Released – August, 1951 

Directed By - George Stevens

Starring – Montgomery Clift (George Eastman), Elizabeth Taylor (Angela Vickers), Shelley Winters (Alice Tripp), Anne Revere (Hannah Eastman).

Description – Adapted from Theodore Dreiser’s 1925 novel ‘An American Tragedy,’  this is the story of industrialist Charles Eastman’s nephew George and his entanglement with two women and murder.

After taking a job at his wealthy uncle’s factory, George Eastman begins to date fellow employee Alice Tripp who works on the assembly line. As their dating continues, Alice becomes pregnant and hopes to marry George.

Around the same time, George gets his first exposure to high society where he meets the beautiful and sophisticated Angela Vickers. George is immediately infatuated with Angela and begins to lose interest in Alice.

Alice threatens to tell Angela of their affair unless George agrees to marry her. While out on a boat with George, Alice is killed in what appears to be a boating accident. Or, was it murder?

NOTABLE: In 1991 this film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

This motion picture won six Academy Awards; Best Director (George Stevens), Best Writing, Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Music, and Best Costume Design. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Montgomery Clift), and Best Actress in a Leading Role (Shelley Winters).

Although Technicolor filming was becoming increasingly popular, Director George Stevens felt the storyline and overall tone of this movie would be more appropriate filmed in black and white.

A Place in the Sun

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store

Released – November, 1950 

Directed By - Compton Bennett, Andrew Marton

Starring – Deborah Kerr (Elizabeth Curtis), Stewart Granger (Allan Quatermain), Richard Carlson (John Goode), Hugo Haas (Van Brun).

Description – A classic adventure film about the ‘great white hunter’ Allan Quatermain guiding Elizabeth Curtis through the African jungle in search of her lost husband.  Elizabeth’s husband Henry had been searching for the legendary treasure of King Solomon.

A spectacular series of adventures occur that involve wild animals, dangerous tribesmen, and a booby-trapped cave.  Will the husband be found; will the treasure be found, and will Allan and Elizabeth fall in love?

NOTABLE: This motion picture won two Oscar’s; Best Cinematography, Color, and Best Film Editing.  The film was also nominated for Best Picture.

The location footage in this film, and many of the animal scenes were re-used dozens of times during the 1950′s.

Other than the beat of Africal drums, there is no musical score for this film.

Originally suggested for the role of Allan Quatermain, Errol Flynn turned down the role not wanting to spend location filming in a tent.

Personal Comment:  Growing up, I always had a love of Saturday Matinee jungle movies; this is a very good one.

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store

Released – October, 1950 

Directed By - Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Starring – Bette Davis (Margo Channing), Anne Baxter (Eve Harrington), George Sanders (Addison Dewitt), Celeste Holm (Karen Richards), Gary Merrill (Bill Simpson), Hugh Marlowe (Lloyd Richards), Thelma Ritter (Birdie).

Description – A classic behind-the-scenes look into the world of New York theater.  Ambition and betrayal are the order of the day as aspiring actress Eve Harrington worms her way into the life of aging star Margo Channing.

Hired by Margo as her personnal assistant, Eve soon begins to work her underhanded scheming to take advantage of Margo, her husband, and her friends in an effort to make herself a top Broadway star.  There are no limits to what Eve is capable of, including blackmail.

NOTABLE: Universally praised, All About Eve received fourteen Academy Award nominations winnning six.  Oscars won include Best Picture, Best Director (Mankiewicz), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (George Sanders), Best Writing, Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Black and White, Best Sound, Recording.  The other nominations were Best Actress in a Leading Role (Davis and Baxter), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Holm and Ritter), Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and Best Music.

In 1990 this film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

In 2007 the movie was ranked #28 on the American Film Institutes list of the 100 Best American Movies of All Time.

In 2003 the character of Eve Harrington was ranked #23 on AFI’s list of 50 Best Villains of American Cinema.

Contrary to popular belief, the role of Margo Channing was not based on Tallulah Bankhead.

Bette Davis credited this role with saving her career.  When speaking of Director Mankiewicz in a later interview she stated, “He resurrected me from the dead.”

Previously considered only suited for comedy, Marilyn Monroe had one of her first dramatic roles in this film.

Personal Comment:  Easily one of the greatest Hollywood film classics of any era.  A great screenplay, great directing, great dialogue, and a great cast.  This film should be mandatory viewing for all film makers.

A must-see film!

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store