Ténèbres à la lumière...

My writer Andrew Katsis...Takes a look at Director Josef von Sternberg's [Noir] "The Shanghai Gesture..." [1941] Starring V.Mature and G. Tierney...

2012-01-31T05:46:00.010-06:00

Written by: John Colton (play), Josef von Sternberg (adaptation), Geza Herczeg, Jules Furthman, Karl Vollmöller

Starring: Gene Tierney, Walter Huston, Victor Mature, Ona Munson, Phyllis Brooks, Albert Bassermann, Eric Blore

Having just watched The Shanghai Gesture (1941), I'm not even sure what to make of it. Was it a good film? Was it a complete mess? The 100 minutes unfolded like a drug-induced haze, the alluring scent of an opiate hanging thickly in the air.

Somehow, the film's plot – whatever it may have been about – seemed totally and utterly inconsequential, with director Josef von Sternberg placing additional, almost superfluous, importance on the development of mood. Indeed, aside from atmosphere, there's little else to keep you watching the film: the characters are sleazy and grotesque, the sort you'd expect to find at a seedy casino, its employees imbued with the mock dignity of one who deals exclusively in exploiting the weaknesses of lesser men.

[Pictured: Walter Huston...]
good cast – Walter Huston, Gene Tierney, Victor Mature, and Eric Blore– is not exactly wasted on such poorly-developed characters, but one gets the sense that even they are not exactly sure what they're doing in this place. But, if the film is a failure, then it's a genuinely fascinating one.
[Pictured: Ona Munson...]
"Mother" Gin Sling (Ona Munson, in unflattering Oriental make-up) is the mysterious and ruthless owner of a Shanghai casino, where desperate men come night or day to gamble their lives and fortunes.
Employee Doctor Omar (Victor Mature) does his best to charm the beautiful girls who come his way, in one night snagging both smart-talking American Dixie (Phyllis Brooks) and conceited rich-girl "Poppy" (Gene Tierney). When threatened with closure by wealthy entrepreneur Sir Guy Charteris (Walter Huston), Gin Sling springs into action, using her enormous influence to rebuff the challenge. The Shanghai Gesture is sometimes categorized as film noir.

[Pictured: Victor Mature...]
Certainly, other film noir pictures like Macao (1952), which Josef von Sternberg directed until he was replaced by Nicholas Ray, utilized a similarly exotic Asian setting, so the non-American locale doesn't immediately preclude it from consideration. In some ways, it fits the bill: every character in the film has a weakness – something to hide – through which they can be manipulated; a shady past that has come back to haunt them.

[Pictured: Gene Tierney...]
Despite being restricted by the provisions of the Production Code, The Shanghai Gesture is one of the sleaziest films of its era, leaving a bitter, uneasy taste in the mouth, despite impeccable production values. Hollywood's interpretation of Eastern cultural values was evidently unflattering, and every Asian character is utterly devoid of morals, with particularly prominence given to the proudly misogynistic attitudes of one Chinese employee who likes to brag of his polygyny. A shocking history of sex slavery is exposed, with New Year's Eve guests treated to a recreation of these ghastly practices (or, at least, we're told that it is merely a recreation).

[Pictured: Phyllis Brooks...]
But it isn't only the Chinese whose immorality is exposed, and even the seemingly upright Sir Guy betrays a suspect past, doomed finally to suffer for his perceived sins. Walter Huston is excellent as always, bringing conviction to a film in which everybody else seems uncertain of their roles. Gene Tierney, perhaps her most ravishing performance outside Laura (1944), isn't particularly convincing, but her falseness does strangely work, given the desperate phoniness of her character.

6/10

Currently, Andrew's #8 film of 1941:

1) Citizen Kane (Orson Welles)
2) The Maltese Falcon (John Huston) *
3) 49th Parallel (Michael Powell)
4) The Wolf Man (George Waggner)
5) Shadow of the Thin Man (W.S. Van Dyke)
6) Swamp Water (Jean Renoir)
7) High Sierra (Raoul Walsh) *
8) The Shanghai Gesture (Josef von Sternberg) *
9) Suspicion (Alfred Hitchcock) *

LAMB Acting School: 101...My Writer Andrew Katsis...Takes a look at actress Joan Crawford in the 1945 Film [Noir] "Mildred Pierce..."

2012-01-30T00:31:00.019-06:00

Mildred Pierce (1945)
Andrew Katsis said,"Personally, Veda convinced me that alligators have the right idea. They eat their young",
[NOTE: This review was first published by my writer on 21 April 2010]
***This review may contains spoilers***
Here on my other blog Ténèbres à la lumière: Translation Darkess To Light actress Joan Crawford is also featured too:
Actress Joan Crawford

According to writer Andrew Katsis "I recall seeing Joe Wright's 'Atonement (2007)' in the cinema, and being absolutely enraged at the character of Briony Tallis (played by Saoirse Ronan), who so selfishly and ruthlessly destroyed the lives of those close to her. I didn't think that any film could make me dislike a girl so strongly, but 'Mildred Pierce (1945)' wins the game, set, and match.

This classy noir drama from director Michael Curtiz is all about biting the hand that feeds you: single mother Mildred (Joan Crawford) does her utmost to provide for daughter Veda (Ann Blyth) – an obnoxious, loathsome, spoilt little brat – only to be betrayed and disparaged over and over. If true love is blind, then the love for one's children is even more so.

Crawford salvaged her flailing career with this excellent Oscar-winning turn, playing a strong, independent female character, but one whose daughter turns out to be her fatal weak-point (Veda is essentially the equivalent of the treacherous dame that tempts a traditional (male) noir protagonist).

"Mildred Pierce" opens with a vicious murder, the victim crying the name "Mildred" with his dying breath, and subsequently flashes back to the years leading up to this moment. From here, Curtiz (working from a novel by James M. Cain) pieces together a tragic story of love, lust, jealousy, loyalty and betrayal, and Ernest Haller's magnificent use of shadowy black-and-white photography keeps the sordidness at bay.

Aside from the female leads, the three male actors (Zachary Scott, Bruce Bennett and Jack Carson) each bring something different to their roles, but most impressive is Carson, playing a relentlessly cocky, and oddly likable, real-estate agent.
Throughout the film, there are a few moments that don't quite sit right: the death of younger daughter Kay (Jo Marlowe) seemed like an unnecessary tangent, as was Monte Beragon's improbable, offhand query of "I thought you had two daughters?"

However, the occasionally misstep can't dampen one's enjoyment of a premium 1940s noir melodrama. If nothing else, 'Mildred Pierce' will put you off having children, or, at least, will have you hoping for sons. "

[editor's note: Coming Up: I plan To Take a closer look at the [Film Noir] posters [and memorabilia] Of actress Joan Crawford here on Ténèbres à la lumière...Translation: Darkness To Light and...
...To Visit Miss Crawford's very informative and Official Website Just Follow This Link To..."Joan Crawford Best Of Everything..."

...Thank-you,]

Holding An Auction...These are the last batch Of [Which includes 5 TITLES CARDS] Lobby Cards For The Month Of January...Happy Bidding!...

2012-01-27T17:49:00.005-06:00

[editor's note: This END Of The month Of JANUARY "Jewel in the Crown..."

The Title Lobby card is from a Western Film Noir entitled "RAMROD...Original United Artists 1947 NSS 47/107 Ramrod 11"x14" Title lobby card starring, Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake and Don DeFore. Lobby card is in very good condition. All items listed are authentic items used by theaters. NO REPRODUCTIONS."

In Order To Take an [UPCLOSE...] Look at the New Cards added To This Month Batch Of Lobby Cards Just Follow The link To:Taking a look at This Week Lobby Cards ] and here:TAKING A LOOK AT FIVE "JEWELS IN THE CROWN..." THE TITLE CARDS

In the days before multiplexes, movie theaters generally only had one screen and one movie. To boost ticket sales, studios printed paper advertisements of their films to entice potential audience members.

One of the more collectible forms of these ads was the lobby card, a small piece of card stock that theaters posted in their lobbies to promote a featured film. In a sense, the lobby card was the small relative of the movie poster.

The first lobby cards, introduced around 1910, measured eight by 10 inches and were printed in black and white. Eventually, with advances in heliotype and photogelatin techniques, these cards had three colors (blue, yellow, and pink). Other cards were hand-colored using a stencil.

The eight- by 10-inch cards quickly gave way to 11- by 14-inch cards, which became known as the “standard” size. In the 1920s, a “jumbo” size was introduced which measured 14 by 17 inches. Finally, the “mini” size was introduced in the 1930s as a rebirth of the eight by 10 size (another version was printed on eight- by 14-inch stock).

Jumbo cards were printed on their own, not as part of a series, but mini and standard lobby cards generally came in sets of eight, though sets of nine, 12, and even 16 or more were not uncommon.
The first card in these sets was almost always the title card, which included an attention-grabbing image alongside the film’s title, slogan, and main acting credits. As a notable exception, Paramount never printed title cards.

[Pictured: The "Jewel in the Crown" the 1946 title card from the film "The Brasher Doubloon..."]
To Check-Out "The Brasher Doubloon" Lobby Cards Up Close and Personal Just Follow This Link to...
"The Brasher Doubloon"
Following the title card were several “scene” cards, which featured still shots from the film. The first two or three scene cards generally promoted the major stars; the two or three after that usually showed minor actors.
[editor's note: What makes the eight lobby cards from the 1946 film "The Brasher Doubloon" unique is the fact, that the main stars are featured in all 8 lobby cards...]
The last card or two in the set are known today as “dead cards,” a phrase coined by movie-art collectors because these cards are generally the least desirable in the set. These cards depict extras or scenery from the film.

All of these cards were numbered in the order they were supposed to appear in the series. Before the 1960s, a card’s identifying number could be found in the corner of the artwork. In the ’60s, the number was moved to the bottom border of the card.

Collectors generally prize lobby cards based on the order they appeared in a set—title cards are considered the most valuable, followed by those with major actors, those with minor actors, and finally the dead cards. Collectors generally only bother with dead cards when they are trying to complete a full set.

Holding An Auction...Taking a look at this month 2nd "Batch Of Lobby Cards..." with director William Beaudine's "Below The Deadline..."

2012-01-13T21:14:00.008-06:00

[editor's note: This month Of JANUARY "Jewel in the Crown..."

The Title Lobby card from a late 1946 Film Noir entitled "Below The Deadline..."
Which is an Original Monogram 1946 lobby card...The Deadline 11"x14" Title lobby card starring, Warren Douglas and Ramsay Ames. Lobby card is in good condition. All items are authentic items used by theaters. NO REPRODUCTIONS.

In Order To Take an [UPCLOSE...] Look at the New Cards added To This Month Batch Of Lobby Cards Just Follow The link To:Taking a look at This Week Lobby Cards ]

In the days before multiplexes, movie theaters generally only had one screen and one movie. To boost ticket sales, studios printed paper advertisements of their films to entice potential audience members.

One of the more collectible forms of these ads was the lobby card, a small piece of card stock that theaters posted in their lobbies to promote a featured film. In a sense, the lobby card was the small relative of the movie poster.

The first lobby cards, introduced around 1910, measured eight by 10 inches and were printed in black and white. Eventually, with advances in heliotype and photogelatin techniques, these cards had three colors (blue, yellow, and pink). Other cards were hand-colored using a stencil.

The eight- by 10-inch cards quickly gave way to 11- by 14-inch cards, which became known as the “standard” size. In the 1920s, a “jumbo” size was introduced which measured 14 by 17 inches. Finally, the “mini” size was introduced in the 1930s as a rebirth of the eight by 10 size (another version was printed on eight- by 14-inch stock).

Jumbo cards were printed on their own, not as part of a series, but mini and standard lobby cards generally came in sets of eight, though sets of nine, 12, and even 16 or more were not uncommon.
The first card in these sets was almost always the title card, which included an attention-grabbing image alongside the film’s title, slogan, and main acting credits. As a notable exception, Paramount never printed title cards.

[Pictured: The "Jewel in the Crown" the 1946 title card from the film "The Brasher Doubloon..."]
To Check-Out "The Brasher Doubloon" Lobby Cards Up Close and Personal Just Follow This Link to...
"The Brasher Doubloon"
Following the title card were several “scene” cards, which featured still shots from the film. The first two or three scene cards generally promoted the major stars; the two or three after that usually showed minor actors.
[editor's note: What makes the eight lobby cards from the 1946 film "The Brasher Doubloon" unique is the fact, that the main stars are featured in all 8 lobby cards...]
The last card or two in the set are known today as “dead cards,” a phrase coined by movie-art collectors because these cards are generally the least desirable in the set. These cards depict extras or scenery from the film.

All of these cards were numbered in the order they were supposed to appear in the series. Before the 1960s, a card’s identifying number could be found in the corner of the artwork. In the ’60s, the number was moved to the bottom border of the card.

Collectors generally prize lobby cards based on the order they appeared in a set—title cards are considered the most valuable, followed by those with major actors, those with minor actors, and finally the dead cards. Collectors generally only bother with dead cards when they are trying to complete a full set.

Holding An Auction...Taking a look at this month "Batch Of Lobby Cards..." with Director Tourneur's "Night-Fall..." The Jewel in The Crown...

2012-01-07T19:25:00.014-06:00

[editor's note: This month Of JANUARY "Jewel in the Crown" The Title Lobby card from a late 1957 Film Noir entitled "NIGHT-FALL..."

In Order To Take an [UPCLOSE...] Look at the New Cards added To This Month Batch Of Lobby Cards Just Follow The link To:Taking a look at This Week Lobby Cards ]

In the days before multiplexes, movie theaters generally only had one screen and one movie. To boost ticket sales, studios printed paper advertisements of their films to entice potential audience members.

One of the more collectible forms of these ads was the lobby card, a small piece of card stock that theaters posted in their lobbies to promote a featured film. In a sense, the lobby card was the small relative of the movie poster.

The first lobby cards, introduced around 1910, measured eight by 10 inches and were printed in black and white. Eventually, with advances in heliotype and photogelatin techniques, these cards had three colors (blue, yellow, and pink). Other cards were hand-colored using a stencil.

The eight- by 10-inch cards quickly gave way to 11- by 14-inch cards, which became known as the “standard” size. In the 1920s, a “jumbo” size was introduced which measured 14 by 17 inches. Finally, the “mini” size was introduced in the 1930s as a rebirth of the eight by 10 size (another version was printed on eight- by 14-inch stock).

Jumbo cards were printed on their own, not as part of a series, but mini and standard lobby cards generally came in sets of eight, though sets of nine, 12, and even 16 or more were not uncommon.
The first card in these sets was almost always the title card, which included an attention-grabbing image alongside the film’s title, slogan, and main acting credits. As a notable exception, Paramount never printed title cards.

[Pictured: The "Jewel in the Crown" the 1946 title card from the film "The Brasher Doubloon..."]
To Check-Out "The Brasher Doubloon" Lobby Cards Up Close and Personal Just Follow This Link to...
"The Brasher Doubloon"
Following the title card were several “scene” cards, which featured still shots from the film. The first two or three scene cards generally promoted the major stars; the two or three after that usually showed minor actors.
[editor's note: What makes the eight lobby cards from the 1946 film "The Brasher Doubloon" unique is the fact, that the main stars are featured in all 8 lobby cards...]
The last card or two in the set are known today as “dead cards,” a phrase coined by movie-art collectors because these cards are generally the least desirable in the set. These cards depict extras or scenery from the film.

