The Women of Hammer Films: Veronica Carlson

The  lovely Veronica

Every October I spotlight some of the women made world famous by their participation in Hammer Studios Films of the 50's thru the 70's. Last year I wrote about Ingrid Pitt and Valarie Gaunt to name a few. This year I begin with Veronica Carlson. Born Veronica Mary Glazer in Yorkshire, England in 1944. She studied art and received a diploma in design. I fancied myself an artist an one point in my life so I can relate to her already. She tried her hand at modeling which led to her being called to audition for Dracula Has Risen From The Grave. She won the part of Maria and made an immediate impact on audiences around the world.

Veronica getting some direction from the man himself Christopher Lee

She was cast almost immediately in the next Hammer film, Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) this time playing the tragic Anna Spengler, who gets involved with the Baron's mad plan (Peter Cushing). There is one very uncomfortable scene that Veronica had to endure which I won't go into details here but you will know it once you see it.

Veronica just wanting to be alone

Veronica's final film for Hammer Films was The Horror of Frankenstein (1970). I can't say too much about this film as I haven't seen it yet. But it would be the last film Veronica would do for Hammer Films. Hammer made more films doing the 70's but Veronica was blackballed as she didn't get offered any of them. Some say it was because she refused to appear nude. And if that was the case I commend this young lady on standing by her convictions. 

with a friendly kitty

To see her at her best check out Dracula Has Risen From The Grave, one of the better Dracula films from that era.

Tourney Update

As expected most of the matches are blow-outs. Top seed Grace Kelly leads last seed Tallulah Bankhead 26-3. Teresa Wright leads Margaret Lockwood 20-10. Kim Novak is crushing Doris Day 22-8. Janet Leigh is all over Vera Miles 22-7 in a battle of the Psycho film sisters. 2nd seed Joan Fontaine is up big over Sylvia Sidney 28-2. Ingrid Bergman is in a rout of Ruth Roman 27-1. There are only two close matches. Eva Marie Saint holds a slim 5 point lead over Madeleine Carroll 17-12. And my girl Carole Lombard clings to a small lead of 19-12 over Tippi Hedren. Matches conclude Friday evening so if you haven't made your vote yet please do so by then.

Teresa lets everyone know how the tourney is going....

it's good for her since she leads her match

Favorite Hitchcock Leading Lady Tourney is now underway

The tourney to decide who is the favorite leading lady of Sir Alfred Hitchcock films is now underway. First round action will run through Friday October 12th at 8 pm EST. There are 8 matches featuring the top 16 actresses that was selected based on appearances, awards, and recognition. Grace Kelly is the top seed and her first round match has her facing Tallulah Bankhead. Should be a walk in the park for Grace. I think the most competitive match will be between Teresa Wright and Margaret Lockwood. Good luck to all the women involved and I will be posting daily updates. Oh and it is one vote per match. No multiple chances.

Happy Birthday Carole Lombard (1908 - 1942)

Everyone knows that Carole Lombard is my favorite actress of all time! Today marks what would be her 104th birthday. Carole died at the very young age of 33 in that tragic plane crash delivering war bonds. Her mother was with her on that fateful plane as well. When it comes to screwball comedies, Carole is the queen.  To Be Or Not To Be, Nothing Sacred, Twentieth Century, My Man Godfrey, Hands Across The Table, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and so on. She also showed her dramatic range in films like In Name Only, Made For Each Other and Vigil in the Night. I plan on watching several of her films this weekend to mark this occasion.
\Happy Birthday Carole! You were the best!

First round matches of Favorite Hitchcock Leading Lady Tournament

Here are the first round matches scheduled for Sunday, October 7th. Good luck to all the actresses who are competing to determine All Good Things favorite Hitchcock Leading Lady. Some key first round matches that I am most interested in are Teresa Wright against Margaret Lockwood and the battle of the Crane sisters in Psycho between Janet Leigh and Vera Miles. Can't wait! 

1  GRACE KELLY (Rear Window, Dial M For Murder and To Catch A Thief)

VS

16 TALLULAH BANKHEAD (Lifeboat)

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8 TERESA WRIGHT (Shadow Of A Doubt)

VS

9 MARGARET LOCKWOOD (The Lady Vanishes)

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4 KIM NOVAK (Vertigo)

VS

13 DORIS DAY (The Man Who Knew Too Much)

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5 JANET LEIGH (Psycho)

VS

12 VERA MILES (Psycho, The Wrong Man)

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2 JOAN FONTAINE (Rebecca, Suspicion)

VS

15 SYLVIA SIDNEY (Sabotage)

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7 MADELEINE CARROLL (The 39 Steps, Secret Agent)

VS

10 EVA MARIE SAINT (North By Northwest)

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3 INGRID BERGMAN (Notorious, Spellbound, Under Capricorn)

VS 

14 RUTH ROMAN (Strangers on a Train)

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6 TIPPI HEDREN (The Birds, Marnie)

VS

11 CAROLE LOMBARD (Mr. and Mrs, Smith)

First round action will run through Friday October 12th!

Hall Of Fame Inductees for September: WILLIAM POWELL and MYRNA LOY

I apologize for the lateness of my selections for All Good Things Hall Of Fame. I should have been posted this, but since it is only October 1st, I think it's still ok. My pair to take that walk into the Hall of Fame is none other than William Powell and Myrna Loy. One of the most beloved screen couples of all time. Best known for the chemistry as Nick and Nora Charles in six Thin Man films, the pair also made eight other films, bringing their total to 14. How did they get into the Hall of Fame you may ask? I will tell ya. I started my Monties (my version of the Oscars) with 1934 and The Thin Man pretty much swept that year. In fact it did sweep. I only had four categories that year and The Thin Man won every one of them. Including Powell and Loy as best actor and actress. So congratulate the pair as they enter into my Hall of Fame.

