This year marks the 70th anniversary of one of the greatest film noirs of all time, Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity—an occasion celebrated this week by the release of a commemorative Blu-ray. Fred MacMurray (The Caine Mutiny, The Apartment) and Barbara Stanwyck (The Lady Eve) in a suspenseful tale of lust, betrayal and murder, directed by Billy Wilder. Screenplay by Raymond Chandler, this intrigue-filled tale of a double-dealing dame and her murderous lover was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture. The Limited Edition Blu-ray comes with lobby cards, poster reproductions and a rare alternate ending still in an archival envelope. Bonus features include: Special Introduction by TCM host and film historian Robert Osborne, Shadows of Suspense Plunges viewers into the world of 1940s Hollywood, Feature Commentary with film historian Richard Schickel, Feature Commentary with film historian and screenwriter Lem Dobbs and film historian Nick Redman
Source: www.broadwayworld.cm
At a crooked gambling club run by "Fish-Eye," Chris Claybourne (played by Robert Taylor) loses five thousand dollars on credit. That same night he meets model Rita Wilson (Barbara Stanwyck), who has refused Fish-Eye's proposition that she lure wealthy escorts to his gaming tables for a percentage. Though they are strongly attracted to each other, Chris and Rita agree not to fall in love, but spend his spree together, having fun and swiping unusual hats. As Chris's departure day approaches, however, they realize that they are in love and Chris promises not to go to the jungle. That same night, Fish-Eye forces Chris to sign a check for his debt, and gives him until the next afternoon to make it good. As Dr. Claybourne's money is all used to support his hospital, Chris' only hope is his staid brother Tom. When Chris takes Rita to meet Tom, however, Tom tells his brother that he will only help him if he goes to the jungle and waits to marry Rita, whom he considers socially inferior, until he returns. Rita, enraged, tells Chris that they are through and secretly goes to Fish-Eye to arrange to pay off Chris' debt by working for him.
On Christmas Eve, Chris suddenly returns to New York on a leave-of-absence and learns that Tom has broken with his fiancée and has just been asked to resign from the hospital for neglect of duty. Though Dr. Claybourne does not know what has happened to Tom, Tom privately tells Chris that he fell in love with Rita and secretly married her, after which she laughed at his stupidity and refused to see him. Now believing that Tom's original opinion of Rita was true, Chris goes to Fish-Eye's club and finds her. She confesses her mistakes and is remorseful, and, because she still loves Chris, agrees to his plan that she accompany him back to the jungle, on a platonic basis, to wait for Tom to agree to a divorce.
Source: www.tcm.com
Robert Taylor made a list of ten things that made his heart beat faster for "Good Housekeeping Magazine" in May, 1956. His tenth answer was Barbara Stanwyck's eyes.
Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck on the liner Queen Mary on February 4, 1947. "Barbara would arrive at the Trocadero or Ciro’s in an evening gown, her hair done up, and would see Claudette (“looking divine”) or Dietrich (“looking like something out of this world”) or Hedy Lamarr and feel awful about herself, like a shopgirl. “It’s no use,” Barbara would say. “I know what I look like. I like comfort too well to fix and fuss.” Barbara and Robert Taylor had permanent ringside seats for fight night at the Hollywood Legion Stadium and went regularly to Hollywood Baseball Park to watch a game and eat hot dogs and peanuts, often taking Dion with them." -A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel-True 1907-1940 by Victoria Wilson
-"It's a big help to an actor if people like to look at him but it has nothing to do with acting." -Robert Taylor
[Before meeting his wife]: -"There's always a special woman out there somewhere, but you don't know it at the time." On being labeled a hunk: "I don't see any hunkdom in my future. I'll be anti-hunk. Instead of working out, I'll sit around drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. That'll show 'em." -Kyle Chandler
Jeff tipped his baseball cap and smiled into the camera, just the way Ginger had coached him backstage. He hadn't had a serious bout of stage fright since Ginger had helped him get over it nearly two years ago, but she knew that there were still times he got a little uneasy with the thought of so many people watching them all at once. She felt his hand go to the small of her back to pull her in closer to him -partly for moral support, and partly just to have an excuse to touch her -and with a cool debonair air that even Robert Taylor would have killed for, he said, "From our family to yours... have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year! Bye for now!" Ginger released the breath she'd been holding for the last few minutes and looked up at Jeff. "I hate being live," she muttered, as he came in for a kiss. "Well I thought you did fantastic," he told her. Somehow, when Jeff said so, she could believe it.
Source: lemogrrl.tripod.com
The first tell-tale notes of 'Sentimental Journey' wailed from the living room, reaching Ginger Metcalf in the kitchen. She swallowed hard as she heard Doris Day's voice, but it did little to get rid of the fist-size lump in her throat. "I've still got time for a quick dance," he whispered, his breath tickling her ear. He turned her around and led her by the hand to the living room, where WREQ was now playing 'You Made Me Love You.' "You know in a few weeks you won't be able to do that anymore," Ginger said. "Don't be silly," Jeff leaned in and said in his husky baritone, "you'll still be as sexy as Hedy Lamarr."
Source: lemongrrl.tripod.com
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