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John Wayne famously stormed up to Douglas after a screening to rage: “Christ, Kirk, how can you play a part like that

I’m Spartacus!” – “I’m Spartacus!” – “I’M SPARTACUS!” Every film buff knows that moment, every panel-show comedian riffs on it. A mob of defeated slave rebels in the pre-Christian Roman empire is told their wretched lives will be spared, but only if their ringleader, Spartacus (Kirk Douglas), comes out and gives himself up to be executed. Just as he is about to sacrifice himself, one slave, Antoninus (Tony Curtis) jumps up and claims to be Spartacus, then another, and another, then all of them, a magnificent display of solidarity, while the man himself allows a tear to fall in closeup.

This variant on the Christian myth – in the face of crucifixion, Spartacus’s disciples do not deny him – is a pointed political fiction. In real life, Spartacus was killed on the battlefield. The screenplay was written by Dalton Trumbo, the blacklisted author who had to work under aliases and found no solidarity in Hollywood. Yet Douglas himself, as the film’s producer, stood up for Trumbo. He put Trumbo’s real name in the credits, and ended the McCarthy-ite hysteria.

Kirk Douglas in SpartacusHe’s Spartacus: Douglas in his most famous role.The main reason the scene is so potent is its extraordinary irony. Who on earth could claim to be Spartacus when Spartacus looked like that? Douglas is a one-man Hollywood Rushmore, almost hyperreal in his masculinity. He is the movie-world’s Colossus of Rhodes, a figure of pure-granite maleness yet with something feline, and a sinuous, gravelly voice. Douglas is a heart-on-sleeve actor, mercurial and excitable; he has played tough guys and vulnerable guys, heroes and villains. And, as a pioneering producer, he brought two Stanley Kubrick films to the screen: Spartacus (he hired Kubrick to replace Anthony Mann) and his first world war classic Paths of Glory in which he was superb, playing a principled French army officer.

One hundred years ago today, Douglas was born Issur Danielovitch, the son of a Moscow-born Russian Jewish ragman, in upstate New York. An uncle had been killed in the pogroms at home. In his 1988 memoir, The Ragman’s Son, Douglas describes the casual antisemitism he faced almost throughout his career. Rebranding yourself with a Waspy stage-name was what actors – and immigrants in general – had to do in America to survive and thrive.

After a start on the Broadway stage, he made his screen reputation playing the driven fighter Midge Kelly in the exhilarating boxing movie Champion (1949), which earned him the first of his three Oscar nominations. Champion has stunning images and a notable slo-mo scene: it is much admired by Martin Scorsese and transparently an influence on Raging Bull. In Detective Story (1951), directed by William Wyler, Douglas gives a grandstanding star turn in a melodrama set in a police station, playing the vindictive, violent McLeod, an officer with an awful secret. It was a movie that laid down the template for all cop TV shows, including The Streets of San Francisco, which was to star Douglas’s son Michael.
But it was in Ace in the Hole (1951), directed by Billy Wilder, that Douglas gives his first classic performance: the sinister newspaper reporter Chuck Tatum, who prolongs the ordeal of a man trapped in a cave to create a better story. He is an electrifying villain in that film, a Phineas T Barnum of media untruth. At one stage he slaps the wife of the trapped man (whom he is also seducing) because she wasn’t sufficiently demure and sad-looking for his purposes, like an imperious film director looking for a better performance. He is also brilliant in Vincente Minnelli’s The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) as Jonathan Shields, the diabolically persuasive movie producer who betrays everyone.
Arguably, it is in Paths of Glory (1958) that Douglas finds his finest hour as the tough, principled Colonel Dax, who stands up to the callous and incompetent senior officers of the high command. Douglas’s handsome, unsmiling face is set like a bayonet of contempt.
Douglas himself prizes his sensitive and Oscar-nominated performance as Vincent van Gogh in another Vincente Minnelli film, Lust for Life, from 1956. Some may smile a little at this earnest and high-minded movie now, but it is very watchable, with a heartfelt belief that Van Gogh’s art can be understood by everyone. There is a bold, passionate performance from Douglas, who simply blazes with agony. Not everyone liked it. John Wayne famously stormed up to Douglas after a screening to rage: “Christ, Kirk, how can you play a part like that? There’s so goddamn few of us left. We got to play tough, strong characters. Not those weak queers!”
Douglas has endured a scene of almost Freudian trauma in his career. Having bought the rights to Ken Kesey’s novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in the 1960s, he himself played the lead for its Broadway adaptation: McMurphy, the subversive wild-man imprisoned in a psychiatric hospital.
PROC. BY MOVIES

