Archive
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…
THE MARK OF ZORRO – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president of production at 20th Century Fox, decided to remake the popular 1920 silent film “The Mark of Zorro”, which starred Douglas Fairbanks. The story was first published in 1919 as a five-part magazine serialized novel called “The Curse of Capistrano” by Johnston McCulley, which after the film’s success was republished as a novel titled The Mark of Zorro. Zanuck would oversee production with a $1 million budget, Rouben Mamoulian was tasked with directing, and John Tainto Foote would write the screenplay. The studio’s star Tyrone Power would head the cast as Don Diego Vega AKA Zorro, joined by Linda Darnell as Lolita Quintero, Basil Rathbone as Captain Esteban Pasquale, Montagu Love as Don Alejandro Vega, J. Edward Bromberg as Don Luis Quintero, and Gale Sondergaard as Inez Quintero. Read more…
THE RAINS CAME – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Darryl F. Zanuck 20th Century Fox Studios vice-president of production came upon the 1937 novel The Rains Came by Louis Bromfield and decided its story of redemption set in India would translate well to the big screen. He purchased the film rights, assumed oversight of production with a budget of $2.5 million, tasked Clarence Brown with directing, and hired Philip Dunne and Julien Josephson to write the screenplay. For his cast, Myrna Loy would star as Lady Edwina Esketh, with Tyronne Power as Major Rama Safti, George Brent as Tom Ransome, Brenda Joyce as Fern Simon, Nigel Bruce as Lord Albert Esketh and Maria Ouspenskaya as Maharani. Read more…
THE BLUE BIRD – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Following the enormous success of The Wizard of Oz in 1939, Darryl F. Zanuck, the Vice-President of Production at 20th Century Fox, decided to cash in on the children’s fantasy genre to showcase their child star Shirley Temple. Film rights to the 1908 fantasy play “The Blue Bird” by Maurice Maeterlinck were purchased. Gene Markey was assigned production with a budget of $2.0 million, Walter Lang was tasked with directing, and Ernest Pascal was hired to write the screenplay. Heading the cast was megastar Shirley Temple as Mytyl, Spring Byington as Mummy Tyl, Nigel Bruce as Mr. Luxury, Gale Sondergaard as Tylette, Eddie Collins as Tylo, Sybil Jason as Angela Berlingot, Jessie Ralph as Fairy Berylune, Helen Ericson as Light, Johnny Russel as Tyltyl and Laura Hope Crews as Mrs. Luxury. Read more…
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA – Alfred Newman and Conrad Salinger
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
With the onset of a new decade, MGM studio executives embarked on an ambitious plan to remake several popular black and white films in color. To that end, in 1951 they announced that they had purchased the film rights of “The Prisoner of Zenda” (1937) from David O. Selznick for $225,000. A creative decision was to use many of the same production elements as the 1937 film, including; the identical script, camera angles, setting and musical score. Pandro S. Berman was assigned production and provided a $1.708 million budget. Richard Thorpe was tasked with directing, and a stellar cast was assembled, which included; Stewart Granger as Rudolph Rassendyll, Deborah Kerr as Princess Flavia, James Mason as Rupert of Hentzau, Louis Calhern as Colonel Zapt, Robert Douglas as Michael, Duke of Strelsau, Jane Greer as Antionette de Mauban and Robert Coote as Fritz von Tarlenheim. Read more…
DAVID AND BATHSHEBA – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Following the success of Paramount’s “Samson and Delilah” in 1949, 20th Century Fox executive Darryl F. Zanuck believed it was time for his studio to enter the Biblical Epic genre. He decided that the film would focus on the life of the legendary King David of Israel. Zanuck personally took control of production, provided a budget of $2.17 million, hired Philip Dunne to write the screenplay and tasked Henry King with directing. The initial screenplay was a biopic, which would if filmed, render a four-hour movie. As such Zanuck directed Dune to pare it down, focusing entirely on David’s illicit affair with Bathsheba. For casting, Zanuck insisted on having the popular, successful, and beautiful actors Gregory Peck and Susan Hayward star as David and Bathsheba. Joining them would be Raymond Massey as Nathan, Kieron Moore as Uriah, and James Robertson Justice as Abishai. Read more…
ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND – Irving Berlin and Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1937 composer Irving Berlin was solicited by 20th Century Fox studio executive Darryl F. Zanuck to write a biopic about his life to be called “Alexander’s Ragtime Band, which would showcase some of his greatest songs. Berlin balked, believing such a story would be too intrusive. Zanuck pivoted and asked him if he could instead write a story, which could feature his greatest songs. He agreed, collaborated with screen writer Richard Sherman, and their story was accepted. Zanuck took personal charge of production, hired Kathryn Scola and Lamar Trotti to write the screenplay, and tasked Henry King with directing. The cast would be anchored by singers Ethel Merman as Jerry Allen, and Alice Faye as Stella Kirby. Joining them would be Tyrone Power as Alexander, Don Ameche as Charlie Dwyer and Jack Haley as Davey Lane. Read more…
