Rebecca(1940).

Rebecca (1940). Psychological/dramatic/thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Cast: Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine and Judith Anderson. The film won two Academy Awards, including Best Picture, out of a total 11 nominations. Olivier, Fontaine and Anderson were all Oscar nominated for their roles. Since the introduction of awards for actors in supporting roles, this is the only film named Best Picture that won no other Academy Award for acting, directing or writing.

Maxim de Winter, is vacationing in Monte Carlo, trying to forget the drowning death of his wife Rebecca. He meets and begins dating the shy and plain paid companion of a matronly socialite. She is thrilled when Maxim asks her to be his wife.

The new Mrs de Winter happiness quickly comes to a end when Maxim takes her to his beautiful seaside estate, Manderley. There she is tormented by the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, who continually reminds her of the great beauty of the first Mrs. de Winter and she also tries talking her into leaping to her death.

The new Mrs de Winter, believes that Maxim is still in love with "Rebecca". Trying to please her husband Mrs de Winter convinces Maxim to hold a costume party. While deciding what to wear, Mrs Danvers suggests she copy the beautiful outfit in the portrait of Caroline de Winter. As she is coming down the stairs at the party making her grand entrance, Maxim sees her dress and is appalled. It turns out... "Rebecca" wore the same outfit to a ball, shortly before she died. When the new Mrs de Winter confronts Danvers, she tells her she can never take Rebecca's place.

When a boat is wrecked off shore and during the rescue, another submerged boat is found in which the body of Rebecca is found. Maxim then confesses the true story of his marriage to Rebecca:

After four days of marriage, Rebecca began sharing her infidelities. Heartbroken but proud, Maxim continued on with his marriage, until she informed Maxim that she was going to have a baby and he was not the father. Maxim hit Rebecca and she fell, hitting her head. He then placed her body in a boat and sunk it. Things do not look good for Maxim until a surprise twist at the end.

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Fun Facts:

Mrs. Danvers is hardly ever seen walking; she seems to glide. Alfred Hitchcock wanted her to be seen solely from Joan Fontaine's character's anxious point of view, and this effect tied in with her fear about Mrs. Danvers appearing anytime unexpectedly.

Over 20 actresses were tested for the role of Mrs. de Winter, which eventually went to newcomer Joan Fontaine. One of them was Vivien Leigh, who Laurence Olivier was pressing for, as they were a couple at the time.

Despite scouring most of America, and New England in particular, David O. Selznick was unable to find a suitable location to represent Manderley, so he had to resort to a miniature instead.

In her autobiography, Maureen O'Hara states that she was the first choice for the lead role.

The novel was bought by David O. Selznick for $50,000 as a vehicle for Carole Lombard with the idea that he would attempt to get Ronald Colman for the male lead. According to Selznick's memos, when Colman put off accepting the part because he was afraid that the picture would be a "woman starring vehicle" and because of the murder angle, Selznick turned to his second choices for the role, Laurence Olivier and William Powell. Olivier was willing to work for $100,000 less than Powell and so he was chosen. Leslie Howard was also considered for the part.

Anne Baxter was one of the actresses tested by Alfred Hitchcock for the leading role. He later cast her in I Confess.

Because Laurence Olivier wanted his then-girlfriend Vivien Leigh to play the lead role, he treated Joan Fontaine horribly. This shook Fontaine up quite a bit, so Alfred Hitchcock decided to capitalize on this by telling her EVERYONE on the set hated her, thus making her shy and uneasy - just what he wanted from her performance.

David O. Selznick wanted Olivia de Havilland to play the female lead, but was faced with insurmountable problems: she was already committed to Samuel Goldwyn for Raffles, Warner Bros. was being uncooperative about lending her out, and she was reluctant to accept the part because her sister, Joan Fontaine, was also under consideration for the part and her agent, Leland Hayward, was promoting his wife, Margaret Sullavan, for the role. Selznick also considered Loretta Young, Vivien Leigh, Anita Louise and Anne Baxter for the role, but felt that Young and Leigh were the wrong "type." He finally settled on Fontaine, but his staff disagreed with his decision because she was not yet an established star.

Director Cameo:  Alfred Hitchcock: walking past a phone booth just after Jack Favell (George Sanders) makes a call in the final part of the movie. There are photos showing Hitchcock standing beside the phone booth looking at Mr Sanders. Actually the scene isn't played that way and you have to be quick spotting Hitchcock, quickly passing by in the background while Sanders is discussing a parking matter with a police man. Sanders having only been seen in close up while talking on the phone.

