Mogambo(1953). Directer: John Ford. Cast: Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly and Donald Sinden. The film was adapted from the play by Wilson Colliso. Kelly won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress (1954), and the film was nominated for two Oscars, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Gardner), and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Kelly). Mogambo is a remake of the classic film Red Dust (1932). The earlier movie also featured Gable in the lead role.
After trying to capture a black leopard, safari guide and big game hunter Victor Marswell returns home, only to find a young woman in his outdoor shower. The unexpected Kelly, tells Victor that she traveled from New York at the invitation of Maharajah, who left for India leaving her stranded. Kelly, is furious when she learns she will have to wait until next week, for the boat to take her back to America.
She wins over Victor and they begin romantic relationship. Kelly also makes fast friends with Leon Boltchak and Brownie, Victors helpers. Kelly is heartbroken when Victor comes to tell her that the boat has arrived and orders her to pack.
After telling Kelly an awkward goodbye, Victor welcomes British anthropologist Donald Nordley and his wife Linda, who have come to study gorillas. Victor is angry when he hears their plans, and refuses to take them. Soon, Donald becomes ill because of a tsetse fly vaccination, Victor doctors him, but his attitude angers Linda, and she slaps his face.
Later that evening, Donald recovers and Linda apologizes to Victor.
Everyone, is surprised to see a disheveled Kelly show up with the skipper, who tells them that the steamer had engine trouble and will take about four weeks to repair.
The next morning, Linda goes for a walk in the jungle and Victor goes out looking her, saving her just in time from the black leopard. On their way back to the camp, Victor and Linda are caught in a wind storm, Victor carries her home and sparks begin to fly. Kelly witnesses the romantic moment, and throws barbs at them throughout dinner.
Victor suddenly changes his mind and agrees to take the Nordleys to gorilla country. Brownie suggests that Kelly join them on safari and catch a flight to Cairo. Will Kelly make her flight or be the Victor..? I know.. I know.. that was a bad play on words. :)
Grace Kelly was not the first choice for the role of Linda Nordley. Gene Tierney dropped out because of health problems. The movie was filmed on location in Okalataka, French Congo, Mount Kenya, Thika, Kenya, Kenyan Rift Valley, and Fourteen Falls near Thika. Also the Kagera River, Tanganyika Isoila Uganda, and at the MGM British Studios.
The film offers some of the best wildlife shots taken of the African continent. Most of the music is performed by the native tribes. The film shows a traditional Africa that has long since passed. This type of scenes is why I love this film.. but the love triangle is still the focus. Clark Gable's performance is amazing. How often does an actor have the opportunity of portraying the same character 20 years later? In "Red Dust", Gable was also amazing.
FUN FACT:
While filming Mogombo, Clark Gable and Grace Kelly began an affair that lasted for several months.
Jimmy Stewart: [on Grace Kelly] We all say she made as good a princess as she did a movie actress, even better.
Grace Kelly: I hated Hollywood. It's a town without pity. I know of no other place in the world where so many people suffer from nervous breakdowns, where there are so many alcoholics, neurotics, and so much unhappiness.
The "Battle of the Blondes" final match is between, two wonderful actresses Grace Kelly and Kim Novak aka, “Hitchcock blondes”. I hope you enjoyed my "Blond Bombsells" tribute as much as I enjoyed putting it together for you.
Without a doubt, the favorite of all the Hitchcock blondes was Grace Kelly, who had the perfect combination of polish and poise with the hidden passion, that Hitchcock was so attracted to.
Kim Novak, was selected as the next Grace Kelly and landed a part in one of my favorite Hitchcock films, the psychological thriller, Vertigo(1958). Which is believed by many to be the film which reveals the most about the director's blonde obsessions. It is also believed by some film critics that Stewart was playing Hitchcock who loved transforming women into his vision, which is exactly what the director did with his "Hitchcock blondes".
