‎"It's not the having, it's the getting." - Elizabeth Taylor

An Underrated Master.

May he too rest in peace.

:(

That Special Face.

Legendary musical star Kathryn Grayson has passed away at age 88.
She starred in glorious MGM musicals like "Anchors Aweigh", "Show Boat" and "Kiss Me Kate" where Howard Keel hated, then loved her, than hated, then loved her again.
For whoever saw her sing and act in any of these movies the love was immediate and everlasting.
May she rest in peace.

Jean Simmons 1929-2010

Two time Academy award nominee Jean Simmons has passed away today at the age of 80.

The British actress known the world over for her incredible beauty leaves behind a legacy of over fifty films over the course of six decades.

Her first starring role came at the hands of David Lean who had her play the young version of the cold hearted Stella in "Great Expectations".
Her breathtaking beauty shone in the gorgeous black and white cinematography. One year later she would star as Kanchi, the exotic peasant who falls for a royal in the stunning "Black Narcissus".
If she had made an impression on black and white, her perfect features astounded moviegoers in Jack Cardiff's luscious color cinematography. Made up to appear Asian, Simmons becomes an apparition among the breathtaking murals of the Himalayan convent.
Just a year after that Simmons went to star as Ophelia in Laurence Olivier's Oscar winning "Hamlet" for which she received her first Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress. Her take on Shakespeare is imbued with imminent doom that makes her eventual fate a heartbreaking account of lost youth and immortal beauty.
Simmons starred in classics like "The Robe", "The Egyptian", "Elmer Gantry", "Spartacus" and "Guys and Dolls" which won her a Golden Globe for Best Actress.
She was married to actor Stewart Granger whom she divorced in 1960. She later married director Richard Brooks who had her star in "The Happy Ending" which gave her a second and last Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
Over the last two decades she went to star in TV miniseries like "The Thorn Birds"-for which she won an Emmy- and in 1998 she appeared once more in "Great Expectations", only she played Miss Havisham this time around. In 1995 she appeared in "How to Make an American Quilt" for which she won a SAG nomination as part of the female ensemble. She spent her last years living a quiet life but contributed to film as part of the English version of Hayao Miyazaki's "Howl's Moving Castle".
She is survived by her two daughters Kate and Tracy who she named after Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. May she rest in peace.

Eric Rohmer 1920-2010

One of the last nouvelle vague auteurs to gain his position as an extraordinary filmmaker, Eric Rohmer has passed away today at the age of 89.
He leaves behind a legacy of two dozen films which include "Chloe in the Afternoon", "My Night at Maud's", "A Tale of Summer" and his famous moral tales.
He served as editor in the influential Cahiers du Cinema during the early 1960s and took his name from his admiration towards Eric von Stroheim and Sax Rohmer (the creator of the "Fu Manchu" serials).
Never one to shy away from the advancing times almost ten years ago he directed "The Lady and the Duke" a breathtaking French Revolution tale notorious because it was made mostly using CGI sets (eat your heart out James Cameron!).
A true icon of cinema, Rohmer will be greatly missed.

Since She Went Away.

Academy Award winner Jennifer Jones has passed away today at the age of 90.
One of the most unconventional, and underrated, stars from Hollywood's Golden Era, Jones made waves when she became involved with legendary producer David O. Selznick who shaped her career and became the love of her life.
He gave her the role that would change her life as Bernadette Soubirous, the French peasant who claimed the Virgin Mary had appeared to her. It was that movie where she first used the name Jennifer Jones (she was born Phylis Isley).
Selznick cleverly decided to introduce "The Song of Bernadette" as Jones' screen debut (she'd been in a few small things before) and it worked because she ended up winning the Best Actress Oscar.
Her performance as Bernadette is a mysterious star turn given how introverted and quiet she is. But watch the movie and several hours later you will still be haunted by the bittersweetness of her smile. She is brilliant in it.
She leaves behind a legacy of wonderful screen performances.
Go and catch up with them.

Budd Schulberg (1914-2009)

Screenwriter Schulberg has passed away at the age of 95. His most recognized work was penning "On the Waterfront", Elia Kazan's alleged self defense for his HUAAC actions, which went on to win eight Academy Awards including one for Schulberg.
The movie has become legendary for all the right reasons, the acting is brilliant, the direction is stunning, the realist cinematography and every other technical aspects were also perfect.
But at the center of it all is Schulberg's majestic screenplay, one that has become extremely quoted, yet remains utterly simple.
Schulberg didn't work that much or made anything as memorable as "On the Waterfront" again.
But just because of this movie he will have a place in film history for ever. He was a contender.