I love all the surprising plot twists and turns and the amazing cast. Even the supporting cast was amazing, especially the creepy Mrs. Danvers.  "Rebecca," is one of the best Hitchcock movies ever made. One thing that surprises me is.. I do not think the movie ever mentions Joan Fontaine's characters name. Even the house seems creepy..

Nigel Bruce (4 February 1895 – 8 October 1953), began his acting career by performing on stage and later performing in silent films.

In 1934, he moved to Hollywood, where he typically played buffoonish, fuzzy-minded gentlemen. During his film career, he worked in 78 films, including: Treasure Island (1934), The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934), The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936), The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936), Rebecca (1940), Suspicion (1941), Lassie Come Home (1943) The Corn Is Green (1945).


Bruce participated in two landmark films: Becky Sharp and Bwana Devil.

He uncharacteristically played a bad guy in, The Rains Came(1939) which became the first film to win an Oscar for special effects.

Bruce's best known character was as Dr. Watson in the 1939-1946 Sherlock Holmes film series with close friend Basil Rathbone as Holmes. Bruce starred as Watson in all 14 films of the series and over 200 radio programs of The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Although Watson often appears to be the older of the two main characters, Bruce was actually three years younger than his co-star Rathbone.

Nigel Bruce was married from 1921 until his death to British actress Violet Campbell (Violet Pauline Shelton; 1892–1970) whom he always lovingly called "Bunny", they had two daughters, Jennifer and Pauline.

His final film, World for Ransom, was released posthumously in 1954. Bruce died from a heart attack at the  age of 58.

The Doctor and the Girl(1949).

The Doctor and the Girl(1949). Drama directed by Curtis Bernhardt. Cast: Glenn Ford, Charles Coburn, Gloria DeHaven, Janet Leigh.

After completing medical school, Michael Corday arrives at the Department of Neurology at New York City's Bellevue Hospital to begin his internship. With his father John Corday, who is a brilliant and well-respected doctor as is his sister Mariette's fiance, George Esmond.

When Michael accuses George of being an opportunist and wanting to marry Mariette only to be associated with his father, George denies the accusation.

At the hospital, Michael is accused by another physician, Dr. Granville, of being dispassionate towards his patients. Just like his father.  As rumors of Michael's poor bedside manners spread throughout the department, Michael, decides to change his ways.

When a candy store employee named Evelyn Heldon, is admitted into the hospital, Michael and Evelyn become fast friends and he makes sure that her operation is performed by the best surgeon in the department, Dr. Francis I. Garard.

Meanwhile, Michael's young sister Fabienne wants to get out on her own and moves to Greenwich Village.

Michael, begins to fall in love with Evelyn and Michael's father, who does not like her because she is poor, asks Frank to pay Evelyn to leave him. Michael can not believe it when he learns the details of the pay-off and goes looking for her and finds Evelyn making taffy. Noticing that she does not have enough food, Michael decides to postpone thier marriage plans until she is well.

Later, when Michael's father becomes ill Mariette, calls off her wedding to take care of her him.

With Evelyn's help, Michael opens a private practice in a poor neighborhood, but eventually he wants to practice under a skilled doctor.

Late one night, Fabienne, whose married boyfriend has deserted her, arrives at Michael's doorstep. Hemorrhaging from a botched abortion, Fabienne is rushed to the hospital, but dies during surgery.

After much thought, Michael decides to continue practicing medicine in the poorer neighborhood where he is needed most...




This is a good family drama with Dr. Corday, trying to control his adult children, which leads to arguments, estrangement and tragedy... will this family ever recover?.

Gloria DeHaven(born July 23, 1925), was the daughter of actor-director, Carter DeHaven, and actress, Flora Parker DeHaven, both former vaudeville performers.

She began her career as a child actor with a bit part in Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times (1936).

Despite featured roles in such films as Best Foot Forward, The Thin Man Goes Home (1944) and Summer Stock (1950), and being voted by exhibitors as the third most likely to be a "star of tomorrow'" in 1944, she did not achieve film stardom.

She portrayed her own mother, Flora Parker DeHaven, in the Fred Astaire film Three Little Words (1950).

