Birthday | Clark Gable

Frankly, My Dear Classic Film Survey

Rianna over at Frankly, My Dear has been hosting a Classic Film Survey for the month of February. I said earlier in the month that I wanted to take part... it's better late than never right? Sorry for the delay, life has just been hectic. So here it goes...

1. Favorite classic Disney?

 
It is very hard for me to answer this because I am such a Disney fanatic, but I chose Sleeping Beauty (1959). I went with this film because of how beautifully done the illustrations were. You can literally take a frame from any part of the film and it would look like a piece of art! I especially love the scenes where Aurora is walking through the woods singing with all of the animals.

2. Favorite film from the year 1939?

 
This one is pretty easy... The Women. An all woman cast with Norma Shearer, Rosalind Russell and Joan Crawford? What more could you ask for?

3. Favorite Carole Lombard screwball role?

  

While I am a little ashamed to say so, I've only seen one of Carole's films... Mr and Mrs Smith (1941). So I will go with that one as my favorite. I did a review on it, you can read here. I must say that after seeing this picture, I will definitely be watching more of her films.

4. Favorite off screen couple?

Jean Harlow and William Powell. They seemed to be deeply in love. Their 6 month engagement came to an end with Harlow's premature death.

5. Favorite pair of best friends?

Ive always loved the behind-the-scene story of the friendship Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe developed on the set of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). I love that Jane would stop by Marilyn's dressing room and walk with her on set because she knew how terrified Monroe was. A true friend.

Blogathon | Clark Gable For Movember

"During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in the US and around the world. With their Mo’s, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men." - us.movember.com

Bette over at Bette's Classic Movie Blog is throwing a Blogathon (Classic Moustaches For Movember) in honor of the nationwide cause to raise awareness for men's health. I had never heard of this, but apparently every year the 'Mo Bros' with their 'Mo Sistas' by their side start clean shaven and then groom, trim and wax their new growing moustaches into works of art. They then seek out sponsorship to raise funds for the cause. I thought this was a fun idea, so here is my contribution to the cause...

One of my favorite actors after Cary Grant is the great Clark Gable. During his film career he played opposite some of Hollywood's most famous leading ladies and made all of their hearts melt with his neatly groomed moustache. Women wanted to be with him and men wanted to be like him. While Clark's moustache didn't appear until a few years into his career in the 1932 film Strange Interlude, it wouldn't take long for it to become one of the most famous pieces of facial hair to ever grace the silver screen. In 1939, as Clark Gable played lead opposite Vivien Leigh in Gone With The Wind, his moustache was setting trends across the country. Below you will find pictures of Clark along side his lovely leading ladies that span his lengthy career. What a stache!

Before the images come, make sure to head on over to the Movember (US) Donation Page and learn more about this great cause.

With Joan Crawford | 1933 | Dancing Lady

With Myrna Loy | 1934 | Manhattan Melodrama

With Claudette Colbert | 1934 | It Happened One Night

With Jean Harlow | 1937 | Saratoga

Blogathon | The 411 On Carole Lombard

I first want to thank Carole & Co for hosting the Carole-Tennial (+3) Blogathon. If you continue reading you will find my contribution to the event...

 "I've lived by a man's code designed to fit a man's world, 

yet at the same time I never forget that a woman's 

first job is to choose the right shade of lipstick."

Before this Blogathon, I never new much of Carole Lombard. I knew Clark Gable was hopelessly in love with her and that she died tragically at a young age. My initial plan to was to check out My Man Godfrey (a film that is on my long list of films to see), but I just haven't had time to do so. In its place I have done a 'Star Spotlight' on Carole. Below you will find pictures, information, and trivia about this very funny lady.

► Carole Lombard (known earlier in her career as Carol Lombard) was born as Jane Alice Peters on October 6th, 1908 in Fort Wayne, IN.

► Was married to two of my favorite actors of Classic Hollywood: William Powell (1931-1942) and Clark Gable (1939-her death)

► At the height of her career she was the highest paid female star, making $500,000 a year.

► Unlike most other stars, Carole preferred NOT to have a dressing room in order to socialize with the cast and crew.

► The funny lady was known for her outbursts of profanity and came to be known as "The Profane Angel".

► Even a major movie star could love animals, among Carole's pets were dogs, cats, and even chickens. I loved learning about her rooster Edmund (I also have two pet chickens).

► Known for films such as My Man Godfrey (1936) (which she was nominated for an Academy Award), To Be or Not To Be (1942), Mr & Mrs Smith (1941), and Twentieth Century (1934).

► Missed out on a few, now famous, roles for other actresses such as: Mr Deeds Goes To Town (1936), His Girl Friday (1940), It Happened One Night (1934), and They All Kissed The Bride (1942)

► After her death the role in They All Kissed the Bride (1942) went to friend Joan Crawford who donated her salary for the picture to the American Red Cross (which had found her body).

► On her way back from raising $2,000,000 in war bonds, her plane crashed killing everyone on board. Carole was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Roosevelt as the first woman killed in the line of duty in World War II.

And there you have it, my contribution to the Carole-Tennial (+3) Blogathon. I can't wait to catch her films such as My Man Godfrey and To Be or Not To Be.

Film | It Happened One Night (1934)

Taking a break from the Jane Russell Filmography Project, I sat down to watch the 1934 film It Happened One Night starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. This movie has been on my 'must see' list for awhile, I was happy to finally get to watch it.

On the run from her father, socialite Ellie Andrews is on her way to be with new husband King Westley in New York. Along the way she meets out of work Peter Warne who wants to use her story to get his job back. After a few, very funny  misadventures, they come to realize they are in love with each other.

I really didn't know what to expect going in to this film, but I was very happy to find it so delightful. While it wasn't fall out of your chair funny, I found myself laughing and giggling as Ellie and Peter have to deal with no transportation and no money. The couple had great chemistry and great comedic timing.

One scene I found very funny was the hitchhiking scene. You have Clark Gable giving some great faces and gestures only to have every car pass him up and as the cars pass him up... it gets even funnier. Of course all Ellie has to do is show some leg and the first car to pass slams on the breaks.

This was only my second time seeing Claudette in a film (first time being in Let's Make It Legal) and I was impressed by her acting and presence on screen. She was very funny in the scene where the detectives come and she takes on a southern accent and when she freaks out in the hay field thinking Peter has left her. Now I feel the need to see more of her films. Of course Gable was charming and a terrific actor. It isn't hard to see why he is loved by so many people now and in his own time.

 

I was reading up on the film and learned that the players involved were not that enthusiastic about making this picture. It turns out many other actresses, such as Myrna Loy, turned down this role and Claudette only accepted it because they doubled her salary and promised to be finished filming in four weeks. I bet, the stars were happy to have made this film when it became the first film ever to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

Even if the stars weren't happy making the picture, I was definitely glad they did. A delightful film that has stood the test of time.

Photos | Stars With Their Pets

Stars & Their Pets

Since I love animals, and have quite a few of my own, I thought I would do a post with pictures of vintage stars sharing the lense with their beloved pets.

 Joan Crawford with Fancy [Poodle]