Tag: Hollywood

Movie Quiz #8

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.”

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.

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 🙂

Movie Quiz #5

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.

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 🙂

Movie Quiz #2

A still from a movie released in August 1938. Can you name the film, the actor and the actress making her Hollywood debut?

Quiz answers at the foot of this post.

Movie News – February 19, 1948

A Prediction

Movie News – February 20, 1948

“In MGM’s The Rich Full Life, Spring Byington (pictured) appears in her 75th major characterisation in thirteen years. Having averaged nearly six pictures a year since she left the stage in 1933, Miss Byington’s reputation as Hollywood’s busiest actress is undisputed.”

Movie News – February 21, 1948

Joan Crawford Denies Charges

“Joan Crawford denied that she visited a sanatorium to watch a patient receiving electric treatment with a view to assisting her in her performance in the film Possessed. 

Miss Crawford is being sued by the patient’s husband Mr Charles McKay. Miss Crawford admitted that she visited the sanitarium, but was so upset by what she saw that she left before the treatment was given. Mrs McKay has since disappeared and has not been found despite a police search.”

Movie Quiz #3

Can you name the actor, actress, dog and movie?

Movie News – February 22, 1948

The top man and woman earners in the United States between 1944 and 1946 were film producer Louis B Mayer and actress Deanna Durbin. Mayer earned $502,571 and Durbin $262,875. Mayer earned more money than any other American in eight of the past nine years.

Movie News – February 23, 1948

Despite the crisis in the film industry, Gainsborough Pictures is doubling its production this year, producing seventeen films compared with nine last year. Gainsborough has a reputation for working quickly, with an average shooting time of ten weeks. Using a specially built honeycomb set and four cameras, they expect to shoot Flowers for the Living in ten days.

Movie Quiz #4

An iconic image from 1932 featuring Clark Gable and Jean Harlow, but can you name the movie?

Movie News – February 24, 1948

Shiela Sim, actress wife of Richard Attenborough was at home when her phone rang.

“Is that Mr Attenborough’s home?” asked a deep voice.

“Er…yes,” said Shiela Sim.

“Is it Mr Richard Attenborough the film star, or Mr Richard Attenborough the pawnbroker?”

“Yes, this is Mr Richard Attenborough the film star’s house.”

“Blast!” said the caller. “I wanted the pawnbroker.”

Movie News – February 25, 1948

“There’s plenty of comedy in Living in a Big Way, which has Gene Kelly starring in some novel dance routines. Marie MacDonald, known in Hollywood as The Body, has thirty-eight fashions to enhance her figure.”

Marie MacDonald married seven times, twice to the same man. Three of her marriages only lasted a year. A fourth lasted two years. Her first marriage was annulled after three weeks. She was also the victim of an alleged kidnapping, which was never proved.

Some book news. Dana, book three in my Golden Age of Hollywood series, is a Hot New Release in Canada. This is exciting because the book isn’t scheduled for release until late autumn/early winter.

Quiz #2 answer: Algiers, Charles Boyer, Hedy Lamarr

Quiz #3 answer: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Asta, The Thin Man

Quiz #4 answer: Red Dust

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.

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 🙂

Movie Quiz #1

From November 1939. This actress, starring alongside Melvyn Douglas, was noted for her aloof demeanour. However, in this movie she laughed. Can you name her?

Answer at the foot of this post.

Movie News – February 12, 1948

Comedians Bud Abbott and Lou Costello (pictured) announced that they are leaving Hollywood in July for England, to make a picture and appear in vaudeville shows. They will donate half the proceeds to aid English orphans and half to aid Italian orphans.

Movie News – February 13, 1948

Young Widow. “The most publicised woman in Hollywood, Jane Russell, appears in this delightful romantic drama. In one year, the beautiful dark-eyed, dark-haired young actress received more publicity than any other woman in the world.”

With The Outlaw still being suppressed by the censors, Young Widow was Jane Russell’s debut.

Movie News – February 14, 1948

Deadwood Dick film found in a dustbin. Unfortunately, matinée goers did not see the film because it was so badly damaged. Furthermore, the copy found was the only one in Britain.

