Latin Lovers(1953). Romantic/musical/comedy was directed by Mervyn LeRoy. The music score is by Nicholas Brodszky and the cinematographer was Joseph Ruttenberg. Fernando Lamas was originally cast in the role that Ricardo Montalban played. Lamas and Lana Turner were lovers and when they broke up, she insisted he be replaced.
After a meeting with the board of directors of her New York corporation, Nora Taylor is off to meet with her analyst Lionel Newman, to talk about her problems with boyfriend, Paul Chevron. Nora, became rich when her father struck oil, now she wonders if he only loves her for her money. Newman reminds her that Paul is also rich.
Meanwhile, Paul is meeting with his analyst for advice on proposing to Nora. Later that evening, Paul brings up the subject of marriage and asks Nora, not give him her answer until he's back from Brazil in three weeks.
Before she can answer, Nora is asked to dance by a Brazilian man, who tells her "that the atmosphere in Brazil makes all men passionate about women." Nora, worried decides to keep an eye on her Paul and secretly flies to Brazil. She checks into the same hotel as Paul and goes to his room to surprise him... what she finds is that he was injured in his polo game.
The next day, while Paul and Nora are looking at some horses, Nora finds herself in the the stables and in Roberto arms for a passionate kiss. Will Nora find true love while vacationing in Brazil? Or.. will Nora's money continue to control her heart.
This film has beautiful sets and costumes that really show-off Lana Turner's icy elegance. Ricardo Montalban, is very handsome and a wonderful dancer. They make a gorgeous couple dancing the sexy samba.
June Hagan's, first film was as a femme fatale in Adam's Rib(1949).
The Asphalt Jungle (1950), was Jean Hagen's first starring performance.
She is best known for her wonderful performance in Singin' in the Rain. As the talent-less silent movie star Lina Lamont, Hagen received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
By 1953, she was performing in the television sitcom Make Room for Daddy. As the first wife of Danny Thomas, for three seasons. Hagen received three Emmy Award nominations. Thomas, who also produced the show, was not happy with Jean leaving the show and her character was killed off rather than recast. This was the first TV character to be killed off on a family sitcom.
Hagen performed as Frida Daniels in The Shaggy Dog starring with Fred MacMurray.
In 1960, she performed as "Elizabeth" in the episode "Once Upon a Knight" with June Allyson.
She made guest appearances in many television series and for the remainder of her career played supporting roles, such as Marguerite LeHand, personal secretary to Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Sunrise at Campobello (1960), and the friend of Bette Davis in Dead Ringer (1964).
In the 1960's, Hagen's started having trouble with her health and she spent many years hospitalized.
In 1976, she performed in episodes of the television series Starsky and Hutch and The Streets of San Francisco, and made her final film performance in the 1977 television movie Alexander. The Other Side of Dawn.
Dramatic School(1938). Romantic/drama directed by Robert B. Sinclair. Cast: Luise Rainer, Paulette Goddard, Alan Marshal, Lana Turner and Gale Sondergaard. Based on the play School of Drama by Hans Székely and Zoltan Egyed. MGM had planned for Greer Garson to make her film debut in the film, but shortly before shooting began, Garson injured her back and the role was recast with Luise Rainer.
Although her heart is in the right place Louise Mauban, can't keep falling asleep in Madame Charlot's class at the National School of Dramatic Arts in Paris. The other girls in class invite her to go out to parties with them, but Louise always refuses, claiming that she has other plans. The truth is.. Louise works at a factory to earn enough money to to pay for her classes.
One night, Gina Bertier, who wants to do research for a role as a poor working girl, comes to the factory where Louise works and Marquis Andre D'Abbencourt, decides to tag along. Louise, who is attracted to Andre, begins to fantasize that they are lovers and shares with her classmates exciting stories about their(made up) romance.
Nana, believes that she is lying and to prove her suspensions, she throws a party and invites both Andre and Louise. Nana and her friends are all hoping that Louise will be humiliated when Andre arrives and doesn't recognize her. The kindhearted butler advises Andre that he should not destroy a girl's romantic dreams, Andre agrees and pretends that he is in love with Louise.
