Reviews

Kim Novak was a star at Columbia Pictures: Picnic, Pal Joey, Starngers When We Meet, The Notorious Landlady, and loasn outs to RKO for The Man With The Golden Arm and Paramoun t for her most famous film Vertigo Kim co starred with the best of Hollywood durin g her career: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Rita Hayworth, James Stewart, Roz Russell, Jack Lemmon, Judy Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and some of the finest actors of that era Frederic March Eleanor Parker, Peter Finch, Ben Kingsley Kim's Directors were Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, and Richard Quine (whose deep love for Kim shows in a series of hit Novak-Quine movies at Columbia

Pepe starred South America's big star Cantinflas and Columbia cast all of its stars such as Kim Novak and Jack Lemmon to do cameos. Kim Novak in her brief sequence is so beautiful one could get dizzy and feint.

Kim Novak was to me what a movie star should look like!

Lucille Ball v called Jean Arthur to invite Jean to come to Los Angeles and discuss starring in a Desilu pilot. Ms. Arthur after completing Shane was alway from filmed entertainment for 15 years. Her first project was a guest stint on "Gunsmoke", and you would never guess that Ms. Arthur had been away. Jean Arthur looked fantastic an gave a great performance.

I was a student studying the great Directors and developed Jean Arthur worked with the best: Billy Wilder, George Stevens, Howard Hawks, and Frank Capra. and her co stars Cary Grant, Marlene Dietrich, John Wayne, Rita Hayworth, James Stewart and Ronald Colman were some of the great stars Jean Arthur worked with.

Ms. Arthur's films are considered classics: Mr. Deeds, Shane, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, A Foreign Affair, and her greatest performance was in Stevens The More The Merrier co starring Joel McCrea., Jean Arthur was nominated for an Oscar but lost to Jennifer Jones The Song Of Bernadette.

Ms. Arthur was a great star but also n introvert and never "promoted herself:" Read Joh Oller' s fine book on thus great star!

Lucille Ball who was a bit player during Ms. Arthurs great stardom became CEO of Desilu and tried to get Ms. Arthur to star in a Desilu pilot. of "Mrs Aris Goes Tp Pars"but the deal feel thru. Instead Dick Quine a great director of those great Kim Novak movies at Columbia Bell Book and Candle, Strangers When We Meet, among others. created a TV pilot called Mother Word a is Law Also starring a very fine actor Ron Harper. Ms .Arthur was given a great wardrobe by Nolan Miller and a great production by Universal. I liked the show but it was on too late at 10PM where most of Ms. Arthur's elderly fans went to bed . CBS gave up on this show too quickly. The TV show was renamed The Jean Arthur Show. I could have listened to Jean Arthur's voice forever. (Actresses of the Golden Era had distinctive voices: Kate Hepburn, Susan Hayward, Bette Davis)

Jean Arthur was a finalist in the hunt for s Scarlett O Hara and while no one could ever top Vivien Leigh, Jean Arthur would have been a very Interesting selection.

Ms. Arthur turned down Capra's It's A Wonderful Life, and walked out of Born Yesterday on Broadway which garnered the great Judy Holiday the Oscar! Ms. Arthur declined Steve McQueen's mom in Junior Bonner and the small role of the missionary in Ross Hunter's disastrous remake of Lost Horizon. I am a big Hunter fan and he should have stuck with those e great lush love stories such as Imitation of Life (Lana Turner John Gavin) and Back Street (Susan Haywad and John Gavin)

I recommend The Jean Arthur Show

MGM filmed "I'll Cry Tomorrow" and Susan Hayward was a 20th CenturyFox star and MGM was able borrow Susan and that Susan gave a great in I'll Cry Tomorrow. Susan gave a great performance film directed by Daniel Mann. Mr. Mann directed Shirley Booth, Anna Magnani, Susan Hayward an Liz Taylor to Best Actress Oscars.

Susan portrays the curse of alcoholism. This film has a now famous very shattering finale with "Lillian Ross This Is Your Life". The Oscar went to aAnna Magnani for the Rose Tatoo. In my estimation Susan gave the greatest performance that year.

Susan gave the greatest performance of her legendary career in I Want To Live which won her a long deserved Oscar and the shouts and applause from the audience and Jerry Lewis asking "Susie" to take a curtain call part of Hollywood legend.

