The Shrike (film): Difference between revisions

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Reviewing for ''The New York Times'', A.H. Weiler wrote:
Reviewing for ''The New York Times'', A.H. Weiler wrote:
:José Ferrer, the director and star of the play, again is portraying the Broadway director who struggles to be released from the confines of the psychiatric ward even though it means a return to a hateful marriage. And, in making his debut as a film director, Mr. Ferrer proves that he is as expert behind the camera as he is across the footlights. Since he obviously is no stranger to his source material, his performance is at once polished, powerful and moving. And many of his principals, who are re-enacting the roles they created on stage, forcefully enhance the stark vista of life in a mental ward... As our sorely beset hero relates in flashback to probing psychiatrists, it was a happy union at first, full of love and companionship. It deteriorated slowly but inexorably, as did his career, when her insatiable yearning for the life of an actress and her meddling in his affairs reached a point of no return... Backstage and hospital sequences have a documentary authenticity heightened in effect by Mr. Ferrer's portrayal. His scenes in the nightmarish world of the mental ward and his climactic session with the psychiatrists as he tearfully and desperately agrees to return to his wife, is acting of a rare order... Although ''The Shrike'' has changed its tune it still is an unusual and immensely interesting film drama.<ref>[https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D00E0DD103AE53BBC4053DFB166838E649EDE "''The Shrike'' (1955): Tamed 'Shrike'; Film Wife Less Deadly Than One in Play". ''The New York Times'', July 8, 1955.]</ref>
:José Ferrer, the director and star of the play, again is portraying the Broadway director who struggles to be released from the confines of the psychiatric ward even though it means a return to a hateful marriage. And, in making his debut as a film director, Mr. Ferrer proves that he is as expert behind the camera as he is across the footlights. Since he obviously is no stranger to his source material, his performance is at once polished, powerful and moving. And many of his principals, who are re-enacting the roles they created on stage, forcefully enhance the stark vista of life in a mental ward... As our sorely beset hero relates in flashback to probing psychiatrists, it was a happy union at first, full of love and companionship. It deteriorated slowly but inexorably, as did his career, when her insatiable yearning for the life of an actress and her meddling in his affairs reached a point of no return... Backstage and hospital sequences have a documentary authenticity heightened in effect by Mr. Ferrer's portrayal. His scenes in the nightmarish world of the mental ward and his climactic session with the psychiatrists as he tearfully and desperately agrees to return to his wife, is acting of a rare order... Although ''The Shrike'' has changed its tune it still is an unusual and immensely interesting film drama.<ref>[https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D00E0DD103AE53BBC4053DFB166838E649EDE "''The Shrike'' (1955): Tamed 'Shrike'; Film Wife Less Deadly Than One in Play". ''The New York Times'', July 8, 1955.]</ref>
Allyson later said her husband [[Dick Powell]] and all her advisers opposed her making the movie:
<blockquote>But it was a challenge I could not resist. For years I had been the Perfect... And now... , I would be far from the perfect wife. I would
indeed be a monster of a wife, one of the least attractive in the history of the theater. As it turned out, the picture was a wonderful flop, but I do not regret deciding to play the vixen, Ann Downs. Other than my personal satisfaction in making my own decision, ''The Shrike'' was fun, and I even dreamed vaguely of an Academy Award. <ref>{{cite book|title=Hollywood Talks Turkey - The Screen's Greatest Flops|first= Doug |last=McClelland|publisher=Starbrite|year=1989|url=https://archive.org/stream/HollywoodTalksTurkeyTheScreensGreatestFlopsByDougMcClellandStarbrite/Hollywood_Talks_Turkey_The_Screens_Greatest_Flops_by_Doug_McClelland_%28Starbrite%29_djvu.txt}}</ref></blockquote>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 04:30, 9 November 2019

The Shrike
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJosé Ferrer
Screenplay byKetti Frings
Produced byAaron Rosenberg
StarringJosé Ferrer
June Allyson
CinematographyWilliam Daniels, A.S.C.
Edited byFrank Gross, A.C.E.
Music byFrank Skinner
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal-International
Release dates
  • June 16, 1955 (1955-06-16) (United States)
  • July 7, 1955 (1955-07-07) (New York City)
  • September 1, 1955 (1955-09-01) (Los Angeles)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Shrike is a 1955 American film noir drama film based on Joseph Kramm's play of the same name.[1] José Ferrer directed and starred in Ketti Frings' screenplay adaptation.[2]

Plot

Successful stage director Jim Downs (Ferrer) is driven to a mental breakdown by his domineering wife Ann (June Allyson). Institutionalized, he confides in Dr. Bellman (Kendall Clark) and Dr. Barrow (Isabel Bonner), and he finds a kindred spirit in Charlotte Moore (Joy Page).

Cast

Uncredited (in order of appearance)

Production

In 1952 Ferrer announced Hal Wallis and Bill Pearlberg were both interested in filming the play.[3]

Ferrer spent two years developing the script with Ketti Frings.[4] For a time it seemed he might make it at RKO.[5] In March 1953 Ferrer announced he had purchased the film rights himself.[6]

He had discussions with Columbia. Then in February 1954 Ferrer signed a deal with Universal to finance.[7][8]

"I'm terribly grateful to have been given the opportunity to star and direct," said Ferrer.[9]

In April 1954 it was announced June Allyson would star alongside Ferrer.[10] Allyson had never played this type of role before.[11] "I was fed to the teeth being sweet," she said.[12]

Filming started in September 1954.[13] Much of the film was shot on location at Bellevue Hospital and around Times Square in New York City.

