Archive
UNTAMED – Franz Waxman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
The genesis Untamed lies with South African Helga Moray, who wrote a 17-page outline of the story that drew inspiration from one her female ancestors. Her handiwork caught the eye of producer William Bacher who saw a story that needed to be brough to the big screen. He purchased the film rights, which allowed Moray to expand her story into a full-fledged novel. After being rejected by many studios due to cost concerns, 20th Century Fox agreed to finance the film to exploit their new CinemaScope technology. Bacher and Bert E. Friedlob were assigned production with a $3.56 million budget, Henry King was tasked with directing, and a team of writers that included Michael Blankfort, Frank Fenton, Talbot Jennings and William Bacher would write the screenplay. A fine cast was assembled, led by Tyrone Power as Paul van Riebeck and Susan Hayward as Katje O’Neil. Joining them would be Agnes Moorehead as Aggie O’Toole, and Richard Egan as Kurt Hout. Read more…
BATTLE CRY – Max Steiner
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
The genesis of Battle Cry lay with Leon Uris, author of the 1953 novel on which the film is based. He served in World War II as a radio man in the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, during the Guadalcanal and Tarawa campaigns, being evacuated with malaria. The novel was a Top Ten seller and by 1954 was already in its sixth printing. Warner Brothers saw opportunity for an epic WWII drama in cinemascope and so bought the film rights. Jack L. Warner and Raoul Walsh oversaw production, with Walsh also directing and Uris adapting his novel for the screenplay. A huge stellar cast was assembled, including Van Heflin as Major Sam “High Pockets” Huxley, Aldo Ray and Private First Class Andy Hookens, Nancy Olsen as Pat Rogers, James Whitmore as Master Technical Sergeant Mac, Tab Hunter as Private First Class Danny Forrester, Mona Freeman as Kathy, Dorothy Malone as Mrs. Elaine Yarborough, Ray Massey as Major General Snipes and Ann Frances as Rae. Read more…
PRINCE OF PLAYERS – Bernard Herrmann
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In February of 1953, 20th Century Fox studio executive Daryl F. Zanuck came upon the novel “Prince of Players” by Eleanor Ruggles. He decided that a film adaptation of the biographical story of thespians Edwin “Ned” Booth and his notorious brother John Wilkes Booth would be an excellent vehicle for their rising star Richard Burton, who had just signed a seven film contract. Philip Dunne was placed in charge of production and provided a budget of $1.57 million, Moss Hart was hired to write the screenplay, and Dunne would also direct. The cast included; Richard Burton as Edwin “Ned” Booth, Maggie McNamara as Mary Devlin, John Derek as John Wilkes Booth, and Raymond Massey as Julius Brutus Booth. 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…
A STAR IS BORN – Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin, and Ray Heindorf
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In December of 1952 producer Sid Luft approached director George Cukor and proposed that he remake the Selznick International Film’s “A Star Is Born” (1937) with his wife, Judy Garland making a comeback to star in the lead role. Cukor agreed and the two men received the green light to proceed from Warner Brothers. Luft would produce the film, whose budget soared to $5 million due to 41 sick days and a two-week drug rehabilitation withdrawing from all the medications she had become addicted to, which extended filming to nine months. George Cukor took the reins to direct, and Moss Hart was hired to write the screenplay, which was adapted from the screenplay of the 1937 film. For the cast, Judy Garland would star as Esther Blodgett, in her first film in four years. Joining her would be James Mason as Norman Maine, Jack Carson as Matt Libby, and Charles Bickford as Oliver Niles. Read more…
LA STRADA – Nino Rota
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Director Federico Fellini said he conceived the story for his film La Strada from a well of melancholia. He collaborated with Tulio Pinelli and Ennio Flaiano to write the screenplay, but then struggled to find financing. Undeterred, he as director actually began filming before securing financial support as this was a passion project. Eventually Ponti-De Laurentiis Cinematografica signed on for production with Carlo Ponti and Dino De Laurentiis joining as producers. For the cast, Fellini was determined to cast Anthony Quinn as the lead and although repeatedly rebuffed, Quinn eventually agreed to take the part of Zampanó. Joining him would be Giulietta Masina as Gelsomina, Richard Basehart as Il Mato, and Aldo Silvani as Il Signor Giraffa. 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…
SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS – Gene de Paul, Johnny Mercer, Adolph Deutsch, and Saul Chaplin
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
MGM was seeking to produce another in its fine line of musicals and decided they had found their story; “The Sobbin’ Women” by Stephen Vincent Benet, which was itself derived from the ancient roman mythological tale “The Rape of the Sabine Women”. Jack Cummings was assigned production with a budget of $2.54 million. Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich and Dorothy Kingsley were hired to write the screenplay, Michael Kidd was brought in as choreographer, and Stanley Donen was tasked with directing. For the cast of the seven brothers and their brides, we have; Howard Keel as Adam and Jane Powell as Milly, Jeff Richards as Benjamin and Julie Newmar as Dorcas, Matt Mattox as Caleb and Ruta Kilmonis as Ruth, Marc Platt as Daniel and Norma Doggett as Martha, Jacques d’Amboise as Ephraim and Virginia Gibson as Liza, Tommy Rall as Frank and Betty Carr as Sarah, and Russ Tamblyn as Godeon and Nancy Kilgas as Alice. Joining them would be Ian Wolfe as Reverend Elcott, Howard Petrie as Pete Perkins, Russell Simpson as Mr. Bixby and Marjorie Wood as Mrs. Bixby. Read more…
