Undercurrent

Undercurrent
Released Date: November 28, 1946
Director: Vincent Minnelli
Actors: Katharine Hepburn, Robert Taylor, Robert Mitchum, Edmund Gwenn, Majorie Main, Jayne Meadows, Clinton Sundberg, Dan Tobin, Kathryn Card, Leigh Whipper, Charles Trowbridge, James Westerfield and Billy McClain

     Post war movies are always fun to watch. For this reason alone, the actors that came back from the war to go on with their acting career. James Stewart was one of them, and so is Robert Taylor. He was in the military service in World War II. And after returning, this was his first picture. Robert Mitchum plays Robert Taylor's brother in this movie, and Katharine Hepburn plays Taylor's wife. Although still young, Katharine Hepburn plays a spinster, well almost spinster, she is saved from that single old age by her husband. Did you know that Katharine Hepburn and Robert Mitchum did not get along while filming? You may never see it, that is the beauty of acting. But Hepburn apparently told Mitchum this: "You know you can't act, and if you hadn't been good looking you would never have got a picture at all. I'm tired of working with people like you who have nothing to offer!" Harsh words, huh? I have always enjoyed Mitchum movies and am sad by that remark. I have always been and will be a Katharine Hepburn fan, though strong headed, she was not too far from the truth. Mitchum did in fact have better looks than acting range, but he always made fun pictures. But so did Katharine Hepburn!

     Ann Hamilton (Katharine Hepburn) grew up with a loving family in the country. The picture is beautiful, with the country feel, snow up to your knees, snow covering the old time cars and a fireplace. A scene I have dreamed about all my life. The good looking Alan Garroway (Robert Taylor) comes to her house and they end up falling in love. Hamilton's father, Professor Hamilton (Edmund Gwenn (a great actor)) tells her that she will end up marrying Garroway. The Professor can see his daughter falling in love. After a whirlwind wedding, Mr and Mrs. Garroway head to Alan's home, in my hometown, of Washington D.C. Ann is a country girl at heart, always will be. Her clothes spell country, and she feels different from all of the D.C. women she meets. Alan throws a few parties, and Ann feels like the loan sheep. Alan seems perfect, tons of money, very good looking, friendly and all around happy. But he has a demon, his brother. Michael Garroway (Robert Mitchum) seems to have hurt his brother pretty badly. But while all stories unravel, Ann has doubts about her new husband. And so do we, the audience. I said this before, but Katharine Hepburn makes masterpieces, and this is a great movie. Found on accident, I taped it on TCM, and enjoyed every minute. I taped because of Katharine Hepburn!!! You will love this new find of mine just as much as I have :)

The Night Of The Hunter

The Night Of The Hunter
Released Date: November 24, 1955
Director: Charles Laughton
Actors: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason, Evelyn Varden, Peter Graves, Don Beddoe, Billy Chapin, Sally Jane Bruce, Gloria Castillo, Emmett Lynn, and Corey Allen

     The movie is a hit now, but when it was first released it was not. The director, Charles Laughton, said that he would never direct a movie again. Which was the truth. This was the director's last film. Robert Mitchum was never one to talk about his career, the different movies he was in, but later on in his life, Mitchum said that this was his favorite movie that he acted in, and that Charles Laughton was his favorite director that he worked with. Mitchum wanted to play a preacher, and wanted this part very badly. Good thing!!! He was perfect for the part. This has a great cast, and one that makes the movie even better. It made it even better, knowing that Mitchum really was in jail at one point. He made it that much more convincing.

     Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish) starts the movie out. By talking to all of the children she takes care of, explaining life, and that you have to be careful who you let into your life. Taking the bible into the explanation and the wolf in sheep's clothing. After her speech, we go to a preacher, Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum). He is on his way down the road in a car. Talking to the Lord with his knuckles showing the words "Good" and "Evil" written on his fingers. He believes that everything that happens is for a reason, but that all of the things he goes through are God taking him in the directions. Willa Harper (Shelley Winters) has just lost her husband. He had been arrested and hung for murder. Her husband gave money he stole to his children. Who is in the same cell as the husband but Harry Powell. Powell overhears his cell mate talking in his sleep about the money. Powell tries to get the man to tell him where the money is, but never gets the actual location, except that his children know. After Powell gets out of jail, we see him in the same town as the widow and her children. If you said "Uh Oh" you're right. Powell marries Willa and brainwashes her. Powell tries desperately to get the children to talk, and to point him in the direction of the cash. It is a wild ride, and a great movie. Very creepy at times but well worth it. This movie is well directed, and well acted. You'll have goosebumps.

