Sue Sue's TCM Film Festival Tidbit Travel Blog

[CineMaven]

[youtube][/youtube] [youtube][/youtube]

Lucille Ball. An icon. If she's not an example of one finding their niche...then I don't know WHAT to tell you. Thank you SueSue for spotlighting her. She is a Legend.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Thank you kingme, Jackie, feaito, and Miss Mave for the kind comments! Happy New Year!!!!!!

[feaito]

HAPPY 2012 Christie!

[Sue Sue Applegate]

You, too, dear 'Nando!

[Sue Sue Applegate]

She could be a Glamzilla when she wanted to, but Rosalind Russell surely knew how to wear those hats....


Listen, sister....


A bit of fluff...


Lionized..


I don't think I can fit that clamshell in my purse...maybe it'll fit in my hat!


Is that a loose snood with William Powell?


Hood ornament...


Cherries Jubilee...


More Mame...Boxed Like Proust.

Talk about Buttons and Bows....

The Eyes Have it!

The Sophisticate with gloves edged in Eyelet lace, embroidery and sequins...



This is the hall of famer.....One of my favorite Rosalind Russell hat pics...



And the all time attention-grabber.....

[Rita Hayworth]

Cool pictures of Rosalind Russell here ... all fabulous!

[JackFavell]

What a great post, Sue Sue! You're a girl after my own heart. I love hats, but especially on Roz.

It's almost as if the designers were waiting for her unique combination of elegance and chutzpah in order to pull off those crazy and beautiful, aerodynamic creations.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Thank you, kingme!

Loved what you said, Jacks...Aerodymanic.....that's it! Those hats flew around with her wherever she went. Dramatic statements of her ability to swash any buckle! Elegance, an air of superiority, chutzpah, panache, determined optimism!

[Sue Sue Applegate]

My dear friend Bill, who works with me at a local community college, is quite the raconteur. He counts among his many brushes with greatness such luminaries as Jacqueline Kennedy, Garrison Keillor, and many Baseball Hall of Famers. But I managed to wheedle and whirl such a travelogue of Hollywood lore from his vast internal landscape that some of it cannot be recounted due to the licentiousness of its nature....


But during the summer of 1954, young Bill, who was sixteen going on seventeen ( and don't cue Rodgers & Hammerstein yet, please), found himself lured to Glacier National Park in Montana by Minnesota friend and entrepreneur Hugh Black to work at St. Mary Lodge and Resort, built by Black and his burgeoning consortium around 1937 just outside the entrance to Glacier National Park shortly after Black discovered he was not being employed by the National Park Service any longer.

The original section of the lodge before remodeling is the whole block to the right of the center supports in the pictured structure of the current St. Mary Lodge, in St. Mary, Montana.

As Bill shortly discovered during that summer, a film company from Hollywood (RKO) had just arrived to begin work on Cattle Queen of Montana. Barbara Stanwyck and Ronald Reagan were the stars of the film, and they were housed in St. Mary's Lodge, the building which also included the restaurant for most the film's principals and the director, Allan Dwan, immortalized in Peter Bogdanovich's Who The Devil Made It, and responsible for bringing such classics to the screen as Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938), The Three Musketeers (1939), Sands of Iwo Jima (1949), and Robin Hood with Douglas Fairbanks (1922).

Extras, crew, and other actors, like Jack Elam, were housed in several motel units, and would venture forth for meals to the restaurant located in the main lodge. During that summer, Bill had several responsibilities and did all kinds of jobs all over the property, and fondly remembers trips on the old "gear-strippers" as they were then called.


According to the Glacier Park, Inc. Website, "the White Motor Company between 1936 and 1939 built Glacier’s red-with-black trim vehicles. This fleet of Red Buses is considered the oldest intact fleet of passenger carrying vehicles anywhere. These 17 passenger convertible touring sedans are more than a mere means of transportation for locals and visitors - they are cherished, elegant icons of Glacier National Park."



Bill also fondly remembers Ronald Reagan, and how he was always " out and about," because if Reagan wasn't riding a horse all around the beautiful property or in the park, he would walk and take in the scenery, always chatting gregariously with the crew and resort staff, and loved to be out of doors. Bill broke into a wide grin when he remembered Ronald Reagan. "He didn't like to be riding around in the company cars because he would rather be riding the range on a horse or going for a hike, and he was very comfortable in the saddle, unlike some of the other film actors who frequented the resort," Bill stated.





