This is my contribution to Letter the Stars Blogathon.
Hosted by:
Marcela (Best of the Past): http://best-ofthepast.blogspot.com.br/
Rianna
(Frankly, my dear): http://franklymydear-blog.blogspot.com/
Natalie (On the Mood): http://theswingmood.blogspot.com/
Please click on poster located on side bar to learn more.
Dear Cyd Charisse, I wanted to write to let you know how much I enjoyed watching you perform in one of my all time favorite classic musicals, Singin’ In The Rain. It was a thrill to see one of the best musical numbers ever filmed, “Broadway Melody Ballet” on the big screen.. I have watched Singin’ In The Rain, more times than I can remember and one of the first classic movies, that I added to my ever growing classic movie DVD movie collection.
I have always thought of you as one of the most talented female icons of dance. Because, of all your unforgettable contributions to the Golden Age of MGM Hollywood musicals which include: Silk Stockings, The Bandwagon, Brigadoon and the classic Singin’ In The Rain.
I loved watching your dance performances with two of the greatest male dancers in film history, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. How was it acting with Gene Kelly? I've always been a fan of his and if he is starring in a movie, it's guaranteed that I'll be a fan of the film.
My 3 favorite Esther Williams movies are: Fiesta, On an Island with You and Easy to Love. Mostly, because of your dance routines with the very handsome and talented, Ricardo Montalban. You and Ricardo made an amazing dance couple and it seems.. no matter who was your partner, you always remained powerful and glamorous. I was sorry to learn that you broke your leg during the filming of the big ceremonial dance in the classic musical, On an Island with You and they used another dancer.
You would be a perfect celebrity for Dancing With The Stars! Bruno, Carrie and Len would have loved you! You would have definitely taken home the mirror ball!
I would like to end this letter thanking you for your dedication to your dancing and acting. For me... your performances will always remain timeless.
Last night, during a huge thunderstorm, My husband Stephen and I drove to the Century-Oro Valley Market Place Theater in Arizona, to see one of my favorite musicals, Singin' in the Rain. I would say 30 other people, also.. came out in the rain to see the classic musical.
I was thrilled to have been one of those who were selected to receive two TCM promotional passes, for the 8/22/12 showing. I have not been to a movie theater, since my son was a little boy.
I have to share with you, that seeing a classic film, on the "big screen" is an amazing experience. I hope all of you get the opportunity to experience it at least once.
Watching the film, in a theater armed with a bag of movie popcorn and drink, sitting with an audience, is like seeing the classic for the first time. With the large size screen you really do see more detail:
The costumes really sparkled and were more amazing on the "Big Screen".
When Don was doing his "Make um Laugh" routine you could actually see his feet ripping up the carpet.
As I mentioned before.. we had a huge thunderstorm in Tucson, last night and while we were watching Gene Kelly, "Singin' in the Rain" routine, you could actually hear large claps of thunder, from outside the theater.. it was amazingly(is that a word) good timing.
Gene Kelly, dancing routines are breathtaking. Seeing the film at the theater, made me realize how well Gene Kelly, really danced..
Cyd Charise, was full of energy and commanded the screen in all her dance numbers, even though she did not have any speaking parts.
Jean Hagen's voice, was even more irritating on the 'Big Screen". Matter of fact "that voice" is still ringing in my ears.
Debbie Reynolds, voice seemed very girlish.. but it worked...
My gosh.. the color just popped off the screen, it was like watching a firework display, in some of the scenes. The black and white scenes, were amazing and odd. It was the first time in my life, that I had ever seen one up on the "big screen". Thank you The Lady Eve, Jill and Michael for making this possible! I had a wonderful time. A night I will remember for the rest of my life..
East Side, West Side(1949). Melodramatic/crime film. Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Ava Gardner in one of her earliest roles, James Mason and Van Heflin. Based on a novel by Marcia Davenport and a screenplay by Isobel Lennart, the film was directed by Mervyn Leroy.
Late one night, Jessie Bourne, is home alone while, her philandering husband Brandon, is out drinking at the Del Rio night club, with model Rosa Senta.
