Leading Ladies of the 1950's!

The Leading Ladies of the 1950's! - That is right, we here at Love Those Classic Movies! (LTCM) are back at it once again; providing the best of the best from a new decade in focus - the 1950's!

These ladies you will truly embody the 1950's from their outstanding projects in this specific decade which due to their quality stand the test of time.

Let us hear from you on your thoughts, maybe you agree, disagree or have someone of worthy mention. It is a very difficult task at hand which is never taken lightly on our end. We will be publishing our "Leading Men of the 1950s" shortly along with other wonderful decades such as the 1960s, 1940's, 1930, 1920's and more! Now take a seat and have a read of whom we consider the true definition of a classic lady of the 1950s.

The eight top leading ladies deemed as the defining women of the 1950's are:


Dorothy Dandridge, Susan Hayward, Ava Gardner, Deborah Kerr, Katharine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Simone Signoret, & Eleanor Parker!


Dorothy Dandridge:


Tarzan's Peril (1951)
The Harlem Globetrotters (1951)
Bright Road (1953)
Remains to be Seen (1953)
Carmen Jones (1954) - nominated for an Academy Award & BAFTA.
Island In The Sun (1957)
Tamango (1958)
The Decks Ran Red (1958)
Porgy and Bess (1959) - nominated for a Golden Globe

Susan Hayward:

 1959    Woman Obsessed

 1959    Thunder in the Sun

 1958    I Want to Live!

 1957    Top Secret Affair

 1956    The Conqueror

 1955    I'll Cry Tomorrow

 1955    Soldier of Fortune

 1955    Untamed

 1954    Garden of Evil

 1954    Demetrius and the Gladiators

 1953    White Witch Doctor

 1953    The President's Lady

 1952    The Lusty Men

 1952    The Snows of Kilimanjaro

 1952    With a Song in My Heart

 1951    David and Bathsheba

 1951    I Can Get It for You Wholesale

 1951    Rawhide

 1951    I'd Climb the Highest Mountain


Ava Gardner:

My Forbidden Past	1951
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman	1951
Show Boat	1951
Lone Star	1952
The Snows of Kilimanjaro	1952
Knights of the Round Table	1953
Mogambo - nominated for Academy Award	1953
Ride, Vaquero!	1953
The Band Wagon	1953
The Barefoot Contessa	1954
Bhowani Junction	1956
The Little Hut	1957
The Sun Also Rises	1957
The Naked Maja	1958
On the Beach	1959

Deborah Kerr:

 1959    Beloved Infidel

 1959    Count Your Blessings

 1959   The Journey

 1958   Separate Tables - nominated for an Academy Award

 1958   Bonjour Tristesse

 1957   An Affair to Remember

 1957   Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison - nominated for an Academy Award

 1956   Tea and Sympathy

 1956   The King and I  - nominated for an Academy Award, won Golden Globe

 1956   The Proud and Profane

 1955   The End of the Affair

 1953   From Here to Eternity - nominated for an Academy Award

 1953   Dream Wife

 1953   Young Bess

 1953   Julius Caesar

 1952   The Prisoner of Zenda

 1951   Thunder in the East

 1951   Quo Vadis

 1950   King Solomon's Mines

 

Katharine Hepburn:

 

 1959    Suddenly, Last Summer - nominated for an Academy Award & Golden Globe

 1957   Desk Set

 1956   The Rainmaker - nominated for an Academy Award & Golden Globe

 1956   The Iron Petticoat

 1955   Summertime - nominated for an Academy Award

 1952   Pat and Mike - nominated for a Golden Globe

 1951   The African Queen - nominated for an Academy Award

Marilyn Monroe:

 1959    Some Like It Hot - won Golden Globe

 1957    The Prince and the Showgirl

 1956    Bus Stop - nominated for Golden Globe

 1955    The Seven Year Itch

 1954    There's No Business Like Show Business

 1954    River of No Return

 1953    How to Marry a Millionaire

 1953    Gentlemen Prefer Blonde

 1953    Niagara

 1952    Monkey Business

 1952    O. Henry's Full House

 1952    Don't Bother to Knock

 1952    We're Not Married!

 1952    Clash by Night

 1951    Let's Make It Legal

 1951    Love Nest

 1951    As Young as You Feel

 1951    Home Town Story

 1950    All About Eve

 1950    The Fireball

 1950    Right Cross

 1950    The Asphalt Jungle

 1950    A Ticket to Tomahawk

Simone Signoret:

