Key Largo (1948).

Key Largo (1948). film noir directed by John Huston. Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, and Claire Trever. Key Largo, was the fourth and final film pairing of married actors Bogart and Bacall. Trevor won the 1948 Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance.

Veteran Frank McCloud, travels to Key Largo, Florida to pay his respects to the family of George Temple, who died under his command during World War II. George's wheelchair-bound father James runs the hotel with George's widow, who insists that he stay the night. Sitting at the bar are Nora, Frank, Curly Hoff, Toots, Angel and Gaye Dawn. Nora, explains to him that they offered her father-in-law so much money to open the hotel for them, that he could not say no.

It is not long before, a hurricane warning is issued and Nora, runs around closing all the shutters, when the telephone rings. Curly, answers the phone and tells the caller that the Temples are not there and he also has not seen local police officer named, Sawyer. When Temple speaks up, the men pull their guns. The men's boss comes downstairs and Frank recognizes him as the gangster Johnny Rocco. Johnny Rocco and his men, have already captured and beaten Sawyer, who was looking for the Oceola brothers, who had just escaped from jail.

When Rocco, makes a pass at Nora, she spits in his face and Frank quickly talks him out of killing her. Rocco throws him a gun and tells him that he can rid the world of Rocco if he is also willing to die. Frank, throws the gun and Sawyer grabs it and tries to escape. Rocco kills Sawyer, revealing that the other gun was not loaded. Rocco then demands Gaye, his alcoholic girlfriend, to sing a song before she can have a drink. She does not sing very well, Rocco refuses to give her a drink, Frank feels sorry for her and pours her a drink. Rocco slaps him and once again, Frank does nothing.

After the storm passes, Rocco learns they lost the boat in the storm. He orders Frank to take Temple's boat to take him to Cuba. Just before they leave, a second police officer comes looking for Sawyer and finds his body laying outside the hotel. Rocco, blames the murder on the Oceola brothers and when the the brothers try to escape, the officer shoots them. As Rocco and his men prepare to leave, Gaye begs Rocco to take her with them, she grabs his gun from his pocket without him knowing and slips it to Frank. Will Frank save them and get out of this alive?

Key Largo, is a story about a bad situation in which from the beginning you wonder when Frank (if ever), is going to make his move, but.. as luck would have it the hurricane changes things around .

Thomas Gomez (July 10, 1905 – June 18, 1971), began his acting career in theater during the 1920s and was a student of the actor Walter Hampden. He made his first film Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror in 1942 and by the end of his career had appeared in sixty films.

He received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film, Ride the Pink Horse (1947). His other film roles include: Who Done It? (1942), Key Largo (1948), Force of Evil (1948), The Conqueror (1956) and his final film Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970).

Pre-Code: The Man with Two Faces (1934).

The Man with Two Faces (1934). Directed by Archie Mayo, the film stars Edward G. Robinson, Mary Astor, Ricardo Cortez, Louis Calhern and Mae Clarke. The story was adapted by Tom Reed and Niven Busch from the play The Dark Tower by George S. Kaufman and Alexander Woollcott. The Man with Two Faces was actress Margaret Dale's last movie, and only talkie.

The story begins when Jessica Wells, a talented actress, is returning to the stage after a three-year absence. Her family and friends are shocked when Vance, her long-lost husband with a criminal past, shows up. He immediately takes over Jessica life.

Vance, soon learns that his wife holds half the rights to the play in which she will be performing, which now might turn out to be a disaster in her present state.

Damon Wells, wants to help his sister's comeback acting as her coach. He and Jessica's manager realize that they must get rid of Vance, so Damon pretends to be French theatrical producer Jules Chautard, and lures Vance, to a hotel room believing that he will be paid for Jessica's half-interest in the play, but is murdered. Damon covers his tracks, but accidentally leaves behind a few clues. Will Sergeant William Curtis, use the clues to crack the case?

