Photos of Ava Gardner During the Filming of ‘Bhowani Junction’ (1956)

Bhowani Junction is a 1956 film adaptation of the 1954 novel Bhowani Junction by John Masters made by MGM. The film was directed by George Cukor and produced by Pandro S. Berman from a screenplay by Sonya Levien and Ivan Moffat.

The film stars Ava Gardner as Victoria Jones, an Anglo-Indian who has been serving in the Indian Army, and Stewart Granger as Colonel Rodney Savage, a British Indian Army officer. It also features Bill Travers, Abraham Sofaer, Francis Matthews, and Lionel Jeffries.

The film was shot in England at MGM-British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, on the Longmoor Military Railway, and on location in Lahore, Pakistan.

These vintage photos captured beautiful portraits of Ava Gardner during the filming of Bhowani Junction in 1956.

See more»

Goldie Hawn Riding a Moulton Small-Wheel Bike in London, 1970

Goldie Hawn sailing around Shepperton Studios outside of London on her Moulton small-wheel bike. It’s 1970 and she’s in the UK starring opposite Peter Sellers in Columbia Pictures’ romantic comedy There’s a Girl in My Soup.

There’s a Girl in My Soup is a 1970 British romantic comedy film based on the long running stage play, directed by Roy Boulting and starring Peter Sellers and Goldie Hawn. The film is based on the stage comedy There’s a Girl in My Soup, written by Terence Frisby It ran for six and a half years in the West End, from 1966 to 1973, including three years at the Globe Theatre (now The Gielgud), breaking records to become London’s longest-running comedy. This record was later broken by No Sex Please, We’re British and then Run for Your Wife.

Film rights were bought in 1967 by Columbia and Nat Cohen. Eventually Mike Frankovich became producer and the Boultings directed. Goldie Hawn signed in January 1969. A novelization of the film, written by Raymond Hitchcock, was published in 1971.

(via Rides a Bike)

30 Gorgeous Photos of Elizabeth Taylor From the Movie ‘The Last Time I Saw Paris’ (1954)

The Last Time I Saw Paris is a 1954 Technicolor romantic drama made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It is loosely based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story “Babylon Revisited.” It was directed by Richard Brooks, produced by Jack Cummings and filmed on locations in Paris and the MGM backlot. The screenplay was by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Richard Brooks.

The film starred Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson in his last role for MGM, with Walter Pidgeon, Donna Reed, Eva Gabor, Kurt Kasznar, George Dolenz, Sandy Descher, Odette, and (a then-unknown) Roger Moore in his Hollywood debut. The film’s title song, by composer Jerome Kern and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, was already a classic when the movie was made and inspired the movie’s title.

Though the song had already won an Oscar after its film debut in 1941’s Lady Be Good, it is featured much more prominently in The Last Time I Saw Paris. It can be heard in many scenes, either being sung by Odette or being played as an instrumental.

Take a look at these gorgeous photos to see beautiful portraits of Elizabeth Taylor during the filming of The Last Time I Saw Paris in 1954.

See more»

Wonderful Color Photographs of Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau on the Set of ‘Viva Maria!’ (1965)

Viva Maria! is a 1965 adventure comedy film starring Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau as two women named Maria who meet and become revolutionaries in the early 20th century. It also starred George Hamilton as Florès, a revolutionary leader. It was co-written and directed by Louis Malle, and filmed in Eastman Color. Costumes by Pierre Cardin. It was released in both French and an English-dubbed version.

Malle’s idea [was] to take a buddy movie and subvert it. For inspiration, he instructed screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière to consider the Gary Cooper – Burt Lancaster relationship in Vera Cruz (1954), which was a favorite Western of the two collaborators. By replacing the traditional male protagonists with two strong females, Viva Maria! not only worked as an amusing gender twist on a popular formula, but was seen in some quarters as a political statement.

Malle said German filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder later told him that Viva Maria! fascinated him and his fellow students at Berlin University. Malle recalled, “It was a time of those radical student movements, and they saw in the heroines the two different approaches to revolution.”

