17 Sunday Dec 2017
Posted in Movie memorabilia
Tags
Alice Faye, Bette Davis, Carole Lombard, Cinema magazine, Danielle Darrieux, Errol Flynn, Fredric March, Henry Fonda, Joan Fontaine, Monique classique, movie memorabilia, Olivia de Havilland, Pola Negri, Sonja Henie
A rare collection from the golden days of Hollywood.
12 Saturday Nov 2016
Posted in Movie memorabilia
One of the best comedies of Ernst Lubitsch and one of the last pre-code films, “Design for Living” had a remarkable trio of great actors, Gary Cooper, Fredric March and Miriam Hopkins.
26 Wednesday Oct 2016
Posted in Trending on Ebay
Tags
Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner, Clark Gable, Design for Living, Elizabeth Taylor, Fredric March, Gary Cooper, Greta Garbo, Leslie Howard, Loretta Young, Marlene Dietrich, Miriam Hopkins, Monique classique, Norma Shearer, Roman Holiday, Romeo and Juliet, Vivien Leigh, Warren Beatty
*Note: The description of each item belongs to the eBay sellers.
Vintage AVA GARDNER French Postcard 1950s “Lovely Star”
Vintage Marlene Dietrich GLAMOUR FASHION ’41 Publicity Portrait
Vintage Loretta Young GLAMOUR GORGEOUS ’37 Portrait by FRANK POWOLNY
DESIGN FOR LIVING Sheet Music Gary Cooper Miriam Hopkins Fredric March MINT
DESIGN FOR LIVING (1933) Vintage original lobby card ménage-a-trois Pre-Code Art Deco
Design for Living 1933 Original Portrait Photo
MIRIAM HOPKINS & FREDRIC MARCH in ” Design for Living” Original Vintage 1933
Greta Garbo Clark Gable Pho from Original Negative Susan Lenox Her fall And Rise
Elizabeth Taylor 1968 VINTAGE Photo
Vivien Leigh Warren Beatty VINTAGE Photo Roman Spring Of Mrs. Stone
Leslie Howard Norma Shearer VINTAGE Photo
Audrey Hepburn Roman Holiday VINTAGE Photo
29 Wednesday Oct 2014
Posted in Recommendations
A nice comedy directed by William Wellman and produced by Selznick International Pictures, “Nothing Sacred” tells the story of a young woman who is supposedly poisoned with radium at her workplace. The press creates an entire campaign on her behalf, only later to be discovered that everything was a charade that was orchestrated by an influent journalist. “Nothing Sacred” isn’t the only film that depicts the great power of control and manipulation of the media, other newspaper Hollywood productions, such as “The Front Page”, “His Girl Friday”, “It Started One Night”, “Platinum Blonde”, “Bombshell”, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”, “Mr Deeds Goes to Town”, “Meet John Doe” and the masterpiece “Citizen Kane” reflecting the same idea. You will enjoy “Nothing Sacred” because of the stellar performances of Carole Lombard (an excellent comedienne) and Fredric March (one of the most renowned actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood), but also because it is made in the typical style of David O. Selznick, a very accomplished producer. I highly recommend you to watch this delightful comedy, even more because it was made in Technicolor and you will get to see Carole Lombard in full splendor in color!
15 Wednesday Oct 2014
Posted in Recommendations
An interesting and rather unusual romantic film, “Death Takes a Holiday” is based on an Italian play written by Alberto Casella. It brings into our attention the story of Death who takes a holiday and becomes a prince for three days. The dual role is magnificently portrayed by the talented Fredric March, who is very handsome and distinguished wearing uniforms and tuxedos, and a monocle. The film was directed by Mitchell Leisen and the cast included several actors that are not so well-known to the public nowadays, among them being Evelyn Venable (the love interest of the protagonist), Sir Guy Standing, and Gail Patrick. I liked very much this production and I think I could put it on my list of top 20 favourite movies. The scenes which depict Death were very impressive and they showed what a fine actor Fredric March was, keeping everyone’s attention with his commanding voice – because Death appears like a big shadow, entirely black. The plot is fascinating and a little bit scary, knowing that the heroine, a lovely young girl, falls in love with the prince and accepts the fact that he is Death, and wishes to follow him in a different world, despite her age and beauty. It will certainly impress you, and I consider it one of the greatest romantic-fantasy films, along with “Blithe Spirit”, “Topper”, and “Ghost”.
17 Wednesday Sep 2014
Posted in Recommendations
Source of photo: http://www.doctormacro.com
A delightful and extremely fashionable comedy in the unforgettable style of Ernst Lubitsch, “Design for Living” is one of the most appreciated comedies in the pre-code Hollywood era. The story involves a romantic triangle between a woman and two men. In the leading roles you will find the beautiful Miriam Hopkins and the talented actors Fredric March and Gary Cooper. Owing to its controversial plot, with sexual discussions and innuendos, the film was almost banned by the Hays Office in 1934, but eventually it was successfully released. In the initial version, it was 105 minutes long, and 15 minutes were cut in the final version. The film is based on the homonymous play by Noel Coward, and Ben Hecht, who wrote the screenplay, kept only one line from the original play: “For the good of our immortal souls”. I had a wonderful time watching this comedy and it is so modern even for present-day.
10 Wednesday Sep 2014
Posted in Recommendations
One of the iconic pre-code films, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” made Fredric March an international star. He won an Oscar for his memorable performance and also an award at the Venice Film Festival. The famous story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has been several times made for the big screen – there was an even earlier, German version, “Der Januskopf” (1920), with Conrad Veidt, but it’s sadly lost. Returning to Fredric March, I found his dual role here simply outstanding and very difficult to play. His transition from the handsome doctor to the monstruous Mr. Hyde within less than a minute was unbelievable. The heavy make-up he wore in this film reminded me of Conrad’s make-up in “The Man Who Laughs” (1928). Rouben Mamoulian, the director, did a magnificent job in the climax scenes. I liked particularly the ones that involved Miriam Hopkins as the beautiful girl who falls in love with Dr. Jekyll, only to become Mr. Hyde’s obsession and inocent victim. It was fascinating to see the scene where she comes to the doctor for help, as she was terrorized by Hyde, and he assures her that she will no longer be disturbed. To see March taking that doll-like face into his hands, almost kissing her, and only a few hours later becoming her criminal, it was somehow disturbing to me, but this is what really makes this film a masterpiece. The unique combination of contrastable faces, moods, feelings and attitudes of two different people in just a single body, and a damsel in distress – or, in fact, two damsels in distress, because even Dr. Jekyll’s girlfriend almost becomes Mr. Hyde’s victim. All in all, I highly recommend you to watch this gem of the pre-code productions. It will certainly be a memorable, thrilling experience. “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing, Adaptation (based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson), and Best Cinematography, and it is one of the greatest classical horror films of all time, along with “The Phantom at the Opera”, “Dracula” and “Frankenstein”.
