I was watching TCM and, as is their wont, they devoted their entire day to featuring the films of one
star: That day it was Virginia Mayo. Best known for "White Heat" and "The Best Years of Our Lives", she did a ton of other movies.
A lot as a contract player at Warner Brothers, and before that in a bunch of female leads in
Danny Kaye movies at Goldwyn in the forties.
She was one "hot tomato".
She acquitted herself quite well in " White Heat' and "The Best Years of Our Lives", but this day have me the opportunity to give a more thorough evaluation of her career.
She appeared a couple of times with Ronald Reagan.
Both times she was much better than he was.
In the rather dopey "She's Working Her Way Through College", she was pretty good, and Reagan was an absolute stiff. And Gene Nelson did some great hoofing.
In "The Girl From Jones Beach" which was as silly as it sounded, she was pretty good and Reagan was an absolute stiff, attempting to pull off doing foreign accents and fooling nobody.
Getting out of show business was the right move for him.
"The West Point Story"one of the silliest movies ever made, she was Cagney's girlfriend, and Gene Nelson did more great hoofing. I've written about this one before.
"Backfire" was a very entertaining film-noir from 1947 with Dane Clark, and Ed Begley Sr.
Both terrific. Mayo was first rate.
"Painting The Clouds With Sunshine" was a very pleasant musical that took place mostly in
Las Vegas. This one had something that none of the ones had. a great turn by
S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall.
He alone was worth it.
And this also had Gene Nelson doing some great hoofing.
So, she was pretty good, then got too old for the movies, and settled into a lot of guest shots on TV.
I met her once, when I was casting the Pat Carroll role on "She's The Sheriff".
She hadn't aged well, and Pat Carroll was a lot funnier.
But I certainly enjoyed I spent the day watching Virginia Mayo on TCM.. .
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along with newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.,
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Check them out.
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The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not e-books.
But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@comcast.net
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August: Worst month on the TCM calendar (followed closely by February). Or has it simply gone downhill since RO's passing?
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