RIP Susan Hayward

I have been a fan of Novak's since I saw Kim in this movie/. Kim was signed to a 7 year contract and at the finale of her contract Kim was th biggest star i the world, This film a comedy/mystery about a murderer in the midst was well acted bt Kim who is incredibly beautiful reminding me of Jean Harlow. Kim started oit as a featured player in Judy Holiday and JackLemmon's Phfft, and then worked again with Jack Lemmon only this movie Kim was billed above Lemmon and also billed above Fred Astaire.

Richard Quine directed this movie and Quine's deep love for Novak is obvious. Quine directed Kim in Bell Book And Candle and also Strangers When We Meet.

This was Kim Novak's farewell at Columbia and that great Studio (River Kwai, Lawrence Of Arabia, Funny Girl, etc) etc named a Theatre after Kim on the Sony Lot. This is great recognition of a great Star. Other stars who have Theatre's on the Sony Lot named after them are Cary Grant, William Holden, Burt Lancaster(Hey Columbia The Rita Hayworth Dining Room has closed, name a stage after Miss Hayworth! And Columbia should name stages after Sam Spiegel, and Jack Lemmon

Tom Berenger is great in this movie. Berenger was a leading candidate to bifg stardom and had all the attributes. Berenger plays a singing cowboy looking tremendous and has a shoot out with John Wayne's son, Patrick Wayne. The film is beautifully photographed. There is a sub plot when Patrick Wayne taunts Berenger about being a "confident heterosexual". G W Bailey of the Polic Academy films is in this film too providing comic relief..

Tom Berenger most famous for his searing performance in "Platoon" and the "Major League" films also was in a film favorite of mine "At Play In the Fields Of the Lord"

Mr. Berenger: If you are reading tis, I will be writing you a letter care of your Agency. Have an idea for a film role for you

Tom Berenger

Lana Turner the great star of the Postman Always Rings Ywice, The Bad and the Beautiful, Peyton Place, Imitation Of Life, Love Has Many Faces and Madame X made this film and I wish Lana hadn't. Lana was a superb actress and a most beautiful woman. I always felt that her hard partying ways and the Stompanato Murder ( Lana was 'dating' a Mafia hod who was beating her and Lana's daughter Cheryl claimed she knifed this raging mafia mobster and he died. That is the official story , I feel her partying ways and the Stompanator murder ruined her chances- even if years after the murder- for an Oscar nom if not the Oscar itself for Madame X her greatest performance.)

Lana Turner went to Mexico City and maybe the altitude of that great City got to everyone making this mess of a movie The film's titles are sloppy. The film open as Lana a great Stage Star announces her retirement Lana is supported by two acting professionals: Dan O Herlihy and Richard Egan.

Lana had Billy Travilla who designed clothes for great stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Susan Hayward do her clothes for this film but in this film. Lana wears Travilla's outfits that are down right ugly.

Lana Turner is supported by Oscar Winner George Chakiris and others trying to murder her with Drugs hence the title "The Big Cube." This movie finished off Lana Turner as a star.

Thought: What is someone ran a double bill Lana Turner "in The Big Cube" with Jennifer Jones in the atrocious "Angel Angel Down We Go" . Two Great Stars in films that are disgraceful. Both were made in 1969.

Maureen O'Hara my candidate for the most beautiful woman ever to grace the Silver Screen with a justly awarded Honorary Oscar for her performances in the Hunchback of Notre Dame, How Green Was My Valley, The Quiet Man, The Parent Trap, McClintock and Only The Lonely stars in this beautiful film.

Ms. O Hara does well in this film and is ably supported by Richard Thomas. The story is simple: A rich old Lady takes in a family and finds love and com fort. Ms. O Hara a skilled actress plays the starring role perfectly.

I recommend this film for it s moral lesson but of course yo see a Great Star Maureen O Hara who worked with John Waynr, James Stewart, Henru Fonda, Jackie Gleason, Charles Laughton, in her great career.

Kim Novak! The name brings back memories of glamour and matchless beauty. Kim was signed by. Columbia Pictures and skyrocketed to International fame hru early movies Pushover, 5 Against The House and Phfft. Kim's big break came as the female lead in Josh Logan's Picnic starring opposite Wiiliam Holden ( a sequence of Kim and Bill dancing is more erotic than the trash today seen in movies). Onward Kim went wit the The Eddy Duchin Story, (with a fabulous romantic walk in the Rain thru Central Park, Jeanne Eagles which made her a superstar!, Man With The Golden Arm, Pal Joey, and then onto two movies with James Stewart Hitchcock's masterpiece Vertigo and rhis film Bell Book And Candle.

