Pic of the Day: “Ain’t We Got Fun” revisited

Posted by Marisa on September 29, 2014

Classic cinematic tough guy Ted de Corsia was born in Brooklyn, New York, on this date in either 1903 or 1905. He co-starred with fellow Brooklynite Timothy four times: in Crime Wave (1954), The Killing (1956), the Profiles in Courage episode “Andrew Johnson” (first aired February 28, 1965), and in today’s offering, “Ain’t We Got Fun”. That episode of The Untouchables was first broadcast on November 12, 1959. Here bootlegger Big Jim Harrington confers with Loxie, his pyromaniac torpedo.

Following stage and radio acting stints, de Corsia hit the big time with his film debut, Orson Welles‘ The Lady from Shanghai (1947). He enjoyed a long career in films and on television in mostly tough-guy roles. He always brought a touch of class to his low-life bad guys, even if it was just a low-life’s idea of class. He passed away in 1973 of cerebral thrombosis; his ashes were scattered at sea.

Pic of the Day: “Andrew Johnson” revisited

Posted by Marisa on August 15, 2014

We close the week with another look at the Profiles in Courage episode “Andrew Johnson”. It first aired on February 28, 1965. Hartwick is the leader of a band of disgruntled malcontents bent on harassing President Andrew Johnson (Walter Matthau) as he attempts to deal with post-Civil War issues.

This is another popular anthology series of the 1960s that deserves a proper DVD release. Here’s hoping the right people take up the task soon.

Pic of the Day: “Andrew Johnson” revisited

Posted by Marisa on March 25, 2014

Our pic of the day today takes another look at the Profiles in Courage episode “Andrew Johnson”. It was first broadcast on February 28, 1965. Timothy is a ruffian by the name of Hartwick, the leader of a gang of disgruntled torch-bearing voters out to intimidate President Andrew Johnson (Walter Matthau).

Profiles in Courage took as its jumping-off point the 1957 book by then-Senator John F. Kennedy. The series provided work for many of Tim’s past and future colleagues, including Ted de Corsia (in this episode, actually), John Cassavetes and George Macready. It is long overdue, in my humble opinion, for an official DVD release.

Pic of the Day: “Andrew Johnson” revisited

Posted by Marisa on May 24, 2013

The Memorial Day weekend begins with another look at the Profiles in Courage episode “Andrew Johnson,” first airing on February 28, 1965. Hartwick and his band of torch-bearing ruffians are intent on harassing President Andrew Johnson (Walter Matthau), embroiled in the vicissitudes of reconstruction after the Civil War.

This episode was helmed by veteran television director Alexander Singer. He attended high school in the Bronx and became good friends with another young man who would also end up directing Timothy. That young man’s name was Stanley Kubrick.

Pic of the Day: “Andrew Johnson” revisited

Posted by Marisa on October 29, 2012

Since this is Halloween Week, and Timothy was a big fan of Halloween, I’ve been searching my collection of screen caps for reeaally scary pics which I will be featuring all week! Here’s a good one. It’s from the Profiles in Courage episode “Andrew Johnson,” which first aired on February 28, 1965. Tim is a rabble-rouser by the name of Hartwick, leading a gang of ruffians out to commit mayhem on President Andrew Johnson (Walter Matthau). He was moving around so much during his big scene that it was difficult to capture him. This one came up, and it was so weird and freaky that I just had to save it.

Creepy, huh? There’s more to come – stay tuned!

Pic of the Day: “Andrew Johnson” revisited

Posted by Marisa on January 26, 2012

Today’s pic is another from the Profiles in Courage episode “Andrew Johnson,” first airing on February 28, 1965. Tim is Hartwick, the leader of a gang of roughnecks harassing Andrew Johnson (Walter Matthau), 17th president of the U.S., who was struggling with reconstruction issues after the Civil War.

Profiles in Courage was a great series that attracted many top-flight actors of the era. It was based on the book of the same name by President John F. Kennedy, presenting inspirational tales of historical Americans dealing with major life crises. It is long overdue for an official DVD release.

Video of the Week: “Ain’t We Got Fun”

Posted by Marisa on December 14, 2011

Our video for this week is from the great crime series The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack as special agent supreme Eliot Ness. The episode is “Ain’t We Got Fun,” first broadcast on November 12, 1959. Tim is unforgettable as Loxie, the grinning pyromaniac torpedo to Ted de Corsia‘s bootlegger Big Jim Harrington.

There are four parts, so be sure to watch them all. Tim and fellow Brooklynite de Corsia were also both in Crime Wave (1954), The Killing (1956) and the Profiles in Courage episode “Andrew Johnson” (1965). Tim really must have angered some major higher-up involved with The Untouchables, as he received no screen credit for what is a rather important part. I just don’t get it.

Pic of the Day: “Andrew Johnson”

Posted by Marisa on July 28, 2011

You should really thank me for this one, folks. Finding someone selling an “unofficial” DVD set of the Profiles in Courage television series was not easy, but I did it (hint: www.ioffer.com). Today’s pic is from the episode “Andrew Johnson,” which first aired on February 28, 1965. Tim portrays a top-hatted rabble-rouser by the name of Hartwick, leading a gang of torch-wielding malcontents after Johnson’s (Walter Matthau) hide.