The Man (1960)

Regular readers of They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To know that I am crazy about Robert Ryan.  He's one of my absolute favorite actors---probably my #1 guy---and a man I deem sensational in nearly every role he ever took on. Well, the other night, I had a real treat---I had an opportunity to see "man of the month" (and one of my top 20 favorite actors!), Audie Murphy, taking on a Robert Ryan role. Yes, I'm serious---Audie Murphy stepped into Robert Ryan's shoes---and you know what, Mr. Murphy was every bit as terrific in the role as Mr. Ryan was.

In 1952, Robert Ryan starred along with Ida Lupino in Beware, My Lovely (reviewed HERE), a suspenseful drama in which a mentally unbalanced man (Ryan) worms his way into the home of widow Lupino, and after getting hired as a handyman, terrorizes her by locking the doors, removing the keys, and basically holding her captive inside her home.  Unstable, he vacillates between anger and kindness, confusion and lucidity.

To my utter surprise, I discovered that Audie Murphy took on that exact role in The Man, a 1960 episode of the live TV drama, Ford Startime.  In the Ida Lupino role is Thelma Ritter, and except for a few minor changes (including the ending), the stories are virtually identical.  While this made-for-TV drama is slightly under an hour in length, and thus not as in-depth as the film, it nevertheless packs quite a punch.

Newly arrived in town, Howard Wilson (Audie Murphy) sets out to find the address of Mrs. Gillis (Thelma Ritter), the mother of a man he knew back in his Army days.  Without telling Mrs. Gillis that he knew her son, Howard attempts to rent a room from her; when he's unsuccessful, he seeks to have her hire him for a few handyman jobs.  Lying that he is doing some post-graduate work at the local university, Howard is eventually successful in convincing the kind widow to give him a few hours of employment. Though the man is obviously troubled in some way, that isn't at first apparent to Mrs. Gillis.

After gaining access to Mrs. Gillis's house, Howard meanders into what used to be her son's room, eventually suggesting that he could move into that room and stay there forever.  Mrs. Gillis is alarmed by Howard's strange request and by the fact that he is often confused, forgetful, and prone to rages.  And when she realizes that Howard has locked her in the house and removed the keys from the locks, she is quite panicked.

Does Howard hurt Mrs. Gillis?  Or is she able to obtain help?  Those are the questions which play out in the remainder of the show.

Audie Murphy is not only very believable in this role, he's actually quite brilliant!  The way he vacillates between anger, gentleness, and lunacy is remarkable.  And those eyes---there is a distinct glint of madness in them!! Mr. Murphy was really a much better actor than people give him credit for being. Thelma Ritter is terrific too---you can definitely see and feel her character's rising panic. Obviously, as a 49-minute TV show, The Man lacks the depth of the 76-minute movie, but it is still very interesting and exciting...and suspenseful without being scary.  I'm giving it the same 4-stars I give the film. If you'd like to check it out, HERE is the link to the YouTube video.

Happy viewing!!

NOTE:  The photo used in this article is from the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website (HERE)

Blanche Fury (1948)

Blanche Fury, from 1948, is a suspenseful period drama starring Stewart Granger and Valerie Hobson.  It's a film which had been in my Net Flix instant queue for many months, and I'm glad I used Mr. Granger's centennial month as an excuse to buckle down and watch it.  While not a favorite film, it is definitely an enjoyable and interesting viewing experience.

In 1860's England, proud but poor Blanche Fuller has had her fill of being a companion to rich, crochety old ladies.  Ambitious and very strong-willed, Blanche doesn't have the personality to be a successful long-term employee to those who patronize her, so she has left a whole host of positions prior to the one which begins the film.  A way out of the despised situation arrives in the form of a letter from her wealthy uncle, Simon Fury.  Due to differences of opinion between her father and her uncle, the families have long been estranged; however, Simon is in need of a governess for his motherless granddaughter, Lavinia, and Blanche is offered the position. Accepting immediately, Blanche takes up residence at Clare---the ancestral estate her uncle has recently acquired from the Fury family.  (At the time of the property acquisition, Simon Fuller chose to take on the Fury name as well.)

The estate's steward, Phillip Thorn (Stewart Granger), believes he is Clare's rightful owner, as his father was Adam Fury.  However, since documentation proving the marriage between his mother and Adam Fury has never been found, his legitimacy is denied, as is his claim to the property.  Unwilling to accept such circumstances, Thorn has become obsessed with finding a way to make Clare his own.

Simon's son, Lawrence, asks Blanche to marry him, and through her acceptance, she becomes mistress of the estate.  Though Blanche and Phillip Thorn had gotten off on a bad note, they soon become lovers; with Thorn obsessed with obtaining what he believes to belong to him, and Blanche, ambitious and having no love for her husband, the two put in plan a motion to murder those standing in the way of what they want. Whether their plan is successful or not will play out in the balance of the film.

