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.
Popular Posts
Movie Star Biographies
Dolores Costello – Her Career plus Can You Help Identify This Painting?
A biography in brief of child star and later screen beauty Dolores Costello, who would later marry John Barrymore. Also a reader contributes an image of a painting of Costello and asks for some help in identifying it.
Humphrey Bogart Seeks Hollywood Party, Rises to Stardom
TCM examines Humphrey Bogart as major film star during their August 1 Summer Under the Stars presentation. Here we trace his stardom backwards from High Sierra down to a 1930 newspaper interview which finds Bogie on the hunt for a Hollywood party.
Milton Sills, The Mighty Two-Fisted He-Man of the Silent Screen
A biography of Milton Sills, stage and silent film actor with a philosophy background. Poised to make a hit in talkies when he died in 1930. Article also includes a synopsis of Sills’ most famous film, The Sea Hawk.
Joe Donahue, “World’s Greatest Dancer” and Sunny Co-Star
Digging into Joe Donahue, talented vaudevillian dancer who replaced his late brother, Jack, opposite Marilyn Miller in the film version of Sunny. He also appeared in Expensive Women and two Dorothy Mackaill titles during his stay with First National, 1930-31. Piecing together some of the mysterious Donahue’s life and discovering, once and for all, the date he died.
Dorothy Dell, Star of Little Miss Marker (1934), Gone at Just 19
Dorothy Dell had only appeared in three feature length films when she died, age 19, in a 1934 car accident. This biography includes her rise to fame and looks at all three movies.
Movie Reviews & Articles
His Greatest Gamble (1934) Starring Richard Dix
RKO’s His Greatest Gamble (1934) successfully offers Richard Dix one of his most dramatic roles as the carefree father of a girl whose mother keeps her under the strictest control. Also starring Dorothy Wilson, Erin O’Brien-Moore, Bruce Cabot and Edith Fellows.
Freddie Bartholomew is Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936)
A look at Selznick International’s faithful 1936 screen adaptation of Little Lord Fauntleroy starring Freddie Bartholomew and C. Aubrey Smith.
A Free Soul (1931) starring Norma Shearer and Lionel Barrymore
Norma Shearer stars in A Free Soul with Lionel Barrymore and Clark Gable. A brief review of the film accompanied by some glimpses of movie collectibles.
Remembering Jackie Cooper, 1922-2011, with Peck’s Bad Boy (1934)
Remembering Jackie Cooper, who died today at age 88. His career and legacy, plus a look at 1934’s Peck’s Bad Boy starring Cooper with Thomas Meighan.
Helen Twelvetrees is Millie (1931) – With Joan Blondell and Lilyan Tashman
Helen Twelvetrees stars in pre-Code sizzler Millie (1931). Millie leaves her husband after she catches him cheating and she puts monogamy behind her once her boyfriend is caught with another woman too. Can Millie be an independent woman in 1931 and protect her daughter from an even more perilous relationship?
Big City Blues (1932), Pre-Code Party in Depression-Era New York
Eric Linden finds fun, trouble and Joan Blondell in Depression-era New York in Warner Bros.’ Big City Blues (1932). Directed by Mervyn LeRoy with an unbilled supporting appearance by Humphrey Bogart along with several others.