filmfashions345
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Posts posted by filmfashions345
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Ellen Drew had a terrific smile! As for my other favorites...
Actors
Joel McCrea
Dana Andrews
Donald O'Connor
Fred Astaire
Red Skelton
Jimmy Stewart
Actresses
Frances Dee
Celeste Holm
Laraine Day
Dorothy Lamour
Louise Beavers
Marjorie Reynolds
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The only thing I can think of to do is write c/o his publisher.
- Susan
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Easter Parade - 1948, starring Judy, Fred Astaire, Ann Miller and Peter Lawford.
I just watched this one last night!
- Susan
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The "mushroom" idea is really a good one (that's how I started!), but just in case you would like something on paper, try Hollywood Picks the Classics by Afton Fraser. It's really a wonderful book, and will give you plenty of places to start.
- Susan
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Dear ellejenkins3,
My goodness, you modeled the dress? What an opportunity!
If my guess is correct, you are referring to a gown that never made it onto the big screen. Designed by Helen Rose (as you stated), it was to have been worn by Judy Garland in Royal Wedding. Before filming began Judy was replaced by Jane Powell and the dress was put into storage.
In her book Just Make Them Beautiful, Helen Rose described it as "... a very sophisticated costume... and Judy was delighted when she saw it. The bodice was of black jersey with a turtle neck and long sleeves, completely covered with black paillettes. The skirt was made of many black silk chiffon handkerchiefs and her beautiful legs, which were unusually long and shapely for so small a person, were encased in black silk opera hose and were evident with every movement."
Hope this helps!
- Susan
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Could anyone tell be about June Moon, please? I am an avid fan of Frances Dee, and run a website in tribute to her. This film is high on my "to see" list, but unfortunately I can't make it to the Film Forum. I would love to hear second-hand accounts from those fortunate enough to attend.
Thanks!
- Susan
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Oh, thank you so much to everyone who has posted on this thread! I think I will give Ladd's Great Gatsby a try.
- Susan
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I'll Be Seeing You -- oh, it's a lovely movie! Starring are Ginger Rogers as the "woman with a past", and Joseph Cotten as the shell-shocked aviator. Shirley Temple and Spring Byington give wonderful supporting performances. I always cry with this one. It was released on DVD last year, thank goodness.
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The Great Gatsby -- I'm afraid I've never read the book, nor have I seen any of the film adaptations, but I'm very curious to learn about the 1949 version starring Alan Ladd. Can anyone tell me about it?
Thanks!
- Susan
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Deborah,
Thank you so much for writing about Rich Man's Folly -- it sounds wonderful! May I use your summary and comments on my website?
Hoping your day is lovely!
- Susan
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I like the quote that has been posted at Moviediva.com:
"Giants like these (Independence Day, Godzilla, Pearl Harbor, the 2nd and 3rd Matrix movies) continue to stalk through the multiplexes, shaking gold from the heavens with their thunderous, THX Certified footsteps; but inside their high-definition, digitized craniums their tiny brains are dead."
--Louis Menand on the state of the cinema blockbuster in the February 7, 2005 New Yorker.
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Is there any chance of The Blue Dahlia being released on DVD as well? And Saigon? Wouldn't it be lovely if someone would release a Ladd & Lake box set...
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Frances Dee and Joel McCrea
Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews
Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon
Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire
Myrna Loy and William Powell
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Oh, Deborah, thank you so much for these stories!
What was the I Love Lucy connection? I know Frances was mentioned in "The Fashion Show" and was always curious if there were more to the story.
- Susan
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Jody McCrea, son of Joel McCrea and Frances Dee
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Hello, Deborah!
Wheel of Fortune / A Man Betrayed was a lot of fun! I'm glad I found it.
Yes, you did tell me the story of the red-checkered tablecloth. I think its just wonderful! And didn't Frances' character have a beautiful wardrobe? I love that silver lame gown -- gorgeous. And her suits make a girl wish clothes like that were sold today. One of the hats, a wide-brimmed tan "fedora" with a dark ribbon, looked like the same one she wore in Meet the Stewarts.
John Wayne and Frances were wonderful together. I kind of like the slow drawl of his voice. He made such a likeable leading man. I love the running gag of his ending up on the floor.
