MGMs 25th Anniversary - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

Judy Garland seated next to Fred Astaire is not paying

attention to the camera

'MGMs 25th Anniversary' is a short film documenting, you guessed it, MGM's 25th anniversary banquet lunch.

It is primarily made up of the various MGM stars eating, with a short speech by Louis B. Mayer.

Some of the highlights for me include:

• Ava Gardner & Clark Gable smoking in every shot in which they are shown
• Ann Miller swapping seats with Agnes Moorehead, to sit next to her dear friend Jules Munshin
• Claude Jarmin Jr. with a big smile on face as he drinks something - I have a suspicion there may be something alcoholic in that glass, hence the cheeky smile
• Lena Horne looking awkward sitting next to Katharine Hepburn
• Mario Lanza chatting up Vivian Leigh, while Angela Lansbury sits next to him stuffing her face with food
• Errol Flynn & Greer Garson, fresh off the set of 'That Forsyte Woman' are looking rather cosy and inseparable



Jimmy Durante seated with Ava Gardner & Clark 

Gable - Notice Agnes Moorehead, Ann Miller  & 

Jules Mushin behind them

• The closing shot of Lassie

Some of the other classic stars featured include Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Betty Garrett, Leon Ames, Fred Astaire, Wallace Beery, Katharine Grayson, Jimmy Durante, Howard Keel, James Whitmore, and many more.

Julia Misbehaves (1948) - Star of the month... Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor & Peter Lawford on the set of the film

'Julia Misbehaves' is a 1948 romantic comedy directed by Jack Conway and starring Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Lawford, Cesar Romero, Lucille Watson, Mary Boland and Reginald Owen.

Julia Packett is an actress living in London in 1936 who receives an invitation to her daughter Susan's (played by Taylor) wedding. She has not seen her daughter since she was a baby, and is excited about going to the wedding. Meanwhile Julia's disapproving mother-in-law (played by Watson) is horrrified once she finds out Julia is coming for the wedding and sends Julia's husband William Packett (played by Pidgeon) to stop her. On the trip to Paris, Julia meets acrobat Fred Ghenoccio (played by Romero), who proposes to Julia.  Matters are complicated once Julia has to chose between her estranged husband and her new fiancee. 

Musical program

Greer Garson sings two sings in the film:

• "When You're Playing With Fire"
• "Oh, What a Difference the Navy Made to Me!"

Song: "When You're Playing with Fire" - Greer Garson

Did you know...

Elizabeth Taylor & Peter Lawford in the film

• This was the fifth of eight movies to star Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon
• Peter Lawford gave Elizabeth Taylor her first on-screen kiss in this film
• Greer Garson met future husband E.E. Fogelson, a friend of Peter Lawford, on the set of this film

Closing remarks

Not a well known MGM romantic comedy, but still a lot of fun despite it's cliched plot and predictable ending. Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon still make a great pair in their fifth movie together, although  Elizabeth Taylor and Peter Lawford deliver average performances in this film. Supporting stars Cesar Romero and Mary Boland steal the film with their over the top comedic delivery. Worth watching and without high expectations and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

MGMs 25th Anniversary - Star of the month... Gene Kelly

Judy Garland seated next to Fred Astaire is not paying
attention to the camera

'MGMs 25th Anniversary' is a short film documenting, you guessed it, MGM's 25th anniversary banquet lunch.

It is primarily made up of the various MGM stars eating, with a short speech by Louis B. Mayer.

Some of the highlights for me include:

• Ava Gardner & Clark Gable smoking in every shot in which they are shown
• Ann Miller swapping seats with Agnes Moorehead, to sit next to her dear friend Jules Munshin
• Claude Jarmin Jr. with a big smile on face as he drinks something - I have a suspicion there may be something alcoholic in that glass, hence the cheeky smile
• Lena Horne looking awkward sitting next to Katharine Hepburn
• Mario Lanza chatting up Vivian Leigh, while Angela Lansbury sits next to him stuffing her face with food
• Errol Flynn & Greer Garson, fresh off the set of 'That Forsyte Woman' are looking rather cosy and inseparable



Jimmy Durante seated with Ava Gardner & Clark
Gable - Notice Agnes Moorehead, Ann Miller  &
Jules Mushin behind them

• The closing shot of Lassie

Some of the other classic stars featured include Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Betty Garrett, Leon Ames, Fred Astaire, Wallace Beery, Katharine Grayson, Jimmy Durante, Howard Keel, James Whitmore, and many more.