When, EDWARD G. ROBINSON, goes under cover you will not recognize him. Not one of my favorite MARY ASTOR performance, but still entertaining. MAE CLARKE, has a more spirited role as girlfriend of Robinson. I enjoyed the Pre-Code ending.

Mae Clarke (August 16, 1910 – April 29, 1992) . She started her professional career as a dancer sharing a room with Barbara Stanwyck and starred in many films for Universal Studios, including the film, The Front Page (1931) and the first sound version of Frankenstein (1931) with Boris Karloff. Clarke played the role of Henry Frankenstein's fiancee Elizabeth in Frankenstein, who was attacked by the Monster on her wedding day. The Public Enemy, released that same year, contained featured one of cinema's most famous scenes, in which James Cagney pushed a half grapefruit into Clarke's face, then went out and picked up Jean Harlow.

She performed as Myra Deauville, in the 1931 Pre-Code version of Waterloo Bridge. In the film, she plays a young American woman who is forced into a life of prostitution in World War I London.

She also appeared in the modest pre-code film, Night World (1932), with Lew Ayres, Boris Karloff, and Hedda Hopper.

By the mid-1930s, Clarke was no longer a leading lady and was only featured in small or bit parts through to the 1960s.

Great On Screen Couples: Joan Bennett and Edward G Robinson.

Joan Bennett and Edward G Robinson, are one of my favorite film Noir "On Screen Couples". They performed together in two very successful film noirs: The Woman in the Window (1944), which is definitely not a predictable film. The powerful psychological mind games, is one of the best I have seen on film. I believe this film is a "gotta see", and I don't think you will be disappointed.

Their next film together, Scarlet Street (1945). The film is about a man named Chris Cross, who retires after 25 years as a cashier.One rainy night, he saves Kitty from her abusive boyfriend. As a amateur painter Chris lets Kitty think he's a wealthy artist and sets her up in a nice apartment. Chris paints masterpieces and sells them under Kitty's name, with unexpected results.

These two films are some of Joan Bennett's, best known films with the help of, Edward G Robinson's, wonderful performance, who has played many type of characters throughout his acting career..

Please click here to view Scarlet Street review.

Please click here to view Woman In The Window review.

Happy Birthday: Edward G. Robinson!

Edward G. Robinson ( December 12, 1893 – January 26, 1973),  made his debut as E. G. Robinson in, The Bright Shawl. One of many actors who saw his career succeed in the new sound film era, he made only three films prior to 1930 but left his stage career that year and made 14 films in 1930-1932.

His performance as the gangster Caesar Enrico "Rico" Bandello in, Little Caesar (1931), began his career as a "tough guy".



Other "tough guy" performances: Five Star Final (1931), Smart Money (1931) his only movie with James Cagney, Tiger Shark (1932), Kid Galahad (1937) with Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart, A Slight Case of Murder, The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938) and Confessions of a Nazi Spi (1939). In the 1940s, he expanded into psychological dramas, Double Indemnity (1944), The Woman in the Window (1945) and Scarlet Street (1945), but he continued to portray gangsters in, Key Largo (1948), the last of five films he made with Humphrey Bogart.

Robinson returned to the screen in the Biblical epic, The Ten Commandments(1956). Afterward, Robinson's most notable roles were in, A Hole in the Head (1959) opposite Frank Sinatra and The Cincinnati Kid (1965), with Steve McQueen.

Robinson had a 50-year career that included 101 films. His last scene was a euthanasia sequence in the science fiction film, Soylent Green (1973) in which he dies in a euthanasia clinic while watching nature films.

Please click here to read more about Edward G Robinson.

List of Edward G. Robinson movies I have seen:

The Man with Two Faces (1934)
The Whole Town's Talking (1935)
Kid Galahad (1937)
Double Indemnity (1944)
The Woman in the Window (1945)
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945)
Key Largo (1948)
It's a Great Feeling (1949)
Operation X (1950)
The Ten Commandments (1956)
A Hole in the Head (1959)
Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)
Good Neighbor Sam (1964)
Cheyenne Autumn (1964)
The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
Soylent Green (1973)

Soylent Green(1973).

