31 Days of Oscar: Blood and Sand (1941). An oil painting that looks like it came to life.

This post is part of the 31 Days of Oscar Blogathon, hosted by Once Upon a Screen, Outspoken and Freckled and Paula’s Cinema Club. It runs Feb. 1 – Mar. 3, in conjunction with Turner Classic Movies’ 31 Days of Oscar. Please click on envelope on the side bar to learn more.

Blood and Sand (1941). is a Technicolor film produced by 20th Century Fox, directed by Rouben Mamoulian. Cast: Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Rita Hayworth, and Alla Nazimova. It is based on the Spanish 1909 novel Blood and Sand by Vicente Blasco Ibanez.

The film won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. The following breathtaking scenes are what in my opinion helped win the award:

The scenes where Juan's with his group of friends/matadors are sitting in the church while Juan is praying at the altar.

The powerful scene of Nacional laying in bed under a crucifix dying.

Dona Sol, dancing a very sexy dance with matador Manolo, in the Cantina.

Juan turning from the bull as he drags his cape behind him...

The bullfighting scenes are beautifully done...

Also, the last scene in the church..(Don't want to give the ending away)

It was also nominated for Best Art Direction (Richard Day, Joseph C. Wright and Thomas Little).

There are two earlier versions of Blood and Sand: A 1922 version produced by Paramount Pictures, and starring Rudolph Valentino and a 1916 version filmed by Blasco Ibanez, with the help of Max Andre.

This is a story about a young boy Juan Gallardo, who wants to become a bullfighter and follow in his dead father's footsteps.

As a young boy, Juan lying in bed looking up at his fathers poster.

Late one night, Juan, sneaks out of his room to go to the Cantina, wanting to go listen to the bullfighters stories of bravery. He gets into an argument and breaks a bottle of wine over critic Natalio Curro's head, after he talks about his father's lack of talent in the bullring.

Running away with an inch of his life, he swims across the river, dressed only his underwear, to try his skills fighting a bull under the night sky. With his childhood sweetheart Carmen, looking on from her balcony window. Her father steps in and ends the bull fight, but.. complements him on his style.

After causing trouble at the Cantina and with Carmen's father.. Juan, decides he must leave the village but, before he goes.. he promises Carmen, he will return and marry her.

Juan and his friends steal a horse and travel to Madrid, to follow their dreams of becoming a famous bullfighters. Along the way, the horse dies and Juan stops a train, with his bull fighting skills. They ride the train the rest of the way to Madrid.

Ten years later, Juan Gallardo now a matador, returns to Seville by train. Because, he and his friends can not read, they ask a fellow passenger, to read a newspaper article, about the up and coming matadors. It is not very flattering article, so the fellow passenger changes the story, so it sounds as if he received a good review.

Juan, uses his winnings to buy his mother a beautiful home. Now, she no longer has to work as a scrub-woman. He sets up his sister Encarnacion and her fiance Antonio, in their own business. He hires ex-bullfighter Garabato, who has become a beggar, as his manager. He hires a band to serenade his childhood love Carmen and presents her with a beautiful wedding dress. He then shows her the newspaper article and she reads it the way it was written. Angry, he vows that he is going to make the critic Curro eat his words.

Over the next two years, Juan becomes Spain's most famous matador. Even, the critic Curro, brags that he was the one who discovered Juan's talent. While Juan stands before his closet filled with beautiful matador costumes, being dressed by his friend Garabato. Nacional, comes in with a warning about the bulls they are to fight that day in the bull ring. Alone, with his friend Garabato, he admits to being afraid.

Later, Carmen, comes in to wish him luck and to tell him he looks like a king, but.. she is too scared to stay and watch the bullfight.

Next, we see the brave matadors with their capes and the bull, enter the arena...

Man killer Dona Sol de Muira, is sitting in the audience and Juan, blinded by Dona Sol's, beauty, she finds it easy to seduce him.

The next evening, Juan dines at Dona Sol's house and her flavor of the month Captain Pierre Lauren, realizes that he has been replaced and returns her ring.

After, Juan falls asleep on Dona Sol's patio. He wakes alone and decides to leave, but as he walks through her elaborate home, he opens a door, as luck would have it.. it's Dona Sol's bedroom, where she lays sleeping...

The next morning, with a guilty conscience Juan, gives Carmen a necklace and tells her that she is "the only true one in the world", while wearing Dona Sols ring.

Carmen, defends her husband against his family, but.. decides to leave him after she visits Dona to discuss her husband and sees Juan kissing her. Juan, follows his wife home only to find her necklace laying there on the bed.

