Ethel Merman in the Movies

She may be the biggest female Broadway star of all time and she unquestionably had the biggest voice.  The mouth that roared had its die-hard fans and detractors.  People seemed to love her or hate her.  There were few middle-of-the-road types although I may fall in there somewhere.  I was never a huge fan but her acclaim as a Broadway musical star is beyond question and I was very fond of a trio of her few films.

Guilty Pleasures: Women's Prison

1955 Drama
From Columbia Pictures
Directed by Lewis Seiler

Starring
Ida Lupino
Jan Sterling
Cleo Moore
Audrey Totter
Phyllis Thaxter
Howard Duff
Warren Stevens
Barry Kelley
Vivian Marshall
Gertrude Michael
Juanita Moore

Universal-International

From 1946 to 1962 Universal Pictures was known as Universal-International and for the last 10 years of that period it was my go-to studio.  Kids don't understand the difference between A & B pictures and it was a good thing because this studio was the King of the Bs.  It also showcased its product in the most vivid color and had some of the most beautiful young stars, men and women, one could ever hope to see.  

Hollywood Brunettes

Other than hair color, these featured actresses didn't have a great deal in common except that none of them made it to the top of the Hollywood heap.  One was more famous for her relationship with Howard Hughes than she ever was for a career.  One was a former ice skater whose Hollywood career hung on her marriage to a studio head.  The third, the best actress of the bunch, was a film noir staple who was one of the most exciting bad girls the movies ever produced but never rose above B flicks.  Let's meet them:

Good 50's Films: The Reluctant Debutante

1958 Comedy
From MGM
Directed by Vincente Minnelli

Starring
Rex Harrison
Kay Kendall
Sandra Dee
John Saxon
Angela Lansbury
Peter Myers
Diane Clare

Hollywood Blondes

As uncommon a trio as has ever been offered in these pages, these actresses have two main things in common... yep, they're all blondes and the 1950's was their most jubilant decade.  The best actress among them moved away from fame in favor of family.  Another could never get out of the shadow of her actor-husband-frequent costar and the third had a toxic fame that completely overshadowed what meager talent she had.

Katy Jurado

When writing about a Mexican actress in the 1950's, one has to think first of Katy Jurado.  She reigned as the top Latina of the decade.  Linda Cristal, who came along in the mid-50's, while more beautiful than Jurado, never achieved her fame.  Equally beautiful Dolores Del Rio was from an earlier era.  Jurado ruled Hollywood during her time.

Good 50's Films: Designing Woman

1957 Romantic Comedy
From MGM
Directed by Vincente Minnelli

Starring
Gregory Peck
Lauren Bacall
Dolores Gray
Sam Levene
Chuck Connors
Mickey Shaughnessy
Tom Helmore
Jack Cole

The Sad Life of Nick Adams

We have written many a post on how actors came to the profession, how they conquered Mount Hollywood.  Some took classes, honing their skills in the hope someone would notice.  Some came from Broadway or television.  Some were plucked out of obscurity.  Some never had much of a desire for such a glamorous existence and some of those made it big and some didn't.  In the 1950's there was Nick Adams and he probably wanted to hit the big time more than anyone we have heard of.