I have become addicted to this half hour drama each Tuesday evening on Talking Pictures.

A great lesson to film makers on how to set out a story, introduce the characters, show us the crime and then solve it and round up the crooks – all in 30 minutes – I love it.

When I look at the year the episodes were released – the ones I have seen are from 1958 – made for Television although made on film

Robert Beatty took the leading role although quite famous faces appeared in various episode – Patrick Troughton was in one episode playing a villain.

Patricia Driscoll and her husband Duncan Lamont were in another programme not to mention William Hartnell, Campbell Singer, Zena Marshall, Robert Shaw and many others

He appears BELOW after the credits and as was the thing at that time – he lit a cigarette

Below with his assistant

I came across the promotion leaflet BELOW – and initially thought it was for the TV Series but in fact it referred to an earlier film.

What threw me was that there was a picture beside the title, of Robert Beatty but that referred to another film that he was in when you look further. Bit of a coincidence though

From the ABOVE films we can see that the trend of the mid fifties of bringing over stars from Hollywood – maybe not top liners – was continuing.

Gene Nelson was in two of them, along with Faith Domergue and Terry Moore – I haven’t included Robert Beatty as he had been pretty much resident over here since the mid forties.

Robert Beatty had a long and varied career and a busy one too. He starred opposite Gregory Peck in ‘Captain Horatio Hornblower’ then as well as films numerous Television appearances in plays and serials of the day including the very Popular Francis Durbridge ones. He was in ‘Where Eagles Dare, and l.ate in his career played President Regan.

BELOW – he is taking over a starring role in a West End Play from John Gregson – so he also appeared on the stage it seems

ABOVE: John Gregson (Left) Currently Playing In The Financier’S Play,”Difference Of Opinion “Is Shortly To Leave The Cast. Canadian Actor Robert Beatty Is Taking Over His Role.

The Play Revolves Around The Methods Employed By Company Directors To Oust One Of Their Members.

Robert Beatty opens in the play on September 2nd 1964 – this will allow John Gregson to go on Location For “Gideon’s Way “

The photograph was taken as the Actors met outside The Garrick Theatre Stage Door to discuss The Play – 27 th August 1964.

Alfred Hitchcock directed ‘The Birds’ as we all know – one of his very best – a tense and thrilling film with no real explanation in the end – but he was leaving that to the audience to take away whatever they imagined.

There were quite a few ‘jump out of your skin’ moments

BELOW – Is a fascinating shot of Hitchcock explaining what he wants from the actors – among them Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren and Jessica Tandy

It always appears to me that when he directed a film Alfred Hitchcock was very much ‘the boss’ – however Richard Todd who had played the lead in ‘Stage Fright’ in 1951 said in his Autobiography that Hitchcock seemed to let the actors do their jobs, and he seemed more interested in the Camera shots and angles and the general set up in order to maximise the drama.

Whether that was the case with ‘The Birds’ I am not sure because it was during the filming on this that he is alleged to have made unwelcome advances to Tippi Hedren which she strongly resisted and after the incident he was particularly cruel to he – he made the last scenes with the birds pecking at her very realistic – it took days to film and she endured a pretty terrible time – some of the crew and other actors were appalled at what she endured.

Of course, she did make another film with Alfred Hitchcock – ‘Marnie’ with Sean Connery – not one of the best but not a bad film either. She was still under contract to him and remained that way fort a few more years thus virtually ending any hopes of a film career based on the famous films that she had done.

She had signed a 7 year contract at 500 US Dollars per week just before ‘The Birds’ but after ‘Marnie’ , even though she later claimed that a number of film companies had tried to hire her for a film, Hitchcock always refused thus effectively ending her film acting career

However looking at the imdb site Tippi Hedren did seem to be in quite a number of films and Television shows so maybe there is more to the story than meets the eye. I just don’t know.

Later Tippi Hedren actually had a real life full grown lion living in the family house she shared with her husband and daughter – this is something that she later admitted was a huge mistake

The animal was a 400-pound ‘pet’ lion named Neil. Looking at the photos from the celebrated 1971 LIFE Magazine spread where the lion lived in the home she shared with her daughter, actress Melanie Griffith, they now make her ‘cringe.’

