Customer Reviews

Hedda Hopper's Hollywood [VHS]

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Famed gossip columnist Hedda Hopper starred in a series of newsreels from Hollywood in the early 1940's and this video is a collection of six of them, each running about 9 minutes. These shorts are fun for people who love the stars and film personalities of the era. Most of the stars are glimpsed just briefly but a few are seen in longer segments. Regrettably much of the footage is silent with narration by Hopper as opposed to letting us hear the stars speak (this is a particular shame in the extended footage of silent star William S. Hart at home.) Among the longer segments are Gary Cooper and Ernest Hemingway hunting together, Mary Pickford throwing a charity function at Pickfair attended by servicemen and featuring a fashion show of vintage fashions inspired by old Saturday Evening Post covers modeled by Lola Lane, Anita Louise, other starlets (don't miss Hedda's own outrageous dress in this segment, a print that appears to be art of crickets or are they roaches?); Jane Withers' 16th western birthday party attended by Freddie Bartholmew, Dickie Moore, Cora Sue Collins, and other child stars; Bob Hope performing for the servicemen with silent star Elsie Janis, Jerry Colonna and Frances Langford, Hedda dropping in on a Kay Kyser performance with Ginny Simms (this one contains a musical number), a visit to the Hollywood nightclub the Mocambo, Mary Pickford breaking the ground for the brand new Motion Picture Retirement Home, Hedda inviting a group of young performers to her home with guest of honor silent star William Farnum as they screen a silent film starring Hedda, Constance Bennett at home with her three young children, John Howard showing off his woodcarving skills, a ranch home visit with radio's Lum and Abner. There is also a nice segment on dogs who are trained to perform for the movies. Among the stars who are briefly seen are Claudette Colbert, Desi Arnaz, Fred MacMurray, May Whitty, Ona Munson, Boris Karloff, Joan Bennett, Loretta Young, Betty Grable, George Raft, and May Robson. The average person might find this tape boring but those who are fascinated with the movies and stars of the era will likely enjoy it very much.

This is the coolest little group of shorts ever put together. Six on the vhs, as i recall. Some great moments- In the first HHH short, she visits silent cowboy William S. Hart's home in Santa Clarita, Ca. (not far from here). Her offscreen narration is describing his gun collection, one of which (she says) 'He still knows how to handle today'. Cut to a funny scene of Hart looking like a complete newbie shooting twin revolvers, almost hitting himself in the foot.. There's a scene where she walks into a Kay Kyser band rehearsal(which is why I got it), and they serenade her with ALEXANDER THE SWOOSE. Too many great moments to name here- just GET IT before it's discontinued!