Wednesday, September 4, 2019

My Favorite Alan Ladd Movies

                    My Top Five Favorite Alan Ladd Movies

Image result for Alan Ladd

Hello there! In honor of that wonderful actor Alan Ladd's birthday (September 3rd) a blogathon is being hosted by Pale Writer. I knew I would have to write something when I first heard about it. I originally had the idea of doing my Top Ten favorite Alan Ladd movies, since that would fit neatly into mine and Anna's 'Top Ten' category, but then I realized I've only seen nine of Alan's movies. Whoops. Kinda embarrassing, I know. Maybe you're saying 'Hey, why don't you just go out a watch a couple of his movies. Treat yourself to something nice.' That would be a good idea, except what if the movies aren't good enough to be listed as my absolute favorites? What then? What if it's too late to enter my list for the blogathon? What then, I ask you?! So I just decided to do my top five. Enjoy 😁

Image result for And now tomorrow 1944 posters1. And Now Tomorrow (1944)

Poor but talented Dr. Merek Vance returns to his 
hometown after many years away with a serum that may be capable of restoring the hearing of wealthy Emily Blair. Problem is, he doesn't want anything to do with what he thinks is nothing but a spoiled rich girl. And she wants nothing to do with what she thinks is a cynical and rude doctor.
I think this is my favorite role from Mr. Ladd. He's so wonderful, I can't handle it. I usually don't like romances, but this movie is just straight up sweet, and doesn't have too many wishy-washy scenes. Acting's great (of course. It's Alan Ladd and Loretta Young), story's heart-warming and fuzzy, and the dialogue is quick and snappy. I love it 💗

                                                                                                                                                            
 2. Branded (1950)

Image result for Branded 1950Outlaw Choya gets in on a sweet deal that his outlaw 
buddies discovered. Apparently, twenty-five years ago
the son of a wealthy ranching family was kidnapped and 
never seen again. Choya just happens to be of the right age 
and overall appearance to maybe pass off as the long-lost 
Lavery boy. Besides that, Choya's partner-in-crime tattoos  
a distinctive birthmark on his shoulder. And with that, Choya 
sets out to fool the Lavery family and come into a nice, fat
inheritance. But what happens when this conscienceless
desperado starts falling in love with family he's supposed to
hoodwink? 
I love movies where men of questionable morals start out to
cheat and rob a family or person but then end up with a terrible
case of the conscience. This movie is a great example of that 
story-line. I love Choya's character arc and I also quite like 
and admire the main girl, Ruth Lavery, which is quite strange
for a western. The whole movie's both an exciting western,
full of plot twists and turns,as well as a sweet and fuzzy 


bowl of chicken soup. It's a movie that makes me happy 😄


3. This Gun For Hire (1942)
Image result for this gun for hire 1942
Paid killer Phillip Raven begins to track down his employer
when he realizes he has been given marked bills in payment
for his latest job. While on the trail of his treacherous boss,
Raven happens to sit next to the beautiful lady named Ellen while hitching a ride on a train out of town. Although she is engaged to a police lieutenant, Ellen decides to try and help Raven walk the straight-and-narrow as he dodges both the police and his former employer's hit-men.
This is, I think, the best put-together movie on this list. The
acting's fabulous, and the cinematography sets a dark and 
depressing stage, perfect for a film noir. Although I wouldn't 
say that Raven is my favorite Alan Ladd role (he's a bit un-hinged, if you know what I mean) he still puts in a heck of a performance. And of course Mr. Ladd and Miss Veronica Lake together are bound to be nothing short of spectacular. Great, albeit tragic, film.



