Star of the Week

Today is the start of the Star of the Week series! Although i have done this in the previous year, i am redoing everything in a much better and more detailed way. So to mark the first star, we have that wonderful woman who starred in many screwball comedies, Irene Dunne!   

Name: Irene Marie Dunn
Date of Birth: December 20, 1898
                     in Louisville, Kentucky
Date of Death: September 4, 1990 (age 91)
Height: 5-5
Married: Dr. Frank Griffin (1928-1965, his death)
Divorced: -NA-
Academy Award Nominations:
Cimarron (1931)
Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
The Awful Truth (1937)
Love Affair (1939)
I Remember Mama (1948)

Trademark: Combination of madcap humor and elegance

Summary: A classically trained singer, Irene Dunne seemed the perfect fit for Hollywood. By 1930 she was signed by RKO in 1930. The following year she appeared in Cimarron, which she received an Oscar nomination for. Dunne continued to churn out hits during the 30s. When Columbia cast her in Theodora Goes Wild, Dunne was cast into stardom. She also received an Oscar nomination for the film. Dunne also showed a range for comedic roles too, in 1937s The Awful Truth with her friend Cary Grant (they would star in two other pictures, Penny Serenade and My Favorite Wife. She garnered a third nomination for The Awful Truth. In comedies is where she showed her prowess as a screwball comedienne.  Her favorite film was 1939s A Love Affair with Charles Boyer. However, it is the film I Remember Mama in which Dunne is most remembered. Eventually, Dunne decided to retire while she was still on top of the game. After retiring in the 50s, Irene Dunne continued to live a fulfilling life, enjoying her life with her husband and continuing her political and philanthropic efforts. Irene Dunne will always be remembered for her great roles as a screwball queen in the silver screen.

In my opinion, Irene Dunne is one of the most under-rated actresses of the 20th Century. How many people have heard of her? I feel that she is under-appreciated because she chose to retire early to spend time with her family. I just love Irene Dunne's movies, as should you! If you have never seen any of the movies mentioned below, go rent it! 

Notable Films: The Awful Truth, Love Affair, I Remember Mama, Penny Serenade

Favorite Performance: The Awful Truth
Best Performance: I Remember Mama. 
Favorite Film:  The Awful Truth. Hilarious movie with Dunne, Cary Grant, Ralph Bellamy and Asta the Dog.

Now for the hint about next week's Star of the Week: That character actor whose initials spell PL!       

Rehashing Info

Since i've been away so long, i am going to repeat what my weekly blogs are.

 Monday: Star of the Week. I am going to redo everything in a better way!
Thursday: Movie of the Week. This will feature a short summary (with no spoilers!), stars and director and my thoughts on it!
Saturday: My random thoughts on movies in general, including current ones!

I'm Back

Well it has been too long! I've been busy for almost a year! I almost forgot about the blog....


 I look forward to posting more information on our glorious Old Hollywood!!!!!!!!!!

Star of the Week: Thelma Ritter

Last week's star was that underrated director George Cukor. This week's is my absolute favorite character actress Thelma Ritter.

Real Name: Thelma Ritter
Born: February 14, 1905
     in Brooklyn, New York
Died: February 5, 1969 (age 63)
Height: unknown

What words are there to describe her. Wonderful? Sassy? how about brilliant. I think one of her charms was her sarcastic streak and her accent. If Thelma Ritter ever did a mo

Notable Films: All About Eve, Rear Window, Pillow Talk, The Misfits

Star of the Week: George Cukor

Last weeks star was Olivia de Havilland. This week is a bit different. The Star of the Week is a director. The one who directed such classics as My Fair Lady and The Philadelphia Story: George Cukor.

Real Name: George Dewey Cukor

Born: July 7, 1899 in

     New York City, New York

Died: January 24, 1983 (age 83)
Height: 5-8
Academy Award nominations:
Little Women (1933)

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

A Double Life (1947)

Born Yesterday (1950)

My Fair Lady (1964)     WON

I feel that George Cukor was one of the most underrated and underappreciated directors. He made so many classic movies but was often overlooked because of his homosexuality. I've enjoyed all the movies he's made but my favorites are The Philadelphia Story and The Women, which features an all-female cast and is a hysterical film. I personally enjoyed his films with Katharine Hepburn. He should have the recognition that Hitchcock, Capra, or Wilder had but he never got. Often forgotten is the fact that Cukor directed some of Gone With The Wind before he was fired from the project, and Clark Gable had nothing to do with it, contrary to legend. Cukor was known for throwing large parties which were attended by many in the Hollywood circle like Bogart and Bacall, Tracy and Hepburn, Judy Garland, Olivier and Leigh and many more. His frequent collaborations with Katharine Hepburn (10 films) stemmed from their real-life friendship.

Notable Films: The Philadelphia Story, Adam's Rib, My Fair Lady, A Star Is Born, Gone With The Wind (half), Gaslight, The Women

Top 6: Thelma Ritter

Thelma Ritter is probably my favorite character actresses ever. I love her sarcasm, wit, and that voice. While charactor actors were in abundance, charactor actresses were fewer and further between. I feel she definately needs to shown some love.

All About Eve...I love her in this. She's witty and takes no bs! If only she was in the movie longer!
Rear Window...the first film i watched of hers and boy, was she awesome. A good foil to Stewart and Kelly.
The Misfits...the last film Gable and Monroe appeared in. She holds her ground very well.
Pillow Talk
Birdman of Alcatraz

Movie Review #11 - The Philadelphia Story

                        The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Director: George Cukor

Cast: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, John Howard, Ruth Hussey, Virginia Weidler 

Running Time: 112 minutes

Production Co.: MGM Pictures

Academy Award Nominations:

Best Actress - Katharine Hepburn

Best Actor - James Stewart    WON

Best Director

Best Picture

Best Supporting Actress - Ruth Hussey

Best Writing, Screenplay   WON

Philadelphia socialites Tracy Lord (Hepburn) and C.K. Dexter Haven (Grant) married impulsively, with their marriage and subsequent divorce being equally passionate. They broke up when Dexter's drinking became excessive, it a mechanism to cope with Tracy's unforgiving manner to the imperfect, imperfections which Dexter admits he readily has. Two years after their break-up, Tracy is about to remarry, the ceremony to take place at the Lord mansion. Tracy's bridegroom is nouveau riche businessman and aspiring politician George Kittredge (Howard), who is otherwise a rather ordinary man and who idolizes Tracy. The day before the wedding, three unexpected guests show up at the Lord mansion: Macaulay Connor or Mike(Stewart), Elizabeth Imbrie (Hussey)- the two who are friends of Tracy's absent brother, Junius - and Dexter himself. Dexter, an employee of the tabloid Spy magazine, made a deal with its publisher and editor Sidney Kidd to get a story on Tracy's wedding. Mike is sent to photogaph the wedding but finds himself falling for the bride.

This socialite comedy stars three of the greatest stars ever to grace the silver screen: Cary Grant, James Stewart and Katharine Hepburn. Along with a great supporting cast, The Philadelphia Story shines with its brilliance. James Stewart won Best Actor for his role, though many believe it to be a "sorry" Oscar for him not winning for Mr. Smith. That may or may not be true, but Stewart is equally as good. His drunk scene is one of the funniest in film. Even with the great cast, he steals the picture from everyone else. And the whole switching family member roles is a crack up. Kate Hepburn is so great as a snottty, spoiled heiress who gets pulled down from her pedestal. While this isn't my favorite Hepburn-Grant collaboration (that belongs to Bringing Up Baby), this one is just as good, with a great script. While called a screwball comedy, i classify it more as a romantic comedy which i highly recommend. *****