Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

   Frank Pierson was a successful screenwriter and director. His work on television and film was memorable. Because his father was a noted writer, his family and their lives were the subject of the 1945 film Roughly Speaking, starring Rosalind Russell and Jack Carson as his parents.

   He began his career on the small screen as a script editor for Have Gun Will Travel. His teleplays included episodes on the Naked City, Route 66, and most recently, Mad Men and The Good Wife; and he also directed a number of those programs, as well as, The Bold Ones: The New Doctors.

   Pierson was honored for his work on screen. Audiences remember the scene he wrote in Cool Hand Luke, when the warden tells the Paul Newman character: What we have here is failure to communicate! He was also the screenwriter on Cat Ballou, The Happening, The Anderson Tapes, and his award-winning work for Dog Day Afternoon (Attica…Attica). His only Oscar statuette followed. He contributed scripted scenes, and directed A Star is Born (1976).

   In two stints in the 1980s and 1990s, Pierson was elected president of the Writers Guild of America (WGA); and he served as the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) from 2001-2005. In 1970, he directed The 42nd Annual Academy Awards.

   Frank Pierson was 87.

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   Alas, two television icons are part of today’s passing parade:

~ Sherman Hemsley played George in All in the Family and The Jeffersons. In collaboration with producer Norman Lear, Hemsley created the longest running African American character in television history. Sherman had a key role as a spirited reverend in Amen. He also guest starred in The Incredible Hulk, E/R, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air; and on the big screen in Love at First Bite.

~ Chad Everett was twice a Golden Globe nominee for portraying Joe Gannon in Medical Center. Most of his career, he appeared on television shows, such as  Route 66, The Red Skelton Show, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Melrose Place, Diagnosis: Murder, Caroline in the City, Touched by an Angel, The Nanny, and Murder, She Wrote. Chad also had cinematic moments in The Singing Nun and Airplane II: The Sequel.

   Sherman Hemsley was 74… Chad Everett was 75.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   PBS and Ken Burns have announced a documentary will air on the lives of the Roosevelt family in 2014. The Roosevelts: An Intimate History is a seven-part series that follows their story for more than a century, from Theodore’s birth in 1858 to Eleanor’s death in 1962. In between, the week-long television event will analyze two presidential administrations; the creations of the National Parks system and Panama Canal; the New Deal policy that fought the Great Depression; US entry into World War II; and the postwar human rights movement.

   Burns has cast the voices of Meryl Streep as Eleanor, Paul Giamatti as Theodore, and naturally, Edward Hermann as Franklin. Hermann was nominated twice for an Emmy for his stunning portrayal of FDR on television. Other roles will be filled by Patricia Clarkson, Adam Arkin, Keith Carradine, Ed Harris, John Lithgow, Josh Lucas, Amy Madigan, Billy Bob Thornton and Eli Wallach.

   The Roosevelt family is remembered as a 20th Century prominent American business and political dynasty of Dutch descent. Teddy was Eleanor’s uncle. They were the fifth cousins, once removed, of Franklin. Of course, Eleanor became his wife and First Lady of our nation.

   Later this year, Ken Burns’ The Dust Bowl will air on PBS on November 18th and 19th. The Central Park Five, which recently premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, will premiere in late 2013, or early 2014. The honored filmmaker is best known for his cinematic work on the subjects of baseball, jazz, and the Civil War.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   The History Channel takes an in-depth look at the most iconic trilogy in cinema, this side of John Ford’s trio of Westerns in the late 1940’s. The Godfather Legacy is a new two-hour special premiering this Tuesday, July 24th at 9pm (EST). The documentary looks at how this groundbreaking 1972 film and its two sequels transcended Hollywood, transformed the American psyche, and even influenced real-life organized crime. Michael Imperoli from  The Sopranos narrates this special.

   In The Godfather Legacy, historians, scholars, law enforcement, and members of the Mafia explain how these powerful mobsters with their moral frailties, resonated with society, and impacted popular culture. The retrospective has interviews with screenwriter / director Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino, James Caan, Talia Shire (among others); along with memorable scenes from the Oscar-winning trilogy.