Poster for Cattle Queen of Montana....


I think Barbara is telling Ronnie what to do with his pistols...


A glossy for public consumption...

More later in Part II of "My Friend, Bill."

Here's a link to the video about the red bus tours:


Here's a link to information about St. Mary Lodge and Resort:
http://www.glacierparkinc.com/tour_detail.php?id=1

[Rita Hayworth]

Sue Sue Wrote: St. Mary Lodge and Resort, built by Black and his burgeoning consortium around 1937 just outside the entrance to Glacier National Park

Beautiful Pictures Sue Sue ... Everyone ... I spent the whole month of August of 1975 when I was 16 years old vacationing at St. Mary Lodge and Resort as a guest from dear family friends and had a blast. I enjoyed the spectacular scenery, went on two 5 days hikes into the wilderness; and spending time just by enjoying the beauty of Mother Nature's there. I love Glacier National Park and I have many fond memories there. I just love rustic surroundings, the friendly staff that worked there, and most importantly loved the incredible sunrises and sunsets each and everyday. When, Sue Sue posted these incredible images here ... I was having a flashback to 1975 recalling all the fun things that I did with dear friends of mine.

It was one of my best summers that I ever had as a teenager and seeing these pictures that Sue Sue posted here brought back great memories of my youth. Sue Sue you've made my day :!: :!:

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Dear kingme,
Thank you so much for the kind words! How wonderful to have been able to enjoy such a lovely place as St.Mary's Lodge. I've never been there, but after seeing those pictures and hearing about your memories and talking to my friend Bill, I find that I want to put that on my next travel itinerary.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

I received the notice from TCM in my email and I found the new pdf with releases:
For Release: Jan. 31, 2012



Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, Debbie Reynolds,
Film Noir Stars Peggy Cummins, Rhonda Fleming and Marsha Hunt
And Silent Era Child Star "Baby Peggy" Diana Serra Cary,
Slated to Attend the TCM Classic Film Festival

Passes Now on Sale Now for Four-Day Festival,
Coming to Hollywood April 12-15, 2012

Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, Debbie Reynolds and "Baby Peggy" Diana Serra Cary, along with
film noir leading ladies Peggy Cummins, Rhonda Fleming and Marsha Hunt are the latest
stars scheduled to appear at the 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival.

Also announced today, the festival will feature the North American premiere of a new 75th
anniversary restoration of Jean Renoir's powerful POW drama Grand Illusion (1937), widely
regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. And the Mont Alto Motion Picture
Orchestra will provide a live musical accompaniment for a screening of the silent Douglas
Fairbanks fantasy-adventure The Thief of Bagdad (1924).

Minnelli and Grey are slated to join TCM's own Robert Osborne to kick off the four-day, starstudded
event with a gala opening-night world premiere screening of the 40th anniversary
restoration Cabaret (1972), the film for which the two stars took home Academy Awards®.

Reynolds will make her second appearance at the TCM Classic Festival, appearing at the
world premiere screening of a new 60th anniversary restoration of Singin' in the Rain (1952).


Reynolds will also appear at a 50th anniversary screening of How the West Was Won (1962),
which will offer festival passholders the rare opportunity to see the epic western in all its
Cinerama glory at Arclight Cinema's Cinerama Dome.

Cummins, Fleming and Hunt and will each appear at screenings of film noir classics,
presented as part of a celebration of The Noir Style. And Cary, who was one of Hollywood's
top child stars during the silent era, will join filmmaker Vera Iwerebor for the U.S. premiere of
Baby Peggy: The Elephant in the Room (2010), Iwerebor's fascinating documentary
chronicling Cary's life on and off the screen.

In addition, the festival's celebration of Style in the Movies will include an extensive tribute to
one of the most stylish actresses in cinema history: Audrey Hepburn. Presentations will
include Sabrina (1954), Funny Face (1957) and the world premiere of a new 45th anniversary
restoration of Two for the Road (1967).

The 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival will take pace Thursday, April 12 – Sunday, April 15,
2012, in Hollywood. Passes are on sale now through the official festival website:
tcm.com/festival.

