In a Norma Desmond End

My last and short article is an apology. I know some of people expect me to recount the scariest things, the bloody events and unsolved crimes like that…

That was my intention, I swear! I was motivated by the ghost of Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard”, persuaded that, in Hollywood, the most horrible crimes was nevertheless beautiful and spectacular. My first article matched with the original purpose. The combination was perfect: A director, his pregnant wife and satanistics murderers. But if you google “Sharon Tate murder” you’ll find others pictures that the one I’ve choose. These images are simply disgusting and made me a voyeur.

In the same time I realized that the most interesting part of my work was to make laugh with unlikely situations or insinuating. We have no rights to judge Woody Allen or Tom Cruise. All the more that they must be evaluated on their work instead of their private life. If it’s funny, then we can talk of it. And it’s always funny.

Got Yourself a Gun

Hollywood is full of clichés. Therefore, everybody tries to get closer to the community they belong. In the case of our two protagonist, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, it means being familiar with “typical Italian corporations”.

Francis Albert Sinatra and Dino Paul Crocetti are both children of Italians immigrates families. Franckie started his carrier as a Jazz singer whereas little Dino was, in a first place, part of comic duo with Jerry Lewis. That was during the late 30’s and the 40’s. They were just two descendants of Italians like others. They were very successful and meet each other in the “Rat Pack”, a band composed of the most famous singers of the moment.

At the origin, “Rat Pack” was a bunch of friends in Hollywood, led by Sinatra and Humphrey Bogart. The second “Rat Pack”, which we are talking, was founded in Las Vegas in 1960. At that time, Vegas was the Mafia shelter. They were mostly preoccupied of rising founds and supports for the JFK campaign. Funny isn’t it? Even more funny considering of the machine they got behind them: Sinatra has always been a great Democratic fan but also a Mafia friend.

During the 30’s, Frank Costello (friend with Lucky Luciano, inspiration of the character of Vito Corleone) helped Sinatra getting a name. La Cosa Nostra understood the importance of show business since the very first years. His role in “From Here to Eternity” was motivated by the same Wise Guys. It’s finally with their support that he was nominated great fan of JFK.

Once he was elected, John Fitzgerald took his distance with the “Rat Pack”. His brother, Bobby, was fighting the organized crime. The band was down in the dust while Vietnam War and Hippies movement made crooners part of history.

TomTom

It’s such a pity, we haven’t talk about religion yet! God, money and sex are the three most important things in…Hollywood (and life of course). I know, I know, its sound easy but I’ve choose the funniest case of the time to illustrate this topic: Tom Cruise.

It’s useless to present him but, thanks to Wikipedia, I can tell you that he was born on the 3 of july 1962 at 3:50am (which can be important if you believe in strange things like him. who knows?).

His course is typical and more interesting than his filmography (excuse me top-gun fans). Instead of doing the actor studio like everyone (Vin Diesel or Jason Statham for example) he did his studies in a Franciscan monastery. Considering that he was not so bad physically and that acting brings you plenty of girls, he might have change his mind.

Talking of girls, Tom is pretty lucky. He was married to Mimi Rogers during 3 years. Once she introduced him to the scientology church, he left her for…Nicole Kidman. Such a poor fellow. After 11 years of marriage, Nicole abandoned him because she wanted her children to be breed in a catholic way.

What’s Scientology? For the first time (I know, I’m sometime too lazy and I prefer photograph than videos, what a shame!) I suggest taking a look at the story of scientology explain by… South Park. A memorable episode where Tom stands in Stan closet crying…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R_mLFXDdCM

Original Fat Gangster

Let’s talk about history. Every diarist has to know the classics facts, the bases of every story.

In our case we get back to a time where people had to leave without Facebook, Starbucks and Lady Gaga (I know, it’s hard to admit…).

Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle, AKA Fatty Arbuckle, was one of the most famous actors of silent films in Hollywood (imagine that: boring and dusty movies in black and white, and no chance to find Robert Pattinson in one of them.
He was born in 1887 and was intimate with Buster Keaton, friendly and professionally. He also worked with Chaplin or Laurel & Hardy. He get really famous in 1921 because of the first Hollywood scandal (finally, we get to the point).
The 5th of September, he organized a party at the St. Francis Hotel. The Actress Virginia Rappe (providential name) was found, 4 days later, dead. Fatty was inculpated for murder . He was suspected of rapping and killing. After 3 trials he was finally declared innocent. It was unfortunately too late for him, his carrier was over.

This story represents the first affair of Hollywood, showing that even the most powerful actor of the United States can be destroyed by Medias and rumors.
A mentor for our blog protagonists then.