Oh, did that fellow tell you much about his meeting with Frances? The Somerville lady said she was a lovely person. One half-finished story I remember (two-dozen stories were begun and only a few finished in a twenty-minute conversation) was of the day before the tribute at Somerville Museum. Apparently, it was snowing terribly, and our Miss Dee wasn't sure she could get out to have her make-up and hair done. Someone came to her hotel (I have the name written down somewhere...), and judging by the snapshots of the Lost Theatres website, everything turned out well. Frances looked just beautiful.
So glad you're feeling better! Oh, my goodness, it's getting late here. I'll have to respond to the rest tomorrow! Hoping your day is lovely!
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Hi, Deborah!
How are you? Have you received your movies yet? I'm so looking forward to your description of Patrick the Great. From the little I've read, it sounds like a lot of fun. How fortunate that you were able to acquire it!
The site with all those wonderful pictures was Getty Images.
I think you're right, Deborah. There must have been a pre-Nazi prologue to So Ends Our Night, or more flashbacks. There was one closeup of Fredric March that looked as if it had begun to fade into a memory, but the scene cut back into present action before it could go any further.
No, I haven't seen Of Human Bondage yet. I started it, but hadn't the chance to finish it before the due date. However, I noticed my local Target is selling it as a dollar DVD. I might just go back and get myself a copy.
By the way, I saw Come and Get It for the first time just a few days ago. It was lovely! Not the usual melodrama or romance. This one had different twists, and fascinating ones. Where did you say Frances might appear?
Still no news out of Somerville. That's all right, really. I think it's nice to have something to look forward to, and if nothing ever happens, well then, I've had a fun time dreaming. Anyway, I was thinking back on my conversation with the lady (oh, I forget her name) that works there. She said Frances was a lovely, lovely person. She was in her nineties at the time she visited, and still sharp and lively. The woman said Frances was a little upset about not being able to hear everything said at the event and was apologizing for having to ask people to repeat things. Of course, no one minded. The part of her story I loved best was when she told of Frances' surprise on seeing so many people come out to honor her. "We're just simple ranch people," she said. What a lovely woman!
Oh, I finally found a copy of A Man Betrayed / Wheel of Fortune. It should arrive any day.
Hoping everyone is well and happy!
- Susan
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First off, before I forget, here's the link to that marvelous Fredric March site I mentioned:
http://www.geocities.com/fredric_march/
Yes, Fernando, I did purchase So Ends Our Night on DVD from Bob's Home Page. They're very pleasant to do business with. As for the quality of the movies purchased, it sort of depends on the title. But nothing has ever been bad at all. Everything is watchable, and my credo is that it is better to settle for less-than-perfect video quality than to do with nothing at all. Previous purchases of both VHS and DVDs have come off splendidly, quick shipment and all. I would recommend Bob's Home Page very highly.
As for more about the movie...oh, it is simply wonderful. It was directed by John Cromwell, and the cinematography is amazing. Wonderful use of shadows, fog laden streets and forests, pacing and editing. Have you read much about it? There is an article on the films of Glenn Ford which tells much about the film. Here's the link:
http://www.einsiders.com/features/columns/glennfordretro1_4.php
Fredric March is one of my favorites too! Frances was in two other of his films, come to think of it. Manslaughter and Follow Thru. They make a wonderful pair, though one thing that struck me as odd is that in So Ends Our Night, they never kiss. In the first scene it is understandable, but in the last, I kept waiting for it and I don't think it ever happened. I'll have to watch it again to be sure.
You're right, Deborah. This film simply must be released officially on DVD. It's so very wonderful. I hope you do find your tape, and that it has not been recorded over. By the way, it's so good to have you back here! I've been missing your posts the past few days.
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feaito, thank you so much for posting about
An American Tragedy. It sounds like a very interesting film. I was looking through one of those marvelous "picture books" about classic Hollywood the other day, Grand Illusions to be exact, and they had several images from the movie. That and your comments make me want to see it all the more.
loliteblue, I'm so glad you do enjoy this thread. Its wonderful to have you here!
A few days ago I had the chance to see So Ends Our Night. It was amazing! I had high expectations, and it surpassed every one. Have any of you seen it? I'm wondering if it was supposed to have been longer. A Fredric March website that I frequent has several pictures of scenes that do not appear in the movie. Does anyone know more about this? Anyway... What is there is wonderful. The scene of Frances and Fredric March meeting the open market is heartbreaking.
