Happy Birthday to a Legend and Master of Dance

Gene Kelly is turning 99 years old today! Unfortunately he passed away in 1996 at the age of 83 but he is still alive in my heart. He was the reason I started watching Turner Classic Movies and became such a huge classic film nut. I saw him and Judy Garland in For Me and My Gal (1942) which was his first motion picture and that was it for me. I wanted more of Gene Kelly and more classic films. From then on I came home from school everyday and watched TCM all night! My favorite film of his is Singin' In the Rain (1952) as Don Lockwood. I know it's probably his most well known film but there is a reason for that. He was enchanting, lovable, sarcastic, endearing, and freakin' awesome at dancing in that film as well as all of his others. His smile with that little scar on the left side of his face above his lips just got me every time. He is the guy I wanted to sweep me off my feet and waltz with or tear up a floor tap dancing with. I still do wish that. I always will. So Happy Birthday Gene Kelly it just so happens you and I share the same birthday of August 23rd. I'm 18 now and you're 99, what do you know.

Gene Kelly 1912-1996

  Gene and Judy Garland in For Me and My Gal (1942). They starred in three films together over the years but three wasn't nearly enough. It should have been ten.

       Gene in Thousands Cheer (1943).

            Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire meet in mid air.

            Gene and Cyd Charisse. They were quite a dancing team.

               Gene, Debbie Reynolds, and Don O'Connor in Singin' in the Rain (1952).

             Gene and Don in the "Moses Supposes" number from Singin' in the Rain (1952).

      Gene in drag with Jimmy Stewart.

Gene and his daughter Kerry whose mother is Betsy Blair.

      Gene Kelly with Francoise Dorleac in The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967). This movie was meant to be an homage to the Hollywood musical even though it is a completely French film. His voice was dubbed in the film but he was charming as ever.

          Gene Kelly in That's Entertainment Pt. 2 (1976)

" I never wanted to be a dancer. It's true! I wanted to be a shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates."-Gene Kelly

Happy Birthday Ann Blyth!

Ann Blyth turns 83 today!!! Ann was born in Mount Kisco, New York in 1928. One of her most famous roles was playing the bitchy, stuck up daughter Veda in Mildred Pierce (1945) for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. Some of her other films include Brute Force (1947), Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948), Our Very Own (1950), Kismet (1955), and many more. She has been married to Dr. James McNulty since 1953 and has had five children. I love seeing famous people have successful marriages! She may not have maintained the stardom she had when she appeared in Mildred Pierce but she consistently made movies up into the late 1950's and did a good amount of television work. In 1960 she starred in a tv movie version of A.J. Cronin's novel The Citadel. I love that book and I wish there was a way to see the tv version she acted in.

Anyway, she gave off this proper, homebody, perfect housewife vibe and it actually didn't bother me. So, happy birthday Ann and I hope you have many more to come!

        Ann with Joan Crawford who played her mother in Mildred Pierce (1945)

  Ann with Charles Boyer in A Woman's Vengeance (1948)

Ann in Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948) which also starred William Powell.

                       Ann in her bathing suit from Our Very Own (1950).

            Ann and Farley Granger in Our Very Own.

 Ann with her husband James with one of their children.

This will brighten your day

              I love these two ladies and I love that they have a sense of humor. The ability to make someone laugh is something I cherish far above beauty and good looks. But, these two women just happen to be funny and beautiful so they're really where it's at.

Beautiful-3

                           Natalie Wood looking stunning and natural.

Well Tailored Man

 These men sure know how to dress and are lookin' fine.

                                      John Wayne

                                      Tyrone Power

                            Nat King Cole

                                       Sal Mineo

                                   Burt Lancaster

                                Rudolph Valentino

                                   James Cagney

                               The Temptations

                                 The Bee Gees, well maybe not so well tailored. Those pants are a little tight. Actually WAY too tight.

Beautiful-2

                                   Miriam Hopkins

Mama's and Papa's -2

          Shirley Maclaine and her daughter Sachi. The father was Steve Parker who was married to Maclaine from 1954-1982.

       Cary Grant and his daughter Jennifer whose mother was Dyan Cannon. Cary and Dyan were married from 1965- 1968.

                 Robert Mitchum with his two sons James and Christopher. Their mother is Dorothy Spence who was married to Mitchum from 1940 to his death in 1997.

                   James Garner and his daughter Gigi. The mother is Lois Clarke who married James Garner in 1956 and is still married to him today.

   Audrey Hepburn, her son Sean, and James Garner on the set of The Children's Hour (1961). Sean's father was Mel Ferrer who was married to Audrey Hepburn from 1954-1968.

     Dorothy Lamour with either her son John or Tom, not quite sure which. Her children's father was her husband William Ross Howard the Third. They were married from 1943 to his death in 1978.

             Gene Kelly with his daughter Kerry whose mother was actress Betsy Blair. Gene Kelly and Betsy Blair were married from 1941-1957.

      Dean Martin with his wife and one of their son's either Dean or Ricci. They also had a daughter together named Gina. In total Dean had eight children from all of his marriages but only had three children with Jeanne. They were married from 1949-1973. Pretty impressive.