Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (3 stars)

One of the most solid leading men of the 1940's and 1950's, Dana Andrews was an actor who, sadly, never seemed to get the recognition and appreciation he deserved.  Classic Movie Man, however, is doing his small part to bring Mr. Andrews a bit of recognition---he is hosting the Dana Andrews blogathon on Saturday, July 28th.  As one who places Mr. Andrews firmly among her top 20 favorite actors, I am thrilled to take part in the event and to have the opportunity to bring one of this terrific actor's lesser-known films to the attention of others.  Please visit the Classic Movie Man's blog (HERE) to take part in this event yourself or to read the film reviews and thoughts of the other participants.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, a 1956 Fritz Lang film, is a crime-drama starring Dana Andrews and Joan Fontaine.  Some sites classify this as film noir, but I think it's only mildly noir.  It's mostly crime/mystery.

The movie begins with the execution of a man who had been convicted solely on circumstantial evidence.  After witnessing the execution, newspaper publisher, Austin Spencer, an opponent of capital punishment, becomes quite concerned about the possibility of convicting and executing innocent men.  Together with his son-in-law to-be, reporter-turned-novelist, Tom Garrett (Dana Andrews), Spencer devises a scheme in which an innocent man will be arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death, all based solely on circumstantial evidence.  Upon conviction, the scheme will be revealed, showing the prosecuting attorney, the court, and the entire public the danger of capital punishment.

After reading in the newspaper about the unsolved murder of burlesque dancer, Patti Gray, Spencer and Garrett's plan is put into action, with Garrett being the man who will be suspect.  The two men plant Tom's lighter (a gift from his fiance, Susan) at the scene of the crime; additionally, a lady's stocking is planted in his glove compartment, and traces of the kind of makeup Patti used are rubbed on the seats of his car.

After learning that the murdered woman was last seen with a man wearing a gray tweed coat and a top hat, Tom makes sure that is how he is seen.  He begins frequenting the club where Patti worked, coming on to one of her fellow dancers, and eventually, as hoped, that woman begins to suspect that Tom was the man she saw Patti with the night of her murder.  The police are called in, and Tom is arrested and sent to trial.

Upon Tom's conviction, Austin is supposed to reveal the truth, which had been completely documented with photographs of every bit of evidence the men planted.  However, things don't work out as planned, but I won't say more than that so as not to give away anymore of the story.  I will say that there is a totally major twist, which I never saw coming.



Beyond a Reasonable Doubt is a very interesting, exciting film, and up until the very end, I was going to give it 4 stars.  However, in the end, I decided to go with 3 stars (more like 3.5), as I thought the final few minutes were a bit of a letdown.  I think it was just wrapped up too quickly; there could have been a bit more depth.  Even though I was disappointed in the strength of the ending, though, I definitely enjoyed this film and fully intend to watch it again sometime.  Though Joan Fontaine gets second billing, as Andrews' fiance, she has almost nothing to do.  She is hardly more than a beautiful face in a couple of scenes.

The film is out on DVD, plus it is on the TCM schedule for Monday, October 22nd, at 4:45 p.m. (ET).  Try to catch it if you can.  Dana Andrews is always worth watching!

Happy viewing!!

My Foolish Heart (4 stars)

My Foolish Heart, from 1949, is a wartime romantic drama starring Dana Andrews and Susan Hayward.  It is very much a tearjerker as well, so I always have the tissue box handy when I watch this one, which I did yesterday in honor of Dana Andrews' birthday.  The film, which is told primarily in flashback, takes place just before and during the early months of World War II.

Eloise Wengler (Hayward), an unhappily married suburban housewife with a bit of a drinking problem, is on the brink of a divorce.  As the film begins, Eloise's college friend, Mary Jane, whom she hasn't seen in years and from whom she parted company under difficult circumstances, pops by for a visit.  After Mary Jane meets Eloise's young daughter, Ramona, the two women have an argument, wherein Eloise threatens to disclose some information to her husband, something Mary Jane begs her not to do.  Prior to disclosing the information, however, Eloise begins a trip down memory lane and finds herself back in November 1941.

At a dance one evening, Eloise meets Walt Dreiser (Dana Andrews), and the two begin a whirlwind romance.  Although Walt originally expects an easy pick-up and is sorely disappointed when Eloise fails to give herself to him, he, nevertheless, continues to see her.  For her part, Eloise is in love with Walt and yearns for him to love her in return.

