Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

   Some photos don’t ever need a caption.

   MERRY CHRISTMAS…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   An auction of Sylvester Stallone’s black leather Rocky jacket and other memorabilia has earned more than $3 million. Heritage Auctions President Greg Rohan says Stallone’s leather jacket was the top item sold at the three-day auction, with a top bid of $149,000. A poncho worn by Stallone in the first Rambo film fetched $60,000 in a sale that featured boxing trunks, gloves, and other items from the actor-director’s storied career.

   Stallone attended the auction’s first day and mingled with fans. The 69-year-old Oscar nominee announced the sale in July, but said it didn’t mean he was saying goodbye to the characters who made him famous.

   Stallone reprised his role as Rocky Balboa in the recent film Creed. His performance earned a Golden Globes Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He is the first star since Paul Newman to receive accolades for playing the same character in different motion pictures (Fast Eddie Felson in The Hustler and The Color of Money). Marlon Brando and Robert DeNiro won Academy Awards for playing Vito Corleone in The Godfather / The Godfather pt. II.                                                                             SYLVESTER STALLONE

   Portions of the auction proceeds will benefit military charities.

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   George Clayton Johnson was a prolific writer of television science fiction; and also had a few screenplays that were quite remarkable. He’s best remembered as sharing teleplay time with Rod Serling, Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson on The Twilight Zone. His other works included film collaboration that earned an Oscar nod on Logan’s Run, and the original draft of Ocean’s 11.

   Although not widely known outside of science-fiction circles, Johnson was revered among fans of the genre for his work. His seven contributions on The Twilight Zone received sensational reviews, and featured up-and-coming stars as Dick York, Robert Redford, Jonathan Winters, Jack Klugman, and Russell Johnson. A Game of Pool, Kick the Can, and Nothing in the Dark are considered three of the finest moments in the initial run of the anthology.

   He also had the distinction of penning the first-aired episode of Star Trek that introduced audiences to the crew of the USS Enterprise, including the now familiar characters, Capt. James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock.

   George Clayton Johnson was 86.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Public Television. The programming is crisp, intelligent, and worldly. One of my favorite weekly shows is Doc Martin. 54 episodes have aired on ITV in the United Kingdom between 2004 and 2015. It’s star, Martin Clunes, is a past winner of a BAFTA for his role in Men Behaving Badly; and earlier this year, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama, charity, and the community.

                               MARTIN CLUNES        IAN McNEICE

   Early in January 2016, I have been graciously invited by KCETLink Media Group to the British Consul General’s residence to celebrate KCET’s new season of Doc Martin, the public television station’s highest rated show among its six million Southern California viewers. Joining the festivities is special guest Ian McNeice (the show’s Bert Large), who will be available for interviews during the event. Also in attendance will be Marion Ross from Happy Days, KCETLink Media Group President & CEO Michael Riley, BAFTA’s Sandro Monetti, and more. The event, thrown in conjunction with BAFTA, Pleasant Holidays, and the Beverly Hilton Hotel, will be a fundraiser for KCET as part of their on-going drive in support of public television. KCET is the nation’s largest independent public television station, and a nonprofit 501(c3) organization.

   In addition to covering the red carpet, I will be attending a cocktail reception. Also on tap, a sneak peak of Season Seven of Doc Martin. I’m very excited to be celebrating the launch with loyal viewers and donors.

   The new season of Doc Martin will premiere on January 14th, 2016 at 8p (pst). Needless to say, Doctor Martin Ellingham’s surly exploits in fictional Portwenn is must-see television for me each Thursday.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   When it came to choosing the grand marshal for the 2016 Rose Parade, it was a natural progression for Tournament of Roses President Mike Matthiessen. First, the organization’s collaboration with the National Park Service, which is celebrating its centennial. Then, the tournament took a page from the NPS program, Find Your Park, when it came up with the theme for the 2016 parade — Find Your Adventure. With that in place, it was an obvious choice for acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns — who won an Emmy Award for his 2009 PBS documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea — to do the honors of leading the New Year’s morning celebration.

   Burns who has produced and directed more than two dozen documentaries, perhaps first gained broad notice for his acclaimed 1990 documentary mini-series, The Civil War. Since then, the subjects of his documentaries have run the gamut from baseball, jazz, and cancer, to World War II and the Roosevelt family. He has won five Emmys, and has been nominated for two Oscars.

