50 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 27 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Sci Tech    H4'ed 4/14/09

Fritz Lang's Historical March

By       (Page 2 of 2 pages) Become a premium member to see this article and all articles as one long page.   2 comments
Message Bill Hare

Lang along with Bennett and her husband, producer Walter Wanger, liked the result so well that all of the aforementioned teamed up again after the German director formed a production company with Wanger and Bennett.

They made what amounted to a shrewdly calculated sequel with "Scarlett Street" in 1945. Robinson played a henpecked husband turned painting genius who was exploited by the charms of Bennett and ruthless opportunism of Duryea.

Lang united with newcomer film producer Bert Freidlob to direct two films that thematically captured America in the fifties. Since Lang made "The Blue Gardenia" on a shoestring budget over a brief period of time, he underrated its raw power as a well paced dramatic chronicler of the period.

"The Blue Gardenia" was released in 1953 at the height of the McCarthy witch hunt anti-Communist paranoia. Anne Baxter as an innocent victim is caught up in a wave of frenzy to find the killer of playboy artist Raymond Burr.

The newspaper columnist with whom Baxter becomes romantically involved, Richard Conte, leads the crusade to find the young woman suspected of killing Burr with the fixated masses hanging on every word he writes.

The 1956 release "While the City Sleeps" unveils ruthless competition amid a fifties' burgeoning New York City based corporate media empire.

In the process of seeking to win the company prize of a lush promotion from his colleagues, Dana Andrews as a television commentator and columnist taunts serial killer John Barrymore Jr. In his anxiety to snare the murderer of young single women, Andrews convinces his fiancée Sally Forrest to serve as bait and entice the killer into the open.

Lang displayed the genius of providing cinema success within tight budgetary restraints in the Hollywood fifties just as he demonstrated his powers over higher budgeted spectacles earlier in his career in Berlin with "Metropolis" and "M."

Next Page  1  |  2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Rate It | View Ratings

Bill Hare Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Began in the journalism field in hometown of Los Angeles. Started as Sports Editor and Movie Writer at Inglewood Daily News chain after working in sportswriting of high school events at the Los Angeles Examiner.

Received a bachelor's in (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

The Koch Brothers Own Scott Walker

Reagan, Deregulation and the Slippery Road to Poisoned Assets

When the CIA Overthrew Iran for British Petroleum

The Casey Anthony Photo that Dominates the Trial

Fox News and the Dumbing Down of America

Did 12 Heads of Cabbage Decide the Casey Anthony Trial?

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend