Cary Grant, Frederick Brisson, James Stewart, No Time For Comedy, radio

Who doesn’t love James Stewart?

November 1, 2010 des 8 Comments

I noticed I’ve been getting a bit lazy lately with the blog, haha, so I thought I’d talk a little about Roz and Jimmy Stewart. They may have starred in only one movie together [No Time For Comedy (1940)], but they had amazing chemistry and rapport, not to mention a lifelong friendship off screen.

They met in radio around 1936 or so. For the life of me, I can’t remember the name of the radio show, but this was the first time they acted together. They costarred in several more radio shows as well, and as the newspapers said, they already sounded like a great acting duo.

According to some gossip column items in the late 30s (about 1938-1939), Rosalind and James dated quite often. Of course, Jimmy was dating several other women, too, because he was quite an eligible bachelor at the time. Then again, Roz had already been dubbed “Number One Bachelor Girl” several years before. Fate intervened in 1939 when Roz met her future husband, Frederick Brisson by way of their mutual friend Cary Grant.

By the way, the other couple with them is John Hall and Lana Turner 🙂

Jimmy and Roz did make that film “No Time For Comedy” finally in 1940 and they are both great in it, despite a not-so-great script. I always loved Jimmy’s characters on screen, with their polite demeanor and oh-so-cute awkwardness. I like to think he was polite off the screen as well, but I have no idea, of course. 🙂

Jimmy and Roz stayed friends until her death in 1976. He and his wife, Gloria, gave a party in her honor just three months before she died. At the party, she said this, comparing life to a rope: “It is tied with lots of knots, and it goes straight up. I have been climbing that rope, and each knot I come to is one of you. And then I climb to the next. And to the next. I’m still holding on,” referring to her battle with cancer.

At her funeral, Jimmy was one of a few actors who gave eulogies, which included Gregory Peck and Frank Sinatra. At the end of his eulogy, he said these words:

“Thank you, God, for giving her to us. Take care of her…We sent you our best this time.”

That’s gossip columnist Louella Parsons on the far left.

A Woman of Distinction, Gypsy, Marathon, Mrs. Pollifax--Spy, Never Wave at a WAC, Photos, Picnic, TCM, Tell it to the Judge, The Velvet Touch

TCM is My Best Friend

October 27, 2010 des 4 Comments

Well, it’s pretty obvious TCM (U.S.) is amazing to someone like me because one again, they are showing another Rosalind Russell marathon… tomorrow.

I’ll show you a list again of what they will show tomorrow:

The Velvet Touch (1948)

6:30 am (ET)/3:30 am (PT)

After accidentally killing her lecherous producer, a famous actress tries to hide her guilt.

Starring: Rosalind Russell, Leo Genn

Tell it to the Judge (1949)

8:15 am (ET)/5:15 am (PT)

To win back her husband, a divorcée pretends to be married to a loser.

Starring: Rosalind Russell, Robert Cummings

A Woman of Distinction (1950)

9:45 am (ET)/6:45 am (PT)

A publicity hungry press agent creates a romance between an icy college dean and a visiting lecturer.

Starring: Rosalind Russell, Ray Milland

Never Wave at a WAC (1950)

11:15 am (ET)/8:15 am (PT)

A divorced socialite joins the Army hoping it will improve her love life.

Starring: Rosalind Russell, Paul Douglas

Picnic (1955)

12:45 pm (ET)/9:45 am (PT)

A handsome drifter ignites passions at a small-town Labor Day picnic.

Starring: William Holden, Kim Novak

Gypsy (1962)

2:45 pm (ET)/11:45 am (PT)

A domineering mother pushes her two daughters to burlesque stardom.

Starring: Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood

Mrs. Pollifax–Spy (1971)

5:15 pm (ET)/2:15 pm (PT)

A society woman volunteers to root out enemy agents in Albania.

Starring: Rosalind Russell, Darren McGavin

And if you don’t live in the U.S. or you don’t have the TCM channel, why not have a marathon of your own? 😉 Have a great week, everyone.

Arthritis, Cancer, Darren McGavin, Marathon, Mrs. Pollifax--Spy, Photos, TCM

"Mrs. Pollifax–Spy" (1971)

October 23, 2010 des Leave a comment

Ah… I am so glad they are playing this film because I have only seen it on YouTube and am very glad to finally see it on the TV. It was Rosalind’s last feature film. She was feeling the signs of her rheumatoid arthritis during the shooting of this film, and this is a disease that would plague her the last 5 years of her life (along with cancer, which she had been fighting for many years already). If you are able to catch this on TCM, I hope you enjoy it! I did.

Golden Globes, Gypsy, Karl Malden, Marathon, Natalie Wood, Photos, TCM

"Gypsy" (1962)

October 22, 2010 des Leave a comment

Okay… I have to admit, this is my SECOND favorite Rosalind Russell movie (behind “Auntie Mame,” of course) because I love the way Roz interprets this character and although she may have had limited vocal abilities (although I do love the way they mixed the voices in the songs)… she was a marvelous actress and I love the great job she did in this film. I’m surprised she didn’t get nominated for an Oscar, although she did win the Golden Globe!

Read about Gypsy here.

“Gypsy” will be playing on TCM on October 28.