Picture Galore: Getting Close

Being in a mad mood, I tried cheering myself up by hunting for celebrity pictures of the more personal sort. I found a couple of new ones I had not seen before, some of them apparently shot by Yul Brynner. (I say "apparently", since I have trouble finding the sources of the photographs and I am damaged by university studies.)

Here are some of my finds. They actually got me into a slightly better mood.

Audrey Hepburn by Yul Brynner.

Audrey Hepburn.

Audrey Hepburn.

Ava Gardner.

Buster Keaton.

Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Bob Hope and David Niven.

Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe.

Deborah Kerr by Yul Brynner.

Elizabeth Taylor.

Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly.

Grace Kelly by Yul Brynner.

Gregory Peck.

Ingrid Bergman by Yul Brynner.

James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor.

Jean Simmons and Marlon Brando.

Marilyn Monroe.

Mia Farrow by Yul Brynner.

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.

Rock Hudson and Doris Day.

Sophia Loren.

Men and cigarettes - part 2

It seemed popular to show half naked men in a post some time ago, to break from the pattern of beautiful half naked women, so I'll go ahead and do a follow-up on my Men and Cigarettes post from February. Then I added the cause of death also (just to make it a little more depressing), so I'll continue in that manner.
Enjoy - Men and cigarettes - part 2! As usual you can just click on the pictures to see them in a larger version. If you are like me and steal pictures on every site you visit, that is.

(I will do my best to do a follow-up on the Male Cheesecake post ASAP. Fight your demons until then, ladies!)

Alain Delon (1935-)
I just recently realized how God darn good looking Mr. Delon is. Phuh...

Chico Marx (1887-1961)
(Heart ailment)
I can't remember if I already have confessed on this blog that I find Chico Marx extremely sexy. I was oh-so delighted when I found this picture of him - here's your proof of his sex appeal. And the fact that he got his name because he "chased the chicks" just adds to my opinion of him as one of the most desirable ladies men ever. (Am I being weird again? I can seldom tell.)

Conrad Veidt (1893-1943)
(Heart attack)
The cool German actor you probably remember best as Gestapo Maj. Strasser in Casablanca (1942). He died while playing golf. As he was blacklisted in Nazi Germany his death wasn't officially announced - his wife and daughter heard about it on the radio.

Harry Langdon (1884-1944)
(Cerebral hemorrhage)
Does this look like a guy who ran away from home and joined a circus at the age of 12?

James Dean (1931-1955)
(Car crash)
This picture just makes me drool... (When I ordered a calender you could make yourself online I chose this picture for my birthday month. As a present to myself.)

Michael Caine (1933-)
Oh, how I adore Englishmen! This is the son of a fish-market porter and a charlady. He is also the father of Austin Powers.

Preston Sturges (1898-1959)
(Heart attack)
The director of the 1941 films Sullivan's Travels and The Lady Eve looks like someone I wouldn't like to meet in a dark alley by myself. (Or maybe I would...?)

Raoul Walsh (1887-1980)
(Natural causes)
Together with two extras, Italia and Venezia Frandi, in the days before a killer rabbit stole one of his eyes. Such beautiful, bright eyes too.

Ricardo Cortez (1899-1977)
(Natural causes)
An Austrian guy who went to Hollywood to make a career as an "exotic screen lover", went on to play Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon (1931), and by the end of his life he was a member of one of Wall Street's top brokerage firms. He died after having lived quite a comfortable life.

Notice that the article above says he was born in 1889 and not 1899. Typo or intentionally wrong information?

Robert Montgomery (1904-1981)
(Cancer)
Such a beautiful photograph. Quote from Mr. Montgomery:

"If you are lucky enough to be a success, by all means enjoy the applause and the adulation of the public. But never, never believe it."

Marcello Mastroianni (1924-1996)

(Pancreatic cancer)
Seems like a privileged fellow - bathing in Fontana Di Trevi with a Swedish blonde one minute, lying in a bed next to Sophia Loren and airing his hairy chest the next.

Tod Browning (1880-1962)

(Cancer)
Looking cool with Lon Chaney on a break from shooting The Road to Mandalay (1926). Chaney looks just a tiny bit creepy. Oh, and he died of lung cancer four years later.

*anti-smokers cheering*

Film stars and tennis

Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer.

Betty Grable

Bob Hope

Merle Oberon and David Niven

Douglas Fairbanks Jr and Joan Crawford

Ginger Rogers

Gloria Swanson and Michael Farmer

James Dean

Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow

Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart

Olivia de Havilland

Tennis pro Don Budge and Peter Lorre

Rita Hayworth

Zsa Zsa Gabor

Screentest for East of Eden

This film clip is a delight to watch. James Dean and Paul Newman make a screentest for East of Eden (1955).




Someone on YouTube has been ambitious enough to write down the dialogue. Quite amusing with the homosexual references!


