The Reel Star Nostalgia Movie and Television Review

Brigitte Bardot

2013-04-06T07:30:00.001-07:00

Brigitte Bardot was born on September 28, 1934 in Paris, France. Her father had an engineering degree and worked with his father in the family business. Her mother was 14 years younger than Brigitte's father and they married in 1933. Brigitte's mother encouraged her daughter to take up music and dance, and she proved to be very adept at it. By the time she was 15, Brigitte was trying a modeling career, and found herself in the French magazine "Elle". Her incredible beauty readily apparent, Brigitte next tried films. In 1952, she appeared on screen for the first time as Javotte Lemoine in Crazy for Love (1952). Two more films followed and it was also the same year she married Roger Vadim. The two had known each other years earlier and she wanted to marry him when she was 17, but her parents quashed any marriage plans until she turned 18. The union lasted only five years.

The War Of The Worlds

2012-10-04T17:42:00.002-07:00

Nostalgic Movie Trivia... None of the original Martian war machines from "The War Of The Worlds" exist today. They were made out of copper, and after the movie production was done, they were reportedly donated to a Boy Scout copper drive.

H.G. Well's classic novel is brought to life is this tale of alien invasion. The residents of a small town in California are excited when a flaming meteor lands in the hills. Their joy is tempered somewhat when they discover that it has passengers who are not very friendly. The movie itself is understood better when you consider that it was made at the height of the Cold War--just replace the Martian's with the Russian's.

This Weeks Birthdays

2012-09-30T17:54:00.000-07:00

This week we celebrate birthdays for the nostalgic movie legends Angie Dickinson (September 30th 1931), Julie Andrews (October 1st 1935), Groucho Marx (October 2nd 1890), Warner Oland (October 3rd 1880), Charlton Heston (October 4th 1924), Buster Keaton (October 4th 1895), Donald Pleasence (October 5th 1919), and Carole Lombard (October 6th 1908).

Love Finds Andy Hardy

2012-09-30T17:47:00.000-07:00

Nostalgic Trivia Or How Fast Can We Get It To The Box Office... "Love Finds Andy Hardy" was shot on a 19-day production schedule with an additional week allotted for Judy Garland's production numbers. This film was released a mere two months after production wrapped.

Andy's girlfriend Polly is planning to spend Christmas at her grandmother's, which puts a kink in his plans to take her to the country club Christmas party. He agrees (for a fee) to pretend to be the boyfriend of his buddy Beezy's girl Cynthia to discourage other suitors (Beezy is also leaving for the holidays), but Andy soon finds her too infatuated with him. Meanwhile, Andy's next door neighbor Betsy begins to fall in love with Andy even though she's younger than him. Everything comes to a head at the country club party.

Released in 1938. Starring Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Lewis Stone, Fay Holden, Cecilia Parker, Lana Turner, and Ann Rutherford.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

2012-07-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

One night, during a typical midnight screening of Rocky Horror, at a New York theater, a patron was asked to leave before the film ended. This patron was accused of being an impostor. The patron was Tim Curry.

Gloria DeHaven

2012-07-24T09:43:00.000-07:00

This week we celebrate birthdays for the nostalgic movie legends Louise Fletcher (July 22, 1934), Raymond Chandler (July 23, 1888), Gloria DeHaven (July 23, 1925), Anthony Newley (July 24, 1931), Walter Brennan (July 25, 1894), Blake Edwards (July 26, 1922), Stanley Kubrick (July 26, 1928) Keenan Wynn (July 27, 1916), and Rudy Vallee (July 28, 1901).

Robin Meets The Wizard

2012-07-06T07:07:00.002-07:00

Antisocial Prof. Hammil's Remote Control device, which enables the user to take over any motor vehicle within 50 miles ! When it is stolen by The Wizard, black-hooded mastermind, and his gang. Batman and Robin (who drive about in a standard convertible) must prevent the Wizard from obtaining the diamonds, needed as fuel for the device, & rescue magazine photographer Vicki Vale from periodic perils.

Released in 1949. Starring Robert Lowery, Johnny Duncan, Jane Adams, and Lyle Talbot.

Mickey And Judy

2012-07-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland were the most popular song and dance team to ever work at MGM. They were probably the most talented duo to ever appear on the silver screen. They were in a total of ten feature films together, eight of which were specifically designed as Mickey-Judy vehicles. In the other two, they only had one scene and one number together, in Words and Music ("I Wish I Were in Love Again"). In Thousands Cheer, they didn't appear together though they both guest-starred.

Judy appeared in three episodes of the Andy Hardy series. She was the only major guest star to appear more than once. She probably would have become a regular in the series had it not been for her wanting to appear in more adult roles. In 1963, when Judy taped her first episode of The Judy Garland Show, she insisted on doing her first show with Mickey, "because he's my partner" (though this was the first episode taped, it was not the first to air).