It does not take long and Andre, now really is in love with Louise and begins to tire of her dramatic studies and she leaves him after learning that he has spent the night with another woman.
One night, Gina, who is supposed to play the lead in Joan of Arc refuses to play her part, Louise is selected to go on in her place. She is a success and is visited backstage by Andre, who now wants her back. Will Louise forgive him and allow him back into her live or will she choose the theater?
Video:
Before a big audition, students Simone (Virginia Grey) and Mado (Lana Turner) gossiping about Fluery (Anthony Allan) to the alarm of ambitious Nana (Paulette Goddard), who is later counseled by the more philosophical Louise (Luise Rainer), in MGM's Dramatic School, 1938.
The film was interesting and Luise Rainier did remind me a little of Greer Garson.
Gale Sondergaard was very good as was Goddard. It was interesting to watch such great stars as Lana Turner and Ann Rutherford in early performances of their careers.
Genevieve Tobin (November 29, 1899 – July 21, 1995)
The daughter of a vaudeville performer, Tobin made her film debut in 1910 in Uncle Tom's Cabin as Eva.
She appeared in a few films as child, and formed a double act with her sister Vivian. Their brother, George, also had a brief acting career.
Following her education in Paris and New York, Tobin concentrated on a stage career in New York.
Although she was seen most often in comedies, she also played the role of Cordelia in a Broadway production of King Lear in 1923.
Popular with audiences, she was often praised by critics for her appearance and style rather than for her talent, however in 1929 she achieved a significant success in the play Fifty Million Frenchmen. She introduced and popularized the Cole Porter song "You Do Something to Me" and the success of the role led her back to Hollywood, where she performed regularly in comedy films from the early 1930s.
She played prominent supporting roles opposite such performers as Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, Cary Grant, Barbara Stanwyck, Claudette Colbert, Joan Blondell and Kay Francis, but occasionally played starring roles, in films such as Golden Harvest (1933) and Easy to Love (1934). She played secretary Della Street to Warren William's Perry Mason in The Case of the Lucky Legs (1935).
One of her most successful performances was as a bored housewife in the drama The Petrified Forest (1936) opposite Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, and Humphrey Bogart.
She married the director William Keighley in 1938 and made only a couple more films, her final film before her retirement was No Time for Comedy (1940) with James Stewart and Rosalind Russell.
Imitation of Life(1959). Directed by Douglas Sirk. Cast: Lana Turner, John Gavin, Sandra Dee, Dan O'Herlihy, Susan Kohner, Robert Alda and Juanita Moore as Annie Johnson. Kohner and Moore received Academy Award nominations for their performances. Gospel music star Mahalia Jackson appears as a church choir soloist. The film is an adaptation of Fannie Hurst's novel of the same name. It is the second film adaptation of the novel. The first film was released in 1934.
Looking for her lost daughter Susie at Coney Island in a panic, Lora Meredith finds her playing with Sarah Jane, a light-skinned black girl and Sarah Jane's black mother, Annie Johnson. Photographer Steve Archer, is spending the day at the beach looking for the perfect picture, takes some photos of the two girls.
Unemployed Actress Lora, soon learns that Annie and Sarah Jane are homeless. She invites the two to stay the night in her apartment. Annie, offers to stay and keep house and look after Susie while Lora, looks for acting and modeling jobs.
One evening, Steve comes by with the photographs, he took at the beach of the girls and takes Lora out to lunch.
Later, Lora invents a lie that gets her into the office of agent Allen Loomis, but.. then he propositions her, telling her that a successful actress must be willing to sleep around, she angrily leaves.
Back home, humiliated, she sobs while Annie comforts her.
During a snow storm, Annie brings Sarah Jane's lunch to school, where she discovers that her daughter has been passing off as a white girl. When Sarah Jane runs from Annie, her heart broken mother says to Lora, "How do you explain to your child that she was born to be hurt?"
