EPISODE 143 -  “GUESS WHO’S NUMBER ONE?: STEVE & NAN RANK TRACY/HEPBURN FILMS” - 6/08/2026 

One of the most dynamic duos in film history is undoubtedly the teaming of SPENCER TRACY and KATHARINE HEPBURN. This chemistry was electric. Over the course of their careers, they appeared in nine films together — covering a wide range of genres. They were in everything from Westerns (“The Sea of Grass”) to film noirs (“Keeper of the Flame”) to what would become their specialty, romantic comedies (“Pat and Mike”). They also appeared in the seminal 1960s social comedy/drama “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” This week, Steve & Nan will do the impossible  — they will attempt to rank the nine films this duo made together. Form worst to best! How will your favorite stack up?

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

Wikipedia.com

TCM.com;

IMDBPro.com;

IBDB.com;

RogerEbert.com

Movies Mentioned:

Woman of the Year (1942), co-staring Fay Banter, Reginald Owen, Minor Watson, William Bendix, Gladys Blake, and Dan Tobin;

Keeper of the Flame (1942), co-staring Richard Whorf, Stephen McNally, Forest Tucker, Howard De Silva, and Margaret Wycherly;

Without Love (1945), co-starring Lucille Ball, Keenan Wynn, Patricia Morison, Felix Bessart, Carl Esmond, and Gloria Grahame;

The Sea of Grass (1947), co-starring Melvyn Douglas, Robert Walker, Phyllis Thaxter, Harry Carey, and Edgar Buchanan;

State of the Union (1948), co-starring Angela Lansbury, Howard Lindsay, Van Johnson, Roger Moore, Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer, Margaret Hamilton, and Charles Lane;

Adam’s Rib (1949), co-starring Judy Holiday, Tom Ewell, David Wayne, Jean Hagen, and Hope Emerson;

Pat and Mike (1952), co-starring Aldo Ray, William Ching, Sammy White, Charles Bronson, Chuck Connors, Phyllis Povah, and Jim Backus;

Desk Set (1957), co-starring Gig Young, Joan Blondell, Dina Merrill, Sue Randall, and Neva Patterson;

Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (1967), co-starring Sidney Poitier, Katharine Houghton, Beah Richard, Roy Glenn, Cecil Kellaway, Isabel Sanford, and Virginia Christine;

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EPISODE 142 -  “LUCILLE BREMER: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” - 6/01/2026 

One of those fascinating “what happened to her?” MGM stories is LUCILLE BREMER. Bremer was an elegant redheaded dancer who MGM clearly thought was going to be their next big musical star after ELEANOR POWELL had stepped away. She had the glamour, the dancing ability, the carriage… she looked like she belonged in Technicolor. However, her career lasted only a few short years, and during that time, she worked with visionary talents like VINCENTE MINNELLI and ARTHUR FREED. She danced with FRED ASTAIRE at the absolute height of his artistry. She appeared in Technicolor spectacles that later generations would rediscover and celebrate. She shone so brightly in films during the 1940s, but then, like a shooting star in the night sky, she just vanished. So just what happened to this talented actress? We’ll find out as we honor LUCILLE BREMER as our June Star of the Month.

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

“Actress Lucille Bremer: From Broadway Lights to La Jolla Shores,” January 17, 2025, by Debbie L. Sklar, Times of San Diego;

Lucille Bremer, 79, Actress and Dancer, April 20, 1996, New York Times;

“Actress Lucille Bremer Marries,” August 5, 1948, The Spokesman-Review;

Life Magazine, March 25, 1946;

“Flight of a ‘Rocket’,” January 7, 1945, Albuquerque Journal;

Wikipedia.com

TCM.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Movies Mentioned:

Penny Arcade (1942), starring Lucille Bremer & Peter Garey;

This Love of Mine (1944), starring Cyd Charisse & Lucille Bremer;

Meet Me In St, Louis (1944), starring Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien, Mary Astor, Leon Ames, Lucille Bremer, Marjorie Main, & Tom Drake;

Yolanda and the Thief (1945), starring Fred Astaire, Lucille Bremer, Frank Morgan, Mildred Natwick & Leon Ames;

Ziegfeld Follies (1945), starring Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Kathryn Grayson, Lucille, Ball, Lucille Bremer, Esther Williams, Red Skelton;

Till The Clouds Go By (1946), starring Judy Garland, June Allyson, Lucille Bremer, Van Heflin, Robert Walker, Van Johnson, Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra, Cyd Charrise, Tony Martin, Dinah Shore, & Angela Lansbury; 

