Vamps; Theda Bara, Gloria Swanson, Barbara Stanwyck, Rita Haywood and Marilyn Monroe.

I have seen a number of silent films including the wonderful Sunrise (1927) in which I saw my first silent film vamp. Margaret Livingston plays 'the woman from the city' who tries to lure a farmer from his wife after suggesting he drown his spouse and make it look like a boating accident.

According to Raymond Leader's article Where Are Our Vamps? (1) the first actress to become famous as a 'vamp' (an abbreviation of vampire) was Theda Bara. I don't recall seeing any of her films but in promotional photographs she had a exotic appearance due to her Russian and Jewish parentage and also emphasized this with strong make up; a clever newspaper reporter rearranged her name and nicknamed her 'Death Arab'. (2)

The great Gloria Swansea played a former silent star in Sunset Boulevard (1950) which was ironic as in the film she watches movies of her sweet screen self but Norma Desmond the character had to be the oldest vamp in town!

 

There were many vamp actresses but my personal favourites are Barbara Stanwick, Jean Harlow, Rita Haywood and Marilyn Monroe.

One of Stanwick's best OTT performance was Sorry Wrong Number (1948) in which she uses Daddy's money to steal her best friend's boyfriend. Interestingly Ed Begley Senior played her father but in real life was only 6 years older than Stanwick.

 

The great modern film Shawshank Redemption (1994) features a clip from Gilda (1946) starring Rita Haywood. A poster of her is used to cover an escape tunnel in one of the cells.

Marilyn Monroe was best known for her breathless wiggle arse parts but she also did some great work as an insane nanny in Don't bother to knock (1952) and plotting to kill her husband in Niagara (1953).

Rather than a picture of Marilyn this Philip Treacy velvet clutch bag is a wow accessory.

 

(1) and (2) Raymond Leader. ABC Film Review July 1953 magazine. Rex Publicity Servcies LTD.

Doris Day, Sandra Dee and Grease The Movie.

Prior to last year I had never bothered to watch a film starring Doris Day, her sweet girl next door image put me off her comedies but I saw Calamity Jane (1953) recently and it was enjoyable, however my growing tolerance dropped again when I tried to watch Do Not Disturb (1965). My personal preference for female leads are for the vamps or femme fatales like Barbara Stanwyck rather than the 'oldest virgin in town'.

My daughter's favourite film is Grease (1978), I have watched this film with her many times and always wondered why the cast chosen are clearly in their 20s and 30s. Stockard Channing played teen-aged Rizzo (the video clip below she is in the purple shirt) at the age of 34! The film contains a song called 'Look at me I'm Sandra Dee' which until I watched Imitation of Life (1959) I had no idea Miss Dee was a real person. 

Sandra Dee had the same 'girl next door' wholesome image as Miss Day. She did not make many films but all were ingénue roles which is why she and Oliver Newton Johns' Sandy Olson character in Grease were mimicked in the following sequence.  

Child Actors; Jackie Coogan, The Kid and Richard Eyer, The Genie.

Years ago whilst watching Superman the Movie (1978) with a friend he commented that the actor playing the Daily Planet editor Perry White was the child actor from Charlie Chaplin's The Kid (1921). He was wrong, that actor is Jackie Cooper, the Kid was played by Jackie Coogan.

It is estimated that during his acting career Coogan earning up to 4 million dollars. His parents spent the money on a luxury lifestyle; fur coats, jewellery and expensive vehicles. In 1938 Master Coogan sued his parents but most of the money had gone, however his legal action became known as Coogan's Bill or Coogan's Act.

Thanks to Coogan's action 15% of a child entertainer earnings should be put aside in a trust to prevent this happening again.

Last week I saw the western Canyon River (1956) for the first time and looking closely at the boy playing a widow's son thought 'there's that kid again'! That kid is Richard Eyer born in 1945, his must successful role was the genie in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958). Eyer appeared in many TV shows and films however Sinbad was his last big screen role. When I looked on web sites many of his earlier films are not mentioned but if you watch as many old films as I do he can be spotted again and again. Eyer had freckles, auburn curly hair and a normal chubby appearance compared to some child actors today who are made to look like miniature adults.

Paint your Wagon, Blazing Saddles, Stage Fright and Way out West.

I have to confess until recently the western was not one of my favourite film genres, but, after watching John Wayne, Rock Hudson and others in westerns I have changed my mind. Westerns do not have to be all cowboys and indians they can be funny too.


The plot for Paint your Wagon (1969) is a travelling Mormon with 2 wives decides to get rid of the troublesome one when he passes through a male only camp. Lee Marvin is Ben Rumson who shares a gold claim and cabin with his friend Pardner played by Clint Eastwood. During the course of the film Elizabeth (the bought wife) confesses to loving both men. I really like this film except for the scene with Clint Eastwood singing in the woods which is embarrassing, I know you should not stereotype but I am used to the tough guy; man of few words in a poncho not a pink smocked shirt!

 I have never watched a Laurel and Hardy film but seen lots of their clips including the famous Way out West dance scene (1937).

I am always on the lookout in the TV guide for one of their films even in the early hours, until then these gentlemen will continue to hold my living room door open for me.