Kim was #1 at the box office worldwide

Columbia cast Kim in this movie whichbwas a hit stage play produced by Irene Mayer Selznick ( David's ex). Kim play a witch and catches the notice of James Stewart (in a role vastly different than Vertigo). The production is first rate with Jean Louis doingKim's wardrobe and Helen Hunt the top notch Coliumbia stylist . I often wonder what movie shows Kim at the most beautiful: the cameo in "Pepe" or the scene where she is named Queen in "Picnic" or the Jean Harlow look in T"he Notorious Landlady"? Kim at the time of her peak was the most beautiful woman on the screen.

Kim was directed in this movie by Richard Quine who was deeply in love with Kim. They made several movies together the romantic "Strangers When We Meet," The Notorious Landlady," but I feel this film "Bell Book and Candle" shows Kim at the apex of her stardom.

Some stars match perfectly with studios: Rock Hudson at Universal, Paul Muni at Warners, and most definitely Kim Novak at Columbia. Hindsight is always 20/20 and I wonder when Kim's 7 year contract was over at Columbia she re-signed. The match of Kim Novak and Columbia was a match made in Heaven.

Bell Book And Candle also stars Ernie Kovacs and in a supporting role Jack Lemmon. Lemmon and Kim made Phfft with the great Judy Holiday and then would co star in the Notorious Landlady. I wish they re teamed later in their careers.

Kim in her great career worked with Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Rita Hayworth, Judy Holiday, James Stewart, Roz Russell, William Holden, and just about every signifiant leading man: Tyrone Power, James Garner, Charles Bronson, Tony Curtis, Peter Finch, Frederic March, Cliff Robertson.

Kim's Directors were Alfred Hitchcock, Otto Preminger,, Billy Wilder, and for me her greatest Richard Quine

A Great Star!

My girl friend years ago saw Bette Davis on David Susskind's TV show and referred to Bette as " Miss Actress:" I truly believe it would be the title of a new book on La Davis!

Bette had a tremendous hit in "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane" with Joan Crawford. We all know the feud that developed between the two great Stars. And we all know that Joan accepted the Oscar for Anne Bancroft which created an illusion it was Crawford not Bette winning the Best Actress Oscar. Bette noted correctly that both Crawford and Davis had percentages Crawford took less money but was set to get 15% of the net, Bette was nearly broke and took a larger salary but was getting 10% of the net. Bette was correct that had she won the Oscar it would have made another $1 million to the picture and both Stars would have reaped hundreds of thousand o dollars.s. I don't want Price Waterhouse to sue me but I always felt Joan somehow found out that Bette was not the winner.

Robert Aldrich got both of the women together for Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte but Bette was filled with anger and hostility and made life for Crawford tough. This film is about a woman Charlotte (played brilliantly by Davis) who is visited by her cousin Miriam played by Crawford. Miriam is up to no good and in this film it is Bette's Charlotte that is being tormented by Miriam. Crawford saw her role diminished and got "ill" and the Insurance company dictated hat Crawford had to either return to 20th to finish the picture or be fired. Aldrich cashed in his insurance and Joan was let go.

The first choice to replace raeford was Vivien Leigh. Astounding. Scarlett vs. Jezebel. Bette was against the casting and Ms. Leigh turned down the role. It would have been the acting contest of all time.! Loretta Young and Barbara Stanwyck were both offered the role but they turned it down too. 20th was demanding the picture be completed or it was going to be scrapped. Bette was a legend but had just finished "Where Love Has Gone" with Susan Hayward and Bette and Susie did not get along. Susie got first billing top. billing and Susie joined Miriam Hopkins and Joan Crawford on Bette's hate list.

Bette had one female friend who was a true friend and the part of Miriam was offered to Olivia De Havilland. Olivia gave a great performance as Miriam. (Olivia herself had a personal feud with her sister Academy Award Winner Joan Fontaine. Joseph Cotten, Agnes Moorehead , Brice Dern, and Mary. Astor, and Ccil Calloway are all superb. I wish this picture would have been in color as Baton Rouge is so beautiful.

Top notch production values, and great supporting casting. Ellen Corby is seen briefly at the end and was part of the Aldrich stock company as was Victor Buono. Corby is in Kim Novak'"The Legend of Lylah Clare and Buono was splendid in Baby Jane and in this film and also appeared in Aldrich's Sinatra film "Four 4 Texas"

This movie's back story is even greater than thr film itself which is splendid.

