Classic Hollywood MTC Podcasts

A selection of tales about the careers and lives of Classic Hollywood Movie Stars and other ad hoc subjects of the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's.

Gig Young 2 The Very Unhappy Second Lead 03/13/2024

Gig Young 2 The Very Unhappy Second Lead Tall, handsome and debonair on the outside looking in, Gig Young was a talented and successful actor, who found much success on film, tv and stage, throughout the 40s,50s, and 60s. He worked for all the key studios, including Warner Brothers, MGM, and Columbia, and appeared in many classic movies, including The Three Musketeers with Gene Kelly, Lust for Gold with Ida Lapino and Glen Ford, and Teachers Pet with Doris Day and Clark Gable. The quality and variety of his work was such that he acquired many nominations and awards. But from the inside looking out, Gig was a troubled and deeply insecure man. While many would have enjoyed the kind of success Gig experienced in Hollywood, Gig the product of a troubled childhood, suffered from regular bouts of despondency, depression, alcoholism and fear, due mainly to his constant concern that he was always cast as the second lead, the guy who always lost the girl, and not the guy who won the girl and thereby was the star. His anxiety driven attitude scuppered his mental health, his marriages and his career and ultimatley led to the end of his life in the most horrendous of circumstances. In this episode of CHMTC , Mrs Classic Film Fan will tell the story of the life and career of of Gig Young a classic Hollywood tragedy. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/30355663

Maureen O Hara The Irish Queen of Technicolor 02/09/2024

Maureen O Hara The Irish Queen of Technicolor In the second of this 2 part series on Hollywood Red Heads, this episode tells the story of Maureen O Hara, one of the most beautiful, athletic, and talented film actresses that ever graced Hollywood film. Born to a well to do family in southern Ireland, and a fierce Irish and American patriot, Maureen speedily rose up the film ladder, appearing in melodramas, westerns, musicals and adventure movies, many of which are viewed as some of the greatest Hollywood films ever made. Dubbed the Queen of Technicolor, she was and remains the quintessential female counter to John Wayne, their film partnership forever viewed as the symbol of what perfect chemistry between a male and lead female actor could be in the movies. As well as appearing opposite John Wayne, she fronted movies with many of the great male leads of the studio era, including Tyrone Power and Errol Flynn and was directed by many of the great directors, including the mercurial John Ford, who would have a major impact on her personal and professional life. But like so many of the great stars of yester year she would suffer greatly for her art, enduring 2 awful husbands, much sexism, unwarranted gossip, and commercial skulldugery, which sometimes hampered her career. This episode of CHMTC tells the story of the trials and tribulations of Maureen O Hara, one of Hollywoods hardworking and greatest actresses, who despite all that was thrown at her on a professional and personal level, forged a great career and found personal happiness. ENJOY!!! /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/29839558

Greer Garson: The Hollywood and very British War Hero and Star 01/09/2024

Greer Garson: The Hollywood and very British War Hero and Star Greer Garson was one of the most successful British actresses of the classic Hollywood studio era. She was attractive, intelligent, hard working and talented. She appeared in some of the best and most memorable Hollywood films ever made, including movies which inspired and strengthened the British and American War effort during World War II. But Ms Garson's road to success was not an easy one. Throughout her life and career, she battled mutiple health scares, anorexia, and troubled marriages, as well as studio bosses and the occaisional leading man, who resented her need to produce quality performances, or were simply keen to confine her to conveying a prim and proper image. This episode, which marks the return after 3 long years of CHMTC and Mrs Classic Film Fan, tells the story of the life and career of a grand theatre and film actress, who beat all the competition around her and managed to leave Hollywood a star and in one piece-unlike so many others. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/26076906

CHMTC Mini Episode 6 12/02/2020

CHMTC Mini Episode 6 Mrs Classic Film Fans latest reviews of 2 great biographical film books, including the latest Scot Eyman biography on the late, great Cary Grant. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/17034086

CHMTC Mini Episode 5 06/07/2020

CHMTC Mini Episode 5 A podcast about the lives and careers of the great Hollywood studio movie stars of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/14727971

