Artists and Models (1937) is the full 1930s Hollywood entertainment spectacle, complete with music, dancing, celebrity cameos, comedy, romance, and hot chicks in skimpy clothes. Because of all those things and the stars — Jack Benny, Ida Lupino, and Gail Patrick — I was sure I’d love it. I didn’t. I didn’t hate it, but…
Bette Davis Project: "Fashions of 1934" Redux
Bette Davis and William Powell in “Fashions of 1934”.
Tura Satana 1938-2011
Very sad news from The Sheila Variations: Cult actress, dancer, and all around kick-ass lady Tura Satana has passed away. Rest in peace, Tura. You will be missed.
TV Party #2
I’m still watching a lot of TV, and I don’t know why! Maybe once it gets above 25F outside, I’ll be inclined to do something that involves moving off the couch occasionally. Can’t make any promises, though. In the last TV Party post, I mentioned that I thought “The X-Files” had lost much of its…
Tallulah
“I pay as I go. My heart is slave to my head. Men are as pleasant and exciting to me as the lavish gowns I adore. I drink the sparkling cup of love because I know my heart will never betray me. I am TALLULAH the MODERN.” — Publicity poster for “Tarnished Lady” “For ten…
TV Party #1
First things first: I’m tired of using labels in my subject lines, stuff like “Recently Watched” or “Short Subject, Feature Film,” so I’m gonna stop doing that. On occasion, I’ll still use a label if I think the situation specifically calls for it, but for most posts I figure tags are enough. So there. At…
Of Blackglama and William Desmond Taylor (no relation)
Out of extreme curiosity, can anyone tell me why hundreds of people all over Canada would have been looking for the Barbara Stanwyck Blackglama advertisement last Saturday? Update: An answer! From Anonymous in comments: A CBC radio show called the Age of Persuasion (an EXCELLENT show) mentioned that ad in a episode about Luxury Advertising.…
Short Subject, Feature Film: Condemned (2010) and Double Take (2009)
Many months ago, writer-director Oren Shai was kind enough to send me a copy of his short subject “Condemned” (2010), a tight, engaging film that combines exploitation cinema with the feel of a 1950s genre Western. Fortunately, Oren has just released the film online here in streaming video. Because it’s online, I won’t spoil a…
Alice, Gertrude, Cecil
Alice B. Toklas and Gertrude Stein, 1935, as photographed by… …Cecil Beaton, 1937, courtesy Chateau Thombeau.
Gerda Maurus
You know when I said I’d see you on the New Year? I accidentally lied. First of all, important notice: World O’ Crap has moved! Hackers hacked, that’s all I know. Now World O’Crap is at a new blog address. Go! Enjoy! And now, some lovely Gerda Maurus for your between-holiday enjoyment. Few of these…