Old Age - Hollywood Style!

"Old age ain't no place for sissies"  

                        Bette Davis

Oh wise and wonderful one, Bette, truer words were never spoken. However, there is real old age and there is Hollywood old age and they are definitely not one in the same!

Many times young stars play a character who ages throughout the movie and they are made up to look like an older version of themselves. Let's see how close the make-up artists' vision of old age came to the real thing:

Bette Davis

Bette Davis as "The Old Maid" 

Bette as she really aged and telling it like it is!

Bob Hope, Bing Crosby 

and Dorothy Lamour

Bing, Dot and Bob in "The Road to Utopia"
(but not the Fountain of Youth!)

Bing looking a little older, but still dapper

Dorothy maintained her glamour 

So he has less hair, who cares? It was Bob Hope!

Jennifer Jones

In "Good Morning Miss Dove," Jennifer Jones
aged with nary a wrinkle!

Hardly an old maid schoolmarm! 

Clark Gable and Norma Shearer

Clark Gable and Norma Shearer as the
make-up department saw them age in "Strange Interlude"

Gable in his last film, "The Misfits."
Rugged, natural and wearing his age like a man.

Norma retired from the screen at a fairly young age, but remained the essence of chic. This was nobody's little old grandma!

Elizabeth Taylor

As a grandmother in "Giant." Well, maybe the make-up man just couldn't  make Liz look anything less than young and beautiful.

Some grandma! Liz aged beautifully until she was overtaken by illness

Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara

Maureen O'Hara and Tyrone Power in "The Long Gray Line"

Maureen O'Hara - no powered wigs for this glamour gal

We'll never know how Ty looked past age 44,
but I'll bet he would have been  beautiful

Irene Dunne

Irene Dunne as Queen Victoria in "The Mudlark"

Irene Dunne retired from the screen, but not from life.
A lovely and vital presence at age 64!

Rosalind Russell

Roz as "Sister Kenny"

Miss Russell looking like the star she is

So, after looking at these pictures, this is what I learned: Hollywood makeup artists during the golden age evidently thought old age was white powered hair for both men and women and a little extra facial hair for the men. While no one is immune to the ravages of time, some stars showed us how to age gracefully and naturally (with a little help from the box of hair color, of course). I guess glamorous grandmas and grandpas don't make for dramatic stories!

Just a few of the many 

who were taken too young 

Sadly, we will never have the opportunity to see how they matured.

Marilyn

Jean

Carole

Valentino

James Dean

John Garfield

And a candle for some of the others who are missed and not forgotten

Lupe Velez, Laird Cregar, Montgomery Clift, Gail Russell, Judy Garland, Robert Walker, Sal Mineo, Carole Landis, Natalie Wood, Maria Montez, Mario Lanza, George Reeves, Dorothy Dandridge, Jayne Mansfield, Pier Angeli, Bruce Lee, Elvis Presley, Mabel Normand, Brittany Murphy, Heath Ledger, Leslie Howard.

R.I.P. Feel free to add the names of any I have not mentioned.

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A Special Liebster Blog Award From a Very Special Blogger

As The Old Man in "A Christmas Story" says, "A Major Award!"

Classic Becky of Classic Becky's Brain Food, a woman of rare taste and refinement, has chosen my site as one of five for a special award (okay, it's not quite a shapely leg lamp, but it's still major!). "Liebster" in German and Spanish means "beloved." I believe this award began in Germany and look how far it has traveled! What a lovely name for an award I am honored to receive from Becky (told you she had good taste).

Rules of the Award

You can copy this introduction or make up your own. Link back here to my blog. Then pick five other blogs to be given the award. This is hard because there are so many good writers out there they put me to shame (and I'm pretty shameless).

My five "liebchens" are:

Lily Lemontree 

@http://lilylemontree.blogspot.com: Lily gives me my almost daily dose of style, fashion and movie style and fashion. I owe my modish deportment all to her!

