She Couldn't Say No (1954) .

She Couldn't Say No(1954). Cast: Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons.

After returning to her childhood home in Progress, Arkansas from England, where oil heiress Corby Lane lived for many years. Corby,is on a mission to repay the town for paying for the life-saving operation when she was a baby. She sets out to look for Dr. Robert Sellers, her childhood physician. Finding the Doc not at home, Corby pushes the "emergency only", causing alarm to go off. Doc, who is out fishing at the near by river, has just caught the famous prized fish named Hercules, hears the noise, thinking that there is an emergency, races back to his house without his fish.

Corby is surprised to see how young the Doc is, introduces herself as "Miss Johnson" who is on her way to California. Corby, then asks Doc what he would do if she gave him $5,000? He tells her that he would lock her up as a lunatic. Doc takes Corby over to Mrs. McMurty's boardinghouse. Then invites her to Harley's Tavern, to try to trick her into revealing her true identity. Corby's plans soon backfires when, the town becomes the destination for every fortune seeker from miles around.

To tell you the truth what caught my attention to this movie was the paring of Jean Simmons and Robert Mitchum. I thought the film was clever and very entertaining.

Arthur Lee Hunnicutt (February 17, 1910 – September 26, 1979), When he moved to New York he quickly found himself landing roles in Broadway productions. He landed a role in the film, Tobacco Road, he developed the country character that he would later be typecast throughout his career.

He played a long string of supporting role characters as wise rural types, as in, The Red Badge of Courage (1951), The Lusty Men (1952),The Kettles in The Ozarks (1955) The Last Command (1955), The Tall T (1957) and El Dorado (1967).

In 1952, he earned an Oscar nomination for Supporting Actor in the western, The Big Sky.

Throughout the '50s, '60s, and '70s, Hunnicutt made nearly 40 guest appearances on American television programs such as Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Perry Mason, and The Twilight Zone.

Great On Screen Couples: Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell.

This dynamite pair only made two films together, 1951's His Kind Of Woman and 1952's Macao, but they are regarded as one of Hollywood's premiere screen couples. Thanks to Howard Hughes, the pair joined forces for the film noir His Kind Of Woman and generated undeniable screen chemistry. Actually the duo would have made three films together when Hughes considered casting Russell opposite Mitchum for 1949's The Big Steal. This film was rushed into production after Mitchum's arrest for smoking marijuana. Hughes didn't want to risk teaming Russell with him, fearing it would taint her career. Instead, Hughes gave the role to Jane Greer, his former flame he wanted to punish for having rejected him. Regardless, we have two solid films with the pair definitely in their element.

His Kind Of Woman had gambler Dan Milner (Mitchum) in Mexico and comes across a gangster (Raymond Burr) who is trying to get back into America after being deported and a lovely singer named Lenore (Russell). There are twists and turns aplenty in this entertaining film.

Russell's and Mitchum's second film Macao has Mitchum as a man on the run trying to redeem himself by capturing an international crime lord. Russell is cast once again as a singer and has a grand time delivering her lines with spunk and sass. Macao also co-starred Gloria Grahame. It's a shame this duo only made these two films together as you can tell they had a great connection and worked well with one another. They made their mark as one of cinema's sexiest teams.

Happy Birthday: Robert Mitchum!

Robert Mitchum, began acting in a Long Beach, California, amateur theater company. Where he performed in small roles in films. In 1945, he was cast as Lt. Walker in Story of G.I. Joe (1945) and received an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor. He quickly became an icon of 1940s film noir, though equally performed well in westerns and romantic dramas. In the 1950s, his brief prison term for smoking marijuana in 1949, seemed to help rather than hurt his "bad boy" image. He is well known for his performance in the film, The Night of the Hunter (1955). Crime drama. Director: Charles Laughton. Cast: Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters. The film is based on the true story and 1953 novel of the same name by Davis Grubb, adapted for the screen by James Agee and Laughton.

The film is set in West Virginia in the 1930s. Ben Harper is sentenced to hang for the robbery in which two men were killed. Before he is caught he hides the stolen money, trusting it to his son John. Reverend Harry Powell, a serial killer and self-called preacher with the words "LOVE" and "HATE" tattooed on his right and left hands, shares a prison cell with Harper. He tries to get Harper to tell him where he hid the money before his execution, but the only clue he gets is a Bible verse Harper says in his sleep: "And a little child shall lead them."

Believing that Harper told his children the secret, Powell marries Harper's widow, Willa. One night Willa overhears her husband questioning the children and she realizes the truth. Will she be able to protect her children from the so called... Reverend Harry Powell?


For me Night of the Hunter is one of the scariest films ever made. Mitchum gives an excellent performance. The suspense comes from the performance of the characters. Although, the film is warm and charming in parts. You'll remember this film for a long time.

Mitchum began performing on television in the 1980s, with "The Winds of War" (1983) and "War and Remembrance" (1988). His sons James Mitchum and Christopher Mitchum are actors, as is his grandson Bentley Mitchum. His last film was James Dean: Race with Destiny (1997) (TV).

His Kind of Woman (1951).

