"No man can be a genius in slapshoes and a flat hat."-Buster Keaton

STAR OF THE MONTH

Buster Keaton

Born October 4, 1895

Died February 1, 1966

Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was born in October of 1895, in Piqua, Kansas.He was a natural-born performer whose parents, Myra and Joe were comedians.His father actually owned a travelling show with Harry Houdini.

Rumor has it that it was, in fact, Houdini who gave young Keaton the nickname of "Buster" when he was still an infant.Unlike most babies and toddlers, Buster had an uncanny ability to take a spill, get trampled, or thrown around,and never come close to shedding a tear.

When Buster was only around three years of age, he started acting in a show alongside his parents. "The Three Keatons" was nothing more than a simple comedy sketch, where Buster would make his father angry,and Joe would lose it and end up throwing his young son into scenery, the orchestra pit, and sometimes even the audience.Viewers were often shocked,especially noting that the small boy hardly ever got so much as a bruise.

Buster grew up on the stage, and easily began making a name for himself there.He continued doing family acts, until he was around 21 years old.His father,an alcoholic, was no longer able to do the shows, and Buster almost lost his built reputation as a good performer.So, Buster and his mother, Myra, travelled to New York together.The young Keaton was then introduced to film, and took it up naturally and easily.His first appearance was in the short film,The Butcher Boy in 1917.He made several more short films until 1920, when he got his first starring role in a movie for the silent film, The Saphead.

Due to his success,Buster was given control over his own production unit.He made more than one comedy film reel as the head of Buster Keaton Comedies, and then gradually shifted into producing full-length feature films.Keaton was very successful, until 1927.After investing too much money in a film that was considered a flop, he was never allowed free reign with his films again, having to work under a sort of supervisor, who monitored expenses and had moderate control over story lines.

The next year, 1928,brought a contract with MGM for Keaton.He later recalled signing it as one of the worst mistakes of his life.Keaton had always been free to improvise, ad-lib, do his own stunts and write his own material.Under MGM, however, he had cold-cut scripts, no room was made for his own twists and takes on things, he had to use a stunt double, etc.However,despite his unhappiness with his new contract, he was successful in "talkies."He would continue act in movies,on television,and with cameo appearances for the remainder of his career,and lifetime.He passed away in February of 1966 due to lung cancer.

Today, he is most recognized and remembered for his early silent comedies, which are one of a kind."Great Stoneface," as he was known,had a special talent of keeping people laughing and being able to convey emotion, whilst always keeping his deadpan expression.In recent years, Buster Keaton has been listed as the seventh greatest director of all time, and many of his films have been labelled as some of the greatest comedies ever made.He also has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

MOVIE OF THE MONTH

The Cameraman

1928

Starring Buster Keaton,Marceline Day,and Harold Goodwin

The Cameraman follows the adventures of Buster (Keaton), who sells tintype portraits on city streets to make his living.Buster has a crush on an MGM secretary named Sally (Day), and he tries to get a job as a cameraman for the studio in order to spend more time with her.An already successful cameraman, Harold (Goodwin),mocks Buster and tells him there's no way he'd ever get the job.

Sally tells Buster that he could be a great cameraman,he just needs some experience.Encouraged by her words, Buster empties his bank account to buy a motion picture camera, and goes about filming anything and everything.Sally looks at some of his film, and it just isn't good enough,so she tips him off about something big that could be happening in Chinatown, and she tells him to go check it out with his camera.On his way there, Buster accidentally kills a sidewalk musicians monkey.A police officer settles the issue, ordering Buster to pay for the monkey and take it's body so he can dispose of it.Soon after leaving, Buster finds out that the monkey was only stunned, but it revives and joins him for the rest of his mishaps.

Buster and his monkey arrive in Chinatown to the breakout of a Tong War.Buster,putting himself in danger, does his best to get up close and personal so that he can get good footage of the fight.The police break up the fight,and Buster is almost taken into custody, but he manages to get away.Ecstatic,he goes to MGM to turn in the footage only to discover that, in his excitement, he forgot to load actual film into his camera.

Dismayed, Buster goes back to selling tintypes, but eventually discovers he really did get footage of the Tong War.The monkey had switched reels before he turned it in.After another series of mishaps, Buster submits the real footage to be used,free of charge.The boss at MGM decides to show it for laughs,but is astounded at the quality of the footage.He sends Sally to get Buster, telling him he has great reception waiting for him.Caught in a ticker-tape parade,he assumes it's for himself, not realizing it's actually for Charles Lindbergh.