All of these cards were numbered in the order they were supposed to appear in the series. Before the 1960s, a card’s identifying number could be found in the corner of the artwork. In the ’60s, the number was moved to the bottom border of the card.

Collectors generally prize lobby cards based on the order they appeared in a set—title cards are considered the most valuable, followed by those with major actors, those with minor actors, and finally the dead cards. Collectors generally only bother with dead cards when they are trying to complete a full set.

Coming Up Taking a Look at Crime-Scene Photographer...WeeGee...Pictured Here With Director Stanley Kubrick...With his Camera, but Of Course!...

2012-01-04T14:42:00.007-06:00

Coming Up Taking a Look at Crime-Scene Photographer...WeeGee...Pictured Here With Director Stanley Kubrick...and Showing Kubrick The Instrument Of his trade...his [Wee-gee] Camera, but Of Course!...To View Some Grisly Crime Scene Taking by photographer Wee-gee...Just Follow This Link To...
GOTHAMIST...Grisley Crime Scene Photos
and To Take a look at his Non-Grisley Work On Film Just Follow This Link To...
Wee-gee...Over There at Strong Photographer...

Coming Up...Film Noir News: This Month Film Noir Puffer, Taking a look at Bogie's Life and Times, The FNF Countdown To Noir City 10 [X] and More...

2012-01-02T03:33:00.011-06:00

[editor's note: To Find out what film noir star [For The Month Of January] is smoking Chesterfield and not Lucky Strike stay tune for tomorrow post over there at Ténèbres à la lumière Which Translate To...Darkness To Light...

Coming Up My On-going look at actor Humphrey "Bogie" Bogart Life and Times...Taking a look at actress/dancer Vera Zorina in my new on-going series "Femme in the World Of Film Noir and Beyond" as I also plan to take a look at Brit actor Richard Greene, [Life and Times] as I look at England at War in Films during World War II...

...I also plan to feature memorabilia from Director John Huston 1941 film "The Maltese Falcon" as I pay homage to The Film Noir Foundation look at Writer Dashiell Hammett at Noir City 10 [X] later this month at the Castro Theatre.]

Therefore, Keep Your "Eye" On Ténèbres à la lumière Which Translate To...Darkness To Light...Thanks,

Happy Birthday! Bogie...Here Looking at You Kid...As I Take a Look at Humphrey Bogart [Incredible] Life and Times from 12/25/2011 to 01/14/2011....

2011-12-24T23:20:00.002-06:00

[pictured: actor Humphrey "Bogie" Bogart...Bogie was born on Christmas Day and Tomorrow 12/25/2011- up until 01/14/2012...I plan to take a look at his incredible life and Times...Then Six Days later Noir City 10 begins...

Therefore, please stay tune as I plan to take a look at the film[noir] that will be screened at author Eddie Muller's Noir City 10...Followed by a contest announcement...Thank-you,]

Taking a Look at Humphrey Bogart Incredible Life and Times as The Day Of His Birth [December 25, 1899] Approaches Until The Day Of His Death [January 14, 1957] ...I plan to take a look at his Film Career and Private Life...
Here Goes a couple Of interesting links to get you started On The Journey:
Filmnoire...Ténèbres à la lumière...Translation: Darkness To Light
Bogie's Filmography
Bogart Films...Thanks, to Warner Bros.
actor Humphrey Bogart's Official Website Created by my friend Gary's 39 Images
Bogie over there on Facebook
Bogie over there on Twitter

Thank-you,

Coming Up: The 10th Annual San Francisco Film Noir Festival...Will Take Place On...January 20, 2012- January 29,2012...Thanks,..

2011-12-17T19:07:00.016-06:00

For Information about Noir Cit-X Line-Up Information...Just Follow This Link To...NoirCity-X Information...

...and to my blog post at the bottom Of the page...Here: NoirCity-X Information...Courtesy Of The Film Noir Foundation...@

Thanks,

The Film Noir Foundation has also funded a new 35mm preservation of the "lost" 1946 classic Three Strangers, which had no viewable prints and has never been released on DVD.
Three Strangers

[actor Peter Lorre [above] and actor Sydney Greenstreet [below] in the 1946 film "Three Strangers..."]
NOIR CITY is also proud to have been chosen to premiere the Film Foundation's recently completed preservation of the superb 1950 Michael Curtiz film The Breaking Point, starring John Garfield...

[editor's note: I'm not sure if this is the same print released through Warner Bros. Archives or another print Of the 1950 film that was preserved???...I will try to find out...and post the information.

I would like to take the time to acknowledge all the great work that author Eddie Muller, Anita Monga, and the entire Film Noir Foundation cast and crew...is doing when it comes to trying to preserve and have new prints Of these wonderful classic films saved for future generation...kudos to Eddie, [Muller] Anita, [Monga] The Film Noir Foundation Cast and Crew...Here looking at you... Hat Tip: As I tip Bogie's Fedora in your direction.

Thanks, for all you do!]

[This page is Courtesy Of [and copyrighted by @

The Film Noir Foundation...For More Information Just Follow This Link...NoirCity... ]Thanks,

Taking a Look at Humphrey Bogart Life and Times as The Day Of His Birth Approaches Until The Day Of His Death...I plan to look at his Film Career ...

2011-12-17T15:19:00.015-06:00

[pictured: actor Humphrey Bogart in a scene from the 1932 film "Three On A Match" starring B.Davis, J.Blondell, and A.Dvorak...]

...As I continue to take a look at actor Humphrey Bogart [Bogie's Life and Times] I want to take the time to direct you to a couple Of website that are pay homage to Bogie...too!

Over There on Filmsnoir.net Tony D'Ambra mention Bogie in an excellent review here:
Film Noir and the Classic Hollywood Narrative
and here goes a website that I have posted on my own Ning that feature several posters and Lobby cards that Bogie appeared in during his illustrious film career.
1.Walter Film...Museum
and
2.Bogie Memorabilia Over There at Walter Film...

However, one man is going to pay tribute to Bogart in a grand-way or on a grand scale January 20, 2012- January 29, 2012 and that is author Eddie Muller as Noir City X feature or pay homage to writer Dashiell Hammett by screening two films that will feature actor Humphrey Bogart in San Francisco at NoirCity X... Noir City

Coming Up: NOIR CITY X-MAS IN JUST 2 DAYS...JUST FOLLOW THE LINKS BELOW THE POSTER OF [GANGSTER NOIR] SANTA AND HIS HELPER [MOLL] FOR MORE INFORMATION

2011-12-12T12:19:00.015-06:00

Ho Ho Ho...Just Follow This Link To THE BEAUTIFUL NOIRCITY... AND THIS LINK TO...BROWN PAPER TICKETS INFORMATION...
and FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NOIRCITY X-MAS JUST VISIT MY
Film Noire Ning...Darkness To Light
Thanks,

The Last Batch Of Lobby Cards For December...I Don't Plan To Add New Lobby Cards To The Slide-roll and my Ning...Until January 01,2012..Thank-you.

2011-12-10T11:08:00.014-06:00

[editor's note: This month Of December "Jewel in the Crown" The Title Lobby card from a film entitled "The Seventh Sin..."

In Order To Take a Look at New Cards added To This Month Batch Of Lobby Cards Just Follow The link To:Taking a look at This Week Lobby Cards ]

In the days before multiplexes, movie theaters generally only had one screen and one movie. To boost ticket sales, studios printed paper advertisements of their films to entice potential audience members.

One of the more collectible forms of these ads was the lobby card, a small piece of card stock that theaters posted in their lobbies to promote a featured film. In a sense, the lobby card was the small relative of the movie poster.

The first lobby cards, introduced around 1910, measured eight by 10 inches and were printed in black and white. Eventually, with advances in heliotype and photogelatin techniques, these cards had three colors (blue, yellow, and pink). Other cards were hand-colored using a stencil.

The eight- by 10-inch cards quickly gave way to 11- by 14-inch cards, which became known as the “standard” size. In the 1920s, a “jumbo” size was introduced which measured 14 by 17 inches. Finally, the “mini” size was introduced in the 1930s as a rebirth of the eight by 10 size (another version was printed on eight- by 14-inch stock).

Jumbo cards were printed on their own, not as part of a series, but mini and standard lobby cards generally came in sets of eight, though sets of nine, 12, and even 16 or more were not uncommon.
The first card in these sets was almost always the title card, which included an attention-grabbing image alongside the film’s title, slogan, and main acting credits. As a notable exception, Paramount never printed title cards.

[Pictured: The "Jewel in the Crown" the 1946 title card from the film "The Brasher Doubloon..."]
To Check-Out "The Brasher Doubloon" Lobby Cards Up Close and Personal Just Follow This Link to...
"The Brasher Doubloon"
Following the title card were several “scene” cards, which featured still shots from the film. The first two or three scene cards generally promoted the major stars; the two or three after that usually showed minor actors.
[editor's note: What makes the eight lobby cards from the 1946 film "The Brasher Doubloon" unique is the fact, that the main stars are featured in all 8 lobby cards...]
The last card or two in the set are known today as “dead cards,” a phrase coined by movie-art collectors because these cards are generally the least desirable in the set. These cards depict extras or scenery from the film.

All of these cards were numbered in the order they were supposed to appear in the series. Before the 1960s, a card’s identifying number could be found in the corner of the artwork. In the ’60s, the number was moved to the bottom border of the card.

Collectors generally prize lobby cards based on the order they appeared in a set—title cards are considered the most valuable, followed by those with major actors, those with minor actors, and finally the dead cards. Collectors generally only bother with dead cards when they are trying to complete a full set.

Happy Birthday! To a Film Noir Icon...actor Kirk Douglas...as he turns 95 years old Today...

2011-12-09T10:38:00.010-06:00

[Pictured: a Caricature Of actor Kirk Douglas as he turns 95 years old Today...I plan to take a look at his career in the upcoming days Over There at my Film Noire Ning...Darkness To Light...Thanks,]

The Classic Films That Read Like a Book Series...Taking a Look at author Raymond Chandler's "The High Window..."

2011-11-25T09:44:00.024-06:00

[Pictured: "The Jewel in the Crown" the title lobby card from the 1946 film "The Brasher Doubloon."]
Raymond Chandler's famed detective Philip Marlowe (George Montgomery) is hired by a rich, eccentric widow, Mrs. Murdock (Florence Bates) to find and return a stolen gold coin. Marlowe quickly finds himself involved an a case which includes robbery, blackmail and murder. Just as Marlowe begins to solve the mystery, he is savagely beaten by Vannier (Fritz Kortner).
[editor's note:If you "tap" the pictures you can take a closer look, but over there on my [Film Noire Ning] you can take a really up-close and personal look at...author Raymond Chandler's memorabilia and soon so much more...too!]

Marlowe finally puts all the pieces of the puzzle together when he discovers a blackmail scheme involving Murdock's mentally-ill secretary, Merle Davis (Nancy Guild) which leads him to suspect his employer. The Brasher Doubloon, adapted from Chandler's novel, The High Window, and beautifully photographed by Lloyd Ahern captures a proper film noir sensibility with its moody, low-key images and dense, dark background shots, while failing to capture the complexity of the novel.

Director John Brahm, who also directed the excellent film The Lodger and Hangover Square, is disappointing, failing to create the depth of characterization and plot which he showed in these films. The Brasher Doubloon remains bland, with undistinguished acting by the entire cast. The only exception is Fritz Kortner, a veteran character actor molded in the expressionist cinema of pre-war Berlin, who creates the grotesque character of Vannier, bringing a sense of evil vitality to an otherwise bland production.
THIS REVIEW IS COURTESY OF ALLROVI@

[editor's note:
I plan to take a real close look at memorabilia from the 1946 film "The Brasher Doubloon" based on author Raymond Chandler's book "The High Window" over there on my Film Noire Ning.

The Question On Readers Mind...
Is this film available on DVDs?
Well, the answer is Yes and No...
...I find it to be very fortunate that this film has been restored by 20th Century Fox and have commentary that features both author Eddie Muller and actor Conrad Janis which have been added to the track, but I find it very unfortunate, that this film is still sitting on 20th Century Fox film shelf [collecting dust...no doubt...Due, perhaps to behind the scene wrangling and copyright issues. ]

Link(s) Of Interests:
Monongahelabooks
Chandler and Sothebys
Raymond Chandler's Life and Career in Sale Of his Books and Papers

Raymond Chandler Film Festival (Unknown, 1988). Polish One Sheet (Featuring actor Humphrey Bogart)

2011-11-23T10:36:00.012-06:00

Raymond Chandler Film Festival (Unknown, 1988). Polish One Sheet (26" X 37.5"). Film Noir.
This great poster of Humphrey Bogart depicting Phillip Marlowe was for a Raymond Chandler film festival in Poland. Chandler, the prolific mystery author of such novels as The Big Sleep, The Blue Dahlia , Double Indemnity and Lady in the Lake , had many of his works turned into some of the finest film noir movies of all time. He wrote the screenplay adaptations for several of these films as well. An unrestored poster that appears virtually unused. Closer inspection may reveal one or two minor flaws, or light edge wear. Please see full-color, enlargeable image below for more details. Wonderful artwork by Waldemar Swierzy. Rolled, Very Fine/Near Mint.

NO# 1. RAYMOND CHANDLER FILM FESTIVAL (UNKNOWN, 1988)
NO#2. The Classic Films That Read Like a Book series Taking a look at the Classics]

[EDITOR'S NOTE: IN ORDER TO VIEW THE LOBBY CARDS, POSTERS, AND ALL MEMORABILIA UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL JUST "TAP" THE MEMORABILIA ON THIS PAGE...THIS WILL TAKE YOU TO ANOTHER PAGE AND THERE YOU WILL SEE THE SET SMALL THEN "TAP' THE IMAGES AGAIN…]

Coming Up...Taking An In-Depth Look at author Raymond Chandler Life and Times...The Man, and Those Novels...Starting with his book "The Big Sleep..."

2011-11-22T09:51:00.013-06:00

[Editor Note: I plan to add a link To My Darkness To Light Website...As I Plan To Discuss The Man and His Novel, His Work On Films, and His Illustrious Life and Times. ]

Coming-Up: Tuesday at The Rag-Tag Cinema...The Tragic Film Noir..."Leave Her To Heaven..." Starring G.Tierney, C.Wilde, J.Crain, and V. Price...

2011-11-21T10:32:00.005-06:00

Coming-Up Tomorrow [Tuesday] November 22, 2011... at Rag-Tag Cinema...actress Gene Tierney in "Leave Her To Heaven..."

Rag-Tag Films
Rag-Tag Films
Film Noire...Darkness To Light

HOLDING AN AUCTION...Taking a look at eleven additional film noir and non-film noir lobby cards added to the list Of last week lobby cards...

2011-11-19T06:54:00.012-06:00

In the days before multiplexes, movie theaters generally only had one screen and one movie. To boost ticket sales, studios printed paper advertisements of their films to entice potential audience members.

One of the more collectible forms of these ads was the lobby card, a small piece of card stock that theaters posted in their lobbies to promote a featured film. In a sense, the lobby card was the small relative of the movie poster.

The first lobby cards, introduced around 1910, measured eight by 10 inches and were printed in black and white. Eventually, with advances in heliotype and photogelatin techniques, these cards had three colors (blue, yellow, and pink). Other cards were hand-colored using a stencil.

The eight- by 10-inch cards quickly gave way to 11- by 14-inch cards, which became known as the “standard” size. In the 1920s, a “jumbo” size was introduced which measured 14 by 17 inches. Finally, the “mini” size was introduced in the 1930s as a rebirth of the eight by 10 size (another version was printed on eight- by 14-inch stock).