Another regretful decision was the infamous 1983 adventure film ‘Roar’ – now commonly touted as ‘the most dangerous film ever made.’ It starred Tippi Hedren and her then-13-year-old daughter – and 150 lethal lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, panthers, cheetahs, cougars, and tigons from their own personal zoo. The film’s carried the publicity line : ‘No animals were harmed during the making of Roar. But 70 members of the cast and crew were.’ 

Tippi went on to say :-

‘Who exactly did we think we were to risk all these lives — our crew’s, our animals, ours, and most of all, our children’s—for what really amounted to nothing more than a very, very expensive home movie?’

Seventy members of the cast and crew were injured during the making of the film, which also features the actress’ daughter Melanie Griffith and 150 big cats and elephants.

Roar was first released in 1981 and was the brainchild of Tippi Hedren and her then-husband, producer Noel Marshall.

The many wounds were well-documented in press coverage at the time and also in Hedren’s 1985 book The Cats of Shambala, referring to her Shambala Preserve north of Los Angeles, where Roar was filmed.

In one instance, Tippi Hedren was bitten on the back of the head by a lion.

She also suffered fractures and skin grafts after being thrown by an elephant.

Then-teenager Melanie Griffith – who walked out on the film for a short time because she didn’t want to come out of it with “half a face,” according to her mother – but she did return to the set, only to be mauled and clawed by a lion.

Marshall, who wrote, directed and starred in the film, suffered so many bites, including a few that made the final cut, that he was eventually stricken with gangrene.

To read the above is horrendous and it is just so difficult to reason why anyone would do this – it was not only stupid but criminally stupid had the unthinkable happened. Talk about ‘Health and Safety’ – Thank Goodness for it if this is what people get up to

It would have been Richard Todd’s Birthday earlier this week on June 11 th. This is the film that I remember him best for though. He was very good and I think fitted the part perfectly. So to mark what would have been his Birthday I have done the article below

Much more about this film on www.disneysrobin.blogspot.com

A Story Book Opening

This was only the second live-action Disney feature film!  Treasure Island (1950) was first – and that too, was made in England at Denham Film Studios as this one was.  It is a favourite film of mine and always has been with it’s stunning Technicolor and beautiful sets and locations perfectly evoking the age which we all probably have in our mind’s eye.

At the beginning of the story, our hero (Richard Todd) is doing some target practice in Sherwood Forest – actually filmed in Burnham Beeches Buckinghamshire which looks the part in every way.

He is joined in this scene by Maid Marion – the lovely Joan Rice – who proves to be somewhat mischevous

She’s been teasing him by moving his target all the time so he misses.

ABOVE A scene in Sherwood – Burnham Beeches in reality or could be one of those first class Studio Sets at Denham

ABOVE – A ‘live’ scene with additional painted Matte by Peter Ellenshaw the master of this fascinating art.

He has never been bettered.

ABOVE –  Queen Eleanor (Martita Hunt) has a major role in the plot. She is a force to be reckoned with.  King Richard (Patrick Barr) CENTRE and Prince John (Hubert Gregg) FAR LEFT

As soon as Richard and his troops have left in one direction, and the Queen Mother and her retinue (including Maid Marian, her newest lady-in-waiting) have departed in another, Prince John starts to plot.  He begins by appointing a new Sheriff of Nottingham (Peter Finch)

This Prince John brilliantly played by Hubert Gregg ABOVE

ABOVE – Another scene which marries a ‘live’ scene with a beautifully painted Matte by Peter Ellenshaw

We hear lots of songs from Allan-a-Dale (Elton Hayes), a traveling minstrel who serves as a narrator linking the story episodes together.

The Archery Contest – This must have been filmed quite early on in the production because the trees are nowhere near in full leaf.

Filming started on 30 April 1951 for ‘The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Man’

Maid Marian presents Robin with the Golden Arrow ABOVE – however the Sheriff of Nottingham does not look pleased BELOW

ABOVE – One of the Sheriff’s henchman Red Gill murders Robin’s father in the forest.

