Bad Boy (1949)

Awhile back, I caught the TCM premiere of Bad Boy, the 1949 film which features Audie Murphy in his very first leading role.  Starring alongside Audie in this somewhat-touching drama are Lloyd Nolan and Jane Wyatt, with James Gleason, Martha Vickers, and Rhys Williams in support.  According to Robert Osborne, who always provides the viewer with a wealth of interesting information, the producer of this film insisted that Audie be cast in this role, otherwise he would not finance it.

Bad Boy is Audie's third movie, but it's the first one in which he has a starring role.  In fact, the credits read, "And in his first starring role, Audie Murphy."  Audie portrays Danny Lester, a violent and angry young man who has been running from the law since leaving home at age 13.  Now 17, Danny is brought before the juvenile court on armed robbery and assault charges.  The judge (Selena Royle) believes that Danny's hardened, unrepentant attitude warrants the severest punishment she can give him---the juvenile reformatory until adulthood, and then 20 years in the state prison.

However, Marshall Brown (Lloyd Nolan), of the Variety Clubs Boys' Ranch, who believes there are no hopeless cases, petitions the judge to release Danny into his custody.  He feels sure that just as the Ranch has been successful at rehabilitating other young juvenile delinquents, it will do the same for Danny.

Against her better judgment, the judge agrees to Mr. Brown's request, and Danny is sent to the Ranch, where, Brown soon discovers, the troubled young man proves to be much more difficult to rehabilitate than the other boys entrusted to his care.

Will Danny ever turn from his rebellious, lawbreaking ways?  Will he ever become a productive, giving member of society?  Or is he destined to be one of the boys the Ranch is unable to reach?  These are the questions which play out in the balance of the film.

Bad Boy is an extremely solid 3-star movie to me.  It's a great "message" movie, about investing in the lives of others and about not giving up when the going gets tough.  Audie Murphy is very good in this role. He is believable, and he brings to life a character I really cared about and rooted for. Audie's performance here in Bad Boy resulted in a 7-year contract with Universal, thus, establishing his career as an actor.

In this film, Audie is 24-years old, but I must say, he looks much younger.  When you realize that this film was made a full four years after the end of the war, you really begin to understand that when he received all his many military awards, he was hardly more than a boy.  It's kind of breathtaking to realize he was so young when he was in combat.  (This is one of the publicity photos for Bad Boy.  Wow!  Does Audie look young!)

This film is definitely worth watching. I don't believe it's out on DVD; however, it is available through Amazon's instant video.  If you are an Audie Murphy fan, you'll definitely want to catch him in his first starring role.

Happy viewing!!!


NOTE:   All photos used in this article were obtained from the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website (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 Gun Runners (4 stars)

The third film adaption of Ernest Hemingway's To Have and Have Not is 1958's The Gun Runners, starring Audie Murphy and Eddie Albert, with Patricia Owens and Gita Hall taking on supporting roles.  This film, which I watched in honor of Mr. Murphy's June 20th birthday, is my second favorite adaption of the Hemingway story.  As discussed HERE, John Garfield's The Breaking Point is my absolute favorite version (and the most faithful to Mr. Hemingway's work).  The Gun Runners, though, is easily my second favorite (and very close to being a "love it," 5-star film), leaving the Bogey/Bacall adaption as the one I like the least (and a 2-star film for me).

Living in Key West, where he runs a charter fishing service with his boat The Lucy M, is former Navy man, Sam Martin (Audie Murphy), a good guy who doesn't have it in him to do wrong.  Though finances are a constant struggle, he and his wife Lucy (Patricia Owens) are happy and very much in love.

After failing to be paid close to $1,000 for a job, Sam hits a local casino, where his financial burden comes to the awareness of craps player Hannigan (Eddie Albert), who hires Sam to take him fishing.  Accompanying Hannigan on the excursion is Eva (Gita Hall), and though she puts a bit of a move on him, Sam has no intention of cheating on his wife.  (The lines he uses to decline her advances are the exact same ones John Garfield uses to turn down Patricia Neal in The Breaking Point.)

Using the fishing excursion only as a ploy, Hannigan's real destination is Havana, where he has arranged a meeting with a band of Cuban revolutionaries.  After an eventful night--in which Hannigan shoots a man---Sam returns to Key West, completely determined to avoid any future contact with his lawbreaking passenger.

