Here's a Sample of Lon's thoughts:
The reason why "Annie Get Your Gun" was not released on video until2000, was (as I understand it) because Irving Berlin, who owned the rights,
stipulated in 1973 that it could not be shown on TV, or later released on Video, until 50 years after the movie was originally released in 1950.
This was Howard Keel's first starring role. MGM next cast him in "Show Boat" (1951), "Lovely To Look At" (1952), "Kiss Me, Kate" (1953),
and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). Of course, in 1953 they loaned him to Warners for "Calamity Jane." He was, in my opinion, the
best male singer on the MGM lot. Lon +
Howard Keel, the actor/singer, who appeared as host/narrator in the documentary special, 'The Making of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers', said that making the film "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" was one of his happiest acting experiences at MGM Studios. He commented that the film was "magic", and still astounds today, and added the comment that the film had become an "American Musical Classic".
Howard Keel finished off the documentary by
saying: "As you know, we were a hit!
Now you know half the reason why -- the rest, as they say, is magic!".
Arguably her greatest movie success,'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' saw Jane Powell cast as the headstrong Milly, opposite Howard Keel, whom she paired up with also for several roadshows. She later went on to star in several stage musicals as well.
Jane Powell will always be known for her sweet, girl-next-door image, as well as her astounding abilities as a performer.
About Howard:
**Towering, solidly built, robust screen performer with gleaming smile and booming baritone, the movie musical's Great White Hope during the 1950s, the genre's declining years. An untrained natural talent who worked as a singing waiter and for an aircraft manufacturer before turning to the stage, Keel made his film debut in England (1948's 'The Small Voice' aka 'Hideout' while touring with a production of "Oklahoma!"**
Mis--casting:
John Patrick Shanley had Sally Field in mind for the lead when he wrote "Moonstruck" (1987). But no studio would buy Sally as an Italian-American. So it was suggested that Cher play the part.
Not only did a studio find Cher right for the role, but so did the Academy when she won the Oscar for Best Actress of 1987.
OSCAR TRIVIA:
When Alice Faye had her appendix out in 1940, Fox gave her part in "Down Argentine Way" to an "extra" who was co-starring with Ethel Merman and Bert Lahr in "DuBarry Was a Lady" on Broadway.
Her name? Betty Grable. The next year, the two starred in "Tin Pan Alley." And when Faye retired in 1944, Grable had already taken over as queen of the Fox musicals ("Coney Island," "Sweet Rosie O'Grady.") She became the highest paid woman in America by 1947 ("Mother Wore Tights") and,
according to box office ratings, the most popular star of the 1940s.
Yet, when the American Film Institute named the top 25 actresses of the 1930s & 40s, they overlooked Betty Grable. Curious. Alice Faye was slightly before my time as a kid going to movies, but I do remember seeing her in second or third runs of "Alexander's Ragtime Band" , "In Old Chicago"
and "Weekend in Havana." Lon +
ROBERT OSBORNE on BETTY GRABLE
When TCM presented 'The Gay Divorcee' on New Year's Day, host Robert Osborne came onscreen with his familiar recap. Very enthusiastically, he stated - yes, that WAS Betty Grable singing 'Let's K-knock K-knees' with Edward E. Horton. But he added, it would be six more years before Betty would be plucked from the Broadway Stage, where she was co- starring in 'Du Barry Was a Lady', to star in the Technicolor musical 'Down Argentine Way'.
And it was that beautiful Technicolor that Betty needed to escalate her to movie stardom, and to become the most popular star of the 1940s.
Robert cocked his head at the camera to add a visual Exclamation mark !
Lon+
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He ask's us: Do you realise....That I now have my own trivia page over in the States. You can view it at :http://www.yestermovies.blogspot.com/
If you want to click on a link, there's one on the link's page, just waiting for you!
A while back I sent you trivia on four actors who each received two Oscar nominations for playing the same character in two movies. Here's a similar trivia question:
What actor won two Oscars for the same picture?
Give up?
Harold Russell received two Oscars for "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946).
After losing both of his hands in World War II, director William Wyler asked him to play a disabled veteran in this 1946 film that ended up winning seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Director.
