Carla in London

First Lady of France, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy manages to find the camera as she and her Napoleon-sized husband Nicolas and Prince Chuck find their way to a statue of Charles de Gaulle in London, where they laid a wreath to commemorate de Gaulle's broadcast to Nazi occupied France on June 17, 1940, in which he declared himself the leader of the "Free French," which went on play a key role in defeating the Germans.

The full text of de Gaulle's speech is inscribed in a plaque on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris:

"The leaders who, for many years, have been at the head of the French armies have formed a government. This government, alleging the defeat of our armies, has made contact with the enemy in order to stop the fighting. It is true, we were, we are, overwhelmed by the mechanical, ground and air forces of the enemy. Infinitely more than their number, it is the tanks, the airplanes, the tactics of the Germans which are causing us to retreat. It was the tanks, the airplanes, the tactics of the Germans that surprised our leaders to the point of bringing them to where they are today.

But has the last word been said? Must hope disappear? Is defeat final? No!

Believe me, I who am speaking to you with full knowledge of the facts, and who tell you that nothing is lost for France. The same means that overcame us can bring us victory one day. For France is not alone! She is not alone! She is not alone! She has a vast Empire behind her. She can align with the British Empire that holds the sea and continues the fight. She can, like England, use without limit the immense industry of the United States.

This war is not limited to the unfortunate territory of our country. This war is not over as a result of the Battle of France. This war is a worldwide war. All the mistakes, all the delays, all the suffering, do not alter the fact that there are, in the world, all the means necessary to crush our enemies one day. Vanquished today by mechanical force, in the future we will be able to overcome by a superior mechanical force. The fate of the world depends on it.

I, General de Gaulle, currently in London, invite the officers and the French soldiers who are located in British territory or who might end up here, with their weapons or without their weapons, I invite the engineers and the specialized workers of the armament industries who are located in British territory or who might end up here, to put themselves in contact with me.

Whatever happens, the flame of the French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished. Tomorrow, as today, I will speak on the radio from London."

France was occupied by the Germans for over four years. Paris was liberated August 25, 1944.

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Hiss of Windsor

Prince Harry and Prince William kibbitz with an African rock python during a visit to Botswana today. I suppose that's what one does when they go to Botswana.

The Princes will also visit Lesotho and South Africa in support of their favorite charities... and then they'll stop in Cape Town to see England vs. Algeria in the World Cup.

The rock python rarely attacks humans, but the species can easily kill an adult by constriction.


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That's Where You'll Find Me

Ninety-year-old "Wizard of Oz" Munchkin Jerry Maren, a wax figure of Judy Garland (who would have turned 88 tomorrow if she hadn't died of a barbiturate overdose in a London bathroom in 1969), lemon-drop delicious child star Margaret O'Brien, 73 (who worked with Judy on "Meet Me in St. Louis" in 1944), and Judy's rarely seen son, Joey Luft, 55.

Gay Pride Month Tidbit: It was the funeral of Judy Garland that mobilized gay unity, leading to the Stonewall Riots against persecution in NYC.

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Warm, Touchin' Warm

Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, 52, at last night's CFDA Fashion Awards gala, and her mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, in 1991 at 62.


And her aunt, the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver, in her 80s.


Mrs. Schlossberg, below center, with her children (l to r) Rose, Tatiana and Jack Schlossberg, in August 2008 at the Democratic National Convention.


Forty-two years ago today, Caroline's uncle, Robert F. Kennedy, was buried at Arlington.

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Goodbye, Art Linkletter

Republican stalwart, TV pioneer and noted bastard Art Linkletter (seen in upper bubble), who emceed the opening of Disneyland in 1955, has croaked at age 97.

Best known for his "House Party" show and "Kids Say the Darndest Things" show and books, Linkletter (seen above with the Nixons and Walt Disney) was one of the wealthiest men in show business.

He leaves his wife of 74 years, Lois, and two children.

