Reflections

"I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions.
What ever you see I swallow immediately
Just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike.
I am not cruel, only truthful--
The eye of a little god, four-cornered.
Most of the time I meditate on the opposite wall.
It is pink, with speckles. I have looked at it so long
I think it is a part of my heart. But it flickers.
Faces and darkness separate us over and over.
Now I am lake. A woman bends over me,
Searching my reaches for what she really is.
Then she turns to those liars, the candles or the moon.
I see her back, and reflect it faithfully.
She rewards me with tears and an agitation of hands.
I am important to her. She comes and goes.
Each morning it is her face that replaces the darkness.
In me she has drowned a young girl, and in me an old woman
Rises toward her day after day, like a terrible fish."

Mirror

by Sylvia Plath

1961

"I wished I had died before I ever loved anyone but her..."-Ernest Hemingway

Welcome back to Think Classic after yet another absence. Once again, we apologize for our silence over the last several weeks, but we hope that today's post will make up for it. We have a very special treat that we are excited to share with you. It has been almost 2 years since we did a book post, and today's review should send you to the nearest Barnes and Noble.

The Paris Wife

2012 novel

by Paula McLain

I purchased The Paris Wife on a whim while on a trip to Barnes and Noble about a month ago. Like most people who are educated in literature and history, I am familiar with not only the work of Ernest Hemingway, but also his life. After reading the back cover I was instantly intrigued and took the novel home with me. I

was stuck in a reading rut, having previously finished a wonderful book, but having no idea what to read next, so that it had actually been a few months since I'd sat down and rifled through some pages. I was wary of this historical novel, as I usually am when someone seemingly makes up a story about historical facts. But from the very first page, I was lost in it, already desperate for more each time I had to put it down.

The book begins in Chicago, just 20 years after the turn of the century, which is when and where a young, ambitious, and as of yet unpublished Ernest Hemingway met his first wife, Hadley Richardson. I found myself falling in love with their relationship, just as Ernest found himself falling in love with the honest and compassionate Hadley. I got caught up in their year long whirlwind romance and the promise of a life in Paris, just as they did.

The two married on September 3, 1921, and very shortly after set off for France. They were poorer than poor, and yet made the best of their life together in their rundown apartments, still managing to rub shoulders with notable names such as Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and more. They also managed to travel to beautiful and interesting places such as Schruns, Austria; Lausane, Switzerland; and of course, Pamplona, Spain.

I was locked in the pages of this novel, traveling to all of these places and vacationing with the young and happy Hemingways, meeting these people I have only read about before. I was wandering around the streets of Paris with Hadley, and ducking into little cafes. I was locked in Ernest's writing room while genius burned as he feverishly scribbled the words that would become The Sun Also Rises. I felt the couple's despair when his life's work was stolen. I got to share in the eventual joy they felt when they had their son, Bumby.
It was enthralling, in the best ways, and yet there was always the underlying knowledge of eventual tragedy. Knowing that, as happy as they seemed in this moment or that chapter, things would not stay that way. Because I was also locked in the pages of the book, as a silent witness to their struggles. I watched their marriage deteriorate, and saw the cracks form that would eventually cause their relationship to crumble. I hated the other woman for Hadley, who saw her as a friend. I wanted to slap Ernest silly for his mistakes, but also wanted to cry for him, and occasionally with him. And, as I approached the final pages, I didn't know if I could say goodbye to the book. Just as Ernest and Hadley were wondering how they could really say goodbye to each other and wondering what they would do next, I was wondering how I would move on to my next book, while still being enchanted with this apparent masterpiece.

It is a wonderful book. The author has a beautiful way with words that gave her the ability to create an emotional and exciting story, while also keeping to the period, the places, and the people according to historical facts.It is a novel, but it is also genuinely true. You will travel to places you've never been, and see things that you never have. You will get lost in it.

"It was sometimes painful for me to think that to those who followed his life with interest, I was just the early wife, the Paris wife. But that was probably vanity, wanting to stand out in a long line of women. In truth it didn't matter what others saw. We knew what we had and what it meant, and though so much had happened since for both of us, there was nothing like those years in Paris, after the war. Life was painfully pure, and simple, and good, and I believe Ernest was his best self then. I got the very best of him. We got the best of each other."

Hadley Richardson

The Paris Wife

"The city was never to be the same again. When I returned to it, I found it had changed as I had changed. Paris was never the same as when I was poor and very happy."

Ernest Hemingway

"Her conviction that love did not find its expression in a letter was not perfect."-Ian McEwan

Happy Valentine's Day to you all!

