Drooling Over the Hunk, Aldo Ray!

It  was 1955.  I was 13 years old.  We lived in Greensburg Pennsylvania, My father had just been transferred to Charleston, West Virginia.  We hadn't moved there yet so my father was taking a trip to Charleston to scope out his new office and employees.  He asked me if I wanted to go along. I was so excited and thrilled to go with my dad, who was my hero.  Imagine getting to take a week off from school and hang out with my dad when he wasn't working in his new office.  It just so happened that the movie "Battle Cry"was playing at the cinema while we were there.  In those days parents were more open and trusting of the world and my dad trusted me. I went to see the movie everyday while he was working and then walked back to his office.  I really hadn't thought about this, what I would call  now a coming of age event in my life. The movie happened to be on TCM just a few days ago and all the wonderful memories came flooding back.

The movie starred:  Aldo Ray, Mona Freeman, Van Heflin, James Whitmore, and Tab Hunter. It was adapted from the book of the same name written by Leon Uris.  He also wrote the screenplay. It took place during WWII and was about a crew of Marines who basically did clean up work in places such as Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and oher bloody battlefields. After fighting for his men, who have been well trained, disciplined, and ready for battle, "Highpockets" (Van Heflan) and his commanding general fianally agreed that his battalion would lead the final battle into Saipan.

In the meantime, the soldiers were sent New Zealand  a safe zone or place for respite where the troops would  regroup and prepare for battle.  This is where my favorite part  comes in. I was enchanted to watch over and over again the scenes where Andy (Aldo Ray)  met and fell in love with a beautiful New Zealand girl whose family owned a vast and lush sheep farm. I am not ashamed to say that I watched and waited with bated breath just to see Andy grab Pat Robert's ass (Nancy Olson)  Talk about innocent and naive. It sure did thrill me and sent my raging 13 year old hormones into orbit!  Andy fell so deeply in love that he wanted to desert. Fortunately she talked him out of deserting.

The trip with my dad was great! Even though he knew I was going to see "Battle Cry"  everyday. It did not occur to him that I was becoming aware of my sexuality.  Neither did It occur to me. When we got home from our trip,  I immediately borrowed a copy of the book from the library.  The book was better than the movie.  Isn't that to be expected?

Errol Flynn is my actor of choice today and the movie..."Gentleman Jim".  It was a slightly fact-based movie about two Irish-American boxers - John L. Sullivan and James J. Corbett.  

John L. Sullivan was considered the first champion of gloved heavyweight boxing. He was also known as the "Boston Strong Boy" and the last heavyweight champion of bare knuckle boxing.  (The movie shows John L. only as a sympathetic figure and makes no mention of his racist beliefs and unwillingness to fight any non-white boxers.)  

James J. Corbett or "Gentleman Jim" Corbett was best known as the man who took the heavyweight championship from the great John L. Sullivan.  

I am fanatic and passionate about Irish-Americans (being one myself) so this movie piqued my interest on that level as well.   Errol Flynn was born in Australia, but referred to himself as Irish, so I was in Irish heaven.  

Alexis Smith was Gentleman Jim's love interest. Ward Bond played the part of John L.  

I thought the only fight scene in movie was well choreographed...and after each round Gentleman Jim would tell his trainer to fix his hair, which added a clever comical touch. What is not well known is that Errol Flynn could only spar for one to two minutes at a time during the film's shooting due to his lack of physical fitness. (He tired easily perhaps due to his time partying on the town.) 

There is a touching scene at the end of the film after Gentleman Jim pummels John L.  A swell party is being thrown at Gentleman Jim's residence. Everybody is dressed to the nines while drinking and singing in the grand and hell raising fashion of the Irish. Quiet comes over the room as the defeated John L. walks in.  He offers his championship belt to Gentleman Jim.  John L. has accepted his defeat in a tear jerker courageous way!  He tells Gentleman Jim that he (Gentleman Jim) has probably changed the face of boxing, in a positive way, forever.  (That, in fact, is true.  Jim Corbett was credited by the boxing historians as the "Father of Modern Boxing".)   Gentleman Jim (Errol Flynn) accepts the belt with humility and sensitivity.  He contemplates his own life and the loneliness that John L. must feel now that he has fallen from his pugilistic throne.  

I really enjoyed watching Errol Flynn who, by all my measures, was a gorgeous man.  I am throughly going to enjoy watching him in every movie he ever made. I am all about the beautiful men, Irish or otherwise.

