Archive
HELL AND HIGH WATER – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
The genesis of Hell and High Water lay with a story outline titled “Submarine” written in 1951 by David Hempstead. The nuclear suspense drama captured 20th Century Fox Chief of Production Darryl F. Zanuck’s attention. He commissioned a screenplay, and after three rewrites by Beime Lay Jr, then Jesse L. Lasky Jr. and finally Samuel Fuller, a screenplay, which met Zanuck’s expectations was realized. Raymond A. Klune was placed in charge of production with a $1.9 million budget with Fuller tasked with directing. A fine cast was assembled, which included Richard Widmark in the starring role of Commander Adam Jones. He was joined by Bella Darvi (Zanuck’s paramour) as Professor Denise Gerard, and Victor Francen as Professor Montel. Read more…
THE PRESIDENT’S LADY – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
The 1951 novel The President’s Lady by Irving Stone caught the attention of 20th Century Fox management as it offered a tale of one of America’s most dynamic and controversial presidents, Andrew Jackson, including his romance with Rachel Donelson. Playwright John Patrick was hired to adapt the novel and write a screenplay. Management was satisfied, and the project was given the green light to move into production. Sol. C. Siegel was placed in charge of production with a $1.475 million budget, and Henry Levin was tasked with directing. A stellar cast was hired, including Charlton Heston as Jackson, Susan Hayworth as Rachel Donelson, John McIntire as John Overton, and Fay Bainter as Mrs. Donelson. Read more…
DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
20th Century Fox Studio CEO Darryl F. Zanuck had always been drawn to seafaring tales. He began planning for one in 1939, but it took seven years to set his dream into motion. In 1946 he purchased the screenplay “The Princess and the Pirate, 13 Rue Madeleine” by Sy Bartlet, and tasked John Lee Mahin to rewrite the story into this film, entitled Down to the Sea in Ships. Zanuck was satisfied with the rewrite, and placed Louis D. Lighton in charge of production with a $2.5 million budget, with Henry Hathaway tasked with directing. A fine cast was hired, including Richard Widmark as First Mate Dan Lunceford, Lionel Barrymore as Captain Bering Joy, and Dean Stockwell as Jed Joy. Read more…
BEAU GESTE – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Paramount Pictures executives decided that they wanted to remake their 1926 silent film “Beau Geste”, which starred Ronald Coleman. William Wellman was assigned production, he would also direct, and Robert Carson was tasked with writing the screenplay. The 1926 film was based on the novel “Beau Geste” (1924) by P. C. Wren and the creative team ultimately decided to adopt the screenplay of the 1926 film almost verbatim. For the cast, Gary Cooper would star in the titular role, joined by Ray Milland as John Geste, Robert Preston as Digby Geste, J. Carrol Naish as Rasinoff, Susan Hayward as Isobel Rivers, and Brian Donlevy as Sergeant Markoff. Read more…
SON OF FURY – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1941 20th Century Fox Studio Director Darryl F. Zanuck was seeking a new film to showcase his star, Tyrone Power. He came across the 1941 novel Benjamin Blake by Edison Marshall and purchased the film rights for $50,000 one month prior to its publication. Zanuck would manage production with a $2 million budget, John Cromwell would direct, and Philip Dunne was tasked with writing the screenplay. Tyrone Power would star in the titular role, joined by Gene Tierney as Eve, George Sanders a Sir Arthur Blake, Kay Johnson as Lady Helena Blake, Dudley Diggs as Pratt, Frances Farmer as Isabel, and Roddy McDowell as Benjamin as a boy. Read more…
THE KING AND I – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1950 composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II adapted the play “Anna and The King of Siam” (1944) by Margaret London into a Broadway Musical titled “The King And I”. It had a very successful run of 1,246 performances and in 1951 they secured backing from Darryl F. Zanuck of 20th Century Fox Studios to do a film adaptation. Charles Brackett was assigned production with a $4.55 million budget, Ernest Lehman was hired to write the screenplay, Jerome Robbins was tasked with creating the choreography, and Walter Lang given the reins to direct. Casting was problematic as Rodgers rejected Maureen O’Hara who had a trained soprano voice, which led to Deborah Kerr landing the role of Anna Leonowens, although her singing voice required dubbing by Marni Nixon. Joining her would be Yul Brynner as King Mongkut of Siam, Rita Moreno as Tuptim, Terry Sanders as Lady Thiang, Martin Benson as Kralahome, and Rex Thompson as Louis Lenowens. Read more…
CAROUSEL – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1945 composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II adapted the 1909 play “Liliom” by Hungarian playwright Ferenc Molnár into a Broadway Musical titled “Carousel”. It had a very successful run and in 1955 they secured backing from 20th Century Fox Studios to do a film adaptation. Studio executive Darryl F. Zanuck and Henry Ephron would manage production with a $3.3 million budget. Ephron would also write the screenplay, and Henry King was given the reins to direct. A fine cast was brought in, including Gordon MacRae (replacing Frank Sinatra) as Billy Bigelow, Shirley Jones as Julie Jordan, Cameron Mitchell as Jigger Craigin, Barbara Ruick as Carrie Pepperidge, and Gene Lockhart as the Starkeeper. Ruick, of course, would go on to become John Williams’s first wife when they married later in 1956. Read more…
