Category Archives: Hollywood

From the Vaults: ‘My Favorite Wife’ (1940)

Posted on August 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

Returning to earlier themes of Cary Grant and wife-swapping, this week we have "My Favorite Wife," a screwball comedy. As usual with this genre, your mood will determine whether you find the antics hilarious or simply trying. So if you … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 9 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on August 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Los Angeles Times file photo Los Angeles Times file photo For Sunday, our mystery guest has some mystery companions. Here’s our weekend mystery guest. I like to keep things more informal on the weekends so I’ll post all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 6 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 6, 1940

Posted on August 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 6, 1940: Height of swank: Jane Withers' new radio-equipped bike, Jimmie Fidler says. 

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on August 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Los Angeles Times file photo    Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday and reveal the answer on Friday … or on Saturday if I have a hard time picking only five … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 33 Comments

Up From an X-Rated Past

Posted on August 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 6, 1980: The Times profiles Kristine De Bell/DeBell, who starred in the soft-core 1976 film “Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Fantasy” and by 1980 had appeared in “Meatballs” and “Main Event.” "Someday I'll get my chance," she … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 3 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 4, 1941

Posted on August 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 4, 1941: Beverly residents are watching the hand-in-hand strollings of Paulette Goddard-Director Anatol Litvak along seldom-traveled avenue, Jimmie Fidler says.

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 3, 1940

Posted on August 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 3, 1940: Jimmie Fidler’s staff says: Have you seen Jeanette MacDonald's new custom-built jalopy, upholstered in the MacDonald plaid and rigged with a horn that tootles "The Campbells Are Coming?"

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 2, 1940

Posted on August 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Tom Treanor, who was killed covering World War II for The Times, gets a “silent interview” with the Duchess of Windsor.  Aug. 2, 1940: Ha! Gladys Swarthout, arriving in slacks, quickly rolled them to her knees under her mink … Continue reading →

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De Palma’s ‘Home Movies’

Posted on August 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 2, 1980: Brian De Palma’s “Dressed to Kill” is a runaway hit. His film “Home Movies,” which is also in release, not so much.  “Home Movies” is not on Netflix, but you can find the VHS version on … Continue reading →

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From the Vaults: ‘The Watcher in the Woods’ (1980)

Posted on August 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

Well, "Watcher in the Woods"  is certainly an odd film. Starring Bette Davis and the radiant, fresh-off-of-"Ice Castles" Lynn-Holly Johnson, it hails from an era of vaguely dark and weird Disney films: "The Black Hole" had come out the previous … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on August 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

 Los Angeles Times file photo Los Angeles Times file photo March 18, 1929: Robert Ober to direct at MGM. Update: Our weekend mystery guest is Robert Ober (d. 1950). Saturday’s picture shows him in “A Reno Divorce” with May McAvoy … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries, Photography | 6 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, July 31, 1940

Posted on July 31, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Tom Treanor, who was killed covering World War II for The Times,  interviews Salvador Dali in Lisbon. July 31, 1940: Gilbert Roland and Peter Lorre are off on a hunting trip, Jimmie Fidler says.

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Eric Malnic and ‘Con Air’

Posted on July 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

   One of the late Eric Malnic’s more remarkable experiences was his involvement in “Con Air.” Here’s his original story, which inspired the film. When Jailbirds Fly, They Always Use 'Con Air' Travel: The amenities are few and the passengers … Continue reading →

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, July 30, 1940

Posted on July 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Tom Treanor gets a brief interview with jeweler Louis Cartier, in exile at the Aviz Hotel in Lisbon. July 30, 1940: Margaret Lindsay can't stand men who smoke big cigars, Jimmie Fidler says.

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Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on July 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo  Update:  "Marjorie Bennett playing the movie struck maid in 'M'Lord, the Duke' at the Hollywood Playhouse," according to caption information on  a photo marked  March 4, 1934. Please welcome Carmen as this week’s guest … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 48 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, July 28, 1941

Posted on July 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Tom Treanor, who was killed covering World War II for The Times,  looks back at the use of dirigibles in the Great War. July 28, 1941: Robert Cummings, a captain in the United States Air Corps Reserve, has … Continue reading →

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, July 26, 1940

Posted on July 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Tom Treanor, who died covering World War II for The Times, files a report from Portugal on trying to interview the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. July 26, 1940: Jimmie Fidler says “The Marx Brothers and MGM are tiffing, … Continue reading →

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From the Vaults: ‘Village of the Damned’ (1960)

Posted on July 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

All I knew about this movie going in was that it had been remade with Mark Hamill in 1995 (the remake also starred Christopher Reeve and Kirstie Alley, and was respectably directed by John Carpenter, but in 1995 all my … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 7 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on July 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Los Angeles Times file photo   Los Angeles Times file photo Here’s another picture of our mystery fellow! Update: Saturday’s picture is Mark Damon and "Diane" Cannon in a publicity photo for "This Rebel Breed," published March 20, 1960. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 7 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, July 23, 1940

Posted on July 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

  July 23, 1940: “Come to think about it, I've never heard Joan Crawford make a catty remark about anyone,” Jimmie Fidler says.

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