filmfashions345

Not sure how helpful I can be, but I'll give it a go... The description sounds like a mix of these three titles: "The Gay Deception" - small-town girl Frances Dee spends her $5,000 lottery winnings on a stay at the "Walsdorf-Plaza" hotel. There she meets bellhop Francis Lederer, who is actually a prince in disguise. "Bachelor Mother" - Ginger Rogers stars as a young woman who finds a baby, then can't convince anyone that it's not hers. She meets and falls in love with David Niven, who is a wealthy, New York city businessman. "Fifth Avenue Girl" - Again, Ginger Rogers stars, and again she is down on her luck. She meets Walter Connolly in Central Park, who offers her a job as a..."kept woman" is the only term I can think of at the moment, but the situation is very innocent. Really, she's been hired to make his straying wife jealous. All three movies are from the 1930s, and all three are set in New York City. Perhaps I've only muddled the situation further, but I hope this helps.

Just a note to thank you, Deborah, for everything you've sent recently and for all this writing you've done! Your post on the "This is Your Life" episode is marvelous. I really appreciate it. My Celiac's has had me in a tizzy for quite while now, but I think I'm getting better again. It's just a matter of time and figuring out all the details of what I'm allergic to. Thank you also for your thoughts and prayers, and especially for you understanding of my late responses. Oh, yes, I would love to read that magazine article you've been so excited about. It sounds so interesting. My copy of "Caught" arrived Saturday! There's not much to the film, but it's awfully fun. If you've got any questions about it, I'll do my best to answer them. Must run for now, but I hope to come again soon! Take care, everyone!

Holiday Inn was my beginning too! I was seven, and Grandfather had just received a VHS copy as a Christmas present. The lack of princesses or ballet dancing found me bored the first time through, but then I watched it again, and was enchanted. It's been my favorite movie ever since. As for the film that got me watching classic movies exclusively... This happened about four years ago. I had long heard of the great Katharine Hepburn, but had never seen her in a movie. One lazy Sunday afternoon found me glued to the television set as The Philadelphia Story aired on my local PBS station. To paraphrase a line from another of Kate's films, "I never dreamed that any...experience could be so stimulating!" I love how very decent they are (at least the post-code ones), even when broaching controversial subjects. And spirit lifting, dreamy, imaginative and...just wonderful. You're so right, astairegirl. One can never see or have too many old movies!

Hello, Deborah! I am feeling better, thank you. And thank you also for not thinking me rude. I always feel so terrible when I can't talk to my friends, but sometimes, that's the way it has to be. Anyway... What a lovely compliment Ernest Borgnine gave Joel. Were they very good friends or did Mr. Borgnine just admire him? Oh, I love getting old magazines. They're so much more fun than anything printed today, much like the movies they promoted. Come to think of it, I haven't purchased any movie magazines in a while, just the August 1941 issue of Woman's Home Companion, which featured Joel and Frances in the "Keeping Up with Hollywood" section, and a 1942 issue of LIFE magazine which has Ginger Rogers on the cover. I may not like all the newsy stories, although they are interesting, but its so much fun to see the ads. Yep, I did see Meet the Stewarts and loved it! My answer to your question about Frances youthfulness is rather convoluted, but here goes just the same: Frances doesn't look as she did in her teens, therefore looking to old for the part, but forgetting her own looks and thinking only of her character, I think she fits the part beautifully. Does that make any sense? I love the scene where she's cooking, and the beginning where she had William Holden literally up a tree until he agrees to marry her. Oh, before I forget, we had talked of the typos you found on my website. Please feel free to correct me anytime you see an error or typo or anything. I'm one who would rather be corrected than suffer the humiliation of making mistakes unrealized. Here you have a perfectionist, and one very grateful for any help you can give. Also, I do remember your sending a photo from The Gay Deception, but I was having some problems with Yahoo and lost it. Could you send it again? Thanks! - Susan

Oh, I adore Norma Shearer. As a little girl, and still today, one of my favorite movies was Romeo & Juliet (1936). I felt so grown up requesting it at the library. *laughs* Sometimes I find myself doing that dance step that Juliet and Paris implement at the ball (walking forward slowly and in long steps) while I'm pondering something or waiting on whatever I happen to be cooking in the kitchen. Recently I've "discovered" more of Norma's films, and love them as I do Romeo & Juliet: Escape, The Barretts of Wimpole Street, Private Lives, The Women and Idiot's Delight. Speaking of the latter, I've read somewhere that the European release had an alternate ending. Can anyone tell me about that? I've seen only the "American" ending.

