Beware of these Women: Barbara Stanwyck.

Double Indemnity(1944). Noir, directed by Billy Wilder, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, and produced by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Sistrom. Cast: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson.

This film noir is one of best murder mysteries of all time. The story begins when Walter Neff, a insurance salesman, returns to his office late one night after he has been shot. He sits down at his desk and begins dictating a memo for his boss Barton Keyes.

The dictation tells how Neff, meets Phyllis Dietrichson at her home to renew a car insurance policy for her husband. Phyllis, asks how she could take out a policy on her husband's life without his knowing it. Neff, realizes she is up to no good.

Neff's, libido quickly takes over and he agrees that together, they will kill her husband. Neff comes up with a plan in which Phyllis's husband will die an accidental death. The couple carry out their plan. Investigator Keyes, has a nagging feeling that Dietrichson and a accomplice must be behind the husband's death.



Fred Murray and Edward G. Robinson give perfect performances, but... it is Barbara Stanwyck, who really makes the film with her talent to exploit men.

Beware of These Woman: Yo Ho, Yo Ho.. It's A Pirate Life for Me!

 

What is it about pirates that causes "bad girls" to throw away their corsets and live a life as a pirate sailing the seven seas? Is it the action packed life, love or the treasure? Maybe ...we will find out by watching these "Pirate Bad Girls", before they make you walk the plank...

Anne of the Indies (1951). Adventure film. It was directed by Jacques Tourneur and produced by George Jessel. The film stars Jean Peters (the future wife of Howard Hughes) and Louis Jourdan, with Debra Paget, Herbert Marshall, Thomas Gomez and James Robertson Justice. The story was to be based on the true life of pirate Anne Bonny. Susan Hayward was originally to play the lead role, but was replaced by Jean Peters.

This swashbuckler is a surprisingly wonderful film, because of the twist of the film, is that the pirate captain of the Sheba Queen, is a woman. Orphaned as a child, she was raised by, Captain Blackbeard . Among her crew is the ship’s drunken yet good hearted doctor, who is her best friend.

When a young Frenchman, is captured from a English ship, Anne hires him as her navigator. Frenchie, shares with her that he is in search of hidden treasure before being captured by the British...

But Blackbeard, doesn't believe him. Providence and LaRochelle fall in love, although he is already married. When LaRochelle tries to deliver her to the British, she kidnaps his wife and escapes. As for revenge, will she sell his wife on a slave-market...



Anne of the Indies, has many beautiful scenes, some sword fighting, along with a troubled love affair. I think you maybe surprised how good this film really is.

Jean Peters (October 15, 1926 – October 13, 2000). Peters was selected to replace Linda Darnell as the female lead in the film, Captain from Castile (1947) opposite Tyrone Power, when Darnell was reassigned to perform in the film, Forever Amber. Peters spent the next decade performing in period dramas and Westerns. Her second film was, Deep Waters (1948).

Next she performed with Ray Milland in the film, It Happens Every Spring (1949). Afterwards, she starred with Paul Douglas, in the period film, Love That Brute (1950). To prepare for a singing and dancing scene, Peters took a few lessons with Betty Grable's dance instructor.

By 1950, Peters was almost forgotten by the public, even though she was playing several lead roles from 1947. In late 1950, she was even cast in a secondary role as a college girl in, Take Care of My Little Girl (1951). She once became famous for being a small country girl, but as she grew up, the studio did not find her any more suitable roles.

In 1951, Peters, wanted the title role in, Anne of the Indies, which, according to the press, was the film that brought her stardom. Before its release, she was cast in, Viva Zapata! (1952). she was set to play the title role in the film, Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie (1952). It was the first time since the beginning of her career that Peters had received this much publicity.