Jumbo cards were printed on their own, not as part of a series, but mini and standard lobby cards generally came in sets of eight, though sets of nine, 12, and even 16 or more were not uncommon. The first card in these sets was almost always the title card, which included an attention-grabbing image alongside the film’s title, slogan, and main acting credits. As a notable exception, Paramount never printed title cards.

Following the title card were several “scene” cards, which featured still shots from the film. The first two or three scene cards generally promoted the major stars; the two or three after that usually showed minor actors.

The last card or two in the set are known today as “dead cards,” a phrase coined by movie-art collectors because these cards are generally the least desirable in the set. These cards depict extras or scenery from the film.

All of these cards were numbered in the order they were supposed to appear in the series. Before the 1960s, a card’s identifying number could be found in the corner of the artwork. In the ’60s, the number was moved to the bottom border of the card.

Collectors generally prize lobby cards based on the order they appeared in a set—title cards are considered the most valuable, followed by those with major actors, those with minor actors, and finally the dead cards. Collectors generally only bother with dead cards when they are trying to complete a full set.

Taking a look at This Week Lobby Cards

NOIR CITY XMAS Is Coming!...A NOIR CITY XMAS ...will occur again this year, Wednesday, December 14, at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco...

2011-11-18T09:47:00.008-06:00

[Pictured: actor Gene Kelly and actress Deanna Durbin in the very film noirish Christmas tale..."A Christmas Holiday."]

NOIR CITY XMAS Is Coming!
A NOIR CITY XMAS will occur again this year, Wednesday, December 14, at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. The FNF presents two noir-stained yuletide yarns starring America's Sweetheart, Deanna Durbin—Robert Siodmak's mesmerizing 1944 Christmas Holiday, and the rarely screened 1945 noir comedy Lady On a Train.

The evening will also include the announcement of the program for NOIR CITY X, the 10th Anniversary edition of the world's most popular film noir festival, and the debut of the latest NOIR CITY poster, featuring Ms. Noir City 2012. Expect other surprises, as well. Mark your calendar!

NOIR CITY XMAS Is Coming!...A NOIR CITY XMAS ...will occur again this year, Wednesday, December 14, at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco...

2011-11-17T07:07:00.014-06:00

[Pictured: Actor Dan Duryea, [Duryea is film noir fans favorite noir meany...lol] actress Deanna Durbin and actor Ralph Bellamy.]

NOIR CITY XMAS Is Coming!
A NOIR CITY XMAS will occur again this year, Wednesday, December 14, at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. The FNF presents two noir-stained yuletide yarns starring America's Sweetheart, Deanna Durbin—Robert Siodmak's mesmerizing 1944 Christmas Holiday, and the rarely screened 1945 noir comedy Lady On a Train.

[Actress Deanna Durbin Singing "Silent Night..." in the 1945 film "Lady On A Train..." The photographs are Courtesy Of Deanna Durbin Devotees ]

The evening will also include the announcement of the program for NOIR CITY X, the 10th Anniversary edition of the world's most popular film noir festival, and the debut of the latest NOIR CITY poster, featuring Ms. Noir City 2012. Expect other surprises, as well. Mark your calendar!

Coming Up Over There at "Darkness To Light..." Taking a look at Warner's 1947 Film "The Unsuspected" Starring actor Claude Rains and Audrey Totter...

2011-11-11T05:28:00.005-06:00

[Pictured: Actor Claude Rains [as Victor Grandison] in a Scene from the 1947 film "The Unsuspected..."Coming Up Over There at "Darkness To Light..." Taking a look at Warner's 1947 Film "The Unsuspected" Starring actor Claude Rains and Audrey Totter...]
DARKNESS TO LIGHT...

Taking a look at actress Virginia Mayo...In Order To Take a look at Miss Mayo's life and Times just follow the link over there to "Darkness To...

2011-11-08T10:30:00.006-06:00

[Pictured: actor D.Andrew, V.Mayo and S.Cochran...in "The Best Years Of Our Lives..."
Taking a look at actress Virginia Mayo...In Order To Take a look at Miss Mayo's life and Times just follow the link over there to "Darkness To Light..."
Virginia Mayo

Coming Up...In The Month Of December Taking a look at the author Of the "The Thin Man..." and "The Maltese Falcon..." author Dashiell Hammett...

2011-11-07T10:12:00.011-06:00

Writer Dashiell Hammett Testify Before The Senate in 1953....

Actress Virginia Mayo...Not To Be Politically Correct, but Should Film noir actress Virginia Mayo have Smoked Ciggies(?)...

2011-11-07T09:20:00.013-06:00

This Month Film Noir Puffer Is Actress Virginia Mayo [Pictured here with actor James Cagney in White Heat]...In order to read more about this very versatile actress just follow this link to...Virginia Mayo's Official Website...Thanks

Taking a Up-Close and Personal Look at Film Noir Memorabilia...Over There at Darkness To Light...This Week Taking a Look at Lancaster...

2011-11-06T10:05:00.004-06:00

[Pictured Actors Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster and actress Lizabeth Scott in the 1948 film "I Walk Alone..."]
Next Week Rare Film Noir Memorabilia...Lancaster,Tierney, Scott, Taylor,Gardner,Price,Hodiak and Laughton

This Month Film Noir Puffer...[Not To Be Politically Correct, But Should Film Noir Actress...] Last month it was actress Dorothy Lamour This Month...

2011-11-06T09:44:00.005-06:00

[Pictured Actor Tyrone Powers and Dorothy Lamour in "Johnny Apollo..."
It Is Film Noir Actress_________ Just Follow The Link Tomorrow in order to find out who next month Not To Be Politically Correct,But Should Film Noir Actress... have puffed on ciggies...

Coming To The Castro Theatre..."FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18 DARK COUNTRY in 3D ...7:30 With "Hung" Star Thomas Jane In-Person!...

2011-11-05T08:40:00.006-05:00

Join NOIR CITY’s Eddie Muller as he hosts actor/director Thomas Jane for a very special one-time-only screening of Jane’s 2009 horror-noir thriller Dark Country—finally presented theatrically in its original 3D format. In this eerie, phantasmagorical road movie, a man (Jane) awakens hung over in a motel outside Vegas, in bed with a woman (sexy Lauren German) whom he married in a drunken haze the night before. The randy pair drive off into the darkening desert … to a bizarre and unexpected fate. As a director, Jane displays a startling knack for lurid comic-book-style visuals (he was The Punisher, after all), and a savvy knowledge of film noir tropes.
DARK COUNTY IN 3D AND TO BE SCREENED AT THE CASTRO ON NOVEMBER 18,2011...AUTHOR EDDIE MULLER WILL BE PRESENTING AND MR.THOMAS JANE WILL BE THE GUEST OF HONOUR...THEREFORE,MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

The Film Noir Foundation's own Eddie Muller will be presenting one of the rare public screenings in 3D of Thomas Jane's horror-noir thriller Dark County, with the very cool Mr. Jane in person, at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on Friday, November 18. Their onstage discussion will be filmed for inclusion in the deluxe DVD release of the film. The event will be co-presented by the Film Noir Foundation. This film was originally intended to be released in 3D, but Sony pulled back at the last minute... this will be one of the few times you can see the film as it was intended to be seen ... big and in three dimensions. Mark your calendar!

While Surfing The Web...I Stumble Upon This Very "noirish" Website that focus On Magazine Covers...Win Scott Eckert is the editor of and a...

2011-11-03T09:59:00.008-05:00

Win Scott Eckert is the editor of and a contributor to MYTHS FOR THE MODERN AGE: PHILIP JOSE FARMER'S WOLD NEWTON UNIVERSE, (MonkeyBrain Books, 2005), a 2007 Locus Awards finalist, and has written pulp tales for a yearly anthology of Wold-Newtonian stories, TALES OF THE SHADOW-MEN Vols. 1-7 (Black Coat Press, 2005-2010). He also contributed stories for Moonstone Books' THE AVENGER CHRONICLES (2008), THE PHANTOM CHRONICLES 2 (2010), & THE CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT CHRONICLES (2010), THE GREEN HORNET CHRONICLES (which he is also co-edited, 2010) and the forthcoming MORE TALES OF ZORRO (2011). He was honored to write the Foreword to Farmer's seminal "fictional biography" TARZAN ALIVE (Bison Books, 2006), and has contributed a tale about the origin of the Wold Newton Family to THE WORLDS OF PHILIP JOSE FARMER 1: PROTEAN DIMENSIONS (Meteor House, 2010). Win's latest books are CROSSOVERS: A SECRET CHRONOLOGY OF THE WORLD 1 & 2 (Black Coat Press, 2010) and the Wold Newton novel THE EVIL IN PEMBERLEY HOUSE, about Patricia Wildman, the daughter of a certain bronze-skinned pulp hero (co-authored with Philip Jose Farmer, Subterranean Press, 2009).

Win Scott Newton's Picture Of The Day

In The Spotlight...Actress Lizabeth Scott...Over There at "Darkness To Light..." Taking a Closer Look at 5 photographs Of Miss Lizabeth Scott...

2011-11-01T14:36:00.008-05:00

[Pictured: Actress Lizabeth Scott in order to view the photographs Of Miss Scott...Just follow the link...
On The Set Of "The Strange Loves Of Martha Ivers...

Miss Scott is the actress that I chosen to be featured in my on-going series..."In The Spotlight with author Eddie Muller" [The President Of The Film Noir Foundation] as I try to help bring more attention to his [E.M., Anita Monga, and the FNF Staff] very worthy film-saving cause...too! ]
Thank-you,

Taking a look at actor Robert Walker in the 1944 film"Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo..." with S. Tracy, V.Johnson and R. Mitchum...

2011-11-01T14:23:00.004-05:00

[Pictured actor Robert Walker and actor Van Johnson... To View Memorabilia Just Follow This link...Robert Walker in "30 Second Over Tokyo." ]

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo is a 1944 MGM. This was based on a book of the same title by Doolittle Raider pilot Captain Ted W. James P. AMERICA STRIKES BACK! After Pearl Harbor, America seemed to have lost the war before it had begun. Col. Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) Directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo: Information from Answers.com Plot Billed third, Spencer Tracy plays Lt. Lawson. Actors: Van Johnson: Ted Lawson - Crew of the Ruptured Duck Robert Walker: David Thatcher - Crew of the Ruptured Duck Tim Murdock. . In the wake of Pearl Harbor, a young lieutenant leaves his expectant wife to volunteer for a. Doolittle, who led the bombing raid over Tokyo. war film. Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) -

Overview - MSN Movies Billed third, Spencer Tracy plays Lt. Doolittle, who led the bombing raid over Tokyo. BARNES & NOBLE | Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo by Ted W. With Van Johnson, Robert Walker, Tim Murdock. Allied forces were being beaten across the Pacific by the Japanese. Amazon.com: Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo: Spencer Tracy, Van Johnson

RAGTAG SERIES EVERY TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER THRU DECEMBER: NO HAPPY ENDINGS!

2011-10-31T07:24:00.012-05:00

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
[Pictured: Actor Robert Mitchum and actress Jane Greer...as Jeff Bailey and Kathy...]

This fall, Ragtag celebrates the world of film noir with six films — both celebrated masterpieces and forgotten gems — from one of the greatest eras of American filmmaking. Tuesdays at 6:30 starting Nov. 1 (except Kiss Me Deadly on Dec. 6 which shows at 7:30pm).

Nov. 1: Out of the Past (1947) A detective (Robert Mitchum), is given the job of finding a missing person, a tale that blends postwar fatalism, hard-boiled dialogue, dangerous sex and luscious black-and-white photography. One of the essentials of film noir.

For More Information Just Follow The Link...
RagTag Film Cinema...

This All Hallow-Eve Looking at Three Film [Noir] Of Horror From 20th Century Fox..."The Lodger," "Hang-Over Square" and "The UnDying Monster..."

2011-10-30T08:10:00.003-05:00

The Undying Monster...Starring James Ellison, Heather Angel, John Howard...

Produced By Brian Foy From The Novel By Jessie Douglas Kerruish

Director John Brahn's terrifying take on the werewolf mythos makes an imaginative and unforgettable addition to the genre in this suspenseful classic that's "well worth seeking out." (The Astounding B Monster)!

When Helga Hammond (Heather Angel) hear of a legend that an unholy alliance was formed between the devil and her family, whereby a male member of the family is to be sacrificed every few years, she discount it as nonsense. But a series of attacks at the family estate by a horrific beast--part man and part wolf--seems to give credibility to the legend. And When Helga's brother Oliver (John Howard) is attacked, it appears that the legend is true. As Scotland Yard Inspector Robert Curtis (James Ellison) investigates the link between the werewolf and the family, he uncovers a shocking secret!

[Editor Note: The Synopsis Above Is From The Back Cover Of The DVD on the 20th Century Boxset "Fox Horror Classics." ...Tomorrow I Plan To Take a look at the 1945 Film..."HangOver Square" Starring Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell, and George Sander...and Wednesday I hope to take a look at "The Lodger" Starring Laird Cregar, Merle Oberon and George Sander.

Warning:Spoiler Alert Ahead...The Trailer Reveal The Ending To The Film "The Undying Monster."

This All Hallow-Eve Looking at Three Film [Noir] Of Horror From 20th Century Fox..."The Lodger," "Hang-Over Square" and "The UnDying Monster..."

2011-10-30T08:07:00.007-05:00

The Cast...Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell, George Sanders in "Hangover Square" with Glenn Langan, Faye Marlowe, and Alan Napier...Directed By John Brahm...Produced By Robert Brassler...Screen Play By Barre Lyndon, Based On a Novel By Patrick Hamilton...

...Laird Cregar gives a "staggering nightmarish performance" (Ozus World Movie Review) as a musician with a Jekyll-Hyde personality in this haunting turn-Of-the century thriller directed by John Brahm.

When distinguished London composer George Harvey Bone (Cregar) learns of a murder that occurred when he suffered from amnesia, he worries that he may be the murderer.

Fortunately, his mind is put at ease by a Scotland Yard report that proves he is not linked to the crime.

But when he is betrayed by a pub singer (Linda Darnell) who promise to marry him if he writes songs for her, Do it becomes clear that Bone has a murderous streak after all?

Also starring George Sanders, "Hangover Square" is a chilling psychological tale you won't soon forget.

[Editor Note: The Synopsis Above Is From The Back Cover Of The DVD on the 20th Century Boxset "Fox Horror Classics." ...Tomorrow I Plan To Take a look at the 1944 Film..."The Lodger" Starring Laird Cregar, Merle Oberon, and George Sander...and Next Week I hope to take a look at "The Mummy" Films Starring Boris Karloff, Hammer's Mummy and Several Others Actors That Portrayed "The Wrap One." ]

Warning:Spoiler Alert Ahead...The Trailer Reveal A Key Scene From The Film, But Not The Ending To The Film "Hangover Square."

This All Hallow-Eve Looking at Three Film [Noir] Of Horror From 20th Century Fox..."The Lodger," "Hang-Over Square" and "The UnDying Monster..."

2011-10-30T07:22:00.012-05:00

Sanders...The Cast: Merle Oberon, George Sanders, Laird Cregar, in "The Lodger" with Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Sara Allgood and Queenie Leonard...Directed By John Brahm, Produced by Robert Bassler Screenplay Play By Barre Lyndon from the novel by Marie Belloc-Lowndes...

