Grauman's Chinese Theater, now known as the TCL Chinese Theater, is a beautiful structure both inside and out. Built in 1926 on Hollywood Boulevard, the Chinese Theater was the last movie palace built by Sid Grauman, as an investment with Douglas Fairbanks, Howard Schenck, and Mary Pickford. Grauman is also known for LA's Million Dollar Theater (built 1918) and the Egyptian Theater (built 1922). The silent movie The King of Kings (1927) was the first movie to show at the Chinese Theater, on its opening in May of 1927. Also, from 1944 to 1946 the Oscars were awarded in this theater.
In addition to the intricate Chinese paintings inside the theater, the actual Ming Dynasty Heaven Dogs at the theater's entrance, and the unique pagoda exterior architecture, one of the main attractions of the theater is the Forecourt of the Stars. Every day visitors and tourists walk by Grauman's Chinese Theater to look at the hand and footprints of their favorite stars, with estimates putting this number at about 4 million visitors a year!
Video from the Grauman's Chinese in the 1940's:
Here are some pictures and prints from just outside Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard:
John Wayne
"Sid There are not enough words"
John Wayne (January 25th 1950)
Jimmy Stewart
"Thank You Sid" - Jimmy Stewart (February 13th 1948)
Clark Gable
"To Sid Who Is A Great Guy" - Clark Gable (January 20th 1937)
"You Made My Day" - Clint Eastwood (August 21st 1984)
Rex Harrison with Irene Dunne and Sid Grauman
"To Sid Grauman Sincere Thanks" - Rex Harrison (July 8th 1946)
The TCM Film Festival starts tomorrow and I am beyond excited for the coming four days of classic movie immersion! On top of it being my first year attending the festival, it is the 20th Anniversary of Turner Classic Movies and the 5th Annual Festival. Moreover, it is the 75th Anniversary of a handful of great films from 1939, like The Wizard of Oz, The Women, and Gone with the Wind, all of which will be playing at the festival this year.
To kick off the festivities, my friend and I took a visit to Hollywood for a free TCM Movie Locations Tour with Starline Tours last week. Posters for the film festival were already on display at the Hollywood and Highland Center near the Dolby Theater. And Hollywood Boulevard was bustling with tourists. After checking in for the tour, there was some down time to take in the sights and sounds...but particularly the sights. Looking at the stars and handprints/footprints outside the Chinese Theater was really an experience! It was fun to read the messages to Sid (Sid Grauman) from Clark Gable, John Wayne, Abbott and Costello, Jimmy Durante and others written out on the concrete and imagine them making those prints so many decades ago. These physical prints are no doubt metaphorical representations of the huge prints these artists made on film, as an art and an industry.
Bud Abbot and Lou Costello write "To our pal Sid" with their prints made on December 8th 1941
Roy Rogers writes "To Sid" and "Many-Happy-Trails"
Roy's prints and Trigger's horseshoe prints + his handgun print made on April 21st 1949
October 31st 1945: "Sid-Dis is my Schnozzle" and "Wish I had a million of em"
One handprint and a nose-print? (I can't make it out) compliments of Jimmy Durante
After snapping a few more pictures of the famous prints, we started on the tour... Almost 3 hours long, the tour took us all over Los Angeles and featured numerous clips from different films, as well as video of Ben Mankiewicz talking about the different parts of L.A. and their connections to movie history. During the first half of the tour, we saw the old RKO studio (which was bought by Paramount, and is now part of their lot), Paramount Studios and the entrance filmed for a famous Sunset Boulevard scene, Charlie Chaplin's old studio (now Jim Henson's studio), and "The Lot". Formerly the Pickford-Fairbanks Studio, "The Lot" would become the Samuel Goldwyn Studios and later, the Warner Hollywood Studio. More about its interesting history here: The Lot (this will take you to another site).
Later, the tour took us through downtown's Bunker Hill, where many film noir movies were made. The area has changed dramatically, as most of the Victorian style residences have been replaced by monumental buildings and hotels. I particularly enjoyed seeing all the old downtown theaters, like the Orpheum. Some are still running (booking stage productions or music shows), and others are reminders of the past. The old Warner Brothers Downtown Theater Building, for instance, is now a diamond wholesale retail center.
Before
Today
During the tour of downtown, we also had the chance to get off the bus and visit the Bradbury building, where a few scenes of The Artist were filmed. The building was absolutely beautiful, with brick walls, ornate elevators, marble steps leading up multiple flights of stairs, and well-kept wood and cast-iron railings. It really is something to see!