Movie News – February 15, 1948

Britain is to make a ten reel technicolour film of the Olympic Games, which will be released to the world within ten days of the completion of the event. Hitler’s film unit took six months to complete their 1936 film. The use of colour will enable foreign film goers to identify their compatriots.

Movie News – February 16, 1948

Hollywood studios, which used to spend between £300,000 and £630,000 on feature films are fixing this year’s budgets between £375,000 and £500,000 and hope to reduce costs to between £250,000 and #375,000 by 1949. 

This is a result of restrictions placed on US films by foreign countries, notably Britain.

Movie News – February 17, 1948

“Miss Jean Simmons, the eighteen-year-old film star, and ex-Bevin Boy (selected by ballot to work in the coal mines during the Second World War) Donald Houston from Tonypandy, Wales, Britain’s newest leading screen actor, escaped injury when their car skidded and overturned while on location filming in the Suva-Fiji islands.”

Movie News – February 18, 1948

A representative of J Arthur Rank said that German film exhibitors were queuing up for prints of British films, the most popular being Madonna of the Seven Moons, The Magic Bow, The Overlanders and The Wicked Lady.

In The Wicked Lady, the cast had to endure nine days of retakes to satisfy the American censor. According to the censor, the women’s bodices were cut too low. In terms of historical accuracy, in the original print the bodices were cut just right.

Quiz answer: Greta Garbo

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 40 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 🙂

Movie News – January 29, 1948

Loretta Young’s comments, featured on 27 January about the British people starving and shivering, were criticised by a British tourist official.

Movie News – January 30, 1948

Films showing this week in British cinemas: You Can’t Have Everything starring Alice Faye, The Falcon in Hollywood starring Tom Conway, and Great Expectations starring John Mills.

Movie News – January 31, 1948

Bette Davis and her husband, William Grant Sherry. The couple divorced in 1950. Maybe Bette’s expression offered a hint of what was to follow…

Movie News – February 1, 1948

A film famine in Britain – no new shows this week.

Movie News – February 2, 1948

Joe E Howard (pictured), the composer of over 500 popular songs, including I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now, was injured when a car struck him while he was crossing a street in Hollywood. While in hospital, recovering from concussion, he sang some of his hits to the nurses, including I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now.

A footnote to this story. Harold Orlob sued Joe E Howard, claiming that he had penned I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now. Orlob won his suit. He sought no compensation, but asked that he should be recognised as the primary composer of the song.

Movie News – February 3, 1948

Beauty Spurns the Films

Miss America of 1947, brunette, beautiful Barbara Jo Walker, has now turned down fifteen offers to go to Hollywood. Barbara explained: “I have my ideals. I want to be the wife of a successful doctor.” Her wish was granted when her sweetheart, John Hummel, received his medical degree.

Footnote: Barbara Jo Walker was the last Miss America to be crowned in her bathing suit; all since 1947 have been crowned in their evening gowns. Her son, Andy Hummel, was a member of the power pop band Big Star.

Movie News – February 4, 1948

“Daughter of Darkness is a Jack the Ripper story in reverse. The heroine seduces then murders husky young men. A startling performance from Siobhan McKenna, who gives this monstrous young woman just the right proportion of chill and seduction. Outrageous nonsense, but never dull.”

*****

A culturally important movie, Storm Center starring Bette Davis was released in 1956. A noir drama directed by Daniel Taradash, the story focused on three controversial subjects – book banning, censorship and McCarthyism. Storm Center was the first overtly anti-McCarthyism film to be produced in Hollywood.

My research for Eve’s War, Heroines of SOE, and my Golden Age of Hollywood novels, has produced the following coincidence: I selected female SOE agents to research and actresses Blacklisted in the 1950s. Most of my selections, including Marsha Hunt, lived well into their nineties. I wasn’t aware of this before selecting them for research. Marsha Hunt actually lived to be 104. A theory: their fighting qualities aided their longevity.

My latest Golden Age of Hollywood article for the Seaside News appears on page 43 of the magazine

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 40 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 🙂