Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day from My Love of Old Hollywood.

Marilyn Monroe takes aim.

Mary Carlisle channels her inner child.

Toby Wing makes the perfect Valentines Day pin-up.

Wynne Gibson looks extra sweet in ruffles.

Cyd Charisse makes the perfect Valentines Day card.

Deanna Durbin gives us that smile that melted a million hearts.

Florence George looks like the Princess of a Valentines Day parade.

Ann Miller is never one to be outdone when it comes to any holiday pin-up.

Wishing everyone a wonderful day, filled with love, laughter, a bit of romance and all your heart desires. 

See you soon for the Fabulous 40s Blogathon.  (For more information on the event hosted by the Classic Movie Blog Association, just click the banner on the sidebar.) 

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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

More Fabulous Stars in Fur!

We have some wicked fog today and a bit of rain. I think that's just about as 'wintery' as it is going to get here. I must continue with my winter series on our delightful stars decked out in fur though. Just imagine a snow plow in the distance and our adorable stars freezing as they show off the latest fashions.

Isa Miranda looks miffed in muff! 

Bebe Daniels and Gloria Swanson step out in the style. (Gloria appears to be whispering.."You know these cameras are here for me, right?")

Oh, Billie Burke! I think a munchkin might just be missing his hat but I do appreciate your sense of humor here.

Boots Mallory pulls off a large fur collar. (I would love to see this outfit from head to toe... She's divine!)

Clara Bow channels one of her chows. I just don't care for her hair swept back like this. It screams "Look at these eyebrows...They're straight and clever even if I'm nuts!"

Dorothy Dix carries off 100lbs of fur perfectly! What I would give for those eyes.

What a fur! I don't even mind that Esther Ralston looks like a crazy haired killa. 

Frances Gifford needs a parade float and some fur therapy!

Fred Astaire has stopped by to show us that men can carry off a touch of fur too. (So glad he left his muff at home!)

Gene Tierney is an eye turner in her chocolate mink as she steps out on the town.  Take it easy Gene! That gal, Lana Turner has your number.

Oh, look! Greta Garbo discovered curling irons. How unfortunate. (And perhaps it's just me but it looks like the photogs caught Ms. Garbo mid seizure,)


When you have a figure like Jean Harlow you can pull off polka dots on the derriere and a fur wrap. Show off! (Cruelty to dry wall and plaster!)

Irene Dunne emulates Garbo in her 'curling irons gone rogue' photo shoot. 

Joan Blondell.  Busty McBusterson takes on fur, a lawn and an odd hat! (Wait until I show this to Shirley!)

Well, that's enough fur for one day. Going to go hug my great aunts fur stole and thank the powers that be that I'll never be desperate or brave enough to wear it other than playing dress up for classic movie night.

Please share your thoughts on these beautiful stars and their fashion choices.
See ya soon!
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Friday, February 1, 2013

The Academy Awards: 1940


With the Oscars quickly approaching it's time to take another look back at the previous winners, losers, snubs and trivia for the 13th Annual Academy Awards.

Best Picture:
Rebecca (Winner), Foreign Correspondent, The Grapes of Wrath, The Great Dictator, All This, and Heaven Too, Kitty Foyle, The Letter, Our Town, The Philadelphia Story, The Long Voyage Home



Joan Fontaine and C. Aubrey Smith on the set of "Rebecca"

Best Actor:
James Stewart (Winner) in "The Philadelphia Story", Charles Chaplin in "The Great Dictator", Henry Fonda in "The Grapes of Wrath", Laurence Olivier in "Rebecca", Raymond Massey in "Abe Lincoln in Illinois"




Best Actress:
Ginger Rogers (Winner) in "Kitty Foyle", Joan Fontaine in "Rebecca", Bette Davis in "The Letter", Katharine Hepburn in "The Philadelphia Story", Martha Scott in "Our Town"



Jimmy Stewart and Ginger Rogers pose with their Oscars.