     One of my favorite things about this movie, besides the creepiness of it, is that the coloring in it is amazing. The black and white coloring is creepy and well done. The shading is great, all of it.

Cape Fear

Cape Fear
Released Date: April 12, 1962
Director: J. Lee Thompson
Actors: Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, Polly Bergen, Lori Martin, Martin Balsam, Jack Kruschen, Telly Savalas, and Barrie Chase

     This movie has been remade, and as a matter of fact, the originals, Peck and Mitchum are in the remake. The movie did not do well at the box office, however, now it is very well known and shown on TCM a lot. This film has a lot of suspense and also is about something that most women are afraid of.

     Max Cady (Robert Mitchum) was arrested and put in jail a few years ago. For forcing himself on a woman. The man who went before the court to go against Cady, was Sam Bowden (Gregory Peck), who happens to be a lawyer. Now Cady is out of jail and has decided to go pay Bowden a visit. Now mind you, Cady has a record of unwanted force on a woman, and Bowden is a married man with a teenage daughter. Scary? Yes! Cady has no heart and is not afraid to get revenge. This movie put me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire film, and even after. Even though this movie did not do well at first, it definitely has proven itself throughout time. 

Holiday Affair

Holiday Affair
Released Date: December 24, 1949
Director: Don Hartman
Actors: Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh, Wendell Corey, and Gordon Gebert

     I have always enjoyed Christmas movies. As you all know, Christmas movies can only be seen once a year where as every other movie can be watched at anytime of the year, even at Christmas. Black and White is naturally my favorite type of Christmas movie. Well Black and White is my favorite type of movie, period. My favorite is of course It's a Wonderful Life. And all of the clay-mation films that they show on ABC family every year. But this movie too, has become one of my favorites. And the cool thing is, I found it one day because I was home from work due to a snow day. I was curled up in our basement watching TCM nearly the entire day, and this movie came on. This movie oddly enough became popular because of TCM. This movie was not popular when it first came out.

     Holiday Affair is about a young single mother named Connie Ennis, played by Janet Leigh. She is a comparison shopper and for her job ends up buying a train at a store in the same mall she works in. The man who soled her the train was Steve Mason, played by Robert Mitchum. Connie does have a son, Timmy, who she says the train is for. Steve knew better, for she had the right amount already for him and knew what she wanted and did not even ask questions. She did end up taking it home and sadly enough, her son Timmy thought the train was his. He finds out about the train because he takes a peek at the present. Connie takes the train back the next day and because Steve has a soft spot for Connie, does not write her up for being a comparison shopper, then he himself gets fired for not doing so. Connie ends up taking him out for lunch that day. And when she gets home to her son and fiance, Carl Davis, who is played by Wendell Corey, Steve is not with her but ends up coming to her house that day with the presents he was carrying for her. Carl is not happy. He ends up jealous at first but when he realizes that the woman he loves is in love with someone else, well you will have to watch the movie to find out. This movie is very cute and rather short, less than an hour and half. But I love it, and I think you will too.

     Robert Mitchum was a bad boy of his time. He smoked weed and was caught with it and did time in the big house because of it. This movie was suppose to lighten up his image a bit after his drug/jail time. But Mr. Mitchum did weed, reportedly for the rest of his life. Even after he ended up getting lung cancer. He was a great looking guy, one of which I rather think is hot for back in the day. But he was a very tough man. He was a boxer at one point in his life. His eyes, you'll notice are very saggy, almost pug like (I'm not sure if that is why I think he is good looking), which he says is because of his boxing days and also insomnia. He died the day before Jimmy Stewart.

     Janet Leigh was at the top of her game that year, for she even came out with Little Women that year as well. She is the mother of actress Jamie Lee Curtis and was discovered by an actress named Norma Shearer from a picture that was on Miss Leigh's father's desk. Janet Leigh and I share the same birthday, July 6. However, we are not born the same year, in case you were wondering.