Monthly Archives: June 2008
Vote to Get “I Was an American Spy” on TCM & DVD
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Anyone who has taken a look at the FAQs on this site knows that the most asked Ann Dvorak question is “Where can I get a copy of I Was an American Spy?” In the eleven years I have been collecting on Miss Dvorak, I have never been able to find a copy of the 1951 Allied Artists film. My understanding is that Warner Bros has a print, but no plans to release it on DVD.
Turner Classic Movies has a “Suggest a Movie” feature, as well as a “Home Video Vote.” Both are available on their I Was an American Spy page.
So, start clicking, suggesting and voting so we can finally see this movie!
Collection Spotlight – When eBay Goes Right
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In the last post, I spoke of the frenzied bidding wars eBay can induced in individuals, causing them to pay far more for items than they would ever pay in person. On the flip side, fabulous items sometimes get listed and slip though the cracks, leaving a very happy collector paying far less than they would in person. Which brings us to the latest collection spotlight.
The above picture of Ann Dvorak was taken on the set of Housewife (1934), co-starring Bette Davis and George Brent. As I had mentioned in a previous post, Housewife is not Ann’s best movie, but it’s enjoyable enough and only one of two times she shared the screen with Bette Davis. When this photo was listed, the opening bid was only 99 cents and the description was very vague, leading me to believe that it was a cheap reproduction. Still, I love candid photos and figured this great shot of Ann was worth spending a couple of bucks on.
No one else placed a bid on the photo and it was mine for 99 cents, plus shipping which was four times the cost of the photo. Imagine my surprise when I opened the package to find an original photographer stamped photo!
Between this photo and the candid from The Way to Love discussed last time, the cost of the two averages out to 40 dollars a piece. This is still really high, but at the same time allows me to justify spending way to much on some things, because it all averages out.