Dear Reader #197

Dear Reader,

Some exciting news. Nelmari Marais, who has already done an excellent job translating a number of my books, will translate Tula into Afrikaans. More translations will follow, but I’m especially pleased that Nelmari will translate the Afrikaans version of the book.

One of the highlights of my writing career to date, the Bulgarian version of The Hermit of Hisarya, Sam Smith Mystery Series, Book Five. In 2021, The Hermit of Hisarya was included in academic lectures in Bulgaria, discussing cultural studies and world literature, and the interrelation between cultural identity and the imagination.

Clara Bow’s thirty-sixth movie was Kid Boots a silent comedy produced between June 14 and July 26, 1926, and released on October 4, 1926. Clara played Clara McCoy. Eddie Cantor co-starred in his first film.

Clara was a very generous actress who assisted her fellow players. An example of her generosity can be found in Kid Boots. In one scene, Clara’s character was supposed to quarrel with Eddie Cantor’s character. They played that (silent) scene as a quarrel, but in reality, while conveying anger to the camera, Clara was offering Cantor words of encouragement.

Cantor offered this insight: “She told me, ‘be yourself’. She is. She is never camera conscious and acts on the set as she would in her home. While the camera ground away and caught all her pretty frowns, she was saying, ‘Eddie, ya doin’ fine! Just flash them banjo eyes and there ain’t nothin’ to it!’”

When Kid Boots opened in Manhattan, police were needed to control the crowds. Clara Bow, superstar, had well and truly arrived.

Through my 9 x great grandmother, Barbara Aubrey, I’m connected to the nobility. Meet my noble ancestors: Anne Dennis, the daughter of Sir William Dennis of Dyrham, Gloucestershire, and his wife Anne Berkeley, daughter of Sir Maurice, 4th Lord Berkeley. Anne married Sir John Ragland of Carnllwyd. They had at least two sons and three daughters, including Alice, my ancestor.

In 1555, with her second husband, Sir Edward Carne, Anne moved to Rome. The couple lived there until 1561, when Sir Edward died.

🖼️ Rome 1575

Meet my noble ancestors: Sir William Dennis

William Dennis was born c1470 in Gloucestershire, England. In 1494 he married Anne Berkeley, daughter of Sir Maurice Berkeley. The couple had six sons, two of whom were knighted, and seven daughters. Four of the daughters married knights, one married an esquire while the seventh became a nun at Lacock Abbey. 

Sir William died on 22 June 1533, probably in Dyrham, Gloucestershire.

📸 A latticed window in Lacock Abbey, photographed by William Fox Talbot in 1835. This may be the oldest extant photographic negative made in a camera.

It’s December 1937 and Hedy Lamarr has arrived in Hollywood. One of her first tasks is to becoming familiar with the American way of driving by taking lessons at MGM’s driving school.

February 1938 and Hedy Lamarr is making her way in Hollywood. Meanwhile, five years after its release, the media focus is still on her controversial movie Ecstasy. However, many censors have decided to unban the film, so the media coverage of Hedy is, slowly, becoming more mainstream.

Mid-December 1933 and the newspapers were carrying reports that Cary Grant was in a nursing home. He’d travelled across the Atlantic in pursuit of Virginia Cherrill in an attempt to persuade her to marry him. She was very reluctant and kept pouring cold water over their romance. Randolph Scott, Grant’s housemate, had also arrived in London and the trio planned to spend Christmas together.

Early January, 1934. Cary Grant and Virginia Cherrill were to wed. Then their wedding was postponed. Grant was still in a nursing home. A rumour circulated that he was recovering from nervous exhaustion. Their on-off marriage was still on-off and mystery surrounding one of Hollywood’s most peculiar relationships continued.

The Mastodon 1970s Mega Movie Poll Round One Continued

Annie Hall 22% v 78% Monty Python’s Life of Brian

Star Wars 74% v 26% Logan’s Run

Dog Day Afternoon 72% v 28% Klute

Rocky 42% v 58% Mad Max

Network 76% v 24% Airport ‘77

Blazing Saddles 49% v 51% Young Frankenstein

The Godfather Part II 59% v 41% Diamonds Are Forever

I watched this movie this week. Golden Salamander is a decent thriller with moments of genuine suspense. Trevor Howard, as an archeologist who stumbles upon gunrunning, is as solid as ever while Anouk Aimee in an early role is an attractive heroine. The location filming in Tunisia adds to the atmosphere. Wilfred Hyde-White features as a bar pianist (did every thriller c1950 feature a bar pianist?! 🤔). Capital entertainment, as they used to say.

Social media https://toot.wales/@HannahHowe

As ever, thank you for your interest and support.

Hannah xxx

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