Classic Movie Actresses Tourney 2013

Classic Movie Actresses Tourney 2013

Saturday, December 4, 2010

YouTube Account: "dezinator"

Well, it was inevitable, wasn't it? YouTube terminated my account yesterday.... but now I have a new and similar account "deszinator." See? Only off by one letter, ha. 

I hope I can gain some of my subscribers again :) C'est la vie!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Sylvia Folwer is "Trouble"

I was watching "The Women" last night and of course, I thought of this video which I've seen a few times... because it's such a perfect song for that character (if you are familiar with her and I hope you are!)

 I especially love the part after the catfight when she yells "I hate you! I hate you! I hate everyone!" etc. etc. while breaking all the dishes in sight.... and Marjorie Main grabs her and says "Mrs. Fowler, you got the high-sterics!" It is pure insanity and pure hilarity :)

Monday, November 29, 2010

Robert Mitchum - "Baby, I Don't Care"



I have an extra copy of this biography... It's a very good book. I recommend it to any Mitchum fan... but I am trying to find someone to give it away to. 

If you're interested, let me know... and tell others who follow your blog about it, please! :)

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Rosalind Russell (1907-1976)

On Sunday, November 28, 1976, Rosalind Russell died of breast cancer, the cancer that she fought for so long (ever since they found the first tumor around 1959). Somehow, this year, 2010, seems a little special in remembrance of her because it is a Sunday once again. I imagine her family did not have a very happy Thanksgiving that year, and they probably did not celebrate at all.

If you can, watch a few video clips on YouTube of Roz or one of her movies to remember her. I know I will. 

I suggest comedies because I think that's how Rosalind would like her fans to remember her--in happiness and laughter!

Take care, everyone. I'll embed a few YouTube clips I would recommend. 


Note: First, I want to include a tribute of Roz created on this day by my dear friend, Renata... :)
















Sorry for adding my own video at the end here, haha, but I think everyone should see some of the home videos of her. She was a delight :)

Friday, November 26, 2010

I love finding new photos

So... I was browsing, looking for some photos of Roz I perhaps hadn't seen before... and I found some I really like :) 

Thought I'd share some of them on here... Just so you all know, I love any photo of her with her husband/family. Love!

With her husband, Freddie, 1949

Right after they got married, 1941. Note the U.S. flag on the left and the Danish flag on the right.

Giving her 3 1/2-year-old son, Lance, a bath

Publicity photo for "No Time For Comedy" with James Stewart (who doesn't love him, right?) 


Friday, November 12, 2010

Roz With Bob Montgomery

Sorry if I've been neglecting the blog lately.... been busy with classes... here are some photos of Roz with her four-time costar Robert Montgomery!








Monday, November 1, 2010

Who doesn't love James Stewart?

I noticed I've been getting a bit lazy lately with the blog, haha, so I thought I'd talk a little about Roz and Jimmy Stewart. They may have starred in only one movie together [No Time For Comedy (1940)], but they had amazing chemistry and rapport, not to mention a lifelong friendship off screen.

They met in radio around 1936 or so. For the life of me, I can't remember the name of the radio show, but this was the first time they acted together. They costarred in several more radio shows as well, and as the newspapers said, they already sounded like a great acting duo.

 According to some gossip column items in the late 30s (about 1938-1939), Rosalind and James dated quite often. Of course, Jimmy was dating several other women, too, because he was quite an eligible bachelor at the time. Then again, Roz had already been dubbed "Number One Bachelor Girl" several years before. Fate intervened in 1939 when Roz met her future husband, Frederick Brisson by way of their mutual friend Cary Grant.



By the way, the other couple with them is John Hall and Lana Turner :)

Jimmy and Roz did make that film "No Time For Comedy" finally in 1940 and they are both great in it, despite a not-so-great script. I always loved Jimmy's characters on screen, with their polite demeanor and oh-so-cute awkwardness. I like to think he was polite off the screen as well, but I have no idea, of course. :) 
 
Jimmy and Roz stayed friends until her death in 1976. He and his wife, Gloria, gave a party in her honor just three months before she died. At the party, she said this, comparing life to a rope: "It is tied with lots of knots, and it goes straight up. I have been climbing that rope, and each knot I come to is one of you. And then I climb to the next. And to the next. I'm still holding on," referring to her battle with cancer.
 