So sorry...I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but please know that I'm not trying to be rude or snub anybody. There a just times that I simply can't write. Deborah, your sentiments regarding the Cooper/McCrea comparisons are mine exactly. Both were great...I just happen to like Joel better. My movies came! I've been ill for the past few days and loved having "Meet the Stewarts" and "Headline Shooter" to watch. I've yet to view "Manslaughter" and "So Ends Our Night", but I'm looking forward to them. Again, Deborah, your information is invaluable! Thank you so much for sharing all that you have. I loved the anecdotes about "Meet the Stewarts". I would love to read Frances comments about Gary Cooper, thank you for offering them. That "cowboy" book by Lee O. Miller is very interesting. Frances is mentioned in both the Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott sections. Each chapter is only a few pages long, but wonderful. As you intimated, this is a nice book to own. Happy Easter!

Yay!

Can I pick 5? Holiday Inn- 1942 - my very first and still my very favorite Sullivan's Travels - 1941 - it's got action, comedy, suspense, drama, a handsome leading man and a beautiful girl, the wit and wisdom of the great Preston Sturges...in my opinion, the best movie ever made Libeled Lady - 1936 - Powell, Loy, Tracy and Harlow...need I say more? Midnight - 1939 - love Colbert and Ameche, Barrymore, Astor and Lederer, love the script and storyline, love everything about this movie Romeo & Juliet - 1936 - the greatest adaptation of the immortal romantic tragedy

I'm so terribly sorry for this late response. Please forgive my absence. Funny how the "free" days of the week turn out to be the busiest. But I did get the chance to update my Frances Dee site yesterday afternoon, which I'm glad for. No movies yet, but I'm hopeful they'll come tomorrow. Oh, it will be lovely when they come. I've been waiting two weeks. The first week of waiting was just awful, but now I'm getting used to it. It's kind of nice, really, to have something to look forward to. Loved Holden in that famous episode of I Love Lucy and The Country Girl which, ironically, he mentions in Lucy. He was wonderful in Sabrina as well, but I can't stand the blonde hair color he chose for that picture. Thank you for reminding me about Stalag 17, I've been wanting to see that for some time. What you wrote, Deborah, of your friend's opinion of Meet the Stewarts is interesting. I wonder what I'll think. Most likely, I won't agree with them, but you never can tell. And please do write about the behind-the-scenes stories from Meet the Stewarts. That would be lovely! Oh, and I would love to see those pictures you mentioned of Frances Dee and Fredric March and that 1930s article as well! You're so very generous, and I'm so very grateful! My search for images from Frances Dee's films recently led me to this book: The Great Cowboy Stars of Movies & Televison by Lee O. Miller with an introduction by Joel McCrea. No pictures of Frances are included, but the book is fascinatiing! One part I found particularly interesting was in the Joel McCrea section (where else?). The author writes, "Although many critics were branding Joel's acting style as stodgy, fans insisted he was handsome, sincere, and energetic." I think it fits the bill perfectly. Why, I've heard some people refer to Joel and "the poor man's Gary Cooper," but I like Joel better than Gary (no offense intended to Coop or his fans). Here's another bit of information I thought you might find interesting. We've been talking, Deborah, of the discrepancies printed about Frances' birthdate. Yesterday I received a cigarette card that lists her as being born on November 26, 1911. They also say she is 5 feet, 3 inches tall. Obviously Godfrey Phillips Ltd. spent more time working on the photos (which is lovely) than the facts printed on their cards.