One of Grace Kelly's best known performances was in the film, To Catch a Thief(1955). Romantic/Thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Cast: Gary Grant, Grace Kelly. Grace Kelly, was absolutely elegant and at the height of her beauty in this film. Kelly, was dressed by the very talented Edith Head. The movie is set on the French Riviera. On 14 September 1982, Grace Kelly was killed in an automobile accident in Monaco, supposedly on the very same road as her famous chase scene in this film and not far from where she had a picnic scene with Cary Grant. She was 52 years old and lost control of her car after suffering a stroke while at the wheel.
Dial M for Murder (1954). A thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, and Robert Cummings. Kelly plays Margot, a wealthy socialite who is cheating on her retired tennis player husband. As the plot has many twists and turns, Margot's husband becomes involved in a plan to murder her and collect her fortune, Kelly's character manages to save herself.. or does she?
Pushover (1954). Film noir best known for being the first film to feature Kim Novak in a starring role, along with Fred MacMurray. It was adapted from two novels, The Night Watch by Thomas Walsh and Rafferty by William S. Ballinger. Please click here to view Pushover (1954) movie review.
While making the film, To Catch a Thief (1955). Grace Kelly and Cary Grant, developed a close friendship. The two cherished their time together for the rest of their lives. Years later, when asked to name his all-time favorite actress, Grant replied : "Well, with all due respect to Ingrid Bergman, I much preferred Grace. She had serenity."
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One of their best known scenes in the movie To Catch a Thief, is the fireworks scene, where there is plenty of fireworks both inside and outside..
Dawn, I know I'm a day early but since it's Tuesday, then it must be Grace Kelly day on my blog, I decided to go ahead and post these wonderful pics of her and some animal friends.
Grace Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982), was an Oscar-winning movie actress who married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Grace Kelly, performed in just over 10 movies:
The Swan( 1956). Remake of a 1925 film (also remade in 1930 as One Romantic Night). The film is a romantic comedy directed by Charles Vidor, produced by Dore Schary from a screenplay by John Dighton based on the play by Ferenc Molnár. Costume design by Helen Rose. Cast: Grace Kelly, Alec Guinness and Louis Jourdan with Agnes Moorehead, Jessie Royce Landis, Brian Aherne, Leo G. Carroll, Estelle Winwood and Robert Coote.
This was the second time in two years that Jessie Royce Landis played Grace Kelly's mother. The first was in To Catch a Thief (1955). These were the only two films in which both actresses performed together. Beautifully filmed and Grace Kelly, was excellent in this role.
The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954). film based on a novel by James Michener about a naval aviator assigned to bomb a group of heavily defended bridges during the Korean War. It was made into a movie and won the Special Effects Oscar at the 28th Academy Awards. The novel and film are a composite of actual missions flown against bridges at Majon-ni and Changnim-Ni, North Korea, in the winter of 1951–1952, when Michener was a correspondent aboard the aircraft carriers Essex and Valley Forge, and with a pair of rescue missions on February 8, 1952, one of which involved the shoot-down of a plane off the Valley Forge. However, in the rescue incident referenced the downed airmen survived the crash and rescue attempt but were captured by North Korean soldiers. For realistic close-up shots, William Holden learned how to taxi a fighter on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
Some movie viewers believe that Grace Kelly was wasted in her small part in this film. Although, it is very close to the her role she played as housewife and mother in the film, The Country Girl, where she won her Oscar. She has a memorable scene with her husband's commander Admiral Fredric March, when her husband goes off to help his men.
High Society(1956). Is a musical film with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It was directed by Charles Walters and produced by Sol C. Siegel from a screenplay by John Patrick, based on the play The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry. The cinematography was by Paul Vogel, the art direction by Cedric Gibbons and Hans Peters and the costume design by Helen Rose. It is notable for being the last film performance of Grace Kelly, before she became Princess consort of Monaco. Elizabeth Taylor was the first choice for the part of Tracy Lord. She was unavailable so the part went to Grace Kelly.
Even though Grace Kelly, is the central character in this musical film, she does not sing, but joins Bing Crosby, for the song "True Love" and drunkenly shouting, "Sensational,".