From the second floor of the Bradbury Building, Downtown
Our second hop-off site was at Union Station. My friend and I opted to walk around the nearby Olvera Street instead. It is a California historical site with an authentic Hispanic feel, which stems from its early history as a Spanish settlement. Some of the scenes from Charlie Chaplin's film The Kid, from 1921, were filmed there.
It is impossible to recap all the locations that this tour took us to, but I've tried to mention whichever ones I thought were the highlights. There were so many more that I could have mentioned, but I would recommend taking the tour yourself if you can get tickets! *I strongly recommend the tour if you are a fan of the film L.A. Confidential! (The tour takes you to see a lot of the on-location spots seen in that film specifically.)
Here are some of my movie picks for this Valentine's Day!
Great Romantic Classics, but have a box of tissues ready:
1. Casablanca
2. Random Harvest
3. Now, Voyager
4. An Affair To Remember
For the more Light-hearted Romantics:
1. The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
2. Love In The Afternoon
3. Adam's Rib
4. Here Comes The Groom
5. Charade
6. It Happened One Night
7. Pride and Prejudice (1940)
Some Contemporary Choices:
1. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
2. Letters to Juliet
3. Hitch
If you ever had any doubts about what a great actress Bette Davis was, then you most probably have not seen her Oscar nominated performance in Dark Victory (1939). I had the chance to see this spectacular Warner Brothers film on TCM night before last, as part of their 31 Days of Oscar programming. This film was recognized at the 12th Academy Awards in 1940, nominated for Best Picture, in addition to Best Actress, and Best Original Score. However, the competition was unbelievably stiff that year. Gone with the Wind won Best Picture. The other runners up included The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Wuthering Heights, and five other impressive films. The story Dark Victory comes from a play of the same title and was developed for the movie screen by Casey Robinson. Robinson wrote the screenplays for five other Bette Davis films, one of which is my favorite Now, Voyager.
In the movie, Davis plays Judy Traherne, a 23 year old woman in high society with a passion for horses, parties, and life. Eager to enjoy her life independently, in complete control, she hides the fact that she has been experiencing headaches, blurry vision, and dizzy spells from everyone except her best friend Anne (Geraldine Fitzgerald). To her doctor, she dismisses these episodes as consequences of a hangover. However, an accident persuades her doctor that there is something terribly wrong with Judy, and he asks his colleague Dr. Frederick Steele (played by George Brent) to take a look at her. A young capable brain surgeon, Dr. Steele is frustrated with how little scientific knowledge there is concerning the brain and plans to move to Vermont to begin research on brain cells. After a brief meeting with Judy however, he agrees to take her as his last patient before moving. When he confirms that Judy has a malignant brain tumor, he persuades her to have it surgically removed. After the surgery, Dr. Steele receives word that although the tumor was removed, there is a high chance of recurrence. In the case of a recurrence, there would be no long-term warning signs as there were before, but instead a sudden loss of vision at which point there would be little anyone could do. It appears that Judy only has 10 months to live.
Distraught, and unwilling to shatter Judy's spirit and capacity for life, Dr. Steele decides not to discuss her prognosis, but to instead say she will make a full recovery. Her best friend Anne soon discovers the truth, but understands Dr. Steele's reasons for not telling Judy about her condition.
Dr. Steele has just told Anne (left) that Judy (Bette Davis, right) has only a short while left to live. Judy hasn't heard their conversation.
Judy, unaware of her prognosis, continues to enjoy her life and frequent visits from Dr. Steele, who is growing to care for her, as she is growing to care for him. He proposes to Judy and as they prepare to move to Vermont for a life together, we start to wonder if Dr. Steele will ever tell Judy about her negative prognosis.
It is at that point that Judy discovers the truth on her own...She takes a trip to Dr. Steele's office to meet him for the afternoon, unaware that he intends to meet her out at a restaurant. At his office, the carefree Judy discovers her medical file, and that all of the doctors that Dr. Steele has written to about her situation have confirmed that she will not live. A dramatic change in Judy is seen immediately. Her friendly loving disposition abruptly morphs into a spiteful sarcastic attitude outwardly, and inwardly, one of overwhelming sadness and disbelief.