Rosa, later asks Brandon, why he cheats on his wife. Brandon says, "just because a man has one perfect rose at home, doesn't mean he can't enjoy the flowers of the field."
It is not long before Brandon's, former mistress Isabel Lorrison, just back from Paris, shows up forcing Rosa to leave. Isabel, is hoping to pick up where they left off, but Brandon, is ready to move on, telling her that.. "he is now faithful to his wife".
Later, as Brandon is leaving the club, Alec Dawning, who knows Brandon's reputation, knocks him unconscious. Rosa, takes Brandon to her home, where he spends the night.
When Brandon, arrives home he tells Jessie that he was attacked by a bum, which she does not believe.
Soon after, Helen Lee reminds Jessie about her party for ex-police officer Mark Dwyer, whose book Helen's husband Owen is trying to get syndicated in his newspaper. Jessie, then confides to Helen, that she is afraid of what will happen to her marriage now that Isabel is back in town.
After, seeing a picture newspaper picture of Rosa and her husband, Jessie finds Rosa and speaks with her about the picture. Rosa, explains what really happened and the two become fast friends. Jessie, offers to take Rosa to the airport to pick up her boyfriend.
By coincidence, Rosa's sweetheart is th ex-police officer Mark Dwyer, who seems more interested in Jessie.
On the day of Helen's party, Isabel, manages to keep Brandon, from attending the party. Jessie goes to the party alone and is taken home by Mark, who stays with her until Brandon returns home.
The next day, Isabel tells Jessie that she is going to steal husband from her.
Later, Mark while giving Jessie, a tour of his West Side neighborhood, he confesses his love for her. When Jessie returns home, she finds out that Isabel has been murdered.
She and Mark, rush over to Isabel's apartment, where police Lt. Jacobi is interrogating Brandon. Mark, finds a clue that leads him to the Del Rio club, where he finds Isabel's killer, who turns out to be..
Both Stanwyck and Gardner are well matched in this film. Mason, is such a creep that you, hope that everyone, will kick him to the curb by the end of the movie. Loved, the New York scenes and Costumes, were beautiful. I would watch this film again..
Gale Sondergaard (February 15, 1899 – August 14, 1985), studied acting at the Minneapolis School of Dramatic Arts before joining the John Keller Shakespeare Company.
She later toured North America in productions of Hamlet, Julius Caesar, The Merchant of Venice, and Macbeth.
Her younger sister Hester Sondergaard was also an actress.
Sondergaard made her first film appearance in, Anthony Adverse (1936) as "Faith Paleologue" and became the first recipient of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.
Her career as an actress flourished during the 1930's, and included a role opposite Paul Muni in The Life of Emile Zola (1937).
During pre-production of MGM's classic The Wizard of Oz (1939), an early idea was to have the Wicked Witch of the West portrayed as a glamorous villainess in a black sequined costume, inspired by the Wicked Queen in, Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Sondergaard was originally cast as the witch in "Oz" and was photographed for two wardrobe test. One was as a glamorous wicked witch, and another as a conventionally ugly wicked witch. After the decision was made to have an ugly wicked witch, Sondergaard, believed it could damage her career, withdrew from the role, and it went to character actress, Margaret Hamilton. Sondergaard was, later cast as the sultry Tylette (a magically humanized, but devious, cat) in 1940's The Blue Bird.
In 1940, she played the role of the exotic and sinister wife in, The Letter, with Bette Davis.
She received a second Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress for her role as the King's principal wife in, Anna and the King of Siam(1946).
Sondergaard was first married in 1922 to actor Neill O'Malley; they divorced in 1930.
On 15 May 1930, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she married her second husband, Herbert Biberman, a theater director then associated with the Theatre Guild Acting Company; he became a film director and died in 1971. They had two children, Daniel Hans Biberman and Mrs. Joan Campos.
Sondergaard's career was damaged during the Red Scare of the early 1950's, when her husband was accused of being a communist and named as one of the Hollywood Ten.
