Noir Alley

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Yes, The Two Mrs. Carrolls is definitely worth a look! I can’t wait to hear what Eddie has to say about it.

[Hibi]

A very poorly acted and directed "bootlegger" flick. It seemed like the entire picture was spent with one shots, as if the director did not trust actors exchanging lines in the same shot. Maybe he was right. Robert Mitchum did what he could in his scenes. Robert Mitchum and Gene Berry acquitted themselves well enough. Son James Mitchum did not embarrass himself but he didn’t have much to do, I don’t think a facial muscle moved one iota in all of his scenes. He sure looked like his father. I give a pass to Keely Smith, she was not in her element here, not enough allure to be a believable love interest for Mitchum, and not really an actress, but she was not meant for those things and is not to be picked on (Oh laffite, so chivalrous ), she’s a singer and that what she does and she’s a good one.. This was Mitchum’s story, He has been given credit for the screenplay but that is wrong, but he apparently wrote the story (the treatment). He carried the film, obviously, walking around being cool. It was interesting to me that they gave the city crime boss a penchant for classical music but that was an awkward, nearly laughable speech about playing music for the birds outside his window. Later when he is cuffed by the police, he’s listening to (pedantry alert ) the famous Spanish Dance #5 “Andaluza” by Granados, a piece that doesn’t fit him. I think he’s more an 1812 Overture kind of guy, haha. I like those super-chromed ’56 Chevys. Lucas’ new car was a ’56 Ford with the fancy flair-out fins. Great cars for a story like this with all the running and all the stunt driving. Neither the story nor the little personal dramas among the characters were forceful enough to really grab me.. I couldn’t get into the Lucas-Francie connection, nor with Roxanne at all. As mentioned, the crime boss was a little entertaining. Lucas’ insistence that Robin not be a runner (along with mom) was a nice touch. All in all though, I’m not sure I would have hung with this if it hadn’t been for Noir Alley.
I had a giddy moment or two when Roxanne and Robin were walking off in the sunset to end the film because I recalled the following exchange between Roxanne and Lucas earlier when R was trying to get romantic:

Lucas: Roxy, why don’t you just find yourself somebody that’ll be content to punch a time clock or plow a field, and have a mess of kids.

Roxanne: I would, if they looked like you.

…keeping in mind

the STRONG family resemblance between Lucas (Robert Mitchum) and Robin. Roxanne loved Lucas who was now dead and it was ludicrous to think she would just suddenly fall for Robin and doing so because of the resemblance, therefore her children would “look like you.” (Lucas) I was hoping the film chose this ending to send the audience a wink, that Roxanne was really in love with the resemblance, that’s all, or something like that. There may have been, however, an indication (in that same conversation cited above) that Roxanne had a little something for Robin too, although I didn’t see much of that elsewhere. She was clearly in love with Lucas and got him killed for it. I was still surprised to see the film end that way, Roxanne and Robin going off together.

I tried watching it, but it was so badly written and acted I didn't make it past the first 15 mins. Noir Alley sucks lately. (I'd seen it many years ago on network tv).

[Hibi]

Yes, The Two Mrs. Carrolls is definitely worth a look! I can’t wait to hear what Eddie has to say about it.

Not in my opinion! Another wasted Noir Alley........

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Well, Hibi. I haven't seen it in a while, so I might just watch the intro. I enjoyed it the first time I saw it, but it has been ages ago.

[Hibi]

Considering this was the only time, I think, that Bogie and Stanwyck starred in a film together, I thought it was a disappointing effort (standard woman in distress flick). It wasn't awful or anything, just predictable. Reminded me of another film of Bogie's around this time period (also with Alexis Smith) whose title escapes me now.

[Hibi]

DOUBLE POST

[KayFrancis]

Considering this was the only time, I think, that Bogie and Stanwyck starred in a film together, I thought it was a disappointing effort (standard woman in distress flick). It wasn't awful or anything, just predictable. Reminded me of another film of Bogie's around this time period (also with Alexis Smith) whose title escapes me now.

The film with Bogart and Alexis Smith is called CONFLICT.

I agree about The Two Mrs. Carroll's. I've seen the film a number if times, hoping I'd like it better, never happens. Bogart overacted I think, that last scene on the staircase when he shrugs and has a perplexed look on his face is ridiculous. Not a fan of this film. A waste of Bogart and Stanwyck's great talents.
Maybe a different director could have made a better film.

[jamesjazzguitar]

Considering this was the only time, I think, that Bogie and Stanwyck starred in a film together, I thought it was a disappointing effort (standard woman in distress flick). It wasn't awful or anything, just predictable.

Warner Bros. contracted with Stanwyck on two films in 1947, with two of their biggest male stars: Bogart and Flynn (for Cry Wolf). Like you said these films are not awful, but only so-so, and with talent like that, disappointing efforts. Stanwyck wouldn't make another film with WB until 1953, Blowing Wild with Cary Cooper, also a so-so effort.

The only Stanwyck post-WWII WB film that shines is the holiday romp Christmas in Connecticut (1945).

[Hibi]

Considering this was the only time, I think, that Bogie and Stanwyck starred in a film together, I thought it was a disappointing effort (standard woman in distress flick). It wasn't awful or anything, just predictable.