Judy soon rebels against Dr. Steele and Anne, upset with them and the truth that they kept from her. Her life begins to spiral out of her control, as she tries to escape her fears of being controlled by the dark matter inside her. It takes her time to realize that she wants to find peace and happiness with what time she has left. That's done with a little help from Bogie (Humphrey Bogart), who makes an appearance as Michael O'Leary, the stable man on her estate. Judy's conversation with Michael reminds her how much she is in love with Dr. Steele, and she hurries to mend their relationship.
The always talented Humphrey Bogart as Michael O'Leary
A new life for Dr. and Mrs. Steele in Vermont
Towards the end of the film, Judy and Dr. Steele have started a beautiful life together in Vermont. He has begun his research to understand the brain...to discover the scientific unknown, so that eventually victory can be claimed over the darkness that has limited his time with Judy. The rest of the film is just as amazing as the beginning and middle. I won't write what happens at the end. I highly recommend seeing this touching and poignant classic film.
Throughout the entire film, Davis brings an honesty to the role that makes her character so real. She was able to capture the essence of every emotion with her big eyes and translate these emotions so well. Bette's acting allows the audience to follow her character's many transitions: from a young, carefree girl to a worried, but hopeful patient, to a grateful and elated woman in love, to a complex individual with complicated feelings, and finally to a content, strong, courageous figure at peace and very much loved.
While Judy's character was constantly changing in response to her ever changing circumstances, it was important that the rest of her life, and the characters in the story, remain consistent. Dr. Steele represented this stable force in the story, and George Brent portrayed him extremely well. He was believable as the reserved neurosurgeon, who cared deeply for Judy and carried the burden of knowing her condition was terminal. Brent's emotional range was more limited, but this was because the focus of the film was on Judy. It was more important that Brent's character appear strong and devoted to Judy unconditionally. For most of the film then, Dr. Steele looked as if he was searching for something...a way to come to terms with reality, a way to help Judy, and a way to make Judy happy. Towards the end of the film, this look is gone...he has found what he was looking for.
This truly is one of the very best films I've seen. All the credit goes to a fantastic cast, and to Edmund Goulding for wonderful direction. Its 1940 Oscar nomination was well deserved, as is its recognition as a great American classic film!
Here's a trailer:
One last note: If you were watching closely, you may have spotted a familiar face in the trailer. A young Ronald Reagan plays the part of Alec Hamm, one of Judy's friends. Only one year later, Reagan would appear in his most memorable on screen role as football player George Gipp, earning himself the nickname the "Gipper".
2014 is off to a great start! About a week ago I got an invitation from TCM to attend a screening of And The Oscar Goes To..., a documentary about the Academy Awards. The screening was this past Thursday night in Beverly Hills, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I wasn't sure what to expect because I've never been to a Hollywood screening. Years ago I was invited to and did attend an advanced movie screening for Spirit, a DreamWorks animated movie about horses. That was in Newport Beach. It was a fun experience, but this was the first screening I've been to since...and the first one I've been to in Hollywood!
The And The Oscar Goes To... screening was all that I imagined and MORE! The line to get in moved fast, and once we were inside, we walked up a staircase covered by...what else...a red carpet. Two giant Oscar statues stood in the corners, waiting for attendees to take their pictures. Moving on, the walls were adorned with movie posters and famous scenes from our favorite movies: To Kill A Mockingbird, The Godfather, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and even Disney's Up. On the second floor, there was a photo of Louis B. Mayer greeting guests as we entered the theater.
Before the film began, we had the pleasure of hearing from TCM's very own Ben Mankiewicz, as well as the makers of the film, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. Many of the people involved in the production of this documentary were also in attendance at the event. Turner Classic Movies provided a lot of support for this film, and it was nice to see that acknowledged. The film will kick off the 31 Days of Oscar special that TCM hosts every February leading up to the Academy Awards.
Here's what you can look forward to when And The Oscar Goes To... airs on TCM on February 1st:
The documentary touches on many different topics relating to the Oscars, and shows clips from the actual ceremonies and behind-the-scenes footage from the beginning of the Oscars in 1929 to present day. The history of the awards is woven throughout the documentary, but focuses around a few main subjects (the founding of the Academy, the Academy's response to blacklisting, social change evidenced by nominations and awards given over the years) rather than a year by year recap of the Academy Awards. Through the film, you also see how changes in film led to new crafts within motion pictures being recognized, specifically animation and makeup. What I particularly enjoyed were the fun clips from the Bob Hope days, and Cher's candid statement that no matter what actors say they all want to win. The chronology of the film was a little hard to follow, but it appeared to me that the film's more pressing goal was to capture the tradition and excitement that surrounds the Oscars, and to bring realism to the excitement based on the thoughts and feelings of Oscar nominees and winners. The film provides its audience with a window into the hearts and minds of the people sitting on the other side of the television screen when they tune in for the Academy Awards every year. We hear how they feel when they hear their name/film nominated, when they sit waiting for the winner to be called and hoping their name or name of their film is in the sacred envelope presented by a Price Waterhouse rep, and how they respond when the presenters announce "And the Oscar goes too..."
