The legendary test pilot Chuck Yeager took Philip Kaufman, the writer/director of the lauded 1983 space race epic “The Right Stuff,” for a ride in his plane during production. And at one point the man who broke the sound barrier in 1947 turned over the controls to Kaufman as he also turned off the engine. “He thought it would scare me being one of the ‘Hollywood’ guys,” Kaufman told me in a 2003 L.A. Times interview. “I just sort of looked at him and smiled, because I knew there was something blessed about this man. The funny thing about Yeager is that he would drive out to the sets, particularly in the high desert, and he would not go above the speed limit. He was the fastest man alive, but he wouldn’t go over 55 because he knew how dangerous it was on the highway”
Barbara Hershey, who played Yeager’s wife Glennis,...
Barbara Hershey, who played Yeager’s wife Glennis,...
- 10/24/2023
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
The world of journalism would not be what it is if not for the contributions made by Barbara Walters. The legendary journalist recently passed away, shining a new light on her decades of interviewing everyone from world leaders to those involved in celebrity sex scandals. While Walters has rightfully come under fire for moments in which she pushed a little too hard or attempted to silence the voices of people crying out to be heard, her legacy is undeniable. The way that interviews are conducted by journalists across the globe has been modeled after Walters, with everyone from Diane Sawyer to even conspiracy-theory-peddling wackos with podcasts all emulating her style. As we look back at the over a half-century of interviews conducted by Walters, a handful of intimate discussions with some of Hollywood's biggest stars represent some of her best work. A staple of pop culture herself, Walters often connected...
- 1/4/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
In “Licorice Pizza,” a teenage boy perpetually chasing after new business schemes falls for a 20-something woman who’s not quite sure where she’s heading, but is up for the ride.
Together, Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) and Alana Kane (Valley native Alana Haim) travel around Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley by car, truck and on foot. Their ventures into showbiz and local politics have them cross paths with a cast of vibrant characters, including a belligerent hairdresser and motorcycle-riding movie star.
Gary and Alana’s indelible bond and the series of events that transpire make “Licorice Pizza” an enjoyable watch. But the film promises an extra element of nostalgic joy for those who grew up in the Valley or during the 1970s (or both). Several of the events, people and places represented in the story are modeled on reality.
We hunted for some of the Easter eggs in “Licorice Pizza,...
Together, Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) and Alana Kane (Valley native Alana Haim) travel around Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley by car, truck and on foot. Their ventures into showbiz and local politics have them cross paths with a cast of vibrant characters, including a belligerent hairdresser and motorcycle-riding movie star.
Gary and Alana’s indelible bond and the series of events that transpire make “Licorice Pizza” an enjoyable watch. But the film promises an extra element of nostalgic joy for those who grew up in the Valley or during the 1970s (or both). Several of the events, people and places represented in the story are modeled on reality.
We hunted for some of the Easter eggs in “Licorice Pizza,...
- 9/29/2022
- by Harper Lambert
- The Wrap
Paul Thomas Anderson, chronicler of the dark heart of America in films like “There Will Be Blood” and parties that stretch to near dawn in “Boogie Nights,” is a morning person. He’s up by 5, in bed by 9 or 9:30, and rises before the sun, when he tinkers with scripts, watches movies, or just enjoys a few hours alone with his thoughts before he wakes up the four kids he has with Maya Rudolph.
“It’s my quiet time,” says Anderson, who is interrupting that sojourn to speak with a Variety reporter about his new film, “Licorice Pizza,” a warmhearted story about growing up in the San Fernando Valley. “I have a lot of siblings, and the only time to have any alone time was to wake up before anybody else. The only problem is by 1 o’clock you’re wasted.”
He’s excited but nervous to discuss his new film,...
“It’s my quiet time,” says Anderson, who is interrupting that sojourn to speak with a Variety reporter about his new film, “Licorice Pizza,” a warmhearted story about growing up in the San Fernando Valley. “I have a lot of siblings, and the only time to have any alone time was to wake up before anybody else. The only problem is by 1 o’clock you’re wasted.”
He’s excited but nervous to discuss his new film,...
- 11/10/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Like everyone else, we love Lucy and celebrate the anniversary of Lucille Ball‘s landmark laffer “I Love Lucy,” which debuted on CBS exactly 70 years ago today on Oct. 15, 1951. The show won the Emmy for Best Situation Comedy twice and Ball claimed two trophies as well.
