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Best supporting actress nominee and Bette Davis co-star Joan Lorring dies aged 88


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Old 12-08-2016, 09:47
Walter Neff
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Thanks for the history on Olivia De Havilland and Bette Davis friendship. I do wonder what Olivia will say about Bette in her much rumoured post deceased Autobiography!?

A book that will be brimming with anecdotal Hollywood gems I'm sure.
Incidentally has anyone written a good biography of Olivia?

Yes I do sense Olivia is very tough, shrewd and resilent.

A sugar coated battle axe?
Surprisingly, there isn't a book on Olivia, although I have a very enjoyable biography on the two sisters that I have read several times, "Olivia and Joan" by Charles Higham.

Then there is Joan's very readable autobiography, "No Bed of Roses" with some great stories about Olivia.
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Old 12-08-2016, 11:08
manderley
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Only too happy to help David, there are very few of her 88 films that I find unwatchable. Annie Oakley was her first Western, and although in later years she looked very much at home in the saddle, she didn't convince me in that particular role.
Union Pacific was her only film for Cecil B deMille, and although it was spectacular I am not a fan, one of the reasons being that she was lumbered with a grating Irish accent. In contrast, here are my Top 10 of all of her films.

1. The Lady Eve
2. The Other Love
3 My Reputation
4. Christmas in Connecticut
5. Lady of Burlesque
6. The File on Thelma Jordon.
7. The Furies
8. No Man of Her Own
9. Titanic
10. There's Always Tomorrow
It shows what an amazing body of work that Barbara produced when you can omit from your top ten, movies such as Double Indemnity, Ball Of Fire and Stella Dallas.

I know you didn't like the wig she wore in Double Indemnity.
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Old 12-08-2016, 11:22
manderley
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Just switched on the television and found that Titanic (1953) is on More 4. One of your top ten Walter.
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Old 12-08-2016, 15:47
Walter Neff
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It shows what an amazing body of work that Barbara produced when you can omit from your top ten, movies such as Double Indemnity, Ball Of Fire and Stella Dallas.

I know you didn't like the wig she wore in Double Indemnity.
Yes, are right, but I should have included East Side, West Side, the only film that she appeared in with James Mason, I only wish that they had done more. I will swap that with No Man of Her On, because those are the films that I have watched her in the most often.

Even Billy Wilder admitted that the wig was big mistake, especially as at that time Barbara had the most beautiful shoulder length auburn hair.

As Buddy da Silva, the head of Paramount remarked, "We hired Barbara Stanwyck, and got George Washington."

That very funny guy who runs a wonderful site called Tired Old Queen at the Movies loves Barbara, but he did describe her in the film as "looking like a sheep in heat" !
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Old 12-08-2016, 15:50
Walter Neff
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Just switched on the television and found that Titanic (1953) is on More 4. One of your top ten Walter.
Just wonderful, she has a marvellous scene on the deck of the boat when she read A.E. Houseman's poem, "When I was One and Twenty" to the young Robert Wagner.

I do hope that you are watching it, and if so, do let us know what you think!
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Old 14-08-2016, 23:52
Hildaonpluto
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Surprisingly, there isn't a book on Olivia, although I have a very enjoyable biography on the two sisters that I have read several times, "Olivia and Joan" by Charles Higham.

Then there is Joan's very readable autobiography, "No Bed of Roses" with some great stories about Olivia.
And I bet you've memorised every story and titbit that Joan said about Olivia!

Do you know if Olivia or Joan ever smoked like so many of the female Hollywood royalty did at the time, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall etc
And does anyone stand out to you from the golden era as being exceptional in their clean living and avoiding the vices around at the time especially to big name stars?
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Old 15-08-2016, 05:04
Walter Neff
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And I bet you've memorised every story and titbit that Joan said about Olivia!

Do you know if Olivia or Joan ever smoked like so many of the female Hollywood royalty did at the time, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall etc
And does anyone stand out to you from the golden era as being exceptional in their clean living and avoiding the vices around at the time especially to big name stars?
I have seen photo's of Olivia smoking off screen, but not on, except in To Each His Own, in which she aged from a young girl to a middle aged business woman, and is seen using a long cigarette holder which she flourished with great proficiency as her character matured. Most of the stars smoked in those days, and even if they didn't, like Maureen O'Hara, they were still persuaded by their studios to advertise the most popular brands like Chesterfield, Lucky Strike, and Camel. The advantage of that were big colourful ads in fan magazines. I have some wonderful full page colour ads of Barbara advertising all of those brands, she and her then husband Robert Taylor were rarely seen without a cigarette in their hands. Even when they were interviewed on the deck of The Queen Elizabeth on arriving at Southampton in 1947, he is puffing away all through the interview. The sad result of that was that he died of lung cancer at 57, and Barbara died of Emphysema at 82. Bette Davis was rarely seen without a cigarette, on or off screen, and she died of cancer at 81. Lauren Bacall gave up smoking several years before her death, which is probably why she lived to nearly 90. Her first husband Humphrey Bogart was a chain smoker, and he succumbed to lung cancer aged 57. John Wayne was another four pack a day man, and he died of lung cancer at 72.

