Sterling Hayden

He was the original Hollywood hippie... a rebel with a cause.  His motivations for being an actor were all mercenary.  The more money he could earn, the bigger boats he could buy and the more he could take to sea.  It was the only place that made any sense to him.  On the water you learn the ropes and obey the rules.  Failure to do so can mean your last voyage.  It was simple and easy to understand.  

Remakes: The Rains Came

Both screen versions of Louis Bromfield's popular novel of forbidden love and disaster in colonial India took liberties from his work and they were also different from one another.  The 1939 film, The Rains Came, used the title of his book while the 1955 version was called The Rains of Ranchipur.  The disaster scenes, obviously the highlight, are done well and provide plenty of excitement in both of the 20th Century Fox films.

Good 50's Films: The Blue Veil

1951 Drama
From RKO Radio Pictures
Directed by Curtis Bernhardt

Starring 
Jane Wyman
Charles Laughton
Don Taylor
Joan Blondell
Richard Carlson
Cyril Cusack
Agnes Moorehead
Audrey Totter
Natalie Wood
Vivian Vance
Everett Sloane
Carleton Young
Dan O'Herlihy

Hitchcock Quiz

It's been a while since we've done a quiz.  This one is pretty easy, especially, of course, for Hitchcock fans.  Even non-fans should be able to nail a few.  What we have here are memorable scenes from 12 of the master's American films.  See how you do.  Answers in the next posting.  Ready?

Almost Famous III

After Ida Lupino left Warner Bros in 1947 she found that freelancing was not getting her enough of the kinds of scripts she wanted.  Then after her 1948 marriage to producer-writer Collier Young, they and a couple of friends decided to form their own company where she would not only produce but direct and write and occasionally star.  The decision was quickly made to make low-budget but hopefully profitable films.  Lupino's dream was also to discover new talent.  Here are three of them:

Good 50's Films: Bonjour Tristesse

1958 Comedy Drama
From Columbia Pictures
Directed by Otto Preminger

Starring
Jean Seberg
David Niven
Deborah Kerr
Mylène Demongeot
Geoffrey Horne
Walter Chiari
Juliette Gréco
Martita Hunt

Julie Harris

She was one of the high priestesses of the American stage... let there be no doubt.  She would have probably considered television to be her second most valued medium for she delivered her fair share of celebrated performances, often as part of the prestigious Hallmark Hall of Fame.  Movies?  Aw, not so much.  In my opinion she made fewer than a half dozen very good films and probably popped in for movie work for the money.  We who truly love movies are just damned glad we got her when we could.

George Nader

I discovered George Nader in the pages of Photoplay, Modern Screen and any number of other movie magazines.  I did read the silly stories of performers who interested me but I was mainly in it for the photographs which I always found to be mega-colorful.  Some would be head shots that covered the entire page.  I am certain those photographs opened in me my love of beautiful eyes. 

Good 50's Films: Mister Roberts

1955 Military Comedy Drama
From Warner Bros.
Directed by John Ford & Mervyn LeRoy

Starring
Henry Fonda
James Cagney
William Powell
Jack Lemmon
Betsy Palmer
Ward Bond
Phil Carey
Nick Adams
Ken Curtis
Perry Lopez
Harry Carey Jr.
Patrick Wayne