Happy Birthday for Barbera Windsor National Treasure Turns 70

Barbara Windsor has revealed that she is happy with life.

The actress is currently campaigning to raise money for Great Ormond Street, starring with Johnny Depp in Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland next year and has a loving husband of ten years, 45-year-old Scott Mitchell.

Mitchell took her away for a romantic trip to Paris for her 70th birthday.

She told the Sunday Mirror: "We marked the occasion in the traditional way. I may not be as frisky as I used to be but we had one of the most romantic, ooh la la nights I can remember. Marvellous, actually."

Windsor is pleased with her appearance, saying: "I am aware that I look good for my age. It’s my genes. My dad looked incredibly young, so did my mother. And a younger husband helps."

She admitted that she was keen to get some more plastic surgery, saying: "There are still bits and pieces I want fixed.

"I want to have my bosoms done just like Ulrika Jonsson. She looks fantastic. I just think, 'Why not?'"

Windsor also feels that she is satisfied with her acting career: "I’ve worked in two iconic shows, Carry On and EastEnders. If it all ended tomorrow - and it could - I’d just be terribly grateful. I’ve been fortunate enough to do what I love and get paid for it."

Warner Archive Collection adds 30 Classic Titles in July

 BRIAN De PALMA’S “GET TO KNOW YOUR RABBIT,” 

“GREEN MANSIONS” STARRING AUDREY HEPBURN AND SIX AL JOLSON FILMS HIGHLIGHT THE WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION JULY LINEUP

 

• “Deep Valley,” “The Hard Way,” “Juke Girl,” “The Man I Love,” “Nora Prentiss,” and “The Unfaithful” Featuring Ida Lupino and Ann Sheridan are Brought Together for Special “Women of Warner Bros.” Collection
• 24 Classic Titles Added to the Warner Archive Collection in July, Many Offered for the First Time on Home Video   

 

Burbank, Calif., July 8, 2009 – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group (WBHEG), today announced 30 timeless movies will be added to its popular Warner Archive Collection www.WarnerArchive.com) online service this July including director Brian De Palma’s cult comedy favorite “Get To Know Your Rabbit” starring Tom Smothers and Orson Welles, the unforgettable romantic adventure through the jungles of South America “Green Mansions” starring Audrey Hepburn and an impressive array of romantic classics starring the ravishing ElizabethTaylor, including “Conspirator” “The Girl Who Had Everything” and the lush widescreen romance “Rhapsody.”  

 

Other highlights include a quartet of big budget favorites with all-star casts (“It’s A Big Country,” “Weekend At The Waldorf,” “The Story of Mankind’ and “The Story of  Three Loves’), two films that pushed the boundaries of screen censorship in their day (Otto Preminger’s 1953 comedy “The Moon is Blue” and Mark Rydell’s 1967 drama “The Fox”), and by popular demand, the 1977 comedy hit “Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe” starring George Segal.

 

On July 21,  the incomparable Al Jolson once again takes center stage, with six of his rarely-seen early Warner Bros. classics making their DVD debut including “Big Boy,” “Go Into Your Dance,” “Say it With Songs,” “The Singing Fool,” “The Singing Kid.” and “Wonder Bar” the 1934 extravaganza with musical numbers created by Busby Berkeley.  Jolson fans wondering why his 1930 hit “Mammy” is not included in this line-up need not be disappointed. The Michael Curtiz-directed classic is being newly remastered especially for release as part of the Warner Archive Collection later this year and will include the film’s long-lost Technicolor sequences.

 

 

WBHEG also announced today the “Women of Warner Bros.” collection that shines the spotlight on two of the studio’s most talented and glamorous leading ladies. Ida Lupino stars in “The Hard Way” (for which she won the N.Y. Film Critics Award as Best Actress), “Deep Valley” and “The Man I Love”, and Ann Sheridan lights up the screen in “Nora Prentiss,” “Juke Girl” and “The Unfaithful.”  While each film is available for $19.95, the Warner Archive Collection is pleased to offer the six film group at a special value price of only $59.95.

 

Spanning more than 60 years of filmmaking, the Warner Archive Collection offers movie fans access to Warner Bros. Entertainment’s unparalleled film library consisting of pre-1986 MGM, RKO Radio Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures films.  These timeless classics can be downloaded or purchased on DVDs that are made to order for the customer using a state-of-the-art manufacturing on Demand (MOD) process.   For a complete list of titles visit WarnerArchive.com.       

