Did You Know, Darlings, That Yesterday Would Have Been Her 100th Birthday???????

                                           I am talking, of course, about Vivien Leigh, who went on to iconic status in not one, but two films, and winning Oscars for each!  Not many actresses can make that claim!

                                             The first was for her breathtaking portrayal of Scarlett O'Hara, in the 1939 film classic, "Gone With The Wind."  The second was for her heartrending interpretation of Blanche Du Bois, the tragic heroine, of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire," in 1951!!!!!!!!!!

                                               Vivien's work was not that prolific, but when she worked--oh, boy!  She never gave a bad performance, though, of course, she never topped the aforementioned two!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 I am surprised the South has not made Vivien its unofficial representative of the region, or issued a stamp dedicated to her, for she did, indeed, in her defining film roles, show two sides of the South.   Many, including yours truly, were inspired, at an early age, by she as Scarlett, and while Blanche is a tragic figure, there is a majestic sweep to how she makes her final exit at the end, as if, in some way, to show up the boorish characters all around her, that she has been forced to live with.  As an actress acquaintance of mine said, in a way Blanche does win--she gets to be Queen of the Asylum!!!!!!!!!!!!  You better believe it, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 Vivien Leigh was beautiful, brilliant, impassioned, the consummate actress. She went to school with another beauty--Mia Farrow's mother, Maureen O' Sullivan.  They were in convent school, together, darlings!!!!!!!!  During my convent days, I was the only celeb there!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   A pity the day went unrecognized yesterday. And a pity the Film Forum, Walter Reade, or such, could not have a special screening of GWTW  to honor her.  I would have been willing to pop in a DVD of it--a sacrilege, as I only see that film on the screen--in order to honor her!

                                                    Vivien Leigh may have been born a century ago. She won two Oscars, and a TONY Award (for the musical "Tovarich!" on Broadway, in 1963!!!!!  She has gone on to Immortality, but she will not be forgotten.  Her memories will be kept going for another 100 years!

                                                        Now, how about a GWTW screening, dolls?????????????????




 

When It Comes To Evil, Rotten Stepmothers, This One Is Hard To Beat!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   When I think of rotten stepmothers on film, darlings, three come first to mind.  Two of those being Disney, the Wicked Queen in 1937's "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs," and the Wicked Stepmother in 1950's "Cinderella."  But then there is, live action, Blanche Payson, in the 1931 "Our Gang" short, "Dogs Is Dogs."

                                     I always got an uneasy feeling, when I saw this was being shown. As a child, there were a lot of things about it I did not understand, things implied, which I came to understand later.  What is understandable is that Wheezer and his sister, Dorothy, plus Petey, have been left with Payson, and her spoiled son, Sherwood, nicknamed "Spud."  ("Spud fell in the well?  Well, well, well!")  Payson indulges Sherwood, who is just as rotten to Wheezer and Dorothy, as Payson is, and all are rotten to poor, sweet Petey, even though Sherwood's own dog, a mean, German Shepard (no offense to the breed, dolls!!!!!) named Nero, is the nasty one; killing the neighbor's chickens, and all.  But Petey gets blamed, and sent to the dog pound.

                                      You can't help weeping for Wheezer.  First, he gets smacked by Payson twice, in the opening moments of the film; she is so verbally abusive the youngest viewer can understand that they are watching some form of child abuse.  And who can forget the heartrending close-up of Wheezer, weeping at Petey through the cage, because no one will give him two dollars to get him out????  I have tears, just writing
about it.  But Providence comes along, in the form of a kindly woman, who turns out to be Wheezer's and Dorothy's aunt--their father's sister.  She says their father has been very sick; Payson later says to her, "Your brother never was any good. He never did want to work!," which made me guess, years later, that they were suggesting the father was an alcoholic, who was drying out, in a rehab clinic.

                                       This short, heartbreaking as it may be, is a great example of my belief in what goes around, comes around.  Payson gets her butt kicked to the stoop of her front door, by the aunt, Sherwood is now in for abuse, at the hands of Payson, because, who else does she have to knock around?  Bet the father, Payson's husband (who is never mentioned) either walked out, or was killed by her.

                                        But "Dogs Is Dogs" is a glimpse into the darker aspects of both childhood, and childhood during the Depression--poverty, alcoholism, abuse, all play a part!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          The final shot, at the end, of Stymie, riding in the tire of the tailback of the car, is priceless!!!!!!!!!!

                                           If I had been Petey, I would have taken a big nip out of Blanche Payson!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            I did not intend this to be a scary month, girls!  Stay with me, I promise things will get more lighthearted!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"The Little Rascals" Were Meant To Entertain! But They Could Be Downright Heartbreaking, At Times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 And one of those times, girls, was the 1931 "Fly My Kite," which marked the final film appearance for both Chubby and Mary Ann Jackson.  I believe Dorothy De Borba took over for Mary Ann, after this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  What saves the film from being absolutely traumatizing is Margaret Mann's spirited performance as Grandma.  She is the kids' beloved Granny, a lonely old woman who has lost everyone she has loved, but loves the Gang, none of whom are related, very much. As they do her.