Juan falls into a deep depression and begins drinking. Garabato, goes to work for Manolo and Don Jose, quits as his manager. Nacional, is the only one who sticks by his friend. Even though, he says that Dona Sol has stolen his killer instinct and at Juan's next bull fight, his mistake in the ring causes Nacional's death.

Dona Sol, also, looses interest in Juan and accepts the offer to dance a passionate Flamenco, with the new up and coming matador Manolo de Palma. Juan, angrily throws away her ring, realizing that he has lost her too.

He goes home to find his mother scrubbing floors of the house that they have been evicted from. Juan, then goes to Carmen to beg for forgiveness, she still loves him and takes him back. He tells her he must have one final bull fight to prove to himself.. that he is still a great matador. Will he prove himself or like his father before him.. die in the bull ring?

Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake (1942).

Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake (1942). Adventure film. Director: John Cromwell. Cast: Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, Elsa Lanchester, John Carradine and Roddy Mc Dowell. This period swashbuckler film is based on the adventure novel Benjamin Blake by Edison Marshall, who also wrote The Vikings (1958).

In England, a kindly gunsmith Amos Kidder takes responsibility for his grandson, Benjamin Blake, after both his unwed parents died.. Their lives are turned upside down, when Benjamin's uncle, Sir Arthur Blake, who inherited title and lands from his brother,forces him to live with him as a servant.

Ten years pass and Benjamin vows to avenge himself against his cruel a uncle. During this time, Benjamin, works as a grooms man and falls in love with his cousin Isabel. On the evening, Benjamin tells Isabel that he is running away, he makes her promise to wait for him. Arthur catches them together and he beats Benjamin.

Later that night, Benjamin confronts Arthur, who holds a gun on him. Benjamin escapes with his life and stows away aboard the Tropic Star. Benjamin is befriended by Caleb Green, who tells him about a tropical island where they can find pearls.

Later, they both desert ship and swim to the island. My favorite part of the movie is when, Benjamin and Caleb enjoy their peaceful lives while they collect pearls with a native woman, called Eve by Benjamin.

 

The couple live as husband and wife, over time Benjamin, becomes homesick and makes plans on returning home to claim his birthright.. What will he find when he returns to home to England?

SON OF FURY, is a wonderful classic adventure film. One of Tyrone Power's best films. Gene Tierney, although very beautiful.. really did not look like a native girl. Alfred Newman's score is also a big part of the movie..

John Carradine (February 5, 1906 – November 27, 1988) was best known for his roles in horror films and Westerns as well as Shakespearean theater. Was one of the most prolific character actors in Hollywood history. He was married several times, had several children and was the patriarch of the Carradine family acting dynasty. It includes four of his sons and four of his grandchildren.

first film credit was Tol'able David (1930), but he claimed to have done 70 pictures before getting billing. Carradine tested, along with Conrad Veidt, William Courtenay, Paul Muni, and Ian Keith, for the title role in Dracula, but all contenders lost out to Bela Lugosi. Carradine would later play the Count in the Universal Studios Dracula sequels House of Frankenstein and House of Dracula.

Lugosi and Carradine both also tested for the monster role in Frankenstein (1931). By 1933, he was being credited as John Peter Richmond, perhaps in honor of his friend, John Barrymore. He adopted the stage name "John Carradine" in 1935 and legally took the name two years later.

By 1936, Carradine had become a member of John Ford's stock company and made 11 pictures with Ford, including his first important role, as Preacher Casy in The Grapes of Wrath (1940). Other Ford films in which Carradine appeared include: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and Stagecoach (1939), both with John Wayne.

He also portrayed Aaron in, The Ten Commandments (1956). Carradine did stage work, which provided him with the opportunity to work in dramas. He toured with his own Shakespearean company in the 1940s, playing Hamlet and Macbeth. His Broadway roles included: Ferdinand in a 1946 production of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi, the Ragpicker in a 13-month run of Jean Giraudoux's The Madwoman of Chaillot, Lycus in a 15-month run of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and DeLacey in the expensive one-night flop Frankenstein in 1981.

He also toured in road companies of such shows: Tobacco Road and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, in which he was properly emaciated as the cancer-ridden Big Daddy, a part, he said, which Tennessee Williams wrote for him. Carradine claimed to have appeared in more than 450 movies, but only 225 movies can be documented (his count is closer to fact if theatrical movies, made-for-TV movies and TV shows combined).