Robin tests the Whistling Arrow before unleashing it – right into his Camp pictured BELOW in order to alert his fellow outlaws

ABOVE – Robin Hood’s Camp deep in Sherwood – actually a superb studio set covering one of the enormous sound stages at Denham

ABOVE – Little John (James Robertson Justice) challenges Robin on the bridge over the deep stream in Sherwood – another breathtakingly good set from designer Carmen Dillon – in my view she was at her absolute peak with this film – and in terms of set design she was just about as good as you could get. Walt Disney certainly knew that – and the results proved him right

More action on the bridge – ABOVE and BELOW

BELOW – Robin takes a ducking

BELOW – Friar Tuck played by James Hayter comes into contact with Robin – in the period and in fact in this year 1952, he played the title role in ‘The Pickwick Papers’ and took a lead role in this one – a big film with a Worldwide release courtesy of Walt Disney

BELOW – Peter Ellenshaw with another Matte Painting – the riders shown approaching the gate are the only real part of the scene – cinema magic from a Master of the Art

BELOW at Windsor Castle, word has arrived that King Richard has been captured while on his way home from a failed crusade mission, and ransom is being sought.

The Archbishop of Canterbury (Anthony Eustrel) and Queen Eleanor discuss how to raise the ransom money Above Scene

ABOVE Marian looks troubled and a little angry until she hears the truth

She accuses him of stealing things, and he insists he’s an honest outlaw who only steals to give money to the poor.  Also, he learns from her that Maid Marian is missing, and he the hurries off to rescue her (she’s been locked in a dungeon by Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham ).

Marian is so happy and relieved to be rescued.  However when they escape from the Castle Robin is wounded but he manages to fight off the Sheriff of Nottingham who perishes

Doesn’t she make a pretty outlaw?

Marian and Friar Tuck nurse Robin back to health in his woodland stronghold.  ABOVE

Enter a stranger – the Black Knight ABOVE

The Black Knight is not initially well received by the outlaws but they soon discover who he really is

The Black Knight is actually King Richard, and he pardons Robin Hood and all his Merrie Men. He then he orders Marion and Robin to get marry

Happiness ensues.

A romantic embrace

Allan-a-Dale skips away into the sunset – still singing his songs

If you really want to read more about this wonderful film I can thoroughly recommend that you go to www.disneysrobin.blogspot.com

In the late Sixties, I worked for quite a time in the Head Office of Murco Petroleum which was then located at 65 Grosvenor Street London W1. Each morning I came in by train to Victoria Station and walked up to the Office. The last part of the walk was through Berkeley Square and at the very Southern end of it was George Raft’s Colony – a Night Club / Casino right in the very heart of Mayfair. Being a film fan I would look at this each day – not that I ever went in as I don’t think that I could have afforded to even if I had wanted – but with the name George Raft above the impressive entrance, I was always intrigued..

When I visit London, as I often do, I always wander around this lovely area on central London – my favourite part really.

George Raft, the famous American actor was really known for his leading roles in Warner Brothers gangster films of the 1930s and 40s, and he lent his name and was the front-man and greeter for George Raft’s Colony sporting club, a Las Vegas-type casino in London.

His title there was “Casino Director.” He also had a financial interest in the club. He was eventually barred from the United Kingdom due to his underworld associations – during the time that I was working down there

When the news BELOW was released I was still working in Grosvenor Street

Feb. 02, 1967 – George Raft, the veteran Hollywood film actor, was ”speechless” in Hollywood today, after being told of reports that he was not to be re-admitted to Britain when he returns there from the United States. The report said it was a decision taken by Home Secretary, Mr. Roy Jenkins, after consideration of the issues involved in the expansion of gambling in London. Mr. Raft, now 71, who runs the Berkeley Square Colony, had gone to America for a holiday and was expected back the following week. He said in Hollywood today: ”I am quite shaken. I was not notified of this decision nor any inkling that it was pending. He denied he had any connection with gangsters – outside of the film world. He put it down to his ”image” as a screen mobster in over 100 films.

