Pic of the Day: “Alaska Seas” revisited

Posted by Marisa on March 2, 2015

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).

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.

Video of the Week: “The Outfit”

Posted by Marisa on January 28, 2015

Our video for this week is a nifty montage of scenes from John Flynn‘s gritty homage to film noir, The Outfit (1973). It showcases the film’s superb score by Jerry Fielding.

In addition to Timothy, Robert Duvall, Joe Don Baker, Karen Black, Joanna Cassidy, and Robert Ryan are all here. This is a great film, not to be missed. You can catch it this Friday January 30 on the El Rey network. Enjoy!

Pic of the Day: “The Outfit” revisited

Posted by Marisa on November 11, 2014

We revisited this film quite recently, but as today is the 115th birthday anniversary of the great Robert Ryan, I couldn’t help but showcase it once again. Mobster Mailer (Ryan) is unimpressed by the predicament his freshly injured torpedo Jake Menner has gotten himself into.

We have sung Ryan’s praises here before, so please go take a look at previous posts. The Outfit (1973) was one of his final films. What a gift to the film community the man was.

Pic of the Day: “Alaska Seas” revisited

Posted by Marisa on September 9, 2014

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).

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!

Quote of the Week

Posted by Marisa on March 23, 2014

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)

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 February 4, 2014

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.

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 November 11, 2013

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.

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 August 5, 2013

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.

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 February 26, 2013

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.

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: “The Outfit” revisited

Posted by Marisa on November 20, 2012

Today we take another look at John Flynn‘s The Outfit (1973). Ill-tempered thug Jake Menner is not too happy about Earl Macklin (Robert Duvall) interrupting his card game. I am not 100% certain who the actor sitting next to Timothy is.