Biopics/Famous Lives On Screen

[Princess of Tap]

Ginger Rogers in The Barkleys of Broadway...playing Sarah Bernhardt ??

 

Yes, Shutoo, good man! ( I think that's what Tom Barnaby would have said. LOL)

 

 

Yeah, Rogers' turn as Sarah Bernhardt, I thought, messed up the rhythm of the whole musical comedy. But my guess, knowing Ginger, it was her way of reminding everybody that although she started out doing those little dances with Fred Astaire, she was a great dramatic actress who had won an Oscar.

 

You just got to love Ginger.

 

 

Shutoo, look alive man; it's your turn--

[shutoo]

There was a biopic about this actress--highly fictionalized..here's a little something about her real life:

She originated a famous role on Broadway, but when it went to Hollywood, it was given to a popular  Paramount  star (but produced by United Artists)  and remade again by a big MGM star;  later music was added by Columbia for another version.  She did land a plum role in another film..which gave her a distinct place in Oscar history-- this film was remade later by Warner's biggest star.

 

okay...who is the actress with the biopic?  her big stage role, and why she is important in Oscar trivia?

[LawrenceA]

There was a biopic about this actress--highly fictionalized..here's a little something about her real life:

She originated a famous role on Broadway, but when it went to Hollywood, it was given to a popular  Paramount  star (but produced by United Artists)  and remade again by a big MGM star;  later music was added by Columbia for another version.  She did land a plum role in another film..which gave her a distinct place in Oscar history-- this film was remade later by Warner's biggest star.

 

okay...who is the actress with the biopic?  her big stage role, and why she is important in Oscar trivia?

 

Jeanne Eagels, who originated the role of Sadie Thompson in the play Rain in 1922, later played by Gloria Swanson, Joan Crawford, and Rita Hayworth. She was the first performer to receive a posthumous Oscar nomination, for 1929's The Letter?

[shutoo]

Jeanne Eagels, who originated the role of Sadie Thompson in the play Rain in 1922, later played by Gloria Swanson, Joan Crawford, and Rita Hayworth. She was the first performer to receive a posthumous Oscar nomination, for 1929's The Letter?

 

It took you less time to answer than it took for me to type it  

 

Of course, the biopic was ​Jeanne Eagels ​with Kim Novak;  Bette Davis also got a nomination for her portrayal of Leslie Crosbie in the remake of ​The Letter.

 

​​Your thread, LawrenceA!

[LawrenceA]

This military biopic featured the rare occurrence of a director overseeing someone playing a fictionalized version of himself. 

 

Name the film, the film's subject and who played him, as well as the director and who played him.

[film lover 293]

"The Wings of Eagles" (1957), Frank Wead was played by John Wayne?  Ward Bond played John Dodge, a fictionalized version of the films' director John Ford?

[LawrenceA]

"The Wings of Eagles" (1957), Frank Wead was played by John Wayne?  Ward Bond played John Dodge, a fictionalized version of the films' director John Ford?

 

Correct, film lover.

 

Your thread.

[film lover 293]

In this then scandalous filmic "roman a clef", a character does a striptease while swinging from a chandelier.  Name the film, the character I mentioned and the main character, who their real life counterparts were, the two actors who played the parts, and the films' director.

[Terrence1]

That's a good question, Film Lover.  This sounds like "Carpetbaggers".  The main star was George Peppard, playing a thinly disguised version of Howard Hughes.  The female in the question would be Carroll Baker, playing Rina Marlowe, but we all know that was supposed to be Jean Harlow.  The director would be Edward Dymtryk.

[film lover 293]

Terrence1--Correct.  Your Thread.

[Terrence1]

Thanks, Film Lover.  A good question.

Let's try this one:  A silent screen actor was portrayed by an Oscar winner, and another Oscar winner played his first wife.  Name the movie, the actor portrayed, and the actor who played him.

[Princess of Tap]

Thanks, Film Lover. A good question.

Let's try this one: A silent screen actor was portrayed by an Oscar winner, and another Oscar winner played his first wife. Name the movie, the actor portrayed, and the actor who played him.

James Cagney portrayed Lon Chaney and Dorothy Malone portrayed Lon's first wife Cleva in The Man of a Thousand Faces.

[Terrence1]

You got it right, Princess.  I haven't seen this in many years, but I recall both Cagney and Malone being outstanding in it.  It's all yours.

[Princess of Tap]

This legendary Broadway, movie and television performer could sing, dance and tell jokes. Few people realized that he was also a composer a popular music.

 

The actor who portrayed him in the biopic was also a versatile performer,producer and author.

 

When you identify the legendary performer and the actor who portrayed him, please also list at least one song the performer was famous for.

[MilesArcher]

Could it be Eddie Cantor, who was portrayed by Keefe Brasselle in "The Eddie Cantor Story"?  Eddie's best known songs include "Makin' Whoopee" and "If You Knew Susie".  Here's Eddie:

 

 

 

 

[Princess of Tap]

Yes, it could be and it is. Another one of his famous songs is Ida which of course was the name of his beloved wife. When she died it was in all the headlines--my that does seem like a long time ago.

 

Well, Miles, Biopics are yours--

[Princess of Tap]

Miles, You're on--

[MilesArcher]

A movie about a real life female bank robber received critical reviews in the sixties, but the character had been played in a low budget movie in the fifties by a woman who would be better known for TV work, where she could showcase her musical talents.  The fifties movie was based on facts, but many character names were changed for the screen.  Can you name both the fifties and sixties movies, as well as the actresses that starred in them? 

[film lover 293]

"The Bonnie Parker Story" (1958), starring Dorothy Provine in the title role is the 50's movie?

 

"Bonnie and Clyde" (1967), starring Faye Dunaway as Bonnie is the 60's movie?

[MilesArcher]

You are correct, Film Lover.  Here is a very short clip from "The Bonnie Parker Story".

 

 

 

Good work, Film Lover.  You're up next.

 

 

[film lover 293]

This film about a member of late medieval royalty was based on true life.  Name the film,  the star who made this her last film at her home studio, and the costar who had his contract terminated as a result of his performance in this film.

[film lover 293]

Hint #1--The costar went on to success in a series of well known films.

[film lover 293]

Hint #2--The female lead starred in a Biblical turkey that was gaudy, expensive, and a critical and financial bomb the year before this film was released.

[MilesArcher]

I believe the movie would be "Diane", which was Lana Turner's last movie for MGM.  Her previous movie "The Prodigal" had flopped at the box office.  Her co-star from "The Prodigal", Edmund Purdom, was supposed to co-star in "Diane", but he was replaced by Roger Moore.  Moore's contract was then terminated and he wound up at Warner Bros. on the "Maverick" TV show.

[film lover 293]

MilesArcher--Correct on all counts.

 

Your thread, MilesArcher.