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Kiss Of Death (1947 Film)
''Kiss of Death'' is a 1947 American film noir directed by Henry Hathaway and written by Ben Hecht and Charles Lederer from a story by Eleazar Lipsky. The story revolves around an ex-con played by Victor Mature and his former partner-in-crime, Tommy Udo (Richard Widmark in his first film). The movie also starred Brian Donlevy and introduced Coleen Gray in her first billed role. The film has received critical praise since its release, with two Academy Award nominations. Plot On Christmas Eve, down-on-his-luck ex-convict Nick Bianco and his three cohorts rob a jewelry store. Before they can exit the building, however, the injured proprietor sets off his alarm. While attempting to escape, Nick assaults a police officer but is wounded and arrested. The Assistant District Attorney Louis D'Angelo tries to persuade Nick to name his accomplices in exchange for a light sentence. Confident that his partners in crime and his lawyer, Earl Howser, will look after his wife and two young daugh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Daybill
A daybill is one variety of Australian film poster issued to cinemas at the time of a film's release. A daybill measures approximately , however during World War II some daybills measured because it allowed an additional daybill to fit onto the sheet of paper. Daybills were folded twice and sold to cinemas for 5 to 10 cents. Until the 1970s, most daybills were printed as lithographs. In the 1960s some posters began copying American printing techniques to achieve a 'gloss' finish that suited the photographic images that were becoming prevalent in poster design. Today, daybills are printed on thick glossy paper and are much more durable. Daybills are sought-after by collectors for their rarity and unique artwork. Some of the more famous daybills include: * Halloween (John Carpenter, 1978). Features a unique image of villain Michael Myers. Australia was the only country to depict Myers on the poster. * The Empire Strikes Back (George Lucas, 1980). Features artwork developed in Ja ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Psychopath
Psychopathy, sometimes considered synonymous with sociopathy, is characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits. Different conceptions of psychopathy have been used throughout history that are only partly overlapping and may sometimes be contradictory. Hervey M. Cleckley, an American psychiatrist, influenced the initial diagnostic criteria for antisocial personality reaction/disturbance in the ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'' (''DSM''), as did American psychologist George E. Partridge. The ''DSM'' and ''International Classification of Diseases'' (ICD) subsequently introduced the diagnoses of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and dissocial personality disorder (DPD) respectively, stating that these diagnoses have been referred to (or include what is referred to) as psychopathy or sociopathy. The creation of ASPD and DPD was driven by the fact that many of the classi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Frank Gorshin
Frank John Gorshin Jr. (April 5, 1933 – May 17, 2005) was an American actor, comedian and impressionist. He made many guest appearances on '' The Ed Sullivan Show'' and '' Tonight Starring Steve Allen''. As an actor, he played the Riddler on the live-action television series '' Batman'' and was nominated for an Emmy Award for the performance. Early life Gorshin was born on April 5, 1933, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Catholic parents Frances, a seamstress, and Frank Gorshin Sr., a railroad worker. He was of Slovenian ancestry. His father, Frank Sr., was a second-generation Slovenian-American whose parents emigrated to America from Slovenia. His mother, Frances or Fanny, née Prešeren, came to the United States as a young girl from Regrča Vas, near Novo Mesto, the main city of Lower Carniola, in Slovenia. Both of his parents were active in Pittsburgh's Slovenian community. They sang in the Slovenian Singing Society Prešeren, named after the great Slovenian poet ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Joker (comics)
The Joker is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson, and first appeared in the debut issue of the comic book ''Batman (comic book), Batman'' on April 25, 1940. Credit for the Joker's creation is disputed; Kane and Robinson claimed responsibility for the Joker's design while acknowledging Finger's writing contribution. Although the Joker was planned to be killed off during his initial appearance, he was spared by editorial intervention, allowing the character to endure as the archenemy of the superhero Batman. In his comic book appearances, the Joker is portrayed as a criminal mastermind. Introduced as a Psychopathy, psychopath with a warped, sadistic personality disorder, sadistic sense of humor, the character became a goofy prankster in the late 1950s in response to regulation by the Comics Code Authority, before returning to his darker roots during the early 1970s. As B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Batman
Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on March 30, 1939. In the DC Universe continuity, Batman is the alias of Bruce Wayne, a wealthy American playboy, philanthropist, and industrialist who resides in Gotham City. Batman's origin story features him swearing vengeance against criminals after witnessing the murder of his parents Thomas and Martha as a child, a vendetta tempered with the ideal of justice. He trains himself physically and intellectually, crafts a bat-inspired persona, and monitors the Gotham streets at night. Kane, Finger, and other creators accompanied Batman with supporting characters, including his sidekicks Robin and Batgirl; allies Alfred Pennyworth, James Gordon, and Catwoman; and foes such as the Penguin, the Riddler, Two-Face, and his archenemy the Joker. Kane conceiv ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
History Of Benzedrine
Amphetamine and methamphetamine are central nervous system stimulants used to treat a variety of conditions. When used recreationally, they are colloquially known as "speed" (amphetamine) and “crank” (methamphetamine). Amphetamine was first synthesized in 1887 in Germany by Romanian chemist Lazăr Edeleanu, who named it phenylisopropylamine. Around the same time, Japanese organic chemist Nagai Nagayoshi isolated ephedrine from the Chinese ephedra plant and later developed a method for ephedrine synthesis. Methamphetamine was synthesized from ephedrine in 1893 by Nagayoshi. Neither drug had a pharmacological use until 1934, when Smith, Kline & French began selling amphetamine as an inhaler under the trade name Benzedrine for congestion. During World War II, amphetamine and methamphetamine were used extensively by Allied and Axis forces for their stimulant and performance-enhancing effects. As the addictive properties of the drugs became known, governments began to place stri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard Conte