He often played eccentric, insane or diabolical characters, especially in the horror genre with which he had become identified as a "star" by the mid-1940s. He occasionally played a heroic role, as in The Grapes of Wrath, in which he played Casy, the ill-fated "preacher", and he occasionally played a sympathetic role, as in Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake, in which he played Blake's shipmate, who escapes with him to a tropical island full of riches.

He appeared in dozens of low-budget horror films from the 1940s to finance a touring classical theatre company. He sang the theme song to one film in which he appeared briefly, Red Zone Cuba. He also made more than 100 television appearances, including CBS's My Friend Flicka and Place the Face, NBC's Cimarron City as the foreboding Jared Tucker in the episode "Child of Fear" and on Overland Trail in the 1960 episode "The Reckoning," and on ABC's Harrigan and Son and The Legend of Jesse James.

Carradine also made recurring appearances as the mortician, Mr. Gateman, on CBS' The Munsters. In 1985, Carradine won a Daytime Emmy Award for his performance as an eccentric old man who lives by the railroad tracks in the Young People's Special, Umbrella Jack. In 1982, he supplied the voice of the Great Owl in the animated feature The Secret of NIMH.

One of Carradine's final film appearances was Peggy Sue Got Married in 1986. Carradine's last released film credit was Bikini Drive-In, released years after his death. Carradine's deep, voice earned him the nickname "The Voice". He was also known as the "Bard of the Boulevard," due to his idiosyncratic habit of strolling Hollywood streets while reciting Shakespearean soliloquies, something he always denied.

Johnny Apollo(1940).

Johnny Apollo(1940). Crime film. Cast: Tyrone Power, Edward Arnold, Lloyd Nolan and Dorothy Lamour.

The story begins when Bob Cain Jr., feels betrayed by his father, who is a multimillion-dollar stockbroker, indicted for embezzlement. Before going to prison, father and son have a terrible argument and Bob Jr. drops out of college to look for work. Because of his father's crime, Bob Jr. is still unemployed one year later.

When the gangster Mickey Dwyer, who was sentenced on the same day as his father, is paroled from prison, Bob meets with his fathers lawyer for dinner. In their meeting his father's lawyer informs Bob Jr, that only money can win a parole for his father. Bob Jr., changes his name to, Johnny Apollo, hoping that it will make it easier for him to find work.

Bob Jr. meets singer "Lucky" Dubarry, Dwyer's girl friend, while sitting on the steps waiting for Dwyer's lawer, Judge Emmett T. Brennan, to arrive back at his office. There he meets Dwyer, who asks him to do a favor for him. Dwyer, takes an instant liking to Bob Jr. and even puts a raw steak on Bob Jr. back eye, that he received during a scuffle.

 

Brennan and "Lucky", both notice the two becoming fast friends and wonder if the kid will reform Dwyer. Or maybe ...it will be the other way around..

After, "Pop" Cain, learns that his son Bob has become Dwyer's front-man, he disowns him. Soon after, Dwyer and Bob Jr., are presented with a warrant for their arrest at the night-club during Lucky's performance. Lucky, who has fallen in love with Bob, convinces Brennan to make a deal with the district attorney.. Bob's freedom in exchange for Dwyer. The man he really wants to see behind bars.

After Dwyer, learns that he was double-crossed, he murders his best- friend Brennan and both he and Bob Jr. are sent to jail. After overhearing plans for an escape, Lucky tips Pop, to their plans before leaving town. Will "Pop" get there in time?

Fun Facts:

In the scene with Johnny and his father talking in the bedroom, the photo over Johnny's shoulder of his mother, is a picture of Tyrone Power's mother.

Linda Darnell was the original female lead. Alice Faye was also considered by Darryl Zanuck before Dorothy Lamour was borrowed from Paramount in exchange for Don Ameche.

"Johnny Apollo" is a pretty good film and it's fun to watch  Dorothy Lamour, as a femme fatale, sing, "This Is the Beginning of the End"... I think this is one of my favorite Lloyd Nolan, performances.

Great On Screen Couples: Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney.

Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney, were thought to be one of the top romantic on screen couples of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Gene Tierney and Tyrone Power filmed 3 movies together: Son of Fury (1942), The Razors Edge (1946), That Wonderful Edge (1948). After divorcing Cassini in 1952, she was romantically involved with Tyrone Power, their love affair began during the filming of, The Razor's Edge(1946). I would have also loved to see them perform together in the film, Leave Her to Heaven (1945).

Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake (1942). Adventure film. Director: John Cromwell. Cast: Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, Elsa Lanchester, John Carradine and Roddy Mc Dowell. This period swashbuckler film is based on the adventure novel Benjamin Blake by Edison Marshall, who also wrote The Vikings (1958).

In England, gunsmith Amos Kidder takes care of his grandson, Benjamin Blake, after his parents have both died. Benjamin's uncle, Sir Arthur Blake, inherited title and lands from his brother, demands that he live his life as a servant. The law, forces Benjamin to obey. Ten years have passed and now Benjamin is old enough to free himself from his cruel uncle. Benjamin, who is in love with his cousin Isabel makes her promise to wait for him before he leaves. Unfortunately, Arthur catches them together and he beats Benjamin. Later that night, Benjamin confronts Arthur, who holds a gun on him. Benjamin escapes with his life and stows away aboard the Tropic Star. Benjamin is quickly befriended by Caleb Green, who tells him about a tropical island where they can find pearls. They jump ship and swim to the island. My favorite part of the movie is when, Benjamin and Caleb enjoy their peaceful lives as they collect pearls.

Benjamin, soon falls in love with a native woman, he calls called Eve. The couple live as husband and wife, even though Benjamin is homesick and is still planning on returning home to claim his birthright..

What will he find when he returns to home to England?

SON OF FURY, is a wonderful classic adventure film. One of Tyrone Power's best films. Gene Tierney, was amazing as the native girl. Alfred Newman's score is also a big part of the movie..


The Razor's Edge(1946), First film version of W. Somerset Maugham's 1944 novel. Cast: Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, John Payne, Anne Baxter, Clifton Webb, Herbert Marshall. Director: Edmund Goulding.

The story begins as Maugham a novelist, thinking back to when he first met Larry Darrell. It was during a dinner party at a Chicago country club. Louisa is unhappy about her daughter Isabel engagement to Larry, a man with no future planned for himself. Louisa thinks Gray Maturin, the son of a wealthy stockbroker a much better match. At the party, Maugham also meets Isabel's, childhood friend, Sophie. When Larry arrives Isabel asks him why he turned down a wonderful position with the Maturins. Larry,  tells her that he feels that there is more to life than money. After hearing his story Isabel thinks it best to postpone their wedding.

Months later, Isabel stops by to see Larry in Paris. Shocked.. by Larry's living conditions, Isabel, breaks off their engagement. Isabel then returns to Chicago and marries Gray.

In Paris, Larry is working in the coal mines when he meets Kostis, a priest. When Kostis tells Larry about a saint who lives In India, Larry still looking for life's answers, decides to travel to India to find him. In India, the holy man tells Larry that the road to salvation is as sharp as a, "RAZOR'S EDGE".

In Chicago, Sophie looses her husband and baby in a terrible car accident, leaving Sophie grief stricken.

Larry finished with his studies, travels to the top of the mountain. Some time later, the holy man comes to visit. Larry tells him, that he now believes he is one with God. The holy man agrees that Larry is ready to return to his life.

Years later, Elliott crosses paths with Maugham in a Parisian Shop and Elliott tells him that he has moved to the Rivera and gave up his Paris apartment to Isabel and Gray, who fell on hard times. Larry decides to visit Isabel, who is feeling sorry for herself, even though she is living in luxury.

Later that night, Isabel wants to go to the nightclub on the Rue de Lappe, where they meet a drunk, Sophie. Larry remembers Sophie the way she used to be and wants to help her.. Soon, Larry announces that Sophie, has stopped drinking and they are engaged to be married. Wanting to stop the marriage, Isabel demands Maugham, to come see her and asks him to tell Larry not to marry Sophie. Isabel invites Sophie to the apartment to go shopping for a wedding dress. There, Isabel shows Sophie a picture of her daughter, hoping to bring back the sad memories of her own little girl. Saying she had to run a quick errand, Isabel leaves Sophie alone with a bottle of liquor. Will she be strong enough not to give in to temptation?

Once again Gene Tierney plays the part of a evil jealous woman.

The following year, Tierney co-starred once again with Power, this time as Sara Farley, in the successful comedy. That Wonderful Urge (1948). The Remake of, Love is News (1937). Directer: Robert Sinclair.

