Happy Birthday: Judy Garland!

Judy Garland (June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969). Her career spanned 45 of her 47 years, Garland was well known for her versatility, she received a juvenile Academy Award, won a Golden Globe Award, as well as Grammy Awards and a Special Tony Award. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film, A Star is Born and for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 1961 film, Judgement at Nuremberg.

At 40 years of age, she was the youngest recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in the motion picture industry.

After performing with her sisters in vaudeville, Garland was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a teenager. There she made more than two dozen films, including nine with Mickey Rooney and the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz.

A musical fantasy film. Directed by Victor Fleming. Based on the 1900 fairytale novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Cast: Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, and Frank Morgan, with Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Charles Grapewin, Clara Blandick and the Singer Midgets as the Munchkins.

Famous for its use of special effects, Technicolor and unusual characters, The Wizard of Oz has become, one of the favorites of all films.

Wizard of Oz, has won three Academy Awards, and was nominated for Best Picture of the Year (losing to Gone With The Wind), The Wizard of Oz was initially a box office failure and MGM's most expensive production up to that time. The song "Over the Rainbow" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the film itself received several Academy Award nominations.

Telecasts of The Wizard of Oz began in 1956, re-introducing the film to the public, becoming an annual tradition.
Please click here to learn more about Judy Garland.
Please click here to view Judy Garland "Musicals" reviews.

My Top 5 On Screen Couples

Here is a list of my all time top 6 on screen couples, in reverse order.
6. Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy:
One of the most tragic off screen romances as well as one of the most heartwarming on screen ones. tracy was married to a strict catholic, and a catholic himself, she refused to divorce his wife even though it was well known by the public and his wife that he and Katharine were involved in an affair for most of his marraige.

Favourite On Screen Pairing: Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (1967)

5. Bette Davis and George Brent:
Dispite brent's not-quite-amazing performances in all of the films that he and Bette starred in (11), the chemistry between them is very good. Perhaps that was helped by the Hollywood legend that they were always in a constant on-off relationship. The chemistry between Bette and a man is only equaled perhaps by Paul Henried (Now, Voyager, Deception), and Gary Merril (All About Eve, Another Man's Poison, and some other English movie I can never remember the name of).

Favourite On Screen Pairing: Dark Victory (1939)

4. Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant:
Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman were only paired together in two films, Notorious and Indiscreet. A big mistake in my opinion. They have some strange on screen relationship that is caused by her laid back beauty and his akward charm that you can't force.

Favourite On Screen Pairing: Notorious (1946)

3. Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon:
My only fear with the pairings of these two is that they will be soooo cute that I will be forced to go into a coma and never come out. How can you get sweeter? Greer's lovely warmth and Walter's soft lovely speaking voice, create a couple that will have you in tears in minutes, provided that that is what the film is attempting.

Favourite On Screen Pairing: Mrs. Miniver (1942)

2. Judy Garland and Fred Astaire:
I have only seen one film with them in it (Easter Parade, is that all?), and they are so good together that it made me want to cry! Judy crying over the fact that she thinks Ann Miller has run away with Fred Astaire singing "Better Luck Next Time" is soooooo moving.

Favourite On Screen Pairing: Easter Parade (1948)

1. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton:
The first film that I saw with them was Cleopatra, and was so entranced by them (and Richard Burton :D) that me and my mum got my dad "The Taylor And Burton Collection" as a sort of "Thank you in advance for letting us watch these" present, and I have been hooked ever since. When I watch The VIPs and see Richard Burton so upset and Elizabeth trying to show that she is not upset but is really devastated it the saddest thing i've ever seen! They are just romantic beyond words, and their charisma is so wonderful. Definately my tope couple EVAH!

Favourite On Screen Pairing: The VIPs (1963) and The Sandpiper (1965)

Well, that was a hard descision, but in my mind no one beats Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. Here is a funny "Lets prove Joan Crawford wrong" thing that I discovered on Tumblr.

On the set of “Baby Jane” Joan was asked about the differences between herself and Bette Davis, Joan stated: “Bette likes to rant and rave. I just sit and knit. She yelled and I knitted a scarf from Hollywood to Malibu.”