Nicholas Peter Conte (March 24, 1910 – April 15, 1975), known professionally as Richard Conte, was an American actor. He appeared in more than 100 films from the 1940s through 1970s, including '' I'll Cry Tomorrow'', ''Ocean's 11'', and ''The Godfather''. Early life Richard Conte was born Nicholas Peter Conte on March 24, 1910, in Jersey City, New Jersey, the son of Italian-Americans Julia (Fina), a seamstress, and Pasquale Conte, a barber. He graduated from William L. Dickinson High School in Jersey City. Conte worked as a truck driver, messenger, shoe salesman, and singing waiter before starting his acting career. He was discovered by actors Elia Kazan and John Garfield during his job at a Connecticut resort, which led to Conte finding stage work. He eventually earned a scholarship to study at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, where he became a standout actor. Conte was a Republican who campaigned for Dwight Eisenhower during the 1952 presidential election ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Patricia Morison
Eileen Patricia Augusta Fraser Morison (March 19, 1915 – May 20, 2018) was an American stage, television and film actress of the Golden Age of Hollywood and mezzo-soprano singer. She made her feature film debut in 1939 after several years on the stage, and amongst her most renowned were ''The Fallen Sparrow'', '' Dressed to Kill'' opposite Basil Rathbone and the screen adaptation of '' The Song of Bernadette''. She was lauded as a beauty with large blue eyes and extremely long, dark hair. During this period of her career, she was often cast as the '' femme fatale'' or "other woman". It was only when she returned to the Broadway stage that she achieved her greatest success as the lead in the original production of Cole Porter's ''Kiss Me, Kate'' and subsequently in '' The King and I''. Passing away shortly before Kirk Douglas and Olivia de Havilland, Morison was one of the last survivors of the golden age of Hollywood. Early life Background Eileen Patricia Augusta Fraser Mo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eva Condon
Eva Condon (1880-1956) was an actress of the Broadway stage and vaudeville, from the early to mid 20th century. Stage career She resolved to pursue acting at the age of 16. Condon graduated from Hunter College before becoming an understudy in the John Drew Jr. company for several seasons. Her ambition was to excel in high comedy. Her first appearance was in Columbia, South Carolina in ''A Single Man''. She portrayed a villainess in a Thais Lawton role. Condon acted in ''Too Many Cooks'' at the 39th Street Theater in February 1914. This was her favorite theatrical production. Written by Frank Craven, the comedy featured its author in the part of the home builder. The following October she was in ''The Moneymakers'' at the Booth Theatre on Broadway. The play was written by Charles Klein who was once in the British Army and helped protect Westminster Abbey. In 1930–31 Condon played the role of Mrs. Amos Evans in the touring production of ''Strange Interlude'', a nine-act, Puli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mildred Dunnock
Mildred Dorothy Dunnock (January 25, 1901 – July 5, 1991) was an American stage and screen actress. She was twice nominated for an Academy Award: first '' Death of a Salesman'' in 1951, then '' Baby Doll'' in 1956. Early life Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Dunnock graduated from Western High School. She developed an interest in theater while she was a student at Goucher College where she was a member of Alpha Phi sorority and the Agora dramatic society. After graduating, she taught English at Friends School of Baltimore and helped with productions of plays there. While teaching school in New York, she earned her master's degree at Columbia University and acted in a play while she was there. Career After roles in Broadway productions of ''Life Begins'' (1932) and ''The Hill Between'' (1938), Dunnock won praise for her performance as a Welsh school teacher in ''The Corn is Green'' in 1940 — a role that she performed while she was a full-time teacher at Brearley School. The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Karl Malden
Karl Malden (born Mladen George Sekulovich; March 22, 1912 – July 1, 2009) was an American actor. He was primarily a character actor, who according to Robert Berkvist, "for more than 60 years brought an intelligent intensity and a homespun authenticity to roles in theater, film, and television", especially in such classic films as ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' (1951), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, ''On the Waterfront'' (1954), '' Pollyanna'' (1960), and '' One-Eyed Jacks'' (1961). Malden also played in high-profile Hollywood films such as ''Baby Doll'' (1956), '' The Hanging Tree'' (1959), '' How the West Was Won'' (1962), '' Gypsy'' (1962), and ''Patton'' (1970). From 1972 to 1977, he portrayed Lt. Mike Stone in the primetime television crime drama ''The Streets of San Francisco''. He was later the spokesman for American Express. Film and culture critic Charles Champlin described Malden as "an Everyman, but one whose range moved easily up and dow ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Howard Smith (actor)
Howard Irving Smith (August 12, 1893 – January 10, 1968) was an American character actor with a 50-year career in vaudeville, theatre, radio, films and television. In 1938, he performed in Orson Welles's short-lived stage production and once-lost film, ''Too Much Johnson'', and in the celebrated radio production, " The War of the Worlds". He portrayed Charley in the original Broadway production of '' Death of a Salesman'' and recreated the role in the 1951 film version. On television, Smith portrayed the gruff Harvey Griffin in the situation comedy, '' Hazel''. Biography Howard Irving Smith was born August 12, 1893, in Attleboro, Massachusetts, to parents George H. Smith and Sybelle Pollard Smith. Smith began as a concert singer, but his hopes of an opera career were ended after his service in the 77th Infantry Division in World War I. Enrico Caruso suggested that he try a musical act in vaudeville. He formed a team with his friend Harry Meeker and later, as a comedian, h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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