So sorry about the delay in this response! I wish I could find that episode of "This is Your Life", but you know, I have a feeling it will pop up sometime. It would be lovely to see the family. The McCrea look seems very distinctive, as in, you can certainly tell Joel and Frances' sons are McCreas. Oh yes, Deborah, please do send those photos you mentioned. The behind-the-scenes snapshot from "Becky Sharp" sounds particularly interesting. I loved your review of Mr. Scoutmaster! It did give me a very good idea of what the movie is like, and it sounds absolutely delightful. You're right, they should have given Miss Dee more of a role. Just think of the comedic possibilities... Still waiting on my package of movies. Included are "Manslaughter", "Meet the Stewarts" and my very own copy of "If I Were King", which will be lovely to have in the house as opposed to having to wait 2 to 5 days for it to arrive at my local library each time I want to see it. I'm excited about seeing "Manslaughter". Miss Dee is credited as being a party guest, so it will be fun to see if I can pick her out of a crowd. Claudette Colbert is one of my absolute favorite actresses, I've loved Louise Beavers ever since my first viewing of "Holiday Inn" at the age of four, and Fredric March is quickly becoming one of my favorite leading men. I'm also looking forward to seeing "So Ends Our Night" which costars Fredric March, Miss Dee, Margarette Sullavan and Glenn Ford. What tops the "must see" lists of everyone else on this board?

Dear Deborah & Liz, That's very interesting. I've always been curoius, for I've heard Ginger Rogers use the term in several of her movies. Thanks ever so much for your help! - Susan

For the past two years, TCM has hosted DVD Decision, a poll in which classic movie fans may vote for the films they would most like to see on DVD. 30 films are presented; the top 5 winners are released in January of the next year, with the rest likely to follow in the not too distant future. This goes on sometime during the summer I belive. For more information, type "DVD Decision" into the search box on TCM's home page.

My goodness, did she really? I'm so sorry. But like I said before, what can we do to bring the whole bunch about?

Here are a few of my favorites: "I'm not like anyone. I'm ME." - Elizabeth Taylor in, oh what was it...Butterfield 8? ?Those who surrender themselves to evil are no longer free souls. They are marionettes of the devil. We are all no more than puppets unless we believe in God.? - David Bond in The Private Affairs of Bel Ami "If clothes are to clothe they should clothe." - Fred Astaire in Roberta ?The time to make up your mind about people is never.? - Kate Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story "I guess mine is strictly a bathtub voice." - Claudette Colbert in Midnight

In a society where the cockeyed baseball cap his replaced the fedora, and the average young man's every other word begins with 'f', I am a bewildered ingenue. Where are the gentlemen of yesteryear? Where are the Ronald Colmans, the Cary Grants and William Powells who, even in the heat of argument, never allowed their language to be anything less than polite? Where is the basic breeding that taught a man to hold the door for a lady or send a cheery "g'day" to the neighbors? Gentlemen are a rare breed these days; I know I've seldom met one, ergo my lament. Now, my question is this: how many of you fellows who frequent this board find yourselves emulating those impeccable leading men of the silver screen? Also, what can we do to bring the all-too modern blokes about?

I love old movies so much I wish I could just shout it from the rooftops and make every one else fall in love as I have. I fall into girlish fits of glee whenever I think of the marvelous, marvelous, marvelous black and white gems that I treasure so dearly. I want to sing, I want to dance in this "la belle, la perfectly swell" romance. So glad to know there is another someone out there like me -- someone who shuns the sordid screenplays of today to dwell ever long in the glorious world of classic films. My day is not complete until I have seen a movie, perhaps even just a few frames, from the Golden Age of Hollywood. This was when movies were movies. Long live TCM!

