In the very early years of the 20th Century, the brothers Mazer – Joseph and Louis- began running a jewelry business in Philadelphia. It was 1917. After a few years they moved out to New York where they opened a jewelry shop that soon changed the name to Mazer&Company Inc.
From the beginning Macel Boucher was the designer of the business but in the mid 30s he abandoned them to establish his own enterprise.
Mazer&Company Inc started developing high quality jewelry using Swarovski cristal. They conquered the market with medium price pieces but today collectors consider their pieces very valuable.
In 1946 the two brothers left the nest: Joseph Mazer released Joseph J Mazer & Company (better known as JOMAZ) and Louis Mazer kept the original business until 1951 when he definitely stopped the comercial activity.
So it was Joseph Mazer who did the first Jobs for Jomaz the famous pieces dipped in gold. That was his clear emblem during the 60s.
And here’s one of those pieces; a brooch dipped in gold from the 60s. One of the pieces you’ll be able to see and enjoy in the next showroom that Lopez Linares is getting ready.
The first Mazer&Company Inc’s pieces are maked with the badge “Mazer Bros”. However, the last jewelry is already marked as “Mazer”, “Joseph Mazer” or “Jomaz”.
Jomaz had several designers along its short career: Andre Fleurida, Thierry Muglero or Sandra Miller were some of its artisans.
In 1948 an advert in the renowend Haper’s Bazaar magazine said about the brand:
It won the Oscar for the Best Actress in a Leading Role (Audrey Hepburn), Best Writing and Best Costume Design.
The movie also got many other awards I invite you to check in the IDBM website
Curiosities:
Gregory Peck suggested that Audrey Hepburn should be over him on the credits. He knew she was going to win an Oscar.
William Wyler used to shot the same scene once and again. That didn’t happen with the “Mouth of Truth” scene though, when Gregory Peck hid his hand under his sleeve and Audrey Hepburn’s reaction was totally natural and unexpected. The scene was not repeated.
It was the first American movie entirely shot in Italy.
The scene in the Embassy took real Italian nobles who donated their salaries to charity. The last scene about the press conference, the journalists are also real ones.
Wyler was about to cancel the project because he just wanted Jean Simmons but she was not available.
It’s the forth film out of the 10 best romántica comedies of all times, according to the American Film Institute.
Cary Grant was one of the options for the main character, although he was already too old for the role. Years later he worked with Audrey Hepburn in Charade and the became close friends.
Roman Holiday is a seductive and elegant romantic comedy that pushed its main character and the city up to the icons of Hollywood.
The movie was thought to be shot in Hollywood and starred by a first level actress, such as Elizabeth Taylor, among others. But Wyler insisted on making it in Roma, since the expenses would be lower if they shot in black and White and hired a totally stranger.
To being the first film where the young and charming Audrey Hepburn was main character, it was a complete success for critics, public and the Academy. She played her role like if it perfectly fitted her: an European Princess who join a journalist to go in search of adventures across the city. Of course the journalist ended up totally in love with her.
We can’t forget those fabulous scenes over the Vespa or the funny scene in the Mouth of Truth. The movie is like a beautiful fairy tail adapted to reality.
Audrey’s true innocence was legendary and the reason public would adore her forever.
With an impeccable photography, the film walk through the city of Rome and show us some of its most popular places. The scene where both characters cross the city on a Vespa caused the worldwide interest in that vehicle.
It’s one of the most touching ends I’ve seen so far…
In the image:
Audrey wears a wedding dress that never used eventually. While she was acting for Roman Holiday she was about to get marry with James Hanson, a playboy from London. However they broke up just a couple of weeks before the wedding.
Audrey asked one of the designers (Zoe Fontana) to give her wedding dress to other girl who cannot afford herself a dress like that. The fortunate was Amabile Altobello, a 20 years-old girl who lived right outside Rome. The dress was in auction in 2009 and was sold for 16,000 euros.
Nominated for 2 Oscars in 1953: Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture.
Golden Globe in 1953 to Donald O’Connor as Best Motion Picture Actor in a Musical/Comedy.
The movie also won many other awards that you can check in the IDBM website.