...Director John Brahm's irresistibly unnerving 1944 remake of Hitchcock silent film "The Lodger" about Jack the Ripper is considered better than the original, and one of thee finest films about the notorious killer in cinema history.
Not long after a mysterious young "medical scientist" named Slade (Laird Cregar) rents a flat in the heart of London's White chapel district, a series of brutal murders begins.

But despite the fact that the murder victims are all female stage performers, the landlord's niece Kitty (Merle Oberon), an ingenue, is unphased by the crimes-or by the unusual, brooding man in her family's midst.

As Kitty coquettish interacts with a Scotland Yard Detective (George Sanders), she becomes Slade's object of obsession in this pulse-pounding thriller that "packs an unsettling punch."(At-A-Glance Film Reviews)

[Editor Note: The Synopsis Above Is From The Back Cover Of The DVD on the 20th Century Boxset "Fox Horror Classics." ...The 1944 Film..."The Lodger" Starring Laird Cregar, Merle Oberon, and George Sander...and Next Week I hope to take a look at "The Mummy" Films Starring Boris Karloff, Hammer's Mummy and Several Others Actors That Portrayed "The Wrap One." ]

Warning:Spoiler Alert Ahead...The Trailer Reveal A Key Scene From The Film, Perhaps The Ending From The 1944 Film "The Lodger."

Taking a Look at actor Robert Walker Memorabilia...To Take a look Just Follow This Link Over There to ..."Darkness To Light"...Thank-you,

2011-10-29T08:28:00.003-05:00

Taking a Look at actor Robert Walker Memorabilia...To Take a look Just Follow This Link "Darkness To Light..." Over There to ..."Darkness To Light"...Thanks...[pictured: actor Robert Walker and actress Judy Garland in Minnelli's 1945 film "The Clock..."]

“He was such a nice man, so wonderful, and such a fine actor. Very professional …totally in control…always on time…never temperamental…his potential was limitless.” ~ Farley Granger on working with actor Robert Walker in Strangers on a Train."

Coming Up: Actress Lizabeth Scott as I look at her Life and Times Over There at My FYI site..."Darkness To Light..."

2011-10-27T11:11:00.007-05:00

Coming Up Taking a look at actor Robert Walker Memorabilia...Over There at my FYI page..."Darkness To Light..."

2011-10-27T10:26:00.004-05:00

L.A. Poetry Festival...Forth Coming Event Night in the City...L.A. Noir in Poetry, Fiction and Film...

2011-10-26T08:10:00.006-05:00

James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential) - Judith Freeman - Naomi Hirahara (Edgar Allan Poe Award Winner) - Eddie Muller (Founder, President Film Noir Foundation) - Robert Polito (Detours: Seven Noir Lives, forthcoming Knopf) - Noir Scholar Alan K. Rode. And Movies. And Panels. And L.A.'s Noir Poets.

In Order To View The Entire Schedule Just Follow This Link...Night in the City Brochure

Daily Rushes...author Eddie Muller to appear at NoirCity, actress Rita Hayworth, Marsha Hunt , and Robert Walker celebrate birthdays this month...

2011-10-18T03:25:00.025-05:00

A Coming Up: Taking a look at 18 Screenings at author Eddie Muller's Noir City 9 this October Month. [October 15, 2011-November 02, 2011] in Washington, D.C.
The AFI AND THE FILM NOIR FOUNDATION TAKE A LOOK AT 18 CLASSIC FILM NOIR...
In Person: Eddie Muller of the Film Noir Foundation will appear at screenings marked with a *Asterisk...Come and see and listen to E.M. on Friday October 21, at 5:30pm
Fri, Oct 21, 5:30*Asterisk
Mon, Oct 24, 6:30; Wed, Oct 26, 6:30

Small-time hood Nick (John Garfield) reluctantly pulls a stick-up, but when he shoots a cop his life spins out of control. On the run, he cajoles a neighborhood girl (Shelley Winters) into bringing him home — only to take her family hostage. A blistering film created by a cadre of talents (Garfield, director John Berry and writers Dalton Trumbo and Hugo Butler) on the verge of losing their careers to the blacklist.
Not available on DVD! [editor's note: What a shame!]
DIRECTOR John Berry; SCR Dalton Trumbo, Hugo Butler, from the novel by Sam Ross; PROD Bob Roberts. US, 1951, b&w, 77 min. NOT RATED
EXPERIMENT IN TERROR
In Person: Eddie Muller of the Film Noir Foundation will appear at screenings marked with a * Asterisk...Come See and Listen to E.M. on Friday, Oct 21, 7:15*Asterisk
Wed, Oct 26, 9:45
A woman is forced to assist a daring robbery when an unseen mastermind takes her daughter hostage. Director Blake Edwards displays a Hitchcock-like hand as he ratchets up the suspense, culminating in a stunning climax during a Giants-Dodgers game at Candlestick Park. With Lee Remick, Glenn Ford, Ross Martin and Stephanie Powers.
DIR/PROD Blake Edwards; SCR Gordon Gordon, Mildred Gordon, from their novel. US, 1962, b&w, 123 min. NOT RATED

Happy Birthday Wishes! Goes Out To author Eddie Muller, beautiful actresses Marsha Hunt, Rita Hayworth, and actor Robert Walker...too!
Over There On My Film Noire Ning I will Be Wishing All Three Stars a Happy Birthday! too...[above is actress Marsha Hunt she appeared in Mann's "Raw Deal" and "The Kid Glove Killer" which I watched today and thoroughly enjoyed viewing again.]
One Word..."Gilda"
Over There On my FILM NOIRE NING...DARKNESS TO LIGHT
I will Be Taking a look at actor Robert Walker's Memorabilia...Walker [Pictured Above with actress Hedy Lamour] left his imprint in the world Of film noir by appearing in Hitchcock's "Strangers On a Train."

Happy Birthday! To Actress Lizabeth Scott...As She Turn 87 years [young] at Heart...Over There On My Ning Ms. Scott, Share The "Spotlight" With...

2011-09-29T03:14:00.014-05:00

Author Eddie Muller, The "Prez" Of The Film Noir Foundation...

To Visit My Film Noir Ning Just Follow This Link...Film Noire Ning
In The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, relationships formed in childhood lead to murder and obsessive love. The wealthy Martha Ivers (Barbara Stanwyck) is the prime mover of the small Pennsylvania town of Iverston.

Martha lives in a huge mansion with her DA husband, Walter O'Neil (Kirk Douglas), an alcoholic weakling. No one knows just why Martha and Walter tolerate one another....but Sam Masterson (Van Heflin), an Iverstown boy who returns to town, may just have a clue.

At least that's what Martha thinks when Sam asks Walter to intervene in the case of Toni Marachek (Lizabeth Scott), who has been unjustly imprisoned. It seems that, as a young boy, Sam was in the vicinity when Martha's rich aunt (Judith Anderson) met with her untimely demise. What does Sam know? And what dark, horrible secret binds Martha and Walter together?

Directed by Lewis Milestone, and based on John Patrick's Oscar-nominated original story, Love Lies Bleeding, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers creates in Martha a unique and interesting, driven, obsessed, and spoiled character, but one not without sympathy.

[The Poster Is a Foreign Poster From...Sunny Spain]
Barbara Stanwyck is outstanding as Martha, with her predatory smile and sharp, manicured nails. Kirk Douglas is surprisingly convincing as a lost, sad, weak man, who loves his wife, but is unable to gain her respect. The Strange Love of Martha Ivers eventually lapsed into public domain and became a ubiquitous presence on cable thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifelevision.
[The Review is courtesy Of Rotten Tomatoes]

[Editor Note:Well, The 1946 film "The Strange Loves Of Martha Ivers Is No Longer available only on public domain DVDs...To Find Out More Just Follow This Link To Gary Tooze Over There at DVD-Beaver...Thanks,]

Chicago Noir City 3...Day 5...As Dan in the M.W. Takes a look at two Prison Film [Noir] "The Story Of Molly X" [1949] and "Crash-Out" [1955]...

2011-08-16T23:40:00.019-05:00

[EDITOR'S NOTE: DUE TO THE FACT, THAT DAN SAID, THAT HE ERRED...HERE GOES HIS REVISED EVENING RUSH OR REPORT ON THE HAPPENINGS AT NOIRCITY 3...IN CHICAGO...

I erred (again)!
The supporting actress in "The Story of Molly X" was Dorothy Hart -- not Dolores.

Charles McGraw actually made four appearances in Noir City 3, albeit in supporting roles and one unbilled part.

REVISED AND UPDATED TEXT for Chicago Noir City 3 (Day 5):

Tonight's first feature was a curiosity "The Story of Molly X." Written and directed by Crane Wilbur, who specialized in prison dramas, this film was rarely seen until the Film Noir Foundation revived it on the festival circuit. What is especially unique about this particular movie is that June Havoc plays a female criminal gang leader. Once she is arrested for an unsuccessful burglary and sent to Tehachapi, Molly is shown kindness and consideration from a reform minded warden and the prison matrons who try to rehabilitate her character. Unfortunately, Molly knows that she is responsible for another serious felony that law enforcement officials are still investigating. Dorothy Hart and Charles McGraw are also in the cast.

Crane Wilbur had an extremely lengthy career in the performing arts as an actor, director, producer and writer. As an actor, he began working on stage and segued into silent films. Later, he began working as a screenwriter and as a producer who sometimes directed. One of fan of his films was an Arkansan musician. Johnny Cash purportedly wrote "Folsom Prison Blues" after seeing Wilbur's "Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison." Wilbur had a hand in several estimable noirs such as "He Walked By Night" and "Crime Wave" among many others.

Foster Hirsch was able to provide the audience with personal reminisces concerning June Havoc, who he had known and interviewed in New York.

The second movie was "Crashout." This prison break film was considered quite violent when it was released in 1955. William Bendix is the leader of a group of six convicts who make a successful escape and must continue to evade the police in order to recover $180,000.00 in stolen cash. Several of the prisoners are killed en route as the criminals attempt to cross the Colorado Rockies and recover the money. The other important cast members are Luther Adler, Arthur Kennedy and William Talman. Percy Helton plays a country doctor who patches up Bendix's wounds and gets bludgeoned to death in return for his medical services. The cinematography was by Russell Metty.

Tomorrow, William Bendix and Alan Ladd both complete a trifecta of sorts. Two of Stuart Heisler's films will be shown, the proto-noir "Among the Living" and "The Glass Key." The latter film stars Bendix and Ladd. Each of these actors will have appeared in three films (two in which they were costars) during the current festival. This must be some sort of record for the Chicago Noir City festivals.

To be technical, however, due to an uncredited bit role in "Brute Force," Charles McGraw will be seen in a total of four movies. The others are "Loophole," "The Hunted," and "The Story of Molly X."

[Editor's Note: Thanks, I hope to be on hand as we turn this corner and enter the dark alley...deedee ;-D ]

Chicago Noir City 3...Day 4...as Dan in the MW...Takes a look...Newspaper Noir...with Bogie and Ladd On As Newspaper Men in Two Hard-hitting Film Noir

2011-08-16T02:52:00.020-05:00

Chicago: Noir City 3 (Day 4)
Posted by Dan in the MW on 8/15/2011, 10:28 pm
My calendar said that it was Monday today. Ask anyone who manages a bar or restaurant and they will tell you Monday is usually the slowest business day of the week.

Nevertheless, the Music Box Theater was packed almost to capacity tonight.
It was probably the single largest crowd to attend any of the Noir City film festival dates with the sole possible exception of when Harry Belafonte agreed to be interviewed by Foster Hirsch when "The Odds Against Tomorrow" was shown in 2009. If my memory serves me correctly, that special guest appearance may have taken place on a weekend, possibly on a Saturday night. Today was a Monday.

It was exciting to be in attendance tonight, but not if you need to wait in line at the concession counter or make a hurried visit to the restroom. The lobby was crowded with people at the intermission.

What brought the spectators out in droves were two rarely screened newspaper themed noirs: "Deadline USA" and "Chicago Deadline." The first film starred Humphrey Bogart and the latter featured Alan Ladd.

I attended the earliest double feature and was able to exchange greetings with Professor Foster Hirsch beforehand. Hirsch arrived in Chicago to act as the master of ceremonies for the final four days of the festival after author and film historian Alan K. Rode returned to California. I met Hirsch quite by accident as I was walking towards the Music Box Theater. He promised me that tonight's two films were great. His recommendation was one hundred correct.

Former Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene was in the audience for the first screening of the night "Deadline USA" and an audience member thoughtfully brought a copy of one of Greene's old articles in which he posited that "Deadline USA" was the best movie to be made about the newspaper industry. When Foster Hirsch learned that Greene was present, he invited him to make some remarks before the start of the movie.
"Deadline USA" was written and directed by a former newspaperman, Richard Brooks, and it was excellent. Humphrey Bogart played the editor of a daily newspaper with a circulation of 290,000 that is about to purchased by a tabloid competitor that is seeking to obtain its best features and shut the respected paper down. Ethel Barrymore played the aging wife of the newspaper's late publisher who is unable to maintain control of the corporation once her two married daughters seek to cash in by selling their shares. A ruthless mobster(Martin Gabel) is the target of Bogart's final journalistic crusade against municipal corruption. Bogart apparently was made available for his role on a loan out to 20th Century Fox since he was primarily working for Columbia Pictures, where his own production company was based, at this stage of his career.

Chicago author and historian Richard C. Lindberg, who delivered a guest commentary when Chicago Noir City 1 screened "Call North Side 777" in 2009, was in attendance tonight for the second feature, "Chicago Deadline." I liked both of the movies, but "Chicago Deadline" really struck a chord with some audience members. The use of Chicago exterior locations in the film was quite good, including numerous scenes shot on the West Side of Chicago in many former residential neighborhoods that no longer exist.
The moving conclusion of the film takes place in a funeral home and the camera crew filmed the facade of St. John Cantius Roman Catholic Church and the Michalik Funeral Home. Both of these locations are near Chicago and Milwaukee Avenues and are still very much in use. I attended a Requiem Mass at St. John's in May of this year and the funeral directors from Michalik handled the arrangements.

"Chicago Deadline" had an interesting storyline about an unfortunate woman who is found dead of tuberculosis in a seedy rooming house. Reporter Alan Ladd happens upon the scene minutes before the police arrive and he discovers that the deceased kept a diary filled with addresses and telephone numbers. Once he begins probing the matter, he learns that a variety of influential people and criminals are eager to see his newspaper column suppressed and the diary destroyed.

Donna Reed plays the attractive young woman whose life is progressively destroyed by an unkind fate and the powers that be in the cruel city. The fine supporting cast included Roy Roberts, Berry Kroeger and Arthur Kennedy.
The film had an eerie and morose quality to it like a combined hybrid of "Laura" and "The Portrait of Jenny." Ladd becomes obsessed with learning the truth about Reed's dead character and powerful people are prepared to kill him for pursuing the facts. I was impressed with Ladd's performance and it should be ranked with many of his better known screen roles.
Neither of these two exceptional films are available on commercial dvds. What a damned shame!
Directors Richard Brooks and Lewis Allen both had some fine film credits. Brooks was a twin threat as a writer and director. His credits include "Brute Force," "Crossfire," "Key Largo," "Storm Warning," "The Blackboard Jungle," plus one of my personal favorites, "Elmer Gantry," and, of course, "In Cold Blood." Allen directed "Desert Fury," "So Evil, My Love," "Suddenly," and "Illegal."

