Slander (3 stars)

Slander, from 1957, is a hard-hitting drama starring Van Johnson, Ann Blyth, and Steve Cochran.  Featuring Marjorie Rambeau in a supporting role, Slander takes a look at the ugly world of tabloid journalism, and given that such media has increased probably a thousandfold in the 50+ years since this film was made, I think it is completely relevant to today.

H. R. Manley (Steve Cochran), publisher of the tabloid Real Truth Magazine knows that circulation is down and that to boost sales, he will need to get a very sensational copy on the newsstand.  Telling his reporters that there is something dirty in everyone's past, he encourages them to dig up the dirt on a squeaky-clean person. Manley believes that the cleaner a person is on the outside, the dirtier they are underneath, and furthermore, he believes that he is only giving his readers what they want---juicy, scandalous truth.  Manley's mother (Marjorie Rambeau), however, who is ashamed of her son's line of work, relates the gossip magazine to nothing less than the provision of opium, in that people may want it, but it is actually very harmful to them.

Scott Martin (Van Johnson) becomes the "dirt" target.  Now a puppeteer who has just recently begun putting his kid-friendly talents to work for a breakfast cereal company, Mr. Martin is an ex-convict.  Though he served a 4-year sentence for the crime committed when he was a 19-year old, given his current clean, good-guy, safe-for-kids reputation, the revelation of his past mistake will be a disaster, plus the publicity will be harmful to his wife, Connie (Ann Blyth), and their young son.  Though the Martins plead with Manley to not publish the long-dead information, the only way Manley will refrain from doing so is if Scott passes on dirt about Mary Sawyer...a new movie star sensation, with whom he grew up.

Will Scott save his own reputation by ruining that of another?  Will Manley listen to reason and come to realize that he is hurting people with his gossip magazine?  Will he decide to pull the article about Scott?  These are the questions which play out in the balance of this film.



Slander is an interesting, exciting film, and as already stated, is totally relevant to today.  With the explosion of the internet, scandalous stories are available 24/7, and we all read them...without ever a thought to the lives which are broken as a result of the ugliness being published.  It's too bad this film didn't convince us of the harmful effects of this kind of writing.  Steve Cochran is his usual sleazy, nasty self here. Both Van Johnson and Ann Blyth are good and solid in their roles, but I think Marjorie Rambeau, as Cochran's mother, takes the prize.  She is fantastic. 

While this film is not out on DVD, it is available in its entirety on YouTube.  I hope you get a chance to see it.

Happy viewing!!

I'll Never Forget You (4 stars)

I'll Never Forget You, from 1951, is a romantic drama starring Tyrone Power and Ann Blyth, with Michael Rennie taking on a supporting role.  This beautiful movie, which features a love not bound by time, is completely perfect for Valentine's Day viewing.

Firmly in the 20th century, American physicist Peter Standish (Tyrone Power) has been doing atomic research at a laboratory in England.  Rather a recluse who doesn't do much socially, Dr. Standish lives in an 18th-century home which had been left to him by a distant relative.  With the exception of electricity and plumbing, the house is virtually as it had been in 1784, and Peter likes it that way.

Through the diary of his long-dead ancestor---also Peter Standish---Dr. Standish discovers that his namesake claimed to be from the future and maintained he could foretell history.  A few days after making that insane-sounding declaration, the man was normal again and went on to marry and have a family.  Dr. Standish comes to believe that he was the man from the future, that he and the 18th-century Peter exchanged places for a time, and he tells his friend Roger (Michael Rennie) that he is going to go back to the 18th century.  Of course, Roger thinks Peter is being fanciful and even suggests that the house isn't good for him. 

Peter does go back in time, though, after being hit by a bolt of lightning.  On the very day the 18th-century Peter Standish arrived in England, current-day Peter is transported there.  From the beginning, everyone thinks he is odd, since he knows things which haven't happened yet, and when he begins to speak of people as though they were dead, everyone begins to fear him.  Eventually, he makes the claim which was in the diary---that he is from the future---a claim which finds Peter sentenced to an asylum.

Though he knows from the diaries Peter will marry Kate, current day Peter falls in love with Helen (Ann Blyth).  Though Helen is engaged to another man, she loves Peter as well and completely believes that he is from the future.

The lovers know they are destined to part, as Peter will be returning to the future, but Helen assures him that their love will be for always...not in her time or his time...but in God's time

(HERE is a link to a 6-minute scene ---the video won't upload properly here on my page.)

I'll Never Forget You is a totally gorgeous movie...everything about it.  The storyline is fascinating.  (I have long been in love with the idea of time travel.)  The love of Helen and Peter is a beautiful, timeless love.  Ann Blyth is stunning, and Ty Power is incredibly handsome; the acting of both is quite good.  The filming is lovely as well---all of the scenes in the past are in color, while the present day events are black and white. All these things combine for a lovely Valentine's Day movie with your sweetheart.

The film is out on DVD, as part of the Tyrone Power Matinee Idol Collection, so you should be able to track it down.  Also, it is available in its entirety on YouTube (HERE).  Do catch it if you can...especially if you are a fan of beautiful time-travel romances.

Happy viewing!!

All the Brothers Were Valiant (1953)

All the Brothers Were Valiant, from 1953, is an action/adventure film, starring Robert Taylor, Stewart Granger, and Ann Blyth.  Based on Ben Ames Williams' 1919 novel of the same name, this film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography.  A remake of the 1923 Lon Chaney film of the same name and the 1928 Ramon Novarro/Joan Crawford film Across to Singapore, it's the story of a pair of 1850's brothers, whalers on the high seas.

As the film begins, Joel Shore (Robert Taylor) returns to his Massachusetts hometown, having been gone on a three-year voyage.  Upon his return, he learns that his brother Mark (Stewart Granger) did not return with his ship from his last voyage.  It was assumed that he had died, possibly at the hands of some South Pacific islanders. 

Joel is given command of Mark's old ship and is to set off on another voyage; however, before doing so, he marries his long-time love, Priscilla (Ann Blyth), a woman who has also had feelings for brother Mark.  Not wanting to leave his new bride behind for two or three years, Joel has Priscilla accompany him on the voyage, and she takes immediately to sea life. 

When they reach the Gilbert Islands---the place where Mark was last seen---it is discovered that he didn't die after all.  In fact, Mark tells Joel the story of how he had discovered a fortune in black pearls but ended up losing them in a lagoon.  He requests that Joel join him in searching for the lost treasure, a request which Joel refuses.  Mark, though, used to getting his own way and used to pushing Joel around, will not take "no" for an answer; he will do whatever it takes to get those pearls, and if that means creating a mutiny and turning Priscilla against Joel, then that is exactly what he will do.

This film is exciting and entertaining and features good performances by all.  It's a solid 3 stars for me, and rather close to 4...definitely a film I enjoy and recommend.  I do think the idea of a newlywed wife  having a "honeymoon" aboard a whaling vessel is a bit off, but, you never know, some women might have done just that.

The film is out on DVD, and it also happens to be on TCM's schedule quite often, so it should be fairly easy to track down.  Hope you get a chance to see it.

Happy viewing!!