Curiosities:
Gene Kelly insulted Debbie Reynolds because, according to his criteria, she apparently didn’t know how to dance. Fred Astaire found her crying in the study and tried to help her.
The mytic scene from Singin’ In The Rain took a whole day to get it ready. Despite Gene Kelly had temperatura, the sequence was taken in just one shot, which is exactly what you can see in the film.
After performing the scene “Makeemlaugh”, Donald O´Connor was hospitalized because of exhaustion. He used to smoke 4 packs of cigarettes per day.
Donald O´Connor recognized he didn’t like to work together with Gene Kelly, since he found him very tyrant.
After the “Good Morning” show, Debbie Reynolds had to be taken to her dressing room with blood in her feet. However, Gene Kelly forced her to repeat the tap dancing sounds.
Debbie Reynolds was only 19 years old, living still with her parents. She used to woke up at 4 am to go to the study after a long way (she had to take 3 buses). Sometimes she even prefered to stay in the study overnight.
The original film was burnt in a fire.
Cyd Charisse has to learn how to smoke to act in the scene together with Gene Kelly.
This movie is the fith in the Rank of best films of the History, according to The American Film Institute, and in the 10th position according to Entertainment Weekly. However both companies agree that it is the best musical ever.
The Directors actually thought first of Judy Garland, June Allyson and Ann Miller for the role of Kathy Selden, buta ll of them were too old. They also thought in Jane Powell and Leslie Caron.
Debbie Reynolds had to use onion in the last scene whe she had to cry.
It’s the best musical comedy of all times. Period. Gene Kelly is sensational. He was perfectionist and demanding both with himself and the rest of the crew. That way he reached the highest level on the cast performance.
He also was much more atlethic than Fred Astaire, and his scenes are just spectacular. It’s also worth the mention of the amazing cast that joined Gene Kelly: Donald O’Connor makes an excellent performance making us laugh out of loud and the very young Debbie Reynolds perfectly knew how to accomplish the hard role she had to perform.
Some musical scenes you can’t miss: “Makeemlaugh”, “Mosessupposses”, “GoodMorning”, the spectacular legs of Cyd Charisse and of course, the show star in the movie: “Singin’ in the rain”.
Marlon Brando’s debut couldn’t have been been better. The actor is colossal in his role of a lower-class brute and arrogant chauvinist. He also is challenging, disobedient and his only motivation is to be recognized by his strength and sexual appealing.
His strong personality has been marked by alcohol. To be honest, I started hating this man after a few minutes. His slight for his wife and sister in law’s fragility and vulnerability is totally merciless.
Marlon fights Vivien Leigh, an unstable, weak, fragile and liar woman. Her performance is shocking. She plays the role of a southern lady who lives in a happy past and looks around all the time in need of friendlinss, admiring the beauty of life. The fear in her eyes every time Marlon Brando walks near her seems to be so real that you’ll only feel an inmense pity for her all the movie long.
The battle between the two of them becomes in an interpretative duel covered in a non-comparable magnetism. This way Vivian Leigh is the perfect half for Brando. They both make an impressive couple.
A Streetcar Named Desire is hard, very hard… The two-hours film won’t let you remain indifferent.
It’s imposible to actually see it without feeling a lump in your throat.
Curiosities:
Vivien Leigh who suffered in real life from a bipolar disorder had problems trying to distinguish her real life of her character’s.
During the film Kowalski appartment is getting more and more tiny, just to enphasize Blanche’s claustrophobia.
Censorship removed 68 sentences and then the Legion of Christ will add some more cuts related to homosexuality and a rape.
Blanche’s role was first offered to Jessica Tandy and Olivia of Havilland.
The phrase “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers” is in the 75 position in the Top of best movie phrases. By the way, the movie is the 47th best one in the history.
Marlon Brando hated his character.
Vivien Leigh only was 36 years old.
The film was shot in just 36 working days.
William Wyler would’ve preferred to do the film with Bette Davis as main character.
Awards:
The movie won 4 Oscars:
Best Actress in a Leading Role (Vivien Leigh)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Karl Malden)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Kim Hunter)
Best Art Direction – Set Decoration, Black and White
It also won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress (Kim Hunter)
The film was nominated and actually won many others awards that you can check in Wikipedia.
