Thomas Tryon
2009-08-22 12:48:23

Daniel Mann
2009-03-14 12:04:03
Daniel Mann was a very fine Director whose work demands review.

Daniel Mann directed a series of hit movies in the 1960's such as The Rose Tatoo, I'll Cry Tomorrow and Butterfield 8 all garnering their leading ladies Oscar nominations with Anna Magnani and Elizabeth Taylor winning Oscars for their respective performances, and Susan Hayward declaring Danny Mann her "favorite director"

Whhile famous for dramatic films, Daniel Mann also directed Lana Turner and Dean Martin in the Paramount comedy "Who's Got The Action"

Mann and Susan Hayward working together few years later in MGM's "Ada" another Hayward tour de force co starring Dean Martin. In fact while very ill and near death, Miss Hayward was asked if she wanted to see any of her great classic films such as 'Smash Up', 'With A Song In My Heart', 'I Want To Live', 'My Foolish Heart', 'Back Street', or even her celebrated performance in "I'll Cry Tomorrow" instead chose Mann's "Ada"

In his great career Danny Mann directed Susan Hayward, Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Turner, Dean Martin, Anna Magnani, Laurence Harvey, and many many other fine actors. Mann directed a TV remake of "I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang" but demanded his name be taken off the project as he was very unhappy with the final film.

Daniel Mann directed Merle Oberon in her lavish Mexican based film "Interval" now most famous because of her romance with Robert Wolders whom Miss Oberon later married.
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Lucille Ball
2009-03-13 13:31:23
Lucille Ball,star of Broadway, Movies and TV, was also a major businesswoman in Hollywood.

Ms Ball and her then husband Desi Arnaz founded Desilu and that studio produced 'I Love Lucy','The Untouchables'. After Mr. Arnaz left Desilu Ms Ball was CEO when Desilu produced her own TV show, 'The Lucy Show' and two series now part of legend: 'Mission Impossible' and 'Star Trek'. Desilu also produced the hit TV series 'Mannix' and Ms Ball's big movie hit "Yours Mine and Ours" co starring Hank Fonda (In my Opinion Lucy should have been nominated for an Oscar for her great work in "Yours Mine and Ours")

Desilu also produced Ms Ball's hit "Wildcat" on Broadway.

Ms. Ball sold Desilu to Paramount and became a multi millionaire and is said to have left an emnormous estate with trust funds for her Children and Grandchildren amounting to many millions. Paramount honored Ball with 'Lucy Park' at he studio's back lot.

Ms. Ball after leaving Paramount moved her new production company 'Lucille Ball Productions' to Universal which produced her last show "Here's Lucy"

Ms Ball also starred in the WB movie version of
the hit play at "Mame" which continues to hold the record as the biggest grossing movie in one theatre as "Mame" grossed over $1 Million in one week at the Radio City Music Hall.

Ms Ball was to this day the only woman to be CEO of a major studio: Desilu which had 3 Studios; Desilu Gower, Desilu Cahuenga and the old Selznick Studio renamed Desilu Culver
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Cinema Paradiso
2008-10-16 17:32:56
Phillipe Noriet and Jacques Perrin may not have been nominated for Oscars for their great performances in this magnificent Italian movie but they should have been!

I love this movie and it works on many levels as a narrative about a Boy who lives his life thru movies and yet another as a story of taking chances and doing things differently. The story is well know: A movie projectionist and a pesky young boy form a friendship. The projectionist of the local theatre named "Cinema Paradiso" funds the Young Man's education and insists as a condition He move away from this small town, and the Young Man does. When the Projectionist dies he leaves a Will mentioning the Young Man, startled and suprised the Man returns to the small village attends the funeral, and sees the demolished "Cinema Paradiso" and is given his "gift" but it is to be opened only when he returns to Rome. I will keep the ending a suprise but there are few that will not weep.

