The End of the Affair (1955).

The End of the Affair(1955). Directed by Edward Dmytryk. Cast: Deborah Kerr, Van Johnson, Peter Cushing and John Mills. It is based on the novel The End of the Affair by Graham Greene. It was filmed in London, around the Chester Terrace. Gregory Peck was offered the male lead.

After Maurice Bendrix, receives an honorable discharge from the military and goes back to his writing. Soon after, Maurice, is invited to a party at the home of Henry Miles and his wife Sarah. Henry suggests that Maurice interview Sarah for his new book.

 

 A couple of days later, Maurice meets with Sarah and over a short period of time they fall deeply in love, meeting often at a cozy country inn. Maurice, becomes extremely jealous of her.

In London, Sarah meets Maurice at his apartment and the couple are attacked by German "buzz bombs". Maurice suggests they go below to the shelter, but Sarah worries about his landlady seeing them together. Maurice goes downstairs alone and is caught in the explosion and buried under a pile of rubble.

After regaining consciousness, Maurice goes back upstairs and to find Sarah kneeling by the bed praying, as she believed him dead. Sarah tends to Maurice's injuries and then quickly leaves.

Over the next several days, Maurice recovers from his injuries, but.. is unable to find Sarah. Maurice, believes Sarah used the bombing to break it off with him. Maurice, decides to leave London and does not return for a year.

Maurice, is walking home in the rain when he sees Henry, who invites Maurice to his home and after learning that Sarah was not there, Maurice agrees. Where, Henry shares his concern about Sarah's long absences and was considering hiring a detective. Maurice, volunteers to look into it for him, but.. Henry refuses.

The next day, Maurice visits the Savage detective agency and hires them to follow Sarah.

Later, Maurice meets up with Sarah in front of her house and asks her why she broke it off with him, but Sarah.. offers no reason.

The next day, Maurice meets the Savage agency representative, Albert Parkis, and is surprised to learn that his report was about Maurice's own meeting with Sarah.

A few days later, Parkis calls on Maurice to watch Sarah show up at Richard Smythe's, home whom she has visited several times.

Later, Parkis says that he has befriended the Miles's maid and shows him a love letter written by Sarah. Maurice contacts Henry and tells him what he has learned about Sarah's meetings with Smythe and the letter. But... Henry refuses to believes him.

That evening, Parkis gives Maurice Sarah's diary and tells him that Sarah has been ill. Maurice, begins reading the diary: During their affair, Sarah is concerned that, Maurice's jealousy will ruin their relationship. During the night of the "buzz bomb" attack, Sarah finds Maurice buried beneath the rubble and believes him dead. Sarah promises to God, to give up Maurice if he is allowed to live. When she realizes Maurice's is alive, Sarah must keep her promise and on her way home stops at the church and confesses to Father Crompton. Soon after, Sarah begins seeing Smythe, who says that there can not be a God. Because, he would not allow the war to continue. Having a hard time believing him, Sarah continues to see Father Crompton.

The day that Parkis and Maurice follow Sarah to Smythe's, where she plans to break it off with Smythe telling him that his hatred for God has only proved of his is existence.

Returning home, Sarah writes a love letter to Maurice, apologizing and promising to return to him, but then destroys the letter. Henry, arrives home and begs Sarah not to leave him and she unable to keep up the fight agrees.

After finishing the diary, Maurice goes to see Sarah, who refuses to see him. He shows up anyways, Sarah leaves the house running in a rainstorm. Maurice catches up to her and makes her promise to return to him. But.... will she be able to keep her promise to him?

This love triangle film has many plot twists and turns. Just when you think that the movie is over it goes into a flashback to show you what really happened. The acting by, Kerr, Johnson and Peter Cushing, will keep you in your seat until the unexpected ending.

