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George Sawaya
George Frances Carey Sawaya (August 14, 1923 – September 17, 2003) was an American actor and stuntman. He was best known for playing the role of Detective Lopez on Jack Webb's '' Dragnet''. Life and career Sawaya was born in Los Angeles, California. He served in the United States Army during World War II. Sawaya began his career in 1951, first appearing in the film ''The Lady Says No'', which starred Joan Caulfield and David Niven. He then made his debut as a stunt performer in 1952, where he appeared in the film ''The Narrow Margin''. Sawaya performed as a double for actor Charles McGraw for the film. In the same year, he appeared in the films, '' With a Song in My Heart'', starring Susan Hayward; ''Here Come the Marines'', starring Leo Gorcey and ''What Price Glory'', starring James Cagney, Corinne Calvet and Dan Dailey. Sawaya had then appeared in numerous films and television programs with actor Ernest Borgnine. Sawaya appeared and performed as a stunt performer in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jack Webb
John Randolph Webb (April 2, 1920 – December 23, 1982) was an American actor, television producer, Television director, director, and screenwriter, who is most famous for his role as Joe Friday, Sgt. Joe Friday in the Dragnet (franchise), ''Dragnet'' franchise, which he created. He was also the founder of his own production company, Mark VII Limited. Early life Webb was born in Santa Monica, California, on April 2, 1920, son of Samuel Chester Webb and Margaret (née Smith) Webb. He grew up in the Bunker Hill, Los Angeles, Bunker Hill section of Los Angeles. His father left home before Webb was born, and Webb never knew him. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Webb lived in the parish of Our Lady of Loretto Church and attended Our Lady of Loretto Elementary School in Echo Park, Los Angeles, Echo Park, where he served as an altar boy. He then attended Belmont High School (Los Angeles), Belmont High School, near downtown Los Angeles. Webb was elected student body president o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Narrow Margin
''The Narrow Margin'' is a 1952 American film noir starring Charles McGraw and Marie Windsor. Directed by Richard Fleischer, the RKO picture was written by Earl Felton, based on an unpublished story written by Martin Goldsmith and Jack Leonard. The screenplay by Earl Felton was nominated for an Academy Award. A police detective plays a deadly game of cat-and-mouse aboard a train with mob assassins out to stop a slain gangster's widow before she can testify before a grand jury. Plot Detective Sergeant Walter Brown ( Charles McGraw) of the Los Angeles Police Department and his partner are assigned to protect a mob boss's widow, Mrs. Frankie Neall ( Marie Windsor), as she rides a train from Chicago to Los Angeles to testify before a grand jury. She is also carrying a payoff list that belonged to her murdered husband. The mob's hitmen do not know what she looks like. On the way to pick her up, Brown bets his partner and friend, Sergeant Gus Forbes ( Don Beddoe), what she wil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Prodigal
''The Prodigal'' is a 1955 Eastmancolor biblical epic CinemaScope film made by MGM starring Lana Turner and Edmund Purdom. It was based on the New Testament parable about a selfish son who leaves his family to pursue a life of pleasure. The film also features James Mitchell, Louis Calhern, Joseph Wiseman, Cecil Kellaway, Audrey Dalton, and Walter Hampden. Dancer Taina Elg made her film debut in ''The Prodigal''. Plot ''In the times before Christianity, only a few people believed in one God. Most people believed in many gods. It was mainly the believers in Jehovah who stood against a multitude of some 65,000 strange and different gods. Of these, two of the most notorious were Baal and Astarte, the male and the female. Gods of the flesh, not of the soul. They were supposed to renew the fertility of the earth every year. In exchange, they demanded of their believers the sacrifice of money, jewelry and human life. Out of these times comes our story, based upon the Parable of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Day Of Triumph