However, when the mortgage on The Lucy M is bought by Hannigan, Sam has no choice but to do the man's bidding.  Behind on his payments, Sam finds his boat in foreclosure, and the only way he will be able to get her back is to deliver Hannigan---and the guns he is supplying the revolutionaries---to Cuba...something he absolutely does not want to do.

Will this man, who doesn't have it in him to go bad, go bad after all?  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.



As stated in my review for The Breaking Point, I don't care for the Bogey/Bacall version of To Have and Have Not at all, so for that reason, I very nearly didn't even give the other two adaptions a try.  Wow, would I have been missing out!  The Breaking Point usurped Dust Be My Destiny's status as my favorite John Garfield film, and The Gun Runners has become my favorite Audie Murphy film.  I completely adore Audie in this film.  Besides loving his character, I am in love with his look.  In his early 30's here, his face has matured from his earlier Westerns, and he is looking incredibly handsome here.  The storyline is interesting and exciting, and the playful, romantic interaction between Murphy and his wife is very sweet.  (The same playful interaction occurred between John Garfield and wife Phyllis Thaxter in The Breaking Point, and I quite enjoyed it there as well.)

The Gun Runners is out on DVD, plus it is available in its entirety on YouTube and through instant viewing on Net Flix .  If you are a fan of Audie Murphy, you will definitely want to see this.  Also, if you've read the Hemingway novel, you might want to catch this and see how it compares.

Happy viewing!!


NOTE:  Repeated viewings of this film have taken it from 4-star to 5-star status for me, and I have updated and expanded this review on June 12, 2013 (HERE).

They Won't Believe Me (3 stars)

They Won't Believe Me, from 1947, is a mildly suspenseful film noir starring Robert Young, Susan Hayward, and Jane Greer.  Directed by Irving Pichel, this film is one which had been on my radar for quite some time, and about a month ago, TCM finally aired it, so I DVR'd it and saved it to watch during my Susan Hayward birthday month celebration.

The story, which is told in flashback, begins as Larry Balantine (Robert Young) takes the stand at his own murder trial.  Mr. Balantine reveals a story which clearly portrays him as a philandering husband...but does that necessarily equate to being a cold-blooded murderer?

A married man, Larry has been seeing Janice (Jane Greer) for several months.  Janice, however, realizing that she's not "a Saturday afternoon girl," nor a home-wrecker, breaks things off with him and leaves town.  Although Larry would like to run off with Janice, the fact is, he's quite attached to his wife Greta's money; therefore, leaving her is not an option.

Despite Larry's unfaithfulness, Greta (Rita Johnson) wants to save their marriage and suggests that a change of scenery would be good for them, so they move off to California, where Greta's influence buys Larry a job at an investment brokerage.

A young lady named Verna Carlson (Susan Hayward) works in Larry's firm, and in short order, the two of them begin seeing one another.  When Greta discovers that Larry is, once again, being unfaithful to her, she sells his investment in the firm and then gives him an ultimatum---go with her to the mountain ranch she has bought or stay in the city with his girlfriend.  Since he has no intention of living without Greta's money, Larry has no choice in the matter...he breaks things off with Verna and heads out to the isolation of the mountains.

When, a short while later, a building project on the ranch leads Larry back to Los Angeles, he re-connects with Verna; in love with her, he determines that he will leave Greta---no matter how hard it will be, his and Verna's love will see them through.  After slipping a cheap drugstore ring on Verna's finger, the two lovebirds happily head off to Reno, where Larry intends to obtain a divorce and then marry Verna.  Things don't go as planned, however, and ultimately, Larry finds himself charged with the murder of the woman he loves.  (I can't reveal anymore without giving away too many of the surprise twists.)

Now on the witness stand for his life, Larry has revealed the whole ugly, sordid story...but will the jury believe him?  Will the jury really believe that while he is certainly a cheating husband, he is not a murderer? Or will they deem Larry's story a complete fabrication and convict him? These are the questions which will play out in the balance of the film.



They Won't Believe Me is definitely an interesting, exciting film.  However, to be honest, I have to say that  it occurred to me several times, that the role of Larry was exceedingly out of character for Robert Young.  I have never seen him portray anything but an honorable, upright man, and in fact, in his own life, he was decent and honorable, having been married (apparently faithfully) to one woman for over 60 years.  It just seemed so odd to see him as a lying philanderer.  He played the part well and was very credible---it just didn't seem like his kind of role.  Jane Greer's part in the film is fairly small, but she does a great job with it. Susan Hayward is a fantastic femme fatale---I always love seeing her in meaty roles like this.  The film's ending is rather shocking.  While I kind of expected one aspect of it, I definitely never saw the other aspect happening.