   One of the more fascinating aspects of this documentary… the casting process. You will be fascinated who originally auditioned for certain roles. Also, behind-the-scenes artisans and actors were almost removed during filming. The what-ifs make this a must-see televised event.

   Personally, I believe the score created by Nino Rota in The Godfather was one of the finest used in the annals of cinema. Ironically, it was removed at the last minute from the list of 1973 Academy Award nominees, when it was discovered Rota had originally written the melody for the 1958 comedy Fortunella. Despite this, The Godfather Part II won a 1974 Oscar for Best Original Score, although it featured the same Love Theme that made the 1972 tune ineligible.

   All I can say, History has done it again!

Until next time>                          “non ti dimentico mai”

Manny P. here…

   With Summer in full swing, I found this on Facebook via the Screen Actors Guild Awards. It’s so frivolous, I thought I’d share this with you. According to a website selling these unique Hollywood-style maps:

A street map made up of over 900 film titles, including cinema classics such as Lost Highway, On the Waterfront, Jurassic Park, Reservoir Dogs, Carlito’s Way, Nightmare on Elm Street, Valley of the Dolls, and Chinatown.

The Map, which is loosely based on the style of a vintage Los Angeles street map, has its own Hollywood Boulevard, and includes districts dedicated to Hitchcock and cult British horror movies. Like most cities, it also has its own Red Light area. There’s an A-Z key at the base of the Map listing all the films featured, with their release dates and names of the directors.

   Here’s a link to the website for you to check out this creative labour of love:

http://www.wearedorothy.com/shop/film-map-original-open-edition

   Enjoy!

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   The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented a screening of Lawrence of Arabia this week. Restoration of this epic included updated voiceovers by Arthur Kennedy prior to his death in 1990. A really nice touch… Omar Sharif recorded a video introduction of the film.                                                      OMAR SHARIF—–>

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   The city of El Paso, TX, is the place to be in early August. The Plaza Classic Film Festival will feature loads of cinema, panel discussions, and A-List stars, including live appearances from Al Pacino (August 4th), Tippi Hedren, and Eva Marie Saint. Without the necessary fanfare, here is the fabulous comprehensive 11-day lineup:

   AL PACINO      TIPPI HEDREN      EVA MARIE SAINT

~ AUGUST 2nd – A Night to Remember; Tommy

~ AUGUST 3TH – Mr. Smith Goes to Washington; On the Waterfront (presented by Eva Marie Saint); Dog Day Afternoon

~ AUGUST 4TH – The Towering Inferno; Rocky Horror Picture Show

~ AUGUST 5TH – The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms; Godzilla; Wings (with a live musical accompaniment); This Property is Condemned;  Casablanca 

~ AUGUST 6TH – My Man Godfrey; A Place in the Sun; Land Before Time; Sorry Wrong Number; Breakfast at Tiffany’s

~ AUGUST 7TH – This Gun for Hire; Love Parade; Lassie Come Home; They Were Expendable; The Great Escape

~ AUGUST 8TH – The Invisible Man; E.T., The Extra-Terrestial; Mad Love; The Incredible Shrinking Man

~ AUGUST 9TH – To Be or Not To Be; Courage of Lassie; Midway; To Kill a Mockingbird; Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life

~ AUGUST 10TH – Shanghai Express; Summertime; The Birds (presented by Tippi Hedren); The Blob; Mothra; Sabrina; Pulp Fiction

~ AUGUST 11TH – Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory; An American in Paris; Marnie (presented by Tippi Hedren); Duck Soup; Endless Summer

~ AUGUST 12TH – Titanic (1953); Nothing Sacred; The Thomas Crowne Affair; The Sting; Samson and Delilah

   Also on tap: Magical Melies Matinee will feature the silent work of the early French pioneer of cinema (August 11th) with a live musical accompaniment; and an Elvis Live documentary.

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   The Plaza Classic Film Festival is pleased to partner with the El Paso Museum of Art on programming and exhibitions. Please reacquaint yourself with the El Paso Museum of Art before, during and after this year’s Plaza Classic. Enjoy one-of-a-kind exhibitions:

Designing Woman: Edith Head at Paramount 
July 14 – September 16, 2012 / Ginger Francis Seminar Room, El Paso Museum of Art

The work of iconic costume designer Edith Head surveys her creative output while at Paramount Pictures (1924 – 1967). The exhibit includes 40 restored costumes worn by some of Paramount’s biggest stars, including Barbara Stanwyck, Carole Lombard, Ginger Rogers, Joan Fontaine, Jane Russell, Veronica Lake, Bob Hope and many more. Also on display will be original design sketches, photographs, a selection of Ms. Head’s personal papers, and five of her eight Academy Award statuettes.

