Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

“`The Museum of Broadway, the first permanent museum dedicated to the history and legacy of New York’s theater industry, will open next summer in Times Square following a delay caused by the Covid shutdown. Located at 145 West 45th Street in Manhattan, the museum is designed as an interactive and immersive experience.

“`The museum will share a visual history of Broadway from its birth to the present time, highlighting theater’s pioneers, landmark moments of social change, and many of the most beloved plays and musicals of all time. Key points along a timeline focuses on iconic shows that altered the landscape of Broadway, through immersive exhibits created by leading contemporary visual artists and acclaimed Broadway designers. Patrons can also venture backstage to experience  The Making of a Broadway Show with an exhibit honoring the professionals (both onstage and off) behind Broadway plays and musicals.

“`The museum is founded in collaboration with Playbill, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, The Billy Rose Theatre Division at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, The Al Hirschfeld Foundation,  Concord Theatricals, Goodspeed Musicals, plus, additional partners to be announced soon.

“`Tickets for the museum are expected to go on sale later this year.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Tony Bennett is stepping back from performing in concerts due to his age (he is ninety-five) and doctor recommendations. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, he canceled a run of concerts planned for later this year and will not be returning to touring.

“`Bennett made his two last live performances last week at Radio City Music Hall in New York with Lady Gaga in a show called One Last Time. The duo recorded classic duets between 2018 and 2020 that will be released as an album in October. A video showing them recording the single I Get a Kick Out of You was unveiled last week and framed the eighteen-time Grammy Award winner as a healthy senior. Tony’s ability to retain lyrics remains in tact.

“`Bennett was discovered by Bob Hope in the 1950s. His all-times standards include I Left My Heart in San Francisco, The Good Life, The Shadow of Your Smile,  Fly Me to the Moon, The Boulevard of Broken Dreams, and A Taste of Honey. He enjoys canvas painting, so his retirement appears bright!                TONY BENNETT —>

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Just steps from where the original Field of Dreams movie took place, a baseball diamond has been constructed (in front of a cornfield) by Major League Baseball, and a ballgame is being played there, tonight. In the hamlet of Dyersville Iowa, the Chicago White Sox and the vaunted New York Yankees will meet up. An expected attendance of eight-thousand fans will come (because they built it) and enjoy the festivities. The average ticket price is $1,400.

“`To enter the field, players will walk through a removable section of outfield fence hidden in the corn — just like in the movie. Kevin Costner and Dwier Brown, who played Costner’s ball playin’ father, will be in attendance. Other cast members may attend, as well. The 1989 film, adapted from W. P. Kinsella’s 1982 book Shoeless Joe. Field of Dreams is widely considered the most beloved baseball film ever produced. It was inducted into the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 2017.

“`Construction began in 2019 for the planned (and later postponed) August 2020 game, with the ballpark connected to the original movie site by a corn maze in the shape of MLB’s logo. To enter the field, players walked through a removable section of outfield fence hidden in the corn — just like in the movie.

“`Am I alone in thinking that James Earl Jones should call the game?

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`It became inevitable that cinematic selections that landed on the list of my fifty favorite motion pictures over the past two decades might be considered underrated. My picks of the last few weeks that fall into the category include:  Molly’s Game, Woman in Gold, Truth, Cold War, Nightcrawler, Charlie Wilson’s War and Thirteen Days. My next two cherished movies under the critical analysis microscope are by any definition… underrated.

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~ #22 – HELL OR HIGHT WATER (2016)

“`Hell or High Water is a neo-Western crime film that is part Tales of the Texas Rangers (a radio drama of the 1950s starring Joel McCrea) and part Bonnie and Clyde. Add in a little The Adventures of Robin Hood, as well.

“`Screenwriter Taylor Sheridan created a trilogy of the modern-day American frontier. Hell or High Water is the second installment. Jeff Bridges and Chris Pine provide the feel of Midwest authenticity and the production was rewarded with four Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Bridges), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing.

“`Hell or High Water  provides a complex narrative that dabbles with retail political uprisings of small-town America that is relevant today. Banks are the real villain and homeowners, small businesses, and law enforcement are forced to confront the struggle against the disintegration of rural communities. In other words, audiences root for perceived bad guys; lesser characters become collateral damage; and the flick bares re-watching for its cinematography, geographic poetry, and its innovative way to tell a well-worn story. Not bad for a simple heist thriller!

~ #21 – THE LADYKILLERS (2004)

“`Fargo, No Country For Old Men, The Big Lebowski, O Brother Where Art Thou?… All celebrated films made by Joel and Ethan Coen. The Ladykillers is the underrated production for several reasons.  Their screenplay was based on the celebrated 1955 British Ealing screen comedy of the same name that starred Sir Alec Guinness. The Coen Brothers admittedly draw their humor from a strain of lineage that stretches to the work of the iconic Preston Sturges.

“`The remake stars Tom Hanks (his third appearance on my list), J. K. Simmons (he has three spots on my countdown) and Marlon Wayans. Gospel music and a fragrance of life in the South is sprinkled throughout. Critics were not impressed and the work was bypassed during awards season.

“`A casino heist goes awry and the shenanigans that ensues leads to the tragic demise of all involved in the robbery.  Each of the characters are quirky in that Coen Brothers way, and be prepared for a satisfyingly weird conclusion. The only thing missing from this film is a cameo appearance by Joel Coen’s wife, Frances McDormand. I mean… Why not?

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Celebrating Act 2 takes a warm look at the value of straight men in comedy. John Coleman and Art Kirsch joins me in a lively discussion on the synchronicity of setting up comedy.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Pat Hitchcock was an actress and the only child of Alfred Hitchcock and Alma Reville. She had small roles in several of his films. Her guest-starring appearances on Alfred Hitchcock Presents were legendary.

“`As a child, Pat realized she wanted to be an actress. In the early 1940s, she began acting on the stage and doing summer stock. Her dad helped her gain a role in the Broadway production of Solitaire.  Pat also played the title role in the Broadway play, Violet. After graduating from Marymount High School in Los Angeles, she attended Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and also appeared on the British stage.

“`In 1949, her folks arrived in London to make Stage Fright,  Hitchcock’s first English-made feature since emigrating to Hollywood. Because she resembled Jane Wyman, her father asked if she would double for the actress. Pat jumped at the opportunity. She was assigned a part in the production, as well.

PAT HITCHCOCK

“`Other Hitch films she was featured in… Strangers on a Train and Psycho. She also had parts in The Mudlark and The Ten Commandments. On her daddy’s television anthology program, she made ten appearances. Pat worked on a few others, including Playhouse 90, which was live, directed by John Frankenheimer. Acting for her pop, however, remained the high point of her acting career.

“`For several decades, Pat became the family representative on the staff of Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. She supplied family photos and wrote the foreword of the book, Footsteps in the Fog:  Alfred Hitchcock’s San Francisco by Jeff Kraft and Aaron Leventhal.  In 2003, she published Alma Hitchcock:  The Woman Behind the Man, co-written with Laurent Bouzereau.

“`The adorable Pat Hitchcock was ninety-three.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Jane Withers was one of the most popular child stars in Hollywood in the 1930s and early 1940s,  with her films ranking in the top ten list for box-office tickets in 1937 and 1938. Withers’ breakthrough role was co-starring with Shirley Temple in the 1934 movie, Bright Eyes. Her parents would license her name and image for product lines. Paper dolls and books adorned her likeness.    JANE WITHERS –>

“`Jane launched her entertainment career at the age of three after winning a local amateur contest. She was cast on Aunt Sally’s Kiddie Revue, a Saturday-morning children’s program broadcast on WGST radio in Atlanta. She also had her own radio show called Dixie’s Dainty Dewdrop, where she interviewed celebrities who were visiting Atlanta. She moved with her mom to Los Angeles and performed on children’s shows on KFWB radio, did cartoon voice-overs, and also modeled.

        SHIRLEY TEMPLE     JANE WITHERS         

“`After success in It’s a Gift with W. C. Fields, and Bright Eyes, Jane signed a seven-year contract with Fox Film Corporation. She worked with Henry Fonda in his debut film,  The Farmer Takes a Wife. At age eight, she co-starred with sixteen-year old Rita Hayworth in Patty O’Day. In 1987, Withers would deliver Hayworth’s eulogy at her Beverly Hills funeral. After her time at Twentieth Century Fox, Withers signed with Republic Pictures.

