Witness to Murder

Witness to Murder
Released Date: April 15, 1954
Director: Roy Rowland
Actors: Barbara Stanwyck, George Sanders, Gary Merrill, Jesse White, Harry Shannon, Clair Carleton, Lewis Martin, Dick Elliott, and Harry Tyler

     Could you imagine waking up in the middle of the night, and believing you witnessed a murder? Or how about witnessing a murder, telling the police, and nobody believing you actually saw it? How about being told that you're insane, and need help, that would stink wouldn't it? Cheryl Draper (Barbara Stanwyck) woke up in the middle of the night and when she looked outside, saw her neighbor, Albert Richter (George Sanders) murdering a woman. Cheryl called the police right away but they did not find a shred of evidence to show that Albert actually killed someone. The two police officers are Lawrence Mathews (Gary Merrill) and Eddie Vincent (Jesse White). What do you suppose happens to a woman who believes she witnessed a murder, nobody believes her and worst of all, the killer knows who she is and where she lives? Find out what happens to Cheryl, by watching this awesome movie :)

Jeopardy

Jeopardy
Released Date: July 31, 1953
Director: John Sturges
Actors: Barbara Stanwyck, Barry Sullivan, Ralph Meeker, and Lee Aaker

     Barbara Stanwyck can do anything. She was brilliant. Yesterday was her birthday and so TCM showed some of her movies, along with Ginger Rogers, because it was also her birthday. But this movie was one I had never seen before, and I'm glad I saw it. It was intense!!!

     Doug Stilwin (Barry Sullivan), his wife Helen (Barbara Stanwyck) and their son Bobby (Lee Aaker) are on vacation. They are driving through Mexico, and are headed to a beach house that Doug use to stay at with an old friend of his. They finally arrive, and Bobby decides to go play on the beach. They are near a dock and Bobby goes on it and plays. Helen calls for her son because it is time to eat, and when Bobby started to walk off of the dock, his foot gets stuck. So Doug goes up to help his son. Bobby gets off of the dock okay, but while Doug was walking on one part of the dock, he falls through and lands on the sand. Sadly,  his foot gets stuck under some pilings and he can't get out. He tells Helen to go get a big rope to tie to the piling and then to the car to pull him out.  But she needs help so she goes to find a rope and to get another person. She meets another American, Lawson (Ralph Meeker), who happens to be a fugitive. He takes over the car but will he help Doug? Find out, by watching this amazingly tense film, with some great actors and one hell of an actress. 

Three Comrades

Three Comrades
Released Date: June 3, 1938
Director: Frank Borzage
Actors: Robert Taylor, Margaret Sullavan, Franchot Tone, Robert Young, Guy Kibbee, Lionel Atwill, Henry Hull, Charley Grapewin, and Monty Woolley

     I love watching the young, Robert Young movies. Around the 30s period was, in my opinion, his best work. Besides of course, Father Knows Best. Robert Young replaced Spencer Tracy for this movie, and James Stewart was considered for a roll in this as well. Which makes me wounder how that would have turned out. Robert Taylor did a good job in this, but his rolls always remind me of that guy in school that thinks he is just really hot. Which he was, don't get me wrong, but the way he treated Barbara Stanwyck... Sorry that's my girl.

     This movie is set in Germany after WWI. We follow the three comrades, Erich Lohkamp (Robert Taylor), Otto Koster (Franchot Tone) and Gottfried Lenz (Robert Young). They are best friends with the love of their country. They were in war together, and after, they started their own car mechanics company. One day, the three comrades were out driving together, when they get into a race with Alfons (Guy Kibbee). In the car with Alfons, is Patricia Hollmann (Margaret Sullavan). Erich falls madly in love and starts to date Patricia on a regular basis. When one day, everyone around them starts to say that the two should get married. So they do. Little did Erich know, but Patricia is sick. He finds out she is sick during their honeymoon. Will she recover so they can live a long and happy life together? Find out!!! By watching this cute movie. 

Sorry, Wrong Number

Sorry, Wrong Number
Released Date: September 1, 1948
Director: Anatole Livak
Actors: Barbara Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster, Ann Richards, Wendell Corey, Harold Vermilyea, Ed Begley, Leif Erickson, and William Conrad

     Wow, I cannot believe I have yet to write about the first Stanwyck movie I saw. This one scared me as a kid. I saw it for the first time when I was about 12 or so. And that was about when I was introduced to Hitchcock. Another highlight of mine. But one thing I found neat in my research on this film, was that Barbara Stanwyck's bed scenes, which is most of the movie, was only shot in fourteen days. And I know you won't know what I'm talking about till you see this movie, but there is a scene where Stanwyck gives her husband a cigarette case. Well that case was Stanwyck's own and it was a gift from her best friend, Joan Crawford.

     Leona Stevenson (Barbara Stanwyck) is sick in bed. She has a heart condition, so she's been laid up in a bed for a while. In the beginning of the movie, we find out that she is ill, that she let her nurse leave early and that she has been trying to call her husband but every time she calls, she gets the busy signal. Her husband is Henry J. Stevenson (Burt Lancaster). She keeps calling the operator to get a hold of her husband. Leona tries again, she is frustrated, and when the phone finally gives her a person on the other end, it is two men talking. She tries to break their conversation but they cannot hear her. She then discovers that they are discussing a woman's murder that will happen that night. She then calls the police to tell them what she heard. But they can't do anything because she has no idea who is about to be murdered. Then she calls her father, James Cotterell (Ed Begley) to tell him the news too. We then see a lot of flash backs after an old friend calls. Leona then thinks the murder will happen to her!!! Is that true? And if it is true, who is trying to kill her? Hmmm? Find out, by watching a great movie. One I have loved a long time. 

Happy Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:

Farley Granger (July 1, 1925 - March 27, 2011) : Who is the star of Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train and Rope

Olivia de Havilland (July 1, 1916) : Who is best known Gone With The Wind, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and The Heiress

The Man with the Cloak

The Man With the Cloak
Released Year: 1951
Director: Fletcher Markle
Actors: Joseph Cotton, Barbara Stanwyck, Louis Calhern, Leslie Caron, Joe De Santis, Jim Backus, Margaret Wycherly, Richard Hale, Nicholas Joy, Roy Roberts, Mitchell Lewis, Lynette Bryant, and Steve Carruthers

     Joseph Cotton and Barbara Stanwyck? The fact that the two of them are in this movie, it must be good. It truly is a good movie. Not the best I've seen with Cotton or Stanwyck, but it held my attention and it was a lot of fun. It has a cool quote from Edgar Allen Poe and it is really creepy. Not in the common way most movies are considered creepy, but... You'll see ;)

     Madeline Minot (Leslie Caron) goes to America to see her fiance's grandfather, Charles Francois Thevenet (Louis Calhern). When she first arrives to America, she goes to find the man's home, and does not believe she has the right address. So she goes to a bar nearby to ask where the house is. There she meets Dupin (Joseph Cotton), and they become fast friends. She is told that the address she has is correct and she goes to see him. When she arrives, she is told that he is very sick and Lorna Bounty (Barbara Stanwyck) tries to keep Madeline from seeing him. But Madeline goes straight into the grandfather's room and talks with him and she is able to stay. Madeline has a feeling that Lorna and the other people in the house are trying to kill her fiance's grandfather. Is she correct? I guess you'll have to watch this movie to find out ;)