Nora Swinburne (24 July 1902 – 1 May 2000) was a British actress, born Leonora Mary Johnson in Bath, Somerset, daughter of Henry Swinburne Johnson and his wife Leonora Tamar (née Brain). She married English character actor Francis Lister in 1924, actor Edward Ashley-Cooper in 1934, and actor Esmond Knight in 1946. Her stepdaughter is the actress Rosalind Knight.

She was educated at Rosholme College, Weston-super-Mare and studied for the stage at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. As a member of Clive Currie's Young Players in 1914, she appeared at the Grand, Croydon, Court and Little Theatres, during that year. While still a student at the Academy she appeared at the New Theatre on 11 April 1916 as The Wild Flowers in Paddly Pools; appeared at the Comedy Theatre, September 1916, as a dancer in the revue, This and That; and in October 1916 appeared in Samples at the Globe Theatre (now the Gielgud Theatre). She also appeared at the Globe in March 1917 as Gabrielle in Suzette.

Other early roles included Lulu in Yes, Uncle! at the Prince of Wales Theatre in December 1917, and Regina Waterhouse at the Strand Theatre in December 1918. At the Apollo Theatre in 1919 she played the title role in Tilly of Bloomsbury "for about six weeks" according to her personal notes in Who's Who in the Theatre, followed by the role of Roselle in The Betrothal at the Gaiety in January 1921, concluding the year with what she charmingly called "several cinema plays".

A Guy Named Joe (1943)

A Guy Named Joe(1943). Directed by Victor Fleming, produced by Everett Riskin, from a screenplay by Dalton Trumbo, adapted by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan from a story by Chandler Sprague and David Boehm. Cast: Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne and Van Johnson, with Esther Williams in a minor role. Musically, it featured the popular song "I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)" by Fred Ahlert and Roy Turk, sung by Ms. Dunne. A Guy Named Joe was remade by Steven Spielberg in 1989 as Always with Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter and John Goodman, updating it to 1989 and exchanging the World War II backdrop to one of aerial firefighting.

The story begins with,"Dare Devil pilot" Pete Sandridge, commanding officer "Nails" Kilpatrick and cargo flyer Dorinda Durston, worried that someday their friends luck is going to run out.

After another dangerous flight, Nails, decides to transfer Pete and his best friend, pilot Al Yackey, to a quieter base in, Scotland. Dorinda, is not very happy about the transfer and half jokingly asks Pete to marry her.

It does not take long before, Pete and Al are bored with their new assignment and are more than happy to see Dorinda, when she flies in for a visit. She can not shake the feeling that Pete's "number is up." and begs Pete to accept Nails's, offer to become a flying instructor in America.

Pete initially rejects the idea, until she promises that she will give up flying, if he goes home, or she will transfer to Australia. Not wanting to lose her, he promises to take up Nails's offer. Al, comes in and tells Pete that they must leave to pick up a large German aircraft carrier.

On the flight, Pete does not take unnecessary chances, but.. is attacked by a German plane. After being wounded, he orders his crew to bail out, then crashes his plane onto the carrier. When Al returns to the base, Dorinda has already sensed that the love of her life is gone.

Meanwhile, Pete finds himself walking up in the clouds, when recognizes an old friend, Dick Rumney, who went down with his plane. Pete says "either I'm dead or I'm crazy," and Dick answers, "You're not crazy."Pete is then introduced to the General, who gives him the assignment to return to earth and share his knowledge with new flyers. Pete and Dick then go to a military flying school in Arizona, where Pete becomes a "ghost tutor" to wealthy Ted Randall. Pete, is not impressed with Ted, but.. as he guides him through training he becomes proud of him.

Dick and Pete's, flyers are sent to the South Pacific, their "ghost tutors" who hope to keep the men safe through combat, tag along. Soon after arriving, Ted goes to the local officers' club, with Pete following close behind. Pete sees Dorinda, sitting at a table and he goes to talk with her, but.. Ted, interrupts him to invite her to dinner. At first she turns him down, but.. encouraged by Al, she accepts.


