Goodbye Goddess: Elizabeth Taylor 1932-2011

by Kimberly Lindbergs | March 23, 2011

Categories | News, Actresses, Elizabeth Taylor, Movie Morlocks, TCM

I was crushed when I learned that Elizabeth Taylor had passed away today due to heart failure. Like many people who write about movies I’m often asked who my favorite actress is and I almost always answer with Elizabeth Taylor because I adore her and her name is easily recognizable. When I added the image of her and David Bowie to my blog’s sidebar a few years ago it wasn’t a careless gesture. A lot of thought went to it because I thought the image was a wonderful tribute to the two things that make Cinebeats’ tick - movies and music. Taylor was a goddess among women. A Hollywood legend and a genuine superstar. They don’t make them like her anymore but I’m not sure that they ever did. Taylor was one of a kind. My tribute to the much missed and much loved actress can be found at the Movie Morlocks.

- Goodbye Goddess: Elizabeth Taylor 1932-2011 @ TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

Recommended Links:
- From the Cinebeats’ Archives: Lots more on Elizabeth Taylor
- Elizabeth Taylor Obit at IMDB
- Elizabeth Taylor Obit & Tributes at The Guardian
- Unpublished photos of Elizabeth Taylor from LIFE Magazine
- From Velvet to Helena: A Life of Launching Herself Into the Imaginary at The Sheila Variations
- Links to many tributes at MUBI

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It’s Women’s History Month

by Kimberly Lindbergs | March 10, 2011

Categories | Books, Actors, American Cinema, Actresses, Movie Morlocks, TCM

Top: Lon Chaney and Roman Navarro
Bottom: Joan Crawford and Anna May Wong
All photographs by Ruth Harriet Louise

In case you haven’t heard, it’s Women’s History Month, so this week I decided to focus my attention on one of Hollywood’s little known female pioneers, studio photographer Ruth Harriet Louise. Louise was MGM’s chief portrait photographer and the first woman to hold that position at a major Hollywood studio. Between 1925 and 1930 she photographed some of the MGM’s most iconic stars including Greta Garbo, Lon Chaney, Joan Crawford, Roman Navarro, John Gilbert, Norma Shearer and Anna May Wong. She died much to young in 1940 at age 37 but she left an incredible body of work behind. If you would like to know more about Ruth Harriet Louise you’ll find my latest piece about this fascinating woman and her brief but impressive career at TCM’s Movie Morlocks.
- Hollywood’s First Woman of Photography: Ruth Harriet Louise @ TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

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Goodbye, Tura!

by Kimberly Lindbergs | February 5, 2011

Categories | News, Actresses, Tura Satana

Tura Satana in Irma La Douce (1963)

“The one thing you’ve got to remember is that you just never accept defeat. Remember to never let life get you down, because there is always something new to learn tomorrow. Life is to be lived, and lived well.”
- Tura Satana 1938-2011

From the Cinebeats’ Archives: Tura Satana - An American Icon

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Anne Francis in The Satan Bug (1965)

by Kimberly Lindbergs | January 13, 2011

Categories | Movie Reviews, Spies & Secret Agents, American Cinema, Actresses, Science Fiction, Anne Francis

Anne Francis in (1965)

I was disappointed to learn that Anne Francis had passed away on January 2, 2011 so I decided to revisit one of her best films, John Sturges’ action-packed sci-fi thriller The Satan Bug (1965) for the Movie Morlocks. Sturges is an undervalued director and like many of Sturges’ movies, The Satan Bug deserves much more praise than it’s received since its initial release. If you’re an Anne Francis fan or just enjoy smart stylish thrillers I highly recommend heading over to the Movie Morlocks where you’ll find my tribute to the actress and Sturges’ terrific film.
- Anne Francis in The Satan Bug (1965) @ TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

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Remembering Ingrid Pitt 1937-2010

by Kimberly Lindbergs | November 23, 2010

Categories | News, Actresses, Hammer Horror, Hammer Glamour, Ingrid Pitt

Hammer Glamour girl, Ingrid Pitt has suddenly passed away at age 73 due to heart failure. Her unexpected death took me by surprise and my condolences go out to her friends and family.

One of my fondest blogging memories occurred in 2007. After writing up a brief birthday tribute for Ingrid Pitt and receiving a few comments from other fans, the actress herself stopped by my blog and left me a note (still posted there) in which she said:

“Mind-blowing! It really is wonderful to have so many people wishing me good fortune as I enter the ranks of the septuagenarians. I’m only sorry I didn’t find this site earlier so that I could thank you all.”

I was stunned and absolutely thrilled that the actress took the time to read and respond to my blog post. Her generous nature was made more apparent when we exchanged a few brief emails after she left her comment. I was rather star struck because as I mentioned in my birthday tribute to the actress, Ingrid Pitt has always been one of my favorite Hammer Glamour girls. Her bold, sassy and uninhibited nature came across in every Hammer film she was in and she never shied away from her past or made excuses for appearing in horror films. Ingrid embraced her history and celebrated it. She was proud of her roles in movies like The Vampire Lovers (1970), Countess Dracula (1971), The House That Dripped Blood (1971) and The Wicker Man (1973). And of course she should be. Her beauty, brains and sense of humor shouldn’t be underestimated. Ingrid Pitt was the real “bad girl” of Hammer studio and and her edgy performances often dominated the movies she was in. She could be extremely seductive but unlike countless other onscreen beauties that have bared their fangs for the camera, Ingrid also knew how to generate fear.

I’m incredibly thankful that Ingrid took the time to contact me because it gave me the opportunity to tell her how much I admired her and appreciated her work. She was a very special lady and she’ll be sincerely missed.

