does not tell her husband about it. But when Helen's new boss is murdered, she is the first suspect. And so Kenneth now finds out about her secret job, and on top of it all, he has to help her get out of this mess. This movie sounds heavy, but trust me, you will be laughing the whole time. 

Cheaper by the Dozen

Cheaper by the Dozen
Released Date: April, 1950
Director: Walter Lang
Actors: Clifton Webb, Myrna Loy, Jeanne Crain, Betty Lynn, Edgar Buchanan, Barbara Bates, Mildred Natwick, and Sara Allgood

     This movie was remade in 2003 with Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt. The movie is based off of a real family, the Gilbreth family. As you will notice throughout, they have a daughter by the name of Mary. She does not say anything throughout the movie and she is always in the background. The reason being that the real Mary died from an illness as a child. You may also recognize the house that the family moves into (not the house they start the movie in). That house was used in Meet Me in St. Louis. Pretty neat huh? Yeah, I thought so too.

     Frank Bunker Gilbreth (Clifton Webb) and his wife, Mrs. Lilian Gilbreth (Myrna Loy) are raising 11 kids together. They go through a lot of changes in the household. Their eldest daughter Ann (Jeanne Crain) for instance, is a young woman, and has her eyes set on a boy, Lilian becomes pregnant with baby number 12, and all the children, plus the father, get tonsillitis and have to have surgery. The surgery takes place inside their home. A very common thing back in the old days. The family also moves to a new house. Which makes  everyone excited and  nervous all at the same time. This movie is very funny, sweet, charming, smart and packed with a great cast. You may need a tissue, from tears of  sadness,  but also tears of laughter too. One of my favorite parts in this movie is the family all packed in one car, on a road trip!! You can imagine everything that happens on family trips, times 12!  Hope you enjoy this movie, I did.

Lauren Bacall

We have lost great actors this year. And some of the deaths have really hit home. Watching Mickey Rooney and Shirley Temple was always a favorite past time as a kid. But when I stretched  the classics to such greats as Humphrey Bogart and his beautiful bride were also a favorite memory. Lauren Bacall, or Betty, as her friends called her was born on September 16th, 1924 in New York. She died on August 12th, 2014.

She became an actress in 1944 in a movie called To Have and Have Not. With of course Humphrey Bogart as her leading man. They began talking during the filming. He was married, unhappy. And drinking got him through the nights he spent at home. The two became fast friends, and even though there was a huge difference in age, they fell in love. They became a terrific team, following the success of To Have and Have Not, they were teamed up in The Big Sleep (1946), Dark Passage (1947), and Key Largo (1948). Humphrey Bogart died at the age of 57 in his home he had with Lauren Bacall. They had children together and love that we could witness together through films and pictures. I would like to thank Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall for a wonderful love shown through the years in films. The great thing is, they are together again, forever. <3

Witness to Murder

Witness to Murder
Released Date: April 15, 1954
Director: Roy Rowland
Actors: Barbara Stanwyck, George Sanders, Gary Merrill, Jesse White, Harry Shannon, Clair Carleton, Lewis Martin, Dick Elliott, and Harry Tyler

     Could you imagine waking up in the middle of the night, and believing you witnessed a murder? Or how about witnessing a murder, telling the police, and nobody believing you actually saw it? How about being told that you're insane, and need help, that would stink wouldn't it? Cheryl Draper (Barbara Stanwyck) woke up in the middle of the night and when she looked outside, saw her neighbor, Albert Richter (George Sanders) murdering a woman. Cheryl called the police right away but they did not find a shred of evidence to show that Albert actually killed someone. The two police officers are Lawrence Mathews (Gary Merrill) and Eddie Vincent (Jesse White). What do you suppose happens to a woman who believes she witnessed a murder, nobody believes her and worst of all, the killer knows who she is and where she lives? Find out what happens to Cheryl, by watching this awesome movie :)

Jeopardy

Jeopardy
Released Date: July 31, 1953
Director: John Sturges
Actors: Barbara Stanwyck, Barry Sullivan, Ralph Meeker, and Lee Aaker

     Barbara Stanwyck can do anything. She was brilliant. Yesterday was her birthday and so TCM showed some of her movies, along with Ginger Rogers, because it was also her birthday. But this movie was one I had never seen before, and I'm glad I saw it. It was intense!!!