Russell, who had never acted before, was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. But the Academy was so certain he would not win, they presented him with a "Special Oscar honoring World War II veterans." After he received this award, imagine their surprise when Anne Revere opened the envelope for
'Supporting Actor' and announced that Russell had won over fellow nominees, Charles Coburn, William Demarest, Claude Rains and Clifton Webb.
Many years later, during hard times, Russell sold his 'Supporting Actor Oscar' for 2000. But he kept his other Oscar on his mantel. The one that honored all the veterans was just too special to give up, he said.
Harold Russell, 88, died on 1/2/02, in a Needham, Mass, nursing home
Harold John Russell was born in Nova Scotia in 1914. His family moved to Cambridge Massachusetts when his father died in 1919. He was training paratroopers at Camp MacKall NC on June 6, 1944, when some TNT he was using exploded in his hands. He lost both hands. After receiving hooks, and training on them, he was chosen to make an Army training film called "Diary Of A Sergeant". William Wyler saw the film and decided to change a character in his film 'The Best Years Of Our Lives' (1946), from a spastic to a double amputee. Harold Russell played "Homer Parish". For this role he received 2 Oscars, a Best Supporting and one for being an inspiration to all returning veteran. He is the only actor to receive 2 Oscars for the same role. After the movie he attended Boston University. He later went on to help establish AMVETS as a viable alternative to the American Legion for veterans, though his dream of an international veterans organization was never realized. He later appeared in 'Inside Moves' (1980)and 'Dogtown' (1997). He lived with his wife on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. He wrote 2 biographies: "Victory In My Hands" (1947) & "The Best Years Of My Life", (1981).
Mis--casting:
When Billy Wilder was casting "Some Like It Hot" in 1959, he originally chose Frank Sinatra and Mitzi Gaynor, along with Jack Lemmon. But when Sinatra stood him up for an important lunch to discuss the part, Wilder re-cast Tony Curtis.
Then Wilder learned that Marilyn Monroe was very interested in playing Sugar Cane. So Mitzi was gone, and Marilyn was in. The AFI recently named this classic comedy as the Best Comedy Ever.
Last night SAG (Screen Actors Guild) presented their awards for 2001. These awards go only to actors in movies and tv.
The movie awards went to:
Actor: Russell Crowe (A Beautiful Mind)
Actress: Halle Barry (Monster's Ball)
Supporting Actor: Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings Part 1)
Supporting Actress: Helen Mirren (Gosford Park)
Ensemble Cast: Gosford Park
Ed Asner was given the Lifetime Achievement Award.
I've developed a new website about old movies and such, if you careto check it out: www.yestermovies.blogspot.com
Cheers, Lon +
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Lon's comments on mis-casting:
George Lucas originally cast Burt Reynolds as Han Solo in "Star Wars." Burt had second thoughts. So Lucas' 2nd choice was Harrison Ford, who had worked for him in "American Graffiti." Sorry Burt.
George Raft was asked to star in "The Maltese Falcon." Because he did not want his career in the hands of a first time director, John Huston, so he declined. The part went to Humphrey Bogart, who recently was named the number 1 actor of his generation by the AFI.
After auditioning just about every young starlet in 1939 Hollywood, David O. Selznick selected Paulette Goddard to play Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With The Wind." One stipulation: She must marry her live-in lover, Charlie Chaplin, before filming began. The couple decided they would rather get married on their own terms.
While filming the burning of Atlanta, Laurence Olivier showed up with his new British bride, Vivien Leigh, to watch the fireworks. He said to
Selznick, "I want you to meet Scarlett O'Hara." Apparently Selznick agreed.
Claudette Colbert was selected to play Margo Channing in "All About Eve." She went skiing and broke her back. Producer/director Joseph L. Mankiewicz cast Bette Davis, whose career was "on hold.
After it won the Oscar for Best Picture, Bette thanked him for "resurrecting me from the dead." It's now regarded by many film historians as her best performance ever.
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http://www.thedynamicduoinderbyshire.co.uk
'The Limelight Web Site'
http://www.berniebumpkin.co.uk
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http://www.bernie-ernie.org.uk
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links to other pages.
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Tom McGee & the Dynamic Duo
The above photo was taken at the 'Betty Grable Convention' at Scarborough, U.K; and shows Tom McGee,writer of Betty's biography "The Girl With The Million Dollar Legs", with Bernie and Ernie.
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