Put the Blame on Mame 

@ http://blamemameblog.blogspot.com. A fresh new-to-me blog with great insightful posts. I'm lovin' it!

Silver Screen Modiste 

@ http://www.silverscreenmodiste.com. Christian is indeed amazing in both his knowledge and taste regarding film and costumes and fashion. If you need to know more, and be royally entertained, this is your "go to" destination!

The Girl With the White Parasol 

@ http://thegirlwiththewhiteparasol.blogspot.com. Aside from the fact that this is one of my favorite named blogs (so stunning), Rachel is an awesome writer.

Movie Montage 

@ http://voteforgracie.blogspot.com. Another new favorite, well written, fun and full of the kind of posts on the kind of movie I like - so what's not to like?

Please check these great blogs out and let the authors know how much you like them. After all, we do it for the love of movies and certainly not the paycheck!

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MOVIE BOOKS I LOVE: THE ART OF THE GREAT HOLLYWOOD PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS

This is an occasional series featuring my favorite movie books. Before TCM and the internet, the only way to satisfy my passion to know more about classic Hollywood was through books, books and more books. I've cleared away the clutter over the years, but many remain permanent residents in my home. You'd never throw out an old friend, now would you?

THE ART OF THE GREAT HOLLYWOOD PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS - by John Kobal

The cover of this 1980 book hooked me from the start. Dolores Del Rio. Stunning. Not my favorite actress, but one of my favorite photo subjects. You see, I am a star gazer. I admit I am totally, shamelessly and hopelessly mesmerized by that product of Hollywood called glamour. Looking at beautiful portraits of beautiful stars is equally as pleasurable to me as watching a movie. And, lest some think that is pretty shallow, it is through the beauty and artistry of these portraits that I came to know about some wonderful stars and later sought out their films. Before TCM, it was easier to find a picture of Garbo than it was to see one of her films.


This book has the three key ingredients that I crave in a movie tome: 


1. lots of good information;
2. lots of good, quality photos on good quality paper stock; 
3.  and lots of good gossip!


The author, John Kobal, was a great collector of film photos and author of many fine books about the golden age of Hollywood. This is just one of his books I possess and treasure and have no intention of giving up. You can't put these great coffee table books on a Kindle!

"The Art of the Great Hollywood Portrait Photographers" treats those great give-away fan portraits of 1925-1940 as not only a record of the era, but as tools that helped build and create the allure of the star. Like the ancient Greek sculptures of the gods and goddesses and the Renaissance and Victorian romantic portraits of great beauties, these works celebrate and elevate human beauty. 


Portraits of such early stars as Mary Pickford, Theda Bara and Rudolph Valentino perpetuated their stardom, but were often done by photographers were not employed by a studio. The studio's use of portrait photographers did not fully flourish until the late 1920s and 1930s. By then, portrait photography became an integral part of creating the star's image and publicizing their films.

Mary Pickford and Rudolph Valentino:
early examples of the power of the portrait

By the 1930s, the film industry actively employed thousands whose sole function was to find performers of extraordinary physical beauty and create, says Kobal, a "compelling visual ideal that would stand as a statement of our desires and our need for fulfillment." Jean Harlow, Gloria Swanson and Clark Gable embodied our ideal of sex, glamour and beauty. Kobal asserts that this was not new and asks if, long ago, did Emma Lyon's wordy lovers fall in love with the blacksmith's daughter or with the Lady Hamilton created by the painter Romney? Centuries later, did Aly Khan fall in love with Margarita Cansino or with the ideal beauty called Rita Hayworth?


Kobal chroncicles the careers of many of the greatest, interviews many stars and photographers and presents a feast of gorgeous photos. I especially enjoyed his interviews with Loretta Young, whose observations are astute and honest.


