fascinating historical stuff

could you comment on a new film that doesn't seem like it fits with mainstream hollywood of today:

Inglorious Basterds

won't give any spoilers,
but as pro-Jewish films that demonstrate NOT being kind to the cruel, are not that common,
(the last recent one was 'Defiance')
i highly recommend it

I wonder if her father survived to see her success, and whether he took credit for it. Certainly, he could take credit for abdicating his position as an advisor that could have told her that she was entering a profession that exposed her to a group of people among whom an unrestrained, selfish, headlong drive for self indulgence was the rule rather than the exception. Her sister was probably as innocent as she and didn't know what she was getting her into.

James Cagney, may he rest in peace, was also a Shabbos Goy.

Robert, if I may may continue the thought a poster on Big Hollywood had:

"I will have to visit Seraphic Secret again - I always feel good when stopping there".

I know that it isn't easy putting **something** out every day of the week (save your Holy Day) - but this has become a must stop for me - where you remind one of everything from Stars of long ago that should be remembered - and give us their human essence - to "Friday Footwear" where I have learned to identify the legs of all the female members of your family - and extended family - to opinions on the issues of the world.

Plus the ordinary sights of Los Angeles that you find to remind us they are beautiful things to see and behold.

A lot of these stars of long ago - I suspect - would today come up to you and say "thank you" for not only reminding us of their public personae - upon which they built their careers that millions in the past knew - but their inner struggles - of which few outside their family and friends knew.

You honor them as they should be honored.

Whenever you write about famous actors and actresses you also usually write about the troubled unhappy lives they lead. In fact it seems the lives stars led decades ago were even more messed up than the one celebrities lead now. What is it about stars that seemingly makes them incapable of leading normal lives? Do they spend so much time living the lives of others or maintaining illusions for their fans that they can't manage to live in the real world?

Exdem:

Have not seen the film and anyway, I have a policy of not commenting on current films. But I've heard that the film is really good.

Barzilai:

Jessie's father did survive to see her meteoric success. He resented the fact that she no longer spoke with a cockney accent, instead using the King's English. Noel Coward, at one rehearsal, browbeat her into speaking properly. Jessie's father did not shep nachas, but bitterness. Very sad.

Miranda:

Jimmy Cagney was the ultimate Shabbos Goy; he also spoke Yiddish. Really should have included him. Brain hiccup.

Bill:

Thanks so much for the kind words. It means a lot to be on the receiving end of such generosity.

Soccer Dad:

Stars have always and will always lead untidy lives. It goes with the territory. They live in bubbles and have little awareness of what real life is all about. You have no idea how rarefied are the lives of Hollywood people. Sort of like ancient Egyptian royalty who were treated like deities, spent lavishly, married incestuously, and gleefully indulged in patricide, fratricide and homicide.

They had nothing else to keep them occupied.

exdemexlib - Noah Pollka liked it.