Sassmouthdames

Before the Stanislavski 'Method' overtook Hollywood in the 1950s, each studio had their own in-house drama coach to develop talent. The drama coaches were women: Phyllis Loughton Seaton (Paramount), Lela Rogers (RKO), Josephine Hutchinson (Columbia), Helena Sorrell (20th Century Fox), Sophie Rosenstein (Warner Bros.), and Anita Colby was 'feminine director' for Selznick Studio. But the most influential drama coach of all was Lillian Burns. Miss Burns established the drama school in Republic Pictures in 1935. She then did the same for MGM in 1936. She eventually left Metro to work as Harry Cohn's right hand in Columbia. She was a star maker who inspired loyalty among Lana Turner, Donna Reed, Janet Leigh, and Debbie Reynolds that shaped the century of American acting.

In Robert Wise's Born to Kill (1947), Claire Trevor veers between planning a future with Lawrence Tierney and curating his downfall. She gives one of her best performances in a picture that was initially dismissed as lurid but has since been reclaimed as a classic. Beneath the smart suits, metallic-stud accessories, and mink coat beats the heart of 'the coldest iceberg of a woman' who is utterly compelling to watch.

After struggling for years under the controlling grip of Harry Cohn, Kim Novak was finally able to relax once the Columbia boss had a heart attack and turned up his toes three weeks into production of Bell Book and Candle. In a few months, she would also be free of Muriel Roberts, the studio publicist who had pretended to be a close friend, when she was nothing more than a spy for Harry Cohn. Novak would not learn the extent of Muriel's betrayal until 1961.

During production of Johnny Guitar, Joan Crawford wrangled a lacklustre script, a mercurial director, a chaos agent, and columnists who put a bounty on her head. Johnny Guitar is a parable about the persecutions of McCarthyism, but it's also about the perils in store for an aging film star.

Constance Bennett's deal with Warner Bros. became a Hollywood scandal after Louella Parsons estimated that the star would earn $30,000 a week. Few reporters told the whole story. Two Against the World (1932) was her second picture on the deal. In the first half. Connie's performance anticipates the bratty screwball heiress types which were later portrayed by Claudette Colbert and Carole Lombard. And in the second half, she embodies the noble women of Depression-era melodramas starring Margaret Sullivan and Irene Dunne. Special thanks to Thomas O'Mahony for sound editing the episode.

During a turbulent era in Hollywood, Joseph L. Mankiewicz reinvigorated woman's pictures when they might have easily been cast aside. Ann Sothern's storyline, about a woman who scrambles to balance her career with her family life, is as relevant today as when the film premiered. Sothern had a series of false starts in her own career and she also struggled with the limitations of typecasting.

Showgirls on Broadway keep Old Man Depression from the door with a repertoire of gags to squeeze money from men. Satin Rackets is written and directed by Megan McGurk. Starring: Clara Higgins plays Kitty Adare M. Shawn plays Iris Patrick McGurk plays Buzz and Talbot Shane McCormack plays Joe and Carstairs Olympia Kiriakou plays Dinah Savannah Monroe plays Pansy Beatrix Herriott O'Gorman plays Laurel Jack Warren plays Mad Dog Healy Art design by Mot Collins Sound editing and special effects by Thomas O'Mahony

Showgirls on Broadway keep Old Man Depression from the door with a repertoire of gags to squeeze money from men. Satin Rackets is written and directed by Megan McGurk. Starring: Clara Higgins plays Kitty Adare M. Shawn plays Iris Patrick McGurk plays Buzz and Talbot Shane McCormack plays Joe and Carstairs Olympia Kiriakou plays Dinah Savannah Monroe plays Pansy Beatrix Herriott O'Gorman plays Laurel Jack Warren plays Mad Dog Healy Art design by Mot Collins Sound editing and special effects by Thomas O'Mahony

Showgirls on Broadway keep Old Man Depression from the door with a repertoire of gags to squeeze money from men. Satin Rackets is written and directed by Megan McGurk. Starring: Clara Higgins plays Kitty Adare M. Shawn plays Iris Patrick McGurk plays Buzz and Talbot Shane McCormack plays Joe and Carstairs Olympia Kiriakou plays Dinah Savannah Monroe plays Pansy Beatrix Herriott O'Gorman plays Laurel Jack Warren plays Mad Dog Healy Art design by Mot Collins Sound editing and special effects by Thomas O'Mahony

When women ruled Hollywood, gigolos grew on palm trees. Catch up with the new show about starlets in 1933. Betty Compson's Diamonds is written and directed by Megan McGurk. Art design by Mot Collins. Sound editing and special effects by Tom O'Mahony. Starring: Clara Higgins is Betty Compson Olympia Kiriakou is Lila Lee M. Shawn is Sally Eilers Savannah Monroe is Claudia Dell Renee Smith is Genevieve Tobin Shane McCormack is Finn Redmond Patrick McGurk is Chick Gallagher