Soon afterward, Steve, proposes to Lora, but she turns him down, saying that even though she loves him, marriage would prevent her from her life long dream of being an actress. Just then, Loomis offers her a role over the phone, a new comedy written by David Edwards, but when Steve forbids her to visit Loomis, she breaks it off with him.
During her audition, Lora suggests that David rewrite a scene of his play.. he agrees.
After Lora, is cast in the play the papers report that "a new star is born" on Broadway. For the next ten years, Lora stars in one hit after another. David wants to marry her, but as she admits one day to Annie, she does not really love him. David, is not happy when she decides to appear in a drama, but her performance is an instant hit. Surprised, by a visit from Steve, Lora confesses she still loves him and they are reunited.
Susie, is looking forward to taking a trip with Steve and Lora, but.. is very disappointed when their plans are canceled when Lora accepts a important role in a Italian film.
Soon after, Sarah Jane tells Susie that she secretly has been seeing her white boyfriend and that she would rather die than be considered black. When her boyfriend finds out that Sarah Jane's mother is black, he beats her up.
While Lora is filming in Italy, Steve spends a lot of time with Susie and she falls in love with him. Sarah Jane, has moved to New York and has told her mother that she is working at the library, but Annie finds her singing and dancing in a seedy New York nightclub. Because of her mother, Sarah Jane fired and she again takes off.
Back home, Annie tells Lora, who has just returned from Europe, that she will no longer interfere in her daughter's life. Steve, now a company vice-president, learns that Sarah Jane is working as a chorus girl and a dying Annie, flies to California to say good-by to her daughter.
Sarah Jane, tells her "I'm somebody else, I'm white." Annie then introduces herself to Sarah Jane's friend as her former nanny and leaves, but not before Sarah Jane embraces her.
Back at home, Lora and Susie argue over Steve. When Susie accuses Lora of loving her career more than her, Lora offers to give up Steve, but Susie has decided to go away to college.
One day, Annie tells Lora, to make certain all her things are left to Sarah Jane and then, dies. Will Sarah Jane, arrive at her mother's funeral in time or continue on with her destructive life style?
This is a story, about two women from different backgrounds, letting go of their children and allowing them to live their own lives. This is one of my favorite old school actress Lana Turner and new comer Sandra Dee's performances. Susan Kohner's, performance is also amazing and she steals every scene she is in.
If you are into fashion, Lana Turner's wardrobe was beautiful in this film. Especially, the coral jumper worn by Lana, in a scene that takes place when she comes down the stairs, from her room to the bar, to talk with her daughter and her boyfriend. It's made of a coral raw silk with a satin ribbon down each pant leg tied in bow at the ankle. It also has buttons down the back which, give it an elegant look. The matching belt is also made of the same color silk. The only extra piece she has on is the beautiful turquoise necklace.
Fun Facts:
Lana Turner took a much smaller salary, than her usual $25,000 per week and worked for 50% of the film's profits, which earned her over $2 million (setting a record for an actress at the time).
Natalie Wood was considered for the part played by Susan Kohner.
Douglas Sirk's last Hollywood film before he retired back to his native Germany.
'Margaret O'Brien' originally considered for role of Sara Jane, that ultimately went to Susan Kohner.
The exterior shot of Lora Meredith's lavish ranch style house would later be used for the the exterior shots of the Hart's home in the TV show Hart to Hart.
Pearl Bailey was originally considered for the role of Annie Johnson.
Susan Kohner (born November 11, 1936), is the daughter of Mexican actress Lupita Tovar and film producer Paul Kohner, who was born in Bohemia.
Most of Kohner's film roles came during the late 1950s and early 1960s, including co-starring with Sal Mineo in both: Dino (1957) and The Gene Krupa Story (1959).
In 1959, she was cast as Sarah Jane, her most notable role, in the color remake of, Imitation of Life. Directed by Douglas Sirk. Starring Lana Turner which turned out to be a box office success. Kohner, won an Academy Award nomination and won the Golden Globe in the Best Supporting Actress categories.
