Shirley Booth: What's Your Favorite Films Dealing With LOVE?

Monday, February 11, 2013

What's Your Favorite Films Dealing With LOVE?

WITH VALENTINE'S DAY COMING...

I invite you - one of my many devoted readers - to tell me your favorite films dealing with love. If you could include something personal with your comment, such as your city/state or occupation, I would be most grateful. I will post your comments over the next few days...

One of my favorites is from 1939...

The tears flow in the love story by Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights. It's one of my favorites from the Golden Age of Hollywood, and I will be viewing the best version tonight - that's the Sam Goldwyn production. (PLEASE NOTE MY SPOILER ALERT!)

That quality film offers the talents of Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon at their peak. The film had its share of production problems, especially clashes between the actors and with the director William Wyler. Nevertheless, the result is a masterpiece.

The sad ending of Cathy's death scene with Heathcliff begging her forgiveness is truly unforgettable, and a tribute to two skilled actors!

This production's finale shows the two ghosts of Cathy and Heathcliff walking off in the snow covering Penniston Craig. Although this is not found in the book (and allegedly distorts Bronte's characterization of Cathy), I find it works quite well in concluding the portion of the sprawling novel that the film focuses on. Supposedly Goldwyn insisted on it - but Wyler hated it and refused to shoot it. But I just love it!

I must not forget to mention that there's some good cinematography by the master Gregg Toland, a fine score by Alfred Newman, and a good supporting cast including (the great silent film actor/director Donald Crisp, David Niven, Flora Robson, Leo G. Carroll, and Geraldine Fitzgerald). THIS FILM IS A MUST-SEE FILM!

*****

Some others....as some of these titles* indicate, it happens that films dealing with love are often tinged with sadness.

THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951) - The unlikeliest couple of Bogart and Hepburn meet in this unusual but very enjoyable tale.

*BEACHES (1988) - This good friendship film offers a sad ending with the moving "Wind Beneath My Wings," sung to perfection by Bette Midler!

*CASABLANCA (1942) - Bogart & Bergman, and a great supporting cast will never dim this classic. So many things could be said about this film - but simply, it's a must-see and must-own movie!

*NOW, VOYAGER (1942) - Astounding soapy love story, see my blog post on it.

SWING TIME (1935) - Astaire & Rogers in one of the best romance films from the golden age...see my blog post on it.

*TITANIC (1997) - This film by writer/director James Cameron is indeed sad as the Titanic tragedy will always be...Excellent story, performances and overall production values move it on my list of favorite films of all time.

*WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939) - See my post from this past Sunday.

*****

THANKS FOR VISITING!

JOIN ME AGAIN TOMORROW!

*****
For purchasing any of my books, you can visit Amazon.com
You can also check www.bookfinder.com
which offers the best prices on new & used copies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Bill, His Pinup Girl: The Shirley Booth & Bill Baker Story
by Jim Manago
Foreword by Leslie Sodaro
Published December 1, 2010
Further details at: http://shirleybooth.blogspot.com

1 comment:

judy said...: I have just ordered both of your books from Amazon and am eagerly looking forward to reading them. I adore Shirley Booth, I always thought she was a wonderful, multidimensional actress. She could make you laugh out loud one minute and tearing up the next, she was that good. I wish I could have seen her on stage, I'm sure she was magical. Thanks for sharing your love of Shirley with the rest of us.; February 14, 2012 at 4:29 PM

WHAT PEOPLE SAID ABOUT THIS BLOG SITE:

One of the most enjoyable aspects to offering this blog is seeing visitors from all over the world looking up Shirley Booth, and telling me how much they admire her or enjoy her productions. One of the best was from "Lucy" who wrote:

From.. Argentina, from my little apartment in Buenos Aires... Love Shirley Booth!!

Joseph Crisalli
(Author/Historian/Artist - Punch & Judy)

I'm thrilled, truly overjoyed, to see you're keeping the legacy of the magnificent and unique Shirley Booth alive! I very much look forward to reading your books.

