Make sure to check out all of Victoria and Loretta Mature's fantastic tweets from the live tweeting during the showing of "Million Dollar Mermaid" on TCM! Visit Victoria's twitter https://twitter.com/victoriamature for all of the wonderful tweets, comments and stories!
The British Film Institute has released its Blu-ray/DVD release schedule for July–September 2020. Highlights include a Woodfall Films wonder, a Peter Sellers caper and a Frank Capra classic.-- 21 September -- Blu-ray: After the Fox (1966) directed by Vittorio De Sica. Starring Peter Sellers, Victor Mature, Britt Ekland
This madcap comedy caper, starring Peter Sellers as a conman disguised as a neo-realist film director, is both a zany heist farce and a riotous filmmaking satire and comes to Blu-ray for the first time in the UK. https://www.thedigitalfix.com/film/news/bfi-announces-blu-ray-dvd-releases-for-summer-2020/
Here is a very cool picture of Victor playing Samson's father, Manoah, in the 1984 version of Samson and Delilah.
Love this fantastic photo of Victor from Saturday Evening Post from the 1940s!
Directed by John Ford - Fridays in July - TCM Special Theme - My Darling Clementine Friday, July 3, 2020 on TCM. at 8 p.m. -
"My name is John Ford. I make Westerns," the filmmaker famously announced at a Directors Guild of America meeting in Hollywood in 1950. Known as a practical craftsman who got the job done with a minimum of artistic pretensions, Ford gloried in the Western as the most straightforward of genres. Yet, his Western films were filled with such powerful storytelling, visual impact and psychological insight that he is often counted among the greatest of all cinematic artists.
Every Friday of this month, TCM celebrates the legacy of Ford's vision as
a versatile and uniquely talented filmmaker.
(By Roger Fristoe) To read the rest: http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/1576417%7C0/Directed-by-John-Ford-Fridays-in-July.html
Remember Victor Mature on Tuesday, 4 August 2020! Remember him by watching your favorite Vic movie or sharing your favorite memories, movies and stories from his life and career! Post your favorite memories of Victor here, on his Facebook Page, Profile Page,Event Page or Group! Remember Victor on the 21st anniversary of the day he passed away in 1999.
From the Noir Alley Facebook Page: #NoirAlley may be on a break, but add some darkness to your #SummerUnderTheStars viewing with these noir films during the festival. TCM Summer Under The Stars 8 pm Eastern - AUGUST 21 - THE LONG HAUL - https://www.facebook.com/noiralley/photos/a.590567821133429/1377107955812741/?type=3&theater
Love this picture of Victor!!! <3 <3 <3 The caption says: "American actor Victor Mature, covered with a blanket, on holiday, 15th March 1965." So cute!
Thank you to Victoria Mature for this information!
This is so cool! From Vogue 1971 - It says: The living room of model and actress Candice Bergen's California home, with red walls, iron chandelier, stained glass windows, a rough stone fireplace, and copy of a painting of Victor Mature as Samson by Norman Rockwell hung over the couch.
Victor Mature cuts a dashing figure through an exotic Bagdad setting as he stars with Mari Blanchard in Universal-International's Technicolor romantic adventure "Veils of Bagdad." Mature saves the city from the despotic tyranny of greedy rulers and wins the best reward of all - the lovely Miss Blanchard.
Happy National Dog Day! - August 26, 2020 - From: victormature.net NATIONAL
DOG DAY
National Dog Day on August 26th encourages dog ownership of all breeds. While
seeking a new companion, be sure to consider the mutts, mixes, purebreds,
and everything in between.
Whether mixed or purebred, embrace the opportunity for all dogs to live a
happy, safe, and abuse-free life. They all give us companionship. Additionally,
they keep us safe, and they aid those in need. Dogs play. Well, they play
many roles in our lives, too! They keep us healthy, both physically and mentally.
While many days aim to find loving homes for dogs, this day expands that consideration
to look beyond the breed. Look into the heart of the animal. The purpose of
the National Dog Day Foundation is to rescue 10,000 dogs each year.