Director Samuel Fuller chose Peters over Marilyn Monroe, for the part of Candy in the film, Pickup on South Street (1953). He thought Peters had the right blend of sex appeal, street smarts he was looking for. Because of the sex symbol status of her character, Peters was not thrilled at taking on this role. She preferred to choose her own roles, as she had done with Anne of the Indies (1951), Viva Zapata! (1952) and Lure of the Wilderness (1952).

Peters and Marilyn Monroe starred together in the film noir, Niagara(1953). In Niagara, Peters replaced Anne Baxter, with whom she co-starred in the film, O. Henry's Full House(1952). In the film Niagara, Peters' character was initially the leading role, but the film became Monroe's film, because by this time she was more popular. Her third film, A Blueprint for Murder(1953), reunited her with Joseph Cotten, with who she had also starred in Niagara with.

Another film starring Peters was the film noir, Vicki (1953). The story of the film, which is a remake of, I Wake Up Screaming. Townsend told that he gave the role to Peters, because she was "one of the greatest sirens he's ever seen." Next, Peters was assigned to replace Crain in the film, Three Coins in the Fountain (1954). The film became a success. Other 1954 films co-starring Peters were the westerns: Apache and Broken Lance.

Following her marriage to Howard Hughes, Peters retired from acting, her final film was, A Man Called Peter (1955).

(Sorry no picture) Hurricane Island (1951). Cast: Jon Hall, Marie Windsor and Romo Vincent. The story begins when a Spanish expedition, led by Jose Ponce de Leon, tries to claim a coastal piece of land. The Spaniards are soon attacked by Indians and Ponce de Leon, is injured by a poisoned arrow. The group leaves for Cuba to look for a Dr. Unfortunately, the Dr. is unable to help Ponce de León, and tells Captain Carlos Montalvo, to take Jose Ponce de Leon to a witch doctor. The witch doctor says that Ponce de Leon is under the spell of "Hurricane," God of the Winds, and that he must return to the god's secret shrine, a golden fountain of youth, for the cure. Meanwhile, Jane Bolton, a notorious and beautiful pirate leader, learns about the Spaniards visit to the fountain of youth and assumes that it must be filled with gold.

Marie Windsor (December 11, 1919 - December 10, 2000). Windsor was an actress known as "The Queen of the Bs" because she performed in so many film noirs and B-movies. Windsor, a former Miss Utah, trained for the stage and after several years as a telephone operator, a stage and radio actress, and a bit and extra player in films, she began playing feature and lead parts in 1947.

The 5'9" actress's first memorable role was opposite John Garfield in, Force of Evil. Windsor also had large roles in film noirs: The Sniper, The Narrow Margin, City That Never Sleeps and The Killing.

QUEEN OF THE PIRATES (1961). Starring: Gianna Canale. Directed by Mario Costa. In 16th century Italy, on the Adriatic coast, Doruzza, is governed by duke Zulian, and his daughter, Isabella. When they try to commit a injustice against one of their people, the naval officer Mirko and his daughter Barbara stop them and are arrested. The count Cesar de Santacroce, Isabella's fiancee, rescue them and they are set free only to be arrested again by Isabella, who puts them into slavery. Mirko, escapes and manages to get control of the ship, to free his daughter, who becomes the "Queen of the Pirates".

Gianna Canale (12 September 1927 – 13 February 2009). Her looks were compared to those of Ava Gardner. She starred in many sword and sandal films, as well as Italian horror and adventure films. I vampiri, was her last film. She retired from the movie industry in 1964.

QUEEN OF THE SEAS (1960). Directed by Sergio Grieco. Mary is a girl who dresses like a man and robs the jewels from the pretty ladies. The King's Guard captures her, and she finds herself in the same cell with Peter Goodwin, a nobleman, who pretends to be a robber like her, to win over her trust. After her escape, Mary becomes a pirate under captain Poof. When the captain dies, the only 'man' aboard who is respected by all the pirates is... Mary.

Lisa Gastoni (born 28 July 1935) Is an Italian film actress. She has appeared in 60 films since 1954.

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Beware Of These Women: Dawn's Favorite Disney Villainess.