George Peppard was given Spencer Tracy's bungalow and the emphasis at MGM was on Peppard showcasing him in top quality films. George Peppard was groomed by MGM during the early 60's. on MGM film Vincente Minnelli's brilliant Home From The Hill, s the massive hit in the Cinerama process How The West Was Won directed by John Ford, Henry Hathaway and George Marshall. While Greg Peck, James Stewart, Henry Fonda John Wayne were superb Peppard was the thread that held it together dramatically. Peppard went on loanout (rather than starring in a predictable film.. Loanouts to Paramount for Audrey Hepburn'd Breakfast At Tiffany, and a smashing big hit The Carpetbahhers

Peppard free lanced after laving MGM and starred in this Columnia contract film. It is just okay film that could have been better. Peppard went to Columbia for The Victors (another all star, co staring cast Jeanne Moreau, Albert Finney, and his fellow MGM contact star George Hamilton Michael Callan a Columbia star has a small role in this film.

Peppard had as a co star Jean Seberg, beautiful and talented Jean Seberg simply did not click with American audiences. Seberg starred in Moment To Moment with Sean Garrison, Ross Hunter's smash hit Airport and Paramounts flop Paint Your Wagon which has one of the great musical stores of all time Co starred were Lee Marvin who hit it big with Cat Ballou and The Dirty Dozen, The film also has lint Eastwood

Josh Logan who made Kim Novak a true superstar in Picnic passed on Kim for Seberg. The film flopped. I wished Kim got the female lead bu imagine since the film was a major flop. Kim was lucky to avois this film which cost Paramount milions.

This is an okay cop drama. I hoped it wouldbe a hitas Peppard was one of my favorite stars.

Stanley Kramer known for very challenging films made "Judgment At Nuremberg" with a big list od stars as I have ever seen: Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Montgomery Clift, Judy Garland, Richard Widmark, Bill Shatner and Max Schell Filmed mostly at Universal in Los Angeles the movie recounts the trials of Nazi War Criminals. Tracy, Schell, Garland were all nominated and Max Schell won and in his acceptance speech recognized the great Tracy for his support.

Spencer Tracy was to me the finest actor in the American movie system. Tracy and Stanley Ktamer got along famously: Inherit The Wind, Judgment At Nuremberg, It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World, and his last movie Guess who's Coming To Dinner which dealt with Racism and co. starred Katharine Heoburn who deservedly won the Best Actress Oscar.

I am Catholic but saw this movie on TV at the JCC in New Orleans with many men crowded around the TV. They quietly wep t in memory of their loved ones.

Spencer Tracy who gives a monumental 10 minute speech should have won the Oscar; Tracy died a few we after the conclusion of filming as the Judge in Judgment at Nuremberg. Tracy's speech was delivered in one-take and at the conclusion the other actors, extra's and executives gave Tracy a 10 minute standing ovation. This is one film where acting students should study. A few others are: Susan Hayward's legendary performance in I Want To Live, Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd., Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot, ad James Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy. There are other performances of course but the 4 mentioned above are acting at its finest.

I give this movie a 10!

Troy Donahue was a truly big star at Warner Bros. Troy was under cotract to Universal and made a great hit in Lana Turner's splendid soap opea Imitation Of Life. Troy went t nearby Warner Bros., and was first cast in the fine film A Crowded Sky" but then hit the big time in DElmer Daves massive hit A Summer Place with Sandra Dee. (Troy may have let Universal bit Sandra went to Universal and became a huge box office star in Imitation Of Life, Come September, workinf with such big stars as RockHudson and Lana Turner and John Gavin and Gina Lollobrigida). Delmer Daves film " A Summer Place" is a classic with a great musical score incredibly beautiful scenery and a great supporting cast: Dorothy McGuire, Richard Egan and Constance Ford. (Ms. Ford seemed to have a lock on "tough women" roles at WB with Diane McBain in "Claudelle Inglish" Shirley Knight in WB "House of Women" Troy Donahue's smash hit "Rome Adventure "with Suzanne Pleshette

Troy Donahue was a major Star at WB. Troy made this film directed by Willaim Conrad who would go on to star in the successful TV series Jake and the Fat Man. This movie is predictable and didn't do the business Troy's other WB movies. WB made this movie in black and white and color would have been better.

