Gloria Hides a Refugee

Peter Kuantan’s (Vittorio Gassman), a refugee who has been in concentration camps for 10 years, stows away on a U.S. bound ship.  Immigration authorities have no options except to send him back to Hungary. In desperation, Peter jumps from the ship, breaking a rib, and runs, hoping to find the soldier he saved while working for the Underground. All he knows is that the man is named Tom (Jerry Paris), plays the clarinet, and worked in Times Square. Unbeknownst to Peter, there is a clock ticking - if he is not located by 7am, he will be barred from entry to the U.S. forever.  Our film is The Glass Wall (1953). 

Vittorio Gassman was new to American films (AFI catalog), though he had had starring roles on stage and in films in his native Italy.  His recent marriage to Shelley Winters brought him to the U.S. and his role in this film. He’s impressive as Paul, a man with nothing to lose if forced back to his native land. In Mr. Gassman’s hands, Paul is an intelligent man who has seen too much in his lifetime. He knows his rights - he quotes The Displaced Persons Act, which states that “priority in the issuance of visas shall be given first to eligible displaced persons who during World War II bore arms against the enemies of the United States and are unable or unwilling to return to the countries of which they are nationals...” (UCLA Film and Television Archive article). His problem is, he has so little information that the government officials determine he must be sent back. Gassman’s Paul is determined, but desperate. He’s trying to save his own life - returning to Hungary is a death sentence.

Gloria Grahame is excellent as the down-on-her-luck lady who is befriended by Paul. Fired from her job when she became ill, sexually harassed by her work supervisor and by the landlady's son, Maggie Summers is a woman who is literally down to her last teabag - she goes to a restaurant to get a free cup of hot water for said teabag, and to eat the remains of someone else's lunch. It's when she attempts to steal a coat that Paul becomes involved. Her affection for this man who is the only decent person she's met is palpable. Shelley Winters wanted the part, but her studio (Universal) would not allow her to go to Columbia (Gloria Grahame: Bad Girl of Film Noir by Robert J. Lentz). We sincerely believe this was a very good thing. It's hard to picture anyone else but Ms. Grahame explaining how she came to be broke and friendless.

Another characterization that impresses is that of Tanya aka Bella Zakolya, an exotic dancer played by Robin Raymond. Like Maggie, Bella has to deal with sexism on a daily basis. A working mother, and the primary support for her widowed mother, she has learned to cope with the indignities of her job. She's still a caring human being; she's not stupid, as we quickly learn, but she has a good heart.

Likewise, Tom (Jerry Paris) is a decent man, who is torn between his desire to marry his fiance, Nancy (Ann Robinson) and what he feels is his duty to assist the man who saved his life.  Mr. Paris had a long career in films as a character actor - you might remember him as Marty's (1955) cousin. In television, he's remembered as Dick Van Dyke's next door neighbor, Jerry Helper. Mr. Paris also had a career as a television director (TCM article). He died in 1986.

It's a delight to see New York City, primarily Times Square circa 1952 through the film's lens. You also get a tour of the newly opened United Nations Building - the first film to use it as a location.  Brian Camp's blog  outlines many of the film's locations (using screen shots), as well as some notes on the many film titles we see on marquees.

The reviews for the film were decent though not over the moon (Columbia Noir: A Complete Filmography, 1940-1962 by Gene Blottner). Regardless, this is a fast-paced, suspenseful, and thoroughly enjoyable film. If the ending of the film is a trifle abrupt, it still is a satisfying movie with an excellent cast, and still so very topical.

We'll leave you with the trailer and the suggestion that you add this to your viewing queue:

Is Kirk Really Bad?

A few years ago, we discussed The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) (you can see our prior review here.  You'll also find a detailed description of the plot and characters there).  We decided to revisit the film, this time looking at it from a slightly different perspective - our discussion for this viewing focused on the character of Jonathan Shields, as wonderfully portrayed by Kirk Douglas.

So, the question is, is Jonathan Shields really bad?   We have three characters who are furious at him.  We looked at them in some detail.