Following her appearance in, Imitation of Life, Kohner performed in, All the Fine Young Cannibals, with Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner.
She later had guest performances on television including: Hong Kong, Going My Way and Temple Houston. She made her last film appearance in 1962, co-starring with Montgomery Clift in, Freud: The Secret Passion.
In 1964, Kohner married German novelist and fashion designer John Weitz, and retired from acting. Their children, Chris and Paul Weitz, directed films: American Pie and About a Boy. Chris Weitz, is best known for directing, New Moon in The Twilight Saga (film series).
On April 23, 2010, a new print of "Imitation of Life" was screened at the TCM Film Festival in Los Angeles, California. After the screening, Kohner appeared on stage along with her costar Juanita Moore for a question-and-answer session hosted by TCM's Robert Osborne. Kohner and Moore received standing ovations.
Cass Timberlane, is a novel written by Sinclair Lewis, published in 1945. It is Sinclair Lewis' nineteenth novel and one of his last.It was made into a romantic drama film starring Spencer Tracy and Lana Turner, directed by George Sidney, and released in 1947. Timberlane is a minor character in Lewis's novel Kingsblood Royal.
While Judge Cass Timberlane, a kind-hearted, bachelor, is trying a boring divorce case, he finds a notebook that Jinny left in the courtroom. Attracted to the much younger Jinny, Cass searches for her in the neighborhood where she lives, and finds her playing baseball. Cass offers to umpire her game, after which he takes her out to dinner.
The two fall in love, much to the disappointment of Cass's society friends, who believe that he is wrong to cross social lines. With the exception of his friend attorney, Bradd Criley.
Cass, marries Jinny and as time passes, Cass soon realizes that Jinny is unhappy living in the small town of Grand Republic.
Jinny eventually becomes pregnant, but when the baby is stillborn, she goes into a deep depression. Cass, tries to cheer up his wife by teaching her how to fly an airplane and supporting her while she becomes a stage actress.
Jinny, gets herself into trouble with her performance, while rehearsing a love scene with her co-star, Bradd, who is transferred to his company's office in New York City as a result.
Cass, suggests they take a trip to New York, so he can visit an old friend to look into becoming partners in his law firm. Jinny, wants to stay in New York, after her wonderful day in New York with Brad. When Cass, tells her that he has rejected a job offer in the city, she breaks it off with him.
Cass, tells Jinny that she is welcome to stay in New York with Bradd. It turns out that Bradd, does not really want to marry Jinny. Heartbroken, she jumps out of the speeding car in which they are driving and is seriously injured.
After Lillian Drover, the wife of Jinny's doctor, tells Cass about Jinny's injuries, will Cass rush back to New York to be with her?
This is one of my favorite Spencer Tracy films and he gives an excellent performance. Lana Turner, is also very good. The scenes between she and Zachary Scott have enough sparks to make you wonder if they are guilty of adultery. This is a wonderful film that was well worth seeing.
Fun Facts:
MGM reportedly paid close to $150,000 for the film rights to Lewis' novel.
Walter Pidgeon who has a brief cameo in the film, was at one point considered for the title role.
Jennifer Jones, Vivien Leigh, and Virginia Grey were among those thought out for the female lead.
Fay Hendry, the mother of Sonya Hendry, a young girl who appeared in the film, was awarded nearly $30,000 for injuries she sustained when the girl was struck by a falling reflector at the site of location filming.
Tracy was not initially pleased with the studio's choice of director, hoping to have George Cukor or Vincente Minnelli assigned the position.
The poem that Cass Timberlane recites at the picnic with Virginia is "First Fig" by Edna St. Vincent Millay and goes "My candle burns at both ends / It will not last the night / But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends / It gives a lovely light!"
In late 1946, Marie McDonald campaigned for the female lead.
Margaret Lindsay (September 19, 1910 - May 9, 1981) After attending National Park Seminary in Washington, D.C., Lindsay convinced her parents to enroll her at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
She then went abroad to England to make her stage debut. She performed in plays: Escape, Death Takes a Holiday and The Romantic Age.