DeHaven also appeared as a regular in the television series and soap operas As the World Turns, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and Ryan's Hope.

She was one of the numerous celebrities to appear in the all-star box office flop, Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), and has guest starred in such television series as Robert Montgomery Presents, Appointment with Adventure (episode entitled "The Snow People"), The Guy Mitchell Show, Johnny Ringo (as Rosemary Blake in "Love Affair"), The Rifleman, Wagon Train, The Lloyd Bridges Show, Marcus Welby, M.D., Gunsmoke, Mannix, Fantasy Island, Hart to Hart, The Love Boat, Highway to Heaven, Murder, She Wrote and Touched by an Angel.

From January 1969 to February 1971 DeHaven hosted a morning call-in movie show, Prize Movie, on WABC-TV in New York City.

She was also on five episodes of Match Game 75 along with Patti Deutsch and Buck Owens as guest panelists.

DeHaven has been married four times to three different men. Her first husband was actor, John Payne, star of The Restless Gun television series, whom she married on December 28, 1944, and divorced in 1950. Her second husband was real estate developer Martin Kimmel; they were married June 21, 1953, and divorced the following year. She was married to Richard Fincher from 1957 until 1963; they remarried in 1965 and divorced again in 1969. She has two children with Payne, daughter, Kathleen Hope (born 1945), and son, Thomas John Payne (born 1947), and two children with Fincher, son, Harry (born 1958), and daughter, Faith (born 1962).

The Hoodlum Saint(1946)

The Hoodlum Saint(1946). Drama, Cast: William Powell and Esther Williams.

After World War I, Major Terry O'Neill returns to Baltimore, expecting to pick up where he left of at his newspaper editor job. However, the paper has changed owners and his friend and former editor, has been told to cut costs. Disappointed, Terry leaves the building and runs into two of his crooked buddies, "Fishface" and "Three Finger". When they are arrested, it takes all his money to pay their fines.

Now needing a job, he crashes a high society wedding party in the hope of meeting businessman Lewis J. Malbert. When a guard asks to see his invitation, Terry quickly grabs guest Kay Lorrison and kisses her, she slaps Terry in the face. After he catches the brides bouquet and hands it to her they become friends.

She introduces him to her uncle, publisher Joe Lorrison, Terry impresses him with his ideas and lands a job. He and Kay, masterminds a newspaper campaign against Malbery. Terry surprises his boss by quitting his job to go to work for Malbery in New York. Snarp, Fishface, Three Finger and "Eel" tag along to open a pool room.

After three years, he is promoted to executive vice president of the company and returns to Baltimore to see Kay. He finds her getting married. After which, He begins dating Nightclub singer "Dusty".

Eventually, Kay comes to see him, to tell him that she is now a widow and still in love with him. He takes Kay to meet Dusty, who realizes she has no chance keeping her man moves on, but... is not too happy about it. Kay, soon realizes that Terry has become hard and cynical, with the passing of time and she breaks it off with him him.

When Snarp's bookmaking business was uncovered, Terry secretly has Snarp freed, but wants him to believe that his good fortune was because of Saint Dismas.

Terry loses everything in the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Nearly all his friends and associates, who invested in the stock market on his advice, turn against him. A reformed Snarp tries to get Terry to put his faith in Saint Dismas.

Dusty, comes to his aid and offers Terry an expensive bracelet he once gave her, but he turns her down. Hurt by his rejection, she takes over a charity Snarp set up for Saint Dismas, planning to steal the donations and put the blame on Terry.

When Terry leaves town on business, he become ill and is cared for by Father Nolan. Will Kay and his friends come through to prove his innocence?

Video: Movie trailer.



I have been really looking forward to watching this film for a long time. Williams is wonderful in her role and Powell is his usual charming, fast-talking self(maybe a little to old for Esther's love interest). Lansbury, plays a glamorous night club singer(you can tell her voice is dubbed). James Gleason, Frank McHugh and Rags Ragland, all make the cutest crooked buddies.

James Gleason (May 23, 1882 – April 12, 1959) Coming from theatrical stock, as a schoolboy he made stage appearances while on holiday.

He began earning his living at the age of thirteen, being a messenger boy, printer's devil, assistant in an electrical store and a lift boy.

He enlisted in the army at age 16 and served 3 years in the Philippines. On discharge, he began his stage career.