Some interesting facts and gossip: Joan Crawford, Carole Lombard and Katharine Hepburn liked to be photographed and recognized the importance of these photos. They were willing and cooperative subjects and their photographers appreciated them. Constance Bennett, Veronica Lake and Irene Dunne were not very enthusiastic subjects and Miriam Hopkins was a handful (to say the least and are we not surprised?). Errol Flynn needed a drink to get going, as did Jean Harlow, who liked to disrobe in front of photographer Ted Allan (which he didn't seem to mind at all) and Gary Cooper was lazy (but managed to always come through looking just right). Hedy Lamarr's stardom was created almost completely through portrait photography and Norma Shearer's slightly crossed eye was a challenge. Spencer Tracy, James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart considered sitting for portraits "sissy stuff," but Cagney used eye makeup to highlight his piercing gaze.

My favorite story is  Laszlo Willinger's reminiscence of his assignment on the 1939 film  "The Women," which starred MGM rivals Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford, as well as Rosalind Russell and Paulette Goddard. Shearer and Crawford both wanted Willinger as their photographer, but both had the right to reject photos they appeared in together. In shots of the two of them together, countless prints were rejected in a real-life version of the on-screen cat-fight. Willinger describes his experience:

Shearer would look at the prints first and say "Gee, this is a beautiful picture of me, but I really don't like the way Joan Crawford looks." And then Joan would have her turn, and we'd have the same thing. It's a wonder any pictures of them were released at all.

There were two on that film who were easy to work with - Paulette Goddard, because she was ambitious, and Rosalind Russell, because she didn't give a damn. As a result, Goddard got practically 90 percent of the stuff that was published, because she made herself available.

One day the three principals took off from filming, just so we could shoot stills. The call was for ten a.m. I'm up there, ready - nobody. It's ten-thirty, eleven - still nobody. Finally Rosalind Russell turns up and says, "Sorry I'm late." I told her, "You're not late. You're the first one here." I walked outside the stage that had been set for the session. A crew of ten was standing around waiting, including a flower man, in case one of them wanted a flower. (I couldn't give them a flower, because that would have been against union rules, and everybody would have walked off.) Finally, I saw Norma Shearer's car drive by. It slowed down. She looked out and continued driving around the block. A little behind her was Joan Crawford, who also slowed down, looked out and drove on. I thought "What the hell is going on here?" I called [publicity director Howard] Strickling and told him "There are two stars outside driving around the stage and not coming in." He said "Don't you know what they're doing? Shearer isn't going to come in before Crawford and Crawford isn't going to come in before Shearer. The only thing I can do is stand in the middle of the street and stop them." Which he did.

Good stuff. And the book is full of great tidbits like that. But best of all are the photos by these great artists. Some of my favorites:

Ruth Harriet Louise

This is my favorite Garbo portrait. Although she is always beautiful, here she  is is more approachable than I have ever seen her. I think this is just breathtaking.

John Gilbert looking glamorous for Ruth Harriet Louise

Ernest Bachrach

Capturing the glamour, sophistication and exoticism of Dolores Del Rio

Beautiful Carole Lombard

Don English

Don English fulfilled the vision of Von Sternberg and Dietrich

George Hurrell

Joan Crawford: the essence of Hollywood glamour
and a favorite Hurrell subject

Another stunning Crawford portrait by Hurrell

Jean Harlow

Norma Shearer

Clarence Sinclair Bull

Bull was Garbo's favorite photographer and she his favorite subject

The stuff that dreams are made of

Laszlo Willinger

Hedy Lamarr

Tyrone Power looking beautiful

Vivien Leigh

Clark Cable

Otto Dyar

Anna May Wong

Robert Coburn

Rita Hayworth

Charles Boyer

This is only a hint of the great photos contained in this book. No wonder I held on to it! A few last thoughts on the art of the great Hollywood portrait photographers:


Madison Lacy, who spent fifty years as a photographer said, "I think probably everything to do with glamour - real glamour photography as we know it - originated in Hollywood."


