Dear Reader #216

Dear Reader,

Clara Bow’s fifty-sixth movie was Call Her Savage, produced between September 12 and November 2, 1932, and released on November 27, 1932. Clara played Nasa “Dynamite” Springer.

Call Her Savage was over-plotted, a common trait of late silent movies and early talkies, with “hardly a thought above the navel”. However, Clara was excellent offering one of the best performances of her career. Variety said, “Bow’s greatly improved acting technique is an added element of strength. She is abundantly capable of holding any audience’s attention.”

The Film Daily said, “Looking like a million dollars, acting better than she ever did, and playing a role that requires her to pretty near run the gamut of feminine moods and modes, Clara Bow makes a whirlwind comeback.” Make no mistake, Clara Bow could act. She could portray any emotion.

Carl Stockdale played a bit part in this movie, as Mort. I believe that Stockdale was involved in the murder of movie director William Desmond Taylor in early February 1922. I’m certain that Stockdale offered Charlotte Shelby a false alibi, and maybe he pulled the trigger, or was with the murderer on that perfidious night.

Columbo – Season One, Episode Five: “Short Fuse”. For me, this episode of Columbo was a mixed bag containing one of the worst plots – exploding cigars – and two of the best guest stars – Ida Lupino (pictured) and Anne Francis. The ladies deserved better material. In the first cable car scene, Columbo was terrified, while in the cable car denouement, he was calm. The series had to improve. Thankfully, it did.

A Hollywood Murder

Who murdered movie director William Desmond Taylor in February 1922?

From day one, the police ruled out robbery as a motive. Here’s why.

In William Desmond Taylor’s pockets, investigators found a wallet containing $78 (the equivalent of $1,300 today) a silver cigarette case, a Waltham pocket watch, a penknife, a locket bearing a photograph of actress Mabel Normand, plus a two-carat diamond ring on Taylor’s finger.

The Taylor case is complex because the investigation was conducted through a haze of corruption. Also, the movie studios were desperate to deflect blame away from Hollywood. As Karl Brown actor, cinematographer, screenwriter, and film director said:

“Somebody at the studio had a bright idea. Instead of giving them one or two red herrings, give them a multiplicity of them. Let them leap into the saddle and gallop off in all directions. I don’t know of anyone in Hollywood who could have been connected with Bill Taylor who was not implicated in this murder. I honestly believe that the Virgin Mary herself would have been pulled into this thing if she’d been around at the time.”

Did a hit man murder Taylor? More next time.

*****

Hollywood Gossip, October 1942

Research for my novel Sunshine, book two in my Golden Age of Hollywood series.

American stars joining the Forces.

Hollywood Gossip, October 1942

Research for my novel Sunshine, book two in my Golden Age of Hollywood series.

Humphrey Bogart refuses to kiss Ingrid Bergman.

I’m doing some in-depth research on the movie Sunset Boulevard. Here’s my first note.

Sunset Boulevard: Notes on a Classic

In 1939, Billy Wilder made a note, “Silent movie star commits murder. When they arrest her she sees the newsreel cameras and thinks she’s back in the movies.”

Ten years later, he made the film.

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

As ever, thank you for your interest and support.

Hannah xxx

For Authors

#1 for value with 565,000 readers, The Fussy Librarian has helped my books to reach #1 on 38 occasions.

A special offer from my publisher and the Fussy Librarian. https://authors.thefussylibrarian.com/?ref=goylake

Don’t forget to use the code goylake20 to claim your discount 🙂