     Doug Stilwin (Barry Sullivan), his wife Helen (Barbara Stanwyck) and their son Bobby (Lee Aaker) are on vacation. They are driving through Mexico, and are headed to a beach house that Doug use to stay at with an old friend of his. They finally arrive, and Bobby decides to go play on the beach. They are near a dock and Bobby goes on it and plays. Helen calls for her son because it is time to eat, and when Bobby started to walk off of the dock, his foot gets stuck. So Doug goes up to help his son. Bobby gets off of the dock okay, but while Doug was walking on one part of the dock, he falls through and lands on the sand. Sadly,  his foot gets stuck under some pilings and he can't get out. He tells Helen to go get a big rope to tie to the piling and then to the car to pull him out.  But she needs help so she goes to find a rope and to get another person. She meets another American, Lawson (Ralph Meeker), who happens to be a fugitive. He takes over the car but will he help Doug? Find out, by watching this amazingly tense film, with some great actors and one hell of an actress. 

Three Comrades

Three Comrades
Released Date: June 3, 1938
Director: Frank Borzage
Actors: Robert Taylor, Margaret Sullavan, Franchot Tone, Robert Young, Guy Kibbee, Lionel Atwill, Henry Hull, Charley Grapewin, and Monty Woolley

     I love watching the young, Robert Young movies. Around the 30s period was, in my opinion, his best work. Besides of course, Father Knows Best. Robert Young replaced Spencer Tracy for this movie, and James Stewart was considered for a roll in this as well. Which makes me wounder how that would have turned out. Robert Taylor did a good job in this, but his rolls always remind me of that guy in school that thinks he is just really hot. Which he was, don't get me wrong, but the way he treated Barbara Stanwyck... Sorry that's my girl.

     This movie is set in Germany after WWI. We follow the three comrades, Erich Lohkamp (Robert Taylor), Otto Koster (Franchot Tone) and Gottfried Lenz (Robert Young). They are best friends with the love of their country. They were in war together, and after, they started their own car mechanics company. One day, the three comrades were out driving together, when they get into a race with Alfons (Guy Kibbee). In the car with Alfons, is Patricia Hollmann (Margaret Sullavan). Erich falls madly in love and starts to date Patricia on a regular basis. When one day, everyone around them starts to say that the two should get married. So they do. Little did Erich know, but Patricia is sick. He finds out she is sick during their honeymoon. Will she recover so they can live a long and happy life together? Find out!!! By watching this cute movie. 

Sorry, Wrong Number

Sorry, Wrong Number
Released Date: September 1, 1948
Director: Anatole Livak
Actors: Barbara Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster, Ann Richards, Wendell Corey, Harold Vermilyea, Ed Begley, Leif Erickson, and William Conrad

     Wow, I cannot believe I have yet to write about the first Stanwyck movie I saw. This one scared me as a kid. I saw it for the first time when I was about 12 or so. And that was about when I was introduced to Hitchcock. Another highlight of mine. But one thing I found neat in my research on this film, was that Barbara Stanwyck's bed scenes, which is most of the movie, was only shot in fourteen days. And I know you won't know what I'm talking about till you see this movie, but there is a scene where Stanwyck gives her husband a cigarette case. Well that case was Stanwyck's own and it was a gift from her best friend, Joan Crawford.

