Sunday, August 29, 2010

IRENE DUNNE (1898-1990)



Irene Dunne was a supreme actress in many popular movies of the 1930s and 1940s. She left Hollywood in the 1950s, but when she left the limelight she thankfully left behind many great roles...





Friday, August 20, 2010

MUSICAL MOMENTS: GLENN MILLER

The Glenn Miller Orchestra is one of the most famous of the big band era, and their version of "In The Mood" put them on the map. The musicial world lost a great talent when Miller disappeared (and presumed died) in 1944...

Thursday, August 19, 2010

ERNEST BORGNINE TO GET SAG AWARD

Ernest Borgnine will be honored by the Screen Actors Guild next year for lifetime achievement.SAG National President Ken Howard said in a statement Wednesday that Borgnine has boundless energy "which, at 93, is still a hallmark of his remarkably busy life and career."

He has appeared in more than 200 movies. He won a best-actor Oscar for his performance in the 1955 film "Marty." His TV credits include the 1960s series "McHale's Navy." He was nominated for an Emmy for his guest role last year in the final episode of "ER."

He will receive the award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment at the 17th annual SAG Awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 30, 2011...

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

INTERVIEW: ALFRED HITCHCOCK

Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most complicated yet interesting directors of all-time. Here is a usual great interview he did in 1973. The mind of Alfred Hitchcock was just amazing...

MOVIE TRAILER: BRIGADOON

I feel that the movie BRIGADOON(1954) is one of the most underrated musical of the 1950s. Star Gene Kelly expressed his distaste for the budget cutting on this film. He wanted to film on location in Scotland, but MGM forced him to film on the backlot. Joining Kelly in the film was Cyd Charisse and Van Johnson. It is really an unsung classic of MGM's later musical years...

Sunday, August 15, 2010

MUSICAL MOMENTS: BOBBY DARIN

I never get tired listening to the great Bobby Darin. He came along late in the game, but his singing style harked back to the days of Frank Sinatra and Al Jolson. Sadly, Darin died too young, but his great entertaining lives on...

Friday, August 13, 2010

FAVORITE SONGS: MOON RIVER

"Moon River" is another favorite song of mine. It was composed by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini in 1961, for whom it won that year's Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was originally sung in the movie BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY's by Audrey Hepburn, although it has been covered by many other artists. It became the theme song for Andy Williams, who first recorded it in 1961 and performed it at the Academy Awards ceremonies in 1962...

Thursday, August 12, 2010

BING CROSBY MOVIES COMING TO DVD

Just announced is a new Bing Crosby set of movies! I never thought these movies would see the light of day! The set is called The Bing Crosby Collection from the Universal Backlot.

The six movies included are:
College Humor
We're Not Dressing
Here is my Heart
Mississippi
Sing You Sinners
Welcome Stranger

All but We're Not Dressing are new to DVD (as We're Not Dressing was previously released as part of a Carole Lombard DVD set a few years back). The release date is November 2, 2010...

source: CLASSICFLIX.COM

Monday, August 9, 2010

RIP: PATRICIA NEAL (1926-2010)

Patricia Neal, the willowy, husky-voiced actress who won an Academy Award for 1963's "Hud" and then survived several strokes to continue acting, died on Sunday. She was 84. Neal left behind great movie roles, and she was a great example of a true survivor...



Saturday, August 7, 2010

LINDA DARNELL (1923-1965)

Linda Darnell was one of the most beautiful women to come out of Hollywood in the 1940s. Her reign as a top actress was short, and she died tragically. However, Linda Darnell is a prime example of the stunning talent and beauty that was a part of Hollywood in its golden years...





Thursday, August 5, 2010

INTERVIEW: BENNY GOODMAN

Here is a great interview with big band legend Benny Goodman. The interview took place in 1983, and Benny would die three days later. Goodman was one of the greatest clarinetists of all time...

Monday, August 2, 2010

MUSICAL MOMENTS: TED LEWIS

Here is a vintage clip of the vaudville star Ted Lewis. Not many people will remember him, but he had a way with a song. Although not a great singer, he was a part of vaudville history. This rare clip is from 1929...

RIP: MARGARET M. LENHART (1916-2010)

The vocalist who sang for Virginia Dale in HOLIDAY INN(1942) and on the Decca recordings of the songs has passed away...

Margaret M. Lenhart of Poulsbo
Nov. 7, 1916 - July 27, 2010

Singer- Ms. Margaret M. Lenhart, born in Renton, WA, became a star singer on network radio after winning the "Gateway to Hollywood" contest in the early 30's. A featured soloist on the Camel Caravan on NBC she also performed on a number of recordings among them the original "Holiday Inn" with Bing Crosby.

She is survived by 3 children: Diana McArdle, Valerie Phimister, and Dan Erlenborn, grandmother of 8: Cathy, Tim, Gary, Jeanette, Stephen, Chelsie, Hope, and Tess; great grandmother of 5: Crystal, Rachel, Sydney, Rowan, and Harper.

A memorial service will be held at The Stone Chapel Poulsbo Mortuary, 22272 Foss Rd NE Poulsbo, WA, August 11th at 11 AM.

An online memorial can be viewed at www.lewischapel.com