Jerry Lewis The Comedy Auteur 05/09/2020

Jerry Lewis The Comedy Auteur Episode 19 of the Film & TV podcast Classic Hollywood MTC, on the prolific life and career of the late great Jerry Lewis. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/14349146

CHMTC Mini Episode 4 Update 06/05/2019

CHMTC Mini Episode 4 Update This mini CHMTC episode gives a quick update on the new and upcoming episode of CHMTC and the launch of my new history focused podcast, called Is It Cos Im from Croydon? /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/10057193

Tab Hunter The Movie Star who lived a double life 01/30/2019

Tab Hunter The Movie Star who lived a double life A telling of the life and career, of the recently departed 1950s heart throb and movie star Tab Hunter. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/8459873

CHMTC Mini-Episode 3 09/17/2018

CHMTC Mini-Episode 3 As promised this is brief episode about some of the sources I used to put the last 2 CHMTC episodes together. Also included in these notes are some of the links I mention via which you can access the sources metioned about these great stars. I have also found a great new podcast which can be accessed via Itunes and other avenues. You might want to give that a listen while you are waiting for the next CHMTC episode, which will be on the late, great and recently deceased Tab Hunter, who represented the next generation of Hollywood beefcake. Below the links mentioned in this episode: Official John Wayne Website The link to the infamous 1971 Playboy interview: /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/7051683

Sterling Hayden The Hollywood Sailor 09/09/2018

Sterling Hayden The Hollywood Sailor Many film stars tell us that they are just ordinary people, who don't care about money, fame or possessions, but yet they go on living in their many luxury homes, riding in their fancy cars and accumulating tonnes of money, in their search for more and more acclaim and the rewards that go with it. Sterling Hayden, was a Hollywood movie star, who spoke his mind. He really liked being ordinary and really disliked being a Hollywood movie star. At first, troubled by his Hollywood fame, it eventually became a means to an end, the end being to service his real loves, sailing ships, his family and belatedly writing about real-life. Listen and enjoy the latest CHMTC episode about a talented,unconventional and very complicated movie star, who often confounded his studio bosses, his family and himself, in his ever constant search for an uninterrupted life at sea /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/7024466

John Waynes Passion The Alamo 08082018 08/08/2018

John Waynes Passion The Alamo 08082018 This is the first of a two part CHMTC episode, on the lives and careers of two of the most successful beefcake actors ever produced by Hollywood. The western icon, John Wayne and the blonde seafaring giant, Sterling Hayden. John Wayne was a promising college student, who through the fates became one of the most successful movie stars that ever graced a Hollywood movie. Tall, handsome and virile, Wayne's love for his country influenced his films, his career and his love-life. Most of all it led to a search for redemption, to make up for his failure to serve in World War II. Along the way he became a staunch opponent of anything he considered to be Un-American, including it seems, certain types of civil rights, which in his view did not fit with the American dream. It also led to the creation of Wayne's great passion, his epic 1960 movie the Alamo. Listen and enjoy the telling by Mrs Classic Film Fan of the eventful life and career of the late, great and decidedly imperfect, John Wayne, together with the trials and tribulations he suffered in making his great passion The Alamo. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/6902241

CHMTC is back Sorry for the delay! 08/07/2018

CHMTC is back Sorry for the delay! Dear Listeners, An apology from Mrs Classic Film Fan for the long pause between CHMTC episodes and a foretaste of what is to come, in the way of new episodes, the first of which will be with you this week. All the best Mrs Classic Film Fan /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/6900020

Classic Hollywood Mini Episode 2 Save the Cinema Museum 12/29/2017

Classic Hollywood Mini Episode 2 Save the Cinema Museum A short follow up episode, revealing the research material, behind the creation of the CHMTC episodes, on the late great film stars of yesteryear. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/6097316

Stanley Baker The First Angry Young Man 12/22/2017

Stanley Baker The First Angry Young Man Hear about the life and career of the great Welsh movie star, one of the first Angry Young Men of British film, stage and TV. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/6083148

