Category Archives: Film

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 30, 1944

Posted on May 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 30, 1944 Dear younger readers, Memorial Day (created as Decoration Day, a time to place flowers on the graves of Civil War veterans) used to be May 30, until Congress decided in 1968 that a three-day weekend was more … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — Coming on TCM

Posted on May 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

I cut the cord to TCM a few months ago, partly to economize and partly because it repeats a lot of movies for having such a large archive. (What? “Torchy Runs for Mayor” Again??) I haven’t been paying much attention to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Classic Film Noir, Part 3

Posted on May 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I’m using the May 15 post by Louella Parsons on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as director of “Laura” to spend some time examining the production of the film noir classic. The previous post was … Continue reading →

Posted in 1922, 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 29, 1944

Posted on May 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 29, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 28 — JACK WARNER has had his checkbook out all the time he’s been in New York, buying plays like mad. He paid a quarter of a million dollars for “Chicken Every Sunday,” the Phil … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Life Magazine, May 29, 1944

Posted on May 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 29, 1944 Life’s cover story features Lt. Gen Carl “Tooey” Spaatz, commander of the American air forces preparing for the invasion of Europe. Gjon Mili photographs Gene Kelly dancing. The movie of the week is “Once Upon a Time,” … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Classic Film Noir, Part 2

Posted on May 28, 2014 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, prompted by Louella Parsons’ May 15 post that Rouben Mamoulian had asked to be released as director of “Laura” (later accounts will say that he was fired), I’m looking at the making of the … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 28, 1944

Posted on May 28, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 28, 1944 Gypsy Rose Lee says: “There are three types of strip teasers. The loud and brazen girl, who comes out on the stage and shrieks; then there is the demure kind, who acts scared to death, and finally … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + +)

Posted on May 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

This is “Holy Matrimony,” a rather silly movie with one of those preposterous plots in which logic is thrown out the window, but watchable because of the performances, especially if you only know Monty Woolley from “The Man Who Came … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 55 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 1

Posted on May 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

The May 15, 1944, post by Louella Parsons about Rouben Mamoulian asking to be released as the director of “Laura” made me think that it would be worth taking a closer look at the production of the 20th Century-Fox film, … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip, Louella Parsons, May 27, 1944

Posted on May 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

Carole Landis and William Eythe play cards. May 27, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 26 — Ingrid Bergman is one of the few actresses who has all hits, all runs and no errors to her credit, so I am not surprised that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo — The TCM Singing Cowboy … SOLVED!

Posted on May 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

Credit to Mike Hawks. This is Joe Morrison in “La Fiesta de Santa Barbara.” I know everybody who reads the Daily Mirror has seen our friend the TCM Singing Cowboy. Whoever does the introductions for “TCM Extras” loves the singing … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Sidney Bracy: Hollywood’s No. 1 Butler

Posted on May 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sidney Bracy in an undated photo. Courtesy of Mary Mallory. What makes one person a star, why another languishes in tiny parts or obscurity? Is it charisma, sex appeal, luck, opportunity, that pushes them over? And what about someone who … Continue reading →

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

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 23, 1944

Posted on May 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 23, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 22 — Fr. Flanagan’s “Boys Town” was a big money maker. So it is no surprise to hear that MGM has bought the rights to film a movie around the idea of “Boys Ranch,” the … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Life Magazine, May 22, 1944

Posted on May 22, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 22, 1944 America is waiting breathlessly for the impending invasion of Europe. In Dallas, churches promised to ring their bells and open their sanctuaries for prayer as soon as the invasion was announced. With the South hit by flooding … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip, May 22, 1944

Posted on May 22, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 22, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 21 — Joan Bennett laughed when I mentioned that I had heard on the Twentieth lot that she was to co-star with Fred MacMurray in “Nob Hill.” “It looks,” said Joan, “as if I am … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 21, 1944

Posted on May 21, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 21, 1944 Louella Parsons asks Olivia De Havilland: “Do you feel your court battle with Warners will affect your chances of getting back to the screen and good pictures?” “Certainly not,” she said. “I won and am now reading … Continue reading →

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Books From the Slush Pile: ‘Carsick’ by John Waters

Posted on May 21, 2014 by lmharnisch

Rejected review copies molder in bins. Avert thine eyes, aspiring authors! I have a millennial friend who thinks hitchhiking is a fine idea. Having lived through the 1970s, when thumbing a ride was considered cool, I told her about my … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 20, 1944

Posted on May 20, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 20, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 19 — Don Ameche and Twentieth Century-Fox are parting company. After a series of conferences failed to bring about an agreement, Don decided to move to another studio. His contract expires the last of June. … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo ( Updated + + + + )

Posted on May 19, 2014 by lmharnisch
Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 68 Comments

Books From the Slush Pile: ‘The Selected Letters of Elia Kazan’

Posted on May 16, 2014 by lmharnisch

The bins of rejected review copies. Aspiring authors, avert thine eyes! Note: I have been rummaging through the bins of review copies put out for the staff, trying to pick out books that are related in some fashion to the … Continue reading →

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