Linkletter was predeceased by three children; Jack, who died at age 70 in 2007; Robert, who died in a 1980 car wreck; and Diane, who jumped out a window in 1969.

Betty Deuce -- The Royal Bling

Betty Deuce whipped out her King George IV State Diadem crown... a mere 1,333 diamonds weighing 327.75 carats, festooned with 169 pearls along the base. Between the four crosses are the rose, thistle and shamrock; symbols of England, Scotland and Ireland. She wears it for the procession to Opening of Parliament.

She switched it up for the Imperial State Crown to give her speech.


Hey, why not have Betty tell you about it herself? Yes, it's the early 1970s all over again...

Betty Deuce: Colossus on my Haid

Oh dear. Poor Betty Deuce left the palace with a turbine on her head. It can't be easy for an 84-year-old woman to carry that thing on her noggin. HRH looks like the wealthy sister of Mrs. Claus.

But carry it she does, all the way to Westminster Abbey to mark the 450th anniversary of the granting of the Abbey's Royal Charter by Betty the First.


Sir Isaac Newton, buried in the nave of the church, rose from his grave to study the mechanics of Betty's bonnet.

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It's Raining, So Bring on the Dancing Kids

Child star Jane Withers as she appeared last month at the TCM Film Festival in Hollywood... and below in 1935's "This is the Life."

Chexy's Sports Roundup: David Arquette

Lakers 128, Suns 107, David Arquette 0, Arizona, 0.

Arquette, a former wrestler, was knocked to the ground while attempting to assist a security guard who was trying to prevent an avid fan from entering the court at the end of the game.

Courtside seats go for $3,700 and up. The games are also televised. People yell at their televisions as if the players can hear them, one of the dumbest fuckin' things in the world.

Putz

Woody Allen, as seen above at Cannes this weekend, says that Roman Polanski has paid a high price for his actions in a 1977 child sex case and that "enough is enough."

Allen, whose affair with his pseudo-stepdaughter, Soon Yi Previn, was revealed in 1992 when his girlfriend, Mia Farrow, found nude pictures of her in Woody's apartment. Soon Yi was 22. Woody was 56.

Farrow adopted Soon Yi from South Korea when Yi was 8. Woody and Soon Yi married in 1997. They have two adopted daughters.

Woody had one biological son with Farrow, Satchel Ronan O'Sullivan Farrow, now known as Ronan Farrow, a child prodigy who graduated Bard College at age 16. He has been estranged from Allen since his parents' separation.


Ronan is serving as Special Advisor to the Obama administration on humanitarian and NGO affairs, focusing on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

A Star is Born

Oh the horror. There's talk of remaking "A Star is Born" yet again, perhaps with Beyoncé and Russell Crowe.

There have been three so far; the 1937 version with Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, then Judy Garland's version in 1954 with James Mason, and the ghastly 1976 version with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.

The Janet Gaynor version has some great dialog and was one of the early color films. Janet walked away from Oscar-winning success in films in 1938, and returned nearly 20 years later for one more, "Bernardine" with Pat Boone, of all people.


In 1978, she appeared on the Oscar telecast, handing Diane Keaton the Best Actress award for "Annie Hall."


Her last acting gig was on "The Love Boat" in 1981.


Janet Gaynor was riding in a taxi in San Francisco in 1982 with her husband and Mary Martin and her manager. A drunk driver in a van ran a red light at Franklin and California Streets, hitting the cab, and Gaynor suffered 11 broken ribs, a ruptured bladder, a broken collar bone, kidney damage and pelvic fractures. The taxi driver and the drunk sustained minor injuries.


She lived for two more years. Martin's manager, Ben Washer, was killed. The van driver, Robert Cato, was convicted of drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter and sentenced to 3 years.



Gaynor is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery next to her second husband, one of filmdom's great fashion designers, Adrian.


