Warner Brothers chose picturesque Kanab in Utah and Zion National Park as locations for their second film in the dazzling new colour process Warnercolor – it was the first film to be released in Warnercolor  although the first to be made  was Carson City which was released later in 1952. The story was a tale of devotion between a cowboy and a stallion and starred Steve Cochran and Wild Fire The Wonder Horse and mainly centred on his (in the end )  successful attempt to retrieve his horse from a Rodeo troop that had claimed him. The film is a very well staged and impressive fight to the death between a Lion and Wild Fire the horse.

The film was one I well remember from childhood but am pretty sure I never got to see it.  I did see it however here in the UK on TCM a week or two ago. The theatre painted over the text “in warner colour” in the lower art area, probably because they were showing a black and white print of the film. This vintage movie theatre poster was made 63 years ago in 1952 This was an offbeat role for Steve Cochran who was typecast in Hollywood in tough guy, gangster roles. The rapport between the cowboy, the stallion and a young girl played by Sherry Jackson was gentle and realistic. Filmed in Warnercolor, on location in Wyoming, it rings true to life as the cowboy searches for and rescues a horse from a short, cruel life in a rodeo. There is humour and action, with an escaped circus lion, a brutal owner, as the cowboy bonds with the abused animal. A good film for adults and children and a plea for the protection of wild horses. Also if you are a Steve Cochran fan, a rare treat.

On this Good Friday, I thought we should post pictures from the film on this site. Below:  Victor Mature in a superb piece of acting in the film. My Dad loved this scene and the acting performance of Victor Mature – and so did his co-star Richard Burton who was also full of praise describing Victor as a ‘wonderful man’ after having played opposite him in The Robe Below: Another still from the film :

A unique cinema that I know well had to close down last year because at that time they did not have the digital equipment to show the modern films. However Thanks to the many local supporters the necessary money has been raised and it is due to re-open next month April 2015.

This is more of a 40 s story but nevertheless it feature a beautiful young actress getting married here in England and is well worth including I think.

Carole and Tommy Wallace’s Love Story

 

 

On January 5, 1943 Carole married Captain Thomas Wallace in London, England. He was a twenty-five year old Air Force pilot from Pasadena. Tommy had been part of the English Royal Air Force’s American “Eagle Squadron”. She met him on November 13, 1942 when she was entertaining soldiers in England. Carole said “Something hit me right in the heart. I only looked at him for a minute, but I saw his wonderful dimples, his tremendously expressive eyes, his curly hair.” He proposed on their first date but she waited several weeks before agreeing to marry him. Tommy couldn’t get an engagement ring so he gave her his signet ring. She had wanted to get married on January 1, her 24th birthday, but it was against British law. The wedding was almost canceled when she suffered an appendicitis attack in December 1942. She recovered in time for the ceremony and the doctor who removed her appendix gave her away.  While getting ready at the Savoy hotel Carole said she was “nervous”. This was her third marriage and Kay Francis tried to convince her to cancel the wedding. Carole wore a cream colored satin dress designed by Hartnell, a strand of pearls, and orange blossoms in her hair. Her bouquet was made of white carnations and orchids. The ceremony took place at 2:00 PM at the Church of Our Lady Of Assumption on Warrick Street. Tommy was a Presbyterian but he agreed to have a Catholic ceremony. He told reporters “I am probably the luckiest man in the world”. Tommy’s friend Gus Daymond was his best man and Mitzi Mayfair was the maid of honor. Mitzi had collected ration coupons so Carole could get her dress and shoes.