Dark Delusion (1947), starring Lionel Barrymore, James Craig, Lucille Bremer, & Jayne Meadows;

Adventures of Casanova (1948), starring Arturo de Córdova, Lucille Bremer, Turhan Bey & John Sutton; 

Ruthless (1948), starring Zachary Scott, Louis Hayward, Diana Lynn, Sydney Greenstreet, & Lucille Bremer;

Behind Locked Doors (1948); starring Lucille Bremer & Richard Carlson;

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“THE GARDEN OF ALLAH: COCKTAILS, SCANDALS & MISCHIEF” - 5/25/2026 (141)

Once upon a time, there was a magical, decadent hotel in Hollywood where stars could avoid the scrutiny of the public and studio executives and really let their hair down. And, boy, did they! It was a place where there were no rules, there was a party every night, and the rich and famous could frolic carelessly around the pool - and sometimes in the pool, fully dressed. This magical place was the Garden of Allah — the brainchild of actress ALLA NAZIMOVA. This week, we will discuss the magic, the mystery, the decadence, and the debauchery of one of Hollywood’s most famous hotels.

SHOW NOTES:

Sources:

Garden of Allah: Hollywood Homosexual Haven (2020), by Michael Hone;

Laid Back in Hollywood (1998), by Patricia Medina Cotten;

The Garden of Allah (1970), by Sheilah Grahame;

“The Garden of Allah,” by Jon Ponder, WestHollywoodHistory.org;

“The People V. Hill,” Stanford Law School;

“Forgotten Hollywood: The Garden of Allah,” September 22, 2022, by Meher Tatna, GoldenGlobes.com;

“Hedonist Hollywood’s Lost Garden of Allah,” October 13, 2020, by MessyNessy, MessyNessyChic.com;

“Hollywood's Hotel Hedonism: It's one of Tinsel Town's last untold stories...how stars from Sinatra to Olivier, Garbo and Monroe indulged their every vice at a VIP hideaway and clothes were not required!” May 15, 2015, by Tom Leonard, DailyMail.com;

“This Hotel Kept All of Secrets of the Rich and Famous…Until Now,” June 23, 2015, by Kirk Silsbee, Gentleman’s Quarterly;

Wikipedia.com

TCM.com;

IMDBPro.com;

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EPISODE 140 -  “THE GARBO MYSTIQUE: A CONVERSATION WITH HER GREAT NEPHEW” - 5/11/2026 

Scott Reisfield brings a very unique and personal perspective to this episode about GRETA GARBO. As Garbo’s great nephew, he knew his great aunt simply as "Kata," not as the international superstar and mysterious Hollywood actress. Join us as we invite Scott to discuss his new book, "Greta Garbo and the Rise of the Modern Woman," where he debunks many false theories about this illustrious star, and shares what she was really like when the cameras were not rolling. 

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

Greta Garbo and the Rise of the Modern Woman (2026), by Scott Reisfield;

Wikipedia.com

TCM.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Movies Mentioned:

Anna Christie (1930);

Grand Hotel (1932);

Queen Christina (1933);

Anna Karenina (1935);

Camille (1936);

Ninotchka (1939);

Two-Faced Woman (1941);

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EPISODE 139 -  “TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL WRAP UP” - 5/11/2026 

In this episode, hosts Steve and Nan take listeners along to the 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival, where Hollywood history comes alive through restored screenings, celebrity panels, and unforgettable fan moments. Based in the heart of Hollywood at the famed TCL Chinese Theatre, the Egyptian Theatre, and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the pair share stories from the trenches, discuss classic films shown in historic theaters, and reflect on meeting fellow movie lovers from around the world and the extraordinary guests who introduced the films. The episode captures both the nostalgia and excitement of a festival that continues to celebrate the enduring magic of cinema.