Classic Hollywood MTC Mini-Episode 1 09/29/2017

Classic Hollywood MTC Mini-Episode 1 As promised and in response to several requests this is a short CHMTC episode which will give some background on the material sourced by Mrs Classic Film Fan to inform most of the CHMTC episodes to date. If they are not there already all the books, websites and links referred to will be uploaded to the Classic Hollywood MTC Facebook page. That will include the website link which gives you direct access to the famous Day v Rosenthal judgment which told the long and ugly story of Doris Days 20+ year legal battle against her lawyer. As ever, thanks for listening and thanks for the lovely CHMTC reviews. It makes it all worthwhile. The next episode which will conclude the British Movie star series "the British Are Coming" should be with you all in late October early November. All the best and have a good day. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/5791500

Stewart Granger 221 Almost a Superstar 09/13/2017

Stewart Granger 221 Almost a Superstar Enjoy this (first mostly non-music) CHMTC podcast episode on the life and career of the late great Stewart Granger. A talented actor who made one of the best swashbuckling movies in Hollywood, absent Errol Flynn. Grangers looks, talent and athleticism helped him acquire much film success. But his challenging personality damaged his personal life and caused him to lose out on several of the greatest film roles of his age. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/5737250

David Niven Soldier Turned Movie Star 512 07/04/2017

David Niven Soldier Turned Movie Star 512 David Niven was the son of an upper class hero, with English and Scottish military heritage that stretched back to the Battle of Waterloo. Handsome, charming and witty he also had a strong touch of rebelliousness and ambition which would help and hinder his life and career in equal measure. One of the first of the British Hollywood movie stars to leave the safe haven of America at the start of World War II to fight for his country, Niven's life was littered with good fortune, fun and tragedy. Forever sexually adventurous he was well liked and oved by colleagues, friends, his children and the many lovers in his life. But his marriages proved to be a mixed blessing. Enjoy the telling by Mrs Classic Film Fan of the life and career of the late, great, and quintessentially English movie star David Niven, in this the 11th podcast episode and second of the CHMTC series the British Are Coming. The music is called the 'British Grenadiers'. Articles and other source material from which information on this podcast episode is based will be placed on the Classic Hollywood MTC Facebook page over the next few days. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/5505067

Merle Oberon Don't Look Back 05/27/2017

Merle Oberon Don't Look Back This is the first of a series of podcasts called "the British Are Coming." The series will cover the lives and careers of 4 great British film stars who left their mark on British and American Films in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Merle Oberon, David Niven, Stewart Granger and the late great Stanley Baker were and remain filmatic forces to be reckoned with. Talented, good looking, charming and unique they represented at least in terms of their public image the best of the British Empire. Forging careers in the UK and Hollywood they reached levels of success that many British actors of today aspire to but are unlikely to achieve. But in true Classic film fashion they were also decidedly imperfect human beings who experienced many tears as well as laughter. Merle Oberon, a child of the British Empire, was one of the most beautiful women that filmdom ever produced. She was a major film star of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. When she died in 1979 she appeared to have it all, a handsome husband 25 years her junior, wealth, fame, children and a respected film career. But Merle Oberon was a women full of mystery and anxiety who spent over 40 years covering up her past and denying her true identity. Enjoy the telling of the story of Merle Oberon by Mrs Classic Film Fan an actress who chose never to look back. NB: Check out the pictures, articles and other sources of information which informed this episode on the great MO, which will be put on the Classic Hollywood MTC Facebook page over the next few days. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/5394016

Marlon Brando One Eyed Jacks and the Brando Mutiny 04/08/2017

Marlon Brando One Eyed Jacks and the Brando Mutiny Marlon Brando was a legend in his own lifetime. At the peak of his film career in the 1950s he created a series of film performances including the character Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront that not only defined him as an actor, but defined an era marked by the rise of the Stanislavsky and method schools of acting. By the end of the 1950s Brando was at the top of his game, loved by actors, the studios and the public a like. His films minting millions of dollars. This all changed with the making of two films that have since become cult classics, the psychological western One Eyed Jacks, Brando's only official directorial effort and the seafaring epic Mutiny on the Bounty which Brando virtually directed by default. Brando's reported behaviour behind the scenes of both films would have a long lasting effect on the studios that commissioned both movies and his personal and professional career. Enjoy the eventful story of One Eyed Jacks and the Brando Mutiny as told by Mrs Classic Film Fan. The music "The Wild at Heart" is by Jonny Easton. Have a great Easter break and look out for the next Classic Hollywood MTC episode in May. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/5249049

