I don’t remember exactly what day it was, but I do know it was sometime in November 2002 that I first launched this website. Back then it was a pretty hokey deal that I had put together using Microsoft FrontPage. The font was Georgia and the background color was Thistle, two touches I was quite proud of. I somehow managed to get the thing up online all by myself, which I felt was most impressive. At the time I was single, in grad school working on my MLIS, thin, and had just begun researching Ann’s life in earnest. Now, ten years later, I am a wife and mother, I oversee the photo collection at the Los Angeles Public Library, I’m a cancer survivor who is not quite as thin as I used to be, and have finally finished writing the Ann Dvorak biography. In other words, it’s been one hell of a decade! Thanks to all of you who have hung with me over the past ten years. The book is just around the corner.

Also, The Crowd Roars was on TCM yesterday and was totally off my radar, so my apologies if anyone actually relies on me for news about Dvorak film airings. However, the Warner Archive has it on sale right now for 30% off plus free shipping, so what are you waiting for?

Today’s issue of the Los Angeles Times features a review of the new book, The Entertainer: Movies, Magic and My Father’s Twentieth Century, by Margaret Talbot, daughter of actor Lyle Talbot. Low and behold, the image used to illustrate the review both online and in print is one of Lyle and Ann Dvorak from 1934’s Murder in the Clouds. Ann and Lyle were frequently cast opposite each other, so in my mind’s eye this is completely appropriate. However, considering that Talbot also appeared opposite the likes of Bette Davis and Carole Lombard, it is kind of amazing they would go with a photo of Ann.  Good for you, L.A. Times!

The book itself is due out on November 8th. Margaret Talbot is on staff at the New Yorker and gave a preview last month in an article titled The Screen Test, which indicates the The Entertainer is more than just a straight biography on Lyle Talbot, but is also a glimpse of a bygone era through the eyes of someone is lived it . For those in the Los Angeles area, the author will be doing a signing at Book Soup on November 17th. I’ve already booked the babysitter for that afternoon!

I can hardly believe it myself, but a six-week course on Ann Dvorak is going to be offered at Facets Film College in Chicago. The class, titled “Ann Dvorak: Pre-Code Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel,” will be taught by historian Doug Deuchler and run from November 14-December 19. He will be screening six of Ann’s titles; Scarface, The Strange Love of Molly Louvain, Three on a Match, Housewife, Heat Lightning, and Side Streets. For people taking the class who are not familiar with Ann’s work, this should be one hell of an introduction.

If you would have told me 15 years ago, when I first conceived of writing Ann’s biography, that a college-level course would be offered on her, I would have laughed in disbelief. Actually, if you would have told me this a few months ago, I would still have a hard time believing it. This only goes to show how prevalent Ann has become over he past few years and that a full length book on her may actually have a market.  I think she would be thrilled to know this much attention is being paid to her films.

Being a West Coast girl, I unfortunately will not be able to attend this landmark class. But for those of you residing in the Windy City, you have no excuse!

Today marks what would have been Ann Dvorak’s 101st birthday. Fire up the media player of your choice, turn on an Ann movie, and celebrate the life and career of this amazing actress.

I have been a big fan of Tom Tierney’s paper doll books since I was a kid, when my grandma bought me his Vivien Leigh collection. I am now an even bigger fan of Mr. Tierney after coming across his “Movie Mobsters” paper dolls and discovering he included Ann Dvorak as Cesca Camonte in Scarface! The book was published in May of 2011, and how it could have not landed on my Ann-D radar for almost an entire year is a mystery. Oh how I wish I had Mr. Tierney’s talent, so I could create an entire paper doll book devoted to Ann and include such costumes as the “Fish Dress” from Midnight Court, the bird-like thing from Sweet Music, and the poofy-sleeved monstrosity from Merrily We Live.

This delighted me so much that I had to share. OK, back to writing the biography.

(Images reproduced with permission from Tom-Kat Paper Dolls.)

The availability of the following titles is not exactly recent news, but still worth reporting, even a few months later.

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami, a 1947 period drama based on the Guy de Maupassant novel Bel Ami, is available via Netflix streaming. For years, my copy of this film was so bad that it was barely watchable, and I did not much care for it. However, having viewed a decent print though Netflix, I have revised my opinion. In fact, I  found the film so enjoyable that I watched it a second time within a couple of days.

