ESTELLE WINWOOD: THE PRODUCERS SCENE STEALER

"Hold me! Touch me!"

Estelle Winwood, on appearing in the Mel Brooks classic "The Producers" (1967): "Oh, that dreadful picture. I can't bear to watch it, even on a small television. I must have needed the money; living in Hollywood weakens one's motives. It reminds me of the saying that nobody ever went broke underestimating the American public's taste."

Like many stage actors of her era, Winwood expressed a distaste for films and resisted the offers she received during the 1920s. Finally, she relented and made her film début in "Night Angel" (1931), but her scenes were cut before the film's release. Her official film début came in "The House of Trent" (1933), and "Quality Street" (1937) was her first role of note. She made no cinematic films during the 1940s, but expressed a willingness to participate in the new medium of television, starring in a television production of "Blithe Spirit" in 1946. During the 1950s, she appeared more frequently in television than she did in film in such series as "Robert Montgomery Presents," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," and "The Donna Reed Show."

Winwood's final film appearance, at age 92 in "Murder by Death" (1976), was as Elsa Lanchester's character's ancient nursemaid. When she took on her final major television role in a 1979 episode of "Quincy", she officially became, at age 96, the oldest actor working in the U.S., narrowly beating fellow British actress Ethel Griffies. She continued making appearances until she was 100 years old. When she died at age 101, she was the oldest member in the history of the Screen Actors Guild.

When Winwood was asked, on the occasion of her 100th birthday, how she felt to have lived so long, she replied, "How rude of you to remind me!"

THE BIGGEST BOX OFFICE HITS: CARY GRANT

Cary Grant, one of Hollywood’s most iconic leading men, enjoyed a career that spanned over three decades and included a wide range of genres—from screwball comedies to suspenseful thrillers. Known for his charm, wit, and impeccable timing, Grant starred in numerous box office successes. Here are the five biggest box office hits of his career, adjusted for inflation and cultural impact:

 
1. North by Northwest (1959)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Box Office (Original Gross): Approx. $13 million
Adjusted Gross: Over $130 million

 
Why It Was a Hit:
A masterclass in suspense and style, North by Northwest is often considered one of Hitchcock’s greatest films. Grant plays Roger Thornhill, a suave advertising executive mistaken for a spy. The film’s iconic scenes—like the crop-duster chase and Mount Rushmore climax—cemented its place in cinematic history.

 
2. Charade (1963)
Director: Stanley Donen
Box Office (Original Gross): Approx. $13.5 million
Adjusted Gross: Over $120 million

 
Why It Was a Hit:
Often dubbed “the best Hitchcock movie Hitchcock never made,” Charade paired Grant with Audrey Hepburn in a stylish blend of romance, mystery, and comedy. The chemistry between the leads and the film’s Parisian setting made it a crowd-pleaser.

 

3. Operation Petticoat (1959)
Director: Blake Edwards
Box Office (Original Gross): Approx. $18.6 million
Adjusted Gross: Over $180 million

 
Why It Was a Hit:
This World War II comedy, co-starring Tony Curtis, was a massive commercial success. Grant’s role as a submarine commander dealing with chaos and pink paint showcased his comedic timing and broad appeal.

 
4. To Catch a Thief (1955)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Box Office (Original Gross): Approx. $8.8 million
Adjusted Gross: Over $90 million

 
Why It Was a Hit:
Set against the glamorous backdrop of the French Riviera, this romantic thriller featured Grant as a retired cat burglar opposite Grace Kelly. The film’s elegance, suspense, and star power made it a box office draw.

 
5. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Director: George Cukor
Box Office (Original Gross): Approx. $3.3 million
Adjusted Gross: Over $60 million
Why It Was a Hit:
A classic romantic comedy, The Philadelphia Story starred Grant alongside Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart. The film’s witty script and sophisticated performances helped revive Hepburn’s career and solidified Grant’s status as a top-tier leading man.

Cary Grant’s box office success was not just about numbers—it was about the enduring charm and sophistication he brought to every role. His films continue to captivate audiences, proving that true star power never fades.

SHIRLEY TEMPLE: THE YOUNGEST OSCAR RECIPIENT

At age six, Shirley Temple became the first recipient of the juvenile Academy Award. To this day she is the youngest person ever to receive an Academy Award. After receiving her award from actor/writer Irvin S. Cobb, she politely thanked him, then turned to her mother and asked, "Mommy, can I go home now?"

Many years later, in an appearance on the 1984 Oscar show, Temple explained what had happened. At the 1935 Oscar banquet, her special award was one of the last to be presented that evening. She had been forced to sit through the entire awards ceremony, watching all the other awards being handed out (including her presenting the Best Actress award to Claudette Colbert for "It Happened One Night"). By the time she got her award, at about 10:00 p.m., she was exhausted and ready to go home to bed.

