tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post4400028215346765313..comments2024-03-26T18:18:41.766-04:00Comments on Hamlette's Soliloquy: "Hell on Frisco Bay" (1955)Hamlette (Rachel)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-91114123313299740822021-01-19T20:52:32.219-05:002021-01-19T20:52:32.219-05:00Andrea, oh, I'm SO glad you liked this one! A...Andrea, oh, I'm SO glad you liked this one! And that I'm not just imagining that he looks younger and lighter as the film progresses.<br /><br />You're absolutely right about my error on the filming vs. release of <i>Shane</i>. Good catch! I will fix that. Thanks!<br /><br />Yes, the boat chase definitely makes me think of certain James Bond and Indiana Jones films! I also think Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-12365762300803623772021-01-19T19:49:08.525-05:002021-01-19T19:49:08.525-05:00After reading your review, I expanded my growing c...After reading your review, I expanded my growing collection of Alan Ladd movies by getting the DVD of "Hell on Frisco Bay". Like you, I totally got this because of Alan Ladd, of course, but I was curious to see two of the most legendary (and SOOO different) "tough guys" together in one film – Ladd and Edward G. Robinson! Having read your blog, I was prepared for Ladd's &Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15693293169583546116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-62275455457126496832018-05-03T10:34:33.565-04:002018-05-03T10:34:33.565-04:00Anonymous, nope, that hadn't crossed my mind! ...Anonymous, nope, that hadn't crossed my mind! I could see Ladd in the role, yes. Though I adore Dana Andrews' portrayal, so I don't know that I'd want to switch them out. <br /><br />Ladd did play a postal inspector in <i>Appointment with Danger</i>, but that's the closest to a cop or detective he got in his noirs, you're right!Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-28691109861428814372018-05-02T20:59:33.446-04:002018-05-02T20:59:33.446-04:00Have you ever imagined Ladd portraying Mark McPher...Have you ever imagined Ladd portraying Mark McPherson? Andrews was great, but Ladd would have added another dimension to the role. Unless I'm mistaken, he never played a cop or detective in any of his noir films. I wish someone would upload a Youtube video of the Encore Western promos for Ladd marathons because they're really good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-48189014371307996352018-04-19T18:23:14.377-04:002018-04-19T18:23:14.377-04:00Andrea, I'm sorry I didn't reply to this s...Andrea, I'm sorry I didn't reply to this sooner! It got pushed down in my inbox. I apologize.<br /><br />I'm glad you also noticed that Ladd started out looking pretty awful, but perked up over the course of the story. I'm so happy you're going to give it another chance! I liked it WAY better the second time through.<br /><br />How cool that you're also a big fan of Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-16024842227314955662018-04-12T05:35:18.217-04:002018-04-12T05:35:18.217-04:00I've seen the film yesterday & I was also ...I've seen the film yesterday & I was also irritated by Alan's weary looks, but I also realized that he looked better with the progress of the action. After I've read your very competend analysis (why the too big coat, the broken psyche of an ex-jailbird, framed for a murder he didn't committed...) I will watch the film again ! I admit, I also became a big fan of Alan Ladd &Andrea Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15796482086255882147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-61418933903019734862018-04-03T10:09:17.595-04:002018-04-03T10:09:17.595-04:00Jessica, from what I've read, he struggled a l...Jessica, from what I've read, he struggled a lot with self-confidence too, which makes him playing these super-tough guys all the more intriguing.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-22347925053027290102018-04-01T12:18:16.866-04:002018-04-01T12:18:16.866-04:00That is such a fascinating story. I like how he w...That is such a fascinating story. I like how he worked to make a success out of a combination that most of film executives wouldn't have <i>believed</i> could be a success, if he hadn't actually proved it to them. Katie Hannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06818413749107653398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-85810294552178979952018-03-31T22:47:57.638-04:002018-03-31T22:47:57.638-04:00DKoren, it's a fascinating one. Story-wise, i...DKoren, it's a fascinating one. Story-wise, it's one of Alan's better noirs, I think.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-55081393816310109592018-03-31T22:21:31.496-04:002018-03-31T22:21:31.496-04:00Eva, I could see you being really interested in th...Eva, I could see you being really interested in this one. Especially since it's not so dark or disturbing.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-20424572043973666602018-03-31T21:14:41.127-04:002018-03-31T21:14:41.127-04:00Great review, and definitely one I want to see at ...Great review, and definitely one I want to see at some point!!DKorenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05819702518388146971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-36760220472970894242018-03-31T17:37:50.689-04:002018-03-31T17:37:50.689-04:00This looks like such a great movie and one that I ...This looks like such a great movie and one that I want to see ASAP. :) The characters, especially, seem to be very memorable.<br /><br />Thanks for participating in the blogathon!Evahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00992633823859430981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-62506899299068290542018-03-30T18:12:58.723-04:002018-03-30T18:12:58.723-04:00Jessica, you're absolutely right. He does NOT...Jessica, you're absolutely right. He does NOT look the part. He's small and slender and sweet-faced. Which is what makes him such a memorable tough guy -- he looks like the innocent boy next door, but his characters so often are anything but. Which makes them instantly complex, more interesting than a bad guy who looks bad on the outside. And it also makes his characters Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-82061283043397672552018-03-30T18:01:11.568-04:002018-03-30T18:01:11.568-04:00Thanks, Caftan Woman! It's definitely memorab...Thanks, Caftan Woman! It's definitely memorable -- nobody in this movie is boring, not even the bit players! As you say, that says a lot about how it was crafted :-)Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-34274812781520560882018-03-30T15:25:41.497-04:002018-03-30T15:25:41.497-04:00I know we've talked about this before, but I c...I know we've talked about this before, but I can't remember the answer, and I'm still curious: <br /><br />How did Alan Ladd get cast in all those "tough guy" roles in the first place? He doesn't . . . don't get mad at me for saying this, but he doesn't LOOK the part? <br /><br />Like I'm not saying he can't <i>act</i> them well--I know he can--but howKatie Hannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06818413749107653398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881774.post-4458142336443207122018-03-30T14:42:14.913-04:002018-03-30T14:42:14.913-04:00I loved reading your review, it was so detailed an...I loved reading your review, it was so detailed and insightful.<br /><br />I haven't seen Hell on Frisco Bay since I was a teenager, but I've never forgotten it. Nothing about it has faded from memory and that says a lot about the work that went into this movie.<br /><br />Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.com