While not a spectacular film, Blanche Fury is, nevertheless, solid and interesting...a definite 3 stars for me.  I had never heard of Valerie Hobson prior to seeing her here, but that doesn't matter.  She was quite believable as Blanche.  I really liked Stewart Granger in his role. Though his Phillip was an obsessed, driven, mostly unlikable man, I enjoyed the way Mr. Granger brought him to life.  Plus, he's always great to look at!  I might have rated the film higher had there not been some plot developments which I found totally inconsistent with the times.  Since I don't want to provide spoilers, I will just say that with the information which came out at the trial, I didn't find the townspeople's response to be in keeping with the era being portrayed.  For that reason, I decided to downgrade to 3 stars.

While not out on DVD, the film is available through Net Flix instant viewing and on YouTube.

Happy viewing!

The Naked Edge (1961)

When Gary Cooper comes to mind, one doesn't generally think "thriller" or "suspense." Similarly, when we think of sitting down in front of an edge-of-your-seat mystery, Coop is not who automatically comes to mind as playing the lead.  Well, 1961's The Naked Edge changes our preconceived notions, as Coop is the star, and the film is definitely a thriller.  Also starring Deborah Kerr and featuring Eric Portman and Michael Wilding in minor roles, this Michael Anderson film is based on Max Ehrlich's novel First Train to Babylon.  Filmed on location in London, it's a title I had been trying to track down for quite some time, and I finally found it on YouTube last week...just in time for a celebration of Coop's May 7th birthday.  Truly, this is Gary Cooper as you've never seen him before!!

Having witnessed the murder of his boss, Jason Roote, sales manager George Radcliffe (Coop) is a key prosecution witness at the trial of fellow Roote Air Freight Corporation employee, Donald Heath.  It is revealed through Radcliffe's testimony that a large sum of money, from the collection of the COD payments, was expected the evening of the murder, and that in addition to himself and Mr. Roote being present, Heath had volunteered to work overtime and was in the building as well.  Shortly after Mr. Roote departed George's office for his own, he was stabbed to death, and alerted to the crime by the victim's cry, George reached the hallway in time to see a man running from the building.  Following the retreating figure, George ended up in the building's boiler room, where he discovered Donald Heath.  Although the satchel of money was never found, the case is fairly open-and-shut, and the jury soon renders a guilty verdict, causing Heath to lose his composure and shout that he is innocent, that Radcliffe is, in fact, the murderer.

Several years pass, during which George Radcliffe and his business associate, Morris Brooke (Michael Wilding), become prosperous through a successful venture.  It is then that the contents of a mailbag stolen five years earlier are forwarded to those for whom they had originally been intended.  One of the pieces of mail, which George's wife, Martha (Deborah Kerr), opens is a letter from a Jeremy Clay, claiming that he knows Radcliffe was the man who really killed Jason Roote.

Although Martha insists that she doesn't believe the words of the letter, she is, nevertheless, very troubled by them.  Recalling an angry altercation George (whom she calls Cliff) had with a man after the trial, and reflecting on the prosperity which he fell into around that time, Martha begins to get suspicious of her husband.  She's not at all sure that he didn't kill Mr. Roote, and it doesn't help that Cliff's behavior is becoming erratic.  As Cliff sees it, Martha is acting like a wife who has just begun to suspect a mistress, only her suspicions are worse.

Terrified that her husband is a murderer, Martha begins her own investigation, and the more she digs, the more she is convinced of his guilt.  She knows she'll have to turn him in, yet she is also aware that Cliff would never allow her to do that...that he would do whatever it takes to keep her silent.  She begins to fear for her own life.

Did George Radcliffe kill Jason Roote?  Did he frame an innocent man and then send him to prison with his testimony?  Will Martha discover what really happened?  Will she go to the police with her suspicions, even if it means turning in her own husband?  These are the questions which will play out in the balance of the film.  By the end of the film, you will know who killed Jason Roote...and, in the same spirit as in Witness for the Prosecution, you will be asked to not reveal the secret to those who have not yet seen it.  (I'm not one for spoilers anyhow, but with the movie's producers requesting discretion, I would certainly not reveal how everything turns out.)