All in all, They Won't Believe Me is a solid, enjoyable, 3-star viewing experience, and it's very close to being 4 stars.  Although not out on DVD, it is on the TCM schedule for next Tuesday, June 12th, at 10:00 p.m. (ET), so perhaps you can catch it then.

Happy viewing!!

Detective Story (5 stars)

Detective Story, from 1951, which I just caught for the first time as part of my Eleanor Parker birthday month celebration, is one of my 5-star film discoveries of the year.  (While I've watched and reviewed other 5-star films in recent weeks, they are all films I've seen before; Detective Story I only just now discovered, so it gets put into the "5-star film discovery" category.)  Produced and directed by William Wyler, the film, which is based on Sidney Kingsley's 1949 play of the same name, stars Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker (in an Oscar-nominated performance), and William Bendix.  It is a bold, gritty, mature-themed drama, with incredible acting and a rather surprise/shocking ending; all those things combine to make this a 5-star film for me.

The film takes place within a several hour period of one day at a New York City police precinct, mostly focusing on one particular detective---Sgt. Jim McLeod (Kirk Douglas), an angry, hard-nosed man who believes there are no gray areas, only black and white.  Completely intolerant of criminals, McLeod does not believe in softness or in turning the other cheek, and he often behaves violently toward law-breakers in order to force a confession from them.

On this particular day, Sgt. McLeod is obsessed with getting the goods on one Dr. Carl Schneider---no matter what it takes, Jim intends to see the doctor convicted and put into the electric chair.   Although he doesn't realize it, Jim's vendetta against the doctor will have a very real and personal effect on his relationship with his wife, Mary (Eleanor Parker).  (So as not to give any of the plot away, I won't say anything more about that particular storyline.)

In addition to Dr. Schneider, several other lawbreakers are brought into the precinct. There's a shoplifter (played by Lee Grant, in her Oscar-nominated film debut)

a pair of hoods charged with armed robbery,

and Arthur, a previously-trustworthy young man who has stolen from his employer.  Although the fatherly Sgt. Brody (William Bendix) believes Arthur is really a good boy and can be shown leniency, McLeod doesn't believe in leniency and intends to throw the book at him.  How all these stories play out is the balance of the film.  (The trailer gives a bit too much away, so if you don't want any spoilers, don't watch it.)





Everything about Detective Story merits 5 stars...the acting, the cinematography, the direction, the bold (for its time) subject matter.  While I would not call myself a Kirk Douglas fan (and am not all that familiar with his work), I have to say that he was completely and totally fantastic in this film.  Quite honestly, this was his show...and he carried it brilliantly.  I was shocked to discover that he didn't even garner an Academy Award nomination for his work here.  (However, I have long thought The Academy got the 1951 awards wrong and that Montgomery Clift ought to have won for his work in A Place in the Sun.  While I still think that, I do believe Kirk Douglas deserved a nomination and that he would have given Mr. Clift a run for his money.)  Mr. Douglas is totally sensational in this film.

Though Douglas didn't receive Academy Award recognition here, the film did receive four nominations---Best Director (Wyler), Best Supporting Actress (Lee Grant), Best Writing, and Best Actress (Eleanor Parker).  For the second year in a row, Miss Parker received a Best Actress nomination, and while she is quite good here, the reality is, as I have stated, this is first and foremost Kirk Douglas's vehicle.

Cathy O'Donnell, of Ben-Hur (Tirzah) and The Best Years of Our Lives (Wilma) fame, portrays Arthur's love interest.  She is her usual sweet, gentle self.

Just FYI, Miss O'Donnell was the sister-in-law of William Wyler.  For 22 long, happy years (until death claimed her), she was married to the director's older brother, Robert.

The ending of the film is rather shocking...I definitely didn't expect things to work out the way they did.  While I like predictable, sometimes the unexpected quite adds to a film's credibility, which it definitely did in Detective Story.

Finally, just have to say, this is one of those films which absolutely MUST be looked at through the lens of its time, otherwise it will seem laughable.  The situation over which Kirk Douglas's character agonizes is something that society doesn't care about anymore.  Most people will look at his character's response and think, "Who cares.  Why make a big deal out of that?"  So, definitely, put on your early 1950's mind when you watch this film.