Ball went on to win two more Emmys for the last two seasons of her second series, “The Lucy Show”. In 1967, she edged out “Bewitched” stars Elizabeth Montgomery and Agnes Moorehead and “That Girl’s” Marlo Thomas. By the way, Montgomery never won an Emmy, despite nine nods, including five for her work as that witch with a twitch. The following year, in what was to be her final Emmy race, Ball prevailed yet again. Her competition: Montgomery and Thomas, as well as Barbara Feldon (“Get Smart”) and Paula Prentiss (“He and She”).
Watch that moment from the 1967 Emmycast when Ball wins. As her...
Ball went on to win two more Emmys for the last two seasons of her second series, “The Lucy Show”. In 1967, she edged out “Bewitched” stars Elizabeth Montgomery and Agnes Moorehead and “That Girl’s” Marlo Thomas. By the way, Montgomery never won an Emmy, despite nine nods, including five for her work as that witch with a twitch. The following year, in what was to be her final Emmy race, Ball prevailed yet again. Her competition: Montgomery and Thomas, as well as Barbara Feldon (“Get Smart”) and Paula Prentiss (“He and She”).
Watch that moment from the 1967 Emmycast when Ball wins. As her...
- 10/15/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Like everyone else, we love Lucy and celebrate the anniversary of Lucille Ball‘s landmark laffer “I Love Lucy,” which debuted on CBS exactly 69 years ago today on Oct. 15, 1951. The show won the Emmy for Best Situation Comedy twice and Ball claimed two trophies as well.
Ball went on to win two more Emmys for the last two seasons of her second series, “The Lucy Show”. In 1967, she edged out “Bewitched” stars Elizabeth Montgomery and Agnes Moorehead and “That Girl’s” Marlo Thomas. By the way, Montgomery never won an Emmy, despite nine nods, including five for her work as that witch with a twitch. The following year, in what was to be her final Emmy race, Ball prevailed yet again. Her competition: Montgomery and Thomas, as well as Barbara Feldon (“Get Smart”) and Paula Prentiss (“He and She”).
Watch that moment from the 1967 Emmycast when Ball wins. As her...
Ball went on to win two more Emmys for the last two seasons of her second series, “The Lucy Show”. In 1967, she edged out “Bewitched” stars Elizabeth Montgomery and Agnes Moorehead and “That Girl’s” Marlo Thomas. By the way, Montgomery never won an Emmy, despite nine nods, including five for her work as that witch with a twitch. The following year, in what was to be her final Emmy race, Ball prevailed yet again. Her competition: Montgomery and Thomas, as well as Barbara Feldon (“Get Smart”) and Paula Prentiss (“He and She”).
Watch that moment from the 1967 Emmycast when Ball wins. As her...
- 10/15/2020
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
“I Love Lucy” is the subject of a heartfelt tribute from “Will & Grace” on April 9. In “We Love Lucy,” Grace (Debra Messing), Jack (Sean Hayes) and Karen (Megan Mullally) each imagine themselves as Lucy Ricardo opposite Will (Eric McCormack) as her hubby Ricky. Part of the fun is seeing this trio of talent also play Fred and Ethel in various combinations.
“Will & Grace” and “I Love Lucy” both won Best Comedy Series at the Emmys. The former did it in 2000; Hayes and Mullally won that year as well. McCormack prevailed in 2001 and Messing in 2003. “Will and Grace” is only the third TV series in Emmy history in which all four of the main cast won awards, following “All in the Family” and “The Golden Girls.”
Of the quartet of talent on “I Love Lucy,” it was only the women — Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance — who won over the TV academy voters.
“Will & Grace” and “I Love Lucy” both won Best Comedy Series at the Emmys. The former did it in 2000; Hayes and Mullally won that year as well. McCormack prevailed in 2001 and Messing in 2003. “Will and Grace” is only the third TV series in Emmy history in which all four of the main cast won awards, following “All in the Family” and “The Golden Girls.”
Of the quartet of talent on “I Love Lucy,” it was only the women — Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance — who won over the TV academy voters.
- 4/9/2020
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
To the public, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were the world's greatest couple. "I would defy anyone to deny that they were one of the 20th century’s greatest couples," Carol Channing, a friend of the duo told Closer in the magazine's newest issue, on newsstands now. "There’s Adam and Eve, Caesar and Cleopatra, Napoleon and Josephine, George and Gracie... and Desi and Lucy." But behind closed doors, their marriage — and eventual divorce — was a mess. Lucille and Desi eloped just six months after they met in 1940. After over a decade of marriage, the couple welcomed a daughter, Lucie, in 1951, and a son, Desi, in 1953. They divorced in 1960, 20 years after they tied the knot (Lucie was nine years old and Desi was seven years old at the time). (Photo Credit: Getty Images) "They were fighting all the time when we were growing up. There was a lot of anger and screaming,...
