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In honour of Ernest Borgnine's 100th birthday, which was on Tuesday (January 24), this week on «Film Friday» I bring you the picture for which he is best known, which also happens to be the one that gave him the Academy Award for Best Actor. Directed by Delbert Mann, Marty (1955) tells the story of Marty Piletti (Ernest Borgnine), a good-natured but socially awkward Italian-American butcher who lives in The Bronx with his mother, Teresa (Esther Minciotti). Unmarried at 34, Marty faces constant badgering from family and friends to settle down, as all his brothers and sisters are already married and have children. One night, he goes to the Stardom Ballroom and meets Clara Snyder (Betsy Blair), a plain-looking 29-year-old high school chemistry teacher from Brooklyn who has been abandoned by her blind date. Mutually attracted, they spend the evening together dancing and walking the busy streets, and then Marty takes Clara home by bus, promising to call her at 2:30 the next afternoon...

In honor of Burt Lancaster's 103th birthday, which was on Wednesday (coincidentally, my birthday was also on Wednesday), this week on «Film Friday» I bring you the film that introduced me to the wonderful «Mr. Muscles and Teeth,» which was also the film that introduced him to the world all those years ago. Since this is a film noir, it comes at a perfect time for Noirvember. Directed by Robert Siodmak, The Killers (1946) begins as two hitmen, Max (Wiliam Conrad) and Al (Charles McGraw), arrive in a small town to kill a man called «the Swede» (Burt Lancaster). His co-worker at a gas station, Nick Adams (Phil Brown), warns him of the danger, but the Swede makes no attempt to flee and the killers shoot him in his room. When it is discovered that the Swede had a small life insurance policy, insurance detective Jim Reardon (Edmond O'Brien) is assigned to investigate his murder. Tracking down and interviewing the Swede's associates, including his beneficiary, chambermaid Mary El...

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 good weather, either by the pool or at the beach.    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). 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. Love her shoes! Douglas Fairbanks Jr. enjoys a 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...

Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner playing around on the beach during the making of Robert Siodmak's The Killers (1946)

BURT LANCASTER (November 2, 1913 — October 20, 1994) Genius is a pretty dangerous thing to have. Genius is too erratic. It's better just to be talented. Watch this hilarious sketch Burt did with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis for an epis ode of The Colgate Comedy Hour in 1953 . I wish Hollywood had starred him in more comedies. He was a terri fic comedian . I also highly recommend this great number he performed with Kirk Douglas at the 30th Academy Awards in 1958 . Who knew he could sing and dance too ! Fun fact: it's my birthday today too. :)