Recommended Links:
- BBC News Obituary: Hammer horror actress Ingrid Pitt dies aged 73
- Pitt of Horror (Ingrid Pitt’s Official Site)
- Ingrid Pitt’s Film Column @ Den of Geek
- Hammer Films (Official Site)

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Looking Into the Eye of the Devil

by Kimberly Lindbergs | October 28, 2010

Categories | Movie Reviews, Horror, British Cinema, Actresses, David Hemmings, Bewitching Movies, Deborah Kerr

Sharon Tate and David Hemmings in Eye of the Devil (1966)

Halloween is fast approaching and over at the Movie Morlocks blog we’re counting down the days with an “obscure and offbeat” horror movie blogathon. All week long my fellow Morlocks and myself have been writing about some of our favorite lessor known films and I decided to tackle J. Lee Thompson’s Eye of the Devil (1966), which also became available on DVD this week from the Warner Archives. It contains one of my favorite opening montages and it’s just a great undervalued occult thriller that deserves a wider audience. It also features some of my favorite actors including a very young and very handsome David Hemmings, the amazing Deborah Kerr, a stunning Sharon Tate and the dapper David Niven. With a cast that good you just know the film is worth a look… or two!

More images from Eye of the Devil can be found in my Flickr Gallery.

I hope to share my thoughts about one more “Bewitching Movie” before the month ends so keep an eye on Cinebeats for further updates. In the meantime I hope I’ve given my faithful readers a few good recommendations for Halloween viewing. I’ve really enjoyed the last month but I’m not really looking forward to Halloween. I wish October could last forever. Saying goodbye to my favorite month always hurts a little.

I also thought I’d mention that one of my fellow Morlocks has written about another one of my favorite “Bewitching Movies,” the incredible Night of the Demon (1957). If you haven’t had the chance to see the classic supernatural thriller yet I highly recommend giving it a look. TCM is showing Night of the Demon tomorrow (Friday, October 29th) followed by a mini Hammer film marathon featuring my favorite monster and mad doctor, Frankenstein. For more information on all the horror films being shown this Halloween weekend visit the official TCM site.

- Looking Into the Eye of the Devil @ TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

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Elvira’s Not A Witch

by Kimberly Lindbergs | October 19, 2010

Categories | News, Rants & Raves, Actresses, Bewitching Movies

’80s horror icon Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (aka Cassandra Peterson) is back on TV again. She’s hosting a new version of her syndicated show Elvira’s Movie Macabre that airs on Saturday nights. I’ve only caught one episode so far but some of the movies she’s shown in the last few weeks include The Giant Gila Monster (1959) and The Terror (1963). In the early ’80s I was introduced to some great horror movies thanks to Elvira’s original Movie Macabre show.

Today Elvira released a very funny ad for her new show that I just couldn’t resist sharing. In this timely TV spot Elvira pokes a little fun at the conservative politician Christine “I’m Not A Witch” O’Donnell. I don’t know about you, but I’d personally like to see Elvira run for office. The current political climate in America is just plain nasty. We could use some politicians with a sense of humor who could take on the nut jobs running for public office with a wink and a smile. Not to mention her other assets…

If you’d like to find out when Elvira’s Movie Macbare will be playing in your area just visit The Official Elvira Website.

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“Nothing can eat your soul!”

by Kimberly Lindbergs | October 7, 2010

Categories | Movie Reviews, News, Actresses, Hammer Horror, TCM, Bewitching Movies

Over at the Movie Morlocks we’re celebrating TCM’s decision to showcase Hammer horror films every Friday night during the month of October with a blogathon. All week long my colleges have been writing about some of their favorite Hammer movies and today I shared some thoughts about the occult thriller The Witches (1966), which features the accomplished award winning actress Joan Fontaine in her last film role. The Witches inspired many better known British horror films such as The Devil Rides Out (1968), Blood On Satan’s Claw (1971) and The Wicker Man (1973) but it’s not as well-known as the films that it influenced. Please visit the Movie Morlocks to read my lengthy appreciation of The Witches.

As a bonus treat I’ve also compiled a Flickr Gallery of images from The Witches but WARNING! tread carefully because you’ll find lots of “spoilers” in my Flickr Gallery.

On a side note; I was really disappointed to learn that one of Hammer’s best directors, the talented Roy Ward Baker, recently died. Baker directed many of my favorite Hammer films including Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde (’71), The Vampire Lovers (’70) and The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (’74) as well as the excellent Marilyn Monroe feature, Don’t Bother To Knock (’52) and two great Amicus productions; Asylum (1972) and The Vault of Horror (1973) as well as many other movies and television series including The Avengers and The Saint.

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I Married A Witch

by Kimberly Lindbergs | October 5, 2010

Categories | Comedies, Actresses, TCM, Bewitching Movies

Just a quick note to let readers know that TCM will be airing the great classic comedy I Married A Witch (René Clair; 1942) tonight starring the lovely & funny Veronica Lake in one of her best roles. I Married A Witch isn’t available on DVD in the US yet so if you haven’t had a chance to see it make sure you record it because it’s well worth a look. Fans of the television show Bewitched as well as movies like Bell, Book and Candle (Richard Quine ; 1959) should find I Married A Witch really entertaining. It’s one of my favorite comedies from the ’40s and it makes for some great Halloween viewing that the whole family can enjoy.

Recommended Links:
- Elisabeth Rappe’s recent piece about Veronica Lake for Chud THROUGH THE CRACKS: VERONICA LAKE
- Jeff Stafford’s article about I MARRIED A WITCH at the TCM website.

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