Geraldine Carr Movies
At the height of their TV fame, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were contracted by MGM to make two theatrical films. The first of these, The Long, Long Trailer, stars Lucy and Desi as an upwardly mobile couple who decide to buy a trailer so they can live together while his job takes him around the country. Thanks to their naivete in such matters, they end up with a huge, bulky RV that costs five times what they planned. Their "seeing America" trip turns out to be a slapstick disaster, topped by Lucy's foolish decision to hide a heavy rock collection in the trailer; as Desi tries to maneuver a treacherous mountain road, the weighted-down home-on-wheels nearly loses its balance and almost tumbles off a cliff. The story is told in flashback, as Desi 'splains the breakup of his marriage to a motel court manager. Happily, Lucy shows up, goes "Waaaaah" a little, and all is forgiven. Despite the fact that audiences were getting Ball and Arnaz for free each week on television, The Long, Long Trailer was a big hit at the box-office. The film was adapted by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich from a novel by Clinton Twiss, with uncredited assistance from the I Love Lucy writing staff. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, (more)
- 1952
The "regeneration" of blacklisted director Edward Dmytryk was expedited when he was hired by producer Stanley Kramer to helm the location-filmed melodrama The Sniper. In the interests of political expediency, Dmytrk was required to direct Adolphe Menjou, one of the most virulent Red-baiters of the HUAC hearings. Shorn of his trademarked mustache, and with his famous expensive wardrobe replaced by a humdrum business suit, Menjou turns in one of his best performances as a world-weary San Francisco detective assigned to track down a mad sniper. From the beginning, the audience knows that the criminal is psycho Eddie Miller (Arthur Franz), who is possessed of the notion that he must kill every beautiful brunette woman who crosses his path. Some audience sympathy is elicited by Miller's pathetic attempts to rid himself of his obsession, but this never gets in the way of the film's suspense. The excellent supporting cast includes Richard Kiley as a police psychiatrist, Marie Windsor as Miller's first victim, and Mabel Paige as the sniper's snoopy landlady. An unbilled Wally Cox shows up briefly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adolphe Menjou, Arthur Franz, (more)
- 1950
Jane Greer plays a hard-boiled dame so well in The Company She Keeps that the film's outcome remains in doubt right up to the end. Placed in the custody of parole officer Joan (Lizabeth Scott), Diane (Greer) immediately makes a play for Joan's boyfriend, newspaper columnist Larry (Dennis O'Keefe). Despite the nagging belief that Diane is just plain no good, Joan magnanimously tries to smooth the path of true love for the girl and Larry. Despite the engaging performances of the stars and the smooth direction of John Cromwell, The Company She Keeps failed to connect with audiences, and ended up a $315,000 loser. Trivia alert: that lady in the train terminal with the two unruly kids is Dorothy Bridges, the wife of actor Lloyd Bridges. And those two troublesome tots are Dorothy and Lloyd's sons Beau and Jeff! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lizabeth Scott, Jane Greer, (more)
- 1950
The Great Jewel Robber is based on the true story of Gerard Dennis, who during a 12-month period managed to steal more than a million dollars' worth of gems. As played by David Brian, Dennis is an incorrigible ladies' man, who uses women to help him pull off his heists. The first of his conquests, played by Claudia Barrett, pays for his escape from the Canadian authorities. The second (Perdita Chandler) is his partner in crime in Buffalo, New York. The third woman in his life, played by Marjorie Reynolds, ultimately brings about his downfall. For the sake of verisimilitude, Mayor Stanley Church of New Rochelle, Connecticut (where Dennis was finally caught) appears in the prologue as himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Brian, Marjorie Reynolds, (more)
