Released – July, 1951 

Directed By - Alfred Hitchcock

Starring – Farley Granger (Guy Haines), Ruth Roman (Anne Morton), Robert Walker (Bruno Anthony), Leo G. Carroll (Sen. Morton), Patricia Hitchcock (Barbara Morton).

Description – What do a tennis star and a psychopath have in common? Nothing, except maybe the desire to commit murder. A chance meeting between the two on a train leads to an exchange of murders that offers the opportunity for a perfect crime.

Tennis star Guy Haines is dating a Senator’s daughter and would like to have his estranged wife out of the picture, while psycotic momma’s boy Bruno Anthony would like to kill his father. Guy Haines doesn’t really take the murder offer from Bruno Anthony seriously – until his wife Miriam is found murdered.

Now, it’s his turn to keep his part of the double murder bargin.

NOTABLE: This film was nominated for the Best Cinematography, Black and White Oscar.

This movie is ranked #32 on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years, 100 Thrills list.

Believed by many to have been made by Hitchcock during his most creative period, the early 1950’s, this is probably his most discussed and analyzed directorial efforts.

Director Hitchcock originally wanted actor William Holden to play the role of Guy Haines, however Holden turned down the role.

Personal Comment: This is a very enjoyable Hitchcock film and is one of my favorites of his as well as a favorite Noir title.

The role of Bruno Anthony was the last full-feature for actor Robert Walker and was condidered a breakthrough performance for him opening the door to a promising future. Sadly, he was to die accidentally a short eight months later at the age of 32.

This film was scheduled to be remade sometime during 2008, but doesn’t appear to have happened.

Strangers on a Train (Two-Disc Special Edition)

TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Hitchcock Thrillers (Suspicion / Strangers on a Train / The Wrong Man / I Confess)

The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection (Strangers on a Train Two-Disc Edition / North by Northwest / Dial M for Murder / Foreign Correspondent / Suspicion / The Wrong Man / Stage Fright / I Confess / Mr. and Mrs. Smith)

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store

Released – June, 1951 

Directed By - Billy Wilder

Starring - Kirk Douglas (Chuck Tatum), Jan Sterling (Lorriane Minosa), Robert Arthur (Herbie Cook), Porter Hall (Jacob Q. Boot).

Description - A former big-city reporter, now working for a small Albuquerque newspaper, stumbles onto a story involving a man stuck in an ancient Indian ruin. In an effort to rekindle his career and garner front-page news on a national scale he decides to exploit the story for all it is worth and at any cost.

His efforts soon turn the situation into an out-of-control media circus. His manipulation of a corrupt sheriff, the rescue operation’s engineer, and even the victum’s wife turn a simple twelve hour rescue process into a six day nightmare that can only end in tragedy.

An almost prophetic example of news media and the sensationalized manner in which it sometimes reports the news.

NOTABLE: This film was nominated for the Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Oscar.

This story was inspired by two true events. The first, a 1925 landslide in Sand Cave, Kentucky which turned into a national sensation winning the reporter (William Burke Miller) a Pulitzer Prize. The second in 1949 when a three-year-old fell into an abandoned well and the rescue attempt took several days resulting in thousands of visitor’s arriving to watch the action creating a circus atmosphere of its own.

Initially, a critical and box-office failure, this motion picture has received much deserved respect among modern day movie critics as a facinating example of human nature and its failings.

Ace in the Hole – Criterion Collection

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store

Released – August, 1950 

Directed By - Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Starring - Richard Widmark (Ray Biddle), Linda Darnell (Edie Johnson), Stephen McNally (Dr. Dan Wharton), Sidney Poitier (Dr. Luther Brooks).

Description – An exercise in racism.  Wounded while robbing a gas station, brothers Johnny and Ray Biddle are taken to the prison ward of the County Hospital.  Johnny, the more seriously wounded, is being treated by Dr. Luther Brooks, who is black.

Johnny dies while being treated and his brother Ray, believing it was murder committed by the black doctor, wants vengence.  The situation only gets worse with bigotry and racial hatred escalating on both sides.  

NOTABLE: This film received an Oscar nomination for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay.

The role of Dr. Luther Brooks was the feature film debut of Sidney Poitier whose portrayal was nothing short of excellent.

During filming Richard Widmark and Sidney Poitier became immediate friends with Poitier stating that meeting Widmark “was the most pleasent and refreshing surprise in my initial exposure to the Hollywood scene.  The reality of Widmark was a thousand miles from the character he played.”  In fact, Widmark was so sensitive to the issue of racism, that he apologized to Poitier after each take that required his character to mistreat Poitier’s character.

This film also marked the screen debut of Ossie Davis, and was the first film where he appeared with his wife Ruby Dee.

Fearing he may be too young to land his role, Sidney Poitier lied to Director Mankiewicz about his age; stating he was 27, when in fact he was only 22 years old.

Personal Comment:  This is a tense, excellently acted film featuring two of my favorite actors of this era – Richard Widmark, and Sidney Poitier.