It is almost unfathomable to me how these two titles were consigned to oblivion until rescued by the Film Noir Foundation. Both featured quality casts and crews and were released by major studios, not by forgotten production companies based on Poverty Row, but neither of these two exceptional films are more widely known. More's the pity!

The Film Noir Foundation is to be applauded for resurrecting these two unjustly forgotten films. As one elderly theater patron observed to Alan K. Rode on Sunday night, the Film Noir Foundation is "doing the work of angels" in preserving valuable motion picture treasures that would otherwise be lost.
[Thanks, Dan in the M.W. For sharing your daily/ evening rushes with me and the readers...
Films titles to be screened tomorrow at "The Music Box" "The Story Of Molly X" [1949] and "Crash-Out" [1955]

Chicago Noir City 3...Day 3...as Dan in the MW...Takes a look at Alan Ladd and William Bendix in "The Blue Dahlia"...Coming Up: Newspaper Noir...

2011-08-15T16:20:00.025-05:00

Chicago: Noir City 3 (Day 3)
Posted by Dan in the MW on 8/14/2011, 10:59 pm
It's been a long day, not only at the movies, but elsewhere, so I will try to briefly recap Day 3.

Having attended the previous two festivals, I can tell you that this year's Chicago: Noir City 3 program schedule is the most ambitious to date. A total of sixteen different feature films will have been screened before the week long festival concludes next Thursday. In comparison, the first two Noir City festival programs consisted of nine films each that were screened multiple times over the course of a week.

This year's program has been quite eclectic and included several "B" movie programmers and low budget productions from Poverty Row. Ten of the 35mm films scheduled are not available on commercial DVDs. I hope to discuss the festival format change in greater detail on a later date. I think that some of the changes have been most beneficial.

Thus far, the audience response seems to have been most enthusiastic. While I have not reviewed a spread sheet, tallied the cash register receipts or checked a turnstile count, based upon casual observation it would appear that the attendance has been uniformly larger than what it was in the past two years. While there have not been lines forming around the block or ushers turning people away, the theater patrons have been streaming into the main auditorium steadily and quietly, always filling up most of the the center rows and fanning out to the side rows. A few seats were available here and there, but, overall, the attendance has been good.

Tonight, the slated films included "The Blue Dahlia," "The Hunted," and "Larceny."

The first film, "The Blue Dahlia," from Paramount Pictures was a big budget film with Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake. Although I had seen it once before, I appreciated it more the second time through. Raymond Chandler was responsible for the screenplay and, like many of his novels, the plot was more intricate than most. George Marshall directed. Films are historical artifacts in terms of their design and the plot of this film captures the flavor of immediate postwar period: thousands of service men are returning home, housing is scarce and gasoline is still being rationed. Two familiar faces from television are also on hand in the picture, William Bendix and Hugh Beaumont.
In stark contrast to this big picture was "The Hunted," a low rent movie from Allied Artists. Jack Bernhard, who seemed to be a competent low budget director, made the most of his limited resources in a picture that featured the ice skater Belita, her studio's answer to Sonja Henie and Vera Hruba Ralston, and Preston Foster. The prolific Steve Fisher provided an above average script. Quite a few veteran character actors made brief appearances in this quickie, including Pierre Watkin, George Chandler, Russell Hicks and Charles McGraw.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: You Can Tell From The Screen-shots That "The Blue Dahlia" is a "High-Rent" Picture as Oppose to "The Hunted" Which maybe considered a "Low-Rent Film."]
The final film of the night was "Larceny." This Universal film, directed by George Sherman, had another top flight cast which included Dan Duryea, John Payne, Richard Rober, Dan O'Herlihy, Shelley Winters and Joan Caufield. William Bowers and two others collaborated on the screenplay which was based upon the novel "The Velvet Fleece." The plot of the film is driven by the actions of a gang of sophisticated confidence tricksters specializing in the "Long Con." The grifters worked their marks for a bigger score by stringing them along for weeks and, if necessary, months. For a change, the brassy Shelley Winters was well cast and she gave a better than average performance.

For John Payne, "Larceny" was an important career changing role. Like Dick Powell before him, Payne had worked in a variety of dramas, usually in supporting roles, and musicals and various parts in family friendly films, but after "Larceny," Payne established himself as a serious film noir protagonist.

[Editor's Note:Today, the festival Resume With The Screening Of Two Newspaper Film [Noir] Bogie in "Deadline USA" and Ladd in "Deadline Chicago."

Alan K. Rode, who acted as the master of ceremonies for twelve screenings of eight different films, including the Saturday and Sunday marathon sessions, has left the building. Foster Hirsch will be on stage for the remainder of the festival.

[Hello! Dan in the MW...Thanks for the update and review Of Yesterday Evening Happenings at the Music Box...]

Noir City 3 Day 2...Did Dan in the Midwest Make It Through The Entire Three Features? You Betcha!...Thanks, Dan in the MW, as he Take a look at...

2011-08-14T01:59:00.034-05:00

Chicago: Noir City 3 (Day 2)
Posted by Dan in the MW on 8/13/2011,

Three feature films were screened today and I was worried. Could I remain seated that long? This predicament reminded me of the Hollywood anecdote about Harry Cohn, the former studio head of Columbia Pictures, explaining how he could determine if a movie was good or bad merely by judging it on the basis of how often he squirmed in his seat in the projection room. Screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz brought down the house and earned Cohn's enmity by remarking "Imagine the whole world wired to Harry Cohn's ass!"
[Pictured Two Tough Guys...Mr. Neville Brand and [Brod] erick Crawford]
Watching the 1951 Columbia production, "The Mob," kept me seated without difficulty. The screenplay was by the talented William Bowers and it was filled with his customary snappy dialogue. Actors must have enjoyed delivering his sarcastic lines and audiences are still laughing fifty plus years later. Bowers had the knack of always delivering his verbal punches in the context of the story and at no time does his humor seemed forced.

Broderick Crawford was well cast as a police officer who was placed on suspension for mishandling an arrest and allowing a criminal posing as a police lieutenant to escape. The police commissioner allowed Crawford's character, Johnny D'Amico, an opportunity to redeem himself by accepting a risky undercover assignment. Posing as a longshoreman, Crawford's task is to infiltrate a waterfront mob. Director Robert Parrish continued his successful collaboration with Bowers that began on "Cry Danger." The cast was uniformly excellent and included Neville Brand, John Marley, Ernest Borgnine, Richard Kiley and an unbilled Charles Bronson, among others. Veteran scene stealer Jay Adler was also along for the ride as an untrustworthy hotel clerk.

Noir City host Alan K. Rode provided the audience members with deep background information on the two other feature films, "New York Confidential" and "Loophole," which were, until recently, considered to be lost. Rode related his experience of attending a lunch with film collector Kit Parker, who claimed to have a print of "New York Confidential." Seven years later, once ownership and licensing issues were clarified, Parker was able to have to film available for theatrical exhibitions and a DVD release.

Loosely suggested by the book of the same name by former Hearst newspaper reporter and playwright, Jack Lait and his writing partner, a former cop, Lee Mortimer, the screenplay was written by Clarence Greene and director Russell Rouse. The "Confidential" books became a franchise after the successful publication of the racy bestseller "Chicago Confidential," as Lait and Mortimer expanded their horizons and wrote a series of books about the hot spots and underworld figures of many other American cities. The back lot sets and interiors on "New York Confidential" look inexpensive and generic for good reasons. It seems as if almost ninety-five cents of every budget dollar was spent on cast salaries. Broderick Crawford, Richard Conte, J. Carroll Naish, Anne Bancroft, Marilyn Maxwell and so many other familiar faces appear. This is another movie that is terrific fun and Crawford is really allowed to chew the scenery as one of the new era corporate leaders of the New York Syndicate.

"Loophole" is a minor film that is especially dear to Rode, who is the biographer of the late Charles McGraw. It was thought to be missing and Rode made repeated requests for the studio to look through its holdings for a copy of the film. At last a print was discovered, but one full reel was not found and a variety of complications ensued, but eventually the film was restored by the Film Noir Foundation and the UCLA Television and Film Archive.

"Loophole" is a low budget production from Allied Artists (the former Monogram Pictures). Once again, the cast carries the film off and the movie benefits from its authentic Los Angeles shooting locations. Barry Sullivan plays an unfortunate bank teller who is falsely accused of embezzling close to $50,000.00 by a tenacious insurance investigator played by Charles McGraw. In his zeal to prove Sullivan's guilt, The investigator relentlessly hounds the teller and seeks to have him blackballed by any possible employers. McGraw's character, Gus Slavin, thinks that once Sullivan is impoverished he will make a careless move which will reveal where the stolen money is cached. Dorothy Malone plays Sullivan's faithful wife while the delectable Mary Beth Hughes (her hair dyed platinum for her role) is the mistress of the actual thief, noir veteran Don Beddoe.

It was gratifying to hear the audience members applaud Charles McGraw's first appearance on screen.

[editor's note: "The Blue Dahlia,"Larceny ," and "The Hunted" will be screened tomorrow at Noir City 3 in Chicago... Followed By Newspaper Noir with Bogie and Ladd Taking Center Stage...at the "Music Box."
Thanks,]

Chicago Noir City 3 Opening Night...Thanks To The Roving Reporter Dan In The Midwest...As He Discuss actors Robert Taylor and Lew Aryes' Film noir...

2011-08-13T02:36:00.019-05:00

Chicago: Noir City 3 (Opening Night)
by Dan in the MW on 8/12/2011, 11:56 pm
It was fun to see so many familiar faces at the first night of Chicago: Noir City 3. The first person that I met was "ChiO," who occasionally posts comments at the Blackboard. He is a really dedicated cinephile.

It was interesting to read Wisconsin Mark's comments about America's film friendly cities because "ChiO" had discussed the same topic with me while we were seated in the same row of the Music Box Theater tonight. I cannot say that Chicago retrospectives routinely pack in the crowds, but there is no lack of available venues for movie goers to pursue their interests here. Across town tonight, the Silent Film Society was screening "Sunrise." The Music Box seemed to be uncrowded when I arrived, but, little by little, the people kept streaming in and soon the theater auditorium had a good sized turn out.
[editor's note: Noir City Kicked Off In San Francisco then headed to The Egyptian in Los Angeles Seattle Wa and Now, Chicago...after that Noir City heads to Washington D.C.]

The theme of the festival this year is "Who's Crazy Now?!" The double feature bill was "The High Wall" and "The Dark Mirror." The audience was treated to injections of truth serum, Rohrshach tests, polygraphs and psychoanalyst sessions. The quality 35mm print of "The High Wall" was restored by the UCLA Film and Television Archive in cooperation with the Film Noir Foundation.

After the film, "ChiO" and I agreed that "The High Wall" had been a solid noir movie until the plot was resolved by means of a Louis B. Mayer conclusion. It was an impressive studio bound production which featured Robert Taylor, a long term M-G-M leading man, who is probably best remembered for his "marriage" to Barbara Stanwyck. Taylor is not a bad actor, but, to my mind, not especially memorable. I am unaware of any retrospective series being held to celebrate his many films and he did make more than a few good ones. I suppose that he is best remembered for "The Bribe" and "Rogue Cop" as well as some big budget spectaculars like "Quo Vadis." On the plus side, the film also featured Audrey Totter and Herbert Marshall. The supporting players included H. B. Warner, Vince Barnett, Jonathan Hale and Ray Teal, among others.

"The Dark Mirror" was directed by Robert Siodmak and the screenplay was written by Nunnally Johnson. Olivia de Havilland played a pair of identical twins, one good natured and sweet and the other paranoic and evil. Lew Ayres was the psychiatrist trying to help the police unravel a murder mystery involving one of the two sisters as a suspect. The problem for Detectives Thomas Mitchell and Gary Owen is that the cops cannot be sure who committed the crime and none of the witnesses can differentiate between the two women, both of whom also seem to have alibis.

It was not too much of a stretch for Ayres to play a good doctor after his long running "Dr. Kildare" series, but this was, nonetheless, an important role for him. As Alan K. Rode noted, Ayres, who had achieved stardom in the anti-war classic "All Quiet on the Western Front," declared himself a "conscientious objector" following America's entry into World War Two. His moral decision outraged many in Hollywood and his career suffered. Later, he served as a combat medic in the Pacific. "The Dark Mirror" was his first film in four years.

I was actually familiar with "The Dark Mirror" as it used to air on local television frequently back in the day when WGN Channel 9 showed movies morning, noon and night. It is a good film, but certainly not as hard hitting as some of Siodmak's better known titles.

If I sound a trifle disappointed, you are correct. Both films violated an important unwritten law for film noir purists: "No happy endings!"

Our learned guest host, Alan K. Rode, endured a long day's journey into noir when his flight was canceled. I imagined him quarreling with American Airlines employees, Billy Benedict, Herb Ellis and James Griffith, about the size of his suitcase much like Sterling Hayden in "The Killing." Thankfully, after a lengthy "Detour," Rode managed to reach Chicago in time for the start of the second feature and he generously answered many questions from the audience after making his principal remarks. I was happy to have an opportunity to speak to him about his book in preparation about the career of director Michael Curtiz.

When I spoke to Rode about his interrupted travel plans, he responded in true Charles McGraw fashion: "Tough break, Marsha."

Tomorrow, a trio of heavy hitters will be at bat: Broderick Crawford, Richard Conte and Charles McGraw!

Bon Noir: Danger, Deceit, Darkness and Despair Return! by Daniel J. Kelley and Hosted by authors Alan K. Rode and Foster Hirsh...Kicking Thing Off ...

2011-08-12T20:54:00.023-05:00

Written By Daniel J. Kelley

12 August 2011

As the 2010 prosperity summer has given way to the current summer of deficits, darkness and despair, what better possible antidote could be administered than hot buttered popcorn?

The Music Box Theater is playing host to the third annual Noir City film festival from August 12th to 18th. The week long series features four recently restored films and a portion of all ticket sales will be used to fund future film restoration projects conducted under the auspices of the not for profit Film Noir Foundation. Guest introductions and commentaries will be delivered by author Alan Rode, who has published the recent biography of actor Charles McGraw and is busy at work on a new project chronicling the career of acclaimed director Michael Curtiz, and Foster Hirsch, a professor of film studies at Brooklyn College and the author of sixteen books on cinema. The programming theme of this year’s festival is “Who’s crazy now!?” [editor's note: Noir City Kicked Off In Los Angeles...]

Appropriately, the series opens on August 12th with two psychological thrillers. In the newly restored 35mm film print of “The High Wall,” Robert Taylor plays a brain damaged war veteran who has confessed to his adulterous wife’s murder. His psychiatrist (Audrey Totter) begins to doubt the veracity of his story once he is sent to a sanitarium. This 1947 movie directed by Curtis Bernhardt was restored by the Film Noir Foundation in cooperation with Warner Brothers and the UCLA Film and Television Archive.

The second feature “The Dark Mirror” stars Olivia de Havilland as a pair of twin sisters, one good and one evil. Lew Ayres, the former star of the long running “Dr. Kildare” series, is the psychologist who must evaluate both of the women. This 1948 screenplay was nominated for an Academy Award and Robert Siodmak, a highly regarded film noir craftsman, directed.

Hold on to your hats! On Saturday and Sunday, August 13th and 14th, the festival continues with triple features!