Valentine's Day posts have always been a bit varied here at Think Classic, so it is no surprise that we are doing something different yet again this year.

Have you ever written or received a love letter? It is a notion that has always been romantic, especially in our world of technology today. Many people seldom take the time to sit down and write out their thoughts and feelings for someone the old fashioned way. Somehow that makes it even more special and poignant when we do.

Writing a letter is often regarded as a lost art, making letters like the ones we have to share with you today all the more valuable. It is amazing to think that while some of these people may be gone, their words--so full of meaning, emotion, life, and intention--remain.

We are excited to share a few genuine love letters with you for Valentine's Day, including a letter written by Hollywood's own Elizabeth Taylor (#3) to her husband, actor Richard Burton.

                                           "Dear Annie,

Today being Memorial Day and not having to work but half

a day, I decided to stay at home. I had just finished eating

breakfast and was sitting thinking about you and wondering

whether you had forgotten I was living or not.

As I had not heard from you since Sunday when the mail

carrier brought your letter and you can't imagine how

glad I was to hear from you. I wish you could be over here

with me today as you know we all are delighted to have you

come at any time, especially myself."

                                          "Vaun Darling,

I love you! Your letter of sweet endearment arrived yesterday

afternoon. Very timely too. Jerry had received a letter from his

girl in Wash. professing great love, etc. He let me read it and bet

that yours could be no better. So I had to let them read yours.

We all got a big charge from it. I assumed that you weren't serious.

Cause actually I'm such a swell fella I can hardly stand myself. So

you just couldn't really believe that I'm conceited.

I was so glad to hear that you got your reservations. Now if you'll

let me know when your train arrives, I'll meet you and hug and kiss

you so hard you'll wish you hadn't been so mean. (I cried myself

to sleep last night!)

Freshman stunt night was last night. All your friends wish you

were here but your man misses you 60,000,000 times as much.

All my love always,

Max

(over)

P.S.- I love you! I love you! I love you!"

                                      "My Darling (my still) My husband,

I wish I could tell of my love for you, of my fear,my delight,

my part animal pleasure of you- (with you)- my jealousy,

my pride, my anger at you , at times.

Most of all my love for you, and whatever love you can

dole out to me- I wish I could write about it but I can't.

I can only 'boil and bubble' inside and hope you understand

how I really feel.

Anyway, I lust thee,

Your (still) Wife

P.S.- O' Love, let us never take each other for granted again!

P.P.S.- How about that- 10 years!!"

"Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind.

And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind."

William Shakespeare

"And yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together nowadays."

William Shakespeare

Presenting the Beautiful Bebe Daniels..

Welcome to the first segment of Silent Saturdays in 2014. It has been a while since we did a Silent Saturdays post, our last one being done on the Master of the Monster, Boris Karloff. We are ready to kick off the new year with a beautiful star of the silent era whose career began over one hundred years ago...

Bebe Daniels

Born January 14, 1901

Died March 16, 1971

Hollywood knew her as Bebe Daniels, but she was born in Dallas, Texas in 1901, and the people there knew her as Phyllis Virginia Daniels. Daniels was born into the theater, some might even say born to be a star. Her father managed his own theater in Dallas, and her mother was an actress. Her parents made the decision to relocate to California for film opportunities when she was still very young. It was in Los Angeles that Daniels first began her career as a child actor. She was only 4 years old when she appeared in the first film production of The Squaw Man (1906), which was based on a play of the same name that had been written the previous year. That particular film would gain more interest through a remake later on in 1914. Later in 1906, her mother accompanied her on a theatrical tour of Richard III, a famous play by William Shakespeare. Though still quite small, Daniels acted in more Shakespearean plays in the following years. Gradually she began to take on small parts in various films, until she was cast in her first lead role at the age of 7 in the motion picture A Common Enemy (1908). She then acquired another lead part, this time in a short picture, as Dorothy Gale in the first motion picture release of The Wizard of Oz (1910), at the tender age of 9. Although those notable roles were important to building her career, nothing was so important as the recurring role that would really put her in the spotlight.

In 1913, one of the most rapidly rising stars of the silent era, Harold Lloyd, began the search for a female costar. He knew he had to find the perfect actress, and he knew that Daniels was exactly what he was looking for. She began working with Lloyd at the age of 14, the two first appearing together in a two-reel film called Giving Them Fits (1915). The two went on to make many more two-reel comedies together. They were not only a good team professionally, but the two also began a romantic relationship, which was highly publicized for that time period. The public affectionately referred to them as "The Boy" and "The Girl." Daniels always recalled her days working with Lloyd with great fondness, but she knew even in the very beginning that she could not stay with him forever. Lloyd was the king of comedy. He had found his niche in Hollywood, and due to his immense success in that genre, he had no intention of moving on to anything else. Daniels, on the other hand, still wished to be working on bigger budget motion pictures. She wanted to break into the darker world of drama, with genuinely emotional parts, and more dynamic characters.