Soylent Green(1973). Science fiction. Director: Richard Fleischer. Cast: Charlton Heston, Edward G. Robinson, Joseph Cotton, Chuck Connors, Leigh Taylor and Dick Van Patten. The film is about the investigation of a brutal murder of a wealthy businessman in a future suffering from pollution, overpopulation, depleted resources, poverty, dying oceans and a hot climate. Much of the population survives on processed food rations called "soylent green".

The film, is loosely based on the 1966 science fiction novel Make Room! Make Room!, by Harry Harrison, won the Nebula Award for Best Dramatic Presentation and the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film in 1973.

Soylent Green, is one of my favorite sci-fi and Charlton Heston films. Eddie Robinson performance was very touching as one of the last men who remembers the past. Charlton Heston's and Edward G. Robinson's, on screen chemistry was very believable, as friends who truly loved each other.. One of my favorite scenes, is when they are eating a meal of real food and they savor every bite. The film is very powerful in its possible view of our world in the future.



*Spoiler alert*
In Charlton Heston's crying scene, he really was crying, he was the only person on set who knew Edward G. Robinson was dying of cancer. His death scene was the last day he worked in his life; he died just nine days after shooting wrapped.

Leigh Taylor-Young (born January 25, 1945). Her younger siblings are actress Dey Young and writer/director Lance Young. Taylor-Young got her first big break in 1966, when she was cast as Rachel Welles in the soap opera, Peyton Place. It was on this series that she met Ryan O'Neal, whom she later married. Despite the huge amount of publicity she received while working on Peyton Place, Taylor-Young left the soap opera in 1967 because of her pregnancy, she also wanted to pursue a career in films. Her first film role was the comedy, I Love You, Alice B. Toklas(1968). Where she received a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Female Newcomer. This was followed by her performance with husband Ryan O'Neal in, The Big Bounce(1969).

For the next several years, she performed mostly in high budget films, such as, The Adventurers and The Horsemen. She is best known for her performance as Shirl, the "furniture" girl, in the science fiction, Soylent Green(1973).

Manpower(1941).

Manpower(1941). Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, and George Raft. The memorable posters for the movie stated, "Robinson - He's mad about Dietrich. Dietrich - She's mad about Raft. Raft - He's mad about the whole thing." The film was written by Richard Macauley and Jerry Wald. Director: Raoul Walsh. Robinson and Raft, got into a fistfight on the set that made the front pages of the newspapers. Victor McLaglen, was going to play Robinson's role, which would have made it a supporting part and Raft did not want to share the leading man status on the film. As a result Robinson was cast instead.

Raft chose Manpower over the remake of the 1931 Pre-Code version of, The Maltese Falcon and the role of "Sam Spade" went to Humphrey Bogart instead.

The script is one of many reworkings of the plot line for a 1932 Robinson movie called Tiger Shark, in which Robinson played the same part, only as a tuna fisherman instead of an electric power lineman. The supporting cast of Manpower includes Alan Hale, Sr., Frank McHugh and Eve Arden.

The story begins, while lineman Hank McHenry, is working on a high power line during a rain storm, he falls ending up with a permanent leg injury. No longer able to work on the lines, he is made foreman.

A bad storm downs some lines and one of his men is killed on the job. Hank, must tell his friends daughter Fay, who just got out of prison. Hank, hands her some money, claiming that it came from her fathers insurance.

Fay, who works in a nightclub, isn't fooled by Hank's kind gesture, but takes the money anyway. Johnny's warns Hank not to see Fay.

After a short time, Hank asks Fay to marry him, although she is not in love with him, she agrees. Trying to protect his friend Hank, Johnny, offers to buy her off, but fails.

