William Boyd 125 -- June 5, 2020

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Actor William Boyd was born 125 years ago today, on 05-June-1895.  He played the lead in several Cecil B DeMille movies. People mixed him up with actor William "Stage" Boyd who was arrested for possession of alcohol and drugs. This almost killed his career.

Boyd made a comeback when Paramount cast him as Hopalong Cassidy in a well-made series of westerns. He was the rare cowboy star who wore a black hat.  When television came along, he owned the rights of his movies and also created a television series. 

His fifth and last wife was actress Grace Bradley. 

And Now Stardom -- June 3, 2020

Motion Picture News, 03-June-1920

Bebe Daniels, who had been Harold Lloyd's leading lady in a long series of short films for Hal Roach's Rolin studio, left to work as an ingenue in Cecil B DeMille's movies. Realart had her star in a series of features that lasted for the rest of the 1920s. 

Vitagraph-Larry Semon Comedies -- June 1, 2020

Motion Picture News, 26-June-1920

The Vitagraph advertised its successful Vitagraph-Larry Semon series of comedies. 

Rainer Werner Fassbinder 75 -- May 31, 2020

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When I was in my movie-going prime, it was hard to find contemporary West or East German movies, so I read a lot about Rainer Werner Fassbinder's movies before I saw one.  His abundant output reminded me of a filmmaker of the 1910s.  Fassbinder  was born 75 years ago today on 32-May-1945.  He was only 37 when he died of an overdose in 1982, but had made more than 40 feature films. 

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After reading about his movies in magazines, newspapers and books, I think the first one I saw was probably The Marriage of Maria Braun, probably at the Lumiere on Fillmore.  This was also the first movie I saw with Hanna Schygulla.  

World's Greatest Motor Race -- May 31, 2020

Film Daily, 23-May-1920

The Indianapolis 500 is another casualty of the TrumpVirus.  It has been rescheduled to 23-August-2020.

A Saturday Evening Post Story by F Scott Fitzgerald -- May 29, 2020

Motion Picture News, 01-May-1920

I did not know that Metro had made of movie from F Scott Fitzgerald's short story "Head and Shoulders."  Viola Dana starred.  It was released as The Chorus Girl's Romance.

Motion Picture News, 22-May-1920

Irish-American actress Eileen Percy was going to star in a Fox Film adaption of another story, "Myra Meets His Family." The movie was released as The Husband Hunter.

Michel Piccoli, RIP -- May 27, 2020

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I was sad to learn that great actor Michel Piccoli has died. I remember him in some Luis Buñuel movies, and many others. 

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