The Skinny -- My Hero!

Today was a super-duper special day for us Blackbird girls because it was Iron Man 3 day.  We've been clutching our tickets for weeks now, and tonight's viewing (it was awesome, BTW) will be the first of many.  After it was over, we did our normal breakdown of what we thought of the movie -- trust me, if you heard it, you wouldn't have understood it; we have our own weird nerdy language when it comes to Mr. Downey's work -- and naturally, we compared it to the previous films.  

So later, I started thinking about superhero movies, and wondering how did they get to be such huge, multimillion dollar franchises?  How did this start?  What are the links between reading classic comic books and watching your favorite characters come to life?

The very first appearance of a superhero comic book character on film is in Adventures of Captain Marvel, released in 1941.  Made by Republic Films, it was a twelve chapter serial based on the Captain Marvel comic book.  Superman was supposed to be the first, but things just didn't work out.  Tom Tyler starred as Captain Marvel, and the films were directed by John English and William Witney.

More recognizable heroes followed Captain Marvel.  Batman was made into a fifteen chapter serial by Columbia Pictures in 1943, starring Lewis Wilson as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Douglas Croft as Richard Grayson/Robin.  These Batman serials debuted story details that became part of the hero's canon.  The serials introduced the Bat Cave with its secret entrance, and also altered Alfred Pennyworth's appearance, taking him from the overweight butler in the comics to the trim, sophisticated Alfred we now know.  These changes were so important, they were carried through into the comics themselves. The Batman serials were a success, and they paved the way for another set of serials, Batman and Robin, in 1949, starring Robert Lowery and Johnny Duncan.  They were re-released in 1965 as An Evening with Batman and Robin. Their success in the mid-1960s then inspired the campy Batman TV series we all know and love, starring Adam West and Burt Ward.

The first theatrical release of a Marvel superhero is also the most expensively made serial series, Captain America.  Released in 1944 by Republic Films, it starred Dick Purcell as Captain America.  It really didn't follow the Captain America storyline, as the main hero was not ripped American soldier Steve Rogers, but a pudgy district attorney named Grant Gardner.  He also did not have his iconic shield, did not fight Nazis, did not have his revolver, and his sidekick, Bucky, was nowhere to be found.  Really, it was pretty much a letdown.

And of course, in 1948, we have the first film appearance of Superman.  Made by Columbia Pictures, Superman was a 15 part serial in black and white, with animated fight sequences.  Yes, that's right.   Animated fight sequences.  They just didn't have the budget for anything else.  It stars Kirk Alyn as Clark Kent, who, funnily enough, was uncredited for his work, except on the movie posters.  A odd bit of trivia is that because of the mix of animated and live-action footage, Superman's take-offs in flight are almost always shown in the foreground, but his landings always end behind things, like cars or rocks.  The transition was easier from live-action to animated in the take-off than it was in the landing, coming from animation back to live-action. So because of the need to hide Superman's landings, he often lands too far away from the action, and must run to catch up with the villain. 

Alas, after the decline of the serials, we had to wait until the late 1970s for the next wave of comic superhero films.  But it's OK.  I think we've got enough now to make up for the time gap.  Just keep the Iron Man and The Avengers coming.  We'll be the first in line.
 

The Skinny -- Eve Arden and Cover Girl

Who, me?

We Blackbird girls watch a lot of classic films. Robert Osborne is our hero. We live for technicolor, and die for black and white.  It's not uncommon for one of us to mutter to the other some obscure line from an old movie -- to the confusion of the people around us.  There was a time when, out of curiosity, I asked everyone I came across to tell me where the line, "Moses supposes his toeses are roses, but Moses supposes erroneously," comes from.  And then I was shocked when no one knew.  It's "Singin' in the Rain," people!  Isn't that required viewing?

Alas, no.  I thought people were just born with an appreciation for Gene Kelly movies, but they're not.  So therefore, I sometimes feel like I'm privy to a wonderful secret weapon -- an endless chain of inspiration and ideas.  And I'll share it with you, dear readers.  Beyond the wonderful acting and storytelling, classic movies' sets and costuming are chock full of ideas for the taking.  Want to decorate your house? Want to see some amazing clothing?  Just turn the TV to TCM and leave it there.

So, speaking of Gene Kelly movies, how many of you have seen "Cover Girl?"  Yeah, yeah, Rita Hayworth is gorgeous.  Gene is as sexy as he ever is as Danny McGuire...maybe even more than usual.  But who do we talk about?  Eve Arden.  Know her?  Of course, you do -- you know her as the principal of Rydell High in "Grease."  But when we think of Eve Arden we think of two movies -- "Stage Door" (fab movie, too, with Lucille Ball, Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, and Ann Miller) and "Cover Girl".

Yeah, I know I'm the shizzle.

Eve Arden's career was wide-ranging, from movies to radio to theater to television, and spanned almost 60 years. She played the title roles in "Hello, Dolly" and "Auntie Mame" on the stage, and had many movie roles, like "Grease", "At the Circus" (with Groucho Marx), and "Mildred Pierce" (for which she was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar).  Her largest body of work was for "Our Miss Brooks", a radio program from 1948 to 1957, a feature film in 1956, and a television program from 1952 to 1956, about a teacher.  She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame -- one for radio and one for television.

Let's get back to "Cover Girl", though.  Made in 1944, Arden plays Cornelia "Stonewall" Jackson, assistant to magazine publisher, John Coudair.  Coudair sees Rusty (Rita) at Danny's (Gene's) nightclub, and remembers his long ago love for her grandmother, Maribelle (also Rita).  Drama ensues.  Cornelia perfectly captures the character of the often put-upon, ill-used, overworked assistant with a witty comeback for everything.  Personally, I think she steals every scene she's in -- if it's not her zingers, it's her FABULOUS wardrobe. Designed by Travis Banton, Muriel King, and Gwen Wakeling, all of the costumes in this movie are crazy awesome. But Cornelia's costumes, combined with her amazing accessories, are our favorites.  Brooches, hats, large Lucite ball buttons (be still my heart!), bracelets, and color.  Lots of color.

Yay, Eve!

That's how I think of Eve Arden.  Colorful.  Bold.  With her signature voice (think deep, raspy), and her smart-ass comebacks, she puts the "character" in "character actor".  She may be a background character, but she's memorable.  And she's got the personality to carry off the costumes.  I mean, it takes quite the lady to pull off those hats in the movie -- and not just anyone can wear three large brooches and a chunky bracelet and those huge ball buttons on her jacket!

I need those Lucite balls!

So, if you haven't seen it, you should.  Put it on your calendar -- I checked, and it's coming on Turner Classic Movies on April 7th, at 1:30 pm.  We'll be watching it...

Notice the matching buttons, bowtie, and hat.  <swoon>

John Coudair:  What would you do if your youth should walk in that door?
Cornelia "Stonewall" Jackson:  I'd put braces on its teeth.

You've never seen "Cover Girl"???

I need another brooch!!

They should pay me more...