Two of Saturday’s three films have definite Chicago connections. When an investigative committee led by U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver held hearings on the subject of organized crime in Chicago in 1950, the damning testimony of Dan “Tubbo” Gilbert, a crooked cop slated by the Democrats for Cook County Sheriff, created a sensational scandal. In the aftermath, the voters rebelled and several Republican candidates were elected as a result including U.S. Senator Everett Dirksen, who defeated the former Senate Majority Leader, Scott Lucas, Cook County Board President William N. Erickson and Sheriff John Babb. Many of the Kefauver hearings were televised and Hollywood took notice by producing several mob expose films such as the two Broderick Crawford features, “The Mob” and “New York Confidential.” Saturday’s program concludes with the rarely seen “Loophole.” This insurance investigation gone awry story stars Charles McGraw and Barry Sullivan and the 35mm print was restored through the efforts of the Film Noir Foundation, Warner Brothers and the UCLA Film and Television Archive.

On Sunday, Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake star in “The Blue Dahlia” based upon an original Raymond Chandler screenplay. Chandler allegedly completed the script while on a studio sanctioned alcoholic bender. William Bendix plays a returning veteran who flies into maniacal rages when subjected to loud “monkey music.” Watch for Beaver Cleaver’s dad, Hugh

The programming theme of this year’s festival is “Who’s crazy now!?” Appropriately, the series opens on August 12th with two psychological thrillers. In the newly restored 35mm film print of “The High Wall,” Robert Taylor plays a brain damaged war veteran who has confessed to his adulterous wife’s murder. His psychiatrist (Audrey Totter) begins to doubt the veracity of his story once he is sent to a sanitarium. This 1947 movie directed by Curtis Bernhardt was restored by the Film Noir Foundation in cooperation with Warner Brothers and the UCLA Film and Television Archive. The second feature “The Dark Mirror” stars Olivia de Havilland as a pair of twin sisters, one good and one evil. Lew Ayres, the former star of the long running “Dr. Kildare” series, is the psychologist who must evaluate both of the women. This 1948 screenplay was nominated for an Academy Award and Robert Siodmak, a highly regarded film noir craftsman, directed.

Hold on to your hats! On Saturday and Sunday, August 13th and 14th, the festival continues with triple features!

Two of Saturday’s three films have definite Chicago connections. When an investigative committee led by U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver held hearings on the subject of organized crime in Chicago in 1950, the damning testimony of Dan “Tubbo” Gilbert, a crooked cop slated by the Democrats for Cook County Sheriff, created a sensational scandal. In the aftermath, the voters rebelled and several Republican candidates were elected as a result including U.S. Senator Everett Dirksen, who defeated the former Senate Majority Leader, Scott Lucas, Cook County Board President William N. Erickson and Sheriff John Babb. Many of the Kefauver hearings were televised and Hollywood took notice by producing several mob expose films such as the two Broderick Crawford features, “The Mob” and “New York Confidential.” Saturday’s program concludes with the rarely seen “Loophole.” This insurance investigation gone awry story stars Charles McGraw and Barry Sullivan and the 35mm print was restored through the efforts of the Film Noir Foundation, Warner Brothers and the UCLA Film and Television Archive.

On Sunday, Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake star in “The Blue Dahlia” based upon an original Raymond Chandler screenplay. Chandler allegedly completed the script while on a studio sanctioned alcoholic bender. William Bendix plays a returning veteran who flies into maniacal rages when subjected to loud “monkey music.” Watch for Beaver Cleaver’s dad, Hugh Beaumont, in a supporting role. In the film “Larceny,” John Payne and Dan Duryea are a pair of confidence men scheming to bilk a wealthy widow out of millions to build a war memorial in honor of her late husband. A svelte and jealous Shelley Winters co-stars. “The Hunted” is a Poverty Row obscurity from Monogram Pictures which was also rescued by the Film Noir Foundation.

On August 15th, the fourth estate is placed under a microscope in two newspaper themed noirs. The iconic Humphrey Bogart plays the editor of a soon to fold New York newspaper who is determined to go out in a blaze of journalistic glory by exposing a gangster in the paper’s final edition in “Deadline U.S.A.” Alan Ladd plays a reporter in “Chicago Deadline” who investigates the death of a good girl turned prostitute played by Donna Reed. This rarely seen 1949 film contains numerous scenes shot on location in Chicago.
On Tuesday, August 16th, a pair of prison pictures take center stage. Crane Wilbur, whose lengthy career as an actor, director and screenwriter dated back to the Silent Era, specialized in prison dramas and “The Story of Molly X” is unique to the subgenre in that the criminal mastermind is a woman (June Havoc). “Crashout” is an exceptionally violent prison break film about a gang of convicts seeking to recover the stashed proceeds of a payroll heist.

Two proto-noir films directed by Stuart Heisler are featured on Wednesday, August 17th. If you enjoyed the Coen Brothers’ production “Miller’s Crossing,” you owe it to yourself to see “The Glass Key” which partially served as its inspirational source material. Brian Donlevy, Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake and William Bendix star in this film adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s hardboiled novel. Wednesday’s program concludes with Albert Dekker as a pair of disturbed twins bent upon committing acts of insanity and murder in the Gothic tale “Among the Living.” This 1941 film is a true rarity.

Burt Lancaster made a total of seven movies that are classified as film noir. There is not a clinker in the entire load of coal either. So, it is fitting that the final night of the festival (August 18th) will feature two of his very best. “Sorry, Wrong Number” is based upon the immensely popular radio play by Lucille Fletcher. After its initial broadcast proved to be such an immediate sensation, the original “Suspense” radio program production with Agnes Moorehead was rebroadcast a record seven times due to repeated listener requests.
Fletcher subsequently adapted her play for a novel and the story was enlarged for a stylish, full length motion picture. Barbara Stanwyck plays the bedridden hypochondriac wife of Lancaster in the film which includes sequences set in suburban Lake Forest and the industrial town of Cicero. Hal Wallis produced the film and Anatole Litvak directed. “Brute Force” is the concluding film of the 2011 festival. This 1947 prison drama directed by Jules Dassin features Lancaster as the leader of a gang of prison convicts determined to escape a cruel and sadistic guard played by Hume Cronyn.

Why does film noir continue to resonate with modern audiences? Possibly, because as Alonzo D. Emmerich, the shady lawyer in W. R. Burnett’s “The Asphalt Jungle” was moved to observe that “crime is only a left handed form of human endeavor” and so many complications are merely the result of good old fashioned “dirty politics.”

Dirty politics is something that most Chicagoans and Illinoisans can relate to.

Film Noir Expert and Poet Tony D'Ambra, Pay Hommage To The Ultimate Film noir Femme Fatale "Vera"...As I entered his poem at "One Stop Wednesday..."

2011-07-06T05:27:00.022-05:00

VERA-NO DETOURS
Dedicated to Ann Savage

By Writer/Poet Tony D'Ambra

“Come on, come on
Put your hands into the fire
Explain, explain
As I turn and meet the power
This time, This time
Turning white and senses dire
Pull up, pull up From one extreme to another”
- Into the Fire by 13 Senses

standing by the highway
alone against eternity
one last chance
to make it – big time

your dyin’ babe
lungs can’t hold out too long
against the rising tide
choking blood

you need a ride
booze
a shower
wash the lizard’s skin from your nails

he offers
okay
what the hell!
maybe this time

another loser
lost
so stupid
he thinks fate did it

make it happen
he’s a goner
one last chance
do it

you need love babe
I need dough more
this guy’s a ticket
to blow before I split

booze
makes me sad
lonely
love me

just one time
before I go

The Poem Vera-No Detour Is Copyrighted@filmsnoir.net

[editor's note: I think that writer, poet Tony D'Ambra's poems reach the very core Of the characters that are portrayed in these films known as film noir ...Therefore, if you like you can watch the film in its entirety and after viewing the film you re-read Tony's D'Ambra's poem or you can read Tony's poem and then watch the film. Note: You Can Also Purchase a book Of Tony's Prose and Down load a copy in an e-book format too here at LULU.COM

Thank-you, deedee ;-D

The Film "Detour" Starring Actress Ann Savage and Tom Neal...

The Synopsis For...Edgar G. Ulmer's Classic 1946 Film Noir "Detour..."
New York nightclub pianist Al Roberts decides to hitchhike to Hollywood to see his girl, Sue. When the sleazy gambler he's riding with dies en route, he impulsively takes the man's identity to hide from the police. A mysterious woman blackmails him and we watch his accidental descent into a life of crime. Despite a miniscule budget, this powerful and seedy drama was one of the most profitable films ever made.

Starring...* Tom Neal* Ann Savage* Claudia Drake* Edmund MacDonald* Tim Ryan* Esther Howard and * Pat Gleason
Directed by:* Edgar G. Ulmer
Produced by:* Leon Fromkess* Martin Mooney
Written by:* Martin Goldsmith* Martin Mooney
[Editor's Note: The Video and Information Is Courtesy Of OpenFlix]
Cinematica Poetica Poems Inspired by Movies...copyrighted@

Read more: Film Noir.Net Vera No-Detour
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

This poem is part of One Shot Wednesday, a weekly writing event, want you please join "The poets, writers, and artists over there at "One Stop Poetry aka OSP..."
Thanks,

Two Books about Film Noir To Be Released on 09/01 and 12/01 [Screwball Comedy and Film Noir: An Analysis of Their Imagery and Character Kinship and...

2011-06-22T10:02:00.022-05:00

Out of the Shadows: Expanding the Canon of Classic Film Noir...Is To Be Released On December 01,2011...By The Way, The Cover Art for 'Out of the Shadows: Expanding the Canon of Classic Film Noir' Isn't Available yet, but once the cover-art becomes available I will post the book cover art-work.
Author(s): Gene D. Phillips
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN: 0810881896
Number of Pages: 288
Book Popularity Rank: 107,304

Release Date: Book Release: Out of the Shadows: Expanding the Canon of Classic Film Noir December 1st,
List Price: $34.95
Pre-order: Buy now!

Screwball Comedy and Film Noir: An Analysis of Their Imagery and Character Kinship...
September 1st, 20112011-09-02 Calendar Icon
Author(s): Thomas C. Renzi
Publisher: McFarland & Company
Binding: Paperback
ISBN: 0786466723
Book Popularity Rank: 107,317

Release Date: Book Release: Screwball Comedy and Film Noir: An Analysis of Their Imagery and Character Kinship...
September 1st, 2011...

List Price: $40.00

Here Goes The Art Work [Book Cover Art] For Those "Two Cool Cats" Writers Clute and Edwards' book "The Maltese Film Noir and Potential Criticism...

2011-05-24T21:41:00.021-05:00

TOUCH OF EVIL..." [EDITOR'S NOTE: FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT CLUTE AND EDWARDS ' BOOK JUST FOLLOW THE LINK TO AMAZON.COM...Here:"The Maltese Film Noir and Potential Criticism...and Touch Of Evil...Thank-You, Very Much!

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Noir is among the most popular, acclaimed, and critically assessed film styles of all time. The unfortunate consequence is an ever-growing divergence between fans and scholars with regard to goals and methods for appreciating and studying noir. The Maltese Touch of Evil aims to bridge that gap. Based on a series of popular podcasts, this unique and deeply informed investigation of film noir sets out to examine the case of noir more closely, and in the process reconfigures the critical evidence on noir that has been presented to date.

The Maltese Touch of Evil reproduces and re-sequences nearly 150 noir screen grabs from 31 great films, laying them out with the authors' informed and entertaining insights into the significance of each shot. The result is a de facto meta-film noir, a celebration of the genre that shows how these films are themselves "constrained" texts whose carefully calculated visual forms simultaneously generate narrative and critical commentary on that narrative. You will never look at film noir the same way again.
About the Author
SHANNON CLUTE is an independent scholar who works for Turner Classic Movies in Atlanta. RICHARD L. EDWARDS is an assistant professor of media arts and sciences at Indiana University's School of Informatics in Indianapolis.
Product Details

* Paperback: 296 pages
* Publisher: Dartmouth (December 13, 2011)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1611680476
* ISBN-13: 978-1611680478

Authors Eric Beetner and J.B.Kohl's Book Contest...Giveaway...The Contest Rules ...Please Read The Contest Rules And Then Send Me Your Answer...The

2011-05-22T01:59:00.020-05:00

Hello! Readers...I'am so sorry, for the delay the contest was suppose to be posted yesterday...Therefore, I will let the contest end on June 02, 2011...Instead Of June 01,2011

[IMPORTANT PLEASE READ: When answering the question "Remember" that the correct answer is..."WRONG" Therefore, if you sent me the wrong answer keep trying until you guess the correct answer...DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE CONTEST RULES?]

[Because Of the way, the contest Quiz Widget is set-up I have to use a "tricky" way in order for the correct answer(s) not to be revealed...Once you, answer the question just email me the answer...(Hopefully, the correct answer...and the first-two people with the correct entries will be notified...Of the time that I received your entry.
Thank-you, and Good-Luck, to all the contestants too!]

The Question Is...If Authors Eric Beetner and J.B.Kohl, write two more books together how many books would then sit on the authors' bookshelves?
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.mystudiyo.com/act137587/mini/go/beetner_&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;_kohl&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s_book_contest"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;beetner_&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;_kohl&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s_book_contest&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Coming Up A Book Give-away Contest Of authors Eric Beetner and J.B.Kohl's book Entitled "Borrowed Trouble" and The Film Noir Foundation e-mag is re...

2011-05-19T20:49:00.013-05:00

RE-LEASED NOW CALLED NOIR CITY e-Magazine...Beginning with this issue the NOIR CITY SENTINEL, the Film Noir Foundation's "newsletter," officially becomes NOIR CITY, a quarterly e-magazine featuring the absolute best articles on noir, in a gorgeous new format courtesy of ace designer Michael Kronenberg.

This "premiere" issue features more than 100 pages of fantastic original material, lined up by editor-in-chief Don Malcolm. You will get four sensational issues of NOIR CITY in 2011, delivered straight to your desktop in PDF form.

Your continuing donations will help fund this year's FNF projects, the restorations of The Sound of Fury and Too Late for Tears.

In Order To Receive Your Copy Of ....

NOIR CITY, a quarterly e-magazine featuring the absolute best articles on noir...Just Follow This Link...

OR "TAP" THE PICTURE OF ACTOR DANA ANDREWS ON MY SIDEBAR...FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...THANK-YOU!

Eddie Muller - Film Noir Foundation from Motion Picture Anthropology on Vimeo.

This Saturday I Plan To Post a Contest Question and If You Answer The Question Correctly, I Will Send You Either authors Eric Beetner and J.B.Kohl's book ""Borrowed Trouble" if you have or use a Kindle, i-pad or Nook... you will receive an e-book version Of their book "Borrowed Trouble" and author J.B. Kohl's book "The Deputy Widow" or an e-book version Of their book "Borrowed Trouble" and their first book "One Too Many Blows To The Head"
the choice is yours...

Good-Luck! To The Winners...That Enter The Contest Too!
[THE CONTEST WILL BEGIN SATURDAY MAY 21, 2011 AND END JUNE 01, 2011...]

Author(s) Imogen Sara Smith's Book "In Lonely Places: Film Noir Beyond the City " Will Be Released On July 05th 2011...In Order To Pre-Order A Copy...

2011-05-02T14:34:00.018-05:00

Just Visit Amazon.Com
[Editor's Note: On a personal note I thought that this book was released...However, according to Amazon.com this book want be released until July 05th 2011...]

The Author(s): Imogen Sara Smith

The Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc Publication

The Binding: Paperback

ISBN: 0786463058

Book Popularity Rank: 10,417

Release Date: Book Release: In Lonely Places: Film Noir Beyond the City

List Price: $45.00

Pre-order: Buy now! Over There at
Amazon.com

Thank-you,

The Best Film Noir Directors...By Breakstudios...In Order To Read The Original Article Just Follow The Link To Breakstudios..Where They Take A Look...

