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Clara Bow and Lawrence Gray in a promotional photo, circa 1925.  Marie Wilson in a promotional photo, circa 1948.      Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr at a New Year's Eve party in Hollywood in 1939.   Debbie Reynolds in a promotional portrait (1952).    Bette Davis in a promotional photo, circa 1935.    James Cagney and his wife, Billie, at a New Year's Eve party in New York City, in 1939.   Cyd Charisse in a promotional photo (1949).      Mae West in a promotional photo for Paramount Pictures (1936).

This week's «Film Friday» is quite special because it is entirely dedicated to Debbie Reynolds, whose 85th birthday would have been today (hence why I am posting this on a Saturday). Sadly, Debbie pasted away last December, so I thought I would honour her with a compilation of all the Debbie Reynolds films I have written about on this blog. Singin' in the Rain (1952)   Directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen | Co-starring Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor Singin' in the Rain gave 19-year-old Debbie her breakthrough role and it remains her best known work. She played Kathy Selden, a nightclub performer and aspiring actress who falls in love with Don Lockwood, the swashbuckling matinee idol played by Gene Kelly. Selected over established stars like Judy Garland , Kathryn Grayson, Jane Powell and June Allyson, Debbie always stated that Kelly and Donen did not want her in the film, feeling that they were «stuck» with her. However, Donen maintained that he and Kelly want...

Today is the first day of summer, so I thought I would wish you all a very happy summer with a collection of photographs of classic Hollywood actors and actresses enjoying the sun and the good weather.   Birthday boy Errol Flynn just had a swim. Lana Turner is ready for a day at the pool. Here she is again by the pool at the Coral Casino in Santa Barbara in 1951. I'm not sure that cigarette is very good for you, Lana.   Ava Gardner enjoys the sun in a Spanish beach during a break in the filming of Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951). I love her bikini.   Bette Davis celebrates the 4th of July by lighting a firework on the beach (early 1930s). Ginger Rogers at the beach in 1936. I love her shoes! Douglas Fairbanks Jr. enjoys a summer day at his Santa Monica beach house. Debbie Reynolds poses by the pool in her cute swimsuit. Carole Lombard and Gary Cooper are ready to sail (1930). Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Joan Crawford at the beach (photo by N...

To celebrate Glenn Ford's 100th birthday, which is on Sunday, this week on «Film Friday» I bring you my second favourite of his films  —  the first being  The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963). Directed by George Marshall, The Gazebo (1959) tells the story of Elliott Nash (Glenn Ford), a television writer and director who is being blackmailed by a man named Dan Shelby (Stanley Adams) over old nude photographs of his wife, Nell (Debbie Reynolds). Elliott does not tell Nell, the star of a Broadway show, about this situation, but works feverishly to make enough money to pay off Shelby's demands. Ultimately, he decides that murder is the only way out. He makes preparations, incorporating some advice from his friend, District Attorney Harlow Edison (Carl Reiner). When the presumed blackmailer shows up at his house to collect the money, Elliott shoots him and then hides the body in the concrete foundation being poured for the antique gazebo Nell has bought.   The next ...