A Memorial Day Movie: Otto Preminger’s IN HARM’S WAY (1965)

May 26th, 2008 by Scott Marks

In honor of Memorial Day I spent the morning scanning my vast collection of stills from Otto Preminger’s austere war epic In Harm’s Way (1965).

Not only is it Otto’s personal best, it ranks in my top twenty all-time favorites. The fluid shot of a bruised and demoralized Rockwell P. Torry descending the gangplank while behind him sparks fly as seamen repair his equally battle-worn cruiser was burned is a perfect marriage of meaning and movement. As if Loyal Griggs’ stunning camera work isn’t enough there’s the added thrill when screenwriter Wendell Mayes smuggles the film’s title into a line of dialog. Rock turns to Paul and with a voice burdened by despair says, “A fast ship moving in harm’s way. A lousy situation, Commander Eddington.” I live for moments like this.

You also get to enjoy a Dana Andrews cameo (Otto took pity on Laura’s fallen star) and Kirk Douglas’ sublime slapdown of Patrick O’Neal in the latrine.

And don’t forget to stick around for Saul Bass’ astounding closing credit sequence. Though set on Pearl Harbor day, Bass consciously plays upon 1965 America’s fear of nuclear annihilation by adding a mushroom cloud to his punctuational epilogue.

One day I’ll pull out my copy and write at length about the film and all it’s cinematic glory. Until then, enjoy the pictures and the trailer.

Photos here.

Tags: IN HARM'S WAY, John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Memorial Day, Movie, Navy, Otto Preminger, Pearl Harbor, Photos, Pics, Pictures, Stills, Trailer, Video

Filed Under Image Blog

New Photos Added: Woody Allen, Bugs Bunny, HATARI!, Betty Boop, Jerry Lewis, Movie Paperbacks

April 12th, 2008 by Scott Marks

Bugs has Jugs?!?!?

Bud Abbott & Lou Costello for Popsicles - 1 Vintage 1954 Comic Book Ad
Woody Allen - 74 Photos
Cartoon All-Stars - 37 Photos
Aesop’s Fables ad
Fred “Tex” Avery model sheet
Batman & Superman for Sesame Street
Bob Hope
Betty Boop
Bugs Bunny
A Corny Concerto featuring Bugs and Porky Pig
DC Comics 1954 Line of Stars ad with Batman and Superman
Daffy Duck
Disneyland Color Television Only $1.00!!!
Felix the Cat
Gertie the Dinosaur
Ko-Ko the Clown
Looney Tunes title logo
Peter Lorre ?!?!?
Popeye the Sailor Man
The Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote
Woody Woodpecker
Hatari! - 22 Photos (many in Technicolor) and 8 Lobby Cards
The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon - 10 Photos
The King of Comedy - 1 Photo (It’s a good one!)
Jerry Lewis- 27 Photos
See the Movie, Read the Book - 19 New Movie Cover Paperbacks

The trick is it makes you look like Hitler!
- Vintage Newspaper ads - 7 Photos
Daisy Rifles, for kids who like to smoke!
Hercules Bicycles
Mr. X-Ray Specs
Monogram Models Rommel’s Rod, The Krazy Kommand Kar
Onion Gum
Thom McAn Shoes
Trick Black Soap

Tags: Abbott Costello, Ad, Advertisement, Animation, Batman, Betty Boop, Black Soap, Bob Hope, Bud Abbott, Bugs Bunny, Cartoons, Comic Book, Daffy Duck, Daisy Rifles, DC Comics, Dean Martin, Disneyland, Felix the Cat, Gertie the Dinosaur, HATARI!, Jerry Lewis, John Wayne, Ko-Ko the Clown, Looney Tunes, Lou Costello, MDA, Monogram Models, Paperbacks, Peter Lorre, Photoplay Edition, Popeye, Porky Pig, Road Runner, SESAME STREET, Superman, Telethon, THE KING OF COMEDY, Thom McAn, Vintage, Wile E. Coyote, Wile_E._Coyote, Woody Allen, Woody Woodpecker, X-Ray Specs

Filed Under Image Blog, News

Promotional Booklet for John Ford & John Wayne’s THE SEARCHERS (1956)

June 20th, 2007 by Scott Marks

Tags: John Ford, John Wayne, Merian C. Cooper, The Searchers

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Pressbook: John Ford’s THE SEARCHERS (1956)

June 16th, 2007 by Scott Marks

Here’s a link to a bunch of original newspaper ads from the pressbook for John Ford’ The Searchers starring John Wayne.

Tags: John Ford, John Wayne, Movie Newspaper Ad, The Searchers

Filed Under Image Blog

Vintage John Wayne Promotional Placemats for THE SEARCHERS

June 8th, 2007 by Scott Marks

Hey Kids! Let’s Color the Racist Cowboy!

Here’s a winning promotional item from the original 1956 pressbook for John Ford’s The Searchers. What better way to keep your children quiet while they’re waiting for the waitress to bring their HoJo slop to the table than with these two educational and entertaining placemats? Let’s help the savage, virulently racist Uncle Ethan find and kill Debbie, his white niece who’s been kidnapped by and living with a Comanche for five years. Your gang will have so much fun working their red Crayolas on the cowboy’s necks, they’ll barely pay attention to their ClamBurgers.

Help the racist find his “damaged goods” neice