Anne Baxter 100 -- May 7, 2023

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Anne Baxter was born 100 years ago today, on 07-May-1923. I love her delivery.

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Billy Wilder wrote and directed Five Graves to Cairo, which was silly but had Erich von Stroheim as Rommell. Anne Baxter was both funny and serious as Mouche.

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Joseph Mankiewicz directed Bette Davis and Anne Baxter in All About Eve. Both were nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award. 

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Fritz Lang directed The Blue Gardenia. The tune sometimes gets stuck in my head.

Harold Lloyd -- So Good That It Hurts -- May 6, 2023

Motion Picture News, 12-May-1923

Harold Lloyd's thrill comedy Safety Last was another great success. This trade ad calls it "The First Seven Part Comedy." Seven part means Seven reels. 

Motion Picture News, 26-May-1923

"They are tearing the arms off the chairs in Portland." "A knockout in Omaha." "Biggest business of year in Akron."

Washington Times, 12-May-1923

I like the minimalist design of this ad, which says that Safety Last was being held over for a second week at the Metroplitan Theater in Washington, DC. "Second Hysterical Week."

Motion Picture News, 26-May-1923

Inmates at San Quentin Prison, north of San Francisco, enjoyed a showing of Grandma's Boy. 

Cine-Mundial, 05-May-1923

With the retirement of Mildred Davis after Safety Last, Jobyna Ralston became Harold's new leading lady. She had appeared in many one-reelers for Hal Roach. This is not a flattering photo of Jobyna. 

Cine-Mundial, 05-May-1923

Bugambilia -- May 5, 2023

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Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone. Dolores del Rio may have been the most beautiful woman in the world. She was proud of her Mexican heritage. She had a distinguished career in Hollywood and then another distinguished career in Mexico. She was always classy and elegant.

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Coming to Rock the Entire Civilized World to Its Very Foundation -- May 4, 2023

Motion Picture News, 12-May-1922

Dorothy Davenport, who had been a successful actress under her own name, was usually billed as Mrs Wallace Reid after the death of her husband on 18-January-1923.

Motion Picture News, 08-November-1913

Wallace Reid was a major star. He was injured in a train accident in 1919 and became addicted to opiates. He died in a sanitorium, leaving behind Dorothy and two small children.

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Later in the same year, Dorothy starred in and co-directed an anti-drug movie, Human Wreckage.

Educational Screen, September, 1923

Dorothy went on to direct several more movies. She is most remembered for The Red Kimona. I made a blogathon post about Dorothy a few years back:

Dorothy Davenport: Her Life and Career -- March 27, 2017 https://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2017/03/dorothy-davenport-her-life-and-career.html

Biograph -- New Films From Icy Alaska and the Golden Northwest -- May 3, 2023

New York Clipper, 28-March-1903

The American Mutoscope and Biograph Company was doing well in 1903. You could have bought a Mutoscope, "the king of all slot machines," for $45. Most of the films listed were taken during the Yukon Gold Rush. 

Larry's Latest and Greatest -- May 2, 2023

Motion Picture News, 12-May-1923

Larry Semon was very big 100 years ago this month. I like the image of Larry and the Moon.

Motion Picture News, 05-May-1923

Fewer gags, more farce. 

WGA -- 97.85% YES -- May 1, 2023

wgacontract2023.org

Today is International Workers' Day. It seems appropriate that on this day The Writers' Guild of America is negotiating with producers to get a fair share of revenues for content creators. The rank and file overwhelmingly voted to strike.