Sara Farley, a grocery store heiress, finds herself,  in a newspaper article published in the New York Chronicle, by Thomas Jefferson Tyler. Tom's editor, wants him to write more tabloid stories about the heiress, so he follows her on a skiing trip to Sun Valley, with her fiancee Count Andre de Guyon and her aunt. When Sara goes dog sledding with Tom, they have a minor collision with a tree and end up in the emergency cabin. Tom asks her to read a phony, complimentary story he has written about her, Sara feels comfortable in telling him her life story. After Tom leaves, Andre shows the story to Sara. Angry, she tells reporters that she and Tom are married and that she has given him a million dollars. Duffy sees headlines from rival newspapers saying that Tom and Sara are married, he decides to fire Tom. Tom, sends word to all the New York newspapers demanding a retraction. While meeting with Jessica, Tom comes up with an idea about how to prove that he and Sara are not married. When he and Jessica go to apply for a license, the head clerk refuses to issue them one because all the newspapers say that Tom is already married. What follows next is classic movie fun when things spiral out of control...

This is a cute romantic comedy with lots of sexy innuendo. Wonderful performances by the "great romantic couple," Tyrone Powers and Gene Tierney.

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Tyrone Power.

Personal Quote:

I'm sick of all these knights in shining armor parts, I want to do something worthwhile like plays and films that have something to say.

Happy Birthday: Tyrone Power!

Tyrone Power, Jr. (May 5, 1914 – November 15, 1958), was with his father when he suffered a fatal heart attack in December 1931, while preparing to perform in, The Miracle Man.

Soon after Tyrone Power Jr., found a small part in, Tom Brown of Culver(1932). A story about a young boy who thought his father was a war hero, finds out that he really was a deserter. Power's performance in that movie didn't do very well. Discouraged, he took the advice of friend, Arthur Caesar, to go to New York to get more experience as a stage actor.

He stopped in Chicago, where his friend, Don Ameche, a radio personality, convinced him to work in radio. Things did not go has he hoped and eventually went on to New York.

There, he met Katharine Cornell, a stage actress, who cast him as an understudy for Burgess Meredith, for the play, Flowers of the Forest.

Later Cornell, put him in the role of Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet. Where Hollywood scouts saw him and offered him a screen test. Katharine Cornell, believed that it would be in his best interest to wait before going to Hollywood, without a little more stage experience. Cornell gave him a leading role in her next stage play, St. Joan. Once again, Hollywood scouts saw him and offered him a screen test.

This time.. Tyrone Power went to Hollywood, where he was signed by 20th Century Fox and was assigned to Sing Baby Sing, at the request of Alice Faye. The director, Sidney Lanfield, dropped him from the cast, telling him that he should find another line of work.

Faye, later did convince the studio to give him another chance. He was assigned to a small part in, Girls' Dormitory.

Next, he was cast in a slightly larger part in, Ladies in Love(1936). A romantic comedy film directed by Edward H. Griffith. Starring Janet Gaynor, Constance Bennett and Loretta Young. The film is about three roommates living in Budapest and their romantic adventures. Tyrone Power and Loretta Young made such an impact in this movie that they were quickly paired by the studio in several more films including: Love Is News (1937), Cafe Metropole (1937), Second Honeymoon (1937), and Suez (1938).

King, liked what he saw and insisted that Tyrone Power be tested for the lead role in, Lloyd's of London(1936). A Drama film which stared Tyrone Power, Madeleine Carroll, and Guy Standing. The film, Lloyd's of London proved that 23-year-old Tyrone Power could act. The story begins when Jonathan Blake and Horatio Nelson uncover a plot involving insurance fraud. Jonathan decides that instead of a reward for the information he would rather apprentice at Lloyds. He eventually becomes an influential member of the Lloyd's group. Meanwhile, Horatio Nelson starts his naval career as a midshipman and rises to the rank of, Admiral of the British Fleet. Jonathan meets a woman named, Lady Stacy. He falls in love with her even though she is married. During the war, Mr. Angerstein requests the Admiralty that the British fleet provide escort to merchant ships so that they can continue to provide insurance on cargo. Jonathan Blake realizes that this would divide Nelson's fleet and does as much as he can to prevent this from happening.

Tyrone, also starred in one of my favorite films, Blood and Sand(1941). Directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starring Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Rita Hayworth, and Alla Nazimova. It is based on the Spanish 1909 novel Blood and Sand by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez. There are two earlier versions of Blood and Sand; a 1922 version produced by Paramount Pictures, and starring Rudolph Valentino and a 1916 version filmed by Blasco Ibáñez himself.

A couple more Tyrone Power films include: Son of Fury(1942). A adventure film directed by John Cromwell, starring Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney.

The Rains Came, In Old Chicago, Alexander's Ragtime Band, Second Fiddle, and Rose of Washington Square, Jesse James (1939), Brigham Young.

