Noir Alley

[Hibi]

15 hours ago, King Rat said:

Dargo, I didn't mind Michael North that much, possibly because he looks like Anthony George, one of my childhood favorites. North can also look a bit like Wendell Corey from certain angles. He isn't great, but there are guys who got leading roles in the early and middle 1930s who are less successful. And Troy Donahue is really ticked off because you don't consider him the worst studio era actor of all time.

SPOILERS: Joan Caulfield does reasonably well in a part that has certain problem areas. Matilda doesn't pick up on the fact that her beloved uncle might have a darker side. Well, OK. She's in love with Hurd Hatfield. Granted, the 1940s were much more innocent about a certain subject, but her antennae are not functioning well. The more we think about it, the likelier it seems that she could marry someone and then forget all about it. She's not even all that convincing to herself. It's interesting that in 1947 a glamorous and lovely young woman could be named Matilda. Joan Caulfield has the right look for the character, even though she's not on a par with the terrific character actors in the film.

I'm curious about this Michael North and why he never made a film again. His delivery is too monotone and rapid in the film, but he's very easy on the eyes. I wonder what he did at RKO? I'll have to check.

[Hibi]

20 hours ago, TomJH said:

Joan Fontaine had been Michael Curtiz's original choice for the role of Matilda but his budget for the film couldn't afford her.

In fact, none of the cast that he eventually wound up with in the film were first choices by the producer director.

Orson Welles turned down the role of Grandison after he read the script. Curtiz was furious at Ava Gardner's agent for talking her out of playing Althea, though I think this may have turned out for the better since Audrey Totter is deliciously b i t c hy in that role and I doubt that a young Ava could have matched her.

For the young man's role in the film (Steve Howard) Curtiz approached Dana Andrews, who was initially willing to play the part, provided that Virginia Mayo was Matilda. Andrews then had second thoughts, however, when he realized that he would be a supporting player in the film and after he backed out Mayo lost interest, as well. The previous year they had been memorable as a less than ideal married couple in The Best Years of Our Lives. Matilda in The Unsuspected would have been quite a contrasting role of naive innocence for Mayo.

As for the final cast of the film, I think this production boasts exemplary work from Claude Rains and, as previously stated, Audrey Totter. I also think that Constance Bennett is a great snappy substitute for Eve Arden, and new discovery Fred Clark is effective as the detective. Poor old Hurd Hatfield has a drab part (anyone notice the irony of the former Dorian Gray saying the portrait of Matilda "changed" in the film ?). As for Joan Caulfield and "new discovery" Ted North, Snoooooze City.

Yes, I noticed that remark about the painting!

[Hibi]

According to imdb, Ted North became and agent! He died relatively young (59) in 1975.

[Dargo]

47 minutes ago, Hibi said:

It's never really explained why she did that. In fact, although I've seen the film several times, I'm still confused about the motive for the murder of Rain's secretary. Can anyone explain it to me?

Thanks for asking this, Hibi. I've also been wondering about this. I do remember something being said later in the film that she had discovered some dark secret about Rains' character, but I can't remember what that actually was.

And so, can someone help us out here?

43 minutes ago, Hibi said:

I'm curious about this Michael North and why he never made a film again. His delivery is too monotone and rapid in the film, but he's very easy on the eyes. I wonder what he did at RKO? I'll have to check.

Now this I haven't been wondering about at all.

Nope, and 'cause the answer to THIS was pretty much self-evident to me.

It must have been because after this film was released, it became evident to one and all that the guy just couldn't act worth a damn, and something he himself must have come to realize once he watched himself in this movie.

(...boy, I'm really hard on this poor guy, aren't I...but GOD he was terrible in this flick...yep, Curtiz needed Dana Andrews in that part...too bad he couldn't get him)

 

[TomJH]

52 minutes ago, Hibi said:

It's never really explained why she did that. In fact, although I've seen the film several times, I'm still confused about the motive for the murder of Rain's secretary. Can anyone explain it to me?