Miss Booth was one of the finest actresses of the Twentieth Century and I fear that so few remember her today. A true actress, she was fascinating to watch whether playing Mrs. Leslie or Hazel. Her own personality also warrants remembering, so I applaud your work.

Thank you for ensuring that she lives on and for helping to give Miss Booth her due place among the greats.

*****

Judy:

I have just ordered both of your books from Amazon and am eagerly looking forward to reading them. I adore Shirley Booth, I always thought she was a wonderful, multidimensional actress. She could make you laugh out loud one minute and tearing up the next, she was that good. I wish I could have seen her on stage, I'm sure she was magical. Thanks for sharing your love of Shirley with the rest of us."

*****

Actress June Harding wrote in answer to my request for an interview:

Thanks for your request. Bad timing for me...after a long cold Maine winter I am outside painting, etc. ...and I just can't take the time now. And really, I don't want to do blog interviews/email. You're very kind to ask.

Your Shirley Booth site is very nice!

Best wishes,
June Harding

*****

Here is my favorite response from readers in 2011 and 2012:

Dear Mr. Manago:

Thank you so much for keeping the world aware of the glorious Shirley Booth's character, personality and talent.

In Philadelphia, we've recently discovered "Antenna TV," a terrific station playing great shows from the 1950s, 60s & 70s including Hazel! Our 7 year-old daughter is entranced by these shows and loves Hazel most of all...and we are so happy to share Hazel with her! She hasn't even mentioned anything about the fact that it's in black and white, which is saying something!

Again, Thank you, Mr. Manago! Keep up the good work!

Lauramac1

*****

Salvatore Somma:

I admire the continual work you do on the blog, and I am impressed by your knowledge of the film and entertainment field!"

WHAT PEOPLE SAID ABOUT "LOVE IS THE REASON FOR IT ALL: THE SHIRLEY BOOTH STORY"

Harvey Simms:

Dear Jim and Donna,

I am 67 years old and this year, through a TV channel called Antenna TV, I met “Hazel.” Immediately I felt a connection with this character. So much so, that I arranged my daily schedule around the two episodes each day.

After watching the show for a while, I realized that “Hazel” was Shirley Booth, or Shirley Booth was “Hazel.” I had to know more about Shirley Booth, a woman for whom I was already feeling some affection. I wanted a “Hazel” in my life and thought “How wonderful it would have been to have had ‘Hazel"’ in your life as you were growing up.”

At my nearest Barnes and Noble, I asked if there was anything available on Shirley Booth. The clerk said, “Yes, there is. It’s called ‘Love is the Reason for It All.’” The title fit so perfectly with what I had already seen of Shirley, that with a certain excitement I ordered the book. With great anticipation, I waited for the book to arrive. When it came, I was very pleased that it had not been damaged during shipping, especially since I was already thinking that this would be a book that I would cherish for a long time to come. The more I read, the more I became captivated by Shirley. I told my wife, “I’ve fallen in love with another woman”; only trouble was that she had passed on twenty years before.

Your book provided me with an insight into this woman who was playing “Hazel,” as well as a complete list of her credits, including some film which will allow me to see her in other settings. I don’t know what book critics or the publishing world had to say about your book, but as far as I am concerned, “You wrote the perfect book.” I thank you both for the research and the writing that created it. After reading it, I feel like you wrote it just for me. So moving was your story of her life that the last pages were difficult to read, because of the tears in my eyes.

Shirley Booth was an amazing woman, and you wrote an amazing book about her. I believe that she would have been very pleased. Thank you again.

Clair Schulz:

"What I liked about your biography about Shirley Booth was the use of quotations by Kantor, Reilly,and others who knew Shirley (not to mention comments by Booth herself) which support your assertions. Also the citing from reviews showed you did your research. There is a nice selection of photographs showing Shirley at various stages of her life. Being a devotee of OTR, I also enjoyed the section about her work on Duffy's Tavern. By giving us a complete picture of Booth, you did a valuable service by reminding readers that she was a versatile performer notable for her work on radio, stage, motion pictures, and television. You were fortunate to get the foreword from Ted Key when you did; he is now gone as so many great cartoonists are...