Malle conceived of the film as “a sort of burlesque boxing match—sexpot v. seductress”; he got the film financed on the condition that Moreau commit to the project.

The male lead was George Hamilton, whom Malle cast on the strength of his performance in Two Weeks in Another Town. Malle said “he was a personal choice and I am happy with him... He’s more interested in being in the social columns – I don’t understand – when he should be one of the greatest of his generation.”

See more»

Publicity Stills of Akiko Wakabayashi Posing With the Toyota 2000GT as Featured in ’You Only Live Twice’ (1967)

You Only Live Twice was the fifth James Bond movie and was set largely in Japan. Bond was once again played by Sean Connery and the plot for this latest adventure involved the terrorist organization SPECTRE hijacking American and Soviet space capsules in a bid to start World War 3.

Although Bond wouldn’t do much driving in You Only Live Twice, the film’s producer, Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli, had seen Toyota’s prototype 2000GT at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1965 and thought it would make an ideal machine for 007’s accomplice, Aki (played by Akiko Wakabayashi).

In early 1966, Broccoli called Toyota with the offer of an appearance for the 2000GT in You Only Live Twice. However, there was a problem as Connery’s large frame meant it was impossible for him to fit comfortably: with several scenes viewed from around the cockpit, a solution would need to be found. Broccoli ultimately decided the only way a 2000GT could make it into the movie was if a Roadster version could be produced as this would solve all the visibility issues.

At the time, Toyota had still only built a couple of prototype Coupe 2000GTs and series production wouldn’t begin until May 1967. They were nevertheless enthusiastic and managed to complete the order for a pair of cars within a frantic few weeks. 

Two beautiful Roadsters were created. The work took place at Toyota’s special Toyopet Service Centre in Tsunashima. Both cars were painted white with black upholstery and wire wheels. Neither had side windows or a hood of any sort.

One of the Roadsters would be used for filming and the other would act as a back-up. When shooting was over, the back-up car stayed with Toyota in Japan. It was equipped with a largely standard interior. By contrast, the film car was kitted out with a variety of gadgets by John Stears and his renowned special-effects team at Pinewood Studios in England.

After the movie was completed, the gadget-laden car that had been taken to England mysteriously disappeared. Its control panel later turned up on a recreation in the old ‘Cars of the Stars’ museum in Keswick.

Meanwhile, the back-up car with its standard interior was used for promotional purposes and went on display at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1967. It was then re-painted blue and emblazoned with 007 decals. Another repaint followed (this time in grey) and it briefly served as the Fuji Speedway course car before turning up in Hawaii in 1977. Toyota bought it back, restored it and this car now forms a central part of their factory museum.

See more»

18 Behind the Scenes Photos From the Making of ‘Little House on the Prairie’

For nine seasons – between 1974 and 1984 – the Ingalls family of Little House on the Prairie was the personification of wholesome family values. The story of a 19th century family settling in the old American West was based on children’s novels. And it gave viewers a look at life on a farm during simpler times.

Filming of the pilot and the series that followed took place not in the Midwestern town of Walnut Grove, Minnesota but in the far West – Simi Valley, California, and the Warner Brothers studios in Burbank. The final episode featured the town’s buildings being blown up to thwart a railroad baron. The plot was created to facilitate the removal of the set at as low a cost as possible. Guest stars included Ernest Borgnine, Johnny Cash and Burl Ives.

Today, the Little House books are not without controversy for their racially charged references to Native Americans and African Americans. But in the 1970s, the debate about the books’ intentions was far in the future.

See more»

Portrait Photos of Louise Brooks During the Filming of ‘Now We’re in the Air’ (1927)

Now We’re in the Air is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer, starring the late-1920s intermittent comedy team of Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton. In a supporting role, Louise Brooks plays twins, one raised French and the other raised German.