Today is the last day of Buster Keaton films on Turner Classic Movies,beginning at 8pm ET with In The Good Old Summertime.

To see a clip from The Cameraman, go here:

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/74/The-Cameraman/videos.html

"I've never been alone with a man before,even with my dress on.With my dress off,it is MOST unusual."

So,this post is about one of my favorite movies, which I cannot believe I didn't own until two weeks ago when I received it as a birthday present.

I've now fallen in love with it all over again.

Roman Holiday
1953

Starring the beautiful Audrey Hepburn, and equally beautiful Gregory Peck

Princess Ann (Hepburn) is on a Royal tour of various European capitals to politically establish her country's allied position with surrounding nations.Despite having the opportunity to travel to all of these beautiful countries, Princess Ann is extremely unhappy. Her days are already filled for her with meetings, luncheons, press conferences,and balls which she must attend, when all she really wants to do is be one of the people. She longs to stretch her legs, and tour all of these historical cities that she has been sent to.

One night, Princess Ann's unhappiness overcomes her and she throws a fit.A doctor is sent for, and he gives her a sedative to help her sleep, but warning that it will not kick in until later.Once she is left alone in her room, Ann devises a plan to sneak out of the royal palace, and truly discover Rome for herself.She manages to do just that, but her discoveries only reach as far as a distant street before her sedative begins to take over.Unable to keep upright, she collapses onto a bench, where she is lying in a stupor when American reporter Joe Bradley (Peck) finds her as he is waiting for a taxi.

Joe doesn't recognize her as the Princess. He tries to wake her up, but she is apparently intoxicated and has no intention of behaving normally. He asks her name, to which she replies "Anya Smith." He then tries to give Miss Smith some money,which she refuses,still in a haze and continually sinking lower.Joe is completely baffled, and doesn't want to leave her in the middle of the street at night.When his taxi arrives, he puts her in the back and tries to ask her where she lives.After several failed attempts, he finally receives an answer: the Colosseum.Not knowing what to do, he drives the strange Anya Smith to his own apartment, where he figures she can stay for the night, until she sobers up.

In the morning, Ann wakes up and is initially frightened at finding herself in unfamiliar surroundings. Eventually, it dawns on her that she really did escape the palace, and she can do whatever she wants, all day long.While all these revelations are occurring to her, Joe is having a revelation of his own. He learns that he has the Princess Ann, not one Anya Smith, sleeping in his apartment, through a local newspaper.He rushes to his editor and offers an exclusive story on the Princess, through being able to spend the day with her and observe her interactions with the city of Rome.He then runs back to his apartment, where he continues his charade of wanting to help the poor,lost Anya Smith.

He agrees to taking a holiday from work (without revealing what his true profession is) to be her guide and show her around the city of Rome,recruiting his friend Irving to secretly take pictures of her for the article.Ann is delighted and spends the best day of her life doing all the things she's never been able to.She cuts her hair, eats a gelato on the Spanish Steps, rides a Vespa around the city, visits the Mouth of Truth, and goes to a fair.Throughout the day, while observing Ann taking delight in the smallest things, Joe realizes he's starting to fall in love with her. He begins to rethink publishing the article and all the pictures, too.

At the little fair on the water that night, Joe and Ann dance together. He and Irving also help her escape the police, who have been searching for her all day.After their narrow escape, Ann and Joe also share a kiss.Ann realizes that they both have feelings for eachother, but also realizes that she cannot keep running forever, and things cannot work out for the two of them.Not realizing that he's known it all along, she tells Joe who she really is, and has him take her back to the embassy.The two embrace one last time, and then part ways after she asks him not to watch her go, but just to leave her.

Joe tells Irving to forget about all the pictures.Once Irving learns who the pictures are really of, he is tempted to publish them on his own, but decides not to.Instead, he prints them and gives them to Joe.At a press conference the next day, Ann pieces together exactly everything that was going on when she sees Joe and Irving in the crowd.Irving manages to slip her copies of the pictures as well, and she and Joe give eachother formal, distant messages of gratitude and love before they part ways for the last time.

"I could do some of the things I've always wanted to."

"Like what?"

