Book Review - "Character People" by Ken D. Jones

Authors Ken D. Jones, Arthur F. McClure and Alfred E. Twomey assembled a nice selection of short bios of some of the lesser-known character actors from Hollywood and British films for "Character People", published by The Citadel Press in 1976. 

Each encyclopedia-style entry includes a photo of the actor followed by a brief biography and a listing of some of their memorable films. McClure and Twomey had previously published "The Versatiles" which covered more of the popular character actors such as Mary Wickes, Charles Coburn, Marjorie Main, etc., so "Character People" was published as a follow-up. 

It's a quick read and a fun book to flip through. You'll find yourself continually saying, "Oh, I know him!" or "So that's her name!" 

Remember this fellow? His name is James Westerfield. In addition to acting, he was also a director of stage productions. On film he usually played policeman. The authors neglected to mention that he was featured in numerous Disney films, again often as a policeman. 

Did you know that William Conrad starred in over five thousand radio shows? He should have been named Mr. Radio. 

Did you know that Henry Kulky became the judo champion of South America in the 1940s? These are just a few of the tidbits Jones, McClure, and Twomey share. Other actors featured in the book include Pert Kelton, Millard Mitchell, Bill Goodwin, Frank Cady, Hayden Rorke, Hope Summers and Bryant Washborne. 

Used copies of "Character People" are available on eBay and through Abebooks.com, but see if your library has it - it's worth a look see! 

Book Review: Gone But Not Forgotten by Patricia Fox-Sheinwold

The 1970s and 1980s were great decades for movie-related books. Some of the best books on cinema history, the stars, and Hollywood in general were released during this time. Perhaps it was because so many actors from Hollywood's "Golden Era" of the 1930s and 1940s were still alive and freely talked about the past to any writer willing to interview them. It certainly seems like freelance writer Patricia Fox-Sheinwold had no trouble at all digging up tidbits of juicy information because she filled Gone But Not Forgotten with lots of behind-the-scenes info on the great stars of Hollywood....not to mention some great rare photos. 

I came across this book last week at a flea market in Litchfield and almost passed it by because, at first glance, the content looked like short magazine articles on the same stars you find in most old Hollywood books: Grouch Marx, John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Mae West, etc. Instead, I bought it because the pictures intrigued me. But then I brought it home and couldn't stop reading it. Patricia Fox-Sheinwold has a laid-back style of writing that is reminiscent of radio interviewers of the 1950s. She covers a lot of territory in a short amount of space and manages to include some fascinating bits of trivia I never knew. For example, did you know that John Barrymore climbed Mount Blanc? That Spencer Tracy refused to wear makeup, that Humphrey Bogart named his son Stephen after the character he played in "To Have and Have Not", and that Betty Grable kept her figure for years by playing bowling and golf?

Gone But Not Forgotten includes 22 biographies, not only of comedians, actors, and actresses but musicians like Duke Ellington and Guy Lombardo and two "originals" ( Alfred Hitchcock and Walt Disney ). If you happen to find it at an antique shop or a second-hand book shop, the book is well worth adding to your film library. 

Gone But Not Forgotten was published by Bell Publishing in 1981 and later republished by Random House in 1988, so there are two editions available to find. 

Book Review: Harryhausen - The Lost Movies

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of stop-motion special effects maestro Ray Harryhausen. I've been enjoying re-watching many of his films throughout the year but doubly entertaining is discovering all the wonderful books written about Harryhausen and his work. 

A recent find is Harryhausen-The Lost Movies written by John Walsh. This glossy 188-page book from Titan Books is packed with illustrations, storyboard sketches, posters and photographs that shed some light on the nearly 70 film projects that Ray Harryhausen began but never completed. These were ideas that were conceived but never quite made it to the incubation stage. 

Some of them are really quite fascinating - The Time Machine ( 1954 ), King of Geniis ( 1969 ) and Conan ( 1969 ). Also interesting are the projects that Ray Harryhausen turned down - Moby Dick ( creating the whale model of Moby Dick for the 1956 film version ) and Night of the Demon ( 1959 ). 