0:02 - Director: ?
0:03 - Dean: Did they take...
0:05 - Newman: What what what what?
0:06 - Director: Look over here, look at me, alright. (0:08) Now over here, look at right at me, will ya? (0:11) Now above me, right above the camera. Look right at it. (0:14) Now don't ?, just look at that.
0:14 - Dean: Look at right in the goddamn lens?
0:16 - 0:27: (Repeat 0:00 - 0:15)
0:28 - Director: That's it, that's it. All right, now, come over here. Look at me. (0:32) Now look at each other.
0:33 - Newman: That's surly.
0:34 - Director: Now what do you think of each other?
0:35 - Dean: (Laughs)
0:35 - Newman: (Laugh) WOW! (0:37) Well, we can't print that.
0:40 - Director: You think you can, hit the bobby socks league? Answer me. (0:42) You think you can hit them? You think you can, hit the bobby socks league?
0:43 - Newman: Nnnnno.
0:46 - Dean: Yeah, all that wanna go.
0:50 - Director: Jimmy...
0:50 - 0:55: (No audio)
0:56 - Newman: To the point of whether I go for the girl, though, you know?
0:58 - Director: Aw, you think the ? the girls will go for Jim.
1:01 - Newman: Oooh. Great.
1:01 - Director: Look at?
1:03 - Dean: Kiss me.
1:04 - Newman: Can't here.
1:07 - Director: Okay, look straight over there, look down. That's it.
1:10 - Newman: He's a surly bastard. (1:13) What?
1:13 - Director: Exchange.. he is nice. Exchange places. (1:17) Trade places. Swap.
1:18 - Newman: Swap.
1:20 - Dean: Turn my back to him ..?..
1:21 - Director: Now, nose to nose. Look right at each other, profile.
1:24 - Newman: Yeah?

How did it all begin?

I stole this Q&A from Nicole at Classic Hollywood Nerd, and thought it would be fun to answer the questions too!



Who was the first actor/actress that you were first interested in?

Amazingly just the same as Nicole - James Dean. I quickly bought his three movies (on VHS! How long ago...), and watched them 'til the tapes were almost worn out. East of Eden (1955) was my favourite. James Dean was however quickly followed by Cary Grant.
My first actress idol was Vivien Leigh, I believe. Of course I'd had pictures of Marilyn Monroe all over my walls for some time then, but it took a few years before I saw a movie with her in it.
Shortly after James Dean and Cary Grant my obsession for the Marx Brothers began, when A Night at the Opera (1935) and A Day at the Races (1937) was shown on Swedish television.

My first movie icons - James Dean and Vivien Leigh.

How old were you when you really began watching old movies?

I began in the seventh grade, when I was 13. I borrowed Casablanca (1942) and Gone With the Wind (1939) on VHS from my grandfather. I saw them both with my mother, who thought I would love them. Thank you mother! She was so right.


What was the first old movie that caught your interest?

Casablanca! I fell in love with Humphrey Bogart immediately.


Who is currently your favourite actor?

A hard one. I'm currently more fascinated by the strong women of old Hollywood, but let me think... Oh yes. George Sanders as Addison DeWitt in All About Eve (1950)!


Who is currently your favourite actress?

That is even harder! I have to name three: Gloria Swanson, Bette Davis and Mary Pickford. (The strong women of old Hollywood, as I said!)

My current favourite Hollywood women - Swanson, Davies and Pickford.

What is your favourite old movie and why?

I can't possibly name one. It's like choosing your favourite parent or sibling. But I'll name some of my all time favourites:

• Duck Soup (1933) - because it's the most ultimate, sick, twisted, "Marxy" Marx Brothers film ever. It is perfect. And just a bit over an hour long - perfect length!
• All About Eve (1950) - because of the perfect script by Joseph L. Mankievicz, the double entendres, the perfect casting of every little supporting role and the intensity of the drama.
• Sunset Blvd (1950) - because it's one of the greatest film noirs in motion picture history, has an innovative plot and unexpected developments of the characters, roots in reality and, as in All About Eve, has perfect actors and cameos.
  
• Gone With the Wind (1939) - because the film keeps the viewer interested and absorbed by the story for almost four hours, great acting and drama, and the developement from a charming costume film to a war melodrama, and then over to final tragedy. Perfectly done.
  

How many old movies do you own?

Hrrrm. Like... eeeh... roughly about 200-250 DVD's. I'm a collector! And a very sick girl.


If you could go back in time and visit any actor/actress, who would it be?

Gloria Swanson! She could teach me everything about the life of a woman. I think she made all the mistakes she could, and then learned from all of them. She would be my mentor.
And if I wanted to go back in time to meet an actor, I would probably choose Paul Newman in the 1950's or 1960's. And do very filthy stuff to him.

Give me that blue-eyed thing!

Who is one actor/actress that you want to know more about?

If I get interested in a person I always read about him/her. I'm manic, I always take the time. But if I would try to think of someone I don't know so much about... Maybe Rudolph Valentino. I don't know enough about him. Wikipedia, here I come!


What film could you watch over and over again?

Every time I get a cold or a fever I watch Gone With the Wind and feel sorry for myself, with a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream and a warm blanket. I have no idea how many times I've seen that movie. And now I finally have the glorious 4-disc DVD-box! I sent for it from the USA to get the English version and not the Swedish one. I'm a nerd, I know.
Also, today I saw All About Eve for the fourth time. The last three times were during a period of less than two weeks. And I would have no problem watching it again!


What is your favourite Hitchcock film?

I guess Psycho (1960) or Rear Window (1954). And yes, Shadow of a Doubt (1943)! Joseph Cotten is irreproachable.

James Stewart and Grace Kelly in Rear Window (1954).