To Catch a Thief(1955). Romantic/Thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Cast: Gary Grant, Grace Kelly. The movie is set on the French Riviera. On 14 September 1982, Grace Kelly was killed in an automobile accident in Monaco, supposedly on the very same road as her famous chase scene in this film and not far from where she had a picnic scene with Cary Grant. She was 52 years old and lost control of her car after suffering a stroke while at the wheel.
Grace Kelly, was absolutely elegant and at the height of her beauty in this film. Kelly, was dressed by the very talented Edith Head.
The Country Girl (1954). Drama film adapted by George Seaton from a Clifford Odets play of the same name, which tells the story of an alcoholic has-been actor struggling with the one last chance he's been given to save his career. Cast: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and William Holden. Kelly, won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role. Jennifer Jones was considered for, but turned down, the female lead which later won Grace Kelly her Oscar. It seems every time a beautiful woman makes herself look plain, she wins an Oscar.
During auditions for a new musical production, the director, Bernie Dodd, watches fading star Frank Elgin, perform his number and suggests he be cast. Cook, the shows producer has strong oppositions.
Elgin, is living in a small apartment with his wife Georgie, a bitter woman who has aged far beyond her years, are not sure Elgin can handle the part.
Bernie believes that Georgie is the reason for Frank's problems and he criticizes her, to her face. He doesn't know Elgin's career ended with the death of their five-year-old son, who was hit by a car while he was in the care.
Bernie, realizes that behind his hatred of Georgie, there is a strong attraction to her. He kisses her and they fall in love.
Elgin, is wonderful in the role on opening night. Bernie, believes now that Elgin has recovered his self-respect, Georgie will be free to leave him, but will she?
Dial M For Murder (1954). Thriller film based from a stage play and directed by Alfred Hitchcock . It stars Ray Milland as a retired tennis pro who wishes to have his wife killed, Grace Kelly as the wife, and Robert Cummings as her lover. The supporting cast includes: John Williams as the police detective who investigates the matter and Anthony Dawson as the man hired to do the killing.
Grace Kelly was 25-years-old and full of confidence as an actress and she certainly proved it here.
Green Fire(1954). Directed by Andrew Marton and produced by Armand Deutsch, with original music by Miklós Rózsa.C ast: Grace Kelly, Stewart Granger, Paul Douglas and John Ericson. The story is about a Rugged mining engineer Rian Mitchell, who discovers a lost emerald mine in the highlands of Colombia, which had last been operated by the Spanish conquistadors. Rian is a man consumed by the quest for wealth. The mining and plantation scenes were shot on location in rural Colombia. The cast and crew lived many weeks of miserable weather to give the film its realistic look.
Kelly, seemed a bit out of place, living in the south American jungle. Although, this adventure story had enough action and excitement, to keep your interest until the end.
Rear Window (1954). Suspense film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, written by John Michael Hayes and based on Cornell Woolrich's 1942 short story "It Had to Be Murder". Cast: James Stewart as a photographer who spies on his neighbors while recuperating from a broken leg; Grace Kelly as his girlfriend; Thelma Ritter as his nurse; Wendell Corey as a police detective; and Raymond Burr as one of the neighbors. The film is considered by many to be one of Hitchcock's best. It received four Academy Award nominations. The love affair between war photographer Robert Capa and actress Ingrid Bergman was believed to be Alfred Hitchcock's inspiration for the film.
Grace Kelly's character, started out struggling with her relationship with L.B., because he has doubts about marrying her, but.. she loves him so much that she will to do anything for him, including going into danger to win his heart.
Mogambo(1953) film directed by John Ford. Cast: Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly and Donald Sinden. The film was adapted by John Lee Mahin from the play by Wilson Collison. Kelly won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress (1954), and the film was nominated for two Oscars, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Gardner), and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Kelly). Mogambo is a remake of the classic film Red Dust (1932). The earlier movie also featured Gable in the lead role. Personal quote: Mogambo (1953) had three things that interested me. John Ford, Clark Gable, and a trip to Africa with expenses paid. If Mogambo had been made in Arizona, I wouldn't have done it.
Grace Kelly, plays the goody two shoes, wife of a English scientist.
High Noon(1952). Western film directed by Fred Zinnemann. Cast:Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. The film tells in real time the story of a town marshal forced to face a gang of killers by himself. The screenplay was written by Carl Foreman. Grace Kelly was cast after Stanley Kramer saw her in an off-Broadway play. He arranged a meeting with her and signed her on the spot.
Even though Grace Kelly plays a beautiful bride, it is hard to like her character .. until the very end.
Dial M for Murder(1954). Is based on a successful stage play and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Cast: Ray Milland, Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings . The supporting cast includes: John Williams and Anthony Dawson .
Having seen the play on Broadway, Cary Grant really wanted to play the role of Tony Wendice, but studio chiefs did not feel the public would accept him as a man who arranges to have his wife murdered.
The story begins when, Tony Wendice a professional tennis player, now retired lives in a London with his wealthy wife, Margot. Who is having an affair with crime-fiction writer, Mark Halliday. Needing money, Tony comes up with what he thinks is the perfect plan to have Margot murdered.
When Mark shows up at the apartment, Margot introduces her "old friend" to Tony. After sending them off to see a play, Tony makes an excuse to stay behind so he can meet with, Swann.
Tony has been following Swann, one of his old college friends and has learned that he has become a small time crook. He uses the information to blackmail him into committing the murder. Tony shows Swann a love letter from Mark to his wife. After tricking Swann into leaving his fingerprints on the letter, Tony offers to pay him £1,000 to kill Margot. If he refuses, Tony will turn him in to the police for trying to blackmail his wife.
After Swann agrees, Tony tells him his plan: First, He will take Mark for the evening, leaving Margot alone at home. Next, he tells him where he will hide her key. Then Swann, is to sneak into the apartment after Margot goes to bed and hide behind the curtains and wait for Tony to telephone. That will be the signal for the plan to go into motion. Swann is to kill her and leave signs of a failed burglary, then exit through the front door, again hiding the key under the staircase carpet. Will Swann complete their perfect plan for murder?
Dial M for Murder, is one of my favorite films. It is a wonderfully fast paced film. The ending, is very entertaining.
After the success of Mogambo, Kelly starred in a TV play The Way of an Eagle, before being cast in the film, Dial M for Murder. Alfred Hitchcock was the director of the film and would become Kelly's mentor. Dial M for Murder, opened in theaters in May 1954, to both positive reviews and box-office triumph.
GREEN FIRE(1955). A romantic/adventure. Begins with Mining engineer Rian X. Mitchell being attacked by bandits at an abandoned Mine. They shoot him and throw him down the side of a mountain. Rian starts walking in search for help, when he meets, Father Ripero along the way. The priest brings Rian to Catherine Knowland's coffee plantation, where he receives treatment for his wounds. Soon, Father Ripero tells Rian that the piece of stone he has was from Carrero, the lost emerald mine.
Later, Rian returns to his office in Entrada, that he shares with his business partner, Vic Leonard. His very affectionate secretary, tells Rian that Vic, has made travel plans for Canada. Rian goes to the harbor to talk to Vic, about the emerald mine before he leaves. Vic tells him that he is not interested, and he has a more secure job as a foreman of the Manitoba Carbon Company.
Rian, tricks Vic into getting drunk and takes his money, which he gambles with. Vic, is very angry when Rian returns in the morning, but still decides to go back with him to the mine.
Rian is having trouble finding a mining crew, goes to the church to find Father Ripero, who admits he told his followers that it was dangerous idea. In spite of Father Ripero, Rian finds workers by promising a reward for the first man to find an emerald and the excavation begins.
Rian's greed to mine the emeralds at any cost. First he angers the local bandits, who threaten Catherine, but he also hires her brother Donald, with no experience working as a miner. Catherine and Rian, begin have their own problems, when it is time to harvest the coffee and she has few workers left and she finds her fields under threat of flooding from Rian's mining operations. After a tragic accident at the mine, even Vic abandons his friend and helps Catherine with her harvesting.