Here's Looking at You Mitch. (1912-2009)

Academy Award winning actor Karl Malden has passed away at the age of 97.
The prolific actor starred in dozens of movies, television shows and plays. It was his performance in a "A Streetcar Named Desire" (perhaps my favorite film of all time) that earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor being part of what is perhaps the greatest ensemble work captured on film.
He played Mitch, the kind, pure hearted overachiever wooing Vivien Leigh's not so pure Blanche DuBois. Mitch could've been played as a silly character, but Malden brought to him an integrity that is only more impressive when he unleashes his beastly side (in one of the most electrifying scenes ever).
He did great work with directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Franklin J. Schaffner, Norman Jewison, John Frankenheimer and Elia Kazan, who arguably gave him his greatest acting challenges in movies like "Streetcar", "Baby Doll" and "On the Waterfront" in which he played a hard fighting priest looking for justice within the corruption of dock union bosses.
Ironically more than four decades later he ended up "reprising" his role as he became an advocate of awarding Kazan with an Honorary Oscar. Kazan had become controversial and polarizing after "naming names" before the HUAAC.
But just like his character in "On the Waterfront" does with Brando's Terry Malloy, Malden saw beyond the "stool pigeon" labeling and reminded the world that Kazan after all had been an artist.
Malden served as President of AMPAS from 1988-1992. May he rest in peace.

Jack Cardiff 1914-2009

A few years ago an honorary Oscar was given to a man I'd never heard of before: Mr. Jack Cardiff. I have to confess that like the average person I used to know more about actors than about people that work behind the camera, but watching the tribute video about Cardiff I couldn't take my eyes off from the beauty of the images he had shot.
I was struck by the beauty of a pair of red shoes possessing a tragic dancer, thrilled by Kate and Bogie aboard a fighting ship and the image of Kathleen Byron consumed by lust was something I got out of my head until I got to see "Black Narcissus" some time later.
Cardiff has passed away at the astounding age of 94, age by which he'd photographed, and directed some of the most famous films of all time (he directed the first picture with Odorama!).
His work will live forever and I'm sure anyone who goes to the Himalayas will go in hopes that they fulfill the beauty promised by Cardiff.

Natasha Richardson 1963-2009

In a tragic turn of events, actress Natasha Richardson has passed away following a skiing accident two days ago.
Richardson, who was 45, won a Tony for her portrayal of Sally Bowles in a Broadway revival of "Cabaret" ten years ago.
She was married to Academy Award nominee Liam Neeson and was daughter of Academy Award winning legend Vanessa Redgrave who were with her at the time of her passing according to The New York Times (full story here).
A combination of British grace and wordly charm, her filmography included a Patty Hearst biopic, the last Merchant Ivory film and "The Parent Trap" which was the first time I ever saw her onscreen playing mom to Lindsay Lohan's separated twin sisters.
May she rest in peace.

Eartha Baby.

In what can only be called a sad irony; the sultry Eartha Kitt, known the world over for her legendary rendition of "Santa Baby", has passed away.
Her song was part of my Christmas (as were some of her other songs, I love the way she purred through "C'est Si Bon") and this came as a rather upsetting announcement.
She was a perfect Catwoman, in the campy 60's "Batman" along Adam West and the fact that she worked until the end of her life, she was 81, should be an inspiration.
May she rest in peace.

I was shocked and awfully moved after reading this story. Just yesterday I bought myself a copy of "Dreamgirls" (which was on sale) and despite the fact that I don't love the film, Jennifer Hudson has been a constant celebrity crush for me after "Sex and the City" in the summer and her delicious debut album a few weeks ago.
She is one of the only "reality" stars I endorse (not that they give a damn of course), but Jennifer's story is one I can admire because she has the one thing most of the rest lack: true talent.
My condolences and best wishes go out to Ms. Hudson.

Paul Newman (1925-2008)

He was beautiful (in every single way).
May he rest in peace.

Sketches of Sydney Pollack.

The incomparable Sydney Pollack has passed away at the age of 73.