Joyce Van Patten, Actress:

"I applaud you for doing the book. I fear so many people have forgotten all our great ones. They turn everyman into a celebrity. These great artists were artists first, and celebrities maybe. Their interest was their art. Thanks for keeping these stories alive!

Richard Herd, Actor:

"Read it! Loved it! Passed it on to my 101 yr. old Mother-in-Law."

Wanda Clark, Personal Secretary to Lucille Ball:

"I thought I knew about this talented lady, Shirley Booth, from the awards for theater and movies and the wonderful television show. However, Jim Manago's book gives much more about her life and career. It's a very good read with so many beautiful
pictures and I'm delighted I found it, and highly recommend this book."

Julie Harris, Actress:

"Thank you for the book about Shirley Booth. She was a gifted actress, and I loved her!"

Thomas A DeLong, Reviewer, Radiogram (SPERDVAC publication):

"Author Jim Manago's presentation reads like a heartfelt Valentine card to actress Shirley Booth from her friends, associates and fans. It's loving and upbeat with fond recollections and reviews of a much-honored performer on stage, radio and television."

Tommy Garrett, Editor, Canyon News (Beverly Hills, CA):

"This book is inspiring, but most of all it is honest...Recently some biographers seem to
show disdain for their subject, instead of admiration.
But although Manago admires Booth, he's
able to separate his affection and go in depth into her life story and does so with ease. The book is chronologically correct, and Mr. Manago is an amazing fact checker...Despite the tough and aggressive nature of her business, you come across wanting to like and feeling like you know Shirley Booth in a way only Jim Manago could deliver. This is a must-read for historians and should be required reading for anyone interested in entering the field of acting via the Broadway stage."

Sal Somma, Professor of Music:

"I especially enjoyed the quotes from Shirley Booth because I was able to get a good feeling about her character through her own words. I applaud Jim for keeping it legit and not throwing in the trash and gossip that most biographies have. I can also appreciate the research and work that went into this endeavor - and he didn't have Shirley to consult with! Good book."

Jim Lovins (Amazon customer):

Thank our lucky stars for Ben Ohmart and his staff, BearManor Media, a small press that publishes BIG books. They pride themselves on publishing quality entertainment biographies, so they often put out the first book on unique subjects -- plus specializing in books with nostalgic themes and keeping classic Hollywood alive not only thru his publishing house, but thru his own books…Jim Manago has dug deep with quotes from Booth....Quite an impressive book -- A must read ~ Highly recommended!

Prof. Edward Wesley, (Chairman, English
Department, St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY):

I enjoyed your book. It was a good read and as I planned, I brought it with me on vacation up in the
Berkshires. We accompanied it with Netflix's Come Back, Little Sheba and The Matchmaker. My
parents took the book back to their apartment and have it circulating among their friends.

An Associate Professor of Communication:

"Yes the book was interesting. Good research. I wish there were more personal reminisces of Shirley, tho...interviews with key people in her life were
probably impossible because so many have passed on. Thanks again for sharing it with me!

Anonymous:

"Mr. Manago has written an informative and positive book (by that I mean not overemphasizing any negative or squalid life details) that zeroes in on the facets that will ever matter to fans and aficionados; her career and what good a person did in life to counterbalance her imperfections."

Tom Watson, President, We Love Lucy Fan Club (
http://www.lucyfan.com/):

"I loved your book about Shirley! Long overdue! There was wonderful new information on almost every page... So much of her career was spent on the "live" stage or on radio -- and there is little spoken or written about those years today... What little the public knew about Shirley was from the Hollywood PR people that handled her few movies and HAZEL... Your book was a wonderful opportunity to "meet the lady" herself... I tried to interest publishers in doing a book 25 years ago, and everyone turned me down. If I couldn't do it -- I'm glad you did!

