I'm so fascinated by the Classic Hollywood Film era. It's not even the films that fascinate me, it's the production process that I love learning about.
My intro to film class is awesome, especially because Dr. Casper is very entertaining and imparts so much information about film to us. But my favorite thing that he's lectured us on this year was Joan Crawford. He KNEW Joan Crawford! He told us a story about going to her penthouse in New York in the 1970s. He described the penthouse, her appearance, and the kind things she did for him. It's those kinds of things that intrigue me so much. It's like these old film stars... they had this different aura about them. I can't think of anyone today who carries with them an aura like Ingrid Bergman, Audrey Hepburn, Doris Day, and Katharine Hepburn. Not to mention the actors! Humphrey Bogart (and the fact that he was married to Lauren Bacall), Clark Gable (and wife Carole Lombard), and Jimmy Stewart!!!!! Jimmy Stewart has been my absolute favorite for such a long time. He seems like such an honest, humble guy (even though he was a conservative, hehe).
I'm reading this book on the making of Casablanca. I've actually been reading it since last year though. It's one of those that you can pick up and read a chapter at a time without losing interest. So I just read it whenever I randomly have time.
The studio system was so odd back then. People were under contracts, much like today's athletes. And the directors were just as big of divas as the actors and actresses! Sheesh.
Bergman kept a film diary, which was separate from her personal diary I guess. Her and Bogart had a very superficial relationship. Not that they didn't get along, they just never became that close. This is unique because Bogart often got VERY close to his costars, if you catch my drift.
See, I want to know all the behind the scenes shizzzzz. What's the juice? The drama? The problems with making the product? Ahhhhhhh!
A classic film star historian. That's my secret dream job.
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If I ever become a director like I want to be, I hope that I'll be as big a diva as the actors and actresses. :P
ReplyDeletei wanted to be a film historian too. I have this book on gossip of the production processes of films of the new age of Hollywood, the 1960s and 70s. Its so juicy! Like, Dennis Hopper married Michelle Phillips (from the Mamas and the Papas) for a week, and when she left him she told him to think about suicide...or Julie Christie didn't care at all about money, so much that she shocked Warren Beatty (they were going out at the time) by leaving this $1000 dollar check on the street.
ReplyDeleteIts good that i'm not the only one who's nutty about classic hollywood and that there's someone i can talk about it to.
my favorite classic movie is 'the children's hour'. audrey hepburn and shirley maclaine are in it. SO GOOD, WATCH IT! and 'some like it hot' is classic shiz too.
ReplyDeletehaha this is cute. :)
ReplyDeleteand i have absolute faith in you kevin.
Kevin: Please let me observe the set while you're directing. =)
ReplyDeleteAimee: Juicy!!! It's interesting that you mention the Mamas and the Papas because John Phillips is mentioned SO MUCH in the Classic Rock class I'm taking. He's interviewed in a bunch of documentaries, and he narrated the Monterey Pop Festival doc. But I always laugh because of the Mackenzie Phillips controversy!! I see him, or hear him, and I can't take him seriously. Those Phillips kids. Sheesh.
Doris: I've never seen The Children's Hour. I'm gonna wikipedia it and see what it's about. Some Like it Hot was okay... it was really overrated I thought. BUT, Marilyn Monroe was a size 12 and I love her so much for it. Did you know it was meant to be filmed in color but the guys' makeup was a greenish tint so it would have looked weird?
Tiffany: Thank you. =)