Haiku #5 - City Lights

Chaplin could inspire anyone to poetry!

City Lights

Flowers in my mouth

Taste of sacrifice and love.

I can see. Can you?


This is an entry for the Best For Film Hollywood Haikus blogging competition. Enter now.

Read More

Haiku #4 - Singing in the Rain

A musical movie haiku for your consideration!

Singing in the Rain

Love enfolds my heart.

The rain liberates my joy.

Love and joy are one.


This is an entry for the Best For Film Hollywood Haikus blogging competition. Enter now.

Read More

Haiku #3 - Roman Holiday

Since I'm still in that Royal Wedding mood, an entrant to the movie haiku contest with a royal theme. Was there ever a more royal princess than Audrey?

Roman Holiday

Best Haircut? Pixie!

Best Ride? A Vespa is bliss!

Best City? Rome. Rome.


This is an entry for the Best For Film Hollywood Haikus blogging competition. Enter now.

Read More

Movie Haiku Contest: Haiku #2 - Double Indemnity

Ah, the poet in me is emerging! Another crack at a movie haiku and an entry in the contest (hey, one never knows). This is kind of fun!

Double Indemnity

Snake in an anklet;

Fool thinks he is in control.

Next Stop: Double Cross.

This is an entry for the Best For Film Hollywood Haikus blogging competition. Enter now.

Read More

Haiku Contest

Okay - I'll take a few shots at a Movie Haiku. I'm not normally known as a poet, but sometimes films inspire me to be poetic! Let me search my soul......


Sunset Boulevard

So Misunderstood!
A face of nitrate and dreams;
The parade's gone by.

This is an entry for the Best For Film Hollywood Haikus blogging competition. Enter now.

Read More

Massive Movie Crushes From A-Z: Swooning Through The Alphabet

Ever since I figured out that men were cuter than horses (though I admit I waiver back and forth on that one from time to time), I have lived through many massive crushes on movie stars. Once in a while a TV star would creep in, but he had to be movie-worthy in order to make the cut. I devoured the teen movie publications. Every week a new magazine! New stories and photos to pour over!

Being a classic film nut, many of my crushes came from watching a Saturday or Sunday afternoon movie and then racing to the library on Monday to find out as much as possible about my latest heart throb (Mom thought I was doing homework. Sorry, Mom).

Eventually, I had so many crushes that I started to keep them mentally filed in alphabetical order. And yes - I still get crushes.

I've been a fickle girl, so this is going to take a while. I will have to break this little love-fest into a few installments (with a few letters omitted - no E, I, Q,U,X, Y, Z - yet). Today's post will examine crushes A-F.

(You're Adorable)


Brian Aherne

A minor crush. First swoon occurred viewing him as the tragic Emperor Maximilian in "Juarez." Enjoyed him in a few others, but this was a very short-lived crush. After the first rush, the thrill was gone.

Dana Andrews

"Laura" was the first swoon, followed by "My Foolish Heart." Very handsome in a lock-jawed kind of way. A passing crush, but I always retained my affection for him. More like a friend with benefits.

(You're so beautiful)

John Barrymore

A fairly large crush. The flair, the dash, the profile! "Dinner at Eight" caused a stir in my heart, as did "Twentieth Century," but once I saw him in his youthful glory in such silents as "Don Juan" and "The Beloved Rogue," he earned a permanent place in my box of crushes.




Bill Bixby

Okay, I confess this was because of "My Favorite Martian," but he was in 2 Elvis films: "Clambake" and "Speedway." Another crush that was fleeting, but passionate nonetheless.

(You're a Cutie Full of Charm and a very busy letter)


James Cagney

A Mad Massive Crush of off-the-charts magnitude. It was Saturday, I was 14, I was alone and I watched "The Public Enemy." After that I watched "Angels With Dirty Faces." A poster in my room of Cagney as Rocky Sullivan and a shelf full of movie books quickly followed. I had moved from magazines and started hording my allowance for hard-cover books about classic Hollywood. True, deep, enduring love. Still.

Charlie Chaplin

If I had to rank them (in addition to alphabetizing them), Charlie would be #2. Starting with the Kevin Brownlow/David Gill documentary on PBS, Charlie was not only my gateway to his own wonderful films, but to silent films in general. I am eternally bewitched and ever so bothered.

Maurice Chevalier

So charming, so French, so oo-la-la. Maurice made me swoon in "Love Me Tonight," and remained my favorite Frenchman and older gentleman (ah, "Gigi"). Although the affair was brief, we always had Paris.

Bing Crosby

Yes, the voice helped, but it really was those eyes and his effortless demeanor. He was romantic and funny (especially with Bob Hope). Another fling, but the tune lingered.

Ronald Colman

Yet another brief affair who lured me with a voice, an accent and a mustache. It didn't last long, but he was a very classy crush.

