#filmsky #moviesky #photosky #photography Championing a directional lighting technique, George Hurrell became Hollywood’s preeminent portrait photographer in the 1930/40s. If you’re in Washington DC in the next 6 months, check out this exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery.

First look at Sass Mouth Dames Film Club series 36 in November, when we celebrate Alice Fay, Gypsy Rose Lee, Jean Arthur, and Ginger Rogers. Tickets available in October.

If you’re still celebrating Garbo’s birthday, why not check out the radio play I wrote about showbiz hopefuls? House of the Seven Garbos is a three-part series from Sass Mouth Dames podcast, available wherever you get your shows.

Treat yourself to the nine-part interview with Lillian Burns Sidney, born on this day, the acting coach who taught a generation of MGM stars, including Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, Esther Williams and Debbie Reynolds. A legend. youtu.be/GJrxV2lkvEw?...

Went into the office to give a workshop today. Good time to hang up Marilyn.

On this day in 1929, Joan Crawford left her hand and footprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

If looks could kill, Palance would have died way before the credits. #TCMParty #SuddenFear #NoirAlley

Barbara Stanwyck by the White Studio, NYC 1927.

For more than 40 years, Richard Fleischer directed big stars like Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas, and Jane Russell. But he was only star struck with Sylvia Sidney, on the set of Violent Saturday (1955). Sylvia made it easy for him: “Just tell me when to cry.” He titled his memoir after her advice.

The Parkinson interview with Anita Loos airs on BBC Four Thursday after Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Frances Drake, Toby Wing, and Lona Andre pose with their temporary tattoos supporting the NRA (the National Recovery Administration, not the gun nuts). Movie Classic magazine, January 1934.

The Women was released on this day in 1939. Praise be.

They had me at Hollywood trilogy.

“Go home and tell your mamas you’ve been born again tonight.” Gary Cooper, swoon merchant. Sass Mouth Dames Film Club series 35 kicks off next week with City Streets (1931. Get your tickets at Eventbrite.

How the heck did they miss this?

Only two more weeks until the return of Sass Mouth Dames Film Club. Join us for the screen debut of Sylvia Sidney in City Streets (1931). Tickets include a glass of wine and snacks. Not bad for a tenner. www.eventbrite.ie/e/sass-mouth...

Oh, no! I love that place.

On Thursday the rare documentary from 1969, Garbo, by Joan Crawford, is on BBC4. Screaming!

Sass Mouth Dames Film Club series 35 kicks off in September. You get a glass of wine, a snappy intro from me (I don’t read notes!), and a red hot pre-Code for €10. Tickets at Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.ie/e/sass-mouth...

A 25-year-old Gary Cooper in The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926), his first major role

DVD in the post 😍

Souls for Sale (1923). Sound.

If you need me, I'll be at the ostrich farm in Pasadena.

Pick-Up (1933) has been on my film club wish list forever. Dying for a DVD release.

Honestly, my restraint in only using the word ‘racket’ twice in this script should be rewarded with a diamond tiara. (I do love it so).

Sass Mouth Dames Film Club returns on 4 September in The Dot Theatre with Sylvia Sidney's explosive screen debut. Also starring swoon merchant Gary Cooper. City Streets (1931).

Are you a good chicken?

🤮🤮🤮🤮

PRE-CODE ESSENTIALS by myself and Kim Luperi releases October 28th! Covers 50 of the wildest and sexiest movies of 1930-34, with over 200 pictures and tons of trivia. - Amazon - amzn.to/4hNVqQO - Barnes & Noble - www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pre-code-e... - Bookshop - bookshop.org/a/111647/979...

When people talk about the end of summer.

Film fans know that Harry Cohn was a real stinker to Kim Novak, but few know about the role Muriel Roberts played in the star's career. Kim thought her publicist was a close friend. In reality, Muriel was a spy for Cohn. Listen back to a new podcast episode: soundcloud.com/sassmouthdam...

Fair.

“What’re you doing with your fingers?” “Nothing. Yet.” Gary Cooper has skills. Morocco (1930).

“Every light has to mean something, to be fully justified, like words in a sentence”—cinematographer Leon Shamroy.

Don’t miss Hollywoodland, @mrharrylime.bsky.social ‘s show at the Signal Arts Gallery in Bray. The exhibition opens tomorrow and runs until the 22nd. See you there for the reception on 13 June.

When you catch the real story.

Calling all Old Hollywood fans: Don’t sleep on the film programme of the season. The Irish Film Institute screens 12 pictures of Dietrich X Garbo. Get the member/friend price when you book with promo code SASSY.

The Brush, courtesy of Kim Novak.

Kim Novak was nervous about attending the premiere of The Desperate Hours (1955). Her escort, Frank Sinatra, told her not to worry. She would be among friends, she was beautiful, and everything would be fine. His last bit of advice: “Hold up your head and go in like a pillar of fire.” 🔥

Tonight: Bad Company (1931), starring Helen Twelvetrees and Ricardo Cortez.

Merian C. Cooper directing Fay Wray on the set of King Kong (1933)

Joan Crawford’s face is a chiselled monolith on par with Coffee Pot Rock, the red butte that frames the landscape. Dressed in impeccably tailored trousers and a crisp blouse, she’s as solid as a six-shooter. Catch up with the episode on Johnny Guitar from Sass Mouth Dames podcast.

Of all the thugs in Murderer's Row, Warner Bros. chose RICHARD BARTHELMESS to play a gangster in a Damon Runyon story. Why? I've heard choir boys say 'what's his angle?' with more brass than this lad.

Show five more 😉

Putting this piece of trivia back out into the world: “What inspired me in the creation [of Lois Lane] was Glenda Farrell, the movie star who portrayed Torchy Blane, a gutsy, beautiful headline-hunting reporter, in a series of exciting motion pictures.” — Jerry Siegel, Time, May 30, 1988

My first year of high school was in the Atlantic Building at Broad and Spruce, on the 16th-20th floors, above the Philadelphia College of Arts. It was so glamorous.

Very excited for opening night of Philadelphia Independent Film Festival! Doors open at 7.00 for the comedy shorts programme including Sex Pirates of 1931, written and directed by me 😉

Listen back to Sass Mouth Dames podcast for episode 151 on Johnny Guitar. Joan Crawford wrangled a lacklustre script, a mercurial director, a chaos agent, and columnists who put a bounty on her head. on.soundcloud.com/2GEtw4CNQ6Zh...

It's May! Want to watch some Mae? Check out what pre-Codes are popping up on TCM this month. pre-code.com/pre-code-mov...

Nicholas Ray on seeing the Amphitheater of Leptis Magna in 1957: “Do you realize the Romans built in CinemaScope?”