262. (04 Nov) 55 Days at Peking (1963, Nicholas Ray) 34
From the extraordinary number of actors in Asianface to the way the Chinese are vilified, 55 Days at Peking has some pretty serious racist implications that have made it age badly. Still, it does explore the way the West exploited China, so it's not completely oblivious. The production value is exemplary and Dimitri Tiomkin's lush, Oscar-nominated score is quite strong. However, the selling point here is Charlton Heston, who is charismatic and photogenic as usual. He and Ava Gardner have a palpable sexual chemistry that makes their too few scenes together tower above any of the unexciting action sequences. For all its scope, this is surprisingly dull, especially once the rebellion is underway. The dreamy Andy Williams tune "So Little Time" that plays at the film's end is rather sublime.
Maisie Goes to Reno (1944). Directed by Harry Beaumont. Cast: Ann Sothern, John Hodiak, Tom Drake, Marta Linden and Ava Gardner. The eighth of ten movies starring Ann Sothern as the heroine Maisie Ravier.
The story begins when Maisie Ravier, an overworked riveter has developed a nervous wink. Her doctor orders her to take a two weeks vacation. Maisie's friend, band leader Tommy Cutter, offers her a job singing with his all-girl band in, Reno and she accepts.
At the bus station, Maisie, by chance.. buys her ticket to Reno, from a lady who has changed her mind about going. Then Bill Fullerton, a Marine sergeant on furlough, talks her into her selling her ticket to him, so that he can go to Reno and reconcile with his estranged heiress wife, Gloria
Before boarding the bus, Bill is stopped by an M.P. telling him that his furlough has been canceled. Bill, not knowing what to do, returns the ticket to Maisie and asks her to hand-deliver a letter he was written to Gloria.
Once in Reno, Maisie learns that the heiress has checked out of her hotel. Mistaking her nervous tic for a flirtation, Philip "Flip" Hennahan, a blackjack dealer at the hotel's casino, offers Maisie a ride to the ranch where Gloria is now staying. There, Maisie is introduced to Gloria by her business manager, Roger Pelham. Gloria, tells Maisie that Bill has only written to ask for money.
The next morning, when Bill telephones Maisie she calls him deceitful. Maisie, then spends a romantic day with Flip and learns that he is a veteran.
That night, Maisie runs into Gloria at the hotel, but.. finds out she really Gloria's secretary, Winifred Ashbourne. The real Gloria then introduces herself, telling her that she sometimes has Winifred impersonate her. What they don't know is that, Winifred and Pelham replaced Bill's letter with one written by J. E. Clave.
Soon after, Maisie becomes suspicious when she overhears Clave talking on a lobby phone to Pelham and asks the bellhop Jerry, if she can hand deliver a note from Pelham to Clave. Pretending to be drunk, Maisie tries to trick Clave into confessing about the letter.. with no luck..
It does not take long before Clave, passes out after signing a room service receipt with a phony name. Now, Maisie believes that he is the forger, takes something from his room with his handwriting on it. Flip, standing out in the hall, has overheard Maisie's in Clave's, room and assumes the worst.
Maisie phones Bill and tells him she has proof that Winifred and Pelham are trying to embezzle money from Gloria, Bill then decides to come to Reno. She then goes to show Flip the evidence, and when she cannot find it in her purse, she accuses Flip of stealing it.
Bill, who is on his way to Reno, calls Maisie and tells her to do whatever she has to do to keep Gloria from going through with the divorce. Maisie is then confronted by Clave, Winifred and Pelham, who find the evidence in her purse and tell her to mind her own business.
Maisie tries to explain to Flip about the handwritten evidence, he comes up with the plan to say that she has had a nervous breakdown and arranges for her to see Dr. Cummings, a psychiatrist. Before meeting with the doctor, Maisie and Jerry use a toy gun to kidnap both Winifred and Gloria from the courthouse.
When their car blows a tire, they are arrested and brought to the police station. There Winifred, Gloria, Flip and Dr. Cummings convince the police captain that Maisie is crazy.
Will the police captain release Maisie to Dr. Cummings' custody or set her free?
Will Bill, ever convince his wife that he loves her and is not only after her money?
This is the first time I have watched any of the "Maisie" series, so I do not know how they compare. This one is okay and it was worth watching, to see Gardner and Hodiak, in early roles and of course, it's always fun to watch a Sothern performance.
John Hodiak (April 16, 1914 – October 19, 1955), had his first theatrical experience at age eleven, acting in Ukrainian and Russian plays at the Ukrainian Catholic Church. From the moment he first appeared on the stage, he wanted to become an actor.
He was not even swayed when as a third baseman on his local high school baseball team, he was offered a contract with a St. Louis Cardinals. He turned the offer down.
When Hodiak first tried out for a radio acting job, he was turned down because of his accent. He became a caddy at a Detroit golf course, then worked at a Chevrolet automobile factory and practiced his diction.