He played in London for two years and following his return to the United States, he began in films by writing dialogue for "comedies". He also wrote several plays.

His first film acting was in the film, The Count of Ten (1927).

In 1931, he co-starred with Robert Armstrong in the radio sitcom Gleason and Armstrong. Balding and slender with a craggy voice and a master of the double-take, Gleason portrayed tough but warm-hearted characters, usually with a New York background.

He appeared in several movies with his wife Lucille.

Gleason co-wrote The Broadway Melody, the second film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture and had a small uncredited role in it.

Gleason also co-wrote and briefly appeared as a hot dog vendor in the 1934 Janet Gaynor vehicle Change of Heart.

He played a milk cart driver who gives lessons in marriage to Judy Garland and Robert Walker in the 1945 film The Clock, while Lucille played his wife. In the same year, he played the bartender in the film adaptation of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Gleason also is remembered for playing police inspector Oscar Piper in a series of six Hildegarde Withers mystery films during the 1930's, starting with Penguin Pool Murder.

He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as boxing manager Max 'Pop' Corkle in the 1941 film Here Comes Mr. Jordan.

Gleason also appeared on television:  Reed Hadley, The Public Defender, The Real McCoys, and the Christmas 1957 episode of John Payne's The Restless Gun on NBC.

In "The Child" Gleason and Anthony Caruso played Roman Catholic priests who run an orphanage.

James and Lucille Gleason had a son, actor Russell Gleason (1908-1945), who died after falling from the window ledge of a hotel in midtown Manhattan, on Christmas night in 1945, just before his army regiment was due to leave for a posting in Europe.

Russell's most prominent role had been as Muller in the Academy Award-winning version of All Quiet on the Western Front (1930).

Russell Gleason was married to Cynthia Lindsay, a former Busby Berkeley chorus girl who later wrote a biography of family friend Boris Karloff.

Love Crazy (1941).

Love Crazy(1941). Comedy. Everyone knows that William Powell, always wore a mustache, but did you know he shaved it off when dressed as a woman for this film? The tenth of fourteen films pairing William Powell and Myrna Loy.

Architect, Steve Ireland and his wife Susan, are looking forward to celebrating their fourth anniversary alone, but their plans are changed when Susan's mother, Mrs. Cooper, drops in and asks Steve to mail a letter for her.

On his way back up to the apartment, he runs into Isobel Grayson, a now married woman from his past, has moved into the apartment below. When the elevator gets stuck, they have to climb out and Steve hits his head and chokes on his tie.

Isobel, takes him to her apartment and tries unsuccessfully to make a play for him while her artist husband "Pinky" is working in his studio.

After Steve, returns to his own apartment he tells his wife about the broken elevator, but does not say anything about visiting Isobel, until he has to explain how he left his hat in her apartment.

As Mrs. Cooper is leaving, she slips and sprains her ankle. Susan then has to go in her mother's place to meet a relative at the train station. When Steve goes onto the terrace he sees Isobel, who invites him down for a drink. He agrees, unaware that Mrs. Cooper, has over heard the whole conversation. When her mother informs Susan what she over heard, Susan calls Pinky and suggests that the two of them meet to make Isobel and Steve jealous.

Susan, mistakenly goes to the wrong apartment where she meets Ward, a world champion archer who is very happy to let her in. Just as Susan and Ward realize the mistake, Steve, Isobel and Pinky arrive and things look bad for Susan, they all return to their own apartments.

Just as Susan and Steve decide to forgive and forget, a cab driver calls for Steve. Now, Susan believes that he has been lying all this time and that he was in Isobel's apartment the entire evening.

The next day, their lawyer, George Renny, calls Steve to his office because Susan wants a divorce. Things do not go well for Susan and she gets herself another lawyer. Susan, disappears until the night before their divorce hearing when George calls Steve to inform him that he saw Susan at a party.

After, Steve crashes the party, George,  informs him that Ward has been in Arizona with Susan and her mother. Steve, begs George to have the hearing postponed, but George says that nothing short of insanity would work. Which, gives Steve an idea and tells one of the guests that he is Abraham Lincoln and throws some of the men's top hats into the pool to "free" them.

At the divorce hearing, George argues that Steve is crazy, but Susan testifies that Steve's eccentricities are his sense of humor. When Steve throws paper airplanes at the judge, the case is adjourned for thirty days to have Steve evaluated.

