See, I promised (threatened?) to be back with more celebrity quotes after having visited this topic not long ago
here. So we're in for another round of the famous being discussed by the famous; good, bad or otherwise, with pictures to go with. Let the names begin!
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| You're acting! Don't act! I don't act, that's why I'm a star. - ERROL FLYNN to PETER FINCH |
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| Errol Flynn was a joy (during The Sun Also Rises, 1957), a lovely man, and most of the talk about him is nothing but rumor by people who didn't even know him. He loved to talk about how much he could drink and the women he'd made love to, but most of it was just the rationalizations of a disappointed moralist. He was the hardest-working, most down-to-earth actor I'd ever worked with. - Director HENRY KING on ERROL FLYNN |
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| If I can be like Henry Fonda, then I look forward to aging, to sixty and beyond-and not just because Hank finally won the Oscar that he deserved (for On Golden Pond, 1981.) He was a good character actor and a good actor in the American tradition of playing variations on oneself. PAUL NEWMAN on HENRY FONDA |
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| In our big scenes together (in On Golden Pond, 1981) , Jane became very emotional. There's a moment when she's groping to find the right relationship with her dad, and I'm not sure what she's up to. When it was over, I could see Jane was proud. She pointed to the film crew-by that time everybody was crying-and whispered to me, "I guess they all had problems with their father." - HENRY FONDA on JANE FONDA. |
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| In The Trip (1967), I started to get fed up. I was fed up because Peter Fonda was a star and I wasn't. And Peter couldn't act. I'm sorry, man, he just can't act. He never bothered to sit and learn. He never studied. And he just kid of larked out. Now I don't begrudge the fact that he has talent. But he's not an actor, by any stretch of the imagination. - BRUCE DERN on PETER FONDA |
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| She pranced in one day when we were shooting Frenchman's Creek (1944) and said she was sorry for being so difficult, but after al, the whole picture rested on her shoulders and it was a heavy responsibility. The whole company of distinguished British actors was so insulted they refused to work with her and we lost a lot of time patching that one up. - Director MITCHELL LEISEN on JOAN FONTAINE. |
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| I dreaded working with Joan Fontaine again (on Darling, How Could You!, 1951), but the first day, she came up to me during a break and she said she was just doing it for the money, she wasn't out to prove anything any more, and she would act it whatever way I told her. And that's just what she did; she couldn't have been more delightful and fun to work with. We had a ball doing it. - Director MITCHELL LEISEN on JOAN FONTAINE. |
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| I'll never forget the night I brought my Oscar home (for The Diary of Anne Frank, 1959) and Tony took one look at it and I knew my marriage was over. - SHELLEY WINTERS on ANTHONY FRANCIOSA |
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| It was the joy of your life to know Clark Gable. He was everything good you could think of. He had delicious humor; he had great compassion; he was always a fine old teddy bear...in no way was he conscious of his good looks, as were most of the other men in pictures at that time. Clark was very un-actory. - JOAN BLONDELL on CLARK GABLE (shown during Adventure, 1945) |
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| I'm a legend because I've survived over a long period of time and still seem to be master of my fate. I'm still paddling the goddamn boat myself, you know...whereas Garbo has always been a mysterious sailboat who disappeared over the horizon the moment she felt she couldn't cope. She represented a kind of elusive beauty, and she felt, I think, that when that elusive beauty started to fade she would wave goodbye and disappear. - KATHARINE HEPBURN on GRETA GARBO |
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| Today marked the worst behavior I've yet seen from that curious breed I make my living opposite. Ava showed up for a late call (on 55 Days at Peking, 1963), did one shot (with the usual incredible delay in coming to the set) and then walked off just before lunch when some Chinese extra took a still of her. She came back after a painful 3-hour lunch break...only to walk off, for the same reason. - CHARLTON HESTON on AVA GARDNER |
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| There wasn't a thing that girl couldn't do-except look after herself. - BING CROSBY on JUDY GARLAND |
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| It was the only tacky thing I knew MGM to do. Letting her go. They should have closed it (Annie Get Your Gun, 1950) down till she was ready. - HOWARD KEEL on JUDY GARLAND |
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| I'm always trying to find diplomatic ways to talk about Richard and the movie An Officer and a Gentleman (1982.) I liked him before we started but that is the last time I can remember talking to him. - DEBRA WINGER on RICHARD GERE |
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| I told her that I'd been nominated and how sorry I was that she wasn't (for The Whales of August, 1987)-for everyone thought she would be, it was surely her last chance for a major Oscar. And she said, "It could be worse. Suppose I'd been nominated and lost to Cher?" - ANN SOTHERN on LILLIAN GISH |
All fantastic but the shade on the last two is so delicious.
ReplyDeleteI had read that Gable and Joan Blondell had gotten along like a house afire on Adventure but that it was one step away from glacial between Gable and Greer Garson. He hated the script and the tagline MGM came up with and found her English reserve off-putting. If you've ever seen the film you can feel the frost between them and also the camaraderie between Clark & Joan.
LOVE both the Errol Flynn anecdotes. He so often gets a bad rep it's nice to see he was both admired and that he understood how his particular approach worked for him. I've also read that Barbara Stanwyck was highly complimentary of him after that made Cry Wolf and knowing how exacting she was that reflects well on him too.
Boy, I could read these all day. I never really knew what to make of Peter Fonda but have always liked Bruce Dern, in that 70's anti-hero mold. Recently saw "Coming Home" and he's great, so his training and preparation paid off.
ReplyDeleteCharlton was complaining about Ava in 1963? I wonder how they got along 11 years later in "Earthquake"?(I bet you know Poseidon).
"Annie Get Your Gun"! this was a nice quote and I love that actor but from the tiny clips I saw of Judy in this maybe it was the right thing to do. It left us with all the treasures that she starred in.
