Joan Bennett Movies
The title of actress Joan Bennett's 1970 autobiography is The Bennett Playbill, in reference to the fact that she came from an old and well-established theatrical family: her father was stage star Richard Bennett and her sisters were screen actresses Constance and Barbara Bennett. Though she made an appearance as a child in one of her father's films, Joan Bennett did not originally intend to pursue acting as a profession. Honoring her wishes, her father bundled her off to finishing school in Versailles. Alas, her impulsive first marriage at 16 ended in divorce, leaving her a single mother in dire need of an immediate source of income. Thus it was that she became a professional actress, making her first Broadway appearance in her father's vehicle, Jarnegan (1928). In 1929, she began her film career in the low-budget effort Power, then co-starred with Ronald Colman in Bulldog Drummond. She was inexperienced and awkward and she knew it, but Bennett applied herself to her craft and improved rapidly; by the early '30s she was a busy and popular ingénue, appearing in such enjoyable programmers as Me and My Gal (1932) and important A-pictures like Little Women (1933) (as Amy). During this period she briefly married again to writer/producer Gene Markey. It was her third husband, producer Walter Wanger, who made the decision that changed the direction of her career: in Wanger's Trade Winds (1938), Bennett was obliged to dye her blonde hair black for plot purposes. Audiences approved of this change, and Bennett thrived throughout the next decade in a wide variety of "dark" roles befitting her brunette status. She was especially effective in a series of melodramas directed by Fritz Lang: Man Hunt (1941), The Woman in the Window (1944), Scarlet Street (1945), and The Secret Beyond the Door (1948). In 1950, she switched professional gears again, abandoning femme-fatale roles for the part of Spencer Tracy's ever-patient spouse in Father of the Bride (1950). Though her personal life was turbulent in the early '50s -- her husband Walter Wanger allegedly shot and wounded agent Jennings Lang, claiming that Lang was trying to steal his wife -- Bennett's professional life continued unabated on both stage and screen. Her television work included the 1959 sitcom Too Young to Go Steady and the "gothic" soap opera Dark Shadows (1965-1971). In failing health, Joan Bennett spent her last years in retirement with her fourth husband, media critic David Wilde. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This made-for-cable documentary traces the filming of the imperishable classic Gone with the Wind, from its inception to its triumphant Atlanta premiere in December of 1939. Filmmaker David Hinton interviews as many survivors of the experience as he's able to round up, but the main attraction of this film is its precious "test" clips. We watch a montage of screen tests of the many actresses considered for the role of Scarlett O'Hara, ranging from such front-runners as Paulette Goddard to such not-a-chancers as Lana Turner. The Goddard footage is particularly enjoyable as we watch her eagerly reciting the lines of all the characters as she auditions for Scarlett. The documentary also turns up several tantalizing bits of trivia, notably the fact that the film was shown to a preview audience with an entirely different musical score (portions of which are played on the soundtrack). There is, of course, very little suspense involved in Making of a Legend, but even those who've heard all the Gone With the Wind factoids from other sources will watch in fascination as the saga unfolds. This documentary was produced by David Selznick's sons, and written by iconoclastic movie historian David Thomson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
This superior ABC Theatre of the Month presentation is not so much about the reasons for divorce as it is about the tensions surrounding the actual litigation. Tom Selleck plays a topnotch Seattle divorce lawyer, juggling several delicate cases at once. Arrogantly secure in his legal prowess, Selleck suffers a major ego blow when his own wife (Jane Curtin) files for divorce. In a half-comic, half-serious manner, the travails of Selleck and Curtin are counterpointed with those of Selleck's clients. Donald Wrye and Linda Elstad's high-quality script for Divorce Wars: A Love Story bears a very faint resemblance to the recent movie hits Kramer vs. Kramer and Ordinary People--a resemblance pounced upon and amplified by the print ads for this TV movie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
This made-for-TV Amityville Horror knock-off ranks among the more interesting titles from a spate of early-1980s haunted-house efforts. The title abode is the sumptuous new residence of recuperating neurotic rock star Gary Stralhorn (Parker Stevenson), who resides there with his young amnesiac nurse Sheila (Lisa Eilbacher). After a conversation with a mysterious woman (Joan Bennett), Sheila becomes increasingly convinced that she's lived in the house before. Soon, people around her begin falling victim to the malevolent spirit in the house, which seems to be protecting Sheila while guarding its own dark secret. The flamboyant death scenes -- quite graphic for television -- involve breathing mirrors that fire dagger-like shards, willful electrical cables, and a boiling hot swimming pool. Things are nicely wrapped up for the enthusiastically creepy climax, but fans of The Haunting won't be too surprised at the outcome. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Suddenly, Love is a tried and true "class conscious" TV movie set in the Manhattan of the 1960s. Cindy Williams stars as a Brooklyn girl who cuts the family strings at age 16 to head for the Big Apple. While studying to be an architect, Williams falls in love with a wealthy Yale law school professor (Paul Shenar). The prof's blueblood mother (Joan Bennett), aware that her son has a bad heart, is convinced that Williams is a fortune-hunter--a conviction that is intensified when the girl has a baby. Eileen Heckart costars as the heroine's earthy mom. Produced by glossmeister Ross Hunter, Suddenly, Love repeatedly belies its title: nothing in this lugubrious, talky film happens suddenly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A candy-colored nightmare from Italian terror maestro Dario Argento, Suspiria weaves a menacing tale of witchcraft as a fairy tale gone horribly awry. From the moment she arrives in Freiberg, Germany, to attend the prestigious Tans Academy, American ballet-dancer Suzy Banyon (Jessica Harper) senses that something horribly evil lurks within the walls of the age-old institution. Ill at ease as the result of her fellow student's peculiar behavior and increasingly terrified following a series of gruesome and spectacular murders, Suzy slowly begins to unravel the dark history of the academy. Convinced that the occult roots of the school and the horrific tale of its founding mother may hold an unthinkable secret, she begins a hallucinatory journey into the black heart of one of the most powerful witches ever known to exist. As Suzy edges ever closer to a secret that may hold the answers to all of her nightmares, the coven's grip on her soul begins to tighten until there is seemingly no escape. Will Suzy solve the mystery of the cursed academy before the fearsome Black Queen consumes her, or will she finally reveal the secret that has forever haunted the lavish corridors of the academy and bring an end to the Black Queen's terrifying reign? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jessica Harper, Joan Bennett, (more)
- 1972
Monie Ellis is the latest in a long line of movie and TV "Gidgets" in Gidget Gets Married. The title tells all: Francie "Gidget" Lawrence (Ellis) forsakes bikinis and surfboards for a wedding gown and corsage. Her husband, of course, is her faithful beau "Moondoggie", aka Jeff Stevens (Michael Burns). But the course of true love steadfastly refuses to run smoothly, as Gidget tries to deal with the snobbish social hierarchy within her husband's family and business associates. As he did in 1970's Gidget Grows Up, Paul Lynde steals the show as the waspish Louis B. Lattimer. Based on characters created by Frederick Kohner (whose own daughter was the model for the original Gidget), the made-for-TV Gidget Gets Married premiered January 4, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Eyes of Charles Sand is a TV-movie variation of Roger Corman's X -- the Man with the X-Ray Eyes. Peter Haskell plays an ordinary mortal who inherits "The Sight," a heightened sense of ocular awareness. With this gift, Haskell is able to see hazily into the future and to probe the minds of others--which comes in handy during a murder mystery. Too bad he can't peer into the past to see who's responsible for the killing. A pilot for an unsold series, The Eyes of Charles Sand utilizes Henry Mancini's music score from the feature film Wait Until Dark (67) because of a 1971 composer's strike. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Bramwell (Jonathan Frid) and Catherine (Lara Parker) survive their night in the dreaded room, and in the process defeat the ghost of Brutus Collins (Louis Edmonds) and break the family curse. But upon emerging from the room, the couple faces death at the hands of Morgan (Keith Prentice), whose hands are stayed by Kendrick (John Karlen). Recovering from her madness, Melanie (Nancy Barrett) leaves Collinwood with Kendrick, and Bramwell and Catherine likewise go off together. A satisfying denouement for all, except Morgan, who dies, and possibly Melanie, whose neck bears a set of all-too-familiar red marks. And thus, with several plot strands left dangling and with the cast still locked into the "Parallel Time" version of 1841, did the five-year saga of Dark Shadows come to an abrupt end on April 2, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Aware that Daphne (Kate Jackson) knows he killed Edith, Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) locks Daphne up in the forbidden wing of Collinwood, the same wing containing the portal to Parallel Time. In that "other" world, the Parallel-Time version of Flora (Joan Bennett) has a terse conversation with the terrified Stella Young (Gaye Edmond). Back in "real" time, Gabriel contemplates an escape plan, but first he must kill both Daphne and her sister, Joanna (Lee Beery). This episode initially aired on January 13, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Following Julia (Grayson Hall) to the tower room, Melanie (Nancy Barrett) finds the missing Stella Young (Gaye Edmond), bound hand and foot. Flora (Joan Bennett) explains that the family was forced to imprison Stella because she threatened to call the authorities after the late Justin Collins tried to kill her. Melanie promises to release Stella if she stays mum -- but a few hours after Justin's funeral, Stella is found stabbed to death. This episode originally aired on February 4, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Flora (Joan Bennett) demands that both the women and the men be included in the dreaded family lottery, to determine who will be chosen in a desperate effort to break the curse that has loomed upon the Collinses for centuries. Determined that Catherine (Lara Parker) will not marry Morgan (Keith Prentice), Bramwell (Jonathan Frid) abducts her. This episode was first broadcast on February 1, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
In the parallel time version of 1841, Catherine (Lara Parker) blissfully prepares to wed Morgan (Keith Prentice), but Julia (Grayson Hall) warns her not to do so until Justin dies and the mysterious lottery can be held. It is explained that every 100 years, a selected member of the Collins family must spend the night in a locked room, as a means of breaking the curse that has plagued the family for centuries. Meanwhile, Catherine's ex-sweetheart, Bramwell (Jonathan Frid), is more determined than ever to win back her love whether she likes it or not. This episode originally aired on January 28, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