 I rest my case.

~Bette

Some Cute Photos To Brighten Your Day

Ingrid Bergman in a very red dress

Jimmy Stewart and his kids

Liza Minnelli and Judy Garland singing together

Bette Davis and her dog on the set of The Letter

Hope you liked them!
~Bette

Autumnal Bliss

I'm doing a guest post for my best Internet-friend Libby at Catching The Stars  and its all about Autumn and classic movies. Here is what I did.

 Autumn And The Movies

I'm sure there are lots of movies set in the autumn, but whenever I try to think of any, I can only think of a few. The one that has the most association with autumn for me, is Meet Me In St. Louis (1944). The film is about The Smiths, a lovely New England family that go through the normal troubles of every day middle-class life in 1904. The film shows the goings on the the family through from spring to Christmas. The cast is as follows:

• Judy Garland as Esther Smith
• Margaret O'Brien as "Tootie" Smith
• Mary Astor as Mrs. Anna Smith
• Lucille Bremer as Rose Smith
• Tom Drake as John Truett
• Marjorie Main as Katie the maid
• Leon Ames as Mr. Alonzo Smith
• Harry Davenport as Grandpa

"If I like a you and you like a me and we like a both the same! I'd like to stay this very way, under the bamboo tree!"

Ok, So I will just do a quick plot summary. Esther Smith is the second eldest sister of the Smith family. She is in love with the "boy next door", but he doesn't know she exists. Her elder sister, Rose, is expecting her sweetheart to propose to her over the newly discovered "telephone *squeal of excitement*", but he only talks to her about how it is "LIKE THEY"RE IN THE NEXT ROOM!" she replies with "WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Esther's romance with the boy next door is going nowhere fast, after he said to her on their first meeting "That perfume smells just like the kind my grandmother would wear," and, "You got a mighty strong grip for a girl!" Whilst all of this romance is going on, their five year old sister, Tootie (the adorable Margaret O'Brien) rides around on the ice wagon and causes mayhem. They all get the shock of their lives when they find out that their father has decided to take a job in New York.



Mary Astor, who is best remembered for her role as Brigid O'Shaughnessy in The Maltese Falcon (1941), Is lovely as the mother of Judy Garland and her siblings (although she is really too young to play the mother of young adult children), and she is so lovely ;-). But she still lets them go out, on their own to throw flower bombs at people on Halloween. The main reason that this reminds me of Autumn is the said Halloween sequence were all of these unsupervised 10 year old children have a huge bonfire (health hazard or what?)!

And Tootie, dresses up as a dead man with a Charlie Chaplin mustache. She wants to throw a chair into the bonfire (!), but all the older children tell her to go away 'cause she's too little. She makes a deal with them, if she throws a flower bomb in Mr. Broughcoff's (is that how you spell it?) face. Mr. Broughcoff is the scariest man in town, and according to rumor, he branded his wife with a red hot poker! But he is really a sweet middle aged man, who is scared the daylights out of when Tootie screams "I hate you Mr. Broughcoff!" and throws a flower bomb in is face.

Beautiful house

There is only one other reference to Autumn that comes to mind, and that is in All About Eve (1950) when Celest Holm as Karen Richards declares that "Loyd always says that in the theatre a lifetime is a season and a season a lifetime. It must have been last October." But it isn't really an autumny movie just my fabourite one, and I reccomend it to all of you!

Karen is the one in the mink, not the mousy one with the trench coat and funny hat.

~Bette

Brings A Tear To Your Eye...

I L-O-V-E this video recorded on the Judy Garland show with Barbra Striesand and Judy Garland, my two favourite artists belting out a duet together. I nearly cried first time I saw it, but that's sentimental me for you. I hope you like it as much as I did!




~Bette

P.S. It's Joan Fontaine's birthday today, so happy birthday! Keep going, 93 is amazing!

Joanna Fontanna is in da house!

Here is a random photo that someone edited on tumblr, but I think it's kinda funny to see Joan Fontaine funky dancing!