                                      She lost her only daughter to a bad marriage, and that daughter died.  And now that son-in-law, Dan, played by an actor named James Mason, with all the villainy one could muster, has come back into her life, to, basically, throw her out onto the street, so he and his fiance can move into her
house.

                                       Their confrontation scene would be as unbearable to watch, as, say, Umberto D carrying his dog to the train tracks.   But, just as the dog saves the day there, what saves it here is Mann's spirited retaliation.  "If you were my real mother, it would be different," snivels Dan.  "But you're not.  You're broke, you're old, and you're useless!"

                                        Anyone else would crumble. But I guess Mann's granny is like me.  I would have decked him.  She retaliates, "I'm broke....yes I'm broke!  But who broke me?  I had money, but you stole it from me!....Yes, I'm calling you a thief, you dirty crook!  You broke my little girl's heart!  That's what she died of a broken heart.  And now you're going to..." and she flings her fists at him,  flailing!

                                          From behind every piece of furniture, the Gang appears, and proceed to attack this scumbag. In her last film appearance, Mary Ann Jackson is quite fierce, beating him hard with a fireplace poker, with Grandma yelling, "Give it to him, Mary! Spank him good!"  I would have belted him across the mouth, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           Of course, he escapes, and comes back to menace. He then discovers the old lady has stocks and bonds, and she  has no idea of their worth. He tries to cheat her out of those, but when Chubby uses the papers for the tail of his kite, Dan flips out, Grandma finds out the truth, and the kids go after him, actually hitting him, dragging him over a bed of nails (yes!!!!!!!) until he falls into water, presumably ruined!  Grandma triumphs!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             While that opening scene can be awfully wrenching, I think it is there to remind viewers to fight for themselves, when faced with something like that--just as Grandma does! And those who are no good here get what they deserve, which is always satisfying, while Granny gets a break!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  Maybe not real life, but inspiring to those who face it!

                                                  You have to hand it to James Mason as Dan!  One of the most hateful characters in the series!!!!!!!!!!!!! Apparently, he made a career of these type of parts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    Actually, I might have cooked him on the stove! Like Omaima Nelson!!!!!!!!!!

                                                     Heh! Heh! Heh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




hosue!

With The Holiday Season Soon Upon Us, Just What We Need, Darlings--A Potential Mall Shooting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                It's a pity the recent Jersey shooter's last name is "Shoop," because one of my favorite Sixties tunes was always "The Shoop Shoop Song," by Betty Everett.  Now, when I hear it, this tragic figure will inevitably creep in there.

                                 I say tragic, because, for all intents and purposes, Shoop's purpose was not to injure anyone else--only kill himself.  He fired three shots into the air, when he walked into what I always knew as the Paramus Mall, growing up, as things were starting to wind down, around 9:30 PM.  People scattered, the mall was locked down, hundreds of cop cars descended upon the place, from all over the state--by the time I saw the whole thing on the 11PM news, it was a virtual horror show.

                                 The body of Shoop was found around 3:20 AM, in an out of the way corner of the mall.  It was clear he had delivered a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

                                   From what can be gathered, it seemed he was very conflicted. He was only 20 years old, and there is no indication whether he graduated from high school and/or enrolled in college.  He was working locally, in Teaneck, at a pizzeria, and living with his parents and brother.  When he descended upon the mall, the cops went to his home, and his father came out, brandishing a screw driver, and he was asked to put his hands up. "Does this have to do with my son, Richard?" he angrily asked, and then apparently went on to defend the kid.  Huh?  Maybe Daddy has a bolt loose, too!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    But just take a look at this photo of Richard. He fancies himself the Body Beautiful.  He was enrolled on a website called Exploretalent.com, so he was seeking to be a model or an actor.  And look at that poster on his wall--Edward Norton in "American History X." Clearly, Shoop seemed to be doing a Travis Bickle, or something, going around the bend.  Suicide is a major tragedy, and my heart goes out to the Shoop family.  But, with Daddy brandishing a screw driver, and the gun Richard used being one he borrowed from his brother, you have to wonder--what was going in that house????  There were no guns in mine, when I was growing up, I can tell you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Makes you want to avoid malls, doesn't it???????  And with Santa Claus due to arrive, sooner than we think!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I would gather the Shoops' neighbors had no idea they were living within range of a bunch of loose cannons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  They make the Bundys on "Married With Children" look like "The Waltons!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                       Don't let this incident mar your Christmas shopping or entertainment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Or else "Silent Night, Deadly Night," could become a reality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           

Bullying--It's Not Just Aimed At Sissies, Anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     As Yvonne Elliman sang, in "Jesus Christ, Superstar," "I never thought I'd come to this!"  Well, darlings, I don't know what society is coming to!  It used to be the marginalized, the disenfranchised--impoverished, homosexuals, lesbians, kids on the fringes who did not fit in socially--were the targets of bullying.  But what is to be made of John Martin, a paragon of Mainsteam Manhood, according to the Mainstream, who is a football player for the Miami Dolphins team?

