Archive
SANDS OF IWO JIMA – Victor Young
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Writer Harry Brown wrote a story that offered an account of the epic battle by the Marines to take the island of Iwo Jima during WWII. He then teamed with fellow writer Edward Grant to adapt it and write a screenplay, which they presented to Republic Pictures. Republic Pictures management thought the story of one of America’s greatest achievements in the war would resonate with the public. As such they purchased the film rights, placed Herbert Yates in charge of production with a $1.4 million budget, and tasked Allan Dwan with directing. An outstanding cast was assembled, which included John Wayne in the starring role of Sergeant John Stryker. He was joined by John Agar as PFC Pete Conway, Forest Tucker as PFC Al Thomas, Adele Mara as Allison Bromley, and Arthur Franz as Corporal Robert Dunne, and the narrator. 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…
THE LUCK OF THE IRISH – Cyril J. Mockridge
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
The husband and wife writing team of Guy and Constance Jones caught the attention of Hollywood studios after Universal successfully adapted their story “Peabody’s Mermaid” for the film Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid, released in August 1948. 20th Century Fox decided to roll the dice and so in July 1947 they purchased the film rights for their second novel “There Was a Little Man” for $50,000, which was adapted into this film, The Luck of the Irish. Fred Kohlmar was placed in charge of production, Henry Koster was tasked with directing, and Philip Dunne would write the screenplay. A fine cast was hired, with Tyrone Power starring as Stephen Fitzgerald, joined by Ann Baxter as Nora, Cecil Kellaway as Horace and Lee J. Cobb as David Augur. The film was made quickly and eventually released just one month later, in September 1948. Read more…
THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS – Miklós Rózsa
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
The Paramount Pictures development team was seeking a new film noir project given that the genre was blossoming in the 1940s, captivating audiences far and wide. They believed they found it in the short story “Love Lies Bleeding” by playwright John Patrick, which was re-titled The Strange Love of Martha Ivers for the big screen. Screenwriter Robert Rossen acquired the film rights for $35,000 and was tasked to write the screenplay. Hal B. Wallis was placed in charge of production and Lewis Milestone would take the reins directing. For the cast Barbara Stanwyck would star in the titular role as Martha Ivers, joined by Van Heflin as Sam Masterson in his comeback role following his discharge from the military, Lizabeth Scott as Toni Marachek, Kirk Douglas in his acting debut as Walter O’Neil, and Judith Anderson as Mrs. Ivers. Read more…
THE MAN IN HALF MOON STREET – Miklós Rózsa
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Paramount Pictures decided that the stage play The Man in Half Moon Street by Barré Lyndon, which opened at London’s New Theatre on March 22, 1939, and ran for 172 performances, would translate well to the big screen. Film rights were purchased, Walter MacEwen was placed in charge of production, and Ralph Murphy was tasked with directing, with Garret Ford and Charles Kenyon writing the screenplay. For the cast, Nils Asther would star as Dr. Julian Karell, joined by Helen Walker as Eve Brandon, Reinhold Schünzel as Dr. Kurt van Bruecken, Paul Cavanaugh as Dr. Henry Latimer, Edmund Breon as Sir Humphrey Brandon, and Matthew Boulton as Detective Inspector Ned Garth. Read more…
DRAGON SEED – Herbert Stothart
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
MGM achieved stunning commercial and critical success adapting novelist Pearl S. Buck’s “The Good Earth” 1937 to the big screen. As such they decided to purchase the film rights to Buck’s subsequent novel “Dragon Seed,”, which was also set in 1930’s China. Pandro Berman was placed in charge of production with a $3 million budget, Jack Conway and Harold S. Bucquet would share directing duties, and Marguerite Roberts and Jane Murlin would write the screenplay. For the cast, Katherine Hepburn would star as Jade, joined by Walter Huston as Ling Tan, Aline MacMahon as Ling Tan’s wife, Akim Tamiroff as Wu Lien, Turhan Bey as Lao Er Tan, and Lionel Barrymore providing narration. Read more…
KEY LARGO – Max Steiner