The title is a little misleading because the book is mainly comprised of "Unused Ideas" and were not films that were lost overtime - merely potential projects that went unrealized. But, title confusion aside, Harryhausen - The Lost Movies ( $39.95 ) makes a great addition to the library of any Harryhausen fan. 

Book Review: Mister Roger's Neighborhood - A Visual History

For over thirty years, Fred Rogers fostered the imaginations of little tykes across America through his PBS children's program Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. He helped teach these youngsters lessons about growing, loving, and being happy just for being the unique individuals that they are. He also took them on some fascinating tours of factories to see how things are made and led them into the wonderful world of fantasy through the daily stops in the town of Make-Believe. 

Clarkson Potter Publishers latest release, Mister Rogers Neighborhood - A Visual History, gives us Mr. Rogers fans a wonderful behind-the-scenes look at this series. The 334-page book is just what its name implies...a visual history. It is brimming with photographs, handwritten notes from Fred, script excerpts, and set design sketches from the show. The book is a very easy read with a well-structured design and includes wonderful interviews with the cast members, producer, director, and other crew. Tim Lybarger, who runs the website The Mister Rogers Neighborhood Archive, helped write the book along with authors Melissa Wagner and Jenna McGuiggan. And Tom Hanks, who stars as Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, writes a lovely forward.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - A Visual History ( $23.99 ) is a must-have for any TV fan or anyone who grew up watching this beloved show. There is so much to find out about the characters on the show ( did you know that Daniel Striped-Tiger was Fred's alter-ego? ), all of the different episodes, and what an impact Fred had, not just on his television audience but the people he worked with as well. After reading this book, you'll want to binge-watch Mister Rogers' Neighborhood for a few days because this series truly was special. 

Book Review - Joe De Yong: A Life in the West

In February 2018, author William Reynolds launched a Kickstarter campaign to publish his biography of Joe De Yong, a cowboy and protege of Western artist Charles M. Russell. It was successfully funded and the result was a beautiful hardbound, 320-page book measuring 9" x 11.5". 

Joe De Yong led a fascinating life and the reason I am reviewing his biography here is that much of that life was spent in Hollywood, where he worked in films as an artist and western regalia consultant. Yes, someone had to be consulted about what is and isn't proper cowboy garb. 

His love for the movies began when he was 14 years old and, working on a ranch, had a chance to meet the famous cowboy star Tom Mix. Joe caught the acting bug and wanted to enter the film business as a cowboy himself. Within five years he was making films with Mix, but while shooting a film on location in Arizona he was stricken with meningitis which left him permanently deaf. While recuperating from his illness, he saw an exhibition of paintings by Charles M. Russell and returned to another passion of his: art. 

Joe De Yong spent years with Russell in his studio, working beside him and learning his craft. It was when Russell died in 1926, that Joe returned to Hollywood to work as a designer for costume and gear and sometimes aid in scenic and storyboard art. This began a career that spanned nearly thirty years of his life. It was only for the Cecil B. DeMille films and Shane ( 1953 ) that he received screen credit, but De Yong had a hand in some top westerns of the time: The Plainsman ( 1937 ), Union Pacific ( 1939 ), Susannah of the Mounties ( 1939 ), Northwest Mounted Police ( 1940 ), Tall in the Saddle ( 1944 ), The Virginian ( 1946 ), Ramrod ( 1947 ), Red River ( 1948 ), The Big Sky ( 1952 ), Rio Bravo ( 1959 ), and his last film, El Dorado ( 1967 ). 

Yong's sketch of the Starrett homestead

William Reynolds wrote an excellent account of this cowboy, covering his personal life, his relation with Charles M. Russell, and his years in Hollywood in great detail. Joe De Yong, A Life in the West is packed with original stills and posters, behind-the-scenes photos, costume sketches, numerous correspondence and, of course, De Yong's etchings and paintings. It is just a fascinating book overall. 

Unfortunately, if you did not back the campaign, the book is only available used through Amazon and eBay, but if westerns are your passion, then try to add this title to your bookshelf.

