From the 1960s: Pretty Poison

1968 Crime Drama

From 20th Century Fox

Directed by Noel Black

Starring

Anthony Perkins

Tuesday Weld

Beverly Garland

John Randolph

Dick O'Neill

Clarice Blackburn

Debra Paget

When I heard in the early 60s that this beautiful, talented and versatile actress was going to quit acting, I was disappointed.  Of course, I hoped she didn't mean it but history proves that she did.  I liked quite a few of her films which were largely B efforts.  I never understood why, with only a couple of exceptions, she didn't appear in big films.  Other less talented actresses worked far longer than she did and in better films.

From the 1940s: The Man Who Came to Dinner

1942 Comedy

From Warner Bros

Directed by William Keighley

Starring

Bette Davis

Ann Sheridan

Monty Woolley

Richard Travis

Jimmy Durante

Billie Burke

Grant Mitchell

Reginald Gardiner

Mary Wickes

Elizabeth Fraser

Russell Arms

George Barbier

Ruth Vivian

Visiting Film Noir: The Window

1949 Film Noir

Directed by Ted Tetzlaff

From RKO Radio Pictures

Starring

Bobby Driscoll

Barbara Hale

Arthur Kennedy

Ruth Roman

Paul Stewart

From the 1950s: She's Back on Broadway

1953 Musical Drama

From Warner Bros.

Directed by Gordon Douglas

Starring

Virginia Mayo

Steve Cochran

Gene Nelson

Frank Lovejoy

Patrice Wymore

Paul Picerni

Larry Keating

Virginia Mayo

She completely bewitched me when I was a kid and first getting adjusted to sitting in darkened movie theaters.  Perhaps it started because she had a blonde attractiveness that reminded me of some women in my family.  Then it seemed like she was in every movie I was seeing... musicals, noirs, westerns, adventure films.  She had a spunk onscreen that attracted me.  She once said I was more talented than Hollywood gave me credit for.  I think she was right. 

A Glittering Cast: Harper

1966 Drama

From Warner Bros

Directed by Jack Smight

Starring

Paul Newman

Lauren Bacall

Julie Harris

Arthur Hill

Janet Leigh

Pamela Tiffin

Robert Wagner

Robert Webber

Shelley Winters

Strother Martin

Roy Jenson

Harold Gould

Henry Fonda

When I was a kid and coming into my own as a regular and frequent moviegoer and fan, I concluded that for male actors, there were three who were legends.  Two were BFFs and the third was a robust work friend who often made movies with the other two.  They were John Wayne, James Stewart and the senior member of the trio, Henry Fonda.