Cruella de Vil (One Hundred and One Dalmatians)
The most glamorous villain with her furs, black dress, and two-toned hair.

Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). The Queen is the mean stepmother of Snow White. When her magic mirror tells her that Snow White is fairer of them all, she has Humbert the huntsman, to take her into the woods to kill her. After she finds out that Snow White did not die, she disguises herself as an old hag and uses a poisoned apple to put her in a deep sleep.

Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland). She doesn’t cares if your innocent. She will put you on the weirdest trial just because her roses aren’t white like she ordered. The Queen of Hearts is the mad ruler of the Wonderland, and her word is the law.

“
OFF WITH HER HEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!”

Beware of These Woman: Fiona Volpe.

I think everyone has their favorite "Bond Bad Girl". She either starts off "bad" and goes "good," or she starts off "really bad" and ends up "really dead." For Monty's "Beware of These Woman" series. One of my favorite "Bond Bad Girls" is:

Fiona Volpe, who is played by Luciana Paluzzi, "Bad girl" character in the James Bond film, Thunderball(1965). Where she played the part of a assassin in SPECTRE's execution branch, Volpe is one of NATO pilot Major Francois Derval’s mistress, who is part of the plan to steal the Vulcan and two atomic bombs, which SPECTRE plans to use to blackmail the world. She plans Derval’s murder and destroys Lippe's car, with a missile launcher built into her motorcycle. Volpe, then pushes her motorcycle into a pond, to hide the evidence.

Bond meets Volpe, while hitchhiking in Nassau, and she catches his interest with her fast driving car. Later Fiona, captures agent Paula Caplan, but Caplan commits suicide by taking cyanide before sharing any information.

Meanwhile, Fiona waits for Bond in his bathtub and seduces him. While dressing for the Junkanoo, Volpe lets in Vargas and his henchmen to hold Bond captive. It does not take long before Bond escapes running through the crowds, but.. the killers are not far behind. Volpe walks up to Bond, dancing with another woman. Assuming Volpe is his wife, the woman leaves and they begin slow-dancing, while one of the henchmen hides behind a curtain and aims a gun. Bond sees him and spins Volpe around, which hits her in the back and kills her. Leaving Volpe's lifeless body in a chair with another couple says,("Would you look after my friend? She's just dead!").

Luciana Paluzzi (born June 10, 1937 in Rome, Italy). Paluzzi's very first film was an uncredited part in, Three Coins in the Fountain (1954). In her early films, she is credited as Luciana Paoluzzi.

Bond, fans will always remember her best as the villainess she played in Thunderball. Paluzzi, first auditioned for the part of the lead Bond girl, Dominetta "Domino" Palazzi. The producers eventually cast a former Miss France, Claudine Auger, changing the Domino character from an Italian to a Frenchwoman and renaming her Dominique Derval. Heartbroken, when she learned she did not get the part, but.. the disappointment was short lived when she learned she landed the part of the "bad girl", Fiona Volpe, which she said was "more fun to play".

She was also second female lead in the Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello comedy, Muscle Beach Party (1964) and played the love interest in the western, Chuka(1967). She also was the female lead in the science fiction film, The Green Slime(1968). In 1975, Paluzzi acted with fellow Bond girl Ursula Andress in the film, The Sensuous Nurse.

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Beware of These Women!: Dawn's Favorite "Bad Girls".

Instead of writing duplicate movie reviews, I decided to put together a list of my favorite, BEWARE OF THESE WOMEN! for Monty's FESTIVAL, for the month of April. We all know her the woman we love to hate, but secretly admire for her lack of tact, compassion, or both. For the month of April, ALL GOOD THINGS, NOIR and CHICK FLICKS, AND THEN THEY START TO SPARKLE, will share their classic favorite "bad girls" with you.

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Some of my favorite Femme Fatales include: Mary Astor, in The Maltese Falcon, who does her best to do in, Humprhey Bogart. A private detective who takes on a case that involves him with three harden criminals and their search for a priceless statue.