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Do You Remember this legendary Dance from the 1950s? It brings strong memories

For me, dancing has always meant a lot of happy times and wonderful memories. A wide variety of dance forms have developed and changed throughout the years. Although some have lost steam, others have maintained a steady following. “The Stroll” was a popular dance move in the 1950s, and it’s time to bring it back into the spotlight.

How does “The Stroll” work?

“The Stroll” may be a familiar name to anyone who lived during the late 1950s. American Bandstand was the birthplace of this iconic dance number, which shot to fame. The beauty of it was in its accessibility; anyone could participate.

The dance called for the males and girls to form an aisle separated by a line. Each pair would take turns walking down the line, with the leading lad and girl meeting in the center. Everyone was enthralled by the ensuing synchronized routine.

A Reflection on the Past

If you want to see this famous dance in action, here’s a clip from an Idaho dance program that aired in February 1958. A lot of people’s happiness and excitement for “The Stroll” are shown in this video. Feel the joy and excitement as the happy couple walks down the aisle.

The original “Stroll” from the 1950s has a certain allure, even though dances and times have changed. It is a dance worth remembering because of its simplicity and the purity of that age. Even if there are modern group line dance renditions of “The Stroll,” nothing beats the timeless allure of the original.

Take Part in “The Stroll”

To see “The Stroll” or relive it, just click the video below. We are eager to hear your feedback once you’ve watched. Share your thoughts on this charming dance from yesteryear by posting a comment on our Facebook page.

Enjoy the timeless joy of “The Stroll”—a dance that has been delighting audiences for decades—with the help of this high-quality content.

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Leslie Charleson, ‘General Hospital’ icon, dies at 79

Leslie Charleson, the iconic actress known for her long-running portrayal of Monica Quartermaine on ABC’s General Hospital, has passed away at the age of 79.

Her death on January 12 marks the end of a remarkable era for fans and the entertainment world.

Fans of General Hospital, along with her family and colleagues, are now mourning the loss of the beautiful and talented Leslie Charleson, who passed away Sunday morning.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” “General Hospital” executive producer Frank Valentini announced on the official Instagram account of General Hospital.

“Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on ‘General Hospital’ alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew. I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set. On behalf of everyone at ‘General Hospital,’ my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”The awkward advice

Leslie Charleson, who joined General Hospital in 1977, had been dealing with mobility issues from multiple falls.

The cause of Leslie Charleson’s death has not yet been disclosed, but her most recent fall led to hospitalization just a week before her passing.

Despite her challenges, the hardworking and wonderful actress stayed strong but hadn’t appeared on the show since December 2023.

Leslie Charleson, born February 22, 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri, grew up in a comfortable environment as the daughter of a publishing executive. Her neighbor, the president of ABC, helped make breaking into the industry a little easier. At just 19, she started her career in 1964 on the short-lived ABC daytime soap A Flame in the Wind. Soon after, she landed a role on As the World Turns, where her talent began to shine.

In 1993, she recalled advice given to her by soap veteran Roy Poole, who told her, “Don’t think of the 9 million people who are watching. And don’t worry about your hands.” Leslie chuckled about this, explaining, “All of a sudden, hands became something I had never seen before. I didn’t know what to do with them.”

But this trick helped her settle into her roles and, eventually, her hands were no longer a concern.

Breast cancer story

Charleson’s career continued to flourish. Since joining General Hospital in 1977, Charleson’s portrayal of Dr. Monica Quartermaine saw her character face incredible challenges — she gave up a child for adoption, was held hostage, and even battled breast cancer. Monica truly experienced it all, nut perhaps it was Monica’s breast cancer storyline from 1994 to 2000 that made the strongest impact.

”We had all women — women writers, a woman producer — and they had all been affected by breast cancer, including me. My mother had it,” Charleson said while being interviewed by costar Maurice Benard in a 2022.

”I went to Wellness Hospitals, just to see what it was like, because we wanted to be honest. So much of the soap had been fantasy time, but this we took special effort and concentrated effort to make sure it was done properly.”

