………….According to an Instagram post, this painting appeared in a small village called Tornabous in the province of Lleida in Spain. Haven’t been able to find out any more about it.

(Irene Dunne, Charles  Boyer. LOVE AFFAIR.)

EXTRA: Thanks to Bob, We now know this painting in 2019 is by Spanish urban artist, Mon Devane who was commissioned by the Flotats family to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Flotats Cinema which opened in 1945.

(I’ve queried with the artist why the 1939 film was chosen.)

EXTRA NOTE! As Bob has pointed out, “ Love Affair” was the first film screened when the Flotats cinema opened in 1945.

The title in Spain – “YOU AND I “.

 

…………..Yes, that’s MacDonald Carey to the right of Paulette Goddard, John  Lund. In  “Bride of Vengeance” (1949).

Goddard and Carey play sister and brother Lucretia and Cesare Borgia. Lund is an Italian prince.
Directed by Mitchell Leisen, Ray Milland went on suspension at Paramount rather than play the Lund role.

The film flopped at the box office though there are some fans in the blogosphere. Has anyone seen it?

I liked the advertising:   “She swore to Love, Honor….and Murder the man she married!

 

 

Paulette and MacDonald were in two other films, “Suddenly it’s Spring” and “Hazard”.

And here’s MacDonald Carey as I remember him.

For nearly thirty years, MacDonald Carey starred in the U.S. daytime soap, “The Days of Our Lives.”
And he was in “SHADOW OF A DOUBT”, as the detective after ‘Uncle Charlie’(Joseph Cotten).

 

…………..The Pixilated Sisters.

I came across a poster for the film “Danger, Love at Work” and was intrigued to see in the supporting cast, “The Pixilated Sisters” ( Margaret McWade and Margaret Seddon).

Turns out these two actresses, Margaret McWade (1872-1956) and Margaret Seddon (1872-1968) were the same two ladies who accused Gary Cooper of being ‘pixilated’ in “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town”.

As the two eccentric sisters, ‘Jane’ and ‘Amy’, they admit that everyone in Mandrake Falls is pixilated – except themselves!

(The word ‘pixilated’ is a variant of ‘pixie-led’ –  led astray by the pixies!)

Both the actresses were vaudevillians who teamed up as ‘The Pixilated Sisters’ , a comedy act in the early part of the twentieth century.  Both ended up in Hollywood in the silent era and were active for several decades in supporting roles.
After ‘Mr. Deeds Goes To Town” in  1936 , they were reunited the following year for “Danger ,Love at Work” as ‘Aunt Patty’ and ‘Aunt Pitty’, members of a screwball family ( similar to “You Cant  Take it With You”).

”DANGER, LOVE AT WORK” looks fun with a good cast. And it’s on You Tube. Here’s the title number sung by Ann Sothern and Jack Haley.

 

 

…………Leon Ames (1903-1993) is probably best remembered for playing the father in MEET ME IN ST.LOUIS.

 

 

I read recently that Leon and his wife Christine went through a terrible ordeal in 1964 when a man knocked at their door and drew a gun, demanding $50,000 .

Leon owned several car dealerships and called his business partner asking him to bring the money to his house.

During a four hour ordeal, the gunman made threats to kill Leon’s wife. When the money arrived, the intruder took Mrs. Ames and the business partner hostage and drove off in the Ames car – having bound up Leon.

Fortunately, Ames’ business associate had contacted the police while getting the $50,000 from the bank. The police found the car and freed the hostages.

Leon Ames was in show business for 50 years. An MGM contract in the 1940s gave him wider recognition.

He played the William Powell role (as Clarence  Day) in a TV version of LIFE WITH FATHER ( with Lurene Tuttle as his wife). It ran from 1953 to 1955.

Pat Hitchcock played the family maid.

Leon had appeared in the Broadway play, GUEST IN THE HOUSE. When it was filmed, Ralph Bellamy played his part.

 

A young Leon Ames in MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE (1933).

 

 

 

……………Cary Grant will be the subject of a new four part television series called “ARCHIE” (Cary’s real name – ‘Archie Leach’) and starring Jason Isaacs as the legendary actor. The series is written by Jeff Pope (who wrote PHILOMENA and STAN AND OLLIE.)

Cary’s daughter Jennifer and his ex-wife Dyan Cannon were both interviewed by Pope and have given their approval .

The series will cover Cary’s formative years in his home town, Bristol, interspersed with scenes from his life in 1961 when he meets Dyan Cannon

The Bristol Post newspaper expressed disappointment that the show won’t be filmed in the city.

Jeff Pope commented that because of budget issues: ,”I’m slightly ashamed to admit Liverpool is going to double for Bristol.”

Further casting is yet to be announced but the series will premiere in 2023 on ITV’s new (free) streaming service, ITVX  and on BritBox in America.