Joey Heatherton was cast. Joey made Richard Chamberlain's fine dram at MGM "Twilight Of Honor" Joey then was cast with 2 movie legends Susan Hayward and Bette Davis in Paramount's "Where Love Has Gone" which was loosely based on the sensational Lana Turner -Johnny Stompanato murder case. Joey played Susan Hayward's daughter and Bette Davis' grandaughter ( I would have thought "Where Love Has Gone" would have propelled Joey great stardom. Joey then was signed to do this movie but to me the sparks didnt fly between Troy and Joey

What happened next is up to dispute: Troy Donahie had 2 years left on his contract an insisted WB give him his release. Jack Warner gave Troy his release but per Troy blackballed him in the movie Industry. Where Troy's peers at WB Bob Conrad got the Wild Wild West and Van Williams got the Green Hornet and Chad Everett got Medical Center Troy's career went downward.

David Selznicjk was a larger than life Producer who it seems only produced major films: David was the Producer of MGM's great all star D"inner At Eight" with an incomparable cast: Marie Dressler, Jean Harlow, Wallace Beery, etc. Selznick's most famous film was " "" Gone With The Wind" starring lark Gable and being brilliant PR wise started a campaign for Scarlett O Hara with Jean Arthur, Paulette Goddard, Norma Shearer and newomers Susan Hayward, Lana Turner being tested before the role went to Vivien Leigh for her legendary performance.

Selznick met a beautiful actress Phylis Isley and her eferred to her "The Big Eyed Girl" whom he would become totally obsessed with and re named her "Jennifer Jones". David Selznick put Jennifer under conract . Great films roles such as her Oscar winning "Song of Bernadette," the rambunctious "Duel In The Sun". a memorable love story" Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" would estalish Miss Jones as one of the biggest stars of the 1950=s.

David Selznick secured the remake rights to " A Farewell To Arms" and hired John Huston to direct and Rock Hudson then the biggest male star in the world to co star with Jennifer. 20th was set to distribute this Selznick International film. Huston who diected Jennifer in 2 of his earlier moves and with whom Jennifer had a difficult time time proved very frustrating to Jennifer in his direction on "A Farewell To Arms" Selznick and Huston feuded and soon Selznick fired Huston and replaced him with Charles Vidor.

This was a big budget film with great scenes in the Italian alps. Jennifer is quite good and so is Rock Hudson who did this film on loan out from Universal. Hemingway did not like the finished film and Jennifer would take 5 years off befoe her next film "Tender Is The Night"

I was taken by Jennifer Jones and wished Jennifer had made more movies but after T"ender Is he Night "there were only 3 more films "The Idol" with Michael Parks, the disgraceful "Angel Angel Down We Go". and her biggest hit " The Towering Inferno"

I suggest a brilliant book ""WestWest of Eden" which has sections of the Book devoted to Hollywood Royalty such as . The Warner's, The Stein's and a big section of the book on Jennifer Jones. Jennifer in ther interviews er was portrayed in various media as a very shy stuttering actress controlled by Selznick. The book "" West Of Eden" portrays Jennifer as a driven woman who.left Robert Walker to marry David Selznick and demand to be called to use her clout as Mrs. Selznick by all film crews, and who had a disastrous relationship with her son Michael Walker and a violent one with her troubled daughter Mary Jennifer who jumped from a skyscraper on the 20th Fox Lot where Jennifer made many of he hit films Song Of Bernadette, Love Is A Many Spllendored Thing, Tender Is The Night and The Towering Inferno. Jennifer made headlines after Selznick died by attempting suicide/ It was noted she was depressed over the death of Charles Bickford. and was visited in the hospital by stars such as Ingrid Bergman and Van Johnson. The reality is that Jennifer had an affair with her therapist and demanded he leave his m marriage which he refused to do.

Jennifer Jones was a true magnetic exotically, very chic star, a great actress and a troubled woman.

George Peppard was an MGM Star and in those days that meant being with the best and biggest studio of them all. Peppard joined MGM in 1959 and was given a leafing role in The Subterreans with Leslie Caron and another MGM star on the rise Jim Hutton. MGM had a powerful PR department and was represented to the Hollywood gossip columnists as the new Spencer Tracy! MGM even gave Peppard Tracy's bungalow on the then fabled lot. (Other stars groomed by Metro: Paula Prentiss as he new Jean Arthur!, Jim Hutton as a combination of Jack Lemmon and James Stewart and Yvette Mimieux as a Audrey Hepburn type. The biggest draw at the time was Richard Chamberlain who got 15,000 fan letters a week. MGM capitalized on Chamberlain's fame with a series of movies: Thunder of Drums with George Hamilton, Joy In The Morning with Ms. Mimieux.

