Tag Archives: alaska seas

Pic of the Day: “Alaska Seas” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

I apologize for not posting last week! Not sure what happened. Guess I needed a little break. In any case, March is coming in like a lion with another look at Alaska Seas (1954), the maritime adventure directed by Jerry Hopper. Boat repairman Wycoff ponders how to get the $920.60 owed him by rogue fisherman Matt Kelly (Robert Ryan).

Alaska Seas

I was inspired to make Seas our Pic of the Day after coming across this epically hilarious promotional still from the film on eBay. One is inclined to wonder why Timothy was not included in this fabulous shot of Brian Keith, Jan Sterling and Ryan hamming it up for the camera.

Alaska Seas promo still

Pic of the Day: “Alaska Seas” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

The hubby requested another shot of Timothy from Alaska Seas (1954), directed by Jerry Hopper. Here he is as marine repairman Wycoff, confronting rogue fisherman Matt Kelly (Robert Ryan) about the money he owes Wycoff for services rendered (not to put too fine a point on it, $920.60).

Alaska Seas

This one used to be streaming on Netflix, but not anymore. It is available on Amazon Instant Video, and you should be able to find a copy on sites such as iOffer. It’s worth your time – check it out!

Pic of the Day: “Alaska Seas” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

These are tough times right now at the TCE. Our cat Delbert passed away yesterday. Even though we have two other cats, the house seems empty without him. So today I wanted to post a picture of Timothy with a cat. Here he is in Alaska Seas (1954) as marine repairman Wycoff, investigating strange noises and holding his cat.

Alaska Seas

He later goes back inside and starts singing to the cat. It’s pretty cute. Give your fur kids extra love today, folks. They’re only on loan to us.

Quote of the Week

Posted by Marisa on

Carey’s true nature, belying his odious on-screen behavior, came out in the easygoing way he talked about the many leads he’s worked with, actors who’ve routinely – and literally – kicked him around. He was given the cold shoulder by Robert Ryan on Alaska Seas (1954), “cursed and stomped on” by Richard Widmark during The Last Wagon (1956), and kicked in the ribs by Karl Malden during the filming of Marlon Brando‘s One-Eyed Jacks (1961) – to name only a few instances! When asked to reflect on these incidents, a sad fondness crept into Carey’s voice as he had nothing but praise for the many actors whose resentfulness instilled in him a real martyrdom rather than bitterness: “I’ve been fired from several shows. I’m not proud of it, but I do hold the all-time record.”

– Ara Corbett, “Rebels With a Cause: The Timothy Carey-John Cassavetes Partnership”; Filmfax magazine #56 (May/June 1996)

One-Eyed Jacks

Karl Malden literally kicks Timothy’s ass in a scene that didn’t make the final cut of One-Eyed Jacks

Pic of the Day: “Alaska Seas” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

Today we take another look at Jerry Hopper‘s maritime adventure Alaska Seas (1954). Boat repairman Wycoff is still trying to get his $920.60 from Matt Kelly (Robert Ryan), as Jim Kimmerly (Brian Keith) looks on.

Alaska Seas

Many of us are probably most familiar with Keith from his role as Uncle Bill in the classic sitcom A Family Affair (1966-1971). He was, however, a reliable presence in many films and television shows from the 1950s until his death in 1997. He even appeared in two silent films at the age of three. His stepmother was starlet Peg Entwistle, who gained notoriety as the girl who committed suicide by jumping off the “Hollywoodland” sign in 1932. His own passing was also under very sad circumstances. Suffering from emphysema and terminal lung cancer, and mourning the suicide of his daughter only ten weeks earlier, he too took his own life at the age of 75.

Pic of the Day: “The Outfit” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

And we’re back! Today we celebrate the 114th birthday anniversary of a true Hollywood legend. The great Robert Ryan appeared in two films with Timothy, Alaska Seas (1954) and The Outfit (1973). Here are the two of them from that latter film, directed by John Flynn. Tim’s nasty thug Jake Menner gets a dressing-down from his boss, Mailer (Ryan). Variety columnist Army Archerd appears in a sly cameo as Mailer’s butler.

The Outfit

Ryan, born in Chicago, was a gentle and compassionate man off-screen, belying his often cruel tough-guy cinematic persona. His politics were decidedly left of center, and he actively supported many civil rights and pacifist causes. He was, in fact, a co-founder of SANE, the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy. He once said, referring to the notorious Senator Joseph McCarthy, “I was involved in the things he was throwing rocks at but I was never a target. Looking back, I suspect my Irish name, my being a Catholic and an ex-Marine sort of softened the blow.”

Pic of the Day: “Alaska Seas” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

Our pic of the day shows Timothy in a rather unusual on-screen condition – absolutely soaking wet. In Jerry Hopper‘s Alaska Seas (1954), marine repairman Wycoff  gets tossed in the drink by unscrupulous fisherman Matt Kelly (Robert Ryan) after a dispute over a repair bill. Things go downhill from there.

Alaska Seas

Hopper, the cousin of actress Glenda Farrell, was an editor at Paramount before settling into the director’s chair. His first wife was noir favorite Marsha Hunt. He racked up some impressive directing credits on both the large and small screens. One of them is one of my favorite lesser-known noirs, Naked Alibi (1954), with Sterling Hayden and Gloria Grahame.

Pic of the Day: “Alaska Seas” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

Today we take another look at Alaska Seas (1954), the nautical adventure directed by Jerry Hopper. Fisherman Matt Kelly (Robert Ryan) has come to claim his boat from repairman Wycoff, who claims that Kelly owes him $920.60 and is very unhappy when Kelly offers him a fraction of that.

Alaska Seas

Wycoff comes across as quite a bit older than the 24 Timothy was when he made the film. He and Ryan worked together again in The Outfit (1973). Tim told Grover Lewis, “I did a show with Bob Ryan once – he was great, but he wouldn’t allow a lot of takes. ‘This is it,’ he’d say.” Alaska Seas is still available on Netflix Streaming, so give it a gander.

Pic of the Day: “Alaska Seas” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

Today’s pic revisits Jerry Hopper‘s maritime adventure Alaska Seas (1954). Marine repairman Wycoff is in pursuit of rascally rogue Matt Kelly (Robert Ryan), who owes him a pile of money ($920.60, to be exact). Nicky Jackson (Jan Sterling), girlfriend of fisherman Jim Kimmerly (Brian Keith), has just advised him as to Kelly’s whereabouts.

This nifty little film is available on Netflix Streaming, as well as on non-commercial DVD at Loving the Classics, so check it out!

I also wanted to let you all know that the blog will be going on hiatus for the rest of the week. We’ll be back on September 30, my wedding anniversary and the anniversary of the death of James Dean. So stay tuned!

Pic of the Day: “Mermaids of Tiburon” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

Our pic of the day is a delightfully evil shot of bad guy Milo Sangster from John Lamb‘s Mermaids of Tiburon (1962). While pushing some equipment around on his boat, Timothy manages to direct this wicked grin right into the camera.

Tim’s old friend and former roommate Gil Barreto is in the cast list here, but I’m not sure that he actually appears in the film as it’s available today (on DVD and also at Fandor). They had both just come off the taxing four-year ordeal that was the shooting of The World’s Greatest Sinner (1962). Lamb was the underwater photographer for several television series, including Sea Hunt and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Diane Webber, who appears here as the Mermaid Queen, also portrayed a mermaid in the Voyage episode entitled, strangely enough, “The Mermaid” (01/29/67). It was directed by Jerry Hopper, who directed Tim in Alaska Seas (1954). Lamb again helmed the underwater sequences. Alas, it’s a mostly dreadful episode.