If, like me, you’re a huge fan of Ina Garten (aka the Barefoot Contessa), it may surprise you to know that Barefoot Contessa
was actually a movie before it was a lovely chef extraordinaire!
Barefoot Contessa was a highly entertaining movie starring Humphrey Bogart and one of my personal favorites, the insanely beautiful Ava Gardner.
In one of the last films before his death in 1957, Humphrey Bogart plays washed-up film director Harry Dawes, who sees another chance at success when he meets Spanish dancer Maria Vargas (Ava Gardner) and recognizes her star potential. Harry’s willingness to let Maria keep her independence, and his steadfast character, wins him her undying friendship; the two weather the Hollywood seas, made stormy by Maria’s own tempestuous spirit and the greedy nature of the film business. Maria’s final break from Hollywood throws her into the arms of a Prince Charming whose secrets lead her down a destructive path. Impatience with Hollywood is evident in every line of director-writer Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s dialogue (as in the unforgettable ALL ABOUT EVE), but he carefully plants the seeds of Maria’s decline in her character rather than simplistically painting her fate as a reaction to fame. Bogart, in an role atypical for him of platonic friend to his female costar, is the touchstone of the movie and its most sympathetic character, while Gardner’s eyes snap with passion as she searches for her fairy-tale ending.
Film director Harry Dawes (Humphrey Bogart) contemplates, in a series of flashbacks, the life of beautiful Hollywood star Maria Vargas (Ava Gardner). A flamenco dancer at a second-rate club when a trio of film business bigwigs discover her, soon Vargas has acquired fame, riches, and love. On the surface, it seems as if she has it all; but a dark secret in her marriage and Maria’s fiery spirit lead to tragedy. Spicy dialogue from director-writer Joseph L. Mankiewicz and the complex but platonic friendship between Harry and Maria make this film memorable.
When Ina Garten first launched into the food industry, she did so by buying and running a shop named after the movie, The Barefoot Contessa. The name stands for “elegance and earthiness,” which definitely describe the popular Food Network chef and cookbook author – so the name stuck.
Click the image or either one of the links to purchase this wonderful movie. It should be in every movie lover’s collection. Come on, it’s Ava Gardner for crying out loud!
by Joi on November 25, 2007
in Art Prints and Posters, Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner, Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Classic Movies, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Rita Hayworth, Sex Symbols (Female)
Miracle on 34th Street Poster
Buy at AllPosters.com
Without a doubt, Maureen O’Hara’s one of the most beautiful actresses ever. Absolutely stunning. The hair, the voice, the figure, the face – a place for everything and everything in its place.
I’ve said it before, and I’m bound to say it again – I wish actresses today would try to capture the magic, mystery, class, and sophistication that actresses yesterday possessed. A few, in my opinion, do (Keira Knightley, Angelina Jolie, Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank, and Reese Witherspoon to name a few.) But for the most part, they’re way too blatant and brassy.
There’s just something different about Maureen O’Hara, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, and Rita Hayworth. And that something different is very attractive.
To be sure, the same can be said about actors yesterday vs. actors today! There aren’t very many Clark Galbes, John Wyanes, Cary Grants, or Clint Eastwoods walking around today.
So many girl-y boys! If John Wayne walked through Hollywood today, he wouldn’t know whether to date or punch half the actors.
Eh, too much cranberry sauce – makes me mean.
Ava Gardner is one of my all-time favorites – I guess that’s why I feature her so much. Not only was she absolutely stunning, she (like other favorites Lucille Ball, Audrey Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, James Dean, and Jimmy Stewart) had a certain magic. The sort of magic you can’t describe, but man-oh-man and woman-oh-woman, you know it when you see it!
Below are some interesting things about Lady Gardner that you may or may not have known. The beautiful pictures at the bottom of the post can be seen larger by clicking the t-nail. You’ll want to do that – the art that is Ava Gardner was meant to be enjoyed!
- Elizabeth Taylor named Ava Gardner as the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen.
- Ava was a southern beauty. She was born in 1922 in Grabtown, North Carolina.
- She was born on Christmas Eve.
- To say that she was completely uninterested in books would be an understatement. By 1945, Ava had read only two books: The Bible and Gone with the Wind. If you’re only going to read two books, The Bible should definitely be one.
- There is an Ava Gardner Museum! It’s located in Smithfield, North Carolina. I’ve gotta check that out.
- She was a fan of bullfighting, a sport she fell in love with on a trip to Spain.
- Ava once met author J.R.R. Tolkien and neither knew why the other was famous. With her lack of fascination for books, I’m not surprised.
- She was married to Frank Sinatra during a low point of his career. She often had to lend him money, just so he could buy presents for his children. He would later repay the debt, in a way, when he paid her medical expenses after her 1989 stroke.
- A statue of Ava from The Barefoot Contessa was given to Frank Sinatra as a gift. He kept it in his backyard garden well after their divorce. When he married Barbara Marx, she forced him to get rid of it.
