Archive
ACROSS THE WIDE MISSOURI – David Raksin
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
MGM Studios decided that Bernard DeVoto’s 1947 novel “Across the Wide Missouri,” which dealt with the lives of Rocky Mountain fur traders in the Upper Missouri River basin during the 1830s, could be successfully adapted for a big screen presentation. The film rights were purchased and Robert Sisk was assigned production with a $2.22 million budget. Talbot Jennings was hired to write the screenplay, and William Wellman was tasked with directing. A fine cast was assembled, which included Clark Gable as Flint Mitchell, Ricardo Montalbán as Ironshirt, John Hodiack as Brecan, James Whitmore as Old Bill, Adolphe Menjou as Pierre, and Maria Elena Marqués as Kamiah. Read more…
FORREST GUMP – Alan Silvestri
THROWBACK THIRTY
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton
Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.
It’s not a cool thing to admit any more, but at this point in my life I’ve stopped caring what people think about my taste, and I simply accept it for what it is. So here’s my statement: Forrest Gump is one of my favorite films of all time. I first saw it in the fall of 1994, when it came out in cinemas in England, and it affected me deeply right from that first viewing. Not only did I love the film for what it was, but the part of the story involving the relationship between Forrest and his Mama somehow became inextricably linked to the real life relationship I have with my own mother Christine, so it means a great deal to me on an intensely personal level. It’s one of the films I have seen the most in my lifetime; I know the screenplay beat-for-beat, and I never get tired of quoting many of its iconic lines. I still laugh in all the right places, and the ending always moves me to tears. Read more…
RIO GRANDE – Victor Young
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Director John Ford’s plan for his next project was “The Quiet Man”, a story set in Ireland. However, to secure the services of John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara from Republic Pictures he had to agree to CEO Herbert Yates insistence that he shoot the final installment of his now famous Cavalry Trilogy – “Fort Apache” (1948), “She Wore A Yellow Ribbon” (1949), and “Rio Grande” (1950). Ford grudgingly agreed and his Argosy Pictures and Republic Pictures would manage production with a $1.2 million budget, he would direct, and James Kevin McGuiness would adapt a Saturday Evening Post story “Mission With No Record” (1947) by James Warner Bellah to write the screenplay. His cast would consist of John Wayne as Lieutenant Colonel Kirby York, Maureen O’Hara as Kathleen Yorke, Claude Jarman Jr. as Trooper Jefferson Yorke, Ben Johnson as Trooper Tyree, and Harry Carey Jr. as Trooper Sandy Boone. Read more…
THE GLASS MENAGERIE – Max Steiner
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
The Broadway stage play “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams opened at the Playhouse Theatre on 31 March 1945, and ran for 563 performances. It catapulted Williams to fame, and Hollywood took notice. Charles K. Feldman purchased the film rights and secured backing by Warner Brothers studios. Feldman and Jerry Wald would manage production with a $1.357 million budget, Irving Rapper would direct, and Williams and Peter Berneis would adapt his play and write the screenplay. For the cast, Jane Wyman would star as Laura Wingfield, joined by Kirk Douglas as Jim O’Connor, Arthur Kennedy as Tom Wingfield and Gertrude Lawrence as Amanda Wingfield. Read more…
NO SAD SONGS FOR ME – George Duning
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Columbia Pictures came across the 1944 novel “No Sad Songs For Me” by Ruth Southard and believed its sentimental tale would translate well to the big screen. They purchased the film rights, assigned production to Buddy Adler, tasked Rudolph Maté with directing, and hired Howard Koch to write the screenplay. Casting was problematic. Originally Irene Dunne was envisioned for the lead role of Mary Scott, but this did not pan out, nor did Olivia de Haviland. In the end, they secured Margaret Sullavan for what would be her final film. Joining Sullavan would be Wendell Corey as Brad Scott, Viveca Lindfors as Chris Radna, and Natalie Wood as Polly Scott. Read more…