Both Dorinda and Ted, notice the many odd similarities between Ted and Pete. When Ted is promoted to captain, he proposes to Dorinda and she accepts.

Dorinda, is visited by Pete, who advises her, through her subconscious, to marry Ted. Soon after, Ted stops by to inform her of his next assignment to destroy a Japanese ammunition dump in the South Pacific. She still thinking about Sam, tells him.. that she can not marry him.

When she learns that Ted, will be flying on an extremely dangerous mission, she rushes to the airbase and sneaks into his plane and takes off. Wanting to protect her, Pete sits behind her during the mission. Will he be able to keep her safe from the enemy?

Fun Facts:

There was no way to composite Spencer Tracy's image into the scenes where Van Johnson is flying, so he actually had to be standing behind Johnson and, later, Irene Dunne for the filming of these scenes. The same approach was used for The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (techniques for superimposing one image onto another were not invented until much later).

The War Department initially did not approve the script, fearing psychological damage to new and experienced pilots and their parents. It relented after 2 revisions and promised full cooperation.

This picture was featured as MGM's big Christmas spectacular of 1943.

The General, played by Lionel Barrymore, wears the Medal of Honor ribbon on his uniform, but the ribbon is displayed upside down (the five stars forming a "W" instead of an "M"). Interestingly, James Doolittle also wore the Medal of Honor ribbon upside down, leading some to ask if there might be an aviation connection .

Along with Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne insisted the film's production be halted until Van Johnson was well after his auto accident, in which he was seriously injured. During this period, MGM snatched Dunne up to make The White Cliffs of Dover, released the following year as the MGM 20th Anniversary film. As a thank you for her gratitude, Johnson appears in a small role in 'Dover.'

Van Johnson was critically injured in an automobile accident on 31 March 1943 and MGM was set to replace him, but Spencer Tracy insisted that they shoot around him during his convalescence. Johnson didn't return to work until the first week in July of 1943, more than three months later.

Reportedly Steven Spielberg's favorite movie, he remade it in 1989 as Always. The remake included the three main characters (Pete Sandich, Durinda Durston and Al Yackey), plus the characters of "Ted" and "Nails."

Irene Dunne was actually eighteen years older than her love interest, Van Johnson.

This is one of my favorite Spencer Tracey movies, Irene Dunne, is also at her best here. I also think one of Van Johnson's best performances. If you've never seen "A Guy Named Joe," I strongly recommend it with a box of Kleenex.

Ward Bond (April 9, 1903 – November 5, 1960), attended the University of Southern California and played football and was a starting lineman on USC's first national championship team in 1928. Bond and John Wayne, who as Marion Morrison had played tackle for USC in 1926 before an injury ended his career, became lifelong friends. Bond, Wayne and the entire Southern Cal team were hired to appear in Salute (1929), a football film starring George O'Brien and directed by John Ford. It was during the filming of this movie that Bond and Wayne became friendly with Ford, and both actors would perform in many of Ford's later films.

Bond made his screen debut in Salute, and thereafter played over 200 supporting roles, rarely playing the lead in film, until starring in the television series.. Wagon Train from 1957 until his death in 1960.

He was frequently typecast as a friendly policeman or as a brutal thug. He had a long-time working relationship with directors John Ford and Frank Capra, performing in such films as: The Searchers, Drums Along the Mohawk, The Quiet Man, and Fort Apache for Ford, with whom he made 25 films, and It Happened One Night and It's a Wonderful Life for Capra.

Some of his other well-known film: Bringing Up Baby (1938), Gone with the Wind (1939), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Sergeant York (1941), They Were Expendable (1945), Joan of Arc (1948),  Rio Bravo (1959), and The Big Trail, which also featured John Wayne's first leading role. It Happened One Night (1934), Bringing Up Baby (1938), Gone with the Wind (1939), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), The Maltese Falcon (1941), It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and The Searchers (1956).

