Rory Calhoun: Unintentional Actor

Had it not been for his good looks, it's not likely he would ever have been in show business.  Despite being born in Los Angeles (in 1922), being in the movies hadn't entered his pretty head.  About the only thing he knew how to do in his early life was get into trouble and have nonstop sex.  He thought both activities were his true calling.

Guilty Pleasures: Untamed

1955 Romance Drama
From 20th Century Fox
Directed by Henry King

Starring
Tyrone Power
Susan Hayward
Richard Egan
Agnes Moorehead
Rita Moreno
John Justin
Hope Emerson
Brad Dexter

Early Disney Favorites

I was a teenager when I saw the first Disney movie that has stayed in my memory for all these years.  Within six years of that first one, I saw three more and this quartet, all animal-themed, still keeps me bound in the warm and satisfying feeling today as they once did.  I was schooled in such things as love, trust, compassion and strong bonds by watching animal movies... almost as much as having animals as my own pets.  If I ever need to connect to the innocence and happiness of my youth, slipping one of these four movies into the machine will do the trick.

Anne Bancroft

She will always be best remembered for playing a predatory, middle-aged housewife putting the moves on her husband's business partner's son who becomes her daughter's boyfriend.  It would join her other famous role as the kind, half-blind teacher who strives to have a blind, deaf, dumb and resistant Helen Keller learn how to communicate.  The range apparent in those two roles can be seen throughout her career while her specialty was playing strong women.  She was a most watchable actress.

Visiting Film Noir: Storm Fear

1955 Film Noir
From United Artists
Directed by Cornel Wilde

Starring
Cornel Wilde
Jean Wallace
Dan Duryea
Lee Grant
David Stollery
Dennis Weaver
Steven Hill

Movie Biographies: Surviving Picasso

1996 Biography
From Warner Bros.
Directed by James Ivory

Starring
Anthony Hopkins
Natascha McElhone
Julianne Moore
Susannah Harker
Joss Ackland
Joan Plowright
Peter Gerety
Jane Lapotaire
Dominic West
Diane Venora
Bob Peck

Hollywood Votes on 100 Favorite Movies

Hollywood itself was surveyed on its favorite films of all time and came up with 100 of them.  Polled were Oscar winners, studio heads, producers, agents, actors and more.  As is standard fare with any polls, this one is loaded with curious choices, glaring omissions, a general lack of foreign films and films that are included but with rankings that seem out of whack.  On the good side, this provided an easy posting and I am rejoicing.