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store

Released – August, 1950 

Directed By - Billy Wilder

Starring – Gloria Swanson (Norma Desmond), William Holden (Joe Gillis), Erich von Stroheim (Max von Mayerling), Nancy Olson (Betty Schaefer).

Description – This is the story of faded silent movie star Norma Desmond who has become a demented recluse dreaming of making a dramatic comeback.

By chance, struggling out-of-work screenwriter Joe Gillis meets and is hired by Norma to write the screenplay for her comback.  Joe moves into her decaying mansion on her invitation and the two become lovers. 

Soon after, at a party, Joe meets aspiring young screenwriter Betty Schaefer who he begins to fall in love with.  Learning of this, Norma becomes exceedingly jealous to the point of madness resulting in murder.  

NOTABLE: Sunset Boulevard was nominated for eleven Oscars winning three.  Those won include Best Writing, Story and Screenplay, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black and White, and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.  The other nominations were for Best Actor in a Leading Role (William Holden), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Erich von Stroheim), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Gloria Swanson), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Nancy Olson), Best Director, Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Black and White, and Best Film Editing.

In 1989 this film was in the first group of films selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

In 2007 this film was #16 on AFI’s list of the 100 Best Films of the 20th Century.

Director Cecil B. DeMille and columist Hedda Hopper play themselves in the movie with cameo appearances by silent film figures Buster Keaton, H.B. Warner, and Anna Q. Nilsson.

The role of Norma Desmond was offered to Mary Pickford (who wanted too much control), as well as Mae West and Pola Negri who both turned it down opening the door for Gloria Swanson who give one of Hollywood’s all-time great performances.

Others actors considered for the role of Joe Gillis include Montgomery Clift, Fred MacMurray, Marlon Brando, and Gene Kelly.

Personal Comment:  This is a true American film classic deserving of all the awards and recognition it has received over the years.

Sunset Boulevard: Centennial Collection

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store

Released – July, 1950 

Directed By - Otto Preminger

Starring – Dana Andrews (Det. Sgt. Mark Dixon), Gene Tierney (Morgon Taylor-Paine), Gary Merrill (Tommy Scalise), Bert Freed (Det. Sgt. Paul Klein), Karl Malden (Det. Lt. Thomas).

Description – Showing the darker side of police, this is the story of metropolitan police detective Mark Dixon who harbors an excessive hatred for criminals as a result of his father having being one. 

Having already been demoted as a result of his violent tactics, thing go from bad to worse when Dixon accidently kills a murder suspect.  He attempts to cover things up and place the blame for the murder on a racketeer he hates, but circumstances instead point the finger at the father of the women he loves.

Another classic of this genre that is excellently done. What lies at the end of the sidewalk? Why the sewer of course.

NOTABLE: This story was originally dramatized in January 1949 on the radio show Suspense.

This was the fourth, and last film directed by Otto Preminger for Twentieth Century Fox in the 1940s.

Where the Sidewalk Ends (Fox Film Noir)

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store

Released – June, 1950 

Directed By - Jules Dassin

Starring – Richard Widmark (Harry Fabian), Gene Tierney (Mary Bristol), Googie Withers (Helen Nosseross), Hugh Marlowe (Adam Dunne), Herbert Lom (Kristo).

Description – Two-bit fight promoter and hustler Harry Fabian believes he has the chance of a lifetime that will provide him with the good life.  His plan is to take over professional wrestling from promoter and underworld kingpin Kristo by minipulating him through his father Gregorius, the most famous, and now retired, Greco-Roman wrestler in the world.

Harry starts his scheme by attempting to con everyone around him.  With his plan in motion the unthinkable happens.  Gregorius is accidently killed and the scheme quickly begins to unravel.
Harry now becomes a victim of his own blind ambition and self-deception where redemption comes at a very high price.

A dark and moody classic in the film noir genre.

Night and the City – Criterion Collection

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store

Released – June, 1950 

Directed By - Elia Kazan

Starring – Richard Widmark (Lt. Cmdr. “Clint” Reed, MD), Paul Douglas (Capt. Tom Warren), Barbara Bel Geddes (Nancy Reed), Jack Palance (Blackie), Zero Mostel (Raymond Fitch).

Description – A semidocumentary telling the story of U.S. Public Health Service officer Clinton Reed and police Capt. Tom Warren of New Orleans as they have 48 hours to find a killer who is infected with bubonic plague.

Adding to their difficulty is the fact that they must conduct their search secretly or risk panicing the city, and a local reporter who has heard about the problem and is threatening to break the story.  Filmed entirely on location in New Orleans with many of the actors being local nonprofessionals.

NOTABLE: This film won the Oscar for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story.

This was actor Jack Palance’s screen debut, and was credited by Richard Widmark with doing his own boat rope climbing stunt after two stuntmen had failed.

Panic in the Streets (Fox Film Noir)

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store