A Visit to Valhalla Cemetery

Last Sunday we spent the day in the Hollywood area, starting off with a 35mm screening of NIGHT TRAIN TO MUNICH (1940) at the Egyptian Theatre.

I hadn't seen the movie in a number of years and had a thoroughly good time revisiting it, especially on film on the Egyptian's huge screen.

Our day ended with dinner with our daughter, and in between dinner and the movie we spent a couple of hours visiting Valhalla Cemetery in North Hollywood.

Valhalla is a serene if slightly worn cemetery which is close to a century old, dating from 1923. There are a great many filmmakers buried at Valhalla; while we found some of the burial sites below thanks to prior research, we stumbled across others by chance as we walked the grounds.

A favorite actress, Gail Russell, is buried at Valhalla. Favorite films Russell starred in include ANGEL AND THE BADMAN (1947), SEVEN MEN FROM NOW (1956), and THE UNINVITED (1944).

Martha Vickers, who most famously played Carmen Sternwood in THE BIG SLEEP (1946), is buried at Valhalla under her married name. I also particularly appreciate Vickers for her appearance in a minor but rather lovely Warner Bros. musical, THE TIME, THE PLACE AND THE GIRL (1946). Before her final marriage, Vickers was married briefly to producer A.C. Lyles and then to Mickey Rooney.

As we walked around we happened across the final resting place of actor Robert Lowery, who I first knew thanks to his appearances on my favorite TV series, MAVERICK. He was long married to actress Jean Parker.

Just two spots away from Robert Lowery is the gravesite of Jonathan Hale. An actor with nearly 250 credits to his name, he was a regular in the Saint movie series and played J.C. Dithers in the BLONDIE films. The Find a Grave site indicates that the grave was at one point unmarked, so I assume this stone was provided by classic film fans.

Cliff Edwards, also known as Ukelele Ike, had a long career, but I think he was most beloved and remembered today for voicing Jiminy Cricket in Disney's PINOCCHIO (1940). He voiced Jiminy Cricket in many other Disney productions, including FUN AND FANCY FREE (1947) and the "I'm No Fool" series of educational shorts.

Canadian character actor Douglass Dumbrille had over 200 credits in his career. A familiar face to classic film fans, his roles ranged from a couple of silent movies to his final appearance, in TV's BATMAN (1966). I particularly appreciated him in an atypical Wyatt Earp type role in a minor yet very well done Johnny Mack Brown Western, FLAME OF THE WEST (1945).

Mae Murray began in silent films over a century ago, in 1916, leaving films behind in 1931. Today she is probably best remembered for playing the title role in the silent version of THE MERRY WIDOW (1925). She also starred in the delightful comedy THE DELICIOUS LITTLE DEVIL (1919), which I enjoyed at the 2019 Cinecon Festival.

Claire McDowell began in silent films in 1908; she appeared in films through 1945. Her final film role, in fact, was a bit part in a movie I very recently reviewed, ADVENTURE (1945). She had major roles in the silent classics BEN-HUR: A TALE OF THE CHRIST (1925) and THE BIG PARADE (1925).

Fuzzy Knight is a name well-known to Western fans; he played sidekicks to the hero and supporting roles in Westerns in the majority of his nearly 200 movie credits. His name turns up in the casts of many Westerns I've reviewed here.

Willie Best supplied comedy relief in over 130 films including THE GHOST BREAKERS (1940) with Bob Hope. He also had a terrific role as an attendant at the Wyoming state legislature who advises Loretta Young on lobbying and passing bills in THE LADY FROM CHEYENNE (1941).

Given the times, as a black character actor Best also played numerous train porters. It's interesting to note that Sam McDaniel, who made a real specialty of playing train porters (over 60 times!), is also buried at Valhalla; we hope to locate McDaniel's final resting place on a future visit.

Actress Vivienne Osborne appeared in films beginning in silents in 1920, with her last role coming in DRAGONWYCK in 1946. She's been reviewed here in THE FAMOUS FERGUSON CASE (1931), THE DARK HORSE (1932), and more.

Gladys George was a terrific character actress whose best known roles included THE ROARING TWENTIES (1939), THE MALTESE FALCON (1941), THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946), and FLAMINGO ROAD (1949). She was in films from 1919 to 1954, the year of her passing.

Comedy giant Oliver Hardy is also at Valhalla.

In addition to his gravestone (above), Hardy is honored with a special plaque (below).

Finally, there's a memorial plaque at Valhalla for famed stuntman Yakima Canutt.

Valhalla is big enough there were many names we didn't have time to locate, and we hope to make another visit at some point in the future.

In the meantime, I hope those who cannot be there in person will join me in remembering and appreciating the lives and work of all of the actors mentioned above. As it says on Jonathan Hale's gravestone, "We Remembered You."