So, in 1919, with a heavy heart but also high hopes, Daniels finished her contract with Lloyd and said goodbye to sign a contract with Cecil B. DeMille. She had smaller parts with him in the films Male and Female (1919), Why Change Your Wife? (1920), and The Affairs of Anatol (1921). A short time later she was offered a contract with Paramount Pictures, which she wisely accepted. It was with that studio that she was finally given the roles she was longing for, and finally broke free from her childhood star status with more adult and complex roles. She played

parts in films such as You Can Never Tell (1920), Ducks and Drakes (1921), and Nice People (1922). Her momentum was gaining with each new picture she released. In 1924 she was cast alongside legendary silent film actor Rudolph Valentino in the motion picture Monsieur Beaucaire (1924). This was exactly the kind of opportunity that she had been looking for, and which she undoubtedly would never have had if she had not made the decision to leave Lloyd and his studio.

Daniels remained with Paramount for the majority of the 1920s. In 1929, the studio decided to try going in a different direction with the development of sound equipment, so they terminated her contract. She was quickly picked up by Radio (RKO) Pictures. Not only that, but they immediately cast her in one of their biggest blockbuster pictures of the year. She survived the transition into talkies, and did so well that RKO even cast her in musicals such as Dixiana (1930). Musicals understandably had booming success rates when talkies first hit the scene, but that did not last terribly long. Unfortunately, Daniels had excelled in musicals at RKO so that when they decided to stop making them, they also couldn't decide what to do with her, so they released her. Warner Brothers was already waiting to offer her a contract. With them she starred in such films as Honor the Family (1931), and the first film production of The Maltese Falcon (1931), which was produced and released before the Motion Picture Production Code came into effect. She stayed with Warner Brothers for several years, her last picture with them being Registered Nurse (1934). The following year she officially retired from the film industry.

Daniels had met fellow actor Ben Lyon several years previously, and the two of them married in 1930. They both made the decision to go into retirement together. Following this decision, the two of them moved to London, England. While living in Europe, the couple worked together for BBC Radio. Their most successful venture with BBC was the series Hi Gang!, which Daniels wrote herself. When WWII hit Europe, especially England, Daniels and her husband devoted their time and work to war efforts aiding the allies. Not everything she did for them is known, although it has been historically noted that she was the first woman to set foot on the shore of Normandy after the invasion. Whatever work she did, it culminated in the honor of receiving the Medal of Freedom from Harry S. Truman for her services. Daniels remained in Europe until the war ended in 1945, and then she and her husband and 2 children returned to the United States. She found herself in Hollywood once again, working as a producer for Hal Roach and Eagle-Lion Films. She was quickly reminded of why she had decided to go into retirement in the first place, and returned to England 3 years later. Once reestablished in the UK, she and her family had moderate success with a sitcom called Life With The Lyons, which lasted for 10 years. She lived out the rest of her days in London with her family. On March 16, 1971, Bebe Daniels passed away due to a cerebral hemorrhage. She was 70 years old.

After her passing she was cremated and her ashes were transported back to the United States, to be interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in honor of her achievements in the film industry--a total of 78 major motion pictures, 1 produced motion picture, and decades of successful radio programming.

Over 60 of her films were silent.

"...Someday I want to do really big things."

-Bebe Daniels

"When I was a little girl, I played in a great many Shakespearean plays, and when I saw 'Viola,' and 'Portia' and 'Juliet' presented in such a beautiful manner, I hoped with all my might that when I grew up, I too might play such parts."

-Bebe Daniels

"Now go out there and be so swell that you'll make me hate you."

-Bebe Daniels

New year, new look...

Hello everyone!

Happy 2014!

We are excited to post this first entry of the new year, even if it is fairly small and seemingly insignificant.

Thank you once again for participating in another immensely successful year of A Very Vintage Christmas throughout the month of December.

Have you noticed the new look here on the site? This will be our design for 2014, and we are excited that you finally get to see.

Things will run according to a regular schedule beginning in February, with regular Star of the Month and Movie of the Month posts. We would also like to begin Silent Saturday segments again, which would be once a month. You can also be looking forward to a classically sweet post in honor of Valentine's Day within the next couple weeks.

We are ready to take part in all kinds of classic adventures with you in 2014!

Stay tuned!

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