When considering adoption, adopt, don’t shop. If you have your heart
set on a purebred companion, consider visiting a website like bestfriends.org
or petfinder.com to find one at a shelter. Learn how organizations like these
are changing the way we adopt. As you search for your new family member, get
prepared. Keep in mind the needs of a small versus large dog. Until you find
your forever companion, consider volunteering at your shelter or becoming
a foster parent.
A dog is man’s best friend.
Here is a current news article that says: "Movies Like 21 Bridges - 7 Best Cop Films Similar to 21 Bridges" - Cry Of The City is the Second one from the top of the list. It says: "Cry Of The City 1948 - The cinematic adaptation of Henry Edward Helseth’s 1947 novel ‘The Chair for Martin Rome’, Robert Siodmak’s ‘Cry of the City’ has the struggles between two childhood friends as its focal point. Richard Conte plays Martin Rome, a career criminal, while Victor Mature stars as Lt. Candella, the police officer trying to arrest Rome. Like in ’21 Bridges’, New York City serves as the backdrop in this black-and-white crime action film and is used thoroughly by Siodmak to bring out the dark and gritty aspects of the script and the original novel." https://www.thecinemaholic.com/movies-like-21-bridges/
Here is a cool photo of Victor from the book "The Club of Clubs
The Kona Kai 1988 Publishing of the 35th Anniversary" It says "The
happy guests at the Alessio dinner party included Mr. Victor Mature."
Kona Kai is a timeless San Diego Bay treasure, situated at the very tip of
Shelter Island, offering captivating marina and bay views. Having recently
completed the second phase of a $22 million refreshment, Kona Kai delights
guests with an intimate SoCal experience in a fresh environment, inspiring
the American spirit and revitalizing the soul. Classic and slightly whimsical
in style, with alabaster walls, red tile roofs and archways, the warm and
alluring atmosphere has, for decades, played host to dignitaries and film
stars alike. Kona Kai Club opened in 1953, and along with the nearby Bali
Hai Restaurant , was one of the first developments on the predominantly Polynesian-themed
Shelter Island. The Kona Kai Club was a marina, intended from the start to
serve high-end yachts, and it developed into the premiere marina in San Diego.
The catalog of celebrities mooring pleasure boats there is impressive: Clark
Gable, Burt Lancaster, Jack Lemmon, Gregory Peck, Jimmy Durante, Dick Van
Dyke, and many more.
In 1959, the Kona Inn hotel was opened next door (at 1901 Shelter Island Drive).
Later in the year, the entire property was purchased by Jack Wrather, a Hollywood
producer who was the original owner of the Disneyland Hotel. Wrather expanded
the marina, and in 1963 sold the club to John Alessio, owner of the famous
Hotel del Coronado. Alessio started to add Mediterranean touches, including
an octagonal structure echoing the one at the Coronado.
The Kona Inn and Kona Kai Club underwent their final renovation from 1995-1997,
which completed the conversion from Polynesian to Mediterranean. The name
was removed in 1998, and it became Shelter Pointe Hotel & Marina.
If you didn't get to attend Noir City this year you can buy a fantastic poster of Ms. Noir City, the beautiful Victoria Mature, here! https://www.noircity.com/noircityware.html For additional ways to support the Film Noir Foundation you can contribute here: http://www.filmnoirfoundation.org/contribute.html
Love this picture of handsome Vic from "Every Little Crook and Nanny"!
Mapy Cortes, Victor Mature, Arnold Stang in "Seven Days Leave" (1942)!
Here is an article that ranks the 10 best Gladiator films. Demetrius and the Gladiators is #6. (It should have been #1!) It says: "The great Victor Mature starred in this sequel to 1953's The Robe. Mature is a slave in Ancient Rome who becomes a gladiator under the rule of Emperor Caligula." https://screenrant.com/best-gladiator-films-ranked/
Handsome Vic - Gambling House (1950)
Here are the special features included on the UK Blu-ray release of "After
The Fox." • After the Fox: A Socially Distanced Interview (2020,
15 mins): Britt Ekland looks back on the early days of her acting career and
remembers the making of After the Fox
• Peter Sellers: Master of Disguise (2020, 14 mins): the BFI’s
Vic Pratt revisits the enigma of Peter Sellers and his multiple roles in this
video essay illustrated with promotional images for After the Fox
• DDR Magazin Nummer 11 (1962, 12 mins): After the Fox director Vittorio
De Sica – paying a visit to Berlin – features prominently in this
fascinating East German newsreel produced in the Cold War era
• Robbery (1897, 1 min): could this Victorian novelty reel be the earliest
heist comedy?
