Hollywood’s Greatest: Then and Now – Michael Caine Part 2

Michael Caine wasn’t always “Michael Caine.” Maurice Joseph Micklewhite (that’s his real name…took me by surprise) was born March 14, 1933 to Ellen Frances Marie and Maurice Joseph Micklewhite. The family lived in Southwark, South London, but had to be evacuated during World War II to North Runction. When the war was over, he would end up living at the Elephant and Castle in Central London. In 1952, Caine was called up to do his national service, and would serve in the British Army’s Royal Fusiliers until 1954.

Caine didn’t begin acting until the age of 20 when he responded to an advertisement for an assistant stage manager with ‘walk-on parts’ for the Horsham-based Westminster Repertory Company. It is here where he adopted his first stage name, Michael Scott. When he turned 22, he would move to the Lowestoft Repertory Company in Suffolk, and later, he would re-locate again to London. It was here that his agent advised him to change his name again as there was already another Michael Scott performing in the area. Like any other person would do, Caine looked around for inspiration — and seeing that The Caine Mutiny was playing not far away, he decided to change his name to Michael Caine.

Caine didn’t get his big break until 1963 when he was cast as Meff in James Saunders’ comedy Next Time I’ll Sing To You. During one of the performances, Caine was visited backstage by Stanley Baker, a former co-star of his from the film, A Hill In Korea. Baker told Caine about the part of a Cockney corporal in the film Zulu. Although Caine didn’t get the part of the Cockney corporal (it had already been given to friend and fellow actor James Booth), Caine won the part of the snobbish, upper class officer, Lt. Gonville Bromhead. Zulu would be the film that brought Michael Caine international attention. After Zulu, Caine would be cast as the spy Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File, and then in the film Alfie as the womanizing title role. By this time, Caine was a bonafide film star. In 1966, Caine made his first film in the U.S., starring in Gambit with Shirley MacLaine.

Caine continued his successes into the 70’s, starring as the lead in the British gangster film Get Carter and then starring in the Joseph L. Mankiewicz mystery film Sleuth alongside Laurence Olivier. In 1975, Caine would co-star with Sean Connery in the John Huston film The Man Who Would Be King. By the end of the 70’s Caine moved to the United States. With this move, his choice of roles would begin to be criticised, and Caine himself admitted that, although he knew some of the films he chose would be bad, he took these parts strictly for the money.

Josh Kaye for Classic Movie Hub

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Hollywood’s Greatest: Then and Now – Dustin Hoffman Part 3

Where Is He Now?

It’s easy to answer the question “where is Dustin Hoffman now?” since he hasn’t stopped making movies at all. Since 1985, Hoffman has appeared in at least one movie every year (except for one: 2000). 1997, in particular, proved to be a big year for Hoffman. He was awarded the Golden Globe’s Cecil B. Demille Award, which is an honorary Golden Globe for “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.” He was the 45th recipient of the award, winning the year after Sean Connery and the year before Shirley MacLaine. That year, for his performance in Wag the Dog, he also received his seventh Academy nomination for Best Actor.

In 2004, Hoffman would appear in five different movies: Freedom2speak v2.0, Finding Neverland, I Heart Huckabees, Meet the Fockers, and Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. For Finding Neverland, he was included in the nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture by the Screen Actors Guild. For his role as Bernie Focker in Meet the Fockers, he was awarded the MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance. While the MTV Movie Awards really mean little to nothing in my opinion…it’s still something.

And then, in 2007, Hoffman appeared in, what I personally believe, is one of the best children’s movies of all time: Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium. Hoffman plays the eccentric Mr. Edward Magorium, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. If you look back up at the picture posted above, you’ll see Hoffman as Mr. Magorium. It’s amazing, and while it may be a silly movie, I recommend that everyone see it.

2008 was an easier year for Hoffman as he never actually appeared on-screen in any movie but instead lent his voice to three animated films: Kung Fu Panda, Horton Hears a Who!, and The Tale of Despereaux. Being the most successful of the three, Kung Fu Panda gave Dustin Hoffman the Annie Award for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production. He would go on to reprise his role as Master Shifu in the sequel, Kung Fu Panda 2, which appeared in theaters in 2011.

In 2011, Hoffman also appeared in the HBO television series, Luck, which was recently cancelled. Hoffman played the lead role as Chester “Ace” Bernstein, a lifelong mobster who has recently been released from a three year prison sentence.

For the future, Hoffman is rumored to appear in possibly three movies: The Song of Names with Anthony Hopkins; Very Good Girls with Anton Yelchin and Dakota Fanning; and The Giver with Jeff Bridges. All three are in the pre-production stage so nothing is completely confirmed, but either way, you can expect Hoffman to appear in at least one film during 2012. Can’t wait!

Josh Kaye for Classic Movie Hub

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Hollywood’s Greatest: Then and Now – Shirley MacLaine Part 3

Where Is She Now?

As Shirley MacLaine gets closer to her 80’s, she seems to be getting busier and busier by the year. Since 2000, MacLaine has appeared in 14 different movies or TV shows. In 2000, Shirley MacLaine made her directing debut with the film Bruno. At the time, she was 66 years old, which is around the time most people would be retiring!