 

31 minutes ago, Dargo said:

Thanks for asking this, Hibi. I've also been wondering about this. I do remember something being said later in the film that she had discovered some dark secret about Rains' character, but I can't remember what that actually was.

And so, can someone help us out here?

 

I agree that the motive for this killing doesn't knock you over the head, But in the scene in which Rains confronts Totter he says that she and the secretary had something in common, they were both far too inquisitive (Grandison was pilfering Matilda's money, I believe).

Fortunately Rains' motive for killing Totter was far more apparent. She was in danger of stealing the film from him.

[Dargo]

12 hours ago, TomJH said:

I took a look at my recording of The Unsuspected and saw that Totter exited the film when there was still 36 minutes to go so I'll stick to my statement that she left the film too soon. I agree, though, that my exited "as early as she did" statement probably makes it sound like she went even sooner.

Perhaps we can both agree, at least, MissW, that Peter Lorre's Ugarte left Casablanca too soon (also with the assistance Claude Rains, busy boy).

Yeah, except it was Fred Clark not Rains who, ahem, rounded up the usual suspects in THIS flick.

[Dargo]

6 minutes ago, TomJH said:

 

I agree that the motive for this killing doesn't knock you over the head, But in the scene in which Rains confronts Totter he says that she and the secretary had something in common, they were both far too inquisitive (Grandison was pilfering Matilda's money, I believe).

Fortunately Rains' motive for killing Totter was far more apparent. She was in danger of stealing the film from him.

LOL

No one ever steals a movie away from the great Claude Rains, Tom.

[TomJH]

8 minutes ago, Dargo said:

LOL

No one ever steals a movie away from the great Claude Rains, Tom.

Yeh, you're right about that, Dargo.

Bette Davis tried to stop him from stealing Deception by shooting him, but it was too late. He had already taken the film from her.

"Take that, you little scene stealer. And that! And that!"

[King Rat]

If The Unsuspected had been a full WB movie and a bigger hit, perhaps the studio would have pushed Audrey Totter (or, for that matter, Constance Bennett) for a supporting actress nod.

[Hibi]

33 minutes ago, TomJH said:

 

I agree that the motive for this killing doesn't knock you over the head, But in the scene in which Rains confronts Totter he says that she and the secretary had something in common, they were both far too inquisitive (Grandison was pilfering Matilda's money, I believe).

Fortunately Rains' motive for killing Totter was far more apparent. She was in danger of stealing the film from him.

Yes, I guess that's all we have to go on.

[speedracer5]

54 minutes ago, TomJH said:

I agree that the motive for this killing doesn't knock you over the head, But in the scene in which Rains confronts Totter he says that she and the secretary had something in common, they were both far too inquisitive (Grandison was pilfering Matilda's money, I believe).

 

1 hour ago, Dargo said:

Thanks for asking this, Hibi. I've also been wondering about this. I do remember something being said later in the film that she had discovered some dark secret about Rains' character, but I can't remember what that actually was.

I guess I missed there even potentially being a motive! I thought that Rains was murdering people to test out the scripts in his radio shows, since they seemed to revolve around how to commit the perfect murder.  I figured he devised these schemes on paper, tested them out in real life to see if he could get away with it, then shared the story (as entertainment) on his radio program. 

I am curious about his show, "The Tragedy of the Missing Head" and would like to hear it. I guess thankfully, we as the audience were spared from seeing how this one played out in real life.

[Hibi]

1 hour ago, Dargo said:

Thanks for asking this, Hibi. I've also been wondering about this. I do remember something being said later in the film that she had discovered some dark secret about Rains' character, but I can't remember what that actually was.

And so, can someone help us out here?

Now this I haven't been wondering about at all.

Nope, and 'cause the answer to THIS was pretty much self-evident to me.

It must have been because after this film was released, it became evident to one and all that the guy just couldn't act worth a damn, and something he himself must have come to realize once he watched himself in this movie.

