A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery (2022), Part 2

It's time for Part 2 of my recent visit to Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Part 1 may be found here.

We paid our respects to Jean Peters, who is buried under her full married name, Elizabeth J. Hough. I have particularly fond memories of Peters as good-natured Polly in NIAGARA (1953).

Big Band singer Helen O'Connell is also at Holy Cross. At the time of her passing she was married to composer Frank DeVol, who was a widower when they married; he is buried next to his longtime first wife at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.

Fay Helm was in movies for a decade, from 1936 to 1946. She played Mrs. Fuddle in the BLONDIE series; other notable films included THE WOLF MAN (1941) and PHANTOM LADY (1944).

Jackie Coogan did a little of everything in his long career, appearing in silent films such as THE KID (1921) as a child; as an adult, he played Uncle Fester on THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1964-66) and played guest roles on many other TV series.

Jim and Marian Jordan, famed as radio's Fibber McGee and Molly, are at Holy Cross too. I first got to know them listening to their shows on LP records as a child, so this was a special visit for me.

Cinematographer John F. Seitz filmed some of the greatest movies ever made, including SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS (1941), DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944), and SUNSET BLVD. (1950). The good and great movies he shot are too numerous to count. Suffice it to say that classic film fans own him a debt of gratitude for all the wonderful movies we can enjoy thanks to his cinematography.

Producer William Dozier, whose work included TV's BATMAN (1966-68), was married to Ann Rutherford. Ann is also said to be buried at Holy Cross but we couldn't discover the location; we hoped we might find her here but if she's buried with her husband there is not a marker.

Mary Frann is best known for playing Bob Newhart's wife Joanna on NEWHART (1982-1990). She died less than a decade after it went off the air, at the age of 55.

We also stopped by the graves of a pair of local legends, longtime L.A. Lakers announcer Chick Hearn...

...and KTLA reporter Stan Chambers. Chambers was at KTLA for 63 years; he retired on his 87th (!) birthday. I recall driving past him in 2002 when he covered a story in my area.  I enjoyed his memoir KTLA'S NEWS AT 10: 60 YEARS WITH STAN CHAMBERS.

Lawrence Welk, whose musical show was a TV staple when I was a child, is also at Holy Cross.

As always, our visit was an opportunity to reflect on the contributions each of these people made to our culture and how much their work has added to our lives.

Like Forest Lawn Glendale and Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Holy Cross is so large that although we have made multiple visits in the last few years, we'll be returning again in the future.

Additional photo posts on the final resting places of historic Hollywood figures: A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 1, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 2, A Visit to the Forest Lawn Museum, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2014), A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Musicians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Comedians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Actors, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - Writers, Directors, and More, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 1, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 2, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 3, A Visit to Desert Memorial Park, Los Angeles National Cemetery, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 1, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 2, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 3, A Visit to Forest Lawn Cathedral City, A Visit to Oakwood Memorial Park, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 1, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 2, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2019), A Visit to Woodlawn Cemetery, A Visit to Valley Oaks Memorial Park, A Visit to Valhalla Cemetery, A Visit to Pacific View Memorial Park, A Visit to Glen Haven Memorial Park, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale (2020), A Visit to Calvary Cemetery, A Visit to Home of Peace Memorial Park, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale (2022), Visits to Orange County Cemeteries (Holy Sepulcher Cemetery and El Toro Memorial Park), A Visit to Inglewood Park Cemetery, A Visit to Mt. Sinai Memorial Park, A Visit to Palm Springs (Coachella Valley Public Cemetery), A Visit to Marysvale Cemetery, and A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery (2022), Part 1.

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Tonight's Movie: The Feminine Touch (1941) - A Warner Archive DVD Review

THE FEMININE TOUCH (1941) is an MGM romantic comedy available on DVD from the Warner Archive.

I first saw this film in 2007, and although I only found it mildly amusing, given the cast I thought it would be fun to take a fresh look at it after so many years.

