As you all know, I’m not much of a movie-goer, but spend my time reading anything and everything. As a much younger girl, I happened to read a short story by Stephen King named “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.” Because one of my favorite movie stars is Morgan Freeman, I also made a special effort to see the movie released a few years later under the shortened title, “Shawshank Redemption.” It was in this movie that I first watched Morgan Freeman’s character (Red) dismiss Tim Robbins’ (Andy’s) interruption until he watched (for the 100th time) Rita Hayworth flip her red mane over her head as her new husband introduced her to her old husband.

I remember this scene, but had never seen the movie they were watching until this month. “Gilda” certainly showed why the men of that era were in love with her, …serviceman, civilian, black and white, old and young….she was the era’s sex symbol.

I enjoyed both the movie and learning about her life. She was on a never-ending quest for love, married many times simply replacing her controlling father over and over. I discovered what an accomplished dancer she was, how she repeatedly fell in love with her co-stars (who could resist Victor Mature?) and left many a broken heart in her wake.

I not only watched Gilda, but after learning she divorced her first husband after falling in love with Victor Mature during the filming of “My Gal Sal,” watched it as well. She was a really fine dancer (Fred Astaire attested to this) and her career in musicals of her day displayed her talent.

The documentary on her life I watched told how she was from Spain and actually had coal black hair with a widows peak that made her forhead appear very narrow. To give her the look in Gilda, they dyed her hair red and they removed almost an inch of her hairline with electrolysis to open her forehead more. Their efforts worked beautifully to create the Rita Hayworth we know in “Gilda,” but Rita complained that the treatments were very painful.

Her life was controlled by her art…and her life was certainly different because of it. I enjoyed learning a lot about her…I certainly see why she has so many fans!

Oh yeah: it was pretty much known Rita waxed her hairline. I heard also she had her jaw narrowed and her nose done, also.

She was hawt! and so was that gown and so was she, singing "Put The Blame on Mame"!:)

I'll never forget that pin-up picture of her kneeling on a bed wearing a lacy negligee and looking at the camera with that sidelong teasing expression that I always understood was the most popular pin-up of servicemen in WWII, more than Betty Grable's even.

Talk about a Hollywood sex goddess!
She most definitely was a knockout.

I saw "Executive Suite" not long ago and was struck by how much William Holden brought to mind Don Draper. His expressions and manner, mostly, but some physical resemblance as well.
That William H. was one hunk for sure in his heyday.

Been a while since I've seen "The Best of Everything" but I do recall the depiction of a woman executive in it...Joan Crawford wasn't it? Can't remember exactly. She had to be hard as nails to get along in the "man's world", I remember that about it. I wish they'd show it again soon, it's a good movie. Wasn't Diane Baker in it, too? I always thought she was beautiful and also enjoyed her in "Marnie" as the sis of Sean Connery's dead wife who resented Marnie because she wanted to latch on to Sean herself--- her former brother in law! ha

I'll never forget that pin-up picture of her kneeling on a bed wearing a lacy negligee and looking at the camera with that sidelong teasing expression that I always understood was the most popular pin-up of servicemen in WWII, more than Betty Grable's even.

Talk about a Hollywood sex goddess!
She most definitely was a knockout.

I saw "Executive Suite" not long ago and was struck by how much William Holden brought to mind Don Draper. His expressions and manner, mostly, but some physical resemblance as well.
That William H. was one hunk for sure in his heyday.

Been a while since I've seen "The Best of Everything" but I do recall the depiction of a woman executive in it...Joan Crawford wasn't it? Can't remember exactly. She had to be hard as nails to get along in the "man's world", I remember that about it. I wish they'd show it again soon, it's a good movie. Wasn't Diane Baker in it, too? I always thought she was beautiful and also enjoyed her in "Marnie" as the sis of Sean Connery's dead wife who resented Marnie because she wanted to latch on to Sean herself--- her former brother in law! ha Oh, and Suzy Parker (always exquisite) was in it, too...wasn't she the first model to make it in movies?

Ooops...sorry for the double up!

Rita Hayworth, "Gilda," Orson Welles, Prince Aly Khan....another trip down memory lane.

In 1946 I was a junior in high school. "Gilda" had been released. Boys and girls alike, we all thought Rita Hayworth was gorgeous and sexy (a word only whispered at the time). Glenn Ford also had his fans among the girls. That year my best girlfriend Mamie ran for president of the student council. She had a very timely campaign slogan. If elected, she promised the student body many things, but if all her campaign promises were not fulfilled, you could "Put the blame on Mame, boys, put the blame on Mame!" Unfortunately she lost the election. She knew it was impossible to win when running against a very popular basketball player, but she had a lot of fun anyway.

Rita Hayworth was married five times, and I found the second and third husbands more interesting than the others. She was married to Orson Welles from 1943 to 1948, and they had a daughter Rebecca. At the time I wondered why a glamorous Hollywood star would marry an eccentric, unglamorous man like Welles even though he was considered to be a genius. (I was a shallow high school student!)

In 1949 Hayworth married Prince Aly Khan after a much publicized romance. Ah, this was much better! He was a glamorous international playboy with a reputation for being a fantastic lover, much more worthy of Rita's affections. My problem here was that Rita was pregnant before they were married (frowned upon at the time). Photos of her being hounded by photographers revealed her to look tired and ill. She and the prince had a daughter Yasmin, and the marriage ended in 1953.