On Hazel...from devoted reader (dcolp):

"We are watching the episodes of season three in order, and last night saw "The Baby Came C.O.D.," which is a very good one. I found a few of the season three episodes to be a bit weaker than the overall episodes in season two, but it has been picking up steam. I remember seeing "George's 32nd Cousin" back in the mid-1980s when "Hazel" was on TBS every morning. It would have been amusing to have Dierdre in that episode. Imagine how she would have reacted to Sharlene! Do you know where Whitney Blake was during those two episodes without her (and the one preceding those where she was in a couple scenes talking on the phone)? Also, in "Hazel Scores a Touchdown" Mr. B makes a point to say during the party scene that his wife could not attend. I wonder if she had surgery, or a death in the family, or something else where they would have to do without her for a short time. I liked that in "Cheerin' Up Mr. B" and "Piccolo Mondo" there were moments where Hazel was a bit more reflective, which adds shading to the character. I do think that there was more of that in the first season than in the second and third (so far). It also seems that the color quality is better in the third season episodes. Even though they are only a year apart, maybe the color process was a bit improved which resulted in less fading over the years. In so many episodes in season two there was an obvious purple shade in many of the scenes. Actually, it often was more lavender! There were some scenes where Mr. B's suit and hair had a lavender cast. Sometimes even the walls of the house looked lavender. It would be fantastic to see the episodes digitally remastered as far as the color, and be able to experience them as originally aired."

Shirley Booth's Prayer:

This is found on page 239-240 of my book, Love is the Reason for it All: The Shirley Booth Story (BearManor Media, 2008).

Shirley  Booth: “Well I have a poem that I found that I liked once. It said,  Give me a good digestion, Lord and also something to digest. Give me a  healthy body, Lord and the sense to keep it at its best. Give me a  healthy mind, Lord, and keep the good and pure in sight. When seeing sin  be not appalled, but find a way to set it right. Give me a mind that is  not bored, that does not whimper,whine, or sigh. Don’t let me worry  overmuch about this fussy thing called I. Give me a sense of you, my  Lord, give me the grace to see a joke. To find some happiness in life  and pass it on to other folks.” 

REVISIONS...

Despite all efforts to provide only accurate information in Love is the Reason for it All: The Shirley Booth Story some revisions are necessary:

The name of Shirley's maid is Eleanor Muto (not Mutose).

Page 11: Channel 5 is the New York channel that ran reruns of Hazel (not Channel 11).

Some of the recorded dates of Shirley’s early stock theatre work are based on her repeated claims made over the years in interviews. Actual theatrical records have been located which indicate that many of those appearances were actually later in the late teens of the 20th century. These details will appear in a separate study.

Page 24: Shirley Booth’s sister, Jean Ford Coe (February 14, 1914 – January 23, 2010) was not deceased at the time of publication as stated. She actually lived in a retirement home in Forest Grove, Oregon. Her daughter, Leslie Sodaro, contacted me to tell me this when she became aware of my biography when she found my blog devoted to Shirley Booth (http://shirleybooth.info).

Although she was her sister’s secretary and assistant, Jean Ford Coe did not know that Shirley’s birth name was “Marjory.” Jean knew her sister simply as “Thelma” or “Shirley.” Shirley never indicated that “Marjory” was the name on her birth certificate. Apparently, Shirley’s father liked his own mother’s name of “Thelma,” and so he used that name instead of "Marjory."

Page 58: The date of Shirley’s second marriage is not mentioned (September 24, 1943).

Page 58: The second line from page bottom should read “walls, yellow bedspread,” (not “walls, yet low bedspread.”)

Page 66: The character's name is “Taffy,” not “Cathy.”

Page 70: Shirley's appearance on The Fred Allen Show is June 19, 1949 (not June 9, 1949).