Veronica Lake

2012-06-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

Veronica Lake was born November 14th, 1922 in Brooklyn, New York with the birth name of Constance Frances Marie Ockelman. Her father worked for an oil company as a ship employee. While still a child, Veronica's parents moved to Florida when she wasn't quite a year old. By the time she was five, the family had returned to Brooklyn. She was exposed to acting early when she starred in a primary school play. It was to be her only stage outing, at least for a while. Years later she finally felt that she was ready for films. Her mother and step-father moved the family to a small home in Beverly Hills, California in 1938 where Mrs. Keane enrolled her lovely daughter in the well known Bliss Hayden School of Acting in Hollywood. She didn't have to wait long for a part to come her way. Her first movie was as one of the many coeds in the RKO film, Sorority House in (1939). It was a minor part, to be sure, but it was a start. Veronica quickly followed up that project with two other films. All Women Have Secrets (1939) and Dancing Co-Ed (1939), both were again bit roles for the pretty young woman from the East Coast, but she didn't complain. After all, other would-be starlets took a while before they ever received a bit part.

Annie Get Your Gun

2012-06-30T12:12:00.001-07:00

Annie Oakley is an incredible shot who was raised 'Doin' What Comes Naturally'. Frank Butler, the star sharpshooter in 'Colonel Buffalo Bill''s show, however, knows full well that's not how 'The Girl That I Marry' must be. Anyway, not at least until he finds that 'My Defences are Down'. Though Annie defiantly says 'Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better', she realizes that 'You Can't Get a Man With a Gun'. The victor at the end is love; as you know, 'It's Wonderful'. After all, 'There's No Business Like Show Business'.

Released in 1950. Starring Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Louis Calhern, J. Carrol Naish, Edward Arnold, Keenan Winn, and Benay Venuta.

A Night In Casablanca

2012-06-30T09:26:00.002-07:00

In post-war Casablanca, Ronald Kornblow (Groucho) is hired to run a hotel whose previous managers have all wound up being murdered. French soldier Pierre suspects the involvement of ex-Nazis, specifically Count Pfefferman, in reality the notorious Heinrich Stubel. But Pierre himself is accused of collaborating with the enemy, and attempts to clear his name with the help of his girlfriend Annette and cagey buddy Corbaccio (Chico). They enlist the aid of Pfefferman's beleaguered mute valet, Rusty (Harpo), and discover a hoard of war booty the Nazis have cached in the hotel.

Released in 1946, it starred The Marx Brothers yet again at their best.

Can You Guess This Nostalgic Actress ?

2012-06-29T18:55:00.000-07:00

She was once compared to Marilyn Monroe and replied, "Hey, I'm the blond with her clothes on." Tall and blonde with good looks and a pleasant singing voice, she scampered through a bunch of breezy, forgettable film roles. Her style was once... described as part Joan Blondell's "Good Joe" and part Mae West's vamp. She appeared on TV as a sexy foil to many top comedians, especially Bob Hope and Red Skelton. Who is this Nostalgic actress ?

Ann Margret

2012-06-18T09:50:00.004-07:00

Born in Sweden on April 28, 1941, Ann-Margret Olsson came to America at age five. She began taking dance lessons at age eight, showing natural ability from the start. Her parents were very supportive and encouraged her to enter talent conte...sts, and in 1957 she performed live on national television at age 16. After attending Northwestern University for a year, she left for Las Vegas to pursue a career as a singer. She was discovered by George Burns and soon afterward got both a record deal at RCA and a film contract at 20th Century Fox.

The Flintstones

2012-06-18T08:23:00.003-07:00

While some people think The Flintstones was made to be a kids show it really wasn't. This popular animated television cartoon featured two Stone Age families, the Flintstones and their neighbors, the Rubbles. Much of the humor was based on ...its comic portrayals of modern conveniences, reinterpreted using Stone Age 'technology.' Most notably were their cars, complete with absence of floorboards to allow them to be 'foot-powered.

Bewitched

2012-06-18T08:02:00.000-07:00

A little Television trivia tonight... In the series Bewitched, whenever Samantha's cousin Serena appeared on the show, the credits for the episode listed the actress as "Pandora Spocks". This was Elizabeth Montgomery's idea as an inside joke since Elizabeth Montgomery played Serena.

The Series Premiered in 1964. Starring Elizabeth Montgomery, David White, Dick York, Dick Sargent, Agnes Moorehead, Erin Murphy, Alice Ghostley, Maurice Evans, and Paul Lynde.

