*CANDIDS*

[mongoII]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

GEORGE HAMILTON is 73 today


DEBORAH WALLEY (1941 - 20001)


JOHN CAZALE (1935 - 1978)


JOHN DEREK (1926 - 1998)


MARJORIE REYNOLDS (1917 - 1997)


JANE WYATT (1910 - 2006)


OSCAR HOMOLKA (1898 - 1978)

[mongoII]

Ethel Merman and Ernest Borgnine are all smiles at the reception which followed their marriage in the garden of his Hollywood home. June, 1964 (the marriage lasted 32 days)

[mongoII]

Today's birthday gal Jane Wyatt scans a set of blueprints of the Golden Gate Bridge. March, 1937

[mongoII]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

NEVILLE BRAND (1920 - 1992)


KURT KASZNER (1913 - 1979)


DAVE WILLOCK (1909 - 1990)


JOHN BEAL (1909 - 1997)


GENE RAYMOND (1908 - 1998)


ALFRED HITCHCOCK (1899 - 1980)


REGIS TOOMEY (1898 - 1991)


BERT LAHR (1895 - 1967)

[Western Guy]

Ah, Neville Brand - a top five favorite tough guy. Coleen Gray who acted with Brand in "Kansas City Confidential" said that he was a quiet and soft-spoken gentleman, and also well read. A buddy of mine who managed Googie's back in the 50s said Neville was probably the scariest man he ever met, one haunted by war memories and prone to hints of sudden violence. He also apparently walked into nightspots carrying a shotgun.

[mongoII]

Lovers Gary Cooper and Lupe Velez at the choo-choo station

[mongoII]

Stone, it looks like Brand had a solid marriage with his wife Mae (2 daughters).
And his war record speaks for itself. Cited as the 4th most decorated soldier in WWII, but that information is incorrect and was denied by Brand before his death. He was, however, according to official military records, the recipient of the Silver Star for gallantry in combat. His other awards and decorations are the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Ribbon, the European/African/Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with three Battle Stars, one Overseas Service Bar, one Service Stripe, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.

[mongoII]

Pat, Alma and birthday boy Alfred Hitchcock at the Stork Club in 1943

[Western Guy]

Yes Mongo, and that's what I always found interesting about Brand. According to my friend Steve Hayes (who also wrote a couple of books about his early years in Hollywood, including his work at Googie's), Brand admitted that he liked very few people and could be prone to violent outbursts, prompted, my friend claims, by his memories of the war. Steve said he once went to Brand's house on the beach and was shown a momento from the war: a bayonet, which was stained with what could have been the blood of some of those Brand killed in combat.

So there evidently was some darkness in the man. Still, as you point out, he seemed to have a strong marriage, produced two daughters, yet very little is known about Mae and the girls.

I remember watching Entertainment Tonight back in the 80s when the Costner version of "The Untouchables" came out. Brand was briefly interviewed and his appearance was quite shocking. He really looked like an aged hippy and frankly admitted that he saw himself as a bum.

Colorful guy.

[mongoII]

Thanks, Stone.

[mongoII]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

ALICE GHOSTLEY (1924 - 2007)


ANDREA LEEDS (1914 - 1984)


MILLARD MITCHELL (1903 - 1953)


CARL BENTON REID (1893 - 1973)


FRANCIS FORD (1881 - 1953)

[Western Guy]

Huge admirer of Millard Mitchell: "The Gunfighter", "Winchester '73 (as the perfect pardner) and of course "Singin' in the Rain". But hard to believe looking at that photo that he was at most 50 years of age. Great actor but certainly didn't age well.

[mongoII]

Mrs. Spencer Tracy (looking sad) and daughter Susie pay a visit to the famous star on the set of "I Take This Woman". January, 1939

[mongoII]

Fine actors Mary Astor and Peter Lorre rehearsing for "The Maltese Falcon"

[JackFavell]

It doesn't look like Mary is pulling any punches there, does it?