LINDA DARNELL for Star of the Month October 2013

[Arturo]

Well Kim Novak has been chosen as SOTM for September, then that leaves TCM staff just this month to finalize the films that could be shown should Linda Darnell be chosen for the SOTM for October. A suggestion for programming, if its not too late....try to show real rarities like her 1939 debut HOTEL FOR WOMEN, which TCM had penciled in two years ago for Lindas SUTS, SUMMER STORM, and THE GREAT JOHN L. both made at UA and never seen on TCM. Or her rare Fox films like CENTENNIAL SUMMER, The WALLS OF JERICHO, THE THIRTEENTH LETTER, THE GUY WHO CAME BACK or NIGHT WITHOUT SLEEP, amd especially FOREVER AMBER. Then there are the rarely seen freelancing pictures she did in the 50s, THE LADY PAYS OFF, I SLAND OF DESIRE, THIS IS MY LOVE, or DAKOTA INCIDENT. Plus her two made in Italy, DONNE PROIBITE or GLI ULTIMI CINQUE.MINUTI. Heres hoping against hope, not only for Linda being chosen, but some of these true rarities being shown. But even if its mosty made up of her movies that are usually shown, itll still be an special month. PS...Linda made any number of TV dramas in the fifties. some of these can be added , not just to pad out the month, but to give a more complete overview of her career, in the later period where she made next to no feature film. Of course, rights issues would be the main stumbling block. but these would be the capper of a great month.

 

Edited by: Arturo on Jun 29, 2013 12:11 PM

[Arturo]

tomorrow, Monday July 1, at 6:30 pm eastern, 3:30 Pacific, TCM will show ZERO HOUR (1957). this film was the last Linda Darnell wpuld do for various years, until 1965, (with the exception of the release in some markets of the TV movie HOMEWARD BORNE in 1958). also featuring Dana Andrews ansd Sterling Hayden, among others, Linda didnt have much to do. this movie is best known today as the movie spoofed in AIRPLANE, even featuring emuch of the same dialogue, with tongue firmly in cheek.

[Arturo]

Here's another What If regarding Linda Darnell. what if when she divorced first husband, Pev Marley, he hadn't demanded she payhim $125,00.00. If they had had a divorce where he didnt privately seek this mo.ey, in order to keep quiet about an affair Linda was having, most likely she would never have felt compelled to seek to modify her contract at Fox. she didd this in early 1951, and while geftting substantially more per film, was amended so that she would only have one film a year under the new terms. this allowed her to begin freelancing, and began almost immediately in mid 1951, with two back to back outside films, THE LADY PAYS OFF and ISLAND OF DESIRE. Had this amended contract not had to take place, Linda would probably have done several films at Fox which had been meant for her. AND, she would most likely not have contracted the jaundice she gor while filming IOD in Jamaica, this illness and its reoccurrences would keep Linda unable to make movies for the better part of a year. So She mjssed out making at 20th such roles as LYDIA BAILEY, DIPLOMATIC COURIER, , WAIT TILL THE SUN SHINES NELLIE, and even THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO. And while she was good in both TLPO and IOD, a better scenario might`ve flipped it, where she would get to do one outside film a year. And the main thing she would have remained busy and in the spotight more, in rhe crucial early 50s. Plus, she might never have met up with Giuseppe Amato, who visited her while at a London hospital for the jaundice, and not do the two pictures with him she did later, which did nothing for her career.

[Arturo]

Here are some shots of Linda Darnell (hope it works this time), starting with her first movie role, starring in 1939's HOTEL FOR WOMEN. That's Linda and her leading man James Ellison.

 

 

 

Here she is with the film's director, Gregory Ratoff, and Al Jolson, on the 20th lot, probably during filming of ROSE OF WASHINGTON SQUARE.

 

 

 

 

And an early publicity shot that year of Linda at 15 years of age.

 

 

[Arturo]

Here are a couple of stills from HOTEL FOR WOMEN.

 

 

And some more early publicity shots:

 

Edited by: TCMWebAdmin on Jul 10, 2013 8:42 AM to remove oversized images.

[Arturo]

Oops! I don't know how to get rid of that image (I assume everyone can see it), or to edit it.