Additional photo posts on the final resting places of historic Hollywood figures: A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 1, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 2, A Visit to the Forest Lawn Museum, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2014), A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Musicians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Comedians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Actors, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - Writers, Directors, and More, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 1, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 2, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 3, A Visit to Desert Memorial Park, Los Angeles National Cemetery, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 1, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 2, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 3, A Visit to Forest Lawn Cathedral City, A Visit to Oakwood Memorial Park, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 1, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 2, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2019), A Visit to Woodlawn Cemetery, and A Visit to Valley Oaks Memorial Park.

Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the internet...

...Book news: Film historian Scott Nollen, author of THREE BAD MEN: JOHN FORD, JOHN WAYNE, WARD BOND (2013), had two books published by McFarland last year: TAKASHI SHIMURA: CHAMELEON OF JAPANESE CINEMA and CHESTER MORRIS: HIS LIFE AND CAREER. I hope to read both titles, as I find the topics of considerable interest.

...As some readers may recall, I've become quite a fan of the Fast & Furious movie series over the last few years; the first film was nearly two decades ago, in 2001, and I started watching them around five years ago. The trailer for this summer's F9: THE FAST SAGA (2020) dropped yesterday, and I can hardly wait for May to arrive. Some of the trailer made me laugh till I cried, as it's completely insane, and I was also excited by the return of a presumed-dead character. Like any good soap opera, the F&F movies periodically resurrect "dead" characters; this one is at least the third in the last 20 years. (Maybe there's hope for the return of Gal Gadot's character!)

...Coming in March from Flicker Alley: 3-D RARITIES: VOLUME II. It will include EL CORAZON Y LA ESPADA (1953), also known as THE HEART AND THE SWORD or THE SWORD OF GRANADA, starring Cesar Romero and Katy Jurado; the ballet short THE BLACK SWAN (1951); and a selection of Harold Lloyd's 3-D photographs, presented by Suzanne Lloyd. I saw some of Lloyd's 3-D Disneyland photos exhibited at the 2015 D23 Expo and was really wowed by seeing them.

...Coming from ClassicFlix in April: AFRICA SCREAMS (1949) starring Abbott & Costello. It's a limited edition capped at 3000 units. The plentiful extras include a commentary track, radio show, comic book, and much more.

...Will McKinley has interviewed James Garner's daughter Gigi for GetTV.

...Will also alerted me to an interesting story about the rising sales of VHS tapes.

...Raquel does some amazing previews of upcoming film books at her blog Out of the Past, and her latest list is no exception. I'm still wading through it making a list of the titles which interest me! A top priority will be PHANTOM LADY: HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER JOAN HARRISON, THE FORGOTTEN WOMAN BEHIND HITCHCOCK, which will be released next week on February 4th. Joan Harrison also worked with actor-director Robert Montgomery on some excellent films including RIDE THE PINK HORSE (1947) and ONCE MORE, MY DARLING (1949).

...Karl Malden's former home in Brentwood recently sold. The Los Angeles Times has a photo tour.

...Movie studios have renewed deals with Kodak for the company to keep making film. Some movies are (thankfully!) still shot on film, including the newest version of LITTLE WOMEN (2019).

...Coming April 7th from Kino Lorber Studio Classics: MURDER, HE SAYS (1945) starring Fred MacMurray, Helen Walker, and Marjorie Main. I saw this as a kid at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's Leo S. Bing Theater and wasn't very impressed, finding it awfully strange, but I'm very curious to take a fresh look and see how I respond to it in 2020. It will have a commentary track by Michael Schlesinger (who coincidentally I just chatted with at an Egyptian Theatre screening last weekend) and Cinecon's Stan Taffel.

...A very realistic Baby Yoda (aka "The Child") can be yours for a mere $350! Coming next summer from Sideshow Collectibles.

...Yesterday it was announced the Netflix's series THE CROWN will end with Season 5, starring Imelda Staunton as the Queen. Season 4, with Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth, is currently filming.

...There are now 150 million Amazon Prime members worldwide. Wow.

..."CineSavant" Glenn Erickson has reviewed the Warner Archive's new Blu-ray of UNDERWATER! (1955). I'll be reviewing that one myself in the near future. Jane Russell, Richard Egan, and Gilbert Roland star.

...Here a reminiscence of the wonderful musical THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT (1967) by Marc Myers at JazzWax.

...Ivan just wrote about a Dan Duryea film I enjoyed, THE UNDERWORLD STORY (1950), at his blog Thrilling Days of Yesteryear.

...Jazz fans in Connecticut might like to know that the Dave Brubeck Collection, previously located at California's University of the Pacific, may now be found at the Wilton Library in Wilton, Connecticut.

...Attention Southern Californians: The 1933 version of LITTLE WOMEN will be shown in 35mm at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on February 23rd. It's part of the Egyptian's new Sunday matinee series, screening at 1:00 p.m. I hope to be there.

...More for Southern Californians: Retroformat is hosting a centennial screening of Mary Pickford's POLLYANNA (1920) at the Woman's Club of Hollywood at 1749 North La Brea Avenue. Live musical accompaniment will be provided by Cliff Retallick. More information about Retroformat may be found in this article from last summer.