In 1967 he was a director of the Colony Club in London – it still has all the history, panache and style that you would associate with George Raft

Many actors went to England in the 1950’s and did a lot of these B films, which are done with a limited budget. Among the actors who came over were Dennis O’Keefe, Robert Preston, Dane Clark, and Cesar Romero also Larry Parkes and Wayne Morris

ABOVE – ‘Escape Route’ George Raft and Sally Gray

In June 1952 George Raft had made a film in England –‘Escape Route’ 1951 and had also gone up to Glasgow to visit a famous tailor in the City

‘Escape Route’ 1951 – in the US the title was ‘I’ll Get You’ for some reason – with George Raft, had some good atmosphere – with pictures of a bombed-out London and also some nice interiors.

Here he is pictured with fellow Hollywood star Herbert Lom and Scottish Comedian Jimmy Logan, BELOW

June 1952, George Raft was in Glasgow to open a new branch of Connell’s, the menswear store frequented by many stars of stage and screen when they were in the city.

Cesar Romero, singer Billy Eckstine, Donal O’Connor and Abbott and Costello were all known to have popped in to the Union Street tailors shop.

This time, George Raft’s arrival was the reason why the crowds turned out in force.

He was a big star at the time. Many years later he was banned from Britain – 1967 for fronting a gambling club in London called The Colony.

Raft’s visit had “disorganised traffic in Glasgow centre of the city” and had to be controlled by “foot and mounted police” after waiting two hours for his arrival.

“When his car arrived, hundreds of women, cheering and screaming, rushed forward to mob it,” continued the report, which explained that George Raft had ‘flown from London to Renfrew by ‘special ‘plane’.

It continued: “Police held the crowds back while Mr Raft walked a few yards from his car to the entrance of the shop. Amid cheers he cut the broad white ribbon barring the entrance and accepted a gold key tied with Gordon tartan ribbons.”

Much later and at the time he was active with the Colony he made the film ‘Five Golden Dragons’ 1967. It was a British Film but much of it filmed in Hong Kong

Just looking through what is coming on the Film Channels this evening 11 June 2022 – and ‘Lo and behold’ here is one that I have been waiting on for decades – one which I am pretty confident has never been shown on British Television before – ‘The Secret of Treasure Mountain’ from 1956 – It is on the TCM Channel.

I do remember seeing this film as a young schoolboy and somehow the plot has always stayed with me – the search for the Braganza crosses – small metal crosses – that if found would lead to the famous Braganza treasure in Treasure Mountain.

I have looked for the name Braganza before – and not been able to find it – and thought I had this wrong but I was pretty sure I had it right – and so it proved to be the case. The production values of the film are not top class by any means but the flashback sequence to the man who had discovered the treasure 200 years earlier when the Indians attacked and killed the searchers and Braganza himself in the cave was very well done – these scenes were pinched for an earlier film Lust for Gold with Glenn Ford.

Back to today and this evening I have watched the film on TCM – a much better print than I had managed to get hold of three or four years ago from my own 16 mm copy which I was lucky enough to acquire about the same time.
Here are a few screen shots from the film. The background to these pictures is that in the story we are told of an ancient legend of treasure being hidden in a mountain – however once hidden by Braganza and his men – a tribe of Apache Indians carried out an attack on them and killed them all so that no-one would ever discover the location of the gold as it was in a location that the Indians had settled in for many years and they didn’t want it disturbed

This was a thrilling sequence – extremely well done on a vast Studio Set

‘The Secret of Treasure Mountain’ 1956 – Please make a note and watch it the next time is is screened.

It would have been just a second features at the time – but a good one at that

This short promotional film was released by Walt Disney just about the time of the release of his ‘The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men’ and in a very clever move it was given to the BBC to show as and when they wished. As there was only one TV channel here in 1952, and that had a very limited service, this short film was shown again and again at all times but mainly in the mornings when the Test Transmissions were on. It was great publicity for the film release.

It is a good little film.

We see Joan Rice leaving home and cycling to work through the impressive gates of Denham Film Studios where she would become Maid Marian in the Classic Walt Disney Technicolor production

We also see Joan trying to get into her dress in preparation for filming – with some difficulty – but the finished product is wonderful as BELOW

Behind the scenes – Location scenes below

As far as I know in my possession is the only 16 mm copy in this country outside of the BFI.

