cult film freak: gene nelson

Showing posts with label gene nelson. Show all posts

Written by James M. Tate / 10/01/2022 / No comments / andre de toth , andré de toth , charles bronson , crime , dub taylor , fifties , film noir or melodrama , gene nelson , phyllis kirk , sterling hayden , ted decorsia , thriller , timothy carey

GENE NELSON, STERLING HAYDEN & CHARLES BRONSON 'CRIME WAVE'

<p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnK3LeWErP6mZuGVCM2G90I3U1wWfqAT_4gZhAKBeXCqOH07Aq0gpHVO3PCf1dXxL9uHldn0VnXE-mUaQhbXhesd8dpOeJwDeX0ycT4C2j6i52KSlcKRJZjIv3seTT3E5wYveTdomMnJOgpLPn6bPN-y7XKVGG6z-NoaSXHid5mM4bMNFnvXVWL2hvmaNT/s1788/Screen%20Shot%202025-07-30%20at%209.02.48%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="1788" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnK3LeWErP6mZuGVCM2G90I3U1wWfqAT_4gZhAKBeXCqOH07Aq0gpHVO3PCf1dXxL9uHldn0VnXE-mUaQhbXhesd8dpOeJwDeX0ycT4C2j6i52KSlcKRJZjIv3seTT3E5wYveTdomMnJOgpLPn6bPN-y7XKVGG6z-NoaSXHid5mM4bMNFnvXVWL2hvmaNT/s16000/Screen%20Shot%202025-07-30%20at%209.02.48%20PM.jpeg"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Charles Bronson in CRIME WAVE Year: 1953 Rating: ****</u></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The steady and stalwart yet vulnerable and manipulated buried lead in CRIME WAVE aka THE CITY IS DARK... overshadowed by rigid 
cop Sterling Hayden, a young Charles Bronson, lead thug Ted de Corsia 
and a thoroughly demented Timothy Carey... is played by Gene Nelson... </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Perhaps <i>the most </i>incredible dancer before and after, he remains cool
 and tough in his first ultra-serious role as Steve Lacey, an ex-convict
 paid a surprise visit by three of his old friends...</p><p><span></span></p>

andre de toth, andré de toth, charles bronson, crime, dub taylor, fifties, film noir or melodrama, gene nelson, phyllis kirk, sterling hayden, ted decorsia, thriller, timothy carey

GENE NELSON, STERLING HAYDEN & CHARLES BRONSON 'CRIME WAVE'

Charles Bronson in CRIME WAVE Year: 1953 Rating: **** The steady and stalwart yet vulnerable and manipulated buried lead in CRIME WAVE aka T...

VIRGINIA MAYO IN 'SHE'S WORKING HER WAY THROUGH COLLEGE'

<p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2yKv5HnzIqNlVpSyayKHCAGVA-qPehN0R7yt5DElFfSCXNdfj6RMV1f5-svpZkBSF7wazGtoEK06snuySZfyy6mg-HY8sTOf9gPdrRsojPj_zzdh3T80D4ZxwfTVmJ4OTIY5cY4Ny568I5ItESV8xWUm_FZDfrOByzmnj0iFZPp1rpMXfkoxbH6zyMQ=s1159" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2yKv5HnzIqNlVpSyayKHCAGVA-qPehN0R7yt5DElFfSCXNdfj6RMV1f5-svpZkBSF7wazGtoEK06snuySZfyy6mg-HY8sTOf9gPdrRsojPj_zzdh3T80D4ZxwfTVmJ4OTIY5cY4Ny568I5ItESV8xWUm_FZDfrOByzmnj0iFZPp1rpMXfkoxbH6zyMQ=s16000"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Year: 1952 Rating: ***1/2</u></td></tr></tbody></table><p>"I don't know what there is about the pelts of 
dead little animals that makes them so attractive to women when one 
little mouse scares them silly," says Ronald Reagan to Virginia Mayo in SHE'S WORKING HER WAY THROUGH COLLEGE. "A confusing sex, yours," he slurs, just slightly, with a hazy grin. "But a delightful 
confusion."<br>
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<span class="caption">There's nothing like seeing the future President playing a friendly yet uptight college professor given a cold remedy with a fair amount of codeine that he didn't "Say No" to. But no man refuses Mayo, one of the prettiest actresses ever filmed. Having catapulted as James Cagney's sexy yet put-upon, cheating wife in WHITE HEAT, she headlined a string of musicals during the 1950's, and this is one of the most memorable... </span><br>
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college, comedy, fifties, gene nelson, musical, patrice wymore, ronald reagan, virginia mayo, warner archives

