Classic Hollywood MTC Podcasts

Gig Young 2 The Very Unhappy Second Lead

Maureen O Hara The Irish Queen of Technicolor

In the second of this 2 part series on Hollywood Red Heads, this episode tells the story of Maureen O Hara, one of the  most beautiful, athletic, and talented film actresses that ever graced Hollywood film. Born to a well to do family in southern Ireland, and a fierce Irish and American patriot, Maureen speedily rose up the film ladder, appearing in melodramas, westerns, musicals and adventure movies, many of which are viewed as some of the greatest Hollywood films ever made.  Dubbed the Queen of Technicolor, she was and remains the quintessential female counter to John Wayne, their film partnership forever viewed as the symbol of what perfect chemistry between a male and lead female actor could be in the movies.  As well as appearing opposite John Wayne, she fronted movies with many of the great male leads of the studio era, including Tyrone Power and Errol Flynn and was directed by many of the great directors, including the mercurial John Ford, who would have a major impact on her personal and professional life. But like so  many of the great stars of yester year she would suffer greatly for her art, enduring 2 awful husbands, much sexism, unwarranted gossip, and commercial skulldugery, which sometimes hampered her career. This episode of CHMTC tells the story of the trials and tribulations of Maureen O Hara, one of Hollywoods hardworking and greatest actresses, who despite all that was thrown at her on a professional and personal level, forged a great career and found personal happiness.  ENJOY!!!      

Greer Garson: The Hollywood and very British War Hero and Star

Greer Garson was one of the most successful British actresses of the classic Hollywood studio era.  She was attractive, intelligent, hard working and talented. She appeared  in some of the best and most memorable Hollywood films ever made, including movies which inspired and strengthened the British and American War effort  during World War II. But Ms Garson's road to success was not an easy one.  Throughout her life and career, she battled mutiple health scares, anorexia, and troubled marriages, as well as studio bosses and the occaisional leading man, who resented her need to produce quality performances, or were simply keen to confine her to conveying a prim and proper image.  This episode, which marks the return after 3 long years of CHMTC and Mrs Classic Film Fan, tells the story of the life and career of a grand theatre and film actress, who beat all the competition around her and managed to leave Hollywood a star and in one piece-unlike so many others.    

CHMTC Mini Episode 6

Another mini episode by Mrs Classic Film Fan, who has been busy preparing her upcoming main episode on the late great Greer Garson. However, despite the efforts of the coronavirus to work her and her civil service colleagues to death, Mrs Classic Film Fan has discovered 2 great film books, that convey all sorts of interesting information, about the movie stars covered. Scott Eyman's comprehensive and fab  'Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise' more on which can be found via the following link https://bit.ly/CaryGrantBio and Mark Iveson's interesting 'Cursed Horror Stars' which can be accessed via the following link: https://telos.co.uk/shop/film/cursed-horror-stars/    Check out Mrs Classic Film Fans review of these books and give yourself a break from thoughts of C-19 by giving them both a read.   

CHMTC Mini Episode 5

Another mini episode from Mrs Classic Film Fan, on some of the source material used to inform her last podcast, on the late great Jerry Lewis, Mrs CFF also mentions some very interesting podcasts that you might want to give a try, one of which includes a Mrs Classic Film Fan review of an old British film Classic which will be shown on the Talking Pictures satellite channel this month. If you want to know more have a listen to this mini-episode.  Stay safe and as ever thanks for  taking the time to listen to CHMTC.