Book Review: Hitchcock's Heroines by Caroline Young

While a number of great books have been written about the Master of Suspense and the making of his films, few have focused on the leading ladies of Hitchcock's films. In Hitchcock's Heroines, which made its printed debut this week, author Caroline Young shines the spotlight on the stunning blondes ( and other actresses of various hair colors ) of 23 films dating back to Alfred Hitchcock's breakthrough motion picture, The Lodger ( 1927 ).

This beautiful 193-page book, published by Insight Editions, is filled with rare publicity photos, behind-the-scenes candids, and costume sketches, which makes it a delectable coffee-table book to peruse as well as being a great read. 

Madeleine Carroll, Teresa Wright, Ingrid Bergman, Joan Fontaine, Grace Kelly, Doris Day, Eva Marie Saint, and Tippi Hedren are just a few of the actresses that Young profiles. The author's easy-going writing style makes it an entertaining and highly-addictive book. For each film, Young delves into how the leading lady was cast, the production of the film itself, and the actress' experience on the set ( as well as her opinion of Mr. Hitchcock ). 

"Tallulah liked to drink, was witty, and had the mouth of a sailor—just the kind of woman Hitchcock enjoyed spending time with..."

There is also an emphasis throughout the text on the costumes the gals wore in each film, which will be a delight to classic film fashionistas. Hitchcock was particular about details and so many of these costumes helped to accentuate the nature of the characters themselves and provide compositional balance through color and silhouette. Since Young had blogged about Hollywood fashion ( Classic Hollywood Style ) for several years, and also authored a book focusing on fashion in "films of the golden age" entitled Classic Hollywood Style, it seems natural that she would highlight the costumes designers and their work in Hitchcock's films. 

"[Her] clothes had to match the budget of a woman in her first year as a member of staff, yet she was also to have pride in her appearance and look groomed." - describing Ingrid Bergman's appearance in Spellbound

Numerous quotes from vintage magazine articles and recent interviews with the stars liven up the text and the splendid layout by Katherine Winterson provides ample room for side columns featuring plot summaries and bios of each film and actress profiled. 

In short, if you like Hitch and his leading ladies, you'll love this book!

Hitchcock's Heroines retails for $29.99 and is available to purchase through Amazon,  Barnes & Noble, or directly from the publisher. 

Book Review - Hollywood in Kodachrome

Over 35 years ago John Kobal assembled a number of excellent coffee table books featuring stunning photography from Hollywood's golden era. Among these books was "Hollywood Color Portraits", which presented a beautiful collection of Kodachromes of some of Hollywood's biggest stars of the 1930s-1950s. Since the publication of this book there have been very few books offered to film fans that re-published the gorgeous color portrait photos of Hollywood's stars. 

That is, until 2013, when David Wills assembled "Hollywood in Kodachrome", a hefty collection of stunning color glamour photographs from 1940-1949, many of which were originally published on the covers of ( and as inserts in ) Motion Picture, Photoplay, Modern Screen, Movie Stars Parade, and Movie Story magazines. This five-pound 352-page hardcover book was beautifully printed by It Books, showcasing the images the way they were originally meant to be seen. 

Glamour icons such as Veronica Lake, Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, Betty Grable, Jane Russell, and Hedy Lamarr are all given ample coverage, but unfortunately many of the biggest actors of the time have few photographs. There were numerous color images made of Errol Flynn, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney and yet few appear in this collection. Robert Taylor, William Powell, Ronald Colman are not even present in the book...nor are actresses such as Alice Faye, Ann Sothern, or Vivien Leigh. 

While "Hollywood in Kodachrome" does not offer the best selection of box-office stars of the 1940s, David Wills does give readers a background history of these color photographs and intersperses the images with some black-and-white behind-the-scenes shots showing the photographer and his subject in action. Small images of the printed covers of the magazines the photos appeared on also compliment the text. 

Hollywood in Kodachrome by David Wills and Stephen Schmidt is available for purchased for $24.86 through Amazon.

The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop - Book Review

In November 2016, Regan Arts released "The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop" by Richard M. Isackes and Karen L. Maness. This beautiful 11 x 14" hardcover coffee table book is fully illustrated with behind-the-scenes photographs of the impressive set backdrops that were created for the major Hollywood studios throughout the 1930s-1980s. 