2011-04-29T03:52:00.014-05:00

Hitchcock, Lang, Welles, Huston and Lupino...According To Breakstudios Five Of The...

Best Film Noir Directors

Friday, April 8 by Breakstudios

The difficulty in determining the best film noir directors is in defining film noir. The characteristics of film noir include hard-boiled cynical heroes, femme fatales, virginal heroines and excessive violence. Furthermore, films noir are melodramatic movies shot in black and white on a low budget. Naturally, few films have all of these characteristics so, there is often some debate regarding whether any given movie qualifies as film noir; however, there is a body of films that, by consensus, are viewed as film noir and, on this basis, it's possible to compile a list of the best film noir directors.

[Just "Tap" The Mosaic Images and The Directors Images in Full Will Be Revealed...]

1~John Huston

Some film critics consider Huston to be the creator of film noir. That's probably going too far, but he, more than any other person, is responsible for establishing film noir as a sub-genre of motion pictures. Huston directed the first movie that everyone can agree is film noir: “The Maltese Falcon.” For no other reason than that, Huston would be counted as one of the best film noir directors. He also directed such film noir classics as “Key Largo,” “The Asphalt Jungle” and “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.”

2.~Alfred Hitchcock

Many people don't think of Hitchcock as a film noir director, much less one of the best film noir directors, but the evidence says otherwise. Hitchcock movies such as “Notorious,” “The Wrong Man,” “Shadow of a Doubt” and “Strangers on a Train” undoubtedly qualify as films noir. Furthermore, other Hitchcock movies such as “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” “Rear Window” and even the legendary “Psycho” are arguably films noir...

3.~Orson Welles

Unlike most other directors, Welles was fortunate in that many of his film noir efforts were pretty high budget movies. Both “The Lady From Shanghai” and “The Stranger” benefitted from studio marketing and financial backing. Many consider the classic film “A Touch of Evil” made by Welles in 1958 to be the last film noir. Welles and the studio fought bitterly over the editing of “A Touch of Evil.” Recently, a version of the movie was released that tries to present the film in the way that Welles wanted it edited.

4.~Fritz Lang

Lang was an Austrian filmmaker famous for his silent science fiction movie “Metropolis,” the most expensive silent film ever made. By the time he made it to Hollywood, Lang had become pessimistic and cynical in his outlook. Thus, he gravitated toward film noir projects. Lang is one of the best film noir directors because his movies went to extremes even for film noir. For example, “Scarlet Street” was so erotic that it was censored and “The Big Heat” was extraordinarily brutal even by film noir standards.

5.~Ida Lupino

In the late 1940s and through most of the 1950s, Lupino was the only female movie director in Hollywood, so she had to be an exceptional filmmaker. Much of Lupino's work was in film noir. Her movies were classic film noir in the sense that even though they were quickly made with a low budget, they still possess the tension, tight focus, and high quality that characterizes film noir. Lupino's best film noir is “The Hitch-Hiker,” a movie about two men who pick up a psychopathic killer and give him a ride.

Coming-Up In April...Author Heath Lowrance's book "The Bastard Hand," and The New and Improved Film Noir Foundation "Noir City Sentinel"...Please...

2011-03-31T19:51:00.027-05:00

Stay Tune For Additional Information in the Up-Coming Days...What Kind Of, Additional Information you ask?
Well,
For Instance, Beginning with the next issue, the NOIR CITY SENTINEL, the Film Noir Foundation’s ever-expanding “newsletter,” will officially become NOIR CITY, a quarterly e-magazine featuring the absolute best articles on noir, in a gorgeous new format courtesy of ace designer Michael Kronenberg. The “premiere” issue will feature more than 60 pages of fantastic original material, lined up by editor-in-chief Don Malcolm. Those of you who have donated to the FNF within the past year will receive the revamped NOIR CITY same as usual. Newcomers to the FNF, for a minimum donation of $20, will get four sensational issues of NOIR CITY in 2011, delivered straight to their inbox in PDF form.
If You Would Like To Receive Current Noir City Magazine Just Donate via PayPal…By Going To My Sidebar and Tapping The Picture Of Dana Andrews.Here...To Make A Contribution To The Film Noir Foundation

Thank-You,

This month I plan to invite an author who so happen to write about dark, noirish, subjects (It just so happens to tie-in with the “noirish” theme started by Marilyn, The Self-Styled Siren, Greg Ferrara, and author Eddie Muller…Continuing with Maurizio Roca, Film noir countdown) …I would go so far as to call his (author Heath Lowrance) subject matters…"Psycho-Noir."

Here Goes The Editorial Reviews Over There On Amazon…
“In the storied waking-up-into-a-nightmare pulp tradition, Heath Lowrance’s The Bastard Hand reads is a lurid thrill. You will finish it in one frenzied sitting, then feel as if you’re awakening from a red-misted trance.” –Megan Abbott, author of Bury Me Deep

“A bastard of a good book. If you like Flannery O’Connor and Jim Thompson, you’re going to love this.” –Allan Guthrie, author of Slammer

“Mean, tough, lurid, intense, and entirely engaging, this novel is a must read for all fans of the hard-boiled genre.” –Vincent Zandri, author of Moonlight Falls

“The Bastard Hand by Heath Lowrance grabs you by the lapels and drags you on a wild, wild bar crawl that leaves you battered and bruised at the gates of hell. Like Jim Thompson jamming with Robert Johnson and Nick Cave on the eve of the apocalypse.” –Paul D. Brazil, Pulp Metal Magazine he Product Description…

Charlie Wesley is not right in the head. He’s escaped from a mental hospital up north and hitchhiked his way south, the voice of his dead brother urging him on. But when Charlie hits Memphis, the fine line between his delusions and reality shift in the form of the Reverend Phineas Childe-a preacher bent on booze and women; a Man of God with a dark agenda. Charlie is the perfect pawn in the Reverend’s game of retribution. And the small North Mississippi town of Cuba Landing will be the setting for the Reverend’s very personal Apocalypse. . . .

…So want you please join me April 05, 2011…as I discuss with author Heath Lowrance, his new book…“Bastard Hand” over there at... "Wonders In The Dark."
…According To author Heath Lowrance..." Here's the trailer for The “Bastard Hand” finished today. Ron Warren put it together, and Nat Pike (one of the most versatile musicians on Earth) did the original music.

[Postscript: Of course I will be giving-away copies Of author Heath Lowrance's books in a contest...Therefore, like I said, Please stay tuned!]

Taking a look at Cinematographer John Alton and Director Anthony Mann's Collaboration and a "For The Love Of Film Noir Contest"...On Tuesday...

2011-03-06T03:08:00.013-06:00

He Walked By Night...Was Directed Anthony L. Werker and Anthony Mann...

The Cast...

Richard Basehart as Roy Martin/Roy Morgan
Scott Brady as Sgt. Marty Brennan
Roy Roberts as Captain Breen
Whit Bissell as Paul Reeves an electronics dealer
James Cardwell as Sgt. Chuck Jones
Jack Webb as Lee

He Walked by Night (1948) is a black-and-white police procedural film noir, crediting Alfred L. Werker as director. The film, shot in semidocumentary tone, was allegedly based on the real-life actions of Erwin "Machine-Gun" Walker.

During production, one of the actors, Jack Webb, struck up a friendship with the police technical advisor,Detective Sergeant Marty Wynn, and was inspired by a conversation with Wynn to create the radio and later television program Dragnet.^[1]

He Walked by Night was released by Eagle-Lion Filmsand is notable for the camera work by renowned film noir cinematographer John Alton.^[2] Today the film is in public domain.^[3]^{Courtesy Of Wikipedia...}

The Question...Is "Raw Deal," T-Men," and "He Walked By Night," available On DVDs?

The Answer...Yes, Just Follow The Links To Gary Tooze's Place...In Order To Compare The Screenshots...

He Walked By Night
T-Men
Raw Deal
A Great Out-Of-The-Fog Scene By John Alton...

Marilyn, The Self-Styled Siren, and Greg Ferrara's Quest To Help Author Eddie Muller, and "The Film Noir Foundation" Begins Today 02/ 14 and Will...

2011-02-14T11:07:00.013-06:00

...and Will End On...02/21/2011...
What Is A Blogathon? You may ask Well, for Those Of You Who aren't bloggers and don't know what a blogathon is...here goes my definition:

I think it's when a fellow blogger, post a banner similar to the banners that I have posted here on his/her blog...In order to take a look at a particular Director, actor, actress, films or films (No matter what Genre or style in the case of film noir...) and you can participate by taking a look at the person films life, etc, etc, etc... during the duration of the marathon or blogathon.

I'am not quite sure, but I think you post a comment linking back to your blog (Informing the host that you posted a post pertaining to their blogathon) on the person who is hosting the blog-a-thon blog.
Now, Visit Marilyn Over There at Ferdy On Films and let her know what you, are writing about as the "For The Love Of Films"..."Kicks-Off" Today.

Now, more information about the film that the FNF plan to save from extinction..."The Sound Of Fury aka Try and Get Me."

According to Marilyn from over there at Ferdy on Films..."In 1950, United Artists released a searing drama called "The Sound of Fury, aka Try and Get Me."

The film recounts the same story Fritz Lang told in Fury (1936) and was directed by Cy Endfield, who would run afoul of the Hollywood blacklist.

Its star, Lloyd Bridges, never had a better role, and Eddie told me that when Jeff and Beau Bridges finally saw the film, they were blown away by his performance.

A nitrate print of the film will be restored by the UCLA Film & Television Archive, using a reference print from Martin Scorsese’s personal collection to guide them and fill in any blanks. Paramount Pictures, which now owns the film, has agreed to help fund the restoration, but FNF is going to have to come up with significant funds to get the job done. That’s where we come in...

I will take it from here Marilyn...In Order To Find Out Additional Information about The Film Noir Foundation and Donate or Contribute to the Film Noir Foundation...Just follow these links...
Donations/Contributions
The Film Noir Foundation...Everything That You Wanted To Know About The Film Noir Foundation, But Was Afraid To Ask...
The Film Noir Foundation

Remember You Will Be Giving, But You Will Be Receiving So Much In Return...For instance, The Film Noir Foundation Newsletter "The Sentinel"(Quarterly), The Film Noir Foundation T-Shirts, and The Film Noir Foundation Books and posters, but most importantly, you will be helping preserve our/your wonderful film noir heritage.

Therefore, as Bogie would say...be a "sweetheart" and give most generously...To The Film Noir Foundation.

Do it...Do it for the "love" Of Film (Noir!)...If Not, Then Do It! For The Love Of Films!

Because I plan to take part in this blogathon next year. Now that the Film Noir Foundation saved the 1950 film "The Prowler" from extinction they are now turning their sights on saving a classic "b" film noir entitled "The Sound Of Fury" aka "Try and Get Me" Starring actor Lloyd Bridges, and Frank Lovejoy, and that femme-fatale Adele Jergens, but they need our help in order to find out how you can help just follow the link to...

Ferdy On Films in order to read what author Eddie Muller, had to say about saving these classic black and white (and colour) films from being lost...forever!
Thank-You!

The Film Noir Foundation
1411 Paru Street
Alameda, CA 94501
Question...What Is The Film Noir Foundation?

The Film Noir Foundation...Which Is A Non-Profit Organization...The Film Noir Foundation is a non-profit public benefit corporation created as an educational resource regarding the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of film noir as an original American cinematic movement.

It is the mission of the Foundation to find and preserve films in danger of being lost or irreparably damaged, and to ensure that high quality prints of these classic films remain in circulation for theatrical exhibition to future generations.

The centerpiece of the Foundation's public awareness campaign is the annual NOIR CITY festival held in San Francisco.

Eddie Muller - Film Noir Foundation from Motion Picture Anthropology on Vimeo.

Writer Andrew Katsis, Takes A Look A (Jean) Renoir's 1947 Film "The Woman On The Beach"...Starring Joan Bennett, Robert Ryan, and Charles Bickford...

2011-02-05T09:14:00.033-06:00

[Pictured...The Title Lobby Card From Renoir's 1947 Film "Woman On The Beach..."]

Woman On The Beach...By Writer Andrew Katsis...
Directed by: Jean Renoir
Written by: Mitchell Wilson (novel), J.R. Michael Hogan (adaptation), Frank Davis, Jean Renoir (screenplay)
Starring: Joan Bennett, Robert Ryan, Charles Bickford, Nan Leslie, Walter Sande, Irene Ryan, Glen Vernon

ANDREW'S FACTS OF INTEREST...

By 1947, Jean Renoir, at least indirectly, wasn't new to the American film noir style. Two years earlier, Fritz Lang had released the first of his two Renoir remakes, Scarlet Street (1945), which was based upon La Chienne / The Bitch (1931) {the second film, Human Desire (1954), was inspired by La Bête humaine / The Human Beast (1938)}. Scarlet Street notably starred Joan Bennett in a prominent role, which makes it interesting that, despite allegedly disliking that film, Renoir himself used her in his own Hollywood film noir, The Woman on the Beach (1947).

ANDREW'S VIEWS ABOUT RENOIR'S "WOMAN ON THE BEACH..."

It's a visually-magnificent film, with photography from Leo Tover and Harry Wild (the latter of whom shot Murder, My Sweet (1944) and Macao (1952)) that perfectly captures the mystery and eerie calm of the beach-side setting, frequently swathed in gentle clouds of mist that foreshadow the ambiguity and uncertainty of the story that follows. When we first glimpse Joan Bennett on the fog-swathed coast, collecting driftwood at the wreck of a grounded ship, she really does look ghostly and ethereal, a premonition that may or may not be real.

Robert Ryan plays Scott, a coastguard who suffers from regular night terrors concerning memories of a war-time naval tragedy, when his ship was presumably torpedoed. His dream sequences are gripping and otherwordly, recalling the excellently surreal work achieved by Renoir in his silent short film, The Little Match Girl (1928).

During his nightmares, Scott imagines an underwater romantic liaison, which, before he can get intimate, unexpectedly blows up in his face; this is an apt indication of the events that unfold later in the film.
Scott is engaged to marry the pretty Eve (Nan Leslie), but his attention is soon distracted by Peggy (Joan Bennett), the titular "woman on the beach."

Peggy is married to Tod (Charles Bickford), a famous blind artist who is still coming to terms with his relatively recent affliction. At just 71 minutes in length, Woman on the Beach feels far too short, the apparent victim of studio interference. Scott is obviously enamoured, and later obsessed, with femme fatale Peggy, in a manner than suggests Walter Neff's fixation with Phyllis Dietrichson, but the motivations behind his actions are inadequately explored and explained.

Perhaps as a result of the studio's trimming of scenes, many plot-twists in the film seem somewhat contrived. Scott's extreme determination in proving that Tod is faking blindness feels so incredibly illogical – why, indeed, would Tod even consider such a con?

ANDREW'S VIEWS ABOUT RENOIR'S "WOMAN ON THE BEACH" CONTINUE...

Many wonderful scenes are severely hampered by the story's lack of exposition. In the film's most dramatic scene, amid the choppy waters of the Atlantic, Robert Ryan displays a frighteningly convincing rage that borders on pure psychosis, a quality that Nicholas Ray exploited five years later in On Dangerous Ground (1952). However, because Scott's obsession and emotional transformation had previously been explored so sparsely, the sequence feels, above all else, out of context. The performances are neverthless solid across the board, with Bickford probably the most impressive. Bennett's character is tantalisingly ambiguous: throughout the film, she slowly reveals herself to be nothing but a greedy tramp, though Scott insists on treating her as a tormented victim of abuse. The ending offers little in the way of resolution, reaffirming the sentiment that perhaps this film isn't all there.
6.5/10

Question...Is Renoir's "Woman On The Beach" Available On DVDs?