Rita fell victim to Alzheimer's disease quite young and died at the age of 69 in 1987. At the time she was living in Manhatten with her daughter Princess Yasmin who took care of her until the end. The princess has hosted a fund raiser for Alzheimer's disease in Manhattan annually since Hayworth's death. Princess Yasmin is often seen in photos at social events in Manhattan. She is about 60 now and looks like her mother.

Neat memories, Remembering. I always love reading your posts.

Yes, Orson W. was no looker but I guess he won her over with his intellectual charm and reputation in Hollywood. Paul on MM looks like the young Orson W. a lot (he works at it, too!) some other posters have mentioned this before as I recall.

I always liked Rita in "Blood and Sand" with Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell. She played a great femme fatale in that one. Poor Linda had to deal with losing Tyrone to the hussy!

Also had a young Anthony Quinn in it and he was not a bad looker then either.

Remembering....
That was a great story about your friend's election campaign! Thanks for sharing it!

I thought it so sad that this beautiful lady struggled finding the solid marraige she longed for. It is a story repeated by the beautiful starlets of today. I watched her performance in "Gilda" with interest knowing she was separated from and would soon be going through her divorce from Orson Welles. It was hard to believe they were splitting up because of his infidelity at a time when so many men would have jumped at the chance to be with her. Both she and Prince Aly Khan were still married to others when they met and fell in love. So fairy tale, it's sad the story ended sadly.

The part of her life I found most tragic was having to go through child neglect charges while married to Dick Haynes and being forced to sell her share of her production company to finance fighting the charges. He was a wanted by the IRS for tax evasion and they finally divorced in '55. She went through a lot of draining experiences in her lifetime. Her (two) brothers died within one week of each other and it couldn't have been easy to bury them. It was said she paid for but did not attend the funerals.

The interview I saw revealed she started showing signs of Alzheimers as early as '61 when she couldn't remember her lines in a new Broadway play she starred in. Back then, there was little (or nothing) known about the disease, but her daughter (by the prince) was devoted to her mother's care and swears she was a great mother.

Today, I'm watching "Lady from Shanghai" and "You Were Never Lovelier" (with the elegant Fred Astaire). The costumes and dancing are what interest me most in these old movies...

Do you know...was that her voice we hear in the movies, or was it dubbed? It would have been amazing if she could sing, dance, and look as she did!

Does anyone remember how these movies and Rita Hayworth were mentioned in Mad Men?

Much of Hayworth's career and both movies happened prior to the time represented in the series ('60-'61).

Do you think our characters were fans?

How much is Rita in the hay worth? I remember that schoolyard joke from the early 1940's.

Greytone, although I enjoyed Rita in many of her movies, especially "Only Angels Have Wings" minutes ago I did some research on IMDb. They say Rita's favorite of her movies was "You Never Looked Lovelier" on which Nan Wynn dubber Rita's singing. On "Cover Girl" Martha Means dubbed Rita's singing. Of course it is possible Rita did her own singing in her other musicals. It is interesting that on the same day Rita filmed the wedding scene for "Cover Girl" she eloped with Orson Wells.

During my career as a child actor on network radio from 1936 I was cast on a lot of Orson's shows. My grandmother served as my agent. She always though the young Orson was very handsome. Clearly Rita found something positive about Orson because when she eloped with him almost certainly she was making more money.

"Executive Suite" was recently shown on TCM. I had forgotten the details given I had not seen this film in decades. What struck me immediately was how much the character of the dedicated and loyal secretary "Erica Martin" could have been a role model for Joan Hollaway, including the pen necklace! Nina Foch was marvelous as Erica. I am sorry she did not become as major a star as Barbara Stanwyck. I do enjoy her in most of her other roles, but felt she was not good casting here. William Holden, as I think back, did remind me of Don Draper at his best. WH was a handsome man even years after Executive Suite. So much of this movie is like a pre-shock of the run on SC in Season 2. June Allyson made her career playing perky wives, as she did here. Honestly she is not in the same league as January Jones as Betty Draper, whi is more spark plug than perky.

By the way, as I understood the Rita Hayworth remark on MM, it was dismissive of her career. Maybe that was a reaction to RH's memory problems doing the stage play. I notice after 1959 RH did no significant roles in major hit movies. As I recall by 1961 in Hollywood executive offices RH was reduced to a joke punchline of 1940's pin-ups who had been replaced by other actresses. Out with the old, in with the new! This never changes!

Dr. Adams...
Thanks for looking up the info on RH's singing. In her early career the documentary mentioned her mastery of dancing, but it didn't mention her singing.

You're right....the comment in Mad Men could have referred to her thwarted stage career. It certainly would have occurred about that time in her career and would have been something Matt tied in to the show. Nice catch!

PS: I'm with your grandmother...I felt Orson Wells was a handsome young man, too. Nothing carries a man through old age like intelligence, wit, and humor....smile...

Boy, you're sure right, Dr. Adams, about June Allyson...other than her version of "Little Women" and all those "college musicals" (and "The Opposite Sex" remake of "The Women"--- she wasn't so "perky" a wife in that one!)--- all I ever recall her being was a "perky wife" in her movies.

She was probably as cute as any actress ever was but not particularly pretty. I always liked her though and thought she was a decent actress. But, I agree completely she wouldn't be considered even close to January J. in looks or sexiness.

