In his latest book about Hollywood, author Sam Wasson uses interviews and books — such as autobiography “Roman by Polanski” — to craft a novelistic tale about the making of the iconic 1974 movie “Chinatown.” The first chapter, “Justice,” starts off with the romance between actress Sharon Tate and young director Roman Polanski, as he casts her in his 1967 film, “The Fearless Vampire Killers.” Our excerpt (slightly edited for length) is below.
Duty was her pattern. She was a smiler, an actress.
Sharon signed with Ransohoff at nineteen. Dutifully, she faced Hollywood with professional dedication, taking courses in singing, dancing, and acting, the latter with Jeff Corey in the fall of 1963. “An incredibly beautiful girl,” Corey reflected, “but a fragmented personality.” Self-disclosure was a problem, so Corey one day put a stick in her hand and demanded, “Hit me, do something, show emotion!” Beauty was not enough. And she knew she wouldn’t be beautiful forever.
Duty was her pattern. She was a smiler, an actress.
Sharon signed with Ransohoff at nineteen. Dutifully, she faced Hollywood with professional dedication, taking courses in singing, dancing, and acting, the latter with Jeff Corey in the fall of 1963. “An incredibly beautiful girl,” Corey reflected, “but a fragmented personality.” Self-disclosure was a problem, so Corey one day put a stick in her hand and demanded, “Hit me, do something, show emotion!” Beauty was not enough. And she knew she wouldn’t be beautiful forever.
- 2/19/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
In his latest book about Hollywood, author Sam Wasson uses interviews and books — such as autobiography “Roman by Polanski” — to craft a novelistic tale about the making of the iconic 1974 movie “Chinatown.” The first chapter, “Justice,” starts off with the romance between actress Sharon Tate and young director Roman Polanski, as he casts her in his 1967 film, “The Fearless Vampire Killers.” Our excerpt (slightly edited for length) is below.
Duty was her pattern. She was a smiler, an actress.
Sharon signed with Ransohoff at nineteen. Dutifully, she faced Hollywood with professional dedication, taking courses in singing, dancing, and acting, the latter with Jeff Corey in the fall of 1963. “An incredibly beautiful girl,” Corey reflected, “but a fragmented personality.” Self-disclosure was a problem, so Corey one day put a stick in her hand and demanded, “Hit me, do something, show emotion!” Beauty was not enough. And she knew she wouldn’t be beautiful forever.
Duty was her pattern. She was a smiler, an actress.
Sharon signed with Ransohoff at nineteen. Dutifully, she faced Hollywood with professional dedication, taking courses in singing, dancing, and acting, the latter with Jeff Corey in the fall of 1963. “An incredibly beautiful girl,” Corey reflected, “but a fragmented personality.” Self-disclosure was a problem, so Corey one day put a stick in her hand and demanded, “Hit me, do something, show emotion!” Beauty was not enough. And she knew she wouldn’t be beautiful forever.
- 2/19/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Greta Garbo movie 'The Kiss.' Greta Garbo movies on TCM Greta Garbo, a rarity among silent era movie stars, is Turner Classic Movies' “Summer Under the Stars” performer today, Aug. 26, '15. Now, why would Garbo be considered a silent era rarity? Well, certainly not because she easily made the transition to sound, remaining a major star for another decade. Think Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, William Powell, Fay Wray, Marie Dressler, Wallace Beery, John Barrymore, Warner Baxter, Janet Gaynor, Constance Bennett, etc. And so much for all the stories about actors with foreign accents being unable to maintain their Hollywood stardom following the advent of sound motion pictures. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer star, Garbo was no major exception to the supposed rule. Mexican Ramon Novarro, another MGM star, also made an easy transition to sound, and so did fellow Mexicans Lupe Velez and Dolores del Rio, in addition to the very British...
- 8/27/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Harlow has previously been played onscreen by singer Gwen Stefani, who made a brief appearance as the actress in Martin Scorsese's Howard Hughes biopic "The Aviator".
"By Love Reclaimed" is the title of a book by Valerie Franich and Adrian Finkelstein, which attempted to uncover the mystery surrounding Harlow's husband MGM producer Paul Bern's death.
The movie will include the infamous 1932 scandal in which her husband was found shot dead at their Los Angeles home, two months after they married, reports contactmusic.com.
The film is expected to be released in 2015.
Ians...
"By Love Reclaimed" is the title of a book by Valerie Franich and Adrian Finkelstein, which attempted to uncover the mystery surrounding Harlow's husband MGM producer Paul Bern's death.
The movie will include the infamous 1932 scandal in which her husband was found shot dead at their Los Angeles home, two months after they married, reports contactmusic.com.
The film is expected to be released in 2015.
Ians...
- 1/16/2014
- by Amith Ostwal
- RealBollywood.com
• Harrison Ford will star opposite Blake Lively (Gossip Girl) and Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream) in The Age of Adaline, about a 29-year-old woman at the turn of the 20th century who stops aging after a near fatal accident. She exists in mostly solitary conditions till she meets a man who she’d rather give up immortality for. How, or why this is possible in the context of the movie have yet to be explained. Lee Toland Krieger (Celeste & Jesse Forever) is directing. [THR]
• Thomas Kretschmann (Wanted) has reportedly been cast as Nazi officer Baron Wolfgang von Strucker in Joss Whedon...
• Thomas Kretschmann (Wanted) has reportedly been cast as Nazi officer Baron Wolfgang von Strucker in Joss Whedon...
- 1/16/2014
- by Lindsey Bahr
- EW - Inside Movies
Jean Harlow was the first bombshell. Sure, there were silent-era predecessors, but our 'modern day' notion of the siren really started with Harlow. Mostly because of the platinum hair, which led legions to the peroxide bottle. (We've since never recovered from blonde worship.) Before she glided onto the silver screen, clad in liquid satin with that perfect '30s look comprised of thin brows, pouty lips and shining waves, the sexbombs were usually dark-haired. Think: Clara Bow, Louise Brooks and Norma Shearer.
If Bow was the "It Girl" that defined the 20s, Harlow was quintessentially 1930s. She could bridge the giant gap between classes -- she looked like a socialite but had plenty of sass, which ensured mass appeal. Her blondeness became her legend, promoted as "rare" though the modern-day eye would call it "bizarrely unnatural." Howard Hughes, who directed Harlow in her breakthrough role in "Hell's Angels," christened the...
If Bow was the "It Girl" that defined the 20s, Harlow was quintessentially 1930s. She could bridge the giant gap between classes -- she looked like a socialite but had plenty of sass, which ensured mass appeal. Her blondeness became her legend, promoted as "rare" though the modern-day eye would call it "bizarrely unnatural." Howard Hughes, who directed Harlow in her breakthrough role in "Hell's Angels," christened the...
- 3/1/2013
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
Jean Harlow, National Air Race director Cliff Henderson (top); Jean Harlow, Lee Tracy directed by Victor Fleming (Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz) on the set of Bombshell; cinematographer Harold Rosson, with whom Harlow was briefly married, is at the camera (middle); Jean Harlow by the pool of her Beverly Glen home (bottom) Jean Harlow-Mark Vieira Interview Part I What are your impressions of Jean Harlow as an actress? Do you have a favorite movie and/or performance? Harlow only became an actress under the expert tutelage of MGM drama coaches. I think she’s really great in both China Seas and Wife vs. Secretary. Jean Harlow and Paul Bern. What brought those two together? Harlow needed a father figure to guide her. Bern needed a rescue project. Neither person expected the consequences. What about Jean Harlow and William Powell? How did their relationship develop? Both...
- 4/12/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
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