On the Boulevard

Last summer while on vacation in London, I came across a Colin Farrell movie shoot in progress. I swear I must have a radar for these things. I stood across the street, watching the dreamy Irish actor shoot his scenes in a Rolls Royce, all the while pondering what movie it was and how I could get close enough to snap a picture. I did eventually sneak a photo – albeit a slighty blurry one (see above). And I also did eventually find out what movie he was filming, and whaddaya know? It has a classic movie connection. I’m tellin’ you – radar.

The film, called London Boulevard, is a loose take-off of Sunset Boulevard and based on the book by Ken Bruen. Instead of a ready-for-her-close-up Gloria Swanson, this film has Keira Knightley playing a reclusive former movie star. Farrell – a truly underrated actor, in my opinion - plays an ex-con who becomes involved with her. The director and screenplay writer is William Monahan, who also wrote The Departed, so expect lots of gritty tension and twisty turns.

The film doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s something to look out for.

What do you think of the 1950 classic rebooted and set in London? Think Keira’s a little young to be playing a washed up actress? And, more importantly, should I have mauled Colin Farrell when I had the chance?

Wanna See James Dean Point a Gun at Ronald Reagan?

Back when Ronald Reagan only had a Screen Actors Guild presidency under his belt and back when James Dean was just a quirky young actor and not the icon of rebellious youth he is today, the unlikely duo appeared on screen together in an episode of General Electric Theater which aired live on December 12, 1954. Check out rare snippets from this episode called "The Dark Dark Hours." Reagan plays a straitlaced doctor, Dean plays a loose cannon criminal. It's glorious.



"Do. The. Best. You. Can. Ya dig me?"

Oh yes, James Dean, we dig you.

They've Got Grace!

Do you live in London or are you planning on visiting as soon as this volcanic dust settles? An exhibition showcasing the wardrobe of one Miss Grace Kelly has opened at the Victoria & Albert Museum. It’s a good thing I’m not going because I’d probably be the crazy girl hauled away by security for trying to pilfer one of her outfits from Rear Window. For those of us who can’t see the exhibit in person (for security reasons or otherwise) the Daily Mail has a great article with suggestions on how you can copy the looks that made Grace a star.

All this Princess Grace news got me thinking. And all that thinking led me to another game of “Who Would Play.” We here at On the Marquee last played this game with Natalie Wood. Now it’s time to list some potential Grace Kellys - for the Grace Kelly biopic that for now only exists in my head.

January Jones

This first one is kind of obvious and it’s not hard to picture – mainly because we know she can already pull off the vintage wardrobe and also because Mad Men beats us over the head with the Grace Kelly comparisons every chance it gets. But while we think January Jones rocks as Betty Draper on the AMC drama, we kind of think that might be the only character she can play. I mean, you saw her Rear Window skit on SNL, right? Yikes.

Emily Deschanel

Bear with me on this one. Try to picture the Bones star with a blonde wig - there's definitely some similar bone structure going on. Still don't see it? Ah well. Consider this pick a dark horse.

Rosamund Pike

Think we found a winner! This lovely Brit brings her poise and, ahem, grace to every role she takes. Whether it’s the soft-spoken eldest sister in Pride & Prejudice or the not-too-bright socialite in An Education. We think she has the look and the talent. Ok, so we may not have been the first to notice her Grace Kelly-like attributes, but we’re totally on board with her as first choice.

What do you guys think? Any other suggestions? Just not Gwyneth Paltrow. Only non-obnoxious actresses need apply.

Kate as Mildred!

I can't possibly be the only one geeking out over Kate Winslet as Mildred Pierce. Since she's currently filming the HBO miniseries in Manhattan, I think a good old-fashioned set-stalking is in order. But until I can get up-close with my camera, I'll let the paparazzi do it for me. Here are a few shots taken of Ms. Winslet filming in her 1930s costume. She's got the Depression-era housewife look down! Plus, check out that great prop newspaper!

Source

My Fair Carey

So remember last year when we told you that Keira Knightley was in talks to star in a remake of the Audrey Hepburn classic, My Fair Lady? Well, it seems Keira’s out and the newest British It Girl is in! Carey Mulligan – incidentally Keira’s co-star in 2005’s Pride and Prejudice – is now the lead choice to play Eliza Doolittle. We’re hoping this is true, because the info came straight from the mouth of the film’s writer, Emma Thompson. (Thompson didn’t tell us, of course, but she told the BBC and that’s as close as “straight from her mouth” as we’re gonna get.) However, Mulligan is still playing coy on the subject, saying at this point she just “doesn’t know.”