Artists like George Gibson, Ben Carre, the Strang family, and J.C Backings finally receive their due recognition for the work they did on films such as The Wizard of Oz ( 1939 ), The Treasure of Sierra Madre ( 1948 ), Little Women ( 1949 ), Forbidden Planet ( 1956 ), The Sound of Music ( 1965 ), and Hello, Dolly ( 1969 ). 

A truly great scenic backdrop artist expects to have his work go unnoticed....for if his backdrop was recognized as being a backdrop than he would have failed in his task of creating a proper illusion. Many of the artists featured in this book created such wonderful backdrops that even while staring at the set photographs included you'll be wondering just what is painted and what is real. Take, for example, this image from MGM's Girl of the Golden West ( featured on pg.166 ), none of the buildings in this scene are real - all were painted by Ben Carre. Stunning. 

Girl of the Golden West ( 1938 ) backdrop

"The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop" profiles some of the most talented scenic artists in the history of film and also gives an insightful look into the art of scenic design and how backdrops function in film. Isackes and Maness' essays are a breeze to read and the layout of the book is as beautiful as the images pictured. It is certainly a must-have for the library of any film fan interested in the history of art direction. 

Lost Horizon ( 1937 ) with painted mountains visible in the background

To learn more about "The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop" and Karen Maness click here. 

In Memoriam : Sara Brideson

Sara Brideson ( February 4, 1990 - January 23, 2017 ) 

On January 23rd, 2017, Sara Brideson, a very dear friend of mine and an extremely talented author, passed away suddenly. Sara was a sensitive and sweet-natured young woman who was graced with the gift of writing. Along with her twin sister, Cynthia, Sara authored a number of fine books relating to one of her passions - classic films. 

Also Starring : Forty Autobiographical Essays on the Greatest Character Actors of Hollywood's Golden Era, 1930-1965 was their first collaboration. This book stemmed from essays these sisters had written for Turner Classic Movies' Classic Film Union and features a wonderful selection of character actor biographies : Elsa Lancaster, Frank Morgan, Edna May Oliver, Eric Blore, Agnes Moorehead, Harry Davenport, and Marjorie Main to name just a few. Sara's favorite actress was the delightful Billie Burke ( Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz ) who is also one of the actresses profiled in this book. 

Sara also loved the films of Judy Garland ( Meet Me in St. Louis ), Gene Kelly ( Summer Stock ), Hayley Mills ( That Darn Cat and Summer Magic ), and Harold Lloyd. In addition to writing, she loved to draw and often sketched her favorite stars. 

Sara and Cynthia's second book was the highly acclaimed Ziegfeld and His Follies : A Biography of Broadway's Greatest Producer ( 2015 ) which was nominated for the Theatre Library Association's Freedley Award ( check out Liz Smith's rave review of the book here ).

"Theater-loving sisters Cynthia and Sara Brideson shine fresh and stimulating light on the genius of one of Broadway's greatest impresarios. Rich in research and broad in perspective, the Bridesons' book frames the classic revue era of the New York stage with a reverential but honest approach to Florenz Ziegfeld's extraordinary personality and career."―Examiner.com

Shortly after completing this book, Sara and Cynthia plunged into writing He's Got Rhythm : The Life and Career of Gene Kelly, a biography that took two years to complete. This book had several setbacks and has only recently become available for pre-order with a release date scheduled for May 2017. 

I miss Sara a lot, and some day I hope that I can learn to write as well as she did and in some small way pay homage to my most talented friend. However, right now I hope He's Got Rhythm becomes the smashing best-seller it deserves to be. Sara would be so proud! 

Irene : A Designer from the Golden Age of Hollywood - Book Review

Edith Head and Adrian have always been the super-stars among costume designers, and their names are recognizable even to non-classic film fans, but there were so many talented designers in Hollywood during the 1930s-1960s that are not nearly as famous. Frank Billecci and Lauranne B. Fisher teamed up to write a fabulous book, Irene - A Designer from the Golden Age of Hollywood, that pays tribute to Irene, one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's busiest, and most creative, designers. This beautiful 144-page book from Schiffer Publishing is fully illustrated with photographs of Irene at work and costume sketches of her most dazzling creations. The book also mixes a biography of Irene with remembrances of her personal artist, Virginia Fisher. 