 

The following new titles will be added to the Warner Archive Collection:

 

Available July 7

• Deep Valley (1947)
• Get To Know Your Rabbit (1972)
• Green Mansions (1959)
• Juke Girl (1953)
• Nora Prentiss (1947)
• The Fox (1967)
• The Hard Way (1942)
• The Man I Love (1947)
• The Moon Is Blue (1953)
• Unfaithful, The (1947)
• Who is killing the Great Chiefs of Europe? (1978)

 

Available July 21

 

• Big Boy (1931)
• Conspirator (1950)
• Cynthia (1947)
• Girl Who Had Everything, The (1953)
• Go Into Your Dance (1935)
• It’s a Big Country (1951)
• Love is Better Than Ever (1952)
• Rhapsody (1954)
• Say it with Songs (1929)
• Singing Fool, The (1929)
• Singing Kid, The (1936)
• Story of Mankind (1957)
• Story of Three Loves (1953)

 

 

To order their movies, fans visit WarnerArchive.com, select their titles, and upon purchase, a state-of-the-art manufacturing on demand (MOD) system creates a made-to-order DVD.  The system places the DVD into a hard plastic Amaray case featuring custom artwork; shrink wraps it and ships the finished package to the customer which arrives in approximately five days.  The cost per title is $19.95, plus shipping.  Alternatively, consumers can purchase digital downloads of these classic films to enjoy immediately on their PC.  The cost for a digital download is $14.95 per title.  Warner Archive Collection is currently available only to consumers in the United States.   

 

WHV Press Release: TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams Volume 2

WHV Press Release: TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams Volume 2

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TCM SPOTLIGHT: ESTHER WILLIAMS VOLUME 2
Six New-to-DVD ‘Aqua-Musicals’
from America’s Favorite Mermaid

Million Dollar Mermaid - Thrill of a Romance
Easy to Love - This Time For Keeps
Fiesta - Pagan Love Song
October 6 from Warner Home Video

Burbank, Calif. June 22, 2009 -- The ravishing bathing beauty who pioneered a new genre of moviemaking -- “Aqua Musicals” -- will splash once more in Warner Home Video and Turner Classic Movies’ TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams Volume 2 on October 6. This highly anticipated follow-up to the 2007 TCM Collection includes the DVD debuts of six Technicolor films from classic Hollywood’s swimming superstar – Million Dollar Mermaid, Thrill of a Romance, Easy to Love, This Time for Keeps, Fiesta and Pagan Love Song. Each of these MGM musical favorites have been newly remastered especially for this DVD release.

Also included are a boat-load of special features, including rarely-seen deleted musical outtakes, vintage shorts and classic cartoons. The films will be available only as a complete collection, in a collectible digi-pak gift set for $59.92 SRP.

About the Films

Million Dollar Mermaid (1952):
Glamorous, amphibious Esther Williams portrays real-life Australian swimming champ Annette Kellerman, in a splashy biopic co-starring Victor Mature. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy and Oscar® nominated for Best Color Cinematography, the movie is loaded with stunning spectacle, including a must-see Busby Berkeley choreographed water ballet extravaganza. Is this lovely Esther’s signature film? Well, she called her 1999 autobiography The Million Dollar Mermaid.

Special Features:
· AUDIO ONLY: Lux Radio Theater presentation of Million Dollar Mermaid starring Esther Williams and Walter Pidgeon
· Classic M-G-M Tom & Jerry cartoon “The Little Wise-Quacker” (1952)
· Classic M-G-M short subject “Reducing” (1952)
· Original theatrical trailer

Thrill of a Romance (1945)
Van Johnson and Esther Williams headline this frothy musical, just the ticket for a World War II-weary nation yearning for laughs, romance and glamour. And that’s exactly what they got, plus swinging TechnicolorÒ tunes from Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra and operatic grandeur from famed Wagnerian tenor Lauritz Melchior in his film debut.

Newlywed swimming teacher Cynthia Delbar (Williams) has everything a girl could want for her honeymoon: a posh mountain lodge, glorious weather and a drop-dead trousseau. The only thing missing is her tycoon groom, who chose closing a deal in DC over cuddling with his brand-new missus. A pretty sorrowful situation – until a good-looking war hero staying at the hotel decides he needs swimming lessons.