I am now watching "The Sheik" with Rudolph Valentino, Agnes Ayres, and Adolf Menjou.  This movie was released in 1921...92 years ago!  Having never watched a Valentino film before I am quite fascinated with it and with Valentino. Although he had a Bella Lagosi-like glare, which he used to express his desire.  When Valentino was showing his tender side I found him to be very sensual and appealing.  I totally see why women were enamored of him and why his name and films are timeless.  He was also a fabulous dancer as shown in "The Four Horses of the Apocalypse".

Sadly, Valentino died at the young age of 31 from a burst appendix or peritonitis.

Interestingly enough these were times when praying to Allah did not stir negative feelings in America as it often does today. However, as with many Hollywood productions, the different traditions of a foreign country and its people shone through.  (not that there is anything wrong with that) The Sheik and its  opening credits show a poem that ends in "...saint and sinner chant as one / praise to Allah bowing beneath the desert sun."  I assume that since we were not experiencing any animosity from the Middle East at that time and we were more enthralled with romantic stories coming from there, such as "The Sheik"; we and they lived on this planet in relative harmony. 
 
There was some political incorrectness in the movie the "Sheik". It was quite comical and blatant. It turns out that the Sheik was of  English and Spanish ancestry and not an Arab.  Diane, (Agnes Ayres) commented on how large the Sheik's hands were for an Arab.  Menjou then told her the story of how the Sheik had been found abandoned in the desert as a young boy (his parents had been killed).  They were English and Spanish.  Diane was more in love or relieved of shame for being in love with him upon learning of this discovery.

Adolph Menjou had continued success in talking movies, but to me, Menjou did not have the intense sex appeal that Rudolph Valentino enjoyed.

I am now watching "The Sheik" with Rudolph Valentino, Agnes Ayres, and Adolf Menjou.  This movie was released in 1921...92 years ago!  Having never watched a Valentino film before I am quite fascinated with it and with Valentino. Although he had a Bella Lagosi-like glare, which he used to express his desire.  When Valentino was showing his tender side I found him to be very sensual and appealing.  I totally see why women were enamored of him and why his name and films are timeless.  He was also a fabulous dancer as shown in "The Four Horses of the Apocalypse".

Sadly, Valentino died at the young age of 31 from a burst appendix or peritonitis.

Interestingly enough these were times when praying to Allah did not stir negative feelings in America as it often does today. However, as with many Hollywood productions, the different traditions of a foreign country and its people shone through.  (not that there is anything wrong with that) The Sheik and its  opening credits show a poem that ends in "...saint and sinner chant as one / praise to Allah bowing beneath the desert sun."  I assume that since we were not experiencing any animosity from the Middle East at that time and we were more enthralled with romantic stories coming from there, such as "The Sheik"; we and they lived on this planet in relative harmony. 

There was some political incorrectness in the movie the "Sheik". It was quite comical and blatant. It turns out that the Sheik was of  English and Spanish ancestry and not an Arab.  Diane, (Agnes Ayres) commented on how large the Sheik's hands were for an Arab.  Menjou then told her the story of how the Sheik had been found abandoned in the desert as a young boy (his parents had been killed).  They were English and Spanish.  Diane was more in love or relieved of shame for being in love with him upon learning of this discovery.

Adolph Menjou had continued success in talking movies, but to me, Menjou did not have the intense sex appeal that Rudolph Valentino enjoyed.

 I am watching "Shadows and Lies" with James Franco.   What is he doing?  If this is supposed to be creative art, then I really need a crash course on how to understand and appreciate it!  It is the slowest moving, most boring, frustrating and worst background music movie I have had the displeasure of watching.  Who in the world got the idea to make this thing.  Josh Lucas is definitely hard up for work as is Martin Donovan and needless to say, James Franco.  Artsy it is not.  Oh, I forgot to mention it's  depressing as well.

Glen Ford in "Ransom"

  

I was not a big Glen Ford fan, except for his role in "Teahouse of the August Moon".  He and Marlon Brando were both great!  Today on TCM, Glen Ford starred in the original "Ransom", which was released in 1956.  I thought his portrayal of Stannard, the father of the kidnapped boy, was an academy award winning performance. The movie was not, however, a box office success.  That year Ernest Borgnine won for "Marni".  I have not seen the movie, as I was not a Borgnine fan.  My guess is that even when I do see Marni, my vote will still go to Glen Ford.