• The Man With the Velvet Voice: Maurice Denham (1961 + 1975, 72 mins):
the mellow tones of velvet-voiced actor Maurice Denham – who plays an
authoritative supporting role in After the Fox – ring out in two rarities
from the BFI National Archive: the CFF classic The Last Rhino and BTF film
Go As You Please… in Britain
• Original trailer
• *** First pressing only*** Illustrated booklet with new writing by
Vic Pratt, Dr. Deborah Allison and Howard Hughes, notes on the extras and
full credits
https://www.film-news.co.uk/review/UK/4177/Home-Ent/After-the-Fox
Behind the scenes from the filming of "The Sharkfighters" (1956).
Italy
Here is a great picture of Victor! - Coast Guard/Tars & Spars/War Bond Drive
Here is a fantastic advertisement for Victor's television and appliance store! It's from the 20TH CENTURY FOX ACTION JUNE 1955 STUDIO EMPLOYEE MAGAZINE. Cool! It featured Special Discounts to Studio Club Members. Love finding the ads for Vic's store!
10739 W. Pico Blvd and 10916 W. Pico were two addresses where Vic had his store.
Victor was featured in the Eumig Manual for Better Home Movies by R. Hansam. This 136 page hardback book was published in July 1959 in Vienna by Eumig, and describes the range of 8mm and 16mm Eumig home movie cameras available at that time, as well as the techniques of cinematography. It said: "Victor Mature and Rhonda Fleming - This time behind the lens. They are both enthusiastic shutter bugs and often try to compete with professional Hollywood Cameramen. They claim their own results are better. Why not? They use the finest. --- Eumig" Posted below is the page in the book.
Today I was informed that
YahooGroups will be shutting down on December 15, 2020. The original Victor
Mature mailing list was started over 20 years ago (April 24, 1999) on YahooGroups.
Because we use Facebook, the YahooGroups Mailing List hasn't been used much
in the last few years so the closing of YahooGroups thankfully will not affect
the Victor Mature Fan Club too much. Here's to the happy memories we have
of the Victor Mature YahooGroups Mailing List and all of the fans who contributed
over the years! Yahoo's message is here: "Dear Yahoo Group Moderators
and Members,
We launched Yahoo Groups 20 years ago to connect people around their shared interests. We helped our users navigate new towns, keep in touch with college friends, learn new skills, and most importantly, build connections they may have lost or never had in the first place. While we could not have been more proud of what we accomplished together, we are reaching out today with heavy hearts to let you know that we have decided to shut down Yahoo Groups on December 15, 2020.
Yahoo Groups has seen a steady decline in usage over the last several years. Over that same period we’ve witnessed unprecedented levels of engagement across our properties as customers seek out premium, trustworthy content. To that end, we must sometimes make difficult decisions regarding products that no longer fit our long-term strategy as we hone our focus on other areas of the business.
Beginning December 15, 2020 the Yahoo Groups website will shut down and members will no longer be able to send or receive emails from Yahoo Groups. We’ve compiled a comprehensive FAQ here that includes alternative providers and information on how this will impact your group content.
Thank you for helping us build one of the earliest digital communities — we’re proud and honored to have forged countless connections over the last 20 years and played a small part in helping build your communities.
