Star of the Month

 

JEAN HARLOW

BIRTH: March 3, 1911

DEATH: June 7, 1937

AGED: 26 yrs old

DIED FROM: Cerebral Edema caused by uremic poisoning due to Kidney failure

REAL NAME: Harlean Carpenter

NICKNAME: Baby-she thought that was her real name until she went to school. Sis but only by Clark Gable. The Blonde Bombshell; The Platinum Blonde

MARRIAGES: 3-a rich playboy, Charles McGraw(1927-1928), Producer, Paul Bern (1932), Harold Rosson (1933-1934)

AFFAIRS: Abner Zwillman, notorious mobster; Max Baer, a famous boxer.

ENGAGED: William Powell

TALENT: Knew how to make sex OK before and during the censorship stronghold. 

KNOWN FOR: Being Godmother to Bugsy Siegel’s daughter. Cradled the famous dog, Rin Tin Tin when he was dying of old age. She was known for her peroxide, bleached hair and extreme, penciled in eyebrows. Wearing a lot of white gowns and, no underwear so had to, apparently, dye her pubic hair platinum. Took ice cubes to her nipples so they would stick out from the outfits she wore. 

This is one famous, classic film star that Marilyn Monroe idolized and where that term, blonde bombshell, was coined( by Howard Hughes). She was pretty free-spirited even though she and her mom were extremely close. Her mom credited herself for making “Baby” famous when, in fact, she and her mobster husband, often took advantage of their daughter’s fame and money.  When Harlow married Paul Bern, an MGM Producer, married, no one expected he was to die 2 months later leaving behind a note ending it with, “Remember, last night was only a comedy.”  The suicide by gunshot still stands but I don’t buy it nor do I buy that he had underdeveloped genitalia because, simply, this gal would never have  been with him as she loved sex, in my humble opinion. I believe, like a book I read ( I can’t think of it now…Maybe, it’s called “Deadly Illusion.”) that he was still married to his first wife whom he had institutionalized and never told anyone. She escaped and he had to tell his “new” wife about his actual wife but asked Jean to leave so he could talk to his first wife. This first wife shot and killed Paul Bern with MGM execs covering up the fact that their star was involved with a bigamist. His first wife was found a few days later, drowned and, it seems, she jumped off a bridge into the river. Jean Harlow never talked about it.  She married her 3rd husband, with his understanding, since they were good friends, to ward off unwanted publicity from her affair with the boxer, Max Baer because his wife was going to name Harlow in the divorce proceedings. 

She met and fell hard for William Powell who was quite a bit older than her, but they seemed to be quite happy until she started to get weaker. People commented on how she looked ashen and bloated but, when she saw a doctor, he misdiagnosed her. She was making her last film, Saratoga Trunk with her friend and oft-filmed companion, Clark Gable when she collapsed on set. When Gable went to visit her,  he could smell urine on her breath but, by this time, it was too late and, she died at only 26. For decades and, in many of my books, it was written that Her mother, Mama Jean, a devout Christian Scientist, refused to have her looked at by a doctor, but that seems to be debunked and, let’s face it, MGM would never let one of their stars languish like this without a doctor because she was too much of a commodity for them.

She was actually too young to die.

FILMS

1. Hell’s Angels-1930

2. Public Enemy-1931

3. Platinum Blonde-1931

4. Red-Headed Woman-1932

5. Red Dust- 1932

6. Dinner At Eight-1932

7. Bombshell-1933

8. China Seas-1935

9. Wife Vs Secretary-1936

10. Libeled Lady-1936

What I Watched in February

 

I feel, and know, I watched more than what I post but I already talked about it or I came across it and didn’t see the whole thing, so I don’t talk about those missteps. I also watch animal shows and the news and, sometimes, I find the animals are more humane than what I see on the news. So let’s get going and I am going to try to limit how much I gab…

MOVIES

1. GLORY-1989

Excellent and true film about a young Col. Shaw, played by Matthew Broderick, who commands the first African-American regiment with expert performances by Denzel Washington(he won the Oscar for this role), Morgan Freeman and Andre Braugher( equally excellent) as some of the soldiers. Cary Elwes plays 2nd in command and Shaw’s best friend. Stirring, sad, excellent. The one time I can say Broderick deserved to be nominated for his role.

