bansi4

Thanks lolite. Here goes: Clue # 1 Adventurous debutante

"Our Vines Have Tender Grapes"?

W.C. Robinson in "City Lights" w/ Charles Chaplin Charles Chaplin in "The Kid" w/ Jackie Coogan Jackie Coogan in "Lonelyhearts" w/Maureen Stapleton Maureen Stapleton in "Heartburn" w/ Mercedes Ruehl Mercedes Ruehl in "The Warriors" w/ Tom Kitterick Connect John Ryan Rumsey to Joy Harrington

I always heard that it was Gary Merrill who married Bette Davis because he thought she was like her character of Margo Channing. I believe Miss Davis herself made the statement. Mongo

I agree wholeheartedly that Jean Simmons should have been nominated for best actress as Sister Sharon for her fine performance in "Elmer Gantry" (1960). However it was nominee Deborah Kerr that should have won the Oscar for her outstanding performance in "The Sundowners" that year. She was wonderful in the role and due to win. It is now common knowledge that Elizabeth Taylor got a sympathy win in "BUtterfield 8" for a performance that she herself didn't care for. Mongo

To some of these modern classics listed thus far I would like to add "The Last Picture Show" (1971). Mongo

Sorry to say that June Allyson didn't appear in the movie "The Women" (1939). She appeared in the remake "The Opposite Sex" (1956). Mongo

A mini "Grand Hotel" by author Vicki Baum and ironically it was the cast that made it interesting for me to watch the movie. Hard to believe you didn't take note of the handsome actor Helmut Dantine who usually played a Nazi. Of course I always liked Andrea King (Lupino look-a-like) and the lovely Faye Emerson. And with Peter Lorre you can't lose. Mongo

Although I myself havn't seen some of the late Sandra Dee's films in years I was wondering if the movie could be "If a Man Answers" (1962) which starred Dee with singer Bobby Darin. Any more info on the plot would probably help. Mongo

When I was a lad in Brooklyn and helped out an elderly woman who was in a wheelchair, I recall she used to listen to soap operas on the radio in the afternoon. And in the evening I listened to Peter Tripp the Curly Headed Kid in the Third Row who played the Top 40 Hits of the week. Unfortunately he got caught in a Payola scam and was bounced off the air. And the radio I used was very old and I had to hold the wire in the back of the radio in order to get good reception. We didn't have much but those were the days and I wouldn't trade them for anything. Mongo

Your movie is "It's Love I'm After" (1937) and doesn't appear to be available on VHS or DVD. However I believe the movie is in the TCM library. Mongo

The outstanding movie is titled "Resurrection" (1980) starring Ellen Burstyn. Mongo

Some of the best: "How Green Was My Valley" "The Best Years of Our Lives" "Oliver!" "The Godfather" "West Side Story" Some of the worst: "Cimarron" "Hamlet" "Around the World in 80 Days" "Out of Africa" "The Last Emperor" Mongo

Glad to know that you are making progress with the movies that you wanted. Mongo

Your movie short could be "Star in the Night" (1945) with J. Carrol Naish and Donald Woods which was a play on the Nativity. Mongo

Feaito, Sorry to say that I hit a brick wall thus far on your question regarding Genevieve of Brabant but I will continue to research it. In the meantime if any members looking in can shed some light on this it would greatly be appreciated. Mongo

Who gives a hoot! Mongo

To Iposkitt regarding hard-to-find films: The movie "The First Deadly Sin" with Sinatra is available on both VHS and DVD through Amazon.com or you could locate some local video stores in the yellow pages and have it ordered for you. The movie "Hurry Sundown" has not been released on VHS or DVD yet. Since it is a Paramount picture your chances of seeing it on TCM are slim since they don't have the access of many of the studios films...yet. Mongo