The following is a roster of newly added screenings and appearances:


Opening Night
Cabaret (1972) – World Premiere 40th Anniversary Restoration, featuring appearances by
Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey*

One of the most acclaimed films of its era, Bob Fosse's Cabaret stars Oscar®-winner Liza
Minnelli as an American singer looking for love and success in pre-World War II Berlin. Joel
Grey, who is currently co-starring in the Broadway revival of Anything Goes, earned an Oscar
as the ubiquitous Master of Ceremonies. And Michael York co-stars as a young English
teacher whose eyes are opened by what he experiences. Fosse also earned Oscar gold for
directing this perfect showcase for his unique choreography and imaginative visual style.
* schedule permitting

Style in the Movies – The Noir Style
Presented by Eddie Muller, founder of the Film Noir Foundation, this collection explores the
unique style of film noir, known for its often-shadowy black-and-white photography and stylistic
set design.
CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE:
http://filmnoirfoundation.org/

Raw Deal (1948) – Featuring an appearance by Marsha Hunt
Noted for its extraordinary cinematography by John Alton, this gritty Anthony Mann thriller stars
Dennis O'Keefe as a man in prison for another man's crime, Claire Trevor as the gun moll who
helps him break out of jail and Marsha Hunt as the social worker who wants to reform him.
Raymond Burr and John Ireland co-star.




Gun Crazy (1950) – Featuring an appearance by Peggy Cummins
Long before Bonnie and Clyde rattled moviegoers came this ruthless tale of a gun-toting

husband-and-wife team. Peggy Cummins and John Dall star, with a script by blacklisted writer
Dalton Trumbo (credited to Millard Kaufman).

Ever been to Rhonda Fleming's website? If you like her, you'll love it!
http://www.rhondafleming.com/

Cry Danger (1951) – New restoration, featuring an appearance by Rhonda Fleming
Shot in only 22 days by former child star Robert Parrish, this gripping film noir stars Dick
Powell and Rhonda Fleming in the story of a man trying to clear his name after being
sentenced for a crime he didn't commit. Cry Danger has been restored by the UCLA Film &
Television Archive, in cooperation with Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros., and funded
by the Film Noir Foundation.




Audrey Hepburn: Style Icon
The TCM Classic Film Festival pays tribute to one of the most beautiful and stylish actresses
ever to grace the screen with this collection of films showcasing Audrey Hepburn.
Sabrina (1954)

Audrey Hepburn is the chauffeur's daughter caught in a love triangle between tycoon
Humphrey Bogart and his playboy brother William Holden. Billy Wilder directed and co-wrote
this offbeat romance, based on the play Sabrina Fair.

Funny Face (1957)
Fred Astaire is a fashion photographer who turns Audrey Hepburn into a chic model in this
highly stylized musical featuring memorable Gershwin songs. Kay Thompson co-stars, with
impeccable color cinematography by Ray June and John P. Fulton.
Two for the Road (1967) – World Premiere of 45th Anniversary Restoration
Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney star as a quarrelsome couple reminisce about their
relationship during a drive in southern France in Stanley Donen's insightful drama. Henry
Mancini wrote the score. The 4K digital restoration of Two for the Road was completed by
Twentieth Century Fox in collaboration with The Film Foundation.
Additional Events & Screenings
The Thief of Bagdad (1924) – Featuring live accompaniment by the Mont Alto Motion
Picture Orchestra
Douglas Fairbanks considered this lavish fantasy to be his personal favorite, and it's easy to
see why when one watches the gymnastic and charismatic star in action. Fairbanks stars as a
thief in love with the daughter of the Caliph, with Raoul Walsh directing.
Grand Illusion (1937) – North American Premiere of 75th Anniversary Restoration
Jean Renoir directed this extraordinary World War I drama about a small group of French
officers held captive. Considered by many to be one of the greatest films ever made, Grand
Illusion features memorable performances by Jean Gabin, Pierre Fresnay and Erich von
Stroheim.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952) – World Premiere of 60th Anniversary Restoration, featuring an
appearance by Debbie Reynolds
Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s delightful musical about Hollywood’s transition to talkies
features Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor, along with the scene-stealing Jean
Hagen and the sensuous Cyd Charisse. This movie will be presented in celebration of the
100th anniversary of Gene Kelly’s birth.
How the West Was Won (1962) – Presented in Cinerama and featuring an appearance by
Debbie Reynolds – Event sponsored by Arclight Cinemas and presented at Arclight's
Cinerama Dome
The panorama of the American West is presented in its glory with a memorable Cinerama
presentation of this epic adventure from directors John Ford, Henry Hathaway and George
Marshall. This multi-generational tale stars Henry Fonda, Gregory Peck, George Peppard,
Debbie Reynolds, Carroll Baker, Carolyn Jones, Eli Wallach, Robert Preston, James Stewart,
John Wayne, Richard Widmark, Walter Brennan and many more.
Baby Peggy: The Elephant in the Room (2010) – U.S. Premiere, featuring appearances
by "Baby Peggy" Diana Serra Cary and filmmaker Vera Iwerebor
This intimate portrait of one of the last survivors of Hollywood’s silent era features the 92-yearold
star speaking openly for the first time about her life and experience as a child star. Diana
Serra Cary's sudden rise to fame and fortune as Baby Peggy had a severe impact on her
family life. The frustrations of her father, the naivety of her mother and the jealousy of her
senior sister created a love/hate relationship between the young star and those around her.
But she reserved her greatest anger and resentment for the Baby Peggy persona itself. Now
with the discovery of her lost films, Cary has seen her childhood talent through fresh eyes and
slowly reconciled with her younger self.
About the 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival
Taking place Thursday, April 12 – Sunday, April 15, 2012, in Hollywood, the third-annual TCM
Classic Film Festival is produced by TCM and sponsored by Vanity Fair, host of the exclusive,
opening-night party.

