Confessions of a Nazi Spy, 1939
Confessions of a Nazi Spy, 1939
Edward G. Robinson was the living embodiment of the saying, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
After his spectacular success as Rico in Little Caesar, Robinson spent lavishly on himself, his family and everybody and anything that needed a chunk of change. In the 1940′s alone he made more than 850 contributions totaling more than a quarter million dollars.
But in 1947, inglorious ex-communist turned “Red” Hunter (and future Confidential Magazine editor and wife slayer) Howard Rushmore, fingered Edward G. Robinson as a fellow “traveler” or commie before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Edward G. Robinson, who had enjoyed almost twenty years at the top in Hollywood, imploded and his career never recovered from the accusations.
(please read my abbreviated bio on Rushmore below.)
The Glass Web, 1953 Original Vintage Half Sheet
The Glass Web, 1953, Directed by Jack Arnold
Too much to discuss. Sometimes it takes me too long to write and edit my jibber jabber. Should I focus on the obvious? Versatile Sci-fi director Jack Arnold? The early 3-D experimentation craze. Or, the boom boom bodacious Scarjo harbinger Kathleen Hughes. Measurements: 38-24 1/2-36 1/2.
Fortunately in this flick they kind of all fugue together.
In 1948 pretty, perky pin-up girl Betty von Gerkan signed up with Fox on a seven year stab at stardom and adventure. Not too much happened until Fox dropped her. Then she dyed her hair platinum. Presto! The Clairol Cure revs up another stalled career. First came the boys. Then came the parts. One “big” breakthrough was 1953′s It Came From Outer Space.
Soylent Green, Paperback
Vintage Paperback
For those of you of a certain age, Charlton Heston was the uber anti-hero of the 1970′s. You could always count on the scantily clad Heston kept the world safe from creepy apes, natural disasters, and various plane and submarine malfunctions. Prior to this, of course, Heston served as a model/actor for largely inaccurate religious soap docudramas in the 50′s and early 60′s.
Some hail the Ten Commandments as Heston’s career pinnacle; still others, Ben Hur or the Planet of the Apes series. But, for me Soylent Green wins out on sheer sophistication, cheap creeps, and eerie prophetic moments.
Edward G. Robinson the old scamp, actually manipulated Heston into a good performance in this film. Soylent Green was to be Robinson’s 109th and final film and he knew it. The movies were his life and there was no way he was going to let ANYTHING screw up his denouement. Fittingly, Robinson’s last big scene was a deathbed scene in which he reminisces about the way the world used to be and what was to become of it in the future. Prior to filming, Robinson shared with his old Ten Commandments comrade that he was dying of cancer. When the scene was filmed Heston could barely contain his shaking sobs. Viola! Movie magic at it’s best.
Read this book, watch the movie (if you can find it) and see why this is still considered after 30 years a sci fi great — and not for the kiddies.
Condition: Good. Light tanning. Reading copy.
Night Has A Thousand Eyes
Cornell Woolrich, aka William Irish, aka George Copley was the kind of writer Nathaniel West would love. A tortured momma’s boy so lonely the only friend he could dedicate his book to was his typewriter.* A drunken paranoid recluse that let his infected leg get hacked off from neglect. Dead at 65. No one came to his funeral. He left his large estate to a college in memory of mom.
Woolrich is considered one of the finest writers of mystery and suspense in the twentieth century. After an early charade as a bright young hetero Hollywood writer fell apart, Woolrich slunk back to mommy in New York. A string of dark, brooding, trapped and twisted stories sprung up in the pulps. Hollywood came knocking again. Except this time the film adaptations were prolific and successful; even if the title changes showed a complete lack of imagination.
Woman in the Window, 1944, Window Card
The noir world is filled with dangerous femme fatales. Unscrupulous. Scheming. Seductive women. And the men? Just innocent putty in their hands. Often driven crazy by love, longing and jealousy to do things they would normally never do.
The scene: A stunning brunette temptress meets up with her agent for an afternoon rendezvous. A few hours later the lovers linger at her car before they separate for the day. Suddenly, her jealous husband appears and shoots her lover’s nuts off — Bang! Bang ! Bang!…
Opphs. I forgot. That’s Joan Bennett’s story — NOT the plot for Fritz Lang’s, The Woman in the Window. Oh well, sometimes it’s hard to keep all these story lines straight. Back to my tale.
Official PR version: Joan’s agent is recovering nicely from gunshot wounds due to this “mis-understanding”. Joan swears nothing was going on. They were just having a business meeting. After hubby spends some time in jail, the couple remain married another 14 years.