...Notable Passings: Monique van Vooren has passed on at 92. She appeared with Lex Barker in TARZAN AND THE SHE-DEVIL (1953) and was in the opening credits sequence of TEN THOUSAND BEDROOMS (1957). She also had a bit role in GIGI (1958)...Longtime soap opera actress Marj Dusay has died at 83. She appeared in several different soaps over the years; she also appeared in the final episode of James Garner's one-season series BRET MAVERICK (1982). Her film roles include a bit part in the Elvis film CLAMBAKE (1968) and playing General MacArthur's wife opposite Gregory Peck in MACARTHUR (1977)...TV programmer Fred Silverman, who was a big name when I was a kid, has passed away at 82. Silverman's career was equal parts dreck and brilliance; he was behind "jiggle TV" and airing the infamously bad SUPERTRAIN (1978), but he also programmed shows like THE WALTONS (1972) and HILL STREET BLUES (1981)...It was announced last week that race driver John Andretti has died of cancer at 56...Writer Mary Higgins Clark has passed on at 92...Screenwriter Harriet Frank Jr., who worked with her late husband Irving Ravetch, has died at 96. Their films included MURPHY'S ROMANCE (1985) with James Garner and Sally Field. Frank's career went back to the late '40s, including the screenplay for WHIPLASH (1948) starring Dane Clark, Zachary Scott, and Alexis Smith.

...For additional links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my January 25th roundup.

Have a great week!

TCM in February: 31 Days of Oscar Highlights

It's time to look at the February schedule for Turner Classic Movies!

As is always the case in February, TCM will be celebrating 31 Days of Oscar this month. Thanks to Leap Day, 31 Days of Oscar runs through March 2nd this year, rather than March 3rd.

This year's schedule is titled "360 Degrees of Oscar." Each film on the schedule is connected to the film which follows by one of the cast members.

Here are a few of the highlights from among the many great films airing this month. Please click any hyperlinked title for my full review.

...William Wyler's classic WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939) is one of the first couple of films on the February 1st schedule. It stars Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon (seen at right), along with Geraldine Fitzgerald and David Niven.

...February 2nd is a particularly good day on the schedule. Among the many pleasures is HOLD BACK THE DAWN (1941) starring Olivia de Havilland and Charles Boyer, directed by Mitchell Leisen. This movie was hard to see for many years -- indeed, I first reviewed in nearly a decade ago after watching it on YouTube! -- so it's a great pleasure to have this film so readily available now. For anyone who can't catch it on TCM, last year Arrow Academy released a beautiful Blu-ray.

...NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER (1949) is a real "feel good" movie for me. Esther Williams, Ricardo Montalban, Betty Garrett, and Red Skelton star on February 3rd. The song "Baby, It's Cold Outside" debuted in this movie.

...Along with WUTHERING HEIGHTS, I have fond memories of watching Bob Hope and Virginia Mayo in THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE (1944) on KTLA Channel 5 in Los Angeles when I was growing up. (Ch. 5 had the rights to show the Goldwyn library!) It's being shown on the 4th.

...I loved seeing A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (1935) at the 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival. It's the only film to have a winner who was a write-in candidate! (That would be Hal Mohr for Best Cinematography.) The movie features an all-star Warner Bros. cast which includes Dick Powell, Olivia de Havilland, James Cagney, and Anita Louise, to name just a few. It's on February 5th.

...Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker star in ABOVE AND BEYOND (1952) on February 6th. It's an excellent film about the Enola Gay and the atomic bomb which should be better known.

...The classic musical SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952) airs on February 7th. Looking back, it's hard to believe Jean Hagen didn't win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. (It went to Gloria Grahame for THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL.) Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O'Connor top a perfect cast.

...A top cast stars in William Wellman's BATTLEGROUND (1949) on February 9th. This film about the siege of Bastogne also features superb Oscar-winning cinematography. The cast includes Van Johnson, Ricardo Montalban, John Hodiak, George Murphy, Marshall Thompson, and James Whitmore.

...The classic Western STAGECOACH (1939) airs on February 10th, with John Wayne and Claire Trevor leading a marvelous cast, directed by John Ford.

...The aforementioned THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (1952) will be shown February 11th. I just saw this tale of Hollywood filmmakers for the first time in several years and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting it. Vincente Minnelli directs a terrific cast including Kirk Douglas, Lana Turner, Dick Powell, Walter Pidgeon, Barry Sullivan, and Gilbert Roland.

...Pier Angeli stars as an Italian war bride in TERESA (1951), airing February 12th. It's not a perfect film, but Angeli is marvelous, and there are some very beautiful moments which have stuck in my mind since seeing it; for those reasons I recommend giving it a look. Fred Zinnemann directed.

...On February 13th TCM shows WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE (1951), a tremendously fun sci-fi fantasy. I had the chance to see it at this year's TCM Classic Film Festival with star Barbara Rush in attendance!

...WRITTEN ON THE WIND (1956) is one of my favorite films directed by Douglas Sirk. It's a highly colorful (in more ways than one!) melodrama starring Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall, Dorothy Malone, and Robert Stack. It will be shown February 15th.