As war is declared and Walt is drafted into the Army, he and Eloise have to snatch moments together as they can get them.  It is during one of Walt's brief leaves that their relationship becomes more than platonic...an action which will ultimately end in tragedy and change not only Eloise's life, but the life of her friend, Mary Jane, as well.

My Foolish Heart is based on a J.D. Salinger story, and from what I have discovered, Mr. Salinger was none too happy with the outcome.  While I'm sorry that he wasn't satisfied with the screen version of his story, I have to say that, for me, this film totally works.  Since I have never read the original story, it actually matters little to me if the film is faithful to it.  Rather, I see Mr. Salinger's story being one thing and the film being another thing entirely.

Susan Hayward, who is my second favorite actress of all-time, gives her usual stellar performance.  While she was 32 here and perhaps a bit too old to be playing the part of a young, innocent college girl, I think she did a great job.  Even if a trifle too old, she was certainly believable.  Dana Andrews, always a solid and above-average performer, is really great here.  I think the two of them worked well together and had great chemistry.  The story itself is touching and brings alot of tears (two things I like in a movie).  Oh, and Robert Keith portrayed Eloise's father, and I thought he was great as well.  Finally, the theme song (of the same name) is quite beautiful (video below).  All in all, a wonderful, highly recommended 4-star movie.

While I don't believe this film is out on DVD, it is on VHS; plus, it is available on Net Flix instant viewing.  Additionally, TCM airs it periodically.  I hope you get a chance to see this one.

Happy viewing!!

Happy Birthday, Dana Andrews!!

New Year's Day is the birthday of one of my top-20 favorite actors---the always-solid Dana Andrews. (January 1, 1909 - December 17, 1992)

Born Carver Dana Andrews, this fabulous-voiced actor, hovers between 12 and 16 on my all-time favorite actor list.  While I enjoy many of Andrews' films, my absolute favorite is, without question, The Best Years of Our Lives, in which he portrayed airman Fred Derry.  (Reviewed HERE)

Rounding out my five favorite Dana Andrews films are:

2.  Laura (with Gene Tierney)

3.  My Foolish Heart (with Susan Hayward...reviewed HERE)

4.  Crash Dive (with Tyrone Power and Anne Baxter)

5.  The Purple Heart (with Farley Granger and Richard Conte)

For me, Dana Andrews has one of the most fabulous voices I have ever heard.  Add to that, he's ruggedly handsome, and he always gave a strong, solid performance---all of which combine to make him one of my favorite, must-watch actors.  His is one of those names which almost always draws me in, for when I see his name as part of a cast, you can bet I'm going to give that film a try.

So, happy 103rd birthday, Dana Andrews!  You were one of the best and will always be one of my top 20 favorite actors!!

Where the Sidewalk Ends (3 stars)

Where the Sidewalk Ends, from 1950, is a film noir directed by Otto Preminger, with Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney taking on starring roles and Gary Merrill in a supporting role.  It's not overly noir---more like a crime/drama---however, Net Flix classifies it as noir, so I'm calling it that too.

Mark Dixon (Andrews) is a police officer with an anger problem.  After the department receives several complaints about his assault on criminals, the officer is warned that he needs to learn to control himself.  One evening, though, while trying to get information from a suspect, Mark punches the man, and the blow ends up proving fatal.  Desperate to cover his crime and pin it on a known crime boss (Gary Merrill), Officer Dixon sets an elaborate scheme into motion.

After first making sure it appears that the dead man has gone out of town, Mark then disposes of the body.  As it turns out, though, taxi driver, Jiggs Taylor (Tom Tully)---not the intended mobster---becomes the prime suspect in the case.  Since Jiggs is the father of Morgan Taylor (Gene Tierney), the woman with whom Mark has recently become involved, Officer Dixon is forced to decide if he is going to allow Jiggs to take the fall for a crime he himself committed.

This is an interesting, entertaining movie, with Dana Andrews giving his usual solid performance.  Gene Tierney, quite honestly, didn't have much to do.  She's her usual beautiful, charming self, but, really, this was Andrews' film, leaving Tierney as hardly more than eye candy.  Still, though, her character is essential to the plot, and since she and Andrews worked well together, I think Gene fit the bill nicely.  Gary Merrill took well to the slimey, crime boss role; I found him very believable.