- 8/1/2018
- by Samantha Faragalli
- Closer Weekly
The long-planned film about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz hasn't begun shooting, but the iconic star's daughter, Lucie Arnaz, is opening up about it for the first time. Her fellow executive producers, including screenwriter Aaron Sorkin — who previously worked on The West Wing — "presented it in such a wonderful, positive, optimistic way," she revealed. "They said, 'Look, this is a complicated story. There were lots of problems. But we believe this was one of the [greatest] love stories ever." Lucy, Desi, and their two children. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) Lucie, 66, was also reassured after meeting with two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, who will play her mother. "She said, 'It must have been holy hell to try to keep a marriage together and a family and have the kind of success she had.' I said, 'Thank you very much,' and 'We're done.' That's all I needed to hear." During...
- 5/6/2018
- by Closer Staff
- Closer Weekly
Decades before duos like Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston captivated fans and covered what seemed to be every magazine, there were Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The term "celebrity power couple" hadn't yet become a thing, but the two stars of Hollywood's golden era were the epitome of one - or so it seemed. It was hard not to love them (they starred in a show called I Love Lucy, after all). Their onscreen chemistry mirrored their real-life marriage, but when the cameras stopped rolling, so did the charm. Lucy and Desi, who first met in 1940, went on to have a tumultuous 20-year marriage. And even after they split, the pair - who had two children together, Lucie and Desi Jr. - remained in each other's lives until Desi's death in 1986. Despite their split, they were (and still are) one of the most fascinating and beloved Hollywood couples of all time.
- 12/21/2017
- by Caitlin Gallagher
- Popsugar.com
Amazon Studios has acquired the Lucille Ball biopic “Lucy and Desi,” in which Cate Blanchett will star as the actress. TheWrap reported two years ago that Blanchett was attached to star. Aaron Sorkin is penning the script while Escape Artists Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch are producing. The film will chronicle Ball’s 20-year marriage to Desi Arnaz, with whom she starred on the classic TV sitcom “I Love Lucy.” Ball had two children with Arnaz before they divorced in 1960. She married Gary Morton the following year. Blanchett won.
- 8/7/2017
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Escape Artists are working on an unauthorized biopic of Lucille Ball, the star of the classic TV sitcom "I Love Lucy." Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) is set to write the script and Cate Blanchett is attached to star. The film will chronicle Ball's 20-year marriage to Desi Arnaz, who co-starred on "I Love Lucy." The two had two children before their divorce in 1960. Ball married Gary Morton the following year. The two children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr, will produce with Escape Artists.
- 9/7/2015
- WorstPreviews.com
Cate Blanchett is attached to star in an authorized biopic of Hollywood legend Lucille Ball that Aaron Sorkin is set to write for Escape Artists, TheWrap has learned. The film will chronicle Ball’s 20-year marriage to Desi Arnaz, with whom she starred on the classic TV sitcom “I Love Lucy.” Ball had two children with Arnaz before they divorced in 1960. She married Gary Morton the following year. Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. will produce with Escape Artists, whose executive Jenna Block will oversee development of the project on behalf of the Sony-based company. Also Read: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara Quietly.
- 9/2/2015
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
Cate Blanchett is reportedly attached to star in an Aaron Sorkin-penned, authorized biopic of Hollywood legend Lucille Ball that has been setup at Sony-based Escape Artists.
The story chronicles Ball's two decade long marriage to Desi Arnaz, with whom she starred on the classic TV sitcom "I Love Lucy," Ball had two children with Arnaz before they divorced in 1960 and she married Gary Morton a year later.
Lucy Arnaz Jr. and Desi Arnaz Jr. will produce but both Blanchett and Sorkin's reps have yet to comment. Sorkin has had a habit of tackling biopics in recent years such as "The Social Network" and the upcoming "Steve Jobs".
Source: The Wrap...
The story chronicles Ball's two decade long marriage to Desi Arnaz, with whom she starred on the classic TV sitcom "I Love Lucy," Ball had two children with Arnaz before they divorced in 1960 and she married Gary Morton a year later.
Lucy Arnaz Jr. and Desi Arnaz Jr. will produce but both Blanchett and Sorkin's reps have yet to comment. Sorkin has had a habit of tackling biopics in recent years such as "The Social Network" and the upcoming "Steve Jobs".
Source: The Wrap...