“`Jane Withers memorable roles include  Cavalcade, Kid Millions, My Best Gal, Pack Up Your Troubles, and after an eight-year retirement, Giant and Captain Newman M. D. She also did voiceover work for Disney productions. On television, she guest-starred on Bachelor Father, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Munsters, The Love Boat, and Murder She Wrote. From 1963 to 1974, she gained popularity with her portrayal of Josephine the Plumber -> in a series of television commercials for Comet cleanser.

“`Withers was active in dozens of charities.  During World War II, she participated in over a hundred war bond drives and military tours in the United States. She also sent her personal doll collection on a two-year touring exhibition that raised $2.5 million in funds for the Allied war effort. She served as a board member of a local branch of the American Cancer Society and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and was instrumental in the development of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She taught Sunday school at Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church together with actress Eleanor Powell and Gloria Stewart, wife of actor James Stewart.

“`On a personal note, I met Withers on two occasions. The first was at the 75th anniversary celebration of Republic Pictures; and the other time was at a Pacific Pioneers Broadcasters luncheon honoring Michael Feinstein. Withers was a proud owner of an autographed copy of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.

“`Jane Withers was ninety-five.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Please join me at the Mark Twain Library in Los Angeles for a Forgotten Hollywood–Zoom oral presentation! I will share wonderful stories from my Forgotten Hollywood book series.

“`I will feature Golden Age of Hollywood’s character actors and their films, such as Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet (Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon), Frank Morgan (The Wizard of Oz), and Lionel Barrymore (It’s a Wonderful Life). The virtual event is FREE to attend!

When:  Wednesday, August 11th from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

To register, email: wbermeo@lapl.org (cut and past the email link)

Here is the Zoom link: https://lapl.zoom.us/j/87963214017  (cut and past the Zoom link)

“`The entire Forgotten Hollywood book series is available on Amazon. At the event, you may also arrange to purchase autographed copies of the books.

“`We will see you at the event!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`The Brits take center stage in this entry of my favorite fifty movies of the last two decades. BBC Films have churned out solid work since its inception in 1990. Most of the productions are high quality films that just missed sitting on my list, such as  Slumdog Millionaire,  Philomena,  Saving Mr. Banks, Quartet, Eastern Promises and The Mauritanian. Several BBC Films have made my cut including Woman in Gold and Brooklyn. Two others are coming up in later weeks. Today, I offer one of their stellar works.

“`The other entry has a feel of BBC Films, but was actually made by a pioneering production company, Pathé. In 1907, Pathé acquired the Lumière brothers patents. They also designed an improved studio camera and created their own celluloid stock.  Pathé became the globe’s largest cinematic equipment and production company. They additionally developed newsreels that were shown in cinemas before a feature.

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~ #24 – AN EDUCATION (2009)

“`An Education is a coming-of-age drama that stars  Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Emma Thompson, Rosamund Pike and Alfred Molina. Nick Hornby created the screenplay based on an autobiographical essay by  British journalist Lynn Barber about her schoolgirl crush of an older man. Hornby was the boyfriend of Amanda Posey, the film’s producer, whom he later married. Posey also produced Quartet and Brooklyn.

“`The film garnered attention from the Oscars, with three nominations including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.  It was the production that made Mulligan a star. She has also remained closed friends with her screen dad, Molina.

“`This smart 1960s drama explores normal teenage issues of virginity, class, and preparing for adulthood through higher education. There is mature sexual content and era-accurate drinking and smoking. With the heady world of jazz, high art, fashion, passion and Paris…  How can the world of books compete?

~ #23 – THE QUEEN (2006)

“`Recent biographical productions have smartly concentrated on moments in the life of famous people  (Lincoln and Stan and Ollie). The Queen reveals a candid snapshot into the current British monarchy just after the untimely death of Lady Diana Spencer. The Royal Family regard Diana’s death as a private affair.  This is in contrast with the views of Prime Minister Tony Blair and Diana’s ex-husband, Prince Charles, who favor the public’s desire for an official expression of grief. Matters are further complicated by the media, royal protocol regarding Diana’s official status, and wider issues about republicanism.

