Watch Lucy this Spring Break!

Lucille Ball (1911-1989) was an American actress on stage, screen and television -- she was also a brilliant comedienne and television executive. Her role in Stage Door (1937), one of her best performances on film, helped her to achieve star status however she was often miscast or put into roles that never tapped into all of her talents. She made pictures for RKO and MGM but the real turn in her career came in 1940 when she married Desi Arnaz. More than a decade later, the couple would find that their marriage would lead them to producing and starring in one of the most successful sitcoms in television history. The show -- appropriately titled I Love Lucy --  focused on the married life of Ricky and Lucy Ricardo -- played by Arnaz and Ball. Ricky Ricardo was a Cuban bandleader and Lucy played the housewife who dreamed of a career in show business. They lived in New York City. The sitcom premiered in 1951 during the early years of television -- when television was beginning to offer more varied programming. The show was a hit for CBS -- staying on the air for six more years. Ball's comedic genius was given full rein. The show also starred Vivian Vance and William Frawley as Ethel and Fred Mertz. There were frequent celebrity guest stars who played themselves on the show. One of the many famous episodes starred Harpo Marx.

Early television was performed before a live audience and generally not recorded. I Love Lucy made television history by shooting the program on film -- using three cameras -- in front of a live audience. The show enjoyed continued success in syndication decades later.

I Love Lucy: the complete series is available on DVD from the Butler Media Collection -- all 34 discs!

Enjoy.

Mata Hari (1931)

Based on the true story of Mata Hari, assumed name of Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod, an exotic dancer, courtesan and accused spy, the film starred Greta Garbo as Mata Hari and co-starred Lionel Barrymore and Ramon Novarro. Garbo's performance was praised as a brilliant portrayal of a seductive creature possessing hypnotic charms and intelligence. MGM picked up the project after Paramount abandoned its plans to tell the story of Mata Hari. The Hays Office raised concerns about the dance sequence and the "bedroom situations."

MGM's chief costume designer, Adrian, designed the costumes. Adrian began designing for films during the silent era and worked successfully through 1941. His designs set new fashion trends influencing the ready-to-wear industry. He worked with Garbo on many films including Anna Christie (1930), Grand Hotel (1932), The Painted Veil (1934),  Queen Christina (1934), Camille (1937), and Ninotchka (1939). After he retired from the movie industry, he opened a couture and ready-to-wear business in Beverly Hills. 

Image of Greta Garbo in Mata Hari courtesy of The Kobal Collection.

Jane Fonda: the Private Life of a Public Woman

"Patricia Bosworth tackles her subject’s myriad personae in an exhaustive biography of a woman whose personal growth so uncannily mirrored the social changes of her era and who, 50 years after her most controversial political actions, still manages to polarize. For the full Review in The Washington Post.

Elizabeth Taylor in Father of the Bride

The second film in this tribute to Elizabeth Taylor is Father of the Bride. This 1950 film, directed by Vincente Minelli, stars Elizabeth Taylor as the lovely Kay on the eve of her wedding. Spencer Tracy plays her father, Stanley Banks, a suburban lawyer, who looks back to the day three months earlier when he learned that Kay became engaged to Buckley Dunstan, played by Don Taylor. Joan Bennett is the lovely Ellie Banks, mother of the bride. The wedding reception is one Stanley will never forget. With both joy and heartache, Stanley and Ellie wish Kay off to her honeymoon.

Taylor is touchingly sweet in this role and we clearly understand the depth of affection between "Pops" and Kay. Also starring Billie Burke. The film's release coincided with the wedding of Taylor to Nicky Hilton. Costumes (and Taylor's real-life wedding gown) were designed by Helen Rose.

Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor

For the next several weeks, I will be highlighting films starring Elizabeth Taylor -- in what I consider some of her best performances as an actress.

The first film is Who's Afraid of Virigina Woolf?

