The historical action film, Ivanhoe, which was released in 1952 and based on the 1819 novel by Sir Walter Scott, brought the chivalry, romance, and courtliness of Medieval England to the silver screen. The movie featured an ensemble cast, rousing music, and iconic and historic filming locations. Upon its release, Ivanhoe set a new box…
Tag: Hollywood
Smart Girls Rule: College-Educated Actresses in the Golden Age of Hollywood
Today, nearly 40-percent of young women in the United States attend college. During the Golden Age of Hollywood, however, that percentage was much lower. In 1940, for example, only 3.8-percent of women received a college education. A few of those women went on to enjoy successful acting careers. Let’s look at some of the college-educated…
Tallulah Bankhead: The “Wild Woman” of Hollywood’s Golden Age
Tallulah Bankhead was an American actress and celebrity who achieved fame in the early to mid-1900s. She lived during a time in history when gender roles were clearly different for men and women and women were expected to be proper, demure, and conservative. None of those adjectives, however, could be applied to the flamboyant and…
Up in Smoke? Robert Mitchum’s 1948 Marijuana Arrest
Today, public opinion about marijuana use has shifted. Many U.S. states have legalized marijuana or decriminalized it for medicinal or recreational use. During the Golden Age of Hollywood, however, pot was illegal across the country. In general, a person busted for possession faced a three-month jail and a $1000 fine. For a prominent member of…
Swedish Invasion: 6 Nordic Beauties of the Golden Age of Hollywood
Beginning in the 1920s, Hollywood became a mecca for the entertainment business. The major motion picture studios of Hollywood attracted talented actors and actresses from around the globe, all with their hearts set on stardom. Sweden was well-represented. During the Golden Age of Hollywood, several Swedish actresses invaded the American film industry and made their…