(In the 2000 movie One of the Hollywood Ten, Sondergaard was portrayed by actress Greta Scacchi while Jeff Goldblum was cast as Biberman.) She supported her husband during the production of Salt of the Earth (1954).
One of the Hollywood Ten (2000) chronicled Sondergaard's relationship with Biberman and her role in the making of, Salt of the Earth.
The Bibermans sold their home in Hollywood shortly after they completed Salt of the Earth and moved to New York, where Sondergaard was able to work in theatre.
Cyd Charisse (March 8, 1922 – June 17, 2008). Around the time of the outbreak of World War II, David Lichine offered her a dancing role in, Something to Shout About. This brought her to the attention of choreographer Robert Alton, who had also discovered Gene Kelly and soon she became the resident MGM ballet dancer.
Charisse, is best known for her on-screen pairings with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. She first performed with Astaire in a wonderful routine in the film, Ziegfeld Follies. Her next performance with him was in the film, The Band Wagon (1953), where she danced with Astaire in the acclaimed "Dancing in the Dark".
Another early role cast her opposite Judy Garland in the film, The Harvey Girls(1946). Film based on a 1942 novel by Samuel Hopkins Adams, about Fred Harveys famous restaurants. Directed by George Sidney. It won an Academy Award for Best Song for "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe. "written by Johnny Mercer and Harry Warren.
Gene Kelly chose Charisse, to dance with him in "Broadway Melody" ballet finale from, Singin' in the Rain (1952). She also she co-starred with Kelly in the musical film, Brigadoon(1954). She again performed with Kelly in his musical, It's Always Fair Weather (1956).
She rejoined Astaire in the film, Silk Stockings(1957), a musical remake of 1939's Ninotchka, with Charisse taking over Greta Garbo's role. In his autobiography, Astaire paid tribute to Charisse, calling her "beautiful dynamite" and writing: "That Cyd! When you've danced with her you stay danced with."
I also loved it when she danced with Ricardo Montalban, in the films: On An Island With You and Fiesta. A couple of my favorite Esther Williams films.
After the decline of the Hollywood musicals, Charisse continued to perform in film and TV productions through the 1960s-1990s. She had a supporting role in the film, "Something's Got To Give", the unfinished film of Marilyn Monroe.
Esther Williams, is a retired American competitive swimmer and MGM movie star. Esther is also one of my favorite actress. Williams set multiple national and regional swimming records as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Olympics because of World War II, Williams joined Billy Rose's Aquacade, where she took on the role left by Eleanor Holm. After the show move from New York City to San Francisco. Where she performed five months with Olympic swimmer and Tarzan star, Johnny Weissmuller.
It was at the Aquacade that Williams caught the eye of MGM scouts. After performing with Mickey Rooney in an Andy Hardy film, and five time co-star Van Johnson in A Guy Named Joe, Williams made films in the 1940's and early 1950's known as "aquamusicals", which featured beautiful performances with synchronized swimming and diving.
My favorite Esther Williams film is: ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (1948). Cast: Ricardo Montalban, Esther Williams, Cyd Charisse and Peter Lawford.
Williams and Lawford are wonderful together and so are Ricardo Montalban and Cyd Charisse. Especially, during their beautiful dance numbers. If you love happy and romantic musicals you'll love this movie. And don't forget.. we get to see Esther doing what she does best in beautiful water performances.
The film begins when Ricardo Montez, is playing the part of a Navy man in love with a Polynesian woman, played by his fiancee, Rosalind. They hired Lawrence a Navy Lieutenant, as technical adviser, to help the director with the film's authenticity. During the filming of one of Rosalind and Ricardo's love scenes, Larry interrupts the shooting to take the opportunity to kiss Rosalind. That evening, at the Royal Aloha hotel, the cast and crew attend a nightclub show performed by Xavier Cugat and his orchestra. Larry, finds another opportunity to get close to Rosalind, and asks her to dance. She refuses thinking that he is too forward.