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

Wikipedia.com

TCM.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Movies Mentioned:

Out of the Past (1947), starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming, Richard Webb, Virginia Huston, Steve Brodie, Dickie Moore, & Paul Valentine;

The Mouthpiece (1932), starring Warren William, Aline MacMahon, Sidney Fox, John Wray, Ralph Ince, Guy Kibbee, & J. Carrol Naish;

Letty Lynton (1932), starring Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, Nils Asther, May Robson, Louise Closser Hale, & Lewis Stone;

The Patsy (1928), starring Marion Davies, Marie Dressler, Dell Henderson, Orville Caldwell, Jane Winton & Lawrence Gray;

Ace in the Hole (1951), starring Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur, Richard Benedict, Porter Hall, Frank Cady, Geraldine Hall, Ray Teal, Richard Gaines, and Iron Eyes Cody;

Next Time We Love (1936), starring Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Ray Milland, Grant Mitchell, Anna Demetrio, & Hattie McDaniel;

Camille (1936), starring Greta Garbo, Robert Taylor, Lionel Barrymore, Elizabeth Allen, Jessie Ralph, Laura Hope Crews, Henry Daniell, & Rex O’Malley;

Swing Time (1936), starring Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Victor Moore, Helen Broderick, Eric Blore, George Metaxa & Betty Furness;

The Misfits (1951), starring Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, Eli Wallach, Thelma Ritter, Kevin McCarthy & Estelle Winwood;

Stranger on the Third Floor (1940),starring Peter Lorre, John McGuire, Margaret Tallichet, Charles Waldron, & Elisha Cook Jr;

Anastasia (1956), starring Ingrid Bergman, Yul Brynner, Helen Hayes, Jack Hildyard, Martita Hunt, & Akim Tamiroff;

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), starring Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, Harold Russell, Cathy O’Donnell, Virginia Mayo, Hoagy Carmichael, Steve Cochran, Gladys George, Roman Bohnen, & Ray Collins;

Trouble in Paradise (1932), starring Miriam Hopkins, Herbert Marshall, Kay Francis, Charlie Ruggles, Edward Everett Horton, C. Aubrey Smith, Robert Greig, & Luis Alberni;

Cabin in the Sky (1943), starring Ethel Waters, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Lena Horne, Rex Ingram, Kenneth Spencer, Butterfly McQueen, Louie Armstrong, Duke Ellington, John W. Bubbles 

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EPISODE 138 -  “NORMAN LLOYD: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” - 5/4/2026 

Few figures in Hollywood history have had careers as long—or as varied—as NORMAN LLOYD.  Spanning nearly a century, his work bridges the worlds of theater, radio, and film, with collaborations that include legends like CHARLIE CHAPLIN, ALFRED HITCHCOCK and ORSON WELLES. Whether appearing on stage, on screen or shaping stories behind the scenes, Lloyd’s presence has always carried a quiet intensity and sharp intelligence. Join us as we take a closer look at the life and legacy of Norman Lloyd, our Star of the Month — a man who didn’t just witness Hollywood history—he helped create it.  

SHOW NOTES: 

Stages: Norman Lloyd by Norman Lloyd and Francine Parker, The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1990;

Stages: Of Life in Theatre, Film and Television by Norman Lloyd, Limelight, August 1, 2004;

Norman Lloyd Career Retrospective, Legacy Collection, Conversations at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, May 4, 2004; 

Noir City, Post-Screening Q&A with Norman Lloyd, Palm Springs, May 15, 2011;

Shattered Applause: The Lives of Eva Le Gallienne by Robert A Schanke, Dec 9, 1992, Southern Illinois University Press;

Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre, PBS, June 26, 1989;

Norman Lloyd, Associate of Welles, Hitchcock and Others, Dies at 106 by Eric Nagourney, May 11, 2011;

The End of an Era: Norman Lloyd, 1914-2021 by Peter Sobczynski, May 12, 2021;

Norman Lloyd, Star of ‘Saboteur’ and ‘St. Elsewhere,’ Dies at 106, by Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, MAY 11, 2021;

TCM Remembers Norman Lloyd, TCM.com, May 13, 2021;

Wikipedia.com;

IBDB.com

TCM.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Movies Mentioned:

Saboteur (1942) Starring Robert Cummings and Priscilla Lane;

Spellbound (1945) Starring Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck;

The Southerner (1945) Starring Zachary Scott and Betty Field;

A Walk in the Sun (1945) Starring Dana Andrews and Richard Conte;

The Green Years (1946) Starring Charles Coburn and Tom Drake;

A Letter for Evie (1946) Starring Marsha Hunt and John Carroll;

The Beginning or the End (1947) Starring Brian Donlevy and Robert Walker;

The Red Pony (1949) Starring Myrna Loy and Robert Mitchum;

Scene of the Crime (1949) Starring Van Johnson and Arlene Dahl;

The Flame and the Arrow (1950) Starring Burt Lancaster and Virginia Mayo;

Buccaneer’s Girl (1950) Starring Yvonne De Carlo and Philip Friend;