To my knowledge, Detective Story is not out on DVD, nor is it often on the TCM schedule.  I have been looking for this film for a couple years, and I finally tracked it down on YouTube a few months ago (put off watching it until now).  It's in 11 parts, but it's there nonetheless. (The first part was a little difficult to find, so HERE is the link to it.)  I am definitely hoping TCM puts this amazing movie on the schedule soon, so I can record it and have it as part of my collection.  Kirk Douglas fans won't want to miss this film.

Happy viewing!!

The Postman Always Rings Twice (5 stars)

The Postman Always Rings Twice, from 1946, is a great little film noir starring Lana Turner and John Garfield.  Based on the James M. Cain novel of the same name, the film features Cecil Kellaway, Leon Ames, and Hume Cronyn in supporting roles.  With this past Monday having been the 60th anniversary of Mr. Garfield's untimely death, I enjoyed a re-watch of this film in his honor.

While hitch-hiking his way to San Diego, drifter Frank Chambers stops at a little roadside gas station/hamburger joint just outside Los Angeles.  Though the owner, Nick Smith (Cecil Kellaway), offers Frank employment as a handyman, Frank has no intention of staying any longer than it takes to grab a bite to eat---that is, until he gets a glimpse of Nick's beautiful wife, Cora (Lana Turner).  Much younger than her husband, Cora immediately sets Frank's blood to pounding, and although she initially fights it, Cora is attracted to the handsome stranger as well.  In short order, she gives in to her passion and embarks on an affair with Frank.

In love with Frank, Cora makes the decision to run off with him; however, they haven't gotten very far before she begins to have second thoughts.  Since divorcing Nick would leave her with nothing, Cora refuses to go through with it.  Instead, after a time, she convinces Frank that the only way for them to be together is to get Nick out of the picture by killing him.  At first resistant to the idea, Frank eventually realizes Cora is right, and the two of them develop an elaborate scheme to bring about Nick's demise.

Their first attempt at murder doesn't go as planned, and with a highly suspicious D.A. (Leon Ames) bearing down on them, they struggle to cover their tracks.  In due time, they have put together another plan---one which is successful---and the D.A., determined to convict them of their crime, pits one lover against the other.  Where there once was love between them, suddenly there is hatred and mistrust.  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.  (I can't really say more than this without giving away too much of the plot.)




The Postman Always Rings Twice is a fantastic film, well-acted by all.  Lana Turner is stunningly beautiful here (then again, I think she almost always was!), and she makes a perfect femme fatale...icy, aloof, and mesmerizing in her beauty.  John Garfield is masculine, gorgeous, and oozing with virility.  The chemistry between the two of them is incredible.  No nude scenes necessary for them to exude passion and sensuality.

Really, they sizzled and smoked through this whole film, which wouldn't be anything amazing had I not known Lana Turner's opinion of working with Mr. Garfield.  (I quite adore Lana and it was through watching a documentary about her a couple months ago that I learned her feelings about Garfield.)  The two of them absolutely did not get along, and she was irritated that he had been given the role, saying, "Couldn't they at least hire someone attractive."  Say what?  Someone attractive?  John Garfield not attractive?  Oh, Lana, what were you thinking?  Mr. Garfield is beyond attractive here...he's quite gorgeous really (in a rugged, sexy, masculine way).  The older he got, the better looking he became, and at this point in his career, I think he was looking incredibly fabulous!

The supporting cast of Cecil Kellaway, Hume Cronyn, and Leon Ames is outstanding as well, with each man playing his part to perfection; Tay Garnett's direction is fantastic too.  All in all, The Postman Always Rings Twice is an interesting, exciting, wonderful noir, and its final several minutes feature twists I never expected.  How true it is to the novel, I don't know, but the film adaption, as written, is terrific.

The film is out on DVD, plus it is on the TCM schedule for Friday, June 29th, at 2:45 p.m. (ET).  Fans of Turner, Garfield, and noir ought to totally love this film.

Happy viewing!!

Witness for the Prosecution (5 stars)

Witness for the Prosecution, from 1957, is a fabulous whodunit, filled with twists and turns galore.  Directed by the amazing Billy Wilder, the film stars Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, and Charles Laughton, all of whom give brilliant performances.  (This was Tyrone Power's final completed film, as he died of a heart attack during the filming of Solomon and Sheba the following year.  He was quite young...just 44.  I think his performance here in Witness for the Prosecution is the best one he ever gave.)