Now realizing the seriousness of his actions, Steve goes before the board and acts normally until the commission head, Dr. Klugle, arrives and Steve recognizes him as the man at the party. Steve, becomes so nervous that he appears unstable and is declared insane.

As the weeks pass, Steve decides to jump the fence of the mental hospital and goes back to his apartment.

The police are hot on his heals,  as he enters his own apartment wearing a dress and wig and pretending to be "Miss Ireland," Steves's sister. Will Steve be able to prove to Susan his side of story and will Susan have a change of heart and forgive him?

If you ever wanted to see Powell, without his famous mustache, wearing a dress, this movie is for you.. I have to admit he is one scary looking woman. Jack Carson, as always has some great lines..

Gail Patrick (June 20, 1911 – July 6, 1980), performed in 62 movies between 1932 and 1948, usually as the leading lady's rival: My Favorite Wife (1940) with Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, Anna May Wong's competitor in, Dangerous to Know (1938), Carole Lombard's spoiled sister in, My Man Godfrey (1936) and Linda Shaw, Ginger Rogers' rival in, Stage Door (1937).

She also played the lead in films: Wives Under Suspicion (1938) and Robert Florey's Disbarred (1939).

Patrick retired from acting in films in 1948 and later, with her third husband Thomas Cornwell Jackson, became a producer of the Perry Mason television series (1957–1966).

She died from leukemia at age 69.

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

Bedtime Story (1941).

Bedtime Story (1941). Comedy film directed by Alexander Hall. Cast: Fredric March, Loretta Young and Robert Benchley.

After seven years of marriage, stage actress Jane, has her heart set on leaving the stage and live on a farm in Connecticut. Her husband, producer-playwright Luke Drake, has different plans and is ready to start rehearsals for his new play and is late showing up for their retirement party.



Where Luke, informs Jane and the others that he has sold their dream farm and bought a theater. Heartbroken, she packs her suitcase and travels to Reno for a divorce. Wanting to stop the divorce, Luke plants a false story in a gossip columns, announcing that he is ill and that he has cancelled his play. Reading a newspaper article, that Luke is not well and has given up working, she rushes back only to find that it's not true.

Jane, goes back to Reno to get her divorce and begins dating banker, William Dudley. Luke follows Jane to Reno and arrives at her hotel just as William Dudley, shows up to take her to dinner. When Luke asks for a chance to talk to Jane alone, Dudley hands over the keys to his car and Luke and Jane go for a drive to talk things over.

Luke, accidentally runs out of gas and needing a place to stay for the night they get a hotel room. While there, she helps him with his script and tells him to cast someone else to perform in it. She, then tells Luke, that he owes her $4.40 for his share of the gas and hotel.

When Luke reads that Jane has become engaged to Dudley, he wants to win her back. Learning that the police plan to raid a club named Billy's that night, Luke suggests to Jane that she and Dudley join him for dinner. Asking Jane to meet him at the theater, Luke then phones Dudley and asks him to meet them at Billy's.

When Jane arrives at the theater in the middle of rehearsals, Luke pretends to chastise Virginia's performance and Jane offers to coach her. Jane, gives such a wonderful reading that Virginia leaves the stage. Now, without a leading lady Luke, says he has to cancel the play, Jane then offers to take the part until he can find someone to perform in the part. As they leave the theater, a policeman informs them that Dudley has been arrested and Jane, realizing that she has been tricked backs out of her promise. Then bails Dudley out of jail and elopes with him.

The next morning, Luke and Eddie, arrive at the apartment with flowers, to apologize. Only to find out that Jane has just married William. Luke, hires two men to act as inspectors, questioning Jane on the validity of her marriage.  She hands William all of her Reno receipts... except the one from the California hotel. When she refuses to give Luke that receipt, he admits the inspectors are fake. Their friend Emma, comes over to tell Jane, that the production has shut down and that Luke, paid them off with the last of his money.

Realizing how much he loves her, Jane hands Emma, the receipt and tells her that she wants the money Luke, owes her for the hotel room. It takes Luke a minute, to realize that with the receipt, he can prove that Jane's marriage is not legal.

At the hotel, Luke sends a parade of plumbers, electricians and maids... to interrupt Jane and William on their wedding night. Will he be able to break up the honeymooning couple for good?