Check the link on the website:
http://i.cnn.net/v5cache/TCM/Files/Dyna ... 120201.pdf

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Back at St. Mary's Lodge and Resort, my friend Bill seemed amazed that at the tender age of 16 that he had been thrust into the midst of an RKO film location, but he accepted his surroundings, and went about his duties near Glacier National Park.

At the cozy lodge restaurant, they mainly served steaks and roast beef secured from the Pendergast Ranch, where most of the cattle scenes had been recorded. Most of the film crew would go to the dining room for their meals, but Barbara Stanwyck was rarely seen there. Bill supposes that she had many meals sent to her suite.



As for those horsebackriding scenes, Stanwyck was obviously proud of her prowess and courage, according to Axel Madsen's biography, Stanwyck. But Stanwyck also had back trouble, and Bill claims that she was much "bumpier" in the saddle than Ronald Reagan that summer in Montana, and he stated that she "looked" like a greenhorn in the saddle compared to Reagan who seemed "like he was sitting in a rocking chair" while riding in a Western saddle.

As for Allan Dwan, about seventy years of age during the Montana shoot, Bill knew he was around because if he had ordered something done, staff was rushed into service to meet the demands, but he sheepishly admitted that " If I saw him, I wouldn't have known him from a hole in the wall," and that's not such a surprising revelation coming from someone who was only 16. Many of the young teenagers spending their summers at St. Mary's Lodge and Resort came to earning money money for college, and 17 or 18 of those students had arrived from a seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, hometown of lodge proprietor Hugh Black.

"That summer for some of those seminary kids was a real eye-opener," and especially for one young lady that Bill remembers. "Some of those folks were pretty wild and rowdy, and one young lady from the seminary school was even afraid to go and clean their rooms because she was afraid that she might get pregnant or catch some sort of incurable disease." But such crises were averted as other staffers volunteered to take those dangerous custodial duties.



Jack Elam was definitely a boisterous and rowdy character, and Bill always remembers him laughing and joking with the film crew and hotel staff as well. "He was always cracking a joke, and he definitely had an eye for the ladies. Oh, yes. He was popular."
Link to Jack Elam article: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/23/obitu ... 3ELAM.html



Barbara Stanwyck wasn't the type to shy away from anything, but Bill's encounter during that summer of 1954 revealed that she was quiet, kept to herself and her rooms, but still did most all of her stunts.
And she always looked great in her western gear...


And as of yet, I haven't heard of any of Miss Stanwyck's films being presented at the TCM Film Fest 2012, but I do know that I am happy that one of the world's loveliest stylicons is heavily featured in the doings, was was known to don western gear from time to time...

[JackFavell]

Lovely write up, Christy! I enjoyed it very very much.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Thank you so much! I had much fun chatting with Bill and hearing about all his escapades.