Lindsay was often mistaken as being British due to her convincing English accent, which impressed Universal Studios enough to sign her for their 1932 version of, The Old Dark House.
After some minor roles in Pre-Code films such as Christopher Strong and Baby Face, which starred Barbara Stanwyck, Lindsay was cast in the award-winning, Cavalcade.
Later, Lindsay performed in a small but memorable role as Edith Harris, a doomed English bride whose honeymoon voyage takes place on the Titanic.
Her work in Cavalcade earned her a contract at Warner Bros. where she became a supporting player, working with Paul Muni, Errol Flynn, Henry Fonda, Warren William, Leslie Howard, George Arliss, Humphrey Bogart, Boris Karloff and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Lindsay was cast four times as the love interest of James Cagney, from 1933-1935. She performed with Cagney in four films: Frisco Kid, Devil Dogs of the Air, G-Men and Lady Killer.
Lindsay co-starred with Bette Davis in four films: 1934's Fog Over Frisco; in 1935's Dangerous (for which Davis won her first Best Actress Academy Award); in Bordertown, co-starring Paul Muni, and as Davis's rival for Henry Fonda's affections in Jezebel (1938), which earned Davis her second Best Actress Academy Award.
The Law in Her Hands (1936), she performed a leading role as a mob lawyer. It was rare among gangster films of the 30's to have a female in such a male-dominated role. Made after the Motion Picture Production Code came into effect, The Law in Her Hands was forced into a reactionary stance towards the gender switch and concluded with a plot twist that was the complete opposite of the Pre-Code period (1929–1934), when "female characters on the screen could say, do and be whatever they wanted".
Lindsay's best known film role was, The House of the Seven Gables in 1940, with George Sanders and Vincent Price.
Her 1940s film series work in Hollywood included: Ellery Queen series from 1940-1942.
Lindsay, performed in a supporting role in the 1942 film, The Spoilers, starring John Wayne and in Fritz Lang's Scarlet Street in 1945. While her work in the late 1940s would occasionally involve a supporting role in MGM films like Cass Timberlane with Spencer Tracy, her film career faded, soon after.
She returned to the stage and co-starred with Franchot Tone, in The Second Man. 1950s and 1960s She made her television debut in 1950 in, The Importance of Being Earnest. More television work soon followed.
Lindsay performed in only four films during the 1950s and two in the 1960s. Her final feature film was, Tammy and the Doctor (1963).
Lindsay lived with her sister Helen in Hollywood. Later in life, she lived with her youngest sister Mickie.
Despite being romantically linked to actors such as William Gargan and Edward Norris, she never married.
Margaret Lindsay's sister, Jane Kies (1909–1985), was also an actress under the name of Jane Gilbert. In 1940, Jane married the son of Hedda Hopper, actor William Hopper, best known for his role as Paul Drake in the Perry Mason television series. Their daughter Joan was born in 1942, and the couple divorced in the early 1960s. Lindsay's niece Peggy Kenline and great-nephew Brad Yates were also actors.
They Won't Forget (1937). Directed by Mervyn LeRoy (who was uncredited). Based on a novel by Ward Greene called Death in The Deep South, which was a fictionalized account of a real life case: the trial and lynching of Leo Frank after the murder of Mary Phagan in 1913. The film was also the film debut of 16 year old actress Lana Turner, who played the murder victim, Mary Clay. It is considered by many critics to be one of the best films of the 1930s.
The story begins on Memorial Day, when Mary Clay and her best friend, Imogene Mayfield, decide to go for a soda after they are dismissed from their business classes for the day.
Mary, decides to go back for her lipstick that she left in her desk. When she returns to the empty room, she is murdered.
District Attorney Andy Griffin, sees Mary's murder has a perfect opportunity to boost his political career by making a case against her teacher, Robert Hale. Before long, Michael Gleason a famous Northern attorney, comes to defend Hale, but he is unable to convince the jury of Hale's innocence despite the lack of evedence.
