More Biopics of the 50s
January 10, 2019Written by Joe Morella and Frank Segers
Two lessor known stars of the 20s and thirties were brought to life on the screen by two of the top stars of the 1950s.
Up until 1955 Doris Day had been known for her sparking musicals. But there had been glimpses of her dramatic ability in Young Man With a Horn, and Storm Warning. But when she left Warners and MGM cast her as Ruth Etting in a fictionalized account (but then again aren't they all fictionalized) of the famous singer of the 20s. Day hit new heights.
Meanwhile, over at Columbia, the studio thought it was time to give Kim Novak a try at carrying a picture by herself. They chose the biopic of 1920's stage and early screen star, Jeanne Eagels. And gave Kim Jeff Chandler for support.
It ain't Vertigo, but still worth a look-see.
Meanwhile the Fifties provided a profusion of music and entertainment related biopics. Remember Mario Lanza? Well he starred as opera superstar Enrico Caruso in 1951's The Great Caruso. Then there was Susan Hayward as vocalist Jane Froman in With A Song in My Heart.
In 1954 came James Stewart in a superb performance as bandleader Glenn Miller in The Glenn Miller Story. On a lesser level came Bob Hope as vaudevillian Eddie Foy Sr. in 1955's The Seven Little Foys.
Also, let's not forget The Benny Goodman Story with Steve Allen taking the role of America's most successful swing era bandleader. And who can forget Sal Mineo's performance as Goodman drummer Gene Krupa in 1959's The Gene Krupa Story.
There was Nat King Cole as WC Handy in 1958's St. Louis Blues; Donald O'Connor as the incomparable Buster Keaton in the Buster Keaton Story; and Tyrone Power as society bandleader Eddie Duchin in 1955's The Eddie Duchin Story.
And let's not overloon Ann Blyth's performance in the 1956 biopic, The Helen Morgan Story. Wow, that's a lot of biopic action for one decade. Susan Hayward had really unleashed a trend.
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I'LL CRY TOMORROW and ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK
Now that the COMMENTS box is back… Where are they???
As the 'guys' said about these so-called movie bio-pics "aren't they all fictionalized."
You're not going to get the true story in any HOLLYWOOD movie, and only rarely in most movie bio books…
But one of the best bio-pics to come out of the fifties was 1957's THE JOKER IS WILD starring Frank Sinatra.
This gripping movie based on the life of nightclub singer turned comedian Joe E. Lewis, had a bit more fact than fiction in it than usual, with superb performances from Sinatra, Jeanne Crain, Mitzi Gaynor, Eddie Albert, Beverly Garland and Jackie Coogan.
Like the intense drama of THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM, Sinatra's depiction of Joe E. Lewis walking out on a mob-owned Chicago nightclub during prohibition for more money elsewhere, and suffering the consequences when they cut his vocal cords… The alcoholism that followed with the singer having to work in seedy burlesque houses and then rising up to big-time clubs when he marries a chorus girl who's career leads to HOLLYWOOD, and eclipses his.
The movie was also memorable for it's music, which incidentally won an Academy award for the song All The Way…
Written by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Sammy Cahn. It was introduced in the film and Sinatra also had the best-selling recorded version of the song. Aside from this song, he also sang "Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)" for the movie.
Indeed, it is a big contrast to 1952's THE STORY OF WILL ROGERS…