Fay Wray: The Undisputed Scream Queen of Classic Cinema 24 Nov 2023 10:30 PM (last year)
In the golden era of Hollywood, certain stars shone brighter than others, and among them was Fay Wray, a name synonymous with beauty, talent, and an unforgettable scream. Let’s delve into the life and career of the woman who became the ultimate “Scream Queen” of classic cinema.
Early Life and Career Beginnings:
Fay Wray was born on September 15, 1907, in Alberta, Canada, and raised in Los Angeles. Her early foray into acting began at the tender age of 16, and she quickly gained attention for her natural talent and striking beauty.
Breakthrough Role in “King Kong” (1933):
While Fay Wray appeared in numerous films throughout the 1920s and early 1930s, it was her iconic role as Ann Darrow in “King Kong” that catapulted her to stardom. The 1933 classic, directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, showcased Wray’s vulnerability and strength as she faced the gigantic, stop-motion animated gorilla on Skull Island.
The Scream Heard ‘Round the World:
Fay Wray’s scream in “King Kong” is legendary. It’s a scream that reverberates through the annals of cinematic history, a perfect blend of terror and helplessness that defined the essence of the scream queen archetype. Wray’s ability to convey raw emotion contributed significantly to the film’s success.
Prolific Career and Versatility:
Beyond her scream queen status, Fay Wray demonstrated remarkable versatility in her career. She effortlessly transitioned from dramas to comedies and thrillers. Her filmography includes titles like “The Most Dangerous Game” (1932), “Doctor X” (1932), and “The Mystery of the Wax Museum” (1933).
Post-“King Kong” Career:
While “King Kong” left an indelible mark on her career, Fay Wray continued to work in film and television for several decades. She took a hiatus from Hollywood during the 1940s but returned to the screen in the 1950s and 1960s, showcasing her enduring talent.
Legacy and Impact:
Fay Wray’s legacy extends beyond her status as a scream queen. She was a pioneer in the early days of Hollywood, navigating the transition from silent films to talkies with grace. Her contributions to the horror genre and her ability to capture audiences with a single scream cemented her as a cinematic icon.
Later Years and Recognition:
In her later years, Fay Wray received well-deserved recognition for her contributions to film. She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1988. Wray passed away on August 8, 2004, leaving behind a cinematic legacy that continues to captivate and inspire new generations of film enthusiasts.
Fay Wray’s life and career are a testament to the enduring power of cinema. From her early days as a promising young actress to her iconic role in “King Kong” and beyond, Wray’s impact on the film industry is undeniable. The scream queen will forever be remembered as the woman who faced the mighty Kong and, in doing so, etched her name into the pantheon of Hollywood legends.
Image source 1 – Fay Wray and Joel McCrea from the movie The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
Image source 2 – Fay Wray in King Kong
Image source 3 – Poster for The Sea God
10 (More) Things You Didn’t Know About Cary Grant 22 Nov 2023 10:18 AM (last year)
- Archibald Leach: Cary Grant was born Archibald Alexander Leach on January 18, 1904, in Horfield, Bristol, England. His transformation into the suave and sophisticated Cary Grant was a conscious effort to escape a difficult childhood marked by poverty and family issues.
- Acrobatic Skills: Before becoming an actor, Grant was a skilled acrobat. He honed his physical prowess as a performer with the Bob Pender Troupe, a British vaudeville group. This background in acrobatics later contributed to his ease with physical comedy in films.
- Becoming an American: Despite his British origins, Cary Grant became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1942. He was deeply committed to his adopted country and played an active role in supporting the U.S. during World War II.
- Career-Defining Hitchcock Collaborations: Grant’s collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock in films like “Suspicion” (1941), “Notorious” (1946), and “North by Northwest” (1959) became iconic. Interestingly, Grant was initially hesitant to take on suspenseful roles but became one of Hitchcock’s favorite leading men.
- Rejected James Bond Role: Cary Grant was considered for the role of James Bond in the early 1960s. However, he turned down the offer, feeling he was too old for the part. The role eventually went to Sean Connery.
- Multiple Marriages: Grant was married five times. His wives included actress Virginia Cherrill, heiress Barbara Hutton, and actress Dyan Cannon. Despite the number of marriages, Grant often spoke warmly about his ex-wives, maintaining amicable relationships.
- Invention of “Cary Grant”: Grant carefully crafted his on-screen persona, which became synonymous with charm, wit, and elegance. He once famously said, “I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until, finally, I became that person. Or he became me.”
- Philanthropy: Beyond his Hollywood career, Grant was actively involved in philanthropy. He served on the boards of various organizations, including the Hollywood Cricket Club, and was a strong advocate for the United Service Organizations (USO).
- Retirement and Return: Grant retired from acting in 1966 after making “Walk, Don’t Run.” However, he came out of retirement in 1980 to receive an honorary Oscar for his achievements in the film industry. This marked his last public appearance before his death in 1986.
- Legacy: Cary Grant’s legacy endures not only through his films but also through the Cary Grant Film Society, established to preserve and celebrate his contributions to cinema. His influence on the art of acting and on-screen style continues to inspire generations of actors and filmmakers.