The news-media turns the story into a three ring circus and accuses Griffin of fighting the Civil War in the courtroom, but... he is successful and Hale is sentenced to death. Gleason appeals to the governor, who sacrifices his career and changes the penalty to life imprisonment. Will Hale be safely taken out of town, before he is lynched by Mary's brothers?
This is a fast/well written/acted moving film, with Claude Rain taken over scene he is in. This will make you wonder if justice was served. I think everyone will enjoy watching a very young Lana Turner..
Gloria Dickson (August 13, 1917 - April 10, 1945), began acting during high school in amateur theatre productions. Encouraged by her acting coaches, she moonlighted doing dramatic readings at social clubs and on KFOX radio station in Long Beach, California.
In April 1936, she was spotted by Warner Brothers talent scout Max Arnow who signed her to a Warner contract.
Her film debut in 1937's They Won't Forget landed her on the top of Hollywood's short list of important up and comers.
In autumn 1937, she was in many magazine covers and was the subject of several movie magazine articles.
Love Has Many Faces(1965). Drama, directed by Alexander Singer, and written by Marguerite Roberts. Nancy Wilson sings the title song. Edith Head designed Lana Turner's clothes.
After Kit and Pete are questioned by the Acapulco police when her latest fling Billy Andrews, body is found on the beach. Pete, blames her for Billy's death. Pete married Kit, only for her money and is now having second thoughts, because she thinks only of only herself.
When Carol Lambert, Billy's fiancee, arrives in Acapulco, Pete becomes attracted to her and Kit, starts dating a bullfighter. At the ranch of Don Julian, Kit overhears Carol stating that Pete must choose between them. Upset, Kit rides her horse into the bullring and is gored by a bull, Pete jumps into the ring and saves her. Will they get Kit to the hospital in time to save her life?
For all you fashionistas and Lana Turner fans, this film is for you. Lana Turner, keeps turning up in one great costume after another, even in her forties she was a glamor girl.
Fun Facts:
Final American studio cinema film of Ruth Roman.
Lana Turner's wardrobe cost one million dollars.
Ruth Roman(December 22, 1922- September 9, 1999). As a girl, she wanted to become an actress and enrolled in Bishop Lee Dramatic School.
After which Roman headed to Hollywood where she landed small parts before being cast in the thirteen-episode serial, Jungle Queen (1945).
She later played an important role in the film, Champion(1949).
In one of her most memorable roles, Roman costarred with Farley Granger and Robert Walker in the Alfred Hitchcock thriller, Strangers on a Train (1951)and the film, Three Secrets(1950).
Keep Your Powder Dry(1945). Drama starring Lana Turner, Susan Peters, and Laraine Day. The film was directed by Edward Buzzell and written by George Bruce and Mary C. McCall, Jr.
One sunny morning Valerie Parks, is told by the family attorney, that she will not receive her trust fund until she proves that she deserves it, so she decides to join the WACS. Next.. on the list to join, Ann Darrison, who decides to enlist after her serviceman husband John is sent overseas. Last, but not least is Leigh Rand, the daughter of a military family, who also decides enlists.
The three new recruits, meet on the way to the Ft. Des Moines training camp and Leigh and Val, instantly develop a dislike for each other and Darrison becomes the mediator, when all three are assigned as mechanics, in the same unit. Leigh challenges Val, saying she never will complete basic training. Val, proves her wrong and does very well in class. Val and Leigh, eventually become friends and all three girls are accepted into Officers' Candidate School.
One day, Capt. Bill Barclay, a friend of Ann's husband, arrives at their base to visit Ann. Later, Bill meets Val and asks her on a date, Leigh, who is attracted to Bill herself, reminds them that enlisted WACS are forbidden to date officers. Leigh arranges for Val, to be assigned to duty that night to prevent them from meeting. Which angers Val and so ends their friendship.