...Deanna Durbin became a huge star in THREE SMART GIRLS (1936), a delightful film showing on February 16th.

...February 17th is an amazing day of musicals, the kind of day where it would be easy to watch the entire schedule! The many gems include Jeanette MacDonald and Maurice Chevalier in ONE HOUR WITH YOU (1932).

...It's great to see the charming comedy-fantasy IT HAPPENED TOMORROW (1944) on the February 19th schedule. Dick Powell and Linda Darnell star, directed by Rene Clair. It's a treat.

...I hadn't seen the comedy MY FAVORITE WIFE (1940) in years and had a wonderful experience seeing Cary Grant's daughter Jennifer introduce it at last year's TCM Classic Film Festival. She also stayed and watched it with us! Besides Grant, the great cast includes Irene Dunne, Randolph Scott, and Gail Patrick. It will be shown February 20th.

...DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK (1939) was one of the films I saw most often on TV when I was growing up. I'm due to revisit it! Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert star in this Revolutionary War era story, directed by John Ford and filmed in gorgeous Technicolor by Ray Rennahan and Bert Glennon. The air date is February 21st.

...February 22nd one of my very favorite movies will be shown, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954). I never tire of the delightful cast, the songs, and especially the amazing dancing! Howard Keel and Jane Powell star, directed by Stanley Donen and choreographed by Michael Kidd.

...THE BACHELOR AND THE BOBBY-SOXER (1947) was another film seen at last year's TCM Classic Film Festival -- in 35mm nitrate! What a joy to laugh at the antics of Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Shirley Temple, and Rudy Vallee with a packed crowd. It's on TCM February 23rd.

...When I saw THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT (1967) for the first time at UCLA a few years ago, I felt a real sense of discovery. This candy-colored musical is pure joy. Catherine Deneuve, her real-life sister Francoise Dorleac, George Chakiris, and Gene Kelly are among the cast. Check it out on TCM on February 24th.

...Norma Shearer, Chester Morris, and Robert Montgomery star in the very entertaining pre-Code melodrama THE DIVORCEE (1930) on February 25th.

...February 26th is another particularly excellent day on the schedule. I just rewatched Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in SWING TIME (1936) last November for the first time in a few years, and I was particularly blown away by their spectacularly good number "Never Gonna Dance." Don't miss this one.

...KISS OF DEATH (1947) is a huge favorite starring Victor Mature and Coleen Gray, seen at right, and it made a star out of Richard Widmark. Don't miss it on February 27th.

...I most recently saw A LETTER TO THREE WIVES (1949) a little over a year ago, in 35mm nitrate. What a great movie! I especially love the performances of Linda Darnell and Paul Douglas. Jeanne Crain, Kirk Douglas, Ann Sothern, Jeffrey Lynn, and Thelma Ritter costar. It's on March 1st.

...It's been over a dozen years since I reviewed the Korean War drama I WANT YOU (1951) starring Dana Andrews and Dorothy McGuire. It's shown infrequently on TCM, so be sure to take advantage of the chance to see it on March 2nd. (And while you're at it, don't miss the next movie in the lineup, LAURA.)

For more information on TCM in February 2020, please visit my post Quick Preview of TCM in February, as well as TCM's online schedule and this year's 31 Days of Oscar TCM microsite.

For those who are interested, this year's Academy Awards ceremony is earlier in the year than usual, airing on February 9th.

Classic Movie Hub: Hidden Gems

My newest Western Roundup column has just been posted at Classic Movie Hub!

This month I look at three "Hidden Gems," the lesser-known but excellent films PANHANDLE (1948), THE DESPERADO (1954), and MAN OR GUN (1958).

Please click over to Classic Movie Hub to read it, and thanks, as always, for checking it out!

Previous Classic Movie Hub Western Roundup Column Links: June 2018; July 2018; August 2018; September 2018; October 2018; November 2018; December 2018; January 2019; February 2019; April 5, 2019; April 30, 2019; May 2019; June 2019; July 2019; August 2019; September 2019; October 2019; November 2019; December 2019.

A Birthday Tribute to Victor Mature

Note: Victor Mature, a longtime favorite actor, was born on January 29th, 1913.

I paid tribute to Mature here several years ago, on the centennial of his birth.

This year's birthday tribute is adapted from my 2014 article on the actor for ClassicFlix. The focus is on nine recommended Victor Mature films which are all available on DVD. Click any hyperlinked title below to read a full review.

There's an oft-repeated anecdote about Victor Mature, whose application for membership in a fancy country club was turned down because he was a member of the lowly acting profession. Mature is reported to have said something along the lines of "I'm no actor, and I've got the films to prove it!"

Whether apocryphal or not, the quote embodies Mature's lighthearted approach to his life and career, and it also belies the fact that he was, in fact, a hardworking man and a very fine actor indeed. Mature's understated style has worn well over the years; he could express volumes of emotion with his eyes alone. Mature starred in every type of film, including film noir, Westerns, Biblical epics, and even a number of musicals, creating an impressive body of work which has stood the test of time.

