Ross Hawkins
Is Grapes the Best Film?
On Oct. 4, 1939, John Ford began directing "The Grapes of Wrath” for 20th Century Fox, starring Henry Fonda in the role of Tom Joad, one of many characters that defined his marvelous acting career. Many consider "The Grapes of Wrath" the best film that 20th Century Fox made in its long history. I nominate it for my sixth favorite film of all time.
In 1938, John Ford entered into an extraordinary period of his
career, beginning with "Stagecoach," which pulled John
Wayne out of B Westerns, "Young Mr. Lincoln," "Drums Along the Mohawk," "The Grapes of Wrath" (all three with Henry Fonda), the lyrical "Long Voyage Home" and "How Green Was My Valley."
Film Noir in Palm Springs
It was 120 degrees in the shade in Palm Springs last weekend, and there was very little shade when I drove there to check out the Palm Springs Film Noir Festival/ It ran from June 1-4 at the Camelot Theater, which offers a comfortable 400-seat auditorium in a shopping mall in the center of town.
My friend Marvin Paige is coproducer of this annual festival along with author Arthur Lyons. Marvin has cast many important films over the years, including "Breakfast At Tiffanys," "Planet of The Apes" and "Star Trek — the Motion Picture." For 10 years, he was the casting director for "General Hospital."
I'm not a particular fan of any genre of film. I just like good
movies. "The Maltese Falcon," with Humphrey Bogart, is one of my favorite films. I think it set the style and tone for hundreds of noir films that followed.
My friend Marvin Paige is coproducer of this annual festival along with author Arthur Lyons. Marvin has cast many important films over the years, including "Breakfast At Tiffanys," "Planet of The Apes" and "Star Trek — the Motion Picture." For 10 years, he was the casting director for "General Hospital."
I'm not a particular fan of any genre of film. I just like good
movies. "The Maltese Falcon," with Humphrey Bogart, is one of my favorite films. I think it set the style and tone for hundreds of noir films that followed.
The Fifth-Place Finisher
[Editor’s Note: Film documentarian Ross Hawkins continues the countdown of his one hundred favorite films of a lifetime.]
My fifth most favorite film was “An American in Paris,” released in 1951 by MGM, starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron,. The film
was the surprise winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture,
edging such heavyweights as Elia Kazan's "Streetcar Named
Desire," John Huston's "The African Queen" and George
Stevens' "A Place In The Sun."
"An American In Paris" tells the story of an easygoing American
former G.I. (Kelly) who is an artist living on the Left Bank in Paris
after World War II. A wealthy American woman (Nina Foch)
pursues him, but he rejects her advances because he's
fallen in love with a gamin (Leslie Caron) who is engaged to
a Frenchman, Georges Guetary.
Lions Carnival at Fox Hills
The Culver City Lions Spring Community Carnival, which opened yesterday at the Fox Hills Mall, will continue through Sunday evening, entertaining children of all ages.
Rip-roaring rides, game booths, fun food and a live radio broadcast will highlight the important Lions Club fundraiser. Proceeds from the event pay for professional eye doctors to conduct comprehensive visual exams free of charge to Culver City school children, senior citizen meals, youth and adult scholarships, Youth Health Center funding and more local charities.
“The Westfield Fox Hills Mall has been a great partner with our community,” said Lu Rivas, event chairperson for the Lions Club. “We’re excited about this opportunity for all families to enjoy Mother’s Day weekend.”
Carnival hours are 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, 12 noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and and 12 to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, call Lions Secretary Steve Blumin, 310.281-.124.
The Countdown to a Hundred
(Editor’s Note: Film documentarian has introduced a series covering his favorite one hundred motion pictures of all time.)
John Huston’s adaption of B. Travin's classic tale , "The Treasure of The Sierra Madre" is No. 4 on my list of one hundred. Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston (John's father) and Tim Holt are three prospectors looking for gold in Mexico in 1929.
John Huston won the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Screenplay in 1948 for his adaptation of Traven's tale of greed and the destructive side of human nature. His father, Walter
Huston, won for Best Supporting Actor.
Leave Skateboarders Where They Are
With the permanent location of the new Skateboard Park coming up for one last round of discussion by the City Council on Monday night, community activist Hannie Marlis would like the decision-makers to study her recommendation.
Up to here, says Ms. Marlis, one consideration never has been reviewed.
Leaving the Skateboard Park where it is in Culver City Park.
Last Saturday afternoon, at the hour of city commissioner Jeff Cooper’s protest picnic in the park to argue against the present plan — in the grassy area — a group of young boys was skateboarding in the alternative, or paved, area.
Here Is My No. 3 Choice
(One of a historical motion picture series about the documentarian’s favorite films, a project dedicated to The Other Hollywood — Culver City, Santa Monica, Venice, West L.A.)
In one of my earlier columns (Jan.10), I said I was going to list my own personal one hundred favorite films. I wrote my reasons for selecting "It's A Wonderful Life" and "The Yearling" as my two favorite films, both made in 1946.
My third choice is the classic "Third Man," directed by Carol Reed in 1949, starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Vali, Orson Welles and Trevor Howard. It was co-produced by Alexander Korda and David O. Selznick. This was Selznick's last film before he folded his Culver City production offices and went to
Ben Hurs Role in the Birth of an Empire
(One in a series about Hollywood’s bygone days.)
I didn’t see the movie, but I read the book.
"Ben Hur" was made into a movie three times. The first version was unauthorized, filmed ‘way back in 1907. The second version was begun in 1923 by the Goldwyn Company in Italy after Samuel Goldwyn was booted out of the company.
Joseph Godsel, the man who engineered Goldwyn's exit from the
Studio, obtained the rights to the book and long-running theatrical spectacle for the Goldwyn Company. The company decided to film the massive epic in Italy when Mussolini was the dictator, and costs skyrocketed.
The Other Hollywood
In my next few columns, I'm going to list My Twenty-Five Favorite Movies of all time. Please note that I'm not calling them the Twenty-Five Greatest Films of all time. I happen to think that any Best list is arbitrary.
The American Film Institute has its list of Hundred Greatest Films greatest films, and
each year all film critics break out their own Ten Best Films lists.
In Mary Pickford’s Time
For many years, the home at 10865 Pickford Way was known as the Mary Pickford House. Mxs. Pickford never lived there. But, according to eighty-seven-year-old Betty Lehman, her uncle, Col. William H. Evans, who built the house, named it the Mary Pickford House because he was a great fan of hers. He also named the street, "Fairbanks Way" because he was a fan of Douglas Fairbanks Sr.