[Arturo]

Another Linda Darnell "what if"....What if Linda had joined the many stars that stayed abroad and worked fhere, for a.minimum of 18 months, in fhe late 40s amd early 50s. IM not sure how it worked, but there was a significsnt tax break on those earnings while overseas. Linda was in Europe for a couple of extended periods, which she could have extended rather easily. For instance, Linda went to Italy in mid 1953 to film the first movie she did wifh producer Giuseppe Amato, DONNE PROIBITE. She wrote to friends that she might remain there to film another movie for Amato. With her long term contract to Fox over the previous year, she had no compelling reason to return to the States. Additionally, Linda could have accepted a role she had discussed with director David Miller to film TWIST OF FATE in the French Riviera in late 1953 ~early 1954. plus if she had been given the part promised her in THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA, This could have kept her in Europe for a while longer. Her marriage to Phillip Leibmann was one that had them staying abroa CAd for long stretches. her only film in the US during this period, THIS IS MY LOVE, she did for Stuart Heisler, who woukd have waited for her other commitments to be completed, he`d done this before. In early 1955, Linda was again in Italy, filming GLI ULTIMI CINQUE MINUTI....afterwards, working on establishing a Girls Town there, she remained in Rome for some six months. again there was talk of a further Italian film project. All in all, she could have easily combined her stays and stayed away at least the 18 month minimum. This would have given her tax relief, which would be one of the pressing financial issues that would shortly rear its head soon after she divorced Liebmann in December 1955.

[Arturo]

Well, Linda Darnell got passed over for SOTM for October 2013.....seems similar to her getting passed over for some of the important roles while under contract to 20th Century Fox. Anyway, while she won't be honored on the month she would have turned 90, I still feel she is a worthy candidate for a future month, and has sufficient movies that are or can be available to TCM to cover the month. So I will continue to strive to make this a reality, by posting here to keep this topic on the spotlight. Thanks for your support on this endeavor. PS....thanks TCMWebAdmin for removing the post that threatened to turn this into The Still That Ate This Thread.

[Arturo]

 

On Monday, July 15 FMC will show this classic western with Linda Darnell:

 

 

7:30 am EST, 4:30 AM PST:

 

 

 

 

 

MY DARLING CLEMENTINE

 

A western classic about Wyatt Earp (Fonda) and Doc Holliday (Mature) and their clash with the Clanton family at the O.K. Corral.

*Cast:* Henry Fonda, Victor Mature, Tim Holt, Alan Mowbray, Linda Darnell, Walter Brennan

*Director:* John Ford

1946

 

 

[StBartsActor]

My Darling Clementine may not be new to many on this thread, but if it is, it is definitely worth watching. I only watched it in its entirety a year or two ago and loved it (and you don't have to be a western fan). And yes, Darnell was a beauty and overlooked. Agree.

[Arturo]

Thanks StBarts. yesMY DARLING CLEMENTINE is a great John Ford western. a poetic retelling of mythmmaking proportions. And Linda Darnell as the fiery Chihuahua convinced Darryl Zanuck to finally decide to cast her in the lead in FOREVER AMBER.

[Arturo]

Tonight at 9 pm Pacific, 12 am eastern as part of TCMs Friday NightSpotlight, is a movie with a "what if" connection to Linda Darnell. This is MISSISSIPPI MERMAID, based on Cornel Wollichs WALTZ INTO SEPTEMBER, which under that title, Fox bought as a vehicle to reteam Linda with Cornel Wilde in 1949. This would have made an ideal movie for Linda with her as a mysterious mail order bride in early 19th century New Orleans. I have no idea why it wasnt made, but its a pity imho. Some ten or twelve years ago, it was done with Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas, set in Cuba, under the name of ORIGINAL SIN.