EDITH HEAD

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   For complete information about the Plaza Classic Film Festival, click on the link below:

Manny P. here…

   A pioneer of early television has died. William Asher directed and wrote teleplays for some of the most popular small screen sitcoms in history. He also furthered the concept of the Beach Movie. He won an Emmy, and  received a Directors Guild Award (DGA) nomination during his career.

   Asher was part of Hollywood royalty. His father co-produced the original  Dracula and Frankenstein for Universal. His sister was the publicist for Judy Garland during her stay at MGM. Even his mother did some acting.

   After World War II, he received a contract by Harry Cohn to work at Columbia Studios. The mogul eventually assigned him to the fledgling television department. At CBS Studios, he wrote early programs for The Colgate Comedy Hour. This led to a fruitful career. He developed the television pilot for Our Miss Brooks. He adapted so well to comedy, he was given the chance to help re-work I Love Lucy into a hit sitcom. Asher wrote many episodes for Make Room for Daddy, December Bride, The Patty Duke Show, Gidget, and his personal fav, Bewitched. Outside the comedy genre, he also directed and wrote episodes for The Twilight Zone, Alice, and The Dukes of Hazzard.

   He had a knack for appealing to the younger generation. Asher wrote and directed a few of the popular beach movies starring Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon – Muscle Beach Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964), and Beach Blanket Bingo (1965).

   William Asher became fast friends with John F. Kennedy. Together with Frank Sinatra, he planned the incoming president’s 1961 Inaugural. He married the daughter of actor Robert Montgomery, the leading lady on Bewitched, in 1963. His union with Elizabeth Montgomery lasted over a decade.

   Considered by many in the industry as: the man who invented the sitcom, Asher received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars – located at 100 North Palm Canyon Drive.

   William Asher was 90.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

~ S A L E S   A L E R T ~

   I’m pleased to announce the largest store chain in America has added Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History to their inventory. WALMART is making my latest paperback available, at least through their online store.

    This matches the previous prestigious adds in 2010 by Target and Costco of my original work, Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.  Fans of WALMART will now be able to read my new book; and they can  buy it for less. This is really exciting news in the journey taken by the Forgotten Hollywood Book Series, so far. And, watch for those falling prices!

   Here’s the direct link to the WALMART page, so YOU can make that affordable purchase:

      http://www.walmart.com/ip/20526663

   Git-R-Done…

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   The 98th library carrying the combined Forgotten Hollywood Book Series is in Australia. Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History is in the 81st branch at the Bundoora campus of the La Trobe University Library.

   Bundoora is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria. La Trobe is considered to be particularly strong in the area of arts and humanities. It’s the second major library in Australia to house my work.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

   A grand character actress, Celeste Holm prospered on stage, cinema, and television. Along the way, she garnered an Oscar, and was knighted by the King of Norway for her vast charitable work. President Reagan appointed her to a six-year term in 1982 on the National Council For the Arts.                                               CELESTE HOLM —>

   Celeste Holm’s first professional theatrical role was in a production of Hamlet starring Leslie Howard. Her initial major Broadway part was as Mary L. in William Saroyan’s 1940 revival of The Time of Your Life, co-starring with fellow newcomer, Gene Kelly. The assignment getting her the most attention from critics and audiences was as Ado Annie in the original Broadway production of Oklahoma in 1943. The gifted actress was eventually whisked off to Hollywood, signing a contract with 20th Century Fox.

   In her third screen appearance, Celeste Holm earned an Academy Award for Gentleman’s Agreement, which also starred Gregory Peck and John Garfield. Other films include The Snake Pit, a voiceover in A Letter to Three Wives, All About Eve, High Society, and The Tender Trap. Oscar Hammerstein convinced her to return to Broadway in 1951, to appear as Anna in the newest Rogers and Hammerstein production, The King and I.

