http://m.uk.ign.com/articles/2016/08...unt-could-lose

Thanks for the two head's up Walter -hopefully SKY ARTS is covered on our sky package.

I see that the remake of Charlton Hestons biblical epic Ben Hur has totally flopped in America!

Their also planning to remake A star is born.

I'm tempted to think sometimes they should leave well alone and not try to recreate the magic.

This "Discovering" series has covered just about every big star, from Bette to Joan, and Marilyn to Judy, but not Barbara. Yet!

The so called "experts" on the programme sometimes make silly, careless mistakes that usually have me screaming at the TV. For example, "Bette Davis was a good friend of Vivien Leigh and was flower girl at her wedding to Olivier"
WRONG!! They were barely on nodding acquaintance, and Katie Hepburn was Vivien's flower girl.

Then this one left me totally speechless, "The African Queen was Bogart's LAST film!

Nevertheless, it is a fascinating programme, and I hope that they eventually get around to Barbara.

I am not surprised that the latest Ben Hur is a flop, the Heston version was perfect, even though I always found Heston a pompous bore, but he was good in that, and thoroughly deserved his Best Actor Oscar. I must admit I wanted the lovely Stephen Boyd as the wonderfully evil Messalla to win the chariot race.
I thought that it was a disgrace that he wasn't even Nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

As for A Star is Born, I know that Judy's version was a remake of the 1937 original non musical version, but no one could improve on that. I am not a Streisand fan so didn't like her remake. The problem I that they don't have the writers these days, hence all of these inferior remakes.

I bet that you didn't know that the original story was based on the marriage of Barbara and her first husband Frank Fay. He was a big Broadway star who was offered a film contract by Warner's, and took his new 21 year old wife with him when he went to Hollywood. She was a fledgling Broadway star, although she had been a great success in her two hot dramatic plays. She hated Hollywood, especially after appearing in two big flops, and then she met Frank Capra, and everything changed. Fay's Hollywood films were all flops, while Barbara' signed with both Columbia and Warner's, and by 1932 was a big star. He was drinking heavily, was extremely jealous of her success, and used to knock her about. She loyally stuck by him, even financing a Broadway revue for him in 1933, "Tattle Tales". To boost the publicity for the show, she appeared on the Broadway stage for the last time. In between her husband act she enacted scenes from some of her films. It didn't help the show, and it closed, losing her a lot of money. The failure of the show also signalled the end of their marriage. Barbara had finally had enough of her abusive husband and divorced him in 1935.

Thanks Walter, having seen all three versions of A Star Is Born I had no idea that it was based on Barbara's experiences.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...ci-Martin.html

Just weeks after her and Dean's son died aged 62.

Jeanne was married to Dean during a big chunk of his Hollywood heyday and was part of the golden era Hollywood social scene.

"Wild Bill" Wellman, not only directed the 1937 version of A Star is Born, he also wrote the original story. He directed Barbara in five films, three of them between 1931 and 1932, and had plenty of time to observe the relationship between Barbara, and her unpleasant first husband who had none of the good qualities of Norman Maine, the doomed husband in A Star is Born. The only thing that I can say in his favour was that he was responsible for nagging Frank Capra to look at Barbara's original film test, Capra was so moved by the test that he immediately contacted Harry Cohn, the head of Columbia and begged him to sign Barbara for Ladies of Leisure, the film that made her a star.

I was lucky enough to chat to Bill Wellman when he gave a lecture at The National Film Theatre in 1972. He raved about Barbara, she was his favourite leading lady, and said that she was a joy to work with. One of her own personal favourite films with him was The Great Man's Lady (1942) in which she ages from 16 years old to 110. It hasn't been on TV for years, but it can be obtained from Amazon for £8.99. My favourite of all of their films together is Lady of Burlesque, in which she plays a stripper in this film based on the novel The G String Murders by Gypsy Rose Lee. In this very funny back stage murder mystery, it is her own voice used in her opening number, "Take it off the E Strng, Play it on the G. She proceeds to strip, (although we don't see a lot, after all, it was 1943), does the jitterbug, the splits, turns cartwheels, and does an amazing Russian dance. At 36, she obviously hadn't forgotten any of her chorus girl training.