The Jeer : It's hard to find fault with a Schiffer book and this one is an especially great read. The book briefly covers Irene's early years and then proceeds to focus on her days at MGM. For a more thorough look into Irene's personal life, Billecci also wrote an ebook : Irene - From a Big Sky Girl to a Hollywood Designer. 

The Cheer : Irene is beautifully laid out in an easy-to-navigate format and, since it is profusely illustrated, it also makes a delightful coffee table book to browse through. Included is a handy filmography covering all of Irene's projects as well as the sketch artists she worked with on each film. 

The Skinny : If you enjoy looking at fashions and want to learn more about the life of MGM's golden gal, Irene, then this is the best book you can buy on the market. 

New Book Release - Ann Blyth : Actress. Singer. Star

If you thought of Ann Blyth as just another actress, think again. In her latest book, "Ann Blyth : Actress. Singer. Star ", New England author Jacqueline Lynch has compiled a thorough analysis of the beautiful Ann Blyth's extensive career which encompassed not only motion pictures, but theatre, radio and television. And of course, we all know how she can sing! 

Ann Blyth began her career in Hollywood as a child star in the early 1940s. She gave a stand-out performance in Mildred Pierce ( 1945 ) which garnered her an Academy Award nomination ( at sixteen years of age, she was the youngest actress to be nominated for a Best Actress award ), but it was her exquisite voice which endeared her to fans across the world. The lovely soprano's career peaked in the early 1950s when she was making as many as 4-5 films per year, ranging from comedies ( Katie Did It ), and musicals ( The Student Prince, Kismet ), to dramas ( The World in His Arms, One Minute to Zero ). 

Author Jacqueline Lynch began her research into Ann Blyth's life and career in 2013, when she spotlighted Ann Blyth for a year-long series of posts for her blog, Another Old Movie Blog. This project led to Lynch to discover that very few of Blyth's films were available to the public and worse yet, hardly any information was available about this talented lady's career. 

Unlike many biographies which delve too deeply into an actor's personal life, Lynch's new biography puts the full spotlight on Blyth's multi-faceted career. The book is a comprehensive review of Ann Blyth's films, radio work, live concerts and television appearances. In short, it's a must-have addition to any film fan's library!

To purchase a copy of Ann Blyth : Actress. Singer. Star head on over to Amazon.com, Createspace, and Lynch's Etsy shop. 

The book is also available as an ebook through Amazon.com. 

Warner Brothers : Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot - A Book Review

Steven Bingen, co-author of the fabulous book, MGM: Hollywood's Greatest Backlot, has sharpened his pencil and put words to paper once again in his marvelous new tribute to the WB backlot : Warner Brothers - Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot. This hefty 275 page coffee table book covers the inner and outer workings of one of the best studios in the business. It is chock full of behind-the-scenes Warner Brothers images from the Bison Archives and features a short but sweet introduction from the WB starlet herself, Doris Day. 

The Jeer : It's hard to find fault with this book, but if there is to be a jeer it is in the design layout of this particular edition. Unlike MGM: Hollywood's Greatest Backlot, which featured a fantastic layout for reference use, this one turns the spotlight on Bingen's writing and utilizes its layout for great cover-to-cover reading but is hard to navigate for the info seeker. 

The Cheer : Steven Bingen has written a loving tribute to the real star of Warner Brothers Studios - the backlot; its fabulous sets and the creative team who helped to create them. The rare images are a delight and the appendix "Productions Shot on the Backlot" is worth the price of the book itself. 

The Skinny : Warner Brothers - Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot makes a great read for the avid classic film fan but would have benefited even more had it duplicated the layout of MGM: Hollywood's Greatest Backlot. 