Will Rian ever come to his senses and realize he has something bigger to lose?
Green Fire is a 1954 film directed by Andrew Marton with original music by Miklos Rozsa and starring Grace Kelly, Stewart Granger, Paul Douglas and John Ericson.
Grace Kelly, is very charming through out the film and a good match with Stewart Granger. Paul Douglas, was wonderful in his supportive role.
GRACE KELLY'S performance in HIGH NOON(1952), caught the interest of director Alfred Hitchcock, who, with the help of Edith Head, transformed Grace Kelly, into his idea of a elegant, beautiful blond. She gave Hitchcock wonderful performances in DIAL M FOR MURDER(1954), REAR WINDOW(1954), and TO CATCH A THIEF(1955).
DIAL M FOR MURDER (1954), begins as Margot (Grace Kelly) discusses with the other man in her life, Mark Halliday (Robert Cummings), that she had changed her mind about divorcing her husband. And is convinced, that her husband still cares for her and wants a fresh start in her marriage. She also informs him about a blackmailer who stole a letter that Mark wrote to her, but never picked up the money. When Tony (Ray Milland), comes home, he announces that he has unexpected business to take care of and has to change their evening plans. But insists that Mark and Margot to go on without him. After they leave,Tony makes a call to Lesgate, who has a car for sale. They make plans to meet at Tony's apartment. Tony informs him and that he is aware of illegal activities, in which he is involved and blackmails Lesgate, into agreeing to do the killing.Tony warns Lesgate that going to the police would only backfire.
Lesgate, is to watch the apartment and when Margot goes into the bedroom, he is to enter using Margot's house key.. At the agreed time, Tony will call, and when Margot answers, Lesgate, is to strangle her. When he has finished, Lesgate is to whistle into the phone and hang up. He is to leave the garden window open and put the key under the stairway.
Before Tony and Mark leave for the club, Tony gets the key from Margot's handbag and requests her to stay behind to clip articles for his scrapbook. At the club,Tony leaves the table, saying he must call his boss, but calls home. During this time Lesgate has unlocked the apartment door and put the key under the stairway, he waits inside the apartment. When Margot goes to answer the phone, Lesgate tries to strangle her, but things don't go as planned. Tony, on the other end of the phone line, has to quickly come up with a new plan. He talks into the phone and Margot, hearing his voice, tells him what happened. Later, when the police start to investigate they find all evidence points to Margot letting Lesgate in and killing him because he was blackmailing her. What is to happen to Margot?
Hitchcock arranged to have Grace Kelly dressed in bright colors at the start of the film and made them progressively darker as time goes on.
THE REAR WINDOW (1954)
Jeff (Jimmy Stewart), a professional news photographer, stuck in a wheelchair with a broken leg from an accident while on assignment. Spends his hot summer days watching his neighbors through the REAR WINDOW of his New York apartment. Dreaming up names for his new friends, like Miss Torso, the ballerina and Miss Lonely Heart, the old maid. One neighbor in particular, seems to have peaked Jeff's interest. A traveling salesman and his bed ridden, nagging wife, who lives in a apartment across the courtyard.
Everyday like clock work, Stella (Thelma Ritter) , his nurse, drops by to prepare his meals and to make his bed. She disapproves of his spying on his neighbors and encourages him to marry Lisa(Grace Kelly). Jeff, insists that Lisa is too "perfect", for his adventurous lifestyle.
In the middle of the night, Jeff hears a woman scream and glass break, but sees nothing outside. Jeff believes that he is a witness to the murder of Mrs Thorwald. Over the next few days they watch Thorwald's, suspicious behavior. Jeff comes up with a plan to write him an anonymous note, asking... "What have you done with her?" Lisa slips the note under his door. What is Thorwald's next move ?
The romance between war photographer Robert Capa and actress Ingrid Bergman is believed to be Hitchcock's inspiration for the movie, REAR WINDOW..