 

Edited by: Arturo on Jul 12, 2013 3:12 PM

[Arturo]

some thoughts on Linda Darnell that I've been grappling with how to articulate them. When I was growing up, and seeking written information as well as pictures of Linda, I pretty much accepted the standard wisdom that her career declined drastically in the last half of the 50s, and was nearly nonexistent in the 60s, due to her drinking and weight gain and consequent premature matronly appearance. I remember being shocked sometimes by new pictures showing her in these later years. But thanks mainly to the internet, I have seen enough stills of Linda in the latter part of her career to have become accostumed to her looks then. I have realized that the accepted rationale for her decline was .not so simple. For one thing, while she did gain much weight around the time of her third marriage, in 1957, she lost much of it, and gained it again, in the next few years. It was all part of the weight problem she had dealt with for most of her career, if with somewhat more extreme swings. So that was not the only cause. And with the pictures that once shocked me, it was just the unfamiliarity of her later look. Since she was no longer under contract to any studio, and doing mostly stage and TV work, there were relatively few publicity stills of Linda which were released and circulated. So her later appearances were all but unknown to the general public, certainly unknown to those not around at the time. So we dont see her, as we did for say, Joan Crawford, whose mostly complete pictoral record contrasts with that of Linda, and has inured us to any signs of aging in Joans later years; we are as familiar with her in the 60s as we are for her in the 30s or 40s. but for Darnell this is not the case. So people are still shocked by Lindas later appearances, as I was shocked even recently, seeing stills of her on ebay, but I have now seen sufficient, and of a reasonably determined chronological continuum, that her familiarity in this later period makes.me look.differently at some stills I once found surprising. For instance, in a book I have, "The Rise and Fall of The Love Goddess",which has a chapter on Linda, and which Ive owned for some 30 years, there is a picture of Linda purported to show her puffy eyed, overweight and overly made up, supposedly from one year before she died. I remember thinking how bad she looked. NOW I see it and thinks she looks beautiful and glamorous, if a little overly made up.

 

Edited by: Arturo on Jul 17, 2013 8:00 AM

[Arturo]

Upcoming this Saturday on TCM at 6:30 am eastern, 3:30 am Pacific, will be a movie that is a phantom credit on Linda Darnell`s filmography, THE CASTILIAN (1963), AKA VALLEY OF THE SWORDS. This unusual swashbuckling epic, obviously inspired by EL CID, has been listed erroneously since the time of Linda`s death, by a substantial number of lists of her credits to this day; people have posted here as a movie she did. Anyway, while it would have been an offer that woild have benefited Linda at a crucial time financilly for her as she as divorcing her third husband, there is no proof that she did it. However, assuming she was offred a role, and she was inclined to accept.it, s it would have had to have been one of the main parts, she proba ly would not have been an extra, or a role fhat could have ended totally on the cutting room floor. She would not have had the funds to go to Spain for a miniscule part, nor for similar reasons, would she have been there. on vacation. while she could have gone to do a TV show there, there is no record of her travels overseas at this time. Anyway, had she been offered a role, it most likely would have been the supporting role of Queen, played by Viveca Lidsfor. So th e mystery continues, because unless.she is in there as an unidentifiable extra, it is still sold online with her name in the credit

 

Edited by: Arturo on Jul 18, 2013 11:42 PM

[Arturo]

This Friday, July 26, TCM is showing 1950`s NO WAY OUT, with one of Linda Darnells best roles in one of her best movies. Written and directed by Joseph Mankiewcz, this taut, harrowing drama of racial tensions, featuring Sidney Poitiers film debut, and also starring Richard Widmark and Stephen McNally, is just as relevant now as then.....highly recommended.

[Arturo]

Just a reminder: Later today, at 6 pm eastern , 3 pm Pacific, TCM will show NO WAY OUT. See the previous post for more info.

[Arturo]

