You Gotta Friend In Me...

In the book I got for my birthday, "Notorious: The Life Of Ingrid Bergman" by Donald Spoto (which, yes, I will have to post about one day instead of just mentioning it) there were some great photos of Alfred Hitchcock and Ingrid Bergman together, sometimes with Gregory Peck and Cary Grant as well, but I really liked them, so I scanned them for the blog! Ingrid Bergman, Hitchcock and Cary Grant were best friends basically for life so these photos are so lovely!

In their later years

Helping with her knitting on the set of Under Capricorn

Hitch evidently has some ideas for the script...

Too much amazing all sat in one room on straw chairs...

Perfect

It looks like Gregory Peck has some sort of strangely shaped camera... I am intrigued...

This could also count as a very belated birthday post for the late, great master of suspense. His birthday came around and I was just like, "Oh! It's Hitchcock's birthday... *_* Oops." and I had nothing ready! So this is it :-)

~Bette

Somewhere, Beyond the Sea...

Hey guys! I wanted to inform readers and all that jazz, that I am going to be staying with a friend's family on a Greek island from tomorrow until next Monday, so I probably won't be able to publish comments, read blogs or post. I am entering the realm of My Family And Other Animals, (not really, but I love this movie :-D) but I may be able to get to an internet cafe with mi padre. I am really looking forward to it, I found an amazing pair of vintage Audrey Hepburn style glasses at a vintage fair and they will definitely be getting lots of wear! I have my iPod full of classic films to get me through the flights, Rebel Without a Cause (1955), Bringing Up Baby (1938), one I've already seen and shall be reviewing for the upcoming "Films of 1939" blogathon in May, Wuthering Heights (1939) amongst others I've had for a while. I leave you with some Roman Holiday (1953) graphics I made. As I said in the last post I did with my graphics in, feel free to use them, but i would be more than grateful for a credit. Sorry about the watermark, I don't have a proper GIF program :-)

More than enough to make me watch any movie

They about say it all.

{Just to say, there may be some references to the British school system in this paragraph. I would try and explain it, but it is too dang complicated! But end of term is like end of semester.}
You may have wondered why my posts have been so few and far apart recently. I have several answers.  I have been revelling in the newfound sunshine in my area (which is unfortunately bringing unwelcome small, flying creatures into my house) and over the term I have been doing homework and studying for tests. Life is so busy that I hardly have time to watch movies to blog about! But now the end of term and the test season is passed I should have more time to blog!

Have a great week, expect uncontrollable Easter Parade (1948) spamming when I get back.

~Bette

Happy Birthday: Gregory Peck!

Trivia:

He took in former co-star Ava Gardner's housekeeper and dog after her death in 1990.

During his lean days, he supported himself as a Radio City Music Hall tour guide and as a catalog model for Montgomery Ward.

When he arrived in Italy to shoot Roman Holiday (1953), Gregory was privately depressed about his recent separation from his first wife, Greta. However, during the shoot, he met and fell in love with a French woman named, Veronique Passani. After his divorce, he married Passani and they remained together for the rest of his life..

In late November of 2005, thieves stole Peck's "Hollywood Walk of Fame" star using a cement saw to cut the marker out of the sidewalk. In a simple ceremony, a new star honoring the late actor was unveiled on December 1st to replace the stolen one. Hollywood's honorary mayor Johnny Grant, lifted a covering and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, we proudly welcome back to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Gregory Peck." Peck's star was the fourth to be stolen since the Walk of Fame was first started. James Stewart's and Kirk Douglas' stars also disappeared some years ago after being removed for construction and were later recovered by police in the nearby city of South Gate. Gene Autry's star also vanished during a construction project.

Said that his favorite leading ladies were Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, and Ava Gardner.

In the 1950s, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson, AZ, named one of their male javalinas "Gregory Peckory" in his honor; incidentally, their female was named "Olivia de Javalina", to honor actress Olivia de Havilland.

Turned down Gary Cooper's Oscar-winning role as Marshal Will Kane in, High Noon (1952) because he felt the story was too similar to his film, The Gunfighter (1950). When the film proved to be a huge success Peck admitted he had made a mistake, though he said he didn't believe he could have played the character as well as Gary Cooper.

In 1946 he met and befriended Gary Cooper, with whom he was often compared in terms of looks and acting style.

MGM wanted Peck to play Roger Thornhill in, North by Northwest (1959), but the director Alfred Hitchcock thought Peck was too serious and cast Cary Grant .

While filming The Bravados (1958), he decided to become a cowboy in real life, so he purchased a working ranch near Santa Barbara, California - already stocked with 600 head of prize cattle.