The Hollywood School Of Double-Takes

We all know that out of all the double takes in movie history, there are the greats and the not-so-greats. Each and every actor has their own double-take style. For example, there is the Cary Grant double-take (one of the best thought out, in my opinion).

But you may go for the more subtle double take, as Bette Davis does in In This Our Life here.

However she was not so subtle here.

Or here.

Or here *yawn*.

 Or here.

But under no curcumstances, ever, ever, ever, go for a double take like Cary Grant's grandmother in An Affair To Remember. But, unfortunatley that double take was soooooo bad, that no one has ever taken a still of it (to my internet browser's knowledge). But it basically goes like this: hmmm-huh?-squint-feeling woozy-about to burst into tears- "Nicolo!!!" Not Good. I have impersonated it many times. Hahahaha. A couple more good double takes follow.

And on a completely unrelated note, aparently there has been some comparison of Robert Redford and Zac Efron, and whilst serching for Robert Redford double-take photos, I found this *shreek!* and *eeek!*

How disturbing is that! A youthful Barbara Striesand cuddling Zac Efron when he was -14 years old. And plus what is with that hair-do? Come on Zac, I like you and all but what the heck is with the racoon that made it's house on your head?

~Bette

A Star Is Born!

Happy birthday Lauren Bacall!!! Her birthday was yesterday and she is 86. That is pretty awsomesauce and snazzy. To be 86 i mean. She must be so wise...

I have to admit that I have only seen one of her movies (The Man With A Horn) but she was married to Bogie, and that puts her way up in my books ;D.  But this post is really about A Star Is Born so I better get back to that.

I watched this film quite a while ago. Maybe about 2 months ago, but I can still remember it very strongly. Its not the kind of film you can forget very easily. The film starts with some sort of Hollywood gala, and the main appearance is supposed to be that of Norman Maine (James Mason), a famous film-star who's carreer is in decline. He apppears on stage while Esther Blodget (Judy Garland) is singing, and he is obviously intoxicated. She turns the awkward situation into a comical but sophisticated entrance for Norman. He thanks her and draws a heart on the backstage wall with her lipstick. He then goes to see her sing The Man That Got Away after hours at a club in Hollywood. He recognises her talent and makes her quit her band and make a carreer in movies. He mentions her name to the studios but on the day she arrives he has been taken to a location for fiming a new "comeback film" and she assumes he was just flirting with her. After a series of unpredictable events, he hears her singing on a TV commercial and the proccess starts all over agian, except this time she gets a job with his studio. The studio changes her name to Vicki Lester, and she makes a big success in a musical where she performs songs such as I Was Born In A Trunk. Norman and Esther marry and live very happily together for a while. But as her carreer soars, his declines even more. Can their mariage survive?

*Weep weep* Even as I *blow nose* watch I Was Born In A Trunk, I remember everything *sob* that happens and I just can't bear it!!!!! I dont want to spoil the story for you all, but after half-way through the film, every time James Mason walks into view I sob. Judy's performance is just beyond words. She is so sensitive, and in some scenes it is like it's her story that she is acting, not Esther Blodgett's. The direction is that of George Cukor of Gaslight, Gone With The Wind, and The Philidelphia Story, and it is pretty fantabiedoobie directing. Just to let you know, that I will know if someone is worthy of being my friend, if they draw a heart on a wall with MY lipsick! That is a pretty cool thing to do. Almost as cool as Paul Henried lighting 2 cigarettes in Now Voyager.

Judy in Meet Me In St. Louis

I wanted to tell you that there will be no more posts until Tuesday/Wednesday (this is supposed to be the bit where you are all sobbing at your computers) because I am staying at a friend's house because my parents are going away for a few days on Sunday.

~Bette

The Clock (1945): Every second a heart-beat .

The Clock (1945). Cast: Judy Garland and Robert Walker. Director: Vincente Minnelli. This was Garland's first dramatic role as well as her first film in which she did not sing.


