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Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster was a production company formed by the actor Burt Lancaster in association with his agent, Harold Hecht, and James Hill. In 1948 Lancaster and Hecht formed Norma Productions (named after his wife), which later became Hecht-Lancaster. Hill joined in the mid-1950s. The company produced some of the most notable American films of the 1950s. In 1956 they renewed their deal with United Artists. In late 1957 they announced they would make ten films worth $14 million in 1958."Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Planning Record Year: Group Will Produce $14,000,000 Worth of Motion Pictures in 1958". Los Angeles ''Times'', December 16, 1957. p. B9. Filmography *''Kiss the Blood Off My Hands'' (1948), N *''The Flame and the Arrow'' (1950), N *''Ten Tall Men'' (1951), N *'' The Crimson Pirate'' (1952), HL *'' Apache'' (1954), HL *'' Vera Cruz'' (1954), HL *'' Marty'' (1955), HL *'' The Kentuckian'' (1955), HL *''Trapeze'' (1956), HHL *''The Bachelor Party'' (1957), HHL *''Sweet Smel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor and producer. Initially known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-year career in film and, later, television. He was a four-time nominee for the Academy Award for Best Actor (winning once), and he also won two BAFTA Awards and one Golden Globe Award for Best Lead Actor. The American Film Institute ranks Lancaster as of the greatest male stars of classic Hollywood cinema. Lancaster performed as a circus acrobat in the 1930s. After serving in World War II, the 33-year-old Lancaster landed a role in a Broadway play and drew the attention of a Hollywood agent. His breakthrough role was in the film noir '' The Killers'' in 1946 alongside Ava Gardner. A critical success, it launched both of their careers. Not long after in 1948, Lancaster starred alongside Barbara Stanwyck in the commercially and critically ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sweet Smell Of Success
''Sweet Smell of Success'' is a 1957 American film noir drama film directed by Alexander Mackendrick, starring Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison, and Martin Milner, and written by Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman, and Mackendrick from the novelette by Lehman. The shadowy noir cinematography filmed on location in New York City was shot by James Wong Howe. The picture was produced by James Hill of Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions and released by United Artists. The supporting cast features Sam Levene, Barbara Nichols, Joe Frisco, Edith Atwater, David White and Emile Meyer. The musical score was arranged and conducted by Elmer Bernstein and the film also features jazz performances by the Chico Hamilton Quintet. Mary Grant designed the costumes. The film tells the story of powerful and sleazy newspaper columnist J.J. Hunsecker (portrayed by Lancaster and based on Walter Winchell) who uses his connections to ruin his sister's relationship with a man he deems unwor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Birdman Of Alcatraz (film)
''Birdman of Alcatraz'' is a 1962 American biographical drama film directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Burt Lancaster.'' Variety'' film review; June 20, 1962, page 6.'' Harrison's Reports'' film review; June 23, 1962, page 94. It is a largely fictionalized version of the life of Robert Stroud, who was sentenced to solitary confinement after having killed a prison guard. A federal prison inmate, he became known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz" because of his studies of birds, which had taken place when he was incarcerated at Leavenworth Prison. He was allowed to keep birds in jail. When moved to Alcatraz, Stroud was never allowed to keep any birds. The film was adapted by Guy Trosper from the 1955 book by Thomas E. Gaddis. It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Burt Lancaster), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Telly Savalas), Best Actress in a Supporting Role ( Thelma Ritter), and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White. Plot Robert Stroud is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Young Savages
