Gene Kelly was a "good left-wing Democrat" till the day he died!

[BurtWorm]

His first wife, Betsy Blair, who was blacklisted, made this statement in a special about Kelly on PBS. I knew there was a reason I liked Gene Kelly--besides his being a brilliant dancer and film choreographer.

Who are some other famous "good left-wing Democrats"--people who make you proud to be one yourself?

[wellstone_democrat]

1. Robert Mitchum

reportedly a "liberal's liberal"

[BurtWorm]

2. All right, Bobby!

And a pot-smoker too!

[Sapphocrat]

7. Want to hear something damned funny?

You couldn't find a more lesbian lesbian than me (I'm talking lifelong, no questions about it, ever) -- and yet, the two men I always found the absolute hottest / sexiest / would go straight for, for one night, were Gene Kelly and Robert Mitchum.

No fooling -- ask anybody who knows me.

And I didn't even know they were politically perfect! (I didn't want to know, because if I'd found out they were Repukes, it would have blown my idol worship.)

Uhhhh, so what about Burt Lancaster? Anyone? I'm afraid to ask, but now I have to know! :D

[wellstone_democrat]

8. Burt Lancaster---definitely a liberal

active in Civil Rights things as I recall from a biography a while back.

[Sapphocrat]

11. Oh, good! Thank you, wellstone_democrat!

See, Burt's number three on my list. ;)

Hmmm... Could it be there's a lefty/liberal phenomenon equivalent to gaydar? Well, I won't hijack this thread pondering the thought -- but it's interesting one!

[nostamj]

3. that PBS special was excellent

hadn't seen it before.

i fell totally in love with movie musicals with SUMMER STOCK

[BurtWorm]

5. My 8-year-old daughter is totally in love with Gene Kelly

and Jules Munshin.

[aquart]

13. I have Jules Munshin's autograph. Somewhere.

My stepfather's father ran a hotel and Munshin wrote him a letter.

My mother was going to throw it out. Can you imagine?

[flamingyouth]

4. Gregory Peck

RIP

[Dr Fate]

6. Humphrey Bogart v. John Wayne

I know which classic, Hollywood "tough guy" I like best!!!

The Liberal/talented one!!!!

[Norbert]

9. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodword

One of the finest leading men ever and a great all-around actress.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

29. Not only that but he digs auto racing!

And races himself! What's not to like?

[Norbert]

10. Jack Lemmon.

RIP

[Sapphocrat]

12. Carol Lynley...

This, I can vouch for personally. She's even toyed with the idea of running for office. I've bugged her about it off and on, but I think she is too (in her own word) "bohemian." :)

(Whaddya mean, "Who's Carol Lynley?" The stunning blonde singer in "The Poseidon Adventure," for starters -- and the holder of the dubious honor of having appeared more than any other guest star on "Fantasy Island." I kid you not.)

[DODI]

16. What is she doing now?

I loved her in "Under the Yum Yum Tree" with Jack Lemon

[Sapphocrat]

21. Living in Malibu...

...with Angus and Sarah (don't worry, they're dogs), swimming, yoga, appearing at shows and screenings, and just basically having a great life. :)

Yeahhhhhhhhhh! Who couldn't love her in "Yum Yum"! My biggest regret is that she didn't do more comedic roles -- she's funny as hell, onscreen and off. Wicked, wicked sense of humor!

I'll give a shout when I have my CL site back up. (Guess who owns carollynley.com? :D)

[Cooley Hurd]

26. I remember seeing a picture of her in Playboy years ago...

...actually a reprint of a picture. All I can say is that she had an exquisite ass!

[Sapphocrat]

27. I'll tell her you send your regards...

:D

She did a whole Playboy feature in, ummmm, Feb or March of '65 (I have it around here somewhere), and it's gorgeous. Reflecting on it, she shrugs and says, "It's just skin." :)

[Cooley Hurd]

28. I found some recent (clothed) pics of her on the internet...

...and she is still very beautiful! Does she want to date a younger man? ;)

[NightTrain]

17. Oh my god! Carol Lynley!

She played Darren McGavin's girlfriend in the original "Night Stalker" movie in 1971.

A few years ago, I saw a photo of Ms. Lynley taken at a horror convention, where she was one of the celebrity guests. Unfortunately, she has not aged well. :(

[Sapphocrat]

22. You should meet her in person...

...which isn't too hard to do (she does 2 or 3 autograph shows a year). We all take bad pics -- but Carol is still stunningly beautiful. Maybe I'll dig up a couple from the dozens I've taken and post 'em for ya.

And you've never basked in such a glow of... vitality. No other word for it; the woman just oozes life!

I wish I looked as good at 20 as she does at 61 (come this Friday the 13th). *sigh*

[BurtWorm]

25. For some reason, this reminds me that Miss Jane Hathaway

(Nancy Culp) was a Democrat who ran for Congress from Pennsylvania (unsuccessfully, alas).

[aquart]

14. Wasn't it Kirk Douglas who broke the Hollywood blacklist

by hiring Dalton Trumbo to write Spartacus under his real name?

(Don't know if that makes him a Democrat.)

[pfitz59]

20. Kirk Douglas is up there....

"I'm Spartacus!"

[BurtWorm]

24. He's definitely a lefty.

So is Michael. And hiring Dalton Trumbo to write under his real name was courageous.

[hlthe2b]

15. Speaking of great dancers... Anyone know about Fred Astaire

(and Ginger Rogers)?

[burrowowl]

18. Henry Fonda

a good liberal too!
Jane Wyeman, ray-guns first wife, liberal.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. I know that Katherine Hepburn was very outspoken

on pro-choice issues and other aspects of feminism.

[nostamj]

23. if you admired KATE, you really really must read

KATE REMEMBERED

by Scott Berg.

it is the BEST read. biography, memoir and something utterly unique and special. a friendship. wary but specific.

it is just a wonderful read.

[fudge stripe cookays]

30. Ed Harris and Amy Madigan

I get e-mails from them about pro-choice matters.

It's strange-- even though Ed is bald as a cueball, and I don't usually find that attractive, I find him sexy as hell. Must be those gorgeous eyes.