I can only think of Doris Day when it comes to clean living and non smoking, which I am sure is why she is still with us at 92.

Incidentally, I have more than doubled my Plank record since January when I did 5 minutes, 40 seconds. Last week I managed to complete 12 minutes, something that I could not have done ten years ago when I was smoking 40 Red Marlboro a day, so it is a fact, clean living does pay off, and I have every intention of living to 100.
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Old 16-08-2016, 03:02
Hildaonpluto
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I have seen photo's of Olivia smoking off screen, but not on, except in To Each His Own, in which she aged from a young girl to a middle aged business woman, and is seen using a long cigarette holder which she flourished with great proficiency as her character matured. Most of the stars smoked in those days, and even if they didn't, like Maureen O'Hara, they were still persuaded by their studios to advertise the most popular brands like Chesterfield, Lucky Strike, and Camel. The advantage of that were big colourful ads in fan magazines. I have some wonderful full page colour ads of Barbara advertising all of those brands, she and her then husband Robert Taylor were rarely seen without a cigarette in their hands. Even when they were interviewed on the deck of The Queen Elizabeth on arriving at Southampton in 1947, he is puffing away all through the interview. The sad result of that was that he died of lung cancer at 57, and Barbara died of Emphysema at 82. Bette Davis was rarely seen without a cigarette, on or off screen, and she died of cancer at 81. Lauren Bacall gave up smoking several years before her death, which is probably why she lived to nearly 90. Her first husband Humphrey Bogart was a chain smoker, and he succumbed to lung cancer aged 57. John Wayne was another four pack a day man, and he died of lung cancer at 72.

I can only think of Doris Day when it comes to clean living and non smoking, which I am sure is why she is still with us at 92.

Incidentally, I have more than doubled my Plank record since January when I did 5 minutes, 40 seconds. Last week I managed to complete 12 minutes, something that I could not have done ten years ago when I was smoking 40 Red Marlboro a day, so it is a fact, clean living does pay off, and I have every intention of living to 100.
Congratulations on doubling your Plank record!!I have also posted a congratulatory remark regarding your achievements on the Joan Collins thread the other day on showbiz forum.
I'm sure your desire to live to 100 will come to fruition via your efforts!

Speaking of "clean" living or healthy living were any of the stars from this era known vegetarians, something which would have been quite unusual at that time?

Would you say Hollywood's promotion of cigarette brands was key in smokings popularity spreading globally?
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Old 16-08-2016, 09:47
chitarivera
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Gloria Swanson was clean living.
Very before her time regarding macrobiotic diets etc.
Didn't smoke or drink.
Became vegetarian because she believed meat protein fed tumours.
She had a tumour and believed she starved it away by stopping eating meat.
She hardly ate any sugar. her husband wrote a book about the evils of sugar.
She lived to be 84.
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Old 17-08-2016, 02:08
Hildaonpluto
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http://deadline.com/2016/08/ricci-ma...62-1201799686/

Youngest son of Hollywood legend Dean Martin dies aged 62 and has outlived his mother Jeanne Martin.

Passed away about 10 days ago.
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Old 17-08-2016, 02:10
Hildaonpluto
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Gloria Swanson was clean living.
Very before her time regarding macrobiotic diets etc.
Didn't smoke or drink.
Became vegetarian because she believed meat protein fed tumours.
She had a tumour and believed she starved it away by stopping eating meat.
She hardly ate any sugar. her husband wrote a book about the evils of sugar.
She lived to be 84.

Many Thanks I'd forgotten about Glorias unusual lifestyle amongst Hollywood stars at the time although I bet a fair few of them in the current generation follow comparable ultra healthy lifestyles.
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Old 17-08-2016, 13:34
Walter Neff
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Speaking of "clean" living or healthy living were any of the stars from this era known vegetarians, something which would have been quite unusual at that time?

Would you say Hollywood's promotion of cigarette brands was key in smokings popularity spreading globally?
Glad some else answered your vegetarian question because I didn't have clue about anyone who is or was. Probably because I just don't understand why anyone would want to give up meat, chicken and fish. I know that I wouldn't be able to lead the active life that I do without all three.

Yes, I am sure that cinema audiences were very much influenced by their favourite stars smoking habits. They made it all look so glamorous, just look at the climactic scene in Now Voyager. Bette Davis utters those immortal words to Paul Henreid, "Oh Jerry, lets not ask for the moon, we have the stars!" while they are both puffing away on their fags.
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Old 18-08-2016, 14:12
Walter Neff
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Robert Redford celebrates his 80th birthday today.

I really used to envy his handsome looks, but after looking at recent photo's, not anymore.

I am not sure what that straw coloured thing is on his head, but it certainly isn't human hair.