Leonard Vole (Power), a partially-employed inventor, is accused of murdering wealthy widow, Emily French, a woman many years his senior.  When a chance meeting brings Mrs. French into his life, Vole works to develop a friendship with her, because besides enjoying the lady's company, he hopes to convince her to finance his most recent invention.  So, the two of them, in a completely platonic fashion, begin seeing each other two or three times a week...playing canasta, listening to music, taking in a movie.

When Mrs. French is found murdered, her housekeeper immediately implicates Vole, since he had been with her the evening of her death.  Although Leonard proclaims his innocence, the case against him intensifies after it is discovered that Mrs. French had recently changed her will, making Leonard the beneficiary of 80,000 pounds.   Leonard eventually stands trial for murder, with Charles Laughton portraying the attorney who takes on his defense.

One of the witnesses the prosecution brings against him is none other than his wife, Christine (Marlene Dietrich), whose testimony tears Leonard's story apart.

To say more than this would totally ruin the viewing pleasure of those who have never seen this film.  In fact, as the ending credits roll, the viewer is warned by an announcer to "not divulge the ending to friends who have not seen it."   Of course, a first-time viewing of this film is best.  After that, the surprise factor is gone; however, it's still a fantastic movie, with great performances by the three leads.




The acting in this film is completely brilliant!!!  All three stars---Power, Dietrich, and Laughton---give amazing performances.  Truly, I think this was the performance of both Power and Dietrich's entire careers.  They were both totally fantastic!!  Charles Laughton's real-life wife, Elsa Lanchester, played his nurse in the film, and there are several comical moments between them.  Although it didn't garner any wins, Witness for the Prosecution was nominated in six Academy Award categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, Lead Actor (Laughton), and Supporting Actress (Lanchester).  Shockingly, neither Power nor Dietrich received a nomination for the brilliant work they did here.

Witness for the Prosecution is out on DVD, so it should be readily available for your viewing pleasure.  I highly recommend it.  (Our family recently enjoyed a re-watch in honor of Tyrone Power's upcoming May 5th birthday.)

Happy viewing!!

Invisible Stripes (4 stars)

Invisible Stripes, from 1939, is a gangster drama starring George Raft, Jane Bryan, and William Holden, with Humphrey Bogart, and Flora Robson taking on supporting roles.  It's a film made before either Bogart or Holden had really hit their stride; in fact, it's only the 2nd credited film appearance of Mr. Holden.

At Sing Sing Prison, two convicts have served their time and are being released.  There's Cliff Taylor (George Raft), a man who has been successfully rehabilitated and who has every intention of going straight from here on out.  With faith in Taylor's ability to readjust to life in the outside world, the prison warden proudly bids him farewell.

Chuck Martin (Humphrey Bogart), on the other hand, is a repeat offender with zero intention of living a law-abiding life.  The warden knows Martin's time in prison has done nothing to change him; in fact, he would hold him longer if he could.

As the two men travel home on the train together, Martin finds Cliff Taylor's determination to go straight quite laughable.  With the "invisible stripes" of his prison record, Chuck insists, Cliff won't be given a chance and, therefore, will end up resorting to crime once more.  Sure that won't be the case, Cliff heads for home...hopes high.

The years in prison having given him an appreciation for freedom and for home, Cliff sees through new eyes the tiny apartment he shares with his mother (Flora Robson) and younger brother, Tim (William Holden).  What he formerly thought a dump now is beautiful to him.

To celebrate Cliff's homecoming, Mrs. Taylor has arranged a dinner party, with Cliff's girlfriend, Sue, in attendance.  It doesn't take Cliff long to discover that Sue doesn't want anything to do with an ex-con.

Unfortunately, Sue isn't the only one not interested in an ex-con.   Because of his prison record, Cliff is unable to get a break in the working world---no one trusts him, and no one wants to hire him.  When he finally does get a job, he is fingered as the "inside man" and arrested after the store is burglarized.

Brother Tim is in love with Peggy (Jane Bryan), and the two of them want to get married; however, due to insufficient funds they have been unable to set a date.  Anxious to be able to support a wife, Tim tells Cliff he has thought about crime.  Of course, Cliff is angered by Tim's talk and is determined to keep his brother from walking the criminal path he did.  Not convinced that honesty is the best policy, Tim informs Cliff that he has to see it in order to believe it.