   Becoming a documentary filmmaker was a natural progression for Burns. His interest in history started as a young boy growing up in Brooklyn, digesting the family’s encyclopedia. He received his first movie camera, an 8mm, as a child, and began by documenting polluted areas in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a teenager. At age 22, Burns started his own film company, Florentine Films. His signature technique of using archival footage and photos in his documentaries, slowly panning and zooming over them, became known as the Ken Burns Effect.

   Currently, he is working on several projects, including a series for PBS about the Vietnam War, which will air in 2016. PBS is planning to re-broadcast The National Parks: America’s Best Idea in April. Burns’ other projects in the works include films on Pasadena’s own Jackie Robinson, author Ernest Hemingway, and the history of stand-up comedy. His daughter Sarah, and her husband, also worked on the Robinson movie, which is also set to air on PBS in April.

    Burns, a newbie to the parade, said he’s excited to ride down Colorado Boulevard on the first day of 2016.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Animal activist Doris Day has a reasoned suggestion for the Holidays:

Many people think dogs, cats, birds, and bunnies make good Christmas gifts, and they couldn’t be more wrong… The holidays tend to be loud and chaotic — an awful environment into which to bring a new pet. Those cute, rambunctious puppies and kittens given as gifts often prove to be too much for the household to handle and wind up back at the shelters.   

   Her alternative, though less satisfying to youngsters on Christmas, may resonate with some families.

A much better option is a gift certificate from a local shelter or rescue organization, and wait to redeem it until the dust from the holidays settles. When things calm down, take the entire family, other pets included, and carefully choose a pet that you can commit to for its entire life… The best way to honor the memory (of a lost pet) is to save another life from the shelter.

   A hugely popular singer and actress throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Day first became interested in animal issues on the set of the 1956 Alfred Hitchcock film, The Man Who Knew Too Much. In 1978, she founded the Doris Day Animal Foundation, a small grassroots organization. Now 93, Day still takes an active role in the cause and the Foundation. Over the years, many animals have passed through the Day household, and several still call it home. She is down to three dogs and a few cats.

   As for this Christmas, Day says it be typically low-key, and she plans on spending it with her family… and her loving pets.          DORIS DAY —–>

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   The Force is strong in Berlin. A church in the German capital invited Star Wars fans to attend a special service Sunday themed on the sci-fi blockbuster in an attempt to attract more young people into the pews. About 500 people heeded the call and attended the service, some carrying light saber props or wearing Darth Vader masks. It was more than twice as many as usually come to Zion Church on a Sunday.

   With the film’s title song — played on the church’s organ — still echoing around the rafters, folks showed their support for the seventh installment in the franchise Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which opened Friday. Dressed like Chewbacca and Jawa traders, it was a welcome idea in regards to the motion picture franchise. The pastor who delivered the service said that Star Wars references religious themes, including Christian images and maybe some from other religions. In doing so, it shows that the Bible and the Church are part of our culture that keeps being reworked and reinterpreted. Many of the church-goers planned on seeing the motion picture later in the afternoon.

   Meanwhile back in the United States, studio estimates on Sunday say Star Wars: The Force Awakens brought in a galactic $238 million over the weekend, making it the biggest North American debut of all time. The flick should help generate a record year in cinema in ticket sales. The production also marks Harrison Ford’s biggest premiere in his storied career.

   The original Star Wars opened in 1977. Give yourself to the Dark Side.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

   Actor James Woods says he’s happy to be alive after crashing on an icy highway in Colorado earlier in the week. The accident happened on Interstate 70, where it cuts through scenic Glenwood Canyon in western Colorado. The stretch has steep cliffs on each side.    JAMES WOODS —>

   In a series of tweets, Woods commented that another person driving over 75 mph spun out, and that he hit a wall along the highway to avoid that driver. Woods said that after hitting the wall on the other side of the road, he slid backward going 60 mph. He said a guardrail kept his Jeep Grand Cherokee from dropping 100 feet to the Colorado River below. Seven cars were involved in the accident.

   Woods praised the police, firefighters, tow truck drivers, and everyone else who helped. He also apologized for rambling and said he had a little concussion. A day after the incident, Woods was back on the road again.

   Whew!

