Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 5 (1942)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Actress Hedda Hopper appeared in well over one-hundred movies from the silent era up to the early 40s when she pretty much retired and instead focused on radio and eventually television. HEDDA HOPPER'S Hollywood was a six part series that featured the former actress turning into a gossip columnist where she would report on various Hollywood parties and the stars that attended them. The benefit of these short films today are being able to see many famous faces including some who weren't captured on film too much during this period. It's also worth mentioning that rumor has it that Hopper was one of the biggest influences on the character Burt Lancaster played in SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS.
Another decent entry in the Hedda Hopper series. This time we start off at the home of John Howard who is working in his shop making a leg for the table he is building. We then flash over to the home of Constance Bennett where, we're told, she's taking photos with her three children for the first time (at least for the public to see). Finally we visit the homes of Norris Goff and Chester Lauck who show off their children, their large homes and then a race horse. As with the previous entry, this one here doesn't show us too many celebs but I'm sure fans of the people here will enjoy it. The Bennett footage is probably the most entertaining for a couple reasons. Of course she's the one most remembered today but we get to see her home, her swimming pool and even her new daughter. It's rather interesting seeing crib they're using for the child and how things have changed over time because I'm sure if any person put a kid in this "crib" today they'd be hauled off to jail.
