Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on June 7, 2013

My cinema relationship with Esther Williams helped shape my film interests. I didn’t full watch any of her films until 2003 when my film appetite craved musicals. A swimming scene from “This Time for Keeps” When I was 15 I read her autobiography, “The Million Dollar Mermaid.” It’s my fa   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on June 3, 2013

It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals. In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 500. To celebrate and share this musical love, I’m starting a weekly feature about musicals. This week’s musical: “Rose of...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on June 1, 2013

This is the thirtieth installment of the monthly classic actress beauty tips that I have read about and tested. Since I’ve started these beauty tips, I’ve tried some crazy things. Some include washing my hair with champagne and bathing in milk. When I was living at home, my parents didn   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on May 30, 2013

“The Philadelphia Story” taught me what a hangover was when I was nine. And who knew what yare meant before Katharine Hepburn used the word? My fourth grade education was enhanced when I learned the meaning of those words the first time I saw “The Philadelphia Story” (1940)   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on May 27, 2013

Warner Brothers star, Wayne Morris in he 1930s He can be seen playing alongside Bette Davis as a boxer in “Kid Galahad” (1937) or a cadet running amok at the Virginia Military Institute in “Brother Rat.” Wayne Morris may not be a name you’re familiar with but you have most...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on May 26, 2013

Dickie Moore with Pete the Pup in “Our Gang” in 1930. Moore said he didn’t enjoy the Hal Roach series because he didn’t feel he fit in Dick Moore was searching for his “Rosebud.” In “Citizen Kane,” a sled with the word “Rosebud” was the ke   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on May 24, 2013

I can’t believe the Children in Films blogathon weekend is finally here! This will be the post where you can read Friday through Sunday’s contributions. Post your links as comments on the page or e-mail me at CometOverHollywood@gmail.com (or pickensj2@gmail.com) and I will link to them on he   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on May 20, 2013

It’s almost here! This weekend (May 24 to May 26) we celebrate child actors that light up the silver screen. Will you discuss Hollywood’s great criers like Jackie Cooper or Margaret O’Brien? Or maybe so ugly that he’s cute, Butch Jenkins? Here’s how it will go: On Frid   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on May 15, 2013

Joseph Cotten I have two huge classic Hollywood crushes, both highly underrated: Joseph Cotten and Joel McCrea. But it is Cotten who we celebrate today at Comet, born on this day in 1905 in Virginia, making Mr. Cotten even more appealing to your southern writer. But if his smooth voice,...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on May 14, 2013

This is May’s edition of Comet Over Hollywood’s classic film references in movies. Citizen Kane (1941) was named the greatest film of all time by the American Film Institute in 1998. But prior to this, Madonna used themes from the Orson Welles film in her 1989 music video “Oh Fath   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on May 12, 2013

My mother has been instrumental in my classic film interest. Without her, I wouldn’t have seen 501 musicals…or any classic films for that matter. When I was five, my mom introduced “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” (1954) to my sisters and me. My sisters and I giggled at “The Lonesome...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on May 10, 2013

This is the twenty-ninth installment of the monthly classic actress beauty tips that I have read about and tested…except for this one. Jean Harlow with her signature, exaggerated eyebrows. Eyebrows are the frame work of the face. Overtime that framework has been defined differently. The 1940s   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on May 8, 2013

Hello there everyone! Here’s an update on the Children in Film Blogathon coming up May 24 through May 26. Here are the blogs participating so far:  Comet Over Hollywood- Review of Dickie Moore’s book “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (And Don’t Have Sex or Take the Car) My Love of Old...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on May 5, 2013

It’s like Disney World for classic film fans. Rushing from place to place and waiting in lines for entertainment. Robert Osborne introducing “Desert Song” (Comet Over Hollywood/Jessica Pickens) Turner Classics Movie’s Robert Osborne could be considered the “Walt Disney” of the who   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on May 2, 2013

Deanna Durbin in “I’ll Be Yours” (1947) The first time saw Deanna Durbin was on the front of a DVD case. The DVDs that introduced me to Deanna I was 14 and gazed at this pretty, young lady happily looking back at me on the front of the “Deanna Durbin:...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on April 29, 2013

As I sit waiting for my flight to Atlanta, GA from Los Angeles, CA, here is a recap of the last day (Sunday, April 28) of the TCM Film Festival. Tomorrow I’ll write a review of the overall experience. Come September (1961) starring Rock Hudson, Sandra Dee, Bobby Darin and...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on April 28, 2013

A packed house at the Egyptian Theater rose to their feet, cheering like Freddie Mercury was entering the building. But the applause was for a petite, doll-like and lovely actress: Ann Blyth. Blyth introduced Mildred Pierce (1945), a film that she plays Joan Crawford’s spoiled daughter, Veda.   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on April 27, 2013

Friday (April 26) is the first full day of the Turner Classic Film Festival and it has been amazing. Above is a photo of Kate MacMurray, daughter of Fred MacMurray and June Haver introducing “Suddenly It’s Spring” (1947). The next photo is the ceiling of the Egyptian Theater whe   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on April 26, 2013

Last night (Thursday, April 25) I saw my first film at the Turner Classic Film Festival: South Pacific. The film was shown poolside at the Roosevelt Hotel and introduced by Ben Mankiewicz with France Nuyen and Mitzi Gaynor as special guests. Nuyen told about how she got her role in...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by on April 16, 2013

In roughly a week, I will be leaving my familiar North Carolina, small town surroundings for a solo adventure. I’ll be attending my first Turner Classic Film Festival (TCMFF) in Los Angeles, CA, which will involve flying alone for the first time. Attending this festival has been something I&   read more