Tony Curtis

A swift affair due to "The Great Race," but I always contend he was a grand fellow. In retrospect, I kind of wish this one had lasted a bit longer.

(You're delectable)

Bobby Darin

So cool, so swinging, so elegant, so charming, so cute, so married to Sandra Dee. A very mad crush whose embers have not cooled over the decades. Oh Bobby, I miss you like crazy!

Kirk Douglas

A mild crush - based largely on an overdose of "Spartacus." We still retain "friends" status and I am always happy to come across him at any time (especially in "Letter to Three Wives" and "The Bad and the Beautiful.")

Robert Downey, Jr.

A current crush, and is one of my 2 crushes who plays another of my crushes on film ("Chaplin"). I am so smitten! He is one of the few stars whose movies I will see just because he's in it.

(You're a feather in my arms)



Albert Finney

Another Brit who got under my skin. I first saw him in "Two For the Road," and that was it for me. What a doll (but I confess I was just too jealous of Audrey Hepburn - not only did she get a great wardrobe in that film, she got to have an off-screen affair with Albert Finney! The woman got everything!). A short-lived affair, but I am always happy to see Albie in anything, even now. I generally stay friends with all of my "affairs." ♥

Coming Next:  Movie Crushes G-M

Whoops! Get back in my subconscious!

Read More

Max Makes His Move!

Chapter 4 of the Norma Desmond Chronicles.
Norma got off on a temporary insanity plea, did a short stint in a spa-like psych center and is now free in Hollywood. She's back and better than ever!


Max Von Myerling has loved Norma Desmond for as long as he can remember.

The Object of His Affection

As a young director from Vienna, he was quite a ladies man. One of the young Hollywood's directors who showed promise in the early days (along with D.W. Griffith and C.B. DeMille), Max had his pick of all of the Hollywood starlets and played the field with gusto. He had no intention of settling  down.

Max Before Norma: A Young Man Sows His Wild Oats

But once Norma Desmond walked onto his set, he was struck by cupid's arrow and became a man enslaved by love. From that moment on, his passion for that little 5 foot bundle of dynamite ruled his life.

Through a turbulant marriage, infidelities, divorce, Norma's 2 other husbands, career decline, depression, murder, dead monkeys and delusion, Max endured all of the humiliation heaped upon him just to be close to Norma. He knew that underneath the demanding diva his sweet Norma was still there, the Norma before she started believing Paramount's publicity.

"Max and Madame" - The Hit of the Fall Season!

Now that their little sitcom, "Max and Madame", was a hit, life seemed to be once again smiling on Norma and Max. Both he and Norma had finally been accepted back on the "A" list. Invitations to parties and premiers poured in. Best of all, Norma was happy.

To Max, she has never seemed more beautiful and he knew that if ever he was going to make his move to get back into the "Bedroom of the Husbands" and his proper place in Norma's heart, now was the time.

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind!

Max had it all planned and was sure he could execute his plan flawlessly.

Step 1: Tell Norma how beautiful she looked (and she did). His heart skipped a beat whenever he saw her.

Flattery Always Softened Her Up!

Step 2: A dinner for 2 at the Brown Derby, Norma's favorite place to dine.

Where the Famous Go to Dine and to be Seen!

Step 3: Pull up in the Isotta-Fraschini. Real people asking Norma for autograph were  sure to be outside (Max is so glad he no longer has to write those letters).

Norma Still Rides in the Back Seat

Step 4: An impromptu visit by friends Tallulah Bankhead and Carol Channing brightened the evening and the champagne and martinis flowed.

Norma Had Such a Good Time She Wore the Center Piece in Her Hair!

After a few glasses of the bubbly, the old Norma reappeared. Max knew the moment had come - that it was now or never!

He shooed the friends away and they were alone at last. His heart was pounding! But, just as Max leaned over the shrimp cocktail to whisper sweet words of love in Norma's little ear, the waiter brought a telephone over to the table.

Before Norma picked up the receiver, she felt a chill run down her spine. It was as if someone was watching her, someone from beyond...

Ghosts at the Brown Derby?

Norma had received an urgent call from her psychic astrologer. It seems that Dead Joe Gillis had been talking and spreading lies! He'd been telling his story from the grave and appearing at seances all over Hollywood and telling anyone who will listen that he was seduced by Norma and made a gigolo by her and that she is mad and dangerous!

Dead Men Do Tell Tales!

Norma put the receiver back in place very slowly. "Max. Take me home. Now."

Max heaved a heavy sigh and pulled on his white gloves. He knew the moment had passed. All of the Hollywood "A" listers payed attention to the messages received at seances. His toothbrush would not be placed in the "Bedroom of the Husbands" tonight.

To be Continued...

Read More