A great great movie, a great love story between a Man and his surrogate Son. And why is it that the Foreign Cinema seems to make more humanly involving movies than our Own?
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Cinema Paradiso
2008-10-16 17:29:18

The Right Stuff
2008-10-16 17:27:00
Alan Ladd's talented son Alan Ladd Jr. tried to create a mini studio named "The Ladd Company" in the manner of Dreamworks or earlier Selznick International. The Ladd Company staked a lot on this film "The Right Stuff" which is now my favorite movie and while others may enjoy 'Apollo 13' this movie also dealing with the first space efforts ( but not Apollo) is much better. Brilliantly directed and cast, I have seen this movie over and over again, and it never fails to intrigue. While critically praised by some, the political media took off on it as 'a pro John Glenn for President piece' and it got mired in a lot of whacky political coverage. Simply untrue. Glenn as we know was one of the first Astronauts and the movie doesn't dwell on him but the astronaut corps as a group.

Dennis Quaid is splendid as astronaut Gordon Cooper and the fadeout is one of more memorable in movie history. Magnficent photography and a Cast that acts to perfection especially Sam Shepard ("Is That A Man, Your Darn Right it Is") and Scott Glenn, Ed Harris, Fred Ward as the tragic Gus Grissom, with a beautiful cameo by one of the great actresses Kim Stanley whose on screen work is regretably limited to only a few films.

I highly recommend this Movie which recounts the American Space Program.

A Movie Masterpiece
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The Right Stuff
2008-10-16 17:22:38

The Nun's Story
2008-10-12 09:51:35
Robert Wolders who was Audrey Hepburn's great love and companion until she died once commented that Audrey was most like the woman in the great Warner Bros. movie "The Nun's Story" than any other role she performed so well, and that includes her hits in "Sabrina", "My Fair Lady" and her incomparable "Breakfast At Tiffany's".

WB Chief Jack Warner and Director Fred Zinneman collobrated to film this great film version of the best selling story and became one of Warner Bros. greatest hits in the late 50's. Zinneman a true master of the cinema directed so well and creates a beautiful story of a devout woman sent off from Belgium to then Belgian Congor in Africa to tend as a missionary. I cannot think of another Actress who could have played 'Sister Luke' as well as Audrey Hepburn and Ms Hepburn was nominated for an Academy Award for her sensitive performance. (The Best Actress Win was to Simone Singoret)

Peter Finch supports Audrey Hepburn in this film but it is clearly Audrey Hepburn's movie.

Jack Benny who was Jewish sent a note to Jack Warner after seeing this movie dealing with a Catholic nun complimenting the Warner Studio for a moving and senstive mastperice, and I agree.

Jack Warner was always impressed by Miss Hepburn and the success
of "The Nun's Story" was one of the reasons he offered Miss Hepburn the role of Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady", and "Wait Until Dark" both at Warners.

Audrey Hepburn was a great star and a humanitarian
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The Nun's Story
2008-10-12 09:47:39

Robert Wise
2008-10-12 09:37:05
I became a fan of Robert Wise with his great prison Drama "I Want To Live" with one of the all time great dramatic performances given by an Actress: Miss Susan Hayward.

Backstory: Walter Wanger was a famous producer of the 1940's and operated in a manner like David Selznick ( but not to the grand scale of DOS). Wagner had been in a scandal and found work hard to get. Developing a script about the real life story of Barbara Graham executed at San Quentin, Wanger approached his favorite actress Miss Hayward who then was one of the biggest stars in the world. When Susan agreed to star, Wanger got funding and the film project took hold. Wanger hired Robert Wise to direct and the trio Wanger-Wise-and Hayward made a great classic drama winning Miss Hayward her long sought Oscar. Mr. Wanger in a letter to Selznick commented that only because of Susan Hayward was the film able to be get funded and made and compared her to Garbo

Robert Wise had a great body of work including "West Side Story" and "Sound of Music" and worked with many of the screens greatest stars in his career such as Ms. Hayward, Steve McQueen, Natalie Wood, Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster, Julie Andrews, et al.

