Synopsis: A former prisoner of war, Frank Enley is hailed as a hero in his California town. However, Frank has a shameful secret that comes back to haunt him when fellow survivor Joe Parkson emerges, intent on making Frank pay for his past deeds.Read More »
Van Heflin
-
Fred Zinnemann – Act of Violence (1948)
Fred Zinnemann1941-1950250 Quintessential Film NoirsFilm NoirThrillerUSA -
Fred Zinnemann – Act of Violence (1949)
1941-1950250 Quintessential Film NoirsFilm NoirFred ZinnemannThrillerUSASynopsis:
War veteran Frank Enley seems to be a happily married small-town citizen until he realises Joe Parkson is in town. It seems Parkson is out for revenge because of something that happened in a German POW camp, and when a frightened Enley suddenly leaves for a convention in L.A., Parkson is close behind…Read More » -
Raoul Walsh – Battle Cry (1955)
1951-1960Raoul WalshUSAWarPlot Synopsis: Adapted by Leon Uris from his own novel, the film follows a group of World War II marines, from Basic Training to Battlefield. Major Van Heflin knows that his men are spoiling for a real fight, but must make do with the desultory skirmishes assigned them by the Brass. All this changes with an onslaught of heavy-duty battling in the South Pacific. Aldo Ray plays a tough leatherneck who falls in love with demure Nancy Olson, while James Whitmore, Tab Hunter, Dorothy Malone and Raymond Massey costar. And watch for young Justus McQueen, cast as private L.Q. Jones; McQueen liked his character name so much that he adopted it as his professional cognomen. Composer Max Steiner’s musical score earned him an Oscar nomination. — Hal Erickson (AMG)Read More »
-
Giorgio Capitani – Ognuno per sé AKA The Ruthless Four (1968)
1961-1970CultEuro WesternsGiorgio CapitaniItalyWesternSYNOPSIS:
Sam Cooper (Heflin) finds gold and then is double-crossed by his partner. He survives and calls on the only person he can trust, Manolo (Hilton), who is soon joined by Brent (Kinski), who has a strong hold over him. Sam is warned that something is wrong with the young man and his friend, so he asks an old acquaintance, Mason (Roland), to join the group. But their preparations for the journey to retrieve the gold have attracted the attention of the vermin hanging about in the prospecting town.Read More » -
Norman Taurog – Presenting Lily Mars (1943)
1941-1950ComedyMusicalNorman TaurogUSAJudy Garland is at the peak of her charm and appeal as Lily Mars. The 19-year-old aspiring actress has great hopes for the future but can’t catch a break, even when a Broadway producer (Van Heflin) returns to her small Indiana town for a family visit. Undeterred, she follows him to New York. She earns a small part, and a romance is sparked, but when the leading role unexpectedly opens up, will Lily be ready?Read More »
-
Ralph Nelson – Once a Thief (1965)
1961-1970CrimeDramaFranceRalph NelsonQuote:
Eddie Pedak, a convicted criminal, has a steady job, a wife and daughter and he puts a down payment on a boat. He also has a police detective and brother after him, the first believes Eddie shot him, the second wants him for one last heist.Read More » -
Hugo Fregonese – The Raid (1954)
1951-1960Hugo FregoneseUSAWesternA group of confederate prisoners escape to Canada and plan to rob the banks and set fire to the small town of Saint Albans in Vermont. To get the lie of the land, their leader spends a few days in the town and finds he is getting drawn into its life and especially into that of an attractive widow and her son.Read More »
-
George Sherman – Tomahawk (1951)
1951-1960ActionGeorge ShermanUSAWesternSynopsis:
In 1866, a new gold discovery and an inconclusive conference force the U.S. Army to build a road and fort in territory ceded by previous treaty to the Sioux…to the disgust of frontier scout Jim Bridger, whose Cheyenne wife led him to see the conflict from both sides. The powder-keg situation needs only a spark to bring war, and violent bigots like Lieut. Rob Dancy are all too likely to provide this. Meanwhile, Bridger’s chance of preventing catastrophe is dimmed by equally wrenching personal conflicts. Unusually accurate historically.Read More » -
George Stevens – Shane (1953)
1951-1960ClassicsGeorge StevensUSAWesternSynopsis:
The simple story of a Wyoming range war is elevated to near-mythical status in producer/director George Stevens’ Western classic Shane. Alan Ladd plays the title character, a mysterious drifter who rides into a tiny homesteading community and accepts the hospitality of a farming family. Patriarch Joe Starrett (Van Heflin) is impressed by the way Shane handles himself when facing down the hostile minions of land baron Emile Meyer, though he has trouble placing his complete trust in the stranger, as his Marion (Jean Arthur) is attracted to Shane in spite of herself, and his son Joey (Brandon De Wilde) flat-out idolizes Shane. When Meyer is unable to drive off the homesteaders by sheer brute strength, he engages the services of black-clad, wholly evil hired gun Jack Wilson (Jack Palance)…Read More »
- 1
- 2