Wallace Beery and Louise Brooks worked together the following year in the taut drama Beggars of Life, a well-received early sound film. Hatton also sometimes appeared paired in films with Beery's older brother Noah Beery.

Now We’re in the Air was popular in its time, although not as well received as the earlier military farces from the Beery/Hatton team. The aerial scenes were an interesting aspect of the production. In a modern re-appraisal, however, reviewer Janiss Garza commented: “In spite of a dual role, Brooks doesn’t have much to do; Moving Picture World felt that ‘any intelligent extra girl’ could have handled the part.”

These fabulous photos captured portraits of Louise Brooks during the filming of Now We’re in the Air in 1927.

See more»

Amazing Story of the Original Mask That Michael Myers Wore in the First Two Halloween Movies

In 1978, during the making of the original Halloween, the prop department was faced with the enormous task of finding a frightening mask that the villain could wear, but only the cheapest one in the costume store. The crew chose two masks for Michael Myers to wear but they had not decided yet.

The first option was a Don Post Emmett Kelly frowning clown mask that they put frizzy red hair on. This was an homage to how he killed his sister, Judith in a clown costume. They tested it out and it appeared very demented and creepy. The other mask was a 1975 Captain James T. Kirk mask that was purchased for around a dollar. It had the eyebrows and sideburns ripped off, the face was painted fish belly white, the hair spray-painted brown, and the eyes were opened up and reshaped more with scissors. They tested out the Kirk mask and the crew decided that it was much more creepy because it was emotionless, much like Michael himself. This became the Michael Myers mask.

While both Debra Hill and Dick Warlock have confirmed the mask from Halloween II was the original, many fans have still claimed it to be different. This has been largely due the slightly different appearance the mask possesses when compared the first film. This was primarily due to the different shape of Warlock’s face when compared to Nick Castle’s. The mask had also aged in the three years between films, and possessed a slight yellowish color due to Hill’s constant smoking as the mask remained under her bed in a shoe box.

After production had wrapped, thinking that it would be the last Halloween to feature Michael Myers, Dick Warlock was permitted to keep the mask.

The shape mask in 2017.

In 2017, the original Michael Myers Halloween mask has been unearthed and a new picture of it in its state has arrived online. The mask, which was used in Halloween and Halloween II by actor Dick Warlock on screen, has been in the possession of a man who runs haunted attractions. For the last 14 years, a man by the name of Mark Roberts has owned not only the original mask, but the boots and scalpel Michael Myers used on screen as well. Here’s Roberts’ tale of how he came into possession of the items.

“I have been building and running haunts for the last 26 years. About 20 years ago I got in contact with an agent who represented Dick Warlock and asked about booking Dick for an appearance at my haunt. The funny thing was I contacted him to book Gunnar Hansen (the original Leatherface) and when we were getting that set up he told me he also represented Dick and asked if I would be interested in booking him also. So I set up to have Dick at the haunt and his agent said he had the mask and costume from the movie and would wear it at the appearance. When Dick came to the haunt, he was mad at his agent because he said he does not wear the costume for appearances. He did tell me that he still had the costume, boots, mask, butcher knife and scalpel and that he would sell it; he just didn’t bring them out for appearances. Dick was great with the haunted house customers and hanging out with Dick and Cathy for the weekend was a lot of fun and it went so well we set it up for him to come back the next year. I’m not sure if it was after the first or second year but I called Dick up and we made a deal for me to purchase the mask, costume, boots, scalpel and knife. My wife and I went to Dick’s house and picked up the mask and costume and then that following year we had Dick appear at the haunt and we displayed the mask, costume and weapons at the haunt in Toledo. It really is amazing that Dick thought to keep that stuff and take care of it, when I went to pick it up, he had kept the mask stored in a Elvis Presley tin container. I didn’t get the container, Dick is a big Elvis fan! I looked back (in my records) and found that I picked the mask up from Dick about 14 years ago, after he had appeared at my haunt for about 5 years. I used to have him and Cathy there every year. I really miss that! I need to have him out again.

