Jezebel (1938). Drama film directed by William Wyler. Cast: Bette Davis and Henry Fonda, George Brent, Margaret Lindsay, Donald Crisp, Richard Cromwell, and Fay Bainter. The film was adapted by Clements Ripley, Abem Finkel, John Huston and Robert Buckner, from the play by Owen Davis, Sr.
The story is about a headstrong, spirited young woman named Julie Marsden, who is engaged to a successful banker, Preston Dillard. Wanting to get even with Preston, for putting his work ahead of her to shop for a dress, she orders a beautiful red dress to wear to ball. It was the custom for all the proper unmarried women to wear white dresses. Although, no one could say or do anything to change her mind.
Once at the ball Preston and Julie's, entrance is met with shock and then disapproval by everyone. She is embarrassed and begs Preston to take her home, angry he forces her to dance with him. All the other dancers leave the floor, leaving them alone. When, the orchestra stops playing, Preston orders them to continue and they finish the dance.
Preston breaks off their engagement, not before Julie slaps him in the face. Aunt Belle Massey, tells her to go after Preston and beg his forgiveness, but.. she refuses, believing that he will come back to her. He leaves town and heartbroken Julie, closes herself off from the world.
A year later, Preston returns, to help Dr. Livingstone, prevent an outbreak of yellow fever. Julie goes to him and begs for his forgiveness. That is when Preston, introduces her to his wife Amy. Heartbroken, Julie has a skilled duelist Buck Cantrell, challenge Preston, but the plan backfires. Preston's brother Ted, is the one who accepts the challenge. In a twist of fate, Ted wins.
A epidemic of yellow fever hits the city and Preston becomes ill and is quarantined on an island. While Amy, is making plans to go to care for him, Julie stops her and begs to go in her place. Will her plan work?
This maybe one of Bette Davis' best and most memorable performances. Fay Bainter, also gives a wonderful performance as Aunt Belle. Henry Fonda, gives a strong early performance of his career.
Fun Facts:
Has been called a black-and-white version of Gone with the Wind (1939), which was in its pre-production stages at the time.
Some scenes were filmed around Henry Fonda, to allow him to be with his wife as she gave birth to their daughter Jane Fonda, including scenes with the sometimes-prickly star, Bette Davis. As the star of the film Davis was within her rights to insist that Fonda remain until their scenes were finished, but she allowed him to complete his shots and leave.
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 "B movies" such as the, Ellery Queen series in the early 1940s. She is best known for her performance in the film, The House of the Seven Gables(1940).
The Fonda's were among the first Dutch population to settle in what is now upstate New York, establishing the town of Fonda, New York.
By 1888, most of the Fondas had relocated to Nebraska. Henry Fonda was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, to advertising-printer William Brace Fonda and his wife, Elma Herberta.
Fonda was brought up as a Christian Scientist, though he was baptized an Episcopalian at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Grand Island.
They were a close family and avoided doctors due to their religion.
Fonda was a shy, short boy who avoided girls, except his sisters, and was a good skater, swimmer, and runner.
He worked part-time in his father's print plant and wanted to be a journalist. Later, he worked after school for the phone company. He also enjoyed drawing.
Fonda was active in the Boy Scouts of America and reached the rank of Eagle Scout.
When he was about 14, his father took him to watch a lynching, from the window of his father's plant, of a young black man accused of rape. This so enraged Fonda that he kept a keen awareness of prejudice for the rest of his life.
By his senior year in high school, Fonda had grown to more than six feet tall, but remained a shy teenager. He attended the University of Minnesota, majoring in journalism, but he did not graduate. He took a job with the Retail Credit Company.
The Male Animal (1942). Cast: Henry Fonda, Olivia de Havilland and Joan Leslie. The film was based on a hit 1940 Broadway play of the same name written by James Thurber and Elliott Nugent. The screenplay was written by Stephen Morehouse Avery, Julius J. Epstein, and Philip G. Epstein, based on Nugent and Thurber's play. The film was also directed by Elliott Nugent.
This very charming story begins during homecoming weekend at Midwestern University, when English professor Tommy Turner and his wife Ellen host a cocktail party for Dean Frederick Damon and his wife Blanche, Ed Keller and his wife Myrtle and former football hero Joe Ferguson.
Damon, stops by during dinner to tell them that student Michael Barnes, has written an editorial calling the trustees fascists and reporting that Tommy is the only professor in favor of freedom of speech. Michael, also mentions that the following Monday during class, Tommy will read a letter by Bartolomeo Vanzetti, an anarchist executed for murder along with his associate, Nicola Sacco, in 1927. Damon and Ellen, are worried that the trustees will think that Tommy, is a Communist and fire him. Tommy, does not understand why he should not read the letter to his class.
Later Joe, arrives with flowers for Ellen's birthday, which Tommy has forgotten, and says that he and his wife are divorcing.
Later that evening, Keller learns about the letter and can not believe that Tommy would expose his students to something so un-American. Insulted, Tommy decides to read the letter to spite him.
When Joe and Ellen dance together to an old song, Tommy is over come with jealousy. After the rally, Joe invites Tommy and Ellen to dinner, but.. Tommy says he is not feeling well and tells Ellen to go ahead without him.
The next day, the entire campus is in an uproar over Michael's editorial, and Tommy, believing that Ellen is still in love with Joe, decides she is better off without him. Even though, Joe does not really want to marry Ellen, he feels obligated to marry her if she leaves Tommy.