     Leona Stevenson (Barbara Stanwyck) is sick in bed. She has a heart condition, so she's been laid up in a bed for a while. In the beginning of the movie, we find out that she is ill, that she let her nurse leave early and that she has been trying to call her husband but every time she calls, she gets the busy signal. Her husband is Henry J. Stevenson (Burt Lancaster). She keeps calling the operator to get a hold of her husband. Leona tries again, she is frustrated, and when the phone finally gives her a person on the other end, it is two men talking. She tries to break their conversation but they cannot hear her. She then discovers that they are discussing a woman's murder that will happen that night. She then calls the police to tell them what she heard. But they can't do anything because she has no idea who is about to be murdered. Then she calls her father, James Cotterell (Ed Begley) to tell him the news too. We then see a lot of flash backs after an old friend calls. Leona then thinks the murder will happen to her!!! Is that true? And if it is true, who is trying to kill her? Hmmm? Find out, by watching a great movie. One I have loved a long time. 

Happy Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:

Farley Granger (July 1, 1925 - March 27, 2011) : Who is the star of Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train and Rope

Olivia de Havilland (July 1, 1916) : Who is best known Gone With The Wind, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and The Heiress

The Man with the Cloak

The Man With the Cloak
Released Year: 1951
Director: Fletcher Markle
Actors: Joseph Cotton, Barbara Stanwyck, Louis Calhern, Leslie Caron, Joe De Santis, Jim Backus, Margaret Wycherly, Richard Hale, Nicholas Joy, Roy Roberts, Mitchell Lewis, Lynette Bryant, and Steve Carruthers

     Joseph Cotton and Barbara Stanwyck? The fact that the two of them are in this movie, it must be good. It truly is a good movie. Not the best I've seen with Cotton or Stanwyck, but it held my attention and it was a lot of fun. It has a cool quote from Edgar Allen Poe and it is really creepy. Not in the common way most movies are considered creepy, but... You'll see ;)

     Madeline Minot (Leslie Caron) goes to America to see her fiance's grandfather, Charles Francois Thevenet (Louis Calhern). When she first arrives to America, she goes to find the man's home, and does not believe she has the right address. So she goes to a bar nearby to ask where the house is. There she meets Dupin (Joseph Cotton), and they become fast friends. She is told that the address she has is correct and she goes to see him. When she arrives, she is told that he is very sick and Lorna Bounty (Barbara Stanwyck) tries to keep Madeline from seeing him. But Madeline goes straight into the grandfather's room and talks with him and she is able to stay. Madeline has a feeling that Lorna and the other people in the house are trying to kill her fiance's grandfather. Is she correct? I guess you'll have to watch this movie to find out ;)

Barbara Stanwyck: Steel - True

I have read a lot of biographies of the classics. Alfred Hitchcock, James Stewart, Cary Grant, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, and many more. But I must say, Victoria Wilson's book: A Life of Barbara Stanwyck Steel - True 1907-1940 is possibly the best one I've read. Besides giving a great in depth story on Stanwyck, she also talks about the history of movie making, and a lot of American History at that time. It is really cool. I'd recommend this book to any Stanwyck fan, but also any classic movie fan. It is so good. I really can't think of the right words to describe this book, but I can tell you, I cannot wait to read the next part of Stanwyck's life. She truly is a classic and an amazing woman.

Katharine Hepburn

     I have always been a huge fan of the stronger actresses, like Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Carole Lombard and this post subject, Katharine Hepburn. I can't imagine life without our heroes. Our family members, our friends, and our actors/actresses. The reason I speak of them is because 11 years ago today, Miss Hepburn died. 

     She had great childhood, her father was a doctor, and her mother was women's rights activist. So she came from a smart family. She lived in Connecticut, and had sisters and a brother. She was a tomboy, always. And wasn't afraid to admit it. When she was very young, she found her brother, who was her hero and best friend, dead. He had hung himself. For many years, she believed in her heart, that it was an accident. Telling people that her father had taught them how to hang themselves without killing themselves. In my opinion, I believe she told herself this story to help herself along. I cannot imagine the pain she went through, and to have been so young.