Soon after arriving in New York City to begin his two-day leave, Corporal Joe Allen meets Alice Maybery and it is love at first sight. Joe and Alice spend the afternoon sightseeing around New York, following their visit to Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum, as Alice boards a bus for home. Joe is unable to bring himself to the thought that he may never see her again and chases after the bus. Feeling the same way about him, Alice agrees to meet him later that evening. When Alice tells Helen, about her new found love, Helen thinks it is best for her to stay away from soldiers because they only break hearts. Alice, does not agree and meets Joe for dinner. Alice and Joe become so absorbed in each other that they forget the time and miss the last bus. Joe later stops a milk truck and asks for a ride home. The milk truck driver agrees to take Joe and Alice home, but.. only if they first go with him on his milk run. Al, Joe and Alice stop by a diner for breakfast, where a drunk gets into a fight with Al. Al is injured and unable to finish is milk route, Joe and Alice finish his route for him. Later that morning, Al brings Joe and Alice to his home, where Al's wife cooks breakfast for everyone. Mrs. Henry suggests that they marry right away. Alice and Joe agree, but they become separated in a crowded subway station. Will they will be reunited before Joe has to go off to war?




What I loved about this film was the chemistry between Robert Walker and Judy Garland: they are both lonely souls who team up in a series of adventures. Each time trying to go their own way, they cannot seem to part ways. This film really is not a fluffy film, as you can see how they feel about their conflict on their faces.

Fun Fact:
The lady at the luncheonette counter is Moyna MacGill, Angela Landsbury's mother.

Happy!! Easter Parade (1948).

Easter Parade(1948). Musical. Cast: Judy Garland, Fred Astaire and Ann Miller. featuring music by Irving Berlin, including some of Astaire and Garland's best-known songs, such as "Steppin' Out With My Baby" and "We're a Couple of Swells."

Loved the three musical scenes: first, Ann Miller's tap dance 'Shakin' the Blues Away'. Not only a great song, but a wonderful dance number. Then there is Fred in the toy shop ( blog video). The timing of the dance is fun to watch. Lastly, 'Down the Avenue' is a very cute song. I laugh every time I see Judy Garland and Fred Astaire dressed up as bums!! There are a few laughs, but I mainly watch this movie for the dance numbers. It is a perfect way to celebrate Easter.

The film won the 1948 Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture. It also received the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Musical. It was the most successful picture for both Garland and Astaire.

Gene Kelly was originally cast to play Don, but he broke his ankle in a volleyball game. It was his suggestion that he be replaced by Fred Astaire. Cyd Charisse was to play Nadine, but a torn ligament in her knees forced her to drop out. She was replaced by Ann Miller.

New Marilyn Monroe Book Out Soon: "All Is Vanity"

MARILYN AND JUDY'S LAST PRESS AGENT SAYS, “IT’S ALL TRUE”

“There I was - standing outside the yellow police “Do Not Cross” tape.” Dawn was breaking over the Hollywood hills. How was I going to handle this pack of hungry reporters? “Mr. Selsman, can you tell us what happened?” “Mike, how did she die?” “Was it suicide?” “What time was the body discovered?” “Michael, was anyone with her?”

I was in front of the most famous bungalow at that moment in the world, 12305 5th Helena Drive, in Brentwood. It was the last house Marilyn Monroe ever lived in. And I am, by attrition, her last press agent. Her body had been wheeled, lifeless, covered with a sheet, into a coroner’s van. “Mr. Selsman, Mr. Selsman,” I could hear the reporters’ questions echoing in my ears, the flash bulbs going off. I remembered back to the first time I ever met Marilyn Monroe.”

New World Digital Publishing is pleased to announce the publication of Michael Selsman's "All is Vanity," a never-before-told look at Hollywood through the eyes of Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland's last press agent. Selsman represented such mega-stars as all three Fondas, Jimmy Stewart, James Mason, Rock Hudson, Marlene Dietrich, Peter Sellers, Cary Grant, and many others. Michael also produced several Hollywood films, and was a producer and executive at Twentieth Century-Fox, MGM, Universal, and Paramount Pictures.

"All is Vanity" is a must read for anyone who loves the glamour days of old Hollywood and those that lived in it.

Price $14.99 plus shipping and handling. For wholesale orders, please contact cmavromatis@nwdigitalinc.com directly or purchase from Ingram Publishing Services.