Arturo

*"Worship money?" According to Screen Actors Guild records, most actors barely make enough to pay the light bill.* ST: Sorry to be the one who always seems to nitpick, but the thread is titled "....a STAR's career", the A list or A minus list celebrities making the big bucks . . .

Again I recently found an interesting candid shot on e-bay, but as before, I'm unable to cut and paste it here. Maybe someone can help me, as before. It's a shot from 1946 most likely, but possibly 1947, with Barbara Stanwyck, LInda Darnell, Errol Flynn, June Allyson and several others, gathered round and leaning on a grand piano, which has a mic on it. There are several sheets of paper, and Errol holds a pencil. Stanwyck is wearing a chalk-stripe coat; her hair is still long; she cut it by the filming of 1948s SORRY WRONG NUMBER. Linda has a puffy little hair ornament-her hair seems to be the reddish blonde she colored for Forever Amber. There is another shot on ebay of Linda on this same day, arm in arm with Dick Haymes-the caption of that says 1946. Anyway, these fotos, especially the former, are quite interesting, and it would begreat if someone can post them here.

Some that may or may not have been mentioned, although I don;t know the years of birth or death: Laird Cregar Jayne Mansfield Natalie Wood María Montez

*Maybe they can hire an astrologer to determine the Star of the Month then, lol.* It ain't all that complicated. You don't need an astrologer, much less a rocket scientist. Just have someone, or two, peruse the list provided below....try not to duplicate any of the names there, especially not those that have been on more than once. Choose SOTM from the MANY worthy stars who have never been so spolighted by TCM, of which some names have been helpfully suggested here.

I think there are some cross-dressing early movies like *the Devil Doll *that make you go huh? Can't remember which at the moment, but there is a 20th-Century Fox musical from 1944 or thereabouts (they tend to blend in together in my mind), where there is a nightclub scene and all the "showgirls" in a musical number are big beefy guys in drag. It's really quite unsettling. I think it's IRISH EYES ARE SMILING (June Haver's first starring role), but it may be one featuring Vivian Blaine. Will have to look for my old VHS collection this weekend to see if I find it.

Linda Darnell, born in October 1923, died in April 1965, when she was 41 years old. She died in a house fire, after going back and trying to rescue an occupant she felt was still inside. Earlier that evening, she had been watching one of her early starring roles in STAR DUST (1940), loosely based on her arrival in Hollywood. Ironically, she had a lifelong fear of fire, having close calls or actually having been slightly burned on the sets of HANGOVER SQUARE (1945), ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM (1946), and FOREVER AMBER (1947). She aslo had a close call when her car caught fire while on the way to the studio during the filming of NO WAY OUT (1950).

I see Bacall as a perfectly adequate choice for SOTM, my only reservation being that she has already been honored thus, especially when there are so many stars out there who have yet to be SOTM, and whose filmography does not have to be padded with more than one documentary/TCM interview to fill the schedule. On another note, I thoroughly enjoy all of last night's movies (well I've seen them each many times, and I didn't see THAHN cuz I was still on my way home, or TBS due to watching Clinton's speech at the DNC). But I agree with all here that like DARK PASSAGE: An enjoyable, albeit credulity-straining melodrama (which 40s melodrama doesn't strain belief!?), with great location shooting in San Francisco, wrapped up with many memorable performances. Btw, I remember reading that Clifton Webb was considered for a role (methinks that of the late night doctor). If not yet a star (that would come in 1948), he was already well-known and acclaimed for his strong (and oscar-nominated) supporting roles in LAURA and THE RAZOR'S EDGE. So, I wonder if he was indeed scheduled for the doctor, was the part originally much larger, or was the idea that "he's just a character actor, so let's give him any part, no matter the size, because that's what we do with these actors". Just musing here....

Well I can think of one definite example where religion got in the way of not only a star's career, but of her life. Jean Harlow and her "Mama" were both Christian Scientists (I think that is the one), and when she collapsed on the set of 1937's SARATOGA, she was recuperating at home. Her mother fimrly believed that she should not get any medical treatment, as per the precepts of their faith. This lack of treatment is what did poor Jean in. *Was Loretta Young's career hampered because she was a Catholic and could not 'fit' certain roles?* Loretta, to my knowledge, never turned down a role because it conflicted with some of the tenets of Catholicism. But what might have happened was that, with her infamous swearbox ever-present on her sets, she might have alienated certain directors or producers, who might not have considered her later for another role. We'll never know .... *Did Elizabeth Taylor have to downplay her Judaism in order to be sold as sexy CLEOPATRA?* As in probably all her portrayals, Liz' Judaism is downplayed to the point of non-existence. I have never thought of her as such while viewing one of her roles, including CLEAOPATRA.

A fair to great lineup of movies with the mental health theme. Most of the dramas are quite harrowing, and all feature strong performances overall. Too bed I couldn't've left my other personality at home to watch TCM while I went to work, or better yet, have him go to work and I stay to watch TCM.