Wellman wanted her for his all star 1954 film The High and the Mighty, for some crazy reason she turned down what turned out to be on of the biggest Box Office Hits of 1954.

Once again Walter, I envy you having had the chance to meet and chat to those who created the golden age of Hollywood.

I knew them only though their work and TV interviews, especially on the Parkinson show, where he got to meet his heroes almost very week in the 70's. Don't recall Barbara Stanwyck being on, though.

Appearing in public as herself was agony for Barbara, as I witnessed t her Lincoln Centre Tribute in 1981. I am sure that she only agreed to show up because her beloved Golden Boy Bill Holden escorted her there. When he introduced her he had to go into the wings and literally drag her on stage. I was sitting in the fifth row of the stalls and could see her shaking. After a standing ovation that seemed to go on forever, with screams of "we love you!!" it struck me that she realised for the first time in her life just how loved she was. She had said in an interview with Rex Reed earlier that day that the evening would probably end up like the birthday party in her film Stella Dallas, where nobody turned up. How wrong she was, the place was heaving with celebrities, many of them standing, and lining the walls of the Lincoln Centre. Glenda Jackson came straight from appearing in her play on Broadway to pay homage to the star that she had watched on the big screen, growing up in London during the 1940's, just as I had.

Barbara once said that if she ever got trapped in This is Your Life, she would walk
straight out, saying to the presenter if he complained, "That's your problem!"

Practically every Hollywood star appeared as he mystery guest on What's My Line, Bette and Joan on several occasions, but not Barbara. She did appear on The Joey Bishop Show, and The Merv Griffin Show, and that was to be presented with the Photoplay Gold Medal as TV's Favourite Actress for 1966 and 67. Neither shows are available on YouTube, although I do have the audio recordings, and one photo from each show. She sounds relaxed and happy, and just has me wishing that she had done more live appearances. For me, the biggest tragedy is that she never again appeared in the theatre after she went to Hollywood, apart from the 1933 revue that she did with her first husband in 1933. If I could wish for one play that she should have done, I would definitely say The Little Foxes, she would have been a wonderful Regina Giddens.

I will Google Stephen Boyd and see if you have good taste

No I wasn't aware of all that background information about Barbara and A star is born. It's really intriguing and shows that Hollywood fact can be more interesting than Hollywood fiction.

Would you say Barbara Stanwycks first husband Frank was definitely her worst and would she have regarded him that way? Sounds to me like in her early years Barbara was too soft hearted with men trying to please and appease them and they took advantage. Sadly being loyal to someone undeserving doesn't reap rewards often and isn't returned.

It seems we may be in for a few more remakes of golden era films both Guys and Dolls and Sunset Boulevard are strongly rumoured for remakes with Glenn Close touted to take Gloria Swansons role in the latter.

I think Hollywood Hunk Channing Tatum has been linked in the press to guys and dolls.

A separate question to this. I know that Maureen O'Hara was Irish but where there any other big name or otherwise from the golden era of Hollywood who where Irish or was it just Maureen do you know?

Hilda, I was surprised that you didn't know who Stephen Boyd was, but then he did die in 1977 at only 45, long before you were born. He appeared opposite many top leading ladies, including Doris Day, Susan Hayward, Joan Crawford, Joan Collins, Sophia Loren, and Raquel Welch. When he is on the screen with Heston in Ben Hur, you can't take your eyes of him, and yes, I have very good taste, the man was HOT!!

Out of Barbara's two husbands, Fay was definitely the worst, she said in her later years that her biggest regret was that she ever married him. But if she hadn't, she may never have gone to Hollywood, and instead become a big Broadway star.. Even by 1947 she hadn't forgiven him. Fay had made a big Broadway comeback in Harvey, the story of the man who has an invisible rabbit as a companion. On arriving in New York after her UK trip, Barbara was asked if she would be going to see her ex in his new play. " I think not" she said, "I've already seen all the rabbits Mr Fay has to offer."