Desperate to make money and prove to Tim that going straight is the only way, yet unable to get a break for himself, Cliff calls on his old relationship with Chuck Martin.

Though he has, in fact, gotten involved with Martin's gang and is part of a bank robbery, Cliff deceives his family into believing he has gotten an out of town sales job.  With the money Cliff sends home, Tim and Peggy are able to get married and Tim is able to purchase the garage he's been wanting.

Does Cliff's family discover he has reverted to crime in order to keep Tim from following in his shoes?  Does Tim stay on the straight and narrow?  Is Cliff able to break away from Martin's gang and live the honest life he really desires to live?  These are the questions which play out in the remainder of the film.

Invisible Stripes is a terrific film, with a great message about giving people a chance.  Although I watched this for my William Holden birthday month celebration, the film is, in fact, George Raft's.  He is wonderful here---humble, contrite, determined, responsible.  His character is extremely likeable and one I couldn't help rooting for.  He was a man who was devoted to his family, especially his momma, and I found his scenes with Flora Robson beautiful and touching.  In fact, I even got misty-eyed a couple times---not often that happens in a gangster film.

Adding to the great character traits was the sight of Mr. Raft in a suit!

Even in just a white shirt and tie, he was incredibly handsome.

William Holden---only 21 here---has not yet reached that maturity which would make him heartthrob material.  Oh, he's cute here, but in another ten years, he would be gorgeous!!

This film is out on DVD, so it ought to be fairly easy to track down.  Also, it is on the TCM schedule for Tuesday, April 17th at 6:00 a.m. (EDT).  George Raft fans will surely love this...as will William Holden fans.

Happy viewing!!

Female on the Beach (4 stars)

Female on the Beach is a suspenseful romantic drama from 1955.  Starring Joan Crawford and Jeff Chandler, with Jan Sterling, Cecil Kellaway, Charles Drake, and Natalie Schafer taking on supporting roles, this is a film which will leave you guessing until the final two minutes.  This is one of those movies I caught for the first time during my Joan Crawford viewing month, and I enjoyed it so much, that it immediately made my list of five favorite Joan Crawford films.

In a fancy oceanfront apartment, a sobbing woman screams to the man with her that she will go to the police.  Shortly after making that threat, the woman steps onto the balcony---the man not far behind her---and within minutes has fallen to her death...or was she pushed?

The following morning, Lynn Markham (Joan Crawford) takes up residence in the beach house.  A possession of her wealthy late husband, the house had been leased out, but with Lynn wanting to occupy the home, the previous tenant moved out the night before...or so Lynn's realtor, (Jan Sterling), tells her.  She discovers later, when a detective (Charles Drake) comes around, that the tenant had died the previous night and that they're not sure whether it was an accident...or murder.

Lynn learns that a man named Drummond "Drummie" Hall (Jeff Chandler)  has been keeping his boat tied at the dock of her apartment, a practice Lynn has no intention of continuing to allow.  Drummie, a gigolo-type who was involved with the previous tenant, has been encouraged by his "keepers" to put the moves on the wealthy Mrs. Markham; therefore, refusing to allow himself to be so easily dismissed, he continues to hang around, and although his relationship with Lynn begins with animosity and anger, before long, they have fallen into a rather passionate affair.

Drummie's plan with Lynn---as it was with the previous tenant, Eloise---is to woo the widow, marry her, then get rid of her and help himself to her wealth.   At least that was his original intent...what he didn't count on was falling in love with the woman.   Suddenly, not wanting to scam her, he decides to leave his gigolo ways behind him and live an honest, upstanding life.  But does he really love her?  Or is that just part of the deception?  And what about Lynn, who has discovered the previous tenant's diary and learned of Drummie's seduction of her and his attraction to her money?  Can she trust his profession of love?  Or does she need to fear for her life?  These are the questions which will play out in the balance of this film.