This film is fascinating, and it has some very Hitchcock-esque qualities to it, particularly the scenes on the London streets and the scene in which Martha is listening to a Philharmonic concert on TV, while a man prepares to silence her in the bathroom upstairs.  The musical score is terrific and adds greatly to the suspense.  Deborah Kerr is perfect as the "I don't want to believe it, but I just can't help it," terrified wife.  I thought she played the part with absolute believability.  Gary Cooper, on the other hand, seemed uncomfortable in his role.  Oh, he wasn't horrible, but he just seemed stiff and wooden.  Of course, his character was meant to be mysterious, so that could be it.  Or perhaps he was uncomfortable portraying a man who may have committed a murder and is about to commit another.  Even more likely, the early stages of his final battle with cancer were upon him here, and he was undoubtedly feeling the effects of them.  Whatever it was, my darling Coop just seemed a bit out of his element here in The Naked Edge.

Despite Coop being a bit off, though, I really loved this film and found every minute of it be exciting.  I was quite on the edge of my seat through the entire thing and, in fact, had considered it to be a 5-star film. I realize, however, that my effusiveness is somewhat because of my love for Coop, my excitement at discovering a "new to me" film of his, and the suspense of not knowing how it would turn out.  In truth, I don't think repeat viewings (when you know how everything will turn out) will have quite the same effect on me; thus, I think future viewings will see me going with 4 stars, so that is how I am rating it now.  Regardless---4 or 5 stars---it's an exciting, interesting, suspenseful, "Gary Cooper as you've never seen him before" film, well worth seeing and which I highly recommend.

There is a real bittersweetness to catching this film, though, because it is Coop's final film. The knowledge that my beloved guy's long and distinguished career had reached its end and that his beautiful, charismatic presence would never again grace the silver screen, is quite sorrowful. Adding to the sorrow is my awareness that it wasn't just Coop's career which was ending...it was his very life.  Not long after completion of this film, he would succumb to cancer and depart this world at the too-young age of 60.  In fact, The Naked Edge wasn't released in the U.S. until after his death.  (His hometown of Helena, Montana, was the first U.S. city to screen it---June 28, 1961---two days before its New York screening.)

The film is not out on DVD, nor is it on the TCM schedule in the near future.  However, it is available on VHS, plus it's available in its entirety on YouTube (HERE).  Do try to catch it if you can.

Happy viewing!!

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Though Doris Day is most commonly associated with musicals and light comedies, she could definitely hold her own (and more!) in dramatic films, as evidenced in Alfred Hitchock's 1956 political thriller, The Man Who Knew Too Much.  Also starring James Stewart, this film is a remake of Mr. Hitchcock's 1933 film of the same name.

Vacationing in French Morocco are Americans Ben and Jo McKenna (Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day) and their young son, Hank.  While on a bus enroute to Marakech, they make the acquaintance of Frenchman, Louis Bernard, and although the man's intrusive questions about their lives are disconcerting to Jo, the McKenna's make plans to meet him for dinner and drinks a bit later.  

After a sinister-looking man comes to his door, however, Mr. Bernard cancels his dinner plans with the McKennas, leaving them to make the acquaintance of a vacationing British couple. Taking to one another immediately, the two couples become friends and even visit an outdoor marketplace together the next morning.

While in the market area, a stabbing takes place, and just before dying, the stabbed man---who turns out to be Louis Bernard---approaches Ben and whispers information about an assassination soon to take place.  Immediately, Ben and Jo are whisked off to the police department, while their new friend offers to keep their son for them.  Although Ben might consider telling the authorities what he knows about Bernard's killing and the man's final message, he is soon made aware that Hank will be harmed if he does.  By the time Ben and Jo return to their hotel (from the police station), Hank has been kidnapped.

It's every parent's worst nightmare, as the McKennas travel from Morocco to England in order to rescue their son, all the while knowing that sometime, somewhere, an assassination will be attempted.  How everything plays out is the balance of the film.



Very suspenseful, with much political intrigue, The Man Who Knew Too Much is an interesting, enjoyable, well-acted film.  Both Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day are extremely believable in their roles, and they play well off each other.  The part of the assassin (Reggie Nalder) is perfectly cast.  With burn scars on his lower face, Mr. Nalder certainly presents a mysterious, almost sinister-looking figure, making him completely perfect for his role.  The Albert Hall scenes are magnificent, with Hitchcock brilliance evidenced throughout.  Finally, there are a couple opportunities to catch Doris Day's lovely, melodious voice, as she sings the film's Academy Award-winning song---"Que Sera Sera." 

Since I have never seen the original version of this film, I can't compare the two.  However, I really enjoyed this and am giving it 4 out of 5 stars.  Out on DVD, it should be easy to track down.

Happy viewing!!

Cause for Alarm (4 stars)

Cause for Alarm, from 1951, is a mildly suspenseful film noir starring Loretta Young, Barry Sullivan, and Bruce Cowling.  Directed by Tay Garnett, the film takes place during several hours of one July afternoon in the life of housewife Ellen Jones (Loretta Young).