Special Features:
· Outtake Musical Numbers:
“Gypsy Mattinata” (Lauritz Melchior)
“I Should Care“ (Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra)
“Please Don’t Say No” (The King Sisters)
· Classic M-G-M short subject “The Great American Mug” (1945)
· Classic M-G-M Tex Avery cartoon “Wild and Woolfy” (1945)
· Original theatrical trailer

Easy to Love (1953):
With the Cole Porter classic as the title tune, it’s ‘easy to love’ this romantic comedy starring Esther Williams and Van Johnson in their fifth film together. Julie Hallerton (Esther Williams) knows how to win the affection of indifferent Ray Lloyd (Van Johnson): Be his office secretary; be the star of his Florida aquacade and the heart’s desire of a Manhattan crooner to make Ray jealous. The ploy works, as does everything else in this aquamusical. Tony Martin lends his smooth vocal styling; Razzle-dazzler Busby Berkeley guides Esther’s aquatic routines, including a legendary sequence involving Florida’s Cypress Gardens, dozens of water skiers, ramps, pyramid formations, gushing geysers, a helicopter, a trapeze and Esther in the air. Also fun to note is film’s young Carroll Baker’s (Baby Doll) screen debut.

Special Features:
· Classic M-G-M Short “Romantic Riviera”(1953)
· Classic M-G-M Barney Bear cartoon “Cobs and Robbers” (1953)
· Original theatrical trailer

This Time For Keeps (1947):
Whether soaring from the high board or redefining grace in a lavishly choreographed water ballet, Esther Williams is at her radiant, swim-suited best in this lighthearted aquatic musical centered on her romance with an ex-GI (Johnnie Johnston). Settings include Michigan’s picture-perfect Mackinac Island, with notable supporting stars providing specialty numbers. Famed tenor Lauritz Melchior brings his artistry to La Donna È Mobile, Xavier Cugat (with signature tea-cup Chihuahua at hand) adds big-band élan to the proceedings and Jimmy Durante delightfully dismantles his piano.

Special Features:
· Outtake musical number: “Little Big Shot” (Jimmy Durante)
· Classic M-G-M short subject “Now You See It” (1947)
· Classic M-G-M Tom & Jerry cartoon “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse” (1947)
· Original theatrical trailer

Fiesta (1947):
Glamorous Williams forsakes her trademark swimsuit for a matador’s red cape and black montera in the colorful film Fiesta. Williams portrays Maria, disguising herself as her twin brother Mario (Ricardo Montalban in his first credited U.S. film) and enters the ring in his place after he abandons bullfighting for classical music studies. An Oscar-nominated score* (including a restyling of Aaron Copland’s “El Salon Mexico”) spices up this gender-bender tale. Lovely Cyd Charisse plays Mario’s partner in dance and romance.

Special Features:
· Classic M-G-M short Goodbye, Miss Turlock (1947)
· Classic M-G-M Tex Avery cartoon Hound Hunters (1947)
· Original theatrical trailer

Pagan Love Song (1950):
Esther Williams and Howard Keel share the bliss of this eye-filling musical excursion which includes the rhapsodic title tune and a charming Rita Moreno (in her third movie role as a spunky islander). Pristine Hawaiian locations fill in for the story’s Tahitian setting. Of course, where there’s an island, there’s water, and Esther swimming in it. But in one fanciful sequence she also swims among the clouds, sending viewers’ spirits aloft with her.

Half-Tahitian beauty Mimi Bennett (Williams) is eager to leave the easygoing life of Tahiti for the excitement and bustle of the United States. But when Ohioan Hazard “Hap” Endicott arrives to manage his late uncle’s coconut plantation, the sparks flying between them may turn Mimi’s travel plans into wedding plans.

Special Features:
· Seven deleted musical outtakes including
o Why Is Love So Crazy
o Sea of the Moon
o Tahiti Version One
o Tahiti Version Two
o Music on the Water Version One
o Music on the Water Version Two
o The House of the Singing Bamboo
· Classic M-G-M cartoon “The Chump Champ” (1950)
· Classic M-G-M short subject “Curious Contests” (1950)
· Original theatrical trailer

About Esther Williams

Born in Los Angeles in 1921, Esther was the youngest of five children. As a teenager, she was determined to become a world champion swimmer, and by the age of 15 had already set records at such events as the Women's Outdoor Nationals and the Pacific Coast Championships. When the 1940 Olympics were cancelled because it was wartime, Williams went to work for Billy Rose's San Francisco Aquacade. An MGM scout spotted her there and offered her a contract, resulting in her screen debut in 1942 as Mickey Rooney’s love interest in Andy Hardy’s Double Life.

Hoping that a swimming star could surpass a skating queen (Fox’s Sonja Henie), MGM began grooming Miss Williams for the future by completely restructuring her third film. Filming began in 1943 under the title Mr. Co-Ed, starring Red Skelton as the title character. Early into production, producer Jack Cummings realized his leading lady was stealing the picture. The budget increased, and the picture was re-titled, becoming the Technicolor super-spectacular Bathing Beauty (in TCM Spotlight’s first Collection). The film was an international smash, and even though Skelton got top billing, it was Esther Williams who walked away with the movie.