At last realizing he is truly in love with Angelique (Lara Parker) , Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) must stand by in heartbroken helplessness as she dies of gunshot wounds administered by the vengeful Lamar Trask (Jerry Lacy). Stabbed by Barnabas, Lamar survives just long enough to escape into parallel time, where his body is disposed of by the "other" Julia (Grayson Hall) and Flora (Joan Bennett). On a happier note, Desmond (John Karlen) and Leticia (Nancy Barrett) announce their engagement, while the real-time Julia (also Grayson Hall) and Prof. Stokes (Thayer David) escort Barnabas up the Time Staircase and back to the Collinwood of 1971 -- where, thanks to the revised events of 1841, everything has returned to normal. Originally telecast on January 27, 1971, this episode marked the end of the "modern" continuity of Dark Shadows -- though there was still plenty of intrigue awaiting viewers in the parallel time version of 1841. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
As Daphne (Kate Jackson) prepares to leave Collinsport with Quentin (David Selby), she is inexorably drawn back by the demonic powers of Gerard (James Storm), who again convinces her to marry him. In Parallel Time, Melanie (Nancy Barrett) and the "other" Flora (Joan Bennett) discuss a bizarre "lottery," to be held in the event of a violent death at Collinwood. This episode first aired on January 21, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Catherine (Lara Parker) tells Bramwell (Jonathan Frid) that she is pregnant with his child. Rather than destroy the happiness of Bramwell's young bride, Daphne, Catherine swears him to secrecy, then prepares to announce that Morgan (Keith Prentice) is the father. And as the second lottery approaches, Quentin (David Selby) and Morgan unearth more information on the curse-imposing James Forsythe. This episode first aired on February 26, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
The corpse found in the cursed room is not that of Gabriel, but of an unfortunate villager named Tim Braithwaite (John Kuhner), who was bribed to take Gabriel's place. The ghost of Justin Collins (David Hurst) demands that the lottery must be held again, or the curse of the Collins family will never be lifted. This episode originally aired on February 19, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Melanie falls victim to the plague, forcing the family to hold the dreaded lottery immediately lest Melanie and everyone else in the Collinwood die a slow and lingering death. The cowardly Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) continues to resist participating in the lottery, but iron-willed family matriarch Flora (Joan Bennett) has the final word in this and all other matters. Episode 1,211 of Dark Shadows originally aired on February 15, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Just as he feared would happen, Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) is chosen by lottery to spend the night in the cursed room. True to his cowardly reputation, Gabriel runs away from Collinwood. As a result, Quentin (David Selby) is the next to fall victim to the plague. This episode first aired on February 16, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Kendrick (John Karlen) and Gerard (James Storm) come across a shallow grave containing the body of Kendrick's sister, Stella. Realizing that the girl was murdered, Kendrick is unable to get a straight story from the members of the Collins family. Meanwhile, Melanie (Nancy Barrett) and Quentin (David Selby) hold a séance to learn more about the family curse -- and get more information than they really wanted. This episode originally aired on February 11, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
During a séance, an unfriendly spirit warns that the Collins family will be destroyed by plague unless the dreaded lottery is held. Catherine (Lara Parker) wants to have children, but Morgan (Keith Prentice) vetoes this idea, worried that the Collins curse will be carried to later generations. Meanwhile, the unwelcome Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) continues to stay at Collinwood, and Melanie (Nancy Barrett) experiences a horrible dream -- which apparently comes true. This episode originally aired on February 12, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Per the orders of the ghostly Brutus Collins, another lottery is held. Kendrick (John Karlen) is selected to spend the night in the "cursed" room, an experience that will either drive him mad or lift the family curse. And Catherine (Lara Parker) is forced to promise that she will not marry Barnabas -- at least not just yet. This episode was originally telecast on March 26, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
On the verge of finding out who her birth mother is, Melanie is prevented (Nancy Barrett) from doing so by a nervous Julia (Grayson Hall). As Flora (Joan Bennett) and the family discuss the future of her demented son, Gabriel (Christopher Pennock), he escapes from the Collinwood tower room. This episode first aired on March 18, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
The lunatic Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) tries to kill his own mother, Flora (Joan Bennett). He is stopped by Kendrick (John Karlen), who then tries, but fails to kill Gabriel. Despite all this, Flora insists that Gabriel did not murder Kendrick's sister, Stella, prompting Melanie (Nancy Barrett) to tell Flora that it is time to reveal the whole truth -- whatever that might be. This episode originally aired on March 9, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Kendrick (John Karlen) discovers that Melanie (Nancy Barrett) is schizophrenic, but Julia (Grayson Hall) refuses to reveal the true story behind the girl's mental aflliction. Receiving a message from the fugitive Gabriel (Christopher Pennock), Flora (Joan Bennett) goes to meet him -- and, possibly, to her doom. This episode was first broadcast on March 8, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
The daytime drama featuring a vampire gained cult status in the late sixties and early seventies. This collection highlights the most memorable moments and characters. ~ All Movie Guide
