Today, A Return to Glamour would like to mention two very special birthdays. Today is not only Barbara Stanwyck's birthday, it is also the wonderful and talented Ginger Rogers birthday.
Barbara had a 60 year career as a film and television actress. She was a true professional with a strong screen presence, and favorite among directors. Frank Capra once said, "In a Hollywood popularity contest she would win first prize hands down." She was nominated for an Academy Award four times, and is listed by the American Film Institute as the number 11 actress on their Screen Legend list . Some of her best known films include the 1944 noir thriller, Double Indemnity, and the 1945 holiday romance, Christmas In Connecticut. She was married twice, first to actor Frank Fray in 1928. Then in 1936 while making the film, His Brother's Wife, she met and fell in love with her co-star Robert Taylor. Barbara will always be remembered as one of the most dazzling stars of Hollywood's Golden Age.
Below is a short clip from Double Indemnity.
We can't forget that today is also Ginger Rogers birthday.
Ginger is one of my favorite stars from the 30's and 40's. She is best known for her films with Fred Astaire. The two of them together were magic. From 1933- 1939 they made nine films together. Mostly musical screwball comedies. I remember being about five years old and watching Top Hat, and I was so mesmerized by Fred and Ginger's dancing. The scene where they dance outside and sing "Cheek to Cheek" is forever engrained in my mind. Her dress was all feathers on the bottom and during the dance she did some fan kicks and I remember the dress looked so beautiful flying through the air. The whole number was just perfection. Even when I watch it now 20 years later, I am just as awed.
Bob Thaves once said about the two of them, "Sure he was great, but don't forget Ginger Rogers did everything Fred did, but backwards and in high heels!" I always thought that was great.
As a team, Fred and Ginger were, as I said before, movie magic. They made everything look so effortless. Together their musical and comedic timing could not be matched. And they were just so elegant. If you haven't seen any of their films, please do yourself a favor and check the TCM schedule or Netflix. Two of my favorites are the aforementioned Top Hat, and Swing Time. Just classic, wonderful movies.
In addition to her films with Astaire, she had a very successful career on her own. I have to mention my favorite, non Fred movie of hers. The 1941 comedy hit- Tom, Dick and Harry. In it she has three different men after her, and she has dreams of marrying each one and how her life would be different with each man. I watched it this year on a cold winter night, while I was taking a bubble bath. It was quite fun, I highly recommend it. (Just be careful with electronics around the water, darlings!)
Ginger was married five times in her lifetime, all ending in divorce. She was lifelong friends with Lucille Ball and Bette Davis. She was also on the American Film Institutes Screen Legends list, coming in at number 14.
Ginger Rogers will forever be remember as one of the most talented, glamourous and hardworking stars of 30's, 40's and 50's. However it is unlikely that a biographical film will ever be made of her and Fred, he had it stipulated in his will that no representation of himself ever be made on film. It's probably for the best however, since I don't think any other performers could ever do justice to their talents.
The first clip below is the clip number from Top Hat I mentioned before. Oh, I wish I man would sing and dance with me like that..such grace and class. The second is a fun tap number from Swing Time.
Enjoy! And Happy Birthday Ladies!