The lightweight plot casts Don Ameche as John, a professor who travels to New York City hoping to sell his book on jealousy to a publisher, Elliott (Van Heflin).

The publisher's assistant Nellie (Kay Francis) zeroes in on the section of the book on romantic jealousy as something which might be marketable. The publisher, however, is more interested in John's wife Julie (Rosalind Russell). And Julie is nonplussed by her trusting husband's lack of jealousy...

The plot's not much, but it's still kind of fun, thanks to the two leading ladies. The casting of Russell and Francis is a bit curious as Russell was more typically cast as the kind of smart businesswoman played by Francis, but here she's a little bit of an airhead. On the flip side, Francis was often cast as an unhappily married woman, which is Russell's role in this four-way romance, but since this is a comedy she's not unhappy for long.

Another interesting thing about the casting of the leading ladies is that it can be a bit confusing when both actresses are in side profile, as they have identical coloring and similar hairstyles. That said, the movie is worth seeing in part for the ladies' hairstyles and hats -- at one point Francis wears a giant furred thing that must be seen to be believed. Both women are gorgeous, and Russell in particular was at the height of her beauty in the early '40s.

Ameche is pleasant if unremarkable as the placid husband. I'm typically a fan of Heflin's but his egotistical woman chaser is frankly mostly annoying. The script -- by Ogden Nash, George Oppenheimer, and Edmund L. Hartmann -- could have done more to make him more likeable and give the overall film a little more "zip," as the right talent is certainly in place.

The movie picks up speed in its second half, including a short but fun Dali-esque dream sequence in which Julie imagines John knocking out anyone who's interested in her. She's quite disappointed when she wakes up and realizes it was only a dream.

THE FEMININE TOUCH was directed by W.S. Van Dyke and filmed in black and white by Ray June. The supporting cast includes Gordon Jones, Granville Bates, Henry Daniell, Donald Meek, and Sidney Blackmer.

THE FEMININE TOUCH may only be middling entertainment, but at the same time it's pleasant spending 97 minutes with this cast. As much as I appreciate the Warner Archive's recent stellar Blu-ray releases, I do miss the days when we could count on a half dozen or so of these types of films being released by the Warner Archive on DVD each month.

The Warner Archive Collection DVD print is quite nice. The disc includes the trailer.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this DVD. Warner Archive DVDs may be ordered from the Warner Archive Collection Amazon Store or from any online retailers where DVDs are sold.

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Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the internet...

...There was extremely exciting Blu-ray news from Kino Lorber this week: The announcement of four more Kino Lorber Studio Classics Dark Side of Cinema sets "coming soon," which will bring the total number of sets up to 15! Some of the movies I'm familiar with from film noir festivals, while some I'd never heard of! Here are the newly announced sets, with previous reviews hyperlinked:

*Volume XII: UNDERTOW (1949), OUTSIDE THE WALL (1950), HOLD BACK TOMORROW (1955).

*Volume XIII: SPY HUNT (1950), THE NIGHT RUNNER (1957), STEP DOWN TO TERROR (1958).

*Volume XIV: UNDERCOVER GIRL (1950), ONE WAY STREET (1950), APPOINTMENT WITH A SHADOW (1957).

*Volume XV: MAN AFRAID (1957), THE GIRL IN THE KREMLIN (1957), THE TATTERED DRESS (1957).

*As mentioned in the announcement, sets I through VIII are currently available, and indeed, I have reviewed a majority of titles through the eighth set, with more reviews to come. Sets IX and X will be out in October and XI will be released in November, followed by the just-announced collections. According to a comment on Twitter, we may get even more sets after XV comes out. (And Audie Murphy, too!) Stay tuned for more information!

...Also coming from Kino Lorber: ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS (1964), which will be out on Blu-ray this October. This movie was shown frequently (on giant reels of film!) when I was in elementary school. I think both book and movie were popular here because the story was set on the Channel Islands off the Southern California coast, but the story of a girl accidentally abandoned when her tribe flees the island always bothered me.

