Carefree(1938)

Carefree(1938). Musical starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Carefree, is the shortest of the Astaire-Rogers films, featuring only four musical numbers. Carefree, is often remembered as the film in which Astaire and Rogers shared a long on-screen kiss at the conclusion of their dance to "I Used to Be Color Blind". The eighth (of ten) dancing partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

After his fiancee, singer Amanda Cooper, has broken off their engagement for the third time, lawyer Stephen Arden shows up drunk at the office of psychiatrist Dr. Tony Flagg asks him to psychoanalyze Amanda. Tony agrees to see Amanda, but while she is waiting for him in his office, she overhears a phone recording in which he calls her as a dizzy, mindless female. Amanda, insulted leaves his office.

Later, Tony runs into Amanda, Stephen, Amanda's aunt Cora and Judge Joe Travers at the Medwick Country Club but is again snubbed by her.

During a bicycle chase through the park, Tony catches up and forces Amanda to tell him why she is so angry with him. After, apologizing, he tries to talk to her about her fear of marriage. Amanda, has no answer to his question...

That night at dinner, Tony orders her "dreaming" food. When Amanda still can't fall asleep, she decides to take a sedative, which Cora takes instead by mistake. Eventually, Amanda does fall asleep and dreams about Tony.

The next day, Amanda shows up in Tony's office with Stephen and announces that their engagement is back on again. Amanda, then tries to tell Tony about her Little Red Riding Hood dream with a twist. Convinced that Amanda is a once-in-a-lifetime patient, prepares an injection of truth serum.

After Amanda is injected, Stephen bursts in and informs her that she is late for a radio singing engagement. At the studio, the drugged Amanda insults the sponsor of the show on the air. When she then hits a policeman, she is arrested and brought before Judge Travers, who blames Tony for her actions.

Later, Amanda admits to Cora that she loves Tony, but when she tries to break the news to Stephen, he assumes that he is that she is in love with and immediately announces his engagement to a crowded restaurant. Amanda then tells Tony her true feelings. Through hypnosis, he convinces Amanda that she loves Stephen.

Now desperate to be with Stephen, Amanda goes to the country club where he and Judge Travers are skeet shooting. Seeing the judge, Amanda grabs a skeet rifle and starts shooting blindly at him, while shouting to Stephen that she loves him. When Tony finally confesses to Stephen that Amanda is in love with him, Stephen accuses his friend of trying to steal his fiancee.

The night before Stephen and Amanda's wedding, Tony wants Connors to  re-hypnotize Amanda, but his attempt fails. At the wedding, Tony knocks out Stephen and then knocks out Amanda... who will end up walking down the aisle with Amanda.

This charming and glamorous musical is a fun way to spend a hot summer afternoon. You may also enjoy watching Ginger sing the 'Yam "song.

42nd Street (1933).

42nd Street(1933). A Warner Bros. musical film directed by Lloyd Bacon with choreography by Busby Berkeley. The songs were written by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics). 42nd Street was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1934.

Broadway director Julian Marsh, ignores his weak heart, because he really wants to direct the new musical, "Pretty Lady" with producers Jones and Barry.

The leading lady, Dorothy Brock, has been already cast by her "sugar daddy" Abner Dillon. In a casting call, Marsh and his stage manager, Andy Lee, audition the dancers, choosing: Lee's girlfriend Loraine Fleming, a gold digger nick-named "Anytime Annie" and Peggy Sawyer.

Billy Lawler, falls in love with Peggy, but she has eyes for Pat Denning, Dorothy's lover and ex-partner.

Pat is getting tired of Dorothy's acting career and leaves for Philadelphia to live his own life. During the cast party.. Dorothy gets drunk, fights with Pat and sprains her ankle.

The next evening, Peggy goes in her place and becomes a overnight star.

Now.. she realizes that she really does love Billy, just as Dorothy admits that what she really wants is to retire and marry Pat.

This is a really charming musical with a top notch cast. One of my favorite scenes is during a drunken cast party the night before the musical opens. I also love the musical number..."Young and Healthy" with Powell running around in his underwear.