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Warner Brothers had produced four very successful films that paired marquee actors Edward G. Robinson and Humphrey Bogart; Bullets or Ballots (1936), Kid Galahad (1937), The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938) and Brother Orchid (1940). They decided on yet another collaboration after purchasing the film rights for the 1939 play “Key Largo” by Maxwell Anderson. Jerry Wald was placed in charge of production with a $1.8 million budget, John Huston would direct, and Huston and Richard Brooks would write the screenplay. The cast was stellar with Humphrey Bogart as Major Frank “Soldier” McCloud, Edward G. Robinson as Johnny Rocco, Lauren Bacall as Nora Temple, Lionel Barrymore as James Temple, and Claire Trevor as Gaye Dawn. Read more…
MILDRED PIERCE – Max Steiner
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
After eighteen years as a marquee actress for MGM, Joan Crawford departed the studio in search of better roles, signing a three-year contract with Warner Brothers. The studio had purchased the film rights to the popular novel “Mildred Pierce” by James M. Cain and Crawford campaigned hard for the role. Director Michael Curtiz did not believe she was right for the role, but relented when she acquiesced to the indignity of a screen test, which changed his mind. Jerry Wald was placed in charge of production with a $1.4 million budget, Curtiz would direct, and Ranald MacDougall was hired to write the screenplay. Joining Crawford would be Jack Carson as Wally Fray, Zachary Scott as Monte Beragon, Eve Arden as Ida Corwin, Ann Blyth as Veda Pierce Forrester, and Bruce Bennett as Bert Pierce. 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…
ARSENIC AND OLD LACE – Max Steiner
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Renowned producer and director Frank Capra saw opportunity with the popular success of the Broadway play “Arsenic and Old Lace”, which was adapted from Joseph Kesserling’s novel of the same name. He purchased the film rights, however the contract stipulated that the film could not be released until the Broadway run had ended. Due to the enduring success of the play, the film debut was delayed by almost two years. Capra would manage production with a budget of $1.2 million, and also direct, with Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein writing the screenplay based on Joseph Kesselring’s novel. A fine cast was hired, with Cary Grant starring as Mortimer Brewster, Priscilla Lane as Elaine Brewster, Raymond Massey as Jonathan Brewster, Jack Carson as Officer Patrick O’Hara, and Peter Lorre as Dr, Herman Einstein. 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…
SERGEANT YORK – Max Steiner
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Alvin C. York was an iconic American WWI Medal of Honor hero celebrated in the 1928 biography “Sergeant York: His Own Life Story and War Diary” by Tom Skeyhill and York himself. Producer Jesse L. Lasky approached York several times to allow a movie to be made of his life, but was repeatedly refused, declaring; “this uniform ain’t for sale.” Lasky eventually convinced York that, with war threatening in Europe, it was his patriotic duty to allow the film to proceed. York finally agreed, but only on three conditions. First, his share of the profits would be contributed to a Bible school he wanted to be built. Second, no cigarette-smoking actress could be chosen to play his wife. Third, only Gary Cooper could recreate his life on screen. Cooper at first turned down the role, but when Lasky sent him a letter with a personal plea that included York’s forged signature, Cooper agreed to do the picture. Lasky, Howard Hawks and Hal B. Wallis were placed in charge of production with a $1.7 million budget, Hawks would also direct, and the team of Harry Chandlee, Abem Finkel, John Huston and Howard Koch would adapt York’s biography. Gary Cooper would play the titular role supported by Walter Brennan as Pastor Rosier Pile, and Joan Leslie as Gracie Williams. Read more…
VIRGINIA CITY – Max Steiner
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Following the commercial success of Dodge City in 1939, Warner Brothers decided to again showcase their marquee star Errol Flynn in another Western. A story by Robert Bruckner fit the bill, and Robert B. Fellows was placed in charge of production with a $1.179 million budget. Michael Curtiz would direct, with Bruckner writing the screenplay. For the cast Errol Flynn would star as Captain Kerry Bradford, again paired with Olivia de Haviland as Julia Hayne. However, after de Haviland dropped out, as did her replacement Brenda Marshall, Miriam Hopkins won the role. Joining them would be Randolph Scott as Captain Vance Irby, Humphrey Bogart as John Murrell, and Alan Hale as Olaf “Moose” Swenson. 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…
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