A MAN CALLED PETER – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
The genesis of this film lay with the book A Man Named Peter, a biography of preacher Peter Marshall, who served as Chaplin of the United States Senate from 1947 to 1949. 20th Century Fox believed that the inspirational life of this well-respected preacher would translate well to the big screen. Samuel G. Engel was placed in charge of production with a $1.74 million budget, Henry Koster was tasked with directing, and Eleanore Griffin was hired to adapt the novel and write the screenplay. A fine cast was assembled, including Richard Todd as the Reverend Peter Marshall, Jean Peters as his wife Catherine Marshall, Marjorie Rambeau as Miss Laura Fowler, and Jill Esmond as Mrs. Findlay. Read more…
THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS – Irving Berlin, Alfred Newman, and Lionel Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
20th Century Fox wanted to showcase their bombshell star Marilyn Monroe in a musical. She was under suspension for violating her contract when she refused to star in the musical “The Girl In Pink Tights”. When they offered her the starring role again for There’s No Business Like Show Business she initially refused again, but eventually relented when she was promised a starring role in “The Seven Year Itch”, and her weekly salary raised to $3,000 a week. Sol Siegel was assigned production with a $4.3 million budget, Walter Lang was tasked with directing, and writers Phoebe and Henry Ephron would adapt Lamar Trotti’s story. A cast for the ages was assembled, with Marilyn Monroe starring as Victoria Parker, joined by Ethel Merman as Molly Donohue, Donald O’Connor as Tim Donohue, Dan Dailey as Terrence Donohue, Johnny Ray as Steve Donohue, and Mitzi Gaynor as Katie Donohue. Read more…
THE EGYPTIAN – Alfred Newman and Bernard Herrmann
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Following the commercial success of “The Robe” in 1953, 20th Century Fox executive Daryl F. Zanuck decided to cash in with another lavish religious epic set in ancient Egypt. He was inspired by the 1945 novel “The Egyptian” by Mika Waltari, which was itself based upon the ancient 2,000-year-old Egyptian tale “Story of Sinuhe”. Zanuck purchased the film rights and personally took charge of production with a massive $3.9 million budget. He also decided that he would film with CinemaScope and DeLuxe Color. Philip Dunne and Casey Robinson were hired to write the screenplay and Michael Curtiz was borrowed from Paramount Studios to direct. A stellar cast was assembled, which included Jean Simmons as Merit, Edmund Purdom (a late replacement for Marlon Brando who quit one week before filming) as Sinuhe, Victor Mature as Horemheb, Bella Darvi as Nefer, Gene Tierney as Baketamon, Michael Wilding as Pharoah Akhenaten, and Peter Ustinov as Kaptah. Read more…
CALL ME MADAM – Irving Berlin and Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1951 20th Century Fox executives took notice of the success of the Broadway musical “Call Me Madam” which opened 12 October 1950, ran for 644 performances, and grossed in excess of $4 million. The film rights were purchased, Sol Siegel was assigned production with a $2.46 million budget, Walter Lang was tasked with directing, and Arthur Sheekman was hired to adapt the original story by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse. For the cast, Ethel Merman, who was intent on securing a dramatic role to expand her career, was coaxed into taking on the musical comedy, starring in the lead role as Sally Adams. Joining her would be Dennis O’Connor as Kenneth Gibson, Vera-Ellen as Princess Maria and George Sanders as General Cosmo Constantine. Read more…
WITH A SONG IN MY HEART – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1950 a bidding war among Hollywood studios unfolded for the film rights to the Jane Froman story, the famous actress-singer who was crippled by an airplane crash on February 22, 1943. Producer Lamar Trotti wooed and convinced Froman to sign with 20th Century Fox, even though MGM offered her $25,000 more. Trotti was assigned production with behind-the-scenes assistance from studio executive Daryl F. Zanuck, Walter Lang was tasked with directing, and Trotti would also write the screenplay. For the cast, studio star Susan Hayward would play Jane Froman, joined by Rory Calhoun as John Burn, David Wayne as Don Ross, Thelma Ritter as Clancy, Helen Wescott as Jennifer March, Una Merkel as Sister Marie, and Robert Wagner as a GI paratrooper. 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…
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…
THE RAZOR’S EDGE – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
20th Century Fox executive Darryl F. Zanuck decided that the 1944 novel “The Razor’s Edge” by W. Sommerset Maugham would be his next passion project, which would showcase the studio’s star, Tyrone Power. He purchased the film rights in March of 1945 for $250,000 plus 20% of the net profits. Zanuck took personal charge of production with a $1.2 million budget, tasked George Cuckor with directing, but later fired him over creative differences, replacing him with Edmund Gouling. Zanuck also collaborated with writer Lamar Trotti to write the screenplay. An exceptional cast was hired, including Tyrone Power as Larry Darrell, Gene Tierney as Isabel Bradley, John Payne as Gray Muturin, Ann Baxter as Sophie MacDonald, and Clifton Webb as Elliott Templeton. Read more…
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