The next day, Larry is to circle the set once in an airplane with Rosalind on board, but he flies the plane to the tropical island where they first met. Larry wants one dance with her before he returns her to the set. Rosalind, says she will kiss him to prove that she has no feelings for him, but the kiss shows that she is an attracted to Larry. When Larry and Rosalind return to the airplane, they find that the wheels and other parts have been stolen by the islanders. The two set out to find the natives village, but become separated. Will they be rescued before the natives have them for dinner? (wink/wink).
In 1952, Williams performed in her only biographical role, as Australian swimming star Annette Kellerman in Million Dollar Mermaid, which would go on to become her nickname while at MGM. Williams left MGM in 1956 and performed in feature films, followed by several water-themed television specials, including one from Cypress Gardens, Florida.
Since her retirement from film in the 1960s, Williams has become a businesswoman, lending her name to a line of swimming pools and retro swimwear, instructional swimming videos for children, and acting as a commentator for synchronized swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Party Girl(1958). Film noir. Director; Nicholas Ray. Cast: Robert Taylor, Lee J. Cobb and Cyd Charisse. Party Girl marked the last film Robert Taylor(age47)did under contract for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
I just watched Party Girl for the first time, is a very unique movie. Not only is it your standard Film Noir, with a clever story line, Charisse also performs two dance routines. I thought that Taylor and Cyd, gave excellent performances. Taylor, is playing a role loosely based on Dixie Davis, lawyer for mob boss Dutch Schultz of New York, who later turned informant and married a beautiful showgirl. Cobb plays a very convincing performance as "Wild-Man-of-Borneo", who threatens to hurt the showgirl if his lawyer leaves him. This maybe my favorite performance of Charisse, who also dances into two sensuous nightclub dances..Party Girl, really is one of the more beautiful film noirs I have seen, maybe because it is filmed in color, where you can see how stunning Cyd's dance costumes are.
Two Weeks in Another Town (1962). Drama based on a novel by Irwin Shaw Director: Vincente Minnelli. Cast: Kirk Douglas, Edward G. Robinson, Cyd Charisse, Claire Trevor, Daliah Lavi, George Hamilton, and Rosanna Schiaffino. The film depicts the shooting of a sword and sandal movie in Rome by a group of Hollywood stars. It contains several references to another Minnelli movie, The Bad and the Beautiful, also starring Douglas. The story was seen by some as the past relationship between actors Tyrone Power and Linda Christian.
Hollywood star Jack Andrus, whose decline in films has led him to a nervous breakdown and he spends 3 years in a sanatorium. His doctors now think that he maybe ready to accept a comeback role.
When Andrus arrives in Rome he learns that the part is no longer available, but.. is offered the job to supervise the dubbing of the picture.
In the evenings he spends his time with Italian girl named Veronica, who, unknown to Andrus, is in love with Davie Drew. After a huge fight with his witch of a wife Clara, Kruger has a heart attack and is hospitalized. Andrus offers to finish the film. Kruger, jealous, attacks Andrus and accuses him of trying to steal the picture out from under him. Heartbroken, Andrus turns to his ex-wife, Carlotta, and goes on an wild binge. Will Jack ever get control of his emotions?
This is the first time I have seen TWO WEEKS IN ANOTHER TOWN. Cyd Charisse, was amazing in this film. I have never seen her perform in a drama. Kirk Douglas, was also amazing in the wild car ride that shocks him into the realization that he can not let others control his life. It was fun to see a young George Hamilton. Even though I did not care for his character.
Daliah Lavi (born October 12, 1942), was born in Shavei Zion, British Mandate of Palestine, to Jewish parents from Germany and Russia.
She studied ballet in Stockholm, Sweden, where she appeared in her first film Hemsoborna (1955). Returning to Israel, her career took off in 1960, when she started appearing in a large number of European and American productions.
Fluent in several languages, she has also been in German, French, Italian, Spanish and English-language films.
Lavi's film appearances include: Two Weeks in Another Town (1962), La Frusta e il corpo, aka The Whip and the Body (1963), Lord Jim and the first Matt Helm film, The Silencers (1966).