While Joe and Ellen are at the game, Tommy and Michael get drunk. Tommy says, if another male lion threatens to take away a lion's mate, he tears him apart. When Ellen and Joe return from the game, Tommy tells them that he wants to knock Joe out.
On Monday morning, Tommy, having been knocked out by Joe, must read Vanzetti's letter before the entire university. Will Michael be expelled from the university and will Tommy lose his job and his wife?
I'm writing this review as I'm watching the film for the first time. I guess this a comedy, but I'm not sure.. It seems to have a serious story line. Fonda, does what he does best when standing up for what is right, while his reading of the letter to the crowd. Carson, who was perfect in the roll as an ex-footballer and ex-boyfriend to Olivia de Havilland, who is always good..
Fun Facts:
Gene Tierney starred in the Broadway production as Patricia Stanley, she was to be loaned out to Warner Bros. but was cast in Tobacco Road instead.
Two of the "college students" in the cast went on to be well-known TV dads in the 1960s: Herbert Anderson (Dennis the Menace) and Don DeFore (Hazel).
Joan Agnes Theresa Sadie Brodel (born January 26, 1925), was known professionally as Joan Leslie. She began performing as a singer at the age of nine as part of a vaudeville act with her two sisters: Betty and Mae Brodel. She later began her Hollywood acting career while still a child, performing under her real name in several movies, beginning with her debut in the MGM movie Camille (1936) with Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor.
She soon signed a contract with Warner Bros. In 1941, Leslie got her first major role in the thriller High Sierra with Humphrey Bogart, playing a crippled girl under her new billing as "Joan Leslie". She also starred in Sergeant York and The Wagons Roll at Night in that same year. Later in 1942 she appeared as James Cagney's wife in Yankee Doodle Dandy, and at the age of 18 in 1943, she starred in The Sky's the Limit with Fred Astaire.
She starred in many more movies until 1950, when she married Dr. William Caldwell. Her last movie role was in The Revolt of Mamie Stover in 1956, and she eventually retired from acting altogether to look after her identical twin daughters Patrice and Ellen. She has appeared in several television commercials since then, and also made guest appearances in the TV shows Murder, She Wrote and Charlie's Angels. She also provided commentary as extras on the Yankee Doodle Dandy, Sergeant York, and High Sierra DVDs.
Joan was a regular volunteer at the Hollywood Canteen where she danced with the servicemen and granted hundreds of autographs. In 1944, she starred with Robert Hutton in the Warner Bros. film, Hollywood Canteen.
That Certain Woman(1937). Drama film written and directed by Edmund Goulding. It is a remake of Goulding's 1929 film The Tresspasser, Gloria Swanson's first sound film. Cast: Bette Davis, Henry Fonda and Anita Louise.
Young widow of gangster Al Haines, Mary Donnell.. is now working under an assumed name as a secretary for a well known wealthy attorney Lloyd Rogers. When a journalist Virgil Whitaker, threatens to expose her past. Rogers and Mary, ask Whitaker not to print the story. Although, she is still worried that the story will still be printed. Mary, thinks it would be best, to turn down wealthy Jack Merrick's marriage proposal.
He eventually, changes her mind and on their wedding night, Jack's father wants the marriage annulled. Mary leaves, hoping that Jack will come after her. She moves in with her friend Amy and hides her son Jackie, from the Merrick family.
Jack, then marries society girl Florence "Flip" Carson, but on their honeymoon, Flip is crippled in an car accident.
Needing help, Mary accepts Rogers financial support, hoping that Mrs. Rogers will not be hurt. Hunter doesn't really care because he's in a loveless marriage. One day, Rogers dies in Mary's apartment and it gets out that Jackie is Jack's child.
Jack visits Mary, to see if the rumors are true and learns that he is Jackie's father. Merrick, Sr. takes legal action to adopt Jackie, but it is Flip, who talks Mary into giving Jackie up.
Years later, Virgil, who has befriended Mary during her troubles, finds her in Monte Carlo and tells her that Flip is dead, leaving Jack free to return to Mary.
What I loved most about the film, was how the women all seemed to care about doing the right thing.
Anita Louise (January 9, 1915 – April 25, 1970), made her acting debut on Broadway at the age of six, and within a year was performing regularly in Hollywood films. By her late teens she was being cast in leading and supporting roles in important film, and was best known for her delicate features and blonde hair.
As her stature in Hollywood grew, she was described as one of cinema's most fashionable and stylish women. Her reputation was further enhanced by her role as Hollywood society hostess, with her parties attended by the elite of Hollywood, and widely and regularly reported in the news media.
Among her film successes were Madame Du Barry (1934), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935), The Story of Louis Pasteur (1935), Anthony Adverse (1936), Marie Antoinette (1938), The Sisters (1938), and The Little Princess (1939).
By the 1940s, she was reduced to minor roles until television gave her more opportunities. In middle age she played one of her most widely seen roles as the gentle mother, Nell McLaughlin, in the CBS television series My Friend Flicka from 1956–1957, with co-stars Johnny Washbrook, Gene Evans, and Frank Ferguson.
Sex and the Single Girl(1964). Comedy directed by Richard Quine. Cast: Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Henry Fonda, Lauren Bacall and Mel Ferrer. The film was inspired by the title of the 1962 non-fiction book Sex and the Single Girl by Helen Gurley Brown.