Soon after, Johnny is seriously injured at work and Hank brings him home so they can help him with his recovery.. Fay falls in love with Johnny, but when she tells him about her feelings, he becomes angry with her.

Hank's team travels to work at Boulder Dam and Fay decides this would be the best time to leave Hank. Looking for work at the nightclub where she used to work, Fay is caught in a raid. Rivalry between the two friends Hank and Johnny get out of hand.. Who will come to Fay's rescue?

Manpower (1941) Movie Clip.

I thought it was a very entertaining movie with a strong cast. I also enjoyed Eve Arden, in her usual role as the wisecracking best friend of the leading lady..

Scarlet Street (1945).

Scarlet Street (1945). Film noir. Director: Fritz Lang. Based on a French novel La Chienne by Georges de La Fouchardière. Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, and Dan Duryea, they also performed together in, The Woman in the Window(1944), also directed by Fritz Lang.

Christopher Cross, a banker and hopeful painter, is at a dinner honoring him for twenty-five years of service. On his way home, he helps Kitty, who is being attacked by a strange man. Soon, he becomes attracted to her.

Because of Christopher's knowledge of art, Kitty believes him a wealthy painter. It turns out that the attacker was Johnny, Kitty's pimp who she was arguing over money. Johnny talks Kitty, into going after Cross and his money. Kitty convinces Cross, to rent an apartment for her, with the thought that he can also use it as his art studio. Cross, begins to steal money from the bank in order to keep her in the expensive apartment.

Johnny, is out trying to sell some of Cross's paintings and attracts the interest of a famous art critic. Kitty, pretends she painted them, charming the critic, who decides to represent her. When Cross's wife, sees her husband's paintings in a art gallery as the work of Katherine March, she accuses them of copying March's work. Cross, is happy his paintings are being shown, even though Kitty's signature is on them. Cross's shrew of a wife's first husband, who they thought had drowned, suddenly reappears from no where. Will Cross be free to marry Kitty, or will he find out who she really is?

Click to view movie: Scarlet Street(1945).

Scarlet Street, is definitely not a predictable film. The powerful psychological mind games is one of the best I have seen on film. I believe this film is a "gotta see", and I don't think you will be disappointed.

Margaret Lindsay (September 19, 1910 - May 9, 1981). She was best known for her supporting work in films of the 1930s and 1940s such as: Jezebel (1938) and Scarlet Street (1945) and her leading roles in lower-budgeted B movie films: Ellery Queen series at Columbia in the early 1940s. Critics regard her portrayal of Nathaniel Hawthorne's Hepzibah Pyncheon, in the 1940 film, The House of the Seven Gables, as Lindsay's standout career role.

The Woman in the Window(1944)- A strange dangerous adventure.

The Woman in the Window (1944). Film noir. Director; Fritz Lang. Cast: Edward G. Robinson and Joan Bennett . Based on J. H. Wallis' novel Once Off Guard. Scriptwriter: Nunnally Johnson, founded International Pictures Incorporated, after writing films: The Grapes of Wrath (1940) and other John Ford films, and chose The Woman in the Window as its first project.

After his wife and children take off on their summer vacation, Richard Wanley, psychology professor, heads for his men's club. On his way to the club, the professor passes a portrait of a beautiful woman in a window and takes a few moments to admire it.

While with his friends at the club, the professor confides to his friends that he has a boring life, and they warn him of the dangers of things that might happen with his wife out of town. After several brandies, the professor becomes sleepy and decides to take a nap. He asks the waiter to wake him at 10:30. Soon after, his nightmare begins...

After leaving the club, the professor once again passes the portrait and is surprised to find a second image alongside the picture, the ghostly reflection of Alice standing next to him. In one of my favorite scenes of the film, is shot in such a moody, manner that it is easy to believe that she maybe an apparition. Wanley does a double take, even he believes it maybe a dream.

