Archive
THE EMPEROR WALTZ – Victor Young
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In the late 1940s Billy Wilder was Paramount Pictures premier director, and Bing Crosby was the studio’s leading star. Wilder had always wanted to do a musical with Crosby, and found a story, which drew from an actual historical event, which eventually became this film: The Emperor Waltz. Valdemar Poulsen was a Danish inventor who demonstrated his magnetic recording device to Emperor Franz Joseph I of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in an audacious effort to secure financing for his invention. Charles Brackett was assigned production with a $3.8 million budget, Wilder would direct and Brackett and Wilder would write the screenplay. Bing Cosby would star as Virgil Smith, joined by Joan Fontaine as Countess Johanna Augusta Franziska, with Richard Haydn as Emperor Franz Josef, Roland Culver as Baron Holenia, and Sig Ruman as Dr. Zwieback. Read more…
FLYING TIGERS – Victor Young
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
By 1942 the United States was fully engaged in WWII and Republic Pictures management decided making a propaganda film to support the war effort would be both patriotic, and profitable. They decided to tell the tale of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), American civilian pilots who shipped out to China for the purpose of flying American P-40F fighter aircraft to aid Chinese allies fighting Japanese aggression. Edmund Grainger was placed in charge of production with a $900,000 budget, David Miller would direct, and Kenneth Gamet and Barry Trivers would write the screenplay. A fine cast was assembled, with John Wayne starring as Captain Jim Gordon, joined by John Carroll as “Woody” Jason, Anna Lee as Brooke Elliot, Paul Kelly as “Hap” Davis, Gordon Jones as “Alabama” Smith, Edmund MacDonsald as Blackie Bales and Mae Clarke as Verna Bales. Read more…
SILVER QUEEN – Victor Young
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1942 Paramount Pictures decided to approve for production, a western by Forrest Halsey and William Allen Johnston, which offered a story about a woman gambler. To implement their vision the purchased a package deal from Warner Brothers, who loaned them actors Pricilla Land and George Brent, along with director Lloyd Bacon. Independent producer Harry Sherman was assigned production and writers Cecile Kramer and Bernard Schubert would write the screenplay. George Brent would star as James Kincaid with Priscilla Lane as Coralie Adams. Joining them would be Bruce Cabot as Gerald Forsythe and Lynn Overman as Hector Bailey. For reasons I could not discover, Paramount in the end did not distribute the film. Instead, United Artists is listed as the production company, which suggests the film was one of several sold to United Artists from 1942 – 1943. Read more…
HOLD BACK THE DAWN – Victor Young
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
The genesis of Hold Back the Dawn was writer Ketti Frings’ story, “Memo to a Movie Producer”. Paramount executives decided that the romantic drama would translate well to the big screen, and so paid $5,000 for the film rights. After the novel was published and well received, the working title of the movie was changed to the novel’s title, “Hold Back the Dawn”. Arthur Hornblow Jr. was assigned production, Mitchell Leisen was tasked with directing, and Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder and Richard Mailbaum wrote the screenplay. A stellar cast was hired, which included Charles Boyer as Georges Iscovescu, Olivia de Havilland as Emmy Brown, Paulette Goddard as Anita Dixon, Victor Francen as Van Den Lueken, and Walter Abel as Inspector Hammock. Read more…
NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE – Victor Young
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1939 legendary director Cecil B. DeMille decided that his next project, which would be his first film shot in technicolor, would be an epic Western. He purchased the film rights for the 1938 novel The Royal Canadian Mounted Police by R. C. Fetherstonhaugh and sold his vision to Paramount Pictures. DeMille would manage production with a smaller budget than he wanted. As such due to budget restrictions, the movie was filmed on sound stages at the Paramount lot as well as on location in Oregon and California, even though the film was based on a real-life incident in Saskatchewan, Canada. Demille would also direct and narrate, and Alan Le May, Jesse Lasky Jr. and C. Gardner Sullivan would write the screenplay. For the cast, Gary Cooper would star as Texas Ranger Dusty Rivers, joined by Madeleine Carroll as April Logan, Paulette Goddard as Louvette Corbeau, Preston Foster as Sergeant Jim Brett, Akim Tamiroff as Dan Duroc, and Lon Chaney Jr as Shorty. Read more…
HELEN OF TROY – Max Steiner
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1955 Warner Brothers undertook a massive international collaboration with Italian and French partners to bring the timeless tale of Helen of Troy to the big screen. Ancient epics were very popular and they sought to capitalize with a massive undertaking of their own. The film would be shot in Rome, Giuseppe De Blasio and Maurizio Lodi-Fè were assigned production with a massive $6.0 million budget, Robert Wise was tasked with directing, and N. Richard Nash was hired to adapt a story by Hugh Gray and John Twist, which drew inspiration from Homer’s Iliad. An international cast was assembled with Italian actress Rosana Podestà starring as Helen. Joining her would be Frenchman Jacques Sernas as Paris, Englishman Sir Cedric Hardwicke as King Priam, Welshman Stanley Baker as Achilles, Irishman Niall MacGinnis as Menelaus, Englishman Robert Douglas as Agamemnon, and even a young Brigitte Bardot as the slave girl Andraste. Read more…
THE MAN IN THE GRAY FLANNEL SUIT – Bernard Herrmann
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
