Happy Birthday: Don Ameche!

Don Ameche (May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993). Ameche had gone to university to study law but loved theatricals so decided on a stage career. One of Ameche's brothers, Jim Ameche, was also an actor in radio and films.

He made his film debut in 1935 and performed in such films as Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938), as the title character in The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939). He also co-starred with Gene Tierney in the film, Heaven Can Wait, a film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Heaven Can Wait (1943) Comedy. Produced and directed by Ernst Lubitsch. The screenplay written by Samson Raphaelson. Music score: Alfred Newman. Cinematography: Edward Cronjager. Cast: Gene Tierney, Don Ameche and Charles Coburn. The supporting cast includes Marjorie Main, Laird Cregar, Spring Byington, Allyn Joslyn, Eugene Pallette, Signe Hasso and Louis Calhern.

When 70 year old Henry Van Cleve, a member of New York's social elite dies, he believes that he will be sent to the devil and goes there directly. When he arrives, he is greeted by a well dressed gentleman, who's curious to know what crimes Henry has committed, that would cause him to think he belongs with the devil. Thinking the best way to remember, is by all the woman he has had in his life. So Henry begins his story:

When he was born his mother and grandmother spoiled him, and as he got older, he quickly began to notice girls. A cute scene in the film is when, Henry shows a little girl a beetle, and as she talks him into giving her another beetle, Henry realizes, "If you want to win a girl, you have to have lots of beetles."

Henry's wealthy father Randolph and his grandfather, provide Henry with everything a young man could think off, including a maid to tutor him in French. The lovely French tutor is tutoring Henry in the ways of champagne and romance, until the morning of his fifteenth birthday, when his shocked parents find their son drunk. Henry's lifestyle as a womanizer continues until the morning of his 26th birthday. Henry tells his mother that he has met the girl of his dreams and wants to marry her, if only he knew her name. That evening, Henry attends a party celebrating the engagement of his cousin Albert and his beautiful fiancee, Martha. Henry can not believe his eyes when he sees Martha, for she is the girl he fell in love with the day before during a chance meeting. Martha, tells Henry that she is only marrying Albert to get away from her parents, and admits that she is in love with Henry. The couple elope that night.

On the day before Martha and Henry's 10th anniversary, Henry is having breakfast with their son Jack when he reads a note from Martha, saying that she has left him. Henry goes to see Martha at her parents home in Kansas, where her parents have reluctantly taken her back. When he gets there, Martha tells him that she is aware of Henry's continued womanizing, but his charm and his Grandfather, convince her to forgive her husband and they get back together.

Henry and Martha are happy as the years pass, until Henry becomes worried about thier son Jack's involvement with a chorus girl named Peggy. Henry visits Peggy, who accepts his offer of $25,000 to leave Jack. Jack, has already tired of Peggy, and announces that he has a new girl friend. That evening, Martha tells Henry that she likes the look of him now that he is fifty, for his potbelly means that he is no longer a Casanova. Or so she thinks...

Fun Facts:

One of Don Ameche's favorite movie of his own films.

First video of 12.

CMBA Blogathon - Movies of 1939: Midnight(1939).

Midnight (1939). Romantic/ comedy. Director: Mitchell Leisen. Written by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder based on a story by Edwin Justus Mayer and Franz Schulz. Cast: Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche and John Barrymore.

Eve Peabody an American showgirl, finds herself stranded in Paris one rainy night. Eve makes a deal with cab driver Tibor Czerny, to double his fee for driving her from nightclub to nightclub looking for a job. Eve, decides to run away from him when it looks like he is becoming interested in her. She hides from him at a charity event where she meets, millionaire Georges Flammarion.

The adventure begins after Georges gives her the title of the Baroness Czerny and Eve finds herself in a room at the Ritz, every girls dream, with beautiful clothes and a chauffeured limousine. Later that morning, Georges, appears at the Ritz to offer Eve the job of taking Jacques away from Helen. She accepts the job and his weekend invitation at his home. That same day, Tibor has organized the cab drivers of Paris to find Eve and on a tip, he finds her at the Flammarion chateau. Just as Helen is about to expose Eve as an impostor, Tibor arrives as the Baron to claim his wife. Will they be able to keep up the crazy charade?