Later Val, receives a telegram from her attorney, telling her that he is in town, she goes to meet him. Instead, she is met by her old friends Harriet and a drunken Junior Vanderheusen. Val tells her friends, that she plans to stay in the military and gives them a piece of her mind. Insulted, Junior spills his drink on Val's uniform.
Knowing that she cannot return to the barracks smelling of alcohol, Val goes to see Leigh, who is on leave and staying in the next room. Val, begs her to bring her a clean uniform in the morning. Leigh agrees, but when she returns to the hotel the next morning with the clean uniform, she runs into Junior in the elevator.
After learning from Junior, that Val only joined the military to receive her inheritance. Leigh, launches into a campaign to get rid of Val. Two days before graduation, Val, unable to stand her abuse, slaps Leigh in the face and marches off the field.
Later when Val, refuses to stick up for herself to their commanding officer, Lt. Colonel Spottiswoode. The officer calls Leigh, before the board and informs her that her platoon has rated her unfit to be an officer. Leigh, takes the blame for Val's outburst.
Col. Spottiswoode goes to see Anne and informs her that her husband has been killed in combat. When Leigh and Val, hear about Ann's loss, her courage shames them into staying the corps.
I recently saw this classic movie on TCM for the first time. I would call it a female version of a WWII buddy movie. Agnes Moorehead, Natalie Schafer and June Lockhart have supporting roles.
Susan Peters (July 3, 1921 – October 23, 1952). Her first job was to read with potential actors in their screen tests. Before long she had impressed studio executives with her own talent, and they began casting her in films.
For the first two years she used her given name and played small, uncredited parts in the film, Meet John Doe (1941). Her first substantial role was in the film, Random Harvest (1942), which earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination. MGM, cast her in the starring role in the film, Song of Russia (1943).
Peters was married to the actor Richard Quine on November 7, 1943. A couple of months after performing in the film, Keep Your Powder Dry, Peters and her husband were duck hunting when a rifle accidentally discharged, causing a bullet to be lodged in her spine. The accident left her permanently paralyzed from the waist down. Peters attempted to continue her acting career.
MGM continued to pay her salary, unable to find suitable projects, Peters left the studio. She returned for the lead role in, The Sign of the Ram (1948). Unfortunately, her disability made her a difficult actress to cast.
Lindsay Lohan (born July 2, 1986). Began her career as a child fashion model before making her movie debut in Disney's remake of, The Parent Trap(1998). Lohan gained further fame between 2003 and 2005 with leading roles in the films: Freaky Friday, Mean Girls and Herbie.
Lana Turner (February 8, 1921 – June 29, 1995), was discovered and signed to a film contract by MGM at the age of sixteen, Turner first attracted attention in the film, They Won't Forget (1937). She also performed in the films: Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938), Johnny Eager (1941), Ziegfeld Girl (1941) and Somewhere I'll Find You (1942). She is known as one of the first Hollywood scream queens for her role in the horror film, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde(1941) and her reputation as a glamorous femme fatale was enhanced by her performance in the film noir, The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946). Her popularity continued through the 1950s, in such films: The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and Peyton Place (1957), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.
I think the battle between these two femme fatales .. Veronica Lake and Lana Turner, maybe their memorable hairstyles.
Veronica Lake (November 14, 1922– July 7, 1973), best known for her role in femme fatale roles in film noir with Alan Ladd during the 1940s, and her peek-a-boo hairstyle.
This Gun For Hire(1942). Crime/drama/noir, directed by Frank Tuttle and based on the novel A Gun for Sale by Graham Greene. The drama features Veronica Lake, Robert Preston, Laird Cregar, and Alan Ladd.
The Blue Dahlia(1946). Film noir directed by George Marshall and written by Raymond Chandler. The film marks the third pairing of stars Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake.
Three Navy officers, Johnny Morrison, Buzz Wanchek and George Copeland, return to their home in, Hollywood, California. Buzz is suffering from shell shock and has a metal plate in his head, George was released because of his eyesight and Johnny was given leave after his heroic actions.
