Reflecting on a Week of Losses

Wow, what a week it's been.  Four (!!) classic film greats departing this life in the same week.  I can't remember a week in which we have lost so many.  The ranks of Classic Hollywood are thinning out rapidly, and it makes me very sad.  Just like they don't make films like they used to, they don't make stars like they used to either.  Yesteryear's stars exuded glamour, elegance, and style in a way stars of today do not---with class and grace.  We will not see their likes again.

The first loss of the week was Eleanor Parker.

My #4 gal (behind only Bette Davis, Susan Hayward, and Barbara Stanwyck in my heart), Eleanor is very beloved to me.  When my daughter told me of her passing (since I am largely offline these days and hadn't seen anything about it), I couldn't help weeping.  In memory of her, I chose to watch one of her films that evening, and since there is a Santa Claus scene in Never Say Goodbye, I'll be watching that one as part of my Christmas movie viewing this week.


Following closely on the heels of Miss Parker's death was that of Audrey Totter.

It was through a Classic Hollywood posting on Facebook that I learned of Miss Totter's passing, and my first thought was, "Oh, no, not another one."  In recent years, it seems that 2 or 3 stars (but not 4!) have often passed around the same time. Audrey was fantastic at portraying the icy femme fatale of the 1940's noirs, but she could lean to a softer side as well, as evidenced in my favorite of her films---The Set-Up.

Only days after Audrey's death,  Peter O'Toole passed away.

I am not overly familiar with Mr. O'Toole's works, but there are several of his films I've been wanting to see---especially Lawrence of Arabia and The Lion in Winter.

Barely had the news of Mr. O'Toole's death crossed my path, when I learned (again from my daughter) that Joan Fontaine had died.

This one, again, hit me very hard.  Miss Fontaine is one of my top-15 favorite actresses, and I had fully intended to have her as a star of the month this year.  She was to have been October's star; however, for a variety of reasons, I changed my schedule in September, then ended up taking a blog break before October was out.  Now, I am kicking myself for that decision.  Oh, sure, I can highlight Joan some month next year, but I would much prefer having honored her while she was yet alive (as I did her sister Olivia in July).  My favorite of Miss Fontaine's films is Rebecca.  I think her performance in that film was Oscar-worthy---even better than her Academy Award-winning performance in Suspicion.

So, as we bid goodbye to four beloved stars, I am reminded of my favorite George Eliot quote, "Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them."  Thanks to so many great films which have been preserved for us, we will never forget you Eleanor, Audrey, Peter, and Joan.

And in the words of Clark Gable, "Death is something none of us can avoid.  I suppose it's pointless to worry about it.  Just live your life how you want and hope somebody remembers you fondly."  (From Dear Mr. Gable's Facebook page)

We do remember you fondly, dear friends.  May you all rest in peace.

NOTE:  All photos were obtained from Doctor Macro (HERE)

Kiss the Blood off My Hands (3 stars)

Kiss the Blood off My Hands, from 1948, is a film noir/drama starring Joan Fontaine and Burt Lancaster.  Featuring a terrific Miklos Rozsa score, this film is one I had never heard of until seeing someone post about it on The Golden Age of Hollywood (a fantastic classic film social network...HERE).

In the aftermath of the war, ex-POW Bill Saunders (Burt Lancaster), is struggling with anger and, most likely, PTSD.  While in a bar, he gets into a brawl, which leads to the death of the man he punched.  Determined not to be arrested and, thus, imprisoned again, Bill hightails it out of the bar, with the police giving chase.  To elude his pursuers, Bill enters a nearby apartment through an open window, and when the sleeping woman within (Jane Wharton, portrayed by Joan Fontaine) wakens, Bill manages to convince her that he did nothing wrong and that he is being wrongly pursued.  Although she allows him to spend the night in her apartment, Jane tells Bill that he needs to be gone by the time she returns from work the next day.

While Bill does leave Jane's apartment and finds lodging in a hotel, the two begin seeing each other.  Though things are going well between them, Bill's anger problem is never far from the surface, and upon lashing out at a cop, Bill is sent to trial and given a 6-month sentence.  After serving his time, Bill returns to Jane, who is willing to put in a good word for him at the medical institute where she works.  Though Bill wants to begin anew and to make good on the job Jane procured for him, a man who witnessed the barroom killing tracks him down and blackmails him into agreeing to allow his delivery truck of medicine to be hijacked and robbed.