   On the small screen, Holm guested on The Fugitive, Burke’s Law, The F.B.I., Columbo, Falcon Crest, Magnum P.I., The Streets of San Francisco, Fantasy Island, and The Love Boat. She once was the New York host of an Academy Awards ceremony. And, Celeste was fabulous on The Ed Sullivan Show in a performance featuring Edith Piaf, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green.

   Prolific in charity, she once served on nine boards at the same time; the National Mental Health Association, the Creative Arts Rehabilitation Center, and UNICEF. Holm was active in Save the Theatres Committee. She lived in her longtime New York apartment; a popular locale for actors, such as Robert De Niro. The lights on Broadway will dim on Wednesday night in her honor.

   The vivacious Celeste Holm was 95.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   The Film Society of the Lincoln Center is currently presenting a great Gene Kelly retrospective. Invitation to the Dance: Gene Kelly at 100, features 23 of the innovative dancer’s films through July 26th. On Friday, July 20th, Kelly’s widow, film historian Patricia Ward Kelly, takes a behind-the-scenes  in-person intimate portrait of the man who helped create some of the most memorable scenes in film history.

   Among the cinema presented: The Three Musketeers, On the Town, An American in Paris, Anchor’s Aweigh, For Me and My Gal, Summer Stock, Les Girls, The Pirate, It’s Always Fair Weather, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Inherit the Wind, Brigadoon, What a Way to Go, and Xanadu. Due to a prior contractual obligation, Singin’ in the Rain was not available for this fest. However, when you buy a double feature package, it will automatically enter you for a chance to win an advanced copy of Warner Home Video’s new Blu-ray edition of this iconic musical.

   For a complete listing of each film, and show times… visit:

 http://www.filmlinc.com/films/series/invitation-to-dance-gene-kelly-at-100

   The Film Society of Lincoln Center celebrates American and international cinema. It recognizes and supports new filmmakers, as they enhance awareness, accessibility, and understanding of the art among a broad and diverse film-going audience. The Film Society is located at 70 Lincoln Center Plaza in Manhattan.

   Cue the Gershwin music…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Maria Cole was part of entertainment royalty. Singing legend Nat King Cole, and their daughter Natalie, had many pop hits to their credit. Maria was also a fine entertainer in her own right during the Big Band era, and beyond.

   Working with the Benny Carter Band, and most notably, as the female vocalist for Count Basie and Duke Ellington Orchestra, Maria Cole also recorded several songs with her husband on Capitol Records. She was a sensation around  the lounge room-circuit in Southern California and New York during the 1950’s. She appeared numerous times on the Ed Sullivan Show. Maria also briefly co-hosted a local daytime television talk show in L.A., Tempo on KHJ Channel 9.

   A first marriage, in 1943 to Tuskegee Airman Spurgeon Ellington, ended with his death during World War II. Nat Cole married her in 1948, and the union lasted until his death of lung cancer in 1965. He had just completed work on Cat Ballou.  MARIA COLE

   After his passing, Maria engaged in charity work, forming the Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc. Her children are asking in lieu of flowers, donations be made to their family charity.

   Maria Cole was 89.

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   The son of Darryl F. Zanuck, who was also an award-winning producer of cinema, is dead. Richard D. Zanuck worked for his father at 20th Century Fox, rising to the ranks as chief  mogul. He also headed Warner Brothers, and later formed his own production company, with an office at Universal.

    Much of his work were honored with accolades, including The Sound of Music, Doctor Doolittle, The Sugarland Express, The Sting, Jaws, The  Eiger Sanction, The Verdict, Driving Miss Daisy, Cocoon, Road to Perdition, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. His final production was Dark Shadows,  released earlier this year. He furthered the careers of Steven Speilberg, Tim Burton, Paul Newman, Robert Shaw, and Johnny Depp.    RICHARD ZANUCK

   In 1976, Zanuck announced a much-publicized deal with the estate of novelist Margaret Mitchell to produce a sequel to Gone With the Wind. A book and script were prepared, but the project never materialized on film.

   Zanuck co-produced the 2000 Academy Awards ceremony. The Board of Governors gave the producer the Irving G. Thalberg Award in 1990.

   Richard D. Zanuck was 77.

