Between Two Worlds(1944).

Between Two Worlds (1944). Directed by Edward A. Blatt. Cast: John Garfield, Paul Henreid and Sydney Greenstreet.

At an English port, Henry Bergner, a pianist asks for a room on a ship leaving for the United States. But, is denied because he does not have a visa. During an air raid, Henry's wife Ann, goes looking for her husband and witnesses a bomb hit a taxi full of passengers: reporter Tom Prior, actress Maxine Russell, Genevieve and her husband Benjamin, Merchant Marine Pete Musick, housekeeper Mrs. Midget, Reverend William Duke, and businessman Lingley. Henry, can not find work as a pianist, so he commits suicide. Ann, can not live without her husband, so decides to join him in death.

They find themselves on a huge ship along with the people who were killed in the taxi. Henry and Ann, soon realize that everyone on board is dead, but Scrubby, the steward, asks them not to say anything. Later, all the passengers each realize while telling their stories that they have died. An Angel known as The Examiner, is to decide their individual fates. Who will go to Heaven and who will go to Hell.

This film has a fascinating eerie atmosphere helped along by the wonderful music score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Eleanor Parker, was only 22 and she looks beautiful. Some viewers might be offended by the theme of the film. Hopefully, you can enjoy the film's touching moments and message of making your own, Heaven or Hell in life.

Faye Emerson (July 8, 1917 – March 9, 1983). In 1944, she played one of her best known roles as Zachary Scott's ex in, The Mask of Dimitrios.

In 1948, she made a move to television and began acting in various anthology series, including The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre, The Philco Television Playhouse, and Goodyear Television Playhouse. She served as host for several short-lived talk shows and musical/variety shows, including Paris Cavalcade of Fashions (1948) and The Faye Emerson Show (CBS, 1950).

Although The Faye Emerson Show only lasted one season, it gave her wide exposure because her time slot immediately followed the CBS Evening News and alternated weeknights with the popular The Perry Como Show. According to author Gabe Essoe in The Book of TV Lists, on one of the shows segments, her low-cut gown slipped and "she exposed her ample self coast to coast." The show was broadcast from a studio CBS built on the sixth floor of the Stork Club building. The studio, a complete replica of the Stork Club's Cub Room, was built for The Stork Club, also seen on CBS beginning in 1950.

After The Faye Emerson Show, she continued in TV with other talk shows, including Wonderful Town, U.S.A. (1951), Author Meets the Critics (1952), and Faye and Skitch (1953). She also made numerous guest appearances on various variety shows and game shows.

Emerson hosted or appeared on so many talk shows—usually wearing long, low-cut gowns—and game shows, such as I've Got a Secret, that she was known as "The First Lady of Television." The glamorous Emerson was so popular in the early 1950s that it was rumored that the newly created Emmy Award was named after her.

She was once married to Elliott Roosevelt, son of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Emerson was later married to bandleader Skitch Henderson in the 1950s.

John Garfield.

John Garfield (March 4, 1913 – May 21, 1952) was known as a predecessor of Method actors such as: as Montgomery Clift, Marlon Brando, and James Dean.

After the death of his mother, Garfield was sent to a school for difficult children in the Bronx. There he was introduced to both boxing and acting. He received a scholarship to Maria Ouspenskaya's acting school, making his Broadway debut in 1932. After which, he became a member of the Group Theater. Garfield, decided to leave Broadway and travel out to Hollywood. In 1938, he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in, Four Daughters(1938).

A Musical drama film, that tells the story of a talented musical family, whose lives are turned upside down by a troubled young composer. Cast: The Lane Sisters, Gale Page, Claude Rains, Jeffrey Lynn, John Garfield and Dick Foran. The Lanes were real sisters, members of a family singing trio. Directed by Michael Curtiz.

The Lemps family, run a boarding house where a young composer Felix Deitz, is one of the tenants. One of the neighbor's named Ernest, is in love with Emma, the oldest daughter, but she does not feel the same. Thea, a pianist and the second oldest, is dating a wealthy man, Ben Crowley. Kay, the next oldest, is a talented singer and is working towards a music school scholarship. The youngest daughter is Ann, a violinist. The new tenant is a troubled young man named Mickey, an orchestral arranger and a friend of Felix. Mickey, is in love with Ann, but Felix also has set his cap for her. What starts out as a comedy turns into a melodrama which helped John Garfield, become a major star.

Garfield, also performed in the film, The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946), with Lana Turner, Cecil Kellaway, Hume Cronyn, Leon Ames, and Audrey Totter. Directed by Tay Garnett, with a score written by George Bassman.

The story begins when drifter, Frank Chambers, stops at a diner looking for work. The diner is operated by a young woman, Cora Smith and Nick, her much older husband.

Frank and Cora begin a affair and begin making plans to murder Nick, so they can own the diner. They eventually succeed.

Prosecutor, Kyle Sackett, suspects them both of murder, but doesn't have enough evidence to prove it. He comes up with a plan to turn the couple on each other by trying only Cora for the crime. Cora's lawyer prevents Cora's full confession from landing into the hands of the prosecutor. Cora, pleads guilty to manslaughter and receives probation.

Soon after, Cora dies in a car accident and all the circumstances seem to point to Frank. He is convicted of murdering Cora and is sentenced to death.

When he is informed by authorities that they have discovered enough evidence of his guilt in the murder of Nick, Frank decides that his punishment really is for that crime of killing Nick.

Sparks really fly between Lana Turner and John Garfield and because, it is filmed in black and white, it helps create a very suspenseful film noir.