“`The Queen was directed by Stephen Frears, written by Peter Morgan, and features Helen Mirren in the title role of Queen Elizabeth II. Stellar support is provided by James Cromwell, Michael Sheen, and archival footage of Lady Diana and Camilla Parker Bowles.  The Queen got six Oscar nominations with Mirren earning a statuette for Best Actress. Other accolades include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design and Best Original Score.

“`Mirren transformed herself into the Queen since she shares a default facial expression  —  a slightly downturned mouth. She also undertook extensive voice training, faithfully reproducing the Queen’s delivery of her televised speech to the world. After its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Mirren received a five-minute standing ovation. Mirren was praised by the Queen and was invited to dinner at Buckingham Palace. She blithely declined the invite.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`We have reported that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is opening their official museum in September. Art Kirsch, John Coleman, and I discuss the details on Celebrating Act 2…

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`The Hollywood Forever Cemetery celebrates the 100th anniversary of The Sheik and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The 94th annual Rudolph Valentino memorial service will be on August 23rd at the Cathedral Mausoleum.

“`The event will honor Valentino’s life and work with special guest speakers, visual presentations and musical tributes. This is also an opportunity to tour the grounds of Hollywood Forever and check out the famous movie makers of Hollywood’s Silent Era and Golden Age.

“`On a personal note, I got to enjoy a big screen presentation of The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at the Niles Essanay Museum in February of 2020, a month before the national shutdown.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`This is getting really good! International espionage is at the heart of our next couple of entries. What is obvious… I absolutely love political thrillers on celluloid. Previous examples include:  The Ides of March, Cold War, Charlie Wilson’s War,  Darkest Hour,  Dark Water,  The Post,   and Truth.

“`Let us continue the countdown of my favorite cinema of the last two decades!

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~ #26 – ARGO (2012)

“`The fourth of six Best Pictures to make my list, Argo remains a likeable, crowd-pleasing film and perfectly shepherded by the movie-making talents of Ben Affleck. The top supporting cast includes Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, and Alan Arkin.  Best Pictures previously mentioned: The King’s Speech, Chicago, and The Green Book.

“`Nominated for seven Oscars, it won three; the other two, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing.  Many of my choices have a knack for receiving accolades for writing. Chris Terrio adapted it from the 1999 book by the Central Intelligence Agency operative Tony Mendez. As a historical piece, the production made use of archival news footage from ABC, CBS, and NBC.

“`The narrative deals with the Canadian Caper, in which Mendez led a rescue of six American diplomats from Tehran, under the guise of filming a science fiction flick called Argo during the 1979–1981 Iran hostage crisis. Studio Six (a phony Hollywood production office at the core of the CIA plan)  proved so convincing that even months after the rescue was complete and the office had folded, twenty-six scripts were delivered to its address,  including one from Steven Spielberg.

“`Interpretations of the film’s popularity in Iran have varied, ranging from the fact that the movie portrays the excesses of the revolution and the hostage crisis,  which had been long glorified in Iran, to Iranians viewing it as a reminder of what caused the poor relations with America and the ensuing cost to Iran, decades after the embassy takeover. Either way, it is one of those rare films that educates as it entertains.

~ #25 – THIRTEEN DAYS (2000)

“`We have officially reached the halfway point of my countdown! Thirteen Days is the oldest selection on the list (Release date… December 2000). This dramatizes the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, presented from the perspective of the President John F. Kennedy administration. The second docudrama made about the crisis, the first was 1974’s The Missiles of October (the better production of the two in my humble estimation). The latter movie contains some newly declassified information not available to the earlier production

“`Kevin Costner headlines as Kenneth O’Donnell, who was a special assistant to the president. Dozens of familiar faces offer support as members of Washington politicos from the era. Bruce Greenwood shines as Kennedy. Unfortunately, the film was largely ignored by the public and it was a no-show during awards season.

“`Former JFK administration officials and contemporary historians, such as Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Special Counsel Ted Sorensen, and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, have criticized the narrative for the depiction of O’Donnell as a main motivator of Kennedy and others during the crisis. According to McNamara, the duties performed by O’Donnell in the piece were closer to the role Sorensen played during the actual crisis. Incidentally, McNamara was also featured in another production on my countdown, The Post.

