A HOLLYWOOD LOVE AFFAIR

There have been many noteworthy Hollywood love affairs throughout the years, but few as memorable nor as tragic as that of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard.

Gable, “The King”, was an indisputable heartthrob in 1936, the year he met Lombard at a Hollywood party.  At 35, he was married to his second wife when he became smitten with the striking Lombard, who was seven years his junior and divorced from actor William Powell.  The chemistry between the two was mutual and grew even stronger once Gable was divorced.

Often described as devilishly handsome (in the 1938 film, Broadway Melody, a 14 year old Judy Garland memorably crooned the song, You Made Me Love You to a framed photo of Gable,) he was the man every woman wanted to be with and every man wanted to be.  He was a man’s man.  For her part, Lombard, blonde and leggy, starred in numerous screwball comedies and had that unique combination of sexiness and a wicked sense of humor.  It’s been said that she swore like a sailor and was known to play practical jokes whenever she had the opportunity.  By all accounts she was adored by film crews.

In January 1942, while returning from a tour to sell war bonds, the TWA DC-3 in which Lombard had been flying, crashed into Mt. Potosi, Nevada.  She and Gable had not yet been married three years when her plane went down. 

When Clark Gable arrived on the scene, he had to be physically restrained from climbing the snowcapped mountain in an attempt to rescue his wife.  His efforts would have been fruitless since all twenty-two passengers abroad, including Lombard’s mother, had died in the crash.

Gable sat on a stool at the nearby Pioneer Saloon, in Goodsprings, drinking whiskey and smoking cigar after cigar as he waited to hear the fate of his wife.  On a recent trip to Las Vegas, I visited the saloon, which was built in 1913, and is the oldest in So. Nevada. I looked at photos on display as I walked through a “memory room” that has been created to honor Gable and Lombard.

Friends claimed that Clark Gable was never the same after suffering this loss and in fact, when he died of a heart attack in 1961, his fifth wife had him buried in Los Angeles’ Forest Lawn, next to Carole Lombard, the love of his life.

Some love affairs are based in myth and some become the prototype to which others aspire.  Gable and Lombard’s love affair was the latter.

Ready to take a short quiz?  Can you correctly match up the famous relationships below?  Scroll down for the answers when you’re done.

THE MEN                                                         THE WOMEN

1.      Bogart                                                       a.  Woodward

2.      Reynolds                                                   b.  Tandy

3.      Wayne                                                       c.  McGraw

4.      Russell                                                       d. Gardner

5.      Cronyn                                                       e. Hepburn

6.      Pitt                                                             f. Radner

7.      Smith                                                         g. Bacall

8.      Arnaz                                                         h. Jolie

9.      Sinatra                                                       i.  Taylor

10.  McQueen                                                  j.  Davis

11.  Tracy                                                         k. Russell

12.  Newman                                                    l.  Hawn

13.  Merrill                                                       m.Pinkett

14.  Wilder                                                       n. Field

15.  Burton                                                       o. Ball

Hope everyone enjoys a great weekend (I'll be working hard on editing the second draft of my latest novel.)  Whatever you do have fun and stay safe.

And thanks for reading Rhodes Less Traveled (by the way, if you haven't already signed up to follow my blogs, please do.)  Vivian 

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FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD: A MOVIE REVIEW

Admittedly, I have never been a particular fan of author, Thomas Hardy, having been forced to read his works when I was a college student. That having been said, I find the story Far From the Madding Crowd, set in Victorian England, to be more compelling than others by Hardy.

            Briefly, it is the portrait of a proud and headstrong young woman, Bathsheba Everdene (Carrie Mulligan), who finds herself, thanks to a deceased uncle, the recipient of a rather huge inheritance.  Her lifestyle naturally changes, though her determination to be independent of men remains the same.  Throughout the film, Bathsheba attracts three suitors: Gabriel Oak, (Mathias Shoenaerts) a steadfast sheep farmer, Frank Troy (Tom Sturridge) a reckless sergeant, and William Boldwood (Michael Sheen) a prosperous and eligible bachelor. Her attractions and her involvement with all three of these men basically comprise the core of the movie.

            This adaptation by director, Thomas Vinterberg, differs somewhat from the classic 1967 film which starred Julie Christie and Alan Bates.  For one thing, Christie as Bathsheba had more of an ethereal presence where Everdene’s Bathsheba is decidedly more earthly.  It is always difficult to try to compete with a film that many consider a classic, but I think this was a good attempt.  While some have questioned the casting of Belgium actor, Shoenaerts, I found his acting to be quite effective.  Regardless of one’s preference for the 1967 film or the 2015 film, Hardy’s message still comes through, that of a woman trying to balance her desire for independence with emotions over which she sometimes seems not to be in control.

