I love the dress Kathryn Grayson is wearing--classic 1940s.
She and Howard Keel always impressed me as singers in the same mold as Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Appears they sang in a couple of the same musicals. And how ironic, the second film Jeanette MacDonald made was, The Vagobond King.
Agreed, although I hope they liked each other more than Nelson and Jeanette, who apparently HATED each other at least by the end of their run together. (Gable didn't like her much either.)
Kiss me Kate is one of my all time faves, and I think probably their best performances. It's amazing how long the studios made operetta type musicals up to the Mario Lanza period.
I'd like to love Anchors Aweigh, but there are some cringe-worthy moments, much as I adore young Gene & Frank together.
My friend in Pacific Heights was a big Jeanette MacDonald fan. He had all kinds of trivia on her. Let's see... --She was quite vain. Did not like the veins showing on her hands, so before a take she would raise them over her head until it was time to say her lines. There are outtakes somewhere of this. --Unlike her hands, she was quite proud of her small feet and liked scenes where she was putting on shoes. --While Eddy had a strong singing voice, MacDonald did not. She could not sing on the stage. --There are strong rumors that JM and NE were in love with each other while making their films. Her husband, Gene Raymond looks uncannily like Nelson Eddy.
(hope I didn't bore you.) ***My favorite of Grayson's is Kiss me Kate. She came alive in that movie. Not so much in Show Boat. I prefer the Irene Dunne version
( ... )
We can ship Frank and Gene in all their movies. I mean MY GOD, in Anchors Aweigh it practically screams slash, at least from Clarence's side, which is why it's so hard to sit through
( ... )
In the beginning, Frank Sinatra identity was wrapped up with his singing career. From Here to Eternity was his chance to show he could act. It's funny to look back and realize his real life persona was bigger than any silver screen.
Jeanette must have been one helluva of prima donna. Maurice Chevalier and Clark Gable. Can’t imagine Gable putting up with her or Greer Garson.
I don’t know where my friend heard about the love affair between Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, but here’s a blurb for another book, Sweethearts, that claims to have the scoop.
Glad you like talking old movie trivia. Most people consider films from 1985 old, so this stuff is just turning to dust along with the rest of my brain. Can’t believe I can retrieve these tidbits and not know where my car keys are.
Pre and Post comeback Sinatra are two completely different on-screen creatures, but even though he projected some of that image for the bobby-soxers, I think we can surmise that he was never a "Clarence."
I spent so many hours reading my old movie books and watching the late show, the late late show and even the late, late, late show. My sieve brain has lost of lot of it, but there are still bits I can rattle off, when as you say, on any given day it's a miracle if I know where keys, glasses, cell phone etc are.
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She and Howard Keel always impressed me as singers in the same mold as Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Appears they sang in a couple of the same musicals. And how ironic, the second film Jeanette MacDonald made was, The Vagobond King.
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Kiss me Kate is one of my all time faves, and I think probably their best performances. It's amazing how long the studios made operetta type musicals up to the Mario Lanza period.
I'd like to love Anchors Aweigh, but there are some cringe-worthy moments, much as I adore young Gene & Frank together.
Reply
--She was quite vain. Did not like the veins showing on her hands, so before a take she would raise them over her head until it was time to say her lines. There are outtakes somewhere of this.
--Unlike her hands, she was quite proud of her small feet and liked scenes where she was putting on shoes.
--While Eddy had a strong singing voice, MacDonald did not. She could not sing on the stage.
--There are strong rumors that JM and NE were in love with each other while making their films. Her husband, Gene Raymond looks uncannily like Nelson Eddy.
(hope I didn't bore you.)
***My favorite of Grayson's is Kiss me Kate. She came alive in that movie. Not so much in Show Boat. I prefer the Irene Dunne version ( ... )
Reply
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Jeanette must have been one helluva of prima donna. Maurice Chevalier and Clark Gable. Can’t imagine Gable putting up with her or Greer Garson.
I don’t know where my friend heard about the love affair between Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, but here’s a blurb for another book, Sweethearts, that claims to have the scoop.
Glad you like talking old movie trivia. Most people consider films from 1985 old, so this stuff is just turning to dust along with the rest of my brain. Can’t believe I can retrieve these tidbits and not know where my car keys are.
Reply
I spent so many hours reading my old movie books and watching the late show, the late late show and even the late, late, late show. My sieve brain has lost of lot of it, but there are still bits I can rattle off, when as you say, on any given day it's a miracle if I know where keys, glasses, cell phone etc are.
Reply
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