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'Ben-Hur' 1959 with Stephen Boyd and Charlton Heston: TCM's '31 Days of Oscar.' '31 Days of Oscar': 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'Ben-Hur' are in, Paramount stars are out Today, Feb. 1, '16, Turner Classic Movies is kicking off the 21st edition of its “31 Days of Oscar.” While the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is being vociferously reviled for its “lack of diversity” – more on that appallingly myopic, self-serving, and double-standard-embracing furore in an upcoming post – TCM is celebrating nearly nine decades of the Academy Awards. That's the good news. The disappointing news is that if you're expecting to find rare Paramount, Universal, or Fox/20th Century Fox entries in the mix, you're out of luck. So, missing from the TCM schedule are, among others: Best Actress nominees Ruth Chatterton in Sarah and Son, Nancy Carroll in The Devil's Holiday, Claudette Colbert in Private Worlds. Unofficial Best Actor...

Constance Cummings in 'Night After Night.' Constance Cummings: Working with Frank Capra and Mae West (See previous post: “Constance Cummings: Actress Went from Harold Lloyd to Eugene O'Neill.”) Back at Columbia, Harry Cohn didn't do a very good job at making Constance Cummings feel important. By the end of 1932, Columbia and its sweet ingenue found themselves in court, fighting bitterly over stipulations in her contract. According to the actress and lawyer's daughter, Columbia had failed to notify her that they were picking up her option. Therefore, she was a free agent, able to offer her services wherever she pleased. Harry Cohn felt otherwise, claiming that his contract player had waived such a notice. The battle would spill over into 1933. On the positive side, in addition to Movie Crazy 1932 provided Cummings with three other notable Hollywood movies: Washington Merry-Go-Round, American Madness, and Night After Night. 'Washington Merry-Go-Round...

Coleen Gray actress ca. 1950. Coleen Gray: Actress in early Stanley Kubrick film noir, destroyer of men in cult horror 'classic' Actress Coleen Gray, best known as the leading lady in Stanley Kubrick's film noir The Killing and – as far as B horror movie aficionados are concerned – for playing the title role in The Leech Woman, died at age 92 in Aug. 2015. This two-part article, which focuses on Gray's film career, is a revised and expanded version of the original post published at the time of her death. Born Doris Bernice Jensen on Oct. 23, 1922, in Staplehurst, Nebraska, at a young age she moved with her parents, strict Lutheran Danish farmers, to Minnesota. After getting a degree from St. Paul's Hamline University, she relocated to Southern California to be with her then fiancé, an army private. At first, she eked out a living as a waitress at a La Jolla hotel...

Coleen Gray actress ca. 1950. Coleen Gray: Actress in early Stanley Kubrick film noir, destroyer of men in cult horror 'classic' Actress Coleen Gray, best known as the leading lady in Stanley Kubrick's film noir The Killing and – as far as B horror movie aficionados are concerned – for playing the title role in The Leech Woman, died at age 92 in Aug. 2015. This two-part article, which focuses on Gray's film career, is a revised and expanded version of the original post published at the time of her death. Born Doris Bernice Jensen on Oct. 23, 1922, in Staplehurst, Nebraska, at a young age she moved with her parents, strict Lutheran Danish farmers, to Minnesota. After getting a degree from St. Paul's Hamline University, she relocated to Southern California to be with her then fiancé, an army private. At first, she eked out a living as a waitress at a La Jolla hotel...

Billy Wilder directed Sunset Blvd. with Gloria Swanson and William Holden. Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett movies Below is a list of movies on which Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder worked together as screenwriters, including efforts for which they did not receive screen credit. The Wilder-Brackett screenwriting partnership lasted from 1938 to 1949. During that time, they shared two Academy Awards for their work on The Lost Weekend (1945) and, with D.M. Marshman Jr., Sunset Blvd. (1950). More detailed information further below. Post-split years Billy Wilder would later join forces with screenwriter I.A.L. Diamond in movies such as the classic comedy Some Like It Hot (1959), the Best Picture Oscar winner The Apartment (1960), and One Two Three (1961), notable as James Cagney's last film (until a brief comeback in Milos Forman's Ragtime two decades later). Although some of these movies were quite well received, Wilder's later efforts – which also included The Seven Year Itch...