Earned four Daytime Emmy nominations

As the the respected matriarch of the renowned Quartermaine family, Leslie earned four Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1980, 1982, 1983, and 1995. She also starred in the 1993 TV movie Woman on the Ledge, alongside Deidre Hall and Colleen Zenk.

Reflecting on her time on General Hospital, she recalled, “That was just an incredible time for ‘General Hospital.’ There was the magic of [producer] Gloria Monty. There was such a sense of excitement.”

Leslie’s career was defined by her dedication, passion, and ability to adapt, earning her a place as a soap opera legend. Best known for her iconic role on General Hospital, Leslie’s talent also shone in its spinoffs, including Port Charles (1997–2001) and General Hospital: Night Shift (2008).

In a 2019 interview with Digital Journal, Charleson shared her thoughts on what has contributed to her long career, saying, ”Interest in the material is what keeps you around and relationships.” She also pointed out a unique aspect of her experience, stating, ”I am the only actor on the show that doesn’t have another soap opera to talk about since I have never done another soap opera, while almost everybody else has.”

My prayers and condolences goes out to Leslie Charleson family and the cast of General Hospital. May she rest in peace!

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Mel Gibson shares sad truth after fire destroys his home

Hollywood star Mel Gibson, 69, has lost his California home to the devastating Palisades fire.

The actor and director was in Austin, Texas, recording an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience when the wildfire broke out, ultimately destroying the house he had lived in for 15 years.

Criticized Governor Gavin Newsom

According to the BBC, the blaze rapidly spread through Gibson’s neighborhood, engulfing homes in flames. Fortunately, his longtime girlfriend, Rosalind Ross, and their seven-year-old son, Lars Gerard Gibson, were able to evacuate safely before the fire reached their property.

During his conversation with Joe Rogan, Gibson was already aware that his neighborhood was in danger. He mentioned that the area was ”on fire” and expressed concerns about the lack of response from California Governor Gavin Newsom. The Academy Award–winning director criticized Newsom, remarking, ”I think all our tax dollars probably went for Gavin’s hair gel.”89

Upon returning to California, the 69-year-old actor confirmed that his $14.5million Malibu mansion had been completely destroyed. Speaking with Elizabeth Vargas Reports on NewsNation, he recalled his reaction: “I thought, ‘Eh, I wonder if my place is still there.’ When I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there.”

Bought the property in 2008

Mel Gibson had been attempting to sell his massive estate for years, even slashing the asking price by $3 million.

The expansive mansion was built in 1996 and Gibson bought it back in 2008 for $11.5 million. According to Daily Mail, the five-bedroom property featured a grand, old-world charm, complete with a castle-like turret.

While grateful that his family was unharmed, the actor admitted that the loss was deeply emotional.

”I had a lot of personal things there that, you know, I can’t get back..,” Gibson shared.

Mel Gibson’s Malibu home / Photo by MEGA/GC Images

”All kinds of stuff, everything from photographs to files to, you know, you know, just personal things that I had from over the years, and clothing, you know, pretty cool stuff, you know, but you know that can all be replaced.”

”These are only things. And the good, the good news is that, you know, those in my family and those I love are all well, and we’re all happy and healthy and out of harm’s way, that’s all I can care about, really.”

Gibson described the devastation in his neighborhood, saying, “I’ve never seen such a complete burn.” He also noted that other celebrities, including his neighbor, actor Ed Harris, may have also lost their homes. Additionally, properties belonging to Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal were reportedly destroyed in the fire.

”Completely toasted”

”It was completely toasted,” the Braveheart star said of his own property.

Mel Gibson also made a dark joke during his conversation with Vargas.

”I went home and I said to myself, ‘Well, at least I haven’t got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore,’”

He also added that his ”chickens survived, it was amazing.”

A view of Mel Gibson’s Malibu home / Getty Images

California wildfires have continued to impact many residents, including high-profile figures like Gibson. The destruction serves as another stark reminder of the ongoing wildfire crisis in the state. Commenting on the authorities’ response, he told Fox News, ”Apparently, some people were asleep on the job, mainly our leaders.”

”That’s something they have to live with. Kids are traumatized. Someone should answer for it.”

Watch the video below to hear more from Gibson and other celebrities who have experienced similar losses.