A bit off-topic, but one of the funniest ever of the I Love Lucy epis had Wm. Holden turning the tables on Lucy in The Brown Derby when he decided to turn the tables on her as to who could stare the longest. Classic.

I think Rita was a dancer more than anything else. I know she toured with her father as a dancer (Margareta Campensina, I believe her name was) before she hit the big time in movies

@greytone et al...so interesting about Rita!

@SCfan...speaking about Wm. Holden...have you watched "Bridge on the River Kwai" recently? This 7-Academy-Award Winner (1957) is worth another viewing just to observe the similarities between DD and Wm. Holden's character, Navy "Commander" Shears!

In fact, "Commander" Shears is really NOT Commander Shears at all -- but an enlisted man who, along with Commander Shears, is captured by the Japanese after their Navy ship sinks....

Then, when the real Shears is killed, Wm. Holden switches dog tags with him, thinking he'll receive better treatment as an officer.

(That's all "backstory," revealed mid-movie, after Holden has escaped to a Ceylon, Britsh-maintained military installation...and is asked by the British special forces unit to lead a team back to the Bridge site).

Very astute of you to notice the similarities of Holden and DD! I'm pretty sure that MW must have had the Wm. Holden character in mind in creating DD.

I wonder if DD will get "caught" like Holden did in "Bridge" -- by being needed for another military assignment...Could DD possibly be called back to serve in Viet Nam? (Now that would be a fine kettle of fish)!!

@greytone...
Off-topic though it is, I can't help chiming in....
Morgan Freeman is one of my favorites also. What a range he has; and I've never seen a movie in which he didn't keep me rivited while on-screen.

What is it that he has...? "Presence" is an understatement, but I think in a word, that is it. And that is a quality that is rather rare -- even in the famous, (IMHO).

I thought he was absolutely brilliant in "Shawshank."

Yes, jackie_monroe, what Morgan Freeman has is "Presence" for sure. And Star Quality, just oozing with both of those.

He's great in any movie he's in.

"The Best of Everything"

In an early episode of Season 1, Don is reading "The Best of Everything" in bed. Betty comments that "the book is better than the movie." Don responds that "it's dirtier anyway." That's the connection with MM.

When I was a senior in college (1951-52), one of my best friends was a girl from New York. At one point she mentioned that her girlfriend Rona was going to write a novel about working-girl life in Manhattan. Rona was a Radcliffe graduate, very smart and from a wealthy New York family. She worked in a publishing house in Manhattan at an editing job similar to Caroline's in the book and film. My friend Ruth was dubious about her plan for a novel, but six years later, in 1958, Rona Jaffe had her first book published. "The Best of Everything" was made into a movie in 1959 the following year.

In the 1950s I worked at an advertising agency on Madison Avenue, and my husband worked at a publishing house in the West 40s. We enjoyed the book and the movie. Both contained fascinating details about working and living in Manhattan in the 50s. Of course all this was contemporary since both book and movie were created in the 1950s about the 1950s, specifically the two years from 1952 to 1954. So the details weren't considered archaic to us as they are now.

The ending was changed from the book to the movie. In the book Caroline, having rejected her now-married former boyfriend who wanted her for a playmate when he visited Manhatten on weekends, becomes acquainted with a popular entertainer (rock star type) with whom she is working on a book. They are seen together in the tabloids, and people assume they are lovers, thus enhancing Caroline's allure. The movie is more realistic. Caroline and Mike (one of the editors in her office) meet and walk away together on the street at the end of a working day. A hint of a future, for them, perhaps, but they both carry a lot of baggage. He is an alcoholic, she is ambitious, etc.

Joan Crawford's presence dominated every scene in which she appeared, more so than her character did in the book; but perhaps she was needed to sell the film.

Great book, great film, great memories of the 50s for me!

jackie_monroe...
Thanx for your comment to my post. I'm glad you agree with the brilliant casting of "Red" in Shawshank. Most recently, I saw Freeman in "The Dark Knight," and was just as satisfied. He's a superb actor.

Margarita Carmen Cansino, aka Rita Hayworth, had a career that was not as successful, though. She never did have full control of her career and allowed the roles she chose to be dictated by powerful lecherous studio heads (determined to sleep with her or controlling husbands who either demanded or restricted her career advancement. She couldn't help it, poor thing....she had neen the sole support for her family since she was a teenager. That's a lot of pressure to keep dancing...as fast as she could...no matter what.

Did anyone see her with Frank Sinatra in "Pal Joey?" In 1958 she starred in "Separate Tables" with the young Bert Lancaster. That one's not on DVD, so I'll have to be on the lookout for the next tv broadcast. Lynda Carter (also cast as Wonderwoman) starred in a biopic of her life. HHmmmm....could anyone really every recreate her life?

I haven't seen many comments on our movies this month. Were they mediocre or just low energy when compared to the star under discussion?

Thanx to everyone participating...!

Thanx Remembering...
Just read your post on the movie "The Best of Everything" and clarifying it's tie to Mad Men. My memory is so bad, I'm glad to have help remembering how it connected to the series.

I LOVE your memories....please continue to share!

Thanks greytone for starting another interesting discussion. Here's a link to see some photos of Rita: http://www.ritahayworth.net/

You'll see Rita's hairline before and after which really changed her looks. (Not sure about her nose!) I've read remarks about how controlling her father was while she was growing up. She began dancing at age 12 which was not uncommon in those days. I remember a shocking photo of her that ran in all the papers when she was in the early stages of Alzheimers...she had a wild look in her eyes and seemed dazed and confused. It was assumed at the time that she was an alcoholic, which we now know was not true.

