Howard Trent (Hayden Rorke) hears the secrets that you keep, when you’re talking in your sleep… particularly if you’re his wife, Irene (Barbara Stanwyck). Howard has secretly been recording every conversation that takes place in his home, including those his wife has with no one, while she’s dreaming. Howard is convinced that Irene isn’t dreaming at all, but carrying on an affair with his attorney, … Continue reading The Night Walker (1964)
Peter Kirk (Henry Fonda) is having a fun day on the slopes, until he crashes. But the crash turns out to be a happy accident. He lands at the feet of Helen Hunt (Barbara Stanwyck), a beautiful doctor vacationing at the same ski resort. Naturally, he chooses Helen to be the physician in charge of his recovery. Peter is flirtatious from the start, but Helen … Continue reading You Belong to Me (1941)
“This picture is dedicated to Variety Clubs International,” the opening title reads. “‘The Heart of Show Business,’ which beats constantly in behalf of the children of the world regardless of race, creed or color.” With this declaration begins Variety Girl, a 1947 film featuring many familiar faces in a Hollywood Canteen-style star parade. So, how did it all begin for the Variety Clubs? In 1928 … Continue reading Variety Girl (1947)
Barbara Stanwyck had fairly prominent roles in the majority of her films. She was often the leading lady. But in a couple of cases, her screen time was brief: her cameo in Hollywood Canteen; her role in the TV movie Love Letters. Flesh and Fantasy marks one of these smaller appearances. This anthology film has Stanwyck sharing the screen with stars such as Robert Benchley, … Continue reading Flesh and Fantasy (1943)
It’s the place “where the sun takes his shoes off.” It’s the place that “has got everything but population.” I’m referring, of course, to none other than 1840s California — soon to become known as the golden state! Jonathan Trumbo (Ray Milland) has been hired to lead one of the first wagon trains to make its way to California, just before the Gold Rush hits … Continue reading California (1946)
Susan Wilcox (Barbara Parkins) was attacked by a man at the age of thirteen, and was so traumatized by the experience that she stopped speaking. She was sent to a psychiatric facility as a result. Seven years later, Susan has returned to her old home, where her mother Miriam (Barbara Stanwyck) still lives along with Susan’s step-father, Harold (William Windom). Susan hopes she’ll continue recovering … Continue reading A Taste of Evil (1971)
Happy #Noirvember! TMP is celebrating the genre this month with a noir review every Sunday. Today’s review is also a part of the Barbara Stanwyck Filmography Project, one of her many films noir, No Man of Her Own. Previously in this series: When Strangers Marry (1944), Decoy (1946) The police are after Helen Ferguson (Barbara Stanwyck). In her once-happy home in the sleepy town of … Continue reading No Man of Her Own (1950)
Mail service is usually pretty predictable. You drop a letter in a mailbox, and depending on how far it’s traveling, you can usually expect it to be received in a matter of days… unless some sort of accident occurs. When a U. S. mail plane crashes, the usual service is, of course, disrupted. Three letter-senders have no clue that the mail they’ve sent has been … Continue reading The Letters (1973)
Following the Maine Incident in Havana Harbor in 1898, President McKinley is looking to get in contact with Calixto Garcia, the leader of Cuba’s revolt against Spain. Andrew Summers Rowan (John Boles) is recruited for the job of hand-delivering a letter from President McKinley to Garcia. Rowan manages to sneak his way into Cuba, but soon discovers that the Spanish are also trying to reach … Continue reading A Message to Garcia (1936)
Ruth Bennett (Barbara Stanwyck) and her niece Sara (Kitty Winn) are moving into an old house recently inherited by Ruth. Ruth has decided to take a break from her job in Washington, D. C. to decide whether she wants to move into the house permanently, leaving the city behind. Sara will be attending classes at the local university. Both women are excited about the house … Continue reading The House That Would Not Die (1970)