Warner Bros. contracted with Stanwyck on two films in 1947, with two of their biggest male stars: Bogart and Flynn (for Cry Wolf). Like you said these films are not awful, but only so-so, and with talent like that, disappointing efforts. Stanwyck wouldn't make another film with WB until 1953, Blowing Wild with Cary Cooper, also a so-so effort.

The only Stanwyck post-WWII WB film that shines is the holiday romp Christmas in Connecticut (1945).

Yes, and both similar storylines with Barbara as a damsel in distress and with Flynn/Bogie as the heavies in both films. Not very original. I think they had the same director too?

My Reputation ('46) was good. (though made earlier in the 40s) Babs career was starting to decline around this time. There were still a few good roles/films ahead of her (Sorry, Wrong Number; Executive Suite, etc.) but definitely a decline in the quality of the films she appeared in. Had she been cast in The Fountainhead, as she wanted, maybe it would've rejuvenated her career for awhile.

[Dargo]

Considering this was the only time, I think, that Bogie and Stanwyck starred in a film together, I thought it was a disappointing effort (standard woman in distress flick). It wasn't awful or anything, just predictable.

Warner Bros. contracted with Stanwyck on two films in 1947, with two of their biggest male stars: Bogart and Flynn (for Cry Wolf). Like you said these films are not awful, but only so-so, and with talent like that, disappointing efforts. Stanwyck wouldn't make another film with WB until 1953, Blowing Wild with Cary Cooper, also a so-so effort.

The only Stanwyck post-WWII WB film that shines is the holiday romp Christmas in Connecticut (1945).

Yes, and both similar storylines with Barbara as a damsel in distress and with Flynn/Bogie as the heavies in both films. Not very original. I think they had the same director too?

My Reputation ('46) was good. (though made earlier in the 40s) Babs career was starting to decline around this time. There were still a few good roles/films ahead of her (Sorry, Wrong Number; Executive Suite, etc.) but definitely a decline in the quality of the films she appeared in. Had she been cast in The Fountainhead, as she wanted, maybe it would've rejuvenated her career for awhile.

So Hibi. Might those "etc" movies perhaps be any of the following films that I would classify as "good" and which I think Babs does good work in?

East Side, West Side (1949)

The Furies (1950)

Titanic (1953)

The Violent Men (1955)

There's Always Tomorrow (1956)

[jameselliot]

Thunder Road: the bootleggers meeting needed trimming. It went on too long. The night time driving scenes looked like day for night photography. Overall, TR needed another moonshine run. Mitchum was spot-on in the role and carries the entire movie. The actress who played their mother was perfect. Hitting the other driver in the face with a cigarette was not a believable move. His scenes with Keely had no spark. Even so, the movie had playdates into the 70s and is a classic.

[Hibi]

Warner Bros. contracted with Stanwyck on two films in 1947, with two of their biggest male stars: Bogart and Flynn (for Cry Wolf). Like you said these films are not awful, but only so-so, and with talent like that, disappointing efforts. Stanwyck wouldn't make another film with WB until 1953, Blowing Wild with Cary Cooper, also a so-so effort.

The only Stanwyck post-WWII WB film that shines is the holiday romp Christmas in Connecticut (1945).

Yes, and both similar storylines with Barbara as a damsel in distress and with Flynn/Bogie as the heavies in both films. Not very original. I think they had the same director too?

My Reputation ('46) was good. (though made earlier in the 40s) Babs career was starting to decline around this time. There were still a few good roles/films ahead of her (Sorry, Wrong Number; Executive Suite, etc.) but definitely a decline in the quality of the films she appeared in. Had she been cast in The Fountainhead, as she wanted, maybe it would've rejuvenated her career for awhile.

So Hibi. Might those "etc" movies perhaps be any of the following films that I would classify as "good" and which I think Babs does good work in?

East Side, West Side (1949)

The Furies (1950)

Titanic (1953)

The Violent Men (1955)

There's Always Tomorrow (1956)

Yeah, for the most part, though I don't think all the films above are great. And don't forget No Man of Her Own. Babs never disappoints!

[KayFrancis]

Don't forget the interesting, quirky western Forty Guns. It's worth the watch . Stanwyck does most of the dangerous stunts herself. The stunt woman refused to do a dangerous stunt , so Stanwyck insisted doing it herself. She's dragged 100 feet on the ground by her horse. Her foot is caught in the stirrup.
It's a good western, with a dark, sort of noirish feel. Stanwyck plays a tough rancher, always coming to the defense of her spoiled, violent brother. I like this one, too bad it's not shown very often. It's a Samuel Fuller,
mid 1950's western also starring Barry Sullivan and Gene Barry.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Forty Guns is a riveting film, and the fact that Stanwyck did so many of her own stunts through the years creates such rich performances. Fuller’s vision for the film made history concerning such a determined yet flawed, female character.

[KayFrancis]

SueSue, glad you also enjoy Forty Guns. I'm always on the look out for it, it's shown so rarely. That stunt when she's dragged tby her horse thru that wind storm with the tumbleweed is riveting. Barbara Stanwyck is my favorite actress, so great in every type of film
She was one determined, tough actress and always a pleasure to watch.