...More exciting Blu-ray news, this time from Flicker Alley! This November Flicker Alley will be releasing a Blu-ray/DVD combo set of EL VAMPIRO NEGRO (1953), also known as THE BLACK VAMPIRE. This Argentinian version of "M," which was previously filmed in 1931 and 1951, was a highlight of the October 2021 Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival. I didn't get a chance to review it then due to attending multiple film fests along with travel last fall, but I'll be reviewing it as part of this new release. As is always the case with Flicker Alley's collaborations with the Film Noir Foundation, the extras look terrific; they include a featurette on the three different versions of "M." Participants in the extras include familiar names such as Eddie Muller, Alan K. Rode, and Imogen Sara Smith.

...At The Screwball Girl, Olympia Kiriakou writes about Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray in SWING HIGH, SWING LOW (1937), which I was fortunate to see at UCLA's Mitchell Leisen tribute a dozen years ago.

...Here's a nice guest post on Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn in CHARADE (1963) by Emina Melonic for Power Line.

...The L.A. City Council has voted to increase police funding for Hollywood. It's good to see a turnaround in attitudes toward policing over the last couple of years, as additional police resources are very much needed in L.A.

...I've shared an interview or two with Gene Kelly and Betsy's Blair's daughter Kerry in the past, but her memories are always fun to read. Here's one from last fall which I came across this week.

...Notable Passings: Roger E. Mosley, who played T.C. on TV's MAGNUM, P.I. (1980-88), has passed on at 83...Anne Heche has died following an accident, age 53. I remember her particularly for the Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas film SILVER BELLS (2005).

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my August 6th roundup.

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Tonight's Movie: Gypsy Wildcat (1944) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

GYPSY WILDCAT (1944) is the second of the three films in the Maria Montez and Jon Hall Collection which was recently released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber.

I previously reviewed the set's WHITE SAVAGE (1943), which I found to be great fun; still to be reviewed is SUDAN (1945). All three films were originally released by Universal Pictures.

This time around Montez plays Carla, a gorgeous gypsy girl. She comes to the aid of a stranger named Michael (Hall) after he discovers a body and is ultimately accused of murder by Baron Tovar (Douglass Dumbrille).  

The Baron spots a necklace on Carla which gives him reason to believe she's the long-lost heiress to the dead man's estate, which Tovar has claimed for his own. Getting rid of Michael not only deflects blame but removes competition for Carla's hand in marriage -- and the estate which comes with her.

There's a lot of back and forth battling with Michael and the gypsies (including Peter Coe, Leo Carrillo, and Gale Sondergaard) on one side and Tovar and his men (including Harry Cording) on the other. Eventually, of course, we arrive at the expected happy ending.

I'm currently reading THE QUEEN OF TECHNICOLOR: MARIA MONTEZ IN HOLLYWOOD by Tom Zimmerman, and he refers to Montez and Hall's six films together as the "Neverland films," which is a good description. They're all highly entertaining escapist fantasies which were badly needed during World War II. These films were perfectly designed to enable audiences to forget their cares for a brief time, and indeed, they still offer a wonderful diversion from today's world.

GYPSY WILDCAT may not be quite as good as the three previous Montez-Hall films I've reviewed, which also include ARABIAN NIGHTS (1942) and ALI BABA AND THE 40 THIEVES (1944), but it was still quite enjoyable. The role of a fiery gypsy dancing girl was perfect for the flamboyant Montez, who does a fine job in a part which seems tailored for her. Hall is always a stalwart hero -- though I must admit I wasn't taken with his mustache.

Like the other films, GYPSY WILDCAT is a spectacular-looking fantasy, filmed in stunning Technicolor by George Robinson and W. Howard Greene. Much of the film was shot outdoors; I think some of it may have possibly have been at Iverson Ranch, but I couldn't place the other locations.

The screenplay of this 77-minute film was written by James P. Hogan, Gene Lewis, and James M. Cain. I love that Cain, the novelist behind works such as DOUBLE INDEMNITY, THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, and MILDRED PIERCE, also worked on writing the script for this gypsy adventure fantasy.