PRINCE OF FOXES – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1948 20th Century Fox studio executive Darryl F. Zanuck sought to recapture the box office success of Captain of Castile with the latest best-selling novel from author Samuel Shellabarger, Prince of Foxes. Zanuck purchased the film rights for $200,000 and envisioned studio star Tyrone Power in the lead role. Sol Siegel was assigned production, Milton Krims was hired to write the screenplay, and Henry King was tasked with directing. To create an old-world feel, Zanuck sent teams to Italy for filming in a number of palaces and gardens, which would be very expensive, ballooning the budget to over $4 million. To offset the projected costs, he made the creative decision to film in black and white, a decision opposed by King, and one he in hindsight regretted. The cast would include Tyrone Power as Andrea Orsini, Orson Welles as Caesare Borgia, Wanda Hendrix as Camila Verano, Marina Berti as Angela Borgia, and Everett Sloane as Mario Belli. Read more…
DRAGONWYCK – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Renowned 20th Century Fox Studio executive Darryl F. Zanuck, who was always looking for a new story to film, came upon an 19th century period piece novel Dragonwyck, written by Anya Seton in 1944. He believed that its film noir tale of mystery and romance could be adapted to the big screen. He purchased the film rights and would personally oversee production with a $1.9 million budget. Joseph L. Mankiewicz was tasked with directing the film, and would also write the screenplay. In assembling the cast, Vincent Price won the lead role of Nicholas van Ryn when Gregory Peck withdrew after the original director Ernst Lubitsch was replaced by Mankiewicz due to illness. Joining Price would be Gene Tierney as Miranda Wells, Walter Huston as Ephraim Wells, Glenn Langan as Dr. Jeff Turner, Anne Revere as Abigail Wells, Spring Byington as Magda, Harry Morgan as Bleecker and Jessica Tandy as Peggy. Read more…
WILSON – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
20th Century Fox Studio Director Darryl F. Zanuck had long been an admirer of President Woodrow Wilson and for many years resolved to bring a biopic homage of his hero to the big screen. The film became a passion project, if not obsession, which led him to micromanage all aspects of its production. When finished it resulted in the greatest budget expenditure in the studio’s history, nearly $5 million. He personally took charge of production, hired Lamar Trotti to write the screenplay, and tasked Henry King to direct. He brought in an exceptional cast, which included, Alexander Knox as Woodrow Wilson, Charles Colburn as Professor Henry Holmes, Geraldine Fitzgerald as Edith Wilson, Thomas Mitchell as Joseph Tumulty, Ruth Nelson as Ellen Wilson, Cedric Hardwicke as Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Vincent Price as William G. McAdoo, William Eythe as George Felton, and Mary Anderson as Eleanor Wilson. Read more…
STORMY WEATHER – Cyril J. Mockridge and Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1942 Wendell Wilkie, the 1940 Republican candidate for president visited 20th Century Fox Studio executives as an advocate for the Black Movement. He successfully obtained a commitment from the studio to “Regard the Negro as an integral part of American Life”. The studio affirmed that commitment in 1943 with the production of its first musical with an all-Black cast. It purchased the story’s film rights from authors Jerry Horwin and Seymour B Robinson, hired H.S. Kraft to write the screenplay, William LeBaron was assigned production, and Andrew L. Stone was tasked with directing. For the cast, Lena Horne would star as Salina Rogers and Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson as Bill Williamson, as well as Cab Calloway and his Cotton Club Orchestra, Fats Waller, The Nichols Brothers, Ada Brown, Dooley Wilson, and Katherine Dunham as themselves. Read more…
THE BLACK SWAN – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Following the massive success of Warner Brothers The Sea Hawk in 1940, 20th Century Fox Studios decided to cash in on the 1932 Rafael Sabatini novel The Black Swan. Production chief Darryl F. Zanuck purchased the film rights as the perfect new adventure for the studio’s star actor Tyrone Power. Robert Bassler was placed in charge of production and provided a budget of $1.494 million. Henry King was tasked with directing, and Ben Hecht and Seton I. Miller hired to adapt the novel and write the screenplay. A stellar cast was assembled, which included Tyrone Power as Jaime Waring, Maureen O’Hara as Lady Margaret Denby, Laird Cregar as Henry Morgan, Thomas Mitchell as Tom Blue, George Sanders as Billy Leech, Anthony Quinn as Wogan and Edward Ashley as Roger Ingram. Read more…
ANASTASIA – Alfred Newman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1955 three Hollywood studios, Warner Brothers, MGM, and 20th Century Fox, entered into a bidding war to secure the film rights to the popular 1952 Broadway play Anastasia by Marcelle Maurette. They all believed that the tragedy that befell the Russian Romanov dynasty and the mystery of Anastasia would resonate with the public. In the end 20th Century Fox prevailed and paid Maurette £20,000. Buddy Adler was assigned production with a $3.5 million budget, Arthur Laurents was hired to write the screenplay, and Anatole Litvak was tasked with directing. A stellar cast was hired with Ingrid Bergman making her Hollywood return after seven years of being black-listed for her romance and marriage with director Roberto Rossellini. She would play Anna Koreff/Anastasia, and joining her would be Yul Brynner as General Bounine, Helen Hayes as Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna, Matitia Hunt as Baroness Elena von Livenbaum, Ivan Desny as Prince Paul von Haraldberg, and Akim Tamiroff as Boris Andreivich Chernov. Read more…
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