It certainly is a curio – but in it’s was quite entertaining and revealing in that there are some ‘behind the scenes’ shots as in some of the stills taken from the print – above.

This film showed up on Talking Pictures a couple of days ago. It was not a film I had remembered but it had the lovely Jeanne Crain in the leading role and Michel Rennie

The storyline and the action took place on an Ocean Liner – the story of a wife and her husband who set off on a cruise and after a short time the husband disappears and no-one seems to have any knowledge of him being there, or any record or any sightings – and so his wife Jeanne Crain is seen to be either mistaken or even unhinged.

Michael Rennie appears as the Liner’s Doctor and he is obviously attracted to Jeanne Crain – as he would be.

As an English Actor, I was surprised that – in this film – he seemed to adopt a half-hearted American accent.

The story did remind me a bit of the film ‘So Long at the Fair’ in 1948 with David Tomlinson and Jean Simmons – and in that a young lady’s brother disappears during the night while they are visiting Paris – and there is no trace of him at all – even his Hotel Room does not exist. Enter Dirk Bogarde who like Jean Simmons just knows that something is not right.

If you have not seen this film – Please do. I can’t give any more away except to say that nothing is as it seems.

So Long at the Fair 1950 BELOW – ‘What a Film’ I really like this one – my daughter loved it

BELOW – A Full Set of Film Stills from the British Release of Dangerous Crossing

Classic Conversations: Chatting with Barbara Rush on Her 93rd Birthday

This is a copy of an interview that Danny Miller did with Barbara Rush a couple of years ago.

She had appeared in ‘Harry Black’ a feature on which I did recently

Danny Miller: Happy Birthday, Barbara! 

Barbara Rush: Oh, thank you, Danny! I’ve made it this far!

We’ve talked about your films and co-stars a lot, but today I just wanted to chat for a bit about what it was like being a “star” back when you first made a splash in Hollywood. 

A star? Oh goodness, I don’t think I’ve ever used that word in my life. I’m just a movie actress, sweetheart, I’ve never even had a passing thought that I’m a star!

Well, you are one, whether you like it or not! 

I was just happy to have a job! I was working at the Pasadena Playhouse with a bunch of former GIs after the war. We’d do different scenes and it was fun because I got to do all of the women’s parts. Movie scouts used to come to see us from time to time and one day one of these people approached me and asked me if I wanted to do a screen test at Paramount. 

Were you reluctant in any way to do that? Did you have your heart set on working in the theater?

Are you kidding, Danny? I said, “I get to go to Paramount? Thank you! What time should I be there?” (Laughs.) I honestly couldn’t believe they were interested in me. So I did the test and, to my utter surprise, they liked it and put me under contract.

How long between signing the contract and getting your first film?

They put me right away into the movie version of the long-running radio and TV show The Goldbergs which starred Gertrude Berg. 

Right, Debby, the shiksa girlfriend, I love that movie! Do you remember the first time you saw yourself up on the big screen?

I really don’t, but I used to go to the rushes whenever I got the chance. I remember Laurence Olivier came to talk to us once at Paramount and he told us it was very important for actors to watch the rushes to see what you liked and what you didn’t like. I know some actors don’t like to see themselves in that way but I always found it helpful.

You never had issues with the way you looked on screen? Of course you were always so gorgeous, why would you?

I never thought too much about my appearance, to be honest. I was just happy whenever it seemed that I knew what I was doing!

Did being under contract immediately change your life in a big way?

Well, I moved! I had been living with this couple in Pasadena and taking care of their child. The father was a doctor and I think the mother was part of the Gamble family which was pretty famous in Pasadena. 

I never heard this. 

I was probably making about $15 a week at the Pasadena Playhouse so it was a good living arrangement where I not only didn’t have to pay rent, they paid me a little bit. But when I started at Paramount they moved me over to the Studio Club with a bunch of other actresses which was just wonderful. There were so many great people there, I remember being good friends with Peggy Dow, remember her? And Marilyn Monroe was there for a while. It was really fun, like being in a sorority! 