Robert Wise was a great Director and let his films speak of his Work so he never made the iconic status of Alfred Hitchcock,William Wyler, Billy Wilder, John Ford, Howard Hawks, but Robert Wise deserves to be in their Company.

Robert Wise was given the AFI Insitute Award.
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Robert Wise
2008-10-12 09:31:19

Picnic
2008-10-03 22:28:38
Kim Novak then a young Columbia Pictures Contract Player was signed to play Madge in the film version of William Inge's great Broadway Play "Picnic" and Kim Novak became after the film's release the biggest movie star in the World!

Few if any have been more beautiful on screen than Kim Novak in this Josh Logan directed film. Mr. Logan staged the dance sequence brilliantly and to this day it enraptures all who see it... Kim Novak and Bill Holden are so great that one wonders why they were never re-teamed in another movie.

Kim Novak runs away with this picture and along with Bill Holden, able support is given by Cliff Roberston, Susan Strasberg, and a great turn by Roz Russell as the old maid School Teacher who finds love in the arms of Arthur O Connell.( Miss Russell was offered a chance to be submitted to be considered by the Oscars for "best supporting actress' but Roz- ever the star- declined.

James Wong Howe one of the master craftsman of Hollywood photographed this film capturing the small Kansas town atmospher and the scene where Kim Novak is announced is Queen is startling...has anyone ever been more beautiful on screen?

Kudos to Bill Holden, Roz Russell, and also to
cinmatographer James Wong Howe, Harry Cohn, and to Josh Logan on a great picture but it is Kim Novak's movie all the way.

A true Movie Star! and her impact on Columbia was such that the Studio has a Theatre on its Lot in Culver City named after Miss Novak.
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Picnic
2008-10-03 22:24:21

Tender Is the Night
2008-10-03 22:10:32
David O.Selznick was obsessed with two things: Oscar Winner Jennifer Jones and to film Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel "Tender Is The Night" starring --Jennifer Jones!

Ms. Jones gave intelligence and edge in her fine film Work and I liked her performance in this Film and find the beautiful Jennifer superb. Filmed at 20th Jennifer's home studio the Film is given loving attention to detail and Ms Jones favorite Director Henry King does a fine job here. (Selznick requested King as DOS felt 'that Henry King got the best from Miss Jones'and he may be right:'Song of Bernadatte'and 'Love Is A Many Splendored Thing' were two of Jennifer's finest films and was Nominated for Both and won for Bernadette). Mr. King via David Selznick's insistence took the Company to Zurich, Paris and the Riveria for location shots,and Ms Jones is very ably supported by Jason Robards and two previous Oscar winners, Paul Lukas,and Joan Fontaine. 2oth's ace Cinematographer Leon Shamroy filmed Ms. Jones beautifully in this love story. Jennifer looks younger,crisper in this film than She did in Selznick's remake of "A Farewell To Arms" 5 years prior. Selznick also insited Pierre Balmain do Jennifer's sleek Wardrobe,and great Hairstyles by George Masters. Selznick until his death carped on what a great film this could have been. Some of the issues David Selznick raised was the lack of accurate set dressing and wished more
topical Roaring 20's music used.
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Tender Is the Night
2008-10-03 22:05:45

I Want to Live!
2008-10-03 21:14:44
"I Want To Live" producer Walter Wanger wrote to his friend David Selznick that 'only due to Susan Hayward lending her considerable box office cache' to this United Artists pic would it ever have been made.

On Her 5th Oscar nod, Ms Hayward reached the pinnacle of her great career in this brilliant prison drama about the wrongful execution of Barbara Graham. Expertly directed by Robert Wise, 'I Want To Live' is great movie making, and nearly 50 years after Ms. Hayward's triumph of acting in this Film movie fans worldwide still flock to see an Artist at Work. The film works on many levels and has a great jazz score and terrific black and white photography that reflects the true desperation of Ms. Hayward's character the real life Ms. Graham; The final scenes are harrowing.