George Jones (Barry Sullivan) is an ill man...a very ill man.   Because of some sort of heart condition, George has been confined to his bed for some time, and although his doctor and longtime friend, Ranny Graham (Bruce Cowling), makes house calls on a regular basis, his dutiful wife, Ellen, is his primary caregiver. 

Endless days in bed, coupled with his illness, have done wild things to George’s mental state, and he comes to believe that Ellen and Dr. Graham are conspiring to kill him.  Since Ellen and the doctor had been seeing each other prior to her marriage to George, George is convinced that they are still in love and that they have set a plan in motion to be rid of him.

Determined to make the two “lovers” pay for their crime, George pens a letter to the local district attorney---a letter in which he accuses his wife and doctor of aggravating his condition so as to make his death look natural.  After requesting that a complete investigation be made into his death, George seals the envelope and hands it to his wife.  Telling Ellen he had to sign some insurance papers, he asks her to put the envelope in the mail, which, being the helpful wife she is, she does when the mailman arrives at the house a short time later.

George isn’t as bed-bound as he would have Ellen believe, however, and upon her return to their bedroom, he pulls out a gun and spills forth his delusions of her love for Ran and their plan to murder him.  Sure it is nothing more than George’s illness talking, Ellen denies his accusations, but to no avail.  George is convinced his wife and doctor are out to do him in, and after informing her that the envelope she just put in the mail was a letter incriminating her and the doctor of trying to kill him, George collapses.

Though she and the doctor were never trying to kill George, Ellen panics about the letter now on its way to the district attorney.  She knows she must retrieve it before it ever reaches its destination, yet doing so is not as easy as she had hoped.  For the remainder of that “most terrifying day of her life,” Ellen must oppose bureaucratic regulations and race against time in order to save herself and the doctor from her husband’s delusional mind.  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.

Cause for Alarm is an interesting, well-acted, mildly suspenseful film.  Both Loretta Young and Barry Sullivan are very good in their roles.  I could really feel Loretta’s terror as the walls began to close in around her, and I found Mr. Sullivan quite believable as the neurotic husband.  Of course, this film is best on a first-time viewing---before you know how it all turns out---but even repeated viewings are enjoyable. 

Two other things stand out to me in this film.  First is the Jones’s little neighbor boy, whose nickname is Hoppy, after Hopalong Cassidy.  I found him delightful, especially when he grabbed a handful of cookies so he could feed his horse...er...tricycle.  After he had pocketed several cookies, he remembered that he had forgotten to ask if he might have some.  Of course, permission was granted.  Another fun thing in the film is the walking door-to-door mailman (though the Jones's mailman was certainly annoying).  I haven’t seen a walking door-to-door mailman in years!!  Most mail carriers for at least the last three decades drive to every house on their route, depositing the mail in the box at the end of the driveway (or to the community mailbox).  Gone are the days of conversing with your mail carrier as he arrives at your front door to fill your doorside mailbox with cards and letters (and bills).  Seeing that walking, bag-on-his-shoulder postman may well take you on a trip down memory lane as you remember the mailmen of your youth. 

At any rate, Cause for Alarm is definitely an enjoyable viewing experience.  The film is out on DVD, so it should be fairly easy to track down.  In addition, it is on the TCM schedule for Wednesday, January 30th at 4:30 a.m. (ET).   Hope you get a chance to see it...or at least set your DVR.

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!!

Back from Eternity (4 stars)

Back from Eternity, from 1956, is a suspenseful drama starring Robert Ryan, Rod Steiger, and Anita Ekberg.  Directed by John Farrow, this film is a remake of Farrow's 1939 film Five Came Back.  Taking on supporting roles here are, among others, Gene Barry, Beulah Bondi, Jesse White, Keith Andes, and Fred Clark.  As I have enough fear of flying, I don't often watch plane crash films, so for that reason, I've never seen the original.  I will watch this one solely for my beloved Robert Ryan, and since I was in desperate need of a "Ryan fix," I decided to pop this on the other night; thankfully, my daughter and I have both recently returned from our vacations, so I won't have visions of Back from Eternity in my mind to cause me any anxiety.

The story revolves around three crew members and nine passengers aboard a U.S.-to-South America airplane, which, due to inclement weather, is forced to crash land in the middle of the Amazon jungle.  While the plane is repairable, repairing it will take time, but because the local cannibalistic tribe is on the warpath, time is a luxury not available to the stranded people.  Even after the plane is repaired, due to the damage incurred in the landing, its occupancy limit will be five people.  The others will have to remain in the jungle, where the natives are moving in for the kill. Among those on board are:

Pilot Bill Larnegan (Robert Ryan)---a widower whose grief has brought him into some downtimes, he now has a penchant for drink.

