Yes, Scott, it was a television script I wrote for "Fame" called "Star Quality." It was about a bitter old tap dancer who can no longer find work and his son who sneaks into the School to try and learn a different way to dance. The big production number at the end was a version o...

Mickey Rooney was full of mischief on "Boy's Town," he had a piano on the set and was composing songs with his pal, Sid Miller in between takes. Tracy warned him, early in the filming, not to try any tricks to upstage him, or he would see to it that Rooney regretted it.

Moira, once again I failed to completely answer your question regarding Norman Taurog's films. For Drama, I think "Boy's Town" and 'Skippy," for musicals definitely "Broadway Melody of 1940," and for comedy, "Room for One More."

Dear Sue Sue, Nigel Bruce was a lovely man who was a good friend of my father's. He had a marvelous sense of humor. I've mentioned several times about the autographed photo he gave me the day I visited the "Pearl of Death" set, which he inscribed: "To Michael, who is a nice boy in spi...

Hi Scott, Thanks for checking in. Joan Blondell was a real pro and seemed to enjoy vamping Elvis. Her sequences were much closer to what I had written, since the director didn't go off script as much as he did with Elvis and his gang. While we were on location in Sedona she cooked a fabulous dinner ...

No, Joe, I was never invited to any of Rathbone's parties, I was too young. I never met any of the other horror stars, sorry.

Dear Brian, Thank you for your kind comment about my books. In regard to Your question about Roy William Neil, please see my previous post. As far as Universal vs. Republic, they were both low budget studios. However, a John Wayne film like "Wake of the Red Witch" was one of the studios ma...

I'm taking a break, I'll be back.

I would have to say that Roy William Neil failed to get the full recognition he deserved because he was trapped making 'B' movies. The tragedy was that he was about to get the opportunity to make more important films, when he died.

Moira, I realized that I didn't properly answer your 2nd question. I think that my father's earlier career in musicals probably helped him to find the key to the two brothers in the film. He had performed in several productions in England which were costume epics. He even once played in blackface. I...

I just loved the idea of seeing two Dennis Hoeys on the screen at the same time. Also, I thought Phil Silvers was very funny and the film had excellent production values. Remember, I was only ten when this film was released and not terribly sophisticated.

Moira, John Ford and George Cukor had very different directing styles. Ford liked to "get in and get it done." He'd rehearse once or twice, shoot, and print takes one or two. He was looking for a feeling of improvisation. Cukor would shoot dozens of takes and print most of them, looking fo...