- Ava and Lena Horne were very close friends.
- Although she referred to her hometown as Grabtown, the town’s name is actually Brogden. “Grabtown” is a nickname given to it by locals. She sometimes named Smithfield as her hometown. Smithfield is a larger town nearby “Grabtown”.
- Frank Sinatra nicknamed her “Angel”.
- Ava was a good friend of writer Ernest Hemingway, whom she called “Papa.”
- Production designer John Hawkesworth, said that Ava “could eat twice as much as anyone and drink three times as much.”
- Ava’s 3 husbands were married a total of 20 times between them!
- Mickey Rooney was her first husband.
- She was married to Artie Shaw from October 17, 1945 to October 25, 1946. Artie had 8 wives, two of which were Ava Gardner and Lana Turner.
- One of the most beautiful actresses ever…in fact one her fans will always declare as THE most beautiful actress ever…died from bronchial pneumonia in London on January 25, 1990.
I’m a firm believer that you can learn a lot about a person simply by listening to their words…or reading their quotes. Ava’s colorfulness definitely comes through her words:
“All I ever got out of any of my marriages was the two years Artie Shaw financed on an analyst’s couch.”
” After my screen test, the director clapped his hands gleefully and yelled, ‘She can’t talk! She can’t act! She’s sensational!’ “
I have only one rule in acting – trust the director and give him heart and soul.
When I lose my temper, honey, you can’t find it any place.
Deep down, I’m pretty superficial.
(On why she came out of retirement in 1985 to do a prime time soap.) “For the loot, honey, for the loot.
What I’d really like to say about stardom is that it gave me everything I never wanted.
Maybe I just didn’t have the temperament for stardom. I’ll never forget seeing Bette Davis at the Hilton in Madrid. I went up to her and said, “Miss Davis, I’m Ava Gardner and I’m a great fan of yours.” And do you know, she behaved exactly as I wanted her to behave. “Of course you are, my dear,” she said. “Of course you are.” And she swept on. Now that’s a star.
Although no one believes me, I have always been a country girl and still have a country girl’s values.
I just got my newest entertainment blog up. It’s for my current favorite movie actress: Keira Knightley. She’s my present-day Ava, Audrey, Rita, and Lucy. She actually reminds me a great deal of Audrey Hepburn – the impossibly beautiful face, the talent, the way she carries herself, the tiny little frame.
Click HERE to check out the blog and HERE to see the amazing gallery of Keira pics we’ve put together. Whatta face!
Joi
Ava Gardner was striking, to be sure, but I still think that the most attractive thing about her was her confidence. Ava loved her some Ava and it came through in every movie, every interview, and every picture!
From what I’ve read she wasn’t quite as sweet as Rita Hayworth or as naive as Marilyn Monroe. She was Ava from her head to her toes and never tried to be anyone else. She seemed to have the attitude that anyone who didn’t accept her on her terms wasn’t worth her time. Kind of like Katharine Hepburn. Sad that when actors were strong, confident, and self-assured – they were looked at as demi-gods. But when actresses had these traits, they were….well, something all together different.
Joi
Is that amazing work or what?! The mural above is on Franklin Avenue in Los Angeles, California. There’s something in the eyes that captures both James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor. Click HERE to see more murals featuring James Dean. Marilyn Monroe’s also featured on several.
While I’m thrilled to see my guy James on so many, I’m surprised there aren’t more with my favorite gals Rita Hayworth, Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner and (of course) Lucille Ball. Oh well, at least James is featured heavily – and I spied Clark Gable on one, too. He’s another big favorite of mine. He’s one of the few actors from that period of time that seemed like a totally normal Joe. Little wonder he didn’t hang out off set much with Vivien Leigh – one of the most peculiar of ‘em all! Beautiful? Absolutely. Talented? Definitely. One of my favorite actresses? You betcha. But normal? Nah. Loonier than a bed bug.
There’s one of James Dean with W.C. Fields and a few others and there are two of them who I can’t identify for the life of me – and I usually know Hollywood inside out! The longer I stare at it, the further they get from me, though.
There’s a gorgeous mural from a McDonald’s in Eagle Rock, California too. Be sure to check that one out.
Oh great, now I’m McCraving a McChicken, McFries and a McDrink. I pretty much know what’s for lunch. 
Joi
I haven’t got alot of time today – in fact, I think I’ll only be able to post on 3 of my 12 blogs and update 0 of my 14 websites – but, what can I say – the weather’s gorgeous and my gladiola bulbs are waiting to be planted!
I just had to make time to throw this gorgeous pic of Ava Garner your way, though. Did every feature this woman had know how to make an impression or what?!?!
Geez.
Joi
Unless your name is Michael and you’re my husband, check out the following great pictures of Ava Gardner. Click on each to see a larger version:
Michael, dearest, get back to ESPN.com, there’s nothing here for you.
Joi