I own two Alfred Hitchcock box sets, one of which contains the murder mystery Stage Fright (1950) starring Marlene Dietrich and the wonderful Jane Wyman. Miss Dietrich's character Charlotte Inwood does a rendition of 'I'm the Laziest Gal in Town' on a chaise lounge in a thin one gown. This was the influence for Lili Von Shtupp in Blazing Saddles (1974) played by Madeleine Kahn, She is in black, her song is called 'I'm tired' and it is hilarious!

Edward G Robinson & Chief Wiggum. Andy Devine & Friar Tuck. George Sanders & Shere Khan.

Have you ever watched an old film and thought I recognise that voice? Today any B-Z list celebrity can voice a character in an animated film and it would be hard to distinguish who is who; but the 3 following actors have such wonderful vocal tones that it is not hard to understand why their voices were chosen.

Edward G Robinson did not actually voice Chief Wiggum from The Simpson as he died in 1973 and the cartoon started in 1987 but the character's voice is an Hank Azaria impression of the film noir actor. Wiggum's voice was initially to be David Brinkley an NBC and ABC newsreader but his voice was considered too slow (thanks Wikipedia). In Little Caesar (1931) Robinson plays the hoodlum of the title and rounds up his henchmen with calls of 'Come on Boys' just as Chief Wiggum does in The Simpsons.

I recently watched The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) for the first time and loved it. The scene where John Wayne's corrects James Stewart's holding of a hand gun is great chemistry and very funny. Town Marshall Link Appleyard is played by Andy Devine who also voiced Friar Tuck in Walt Disney's Robin Hood (1973). Devine's raspy with just a touch of cowardliness voice was magnificent. Prior to Liberty Valance I had never heard of Devine but he appeared in over 400 films and has a star on Hollywood Boulevard.

There is a little known film starring Barabara Stanwyck and George Sanders called Witness to Murder (1954). Stanwyck's character Cheryl Draper lives alone and through her bedroom window witness's a woman being strangled in an adjacent apartment, later she learns that the murderer is a charismatic Ex-Nazi. Sanders was Shere Khan in Jungle Book (1967); his hypnotic and menacing voice was perfect for villains and scheming cads.

Veronica Lake, Kim Basinger, L. A Confidential and Crime Wave.

I remember reading somewhere that film costume designer Edith Head had experienced problems dressing stars with figure issues such as Dorothy Lamour's wide hips, Bette Davis refusing to wear a bra and Veronica Lake's long neck. Apparently it was wardrobe staff and the 'studio system' that decided she should disguise it with certain dress necklines and wear her hair long but swept to one side instead of pony tails.

  

Even in work-wear Miss Lake's sexiness is very evident but its the latter hairstyle which made her famous.

In the film The Major and The Minor (1942) there is an hilarious scene when the boys from an academy attend a dance with a local girls school. One boy comes out and warns the other boys that the girls are all Veronica Lake lookalikes. As they enter the dance hall the walls are lined with said girls all with their long hair over the right side of their faces all attempting sexy sultry stares!

During the 1970's Kim Basinger co-starred in a show called Dog and Cat (1977), Miss Basinger was the cat (female police officer) in her first leading role, unfortunately it was cancelled after only 6 episodes. Years later she played Lynn Bracken in L A Confidential (1997). Miss Basinger's character is a prostitute who's hair has been dyed blond to make her resemble Veronica Lake for her starstruck clients. She won an Oscar for the part. 

As you would expect I love the clothes in the film, especially the outfit worn by Miss Bracken when attending the police station. The trench coat, two tone brogue shoes and beret look is a favourite of mine.

I don't know if the writers or producers of L A Confidential had ever seen a film called Crime Wave (1954. A.K.A The City is Dark) but to me the similarity of these two films is striking. Both are set in Los Angeles and have plots which centre around the killing of a police officer; nothing unusual there but the feel of them is like a black & white and a colour vision of the same film with different character names. 

The poster for L A Confidential always makes me smile, maybe they didn't think the film would appeal to women so the majority of advertising space is Kim Basinger's breasts!

Jane Russell, her Lambeth baby boy and Gentlemen prefer Blondes.

Since childhood my father (a lifelong Guinness drinker) would tell me that he had an Irish drinking buddy in the 50s/60s who was the father of Jane Russell's adopted son. As a child my response was Jane Who? later in my teen years it was 'Yes, al-right dad I believe you'. Well decades later if I could I would apologise to my Dad because he had been telling the truth.

Jane Russell's adoption of a local boy caused a hue and cry in the London Borough of Lambeth. Member of Parliament Mr. Marcus Lipton raised the issue during members question time as British Law did not allow foreigners to adopt British children.

The pub where the boy's father and my dad drank was located in Brixton and called The Queen. It was demolished recently and a block of flats built but the name remains.

My collection of vintage dress making patterns include a 'Gay Girl' blouse modelled by Miss Russell. The cut is a classic style from the 50s/60s and I love it!

I have a Marilyn Monroe box set (bought from Sainsbury's supermarket) which includes 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' (1953). The film has some great fashions; wiggle dresses and evening gowns, but for me it is this wonderful swing jacket/coat worn by Miss Russell that even I'd wear.

Each time I watch the film I shake my head in disbelief at the following scene, how did they get those shorts past the censors?