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To loliteblue, feaito and stoneyburke666: thank you so much for your support! I'm so glad you all are enjoying the conversation. Frances Dee makes such a lovely topic of conversation, doesn't she?
loliteblue, I'm so happy you like the wallpapers! Aren't those pictures of Frances and Joel wonderful. They just make me smile. There's one picture, which can be found in the Wells Fargo page of the Films section, that I just adore. Deborah sent it to me. It's a beautiful colored portrait of the two.
stoneyburke666, I'm afraid I've missed some of your conversation on this thread. May I ask which is your favorite Frances movie?
And feaito, it's so good to hear from you again! How have you been? I've been wanting to thank you for having been such a gentleman ever since my arrival on these boards. You're always so courteous, and I'm ever so grateful for those lovely Frances Dee articles you sent for my website.
Oh, I've been wondering, can anyone tell me how much screen time Frances has in An American Tragedy? I think I've read that her part is small in comparison to Sylvia Sidney's, but that it is one of her best performances. Any thoughts?
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She was a blessing. I thank God that she lived and has touched my life, and pray for His comfort for her family.
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Deborah,
How exciting to be awaiting new magazines! I love receiving them. Tell me, do you prefer Photoplay and the like to modern periodicals as I do? I can't stand to look at all the trash printed today...it's almost as bad as those terrible books we've discussed.
Oh, have you seen the version of "Bel Ami" that features an introduction by Roddy MacDowell? (Not sure if I spelled his name right...) It's fascinating, and so sad when he talks about George Sanders. What kind of person must he have been? Mr. Sanders I mean.
I would love to hear what Frances had to say about
"Bel Ami," and would very much like those two pictures you offered from you 1976 magazine. Thank you for the two wonderful articles you've sent recently as well. "I Give Thanks" is posted on my Frances Dee Tribute, and the other might just have to wait until after May 2, when a project of my own comes due.
You know, I don't exactly remember how Frances' character in "Caught" came to be a saloon floozy. She certainly wasn't born the type, and is reprimanded for being too decent. One part I do remember is the scene when she first comes out in her dance-hall dress. She walks a little bit stiffly, every inch the lady, until another girls walks by. Noticing the way she wore her gown, Frances quickly adjusts the shoulder straps from being in their rightful place to a seductive, off-the-shoulder look, and attempts to slink across the room.
Take care, Deborah! I hope your project comes out well.
- Susan
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Hello, Deborah!
It was so good to hear from you the other day! I've been feeling better lately, and have actually done some work on my Frances Dee site. Did anyone notice the new wallpapers?
Regarding Caught, what would you like to know? *laughs* I guess that isn't a very practical question really. =) How could you ask the specifics if you don't know what specifics to ask? Anyway... It begins with Calamity Jane, a less-than-ladylike bartender, gambler and recently in trouble for stealing cows and re-selling them. I'm not sure of the specifics of that, I've only seen the film once so far, but if you like I can watch it again and tell you exactly.
Frances comes in to a sweet tune like "Oh, Susannah" or something like that. She is an innocent farm girl forced to become a saloon floozy. Realizing she has no clue of what she's doing, Calamity takes Frances' character, Kate Winslow, under her wing, which causes quite a bit of trouble when Kate falls in love with the soldier that has been sent to capture Calamity. The ending of Caught was very interesting, not your typical "happily ever after." If you like I could e-mail the purchasing source to you.
I would like to know of the eBay fellow you mentioned, though I doubt I could buy anything at the moment.
Oh, be sure to tell me all about Patrick the Great. It sounds delightful!
The Private Affairs of Bel Ami is a wonderful, wonderful film. Every aspect -- the costumes, the sets, the story, the performances -- is amazing. Frances part is small, but profound. Actually, you could read about it on my website! =)
I hope you're doing well, Deborah! Take care!
- Susan
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Murder, He Says - 1945
Starring Fred MacMurray, Helen Walker and Marjorie Main.
It has been released on video.
I love the scene with MacMurray in the cellar, when he's crawling over the unconscious body of the man he's just knocked out. Someone interrupts him, he stops midway, and plays the scene as though he were a midget. This little summary can't do it half-justice, but it was hilarious!
Older British Army movie during a rebilion in Africa
in Information, Please!
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It sounds a lot like Sundown, with Bruce Cabot as the calm officer and Gene Tierney, Joseph Calleia and Harry Carey, Sr. as the civilians.