Director Roy William Neill also worked on multiple films in Universal's SHERLOCK HOLMES series, and in fact "Dr. Watson" from that series, Nigel Bruce, appears here as the High Sheriff.

It was a particularly nice coincidence to discover Leo Carrillo in the cast, having written about him a few days ago, and it was likewise fun to see Gale Sondergaard, just a few days after reviewing her in ENTER ARSENE LUPIN (1944). She's quite enjoyable here as a good-natured fortune teller.

If the movie has a weak link, it's Peter Coe as Carla's jealous childhood love. I read that the role was originally slated for Turhan Bey, who would have been excellent.

Montez's colorful, eye-catching costumes by Vera West are also worth mentioning. Most of the wardrobe is designed in bright colors, but late in the movie she wears a black negligee with a design which is absolutely eye-popping. To some extent this is a movie which could even be enjoyed with the sound off, as Montez looks so amazing. Little surprise that her biographer chose the title THE QUEEN OF TECHNICOLOR.

GYPSY WILDCAT is a gorgeous Blu-ray print with excellent sound. The extras for this title are the trailer and a commentary track by David Del Valle.

I'm so appreciative that Kino Lorber has made all of Montez and Hall's films available on Blu-ray! This set ranks as one of my favorite releases of the year.

Look for a review of SUDAN, the final film in this set, coming soon. I also plan to review the sixth Montez and Hall film, COBRA WOMAN (1944), which was released a couple of years ago.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray collection.

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A Birthday Tribute to Marjorie Reynolds

Actress Marjorie Reynolds, a bright presence in films and TV of the '30s through '50s, was born in Idaho on August 12, 1917.

Marjorie was raised in Los Angeles and appeared in a handful of silent films as a child, then returned to movies in bit parts as a teenager.

Marjorie's first roles as a leading lady were in "B" Westerns opposite stars such as Buck Jones, Tex Ritter, and George O'Brien; she also appeared opposite Ken Maynard, Roy Rogers, Tim Holt, and Bob Baker.

Here she is with O'Brien in RACKETEERS OF THE RANGE (1939):

Marjorie is always a fun, spunky presence in "B" Westerns and is someone I'm happy to see listed in the opening credits. Here she is with Holt in CYCLONE ON HORSEBACK (1941).

Today Marjorie is especially remembered for her role as Linda opposite Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire in the classic HOLIDAY INN (1942).

Marjorie, dubbed by Martha Mears, introduced the song "White Christmas" to the world alongside Bing.

Another of her most notable films was Fritz Lang's MINISTRY OF FEAR (1944) opposite Ray Milland.

I also particularly enjoyed Marjorie opposite Barry Sullivan in BAD MEN OF TOMBSTONE (1949).

Marjorie starred with William Bendix on TV's LIFE OF RILEY from 1953 to 1958.

Save for a couple brief TV appearances, she was retired from the screen after 1963.

Marjorie was married twice. She had one child from her first marriage to Jack Reynolds; her second husband, whom she survived, was actor-turned-editor John Whitney (THE BACHELOR'S DAUGHTERS).

Marjorie died in Manhattan Beach, California, on February 1, 1997.

Happily I still have many Marjorie Reynolds films ahead of me to see for the first time!

Links for Marjorie Reynolds films previously reviewed at Laura's Miscellaneous Musings: TIMBER STAMPEDE (1939) (also here), RACKETEERS OF THE RANGE (1939), CYCLONE ON HORSEBACK (1941), DUDE COWBOY (1941), MINISTRY OF FEAR (1944), MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE (1946), BAD MEN OF TOMBSTONE (1949), HIS KIND OF WOMAN (1951).

Reviewed in my Western RoundUp column for Classic Movie Hub: OVERLAND EXPRESS (1938).

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Tonight's Movie: Hester Street (1975) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

HESTER STREET (1975) has been released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber and the Cohen Film Collection. It's part of the Cohen Film Collection "Classics of American Cinema" line.