Bob Weston, editor of a scandal magazine writes an eye opening article about research psychologist, Helen Gurley Brown, who wrote the book, Sex and the Single Girl. Wanting to meet her, Bob impersonates one of his neighbors and goes to Helen for marriage counseling.
Eventually, Bob suggests to Helen that they start dating, to get her attention he threatens to drown himself. When she arrives she accidentally causes them to fall into the water. They go to Helen's apartment to dry off and while Bob mixes martinis, Helen tells him, that she is in love with him and he fesses up that he is not really married.
Helen doesn't believe him and asks to see his wife, Sylvia. The next day, Bob sends both his secretary, Susan, and his former girl friend, Gretchen, to Helen to convince Helen that he really is single.
Helen calls the real Sylvia and the three women all show up for the appointment. How will this romantic entanglement get resolved?
Natalie Wood, was a lot of fun to watch in a comedy about the battle of the sexes. When Tony Curtis talks about Jack Lemmon (Curtis' co-star in Some Like It Hot) will make anyone smile, who has seen the classic film.
Fran Jeffries (born May 18, 1937), had a cameo in the 1963 film, The Pink Panther, in which she sang a song called, It Had Better Be Tonight," while she danced provocatively around a fireplace.
She had a minor role in, Sex and the Single Girl.
She sang on, The Tom Jones Show in 1969 doing a duet of, You've Got What it Takes.
She was featured in Playboy Magazine a couple years later, in 1971 at the age of 35, in a pictorial entitled "Frantastic!".
Ten years later she posed a second time for Playboy at the age of 45. This second pictorial was titled "Still Frantastic!".
At some point in her career, she perform onstage with Bob Hope.
Rich and Strange(1931). A British romantic comedy, directed by Alfred Hitchcock during his time in the British film industry. It was adapted by Hitchcock, his wife Alma Reville and Val Valentine from a novel by Dale Collins. The film is best known for the recreation of a full sized ship in a water tank used in the film.
The story begins one night, after a young couple receive an early inheritance and decide to take a cruise around world and live the good life. Fred, falls into alcoholism, philandering and seasickness. In spite of all this.. the over the top acting is very entertaining.
There are some wonderful Hitchcock's moments, like when two main characters are walking/talking to and a social event on a cruise ship, while the camera follows their feet and Emily's dragging her dress behind her.
Abandon Ship(1957). The story begins as a luxury liner is destroyed by a mine, which has all the survivor's boarding a lifeboat equipped to handle 12 or 14 people. There are 27 surviving passengers, weight, rations, sanity and control are all problems that Tyrone Powers, must struggle with. Only dark/deep waters for the next 1200 miles a head of them. Will these survivors be floating out to their death, or will they be saved from their watery grave?
Tyrone Powers, performance is amazing and you will never forget him making the final decision on those that he considers "dead weight". This movie will have you sitting on the edge of your seat!
Video: The credits are a little scratchy but not the entire film.
Life Boat(1944). As a freighter is attacked by a German submarine, the passengers try to board the lifeboats. After both vessels have been sunk, journalist Connie Porter, finds herself alone in a lifeboat, it is not long after when Kovac, pulls himself aboard. Kovac, accidentally knocks Connie's camera into the sea, while pulling Stanley Garrett, into the boat. Then both men pull in nurse Alice Mackenzie, wounded Gus Smith and C. J. Rittenhouse into the lifeboat. Next to come aboard, is Connie's old friend Ritt, she is also happy to see the steward Joe Spencer, who put her in the lifeboat, who is now trying to save Mrs. Higley and her baby.
After Joe and Mrs. Higley are aboard, Alice realizes that the baby is dead. Just as everyone becomes distracted by a German, who they believe does not speak any English. Connie, translates as he claims that he is an only a seaman and is sorry for the attack. Kovac, wants to throw the German overboard, but Gus, a German-American, talks them out of it.
Soon after, Joe says a prayer as they bury the baby at sea. The next morning, they discover that Mrs. Higley has jumped overboard into the dark sea after her baby. Ritt, tries to lighten the mood by seeing what they have in the way of sea rations and handing out jobs for everyone.
When Ritt follows the German's advice about setting a course, everyone becomes suspicious who the German really is. Connie tricks the German, into revealing his true identity when she calls him Captain. Although, the German is best qualified to run the lifeboat, Kovac orders them to follow the course to Bermuda, which is the opposite of the German's. Gus's wounded leg becomes infected and after the German says that he was also a surgeon, Alice helps him as he amputates the leg. After, having gained their trust, the German, tells the others to change direction.
That night, as Sparks is steering the lifeboat, the stars show him that they are heading away from Bermuda. The next morning, Joe finds a compass that the German had secretly been using to steer them toward a German supply ship. Kovac, is about to kill the German when a huge storm hits and the German, tells them that he speaks English, brings the lifeboat safely through the storm. Unfortunately, they have lost all of their food and water and with the boat's mast gone, the German rows them toward the German ship. Gus, catches the German drinking water and he pushes Gus overboard to keep him quiet.
Later, the group realizes that Willi is sweating, Joe grabs a water bottle from the Germans shirt. The German admits that he has been drinking water. They all attack the German except Joe, who can not believe what he is seeing as they force the German overboard.
The survivors have hit a low point when Connie, who has become less selfish yells at them for being quitters. She gives Kovac her diamond bracelet to use as a lure and just as they are pulling the fish in, Joe spots a ship. The ship turns out to be German, but before it can pick them up, it is attacked by an American warship. The German ship is sunk and as the survivors wait to be rescued by the Americans. A young German sailor climbs aboard the lifeboat pointing a pistol at them. Will the American War ship get there in time?
