Marion Davies -- April 27, 2024

Pictures and Picturegoer, April, 1924

I see I haven't mentioned Marion Davies for a while. I think she is in costume for Yolanda. That is a heck of a hat.

WAGL -- Many Things Happen When a Girl Loves -- April 27, 2024

Film Daily, 15-April-1924

"Many things happen When a Girl Loves."

Clara Bow -- The Ideal Society Flapper -- April 26, 2024

New Britain Herald, 18-April-1924

Clara Bow's career was skyrocketing 100 years ago today, in April 1924. "On Road to Fame in Films?" If that referred to Clara, it would not have had a question mark. It referred to the stiff-looking guy she is posing with, Draper Daugherty. I have never heard of him, and I can't find anything about him in the Internet Movie Database. His father was Attorney General under Harding and Coolidge. The star of Helen's Babies was Baby Peggy, a popular child actress. 

Washington Evening Star, 18-April-1924

Visalia Daily Times, 09-April-1924

Clara's breakthrough role was in Black Oxen, a 1923 Frank Lloyd film. The female star was Corinne Griffith, but Clara as "the flapperish Janet" made a big impression. "Frank Lloyd failed to find his ideal society flapper until he made more than fifty screen tests of well known flapper types." 

Indianapolis Times, 03-April-1924

Maytime was another 1923 movie, which was based on the Sigmund Romberg musical. Clara was the top-billed actress. The Whipping Boss is an interesting title. A whipping boss was the one in charge of discipline for chain gangs and other convict labor applications. I have not yet figured out "The Sensational Talbert Case." 

Daily Kennebec Journal, 05-April-1924

The Daring Years was another 1923 film. It starred Mildred Harris, Charlie Chaplin's first wife. 

Ventnor News, 09-April-1924

Clara's films were so ubiquitous that two of her movies were showing at the same time in Ventnor City, New Jersey. 

I was happy to learn that Taylor Swift's just-released album The Tortured Poets Department (The apostrophe was omitted on purpose) includes "Clara Bow," a song about Clara and other women in show business. I look forward to hearing it. 

WAGL -- Here It Is: When a Girl Loves -- April 26, 2024

Film Daily, 14-April-1924

"Here it is: When a Girl Loves."

The Wonder Dog in a Human Drama -- April 25, 2024

Photoplay, April, 1924

Strongheart was born in Germany and trained to work for the police and the Red Cross during World War One. After the war, the dog's owner could not afford to keep him, so he placed him with a kennel in the United States. Director Lawrence Trimble saw Strongheart and persuaded screenwriter Jane Murfin to purchase him. Trimble trained Strongheart and directed him in four movies. Strongheart got burned by a studio light in 1929 and died from a tumor caused by the burn. Strongheart was one of the first German Shepherd dogs to star in a movie.

W-A-G-L -- You've Guessed it, Algernon. Each Letter Stands for a Word in a Picture Title -- April 25, 2024

Film Daily, 13-April-1924

"W-A-G-L -- You've guessed it, Algernon. Each letter stands for a word in a picture title."

Binge Watching -- Manhunt -- April 24, 2024

While I was recuperating last week, I decided to binge watch something. Apple TV+ was showing Manhunt, a miniseries based on James L Swanson's book. I was interested to see that many of the actors were British or Irish, including Tobias Menzies as Edwin Stanton and Anthony Boyle as the coward Booth. I thought Hamish Linklater, who played Lincoln, was Scottish, but he is an American. Lovie Simone played Mary Simms, a slave of Dr Mudd who helped to expose the conspiracy. Matt Walsh played Samuel Mudd. Will Harrison played David Herold. 

The story moved right along, jumping back and forth in time. It did not try to exonerate Mary Surratt. It strongly implied that Jefferson Davis ordered the murder. I found it worth watching. I wonder what someone who had not read the book would think.