Archive for the ‘Miriam Hopkins’ Category
Happy Birthday Olivia de Havilland
Friday, June 30th, 2017Miriam Hopkins 113th Birthday…
Sunday, October 18th, 2015MIRIAM HOPKINS
Happy Birthday Miriam Hopkins!
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MIRIAM HOPKINS
October 18, 1902–Savannah, Georgia
October 9, 1972–New York City, New York
Oak City Cemetery, Bainbridge, Georgia
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As a sneak preview, below are the individual chapters/titles
to the biography on Miriam Hopkins
“Magnificent Bitch” THE LIFE OF MIRIAM HOPKINS
by Allan R. Ellenberger
CONTENTS
Foreword
Preface
Chapter One: “From a Fine Old Family” (1653—1920)
Chapter Two: The Road to Broadway (1921—1927)
Chapter Three: Billy (1927—1930)
Chapter Four: Of Paramount Importance (1930—June 1931)
Chapter Five: Hollywood (June 1931—October 1931)
Chapter Six: An Expensive Leading Woman (October 1931—December 1932)
Chapter Seven: The Redemption of Temple Drake (January 1933—June 1933)
Chapter Eight: The Lubitsch Touch (July 1933—March 1934)
Chapter Nine: 13 Sutton Place (March 1934—November 1934)
Chapter Ten: The Real Becky Sharp (December 1934—November 1935)
Chapter Eleven: “It’s About Lesbians” (November 1935—October 1936)
Chapter Twelve: Tola (October 1936—February 1937)
Chapter Thirteen: “Goldwyn Blamed Me” (March 1937—March 1938)
Chapter Fourteen: “In a Year of Drought…” (April 1938—March 1939)
Chapter Fifteen: “Perfect Little Bitches…” (March 1939—August 1939)
Chapter Sixteen: All This, Jack Warner and Bette Davis, Too (August 1939—January 1940)
Chapter Seventeen: A Blonde with a Redhead’s Temperament (January 1940—November 1940)
Chapter Eighteen: Angels Battle in Boston (December 1940—July 1942)
Chapter Nineteen: “This is Pure Hopkins” (July 1942—March 1943)
Chapter Twenty: To New York and Back by the Skin of Her Teeth (April 1943—October 1947)
Chapter Twenty-One: A Little Off Center (November 1947—1950)
Chapter Twenty-Two: “They Surely Are Reds” (1950-1958)
Chapter Twenty-Three: “How Many Times Can You Come Back?” (1958—1962)
Chapter Twenty-Four: “As Long As She Lives…” (1962-1965)
Chapter Twenty-Five: The Final Years (1966—1971)
Chapter Twenty-Six: “If I Had It to Do All Over Again…” (1972)
Epilogue
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The Miriam Hopkins Blogathon…
Saturday, January 24th, 2015MIRIAM HOPKINS
The Miriam Hopkins Blogathon
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I’m pleased to announce The Miriam Hopkins Blogathon being hosted by Silver Screenings and A Small Press Life / Font & Frock websites on January 22–25, 2015. The Blogathon has been running for a couple days now but still check it out and all the great articles written about the fabulous Miriam Hopkins. The following is from the Silver Screenings website:
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“We are so excited, we can hardly contain ourselves – and for Two Big Reasons!
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“Firstly, you’re invited to help us celebrate one of the most remarkable actresses in Classic Hollywood: the fabulous Miriam Hopkins. The blogathon will run January 22-25, 2015, and we’d love to have you join us.
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“Secondly, we’re excited to be co-hosting this event with our über-chic friend Maedez of A Small Press Life. But that ain’t the half of it! This blogathon with correspond with the launch of her new movie blog, Font and Frock, in January, 2015.”
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So read what other bloggers are saying about Miriam Hopkins and check back here for more updates on my biography of the actress!
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Miriam Hopkins Birthday
Saturday, October 18th, 2014MIRIAM HOPKINS
Happy Birthday Miriam Hopkins!!
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Today, October 18, 2014 would be the 112th birthday of stage, screen and television actress, Miriam Hopkins. To celebrate, the above photo shows Miriam being introduced to actress Lee Remick. What event are they attending and what is it they have in common at this event and in film history?
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If you think you know the answer, click the CONTINUE READING tab to find out.
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Miriam Hopkins fan magazine cover
Sunday, October 5th, 2014MAGAZINE COVER SUNDAY
Miriam Hopkins in Becky Sharp
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Miriam Hopkins as Becky Sharp, on the cover of the October 1935 issue of Cine-Mundial magazine…
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Miriam Hopkins on TCM
Thursday, September 11th, 2014MIRIAM HOPKINS
Miriam Hopkins on Turner Classics Movies tomorrow evening
Every Friday evening in September, TCM is showing classic pre-code films. Tomorrow evening, in addition to Jean Harlow, Kay Francis and Myrna Loy, four films of Miriam Hopkins are playing in a row including Design for Living, Trouble in Paradise, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Story of Temple Drake.
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NOTE: All times are Eastern:
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Miriam Hopkins biography update
Monday, February 4th, 2013MIRIAM HOPKINS
Miriam Hopkins biography–an update
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By Allan R. Ellenberger
I thought it was time to give an update on my Miriam Hopkins biography. It’s been several years of research, talking to people who knew her, questioning her family, film historians, going to libraries and surfing the internet. There are probably about three or four more chapters remaining, but then there are the rewrites. There are still four actors that I would like to interview. Does anyone out there know how to contact them?
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DICK VAN PATTEN: In 1943, Miriam replaced Tallulah Bankhead in the Broadway version of The Skin of Our Teeth. I assume that Van Patten, who played a telegraph boy, was still with the show when Miriam joined, though I couldn’t find confirming evidence.
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JOYCE VAN PATTEN: The following year, Miriam appeared in the Broadway play, The Perfect Marriage with Victor Jory. Joyce Van Patten, the sister of Dick, played her daughter.
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SHIRLEY MACLAINE: In The Children’s Hour, Miriam played MacLaine’s aunt. Miriam originally played MacLaine’s role in the original version, These Three. I contacted MacLaine last year and asked for an interview but she refused. She said she was too busy which surprised me. I thought she would be one of the easiest to talk to.
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ROBERT REDFORD: Miriam played Redford’s mother in The Chase. I was told that Redford said that Miriam should have received an Oscar nomination. I’m not sure if that is true but I’d love to find out.
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SALLY FIELD: In her last role, Miriam played a Mother Superior on The Flying Nun, which starred the current Oscar nominee.
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If you know any of the above actors and could put in a good word for me, or if you have contact information where I could write or email them, I would appreciate it.
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My email contact is aellenber@aol.com . More to come…soon. Thank you.
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One of the last pictures taken of Miriam Hopkins (© Allan R. Ellenberger)
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Miriam Hopkins and Darth Vader
Thursday, December 8th, 2011MIRIAM HOPKINS
Miriam Hopkins and Darth Vader
What is the connection between Miriam Hopkins and Darth Vader of Star Wars?
Hurray for Google! The majority of answers were correct. In 1936, Miriam went to England and appeared in a film for Alexander Korda called Men Are Not Gods. Her costars were Gertrude Lawrence and Sebastian Shaw. They were involved in a love triangle with both women in love with him. In the film Shaw was married to Lawrence and had a clandestine affair with Miriam.
Shaw continued to do occasional films but mostly was seen on stage and television. In 1983, George Lucas chose him to play the unmasked and dying, Darth Vader. He was credited as Anakin Skywalker, and was also seen as his spirit in a vision to his son, Luke.
Miriam day-dreams of Darth Vader
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Why a Biography on Miriam Hopkins?
Friday, July 22nd, 2011
By Allan R. Ellenberger
I’m often asked, “Why a biography on Miriam Hopkins?” I confess that I get this question mostly from people who are not fans of the actress. They can’t understand why anyone would be interested. On the other hand, those who are fans seem thrilled that one is being prepared. It’s scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
A few reasons why Miriam Hopkins would make a good biographical subject:
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Hopkins appeared in 35 films, 2 shorts, 18 Broadway plays, 20 plus summer stock plays and road tours, 20 television programs and multiple radio plays and appearances.
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Hopkins made her first film, Fast and Loose (1930) during the day while performing on the Broadway stage in Lysistrata in the evenings.
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Hopkins appeared in the very first Technicolor film, Becky Sharp (1935).
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Hopkins starred in the first produced play written by Tennessee Williams, Battle of Angels (1941).
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Hopkins appeared in a silent short film in 1928 with Humphrey Bogart.
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Hopkins had a love-hate relationship with her mother.
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Hopkins did not have contact with her father for more than twenty years — not until she became a Hollywood star.
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Hopkins was indirectly descended from Revolutionary figures, Arthur Middleton and John Dickinson.
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Hopkins was Margaret Mitchell’s choice to play Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939).
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Hopkins was nominated for an Academy Award (Becky Sharp) and a Golden Globe (The Heiress).
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Hopkins bought and remodeled John Gilbert’s house after his death and sold it ten years later to David O. Selznick.
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Hopkins costars include: Carole Lombard, Fredric March, Claudette Colbert, Maurice Chevalier, George Raft, Gary Cooper, Franchot Tone, Lionel Barrymore, Kay Francis, Bing Crosby, Fay Wray, Joel McCrea, Edward G. Robinson, Merle Oberon, Gertrude Lawrence, Rex Harrison, Errol Flynn, Claude Rains, Olivia De Havilland, Gene Tierney, Laurence Olivier, Jennifer Jones, Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, Marlon Brando, Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and of course, Bette Davis.
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Hopkins was directed four times by William Wyler, three times by Ernst Lubitsch and twice by Rouben Mamoulian.
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Hopkins was married four times and had numerous lovers.
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Hopkins lived on Washington Square in New York during the late 1920s, the same place as her character in The Heiress (1949).
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Hopkins was seriously interested in astrology and numerology.
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Hopkins adopted a child as a single parent.
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Hopkins was involved in political causes during her Hollywood years.
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Hopkins was an authority at scene stealing.
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Hopkins preferred writers, directors and intellectuals as friends and not Hollywood types.
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Hopkins had an extensive book collection in her homes and was a voracious reader.
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Hopkins actions were followed closely by the FBI for more than 15 years.
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Hopkins never revealed her first marriage to her son
(he read about it in his mothers obituary)
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Hopkins died nine days before her 70th birthday.
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Hopkins feuded with Bette Davis, Tallulah Bankhead, Errol Flynn and numerous others and pissed off half of Hollywood.
What’s not interesting about that?
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