Female on the Beach was a tremendously exciting and interesting film, and I found it quite suspenseful (in a non-scary sort of way).  While this was my first exposure to Jeff Chandler, the fact that I didn't know him really didn't matter to me---I was completely riveted by the storyline.  His character isn't likeable at all, but again, that didn't matter to me.  After all, people CAN change their ways, so I was willing to give him a chance.  I couldn't wait to discover if he really had changed...or if he was still up to his same old tricks.  As usual, Joan gives a top-notch performance.  And, wow, she was 50 here...and still looking quite fabulous, as evidenced in those very short shorts.  (I did think her makeup was a little harsh for her age.)  Mr. Chandler played his part very well too and was completely convincing in his role.  While I don't find him to be particularly attractive, there definitely was a virility which oozed from him, which I thought made him perfect for the part.  The chemistry between him and Miss Crawford was terrific, with their love-hate passion igniting the screen.

While I don't believe this film is out on DVD, it is available in its entirety on YouTube (HERE), so if this film sounds interesting to you, try to catch it there.

Happy viewing!!

The Damned Don't Cry (4 stars)

The Damned Don't Cry--a solid 4-star film for me---is a romantic crime/drama from 1950.  Starring Joan Crawford, David Brian, Steve Cochran, and Kent Smith, this movie, which gets to the action immediately, also falls into the noir genre.  This is another of the films I enjoyed for the first time as part of my Joan Crawford birthday celebration.

In the desert of California, land surveyors come upon the dead body of a notorious racketeer; with no clues immediately available, detectives look into the man's home movies, which reveal that he was somehow connected to Texas oil heiress, Lorna Hanson Forbes (Joan Crawford).  A visit to Miss Forbes' home reveals blood on the carpet of her empty house, and not sure whether that means she, too, was slain, the authorities begin an active search for her.  Meanwhile, in another part of the city, the missing woman is reflecting on how she came to find herself on the run.

After her young son is killed while riding the bicycle she insisted he be given, money-hungry Ethel Whitehead (as Lorna was known then) sees no reason to stay with the husband she doesn't love.  Tired of scraping and penny-pinching, yet barely getting by, Ethel wants more out of life and moves to New York where she begins a modeling career.  In addition to modeling dresses, Ethel entertains her boss's out of town buyers by taking them to Grady's, a local gambling establishment.

Grady's is only a small part of a much larger operation of illegal activities---narcotics, prostitution, and gambling are all part of the business of George Castleman (David Brian), and Ethel, anxious to make up for all the lean years, soon gets involved with him.  At Castleman's suggestion, Ethel invents an impressive past and takes on the grand socialite-sounding name of Lorna Hanson Forbes.  Now the mistress of the wealthy, powerful Castleman, Lorna is privy to many of his business dealings, so when it appears to Castleman that his associate Nick Prenta (Steve Cochran) is double-crossing him, he sends Lorna/Ethel to seduce the man and discover what he is up to.

With Castleman's promise to be free when she returns, Ethel/Lorna sets out for California and quickly puts her plan into motion.  What she didn't count on, though, was falling for Nick.  Suddenly, she doesn't want to report his disloyalty to Castleman, but when reports from Lorna aren't forthcoming, the big man decides to investigate for himself.  Will he find out that Nick intends to doublecross him?  Will he realize that Lorna is in love with Nick?  And what about the honest CPA (Kent Smith), who the flirtatious Lorna led right into the lion's den of criminal activity?  And just which one of these men is the one thrown into the California desert?  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.

The Damned Don't Cry is a very interesting, exciting, suspenseful film.  Each one of the stars----Crawford, Brian, Smith, and Cochran---was great in their part.  While Joan, at 44, may have been a trifle old to be playing the femme fatale role, that didn't matter to me.  I thought her performance was believable, and even if a younger woman would have been more appropriate for the seduction of Steve Cochran (who was 33 here), I think Joan played the part perfectly.  I thought she was fantastic...as was Cochran.  He was his usual wonderful, sleazy self.  David Brian, as the brutal crime boss, was terrific as well.  The exciting storyline, coupled with the great acting, makes this a very solid 4-star film for me.  The only negative I have is that everything seemed to wrap up too quickly, making the ending a bit abrupt.

The film is out on DVD as part of the Joan Crawford Collection.  Other titles in that 5-volume collection are The Women, Possessed, Mildred Pierce, and Humoresque.  Fans of Miss Crawford ought to really enjoy this film.

Happy viewing!!

The Breaking Point (5 stars)

Ta Da!!  I have a new favorite John Garfield movie!!  From 1950, comes The Breaking Point---the second adaption of Ernest Hemingway's To Have and Have Not.  Said to be more faithful to Mr. Hemingway's story than the Humphrey Bogart/Lauren Bacall film of 1944, The Breaking Point, directed by Michael Curtiz, stars Mr. Garfield---in his next to last film appearance---and Patricia Neal, with Phyllis Thaxter, Wallace Ford, and Juano Hernandez taking on supporting roles.

