August, 1953 – Newcomer Audrey Hepburn shines in the Paramount Studios production of Roman Holiday a romantic comedy about a European princess who goes AWOL.

The beautiful and charming Hepburn captured the hearts of Director William Wyler as well as her leading man Gregory Peck. The 24 year old daughter of an Irish banker and a Dutch baroness had spent her youth in Nazi occupied Holland.

After the war, she pursued her dream of being a classical ballet dancer eventually believing herself to be too tall for ballet. Still with a strong desire to dance she joined the chorus of a London musical. This move led to Hepburn being chosen to play the title role in Gigi on Broadway. 

Her resulting success on Broadway gave Paramount the confidence to cast her in the role of Princess Ann in Roman Holiday. The rest, as they say, is history.

Audrey Hepburn, the thin child-woman with the large and expressive eyes who carries herself with delicate grace, would go on to become one of Hollywood’s most popular and captivating film stars.

August, 1953 – Columbia Pictures release of From Here to Eternity may be a bit toned down from the original James Jones novel, but the film still packs some titillating punch. This is the powerful story of Army life in Hawaii just prior to the Japanese invasion. 

From Here to Eternity boasts a stellar cast led by Burt Lancaster as Sergeant Milt Warden, Montgomery Clift as reluctant boxer and now bugler Robert E. Prewitt, Deborah Kerr, in a role different from any other that she has played, as nymphomaniac Karen Holmes, Donna Reedas Alma ‘Lorene’ Burke a social club worker who captures the heart of Prewitt, and an excellent performance in a make-or-break role by Frank Sinatraas Pvt. Angelo Maggio.

Produced by Buddy Adler, Directed by Fred Zinnemann, a great cast, and the great story are sure to pave the way to multiple awards on Oscar night. But, the sparks are provided by Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in their memorable love scene on the beach.

April, 1953 – Shane, starring Alan Ladd, will be remembered as one of the best Westerns ever made at Paramount Studios, or for that matter anywhere else. 

Directed by George Stevens, Shane is the story of of a gunslinging stranger turned guardian angel. Accurate characterizations highlight this tale as it is told from the viewpoint of a young boy. This excellent Western finds local homesteaders in the middle of a range war with the terror being very skillfully provided by Emile Meyer, and the always entertainingly villainous Jack Palance.

A classic Western with beautiful Cinematography of the Wyoming range and a great cast that also includes Van Heflin, Jean Arthur, Ben Johnson, Edgar Buchanan, Elisha Cook, Jr. and Brandon De Wilde as the young boy. Shane is a most entertaining Western that will appeal to everyone.

January, 1952 – Director Vincente Minnelli, generally associated with the Hollywood musical, has created an ill-tempered, psychologically penetrating melodrama titled The Bad and the Beautiful. 

The film tells the story of an ambitious film producer played as the perfect heel by Kirk Douglas and his relationships with a fading screen star played by Lana Turner, a screenwriter played by Dick Powell, and a director played by Barry Sullivan.

Minelli beautifully connects their individual stories with a fluid visual directing style that includes the creative use of lighting, music, editing, and camera work.

Co-starring Gloria Grahame as the bored wife of Dick Powell, along with Walter Pidgeon, and Gilbert Roland, each of who bring a little extra magic to the production, making The Bad and the Beautiful uncomfortably close to reality.

July, 1952 – After a bit of a film slump, Gary Cooper has returned in a big way with his portrayal of Sheriff Will Kane in Fred Zinnemann’s classic western High Noon. 

Aging lawman Will Kane finds himself in the toughest spot of his law enforcement life. Revenge is the motive as an outlaw Kane has sent to jail is returning on the noon train to meet with his gang on the sheriff’s wedding day and kill him.

Cooper is strongly supported by a great cast including Grace Kelly as his Quaker wife, Thomas Mitchell as the town Mayor, Katie Jurado is a woman from Kane’s past, and Lloyd Bridges plays his cowardly deputy.

An adult western with moral challenges for all involved. Torn between his heart and his duty, Kane will not run. His new wife Amy’s strong religious beliefs prevent her from condoning his desire to stay and fight, and the town he has served so well for so long may just be too scared to back him up.

The train whistle can be heard in the distance as it’s almost High Noon.