back in 2009, I watched a crime thriller called PORTRAIT IN BLACK (1960, directed by Michael Gordon).
Produced in the patented glossy Ross Hunter mold, this stylish soft focus
sudser starred Lana Turner (dressed to the nines in stunning Jean Louis outfits) as Sheila Cabot, as a beautiful San Francisco socialite who cares for her cruel, but ailing husband (played by Lloyd Nolan), a millionaire mogul. Sheila longs to free of her husband, but not his enormous, um fortune.
Enter Dr. David Rivera (played by Dr. Anthony Quinn, medicine man), who is hired to be Mr. Cabot's personal physician. The good doctor and the beleaguered wife find solace in each other's arms, becoming involved in a torrid affair.
Suddenly Mr. Cabot dies from poisoning (!) and there is an ensuing murder investigation that seems to damper any hope of happiness the couple may have. Then Sheila receives an anonymous letter detailing that someone knows about the crime and implicates her and Dr. Rivera!
Sheila is convinced that her late husband's financial advisor is blackmailing her, and she and the dirty doc set out to find him, but soon he turns up dead as well. Guilt and suspicion get the best of the lovers and one decides to confesses! But which one?
The film also stars Sandra Dee, John Saxon and Richard
Basehart and veteran actress Anna May Wong (in her last film role). Overall, not a great film nor a over-the-top
campfest, but an enjoyable melodrama. I've give it a 6 out of 10.
Produced in the patented glossy Ross Hunter mold, this stylish soft focus sudser starred Lana Turner (dressed to the nines in stunning Jean Louis outfits) as Sheila Cabot, as a beautiful San Francisco socialite who cares for her cruel, but ailing husband (played by Lloyd Nolan), a millionaire mogul. Sheila longs to free of her husband, but not his enormous, um fortune.
Enter Dr. David Rivera (played by Dr. Anthony Quinn, medicine man), who is hired to be Mr. Cabot's personal physician. The good doctor and the beleaguered wife find solace in each other's arms, becoming involved in a torrid affair.
Suddenly Mr. Cabot dies from poisoning (!) and there is an ensuing murder investigation that seems to damper any hope of happiness the couple may have. Then Sheila receives an anonymous letter detailing that someone knows about the crime and implicates her and Dr. Rivera!
Sheila is convinced that her late husband's financial advisor is blackmailing her, and she and the dirty doc set out to find him, but soon he turns up dead as well. Guilt and suspicion get the best of the lovers and one decides to confesses! But which one?
The film also stars Sandra Dee, John Saxon and Richard Basehart and veteran actress Anna May Wong (in her last film role). Overall, not a great film nor a over-the-top campfest, but an enjoyable melodrama. I've give it a 6 out of 10.
I finally did get to see LOST HORIZON this past weekend and all I can say is "wow". Bad movie Shangri-La. A Bacharach-David musical starring Peter Finch, Michael York, Sally Kellerman, George Kennedy, Olivia Hussey, Bobby Van and the aforementioned Ms. Ullman. With the legendary John Gielgud and Charles Boyer playing Asians. There are many unbelievably crazy moments, mostly featuring musical numbers with actors who cannot sing or dance. Hermes Pan must have been pulling his hair out when asked to choreograph this magnificent mess. I could go on for days about it, but I'll opt to just show you my favorite clip.