 1959    Room at the Top - won an Academy Award & Golden Globe nominated

 1957    The Crucible

 1956    Un matin comme les autres (Short)

 1956     Death in the Garden

 1955    Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder (Short)

 1955    Diabolique

 1953    The Adultress

 1953    Confidences en zig-zag sur l'amour (Short)

 1952    Casque d'Or

 1951    Shadow and Light

 1951    Without Leaving an Address

 1950    Gunman in the Streets

 1950    Le traqué

 1950    La Ronde

 1950    Four Days Leave

 1950    Manèges

Eleanor Parker:

 1959    A Hole in the Head

 1957    The Seventh Sin

 1957    Lizzie

 1956    The King and Four Queens

 1955    The Man with the Golden Arm

 1955    Interrupted Melody - nominated for an Academy Award

 1955    Many Rivers to Cross

 1954    Valley of the Kings

 1954    The Naked Jungle

 1953    Escape from Fort Bravo

 1952    Above and Beyond

 1952    Scaramouche

 1951    Detective Story - nominated for an Academy Award

 1951    A Millionaire for Christy

 1951    Valentino

 1950    Three Secrets

 1950    Caged - nominated for an Academy Award

 1950     Chain Lightning

2011 Year In Review

2011 Year In Review!

Love Those Classic Movies!!! had an outstanding 2011 with highlighting great leading actresses, actors, costume designers, photographers, and topical themes. We also introcued this year new articles such as: "Classic Radioland," "Spotlight On" & our interview series.

We had fun bringing topics such as looking as Summer Films and Holiday Classics. This year also brought us our: "2nd Annual Classic Mr. & Mrs. Clause" who was the fantastic Robert Mitchum & Ginger Rogers.

Our interviews were started with a great kick-off featuring two hot actors/recording artists: Howard Tonkin & DiSanto Diaz. Both gentleman spoke about their acting background and their love for classic cinema - thank you gentlemen for your time and the great itnerviews!!

 We had a a terriffic special correspondent (Christina Stewart) who reported on the: "2011 TCM Classic Film Festvial." Christina gave us special inside information on the red carpet events, movie screenings, gala events and many other events. This we are looking to keep and expand with other special reporters clocking in with special articles from all over the world!!

Finally, here are our FANTASTIC classic stars we highlighted in 2011!!!!

•  Adrian
• Tyrone Power
• Sophia Loren
• Marilyn Monroe
• Claire Trevor
• George Hurrell
• Gloria Grahame
• Orry-Kelly
• Merle Oberon
• Bette Davis
• Ramon Novarro
• Irene Sharaff
• Rosalind Russell
• Ann Sothern
• Ava Gardner
• Rita Hayworth
• Dorothy Dandridge

Carmen Jones (1954) "You Go For Me!"

Carmen Jones (1954) / Twentieth Century FOX

Directed By: Otto Preminger
Starring: Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte, Pearl Bailey & Diahann Carroll

~ Oscar Hammerstein II also wrote the lyrics to music composed by George Bizet for his 1875 opera Carmen.
~ Nominated for 2 Academy Awards in 1955 - Best Actress (Dorothy Dandridge) & Best Musical Score.
~ Won Berlin International Film Festival Award in 1955 the Bronze Award for Otto Preminger
~ Won Golden Globe in 1955 for Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy.

Plot:

"Carmen Jones" is set during World War II on an army camp where Carmen Jones (Dandridge) struts around in her eye catching outfits and a flower in her hair. Carmen works in the parachute factory in the camp base and does not fit in with the rest of the women who hate her since their men stare and she seems to walk, talk, dress sex. Daily there are unkind words thrown at Carmen about the type of woman the other ladies think she is and she pays no mind.

One day Carmen is arrested for fighting with a co-worker who also reported her on arriving late to work (lateness is an occurance that happens often with Carmen). Carmen has her eye on Sgt. Joe (Belafonte) who though is engaged to another Cindy Lou. Cindy Lou comes up to visit and finds this Carmen who is a threat and does not like her that close to her sweet soon to be husband.