The story revolves around the ever-charming George Sanders as Georges Duroy, a cad and scoundrel who snogs his way up through 1880s Parisian society. Ann Dvorak, is Madeleine Forestier,  a prize conquest who still gets thrown over when Sanders moves onto greener pastures.  I have yet to see a George Sanders film that wasn’t made completely watchable by his presence, and this is no exception. Madeleine is one of the stronger roles of Ann’s post-war career, and she was so anxious to play the part that she reportedly bought her way out of her contract with Republic Pictures in order to appear in the movie. I am not sure if she thought the film would give her career a big boost, which it didn’t, but Madeleine is an interesting female character and it’s easy to see why Ann coveted the part. On a completely superficial note, this is one of the few times she appeared in period clothing and looks stunning. The film also marked an onscreen reunion of sorts for Ann and Warren William, her long suffering husband in Three on a Match. This would end up being William’s last film. Plus, how can one resist a 22-year-old Angela Lansbury throwing herself at Sanders and dancing her head off?

Incidentally, the film has been remade as Bel Ami, with Uma Thurman in the Ann Dvorak role, and is due to be released in March of this year.

Over at the Internet Archive, four presumably public domain titles are now available for anyone to view.

Gangs of New York (1938) – This has nothing to do with the Martin Scorsese film of the same name and was unavailable for many years. This Republic Production was highly coveted by Sam Fuller fans, as this was one of his early script writing credits. Unfortunately, it’s pretty lame and Ann’s hair and costumes are hideous. Additionally, the cat-fight in the above photo never takes place onscreen. I only recommend this if you are a Charles Bickford completest, though judging from the two reviews posted on the Internet Archive, I may be in the minority in my dislike for this one.

Manhattan Merry-Go-Round (1937) – Another Republic stinker Ann made shortly after leaving Warner Bros., though it’s not unlike a lot of the tripe she made over in Burbank in the mid-1930s. It’s been years since I have seen it, so I don’t recall the plot (if there was one) but I know Ann is a secretary and loyal girlfriend (yawn) and Gene Autry, Joe DiMaggio, and Cab Calloway show up at some point.

Murder in the Clouds (1934) – Someone must have been asleep at the copyright-wheel over at Warner Bros., because this is the only Dvorak title from that studio which seems to have fallen into the public domain. Ann is the loyal sister and girlfriend to Robert Light & Lyle Talbot in this quickie aviation drama. It’s typical fair for 1930s Ann Dvorak films, but in this one she gets to write out an SOS message on a rooftop which is a slight change of scenery for her.

Abliene Town (1946) – One of a handful of westerns Ann appeared in during the latter half of her career. She wears fancy costumes, gets to sing and dance a bit, and spars with Randolph Scott. Not great, but enjoyable enough and Ann’s characterization of the spunky Rita is what prompts me to think that she may have made a decent Belle Watling.

There’s nothing coming up on TCM for a couple of months, so this should wet your appetite for Ann in the meantime.

Happy New Year!

This is not the only website paying tribute to Ann Dvorak in the days leading up to August 9th, when Turner Classic Movies devotes a full twenty four hours programming to her. As we get closer to the 3:00am PST kick-off of 1932’s Crooner, more and more Dvorak love is popping up elsewhere. Here are some other sites getting ready for Ann Dvorak Day.

Alternative Film Guide – Andre Soares, who interviewed me about AD a while back, takes a two-part look at the films being aired.

Carole & Company: Reflections on Carole Lombard and Classic Hollywood – A brief and nicely illustrated look at AD’s life and career with some added perspective on Lombard’s Pre-Code years.

Classic Movie Search – Cliff Aliperti who also runs Immortal Ephemera and an awesome Warren William tribute site is also eagerly awaiting Ann Dvorak Day.

Examiner.com – Paula Guthat at the Examiner’s Detroit site runs down this week’s Summer Under the Stars line-up, including Ann Dvorak Day.

The Landmark Report – Kristina Dijan takes a closer look at the AD classic Three on a Match.

If you know of any other sites devoting some space to Ann for her big day tomorrow, please leave a comment or email me – christina at anndvorak dot com.

Enjoy Ann Dvorak Day tomorrow!