Judy Garland: Petite Dynamite.

On September 24, 2019September 25, 2019 By Renee Lou Dallow ( Bourgeoise Bloomers )In Now and then, old movie magic

So much as been written on the life of Judy Garland that there seems to be little more one can add. Her childhood, her career, her marriages, were all scrutinised by the press every minute of every waking day but how many have written of her warmth, her generosity, her vulnerability and her vitality outside of her inner circle. It seems that there were many who put her down at a time when she needed support. When she turned to uppers to keep her up and downers to help her sleep probably because she realised how fickle the general public can be. They were all there for her rise but who was there for the fall? Judy was a one in a million star. Shooting down to earth faster than any comet and it seemed no-one could stop it.

My grandmother took me to see ‘Wizard Of Oz’ when I was a child. The film was already twenty years old. I became an instant fan not only of Dorothy but of Judy too. There was such beauty behind that face and within that enormous heart of hers and that was what I identified with. The sweetness that was Dorothy was Judy. The two were intertwined in my memory forever. It was Judy who inspired my love of musicals, of theatre, of life. Since then I have researched her life, read books on her life and watched nearly all of her films. Judy was adored by both men and women for her onscreen charisma and for that golden voice that could break their hearts and have them leaping for joy in the same instant.

Who could forget Judy in , A Star Is Born or Easter Parade, or, Meet Me In Saint Louis? What about her stellar performance in, Harvey Girls, a personal favourite? In it she is petite dynamite opposite the calm sophistication of saloon owner John Hodiak. In every film Judy shone bright. When she sang she did it with her whole being. Such a huge, confident, resonant voice for one so plagued with insecurities. She was always afraid that she wouldn’t fit in because she wasn’t beautiful like Lana Turner or Hedy Lamar with whom she starred in, Ziegfeld Girls, or about being skinny enough to even be considered as a love interest for any of her leading men. As it turned out Judy was good enough on all fronts even with extra weight as in , Summer Stock. It didn’t matter. She was Judy and everyone adored her. If only she had known of the effect she had on so many throughout the whole world and how many wanted to be just like her.
Including yours truly. Me.

1930s Noir Style Who’s who in the gown department?

On July 7, 2019 By Renee Lou Dallow ( Bourgeoise Bloomers )In Festive frivolities, Film Noir, Movie Magic, Now and then, old movie magic

So how many of these stars can you name?

Doris Day Adorable

On May 16, 2019May 21, 2019 By Renee Lou Dallow ( Bourgeoise Bloomers )In Now and then, old movie magic

Doris was adorable in every movie she ever made. Beautiful inside and out with a superb whispery, jazzy, melodious voice to match. That was adorable too.
What many people don’t know is that Doris was originally a dancer until a car accident permanently damaged her legs She had broken them both. What did Doris do?

She didn’t give up. She spent her months, years, of recuperation teaching herself how to sing with a particular emphasis on phrasing that was truly unique. Doris may have appeared all ditzy on the outside but she had true grit. From the 40s to the 60s her film career did not slow and Doris was loved world wide. Amongst my favourites are ‘By The Light Of The Silvery Moon’ with Gordon MacRae, a Christmas classic, ‘Young At Heart’ with Frank Sinatra, in which she doesn’t sing but is the support for her broken down piano player husband, ‘Love Me Or Leave Me,’ based on the life of Ruth Etting, in which she starred with James Cagney, ‘Calamity Jane’ with Howard Keel
and ‘Pillow Talk’ with Rock Hudson.
Her personal life was not always perfect however. In the early part of her career when she was moving from big band singer into the movies she was romanced by Arty Shaw who was abusive and later, married Marty Melcher, who robbed her of every penny she owned. In 2004 she lost a son to skin cancer and from that moment on disappeared from public view. Doris was Rock Hudson’s best friend even when ‘Aids’ began it’s slow takeover of his beautiful face and body. All this she survived.
She was never bitter and was true to her Christian faith to the end. Her love of animals is legendary and throughout her life she was a crusader on their behalf. As I said she was and will be forever adorable.

Renee Lou Dallow

( Hybiscus Bloom. )

Christmas films in the forties and fifties

On December 22, 2018December 23, 2018 By Renee Lou Dallow ( Bourgeoise Bloomers )In Festive frivolities, Now and then, old movie magic

Christmas films in the forties and fifties reflected what was happening in the world at the time much like those of today. In the forties there was a war going on and many Hollywood films were centred around soldiers going to war, coming home, or on families waiting for news of loved ones. Spies were also a very big storyline for Hollywood writers. Many stars were involved in selling war bonds at the time. One star, Carol Lombard, was killed in a plane crash whilst on a war bond tour. Women in suits became all the rage too as more and more women joined the work force. Slinky evening gowns worn in the evenings only. They still liked to wear fur though and those that could afford it spared no thought for all the little furry animals sacrificing their lives to make them look glamorous in winter. In the 1950s movies changed along with women’s suits. The pencil skirt was the thing for a slim figure. They still wore fur coats though and even Doris succumbed.

Christmas movies changed too and were mostly about the changing dynamics within families. It was the age of teenage angst and ‘Rebel Without A Cause’ with Natalie Wood and James Dean. It was also the age of the consumer as the war years had deprived so many of the material necessities they craved.

DORIS DAY with mink coat
and Christmas presents gifts packages 1950’s
Photo: Stillphoto Collection / SUNSHINE

The movies reflected this. There is a scene in ‘All That Heaven Allows’ where Jane Wyman’s teenage children wheel in a television for her for Christmas so she won’t be lonely after her divorce from their father. Of course they don’t understand that their presence over Christmas would be of far more value to her . Liz Taylor was photographed with the same tele. A ‘Must Have’ just like it is today. Films of the fifties were also fixated on marriage and divorce. The age of melodrama. As in ‘Holiday Affair’. My favourite though would have to be ‘Meet Me in St Louis’ a musical about a family about to dig up roots and move to Boston and all the problems this causes.

Then there is Doris and Gordon MacRae in the wonderful ‘By The Light Of The Silvery Moon’, also a family movie, with some wonderful songs and a turkey with nine lives who avoids being served up for Christmas dinner.
The film also deals with malicious rumour mongering and small town mentality.