Tag Archives: film

Taking a Sabbatical in 2015

Posted on December 9, 2014 by lmharnisch

A lesson about time: Laura Hunt’s antique clock has an unfortunate encounter with Waldo Lydecker’s shotgun in “Laura.” As I have said here before: So many stories, only one Larry Harnisch. In September, I put aside a long series of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, 1947, Black Dahlia, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

  Don’t these Art Deco kitty bookends look somewhat familiar from some other movie title? Obviously this movie is “Green Mansions” (MGM 1959).  No, it’s “Little Women” (RKO 1933).  OK, it’s “Man of Two Worlds” (RKO 1934). Or how about … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 57 Comments

The Great TCM Experiment

Posted on December 5, 2014 by lmharnisch

A portion of the bounty from the Great TCM Experiment of 2014. From mid-August to early November, I conducted the “Great TCM Experiment,” in which I recorded everything on TCM. Yes, everything as in everything.

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

Coming Attractions: Afternoon With the Authors

Posted on December 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

Hollywood Heritage Museum, 2100 N. Highland Ave., will be hosting an Afternoon With the Authors on Saturday, Dec. 6, from noon to 4 p.m. Scheduled guests include: Julia Adams, John Bengtson, Bob Birchard, Jon Boorstin, Angela Cartwright and Tom McClaren, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. If you enjoy Mary Mallory’s columns (and our survey shows that readers do) you might like this anthology of Hollywood Heights called “Hollywoodland: Tales Lost and Found.” It’s available for the Kindle, but … Continue reading →

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

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

This is the Metro “Golwyn” Mayer production of “Penthouse,” with Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy, Charles Butterworth, Mae Clarke, Phillips Holmes and C. Henry Gordon, directed by W.W. Van Dyke. Screenplay by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett from a story by … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 94 Comments

The New Rapper: Li’l Fatty Alias DJ Roscoe

Posted on November 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

Dear ProQuest: No, I did not. Perhaps you are thinking of Nipsey Hussle.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Libraries, Music | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Helpful Holiday Gift Suggestions From the L.A. Daily Mirror (Updated)

Posted on November 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

Fatty Arbuckle’s 1919 Pierce Arrow, via Hemmings Motor News. As the countdown to the holidays begins, the L.A. Daily Mirror will offer occasional gift suggestions. Here’s an item that is sure to surprise your favorite car buff or vintage film … Continue reading →

Posted in 1919, Film, Hollywood, Transportation | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on November 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1934 Universal film “One More River,” starring Diana Wynyard, Frank Lawton, Colin Clive and Mrs. Patrick Campbell. It was directed by James Whale with a script by R.C. Sherriff, adapted from the novel … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 44 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: George Ali, World’s Greatest Animal Impersonator

Posted on November 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

  George Ali in “Peter Pan.” Best remembered for portraying Nana the dog in Herbert Brenon’s 1924 film adaptation of “Peter Pan,” George Ali excelled at playing all types of animal characters in vaudeville and the stage for over thirty … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

On the Frontiers of Costume Design — ‘Twentieth Century’

Posted on November 21, 2014 by lmharnisch

I watched “Twentieth Century” for the first time the other night and was more than a bit surprised to see Carole Lombard clearly braless in this scene. It’s not as apparent in a frame grab as it is in the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1934, Fashion, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on November 17, 2014 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1935 Fox film “Black Sheep,” starring Edmund Lowe and Claire Trevor (Friday’s mystery guests), Tom Brown (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Eugene Pallette (not shown), Adrienne Ames (Monday’s mystery guest), Herbert Mundin (Thursday’s mystery guest) … Continue reading →

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

L.A. Becomes New York: ‘Three on a Match’ (1932)

Posted on November 14, 2014 by lmharnisch

After I posted a photo of Ann Dvorak’s Duesenberg in the 1932 film “Three on a Match,” John Bengtson noted that the school scenes were filmed at Los Angeles High School on Fort Moore Hill. “Three on a Match” is, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1932, Architecture, Downtown, Education, Film, Hollywood, Location Sleuth, New York | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on November 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

I thought it would be fun to do a British film for a change. This is the 1937 movie “Fire Over England,” with Sir Laurence Olivier, Flora Robson, Leslie Banks, Vivien Leigh, Raymond Massey, Tamara Desni and Morton Selten. Based … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 70 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Ravenswood Apartments Attract the Stylish

Posted on November 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

Mae West in her boudoir at the Ravenswood, Life magazine, Feb. 19, 1940. Built during the early years of the Great Depression, the luxurious Ravenswood Apartment building at 570 N. Rossmore Ave. stands as one of the best examples of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

On Location in Downtown Los Angeles — 1930

Posted on November 7, 2014 by lmharnisch

“For the Defense” is one of the old Paramount films now controlled by Universal. As part of its pre-code marathon, TCM recently aired “For the Defense,” a 1930 Paramount film starring William Powell and Kay Francis.

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on November 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the Twentieth Century-Fox CinemaScope production of “Garden of Evil,” with Gary Cooper, Susan Hayward and Richard Widmark. The 1954 film was written by Frank Fenton, based on a story by Fred Freiberger and William … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Sennett Stills Photographers Display Wide Talents

Posted on November 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

Derelys Perdue, photo by Albert J. Kopec. While some motion picture stills photographers are renowned for their work, such as George Hurrell, Clarence Sinclair Bull, Ernest Bachrach, and Ruth Harriet Louise, others are largely forgotten today, seeming to disappear into … Continue reading →

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

An (In)complete List of TCM Tributes (Updated)

Posted on October 31, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here’s an updated list of TCM tributes. (Nov. 1, 2014: Adds John Cleese on W.C. Fields, Jamie Leigh Curtis on Janet Leigh, Naked and Famous rock video of Joan Crawford; adds writer/editor and production company credits for Guillotine Post) (Nov. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo ( Updated + + + + )

Posted on October 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

  This week’s mystery movie was the 1945 Monogram film “Allotment Wives” (catchy title, no?) starring Kay Francis, Paul Kelly and Otto Kruger. “Allotment Wives” was written by Harvey Gates and Sidney Sutherland, from a story by Sutherland. It was … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 66 Comments