Prostitute Rena (Anita Ekberg), who, without legitimate transport papers, is on her way to a new establishment in South America.

Co-pilot Joe Brooks (Keith Andes)--Flying with Larnegan for the first time, he has taken an interest in one of the passengers.

Jud Ellis (Gene Barry), an arrogant, unkind man who seems to find fault with everyone and everything.  He is traveling with his fiance, Louise (Phyllis Kirk).

Professor and Mrs. Spangler (Cameron Prud'Homme and Beulah Bondi)---a loving couple who have been married 42 years.

Pete (Jesse White), a mobster traveling with the young son (Jon Provost) of his boss.

Vasquel (Rod Steiger), a condemned murderer, on his way to his execution, in the company of Crimp (Fred Clark)

How will these men and women survive for days in the jungle?  Which five of them will make the flight back home?  These are the questions which will play out in the remainder of the film.



This is a very interesting, thought-provoking film, with good performances by all.  (Of course, my beloved Robert Ryan couldn't give anything but a good---or great---performance).  I have to admit, though...the film's ending greatly unsettles me.  While I wholeheartedly believe that "there is no greater love than giving one's life for another," I felt the film very subtly projected the message that certain elements of the population are expendable, and I completely disagree with that.  Whereas in the days of "women and children first" (which I completely believe in), that was due to the code of chivalry, to the belief that the stronger were to protect the weaker.  In this film, though, it isn't about protecting the weaker; rather, it's about certain people groups being more worthy of saving than others.  (Can't say more without giving away who is left behind.)  One thing is for sure...I would never want to be put in the position of having to choose which people live and which ones die!

Back from Eternity is definitely a very solid 4-star film, which I highly recommend.  While it's not out on DVD nor currently on the TCM schedule, TCM does show it fairly regularly. You could probably catch it there before the end of the year.  (NOTE:  Two of my commenters have made me aware that this film has recently been released on DVD.  HERE is the link to where you may obtain it.)

Happy viewing!!

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!!

Dangerous Crossing (4 stars)

My good friend, Monty, whose blog All Good Things is one of the most awesome places in blogland, is hosting a Cinematic World Tour this summer.  Since I am always up for a trip to any exotic location in this beautiful world, taking part in this event is definitely right up my alley, and since one of my dream trips is a Transatlantic, Caribbean or Yucatan cruise, I figured I would begin my world tour with that very thing...a cruise on a beautiful ocean liner...in the form of 1953's Dangerous Crossing.  This suspenseful mystery/film noir stars Jeanne Crain and Michael Rennie, with Carl Betz taking on a supporting role.

Newlyweds John and Ruth Bowman (Carl Betz/Jeanne Crain) have booked a cruise for their honeymoon; shortly after entering their cabin and depositing their luggage, John realizes he has some cash he wants to leave with the purser.  After instructing Ruth to meet him in the main deck bar in fifteen minutes, John heads to the purser's office, while Ruth goes topside to watch the ship disembark.

At the appointed time, however, John fails to arrive at the bar, and when Ruth makes a visit to the purser's office to see what is detaining him, she discovers that her husband was never there.  Thinking that there was a mix-up of some kind and that John has returned to their cabin, Ruth finds her way back to #B16, but to her utter shock, she is told that no one is occupying that room.  Upon Ruth's insistence, the steward unlocks the door to that cabin, and, sure enough, it is completely bare.  There is no sign of the Bowmans' luggage nor of the flowers which a maid had been arranging upon their entrance only a short time earlier.

A quick look at the passenger list reveals that the Bowmans' names aren't there; however, Ruth Stanton (which is Ruth's maiden name) is on the list, cabin #B18.  A check of that room reveals Ruth's luggage...but no sign of John's.  Of course, Ruth grows hysterical, especially when she realizes she doesn't have a passport, nor does she even know the name of the town in which she was married.

To placate Ruth, a search of the ship is made, but nothing is revealed, and when the stewardess Ruth claims she saw arranging flowers in #B16 denies having been in that cabin or seeing the Bowmans, it is assumed that Ruth's story is not true.   After the captain discovers that Ruth has previously had a mental breakdown, he assumes she is having another one and puts her into the care of the ship's doctor, Paul Manning (Michael Rennie).

Although the kindly doctor doesn't think Ruth is purposely lying, he does think she is hallucinating and/or imagining things, so he prescribes medication and suggests she go to bed.

Later that evening, Ruth receives a phone call from John, a call which indicates that he has gone into hiding because they are in danger.  After warning Ruth not to trust anyone, he hangs up.