Louise Brooks: "When you think of it, what people remember of those stars is not from films, but one essential photograph: Dietrich - heavy-lidded, sucked-in cheeks / Keaton - sad little boy / Crawford - staring self-admiration / Gable - smiling, darling. And when i think of Garbo, I do not see her moving in any particular film. I see her staring mysteriously into the camera. No matter how many times I've seen her in films, that is how I always see her. She is a still picture - unchangeable."


I don't know about you, but for my money these great photos are truly works of art and deserve to be treated as such.

Portraits are, sadly, all that we have left of
Theda Bara, as most of her films no longer exist

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KATHARINE HEPBURN: BORN THIS WAY

Ninth in a series about strong women in film. Strong women are independent, beautiful, sexy, feminine and just want everything in life that a man wants and believe that they have every right to have it!

When I started this monthly "Strong Women in Film" series, I knew that Katharine Hepburn had to be included, but I have hesitated until now to write about her. I mean, what is there to say about Kate that has not already been said? What else is there to do but write her a love letter?

When thinking of Katharine Hepburn, I can't help but think of strength. But I also associate strength with Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck and many other actresses. So, what is it about Kate that makes her different from the rest? While Davis, Crawford and Stanwyck were strong, their life lessons also taught them to be tough. Their struggles for better roles, better terms and survival as stars as time passed help mold their powerful and imposing personas.

Hepburn, it seems, had the opposite journey. She burst upon the scene a full-fledged individual with a backbone of steel who was unlike anyone in appearance, speech, manner and dress. She was molded, not by a studio, but by her Yankee upbringing. The daughter of a doctor and a suffragist, forthrightness and individualism, as well as education and athleticism, was encouraged. She was such a proficient athlete that Kenneth Tynan called her "The Garbo of the Great Outdoors." A Bryn Mawr graduate, she quickly made the leap from Broadway to Hollywood. Unlike many stage actresses who get the call to the screen, Hepburn started out as a star and retained that status until her dying day. Sharing the screen with no less a talent than John Barrymore in her first film, "A Bill of Divorcement," she took the world by storm and never looked back.

Young Kate: A New Kind of Star - and she knows she is fabulous!

Hepburn's first years in Hollywood were not 100% successful. Because she was so unique and unconventional and utterly unwilling to be anything less than herself, some of her films were just a bit too quirky and individualistic for the public. However, her performances in "Little Women" (the best Jo ever), "Stage Door," "Bringing up Baby," and "Holiday," were beyond compare (though not always successful at the box office). She won her first Academy Award for her portrayal of  the naive young actress in "Morning Glory," her third film, and was nominated for her performance in "Alice Adams."

Well, there she was all over Hollywood, wearing pants, playing golf and speaking her mind (not always politely, she later admitted). She had a notoriously bad relationship with the press, and was known to be a bit testy, even with her fans.

Looking, dressing and acting like nobody else

And then suddenly came the label "Box Office Poison." In 1938 she and many other well-established stars (Garbo, Crawford, Dietrich, Astaire, among others) were called out for their huge salaries and low returns at the box office. Hepburn's reaction was to go back to the stage (after coming to Hollywood, she made one previous return to the stage in "The Lake." The play and her performance earned famously bad reviews, but it did give her the line that impressionists use for decades: "The calla lilies are in bloom again"). Phillip Barry, the author of "Holiday," created "The Philadelphia Story" especially for her. The play, which Hepburn backed, was a smash on Broadway (her co-stars were Joseph Cotton, Van Heflin and Shirley Booth). Owning the rights to the play, she took it, with herself in the lead (this time supported by Cary Grant, James Stewart and Ruth Hussey). The film was a tremendous hit and Hepburn was back, earning another Academy Award nomination and much public admiration.

Kate and her 3 men: John Howard, Cary Grant
and James Stewart in "The Philadelphia Story"

From then on, there was no stopping Kate in Hollywood. Still as strong as ever, she softened her edges when it came to the press and the public. Some women have to learn to push themselves forward to realize their strength. Hepburn, like a thoroughbred, had to learn to rein it in for maximum effect.