Temple became very close to Will Rogers after signing with Fox. When Rogers died in a 1935 airplane crash, she was inconsolable for days afterwards. Studio chief Joseph M. Schenck, who was in England at the time, bought her a pony and had it shipped the US on the Queen Mary. When she learned that the pony was to be flown from New York to Los Angeles, she insisted that it be shipped by rail to avoid another crash.

Temple was considered for the role of Veda Pierce in the Joan Crawford drama "Mildred Pierce" (1945), which went to Ann Blyth.

"I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph."

ROBERT PRESTON: THE ACTOR WHO SANG BY NOT SINGING

My wife can not stomach the singing of Robert Preston, which is unfortunate because The Music Man is one of my favorite musicals. When audiences think of The Music Man, they often hear Robert Preston’s rapid‑fire patter and charismatic swagger long before they recall any classical vocal runs. Preston wasn’t a traditional singer, and that is precisely what made him unforgettable. His voice didn’t soar; it drove. He didn’t croon; he spoke his melodies into existence. And in doing so, he delivered one of the most iconic musical‑theater performances of all time.

Despite a widespread belief that he “couldn’t sing,” Preston actually entered show business with real musical knowledge. He was a trained musician who played several instruments before turning his focus fully to acting, giving him a strong sense of rhythm even if he didn’t possess a typical vocalist’s range.

Still, instrumental skill did not automatically translate to vocal confidence. Unlike his Broadway peers, Preston was not known for vocal bravado. So when he was cast as Harold Hill in Meredith Willson’s The Music Man in 1957, many saw his lack of conventional singing experience as a gamble. 

Preston’s genius emerged not in the form of classical singing but in the way he shaped music through character. Musical‑theater fans often highlight that certain lead roles—Harold Hill among them—are written for performers who rely more on rhythm, personality, and timing than on sustained melodic lines. According to theater enthusiasts, Preston’s performance essentially established Harold Hill as a “singing‑second” role, one that thrives on speak‑singing rather than operatic technique.

This became especially clear in numbers like “Ya Got Trouble,” which demands relentless pacing, breath control, and clarity more than it requires smooth, lyrical singing. Preston delivered these with electrifying energy, using cadence and character to transform the song into one of musical theater’s great showpieces. 

Over the years, stories circulated claiming that Preston had never sung in public before The Music Man. Some fans insisted he had “no singing background” and that his performance was a triumph of pure storytelling over traditional vocal talent.

The truth is somewhat more nuanced. While he wasn’t a classically trained vocalist, he had already performed Harold Hill on Broadway hundreds of times—and even won a Tony Award for the role—before reprising it in the 1962 film.

What is true is that Preston approached singing primarily as an actor. Rather than shape his character around musical lines, he shaped his musical delivery around the character. This inversion became his signature strength. 

Preston’s success came from qualities that had little to do with traditional vocal range. His phrasing, timing, and emotional precision allowed him to turn songs into performance pieces rather than vocal showcases. In “‘Til There Was You,” for instance, he embraced sincerity rather than vocal fireworks, carefully phrasing his lines opposite Shirley Jones’s polished soprano. Fans and commentators often note how surprisingly tender the moment becomes, despite his limited range.

His unconventional vocal approach made his version of Harold Hill so definitive that many later performers have chosen to imitate his speak‑singing rather than attempt a more melodic or classically trained interpretation. 

Robert Preston’s career defies the idea that musical‑theater success requires a pitch‑perfect voice. His performance as Harold Hill earned him a Tony Award, a Golden Globe nomination, and a permanent place in Broadway and Hollywood history. He proved that in musical storytelling, authenticity can matter more than technique. What he lacked in classical singing ability, he made up for with magnetic personality, impeccable timing, and unmatched stage presence. His voice may not have soared, but it captivated. And in the world of musical theater, that can matter far more than hitting a perfect high note...

RIP: SAM NEILL

Actor Sam Neill, known for his roles in the "Jurassic Park" films and "Peaky Blinders," died on Monday, according to his official social media account. He was 78.

"Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life," the statement, which was posted early on Monday, said. "The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free."

Neill, who was born Nigel John Dermot Neill on Sept. 14, 1947, in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, didn't get exposure to acting until he was in college.

As a kid, Neill's parents were in the army, and his father's family owned a vineyard. When he was 7, Neill and his family moved to New Zealand. It was while he attended the University of Canterbury that he gained exposure to acting.