''Day of Triumph'' is a 1954 American drama film directed by Irving Pichel and John T. Coyle, from a screenplay by Arthur T. Horman. The film stars Lee J. Cobb, Robert Wilson, James Griffith, and Joanne Dru. This was the last film directed by Irving Pichel, who died on July 13, 1954, five months before the film was released. Synopsis The film is Pichel's take on the life of Christ and focuses on the controversy and politics surrounding his life, particularly the activities of Zadok (Lee J. Cobb), leader of an anti-pagan group called the Zealots. Zadok initially plans to use Jesus (Robert Wilson) to rally support for the cause of political freedom. As he follows him, Jesus cures Mary Magdalene's mother and raises Lazarus from the dead -- acts which wear away at Zadok's skepticism, but focus significant attention on Christ. Cast list *Lee J. Cobb as Zadok, Zealot leader *Robert Wilson as The Christ *James Griffith as Judas Iscariot *Ralph Freud as Caiaphas *Everett Glass as Annas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Desert Legion
''Desert Legion'' is a 1953 American adventure film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Alan Ladd. Plot Ladd stars as a soldier in the French Foreign Legion who stumbles across a lost city in the desert mountains of Algeria in North Africa. Cast * Alan Ladd as Paul Lartal * Richard Conte as Crito * Arlene Dahl as Morjana * Akim Tamiroff as Pvt. Plevko * Oscar Beregi as Khalil (as Oscar Berefi) * Leon Askin as Major Vasil * Anthony Caruso as Lt. Messaoud * George J. Lewis as Lt. Lopez * Sujata Rubener as Dancer (as Sujata) * Asoka Rubener as Dancer (as Asoka) Production The film was made by Universal Pictures, and based on a 1927 novel ''The Demon Caravan'' by Georges Arthur Surdez. It was Alan Ladd's first film for Universal since becoming a star. It was a one-picture deal and gave Ladd a percentage of the profits, a relatively novel thing at the time. (He split profits with the studio 50–50.) Joseph Pevney was assigned to direct. Ladd had broken his hand during a fig ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ernest Borgnine
Ernest Borgnine (; born Ermes Effron Borgnino; January 24, 1917 – July 8, 2012) was an American actor whose career spanned over six decades. He was noted for his gruff but relaxed voice and gap-toothed Cheshire Cat grin. A popular performer, he also appeared as a guest on numerous talk shows and as a panelist on several game shows. Borgnine's film career began in 1951 and included supporting roles in ''China Corsair'' (1951), ''From Here to Eternity'' (1953), '' Vera Cruz'' (1954), ''Bad Day at Black Rock'' (1955), and ''The Wild Bunch'' (1969). He also played the unconventional lead in many films, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1956, for '' Marty'' (1955), which also won the 1956 Academy Award for Best Picture. Borgnine achieved continuing success in the sitcom ''McHale's Navy'' (1962–1966), in which he played the title character, and co-starred as Dominic Santini in the action series ''Airwolf'' (1984–1986), in addition to a wide variety of other roles ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dan Dailey
Daniel James Dailey Jr. (December 14, 1915 – October 16, 1978) was an American dancer and actor. He is best remembered for a series of popular musicals he made at 20th Century Fox such as ''Mother Wore Tights'' (1947). Biography Early life Dailey was born on December 14, 1915, in New York City, to Daniel James Dailey Sr. and Helen Theresa (née Ryan) Dailey. His younger sister was actress Irene Dailey. Theatre He appeared in a minstrel show in 1921 and later appeared in vaudeville. He worked as a golf caddy and shoe seller before his first big break, working for a South American cruise line in 1934. He made his Broadway debut in 1937 in ''Babes in Arms''. He followed it with ''Stars in Your Eyes'' and ''I Married an Angel''. MGM In 1940, he was signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to make films and, although his past career had been in musicals, he was initially cast in the drama '' Susan and God'' (1940). He also played a Nazi in ''The Mortal Storm'' (1940). Dailey was the juveni ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Corinne Calvet
Corinne Calvet (April 30, 1925 – June 23, 2001), born Corinne Dibos, was a French actress who appeared mostly in American films. According to one obituary, she was promoted "as a combination of Dietrich and Rita Hayworth", but her persona failed to live up to this description, though the fault lay as much with a string of mediocre films as with a lack of a compelling talent, for Calvet's sultry looks and flashing eyes were allied with an impish sense of humour. She eventually became better known for her fiery private life and some well-publicised legal battles." Biography Early life Calvet was born in Paris. Her mother was a scientist who played a part in the development of Pyrex glass. One of her sisters, a doctor, died when taken hostage by the Germans during the war. She and her father had to flee Paris when the Germans came. Calvet studied criminal law at the Sorbonne. "A lawyer needs exactly what an actor needs, strong personality, persuasive powers and a good voic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Cagney
