Race Gentry Movies
One of many handsome hunks hired by Universal-International as an assurance against an eventual defection from the likes of Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis, John Papiro assumed the moniker Race Gentry reportedly because of a fondness for fast cars. Gentry went on to support Hudson in The Lawless Breed (1952) but his career never really progressed beyond also-ran status. A name change to John Gentry led to the hot-rod drama Thunder in Carolina (1960) and some television work. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide- 1960
Hard Drivin' is a lively precursor to all those "on the road" flicks of the 1970s. Rory Calhoun, John Gentry and Alan Hale Jr. star as three hellraising Southern stock car drivers. The racing scenes themselves are well photographed, with the stars apparently doing a lot of their own stunts. These sequences are intercut with footage from the real-life Southern 500 competition. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rory Calhoun, Alan Hale, Jr., (more)
- 1957
Anthony Mann, best known for his intelligent Westerns and hard-boiled crime films, directed this unflinching look at the realities of war set against the backdrop of the Korean conflict. Lt. Mark Benson (Robert Ryan) is the leader of a platoon that has just been given orders to advance to Hill 465, where they are to join awaiting troops and advance on the territory. While Benson and his men are weary, they have little choice but to comply. Needing a transport for their weapons, Benson and his men commandeer a truck, only to discover that it's not empty -- Sgt. "Montana" Williamette (Aldo Ray) has been ordered to escort a colonel (Robert Keith) suffering from extreme battle fatigue to a field hospital for examination and treatment. While Benson's loyalty is to his troops and his mission, Montana refuses to turn over the truck; the colonel is one of the only men he's been able to rely on during his stretch in the Army, and he is determined to stand by him in his time of need. Either way, the men find themselves frequently confronted by danger, and their numbers are decimated when they're ambushed by enemy troops. The supporting cast includes L.Q. Jones, Nehemiah Persoff, and Vic Morrow, who five years later would confront the dark side of war on a weekly basis as star of the TV series Combat. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Ryan, Aldo Ray, (more)
- 1956
Bold and the Brave traces the destinies of three American soldiers stationed in Italy during World War II. Wendell Corey is top-billed as an idealistic soul who doesn't believe in killing. Don Taylor portrays a religious bigot, who can't see anything in terms other than Good and Evil. The most intriguing (and entertaining) member of the trio is Mickey Rooney, an inveterate gambler who runs a floating crap game up and down the Italian front. Since Rooney frequently declares that he's building up enough money to open a fancy New York restaurant, it's a foregone conclusion that he's not going to get out of the war alive. The title song for Bold and the Brave was cowritten by Mickey Rooney and Ross Bagdasarian, the latter best known as the creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wendell Corey, Mickey Rooney, (more)
- 1956
There's Always Tomorrow is a remake of a 1934 film of the same name. Fred MacMurray is a toy company executive whose wife (Joan Bennett) and kids (Gigi Perreau, William Reynolds and Judy Nugent) take him for granted. Barbara Stanwyck is Fred's former girlfriend, whose own business activities result in a surprise reunion. MacMurray falls back in love with Stanwyck and prepares to leave his family. MacMurray's children go to Stanwyck and politely ask her to back off. She does so, and MacMurray's wife Bennett, who's been out of town during all this, is none the wiser. In the original There's Always Tomorrow, the male and female leads (Frank Morgan and Binnie Barnes) were farther apart age-wise, making their brief encounter all the more poignant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, (more)
- 1954
Black Horse Canyon was adapted from The Wild Horse, a novel by Lee Savage Jr. Joel McCrea stars as novice rancher Del Rockwell, who takes it upon himself to capture a magnificent wild black stallion who has been spiriting mares away from other ranchers. Rockwell hopes to use the stallion for stud purposes, as does his disreputable neighbor Jennings (Murvyn Vye). Also desirous of corralling the stallion for her ranch is Aldia Spain (Mari Blanchard), who throws in with Rockwell. An exciting climax which reveals everyone's true nature caps this beautifully photographed western. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joel McCrea, Mari Blanchard, (more)
- 1952
The Lawless Breed is based on the exploits of Texas bad man John Wesley Hardin, played here quite convincingly by Rock Hudson. The film takes the Cecil B. DeMille approach of condemning evil by showing as much evil as the censor will allow. After nearly an hour of unrepentant perfidy, Hardin settles down to marry good woman Julie Adams. In middle age, he determines to steer his son clear of outlawry, resulting in a sentimental but non-maudlin finale. Directed by Raoul Walsh, who had given Rock Hudson his first screen role in Fighter Squadron, Lawless Breed was reportedly instrumental in landing Hudson as starring role in George Stevens' Giant (1956). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rock Hudson, Julie Adams, (more)
- 1934
In this melodrama, a devoted father begins feeling unappreciated at home and so embarks upon a clandestine friendship with a former employee. The children see them together and assume it's an affair. They beg him to end the relationship. Later the woman herself talks to the kids, assuring them that the friendship is platonic and chiding them gently on their thoughtless behavior towards their dad. In the end, the family reconciles and the woman goes on with her life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Morgan, Binnie Barnes, (more)