The Donmar Warehouse has announced its spring 2015 season, which includes a revival of Patrick Marber's Closer.

The season also features a new play for theatre and television about the 2015 general election and the world premiere of a new Steve Waters drama.

Artistic Director Josie Rourke revealed the season's line-up on the Donmar Warehouse Twitter account this morning (November 3).

The Olivier Award-winning play Closer by Patrick Marber is being revived, after it won multiple awards in 1997 and was turned into a hit film in 2004 starring Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Jude Law and Clive Owen.

David Leveaux will direct, while Nancy Carroll, Oliver Chris, Rachel Redford and Rufus Sewell will star.

Marber said of the revival: 'I'm thrilled to be returning to the Donmar with this revival of Closer. David Leveaux is a director I've longed to work with for many years. I'm greatly looking forward to this collaboration with him,...

Hedy Lamarr: 'Invention' and inventor on Turner Classic Movies (photo: Hedy Lamarr publicity shot ca. early '40s) Two Hedy Lamarr movies released during her heyday in the early '40s — Victor Fleming's Tortilla Flat (1942), co-starring Spencer Tracy and John Garfield, and King Vidor's H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941), co-starring Robert Young and Ruth Hussey — will be broadcast on Turner Classic Movies on Wednesday, November 12, 2014, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Pt, respectively. Best known as a glamorous Hollywood star (Ziegfeld Girl, White Cargo, Samson and Delilah), the Viennese-born Lamarr (née Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler), who would have turned 100 on November 9, was also an inventor: she co-developed and patented with composer George Antheil the concept of frequency hopping, currently known as spread-spectrum communications (or "spread-spectrum broadcasting"), which ultimately led to the evolution of wireless technology. (More on the George Antheil and Hedy Lamarr invention further below.) Somewhat ironically,...

Honorary Award: Gloria Swanson, Rita Hayworth among dozens of women bypassed by the Academy (photo: Honorary Award non-winner Gloria Swanson in 'Sunset Blvd.') (See previous post: "Honorary Oscars: Doris Day, Danielle Darrieux Snubbed.") Part three of this four-part article about the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Honorary Award bypassing women basically consists of a long, long — and for the most part quite prestigious — list of deceased women who, some way or other, left their mark on the film world. Some of the names found below are still well known; others were huge in their day, but are now all but forgotten. Yet, just because most people (and the media) suffer from long-term — and even medium-term — memory loss, that doesn't mean these women were any less deserving of an Honorary Oscar. So, among the distinguished female film professionals in Hollywood and elsewhere who have passed away without...

Randolph Scott and Cary Grant: Gay lovers or good friends and roommates? (See previous post: “Randolph Scott Movies: From Westerns to Cary Grant Comedy.”) Now, one suggestion: Do not believe those rumors about Randolph Scott and Cary Grant having been gay lovers. Anything is possible, of course, but there’s no credible evidence indicating that the two actors were more than good friends / roommates who had first met on the set of the Nancy Carroll star vehicle Hot Saturday in 1932. (See also: “TCM Movie Lineup: Randolph Scott Westerns.”) (Image: Shirtless Randolph Scott and Cary Grant in publicity photo ca. 1933.) But what about all those pictures showing Randolph Scott and Cary Grant cozying up at the house they shared in the posh Los Feliz Hills? Well, those were publicity photos, taken at a time when both actors were up-and-coming Paramount contract players. Rooming up likely gave them a chance to...

Deanna Durbin: Ephemeral fame (photo: Deanna Durbin in 1981) [See previous post: "Deanna Durbin: 'Sweet Monster.'"] Unlike Greta Garbo, whose mystique remained basically intact following her retirement in 1941, Deanna Durbin’s popularity faded away much like that of the vast majority of celebrities who were removed — or who chose to remove themselves — from public view. Despite the advent of home video and classic-movie cable channels, Durbin remains virtually unknown to the vast majority of those who weren’t around in her heyday in the ’30s and ’40s. Yet, although relatively few in number, she continues to have her ardent fans. There are a handful of websites devoted to Deanna Durbin and her film and recording careers, chiefly among them the appropriately titled "Deanna Durbin Devotees." Fade Out Charles David, Deanna Durbin’s husband of 48 years, died in March 1999, at the age of 92; Institut Pasteur medical researcher Peter H. David is their only son. Durbin also had a daughter,...