Tony Curtis Not Just A Pretty Face Podcast 8 02/20/2017

Tony Curtis Not Just A Pretty Face Podcast 8 Tony Curtis was one of the biggest film stars of the 1950s. Born in poverty and saddled with less than positive memories of his childhood, his good looks got him a lucrative Hollywood contract and the pick of Hollywood's most beautiful actresses, including Marilyn Monroe and Janet Leigh. His talent gave him the will and determination to sustain a long career, which totalled over 100 Film and TV appearances and a successful second career as a respected master painter. But despite his ever present smile and charm it was not all plain sailing. Troubled marriages, drugs, alcohol, family tragedy and resentment towards some in the Hollywood Establishment were also integral features of the Tony Curtis life experience. Enjoy the Classic Hollywood MTC treatment of the life and career of the late great Tony Curtis. A man who was Not Just A Pretty Face. The music is called Piano Improvisation which can be found on the Free Music Archive. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/5102384

Hattie McDaniel the louder real story 01/03/2017

Hattie McDaniel the louder real story For those who want to know what fed the rise of the 2016 OscarsSoWhite scandal listen to this podcast about the life and career of the late great Hattie McDaniel. This podcast, the first 2017 Classic Hollywood MTC episode and the 7th of all the Classic Hollywood MTC episodes, will seek to explain the talent, the struggle, the unimaginable success and the ever present controversy that surrounds Ms McDaniel. As Mammy the forthright maid of Scarlett O'Hara Ms McDaniel earned her place in Hollywood eternity, by becoming one of the great stars of the most expensive and successful film ever made Gone with the Wind. She also became in life and in death a symbol of the challenges faced by black actors and entertainers in Hollywood prior, duing and post Word War II. The music in the podcast is called Tenderness and can be found on This episode along with all the podcasts on Classic Hollywood MTC can be found on ITunes, Stitcher, Tune-in, Spreaker.com, Castbox and Player FM. Listen, enjoy and have a Happy New Year. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/4960248

Kirk Douglas Spartacus the KD Way 12/17/2016

Kirk Douglas Spartacus the KD Way Unless you have been living under a tadpole you will know that one of the last surviving Hollywood movie stars Kirk Douglas has just reached his 100th birthday and that the celebrations have been glorious. Douglas seemed to specialise in anti-hero figures long before it became fashionable to do so. Ace in the Hole, the Bad and the Beautiful and the Detective showed that he was not afraid to explore people who were very damaged, but also very skilled at spreading huge swathes of that damage to others, through acts of cruelty, manipulation, cynicism and self-loathing. That usually meant that any character in his way was going to have a really, really, really bad time. It also meant that audiences never knew whether to love him or loathe him, but they all wanted to watch him. He did play actual heroes from time to time-but unlike some of his competitors he could never find it in him to play them straight. This short homage to the great KD, is about his great sword and scandal epic Spartacus. Made fun of today because of its high levels of sentimentality, this film was not just about heaving chests in skimpy ancient togas who cried "I'm Spartacus". This was Douglas (with the considerable help of Stanley Kubrick and Douglas Trumbo) telling us at the peak of his creative powers where America, the UK, France and the rest of the West was at. Listen to the latest episode of Classic Hollywood MTC and learn about Spartacus the KD Way. The music used in this episode is called "Memories" and can be found on Bensound.com. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/4920407

Olivia De Havilland 10/18/2016

Olivia De Havilland At 100 years of age Olivia De Havilland is one of the last great movie stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood. At the peak of her film career she appeared in some of the best films ever made, including Captain Blood, Robin Hood, They Died with their Boots On and the Charge of the Light Brigade with the devilishly handsome Errol Flynn and Gone with the Wind with Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh and Hattie McDaniel. Not just a pretty face and risking her hard earned career she fought and won one of the most powerful Hollywood studios in a legal battle which resulted in the creation of the De Havilland law. A law that is still used today by actors and entertainers against unscrupulous agents, managers and corporate demi-gods. Her victory also allowed her to make even better films and in doing so become one of the most respected actresses of her generation winning 2 best actress Oscars. Enjoy hearing about the eventful life and career of Olivia De Havilland who is "still on this side of heaven". If you've enjoyed what you've heard do not forget to post a positive review and tell your friends about Classic Hollywood MTC. If you have any suggestions about movie stars of the classic era you would like CHMTC to cover drop Mrs TC an email on . Have a good day! /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/4752269