Nominated for one Oscar in 1952: Best Music, Original Song.
Curiosities:
The scene where Fred Astair dances in a room it was shot by placing the camera and operator in a 10 metres long rotatory container.
According to an interview, Fred Astair tried to dance with more than 30 coat stands before the Productor made one just for him, at a cost of around 4000 dollars (nowadays). The coat stand disappeared not long after the release day.
Both Fred Astair and Jane Powell sing together the longest song title in a Hollywood film: How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Love You When You Know I’ve Been a Liar All My Life
June Allyson and Judy Garland were candidates to play the main role.
In England the title was changed to Wedding Bells just to avoid a confusion with the recent Royal Wedding of Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II)
The store Harridge´s is a mix between Harrod’s and Claridge’s, both very well-known shopping mall and 5-star Hotel in London, respectively.
The scene dancing over the roof seems to have been taken in just one shot. However if you pay closer attention there are three, maybe up to four very sutile cuts.
The plot reminds a bit what really happend to Fred Astaire’s sister Adele, who got married to Lord Charles Cavendish, son of the Duke of Devonshire.
In my opinion it’s a classic music with an impressive production.
It’s probably the movie that pushed Fred Astaire up in fame worldwide. He was claimed as the best dancer ever in Hollywood. Actually there was people who even believed he was able to fly.
The scene I’m referring to it’s the mitic momento when Fred Astaire, who starts dancing down in the floor ends walking through the ceiling like a magician. The whole scene was perfectly developed and edited, specially taking into account the moment it was shot, when visual effects were not easy at all.
Fred Astaire convinced everyone that cinema from the mid 20th century is the kind of spectacle everyone wants to enjoy in a film. He also shows again he has a special skill for dancing with an exquisite elegance. He did so not only in the famouse scene we’ve been talking about but in the boat addressing England. Or, why not? That scene where Fred Astaire dances with the famous coat stand, almost as famous as the rotating room.
If you like musicals and dance, those three scenes are really worth it so is the movie itself.
In this video I’ve found for you it’s easier to understand the way they shot the scene in the rotating room.
Nominated to 4 Oscars in 1947 for Best Director, Best Writing, Best Film Editing and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. The film didn’t get any of these awards.
It did win the Edgar Allan Poe Award to Best Motion Picture in 1947
In 1946 won the Prize of the National Board of Review in the USA to the Top Ten Films.
The film also won the award from the National Film Preservation Board in the US.
Curiosities:
It was the first movie of a very young Burt Lancaster who had been an acrobat for a circus until then.
Burt Lancaster had to train for two months with a Boxing Champion to act in the scenes with boxing. Those scenes were shot with a real boxer joining Burt Lancaster. He happened to do it really well.
The film is a Hemingway’s short novel adaptation.
The high quality film work is unquestionable, that’s probably why It’s considered by many like the best film within the “black movies” of all times. The 10 first minutes of the tape, when the plot is told are specially good.
The Director uses flashbacks to take us from the past to the present showing us the thread of the story. I love how the movie is directed. I like suspense and crime films and The Killers is one of the best I’ve ever seen.
If I should take out a scene, I’d choose the Burt Lancaster’s face the moment he sees the celestial and beautiful Ava Gardner. She is a Venus. This was the movie where she started building the character of a “femme fatale” that always was her most famous cinema feature.
Burt Lancaster is superb in his role as a boxer and a “white glove thief”. By the way, he was even more handsome than I could remember.
It’s not fair we only can admire the beauty in women in classic cinema… Sometimes actors are better in attraction!
If you like black movies, based on crime novels this film will be one of you favourite. I’m pretty sure!
Nominated for the Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Oscar in 1951.
Nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe in 1951.
It won the award of the National Film Preservation Board in 1992.
Nominated for the Best Written American Comedy award by the Writers Guild of America, USA in 1950 and 1951.
Curiosities:
One of the first scenes with Judy Halliday talking to Katharine Hepburn she seems to be shaking. She was not acting that moment. Since she was inexperienced at acting she was very nervous of performing close to Hepburn.
Back in 2008 the American Film Institute described the film as one of the 10 greatest romantic comedies of all times.
