THE EVOLUTION OF SEX SYMBOLS Apr 13, 2008
Examples: Mary Astor, Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake and Alida Valli. The silver screen idol. (Florida Times-Union)
New on DVD: 'Demon' Depp, Bette Davis and the 39th president Apr 4, 2008
Back story: You get All This, and Heaven Too (1940, best-picture Oscar nominee; Bette as a governess); The Great Lie (1941, amazingly messy pregnancy saga; Mary Astor took a supporting Oscar); In This Our Life (1942, family turmoil; Olivia de Havilland co-stars; John Huston's second film as director); and Watch on the Rhine (1943, Lillian Hellman's anti-Nazi play; co-star Paul Lukas won an Oscar). My favorites: The Old Maid (1939, Civil War, more complicated pregnancy; Davis and co-star Miriam... (USA Today -- Life)
New DVDs: 'Sweeney Todd,' 'Chipmunks' Apr 4, 2008
Bette Davis Collection: Volume ThreeThe Hollywood legend gets another boxed-set treatment with this six-disc collection packing half a dozen movies from the 1930s and 40: The Old Maid features Davis as an unmarried woman who gives up her daughter to be raised by a cousin and poses as the childs spinster aunt; All This, and Heaven Too casts Davis as a governess romanced by her employer (Charles Boyer) and suspected of helping him do away with his wife; The Great Lie... (MSNBC -- Movies)
New DVD from Fox is all about Bette Mar 30, 2008
Davis stumbles about her Louisiana mansion in fright wig and unflattering housedress as a series of familiar faces (Joseph Cotten, Agnes Moorehead, Mary Astor) pop in and out, their exaggerated accents dripping all over the carpets. Davis was not a natural fit for the horror/suspense genre; her rhythms are too measured, her performances too mannered to march to the rhythm of a thrill a minute. (Boston Globe)
Another of Weedsport's favorite sons Sep 11, 2007
He also designed clothing specifically for many New York socialites such as Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish and famed actress Mary Astor. Tryon was employed by Lady Duff Gordon, who was a fashion promoter in London. (Auburn Citizen, NY)
Grand-Prize Winner of TCM's 8th Annual Young Film Composers Competition Announced Jul 27, 2007
Each participant scored a 90-second clip from the silent classic Beau Brummel (1924), starring John Barrymore and Mary Astor, for the final round of judging. Schafer, the grand-prize winner, received $15,000 and a chance to score a feature-length film for premiere on TCM. Runners up also received prizes, including Apple laptops and Logic Pro Software. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Cinema La Placita Jul 15, 2007
Directed by Steven Spielberg;July 12 (1936) Starring Walter Huston and Mary Astor. Directed by William Wyler;July 19 (1964) Starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison. (FOX 11, AZ)
Reese Witherspoon starring in Midnight Jun 1, 2007
The film was directed by Mitchell Leisen and written by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder and also co-starred Don Ameche, Mary Astor and John Barrymore. While no word on the details of the new version of Midnight was revealed, will most likely be playing the role of the poor young pawn and even though details on the production schedule were also not available, it's unlikely that Midnight will be the next film for Reese. (Actress Archives)
Witherspoon to star in remake of "Midnight" Jun 1, 2007
The film was directed by Mitchell Leisen and written by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder and also co-starred Don Ameche, Mary Astor and John Barrymore. Future projects which will see Reese Witherspoon on the big screen include "Our Family Trouble," a supporting role in "Penelope," and she will also be seen in "Rendition" later in 2007. (Xinhuanet, China)
Full Story from Tufts Daily Mar 17, 2007
Because of the dialogue and style of film noirs, perfected in the 1940s, we associate detective stories with fast-talking guys in sharp suits getting disappointed when they realize that Mary Astor set them up all along. The series "Moonlighting" took that motif and transplanted it to the '80s, a time when we needed Bruce and Cybill talking fast, but dressing like Tubbs and Crockett. (U-Wire.com)
Two films shed light on production code's impact Feb 23, 2007
"Turnabout" (1940 ) is a B-level farce from the lowly Hal Roach studio, with minor stars in the leads and a roster of fallen talent (Mary Astor, Adolphe Menjou , Donald Meek ) in support. The differences are still instructive and almost always a hoot. (Boston Globe)
'Falcon' invites contrast (Gary Arnold) Jan 4, 2007
The 1941 ensemble: Humphrey Bogart as Spade, Mary Astor as Brigid O'Shaugnessy (aka Miss Wonderly), Sydney Greenstreet as Kaspar Gutman, Peter Lorre as Joel Cairo, et al, appears even more heaven-sent if you watch the three versions in chronological order. I'm not as inclined to scorn "Satan Met a Lady," directed by William Dieterle, as I once was. (Washington Times, DC)