The Light Touch (1951) Starring Stewart Granger and Pier Angeli;

He Ran All the Way (1951) Starring John Garfield and Shelley Winters;

Limelight (1952) Starring Charlie Chaplin and Claire Bloom;

Audrey Rose (1977) Starring Marsha Mason and Anthony Hopkins;

Dead Poets Society (1989) Starring Robin Williams and Robert Sean Leonard;

The Age of Innocence (1993) Starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Michelle Pfeiffer;

In Her Shoes (2005) Starring Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette;

Trainwreck (2015) Starring Amy Schumer and Bill Hader

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EPISODE 137 -  “THE BIG SCREEN ‘I DO’: WEDDINGS IN CLASSIC CINEMA” - 4/27/2026 

Weddings in classic films aren’t just about romance—they’re about timing, tension, and sometimes total chaos. Join us as we step into a world of whirlwind courtships, last-minute doubts, and grand gestures that don’t always go according to plan. From glamorous, music-filled celebrations to sharp, fast-talking battles of love versus ambition, these stories remind us that the walk down the aisle is rarely simple—and often unforgettable. Along the way, we’ll meet couples who fall in love against the odds, relationships that thrive on wit and conflict, and ceremonies that might just spiral into something completely unexpected. Because in classic cinema, a wedding isn’t just an ending—it can be a twist, a turning point, or even a full-on rebellion. So grab your bouquet—real or imaginary—and join us as we explore some of the most iconic, surprising, and delightfully complicated trips to the altar ever put on film.

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

“Wedding March: Double Wedding,” May 24, 2023, by Samantha Glasser, The Columbus Moving Picture Show;

“Woman of the Year: A Woman’s Place,” April 21, 2017, by Stephanie Zacharek, The Criterion Collection

“The Invention of Love: The Palm Beach Story,” by Frank Falisi, BrightWallDarkRoom.com; 

“Here’s to You, Mr. Nichols: The making of The Graduate,” March 2008, by Sam Kashner, Vanity Fair;

Wikipedia.com

TCM.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Movies Mentioned:

Double Wedding (1937), starring William Powell, Myrna Loy, Florence Rice, John Beal, Jessie Ralph, Katherine Alexander, & Donald Meek;

Royal Wedding (1951), starring Fred Astaire, Jane Powell, Peter Lawford, Sarah Churchill, & Keenan Wynn;

The Palm Beach Story (1942), starring Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, Mary Astor, Rudy Vallee, & Sig Arno;

I Was a Male War Bride (1949), starring Cary Grant, Ann Sheridan, Marion Marshall, Randy Stuart, & Kenneth Tobey;

The Graduate (19670, starring Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross, William Daniels,  Elizabeth Wilson, Maury Hamilton, & Buck Henry;

Woman of the Year (1942), starring Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Faye Bainter, Reginald Owen, Minor Watson, & William Bendix;

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“TURNER CLASSIC MOVIE FILM FESTIVAL PREVIEW 2026” - 4/20/2026 (136)

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign is excited to be covering the Turner Classic Movie Film Festival for the third year in a row. The festival is going to be bigger and better than ever, with star appearances by JANE FONDA, CAROL BURNETT, LAURA DERN, ALEXANDER PAYNE, BARBARA HERSHEY, and GLENN CLOSE, who will be receiving her hand and footprints in cement at the TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre.  In this episode, we will discuss what to expect at the festival, and we'll be talking about the films we are most looking forward to seeing for the very first time, and the timeless classics that we get to enjoy as they were meant to be seen -- on the glorious big screen!  

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

Wikipedia.com

TCM.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Movies Mentioned:

Barefoot in the Park (1967), starting Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Mildred Natwick, & Charles Boyer;

Dangerous Liaison (1988), starring Jeremy Irons,Glenn Close, Michelle Pfeiffer, Uma Thurman, Keanu Reeves, & Mildred Natwick;

Letty Lynton (1932), starring Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, & Nils Asther;

Next Time We Love (1936), starring Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, & Ray Milland;

The Mouthpiece (1932), starring Warren William, Sidney Fox, & Aline MacMahon;

Auntie Mame (1958), starring Rosalind Russell, Peggy Cass, Forrest Tucker, Jan Handzlik, Roger Smith, Coral Brown, Pippa Scott, Fred Clark, & Joanna Barnes;

Notorious (1946), starring Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Raines, Leopoldine Konstantin, & Louis Calhern;

Indiscreet (1958), starring Cary Grant & Ingrid Bergman;

