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Friday, April 17, 2020
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
#SayTheirNames #SilentFilmEdition Elinor Glyn
- Published over a dozen short stories and essays in addition to a novel The Career of Katharine Bush
- Had helped direct "Three Weeks" (1924) in addition to writing the screenplay
- Wrote a series for the magazine Scottish Life on fashion and beauty
- Coined the term of having "it" in a Cosmopolitan serial before adapting it for the screen which catapulted Clara Bow's career
- At 56 years old signed a contract at the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation for $36,364 and release time for an annual visit to Europe
- Incorporated her own production company Elionor GLyn Productions Ltd.
in 1930
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
#RemakeThis Ministry of Fear (1944)
Fritz Lang's "Ministry of Fear" (1944) was shelved before it was previewed
The Hollywood Reporter called Lang 'brilliant" and the spy ring with enemy agents conveying espionage suspense as "fresh and exciting as tomorrow's newspaper." Bosley Crowther of The New York Times described it as having "a touch of sorcerer's magic with a modern, sophisticated wit. And Fritz Lang, in directing this picture, has kept a curious off-key, spectral tone insinuating through the telling of a thoroughly captivating tone. ... Mr. Lang has given the picture something of the chilling quality of some of his early German shockers--a strangely arch and maniacal surge that comes through suggestive use of camera and morbid pace in more critical spots." Variety also praises Lang as "getting the most out of mystery, intrigue and melodrama" and that "Ministry of
Matt Lanter as Stephen Neale |
Felicity Jones as Carla Hilfe |
Russell Tovey as Willi Hilfe |
Golshifteh Farahani as Mrs. |
Alfred Molina as Inspector Prentice |
Toby Jones as Mr. Cost |
Friday, April 3, 2020
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
#WomenDoingAwesomeThingsWednesday: Teresa Wright vs. Samuel Goldwyn
Teresa Wright had been playing Mary Skinner in "Life With Father" on stage for a year when Lillian Hellman wired Samuel Goldwyn to come see her act. "I knew she was a great actress before the end of the first act," he told Time Magazine, "Miss Wright was seated at her dressing table, and looked for all the world like a little girl experimenting with her mother's cosmetics. I had discovered in her from the first sight, you might say, an unaffected genuineness and appeal." She was offered to play the role of Alexandra in Hellman's stage adaptation of "The Little Foxes" (1941) but only for a one picture deal which Wright happily accepted "equally pleased that her time in Hollywood would be limited
During the shooting of "The Little Foxes," "Goldwyn subjected Teresa to the usual studio buildup and the rigors of the publicity machine. At an
But eventually, Goldwyn had great plans to publicize and glamorize her which proved it didn't work during her breaks during shooting. He even wanted to place her photos nationwide and show the country she was attractive in addition to being a fresh new talent. Wright had heard about this through the grapevine, she immediately instructed her agent Abe Lastfogel to add a codicil to her renewed five-year contract.
She asserted that she "shall not be required to pose for photographs in a bathing suit unless she is in
In December 1948, Teresa Wright had a public falling out with Samuel Goldwyn and her contract with Goldwyn Studios was terminated. Goldwyn reasoned this in releasing his own personal statement that "I think the time has arrived when the studios must assert their rights more than they have in the past. No one has a greater appreciation of artists and no one wants to treat them more fairly than I have in my career. But I am sick and tired of what is going on in this town -- where people have no respect for the money they receive and refuse to perform and cooperate.
Making a picture is no longer sufficient. The picture has to be sold to the public, and particularly at this time, when it seems that everything is being done to
My reason for canceling the contract with Miss Wright is that she has been uncooperative and has refused to follow reasonable instructions. As far as I am concerned, that is that -- and irrespective of what anyone else does, I am through tolerating that sort of conduct. Instead of showing the gratitude, Miss Wright has done just the opposite. Hollywood had better get wise to
Wright retaliated:
"A discussion of my difference with Mr. Goldwyn would be of benefit to no one and of interest to few. However, for the record, I would like to say that I never refused to perform the services required of me; I was unable to perform them because of ill health.
I accept Mr. Goldwyn's termination of my contract [reportedly at $5,000 a week] without protest -- in fact, with relief. The types of
We in the acting branch of the profession are to blame for accepting in our eagerness to work agreements under which we waive the natural equities prevailing in every other industry. We
If the time has come for anything new in the motion picture business, it has come
"I have worked for Mr. Goldwyn seven years because I consider him a great producer, and he has paid me well, but in the