October 2010

Sweater Girl: Norma Eberhardt

Norma Eberhardt in Live Fast, Die Young (1958)

Halloween Honeys

No tricks here, just treats!

Clara Bow

Claudia Dell, 1930

Gale Robbins

Leila Hyams, 1930

Myrna Loy

For the Boys: Jack Benny

Jack Benny serves doughnuts at the Hollywood Canteen, 1942

Bathing Beauties: Ann Sheridan

Navy Blues (1941)

The picture below is from 1934, when she was still being billed as Clara Lou Sheridan.

Murder at the Vanities (1934)

Speaking of Murder at the Vanities, I found a hilarious clip of Gertrude Michael singing "Sweet Marijuana" in this film. Look for Clara Lou as well as Toby Wing toward the end of the clip covering bare breasts with their hands. This is definitely pre-code. :)

Reflections: Mary Miles Minter

Outlandish Hats: Lupe Velez

Lupe Velez, 1942

The Eyes Have It: Rita Gam

Bevy of Beauties 26: Gents Without Cents (1944)

Lindsay Bourquin, Laverne Thompson & Betty Phares with

The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine & Curly Howard)

in Gents Without Cents (1944)

Here is a clip from this film of the Stooges doing the famous "Slowly I Turned" (aka "Niagara Falls")routine:

Although often credited to Abbott and Costello, due to it's appearance in the feature Lost in a Harem (1944), this skit first appeared on film in the short Gents Without Cents, which was released 4 months before the Abbott and Costello film. The truth is that the routine was not original to either group, but was actually a very old Vaudeville skit.

On the Set: Joanne Dru

Joanne Dru on the set of Red River (1948)

More Glamorous Gaps

Singer Natalie Cole (above and below)

Ever since my original 'Glamorous Gaps' post (which you can see here) I'm seeing the gap-toothed ladies everywhere. Obviously, they were always around, but I suppose I just never really paid that much attention. (typical) Anyway, here's some more of that diastemic goodness.

Model Ruth Crilly (above and below)

Model Lindsey Wixson (above and below)

Actress Laura San Giacomo (above and below)

The Art of the Dangle 27: Dorothy Dell

After winning the Miss New Orleans contest in 1930, at age 15, Dorothy Dell joined the Ziegfield Follies of 1931. She made four films for Paramount, all released in 1934. Tragically, her promising future was cut short by her death in a car accident in June of that year. She was only 19 at the time of her death.

Light and Shadow: Nosferatu (1922)

Max Schreck in Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horror (1922)

In 1921, director F.W. Murnau wanted to make a horror film (you might more accurately say he wanted to invent the horror film) based on Bram Stoker's novel, `Dracula,' but was denied the rights to the property by Stoker's estate. Ignoring the niceties of copyright law, he unabashedly filed off the serial numbers and made the movie anyway. The resulting work remains a must see for any serious student of film.

Be warned! This is not your urbane, charming, Bela Lugosi vampire. This is not your Gary Oldman vampire transforming himself from grotesque to handsome at will. This is not your dashing superhero vampire lightheartedly scampering around in 'True Blood.' Oh no. This is a hideous, disease infested creature that descends to us direct from the anxious heart of the Dark Ages in Eastern Europe. Direct from the gut fear of the Black Death. Wooden stakes, silver chains and brandished crosses will avail you nothing. This is evil, singular, powerful and pure.

Murnau's vision is not intended to be attractive. It's hard to watch. Watch it anyway. :)

The PD version of Nosferatu (1922) is available on archive.org

Adventures in Androgyny: Myrna Loy

publicity photo for The Thin Man (1934)

Modern Femmes Fatale: Part 41

Gillian Anderson

Diana Dondoe

Julianna Moore

Kelly Brook

Lou Doillon

Miranda Richardson in Dance with a Stranger (1985)

Fairuza Balk ~~Neve Campbell~~ in The Craft (1996)

(Thanks to Courtney for the correction)

Nicole Kidman

Sandra Bullock

Theresa Russell in Impulse (1990)

Inside Looking Out: Ladies Behind Bars 16

Gary Cooper & Ann Harding in Peter Ibbetson (1935)

Rub-a-dub-dub: Jennifer Billingsley

Jennifer Billingsley in Lady in a Cage (1964)

Smoking in Bed: Betty Compson

The Docks of New York (1928)

Sweater Girl: Anita Ekberg

Okay, now you're just showing off!

For the Boys: Linda Darnell

Captain Fred Hargesheimer having lunch with actress Linda Darnell in Hollywood

Fred Hargesheimer was flying the photo-reconnaissance version of the P-38 when bullets from a Japanese plane hit his left engine and he was shot down over the Japanese-occupied island of New Britain in 1943. With the help of island natives he eluded capture for eight months before being rescued. In 1963 Hargesheimer returned to New Britain and helped establish a school for the villagers that helped him during the war. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Fred Hargesheimer)

Helen Mirren