Friday with Fonda

This color image from 1967 shows Jane Fonda filming “Barefoot in the Park” in New York City. While many of the exteriors and all of the interiors were filmed on the soundstages at Paramount Studios, there is quite a bit of footage that takes place on location. The star can be seen going under the Washington Square Arch in Greenwich Village as she attempts to find her drunk husband (Robert Redford). Naturally she finds him walking barefoot in the park.

Here’s a vintage 1949 image from my collection of Washington Square:

…and one that I took myself back in 2011. Jane Fonda decided not to meet me there.

See more photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Shirley and Henry

Henry Fonda looks very pleased to be posing with Shirley on the set of “Captain January,” Shirley’s first film of 1936. Stamped April 23, 1936 (Shirley’s birthday), the publicity blurb on the back states:

HE KEPT HIS PROMISE — So Henry Fonda dropped in to see Shirley Temple work in “Captain January,” having made the promise when he left the 20th Century-Fox studios after completing a picture some time ago.

Was the promise to Shirley or Studio Execs? Inquiring minds want to know how this all came about! I was hoping Shirley would have mentioned Fonda in her autobiography, “Child Star,” but no such luck. The only mentions of him are in regards to him making a personal appearance at one of the nationwide premieres of “The Blue Bird” in 1940 and costarring with her in 1948’s “Fort Apache.”

How the two looked twelve years later in a publicity still from that famous John Ford movie, where Fonda played her father:



I was hoping that maybe there’d be a shot on the web of Shirley with Jane Fonda; instead, I came up with this info: Jane and Shirley were 11th cousins, making her and Henry 10th cousins! I wonder if Shirley knew?

See more Shirley photos at my main website.

Sunday in New York on Wednesday

Feast your eyes on these vintage shots of Jane Fonda and Rod Taylor filming a scene from "Sunday in New York," circa 1963. The first image shows Jane lounging in a rowboat in Central Park.



Rod joins in the fun on the next frame. Is he dancing? Is he being awkward? Possibly making a move on Jane?



Rod is getting mighty handsy here!



Let's take a break from Jane & Rod and check out the gorgeous building in the background. Known as the San Remo, it opened in 1930 and was designed by Emery Roth.



Here's a current day view of this New York City landmark:



And while we're in the present, here's how the lake at Central Park where Jane and Rod were sailing looks today:



Back to 1963: it seems that Rod has switched positions with Jane in the boat:



Careful with those hands, Rod.



Jane does not look happy about their placement.



The people in the boat nearby are ready to help if needed!



More vintage Movie and TV photos at my main website.

Working Nine to Five

"9 to 5" (1980) is one of those comic gems that you can watch over and over again. It has all of the elements that I love in a movie: a tight script, fab casting, and laughs that continue to build as the plot progresses. Dolly Parton burst onto the screen with her typical charm, making a very impressive film debut that catapulted her into the number one spot for Female Box Office Draw of 1981-1982.



Take a look at the office equipment on Dolly's desk:



At times, "9 to 5" seems a bit dated, as (thankfully) women have come a long way in the business world since this movie was made. On the flip side, the antiquated machinery adds a bit of nostalgia while the film shows us just how far equality has progressed in the last 30+ years.



When the three girls forge a friendship and join forces in a dive bar, the film really starts to hum.



Fonda steals the show as scorned housewife Judy; her progression from scared and flustered secretary to confident independent businesswoman is totally believable.



I was able to catch one of the initial performances of the stage musical version back in 2008; although enjoyable, without the original cast of Parton, Tomlin, Fonda, and Dabney Coleman, it lost a lot of its punch. Over the years, the three lead actresses have mentioned their interest in doing a sequel...oh the possibilities!

See more "9 to 5" photos on my Movie & TV photo web page.