A Birthday Tribute to Peggie Castle
Actress Peggie Castle was born in Virginia on December 22, 1927.
Peggie Castle is a favorite here at Laura's Miscellaneous Musings. She had a relatively brief career, spanning the late '40s to the early '60s, but her strong screen presence brought a little something extra to many Westerns and crime films.
1953 was an especially good year in her filmography, with three very different roles: John Payne's faithless wife in 99 RIVER STREET; a gorgeous shrink who tries to seduce Mike Hammer in I, THE JURY; and a squatter's daughter who dreams of finer things in the Western COW COUNTRY. All three films are very entertaining, the more so because of her performances.
Castle also starred with John Russell and Peter Brown in one of my favorite TV Westerns, LAWMAN (1959-62).
Jake Hinkson wrote a detailed article on Castle's career and troubled private life for the Film Noir Foundation.
Peggie Castle died of cirrhosis in 1973, just 45 years old. A sad end at far too young an age, but her work continues to be appreciated by those who love film noir and Westerns.
Peggie Castle films which have been reviewed here at Laura's Miscellaneous Musings: BUCCANEER'S GIRL (1950) (also here), AIR CADET (1951), PAYMENT ON DEMAND (1951), WAGONS WEST (1952), I, THE JURY (1953), COW COUNTRY (1953) (also here), 99 RIVER STREET (1953), TWO-GUN LADY (1955), TALL MAN RIDING (1955), HELL'S CROSSROADS (1957), and THE COUNTERFEIT PLAN (1957).
Update: I've now posted reviews of WOMAN IN HIDING (1950), OUTSIDE THE WALL (1950) (also here), I WAS A SHOPLIFTER (1950) (also here), BRIGHT VICTORY (1951), THE GOLDEN HORDE (1951), SON OF BELLE STARR (1953), OVERLAND PACIFIC (1954), and FINGERMAN (1955).
Update: And here's a review of Season 2 of LAWMAN.
posted by Laura @ 1:55 PM
9 Comments:
Lovely tribute. I always remember Peggie in Tall Man Riding. A fine actress.
Dear Laura,
What a great subject for a much deserved birthday tribute!
I always need more Peggie Castle in my life and cannot wait for
Warner Archive to release LAWMAN.
Also they have promised us COW COUNTRY and the very engaging
SON OF BELLE STARR. I must admit in the latter film Peggie takes
a back seat to the mysterious and interesting Dona Drake.
Funnily enough I have a copy of I,THE JURY on the way although
I'm told that the p.q. ain't so hot.
I'm mega jealous that you managed to see the film in all it's
3D glory.
Also recently watched THE LONG WAIT which was pretty good,
strikingly shot by Franz Planer (99 RIVER STREET)
I hope you get to see FINGERMAN pretty soon;I'd love to see that
film get the "Laura Treatment"
The same goes for the engaging QUINCANNON FRONTIER SCOUT,Peggie
is wonderful in that film.
I've been going on an on,mostly over at Toby's how much I would
love to see THE YELLOW TOMAHAWK released in color and widescreen
and I DO hope that the cats at Kino-Lorber or Olive Films can come
up with that one!
It's kinda weird because at Toby's alter ego The Hannibal 8
only yesterday I posted how much I'd love to see Warners re-issue
TALL MAN RIDING in widescreen.
Thanks so much for the link to the great feature on Peggie,
so many films mentioned that I love so much.
Regarding the Tony Curtis thing in that piece didn't I read
somewhere Piper Laurie also had problems with Curtis.
BTW Laura,sort of off topic but not quiet,did you see my mention
over at Colin's that I thought Frank Lovejoy would make a
sensational Mike Hammer,that guy has really grown on me recently.
What a nice tribute, Laura.
I always feel a certain sadness when watching Peggie Castle in a film because in the back of my mind I am remembering what became of her.
She just lit up the screen whenever she appeared with her radiant beauty but she was also a darned fine actress and should have had greater success.
I'm really delighted to hear from other fans of Peggie Castle! So glad this has been enjoyed. Isn't the Jake Hinkson article excellent? He did some great research.
Jerry, I know what you mean, I have that feeling of sadness when I watch people like Peggie, Gail Russell, or Carole Landis -- love them all and it's a shame they had difficult offscreen lives and passed on so young. I'm glad, though, that they left behind so much very enjoyable work which has brought pleasure to so many of us.
John, I am very anxious for LAWMAN, COW COUNTRY, and SON OF BELLE STARR. And I'm so looking forward to seeing FINGERMAN soon, it sounds terrific and you can bet that I'll be writing about it here when I watch it! Actually everything you write about sounds great. I have a B&W print of YELLOW TOMAHAWK which I haven't seen and like everyone else I would sure love to see it in widescreen color. I'm very glad you've been helping make people aware of how it was originally released.
Lovejoy as Hammer is a fascinating idea! My work is wrapping up today and I will be sure to pop over to Riding the High Country as well as The Hannibal 8 to catch up on some good reading and conversation!
Thanks to you all and Merry Christmas,
Laura
Thanks for this. I must admit I had not heard of Peggie Castle, but that's the beauty of the movies; there's always more to learn! More biography's to read, more movies to watch! :-)
I couldn't agree more, Julie! The more movies I see, the more I realize there is out there still ahead to discover. It's one of the wonderful things about loving classic films!
So glad I could help spread the word on Peggie Castle.
Best wishes,
Laura
Peggie Castle was just utterly lovely and very talented. I remember her from Lawman and I do hope Warner Archive released the series soon!
I am a huge fan probably her biggest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lopgH0TX51M My name is David O'Rorery I am mega fan of Peggie Castle. I would call myself a historian, critic and author of her abd more. I am excited to say "Finger Man" '55 on Blu-Ray man released in that Noir Box Set in March Peg's last American Film-Noir and a rarely seen one. Barely any makeup in some scenes she looked amazing in it and one of her best roles as Gladys Baker the one scene brought tears to my eyes. Reflected on her life people are not too smart I hate this generation too. Marilyn Monroe can't do that sorry I watched movies years I use to watch MM as a kid started getting into Peggie in 1999 too a little after Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn Monroe is take her or leave her. She doesn't specialize in her craft as Peggie. Peggie Castle was a star in the middle east in B Movies. I love Peggie so much they will never understand. Peggie was respected in the industry and is barely known by the younger generation today and they are awful and even back then lots of older people don't like Low-Budget Indie Movies she did at The Studio's B Unit or even a total Indie B Company she did do a few A Movies though. I like shit that is real and not about money. Crying now watching about Peggie on YouTube watching this with a Narrator on such an amazing woman such a natural crying tears of joy because of how amazing she was and fears of sadness of what she went through and when she died. Peggie was the real deal. When I hear about what she went through and her death when she died I feel like a part of me died I love her so much always!
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