March Madness #17: GENE TIERNEY

Welcome to Day 17 of MARCH MADNESS!
Every day in March, ALL GOOD THINGS will highlight a Classic film Super-star, you know, the type renowned for really, really B.A.D. to sweetest-dearest-most darling!

DAY #16 Results: GLENN FORD - no contest for Day 17, the crowds love Beastly-beast JOHNNY FARRELL /"Gilda" 21 over 10 for Elliott Nash /"The Gazebo"

TODAY the spotlight shines on GENE TIERNEY. Dainty and beautiful, Gene was beloved by her fans for her genteel Lamb-y characters, and equally for her LIONESS roles!
Which do you prefer: LION: rough n' tuff! or LAMB: Sweet & soulful?

March Mardness #16 GLENN FORD

Welcome to Day 16 of MARCH MADNESS!
Every day in March, ALL GOOD THINGS will highlight a Classic film Super-star, you know, the type renowned for really, really B.A.D. to sweetest-dearest-most darling!

DAY #15 Results: RITA HAYWORTH - Almost a tie! One vote gave the win to GILDA, and only 1 point behind was the lovely Maria /"You Were Never Lovelier" 34 - 33 votes!

TODAY the spotlight shines on GLENN FORD. Another actor who "had the chops" to play gentle romantic leads but could become downright "beastly" in tougher roles.
Which do you prefer: LION: rough n' tuff! or LAMB: Sweet & soulful?

Top Movie Cops: Dave Bannion (The Big Heat)

Tough cop Dave Bannion about to start some s@^t!

Name: Dave Bannion
Occupation: Detective Sergeant
First appearance: The Big Heat (1953)
Number of films: 1
Enemies: Mike Lagana (head crime boss); Vince Stone (Lagana's right hand man)
Family and friends: Katie (wife); Joyce (daughter); Debby Marsh (Stone's girlfriend); 

Not backing down to Vince Stone..at all!

SPOILER Below..in case you haven't seen this film, do not read any further.

History: Homicide Detective Dave Bannion butts heads with the crime syndicate in his town when he investigates the death of fellow police officer Tom Duncan. When Bannion refuses to back down, his family is targeted and his wife becomes a casualty. Bannion goes on the warpath to bring down head crime boss Lagana and his goon Vince Stone. Bannion gets unlikely help from Stone's girlfriend. Bannion is seen as a duty bound cop and becomes even more frustrated when local politics play into his repeated obstacles preventing him from taking down Lagana. But he never gives up. Never!

With his daughter Joyce

Meeting the hot to trot Debby

Sidney Poitier goes from juvenile delinquent in The Blackboard Jungle to respected teacher in To Sir, With Love

Sidney Poitier is one of the silver screen's best actors and one of my top three favorites. And I wanted to write this post about a connection between two of his best films, The Blackboard Jungle and To Sir, With Love.

Let's start with the gripping 1955 film, The Blackboard Jungle, which is about one of the toughest inner city schools in New York City. It's where newly minted teacher Richard Dadier (Glenn Ford in one of his best roles) comes to work. And once he gets the spiel from the principal and the other somewhat cynical teachers, Dadier gets to meet his students. They are a very unruly bunch led by Artie West (played by Vic Morrow) and Greg Miller (played by Sidney). These two test Dadier from the very first moment they meet, especially Artie. Miller is more laid back in his resentment of Dadier, but he still doesn't want to play nice. Always calling him chief. Miller is kind in a awkward position as he doesn't want to look bad in front of the other students, but he does want to get an education to better himself. So while Miller starts off as a bad egg, he and Dadier eventually warm to each other and become understanding of one another. Dadier gets closer to Miller to see what the kid really wants to do with his life. And Miller finally has someone to talk to. Artie is a different matter and will not back off from his constant pressure to Dadier. Even tormenting Dadier's wife Anne with letters saying her husband is having an affair with a fellow teacher. Things finally reach a boiling point at the film's climax when Artie pulls a knife on Dadier and it's Miller who comes to Dadier's aid. The Blackboard Jungle is a really good film that I assume made audiences look at themselves and their own children when it was released. And while both Poitier and Morrow look kind of old to be playing 17-year olds, they are riveting in their performances.