HESTER STREET is a story of Jewish immigrants which was written and directed by Joan Micklin Silver; the script was based on a novella by Abraham Cahan. Silver, who died in 2020, was also the director of a charming story of modern-day Jews, CROSSING DELANCEY (1988).

HESTER STREET was shot in black and white by Kenneth Van Sickle, and it almost seems like a silent movie in its initial scene, set at a dance. The film's relatively old-fashioned look and "small," intimate story make it both unusual and appealing.

It's 1896 in New York, and Jake (Steven Keats) is a Jewish immigrant from Russia who prides himself on his American ways. He's quite taken with Mamie (Dorrie Kavanaugh), who returns his interest, but it's soon revealed there's a bit of a roadblock to their developing romance: Jake is already married.

Jake hasn't seen his wife Gitl (Carol Kane) or young son (Paul Freedman) for several years, but they join him in America after the death of Jake's father.

Jake is very unhappy to have what he terms a "greeny" wife who doesn't understand the ways of her new country. Jakes wants Gitl to stop practicing Jewish orthodox traditions, such as covering her real hair with a wig or kerchief, but he's equally unhappy when Gitl makes changes to please him, because he really wants to be with Mamie.

In short, Jake is a jerk whose mind and heart are elsewhere, but Gitl is made of strong stuff -- and as she experiences the gradual disintegration of her marriage she also recognizes a quality man in their boarder, the scholar Mr. Bernstein (Mel Howard).

HESTER STREET is an interesting 89 minutes thanks chiefly to the wide-eyed, thoughtful performance of Carol Kane as Gitl. Kane is better known as a zany comedienne, but she's excellent here in an Academy Award nominated performance as a woman struggling to adapt to a new country without the support of her husband.

Gitl may not say a great deal, but Kane conveys a world of emotion in her eyes as she's repeatedly rejected by the man who once loved her. Gitl is an observant and tenacious woman who almost instantly draws audience sympathy. When it becomes clear Gitl has no future with Jake, she quickly organizes a much happier future for herself and her little boy, and it's a wonderful thing to watch.

Alas, Keats as Jake is so annoying that I ended up fast-forwarding through a couple of his later scenes just to get back to Gitl. I don't think I felt an ounce of sympathy for Jake; his self-interest and lack of regard for his wife was just pathetic. Even if he no longer loved her after so many years apart, his inability to empathize with what she was experiencing in her new country was hard to watch. Jake was all about Jake.

Howard is spot-on as the quiet, more traditional man who falls for Gitl and her little boy; there's a lovely scene where Gitl observes him teaching her son.

Also excellent is Doris Roberts (REMINGTON STEELE) as a helpful neighbor. The scene where she tells off Jake made me want to cheer.

The Blu-ray is an excellent 4K restoration. There are a number of extras including archival interviews with the late director; additional archival interviews with filmmakers; an archival commentary track with Silver and her husband, producer Raphael Silver; the trailer; and outtakes and an alternate opening title sequence with commentary by Silver biographer Daniel Kremer.

As with another recent Blu-ray release from Kino Lorber and Cohen, LAST PASSENGER (2013), the main disc menu can only be reached after fast-forwarding through trailers. I love trailers, but I prefer mine under their own menu, not as a "must watch" feature which prevents immediate access to the movie's "play" button. That small issue is my only complaint regarding an excellent presentation.

Other than too many scenes with the annoying husband, I quite enjoyed HESTER STREET which was an enriching viewing experience. It would make a very interesting double bill with Silver's CROSSING DELANCEY, providing two portraits of Jewish life in New York just about a century apart.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray.

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Tonight's Movie: Adventures of Don Juan (1948) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

The great Errol Flynn stars in ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN (1948), just released on a beautiful Blu-ray by the Warner Archive.

Flynn plays Don Juan de Marana, a love 'em and leave 'em ladies' man who is perhaps tiring of his endless romances with a series of beautiful yet forgettable women.