 

Bebe Daniels (January 14, 1901 - March 16, 1971) made over 230 films. Daniels father was a theater manager and her mother a stage actress.

The family moved to Los Angeles, California and she began her acting career at the age of four in, The Squaw Man. That same year she also went on tour in a stage production of, Shakespeare's Richard III.

The following year she participated in productions by Morosooa and David Belasco. By the age of seven Daniels had her first starring role in, A Common Enemy.

At the age of nine she starred as Dorothy Gale in the 1910 short film, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

At the age of fourteen she starred opposite film comedian Harold Lloyd in a series of Lonesome Luke two-reel comedies starting with the 1915 film, Giving Them Fits. The two began a romantic relationship and were known in Hollywood as... "The Boy" and "The Girl."

In 1919, she accepted a contract offering from Cecil B. DeMille, who gave her secondary roles in such films as: Male and Female (1919), Why Change Your Wife? (1920), and The Affairs of Anatol (1921).

In the 1920's, Daniels was under contract with Paramount Pictures. She became an adult star by 1922 and by 1924 was playing opposite Rudolph Valentino in, Monsieur Beaucaire.

Following this she was cast in: Miss Bluebeard, The Manicure Girl, and Wild Wild Susan. Paramount dropped her contract with the advent of talking pictures.

Daniels was hired by Radio Pictures (later known as RKO) to star in one of their biggest productions of the year. She also starred in the 1929 talkie Rio Rita. It was one of the most successful films of that year and Bebe Daniels found herself a star and RCA Victor hired her to record several records for their catalog.

As did many stars of her day, she used the therapeutic services of Sylvia of Hollywood to stay in shape.

Radio Pictures starred her in a number of musicals including: Dixiana (1930) and Love Comes Along (1930).

Towards the end of 1930's, Bebe Daniels appeared in the musical comedy, Reaching for the Moon. However, by this time musicals had gone out of fashion so that most of the musical numbers from the film had to be removed before it could be released. Daniels had become associated with musicals and so Radio Pictures did not renew her contract.

Warner Brothers realized what a box office draw she was and offered her a contract which she accepted. During her years at Warner Brothers she starred in: My Past (1931), Honor of the Family (1931) and the 1931 pre-code version of The Maltese Falcon.

In 1932, she appeared in, Silver Dollar (1932) and Busby Berkeley's choreographed musical comedy 42nd Street (1933) in which she sang. That same year she played opposite John Barrymore in, Counsellor at Law.

Her last film for the Warner Brothers was Registered Nurse (1934).

She retired from Hollywood in 1935. With her husband, film actor Ben Lyon, whom she married in 1930 and moved to London.

A few years later, Daniels starred in the London production of, Panama Hattie in the title role originated by Ethel Merman.

The Lyons then did radio shows for the BBC. Most notably, the series Hi Gang!, continuing for decades and enjoying considerable popularity during World War II. Daniels wrote most of the dialogue for the Hi Gang radio show. The couple remained through the days of the The Blitz. Following the war, Daniels was awarded the Medal of Freedom by Harry S. Truman for war service.

In 1945 she returned to Hollywood for a short time to work as a film producer for Hal Roach and Eagle-Lion Films.

She returned to the UK in 1948 and lived there for the remainder of her life.

Daniels, her husband, her son Richard and her daughter Barbara all starred in the radio sitcom Life With The Lyons (1951 to 1961), which later made the transition to television.

It Had to Be You (1947)

It Had to Be You(1947). A romantic/comedy. Cast: Ginger Rogers and Cornel Wilde. The main set with the beautiful staircase had been previously used in the film, Holiday. Producer Don Hartman attempted to rent the Hope Diamond for Ginger Rogers to wear but was unsuccessful.

Much to her parents dismay, Victoria Stafford has marched three times down the altar, each time leaving her groom standing there alone... Victoria's reputation as a "runaway bride", is no secret and the father of her current fiance, Oliver H. P. Harrington, suggests that she take sometime alone, to make sure she is doing the right thing.

