The Mermaid and the Monster

While Ann Blyth was filming Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948), Glenn Strange was busy on another soundstage filming Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.  He was the monster.  At the time of this photo, the Monster came to visit the Mermaid.  Maybe he was taking her to lunch.  Maybe she was lunch.

We discuss Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid in this post on my Another Old Movie Blog, and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein here at this post.

Both creatures were created by Universal-International makeup department head Bud Westmore.  Universal, of course, was famous for its monster movies.  From the Monster and the Mermaid--Happy Halloween!

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The audio book for Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. is now for sale on Audible.com, and on Amazon and iTunes.

Also in paperback and eBook from Amazon.

Mildred Pierce (1945) - Poster and Lobby Card

The above full-sheet poster for Mildred Pierce (1945) was part of the original publicity for the movie.  It tells us in bold imagery that Joan Crawford is the star attraction of the film: not only is her name at the top, but there are two images of her on the poster.  The full body image of her posed with a gun entices the observer with a tease on the story line.  But the overwhelming image on the poster is of the face that takes up half the sheet.  The face is not Mildred Pierce -- Mildred is the full-body image -- the face is Joan.  We are going to see Joan.  She is the selling point of the movie.

However, in this follow-up colorized lobby card, we see the focus is not Joan Crawford.  There are three people in the image, the fateful triangle that makes up the story's intrigue and tragedy: Mildred, her playboy second husband, and her daughter, Veda.

Ann Blyth rates fifth billing in the movie, and a smaller credit on the large poster.  She isn't even mentioned on the lobby card-- but she is now an image used for publicity.  This is on the strength of her performance--which was praised by critics even before the film was released.  She earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, the youngest person at the time (16 years old) to be so honored.

Mildred Pierce is running again on Turner Classic Movies tomorrow at 8 a.m. Eastern.  Go see what all the fuss was about.

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The audio book for Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. is now for sale on Audible.com, and on Amazon and iTunes.

Also in paperback and eBook from Amazon.

"Suspected" Episode of The June Allyson Show

Ann Blyth starred on television in a suspense episode of The DuPont Show with June Allyson called "Suspected."  It's recently been uploaded to YouTube, so here's your chance to see it.

The program was an anthology show that featured a different star every week, with June Allyson as the host and occasional star herself.  "Suspected" was broadcast December 28, 1959 on CBS, and included Gerald Mohr as a remorseless, woman-hating detective and Marjorie Bennett as a habitual pickpocket and rogue of the cell block.  Ann is a murder suspect, shafted by the press, her family, and the judiciary system.  It's an intense performance in a tightly written show.  You can read more about the episode in my book, Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star.

Or you can just hop over to YouTube and have a look for yourself.  Enjoy.

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The audio book for Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. is now for sale on Audible.com, and on Amazon and iTunes.

Also in paperback and eBook from Amazon.

Makeup Man Jack Pierce with Ann Blyth

Before there was Bud Westmore, there was Jack Pierce at Universal.  He was responsible for the iconic monster makeup of the early 1930s, especially the look of Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein monster, which has become the template for how we see author Mary Shelley’s creation.

Reportedly not terribly well liked at the studio, and having a tendency to go over budget with his creations, Pierce was fired in 1946.  He’s here with Ann Blyth on a considerably easier assignment gilding the lily. 

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The audio book for Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. is now for sale on Audible.com, and on Amazon and iTunes.

Also in paperback and eBook from Amazon.