- 9/2/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Lenny Bruce: Dustin Hoffman in the 1974 Bob Fosse movie. Lenny Bruce movie review: Polemical stand-up comedian merited less timid biopic (Oscar Movie Series) Bob Fosse's 1974 biopic Lenny has two chief assets: the ever relevant free speech issues it raises and the riveting presence of Valerie Perrine. The film itself, however, is only sporadically thought-provoking or emotionally gripping; in fact, Lenny is a major artistic letdown, considering all the talent involved and the fertile material at hand. After all, much more should have come out of a joint effort between director Fosse, fresh off his Academy Award win for Cabaret; playwright-screenwriter Julian Barry, whose stage version of Lenny earned Cliff Gorman a Tony Award; two-time Best Actor Oscar nominee Dustin Hoffman (The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy); and cinematographer Bruce Surtees (Play Misty for Me, Blume in Love). Their larger-than-life subject? Lenny Bruce, the stand-up comedian who became one of the...
- 6/5/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Lee Tannen knew legendary actress Lucille Ball like few others. A distant cousin of her second husband, Gary Morton, Tannen met Ball as a child. Some 25 years later, they became very close friends; from 1980 until her death in 1989 (save for a riff that lasted more than a year).
In his book, I Loved Lucy: My Friendship with Lucille Ball, Tannen gives a intimate look at the private self and world of one of television's most popular performers. When not traveling for various events, functions or vacations, the two spent much of their time together simply playing Ball's favorite game, backgammon, at her Beverly Hills home. Aside from offering lots of interesting anecdotes and insights, I Loved Lucy also gives readers some details about Ball's only unsuccessful series, 1986's Life with Lucy. It was dumped by ABC after eight episodes had aired.
In his book, I Loved Lucy: My Friendship with Lucille Ball, Tannen gives a intimate look at the private self and world of one of television's most popular performers. When not traveling for various events, functions or vacations, the two spent much of their time together simply playing Ball's favorite game, backgammon, at her Beverly Hills home. Aside from offering lots of interesting anecdotes and insights, I Loved Lucy also gives readers some details about Ball's only unsuccessful series, 1986's Life with Lucy. It was dumped by ABC after eight episodes had aired.
- 10/25/2010
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Some of Lucille Ball's love letters, awards, photos, and a Rolls Royce were set to be auctioned off on Saturday. Heritage Auction Galleries was selling the items on behalf of Susie McCallister Morton, the widow of Gary Morton. He was Ball's second husband and an executive producer on Here's Lucy and Life with Lucy. Susie Morton married him after the death of Ball in 1989. They were married for three years. Gary Morton died in 1999 and his belongings went to his widow as part of his estate.
Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, the daughter of Ball and her first husband Desi Arnaz, sought to obtain the Morton/Ball love letters and Ball's lifetime achievement awards after Susie Morton put them up for sale. Luckinbill said that she wanted to donate them to a museum.
Some of the items were reportedly left to Luckinbill after her...
Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, the daughter of Ball and her first husband Desi Arnaz, sought to obtain the Morton/Ball love letters and Ball's lifetime achievement awards after Susie Morton put them up for sale. Luckinbill said that she wanted to donate them to a museum.
Some of the items were reportedly left to Luckinbill after her...
- 7/20/2010
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
London, July 16 – Late actress Lucille Ball’s heirs are fighting over a planned auction of her belongings, which her daughter says will “prostitute” the star’s memory.
The sale includes love letters from Ball to her second husband Gary Morton, along with her personal address book, the couple’s 1984 Silver Spur Rolls-Royce, and some of her awards.
Morton’s third wife Susie Morton, who was formerly Susie McAllister, a former professional golfer on the Lpga tour, is offering the items for sale.
But now she is facing a fight with Ball’s daughter,.
The sale includes love letters from Ball to her second husband Gary Morton, along with her personal address book, the couple’s 1984 Silver Spur Rolls-Royce, and some of her awards.
Morton’s third wife Susie Morton, who was formerly Susie McAllister, a former professional golfer on the Lpga tour, is offering the items for sale.
But now she is facing a fight with Ball’s daughter,.
- 7/16/2010
- by News
- RealBollywood.com
Lucille Ball 's daughter has no right to some of her mom's memorabilia that's about to go up for auction ... that's according to a lawsuit filed to make sure the auction doesn't get derailed. The lawsuit was filed in L.A. County Superior Court by Susie Morton -- whose late husband Gary Morton was previously married to Lucy when she died. According to the lawsuit, Gary inherited a bunch of autographed pictures, artwork, and furnishings...
- 7/13/2010
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
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