Tyrone also performed with Betty Grable in the film, Yank in the R.A.F.
Please click here to view more in on the movie Yank in the R.A.F.

Another favorite of my Tyrone movies is, The Black Swan (1942). Swashbuckler film by Henry King, based on a novel by Rafael Sabatini, and starring Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara. It was nominated for three Academy Awards, and won one for Best Cinematography, Color.

The story is about how Captain Jamie Waring and his lieutenant, Tom Blue, reluctantly give up their past out of their friendship with Morgan, but Captain Billy Leech and Wogan, refuse to change. Soon, Waring is attracted to Denby's daughter, Lady Margaret, who happens to be engaged to, Roger Ingram.

She does not know, her fiancee is secretly providing information about ship sailings to the pirates. When Morgan is unable to stop his old shipmates, he is suspected of still working with them. It is up to Waring to set sail to straighten things out.

The direction of Tyrone Power's career took a dramatic turn in the movie, The Mark of Zorro. When he played the role of Don Diego Vega/Zorro, nerd by day, bandit hero by night.

The role had been made famous by Douglas Fairbanks in the 1920 movie by the same title. Power's performance was excellent, and 20th Century Fox often cast him in swashbucklers.

Power was a talented swordsman and the dueling scene in The Mark of Zorro is considered one of the finest in movie history.



Later Tyrone Power co-starred again with Gene Tierney in the film, The Razor's Edge, an adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's novel of the same name. Power's venture into drama was short lived, as he was next seen in a costume movie, Captain from Castile, directed by Henry King, who directed Tyrone Power in eleven movies.

After making a couple of light romantic comedies, That Wonderful Urge (with Gene Tierney, his co-star from The Razor's Edge) and The Luck of the Irish (with Anne Baxter), Power found himself once again in swashbucklers – The Black Rose and Prince of Foxes.

As the 1950's Power was becoming unhappy with his performance in the films, American Guerrilla in the Philippines and Pony Soldier, so in 1950 he traveled to England to play the title role in, Mister Roberts at the London Coliseum.

But eventually he did return to films, Untamed(1955), The Long Gray Line, a John Ford film. Darryl F. Zanuck, wanted him to play the lead role in, The Sun Also Rises (1957), adapted from the Hemingway novel.

Also released that same year were, Abandon Ship and John Ford's Rising of the Moon (narrator only).

Tyrone Power's last film role turned out to be one of his most highly regarded, cast against type as the accused murderer, Leonard Vole, in the film, Witness for the Prosecution, directed by Billy Wilder.

Please click here to view Gene Tierney and Tyrone Power movie reviews.

Please click here to view other Tyrone Powers movie reviews.

Great On Screen Couples: Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney.

Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney, were thought to be one of the top romantic on screen couples of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Gene Tierney and Tyrone Power filmed 3 movies together: Son of Fury (1942), The Razors Edge (1946), That Wonderful Edge (1948). After divorcing Cassini in 1952, she was romantically involved with Tyrone Power, their love affair began during the filming of, The Razor's Edge(1946). I would have also loved to see them perform together in the film, Leave Her to Heaven (1945).

Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake (1942). Adventure film. Director: John Cromwell. Cast: Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, Elsa Lanchester, John Carradine and Roddy Mc Dowell. This period swashbuckler film is based on the adventure novel Benjamin Blake by Edison Marshall, who also wrote The Vikings (1958).

In England, gunsmith Amos Kidder takes care of his grandson, Benjamin Blake, after his parents have both died. Benjamin's uncle, Sir Arthur Blake, inherited title and lands from his brother, demands that he live his life as a servant. The law, forces Benjamin to obey. Ten years have passed and now Benjamin is old enough to free himself from his cruel uncle. Benjamin, who is in love with his cousin Isabel makes her promise to wait for him before he leaves. Unfortunately, Arthur catches them together and he beats Benjamin. Later that night, Benjamin confronts Arthur, who holds a gun on him. Benjamin escapes with his life and stows away aboard the Tropic Star. Benjamin is quickly befriended by Caleb Green, who tells him about a tropical island where they can find pearls. They jump ship and swim to the island. My favorite part of the movie is when, Benjamin and Caleb enjoy their peaceful lives as they collect pearls.



Benjamin, soon falls in love with a native woman, he calls called Eve. The couple live as husband and wife, even though Benjamin is homesick and is still planning on returning home to claim his birthright..

What will he find when he returns to home to England?