ON THE TOWN – Leonard Bernstein, Roger Edens, Lennie Hayton
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
When the 1944 ballet “Fancy Free” by Jerome Robbins gained critical acclaim, it was brought to Broadway as a play with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. It opened on December 28, 1944 at the Adelphi Theatre, running for 462 performances. Following this successful run MGM management decided to bring it to the big screen. It secured the film rights, Arthur Freed was placed in charge of production with a $2.1 million budget, Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen were tasked with directing, and Betty Comden and Adolph Green would write the screenplay. Kelly would also manage the choreography. For the cast, Gene Kelly would star as Gabey, joined by Frank Sinatra as Chip, Jules Munshin as Ozzie, Vera-Ellen as Ivy, Betty Garrett as Hildy Esterhazy, and Ann Miller as Claire Huddesen. Read more…
BEYOND THE FOREST – Max Steiner
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Warner Brothers Pictures purchased the film rights to the 1948 novel Beyond The Forest by Stuart D. Engstrand believing the film noir tale would translate well to the big screen. Studio star Bette Davis was assigned the role of Rosa Moline, much to her displeasure. She continuously fought against the director throughout shooting and halfway through filming threatened studio executive Jack L. Warner to walk out unless he agreed to void her contract after the film was completed. For Warner, this was a deal he was happy to make, thus ending her eighteen-year contract. Henry Blanke was assigned production with a $1.589 million budget, King Vidor would direct, and Lenore Coffee was tasked with writing the screenplay. Bette Davis would star as Rosa Moline, joined by Joseph Cotton as Doctor Lewis Moline, Davide Brian as Neil Latimer, and Minor Watson as Moose. Read more…
THE RED DANUBE – Miklós Rózsa
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
MGM Studios took an interest in the 1947 novel “Vespers in Vienna” by Bruce Marshall, believing that it would be well received by the post WWII American public beset by the rising tide of fear related to Communism. Carey Wilson was assigned production with a $1.96 million budget, George Sidney was tasked with directing, and Gina Kaus and Arthur Wimperis were hired to write the screenplay. An excellent cast was assembled, including Walter Pidgeon as Colonel Michael “Hooky” Nicobar, Ethel Barrymore as Mother Superior, Peter Lawford as Major John “Twingo” McPhimister, Angela Lansbury as Audrey Quail, and Janet Leigh as Maria Buhlen. Read more…
SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON – Richard Hageman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
After the massive commercial success of his prior film Fort Apache, director John Ford decided to embark on a second film of what has come to be known as his famous “Cavalry Trilogy”. On conceiving the film, Ford decided to draw upon two short stories he read from the Saturday Evening Post, “The Big Sky” and “War Party”. Ford’s Argosy Pictures production company would fund the film with a $1.6 million budget, he would direct, and Frank S. Nugent and Laurence Stallings were tasked with writing the screenplay. For his cast, he was initially opposed to casting John Wayne in the lead, as the lead character Captain Nathan Brittles at 61 was 20 years older than Wayne, and he did not believe Wayne had the acting ability to provide the gravitas the role demanded. However, after watching his outstanding performance in Red River, he changed his mind. Joining him would be Joanne Dru as Olivia Dandridge, John Agar as Lieutenant Flint Cohill, Ben Johnson as Sergeant Tyree and Harry Carey Jr. as Lieutenant Ross Pennell. Read more…
CHAMPION – Dimitri Tiomkin
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Director Mark Robson was intrigued when presented with the short story “Champion” by Ring Lardner. He decided the riveting film noir boxing drama would translate well to the big screen and so secured financial backing from producer Stanley Kramer whose production company provided a $600,000 budget. Robson would direct and tasked Carl Foreman to write the screenplay. For the cast, Kramer took a gamble and offered the lead role of Midge Kelly to Kirk Douglas, and both benefited greatly with Kramer making a huge profit, and Douglas being rocketed into stardom. Joining him would be Marilyn Maxwell as Grace, Arthur Kennedy as Connie, Paul Stewart as Haley, and Ruth Roman as Emma. Read more…