"Bedtime Story", is a stylish comedy with a wonderful cast. Frederic March, was at the height of his movie career and Loretta Young, also has some fun scenes in the film. The supporting cast: Eve Arden, Allyn Joslyn, Helen Westley and Joyce Compton, will charm their classic movie fans.

Helen Westley (March 28, 1875 – December 12, 1942). A character actress and member of the original board of the Theatre Guild.

Westley, played roles, both comic and dramatic in many films: Death Takes a Holiday, All This and Heaven Too, four films opposite child star Shirley Temple (including Dimples and Heidi), the 1934 surprise hit Anne of Green Gables, the 1935 film version of Roberta, and the 1936 film version of Show Boat, in which she replaced Edna May Oliver.

She also appeared in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm in 1938 with Shirley Temple and Randolph Scott as Aunt Miranda.

In 1936 she played in Banjo on My Knee with Barbara Stanwyck, Walter Brennan and Buddy Ebsen.

Westley was married to John Westley, an actor on Broadway, on October 31, 1900. The couple separated in 1912 . The marriage ended in divorce. The couple had one daughter, named Ethel.

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.

Ball of Fire(1941)

Ball of Fire(1941). Screwball comedy directed by Howard Hawks. Cast: Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. The supporting cast includes: Oskar Homolka, S. Z. Sakall, Henry Travers, Richard Haydn, Dana Andrews, and Dan Duryea. In 1948, the plot was recycled for a musical film, A Song Is Born, starring Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo.

At the Daniel S. Totten Foundation in New York, Bertram Potts, an overly dedicated linguistics professor, is writing the new encyclopedia, on which he and his eight colleagues have been working on for nine years.

When their financial backer, Miss Totten, stops by to check on their progress, not happy with what she finds threatens to withdraw her support, Bertram flirts with her. Charmed, Miss Totten changes her mind, agreeing to continue to back the encyclopedia project.

Soon after, a garbage man knocks on the foundation's door and asks the professors for help on a radio quiz show questions. Intrigued by the garbage man's slang, Bertram believes that his section on slang is outdated and requires further research. Bertram then walks the streets, where he eavesdrops on many conversations and invites several people to participate on his project.

When he invites nightclub performer Sugarpuss O'Shea to attend, Sugarpuss thinking him with the police refuses. Unknown to Bertram, Sugarpuss is wanted by the district attorney in connection with a murder that her gangster boyfriend, Joe Lilac, is suspected of committing. She and a couple of thugs, Asthma Anderson and Duke Pastrami, flee the club one step ahead of the police. Sugarpuss decides to take Bertram up on his invitation and shows up at the foundation's door step later that night.



Glad that Sugarpuss has changed her mind, Bertram, does not think it is proper that she stay the night, but.. his colleagues insist that she stay.

Meanwhile, at the district attorney's office, Joe is asked about a monogrammed bathrobe found in the murdered man's suitcase. Which the district attorney suspects belonged to Joe and was given to him by Sugarpuss. Concerned that Sugarpuss might agree to testify against Joe, his lawyer advises him to marry her.

Three days later, Sugarpuss, who has been helping Bertram with his slang expressions as well as teaching the other professors the conga, is visited by Asthma and Pastrami. The thugs present her with a beautiful diamond engagement ring from Joe and Sugarpuss, gladly accepts the ring and agrees to stay at the foundation until it is safe.

Just then, Miss Bragg, the professors' housekeeper, demands that Sugarpuss leave, as she has become too much of a distraction. Bertram, agrees and asks Sugarpuss to leave, admitting that she has distracted him from his work. Sugarpuss, quick on her feet says that she is.. "just plain wacky" for him and kisses him. Bertram, decides to propose to her and the next morning, he gives her a small diamond engagement ring.

Soon after, Joe telephones from New Jersey. As Joe has identified himself as "Daddy," Bertram assumes he is Sugarpuss' father and asks him for permission to marry her. Joe, agrees thinking it is the best way to get Sugarpuss past the police's dragnet, then insist that the wedding be performed in New Jersey.

Just as the wedding party is about to leave, Miss Bragg, having seen Sugarpuss' photo in the newspaper, threatens to call the police. Sugarpuss, slugs Miss Bragg and locks her in a closet, Bertram and the other professors leave for New Jersey.

On the way, Professor Gurkakoff, who is driving the car has an accident disabling the car. The wedding party is forced to spend the night at an auto court. Sugarpuss calls Joe with the news, he insists on picking her up that night.

