One of the good things about movie revival houses - especially if you are twenty-or-thirty-something -is that they provide the opportunity for classic film buffs to catch flicks from the thirites, forties, and fifties on the wide screen instead of a cable network on the old boob tube.
In that regard, local theatres like the Aero, the Nuart - and especially the New Beverly Cinema - satisfy the bill to the max.
Last night, I caught Judy Holliday in a double-feature (both in black & white) which consisted of two of her most popular (successful films) "Born Yesterday" and "It Should Happen to You".
If you read this column regularly, you know that I am inclined to use the phrase "I wasn't born yesterday" alot when I am particularly annoyed with some bozo trying to pull a fast one over on me!
Of course, the Holliday film is where the expression was coined.
Holliday honed her stage skills in a night-club act before working in Broadway plays and musicals.
Her success playing the role of "Billie Dawn" (in a stage production in 1946) led to her being cast in the film version (1950) for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress and the Golden Globe Award:
Best Actress Motion Picture Musical or ComedyThe fast-paced witty comedy also starred William Holden (a revelation in this role) and Broderick Crawford.
Garson Kanin originally wrote the play for friend Jean Arthur.
Shortly after the out-of-town engagements, Ms. Arthur became ill and was unable to take on the run in New York City; subsequently, Holliday stepped into her shoes in a role that sky-rocketted her to great success in theatrical circles.
Curiously, the subject matter may have hit home a little too close for Ms. Holliday in some respects.
The plot focuses on a gangster her character is romantically-involved with who saunters into Washington to grease a few palms to force a bill amendment in his favor for an ongoing commercial venture.
Ms. Holliday's character tends to harp about the evils of big business and the perils of self-serving capitalism to the detriment of the "people".
In an intriguing twist, the charismatic star was called to testify before the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee to answer claims that she was involved in communism.
The "dizzy blond" was a highly intelligent talent, but lawyers advised her to play dumb (along the lines of some of the characters she portrayed on the silver screen) to save her pretty skin.
In her defense, she argued that she had been taken advatange of.
Although not blacklisted from films, Holliday was barred from performing on the radio and television for almost three years.
In the second feature that screened last night, Ms. Holliday played oppositie a young fresh-faced actor - Jack Lemmon - who was a total delight in every facet of his bang-on characterization.
George Cukor's directing - a handful of his camera shots showed-off stunning examples of his unique flair and individualistic style, for instance - was simply remarkable.
Judy was also hailed for her performance on Broadway in the musical - "Bells Are Ringing" - and won a Tony Award:
Best ActressBest Performance/ Leading Actress in a MusicalThe hit show inspired a screen version she also starred in (1960).
In this hilarious feature, the screwball comedienne played a telephone operator, inclined to get mixed up in the personal and professional lives of her clients.
"Bells are Ringing" is one of my favorite comedies - because it rustles up fond memories of two friends of mine - who once owned a telephone answering service (with the old "plug in" board) in Hollywood proper (which I penned a post on about a year ago).
Post: 02/01/08 http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2008/02/raquel-welchhas-heavy-breather.htmlHolliday began her show business career in 1938 as part of a night-club act called "The Revuers."
The popular Revuers landed gigs at New York hot spots such as the Blue Angel, the Rainbow Room, and the Trocadero (Hollywood).
Bernard Dick summed up Holliday's acting this way:
"Perhaps the most important aspect of the Judy Holliday persona, both in variations of Billie Dawn and in her roles as housewife, is her vulnerablity. Her ability to shift her mood quickly from comic to serious is one of her greatest technical gifts."
George Cukor lauded her, too.
"She had in common with the great depth of emotion, that unexpectedly touching emotion, that thing which would unexpectedly touch your heart."
Ms. Holliday was once-involved with the talented clarinet-player - David Oppenheim - whom she married in 1948 (Divorced 1958).
The loquacious character actress also maintained a long-term relationship with jazz musician Gerry Mulligan.
Ms. Holliday was interred in the Westchester Hills Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson in New York in 1965.
Holliday has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood @ 6901 Hollywood Blvd.