                                     Last week, Martin left the team, citing bullying and harassment from teammates, mostly instigated by Richie Incognito, who sent him racially charged texts.

                                       Sounds like what we have here is "West Palm Beach Story," darlings!!!!!!!!!   And, personally, speaking, I prefer "The Palm Beach Story," with the handsome Joel McCrea, and the glamorous Claudette Colbert!!!!!!!!!!! Well, John, be a Maria, not a Tony!  Maria stands up, fights back, confronts--and she survives. Tony, due to tragic circumstances, capitulates, and look what happens to him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          If this was a Pop Warner or even a high school team, it would not be right, but the age groups, and lack of maturity, would  make sense.   I guess, even in the adult sports world, maturity is at a premium.  I hope Martin sues his teammates, Incognito, and anyone he can get money out of!  Enough to retire and do commerical endorsements, even before his time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           You know what this means, if this can be happening in today's football world????????

                                            It means it is time for a revival of the Jule Styne musical, "High Button Shoes!!!!!!!!"

Can You Believe It, Darlings?????????? Former Baby Boomer Icon Turns 60!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Yes, darlings, Joyce Maynard, that one-time generational icon for Baby Boomers, dubbed so by The New York Times, back on April 23, 1972, has reached the ripe old age of 60.  Lots has happened to Joyce, in that 42 year span, as it has to all of us. For one thing, I am the one speaking out now, and, girls, you better believe I relish the role!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Unlike Joyce, at the time, I am writing about what I know and experience, rather than what I think the Establishment will want to hear. And now Joyce is writing that way, too.  Does that mean we are on the same page?

                                          Probably not, because our POV's and experience cannot help but differ. But, I have to be honest, with Joyce now 60, I am not that far behind--378 days, to be exact!!!!!!!!  We will cross that bridge, when I come to it.

                                              Wonder how Joyce feels about it all???????  Will she chronicle the experience, and her feelings, of turning 60, for us all to know?  Only time will tell.

                                                I can't help wishing Joyce a Happy Birthday, and many more!  And marvel in amazement at how fast the time has gone since both of us were 18!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  Time can be just like the Witch's hourglass, darlings!!!!!!!!!! Only not quite so pretty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   

Oh, That Mary Frances!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                No, darlings, Mary Frances Creighton is in no way related to Mary Katherine Gallagher, created and played by comedic actress, Molly Shannon!  Quite, the contrary; Mary Frances, another of the "Marys" featured on the Halloween program, "Bloody Marys" was an adept serial killer, who worked both sides of the Hudson, from Newark, New Jersey, to Baldwin, Long Island!  Just the perfect places for serial murders, loves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  Things really came to a head in Baldwin, in 1935.  The Creightons, ten years married, but down on their luck, due to the Depression, were forced to take in boarders.  They turned out to be John's old Army buddy, Everett Applegate, his wife, Aida, and their children.  Aida was supposedly fragile and in poor health, though the actress who played her on "Bloody Marys" looked heftier than Kathy Bates when she played Annie Wilkes in "Misery," and looked capable enough of doing anyone in, herself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   Time went on, and things got hot and heavy between Mary Frances and Everett Applegate.  With husband John, wife Aida, and the children, all under one roof.  But Everett was one cat who was not content with his cream, for soon he began licking his chops at the Creighton's 15-year-old daughter, Ruth.  Who, I am not sure was thrilled with John's attention, or not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                      But, you know how sick Mary Frances was, darlings??????  When she found out about Everett and Ruth,she did not get mad at Everett, or Ruth!  She got mad at Everett's wife, Aida, and said she was the one who had to go!  Then, they could skirt the issue of Everett's pedophilia, by having Ruth marry Everett!!!!!!!!!!  Can you believe it??????? If I were Ruth, I would have done them all in, myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                       So, slowly, inexorably, Mary Frances began to systematically poison Aida, by using a brand of rat pesticide called "Rough On Rats!"  Catchy, huh?  It proved to be rough on Aida, too, especially as Mary Frances was forcing her to scarf down richly concocted drinks, like egg nog, with all the aplomb of Ruth Gordon as Minnie Castevett, forcing Mia Farrow to drink her pregnancy cocktail, in "Rosemary's Baby."  Only, Minnie was nicer!!!!!!!!!!

                                                         Aida died, but eventually, Mary Frances' activities in Newark, New Jersey came to light. There, she had murdered, among others, her father-in-law and younger sibling, Raymond (the Creightons had raised them, when orphaned) in order to inherit all of her parents' money!!!!!!!!!!   Eventually, both Mary Frances and Everett were charged, convicted, and had dates with Old Sparky, at Sing Sing!  Mary Frances went to hers, wearing a decorative robe, but she passed out en route, and was executed unconscious.  Good bye, Mary Frances!  Now, you are TOAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                            As for daughter, Ruth, I wonder what happened.to her.  Every Easter, on TV, ABC would run "The Story Of Ruth," with Stuart Whitman, Tom Tryon, (of "The Other" fame!!!!!!) and Elana Eden.  But it's this other Ruth I want to know about, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                             But you have to hand it to Mary Frances!  She went out in style!!!!!!!!!