All The President’s Men (1976), starring Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Jason Robards, Hal Holbrook, Jane Alexander, Jack Warden, & Meredith Baxter;

Man Hunt (1936), starring Walter Pidgeon, Joan Bennett, George Sanders, John Carradine, & Roddy McDowell;

The Woman in the Window (1944), starring Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, & Dan Duryea;

Scarlet Street (1945), starring Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, & Dan Duryea;

Cabin in the Sky (1943), starring Ethel Waters, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Lena Horn, Louie Armstrong, Rex Ingram, John W. Bubbles, Mantan Moreland, Butterfly McQueen, & Ruby Dandridge;

The Princess Comes Aboard (1936), starring Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, Allison Skipworth, Porter Hall, & William Frawley;

Ace in the Hole (1951) starring Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur, Richard Benedict, Porter hall, Frank Cady, & Geraldine Hall;

Phantom Lady (1944)l starring Ella Raines, Franchot Tone, Alan Curtis, Aurora Miranda, Thomas Gomez, & Elisha Cook, Jr;

Stranger on the Third Floor (1940), starring Peter Lorre, John McGuire, Margaret Tallichet, & Elisha Cook, Jr;

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“BESS FLOWERS & FRANKLYN FARNUM: QUEEN & KING OF THE EXTRAS” - 4/13/2026 (135)

Actors BESS FLOWERS and FRANKLYN FARNUM were absolute legends of the “blink and you’ll miss them” world. They weren’t headliners — in fact, they often were not credited or even noticed, but honestly, that’s what makes them so fascinating—their careers quietly stitched together the fabric of classic cinema. They were Extras. Without them and other extras like them, all those iconic movie moments would feel a lot less alive. Their careers spanned decades and thousands of films. They became, in their own way, silent witnesses to the evolution of Hollywood from the silent era through the golden age and into the modern period. So this week, we’re going to explore the lives and careers of BESS FLOWERS and FRANKLYN FARNUM, examining not only their astonishing productivity but also their unique roles within the Hollywood system. By looking closely at the films in which they can best be seen, we gain a deeper appreciation for their contributions and the overlooked artistry of background performers.

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

“This Actor Was in the Most Best Picture Winners over 1,100 Films, March 5, 2024, by Lloyd Farley, Collider.com;

“Queen of the Extras: The Bess Flowers Story,” January 24, 2018, Neatora.com;

“20 Feet From Movie Stardom: The Overlooked Story of Hollywood’s Greatest Extra,” February 20, 2014, by Scott Feinberg, Vanity Fair;

“Scales of Presence: Bess Flowers and the Hollywood Extra,” 2011, by Will Straw, Screen magazine; 

“Franklyn Farnum Actor, Dies,” July 6, 1961, New York Times;

Wikipedia.com

Playbill.com

TCM.com;

IBDB.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Oscars.org;

Movies Mentioned:

All About Eve (1950)

The Awful Truth (1937)

Torch Song (1953)

The Life of Emile Zola (1936)

Going My Way (1944)

The Lost Weekend (1945)

Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)

The Greatest Show On Earth (1952)

 Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

The Apartment (1960)

Hollywood (1923)

A Woman of Paris (1923)

A Stranger From Somewhere (1916)

The Clock (1917)

The Fighting Grin (1918)

The Desert Rat (1919)

Vanishing Trails (1920) 

 Billy The Kid (1925)

Cleopatra (1934)

Hands Across The Border (1926)

Laddie (1926)

Glenister of the Mounted (1926)

The Jazz Singer (1927)

The Blue Angel (1930)

Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935)

Hop-A -ong Cassidy (1935)

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Gone With the Wind (1939)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Stagecoach (1939)

The Lady Eve (1941)

Meet John Doe (1941)

My Darling Clementine (1946)

I Remember Mama (1948)

A Letter to Three Wives (1949)

The Heiress (1949)

White Christmas (1954)

Guys and Dolls (1955)

The Ten Commandments (1956)

Grand Hotel (1932)

Dinner at Eight (1933)

It Happened One Night (1934)

The Thin Man (1934)

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Double Indemnity (1944)

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) 

A Place in the Sun (1951)

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Rear Window (1954)

Imitation of Life (1959)

The Parent Trap (1961)

4(1998)

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“MAGGIE McNAMARA: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” - 4/06/2026 (134)