Was the second choice to play Prof. Henry Jones Sr. in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), had first choice Sean Connery declined the role. Harrison Ford, said Peck as one of his favorite actors and To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) as one of his favorite films.

Was offered but declined the role of Det. Steve McGarrett in "Hawaii Five-O" (1968).

Gregory Peck interview first video of 11.

Happy Birthday to Gregory Peck and Spencer Tracy

Happy Birthday to two of the best and most well liked screen actors: Gregory Peck (1916 - 2003) and Spencer Tracy (1900 - 1967)

Spellbound

Yesterday I watched Spellbound, and found it very interesting. I loved the Salvador Dali dream sequence. can anyone tell me where Hitchcock is in this film? because I thought he was the masked man in the dream? Well I don't know. He is usually in a phonebox or something.

Spellbound


Cast:

• Ingrid Bergman as Dr. Constance Peterson
• Gregory Peck as Dr. Anthony Edwardes / John Ballantyne
• Michael Chekhov as Dr. Alexander 'Alex' Brulov, a teacher of Dr. Peterson
• Alfred Hitchcock Directs the film

Plot:
Dr. Peterson has been branded by her fellow psychoanalysts as beutiful but cold, and many of the male doctors have tried to make her more "emotionally aware".  When the head of their mental home is forced into retirement after a long leave of absence due to over working, he is replaced by the young Dr. Edwards. Dr. Edwards is immediately drawn to Dr. Peterson, and her to him. Whilst getting to know him better Dr. Peterson notices that he has a strange phobia of black parallel lines on a white background. In a moment of panic, he confesses to her that he is not the real Dr. Edwards, and she tries to find out what happened to Dr. Edwards as well as trying to cure his imposter.


The Review:
I watched this with my little sister who is 8, and she would probably have different views on this than I do, as it really freaked her out! As always, Gregory and Ingrid are absolutely fantabulous as the unlikely couple. In some parts the film was quite hard to keep up with, but that is often a problem with stolen identity stories. There is an amazing dream sequence that was designed by Salvador Dali, with lots of amazing curtains and props. And as for Alfred Hitchcock's directing, to quote Eve Harrington "Everything clever and witty has long since been said," he just never ceases to amaze me.

Awards:
It received an academy award for best scoring of a dramatic or comedy picture Academy Award. It was also nominated for 5 others.


Poster:

~Bette

Too Kill a Mocking Bird(1962).

To Kill a Mockingbird(1962). Drama film adaptation of Harper Lee's novel of the same name. Cast: Mary Badham and Gregory Peck.In 1995, the film was listed in the National Film Registry. It also ranks twenty-fifth on the American Film Institute's 10th anniversary list of the greatest American movies of all time, and #1 on AFI's list of best courtroom films. In 2003, AFI named Atticus Finch the greatest movie hero of the 20th century.This film marks the film debut of Robert Duvall, William Windom and Alice Ghostley.

The story is about Atticus Finch, a widowed small town lawyer and his two children who live a carefree life. They spend their time running the neighborhood, teasing eccentric Mrs. Dubose, and hanging out with their new little friend, who has BIG stories about Boo Radley, a mentally retarded neighbor whom they have never seen.

Soon there is big trouble for the town, Atticus agrees to defend Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell. The children find themselves defending their father against the taunts of their classmates. Even though Atticus proves Tom's innocence, the jury finds him guilty. In revenge against Atticus, Bob Ewell attacks the two children, but Boo Radley, who has secretly watched over the children comes to the rescue.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" has what I thought one of the most impressive child performances I have ever viewed. The scene in which Scout breaks up the lynch mob by identifying its individual members is a very powerful moment. One you may not soon forget.



Mary Badham, best known for her portrayal of Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. At the time, Badham (age 10) was the youngest actress ever nominated in this category. Mary Badham is the younger sister of film director John Badham. Badham had no prior film acting experience before being cast in To Kill a Mockingbird. The Oscar in her category went to another child actress, Patty Duke for The Miracle Worker. During filming, Badham became close to Gregory Peck and remained friends with him. Badham is also known for her performance in, The Bewitchin' Pool, the final episode of the original Twilight Zone series. She also performed in the films, Let's Kill Uncle and This Property Is Condemned. She also made a cameo opposite Keith Carradine for his film, Our Very Own. At present Badham is an art restorer and a college testing coordinator. Married to a school teacher, and the mother of two, she travels around the world sharing her experiences in the making of the film, To Kill a Mocking Bird.