“`Costner traveled to Cuba in 2001 to screen the film for Fidel Castro. For the record, El Jefe enjoyed the screening.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`With apologies to Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, Roller Derby, and Wrestling, the very first successful reality television program was Candid Camera, created by Allen Funt.

“`While employed at an advertising agency,  Funt dreamed up gimmicks for radio programs. After his service during World War II, he created Candid Microphone, which had its premiere on the ABC radio network in 1947, using hidden microphones to snare everyday people. The format, though embarrassing to many of his prey, proved highly popular.

“`The man with the funny name became a reality television pioneer. Candid Camera ran from the 1940s to the 1980s.  Based on familiar man-on the-streets interviews, Funt placed folks in silly situations, just for their reactions. Audiences loved the concept.

“`Using a hidden camera, his televised practical jokes were essentially harmless. Once he got the desired surprised response, his announcer would proclaim:

“`After it went off the air, his son Peter Funt hosted several updated Candid Camera specials. Audiences responded accordingly, since they love to be in on the joke.

“`In 1964, Cornell University’s Department of Psychology was given permission to maintain an archive of all Candid Camera episodes for educational research. They eventually surmised that a psychological reaction of spontaneous behavior put in embarrassing situations is similar to reactive principals of folks who today use Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, among others.

“`As I said… Audiences respond accordingly, since they love to be in on the joke. Keep that in mind as you react to a post.

Smile! You’re on Social Media! 

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Stand-up comedian Jackie Mason followed a path from ordained rabbi to borscht-belt comic in a career that lasted over sixty years. He shared tales from his orthodox Jewish background using a thick Yiddish accent to keep audiences entertained. The controversial comic gained national attention for a quick-witted observational humor and it led to television appearances and several successful one-man Broadway shows.

“`Mason turned to comedy full-time after his dad died in the late 1950s. He landed a career-changing booking as a performer on Steve Allen’s weekly television variety show in 1961. He also appeared on programs hosted by Gary Moore, Perry Como and Dean Martin. There were setback along the way; a rift with Ed Sullivan, which ended up in court. Mason won the case, but his career came to a halt after the decision.

“`Over the years, he did plenty of club appearances and television guest spots. By the early 1980s, Mason opened his one-man comedy show, The World According to Me, in Hollywood and Beverly Hills.  The show became such a huge success that it ended up on Broadway. In 1987, He received a Tony Award for his efforts and won an Emmy in 1988 after a shortened version of the show aired on HBO.

“`In cinema, Mason co-starred in The Jerk, History of the World Part 1 and Caddyshack II. On television, he had a recurring role on The Simpsons. He also ranked #63 in Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time.

“`The ever-contentious Jackie Mason (above right) was ninety-three.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has unveiled its schedule of inaugural in-person screenings and public programs, which will begin on September 30th. The Academy Museum is the largest repository in the United States devoted to the beauty behind the art and science of moviemaking.

“`During the first three months, the museum will offer the public a dynamic and diverse slate of over 115 film screenings, discussions and programs for film lovers of all ages, starting with two special presentations of The Wizard of Oz featuring live musical accompaniment by the American Youth Symphony conducted by Oscar-nominated composer David Newman.

“`Other highlights of the museum’s initial in-person programming include the launch of several ongoing series, including Stories of Cinema, Legacy discussions (the first with Bruce and Laura Dern), Oscar Sunday, Family Matinees, and In Conversation with behind-the-scenes auteurs of cinema. Special programs include a retrospective of the career of Anna May Wong, a screening of Malcolm X in 70mm, and Oscar Frights leading up to Halloween.

“`Educational programs will be ongoing. They will take place throughout in exhibition galleries, theaters and at the Shirley Temple Education Studio. Accommodative tours for hard of hearing and deaf communities, and low vision and blind communities will be offered monthly.

“`Virtual programs will continue leading up to the museum’s opening, including a conversation with Oscar-winning writer-director Spike Lee and writer-director-producer Shaka King.

“`Whew! Let me catch my breath…

Until next time>                               “never forget”