Her second husband Robert Taylor wasn't a bad man, just rather weak, and unfaithful. He fell for Lana Turner when they starred together in Johnny Eager in 1941, just two years after he married Barbara. He also had an on an off relationship with Ava Gardner, they co starred in three films. The final indignity for Barbara was in 1950 when she heard that he was playing around with an Italian starlet while he was filming Quo Vadis in Rome. Although she was terrified of flying, and didn't like travel, she flew to Rome and confronted him. I have over 100 photo's of them together in Rome, and they look so happy, in fact the Gossip columnists called it their second honeymoon. They both must have been giving the performances of their lives, because Barbara flew back to Hollywood and filed for divorce. Her plan was to drop off in London, film "Another Man's Poison" and then fly home. Instead, she phoned the producers in tears, saying that she had to back out of their film as she had to get back home to sort out her private life. So her fans lost an opportunity to see her in a British film, even though it was a lucky escape, because Bette Davis took over, and it was a big flop, undoing all the good that her previous film All About Eve had done for her.

As I never go to the cinema, I am indifferent to any remakes of my favourite films, they are usually flops, and certainly never as good as the originals.

The Irish names that spring to mind are Geraldine Fitzgerald, Bette's friend, off and on screen in Dark Victory, and Maureen 'Sullivan, Tarzan's mate Jane. Not exactly big names, but thy are the only two that I can think of. Many big stars, including Barbara and Helen Hayes had Irish roots, as many Irish immigrants ended up in America.

I an think of two Irish actors, both Oscar winners, neither of them favourites of mine, Barry Fitzgerald and Victor Mclaglen.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/02/13...-boyd-was-gay/

Walter have you read this about Stephen Boyd? According to Raquel Welch he was gay -you should have tried your luck with him!

Thanks for the rest of your answer's and reply -It does sound like Barbara's lovelife was not her strong point and to say her first hubby behaved like a rat is an understatement but who would you say was the biggest rat to his Hollywood actress wife in that era?

I always suspected that he was gay after I read that he was "discovered" by Sir Michael Redgrave while working as a doorman at the Odeon Leicester Square. I wonder if I ever handed him my ticket, I was going there regularly from 1953.

So what do you think of him Hilda, does he float your boat?

One of the worst husband's was the seemingly mild mannered Glenn Ford. He was married to the wonderfully gifted dancer Eleanor Powell, who with Fred Astaire, performed my favourite dance routine of all time, Begin the Beguine, in Broadway Melody of 1940.

Glenn's son wrote a biography of his father with a very understated title, "Glenn Ford - A Life". He said that his father had a secret telephone system installed in his home where he recorded intimate conversations with many lovers, 143 at the last count. Just some of his many conquests included a one night stand with Marilyn. A six month fling with Judy Garland, and a 40 year on an off affair with Rita Hayworth. He married three more times after he divorced Miss Powell, and I believe that she became very involved with the church. Ironically, she was the big MGM star when they married, and he was practically unknown.

He certainly does float my boat he's good enough to it!!

Oh Walter if only you'd have made a move on him if he did serve you at the Odeon you could have ended up a Hollywood stars secret boyfriend and at the heart of the Hollywood social scene getting all the gossip! Who knows Joan Collins might have become your best mate and took you under her wing!!
You'd have been in gay heaven!

As for Glenn Ford I would NEVER have had him down as being one of the lousiest men in Hollywood. Just shows how the cultivating of a persona works especially when studio's and press cooperate.
I recall reading he was Rita Hayworths favourite leading man in his obituary and news article when he died and just naively assumed he was a clean living clean morals traditional kind of guy.

Oh Hilda, what a wonderfully vivid imagination you have!

Think of me this morning, I am joining my other Running Club members for a 10 mile run around our local recreation ground, starting at 9am. It works out at 16 laps, so I had a trial run earlier this week. I did one lap, and it took me 8 minutes, so I am looking at least two hours before I complete it. It doesn't matter how long we take, and we are having a barbeque afterwards, so it should be quite an experience.

I am now on my 15th day of completing 22 push ups for 22 continuous days.

Just call me a masochist!

That Glen Ford biography sounds interesting. I never would have thought he was like that, either.

just looked up Stephen Boyd - very dishy!

Walter - just being nosey, but I hope you don't mind another question. I love all the old 1950's British B movies that Talkingpictures are always showing. When you went to the cinema in the 1950's would they show the British B movies or American ones? Or would it depend on the main feature?

David, Glad that you approve of the handsome Stephen, Ben Hur was on TCM this weekend, definitely worth watching if you have never seen it.

