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Hedy Lamarr and her mother, Getrude Keisler, reunite after five years of separation (1942)

When I saw this film a coupl e of days ago, I found out that it was released on J anuary 29, 1 937 . So naturally, this week on "F ilm Fri day" I had to tell you a little bit about it. Original release poster Directed by Fritz Lang, You Only Live Once (1937) concerns Ed die Taylor (Henry Fonda) , a three-time convict who has just received an early release due to the influence of public defender Stephen Whitney (Barton MacLane) and the prison chaplain, Father Dolan (William Gargan). Eddie then marries his longtime sweetheart Joan Graham (Sylvia Sidney), Whitney's secretary, and vows to go straight and work hard. His aspirations at normal life are soon thwarted, however, when he and Joan are asked to leave their honeymoon room after the proprietors, Ethan (Charles "Chic" Sale) and Hester (Margaret Hamilton), learn that Eddie is an ex-con. Eddie gets a job at a truck company, but his boss, Mr. Williams (William Pawley), fires him for being late after h...

Patricia Neal and Ronald Reagan at the Royal Command Film Performance of Scott of the Antarctic at the Empire Theatre in London o n November 20, 1948

This week on "Film Friday," I am celebrating Cary Grant's 112th birthday (which was on Monday) by telling you about one of my absolute favorites of his films. It has also been considered one of the most romantic films of all time by the American Film Institute. Theatrical release poster Directed by Leo McCarey, An Affair to Remember (1957) tells the story of fail ed artist Nickie Ferrante (Cary Grant) and nightclub si nger Terry McKay (Deborah Kerr) , who meet aboard a luxury liner headed for New York from Italy. They are instantly attracted to one another, even though they are both already engaged — Nickie to socialite Lois C la rk (Neva Patterson) and Terry to K enneth Bradley (Richard Denning). They kindle their attraction by spending a romantic afternoon in Villefranche with Nickie's grandmother, Janou (Cathleen Nesbitt), who seems to think that Terry is the "right" woman for her grandson. Upon their return to the ship, the couple dec...

Original release poster Directed by King Vidor, Stella Dallas (1937) tells the story of Stella Martin (Barbara Stanwyck), the daughter of a mill worker in a factory town in 1 919 Massac husetts , who is determined to better herself. She sets her sights on Stephen Dallas (John Boles), a minor executive at the factory whose family was once wealthy , and catches him at an emotionally vulnerable time. Stephen has broken his engagement to long-time sweetheart Helen (Barbara O'Neil) , fear ing that his present lack of money and social position would hinder her. He plan ned to marry Helen once he was financially able to support her, but, as he reaches his goal, he learns that she is to wed another man. As a result, S tephen decide s to marr y Stella ins tead. After the ir daughter Laurel (Anne Shirley ) is born, Stella beco mes bored with her life and be gins to ex hibit social behavior that Ste phen finds unsuitable. He also strongly disapp roves of her co ntinu...