The best-selling 1955 novel “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit” by Sloan Wilson caught the imagination of Nunnally Johnson, a producer, director, screenwriter, and playwright. He believed that its story of a man and wife struggling to find life meaning and purpose following WWII would resonate with the public. He sold his conception to Darryl F. Zanuck of 20th Century Fox, the film rights were purchased, and Zanuck would personally oversee production with a $2.6 million budget. Johnson would direct and also write the screenplay. A fine cast was hired, with Gregory Peck starring as Tom Rath. He would be joined by Jennifer Jones as Betsy Rath, and Fredric March as Ralph Hopkins. Read more…
THE PRODIGAL – Bronislau Kaper
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
The massive success of 20th Century Fox’s The Robe in 1953, with its Cinemascope color format, reinvigorated studio interest in grand ancient epics. Writers Sam Larson and Joseph Breen wrote a 60-page story based on the Prodigal Son biblical tale, and managed to sell it to MGM studio executive Dore Schary. Charles Schnee was assigned production with a $2.783 million budget, Maurice Zimm was hired to adapt the story, and Richard Thorpe was tasked with directing. Casting was problematic as the original leads, Ava Gardner and Vittorio Gassman both dropped out. The new cast would showcase studio star Lana Turner as Samara, and joining her would be Edmund Purdom as Micah, James Mitchell as Asham, Louis Calhern as Nahreeb, and Joseph Wiseman as Carmish. Read more…
THE TALL MEN – Victor Young
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In a coup, 20th Century Fox CEO Darryl F. Zanuck signed the aging 53-year-old star Clark Gable to a contract in May of 1954. Gable had long been revered as the “King of Hollywood” and Zanuck sought to capitalize on his iconic status. That vehicle came along quickly in a novel “The Tall Men” by Heck Allen. Producers William A. Bacher and William B. Hawks purchased the film rights, along with novel’s sequel “The Big Pasture” for only $10,000. Bacher and Hawks would manage production with a $3.1 million budget, Raoul Walsh would direct, and Sidney Boehm and Frank Nugent were tasked with writing the screenplay. Gable would star as Colonel Ben Allison, joined by Jane Russell as Nella Turner, Robert Ryan as Nathan Stark, and Cameron Mitchell as Clint Allison. Read more…
DARK COMMAND – Victor Young
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Renowned novelist W.R. Burnett had a well-established reputation for writing modern day crime stories. However, his 1938 novel “The Dark Command” was a departure, a rare historical drama, which became a best seller. Republic Pictures decided to capitalize on its success and purchased the film rights. Sol C. Siegel was assigned production with a $750,000 budget, Raoul Walsh was tasked with directing, and a team of four screenwriters was hired; F. Hugh Herbert, Lionel Houser, Grover Jones, and Jan Isabel Fortune. A stellar cast was assembled, which included Claire Trevor as Mary McCloud, John Wayne as Bob Seton, Walter Pidgeon as Will Cantrell, Roy Rogers as Fletch McCloud, Gabby Hayes as Doc Grunch, Porter Hall as Angus McCloud, Marjorie Main as Mrs. Adams, and Raymond Walburn as Judge Bruckner. Read more…
THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN – Victor Young
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
During the 1950s a shift in movie making called “Hollywood on the Tiber” emerged. Rome and its Cinecittà studios blossomed, becoming a hub for international filmmaking. 20th Century Fox decided it wanted to feature their latest rising star Maggie McNamara in a romantic comedy, and chose Rome as the perfect location. Sol C. Segal was assigned production with a $1.7 million budget, Jean Negulesco was tasked with directing, and John Patrick would write the screenplay, adapting the 1952 novel ‘Coins in a Fountain” by John H. Secondari. A fine cast was hired, including Clifton Webb as John Frederick Shadwell, Dorothy McGuire as Miss Frances, Jean Peters as Anita Hutchins, Louis Jourdan as Prince Dino di Cessi, Rossano Brazzi as Giorgio Bianchi, and Maggie McNamara as Maria Williams. Read more…
JOHNNY GUITAR – Victor Young
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Novelist Roy Chanslor was a longtime admirer of actress Joan Crawford and so dedicated his 1954 novel Johnny Guitar to her. Crawford bought the film rights and submitted a script to Republic Pictures, which agreed to produce the film with the provision that Crawford would star and Nicolas Ray would direct. Herbert J. Yates was placed in charge of production with a $1.591 million budget, Ray was tasked with directing, and Philip Yordan and Ben Maddow were hired to write the screenplay. Joan Crawford would star as Vienna, joined by Sterling Hayden as Johnny Guitar, Mercedes McCambridge as Emma Small, Scott Brady as the Dancin’ Kid and Ernest Borgnine as Bard Lonegran. Read more…
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…
KING OF THE KHYBER RIFLES – Bernard Herrmann
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1938 20th Century Fox decided to remake its 1929 film “The Black Watch,” which itself was adapted from the 1916 novel “King of the Khyber Rifles” by Talbot Mundy. However, the onset of WWII caused the studio to shelve the project until 1951 when it was selected to finally move into pre-production. Frank P. Rosenberg was placed in charge of production with a budget of $2.19 million, Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts wrote the screenplay drawing from a story by Harry Kleiner, and Henry King was tasked with directing. The cast included Tyrone Power as Captain Alan King, Terry Moore as Susan Maitland, Michael Rennie as Brigadier General J. R. Maitland, and Guy Rolfe as Karam Khan. Read more…
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