Reason #1 - The G-String Song aka Stany Does the Splits
Reason #2 - Lily Powers
If you haven't seen Baby Face (1933), you should go and watch it immediately. It's one of my favourite pre-codes and Stany is absolutely magnificent as the ambitious Lily Powers who sleeps her way to the top.
Reason #3 - Her friendship with Joan Crawford
Reason #4 - Her voice. Her GLORIOUS voice
I chose a clip from The Lady Eve (1942) to showcase her voice because A) it's a fantastic film, B) I couldn't embed the clip I wanted to use (it was her acceptance speech for her honorary Oscar which you can watch here), and C) it was already handily on YouTube! ;D
Reason #5 - Yum Yum
Reason #6 - Her humility and huge heart
The photo above is from the end of her Honorary Oscar acceptance speech. I know I already posted the link above, but I'm doing it again because once you've seen it you will see just how humble, loving, and wonderful she really was.
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Well, there you have 2011's instalment of "6 Reasons I love Stany more than Scarlett thought she loved Ashley". I hope you enjoyed reading, and let me know why you love Stany and what you've done to celebrate her birthday! Ohhh, before I go I just want to share with you all something pretty swell that I was given on my birthday back in April...
Is it amazing or is it amazing?! My Mum asked my cousin, who has a cake making/decorating business, to make it for me. Obviously, my cousin didn't know who Stany was (I wept) so my Mum showed her a copy of the amazing painting by Kate Gabrielle that my parents were giving me for my birthday. I'd asked if I could have a special cake for my 18th birthday because when we were younger, my Mum used to make my brothers and I AMAZING cakes for our birthday pertaining to whatever phase we were going through (cue Mrs. Miniver reference...) but the last few years she's not been able to. I knew I was getting one of my favourite film stars on it, but I wasn't sure which one. I was absolutely thrilled when I saw this :D
Is it amazing or is it amazing?! My Mum asked my cousin, who has a cake making/decorating business, to make it for me. Obviously, my cousin didn't know who Stany was (I wept) so my Mum showed her a copy of the amazing painting by Kate Gabrielle that my parents were giving me for my birthday. I'd asked if I could have a special cake for my 18th birthday because when we were younger, my Mum used to make my brothers and I AMAZING cakes for our birthday pertaining to whatever phase we were going through (cue Mrs. Miniver reference...) but the last few years she's not been able to. I knew I was getting one of my favourite film stars on it, but I wasn't sure which one. I was absolutely thrilled when I saw this :D
My favourite actress first wowed me as Victoria Barkley on "The Big Valley" when I was growing up in the 60s. I was in Heaven when I discovered her movie career by staying up late on school nights to watch old movies on television.
ReplyDeleteHow am I celebrating? A glass of wine, "Remember the Night" in the VCR and a good cry.
I love that photo of Joan and Stany. I didn't know they were friends!
ReplyDeleteThat cake is SO cool!
Wow! Your mum sounds like a star :)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to get a copy of Baby Face - I thought I was a bit of a vintage film know-all, but this one has completely passed me by! Thanks for the tip! Kate x
If I had to explain pre-Code to the proverbial "man from Mars," I would show the (uncensored) "Baby Face." It's hardly the naughtiest or most risque of pre-Codes, but its sensibility distills everything about the genre.
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