Ms Hayward won the NY Film Critics Award for her peformance. Robert Wise hearalded Ms Hayward as 'second only to Garbo' in ability, and when Ms Hayward won her Oscar she was to my recollection the only Star in Academy History called back on stage for a thunderous curtain Call. The win is
recorded on You Tube

Ms Hayward recognized worldwide for her Acting a won the Cannes Film Festival for her favorite film
"I'll Cry Tomorrow". Susan Hayward was one of the few Stars to win the Triple Crown of Acting, Oscar, NY Film Critics, and Cannes Film Festival. Ms Hayward also won the Golden Globe for her performance in this film.

Fans should not confuse this classic with the ridiculous TV remake.
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I Want to Live!
2008-10-03 21:10:57

Michael Parks
2008-10-02 17:43:31
Michael Parks demonstrated early in his career a versatility that brought him to the attention of famed director John Huston who cast Michael Parks as Adam in the 20th Century Fox film "The Bible". Also starring in a separate segment of "The Bible" is the wondrous and truly gorgeous Ava Gardner. At the time nudity was verbotten in cinema and Michael Parks as "Adam" was one of the first stars to appear nude. Seen today, the scenes are tasteful and would rate only a PG rating at most.

One of my favorite movies is a small Universal film that Michael Parks made with the very talented and also under appreciated Ann Margret called "Bus Riley's Back In Town". A fine film. And both stars excel in this Film.

Mr. Parks made an interesting film with the always exciting to watch Jennifer Jones in Daniel Petrie's "The Idol" and both Stars remained Friends after the shoot ended. Jennifer Jones replaced the first announced Kim Stanley in this movie produced by Joseph E Levin in the United Kingdom.

After a very fine Start in films Mr. Parks career sort of cooled off as the studio system ended, and he found work as a fine Journeyman TV actor always doing reliable creative work.
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Nicholas and Alexandra
2008-10-02 10:21:19
Sam Spiegel was a legendary producer who was based at Columbia, Spiegel's output was monumental: "On The Watefront" "The African Queen" "Bridge On The River Kwai", "Lawrence of Arabia" et al and because of His films were Oscar Winners and worldwide box office hits, Mr. Spiegel ran his Horizon Films from London in the manner what Dreamworks is today.

"Nicholas And Alexandra" was a great story on the last Czar of Russia, his Wife, the Empress, their family and the interraction with the notorious Rasputin and all this during the momentous early days of the 20th Century and WWI.

Spiegel lost his footing with this film as it was not properly cast. Michael Jayston and Janet Suzman had little charisma as the Czar and Empress. Larger than life stars such as Peter O'Toole and Kim Novak or Ingrid Bergman should have been cast with Omar Sharif a natural Rasputin. The reputed relationship between the Czarina and Rasputin as Massie wrote "brought down the Russian Empire" and this sexual tension does not appear in the Film. Cast with British Players, "N&A" is well acted but has no punch. I would have cast Marlene Dietrich or Merle Oberon as the powerful Dowager Empress Marie.

On 'River Kwai'and'Lawrence' Spiegel worked with David Lean, However after the success of "Lawrence" David Lean went his separate ways with "Dr. Zhivago "which became one of MGM's biggest hits. Sam Spiegel tapped Franklin Shaffner to Direct "N@A" I would have preferred Fred Zinneman or William Wyler
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Nicholas and Alexandra
2008-10-02 10:12:58

Vivien Leigh
2008-10-02 10:05:17
Vivien Leigh regarded as one of the movies greatest actresses is part of iconic American movie history as Scarlett O Hara in David Selznick's masterpiece "Gone With the Wind" with Clark Gable as Rhett, Olivia De Havilland, Leslie Howard, and the incomparable Hattie McDaniel ( who to me provided the real soul of the Film). The English born Miss Leigh's casting was initially decried by fans worldwide as the wrong choice to play the Southern belle Scarlett, but Mr. Selznick's choice over such as Norma Shearer, Jean Arthur, Susan Hayward, Paulette Goddard, Lucille Ball, Lana Turner, et al was inspired. Miss Leigh brought Scarlett to Life and her performance justifiably won the Academy Award. GWTW was the only film Leigh made for her mentor Selznick.