After a month of sculpting in Cape Cod, Victoria, now thinking that she is ready for marriage to Oliver, boards a train back to New York. While on the train.. Victoria has a dream about an American Indian who, insists that he is the one that she is in love with.

As Victoria leaves Grand Central Station, she sees him at every street corner. After changing into a business suit, the Indian shows up at the Stafford's home as Victoria is trying to explain the reason for missing Oliver, at the train station.

Victoria, introduces her visitor as her sculpting model. When asked his name, Victoria sees a picture of George Washington, then notices that the Indian is wearing moccasins, and comes up with the name "George McKesson."

Mr. Stafford, Victoria's father, does not approve of his daughter's house guest, but when he tries to throw him out, George threatens to expose one of his affairs.

With less than a week to go before the wedding, Victoria, now determined more than ever to marry Oliver, warns George not to follow her. When a man who looks just like George, is shopping at the same store that Victoria is shopping, she calls the store detective to get rid him. The man, insists that he has never seen Victoria before. But.. he is hit over the head and dragged off.

Back at home, while watching old home movies, Victoria suddenly realizes that George is really Johnny Blaine, a childhood friend, who dressed as a Indian for Halloween. Victoria, then realizes that the man in the store was not George, but.. Johnny Blaine.

After getting Johnny's address from his store sales receipt, Victoria learns that he lives and works at a fire station. It is not long before they realize that they have, baseball, bowling, favorite songs, favorite foods, all in common...

George decides to help get rid of Oliver, by planting evidence that his fiancee has lied to him. His plans backfire and Johnny, believing to be the one deceived, breaks up with Victoria.

The wedding day arrives, Victoria, is heartbroken and ready to begin a loveless marriage with Oliver.

George, comes up with the idea to call Johnny to the wedding by placing an emergency call to the fire department. Just as Victoria is about to take her vows, Johnny bursts into the Stafford home, throws Victoria over his shoulder and saves her just in time...

This fun little movie gets better (after the Indian looses his silly costume) as it moves along and turns into a enjoyable movie for a rainy day.. with a surprising twist to the ending. A must see for all Ginger Rogers fans.

The actress listed below play Victoria, as a child:

Carol Lou Nugent (born July 7, 1937). Her father was a property master for MGM and her mother later became a talent agent, managing Carol's career along with that of her younger sister Judy Nugent.

Nugent was a child actor, first appearing on screen at age seven in, Secret Command (1944).

She played small parts in four more movies over the next three years and in one of these, she and her sister Judy portrayed the same character at different ages.

She was in a few popular hits: Cheaper by the Dozen (1950) and Belles on Their Toes (1952), but as a child actor never quite made the transition from bit player to larger roles.

In 1959 when she was 21 Nugent married actor Nick Adams after they dated for a short time. She appeared in a guest role for his television series The Rebel that year. They had two children together: Allyson Lee Adams (born 1960) and Jeb Stuart Adams (born April 1961).

In 1965, during a television appearance on the Les Crane Show Adams announced he was leaving her. This began a very public period of bitter separations and temporary reconciliations which lasted until his death in 1968.

In 2002 she renewed her acquaintance with John G. Stephens who was Production Manager on the television classic, My Three Sons. Her father Carl had been the Property Master on that show. Stephens' wife, actress Joan Vohs (1927-2001) had recently died from heart failure. They married in 2002 and they are still married.

Judy Ann Nugent (born August 22, 1940), first appeared on screen at age six in It Had to Be You (1947), where she and her sister Carol portrayed the same character at different ages.

A few bit parts in forgettable films was followed by her landing a regular role in television's first family sitcom, The Ruggles (1949–52).

Her film career then took off with supporting parts in several dramas:  Magnificent Obsession (1954) and There's Always Tomorrow (1956).

One of her best-remembered roles was as Jet Maypen for the Walt Disney Presents: Annette serial on The Mickey Mouse Club.

As she reached adulthood, her parts were mainly guest appearances on television shows. She gave up acting after getting married in 1961, but did cameos for two independent film productions during the seventies.