Bond has also been in 11 films that were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, which may be more than any other actor: Arrowsmith (1931/32), Lady for a Day (1933), It Happened One Night (1934), You Can't Take It with You (1938), Gone with the Wind (1939), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Sergeant York (1941), It's a Wonderful Life (1946), The Quiet Man (1952) and Mister Roberts (1955).

He performed with With John Wayne in the films: The Searchers (1956),Rio Bravo (1959). The Wings of Eagles (1957), The Searchers (1956), Rookie of the Year (TV drama 1955). Hondo (1953), The Quiet Man (1952), Operation Pacific (1951), Fort Apache (1948), 3 Godfathers (1948), They Were Expendable (1945), Dakota (1945), Tall in the Saddle (1944), The Shepherd of the Hills (1941), The Long Voyage Home (1940), Conflict (1936), and The Big Trail (1930).

Rumor has it that... country singer Johnny Horton died in an automobile accident while driving to see Bond at a hotel in Dallas to discuss a possible role in the fourth season of Wagon Train. Although Horton was indeed killed in a car crash at 1:30 a.m. on November 5, 1960, and Bond died from a massive heart attack at noon that same day, the two events were unrelated.

Horton was really on his way from Austin to Shreveport, Louisiana, not Dallas. Bond was in Dallas to attend a football game. Bond was 57 at the time of his death; John Wayne gave the eulogy at his funeral. Bond's will bequeathed to Wayne the shotgun with which Wayne had once accidentally shot Bond.

For his contribution to the television industry, Bond has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6933 Hollywood Blvd. In 2001, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. There is also a Ward Bond Memorial Park in his birthplace of Benkelman, Nebraska.

Great On Screen Couples: Esther Williams and Van Johnson.

Esther Williams and Van Johnson, performed in five movies together. It was when Esther Williams landed a small part in the film, A Guy Named Joe, that she first met and worked with Van Johnson.

The studio's publicity department tried put the two together in the hopes of encouraging a romance. When asked why they didn't date, Johnson replied, "because I'm afraid she can't get her webbed feet into a pair of evening sandals".

A Guy Named Joe was then followed by, Thrill of a Romance(1945). Directed by Richard Thorpe. The film tells the story of Cynthia Glenn, who, after a whirlwind romance, marries a rich businessman. As luck would have it, on the first day of their honeymoon, her new husband is called away on business, leaving her alone at a resort. During this time, she meets and falls in love with Tommy Milvaine, played by Van Johnson. I thought this was a very nice romantic film. . Lauritz Melchior,(Nils Knudsen) sings many songs since he was a wonderful opera star. Loved seeing Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra.

Next on the list is the film, Easy to Wed (1946), a remake of 1936's Libeled Lady, with Johnson and Lucille Ball. The story begins when J.B. Allenbury is determined to file a $2 million libel suit against The Morning Star when the newspaper prints a story claiming his daughter Connie was responsible for the breakup of a marriage. Reporter Bill Chandler's job, is to prove that the story was true. I think this maybe one of my favorite Lucille Ball performance.

Duchess of Idaho (1950). is a musical romantic comedy. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard, it was the fourth film pairing Esther Williams and Van Johnson. It was shot mainly on location in Sun Valley, Idaho. Christine Riverton Duncan, plays matchmaker for her friend Ellen by helping her pursue Douglas J. Morrissen, Jr., all the way to Idaho. There, Christine decides to play a joke on Douglas. After boarding his train to Sun Valley, Christine shocks him with hints that she expects a commitment. Once she's in Sun Valley, things become complicated when Christine falls in love with hotel bandleader, Dick Layne. The songs are wonderful, as well as the swimming numbers. And a couple of fun cameos. Which I want to keep a secret. :)

Next on the list of films, Easy to Love(1953). Was filmed on location in Cypress Gardens, where a Florida-shaped pool had been built specifically for the film. Williams character is in love with her boss and finally wins him over when she starts an affair with another man. Fun Fact: Tony Martin bumps into Cyd Charise (in a cameo), his real-life wife at the time.

