Tag Archives: jerry hopper

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

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: “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.

Pic of the Day: “Alaska Seas” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

By my dear husband’s special request, today’s pic is another shot from Alaska Seas (1954), directed by Jerry Hopper. Timothy’s boat repairman Wycoff is angrily demanding the $920.60 owed him by Matt Kelly (Robert Ryan).

“I did a show with Bob Ryan once,” said Tim in the Grover Lewis interview. “He was great, but he wouldn’t allow a lot of takes. ‘This is it,’ he’d say.”  Timothy and Ryan appeared together again in one of Ryan’s last films, John Flynn‘s The Outfit (1973).

Pic of the Day: “Alaska Seas”

Posted by Marisa on

Today’s pic will appeal to the hipsters out there. It’s from a really obscure movie, you’ve probably never heard of it.


Alaska Seas (1954) was directed by Jerry Hopper. Tim portrays Wycoff, the owner of the local boat repair establishment, who vainly tries to recoup the $920.60 owed him by Matt Kelly (Robert Ryan). Wycoff has just tracked down Kelly, who last left Wycoff floating in the drink after he made off with his boat without paying Wycoff what he owed him. Tim just walks up to Ryan and stands there grinning. This shot cries out to be captioned a là LOLcats. O HAI! REMEMBER ME? YOU OWE ME NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY DOLLARS AND SIXTY CENTS!

It’s hard to believe Tim was only 24 when he made this film; he looks and acts much older. But isn’t that the mark of a good actor? At one point he is seen through the door of his office sitting in his rocking chair, playing with and singing to a cat.

When Tim appeared with Ryan again in The Outfit (1973), my years of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fandom stood me in good stead and I couldn’t resist riffing on the scene. “Oh, by the way, it’s been 20 years and you still owe me $920.60. With interest.”