All in all, it was a wonderful event and just before leaving, I even had the chance to meet Ben Mankiewicz!! I was ecstatic! I've been a huge fan of TCM practically my entire life and it was a great opportunity to be able to speak with him, and tell him how much I appreciate TCM and classic film!
This year can only get better...31 Days Of Oscar starts February 1st. The Academy Awards will be held in March. And this upcoming April marks the 20th anniversary of TCM and my first time attending the TCM Classic Film Festival! So much to look forward to!
Here is a quick clip of the great Jerry Lewis and my favorite actress, Audrey Hepburn, presenting the award for Best Motion Picture to producer Harold Hecht for the fantastic heartwarming film Marty (1955):
**Unfortunately, the above clip from YouTube has been removed so I have posted a different clip. This one is of Audrey Hepburn presenting the 1964 Oscar for Best Actor to Rex Harrison for his work in My Fair Lady. There was a bit of drama surrounding this film and specifically the Best Actress category in 1964, which may explain why there are so many glimpses of Julie Andrews in this clip and why Audrey Hepburn stands next to Rex Harrison during his entire speech. Julie Andrews had successfully played Eliza Doolittle in the My Fair Lady stage production, but was passed over for the film role. Instead, Audrey Hepburn was given the part of Eliza. There was a lot of hype in the media about supposed tension between the two actresses because Audrey won the role. When time came for the Academy Awards, the controversy did not go away. In 1964, My Fair Lady took home eight Oscars. Nevertheless, in the category for Best Actress, Audrey was not even nominated! Julie Andrews was nominated however, and won the Academy Award that year for her role in Mary Poppins.
While Julie was likely disappointed about not getting the role of Eliza and Audrey was likely disappointed about not being nominated for her performance, I doubt that they were upset with one another as was portrayed by the media. Audrey was a wonderful choice for the role of Eliza Doolittle and Mary Poppins was a perfect vehicle to launch Julie Andrews to stardom. All in all, it seems to have worked out for both women. Statues aren't everything. The performances are what matter.
Released in 1963, Charade is a quick-paced, fun, romantic thriller directed by Stanley Donen. The film balances these different genres quite nicely, with the audience getting a healthy dose of comic relief down time in between the riveting scenes.
I want to preface this post with the following: Since there are so many wonderful things to say about Charade, I'd like to break my posts down into special segments. This initial post will focus on the set up of the plot.
The movie opens with birds chirping and an otherwise silent scan across a peaceful countryside setting on a early foggy morning. Slowly the camera pans to railroad tracks and the siren of an approaching train is heard. As the train moves over the tracks, a body falls from the other side of the train. The train sounds its siren once more, and the camera moves to reveal the face of the dead man, bloody and with eyes open...a seemingly fresh murder victim. Cue the up tempo Henry Mancini score and Maurice Binder title graphics.
Take a look:
The title credits transition to a beautiful ski resort scene where the audience is introduced to Regina Lampert (Audrey Hepburn), a woman on vacation with her friend Silvi and "nephew" Jean Louis. She relates to her friend that she suspects her husband, Charles Lampert, of involvement in some, for lack of a better word, sketchy activities and is contemplating divorce. Not soon after, a handsome stranger named Peter Joshua (Cary Grant) introduces himself to Regina with an almost impeccable choice of timing.
Regina, a French to English translator, returns to Paris to find her's and Charles' apartment torn apart, stripped of all its furnishings, and seemingly ransacked. An inspector from the French police shows up and takes Mrs. Lampert in for questioning, which confirms Regina's suspicions of Charles. It is explained to Regina that, while she was away, her husband auctioned off all of their belongings for an estimated quarter of a million dollars and that somehow he came across that sum of money by dishonest means. So you're probably thinking why not just hunt down the money by looking for Mr. Lampert?
It turns out that Mr. Lampert is the man who was thrown off the train at the beginning of the movie. All that was found with him on the train (presumably he was taking advice from The Steve Miller Band's "Take the Money and Run"), was his travel bag, in which there were a few francs, a ticket of passage, one letter, a key to their apartment, a comb, a fountain pen, a toothbrush and a tin of toothpowder. There was also a passport, plus three other ones...all in Charles' name.
