Author: Aurora

...classic film fan, blogger, obsessive who enjoys referring to herself in the third person. By day she works in higher ed. administration and teaches mass/social media. By night she watches movies.

“Le voyage dans la lune” de Georges Méliès

Georges Méliès‘ LE VOYAGE DANS LA LUNE (A Trip to the Moon), was released today in 1902.  Special presentation in honor.

A Trip to the Moon is one of the earliest known science fiction films. A segment near the end was animated, making this one of the first animated films, too. (IMDB)

Although no official credits are included, Georges Méliès left a record in a 1930 letter with cast and crew credits. Ballet girls from the Théâtre du Châtelet portrayed the stars while the Selenites were portrayed by acrobats from the Folies Bergère. (IMDB)

D.W. Griffith said about Melies, “I owe him everything.”

Charles Chaplin said he was “the alchemist of light.”

 

Worthy of special note as this landmark film celebrates its 111th anniversary:  Turner Classic Movies (TCM) begins an historic series today, The Story of Film: An Odyssey – a 15-episode documentary directed and narrated by Mark Cousins.  Individual episodes of the documentary will be presented on Mondays each week followed by a line-up of feature films related to each episode.  The entire festival, which runs through December, is dedicated to over 100 years of world film history, as The Story of Film covers, and will include 119 movies from 29 countries, many of them TCM premieres.

Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN (OTR)

Today would have been the birthday of one of the most influential authors who ever lived, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.

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In tribute I post a few of the shorter radio adaptations of her perennial classic, FRANKENSTEIN.

“Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.” 

Radio ad for James Whale‘s 1931 classic, FRANKENSTEIN:

“…learn from my miseries, and do not seek to increase your own.”  

A classic radio, “Favorite Story” episode featuring, “Frankenstein” chosen by Fred Allen.

Frankenstein: Old Time Radio Classics starring George Edwards

Suspense radio adaptation of FRANKENSTEIN starring Herbert Marshall

A long version that stays true to Shelley’s masterwork – LibriVox recording of Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley.
Read by Caden Vaughn Clegg.

“Listen to me, Frankenstein. You accuse me of murder; and yet you would, with a satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature. Oh, praise the eternal justice of man!” 

 

Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca and Notorious (OTR)

I celebrate what would have been the birthday of one of the most beloved stars of the silver screen with radio performances to be enjoyed for the ages.  It’s Ingrid Bergman day on Once Upon a Screen with special adaptations of CASABLANCA and NOTORIOUS.

“I’ve never sought success in order to get fame and money; it’s the talent and the passion that count in success.”

Lady Esther Presents The Screen Guild Players’ adaptation of “Casablanca” from April 26, 1943 starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid.

 

CASABLANCA

 

From January 26, 1948 Ingrid Bergman stars alongside Joseph Cotten in a Lux Radio Theater adaptation of “Notorious.”

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“I was the shyest human ever invented, but I had a lion inside me that wouldn’t shut up.”

Portraits of a tough Irishwoman – Maureen O’Hara

“Above all else, deep in my soul, I’m a tough Irishwoman.”

“She is a woman who speaks her mind and that impressed me, despite my old-fashion chauvinistic ways! She is feminine and beautiful, but there is something about her that makes her more like a man. It’s her stubbornness and her willingness to stand up to anyone — even John Ford.” – John Wayne

Because of her talent, beauty and yes, because she played with the big boys and gave as good as she got – this is for Maureen O’Hara in celebration of her 95th birthday on August 17.  We love you – Big Red!

“I had always been a tomboy – I still am, at heart.”

“There’s only one woman who has been my friend over the years and by that I mean a real friend, like a man would be. That woman is Maureen O’Hara. She’s big, lusty, and absolutely marvelous definitely my kind of woman. She’s a great guy. I’ve had many friends and I prefer the company of men. Except for Maureen O’Hara.” – John Wayne

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE:  Maureen O’Hara

“How could you have had such a wonderful life as me if there wasn’t a God directing?”