''The Young Savages'' is a 1961 American crime drama film directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Burt Lancaster. It was written by Edward Anhalt from a novel by Evan Hunter. The supporting cast includes Dina Merrill, Shelley Winters, and Edward Andrews, and ''The Young Savages'' was the first film featuring Telly Savalas, who plays a police detective, foreshadowing his later role as ''Kojak''. Often categorized as a "thinking man's movie", it has received mixed reviews. Aspects of the film are inspired by the real-life Salvador Agron case. Plot Two Italian-American greasers, Danny diPace and Anthony "Batman" Aposto (Neil Nephew), and the Irish-American Arthur Reardon are members of a street gang named the Thunderbirds in New York City in East Harlem. They have an ongoing turf war with a Puerto Rican gang called the Horsemen. The three Thunderbirds unleash a knife attack on Roberto Escalante, a blind member of the Horsemen and stab him to death. They are caught and arres ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Unforgiven (1960 Film)
''The Unforgiven'' is a 1960 American Western film directed by John Huston and starring Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn. Filmed in Durango, Mexico, the supporting cast features Audie Murphy, Charles Bickford, Lillian Gish, John Saxon, Joseph Wiseman, Doug McClure and Albert Salmi. The story is based upon the 1957 novel by Alan Le May, author of ''The Searchers''. Uncommonly for its time, the film spotlights the issue of racism against Native Americans and people who were believed to have Native American blood in the Old West. The film is also known for its problems behind the scenes. Huston often said this was his least-satisfying movie. Plot The Zacharys are a thriving and respected family on the Texas frontier. Father Will Zachary was killed by Kiowa Indians, leaving his oldest son Ben (Burt Lancaster) head of the family. Ben and his mother Mattilda (Lillian Gish) are very protective of Rachel (Audrey Hepburn), who was adopted as an infant; she is doted on by the whole fam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Devil's Disciple (1959 Film)
''The Devil's Disciple'' is a 1959 British-American film adaptation of the 1897 George Bernard Shaw play '' The Devil's Disciple''. The Anglo-American film was directed by Guy Hamilton, who replaced Alexander Mackendrick, and starred Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier. Mary Grant designed the film's costumes. Lancaster and Douglas made several films together over the decades, including '' I Walk Alone'' (1948), '' Gunfight at the O.K. Corral'' (1957), ''Seven Days in May'' (1964) and '' Tough Guys'' (1986). Plot Richard "Dick" Dudgeon ( Kirk Douglas) is apostate and outcast from his family in colonial Websterbridge, New Hampshire, who returns their hatred with scorn. After the death of his father, who was mistakenly hanged by the British as a rebel in nearby Springtown, Dick rescues his body from the gallows, where it had been left as an example to others, and has it buried in the parish graveyard in Websterbridge. He then returns to his childhood home to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Summer Of The Seventeenth Doll (1959 Film)
''Summer of the Seventeenth Doll'' is a 1959 Australian-British film directed by Leslie Norman and is based on the Ray Lawler play '' Summer of the Seventeenth Doll''. In the United States the film was released under the title ''Season of Passion''. Plot Queensland sugarcane cutters Roo and Barney spend the off season in Sydney each year, seeing their girlfriends. For sixteen years Roo has spent the summer with barmaid Olive, bringing her a kewpie doll, while Barney romances Nancy. In the seventeenth year, Barney arrives to find that Nancy has married; however Olive has arranged a replacement, manicurist Pearl. Roo has had a bad season, losing his place as head of the cane cutting team to a younger man, Dowd. Barney tries to smooth things over between Roo and Dowd, who falls for Bubba, a girl who has grown up with the cane cutters. Barney leaves to work with Dowd. We learn that Dowd has proposed to Bubba, and she now intends to go with him to Queensland. Roo proposes to Olive ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Rabbit Trap
''The Rabbit Trap'' is a 1959 American drama film directed by Philip Leacock based on a 1955 ''Goodyear Television Playhouse'' teleplay by JP Miller at TCM Monthly Plot Since leaving the army ten years ago, Eddie has been working hard without any promotion, never missing a day of work and having only three weeks holiday in his ten years with his construction firm. The day after, Eddie and his wife Abby and son Duncan are granted a two-week holiday. They spend it in a mountain cabin. On the first day, Eddie and Duncan place a rabbit trap out in the countryside for the sheer joy of feeding and releasing him. Eddie is called back to work the next day, leading to arguments with Abby who insists that Eddie should remain on holiday. Eddie fears being left behind in promotion if he enda ...[...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Take A Giant Step