Page 70: Shirley did not appear in a widely credited take-off of her Broadway musical Hollywood Pinafore, (The Fred Allen Show, “Brooklyn Pinafore, November 25, 1945). A copy of the show surfaced recently to confirm that Minerva Pious played the part attributed to Shirley.

Page 247: Claire Adams should be listed for Shirley’s Broadway Stage credits.

Page 248: Claire Adams was not one of Shirley’s Stock Theatre Credits.

Page 250: The date for Shirley's first Emmy Award for Hazel is not listed - the 14th Annual Emmy Awards took place on May 22, 1962.

Page 253 to 261: Due to the inability to obtain many “lost” radio shows to confirm Shirley’s actual appearance, reliance on radio show logs cannot be definitive. Additional credits are possible, but they have not been confirmed at the time of this publication.

Page 255: Add Adventures of the Thin Man, June 6, 1944 to Radio credits.

Page 257: Same revision as page 70 above.

Page 259: Shirley is not in Theatre Guild on the Air broadcast of “Hamlet,” either for incorrect date of April 21, 1949 or actual show from March 1951.

Shirely Booth On THE CAVALCADE OF AMERICA

Shirley Booth was heard a total of four times on the popular radio show The Cavalcade of America sponsored by the famed E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. My favorite is the August 14, 1944 episode, The Gals They Left Behind." http://ia700509.us.archive.org/16/items/OTRR_Cavalcade_of_America_Singles/CALV_440814_396_The_Gals_They_Left_Behind.mp3

December 13, 1943: "Check Your Heart at Home." http://ia700509.us.archive.org/16/items/OTRR_Cavalcade_of_America_Singles/CALV_431213_361_Check_Your_Heart_at_Home.mp3

January 6, 1947: "The Woman on Lime Rock." It tells the fascinating story of the real-life lighthouse keeper Ida Lewis. Shirley played the lead of Ida Lewis with guest Les Tremayne. http://ia700509.us.archive.org/16/items/OTRR_Cavalcade_of_America_Singles/CALV_470106_505_The_Woman_on_Lime_Rock.mp3

April 12, 1948: "The Man Who Took The Freedom Train." http://ia700509.us.archive.org/16/items/OTRR_Cavalcade_of_America_Singles/CALV_480412_563_The_Man_Who_Took_the_Freedom_Train.mp3

Centennial Coming Of Don DeFore (*Mr. Baxter")

With Don's 100th coming up, here's a real treat.... Dim the lights and sit back and enjoy this story of a landlady's worst nightmare. It's the Suspense episode called "The Furnished Floor." The simplicity of this episode is jarring. There are only two characters here...an odd tenant Mr. Jennings and a landlady named Mrs. Hawkins. The youthful-sounding 32-year old Don DeFore plays the weird tenant, and Mildred Natwick portrays the creeped-out landlady.

This chilling and well-done production is written by Lucille Fletcher, produced and directed by William Spiers. Fletcher is known for many things including her famous tale "Sorry, Wrong Number." GO TO: http://www.archive.org/. Type in "Suspense2". Click on the 47th episode dated September 13, 1945. Internet Archive calls it "Furnished Room."

Cast Of "Hazel, The Musical"

Here's a photo of the cast and creators of "Hazel, The Musical." Several scenes and a few songs were offered for the first time at the NoHo Arts Center in Los Angeles on June 12th and June 13th, 2012. I am disappointed that I did not get over there to see it as I was told the audience response was super and of course, the creators were thrilled! Hopefully I will be invited to a future presentation! Photo Courtesy of lyricist Chuck Steffan Bottom Row (left to right): Joe West, Kate West Middle Row (left to right): Zoe Rae Calamar, Noah Meyers, Judy Nazemetz, Jane Noseworthy, Scott DeFrietas Top Row (left to right): Murphy Cross (director), Ron Abel (composer), Chuck Steffan (lyricist), Lissa Levin (playwright)

Monday, February 11, 2013

What's Your Favorite Films Dealing With LOVE?

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