The film is out on DVD, and it is available on Net Flix instant viewing.  It's also available in its entirety on YouTube (HERE).   Add to that, Fox Movie Channel has been airing it quite often these past few weeks.  It should be very easy to track down.

Happy viewing!!

The Best Years of Our Lives (5 stars)

The Best Years of Our Lives, the Academy Award winning film from 1946, is our family's annual Veteran's Day movie.  I have to admit, that is a hardship for me.  Oh, not because I don't like it...on the contrary.  I absolutely, totally love this film.  It is easily one of my top ten favorite movies of all time, which means, I really would prefer to watch it more often than once a year; however, to keep it "special," watching it once a year is precisely what I am doing.  (Sort of like keeping It's a Wonderful Life for the once-a-year Christmas night viewing.)  Since today is Veteran's Day, it's time for me to enjoy this beloved film once more, and even though most everyone probably knows it, I'm re-running the review I posted when I first began this blog in February.

The Best Years of Our Lives was the Academy Award winner for best picture in 1946. In fact, it won many Oscars that year, including Fredric March for Best Actor and Harold Russell for Best Supporting Actor and William Wyler for Best Director. It was this movie that shut-down the beloved It's a Wonderful Life in the Oscars that year.

A bit on the long side (about ten minutes shy of three hours), The Best Years of Our Lives is a wonderful movie that explores a problem that was very much in existence in those early days after the second world war....the plight of the war veterans who were returning home to a country that in many ways had gone on without them while they were away. The movie stars Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, Harold Russell, and Virginia Mayo.

The movie begins when Al Stevenson (Fredric March), Fred Derry (Dana Andrews), and Homer Parrish (Harold Russell), all war veterans from different branches of the service, attempt to find flights home to the hometown they share in common. Unable to find an available commercial flight, they are routed onto a military craft, and lifelong friendships are born as the men get to know one another.

Al is an Army veteran who has been married to Millie (Myrna Loy) for twenty years and has two upper teenage children. Fred, a bomber pilot, had a whirlwind romance and married Marie (Virginia Mayo) only a few short days before leaving for war. And Homer, who joined the Navy fresh out of high school, has two hooks in place of arms, the result of a shipboard tragedy. (I must digress here and say that Harold Russell, who plays Homer, was not a professional actor at all. Rather, like his character, he was a real disabled Navy veteran, who had lost his arms at sea...He actually won two Academy Awards for this role...the best supporting actor and an achievement award as well.)

Anyhow, the men's arrival home is difficult, as life has gone on without them. Al barely recognizes his children, so grown they are. Fred's wife has taken a job and moved out of his parents' home and into an apartment of her own. And when he finally tracks her down, she is none too keen on the fact that he is not a man in uniform anymore. And Homer, painfully aware that his two hooks are disturbing for his family and high school sweetheart to look at, withdraws into himself.

The first night home, Al takes his wife and daughter Peggy (Teresa Wright) to a local bar, where he unexpectedly meets up with his two new friends, Fred and Homer. When Al and Fred end up totally drunk and completely passed out, Millie and Peggy take them back to the Stevenson apartment so they can sleep it off. Peggy puts Fred in her bed, removes his shoes, and heads to the couch. In the middle of the night, however, she is awakened by Fred screaming, as he has a nightmare about a bombing raid. She soothes him, and then they both go back to sleep. In the morning, she drives him to his wife's apartment, and there is a definite connection between them.

Fred's reunion with his wife does not go well. She doesn't like that he now needs to find a civilian job or the fact that he is a man out of uniform. (The uniform was one of the reasons she had wanted to marry him!!) Add to that, she wants to party and be out all the time, including hanging out with other men. When the only job Fred is able to obtain is as a soda jerk at the drugstore where he formerly worked, Marie belittles him.

Al, who is a bank executive, begins to be unsettled with the bank's treatment of war veterans who are applying for loans. When these men, who have faithfully served their country, are denied loans because of insufficient collateral, Al is angered and often attempts to extend loans anyway.

And Homer, feeling like a freak show with his two hooks, is angry all the time. He no longer wants to marry Wilma and completely withdraws from her...and everyone, except for Al and Fred.

