A Glittering Cast: Woman's World

1954 Comedy Drama
From 20th Century Fox
Directed by Jean Negulesco

Starring
Clifton Webb
June Allyson
Van Heflin
Lauren Bacall
Fred MacMurray
Arlene Dahl
Cornel Wilde
Elliott Reid
Margalo Gillmore

RIP John Saxon

Since Portrait in Black was published here earlier in the month, I have been thinking of John Saxon and had planned to write a piece on him early next month.  It freaks me out when I have someone in my consciousness and then he passes away.  And it's happened before in these pages... with Maureen O'Hara and someone else whom I can't recall at the moment.

From the 1950s: The Long, Hot Summer

1958 Drama
From 20th Century Fox
Directed by Martin Ritt

Starring
Paul Newman
Joanne Woodward
Anthony Franciosa
Orson Welles
Lee Remick
Angela Lansbury
Richard Anderson
Mabel Albertson

From the 1960s: Rome Adventure

1962 Romance Drama
From Warner Bros.
Directed by Delmer Daves

Starring
Troy Donahue
Suzanne Pleshette
Rossano Brazzi
Angie Dickinson
Hampton Fancher
Constance Ford
Al Hirt
Iphigenie Castiglioni
Gertrude Flynn
Pamela Austin

John Gavin

Back in Hollywood's Golden Age when movie studios were thriving they occasionally hired actors or actresses chiefly for the purpose of replacing top contract stars who got big heads and made big demands.  One such case was at Universal-International when Rock Hudson began flexing his muscles.  To step in for Hudson, if need be, an actor had to be tall, dark and handsome and be able to act some.

From the 1940s: In This Our Life

1942 Drama
From Warner Bros
Directed by John Huston

Starring
Bette Davis
Olivia de Havilland
George Brent
Dennis Morgan
Charles Coburn
Frank Craven
Billie Burke
Hattie McDaniel
Lee Patrick
Ernest Anderson

From the 1950s: Wild Is the Wind

1957 Drama

From Paramount

Directed by George Cukor

Starring

Anna Magnani

Anthony Quinn

Anthony Franciosa

Dolores Hart

Joseph Calleia

Lili Valenty

George Raft

You've probably heard of him but many these days have not.  He was never much of an actor and used to say so all the time.  He also addressed how ill-at-ease he was and how he never had any particular acting skills he could think of.  All I could do was be me, he mused.  On the other hand, how many actors have been the subject of a movie biography?  George Raft has.  Let's find out why.

Guilty Pleasures: Portrait in Black

1960 Drama
From Universal
Directed by Michael Gordon

Starring
Lana Turner
Anthony Quinn
Richard Basehart
Sandra Dee
John Saxon
Ray Walston
Anna May Wong
Virginia Grey
Lloyd Nolan