Alice Reed: Well, there are two general reactions. One is a kind of solemn stare for the painting.
Richard Wanley: And the other?
Alice Reed: The other is a long, low whistle.
Richard Wanley: What was mine?
Alice Reed: I'm not sure. But I suspect that in another moment or two you might have given a long, low, solemn whistle.

Flattered, Alice Reed, invites him to her apartment. Hours later, suddenly, a man bursts into the room, accuses her of infidelity and attacks the professor. As the man grabs the professor around the neck, Alice gives him a pair of scissors and he stabs his attacker. Alice says although she was his mistress, she knew little about him other than his name, Frank Howard. The professor thinks it is best that they dispose of the body instead of calling the police. Alice is then blackmailed by Heidt, a crooked ex-cop who was the dead man's bodyguard. You will be surprised how this film noir will end.


Fun Facts:

Edward G. Robinson, Dan Duryea, and Joan Bennett would go on to play the three leads in Fritz Lang's next film Scarlet Street (1945).

Was based loosely on J.H. Wallis's 1942 book, "Once Off Guard".

This is a wonderful "film noir". The dark shadows, the femme fatale, the detectives, the murder... "The Woman in the Window", seems to say that evil only lives when people are looking for it.

TWO WEEKS IN ANOTHER TOWN (1962).

Two Weeks in Another Town (1962). Drama based on a novel by Irwin Shaw Director: Vincente Minnelli. Cast: Kirk Douglas, Edward G. Robinson, Cyd Charisse, Claire Trevor, Daliah Lavi, George Hamilton, and Rosanna Schiaffino. The film depicts the shooting of a sword and sandal movie in Rome by a group of Hollywood stars. It contains several references to another Minnelli movie, The Bad and the Beautiful, also starring Douglas. The story was seen by some as the past relationship between actors Tyrone Power and Linda Christian.

Hollywood star Jack Andrus, whose decline in films has led him to a nervous breakdown and he spends 3 years in a sanatorium. His doctors now think that he maybe ready to accept a comeback role.

When Andrus arrives in Rome he learns that the part is no longer available, but.. is offered the job to supervise the dubbing of the picture.

In the evenings he spends his time with Italian girl named Veronica, who, unknown to Andrus, is in love with Davie Drew. After a huge fight with his witch of a wife Clara, Kruger has a heart attack and is hospitalized. Andrus offers to finish the film. Kruger, jealous, attacks Andrus and accuses him of trying to steal the picture out from under him. Heartbroken, Andrus turns to his ex-wife, Carlotta, and goes on an wild binge. Will Jack ever get control of his emotions?

TWO WEEKS IN ANOTHER TOWN. MOVIE TRAILER.

This is the first time I have seen TWO WEEKS IN ANOTHER TOWN. Cyd Charisse, was amazing in this film. I have never seen her perform in a drama. Kirk Douglas, was also amazing in the wild car ride that shocks him into the realization that he can not let others control his life. It was fun to see a young George Hamilton. Even though I did not care for his character.

Daliah Lavi (born October 12, 1942), was born in Shavei Zion, British Mandate of Palestine, to Jewish parents from Germany and Russia.

She studied ballet in Stockholm, Sweden, where she appeared in her first film Hemsoborna (1955). Returning to Israel, her career took off in 1960, when she started appearing in a large number of European and American productions.

Fluent in several languages, she has also been in German, French, Italian, Spanish and English-language films.

Lavi's film appearances include: Two Weeks in Another Town (1962), La Frusta e il corpo, aka The Whip and the Body (1963), Lord Jim and the first Matt Helm film, The Silencers (1966).

Her most famous role was 'The Detainer/007' in Casino Royale (1967). With the decline of her film career, Lavi began a successful schlager singing career in Germany, with hits such as "Oh, wann kommst du?", "Willst du mit mir gehn?" and "C'est ça, la vie (So ist das Leben)". She recorded a German-language cover of Melanie Safka's Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma.

