Archive
SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON – Richard Hageman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
After the massive commercial success of his prior film Fort Apache, director John Ford decided to embark on a second film of what has come to be known as his famous “Cavalry Trilogy”. On conceiving the film, Ford decided to draw upon two short stories he read from the Saturday Evening Post, “The Big Sky” and “War Party”. Ford’s Argosy Pictures production company would fund the film with a $1.6 million budget, he would direct, and Frank S. Nugent and Laurence Stallings were tasked with writing the screenplay. For his cast, he was initially opposed to casting John Wayne in the lead, as the lead character Captain Nathan Brittles at 61 was 20 years older than Wayne, and he did not believe Wayne had the acting ability to provide the gravitas the role demanded. However, after watching his outstanding performance in Red River, he changed his mind. Joining him would be Joanne Dru as Olivia Dandridge, John Agar as Lieutenant Flint Cohill, Ben Johnson as Sergeant Tyree and Harry Carey Jr. as Lieutenant Ross Pennell. Read more…
CHAMPION – Dimitri Tiomkin
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Director Mark Robson was intrigued when presented with the short story “Champion” by Ring Lardner. He decided the riveting film noir boxing drama would translate well to the big screen and so secured financial backing from producer Stanley Kramer whose production company provided a $600,000 budget. Robson would direct and tasked Carl Foreman to write the screenplay. For the cast, Kramer took a gamble and offered the lead role of Midge Kelly to Kirk Douglas, and both benefited greatly with Kramer making a huge profit, and Douglas being rocketed into stardom. Joining him would be Marilyn Maxwell as Grace, Arthur Kennedy as Connie, Paul Stewart as Haley, and Ruth Roman as Emma. 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…
FORT APACHE – Richard Hageman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Director John Ford believed the Saturday Evening Post story “Massacre” by James Warner Bellah told a story he believed needed to be brought to the big screen. This film would be the first of Ford’s renowned “Cavalry Trilogy”, followed by “She Wore A Yellow Ribbon” in 1949, and “Rio Grande” in 1950, which all starred John Wayne. Ford’s production company Argosy Pictures purchased the film rights, with he and Merian C. Cooper overseeing production with a $2.1 million budget. Ford would also direct and Frank S. Nugent would write the screenplay. Ford assembled an impressive cast, which included John Wayne as Captain Kirby York, Henry Fonda as Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday, Shirley Temple as Miss Philadelphia Thursday, John Agar as Second Lieutenant Michael Shannon “Mickey” O’Rourke, and Pedro Armendáriz as Sergeant Beaufort. 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…
BRUTE FORCE – Miklós Rózsa
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Following the huge commercial success of his film “The Killers” (1946), producer Mark Hellinger decided to continue his film noir journey with a descent into the brutality of prison life, inspired by the “Battle of Alcatraz” (1946) where prisoners revolted and fought a two day battle after a failed escape attempt. His production company would finance the project, Jules Dassin was tasked with directing, and Richard Brooks would adapt a story by Robert Patterson and write the screenplay. “The Killers” had launched Burt Lancaster to stardom and Hellinger recruited him to play the lead role of Joe Collins. Joining him would be Hume Cronyn as Captain Munsey, Charles Bickford as Gallagher, Yvonne De Carlo as Gina Ferrera, Ann Blyth as Ruth Collins, Roman Bohnen as Warden A. J. Barnes, and Art Smith as Doctor Walters. Read more…
THE RED HOUSE – Miklós Rózsa
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In an effort to assume greater control of his career, renown actor Edward G. Robinson joined with producer Sol Lesser to form the Thalia Production company. For their inaugural film, Robinson chose to adapt the mystery-thriller novel “The Red House” (1945) by George Agnew Chamberlain. Lesser would manage production with a $1 million budget, Delmer Daves would be tasked with directing, and and would also collaborate with Albert Maltz to write the screenplay. A fine cast was brought in, including; Edward G. Robinson as Pete Morgan, Lon McCallister as Nath Storm, Judith Anderson as Ellen Morgan, Allene Roberts as Meg Morgan, Julie London as Tibby Rinton, and Rory Calhoun as Teller. Read more…
EASTER PARADE – Irving Berlin, Johnny Green, and Roger Edens
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio was intent on making a new musical to showcase their stars Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. Irving Berlin’s song “Easter Parade,” which inspired the movie, was first sung in his 1933 Broadway revue “As Thousands Cheer” by Marilyn Miller and Clifton Webb. Arthur Freed was place in charge of production with a $2.655 million budget, Charles Walters was tasked with directing, the trio of Sidney Sheldon, Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett were hired to write the screenplay. Judy Garland would star as Hannah Brown, but casting went off the rails when Gene Kelly broke his ankle. Luckily, he was able to coax Fred Astaire to come out of retirement and take the role of Don Hewes. Cyd Charisse had to be replaced as she tore ligaments in her knees, so Ann Miller took the role of Nadine Hale. Joining them would be Peter Lawford as Jonathan Harrow III. 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 KILLERS – Miklós Rózsa