This is an amazing film about, six people with different personalities and backgrounds. The cast includes: Tallulah Bankhead as a self centered photo-journalist, Hume Cronyn, who finds love on the lifeboat, Canada Lee as a brave steward, Walter Slezak as the German and John Hodiak, who has to keep one step ahead of Tallulah's advances.
Fun Facts:
Director Alfred Hitchcock Cameo: in "before" and "after" pictures in a newspaper advertisement for Reduco Obesity Slayer. The pictures were genuine, as he had just been on a crash diet (although not with the fictional Reduco) from 300 to 200 lbs. However, the so-called "Reduco Obesity Slayer" diet pill or potion ad seemed so real that audience called the studio and wrote letters to Alfred Hitchcock asking where could they get this product. (In Rope, a neon sign advertising "Reduco" with Hitchcock's famous silhouette is seen outside the Manhattan apartment where the film takes place.)
Seasickness hit the entire cast at one point or another, and much of the cast caught pneumonia after constant exposure to cold water, Tallulah Bankhead having suffered twice from it. Hume Cronyn almost drowned in a storm scene when he got caught under a large metal water-activator, used for making waves. Joe Peterson, a lifeguard hired especially for the production, saved him in the nick of time. Hume Cronyn also suffered from cracked ribs during the course of filming.
After she caught pneumonia, Tallulah Bankhead was given a puppy by Alfred Hitchcock for being such a good sport during the film. He had already named the dog Hitchcock. I wonder if one of these puppies is the little.. Hitchcock.
The Lady Eve(1941). After wealthy Charles Poncefort Pike, leaves a zoological expedition in the South American jungle, he boards an ocean liner headed for the East Coast.
Con artist Jean Harrington, wanting to get to know him better trips him as he leaves the dining room. Jean seduces Charlie and despite the warnings of Muggsy, they fall in love. Jean, tries to intervene in her father's card game that night, but Harrington wins $32,000 from the clueless Charlie.
Charlie, breaks off his engagement to Jean, when he learns that she and her father are famous con artists. Heartbroken, Jean wants revenge and is happy when her father shows her Charlie's check that she thought he had ripped up..
After the ship docks, the Harringtons run into another con artist Pearly at a horse race. They, come up with a plan to have her pose as Pearly's niece, Lady Eve Sidwich of England. Then the Pikes throw a party for Lady Eve, at which a socially awkward Charlie attends and is amazed how much she looks like Jean. Even though Muggsy, truly believes that Lady Eve and Jean are the same person, Charlie, insists that they are different women.
Jean and Charlie, become engaged and she continues her revenge through their wedding. She finally shares a fictional history of love affairs to her husband. Not wanting to accept his new wife's colorful past, Charlie gets off their honeymoon train, still in his pajamas and sues her for divorce. Jean, realizes that she is still in love with Charlie and wants to speak with him, but he refuses.
Jean, books passage on the same ocean liner on which Charlie is traveling and again trips him. Charlie is thrilled to see Jean, still unaware that she is also Lady Eve and when he tries to explain that he is married, she tells him that she is too...
The Lady Eve, is one of those wonderful comedies of the golden era. Some of the best scenes is when Stanwyck, shares her life story with Fonda, as they go under the train tunnel and the scenes where food keeps spilling on Fonda. Barbara Stanwyck, looks amazing in her little black, bare-midriff dress.
The Wrong Man (1956). Alfred Hitchcock film which stars Henry Fonda and Vera Miles. The film is based on a true story of an innocent man charged for a crime he did not commit. The story was based on the book The True Story of Christopher Emmanuel Balestrero by Maxwell Anderson and the article "A Case of Identity" (Life magazine, June 29, 1953) by Herbert Brean. It was one of the few Hitchcock films based on a true story, and unusually for Hitchcock, the facts of the story were not changed much.
The story begins when Manny, a Stork Club bass fiddle player, returns home to find his wife Rose still awake, with a toothache. Manny suggests, that they borrow against her insurance, to pay for the dentist.
Knowing, that he has to be home at 5:30 to give his two sons music lessons, Manny visits the insurance company to see about the loan. There, the clerks believe that he looks like the man who robbed them a month ago. They call the police, who wait outside Manny's home to pick him up and drive him to the station. After.. asking Manny about his finances, the police believe that he has a motive to steal money.
They drive him to the places that have been robbed and ask the clerks if he is the man who robbed them. Many of the victims are not sure if Manny, is the thief, so the police ask the insurance clerks to identify him.
Because Manny's printing is similar to the robber's, they ask him to print out a note. Manny, misspells the word "drawer" as "draw," which is the same way the robber spelled the word and they take him into custody.
Rose, worries that he has been in an accident, because has never been late before. By the time the police notify Rose, Manny's mother and sister and brother-in-law, Gene are waiting with her.
The next morning, Manny is taken to the felony court where a trial date is set. Even with his attorney's request for leniency, the judge sets the bail at $7,500. After she raises the money for Manny's bail, Rose calls lawyer Frank D. O'Connor, who has been recommended to Manny's mother.
O'Connor, asks Manny, to try to remember where he was on the dates of the robberies. The Balestreros, remember that they were vacationing in Cornwall, New York playing cards with three men.
Rose and Manny, try to track down the three men with no luck. Manny, then remembers at the time of the second robbery, he was at his dentist, who confirms that he was there. They hope to use the information in court.