Here`s another Linda Darnell "What if?" This one piggybacks on some of the earlier ones, and mentioned and touched upon earlier. What if Linda never went to make movies in Italy for Giusseppe Amato? While at that time she raved about the approach of the Neo Realists in interviews and correspondence, the films she made were not very good, and did absolutely nothing for her career: only one, DONNE PROI BITE, had a spotty release in the States, as ANGELS OF DARKNESS, in late 1956, three years after being made. Due to these commitments, which Linda signed for in mid 1952, she spent several extended stays in Italy. She loved it there, expressing a desire of evetually retiring there. Even while in thr US, she set her sighfs on th ese movies, causing her to not fully working on lining up projects in Hollywood, at a time when she had just had her contract with Fox end, and when the studios were in full panic mode and retrenching. Many films she might havd been offered in 1953 she was not considered for, due to keeping her calendar open for Amato. And at this time, in 1953, she would have still been in demand; three of here four films released in 1952 and 1953 had beem solid hits. Later, she spent the first half on 1955 in Italy, filming the second film for Amato, GLI ULTIMI CINQUE MINUTI/THE LAST FIVE MINUTES, and then working on establishing her pet project, Girls Town of Italy. In the interim, she had made only one movie, due to her marriage and travels with second husband, Philip Liebmann. In fact, one of the reasons Linda seems to have married him, was to get some seed money for the Girls Town project. So while this charity was personally very satisfying to her, the marriage wasn't, and both might never have happened had she not gone to film in Rome. Overall, these extended absences from the Hollywood scene had a very detrimental effect on her career, as she was out of sight, out of mind, in the crucial, shrinkong movie world of the mid 50s.

[TopBilled]

Good news, Arturo.

 

Fox Cinema Archives recently announced that SWEET AND LOW-DOWN will be released on DVD next month. It hits the street on August 20th.

[Arturo]

TB, thanks for the heads up. I have SWEET AND LOW DOWN on vhs and DVD, the latter recorded during Linda`s SUTS day back in 2011, if memory serves. SALD is an amiable big band musical, with Linda playing a rich girl. Made after Lindas image changing role in SUMMER STORM, it was a last gasp of the older Darnell image while Darryl Zanuck sought a role to capitalize on her new bad girl persona. On SALD, Linda has a basically decorative role, only called to display her looks, and some rather bizarre mid 40s hairdos.

 

Edited by: Arturo on Jul 28, 2013 1:03 AM

[TopBilled]

I remember recording it a few years ago on TCM, but I don't think I ever watched it. I need to find my copy of it. Hopefully, CENTENNIAL SUMMER will get its day in the sun.

[Arturo]

Another "What If?" re: Linda Darnell's career: What if 20th Century Fox had not terminated Linda's contract when it did in the Fall of 1952, after 13 and a half years there? Linda Darnell had been one of the studio's top leading ladies almost from the moment she was signed in 1939. Throughout the 40s and into the 50s, she was one of Fox' most popular stars, if not one of Darryl Zanuck's favorites. When the retrenchment of the 50s got going in earnest, Linda, as well as other popular players, at Fox and elsewhere, got let go. Linda soon found herself in dire financial straits, as film offers became fewer and fewer, and her steady income under her contract ended.

 

Well, if the studio had renewed her contract, in early 1953, it could have made a difference. The insecurity that soon overwhelmed her would have been postponed, at worst. Even with a contract like the one she had negotiated with her studio in 1951, allowing her outside projects, and limited films for 20th, would have given her a measure of security. And this breathing room might have kept her from suffering some of the depression she would, which in turn led to her heavier drinking. All this might have not gotten as out of hand as it did.

 

Plus, 20th might've considered her for some roles that would have fit her perfectly. Among these, the classic noir PICK-UP ON SOUTH STREET, for which she had been considered around the time of the termination of her contract. She would have made a good foil to new sensation Marilyn Monroe in GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, and shortly thereafter, HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE, where her acid delivery of comedic timing would have been on par with Jane Russell and Lauren Bacall, respectively (it's instructive that Fox borrowed both these actresses). Other parts at Fox could've included (besides any that Susan Hayward did) DESIREE, WOMAN'S WORLD (Bacall's or Arlene Dahl's role), THE EGYPTIAN (Gene Tierney's or Bella Darvi's role), THE MAGNIFICENT MATADOR, THE TALL MEN, THE RAINS OF RANCHIPUR, THAT LADY, LOVE IS A MANY-SPLENDORED THING, HILDA CRANE, THE REVOLT OF MAMIE STOVER, THE WAYWARD BUS (she tested for the part given to Joan Collins), THE SUN ALSO RISES, THE THREE FACES OF EVE, THE STORY ON PAGE ONE, among others. Again, Fox borrowed actresses from outside for all but THE WAYWARD BUS and THREE FACES OF EVE. Any, or all of them, Linda might have been offered had she remained at the studio for another seven years. One or more of these might have made her even more popular, and given her movie career new impetus, right around the time it actually was winding down.

