Can you name the actor, actress and this famous 1942 movie?
Answers at the foot of this post.
Movie News – March 11, 1948
Look like a film-star in this Hollywood fashion dress.
Movie News – March 12, 1948
If you are short and would like to acquire a queenly manner, actress Priscilla Lane (pictured) recommends that you should use your clothes to add inches to your height. The secret, she says, is self-colours. “The short girl should not cut her height by wearing shoes or a hat of a different colour from her dress. By wearing a single colour from tip to toe, she can appear inches taller.”
Movie News – March 13, 1948
Cricket in Hollywood. With so many British actors finding themselves in Hollywood, cricket became a popular pastime. Furthermore, the first ever international cricket match was played between the USA and Canada in 1844, at the grounds of the St George’s Cricket Club in New York.
Movie Quiz #12
This – German-born – actress created a sensation when she adopted this pose. The year was 1931, the movie was Dishonoured. Can you name the actress.
Movie News – March 14, 1948
“British actors and actresses are losing their voices because of a lack of calcium and vitamin B3, according to Mr Walter Bickford, a voice developer, who has just returned to Hollywood from Britain. ‘Some British actors rasp out their lines as if they have sore throats,’ Mr Bickford said in the film city yesterday. ‘I could name British actors and actresses who are losing their voices, but I had better not.’”
Movie News – March 15, 1948
“With the tax dispute settled, these are some of the American films we can expect to see in British cinemas: Green Dolphin Street, Forever Amber, If Winter Comes, and Gentlemen’s Agreement. Which leaves us with the question as to whether British studios will be able to keep abreast with the rush of first-class American films.”
Movie Quiz #13
As my grandmother used to say, “They’ll catch a chill walking around like that.”
Can you name the loving couple, their characters and the actors?
Movie News – March 16, 1948
“The Loves of Carmen starring Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford is the first film to use plastic food throughout. In accordance with the austerity trend, Columbia no longer uses real food in its pictures, except where it has to be eaten. In one scene, plastic sausage and cheese, and plaster replicas of roast fowl are used. Only a single turkey drumstick, which Miss Hayworth eats, is real.”
Movie News – March 17, 1948
From The Sketch, a photo-story dedicated to Richard Attenborough.
Quiz #11 answer: Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca, 1942
Quiz #12 answer: Marlene Dietrich
Quiz #13 answer: Tarzan and Jane, Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan
As ever, thank you for your interest and support.
Hannah
For Authors
#1 for value with 565,000 readers, The Fussy Librarian has helped my books to reach #1 on 32 occasions.
My latest social history project is the “Match of the Century”, the rugby union match that took place on 16 December 1905 between Wales and New Zealand. This match shaped the sporting cultures of Wales and New Zealand, and the wider sporting world.
I hope you will enjoy following this story from the build-up to the match, to the match itself, and its aftermath.
“Match of the Century”
Rugby Union: Wales v New Zealand, 16 December 1905
Part One: The Tourists Arrive
Eastern Daily Press, 9 September 1905
“The team of New Zealand footballers, which is to tour Britain this season, landed at Plymouth yesterday. The players number twenty-eight. The first match is with Devon on the 16th inst. and the last with Wales on December 16th, after which the team returns home.”
The tour actually continued into the new year, but this study will conclude with the momentous match against Wales.
The New Zealand squad with their manager George Dixon and coach Jimmy Duncan
Part Two: Tactics
Athletic News, 11 September 1905
“One doubts that the seven pack of New Zealand will be successful against the eight packs of Great Britain. One has been inclined to the view that their success has been due to the superiority of their men and not their system.”
“In the backs, the New Zealanders play a scrum half, two five-eights and three three-quarters. As a rule, the half-back sends the ball to the five-eights when the latter is moving fast, and not while he is stationary.”
The New Zealanders also had an advantage in the scrums and line-outs. In Britain, the forwards did not have specific positions – they would scrum down in the order they arrived at the scrum. Each New Zealand forward, however, had a specific role.
The New Zealanders eliminated the lottery of the line-out through practice. They used their full-back as an attacker, and were fitter because they played forty-five minutes per half, instead of the thirty-five minutes commonplace in Britain.
New Zealand captain, Dave Gallaher
Part Three: Previewing the First Match
The Pall Mall Gazette, 16 September 1905
“If the game were generally played in England with the same finesse and skill as in Wales, it is possible that there would be a rugby revival. The New Zealanders should help in this direction, for they play an open, fast, clever, and attractive game. The tour may thus gain many converts to the code.”
