They had names too, but how many do you know?
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Vintage Hollywood films and stars
Category Archives: Uncategorized
THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933)
What a start to Claude Rains’ Hollywood career. Playing the title role in H.G.Wells’ THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933), Rains is literally invisible until the final scene.
He’s covered in bandages and wears dark goggles, but that beautiful speaking voice and the way he carries himself when walking made it unmistakably Rains.
Claude Rains plays the obsessed chemist,Dr. Griffin who thinks he can help humanity but instead, is driven to madness by the drug he takes which causes invisibility.
Dr. Griffin: “An invisible man can rule the world….he can rob,wreck and kill…..even the moon’s afraid of me!”
Director James Whale, on left , on the set with Claude Rains.
There are some great special effects – in one scene there is a headless and footless pair of pyjamas!
Not much of a role for the lovely Gloria Stuart. She plays Flora, girlfriend of Dr.Griffin. Her father ,Dr. Cranley (Henry Travers) whom Griffin worked for, tries to help Griffin.
Una O’Connor, as the wife of the innkeeper , spends a fair bit of her screen time screaming! (I kept having to turn the volume down!) She is always so believable in all her roles.
Gloria Stuart, Henry Travers.
Best line in the film comes from the farmer who says, “Excuse me sir, there’s breathing in my barn.” (Griffin is hiding there.)
Impressive ending when Griffin is surrounded by the police who set fire to the barn where he is sheltering. When he runs out of the burning barn, although invisible, his footprints can be seen in the snow and he is shot.
John Carradine.
I did recognise John Carradine in his brief, uncredited scene as one of the villagers who calls the police with his idea for catching the Invisible Man. (The police have offered a reward.)
Also in small roles, Mary Gordon and Walter Brennan.
And finally we get to see Claude Rains in the film’s last scene when Dr. Griffin is dying and he gradually becomes visible.
Rains’ s second film, CRIME WITHOUT PASSION (1934) is on You Tube. Disappointing.
Always liked this early Universal logo, with the plane flying round the world.
The Invisible Man spawned a lot of sequels and TV shows.I’d like to see the three films from 1940 and 1944.
Played for laughs.
A British TV series , 1958-60, starring Tim Turner.
David McCallum starred in 1975/76.
In both television versions, the invisible man is a force for good.
There is talk of a new film version this year.
ON THE SET 40
Hitchcock with Louis Jourdan, David Selznick, Charles Laughton, Charles Coburn, Gregory Peck.
Front Row. Joan Tetzel, Ann Todd, Ethel Barrymore.
Where is Alida Valli?
The court room in WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION.
But no stars visible.
Ava Gardner, Robert Taylor.KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE.
Robert Ryan, Spencer Tracy, John Sturges. BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK.
A bored Edward G. Robinson, Gail Russell, director John Farrow and John Lund.THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES.
Sylvia Sidney, George Raft, Director Fritz Lang. YOU AND ME.
Director Jean Negulesco, Cornel Wilde, June Allyson.A WOMAN’S WORLD.
Burt Lancaster, Katharine Hepburn, director Joseph Anthony. THE RAINMAKER.
Lew Ayres, Olivia De Havilland, Robert Siodmak. THE DARK MIRROR.
The script cover says “I am lost. Return me to Mr. Siodmak.”
Bogie relaxes with Tim Holt, as John Huston studies the script.TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE.
Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford. THE LOVES OF CARMEN.
Havent seen this one.
NEW TO BLU-RAY
PowerhouseFilms.co.uk are bringing out three, new to Blu-ray, films on 22 April, 2019, costing £15.99 each. And region-free.
The three films are available for pre-order now. Each are limited editions with extra features and a booklet of new essays and contemporary reviews on each film.
Lovely covers for each disc, especially that one of Olivia de Havilland.
JULIE ADAMS (1926-2019)
Sorry to hear that Julie Adams has passed away at the age of 92.
Born Betty Adams in Waterloo, Iowa, Julie’s film career started inauspiciously in 7 quickie westerns from Lippert Pictures, and using her own name.
A seven year contract with Universal came with a new name, Julia Adams.
In her first film for Universal, Julia costarred with Richard Conte in an interesting film , HOLLYWOOD STORY which was set in a Hollywood studio, with Julia as the daughter of a silent film star.
Interviewed by Alan Rode after a screening of the film in 2010, Julie said, “Richard Conte was such a charming man, a very fine actor.”
Julie became a favourite in 50s westerns . The Treasure of Lost Canyon gave her a chance to work with William Powell.
With Piper Laurie and Tyrone Power. THE MISSISSIPPI GAMBLER.
Julie and Rock Hudson were costarred several times including The Lawless Breed. Julie described Rock as a very dear friend.
With Rock Hudson. THE LAWLESS BREED.
With Robert Ryan.HORIZONS WEST.
ONE DESIRE
When Julie told Universal she preferred Julie to Julia, they agreed to the name change.
The film Julie was most asked about in her many appearances at film conventions was CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON.
She said, “It is amazing the life of this movie. It’s a classic beauty and the beast story, with stunning underwater photography. Some projects take on a life of their own. The creature still walks among us!”
With Richard Carlson.
As a Mexican revolutionary (!) in WINGS OF THE HAWK.
My favourite film of Julie’s , BEND OF THE RIVER.
Julie often talked about her delight about working again with James Stewart on TV’s “The Jimmy Stewart Show” In 1971/72. She played his wife in the show which ran for 24 episodes.
With Arthur Kennedy in BEND OF THE RIVER.
With Glenn Ford in THE MAN FROM THE ALAMO.
With Glenn Ford, Chill Wills, Hugh O’Brien.THE MAN FROM THE ALAMO.
With Hugh Marlowe, Jack Kelly and Stephen McNally. STAND AT APACHE RIVER.
With Joel McCrea In GUNFIGHT AT DODGE CITY (1959).
Julie occasionally was cast in non-westerns.
With Charlton Heston in THE PRIVATE WAR OF MAJOR BENSON.
With George Nader in FOUR GIRLS IN TOWN.
When her Universal contract was over, Julie’s work was mainly on television. She appeared in so many TV shows of the 60s and 70s. Marcus Welby, The Big Valley, Rifleman, Maverick, just a few of the shows she appeared in.
With Raymond Burr In PERRY MASON.
With Ray Danton.
Julie was married to Ray Danton from 1955 to 1981. With one of her sons, Mitchell Danton, she brought out her autobiography in 2011, THE LUCKY SOUTHERN STAR, REFLECTIONS FROM THE BLACK LAGOON.
With Mitchell Danton.
Several interviews with Julie can be found on You Tube. And Laura at http://laurasmiscmusings.blogspot.com has written several times about meeting Julie.