            The pacing of the film, however, is slow and geared more to women who favor period pieces such as this. (To be fair, when I saw the film in the movie theater there were two men in the audience – though they both appeared to be accompanying their wives.)

            Still, if you’re a fan of Pride and Prejudice and Downton Abbey, then Far From the Madding Crowd might very well be your gently brewed cup of tea.

Out of five bags of popcorns, I’d give it three bags.

Thanks for reading Rhodes Less Travel and feel free to follow me on twitter @VivianWrites 

Have a nice weekend, Vivian

MAD MEN: WHY WE LOVED IT SO MUCH

Jon Hamm as Don Draper on Mad Men (Courtesy of Flavorwire.com)

Just hearing the opening theme on Sunday night gave me, and millions of other viewers of Mad Men a tremendous feeling of satisfaction.  For 7 seasons (it premiered on AMC in July 2007 and had its final episode in May 2015) we followed the trials and tribulations of Peggy, Roger, Pete, Joan, Betty, and of course, Don Draper, played by Jon Hamm. 

The music evoked an era, as did the visuals. It should come as no surprise that Matthew Weiner, the creator, admits to having been greatly influenced by Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, in terms of production values.

Cary Grant as Roger Thorndike in Hitchcock's "North by Northwest"

Don, the fictional creative director of Sterling Cooper (the original agency before it was transformed by partnerships, take-overs, etc.) was the quintessential, uber advertising executive of the 1960’s – at least on paper.  An extraordinarily handsome womanizer, he was a genius in wooing both clients and a multitude of woman with charm and something intangible, possibly mystique. And Don was mysterious.  In fact, the basis of his character was the idea that for years no one knew much about the man with a secretive past and Don liked it that way.  

Don was classy and true to himself (it is interesting to note that while other male characters adapted to fashion trends throughout the run of the series, Don never changed his style) and even when we hated what he was doing, we found ourselves rooting for him.  Besides, his relationship with his daughter, Sally, always seemed to redeem him in our eyes.

Because of the superb writing and excellent acting, none of the characters were portrayed as cardboard figures.  They were flawed.  We loved them one week and hated them the next, or vice versa.  Peggy could be naïve, but stubborn.  Joan could use her sexiness to her advantage, but also lament being labeled as such.  Pete could be callous but also sensitive.  Betty, Don’s first wife, was cold at times, but the audience was usually made to see things from her perspective. My personal favorite was Roger (John Slattery) whose delivery of lines hit the mark, week after week.

Aside from the characters themselves, viewers enjoyed having a mirror set up, reflecting the era of the sixties.  For those of us who lived through the Kennedy assassination, the bee hive hairdos, the turmoil of the Civil Rights and Women’s’ movements, it was a chance to remember all of these in context.  For those too young to recall any of it, it was a fascinating history lesson.  This was particularly so when examining a period when people smoked like chimneys, drank like fish, and said things that were outrageously “un-P.C.”

Mad Men was a unique series and its storylines took us on unexpected, thrilling journeys.  I will miss it.

Thank you Matthew Weiner for a wonderful ride.

 And thank you all for reading my blog on Rhodes Less Followed today.  You can follow me on Twitter at @VivianWrites

Have a nice weekend, Vivian

5 FLIGHTS UP: A MOVIE REVIEW

            Since I have begun to blog again I thought I would include the occasional film review.  My criteria for what makes for a good film is this: Does it work for its genre, regardless of whether that genre is a favorite of mine? Does it clear up unanswered questions at the end?  Do the production values (cinematography, music, casting, etc.) enhance the movie? Does it tell a good story?  In other words, how much money a film pulls in, while it is sometimes the case, is not necessarily a barometer of how good that movie is.  So here goes--

              

            In the past few years there have been an abundance of films too obviously designed to attract the aging baby boomer audience.  Most of these have been propelled by predictable story plots and clichéd dialogue.  5 FLIGHTS UP  targets this same audience, but with greater success possibly due to its engaging stars (MORGAN FREEMAN and DIANE KEATON) and the fact that it was based on a novel: Heroic Measures by Jill Ciment.      