Will Bill go through with the crime?  Will he come clean with Jane about his involvement in the killing?  Will their love survive?  Will Jane's trust in him remain?  These are the questions which will play out in this film.




Kiss the Blood off My Hands is an incredible-sounding film title, is it not?  With such a title, it gives incredibly high hopes for a 5-star Double Indemnity kind of film noir. Alas, the title is more exciting than the movie.  That's not to say, though, that it isn't interesting or exciting.  It is...just not to the extent that I had expected.  Still, though, it is very definitely worth a watch. I don't believe the film is out on DVD; however, it is available on YouTube (in parts), so if you are interested, you could catch it there.

Happy viewing!!

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!!

The Bigamist (4 stars)

With this month being the 30th anniversary of the death of one of my #1's (William Holden) and the 102nd birthday of my other #1 (Robert Ryan), it has been mostly their films I've been watching lately.  However, my friend Victoria recently recommended The Bigamist, so I took a short break from the #1's in order to watch it, and I am so glad I did.  Always drawn to a deep, meaty drama and powerful acting, I thoroughly enjoyed this film.

From 1953, The Bigamist stars Joan Fontaine, Ida Lupino, and Edmond O'Brien, with Edmund Gwenn taking on a supporting role.  Lupino also had directorial duties in this film, which begins with Eve and Harry Graham (Fontaine and O'Brien) seeking to adopt a child.  When the adoption case worker, Mr. Jordan (Gwenn), mentions that their backgrounds will need to be fully investigated, Harry seems troubled and anxious, an attitude which greatly concerns Mr. Jordan.  Though he can't put his finger on exactly what it is, something about Mr. Graham troubles him, so Mr. Jordan begins his investigation in earnest.

Since Harry is a traveling salesman and spends much of his time in Los Angeles, Mr. Jordan travels there, to talk to Harry's coworkers in that office.  None of them have anything negative to say about Harry; in fact, they don't know anything about him outside of the office.  Somewhat like an invisible man, Harry just isn't a part of the social scene there in LA.  After the day's work is done, he just seems to vanish, something Mr. Jordan finds a bit peculiar. 

After learning that none of the local hotels have had a Harry Graham registered for months, Mr. Jordan is even more puzzled.   Then, while sitting at Harry's Los Angeles desk, he discovers a letter opener engraved with the name Harrison Graham.  Wondering if Harry and Harrison might be one and the same man, Mr. Jordan searches the phone book for that name and, after finding it, makes a visit to that address.  Lo and behold, it is none other than Harry Graham who answers the door.  Though Harry tries to get rid of Mr. Jordan, before the man leaves, a baby cries, and Harry goes to comfort him.  At that point, Harry's secret is out; no longer able to continue living his double life, he comes clean to Mr. Jordan about how he not only has a child, but also a second wife (Ida Lupino). 

How Harry found himself in this situation, as well as how it is resolved, is the basis of this tragic, touching film.  I found myself really feeling for all three members of this little triangle.  Edmond O'Brien's character isn't a horrible monster, and Ida Lupino's character isn't a trampy homewrecker.  Both characters are played sympathetically and sensitively.  It's a tragic story, in that you know it's a no-win situation.  No matter the outcome, characters you have come to care about are going to get hurt.

I thought the acting of all three leads was very good.  I have come to really like Ida Lupino...while she used to hover at about 15 on my favorite actress list, in recent weeks, she has moved up above 10.  She always puts in a good performance.  Edmond O'Brien played the part of the bigamist with great sensitivity and believability.  I really felt his pain.

Anyhow, I highly recommend The Bigamist.  I've seen it listed on Amazon in DVD Digitally Remastered format, and I know it is also available on VHS.  Plus, it is available in its entirety on YouTube.  Try to catch it if you can.  Happy viewing!!

Born to Be Bad (4 stars)

I'm still on my Robert Ryan kick and will be for another few weeks, as there are close to a dozen of his films either already on my DVR or on my radar to record.   I am totally crazy about this man, who I think was one sensational actor.  He is easily at the very top of my favorite actor list...along with William Holden and Gary Cooper. All that to say, I will be reviewing several Robert Ryan films in the coming days.  If you aren't familiar with him, I hope my reviews will inspire you to see some of his works. 

