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9 Classic Movies Where the Actors Died During Filming

9 Classic Movies Where the Actors Died During Filming

An actor or actress dying suddenly during the filming of a movie can either make it a huge success of cause enormous problems (like Oliver Reed dying during the filming of Gladiator). Here are 9 classic Hollywood movies which either the star died suddenly on-set or was murdered/committed suicide during production. Marilyn Monroe: “Something’s Got(…)

Dressing Grace Kelly: A Vintage Fashion Challenge

Dressing Grace Kelly: A Vintage Fashion Challenge

I sent out a challenge to the vintage stores I know this week, asking them to pick their favourite outfit for Grace Kelly, and this is what they sent in. What do you think? Which outfits are spot-on, and which are totally wrong? I think my favourites are the lace cardigan (below) and those amazing(…)

1950s Supermodels: Dovima

1950s Supermodels: Dovima

Of all the top models of the 1950s Dovima is perhaps the most well-known. Her fabulously unique model name came from a combination of all of her names: Dorothy Virginia Margaret Juba. She was scouted by the editor of Vogue on a street in New York. One of her most famous fashion photographs is the(…)

Screen Idols: Clark Gable, The King of Hollywood

Screen Idols: Clark Gable, The King of Hollywood

Gable started out in Hollywood playing bit-parts in silent movies in the mid 1920s and starred in his first starring role in 1931 in The Painted Desert opposite leading lady Helen Twelvetrees. The movie that really catapulted him to fame was Red Dust (which I reviewed last week)  where his rough and ready sex appeal(…)

The 10 Top Grossing Movies of the 1950s (You’ll Be Surprised!)

The 10 Top Grossing Movies of the 1950s (You’ll Be Surprised!)

You might think that the 1950s was all about style and sophistication, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn, but according to this list of top 10 grossing movies* it was very much the decade of historical epics, Charlton Heston and Walt Disney! How many of these big screen blockbusters have you seen, and are you surprised by(…)

Vintage Style Icons: Adrian – MGM’s Costume Designer Extraordinaire

Vintage Style Icons: Adrian – MGM’s Costume Designer Extraordinaire

Adrian Adolph Greenberg, better known as just ‘Adrian’ was one of the most amazing costume designers ever seen in Hollywood. He was MGM’s head costume designer from 1928 and 1941 and designed the costumes for over 250 movies during the 1930s and 40s. Remember Dorothy’s iconic glittering ruby slippers in the Wizard of Oz? Well(…)

Screen Idols: Donald O’Connor

Screen Idols: Donald O’Connor

You probably know Donald O’Connor best from the movie Singin’ in the Rain – I know that’s where I first came across him. While I fell madly in love with Gene Kelly, I was wowed by Donald O’Connor running up the wall and in fits of giggles at his fight with the mannequin.  If you(…)

Movie Tuesday: Red Dust (1932)

Movie Tuesday: Red Dust (1932)

I’ve never really ‘got’ the Clark Gable thing. I’ve watched Gone With The Wind without him leaving any particular impression on me but after watching Red Dust I get it. Maybe there’s something about a rough-and-ready Gable and the sultry heat of the jungle, both women in this movie certainly seem to think so! It’s(…)

Oooh, Look What I’ve Got!

Oooh, Look What I’ve Got!

I saw a very dear old friend of mine yesterday (well, not so *old* actually – she’d just love being called that, ha! but we have known each other since we were 7!) and she gave me these fabulous vintage gifts as a belated birthday present. I just wanted to share how gorgeous they are(…)

Top 10 Leading Men of the 1940s

Top 10 Leading Men of the 1940s

There were some great movie actors around in the 1940s, it truly was the golden age of cinema! Here are my top 10 leading men of that decade – have I missed anyone crucial out? 1. Humphrey Bogart Bogart was ranked the greatest male movie star in history by the American Film Institute, and he(…)

20 Vintage Fur Adverts You Wouldn’t See Today

20 Vintage Fur Adverts You Wouldn’t See Today

You don’t see fur adverts much these days (or at least I haven’t come across many) but basically fur advertising hasn’t changed much since this type of ad (above) from the 1960s. Why she’s holding a lit cigarette lighter that close to her flammable fur coat I have no idea… Anyway, by now you probably(…)

1930s Movie Icons: Lupe Vélez

1930s Movie Icons: Lupe Vélez

Lupe Vélez was one of the very first Mexican actresses to have a successful Hollywood career in the 1920s and 30s. She was extremely popular but died tragically young at the height of her career aged just 36. Above: Photo of Jimmy Durante, Lupe Vélez and the Mills Brothers from the 1934 film Strictly Dynamite.(…)

Movie Monday: Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Movie Monday: Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

If you follow my blog you might have noticed that I’m going through a bit of a Hitchcock phase at the moment. I very much enjoyed The 39 Steps last week (much to my surprise and delight) but sadly I can’t say the same about this movie. Up until this point I’ve pretty much enjoyed(…)

10 Supermodels of the 1950s

10 Supermodels of the 1950s

Did you know that Uma Thurman’s mum was one of the most popular models in the 1950s? The Fifties was a great time for models. For the first time they became superstars in their own right. Apart from ‘the big three’ (Suzy Parker, Dovima and Jean Patchett), there were lots of other models who really(…)

7 Classic Hollywood Stars Who Had Plastic Surgery

7 Classic Hollywood Stars Who Had Plastic Surgery

Stars were having nips, tucks and predominantly nose-jobs from as early as the 1930s. It’s not well-documented as the stars who had succesful surgery rarely owned up to it, and those who had less successful surgery (like Mary Pickford who was rumoured to have damaged facial muscles after an early facelift) just faded from public(…)

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Elizabeth Taylor

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Elizabeth Taylor

Taylor was married 8 times. Her shortest marriage was with her first husband Conrad Nicky Hilton which lasted just 9 months, and her longest marriage was with Richard Burton which lasted 10 years (plus an extra year when they re-married in 1975). Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton starred together in 11 movies.

16 Iconic Vintage Hairstyles

16 Iconic Vintage Hairstyles

Looking for some hair-style inspiration? I’ve collected some of the most iconic hairstyles here from the 1920s to the 1970s, which one do you fancy trying? I’m taking style inspiration from Faye Dunaway from Bonnie and Clyde today… 1. Veronica Lake: The Peekaboo Fringe 1940s movie star Veronica Lake was famous for her long finger(…)

My Secret Dreams of Lion Tamers, Artists and Showgirls

My Secret Dreams of Lion Tamers, Artists and Showgirls

Perhaps I’m experiencing a slight mid-life crisis. I’ve certainly struggled with the idea of turning 40 and I’ve been feeling pretty fed-up for the last week, so I’ve been re-assessing my life a little and I’ve realised I’m not doing a many of the things I really enjoy. It’s so easy to be busy all(…)