Image source
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1940s Fads: Indoor Sunbathing 3 Aug 2021 12:05 AM (4 years ago)
The 1940s was a time when no one gave much thought to sunscreen and you could happily chain-smoke cigarettes and drink cocktails while you tanned, without so much as a thought to the health consequences. In 1948 the Senator Hotel in Atlantic City installed sunlamps in the ceilings so its patrons could tan, even when there was snow on the ground outside.
You have to wonder how the bar staff managed to work a full shift under tanning UV light without getting burnt to a crisp!
Image source: http://images.google.com/hosted/life/4f88258811c81651.html
1940s Summer Underwear 25 Jul 2016 7:04 AM (9 years ago)
Before the structure and corsetry of the 1950s was the softer silhouette of the 1940s. These photos are from a fashion feature on summer underwear from 1949, aren’t they beautiful?
Image source and copyright: TIME LIFE archive
Louise Brooks: From Dancer to Showgirl to Scandalous Flapper Icon 6 Jun 2016 2:13 AM (9 years ago)
Louise Brooks with her sharply bobbed hair is one of the most iconic figures of 1920s cinema and epitomized the rebellious modern woman of the time. She started off her career as a chorus girl and dancer in 1922, and by 1925 was a dancer for Ziegfeld’s Follies. It was as a Follies girl that she was spotted by Paramount Pictures. At this time she was also spotted by Charlie Chaplin and the two of them embarked upon a love affair.
She was instantly recognizable for her trademark bobbed haircut which sparked a trend copied by bright young things everywhere. Brooks didn’t just make movies in America. After working for Paramount pictures she moved to Europe (where she supposedly had a one-night-stand with Greta Garbo) and where she made her 3 most well known movies. On her return to America her career was on the decline after being unofficially blacklisted by the major Hollywood studios.
During her 10 year movie career Louise Brooks starred 25 movies (17 silent films and 8 talkies) before retiring in 1935.
Image source and copyright: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, Some rights reserved
1950s Hand Drawn Dresses by Hermes 25 Apr 2016 8:13 AM (9 years ago)
I don’t know very much about these fashions, except that they were captioned ‘Hermes Dresses, 1952’. I love the idea of all the detail being drawn on, although I’m not sure they would look quite this fabulous in real life rather than on super-glamorous 50s models!
Does anyone know anything about the back-story to these pictures?
Photo source and copyright: Time LIFE archives
Iconic Wedding Dresses #10: Princess Anne 21 Apr 2016 1:02 AM (9 years ago)
When Princess Anne married Mark Phillips in November 1973 at Westminster Abbey, she wore a Tudor-inspired dress with a real 1970s flavour. Who would have guessed those two styles would be a good combination..? With it’s high neckline and long draped medieval sleeves, it was elegant and simple in comparison to other highly-embellished royal wedding gowns.
The dress was designed by Maureen Baker (who designed for the Susan Small brand, a favourite of Princess Anne). What do you think of this dress? Compare it to other royal wedding dresses in my Pinterest gallery below and let me know what you think. Whether you love or hate it, it certainly was perfect for the time, and I think she looked fantastic!
Follow We Heart Vintage’s board Royal Wedding Dresses on Pinterest.
Air Hostess Training in the 1940s 29 Mar 2016 1:47 AM (9 years ago)
Photos taken at the McConnell Air Hostess School which trained air hostesses for TWA in the 1940s. The training included learning the correct way to serve drinks, dealing with inebriated passengers and even learning how to change nappies (did Air Hostesses used to do that?). Even more surprisingly they are also pictured having chewing gum to ‘reduce that double chin’, having their posture checked, doing the conga and having a bubble bath. You can’t say they wouldn’t have been prepared for anything!
Image source and copyright: Time LIFE archives
Miss Lovely Legs 1949 16 Mar 2016 12:59 AM (9 years ago)
Curious photos from a Beautiful Legs Contest from 1949. The pictures raise lots of questions in my mind – aside from why you’d want to enter a ‘beautiful legs contest’ in the first place.
Why is one of the women wearing a different swimsuit to the others? Did they have to make the swimsuits themselves? All of the swimsuits seem to be slightly different cuts and styles even though they’re made from the same fabric. Was it part of the competition that you had to show off your sewing skills by wearing a home-made swimsuit (a bit like that episode of Dukes of Hazard when Daisy Duke entered a beauty pageant and re-built an engine (or something) as her talent).
It’s also a bit creepy that the girls are all wearing masks, although it’s a great improvement on other contests I’ve seen pictures of where the girls are literally in drawstring bags from head to bottom with just their legs sticking out.
From the pictures I would guess that number 24 won with numbers 1 and 32 the runners up. Thoughts anyone..?
Image source and copyright: Time LIFE Archive
Disneyland in the 1950s 7 Mar 2016 2:31 AM (9 years ago)
You must have heard people say that the 1950s was a time of simpler pleasures, and these pictures of Disneyland in the 50s show that perfectly. This was a much more low-tech world of stagecoaches and steam paddle boats and serious people riding on carousel horses wearing suits (if these pictures are anything to go by). My how things have changed!
Disneyland in the 1950s
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Image source and copyright: Time LIFE archives.