Happy 95th Birthday to Ann Blyth!

Today is the 95th birthday of Hollywood star Ann Blyth.  The photo above is from her 1951 film I'll Never Forget You, one of my favorites.  She co-stars with Tyrone Power in a haunting time-travel romance.  It's a beautiful film, and her work is deeply moving.  I hope you get a chance to see it soon.

Happy birthday to a stellar actress and a lovely woman.

For more on this movie and the rest of her fascinating career that paralleled so many innovations in media and shifts in entertainment in the twentieth century, have a look at my book Ann Blyth:  Actress. Singer. Star.

For more on the movie, and her career, have a look at my book on Ann's career -- Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star.

eBook edition (Amazon)

print edition available at Amazon and also my Etsy shop.

audiobook edition

Also available in eBook at:

Kobo

Barnes & Noble

Apple iBooks

...and a variety of other online shops!

For more on my other books and plays, please see my website: JacquelineTLynch.com  

"Lynch’s book is organized and well-written – and has plenty of amusing observations – but when it comes to describing Blyth’s movies, Lynch’s writing sparkles." - Ruth Kerr, Silver Screenings

"Jacqueline T. Lynch creates a poignant and thoroughly-researched mosaic of memories of a fine, upstanding human being who also happens to be a legendary entertainer." - Deborah Thomas, Java's Journey

"One of the great strengths of Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. is that Lynch not only gives an excellent overview of Blyth's career -- she offers detailed analyses of each of Blyth's roles -- but she puts them in the context of the larger issues of the day."- Amanda Garrett, Old Hollywood Films

"Jacqueline's book will hopefully cause many more people to take a look at this multitalented woman whose career encompassed just about every possible aspect of 20th Century entertainment." - Laura Grieve, Laura's Miscellaneous Musings''

"Jacqueline T. Lynch’s Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. is an extremely well researched undertaking that is a must for all Blyth fans." - Annette Bochenek, Hometowns to Hollywood

Time Travel romance - I'll Never Forget You

A lovely publicity shot for I'll Never Forget You (1951) with Tyrone Power as a modern-day time-traveler and Ann Blyth as the woman he falls in love with in the eighteenth century.  It is a beautifully filmed movie, with the eighteenth century part of the story filmed in color, bookended by modern opening and closing scenes shot in black and white, not unlike The Wizard of Oz (1939).

From my book on Ann's career:  Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star.:

Miss Blyth is fascinating to watch—all the cast are excellent—but she has a lot to convey and make us believe and she has to do this under acting restrictions that the other more emotional and physically expressive characters don’t have. Her character is sheltered, demure, and gentle, all qualities which can only be indicated by her posture, her voice, and disciplined economy of movement. She walks softly, sits and stands with a ramrod-straight back, lowers her eyes at moments of mature discretion, a minimalist way of telling us who she is and what her world is like. Her lovely face melts into a smirk at one of Tyrone’s naïve attempts to “catch on” to this old way of life. She also has intelligence, and a sense of humor, making her the most reasonable and capable member of her family. In trusting Tyrone and his tales of a future world, she is also the most courageous. 

I'll Never Forget You - watch on YouTube

I'll Never Forget You (1951) is a haunting, deeply romantic story of time travel starring Ann Blyth and Tyrone Power.  Its opening and closing segments are filmed in stark black and white echoing scientist Tyrone Power's bleak view of the post-World War II world--but his journey back to the 18th Century and the Age of Enlightenment in England is brought to us in rich and lovely color.  Here Ann Blyth, as a young gentlewoman, is waiting for him.

(Note, the publicity photo above was shot in black and white of what is really a color scene.)

The movie, which has been released on DVD in a Tyrone Power collection is also, at least for the time being, posted on YouTube here.  Have a look at this terrific movie.

For more on I'll Never Forget You, and how it compares to the original Berkeley Square (1933), have a look at my post on Another Old Movie Blog here.