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   Did you know you can shop and support a community at the same time? While stocking up on goodies for your family and loved ones, shop through AmazonSmile to contribute to the Golden Inn & Village. 0.5% of your eligible purchases will benefit the Rona Barrett Foundation, helping them turn affordable housing into a home for seniors who need it most. May I suggest picking up copies of the Forgotten Hollywood Book Series as gifts for family and friends.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

NEW FORGOTTEN HOLLYWOOD SHOW ON THERAPYCABLE

   Episode #10 of FORGOTTEN HOLLYWOOD on THERAPYCABLE features guest John Fricke, author of The Wonderful World of Oz. As a Hollywood historian, his expertise is the life and times of Judy Garland.

   Sony Pictures Television Networks’ getTV has a weekly night of variety and talk programming from television’s Golden Age, airing weekly on Mondays. The lineup is headlined by The Judy Garland Show at 5p (pst). Each week’s programming will be repeated that same night at 8p (pst).

   One of the show’s many highlights features Garland’s show-stopping rendition of Battle Hymn of the Republic, taped just days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The performance was intended to help heal the country, and still resonates with critics today.

   The amazing Judy Garland was a troubled soul, wracked with addiction to pain medication. Her involvement with the television variety show was an opportunity for the star to fight her addiction, and reach a whole new generation of viewers. Sadly, the program was cancelled after a year that Garland called one of her happiest times.

   To watch and enjoy this interview on THERAPYCABLE, click or (cut-and-paste) to view my latest program:

http://therapycable.com/culture-videos/judy-garland-on-gettv.html

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Every year, I report on a number of entries added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry. Along with popular selections of more modern motion pictures, such as Top Gun, The Shawshank Redemption, LA Confidential, and Ghostbusters, some classic cinema from Hollywood’s Golden Age were picked. These movies compliment documentaries, two reelers, and works from the Silent Era that were among the newest annual choices.

This year, I also voted. I was allowed to make 50 nominations; and I’m proud to say TWO of mine made the final cut!

`

   Here are five highlights: (including my two recommendations)

~ Dracula (Spanish language version 1931) – Before the advent of sound, the only difference between films seen by domestic and foreign audiences was the subtitles. When talkies arrived, American studios began shooting foreign-language versions for international markets, and generally at the same time they filmed the English versions. In one famous example, a second crew — including a different director and stars — shot at night on the same sets used during the day for the Bram Stoker classic starring Bela Lugosi and directed by Tod Browning. In recent years, the Spanish version, which is 20 minutes longer, has been lauded as superior; some theorizing that the crew had an advantage of watching the English dailies and improving on camera angles and effective use of lighting. One of its stars, Lupita Tovar, is still alive at 105.

~ Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) – Writer-director Preston Sturges probably was the only filmmaker in Hollywood in the 1940s who could satirize the worship of honored veterans and their moms during wartime. Nominated for a Best Original Screenplay Oscar, it follows a soldier dismissed from active duty because of chronic hay fever, and enlisted by a group of Marines to return home as the war hero he pretended to be in letters to his mother. The great French critic André Bazin called it a work that restores to American film a sense of social satire that I find equaled only… in Chaplin’s films.

~ Imitation of Life (1959) – Douglas Sirk’s last American film is based on the Fannie Hurst novel about two moms (one white and one African-American) and their daughters (one white and one who wishes to pass for white). This remake (with Lana Turner and Juanita Moore as the mothers) offers a telling contrast to the more restrained melodramatic style used by John Stahl in a 1934 version (previously selected for the registry), starring Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers. One can also spot Sirk’s fascinating glimpses at the evolution of society the country had undergone in the 25 years that elapsed between the two films, particularly in Moore and her daughter, played by Susan Kohner.

   And my suggestions…

~ Being There (1979) – Peter Sellers’ final work is dry political satire. Jerzy Kosinski, assisted by award-winning screenwriter Robert C. Jones, adapted his 1971 novel for the screenplay, which Hal Ashby ably directed with an understatement to match the subtlety and precision of Sellers’ Academy Award-nominated performance. Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, and Jack Warden also co-star. Without spoiling the ending, the final scene provides an almost religious implication. Douglas won his second Oscar for his role as a dying businessman.

~ Winchester ’73 (1950) – James Stewart collaborated with director Anthony Mann on eight films during the 1950s. Most renowned was a series of five intense, psychological Westerns from 1950-1955 revolving around themes of vengeance, shifting personal morals. and concepts of heroism. This movie launched their partnership. Stewart on screen was more edgy under the strict direction of Mann. Years later, after Alfred Hitchcock’s publicist reacted to the Universal Studio mogul’s tepid initial reaction to Psycho, he pushed Hitch to keep fighting, saying he once convinced these pencil-pushers to accept a real dog like Winchester ’73. This 2015 add to the Film Registry vindicates such a crass assessment.