Full-back George Gillett
Part Four: The First Match
Devon 4 v 55 New Zealand
“The sensational scoring by New Zealand against Devon at the County Ground, Exeter was far beyond expectations. There is something extraordinary in the play of the Colonials. The manner in which they acquitted themselves was brilliant, their clever footwork and exceedingly good passing eclipsing anything seen previously at the County Ground.”
“The New Zealanders are an exceedingly fine lot of men, some of them being of exceptional physique. The forwards were heavier than the Devonian eight, but at the conclusion of play all were in excellent condition.”
Part Five: More Victories and a Suggestion
After their opening win against Devon, the New Zealand tourists recorded eighteen more victories against English teams, amassing 557 points with only 15 conceded. Their apparent invincibility prompted the following suggestion:
“Mr Hamish Stuart, rugby writer, has come forward with the suggestion that an Imperial team should challenge the New Zealanders. If the Colonials are to be beaten something big will certainly have to be done. A match between fifteen of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales against New Zealand would be the very thing to rouse the Rugby Unionists not only of this country, but of the world.”
New Zealand on their way to a 23 – 0 victory over Somerset
Part Six: The First Test
Scotland v New Zealand
The New Zealanders arrived in Edinburgh for their first Test Match, against Scotland, on 18 November 1905 boasting a record of nineteen games played on tour, nineteen victories, 612 points scored and only nineteen conceded. Could the Scotland team rise to the challenge? Here’s what happened.
“It was a struggle worth many a journey to see. A sheer hard, strenuous encounter in which quarter was neither asked for nor given. The pace right through was terrific. Every man must have been trained to the hour to stand it. Half-time score: Scotland 7 points New Zealand 6 points.”
“Five minutes to go and Scotland a point ahead. Can anything more intensely dramatic be imagined or desired?”
“Two minutes to go. With beautiful judgment and speed, Smith (New Zealand, pictured) dodged Scoular by a foot, sprinted twenty-five yards and is over. The scene is something to be remembered. Of course, it is all over now. To make doubly sure, in the last second they score again near the posts from a loose rush. Then the whistle went on the most exciting game I have ever seen. New Zealand won by four tries (12 points) to Scotland one dropped goal, one try (7 points).” – “The Impressionist”, The Empire News, 19 November 1905.
Part Seven: The Second Test
Ireland v New Zealand
After their victory against Scotland, New Zealand met Ireland at Lansdowne Road, Dublin on 25 November 1905. On the Thursday before the Test Match, both teams attended the theatre together, sitting alternatively so that they could better mix. IRFU officials also took the New Zealanders out for breakfast.
As for the match itself: “Ireland’s fifteen was virtually the great side that did so well last year, and was only just beaten for the championship by Wales at Swansea. Against the New Zealanders, it was only after a splendid match that Ireland were beaten by three goals to nil, 15 – 0. The home forwards played up to their reputation, but New Zealand turned the game by their superior work outside the scrum.” – “The Referee”, 26 November 1905.
The All Blacks training by playing association football
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 32 occasions.
Charles Bronson’s character is walking towards three gunmen in which 1968 movie?
Quiz answers at the foot of this post.
Movie News – March 4, 1948
A Piece of (Hollywood) Cake
Movie News – March 5, 1948
“Eddie Voight, one of Hollywood’s most famous make-up artists, has decided that the film actress, Eve Arden, has more ‘binaural lure’ than any other actress in the world. This is Eddie’s phrase for ears that have sex appeal!”
Movie Quiz #9
Can you name this notorious actress?
Movie News – March 6, 1948
“The Lady From Shanghai is a hard to hear, hard to follow murder thriller made by Mr Orson Welles before he and Miss Rita Hayworth parted. Miss Hayworth looks lovely, but does not dance. Mr Welles’ ingenious photographic effects do not compensate for his inaudible and incomprehensible story.”
Movie News – March 7, 1948
“Scotland’s single attempt to introduce “no smoking” in cinemas has ended in failure. Six months ago, Mr R J Pennycook began the experiment at the Tonic Cinema, Queen’s Park, Glasgow. Mr Pennycook had visited American cinemas and been impressed by the pure atmosphere and clean-cut presentation on the screen.”
“Before long,” Mr Pennycook said, “young people stopped coming. Most of the grumbling came from girls. Folk who come now can smoke if they want to. After all, I suppose it is a part of their relaxation.”
Movie News – March 8, 1948
“Howard Hughes, multi-millionaire, plane designer, tool manufacturer and pilot, is trying to buy control of RKO, one of Hollywood’s most powerful film companies. There is no evidence that as a producer he has any special talent.”