His Kind of Woman (1951).Cast: Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell. With supporting roles by: Vincent Price, Raymond Burr, and Charles McGraw. Directer: John Farrow.

Gangster Nick Ferraro, who has been living in Naples since his deportation from the United States, wants to return to the States to put his business back together. First he must change his identity. He and his partners pick out a gambler named Dan Milner, whose weight and height match Ferraro's. They offer him $50,000 to go to Mexico for a year, without revealing who is paying him. Down on his luck, Dan accepts partial payment and travels to Nogales, Mexico. While waiting for his plane, Dan meets Lenore Brent, an heiress and singer. To his surprise, he and Lenore board the same small plane, which Dan learns is headed for Morro's Lodge in Baja California. At the resort, owner José Morro asks Dan about himself, while Myron Winton, shares with him information about some of the lodge's other guests. Dan becomes concerned about Krafft and Thompson and confronts them, who assure him that he will find out more information from a man who is on his way to the lodge. The next day, Dan comes the conclusion that Lenore is having an affair with Mark. Lenore is really Liz Brady, who is posing as an heiress in order to marry Mark, who is separated from his wife Helen. In one of my favorite scenes of the movie, soft-hearted Dan helps Jennie's husband Milton beat Myron at poker. He then asks Morro about the man he is supposed to meet. Morro pretends that he does not know what he is talking about, then tries to discourage pilot, Bill Lusk, from landing at the resort, during a huge thunderstorm. The next day, Bill confesses to Dan that he is an undercover agent and informs Dan, that he has sold his identity to a gangster, who has hired Krafft, an ex-Nazi plastic surgeon, to change his face to look like his. You will have to watch to see who comes to Dan's rescue, you will be surprised.

This is a fun Noir/comedy/adventure with Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell, beautifully teamed together. Vincent Price supplies many of the laughs and is a very interesting character in this film.
Video: Robert Mitchum's Studio Days Part 3 (about filming the movie His Kind of Woman(1952).



Charles McGraw, became popular in the film noirs during the late 1940s and 1950s. His gravelly voice and rugged looks was perfect in the noir genre and he performed in many roles as cop or gunman.

Introduced with William Conrad as the two hit men terrorizing a small town diner in the film The Killers(1946), McGraw's best known perform aces include: Roadblock(1951), in the noir "B" movie, The Narrow Margin (1952), Spartacus, Armored Car Robbery (1950) and A Boy and His Dog (1975).

Macao(1952)

Macao (1952). Film noir/ adventure film. Director : Josef von Sternberg and Nicholas Ray. Producer Howard Hughes fired director von Sternberg during filming and hired Nicholas Ray to finish it. Cast: Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, Gloria Grahame and William Bendix.

After a New York undercover detective is killed during his investigation, the police in Hong Kong notifies the New York police about the murder. Later, on a boat headed for Macao passenger Nick Cochran rescues Julie Benton from a guy trying to pick her up, instead of being thankful she picks his pocket. When they arrive in Macao, Nick informs the Macao police that his passport and money were stolen and that his only identification is his Signal Corps discharge papers. Sebastian shows Vincent Halloran, the owner of the Quick Reward casino, a photo of Nick because he thinks he is undercover cop..

Nick, knows that Julie picked his pocket and goes to her hotel room to confront her. At first Julie denies the accusation but when Sebastian arrives, looking for Nick. She gives him back his money. Soon, Julie finds a  job singing with Halloran, Nick also asks Halloran for work. But Halloran refuses to hire him and tries to bribe him to leave Macao. The next day, Trumble shows Nick a large diamond and asks him to sell the necklace. Halloran agrees to cross the three-mile limit that legally protects him and goes on to Hong Kong. Where he takes Nick prisoner. Now, Nick's life is in danger and needs to find away to escape.

This is the first time I have seen the Movie Macao. Being a a huge Robert Mitchum fan, I loved this movie and would watch it again.. Jane Russell and Gloria Grahame were also wonderful in their performances. One of my favorite characters in the film was the old blind man.

OUT OF THE PAST (1947)

Out of the Past(1947) (originally released in Britain as Build My Gallows High). Noir. Director: Jacques Tourneur. This movie is loosely based on the novel written by Daniel Mainwaring Build My Gallows High. Cast: Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas and Rhonda Fleming.

In a small town in California, gas station owner Jeff Bailey now living a quite life, is tracked down by Joe Stefanos, a former business partner, who tells him that his boss, Whit Sterling, wants to meet him in, Lake Tahoe. Before he goes, Jeff shares with his new girl friend, Ann, his past:

Three years ago, while working as a private detective in New York, Jeff, whose real name is Markham, and his partner, Jack Fisher, are hired by gambler Whit to find his girl friend, Kathie. Whit tells him, that Kathie shot him and then disappeared with $40,000 of his money. Whit promises Jeff that Kathie will not be harmed, Jeff finds her vacationing in Acapulco. Kathie insists that she did not steal Whit's money, but was only trying to get away from Whit. Jeff and Kathie, soon become lovers and are about to leave Acapulco, when Whit and Joe, show up at the hotel. Jeff, tells Whit, that he was unable to find Kathie and wants to quit, but Whit insists, that he continue the search to find her. That night, Jeff and Kathie, board a ship to begin a new life in, San Francisco. Fisher, who was to receive half of the $10,000 that Whit, offered to find Kathie, finds the couple at a remote cabin and the two detectives begin to fight, Kathie, shoots and kills Fisher and Jeff, buries his body. Jeff, is shocked and heartbroken, when he learns that Kathie did steal Whit's $40,000.

