Tag: Writing

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Movies ‘48

Movies ‘48 #9

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.

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Categories
Movies ‘48

Movies ‘48 #8

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

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Ancestral Stories

Ancestral Stories #10


Katherine de Roet

My 20x Great Grandmother

Katherine’s Marriage to Sir Hugh Swynford

In 1362, my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet married Sir Hugh Swynford. This was a political marriage and there is no evidence that love existed between the couple.

Descended from an ancient English family, Sir Hugh Swynford was a professional soldier. He served John of Gaunt (pictured), which created tensions in the household because Katherine and John of Gaunt loved each other, and John of Gaunt was married to Katherine’s friend, Blanche of Lancaster. The situation had the makings of a romantic tragedy, which slowly began to unfold.

Against her wishes, my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet married Sir Hugh Swynford. Sir Hugh was a landowner with lands in Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Essex and Suffolk. However, he was not an aristocrat and his income was modest compared to the lords Katherine had rubbed shoulders with at the royal court.

Sir Hugh and Katherine lived on their estate at Kettlethorpe, located twelve miles west of Lincoln. Katherine received the title Lady Kettlethorpe and with Sir Hugh active in various military campaigns, she managed the estate. 

Katherine’s future was mapped out – estate manager and mother of Sir Hugh’s children. Yet, her heart still belonged to the love of her life, the unattainable John of Gaunt… 

Katherine’s home, Kettlethorpe Hall (Wikipedia)

From her marriage to Sir Hugh Swynford, my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet gave birth to a daughter, Blanche, c1363, named after Katherine’s friend Blanche of Lancaster. More children followed, including Margaret, born c1364. In 1377 she became a nun at Barking Abbey. 

Sir Hugh was often away, fighting in military campaigns. Katherine, meanwhile, resided at John of Gaunt’s court. Katherine and John of Gaunt were in love, but it’s clear that Katherine respected her friend Blanche of Lancaster and her marriage to John of Gaunt. An air of Courtly Love pervaded, but how long could it last?

The Marriage of John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster in Reading Abbey on 19 May 1359 by Horace Wright (1914).

While her husband Sir Hugh Swynford was away on military campaigns, my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet cared for her children and, as nursemaid, the children of John of Gaunt and his wife Blanche of Lancaster.

Katherine and Blanche were close friends, yet due to the politics of the time, Blanche was married to the man Katherine loved, John of Gaunt. 

In November 1366 the two women were pregnant at the same time. Katherine took the opportunity to move away from John of Gaunt’s household and care for her family at Kettlethorpe Hall.

*****

The period 1368 – 1371 saw dramatic changes in my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet’s life. First, on 12 September 1368 Blanche of Lancaster, her friend and the wife of John of Gaunt, died. Then, on 13 November 1371 Katherine’s husband Sir Hugh Swynford died. The way appeared open for Katherine and John of Gaunt to marry. However, for political reasons, John of Gaunt married Constance of Castile (pictured).

Katherine was now a widow, and not a very prosperous one at that. Would she remarry, or find another way to win the affection of John of Gaunt?

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 🙂

Categories
Movies ‘48

Movies ‘48 #7


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.

Hollywood in the 1920s

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 🙂

Categories
Movies ‘48

Movies ‘48 #6

Movie News – February 5, 1948

A film of the 1936 Olympic Games (Hitler’s Games) “should be useful to members of British athletic and other sporting clubs. The original print was kept at the German Embassy. After hostilities began the Ministry of Information took control of it. Copies have been made for military physical training purposes and now the making of similar prints for civilian purposes is awaited.”

Movie News – February 6, 1948

“The Perils of Pauline revives memories of the ‘continued next week days’. It is the biography of Pearl White, the serial queen of the silent picture era – a joyous romp with Betty Hutton at the top of her dynamic form as Pearl White. Photographed in Technicolor, this is entertainment with a capital E.”

Movie News – February 7, 1948

“Winter Olympics 1948. Three of Canada’s girl skaters in the procession – Barbara Ann Scott, Marion Ruth Take and Suzanne Morrow. Nineteen-year-old Miss Scott is Women’s Figure Skating Champion of the World, and like Sonja Henie, who captured the Olympic title in 1936, now faces a Hollywood career.”

Footnote: between 1947 and 1950 Barbara Ann Scott featured in four films as herself. She did not go on to develop an acting career, but was still regarded as a Canadian icon.

Movie News – February 8, 1948

“I will take a bet that I’m down at the studios getting my screen make-up on while some of you are in bed! Each day I go to the studios knowing by the end of it that there will be at least two minutes of screen time ‘in the can’. And that is as good an encouragement as any actress can want.” – Patricia Roc, actress (pictured).

Movie News – February 9, 1948

Private Movies at Midnight

The private midnight showing of It Always Rains on Sunday “will be the first midnight show to be held in Derby for many years.”

Movie News – February 10, 1948

“Hollywood producers are worried over the increasing influence of American women on film production. The producers say this influence amounts to a dictatorship, and angry words are being uttered about the tyranny of women’s clubs over production. If these women disapprove of any new Hollywood idea, the idea is dropped. 

Mr Arthur de Bra of the US Motion Picture Producer’s Association said that in ninety percent of cases American women decide what pictures their families will see.”

Movie News – February 11, 1948

Samuel Goldwyn (pictured), his studios and entire executive staff have agreed to accept a fifty percent pay cut. Those who accepted the cut agreed to “put the welfare of this company and industry above their own personal wishes.”

In unrelated news, Jane Wyman filed for divorce from film actor Ronald Reagan. Some sources state that Reagan’s enthusiastic support for Blacklisting Hollywood personnel was a factor in her decision.

Book News

Operation Zigzag, book one in my Eve’s War Heroines of SOE series, has returned to the top of the Amazon War Fiction chart. Many thanks to everyone who has helped to make this possible.

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 🙂