I Heart Classic Hollywood

Princess Grace and David Niven, 1959.

Lana Turner, 1939

Dorothy Malone in The Big Sleep, 1946

Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 1958.

I left my home of green rough wood, A blue velvet couch. I dream till now A shiny dark bush Just left of the door. Down the walk Clickity clack As my doll in her carriage Went over the cracks- “We’ll go far away.”  ~ MM

Veronica Lake and Lana Turner, 1940s

Marlene Dietrich photographed by Milton Greene, 1952.

Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay on a plane, late 1950s.

Paul Newman

Stella Dallas (1937)

Lauren Bacall, The Big Sleep, 1946

During rehearsals for the film adaption of A Streetcar Named Desire, director Elia Kazan originally sought to cut this line from the final edit but both Vivien Leigh and Kim Hunter fought against it. Vivien, particularly, thought the line spoke volumes as to Blanche’s past and how increasingly fragile she had become throughout the years as a result of the emotional turmoil that shaped her early years and continued to affect her. The last shot, where Marlon Brando’s character is pushing Kim Hunter’s off of him, is also significant as it highlights both Stanley Kowalski’s ignorance and agitation at his sister-in-law’s vulnerability, which sets the precedent for how he treats Blanche from there on out.

FEMME FATALE: An alluring and seductive woman, especially one who leads men into compromising and dangerous situations.

Rita Hayworth with Edith Piaf record