When he conquered the diction hurdle, he became a radio actor and moved to Chicago. There he created the role of the comic strip character Li'l Abner on radio. After a short stint in the Army, he arrived in Hollywood in 1942 and signed a motion picture contract with MGM.
He refused to change his name, saying, "I like my name. It sounds like I look." Hodiak was cast in a few small parts at MGM. He then caught the eye of director Alfred Hitchcock and, on loan-out to 20th Century Fox and starred in the film, Lifeboat (1944).
His next big role, A Bell For Adano (1945) with Gene Tierney. In 1949 he was voted "box office poison" by exhibitors. He had one wife, actress Anne Baxter (married July 7, 1946-divorced January 27, 1953). They had one daughter, Katrina Hodiak (born July 9, 1951).
In 1953, Hodiak went to New York and made his Broadway debut in, The Chase. The play was a failure, but its star received fantastic critical notices. He then originated the role of Lieutenant Maryk in Paul Gregory's production of the play, The Caine Mutiny Court Martial by Herman Wouk adapted from his novel The Caine Mutiny. The play ran for two years and Hodiak's portrayal brought him nationwide fame.
When the show closed after its U.S. tour, Hodiak began work on, Trial (1955) at MGM, playing the prosecuting attorney. When it wrapped, he played Major Ward Thomas in, On the Threshold of Space (1956) at 20th Century Fox.
At the age of forty-one, Hodiak suffered a fatal heart attack in the bathroom of the Tarzana, California, home he had built for his parents. He was shaving and getting ready to go to the studio to complete his scenes in, On the Threshold of Space. It was later decided his performance was far enough along to release the movie.
Mogambo(1953). Directer: John Ford. Cast: Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly and Donald Sinden. The film was adapted from the play by Wilson Colliso. Kelly won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress (1954), and the film was nominated for two Oscars, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Gardner), and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Kelly). Mogambo is a remake of the classic film Red Dust (1932). The earlier movie also featured Gable in the lead role.
After trying to capture a black leopard, safari guide and big game hunter Victor Marswell returns home, only to find a young woman in his outdoor shower. The unexpected Kelly, tells Victor that she traveled from New York at the invitation of Maharajah, who left for India leaving her stranded. Kelly, is furious when she learns she will have to wait until next week, for the boat to take her back to America. She wins over Victor, and they begin romantic relationship. Kelly also makes fast friends with Leon Boltchak and Brownie, Victors helpers. Kelly is heartbroken when Victor comes to tell her that the boat has arrived and orders her to pack. After telling Kelly an awkward goodbye, Victor welcomes British anthropologist Donald Nordley and his wife Linda, who have come to study gorillas. Victor is angry when he hears their plans, and refuses to take them. Soon, Donald becomes ill because of a tsetse fly vaccination, Victor doctors him, but his attitude angers Linda, and she slaps his face. Later that evening, Donald recovers, and Linda apologizes to Victor.
Everyone, is surprised to see a disheveled Kelly show up with the skipper, who tells them that the steamer had engine trouble and will take about four weeks to repair. The next morning, Linda goes for a walk in the jungle and Victor goes out looking her, saving her just in time from the black leopard. On their way back to the camp, Victor and Linda are caught in a wind storm, Victor carries her home and sparks begin to fly. Kelly witnesses the romantic moment, and throws barbs at them throughout dinner.
Victor suddenly changes his mind and agrees to take the Nordleys to gorilla country. Brownie suggests that Kelly join them on safari and catch a flight to Cairo. Will Kelly make her flight or be the Victor..? I know.. I know.. that was a bad play on words. :)
Grace Kelly was not the first choice for the role of Linda Nordley. Gene Tierney dropped out because of health problems. The movie was filmed on location in Okalataka, French Congo, Mount Kenya, Thika, Kenya, Kenyan Rift Valley, and Fourteen Falls near Thika. Also the Kagera River, Tanganyika Isoila Uganda, and at the MGM British Studios. The film offers some of the best wildlife shots taken of the African continent. Most of the music is performed by the native tribes. The film shows a traditional Africa that has long since passed. This type of scenes is why I love this film.. but the love triangle is still the focus. Clark Gable's performance is amazing. How often does an actor have the opportunity of portraying the same character 20 years later? In "Red Dust", Gable was also amazing.
FUN FACT: While filming Mogombo, Clark Gable and Grace Kelly began an affair that lasted for several months.
Personal Quote: "Maybe I just didn't have the temperament for stardom. I'll never forget seeing Bette Davis at the Hilton in Madrid. I went up to her and said, "Miss Davis, I'm Ava Gardner and I'm a great fan of yours." And do you know, she behaved exactly as I wanted her to behave. "Of course you are, my dear," she said. "Of course you are." And she swept on. Now that's a star."
