HOLLYWOOD MOVIE STARS

[HOLLYWOOD MOVIE STARS]. Signatures of 12 Hollywood film personalities from the 1920's to the present, boldly penned on an oblong folio sheet [10 7/8 inches wide by 14 inches high], from the Beverly Hills house guest book of the actor Clifton Webb, Dated and Headed, "Preview of Dreamboat, July 22 [1952]", by Webb.

Those signing include: Diana Romanoff (Michael Romanoff's wife), who adds "A Night to Remember"; Michael Romanoff (the legendary 'Prince Michael', actor and owner of Romanoff's Restaurant, the famous Hollywood hotspot where the Hollywood elite would go to be seen), who adds the sentiment "So Say I" to his signature; Van Johnson (actor largely known for his roles as a war hero), who adds "Laugh! I thought I'd die"; Evie Johnson (wife of Van Johnson), who adds "Love, Love, Love-"; George Cukor (director of such films as Gone With the Wind, The Philadelphia Story, and My Fair Lady which won him this Oscar for Best Director in 1964), who adds "You're a great kid"; director Walter Lang, who adds "To My Best Gal"; [Madelaine Fields] Fieldsie [Lang] (Walter Lang's wife), who adds "You are such a Dreamboat"; writer/producer Charles Brackett; actor [Robert] RJ Wagner, who adds "Phil this is Lily 'You were just great'"; Darryl F. Zanuck (founder/head of 20th Century Fox Studio), who adds "The Colorado Kid is a real Dream Boat"; actress Anne Baxter Hodiak, who adds "Dear Dreamboat´ and then "My heart pants and pines for you" in rebus form; and John Hodiak (actor and wife of Anne Baxter).

In the 20th Century Fox comedy Dreamboat, Clifton Webb shines in his starring role as Thornton Sayre, a respected college professor who is plagued when his old movies are shown on television. When he sets out with his daughter Carol (Anne Francis) to stop it, he finds that his former co-star Gloria Marlowe (Ginger Rogers), is the hostess of the show playing his films and she has other plans. The film is one of the first of the clever studio assaults on television as well as a lampoon of the exaggerated acting and action of silent movies. Rodgers is largely wasted, with her role surprisingly small for second billing. Webb, on the other hand, has a terrific role, perfectly suited to his indignant, lecturing, highbrow screen persona.

Framed in antiqued gilt. Matted in blue and white. Framed dimensions: 29 1/8 inches wide by 21 1/4 inches high.

This item is associated with the following category in our inventory:

• Motion Pictures