     As an adult, thankfully, she turned to acting. She played sports like a pro. Tennis, basketball, swimming, and golf. She golfed real well. And you can see her talent of golf in the movies Bringing Up Baby and Pat and Mike. Pat and Mike also stars the love of her life, Spencer Tracy. I can't imagine a more talented couple. The two of them stared in a lot of great movies together, and their love shows in all of them. They were together twenty-four years, which was until his death. She could never watch the last movie they made, which was also his last because she thought it would be too hard to get through. 

     In her older age, she wrote a biography titled "Me," she was a four time Oscar winner, twelve time Oscar nominator and was also the number one woman in AFI's pick of best actresses. Pretty cool huh? These are the movies I recommend with her as the star:

Little Women (1933)
Stage Door
Bringing Up Baby
Holiday
The Philadelphia Story
Woman of the Year
Undercurrent 
Adams Rib
African Queen
Pat and Mike
Desk Set
Suddenly Last Summer

Enjoy! I did.

     

Gentleman's Agreement

Gentleman's Agreement
Released Date: February 1948
Director: Elia Kazan
Actors: Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, John Garfield, Celeste Holm, Ann Revere, June Havoc, Albert Dekker, and Jane Wyatt

     I have been on a huge Gregory Peck kick recently, and I'm enjoying every minute of it. He was tall, handsome, caring, strong... In other words, perfection. He played good guys, and maybe once or twice, a bad guy. Every role he played in though, he gave it his all. I just saw this for the first time, and I was blown away. Some movies are really great, some good, some are okay and some just plain old stink. This one was really great. I don't think I've come across a movie that I did not like with Gregory Peck. I would recommend this one to everyone.

     Philip Green (Gregory Peck) is a writer. And his new assignment is the issue of prejudice against religions. Mainly, the prejudice against Jews. Back when Jews weren't allowed in certain restaurants, hotels, even bars. But Philip is willing to dig deep into the issue. He is not Jewish but he figures that he could ask a good friend, that happens to be Jewish, what it is like for him everyday. His friend is Dave Goldman (John Garfield), but he is in the military and it is hard to get a hold of him. So what does Philip do? He pretends to be Jewish. He gets kicked out of restaurants, and hotels, and even gets in a fight with his main girl, Kathy (Dorothy McGuire). But can his friendships and love interest keep strong during this tough time? Watch this amazing movie about a man who was willing to sacrifice his reputation, and even gets into a few fights. You won't be upset you saw this amazing movie, I know I loved it :)

The Long, Long Trailer

The Long, Long Trailer
Released Date: February 18, 1954
Director: Vincent Minnelli
Actors: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Marjorie Main, Keenan Wynn, Gladys Hurlbut, Moroni Olsen, Bert Freed, Madge Blake, Walter Baldwin, Oliver Blake and Perry Sheehan

     During the hype of I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz decided to make a movie about love and marriage. The difficult side of marriage. They really are a cute couple and seem to be happy. But did you know that the reason they decided to make I Love Lucy in the first place was because they were not having such a great marriage? They were falling apart, and the two decided to rekindle their relationship by making one of, if not the greatest show of all time. You may notice some familiar faces, besides Lucy and Desi that is. I did not think I was going to like this movie, let alone love it. But I was happily surprised. I missed Fred and Ethel but after the first ten minutes, I forgot all about the couples TV show. Talent, it's the only word best describing the pair.

     This movie starts off with the husband, Nicky (Desi Arnaz) in the rain searching for his wife. He ends up on a trailer park, and inside the main office. There is another man in there explaining that his wife was interested in buying a trailer. Nicky's trailer. And Nicky's wife, Tracy (Lucille Ball) is selling their trailer without her husband's knowledge. Nicky then starts to talk about how wonderful having a trailer is at first, and horrible it is later. We begin his story in flashbacks. Nicky and Tracy are talking about marriage, and how Tracy would love to have a trailer. Nicky is in the business where he has to move around a lot. So why not a trailer? Then the search for a trailer begins. And soon they are the proud owner of a HUGE trailer. Everything is going great, until they start moving from one side of the country to another. But can their marriage survive ALL the fighting and mishaps? It is a bunch of laughs. Lucy and Desi are a great team, in I Love Lucy and their own movies.