(...boy, I'm really hard on this poor guy, aren't I...but GOD he was terrible in this flick...yep, Curtiz needed Dana Andrews in that part...too bad he couldn't get him)

 

I don't think he was THAT bad!

[Hibi]

6 minutes ago, King Rat said:

If The Unsuspected had been a full WB movie and a bigger hit, perhaps the studio would have pushed Audrey Totter (or, for that matter, Constance Bennett) for a supporting actress nod.

Yeah, but neither were contractees....

[Dargo]

1 minute ago, King Rat said:

If The Unsuspected had been a full WB movie and a bigger hit, perhaps the studio would have pushed Audrey Totter (or, for that matter, Constance Bennett) for a supporting actress nod.

Yeah, probably true, KR.

However, because that North guy ruined this movie with his gawdawful acting, this was probably why it failed at the boxoffice!!!

LOL

(...okay okay...I'll get off the poor guy's case here...for now anyway) 

 

[TomJH]

19 minutes ago, Dargo said:

Yeah, probably true, KR.

However, because that North guy ruined this movie with his gawdawful acting, this was probably why it failed at the boxoffice!!!

LOL

(...okay okay...I'll get off the poor guy's case here...for now anyway) 

 

"Yes, I'd like to put out a contract on this Dargo guy. Why?  Because he keeps saying I'm a bad actor. What do you mean he has a point? Now I want to put out a contract on you!"

[JamesJazGuitar]

26 minutes ago, King Rat said:

If The Unsuspected had been a full WB movie and a bigger hit, perhaps the studio would have pushed Audrey Totter (or, for that matter, Constance Bennett) for a supporting actress nod.

I see you're point but if it was not a Curtiz production but instead produced by a  WB under contract producer,   Totter,  etc... wouldn't be cast in the film at all.

(instead WB contract players would have been).

[JamesJazGuitar]

59 minutes ago, Dargo said:

Yeah, probably true, KR.

However, because that North guy ruined this movie with his gawdawful acting, this was probably why it failed at the boxoffice!!!

LOL

(...okay okay...I'll get off the poor guy's case here...for now anyway) 

 

It is odd that Curtiz casted North after his lack of success since arriving in Hollywood.      I wonder if this was done to save money since Curtiz's production company had to hire two loan outs and other actors not already under fixed contract with WB studios.    Curtiz had to notice North was the weak link in a chain of fine actors.

Also this was North final film;    was that by choice?

 

 

[Dargo]

Btw here KR, and re my new and latest discovery of the "worst studio era actor of all time" here and thus replacing George Raft and James Craig who've previously held that title..

18 hours ago, King Rat said:

Dargo, I didn't mind Michael North that much, possibly because he looks like Anthony George, one of my childhood favorites.

Cr

...sorry, but I don't see his resemblance to Anthony George here...

...and who always reminded me of George Maharis.

[Hibi]

Those dimples! And he looked good in 3/4 profile. (North) I can forgive some mediocre acting if the face is good! He had a nice voice too. imdb says he became an agent.

[TomJH]

3 hours ago, Dargo said:

Yeah, probably true, KR.

However, because that North guy ruined this movie with his gawdawful acting, this was probably why it failed at the boxoffice!!!

LOL

(...okay okay...I'll get off the poor guy's case here...for now anyway) 

 

Actually The Unsuspected didn't fail at the box office. It made a profit of $400,000, which was still considered a disappointment. One of the problems Curtiz had in his production company arrangement with Warner Brothers was that he couldn't do any of the promotion for the film. That was entirely up to the studio and Jack Warner was only willing to spend so much on this film.

For those interested in Michael Curtiz, I can recommend an excellent biography, Michael Curtiz, A Life in Film, by Alan K. Rode. It has lots of details about his life and, for me, far more important, the making of his films.

[misswonderly3]

3 hours ago, speedracer5 said:

 

I guess I missed there even potentially being a motive! I thought that Rains was murdering people to test out the scripts in his radio shows, since they seemed to revolve around how to commit the perfect murder.  I figured he devised these schemes on paper, tested them out in real life to see if he could get away with it, then shared the story (as entertainment) on his radio program. 