 

The ceremony was performed by Father Waterkeyn and Father Harris. Hundreds of fans and photographers waited outside the church to see the bride and groom. Carole said “I want to have a wonderful marriage and children whom I may love and make a fuss over long after the movies are gone.” She wrote about their romance in her book Four Jills In A Jeep and the wedding was recreated in the 1944 film. The large wedding cake was actually made of cardboard with a small white cake inside. They had no honeymoon because Carole went to North Africa three days after the wedding to perform for the troops. Tommy was stationed overseas during most of their marriage so they spent very little time together. She wrote to him every day they were apart and kept six photos of him in her bedroom. They finally took a honeymoon trip to New York City in September 1943. Tommy hated her Hollywood lifestyle and wanted her to give up her career to become a housewife. Carole was also very disappointed that they didn’t have children. When their marriage started to fall apart she attempted suicide. The couple separated in October 1944 and were divorced the following year. Carole always considered Tommy the great love of her life. In an interview she said “No woman ever loved a man more than I loved Tommy Wallace. And Tommy loved me, too. All my life, above all the rest, I want to remember that.” Tommy married his second wife Joanne in 1946. They moved to England and had two sons. He served in the Air Force during the Korean war and later worked for Goodyear. Tragically in 1968 Tommy was killed in an accidental shooting.* We want to thank Tommy’s family for giving us information about his life after Carole *

Joan Rice had travelled all the way to Fiji in 1952 to film His Majesty O Keefe with Burt Lancaster – a big Warner Brothers Production.

This followed very quickly after The Story of Robin Hood 1952 for Walt Disney.  Joan Rice was certainly in the big league forthese TWO films. She was VERY good in them both but somehow, inexplicably, her film career seemed to fade after that.

Whatever happened to her at that time, we can only guess, but for these two films alone, she should be well remembered.

Sadly Joan Rice died a number of years ago in 1999.  She was a very beautiful girl as this picture confirms.

Way back in the fifties this is the sort of advertisement we would get in the press – and in fact the type of films we would get at the time.

One a light comedy and the ‘big’ picture ‘The Golden Horde ‘would take us across the world and back in time with an acton packed big screen COLOUR picture – and in those days ‘In Colour’ was a big attraction.

The Golden Horde – 1951

 

With its dramatic coastline and verdant hills, Ireland’s County Cork has long been a magnet for celebrities wanting a break from the limelight. 

However probably the most famous star to find a hideaway in County Cork is the queen of Hollywood romance, Maureen O’Hara, who has owned a spellbinding property on the coast for more than 45 years.

 

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Spellbinding: Maureen O’Hara’s house nestles in the stunning coastal scenery in County Cork, Ireland

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The movie legend, 94, has taken the painful decision to put the home, called Lugdine Park, on the market

Now, at the age of 94, the movie legend has taken the painful decision to put the home, called Lugdine Park, on the market and live full-time in the United States.

She said: ‘I have so many wonderful memories over these many years at Lugdine, and now it’s time to pass her on to another lucky family who will cherish her as much as I have.’

Once considered the world’s most beautiful woman, Dublin-born O’Hara is relocating to Idaho to live with her daughter Bronwyn.

‘I have the most wonderful neighbours a person can hope for in Glengarriff,’ she said. ‘We’ve been together for so long and love each other as old friends. Everybody has always been very respectful of my privacy if I want it, but I can’t wait to see everyone whenever I arrive.

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Lugdine Park, which was built in 1935, boasts five bedrooms, 35 acres of land and two private islands

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O’Hara made five movies with John Wayne, including Wings of Eagles (pictured)

O’Hara’s big break came when she auditioned for a movie role in London, after she had studied at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. 

Oscar-winning actor Charles Laughton happened upon her screen test and was captivated by her expressive eyes. He recommended her for the lead role in Alfred Hitchcock’s British-made 1939 film Jamaica Inn. 

She starred in The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, How Green Was My Valley, The Black Swan, Sinbad The Sailor and Miracle On 34th Street.

She also made five movies with John Wayne, including The Quiet Man, in which Wayne played an Irish-born American returning to his homeland. 

She has been married three times, having her daughter with her second husband, the film director William Houston-Price. 

One place that has been a constant for her over the past half-century is her vast home in West Cork.