One of the most famous quotes of the movie was: “It’s the hilarious answer to who wears pants”
It’s based on a true story of the divorce of two cinema actors: Raymond Massey and Adrianne Allen.
Spencer Tracy always insisted to appear within the end credits close to Katharine Hepburn. The scriptwriter Garson Kanin told him once: “She is a lady, you are a gentleman… Should ladies go first?” Tracy answered: “This is a movie you fool, not a lifeboat”.
The script was entirely written thinking of the main couple of actors.
The film was shot in New York and like in the rest of the movies where Tracy and Hepburn appeared together, both slept in separate buildings to avoid rumours.
I couldn’t wait to watch it again!
You’ll have the feeling of floating after watching this film. The taste in your mouth will be so good that you won’t want it to finish. At least, that is what happens to me each time I see this couple acting together. In this film they are sublime!
They are funny, ironic, racy and over all clever.
The comedy is a sparkling approach to the eternal battle of genres. Maybe no other movie in the history has represented so well the women fight to achieve a position into society the same way men always had.
Over 50 years have already past and the film is still fresh like back then. It’s possible that in the moment it was shot didn’t get as many prizes as deserved precisely because of that, because of how delicate was the matter.
The quality of the script and the extreme importance of the subject still today make it a movie that you’ll never be fed up of.
The main couple, maybe the most solid and convincing one in the history of cinema will lead you from one scene to another very comfortably. Then you’ll be looking forward seeing them acting together again. You’ll wish being part of the complicity between them once again.
Because the most remarkable thing about this film is, with no doubt, the final fight, where no one loses but all win.
In the movie, princess Alejaxandra is seduced by the prince Albert. After not too long, her first son for real was called Albert… Was it a coincidence?
Jessie Roy Landis has the role of the Grace Kelly’s mother. Exactly the same role as in To Catch a Thief.
Other names were suggested for the role of Prince Albert, like Rex Harrison or Joseph Cotten.
The film was released the same day that Grace Kelly got married with prince Rainier III.
It was the first American movie for Alec Guinness.
It also was the second-to-last Grace Kelly’s film before her Royal wedding. The last one actually was High Society.
Grace Kelly learnt fencing and she refused to be replaced by a double.
Helen Rose did the whole custome design. The next year she also designed Grace Kelly’s bridal gown.
Exactly. The movie was released just two days after the royal wedding in Monaco. The purpose was to get the most out of the ceremony to make the film successful in theatres.
Like in a fairy tale, the film producer MGM predicted the royal position that the future princess of Monaco would actually be performing a year later.
The movie introduces Grace Kelly to the world as the princess of America. She had just won an Oscar and the producer was very proud of her. That’s why she was extremely pampered by MGM.
With the tone of a romantic comedy, the movie is about the many attempts of the Queen Maria Dominika in order to get her beautiful daughter (Grace Kelly) married with the future King Albert (Alec Guinnes)
I have to admit I laughed out of load while watching it, specially during the first half of the movie thanks to the enjoyable character Princess Beatrix. Her role of an adorable but also distracted unmarried uncle is really lovable and funny at once.
No need to say Grace Kelly makes a wonderful performance in her role of the future princess… A cheerful, well-mannered, sweet and refined princess-to-be. Although her character is over all smart and distinguish.
I’ve included below the funniest scenes of the movie along with a picture taken by the photograph Charles Vidor who, at least to me, perfectly achieved to show Grace Kelly’s elegance to the world.
Nominated back in 1947 to the Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Claude Rains) and Best Writing, Original Screenplay.
Bambi Awards in 1952 to Ingrid Bergman as the Best Actress – International.
Nominated in 1946 to the Grand Prize of the Cannes Film Festival (Alfred Hitchcock).
National Film Registry in 2006 at the National Film Preservation Board, USA.
Curiosities:
The scenes where Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman play to “kissing without kissing” were designed that way in order to avoid the Hayes code (a kiss shouldn’t last over 3 seconds).
Hitchcock said once he was watched for 3 months after the release date since the movie showed uranium commerce.
The actress who performed the role as Claude Rains’ mother only was 3 years older than the French actor.
The scene over the balcony with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman was almost entirely improvised.
