Happy Birthday, Claudette!

Wishing a heavenly birthday to one of my favorite actresses, Claudette Colbert, shown here in her Oscar winning role from “It Happened One Night” (1934). Below, she accepts her award from Shirley Temple on February 27, 1935. She was told of her win just as she was about to leave for vacation, thus the less-than-formal suit and hat she is wearing.



According to Vanity Fair:

When Oscars host Irvin S. Cobb announced at the Biltmore Bowl that Colbert had won the best actress Oscar, she was, according to numerous reports, at [Los Angeles] Union Station, already seated in her compartment aboard the luxury Super Chief train, waiting to depart for Chicago and then go on to New York. With “It Happened One Night”’s sweep progressing, Cohn, anxious for photographs to immortalize the night and publicize his film, reportedly screamed at Columbia publicists, “Find her!” Three of them, accompanied by Academy publicist Leroy Johnston, hopped into a limousine and, with motorcycle escorts, rushed to Union Station a mere 1.7 miles away. There, they located Colbert and told her to come with them. “I’ll miss my train!” she protested, but they had convinced the Super Chief to delay its departure. “I’m not dressed!” she continued, to which Johnston reportedly replied, “It’s the Nobel Prize of motion pictures!” (He apparently also reminded her that it might help with future contract negotiations.) Colbert reluctantly acquiesced, joining them in the limo for a quick trip back to the Biltmore. Self-conscious about being in a traveling skirt-suit (albeit one designed for her by the great Travis Banton) rather than a gown, she insisted on accessing the podium not through the crowd, but rather via a side entrance, and holding her mink coat up in front of her. Shirley Temple, who was in attendance to receive a special “juvenile award” later in the ceremony, was enlisted to make the presentation, and was plopped up onto a chair to do so. “I’m afraid I am just going to be very foolish and cry,” Colbert said as she accepted the gold statuette that had only been referred to in print as “Oscar” a year before. Then she posed with Temple for a few photos, before excusing herself and being rushed back to Union Station, where she caught her train.



Claudette starred in the David Selznick World War II drama, “Since You Went Away” (1943), with Robert Walker, Jennifer Jones, and Joseph Cotten. Below, she spars with frenemy Agnes Moorehead. In the background is perennial Hollywood bartender Irving Bacon.



A lovely publicity still of the actress from the same movie:



In 1987, she made her final appearance in “The Two Mrs. Grenvilles,” a two-part miniseries on NBC with Ann-Margret.



How did the eighty-four year old Colbert hold up against the auburn-haired Swedish bombshell?



A Golden Globe win and Emmy nomination should tell you!



With one glance in this publicity portrait for “Grenvilles,” Colbert conveys a strength most people a fraction of her age would be incapable of.

See more Classic Movie & TV photos at my main website.

The Two Mrs. Grenvilles

Going through my movie library for something to watch while eating dinner, I rediscovered this gem from 1987, “The Two Mrs. Grenvilles.” Released as a splashy two-part TV movie, it was based on a novel by Dominick Dunne, who very closely based his story on true life events. In fact, so true-to-life, I’m not quite sure why Dunne didn’t just write a true crime story about the 1955 William Woodward murder case instead; Truman Capote had already written a fictional account back in 1975.

The main characters for the TV movie were perfectly cast with Claudette Colbert and Ann-Margret, playing a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law combo. The only bond these two share is the marriage that Colbert’s character, Alice Grenville, was forced to except when her son wed a very captivating showgirl, Ann Arden (Ann-Margret). At age 84 in her last acting role, Colbert’s screen power had not diminished one iota. She lights up the (little) screen with the charged scenes between her and Ann-Margret. Colbert displays a quiet but extremely powerful reserve, whereas Ann-Margret effectively chews up the scenery.

The first scene between the two is when Ann gets a tour of Alice’s residence, which Ann refers to as a mansion, but is quickly corrected by her sweetheart, Junior Grenville (well-played by Stephen Collins). “We don’t use the word ‘mansion.’ It’s a home.” A quick study, Ann learns to ditch that most favorite word from her vocabulary! Alice’s not-so-subtle passive aggressive comments against her future daughter-in-law set the stage for what is to come, as they share an afternoon tea.



It is established that Ann is a good shot; viewers, don’t forget this as it plays a pivotal point in a key scene of the movie!



But for now, don’t they look fantastic together in the outfits from their first meeting at a New York City Night Club in the forties?



Doesn’t Claudette look fantastic? She needs few words, as her face expresses it all.



Besides the acting, the sets, costumes, and especially the music make this film worth seeing.

See more Ann-Margret photos at my main website.

Little Church of the West

Last weekend I paid my first visit to The Little Church of the West Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Built in 1942, this small building made of California redwood looks like it could have come from a movie set. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, I immediately took a shine to it.