Oh, how cool, it sounds like Stage Door. 

Yes, very much so! I remember being close this wonderful girl named Renata that was being trained by the famous opera singer Lotte Lehman. We had a little stage at the Studio Club and people would get up and perform, it was really fun. Renata was just great but her parents made her quit, I wonder whatever happened to her. I had such a wonderful time at the Studio Club. We had a very pretty dining room and you could invite a male guest which I used to do a lot because I had just met (first husband) Jeffrey Hunter. 

Where did you meet him? 

He was doing a screen test on the lot and I happened to run into him. 

And you thought, “Oh, look at that handsome young actor, he’s cute?”

I thought a lot more than that! (Laughs.) It was more like “Wow!” And “Look at those blue eyes!” So I invited him to the Studio Club for dinner and the lady who was in charge got us tickets to a show, I think it was at the Shrine. We started going out quite a bit.  

Did the studio have any issues with you two dating? I think he was at Fox when you were at Paramount, right?

I don’t think they cared that much. We were kind of in the same boat in terms of our careers at that time. But we had so much fun. I think I brought a lot of culture into his life and he enjoyed it. We were very young.

And then you got engaged pretty quickly?

Yes, he decided we should get married. He gave me a ring, his parents came out from Wisconsin, it was all planned. And then one day he came to me and said, “Barbara I don’t think I can get married, I’m having second thoughts.”

What.

I said, “That’s fine, we don’t have to.” And then I went off on location in Sedona to do a picture called Flaming Feather with Sterling Hayden and Forrest Tucker. They have these Indian caves in Sedona and I remember in one scene I was slung over the villain’s back, I think it was Richard Arlen. I was just hanging there, looking down while he was dragging me to the caves, and all of a sudden, I look up and there’s Jeffrey Hunter who had come to Arizona to say that he wanted to get married after all. He stayed for the rest of the shoot and then we slipped off to Las Vegas and got married. 

Did the studio mind that you didn’t have a big wedding?

Oh, they definitely wanted us to have one when I first told them about it but we fought them and said we didn’t want anything like that. By then, Hank (Jeffrey Hunter’s real name) was getting a lot of attention at Fox. Then, a few months later he said to me, “Barbara, I don’t think we should be married,” but this time I said, “Too late, Hank! I’m not going for that again!” That kind of thing went on and on but then I got pregnant and we had Christopher. Hank wasn’t there, he was off in England making a film.

Did he ever pressure you to stop your career after having a child?

Oh, never! And I had no intention of doing so. My mother helped take care of the baby.

It sounds like you were an ideal studio contract player in many ways. Did you like being under contract?

Definitely! I had a job and I was getting paid! 

You made so many movies in those early years. How did you find out what your next film would be?

They’d just tell you. I don’t remember every trying out for a part, I would just be informed what the film was and where to go.

And you never objected or worried that some of them weren’t good parts?

No, Danny, I just wanted to work. I honestly didn’t think about it. I made a lot of movies for Paramount and then went to Fox. The only role I ever really wanted to do was The Three Faces of Eve. I wanted that so badly, as did every other actress in town, but Joanne (Woodward) got it and won the Oscar.

You would have been amazing in that part. Did you fantasize about winning an Oscar yourself?

No, I never thought like that. 

At the very least, you should have been nominated for Bigger Than Life, that was such an amazing performance. 

I was only mad that James Mason wasn’t nominated for that picture. He was extraordinary.

He was, but so were you! You sound like one of the most grounded people to ever step foot in Hollywood.

I was just realistic. I loved to work, I enjoyed being there, and I would have happily done anything they asked me to, I never refused a role. 

We’ve talked about the studio’s crazy decision to make you an Indian girl with Rock Hudson in Taza, Son of Cochise. I love the film but you never even thought to yourself, “This is ridiculous!”

Oh, no, why would I? I loved my gorgeous Indian costumes and we had such fun making that picture, I’ve told you how much I loved working with Rock! I had a wonderful time on location in Utah. My character’s name was Oona and Rock always called me “Oona, Dos, Tres!”