Miss Leigh won her second Oscar playing another Southern belle in "A Streetcar Named Desire" with Marlon Brando. Other films included Stanley Kramer's "Ship of Fools" at Columbia with Oscar winners Lee Marvin and Simone Signoret, and with a young Warren Beatty in WB's "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone". Miss Leigh refused to replace Joan Crawford in "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte" which would have seen her co star with another great actress Bette Davis in what would have been a great on screen acting duel.

Married to Laurence Olivier for a time, While a Star of Theatre both in New York and London, Ms. Leigh is regarded as one of the cinemas greatest actresses notably due to her incomparable roles Scarlett O'Hara and Blanche DuBois.
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Claudette Colbert
2008-07-30 12:41:45
Claudette Colbert ranks as one of the great stars of Hollywood.

Winner of the Academy Award co starring with Clark Gable in Frank Capra's classic "It Happened One Night" Ms Colbert built a career of great performances in movies now regarded as classics such as David Selznick's "Since You Went Away" with Jennifer Jones, Robert Walker, Joseph Cotten, and films such as "The Palm Beach Story", "Midnight" "So Proudly We Hail" with Paulette Goddard, Ms Colbert in a greatlong career worked with many Industry greats such as Cecil B DeMille, Henry Fonda, Preston Sturges, et al.

Ms Colbert's last film was "Parrish" starring a group of young WB stars: Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens,Diane McBain et al. In fact Colbert was billed behind Donahue in Parrish.

Ms Colbert's last appearance was in a great TV movie "The Two Mrs Grenville's" starring with Ann -Margret where both stars gave great performances. Ms. Colbert never reduced herself to playing in horror movies as some of her peers had to. Very wealthy she was at home in Cafe Society as she was on stage and screen.

Ms Colbert after retiring from the screen appeared on Broadway until her late 80's. I saw her with Rex Harrison in "Arent We All" and she was vivacious as ever. Colbert returned to the London stage after a 50 year absence.

Ms Colbert had a lavish home in Barbabos "Belle Reve" where she entertained the likes of Greta Garbo, President Reagan

Miss Colbert's Life is recounted in "She Walked
In Beauty"
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Claudette Colbert
2008-07-30 12:36:28

Loretta Young
2008-07-30 12:29:46
Loretta Young was quite possibly the most glamorous of all movie stars during her era.

Ms Young, a very beautiful woman, was known worldwide for her great incomparable style.

A Star for nearly 70 years until her Death Ms. Young was as fabulously beautiful in her 80's as she was beginning her career in silent movies.

Loretta Young won her Oscar in an upset over the favored Roz Russell in a year that the Oscar rightfully in my opinion should have been awarded to Susan Hayward for her magnificent performance in "Smash Up".

Ms Young worked with many of the greatest stars of Hollywood such as Susan Hayward, Cary Grant, David Niven, Alan Ladd, etc and two Men who would be her lovers: Spencer Tracy and Clark Gable who fathered Young's child out of wedlock. A devout Woman, Ms Young hid the identity of her Child's Father until her death: Mr Gable. Fearing banishment from Hollywood due to a morals clause she always told people she adopted her Daughter.

Miss Young was a devout Catholic- along with Irene Dunne, John Ford, Roz Russell,Gary Cooper, and a Star who claimed to be converted to Catholicism due to Young: Jane Wyman. Ms Young and Ms Wyman in retirement attended Mass together.

After a career where she gave fine performances such as "The Bishop's Wife" etc. Ms.Young was one of the first of the great movie stars to make the transition to TV and starred in her own weekly show the highlight of which were her memorable entrances wearing fabulous dress ensembles
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Loretta Young
2008-07-30 12:24:33