THE SNAKE PIT – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
The genesis of the film lay with Bennett Cerf, the president of Random House who presented director Anatole Litvak with a copy of the novel “The Snake Pit” (1946) by Mary Jane Ward. Litvak saw opportunity exploring a topic unknown to cinema and so bought the film rights. He sold his vision to 20th Century Fox studio executive Darryl F. Zanuck who personally took charge of production with a $3.8 million budget. Litvak would direct, and Frank Partos and Millen Brand would write the screenplay. For the cast, Gene Tierney would star as Virginia Stuart Cunningham, but was replaced by Olivia de Havilland due to her pregnancy. Joining her would be Mark Stevens as Robert Cunningham, Leo Glenn as Dr. Mark H. Van Kensdelaerik AKA Dr. Kik, and Celeste Holm as Grace. Read more…
FORT APACHE – Richard Hageman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Director John Ford believed the Saturday Evening Post story “Massacre” by James Warner Bellah told a story he believed needed to be brought to the big screen. This film would be the first of Ford’s renowned “Cavalry Trilogy”, followed by “She Wore A Yellow Ribbon” in 1949, and “Rio Grande” in 1950, which all starred John Wayne. Ford’s production company Argosy Pictures purchased the film rights, with he and Merian C. Cooper overseeing production with a $2.1 million budget. Ford would also direct and Frank S. Nugent would write the screenplay. Ford assembled an impressive cast, which included John Wayne as Captain Kirby York, Henry Fonda as Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday, Shirley Temple as Miss Philadelphia Thursday, John Agar as Second Lieutenant Michael Shannon “Mickey” O’Rourke, and Pedro Armendáriz as Sergeant Beaufort. Read more…
MOTHER WORE TIGHTS – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1946 20th Century Fox was on the hunt for a new musical to showcase their star, Betty Grable. They found their vehicle with the novel “Mother Wore Tights” (1944) by Miriam Young. The film rights were purchased, Lamar Trotti was assigned production, would also write the screenplay, and Walter Lang was tasked with directing. For the cast, Betty Grable would star as Myrtle McKinley Burt. Joining her would be Don Dailey, a gifted former MGM musical film star who following military discharge signed with 20th Century Fox. He would play Frank Burt, joined with Mona Freedman as Iris Burt, and Robert Arthur as Bob Clarkman. Read more…
BRUTE FORCE – Miklós Rózsa
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Following the huge commercial success of his film “The Killers” (1946), producer Mark Hellinger decided to continue his film noir journey with a descent into the brutality of prison life, inspired by the “Battle of Alcatraz” (1946) where prisoners revolted and fought a two day battle after a failed escape attempt. His production company would finance the project, Jules Dassin was tasked with directing, and Richard Brooks would adapt a story by Robert Patterson and write the screenplay. “The Killers” had launched Burt Lancaster to stardom and Hellinger recruited him to play the lead role of Joe Collins. Joining him would be Hume Cronyn as Captain Munsey, Charles Bickford as Gallagher, Yvonne De Carlo as Gina Ferrera, Ann Blyth as Ruth Collins, Roman Bohnen as Warden A. J. Barnes, and Art Smith as Doctor Walters. Read more…
THE RED HOUSE – Miklós Rózsa
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In an effort to assume greater control of his career, renown actor Edward G. Robinson joined with producer Sol Lesser to form the Thalia Production company. For their inaugural film, Robinson chose to adapt the mystery-thriller novel “The Red House” (1945) by George Agnew Chamberlain. Lesser would manage production with a $1 million budget, Delmer Daves would be tasked with directing, and and would also collaborate with Albert Maltz to write the screenplay. A fine cast was brought in, including; Edward G. Robinson as Pete Morgan, Lon McCallister as Nath Storm, Judith Anderson as Ellen Morgan, Allene Roberts as Meg Morgan, Julie London as Tibby Rinton, and Rory Calhoun as Teller. Read more…
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