Did you like your performances in those earlier films?

I learned how to act from the actors I worked with, like James Mason, for example. I just watched everything they did. That was better than any acting class. Working with Paul (Newman) or on The Young Lions with Brando, Dean Martin, and Montgomery Clift was an acting school in itself. I remember a scene in that when Dean Martin and I were discussing how he was trying to avoid going to war. Montgomery Clift gave me such great advice for that scene. He told me to make it more confusing. He thought it was too obvious that I was trying to get information from Dean so he told me to hide that and be much more subtle. After the scene, Hope Lange came up to me and said, “Oh Barbara, I wish I could do what you do!” And I said, “I didn’t do a thing, that was all Montgomery Clift!”

Do you look at your films now and think you got progressively better?

I never thought of it that way, I just tried to be that person, whoever she was, and not Barbara Rush. 

Did you ever ask a director if you could do a scene over again? 

Only when we got the dialogue wrong, then I would say something. Other than that, I always left it to the director. Fortunately, I worked with some of the best like Douglas Sirk. He was such a wonderful director, I always thanked him for hiring me.

As low-key as you are about your acting, you seem to have always had a lot of confidence.

Oh, the first time I worked with Frank Sinatra I was a basketcase! Warren (Cowan, Barbara’s second husband) represented Frank so I knew him a little socially, but I never dreamed I’d make a film with him. I was completely intimidated, even more so because I knew Frank hated to rehearse. I was so nervous that I called Carolyn Jones who had just worked with Frank. And she told me what to do. I came up to him on set and said, “Mr. Sinatra, can I talk to you?” And then said, “First of all, call me Frank, what can I do for you, Barbara?” And I said, “I’m from the stage and I know you don’t like rehearsing, but I have to rehearse at least one time, I don’t think I can do the scene otherwise.” And he said, “Baby doll, of course I can do that for you. CLEAR THE SET! Barbara and I are going to rehearse.”

That’s sweet. And I so love your films together, I thought you had great chemistry.

He was so nice to me and he would find a way to give me my gorgeous wardrobes. I remember we were making Robin and the 7 Hoods together when President Kennedy was assassinated. Howard Koch drove onto the lot to tell us the news, it was just awful. Frank was very close to the Kennedys and he was just was devastated, he just kind of shriveled up. We had to shut down the picture for a few days, and then as soon as we came back, Frank Jr. was kidnapped so that ended it for good. Frank never came back to the picture.

How did they ever finish the movie?

With some very careful editing! I had been rehearsing this big musical number I was going to perform with Frank called “I Like to Lead When I Dance” and I was thrilled I was going to sing and dance in a movie with Frank Sinatra! I was so excited and rehearsed for a long time. But because of everything that happened, we never got to do it. It’s probably my biggest disappointment from my entire career!

I would have loved to have seen that! Legend has it that Sinatra could have a very bad temper, you never witnessed that?

He never got angry with me. If he felt he was respected, he would do anything for you. You can’t believe all of the people in Hollywood he helped, often anonymously like Lee J. Cobb who was having a very hard time. He would have his secretary send cashier’s checks to people who needed money. I remember how much Frank loved Dean Martin. Dean had such a different style of working. He’d come to the set and say, “Tell me what we’re going to do today.” So different from Frank. I remember being at Dean’s home once for dinner and he had a hole-in-one earlier that day and was so excited he said it was the best day of his life! I loved his singing, and Frank’s, and also Sammy Davis, Jr., who I knew very well. You just can’t ask for better voices than those. 

I remember seeing photos of you presenting at the Academy Awards. Was that a fun thing to do?

Oh, yes. But probably different than it is today. I did my own hair and makeup and I remember asking them if I could walk out barefoot because my shoes were killing me, I had a hard time with high heels. I remember driving to the Oscars one year with Paul Newman, I think it was at the Shrine. The parties were fun, but I always wanted to go to a real ball, like the one Audrey Hepburn goes to in War and Peace. But I’ve never been invited to one. 

What?! Get this woman to a ball immediately! We’ll have a birthday ball in your honour!

Oh, thank you, I’m ready!