Supposedly Esther Williams favorite of her movies.

Great On Screen Couples: Esther Williams and Van Johnson.

It was when Esther Williams landed a small part in the film, A Guy Named Joe, that she first worked with Van Johnson, who later turned out to be a wonderful, musical, comedy performer.



This film was followed by, Thrill of a Romance(1945). Directed by Richard Thorpe. The film tells the story of Cynthia Glenn, who, after a whirlwind romance, marries a rich businessman. As luck would have it, on the first day of their honeymoon, her new husband is called away on business, leaving her alone at a resort. During this time, she meets and falls in love with Tommy Milvaine, played by Van Johnson. I thought this was a very nice romantic film. . Lauritz Melchior,(Nils Knudsen) sings many songs since he was a wonderful opera star. Loved seeing Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra.

The studio's publicity department tried put the two together in public as much as possible in the hopes of encouraging a romance. When asked why they didn't date, Johnson replied, "because I'm afraid she can't get her webbed feet into a pair of evening sandals".

Easy to Wed (1946), a remake of 1936's Libeled Lady, with Johnson and Lucille Ball. The story begins when J.B. Allenbury is determined to file a $2 million libel suit against The Morning Star when the newspaper prints a story claiming his daughter Connie was responsible for the breakup of a marriage. Reporter Bill Chandler's job, is to prove that the story was true. I think this maybe one of my favorite Lucille Ball performance.

Duchess of Idaho (1950) is a musical romantic comedy. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard, it was the fourth film pairing Esther Williams and Van Johnson. It was shot mainly on location in Sun Valley, Idaho. Christine Riverton Duncan, plays matchmaker for her friend Ellen by helping her pursue Douglas J. Morrissen, Jr., all the way to Idaho. There, Christine decides to play a joke on Douglas. After boarding his train to Sun Valley, Christine shocks him with hints that she expects a commitment. Once she's in Sun Valley, things become complicated when Christine falls in love with hotel bandleader, Dick Layne. The songs are wonderful, as well as the swimming numbers. And a couple of fun cameos. Which I want to keep a secret. :)

Next on the list of films, Easy to Love(1953). Was filmed on location in Cypress Gardens, where a Florida-shaped pool had been built specifically for the film. Williams character is in love with her boss and finally wins him over when she starts an affair with another man. Fun Fact: Tony Martin bumps into Cyd Charise (in a cameo), his real-life wife at the time.

Supposedly Esther Williams favorite of her movies.

TCM SPECIAL EVENT: VAN JOHNSON.

Van Johnson, was cast as a serviceman in A Guy Named Joe(1943). During filming, he was badly injured in a near-fatal car crash (he had to have a metal plate placed in his skull, which made him ineligible for war service). Almost being replaced on the film, the two other cast members of the film, Spencer Tracy ( lifelong friend) and Irene Dunne, demanded that the studio work around his recovery, or they would quit the film. The kind gesture made Van a huge star.

Van's had a amazing career in war films and in musicals: Two Girls and a Sailor (1944), Easy to Wed(1946), Week-End at the Waldorf(1945). War Films: A Guy Named Joe(1943). Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo(1944). When Clark Gable, James Stewart and Robert Taylor returned from the war, Van went on to second dramatic leads, but he kept his leading man status in musicals opposite June Allyson, Esther Williams(pictured above) and Judy Garland. He continued his dramatic performances in films Command Decision(1948), State of the Union(1948), Battleground(1949), Brigadoon(1954) and The Caine Mutiny(1954).

The "golden age" started to fade by the mid-1950s. MGM released Van after he co-starred with Elizabeth Taylor in The Last Time I Saw Paris(1954). He continued performing in films, The End of the Affair(1955) with Deborah Kerr, Miracle in the Rain (1956) with Jane Wyman, The Bottom of the Bottle (1956), with Joseph Cotten, 23 Paces to Baker Street(1956), with Vera Miles.