Favorite Hitchcock Leading Lady Tournament Selections

As promised here is the complete list of actresses that will be competing for favorite Hitchcock Leading Lady. Sixteen in all. Ranked from number 1 to 16, based on appearances, award recognition and performance. Some actresses did not make the cut like Anne Baxter (I Confess) and Marlene Dietrich (Stage Fright) but I tried to be as subjective as I could. I will have the matches set up and posted before the tourney kicks off Sunday evening.

1 GRACE KELLY
2 JOAN FONTAINE
3 INGRID BERGMAN
4 KIM NOVAK
5 JANET LEIGH
6 TIPPI HEDREN
7 MADELEINE CARROLL
8 TERESA WRIGHT
9 MARGARET LOCKWOOD
10 EVA MARIE SAINT
11 CAROLE LOMBARD
12 VERA MILES
13 DORIS DAY
14 RUTH ROMAN
15 SYLVIA SIDNEY
16 TALLULAH BANKHEAD

Should be an interesting tournament!

A new tournament to kickstart October!

After a lackluster month blogging for September in which I wrote only 10 posts, by far my lowest output since starting my blog nearly three years ago. I needed something to get me going again. So why not a tournament..one of my favorite things that has been a regular feature on my blogs. So what would be the theme of said tournament? Since it's October, a month all about scary things, why not focus on Alfred Hitchcock. Specifically the leading ladies of Hitchcock. Last year I did a tourney spotlighting Hitch's films which was won by Rear Window. This tourney will focus on the top 16 actresses of his films. And I know most people are probably figuring Grace Kelly should win hands down, but there have been upsets before in my other tourneys of the past. Remember Gloria Grahame knocking off heavily favored Marilyn Monroe? Huge upset. As a favorite sports saying goes, that's why we play the game. I am still working on the list of contenders but I do have the top four selected. My selection process is basing the women's record in Hitch's films: most recognition, an Oscar win or nomination, most appearances, etc. And I will be concentrating on leading ladies so such outstanding supporting work such as Judith Anderson in Rebecca will not be eligible. I may do a tourney focusing on supporting players next year maybe. Anyway here are the top 4 seeds of the tourney. 

1 GRACE KELLY - She appeared in three Hitch films: Rear Window, Dial 'M' For Murder and To Catch A Thief. One of Hitch's frequent leading ladies. While she never won an Oscar for playing one of his ladies, she made quite an impression on audiences and critics. Her Lisa Fremont in Rear Window is my all time favorite Hitchcock character.

2 JOAN FONTAINE - The only actress to win an Oscar in a Hitchcock film. The only person as a matter of fact, including actors. Yes Cary Grant nor Jimmy Stewart never won an Oscar for their multiple appearances in a Hitchcock film. Joan was nominated for both Rebecca and Suspicion in consecutive years of 1940 and 1941 and won for the latter.

3 INGRID BERGMAN - Top notch actress who graced audiences with her appearances in three Hitch films: Notorious, Spellbound and Under Capricorn. More than worthy enough in being a top seed in this tourney.

4 KIM NOVAK - Many consider Hitch's Vertigo his masterpiece and the actress in that film is none other than Kim Novak. It is considered to be one of her best roles.

So there you have the top four actresses who have earned the right to be the top seeds. I will have the complete list done before the week is out as the tourney will begin Sunday, October 7th. Hope everyone will drop by to take part in this tournament.

Even Hitch is excited about the tourney...

Happy Birthday Romy Schneider (1938-1982)

Austrian actress Romy Schneider has quickly become one of my favorite actresses in the few movies I have seen of hers. Recently in Good Neighbor Sam, co-starring Jack Lemmon and What's New Pussycat with Peter Sellers and Peter O'Toole. Up to number three on my favorite actress list. September 23rd marks her birthday, or what would have been her birthday. She died from cardiac arrest at the age of 43. Me and my best friend Irene Palfy have had many a conversation about her. She is an awesome actress indeed! Happy Birthday Romy! We still have all the wonderful films you did to enjoy.

Personal Quotes by Joan Crawford

Every month when I choose my classic movie goddess, one of the things I like to do is list some of her favorite personal quotes as supplied by IMDB. So here we go with Miss Joan letting it all go...and the first one is a doozy!

I need sex for a clear complexion, but I'd rather do it for love.

[In The Women (1939)] Norma Shearer made me change my costume sixteen times because every one was prettier than hers. I love to play bitches and she helped me in this part.

Love is fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell.

Nobody can imitate me. You can always see impersonations of Katharine Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. But not me. Because I've always drawn on myself only.

I think the most important thing a woman can have -- next to talent, of course, is -- her hairdresser.

You have to be self-reliant and strong to survive in this town. Otherwise you will be destroyed.

Recently I heard a 'wise guy' story that I had a party at my home for twenty-five men. It's an interesting story, but I don't know twenty-five men I'd want to invite to a party.

Send me flowers while I'm alive. They won't do me a damn bit of good after I'm dead.

Not that anyone cares, but there's a right and wrong way to clean a house.

There was a saying around MGM: "Norma Shearer got the productions, Greta Garbo supplied the art, and Joan Crawford made the money to pay for both".

If you've earned a position, be proud of it. Don't hide it. I want to be recognized. When I hear people say, "Joan Crawford!" I turn around and say, "Hi! How are you?"

If you're going to be a star, you have to look like a star, and I never go out unless I look like Joan Crawford the movie star. If you want to see the girl next door, go next door.

I'll say one thing...Joan definitely told it like it was!