*If you want to "program" an entire August, go right ahead -- but for that, let's establish the ground rule that you can't use a star who's been honored the past two years.* A suggestion; since there are many worthy stars NEVER honored, let's keep out as many repeats as possible...I'd make it nobody featured in the past four years, and nobody that has been featured two or more times. *Clara Bow or Colleen Moore (whichever one has 24 hours' worth of surviving film)* Assuming there are enough surviving movies, why not both; gie viewers a chance of seeing two distinct flapper types. And as long as early Paramounts are available (so that Bow is a possibility), forget Lombard and Colbert for now, and let's get the more worthy (insofar as never being honored) Nancy Carroll and Sylvia Sidney, although SS may have been on SUTS. And now that 20th Century Fox movies are more available, with Marilyn Monroe and Tyrone Power this year, and Linda Darnell and Gene Tierney each featured in the previous two years respectively, let's get some of the others that filmed mostly for that company, including: Warner Baxter, Janet Gaynor, Don Ameche, Alice Faye, Richard Greene, Anne Baxter, John Payne, Betty Grable, Jeanne Crain, June Haver, George Montgomery, Cornel Wilde, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Richard Widmark, Richard Conte, Jean Peters, Debra Paget, Paul Douglas. Celeste Holm, Thelma Ritter, Mitzi Gaynor, etc....

*Has anyone heard of the young-Gable scandal. Loretta Young had Clark Gable's child. If I remember right , Gable was married at the time and Young had to give up the child.* Well, she didn't give it up, at least not for long. Shortly after the finishing of CALL OF THE WILD, which she made with Gable in 1935, she went to Europe to "recover' from some unnamed "illness'. Several movies meant for her had to be reassigned, cancelled or postponed. She returned in early-mid1936, nearly one year after being gone. Approximately one year later, she announced to the press that she had found two young girls in an orphanage and had decided to adopt them. One was supposedly sent back after a short while, but tongues wagged to no end when Judy, the one Loretta kept, had Gable;s ears. Of course, a divorced Loretta could not have disclosed an out of wedlock child without throwing away her career. Judy learnt the truth of her father when she was a young adult. Much later, in the early 90s, sh wrote a book about her story "Uncommon Knowledge", confirming that this was true. I believe Loretta never spoke about this in public.

*While this is going on Rita Hayworth comes in and offers a $1000 dollars to anyone willing to help her get her husband out of a mine cave in. Since the steamship is out of commison for weeks they go.* This is Susan Hayward, not Rita Hayworth. Incidentally, Susan had another role the following year where she again hires someone to help her find her husband...Its in contemporary China though, and Clark Gable is the titular SOLDIER OF FORTUNE.

*While this is going on Rita Hayworth comes in and offers a $1000 dollars to anyone willing to help her get her husband out of a mine cave in. Since the steamship is out of commison for weeks they go.* This is Susan Hayward, not Rita Hayworth. Incidentally, Susan had another role the following year where she again hires someone to help her find her husband...Its in contemporary China though, and Clark Gable is the titular SOLDIER OF FORTUNE.

*even MARY WICKES would seem alluring.* Come on now...ARe You kidding?!? Mary Wickes is a far cry from Susan Hayward in the sexiness meter. Susan's intensity may put some men off, but she was very attractive and always had a nice body, although the young Rita Moreno was much more up my alley. Mary Wickes had a nose, no chin and humor....

Well, least we forget Clifton here, folks. Uh huh...suuuuure. If YOU can't have Laura here, then NOBODY can, eh Clifton?! (...yeah, I believe THAT, "alright"!) LOL Dargo: This still is not from LAURA, it's from THE RAZOR'S EDGE. He is Tierney's uncle here, not ostensible lover.

Just about the sexiest woman on the screen EVER...imho. But we haven't heard from the women here yet....many don't seem to get Ava's allure.

TikiSoo answered: > OH, and more thing...I'll never understand what all the hub-bub was about for Betty Grable, either *I for one think she had a terrible figure-what a flat butt in that famous WW2 pin up photo. Sure, she was perky pretty, and I suppose glamorous (in Imitation of Life/Bad & Beautiful) but she just doesn't do anything special for me.* Ok now Tiki, you are confusing Betty Grable with Lana Turner, who starred in *Imitation of Life (1959)/Bad & Beautiful.* Betty Grable I have never thought as a great beauty, but she had a nice trim figure and great legs. She was VERY pretty as a starlet in the late 30s, and into her earliest starring vehicles at Fox in the very early 40s. Then she looks less appealing....don't know exactly what but its a more brassy makeup and persona, and coincides with her ascent to top boxoffice star and number one ****. She was considered a girl-next door type, and this was a large part of her appeal, so she was never in the running for most beautiful or glamourous...that wasn't her image. Lana Turner on the other hand, was BEAUTIFUL and GLAMOROUS. She had a very sexy body, full bosoms and very nice legs, and was considered more of a femme fatale than girl next door. Her altogether more alluring image than Betty Grable contrasted well that of her **** rival, although it is interesting to note they dated many of the same men in the 40s. Lana remained glamorous for the rest of her career, and was every inch the "movie star" when seen in public. Betty prefered going to the racing track to bet than to be seen all dolled up. Incidentally, I have always enjoyed this movie, and actually, and chronologically more accurately, Tom Cruise's TOP GUN persona reminds me of Ty Power's character in AYITRAF.