Victor Mature was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on January 29, 1913. He dropped out of school at 14 and worked a succession of jobs before his interest in acting lured him to Hollywood in 1935.

Mature's biographer, James McKay, recounted that once Mature arrived in Hollywood he wired his father to say "Am in Hollywood, have eleven cents, what can I do?" to which his father replied, "When I arrived in this country I had six cents in my pocket and couldn't speak English. Good luck."

Mature promptly auditioned at the Pasadena Playhouse, making enough of an impression there that he was offered the chance to do odd jobs for the Playhouse to pay his tuition. He also took on a succession of other jobs, before winning a scholarship for the Playhouse in 1937. He appeared in over 60 plays, which provided a firm ground for his film career when he was signed by Hal Roach as the '30s drew to a close. His early movies included playing a caveman in ONE MILLION B.C. (1940) and starring opposite British actress Anna Neagle in NO, NO NANETTE (1940).

Mature then convinced Roach it would boost his career if he worked on the New York stage, and he was promptly cast as movie star Randy Curtis in the Gertrude Lawrence Broadway musical LADY IN THE DARK. He then returned to Hollywood where he starred with Betty Grable in an early entry in the film noir genre, I WAKE UP SCREAMING (1941); he also costarred in several musicals with fast-rising stars, including the aforementioned Grable and Rita Hayworth.

As was the case for many actors of his era, Mature's career ascent was interrupted by WWII, and he served in the United States Coast Guard from 1942 to 1945. He then returned to his film career, giving one of his best performances in one of his finest films, playing Doc Holliday in John Ford's MY DARLING CLEMENTINE (1946).

Mature followed MY DARLING CLEMENTINE with another great film, KISS OF DEATH (1947), seen here with Coleen Gray; Mature plays an ex-convict whose attempt to go straight is complicated by mobster Tommy Udo (Richard Widmark). KISS OF DEATH was followed by another outstanding film noir, CRY OF THE CITY (1948).

Mature's diverse career included starring in a number of historical epics, including SAMSON AND DELILAH (1949), THE ROBE (1953), DEMETRIUS AND THE GLADIATORS (1954), and THE EGYPTIAN (1954). These big-budget films were interspersed with lighter fare such as WABASH AVENUE (1950) with Betty Grable and MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID (1952) with Esther Williams. He also starred in numerous Westerns, including FURY AT FURNACE CREEK (1948), CHIEF CRAZY HORSE (1955), and THE LAST FRONTIER (1955).

Mature was smart with his money, and by his own choice worked infrequently after the '60s. He enjoyed relaxing on the golf course and became a father for the first time in his early 60s.

Victor Mature passed away in Rancho Sante Fe, California, on August 4, 1999. He was 86 years old.

An excellent book was published on Victor Mature's life and career, THE FILMS OF VICTOR MATURE by James McKay.

Here are some personal favorites of mine among Victor Mature's many films which can be enjoyed on DVD:

I WAKE UP SCREAMING (1941) - This early noir is a particular favorite, as Mature teams with Betty Grable to solve the murder of her screen sister, Carole Landis. It's evocatively scored with Alfred Newman's "Street Scene," which also turns up in Mature's KISS OF DEATH and CRY OF THE CITY; the song "Over the Rainbow" is also used, curious as it came from a movie released by another studio! Stylishly filmed in black and white, this is a treat from start to finish.

MY DARLING CLEMENTINE (1946) - There's probably little that needs to be said about this Western classic directed by John Ford, a film that is pure visual poetry. Mature plays Doc Holliday opposite Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp, with an amazing supporting cast including Linda Darnell, Walter Brennan, Ward Bond, John Ireland, Tim Holt, and Cathy Downs.

KISS OF DEATH (1947) - KISS OF DEATH is justly remembered for Richard Widmark's electric, Oscar-nominated film debut as the cackling gangster Tommy Udo, yet the film wouldn't work nearly as well as it does without the heartfelt and sensitive performances of Victor Mature and Coleen Gray as an ex-con and his bride. Mature's quietly played role is the perfect counterpoint to Widmark's flashy performance; the contrasting dynamic is a part of what makes Widmark so effective. An all-time great film noir.

CRY OF THE CITY (1948) - This might be my favorite Victor Mature performance; he plays Lt. Candella, who's on the trail of a cop killer (Richard Conte) from the old neighborhood. Just looking at Mature's soulful eyes evokes a wealth of emotion in the viewer, and I love his delivery of lines such as "The law doesn't want you, Teena Riconti. Go home." Mature is seen here with costar Shelley Winters; Debra Paget also stars. Don't miss it.

EASY LIVING (1949) - This underrated sports drama was a real discovery for me, with Mature starring as a pro football player whose career is at the end of the line. Jacques Tourneur directed a deep cast including Lloyd Nolan, Lucille Ball, Sonny Tufts, Paul Stewart, Jack Paar, and Lizabeth Scott; Mature's off-screen best friend, Jim Backus, makes an impression in a small role as a doctor. Although some of the issues surrounding Mature's marriage may jar the modern viewer, the rest of the film has a very undated feel. A rich viewing experience fans of Mature shouldn't miss.