"Oh, you can't imagine.I-I'd do just whatever I liked all day long."

"If I couldn't laugh,I'd rather die."-Claudette Colbert

It's finally here!

As you know,Turner Classic Movies designates August as their month for Summer Under The Stars.So,my pick for Star of the Month and Movie of the Month are my own personal preference out of the 31 stars they lined up.So,here it is.Enjoy!And be sure to watch a full day of Claudette Colbert's movies tomorrow, August 12, on Turner Classic Movies.

STAR OF THE MONTH

Claudette Colbert
Born September 13, 1903
Died July 30, 1996

Claudette Colbert was originally born as one Emilie Claudette Chauchoin.She and her family lived in Saint-Mande, Seine, France until she was three years old.They officially emigrated to the United States in 1906.She acted for the first time in a school play, at the age of 15.Once she graduated from high school, Claudette began studying at The Art Students League of New York.She got her first taste of Broadway in 1923, having a role in The Wild Westcotts.
After that, Claudette signed a five year contract with Broadway producer Al Woods.Her excitement soon turned to frustration.Nobody would cast her as anything but small parts like a maid.She fought for her right to a more colorful role,which she finally got when she played a snake charmer in The Barker in 1927.She caught the audiences attention, and started snatching bigger roles after that.She also caught the eye of Leland Hayward, who set her up for her first film role: Frank Capra's For the Love of Mike, 1927.Not only was it Claudette's first film role, it was also her only silent film.
Even though the movie was unsuccessful, Paramount Pictures offered her a contract in 1928 that would allow her to remain in New York so that she could also continue her stage work.She accepted,although she wouldn't appear on Broadway for 20 years after 1929.Colbert's movies were very successful.She had a different look,with her dark hair, and large,dramatic eyes.Her ability to speak both English and her native French fluently also came into play with some of her films.
Producers also saw Claudette's ability to effortlessly play the part of a vixen,or femme fatale.She was frequently cast in such roles, and even though they further boosted her career,Claudette eventually came to regret being typecast as the femme fatale.
Colbert remained active and extremely successful on the big screen up until the 1950's.It was at that time that she started to travel around Europe more extensively, and started appearing in fewer movies.She also made many television appearances during the 1950's.Claudette finally closed the door on her film career in 1955, only appearing in a movie once more in 1961.From then on, she only acted occasionally, and only on the stage.
Claudette Colbert passed away in 1996 due to ill health following a series of strokes a couple of years earlier.

MOVIE OF THE MONTH

It Happened One Night
1934
Starring Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable

Ellie Andrews (Colbert) is the spoiled, only child of a wealthy bank owner.Wishing to make a statement that her father no longer controls her, she marries a fortune-hunter named King Wesley.Her father intrudes and takes her away before their marriage can be consummated.Ellie,furious,runs away from her father.She decides to try to make it back to New York from Miami so that she and King can be together.
Sounds like an easy plan,but the minute she goes missing, Ellie's father notifies the papers,and uses his title and his money to advertise his dilemma.He has half the country out looking for his daughter, and offers a prize to whoever brings her home.Ellie dodges her father's forces, and manages to make it onto a night bus to New York alongside (among others) a reporter named Peter Warne (Gable).The two instantly butt heads.Much to both parties chagrin, Peter ends up helping Ellie after she loses her ticket to the bus while they're stopped for breakfast.Peter learns her true identity, and offers to help her make it to New York as long as she'll give him an exclusive story on her desparate bid for freedom.Desparately short on money,Ellie agrees.
Ellie quickly begins to lose her disdain for Peter,but he doesn't seem interested in her at all.The two of them slowly (after having to abandon the bus for the sake of Ellie's identity) make it to New York,with much arguing, and sarcasm along the way.Peter finally realizes that he has feelings for Ellie,but knows that this was a business deal.When they finally reach New York,after having a final disagreement, they go their separate ways.Ellie is reunited with her father and King Wesley.
Mr. Andrews finally agrees to let Ellie be with King, as long as they hold a real ceremony to make it official.He doesn't believe that his daughter will be happy with King,though,and tries to dissuade her from her decision.Peter comes to see Mr. Andrews but doesn't want the promised reward,but only a few dollars to cover the expenses of getting Ellie to New York.He admits to Mr. Andrews that he's in love with Ellie,but knows that Ellie is marrying King,so leaves.Mr. Andrews tries harder than ever to convince Ellie not to marry King,but Ellie remains firm up until the moment of "I do," when she just can't say the words.She runs away from King, and the movie ends with Ellie and Peter getting married and embarking on their honeymoon.