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   Sylvester Stallone’s son was found deceased; most likely the victim of an accidental overdose of prescription medication. Sage Stallone was an aspiring filmmaker and actor. His uncle was Frank Stallone.

   He appeared in two of his father’s movies: Rocky V and Daylight. Sage also produced a number of short subjects. In 1996, he and film editor Bob Murawski co-founded Grindhouse Releasing, the Los Angeles company dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the exploitation genre of motion pictures. Sage was planning a wedding to his fiancee.        SAGE STALLONE

   Described as devastated and grief-stricken, Sylvester Stallone appeared at Comic-Con on Thursday, the San Diego pop culture festival. He was promoting Expendables 2 with co-star Arnold Schwarzenegger. It’s not clear whether Sly remained at the convention, or returned to Los Angeles late Friday evening.

   The Stallone family is asking for privacy while the LAPD conducts an official investigation.

   Sage Stallone was only 36.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Last Monday was quite special at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Members of the cast and crew of the iconic It’s a Mad Mad Mad World assembled for a fun panel discussion. The 1963 epic-comedy followed, in it’s fully restored version. It was part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences six-feature The Last 70mm Film Festival, taking place over the last few weeks.

   Moderating the panel, and acting as the Master of Ceremonies, was Billy Crystal. Among the folks in attendance: Mickey Rooney, Jonathan Winters, Carl Reiner, Marvin Kaplin, Barrie Chase, Stan Freberg, and the widow of director Stanley Kramer. Reportedly, Sid Caesar was unable to attend due to health issues. According to Karen Kramer, her husband took on the daunting project; kind of a personal dare after New York Times critic Bosley Crowther suggested he couldn’t make a comedy. Winters made his screen debut in this motion picture; and it was the final movie for Jimmy Durante.

   The ten-minute intermission featured the original police calls as played during the initial engagements in the Cinerama Dome piped throughout the theater – even the lobby and restrooms! An added bonus, the screening was preceded by a restored 70mm print of The Miracle of Todd-AO, a 1956 short examining the technological breakthroughs of the high-resolution widescreen process first used in the classic musical Oklahoma! Mickey Rooney  suggested a moment of silence in memory of Ernest Borgnine. This was a poignant reunion!

   On a personal not, let me proudly suggest It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World is the funniest piece of celluloid in the history of American cinema in my humble estimation. Just saying… 

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Peter O’Toole, the most nominated actor (8) to never win a competitive Oscar in Hollywood history, is retiring from his craft. In 2003, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did honor the star with a Lifetime Achievement Award. He has earned four Golden Globes, a Bafta, and an Emmy award.

   In a classy and eloquent open letter to the press on Tuesday, O’Toole wrote:

   Dear All,

Manny P. here…

   In 2010, Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History was an Honorable Mention in the Biography / Autobiography category at the Hollywood Book Festival. Fast forward to 2012. Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History has WON the Biography / Autobiography category! A gala for the entrants will be held at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Saturday, July 21st.

   The competition was fierce, based on the number of entries receiving an  Honorable Mention. Here’s the category list:

BIOGRAPHY / AUTOBIOGRAPHY

WINNER:

Son of Forgotten Hollywood: Forgotten History – Manny Pacheco

RUNNER-UP:

North of Hollywood – Rick Lenz

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Marilyn at Rainbow’s End – Darwin Porter; J. Edgar Hoover and Clyde Tolson – Darwin Porter;  Jim Reeves: His Untold Story – Larry Jordan; No Limits: How I Beat the Slots – Deborah Kilday; The Iron Butterfly: Memoir of a Martial Arts Master – Choon-Ok Jade Harmon with Ana Maria Rodriguez; Beamish Boy: A Memoir – Albert Flynn Desilver; The Oxygen Mask Rule – Martha L. Thompson; Firegal… Rising from the Ashes – Gian L. Geldbach-Hall; To Drink the Wild Air – Birgit Soyka; Houston Pretty Enough – Kim Halsey with Charles Lupula; Walkout – Henry C. Woodrum; In The Shadow of the Cross – Charles L. Bailey Jr; Follow the River: Lost in the Mountains of Mexico – Dahlia; Ricardo Breceda / Accidental Artist – Diana Lindsay

   According to their website:

Based in the capital of show business, the Hollywood Book Festival aims to spotlight literature worthy of future consideration by the talent-hungry pipeline of the entertainment industry.