Williams went on to become one of the biggest movie stars of the era and over the next decade; she captivated audiences in nearly 20 films. As her popularity soared -- she was among the top ten box office stars in 1949 and 1950 – MGM created a special group of movies called “Aqua Musicals,” making her swimming sequences more complex and elaborate with each new picture, adding everything from trapezes to fiery hoops.

Ms. Williams also tried her hand at drama with good performances in films like The Unguarded Moment, Raw Wind in Eden and The Big Show. But she ultimately went back to the water, starring in several TV aquacade spectaculars and acting as spokeswoman for her own swimming-pool company. She retired in 1961 to devote her time to husband Fernando Lamas, her children (including stepson Lorenzo Lamas) and her many business activities. She was rarely seen in public during those years, and was conspicuously absent from the reunion of MGM stars in 1974 participating in the release of That’s Entertainment!, the box-office blockbuster that featured a whole sequence around Esther’s films. Interest in Esther remained high, but she remained out of the public eye until Lamas’ death in 1982. She finally came back to the entertainment world in 1984, when ABC asked her to help provide commentary for the aquatic events at the Los Angeles Olympics, much to the delight of her many fans. The success of her classic films on home video and cable television introduced Esther to a whole new audience, and in 1994, she returned to MGM to serve as one of the hosts in the critically-acclaimed That’s Entertainment! III.

ESTHER WILLIAMS MARKETING SUPPORT
Turner Classic Movies is currently seen in more than 80 million homes and will support Warner Home Video and the new collection with extensive marketing. TCM’s marketing plan includes print ads in TCM’s popular Now Playing guide, banners on tcm.com, and on-air mentions by the network’s renowned primetime host, Robert Osborne.

TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams Volume 2
Street Date: October 6, 2009
Collection: $59.92 SRP
All Titles Not Rated and Color

Million Dollar Mermaid
Run Time: 115 minutes

Thrill of a Romance
Run Time: 105 minutes

Easy To Love
Run Time: 96 minutes

This Time For Keeps
Run Time: 105minutes

Fiesta
Run Time: 104 minutes
Pagan Love Song
Run Time: 76 minutes

Note: All enhanced content listed above is subject to change.