Best Supporting Actor:
Walter Brennan (Winner) in "The Westerner", William Gargan in "They Knew What They Wanted", Albert Basserman in "Foreign Correspondent", Jack Oakie in "The Great Dictator", James Stephenson in "The Letter"




Best Supporting Actress:
Jane Barwell (Winner) in "The Grapes of Wrath", Ruth Hussey in "The Philadelphia Story", Judith Anderson in "Rebecca", Barbara O'Neil in "All This, and Heaven Too", Marjorie Rambeau in "Primrose Path"




Best Director:
John Ford (Winner) for "The Grapes of Wrath", George Cukor for "The Philadelphia Story", Alfred Hitchcock for "Rebecca", William Wyler for "The Letter", Sam Wood for "Kitty Foyle"



Oscar Snubs and Omissions:
Cary Grant for "The Philadelphia Story" and "His Girl Friday"
Rosalind Russell for "His Girl Friday"
William Holden and Fay Bainter for "Our Town"
Frank Morgan and Margaret Sullavan for "The Shop Around the Corner"
George Sanders for "Rebeccca"
Howard Hawks for "His Girl Friday"
(Perhaps I'm forgetting a few so please leave a comment with your own snubs.)

My Honorable Mentions Go To:


W.C. Fields in "The Bank Dick"

The film and cast of "Pride and Prejudice" as well as the director, Robert Leonard

Oscar Trivia:
The ceremony for the 13th Annual Academy Awards was held in the Biltmore Bowl at the Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, CA.  The event was hosted by Walter Wanger.

After the previous years debacle with the winners announced the night before by the LA Times, the tradition to present a sealed envelope with the winners was started. Going forward, Price Waterhouse would count and secure the ballots until the actual ceremony.  This would also cause the nominees to actually start showing up to the event instead of sitting it out, knowing ahead of time that they were losers.

Bob Hope was presented an Honorary Oscar this year and the Irving G. Thalberg Award was not given out to anyone. 

President, Franklin Roosevelt gave a five minute radio address during the ceremony. The first time a president would speak during the Oscars. 


"Rebecca" came away with the most nominations with a well deserved 11 with "The Grapes of Wrath" close behind with 7 nods then "The Foreign Correspondent", "The Philadelphia Story", The Long Voyage Home" and "Our Town" tied with 6 nominations each.  "The Great Dictator" would receive 5. (Go, Charlie!)


With Walter Brennan's win for "The Westerner" he was the first actor to win three Academy Awards. This record would hold for 28 years until Kate Hepburn won her 3rd Oscar for "The Lion in Winter" in 1968.

Walt Disney (no stranger to Oscar) would take home another two Oscars for "Pinocchio". Best Original Score and Best Song for When You Wish Upon A Star.

Two new categories were introduced this year. Writing and Original Screenplay.

"Rebecca" was Alfred Hitchcock's first American made film and his first win. Perhaps, producer, David O. Selznick had a lot to do with that. Coming off of his previous win for "Gone With the Wind", Selznick, working as an independent producer, promoted the heck out of "Rebecca". With his pull, reputation in Hollywood, "Rebecca" was a shoe-in. (Yes, I think the film was deserving. It is my favorite film of all time after all and Joan Fontaine is my favorite classic actress.)  With the most nominations, 11, it's surprising that it would only take home one win, for Best Picture.  Judith Anderson was the expected winner for her outstanding performance but Barwell would win out. (The Academy when given the opportunity will go with heartwarming over evil every time!) 

Ginger Rogers was the dark horse that year, always missing out for her comedic performances, grueling dance numbers never considered Oscar worthy so perhaps her win for "Kitty Foyle" was a bit of a consolation prize for all of the years she was overlooked. (I'm not saying that Ginger didn't give a great performance in the film though. Just my thoughts and we've seen this a lot throughout the history of the Oscars. Actors/Actresses winning the golden statuette a couple of years after they were snubbed.) Perhaps a great example, even this year is Jimmy Stewart's win over Henry Fonda. It's easy to assume his win was to make up for his loss the previous year for the more deserving performance in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"

Charlie Chaplin would be the first to receive nominations in the same year for Best Actor, Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.  (Acting, directing and writing) Of course this achievement wouldn't last long with "Citizen Kane" on the horizon but congrats to Charlie!)  The Oscar for Original Screenplay would go to Preston Sturges for "The Great McGinty" this year.

Well, that's a wrap for the Academy Awards for 1940. I do hope you'll leave a comment on the winners and losers, snubs. Let us know if you agree with the winners and nominees. 

See ya soon and thanks for stopping by!
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Saturday, January 26, 2013

Milliners Invade Hollywood: Part Seven

I do apologize for my absence. I've just recently returned from a week long vacation. I've missed our stars in fabulous hats and Shirley Temple, my always opinionated co-host so if you're ready let's dive right in to some fashion.

Shirley, what do you think of Ann Miller and her fancy hat? Shirley: "She doesn't look like she's getting ready to break out into song or throw those annoying legs of hers everywhere so I'm happy with it!"