Academy Award nominee and Tony Award winner John Lithgow takes the title role in The Magistrate, an uproarious Victorian farce directed by Olivier Award winner Timothy Sheader, also featuring Olivier Award winner Nancy Carroll. In a similar vein to the National Theatre's classic comedies She Stoops to Conquer and London Assurance, The Magistrate is sure to have audiences around the world doubled up with laughter.

John Lithgow stars in the title role opposite Nancy Carroll in The National Theatre revival of Arthur Wing Pinero's The Magistrate at the Nt Oliver. With his louche air and a developed taste for smoking, gambling, port and women, it's hard to believe Cis Farringdon is only fourteen. And that's because he isn't. Agatha his mother lopped five years from her true age and his when she married the amiable Posket.Check out photos of the cast in action below...

Mark Williams has been cast in a new BBC One crime drama. The Fast Show and Harry Potter actor will lead the cast of Father Brown, which will begin a ten-part run next year. The series is based on the short stories by Gk Chesterton, following a priest who accidentally finds himself as a crime detective. Father Brown is set in the parish of St Mary's Catholic Church in Kembleford in the Cotswolds. Each episode will see Father Brown investigate different crimes in the area, which all seem to fall into his lap. However serious the crime, he believes that there is always a scope for forgiveness and redemption. Father Brown will be assisted in each episode by Parish Secretary Mrs McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack) and the extravagant Lady Felicia (Nancy Carroll). They are also joined by reformed criminal Sid Carter (more)...

Actress Nicole Kidman is in talks to return to Broadway for the first time in 14 years.

The Hours star is interested in leading the cast of Terence Rattigan's play After The Dance - about a novelist who leaves his wife for a younger woman - when it opens on the New York stage next year.

Kidman is reportedly in negotiations to portray wife Joan Scott-Fowler, who struggles to tell her husband David how much she cares for him as their marriage crumbles, according to Britain's Daily Mail.

British actress Nancy Carroll previously played the role opposite War Horse star Benedict Cumberbatch in a critically-acclaimed 2010 production in London's West End.

Kidman made her Broadway debut in director Sam Mendes' 1998 production of The Blue Room.

Mario Lopez, Anna Stuart, James Cromwell Mario Lopez interviews James Cromwell and guest Anna Stuart at the 84th Academy Awards from Hollywood, CA, on February 26, 2012. Cromwell wasn't nominated for anything this year, but he is one of the featured players in Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist, which won five Oscars, including Best Picture. Thus, Cromwell got the chance to hop onstage with his fellow cast members, among them Penelope Ann Miller, Bérénice Bejo, and Best Actor winner Jean Dujardin. (Matt Brown / ©A.M.P.A.S.) An animals rights advocate and a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominee for Chris Noonan's Babe, Cromwell is also the son of filmmaker John Cromwell and actress Kay Johnson, both of whom were kept quite busy at the dawn of the sound era — the time period in which The Artist is set. John Cromwell directed three 1929 releases, including two Nancy Carroll musicals, The Dance of Life and Close Harmony.

Our critics' picks of this week's openings, plus your last chance to see and what to book now

• Which cultural events are in your diary this week? Tell us in the comments below

Opening this week

Theatre

• Reasons to be Cheerful

Raucous, rude and really rather joyful, the Graeae theatre company's musical – set in 1979 as Thatcher comes to power, and inspired by the music of Ian Dury – is terrific fun. It's good to have it back. New Wolsey, Ipswich (01473 295 900), until 18 February, then touring.

• The Recruiting Officer

Josie Rourke's first show as the Donmar's new artistic director is a revival of an early 18th-century comedy. Mackenzie Crook, Mark Gatiss and Nancy Carroll are part of a strong cast. All eyes will be watching. Donmar, London WC2 (0844 871 7624), until 14 April.