Helmed by British director, Richard Loncraine, 5 FLIGHTS UP tells the story of Alex and Ruth Carver, a Brooklyn couple who have been happily married for forty years.  Having lived in the same 2 bedroom apartment for all of their married lives, they are cajoled by Ruth’s aggressive real estate agent niece, Lily, (CYNTHIA NIXON) to take advantage of a booming real estate market and to put their apartment up for sale.  With the money made on a sale, they could afford to purchase a more modern apartment - one with an elevator - something worth considering now that they are in their “sunset years.”

Though Alex would much prefer remaining in his home, the money is tempting since living in New York City is expensive and they are by no means rich. Ruth is a retired teacher and though he has been a somewhat successful artist, sales of Alex’s work have diminished over the years. In addition to this, their beloved dog, DOROTHY, has to undergo some very expensive surgery.

Though the story is a good one, some of the perspective buyers who invade the Carvers’ home tend to be stereotypes of the “typical” New Yorker:  The abrasive yuppie whose cell phone is glued to his ear, the lesbian couple and their dog, the “lookie-loo” woman who visits all the open houses simply because she’s nosy.  In all fairness, these characters might have been more developed in the novel.  Unfortunately, because of time restraints, it is often necessary to offer up quickie versions of characters who then frequently come across as caricatures. 

The other element that seemed forced was a subplot of a hunt for a suspected bomb -wielding terrorist.  Apparently, the hunt was resulting in gridlock on the Williamsburg Bridge, something that could ostensibly hurt the open house.  It seemed that the true purpose of the subplot was to open up the set.  Most shots were those of interiors of the various apartments; the manhunt being aired on various televisions throughout the film, served to bring in the outside world.  The media’s supposed rush to judgment also made somewhat of a political statement, but this was very subtle.

The strength of this movie is in the depiction of a married couple, devoted to one another, despite having faced challenges throughout the years (they are a bi-racial couple who married at a time when it was illegal to do so in many states and they also had to deal with Ruth’s devastation at learning she was infertile.) 

 The casting of Freeman and Keaton is what makes 5 FLIGHTS UP well worth seeing if for no other reason than for the warmth they emanate and the remarkable chemistry they share.

Out of a possible 5 bags of popcorn, I’d give it 3 ½ bags.

Thanks for reading Rhodes Less Traveled. Feel free to follow me on twitter @VivianWrites

Have a good week, Vivian

PAYING HOMAGE TO WRITER MAEVE BINCHY

                I’ve always felt that reading a story written by the Irish author, Maeve Binchy, was like sitting in front of a fire on a rainy afternoon, enjoying a home-made bowl of soup.  The comfort she provided in her books was incomparable.

                I had been reading her novels and short stories for years before I actually had the privilege of getting to know the woman herself.  When I was losing my husband, Rick, to cancer nearly ten years ago my world was shattering and I anticipated needing all the comfort I could get.  Something compelled me to write to Maeve.  I explained that though I’d purchased a copy of her latest book, I planned on putting off reading it.  I thought that I’d leave it for a time down the line when I needed even more comfort.

                I never expected a response to my letter but one day I found a postcard from her in my mailbox.  She had written to tell me how sorry she was for what I was going through and that began a correspondence that continued for many years.  When I mentioned to Maeve that I was a writer, she asked me to send her copies of what I’d written.  I sent her a copy of my first novel, Groomed for Murder (GFM is presently available as an e-book but at that time it was not.)

                After Rick passed away Maeve sent me a copy of her play, Deeply Regretted By, which she felt would resonate with me.  It was excellent as was all her work.  When my sister and I visited Ireland in 2006, I thought I’d be able to meet Maeve in person but unfortunately neither of our schedules allowed for that to happen.

                Maeve Binchy was beloved to her readers, a national treasure in Ireland and deservedly so. Her books were translated into 37 languages and she sold upwards of 40 million copies worldwide. Maeve’s earlier novels, like Light a Penny Candle , dealt with small-town Ireland but as Ireland changed and became more sophisticated, her stories reflected that change.  Her characters were all well developed and sometimes flawed but always real.  And the endings to her books were always, always satisfying.

                Two of her books were turned into films: Tara Road and Circle of Friends.  If you’ve never read one of her novels, I highly recommend that you start now.

                Maeve was devoted to Gordon Snell, her husband of many years, and though she suffered from health problems as she got older, by her own account she had a rich, rewarding life. 

                I’m glad to have called her my friend.

                On another note…this is the first blog I’ve posted in a while because I’ve been busy with other writing but I intend to do so more frequently now.  I am in the process of editing (with the incredible assistance of my daughter, Allie) the second draft of a new suspense novel I’ve written and will be blogging to let you know how it is progressing.

                Thank you for following me on RHODES LESS TRAVELED

                Vivian