Silver Screen Classics & Nostalgia

🎾Star-Studded Serves: Celebrating National Play Tennis Day! A Pictorial

Happy National Play Tennis Day!

Did you know that actress Ginger Rogers was a dedicated player who regularly won tournaments? She adored tennis throughout her life and, by 1950, wanted some real competition. “Tennis is my game,” she said years later, “but I’m a tennis snob. I only like to play with very good players.”

At age 39, she played mixed doubles with Frank Shields (Brooke Shields’ grandfather) at the US Open. In a rain-delayed first-round match at the US national championships at Forest Hills, Barbara Wilkins and William J. Tully defeated Rogers and Shields, 6-3, 7-5.

Ginger Rogers playing a week before the U.S. Open in Forest Hills, NY

Take a look at some classic movie stars who have embraced the sport in publicity shots, their personal lives, and their films.

Barbara Stanwyck

Donna Reed

Lucille Ball

Paul Newman


Spencer Tracy

Carole Lombard

Claudette Colbert

Gary Cooper

Mel Ferrer & Audrey Hepburn

Ava Gardner


Jane Fonda

Cornel Wilde

Dolores Del Rio

Judy Garland & Paulette Goddard

Lew Ayres

Rita Hayworth


Bette Davis

Norma Shearer

Debbie Reynolds

Fred Astaire

Jean Harlow

Directed by Ida Lupino, Hard, Fast and Beautiful (1951) stars Claire Trevor as a demanding stage—or court—mother who is determined to mold her tennis-prodigy daughter, Sally Forrest, into a national champion. However, her relentless ambition ultimately leads to the creation of a monster.

On a train, wealthy sociopath Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker) recognizes tennis player Guy Haines (Farley Granger) and strikes up a conversation in Alfred Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train (1951). Guy is constantly being harassed and watched by Bruno, who wants him to murder his father after having just killed his soon-to-be ex-wife. Guy suspects Bruno's intentions and tries to distance himself from him. In a gripping and tense tennis scene, a crowd of tennis fans shift their heads side to side during the match, except for Bruno, who remains still, fixated on Haines.

Farley Granger practicing for the tennis scene with tennis pro Jack Cushingham who played Fred Reynolds in the film.

In the comedy Pat & Mike (1952), Katharine Hepburn portrays a professional athlete. She plays a tennis player and actually performed all the sports footage in the film herself.

“I could have accomplished three times what I’ve accomplished. I haven’t realized my full potential. It’s disgusting. I could have been a great tennis player.” - Katharine Hepburn (February 1979)⁣

Who remembers how Alvy Singer met Annie Hall? That's right, it was during a game of tennis doubles with friends. In Annie Hall (1977), Alvy played by Woody Allen encounters Annie, portrayed by Diane Keaton.

In the dark fantasy comedy The Witches of Eastwick (1987), the witches (Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer) engage in a not-so-friendly game of tennis with the devil, portrayed by Jack Nicholson. Envy and rivalry arise among them, and they inadvertently levitate a tennis ball.

Ending on a comedic note, Tom Hanks is caught in a not-so-serious tennis match with fiance (Tawny Kitaen) and his future in-laws (George Grizzard, Barbara Stuart) in the sex comedy Bachelor Party (1984). He keeps smashing the ball, sending it flying into the neighbor's yard.

"One of these days, I'm gonna burn the Thompson court right to the ground."

💕❄️ Love Amid the Snowflakes: Sun Valley Serenade (1941)

Before I dive into this movie review, I should mention that I haven't seen all of Sonja Henie's films. In a previous post, I talked about Olympic stars who leaped acting, and Sonja was one of them. She was a major star for 20th Century Fox and appeared in many films, much like Esther Williams did for her studio, but I haven't had the chance to explore her entire filmography.

What I do remember clearly is the fun, snowy setting, the enchanting singing, the ice skating, the dancing, and the exciting skiing in the 1941 production of Sun Valley Serenade by 20th Century Fox.

My appreciation for Glenn Miller's music grew when I watched this film on American Movie Classics, hosted by Nick Clooney. Out of the two movies featuring Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, the other being Orchestra Wives, Sun Valley Serenade is my favorite!

Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, this romantic musical comedy stars Sonja Henie, John Payne, Glenn Miller (making his debut film appearance after signing with 20th Century Fox), Milton Berle and Joan Davis for some comic relief, and Lynn Bari. It features Miller's Orchestra with Tex Beneke, Paula Kelly, and the Modernaires as vocalists.

Milton Berle and Joan Davis

The Nicholas Brothers and Dorothy Dandridge's rendition of "Chattanooga Choo Choo," which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Song, inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1996, and awarded the first Gold Record for selling 1.2 million copies, is wonderful to watch.

The plot may seem a bit absurd, but that doesn’t take away from the fun. To sum it up: Daryl Zanuck’s trips to Sun Valley, Idaho, inspired this film. Ted Scott (John Payne), a pianist in a swing orchestra, takes the advice of his manager Nifty Allen (Milton Berle) and decides to adopt an orphan girl from Nazi-occupied Norway. To their surprise, the "girl" is actually the grown-up Karen Benson (Sonja Henie). It’s love at first sight, and she follows him to their Christmas performance in Sun Valley, eager to win his heart, even though he has a girlfriend, Vivian Dawn (Lynn Bari), who is a soloist with Miller's band.

John Payne and Lynn Bari

In addition to "Chattanooga Choo Choo," other Glenn Miller songs featured in the film include "Moonlight Serenade," "It Happened in Sun Valley," "I Know Why (And So Do You)," and "In the Mood."

Sun Valley Serenade was only the second John Payne film I had watched, the first being the cherished Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street. And yes, I had a crush on him—he looked handsome at the piano and in those cozy winter sweaters!

While the Christmas setting is present, it isn’t overly emphasized. The breathtaking scenes of skiing, skating, and outdoor fun create an authentic and magical atmosphere in the winter landscape.

The blend of comedy, romance, and music is just right. The romantic chase on the snowy slopes of Sun Valley, filmed on location, adds to the charm, with skiing subtly representing emotional connections, as both Ted and Karen share a love for the sport, unlike Vivian.

The music truly shines, particularly the track "I Know Why." While “At Last” was originally intended for a live performance, it ended up being used as background music and later appeared in Orchestra Wives (1942).

Sun Valley's ski school director Otto Lang, celebrated for his award-winning shorts and successful features at Fox, directed the ski sequences, with Olympic champion Gretchen Fraser substituting for Henie during the longer shots.

Jealous of Karen and Ted’s developing romance, Vivian quits in a fit of anger. Henie then puts on a spectacular ice show as a replacement, captivating the audience at the Sun Valley resort hotel.

The finale, featuring stunning ice-skating scenes, was filmed both on location in Sun Valley and on a chilly soundstage in LA, achieving a remarkable reflective effect in black and white thanks to treated black ink on the ice.

Today, the film continues to enchant audiences at the Sun Valley Resort’s opera house, playing around the clock in lodge hotel rooms, highlighting the lasting appeal of this snowy musical delight!

🛁Happy National Read in the Bathtub Day!

Edward G. Robinson

💕❄️ Love Amid the Snowflakes : Winter Meeting (1948)

"I see now I was too happy. It was like Christmas morning when you’re little — too many presents, too much tinsel, too much of everything. You end up crying because you want it to go on and on."

Winter Meeting (1948) is an intentionally slow-paced, dialogue-rich romantic drama featuring Susan (Bette Davis) as a reclusive poetess who finds herself unexpectedly in love with a World War II hero Slick (James Davis). Through deep conversations, Slick encourages Susan to open up about her father's tragic suicide and her strained relationship with her mother. Meanwhile, Susan discovers Slick's inner turmoil and desire to become a priest.

Despite its artistic ambitions, the film was a major box office failure, grossing less than half of its production and promotion costs. It marked Bette Davis's biggest flop at Warner Bros., following the disappointing reception of Deception (1946), which led Jack L. Warner to question Davis's box office appeal. With its somber tone, some viewers may find the film tedious due to the lack of chemistry between the actors.

Set against a wintry backdrop and directed by Bretaigne Windust, the film contains moments of genuine tenderness, such as a sleigh ride that epitomizes their fleeting connection. However, the harsh reality soon sets in, revealing that their romance is doomed, culminating in a poignant conclusion. While it may not spark much excitement, Winter Meeting delves into profound themes of love, sacrifice, and the intricate web of life's choices.