I apologize for the long intro but Peppa the all starred had risen thru the ranks of Hollywood stars with big hits on loan out to Paramount for Breakfast at Tiffany's and The Carpetbaggers on loan out to Columbia for all star The Victors Peppard had several hits at his home studio Vincente Minnelli's great Home From The Hill, the all star John Ford-Henry Hathaway-George Marshall Cinerama all star --Greg Peck, Debbie Reynolds, James Stewart, John Wayne-blockbuster HowThe West Was Won. MGM insisted on a Peppard film before his contract expired and Geoge Peppatd starred in the great all star Operation Crossbow with Sophia Loren, and Richrd Johnso who was married to Kim Novak at the time.n

George Peppard being an MGM contract star was promoted as the new Tracyand going thru a divorce from his wife Helen Davies ( the Mother of his 2 small children) took the first job that came along that paid him a superstar salary and that movie was The Third Day. Peppard gets absolute first billing and as his co star the exciting Elizabeth Ashley- his co star in The Carpetbaggers- who was at this time his wife.

Excellent Warner Bros,. production values but the film got only a fair distribution and as I recall Peppard's first and last film at WB.

Paul Muni, not James Cagney, not Humphrey Bogardt not Errol Flyyn but Mr. Paul Muni was the #1 Male star. Sadly forgotten by many Muni was a power house actoe with starring oles in I Am A Fugitive Of A Chain Gang, The Story of Louis Pasteur, Juarez and this magnificent film The Life Of Emile Zola. Hal Wallis Head of Production said that the studio allowed Muni's eccentric behavior behind the cameras because he brought great distinction to WB. Muni won the Oscar for his performance which included a great speech about freedom that is ais that the crew broke into a 7 minute applause. Bette David the Queen Of The Warner Lot admired Muni as they co starred in WB Bordertown. Note: Muni a great WB Star was loaned out to MGM for the great film the Good Earth with Luise Rainer.

Muni left WB and got a few good movie roles bt had to wait nealy 20 years for his 5th and last Oscar nom for Columbia's "The Last Angry Man"

Susan Hayward was a contract player at Warners and di a fww brief shots in WB films. Beautiful Susie left WB and went to Paramount where she got some plum roles such as Gary Cooper's Beau Geste, Frederic March I Married A Witch and Loretta Young in And Now Tomorrow

This film was set to be aBogey-Bacall film but the great Bogie developed cancer and both Bogie and Mrs Bogart aka Lauren Bacall droped out and Jack Warner asked Susan Hayward to return to WB where Susie was given a star Bungalow on the WB lot and her fave cinematographer Stanley Cortez (Cortez did the great train shot with Jennifer Jones and Robert Walker in Since You went Away), and her fave costume exec Charles LaMaire. Susan looks beautiful in this Carrolton Production her own production company named after her adopted town in Georgia (Susan married Floyd Eaton Chalkley a former FBI agent who was a strong Catholic and Susan converted to Catholicism and both Chalkley and Susan are interred in the Church graveyard.

Kirk Douglas replaced Bogart in this beautifully filmed movie.

Audrey Hepburn was perfection in this great movie direced by Fred Zinneman.

The story is abouta lovelt girl with a professed faith in God becoming a Nun and stationed in the Congo(formerly known as The Belgian Congo). A bit of georgrahy: The Congo is an immense Country with an abundance of Natural resources. It should be at the top tier of Countries.

The film shows the intensity a woman endures to become a nun. A difficult life. Audrey playing Sister Luke becomes more and more questioning of her vocation. The finale as in all great movies is memorable.

Audrey Hepburn was not a Catholic nor was Fred Zinneman nor the CEO of Warner Bros Jack Warner but all 3. deserve kudos for this movie a work of Art. Hepburn was nominated along with Doris Day for Pillow Talk, Liz Taylor and Kate Hepburn for Suddenly Last Summer and the winner great French actress Simone Signoret. Signore was great in Room At The Top but many felt her award was for the class she displayed during the Marilyn Monroe-Yves Montand affair

I am a practicing Catholic but I had a traumatic experience as a youngster at the hands of a Lay Teacher who became a Nun. She made me sit in a garbage can on front of my classmates In 5th grade! What could I have done yo deserve this? She became a Nun. I pity the people who had to experience her. I am sure there are great Nun's but the woman who made me sit inna garbage can was disturbed person.

