Debbie Reynolds: Gene Kelly could never have known

Tales of how hard Gene Kelly was on 19 year old Debbie Reynolds during the filming of “Singin’ in the Rain” are legend. He was a tough task master who gave this young, non-dancer no sympathy. Did he look at her and see a youngster who had not proven herself? Just another ingénue imposed upon him by the studio? He worked her hard and offered little encouragement to her while her feet bled and her heart sank.

Debbie and her task master

No doubt the master was right. But how could he have known that the wholesome and hardworking kid (who rose to the challenge and won his respect) would become the last joyous representative of the studio star system and the keeper of the flame? Yes, Olivia de Havilland is with us, as is Doris Day, but they never wore their stardom joyously. Olivia fought the studio system with all her might and then retreated to France. Doris never seemed to enjoy it and, instead, found her passion in caring for the animals and in her Carmel-by-the-Sea home far away from Hollywood.

Debbie at her spunkiest (and loveliest) in "The Mating Game"

Only Debbie, sprightly, spunky Debbie Reynolds, never quite the greatest talent at the studio, embraced her role as Hollywood movie star. And we loved her for it. She may not have been the best actress, comedienne, singer or dancer, but her exuberance was unparalleled.  As only a star can, she lit up the movie screen and later the television screen and the stage simply by being Debbie. We have come to learn that it wasn’t always easy for her and that her later appearances were not a true reflection of her condition, but she made the effort for us. The illusion was for us. That’s what a move star does and that’s straight out of the Mary Pickford-Joan Crawford playbook. 

Debbie and Molly Brown - both unsinkable

Not only did Debbie continue to give us a Hollywood movie star well into the era where such people ceased to exist, she also became the keeper of its history. Through her massive purchase and warehousing of the costume and set treasures of Hollywood and her failed effort to find a museum for these articles she knew had an important history, she acknowledged the importance of Hollywood, its glamour and legends. For a peek at only a part of Debbie's massive collection at auction, click here. Marilyn Monroe’s billowing subway dress from "The Seven Year Itch" sold for $5.52 million and the Audrey Hepburn Ascot gown from "My Fair Lady" went for $4.44 million. (The collection would ultimately fetch more than $30 million).

$4.4 million!

Thanks, Debbie. You were wonderful and I think we are not really aware of how much we will really miss you.

$1,564,000 - $2,829,000 dollars and a Dream: The Debbie Reynolds Treasure Trove Auction

In case you hadn't heard, Debbie Reynolds is giving up her dream of creating a movie  memorabilia museum with the warehouses full of movie treasures she has acquired over the years. Debbie, a true child of Hollywood, is a gal who never bit the hand that fed her. Her love of Hollywood and its history inspired her to amass an impressive collection over the decades. How ironic that film, which lasts forever, is supported by an industry that treats its tangible history as temporary and disposable.

Debbie, who started her collection while in her 30s (she's a fantastic-looking 79), had hoped that her efforts to preserve all of this wonderful history would result in a museum that could showcase her collection. Originally, the museum was to be located in Las Vegas. When that plan fell through, it was hoped that a museum could be opened in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. However, the planned museum filed for bankruptcy and the collection remained without a permanent home.

Garbo, Valentino, Pickford (in addition to her costumes, a lock of her hair and many personal items), Fairbanks, Grant, Taylor, Kelly (both Grace and Gene), Flynn, Gable... almost every major star is somehow represented in this collection. Elizabeth Taylor's "Cleopatra" impossible ornate headpiece, Joan Crawford's "Mildred Pierce" waitress uniform, Clark Gable's personal robe worn between takes on "Gone With the Wind"....a movie lover's dream.

I went through the voluminous catalog and confined myself to a dozen "must haves":

Charlie Chaplin's Bowler Hat

suggested bid: $20,000  - $30,000

 Rudolph Valentino's "Suit of Lights' costume, designed by Travis Banton, from "Blood and Sand"

suggested bid: $60,000 - $80,000

Garbo's green velvet dress, designed by Adrian, from "Anna Karenina"

suggested bid: $12,000 - $15,000

Judy Garland's Ruby Slippers from "The Wizard of Oz." Every girl needs at least one pair.

suggested bid: $12,000 - $15,000

Vivien Leigh's 2-piece suit from "Waterloo Bridge" (just to see if we're the same size)

suggested bid: $3,000 - $4,000

Ingrid Bergman's dress from "Gaslight"

suggested bid: $8,000 - $12,000

Claudette Colbert's gold lame gown from "Cleopatra." I need this.

suggested bid: $20,000  - $30,000

Mary Astor's lace dress from "Meet Me in St. Louis"

$6,000 - $8,000

 Leslie Caron's blue fountain top dress from "An American in Paris" (for casual Fridays)

suggested bid: $3,000 - $5,000

Audrey Hepburn's exquisite Cecil Beaton gown from "My Fair Lady"

suggested bid: $200,000 - $300,000

Merle Oberon's Empress Josephine gown from "Desiree"

suggested bid: $20,000 - $30,000

Marilyn Monroe's red dress from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" 

suggested bid: $200,000 - $300,000

Marilyn Monroe's famous white dress from "The Seven Year Itch"

suggested bid: $1 million - $2 million
Debbie paid $200 for this

Okay, okay - there are 13. I had to include those Ruby Slippers. They'd look so nice with the Marilyn Monroe red dress, don't you think? Now, if I could just scrape up the $1,564,000 - $2,829,000.

There are hundreds of unbelievable items too numerous to mention: Laurel and Hardy's suits (one large, one small), cars, cameras, lobby cards of incredible value, props, furniture and even Ingrid Bergman's suit of armor from "St. Joan." What is so evident is the quality of every detail of these items (secondary players often had wildly sumptous and ornate costumes that rivaled and even surpassed those of the stars) and what is so tragic is the utter disregard MGM and other studios had for them. 

Debbie Reynolds did her very best to honor and preserve the history of the industry she loves. We can only hope that most of these items don't end up hidden away in private collections, but somehow find their way to an appropriate venue for movie-lovers to enjoy and to discover. However, if somehow some benefactor thinks of me and I get the Valentino Suit of Lights, I'm keeping it close by at all times.

To learn more about the auction (and download a free copy of the catalog) that takes place on June 18, 2011 click here.

HAPPY BIDDING!