Film

• A Dangerous Method (dir. David Cronenberg)

Freud, Jung and their patient-acquaintance Sabina Spielrein ignite psychological problems. On general release.

Dance

• Blanca Li...

Nancy Carroll Claudette Colbert, Miriam Hopkins, Gloria Swanson: Cinefest 2011 Note: Titles subject to change without notice. Thursday, March 17 9:00am – The Idol Of Seville (1932) with Rene Denny 9:25am – Forgotten Commandments (1932) with Gene Raymond 10:50am – Glorious Betsy (1928) with Dolores Costello Lunch Break 1:00pm – Trailer Mania 3 – "Through the Years With Columbia," Hosted by Ray Faiola 2:00pm – Happiness (1917) with Enid Bennett 3:10pm – Denny From Ireland (1918) with Shorty Hamilton 3:55pm – What Price Glory? (1927) with Victor McLaglen Dinner Break 8:00pm – Panama, The Peculiar Prodigy (1920's) – Sunshine Cruises series. 8:10pm – America's Little Lamb – (1928) The World We Live In series 8:25pm – Music In The Air (1934) with Gloria Swanson 9:50pm – The Newlyweds' Pest (1929) with Sunny Jim McKeen as "Snookums", Jack Egan, Derelys Perdue Friday, March 18 9:00am – Information Please (1941) with Boris Karloff [...]...

Theater impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera" sequel was completely shut out of London's prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards on Sunday, March 13, losing out in all seven of the categories it was nominated for.

"Love Never Dies" looked set to dominate the prizegiving after landing the most nods, but it was overlooked in every category and beaten to the Best New Musical trophy by the stage adaptation of "Legally Blonde".

The star of the "West End" show, Sheridan Smith, danced away with Best Musical Actress for her portrayal of sorority queen Elle Woods, the role played by Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 comedy, while her co-star Jill Halfpenny took Best Supporting Role in a Musical.

A production of Terence Rattigan satire "After the Dance" took home the most prizes with a tally of four, including Best Revival and acting nods for Nancy Carroll and supporting actor Adrian Scarborough.

Stephen Sondheim...

Theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Of The Opera sequel was completely shut out of London's prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards on Sunday, losing out in all seven of the categories it was nominated for.

Love Never Dies looked set to dominate the prizegiving after landing the most nods, but it was overlooked in every category and beaten to the Best New Musical trophy by the stage adaptation of Legally Blonde.

The star of the West End show, Sheridan Smith, danced away with Best Musical Actress for her portrayal of sorority queen Elle Woods - the role played by Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 comedy - while her co-star Jill Halfpenny took Best Supporting Role in a Musical.

A production of Terence Rattigan satire After the Dance took home the most prizes with a tally of four, including Best Revival and acting nods for Nancy Carroll and supporting actor Adrian Scarborough.

Stephen Sondheim's Into The Woods was named Best Musical Revival, while Queen musical We Will Rock You landed the BBC Radio 2 audience award.

Other winners included David Thaxton (Best Actor in a Musical for Passion) and Howard Davies (Best Director for The White Guard), and race relations show Clybourne Park claimed Best New Play.

The Laurence Olivier Awards celebrate the best of the year's West End shows.

Sheridan Smith has won Best Musical Actress for her performance in Legally Blonde: The Musical at tonight’s 35th Olivier Awards in London. The stage version of the MGM comedy also won Best New Musical, while Jill Halfpenny won Best Supporting Musical Performance. Britain’s state-backed National Theatre swept the board with seven wins across two productions. Thea Sharrock’s production of After the Dance won four awards for Best Revival, Best Actress for Nancy Carroll, Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Adrian Scarborough and Best Costume Design. Howard Davies picked up Best Director for his production of The White Guard, which also won Best Lighting and Best Set Design. Presenters at this year’s show, held at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, included Patrick Stewart, Matthew Fox (Lost), Rupert Everett, James Purefoy and Jonny Lee Miller. Those in the audience included Derek Jacobi, Tamsin Grieg and Joan Plowright.

