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. 

Rear Window

Rear Window
Released Date: January 14, 1955
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Actors: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter, and Raymond Burr

     James Stewart and Cary Grant have two things in common. They are both in four Alfred Hitchcock movies. James Stewart had: Rear Window (this), Rope, Vertigo, and The Man Who Knew Too Much. Cary Grant had: North By Northwest, To Catch A Thief, Notorious, and Suspicion. I have always thought that was a pretty cool piece of information. The fact that a director and actors had a favorite to work with and you always knew who the director liked. I have known a lot of people say that their favorite movie by Alfred Hitchcock was Rear Window. I guess the cool thing about this movie is the suspense, Jimmy Stewart's facial expressions, Grace Kelly's presence in the film, and the comedic relief Thelma Ritter gives off and on during the movie.

     James Stewart's role is of a man, L. B. Jefferies or Jeff as he is called throughout. Jeff is a professional photographer and was hurt during one of his assignments dealing with cars. He broke his leg, one leg. He is stuck in his apartment and all he has is his beautiful neighbors to watch and keep him company. Jeff does however, have a friend that stops by, a Det. Lt. Doyle, played by Wendell Corey. His nurse comes by either once or twice a day, Stella, played by Thelma Ritter. And also his girlfriend, Lisa Carol Fremont, played by the beautiful Grace Kelly. His nurse, Stella is afraid that there will be trouble coming soon, and like the Stock Market Crash she predicted, she is correct at her feelings. Now it is up to Doyle, Lisa and Stella to figure out if Jeff's criminal neighbor is actually a criminal. This movie is fast, hot and completely suspenseful. It will keep you on your toes, unless your leg is broken too, but then it will keep you on the edge of you seat.

     Jimmy Stewart is a married man by this time in his personal life. His wife, naturally was afraid after he took this role. Grace Kelly was known for having affairs with her costars. Even if they were married. And it did not matter how old they were. But Stewart's wife had admitted later on that even though at first she was afraid, Stewart never gave her the actual fear of an affair. Grace Kelly even became rather close to Mrs. Stewart and they were friends till Kelly's death. This movie is really cool, because like I said earlier, Jimmy Stewart's entire roll is his expressions and you completely know what he is thinking. And you do end up sweating with him because this movie is based in the summer time and everyone is sweating in these very hot days. It is almost summer time now, and it is the perfect weather to watch this movie.

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.