*He comes across to me as very transgender in various scenes of his films, especially the earlier pictures.* Excuse my ignorance re: these terms, but my understanding is that a transgender person is one who is uncomfortable with the body they were born with, and identify more as a member of the opposite sex. I don't presume to know what you meant, but it seems the term you meant is androgynous. Unless you feel that Power is really uncomfortable with being a man in some of his other films, then transgender doesn't fit....unless I have my terms wrong.

*As for STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, I don't think she was mishandled by Hitchcock at all. The next thing you will be saying is that he mishandles Jane Wyman in favor of the blonde Dietrich in STAGE FRIGHT, or that Anne Baxter is miscast in I CONFESS because she is a brunette. Roman, Wyman and Baxter are just as vital carrying out their assignments with Hitchcock as Grace Kelly is.* Nothing personal here, but I must point this out...Anne Baxter was in the midst of her Blonde phase when she did I CONFESS...seems to me from about 1952-53 (other films she made around this time with her as a blonde include MY WIFE'S BEST FRIEND and THE BLUE GARDENIA). Seems to me I recall reading that she had dyed her hair blonde in the hopes of getting the Lorelei Lee part in GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES. Anyway, by 1955 she was into her sexy hotcha redhaired look. btw, Hitchcock did not want Baxter for I CONFESS, hoping instead to get Anita Bjork. But the studio (WB again if I remember correctly) foisted Anne on Alfred. Edited by: Arturo on Aug 27, 2012 8:38 PM

*This thread goes back to the ideas that I have been trying to push us away from, that she was a one-trick pony who only made one good film with a famous director. Not true!* I totally agree. She was a vital presence in any number of movies in the late 40s and 50s. For her to be known basically for her role in the Hitchcock film is why I totally dislike the auteur theory. Only a role in film by an anointed director seems to merit attention, and a prolific career spannng decades is ignored, or at best, a footnote. Pathetic that we treat many acting personalities this way.

Willbefree wrote: *That's an easy one. She wasn't an icy blonde with big hoo-hah's and thus wasn't in the pervert Hitch's, um, dreams.* WBF: Well she might not have been an icy blonde, but check the second picture below and you'll see that she had, big, er . . . If I remember correctly, she looked very delectable in the party scene of SOAT, where she is wearing a strapless gown.

Have no idea why Merman wasn't in the movie versions of "Gypsy" and "Annie Get Your Gun"? Probably had to do with studio politics, and the availability of Merman to do the flicks... Plus Merman was very picky about what she did... Well, Ethel Merman did a stint in Hollywood in the late 1930s, and was widely perceived as having failed in Hollywood. It was felt her personality was outsized for the large screen, that someone used to projecting for the cheap seats was unable to tone it down for a medium with more intimacy and immediacy. Her looks were also not considered attractive enough, and the moguls rightly felt she had no pull at the boxoffice. Her successes on Broadway were usually seen as potential vehicles for their women stars, and CMM excepted, I don't think she was ever given the opportunity to re-create one on the big screen. CMM WAS successful, and Fox assigned her another star part, in HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE, but only when Betty Grable turned in down and Alice Faye refused to leave her home life for it. But surrounded by an all-star cast, headed by Marilyn Monroe, it could hardly be said that its success was due to Merman.

*Tyrone Power is too femme for me in this role* I didn't get this, and frankly I don't think I understand what you mean?

I may have seen it many times, and own the DVD, but it's always a joy to watch this classic movie. It has it all...A great cast, from the stars to many top character actors, beautiful locations, breathtaking technicolor, and a compelling story. Opening in January 1939, it not only ushered in the revival and rehabilitation of the western as an A feature, but also a year of so many memorable classic movies. JESSE JAMES is an essential IMHO.

I am thrilled that one of my favorite actors is finally getting his Summer Under The Stars tribute. Especially since TCM viewers will get a chance to see some of his 20th Century Fox movies. However, as someone here mentioned, Tyrone Power's early movies are underrepresented. None of his early swashbuckling classics: THE MARK OF ZORRO or THE BLACK SWAN. None of his 30s screwball/romantic comedies: LOVE IS NEWS, CAFE METROPOLE, SECOND HONEYMOON, DAYTIME WIFE. None of his big historical dramas or musicals from the 30s/early 40s: LLOYD'S OF LONDON (although it was featured here on Freddie Bartholomew's SUTS), IN OLD CHICAGO, ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND, SUEZ, BRIGHAM YOUNG. If fact, other than the classic JESSE JAMES, nothing at all from the 1930s. Since most of these movies are with Fox, TCM rarely plays them. This seems to be an excellent reason to feature Ty as an upcoming Star of the Month....plenty of movies that can be shown in a monthlong tribute, to give a well-rounded, representative career roundup (I didn't even mention most of his many other films from the 40s and 50s that are not featured today). And as many of his movies will be TCM premieres, it will be a win-win situation for both fans and casual viewers.