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest production "Love Never Dies" is in line to be one of the big winners at the Laurence Olivier Awards in Britain next month after picking up seven nominations. The theater impresario's "Phantom of the Opera" sequel has received nods in the Best New Musical category, as well as musical acting nominations for the show's stars Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess and Summer Strallen, despite mixed reviews from critics.

Acting veteran Sir Derek Jacobi is up for the Best Actor prize for his acclaimed turn in "King Lear", and will compete for the honor against David Suchet ("All My Sons"), Mark Ryland ("La Bete"), Roger Alam ("Henry VI") and Rory Kinnear ("Hamlet").

Emma Thompson's sister Sophie is up for Best Actress for "Clybourne Park" alongside "Episodes" star Tamsin Greig for "The Little Dog Laughed", Tracie Bennett for "End of the Rainbow" and Nancy Carroll for...

The Society of London Theatre today announced the nominations for its 2011 Olivier Awards, the U.K. equivalent of the Tonys. "Love Never Dies," the sequel to "The Phantom of the Opera," garnered the most nominations with seven, despite opening to a mixed reception. Solt also announced initiatives to revitalize the awards ceremony and reach a broader audience. The society has entered a three-year partnership with MasterCard that will fund efforts to boost the image of the Olivier Awards and London theater around the world. Additionally, Solt announced a new agreement with the BBC for the ceremony to be broadcast live on BBC television and radio. The Olivier Awards will be presented at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on March 13. The nominations for the 2011 Olivier Awards are:Best ActressTracie Bennett, "End of the Rainbow"Nancy Carroll, "After the Dance"Tamsin Greig, "The Little Dog Laughed"Sophie Thompson, "Clybourne Park"Best ActorRoger Allam, "Henry IV Parts 1 & 2"Derek Jacobi,...

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest production Love Never Dies is in line to be one of the big winners at the Laurence Olivier Awards in Britain next month after picking up seven nominations.

The theatre impresario's Phantom of the Opera sequel has received nods in the Best New Musical category, as well as musical acting nominations for the show's stars Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess and Summer Strallen, despite mixed reviews from critics.

Acting veteran Sir Derek Jacobi is up for the Best Actor prize for his acclaimed turn in King Lear, and will compete for the honour against David Suchet (All My Sons), Mark Ryland (La Bete), Roger Alam (Henry VI) and Rory Kinnear (Hamlet).

Emma Thompson's sister Sophie is up for Best Actress for Clybourne Park alongside Episodes star Tamsin Greig for The Little Dog Laughed, Tracie Bennett for End of the Rainbow and Nancy Carroll for After The Dance.

Clybourne Park, The Little Dog Laughed, Sucker Punch, Tribes and End of the Rainbow will compete for the Best New Play honour.

The awards, which celebrate the best of the year's West End shows, will take place at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 13 March.

Kim Cattrall has been nominated for a coveted theater award. The "Sex and the City" star's turn as Amanda in "Private Lives" sees her considered for the Best Actress in a Play prize at the 11th Whatsonstage.com Awards.

She will face competition from "End of the Rainbow" star Tracie Bennett, Helen McCrory for her role in "The Late Middle Classes", "Ruined" star Jenny Jules, Nancy Carroll from "After the Dance" and "All My Sons" actress Zoe Wanamaker.

The Best Actor in a Play award will be contested by Benedict Cumberbatch from "After the Dance", Kim's "Private Lives" co-star Matthew Mcfadyen, "Hamlet" and "Measure For Measure" star Rory Kinnear, "Deathtrap" and "London Assurance" actor Simon Russell Beale, "The Real Thing"'s Toby Stephens and "All My Sons" star David Suchet.

"All My Sons" received more nominations than any other production, being considered for accolades in six different categories. The most...

Veteran British actor Sir Michael Gambon was honored for his longstanding stage career at the annual London Evening Standard Theatre Awards on Sunday, November 28 night. The "Harry Potter" star made his debut in the West End in the 1960s and has carried on appearing in live productions while working in films - and he landed the prestigious Lebedev Special Award to mark his career on the stage.

Founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company Sir Peter Hall was also handed a special honor - the Golden Seagull award - for his contribution to world theatre. Nancy Carroll was honored with The Natasha Richardson Best Actress award for her role as Joan in Terence Rattigan's "After the Dance", and received the trophy from the late star's husband, Liam Neeson.

The Best Actor prize went to Rory Kinnear for two Shakespearean roles, as Hamlet and Angelo in "Measure for Measure", while Best...

Veteran British actor Sir Michael Gambon was honoured for his longstanding stage career at the annual London Evening Standard Theatre Awards on Sunday night.

The Harry Potter star made his debut in the West End in the 1960s and has carried on appearing in live productions while working in films - and he landed the prestigious Lebedev Special Award to mark his career on the stage.

Founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company Sir Peter Hall was also handed a special honour - the Golden Seagull award - for his contribution to world theatre.

Nancy Carroll was honoured with The Natasha Richardson Best Actress award for her role as Joan in Terence Rattigan's After the Dance, and received the trophy from the late star's husband, Liam Neeson.

The Best Actor prize went to Rory Kinnear for two Shakespearean roles, as Hamlet and Angelo in Measure for Measure, while Best Director was awarded to Howard Davies for his work on The White Guard and Arthur Miller's All My Sons.

Stephen Sondheim's Passion, which was staged to mark his 80th birthday earlier this year, fought off competition from Legally Blonde and Les Miserables to win the Ned Sherrin award for Best Musical, and Best Play went to Bruce Norris' racial drama Clybourne Park.

The Editor's Shooting Star award went to Daniel Kaluuya for his performance in boxing drama Sucker Punch.

Deputy Editor of the London Evening Standard Sarah Sands says, "This year's winners illustrate the astonishing range of talent drawn to the stage. London theatre is, by far, the best in the world, and the Evening Standard is proud of its deep associations with it."...

Katharine Hepburn, Rossano Brazzi in David Lean‘s Summertime (top); Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant in Howard Hawks‘ Bringing Up Baby (bottom) Katharine Hepburn having her own private day as part of Turner Classic Movies‘ "Summer Under the Stars" series doesn’t make my pulse race or my heart palpitate. I mean, Hepburn could be an outstanding actress, but her movies are always playing on TCM, and many have found their way onto DVD and, way back when, VHS. [Katharine Hepburn schedule.] (Mr./Ms. TCM, for next year, how about a John Gilbert Day or a Ramon Novarro Day or a Catherine Deneuve Day or a Sessue Hayakawa Day or a Nancy Carroll Day or a Lizabeth Scott Day? Heck, I’d gladly accept a Polly Moran Day.) Among the eleven Hepburn vehicles being presented by TCM (in addition to David Heeley‘s 1993 documentary Katharine Hepburn: All About Me), my favorite is Howard Hawks...

Trevor Cooper (Richard Noakes), Sam Cox (Jellaby), Lucy Griffiths (Chloë Coverly), Tom Hodgkins (Captain Brice), Hugh Mitchell (Augustus/Gus Coverly) and George Potts (Ezra Chater), today join the previously announced Samantha Bond (Hannah Jarvis), Nancy Carroll (Lady Croom), Jessie Cave (Thomasina Coverly), Neil Pearson (Bernard Nightingale), Dan Stevens (Septimus Hodge) and Ed Stoppard (Valentine Coverly) as rehearsals begin for David Leveaux's new production of Tom Stoppard's multi award-winning play Arcadia.

David Leveaux will direct a cast including Samantha Bond, Nancy Carroll, Jessie Cave, Neil Pearson, Dan Stevens and Ed Stoppard in a new production of Tom Stoppard's multi award-winning play Arcadia. Previewing at the Duke of York's Theatre from 27 May, with press night on 11 June, Arcadia is currently booking until 12 September 2009. Set designs are by Hildegard Bechtler, costume design is by Amy Roberts, lighting is by Paul Anderson and sound is by Simon Baker. Arcadia will be presented in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions, Robert G. Bartner and Roger Berlind.