My top 5 favorite Van Johnson films:
THE THRILL OF ROMANCE (1945)
EASY TO WED (1946)
IN THE GOOD OLE SUMMER TIME (1949)
EASY TO LOVE (1953)
THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS (1954)

THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS (1954)

The Last Time I Saw Paris(1954). Romantic/drama loosely based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story "Babylon Revisited." Directed by Richard Brooks, produced by Jack Cummings and filmed on locations in Paris and the MGM backlot. The screenplay was by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Richard Brooks. Cast: Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson in his last role for MGM, with Walter Pidgeon, Donna Reed, Eva Gabor, Kurt Kasznar, George Dolenz, Sandy Descher, Odette, and Roger Moore in his Hollywood debut. The film's title song, by composer Jerome Kern and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, was already a classic when the movie was made and inspired the movie's title. Though the song had already won an Oscar after its film debut in 1941's Lady Be Good, it is featured much more prominently in The Last Time I Saw Paris. It can be heard in many scenes, either being sung by Odette or being played as an instrumental.

Charles, a reporter for The Stars and Stripes, enters Maurice's cafe, where he runs into his friend, Claude Matine, and is introduced to Marion. Charles, is instantly attracted to Marion's sister Helen, but really does not know what to think of her..

Marion becomes jealous and invites Charles to meet her later. Helen, also attracted to Charles, wants to stop their secret meeting, and shows up to meet Charles instead. When Helen becomes ill from being out in the cold, Charles runs to her side, and they become engaged.

Helen wants to live in France, and Charles decides to find a job in Paris. Marion, still in love with Charles, becomes engaged to Claude.

Charles and Helen soon marry, and have a little girl. Charles is becoming frustrated over his dreams of a novelist not coming true, and worried about Helen's spending habits. Charles, gets an important assignment to interview Lorraine Quarl, who vacationing in Paris after her divorce. The interview last through the night, and Charles, does not get home until the next morning. Helen does not seem to care, Charles becomes concerned that they seem to be drifting apart.

Marion calls to let them know that one of James investments, has paid off. They all celebrate and Charles quits his job so he can concentrate on his dream of becoming a writer. Unfortunately, Charles third novel is also rejected.

James invites Paul Lane, a playboy to attend a party with them. At the party, Paul is attracted to Helen, and Charles runs into Lorraine, who is now divorcing another husband. Helen wants to go home, but Charles had made other plans to take Lorraine for a drive.

The next day, Helen is angry with Charles, and tells him that she wants to go back to America, but Charles refuses. He invites Lorraine to Monte Carlo to compete in a car race with him. When they return to Paris, they see Helen and Paul at Maurice's cafe.

Later Paul tells Helen that he is in love with her. Helen tells him that she does not want a divorce from her husband, but would be interested in an affair with him..

Helen walks home, but is unable to get into the house because Charles has locked the door. Helen with no where else to go, walks through the snow to her sister's house, by this time she is very ill. Will they be able to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives?

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I really enjoyed the chemistry between Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson. This is not just a fluffy romance, but a wonderful drama. I think it is my favorite performance given by Van Johnson.

Eva Gabor (11 February 1919 – 4 July 1995). Born in Budapest, Hungary, to a Jewish mother and a Hungarian father, Gabor was the third and last daughter. She was the first Gabor sister to emigrate to the United States.

She moved with her first husband, a Swedish osteopath, Eric V. Drimmer, in 1939, shortly after they married in London.

Her first movie role was in the United States, a bit part in Forced Landing at Paramount Pictures.

During the 1950's, she appeared in several “A”-movies, including: The Last Time I Saw Paris, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Artists and Models, which featured Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

In 1953, she was given her own television talk show, The Eva Gabor Show. It ran for one season (1953–54).