I think Gilda and Seperate Tables were her best movies.

Can't tell you how many times I've seen The Best of Everything. It came out in 1959 and had a very good cast. Suzy Parker, a top model then at her peak, was gorgeous in it - can't say too much about her acting, though. The clothes were very attractive then. All the women wore hats and gloves and dresses or skirts - not a pair of slacks or (heaven forbid) "jeans" in sight. MM is right on in the wardrobe department. I had been out of high school four years by 1959 - working in an office situation and all of us dressed up everyday. The men all wore suits and ties and usually white shirts.
As in MM, it was a Man's world and women were expected to get coffee, know how to type - a little, at least- and just look good!

Executive Suite is one of my favorites, too. I agree that Holden and Hamm have many similarities and didn't really think about that until I read some of the comments here. We seldom see DD break into a smile or full out laugh and Holden was always serious in ES. But they both smoulder and you know beneath that smooth exterior is a sexy, not to be toyed with MAN. I admired Nina Foch's acting. She always seemed to play the part of someone you love to hate. She became an acting teacher later in life. I saw her recently in a TV movie with Jessica Lang and Gwyneth Paltrow. It was called Hush. Nina was well up in age, but did a wonderful job as the grandmother. Sadly, she died last December, but at least we have her movies to remember her by.

One of our previous "favorites", Barbara Staywyck, was in Executive Suite, too. Her character started out as very angry and unhappy, but thanks to Holden's character's charm and honesty, turned into one of his allies. Sort of reminds me of DD's conversation with Peggie in the hospital.

Looking forward to more comments.
P.S. be sure to hit the "recommend" button at the top!

Many thanx to you, roszie, for your contributions to this month's discussion....

The link to the website did provide a visual of the many looks she had during her career, including her short platinum bob. It's hard to pick a favorite. On one page of the site there were movie posters representing the films she sppeared in. I loved seeing these posters in theater windows as a child. And every time I see one on The Antiques Road Show (PBS), I wish I had a few in perfect condition!

I'm fascinated by the gowns and dancing ability she displayed in her movie with the elegant Fred Astaire (You Never Were Lovelier). About the time these movies were made, I was a pre-adolescent who was allowed to play dress-up in the extensive closet of my dressmaker fashionista grandmother. I still long for the clothing worn by the men and women of that era. Including the elbow-length gloves, fur shrugs and hats worn by the best dressed of the day. The gowns and tuxedos on the Oscar's red carpet have nothing on those seen in this movie. It is simply as Dr. Adams said,...out with the old, in with the new. Sigh....

I tried to find some information on one of R. H.'s husbands, James Hill. Other than that he was a partner with Burt Lancaster and Ben Hecht in their production company, I haven't found much. Apparently R.H. read the script for "Separate Tables" when it was being discussed by Burt L. and Hill and decided she wanted the role of the ex-wife. She was awfully good in the part. David Niven and Wendy Hiller both won Oscars for their roles in the movie. It is a sad movie, but I like it. It also starred two English actresses I always get mixed up, Kathleen Nesbit and Gladys Cooper.

Some people thought Rita Hayworth's character Judy from "Only Angels Have Wings" was Cary Grant's famous "Juday, Juday, Juday" that all the impressionists like to quote when doing Cary Grant. Cary Grant, however, always maintained he never said anything like that in that or any of his movies. When filming "Charade" with Audrey Hepburn, he was doing a scene with her on his lap and suddenly turned to her and said "Juday, Juday, Juday". He then turned to the director and said "There! It's finally on film."

I really watched the film "You Were Never Lovelier" and enjoyed it immensely even though it was in black and white (like "Gilda"). The costumes the women wore (especially the flowing dance costumes Rita had on) were really beautiful.

Fred Astaire was so dapper! He was a small man and didn't wear belts in this film....if you notice, he had on what appeared to be colorful scarves tied at the side at his waistline. Nice touch....along with the two-tone shoes many of the guys wore. I saw a lot of double breasted suits in the film. Funny,...I just heard how out of style the double-breasted suit is right now. Sadly, one of my finest basic black suits is double breasted and I'm too terrified to wear it now...lol.

I agree that Rita and he made the best dancing duo. She was always in the right place at the right moment...and had her arms, hands and face in perfect position, too. They looked great dancing together....

Then, I watched Rita in "Cover Girl" with Gene Kelly. A big time musical with (surprise!) Phil Silvers and young Eve Arden! This film made me feel I should have been a young adult during the 40s (instead of the '50s). I'm so drawn to their clothes and style....I guess that's why I'm so interested in recreating the garments I remember the adults wore during my childhood.

I thought it so interesting that Rita's father (in "You Were Never Lovelier") had a male secretary (anyone remember?) that was a family cousin and was yelled at unmercifully by his boss. Maybe they did that because having a woman in that role would have been too harsh. Were there that many male secretaries back then (40s)? Just wondering....

A few words about "Executive Suite"

The plotline is similar to one playing out every day in real life in the 2000s. Greed and disinterest in the greater good take precedence over rational business decisions. A furniture company in this case is losing business. The old hands at the top of the management ladder are interested in profits only and fail to see the need for change. Suggestions to update the inventory and introduce a more efficient system fall on deaf ears. The talented young engineer of the company (William Holden) tries at first unsuccessfully to buck city hall but eventually triumphs.

