RIP Olivia de Havilland

On July 25, 2020, Dame Olivia de Havilland passed away.  She was always one of my favorite actresses.  At the age of 19, she was cast as the leading lady in only her third film, opposite another newcomer, Errol Flynn.  The name of the movie was Captain Blood.  The rest, as they say, is history.  Above is a shot of her from one of my favorites, Princess O'Rourke, a fun little 1942 wartime comedy with Robert Cummings and Charles Coburn.  Think Roman Holiday, but this time, the leading man gets to marry the princess!  RIP Olivia.  

Merry Christmas!

We here at the SSS would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!  We like to watch classic Christmas movies (Scrooge, It's A Wonderful Life, The Bishop's Wife, Miracle On 34th Street, etc.) leading up to the holiday, but with everything going on, it is sometimes difficult.  So this year, I was searching around for a shorter film, and stumbled across this wonderful gem from Warner Bros. in 1945 on YouTube.  I had never seen nor heard of it before, but it has now become part of our holiday tradition.  It packs a lot into its 21 minute run time.  Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving! And Holiday Break

Happy Thanksgiving from Ann Blyth and all of us here at the SSS.  I'll be taking a holiday break for a week or so, but I'll be back in December.  Meanwhile, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. 

Ball Of Fire

FilmStruck posted this review of the 1941 film, Ball of Fire, starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck.  This movie, along with its musical remake, A Song Is Born (1948), is one of my favorites, and this review has some interesting historical insight into this classic, screwball comedy.  For example, when one of the gangsters holding the eccentric professors prisoner starts using items in the room for target practice, he says "I saw me a picture last week," and proceeds to wet the sight of his gun, as leading man Gary Cooper did in his previous film, Sergeant York (1941).

It Happened One Night

Here is a nice lobby card, posted on Vintage Ads, for the 1934 film, It Happened One Night.  A fun movie, it is the story of a runaway heiress being accompanied by a (unknown to her) reporter after the story of her running away.  There are some great scenes relating to intercity bus travel, complete with stops at tourist courts.

Happy Valentine's Day & Special Program Tonight!

Happy Valentine's Day from Ms. Toby Wing, whom I found in an old Film Noir Photos post.  In honor of the holiday, I'll be doing a Valentine/Malentine Special on the Swing Shift Shuffle tonight.  While most of the songs will be romantic, each set will feature a "Malentine," for those who are less enamored of February 14.  Hope you tune in. 

Documentary Of Hedy Lamar

I'm a little late in posting about this, but better late than never.  Bombshell:  The Hedy Lamarr Story is a recent documentary about Hollywood legend Hedy Lamarr.  Unknown to most, in addition to being considered the most beautiful woman to ever appear on the screen, Ms. Lamarr was responsible for inventing and patenting technology that became the basis for cell phone, wifi and Bluetooth.  This film tells that story. 

Decades Of Entertainment (Of One Sort Or Another): Former Luciann Theatre Closes

In December, the Commercial Appeal reported that the Paris Adult Theater on Summer Avenue in Memphis had closed.  Since the early 1970's, this building housed an establishment dedicated to what some call "adult" entertainment.  Prior to that, it served as a night club, and at one time a bowling alley.  When it opened in 1940, however, it was Memphis' newest movie neighborhood movie theater.  Named after the owner's two daughters, Lucy and Ann, its grand opening featured Virginia City starring Errol Flynn and Miriam Hopkins, as well as a Buster Keaton comedy, a short musical number with Woody Herman and His Orchestra, and a Donald Duck cartoon. 

Other than the previous owner's name still on the marquee, the exterior of the building has been largely untouched, and the LUCIANN on the front is still quite prominent.  Oh, what a wonderful thing it would be for someone to bring it back to its original grandeur.  I understand it is for sale. 

Marlene Dietrich - No Highway In The Sky

Here is a set of publicity photos of Marlene Dietrich, posted on Vintage Everyday, taken during the filming of No Highway In The Sky in 1948.  One of my favorite films, in addition to Ms. Dietrich it starred James Stewart, Jack Hawkins and Glynis Johns.  Ms. Dietrich played a glamorous movie star (typecasting?) who becomes intrigued by a sincere but eccentric aviation engineer played by Stewart, who believes the aircraft in which they travel will crash at a specific time. 

