tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post2875608081770539387..comments2024-01-24T01:27:11.111-05:00Comments on Café Muscato: Maisie is a StarMuscatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04657061324487851341noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-89314575242072971122013-01-23T12:02:41.892-05:002013-01-23T12:02:41.892-05:00How terribly flattering, Bill, to think that one h...How terribly flattering, Bill, to think that one has been discussed <i>chez vous</i>!<br /><br />And I, too, have to confess to a touch now and then of Sothern-Blondell confusion. I even though about comparing the two (Blondell having had, <i>Grease</i> aside, a generally less active later career, among other things). Two great ladies, that's certain.Muscatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04657061324487851341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-84620927590997198402013-01-23T11:57:41.097-05:002013-01-23T11:57:41.097-05:00Brava, to the ladies that just did the work and di...Brava, to the ladies that just did the work and did it well. They may not have the lasting fame of some of those with messy, dramatic personal lives, but there's a lot to be said for concentrating on being a working actress instead of a movie star.<br /><br />I often find myself watching Taylor, Monroe, Turner, Hayworth, Kelly, even Hepburn, and other Big Lady Stars, through the prism of their fame and personal travails. More and more I watch the B ladies of whom I know little and discover wonderful work from really solid actresses.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851297819829806798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-42645928574660544032013-01-23T11:37:02.065-05:002013-01-23T11:37:02.065-05:00Felix, I still sometimes confuse them. As we sat ...Felix, I still sometimes confuse them. As we sat on the sofa last night with our iPads, my husband asked, "What are you doing?" <br /><br />To which I replied, "Reading Muscato's take on Ann Sothern."<br /><br />"Who?"<br /><br />"Ann Sothern, an actress from decades ago. You wouldn't know her. Oh, wait, yes you will. She was the Burger Palace waitress in Grease. No! No, she wasn't. Never mind."Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851297819829806798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-18179635670295474682013-01-22T22:48:50.738-05:002013-01-22T22:48:50.738-05:00"furbelows", thank god for you Muscato!
..."furbelows", thank god for you Muscato!<br /><br />I have to confess a bit of a troubled past between me and Miss Southern. When I was very young I always confused her and Joan Blondell. Once I got them sorted out in my mind, I fell in love with Blondell and (unfairly, I'm afraid) judged Southern for having caused all that confusion.<br /><br />But years pass, we grow, we learn. And what with Maisie, '3 Wives', and Whales (and now thanks to you and Peter) I feel a strong and renewed affection. Thank you.Philip Mershonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05641146738422887485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-73615601671971201142013-01-22T21:59:11.160-05:002013-01-22T21:59:11.160-05:00I recently saw a couple of the Maisies, including ...I recently saw a couple of the Maisies, including the one with Maureen O'Sullivan as an insipid heiress. Way and away, Sothern was the best thing in them, as she was in Lady in a Cage, even if she didn't get to stab James Caan with a knitting needle. She probably wanted to. I know I have, often.mrpeeneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361948301941861890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-37102279966379421262013-01-22T21:20:17.546-05:002013-01-22T21:20:17.546-05:00You're right that is a wonderful interview! Al...You're right that is a wonderful interview! Always adored Ann Sothern she's terrific in everything. Haven't seen all the Maisies but the ones I have are fun if obviously formulaic. She's sensational in A Letter to Three Wives, she and Kirk Douglas spark well off each other even in his atypical part. My favorite section of that film is the Linda Darnell/Paul Douglas face off but Ann's is a close second. I had the misfortune to see that travesty of a TV remake, the less said the better. Another favorite of her films is the WWII morale booster Cry Havoc with the heavenly cast of Ann, Margaret Sullavan, Joan Blondell, Fay Bainter, Connie Gilchrist, Marsha Hunt and other fab actresses. It's rather grim but what a chance to see so many great women assembled together.joel65913https://www.blogger.com/profile/14526657073681774683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-80603841872231850162013-01-22T14:20:09.964-05:002013-01-22T14:20:09.964-05:00born harriet lake, raised in minneapolis.
one of ...born harriet lake, raised in minneapolis.<br /><br />one of the large lakes in the city IS harriet lake!<br /><br />i think of annie whenever i drive by it.normadesmondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17325110017442011627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-88627022055826326672013-01-22T13:59:16.994-05:002013-01-22T13:59:16.994-05:00What fun! I'm glad you're a fan, too, Pete...What fun! I'm glad you're a fan, too, Peter.<br /><br />I know she generally prefers a simpler line, but perhaps you might think about embellishing one of your late '30s McCall-pattern frocks into a Maisie-style confection for Cousin Cathy!Muscatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04657061324487851341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-75134653735847224072013-01-22T13:56:51.195-05:002013-01-22T13:56:51.195-05:00The lady (unfortunately) seems to have passed me b...The lady (unfortunately) seems to have passed me by completely (apart from some wonderful photographs of her from her early career). I love finding new divas. JxJonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-9009963061457916552013-01-22T13:11:54.633-05:002013-01-22T13:11:54.633-05:00I happen to be huge Ann Sothern fan, and have most...I happen to be huge Ann Sothern fan, and have most of her Maisie movies on a bootleg DVD, as well as all her Maisie radio shows. It's hard to believe, but she even starred in the original stage version of Gershwins' "Of Thee I Sing." She really could do it all. I've always thought of her a working class Claudette Colbert -- same great timing, self-possession, but perhaps even more versatile (though CC could sing too). I think I read somewhere that Lucille Ball considered her the funniest person in show business. <br /><br />I also have both the DVD and CD of a TV production of "Lady in the Dark" she did in the early Fifties (she was already rotund) and she's fabulous in it. She sounds great on it. You can hear clips from it on Amazon:<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Dark-Down-Valley-Television/dp/B0009MI80I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358878271&sr=8-1&keywords=lady+in+the+dark+ann+southernPeter Lappinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109154527996679077noreply@blogger.com