THE LAS VEGAS STORY (1952) - Victor Mature, Jane Russell, Vincent Price, and Hoagy Carmichael on location in Vegas, with fabulous sets, lots of neon, and an amazing helicopter chase -- what's not to like? This film is just plain fun. One might quibble a bit over various aspects of the story, but Mature and Russell look great and are a wonderful screen team. This is the kind of movie to start playing on a lazy weekend afternoon and simply enjoy its company.

THE LAST FRONTIER (1955) - Mature stars an exuberant wild child of the West, a frontiersman who has trouble conforming to the rules of "civilized" society in this Anthony Mann Western. Mature's frontiersman lays claim to Corrina (Anne Bancroft) as his woman, despite (or because of?) the fact she's married to a martinet Army colonel (Robert Preston), then clashes with the colonel on how to handle an Indian uprising. James Whitmore, who plays the grizzled mountain man who raised Jed, was actually several years younger than Mature!

THE LONG HAUL (1957) - Like many other American actors, Mature worked in England in the '50s. THE LONG HAUL is a gritty trucking movie where Mature plays an ex-G.I. whose British wife (Gene Anderson) is reluctant to move to the U.S. He agrees to take a job driving for her uncle and soon finds his life spinning out of control as he becomes mixed up with hijackers and a gorgeous blonde (Diana Dors, seen here with Mature).

ESCORT WEST (1958) - This cozy Western produced by John Wayne's Batjac Productions is an unsung pleasure, with Mature in a very likeable performance as Ben, a widowed former Confederate officer heading to Oregon Territory with his young daughter (Reba Waters). Along the way, Ben rescues the survivors of a wagon train ambush, ultimately fighting both Indians and renegade soldiers. Faith Domergue and Elaine Stewart are among the wagon train survivors, and the supporting cast includes Western favorites such as Noah Beery Jr., Harry Carey Jr., Ken Curtis, and Leo Gordon, who co-wrote the script. Good Western, good company.

This post is adapted from an article originally published by ClassicFlix in 2014.

Tonight's Movie: The Man Who Never Was (1956)

THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS (1956) is an excellent fact-based World War II spy thriller.

I've been meaning to catch this one for some time, as it's one of my mother's favorite movies, yet somehow I'd never seen it myself. It did not disappoint.

THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS tells the story of Operation Mincemeat, an elaborate ruse designed by the British to draw the Nazis away from Sicily before the Allied invasion, in the hope of lessening casualties. Lt. Cmdr. Ewen Montagu (Clifton Webb) and Lt. George Acres (Robert Flemyng) concoct a plan to obtain a dead body and give it a fictional persona, Captain (Acting Major) William Martin.

They plant letters in a briefcase carried by Martin indicating that the Allies' move toward Sicily is a feint and that the real action will be an invasion of Greece and Sardinia. A submarine then releases the body near the coast of Spain, making it appear it was in a plane which was shot down; when the body washes ashore the Spanish authorities return Martin's effects to the British -- but forensic study determines that the letters were opened before they were returned, which surely means copies are in the hands of the Nazis.

The Nazis indeed have the copies but are suspicious about whether Martin and the letters are legitimate. A Nazi spy (Stephen Boyd) posing as an Irishman is sent to London to make inquiries and visit places suggested by various documents and bills on the body.

A bank manager (John Welsh) handles the spy's phone call with aplomb, having his secretary take notes and even having it traced. There might be a glitch, however, as Lucy (Gloria Grahame), the roommate of Montagu's secretary (Josephine Griffin), had helped compose a love letter planted on the corpse; Lucy has no idea what's going on and might unknowingly give the game away when the spy pays her a visit.

This was a simply top-notch "spy procedural." It had some of the elements I liked in the opening scenes of the recently viewed OPERATION CROSSBOW (1965), with a plan being devised and executed, but while I thought OPERATION CROSSBOW fell apart in its violent second half, THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS sustains an excellent story from start to finish.

There are lovely touches throughout, from the poem quoted at the opening and closing of the film to the moment where the submarine officers, though in dangerous waters, pause long enough to pray over the body before sending it into the sea. The conclusion, as Montague suddenly realizes with clarity what his team must do -- or not do -- to avoid tipping off the spy that they're on to him is brilliant.

Webb is superb as Montagu; he's humorous enough to dub the plan Operation Mincemeat, but he also shows great sensitivity dealing with the father (Moultrie Kelsall) of the young man who has died of pneumonia and is thus perfect to simulate a drowning victim. (This part deviates from what I've read about the real operation, but the majority of the film seems accurate.) Webb is onscreen for a majority of the film and, along with the fascinating story, is a big part of the reason the movie is so engaging.

Grahame is quite good as the beleaguered Lucy, who's in love with a pilot (William Russell) engaged in risky operations; the one odd thing is that Grahame was photographed throughout much of the film with a brightly shining face. It's as though makeup forgot to apply powder in scene after scene.