   This year’s Library of Congress Film Registry class also includes the 1920 versions of The Mark of Zorro and Humoresque, the Disney Silly Symphony animated classic, The Old Mill, and The New Deal governmental documentary collaboration with Hollywood, Our Daily Bread.

   Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, each year the Librarian of Congress names to the National Film Registry, only 25 productions considered culturally, historically or aesthetically significant. The films must be at least 10 years old. The Librarian makes the annual registry selections after conferring with the distinguished members of the National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) and Library film staff, as well as considering thousands of public nominations, including mine I hope. The public is urged to nominate titles for next year’s registry.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

LIMITED-EDITION JOHN WAYNE CHARITY T-SHIRT:  $24.00

Manny P. here…

   It was a jolly 90th birthday on Sunday for Dick Van Dyke (below) as he celebrated at Disneyland. The man who played Bert in Mary Poppins, as well as in a television sitcom in the sixties, traveled down Main Street USA while fans sang Happy Birthday to him.

   The extravaganza at Disneyland started with the unveiling inside the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe of a silhouette of the chimney sweep character Bert. Later in the day, Van Dyke waved to fans from the balcony of the Dream Suite in New Orleans Square.

   Throughout the visit, he was chaperoned by dancing penguins. His friends and family joined Van Dyke as he road along in a parade held in his honor, while spending treasured time at the Happiest Place on Earth. Riding with Van Dyke was his wife, Arlene.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   When Marilyn Monroe ordered pumps from Salvatore Ferragamo in the 1940s, she had a special request, the shoemaker’s grandson revealed. One heel was slightly higher than the other, enhancing her famed wiggle. A new capsule collection for Ferragamo by the luxury Colombian shoe designer Edgardo Osorio reaches back into the company archives to revisit Hollywood’s Golden era, when the young shoemaker from southern Italy built his business by making shoes for films and then winning over actors and actresses as customers to his Hollywood Boot Shop.

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO              MARILYN MONROE

   Ferragamo quickly became known as shoemaker to the stars, pioneering the powerful link between fashion and the booming film industry. Those customers included Judy Garland, Mae West, Lana Turner, and Monroe. Marilyn bought the iconic pumps in the 1940s from a shop on Madison Avenue in New York City for $45 a pair. For the capsule collection released in time for the holiday season, Osorio, who started designing shoes at Ferragamo before launching his own Florence-based brand Aquazzura, created a contemporary Marilyn-inspired pump with sheer netted panels for a sexy reveal. He also referenced the famed 1938 Judy Garland wedge with a steep stiletto heel and a feathery winged rainbow accent on the ankles.

   While Ferragamo imported to Hollywood some of southern Italy’s joyful colors and free spirit, Osorio’s collection aims to offer looks for women in different moments of the day, from ballet flats with the Ferragamo bow, to gladiator sandals, and glamorous booties. The looks are sexy, with stiletto heels and straps that wrap up the calf, but are also meant to be comfortable, featuring lightweight materials like cork, and recalling some of Ferragamo’s most recognized style points, from stylized bows to polka dots.

   The collection was launched as part of the luxury brand’s 100-year anniversary celebration of Ferragamo’s connection with Hollywood, and is meant to be the first of a series of capsule collections in other areas across the group from jewelry to handbags, and even menswear.

   The perfect gift for that certain someone.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   The man from Hoboken celebrates his 100th birthday today. Francis Albert Sinatra was born on December 12th, 1915, in the Hudson River waterfront city that was home to German, Irish, and Italian immigrants. Some young-at-heart residents might be raising a glass, or two, to the award-winning singer and actor.

   The high school dropout delivered the Jersey Observer newspaper, and worked at a local shipyard. As part of the Hoboken Four, they won first prize on a national radio program for amateur entertainers in 1935. He became a singing waiter at The Rustic Cabin in Englewood Cliffs, where he met songwriter Cole Porter, and forgot the words to Porter’s hit, Night and Day.

   After immense popularity as a crooner, and a movie star in a series of films with Gene Kelly, Frank hit a rough patch, and made one of the greatest comebacks in Hollywood history, culminating in winning an Oscar for his performance in From Here to Eternity. He had famed marriages to Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow. He often performed on-stage in Las Vegas, and in movies with Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Peter Lawford. Together, they were known as The Rat Pack. He was the balladeer that bridged the bobby-soxer fame between Bing Crosby and Elvis Presley; and his career spanned seven decades.