Born to Be Bad, from 1950, is a fabulously entertaining melodrama starring Joan Fontaine, Robert Ryan, and Zachary Scott.  Directed by Nicholas Ray, this film features Joan Leslie and Mel Ferrer in supporting roles.  From the very beginning, the "bad" in this film is Joan Fontaine.  In a dramatic turnabout from her vulnerable roles in Suspicion and Rebecca, in Born to Be Bad, she is a manipulating, riches-seeking, people-using schemer.

The niece of a publisher, orphaned Christabel Caine (Fontaine) arrives in town and worms her way into the party (and the life) of Donna Foster (Joan Leslie).  Donna is engaged to Curtis Carey (Zachary Scott), and Christabel very quickly seeks to undermine their relationship.

Though Christabel has caught the eye of novelist Nick Bradley (Robert Ryan), her eye is on the wealthy Mr. Carey.   Oh, she'll carry on with Nick and even tease him into thinking she loves him in return...

...but her whole goal is to snag Curtis for herself.  Lying, playing innocent, and hurting others matter little to Christabel.  As long as she gets what she wants, she doesn't care who she steps on or pushes out of the way.

Born to Be Bad is a very interesting, entertaining film, and I must admit, I enjoyed seeing Joan Fontaine take on this kind of role.  She was very good...not at all what I'm used to with her...but it was great to see her stretch.  The film is not out on DVD, though it is on VHS, so if you have a working VHS player, you can catch it that way.  Additionally, it is on TCM's January 30, 2012 schedule.

By the way, there is a 1934 film of the same name, which stars Loretta Young and Cary Grant.  I haven't seen that film (it's in my DVR waiting to be watched).  However, this 1950 film is not a remake of that.  They are two completely different films.

Anyhow, happy viewing!!!

Letter from an Unknown Woman (3 stars)

Letter from an Unknown Woman, from 1948, is a period drama starring Joan Fontaine and Louis Jourdan.  It begins in Vienna in the early 1900's, but most of the movie is told in flashbacks.  It is the tragic story of a young woman's lifelong love for a self-centered concert pianist.

The story begins with a man (Stefan Brand, played by Louis Jourdan) reading a letter which opens with the words, "By the time you read this letter, I may be dead."  As he continues reading, the years fade away, and we see Lisa Berndle (Joan Fontaine), a somewhat-awkward teenager, standing outside the apartment Mr. Brand is moving into.  Lisa is fascinated by all the beautiful things, including a grand piano, that are being moved into the building.  Soon, Lisa is totally obsessed with all things about Mr. Brand, and after coming face to face with him one day when she opened the apartment door for him, she is totally and completely in love.

For the next few years, everything Lisa does is "for Stefan."  Determined to be graceful and ladylike "for him," she takes dancing lessons, learns manners, and studies the lives of the famous musicians.  She listens to him play the piano, all the while imagining him playing for her.  She also watches the comings and goings of his apartment, always feeling disheartened if he happens to bring a woman home with him.

Eventually, Lisa's mother, a widow, decides to remarry and move to Linz.  Of course, Lisa is devastated to have to leave Stefan behind, but she has no choice and moves with her parents.  Even as the years go by, though, she remains obsessed with Stefan and cannot get him out of her mind.  She even refuses the proposal of another man and decides to return to Vienna, where she keeps a nightly vigil outside Stefan's apartment.  Finally, one evening, Stefan notices Lisa and approaches her.

Has Lisa's dream finally been realized?  Has the man she has loved for years finally returned her love? To find out the answer to those questions, you will have to watch for yourself.  I'm not sure if this movie is out on DVD or not, though it is available on VHS.  I do know that when Turner Classic Movies showed it last spring, Robert Osborne mentioned that it was the very first time they were showing it. What?!!! TCM has been around for over fifteen years and they've never shown Letter from an Unknown Woman before!  I wonder why? Especially because Mr. Osborne also mentioned that it has been the movie for which they've received the most requests.  I would think, since it's such a popular movie, that it would be available on DVD and fairly easy to track down.  I hope so anyway, as I think this is a very solid, 3-star movie that most folks will enjoy.