You are not being nosey, that is a very good question. I never really thought about it, but it seemed to be an equal amount of British and American films supporting the main feature.. Universal Studios often used to release a double feature of their latest releases, in which they would showcase their current heartthrobs like Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis, and Jeff Chandler. I guess that these would be classed as B movies, but I have very happy memories of seeing so many future big stars getting their first big break in those usually very entertaining films, which were usually filmed in Technicolor, at a time when there were an equal about of black and white films.

Dean Marti and Jerry Lewis became very big names in the mid 50's, but in 1950 their first film My Friend Irma was the second feature to Barbara's greatest Western, "The Furies." Both films were from the same studio, and I guess Paramount thought that they would release the two newcomers debut film with a major production starring one of their biggest stars.

My vivid imagination is a faithful companion!!

Hope you enjoyed your run and barbecue! Your stamina is a phenomenon in its own right!

Just thought I'd mention that on certain websites and various places online rumours are starting to trickle through that Hollywood legend Debbie Reynolds is in quite poor failing health after having surgery earlier this year.
I wouldn't quite call it being on her deathbed and the information I can't vouch 100 percent for but there reportedly is deep concern including within her family.

I really hope she manages to fight on.

If you move down the credits a bit there was Una O'Connor and Sara Allgood, who turn up in loads of Golden Age Hollywood films.

The run was just great, it took me two hours 20 minutes,, but it was worth it when my best friend who organised it presented me with my 25h medal. I don't care for barbeques, so I left by 4pm. Some of those guys stayed until 10pm ad then ran the Canterbury Half Marathon the following morning.

I just went to the gym for an hour, and did my 16th day of 22 push ups, I finish that latest challenge this Sunday. If you are on Facebook you can see the video's of this from day one.

I read the interview with Carrie Fisher. It seems that they are appearing together in a Mother/Daughter documentary called "Bright Lights". She says that she is lucky to get what will probably be her mothers last big project. which recently premiered in Cannes. Carrie says that her Mother is recovering "amazingly well" from what has been described as spinal issues.

I should certainly have remembered Una O'Connor who so memorably played the maid in one of my favourite Barbara comedies, Christmas in Connecticut.

She was equally memorable playing a maid again in Billy Wilders brilliant thriller, Witness for the Prosecution.

Thank you Walter - to my shame, I have never seen Ben Hur but knowing how handsome Stephen Boyd is, i will def make a point of looking for it. I don't have TCM sadly.

Also, never heard of Barbara's film The Furies, - have just looked it up on IMDB, it sounds terrific... will look for that on DVD.

Thanks again

David, if you take a look on Amazon.co.uk, you can purchase Ben Hur for as little as 19p, or a 4 disc boxed set for £4.99.

The Furies is more expensive, the souvenir edition is £15.99, and that includes the original novel. But if you look on YouTube you can watch the complete film. Just remember that when you write the title of the film add 1950, otherwise you will get The Furies band.

It is a marvellous film, and has the most magnificent score by Franz Waxman. This was Walter Huston's last film, he died before the premiere. Judith Anderson of Mrs Danvers fame has some wonderful scenes with Barbara, which results in a violent confrontation that was quite shocking in 1950. It also contains a performance by Gilbert Roland that should have won him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

Was looking on Digiguide and BBC 2 will be showing Annie Oakley on Saturday 10 September at the ridiculously early time of 6:10am.

Heads up for the Barbara Stanwyck fans

I have all 87 of her films, and I'm afraid that is in my top five of her WORST. Unless you are really curious I wouldn't bother. I have the film in a Barbara boxed set, and have never even opened it.

The only interesting thing that I can say about it is that it was the first of her films ever to be shown on British TV. This was in 1956 when we only had two channels, and it was shown on BBC1.

I'm sure your feeling a great sense of personal pride and accomplishment Walter. All of this tremendous effort must give you an incredible buzz and endorphin high.

That sounds a bit more positive about Debbie. One of the causes of the speculation was what some people interpreted to be a coded comment by a female New York Times gossip columnist who's in the know but having said that people could be misinterpreting. She more likely may have been hinting that Debbies public life may be drawing to a close especially media appearances etc as opposed to her actual life.

I bet that docufilm of Carrie and Debbie would be a good watch.