The cast also includes Andre Morell, Cyril Cusack, Michael Hordern, and Laurence Naismith. Peter Williams plays Admiral Mountbatten, while Peter Sellers, of all people, is said to have been the voice of Winston Churchill.

Nigel Balchin's screenplay was based on the nonfiction book by Montagu. The movie was directed by Ronald Neame and filmed by Oswald Morris.

THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS is available on DVD, with a widescreen version of the film on one side of the disc and a pan-and-scan version on the reverse.

This film should appeal to a wide cross-section of classic film fans, including those who enjoy WWII films, spy thrillers, "true life" stories, or simply a very good, well-told tale. Recommended.

Tonight's Movie: The Pay-Off (1930) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

Last summer I reviewed two films from Kino Lorber's RKO Classic Adventures set, THE SILVER HORDE (1930) and THE PAINTED DESERT (1931).

I've now returned to the set and watched the final film in the collection, THE PAY-OFF (1930). I found it similar to the first two films in that it's not a top-drawer film, but it has enough interesting elements to be worthwhile.

Marian Nixon and William Janney play a young couple, Nancy and Tommy. On the evening before they're planning to marry, they're in a park when Rocky (Hugh Trevor) robs them of the $230 they've saved for their wedding and honeymoon.

Tommy happens to know where the crowd Rocky runs with hangs out, and he hatches a plan to "steal" his money back from Rocky. It doesn't go very well, but elegant gangster Gene Fenmore (Lowell Sherman) admires the young couple's gumption and honesty -- only attempting to take back from Rocky exactly what was stolen from them -- and he not only returns the money to Tommy and Nancy, he invites them to live in his apartment.

Tommy and Nancy delay their marriage and move in with Gene, who sees in the pair an innocent way of living he wishes he could reclaim for himself. Gene would like to get out of the "racket" business but knows his life depends on staying "in." He does try to subtly back the gang off from a jewelry store robbery, but Rocky plunges ahead without Gene's knowledge, using the oblivious Tommy and Nancy to distract the employees. Unfortunately Rocky refuses to adhere to Gene's code of not killing anyone in the commission of a crime...

THE PAY-OFF was really almost two movies in one, packed into 72 minutes. The Tommy-Nancy story is frankly annoying; Nixon and Janney are little more than cartoon characters in their roles, with zero depth. It also didn't help that every time Nixon opened her mouth and a high-pitched squeak came out I thought of Betty Boop!

Sherman, on the other hand, was very interesting as Gene, and the gangster movie scenes were quite entertaining. (Sherman reminded me a bit of another actor from that era I enjoy, Edmund Lowe.) If a different story had been created around Gene, it would have been a very good pre-Code movie. As it is, viewers should be forewarned about the juvenile depictions of Tommy and Nancy, but it's still worthwhile and I enjoyed it.

Leading man Sherman also directed; he draws a fine performance from himself and some of the supporting players, just not Nixon and Janney.

I've previously reviewed other films directed by Sherman, including THREE BROADWAY GIRLS (1932) and BORN TO BE BAD (1934). Sadly, he died of pneumonia in 1934, only 46 years old.

THE PAY-OFF was filmed by J. Roy Hunt.

As with the other films in the RKO Classic Adventures collection, the print is quite good; the soundtrack is also crisp for its age. Overall, the set provides classic film fans with an enjoyable look at films from the early sound era.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray.

Tonight's Movie: Men Must Fight (1933) - A Warner Archive DVD Review

MEN MUST FIGHT (1933) is a rather fascinating film, available on DVD from the Warner Archive.

The main theme of the film is pacifism versus patriotism and protecting one's country, but what makes it especially interesting is its amazingly prescient view of the future. The movie was made in 1933, but it essentially predicts World War II, FaceTime and similar "picture phones," and the popularity of television. Shots of the Empire State Building being destroyed are eerily reminiscent of 9/11.

And as the film ends, young Phillips Holmes' character has become a military pilot; in real life Holmes would join the Royal Canadian Air Force and die in an airplane crash while serving in Canada in 1942.

As the movie opens, lovers Laura (Diana Wynard), a nurse, and pilot Geoffrey Aiken (Robert Young) part as Geoffrey heads for combat. Geoffrey is almost immediately killed in action, and the grief-stricken Laura marries Ned (Lewis Stone), who loves her and is willing to give the baby she's expecting a name and security. (Side note, I wonder how many times Stone played that type of noble role...)

Laura and Ned have a successful marriage, but when he eventually becomes Secretary of State and war breaks out in 1940, he must support the President and the United States in the conflict, which is at odds with Laura's intractable pacifist views. Laura is determined that her son Bob (Phillips Holmes) will not die in a war like Geoffrey did. Bob initially holds to his mother's views, which puts him at odds with his fiancee Peggy (Ruth Selwyn).

