Tag Archives: hollywood

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 5

In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944,  item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as director of “Laura” to do a bit of digging into the production of this film noir classic – however one … Continue reading

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Stage | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 5

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, June 3, 1944

June 3, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, June 2 — Red haired Arleen Whelan, who found movie acting hard going and went to New York and made a smash hit in “Doughgirls,” may have one of the plum roles of the year. According … Continue reading

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Comics, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, June 3, 1944

Movieland Mystery Photo ( Updated + + + + )

This is “Princesse Tam Tam”  with Josephine Baker. You can also find it online, although there are no subtitles. And thanks to glcrumpacker for the suggestion. If you would like to request a mystery movie, drop me a line. “Princesse … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 30 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Crossroads of the World Welcomes All

The interior of Crossroads of the World, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Long before the Grove or Americana on Brand, the Crossroads of the World existed as a retail center replicating simpler times and more glamorous surroundings. It sprang from tragedy … Continue reading

Posted in 1936, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo — Request Time

His Excellency wants to know if you have a request for an upcoming mystery movie. The Daily Mirror archives are spotty, so I can’t guarantee that I’ll have a copy, but if you have a request, drop me an email.

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

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Classic Film Noir, Part 4

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

Posted in 1922, 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Classic Film Noir, Part 4

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

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

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 30, 1944

‘Laura’ — Coming on TCM

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

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

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

Posted in 1944, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 29, 1944

1944 in Print — Life Magazine, May 29, 1944

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

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood, Photography, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 in Print — Life Magazine, May 29, 1944

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

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

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Classic Film Noir, Part 2

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

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

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 28, 1944

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + +)

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

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

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 1

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

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!

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

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

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

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 23, 1944

1944 in Print — Life Magazine, May 22, 1944

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

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 1944 in Print — Life Magazine, May 22, 1944