Thanks very much it is nice to be back, and I am very careful what I say when I pop into the Strictly thread. I pass an opinion but am careful not to make any personal comments.

Many of the old Hollywood stars were staunch Republican's, including John Wayne, Barbara, and husband Bob Taylor, he actually testified in court during the House of Un American Activities trials. There was a backlash from the new names in Hollywood in 1990, 21 years after Taylors death. 50 of the writers at MGM demanded that his name be removed from "The Robert Taylor Building" They stated that he had been responsible for ruining many careers in the business in the late 1940's. Their petition succeeded and his name was replaced by George Cukor's. This was ironic, as Cukor had always championed Taylor, and had directed him in one of his early hits, "Camille, opposite Garbo.

Sinatra became disillusioned with Kennedy when the President suddenly cancelled a vacation at Frank's luxury pad. His brother Bobby warned him that he was getting too close to the singer who was known to have close Mafia connections. It was said that Frank had a special launching pad built for the Presidential helicopter, and that he personally smashed it up with a sledgehammer after the snub.

Welcome back Walter. Back on track for over Christmas now.

Also, didn't Kennedy end up staying at Bing Crosby's? Who I'd imagine to be a staunch Republican.

WOW that really does show Sinatra to be very prone to tandrums and hissy fits-Almost a male diva you could say! I think people in the business must have found it very difficult to say no to him. Was he ever known to be violent especially in relationships?

Also yesterday I had a brief flick through an unauthorised biography again in my local library of Barbara Stanwyck and there were a few interesting snippets.Apparently Barbara insisted on a lot of stipulations in her contract if she was to agree to sign up to star in The Colbys including no work after 6PM, no working more than 2 days a week and a refusal to do scenes that came across as an elderly lady in her sickbed suffering from a longterm illness-She loathed that look and that was why when for a plot device they needed her character Connie to be hospitalised they had to write it in as being the result of an accident not illness--Barbara wouldn't have it any other way!

Do you think that Barbara leaving after one season was instrumental in dooming the show to cancellation the next year or do you think the project was always doomed to sink early?

Crosby was a Republican but he and Kennedy were Catholics. Maybe that mattered more (if either mattered at all).

Thanks very much, it is good to be back in this warm and tranquil room.

Yes, JFK did indeed stay at Bing's Palm Springs home, for one night only in March 1962, his companion was Marilyn Monroe, just five months before her death.

Sinatra could be temperamental, but I have never heard of him being violent.

He could also be a very loyal friend, you wouldn't think that he would have much in common with Rosalind Russell but they were very close. He hosted her Silver Wedding celebrations, and presented her with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Honorary Oscar. He also helped for film tough guy George Raft when he was broke, and paid for his ex wife Ava Gardner's funeral.

Barbara said that the only reason that she ever considered appearing in The Colby's was that producer Aaron Spelling caught her at a bad time. She had just had a fire at her home, and had lost some precious mementoes from her marriage to Robert Taylor, and she was at a very low ebb. As soon as they started shooting she realised that she had made a big mistake, describing it as "the biggest pile of crap that I have ever been in." It was not like her to be anything other than cooperative, but I think that she was so pissed off with the whole thing that she made all those demands, which was certainly very much out of character for her.

I don't think anything could have saved that series, although the only memorable scenes were those between Barbara and Stephanie Beecham, who was really fabulous as Sable. I lost interest after Barbara left, and I vaguely recall Emma Samms going off in a spaceship, or something equally bizarre.

Frank Sinatra trended on twitter earlier this week for his centenary -His daughter Nancy Sinatra was absolutely delighted. So much of his music really is timeless in quality and popularity. Which of his movie roles did he sing in?

Was there anything sinister about Barbara's housefire or was it accidental?

I don't think The Colby's is something that any of the those actors would highlight prominently in their CV!! 😁

Without checking his films one by one, these are the films that I can recall Sinatra singing in, or on the soundtrack.

Higher and Higher, Step Lively, Anchors Away, A Thousand and One Nights, The House That I Live In, Till The Clouds Roll By, It Happened in Brooklyn, The Kissing Bandit, The Miracle of the Bells, Take Me Out To The Ball Game, On The Town, Meet Danny Wilson, Double Dynamite, Young at Heart, Guys and Dolls, High Society, Around the World in 80 Days, The Joker is Wild, Pal Joey, A Hole in the Head, Can-Can, Come Blow Your Horn, Robin and the Seven Hoods, and That's Entertainment.

I don't believe that there was anything sinister about the fire in Barbara's home, but as she smoked it could well have been caused by a discarded cigarette.

http://www.people.com/article/kirk-d...gratulates-him

So that's now two stars from Hollywoods golden era Kirk Douglas and Olivia De Havilland who are one year or less of reaching their centenary!

Thanks for the Frank Sinatra film list Walter.

What do you think is Frank Sinatras best film and worst film?

Congratulations to Kirk, I hope that both he and Olivia make it to their centenary!

I am sure that you know that Kirk made his film debut as Barbara's weakling husband in the 1946 Classic film noir, ""The Strange Love of Martha Ivers." (you can see the complete film on YouTube).

I though that Sinatra developed into a terrific actor, my favourite non singing role was "The Detective" which I can really recommend.

"From Here to Eternity" was the film that not only resurrected his film career, but also won him a well deserved Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

"On The Town" has to be my favourite of all his musicals. I have never seen "The Kissing Bandit" but that is said to be his worst.