For Path regarding Irene Hervey: The former leading lady, slender and elegantly beautiful, had worked at Valley Oaks Travel Agency in Sherman Oaks after leaving the screen. She was highly active on TV in the '50s and '60s winning an Emmy nomination for a guest role in "My Three Sons" and was a regular in the "Honey West" series. She last appeared on screen in 1971 in "Play Misty for Me" with Clint Eastwood which was filmed at Universal where she and former husband Allan Jones made many movies in the '40s. Married 21 years to Jones, they were divorced -his idea, she has said-in 1957. Their only child is popular singer Jack Jones. Her daughter by a former marriage was legally adopted by Allan Jones and like her son Jack has made the actress a grandmother. She didn't remarry and lived in North Hollywood and flew regularly, one advantage to being with a travel agency, to attend son Jack's more glamorous night-club openings all over the world. On screen since 1930 one of her most popular films was "Destry Rides Again" with James Stewart. Miss Hervey passed away at age 89 in 1998. Mongo

I share your thoughts on this topic brackenhe as I also have enjoyed many of the black players of the past and still do. I have many favorites. I look forward to TCMs showing of the low budget films with an all black cast some of which were very talented. I do recall a similar thread about a year ago which I believe was also posted by Msladysoul. To add to my book collection of black entertainment I just ordered Donald Bogle's new book "Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams: The Story of Black Hollywood" a serious social history involving many players. The book got good reviews and promises to be a winner. Mongo

To Stoneyburke regarding salary: One of the highest salaries paid to a star prior to 1950 was $400,000 and that was to Mae West for "Belle of the Nineties" (1934). Compare this to Barbara Stanwyck who was the highest paid woman in the U.S. earning $400,000 for the year 1944 for an accumulation of films. Clark Gable received $120,000 for "Gone With The Wind" (1939). James Cagney received $150,000 for "Angels with Dirty Faces" (1938). Claudette Colbert received $265,000 for "Since You Went Away" (1944). John Wayne received $180,000 for "The Sands of Iwo Jima" (1949) plus 10% of the gross. Bette Davis received $150,000 for "All About Eve" (1950). It seems that some stars bartered better than others however it was a great deal of money considering the times and the value of the dollar. There may be other stars who made higher salaries prior to 1950 and if I come across them I will post it. Mongo

For Liz regarding Ross Alexander: Tall and handsome Ross Alexander was born in Brooklyn in 1907. He appeared on Broadway in "Let Us Be Gay" and was signed by Paramount and brought to Hollywood in 1932. Most of the rest of his career was spent at Warner Brothers. His major films were "Flirtation Walk", "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as Demetrius, and "Captain Blood" with Errol Flynn. Actress Alita Freel, his first wife, had little success with her career and killed herself with a rifle in 1935. He then married actress Anne Nagel, who had appeared with him in several films. On January 2, 1937, the 29 year old actor, who was deeply in debt, entered the barn on his ranch and shot himself in the head. It was reported that Warner's later signed Ronald Reagan as a replacement for the late Mr. Ross. Mongo

For Ken regarding John Wayne: Contrary to belief it was Tom Mix who got Wayne into the movie business getting him a job arranging props on the sets of movies. This led to his first film "Mother Machree" directed by John Ford in 1928 Fox. He went on to make films at Fox and Columbia. His first film for Warner Brothers was "Haunted Gold" in 1932 where Wayne battles an outlaw gang for a gold mine. Then came: "Ride Him Cowboy" (1932) Wayne must save Duke the horse for murdering a man. "The Big Stampede" (1932) In the Pioneer days with a rustling baron (Noah Beery). "The Telegraph Trail" (1933) The train must get through to aid the construction of the first telegraph line. "Somewhere in Sonora" (1933) Wayne befriends a man whose som has been shanghaied into a bandit gang. "Life of Jimmy Dolan" (1933) A bit part as a prizefighter. "Baby Face" (1933) in a suit with Stanwyck. He then made films for Monogram, Republic, and Universal. Mongo

Lolite, the name of the book is "The Unlikeliest Star"

I'll be back during the afternoon to answer some of the other questions that were posted. Thank you Mongo