Another factor that may have softened her up a bit was her co-star in her next film, "Woman of the Year." The story of her off-screen love affair with Spencer Tracy for the rest of his life is well known and their on-screen chemistry was a hit in film after film. She was strong (we knew that), and she played comedy like nobody's business (we knew that, too), but now there was a lightness to her that was downright adorable.

Tracy & Hepburn: Perfect for one another

In film after film, Katharine Hepburn became more beloved: "Adam's Rib," "The African Queen," "Summertime," "The Rainmaker,""Suddenly Last Summer," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?," "The Lion in Winter" and "On Golden Pond" are testaments to her acting ability, her personal charisma and her enduring popularity and star power.


One of the amazing and unique things about Hepburn's later career is that she, almost alone of any of the great actresses of her era, remained a first rank star and got top flight parts as she aged. No cheap horror flicks or B-westerns for Kate. More beautiful that ever, she presented a mature woman to the world who was vital, intelligent, vulnerable and - when necessary - plucky, brave and fearsome. The gallery of these mature and unforgettable women include:

Rose Sayer in "The African Queen"

Mary Tyrone in "Long Day's Journey into Night"

Queen Eleanor in "The Lion in Winter"

Ethel Thayer in "On Golden Pond"

According to Kate,"I suppose when I was a very young actress I was very unsure of myself, and I thought you had to be nice to everybody, so I was. Then I got to be a big star rather quickly, and it occurred to me that you didn't, so then I was difficult with the press and everybody. Then, after a while, things didn't go so well, so I decided it was time to be sweet again. And by that time, the press and I had got to be rather old and sweet together. You know, when someone has been around as long as I have, people get fond of you, like some old building." Some building!


Who could not adore and admire this uniquely individual woman? Her career achievements are legendary:12 Academy Award nominations and 4 wins, as well as an Oscar presented to an actress who portrayed her (Cate Blanchett in "The Aviator"). Her humor and curiosity made her the most vibrant of women. She showed the world how to live a woman's life independently and courageously and with great humor. She was devoted to her craft and we are the lucky recipients.


She was truly one of a kind and definitely our kind of gal.

I love this photo - only Kate could look so relaxed with the
leader of the free world - who looks completely delighted by her company.

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My Favorite Actors are Singers; My Favorite Singers are Actors!

Some of my favorite actors are singers and some of my favorite singers are actors and, more often than not, they are one in the same. I don't know what it is, but something about being a good singer makes for a good actor. Maybe it's because a singer is acting a story in a song and must do so on an intensely personal level. It just seems that many performers who are chiefly singers seem to have a naturalness before the camera that is comfortable and intimate. Whatever the reason, they display an ease that is irresistible. Here are a few of my favorites. These performers seem to be able to do it all!

Judy Garland

For me, she is the greatest Hollywood star There was nothing - nothing this woman couldn't do. Singing? No contest. Dancing? Do you hear Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly complaining? Beautiful? Yes. Acting? Matchless. Oh, Judy, let me count the ways!

1. Comedy: Judy was a superb comedienne and was well known to have a terrific sense of humor in real life. Her perfect execution of a Buster Keaton-choreographed routine in "The Good Old Summertime" is hilarious, as is her dancing with an over-amorous but under-sized partner in "Meet Me in St. Louis."

2. Dancing: Did you see her "Be a Clown" in "The Pirate"? "A Couple of Swells" in "Easter Parade"? Or how about "Get Happy" in "Summer Stock"?

3. Beauty: Those big brown eyes, that turned up nose, that adorable smile and laugh. And those legs! She should have thought more of herself, but being surrounded by Lana Turner, Ava Gardner and Elizabeth Taylor at MGM made her feel like an ugly duckling. Someone should have told her that inner beauty shows on the screen, too.

4. Acting: Catch Judy in "The Clock" and tell me this woman was not a brilliant actress. And, if that doesn't do it for for you, check out  "A Star is Born." Actors can study for years and never come close to this woman's ability to make you feel.