VIRGINIA MAYO IN 'SHE'S WORKING HER WAY THROUGH COLLEGE'

Year: 1952 Rating: ***1/2 "I don't know what there is about the pelts of dead little animals that makes them so attractive to wom...

VIRGINIA MAYO & STEVE COCHRAN IN 'SHE'S BACK ON BROADWAY'

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In the first two of three films, Virginia Mayo was snatched from Cult Film Freak's two all-time favorite actors by tall, dark and viciously handsome b-actor Steve Cochran: First in THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, finishing Dana Andrews (not so happy) marriage so the perky dame can enjoy the nightlife... And her most famous role as a reluctant gun-moll for ultra-violent James Cagney... </p><span></span>

fifties, frank lovejoy, gene nelson, melodrama, musical, patrice wymore, steve cochran, virginia mayo, warner archives

VIRGINIA MAYO & STEVE COCHRAN IN 'SHE'S BACK ON BROADWAY'

Year: 1953 Rating: ***1/2 This is more than a review of the 1952 feel-good comedy loaded with as many hardships and frowns as smiles, takin...

KENT TAYLOR & GENE NELSON IN MAURY DEXTER'S 'THE PURPLE HILLS'

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhH12DC6AXPuxaXAq9EzHyeVk3jIyog7XQMFwLTU17kOkUbJhfwxorKkYxqpONz0LsVHaaSiaHoUOJtV2fXqvd0QulkeCFQ_UmLf8IO6ZgKW8lRGdoQr2aZW_5GCFtIU_H4aa_VSeccNL/s863/23+2.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="863" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhH12DC6AXPuxaXAq9EzHyeVk3jIyog7XQMFwLTU17kOkUbJhfwxorKkYxqpONz0LsVHaaSiaHoUOJtV2fXqvd0QulkeCFQ_UmLf8IO6ZgKW8lRGdoQr2aZW_5GCFtIU_H4aa_VSeccNL/w400-h353/23+2.jpeg" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>The Purple Hills Year: 1961 Rating: ***1/2</u></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Another Maury Dexter Western following WALK TALL that Kent Taylor played a character that tries conniving and convincing a beautiful woman to go against the good guy, who doesn't seem all that good: in this case bounty hunter Gene Nelson, collecting on a bounty he has to fight for... </p><p></p><p>The twist is that classy lowlife Taylor also wants credit for the hefty sum but without being blamed by the bounty's younger, vengeful brother played by stuntman Jerry Summers, supposedly raised by beautiful Joanna Barnes, much too young as he's far too old for the role...</p><p>But Russ Bender as the aged sheriff is perfectly cast by Dexter, per usual, as most of the picture has four people after a dead body whilst fearing the inevitable collision of angry Apaches...</p><p>Winding up the finale on a dilapidated bridge where the "good guys" hole up against approaching Indians (fighting each other as well), and it's as good a shoot-em-up as anything John Ford could do. Plus these b-Western programmers (especially Maury Dexter's) get right to the point, yet there's still tons of pulpy dialogue, especially by Taylor, a genuine scoundrel while Gene Nelson stands around looking strong, blond, determined and, as they say... The Devil gets all the great lines. </p><p><span></span></p>

action, floyd crosby, gene nelson, jerry summers, joanna barnes, kent taylor, maury dexter, russ bender, western

KENT TAYLOR & GENE NELSON IN MAURY DEXTER'S 'THE PURPLE HILLS'

The Purple Hills Year: 1961 Rating: ***1/2 Another Maury Dexter Western following WALK TALL that Kent Taylor played a character that tries c...