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Successful producer Mark Hellinger decided to setup his own production company after departing Warner Brothers. He had recently paid Ernest Hemingway $36,750 for the film rights to his 1927 novel “The Killers,” which he intended to be his company’s inaugural effort. He would oversee production, Universal Pictures would manage distribution, Robert Siodmak would direct, and Anthony Veiller would write the screenplay. Hellinger assembled a fine cast, including Edmond O’Brien as Jim Reardon, Burt Lancaster in his acting debut as Pete Lund/Ole “Swede” Anderson, Ava Gardner as Kitty Collins, Albert Dekker as “Big Jim” Colfax, Jack Lambert as “Dum-Dum” Clarke, and Sam Levene as Lieutenant Sam Lubinsky. Read more…
HANGOVER SQUARE – Bernard Herrmann
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Actor Laird Cregar saw opportunity for a film adaptation of the popular 1941 novel “Hangover Square,” a murder melodrama by Patrick Hamilton. He convinced 20th Century Fox executive Darryl F. Zanuck to purchase the film rights, Robert Bassler was assigned production with a budget of $1.145 million, Barré Lyndon was hired to write the screenplay, and John Brahm was tasked with directing. A fine cast was recruited, including Laird Cregar as George Harvey Bone, Linda Darnell as Netta Langdon, George Sanders as Dr. Allan Middleton, Faye Marlowe as Barbara Chapman and Alan Napier as Sir Henry Chapman. Read more…
COVER GIRL – Jerome Kern, Ira Gershwin, Morris Stoloff, and Carmen Dragon
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Columbia Pictures wanted to showcase their star Rita Hayworth, the most popular pinup girl for American soldiers in WWII, and chose a musical romantic comedy to be adapted from the story “Cover Girl” by Erwin Gelsey. Arthur Schwartz was assigned production, Charles Vidor was tasked with directing, and Virginia Van Upp was hired to write the screenplay. Gene Kelly was on loan from MGM and was given creative control and would also manage choreography. Rita Hayworth would star as Rusty Parker. Joining her would be Gene Kelly as Danny McGuire, Lee Bowman as Noel Wheaton, Phil Silvers as Genius, and Jim Falkenburg as Jinx Faulkenberg. Read more…
MR. SKEFFINGTON – Franz Waxman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Executive Jack L. Warner of Warner Brothers decided that the popular American Book of The Month Club novel “Mr. Skeffington” (1940) by Elizabeth von Arnim could be successfully adapted to the big screen. He purchased the film rights and would manage production along with the Epstein brothers, Julius and Philip. A $1.521 million budget was provided, the Epstein brothers would write the screenplay, and Vincent Sherman would direct. Casting was a challenge in that studio stars Merle Oberon, Hedy Lamar and Paul Henreid all turned down offers. Eventually Bette Davis accepted the role of Fanny Trellis Skeffington. Joining her would be Claude Rains as Job Skeffington, and Richard Waring as Trippy Trellis. Read more…
THE UNINVITED – Victor Young
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
During WWII Hollywood began to explore a new genre – paranormal or supernatural themed films. When Irish author Dorothy Macardle’s 1941 novel “Uneasy Freehold” was published in the United States as “The Uninvited” producer Charles Brackett believed he had found a story that needed to be brought to the big screen. He sold his vison to Paramount and would oversee production, Lewis Allen was tasked with directing, and the team of Dodie Smith and Frank Partos would write the screenplay. For the cast, Ray Milland would star as Roderick “Rick” Fitzgerald, joined by Ruth Hussey as Pamela Fitzgerald, Donald Crisp as Commander Beech, Cornelia Otis Skinner as Miss Holloway, and Gail Russel as Stella Meredith. Read more…
FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO – Miklós Rózsa
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Director Billy Wilder conceived of WWII film adapted from the 1917 play Hotel Imperial: Színmú Négy Felovonásban by Lajos Bíró. He sold the idea to Paramount Pictures, and secured the film rights. B. G. DeSylva was assigned production with a budget of $855,000, Wilder would direct, and he and Charles Brackett would write the screenplay. Casting was problematic as Wilder’s choice of Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman failed to materialize. So, he cast Franchot Tone as Corporal John Bramble/Davos, Anne Baxter as Mouche, Akim Tamiroff as Farid, Erich von Stromheim as Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, Peter van Eyck as Lieutenant Schwegler, and Fortunio Bananova as General Sebastiano. Read more…
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