The Valley of Decision (1945)

The Valley of Decision (1945)Cast: Greer Garson, Gregory Peck, Lionel Barrymore, Preston Foster, Marsha Hunt, Gladys Cooper, Reginald Owen, Dan Duryea and Jessica Tandy. The movie was adapted by Sonya Levien and John Meehan from the novel (1943) by Marcia Davenport. The film was directed by Tay Garnett.

Mary Rafferty lives in a small house with her wheelchair-bound father Pat and her widowed sister, Kate Shannon, in Pittsburgh known as "The Flats." Mary informs her father that she has taken a job as a live-in maid at the home of steel mill owner William Scott. Her father Pat, lost his legs in an accident at Scott's mill and wants revenge against the family, disapproves. Soon after starting her job, Mary becomes friends with William's wife Clarissa, his daughter Constance, and his three sons. Mary falls head over heals in love with Paul, who has just returned home from London and has plans to modernize the furnace at the Scott mill. A romance soon blooms between Paul and Mary, much to the dismay of Louise Kane, who is determined to marry Paul for his money. The romance between Paul and Mary is endangered when Mary's family and friends, all steel mill workers, go on strike against Paul's father.

I just saw the film The Valley of Decision for the 2nd time. If you love romance, you will love this movie. The cast of characters are wonderful. Although Greer Garson is much older than Gregory Peck. You really do not notice the age difference and their romance is very believable.


Jessica Tandy began her career at the age of 16 in London, opposite Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud. She moved to the United States and performed in many supporting roles in Hollywood films. She made her first American film: The Seventh Cross (1944). She also performed in The Valley of Decision (1945), The Green Years (1946, as Cronyn's daughter), Dragonwyck (1946) starring Gene Tierney and Forever Amber (1947). Over the following three decades, her career continued with films: Alfred Hitchcock's, The Birds (1963), and a Tony Award-winning performance in The Gin Game in 1977.The beginning of the 1980s she performed in character roles in The World According to Garp, Best Friends, Still of the Night (all 1982) and The Bostonians (1984), and Cocoon (1985) and Cocoon: The Return (1988). Foxfire which won her an Emmy Award . However, it was her performance in Driving Miss Daisy (1989), that earned her an Oscar. She earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her work in Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), and co-starred in The Story Lady (1991 telefilm, with daughter Tandy Cronyn), Used People (1992, as Shirley MacLaine's mother), To Dance with the White Dog (1993 telefilm, with husband Hume Cronyn), Nobody's Fool (1994), and Camilla . Camilla was to be her last performance, at the age of 84.

Designing Women (1957).

Designing Woman (1957). Romantic/comedy. Director: Vincente Minnelli. Cast: Lauren Bacall and Gregory Peck.

After a night of drinking, sports writer Mike Hagen, cannot remember writing his assignment until fashion designer Marilla comes over to his apartment to inform him that they wrote the story together. He suggests that they take a trip to California. While there, they decide to marry and when they return to New York, they move into Marilla's beautiful East Side apartment. Back at the newspaper office, editor Hammerstein warns Mike that crooked boxing promoter Martin J. Daylor is threatening Mike's life because of the articles he has written about Daylor. In one of the funnest scenes in the movie, Mike is having dinner with his ex-girlfriend to break off their relationship. She dumps a plate of pasta in his lap, after which Marilla walks in as she is running out. After dinner, Mike and Marilla return to their apartment, where they walk into a surprise wedding shower.

After a couple of weeks, they fall into a comfortable routine, keeping their professional worlds apart. Then one night, Marilla, wanting to spend more time with her husband, attends a boxing match with Mike, where she finds herself overwhelmed by it all. The following week, Mike and his friends meet at their apartment for the guys' weekly poker game. In another room, Marilla holds a rehearsal for Zachary's musical, for which she has been chosen to design the costumes. The evening turns into a disaster.

Marilla becomes suspicious of Mike's ex-girlfriend when he tries to hide from her their former relationship. Complicating their relationship even further is Mike's relationship with the crooked boxing promoter Martin Daylor. Mike's life is in real danger, but he hides that from her too. What happens next is a series of misadventures.

I have a huge soft spot for fluffy romance films. Bacall and Peck have great chemistry as newlyweds who have several differences to work out. Bacall is funny and stylish in her beautiful gowns and Peck is funny as a rough around the edges sports writer.

Dolores Gray (June 7, 1924 – June 26, 2002) was an American stage and film actress. During her successful music career, she sang Marilyn Monroe's part on the Decca records soundtrack album of There's No Business Like Show Business (1954).


Dolores Gray was briefly signed with MGM, performing in the film, Kismet (1955) and It's Always Fair Weather(1955).

Gregory Peck

Gregory Peck's first film performance was in, Days of Glory (1944). A film which tells the story of a group of Soviet guerrillas fighting back against impossible odds during the 1941 Nazi invasion of Russia.

