Happy Birthday, Norma!

We're a day late (and a dolla' short), but we're wishing the Queen of MGM, Norma Shearer a happy birthday!  

Photo provided by Dr. Macro

Check out our previous"Va Va Voom" post of this Hollywood legend.

Remake of "The Women" Premieres this Year

Never one to think of an unusual idea, Hollywood has decided to remake the 1939 George Cukor classic "The Women." The original starred the complete roster of MGM queens: Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell... Well this movie is trying to one-up the past with it's own star power. But will it be as good (or better) than the original? Doubt it.

Here are how the stars compare -- here's a list with the new star, then who previously played the same role, then the character's name:

Eva Mendes/Joan Crawford - Crystal Allen
Meg Ryan/Norma Shearer - Mary Haines
Jada Pinkett Smith/Paulette Goddard - Miriam Aarons
Carrie Fisher/Florence Nash - Nancy Blake
Debra Messing/Phyllis Povah - Edith Potter
Annette Bening/Rosalind Russell - Sylvia Fowler
Bette Midler/Mary Boland - Flora DeLave

Other actresses pitching in to the remake are Cloris Leachman and Candice Bergen.
Now, these actresses are good, but they're nothing like the original. Guess we'll have to see...

What You Didn't Know...

*YAWN* So it's already 9:00 AM and Pixie has tagged me. I've been tagged before, but I just hate answering these things. Then I thought to my self, "Self, you never reveal enough information about yourself. No one knows any details about your personal life." So here are 7 things about me that you may not know:

1. I am a graduate of St. Pyre's School of Technical Pyrotechnics in Fioria, Virgin Islands, majoring in Pyrotechnical Arts. I studied under Pietro Pierre, the great international flame thrower. A genius in the world of deflagration.

2. I spend at least 5 hours a day at work procrastinating. This mostly consists of surfing the internet, blogging, playing on my MySpace page, or tooling around in Photoshop.

3. I have a thing for trumpet players. Especially those named Harry who know how to play Hora Staccato.

4. I have an unusually long tongue. When I was born, the doctor suggested to my mother that I get the tip of my tongue chopped off. The very thought of this procedure made her cringe, so she declined. As a result, I can touch my tongue to my nose (as well as many other special talents that shall remain unsaid).

5. Before my work as a pinup girl and go-go dancer, I was a famous big band singer under the stage name Kitty Keller. I sang for our wonderful men in uniform during WWII for the USO, and had 12 very successful albums throughout the 30's and 40's. However, I strained my voice during a performance with Doris Day (okay, more of a shouting match, but that's another story for another day) and I lost my record deal.

5. I've dated many famous men, but Peter Lawford was the one who really broke my heart. I'm especially hurt since there is no record anywhere of our relationship, which leads me to believe that he never has revealed to anyone that we were lovers.

6. I'm a MySpace whore. If you ask to be my friend, I'll automatically just say yes. I don't care who you are, what you believe in, or what you look like. I just want you as a friend!

7. I tried to sleep with Irving Thalberg to get a movie deal at MGM, but Norma Shearer beat me to it. That bitch.

As far as tagging people...I don't really go to other people's blogs, but I do hang out around other people's MySpace pages and websites (see the list on the right). I think if I tagged someone they'd never do it back. And if you're hurt that you didn't get tagged, it's because I don't know what the hell your blog is! Leave your addy in the comments so I can put you in a post or on my links list. Stop lurking and start commenting!!

Oh yeah... the obligatory rules (that I really had trouble following)...
1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Mee-Yow Thursday

The ultimate in cattiness: Rosalind Russell shines as the gossipy Sylvia Prowler-- er, Fowler -- in 1939's "The Women." Now the best scenes have been set to Pink's song "Trouble."

80 years of Women in Film

A little MySpace movie showing the transformation of women throughout history. See if you can find our favorites: Norma Shearer, Rita Hayworth, Joan Crawford, Ava Gardner, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, and Audrey Hepburn (they're all in the beginning).
Women In Film


[Thanks to SorryIGotDrunk]

Mee-Yow Thursday

Still on the Joan Crawford kick...When Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford were called to shoot publicity stills for The Women, neither actress would enter the studio first. Instead, they remained in their limousines and circled the parking lot until director George Cukor summoned them. Once they were at the shoot they instantly behaved like best friends.

Life is Beautiful

Last night after finally completing the last detail of redeco'ing the Lounge, I treated myself by cooking a fantastic dinner and uncorking a bottle of wine. After the second glass, I found that Norma Shearer's 1930 movie "The Divorcee" was showing, so I settled in to watch that. After another couple of glasses of wine, I decided on a cigarette. Took me 10 minutes to remember where I hid them from myself. Oh yeah - behind my British Lit book from college.

I sat on my front porch with a glass of wine and smoked, and I saw Winston poke his head out from behind the blinds in the apartment next to me. He mewed at me and then Muscles and his girlfriend came home. Winston must have sensed their return.

As I finished my cigarette the wind blew through the courtyard and through the palm trees and it made a peaceful, whistling sound. I found myself smiling, thinking - ironically - how alive a cigarette can make you feel.

I went back inside to finish "The Divorcee," and Norma Shearer looked beautiful. The movie is primarily about old friends that lose touch because of a divorce, and so I had a sudden impulse to make random phone calls to friends. I called KT and had to leave a message for her. Called Gina and we caught up. Called Lou and spoke to him for a while. Then I called my old roommate Pokey and we rehashed.

I went to bed later than usual, telling myself that I'd treat myself even more by sleeping in tomorrow. And the good feeling didn't end there. When I woke up in the morning, there were those two ducks swimming in my pool again.

A beautiful Lounge, a beautiful evening, and a beautiful life.

"Va Va Voom" Star of the Day

Norma Shearer
Silent film siren Norma Shearer was nicknamed "The First Lady of MGM," as she was the first female actress in the golden age of the studio. She was spotted by Louis B. Mayer's 'number two' man Irving Thalberg in 1923. So impressed was Thalberg by her unique look and talent that he not only signed her for a multi-year contract, but he married her.

Norma seemed to easily transform into the talkie age of cinema; she got an Academy Award in 1930 for her role in "The Divorcee," and several Oscar nominations after that. In 1936, Irving died. During this time, Norma was working on their best and most expensive venture together, "Marie Antoinette." Some believe that this is her best film.

Through this success, Norma still worried about her appearance. She felt that her face was too round and her legs too big. Her insecurities were compounded when Hollywood began to agree with her, believing that she was only with Thalberg to move ahead. Many fellow actors felt she got roles because of his pull in the studio, especially Joan Crawford, who made life on the set of "The Women" a living hell.

Norma had trouble convincing Hollywood that she was talented, no matter how many Oscar nominations she had received. The public was not open to the idea of her playing Scarlet O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind;" so open were the protests that she turned down the career-defining role.

She retired from the screen in 1942, wishing to live a more private life. She died in 1983 of Alzheimer's and Pneumonia.

I read about Norma Shearer in the book "The Golden Girls of MGM" and fell in love with her unique, fresh face and her almost tragic story. I love her classic beauty and the way she had to prove herself in Hollywood. Looking at her accomplishments, it's obvious that her talent is deeper than we may ever know.

Visit a great tribute website dedicated to her at Classic Movie Favorites, loaded with tons of pictures and information.

If you'd like desktop wallpapers that I made of any "Va Va Voom" Stars, email me!