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While I absolutely abhor the practice of colorizing black and white films (a fad that has happily died), I have to admit that I am utterly fascinated with the colorization of black and white portraits of film stars. As I poke through cyberspace always looking for the right photo to accompany a blog read more

I am hoping that someday a movie will be made about the life of Clara Bow. Not a trashy version based on scandals, but an insightful depiction of a life filled with enough tragedy and heartbreak to give those Greeks a run for their money. God knows this poor woman was exploited  enough in her l read more

Ann Dvorak is one of my favorite actresses. Not a star of the magnitude of Barbara Stanwyck or Joan Crawford or her Warner Brothers team mate, Bette Davis, she certainly deserves more than the usual “who”” or “I don’t know anything about her” that are the usual re read more

This post is my entry in the What a Character Blogathon, sponsored by Once Upon a Screen, Outspoken & Freckled, and Paula's Cinema Club. Click on the links to these super blogs to read more about all of those marvelous characters that make the movies great! There are not many 100% true stat read more

No – this is not a post about the Beatles. It’s about the wonder and magic and endlessly enchanting internal journey that is my love of film. It’s why I write this blog – to give voice to and share that private and personal world of living stories in the dark. Watching read more

Oh joy! I have a beautiful new book on my coffee table! Vivien Leigh: An Intimate Portrait by Kendra Bean is not a comprehensive biography of the actress. For that, you should refer to Anne Edwards' excellent biography published in 1977. Kendra's book focuses on Leigh's career as an actres read more

Welcome to 2013 - a year of scandals at A Person in the Dark. Yes, I love movies, but I confess I am a sucker for those juicy Hollywood scandals of old. October's scandal: Clara Bow and the Hired Help The irresistible Clara Bow The troubled life of Clara Bow is legendary. Behind the v read more

While not exactly Hollywood, New York City can puff out its chest when it comes to iconic movie sites and proudly call itself the most filmed city in the world.  As both a tribute and an education, Turner Classic Movies and On Location Tours is offering a 3-hour tour (yes, a 3-hour tour) e read more

The results are in! Enjoy and thanks to all who played along! JAN MINER: JOHN WAYNE and ELIZABETH TAYLOR were asked to host the Oscars. They thought this would be a good idea to promote their new film called "THE BOISTEROUS LAMPSHADE.” As hosts, were asked to do a musical number together read more

I love to play word games and I am hoping you will join me! Mad Libs was a word game I loved as a kid. I am asking all readers to send me the requested word types listed below to help me complete my Movie Star Mad Libs story. Just note your choices in the comment space and I will publish your sto read more

Some stories are so perfectly symmetrical you just have to sit back in amazement and feel that the universe is truly some magical Rubiks Cube. I am blessed to live in a location that affords me the opportunity to see silent films on the big screen with live accompaniment (usually by the there read more

Don't you just hate it when an artist's work is judged by the personal life of the artist? Doesn't it just irk you if someone declares their dislike based upon an artist's  love life, family life or political affiliation? Well, it really bugs me, and here are three of my pet peev read more

Imagine if Blanche DuBois was married to Bernie Madoff and you have an idea of the flavor of Woody Allen's latest film, "Blue Jasmine." As the story of Jasmine French (a scorching performance by Cate Blanchett) unfolds, you can't help but immediately think of Ruth Madoff, the elegant, suffering read more

Welcome to 2013 - a year of scandals at A Person in the Dark. Yes, I love movies, but I confess I am a sucker for those juicy Hollywood scandals of old. August's scandal: The Death of Paul Bern When 21 year old blonde bombshell Jean Harlow wed 42 year old MGM producer Paul Bern in 19 read more

Orson Welles: hmmm.... well, as I read "My Lunches With Orson: Conversations Between Henry Jaglom and Orson Welles" I liked him, admired him, didn't like him so much, was charmed by him, felt sorry for him, was awed by him and amused by him. In real life, Orson had much better table manners Ed read more

This is my contribution to the Barbara Stanwyck blogathon hosted by Aubyn at The Girl With the White Parasol. Click here to see the many tributes laid at the feet of the great Missy. I don't "do" diapers! Barbara Stanwyck was the greatest movie actress. Period. Maybe not the greatest film actres read more

John Gilbert's ex-wife Leatrice Joy compared him to mercury, but he was never swift enough to outrun his demons. In "John Gilbert: Last of the Silent Film Stars," Eve Golden gives us story of a great star whose fall was legendary. The story of John Gilbert, in some form or another, has always b read more

Say what you want about our Joan, she knows how to throw a party. When it comes to being a hostess, Joan leaves nothing to chance. And because she's a patriotic gal, she wouldn't dream of letting Independence Day go by without a swell shindig at her place with all of her good friends (and you, read more

I hate to cook. I love the idea of cooking, but I confess, my oven is used for storage and I'd be lost without a microwave. Brooks cooks: Do you honestly think Louise knew her way around the kitchen? But since I love to eat, I really do appreciate the skill and creativity that tales place in the read more

Housewife (1934) Sadly, this advertisement is more interesting than the film. "Housewife," a Warner Brothers factory product of 1934, is pretty much a stinker (but not, as Bette Davis referred to it years later, "a horror"). Bette probably hated it because her part, as the vampish bachelor-career read more