It was while writing the last article on Alan Ladd and ‘The Proud Rebel’ that I came across this advertisement which I found fascinating and in many ways surprising when I looked at the films paired together. Also looking at it made me think that I would have paid to see ALL of these

Just look at the first one – ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Treasure Island’ on the same bill and then ‘Carry On Sergeant’ alongside ‘Dial 999’ = this must have been the early film version rather than the series now on ‘Talking Pictures’

This time ‘The Proud Rebel# goes out with ‘Handle with Care’ – not a film I know

The classic ‘Dunkirk’ stands alone – a very fine picture

I recall going to see ‘Barnacle Bill’ at the local cinema and the film was quite good – here it has a James Mason film with it ‘ The Decks Ran Red’. Then James Mason is on again in ‘Cry Terror’

ABOVE – Not quite the Double Feature in the advertisement above – but a Walt Disney one including the classic ‘Treasure Island’

I am not that familiar with ‘The Brothers Karamazov’ but do remember it from the title all those years ago – it starred Yul Brynner and Maria Schell – and actress I really like having seen her a few years earlier in the wonderful film ‘So Little Time’ opposite Marius Goring

Apparently though Marilyn Monroe was first choice for the part she played and there seems to be co9nflicting reports on why she didn’t get – or take the part

Much of the film was made in London

Film Director Richard Brooks felt shackled at MGM because, as a contract director, he didn’t like to be told what to do or to have his creativity stifled.  However he seemed very pleased with the assignment he was given to direct a massive production of Dostoevsky’s tale of a feuding family in The Brothers Karamazov. 

This 1958 film seemed to gather more publicity in the run up to production because Marilyn Monroe made it known that she wanted to play the leading female role of Grushenka.  She wanted to get away from her sex kitten roles and to be taken seriously as an actress.  In this instance it didn’t work out for Marylin or for next choice Carroll Baker who MGM wanted but Warner Bros wouldn’t release.

So instead we got the very beautiful Maria Schell.  with a role that was as different from any other role she would play.  Grushenka is a temptress who torments men because of past treatment.  She is the girlfriend of the Karamazov patriarch and is spirited away by one of the sons.  By the end of the story, she seeks redemption.  Her famous scene was a gypsy dance.  She got on very well with her difficult costar, Yul Brynner

‘The Decks ran Red’ seems to receive good reviews

I have made no mention of ‘The Tommy Steele Story’ but that would certainly do good business at that time