Nicole Sherwood

The May issue of Yours Retro featured the cool, handsome and sophisticated Cary Grant on the cover with an article about the controversial rumour that he was more than just a Hitchcock mystery man but also a real life war spy. I love Jane Fonda so I found it interesting to read more about the controversy surrounding Hanoi Jane. I read about the Beach Boys' success in 1964 and I learnt more about the moment Leslie Howard's plane was shut down and he lost his life during world war ll. I always love reading about Marilyn Monroe and especially enjoyed learning what designer Orry-Kelly thought about dressing her. There is a great article on Charlie Chaplin's son Michael and another on what happened to the children in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Another great read was the secrets about the scandalous Chateau Marmont and about Meryl Streep's tragic but lovely relationship with John Cazale. My mum loves Columbo and it was wonderful to see an article celebrating the many Oscar winning actors who guest starred on the show. As a big Carry On fan, I loved reading about Sid James and the fact that he was more than just a great comedic actor with a dirty sense of humour. He was also quite serious and more talented than people realise. Definitely worth reading! 👏💋💙 #yoursretro #magazine #carygrant #janefonda #sidjames #willywonka #charlieandthechocolatefactory #charliechaplin #marilynmonroe #oldhollywood #Retro

Remembering Lee Remick on the 33rd anniversary of her death and James Stewart on his 27th death anniversary. Lee Remick and Jimmy Stewart are 2 of my favourite actors. They were both extremely talented, magnetic onscreen and gave the impression that they were normal lovely people with a strong desire to act and make great films. Their careers took different turns, but they did work together on the incredible film Anatomy of a Murder in 1959. Lee made films that were controversial, challenging and way ahead of their time and Anatomy is no exception. She was excellent in her portrayal as ___ and was wonderful working with Jimmy. Jimmy made films that have since become instant classics not doubt due to their storyline, likeable characters and Jimmy's impressionable performance. I wish Lee and Jimmy had made more films together especially groundbreaking films like Anatomy. Jimmy is very beloved in cinema known for his portrayal of everyday men with heroic traits and vulnerabilities. Lee refused to be typecast for her beauty and aimed for roles that were unique, challenging and interesting. Both Lee and Jimmy stayed out of the limelight but were very happy with their careers. I adore them both👑👏💕 #jamesstewart #leeremick #1950s #1960s #anatomyofamurder #oldhollywood #oldhollywoodmovies #classiccinema #itsawonderfullife #mrsmithgoestowashington #vivacjouslady #philadelphiastory #Vertigo #wildriver #daysofwineandroses #thelonghotsummer

Happy Birthday Olivia DeHavilland!🎉 Olivia would have turned 108 today. She is best known for her portrayal of Melanie in Gone With Wind, Maid Marian in Robin Hood and for her Oscar winning performance in The Heiress. Olivia was very talented and had so much to give onscreen. She was eager to keep working into her late 90s, early hundreds but there just wasn't any material for a woman past the age of 50. Olivia was always tough, headstrong and she stood up for herself. She was responsible for the DeHavilland law which benefited all actors from then on. Her strength of character and stubbornness made her a wonderful actress whose presence onscreen was never overpowering, but still very powerful. "Beyond all reason i hoped that the great Olivia de Havilland, aged 104 would be with us for much longer. She knew how to live & was loved by all especially by her niece, my childhood friend Deborah. In films she was unfailingy wonderful & an unforgettable 'Melanie' in Gone With The Wind." –Actress Mia Farrow on Olivia's passing in 2020💔💫💐 #oliviadehavilland #gonewiththewind #1930s #1940s #1950s #robinhood #theheiress #oldhollywoodmovies #oldhollywood #classiccinema #leadinglady #oscarwinner #actress #icon

Remembering Robert Mitchum on the 27th anniversary of his death today. From starring in army prevention films and rare Laurel and Hardy films, to becoming a leading man of the 1940s and 50s, Mitchum is a great talent whose career spanned several decades. He was cool, serious and excellent at playing villains, but he was also a great romantic partner for women in movies and had a real tenderness to him. Mitchum was so much more than a guy with a bad boy reputation and a negative attitude towards films and acting. He loved music, poetry and Shakespeare, and even if he didn't want to admit it, he was a great actor, and his acting talent was unmatched. Mitchum had the ability to make it seem like he wasn't trying and that he didn't care, but he just had a natural acting talent and a no-nonsense attitude which worked in his favour. I love his films and just think he was amazing. "Since the war, no American actor has made more first-class films, in so many different moods." –David Thomson on Robert Mitchum💫🔥🖤 #robertmitchum #oldhollywood #oldhollywoodmovies #classicfilms #classiccinema #1940s #1950s #1960s #cinema #actor #icon #heavenknowsmrallison #ryansdaughter #outofthepast #nightofthehunter #capefear #riverofnoreturn #twofortheseesaw #whatawaytogo