Officially dubbed a "screwball comedy," It Happened One Night is absolutely worth seeing.It's full of sarcasm,comedy, and romance.
It comes on TCM as a part of Claudette Colbert's day TOMORROW, AUGUST 12 at 11:30 pm.
And you can also watch a selection of 10 other Claudette Colbert films, playing all day tomorrow on TCM.

"I'll tune up my fiddle and I'll rosin my bow..."

"...I'll make myself welcome wherever I go."-Tex Ritter, "Rye Whiskey"

STAR OF THE MONTH

Singing Cowboys

Everyone knows that Westerns have been popular at the box office since the beginning of moving pictures.However, it wasn't until the 1930's that cowboys came equipped with guitars and voices made for crooning.
These days, most people aren't familiar with Singing Cowboys or the Musical Western genre at all.That's surprising because,believe it or not,audiences loved everything about them when they first came onto the scene.

I've chosen my Movie of the Month,but first,here's a write-up on the star of said movie.

Tex Ritter
Born January 12, 1905
Died January 2, 1974

Born as Woodward Maurice Ritter, but later nicknamed for the place he was born: Murvaul, Texas.Ritter showed an early interest in theater and film.He was first known as one of the voices of KPRC-AM, a popular radio program in 1928 that broadcasted "cowboy songs." By 1934, Ritter had starred in four Broadway productions as, you guessed it, a singing cowboy.He also snatched the lead voice-over role of the radio program The Lone Star Rangers.
Ritter made the official move to Hollywood in 1936,the same year his first film, Song of the Gringo, was released.Audiences nationwide could now put a face with the voice they had come to know and love.Throughout his career in movies, he made 71 films, 40 of which he starred in between the years 1938 and 1945.He also remained active in recording music until his death by heart attack in 1974 at the age of 68, his last single being released posthumously.

MOVIE OF THE MONTH

Song of the Gringo
1936
Starring Tex Ritter, Monte Blue,Martin Garralaga, and Joan Woodbury

The main protagonist, Tex (Ritter) is a lawman on an undercover mission.He poses as an outlaw in order to nail two real outlaws.Unfortunately,he's just a little too convincing and is spotted by the sherriff (Blue), who chases after him during a stormy night.Tex takes refuge at the home of Don Estaban Valle (Garralaga). Valle's business partner, Evans, is there at the time, and decides to use Tex's supposed skills as an outlaw to further his own "business" ventures.So, Tex is welcomed into the Valle home, where he quickly falls in love with Senor Valle's daughter, Lolita(Woodbury).She nurses a wound that Tex had recieved while fleeing from the sherriff.Evans, who "finances" failing mines in the area and then takes the property for himself once the owners mysteriously vanish, recruits Tex as a hired gun to help him take over the Henderson-Conklin mine.He orders Tex to kill the owners,thereby hoping to force Tex to show his true colors.Tex,being a good man,successfully fakes the deaths of the mine owners, and then tells them to go into hiding for their own good.Tex returns to Valle's home and remains there until a fiesta for Lolita's birthday, when Valle finds Tex and his daughter embracing.He forces Tex to leave,after bringing such shame to his home.While they argue about what Valle really saw, Valle is suddenly shot.Evans appears, and quickly points the finger at the innocent Tex.The sherriff comes, and a maid (whom Evans has previously paid off) is used as a witness against Tex.Tex is arrested for killing the miners and shooting Valle.Tex proves his innocence at his trial,when he arranges for the mine owners to come out of hiding and vouch for him.Evans, who is present at the trial, panics, and tries to shoot Tex, but is gunned down by the sherriff.In the end, Tex returns to Valle's home, where he finds Lolita, who has nursed her father back to health, and tells Tex that Valle has given them permission to marry.

Don't forget that July still isn't over.
You can catch more Singing Cowboy films on Turner Classic Movies every Friday, beginning at 8:00 pm.

And make sure you tune in for Star of the Month and Movie of the Month in August.It's Turner Classic Movie's Summer Under the Stars month, so I'll be picking my favorite actor/actress out of the 31 that they've chosen.