Judy married actor Buck Taylor in 1961. They divorced in 1983. The Taylors had a daughter Tiffany and three sons, Adam Carlyle Taylor (1966–1994), Matthew Taylor (born 1970) and Cooper Taylor (born 1975). The three sons were involved with acting, directing, or stunt work for motion pictures and television. The Taylors moved to Montana during the 1970's.

There Adam was killed in a road accident in Madison County three days before his 28th birthday. Adam was married to actress Anne Lockhart, daughter of June Lockhart.

George and Judy

Kitty Foyle(1940).

Kitty Foyle(1940). Cast: Ginger Rogers, Dennis Morgan and James Craig, which is based on Christopher Morley's 1939 bestseller with the same name. Ginger Rogers won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Kitty Foyle, and the dress she wore in the film became a new dress style, known as a Kitty Foyle dress.

Five years One snowy day, Kitty Foyle, has to make a choice that will change her life forever: marry the kind hearted doctor Mark Eisen, or to sail away with wealthy Wyn Stafford, with who she has been in love with for years.

Kitty, thinks back to growing up in Philadelphia: as a young Kitty reads the society page she dreams of her "Prince Charming" concerned, her father, warns her against marrying out-side of her class.

Five years later, Kitty meets wealthy Wyn Strafford, who is so charmed by her that he offers Kitty a job at his magazine. The two fall in love, but Wyn is worried about his parents.

After her father's death, Kitty moves to New York, where she begins to date Mark. Later, Wyn comes for Kitty and the two are married, but when he takes her home, his family wants to "remake" her.

Things do not go well for the couple and the marriage is annulled. Kitty returns to New York, where she learns that she is pregnant and that Wyn is to marry a Philadelphia socialite.

Kitty's plans to raise the child by herself, but.. her baby dies in childbirth.

Years later, Kitty returns to Philadelphia to open Delphine Detaille a fashion house and happens to meet Wyn's wife and son. Kitty, decides to make a decision that will once again change her life..

Ginger Rogers, gives a wonderful performance as the young woman who makes her own way in life. You will need plenty of Kleenex.

Fun Facts:

At first Ginger Rogers was not sure that she wanted to take on the lead role, because Kitty has an abortion in the book. Rogers' mother reminded her that the production code wouldn't allow most of the material in the book, Rogers found objectionable to be seen in films.

Katharine Hepburn was first offered the lead role but turned it down.

The dress that Ginger Rogers wore to that year's Academy Awards was a lingerie-style top which was very racy for the day.

Among the many letters that Ginger Rogers received for her work in the film, this was the one that she treasured the most: "Hello Cutie - Saw "Kitty" last night and must write this note to say "That's it!" Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! You were superb Ginge - it was such a solid performance - the kind one seldom sees on stage or screen and it should bring you the highest honors anyone can win!! Hope to see you soon, As ever your, Fred."

Odette Myrtil (June 28, 1898 – November 18, 1978), she was the daughter of two stage actors. She studied the violin at a boarding school in Brussels and began performing the violin professionally at the age of 13.

In 1915, at the age of 16, she came to the United States to join the Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway as one of the Ziegfeld Girls.

The following year she came to London where she was a major success in the West End show The Bing Boys Are Here.

She spent the next several years appearing successfully on the London stage and in vaudeville productions in major European cities.

 In 1923 Myrtil returned to New York City as a vaudeville entertainer at the Palace Theatre where she had her first major success in America. She became a staple of the theatre scene in New York City up into the early 1930's, often appearing in Broadway musicals which featured her abilities as both a singer and violinist. She had a particular triumph as Odette in Jerome Kern's 1931 musical The Cat and the Fiddle which was written specifically as a vehicle for her.

Thereafter she only made a handful of appearances on Broadway, with her last show being the original production of Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer's Saratoga in 1960.

She spent a couple years in the early 1950s portraying Bloody Mary in the original run of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific, having succeeded Juanita Hall in the role.

After 1935, she had a career as a film actress, appearing in mainly mid-sized roles in a total of 25 films from 1936 to 1952.