East Side, West Side(1949). Melodramatic/crime film. Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Ava Gardner in one of her earliest roles, James Mason and Van Heflin. Based on a novel by Marcia Davenport and a screenplay by Isobel Lennart, the film was directed by Mervyn Leroy.
Late one night, Jessie Bourne, is homealone, while, her philandering husband Brandon, is out drinking at the Del Rio night club, with model Rosa Senta. Rosa, later asks Brandon, why he cheats on his wife. Brandon says, "just because a man has one perfect rose at home, doesn't mean he can't enjoy the flowers of the field."
It is not long before Brandon's, former mistress Isabel Lorrison, just back from Paris, shows up forcing Rosa to leave. Isabel, is hoping to pick up where they left off, but Brandon, is ready to move on, telling her that.. "he is now faithful to his wife".
Later, as Brandon is leaving the club, Alec Dawning, who knows Brandon's reputation, knocks him unconscious. Rosa, takes Brandon to her home, where he spends the night.
When Brandon, arrives home he tells Jessie that he was attacked by a bum, which she does not believe.
Soon after, Helen Lee reminds Jessie about her party for ex-police officer Mark Dwyer, whose book Helen's husband Owen is trying to get syndicated in his newspaper. Jessie, then confides to Helen, that she is afraid of what will happen to her marriage now that Isabel is back in town.
After, seeing a picture newspaper picture of Rosa and her husband, Jessie finds Rosa and speaks with her about the picture. Rosa, explains what really happened and the two become fast friends. Jessie, offers to take Rosa to the airport to pick up her boyfriend.
By coincidence, Rosa's sweetheart is th ex-police officer Mark Dwyer, who seems more interested in Jessie.
On the day of Helen's party, Isabel, manages to keep Brandon, from attending the party. Jessie goes to the party alone and is taken home by Mark, who stays with her until Brandon returns home.
The next day, Isabel tells Jessie that she is going to steal husband from her.
Later, Mark while giving Jessie, a tour of his West Side neighborhood, he confesses his love for her. When Jessie returns home, she finds out that Isabel has been murdered.
She and Mark, rush over to Isabel's apartment, where police Lt. Jacobi is interrogating Brandon. Mark, finds a clue that leads him to the Del Rio club, where he finds Isabel's killer, who turns out to be..
Both Stanwyck and Gardner are well matched in this film. Mason, is such a creep that you, hope that everyone, will kick him to the curb by the end of the movie. Loved, the New York scenes and Costumes, were beautiful. I would watch this film again..
Gale Sondergaard (February 15, 1899 – August 14, 1985), studied acting at the Minneapolis School of Dramatic Arts before joining the John Keller Shakespeare Company.
She later toured North America in productions of Hamlet, Julius Caesar, The Merchant of Venice, and Macbeth. Her younger sister Hester Sondergaard was also an actress.
Sondergaard made her first film appearance in, Anthony Adverse (1936) as "Faith Paleologue" and became the first recipient of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.
Her career as an actress flourished during the 1930s, and included a role opposite Paul Muni in The Life of Emile Zola (1937). During pre-production of MGM's classic The Wizard of Oz (1939), an early idea was to have the Wicked Witch of the West portrayed as a glamorous villainess in a black sequined costume, inspired by the Wicked Queen in, Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Sondergaard was originally cast as the witch in "Oz" and was photographed for two wardrobe test. One was as a glamorous wicked witch, and another as a conventionally ugly wicked witch. After the decision was made to have an ugly wicked witch, Sondergaard, believed it could damage her career, withdrew from the role, and it went to character actress, Margaret Hamilton. Sondergaard was, later cast as the sultry Tylette (a magically humanized, but devious, cat) in 1940s The Blue Bird.
In 1940, she played the role of the exotic and sinister wife in, The Letter, with Bette Davis. She received a second Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress for her role as the King's principal wife in, Anna and the King of Siam(1946).
Sondergaard was first married in 1922 to actor Neill O'Malley; they divorced in 1930. On 15 May 1930, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she married her second husband, Herbert Biberman, a theater director then associated with the Theatre Guild Acting Company; he became a film director and died in 1971. They had two children, Daniel Hans Biberman and Mrs. Joan Campos.
Sondergaard's career was damaged during the Red Scare of the early 1950s, when her husband was accused of being a communist and named as one of the Hollywood Ten. (In the 2000 movie One of the Hollywood Ten, Sondergaard was portrayed by actress Greta Scacchi while Jeff Goldblum was cast as Biberman.) She supported her husband during the production of Salt of the Earth (1954). Highly controversial when it was made, and not a commercial success, its artistic and cultural merit was recognized in 1992 when the National Film Preservation Board selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.
One of the Hollywood Ten (2000) chronicled Sondergaard's relationship with Biberman and her role in the making of, Salt of the Earth. The Bibermans sold their home in Hollywood shortly after they completed Salt of the Earth and moved to New York, where Sondergaard was able to work in theatre.