At her funeral, Jimmy was one of a few actors who gave eulogies, which included Gregory Peck and Frank Sinatra.  At the end of his eulogy, he said these words: 

"Thank you, God, for giving her to us. Take care of her...We sent you our best this time."
 




 That's gossip columnist Louella Parsons on the far left.

 



Wednesday, October 27, 2010

TCM is My Best Friend

Well, it's pretty obvious TCM (U.S.) is amazing to someone like me because one again, they are showing another Rosalind Russell marathon... tomorrow.

I'll show you a list again of what they will show tomorrow:

The Velvet Touch (1948)
6:30 am (ET)/3:30 am (PT)
After accidentally killing her lecherous producer, a famous actress tries to hide her guilt.
Starring: Rosalind Russell, Leo Genn



Tell it to the Judge (1949)
8:15 am (ET)/5:15 am (PT)
To win back her husband, a divorcée pretends to be married to a loser.
Starring: Rosalind Russell, Robert Cummings

   

A Woman of Distinction (1950)
9:45 am (ET)/6:45 am (PT)
A publicity hungry press agent creates a romance between an icy college dean and a visiting lecturer.
Starring: Rosalind Russell, Ray Milland

   

Never Wave at a WAC (1950)
11:15 am (ET)/8:15 am (PT)
  A divorced socialite joins the Army hoping it will improve her love life.
Starring: Rosalind Russell, Paul Douglas

  

Picnic (1955)
12:45 pm (ET)/9:45 am (PT)
A handsome drifter ignites passions at a small-town Labor Day picnic.
Starring: William Holden, Kim Novak

   

Gypsy (1962)
2:45 pm (ET)/11:45 am (PT)
A domineering mother pushes her two daughters to burlesque stardom.
Starring: Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood

     

Mrs. Pollifax--Spy (1971)
5:15 pm (ET)/2:15 pm (PT)
A society woman volunteers to root out enemy agents in Albania.
 Starring: Rosalind Russell, Darren McGavin




And if you don't live in the U.S. or you don't have the TCM channel, why not have a marathon of your own? ;) Have a great week, everyone. 

 

Saturday, October 23, 2010

"Mrs. Pollifax--Spy" (1971)

Ah... I am so glad they are playing this film because I have only seen it on YouTube and am very glad to finally see it on the TV. It was Rosalind's last feature film. She was feeling the signs of her rheumatoid arthritis during the shooting of this film, and this is a disease that would plague her the last 5 years of her life (along with cancer, which she had been fighting for many years already). If you are able to catch this on TCM, I hope you enjoy it! I did.







Friday, October 22, 2010

"Gypsy" (1962)

Okay... I have to admit, this is my SECOND favorite Rosalind Russell movie (behind "Auntie Mame," of course) because I love the way Roz interprets this character and although she may have had limited vocal abilities (although I do love the way they mixed the voices in the songs)... she was a marvelous actress and I love the great job she did in this film. I'm surprised she didn't get nominated for an Oscar, although she did win the Golden Globe!

Read about Gypsy here. 

"Gypsy" will be playing on TCM on October 28.




  
Sorry about the watermark, but I love this photo with the cake!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

"Picnic" (1955)

Although this is really a supporting role, I think this is one of Rosalind's finest dramatic performances.

Read about Picnic here. 

"Picnic" will be playing on TCM on October 28.






Wednesday, October 20, 2010

"Never Wave at a WAC" (1952)

This is the last movie Rosalind made before taking a bit of a hiatus from movies to do a few shows on the stage [including two Broadway hits, Wonderful Town (1953) and Auntie Mame (1956)].

Read about Never Wave at a WAC here. 






Hey, this kind of works because this movie will play on Thursday, October 28!