Sammy Davis Junior Even Even Even Louder 09/09/2016

Sammy Davis Junior Even Even Even Louder Sammy Davis Junior was one of the greatest light entertainers America ever produced. Singer, dancer, actor and impersonator he could do anything that the entertainment world could throw at him to the highest standard. During a show business career of 60 years he experienced unimaginable success on the night club circuits of New York and La Vegas, having done the rounds of Vaudeville during his early years. He made many notable Film, TV and Broadway appearances, reaching the peek of his fame as a member of the powerful Rat Pack led by one of his best friends Frank Sinatra. But he was a scarred man, who throughout his life was deeply affected on a physical and emotional level by racial segregation and several high profile rejections. Although this fuelled his need for success it also fuelled his many weaknesses and excesses, which ultimately led to the decimation of his estate. Enjoy this new episode of Classic Hollywood MTC on the rise and fall of the late, great Sammy Davis Junior and all who sailed with him. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/4656548

Classic Hollywood MTC Episode 3 Doris Day v Rosenthal 07/24/2016

Classic Hollywood MTC Episode 3 Doris Day v Rosenthal In the 1950s Doris Day was one of the most famous women in the world. Unfairly remembered as the actress who played professional virgins, Doris's talent was such that she was able to tackle a broad range of movie roles, including classic appearances in Calamity Jane, the Man Who Knew To Much and Pillow Talk. By the early 1960s with the coming of the Beatles and flower power her stardom was on the wane. Wanting to go out on top Doris was looking forward to a peaceful retirement. But instead her husband succumbed to heart failure leaving her with a financial legacy which was to result in one of the biggest courts cases in Californian history. Please listen to another true tale about a Classic Hollywood movie star by Simone Higgins also known to family and friends as Mrs Tom Cruise. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/4537870

Classic Hollywood MTC Episode 2 Jeff Chandlerlouderverion11072016 07/23/2016

Classic Hollywood MTC Episode 2 Jeff Chandlerlouderverion11072016 In the 1950's Jeff Chandler was one of the biggest film stars created by Universal Studios. His good looks, tanned complexion, melodic voice and silver hair made him the perfect hero for a wide variety of Universal adventure movies, including one of his most famous parts the Native American chief Cochise in Broken Arrow, a film which captured the heart of America. A civil rights advocate, supporter of the state of Israel and ladies man, despite his active career and success Jeff is one of the least remembered of Universal's stars. Yet his life and career was as dramatic, successful and crammed full of incident as his movies. This second episode of Classic Hollywood MTC by Simone Higgins also known as Mrs Tom Cruise explains the life, career and posthumous reputation of the late great Jeff Chandler, a man who found it difficult to be dull. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/4537509

Classic Hollywood MTC Episode1 Dorothy Dandridge 07/22/2016

Classic Hollywood MTC Episode1 Dorothy Dandridge This is the first of a series of podcasts (delivered by Mrs Tom Cruise the nick name given by family and friends to Simone Higgins) on Hollywood stars and other ad hoc Classic Hollywood subjects which emerged during the peak of the big film studio era of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The first subject is the late, great and tragic Dorothy Dandridge. For a short period in the 1950s Dorothy Dandridge an Africa-American singer, dancer and actress sometimes referred to as the 'Black Marilyn Monroe' reached a level of mainstream Night Club, Film and TV success that was unheard of for black entertainer. The star of Otto Preminger's Carmen and Porgy and Bess was the first black performer to become a bona fide studio film star. The peaks and troughs of her shortlived personal and professional life were as dramatic as many of the movies she made. Enjoy the story of Dorothy Dandridge as told by Mrs Tom Cruise. /episode/index/show/classichollywoodmtc/id/4536220

Classic Hollywood MTC Podcasts

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