''Take a Giant Step'' is a 1959 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Philip Leacock. The plot concerns a black teenager living in a predominantly white environment and having trouble coping as he reaches an age at which the realities of racism are beginning to affect his life more directly and pointedly than they had in his childhood. Adapted from the Broadway play by Louis S. Peterson, the film stars Johnny Nash — who would ultimately become more well known for his singing career, including the hit song "I Can See Clearly Now" — as the lead character, Spencer "Spence" Scott. Co-stars included Ruby Dee as the Scott family's housekeeper, Estelle Hemsley as Grandma Martin (Hemsley was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for best supporting actress), and Beah Richards as Spence's mother. The movie's executive producer was Burt Lancaster through his Hecht-Hill-Lancaster production company. Plot Spencer "Spence" Scott (Johnny Nash) is a 17-year-old black high school senio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Separate Tables (film)
''Separate Tables'' is a 1958 American drama film starring Rita Hayworth, Deborah Kerr, David Niven, Burt Lancaster, and Wendy Hiller, based on two one-act plays by Terence Rattigan that were collectively known by this name. Niven and Hiller won Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively for their performances. The picture was directed by Delbert Mann and adapted for the screen by Rattigan, John Gay and an uncredited John Michael Hayes. Mary Grant and Edith Head designed the film's costumes. Plot The film is set in the Hotel Beauregard in Bournemouth on the south coast of England. Major David Angus Pollock (David Niven) tries but fails to hide an article about himself in the ''West Hampshire Weekly News''. His attempt to keep the article from the eyes of the other guests at the residential hotel only succeeds in heightening their awareness of it, particularly the strict Mrs Railton-Bell ( Gladys Cooper) and the more relaxed and compassionat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cry Tough (film)
''Cry Tough'' is a 1959 crime drama film directed by Paul Stanley written by Harry Kleiner, starring John Saxon and Linda Cristal. The screenplay of the film is based on the novel of the same name by Irving Shulman. However, in the transition from print to film the Jewish Brooklyn gang of the novel became a Puerto Rican gang in Spanish Harlem. Cast * John Saxon as Miguel Antonio Enrico Francisco Estrada * Linda Cristal as Sarita * Joseph Calleia as Sr. Estrada * Harry Townes as Carlos Mendoza * Don Gordon as Incho * Perry Lopez as Toro * Frank Puglia as Lavandero * Penny Santon as Señora Estrada Production Saxon made it as the first under a three picture deal he had with the Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Hecht-Hill-Lancaster was a production company formed by the actor Burt Lancaster in association with his agent, Harold Hecht, and James Hill. In 1948 Lancaster and Hecht formed Norma Productions (named after his wife), which later became Hecht- ... production company.Elizabeth ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Run Silent, Run Deep (film)
''Run Silent, Run Deep'' is a 1958 American black-and-white war film starring Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster, based on the 1955 novel of the same name by Commander (later Captain) Edward L. Beach Jr. The picture was directed by Robert Wise and produced by Harold Hecht. The title refers to "silent running", a submarine stealth tactic. The story describes World War II submarine warfare in the Pacific Ocean, and deals with themes of vengeance, endurance, courage, loyalty, and honor and how these can be tested during wartime. In addition to Gable and Lancaster playing the leads, the film also features Jack Warden and was the film debut of Don Rickles. United Artists appropriately promoted ''Run Silent, Run Deep'' as a combination of the obsessiveness of ''Moby Dicks Captain Ahab and the shipboard rivalry found in ''Mutiny on the Bounty''. Although based on a novel of the same name, and having many of the same characters, the plot of the film diverges from that of the book. Capta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