James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor, dancer and film director. On stage and in film, Cagney was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of performances. He is remembered for playing multifaceted tough guys in films such as ''The Public Enemy'' (1931), ''Taxi!'' (1932), ''Angels with Dirty Faces'' (1938), ''The Roaring Twenties'' (1939), ''City for Conquest'' (1940) and ''White Heat'' (1949), finding himself typecasting (acting), typecast or limited by this reputation earlier in his career. He was able to negotiate dancing opportunities in his films and ended up winning the Academy Award for his role in the musical ''Yankee Doodle Dandy'' (1942). In 1999 the American Film Institute ranked him eighth among its list of AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, greatest male stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Orson Welles described Cagney a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
What Price Glory (1952 Film)
''What Price Glory'' is a 1952 American Technicolor war film based on a What Price Glory? (play), 1924 play by Maxwell Anderson and Laurence Stallings, though it used virtually none of Anderson's dialogue. Originally intended as a musical, it was filmed as a straight comedy-drama, directed by John Ford and released by 20th Century Fox on August 22, 1952, in the U.S. The screenplay was written by Phoebe Ephron, Phoebe and Henry Ephron, and stars James Cagney and Dan Dailey as US Marines in World War I. Plot Upon the American entry into World War I, United States entry into World War I, the first American units to arrive at the front in France are veteran Marine Company (military unit), companies, one of which is commanded by Captain (United States), Captain Flagg, along with his lieutenants, Moore and Aldrich. Flagg has developed a romantic relationship with the daughter of the local innkeeper, Charmaine, and resumes their relationship after returning from the front. However, he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leo Gorcey
Leo Bernard Gorcey (June 3, 1917– June 2, 1969) was an American stage and film actor, famous for portraying the leader of a group of hooligans known variously as the Dead End Kids, the East Side Kids and, as adults, The Bowery Boys. Gorcey was famous for his use of malapropisms, such as "I depreciate it!" instead of "I appreciate it!" Early years Gorcey was born in New York City on June 3, 1917, the son of Josephine (née Condon), an Irish Catholic immigrant, and Bernard Gorcey, a Russian Jewish immigrant. Both were vaudevillian actors of short stature. Bernard Gorcey was and his wife was . Their son would reach in adulthood. Film career In the 1930s, Gorcey's father lived apart from the family while working in theater and film. When he returned in 1935, he and Leo's younger brother David Gorcey persuaded Leo to audition for a small part in the play ''Dead End''. Leo had just lost a job as a plumber's apprentice and wished to emulate his father's modest success. The Gorcey bo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Here Come The Marines
''Here Come the Marines'' is a 1952 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on June 29, 1952 by Monogram Pictures and is the twenty-sixth film in the series. Plot After Slip is drafted into the Marines, the rest of the gang volunteer so they can be with him. Sach gets in trouble for first impersonating a doctor and then, while serving kp duty, creating a bouillon capable of melting any known metal. When he's called into their colonel's office for punishment, Sach discovers that his father Horace 'Hard Head' Debussey Sr. served with the colonel in WWI and is subsequently promoted to sergeant. Sergeant Sach draws the ire of his men through multiple drills and by constantly keeping them on their toes with a whistle. During a march, they find a soldier left for dead on the side of the road. Slip discovers a playing card next to the marine and traces it to Jolly Joe Johnson's gambling house. They pay a visit to the casino & suspect that the gambling house is ch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
