Prof. Karen McNally
@profkarenmcnally.bsky.social
Professor of American Film, Television and Cultural History. Books on Frank Sinatra, Billy Wilder, Mad Men, the stardom film, and Trump-era television. Researching for historical biography of Lana Turner supported by Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship.
On my umpteenth joyous rewatch of Mad Men. See how much we learn in this one short scene about these characters and the age of anxiety that is US culture in 1960. And this is only the pilot. Perfect performances by Jon Hamm and Maggie Siff. A show never bettered.
May 22, 2025 at 6:12 PM
On my umpteenth joyous rewatch of Mad Men. See how much we learn in this one short scene about these characters and the age of anxiety that is US culture in 1960. And this is only the pilot. Perfect performances by Jon Hamm and Maggie Siff. A show never bettered.
Madame X (1966) directed by David Lowell Rich and produced by Ross Hunter. Lana Turner in an award-winning performance and Constance Bennett in a return to the big screen and what would be her final role. Two of the best at work.
May 14, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Madame X (1966) directed by David Lowell Rich and produced by Ross Hunter. Lana Turner in an award-winning performance and Constance Bennett in a return to the big screen and what would be her final role. Two of the best at work.
Mel Torme keeps the audience entertained with Duke Ellington's 'Don't Get Around Much Any More' during filming of the October 27, 1963 episode of the Judy Garland Show. Garland and June Allyson play comic relief. Thanks to the cameraman for noting history - 'You're gonna shoot this?'
April 29, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Mel Torme keeps the audience entertained with Duke Ellington's 'Don't Get Around Much Any More' during filming of the October 27, 1963 episode of the Judy Garland Show. Garland and June Allyson play comic relief. Thanks to the cameraman for noting history - 'You're gonna shoot this?'
Lana Turner's multiple screen performances in the setting of World War II portrayed the woman at war as nurse, war correspondent, WAC recruit, resistance worker and spy. Under the guise of romantic dramas, these films repeatedly made strong statements about the war and women's experiences within it.
April 23, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Lana Turner's multiple screen performances in the setting of World War II portrayed the woman at war as nurse, war correspondent, WAC recruit, resistance worker and spy. Under the guise of romantic dramas, these films repeatedly made strong statements about the war and women's experiences within it.
Singers love singers. Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald performing 'Moonlight in Vermont' on ABC's The Frank Sinatra Show in May 1958.
February 11, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Singers love singers. Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald performing 'Moonlight in Vermont' on ABC's The Frank Sinatra Show in May 1958.
Lana Turner as Lady de Winter in The Three Musketeers (George Sidney, 1948). A movie star face.
January 28, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Lana Turner as Lady de Winter in The Three Musketeers (George Sidney, 1948). A movie star face.
It's never too early to appreciate Edith Head's costume design for Rosemary Clooney's flawless performance of 'Love You Didn't Do Right By Me' by Irving Berlin in White Christmas (Michael Curtiz, 1954). Perfection all around.
December 17, 2024 at 6:10 PM
It's never too early to appreciate Edith Head's costume design for Rosemary Clooney's flawless performance of 'Love You Didn't Do Right By Me' by Irving Berlin in White Christmas (Michael Curtiz, 1954). Perfection all around.
Midweek treat - Judy Garland, Lena Horne and 'Love' on the Judy Garland Show in October 1963.
December 4, 2024 at 8:09 PM
Midweek treat - Judy Garland, Lena Horne and 'Love' on the Judy Garland Show in October 1963.
Don't question Lana Turner. She always fights back, and styles it like this. Ricardo Montalban vs John Forsythe in Madame X (David Lowell Rich, 1966).
November 30, 2024 at 7:32 PM
Don't question Lana Turner. She always fights back, and styles it like this. Ricardo Montalban vs John Forsythe in Madame X (David Lowell Rich, 1966).
Pickup on South Street (Samuel Fuller, 1953)
November 19, 2024 at 5:43 PM
Pickup on South Street (Samuel Fuller, 1953)
I'll be posting about Lana Turner and all things Hollywood and American TV. Huge thanks to @leverhulme.bsky.social for supporting my research on Turner with a Major Research Fellowship. Here's Imitation of Life (Douglas Sirk, 1959). Lana, take it away...
November 13, 2024 at 7:13 PM
I'll be posting about Lana Turner and all things Hollywood and American TV. Huge thanks to @leverhulme.bsky.social for supporting my research on Turner with a Major Research Fellowship. Here's Imitation of Life (Douglas Sirk, 1959). Lana, take it away...