Anthony Quinn Films of the 50's

This legendary actor made 139 films, appeared in 30 television productions, many of them TV movies, and in a number of stage plays.  He was not an overnight success.  In the 30's and 40's he appeared in supporting roles in countless films.  He still made a lot of B films in the 50's but that's also the decade his star rose.  Most of his big films were made in the 60's and he made his final film in 2002.

Good 50's Films: The Narrow Margin

1952 Film Noir
From RKO
Directed by Richard Fleischer

Starring
Charles McGraw
Marie Windsor
Jacqueline White
Paul Maxey
David Clarke
Peter Virgo
Gordon Gebert
Don Beddoe

MGM Bad Boy Mario Lanza

He had so much.  There was a talent that brought teary joy and pleasure to the world.  Arturo Toscanini said his voice was one in a century.  One could tell he loved singing... the voice was pure and emotional, it was big and rich and not hampered by a lot of technique.  He might have been the biggest, most famous opera singer of all time but he opted for Hollywood and he was eaten alive.  Everyone knew he had two great talents... singing and self-destruction.

10 Iconic Performances

They are roles that are iconic in that an actor is important as a symbol to a given role.  We can't think of anyone else in the role at all.  It's a role that an actor or actress owns and history, at least, proves it.  These are roles that define the actor who played them.  In fact, I am given to saying they don't so much play the roles as they just are these characters.  They are pure perfection.

Good 50's Films: Sudden Fear

1952 Film Noir
From RKO Radio Pictures
Directed by David Miller

Starring
Joan Crawford
Jack Palance
Gloria Grahame
Bruce Bennett
Mike Connors
Virginia Huston

The Directors: Daniel Mann

As a Broadway director, he almost wanted his characters to leap into the laps of those watching them.  As a movie director, he still wanted the essence of that.  Characterization was everything to him.  Regardless of medium, he wanted his characters to exhibit strengths and weaknesses as they wandered through their modern-day lives.  He had a gift for listening and dialogue.  He wanted more than anything that his audiences felt something for his characters.

Remakes: The Philadelphia Story & High Society

It is so rare to love a particular romantic comedy and then love its 16-year later musical remake just as much, but boys and girls, that's exactly what happened to me with this pair.  Excuse my pessimism but that kind of packaging just never turns out so well but it certainly did here.

Edmond O'Brien

Throughout his 35-year movie career, he was mainly a character actor, albeit on the highest rungs of the ladder.  He  appeared in countless famous films and people who went to movies during Hollywood's Golden Age have seen his work over and over again.  At the same time, he was given starring roles in a number of B films, many of which were film noir.  Edmond O'Brien and crime just seemed to go together.

Guilty Pleasures: The Revolt of Mamie Stover

1956 Drama
From 20th Century Fox
Directed by Raoul Walsh

Starring
Jane Russell
Richard Egan
Joan Leslie
Agnes Moorehead
Michael Pate
Jorja Curtright
Leon Lontoc
Richard Coogan
Jean Willes