Carmen is then going to be arrested and needs to be delivered to the authorities and St. Joe Brown is assigned to take her. Carmen is needless to say thrilled that she is going to finally spend time with the man she has had her eye on and it will be only the two of them on this trip into the city of Masonville. During the trip Carmen applies her seduction towards Joe who is not taking any until an unfortunate accident of the army jeep lands in the river during on of their verbal battles getting hot and heavy. Carmen mentions an idea to head to her grandmother's home which is closeby and stay there overnight and to take the train the rrest of the trip. They both head to the grandmother's home and stay there where finally all the seduction and passion finally sweeps over Joe and kisses ignite between them both. Joe finds that he is truly attracted to Carmen and can not deliver her to the authorities. Though the next day he awakes to a note from Carmen who has left and ranaway not wanting to deal with what was in store for her (the jail time) though loves Joe.

With all of this occurring Joe is now in trouble with the army and is put into the stockade for allowing his prisoner to escape free with no idea where she went. A visit from Cindy Lou and one red rose is delivered  as a gift from Carmen to Joe - Cindy decides to leave fast knowing what is going on. Carmen found work at a Louisiana Nightclub and is now waiting her time until Joe is relased and they can be together.

A dashing prizefighter Husky Miller enters with entourage on toe and see the beauty of Carmen and introduces homself to Carmen who does not send any mix messages toward him about interest since she was witrh Joe. Rum Daniels who is Husky's manager offers diamond jewelery, furs, fine clothing and a hotel suite if Carmen along with  friends Frankie and Myrt (Carroll) come along to Chicago. Carmen thwarts him and declines the offer. Then Joe enters and sees Carmen and they leave together thoough has to report back for flight school. Now we see the next big issue the young couple Carmen and Joe now dating see a Major who is going to get Joe and Carmen into trouble and says some choice words so Joe bunches him. One big problem is that he is a superior to the Sgt. Joe so there will be a lot of ramification to happen so the young couple run away together to Chicago.

The couple start to experience many troubles in Chicago where Joe is unable to work or do much since fearing being court martialed so needs to hide inside their small apartment while Carmen does all errands and makes money for them. They are running out of money fast and so Carmen goes to see her friends Frankie (Bailey) for some assistance and gets some from her and Husky. Joe is stunned that with the little money they had that Carmen came back with a new outfit and a lot of food that their moeny could not have done. Carmen decides to push Joe away and tell him that she can not live like this and neds to go out and dress nicely so she goes out and spends time with Husky and Frankie and Myrt. Carmen gets the lovely outfits and items she needs and then Joe enters shocked and angry seeing Husky and Carmen kissing. Carmen says she is over with him and wants Joe to leave which he does and they are through. Carmen is back in the lush life of diamonds and finery provided by Husky.  

Will, Carmen find her love back with Joe or is the diamonds and finery for what she has dreamed of all her life with Husky going to reign supreme? The qusetions will be answered in watching this classic musical.

A great song list performed in "Carmen Jones:"

"Send Them Along" ..... Chorus

"Lift 'Em Up an' Put 'Em Down" ..... Children's Chorus

"Dat's Love"  ..... Carmen

"You Talk Jus' Like My Maw" ..... Joe and Cindy Lou

"You Go For Me" ..... Carmen

"Carmen Jones is Going to Jail" ..... Chorus

"There's a Cafe on the Corner  ..... Carmen

"Dis Flower ("Flower Song") ..... Joe

"Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum ("Gypsy Song") ..... Frankie

"Stan' Up an' Fight ..... Husky Miller

"Whizzin' Away Along de Track ("Quintet") ..... Carmen, Frankie, Mert, Dink, and Rum

"There's a Man I'm Crazy For" ..... Carmen, Frankie, Mert, Rum, and Dink

"Card Song" ..... Carmen, Frankie, and Chorus

"My Joe ("Micaëla's Prayer") ..... Cindy Lou

"He Got His Self Another Woman" ..... Cindy Lou

"Final Duet" ..... Carmen and Joe

"String Me High on a Tree" ..... Joe

from left to right Pearl Bailey, Dorothy Dandridge & Diahann Carroll

In Pictures: Dorothy Dandridge

In Pictures: Dorothy Dandridge

Here is our 22nd installment of this very successful feature to "Love Those Classic Movies!!!" This article is simply an enjoyment via beautiful pictures of our favorite golden age classic stars. Not a lot of writing at all or tid bits or extras just simply as it is stated, "in pictures!" Hope you all enjoy one of the original great actress's of the silver screen Dorothy Dandridge and her brilliance in pictures, cheers!!!!