SON OF FURY, is a wonderful classic adventure film. One of Tyrone Power's best films. Gene Tierney, was amazing as the native girl. Alfred Newman's score is also a big part of the movie..


The Razor's Edge(1946), First film version of W. Somerset Maugham's 1944 novel. Cast: Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, John Payne, Anne Baxter, Clifton Webb, Herbert Marshall. Director: Edmund Goulding.

The story begins as Maugham a novelist, thinking back to when he first met Larry Darrell. It was during a dinner party at a Chicago country club. Louisa is unhappy about her daughter Isabel engagement to Larry, a man with no future planned for himself. Louisa thinks Gray Maturin, the son of a wealthy stockbroker a much better match. At the party, Maugham also meets Isabel's, childhood friend, Sophie. When Larry arrives Isabel asks him why he turned down a wonderful position with the Maturins. Larry,  tells her that he feels that there is more to life than money. After hearing his story Isabel thinks it best to postpone their wedding.

Months later, Isabel stops by to see Larry in Paris. Shocked.. by Larry's living conditions, Isabel, breaks off their engagement. Isabel then returns to Chicago and marries Gray.

In Paris, Larry is working in the coal mines when he meets Kostis, a priest. When Kostis tells Larry about a saint who lives In India, Larry still looking for life's answers, decides to travel to India to find him. In India, the holy man tells Larry that the road to salvation is as sharp as a, "RAZOR'S EDGE".

In Chicago, Sophie looses her husband and baby in a terrible car accident, leaving Sophie grief stricken.

Larry finished with his studies, travels to the top of the mountain. Some time later, the holy man comes to visit. Larry tells him, that he now believes he is one with God. The holy man agrees that Larry is ready to return to his life.

Years later, Elliott crosses paths with Maugham in a Parisian Shop and Elliott tells him that he has moved to the Rivera and gave up his Paris apartment to Isabel and Gray, who fell on hard times. Larry decides to visit Isabel, who is feeling sorry for herself, even though she is living in luxury.

Later that night, Isabel wants to go to the nightclub on the Rue de Lappe, where they meet a drunk, Sophie. Larry remembers Sophie the way she used to be and wants to help her.. Soon, Larry announces that Sophie, has stopped drinking and they are engaged to be married. Wanting to stop the marriage, Isabel demands Maugham, to come see her and asks him to tell Larry not to marry Sophie. Isabel invites Sophie to the apartment to go shopping for a wedding dress. There, Isabel shows Sophie a picture of her daughter, hoping to bring back the sad memories of her own little girl. Saying she had to run a quick errand, Isabel leaves Sophie alone with a bottle of liquor. Will she be strong enough not to give in to temptation?

Once again Gene Tierney plays the part of a evil jealous woman.

The following year, Tierney co-starred once again with Power, this time as Sara Farley, in the successful comedy. That Wonderful Urge (1948). The Remake of, Love is News (1937). Directer: Robert Sinclair.

Sara Farley, a grocery store heiress, finds herself,  in a newspaper article published in the New York Chronicle, by Thomas Jefferson Tyler. Tom's editor, wants him to write more tabloid stories about the heiress, so he follows her on a skiing trip to Sun Valley, with her fiancee Count Andre de Guyon and her aunt. When Sara goes dog sledding with Tom, they have a minor collision with a tree and end up in the emergency cabin. Tom asks her to read a phony, complimentary story he has written about her, Sara feels comfortable in telling him her life story. After Tom leaves, Andre shows the story to Sara. Angry, she tells reporters that she and Tom are married and that she has given him a million dollars. Duffy sees headlines from rival newspapers saying that Tom and Sara are married, he decides to fire Tom. Tom, sends word to all the New York newspapers demanding a retraction. While meeting with Jessica, Tom comes up with an idea about how to prove that he and Sara are not married. When he and Jessica go to apply for a license, the head clerk refuses to issue them one because all the newspapers say that Tom is already married. What follows next is classic movie fun when things spiral out of control...

This is a cute romantic comedy with lots of innuendo. Wonderful performances by the "great romantic couple," Tyrone Powers and Gene Tierney.

Witness For The Prosecution(1957).

Witness For The Prosecution(1957). Courtroom drama, based on a short story by Agatha Christie dealing with the trial of a man accused of murder. Cast: Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, and Charles Laughton, and features Elsa Lanchester, Laughton's wife. Director: Billy Wilder.

Just after leaving the hospital Sir Wilfrid Robarts, returns to his office with his overbearing nurse, Miss Plimsoll, when Mayhew and his client, Leonard Vole, come to see him about an important case.