Ah, those wonderful character actors and actresses. One of my favorites is Charles Lane, who appeared in over 200 films and several episodes of I Love Lucy. He celebrated his 100th birthday just this year, God bless him! I take it Boyd Magers is an author whose work is worth reading? Seeing as he cared enough about the facts to actually interview Miss Dee, it seems he must be. The discrepancy in dates is easily understood. Why, just last month my mom took the cat to the vet and accidentally gave my birth date. The vet took one look at Kitten and said, "She looks mighty young for her age." Please do tell about Mister Scoutmaster. Clifton Webb is a hoot, and the plot sounds just perfect for one of his zany performances. All the reviews I've read speak mainly of him, giving Miss Dee very little credit, so I would very much like to know about her part. The picture from Caught is marvelous, thank you! I'll be adding it to my website either tonight or tomorrow morning. Really? I didn't know Miss Dee was considered for Love Affair. That might have been interesting, though I doubt the film as a whole can even begin to compare to the Irene Dunne/Charles Boyer version. Actually, I've just seen Love Affair (1939) for the first time this week -- it was wonderful! I think it's incredible that Miss Dee remained beautiful all her life. Even in the snapshots on LostTheatres.org she looks stunning, and they were taken only a few months before her death. She had such a beautiful spirit that she simply glows. Here's a question for you: in which film do you think Miss Dee looks her most beautiful? My vote goes for If I Were King. As for Joel McCrea, was he ever anything less than handsome? I thought he was particularly dashing in Wells Fargo.

How about the "goldfish bowl" that's always coming up in the films of the 1930s? Any ideas of what it means?

My goodness, there's been lots of conversation since I was last here! Glad to see everyone having such a good time. Deborah, thank you so much for posting the interview with Miss Dee regarding Caught. I will post the source, Ladies of the Western, on my website, and I look forward to finding that picture you mentioned in my mailbox. Who, or what, is Boyd Magers anyway? Thank you also for the review of Gypsy Colt. I've never seen Lassie Come Home, but I think I do get the general idea. The release dates I mentioned for Gypsy Colt and Mister Scoutmaster were found on the IMDb. Come to think of it, I compared only the months, not the years. I'll have to go back and check. You know, I'm actually rather glad Miss Dee didn't take the role of Rose in Titanic. Call me crazy, but I don't like that movie. Beautiful costumes, extraordinary sets, yes, but I just don't care for it. Too modern for my tastes.

Thank you, Feaito, for checking the spelling of "Philibert" for me. You really are fortunate to have found this film -- I'm so happy for you! Yes please, Deborah, do tell me about Caught. I have the chance to purchase this film, but as I am on a limited budget, I have to be rather choosy. It would be good to know more about it. My goodness, what a story! The one about Edith Head and Frances Dee I mean. From what I've read of Head, she was rather an egotistical person. Maybe she just didn't know how hard the studios were working Miss Dee, or perhaps she didn't care. I wonder which film they were working on.

It just didn't seem right for me to speak of losing Teresa Wright in the same post as everything else, hence two posts this evening. Thank you again, Deborah, for your generous comments about my Frances Dee site! It means so much to me that you like it. Yes, I would love to receive the picture you mentioned from Caught, and to hear the story you spoke of regarding Edith Head and Frances Dee, as well as Frances' further comments on the famed "white gown". The costumes Edith designed for If I Were King were exquisite; I would love to learn more about them. Loved your comment about Basil Rathbone nearly losing his skull cap at the sight of the resplendant Miss Dee. Is it really true? It's shocking, I know, but I've never seen Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes. I tried to, twice actually, but the first time the tape I ordered from the library never came, and the second wouldn't play. I really must though; I'm sure I would enjoy the series. Incidentally, who did win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar that Basil was nominated for? Really? I didn't realize it was Henry Wilcoxen who played the Vicar in Mrs. Miniver. The last time I watched If I Were King I did a double-take, realizing it was he who played Miss Dee's brother in Souls at Sea. The cutting of the latter film is a curiosity, like Wells Fargo. It does work very well indeed, but again, what are we missing? Yay! Feaito has posted about Playboy of Paris! Thank you so much, Feaito. By the way, can you tell me whether "Phillbert", "Philibert" or "Phillibert" is the correct way to spell Yvonne's last name?

That dear Teresa Wright -- what a wonderful legacy she has left behind. She will be greatly missed. You're absolutely right, Deborah, she does resemble Miss Dee in many ways. Both were marvelous in any role they chose to undertake, understated in their performances (which I believe is far better than hamming it up) and luminous in their beauty. That quote you posted states it so eloquently and perfectly...

Oh dear, Deborah, I believe I forgot to thank you for those two wonderful pictures you sent of Frances and Joel. I thought about thanking you...does that count? That's rather a joke with me, by the way. I spend much more time thinking than I do talking, which is generally a good thing, but the trouble is, sometimes I've thought about a thing so much that I think I've already done it or fixed it or said it or what have you. Anyway, to get back on topic, I did receive them, thank you ever so much! My goodness, Joel was a great guy! Come to think of it, did he ever play the "bad guy" role? I've only seen him as the hero, or the somewhat cockeyed fellow who gets straightened out before the end, but never as a character wholly without morals. How fun that Miss Dee had that cameo in Cattle Drive! Did she have any other bit parts in Joel's films? I mean, other than the ones we've already spoken of from Sullivan's Travels, Come and Get It and Cattle Drive. Since we are on the topic of If I Were King, what was your favorite of Frances' costumes from that movie? I love the white gown she wears while attending royal court. It's so sparkly and flattering and beautiful. Hatwise, I think the small (at least in comparison with some of the others), white cap she wore while sitting with Ronald Colman is exquisite. It reminds me of a swan, somehow, and Miss Dee is ever so graceful and regal that it fits her perfectly. The tall hat with the scarves, which I like to call a "damsel hat," is marvelous as well! I was utterly convinced she wouldn't be able to make it through the doorways while wearing it, or that she would take out one of the guards as she turned to leave the room. Nope, the review I mentioned is not the same one that praises Ellen Drew while putting down Frances Dee. You're right, though. Miss Drew is among our underrated treasures. I was astonished when you told me she was the same actress who played Joel McCrea's wife in Stars in My Crown. Her character of Harriett is so different from her portrayal of Hugette that I failed realize it was one and the same actress playing the separate roles. Speaking of astonishing, what was your reaction upon first seeing Basil Rathbone as Louis XI? Please do tell of Gypsy Colt, Deborah! From what I've read, its sounds rather like Misty, which was the tearjerker of my childhood. Also, would you happen to know what the filming dates of Gypsy Colt and Mister Scoutmaster are? All sources say that Gypsy Colt was the last of Miss Dee's films, and yet Mister Scoutmaster was released four months afterwards. Could it be that one was shelved for a few months prior to release? Just curious.

Thank you so much, Deborah! Wheel of Fortune sounds wonderful. Naturally, it is one of the two of Miss Dee's films released on VHS (the other being Gypsy Colt) that my library does not carry. Do you think there is a good chance that it will be released on DVD? I agree with you, Deborah. The Duke was great with comedy. Just look at The Lady Takes a Chance with Jean Arthur or, for that matter, I Love Lucy. Oh, I've got to run for now. I'll respond to the rest later, ok?

All of this reminds me of a scene from Stars in My Crown, when one of the characters has just breathed their last. The doctor lowers his head and says mournfully, "It's all over." Then Joel, playing Parson Gray, says with a glimmer of hope in his voice, "No, doctor, it's just beginning." Now the time for mourning is past, and the celebration of a life well-lived may carry on... Thank you, Deborah, for sharing your thoughts on Love is a Racket and Wheel of Fortune. Both sound so interesting! I do hope I get the chance to see Wheel of Fortune, and Love is a Racket will be on its way to me soon. Oh, and yes, I would love to hear about the two scenes you mentioned from Wheel of Fortune, Deborah. Can you tell me about Miss Dee's cameo in Cattle Drive as well? On Saturday morning I happened to come across a review of If I Were King on the IMDb, containing this passage: "Frances Dee demonstrates once again that she is quite probably the best-looking American actress of the 1930's, although she has all the acting prowess of an Andie MacDowell. (If you insist on talent with your set decoration, then you probably would have preferred to see Paulette Goddard playing the part of the lady-in-waiting who catches Villon's eye.)" What does everyone think of that? I'm not trying to start any arguments or heated discussions here, but I'm curious as to what your opinions are as to Miss Dee's performance in If I Were King. I thought she was marvelous. She plays Katherine de Vaucelles very simply and with a great deal of wit, which is fitting both for the film and her character. Had she gone for drama instead of comedy I don't think the film would be half so delightful.