WHV Press Release: Warner Archive Collection Adds 21 More Classics June 2009

GARY COOPER, DICK POWELL, RUBY KEELER, OSCAR® WINNER MARIE DRESSLER AND SILENT SCREEN LEGENDS HIGHLIGHT THE WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION JUNE LINEUP “Bright Leaf” and “Flirtation Walk” Among 21 Titles Debuting This Month, Many for the First Time Ever on DVDBurbank, Calif., June 4, 2009 – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group (WBHEG), today announced the 21 classic movie titles will be added to its popular Warner Archive Collection (WBshop.com - The Official Online Store of Warner Bros. Studios: Warner Archive) online service this month, including 1934 Academy Award ® Nominee for Best Picture “Flirtation Walk” starring Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, and “Bright Leaf” starring Gary Cooper, Lauren Bacall and Patricia Neal. In addition, seven silent films from deep within the Studio’s vault will also debut including “When a Man Loves,” starring John Barrymore, as well as four classic gems starring film favorite Marie Dressler in “Min and Bill” for which she earned an Academy Award for Best Actress. Most of these films are making their first appearance in any home video format. To celebrate this month’s releases, WBHEG is offering two collections to classic film fans for a special price. Fans will be delighted with the six title Gary Cooper collection that spans a 17-year period during the two time Oscar® winner’s illustrious career and includes “Bright Leaf,” “Saratoga Trunk,” “Task Force,” “Operator 13,” “Today We Live” and “One Sunday Afternoon.” This collection can be purchased now for only $59.95. In addition, the Warner Archive Collection will also offer a “Dick Powell / Ruby Keeler” collection consisting of three of the famous screen team’s pairings, including “Flirtation Walk,” “Shipmates Forever” and “Colleen,” as well as Powell taking center stage in “Happiness Ahead” and Keeler making her final major film appearance in “Ready, Willing and Able.” These five timeless classics can now be purchased together for only $49.95. On June 15, fans will be able to own for the first time ever, several of Warner Bros. Pictures’ silent era films from deep within the Studio’s vault. Classics spanning the years 1924 to 1929 now available include John Barrymore in “When a Man Loves,” Dolores Costello and Warner Oland in “Old San Francisco” and the 1924 version of “The Sea Hawk,” starring Milton Stills and Enid Burnett. Also on June 15, fans will be able to enjoy screen legend and Academy Award® winner Marie Dressler in “Min and Bill” in the role for which she won Best Actress. The Warner Archive Collection will also debut three additional Dressler pictures including “Let Us Be Gay,” “Politics” and “Reducing.” Spanning more than 60 years of filmmaking, the Warner Archive Collection offers movie fans access to Warner Bros. Entertainment’s unparalleled film library consisting of pre-1986 MGM, RKO Radio Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures films. These timeless classics can be downloaded or purchased on DVDs that are made to order for the customer using a state-of-the-art Manufacturing on Demand (MOD) process. Currently the Warner Archive Collection offers 207 timeless movies and by year’s end will have more than 300 titles online. For a complete list of titles visit WarnerArchive.com. Thousands of movie fans have signed up for an exciting podcast series titled “The Golden History of Hollywood.” Hosted by George Feltenstein of Warner Home Video and available on iTunes (Apple - iTunes - The world?s most popular digital media player.) and numerous online sites for free, this series takes movie fans back in time to the “Golden Era” of Hollywood. “The Golden History of Hollywood” features captivating archival recordings from Warner Bros.’ vault including behind-the-scenes interviews with stars, radio editions of movies from the “Lux Radio Theater” and MGM’s “Good News” radio programs and much more. This month fans can enjoy “Beau Brummel,” “Saratoga Trunk,” and “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” The following titles are now available:· Colleen· Flirtation Walk· Happiness Ahead· One Sunday Afternoon· Operator 13· Ready, Willing and Able· Saratoga Trunk· Shipmates Forever· Task Force· Today We LiveThe following titles will be available on the Warner Archive Collection June 15:· Beau Brummel· Better Ole, The· Divine Lady, The· First Auto, The· Let Us Be Gay· Min and Bill· Old San Francisco· Politics· Reducing· Sea Hawk, The (1924)· When a Man LovesTo order their movies, fans visit WarnerArchive.com, select their titles, and upon purchase, a state-of-the-art manufacturing on demand (MOD) system creates a made-to-order DVD. The system places the DVD into a hard plastic Amaray case featuring custom artwork; shrink wraps it and ships the finished package to the customer which arrives in approximately five days. The cost per title is $19.95, plus shipping. Alternatively, consumers can purchase digital downloads of these classic films to enjoy immediately on their PC. The cost for a digital download is $14.95 per title. Warner Archive Collection is currently available only to consumers in the United States.

TCM 2

I always hoped they would bring this to the states. TCM 2 is a British channel. It is a UK-only spin-off channel from the UK version of Turner Classic Movies and shows the popular films from the Turner Library. Four major MGM or Warner Bros. films are shown from 7:00 P.M. to 3:00 A.M. (interspersed with various original short films about the films) from Monday-Sunday, and the following week includes a new line-up. This allows the viewer to "catch-up on the big films," thus allowing the chance to see the preferred film on any day of the week.

What is the Gower Gulch?

The Gower Gulch is a nickname for the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street in Hollywood, California.
Many year ago during the early days of film the area was surrounded by movie studios. At one corner of the intersection is the Sunset Gower + Sunset Bronson Studios formerly the old Columbia Pictures studio. Many years ago when Western films were popular, and cowboys would come to Hollywood hoping to find work they would congregate at that particular street corner, which is how it got the nickname. In addition, legend has it a drug store close by lent the phrase "drug store cowboys". Sunset at Gower is also the corner that housed the studio where Charlie Chaplin made some of his first moving pictures. In 2009, the retail strip center at that corner bears that name (One of my favorite sammy shops, Togos is in that strip center)

The name also appears in a Warner Bros. Cartoon, "Drip-A-Long Daffy", Porky Pig sings a Michael Maltese song entitled "The Flower of Gower Gulch". In yet another Warner Bros. Cartoon, "Nelly's Folly", Nelly the Singing Giraffe (voiced by Gloria Wood) sings a different version of that song.

TRIBUTE TO MICKEY ROONEY AT THE AERO THEATRE, SANTA MONICA, CA

American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre will be having a Mickey Rooney film tribute next week (May 6-10). Mr. Rooney himself will be at select screenings for discussions and Q&A's.

Let's Put On A Show: A Tribute to Mickey Rooney

An Aero Theatre Exclusive!
Aero Theatre
1328 Montana Avenue at 14th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90403

Advance tickets: http://www.fandango.com/americancinemathequeattheaerotheatre_aacpd/theaterpage?date=5/6/2009