More Child Stars: Tim, Patty, Sandy & The Foghorn

For you folks who have been around as long as I have or who have movie nostalgia in your bones, you might remember one or more of the child stars from the 1950s that we're mentioning here.  I have seen them in most of the films they made waaayyy back when and remember them today, although they are still those young children.  Only I have gotten older.

The Directors: Joshua Logan

He only directed 10 films and was uncredited on an 11th one.  Four of those were smashing successes.  One is on my list of 50 favorite films and one probably should have been.  He is better known for his writing and directing of Broadway shows but his brief fling with Hollywood completely enchanted me. 

The WWII Pinup Queen

Yes, the WWII Pinup Queen, the one who put the smiles on the faces of all those GIs.  She was Betty Grable.    She was the big noise from the 1940s... the one from that photograph that went on the sides of planes and in soldiers' lockers.  She said about herself that she couldn't dance all that well, couldn't sing all that well either and there were plenty of dames who were better-looking. 

REVIEW: Star Trek Into Darkness

Directed by. J. J. Abrams
Sci-Fi Adventure
2 hour 3 minutes
From Paramount Pictures,
Skydance and Bad Robot

Starring
Chris Pine
Zachary Quinto
Zoë Saldana
Benedict Cumberbatch
Karl Urban
John Cho
Simon Pegg
Anton Yelchin
Peter Weller
Alice Eve
Bruce Greenwood

Hollywood Canteen

In its heyday during WWII, the Hollywood Canteen was quite the exciting place for servicemen... men and women, every branch, including those from allied nations visiting our shores.  It opened at 1451 Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood in October 1942 and closed in November 1945.  It was a place where servicemen could come and dance and chat with movie stars and singers and comedians and generally anyone famous.  The famous donated their time and provided the guys (and girls) with many a night to remember.

REVIEW: The Great Gatsby

Directed by Baz Luhrmann
2013 Drama
2 hours 23 minutes
From Warner Bros and
Village Roadshow

Starring
Leonardo DiCaprio
Tobey Maguire
Carey Mulligan
Joel Edgerton
Elizabeth Debicki
Isla Fisher
Jason Clarke

Sidney

The dapper gentleman has been on my mind since just watching and doing a posting on Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?  But you may recall that I recently did a review on 42, the story of baseball great Jackie Robinson.  I actually thought of Sidney Poitier then, too, because in watching an exciting new talent in a fellow named Chadwick Boseman, I began thinking of Sidney and the doors he opened for black actors... and with such glamour. 

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner: Favorite Movie #12

Directed by Stanley Kramer
1967 Drama
1 hour 48 minutes
From Columbia Studios

Starring
Spencer Tracy
Sidney Poitier
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton
Cecil Kellaway
Beah Richards
Isabell Sanford
Roy S. Glenn Jr.
Virginia Christine

REVIEW: Mud

Directed by Jeff Nichols
2013 Drama
2 hours 10 minutes
From Lionsgate and
Roadside Attractions

Starring
Matthew McConaughey
Tye Sheridan
Jacob Lofland
Sam Shepard
Sarah Paulson
Ray McKinnon
Michael Shannon
Paul Sparks
Joe Don Baker
Reese Witherspoon