2. EVEN MONEY-2006

A sad sack of people who gamble and lose more than just their money. Kim Bassinger, the wife of nice guy Ray Liotta, gambles instead of writing her novel. Danny DeVito is a hasbeen magician and Kelsey Grammar is a rough PI trying to figure out a murder. A good movie but not one I'll see for a while.

3. ANTMAN AND THE WASP- 2018

Stupid, but I didn't expect much so it was fun and parts were funny. Take it with a grain of salt. Oh, the Ghost gal was just plain irritating.

4. TAR - 2022

It's a film that takes place in the world of classical music with references to Gustav Mahler. I enjoyed it but people may find it a shlog. I liked the film  and Cate rules every scene as a neurotic, caustic, brilliant conductor of the Berlin symphony. It's...a bit batshit crazy to be honest but it was worth watching. 

5. THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US- 2017

Kate Winslet and Idris Alba are on a small plane when the pilot has a heart attack and crashes the plane up in the mountains. They survive with the pilot's dog. Should they stay or should they go? They go and feel each other up on the way down. It's ok with more of a romance than I expected. 

TV

1. WHO'S LINE IS IT ANYWAY- 1998-PRESENT

I may have spoken about this before but it's so funny and the guys are hilarious! 

2. THE SALVAGE KINGS- 2019- PRESENT

Ted Finch leads his team to derelict places ready to be torn down where he grabs whatever he can from great wood beams to some neat finds that he can sell in his shop. I love that he saves as much as he can and sees more than the average Joe.

3. STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS- 2022

This series predates Capt. Kirk...well, kind of, since he appears in a later episode but it's about Capt. Pike and his crew which includes Spock, Uhura and #1. I enjoyed watching this series with some compelling episodes. We  have to dedicate an episode to Pike's hair. 

What did you watch?

Thursday Film Picks- A Lamb or a Lion?

 

This week it’s just me continuing on with a movie theme and I am still thinking …is March coming in like a lion or like a lamb which is why  I have chosen these 3 films. Wandering through the Shelves will be back next week. 

1. BABE-1995

I love this sweet film about a young piglet who escapes the fate of becoming bacon and ends up on a very pretty farm that seems to come from a fairy tale which is what this f8lm is…a fairy tale. The pig can talk with the other animals and vice versa with the female sheep dog feeling badly for the lonely piggie and takes Babe under her wing. The farmer also loves the little pig while his wife does too…for future bacon. Babe goes with his doggie mom and her partner, who dislikes Babe, to work the sheep but doesn’t like how the dogs treat the sheep. Babe becomes friends with the sheep and the farmer, played by James Cromwell, notices this and begins to train the pig to be a sheep dog for the annual competition as to who is the best in sheep herding. When the sheep are attacked and some are killed, the farmer thinks it’s Babe and  now Babe faces the knife but can the gentle farmer carry this out? I love the gentleness of this film that didn’t shy away from meanness but you just love the animals and the unique way they made it look like they talked. I loved the mice that  were the small( Haha) chorus that United one scene with the other. Ac5ually I loved these mice so much that I dreamed they were singing and I asked if I could join them which I did and we all sang that song arm in arm. The next morning my ex asked me what I was dreaming about and when I told him he knew what I was singing because I was singing out loud while dreaming. Apparently, I still sing that because my hubby, now, has heard That song.

2. THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS-1996

This is, apparently, based on a true story about 2 male, maneless lions who took a liking to human flesh and killed a number of Indian and African labourers who were building a bridge, for the British, in 1898. The skulls and stuffed lions are actually in the Natural History Museum in Chicago. This film stars Val Kilmer as Patterson, a British officer sent to Africa to take care of these animals and meets up with Michael Douglas, an American hunter who also tries to kill the animals ( Douglas’s character is completely fictional). It is a scary movie, to me anyways and one that makes me think why the cats worked in tandem and did not give up on their taste for human flesh. Now, it has been panned by many critics but I think it is quite a good movie and one that is freaky.

