Category Archives: Film

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1964 picture “The Last Man on Earth,” with Vincent Price, Franca Bettoia, Emma Danieli, Giacomo Rossi-Stuart, Umberto Rau, Christi Courtland, Tony Corevi and Hector Ribotta. Photographed by Franco Delli Colli, edited by Gene Ruggiero, … Continue reading

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Book Review: ‘Cary Grant – A Brilliant Disguise’

Executive summary: “Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise,” the latest in Scott Eyman’s long series of Class-A Hollywood biographies, opens strong with the last day of the acclaimed actor’s life and quickly declines to a tedious slog in a book more … Continue reading

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1931 Warner Bros. picture “Other Men’s Women,” with Grant Withers, Mary Astor, Regis Toomey, James Cagney, Fred Kohler, J. Farrell MacDonald, Joan Blondell, Lillian Worth and Walter Long. By Maude Fulton, dialogue by William … Continue reading

Posted in 1931, City Hall, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 46 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – The Tale of the Alden Besse

Alden Besse, photographed by Asahel Curtis, Wikipedia Commons. Surviving tempests, fires, illness, auctions, lawsuits, and salvages, the old whaling ship Alden Besse saw many an exciting adventure over more than 59 years. A magnet for disaster, accidents, and adventure, the … Continue reading

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1957 film “The Black Scorpion,” with Richard Denning, Mara Corday, Carlos Rivas, Mario Navarro, Carlos Muzquiz, Pascual Pena, Fanny Schiller, Pedro Galvan and Arturo Martinez. Screenplay by David Duncan and Robert Blees from a … Continue reading

Posted in 1957, Animals, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 48 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1940 MGM film “I Take This Woman,” with Spencer Tracy, Hedy Lamarr, Verree Teasdale, Kent Taylor, Laraine Day, Mona Barrie, Jack Carson, Paul Cavanagh, Louis Calhern, Frances Drake, Marjorie Main, George E. Stone, Willie … Continue reading

Posted in 1940, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 62 Comments

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – Josef von Sternberg’s ‘Salvation Hunters’

Georgia Hale is The Girl in “The Salvation Hunters.” Note: This is an encore post from 2012. From the very beginning of his career, director Josef von Sternberg possessed an extraordinary vision for the art, look, and feel of his … Continue reading

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Perry Mason and The Case of the Flawed Fedora

Oh dear. HBO Max’s Perry Mason origin story is set in 1932 Los Angeles, which you would never know by looking at this photo of Shea Whigham and Matthew Rhys. IMDB lists a huge number of costumers, so I can’t … Continue reading

Posted in 1932, Fashion, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1962 Universal release of the Joel Productions picture “Lonely Are the Brave,” with Kirk Douglas, Gena Rowlands, Walter Matthau, Michael Kane, Carroll O’Connor, William Schallert, George Kennedy, Karl Swenson, Bill Mims, Martin Garralaga and … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 31 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1947 United Artists release of Benedict Bogeaus’ “The Macomber Affair,” with Gregory Peck, Joan Bennett, Robert Preston, Reginald Denny, Jean Gillie, Carl Harbord, Earl Smith, Frederic Worlock and Vernon Downing. Screenplay by Casey Robinson … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Douglass Dumbrille, Suave Slickster

Douglass Dumbrille, photo courtesy of Mary Mallory. Note: This is an encore post from 2014 Classic Hollywood studio films employed actors with striking faces and mannerisms as recognizable character types from the 1930s to the 1960s, giving a shorthand to … Continue reading

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1918 film “Mickey,” with Mabel Normand, George O. Nicholls, Laura La Varnie, Lewis J. Cody, Minta Durfee, Wheeler Oakman and Tom Kennedy. Written by J.G. Hawks, production manager Hampton Del Ruth, photographed by Frank … Continue reading

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1930 First National Pictures film “Road to Paradise,” with Loretta Young, Jack Mulhall, Raymond Hatton, George Barraud, Kathlyn Williams, Fred Kelsey, Purnell Pratt, Ben Hendricks Jr., Dot Farley, Winter Hall and Georgette Rhodes. Adaptation … Continue reading

Posted in 1930, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Knickerbocker Hotel – a Survivor

The Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel in an undated photo from the Security Pacific Collection, housed at the Los Angeles Public Library. A little run-down today, the Knickerbocker Hotel at 1714 Ivar has survived scandal and notoriety to endure as one of … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1940 RKO film “Swiss Family Robinson,” with Thomas Mitchell, Edna Best, Freddie Bartholomew, Terry Kilburn, Tim Holt and Baby (Barbara) Bobby Quillan. Screenplay by Walter Ferris, Gene Towne and Graham Baker, from the novel … Continue reading

Posted in 1940, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1939 MGM picture “Tell No Tales,” with Melvyn Douglas, Louise Platt, Gene Lockhart, Douglass Dumbrille, Florence George, Halliwell Hobbes, Zeffie Tilbury, Harlan Briggs, Sara Haden, Hobart Cavanagh, Oscar O’Shea, Theresa Harris, Jean Fenwick, Esther … Continue reading

Posted in 1939, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 35 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1948 RKO picture “Fighting Father Dunne,” with Pat O’Brien, Darryl Hickman, Charles Kemper, Una O’Connor, Arthur Shields, Harry Shannon, Joe Sawyer, Anna Q. Nilsson, Donn Gift, Myrna Dell, Ruth Donnelly, Jim Nolan, Billy Cummings, … Continue reading

Posted in 1948, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Dick Grace, Hollywood’s Daredevil Sky Pilot

  Dick Grace in action. Note: This is an encore post from 2014. Hollywood and aviation took off at about the same points in history, helping to put each other on the map. Early American aviators inaugurated the fledgling field … Continue reading

Posted in Aviation, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1948 King Bros. movie “The Dude Goes West,” with Eddie Albert, Gale Storm, James Gleason, Gilbert Roland, Binnie Barnes and Barton MacLane. Original screenplay by Mary Loos and Richard Sale. Music score composed and … Continue reading

Posted in 1948, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 41 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was Henry King’s  1930 picture “Hell Harbor,” with Lupe Velez, Jean Hersholt, John Holland, Gibson Gowland, Harry Allen, Al. St. John, Paul Burns, George Bookasta and Ulysses Williams. Adapted by Fred DeGresac, from the novel “Out … Continue reading

Posted in 1930, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 37 Comments