I've always enjoyed Sinatra in Suddenly

Thank you for posting! Please post again! I think Frank was good onscreen when paired with Doris Day.


I will check out The Detective Walter -Thanks for the recommendation. 👍

So when and why did Sinatra stop acting in films? Did he quit or did his box office star fade?

If you don't mind me asking did you find Sinatra sexy onscreen -did his onscreen presence translate into being a heartthrob for you?
Did you listen to Debbie Reynolds, Angie Dickinson etc in their BBC Radio 3 tribute series for Sinatras centenary?

I will be so upset and disappointed if either Olivia or Kirk don't make it to 100 especially with being so close but I'm quietly confident that they will.

I never thought of Sinatra as sexy, although many women obviously did. For me, Paul Newman, John Saxon, Richard Conte, and Guy Madison are the first names I think of when it comes to sex appeal.

I never heard Debbie or Angie on BBC 3, but congratulations to the great man who's centenary is today.

I forgot to answer your question about why Sinatra stopped acting in films. I never saw any of his later screen appearances, but he made his last film in 1980, when he was 65. This was opposite Faye Dunaway in The First Deadly Sin, in which he played a troubled New York homicide cop. He was described as "giving an extraordinary rich and heavy layered performance, one that made a terrific farewell to his film career." He graced the stage for the last time at an 80th birthday tribute to him at the Shrine Auditorium, where he sang the final notes from his smash hit, "New York, New York.

Here as requested!

At least he went out on a film high -a feat that so many big stars sadly don't achieve!

Did Sinatra ever present /host the Oscars and if not do you think he should of?
Indeed are there any stars from this era that you feel would have made great hosts of the Oscars if only they had of been asked?

He co hosted it twice, in 1963 and 1975, I never saw him because in those days it was never shown over here, just brief clips of the winners, if you were lucky.

Now we get the whole ghastly circus, which I don't even bother watching, as I don't know most of the people, and those that I do know don't interest me.

Bob Hope was the greatest of them all, which is why he still holds the record for Hosting the most times, 19 in all.

Those were the days when the men wore white tie and tails for the ceremony, because it really was a great occasion. These days I have seen some of them turn up scruffy and unshaven, and looking as if they just got out of bed.

http://pagesix.com/2015/12/14/make-r...rd-dies-at-97/

Starred in films as long back as the 1930s including with Hollywood Legend James Cagney in "Johnny Come Lately "

Thanks for the Oscars information Walter but are there any female stars from the golden era who you think would have been witty and suited to presenting the Oscars -basically someone who would have that something to pull it off? Bette Davis maybe?!

Bob Hope presenting the first televised Oscars (from 2.30):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOtp4dli7-4

And the first in color, presented by...Bob Hope:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUQRLNGRxEY

I must confess that I have never heard of her, and I know most of the supporting names and bit players over the past 70 years.

I can't honestly think of any actress who could have done as good job as well as Bob Hope did hosting the Oscars. I used to like seeing them making presentations, but could never imagine one hosting the whole show.

Arrgh Sorry for the delayed reply Walter!

Who would you say made the biggest blooper /gaffe either hosting the Oscars or presenting an award -from the golden era?

I'm only mainly aware of the gaffes /infamous incidents of recent years like Gwyneth Paltrows drama Queen antics and a few uncomfortably flat jokes from certain people! 😁

Will you be watching any golden Hollywood /Christmas classics in the coming week or so Walter?

Please feel free to post all of you observers of this thread! 😁 😘

I remember Liz Taylor mispronouncing the name of a recipient when presenting an Oscar. That was forgiveable, but what wasn't was when she cackled like a fishwife at her mistake. Totally unprofessional, but for me she always was, and the most over rated too.

The most embarrassing moment for me, was when Sally Field (who I like) collected her second Best Actress Oscar. Overcome with emotion she gushed, "YOU LIKE ME, YOU REALLY LIKE ME!!" while the majority of the audience squirmed for her, and laughed nervously.

I have all of my favourite Hollywood Classics on DVD, so I shall be watching Barbara in Remember the Night, Christmas in Connecticut, and My Reputation. All with Christmas themes, and three of my all time favourites. My Reputation has a special place in my heart as it is the first film that I ever saw her in, and that was 70 years ago next year.

You really don't rate Elizabeth Taylor do you??!!

I often found her to be mesmerising and enchanting in interviews perhaps when she turned on the "movie star magic" but not a super versatile actress.

Those are some good choices there-Ive never actually seen " My Reputation" so its definitely one to consider for the future.Im assuming everyone associated with that film is long gone? Do you happen to know out of curiosity which cast member outlived all the others or to be more crude died last?

ManyThanks

Surreal to think that if Bob Hope was still alive he'd now be 112!!! The golden era and its living survivors really are in the stage of the sun setting them on.Increasingly its gonna fall to dedicated fans online especially to keep the flame and memories alive.

Just had a nosey on Netflix and the only Barbara Stanwyck film they have on there is Sorry, Wrong Number. Might give that a watch over Christmas. I love watching old films at this time of the year.

Thought I had already replied at the time, but obviously not, Was so sad to hear this, I read her autobiography a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I still have my The Quiet Man VHS to watch which I found in a charity shop not long after reading her book

Love the thread by the way, my ultimate favourites are Marilyn, Bette Davis and Gene Tiereny

I miss seeing the old films on TV these days, TCM used to be great for the older films but not so much now they are getting more and more current