I'm a day early as it isn't July until tomorrow, but there are too many birthdays and anniversaries that fall on 1st July that I have to post my 2 calendars today! 1st July is the death anniversary of Robert Mitchum, Marlon Brando and Karl Malden as well as Olivia DeHavilland's birthday. There are many more birthday and anniversaries throughout the month including Ringo Starr, Veronica Lake, James Stewart and Lee Remick. As it's July, it means it's time for a new page on both of my 2024 calendars of the biggest music icons of all time! The Beatles calendar is from my desk at work and the Elvis Presley calendar is in my room at home. Elvis looks so cool and handsome wearing a red windbreaker in this colour film still of Spinout in 1966. The black and white image of the Beatles performing at the Coliseum in Washington, District of Columbia, during their first American tour.🤎📆🎙 #thebeatles #Elvis #elvispresley #1950s #1960s #rockandroll #music #legends #king #kingofrockandroll #fabfour #beatlemania #2024 #july

Also remembering Roscoe Arbuckle on the 91st anniversary of his death today. Roscoe was a pioneer of cinema, who inspired and mentored the great silent era directors like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. He was highly respected and very talented, but rumours and a false scandal ended his career and ruined his future in cinema. What he did achieve in a small amount of time is incredible and his movies are so entertaining. “Roscoe explained the technique in pictures was different from the stage, particularly in taking a pie or a pot of molasses in the face, because the toughest thing is to keep from flinching when you see it come. We’re doing a scene in a bakery and there are a lot of three-pound sacks of flour lying about. Fatty picks one up and throws it at the baker who ducks and I get it. So he explains, ‘Now Buster, you just keep looking over in that direction until I say turn. When you turn, it’ll be there.’ So I do just like I says and look away until he says turn. Bowf! I get it. I thought my neck was broken. It exploded just like a bomb. That Arbuckle was a dead shot, and that sack came with all his three-hundred pounds behind it. My eyes, nose and ears were filled with flour - but it got the laugh.” –Buster Keaton on his mentor and friend Roscoe Arbuckle🎥🖤🎞 #roscoearbuckle #busterkeaton #silentfilms #silentera #movies #oldhollywoodmovies #oldhollywood #cinema #classiccinema #1910s #1920s #1930s

Remembering Jayne Mansfield on the 57th anniversary of her death today. Jayne was a beautiful woman and a talented actress whose image and private life were as famous as her name and career. She has wrongly been ridiculed and bad-mouthed throughout her life which is completely disgusting, disrespectful and uncalled for. Jayne was a wonderful actress, star, mother and icon who had do much star power and a huge fandom. She set the bar for future movie stars, was loyal to her family and fans achieved so much in her life and career. Jayne had so much more to offer, we were lucky to have her. “The staff of a hotel fast finds out what a guest is really like, and it didn’t take long for us to get to know Miss Mansfield. We all loved her. She never saw me or any of the other maids without coming over, smiling and asking how we were. She never seemed stuck-up or self-centred. Her rooms were always straight and neat. She kept her clothes hung up and her shoes in place; better than most people, I can tell you. (When she admired a framed photo of Jayne) She was delighted. You would have thought it was the first time anybody had said such a thing. A few weeks after she left, I got one in the mail –autographed too.” —Esther Massen, a maid at the Hotel Algiers where Jayne Mansfield stayed in Florida👑💋💛 #jaynemansfield #blondebombshell #actress #icon #style #glamour #pinkpalace #1950s #1960s #wildwildworld #waywardbus #thegirlcanthelpit #mariskahargitay #blonde

Laurel and Hardy statue! I couldn't miss the opportunity to see the Laurel and Hardy statue in Ulverston when I was there last weekend. I went to the zoo and realised that Ulverston was the birthplace of Stan Laurel, one half of the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. Stan Laurel was born in Ulverston on 16th June 1890. The town is also home to the Laurel and Hardy Museum and this statue. I didn't have time to go to the museum (I will definitely be going back) but I knew I had to see this statue in the town centre. The statue was sculpted by Graham Ibbeston and presented by Sons of the Desert, the worldwide Laurel and Hardy appreciation society. The statue was unveiled by comedian Ken Dodd OBE and the Mayor at the time in 2009 and is surrounded by quotes on the floor and the names of some Laurel and Hardy classic films. There are also two plaques commemorating Laurel and Hardy with information about the staue. You can't see it, but behind Laurel and Hardy is the dog that starred alongside the boys in many of their films including Laughing Gravy (he's pulling on Oliver Hardy's leg). I love seeing statues and this bronze one is fab, especially the larger than life likeness. The quote on the plaque nearby reads "the Boys brought laughter and comedy to the world." 🎭👏💙 #laurelandhardy #stanlaurel #oliverhardy #stanandollie #silentera #comedyduo #actors #comedians #icons #legends #1910s #1920s #1930s #1940s