Her most famous role was 'The Detainer/007' in Casino Royale (1967).
With the decline of her film career, Lavi began a successful schlager singing career in Germany, with hits such as "Oh, wann kommst du?", "Willst du mit mir gehn?" and "C'est ça, la vie (So ist das Leben)". She recorded a German-language cover of Melanie Safka's Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma.
Cyd Charisse grew up in Amarillo, Texas. Before she became known as Cyd Charisse she was called Tula Ellice Finklea. No one at that time could ever imagine her on the front covers of Life, Newsweek, Look, and in every movie magazine. But luckily for us Cyd’s father loved the ballet and wanted his daughter to dance. She danced her way into the Ballet Russe at the age of fourteen. Miss Finklea performed as Felia Sidorova, a combination of her last name and her nickname “Sid”. While traveling the world she found her true calling.
Cyd Charisse was best known for her dance numbers with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. She first performed with Astaire in a dance routine in Ziegfeld Follies. Her next performance with him was as lead role in The Band Wagon (1953), where she danced with Astaire in "Dancing in the Dark" and "Girl Hunt Ballet".
Another early role for her was opposite Judy Garland in The Harvey Girls (1946). Debbie Reynolds was not a trained dancer, Gene Kelly chose Charisse to dance with him in "Broadway Melody" ballet finale from Singin' in the Rain (1952), and she co-starred with Kelly in Brigadoon (1954).
She also took the lead role alongside Kelly in his MGM musical It's Always Fair Weather (1956).
In 1957, she rejoined Astaire in the film version of Silk Stockings, a musical remake of Ninotchka(1939), with Charisse taking over Greta Garbo's role. In his autobiography, Astaire paid tribute to Charisse, calling her "beautiful dynamite" and writing: "That Cyd! When you've danced with her you stay danced with."
In her autobiography, Charisse shared her experience with Astaire and Kelly: "As one of the handful of girls who worked with both of those dance geniuses, I think I can give an honest comparison. In my opinion, Kelly is the more inventive choreographer of the two.
Astaire, with Hermes Pan's help, creates fabulous numbers — for himself and his partner. But Kelly can create an entire number for somebody else ... I think, however, that Astaire's coordination is better than Kelly's ... his sense of rhythm is uncanny. Kelly, on the other hand, is the stronger of the two. When he lifts you, he lifts you! ... To sum it up, I'd say they were the two greatest dancing personalities who were ever on screen. But it's like comparing apples and oranges. They're both delicious."
She had a supporting role in "Something's Got To Give", the last, unfinished film of Marilyn Monroe.
She made cameo appearances in Blue Mercedess "I Want To Be Your Property" (1987) and Janet Jacksons "Alright" (1990) music videos.
Her last film appearance was in 1994 in That's Entertainment! III as one of the onscreen narrators of a tribute to the great MGM Musical films.
FIESTA(1947). Is a musical with beautiful exotic settings, and a different role for Esther Williams. It begins with Maria and Mario as children of retired famous toreador Antonio Morales. Antonio's dream is for Mario to follow in his footsteps. Mario spends his time training for the bull ring, but his true passion is to play the piano.
On the night of the bullfight, Antonio sabotages Mario's chance to work with the famous composer Maximino Contreras. Mario becomes angry and goes into hiding. In order to convince her brother to come back and save the family name. Maria comes up with a plan, with the help of a trusted friend Chato (Tamiroff), to impersonate Mario in the ring.( There are some beautiful, bullfighting scenes.)
This runs the risk of her future marriage to scientist Pepe Ortega (Carroll). Ricardo Montalban, performs several beautiful dances with Cyd Charisse. I was especially impressed by Montalban's piano playing, wondering if he was really playing. If he was... he is wonderful.
Esther Williams, in her autobiography "Million Dollar Mermaid" states that during the shooting of "Fiesta", her husband at the time - Ben Gage - got drunk and had a run-in with the Mexican police, causing production to be halted as the authorities had him thrown out of the country.