With his dream of operating a fleet of fishing boats not working out as he had hoped, family man Harry Morgan (Garfield) is having trouble making ends meet.  Instead of a fleet of boats, the former Navy man owns only one boat, which he charters for fishing excursions; with only one craft, and a wife and two young daughters to support, Harry is heavily weighed down with financial burdens.  Although his wife, Lucy (Phyllis Thaxter), suggests that Harry take an agricultural job at her father's ranch, he refuses to do so and is more determined than ever to make a go of things on the sea.

Telling Lucy everything will work out, Harry sets out on an excursion to Mexico with a man named Hannigan and his mistress, Leona Charles (Patricia Neal).

Upon reaching their destination, Harry asks for his payment; although Hannigan promises to pay as soon as the banks open in the morning, he, in fact, skips out on both Harry and Leona.    Left high and dry in Mexico, and needing cash for the return trip, Harry---an honest man, with an honest boat---accepts an illegal job...that of smuggling eight Chinese passengers into the States.  Things don't go as planned, though, and Harry is double-crossed, which leads to a killing and the disembarking of the passengers.

With the Coast Guard alerted to the illegal activity, when Harry returns home, his boat is impounded, then later repossessed for lack of payment. But the loss of his boat and the ongoing financial struggles aren't Harry's only problems---Leona, who has stayed on in Newport, has begun putting the moves on him, and Lucy, knowing a woman was part of the Mexican excursion, is jealous.  Additionally, the shady attorney (Wallace Ford) who arranged the transportation of the illegals is pressuring Harry into taking another job--one he just might take after his pride is hurt when Lucy takes on work to support the family.  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.

As always, Mr. Garfield gives a superb performance.  Really, he was completely perfect and totally wonderful in this role...I also really enjoyed the opportunity of seeing a playfully romantic side of him as his character interacted with his wife

and a paternal side as he interacted with his daughters.

While I adore Mr. Garfield in his chip-on-the-shoulder, cynical man roles and think he played them all brilliantly, every now and then it's nice to see a bit of a softer side.  Adding to the slightly more vulnerable side of his character was how incredibly handsome he was at this point in his career.  He aged extremely well, and I think he is even better looking here at 37 than he was when he began his film career at 25.  The ever-so-slight lines in his face give him a gorgeous maturity,

and the captain's cap he wore for much of the film only added to his appeal.

I will watch this film over and over again simply for the eye candy I found him to be!!

The supporting cast of the film was really wonderful as well.  Phyllis Thaxter gave an excellent performance as Harry's wife, and the chemistry between her and Garfield was great.  Patricia Neal (who I absolutely do not like) played her part perfectly as well.  Though I don't care for her, she was really very much a supporting player, so I only had to take her in small doses.  Plus, I was thrilled to pieces that Garfield's character didn't succumb to an extra-marital affair with her!!  Juano Hernandez, who portrayed Harry's friend and first mate, was quite good in his role as well.  And, oh, that final scene, which features Hernandez's character's son is a heartbreaker!

To be honest, I must say that I put off watching this movie because I knew it was based on To Have and Have Not and I really don't care for the Bogart/Bacall film of the same name.  (Dare I say that?)  For me, it's a 2-star film, so I wasn't sure I wanted to try this one; however, in the interest of finding some new-to-me Garfield films in honor of his birthday, I decided to "bite the bullet" and watch this one.  I am so glad I did, because I totally love it!!  In fact, with my viewing of this movie, Dust Be My Destiny has lost its status as my favorite Garfield film; though I still love that sweet film (which I reviewed HERE), I love The Breaking Point even more.  Incidentally, the Hemingway novel also inspired a 1958 remake as well.  Starring Audie Murphy in the lead role, the film is called The Gun Runners.  Since I quite like Mr. Murphy, I intend to watch that one at some point in the future.

This film is out on DVD, so I hope you are able to track it down.  Definitely, if you are a John Garfield admirer (as I am), you will want to see this.  Also, if you are a Hemingway fan, since this adaption was the truest to his story, you may want to take a look at this.  Or if you love the Bogey and Bacall version, you might want to check this one out to see how it compares.

Happy viewing!!