Lucille Ball went to London to film a CBS Special as they were referred to in those days. It was a big deal to be filmed in color and shows the Star looking very beautiful. Lucy's zany antics on TV one sometimes forgets that La Ball was a old fashioned movie star and looked terrific and wore great fashions when not being Lucy Ricardo/Lucy Carter/Lucy Carmichael. Miss Ball was a stunning woman and this show Lucy in London shows La Ball in a very sexy outfits an dance routines.

This was the only show Desilu filmed overseas. However a man named Peter Cary based in London was in charge of Desilu International sold the Desilu portfolio of shows such as The Untouchables and Greatest Show On Earth to TV stations in Europe.

Lucy returned to Hollywood continuing her duties as CEO of Desilu with Mission Impossible Star Trek and Mannix on network TV and the film Yours Mine and Ours a smash hit in mpvie theatres.

Jean Arthur had been around since silent films but became a huge star with a gallery of smash hits: Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (James Stewart was great a Mr. Smith but Ms. Arthur got top billing!), Only Angels Have Wings, Talk Of The Town, Mr. Deeds Goes To Town, The Moore The Merrier and her last film the great classic Shane. Ms. Arthur worked with the best of Hollywood: Cary Grant, Rita Hayworth, Gary Cooper, James Stewart, Ronald Colman and John Wayne. Her Directors were the best: Billy Wilder, George Stevens, Frank Capra,

Lucille Ball, CEOof Desilu had a proposed tv series at Desilu based on the Mrs. Aris Goes To Paris and hoped Jean Arthur would star. Jean admired Ms. Ball greatly but took up Richard Quine's offer Mothers Word Is Law to have a title change to The Jean Arthur Show

Jean Arthur had been away from Hollywood for 15 years Richard Quine and Universal gave Jean a great co star in Ron Harper who plays her son.Universal splurged on s great wardrobe or this great sta with the magical voice. I saw several episodes and liked the one where she s defending a Rooster.

Jean was born in 1900. Her official bio was she was born in 1908. This put pressure on Jean to look 8 years younger than she was.

The people of Platsbugh NY have errected a huge monument tothis great star.

The TV show flopped .and Ms. Arthur returned to Carmel.

Jack Lemmon is the Captain of a 747 that crashed and is at the bottom of water. Showcased are truly great stars such as Olivia DeHavilland, Joseph Cotten and the great James Stewart. niversal touched base with many of its fine tv stars forroles in film.

In particular what I liked about this movie was the emphases on our great Navyn which raised the 747. There is no Navy in the world like the great US Navy. And I am saying this as a combat veteran of the US Army.

Lucille Ball worked at RKO and has walk-on;s and the speaking parts and then starring roles. Other female stars at that studio were Irene Dunne, Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers and Maureen O'Hara yet it was Ms. Ball who along with her husband bought the studio and its 3 studio lots to be named Desilu Gower, Desilu Cahuenga and Desilu Culver (the old Selznick studio where Gone With The Win, Rebecca, and Since You Went Away were filmed.

Desilu had a string of his I Love Lucy, Our Miss Brooks and then hit dramatic bulls-eye with The Untouchables. The Arnaz marriage failed and Ms. Ball bought out her husband and became the first and to this day the only female to run a studio. Lucille Ball over ruled her Board of Directors and gave Herb Solow the green light to produce Mission Impossible and Star Trek two very costly shows. Lucy also approved Mannix and filmed a smash hit Desilu film Yours Mine and Ours. Capping this acticty off was a great special Lucy show Lucy in London where she dropped the school marm clothes she wore in Here's Lucy and showed a vibrant, lithe body a chorus girl 30 years younger would envy. Lucy was more "Mame" in that special than she was in the WB film.

Lucille Ball made Here's Lucy with Gale Gordon and towards the end run of the series the premise became worn. Why would a gorgeous smart woman be in so many silly situations. Liz Smith the late great columnist said Lucy should have been a magazine editor who could control a situation with a glance of her eyes.

Lucy was first choice by Sinatra for the glowering figure Angela Lansbury played in Machurian Candidate. Lucy (along with Susan Hayward and Ava Gardner ) turned down the role Geraldine Page played so brilliantly on Sweet Bird Of Youth. Lucy woman told Dick Cavett she wanted to work with JohnFord which would have been a great opportunity to be seen as the great actress she was. Lucy Ricardo and Lucy Carmichael and Lucy Carter were fiction. The real Lucy was a tough beautiful, glamorous smart driven woman.