The history of Hollywood is filled with stories of actors who experienced meteoric rises and then faded into obscurity just as quickly. Among the most poignant examples of this is the life of MAGGIE McNAMARA, an actress whose career began with remarkable promise but ended in obscurity and tragedy. With her pixie haircut, big doe eyes, lithe frame, and graceful moves, MAGGIE McNAMARA was poised to join the likes of AUDREY HEPBURN and LESLIE CARON as the new stylish gamine that was fashionable in movies in the 1950s. McNamara, who had one of the most auspicious starts in Hollywood history, earning an Academy Award nomination for her very first film, The Moon Is Blue, was a talented, intelligent young woman who had a mind and opinions of her own. And it might have been her strong-willed nature that contributed to her downfall. Join us this week as we discuss her life and career, as we celebrate her as our Star of the Month. 

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

Breaking the Code: Otto Preminger verses Hollywood’s Censors (2022), by Arnie Reisman & Nat Segaloff;

Richard Burton: Prince of Players (2008), by Michael Munn;

Otto Preminger: The Man Who Would Be King (2007), by Foster Hirsh;

Preminger (1977) by Otto Preminger;

“The Ding-A-Ling Girl: the Deceptive Lightness of Maggie’s McNamara,” March 26, 2015, Sister Celluloid;

“Maggie McNamara, Actress, Dies: In ‘Moon Is Blue’ on Stage, Screen,” March 16, 1978, New York Times;

Wikipedia.com;

TCM.com;

IBDB.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Oscars.org;

Movies Mentioned:

The Moon is Blue (1953), starring William Holden, Maggie McNamara, & David Niven;

King of the Khyber Rifles (1953), starring Tyrone Power & Terry Moore;

Three Coins in the Fountain (1954), starring Dorothy McGuire, Jean Peters, Maggie McNamara, Clifton Webb, Louis Jourdan, & Rosano Brazzi;

Prince of Players (1955), starring Richard Burton, Maggie McNamara, John Derek, Raymond Massey & Charles Bickford;

The Cardinal (1963), starring Tom Tyron, John Huston, Romy Scheider, Carol Lynley & Maggie McNamara;

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“BETTE vs MIRIAM: WHEN STARS COLLIDED” - 3/30/2026 (133)

What would Hollywood be without a good, old fashioned rivalry. It’s well documented that BETTE DAVIS and JOAN CRAWFORD were not exactly besties. But did you know that Davis had another rivalry that was even uglier and more intense? That’s right, the rivalry between Davis and her co-star in The Old Maid (1939) and Old Acquaintance (1943) was one for the ages. Completely different in upbringing, temperament, and acting styles, these two grand dames of the silver screen kept the gossip columnists’ tongues wagging with their petty, mean-spirited one-upmanship. And while Davis ended up the victor in the long run, as she had a longer and more successful career, Hopkins could give as good as she could take. This week, we explore the long-standing feud between these two great divas. 

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

Miriam Hopkins: Life and Films of a Hollywood Rebel (2018), by Allan R. Ellenberger;

The Lonely Life, An Autobiography (1962), by Bette Davis;

This’n That, An Autobiography (1987), by Bette Davis with Michael Herskowitz;

“Whatever I Did, I Did: The Obstinate Life of Bette Davis,” November 6, 2020, by Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair;

Wikipedia.com;

TCM.com;

IBDB.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Oscars.org;

Movies Mentioned:

The Old Maid (1939), starring Bette Davis, Miriam Hopkins, George Brent, & Jane Bryan;

Jezebel (1938), starring Bette Davis, Henry Fonda,. George Brent, & fay Bainter;

Dark Victory (1939), starring Bette Davis, George Brent, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Ronald Reagan, & Humphrey Bogart;

All This, and Heaven Too (1940), starring Bette Davis, Charles Boyer, Barbara O’Neil, Jeffrey Lynn, & Virginia Weidler;

The Private Life of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), starring Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Alan Hale, & Vincent Price;

We Are Not Alone (1939), starring Paul Muni & Jane Bryan;

Virginia City (1940), starring Errol Flynn & Miriam Hopkins;

The Little Foxes (1941), starring Bette Davis, Teresa Wright, Herbert Marshall, Patricia Collinge, & Dan Duryea;

The Old Acquaintance (1943), starring Bette Davis & Miriam Hopkins;

The Heiress (1949), starring Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson, & Miriam Hopkins;

The Children’s Hour (1961), starring Shirley MacLaine, Audrey Hepburn, James Garner, Miriam Hopkins, Fay Bainter, Karin Balkin, & Veronica Cartwright;

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