Happy Fathers Day...

Here are some of my favorite Classic Movie Fathers...

Lou Costello:

Paul Newman:

Alfred Hitchcock:

James Stewart:

William Powell

     William Horatio Powell was born on July 29, 1892 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and died on March 5, 1984 in Palm Springs, California. In his lifetime he he worked with many actresses, but his most famous pairing was Myrna Loy. Together they played Nick and Nora Charles of the Thin Man series and did a lot of cute comedies and a few dramas together. He was married three times. In 1931 he married Carole Lombard but they divorced in 1933. They remained friends until her death in 1942. Mr Powell lost another love of his life, his fiance at the time of her death, Jean Harlow. Who died in 1937. His last marriage was with Diana Lewis in 1940, who he stayed married to till his death. He was a great actor and a great friend to many other actors. I would highly recommend any of his films, but my favorites are the ones he did with Myrna Loy. And that means all of them, Thin Man and all of their other films together.

Pug Sighting

Pug Sighting....

In the 1948 musical, Easter Parade!!!! And boy are they cute. Here is Peter Lawford, Fred Astaire, and Ann Miller

TCM

I would love to thank TCM for showing the greatest movies of all time, and for showing me films that I have never seen before and ending up loving. You're the greatest!!!! 

RIP

We lost two actresses that I have always loved. The movies that they made, gave a lot of people happiness through tough times. One being War..... 

Joan Fontaine 

Born: October 22, 1917 - Died: December 15, 2013 (96 years old)

Shirley Temple 

Born: April 23, 1928 - Died: February 10, 2014 (85 years old)

Classic Celebrities Diet

Barbara Stanwyck:
What kind of food do you think Barbara Stanwyck ate? You think a salad diet was what she enjoyed? Nope, in fact, in a newspaper clipping I just read, she was said to have enjoyed meat and potatoes. She said that she loved rare raw steak and potatoes and would add greens to her plate for the simple fact that it was healthy. She also said that she was not a big diet person, in fact, she thought it to be dull. She did gulp down a lot of water a day, and exercised with swimming, and tons of walking.

Grace Kelly:
Princess Grace would go to America for visits and said to have been a huge hamburger lover along with enjoying milkshakes. Her favorite? Chocolate and Vanilla milkshakes. Her exercise was always swimming and walking as well.

Carole Lombard:
Miss Lombard, or Mrs. Clark Gable, was a huge meat and veggies lover. Along with enjoying Coca-Cola. She was said to have drank coke one after the other, and played tennis too hard.

Meet John Doe

Meet John Doe
Released Date: May 3, 1941
Director: Frank Capra
Actors: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward Arnold, Walter Brennan, Spring Byington, James Gleason, Gene Lockhart, Rod La Rocque, Irving Bacon, Regis Toomey, J. Farrell MacDonald, and Warren Hymer

     I would like to start this post by saying that after long searching, there is no longer version of this picture. A lot of film historians went through files and could not find a longer version. What actually happened, and the reason so many believed there was a longer version, was that when this movie was first released, it was said that the movie was 132 minutes long. It wasn't, the movie is 123 minutes long. Which just simply means that the last two numbers were switched. This movie is so well made though, that you don't feel like it is too long. Despite there being a nine minute difference in time, the movie is still a little over two hours long. It was neat to find out that the director didn't want anyone to play John Doe, except Gary Cooper. Cooper said yes to playing the part because he loved working with Capra (which he already worked with in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town) and he also always wanted to work with Miss Barbara Stanwyck. All made a deal in this movie, didn't they. Miss Stanwyck always said that Frank Capra told her to act, not just with words, but with her eyes as well. Something that she always believed to be the best advice she was given.

