Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2

Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2 (1941)

*** (out of 4)

Actress Hedda Hopper appeared in well over one-hundred movies from the silent era up to the early 40s when she pretty much retired and instead focused on radio and eventually television. HEDDA HOPPER'S Hollywood was a six part series that featured the former actress turning into a gossip columnist where she would report on various Hollywood parties and the stars that attended them. The benefit of these short films today are being able to see many famous faces including some who weren't captured on film too much during this period. It's also worth mentioning that rumor has it that Hopper was one of the biggest influences on the character Burt Lancaster played in SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS.

This second entry in Hooper's short series is another fascinating look at some celebs outside of the movies. We start off with a party sequence at Hopper's house where we get to see the likes of her son, Arline Judge, Kent Rogers as well as silent screen star William Farnum. We also get to see Joe E. Brown, Carole Landis and Evelyn Keyes at a premiere as well as several stars at the club Mocambo including Desi Arnaz, Gloria Dickson, Betty Grable, Ann Miller, George Raft and Tom Tyler. When then go to the ground breaking of the Motion Picture Home where we see stars like Mary Pickford and Loretta Young. Once again this short does a great job at simply showing us stars. I must admit that I really found this thing entertaining even if it was nothing more that Hopper's attempt to show off her friends and those who she approved of. I thought it was rather neat seeing the now forgotten Farnum as he gets to talk about the silent days. At the party they also show a few clips of Hopper's early silent films and one can't help but think of a future Billy Wilder picture about a silent screen star.