Joan Bennett, Woman in the Window (1944). Directed by Fritz Lang that tells the story of psychology professor Richard Wanley, who meets and falls in love with a young femme fatale. Wanley, kills Alice's lover in self-defense. Alice is then blackmailed by Heidt, a crooked ex-cop who was the dead man's bodyguard. The story has a wonderful surprise ending.

Please click here to view "Woman in the Window" review.
The term "film noir" began as a genre description, because of this movie. The term first was used to describe American films in French film magazines in 1946, the year when The Maltese Falcon (1941), Double Indemnity (1944), Laura (1944), Murder, My Sweet (1944) and The Woman in the Window were released in France.

Barbara Stanwyck, who lures Fred MacMurray into her murderous plot in, Double Indemnity (1944). Directed by Billy Wilder. The film stars Fred MacMurray as an insurance salesman, Barbara Stanwyck as a housewife who wants her husband dead and Edward G. Robinson as a claims adjuster whose job is to find phony claims.

Both these actresses revised these early roles in later films: Joan Bennett in Scarlet Street ( 1945) and Barbara Stanwyck in, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946).

Another, favorite Femm Fatale, was Lana Turner, in the film, The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946). A story about a married woman and a drifter who fall in love, then plot to murder her husband... but, will they be able to live with what they have done?

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Another well known femme fatale is, Rita Hayworth in the film, Gilda (1946), Rita Hayworth, is wonderful as Gilda in this noir classic. From her hair-tossing scene to her song "Put the Blame on Mame,". Hayworth is very convincing in the romantic triangle.

Please click here to view "Gilda" movie review.

She also gives another wonderful performance in the film, The Lady from Shanghai (1948). The story is about a man by the name of, Michael O'Hara, who hires a crew member from Arthur Bannister's yacht, sailing to San Francisco. They pick up Bannister's law partner, on the way. Bannister has a wife, Rosalie, who seems to have taken a liking to Michael. After they reach Sausalito, Michael goes along with Grisby's to fake his murder so he can disappear with out a trace. But Grisby is actually murdered and Michael gets blamed for it. Will he ever know who set him up?

Veronica Lake in, This Gun for Hire (1942), The story is about a hit man Philip Raven, who kills a blackmailer and is paid off by Willard Gates, with "hot" money. Meanwhile, Ellen Graham, girlfriend of police Lieut. Crane is asked to help investigate Gates. Raven, seeking Gates for revenge, meets Ellen on the train their relationship becomes an unlikely team.

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Gloria Grahame in, The Big Heat (1953). The story begins when Cop Dave Bannion, is investigating a gang who he things holds power over the police force. Bannion is tipped off after a colleague's suicide and his fellow officers' silence lead him to believe that they are in with the gangsters. When a bomb meant for him kills his wife instead, Bannion with vengeance in his heart, aided by the gangster's spurned girlfriend Debbie, together they use any means necessary to learn the truth.

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Jane Greer in the film, Out of the Past (1947). The story begins when Jeff Bailey, has his dark past catch up with him, when he's ordered to meet with gambler Whit Sterling. He decides to tell his girlfriend his story. Once, Jeff was a private eye hired by Sterling to find his mistress Kathie who shot him and took of with a large amount of money. He catches up with her in, Acapulco... where Femme Fatales Kathie makes Jeff forget all about Sterling... Will Whit's new job for Jeff turn out to be a trap?

Please click here to view "Out of the Past" movie review.

Ava Gardner in, The Killers (1946). The story begins when two professional killers kill a gas station attendant, "the Swede," who's expecting them. Insurance investigator Reardon investigates the case against the orders of his boss. Reardon uncovers a crime, all linked with the mysterious, Kitty Collins.

Please click here to view "The Killers" movie review.