She had previously only appeared as a dancer in the 1923 film Squibs M.P. Her first speaking role was as Renée De Penable in Dodsworth (1936).

Some of her other film credits are Kitty Foyle (1940), Out of the Fog (1941), I Married an Angel (1942), Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), Uncertain Glory (1944), Devotion (1946), The Fighting Kentuckian (1949), and as "Madame Darville" in Alfred Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train (1951).

 She sang the title song on camera as herself in the 1954 film The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954) and again portrayed herself in her last film appearance in the film Hot Pants Holiday (1972).

From 1955 to 1958 she managed The Playhouse Inn, located next door to the Bucks County Playhouse.

From 1961 to 1976 she operated the New Hope restaurant Chez Odette which is now a different restaurant bearing her name, Odette's Restaurant.

During her life, Myrtil was married twice: for eight years to vaudeville performer Robert Adams and later to film director and producer Stanley Logan.

She died in nearby Doylestown, Pennsylvania in 1978, aged 80.

Bachelor Mother (1939).

Bachelor Mother (1939). A comedy directed by Garson Kanin. Cast: Ginger Rogers, David Niven and Charles Coburn. The screenplay was written by Norman Krasna based on an Academy Award nominated story by Felix Jackson (aka Felix Joachimson) written for the 1935 Austrian-Hungarian film Little Mother. It was remade in 1956 as Bundle of Joy, starring Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher.

After her work day at Merlin's department store, salesgirl Polly Parrish watches as a woman leaves her baby on a foundling's home doorstep. Then thought by the attendants working there that she's the mother. After saying that she is not the baby's mother, Polly leaves the orphanage, but the people from the home, not believing her... track her down at work.

Feeling sorry for the "unwed mother," the boss's playboy son, David Merlin, gives her a better paying job in the toy department. When Polly still says that the baby does not belong to her, David threatens to fire her, she changes her story. Polly, takes to motherhood and names the baby boy, Johnnie.

Meanwhile, David, can not get them out of his mind and love begins to bloom.

Things become complicated when a disgruntled shipping clerk Freddie Miller sends a note to J. B. Merlin claiming that Johnnie's father is his son David.

Wanting a grandson, J. B. threatens to take the baby from Polly. Not wanting to lose her baby, Polly convinces her landlady's son to pretend to be the baby's father and as she visits J. B. to introduce him as the baby's father, David appears with Freddie, claiming that the shipping clerk is Johnnie's real father. Confronted by two fathers, J. B. remains unconvinced of the baby's parentage. As Polly prepares to flee, David proposes, and all ends happily as Polly and David plan to marry and adopt baby Johnnie.

This charming light-hearted film, is my favorite version of Bachelor Mother. The plot is full of fun mistaken identities. Also, it is a little different to see Ginger Rogers, perform in a film where she does not dance or sing..

 

Frank Albertson (February 2, 1909 – February 29, 1964) was a character actor who made his debut in a minor part in Hollywood at the age of thirteen. As he worked as a laboratory assistant in a photographic shop, which resulted in meeting the right people to get him started in his acting career.

He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit making training films during World War II.

In his early career he often sang and danced in such films as: Just Imagine (1930) and A Connecticut Yankee (1931).

He landed a part in Alice Adams (1935) as the title character's brother and in, Room Service (1938) with the Marx Brothers.

As he aged he moved from featured roles to supporting and character partas Sam Wainwright, the businessman who said, "Hee-Haw" in the movie, It's a Wonderful Life (1946).

Albertson portrayed future U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in the 1956 episode "Rough Rider" of the CBS western television series, My Friend Flicka.

He guest starred in the early NBC western series, The Californians and twice in the David Janssen crime drama, Richard Diamond, Private Detective.

He was cast in 1959 and 1962 in different roles on Walter Brennan's sitcom, The Real McCoys.

In 1960, He appeared as General Devery in the episode "Strange Encounter" of the ABC/Warner Brothers western series Colt .45.

In 1960, he played the wealthy rancher, Tom Cassidy, at the beginning of Psycho (1960), who provides the $40,000 in cash that Janet Leigh's character later steals.