When Don Juan inadvertently wrecks a marriage of state in England, planned to ease tensions between Spain and Britain, the Spanish ambassador (Robert Warwick), an old friend, sends Don Juan home to Spain to reform and be of service to Queen Margaret (Viveca Lindfors).

The Queen is trying to prevent war between Spain and England, but her easily influenced husband King Phillip (Romney Brent) is under the sway of the evil Duke de Lorca (Robert Douglas) who is fomenting war.

Don Juan is captivated and impressed by the honorable queen, discovering that for the first time in his life he's truly in love -- with a woman he cannot have. She's also in great danger...

I had never seen ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN before, despite my great enjoyment of Flynn. I think partly the idea of him romancing an entire series of ladies instead of being truly in love with, say, Olivia de Havilland, as he was in so many films, put me off a bit. Perhaps at the back of my mind I was also thinking of the story being somewhat of a parallel to Flynn's own rough living offscreen, which would age him far too young.

I was pleasantly surprised at the outset to find that the screenplay by George Oppenheimer and Harry Kurnitz, based on a story by Herbert Dalmas, is quite funny. (Believe it or not, novelist William Faulkner is said to have done uncredited work on the script.) The film could have been distasteful, but it handles Don Juan's romances with a light and amusing touch.

And what a bunch of lovely ladies they are! When we initially meet Don Juan, he's wooing Catherine (Mary Stuart of THUNDERHOOF and THE CARIBOO TRAIL). Soon after, he's reunited with a past love played by Helen Westcott (THE GUNFIGHTER). Later on in a tavern he meets Barbara Bates; one of the other beautiful girls in the tavern is played by Caren Marsh, in her last film. Marsh turned 100 in 2019 and as far as I know is still with us today; if so, she is now 103.

The final lady, other than the Queen herself, is played by Ann Rutherford, in one of her last feature film roles. By the time Rutherford's character throws herself at Don Juan, he is tiring of the game playing and ready to retire from the field.

Flynn is by turns funny and moving, and all in all does an excellent job conveying the way Don Juan gradually becomes a more serious man...but maybe not too serious, as we see at the final fadeout.

Lindfors is a regal queen, and I liked her better in this than in the handful of other films I've seen her in; she's been a bit wooden in some of the other films and is better directed and photographed here, giving a deeper performance.

Alan Hale (Sr.) is top-notch as Don Juan's loyal friend; a scene early on where he scopes out Don Juan's likely means of escape from their latest "situation" is hilarious. It's fun watching Flynn and Hale together in this a full decade after they played Robin Hood and Little John in THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938).

The deep cast includes an almost unrecognizable Raymond Burr as an evil soldier, with Fortunio Bonanova as Don Juan's fellow fencing instructor. Also in the cast are Douglas Kennedy, Jean Shepherd, David Bruce, Una O'Connor, Aubrey Mathers, David Leonard, Harry Lewis, Jerry Austin, and Albert Cavens.

Cavens' father, fencing great Fred Cavens, was the film's fencing master and doubled Robert Douglas. Jock Mahoney was also among the stunt crew, doubling Flynn. The excellent action sequences include a climactic duel between Flynn and Douglas (or, perhaps, their doubles) on a spectacular grand staircase at the palace.

The movie runs 110 minutes. It was directed by Vincent Sherman and filmed in Technicolor by Elwood "Woody" Bredell. The superb score is by Max Steiner.

The Warner Archive Blu-ray print is outstanding in every way.  The color is spectacular, and Steiner's robust score sounds fantastic.

Extras imported from the film's original DVD release are a commentary by Rudy Behlmer and Vincent Sherman and a "Warner Night at the Movies" collection of the trailer; a newsreel; a pair of shorts, SO YOU WANT TO BE ON THE RADIO (Joe McDoakes, 1948) and CALGARY STAMPEDE (1948); and the cartoon HARE SPLITTER (1948).

Recommended.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from the Warner Archive Collection Amazon Store or from any online retailers where Blu-rays are sold.