Ann Savage in, Detour (1945). The story begins in a flashback: New York nightclub pianist Al Roberts, hitchhikes to Hollywood to join his girlfriend. On a rainy night, the gambler he's riding with dies, afraid of the police, Roberts takes the man's identity. But thanks to a blackmailing dame, Roberts' every move puts him deeper into trouble...

Last but not least, my favorite Femme Fatale.. Gene Tierney in the film noir, Leave her To Heaven(1945).

A color film noir. Cast: Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain, with Vincent Price, Darryl Hickman, and Chill Wills. The story was adapted for the screen by Jo Swerling, having been based on the best selling novel of the same name authored by Ben Ames Williams. The film was directed by John M. Stahl. Tierney received an Oscar nomination as Best Actress in a Leading Role for this film. This one of my favorite "bad girl" movies. Gene Tierney plays a woman consumed in jealousy and vengeance. You will shocked by her murderous acts. This maybe one of those classic film noirs that you will want to watch over and over again.

The story begins when, Richard Harland is released from prison after serving a two-year sentence, he goes to Deer Lake, Maine and is met by his attorney, Glen Robie. Glen has a canoe waiting for Richard to take him to his lodge, "Back of the Moon," then tells his story to his friend:

A few years earlier, Richard accepts an invitation from Glen to vacation at his ranch in beautiful Jacinto, New Mexico. During the train ride, Richard meets a beautiful woman who says that he reminds her of her late father.



Richard is met at the station by Glen, who tells him that, Ellen Berent and her family, are also staying at the ranch.

During dinner, Ellen tells Richard that they have come to scatter her father's ashes at his favorite spot in the mountains. The next morning, Richard follows and watches while the Berents scatter the ashes.

The next day, Richard admits to Ellen that he asked Glen about her fiance, attorney Russell Quinton, she then tells him that she has taken off her engagement ring. The next night, Russell comes storming into the ranch, after receiving a telegram from Ellen breaking off their engagement and everyone is shocked when Ellen, announces that she is going to marry Richard. Soon after, the couple are married and after a brief honeymoon, the newlyweds travel to Warm Springs, Georgia, to visit Richard's younger brother Danny, who is recovering from polio.

Ellen helps Danny, to walk with crutches and soon they are all headed to Back of the Moon. At the lodge, Ellen soon resents Danny and Leicke Thorne, an old family friend and the time that Richard spends writing his book. The trouble does not end there.. Ellen, becomes angry when Margaret and Ruth show up at the lodge and Richard is embarrassed by his wife's behavior. Margaret and Ruth leave soon after.



One sunny afternoon, Ellen and Danny decide to go out on the lake in a canoe. Ellen follows Danny close behind and Danny and urges him on, but when a cramp takes over Danny, he cries for help and Ellen sits and watches him drown.

Richard believes that Danny's death was an accident, but as time passes, he goes into a deep depression. Hoping to make Richard's happy, Ellen becomes pregnant and Richard begins to look forward to being a father..

The couple have now moved to the Berent home in Bar Harbor and now Ellen, is not happy about the baby and believes that it will come between her and Richard. Ellen decides to throw herself down a flight of stairs and causes the death of her unborn baby.

Ruth, needing a change of scenery makes plans to visit Mexico, which is the setting of Richard's new novel. Ellen, become jealous when she reads that the book is dedicated to Ruth and not to her. Ellen then confesses to Richard, that she murdered Danny and their baby. When Richard leaves her, Ellen comes up with a plan to frame Ruth for her murder. Will Ruth be able to prove her innocence?

Gene Tierney (November 19, 1920 – November 6, 1991). Known as one of the great beauties of her day, she is best remembered for her performance in the film, Laura (1944) and her Academy Award-nominated performance for Best Actress in the film, Leave Her to Heaven (1945). Other well known films: Heaven Can Wait (1943), The Razor's Edge (1946), The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947),Whirlpool (1949), The Mating Season (1951) and The Left Hand of God (1955).