   For a complete listing of the winners in the 2012 Hollywood Book Festival, visit the link:

http://www.hollywoodbookfestival.com/winners2012.htm

   Congratulations to all the entries in this year’s competition.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Ernest Borgnine is a true Hollywood legend. The burly Italian with a large smile was quite comfortable playing screen  heavies, and a variety of character actors, for over 60 years. And, he got a late start, after spending a decade in the United States Navy.

   He served with distinction on the USS Lamberton (DD-119). His numerous military decorations included the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal,  Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Defense Service Medal, and a Victory Medal. He was discharged as Gunner’s Mate 1st Class.

   His mother suggested he learn acting after the war. After graduating from the Barter Theatre in Virginia, he landed his first stage part in State of the Union. He was good enough to secure roles on Broadway in The Glass Menagerie and Harvey.

   He had a prolific movie career, appearing in From Here to Eternity, Vera Cruz, Johnny Guitar, Bad Day at Black Rock, The Dirty Dozen, The Flight of the Phoenix, Ice Station Zebra, The Wild Bunch, The Poseidon Adventure, Red, and a small film that turned out to be his signature effort. In all, he shared screen time in over 200 movies.

   Marty was a teleplay that was adapted onto the big screen in 1955. Written by Paddy Chayefsky and directed by Delbert Mann, it became an international sensation. Borgnine only got the opportunity to star when Rod Steiger accepted the chance to appear in Oklahoma, playing Jud Fry. Ironically, Ernest lost the audition to the versatile Steiger to co-star in the Rogers and Hammerstein-musical.

   A hard-working actor, Ernest Borgnine never shied away from the small screen. He was rewarded in 1962 by given the chance to star in McHale’s Navy. Though it poked fun at his early profession, he treasured the opportunity to don his uniform in a laugh-out-loud satire. His character mirrored the actor’s personality as a jovial prankster. He remained lifelong friends with his co-star Tim Conway. Airwolf was another series he starred in. Borgnine was also memorable in Little House on the Prarie, Magnum P.I., The Love Boat, Walker Texas Ranger, Murder She Wrote, and the final two episodes of ER.

   Beating large-budget films, Marty won an Oscar for the motion picture, Chayefsky, Mann, and Borgnine. It was deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant by the Library of Congress, and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1994.  His later career was interspersed with many well-deserved accolades. He became the oldest actor to be nominated for an Emmy, when he was 92. Last year, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild. He received his statuette at the televised gala.  GRACE KELLY AND ERNEST BORGNINE –>

   His personal life was turbulent. He married five time, including to actress Katy Jurado, and briefly, to Ethel Merman. When the Broadway star wrote about the six week union in her memoirs, the Chapter was maliciously a blank page! Borgnine countered that he mistakenly thought he wed Rosemary Clooney…

   Turner Classic Movies is planning a 24-hour film tribute to the career of this fine actor on July 26th. Also, on Sunday, July 15th, Antenna TV will run a 21-hour marathon of McHale’s Navy. The marathon starts at 7 a.m (ET), and will air 42 episodes of the sitcom.

   The durable cinematic icon, and a real gentleman, Ernest Borgnine was 95.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   A new exhibition at London’s Barbican Centre explores the style of James Bond. The collection includes costumes, props, set pieces and design drawings from five decades of 007 films. The show is both a reflection of the remarkable durability of Ian Fleming’s fictional secret agent, and a tribute to the British, European and American craftspeople and designers who have created the look of the quintessentially British icon.

   Clips from the legendary motion pictures are screened throughout the exhibition. Costumes such as tuxes worn by Sean Connery (classic Saville Row) to Roger Moore (by designer Doug Hayward) to Daniel Craig, who is dressed by American Tom Ford highlight the collection of artifacts. More favorites: Bond-Girl gowns, and of course, a neat array of gadgets and props, including a martini glass, minus the shaken-not-stirred beverage.

   Designing 007 runs through September 5th. It will then tour internationally, opening at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto in October.

   Cue the John Barry music…

Until next time>                               “never forget”