Archive for September, 2010
You are currently browsing the Anatomy Of A Classic blog archives for September, 2010.
30
Sep
2010
Goodbye, Tony Curtis
Classic film actor Tony Curtis, star of notable classic films including Spartacus (1960) and Some Like It Hot (1959), has passed away. He is the father of actress Jamie Lee Curtis. A talented actor, Curtis also pursued his love of painting and has shown his work in galleries all over the world.
Hollywood… the most sensational merry-g0-round ever built. – Tony Curtis
Red Table by Tony Curtis
17
Sep
2010
Favorite Fridays: Classic Feuds Editon
Lindsay picks: Jack Warner vs. everyone
According to almost all accounts, Warner Bros. studio production head Jack Warner was not a nice man. Warner didn’t believe in having a collaborative relationship with the stars he managed – he knew best and his word was law. He had major with some of his biggest stars at one time or another including Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, and Olivia de Havilland. This quote from director Gottfried Reinhardt says it best – “Harry Cohn was a sonofabitch, but he did it for business; he was not a sadist. [Louis B.] Mayer could be a monster, but he was not mean for the sake of meanness. Jack was.”
Alix picks: Bette Davis vs. Joan Crawford
The feelings Bette Davis and Joan Crawford had towards each other can be eloquently summed up by Ms. Davis, “The best time I ever had with Joan was when I pushed her down some stairs in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” The feud supposedly started over their mutual admiration for actor Franchot Tone (who eventually married and divorced Joan) and continued over competition for roles. The two never missed a chance to annoy each other, especially while working together on Baby Jane. Bette had a Coca Cola machine installed in her dressing room because Joan was married to the CEO of Pepsi at the time. When Bette was nominated for an Academy Award for Baby Jane (but did not win), Joan arranged to accept all the other nominated actresses awards, in case they won, in order to upstage Bette. I highly suggest checking out Bette Davis’ quotes on Joan Crawford for laughs.
Joan Crawford and Bette Davis with Jack Warner
9
Sep
2010
France Honors Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland, who starred as Melanie Wilkes in Gone With the Wind (1939), was awarded the French Legion of Honor today. De Havilland is best known for her role in GWTW, but also starred in films like The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) (one of eight films she did opposite Errol Flynn), To Each His Own (1946), and The Heiress (1949).