In September of '84, Cato was paroled after getting time off for good behavior. Janet died that same month of injuries attributed to the crash. Rather than pursue another charge against Cato, the DA chose not to investigate her death... at the request of Gaynor's family.

How Will I Know You?

Singer/songwriter Carol Connors, in the outfit she wore to the opening of the Johnny Grant Post Office in Hollywood. Here's Carol singing with The Teddy Bears... the guitar player is convicted murderer Phil Spector.

Angie Dickinson Appears in Hollywood

Rat Pack pal Angie Dickinson, 78, looking great in a crummy old hat, made a rare appearance yesterday at the dedication of the Johnny Grant Post Office in Hollywood. In January of 2007, her 40-year-old daughter Nikki (from her marriage to Burt Bacharach) committed suicide. Nikki had Asperger's Syndrome.

"Rose Marie to Block"

Baby Rose Marie, age 6, during her vaudeville years, and last night at age 87, during a reception at The Hollywood Museum, where she is not an exhibit.


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Guess My Grampas?

This hotness attended the Independent Filmmaker Project spring gala in NYC yesterday.


That's model and actress Kiera Sunshine Chaplin, 27, granddaughter of Sir Charles Chaplin and Oona O'Neill, and great-granddaughter of Eugene O'Neill.


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Is the Pope Catholic?

Pope Benedict XVI, as seen greeting his followers in St. Peter's Square today.

Now honestly, does this look like the face of a man who would protect child molesters?

This excerpt from The Week:

Since the 1960s, four American-born Catholics have left the church for every one who has converted, according to a 2009 Pew study. In 2008 alone, Catholic membership declined by 400,000. More than 1,000 parishes have closed since 1995, and the number of priests has fallen from about 49,000 to 40,000 during that same period. Some 3,400 Catholic parishes in the U.S. now lack a resident priest. “Catholicism is in decline across America,” says sociologist David Carlin.

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Betty Deuce: Blue and a Brooch

Betty Deuce wore her eye color blue for a visit to Norwich Cathedral. She also wore her fourth favorite brooch, the Jardine Star, a gift to Her Majesty from Lady Jardine.

Yes, there are people who keep track of which royal jewels are worn -- and when and how often. Betty wore this brooch 83 times between 1990 and 2008. It appears to be at least 30 or 40 carats, total.


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Happy Birthday, Beulah Bondi

Character actress Beulah Bondi was born in Chicago on this day in 1888. You likely know her best as Jimmy Stewart's mother, Ma Bailey, in "It's a Wonderful Life." She's terrifying in the "Life without George" sequence as the operator of a run-down boarding house.

She played Jimmy Stewart's mother in four films. (The other three are: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Of Human Hearts, and Vivacious Lady.)

Here she is, singing and dancing in 1948's, "So Dear to My Heart," a Disney country yarn with folksinger Burl Ives.



Beulah made her first Hollywood film "Street Scene" in 1931 -- she was 42, and went on to appear in over 70, with her last role on TV's "The Waltons." She also played Mrs. Greer in "The Snake Pit," who suffered from delusions of grandeur.


Her "Walk of Fame" star is at 1730 N. Vine St. (near Capitol Records).




She died New Year's Day 1981 at age 92 of injuries sustained in her three-story Hollywood Hills home when she fell over her cat.

"What distinguishes the real actor from the pseudo is the passionate desire to know what is going on in the hearts and minds of people."

--Beulah Bondi

Food, Inc.

If you haven't yet seen "Food, Inc." by Robert Kenner, you can watch it online at PBS.org until Thursday, April 29. Click the pic to watch it there.

Aki and Michi

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko were seen bowing at the Japan Prize presentation ceremony at the National Theatre of Japan in Tokyo on Wednesday.

The prize recognizes world achievements in science and technology as they advance world peace and prosperity.

Aki is the world's only Emperor and a sometime ichthyologist. The Empress is prone to lose her voice when she's upset.

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