William Holden, although I enjoyed his acting, always seemed to me to be stiff and rather distant as a man and an actor. I could'nt see the humanity behind his dour expression. This is being unfairly judgemental, I know, but I felt that Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and others were sensitive and approachable behind their frowns in a way that Holden wasn't.

June Allyson played the loyal cookie-cutter wife as she did in other films. Never a great beauty, she radiated warmth and had a pleasing throaty voice. Barbara Stanwyck was very good, more appealing in this role than in many of her others.

All in all a well-made movie, the subject matter as provocative in 2009 as it was in 1954. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Don't know if there were that many male secretaries in the '40's (in real life) or not, grey, but in "Woman Of The Year" Katherine Hepburn had one and boy did Spencer scob his knob at the end of the movie!

I don't know the actor's name who played him but he was one snooty, a-hole for sure...and Spence had had all he was going to take from him by the end and you couldn't help but cheer when he decked him!

Thanx for your response, SCfan...
I was thinking that there must have been because all work outside the home was initially performed by the male head of the family. I'm sure as the need for someone to perform the menial office tasks of the day, the job became something assigned to the women and more sexist. We all know there were certain jobs assigned strictly to women the more women were forced to work outside the home,...particularly prior to WWI.

The Joans and Peggys of Mad Men's working world showed us their struggle to step forward and break out of the workplace bubble that existed in metorpolitan New York City. It's funny,...now we see more men returning to the professions that were women-dominated. My son is a elementary school teacher, and hospitals employ more and more male nurses than ever before.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.... :)

When I had my hysterectomy in spring '06 I had a night nurse who was a male...Chad...what a hunk...young enough to be my son, but still...

lol

When I had my hysterectomy in spring '06 I had a night nurse who was a male...Chad...what a hunk...young enough to be my son, but still...

lol

oops...sorry for the double post...remembering Chad got me distracted.

ha

Call me narrow minded, old fashioned, or whatever, but the thought of having a male nurse gives me the shudders. Thankfully it never came up when I had my surgery as all the nurses were female. It was bad enough I had to go to a male cancer specialist with the worst bedside manner I have ever seen in a doctor. I loathed him. For someone who specializes in female cancers, he was a most condescending, insensitive doctor. After one followup visit after the surgery, I refused to return to him for all future followups. My regular gynecologist, female, is an excellent, no-nonsense woman

Well, we'll soon see if Peggy will turn out to be a 'better' or 'improved' version of Don Draper in the upcoming season. Sometimes, just opening the door to the occupation does not ensure the personality or temperment makes them a better fit. (I never did understand Peggy's treatment of the girl who did the voiceover work. I eventually attributed it to hormones and her pregnancy.)

I prefer my gyn be female, too. But, you must agree, other occupations (like teachers) can be performed just as well by males or females. (My Dad was a nurse at a veterans hospital....mostly male patients,...most mentally or physically disabled.) And, don't get me started on which is the worse boss, man or woman. I know we'd get waaay off-topic! :)

My male nurse wasn't doing any gyn stuff...just giving hypos and that type stuff. Now pelvics, and all that...definitely prefer a woman gyn. But...

I had the opposite experience with the gyn who did my surgery (a woman)
Most insensitive, cold dr. I've ever been to. I was so desperate and had been in agony for 5 months so I just put up with her until I got it over with since couldn't have lasted if I'd have changed dr.s and got at the end of the line (waiting for surgery that is) so to speak.

Yes, they do love to spout that old saying "seen one seen 'em all" and "I've done this so much, it's routine to me"...what they can forget is that it's all new to the patient, right? (I'm referring to the very few nurses who are not the best in bedside manner)
I've been lucky to have nurses of either sex who were great.

BTW, z, hope all is well now for you.

That hysterectomy crap is no fun.

Off-topic, sorry.........

Back on topic...kind of...well, more on topic than we have been, I guess! lol

Does anyone know if it was ever explained how the scene was accomplished with Fred Astaire where he was dancing all over the walls and ceiling? That was so neat the way he jumped up onto the wall and continued all across the ceiling! It looked so real...great special effects, esp. for the time. I know I've heard that a "turning stage" was somehow used, but never could picture how they could do it.

I think that was in "Royal Wedding" but not sure....

Anyone know how the heck they did that??

SCfan...
A stationary camera is mounted on the floor with the furniture in a room. The room is rotated (on a gimbal,) and the actor appears to walk on the walls and ceiling as the box rotates because the viewpoint is stationary.
-*-
"Executive Suite" and "The Best of Everything" arrive today via USPS. I'll be back to share my impressions later this evening. I hope more people (beside me) watched this month's movies and can comment them. Were any of them on the broadcast schedule recently? I hate to be the ooowee poster of the group, but like it more when I'm not the only one benefiting from our discussion. Let me know if the group is no longer holding your interest...

I've never watched a Joan Crawford movie prior to now. This should be good!

Explanations of the "Royal Wedding" physical and visual special effects have appeared in numerous articles during the past 50 years. Commentaries and extras on a few DVD have also covered this.

When that scene was films at a different studio where I was producing visual effects most of us in that field in Hollywood were asked to help. The basic idea was hadly new, but had never been attempted on this scale.

The set was constructed substantially and rigid, with the furniture and set dressing firmly attached in place. The movie camera and lighting units were also fixed in relation to the floor, so the floor always appears to be at the bottom of the frame.