Paramount had a great popular hit in Terms Of Endearment.

Film Star Jennifer Jones bought this property and planned to star in it. This baffled me: I think Jennifer would have given Aurorsa a different interpretation, but that is not what puzzles me. Jennifer and 2nd husband David Selznick had a daughter Mary Jennifer. Mary Jennifer and Jennifer Jones had a corrosive relationship. (Read the great book 'West Of Eden). Mary Jennifer jumped to her death from a tall building in Century City the onetime site of the backlot of Song Of Bernadette, Love Has A Many Splendored Thing, Tender Is The Night et a Jennifer's classic films. l Why would Jennifer Jones star ina pic about a troubled relationship of Mother and Daughter? The sad final scene is wrenching

James Brooks took the property over from Jennifer Jones and cast Shirley MacLaine as Eurora and a terrific supporting cast of Jack Nichiolson, Jeff Bridges and most noteworthy Debra Winger. Ms. Winger had starred in 2 Paramount mega hits. Officer and a Gentleman and Urban Cowboy Debra Winger made Shirley MacLaine's life on this film unbearable to the point Shirley was going to quit.

MacLaine and Winger were both nominated for Best Actress. Shirley won. Debra Winger demanded first billing and Paramount gave in: On Print Ads Debra would come first on theatrical prints Shirley would be listed first. This picture plays a lot on cable and Shirley is listed first. Shirley won the Oscar but raw feelings towards Winger remain to this day.

This is a great movie set in River Oaks in Hosuston-plush area- and all give great performances. S sequel The Evening Star was made to less success but MacLiane and co star Bill Paxton were terrific.

Marilyn Monroe free of her 7 year contract with 20th Century Fox made this film in accord with MM's new 20th Contract. Marilyn after Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How To Marry a Millionaire, Seven Year Itch, Niagra, Bus Stop was the Queen of the American Screen.

Marilyn Monroe formed Marilyn Monroe Productions and made a distribution deal with Jl Warner CEO of Warner Bros. Laurence Olivier was Producer, Director and co-star-too much!-and found working with MM difficult. This film was the first and only film MM filmed outside the US and the film shot at UK's Shepperton studio was first and last " A Marilyn Monroe Picture" even with Olivier and Dame Sybil Thorndike cast.

MM's fame was such that the picture became an event and I remember MM showing up at the NY premiere with husband Arthur Miller in one of her famous "gowns" that looked like spray painted on MM.

Susan Hayward was a supporting player in Paramount's Beau Geste with Gary Cooper but advanced over the years to an accomplished honored Actress of the first rank. Susan was a great star at 20th Century Fox

Ms. Hayward, Mr. Cooper are joined by another pro Richard Widmark in this great film directed by Henry Hathaway who was known for his westerns.

I liked the scene where Susan Hayward on horseback jumps a wide gulch and if the horse doesn't make it they would fall to their death. At first the Men seem squemish but their horses make the jump.

The color photography of Mexico's mountains is stunning.

Hathaway a very tough person and Director and Ms. Hayward had spats on the movies they made together but Susan attended a Luncheon honoring Hathaway before she fell ill with brain cancer. Her table mate was another great Star Rita Hayworth and they held hands. Quality women

Enjoy this sprawling action oriented Western

Gary Cooper, Susan Hayward, Richard Widmark: Hollywood could use these type of Movie Stars today

Vincente Minnelli famous for fabulous MGM musicals was a interesting choice to direct this earthy, brawny dama set in the Texas Hill Country.

Bob Mitchum is great as is lovely Eleanor Parker-a great actress, and three young MGM contract players George Peppard , George Hamilton and Luana Patten. Mitchum and Parker are great in this movie and the film was a launching pad forGeorge Peppard in particular. Nexr for Peppard was the loan out to Paramount for Breakfast at Tiffany's then back to MGM for the colossal hit How The West Was Won, Another loan out to Columbia for the all star The Victors and then came the Capetbaggers that made Peppard a superstar. George Hamilton had several hits at MGM. where The Boys Are, Light In The Piazza,. Lovely Launa Patten mad ehunder of Drums at MGM with Hamilton and another MGM star Richard Chamberlain.

This is a solid splendidly acted drama directed by Vincente Minnelli.