While she waits in her bungalow, Professor Oddly, a widowed botanist, tells Bertram about his honeymoon, then retires for the night. Confused by Oddly's conversation with Sugarpuss , Bertram goes looking for him, but accidentally ends up in Sugarpuss' bungalow. Believing that he is speaking to Oddly, Bertram describes his love for Sugarpuss, she kisses him.

Joe and his gang arrive and expose Sugarpuss' for what she truly is. Finding lipstick on Bertram's face, Joe then attacks the professor. After lying to Miss Bragg, who escaped from the closet and the police saying that she has already left, Bertram confronts Sugarpuss. She tearfully apologizes, but Bertram returns to New York, heartbroken. Will Bertram ever forgive Sugarpuss and think her worthy of him?

Fun Facts:

Kathleen Howard was left with a fractured jaw when the punch that Barbara Stanwyck threw accidentally made contact. Stanwyck was reportedly mortified by the incident.

The roles of the seven professors (besides Gary Cooper) were inspired by Disney's Seven Dwarfs. There is even a photograph showing the actors sitting in front of a Disney poster, each one in front of his corresponding dwarf: S.Z. Sakall - Dopey; Leonid Kinskey - Sneezy; Richard Haydn - Bashful; Henry Travers - Sleepy; Aubrey Mather - Happy; Tully Marshall - Grumpy, and Oskar Homolka - Doc.

In the scene where Pastrami and Asthma have the professors hostage in the library, the gunmen begin shooting at random items. One gunman (Pastrami) says, "I saw me a picture last week," and proceeds to lick his thumb and then rubs it on the sight of his gun. This is a reference to star Gary Cooper's previous movie Sergeant York in which York uses this as a technique to improve his marksmanship.

Ginger Rogers was the original choice for Katherine 'Sugarpuss' O'Shea, but Rogers declined.

Lucille Ball was set to play Katherine 'Sugarpuss' O'Shea, but once producer Samuel Goldwyn found out that Barbara Stanwyck was available he gave her the part instead.

When Gary Cooper is taking notes of the news boy's slang, the marquee on the theater across the street advertises Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, an inside joke that refers to the script's inspiration.

To pick up authentic slang for the film script, screenwriters Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett visited the drugstore across the street from Hollywood High School, a burlesque house and the Hollywood Park racetrack.

Hal McIntyre can be seen in the saxophone section during the number "Drumboogie". Also, Roy Eldridge has a brief trumpet solo.

Even though they play two of the "old men" lexicographers, Leonid Kinskey (Prof. Quintana) and Richard Haydn (Prof. Oddly) were both under 40 years old when they made this movie.

Lighthearted romantic comedy that belongs to Barbara Stanwyck, who is perfect for the part of Sugarpuss O'Shea. A Nice for a change to see Gary Cooper play a person who is awkward,intelligent and romantic. Please click here to view past Ball of Fire review with videos.

Oskar Homolka (August 12, 1898 – January 27, 1978). After serving in the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I, Homolka attended the Imperial Academy of Music and the Performing Arts in Vienna and began his career on the Austrian stage.

Success there led to work in the much more prestigious German theatrical community in Munich where in 1924 he played Mortimer in the premiere of Brecht's play, The Life of Edward II of England at the Munich Kammerspiele and since 1925 in Berlin where he worked under Max Reinhardt.

Homolka's made at least thirty silent films in Germany and starred in the first talking picture ever made there.

After the Nazi rise to power, Homolka moved to Britain, where he starred in the films Rhodes, Empire Builder, with Walter Huston, 1936 and Everything Is Thunder, with Constance Bennett.

In 1936, he appeared opposite Sylvia Sidney in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller Sabotage. Although he often played villains such as Communist spies and Soviet-bloc military officers or scientists, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the crusty, beloved uncle in I Remember Mama (1948).

He also acted with Ingrid Bergman in Rage in Heaven, with Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch, with Ronald Reagan in Prisoner of War, and with Katharine Hepburn in The Madwoman of Chaillot.

He returned to England in the mid-1960's, to play the Soviet KGB Colonel Stok in Funeral in Berlin (1966) and Billion Dollar Brain (1967), opposite Michael Caine.

His last film was the Blake Edwards romantic drama The Tamarind Seed(1974).