GARDEN OF EVIL – Bernard Herrmann
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
CinemaScope technology with its anamorphic lens transformed film-making in 1953, by allowing Hollywood studios to shoot widescreen pictures to offer big screen visuals that could not be duplicated by the emerging TV market. 20th Century Fox studio executive Daryl F. Zanuck decided that he wanted to use the new technology to bring a Western to the big screen as never seen before. Writers Fred Freiberger and William Turnberg were hired to write an original screenplay, Charles Brackett was assigned production with a $2.1 million budget, and Henry Hathaway was tasked with directing. A fine cast was assembled, including; Gary Cooper as Hooker, Susan Hayward as Leah Fuller, Richard Widmark as Fiske, Cameron Mitchell as Luke Daly, Hugh Marlowe john Fuller, and Victor Manuel Mendoza as Vincente Madariaga. Read more…
MOONFLEET – Miklós Rózsa
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1951 the English novel Moonfleet, written in 1898 by J. Meade Falkner, caught the eye of MGM executives, who decided that this exciting, Gothic, swashbuckling melodrama in the vein of Treasure Island could be successfully brought to the big screen. MGM purchased the film rights, John Houseman was placed in charge of production with a $1.96 million budget, Jan Lustig and Margaret Fitts were hired to write the screenplay, and Fritz Lang was tasked with directing. A stellar cast was assembled, including Stewart Granger as Jeremy Fox, George Sanders as Lord James Ashwood, Joan Greenwood as Lady Clarista Ashwood, John Whiteley as John Mohune, and Viveca Lindfors as Mrs. Minton. Read more…
VALLEY OF THE KINGS – Miklós Rózsa
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
MGM Studios was keen to capitalize on the success of their exotic adventure film King Solomon’s Mines from 1950. Two years later they found what they were looking for when director Robert Pirosh came across the book “Gods, Graves and Scholars” by C. W. Ceram. Charles Schnee was assigned production with a budget of $2.1 million, which would include filming in Egypt. Pirosh would direct, and teamed with Karl Tunberg to write the screenplay. Casting proved challenging, but eventually they secured Robert Taylor as Mark Brandon, Eleanor Parker as Ann Barclay Mercedes, Carlos Thompson as Philip Mercedes, Kurt Kasznar as Hamed Backhour, and Samia Gamal as the dancer. 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…
THE STORY OF THREE LOVES – Miklós Rózsa
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1952 MGM Studios decided to embark on a technicolor romantic anthology film, which would consist of three stories; “The Jealous Lover”, “Mademoiselle” and “Equilibrium”. Sidney Franklin was assigned production with a budget of $2.5 million, John Collier and George Froeschel were hired to write the three screenplays, and two directors were hired; Vincente Minnelli for “Mademoiselle” and Gottfried Reinhardt for “The Jealous Lover” and “Equilibrium”. The cast of “The Jealous Lover” included James Mason as Charles Coudray, Moira Shearer as Paula Woodward, and Agnes Moorehead as Lydia. The cast of “Mademoiselle” featured; Leslie Caron as Mademoiselle, Ricky Nelson as Thomas Clayton Campbell Jr., Ethel Barrymore as Mrs. Hazel Pennicott, and Farley Granger as Thomas the young man. The cast of “Equilibrium” included; Kirk Douglas as Pierre Narval, Pier Angeli as Nina Burkhardt. Read more…
MY COUSIN RACHEL – Franz Waxman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Author Daphne du Maurier’s efforts to sell film rights for her 1951 novel My Cousin Rachel for $100,000 and 5% of the international box office was rejected by all of the major Hollywood studios except 20th Century Fox, whose counter offer of $80,000 was accepted. Nunnally Johnson was assigned production with a budget of $1.2 million, wrote the screenplay, and George Cukor was tasked with directing. Controversy arose when both Cukor and du Maurier both objected to the script, with bot departing the project when their revisions were rejected. Casting was also problematic with Cukor’s choice of either Greta Garbo or Vivien Leigh playing Rachel Sangalletti Ashley, fell through with his departure. Olivia de Havilland was instead brought in and joined by Richard Burton in his Hollywood debut as Philip Ashley, along with Audrey Dalton as Louise Kendall. Read more…
THE ADVENTURES OF MARCO POLO – Hugo Friedhofer
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
The genesis of The Adventures of Marco Polo lay with actor Douglas Fairbanks, who conceived the story in 1936 and wrote a script based on Marco Polo’s adventures. He had intended to produce the film with his son playing the titular role. However, he needed to secure financial backing and so pitched his vision to Samuel Goldwyn, who decided to move the film into production. Goldwyn envisioned Gary Cooper to star in the production, the project was derailed when Paramount Pictures initiated a $5 million lawsuit against Goldwyn for allegedly trying to lure its star away. This effectively killed the project; never the less, Goldwyn was undaunted and in 1937 purchased an original story on Marco Polo from N.A. Pogson. Goldwyn and George Haight would manage production with a massive $2 million budget, with Archie Mayo tasked with directing. Goldwyn was insistent on Gary Cooper playing the titular role, which in hindsight was an error as Cooper felt he was miscast, and critics greed saying Cooper’s persona was a poor fit for the swashbuckling adventure. Joining Cooper would be Sigrid Gurie as Princess Kukachin, Basil Rathbone as Ahmed, and George Barbier as Kublai Khan. Read more…
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