Showing posts with label Kirk Douglas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kirk Douglas. Show all posts

Monday, May 27, 2024

In Harm's Way -- May 27, 2024

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Happy Memorial Day, everyone. I thought this was a good day to write about Otto Preminger's In Harm's Way, which was the last big World War Two epic shot in black and white. It starred John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal and a host of others. Critics didn't like the movie and Kirk Douglas thought the special effects in the final battle were amateurish, but I enjoyed. It starts in Hawaii before Pearl Harbor and shows how the US Navy adjusted to war. I assume that Saul Bass designed the poster.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Kirk Douglas, RIP -- February 5, 2020

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Actor Kirk Douglas has died at the age of 103. He was passionate about his work and I have always admired him. 

He grew up poor, but wanted to be an actor after he recited a poem in kindergarten.  He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts with Betty Joan Perske, who later became Lauren Bacall. She had a crush on him, but he probably felt that she was too young. After Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Navy and served until 1944, when he was discharged because of wounds.

Lauren Bacall helped him move from Broadway plays to the movies.

He made many good movies, including Out of the Past, In Harm's Way and Paths of Glory. In his own productions like Spartacus, he helped to break the Hollywood blacklist.  Dalton Trumbo received a credit under his own name.


 I took the photo of his hand and footprints at Grauman's Chinese in July, 2012.


Monday, May 28, 2018

Paths of Glory -- May 28, 2018

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Happy Memorial Day, everyone. I thought this was a good day to write about the 1957 film Paths of Glory, directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas.

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Kirk Douglas played Colonel Drax, who is ordered to lead his men on a suicide mission.  The first wave is nearly wiped out.  The second wave refuses to leave the trenches.  A French general decides to try 100 men for cowardice and execute them.  A higher-ranking general, played by Adolphe Menjoy, tells him to select three men.

Three men, one from each company, are chosen, each for no good reason.  Dax tries to represent them at their trial, but it is a farce.  The men are shot the next day.

Paths of Glory is a painful movie to watch.  It was not shown in France until 1975.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Graumans Chinese -- Kirk Douglas -- April 3, 2018


In July, 2012 we paid a return visit to Hollywood and Grauman's Chinese Theater. Sid Grauman was a San Francisco showman who came to Los Angeles and built three major houses, the Million Dollar, the Egyptian, and the Chinese. The theater has hosted many film premieres, but is most famous for the hand and footprints (and hoofprints and nose prints and other types of prints) in the forecourt.

Actor Kirk Douglas left his hand and footprints in the forecourt on 01-November-1962. He is a passionate actor whose work I have always admired. (31)

Kirk Douglas turned 100 on 09-December-1916. He is still alive.

He grew up poor, but wanted to be an actor after he recited a poem in kindergarten. He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts with Betty Joan Perske, who later became

Lauren Bacall. She had a crush on him, but he probably felt that she was too young.

After Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Navy and served until 1944, when he was discharged because of wounds. Lauren Bacall helped him move from Broadway plays to the movies.

He made many good movies, including Out of the Past, In Harm's Way and Paths of Glory. In his own productions like Spartacus, he helped to break the Hollywood blacklist. Dalton Trumbo received a credit under his own name.

www.listal.com

Friday, December 9, 2016

Kirk Douglas 100 - December 9, 2016

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Actor Kirk Douglas was born 100 years ago today, on 09-December-1916.  He is still with us and I hope he is having a wonderful birthday. He was passionate about his work and I have always admired him. 

He grew up poor, but wanted to be an actor after he recited a poem in kindergarten.  He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts with Betty Joan Perske, who later became Lauren Bacall. She had a crush on him, but he probably felt that she was too young. AFter Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Navy and served until 1944, when he was discharged because of wounds.

Lauren Bacall helped him move from Broadway plays to the movies.

He made many good movies, including Out of the Past, In Harm's Way and Paths of Glory. In his own productions like Spartacus, he helped to break the Hollywood blacklist.  Dalton Trumbo received a credit under his own name.


 I took the photo of his hand and footprints at Grauman's Chinese in July, 2012.


Monday, December 7, 2015

In Harm's Way -- December 7, 2015

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74 years ago a sneak attack by forces of the Japanese Empire sank much of the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in the territory of Hawaii. The Japanese Empire came to regret doing this.
Otto Preminger's In Harm's Way was the last big World War Two epic shot in black and white.  It starred John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal and a host of others.  Critics didn't like the movie and Kirk Douglas thought the special effects in the final battle were amateurish, but I enjoyed.  It starts in Hawaii before Pearl Harbor and shows how the US Navy adjusted to war.  I assume that Saul Bass designed the poster.