Blood Alley (1955)

Blood Alley (1955), a "vigorously directed action picture" (Clive Hirschhorn, The Warner Bros. Story), was one of director William A. Wellman's final pictures and his third with John Wayne. It was also the first picture produced by John Wayne's production company, Batjac.

The film was originally supposed to star Robert Mitchum, who was fired from the production, followed by Humphrey Bogart (he wanted too much money) and Gregory Peck (who turned down the offer). In order for the film to be made, John Wayne took on the role of Captain Tom Wilder. Lauren Bacall played Cathy Grainger, a surprising choice considering her political views. Read more about it in this TCM Article.

William Wellman was great; Wild Bill, a fascinating man! I liked working with Duke. We didn't agree politically, but we got along well and had a sort of chemistry."

 ~ Lauren Bacall

 

From the back of the DVD:

"Powder your nose, baby," the craggy-voiced skipper bellows. "We're coming into Hong Kong." Getting there wasn't easy for wily Merchant Marine Capt. Tom Wilder. But it's exciting - and all an action fan might expect from a movie teaming legends John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, and director William A. Wellman.

Wilder braves dangerous waters and pursuing Red Chinese forces while steering a boatload of Chinese refugees and a doctor's daughter (Bacall) along a 300-mile waterway to freedom's shores. Wellman and his crew cram the CinemaScope frame with riches both scenic (Northern California locales authentically stand in for the Formosa Straits) and action-packed. This ship is under full steam. Destination: Blood Alley!

The film was based on a short news bulletin which was turned into a novel by A.S. Fleischman and then a screenplay.

I was surprised to learn that the movie was filmed in Northern California. Locations included the Sacramento River, where they used the old snag boat PUTAH which was called the "Chicu San" in the movie (source), and the China Camp State Park and the San Pablo Yacht Club in Marin County. The cast and crew stayed at the Stockton Hotel, where after filming, John Wayne would sign around 100-400 autographs for his fans waiting outside (source).

Here's a commercial featuring John Wayne on the set of Blood Alley selling Christmas Seals.

Don't miss William Wellman at the beginning!

Wayne and Wellman receiving a certificate from the U.S. Air Force.

 

 

Make sure and read this 1955 New York Times Review! It mentions Wellman, the subject of this Blogathon, multiple times. Also, for the guys: weapons used in Blood Alley.

This post is part of the William Wellman Blogathon hosted by Now Voyaging. Be sure and read all of the other posts celebrating the work of this great director!

 

All images are screenshots from the DVD and its special features.

Magic Town (1947)

Last February (the 18th when this post was originally published) I watched a movie written by Robert Riskin, best known for his "visions of an idealized America as represented in his collaborations with director Frank Capra." This one wasn’t directed by Capra, but it certainly had that Capra ‘feel good’ quality. It’s called Magic Town and was made in 1947. Directed by William A. Wellman, it brings Capra’s favorite leading man, Jimmy Stewart, together with Jane Wyman, a perfect match, or as the tagline goes, "the guy with the dynamite heart meets the girl with the firecracker eyes!" (IMDb) She’s an acting newspaper editor for her late father’s paper and he is an undercover pollster. He discovers that Grandview, the town where Mary (Wyman) lives mirror exactly the nation’s views on everything, down to the decimal point – a mathematical miracle. Rip (Stewart) is quickly accepted as part of the community - even coaching the school's basketball team - under the guise of being an insurance salesman. However, Mary discovers his secret and uses her position in the paper to unmask him. This causes a spiraling of events as Grandview is hailed as the nation’s perfect town. Hundreds of families move in every day and business is booming – but not for long. Now that the people are conscious that they are being polled, the results no longer match the nation. Its short-lived glory turns to embarrassment and the town quickly becomes bankrupt and becomes a laughing-stock. Rip must now figure out how to undue the damage he caused and win Mary back.

Looking at Mary's model of the new Grandview

 

Coaching the boys

 

Romancing the editor

Reciting "Charge of the Light Brigade"

 

The scenes of the town at the beginning reminded me of the town in Theodora Goes Wild (1936). The way the town works together reminded me of several films. The school scenes were reminiscent of The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945). The part where it sweeps the country and pulls apart and then reunites the town is very reminiscent of Meet John Doe (1941). It even has Bert and his wife in it (renamed Ed)! All in all it was an extremely enjoyable movie and one that I hope to add to my collection one day. I highly recommend it to anyone who is a Frank Capra fan.

Stewart and Wyman with Director William A. Wellman

 

Lawrence “Rip” Smith (to the Town Council when he first arrives in Grandview): I've been searching for a town like this for years. You know, when I got off that train this morning, I said to myself "This is it." I've just walked through your town, folks, with its shade trees and its lovely parks. I stood before your impressive buildings mellowed with age, and I said to myself "Here is a sturdy challenge to the evils of the modern era." I watched your people on the street, and I felt their vitality and their sense of security. Your children are happy. They're happy. You can see it in their dear little faces, and hear it in their wholesome talk. There's beauty here. It's almost indescribable. You're used to it, you're all a part of it, you take it for granted. But to me, it's a hope and a dream of a lifetime. I too want to become a part of it. Please don't change it.

All images (excluding title screen) found via Pinterest

 

This post is part of the 1947 Blogathon hosted by Shadows & Satin and Speakeasy. Be sure and check out all of the other great films from 1947!

 

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