A quintessential ’40s woman who may have dubbed Oscar

February 24, 2012 by

Starting as the Academy’s librarian, Margaret Herrick served as executive director at the Academy for 26 years.

On Oscars eve (or just before), I thought it would be fun to point out that the Academy’s own Margaret Herrick (Sept. 27, 1902-June 20, 1976) perfectly exemplified the rise of the ’40s woman.

Herrick served as executive director of the Academy from 1945 to 1971. It was she who negotiated the Academy’s first TV broadcast (1953) and transformed the Oscars ceremony into a major televised event.

How did she do it? By acquiring expertise (a University of Washington library degree and experience as a head librarian) and following her heart – literally. She married Donald Gledhill, who eventually became executive secretary of the Academy, and moved to Hollywood to join him. Starting as a volunteer, she became the Academy’s librarian in 1936.

She took on her husband’s duties when he left for military service in World War II. After the couple divorced in 1945, the Academy Board of Governors offered her the executive position. (In 1946, she married Philip A. Herrick. They divorced in 1951, but she continued to use his name professionally.)

Margaret Herrick laid the foundation for what is now considered to be one of the world’s finest film-related libraries. Following her retirement in 1971, the Academy library was renamed in her honor. She died on June 20, 1976.

And, of the several stories about how the name Oscar came into being, a leading contender is that in the early 1930s Herrick saw the statuette and said it looked like her Uncle Oscar. Whether Herrick or someone else (Bette Davis perhaps?) thought of the name, the Academy officially adopted the moniker in 1939.

See you Sunday night on Twitter!

Photos and source info from www.oscars.org

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‘Briefcase’ reminds us that, in film noir, fate is never far away

February 17, 2012 by

Los Angeles filmmaker and actor Nate Golon this week released a neo-noir short called “Briefcase.” By chance, a clean-cut guy named Carter sees a briefcase one lonely night at a gas station and picks it up. Bad idea, Carter. But the idea of a mysterious briefcase has been an intriguing trope for noir storytellers, from Robert Aldrich (“Kiss Me Deadly” 1955) to Quentin Tarantino (“Pulp Fiction” 1994).

Golon brings an assured eye to his material, and I hope to see more of his work soon.

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Happy Valentine’s Day from FNB!

February 14, 2012 by

Gene Tierney

On Valentine’s Day, I’m reminded of a line from 1945’s “Leave Her to Heaven,” starring Gene Tierney as Ellen Berent, a socialite who marries writer Richard Harland (Cornel Wilde). “There’s nothing wrong with Ellen,” says her mother (Mary Philips). “It’s just that she loves too much.”

In this case, Mumsy’s really in denial because Ellen’s idea of love is flat-out obsession, which of course leads to trouble. But, no matter, “Leave Her to Heaven” is a wonderful film noir (directed by John M. Stahl, it also stars Jeanne Crain and Vincent Price) and, for today, too much seems just right.

As Oscar Wilde said, “Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.”

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Book offers breezy look at Elizabeth Taylor’s feminist legacy

February 13, 2012 by

She wasn’t a bra burner – her bras were too pricey to torch. ; ) But mega-star Elizabeth Taylor, as defiant as she was dazzling, introduced a broad audience to feminist ideas through her portrayal of iconic characters. So says author M.G. Lord in her new book “The Accidental Feminist: How Elizabeth Taylor Raised Our Consciousness and We Were Too Distracted by Her Beauty to Notice” (Walker & Co., $23).

For proof, Lord analyzes a number of films, including “National Velvet” (1944), “A Place in the Sun” (1951), “Giant” (1956), “Suddenly, Last Summer” (1959), “BUtterfield 8” (1960) and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (1966). Lord also looks at Taylor’s off-screen life (it would be hard not to), particularly her fund-raising efforts in the 1980s for AIDS research.

Elizabeth Taylor (Feb. 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011)

The book – a potpourri of breezy backstory, biographical nibbles and fresh insights into Taylor’s work – is a fast, fun read, perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon, followed by tubs of popcorn and Taylor movie-viewing.

Of Lord’s many sources, I especially liked the input from syndicated gossip columnist Liz Smith, who described Taylor as follows: “No movie of hers quite captures the rather ordinary woman she is – full of fun, rather wacky, often wise, often foolish, her life and motivations inevitably morphed by fame.

“When you are with her, it is her history and the atmosphere around her that are daunting. She is just a short, funny gal who wants to talk about what’s next on the menu.”

Lord, a cultural critic, investigative journalist and author of “Forever Barbie: The Unauthorized Biography of a Real Doll” and “Astro Turf: The Private Life of Rocket Science” will discuss and sign “The Accidental Feminist” at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17, at Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood. And at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, Diesel bookstore, 225 26th St. in Brentwood, will host a publication party for Lord’s book.