In 1971, Neill landed his first acting role in the New Zealand television film "The City of No." He was cast in several TV film roles before his being cast as the lead in the 1977 New Zealand film, "Sleeping Dogs," an action thriller film.

Following "Sleeping Dogs," Neill worked on several TV shows and films in Australia, including the TV show "The Sullivans" and the 1979 films, "The Journalist" and "Just Out of Reach."

In 1981, he starred in his first international role for "Omen III: The Final Conflict," in which he played Damien Thorn.

Of all the roles he's had, his portrayal of Dr. Alan Grant in the 1993 film "Jurassic Park" is perhaps his most well-known. The science fiction action Steven Spielberg directed-film, based on Michael Chrichton's 1990 novel of the same name, followed a team of genetic scientists who have created a wildlife park of de-extinct dinosaurs. Neill's character was inspired by paleontologist Jack Horner.

In a 2022 interview with Forbes, Neill said, "Alan Grant is like an old comfortable pair of boots."

"They've seen better days, but they're really comfortable, and there's no way you'll get rid of those," he said.

Neill also reprised his character in "Jurassic Park III" and "Jurassic World Dominion."

While looking back at his film career portraying Dr. Alan Grant, the actor said that the franchise "took me completely by surprise."

"I never thought there would be another one, let alone six in total," he said. "I also never imagined that that first film would, in particular, would make a place for itself so much in popular culture. People can quote the lines. Alan Grant taking off his dark glasses to see things has become a meme. You just do them at the time, and then 30 years later, it's still part of people's lives. It's baffling, really."
'Merlin,' 'Peaky Blinders' and othe roles

Following "Jurassic Park," Neill starred in a number of films including "Bicentennial Man" alongside Robin Williams, and the 1997 science fiction horror film "Event Horizon."

He also starred in "Merlin," playing the mythical wizard, and the historical drama, "The Tudors."

Throughout his career, Neill received many awards as an actor but the award that was perhaps most meaningful to him was when he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1991, which he was able to share with his father, just before he died.

"I got a letter and I took the letter and dad as in his bed on his way out and I said, 'Dad, they're giving me an OBE,'" Neill recalled in a 2017 interview with Julia Zemiro of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation iview show, "Home Delivery." "And he said, 'I'm very proud of you.'"

In 2022, Neill also earned the title of Sir as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Battle with cancer

While promoting his memoir, "Did I Ever Tell You This?," in March 2023, Neill told The Guardian that he was being treated for stage 3 blood cancer.

The previous year, he had opened up about his diagnosis, saying he is cancer free, but will continue to receive chemotherapy. While undergoing chemotherapy, he told the outlet that he had experienced "dark moments."

"Those dark moments throw the light into sharp relief, you know, and have made me grateful for every day and immensely grateful for all my friends," he said. "Just pleased to be alive."

In 2022, Neill was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, "a rare, often but not always, aggressive (fast-growing) form of peripheral T-cell lymphoma," according to the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

Neill is survived by his children, Elena Neill, who he shared with ex-wife, Noriko Watanabe, and Tim Neill, who he shares with New Zealand actress Lisa Harrow...

BING CROSBY: THE HOLLYWOOD YEARS - PART 13

RIP: JOANNA PETTET

Beloved London born Hollywood actress Joanna Pettet died on Tuesday July 7 at the age of 83. The sad news was confirmed by her friend, actress Pam DuBois, who revealed the poignantly significant date of her death in a touching Facebook post. Alongside an image of the star at a graveside she wrote: "We all loved Jo - But there was one person who loved her more. And yesterday on the 31st anniversary of his death. Damien Zach took his mother to heaven and there she will stay with him forever. God bless you Jo." No cause of death has been revealed as of yet.

On August8, 1969, the star had lunch at the home of Sharon Tate, just hours before the members of the Manson Family slaughtered the pregnant star, making her one of the last people to see the tragic actress alive. Quentin Taratino included the lunch in his 2019 fictional/alternate-reality 2019 film Once Upon a Time. In Hollywood, in which she was portrayed by Rumer Willis.

Amongst the stars big screen credits was the role of Mata Bond in the 1967 James Bond satire Casino Royale, loosely based on the first of Ian Fleming's books about the super spy.

She also starred in 1968's Blue opposite Terence Stamp, and 1969's Victorian period comedy The Best House in London. However she was best known for her extensive work on TV which included roles in Route 66, The Doctors, Dr. Kildare, Mannix, Night Gallery, Thriller, Police Woman, Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Hotel, and Murder, She Wrote.

Her final role was in the 1990 thriller Terror in Paradise, after which she retired from acting although she was only in her 40s...