In 1967 Homolka was awarded the Filmband in Gold of the Deutscher Filmpreis for outstanding contributions to German cinema.

His career in television included appearances in several episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents in 1957 and 1960.

Homolka married four times: His first wife was Grete Mosheim, a Hungarian Jewish actress. They married in Berlin on June 28, 1928, but divorced in 1937. She later married Howard Gould. His second wife, Baroness Vally Hatvany (died 1938), was also a Hungarian actress. They married in December 1937, but she died four months later. In 1939, Homolka married socialite and photographer Florence Meyer (1911–1962), a daughter of The Washington Post owner, Eugene Meyer. They had two sons, Vincent and Laurence, but eventually divorced. His last wife was actress Joan Tetzel whom he married in 1949. The marriage lasted until Tetzel's death in 1977.

Oskar Homolka made his home in England after 1966. He died of pneumonia in Sussex, England, on January 27, 1978, just three months after the death of his fourth wife, actress Joan Tetzel. He was 79 years old.

The Corpse Came C.O.D.(1947).

The Corpse Came C.O.D.(1947). Directed by Henry Levin. Cast: George Brent, Joan Blondell, Adele Jergens.

Movie star Mona Harrison, receives a package from Palisades Pictures Studio. Expecting to find a dress in the large box, Mona is shocked to discover the murdered body of costume designer, Hector Rose.

Instead of calling the police, Mona calls her friend Joe Medford, a reporter. Joe arrives in time to watch Mona getting rid of the bolts of cloth in which Hector was wrapped and calls the police.

Police Lieutenant, Mark Wilson begins an investigation into the murder by calling the coroner, taking fingerprint samples and looking for the delivery man.

When Rosemary Durant, a columnist for the Daily Register, asks to team up with Joe on the murder story, Joe tells her that he does not need her help. Rosemary, who believes that Joe is really in love with her, follows him around town hoping to learn more about the murder case.

Later, Joe learns that before Hector was murdered and that he fell into a pile of cloth when Mona hit him during a fight. While looking for clues at Hector's house, Joe is assaulted by Maxwell Kenyon, Hector's business manager and a another fight breaks out. After knocking Kenyon unconscious, Joe searches through his pockets and finds a check from Mona.

Later, at the studio, Joe sees a man fleeing and after locking Rosemary in a closet, chases after him. Rosemary manages to free herself from the closet and when Joe looses the man, he catches up with Rosemary. Joe proposes marriage to Rosemary, but still insist that she not work on the story.

Joe suspects the shady Rudy Frasso, who he believes is Mona's ex-husband, to be mixed up in a jewelry scheme and the at murders at the studio.

At Mona's home, while Rosemary questions Mona about her love life, Joe finds some jewels in a bolt of cloth and hides them. When Joe later finds Frasso waiting for him in his apartment, they get into a fight and Frasso escapes.

Rosemary, angry that Joe has kept her from working on the story, tells Wilson about the jewels. When Joe and Rosemary arrive at Mona's, they learn who is behind the jewel smuggling operation and who killed Hector.

I really enjoyed watching this "B" film with an above average cast: George Brent, Joan Blondell, and Adele Jergens. We learn about the twist of the story toward the end of the film.  A must see for Blondell's fans.

Adele Jergens (November 26, 1917 - November 22, 2002), was named "Miss World's Fairest" at the 1939 New York World's Fair.

In the early 1940's, she worked as a Rockette, and was named the Number One Showgirl in New York City.

After a few years of working as a model and chorus girl, including being an understudy to Gypsy Rose Lee, Jergens landed a movie contract with Columbia Pictures in 1944.

At the beginning of her career she was cast as blonde floozies and burlesque dancers in the films:  Down to Earth starring Rita Hayworth (1947) and The Dark Past starring William Holden (1948).

She once played Marilyn Monroe's mother in, Ladies of the Chorus (1948), even though Jergens was only 9 years older than Monroe.

In 1949, while filming Treasure of Monte Cristo, a film noir set in San Francisco, she met and married co-star Glenn Langan.

Her chorus girl past came in handy when she played an exotic dancer in, Armored Car Robbery (1950), in which she shared the leading role with Charles McGraw.

She also performed in Abbott and Costello, Meet the Invisible Man (1951).

Jergens and Glenn Langan remained married until his death in 1991. Their only child, actor Tracy Langan, predeceased his mother.