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A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery (2022) - Part 1

A few days ago we spent an afternoon in the Greater Los Angeles area, including a few hours visiting Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.

I've previously shared photos of a 2016 visit to Holy Cross in three parts: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. At 200 acres, Holy Cross is one of the larger cemeteries we've visited in the Los Angeles area. It's one of my favorites, as it's laid out in a particularly orderly fashion; I also feel it has an especially tranquil, positive atmosphere.

Our first stop was the gravesite of Stephen McNally, who I had paid tribute to on his birthday the day before our visit. He's buried under his birth name, Horace Vincent McNally; as I wrote in my tribute, he also acted under the name Horace for several years before adopting the name Stephen.

As it happens, our last visit of the day was the gravesite of the marvelous actor Millard Mitchell, McNally's costar in one of my favorite Westerns, WINCHESTER '73 (1950). Mitchell played "High Spade," while McNally played Dutch Henry Brown. Mitchell was only 50 when he passed on due to cancer in 1955.

Richard Egan, who passed on at age 65, shares a July 29th birthday with Stephen McNally, and like McNally, he was a devout Catholic and the father of several children. McNally's wife, actress Patricia Hardy, died in 2011 and is said to be buried with him but does not have a marker.

Ricardo Montalban and his wife Georgiana Young are also at Holy Cross. Georgiana was the younger sister of Loretta Young, whose final resting place at Holy Cross was shared in my 2016 post.

The two oldest Young sisters, who were also actresses, are buried at Holy Cross as well. Polly Ann Young, who had 40 film credits, is buried with her husband, J. Carter Hermann; the Hermanns' twin granddaughters are buried to their left.

The second oldest Young sister, Sally Blane (born Elizabeth Jane Young), is buried next to her husband, actor-director-composer Norman Foster. Sally had over 100 film and TV credits.

Multitalented Norman Foster was a pre-Code actor, a director, and he even composed music for Disney TV series including ZORRO (1957). His film credits included directing his sister-in-law Loretta Young in the excellent RACHEL AND THE STRANGER (1948).

It was especially meaningful for me to visit the final resting place of actress Joan Leslie, a longtime favorite. She's buried with her husband, Dr. William Caldwell.

Singer Dennis Day, born Owen Patrick McNulty, is buried with his wife at Holy Cross.  A regular on Jack Benny's radio show, he also appeared in films, including a lesser-known musical which is a personal favorite, I'LL GET BY (1951); he sang and narrated "The Legend of Johnny Appleseed" in Disney's MELODY TIME (1948). Day was the brother-in-law of singer-actress Ann Blyth, who married his brother, Dr. James McNulty.

We also visited singer Al Martino. Martino played singer Johnny Fontane in THE GODFATHER (1972), which I just saw for the first time a few days ago.

I'll be sharing additional photos from our visit to Holy Cross soon.  (Update: Here is the link for Part 2.)

Additional photo posts on the final resting places of historic Hollywood figures: A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 1, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 2, A Visit to the Forest Lawn Museum, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2014), A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Musicians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Comedians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Actors, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - Writers, Directors, and More, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 1, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 2, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 3, A Visit to Desert Memorial Park, Los Angeles National Cemetery, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 1, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 2, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 3, A Visit to Forest Lawn Cathedral City, A Visit to Oakwood Memorial Park, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 1, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 2, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2019), A Visit to Woodlawn Cemetery, A Visit to Valley Oaks Memorial Park, A Visit to Valhalla Cemetery, A Visit to Pacific View Memorial Park, A Visit to Glen Haven Memorial Park, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale (2020), A Visit to Calvary Cemetery, A Visit to Home of Peace Memorial Park, Visits to Sedona and Las Vegas Cemeteries, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale (2022), Visits to Orange County Cemeteries (Holy Sepulcher Cemetery and El Toro Memorial Park), A Visit to Inglewood Park Cemetery, A Visit to Mt. Sinai Memorial Park, A Visit to Palm Springs (Coachella Valley Public Cemetery), and A Visit to Marysvale Cemetery.

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