The Directors: Billy Wilder

There is no question this is one of the greatest American directors and screenwriters of all time.  With the likely exception of Hitchcock, I doubt that any director has ever been more discussed, dissected or written about.  His work spanned the 1930s to the 1960s and included stark dramas with such taboo subjects as alcoholism, adultery, kept boy toys and prostitution to brilliant comedies with witty, often cynical dialogue.  Billy Wilder was a genius at his craft. I expect he was an even better screenwriter than director but it is the director that is our focus.

REVIEW: Southside with You

Directed by Richard Tanne
2016 Romance Biography
1 hour, 24 minutes
From Miramax &
Roadside Attractions

Starring
Tika Sumpter
Parker Sawyers

REVIEW: Anthropoid

Directed by Sean Ellis
2016 War Drama
2 hours 29 minutes
From Bleeker Street Media

Starring
Cillian Murphy
Jamie Dornan
Charlotte Le Bon
Anna Geislerova
Toby Jones

REVIEW: Hell or High Water

Directed by David Mackenzie
2016 Crime Drama
1 hour 42 minutes
From CBS Films

Starring
Jeff Bridges
Chris Pine
Ben Foster
Gil Birmingham

Ruth Roman

It would not have been out of line to have included her as part of one of the Almost Famous postings we've been doing. I am confident that she never attained the heights of fame that she sought when she started out as an actress. But most of the actresses in those postings never worked in as many good films as Ruth Roman did nor did most of them last as long in the profession.  

REVIEW: Indignation

Directed by James Schamus
2016 Drama
1 hour 50 minutes
From Summit Entertainment and
Roadside Attractions

Starring
Logan Lerman
Sarah Gadon
Tracy Letts
Linda Emond
Noah Roberts
Ben Rosenfield
Bryan Nurton
Danny Burstein

Boy Crooner: Dick Haymes

I heard his beautiful, clear, crisp, baritone voice so much around our house when I was a kid.  My parents, who didn't have much in common, agreed on Dick Haymes.  Even though my own musical tastes veered toward rock and roll, I cajoled my grandmother into buying me Dick Haymes' recording of You'll Never Know and I listened to it constantly in various states of reverie.  There was no boy crooner who commanded my attention more than this man.

Almost Famous II

Here we are, back again with three more actresses from the 1940s who certainly enrichened a few films with their luminous presences but who, for one reason or another, never ascended to the top of Mt. Olympus.  Each one I enjoyed in one film or another for years. Let's see who they are:

Good 40s Films: Boom Town

1940 Drama
From MGM
Directed by Jack Conway

Starring
Clark Gable
Spencer Tracy
Claudette Colbert
Hedy Lamarr
Frank Morgan
Chill Wills
Marion Martin