The new part of the effect set-up was the massive size of the rig. A pair of giant rings was constructed, which rotated on wheels at the bottom of the rig. Fred Astair was very athletic and could actually spring up a wall. For the effect as he would spring up a wall the whole rig would rotate so that wall was on the bottom.

Thus the second time Astaire did such a step, the ceiling was on the bottom. The timing of the dancing and rotation had to be perfect.

Since no camera operator could function upside down, for the shot the operator sat on a chair suspended from the stage overhead beams. Thus the camera could tilt and pan slightly. Doing so really helped convince the audience Astair was actuall dancing on the ceiling without any tick being used.

Although most of us in the visual effects business knew the details, care was taken to keep the secret for many years. Variations of that rotating rig have been subsequently used on many movies, especially when airliners are supposed to be in trouble.

Over the years video assist and remote heads for movie camers were perfected, so the camera can be operated from a safe position. These days camera heads can tilt or even rotate to change the horizon, a concept called "Dutch Angel" Also a special lens called a "Dove Prism" can rotate the image with the camera itself stationery. Now that cameras are smaller it is preferred to rotate it, since the Dove Prism degrades visual quality.

If records were kept as to how long it took to film the Royal Wedding effects or how many takes were needed, those were kept secret for ages. I have been told that those notes were destroyed, as were all the out-takes. The music was pre-recorded and played back during filming, when no sound was recorded. Astaire performed his taps later, on a smaller stage once the sequence had been edited. He did that on all his movies involving tap dancing or foot sounds. At least on all the Astaire movies with Ginger Rogers it was Fred's creative partner Hermes Pan who performed Ginger's taps during the sound recording. She could tap dance well, but was usually on camera in another movie when it came time to do the tap recording.

Wow, Dr. Adams, how cool to read about all the details from someone who was "there".

Thanks...I had a general idea about how they "might" have done it, but no details.

Thanks! Fascinating reading.

You should write a book on all your "Hollywood experiences"...or have you already?

I'd buy it!

Thanks SCfan (aren't we all?) and Greytone who finished her reply while I was typing slowly.

Although I am restricted by a non-disclosure contract with my long-time studio employer preventing me writing a tell-all about what went on there, over the years I have written extensively about both physical special effects and visual effects. Mostly my articles have appeared in technical publications. These days with the increase in film studies classes all over the world some of those magazines have circulations that would have really impressed agencies such as SC back in the old days.

One thing about MM is that so far we have not seen any of their trade ads, only consumer products. Some ad shops only did trade ads, but nearly all the multi-office major shops, JWT, Y&R, BBDO also made a lot of money doing trade ads.

BTW, my own DVD of "The Best of Everything" did not arrive today. I can hardly wait and expect full reports. For those who only think of Joan Crawford as an assertive successful woman, find a copy of "Dancing Lady" a 1933 musical MGM made in answer to Warner Bros successes with "42nd Street" and "Gold Diggers of 1933" Joan plays a wannabe Broadway dancer. Clark Gable plays the director. BTW, that was Fred Astaire's first screen role. He teaches Joan's character some dance routines, then later is the star male dancer.

That is based on an incident on Broadway about 1928 when Fred was asked to help a young Elanor Powell with a routine. She taught him some tap moves and they remained life-long pals.

You just have not experience a musical until you see Joan Crawford very blonde singing and dancing her heart out! After watching "Dancing Lady" it is obvious why MGM lusted after Busby Berkeley's contract, which they eventually got, years later.

That sounds about as excrutiating to watch as Jimmy Stewart murdering "You'd Be So Easy To Love" !!!! I saw that once and that was enough, believe me...poor guy. He was so appealing and adorable he got by with it but...

It's a good thing the guy stuck with acting!

Dr. A., is that "Dancing Lady" the one with Clark Gable dancing, too? That was classic. They
did what the studio told them to do back then, didn't they? lol

Greytone, I have to say thank you once again for starting and faithfully continuing this fascinating thread. While I may not have much to contribute, I certainly enjoy reading the comments. Wonderful dish, Dr. Adams!

Grey,
I've enjoyed participating in this thread enormously. What other reason would I have had to watch 24 Alfred Hitchcock films in January!

Right now I have "Spartacus" and "Splendor in the Grass" on hand to view for the March discussion, and I am expecting "The Misfits" to arrive at my local library any day.

A definite plus, we now have Dr. Adams, whose contributions are so informative, participating in the discussion. Please continue this thread as long as you feel that it is worth while. It is a responsibility, I know, and you are handling it admirably.

This is a great place to learn about things and people (actors). Dr. A, thanks so much for your explanation of the marvelous Fred Astaire dance sequence. I, too, always wondered how that was done.

I thought Joan Crawford was lovely in DANCING LADY...her number with the young FA was great...Heigh-Ho!, the gangs all here...let's have pretzels and let's have beer, etc... What fun!

SCfan, maybe it's IDIOT'S DELIGHT where Gable is a song and dance man and sings "Putting on the Ritz"... I'm not positive about that so, if anyone knows for sure, please chime in.

Greytone...while watching TBOE, be sure to notice Robert Evans who plays Dexter, the rich playboy. After a not so successful career as an actor, he turned to producing. He was married 4 or 5 times including once to Ali MacGraw. He later produced LOVE STORY starring, you guessed it, Ali MacGraw!