Johnny soon learns his wife Helen, is having an affair with Eddie Harwood, owner of the Blue Dahlia nightclub. Helen drunk, confesses to Johnny, that their son Dickie, died in a car crash while she was driving drunk. Johnny leaves soon after.
Not knowing who Helen really is, Buzz goes to her apartment for a drink. After Eddie ends the affair, Helen blackmails him into seeing her again. Johnny, meanwhile, is picked up by Joyce Harwood, who is separated from Eddie. Neither shares their name and they spend the night in separate rooms in a Malibu inn.
The next morning, the radio announces that Helen has been murdered and all evidence points to Johnny. Newell, the house detective told police that Johnny had a fight with Helen and also saw Buzz and Eddie, at her apartment. Buzz and George, are later picked up for questioning.
Johnny, checks into a hotel under another name, Corelli, the hotel manager, finds Johnny's picture with Dickie and tries to blackmail him. Johnny beats Corelli up, then discovers that on the back of the photo, that Eddie is really the murder. Corelli, sells the info. on Johnny to a gangster named Leo, who kidnaps him.
Buzz and George go to see Eddie, at the Blue Dahlia, where they meet Joyce. As Joyce picks at a blue dahlia flower, the music playing in the background reminds him of the music he heard at Helen's apartment on that fateful night.
Eddie forces Johnny, to admit that he was involved in the shooting of a bank messenger. Leo tries to kill Johnny, but shoots Eddie instead. Johnny runs to the Blue Dahlia, where he finds the police trying to get Buzz to admit he killed Helen. Johnny tells Joyce, to turn up the music and Buzz remembers leaving Helen alive in her apartment. So who killed Helen?
This is Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake third film of the decade. William Bendix, wise-cracking lines are perfect for this film. This is a good crime story that keeps you guessing.
Lana Turner (February 8, 1921 – June 29, 1995). She became well known as a glamorous femme fatale, for her performance in the film noir, The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946). Her popularity grew and one of her most popular films of the 50s was, The Bad and the Beautiful.
The Postman Always Rings Twice(1946). Drama-film noir based on the 1934 novel of the same name by James M. Cain. This adaptation of the novel is the best known, featuring Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway, Hume Cronyn, Leon Ames, and Audrey Totter.
The Bad and the Beautiful(1952). Melodramatic film that tells the story of a film producer who alienates all around him. It was directed by Vincente Minelli and stars Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Barry Sullivan, Gloria Grahame and Gilbert Roland.
Four's a Crowd (1938). Romantic/comedy directed by Michael Curtiz and released by Warner Brothers. Cast: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Rosalind Russell, Patric Knowles, Walter Connolly, Hugh Herbert, Melville Cooper, Franklin Pangborn, Herman Bing, Margaret Hamilton, Joseph Crehan, Joe Cunningham, Gloria Blondell, Carole Landis and Lana Turner. The fourth of nine movies made by Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn.
The story begins when the newspaper might be shut down when owner, Pat Buckley, gets into a argument with the Editor-in-chief, Robert Lansford .
Meanwhile, Lansford hopes to add John Dillingwell's business to his PR firm and uses his position at Buckley's paper to write a good review for Dillingwell. He soon finds out that Dillingwell's daughter Lorri, is Buckley's fiancee. Lansford decides to try to charm Lorri while Christy makes a play for Buckley. In the end, you don't know who Lansford will end up with?
Errol Flynn, gives a wonderful comic performance. One of my favorite scenes where he is chased by dogs snapping at his heels chasing him off his girlfriends property. Olivia de Havilland, looks gorgeous as the daughter of millionaire Connolly. A fluffy romance, but... worth watching if you are a fan of these stars.
Margaret Hamilton (December 9, 1902 – May 16, 1985) was known for her performance as the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
A former schoolteacher, she worked as a character actor in films for seven years before she was offered the role that we all love her for.
In later years, Hamilton made many cameos on television sitcoms and commercials.
She also was an advocate for children and animals, and was commitment to public education.