Rose, becomes extremely depressed and when her behavior deteriorates, Manny takes her to a doctor, who admits her to a sanitarium for her own good.
As Manny's trial begins, one of the jurors, who has already made up his mind about the case, asks the judge if they "have to sit and listen to this?", the judge calls for a mistrial.
Soon after, a man holds up a delicatessen. The owner signals to her husband, who holds him, while she phones the police. The robber is arrested and brought into the police station, where, in the hallway, he passes a detective working on Manny's case. The robber looks a lot like Manny and the detective follows up on his hunch. Will The charges against Manny be dropped and the right man be charged with the crime?
Henry Fonda, gives one of his grimmest performance and Bernard Herrmann's score is very effective building on the suspense.
Fun Facts:
When Manny (Henry Fonda) is taken to prison was filmed in a real prison...as he is led to his cell , you can hear one of the inmates shout, "What'd they get ya for, Henry?" and several of the other prisoners laughing.
Alfred Hitchcock: narrating the film's prologue. The only time he actually spoke in any of his films.
Sir Anthony Quayle (7 September 1913 – 20 October 1989). His first film role was a uncredited Italian wigmaker in the film, Pygmalion(1938). Other film roles include: Alfred Hitchcock's The Wrong Man, The Battle of the River Plate (both 1956), Ice-Cold in Alex (1958), Tarzan's Greatest Adventure (1959), The Guns of Navarone (1961), H.M.S. Defiant, David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia (both 1962) and The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964). He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1969 for his role as Cardinal Wolsey in, Anne of the Thousand Days.
Clint Eastwood:
1964 A Fistful of Dollars
1965 For a Few Dollars More
1966 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
1967 Le streghe
1968 Hang 'Em High
Coogan's Bluff
Where Eagles Dare
In 1963 Eastwood's co-star on Rawhide, Eric Fleming, rejected an offer to star in an Italian-made western, A Fistful of Dollars. Knowing that he could play a cowboy Harrison suggested Eastwood, who saw the film as a wonderful opportunity.
Eastwood later spoke about the transition from a television western to A Fistful of Dollars: "In Rawhide I did get awfully tired of playing the conventional white hat. The hero who kisses old ladies and dogs and was kind to everybody. I decided it was time to be an anti-hero." Eastwood, created the Man with No Name character, who smoked cigars.
The film was the beginning of spaghetti westerns and Eastwood became a major star in Italy and he also performed in, For a Few Dollars More (1965). Two months later Eastwood began work on the third Dollars film, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, in which he again played the, Man with No Name.
The Dollars trilogy was not shown in the United States until 1967 when A Fistful of Dollars opened in January, For a Few Dollars More in May, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in December. All the films were successful and turned Eastwood into a major film star. Stardom brought more "tough guy" roles for Eastwood. Next, he signed up to perform in the western, Hang 'Em High (1968). Across between Rawhide and Leone's westerns. Using money earned from the Dollars trilogy Leonard helped establish Eastwood's production company, Malpaso Productions, named after the Malpaso Creek on Eastwood's property in Monterey County, California.
While Eastwood was working on his next film, Coogan's Bluff, Jennings Lang arranged for Eastwood to meet Don Siegel, a Universal contract director who later became one of Eastwood's close friends, that would last for more than ten years. Coogan's Bluff also became the first of many collaborations with Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin, who would later score the jazzy themes to Eastwood's films. Eastwood created the prototype for his role as a cop of the Dirty Harry films.
Next he went on to perform in, Where Eagles Dare(1968), about a World War II squad parachuting into the mountains.
Eastwood then performed in his only musical of his career, Paint Your Wagon (1969). Eastwood and fellow non-singer Lee Marvin play gold miners who share the same wife. It was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Rock Hudson:
Seconds (1966)
Lover Come Back (1961)
Ice Station Zebra (1968)
Send Me No Flowers (1964)
In the 60s Hudson, performed in many romantic comedies such as: Pillow Talk, the first of several co-starring with Doris Day. This was followed by Lover Come Back, Come September, Send Me No Flowers, Man's Favorite Sport?, The Spiral Road, and Strange Bedfellows. Along with Cary Grant was regarded as one of the best-dressed male stars in Hollywood. He also performed in the science-fiction thriller, Seconds (1966). The film flopped but it later gained cult status, and Hudson's performance is often regarded as one of his best. He also tried his hand in the action genre with Tobruk (1967), the lead in 1968's spy thriller Ice Station Zebra, a role which he said was his personal favorite, and the western, The Undefeated (1969).
Kirk Douglas:
Spartacus (1960)
Seven Days in May (1964)
War Wagon, The (1967)
Lonely Are the Brave (1962)
Douglas, was a major box office star in the 60s, performing in many westerns such as, In Lonely Are the Brave (1962), his own favorite of his performances, Douglas plays a cowboy trying to live by his own code, much as he did in real life.
Douglas played many military men like in the films: Town Without Pity (1961), The Hook (1963), Seven Days in May (1964), Heroes of Telemark (1965), In Harm's Way (1965), Cast a Giant Shadow (1966), Is Paris Burning (1966). Douglas played the lead with an all-star cast in, Spartacus (1960). He was also the executive producer. Douglas also performed in comedies, such as in the film, For Love or Money (1963).
Douglas made a couple of films in the 60s with Burt Lancaster: The List of Adrian Messenger(1963)and Seven Days in May (1964).