GENE NELSON & MERRY ANDERS IN '20,000 EYES' W/ JOHN BANNER

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Gene Nelson and John Banner in 20th Century Fox's 20,000 EYES Year: 1961 Rating: ***</u></td></tr>
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Filmed in six days, this Post Noir (during the period after genuine Film Noir ended in 1958 and before intentional homage/Neo Noir began in the latter 1960's i.e. before anyone knew what Noir meant) titled 20,000 EYES sure shows its rushed production values, or lack of...<br>
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Beginning with a not-so-loving couple played by two 20th Century Fox b-movie players Gene Nelson (under the direction of Jack Leewood, who he'd return with for <a href="http://www.cultfilmfreaks.com/2018/08/makes-jack-a-dull-boy.html">THUNDER ISLAND</a>)...<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Merry Anders, Gene Nelson and James L. Brown in 20,000 EYES</u></td></tr>
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And a personal favorite, Merry Anders, cramped in the kind of one-shot most of the film economically consists of, discussing something unimportant until Nelson's sucker-punched by future HOGAN'S HERO fan-favorite John Banner...<br>
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Who in this case, as a wealthy gangster, is the opposite of "I know nothing," explaining the entire plot-line of his "investment counselor" Nelson who embezzled money, now with five days to pay it back... one day less than it took to make the entire movie...<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Merry Anders and Gene Nelson in 20,000 EYES from a black and white lobby card</u></td></tr>
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Man and woman are soon joined by the latter's former lover and the guy's current partner played by strong-jawed American-made James L. Brown in the creatively titled 20,000 EYES (referring to the city lights that don't witness the interior crime): a programmer in which, only by the end you'll realize had a nifty twist and an extremely clever heist plan that, during its course, is just suspenseful enough to pass the time...<br>
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Including Nelson having to think his way past an intruding night patrolman in a museum where the diamonds are displayed; all while his girlfriend and partner (Anders and Brown) nervously wait outside, making Nelson both a protagonist and antagonist with one shared attribute: taking crazy and desperate, last-minute risks, without which there would be no picture at all.<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>James L. Brown in 20,000 EYES with Gene Nelson</u></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>John Banner in 20,000 EYES with a smoking Gene Nelson</u></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>John Banner and moll Judith Rawlins in 20,000 EYES</u></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>High School museum dwellers Barbara Parkins and Rex Holman in 20,000 EYES</u></td></tr>
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barbara parkins, crime, gene nelson, heist, jack leewood, james l. brown, john banner, judith rawlins, merry anders, neo noir, rex holman, sixties, thriller

GENE NELSON & MERRY ANDERS IN '20,000 EYES' W/ JOHN BANNER

Gene Nelson and John Banner in 20th Century Fox's 20,000 EYES Year: 1961 Rating: *** Filmed in six days, this Post Noir (during the ...

GENE NELSON TAKING AIM AT JACK NICHOLSON'S 'THUNDER ISLAND'

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Year of Assignment: 1963</u></td></tr>
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Here's a movie that almost was, and nearly could've been — something pretty good: As one of many low budget programmers by 20th Century Fox in the early sixties, THUNDER ISLAND just happens to be co-written (alongside Don Devilin) by a young starving actor named Jack Nicholson (who doesn't appear), and the set-up is cool enough...<br>
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On a balmy locale straight out of KEY LARGO style Film Noir, Brian Kelly, best known as the two young boys' dad on TV's FLIPPER, ironically runs a boat charter business, and his ex wife and daughter just happen to show up for a visit while, right inside the only hotel, a hit man's being paid by slick Latin beauty Miriam Colin, whose family suffered the wrath of a former dictator from a Cuba-like country, and he's exiled on a nearby, heavily guarded island... you can call it THUNDER ISLAND although the 11th hour bursts of rushed gunfire would hardly be mistaken for cinematic lightning...<br>