Felix In Hollywood

A Blog for the Smart Set

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Funny (and Saucy) Girl.

Here's a different angle on Fanny Brice:


I don't know about the Snooks part, but seeing this I can definitely say....oh Baby!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Lunch Time!

Don Ameche, Peter Lorre and Sonja Heine at the Fox commissary

Gable at the MGM commissary

Basil Rathbone and Angela Lansbury at the Paramount commissary
Ida Lupino and Jeffrey Lynn at the Warner Bros. Commissary

Gene Reynolds at the MGM commissary
Fred MacMurray and Lana Turner at the Fox commissary

Nils Asther at the MGM commissary
Rita Hayworth and Robert Parrish at the Columbia commissary
Errol Flynn at the Warner Bros. commissary

Sunday, August 21, 2011

A Great Big Thank You To 'King' Cole.

Today, a moment of appreciation for the all too unsung genius of choreographer/director
Jack Cole (1911-1974). 

Jack Cole, 1930s
He began as a Denishawn dancer and then moved on to nightclub work.  But it was film that captured his brilliance for all time.

He informed all those that would follow from Michael Kidd to Bob Fosse.  Gwen Verdon was his assistant for seven years.


In addition to his incomparable dance directing, his art direction of color palettes and sets his camera angles (most of these, by the way, going uncredited) make for some spectacular frames of film.  In an interview before her death Jane Russell said that during the dance numbers on "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"  Howard Hawks was rarely even present!

His last work was teaching at UCLA up until two weeks before his death.

Jack Cole 1971


He made 'em Sparkle:


He made 'em Sizzle:

And sometimes, inexplicably:

He made 'em make you wanna make 'em!


As always I have combed many different sources before assembling this post, but if you want more info on Mr. Cole, one place stands above the rest.  It's Debra Levine's fine 'arts * meme'.  You will find it Here.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Cuban Plantation?

1959

Desi Arnaz confers with an employee on the Desilu Culver City backlot, while the remains of the Tara plantation facade forlornly looks on from behind it's fence.  'Tara' would be demolished shortly afterward.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Sales Force

Mitzi and the boys, gettin' brassy
Buster.  Just a goyim.

Natalie Wood.  A fudge packer?

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Just Friends.....?

Joan Crawford and Claudette Colbert enjoy a few days at Claudette's private getaway in Palm Springs.