One thing about TBOE is that most of the relationships had happy or semi-happy endings. The role of Mr. Shallimar, played by Brian Aherne, might be compared to Roger Sterling. He seems like the "office wolf", always looking for new fields to plow, so to speak. But Mr. Shallimar played it rather low key compared to Sterling's blatantness.

You have to sort of read between the lines when watching movies made in the 40s and 50s because there was this censorship code in existence. When I was a kid (in the 40s and 50s) and watched a movie with a couple making out and they would head towards the bedroom, then the door would close, I never thought about what went on behind the door. Too young and naive, I guess. That leads me to another thought about TBOE: April was quite naive, too, as were a lot of women those days, when she had to be sure Dexter "loved" her before she'd go-all-the-way.

Grey and Dr. A be sure to let us know your thoughts after viewing the movie. "Inquiring minds want to know"!

P.S. If you go to http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0052619/

at the bottom where the comments are, someone has posted about comparing the sets on MM to TBOE. Very interesting read.

Thanx everyone....
I'll keep us going...Just wanted to know I'm not alone and I'm not talking to myself. For all those that watch the movies and don't have time to comment or prefer to lurk...I understand! Just know the more the merrier...and no comment is unwelcome....

A special thanx to you Remembering, for being ahead of the game and demonstrating dedication! This is a short month and March will be here before we know it. BTW...if you have the schedule, you will notice the actor selected in April was (once again) Rita Hayworth...Argh..(and noone called me on it!) So, if there are no objections, we will substitute Dorothy Dandridge in place of her in April. Dorothy had an interesting life and career, so there should be no drop-off in discussion. My error...my apologies....

Thanx, again everyone----->roszie, Dr. A, zerelds, SCfan, jackie_monroe, MadMenSuze and all our lurkers....you are all appreciated sooo much!

Thanks to you from me, too, grey...it's obvious you put a lot of time and effort into this forum every month and it is appreciated.

Everyone is so knowledgeable and interesting!

Thanks, too, rozsie...interesting read on imdb!

Can't wait for "Splendor In The Grass" next month...such a good old classic Hollywood "soap"!

I guess the only one "soapier" with Natalie in it is "All The Fine Young Cannibals" with her starring with her beautiful new hubbie, Robt. Wagner...rent that one if you want a good example of why they were the most beautiful couple in Hollywood "back then"..

Ooops got ahead of myself, there..... : - ]

I look forward to Dorothy Dandridge in April. She was gorgeous. Who is scheduled for March, and what are the movies? Sorry, I don't have the schedule.

Get ready, zerelda..... and everyone else preparing for the discussion in advance....

March discussion movies will be "Spartacus," and "Splendor in the Grass." The actor/actress under discussion will be Marilyn Monroe.

I'll post the thread (as usual, on Sunday of) the last full week in March.

I finally watched “The Best of Everything (1959),” and enjoyed it very much. I can see why Matt Weiner inserted the reference to it in Mad Men (by having Don read the popular book in bed), but watching the movie also showed other ways he made sure Mad Men included many scenes and characters that mirrored the movie.

I watched the movie the first time all the way through, but things didn’t come to life until I watched it again while listening to commentary from the book’s author, Rona Jaffe, and writer, Sylvia Stoddard.

All the things I jotted down would make this post too long (and when reviewed would make me appear as the oooowheee enthusiast, once again), so I am making a conscious choice to only post some facts the two women said that I found particularly interesting….

-Suzy Parker was pregnant while filming this movie, and for certain scenes the costumers put her in waist-cinchers. Jaffe said she was very worried about Suzy’s health and the pregnancy as a result of the unfeeling studio heads.

-Bob Evans played Dexter Key, the no-count boyfriend who was taking April (Diane Baker) to have the clandestine abortion. Little did I know this was the same actor-turned-successful-producer of award-winning “Chinatown,” and the author of “The Kid Stays in the Picture,” his autobiography.

-Joan Crawford was small in stature, a little over five feet tall. When the picture started filming, her husband (Alfred Steele), of Pepsi Cola fame, had died only two months before. Jaffe admitted seeing her walk the set with a tumbler of clear ‘water,’ which she came to later realize was vodka. The actors on the set admit that she was professional and prepared for all her scenes, but was clearly struggling with her recent life events.

-When the movie was originally screened, audiences did not like the storyline or love scenes between Barbara Lamont’s character (Martha Hyer—the blonde divorcee with a young child that worked in the office) and Sidney Carter (played by Donald Herron). They were primary characters in the books, but most of their story was deleted from the film because of this reaction.

-The movie title was based on an actual ad Jaffe read (and Hope Lange held in the opening scene) that had appeared in the local newspaper stating the secretaries deserved, ‘the best of everything’ at the company they worked for. I was surprised to hear Johnny Mathis croon that romance is ‘the best of everything….’ during the opening sequence, too.

-There were no bookstores (like Barnes & Noble) 'back in the day,' so the discussions about the value of paperbacks sold at newsstands and drugstores were real. Publishing paperbacks were a fledgling part of the publishing business at the time.

