liz
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Posts: 53
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Post by liz on Jan 13, 2010 20:07:24 GMT -6
 Present:Fall 2009 When Jim Blandings built his dream house, it wasn’t in rural Connecticut, but rather 3,000 miles away in the hills above Malibu. Such is the magic of movies.  In 1948, RKO Studios needed a rural setting in which to film exteriors for their comedy “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House”. Their neighboring studio, 20th Century Fox, had 2,000 acres of dramatic landscape in the Malibu hills that served as their location ranch, so a deal was made and construction began. Many films were shot (at least partly) at Fox Ranch, most notably “How Green Was My Valley”; “Viva Zapata” with Anthony Quinn and Marlon Brando; the “Daniel Boone” television series with Fess Parker; “Love Me Tender” with Elvis Presley and “Dr. Dolittle” with Rex Harrison. Perhaps the two most famous films shot there were a part of the famous cliff jump scene from “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and the original “Planet of the Apes” with Charleton Heston and Roddy McDowell. The best-known production staged at the ranch was the beloved M*A*S*H television series where exteriors were shot for 11 years. Amazing,huh? |
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Post by Midge on Jan 13, 2010 20:35:53 GMT -6
Amazing, YES!  Thank you for posting the information and those photos, Liz! The house doesn't look lived in, so I'm guessing it's only a studio facade and not a real house. Even so, they made a lot of changes over the years. The shutters are gone, the front entrance is covered, and the chimney looks different. Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is a very funny movie. It may have been made in 1948, but the comedy is timeless. As a city girl, though, I find myself wondering what was so great about building a big house in the middle of nowhere, and what was so terrible about the Blandings' city apartment that they felt they had to leave? Most New Yorkers would be thrilled to live in such a nice place. |
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Post by Hedvig on Jan 14, 2010 15:55:47 GMT -6
I've heard of the movie, I think my sister has it on DVD. If she wasn't across the sea from me I'd watch it together with her! I thought at first this thread was going to be about Wodehouse's Mr Blandings, but of course, I've heard about this movie as well.
That's a charming house. It's the sort of place where one would like to live. How old is that place?
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Post by Roger Thornhill on Jan 14, 2010 18:35:46 GMT -6
This is a great movie, sheer entertainment from start to finish. During the 50s it was frequently shown by the BBC at holiday times so it was one of the first movies that made an impression on me. It's full of charm and wonderful humour, wonderfully acted by Cary Grant, Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas.
"If you ain't eatin' WHAM you ain't eatin' HAM"
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Post by Midge on Jan 14, 2010 18:58:46 GMT -6
That's a charming house. It's the sort of place where one would like to live. How old is that place? The movie came out in 1948, so that would mean the house must be at least 62 years old. |
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liz
Regular Diner Patron
Posts: 53
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Post by liz on Jan 16, 2010 13:38:13 GMT -6
This is a great movie, sheer entertainment from start to finish. During the 50s it was frequently shown by the BBC at holiday times so it was one of the first movies that made an impression on me. It's full of charm and wonderful humour, wonderfully acted by Cary Grant, Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas. "If you ain't eatin' WHAM you ain't eatin' HAM" ;D ;D Totally agree w/you,Jeff. |
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Thank you for posting the information and those photos, Liz! The house doesn't look lived in, so I'm guessing it's only a studio facade and not a real house. Even so, they made a lot of changes over the years. The shutters are gone, the front entrance is covered, and the chimney looks different. 
