Happy Birthday

Happy Belated 100th Birthday Ava Gardner

by John Charet

Yes, I know I am two months late on this one (her 100th birthday was on December 24, 2022), but I could care less. I would like to wish a Happy belated 100th birthday to iconic Classical Hollywood era star Ava Gardner. Click here to view a wikipedia entry on her. Aside from being famously formerly married to Ol’ Blue Eyes himself Frank Sinatra (the widely acclaimed singer and actor), Gardner was so much more than that. Beyond her beauty on film, Ava Gardner also deserved to be celebrated as a woman with a big heart (read more about The Ava Gardner Trust by clicking here).

Click here to view a series of youtube video links that talk extensively about why Ava Gardner is such a national treasure, whether it be as a Hollywood star or human being

Click here to view the website devoted entirely to the Ava Gardner Museum located in North Carolina – the state she was born in

Now without further ado, below is a list of my favorite Ava Gardner films 🙂 All of them I gave * * * * (out of * * * *) stars to

  1. The Killers (1946) (Dir: Robert Siodmak) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  2. Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951) (Dir: Albert Lewin) Click here to view what may be the film’s original theatrical trailer (even though it was a 2010 revival showing). Click here to view the film’s Restoration trailer
  3. Mogambo (1953) (Dir: John Ford) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  4. The Barefoot Contessa (1954) (Dir: Joseph L. Mankiewicz) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  5. Bhowani Junction (1956) (Dir: George Cukor) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  6. 55 Days at Peking (1963) (Dir: Nicholas Ray) Click here to view what may be the film’s original theatrical trailer
  7. Seven Days in May (1964) (Dir: John Frankenheimer) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  8. The Night of the Iguana (1964) (Dir: John Huston) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer

Let me conclude this post with three questions below for all of my dear readers

Did any of you watch some of the videos on that first youtube link from the second paragraph? Not the movie trailers, but the videos about her legacy? And If so, which ones did you watch and what did you find fascinating about that particular video?

Did any of you visit the Ava Gardner Museum website yet that I mentioned in the third paragraph? And If so, is there anything you read or watched that stood out for you in particular?

Last, but not least, what are your favorite Ava Gardner films?

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Happy 90th Birthday Kim Novak

by John Charet

For this blog entry, I wanted to try something a little different (who knows it might become a regular thing around here). In this case, it is wishing a legendary Classical Hollywood era actress a very Happy Birthday. The actress in question is the now 90-year-old Kim Novak 🙂 The aforementioned actress turns 90 today on Monday, February 13, 2023. She is also an accomplished painter and while I could go on with details, instead I shall give you two interesting links that are more in-depth. The first is a wikipedia entry (click here) and the second is an insightful article by former Chicago Reader film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum (click here). If any of you are interested in viewing her paintings, click here to view them. As for myself, I shall celebrate by composing a list below of my favorite Kim Novak films (all * * * * out of * * * *) in chronological order.

  1. Pushover (1954) (Dir: Richard Quine) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  2. Phffft (1954) (Dir: Mark Robson) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  3. 5 Against the House (1955) (Dir: Phil Karlson) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  4. Picnic (1955) (Dir: Joshua Logan) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  5. The Man with the Golden Arm (1955) (Dir: Otto Preminger) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  6. The Eddy Duchin Story (1956) (Dir: George Sidney) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  7. Jeanne Eagels (1957) (Dir: George Sidney) Since I can’s find a trailer, click here to view one of the film’s many impressive scenes
  8. Pal Joey (1957) (Dir: George Sidney) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  9. Vertigo (1958) (Dir: Alfred Hitchcock) Click here, here and here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer, 1996 Restoration trailer and 60th Anniversary 4K Restoration trailer
  10. Bell, Book and Candle (1958) (Dir: Richard Quine) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  11. Strangers When We Meet (1960) (Dir: Richard Quine) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  12. The Notorious Landlady (1962) (Dir: Richard Quine) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  13. Boys’ Night Out (1962) (Dir: Michael Gordon) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  14. Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) (Dir: Billy Wilder) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  15. The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968) (Dir: Robert Aldrich) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer

Click here to view this insightful youtube video link to a 2020 CBS Sunday Morning profile on her

Click here to view another insightful youtube video link to late TCM (Turner Classic Movies) host Robert Osborne’s 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival interview with Kim Novak

Also, click here to view a youtube video link to a 1964 episode of the 1960’s NBC documentary series entitled Hollywood and the Stars: In Search of Kim Novak

Let me conclude this post with a question for all of my dear readers below:

What are your favorite Kim Novak films?