Most of this article was copied from www.disneysrobin.blogspot.com  – and this is a site well worth a visit – written by a friend of mine Tony  who has done this for a number of years and has given me permission to use this – the Blog is all about the film The Story of Robin Hood 1952 Walt Disney – made at Denham Film Studios in England – and beautifully made I have to say !!

Elton Hayes (1915-2001)

As the minstrel Allan-a-Dale, Elton Hayes led us magically through Walt Disney’s live-action  movie The Story of Robin Hood in 1952. His role in the film gave him global popularity, but today he is sadly largely forgotten.Below is a snippet from a magazine article I recently found from 1954 which gives us another rare snapshot of his life:

Elton Hayes has been singing to a small guitar ever since he bought a sixpenny ukulele as a school boy. The smooth easy manner in which he sings those old English ballads and folk songs has come with many years of training in the theatre.Elton was born in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, but spent most of his school days in Leicester. His parents were both in the entertainment business – his father was in the circus and his mother was a singer.It was natural that Elton should want to follow in his parents footsteps. He toured the country with them, and while they performed on stage, he would sit in the wings watching, and learning how show business worked.He soon mastered the sixpenny ukulele which he bought with his pocket money, and by the time he was ten years old he could play nearly every stringed instrument.Elton wanted to be a straight actor. However fate turned his career in other directions. He became interested in old English folk songs and ballads.When the war started in 1939 Elton joined the army and became a gunner in the Royal Artillery. He was posted overseas in India and decided to take his guitar with him. He was also given a commission.While in India he became seriously ill with rheumatic fever. This was a tragedy for Elton. for his fingers began to stiffen.One day he remembered his guitar. He took it from its case and began strumming it. And soon, after  many hours of painful effort his fingers grew more supple. He could play again. His courage had brought him through.In 1946 Elton returned to Britain and appeared on In Town Tonight. This was a beginning. For, like thousands of other ex-serviceman, he found that he had to begin building a career again.Just how successful he has been can be judged from the number of programmes he has appeared in on radio and television.He has had a record spot on nearly every major radio station on the Continent and the BBC. He has appeared in his own show on television and was a permanent member of Eric Barker’s Just Fancy. And of course he makes gramophone records.When the film Robin Hood  was made in this country, the producers did not have to search far for the man to play the strolling minstrel – Elton Hayes was a  natural choice.

Elton fishing during a break from filming Robin Hood

Elton’s collection of folk songs and ballads is one of the largest in Britain. How does he collect them? By listening, wherever he goes. If he hears someone humming, singing, or whistling a tune which he cannot place, he records it.

One day his agent was talking to him on the phone about a contract. Elton said:  ‘just a minute, I’ll call you back in half-an-hour.’

When he called back he explained: ‘I heard someone in the street, calling- a vendor selling fruit. I’d never heard the call he used before, so I asked him to come in, and we recorded it on my tape recorder.

Elton will play back the recording, and adapt it to his style, with words and music. The finished work will be a catchy little song with which he will charm us when he next appears on radio or television.

Because his work is connected with history, and the past, it is probably natural that his hobbies should follow a similar path. They are horse mastership, and the old English sport of fishing.

Elton is married, and lives in a luxury flat in London. But at the weekends he goes to his 350-year-old cottage in Essex, which he restored from a ruin. It is there he works on the songs he sings to a small guitar.

Elton Hayes

Elton was a  fascinating person and one of many people involved in The Story of Robin Hood that I would have loved to have met. One person that did meet him was Sallie Walrond and in her book, Trot on: Sixty Years of Horses she says:

When Elton Hayes came to live at Thorne Lodge I was delighted to meet him. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word, incredibly wise and with a kind but quick sense of humour and bright as a button right up until his death. I remember as a child listening to him on the radio singing The Owl and the Pussycat and seeing him as the minstrel Allan-a-Dale in a favourite Robin Hood starring Richard Todd.