When Ruth reports the phone call to Dr. Manning, he suggests that the call was nothing more than a dream.  Was the call a dream?  Was the whole marriage a figment of Ruth's overwrought imagination?  Is the beautiful, emotionally-frazzled woman having another breakdown?  Or does she really have a husband?  And if so, where is he?   And why is he hiding?  These are the questions which will play out in the balance of the film.



Suspenseful without being scary, Dangerous Crossing is an interesting, exciting film. No, there are no beautiful sun-drenched beach scenes on this cruise; in fact, many of the scenes take place on a chilly, mist-shrouded deck.  Even so, the film is loads of fun.  Jeanne Crain puts in a fine performance---she is quite credible as a hysterical, possibly-losing-her-mind woman.  Plus, she's incredibly lovely here...beautiful really.  I was completely in love with her hair in this film, and I love her gowns and her fur coat.

Michael Rennie, as always, is solid in his role, but the film is essentially Jeanne's.

While I want a slightly less suspenseful cruise for myself, I enjoyed every minute of this Dangerous Crossing.  If you are a Jeanne Crain fan, you ought to enjoy it as well.  The film is out on DVD and is available on YouTube, so it should be fairly easy to track down.

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!!

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!!

Sudden Fear (3 stars)

Sudden Fear, from 1952, is a suspenseful thriller starring Joan Crawford, Jack Palance, and Gloria Grahame, with Bruce Bennett taking on a supporting role.  This film, for which Miss Crawford received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination, is one I recently enjoyed as part of my Joan Crawford birthday month celebration.

In New York to oversee the casting of her most recent play, playwright Myra Hudson (Joan Crawford) is about to find her life changed forever.  After firing Lester Blaine (Jack Palance) from the production because she does not see him as romantic leading man material, the wealthy San Francisco native boards a train for home.  As it happens, Mr. Blaine is on the same train, and before their arrival in California, Myra sees the actor in a completely different light and is head over heels about him.

Although Blaine protests that he doesn't belong to her world, Myra convinces him that without him she has nothing, and in typical whirlwind fashion, the two are soon married.  Completely in love with Lester, Myra is happier than she has ever been in her life.

Not even for a moment does Myra suspect that her husband isn't what he seems to be, so when her attorney, Steve Kearney (Bruce Bennett), requests her signature on documents which would give Lester a limited income upon her death, she refuses to sign them.  Instead, she asks Steve to draw up new documents---documents which leave every cent of her estate to her husband.

The morning after her meeting with Steve, Myra discovers that her dictaphone had been left on all night; as she moves to turn it off, it begins playing, revealing a conversation from the previous evening.  That conversation, between Lester and another woman (Gloria Grahame), devastates Myra and causes her to be violently ill, for she realizes that her husband not only never loved her, but that he wants to be rid of her and, thus, get his hands on her fortune.  Saying her death must look like an accident, Lester pledges to accomplish it that weekend.

Though Myra is completely heartstick and terrified by what she hears, she is determined to fight back and to save her life....without letting on to Lester that she has found him out.  How everything plays out is the balance of the film.

Sudden Fear is an interesting, exciting, suspenseful film, with good acting by all.  I think Joan Crawford is really super in her portrayal of Myra---a bit over the top, but that definitely goes with the territory.  Jack Palance, who received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his work here, was completely terrific in his role.  Gloria Grahame was perfectly cast.  Always a fabulous femme fatale, she was totally stellar here.  Though Bruce Bennett had worked so well with Miss Crawford in Mildred Pierce, he really had little to do in this film.  The movie's ending was quite exciting...and unexpected.  Really, I didn't see that coming.  All in all, this is a great little noir, close to 4 stars; since it's out on DVD, it should be easy to track down.

Happy viewing!!

The Prowler (3 stars)

The Prowler, from 1951, is a mildly suspenseful film noir starring Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes.  Though I am not overly familiar with Miss Keyes, I was quite interested in this film because of Van Heflin.  Since I've developed an appreciation for him, I've been trying to catch as many of his films as possible.  He definitely had a vast range of ability, as this film finds him playing what I would say is against type.

When Susan Gilvray (Evelyn Keyes) discovers a man peering in her window while she is taking a bath, she puts in a call to the police.  Two officers, one of which is Webb Garwood (Van Heflin), answer the call, but after looking around a bit and finding no evidence of a prowler, they take their leave.  Soon though, Officer Garwood, who had been instantly attracted to the beautiful, wealthy woman, is back again.  Telling Susan that it is routine to make a follow-up visit, he manages to get invited into the house, where he has a glass of milk and a bit of conversation.