Based on the play by Edward Albee, the film featured Elizabeth Taylor opposite Richard Burton as the battling and drunken duo, Martha and George. Taylor played a character considerably older than her 32 years and successfully managed the haggard look with weight gain, makeup and unglamorous costumes. Under the masterful direction of Mike Nichols (in his directorial debut), Taylor gives a searing performance. There is never a dull moment as this dark story plays out over the course of an evening. Often funny, the film is an emotional roller-coaster also featuring excellent performances from Burton, George Segal, and Sandy Dennis (her film debut). The film received five Oscars including a Best Actress award for Elizabeth Taylor.

Elizabeth Taylor Dead at 79

The end of an era.

Read the New York Times obituary.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

My film pick for St. Patrick's Day, check out The Last Hurrah directed by John Ford and starring Spencer Tracy as Frank Skeffington, the Irish-American mayor of a New England city. Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, Frank Skeffington is based on James Michael Curley, the multi-term Mayor of Boston serving in the early -mid 20th century. A changing world and the changing nature of "big-city" politics eventually leads to Skeffington's decline. Masterful acting from Tracy and an a-list supporting cast including Pat O'Brien, Basil Rathbone, Donald Crisp, and John Carradine.

Watch Elvis this Spring Break!

Have some fun this spring break by watching a few films starring Elvis Presley.

Presley rose to fame in the 1950s to become one of the most celebrated performers in America. As a singer, he helped popularize rock 'n' roll music with his unique sound and his famous dance moves which usually created near hysteria from fans. His music topped record charts with such major hits as "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog." He was heard on radio and seen on television with appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. By 1956, already a major star, he turned to film acting and took on roles ranging from somewhat autobiographical story lines to romantic musicals. He received positive reviews for a number of his films including Jailhouse Rock and Viva Las Vegas.




Check out these films from Butler Media!

• Blue Hawaii


• Double Trouble


• G.I. Blues


• Girl Happy


• Harum Scarum


• It Happened at the World's Fair


• Jailhouse Rock


• Kissin' Cousins


• Live a little, love a little


• Speedway


• Spinout


• Stay Away Joe


• Tickle Me


• Trouble With Girls


• Viva Las Vegas

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

My recommendation, an unexpected love story -- The Awful Truth. The film was directed by Leo McCarey, the screenplay based on the play of the same name and written by Arthur Richman. The featured actors include Irene Dunne, who was nominated for Best Actress, and a fabulous Cary Grant. The real treat, Skippy! A true scene stealer, Skippy, as Mr. Smith, the dog in the forefront of a custody battle, displayed both great range of emotion and outstanding comedic talent. You may recognize Skippy as Asta (credited as) in M-G-M's The Thin Man series and Bringing Up Baby.

I suggest a new Oscar category -- Best Featured Dog or Cat! Skippy aka Asta -- deserves the Academy Award for Best Featured Doggy!

McCarey won an Academy Award for direction. Also starring, Ralph Bellamy. In the same year, McCarey also directed the brilliant and heart wrenching film, Make Way For Tomorrow.

The Awful Truth

Butler Media

DVD4501

Where is James Franco?

Franco Checks Back In to 'General Hospital

Check out the actor in MILK directed by Gus Van Sant.

Butler Media Res

DVD8157

Tribute to Tony Curtis

Just a few of his remarkable films.


Boston Strangler
Butler Media
DVD8929

Defiant Ones
Butler Media Res
DVD7157

Great Race
Butler Media
DVD9136

Operation Petticoat
Butler Media
DVD9098

Some Like it Hot
Butler Media Res
DVD4121

Spartacus
Butler Media
DVD9399

Sweet Smell of Success
Butler Media
DVD9537

Featured Actor

Robert De Niro in Raging Bull (1980) playing Jake Le Motta doing a fine imitation of Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront (1954).

De Niro won the Oscar for Best Actor. Thelma Schoonmaker won the Oscar for Best Film Editing.

Featured DVD of the Week

The Devil Wears Prada
Butler Media Res
DVD5243

Meryl Streep is The Master.