When women ruled Hollywood, gigolos grew on palm trees. Catch up with the new show about starlets in 1933. Betty Compson's Diamonds is written and directed by Megan McGurk. Art design by Mot Collins. Sound editing and special effects by Tom O'Mahony. Starring: Clara Higgins is Betty Compson Olympia Kiriakou is Lila Lee M. Shawn is Sally Eilers Savannah Monroe is Claudia Dell Renee Smith is Genevieve Tobin Shane McCormack is Finn Redmond Patrick McGurk is Chick Gallagher

When women ruled Hollywood, gigolos grew on palm trees. Catch up with a new show about starlets in 1933. Betty Compson's Diamonds is written and directed by Megan McGurk. Art design by Mot Collins. Sound editing and special effects by Tom O'Mahony. Starring: Clara Higgins is Betty Compson Olympia Kiriakou is Lila Lee M. Shawn is Sally Eilers Savannah Monroe is Claudia Dell Renee Smith is Genevieve Tobin Shane McCormack is Finn Redmond Patrick McGurk is Chick Gallagher

Under contract with Paramount, Tallulah Bankhead made six pictures in less than two years. Although they all have their charm, only Faithless (1932), which she made on loan-out to Metro, was a hit at the box office. Tallulah plays a character who loses everything but her wit after the Stock Market Crash. She trades caviar for soup and learns to like it. Thanks to sound editor Tom O'Mahony!

Earl Carroll ran the hottest night spot in Hollywood headlined by Beryl Wallace and the Most Beautiful Girls in the World. Seven showgirls chip in for a mink coat. What could go wrong? Mink Syndicate was written and directed by Megan McGurk. Starring: Clara Higgins as Beryl Wallace Olympia Kiriakou as Sheba LeMaire M. Shawn as Rocky Beaumont Savannah Monroe as Olga Fury Renee Smith as Esme Chiffon Laura Mawson as Libby Branch Patrick McGurk as Earl Carroll Shane McCormack as Sully Megan McGurk as Pam Deasy Art Design by Mot Collins Sound Editing and Special Effects by Tom O'Mahony

Earl Carroll ran the hottest night spot in Hollywood headlined by Beryl Wallace and the Most Beautiful Girls in the World. Seven showgirls chip in for a mink coat. What could go wrong? Mink Syndicate was written and directed by Megan McGurk. Starring: Clara Higgins as Beryl Wallace Olympia Kiriakou as Sheba LeMaire M. Shawn as Rocky Beaumont Savannah Monroe as Olga Fury Renee Smith as Esme Chiffon Laura Mawson as Libby Branch Patrick McGurk as Earl Carroll Shane McCormack as Sully Megan McGurk as Pam Deasy Art Design by Mot Collins Sound Editing and Special Effects by Tom O'Mahony

Earl Carroll ran the hottest night spot in Hollywood headlined by Beryl Wallace and the Most Beautiful Girls in the World. Seven showgirls chip in for a mink coat. What could go wrong? Mink Syndicate was written and directed by Megan McGurk. Starring: Clara Higgins as Beryl Wallace Olympia Kiriakou as Sheba LeMaire M. Shawn as Rocky Beaumont Savannah Monroe as Olga Fury Renee Smith as Esme Chiffon Laura Mawson as Libby Branch Patrick McGurk as Earl Carroll Shane McCormack as Sully Megan McGurk as Pam Deasy Art Design by Mot Collins Sound Editing and Special Effects by Tom O'Mahony

Diana Barrymore plays five different roles in her third production at Universal, following in her great-grandmother's footsteps. Louisa Lane Drew became a star in 1828 when she played five characters in the stage production Twelve Precisely. Diana had the 'Barrymore Curse,' which her father Jack defined as 'pillows and false faces.' Although her career in Hollywood was brief, Diana had the family spark.

Joan Crawford gets away with murder mostly because she's dressed like a high fashion gladiator in a silver shield designed by Adrian. Joan gives a boldly physical performance which showed women in the audience how to confront a dangerous man and come out on top.

In Part Three, Dot investigates a cosmetic surgeon in Beverly Hills who claims that he can give any gal Myrna Loy's nose for $200. Myrna Loy's Nose is written and directed by Megan McGurk. Starring: Clara Higgins as Dot Riordan Olympia Kiriakou as Fay Bishop M. Shawn as Peaches Carmichael Savannah Monroe as Bijou Silk Renee Smith as Doctor Lockhart Patrick McGurk as Jim Grady Peter Bryant as Leo Hickey Shane McCormack as Dutch Brennan Art design by Mot Collins Sound editing and special effects by Tom O'Mahony

In Part Two, Dot's sob sister column gives honest advice to women in trouble. But Grady, the city editor, isn't too excited by the circulation boost. And why is the late shift filled by women with busted noses? Myrna Loy's Nose is written and directed by Megan McGurk. Starring: Clara Higgins as Dot Riordan Olympia Kiriakou as Fay Bishop M. Shawn as Peaches Carmichael Savannah Monroe as Bijou Silk Laura Mawson as Maude Warren Patrick McGurk as Jim Grady Peter Bryant as Leo Hickey Shane McCormack as Dutch Brennan Art Design by Mot Collins Sound editing and special effects by Tom O'Mahony