 

PS - HAD Linda done either or both of the MM films, doubtless she would be better known today, due to this exposure with the eternally popular Marilyn.

 

Edited by: Arturo on Jul 30, 2013 8:02 PM

[Arturo]

 

On Monday, August 5, Fox Movie Channel will again be showing the following classic western, featuring Linda Darnell as the fiery half-breed Chihuahua:

 

 

8:30 am EST, 5:30 AM PST:

 

 

 

MY DARLING CLEMENTINE

 

A western classic about Wyatt Earp (Fonda) and Doc Holliday (Mature) and their clash with the Clanton family at the O.K. Corral.

*Cast:* Henry Fonda, Victor Mature, Tim Holt, Alan Mowbray, Linda Darnell, Walter Brennan

*Director:* John Ford

1946

 

 

[Arturo]

Since Linda Darnell was not chosen as SOTM for this October, nor given a bday tribute on Oct. 16 (although one of her movies with Tyrone Power will be shown as part of an evening of his films..).well here's hoping that when TCM does schedule some of her films, they include her starring turn in the Screen Directors Playhouse, "White Corridors", which TCM showed a awhile back. They seem to include repeats of episodes featiring some of the SUTS artists this month, so hopefully they will do the same with Linda`s.

[Arturo]

One of the ongoing goals Linda Darnell had throughout her career, and one of the ongoing sources of frustration over same, was her striving. To improve her acting with challenging roles. She was pegged from the beginning of her career in 1939 as a great beauty, one who could be a decorative leading lady for any genre at her studio, 20the Century Fox. Early on, however she endeavored to seek out roles that would help her improve as an actress. She desperately wanted to do SWAMP WATER (1941), and was even announced for it at one point. But studio head Darryl Zanuck must've had a change of heart, and gave the role to Anne Baxter. Likewise, she may have gone after offbeat roles in MOONTIDE (1942), and LIFE BEGINS AT 8:30 (1943). And Zanuck mightve dangled at least one of these over her head as an enticement to get Linda, having just turned 18, onto the casting couch. The fact that outside actress IDA Lupino was borrowed for both speaks volumes as to whether Linda went that route. Later in her career, Darnell again wanted go be cast in such films as PINKY, with strong acting roles, but to a mostly deaf ear from Zanuck. She continued hoping for acting challenges, and was frustrated by her usually being considered for roles where all that was required was her beauty and glamor. She went on suspension more than once for refusing this type of role, although she was forced to relent on her refusal to play one of these, in THE GUY WHO CAME BACK, since she was going through an expensive divorce at the time, in early 1951. Related to Linda wishing stronger acting.opportunities, was her desire to escape typecasting. In 1944, she successfully fought to be loaned out to play a femme fatale in SUMMER STORM, since studio bosses felt her girl next door image would be ruined by this change of type. It was, and Linda played "bad women" of varying degrees for most of the rest of her career. In fact, by the 50s, she would be fighting this typecasting, which was one of the reasons she rejected TGWCB initially. Just prior to that one, she had qualms about doing THE THIRTEENTH LETTER (1951),but more for working for her nemesis Otto Preminger; she relished in playing a cripples girl as opposed to the more obvious beautiful villainess; she might even have had a chance on choosing it. Later, as a freelancer, she went for the role of the frigid spinster in THIS IS MY LOVE (1954), instead of the more conventional sexy beauty. The payoff here was arguably her best acting in a movie. In the last half of the fifties, as she concentrated on television dramas, she did several unusual roles, including playing an opera singer

 

Edited by: Arturo on Aug 21, 2013 12:38 PM

[Arturo]

For some reason, I was unable to continue or edit the last post, so here is a quick wrap up.....Linda Darnell did some unusual roles in her television work, unusual in the sense of her image. Several were family dramas involving children; somehow, this type of part was alien to her filmography. She just sought out parts with acting challenges, as well as against type, with varying success, throughout her career.

 

Edited by: Arturo on Aug 21, 2013 12:35 PM