Regina with the inspector
Strangely enough, Regina begins to learn more about her husband after his death. She holds a funeral for Charles, with only herself, her good friend Silvi, and the inspector in attendance. Intermittently, very unseemly characters arrive. Silhouette lighting is used very effectively in this scene, as initially the knowledge of Charles' friends and relations is cloaked in secrecy. The first to enter and approach the casket is a short older man with skittish behavior, Gideon, whose allergies cause the corpse to experience some heavy sprinkling. Next to enter to parlor, is a tall tough-looking man, Tex, who pulls out a mirror and checks for any signs of the body breathing. Later, the door at the entrance is thrown open, and a perturbed stocky man with a trench coat, Scobie (aka Herman), paces towards the casket and sticks the dead body with a needle. Already stunned by the bizarre occurrences, Regina is startled when the last character approaches her directly. The man communicates his condolences with a heavy accent and hands Regina a letter from the US Embassy.
At the US Embassy, Regina meets Mr. Bartholomew (Walter Mathau), a diplomat and CIA administrator. He explains to Regina that Mr. Charles Lampert was really Mr. Charles Vaas, and that the $250,000.00 was stolen from the US government. More details are divulged to Regina later in the film. With his initial explanation, Mr. Bartholomew shows Regina a picture of Charles with 3 other men, during their service in WWII. She recognizes them as Gideon, Tex, and Scobie, from the funeral. After explaining that the government must get the money back, and that she must be on the look out for the other men as they will be hot on the money trail as well, Mr. Bartholomew recruits Regina to work as an agent.
Quite unexpectedly, in the midst of her troubles, Regina gets a welcome visit from Peter Joshua, who says he heard the news of her husband's death and decided to look her up. He becomes a friend and love interest of Regina's, helping her get a temporary new place to stay, in a hotel room right next door to his, conveniently. She tells him about her work as an agent, and that she has no idea where the money is, but that she must find it. After returning to the hotel one evening, following a fun turned horrifying experience for Regina (see the scene below for the fun part), she bids Peter good night and enters her room to be confronted by a visibly angry Scobie, who threatens her to hand over the money, rushes at her, raises his arm, and tries to strike her with his mechanical claw (that's right, no, he doesn't have a normal hand). When he misses, Regina calls for Peter, who has it out with Scobie. Eventually, Peter follows after Scobie, who escaped out the window. Then we get our first "switch" or shocking turn of events...Gideon, Tex, and Scobie are all in one room together. Peter enters nonchalantly and reveals himself as their coconspirator.
The Orange Game
Regina is not far behind however, as she gets phone tip from Scobie telling her that Peter's real name is Dyle and that he is after the money too. This sets up a fun scene where Regina gets to try out her spy skills and track down Peter. Confirming that he is in fact Dyle, Regina tells him that she is on to him...He explains it away, by saying that he is Alex Dyle and brother of Carson Dyle, a man who was in the war with the other four men, but was left for dead because he wouldn't go along with their scheme to steal the money.
In conference with Mr. Bartholomew, Regina learns more of the story behind the $250,000.00 which still hasn't been located. All three of the men were part of military espionage unit with her husband to deliver money (in gold) to French underground. Instead they reported that the German's seized the money, meanwhile having buried it. There was no proof to arrest the men. And Carson Dyle was left for dead...but Carson Dyle had no brother.
Again conveniently, Mr. Bartholomew instructs Regina to find out who Peter Joshua/Alex Dyle is. Regina is now left is a confusing situation, wanting to believe Alex, but not able to trust him because of his lies. Peter Joshua/Alex Dyle sums it up when he tells Regina: "I don't understand you at all - one minute your chasing me around the shower room the next your accusing me of murder." The set up is all very cozy for a nice romantic relationship to flourish, meanwhile threats fly, lies abound, more name changes result, and the thing on everyone's minds...the money...is no where to be found.
Women make the best agents
Eventually, a long journey leads them to the gardens near the Champs Elysees on a Thursday at 5:00 in the afternoon. From there a showdown ensues, accompanied by the fast paced Charade theme that opened the film. After an entire film full of twists and turns, it would be anything, but fitting, if there wasn't at least one last "switch" at the end...In fact, there are a few...The element of suspense is held right up to the end and I can confidently say that the ending will not disappoint.
