I.A.L. Diamond Movies
I.A.L. Diamond was not born with this moniker, but chose it for himself while working on the campus newspaper at Columbia University. (Reportedly, the I is either for Isadore or Israel and the A and L he chose because "they look interesting after I.") Born in Romania, Diamond was raised in Brooklyn, where he gained attention early on for his stellar academic achievements. Upon finishing his college education, Diamond headed for Hollywood, where he worked in collaboration on several "B"-picture screenplays before his "A" break with the Errol Flynn vehicle Never Say Goodbye (1946). During his 20th Century-Fox years, Diamond specialized in comedy, working on the mirth-provoking scripts of such films as Love Nest (1951), Monkey Business (1952) and Something for the Birds (1952). In 1957, Diamond teamed with director Billy Wilder to pen the screenplay for Love in the Afternoon. Thereafter, Diamond would work almost exclusively with Wilder, sharing an Oscar for The Apartment (1960) and collaborating on such additional productions as Some Like It Hot (1959), One-Two-Three (1961), Irma La Douce (1963), Kiss Me Stupid (1964), The Fortune Cookie (1966), The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1969), Avanti! (1972), The Front Page (1974) and Fedora (1978) and Buddy Buddy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1946
If Paramount could rake in the bucks by teaming singer Bing Crosby and comedian Bob Hope in a series of Road pictures, then Warner Bros. could do the same. Lacking a Crosby or Hope, Warners paired Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson (who like Crosby and Hope were good buddies off-screen) and came up with the Two Guys series--which lasted two pictures. Two Guys From Milwaukee cast Carson as a wisecracking cabdriver and Morgan as a likable Balkan prince. Anxious to learn the "American way," Morgan joins Carson for a night on the town. Along the way, the boys fall in love with Joan Leslie and Janis Paige (Warners wasn't satisfied with just one Dorothy Lamour counterpart); and if you keep your eyes open, you'll see Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in a closing-scene cameo. Two Guys From Milwaukee had its premiere showing in the "beer city" of the title--which happened to be the childhood home of both Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson, (more)
- 1946
Romantic comedy was never Errol Flynn's forte, but he occasionally gave it the old college try in such films as Never Say Goodbye. Flynn plays Phil Gayley, a Petty-like magazine illustrator, whose close proximity with gorgeous female models ruins his marriage to the lovely Ellen (Eleanor Parker). When the Gayleys divorce, their precocious 7-year-old daughter Flip (Patti Brady) contrives to bring them back together. She does, of course, but not before several by-the-number comic complications, not least of which finds Phil and his romantic rival Rex DeVallon (Donald Woods) dressed in lookalike Santa Claus suits. The film's biggest laughs are garnered whenever Errol Flynn lampoons his established "swashbuckler" image, which he does with apparent relish. At one point, Flynn even imitates Humphrey Bogart-an effect accomplished by dubbing in the voice of the real Bogart! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Errol Flynn, Eleanor Parker, (more)
- 1944
Set in a brooding old home, this musical mystery chronicles the endeavors of a young couple attempt to solve a mysterious murder that occurred there. The victim was the first husband of the new bride. The groom was the victim's best friend. After the murder, the house was abandoned and rumors abounded that the place was haunted. The couple are determined to quell the rumors and solve the mystery themselves while holding a housewarming party. Unfortunately, soon after the guests arrive, the murders begin. Murder in the Blue Room was filmed twice before as The Missing Guest and Secret of the Blue Room. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anne Gwynne, Donald Cook, (more)
