Born Helen Rulfs in Beaumont, Texas, this biography traces Helen Vinson’s life and career through Houston to New York, Hollywood, and beyond. Born to money, Vinson excelled at playing icy socialites in the movies. Married three times including her 1930s union with Wimbledon champ Fred Perry.
Popular Posts
Movie Star Biographies
Madge Evans – Typical American Girl is No Typical Classic Movie Star
A brief biography of silent child star and adult star of 1930’s talkies Madge Evans, who appeared in Dinner at Eight and David Copperfield. Heavily illustrated with vintage movie cards and collectibles.
Charles Coburn – Long Time Stage Vet Becomes Movie Star at 60
A biography of character actor Charles Coburn traces his Georgia roots to Broadway and the Coburn Players before a late start put him in nearly 70 movies and nets him an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor. Plus Coburn on taxes, the 14th Amendment and his monocle.
Fay Holden – Brief Entry About the Hardy Family Matriarch
Best known for playing Andy Hardy’s mother in 14 of MGM’s Hardy family movies, Fay Holden was discovered in England by Mrs. Patrick Campbell. She originally worked as Gaby Fay.
Barbara Stanwyck, Biographical Beginnings to Baby Face and Beyond
A Barbara Stanwyck biography that leaps over Hollywood highlights in favor of her early days as Ruby Stevens, including the popular theory about her name change. Following that a jump forward to look at Stanwyck’s later career. A brief case is made for Baby Face (1933) as her defining performance.
Adolphe Menjou’s Wit and Wisdom – It Took Nine Tailors, a Review
A biography of Adolphe Menjou layered with several quotes from his 1948 autobiography It Took Nine Tailors. Covers his background, silent stops and starts, to talkie breakthrough, often in Menjou’s own voice.
Movie Reviews & Articles
Arsene Lupin Returns (1938) starring Melvyn Douglas, Virginia Bruce, Warren William
Brief notes are exactly that, just some stream of consciousness thoughts occurring during my most recent viewing of Arsene Lupin Returns.
Lawyer Man (1932) Starring William Powell and Joan Blondell
Warner Brothers’ Lawyer Man (1932) starring William Powell and Joan Blondell is one of a series of pre-code era lawyer films. Loosely based on the life and style of real-life mouthpiece William J. Fallon.
Edward Arnold as Blind Detective Duncan Maclain in Eyes in the Night (1942)
Edward Arnold stars in the first of two Duncan Maclain films, Eyes in the Night (1942), as the blind detective who claims darkness as his kingdom. With Ann Harding, Donna Reed, Reginald Denny, Allen Jenkins, and Mantan Moreland.
The Conquerors (1932) Starring Richard Dix and Ann Harding
I watched a pair of Richard Dix films this week, the Oscar winning Cimarron from 1931 and The Conquerors released the following year. This review focuses on the film I liked better.
Midnight Mary (1933) Starring Loretta Young, Ricardo Cortez, Franchot Tone
William Wellman directs and Loretta Young stars in MIDNIGHT MARY (1933) a fast-paced MGM pre-code movie that inherits a Warner Brothers feel from director, cinematographer and star.
Five Star Final (1931) Starring Edward G. Robinson
Mervyn LeRoy’s Five Star Final (1931) stars Edward G. Robinson as the managing editor of a trashy New York newspaper that resurrects a 20-year-old murder case for circulation. A Warner Bros.-First National production adapted from the play by Louis Weitzenkorn. Also starring Marian Marsh, H.B. Warner, Frances Starr, Boris Karloff and Aline MacMahon.