As Mulligan mulls her options, let us count the reasons we think she just might be the perfect choice.

1. After her brilliant turn as 16-year-old girl taken in by an older man in An Education, Mulligan proved she can carry a movie all by herself.
2. We love Keira, but let’s face it, she’s kind of a glamour-puss. Mulligan will be able to play both pre-and post-makeover Eliza with great believability. She’s more of an “every-girl,” if you will.
3. She’s one of the hottest commodities in town right now (and not just ‘cause she’s dating her Wall Street 2 co-star Shia LaBeouf). She’s that rare instance of a pretty young actress who’s also smart, talented and a little bit quirky (she wore a dress with tiny forks and scissors hanging off it to the Oscars). Plus, this year’s Oscar nomination certainly didn’t hurt.

As for the role of Henry Higgins, played by Rex Harrison in the 1964 film, Hugh Grant has reportedly been linked to the role. But that, says Thompson, has also yet to be confirmed. If the potential addition of Mulligan is any indication, My Fair Lady may be poised to follow its predecessor in a trip to the Oscars.

Hollywood's Cheating Hearts

Cheaters. They’re saturating the news so much right now, it’s just plain unavoidable. The most recent example being Jesse James, the Monster Garage scumbag who dared cheat on America’s sweetheart and recent Best Actress Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock. Granted, she married a tattooed, motorcycle riding bad boy with a porn star ex, so she basically got what she paid for – but that doesn’t make the situation suck any less. Who cheats on Miss Congeniality?! Jesse better watch his back – we hear Sandy’s got Betty White on her side.

Jesse James isn’t first (and he certainly won’t be the last) celeb to give in to his roving eye and amped up libido. In Old Hollywood, illicit affairs were rampant. Let’s look at some of the most infamous philanderers from back then, shall we?

Spencer Tracy

The number one spot has to go to Spencer Tracy. He was one-half of one of Hollywood’s most famous couples – the other half of course being Katharine Hepburn. But there was actually one other fraction to that equation that a lot of people might forget – Tracy’s wife. He stayed married all throughout his 25-year relationship with Hepburn. His Catholic faith prevented him from seeking a divorce, but not from breaking the commandment about adultery, obviously.

Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor

Well I guess if you’re gonna cheat, you do it with one of the most gorgeous women in Hollywood - Elizabeth Taylor. It’d be like someone having an affair with Angelina Jolie - you just don’t pass that up (methinks Brad Pitt knows what I mean). Burton was married with kids when he and Taylor first hooked up on the set of Cleopatra. But let’s not forget about Taylor, who wasn't exactly a saint. She was married at the time too, to Eddie Fischer (who had left his wife, Debbie Reynolds, for Taylor!) Oh what a tangled web…

Clark Gable

Ooh this is a juicy one. Good ole Clarkie was married to a woman named Maria Franklin Printiss while he had an on-set affair with Loretta Young in 1935. Their affair produced a love child, but Young hid this fact from the world, pretending her daughter Judy was adopted. Judy herself believed this lie throughout most of her life and she met Gable only once, as a teenager, with no idea that he was her real father. She didn’t find out this fact until 20 years later. Pretty messed up, huh?

Ingrid Bergman & Roberto Rossellini

Talk about a scandal! Bergman and Rossellini were both married when they began their affair in 1949. In 1950, Bergman gave birth to Rossellini’s son – sparking outrage. (You have to admit, it was pretty brazen for such a huge star.) The affair almost ruined the actress’ image completely, and she was exiled for the U.S. for a time because of it.

On the Marquee & Whiskey

So check this out. On the Marquee is branching out to different mediums! Yours truly crashed Sean and Bob’s WhiskeyHour podcast today and chatted about this very blog. I talk about my latest post on I Confess, so go to whiskeyhour.com to check it out! My bit is towards the end, but make sure you listen to Sean and Bob’s musings too! And follow them on Twitter. Because they’re awesome. (And I’m not just saying that because I work with them.)