-In the book, Caroline (Hope Lange) had an affair with Mike (Stephen Boyd) and dumped him (sound like our Peggy?). The studio changed the film because they felt it should have more of a fairytale ending. Jaffe felt it was like saying it was better to be saddled with a drunk (which she felt Mike to be) than be alone. Jaffe felt by having Caroline dump him she actually saved her from becoming Mrs. Eddie Rice. Jaffe also said Caroline actually arrived at the firm after she and her boyfriend had already broken up. She (like our Peggy) was just out of school (in Caroline’s case Radcliffe) biding time ‘til ‘Mr. Right’ came along. There were many changes dictated by the Hays Code. The whole abortion scenario was changed because of them, too. Jaffe says in the book, April had the abortion, is hurt and sad, and is taken to Caroline’s (parents) home in Connecticut to recuperate. Jaffe felt it more contrived to have her jump from a fast-moving car and survive to fall in love with the doctor who treated her in the hospital. (I see what she means…)

-There was a very pretty blonde secretary (Brenda) holding a glass to Mr. Shalimar’s door trying to hear what was happening when Amanda Farrow (Joan Crawford) returned to the office after her failed marriage. The commentary revealed that blonde secretary was the January 1957 Playboy Playmate named June Blair. She married David Nelson and played his wife on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet!

That’s enough…don’t want to bore you…I still have to watch Executive Suite…Oh Lord help us if it has Bonus Features! lol

I watched Executive Suite (1954), and it turned out to be a really well-written script acted by an amazing cast of actors that drew the best from their characters.

I always mention the clothes (something I am always interested in) and discover the storyline originated in a 1951 book written by Cameron Hawley. The movie’s theme was about the movement of the manufacturing core of America toward corruption and focus on the corporate bottom-line at the expense of workers and without regard for quality and excellence.

Although the movie was in black and white and was devoid of background music to fill silent pauses, neither detracted from the film because the storyline and actors seemed to fill every space. Nina Foch, who played the deceased character’s secretary, really deserved her Supporting Actress nomination. Yes, I did notice the Joan-type pen she wore around her neck. I likes that the longer chain in this film had it hanging closer to her belt. I’m positive Weiner lifted the prop in homage to this film.

It sure was strange to see everyone attempt to connect with each other without today’s staple, the cellphone. We saw telegrams, phone booths, calls controlled by PBX operators in hotels (‘time and charges’ what a relic!), telephones carried to restaurant tables, and characters doing things face-to-face when telephone contact was impossible. (After spending 30 years at the phone company, it’s something I noticed right away!)

I liked this movie because of its effort to put before America the discussion of industrial morality. I think Weiner is trying to discuss corporate morality with us, too.

Great posts, Greytone! It has been awhile since I watched these two movies, and now I can't wait to see them both again.

So much interesting dope to comment on. I never cared for Robert Evans as an actor, specifically in "The Sun Also Rises." I must admit he has had enormous success as a producer, but I still find him an extremely creepy individual.

Regarding the publishing of paperbacks, I can remember standing in the drugstore in front of a revolving rack of paperbacks reading the jacket blurbs and studying the, sometimes amazing, cover art. My mother always considered paperbacks tawdry - it was hardback books for her, and when she once found my brother reading a paperback Mickey Spillane with its typically sleazy cover, she had a fit. Had he been reading a hardbound copy, no problem.

Nina Foch was one of my favorite character actors. I remember she was the murder victim in the very first Columbo episode. A very elegant wife murdered by Gene Barry. Interesting personal fact is that her first husband was James Lipton of the Actors Studio. Her real name was Nina Consuelo Maud Fock, and while one can understand why she changed it, how great would it have been to see the name "Maud Fock" on the screen? Oh well, guess that's just me.

Lastly, the more we move forward in this modern age with our cell phones and computers, the more fascinating it is to watch the old movies when people did not have them.

Again, thanks for your comments, very interesting and thought provoking.

zerelda....!
What amazing information on Nina Foch....especially the part about her once being married to James Lipton! (love him)

The comment about your mother's snobbery regarding paperback vs hardcover reading made me laugh. Watching "The Best of Everything" made me understand a little more about the publishing business and the way they invest the limited number of dollars available. I side with your mother's thinking most of the time...but, it has more to do with total number of dollars I have invested in the 801 hardcover books I own. My dream is that they will be worth more when I am gone than when I purchased them... a more likely result with hardcovers than paperbacks....

Bob Evans is really creepy-looking. Rona Jaffe agreed with us....she said he was not really invested in his acting career and was much more successful as a producer...thank goodness for him!

Thanx for reading my comments and responding with your own!

roszie...Your comments before I saw both movies make much more sense to me now. I see that you hipped me to Bob Evans earlier in the thread....but, I had not seen the movie and everything has now fallen into place. I reviewed your earlier posts and those posted by Remembering, and agree with most of your comments.

Forgive me....My commitment is to see all next month's movies before the discussion begins next month. Hope to see you there!

Love these last few comments...you all are so in the know and interesting.

Can't wait for next month's juiciness!

See ya!

Didn't mean I didn't enjoy ALL the comments (as well as the "last few"), just that I had read all but the last few and was catching up on those today.

Thanks again, grey, for all your dedication. I'ts appreciated.

Back to Nina Foch, I just realized she will be in the upcoming "Spartacus", scheduled for review in late March. I also read on-line that she lost Best Supporting Actress to Eva Marie Saint (On the Waterfront), and was really angry about it. Ms. Foch thought Ms. Saint's role was more lead actress instead of supporting. The rules have since been changed apparently on which roles can be judged supporting and which ones leading actress. She seems to have been rather type-cast as an actress, usually playing the icy, haughty, rich woman. I look forward to seeing her in "Spartacus".