3. SECONDHAND LIONS-2003

This stars Haley Joel Osment before he turned into a creepy, pudgy adult, as a young boy sent by his derelict mom, to go live with his great uncles, played by Michael Caine and Robert Duvall. At firs5 the 2 old men don’t want the kid around but they realize the kid is more like them than their greedy relatives and other public who are convinced the 2 old bears have a fortune hidden on their farm. The boy learns valuable lessons from the 2 and gains a friend in a gentle old lion that the 2 codgers buy thinking they can try their hand in  big game hunting. When they get the lion they soon realize the lion is old and from a circus who is gentle and a sweetheart. The lion thinks the corn field is his jungle and stays in there. This is another fairy tale type film that includes a sweet lamb like lion.

What kind of lion or lamb films can you think of?

Is It Snow, Is It Rain, Is It Ice? No! It’s Canada!!

 

There is Harley, Kaspar and hubby’s legs all vegging in front of the tele…they love their daddy-I love their daddy too. We have been having  a curious bag of typical Canadian weather with a major storm every week that starts off as snow becoming freezing rain before venturing to rain before going back to snow, or it could be the other way around….who the hell cares! It’s March 1st and I say I am seeing the lion instead of the lamb. I am joining up again with the Monday Music Moves Me that I always check out at Curious As A Cathy, which is a great blog. Here are my festive choices.

1. HAZY SHADE OF WINTER SUNG BY SIMON AND GARFUNKEL-1966

I always liked this song by this great duo who don’t really like each other but, boy, can they harmonize so well. I know it should say “Snow” in the title but, I don’t like rules and winter is finally coming to visit in my neck of the woods.

2. COLD AS ICE SUNG BY FOREIGNER-1977

This  was the first song that popped into my head and I remember when it came out enjoying the song knowing that it’s about a bad woman who took the man’s heart to the cleaners. I’m not sure what that says about my 14 year old self, but I loved this song and still do.

3. HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN SUNG BY THE EURYTHEMICS-1983

I love this group and have their greatest hits album because…I love their best hits which were many. I loved dancing to so many of their songs. This one was more just to listen to and watch their video which was…interesting. 

What type of songs would you choose for your weather?

Thursday Movie Picks: TV Edition- Friends to Lovers

 

There are quite a few shows where the guy and gal fall in love but usually they don't care for each other at first and are annoyed but that's just sexual chemistry. I was a bit flummoxed by friends becoming love nuts. Wandering through the Shelves made me put my thinking cap on so here are my 3...

1. M.A.S.H.-1972-1983

To say that I love this show would be an understatement and I was one of the millions who tuned in to watch the final episode which is still the biggest viewed episode ever when you take into account the # of TVs  less channels etc... This show is about an army surgical hospital that must do meatball surgery on the young men wounded during the Korean War. It started off as a very funny comedy but as Alan Alda  got more control over the series, it became more of a dramedy.  Alda played Hawkeye Pierce, a gifted surgeon who hates authority and is often in conflict with his higher ups. Margaret Hoolahan is a Major who, at first, was a nasty character often at odds with Pierce and his best friend, Trapper John  and, later, BJ Hunnicutt. Over the years, Loretta Switt, was given the chance to develop her character. Along the way, she and Hawkeye became more friendly which culminated in a 2 part episode where the 2 are stuck in a hut, bombs going off and they fall into each other's arms. Needless to say, it doesn't work out and they become good friends. Mind you...the finale still showed they had more than just a friendship.  I will use this show other times because it's just too good.

2. FRAZIER- 1993-2004

Another brilliant show with Kelsey Grammar as Dr. Frazier Crane who moves from Boston( Cheers) and reunites with his dad and his brother. He has a great job as a radio psychiatrist and his producer, man hungry, sexy Roz ( Peri Gilpin deserved an Emmy). They develop a strong friendship as does his brother, Niles with their dad's physiotherapist, Daphne. Actually, Niles loves Daphne from the beginning but Daphne looks at him as a nice friend. Finally, Niles and Daphne do get together and stay together. Frazier and Roz flirt and finally have a one night stand but realize they love each other as friends. A great show with their relationships only a small part of a much grander show.

