But, as usual, his post is about much more than that. Here's an extract from the section on Gable and Lombard:
A proud American patriot—alive today, she would geld Michael Moore—Lombard was one of the first Hollywood actors to barnstorm the country selling war bonds. Tragically, her plane crashed in a rainstorm over her home state of Indiana in 1942. She was 33 years-old. In a brief phone conversation before her fatal flight, Lombard's last words to Gable were,“You better get yourself into this man's army.” Gable, guilty, grief-stricken, and—sigh—drinking heavily, enlisted in the Air Force and though he was far too old, flew several combat missions. Hitler, a man who understood the value of star power, put a million dollar bounty on Gable's head.
Very few major movie stars would even THINK about signing up with the military these days, like Gable and others did (e.g., James Stewart).
ReplyDeleteThe only one that I'm aware is Bruce Willis.
Yet one mark against Hollywood.
Slight change into the present
ReplyDelete"Yet one MORE mark against Hollywood."
ReplyDeleteSheesh!
"Gable's back and Garson's got him!"
ReplyDeleteAh, the stars of that era. Lombard was pure class.
ReplyDeleteCan't you hear Gable, "Frankly, Mr. Hitler, I don't give a damn."
Two of my Aunts worked at 20th Century Fox, so between them and my Dad, I heard a few stories. One babysat Darryl Zanick Jr. Dad told better ones though. He used to talk with Shirley Temple on the phone. Got Errol Flyn out of a paternity suit. Barfed on Betty Grable's car. Was at the Zanick house for dinner. Jimmy Durante was there.
Deborah Leigh
Many younger Americans (and their followers around the world) seem to think that the world is just a multi-ethnic playground of the Eloi. For them the 'real' enemy is a few of their fellow Americans, even imaginary ones. The 'loyal patriotic' ones now support Al Gore etc.
ReplyDeletePrevious generations of Americans were still in touch with the harsh realities of life.
Hollywood reflects this.
At some point everything changed. I wish I knew what so we can change it back.
Hmm. The Hollywood of the past, with its citizen soldiers, glamorous women who were also patriotic and smart, rough and tumble adults who didn't expect anyone to give them anything they couldn't get for themselves?
ReplyDeleteOr the Hollywood of today, represented by that illustrious Vatican Assassin from Mars, Charlie Sheen?
Compare and contrast.
Deborah: You're now our resident celebrity (by proxy, at least).
ReplyDeleteI am in awe of anyone who got to talk to Shirley Temple.
ReplyDeleteI worship the carbon footprint the Algore wafts around on.
ReplyDeleteYou really want any of these bozos in the military? Problematic about just who they would fire on since they have a slight problem with product identification.
They can take point, Yojimbo, to set off the land mines.
ReplyDeleteNow THAT would be an effective use of resources on so many levels!:)
ReplyDelete