To reveal anything more about this movie would spoil your viewing pleasure, so I'll stop here. I hope that I've whet your appetite, that I've made you interested in the characters so that you want to discover how things turn out. I totally love this movie....it's on my top 10 list, and although I am an It's a Wonderful Life fan, I am SO in agreement with all the awards The Best Years of Our Lives racked up.

Not only is this film out on DVD, but TCM airs it frequently, so you shouldn't have a problem tracking it down.  I think it's a definite must-see!!  Happy viewing!!

The Best Years of Our Lives (5 stars)

The Best Years of Our Lives was the Academy Award winner for best picture in 1946. In fact, it won many Oscars that year, including Fredrich March for Best Actor and Harold Russell for Best Supporting Actor. It was this movie that shut-down the beloved It's a Wonderful Life in the Oscars that year.

A bit on the long side (about ten minutes shy of three hours), The Best Years of Our Lives is a wonderful movie that explores a problem that was very much in existence in those early days after the second world war....the plight of the war veterans who were returning home to a country that in many ways had gone on without them while they were away. The movie stars Fredrich March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, Harold Russell, and Virginia Mayo.

The movie begins when Al Stevenson (Fredrich March), Fred Derry (Dana Andrews), and Homer Parrish (Harold Russell), all war veterans from different branches of the service, attempt to find flights home to the hometown they share in common. Unable to find an available commercial flight, they are routed onto a military craft, and lifelong friendships are born as the men get to know one another.

Al is an Army veteran who has been married to Millie (Myrna Loy) for twenty years and has two upper teenage children. Fred, a bomber pilot, had a whirlwind romance and married Marie (Virginia Mayo) only a few short days before leaving for war. And Homer, who joined the Navy fresh out of high school, has two hooks in place of arms, the result of a shipboard tragedy. (I must digress here and tell y'all that Harold Russell, who plays Homer, was not a professional actor at all. Rather, like his character, he was a real disabled Navy veteran, who had lost his arms at sea...He actually won two Academy Awards for this role...the best supporting actor and some sort of achievement award as well.)

Anyhow, the men's arrival home is difficult, as life has gone on without them. Al barely recognizes his children, so grown they are. Fred's wife has taken a job and moved out of his parents' home and into an apartment of her own. And when he finally tracks her down, she is none too keen on the fact that he is not a man in uniform anymore. And Homer, painfully aware that his two hooks are disturbing for his family and high school sweetheart to look at, withdraws into himself.

The first night home, Al takes his wife and daughter Peggy (Teresa Wright) to a local bar, where he unexpectedly meets up with his two new friends, Fred and Homer. When Al and Fred end up totally drunk and completely passed out, Millie and Peggy take them back to the Stevenson apartment so they can sleep it off. Peggy puts Fred in her bed, removes his shoes, and heads to the couch. In the middle of the night, however, she is awakened by Fred screaming, as he has a nightmare about a bombing raid. She soothes him, and then they both go back to sleep. In the morning, she drives him to his wife's apartment, and there is a definite connection between them.

Fred's reunion with his wife does not go well. She doesn't like that he now needs to find a civilian job or the fact that he is a man out of uniform. (The uniform was one of the reasons she had wanted to marry him!!) Add to that, she wants to party and be out all the time, including hanging out with other men. When the only job Fred is able to obtain is as a soda jerker at the drugstore he formerly worked at, Marie belittles him.

Al, who is a bank executive, begins to be unsettled with the bank's treatment of war veterans who are applying for loans. When these men, who have faithfully served their country, are denied loans because of insufficient collateral, Al is angered and often attempts to extend loans anyway.

And Homer, feeling like a freak show with his two hooks, is angry all the time. He no longer wants to marry Wilma and completely withdraws from her...and everyone, except for Al and Fred.

To reveal anything more about this movie would spoil y'all's viewing pleasure, so I'll stop here.  I hope that I've whet your appetite, that I've made y'all interested in the characters so that you want to discover how things turn out. I totally love this movie....it's on my top 21 list, and although I am an It's a Wonderful Life fan, I am SO in agreement with all the awards The Best Years of Our Lives racked up.

For our family, The Best Years of Our Lives is a Veteran's Day tradition. It is THE PERFECT Veteran's Day movie, though I must admit, viewing this movie only once a year is a bit of a hardship for me.  I love it so much and could actually watch it more often than we do.