I am curious about his show, "The Tragedy of the Missing Head" and would like to hear it. I guess thankfully, we as the audience were spared from seeing how this one played out in real life.

Speedy !  I'm impressed that you came up with that absolutely diabolical motive for "Grandee's"  murders !   And certainly,  the guy was very dedicated to his murder mystery show, in fact,  I got the impression that's why he was friends with Fred Clark  ( the police detective),   so he could consult him about murder cases, etc.   

But honestly,  I think that shifts Grandison from the category of "bad"  to  another level:  "evil".     He was greedy for his niece's  (Joan Caulfield) fortune, and was probably pilfering it, as Tom suggested.  Embezzling or something.  And he was not pleased when Matilda returned, seemingly from the dead.   Maybe the secretary who we see murdered at the beginning was on to him,  "too curious" as someone else suggested.  It's true,  we just have to infer what her murder was all about.  But if Grandison was just having people knocked off for the sake of his stories,  he was even worse than we all thought !

( still,  I kind of like the idea, and it made me laugh - that would be one badass villain ! )

[Dargo]

19 minutes ago, TomJH said:

Actually The Unsuspected didn't fail at the box office. It made a profit of $400,000, which was still considered a disappointment. One of the problems Curtiz had in his production company arrangement with Warner Brothers was that he couldn't do any of the promotion for the film. That was entirely up to the studio and Jack Warner was only willing to spend so much on this film.

For those interested in Michael Curtiz, I can recommend an excellent biography, Michael Curtiz, A Life in Film, by Alan K. Rode. It has lots of details about his life and, for me, far more important, the making of his films.

So, does Curtiz recount or have his own version of the infamous "Bring on the empty horses" incident, Tom??? 

(...I dunno, but I sure wouldn't want to have been Curtiz's proofreader for that book of his, anyway!)

 

 

[TomJH]

3 hours ago, Dargo said:

So, does Curtiz recount or have his own version of the infamous "Bring on the empty horses" incident, Tom??? 

(...I dunno, but I sure wouldn't want to have been Curtiz's proofreader for that book of his, anyway!)

 

 

No, that was David Niven's tale, though Rode repeated it in his book, along with one of my favourite anecdotes. Curtiz, as you know, was known for his malapropisms and complete mangling of the English language. Niven and Flynn used to break up about it on the set of Charge of the Light Brigade to the extent that one day Curtiz had an outburst:

"You lousy bums. You and your stinking language . . . you think I know f--k nothing. Well let me tell you, I know F--K ALL!"

You know I'm amazed how much Errol Flynn left out of his autobiography, not only the "bring on the empty horses" anecdote regarding Curtiz but Niven's tale of how he beat up a stunt man on that same film's studio location after the stunt man shoved a lance up his horse's arse, causing Flynn to get thrown to the ground.

Another thing Flynn never mentioned, that Michael Curtiz and his first wife Lili Damita had an affair in Europe about ten years or so before he met her. That, at least, is according to Rode in his Curtiz biography (he dismisses the talk of Curtiz and Damita ever having been married, though, which Robert Osborne once stated in his introduction to a Damita film).

I mean, come on , how could Flynn not have made reference to an affair between a director he worked with twelve times and despised and his first wife, whose lawyers were making his life an economic misery? Did Errol not know? With Hollywood such a place of gossip I find that hard to believe. Yet, to the best of my knowledge, and certainly in his autobiography, Flynn never referred to the fact that, as far as his first wife was concerned, Curtiz had been there first.

[Kikiki]

4 hours ago, TomJH said:

Yeh, you're right about that, Dargo.

Bette Davis tried to stop him from stealing Deception by shooting him, but it was too late. He had already taken the film from her.

"Take that, you little scene stealer. And that! And that!"

As much as I like Bette, you are correct. However, they were both “giants”. 

[Thompson]

Looking forward to the Japanese noir coming up.