Historian Betty Lasky described Howard Hughes’s relationship with RKO as a “systematic seven-year rape.”
Howard Hughes as depicted by Ernest Hamlin Baker for the July 19, 1948 cover of Time.
Movie Quiz #10
Can you name the actor and the movie?
Movie News – March 9, 1948
A promotion for Duel in the Sun, aka Lust in the Dust, “A Picture of A Thousand Memorable Moments.”
Note the telephone number – not seven or ten digits, simply 94.
Movie News – March 10, 1948
“Undercover Girl is the latest in the ever-popular Maisie series, and brings Ann Sothern to the screen once again in her incomparable role of the soft-hearted, hard-boiled Brooklyn girl who meets all difficulties with incurable optimism.”
Quiz #8 answer: Once Upon a Time in the West
Quiz #9 answer: Mae West. “When she is portraying a bad woman, she’s sumptuously, voluptuously, riotously bad, and she revels in complete vulgarity.” – Alma Whitaker on Mae West, in the Los Angeles Times.
Quiz #10 answer: Edward G Robinson in Little Caesar
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 32 occasions.
In the early 1370s, as a widow with several young children to look after, my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet faced an uncertain future. Then, John of Gaunt came to her aid. He placed her in the service of his new wife, Constance of Castile. Also, he offered direct financial support.
Meanwhile, Katherine’s sister, Phillipa, found herself a husband – none other than the poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, (pictured).
Why was John of Gaunt so generous towards Katherine? Events were about to take a dramatic turn…
In the autumn of 1372 the social status of my medieval ancestor, Katherine de Roet, increased significantly. The reason? She became John of Gaunt’s mistress.
A love affair between the couple had been on the cards for years. Now, with Katherine a widow, and despite the fact that John of Gaunt was married to Constance of Castile, he decided to act. Soon, she was pregnant, and attracting the displeasure of the royal court.
In 1373, my medieval ancestor, Katherine de Roet, mistress of John of Gaunt, was pregnant. Consequently, she retreated to her estate in Kettlethorpe.
Between 1373 and 1381, Katherine bore four children to John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster: three sons and a daughter.
Katherine named her first son John, after his father. Her children carried the surname Beaufort. It’s not known why that surname was chosen. My connection to Katherine stems from the Beaufort branch of my family.
In the 1370s, John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, appointed his mistress, my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet, as the governess to his daughters Philippa and Elizabeth. This was, of course, a ruse, so that John of Gaunt could remain close to Katherine.
Throughout her affair with John of Gaunt, Katherine kept a low profile, retreating to her estate in Kettlethorpe to give birth. For his part, John of Gaunt made sure that Katherine wanted for nothing. Clearly, he cared deeply for her. According to surviving documents, Katherine and John were good and loving parents. Indeed, the “Anonymous Chronicle” reports that Katherine “loved the Duke of Lancaster and the children born from him”.
John of Gaunt
In June 1377, King Edward III (pictured) died and the kaleidoscopic picture of the royal court turned again. In March 1378, my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet made public her affair with John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster.
Thomas Walsingham wrote in his chronicle that John of Gaunt, “casting aside every shame of man and the fear of God, allowed himself to be seen riding through the Duchy with his concubine, a certain Katherine Swynford (Katherine’s married name). Walsingham added that the people were indignant and despaired because of such scandalous behavior. In his opinion, it was because of Katherine, whom he called “a witch and a whore”, that “the most terrible curses and vile insults began to circulate against the Duke”.
Incidentally, my direct link to the kings of England begins with Edward III.
The chroniclers did not approve of my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet’s relationship with John of Gaunt. Henry Knighton wrote: “a certain foreigner Katherine Swynford lived in his wife’s house, whose relationship with him was very suspicious”.
Furthermore, the love affair disturbed members of John of Gaunt’s family, who feared its consequences. John of Gaunt himself in 1381 said that clerics and servants repeatedly warned him about the detrimental effect of his relationship with Katherine on his reputation, but he ignored them.
Considering that John of Gaunt and Katherine de Roet are my direct ancestors, I’m glad he did.
In April 1378, my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet was joined by her sister, Philippa Chaucer, wife of the poet Geoffrey Chaucer, on her estate in Kettlethorpe. When able, John of Gaunt called on Katherine.
The chroniclers were still furious about Katherine and John of Gaunt’s love affair. They pointed out that Katherine’s income was greater than that of John’s wife, Constance of Castile.