Academy Award Nominations: "A Star is Born," "Judgment at Nuremberg"

Academy Award Wins: Juvenile Academy Award for "The Wizard of Oz."

Doris Day

I believe that Doris day is the most under-rated of stars. While not as intense and emotional as Judy, there is virtually nothing Doris cannot do.

1. Comedy: Her strong suit (next to singing). She had great timing and always made her co-stars look good. In film after film she showed them all how it should be done: light as a feather and full of fun.

2. Dancing: Before Doris embarked on a singing career she harbored dreams of becoming a dancer. Her dreams were cut short by an injury, but Doris still had the moves. She did some fine dancing in "Love Me or Leave Me," but she also did some great bad dancing in that film - and that is not easy to do!

3. Beauty - no need to elaborate here. In addition to her lovely face, Doris had a knockout figure and was a great clotheshorse. Her style, especially in the 1950s and 1960s, was the envy of women everywhere.

4. Acting: Everything Doris does looks effortless. When given a role with some meat, she was perfection. "Love Me or Leave Me" is my favorite Doris Day performance, followed by "Calamity Jane" and "The Pajama Game." Alfred Hitchcock, who directed her in "The Man Who Knew too Much," was not an easy man to please and he had nothing but praise for Doris. That pretty much sums it up.

Academy Award Nominations: "Pillow Talk"

Academy Award Wins: None. SOMEBODY GIVE THIS WOMAN AN OSCAR, FOR GOODNESS SAKE!

Bing Crosby

The granddaddy of them all - so much talent and ability wrapped in the smoothest, coolest most likable personality that ever appeared in movies. In case you need reminding, Bing was an unbelievably huge mega-star whose celebrity topped the charts in recordings,on radio, in film and TV. He was never once caught "acting," but could act anyone off the screen without breaking a sweat. Just dial "O" for O'Malley.

1. Comedy: Bing had a special talent for comedy. He knew his way around a funny line, especially when paired with buddy Bob Hope, and kept the box office humming in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.

2. Dancing: This is one area where Bing gives a game effort, but falls short. Both he and Frank Sinatra (more about him in a bit), seem to only be able to dance below the waist. The upper torso did not cooperate. Oh well, I'll just close my eyes and listen.

3. Beauty: Is there any wonder those young gals swooned for this crooner in the 1930s? Did you see those big baby blues? Bing was mighty attractive and it was never hard to believe that he would end up with Dorothy Lamour (well, most of the time!).

4. Acting: Effortless, no matter how light or heavy. Comedy and musicals were a given, but he could tug at your heart in "Going My Way," and handle the heavy going in "Man on Fire," and "The Country Girl."

Academy Award Nominations: "Going My Way," "The Bells of St. Mary," and "The Country Girl."

Academy Award Win: "Going My Way"

Frank Sinatra

Well ring-a-ding-ding, the Chairman of the Board was a real movie star (besides being one of the greatest recording artists of all time). Frankie showed them all with cool, style and real acting talent. Really, is it fair that one man should be blessed with so much talent? Good thing he decided to share it with us! While movie stardom was just a fraction of what made him famous, he left quite a celluloid legacy of great performances. Miss you like mad, Frankie.

1. Comedy: Frank was an old hand at the funny stuff and could stand toe-to- toe with any funnyman in the business. "Come Blow Your Horn," "High Society" and "On the Town" were extra delightful for his presence.

2. Dancing: See Bing Crosby! Watch Frank and Gene Kelly in "One the Town." Frank's feet are doing the same steps as Gene's, but that upper torso is strictly immobile! At least he did it with a smile.

3. Beauty: I think Frank got better looking as he got older, but try to tell that to the thousands of bobby-soxers who thought he was the living end!