In the 1960-1961 television season, he played the character Mr. Cooper in five episodes of the CBS sitcom, Bringing Up Buddy, starring Frank Aletter.

In 1964, Albertson was cast as Jim O'Neal in the episode "The Death of a Teacher" of the NBC education drama, Mr. Novak.

One of his final screen appearances was as "Sam," the bewildered mayor of Sweet Apple, Ohio, in the 1963 musical Bye Bye Birdie.

5th Ave Girl (1939).

5th Ave Girl(1939). Comedy. Cast: Ginger Rogers and Walter Connolly.

The story begins with New York millionaire Alfred Borden, thinking about his business meeting troubles, getting ready to leave his office headed for home, when his secretary wishes him happy birthday.

To make matters even worse.. after arriving home he learns his wife Martha is out out playing polo, with a playboy friend. Feeling sorry for himself, he decides to take a walk in Central Park, where he meets Mary Grey by the seal pond.

Alfred, enjoying feeding the pigeons and his talk with unemployed Mary, invites her to help celebrate his birthday. While at dinner he spots his wife having dinner with her playboy friend and sends over a bottle of champagne to their table.... Much to his wife's surprise.



The next morning, Alfred awakens with a hangover, a black eye, his name in the gossip columns and Mary sleeping in the guest room. It seems his wife Martha, is jealous and Alfred, happy about the turn of events decides to invite Mary to stay and even gives her a job.

Enjoying life, Alfred begins to neglect his business, forcing his son Tim to take over. Martha, is now worried what her friends might think, decides that she better start pay more attention to her husband.

After, having heart to heart talks with the son, daughter and mother, in tears Mary decides it time to leave the house.

Will the family ever stop taking their father and husband for granted and learn that Mary is not a gold-digger and has been only working for Alfred?

I just finished watching this fun film for the first time.. Ginger Rogers, was wonderful playing the sassy and street-smart lead. Other memorable performances: Walter Connolly and Verree Teasdale, the perfect neglectful wife.

Verree Teasdale (March 15, 1903 – February 17, 1987). Teasdale attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn and trained as a stage actress at the New York School of Expression.

She first performed on Broadway in 1924 and performed there regularly until 1932. After co-starring in the play, The Constant Wife with Ethel Barrymore in 1926-27, she was offered a film contract, and her first film, Syncopation, was released in 1929.

Teasdale appeared older than her physical age, which enabled her to play bored society wives, scheming other women and second leads in comedies such as, Roman Scandals (1933).

 In 1935 she married actor Adolphe Menjou, and they remained together until his death in 1963. Teasdale and Menjou performed together in two films, the Harold Lloyd vehicle The Milky Way in 1936 and Hal Roach's Turnabout in 1940, and were also co-hosts of a syndicated radio program in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Teasdale retired after the radio program finished its run, keeping busy with her hobby of costume design.


 

Ginger Rogers as Alice in Wonderland.

Happy Birthday Ginger Rogers and Barbara Stanwyck!

Ginger Rogers(July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an actress, dancer and singer who appeared in film, and on stage, radio, and television. She made a total of 73 films, and was best known as Fred Astaire's romantic interest and dancing partner in a ten Hollywood musical films. She achieved great success on her own film roles and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in, Kitty Foyle (1940).

 

Barbara Stanwyck (July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was a film and television star, known during her 60-year career with a strong screen presence and a favorite of directors: Cecil B. DeMille, Fritz Lang and Frank Capra. After a short career as a stage actress in the late 1920s, she made 85 films in 38 years in Hollywood, before turning to television.

Romance in Manhattan (1934).

Romance in Manhattan (1934). Comedy/romance directed by Stephen Roberts. Cast: Francis Lederer and Ginger Rogers.

When Karel Novak a Czechoslovakian immigrant, arrives at Ellis Island, he learns that the entrance fee was more than he had planned on and he sent back to the steamship for deportation.