3. FRIENDS- 1994-2004

This will be popular this week, I believe. 3 boys and 3 girls are all friends living in NYC. You have Rachel and Ross who were the big couple for the day, along with her hair. Finally, they get together which was a big to do back in the 90s. Their relationship went up and down and sideways. When Rachel screwed up Ross's wedding, everyone was shocked until we saw Chandler in bed with Monica! That shocked me when I saw that episode. This pairing turned out to be one of the best and funniest at times. I have to say I enjoyed watching that show.

What shows can you think of that involves friends becoming lovers?

Wednesday Music Fun

 

There's my Harley....who is truly stinking up the place. We gave him a new wet food...duck. you know what duck rhymes with? Yes, it's quite smelly right now. I'm joining the Monday Music Moves Me  on Wednesday. It's celestial time so let's get to it.

1. SHINE ON HARVEST MOON SUNG BY JANE POWELL, ANN SOTHERN AND LOUIS CALHERN-1950

This was the first song that popped into my head and one I am trying to get rid of to be honest. It's just so catchy! This was created by the Vaudville team of Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth for a Ziegfeld Follies show back in 1908. This song has been done by many but I liked this sweet version. It was between this one and Laurel and Hardy...maybe I should have chosen Laurel & Hardy.

2. A SPACEMAN CAME TRAVELLING BY CHRIS DEBURGH-1975

I love Chris DeBurgh's early music which was very original. This comes from his famous album " Spanish Train". 

3. ANUS FROM URANUS BY KLAATU-1976

I love Klaatu who took their name from the famous film, "The Day The Earth Stood Still" in 1951. I enjoy listening to their unique sound and  when they were around, a rumour came out that they were secretly the Beatles....they were not. 

Hope you like my take.

OK....here's Laurel & Hardy

Thursday Movie Picks- Forced Proximity

 

All month it is romance time at Wandering Through The Shelves and this week it's about couple who are stuck together, I  a room, a boat etc.. or handcuffed, no, not like 50 Shades of Crap. I know I am forgetting some great films and hope I see them suggested here. Oh, I forgot to mention about my Oscar post from yesterday...that rap song won the Oscar. The song fro. Chicago was nominated a d the LOTR: 2 Towers song was the Cinderslut. Personally, I love that song the best. Ok, back to the movies-I have picked my 3...

1. THE 39 STEPS- 1935

This stars, be still my heart, Robert Donat, as an innocent man( what else would he be in a Hitchcock film) who comes across a woman in distress. He helps her out bringing her to his flat but she is murdered and he is framed and goes on the run. He meets up with the beautiful Madeleine Carroll who wants nothing to do with him. He ends up handcuffed to her and, when thugs try to kill her, she starts to believe in him. There is much more to the story as it is classic Hitchcock film. It's one of my favourite of his films.

2. THE BLUE LAGOON-1980

One day I must see the one with Jean Simmons but, so far, I've just seen this dumb flick starring Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins as 2 young people who were the sole survivors of a shipwreck when they were little kids. They are on a deserted island who somehow survive and grow up into 2 beautiful adolescents. Being teens, they're horntoads and get it on resulting in young Brooke getting knocked up...Oh my! It's just so dumb but it has some cult status for its dumbness.

3. THE BREAKFAST CLUB-1985

A John Hughes film that made him and the young stars famous from Molly Ringworm ..er Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, and Ally Sheedy to Anthony Michael Hall and Judd Nelson. These kids have all been bad boys and girls who must give up their Saturday and spend it in school detention. You have the popular kids like popular Molly and jock Emilio to the nerdy, brainiac Hall, the misfit, Sheedy and the very, very annoying loser delinquent, Nelson, who never shuts up. You get to learn why each are there and that they are more than just their stereotypes. Of course, romance blooms( if I was the mom of Molly Dingbat, I would be having a heart attack) except for the brain because, well, he is a nerd. It's a fun movie with some great 80s music. 

Which movies can you think of.