Mayhew believes that Leonard will be charged with the murder of wealthy widow Emily Jane French because it was well known that he was with her the day she was killed. Leonard says that he was in the army and stationed in Germany, where he met his wife German actress, Christine.

Leonard says that he is had been trying to find someone to help finance his new eggbeater invention and that is when he first met with Mrs. French. He had hoped that Mrs. French would finance his work.

Later, Sir Wilfrid questions Leonard on what happened on the night of the murder and his relationship with Mrs. French. Leonard does not change his story, making Sir Wilfrid believe he is innocent.

The case becomes complicated when Vole's only alibi is his wife, who agrees to be a witness for the prosecution.

Dietrich character is very calculating and she and Tyrone are the star attractions, but... Charles Laughton steals the show with his whit. The plot has many twists 'n' turns...


Fun Facts:

This was the final film for Tyrone Power.

This was Una O'Connor's last big screen motion picture.

William Holden was the first choice for Leonard, but he was unavailable. Other actors considered for the role included Gene Kelly, Kirk Douglas, Glenn Ford, Jack Lemmon, and even Roger Moore. Eventually, Tyrone Power accepted the role when he was offered both Witness for the Prosecution (1957) and Solomon and Sheba (1959). Before he could complete Solomon however, Power had a fatal heart attack and was replaced by Yul Brynner.

Ava Gardner and Rita Hayworth were also considered for the role of Christine Helm.

Elsa Lanchester (28 October 1902 – 26 December 1986). Studied dance as a child and began performing in theater and cabaret. She met the actor Charles Laughton in 1927, and they were married two years later. She began playing small roles with Laughton in, The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933).

Her role in, Bride of Frankenstein (1935), came to be one of the roles most closely associated with her throughout her life.

She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for, Come to the Stable (1949) and Witness for the Prosecution (1957), the last of twelve films in which she appeared with Laughton.

Following Laughton's death in 1962, Lanchester made appearances in Disney films: Mary Poppins (1964), That Darn Cat! (1965) and Blackbeard's Ghost (1968). The horror film, Willard, (1971) and one of her last roles was in, Murder By Death (1976).

My favorite Basil Rathbone Scene.

My favorite Basil Rathbone scene is from, The Mark of Zorro (1940), an adventure film directed by Rouben Mamoulian and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. Cast: Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell and Basil Rathbone. I'm a huge fan of movies with duel fighting. In this scene the action unfolds into a wonderful duel between to actors who look as if they are really enjoying what they are doing..
The film was Nominated for Academy Award for the Best original score in the 1941 Academy Awards.

 Based on the Johnston McCulley story The Curse of Capistrano, originally published in 1919, which introduced the masked Zorro, the movie's story is set in Southern California during the early 19th century.

It is about the son of a wealthy ranchero, Don Alejandro Vega who returns to California after studying in Spain, only to become angry at the way the people were being mistreated by Governor Quintero. Don Diego decides to become Zorro, a defender of the people. He falls in love with the governor's niece, Lolita and shares with the governor's wife Inez, how wonderful Madrid is hoping to talk her into moving there with her husband. He also has to fight off the governor's henchman, Captain Pasquale.

This film is a remake of the 1920 silent version, The Mark of Zorro, with Douglas Fairbanks. Its largest claim to fame is the climactic duel toward the end between Zorro and Captain Pasquale. Rathbone was known already in Hollywood as an outstanding Classical fencer.

LOVE IS NEWS(1937)

Love is News (1937), Romantic/Comedy. Cast: Tyrone Power and Loretta Young.

When a sly reporter lies to get a story out of heiress Tony Gateson, out of anger she turns the tables on him, telling the press that they are engaged. Now he is front page news and every salesman is at his doorstep. He loses his job and a day later asks her to come clean with the reporters. Not having it, She tricks him again and the publicity continues. Through a series of misadventures that has him alternately back on his job and fired. Soon her ex fiance shows up in New York.

Love is News was remade in (1949) as That Wonderful Urge, with Tyrone Power in his previous his role and Gene Tierney in the Loretta Young part. Review on: Gene Tierney Chick Flick page.

I enjoyed both versions of this movie. Tyrone Power has wonderful on screen chemistry with both Gene Tierney and Loretta Young. LOVE IS NEWS is a great old style film that they just don't make any more. Sometimes, the plot is hard to believe, but still very enjoyable.
LOVE IS NEWS (1937) MOVIE CLIP.