Personal and political events were coming to a head, and they exploded with the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381.
Richard II, King of England at the time of the Peasants’ Revolt
After the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 (pictured), chronicler Thomas Walsingham stated that John of Gaunt “blamed himself for the death of [those] who had been overthrown by unholy violence” and “reproached himself for his connection with Katherine Swynford, or rather forswearing her”.
As a result, John of Gaunt ended his affair with my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet Swynford and reconciled with his wife, Constance of Castile. One of the great romances of the medieval era appeared to be over.
In 1381, my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet returned to her estate in Kettlethorpe (pictured, Wikipedia). She remained there for twelve years, her illicit relationship with John of Gaunt apparently over.
Then fate intervened again. John of Gaunt’s wife, Constance of Castile, died and free from his political obligations, John resumed his relationship with Katherine. To everyone’s surprise, and many noblemen’s displeasure, in 1396 he married Katherine.
Discontent amongst the nobles rumbled on. Then the Pope came to John and Katherine’s aid. He recognised their marriage as valid and legitimatised all of their children. John and Katherine’s long struggle was over. They could enjoy their autumn years together, in peace.
Concluding the story of my ancestors Katherine de Roet and John of Gaunt.
Together at last, Katherine and John no doubt entertained Katherine’s sister, Philippa, and her husband Geoffrey Chaucer. Maybe Geoffrey regaled them with his latest poems.
Katherine and John’s descendants, the Beaufort family, played a major role in the Wars of the Roses with Henry VII claiming the throne through his link to Margaret Beaufort, Katherine and John’s great-granddaughter.
Through her son John Beaufort and her daughter Joan Beaufort, Katherine became the ancestor of all English kings since Edward IV.
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 32 occasions.
From 1944, can you name the actress, actors and movie?
Quiz answers at the foot of this post.
Movie News – February 26, 1948
Movie Debut at 101
Movie News – February 27, 1948
Mr Harold Wilson, President of the Board of Trade (and future Prime Minister) said, “There are some who think that the renaissance in British film production has occurred because of a period of stagnation in Hollywood films. Many people in Britain think that Hollywood has got a little stale in its plots.”
Movie News – February 28, 1948
“Mrs Miniver is an outstanding example of how the British people took the blitz years, and did a lot to bring home to Americans what we in this country were going through.”
Movie Quiz #6
In 1949 this ending was considered daring because instead of taking the “hero’s” hand, the “heroine” walked past him. Can you name the movie?
Movie News – February 29, 1948
Marlene Dietrich Top Five “Most Fascinating Men”
Erich Maria Remarque, novelist
Alexander Kirk, US Ambassador
Igor Stravinsky, composer
Earnest Hemingway, novelist
Roberto Rossellini, film director
Movie News – March 1, 1948
“Producer Ronald Neame doesn’t encourage visitors on The Passionate Friends set just now. Ann Todd and Trevor Howard are busy on love scenes. They prefer to have as few onlookers as possible.”
Movie News – March 2, 1948
Movies on release this week: Two Thousand Women, Tropic Fury, The Lone Wolf in Mexico, Cigarette Girl, Cheers for Miss Bishop, I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now, Duel in the Sun, The Rich Full Life, Gone With the Wind, Fame is the Spur, Baxter’s Millions, Keeper of the Bees.
In 1951, an edited version of Two Thousand Women was released in America, under the title House of One Thousand Women.
Movie Quiz #7
The introduction of CinemasScope in 1953 increased the average shot length from eleven to thirteen seconds. It also encouraged “washing line” compositions, like this one from How to Marry a Millionaire. Can you name any of the actors or actresses featured?
Movie News – March 3, 1948
“Maureen O’Sullivan has played in thirty-eight films. Between the thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth, however, there was a gap of nearly five years while Maureen nursed her husband through an illness, which he contracted during the war, and presented him with three children. The Irish girl is living proof that two careers in Hollywood can be carried on simultaneously with great success.”
Production of the audiobook version of Sunshine, book two in my Golden Age of Hollywood series, is now well underway. Kayla is adding sound effects to her narration, and they are greatly enhancing the story.
My latest Golden Age of Hollywood article for the Seaside News appears on page 43 of the magazine.
Quiz #5 answer: Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray and Edward G Robinson in Double Indemnity
Quiz #6 answer: The Third Man
Quiz #7 answer: Betty Grable, Rory Calhoun, Lauren Bacall, Cameron Mitchell and Marilyn Monroe
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 32 occasions.
Hannah Howe 