He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor five times, four of which came in his first five years of film acting: for The Keys of the Kingdom (1944), The Yearling (1946), Gentleman's Agreement (1947), and Twelve O'Clock High (1949). Among his other films were Spellbound (1945), The Paradine Case (1947), The Gunfighter (1950), Moby Dick (1956), On the Beach (1959), The Guns of Navarone (1961), and Roman Holiday (1953). Peck and Hepburn were close friends until her death; Peck even introduced her to her first husband, Mel Ferrer.



Peck once again teamed up with director William Wyler in the epic Western The Big Country (1958), which he co-produced.

Peck won the Academy award with his fifth nomination, playing Atticus Finch, a Depression-era lawyer and widowed father, in a film adaptation of the Harper Lee novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Released in 1962 during the height of the US civil rights movement in the South, this movie and his role were Peck's favorites. In 2003, Atticus Finch was named the top film hero of the past 100 years by the American Film Institute.

He served as the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1967, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American Film Institute from 1967 to 1969, Chairman of the Motion Picture and Television Relief Fund in 1971, and National Chairman of the American Cancer Society in 1966. He was a member of the National Council on the Arts from 1964 to 1966.

Peck, was known to do most of his own fight scenes, rarely using body or stunt doubles. In fact, Robert Mitchum, often said that when Peck once accidentally punched him for real during their final fight scene in the movie Cape Fear, he felt the impact for days afterward.




Here is a clip from one of my favorite Gregory Peck's movies, Duel in the Sun(1946).A Western film directed by King Vidor, produced and written by David O. Selznick, which tells the story of a Mestiza (half-Native American) girl who goes to live with her Anglo relatives, becoming involved in prejudice and forbidden love. Cast: Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Gregory Peck, Lillian Gish and Lionel Barrymore.

DUEL IN THE SUN (1946)

Duel in the Sun (1946) Romance/ Western. Directed by King Vidor. Produced and written by David O. Selznick. Who wote the Hollywood classics "Gone With the Wind", "Since You Went Away" and "Rebecca". Wonderful Cast: Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Gregory Peck, Lillian Gish and Lionel Barrymore.



Before Scott Chavez is hanged for murdering his Indian wife and her lover, he makes arrangements for Pearl to live with his second cousin and old sweetheart, Laura Belle. He makes his his daughter Pearl promise that she will grow up to be a lady. Laura Belle welcomes Pearl into her home on Spanish Bit, the Texas cattle ranch where she lives with her husband,"Senator" McCanles, and their two grown sons, Jesse and Lewt. McCanles, confined to a wheelchair, is not happy that Pearl has come to live with them and calls her "a half-breed". Both Jesse and Lewt are attracted to her. Later that night, Lewt forces his way into her bedroom and kisses her. Pearl loves the kindhearted Jesse, but physically attracted to the wild womanizing Lewt and cannot resist him. When a railroad company wins the legal right to build tracks through McCanles ranch, McCanles and his ranch hands try to defend their land. Jesse, a lawyer, takes the side of the railroad, his father bans him from the ranch.

When Lewt returns early from El Paso, he finds none of the men home and seduces Pearl. Jesse finds them together and tells her that he will never forget what he has seen. Pearl now wants Lewt to marry her, but when he makes it clear that he has no intention of marring her, she quickly becomes engaged to Sam Pierce. Lewt goes into a jealous rage and kills Sam. Will this broken family over come their prejudice and forbidden love of Pearl and Lewt?

My favorite scene of the film is: When McCanles tells Laura Belle that he has always blamed her for his injury. When he thought she was going away to be with Chavez. He now knows it was his own jealousy that caused the accident. He admits that he has always loved her.

Another favorite, is this lighthearted scene between Lewt and Pearl .

Ottilie Ethel Leopoldine "Tilly" Losch, Countess of Carnarvon (15 November 1903 –24 December 1975) was an Austrian-born dancer, choreographer, actress and painter who lived and worked for most of her life in the United States and United Kingdom. She performed in several screen productions including: Limelight (1936), The Garden of Allah (1936), The Good Earth (1937) and Duel in the Sun (1946). Her choreography was seen in, Song of Scheherazade (1947). Dissatisfied with supporting film roles, she continued working as a dancer and choreographer and acted on Broadway. Losch guested with the New York Ballet in a work by Antony Tudor and in London she had danced to Léonide Massine's choreography. Her best known conception was "The Hand Dance" (a collaboration with her Viennese colleague, Hedy Pfundmayr) which featured in a short dance film by Norman Bel Geddes.