The Notebook

Ok, I know "The Notebook" might be over the top sappy for some of you, but I love it. One of the main reasons (among many) I love it, is the gorgeous time period clothing. Rachel McAdams looks simply amazing as a young, rich 40's girl. I read the book many years ago and cried my eyes out. I have since found that Nicholas Sparks is a little too over the top for me, but I still love this movie all the same. The chemistry between Rachel and Ryan Gossling is so hot (maybe because they dated in real life). He is adorable. Here are some fun facts about the film and some pics to show you the costuming. Check it out with a box of kleenex if you've never seen it. Have a great weekend friends!

--Ryan Gosling built the kitchen table featured in the movie in preparation for his role as Noah.

--Ryan Gosling was the director's (Nick Cassavetes) first and only choice for the role of Noah. Before Cassavetes, Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise and Justin Timberlake were also once attached to the project but backed out.

--Background music for the original theatrical trailer for this film featured music from 'Rachel Portman (I)' 's score for The Cider House Rules (1999).

--The "after 7 years Allie and Noah" scenes were shot first and then the crew/cast went on a Christmas break. Ryan Gosling had to lose the beard and 20lbs he'd had as the older Noah and come back to play the young Noah. Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling were rather shy and unsure around each other in the "after 7 years" scenes but were more comfortable together in the young Allie and Noah scenes.

--Other actresses besides Rachel McAdams who are rumored to have been under consideration for the role of Allie included Ashley Judd , Britney Spears and Reese Witherspoon. (yuck! Can you imagine Britney?)

--Ryan Gosling prepared for his role by living in Charleston, South Carolina before filming began. For two months, he rowed the Ashley River in the morning and built furniture during the day.

--It wasn't in the script that Allie would play the piano, but director Nick Cassavetes felt that it was right, for that's what wealthy young ladies of the 1930s-1940s did. Allie's song is 'Frederic Chopin''s Prelude in E minor Opus 28 #4.

--Rachel McAdams auditioned for the role during another movie's premiere. She was given the script just a day in advance. She beat nine other actresses for the role. The scenes used during her audition included the one of Allie's and Noah's argument at the end after Allie and her mother return from their morning drive.

--Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling were both born in London, Ontario, Canada. Walt Whitman , quoted in the classroom scene ("Do I contradict myself?") and other parts of the movie, had a long friendship with 19th century London, Ontario, psychiatrist Dr. Maurice Bucke, which was depicted in the film Beautiful Dreamer (2006) .

--Gena Rowlands, who played older Allie in the movie, is the director's (Nick Cassavetes) mother.

--Ryan Gosling (Young Noah) wore brown eye contacts because James Garner (Old Noah) has brown eyes, and Gosling has blue.

Dita Von Teese

I have mixed feelings about Dita Von Teese. I think she is absolutely gorgeous and represents classic vintage beauty, but don't know if I like the burlesque image she creates for herself. I'm a little torn. I love her style, and she photographs very well. I realized I didn't know much about her, so I did some research and this is what I found:

Von Teese was born Heather Renee Sweet in 1972. Her mother was a manicurist and her father a machinist. She is mostly of Armenian descent, which surprised me. Von Teese is well known for her fascination with 1940s cinema and classic retro style. This began at a young age and was fostered by her mother, who would buy clothes for her daughter to dress up in. Her mother was a fan of old, Golden-era Hollywood films, and it was from her that Von Teese developed a fascination with the actresses of that day, especially Betty Grable.

She was a ballerina, but stopped training at age 15, saying she was as good as she was ever going to be. She now incorporates some of her ballet moves into her burlesque routines.

Her family moved from Michigan to Orange County, CA. where Von Teese attended University High School in Irvine.

Von Teese began her career in a local strip club when she was eighteen. Disappointed with the lack of originality in all the other strippers' acts, Von Teese created a vintage-inspired outfit, with beehive hairstyle and elbow-length gloves coupled with a basque and seamed stockings, piquing the interest of the clientele.

Because of her frequent wear of corsets, she was able to reduce her waist to a size 22", and she can lace it down to about a 16'5". She has posed for playboy 3 times.

Von Teese is best known for her burlesque routines and is frequently dubbed "the Queen of Burlesque" in the press. Von Teese began performing burlesque in 1993 and, as a proponent of New Burlesque, has helped to popularize its revival. In her own words, she "puts the tease back into striptease" with long, elaborate dance shows with props and characters, often inspired by 1930s and 1940s musicals and films.

Her famed beauty mark is not real, but was tattooed on her face. Here are some images of her. Enjoy!

Kristen Stewart

With New Moon coming out on the 20th, I thought I would post some pics of Kristen Stewart. Kristen has been known to be a "little out there," or "not friendly," but there is a timeless quality about her. I don't know if she is a true beauty, but she can look very 40's when she wants to. Check out these gorgeous photos and look at those polka dot pumps! Hope you had a great day off!

Myrna Loy

Myrna Loy was born Myrna Williams to a cattle rancher who died when she was twelve. The family came out to Los Angeles from Montana, where she was educated at Westlake School for Girls. Mrs. Rudolph Valentino discovered Miss Loy. She was often first typecast as Asian characters because of her dark features and smaller eyes. Because of her high pitched voice, she had a hard time transitioning from the silent films to the talkies.

Loy took a hiatus from filmmaking during World War II except for a stint as Nora Charles to devote herself to Red Cross work and selling war bonds.

She became more involved with politics and only acted occasionally from the 1950's through the rest of her life. For five years (1949-54) she served as a film advisor for UNESCO and she served as an advisor to the National Committee Against Discrimination in Housing.

She was married to: Howland H. Sergeant (1951 - 1960) (divorced), Gene Markey (1946 - 1950) (divorced), John Hertz Jr. (1942 - 1944) (divorced) and Arthur Hornblow Jr. (1936 - 1942) (divorced). She received an honorary Academy Award in 1991. Myrna Loy passed away in New York City during surgery on December 14, 1993.

Myrna is yet another true beauty of old Hollywood. Here are some gorgeous shots of her. Enjoy! 

Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr is the newest actress to add to the blog. She was born in 1913 and was one of the most well known actresses of the 1940's. Hedy was absolutely gorgeous from a very young age, and was even known as "the most beautiful woman in film."

Hedy was married six times (yes six!) and had a very interesting personal life. She even drugged her maid to escape one of her husbands in order to come to New York! Hedy signed with Louis B. Mayer of MGM Studios.

She dated silent comedian Charlie Chaplin in 1941, and had flings with Burgess Meredith and several other actors. Lamarr married producer Gene Markey in 1939, divorcing him the following year. For four years she was married to English actor John Loder and had two children by him. Later in life Lamarr was married three more times, to bandleader Teddy Stauffer, Texas oil magnate Howard Lee, and lawyer Lewis Boles. All her marriages ended in divorce. Another man with whom Lamarr may have been romantically involved was composer George Antheil.

There were other scandals also: Lamarr was arrested in 1966 for shoplifting at Macy's department store, but was acquitted. She complained to a columnist that she had once had a $7 million income but by the late 1960s was subsisting on a $48-a-week pension.

She stayed out of the spotlight in her later years, mostly due to poorly done plastic surgery, and died in 2000.

What an interesting woman! Here are some gorgeous shots of Hedy Lamarr. Enjoy! Kori <3