Sincerely,
The Yahoo Groups team "
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/VictorMature/info
Here is an interesting article that talks about how Marlon Brando was supposed to play Sinuhe and that Marilyn Monroe wanted to play Nefer (later played by Edmund Purdom and Bella Darvi) in The Egyptian. https://www.valuewalk.com/2020/09/munger-zanuck-fundamental-algorithm/
Handsome Vic <3
Just found out it's National Donut Day! Happy National Donut (Doughnut) Day! From: victormature.net (Apparently there are 2 National Donut Days in 2020!) :-)
We were informed that there was a fake Facebook account impersonating Victor's
account (using the same profile photo) that was sending out friend requests
and messaging people. PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT FRIEND REQUESTS FROM THAT ACCOUNT
OR ANY OTHER FAKE ACCOUNTS. These are the only Facebook accounts run by Victor's
daughter: https://www.facebook.com/VictorJohnMature/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/15391611879/
https://www.facebook.com/victorjohnjosephmature/
https://www.facebook.com/VictorMature/
If you receive any other requests please let us know. Thank you!
Here is a fantastic photo of Vic in the Coast Guard with the Navy Mothers Of America - 1944!
NOIR CITY: International, the FNF's first virtual film festival, kicks off
this Friday, November 13, and runs through Sunday, November 29. It’s
your chance to travel the world from the comfort of your own home streaming
films from Argentina, France, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Poland, Sweden, West
Germany, and Czechoslovakia. The festival will present an array of classic
films from around the globe, a wide-ranging, thematically cohesive immersion
into a sordid world of sinister and sexy affairs—including the FNF’s
latest restoration, "El vampiro negro" (1953, Argentina)! In addition
to sixteen international films, two American films from 1945 will stream in
honor of their 75th anniversaries, Leave Her to Heaven and the recently restored
"Detour". FNF president Eddie Muller will introduce a majority of
the films; other noted film noir scholars will include Imogen Sara Smith,
Foster Hirsch, and Alan K. Rode. Presented by the FNF in partnership with
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, details for the streaming festival
(including film schedule, passes, and the purchase of individual films) are
available here: https://noircityinternational.eventive.org/films
#noirvember
Victor and Patricia Morison - Kiss Of Death.
Love this photo of Vic! Here is the caption: "The face in the middle is famous today. It is that of Victor Mature, shown on a recent Hollywood set of a movie titled "China Doll." The face on the right - that of Frank Borzage - was famous a generation ago in romantic roles - before Borzage became a director and won three Oscars. The face at left? It is that of James Stuart Douglass of New Orleans, who directed Borzage about 1912 to 1916. Later Douglass had a movie business and airline in South America. He now lives in New Orleans in retirement. Photo is dated 10-03-1957."
Found this cute picture online! Victor playfully "boxing" with his boxer Genius! (Sorry that it's folded and a little blurry.) So cute! :-)
Here is a review of musician Chris Hillman's (The Byrds etc.) new book that mentions Victor being a friend of his father. (I'm not sure how much more Victor is mentioned in the book.) Near the beginning it says: "Other notable actors such as Victor Mature and Robert Young made their second homes in Rancho Santa Fe, as well. We would always see Victor Mature cruising around town in his red Cadillac convertible; a nice man who was very generous with his charitable contributions and made a point of being involved in the everyday life of the Ranch. He became a close friend of my father's." https://pasadenaweekly.com/time-between/
Happy Sunday from victormature.net! Here is a great behind the scenes photo of Richard Burton and Victor Mature during the filming of "The Robe."
Victor's tunic from Samson and Delilah is for sale from Planet Hollywood for $3,500. VICTOR MATURE “Samson” Tunic from SAMSON AND DELILAH It says: Winner of the Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Costume Design, "Samson and Delilah" (1949) is a biblical film of epic proportions! This tunic is an original costume worn by Victor Mature as Samson throughout the film's wedding party sequence. The gray wool tunic has short sleeves, a deep V-neck, and an integral wrap-around, pleated, knee-length skirt with a frontal snap-and-Velcro closure. It retains the internal Acuna Hollywood bias label handwritten, "Victor Mature.” The tunic is in good condition, with fading throughout and small holes at the shoulders, waist, around the edges, and on the reverse near the bottom of the garment. A small tear is present under the right sleeve.
This item is accompanied by a Planet Hollywood Certificate of Authenticity. It's for sale on Amazon through Planet Hollywood's store. :-)
Here is a wonderful colorized photo of Victor (colorized by Sherif Wahba.)
