She used to infuriate me sometimes, because she was just too modest. She once said, "Career is too pompous a word, to me it is a job that I love, and I feel privileged to be paid for a job that I love doing." Unlike Bette Davis, she would never go on a chat show to promote herself, saying, "Attention embarrasses me, I don't like to be on display." She only made an exception on two occasions, when she appeared on The Merv Griffin and Joey Bishops shows to be presented with Photoplay's Gold Medal as TV's favourite actress for 1967 and 68. Unfortunately they aren't available, but I do have then on audio tape.

You would have laughed even more if you had heard the director say to me, "You were really convincing in that scene Ray." I wasn't sure whether to take that as a compliment or not.

I have heard some good and bad things about Claudette. In the Spring of 1947, she was signed for $200.000 to play opposite Spencer Tracy in MGM's State of the Union. At the last minute she insisted that director Frank Capra comply with her usual policy of quitting work at 5 pm daily. He refused, scrapped her $15.000 wardrobe and replaced her with Katharine Hepburn who had been anxious to play the role.

When she was playing in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, she so infuriated him, he screaming in exasperation, "If she had a neck I'd wring it!" (she was known to have a short neck)

Like all the great ladies of the screen, she had her detractors, but I think that she was liked and respected by her peers. Anyway, whatever her quarrels with Capra, she was at his AFI Award to pay tribute to him, and made a really beautiful speech.

"You were really convincing in that scene Ray." Very good!

Thanks again for taking the time to supply this great knowledge you have, yet again I was unaware of this, lol.

I do know that by 1947, Claudette's career was slowing down, so that's a real shame that she was fired from this movie - another Capra film would have been a great move for her, at that time.

Love Noel Coward and his waspish humour.

I am glad she gave a beautiful speech - I do think that despite her flaws she was always classy.

David, you can see that speech if you go to YouTube and type in Claudette Colbert Salutes Frank Capra at the AFI Lif Achievement Award

Seems she lacked the killer instinct but not the talent -probably made her a nicer person than many in the business.

Yes that magazine article was interesting -Definitely a true pro who had little time for complacent spoilt showbiz antics!

Where there many scenes between Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Collins in The Colbys as I recall Joan did make guest appearances in the show.

Cary Grant would definitely be one of my favourite actors of this era. He oozed something special?!

Walter - thanks again, I will have a look on Youtube over the weekend after I watch your Palladium performance

Hildaonpluto - I agree, Cary Grant oozed charm didn't he? I knew there would be actors and actresses I admired that I would forget.

Another actress I really liked was Linda Darnell - any thoughts on her? I think she never acheived the career heights she should have and she died young and in tragic circumstances. My favourite film of hers is Forever Amber.

Joan refused to appear in The Colby's because she thought that it was taking the attention away from Dynasty, so no, she never appeared in it.

She admired Barbara very much, and one of her favourite films is Double Indemnity.

If you Google Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Collins, you will see a stunning photo of them at a Hollywood function.

Shame that we can't attach photo's to our posts in here, after 68 years of collecting, my Barbara photo's now total 19,367.

I couldn't quite place Linda Darnell so I googled her and whilst she has a very long list of films to her credit I must confess I don't think from my quick look that I've seen any of them! But when I learn about a star new for the first time I'm always keen to learn more, So what was it you liked about her especially and what was your favourite film of Lindas and why?
Very tragic to do the way she did in a fire

Yes Cary Grant exuded charm and a suave smoothness! I loved him in Charade with Audrey Hepburn but I think I'm right in saying that he's one of the few who worked with both famous Hepburn's IE Katherine and several times too.

I think as an actor he had screen presence -somehow he was born to be seen on a big cinema screen were screen presence is magnified best.

This thread would be even more magical and amazing if we could attach photos!

I think now you mention it you may have told me that before about Joan Collins and The Colbys but wow what clout she had to refuse and not face the wrath of the bosses or even the sack! But then to me Joan Collins WAS Dynasty and when she started to appear less in the final season it really started to lose its magic and appeal.

Guess who's going to see Joan Collins live in Edinburgh in September! 😘

So excited!

I am not surprised that you are excited, an American friend of mine saw her when she gave her one woman show at the Leicester Square theatre, and he said that she was terrific.

I managed a tobaconnist's in Liverpool Street in the City for 18 years, and in the 1980's Joan came to open a boutique next door. I never owned a camera in those days unfortunately, because I would love to have taken a photo of Joan as she walked down the middle of Liverpool Street waving to the crowds. It was quite a spectacle!

I LOVE Linda Darnell, and have several of her films. For me, her best performance was in the Joseph L Mankiewicz production of A Letter to Three Wives. in a cast that included Kirk Douglas, Ann Sothern, and Paul Douglas, she and Thelma Ritter gave the standout performances. She played the cynical wife of Paul Douglas and had some wonderful dialogue that she delivered like a pro. When Thelma suggests that her outfit could be livened up with a few beads, Linda comes back with, "With what I've got, ya don't need beads!"