Douglas stated that the keys to acting success are determination and application, "You must know how to function and how to maintain yourself, and you must have a love of what you do. But an actor also needs great good luck. I have had that luck."Douglas had great vitality, "It takes a lot out of you to work in this business. Many people fall by the wayside because they don’t have the energy to sustain their talent.".
Cary Grant:
Charade (1963)
Father Goose (1964)
Walk Don't Run (1966)
That Touch of Mink (1962)
In the mid-1950s, Grant formed his own production company, Granart Productions, and produced a number of movies in the 60s such as: That Touch of Mink and Father Goose (1964).
In 1963, he also performed opposite Audrey Hepburn in the film, Charade (1963). His last feature film was Walk, Don't Run.
Grant was the first actor to "go independent" by not renewing his studio contract. Because of this he decided which movies he was going to perform in, he also had the choice of the directors and his co-stars and at times even negotiated a share of the gross, something uncommon at the time.
Fred MacMurray :
Apartment, The (1960)
Absent Minded Professor, The (1961)
Son of Flubber (1963)
Follow Me, Boys! (1966)
In the 1960s, he starred in My Three Sons, which ran for 12 seasons, making it one of America's longest-running TV show. MacMurray, stared in 1961 as Professor Ned Brainerd in Disney's, The Absent-Minded Professor and in its sequel, Son of Flubber, in 1964.
MacMurray, had a provision in his "Sons" contract that all his scenes be shot first. This freed him to pursue his film work and golf . It's also interesting to note that two character names on "My Three Sons" were named after his real life children, Rob (as in Rob Douglas) and Katherine (Kate); he often referred to his TV son Robbie as 'Rob' and later TV daughter-in-law Katie Douglas as 'Kate.'
He was a staunch supporter of the Republican Party. He joined Bob Hope and James Stewart to campaign for Richard Nixon in 1968.
He was one of the wealthiest actors of the 60s and MacMurray usually brought a brown bag lunch to work. Friends and business associates referred to him as "the thrifty multimillionaire."
Jack Lemmon :
Apartment, The (1960)
Odd Couple, The (1968)
Great Race, The (1965)
Days of Wine and Roses (1962)
Lemmon, was a favorite actor of director Billy Wilder, who felt Lemmon had a natural tendency toward overacting. In the Wilder biography Nobody's Perfect quotes the director as saying, "Lemmon, I would describe him as a ham, a fine ham, and with ham you have to trim a little fat". The biography also quotes Jack Lemmon as saying, "I am particularly susceptible to the parts I play... If my character was having a nervous breakdown, I started to have one".
He also had a longtime working relationship with director Blake Edwards, starring in in the 60s films: Days of Wine and Roses (1962), The Great Race (1965) and That's Life! (1986).
Days of Wine and Roses (1962) was one of his favorite roles. He portrayed Joe Clay, a young, fun-loving alcoholic businessman. In that film, Lemmon delivered the line, "My name is Joe Clay ... I'm an alcoholic." Three and a half decades later, he admitted on the television program, Inside the Actors Studio, that he was not acting when he delivered that line, that he really was a recovering alcoholic at the end of his life.
Lemmon's production company JML produced Cool Hand Luke in 1967. Paul Newman was grateful to Lemmon for his support and offered him the role later made famous by Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid but Lemmon turned it down. He did not like riding horses and he also felt he'd already played too many aspects of the Sundance Kid's character before.
Lemmon often performed in films with Walter Matthau. Among their pairings was 1968's The Odd Couple, as Felix Ungar (Lemmon) and Oscar Madison (Matthau).
William Holden:
Wild Bunch, The (1969)
Paris - When It Sizzles (1964)
Casino Royale (1967)
Devil's Brigade, The (1968)
Holden was forced by studio contracts to perform in films such as, Paris When It Sizzles (1964), also co-starring Audrey Hepburn. By the mid-1960s, his career was beginning to fade.
Robert Redford:
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
This Property Is Condemned (1966)
Barefoot in the Park (1967)
Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here (1969)
Redford, made his screen debut in the film, War Hunt (1962). Later he was cast in larger roles in movies such as, In Inside Daisy Clover (1965) with Natalie Wood, they also performed together in the film, This Property Is Condemned (1966). The same year saw his first teaming with Jane Fonda in, The Chase. Fonda and Redford were paired again in the film, Barefoot in the Park (1967) also the film, The Electric Horseman (1979).
Redford was cast in the film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), scripted by William Goldman, in which he was paired for the first time with Paul Newman. The film cemented his screen image as an intelligent, reliable, good guy.
Redford did have a few box office flops, Downhill Racer (1969) and Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here (1969).
Anthony Quinn:
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Guns of Navarone, The (1961)
Barabbas (1962)
Alexis Zorbas (1964)
By the 60s Quinn, was beginning to show his age and began his transformation into a major character actor. He played a Greek resistance fighter in the film, The Guns of Navarone (1961), a ex-boxer in the film, Requiem for a Heavyweight, and Auda abu Tayi in the film, Lawrence of Arabia (both 1962). He also played the title role in Barabbas. The success of the film, Zorba the Greek (1964) which won him another Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Other films include: The 25th Hour (1967), The Magus (1968), Guns for San Sebastian with Charles Bronson and The Shoes of the Fisherman, where he played a Ukrainian pope. In 1969, he starred in the film, The Secret of Santa Vittoria .