At 8 months younger, I have less wrinkles, have never disguised my hair loss, and have better teeth than those porcelain tombstones crowding his mouth.
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Old 18-08-2016, 16:47
CLL Dodge
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Redford looks like he's been out in the sun too long, which he probably has riding around the mountains in Utah for hours at a time.
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Old 18-08-2016, 21:43
Hildaonpluto
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Take a look at @ClassicalCinema's Tweet: https://twitter.com/ClassicalCinema/...414766081?s=09

Lovely beautiful little clip of Fred Astaire in Top Hat for fans of Hollywood's golden era.
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Old 18-08-2016, 21:46
Hildaonpluto
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Robert Redford celebrates his 80th birthday today.

I really used to envy his handsome looks, but after looking at recent photo's, not anymore.

I am not sure what that straw coloured thing is on his head, but it certainly isn't human hair.

At 8 months younger, I have less wrinkles, have never disguised my hair loss, and have better teeth than those porcelain tombstones crowding his mouth.
I quite like Robert Redford but I'm sure he's not as clean living and as natural as you Walter! 😁

Still at least he's still going strong at 80 sadly only in recent month's the sons of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin have died at ages much younger than 80.
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Old 19-08-2016, 11:02
Walter Neff
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Take a look at @ClassicalCinema's Tweet: https://twitter.com/ClassicalCinema/...414766081?s=09

Lovely beautiful little clip of Fred Astaire in Top Hat for fans of Hollywood's golden era.
Just beautiful! Katharine Hepburn was right when she said, "He gave her class, and she gave him sex appeal."
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Old 20-08-2016, 04:14
Hildaonpluto
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https://youtu.be/4U5HxooQi58

Your so right Walter about Bette Davis smoking -here's an intriguing YouTube clip of her smoking with her double in a film!

Interesting comment about Fred Astaire and Katherine Hepburn !

I wonder if we will ever see the likes of Astaire style dancing film's again?
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Old 20-08-2016, 07:28
Walter Neff
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https://youtu.be/4U5HxooQi58

Your so right Walter about Bette Davis smoking -here's an intriguing YouTube clip of her smoking with her double in a film!

Interesting comment about Fred Astaire and Katherine Hepburn !

I wonder if we will ever see the likes of Astaire style dancing film's again?
I just LOVE Stolen Life, it was one of Bette's best films from the late forties. She looked really attractive, and the split screen process was just brilliant. Incidentally, that wasn't a double, she played both roles, and was very convincingly different as the good and bad twins. plus it had a great score by Max Steiner.

No, I really don't believe that there will ever be anyone to match Fred's dancing, or his style and class.
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Old 20-08-2016, 15:44
Dan Fortesque
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I quite like Robert Redford but I'm sure he's not as clean living and as natural as you Walter! 😁

Still at least he's still going strong at 80 sadly only in recent month's the sons of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin have died at ages much younger than 80.
Redford was one of my favourite stars from the 60s and 70s era. I preferred him to Paul Newman. Anyway, congratulations Walter on your new plank record.
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Old 20-08-2016, 17:04
Straker
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Robert Redford celebrates his 80th birthday today.

I really used to envy his handsome looks, but after looking at recent photo's, not anymore.

I am not sure what that straw coloured thing is on his head, but it certainly isn't human hair.

At 8 months younger, I have less wrinkles, have never disguised my hair loss, and have better teeth than those porcelain tombstones crowding his mouth.
Number 22:

http://www.cracked.com/article_15788...-lesbians.html
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Old 20-08-2016, 20:37
Walter Neff
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Redford was one of my favourite stars from the 60s and 70s era. I preferred him to Paul Newman. Anyway, congratulations Walter on your new plank record.
Thanks Dan, my aim is to reach 15 minutes by the end of this year.
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Old 20-08-2016, 20:49
Walter Neff
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Thanks for that, and they really all do look like old lesbians.
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Old 23-08-2016, 12:46
Hildaonpluto
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http://giphy.com/search/olivia-de-havilland

I actually had no idea that Bette Davis film existed Walter! I'm sure I've never seen it. Must have been quite novel at the time. Was it a commercial success?

Thought you and other's might like the link I posted full of moving image's of Olivia De Havilland including several of her greeting Bette Davis.
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Old 23-08-2016, 18:26
Walter Neff
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http://giphy.com/search/olivia-de-havilland

I actually had no idea that Bette Davis film existed Walter! I'm sure I've never seen it. Must have been quite novel at the time. Was it a commercial success?

Thought you and other's might like the link I posted full of moving image's of Olivia De Havilland including several of her greeting Bette Davis.
If you can watch Region 1 DVD's you can Stolen Life from Amazon.co.uk for £11.80, and it is well worth it.

That is a great montage on Olivia. I am looking forward to a documentary on Friday which gets it's first screening on the Sky Arts Channel, "Discovering Olivia de Havilland."
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