Here is an interesting and very rare photograph I have of child star Bobby Henrey – fresh from the success of ‘The Fallen Idol’ chatting with Sir Philip Warter, Chairman of ABC with his wife and daughter.

The picture was taken at the London Premiere of ‘The Third Man’ in September 1949 at The Plaza in The Haymarket

The World Premiere was actually held at the Ritz Cinema in Hastings on 1st September 1949, a few days before the London one – in the evening. Hastings might seem an odd location, but it was chosen by the distributors, British Lion who were experimenting at the time with the idea of having premieres shown in regional cinemas away from London.

Bobby Henrey didn’t stay on long in films – but he did appear as himself a few years later in a 1962 ‘This is Your Life’ BBC programme – the subject being Dora Bryan who had appeared with him in ‘The Fallen Idol‘ – SEE BELOW

Back to ‘The Third Man’ – The crowds certainly turned out for this film

I have also just come across the photograph BELOW – must have been around the same time as the film showing is ‘Trottie True’

ABOVE – London in 1949 – the film ‘Trottie True’ was showing and that was also released in September of that year

As we are in London’s Theatre Land – actually Cinema Land – I couldn’t help but include the one below from September 1956 – not that long afterwards but it seems somehow an eternity away from 1949 – The Rock n Roll revolution had just begun – at the London Pavilion

Harry Black was made on location in India and was a very good production that should have fared much better at the Box Office.

Lord Brabourne, after he left the forces, went into Film Production and this film was his first venture in his own right.

After demob, he had gone to work for film producer Herbert Wilcox and met a newly demobbed third assistant director, Richard Goodwin. They were to set up their own company, and the first film Lord Brabourne produced was Harry Black and the Tiger, starring Stewart Granger.

A tiger is on the prowl in a remote corner of India and the government have contracted white hunter Stewart Granger for the job of killing it. The job gets personal with Stewart Granger when he discovers the that tiger is in the vicinity of a tea plantation run by Anthony Steel and his wife Barbara Rush who’s always had a thing for Granger – which complicates things. There are some flashback sequences telling how the three main players have arrived to the point they are now. Steel did not go through with his part of an escape plan during World War II and as a result Granger lost a leg. Both men are in love with Barbara Rush, but Granger bowed out and now fate has conspired to cast them together again. Anthony Steel proved to be weak and cowardly during the war, but now Granger questions his own fitness for the job especially after getting mauled by the tiger but he has become obsessed with killing the beast Stewart Granger looks the part, very much as he did in such a big hit in King Solomon’s Mines. Later on he did a film called The Last Safari in the Sixties and it was not a success – Stewart Granger said years later that he was in one of the best films ever made in Africa which was ‘King Solomon’s Mines’ and the worst made in Africa which was ‘The Last Safari’. Victor Mature was in a very good one in Africa called ‘Safari’ in the early sixties. In this film look for I.S. Johar and Kamala Devi as Stewart Granger’s guide and his Indian nurse when he is recovering from his encounter with the tiger. I S Johar also appeared with Kenneth More in ‘North West Frontier’ in 1959 and very good he was.

Director: Hugo Fregonese Writers: Sydney Boehm, David Walker (novel)   Stars: Stewart Granger, Barbara Rush, Anthony Steel, I.S. Johar, Martin Stephens, Frank Olegario, Kamala Devi

BAFTA Awards 1959 Nominee Best British Actor I.S. Johar

The book was published in 1956. The New York Times called it “a most intelligent novel”. Film rights were purchased by 20th Century Fox. Lord Bradbourne was assigned to produce, in part because he was son-in-law of Lord Mountbatten, former viceroy of India, and thus had many contacts in the country.

I. S. Johar, the well-known producer, writer and director of Indian independent films, made his American acting debut in this picture.

Barbara Rush had not long divorced her first husband Jeffrey Hunter when she journeyed to London and then to India for this film.

In February 1958 she set off to Mysore, India, for the filming of Harry Black. She stopped over in Bombay and was the guest of honour of a film magnate there who presented her with 17 saris, a different one to wear each night – and then in May 1958 she met Indian Prime Minister Mr Nehru