The original screenplay showed Alicia (Ingrid Bergman) as a prostitute.
David O. Selznick (producer) actually preferred Vivien Leigh in the role of Alicia (to be honest, it would have been great!).
Alfred Hitchcock asked to the Nobel Prize in Physics how to make an atomic bomb. However, the winner didn’t want to answer. Although he did tell Hitchcock it could be kept in a bottle.
Claude Rains did many shots over a box in order to look like as tall as Cary Grant. That fact was far from reality though. Claude Rains actually was 1,69 cm tall while Cary Grant was 1,87 and Ingrid Bergman was 1,75 cm tall.
This one was the only performance in an American movie by Leopoldine Konstantine (Mme. Sebastian).
You’ll find Hitchcock himself (who usually appears in all his movies) in a party celebrated in the house, holding a glass of champaign.
This week was time for Notorious, a Hitchcock’s film. I have to admit I couldn’t wait to see Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant together once again. I love them acting!
I can say it’s with no doubt one of the best Hitchcock’s movies. The “cursed director” never won an Oscar, even though he was considered the best director of thrillers in the history of cinema.
Within this story, you’ll enjoy the mix of love and intrigue, with Cary Grant performing an amazing role as an American spy. The actor knows exactly how to stop his feelings towards Ingrid Bergman, almost a prostitute who accepts being blackmailed in order to unmask the German spy (casted by Claude Rains).
Grant is smart and elegant along the entire movie. I loved those shots the director took of the actor’s back. His elegance invades the whole screen. I could say it’s the only film out of all I’ve already seen and share in our Film of the Week where the main actor rules most of the scenes, instead of the actress. He almost eclipses Bergman in some scenes!
Ingrid Bergman was fascinating over the second half of the film. Her performance as an obedient wife as well as spy is just sensational.
The Master of Thrillers shows once again how to keep watchers stuck to their seats. He succeeded with me at least! He got my close attention all the time looking forward to the ending. I didn’t move! I even got nervous in a few scenes.
It was the second film Bogart and Bacall performed together. After three months, they got married.
The scene where Bogart and Bacall chatted about horses was added after the film was edited, in order to introduce a slyness atmosphere. Howard had already done this previously in To have and have not.
Lauren Bacall herself sings the song in one of the scenes. That is her voice, unlike some rumours that said it was doubled.
Sternwood’s mansion is exactly the same one as in Mildred Pierce.
The scene where Eddie Mars is murdered by his own men was reused by the director in his last western El Dorado.
William Faulkner helped Hawks to write the plot. When the author of the book, Raymond Chandler was asked who murdered the driver, he didn’t know what to answer.
The movie was a success in theatres. However reviews said that it was an inmoral and violent film.
It’s full of contradictions, cynical talks, irony and hard men. The mystery starts the moment Marlowe chats with the General Sternwood in a dark and sad atmosphere, almost stifling where nobody gives anything away and everyone search their own benefit. It’s a pessimist and grey world.
The detective seems to know everything about the story. And the woman, even though she’s a secondary actress and the love story is also underground, makes the plot explode in sparks every time she has a scene with the main character. The scene at General’s house, where Vivien – Lauren Bacall – tries to find out why his father hired him is just brilliant. The following day, at Marlowe’s office, when they are laughing at the police on the phone is almost an icon to the comedy genre. Same happens with the unforgettable scene at the bar while they are talking about horses. Bogart and Bacall connect totally and seem to be an exceptional couple.
When the plot is about to be in depths of despair, Bogart and Bacall know what joke to tell in order to make you have some fun. It’s not that the plot is difficult to understand (although I have to admit I thought I missed something when it finished) but that I’m sure it’s a movie made exclusively for the two of the main characters.
Bogart makes a sensational performance and Lauren Bacall, with her inimitable voice and her seductive glance shows she has learnt all about the profession, even though she was only 20 years old by then.
The argument – although confusing sometimes – is brilliantly directed by Hawks. He makes viewers follow Marlowe wherever he goes. Public know no more than the main character himself. That way Hawks gets you totally into the plot.
Let me finish this review with this curious image for you to understand the mess there’s in the movie, and the amount of different character performing in it.
Don’t stop paying attention every second in the movie, I recommend.
