Irving Cummings directed the musical biopic of the legendary nineteenth 19th century musical comedy star, Lillian Russell, played by Alice Faye at the height of her career. Discovered in 1880 by bandleader Tony Pastor (Leo Carrillo), Lillian Russell rise quickly to fame and fortune on the Broadway stage. Along the way, she curries the favor […]
Oscar Movies: Lillian Russell (1940)–Biopic of Musical Singer Starring Alice Faye and Henry Fonda
August 5, 2014 by
Oscar Movies: Li’l Abner (1956)–Musical of Stage Version
August 5, 2014 by
This screen version of the Broadway musical based on the Al Capp comic strip was adapted by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank, who also disredted. With a few exceptions, the musical stars many of the original cast members: Peter Palmer as Lí’l Abnser, Stubby Kaye as Marryin’Sam, Howard St. John as General Bullmoose, and Julie Newmar […]
Oscar Movies: Lifeboat–Hitchcock’s WWII Melodrama–Experiment in Confined Space
August 5, 2014 by
Hitchcock directed this WWII melodrama, which approached the war from a different angle. An experimental film due to the fact that the entire action is confined to a small lifeboat adrift on the Atlantic with a handful of survivors from a torpedoed freighter. Among them was the captain of the attacking U-boat, which was also […]
Oscar Movies: Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972): Paul Newman as Outlaw
August 5, 2014 by
One of John Huston’s weakest films, The Life and Time of Judge Roy Bean suffers froma poor, rambling screenplay by John Millius. The all-star cast includes Ava gardner as Lily Langtry, Victoria Principal, Jaqueline Bisset, Anthony Perkins, Tab Hunter, Stacy Keach, Roddy McDowall, and Ned Beatty. Oscar Nominations: 1 Song: Marmalade, Molasses & Honey, music […]
Oscar Movies: Lies My Father Told Me (1975): Jan Kadar’s Coming of Age
August 5, 2014 by
This coming-of-age tale is set in the Jewish ghetto of Montreal circa the 1920. Jan Kadar, the famous Czech filmmaker and emigre in Canada, directed this sentimental but touching saga about a boy’s intimate and complex relationship with his grandfather. Writer Ted Allan, who was Oscar nominated, adapted to the big screen his own book, and […]
