richardny4me
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Posts posted by richardny4me
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Myidolspencer, "Hurrell's Hollywood Portraits" is the book that has the pictures of Ramon Novarro on the back cover? Then I have that one as well. It is a great book of stunning black and white photography. His photos define the classic Hollywood look. His style is still being copied by newer photographers today. Thanks for reminding me of it.
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Right behind Return Engagement on the list of my favorites is a book called "Hollywood Color Portraits", by John Kobal, with an introduction by Carlos Clarens. It was originally published in 1981, and I bought it when it came out. Humphrey Bogart, wearing a suit with a blue carnation, is on the cover.
This book is done in the style of Return Engagement, in that it features a short biography, or appreciation of the star, followed by a full page color still photograph. I have only seen a few of the images elsewhere (such as Lucille Ball with Ziegfeld Follies chorus girls dressed as black cats, Ingrid Bergman posing in front of flowers) since the book was published.
So the photos are pretty rare, and include many posed technicolor stills of stars in costumes otherwise seen only in black and white films, like Claudette Colbert in Cleopatra, and Garbo and Robert Taylor and the camera crew filming Camille, and Cary Grant with the harp in The Bishop's Wife. Some are just great publicity stills, like Ann Sheridan in front of blocks of ice. But without a doubt, my favorite photo is of Gene Tierney - who looks (IMO) too unbelievably beautiful.
Does anyone else have this book?
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Larry, do not worry about name-dropping, those stories are great!
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Thanks Edge, that's 2 soundtracks I did not have, and in the case of DEEP IN MY HEART that is one I even emailed them about several years ago (the other 2 were TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BYE and WORDS AND MUSIC).
And I also have the THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT box set, I wonder what else they may add to it.
In any case even though their output has slowed slightly, I am glad they are still producing some soundtracks!
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Vecchiolarry, thanks for the info about Paulette Goddard. LOL, that explains it.
By the way, Dolores Gray is unfortunately not featured in the book.
And Bracknhe if you can imagine Gena Rowlands the way she looks today but with dark hair and fur, that would be the way Paulette Goddard looked back in December 1983 - my mother reminded me we had just come from seeing TERMS OF ENDEARMENT.
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Years ago I read Joan Fontaine's biography,No Bed of Roses. It was an interesting, enjoyable read and her tales of working in Hollywood during World War 2 were quite interesting. I do not recall much negativity written about Olivia, but I do recall her writing a lot about her problems with her daughters, including an adopted daughter, as well as a fire which destroyed her home in California. For some reason, I distinctly remember one of the newspaper critics saying it was "slight but acrimonious."
I would like to read it again some day, I would probably enjoy it even more now.
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I always wondered, who updates IMDB? It is so detailed!
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I was playing the Rhino ZIEGFELD FOLLIES CD over the weekend, and I started to think it has been quite a while since Rhino/RhinoHandmade has released any limited edition soundtracks to MGM's film's and musicals. They always were incredibly well-made with really informative booklets and plenty of outtakes. I collected quite a few of them.
Does anyone know if any new releases are planned, or did Rhino just decide to release other types of music?
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Speaking of restorations, tonight in New York at the Walter Reade Theater they showed the Alfred Hitchcock-directed silent film BLACKMAIL. It was recently restored by the British Film Institute, with the Alloy Orchestra providing live musical accompaniment.
I have seen public domain copies of the Alfred Hitchcock silent film BLACKMAIL in the video bins, having been disappointed with other titles, I have ignored those versions. Well, except for some occasional speckling, they did a fantastic job of restoring the film. Apparently Hitchcock almost immediately re-shot parts of this version, to take advantage of the then-brand new sound technology, but the silent version is known to be the better one.
And it was worth the wait, because the silent BLACKMAIL was a real gem, with some great Hitchcock touches which influenced some of his later films. If it comes on DVD or is shown in your town, make every attempt to see it.
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OH MY GOD Edge I too bought Return Engagement on its first release and now I deeply regret not bringing that book with me to various events through the years. But you were much smarter than I, what a fantastic treasure you have, but even better are the memories. I would have loved to have met Loretta Young!