Ferrer had the film scheduled so the cast would rehearse, then shoot, then filming would stop while the cast would rehearse again, then shoot again. Frings was on set the whole time to assist Ferrer's direction.[4]

The music score was by Frank Skinner. Ferrer composed "Conversation (The Shrike)", recorded by Pete Rugolo on his 1955 album New Sounds (Harmony HL7003).[14] The opening title sequence was created by Saul Bass.

Reception

Reviewing for The New York Times, A.H. Weiler wrote:

José Ferrer, the director and star of the play, again is portraying the Broadway director who struggles to be released from the confines of the psychiatric ward even though it means a return to a hateful marriage. And, in making his debut as a film director, Mr. Ferrer proves that he is as expert behind the camera as he is across the footlights. Since he obviously is no stranger to his source material, his performance is at once polished, powerful and moving. And many of his principals, who are re-enacting the roles they created on stage, forcefully enhance the stark vista of life in a mental ward... As our sorely beset hero relates in flashback to probing psychiatrists, it was a happy union at first, full of love and companionship. It deteriorated slowly but inexorably, as did his career, when her insatiable yearning for the life of an actress and her meddling in his affairs reached a point of no return... Backstage and hospital sequences have a documentary authenticity heightened in effect by Mr. Ferrer's portrayal. His scenes in the nightmarish world of the mental ward and his climactic session with the psychiatrists as he tearfully and desperately agrees to return to his wife, is acting of a rare order... Although The Shrike has changed its tune it still is an unusual and immensely interesting film drama.[15]

Allyson later said her husband Dick Powell and all her advisers opposed her making the movie:

But it was a challenge I could not resist. For years I had been the Perfect... And now... , I would be far from the perfect wife. I would indeed be a monster of a wife, one of the least attractive in the history of the theater. As it turned out, the picture was a wonderful flop, but I do not regret deciding to play the vixen, Ann Downs. Other than my personal satisfaction in making my own decision, The Shrike was fun, and I even dreamed vaguely of an Academy Award. [16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Kramm 1998, p. 3.
  2. ^ "The Shrike". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  3. ^ BY WAY OF REPORT: ' Shrike' Strikes Fancy Of Studios -- Addenda By A. H. WEILER. New York Times (1923-Current file); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]03 Feb 1952: X5.
  4. ^ a b HOLLYWOOD REPORT: Douglas Fairbanks to Film Biography of Kemal Ataturk -- Other Matters By THOMAS M. PRYORHOLLYWOOD. New York Times 26 Sep 1954: X5.
  5. ^ BY WAY OF REPORT: Warner Theatre May Serve as Fox Movie Outlet -- 'The Shrike' Up for Filming By A. H. WEILER. New York Times (1923-Current file); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]02 Nov 1952: X5.
  6. ^ FERRER TO APPEAR IN FILM OF 'SHRIKE': Actor Acquires Rights to Play, Will Produce and Direct -- Ketti Frings to Adapt By THOMAS M. PRYORSpecial to THE NEW YORK TIMES. New York Times 13 Mar 1953: 24.
  7. ^ MISS CRAIN SIGNS CONTRACT AT U.-I.: Five-Year Pact Calls for One Film a Year Starting as Lead in 'Tacey Cromwell' By THOMAS M. PRYORSpecial to THE NEW YORK TIMES15 Feb 1954: 20.
  8. ^ FERRER WILL STAR IN 'SHRIKE' MOVIE: Universal and Actor, Who Also Will Direct His First Film, Complete Negotiations By THOMAS M. PRYORS New York Times (1923-Current file); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]23 Feb 1954: 25.
  9. ^ OF PICTURES AND PEOPLE: 'What Makes Sammy Run?' Pursued by Independent Producers -- Addenda By A.H. WEILER. New York Times31 Oct 1954: X5.
  10. ^ June Allyson to Play Opposite Jose Ferrer By Louella O. Parsons. The Washington Post and Times Herald 2 Apr 1954: C13.
  11. ^ THE TENDER TRAP' TO BECOME MOVIE: Shulman-Smith Comedy, Set for Fall Stage Bow Here, Is Bought by Metro Special to The New York Time. New York Times 27 July 1954: 17.
  12. ^ Dog Will Get Star Treatment in Film Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 26 May 1955: a6.
  13. ^ Kazan Likely to Direct 'Pal Joey' and 'Picnic'; Dramatist's Wife Signs Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 20 Sep 1954: B9.
  14. ^ Howard Roberts as Sideman: 1950-1959
  15. ^ "The Shrike (1955): Tamed 'Shrike'; Film Wife Less Deadly Than One in Play". The New York Times, July 8, 1955.
  16. ^ McClelland, Doug (1989). Hollywood Talks Turkey - The Screen's Greatest Flops. Starbrite.

Sources

External links

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