This Weeks Birthdays

2012-06-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

This week we celebrate birthdays for the nostalgic movie legends Ralph Bellamy (June 17, 1904), Jeanette MacDonald (June 18, 1903), E.G. Marshall (June 18, 1914), Moe Howard (June 19, 1897), Martin Landau (June 20, 1931), Errol Flynn (June ...20, 1909), Audie Murphy (June 20, 1924), Judy Holliday (June 21, 1922), Bernie Kopell (June 21, 1933), Jane Russell (June 21, 1921), Maureen Stapleton (June 21, 1925), Billy Wilder (June 22, 1906), and Bob Fosse (June 23, 1927).

Blossom

2012-06-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

How many of us remember sitting home and watching Blossom ? The series ran from 1990 - 1995. This teenage sitcom was named after its main character, likable but sissy schoolgirl Blossom Russo. It centers around her life at school and at hom...e, where she lives with her single father, charming musician Nick Russo, who tries hard to be an exemplary parent, and her two elder brothers, the cool Anthony, the eldest, and sweet but rather weak and naive Joey. Her best friend, Six LeMeure, who was educationally neglected at her home and thus was almost always around at the Russos as well as at school. Six was the voice of mischief and thus often her partner in crime.

Starring Mayim Bialik, Joseph Lawrence, Jenna von Oÿ, Ted Wass, and Michael Stoyanov.

Sally Kellerman

2012-06-02T19:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday today June 2nd to the original Nostalgic Hot Lips Houlihan !! Willowy and statuesque leading lady Sally Kellerman was born on June 2, 1937 in Long Beach, California. It was in 1970 when Sally found her breakthrough role, a role she almost turned down due to the script of her character. The role was of Major Margaret "Hot-Lips" Houlihan in Robert Altman's MASH (1970), Sally earned both an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination and won a Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award and a Golden Laurel Award for her performance.

Batman

2012-06-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

Nostalgic History... Batman first appeared in Detective comics number 27. It was printed in May of 1939. Over the years Batman had many different villans face him but none as special as Catwoman. In both the Movies and on Television she was portrayed by many famous actresses. Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, Eartha Kitt, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Halle Berry. Who do you think was the best Catwoman?

The Adventures Of Superman

2012-06-01T19:29:00.001-07:00

Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, The Adventures of Superman always fought for truth justice and the American Way. This Nostalgic Television Series ran from 1952 -... 1958. Starring George Reeves, Noel Neill, John Hamilton, and Jack Larson. It's one of our favorite Television Shows and can still be seen in sindication somewhere in the world today. Do you remember watching the series ?

Barbara Stanwyck

2012-05-27T16:12:00.004-07:00

Barbara Stanwyck is remembered primarily as the matriarch of the family known as the Barkleys on the TV western "The Big Valley" (1965), where she played Victoria, and from the hit drama "The Colbys" (1985). But she was known to millions of other fans for her movie career, which spanned the period from 1927 until 1964, after which she appeared on television until 1986. It was a career that lasted for 59 years.

The Brady Bunch

2012-05-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

Heres the story about a man named Brady... Released in 1969 and lasting until 1974 this series has lasted the ravages of time and can still be seen in syndication all over the world today. I cant think of anyone that has never seen at least one episode of The Brady Bunch.

Starring Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, Ann B. Davis, Maureen McCormick, Eve Plumb, Susan Olsen, Barry Williams, Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, and Allen Melvin.

The Maltese Falcon

2012-05-27T07:35:00.002-07:00

Released in 1941 The Maltese Falcon tells the story of A private detective who takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette. This is definettly a case where Boggie gets the bird !!

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, Barton MacLane, Lee Patrick, Sydney Greenstreet, and Ward Bond.

Vincent Price

2012-05-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

Actor, writer, and gourmet, Vincent Leonard Price, Jr. was born in St Louis, Missouri. He traveled through Europe, studied at Yale and became an actor. He made his screen debut in 1938, and after many minor roles, he began to perform in low...-budget horror movies such as The House of Wax. He achieved his first major success with The House of Usher. He was always known for his distinctive, low-pitched, creaky, atmospheric voice and his quizzical, mock-serious facial expressions. He went on to star in a series of acclaimed Gothic horror movies, and will always be a Nostalgic Movie Icon. Happy Birthday Vincent (May 27, 1911).

John Wayne

2012-05-26T08:29:00.001-07:00

Nostalgic movie legend John Wayne, was born today on May 26th 1907. He was one of the cinema's greatest stars. But he was also one of the cinema's greatest problems. His image as an icon of American individualism and the frontier spirit has overshadowed his career to such an extent that it is almost impossible for viewers and writers to separate Wayne the legend from Wayne the actor and Wayne the man.