Humoresque (1946). With Joan Crawford. A story about an older woman and younger man violinist. Humoresque, was directed by Jean Negulesco and produced by Jerry Wald. My favorite scene in the film, is when Paul is performing in his major violin performance, while wealthy, possessive, Helen, sits in her expensive box watching him, while his mother and "girlfriend" are in the cheaper seats. It is almost creepy.

Please click here to view Humoresque(1947) movie review.

He also performed in the, the Oscar-winning Best Picture, Gentleman's Agreement (1947). Drama film about a journalist (played by Gregory Peck) who goes undercover as a Jew to conduct research for an expose on antisemitism. Gentleman's Agreement, was based on Laura Z. Hobson's 1947 novel of the same name.

He was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his starring role in, Body and Soul (1947). A film noir which tells the story of a boxer who becomes involved with crooked promoters. Cast: John Garfield, Lilli Palmer, Hazel Brooks, Anne Revere and William Conrad.

The movie, written by Abraham Polonsky and directed by Robert Rossen, is considered the first great boxing picture. It's a story about a successful fighter, who becomes surrounded by shady characters. Charley has to make some very difficult choices.

In 1946, when his contract with Warner Bros. expired, Garfield decided not to renew it and started his own independent production company.

Please click here to learn more about john Garfield.

Personal Quote:

"England has been praised for turning out intelligent, adult pictures whereas Hollywood has been severely censured for turning out junk. I don't think criticism is a valid one because, in defense of Hollywood, we have censorship problems England doesn't have. I'm not speaking of the license to do sexy stuff. I'm speaking of the license to present adult ideas and viewpoints, which we lack and which means in turn that many of our pictures lack intelligent content."

Great On Screen Couples: Lana Turner and John Garfield.

One of Turner's favorite film performances was in , The Postman Always Rings Twice(1946), which co-starred John Garfield. As claimed in a documentary, Turner did not get along with him and when she found he was her male lead, she said: "Couldn't they at least hire someone attractive?" This classic film noir marked a turning point in Lana's career. So, I guess sometimes when you do not care to much for someone.. that can also produce "a great on screen performance".

 Please click here to read Postman Always Rings Twice review.

Tortilla Flat (1942)

Tortilla Flat (1942). Cast: Spencer Tracy, Hedy Lamarr, John Garfield, Frank Morgan, Akim Tamiroff, and Sheldon Leonard based on the novel by John Steinbeck. It was directed by Victor Fleming.

In Monterrey, California, Danny Alvarez inherits a gold watch and two houses in the area known as Tortilla Flat from his grandfather. One of his friends by the name of, Pirate, is saving money which Pilon makes plans to steal, until he learns that he is saving to buy a golden candlestick, which he plans to burn for St. Francis.

One of the houses burns down, so Danny allows his friends to move into the other house with him. Things are fine at first until Danny's love for a girl causes him to look for work at the cannery. A misunderstanding causes Danny to become drunk and almost dies in an accident. He then marries his sweetheart with the promise that he will become a fisherman now that Pilon has the money to buy a boat.

This is a wonderful movie, with strong performances from: Spencer Tracy, Frank Morgan, who is very memorable as a hermit dog lover. Hedy Lamarr, who gives a wonderful performance as a poor Portuguese girl. She went on to make only five more films.

Frank Morgan, is best known for his performance of the title character in the film, The Wizard of OZ (1939). . His first film was in, The Suspect (1916). Morgan's career continued as talkies began, he was usually typecast in roles of a befuddled but good-hearted middle-aged man. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in, The Affairs of Cellini(1934), where he played the, Duke of Florence and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in, Tortilla Flat(1942), where he played a Hispanic man.

Other well known movies: The Great Ziegfeld, The Shop Around the Corner, The Human Comedy, The Mortal Storm, The White Cliffs of Dover and his last movie, Key to the City.

Like most character actors of the studio era, Frank Morgan had numerous roles in many motion pictures. One of his last roles was in, The Stratton Story, a true story about a ballplayer who makes a comeback after losing a leg in a hunting accident.

THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE (1943)

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1934) film noir based on the novel The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain. Cast: Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway, Hume Cronyn, Leon Ames, and Audrey Totter. Directed by Tay Garnett. Score written by George Bassman and Erich Zeisl.

Being a huge Lana Turner fan, I have always loved the film The Postman Always Rings Twice". Based on the novel by James M. Cain. Frank Chambers (John Garfield) tells us his story in narration. Frank was a drifter hitchhiking to no particular destination. He stops at a roadside diner that is looking for help. Encouraged by Nick (Cecil Kellaway) the owner, and his beautiful young wife Cora (Lana Turner), Frank takes the job. Cora is always asking Nick's help in improving the business. But Nick and Cora's mutual attraction is more than they can resist. Cora is unwilling to run off with a drifter who wants her to take care of his invalid sister. So the two lovers plan the murder of her husband so they can take over the diner..Lana Turner is believable as the cold hearted blond. Hume Croyn (Mr. Keats) is wonderful as Cora's lawyer. Mr. Keats or the District Attorney (Leon Ames) have no concern at all for finding the truth. Only fought for their personal interests."The Postman Always Rings Twice" is a great film noir that is entertaining, with a few wonderful twists and turns along the way.

Fun Facts:
Said to be Lana Turner's favorite role.

Contrast to Lana playing evil character, Lana wears white throughout the film.

Cecil Kellaway (August 22, 1893 - February 28, 1973) , spent many years as an actor, author, and director in the Australian film industry until he moved to Hollywood in the 1930s. Finding he could get only gangster bit parts, he got discouraged and returned to Australia. Then William Wyler called and offered him a part in the film, Wuthering Heights (1939).

 He received two Best Supporting Actor nominations, for The Luck of the Irish and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.

Academy Award winning actor Edmund Gwenn, whose real surname was Kellaway, was his cousin.