“...The mask is just the way it was when I purchased it from Dick. I pay to have it kept in an air tight container that is climate controlled and in the dark, It seems to be working well. The mask is really in the same shape it was as when I purchased it. I consider it to be the holy grail of horror movie memorabilia and I am doing my best to preserve it... I have thought about that and I may talk to him about it someday. He does amazing work. I struggle with the question is it still the original mask or not if you restore it? I think I lean a little more to having him bring it back to it's full glory.

“Before the masses start saying this and that, I still have the front neck piece that was off the mask when I received it from Dick. Just a few more facts, the Velcro Dick put on the back of the mask for filming is still there and except for the chin/neck area of the mask being stiff, (I assume because that is where most of the actors’ sweat went), the rest of the mask is still very flexible.”

Michael Myers in Halloween (1978)

Behind the Scenes Footage of the “Spider Walk” Scene That Was Cut From ‘The Exorcist’ (1973)

All the horror fans around the world have seen this film for sure and one of the most memorable scenes of the film was of a “spider walk” by the possessed girl. The possessed girl Regan (Linda Blair) descends the staircase walking like a spider with her face upside. In 1973, when computer imaginary was not invented shooting a scene like this was very tough.

Director William Friedkin hired a contortionist (generally used in a circus back in the day) Ms. Linda R. Hager. A harness was used to provide the effect with wires hung above Linda on the staircase at the set. Linda would advise the director when she would be touching the floor by her hands and feet and then she would be brought down the staircase by the harness and the floating wires.

Before the release of the film in December 1973, the director deleted the clip from the movie as he thought it was too much of an effect, which comes very early in the film. Although another important reason to remove the scene was the visible wires in the scene, technically there being no way of erasing the wires from the scene at the time though screenwriter William Peter Blatty was unhappy with the removal of the scene. However after 30 years of its release, William Friedkin added this scene in the year 2000 version of the film after removing the wires through CGI effect.

(via Darkmoon)

Gorgeous Portrait Photos of Fay Wray From the Movie ‘The Texan’ (1930)

The Texan is a 1930 American Western film directed by John Cromwell and starring Gary Cooper and Fay Wray. Based on the short story “The Double-Dyed Deceiver” by O. Henry, the film is about a daring bandit called the Llano Kid who shoots a young gambler in self-defense and is forced to hide from the law. He is helped by a corrupt lawyer who involves the bandit in a scheme to swindle a Mexican aristocrat whose son turns out to be the young gambler killed by the Llano Kid.

The screenplay was written by Daniel Nathan Rubin, and the story was adapted for the screen by Oliver H.P. Garrett and Victor Milner. Produced by Hector Turnbull for Paramount Pictures, The Texan was released in the United States on May 10, 1930. The film received positive reviews upon its theatrical release.

Here below is a set of gorgeous photos that shows portraits of Fay Wray during the filming of The Texan in 1930.

See more»

Cathy Lee Crosby, the Wonder Woman Everyone Forgot About

If you ask about Wonder Woman, most people will instantly think of and bring up the 1975 version, Lynda Carter. Lynda Carter, with her All-American looks and alluring blue eyes, graced the world with her comic book version of Wonder Woman over forty years ago. And still today is known for her role as the beloved super heroine goddess.

And this was the version of Wonder Woman that Cathy Lee Crosby played in the 1974 made-for-television superhero film by ABC. The film was a pilot for an intended television series being considered by ABC. The movie presented the character as a James Bond-style superspy, and did not contain many elements from the comic book series. Ratings were described as “respectable but not exactly wondrous,” and ABC did not pick up the pilot.

Instead, Warner Brothers and ABC developed a different Wonder Woman television concept that fit the more traditional presentation of the character as created by William Moulton Marston, turning away from the 1968–1972 era that had influenced the pilot. The New Original Wonder Woman, which premiered in 1975, starred Lynda Carter and eventually led to the Wonder Woman TV series. Crosby would later claim that she was offered the chance to reprise the role in that series.

See more»