Fred Amiel (Barry Sullivan) is angered when Jonathan passes him over for an experienced director on the film of Fred's script, The Far Away Mountain.  Is Fred justified in demonizing Jonathan?   When we first meet Fred, he is working as a professional mourner because he cannot sell a script.  Jonathan teams up with Fred and succeeds in getting them both jobs in Harry Pebbel's (Walter Pidgeon) studio.  Though Fred is not aggressive in blowing his own horn, Jonathan is. The final result, Fred becomes an Oscar-winning screenwriter and director, marries the woman of his dreams (to whom Jonathan proposes on Fred's behalf), and has a happy, stable family life. Does Jonathan backtrack on his promise to get Fred the acting gig? Sure.  Would Fred have gotten it, if Jonathan had pursued it further? Probably not.

Georgia Lorrison (Lana Turner) spends most of her time drinking and sleeping with men.  She perpetually mourns for her late father, a great actor, notable bon vivant, and drunkard.  Georgia however is notable for her beauty and for her inability to act.  Jonathan, who was friendly with her father, sees talent where no one else does, and goes out on a limb to hire her to star in his picture.  She inevitably breaks her promise to not drink and disappears on the first day of shooting.  Urged to replace her, Jonathan instead sobers her up, and keeps her in the production.  It's Georgia who envisions a great romance - Jonathan, a man plagued with his own demons, has no such idea.  However, he attempts to protect Georgia from his relationship with Lila (Elaine Stewart); it's Elaine who makes sure Georgia knows.  And Jonathan makes it clear he is furious at her callous revelation. Did he mislead her romantically? Probably.  Is he really out to hurt her? No.

James Lee Bartlow (Dick Powell), tempted to Hollywood by a hefty paycheck and by his wife Rosemary's Gloria Grahame) eagerness to sample the bright lights of the big city, signs a contract to write a screenplay of his book.  But Rosemary is a time suck.  We learn that it took him seven years to write his first book, primarily because of her interruptions.  To get the screenplay written, Jonathan asks his friend Victor "Gaucho" Ribera (Gilbert Roland) to squire Rosemary to the local hotspots to keep her distracted.  Though we hear only one half of a telephone conversation, it's clear Gaucho has more on his mind than squiring. Jonathan, however, is very clear in his response.  "I said 'squire', Gaucho".  He responds.  Is the fact that Rosemary and Gaucho choose to bring the relationship further than was requested Jonathan's fault? Not really, but perhaps he should have picked less of a Lothario as an escort.

The person who should resent Jonathan most is actually his biggest supporter.  Harry Pebbel becomes Jonathan's employee after Jonathan and Fred strike out on their own (assumedly, without his key writer and director, Harry cannot keep his B picture studio going).   Harry could see Jonathan (and Fred) as traitors, yet he is the one who forces our characters to look inward - to realize that their fame, awards, success all stem from what Jonathan did for them.  He does not defend, but points out truths (like the fact that Jonathan let Georgia out of her contract over Harry's protestations).  As such, Harry becomes the bellweather for our opinion of Jonathan, and he is hard to ignore.

It's hard to imagine anyone other than Kirk Douglas doing it.  He makes the character a real person - a combination of both the bad and the good. The nuances of Douglas' performance become more visible with each viewing of the film.  Since it's likely that Jonathan was loosely based on real people (see this AFI Catalog entry for some of possible candidates), it is important that Douglas create a real individual, not a caricature, which he does admirably.

When the film opened at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the New York Times review was not particularly enthusiastic.  Regardless of their opinion, the film won five Oscars, including Best Supporting Actress (Gloria Grahame) and Helen Rose for her splendid costume design (b&w film).  If you've not seen The Bad and the Beautiful in awhile, give yourself a treat and watch it again.  Now, we're not saying that Jonathan Shields is a prince among men, just that, on second viewing, you might find yourself rooting a bit for his comeback.