Betty Grable's ensemble is perfect from head to toe! Shirley: "She chose a crazy hat to distract from her dorm room mattress cover coat." Those of us in the know aren't fooled by this magic act!"

Carole Lombard has an interesting hat and I do love her gloves.  Shirley: "When you hang out in stables on your off days you get these delusions of grandeur that you're headed to the Kentucky Derby where strange is fashionable. It looks like she had a close call with a lawnmower blade."

This is an interesting look for Deanna Durbin. Shirley: "It figures that Deanna made a bold fashion choice, dared to be a bit interesting during a radio show where nobody and I mean nobody saw her cutesy face!.. She looks terrified here and I'm guessing the show host told her that she looks ridiculous!" 

Dorothy Sebastian was such a beauty. Shirley: "Every beautiful woman has flaws. Dorothy's flaw was she collected human hair from her co-stars dressing rooms then walked around with it as a hat... Just look at that nut!"   Hmmm, now that you mention it.

Evelyn Brent looks sassy in her hat. I like this look. Shirley: "She looks like Theda Bara's prettier sister. That's a complement! Have you seen Theda Bara? She's scary and I think she had Alopecia too!" If that were the case we would have seen her in more hats and less crowns.

Gail Patrick in another stunning hat. Shirley: "Was Gail ever in a picture because I don't remember her at all? Just millions of fashion photos in strange hats. She must have gotten paid per hat."  It sounds like a great gig if you can get it! Maybe she had Alopecia too.

Oh, look at Gloria Swanson. She made the most interesting fashion choices. Shirley: "She's sweating through her netting and don't get me started on the odd arm placement... She's clearly trying too hard!.. She's armless in houndstooth!.. Always a fashion fail!"

Hedda Hopper seems very happy here in her stylish hat and fur. Shirley: "She isn't making me happy! Get her out of here and over to the "When Fur Was Fabulous" post. That woman made everyone miserable, nice hat or not. I hope that fur gave her psoriasis!"  Hush now or I'll sick Louella Parsons on you!

Helen Hayes should be smiling with this gorgeous hat and coat. I would wear both.  Shirley: "She's sad because Ramon Novarro put out a restraining order on her. He just couldn't take the constant stalking anymore." That's such a sad situation. They were lovely together in "Son-Daughter".  My favorite silent film.  Shirley: "He's not that fond of women of any kind but don't tell Helen."

June Duprez is a beauty in shearling. Shirley: "She's channeling Alexis Smith because that worked out so well for Alexis Smith!"  Don't be mean to Alexis, Shirley.  

Lilli Damita was so cute and I love this flapper look. Shirley: "It's just too darn bad she had to compete with Errol's sailboat of fun. Darn that unlimited supply of boat fuel and attorney's on retainer." From what I understand all of the pearls in the world can't substitute for a moonlit night seen through a sailboats portal.  Shirley: "You are going to have that Becky girl after us!"  It wouldn't be the first time. 


Well, I think we've covered enough gorgeous hats and gossip for one night, Shirley.  
Please leave a comment on these wonderful hats or anything else that comes to mind. Just remember this isn't really Shirley so all of your hate mail to Shirley will just pile up again.
See ya later!
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Sunday, January 13, 2013

When Fur Was Fabulous: Part 3

It's time to have another look at our favorite classic stars, strutting their stuff in fur.

Mary Pickford, setting sail on one of her European Cruises.

Lana Turner glows in all white.

Eleanor Powell looks like she's ready to take on Everest from the knees up!

Ann Sothern opts for fur trim over her gorgeous, beaded gown.

I don't have any words for Lucille Ball and this distracting get up. It's hideous from head to glove!

Nancy Kelly shows off her massive fur and matching hat. 

Brenda Marshall opts for a stylish vest. (Less is more, Lana!)

Sylvia Sidney stuns in her fur stole.

Carole Lombard, pretty in mink.

Mabel Normand stops to pose with her furry friend. (Not sure what kind of varmint that is.)

Bette Davis means business with that collar.

Loretta Young is flawless!

Corinne Griffith is a beauty in her chinchilla coat. 

Ava Gardner opts for some strange fur sleeves. (I wouldn't want her skinny elbows to get cold!)

You can't have a fur post without the fabulous, Marylin Monroe. She looks radiant here and happy.

Well, that's enough fur for today. The sun is beating down on my back right now. Please leave a comment on your favorite or what you think of these fashionable ensembles.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend.
See ya soon!
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