She appeared in one episode of the mystery series Justice, and was on the game show What's My Line?, as the "mystery challenger". Her film appearances during this era included a remake of My Man Godfrey, Gigi, and It Started with a Kiss.

She was probably best known for her performance in television show Green Acres. In 1965, Gabor played, Lisa Douglas, whose attorney husband (Oliver Wendell Douglas, played by Eddie Albert) who decides to leave the city. They buy and run a farm, forcing Lisa to leave her beloved New York City. Gabor's role of Lisa was that of a rich, pampered socialite, who disapproves of farm life. However, she learns to cook and a good housewife, while Oliver runs the farm.

Gabor did voice-over work for Disney movies: the European-accented voices of Duchess in The Aristocats, Miss Bianca in The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under, and the Queen of Time in the Sanrio film Nutcracker Fantasy.

She was also a panelist on the Gene Rayburn-hosted Match Game in the late 1970's.

From 1983–84 she reunited with Albert on Broadway as Olga in You Can't Take It with You.

Gabor toured post-communist Hungary on an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous after a forty year absence.

In 1972, Gabor launched the Eva Gabor fashion collection, the clothes were the work of Luis Estevez, a Cuban-born, Coty-award-winning fashion designer.

Gabor died in Los Angeles on 4 July 1995 due to respiratory failure and pneumonia, following a fall in the bathtub. The fall occurred in Mexico, where she had been on vacation. Although the youngest of the three sisters, she was the first to die, and she also predeceased her mother.

Her mother, Jolie, died on 1 April 1997 and her sister, Magda, died on 6 June 1997. As of 2013, Zsa Zsa Gabor is still alive, although in very poor health.

EASY TO LOVE (1953)

Easy to Love (1953) With the Cole Porter classic as the music title, Esther Williams and Van Johnson star in their fifth film together.

After Julie's performance in the water-skiing show, she comes to Ray to talk about about her long hours, and wants to quit working for him when he asks her to cancel her plans for that evening.

Ray ignores her wishes, and sends her on a very important job for a LIFE magazine photo shoot, where Julie meets the handsome singer Barry Gordon, who is also being photographed. During her photo shoot, Barry asks to take the place of the male model, and they become attracted to each other. After the photo shoot, Julie asks Ray to take her to see Barry's nightclub act.

Later that evening, Julie gets a call from Barry and they go out dancing. When Barry learns that Julie swims, models and even types for Ray for not much money, he makes an appointment for her to meet Oscar Levenson, who is producing a water follies show. Julie auditions for Oscar, who gives her the job.

That afternoon, Julie tells Ray about her new job, Ray pretends that it is OK with him. She starts to feel guilty, and at the last minute, she returns to Florida with him. Ray asks Julie to meet with him that evening. Julie thinks Ray is going to propose. Hank comes by to tell Julie that his father wants him to return to Texas, and she tells him that she is in love with someone else. Hank then rushes into Ray's office and accuses him of stealing his girl friend, and Ray is surprised to hear that Julie is in love with him.

That evening, when Julie comes for dinner, Ray pretends to be talking on the phone with another woman. He then informs Julie that he will double her pay. Julie returns to the resort and is surprised to find Barry sitting at the piano, and when he sings a love song to Julie, Ray becomes jealous. Barry asks Julie to go to Paris with him, but before she can answer, Ray asks Julie to go with him in his boat. When Ray proposes, he finds that Julie had already jumped out of the boat.

The next morning, after performing in a spectacular water-skiing show, with dozens of water skiers, ramps, pyramid formations and gushing geysers. Nancy accidentally knocks Julie out with a water ski. By this time I have no idea who loves who.. any who... Who is to rush to her side?

Fun Facts:

Tony Martin bumps into Cyd Charise (in a cameo), his real-life wife at the time.

Esther Williams was pregnant during the filming of this movie.

Supposedly Esther Williams favorite of her movies.