With an impressive filmography that includes "Tootsie", "The Firm" and "the Interpreter", Pollack has the distinctive achievement of having directed two of the most romantic films of all time; "The Way We Were" and the Oscar winning "Out of Africa", which also happen to be two examples of a particular style he excelled at with his features.

Teaming up great lead actors with compelling stories he kept alive the adult drama in a world that constantly underestimated this audience.

While everyone else was teaming up Jessica Alba and Chris Evans in films about saving the world, Pollack paired people like Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman to deliver films that could still be thrilling by genre conventions and deliver the emotional goods.

Extracting career best performances from people like Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman, Pollack was also a very accomplished actor, he delivered scene stealing work in "Eyes Wide Shut" and last year's multiawarded "Michael Clayton" which he also produced.

His producing work with the late Anthony Minghella also provided Pollack with a deserved place in film history, considering he made films like "The Talented Mr. Ripley".

Nominated for several best director Oscars he took it home for "Out of Africa" which in a way sums up the remarkable career of who also seemed to be a very charming man.

By exploring the basic core of human relationships he touched people everywhere and proved that we're affected by the same things, whether we're European royalty in Africa or drag performers in national television.

Now that Charlton Heston has passed away is it me or does it look like more legends are leaving us this year?

How sad it will be when all the people who lived the Golden Age of cinema have gone.

Jules Dassin 1911-2008

Seems to be as if the great studio upstairs is recruiting the last remaining film noir legends.

Now it was Jules Dassin's time. Truth be told I have only seen two of his films, but somehow he's been present in my cinematical memories fro quite some time.

I remember when I was younger being transfixed by Anthony Perkins' eyes in "Phaedra", but I never finished watching it, then I remember catching the last minutes of "Topkapi" and being uplifted by the color and sounds.

But my first full Dassin came in the shape of "He Who Must Die" a cyclical tale set during Easter when a small town is staging a crucifixion only to be forced to literally ask themselves what would Jesus do when they're invaded by foreigners.

And in the astonishing "Rififi" Dassin showed the world how a heist film should be made. Setting precedents for the nouvelle vague and the blooming film noir.

The robbery sequence, which pays homage to silent cinema and makes you feel every sweat drop coming down your forehead is mesmerizing.

A cultural ambassador for Greece (along with his late wife Melina Mercouri) and a survivor of the HUAAC witch hunt, Dassin was always the kind of underrated film maker that becomes a silent influence.

May he rest in peace.

Richard Widmark 1914-2008

The other day while watching "The Night of the Hunter" I couldn't help but be reminded of Richard Widmark.

In "Hunter" Robert Mitchum gives one of the most terrifying performances ever put on film and with the film's Expressionist visuals and very dark mood, it's impossible not to think how would Widmark have fit in it.

His performance in 1947's "Kiss of Death", as murderous sociopath Tommy Udo is also one of those instantly iconic roles that leave a mark on you. He practically created what we know as the film noir villain.

While Mitchum was all about the mood and suspense, in Widmark's case it was the disturbing combination of that boyishly handsome face with an infamously wicked giggle that made his deeds look like child's play.

That you don't remember who else was in the movie, or even what it was about makes no difference, it's perhaps the best way to summarize the legacy of an actor who may have been cast in supporting roles, but never ever played a small part.

Anthony Minghella 1954-2008

Academy Award winner director, producer and writer Anthony Minghella passed away after complications during a surgery.

His death comes is as surprising as it is tragic, especially for a man who was constantly pushing himself in terms of cinematic quality.

While I'm not a fan of "The English Patient" it's impossible not to admire the scope it achieved as an independent film.

Personally I find the director's best quality to be his appropriation of adapted material, he proved my idea that sometimes you just don't have to write original stuff to deliver a powerful message or say something about yourself.

His craft was pure classic moviemaking, in films like "Cold Mountain" he delivered abewildering, epic spectacle that evoked "Doctor Zhivago" (even in the cold manner with which he linked the leads making for an unconventional love story).

But it was in "The Talented Mr. Ripley"(one of my favorite films of all time) where he reached his biggest achievement. With a pitch perfect cast and pedigree filmmaking the likes of which we see only once or twice in a decade, he gave an aura of charm and mystery to a recent era, in the process creating Jude Law's golden boy image and directing Cate Blanchett to one of her best, and curiously underrated, performances.

Rest in peace.