After, Jeff finishes his story about his past, Ann says she still loves him and promises to wait for him when he returns. At Whit's Tahoe vacation home, Jeff discovers that the double-crossing Kathie has returned to Whit and has told him about their affair.

Will Jeff ever be able to get Out of the Past, and back to his girlfriend and his new life?

Fun Fact:

Humphrey Bogart read the script and, seeing the similarities between this and The Maltese Falcon (1941), wanted to play Jeff. However, Warner Bros. didn't buy the material and RKO produced this movie.

I really enjoyed, for lack of a better word, humorous at times dialog and the twists and turns of this wonderful film noir. I thought Robert Mitchum's mixed up character very intriguing. Jane Greer, is very good as the bad girl.

Virginia Huston (April 24, 1925 - February 28, 1981), performed in many 1940s and 1950s films noir and adventure films. Signing with RKO in 1945, her first film was with George Raft in, Nocturne. Huston, was the ninth actress to play Jane, in Tarzan's Peril (1951). Her other films include: Out of the Past(1947), The Racket (1951), Sudden Fear (1952). Huston suffered a broken back in an automobile accident, which disrupted her career at its peak - when she returned, she performed minor roles and "B" films.

The Big Steal: Screwball Noir?

Film Historian Richard B. Jewell has called The Big Steal "'A Screwball Noir". I don't know if I'd go that far, but this 1949 film directed by Don Siegel is a fast paced chase
film that's a lot of fun.
Films like the the Big Steal work best when you know as little as possible going in(I call it going in cold) just letting the film happen. Don Siegal wants you to pay attention from the first scene on, and let's you try to figure out wants going on.
What I'll tell you is William Bendix is after Robert Mitchum, Mitchem and Jane Greer are after Patric Knowles, and Ramon Norvarro sit's back and watches.
This film was shot on location in Mexico, and has some classic car chases. The screenplay by Geoferey Homes, & Gerald Drayson Adams is witty, and fast paced. Think Cary and Roz in His Girl Friday.
Mitchum and Greer make it look so easy(it's not)
Jane was not the first choice for this film. Elizabeth Scott was signed to do the part . But because this film was going in to production after "Bob's Weed Problem", Liz like most other actress's in Hollywood at the time did not want any thing to do with Mitchum. Jane was an old friend after making Out Of The Past,and when asked said "Why not". I'm glad she did .I can see no one but Jane in this part.
So Is this A Screwball Noir? Watch the film and then we'll talk.
http://www.tcm.com/video/videoPlayer/?cid=113047&titleId=68721
Click picture to view movie trailer.

RACHEL AND THE STRANGER (1948)

RACHEL AND THE STRANGER (1948), is one of my favorite Loretta Young films. The story begins when David Harvey finds himself a widower with a son. They live far from town in the country on a Northwest farm. He needs a woman around the house to cook, clean and teach his son reading/writing/math. David and Davey pack up the horse and head for town to ask for the preacher's advice, who recommends Rachel. Rachel, is a bonds woman, and is quickly sold to David. David being a decent man marries her. David keeps his distance from Rachel as he is still grieving the passing of his wife. Rachel is doing everything she can to win over her new family. This all changes when Jim, his (very charming, handsome) friend arrives and shows the neglected Rachel some attention. David starts to realize that she means far more to him than he thought and the trouble begins....



Based on the Howard Fast short story "Rachel".

Cast: Loretta Young, William Holden, Robert Mitchum.

Loretta Young was famous for placing a "swear jar" on the sets of all of her films, charging anyone in the cast or crew who cussed 25 cents, then giving the funds to one of her favorite charities. While making this film with her, Robert Mitchum held his tongue until shooting was over. As he exited the set on the final day of shooting he dropped a $20 bill into the jar, and said, "This should just about cover everything I've been wanting to say"

Sara Haden (November 17, 1899 - September 15, 1981) was a character actress in Hollywood films of the 1930s through the 1950s.

Haden was the daughter of another character actress, Charlotte Walker, who was active in silent films and early talkies. An attractive woman, Haden however lacked the beauty of her mother. Haden made her film debut in 1934 in the film, Spitfire. Haden had small roles in many of the studio's films, she is best known for her performances in the Andy Hardy series, cast as Aunt Milly Forrest.

She played a truant officer in Shirley Temple's, Captain January (1936), but she also played a teacher Miss Pipps, who is unjustly fired in the Our Gang comedy Come Back, Miss Pipps (1941).

Haden's other films include: Poor Little Rich Girl (1936), The Shop Around the Corner (1940), Woman of the Year (1942), and The Bishop's Wife (1947).