Remembering Jack Lemmon on his 23rd death anniversary today. Jack really made his mark in cinema history with a huge collection of films that showcased his incredible talent and a unique quality on screen. I've rewatched a lot of my favourite of his films recently and I don't know why I'm surprised that I laugh and love them like I've never seen them before. Some Like It Hot, The Apartment and Irma La Douce are just 3 of the iconic Jack Lemmon films I rewatched recently that I think are utterly perfect. They way he made characters jump off the screen with real energy, emotions and authenticity is incredible and there's no wonder Jack and his films are so adored. He may have played the relatable every man, but not every man could perform like Jack and bring joy to so many. There was only one Jack Lemmon. "Jack Lemmon, who may just be the very finest actor to have ever graced the silver screen. Lemmon is somebody we already are. He enforces the appealing notion of having ourselves reflected back to us on screen – somebody who brings such a remarkable degree of humanity to each and every role he embodied." –Stefan Pape👏🤎🎭 #jacklemmon #oldhollywood #oldhollywoodmovies #actor #icon #star #1950s #1960s #somelikeithot #theapartment #irmaladouce #theoddcouple #comedy #drama #billywilder #daysofwineandroses

Marilyn Monroe's home has been saved from demolition and is now a designated historic/cultural landmark!🎉 Thank you, Councilwoman Traci Park, for your efforts, hard work, and commitment! "We have an opportunity to do something today that should have been done 60 years ago. There is no other person or place in the city of Los Angeles as iconic as Marilyn Monroe and her Brentwood home. Some of the most world famous images ever taken of her were in that home, on those grounds, near her pool. And that Marilyn tragically died there forever ties her in time and place to this very home. There is likely a woman in history or culture who captures the imagination of the public the way Marilyn Monroe did. Even all these years later, her story still resonates and inspires many of us today. And I've heard this from people all across my district and all over the world. To lose this piece of history, the only home that Marilyn Monroe ever owned, would be a devastating blow for historic preservation and for a city where less than 3% of historic designations are associated with women's heritage." –Councilwoman Traci Park in her bid to save Marilyn Monroe's home in Brentwood from demolition🙏🏠👏 @councilwomantracipark @marilynmonroecollection #marilynmonroe

71 years since Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell placed their hands and feet in wet cement at the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollwood Boulevard. On June 26th 1953, Marilyn and Jane immortalised their hand and footprints at Grauman's in a tradition that began with Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford in 1927. To promote their upcoming film together Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Marilyn and Jane wore similar outfits for the occasion and dubbed "filmdom’s first blonde and first brunette” by newsreels, they earned their place in the forecourt of the movie theatre. "Marilyn and I were invited to add our footprints to those already cemented in at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. We were both wearing summer dresses and high heels as we posed, arms linked together, for the photographers. We were thrilled beyond words. While I was placing my my feet in that square of soggy cement, I thought of all the times when Pat Alexander and I tried to fit our feet in the footprints of various actresses and how we figured that they must have worn the tiniest shoes for the occassion. Our feet never fit in. Now my prints were in that cement and I couldn’t believe it. I’m sure Marilyn felt the same. Always one for personal comfort, I was wearing my usual big shoes, so no aspiring actress will have any trouble whatsoever getting their feet into my footprints!” –Jane Russell🙏🌸💕 #marilynmonroe #janerussell #blonde #blondebombshell #gentlemenpreferblondes #1950s #graumanschinesetheatre #graumans #1953 #oldhollywood #glamour #beauty #actress #icons #women

A movie poster for the 1958 drama Lonelyhearts. I love this Belgian movie poster. International posters always made vintage movie posters look even better! I am so glad I've finally watched Lonelyhearts. I really liked the storyline, the characters and the morals of the stories. Montgomery Clift played a great character with an interesting profession which sparks the entire film narrative and the movie title. The star-studded cast (including Jackie Coogan and Myrna Loy) were great, and I really enjoyed the film especially Monty's performance. I wish Myrna Loy was in it more, but her performance was scene stealing every time. Dolores Hart had great chemistry with Monty and played a lovely role. Overall, I loved the film and I think it's really underrated and some parts it was ahead of its time. •FACT- Myrna Loy arrived on set to find Montgomery Clift very nervous about meeting and working with her as he had been a big fan of hers for years. Loy was very flattered by this and the two formed a close friendship🙏🌸💚 #montgomeryclift #monty #1950s #classiccinema #movies #oldhollywood #vintage #actor #actress #icon #movies #myrnaloy #doloreshart #jackiecoogan #1958 #cinema