Of the 14 films that she recently appeared in, nine were feature films, most notably: In Her Shoes, Rumor Has It…, Valentine’s Day and Bewitched. She picked up a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for In Her Shoes. The other five films were TV movies: These Old Broads (2001); Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay (2002); Salem Witch Trials (2002); Coco Chanel (2008); and Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (2008). She would go on to receive an Emmy nomination for Coco Chanel (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie), as well as Golden Globe nominations for both Hell on Heels and Coco Chanel (both for Best Performance by An Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television).

On April 27 of this year, Shirley MacLaine can be seen starring in the Richard Linklater film, Bernie, as wealthy widow Marjorie Nugent. Also, later on this year, MacLaine will be appearing as a regular in the award winning British series, Downton Abbey, as Martha Levinson, Cora’s mother. Aside from this, rumor has it (forgive the pun) that MacLaine will possibly appear in seven different movies between 2012 – 2013. Six of the seven films are still in pre-production and are only rumors, but she is officially confirmed to star with Christopher Walken in Lian Lunson’s The Boom Boom Room. These could be two extremely exciting years for one of the world’s greatest living actresses, and if you’re like me, you won’t want to miss out on what comes next.

 

Josh Kaye for Classic Movie Hub

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Hollywood’s Greatest: Then and Now – Shirley MacLaine Part 2

Actress. Singer. Dancer. Author. Activist. There seems to be nothing that Shirley MacLaine can’t do. Shirley MacLaine Beaty was born April 24, 1934 in Richmond Virginia to Ira Owens Beaty and Kathlyn Corinne. Shirley was performing in front of people at a young age, first beginning with ballet. Unfortunately, many of her roles were boys’ roles because there were no boys in her ballet class and she was the tallest girl available. While warming up backstage before a performance as Cinderella’s fairy godmother, she broke her ankle — but this didn’t stop her from going out there and performing the role anyway. Within time however, MacLaine realized that ballet wasn’t for her, and she instead pursued Broadway dancing — and then acting.

After high school graduation, MacLaine headed to Broadway, and a year later she was chosen to be Carol Haney’s understudy in The Pajama Game. In an ironic turn of events, Haney would end up breaking her ankle, and MacLaine would fill in for her. A few months later, MacLaine would again fill in for Haney — this time, the same night that well-known film producer Hal B. Wallis was in the audience. Impressed with MacLaine’s performance, he signed her to work for Paramount Pictures.

MacLaine’s feature film debut was Alfred Hitchcock’s The Trouble with Harry (1955), which won her a Golden Globe for New Star Of The Year. I apologize for breaking the fourth wall here, but if Hitchcock sees enough talent in a person with no film experience to feature them in his film, then this person must be fantastic. A year later, MacLaine would star in Some Came Running, for which she received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Her second Best Actress nomination would come two years later with The Apartment, but she lost to Elizabeth Taylor. When speaking about her chances, she said, “I thought I would win for The Apartment, but then Elizabeth Taylor had a tracheotomy”.

Nomination three of five came in 1963 for the film Irma la Douce, which reunited her with Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon. Again, she would lose Best Actress, this time to Patricia Neal for her performance in Hud. In the 70’s, MacLaine would be nominated two more times, one for Best Documentary, The Other Half of the Sky: A China Memoir, and the other for Best Actress in The Turning Point. In The Turning Point, MacLaine portrays a retired ballerina, which was probably a role all too familiar to her.

In 1978, MacLaine won the Women in Film Crystal Award, which is awarded to outstanding women who helped expand the role of women within the entertainment industry. In 1983, MacLaine finally won her first Best Actress Academy Award for her role as Aurora Greenway in the James L. Brooks film Terms of Endearment. The film would also win Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Jack Nicholson.

 

Josh Kaye for Classic Movie Hub

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Coming To A Theater Near You — Casablanca / Hollywood’s Greatest: Then and Now – Shirley MacLaine

Before I go on to talk about fantastic actress Shirley MacLaine, I wanted to let you know about a wonderful event happening on Wednesday, March 21st — Casablanca will be re-released in select theaters around the country. As you already know, Casablanca is, in my opinion, the best film to ever win Best Picture, which of course makes it one of the best films to ever be created. And now the chance to watch this film on the big screen is here! So if you’re available March 21st, make sure you don’t miss this fantastic event. Just go here for more details and to see which theaters are showing Casablanca.