4. Acting: When given the right part (and when he was in the right mood), he was superb. "Pal Joey," "Guys and Dolls," (shouldn't he have been Sky Masterson?), "The Joker is Wild," "The Man with the Golden Arm," "The Manchurian Candidate," and, of course, "From Here to Eternity" - all home runs.

Academy Award Nominations: "From Here to Eternity," "The Man with the Golden Arm"

Academy Award Win: "From Here to Eternity"

Shirley Jones

A favorite of mine who came to the screen at the tail end of the great musical era in films. There is never a false note in her singing or acting. She was the fresh faced ingenue of "Oklahoma" and "Carousel," but could do the hefty lifting in the acting department when given a chance.

1. Comedy: While Shirley was not known as a funny lady, her appearances in musicals required a bit of a hand for comedy. And just in case you need a reminder, her Marian the Librarian was quite an amusing little minx.

2. Dancing: Again, her Marian the Librarian does tear up the library in "The Music Man," and quite nicely, I might add.

3. Beauty: High marks in this department. Shirley was and is an incredible beauty.

4. Acting: while not usually called upon to do anything but sing and be wholesome, sweet and lovely, Shirley's performance as the unlucky Julie in "Carousel" was moving and, playing against type, she showed them all what she was capable of as a prostitute in "Elmer Gantry."

Academy Award Nominations: "Elmer Gantry"

Academy Award Win: "Elmer Gantry"

Barbra Streisand

Second only to Judy as a great screen musical talent. However, since musicals were becoming a thing of the past when Barbra took front and center, she really got to show off her acting (and directing) ability. She has a legion of fans who worship her and she deserves it. The woman is unique, a great actress and one of the finest singers ever.

1. Comedy: Well, she is "Funny Girl" and "Funny Lady." Barbra is a natural comedienne with a self-deprecating sense of humor that can't help but make you smile. Her Fanny Brice in both films is funny and dramatic, but she was just plain funny in "What's Up Doc?"

2.Dancing: Barbra did what she had to do in "Hello Dolly," but can you forget her "Roller Skate Rag" from "Funny Girl"? Takes talent to do that!

3. Beauty: Barbra is unique and not your conventional beauty, but I think she is beautiful. She shows all other unusual girls that beauty is in your individuality and personality, not in a perfect nose.

4. Acting: Even if Barbra did not sing like an angel, she would have made it as a great actress. Aside from her Fanny Brice roles, she did great acting jobs in "The Way We Were," and in  "The Prince of Tides," and "Yentl" (both of which she also directed).

Academy Award Nominations: "Funny Girl," "The Way We Were" and for the song, "Evergreen" from "A Star is Born"

Academy Award wins: "Funny Girl" and "Evergreen" from "A Star is Born"

ALSO WORTHY OF MENTION:

Elvis Presley

Elvis was a genuine movie star with real on-screen charisma. Too bad he did't get to appear in good films, but he was always fun. We know he could sing, and move, but he was also a very funny fellow who could also handle the acting if given half a chance. In truth, his movies usually stunk, but Elvis always transcended the trash. "King Creole" was halfway good and "Viva Las Vegas" was great fun. If only he was given better chances.

Academy Award Nominations: None

Academy Award Win: None (oh well!)

Cher

Cher is another performer who can do it all. Sadly, her screen time has been limited, but when she gets a good role the woman is dynamite! She is beautiful, funny and, although she is a singer, rarely sings in her films. Everyone doubted her, but she has shown herself to be a natural. She is utterly and impossibly believable as the biker mom in "Mask," the spell-binding sculptress in "The Witches of Eastwick," and the Italian-American widow in "Moonstruck." The only thing wrong with Cher is that she does not make enough movies.

Academy Award Nominations: "Silkwood," "Moonstruck"

Academy Award Win: "Moonstruck"

Other great voices who could hold their own on screen: Dean Martin, Bette Midler, Jeanette McDonald, Gordon MacRae, Alice Faye and Deanna Durbin. Did I miss one of your favorites?

I guess if you have the music in you, you can do anything!

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