     Ann Mitchell (Barbara Stanwyck) has just been fired from her newspaper job. And to give her boss a piece of her mind, and a great parting gift, she writes a letter. The letter states that this man, a one John Doe, is jobless and wants to commit suicide on Christmas Eve. Ann makes sure her boss gets the letter, and not only that, but has it published for the newspaper. Ann goes into her bosses office a few days later and tells him the truth. But because the story is so big, what will they do to tell the public? Ann recommends that they look for a regular American who won't give their secret away. Her boss enjoys this idea, not at first, but after some heavy thinking (smoke coming outta his ears and everything) he decides to do it. There is a huge line of men outside of his office, all claiming to have written the letter. Ann says that they should interview them all and pick out the right John Doe. They decline the first bunch when the perfect man walks through the door. Their John Doe (Gary Cooper). Not only is he tall and handsome, also in need of money, but he use to play baseball. What could be more American than that? He agrees to be Doe. He also needs his arm fixed, he stopped playing baseball after a major arm injury. His arm can be fixed and better yet, he can play baseball again. Everything looks great, but what about one small detail, once it is finally out that he lied, he probably won't be playing baseball after that. Will he go through with it? Find out, by watching Meet John Doe!!!

     This movie is super cute and also has a warm Christmas feel at the end of the movie. With a black and white Christmas, you can never go wrong.

Wife Vs. Secretary

Wife Vs. Secretary
Released Date: February 28, 1936
Director: Clarence Brown
Actors: Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Myrna Loy, May Robson, George Barbier, James Stewart, Hobart Cavanaugh, Tom Dugan, Gilbert Emery, Majorie Gateson, and Gloria Holden

     Could you imagine seeing James Stewart's name after the title? Me too! I was shocked. This movie may not have him in every scene, but he plays a very important part. I still loved every minute of this movie! This picture is one of many Clark Gable and Jean Harlow films, but they do not play each others significant other. That's Myrna Loy and James Stewart's roles.

     Van (Clark Gable) is a laid back, fun guy. With a great job, and even greater title. The movie starts off with Van at home and having breakfast with his wife, Linda (Myrna Loy). It is their third wedding anniversary and Linda is planning a great dinner for the two of them. With friends as well, a party if you will. Van goes to work and we see that he has a great relationship with his secretary, Whitey (Jean Harlow). Linda does not seem jealous or mad that her husband is so needy with his secretary, and Linda doesn't seem to need any reason to be jealous. Until Linda goes to his work with her mother in law. Mimi (May Robson) is Van's mother, and Linda's mother in law, she tells Linda after they leave, that she should tell Van to get rid of his secretary. But Linda is against it. But you can tell that Linda is starting to think and worry. Van loves his wife very much and Whitey has a boyfriend that she wants to marry. But when Linda wants to away with Van, he declines taking her, and when Linda finds out later that Whitey meets him there for business, all hell breaks loose. Will that break up Van and Linda's perfect marriage? Will Whitey and Dave (James Stewart) break up? I would highly recommend this gem. It is a great movie with a great cast.

Jean Harlow

Check out these amazing photos I found of the late and beautiful Jean Harlow....

Barbara Stanwyck

     Have you ever watched a Barbara Stanwyck movie? She was incredible. I have been watching a lot of her movies lately. Titanic; Christmas in Connecticut; Sorry, Wrong Number; Remember the Night; The Lady Eve; and Night Nurse. I have always said that classic films, black and white movies are the best, and she is a huge reason for me saying that. Stanwyck, Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis always give 100%. Stanwyck also had a very cute husband, you know, Robert Taylor? Even though their relationship ended on horrible terms, they were a very cute couple while it lasted. 

  

     Barbara Stanwyck born as Ruby Stevens on July 16, 1907 in New York.  When Ruby was six years old, her mother, while pregnant, was on a bus with Ruby mind you, and a drunk kicked Ruby's mother in the stomach. After having a miscarriage and after tons of blood loss, Ruby lost her mother to infection. Ruby then turned to many homes for a family. As sad as this sounds, Ruby became Barbara Stanwyck and lived happily in California with amazing work and beauty.