Alison Macor
@agmacor.bsky.social
120 followers 85 following 240 posts
Author of HAIR DOWN, CLAWS OUT: GEORGE CUKOR AND THE MAKING OF THE WOMEN (coming 2026!), MAKING BEST YEARS (now in paperback!), CHAINSAWS, SLACKERS, AND SPY KIDS and REWRITE MAN. PhD. Ghostwriter. Film fan.
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agmacor.bsky.social
On #TCM now: #TheWomen! “MGM had tested everybody but Lassie & Mrs. Roosevelt for The Women," said #RosalindRussell. "Even the maids’ roles were fought over.” Here w/ #NormaShearer, Joan Fontaine (behind RR), Hedda Hopper & George Cukor. #TCMParty #nextbook
agmacor.bsky.social
One of my favorite #WWII photos of #WilliamWyler, taken in England while he was shooting footage of Queen Elizabeth's visit to RAF Bassingbourn to congratulate the crew, for the wartime documentary THE MEMPHIS BELLE. 📸Wyler Family #TCMParty #Veterans
agmacor.bsky.social
Sounds like a plan....😉
agmacor.bsky.social
Tonight on #TCM: #DanaAndrews in LAURA, the film that elevated Andrews' career and earned him notices like “unhackneyed and refreshing," "a solidly persuasive performer," and "the most believable detective ever to be seen on the screen.” #TCMParty
agmacor.bsky.social
Gen. Omar Bradley on #TheBestYearsOfOurLives: "Here is a movie that...tells what happened to the lives of three (#Veterans)...to the lives of their girls, their wives...." With Liberty Films’ #WilliamWyler, Frank Capra, George Stevens & wives Talli, Lu, Mary, & Yvonne. #TCMParty
agmacor.bsky.social
A glimpse of #DanaAndrews to start the week! Shown here taking a break on the set of #TheBestYearsofOurLives with William Wyler and art director Perry Ferguson. #TCMParty #BehindTheScenes
agmacor.bsky.social
Later this a.m. on #TCM! #ThePostmanAlwaysRingsTwice opened during prod. of #TheBestYearsofOurLives. Joe Breen hinted critics were already objecting to POSTMAN's explicitness (not true), so Sam Goldwyn should heed his warnings about censoring the BEST YEARS script. #TCMParty
agmacor.bsky.social
Not 100% sure but it might be Marie Blake (Grandmama on The Addams Family), who's credited as stockroom girl. Still, I think the actress in TW looks too young to be her. Working on a book about the film, haven't found a complete list in MGM files.
The Women (1939) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
The Women (1939) - Cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
www.imdb.com
agmacor.bsky.social
Thelma #ButterflyMcQueen in her first uncredited role as Lulu in #TheWomen, whom #JoanCrawford pays to cook dinner to impress her married boyfriend. “I didn’t mind being funny, but I didn’t like being stupid,” McQueen said of her roles, in 1990. #TCMParty
agmacor.bsky.social
On #TCM tonight, #TheSoundofMusic was originally offered to #WilliamWyler. Wyler eventually left the project, said daughter Melanie, because "given his background and Jewish heritage, he couldn’t, in his words, ‘make a movie about singing Nazis.’” #TCMParty
agmacor.bsky.social
#VirginiaMayo's dramatic turn in #TheBestYearsofOurLives helped her get cast beyond musicals in films like WHITE HEAT. Mayo's favorite scene? When inmate #JamesCagney learns his mother has died: "It is powerful, compelling, horrifying and all Cagney!" she said. #TCMParty
agmacor.bsky.social
I'm not sure--it looks like someone took the Czech coat of arms, turned it on its side and exaggerated it?!
agmacor.bsky.social
What my relatives in the Czech Republic saw at their local marquee ca. 1947. One of the few advertising images from #TheBestYearsofOurLives with #HoagyCarmichael in the mix. #TCMParty #MoviePoster
agmacor.bsky.social
Images of #WilliamWyler with RKO sound man Harold Tannenbaum (L) and others during #WWII from Wyler's personal collection. Tannenbaum was KIA shooting footage for THE MEMPHIS BELLE. #TCMParty📸 Wyler Family
agmacor.bsky.social
Sorry to hear--hope I wasn't too intrusive!
agmacor.bsky.social
That tracks with everything I've heard from people who've met him! But your story makes me hope you're still married too 😉
agmacor.bsky.social
Samuel Goldwyn hired Audience Research, Inc. for the Long Beach, CA sneak preview of #TheBestYearsOfOurLives. The audience's EQ (Enthusiasm Quotient) was highest for #DanaAndrews and #FredricMarch (46%), with #TeresaWright (35%) and #HaroldRussell (24%) next. #TCMParty
agmacor.bsky.social
On the set of #TheBestYearsofOurLives: #HaroldRussell and #CathyODonnell relax between takes of the tense woodshed sequence. #TCMParty #BehindTheScenes
agmacor.bsky.social
Writing to #FredricMarch before filming on #TheBestYearsOfOurLives, #WilliamWyler reminded him that Al needed to look like he’d been on combat duty in the Pacific. “...very important that your figure suggests a K-ration diet, rather than the '21 Club'." #TCMParty
agmacor.bsky.social
Today on #TCM: THE OPPOSITE SEX, MGM's musical remake of its '39 classic #TheWomen. The fitting room showdown b/w #JoanCrawford & #NormaShearer is transferred to a backstage dressing room, where #JuneAllyson slaps #JoanCollins & reportedly knocked her out during prod. #TCMParty
agmacor.bsky.social
As I'm finishing the last chapter of my next book about the making of #TheWomen, I am struck once again by the unusual burial arrangements for #NormaShearer (entombed w/ 1st husband despite 2nd husband) & #GeorgeCukor (in crypt w/dear pal Frances Goldwyn & hubby Sam). #TCMParty
agmacor.bsky.social
Missed the new #WilliamWyler documentary last week? #TCM is re-showing 40 TAKES WILLY tonight, followed by #TheBestYearsofOurLives! To celebrate, my publisher UT Press is offering 30% off my book about the making of the film. Go to bit.ly/3ebei0D and use code UTXFILM. #TCMParty #booktwt
agmacor.bsky.social
In his memoir "Victory in My Hands," #HaroldRussell writes about taking piano lessons from co-star #HoagyCarmichael for #TheBestYearsofOurLives. Director #WilliamWyler put the kibosh on Carmichael's acting tips, though, wanting to preserve Russell's naturalness. #TCMParty