Joan Blondell – BEGUILING HOLLYWOOD

October 27, 2015 / Vickie Lester

“In the ’20s, you were a face. And that was enough. In the ’30s, you also had to be a voice. And your voice had to match your face, if you can imagine that. Jimmy Cagney and Eddie Robinson had voices that were as important as the characters they played.” Joan Blondell

Not a very good movie, one immortal line, “Mmm, that dirty, double-crossin’ rat!” However, the art work for this lobby card is worth taking a look at: And, as mentioned by Mr. Kaplan in the comments, perhaps acting in pre-code Hollywood required a bit of legwork as well.

July 23, 2015 / Vickie Lester

The Women – receiving guests in the bath

July 23, 2015 / Vickie Lester

A bath that brought on the Hayes Code – no nipples on screen – no double beds: one of the most popular posts on Beguiling, I wonder why?

Colbert landed her famous role as a femme fatale in Cecil B. DeMille’s films where she wore fetishistic costumes which lose layer after layer of clothing. In the 1932 historical epic, The Sign of the Cross, she starred opposite Fredric March as the Roman empress Poppaea. For an instant, glimpses…

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July 23, 2015 / Vickie Lester

Blonde Crazy – in the bath

July 2, 2014 / Vickie Lester

“She made him a proposition; an entrée into the film industry in exchange for a suitable period of physical, if not matrimonial devotion.” It’s in His Kiss by Vickie Lester

It’s in His Kiss: Kindle It’s in His Kiss: paperback

January 28, 2014 / Vickie Lester

While I’m waiting for the publishers, I’ll just gab…

You know, this thing struck me about blogging recently… It’s made me have more faith in people, not less. I’ve always been the kind of person who tends toward suspicion, even as a child. I remember going to work with my father one day, I think I was about twelve,…

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November 16, 2012 / Vickie Lester

LOBBY CARD – GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933

Lobby card: In an era of breadlines, Depression, and wars, I tried to help people get away from all the misery; to turn their minds to something else. I wanted to make people happy, if only for an hour. Busby Berkeley

November 16, 2012 / Vickie Lester

GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 – WALTZ OF THE SHADOWS

“Waltz of the Shadows”: Recognize the set?

November 16, 2012 / Vickie Lester

ART DECO IN MOTION – BUSBY BERKELY

Blah blah blah a book by it’s cover… This one is fascinating, and I happen to love the cover – Mr. Berkeley (who staged and choreographed “Gold Diggers of 1933”) on the set before the earthquake hit (one of the drawbacks of life in LA). To find out what happened…

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October 25, 2012 / Vickie Lester

BULLETS OR BALLOTS – GANGSTER FILM

Starring Edward G. Robinson: – – Edward G. Robinson, from what I heard was a very cool guy. He was highly educated, spoke seven languages, and was respected and loved by his community. “To last you need to be real.” Edward G. Robinson He also had an extensive art collection…

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Tag: Joan Blondell