Henry Fonda:
Once Upon A Time In The West (1968)
Longest Day, The (1962)
Battle of the Bulge (1965)
Boston Strangler, The (1968)
In the 60s Fonda, was still performing in the western television series The Deputy (1959–1961), in which he starred as Marshal Simon Fry. The 1960s also saw Fonda perform in many war and western epics, including 1962's The Longest Day and How the West Was Won, 1965's In Harm's Way and Battle of the Bulge. In the Cold War suspense film Fail-Safe (1964), Fonda played the President of the United States who tries to prevent a nuclear holocaust through tense negotiations with the Soviets after American bombers are mistakenly ordered to attack the USSR. He also performed in the light-hearted film, Spencer's Mountain (1963), which was the inspiration for the TV series, The Waltons.
Fonda , performed against type as the villain 'Frank' in, 1968's Once Upon a Time in the West.
Fonda's was good friends with Jimmy Stewart and they teamed up to work on the film, Firecreek(1968), where Fonda once again played the bad guy.
The Mad Miss Manton (1938). Comedy and mystery film starring Barbara Stanwyck playing a socialite Melsa Manton and Henry Fonda as newspaper editor Peter Ames. This was the first of three screen pairings for Stanwyck and Fonda, the others being The Lady Eve and You Belong to Me. Supporting Cast: Sam Levene, Frances Mercer, Stanley Ridges, Whitney Bourne, Vickie Lester, Ann Evers, Catherine O'Quinn, Linda Perry, Eleanor Hansen, Hattie McDaniel, James Burke, Paul Guilfoyle and Penny Singleton
The story begins when, Melsa takes her little dogs for a walk at 3:00 AM, near a subway construction site, where she sees Ronnie Belden run out of a house and drive away. Inside, Melsa finds a diamond brooch and Mr. Lane's dead body. As she runs for help, her cloak falls off with the brooch inside it. When the police arrive, the body, cloak, and brooch are gone. Melsa and her friends are notorious pranksters, so detective, Lieutenant Mike Brent, does nothing to investigate the murder. Ames writes an editorial about Melsa's prank, and she sues him for libel. Melsa and her friends, then decide they must find the murderer on their own in to defend their reputation.
This is one of those films where Barbara steals every scene. Although... Hattie, (before her Gone With The Wind day's)plays the sassy maid for comic relief, gives her a run for her money..
Let US live(1939). Director: John Brahm. Cast: Maureen O'Sullivan, Henry Fonda and Ralph Bellamy.
The story begins when taxi driver Brick, is questioned as a murder suspect along with 120 other drivers, because a taxi was used as the getaway car in a robbery in which a man was killed. When one of the witnesses believes that Brick and his friend, Joe Linden, were the killers, the district attorney, brings the taxi drivers to trial even though Brick and his fiancee Mary were in a church during the robbery .
Brick and Joe are found guilty and sentenced to die in the electric chair, even though they are innocent of the crime. Mary, refuses to give up hope, and will not stop until the real killers are found. Will she find the proof they need in time?
This was a very thought-provoking film that might change your mind about the death penalty. While at times the performances might seem a little over the top, but... at the same time understandable. However, I did not get O'Sullivan's Irish accent which seemed a seemed a bit out of place. Although.. she gave a wonderful performance and Fonda's performance was also good.
Maureen O’Sullivan (17 May 1911 – 23 June 1998). O'Sullivan's film career began when she met motion picture director Frank Borzage who was doing location filming on Song o' My Heart. He suggested she take a screen test. She did and landed a part in the movie, which starred John McCormack. She then traveled to the United States to complete the movie in Hollywood.
After several movie roles, she was chosen by Irving Thalberg to perform as Jane Parker in the film, Tarzan the Ape Man opposite co-star Johnny Weissmuller. Besides playing Jane, she was one of the more popular actors at MGM throughout the 1930s .
O'Sullivan played Jane in six features between 1932 and 1942. She did not mind doing the first two jungle movies, but feared being typecast and grew tired of the role.
She also starred with William Powell and Myrna Loy in, The Thin Man (1934) and played Kitty in the film, Anna Karenina (1935) with Greta Garbo and Basil Rathbone. She performed as Molly Beaumont in the film, A Yank at Oxford (1938). She played another Jane in the film, Pride and Prejudice (1940) with Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson, and supported Ann Sothern in the film, Maisie Was a Lady (1941).
After appearing in Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942), O'Sullivan asked MGM to release her from her contract so she could care for her husband who had just left the Navy with typhoid. She then retired from show business, devoting her time to being a wife and mother.
Henry Fonda(May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982). Fonda headed for New York City, where he was joined by Stewart and the two made a small living performing on Broadway. Fonda was first to travel to Hollywood to make his first film, The Farmer Takes a Wife(1935), reprising his role from the Broadway production of the same name. The story is about a young man who works along the Erie Canal during the mid-19th century to raise money to buy a farm. While working, he meets Molly Larkins, a canal boat cook (Janet Gaynor). Although Harrow wants to marry Larkins, she does not know if she wants to be a farmer's wife.
Stewart soon after followed him to Hollywood, and they roomed together again, next door to Greta Garbo. In 1935 Fonda starred in the film, I Dream Too Much with the famous opera star Lily Pons.