Peter Coca and Cheryl Klein

Additionally, The Last Bookstore this week welcomes writers Cheryl Klein and Peter Coca in what looks to be a noir-infused event. Says Klein: “I’ll be reading from my untitled circus-novel-in-progress, and I’ll do my best to find something appropriately post-Valentine’s. Meaningless sex? A breakup? Happy singlehood? You’ll have to wait and see. Also, bring your own stuff for the open mic if you dare. Please dare. Or don’t. It’s cool either way.”

The reading will start at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St. in downtown Los Angeles.

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Valentine’s Day gifts: Candles with character, vintage cool, ever-chic chocolate

February 8, 2012 by

Want to get your Valentine’s Day shopping done early so you can ensure plenty of lounge-time this weekend? Here are a few ideas:

The Joe (shown here) and Kurt candles are top sellers.

Jason Linscott’s 2550° Artisanal Candles, launched late last year, are truly brilliant. These hand-blended  hand-poured creations offer fresh fragrances with unusual depth, and they are named after mysterious men – Joe, Kurt, Clive and Luc.

Though some might think of candles as a girly purchase, Linscott saw an opportunity to sell to men as well as women. Candlelight, he says, is nostalgic and appeals to anyone looking for an antidote to our fast-paced digital age.

“I’ve always been into candles,” says Linscott, a native of Northern Idaho who now lives in Portland, Ore. “They’re evocative of the past, of romance and shadowy evenings.”

Linscott called on his background in design and visual merchandising to create layered and complex fragrances – using scents such as a worn leather, whiskey, tobacco leaves, absinthe, dark chocolate, black tea, oakmoss and sea spray – that reflected aspects of his invented characters. “The idea was what that person’s home would be like and what it would smell like.”

The candles, $38-$45, are prepared using an all-natural, clean-burning soy wax base with botanical and fragrance oils. Packaging is fully recyclable; the glass containers and lids are intended for reuse as cocktail glasses or catch-alls.

Levis 501 Rough Rinse, 1944

Who among us owns enough pairs of jeans? Levi’s Vintage Clothing taps the brand’s history to capture the spirit of American workwear. The Levi’s archive dates to the 1870s and, says the company, each LVC garment faithfully reproduces the fits, fabrics and characteristics of a specific time period.

The ’40s and ’50s men’s jeans are great fun; and there’s much to choose from. There aren’t as many women’s styles, but a salesperson at a Levi’s store told me that more are in the works.

Take Man Du Jour shopping. If you don’t know his inseam measurement, now is the time to find out!

Founder Katrina Markoff started Vosges from her Chicago apartment in 1998.

Yes, red roses are a cliché, but chocolate’s always chic, especially when it’s from Katrina Markoff, founder of Vosges Haut-Chocolat.

Trained at Le Cordon Bleu, Markoff launched Vosges from the kitchen of her Chicago apartment in 1998, drawing inspiration from the cuisines of France, Spain, Italy, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, China, Australia and Hawaii. She now has boutiques in Chicago, New York, Las Vegas and Beverly Hills.

I remember eating Vosges in Chicago – try it and you will appreciate genius!

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‘The Big Combo’ and ‘Pitfall’ to screen in downtown LA

February 6, 2012 by

The Million Dollar Theater in downtown Los Angeles will show two classics of film noir on Wednesday night.

“The Big Combo” (1955) by Joseph H. Lewis
Cornel Wilde plays Police Lt. Leonard Diamond, a cop on a mission to nail a badass gangster (Richard Conte). Jean Wallace (Wilde’s real-life wife) plays the woman they both love. Lewis, the auteur of  “Gun Crazy,” directed. Noir master John Alton (“T-Men”) was the cinematographer and David Raksin (“Laura”) composed the music. Leonard Maltin calls it “a cult item, stylishly directed.”

“Pitfall” (1948) by André De Toth
Murder is the last thing on John Forbes’ mind when he starts an affair with model Mona Stevens. He’s just bored with the insurance biz and married life. But this is film noir and things get complicated quickly, especially since Mona’s also involved with an embezzler.

“Pitfall” stars Dick Powell, Lizabeth Scott, Jane Wyatt as Mrs. Forbes and Raymond Burr as MacDonald, a nosy, lecherous ex-cop. MacDonald is one of noir’s slimiest villains and this is one of Burr’s best performances.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. this Wednesday, Feb. 8. The theater is at 307 S. Broadway Ave., Los Angeles, 90013. Tickets are $10.

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Free stuff from FNB: Win ‘Notorious’ by Alfred Hitchcock

February 6, 2012 by

Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman in "Notorious"

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I am giving away a DVD copy of the 1946 Alfred Hitchcock classic “Notorious,” starring Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains. Both an espionage thriller and a tortured love story, the movie is considered one of Hitchcock’s finest works and was François Truffaut’s fave. I will run a review in the next few weeks.

(Patricia is the winner of the January reader giveaway, a paperback copy of “We Need to Talk About Kevin” by Lionel Shriver. Congrats to Patricia and thanks to all who entered!)

To enter the February giveaway, just leave a comment on any FNB post from Feb. 1-29. We welcome comments, but please remember that, for the purposes of the giveaway, there is one entry per person, not per comment.