Since Mrs. Gilvray's husband works nights, Officer Garwood tells her that he will make it a point to stop by regularly to check on her, just to be sure that there aren't any prowlers hanging around.   Eventually---though Susan is at first reluctant---the two of them fall into a passionate affair.  Wanting not only Susan, but her husband's life insurance money, Webb jumps to the other side of his badge and kills Mr. Gilvray.  Claiming he shot at a prowler while keeping watch on the home, Webb is cleared of any wrongdoing...but can he really get away with murder?  Can he and Susan have any kind of a future together when their being together was accomplished through such devious means?  Will Susan, who has come to see Webb's wickedness, even want to stick by him?  These are the questions which play out in this exciting little film.

The Prowler is definitely an interesting, enjoyable movie.  Quite honestly, I was going to go with 4 stars, except that the last 20 minutes (the ghost town scene) were too far-fetched for me.  (Maybe because I'm not a lonely, desolate place kind of gal, so settings like that just seem bizarre.)  Anyhow, this is really more like 3.5 stars.  I am only just now getting into Van Heflin, so I haven't seen a whole lot of his work; however, of the films I've seen, with the exception of They Came to Cordura, he has always been a solid, upstanding, very likeable kind of man.  This role definitely showed another side to him, and I think he played the part very well.  Evelyn Keyes was good and believable in her role as well, and she and Mr. Heflin worked well together.

This film is out on DVD, and it is also available in its entirety on YouTube, so you shouldn't have any problem tracking it down.

Happy viewing!!

The Unguarded Hour (3 stars)

The Unguarded Hour, from 1936, is a crime drama of the whodunit kind.  Starring Loretta Young

and Franchot Tone,

this film takes place in England, where Tone's character, Sir Allen Dearden, is slated to become the next attorney general.  Sir Allen and his wife, Lady Helen (Loretta Young), host a formal dance in their home, and a man unknown to both of them crashes his way into the ballroom.  As the stranger dances with Lady Dearden, he lets her know that he has in his possession, love letters which Allen had written to a former mistress; although the letters were written prior to Allen's marriage to Helen, since the woman was married to another man, they could prove damaging to his career.  In order for Helen to get her hands on the love letters and, thus, keep her husband from scandal, the man demands a sum of money; anxious to keep Allen's political hopes alive, Helen meets the man's demands, without ever saying a word to Allen about the situation.

As Helen is making her way back from the money drop-off point, she is aware that a man and a woman are walking towards her on the cliff path, and hoping not to be seen, she hides behind a rock.  Later that day, the newspaper reports that the man had pushed his wife from the cliff and had been charged with murder.  Vehemently denying the accusation, and maintaining that his wife fell from the cliff, the man claims that he passed a woman on the path...a woman who could verify that he was far behind his wife...that he called to her to be careful on the cliffs.  The police don't believe such a witness exists; in fact, they call her a phantom witness.  The case is sent to trial, with none other than Allen Dearden trying it.

Helen is in a panic, for, knowing how much the attorney general appointment means to her husband, she doesn't want to do or say anything which might create a scandal.  She realizes that to tell the truth would totally ruin Allen's career; yet to not tell the truth would send an innocent man to the gallows.  In the midst of Helen's agony of conscience, Allen himself has a dilemma of his own, as the woman to whom he wrote the letters wants to try her hand at blackmail as well.  How everything plays out is the balance of the film.


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Although not a spectacular film, The Unguarded Hour is very interesting and enjoyable, though I did feel it dragged just a tiny bit at one point...not enough to cause me to quit watching or to lower the rating, however.  Loretta Young, always so elegant and classy, was definitely so in this role.  Franchot Tone was dashing and handsome...even when wearing the white wig of an English barrister.  They played well off one another and made a delightful couple.

The film is not out on DVD; however, TCM airs it fairly regularly.  I've caught it on there at least twice in the last year.  It may also be on YouTube.  At least I've seen it there before, though I cannot find it now.

Happy viewing!!

Portrait in Black (4 stars)

Portrait in Black, from 1960, is a suspenseful, slightly mysterious drama/film noir starring Lana Turner and Anthony Quinn, with Richard Basehart, Sandra Dee, John Saxon, and Lloyd Nolan taking on supporting roles.  (Net Flix categorizes this film as noir; however, it is in color, which most noirs are not.)  With February being Lana's birthday month, I decided a re-watch of this whodunit was in order, and even though I was aware of the surprise ending, I enjoyed the film as much as I did on my first viewing.

Wealthy shipping magnate Matthew Cabot (Lloyd Nolan), a demanding, unkind man, conducts his business from the bedroom of his mansion.  An invalid, Matthew is attended by his doctor, David Rivera (Anthony Quinn), and his attorney, Howard Mason (Richard Basehart), both of whom make regular visits to the Cabot home.  Also attending to Matthew is his beautiful, much-younger wife, Sheila (Lana Turner), and though it would appear that Sheila is devoted to her husband, in actuality, she is in love with and having an affair with Dr. Rivera. 