Although my book is not autographed, I do keep my few autographs in the book, by the appropriate star. It is interesting you should mention Joan Fontaine as someone who's autograph you did not get, because she is one of the few autographs I collected. After seeing her film LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN on tv one night, SINCE (at the time) she lived here in New York, I wrote her a fan letter praising her performance in the film. She responded with a signed postcard thanking me. Just a few weeks later I was at the theater and she was there, as everyone exited I thanked her for the response and I asked for a picture. She very kindly said come into the picture with me, and I still have it in a frame on a bookcase.
When I was in High School I wrote a letter asking Katharine Hepburn for an interview for my school newspaper, she was starring on Broadway in West Side Waltz at the time. She responded with a signed letter on her stationery (Katherine Houghton Hepburn)saying she had no time to give interviews, but was glad I enjoyed the play.
The other one was Ginger Rogers, who signed a program (as did Tony Bennett) at a memorial service for Ira Gershwin in NY. I got some nice photos of Ginger, and I keep one in the book.
On a side note not related to anyone in Return Engagement, one Christmas I was walking on 5th Avenue visiting the just-opened Trump Tower, and Paulette Goddard walked right by me in a spectacular mink coat. I was a teenager then and I asked her "May I please take your picture." and she simply looked straight ahead and sternly said "Not now please."
I guess she did not like being photographed, and that is maybe why she is not in the book. Anyway, my Mom was there and afterwards she said "she should have been happy anyone so young even recognized her!" LOL.
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Oh without a doubt it was THE worst Oscar show in recent memory. I even think many of the stars thought so, because if you took away the nominees and their spouses, comparatively few actually showed up. Boring jokes and speeches, awkward camera movements, and except for Sean Penn's response to Chris Rock's Jude Law joke, there was no spontaneity at all.
The Roger Mayer tribute was the exception, as was Clint Eastwood using his Best Director speech to pay tribute to Sidney Lumet.
The In Memorium was particularly bad, besides those already mentioned, they did not even include Fred Ebb, who though primarily a theater composer, he co-wrote numerous songs for films such as "New York, New York" as well as the whole score of Best Picture winner CHICAGO!
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Patypancake I am so glad you re-discovered Return Engagement!
When I first purchased it I knew many of the stars, but I was thrilled that so many more obscure names I only read about were included! I too read it last night, the sections on Francis Dee, Eleanor Powell and Annabella are also noteworthy.
Reading it and looking at those amazing pictures was just the best education for a budding film buff. The text by James Watters is fascinating, and for some of those ladies (Heather Angel, Iris Adrian), was more illuminating than their eventual 2 paragraph obituary in the New York Times.
And thanks for that tip about the library sale!
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MovieJoe,
Yes it is a coffee table sized book. Check the Strand first, they may have it.
LOL, after I wrote my post I kept looking at it for far too long, it was way too late for me. But it was worth it, it really is a great book. The Louise Brooks and Claudette Colbert sections are pretty great as well.
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I have plenty of film books, and there are several I have had them for years and I value above all the others.
"Return Engagement", published in 1984, is the most amazing book of (then) new black and white photographs taken by Horst of Hollywood actresses.
Do any of you have it?
It was derived from a 1979 Life Magazine article/ photo essay of 9 Hollywood legends who had not been in a film for over 20 years. Louise Brooks, Loretta Young and Mary Astor were among the original group. People wrote in letters to Life asking for other stars. Even I wrote in and they published my letter - I was only 15 or 16 at the time.
Deanna Durbin wrote in and turned down turned Horst's request, but enclosed a picture of herself, which Life published in a subsequent issue with all of the letters.
The article made such an impact, that the project developed into a book. Ultimately it was expanded to 74 actresses of the golden age of Hollywood. Included were legends like Bette Davis, Myrna Loy, Ginger Rogers, Eleanor Powell and Katherine Hepburn , theater actresses like Evelyn Laye and Lynn Fontaine and numerous silent screen stars, like Billie Dove and Laura La Plante. A very informative text about where they were then working/residing accompanied each star. Gale Sondergaard was living in poverty in Echo Park. Others, like Colleen Moore were fabulously wealthy.
Sadly, even as they prepared the book, stars like Mae West, Gloria Grahame and Margaret Lindsay made appointments to be photographed but died before the session date. Even by the time it was published it turned out to be the last sitting for several legends, like Virginia Bruce.
If you ever see it on Ebay, grab it!