Sinatra was inducted in the first class of New Jersey’s Hall of Fame in 2008. A park and Hoboken’s main post office bear his name. People left flowers near the plaque where Sinatra’s first home once stood when he died in 1998 at age 82 and the city held a memorial Mass at St. Francis Roman Catholic Church, where their favorite son was baptized. Whatever real or imagined slights felt by residents are long forgotten. The United States Postal Service in 2008 issued a 42-cent stamp with his image, taking the rare step of holding three ceremonies in Hoboken, New York and Las Vegas.

   But for a saloon singer who usually had a drink on stage, Frank Sinatra’s ultimate honor came from Jack Daniel’s, which introduced Sinatra Select whiskey in 2003. To honor the 100th anniversary of his birth, Jack Daniel’s has produced 100 barrels of 100-proof Sinatra Century, which retails for $499.99, and includes an unreleased Sinatra recording.

    So, drink up… all you people…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   I’ve been personally invited next week to a private screening to enjoy one of the great actors of Hollywood’s Golden Age: James Coburn. The event is part of the KCET Cinema Series. The motion picture on tap is the 1966 classic Blake Edwards film, What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (I’ve never seen), a stylish comedy that also starred Dick Shawn, Aldo Ray, Harry Morgan, and Carroll O’Connor. The screenplay was written by William Peter Blatty. Henry Mancini wrote the score. As a special tribute to their sponsor, the James and Paula Coburn Foundation, each season KCET pulls a film from the archives starring the legendary screen actor, and proclaim the evening as James Coburn Classic Film Night.

   Film expert and Deadline.com writer Pete Hammond hosts their Q&A’s following each film. Next week’s Q&A guest is producer / actor Ken Wales. Alternating between the historic Aero Theatre in Santa Monica and the ArcLight Theatre in Sherman Oaks, KCET’s film series celebrates the most anticipated independent and studio films prior to their release in theaters (with the exception of the always anticipated James Coburn Night).

   The JPCF is a tax-exempt private foundation that supports charitable organizations devoted to the arts and sciences. Their mission to sustain and develop the Coburns’ legacy, as bequeathed to the LA Philharmonic, LA County Museum of Art, Clairbourn School, KCET Community Television, Motion Picture & Television Fund, and Operation Smile; in addition to, charities involved in the conduct of treatments or cures for cancer and the care of indigent cancer patients. The foundation is committed to upholding the Coburns’ dedication to local and international advancement through music, art, and education, as well as, physical and spiritual health. The JPCF is organized as a 501(c)3 charitable trust and operates its main office in Los Angeles, California.

   KCET is the nation’s largest independent public television station, and a nonprofit 501(c3) organization. The KCET Cinema Series is a quarterly presentation of nine weeks of great films, thought provoking stories on the big screen, and engaging dialog with top movie talent.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

<— Joseph N. Welch was the chief counsel for the United States Army while it was under investigation for Communist activities by Senator Joseph McCarthy’s Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, also known as the Army-McCarthy Hearings. Welch stood down McCarthy, and his confrontation led to the downfall of the Wisconsin senator, and his eventual censure for contempt and abuse of the Senate. Welch’s new-found celebrity led to a role as the trial judge in Anatomy of a Murder in 1959. He received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and a BAFTA Award for the role. He suddenly died a year later of a heart attack.

   We need a Joseph N. Welch with his folksy candor to ramp down the rhetoric espoused by Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump. His daily diatribe has included attacks on Latinos, women, the disabled, and most recently, Muslims. His spewing of xenophobia is tapping into the worst fears of some Americans. In a consummate Hollywood-and-Vine moment, here is what Joseph N. Welch might have shared with Trump if he was alive and given the opportunity to confront him face-to-face:

JOSEPH McCARTHY               DONALD TRUMP

Until this moment, I think I have never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness… Little did I dream you could be so reckless and so cruel as to do an injury… If it were in my power to forgive you for your reckless cruelty I would do so. I like to think I am a gentleman, but your forgiveness will have to come from someone other than me.

May we not drop this? Let us not assassinate [these groups]  further. You’ve done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?

I will not discuss this further with you. You have sat within six feet of me. You have seen fit to bring it out. And, if there is a God in Heaven, it will do neither you nor your cause any good. I will not discuss it further.

  Where is someone like Joseph N. Welch in 2015…

Until next time>                               “never forget”