After having her chauffeur supposedly take her shopping, Sheila rendezvouses with the doctor, who begs her to leave Matthew and run away with him.  Knowing Matthew would never give her a divorce or custody of their young son, Sheila insists she cannot leave, which makes David more determined than ever to leave town himself.  Being near her and wanting her, he says, would make it so easy to pick up a syringe and inject Matthew with something completely untraceable.  With that thought spoken aloud between them igniting the plan into action, David and Sheila plot Matthew's murder, and since Matthew was ill anyway, no one is the wiser when he soon passes away...or so they think.

After Matthew's funeral, David insists that he and Sheila cannot see each other for awhile, so as not to arouse suspicions.  Soon, though, Sheila receives an anonymous letter congratulating her on the success of her murder, and although they realize the need to keep their relationship secret, David and Sheila begin meeting with one another regularly as they try to determine who it is who sent the letter...who it is who knows Matthew's death was not of natural causes.

Could it be Howard Mason?  He has told Sheila he wants to marry her, adding that he usually gets what he wants.  Could it be the chauffeur, who has begun asking if Mrs. Cabot has been upset by her mail?  Could it be the maid, who is also acting very strangely?  Whoever it is, the murderous pair intends to silence that person by committing yet another murder.  How it all plays out is the balance of this exciting film.

Portrait in Black is a very interesting movie, and the twist at the end will totally surprise you; truly, I NEVER saw that coming.  Lana Turner is simply beautiful here, and her wardrobe is stunning.  I know many people think she was a horrible actress, but I, however, am not one of those people.  I think she was a very good actress, and here, in Portrait in Black, I thought she was wonderful and quite believable...a bit melodramatic perhaps, but that was in keeping with her character and her crime...and it's what Lana could do so beautifully.  Anthony Quinn seemed a bit miscast for a romantic role, but he definitely worked.  I felt the chemistry between him and Lana was good---their illicit love seemed real, as did the tension between them when things began to unravel.

The film is out on DVD; I have it as part of a Lana Turner double feature, with Madame X...one of my five favorite movies of all time.  Additionally, it is available in its entirety on YouTube (HERE).   If you like Lana Turner, Sandra Dee (who portrays Dee's stepdaughter, Kathy), surprise endings, or beautiful clothing, I think you will enjoy Portrait in Black.

Happy viewing!!

The Lodger (4 stars)

The Lodger, from 1944, is a suspenseful drama/mystery starring Merle Oberon, George Sanders, and Laird Cregar.  Set in London during the time of the Jack the Ripper killings, this film is perfect for stormy day or Halloween night viewing.  Although not a horror film by any stretch of the imagination, it definitely has that "scary movie" element to it.

Just after another young woman is killed by "The Ripper," an elderly couple rents their attic rooms to a man named Slade (Laird Cregar).  A strange man, Slade tells them he is as a pathologist, with erratic, late-night hours; therefore, he requests that they think of him not as a guest, but merely a lodger.  Upon moving in, Slade removes all the portraits from the walls of his bedroom, for, as he tells his landlords, it was as though the women's eyes were following him constantly.

The couple's niece, Kitty (Merle Oberon), lives with them, and in due time, Slade makes her acquaintance.  An aspiring actress, Kitty is beautiful and charming, and she seems to ignite something in Slade.  He is greatly interested in the fact that Kitty is a "theatre girl," which prompts Kitty to offer to get him tickets to one of her shows.

As the police continue to search for "The Ripper," they realize that the black bag-carrying man seems to target the young women of the theatre.  Eventually, everyone comes to believe that the man in the attic is the killer.  Is he though?  And is Kitty---a showgirl---safe from "The Ripper?"  Or will she be the man's next victim?  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.

This movie was entertaining and mildly suspenseful.  As one who absolutely cannot do frightening films, but who does like a small amount of suspense, I thoroughly enjoyed The Lodger.  I can in all honesty say that "we chickens" can watch this film without having to cover our eyes.  Merle Oberon is lovely here...perhaps the loveliest I have ever seen her.  And Laird Cregar...wow!!  He was totally stellar in this role.  Truly, he played his part to absolute perfection.  With his Vincent Price-sounding voice, he was gentle and quiet, yet creepy and menacing all at once.  No one could have played this part better than Mr. Cregar did.  He was Academy Award-worthy here, in my opinion.

This film is out on DVD, so it ought to be fairly easy to track down.  Additionally, it is on the TCM schedule for Tuesday, March 13th at 1:30 a.m.  Try to catch it if you can.

Happy viewing!!