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In my opinion, I always thought Ava Gardner's own singing voice from SHOWBOAT was superior to the dubbed in vocalist MGM used. I had the record album and then the CD with Ava' vocals, and I was happy THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT III re-edited some footage to at least let us properly "hear" Ava with the visuals.
India Adams is another vocalist who dubbed quite a few stars. I guess her most famous work was dubbing for Cyd Charisse in THE BANDWAGON...which, because MGM deleted the number "Two-Faced Woman" , she also dubbed for Joan Crawford when she "performed" it in TORCH SONG.
But I have never seen INTERUPTED MELODY, I hope TCM airs it soon.
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Great! Do you have to be a member of the Home Theater Forum to participate?
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Only 2 or 3 years ago Marni Nixon appeared on Broadway in the Roundabout Theater Company's revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical Follies. She still had a wonderful voice.
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Since you asked......
Mario Lanza Set including SERENADE in letterbox
Jeannette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy set
Lana Turner set - including DANCING COED which I always miss whenever it is aired
A classic MGM silents- John Gilbert set with the LA BOHEME, THE MERRY WIDOW, THE FLESH AND THE DEVIL, THE BIG PARADE and at least one example of his legendary early "talkies" that ruined his career.
And I love your classic books set, and hope they do it along with a Technicolor restoration of the Gene Kelly-Lana Turner-June Allyson version of THE THREE MUSKETEERS
Finally, an Esther Williams set - that one would sell big, believe me.
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You know there are so many obscure movies I have not see, but of all the film noirs I have seen, LAURA is at the top of the list.
Sorry but I just had to clarify my first sentence, LAURA could never be classified as obscure.
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You know there are so many obscure movies I have not see, but of the ones I have LAURA is at the top of the list. I can hardly wait for its release on DVD next month. I understand a deleted scene is even going to be included on the release.
Last year I saw the film RAW DEAL on a large screen at the Walter Reade Cinema at Lincoln Center, and I thought it was terrific - very entertaining, suspenseful and real noirish photography.
I am glad you mentioned DARK PASSAGE, I loved that film and I have not seen it in years. Another awesome film noir just sitting on my unopened DVD shelf is OUT OF THE PAST.
I really need to do have my own film noir festival one night soon.
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Thanks movieJoe, I also found it a great read. It really helps to be on a small tour. Thanks for being so detailed. It is somehow not surprising that the office buildings remained essentially intact, but the movie sets are virtually all gone.
Even though SONY had the better tour, I am eager to hear about your tour through Warners. Were there any original sets still standing?
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With the possible exceptions of THE CAT PEOPLE films, LA RONDE and DANIEL WEBSTER, most of her films are really obscure. If anyone is in need of a retrospective at the Film Forum or the Museum of Modern Art, it would be she, since most of her films are truly forgotten, and never even made it to video. I would like to see some of the early Fox films, especially the 1937 film SEVENTH HEAVEN with Jimmy Stewart (who must have been borrowed from MGM just for the role).
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Every deleted musical number for ZIEGFELD FOLLIES (and THE PIRATE and SUMMER HOLIDAY) burned in an MGM vault fire, according to George Feltenstein (the producer of all of these great DVD/CD releases.)
The Astaire number you are referencing I believe is "If Swing Goes, I Go To." No known footage has ever been found, however there are some color stills of it that survive, as well as the audio recording. Footage with Lena Horne, Avon Long, and Jimmy Durante
Although it cost a fortune to make, by the time the much-delayed film was released...swing really did "go" as a people's music tastes changed, and the number, which also had World War 2 references, seemed dated when the film was finally, fully released in 1946.
So I am not sure which number that it was you were thinking!
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"THE AMAZING MRS. HOLLIDAY (an attempt at a "European art house" style film, the majority of which was directed by Jean Renoir)"
Well that made me take the film of off my shelf and watch it Sunday night. It was a very good film, and I can see the "foreign" influence, for example in one scene where she sings a lullaby to the orphans in their bedroom, she actually sings accapella without any orchestral background - very unusual for films at that time. And her close-ups wow, she was beautiful.
THE BIG PARADE RESTORED
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I wish I could get to LA to see this film, I hope they screen it in NYC sometime soon. I saw it years ago but it was certainly not in a restored print with an orchestra. In any case I agree, I hope it makes it to DVD, a Vidor box would be great.