Answer...Yes, Follow The Link To DVD Beaver...As
Gary Tooze...From Over There at DVD Beaver Takes a Look at Version Of Renoir's "Woman On The Beach."

My Writer Andrew Katsis...Review Renoir's Films "The French Cancan" and "Woman On The Beach..."

The Following Are Currently Andrew's #9 films of 1947:
1) Odd Man Out (Carol Reed) *
2) The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (Joseph L. Mankiewicz)
3) Monsieur Verdoux (Charles Chaplin)
4) Out of the Past (Jacques Tourneur) *
5) Dark Passage (Delmer Daves) *
6) The Lady from Shanghai (Orson Welles) *
7) They Won’t Believe Me (Irving Pichel) *
8) The Fugitive (John Ford, Emilio Fernández)
9) The Woman on the Beach (Jean Renoir) *
10) Lady in the Lake (Robert Montgomery) *

With The Assistance Of My Writer Andrew Katsis, I Plan To Take a look at all 24 Films That Will Be Screened at Noir City 9 Which Will "Kick" Off...

2011-01-20T13:33:00.051-06:00

...Tomorrow Here at the Castro Theater ...
The Castro Theater...Located here at 429 Castro St., San Francisco...Noir City 9..."Kicking" Off Tomorrow January 21, 2011 and running Through January 30, 2011 at the Castro Theater, 429 Castro St., San Francisco.

Here Goes Two Very Interesting Articles Pertaining To Author Eddie Muller's Noir City 9...Follow The "Red" Links...

The San Francisco Gate...Discuss Film Noir With Author Eddie Muller
The Annual Noir City 9 Festival Shines a Spotlight On Cinematic Darkness

That Will "Kick" Off Tomorrow With Miss Noir City 9 The Beautiful Angela [aka "The Notorious Ang"] Rocconi, on board.

Please Try To be in attendance at Noir City 9 tomorrow... In Order To Give and show Support To...Author Eddie Muller, Anita Monga, and The Entire Staff Of The Film Noir Foundation.

Because I think that it's very important to assist in the preservation Of These Wonderful Classic Black and White Films...Why? You may ask...In order For Future Generations To Watch, Research, and Learn From Films From The Past...Just Think TCM...However, the most important reason...Do it for the love Of Film noir or do it for the love Of... Films.

Noir City 9 Line-Up

I Think That These Films are being saved at an incredible rate...However, author Eddie Muller, Anita Monga, and his staff, work is not done...Here Is Where You Come In... Just Follow The Links In Order To not only show, but Give Your Support...with your

Contribution... In Order To Learn More about contributing to The Film Noir Foundation...Just Visit my sidebar and tap the photograph Of actor Dana Andrews. Or Just Follow The "Red" Words.

Thank-You!

High Wall

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

High Wall (1947) is a film noir, starring Robert Taylor, Audrey Totter and Herbert Marshall. It was directed by Curtis Bernhardt from a screenplay by Sydney Boehm and Lester Cole, based on a play by Alan R. Clark and Bradbury Foote.

Synopsis:

A man suffering from a recurring brain injury during the war Steven Kenet (Taylor), appears to have strangled his wife after catching her living in her boss' apartment. He blacks out while his hands are around the woman's neck. He confesses and is committed to a county asylum. At the asylum, Dr. Ann Lorrison (Totter) is initially cynical about Kenet's story and reluctance to undergo treatment.

Slowly, she begins to doubt his guilt, and endangers her career when she begins to investigate the crime which eventually leads to another suspect. When Kenet's memory is finally jogged he remembers a clue that could prove his innocence, he escapes from the asylum looking for his wife's old boss Whitcombe (Marshall). The doctor and patient meet outside his building and sneak in and question the man.

I Plan To Take a look all all 24 Films That Will Be Screened at author Eddie Muller's Noir City 9 Over There On My Ning...Starting Tomorrow.

2010-09-15T12:05:00.001-05:00

Day Fourteen Of The 30 Days Of Madness Countdown Continues With Fellow Blogger Castor, From Over There at..."Anomalousmaterial."

Join in The Madness..Here when Castor, take a look at the film "American Psycho"

Just Follow The Link To Read Castor's review Of...

American Psycho

Here Goes The Trailer...

Fletch's 30 Days Of CrAzY Countdown...Join in The "Madness" Just Because The Water Is...Nice... 30 Reviews Of 30 Films With Crazy Themes...

2010-09-14T14:31:00.001-05:00

fDay Thirteen Of The 30 Days Of Madness Countdown Continues With Fellow Blogger Jess, From Over There at..."In Sight Into Entertainment"

Join in The Madness..Here when Jess, take a look at the film ""

Just Follow The Link To Read Jess' review Of "Crazy People."

Here Goes The Trailer...

Fletch's 30 Days Of CrAzY Countdown...Join in The "Madness" Just Because The Water Is...Nice... 30 Reviews Of 30 Films With Crazy Themes...

2010-09-13T02:40:00.004-05:00

Day Eleven The 30 Days Of Madness Countdown Continues With Fellow Blogger Dave, From Over There at..."Dave Movie Review"

Join in The Madness..Here when Dave, take a look at the film "12 Monkeys"

Just Follow The Link To Read Dave's review Of "12 Monkey" ... 12 Monkeys

Here Goes The Trailer...

Fletch's 30 Days Of CrAzY Countdown...Join in The "Madness" Just Because The Water Is...Nice... 30 Reviews Of 30 Films With Crazy Themes...

2010-09-12T13:32:00.013-05:00

Day Eleven The 30 Days Of Madness Countdown Continues With Fellow Blogger Kai, From Over There at..."The List: The Greatest Movie Blog Ever"

Join in The Madness..Here when Kai, take a look at the film "The Fight Club"

Just Follow The Link To Read Kai's review Of "The Fight Club" Kai's Blog "The List:The Greatest Movie Blog Ever"

Here Goes The Trailer...

Taking a Look at The Film Solaris...and Seven Videos From The First Seven Bloggers in the Countdown...From "One Flew Over The Cuckoo" To "Seven"...

2010-09-11T09:10:00.020-05:00

[Editor's Note: What was I thinking I didn't add Videos...with The First Seven Bloggers' links...Therefore Check Out My Vodpod below In Order To View The Trailers for all Seven Films. Thanks,]

Day Ten The 30 Days Of Madness Countdown Continues With Fellow Blogger Fitz, From Over There at...Nevermind Popular Films...

Join in The Madness..Here when Fitz, take a look at the film "Solaris"

Just Follow The Link To Read Fitz From Over There at "Nevermind Popular Film's" review Of the film...Solaris.

Here Goes The Trailer...

Fletch's 30 Days Of CrAzY Countdown Begins...Today Join in The "Madness" Just Because The Water Is...Nice... 30 Reviews Of 30 Films With Crazy Themes

2010-09-10T12:45:00.001-05:00

Day Nine The 30 Days Of Madness Countdown Continues With Fellow Blogger Simon From Over There at..."Four Of Them's"

Join in The Madness..Here when "Four Of Them's take a look at the film "Donnie Darko"

Just Following The Link To Read The review Of the film..."Donnie Darko..." Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Jena Malone, and Katherine Ross.

Donnie Darko

Here Goes The Video Trailer For The Film Donnie Darko...

Fletch's 30 Days Of CrAzY Countdown Begins...Join in The "Madness" Just Because The Water Is...Nice... 30 Reviews Of 30 Films With Crazy Themes...

2010-09-09T16:49:00.003-05:00

Day Eight The 30 Days Of Madness Countdown Continues With Fellow Blogger Jess From ..."Insight into Entertainment."

Join in The Madness..Here with Jess, as "Insight Into Entertainment" take a look at the film "Dream Team."

Just Following The Link To Read Jess review Of the film..."Dream Team"Starring actors Micheal Keaton, Peter Boyle, and Christopher Lloyd...
Insight Into Entertainment

I must admit that I had a difficult time finding Screen Shots For This 1989 film called "The Dream Team" Therefore, I had to also include a trailer...In Fairness To The Other Participants...I Plan To Post Your Video Of Trailers for Your Films Too!

Fletch's 30 Days Of CrAzY Countdown Begins... Join in The "Madness" Just Because The Water Is...Nice... 30 Reviews Of 30 Films With Crazy Themes...

2010-09-08T14:00:00.002-05:00

Day Se7en (No Pun Intended) The 30 Days Of Madness Countdown Continues With Fellow Blogger Sebastian From ..."Detailed Criticism."

Join in The Madness..Here with Sebastian, as "Detailed Criticism" take a look at the film "Se7en" Just Following The Link To Read Sebastian review Of the film..."Se7en."

Starring actors Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kevin Spacey.

Sebastian From Over There at "Detailed Criticism" Takes a look at the film Se7en.

2010-09-07T13:11:00.004-05:00

The 30 Days Of Madness Countdown Day Six and (Day Seven Coming Up This Evening With Detailed Criticism Taking A Look at the film Se7en... )
Continue With Fellow Bloggers From ...''The Thrilling Days Of Yesteryear."

Join in The Madness..Here with as "Thrilling Days Of Yesteryear" take a look at Director
Sam Fuller, 1963 film "Shock Corridor..." Just Following The Link To Read The Review Of

Sam Fuller's "Shock Corridor."
...Starring actor Peter Breck, Constance Towers, Bill Zuckert and Philip Ahn.
Director Sam Fuller's "Shock Corridor."

Fletch's 30 Days Of CrAzY Countdown Begins...Join in The "Madness" Just Because The Water Is...Nice... 30 Reviews Of 30 Films With Crazy Themes...

2010-09-06T06:46:00.002-05:00

The 30 Days Of Madness Countdown Day Five Continue With Fellow Bloggers From ..."The Lightning Bugs Lair"...

Join in The Madness..Here with "The Lightning Bugs Lair"as he take a look at Director

John Maybury, film "The Jacket"...

...Starring actor Adrien Brody and actress Keira Knightley over there at his den called the...
The Lightning Bugs Lair

Fletch's 30 Days Of CrAzY Countdown Begins... Join in The "Madness" Just Because The Water Is...Nice... 30 Reviews Of 30 Films With Crazy Themes...

2010-09-04T04:02:00.009-05:00

The 30 Days Of Madness Countdown Day Four Continue With Fellow Bloggers From ..."Pussy Goes Grrr..."

Join in The Madness..Here with Andreas and Ashley, as they take a look at Director Adrian Lyne's Jacob's Ladder.

Fletch's 30 Days Of CrAzY Countdown Begins...Join in The "Madness" Just Because The Water Is...Nice... 30 Reviews Of 30 Films With Crazy Themes...

2010-09-03T10:31:00.018-05:00

The 30 Days Of Madness Countdown Day Three Continue With Fellow Bloggers From ..."The Simon and Jo Film Show..."

Join in The Madness..Here with The Simon and Jo Film Show as they take a look at Director Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket..."

Fletch's 30 Days Of CrAzY Countdown Begins... Join in The "Madness" Just Because The Water Is...Nice... 30 Reviews Of 30 Films With Crazy Themes...

2010-09-03T00:32:00.019-05:00

The 30 Days Of Madness Countdown Day Two Continue With Fellow Blogger "Olive"From "Movie News First" As She Takes a look at Terry Gilliam's "The Fisher King."

Join in The Madness..Here With

Olive From Over There at "Movie News First" As She Takes a Look at "The Fisher King."

Fletch's 30 Days Of CrAzY Countdown Begins...Today Join in The "Madness" Just Because The Water Is...Nice... 30 Reviews Of 30 Films With Crazy Themes

2010-09-01T10:11:00.013-05:00

Kicking The 30 Days Of Madness Countdown Off Is Fellow Blogger "Mad Hatter" with a look at Milos Forman's 1975 Film "One Flew Over The Cuckoo."

Join in The Madness...

The Mad Hatter Review Of Milos Forman's One Flew Over The Cuckoo Nest.

Fletch's 30 Days Of CrAzY Countdown...Begins Tomorrow Over There at Blog Cabin...I Plan To Participate By Focusing On Director Alfred Hitchcock's 1960

2010-08-31T07:14:00.024-05:00

Film Psycho...Starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, Martin Balsom and John Gavin...Oh! and Mother, but of course!

Where Did Norman Sleep? Here Goes Seventeen Frames From Director [Alfred] Hitchcock's 1960 Film...Of "Mother's" Bedroom.

The Trailer For The 1960 Film "Psycho"....

Counting Down Thirty-One Film Noir(s) That Merit Special Attention with Tony d'Ambra, From Over There at Films Noir.net in the Director Chair for...

2010-06-10T04:53:00.020-05:00

Ace in the Hole (1952)
The By-Line...A savage critique of a corrupted and corrupting modern mass media.
[Editor's Note: Ace in the Hole was suppose to be No# 26 and Crimewave No# 27]
Billy Wilder’s best movie. Kirk Douglas owns it. “A brilliant arrangement of cause and effect… unique as a mirror of the morbid psychology of crowds… revolting but incontrovertibly true.” - The New York Times

“Terrific drama. Grim tale of a big city reporter who capitalizes on a disaster to ride himself back to the big time. Unrelenting in its cynicism.” - Steve H. Scheuer,

Movies on TV and Video. Ace in the Hole (aka The Big Carnival) is a savage critique not only of a corrupted but also corrupting modern mass media.

Directed by Billy Wilder Produced by Billy Wilder Written by Walter Newman Lesser Samuels Billy Wilder Starring Kirk Douglas Jan Sterling Robert Arthur Porter Hall
Music by Hugo Friedhofer Cinematography Charles B. Lang Jr. Editing by Arthur P. Schmidt
Distributed by Paramount Pictures Release date(s) July 29, 1951Running time 111 minutes
Country United States Language English

According to writer Tony d'Ambra...Perhaps Billy Wilder’s best film, this subversive morality tale was not a box office success when first released. As Wilder said of the audience response at the time: “Americans expected a cocktail and felt I was giving them a shot of vinegar instead.”

Kirk Douglas as the self-seeking journalist, Chuck Tatum, dominates the screen and develops by the climax as one of Wilder’s more complex characterisations.
There are noir elements in the movie, but classifying it as a noir unfairly limits its scope and the depth of social criticism. Only the poor trapped man, his inconsolable parents, and the owner of the small town newspaper, have any true decency. Everyone else, is either corrupt or corruptible, if not downright stupid or plain evil – the trapped man’s floozy of a wife included, and Tatum’s naive young photographer is easily seduced by the reporter’s phoney charisma.

The corrupt sheriff who actively conspires with Tatum, even after he is told the poor trapped man is doomed, wants to use this turn of events to his political advantage.The power of this film resonates today, when countries go to war on manufactured evidence and manipulative spin. Innocent lives are as expendable today as they always have been in the cause of political ambition and warped ideological agendas: a world where the spin doctor rules.

Tony:This is a must see movie.

DeeDee:Oh! yes, Tony,I agree with you, 100% and it's available on DVD in order to compare both the Criterion version and the Paramount region 2, 4, just head over to Tooze's place. http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews32/ace_in_the_hole.htm

Film Critic A.O. Scott...From the N.Y. Times...Discuss Wilders' "Ace in the Hole"