I love Betty Hutton in Miracle of Morgan's Creek and I have a few of her songs on my ipod, but wow was she awful in Annie Get Your Gun. I think I agree with Howard Keel, they should have waited for Judy or just shut it down. Betty Hutton was a terrible choice.
ReplyDeleteI think all these quotes show just how crazy-making Hollywood can be. It takes everything out of of you if you aren't careful.
I love these posts with celebrity quotes. The Errol Flynn quote says a lot about Hollywood.
ReplyDeleteJoel, I have to wonder how much of the friction on "Gentlemen" was Gere's fault since Winger also had considerable trouble with Shirley MacLaine on "Terms of Endearment." But it's fascinating that two people "in loathe" can create memorable romantic sparks on-screen while many real-life lovers fizzle at the same. As for Cher, with no disrespect to Miss Gish, I was completely FLOORED that anyone could beat Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction" that year. It's something I'm stillnot 100% over even now. LOL And I agree... if Missy Stanwyck thought a person was good, they were good!!
ReplyDeleteGingerguy, I think I first learned to appreciate Dern during "Black Sunday" when he was an unhinged loon trying to blow up the super bowl with the Goodyear blimp (!), but I am often attracted to the nutcases (see Glenn Close above!) He's a versatile, underrated actor for certain. Peter often bored me to tears, but what I do appreciate is that he seemed often to be TRYING, in later years at least, to explore different roles and subject matter. ("The Hired Hand," for example.) By the time of "Earthquake," Heston says that Gardner had lost some of her fiery persona and was far easier to deal with. She took the movie solely for the money and a free trip to L.A. and was more casual about things, though he thought she was sometimes a bit too casual (i.e.-phoning in some of her takes instead of really investing.) Of course, I worship every frame of hers in the movie!! Love her silly, brash, desperate character. (I think I'm revealing too much of myself in this comment section! Ha ha!!)
Dave, Betty Hutton was just always too much for me. So, so BIG and loud. I want to like her (and God knows her latter-day interview with Robert Osborne was tragically affecting and sad), but a little usually goes a long way. I ought to try "Miracle" and see what I think. And, yes, her "patter" songs were unique and entertaining!! :-)
Armando, I think Errol Flynn is one of the most elusive, confusing and misunderstood world-famous actors of all time. I can never read enough about him and who ever knows how much is factual... One thing is certain. His mid-to-late'30s movies show one amazingly charismatic man, one I find so beautiful. He made it all look so easy. Even crusty Bette Davis finally changed her mind about his skills once he was dead and gone and she looked back at their work together.
Thanks everyone! I know I'll be back with more of these because I too like them!! ;-)
Love these quote pieces. I've always felt Bruce Dern was underrated as an actor. He often plays low class types but his real life upbringing was one of extreme privilege. Check out this piece from the Chicago Tribune. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-11/entertainment/chi-bruce-dern-nebraska-20131109_1_nebraska-woody-grant-scene
ReplyDeleteMy last two cents...I cannot stand Betty Hutton in almost every thing I have seen her in, but LOVED her in "Miracle At Morgan's Creek" which teaches me to always have an open mind (except about Kim Novak).
ReplyDeleteEricSwede, thank you so much for that link the article. I had no clue! #1, we never really know anyone's full story unless we get a chance to discover it. #2, clearly money cannot guarantee happiness or even personal contentment! I was blown away that he has never once smoked, drank or used drugs considering the era he was most famous in and the roles he's played. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteGingerguy, that's more than substantial endorsement for me. I'll keep my eyes peeled! Thanks.
I just have to throw some love poor Betty Hutton's way. I'm a big fan of hers while readily admitting that she is an acquired taste and often overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteHaving seen all but two of her films now, the maddeningly elusive Happy Go Lucky and Cross My Heart, she was incredibly talented, sang beautifully and at times could be subtle-though obviously that wasn't what was expected of her and not how the studio cast her as a rule. For a more subdued Betty I'd recommend And the Angels Sing (plus you get Dorothy Lamour & Fred MacMurray), Dream Girl, Somebody Loves Me and her final film Spring Reunion-which is actually a rather sad film. I didn't care much for Annie Get Your Gun either but thought she was perfect casting as serial queen Pearl White in The Perils of Pauline and yes The Miracle of Morgan's Creek is an essential.
Joel6, I really would love to join your Cinematheque society. I have no idea how you've seen so many movies! And I just wanted to say that Betty's performance in Miracle of Morgan's Creek is fantastic. The movie utilizes her perfectly and I just wish she could have found more roles/directors like that one.
ReplyDeleteAnd when Betty toned it down, she sounded wonderful. I really liked the tone of her voice but you could rarely hear it over the "comedy:"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZqoH6qLkSg&list=RDXd6Ph2Ad9UI&index=2
The first quote about Joan Fontaine doesn't surprise me. I have her autobiography, No Bed of Roses, and she comes off as fairly bitchy. Of her famous feud with her sister, I remember her saying something about how jealous Olivia would be if she died first! That's the first thing I thought of when she died!
ReplyDeletePoor Judy G. As much fortune as she had, she also got the fuzzy end of the lollipop a whole lot too. She should have won the Oscar for A Star Is Born, dammit! The footage of Judy in Annie Get Your Gun was painful though. I have yet to see it as I can't stomach a whole lot of Betty Hutton either. I tried watching her short lived sitcom once - excruciating!
Oh, Ann Sothern. I absolutely love both of her shows - Private Secretary and The Ann Sothern Show - but she's another one who seemed rather bitchy. In her memoirs, Barbara Eden said she did a guest spot on TASS early in her career and Ann treated her terribly.