Later Fonda, costarred with Sylvia Sidney and Fred MacMurray in the film, The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936), A romance film based on the novel of the same name. It was directed by Henry Hathaway. It was the second full length feature film to be shot in Technicolor and the first to be shot outdoors. Much of the film was shot at Big Bear Lake in southern California. He also starred with ex-wife Margaret Sullavan in the film, The Moon's Our Home. Fonda got the lead role in, You Only Live Once (1937), also costarring Sidney, and directed by Fritz Lang. Fonda's first child Jane Fonda was born on December 21, 1937. He performed opposite Bette Davis, who had picked Fonda, in the film, Jezebel (1938).
He then landed the title role in the film, Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), his first film with director John Ford and as Frank James in Jesse James (1939). Another 1939 film was, Drums along the Mohawk, also directed by John Ford.
Ford to ask him to play "Tom Joad" in the film version of John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath (1940). Fonda was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in the film, which many consider to be his finest role. His son Peter Fonda was born in 1940.
He starred in the film, The Return of Frank James (1940). A western directed by Fritz Lang with Gene Tierney. The film loosely follows the life of Frank James following the death of his outlaw brother, Jesse James at the hands of the Ford brothers. The film is considered historically inaccurate, but was a commercial success.
Fonda went on to perform opposite Barbara Stanwyck in, The Lady Eve (1941). A comedy about a mismatched couple who meet on a luxury liner, written by Preston Sturges based on a story by Monckton Hoffe, and directed by Sturges.
He teamed up again with Gene Tierney in, Rings on Her Fingers (1942). Tierney was one of Fonda's favorite co-stars, they performed in three movie together. The story begins when Susan Miller, wishes for a luxurious life full of wonderful people. Everything changes for Susie's when she meets Mrs. Maybelle Worthington and Warren, two con artiest who use girls to rob wealthy men. Maybelle and Warren convince Susie to work for them. The three start looking for prospects, with Susie playing the part as Linda Worthington, Maybelle's daughter. They make a good living off rich men who become interested in Susie, until one day, on Santa Catalina Island, they meet John Wheeler, who is looking to buy a yacht. Susie and Maybelle, also pretend to be interested in the yacht , which they allow John to buy instead. John, does not know that the man he buys the boat from is not the real owner, but Warren.
Susie, Maybelle and Warren decide to move quickly to Connecticut, where they move in with wealthy Tod Fenwick and his parents. Tod is in love with Susie, and Maybelle and Warren plan on profiting from their marriage. They are surprised to see John, who is their accountant. Susie and John, fall in love and decide to marry, and even though Maybelle's says that she cannot quit so easily, Susie leaves with John. Wanting to return John's money without him knowing. Susie gives $15,000 to a casino owner friend, who arranges for John to win the money while gambling. Will John ever figure out who robbed him out of his life savings?
Henry Fonda, is wonderful in this film, playing the likeable, everyday guy. Opposite him, Gene Tierney looks absolutely beautiful. Spring Byington and Laird Cregar are wonderful playing the villians.films together.
He was acclaimed for his role in, The Ox-Bow Incident (1943). A story about two drifters who are passing through a Western town, when news comes in that a local farmer has been murdered and his cattle stolen. The townspeople, joined by the drifters, form a posse to catch the cattle rustlers.
Fonda then enlisted in the Navy to fight in World War II and after the war, Fonda took a break from movies and enjoyed civilian life. Later, Fonda played Wyatt Earp in John Ford's, My Darling Clementine (1946) and performed in the film, Fort Apache (1948), with John Wayne and Shirley Temple in her first adult role.
Fonda did seven post-war films until his contract with Fox ended, the last being, Daisy Kenyon (1947), opposite Joan Crawford , who played a commercial artist who becomes involved with married lawyer Dan O'Mara. She meets veteran Peter, whom she does not love and marries him... just as Dan gets a divorce.
After a few years absent from films, he starred in the 1955 film version of Mister Roberts opposite James Cagney, William Powell and Jack Lemmon. Fonda followed Mr. Roberts with Paramount Picture's production of the Leo Tolstoy epic War and Peace, in which he played Pierre Bezukhov opposite Audrey Hepburn, and which took two years to shoot. Fonda worked with Alfred Hitchcock in 1956, playing a man falsely accused of robbery in The Wrong Man, a story based on an actual incident and partly filmed on location.
In 1957, Fonda performed in the film,12 Angry Men, directed by Sidney Lumet. The film was completed in only seventeen days of filming mostly in one small jury room and had a huge cast: Jack Klugman, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, and E. G. Marshall. The film about twelve jurors deciding the fate of a young Puerto Rican man accused of murder.
Fonda, went on to perform in many war and western epics, including 1962's The Longest Day and How the West Was Won, 1965's In Harm's Way and Battle of the Bulge, Fail-Safe (1964), Fonda played the President of the United States who tries to stop a nuclear holocaust through negotiations with the Soviets after American bombers are mistakenly ordered to attack the USSR. He also returned to more light-hearted cinema in, Spencer's Mountain (1963), which was the inspiration for the TV series, The Waltons.
Fonda performed as the villain 'Frank' in 1968's Once Upon a Time in the West. After turning down the role, he was convinced to accept it by actor Eli Wallach and director Sergio Leone.
Fonda and Jimmy Stewart teamed up for 1968's Firecreek, where Fonda once again played the heavy. In 1970, Fonda and Stewart costarred in the western, The Cheyenne Social Club. They had first appeared together on film, in On Our Merry Way (1948), a comedy which also starred William Demarest and Fred MacMurray. A few more of my favorite Henry Fonda films are: Advise and Consent, How the West Was Won, 1964 Sex and the Single Girl, 1968 Yours, Mine and Ours and 1981 On Golden Pond.