Flash forward twelve years and Poitier becomes teacher Mark Thackeray, a unemployed engineer who takes a teaching job in the East End of London to some very dysfunctional students. Of course the students don't make it easy for him as they just don't like authority figures. But Mark will not give up easy. He continues to push and push until the students finally start to respect him. To Sir, With Love is one of my favorite films of all time. And I like the fact that the color of Mark's skin doesn't play that big a role in this film. Just a teacher trying to get through to his students. The young actors cast as students are an exceptional bunch including Judy Geeson as the irrepressible student Pamela Dare, who gets to share a final dance with Mark at the film's climax. There is also Christian Roberts as Denham, the leader of the students. He engages Mark at every turn, but finally gains respect of Mark, especially after a little imromptu boxing lesson in gym class. And Lulu as Babs, who gets to sing the enthralling title song at the finale. By setting the film in England was a masterstroke as American audiences got see a different classroom setting. And it showed kids could be troubled anywhere in the world. Poitier is top notch as Mark. Never hitting a false note. And superbly supported by a talented young cast, especially Judy Geeson as Pamela. You may get a little teary-eyed at the ending as the students move on, but that's life and that's how it should be. I don't think they will ever forget what an impact Mr. Thackeray had on their young lives. And I just think it's cool seeing Poitier go from delinquent to teacher in two unforgettable roles in two of the best films of his career.

Shirley Jones in THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIE'S FATHER (1963)

I grew up watching the TV series of the same name, not knowing there was a movie before it. Well I recently saw it on TCM and loved it. Shirley plays Elizabeth Marten, a volunteer nurse,who was the friend of Tom Corbett's (Glenn Ford) wife before she died. Now Eddie is trying to hook his dad up with a potential replacement. Cue Elizabeth. But not before a few misfires including Rita (played by Dina Merrill). Well Rita and Tom come close to tying the knnot but Eddie's dislike of Rita is the tipping point. Elizabeth is there as always to be comforting and romance eventually blooms. This is a great comedy-drama from the early 60's with a terrific cast. Glenn Ford, Shirley Jones, Ron Howard as Eddie, Dina Merrill and Stella Stevens as Dolly add to the fun.

Film: B
Shirley's Perfomance: B

There never was a woman like Gilda.....

I hadn't seen Gilda in at least 15 years, so I was definitely estatic that TCM was showing it on Tuesday. And it still rocks 54 years later. Rita Hayworth is just amazing in the title role. She is totally mesmerizing in what would be her signature role. You know the film The Shawshank Redemption that features Rita as a major plot point. The scene where Gilda's husband brings in Johnny Farrell and asks is she decent, and Gilda says yeah and does that thing with her hair. And they screen it for the prisoners on a daily basis and that scene is where they all just go nuts. Yeah, I was the same way, and since I recorded Gilda on my DVD recorder, I was able to play and rewind that scene at least 5 times. It's that good. On my list of favorite screen performances of all time, this one by Rita makes the cut easily. She displayed a light touch and handled the dramatic scenes very well. She even got to sing and dance a couple of times. And even gets to play a guitar. And Glenn Ford doesn't get enough credit for his solid turn as Johnny Farrell. His character is in a tough spot as Gilda is his ex and now married to his new boss. Ford brings all his considerable acting ability to the screen for this one as he gets to act flippant, brave, serious, and heart broken. He and Hayworth make a dynamite pair. Gilda is an amazing film with two great performances and deserves it's spot in the annals of great film noirs. Show stopping scenes beside the aforementioned hair flipping scene by Hayworth is her sensational rendition of Put the blame on Mame. And the  tense confrontation between the two ex lovers. Backed by a wonderful music score and gorgeous cinematography plus the beauty that is Rita Hayworth. I'm tempted to watch Gilda once again.