The family story, as scripted by C. Gardner Sullivan (from a play by S.K. Lauren and Reginald Laurence), is actually fairly absorbing, including allowing for reasoned debate on both sides of the pacifism/self-defense issue; it ultimately acknowledges, in actions if not in words, that there is evil in the world and sometimes there is no choice but to fight it, which is reflected in the film's title.

What really makes the movie interesting is the wider setting; the 1933 predictions for what life would look like in 1940 are great fun. Laura and Ned's apartment is sort of Art Deco meets THE JETSONS, with gorgeous "swirls" in the chairs and walls; the elevator is simply fabulous. This 1933 film also imagines a world where televisions are commonplace, and the "picture phone" is pretty much what Skype or FaceTime is now.

On a less happy note, the world war the film envisions would come to pass within a very few short years; by the time 1940 arrived for real, much of the world was either already in the conflict, or soon would be.

It's not a great film, but as may be clear from the foregoing, I felt it was definitely one worth seeing.

The supporting cast includes plus May Robson and Hedda Hopper, both pictured here, along with lovely Mary Carlisle. This was the second film this week where I saw Robert Greig play a butler! Robert Young is dashing and handsome in his brief appearance as the movie opens.

MEN MUST FIGHT was directed by Edgar Selwyn and filmed by George J. Folsey. It runs 72 minutes.

The Warner Archive print is good, with a strong soundtrack for a film of this era. There are no extras on the disc.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this DVD. Warner Archive releases are MOD (manufactured on demand) and may be ordered from the Warner Archive Collection Store at Amazon or from any online retailers where DVDs and Blu-rays are sold.

Tonight's Movie: The Interrupted Journey (1949) - A Kino Lorber DVD Review

Kino Lorber has just released the five-film British Noir II collection. This DVD set is a sequel to Kino Lorber's first British Noir set, which was released in 2015.

The titles in the new set, in chronological order, are: THE INTERRUPTED JOURNEY (1949); COSH BOY (1953), also known by the title THE SLASHER; TIME IS MY ENEMY (1954); TIME LOCK (1957); and THE VICIOUS CIRCLE (1957), also known as THE CIRCLE.

THE INTERRUPTED JOURNEY stars a pair of appealing leads, Richard Todd and Valerie Hobson.

Todd plays John North, a struggling writer who as the movie opens is running off by train with his mistress Susan (Christine Norden). However, rather than being thrilled, John is wracked with guilt at leaving behind his wife Carol (Hobson). John eventually works himself into such a state that when the train nears his home, he suddenly pulls the emergency cord and hops off the train as it stops, running home for a happy reunion with his wife.

John and Carol's reunion is cut short by the sound of a horrific crash, as another train plows into the train still stopped on the tracks. The couple run to help, but John is horrified to see Susan's body in the wreckage and later has nightmares that he caused the crash by pulling the cord which stopped the train.

John eventually comes clean to Carol about having been on the train and changing his mind, and the couple recommit to their marriage. They are further relieved to learn John didn't actually cause the wreck. But then something far worse happens -- it transpires that Susan died before the crash...murdered. And the police identify John as the likely suspect.

THE INTERRUPTED JOURNEY is a cautionary tale in the manner of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW (1944), with a dash of the mental trauma from SPELLBOUND (1945) on the side. The moral of the story: Never, ever cheat on your wife, or Very, Very Bad Things Will Happen!

I don't think the reference to THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW is overly spoilerish, as THE INTERRUPTED JOURNEY telegraphs quite early on that all is not as it first seems. The viewer watches with suspicion as the film becomes increasingly nightmarish and exaggerated; some of the scenes near the end called to mind the Dali-esque nightmares of SPELLBOUND. Most viewers will probably figure out the ending far in advance; some will greet the resolution of John's predicament with relief (I did), while others may feel cheated.

I like Todd, and while his character here isn't always admirable, I nonetheless enjoyed watching him. He's particularly effective in the scenes where his love for Hobson's character is rekindled. This is perhaps a good spot to enthusiastically recommend his early '50s films for Disney, including THE SWORD AND THE ROSE (1953) and ROB ROY: THE HIGHLAND ROGUE (1953), which both costarred Glynis Johns.

Hobson is charming as the devoted wife trying to hang on to her marriage. I especially enjoyed her repartee with the Inspector (Ralph Truman). Hobson's best-known roles include the adult Estella in GREAT EXPECTATIONS (1946) and KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS (1949). She retired from the screen in 1954 when she married British politician John Profumo, would later be involved in a great scandal, leaving Hobson in a marital situation not too dissimilar from this film; she and and Profumo remained married until her passing in 1998.

THE INTERRUPTED JOURNEY runs 77 minutes. It was directed by Daniel Birt. The black and white cinematography was by Erwin Hillier.

The print has some minor yet noticeable flaws, particularly in the early going, but is entirely watchable. I do wish the film had been subtitled, as occasionally British accents can be a challenge to understand, but this is a fairly "bare bones" set in the manner of Warner Archive DVDs, with the main purpose being to make the movies accessible to the public.

The disc includes trailers for three additional British films available from Kino Lorber.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this DVD.