Crime of Passion(1957)

Crime of Passion(1957). Crime film noir directed by Gerd Oswald and written by Jo Eisinger. Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Sterling Hayden, Raymond Burr and Fay Wray.

The story begins, as San Francisco newspaper reporter Kathy Ferguson, helps two Los Angeles homicide detectives, Capt. Charles Alidos and Lt. Bill Doyle, find the woman who has just killed her husband.

Soon after, Kathy's story impresses a important New York newspaper, who offer her a job with them.
She does not take the job, as she and Bill have fallen in love and move to Los Angeles, where they marry.

Kathy, quickly becomes bored with her role as a housewife and the card games with Bill's friends and their wives. Kathy, who can not take their company anymore decides to elevate their social life.

As luck would have it.. she has a fender-bender with Alice Pope, wife of Inspector Tony Pope. The two become fast friends and Kathy convinces Alice to let her plan a surprise birthday party for Tony. Which causes problems between Tony and Alidos, when he and his wife Sara miss the birthday party, as Kathy did not invite them.

Later, Kathy talks Bill into leaving the LAPD and join the Beverly Hills force, even-though he will lose his seniority. Tony refuses Bill's resignation, and promises him that he is planning to make changes within the department.

Kathy makes up a lie about Sara, gossiping about her and Tony having an affair, causing Bill to go to police headquarters in a rage and beating up Alidos. Bill and Alidos, decide not to tell Tony about the accusation.

Not, able to work together... Alidos, transfers to another division and Bill is promoted to captain. While Bill is out of town, Tony comes to tell Kathy that Alice has been hospitalized, because she can no longer take the pressures of his job.

Tony, now wanting to retire, Kathy makes the suggestion that Bill might replace him. Tony and Kathy fall into each others arms.

Later, when Kathy finds out that the Popes are moving to Honolulu, she meets with Tony where he ends their very brief affair. Tony, also tells her that he has decided not to nominate Bill for his job, as he thinks Bill is "not good enough," and plans to give the job to Alidos.

Later that night, while waiting for Bill at police headquarters, Kathy steals a gun from the evidence desk and goes to Tony's house, where she begs for Bill to be promoted. After, Tony tells her that he has always seen through her scheming ways, Kathy shoots and kills him.

Bill, is in charge of the investigation and when he discovers that the gun, is missing he realizes that Kathy had the opportunity to take it, he returns home where Kathy admits everything. Will Bill arrest his wife Kathy or let her go?

Barbara Stanwyck, gives a believable performance as a woman who, falls for the wrong man. As her hubby, Sterling Hayden, he plays the boring part of a man, who does not to see his wife, for what she really is. In a small but important role Raymond Burr, gives a perfect performance as Hayden's boss.

Fay Wray ( September 15, 1907 – August 8, 2004), her acting career spanned 57 years.

Wray attained international stardom as an actress in horror film roles, leading to many considering her as the first "scream queen".

Wray, was signed to Paramount Pictures as a teenager, where she made more than a dozen films.

After leaving Paramount, she signed deals with various film companies, being cast in her first horror film roles among many other types of roles, including: The Bowery (1933) and Viva Villa (1934), both huge productions starring Wallace Beery.

For RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., she starred in the film with which she is most identified, King Kong (1933).

After the success of King Kong, Wray performed in many major film roles and on television, finishing her acting career in 1980.

The Richest Girl in the World (1934).

The Richest Girl in the World (1934). Romantic/comedy. Directed by William A. Seiter. Cast: Miriam Hopkins and Joel McCrea. Norman Krasna was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Story. It was remade in the film, Bride by Mistake(1944) with Laraine Day and Alan Marshal.

The story begins when, Dorothy Hunter, the "richest girl in the world" who nobody has never seen, uses her secretary, Sylvia Lockwood who is married to Phillip, to impersonate her. Dorothy's fiancee Donald, breaks off their engagement, just as she is about to announce it. Before he leaves, Donald tells her that no man will ever love her for herself. Dorothy, decides to have Sylvia pose as her at her engagement party. There, while pretending to be Sylvia, Dorothy meets Tony Travers. Tony, believing Dorothy to be the secretary, invites her on a canoe ride, but ends up taking Sylvia instead. Dorothy and Phillip, are hot on their heals, in a speedboat which causes their canoe to capsize.

Tony, insists that his interest in Sylvia is purely platonic, Dorothy says if he had the opportunity to marry the heiress, he would. Tony accepts the challenge.

After two weeks, Dorothy's guardian John Connors, believes that her "love tests" are unfair and suggest to Tony to propose to Sylvia, during a mountain retreat.

Tony, not knowing that Dorothy has arranged for them to spend the first evening alone in front of a cosy fireplace.. Where, Tony confesses his love to her. Dorothy, refuses to accept Tony's love, until she is convinced that she is his first choice.

Can he pass the test? Or Will he prefer Wray, because she's the rich one, or will he go for Hopkins, pretending to be the secretary.

This is a charming, some times racy little film. Miriam Hopkins, is very good as Miss Dorothy Hunter. Miriam Hopkins, works very well for the first of five times with Joel McCrea, who is very believable as a average guy.

Fay Wray(September 15, 1907 – August 8, 2004), acting career spanned 57 years. Many know her as the first "scream queen". In the 1920s, Wray landed her first major role in the silent film, The Coast Patrol (1925), as well as uncredited bit parts at the Hal Roach Studios.

In 1926, She was under contract to Universal Studios, mostly co-starring in low budget westerns opposite, Buck Jones.

Wray signed up with Paramount to make the transition from silent films to "talkie" films.

Fay Wray and Gary Cooper.

After leaving Paramount, Wray signed to various film companies. It was during this time that Wray was cast in horror films, Doctor X and the film, The Most Dangerous Game (1932), co-starring Joel McCrea.

In the film, King Kong, according to Wray, Jean Harlow had been RKO's original choice, but because MGM put Harlow under exclusive contract during the pre-production phase of the film, she became unavailable and Wray was approached by director Merian C. Cooper, to play the role of Ann Darrow.

She retired from acting in 1942, after her second marriage. because of financial problems she had to continue acting in minor film roles and on television, before ending her acting career in the made-for TV movie, Gideon's Trumpet (1980).

She was a special guest at the 70th Academy Awards, where the shows host, Billy Crystal, introduced her as the "Beauty who charmed the Beast".

Happy Birthday: Fay Wray!

Fay Wray, was a Canadian-American actress. Fay's acting career spanned 57 years, Wray is best known for her horror film roles, many believed she was the first "scream queen".

After performing in minor film roles,which caught the attention to Paramount Pictures, where she made more than a dozen films. After leaving Paramount, she signed deals with various film companies, being cast in her first horror film roles.

For RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., she performed in the film with which she is best known, King Kong (1933). Co-directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, and written by Ruth Rose and James Ashmore Creelman after a story by Cooper and Edgar Wallace.

The film tells the story of a gigantic gorilla named Kong, who dies because of his love for a beautiful young woman. Opened in New York City on March 2, 1933 to good reviews. Kong is distinguished for its stop-motion animation by Willis O'Brien and its musical score by Max Steiner. After the success of King Kong, Wray performed in more minor film roles and on television, leading to her final role in 1980.

Fun Fact:
Jean Harlow refused the lead part.

I think that King Kong, is one of the greatest fantasy films ever made. It has all the excitement you ever want in a film.