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Classic Movie Countdown: Best Picture # 9

9. The Apartment (1960)

Other Nominated Films:
The Alamo, Elmer Gantry, Suns and Lovers, The Sundowners

Billy Wilder’s follow-up to Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, is a witty, sardonic, and touching film about corporate politics, adultery, integrity and love. Jack Lemmon plays C.C. Baxter, a lowly office clerk who works for a New York City insurance company. When Baxter starts lending out his apartment to his philandering bosses for their romantic trysts, things start getting complicated — especially when Baxter’s big boss, Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray), takes notice and wants to start using the apartment himself.  Meanwhile Baxter finds himself climbing nicely up the corporate ladder, and also takes a liking to sweet elevator operator Miss Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine). When Baxter finds out that Fran is Sheldrake’s girlfriend — it makes for sticky situations, romantic problems and more serious trouble (that shall remain nameless) — and ultimately Baxter must decide between his integrity and his career. The on-screen chemistry between Lemmon and MacLaine is great to watch as they’re both extremely quick with their deliveries and are just terrific when they’re together. MacMurray is pitch-perfect, playing against type, as the cheating, low-life Sheldrake. Jack Kruschen, who plays Dr. Dreyfuss, is the doctor-neighbor who mistakenly thinks Baxter is a ladies’ man and advises Baxter to “Be a mensch!” (human being). Ray Walston and David Lewis are amusing as slightly sordid office wolves. Kruschen was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, while Lemmon and MacLaine were nominated for Best Actor and Actress respectively. The Apartment would end up being a critical and a financial success, grossing $25 million at the box office. Wilder would go on to win Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay (co-written with longtime collaborator I.A.L. Diamond), joining an elite ‘club’ that consists of only four others (Francis Ford Coppola for The Godfather Part II, James L. Brooks for Terms of Endearment, Peter Jackson for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and Joel and Ethan Coen for No Country for Old Men.)  The Apartment would also end up being the last completely black-and-white film to win Best Picture (which actually could change this year…wow.)  I would also like to say one more thing before I close: Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho was nominated for four Oscars this year, winning none. If Psycho would have won for Best Picture (which it was not nominated for), then Psycho would have been the #2 film on my countdown.

Nominated for 10 Oscars, Winner of 5
Best Art Direction – Set Decoration, Black-and-White – Alexandre Trauner, Edward G. Boyle (WON)
Best Director – Billy Wilder (WON)
Best Film Editing – Daniel Mandell (WON)
Best Picture – Billy Wilder (WON)
Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen – Billy Wilder, I.A.L Diamond (WON)
Best Actor in a Leading Role – Jack Lemmon
Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Jack Kruschen
Best Actress in a Leading Role – Shirley MacLaine
Best Cinematography, Black-and-White – Joseph LaShelle

C.C. Baxter: Ya know, I used to live like Robinson Crusoe; I mean, shipwrecked among 8 million people. And then one day I saw a footprint in the sand, and there you were.

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Classic Movie Countdown: Best Picture #’s 38 and 37

38. The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

Other Nominated Films:
Anthony Adverse, Dodsworth, Libeled Lady, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Romeo and Juliet, San Francisco, The Story of Louis Pasteur, A Tale of Two Cities, Three Smart Girls

Florenz Ziegfeld was one of the most famous theater producers of the early 1900′s, producing hits such as the Ziegfeld Follies and Show Boat. The Great Ziegfeld is an extravagant film with gigantic dance sequences, one of which featured 180 performers, 4,300 yards of rayon silk, and cost $220,000. The film in total cost M-G-M about $2 million to make, which, for today, would probably be a budget of $200 million. Luckily for M-G-M, the film was able to bring in over $40 million, and rightly so. Ziegfeld led an interesting life, one that started with little money, but like so many other Americans, he worked his way to the top. While I don’t know much about the man (aside from the fact that the Ziegfeld Theater in Manhattan is named after him), by watching William Powell’s portrayal, I saw how hard of a worker Ziegfeld was, or Flo, as many of his friends called him. But the real star of the show is Luise Rainer, who won an Oscar for playing Flo’s ex-wife Anna Held. Rainer was great from beginning to end, but the one scene that truly stands out for me is when after she finds out that Flo has married Broadway star Billie Burke, (who would go on the play Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz) and she phones him to pretend she’s glad for him. Rainer plays the heart-broken woman so well that many believe this is the scene that won her the Oscar. While The Great Ziegfeldtakes many liberties with the life of Ziegfeld, it can’t take away the fact that Robert Z. Leonard creates a fun and exuberant film.

Nominated for 7 Oscars; Winner of 3
Best Actress in a Leading Role – Luise Rainer (WON)
Best Dance Direction – Seymour Felix for “A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody”(WON)
Best Picture – M-G-M (WON)
Best Art Direction – Cedric Gibbons, Eddie Imazu, Edwin B. Willis (WON)
Best Director – Robert Z. Leonard
Best Film Editing – William S. Gray
Best Writing, Original Story – William Anthony McGuire

Anna Held: [on the phone with Ziegfeld after learning of his marriage to Billie Burke] Hello, Flo… Yes. Here’s Anna… I’m so happy for you today, I could not help calling you and congratulate you… Wonderful, Flo! Never better in my whole life!… I’m so excited about my new plans! I’m going to Paris… Yes, for a few weeks, and then I can get back, and then I’m doing a new show, and… Oh, it’s all so wonderful! I’m so happy!… Yes… And I hope you are happy, too… Yes?… Oh, I’m so glad for you, Flo… Sounds funny for ex-husband and ex-wife to tell how happy they are, oui?… Yes, Flo… Goodbye, Flo… Goodbye…

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