Favorite quote: Eve Peabody: (at the ball) Don't forget, every Cinderella has her midnight.

This is my second Midnight movie review. I thought the story was magical. Once again, Claudette Colbert shows that she is a wonderful comedian. Don Ameche, gives one of my favorite performances. Mary Astor, combines beauty and meanness into a wonderful performance.

Please click here to view Dawn's first Midnight(1939) movie review.

Claudette Colbert ( September 13, 1903 – July 30, 1996), was a French-born American stage and film actress. Claudette began her career on Broadway during the 1920s, moving onto talking pictures. She began a successful film career with Paramount Pictures and later, as a freelance performer. Claudette was recognized as one of the leading women of screwball comedy. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in the film, It Happened One Night (1934), and also received Academy Award nominations for her dramatic roles in Private Worlds (1935) and Since You Went Away (1944).

Her film career began to decline in the 1950s, and she made her last film in 1961. Colbert continued to act in theater and, briefly, in television during her later years.

Don Ameche (May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was an Academy Award winning actor. Ameche was a versatile and popular film actor in the 1930s and '40s, usually as the handsome, leading man. He was also popular as a radio master of ceremonies during this time. As his film popularity began to fade in the 1950s, he continued working in theater and some TV. His film career made a comeback in the 1980s as an aging millionaire in, Trading Places (1983) and in the film,Cocoon (1985).

John Barrymore (February 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942). He began his acting career as a handsome stage actor in light comedy. His success continued in movies in both the silent and sound eras. John Barrymore is mostly known for his roles in movies like, Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (1920), Grand Hotel (1932), Dinner at Eight (1933), Twentieth Century (1934), and Don Juan (1926). He was the brother of Lionel Barrymore and Ethel Barrymore and was the paternal grandfather of, Drew Barrymore.

Mary Astor (May 3, 1906 – September 25, 1987) was most remembered for her performance in the film, The Maltese Falcon (1941) with Humphrey Bogart. Astor began her long motion picture career as a teenager in the silent movies of the 1920s.

She made a successful transition to talkies, eventually winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film, The Great Lie (1941). She was an MGM contract player through most of the 1940s and continued to act in movies, on television and on stage until her retirement from the screen in 1964. Astor was the author of five novels. Her autobiography became a bestseller, as did her later book, A Life on Film, which was about her career.

The Feminine Touch(1941)

The Feminine Touch (1941). Romantic Comedy. Cast: Don Ameche and Rosalind Russell.

College psychology professor John Hathaway, becomes upset when Dean Hutchinson suggests that the team's star, Rubber-legs Ryan, must pass an exam to be put back on the team. Rubber-legs has eyes for John's wife Julie, John, who is writing a book about jealousy, thinks he is above all that and is not upset. Which does not make Julie very happy. When John and Hutchinson argue over Rubber-leg, John quits and moves to New York with Julie. At the publisher Elliott Morgan office, they meet, Nellie Woods, who is secretly in love with Elliott. While John talks over his book with Nellie, the jealous Julie meets the womanizing, Elliott who does not appeal to Julie. At a party, Elliott admits that he is attracted to Julie, and John says that he should spend time with Julie, while Nellie and John spend time together working. Julie goes sightseeing with Elliott and becomes very upset that John is not jealous. One day, when Julie comes home and sees John and Nellie hugging and drinking champagne, celebrating the sale of his book, Julie's jealousy surprises John. Later, while they are riding a subway, Julie and John jokingly pretend that he is bothering her and bystanders call a policeman. She tries to stop John's arrest but is pushed back onto the subway by the crowd. You have to watch to see what happens next.


