During Hollywood's so-called "Golden Era" (roughly 1935- 1959), there were five actresses who were particular favorites of the largest, most loyal group of movie fans that existed at that time: the American housewife. Television was not yet in homes, so after meals were cooked, families fed, clothes washed, kids in school and dad at work, moms of all ages often ventured out to catch a movie matinee at the local Bijou (rarely did the 25 cent cost of a ticket overstrain the family budget, and it always added a needed jolt of glamour and dreams to mother's otherwise 24/7 work life).

At that time, the five most universally loved of all the glamour pusses on the Bijou's silver screens in America seemed to be Greer Garson, Irene Dunne, Claudette Colbert, Ginger Rogers and our Star of the Month for this December, Myrna Loy (who was chosen by our TCM Backlot members by a vote in which she bested Bette Davis). Certainly a whole battalion of others had their intensely loyal fans too, such as Ingrid Bergman (though too unpredictable for many), Joan Crawford (too intense), Rita Hayworth (too glamorous, and she could also dance like a dream), Hedy Lamarr (too gorgeous) and Lana Turner (too beautiful, but her love life was always interesting to read about). Another reason I think the Big Five were such favorites is that audiences sensed that Greer, Irene, Claudette, Ginger and Myrna were good eggs, down to earth, and it was always a pleasure to be in their company.

Well, if you're a Loy fan you're in for some rare treats this month--not only will you be able to spend your Friday evenings with the marvelous Myrna, but our Myrna Loy marathon will be devoting nearly 24-hours each Friday to her career. Arranged roughly, though not perfectly, in chronological order in our Loy tribute you'll have a chance to see 61 of her over-120 films, all the way to a pair of her films from 1960: From the Terrace as Paul Newman's alcoholic-drenched mother and as a possible murderess in the Doris Day thriller Midnight Lace. There's also a documentary on her titled Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To (1991), and of course, her iconic performances in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948), as well as all six of her rib-tickling outings as private eye Nick Charles' rich and sassy wife, Nora, in their series of Thin Man mysteries.

You'll also be able to see a number of Loy's earlier films, when Hollywood was still trying to work out what her image should be, leading her to be cast as a vamp/early femme fatale figure in films like The Squall (1929), The Naughty Flirt (1931, which was her last film after a longterm contract with Warner Bros) and Thirteen Women (1932). If you haven't seen these early Loy pictures, I do recommend them if for nothing else than to see early Myrna as a star-inthe- making, working like a trooper in bit parts and supporting roles while waiting, and hoping, for a breakthrough success. (She had to wait many years, and wipe off tons of Asian makeup before that happened and she landed the kind of role that eventually defined her--as the movies' "perfect wife," Nora Charles).

Oh, yes. It's going to be a lively, bright and very merry month here on Turner Classic Movies. We're delighted you'll be here with us.

by Robert Osborne