Later, Karel jumps ship and swims ashore and loses all his money along the way. He walks the Manhattan streets until he meets Sylvia Dennis, a chorus girl who catches him stealing doughnuts from the rehearsal hall. Feeling sorry for him, Sylvia takes Karel to her apartment and introduces him to her younger brother Frank.

After, finding a job as a cab driver, he dreams of becoming a millionaire, so that he can marry Sylvia.



It is not before long Frank is caught for truancy, the judge orders him to live at the Benton Institution until the now unemployed Sylvia gets married. Wanting to help Sylvia, Karel contacts Halsey J. Pander, a lawyer who turns him into the authorities for the reward.

Will Murphy, a sympathetic policeman, find away to help Karel and Sylvia's before the morning deadline?

This is a very touching, funny, film filled with hope. Lederer is perfect as the young immigrant, trying to make his way through America during the Great Depression. Rogers, is wonderful as always. The traffic scenes look fake, but, this is still a wonderful little treasure.

Eily Malyon (October 30, 1878 (some sources indicate 1879)-September 26, 1961) was an English character actress in the 1930s and 1940's.

Her mother, Agnes Thomas, was also an actress.

Malyon specialized in playing schoolteachers, maids, nurses, nuns, governesses and spinsters, usually in melodramas, historical dramas and thrillers.

Filmography: Kind Lady (1935), The Widow from Monte Carlo (1935), A Tale of Two Cities (1935), The Florentine Dagger (1935), Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936), The White Angel (1936), Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939), The Little Princess (1939), On Borrowed Time (1939), Young Tom Edison (1940), Untamed (1940), Going My Way (1944), Paris Underground (1945)and She-Wolf of London (1945).

Happy Birthday: Doris Day!!

Doris Day's childhood idol was Ginger Rogers, with whom she starred in Storm Warning (1951). Which maybe the only Doris Day classic movies have not yet seen.

The story is about Marsha Mitchell, a traveling dress model, stops in a southern town to see her sister who has married a Ku Klux Klansman.

Marsha sees the KKK commit a murder and helps District Attorney Burt Rainey, in bringing the criminals to justice.

Fun Facts:
Joan Crawford was asked by studio boss Jack L. Warner to play Doris Day's sister in the film, Joan declined saying "Come on, Jack. No one would ever believe that I would have Doris Day for a sister!"

Doris Day's first non-singing role.

Great On Screen Couples: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Great On Screen Couple: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, dancing and singing numbers were a bright spot for many movie goers during the Great Depression. Their cheerful plots and wonderful characters, were showcased in beautiful Art Deco sets and supported with the most talented performers of the era. Astaire and Roger's magic, still continues today for many classic movie fans.

When Astaire and Rogers take the floor for the dance number called, Carioca in the film, Flying Down to Rio (1933), it was clear to see why the most famous dance team in the movies became so popular.



Even though, they were amazing dance team things did not start out as smooth as you might think, Fred Astaire really did not want make a second movie with Ginger. Even though Astaire said, "I don't mind making another picture with Ginger, but as for this team idea, it's out! I've just managed to live down one partnership(his sister Adele pictured below) and I don't want to be bothered with any more."

But after the film received such high reviews, Astaire changed his mind and he and Rogers, became known as "The King and Queen of the Carioca".

Soon after, Fred and Ginger landed their first starring movie rolls in the film, The Gay Divorcee (1934). Where they showcased their amazing talents in the musical number "The Continental" which lasted 17 1/2 minutes.

The dancers, had a huge argument over Ginger's costume in the film, Top Hat(1935). Ginger Rogers, wanted to wear the blue dress decorated with ostrich feathers for the "Cheek to Cheek" number. When director Mark Sandrich and Fred Astaire saw the dress, they wanted Rogers wear the white gown she had worn in, The Gay Divorcee. Rogers walked off the set, only returning when Sandrich agreed to let her wear the blue dress.

During filming, the feathers started coming off the dress. Astaire later claimed it was like "a chicken being attacked by a coyote". Astaire, wanted to put the situation behind them and gave Rogers a locket of a gold feather. This was how Gingers became nicknamed "Feathers".

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, had a romantic screen teaming like no other dance team.