A HOLE IN THE HEAD (1959)

A Hole in the Head (1959) Comedy directed by Frank Capra. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker, Keenan Wynn, Carolyn Jones, Thelma Ritter, Dub Taylor and Joi Lansing. The song in the film "High Hopes", was the song used as a John F. Kennedy campaign song. Wynn plays a character based on Walt Disney who agrees to go into a partnership with Sinatra's character to build an amusement park in Florida. The screenplay was written by Arnold Schulman. The hotel used for some of the scenes was the Cardozo Hotel, located on Miami Beach's Ocean Drive. The hotel was once owned by Gloria and Emilio Estevan.

Tony Manetta, a widower with an eleven-year-old son, moved from the Bronx to Miami Beach hoping to make it big. He lives like a high roller but in truth is in danger of losing Garden of Eden Hotel. The bank gives him forty-eight hours to come up with the money he owes in back payments, Tony calls his brother Mario in New York to ask for a $5,000 loan. Mario, who looks down on his brother's lifestyle, says "no". Desperate Tony lies to his brother and says that his son Ally, is sick. Concerned about her nephew Sophie tells her husband he should fly down to Miami. Mario, offers to help Tony open a five-and-dime store if he settles down and gets married.

Tony worried that his son might have to live with his brother agrees to meet a widow friend of Sophie's, Mrs. Eloise Rogers. Tony then explains to his bohemian girl friend that he is just doing this for his brother and promises to take her on a romantic get away.

When Mrs. Rogers arrives at the hotel, Ally hopes that Tony will marry her, but when Mario reveals his plan to set her and Tony up in a five and dime store, then rudely asks if her deceased husband left her any money, Mrs. Rogers wants no part of the plan. Tony runs after her and after a little smooth talking (Frank Sinatra style) and they decide to go to her place for dinner. While having dinner, Mrs. Rodger's talks about the accidental drowning deaths of her husband and son. Tony, feeling a little guilty admits that he only agreed to meet her so that Mario would loan him money. Mrs. Rogers invites him to stay any ways. When Tony returns to the hotel and says he had a wonderful time, Sophie and Ally are happy, but Mario, not trusting his brother, still is slow to give him any money until he opens the five and dime store himself.

Tony is invited to a high rollers party at the Fontainebleau Hotel by his old friend Jerry, who is now has come into money. At the party, Tony tells Jerry about his dream of buying property and building a Florida Disneyland. Tony believes that Jerry might be interested in investing so he plans to meet him at a dog track to talk about his ideas.

Needing money quick to look like a big shot, Tony sells his Cadillac convertible for $500. At the track, when Jerry and his beautiful girl friend Dorine each bet $500 on a dog, Tony is able to match their bets. His dog comes in a winner and his winnings are enough for him to make up his payments on the hotel. He can not believe his luck and calls Ally. When Mario hears the good news, he is not happy that Tony can go on with his plans without his help. Later, Tony makes another bet on a dog by the name of "Lucky Ally". The dog loses. Now what will happen to Tony's Hotel and his son?

 Video: High Hopes.

 

Joi Lansing, played an uncredited role in, Singin' in the Rain.

She received top billing in Hot Cars (1956).

In the opening sequence of, Touch of Evil (1958), she performed as Zita, the dancer who dies at the end of the famous first tracking shot, during which her character says to a border guard, "I keep hearing this ticking noise inside my head!"

Lansing had a brief role as an astronaut's girlfriend in the 1958 sci-fi classic Queen of Outer Space.

During the 1950's, she performed in short musical films for the Scopitone video-jukebox system. Her songs included "The Web of Love" and "The Silencers".


Lansing played "Lola" in Marriage on the Rocks (1965) with Frank Sinatra, Deborah Kerr, and Dean Martin.

One of her last films was Bigfoot (1970).