TCM In December

The Star of the Month on TCM for December is Lana Turner, with her movies playing every Tuesday.  With the holidays upon us, there are plenty of chances for seasonal cheer with some favorite films, and I noticed a series of World War II films on Friday, December 8, including Casablanca and This Land Is Mine.  Full schedule here.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Yvonne DeCarlo, courtesy of Film Noir Photos.  Considering that one of Ms. DeCarlo's most famous roles later in life was Lily Munster in The Munsters, this image from earlier in her career seemed even more appropriate for Halloween.

David Niven In Raffles

Streamline recently reviewed the 1939 version of Raffles, the story of an upper class cricket player, A.J. Raffles, whose nighttime persona is "The Amateur Cracksman," a brilliant jewel thief.  In the title role, David Niven manages to play cricket, hit all the high society parties, steal jewels, elude the police and give away the loot to those who need help.  The 1930 version of the same film starred Ronald Coleman in the same role.  I have seen both films, and both are enjoyable. 

Jimmie Lunceford Festival Going On Now

Well, this is what I get for not paying attention.  I just found out that the 2017 Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival is going on right now through October 29.  There are events going on every night this week, including art shows, lectures, jam sessions and movies all over town celebrating one of the biggest musical talents to come out of Memphis.  Check out the site and see if you can join in the fun.

Submarine Appendectomy

Destination Tokyo is one of my favorite double wartime movies, being both about and released during WWII.  One of the subplots involves a seaman diagnosed by the pharmacists mate with acute appendicitis, and who will certainly die without surgery.  The captain (Cary Grant) convinces the pharmacists mate (William Prince) he can perform the surgery. The tension builds as the operation takes place, but the surgery is a success, and the seaman recovers.  The entire film is a morale building vehicle for the folks at home, and this story was part of it.


This story, however, was based on fact.  As I learned from This Day in World War II History, on September 11, 1942, a pharmacists mate on board the U.S. submarine Seadragon performed an emergency appendectomy on a fellow crewmember in circumstances essentially like those depicted in the film.  More details at the U.S. Naval Institute Naval History Blog. 

Groucho

This item, posted on Four Color Shadows, is not one of those biographical comics about a celebrity as I have sometimes posted before.  In this story from 1949, a Hollywood columnist with a movie star girlfriend encounters the inimitable Groucho Marx in everything but name, and madcap antics ensue.  I say "in everything but name" because the character could not be anyone other than Groucho, and no name is ever given for the mustached, cigar-smoking, wise-cracking, woman-chasing little guy.

TCM In August

In its monthly preview of Turner Classic Movies programming, the Hollywood Revue reminds us that August is "Summer Under The Stars" month, with a different star featured each day.  From HR:

While there are some traditional crowd-pleasers like Cary Grant, John Wayne,  Marilyn Monroe, and Elizabeth Taylor, there are also quite a few stars who haven’t been featured in a while. I’m particularly looking forward to Gene Kelly, James Cagney, Lon Chaney, Franchot Tone, Angela Lansbury, Rosalind Russell, and Ann Harding days.

Dorothy Lamour

For some reason, I just felt like posting this photo of Dorothy Lamour, originally posted on Film Noir Photos.  I'm not sure why, but it may be because she was the star always mentioned in the vintage cartoons as the irresistible beauty.  Well known for her team ups with Bing and Bob in their Road to [pick somewhere] movies. 

TCM Programming In July

The Hollywood Revue's preview of July programming on Turner Classic Movies is out.  The Star of the Month is one of my favorites, Ronald Colman; and there will also be a spotlight on 50 Years of Hitchcock. 

Hollywood Steps Out

If you are a fan of Golden Age Hollywood, this Warner Bros. animated short from 1941 has everything you want.  WB parodied pretty much all of its big name stars in this short.  Posted on YouTube, here is Hollywood Steps Out. 

Orpheum Summer Movie Series

The 2017 Summer Movie Series at the Orpheum Theatre begins June 2 with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  Most of the films are from the 1960's-80's this year, but there are still a few classics from the Swing Era:  The Wizard of Oz, The Maltese Falcon and Gone with the Wind.