I thought this was a very charming romantic comedy. Not heavy on plot, a perfect movie for a summer afternoon with its snappy dialog, especially from Russell and Francis. Another fun part about watching this movie is Julie fun hats. We also look back at 1940's feminism seen though psychology professor eyes but scoffed at by Julie, who says those are the women who are alone at night.

Midnight(1939)

Midnight (1939). Romantic/ comedy. Director: Mitchell Leisen. Written by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder based on a story by Edwin Justus Mayer and Franz Schulz. Cast: Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche and John Barrymore.

Eve Peabody an American showgirl, finds herself stranded in Paris one rainy night. Eve makes a deal with cab driver Tibor Czerny, to double his fee for driving her from nightclub to nightclub looking for a job. Eve, decides to run away from him when it looks like he is becoming interested in her. She hides from him at a charity event and attracts the attention of, millionaire Georges Flammarion. The adventure begins after Georges gives her the title of the Baroness Czerny, Eve finds herself in a room at the Ritz, with beautiful clothes and a chauffeured limousine. Later that morning, Georges, shows up at the Ritz to offer Eve the job of taking Jacques away from Helen. She accepts the job and his weekend invitation at his home. That same day, Tibor has organized the cab drivers of Paris to find Eve and on a tip, he finds her at the Flammarion chateau. Just as Helen is about to expose Eve as an impostor, Tibor arrives as the Baron to claim his wife. Will they be able to keep up the crazy charade?
Midnight Movie Clip.
Favorite quote:

Eve Peabody: (at the ball) Don't forget, every Cinderella has her midnight.

This is the first time I have seen the film Midnight. I thought the story was magical. Once again, Claudette Colbert shows that she is a wonderful comedian. Don Ameche gives one of my favorite performances. Mary Astor combines beauty and meanness in her performance. I may have to add this film to my DVD collection.

MOON OVER MIAMI (1941)

MOON OVER MIAMI (1941). Kay(Betty Grable) and Barbara Latimer(Carole Landis), both holding down jobs, singing at the Texas drive-in restaurant as car hops, with their aunt Susan, who is flipping burgers. Waiting for the mailman to bring their inheritance check of $55,000. Only to read the disappointing news they will only receive only $4,000. They talk Susan, into spending the money on a trip to Miami, to find rich husbands. Barbara, comes up with a plan to pretend to be Kay's secretary, and Susan her maid. They fly off to the Flamingo Hotel and make quick friends with Jack, a bartender who tells them he will protect them from the Gold Diggers.

Kay tricks Jeff (Robert Cummings) into an invitation, to his party. Where she also meets Phil (Don Ameche), heir to the McNeil Mines. Close friends Jeff and Phil, begin a playful competition for Kay affections. Kay finds herself not able to choose whom she would like to marry. Her sister Barbara has secretly fallen in love with Jeff.

The women find themselves in financial trouble, after a couple weeks of living it up at the fancy hotel. They need $150 to pay their hotel bill. Kay, has plans to go dancing with her two friends later that evening. Kay invites Barbara, to come along so she can dance with Jeff, while she talks with Phil. Phil admits to her that he is broke. Kay, also admits, that she came to Miami, to find a rich husband. They decide that they are not right for each other. Phil searches out Jeff to tell him that Kay loves him, after which they becomes engaged . As the women are packing to leave for Jeff's families island, Jack overhears them talking about their Gold Digging plans, and threatens to tell Jeff. Jack finds himself locked in the bathroom, while the women quickly leave for the island.

Phil, decides he can not live without Kay, and comes up with a plan to stop the wedding. The woman are surprised to see Jack, who came to inform Jeff that Kay, is not really love him.
Will Phil get there in time to stop the wedding, or ...Will Jack ruin the girls plans?

I really enjoyed watching Betty Grable sing and dance in this fun/colorful movie. I also really enjoyed the location scenes of Cypress Gardens and Silver Springs.
Cast: Don Ameche, Betty Grable, Robert Cummings, and Carole Landis.