4. Whispering Smith (1948)

Image result for Whispering Smith 1948Luke 'Whispering' Smith is an 1800's policeman tasked with
stopping a gang of train-robbers terrorizing his railroad line.
Whispering Smith is faced with a serious problem when 
his best friend Murray is fired from his job for the railroad and, 
in an act of defiance, joins the very gang of outlaws that Smith 
is trying to put out of order. To further complicate matters, 
Murray's wife, and Luke's old flame, claims to still be in love 
with Luke.
Whispering Smith has got to be one of the greatest guys to ever
draw breath. He is practically perfect in every way. And as much as I enjoy Alan Ladd in his more cynical roles, it's nice to see him as a mild-mannered and gentle guy like Luke who can still ride wild horses and take down bad guys with the best of 'em. One of the things I love about this movie is that Luke has to fight against his own best friend. The DRAMA guys! It's heartrendingly amazing. And just a little note, I do NOT like Marian, Murray's wife, at all. She made her choice between Murray and Luke long ago, but when the former shows up for just a quick stop, she's falling all over him! Honestly, lady, have a little pride!


5. China (1943)

Image result for China (1943) Alan LaddDavid Jones, a war profiteer, is traveling through China with 
his buddy Johnny Sparrow shortly before Pearl Harbor. 
While travelling cross-country to Shanghai, Mr. Jones and his 
friend encounter school-teacher Carolyn Grant. Soon the cynical 
Mr. Jones finds himself driving Miss Grant and a large group of 
Chinese school girls through Japanese infested territory in what
soon becomes a fight for freedom and China.
This movie was WAY more emotionally taxing than I was prepared for. It's pretty intense at times, but it's still a wonderful movie. Alan Ladd's character, David Jones, finds that there are more important things in this world than money and his personal safety (never would have guessed that) and along the bumpy road of this astounding discovery, he also finds love. Sighhhhhhhh. But seriously, it's a really good movie, with Alan Ladd at his best,chalk-full of action and excitement, along with a meaningful message and a fairly theologically correct talk about God. What won't they think of next?


And there you have my five favorite Alan Ladd movies. Mind you, they may be moved around or even replaced as I add more of Alan's movies to my list, but for now they are my golden five! I also readily enjoy The Blue Dahlia (1946)', 'The Glass Key (1942)', and I don't really remember Shane, but I do remember that I loved the scenery, so there's that for all you Shane fans.
Happy (slightly late) birthday, Alan Ladd. I've loved you in every single movie I've seen you in and you shall forever remain one of my favorite actors.




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6 comments:

  1. There are a couple here I haven't seen, and I am so happy to put them on my "check it out" list: China and And Now Tomorrow.

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    1. They are both lovely movies! Thanks for reading and commenting :D

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  2. Such a lovely list, ladies! I'm both surprised and chuffed that you included China, as many people tell me that that's not their cup of tea. I think it's fab that Alan's look and demeanour in that film inspired the Indiana Jones films! I, too, adore And Now Tomorrow. I ugly cry every single time I watch it. I mean love curing deafness?? Yes please! I'm so glad that you're keen to discover more of Alan's films. Another one I'd recommend if you like he and Veronica together is Saigon. It's probably the least competent of their four films together, but I just love it.
    And is it just me, or do Luke and Murray have a little somethin' somethin' going on in Whispering Smith?
    Thanks so much for contributing to my blogathon :)

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  3. Thank you! I looove China, but it's not Anna's favorite (so she tells me). I also love that Indiana Jones totally stole his outfit from David Jones. They even have the same last name!
    It's a beautiful movie, it really is!
    I actually just watched Saigon. I didn't like it as much as Veronica and Alan's other films, but it was still enjoyable. They were really good at insulting each other ;D
    I loved Luke and Murray's friendship, but it was pretty darn sad when Murray died :( Still a great movie!
    I had fun, thanks for hosting it!

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  4. Wow, I think I had never heard about And Now Tomorrow until now. I need this film in my life soon! I believe The Glass Key if my favorite Alan Ladd film of those I've watched - not many, as I must confess.
    Cheers!
    Le

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    1. It's a lovely movie. Alan Ladd is great in it!
      I really liked The Glass Key when I saw it. Very enjoyable movie!
      Thanks for reading and commenting!

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