“So close, the infinitesimal and the infinite.” Scott Carey (Grant Williams) is enjoying a sunny afternoon on a boat with his wife, Louise (Randy Stuart). When Louise heads into the cabin to get a couple of drinks, Scott is troubled to see a large cloud moving over the surface of the water toward the boat. It engulfs the boat, but passes just as Louise emerges … Continue reading The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
Gus: “What about this dame, Mr. Crystal Ball?” Walter: “A dish.” Gus: “What kind of a dish?” Walter: “Sixty-cent special. Cheap, flashy. Strictly poison under the gravy.”” Walter Brown (Charles McGraw) and Gus Forbes (Don Beddoe) are Los Angeles police detectives, having just arrived in Chicago to corral Mrs. Neall, the widow of a notorious gangster. Mrs. Neall (Marie Windsor) has been called to testify … Continue reading The Narrow Margin (1952)
The year is 1947, and the British have decided to withdraw from India. That means Colonel Rodney Savage (Stewart Granger) will be returning to England. As he boards his train, he receives a smooch from Victoria Jones (Ava Gardner). After boarding, he talks with a fellow passenger, recounting the details of his stay in Bhowani Junction and telling the story of how he met Victoria. … Continue reading Bhowani Junction (1956)
Vera (Angela Lansbury) is a newlywed, returning home with her husband Stanley (George Montgomery) following their honeymoon. They share a beautiful home, situated on a lake. It should be an ideal place to start their lives together. But Vera finds herself restless and skittish. This is thanks to the lingering memory of Stanley’s first wife, Julie, who lived in the house… and whose Siamese cat … Continue reading Classic Stars on the Small Screen: Claire (1956)
“For the night is already at hand, and it is well to yield to the night.” Mary Hilton (Diana Dors) has committed a serious crime. In broad daylight, she shot and killed another woman. Now she sits in prison, awaiting her own execution. What could possess a young salesgirl, with her entire life ahead of her, to become a cold-blooded killer? And does she truly … Continue reading Yield to the Night (1956)
“I didn’t have the sense to know the difference between a war hero and a murderer.” Wes Tancred (Richard Egan) is a notorious gunslinger, known for allegedly having killed his best friend with no provocation, while his back was turned. While Wes has received a full pardon, that doesn’t stop rumors from spreading. There’s even been a song written about him, calling him “black-hearted” and … Continue reading Tension at Table Rock (1956)
“Born with an alibi in your mouth, huh? Nick Scanlon (Robert Ryan) is a mobster who has done well for himself, not only building a criminal empire but managing to buy the loyalty of several local government bigwigs. There’s one influential fella he can’t seem to crack, though. Tom McQuigg (Robert Mitchum), a police captain, refuses every bribe (and, furthermore, wants nothing more than to … Continue reading The Racket (1951)
It’s no secret ’round these parts that I love films and television set in the midcentury almost as much as I love the films made in the midcentury. Mad Men, plus cancelled-too-soon series like Manhattan, Bomb Girls, Pan Am, and Good Girls Revolt have been among my favorite TV creations in recent years. Speaking of Good Girls Revolt, I’ve been pretty mad at Amazon for … Continue reading Period television: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Patsy Douglas (Betsy Drake) is a woman with bad luck. If she isn’t falling all around on the subway, she’s making a fool of herself in front of her boss. She just can’t catch a break. Tired after a long day at work, she wants nothing more than to be able to sit on the subway, but it’s always packed on her route home. She … Continue reading Pretty Baby (1950)
Peyton Place is a small town in New England which, at first glance, may seem like the perfect town. Look a little closer, though, and you’ll see cracks in the façade. Michael Rossi (Lee Philips) is new in town and looking for work. He’s eventually hired by Leslie Harrington (Leon Ames), the town’s big-time mill owner/school board president, to be the new high school principal. … Continue reading Peyton Place (1957)