The Disney Films - A Book Review

Author and avid-Disney fan, Leonard Maltin, wrote The Disney Films as a comprehensive guide to all films Disney. At the time it was a novel idea. Disneyania had yet to strike households across America. Today, books with similar subjects can be found in bookstores and libraries in every city, but nevertheless Maltin's original guide remains one of the best. Two hundred illustrations highlight excellent reviews covering each feature-length Walt Disney release from Walt's first resounding success, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ( 1937 ) to the last film that he personally oversaw, The Happiest Millionaire ( 1967 ). Each review features behind-the-scenes facts, quotes from the directors, animators, and leading actors and box-office release information, making it a highly-entertaining read. Published by Crown Publishers in 1973.

The Jeer : The 200+ images are great to look at, but it would really have been nice to see them in color. The fourth edition of the book is practically just a reprint of this original. 

The Cheer : Reading in-depth reviews of some of Walt Disney's rarer films, such as Moon Pilot and Dr. Syn, is a real treat. These films are almost always overlooked by "serious" critics. 

The Skinny : Leonard Maltin has written a book that is a must-have on the bookshelf of any true Disney fan. Today, you can pick up a copy for less than $5.00, which simply means there is no excuse for not owning one yourself. 

Movies in Our Time : Hollywood Mirrors and Mimics the Twentieth Century - A Book Review

Author and film blogger, Jacqueline T. Lynch has recently released a collection of articles from her blog, Another Old Movie Blog, in her latest book entitled Movies in Our Time: Hollywood Mirrors and Mimics the Twentieth Century available to purchase at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

This hefty paperback features reviews of over 50 films in the context of the time in which they were made, with a focus on Hollywood-made pictures. Gold Diggers of 1933, History is Made at Night, Shadow of a Doubt, Old Acquaintance, Love Letters, Since You Went Away, The Best Years of Our Lives, A Foreign Affair, I Want You, Storm Center, Peyton Place, and Strangers When We Meet are all reviewed and grouped into chapters such as "Before the Storm", "World War II", "Strange New World" and "The Fabulous, Frightening Fifties".


The Jeer : The articles should have been edited for this book edition and many read like a real-time blog, making you wonder what the author was referring to by "tomorrow" or "last week". It also would have been nice to see longer chapter introductions describing how the films fit in with the changing times. While the cover design is great, the back side leaves more to be desired and many of the photographs are highly pixelated. 

The Cheer : Lynch has an easy-flowing style of writing that keeps you entertained throughout numerous chapters. The majority of her reviews are just a few pages in length making it great for nightly reading. The reviews are very insightful and she sheds new light on some old classics. Among the more popular films ( King Kong, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Mrs.Miniver ), are thrown in some obscure titles too ( Keep Your Powder Dry, Dreamboat, Witness to Murder)....always a boon! 

The Skinny : Check out Jacqueline Lynch's blog Another Old Movie Blog first and if you like her reviews then you may definitely want to consider buying the book. Otherwise, try it in the ebook edition instead. 

MGM Hollywood's Greatest Backlot - A Book Review

Authors Stevens Bingen, Stephen X. Sylvester and Michael Troyan have collaborated to create this fascinating look at one of the biggest and busiest sets in Hollywood. MGM: Hollywood's Greatest Backlot is chock full of behind-the-scenes photographs that vividly bring to life the construction and workings on the sound stages and outdoor sets where Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer produced many of their greatest films. Disregard its misleading title because this book covers the entire studio, building by building within its 312 pages, including the Makeup, Sound, Art, Research Departments...even the famous Little Red Schoolhouse. Each department/set is conveniently grouped within sections labeled by the name of one of the four lots. 

The Jeer : Some of the images are pixelated screenshots and although an entertaining read, it may not hold the attention of the casual film historian unless they have an interest in art direction and set design ( who doesn't? ). 

The Cheer : Packed full with wonderful images of the sets in a hefty 11x9 inch size format, it makes for a great coffee table book. It has an easy to read layout and also features a marvelous appendix listing the films shot on the various backlots. 

The Skinny: The authors have brought to life a part of Hollywood history that will never come again, making it a must-have book for the MGM film buff or any one interested in the workings of a major motion picture studio.