Random Photo – Dvorak Inspects a Water Heater
On July 17, 2013 by Christina Rice With 8 Comments
- Collection Spotlight
Year of Ann Dvorak: Day 198
Film actors have always been used to endorse products. I have a small collection of flatware ads featuring the likes of Greer Garson, Olivia de Havilland, and Judy Garland hanging in my kitchen, and Ann Dvorak’s likeness was used during her career to proclaim the virtues of make-up, soap, and shoes. Even armed with this knowledge, a photo of a fur-clad Ann inspecting the latest model Ruud water heater is a bit off the wall. This was taken as a publicity photo for Merrily We Live and as far as I know, was never actually used in an official ad for Ruud water heaters.
Egads, that hat!
Okay, it’s a little bit of a stretch … but if you photoshopped a couple of arms on that Ruud water heater … along with an image of Leslie Nielsen on the other side of it … might it look like Ann doing a publicity shot for “Forbidden Planet” with the grandfather of ‘Robby the Robot’?
Hmmmm, Photoshopped Ann Dvorak photos associating her with memorable movies she didn’t appear in…I think you’re onto something!
Greer Garson with flatware in the kitchen? Had to be Louie Mayer’s idea – she was his favorite actress. With the exception of perhaps “Random Harvest”, her appeal and stardom puzzles me. Now the lovely Olivia de Havilland, that’s another story…………..
I love Greer as a librarian in the much-maligned “Adventure” where she executes a ridiculously awesome reference interview with Thomas Mitchell.
How about a belated ‘happy birthday’ to the lovely, indeed, Olivia de Havilland … who turned 97 back on July 1. And who became a part of the Warner Brothers ‘family’ right around the time Ann left it.
I like to think that Ann’s 1936 court case against Warner Bros. inspired Olivia in the 1940s, but I have never had the chance to ask her.
I remember reading that Olivia was supposedly working on an autobiography, hope it happens. The bio of her and sister Joan Fontaine was a good read, but I wanted more. Wonder if they have resolved their problems and made up?
Olivia is on TCM tomorrow morning in one of her earliest films, “Alibi Ike”. A little of star Joe E. Brown goes a long way, but it helps that it’s a baseball movie, and the young Olivia is adorable. Ann shared the distinction of appearing as eye candy/window dressing in a Joe E. film.
As far as I know, Olivia and Joan have no contact. A few years ago, I went to a tribute to Olivia at the Academy and a screening of the Heiress at LACMA. She was there in person for both and was so charming and candid that her memoir should be a fantastic read.