The winner will be randomly selected at the end of the month and announced in early March. Include your email address in your comment so that I can notify you if you win. Your email will not be shared. Good luck!

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Author Anthony Slide to discuss ‘Inside the Hollywood Fan Magazine’ as part of the Evening @ the Barn series

February 2, 2012 by

Acclaimed author Anthony Slide will discuss his book “Inside the Hollywood Fan Magazine” at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the Hollywood Heritage Museum as part of the Evening @ the Barn series. The museum is housed in the restored Lasky-DeMille Barn (c. 1895).

Slide will explain how the fan magazines dealt with gossip and innuendo as well as how they handled the Hollywood scandals of the 1920s, World War II and the blacklist. Slide will show a PowerPoint presentation to accompany his talk.

Critic Leonard Maltin says: “For anyone who equates ‘fan magazines’ with supermarket tabloids, this book should come as a revelation. Tony Slide has done a formidable job of research to chart the birth, rise and fall of Hollywood fan magazines in the 20th century, their relationship to the industry they covered and the readers they served. It’s a colorful, well told history that’s full of surprises.”

“Inside the Hollywood Fan Magazine” will be on sale in the museum shop ($40) and Slide will sign books at the end of the program. Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times also had high praise for the book; you can read his September 2010 review here.

Tickets are $5 for members and $10 for non-members. The Hollywood Heritage Museum is at 2100 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, CA 90068; 323-874-2276. You can buy tickets here.

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Literary confection, noir reflection from Simon Doonan

January 27, 2012 by

"I am invariably stuffed into a flowery shirt of some description," says Doonan. "It's my signature flourish."

Was “ratchet up your fabulosity factor” one of your New Year’s resolutions? Does that resolve now seem a dim and fuzzy memory? Then thank heaven for Simon Doonan and his new book, “Gay Men Don’t Get Fat” (Blue Rider Press; $24.95).

Style setter, best-selling author and creative director for Barneys New York, Doonan riffs on our tendency to defer to French women regarding matters of living well, dressing with panache and eating dessert. Really though, who knows more about good times and looking great than gay men? As Doonan puts it: “Gay men are French women … with penises.”

This self-described “Gucci-wearing Margaret Mead at heart” shows why gays know how to work, play and dress better than anyone else, and offers advice for getting with the program.

Most gratifying to me was that in his Top 10-ish (actually 13) life-enhancingly fabulous films, Doonan includes “Double Indemnity,” “Mildred Pierce,” “Some Like It Hot” and “All About Eve.” Oh, and “Mommie Dearest” – duh! (The others are: “Paris is Burning,” “The Boys in the Band,” “X, Y and Zee,” “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” “Female Trouble,” “Showgirls,” Rosemary’s Baby,” and “Midnight Cowboy.”)

"GMDGF" is Doonan's fifth book.

At a recent book signing at Barneys in Beverly Hills, Doonan graciously shared his thoughts on the glory of black and white. “Film noir has been important to me since I first saw ‘Double Indemnity’ at age 6 [on TV]. It’s mysterious and sad and sexy. I’ve always loved it. I can’t imagine living without knowing about film noir. I feel sorry for kids who grew up on rom-coms and don’t have this beauty in their lives. J’adore!”

The book is the literary equivalent of the champagne and macaroons that circulated at the Barneys event. In chapters such as “Macaroons Are So Gay!” “Jamie Oliver is a Lesbian,” “The Bitter Tears of Jackie O” and “Go Tuck Yourself,” Doonan merrily gushes about the surprisingly straight origins of chi-chi gay-friendly food, lesbian trend-setting, ignorant interns and scary plastic surgery. In “The Fag Hagony and the Ecstasy,” he offers tips for ditching the shackles of ridonculous societal expectations and cultivating a gay entourage.

His hilarious observations are laced with fondness and compassion for his target market. “I dedicate this book to the straight women of the world, whose lives seem insanely more complicated than my own and whose shoes must surely hurt like hell. I feel your pain, girls!”

Author photo by Albert Sanchez

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Santa Monica shows its dark side at NoirFest

January 23, 2012 by

“Farewell, My Lovely” screens Wednesday, Jan. 25, as part of NoirFest Santa Monica.

The newly launched festival includes art, film, photography, literature, music and spoken-word events. NoirFest runs through March 28.

Other films to be screened include: “The Brasher Doubloon,” “Murder, My Sweet,” “Double Indemnity,” “The Big Sleep,” “Strangers on a Train,” “The Lady in the Lake” and “The Long Goodbye.”

The fest is the brainchild of longtime Santa Monica resident and artist Helen K. Garber, whose solo show “Encaustic Noir” runs through Feb. 25 at Bergamot Station Arts Center, 2525 Michigan Ave. Also on display is vintage night photography by famed Parisian photographer Brassaï and several of his contemporaries.

“Farewell My Lovely” screens at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Vidiots Annex, 302 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90405. There is a pre-screening reception at 7:00 p.m. Seating is limited to 35; rsvp essential: vidiots@labridge.com.

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