Mankiewicz won two Oscars, for Best Director and Best Screenplay, and it was Nominated for Best Picture.

I have the Special Edition DVD which includes a biography of Linda called, "Hollywood's Fallen Angel"

Another great performance was with Rex Harrison in Preston Sturges, Unfaithfully Yours. If you haven't seen them, then I really urge you to do so as soon as possible.

Take a look at @ClassicalCinema's Tweet: https://twitter.com/ClassicalCinema/...766002690?s=09

Hollywood legend Shirley Temple would have celebrated her 88th birthday today.

She passed away in 2014

I imagine Joan created quite a buzz when you saw her walking!

I will post any golden nuggets and gossip I pick up on the night after the event!

I've no doubt she will be gold standard I think she's very professional and very good to her fanbase.

I look forward to hearing all about it, you may get an opportunity to ask her a question, this could be your equivalent of The Lincoln Centre.

Incredibly, Joan will be 83 next month, which makes her older than Barbara!!

Sounds like it'll be a great night for you. Out of curiosity, what questions would you ask her if you had the chance?

Take a look at @ClassicalCinema's Tweet: https://twitter.com/ClassicalCinema/...052679680?s=09

72 years ago today Barbara Stanwycks film noir classic Double Indemnity was released!

Joan really does have a zest for life that is the envy of many and higher than that of many younger than her!


My friend cheekily suggested I ask her what Warren Beatty was like in bed but I think I will give that idea a miss as I dint want to get thrown out!

I'm mulling all different ideas for questions in my mind and I'm still undecided what to ask but I'm tempted to ask who she wishes she'd have had the chance to star with in a film either male or female.

She is wonderful in it, and should have won the Oscar that year, instead of Bergman suffering nobly in Gaslight.

It isn't in my top ten of her films though, probably because I hate that phony wig, which made her look like a drag queen; Or as Paramount executive Buddy da Silva commented, "We hired Barbara Stanwyck and got George Washington!

Take a look at @ClassicalCinema's Tweet: https://twitter.com/ClassicalCinema/...609651716?s=09

Unseen ending of Double Indemnity

I would like to see it just out of curiosity, but I still think that they chose the right ending.

Hilda - I think I like Linda Darnell mainly because Forever Amber is one of the first films I can remember watching. It was my mum's favourite film. I have seen a few more of her films but not many. She died too young.

PS - Hilda - How exciting to be going to see Joan Collins' one woman show - I bet she will be terrific.

Walter - I saw A Letter to Three Wives years ago but only once so I am hazy. May get the DVD so i can see the biography on Linda

PS - Walter - watched you on London Palladium - you were great. Seems so strange to actually chat to you, knowing you have been on primetime TV. Seems so bizarre lol x

Hi David,

If and when you order the Letter to Three Wives DVD, do make sure that you order the disc with the Extra's on it. It is the third disc to the right on the Amazon page, Studio Classics, price £7.72, hopefully you can play region 1 on your equipment.

I see that it is also available in Blu-ray with lots of Extra's but no mention of Linda's biography. It can be confusing when they release so many different versions of the same film on DVD.

Sorry that you only saw the edited version of my Palladium appearance, I made the mistake of telling everyone that I did the Plank on stage with Bradley, maybe they cut it because I beat him.

"Linda Darnell: Hollywood's Fallen Angel" documentary (44:03) is on the American Blu Ray from Fox, which is Region A locked.

The Masters of Cinema release (which is dual format) does not have that documentary, though it does have radio adaptations of the story and a 36 page booklet of essays and interviews.

http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparison....php?fid=24732

Linda Darnell also appeared with Rex Harrison in 1946's Anna and the King. I just watched this at the weekend having downloaded it on Sky Movies. I'm surprised they have it as it's no longer politically correct with Rex, Linda and (slightly hilariously) Lee J Cobb all playing Thai, or Siamese, as it was in the 1860s. Despite the non-PC casting, it's actually a gripping and moving film with 4 or 5 remarkable long set-piece dialogue scenes that are quite profound. The western actors overcome the cross-cultural insensitivities by sheer force of talent. I would never judge those who lived in the past by the more liberal standards of today, that's not fair. Irene Dunne plays Anna Leonowens.

Rodgers and Hammerstein based The King and I on this movie and the novel that was its source. Linda Darnell is very good in this and holds her own amongst a brilliant cast. The musical version completely altered her character's real life fate which in this version is horrific.

I remember once Joan Collins saying in an interview that Linda Darnell recommended she follow her in staying youthful by never moving her facial muscles! Joan wryly pointed out this was not a great strategy for a screen actress!