Everyone loathes Kirk

Perhaps the most interesting film to examine Hollywood is The Bad and the Beautiful (1952).  Kirk Douglas plays Jonathan Shields, a would-be studio executive, who is broke and has successfully alienated everyone who might possibly have assisted him in a comeback.  Jonathan is brilliant, he is inspirational, but he is also the biggest creep you could ever have the misfortune to meet.  As Harry Pebbel (Walter Pidgeon) asks former friends  Georgia Lorrison (Lana Turner), Fred Amiel (Barry Sullivan), and James Lee Bartlow (Dick Powell) to consider being part of Jonathan's next production, we are treated to three mini-movies, which reveal their particular relationships with Jonathan. 

Told in flashback, we already know that Jonathan has world has collapsed.  But what we don't know is why these three renowned people - an Oscar winning director, a highly praised leading lady, and a Pulitzer Prize winning author - despise Jonathan.  Slowly, we learn that Jonathan is completely obsessed with his own vision, and he will use his friends' strengths - and weaknesses - to get what he wants.  But we also discover that each of the three became who they are because of Jonathan.

Fred is a would-be director unable to get a job.  He is meek, unassuming, and almost passive.  Jonathan even takes the initiative to propose marriage to Fred's girl FOR Fred.  But once Jonathan steals Fred's pet project,  Fred learns to fight for what he wants.  He becomes a power in Hollywood, and a success in his personal life.

Georgia, the daughter of a famed Shakespearean actor - and noted drunk - is herself a drunk, who thinks nothing of sleeping around to amuse herself.  She is, by her own confession, a lousy actress, and she has no ambitions.  She both hates and idolizes her dead father, and has hidden herself away from even the possibility of success, until Jonathan enters her life.

James Lee is a college professor in Virginia, living quietly with his amorous wife Rosemary (Gloria Grahame).  It has taken him seven years to complete his first book, primarily because Rosemary won't let him work. This story is perhaps the most hard to deal with of the three.  In order to allow James Lee time to work, Jonathan involves Rosemary with film Lothario Victor 'Gaucho' Ribero (Gilbert Rowland), leading to both their deaths.  Left to himself, James Lee becomes a successful writer, but at what cost? Is the death of Rosemary worth the success he achieves?  Or, is love and companionship more important than success?

Director Vincente Minnelli carefully weaves in nods to real Hollywood in this fictional tale.  It's very apparent that the unseen George Lorrison (voiced by Louis Calhern) is modeled on John Barrymore; and that Georgia is loosely based on Diana Barrymore. Also, the filming of a horror film involving cat men is a nod to the 1942 film Cat People.  But also alluded to, according to this article from SUNY Albany are such notable filmmakers as David O. Selznick, Alfred Hitchcock, Josef von Sternberg, Erich von Stroheim, Val Lewton, and William Faulkner. TCM provides a great deal of information on this film, including the fact that Clark Gable was asked to play Jonathan (he turned it down).  Certainly, it would have been a very different role - Gable was much older (perhaps too old to play the younger Jonathan), and was also too likeable.  Is it possible to loathe Clark Gable?

This is a film with an amazing cast, both of leads and of extras.  Kirk Douglas is electrifying as Jonathan.  He conveys the small things as well as the big ones - his dislike, but love for his father; his admiration for Georgia's father; his fear of loving and being loved.  Barry Sullivan, an actor who is usually not high on my list, is excellent as well.  And Gloria Grahame as the modern day Scarlett O'Hara, Rosemary Bartlow, is stunning.  (Her line, "You have a dirty mind, James Lee, I'm happy to say" is priceless.)  Did Rosemary cheat on her husband? We'll never know, because Grahame paints such a beautiful, multidimensional portrait.  And watch for bit parts from people like Barbara Billingsley and Ned Glass.  This "Behind the Camera" from TCM discusses Glass' role in the film; Glass was a victim of the Hollywood Blacklist, and this film began his problems.

Finally, also from TCM, a look at the critical reception of the film in their Critic's Corner.  The film won five Oscars (from six nominations), as well as receiving accolades from the major critics. 

Before we go, a clip from the film in which Ned Glass as the costumer for "Doom of the Cat Men" demonstrates how NOT to dress a monster: