Lovely, talented, and always gracious, classic film actress and popular pin-up girl Jane Russell passed away yesterday at the age of 89. Russell’s start in Hollywood came at the hands of millionaire Howard Hughes, who was enamored by her beautifully voluptuous figure, displayed to such winning effect in her debut film, 1943’s The Outlaw. Her languid…
One of the most visible and beloved supporting players of the 1950s was a middle-aged, theater-trained actress from Brooklyn, Thelma Ritter. You may not know her name, but if you’re a classic movie fan, you know her face. Ritter appeared in supporting roles in a series of big-name films opposite some big-name stars—Bette Davis, Marilyn…
Tomorrow marks the start of the Jean Harlow Blogathon, hosted by the Kitty Packard Pictorial! We are so excited to be participating in this event to celebrate the centenary of one of the most gorgeous, talented, and truly funny actresses to ever come out of Hollywood. Harlow’s birthday is Thursday, March 3rd, and we will…
Note: you can find the first part of this entry here. Joseph Breen’s second caveat in adapting Streetcar revolved around the character of Blanche, whose more sexually predatory side could not be fully explicated on the screen per Production Code regulations. The faded Southern belle’s lack of sexual satisfaction in her marriage and her guilt over Allan’s suicide…
We’ve previously touched on issues of censorship here at True Classics, but our next two entries this week will take a more in-depth look at the Hays Code, particularly in regards to the struggle to adapt the controversial source material of A Streetcar Named Desire for the big screen. By 1950, Hollywood had reached an impasse. For nearly twenty…
Here are our recommendations for TCM’s final week+ of 31 Days of Oscar. Happy viewing! Tuesday, February 22nd =8:00PM EST: The Defiant Ones (1958) Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier star as a pair of chained-together fugitives who must put aside their mutual hatred and work together in order to secure their freedom. In my mind,…
This post is our contribution to the ongoing For the Love of Film (Noir) blogathon. As we mentioned last week, the blogathon is being held in support of the Film Noir Foundation, and all of the funds collected will be dedicated to the restoration of 1950′s The Sound of Fury, starring Lloyd Bridges. See the…
For Christmas, a friend of mine scored a copy of the new Wii game Epic Mickey. If you haven’t heard of this game, it’s an attempt to turn Disney’s signature character into a bad-ass of the umpteenth degree while reacquainting folks with some former Disney animation stars like Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. And though it…