The chapel was originally built as part of the Hotel Last Frontier complex on the Las Vegas Strip. It was moved a number of times over the years until 1996 when it came to rest at its current location near the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.



Lots of interesting/kitschy details can be found as you wander the grounds.





Celebrity weddings held within the walls of the Church include Betty Grable and Harry James, Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford, Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie, and Judy Garland's fourth attempt at matrimony (kissing Mark Herron in the photo below).



Elvis and Ann-Margret got hitched here in the movie "Viva Las Vegas."



The Church is still in biz, cranking out ceremonies for those who want to get hitched in Vegas.



And it's still beautiful inside.



My friend Robbie waiting at the altar for his beautiful bride to arrive.



Worth waiting for, don't you think?



Exchanging their vows:



They made it!



It was a beautiful ceremony, and while I probably will not be returning to The Little Church any time soon, I sure was glad that I got to see it!

More of my Las Vegas photos at my main website.

Happy Birthday, Claudette!

Today marks what would have been the 111th birthday of Claudette Colbert, one of the best leading ladies from the Golden Age of Hollywood…or just about any age!

Here she is with Clark Gable in the film that won her an Oscar for 1934, "It Happened One Night."



In 1944, she starred in David Selznick's blockbuster WWII drama, "Since You Went Away." Playing a wife and mother with two daughters, she anchored the film with her believable portrayal of a woman wondering if her husband would return home alive from his service in the war.



Did You Know Dept.: Colbert was the original choice for the Margo Channing role in "All About Eve." Producer Joseph L. Mankiewicz picked her because she best represented the style he envisioned for the part. Plans changed when Colbert severely injured her back, which paved the way for Bette Davis' role of a lifetime. Colbert later quipped, "I just never had the luck to play bitches."



Colbert's last role was as the matriarch in "The Two Mrs Grenvilles."



Colbert won a Golden Globe and received an Emmy nomination. She held her own against the more flashy and eye-catching Ann-Margret, who played her daughter-in-law.



Last tidbits: her nickname was "The Fretting Frog," and she only liked to be photographed on one side. She strongly felt the other was not photogenic!



See more Daveland Classic Movie and TV photos at my main website.

Marx and Birdie

Although it wasn't her first movie, Ann-Margret rocketed to stardom with 1963's "Bye Bye Birdie." First came the Broadway musical, a thinly veiled tale based on the frenzy caused by Elvis Presley's induction into the army. The film version was (and still is) a pleasing batch of mindless cotton candy. Leads Dick Van Dyke and Janet Leigh played second fiddle to Ann-Margret's sexy young teenage character, Kim MacAfee, while Jesse Pearson did a great job of playing Conrad Birdie, the singing and swinging sex symbol who gets drafted.

Here the girls of Sweet Apple Ohio (aka the Universal Studios backlot) moon over Birdie in his gold lamé suit.



The publicity department got extra mileage for the movie by making a big deal about Groucho Marx's daughter, Melinda, being cast as one of Kim's friend.



It was a bit part, but that didn't keep Columbia from putting these photos in all the papers and magazines.



Attempting to make her boyfriend Albert (Dick Van Dyke) jealous, Rosie (Janet Leigh) flirts shamelessly with the Shriners. Although her singing was not so hot, her dancing (what legs!) definitely scorched these poor hayseeds.



The high school shower scene for the musical number "The Telephone Hour" shows that Columbia DID spare every expense on this film. No matter...it just makes it that much more corny and endearing.



For me, the real scene-stealers of the movie are Maureen Stapleton and Paul Lynde. Stapleton played Albert's mother: the living nightmare of every unmarried young man in this country. Meanwhile, Lynde holds his own as Kim's father, the publicity-hungry business owner who does his best to get his fifteen minutes in the spotlight.



See more "Bye Bye Birdie" photos on my Ann-Margret web page.

Screen Gem Saturdays: Ann-Margret

Born Ann-Margret Olsson, she has always been a have of mine. With the perfect combination of innocence and sexuality, Ann-Margret can also back up her looks with a ton-o-talent. Her role in the 1963 film "Bye Bye Birdie" launched her career, which has included a few Oscar nominations along the way.



One of my favorite Ann-Margret movies is the made-for-TV drama "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles," based on a novel by Dominick Dunne.



Pitting her against veteran actress Claudette Colbert, Ann-Margret more than held her own as the showgirl who just doesn't quite fit into New York Society.





And on top of all that, Men's Health Magazine voted her #28 in the top 100 Hottest Women of All Time. Who could argue with that? Although I have to wonder how Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian, and Britney Spears placed ahead of her.

See more vintage & current Classic Movie & TV star photos on my Classic Movie & TV star web page.