Vertigo

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

November 3, 2017 by Robert J. Avrech 11 Comments

“The ladder of success in Hollywood is usually agent, actor, director, producer, leading man. And you are a star if you sleep with them in that order. Crude but true.”
—Hedy Lamarr

Friday Photos: Everything But the Kitchen Sink

May 8, 2015 by Robert J. Avrech 8 Comments

“I’VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF GREAT GLAMOROUS GIRLS IN MOVIES AND THE THEATER. AND I’LL ADMIT, I’VE OFTEN THOUGHT IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO BE A FEMME FATALE. BUT THEN I’D ALWAYS COME BACK TO THINKING THAT IF THEY ONLY HAD WHAT I’VE HAD - A FAMILY, REAL LOVE, AN ANCHOR - THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH HAPPIER DURING ALL THE HOURS WHEN THE MARQUEES AND THE FLOODLIGHTS ARE DARK.” Eve Arden — “I’ve worked with a lot of great glamorous girls in movies and the theater. And I’ll admit, I’ve often thought it would be wonderful to be a femme fatale. But then I’d always come back to thinking that if they only had what I’ve had — a family, real love, an anchor — they would have been so much happier during all the hours when the marquees and the floodlights are dark.”
— Eve Arden

Baltimore. Garland, Texas. Iran. Yemen. ObamaCare. Iraq. Syria. Shia. Sunni. Clinton Cash. IslamoNazis. IRS. Benghazi. Lois Lerner. Thug. Federal Deficit. Islamic State. Hillary. Server. Delete 30,000 emails. War on police. Minimum wage. Mohammed cartoons. Racist. Transgender. Income inequality. BDS. Beheadings. Chemical weapons. Iranian nukes…

How about some pictures to help set aside—at least for a few precious minutes—the age of Obama.

Friday Photos: Totally Random

November 8, 2013 by Robert J. Avrech 9 Comments

Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart in publicity still for Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece, “Rear Window.” — Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart in a publicity still for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 masterpiece, Rear Window.

Usually, we publish photos that have a central theme.

Not today.

We’re feeling a bit scattered. Perhaps we’re spooked by ObamaCare, by what’s happening to this country. We are watching a national calamity unfold in slow motion, and we are helpless to stop it.

In any case, here are a few photos, most taken by yours truly, with an iPhone.

Valley of the Modest Dolls

September 25, 2013 by Robert J. Avrech 10 Comments

Tippi Hedrin was a model before Hitchcock summoned her to Hollywood to star in “The Birds.” — Tippi Hedrin was a model before Hitchcock summoned her to Hollywood to star in *The Birds* (’63).

Seraphic Secret likes to follow trends in fashion. Our mission is to ignore the slutwear that parades as cutting edge design and focus instead on beautifully tailored outfits that are both flattering, ladylike, and modest.

As always, we do not highlight pant suits; they are a crime against femininity.

We are happy to report that the most interesting trend for Spring RTW ’14 is a flashback to the classic feminine silhouette with lots of color and lovely patterns.

The best outfits are a welcome reprise of the feminine 50s, featuring the crisp glamour of Grace Kelly, Kim Novak, Tippi Hedrin, Eva Marie Saint and Brigitte Bardot.

Twenty Greatest Movies of the 1950s: Vertigo

April 11, 2013 by Robert J. Avrech 31 Comments

Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak in Vertigo, 1958.

We continue our survey of the twenty greatest movies of the 1950s.

For the Twenty Greatest Movies of the 1940s, click here.

For a listing of the greatest movies of the 20s and 30s click here.

18. Vertigo, 1958

In 1962, Sight & Sound magazine, a British publication, launched a ten-yearly poll to evaluate the top ten films of all time among critics. Every year the top film of all time has been Citizen Kane, 1941.

Which tells you more about the film elites than about Orson Welles’ technically marvelous, if shallow and boring movie.

This year, the Sight & Sound poll came in with a new winner: Vertigo.