Alan Ladd

Films

When growing up and attending the cinema, my all-time favourite action hero was Alan Ladd. I well recall seeing Saskatchewan for the first time - and being mightily impressed - buoyed with the excitement of this Canadian Mountie story & after much agitating (of Mum & Dad) I got a mountie holster and plastic gun for Xmas - now I could play Alan Ladd in Saskatchewan in the nearby bush - fantastic.

I managed to catch Alan Ladd at the cinema a few more times (Whispering Smith comes to mind) before our cinema visits were curtailed in favour of that new wonder: TV. Television (albeit B&W) did afford me the pleasure of more of Ladd's gems particularly the westerns: Branded, The Iron Mistress & Santiago, but it was a late night viewing of Lucky Jordan which really made me realise why I like him - simple, no nonsense, a guy in need of redemption. China confirmed it: initially a cynical opportunist who meets a girl, who opens his eyes and then we have a true hero. What more could one want from an action hero!

Below is my prized collection of Alan Ladd films.

Note that all of these films can also be found in the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section.

(Note further: There is also a special package of 8 Alan Ladd adventures in a 4 DVD set - this item can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website)

The set up and pricing are the same as for the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section namely:

· The DVDs in this section of the website consist of one movie title per DVD, each movie commencing when inserted into your DVD player (no delays or useless menus).

· DVDs are available in any combination of titles comprising 1, 2 or 4 DVD boxed sets

(Note: They are not available in 3, 5 or 6 DVD sets)

A typical Alan Ladd 4 DVD boxed set is pictured below:

· The prices (including Express Postage anywhere) for these single movie DVDs are:

1 DVD Boxed Set price : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

2 DVD Boxed Set price : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

4 DVD Boxed Set price : AU$35 or US$35 or £18

· Email me for a current price in CN$, Euros, NZ$ etc

· PURCHASING TIP: the most economical way to buy movies from this section is in groups of 4 films,

-they are neatly assembled in a quad case with full artwork (see picture above) and sell for AU$35 or US$35 or £18. Since postage is included then each film can be delivered to your door for less than AU$9 or US$9 or £5 per movie!

(Note that AU$ prices are for AU postal destinations only,

international customers to use US$ or UK£)

And Now Tomorrow (1944) - 86 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Loretta Young, Susan Haywood, Barry Sullivan & Beulah Bondi

Directed by Irving Pichel

A doctor returns to his home town to set out his shingle. He was born on the poor side of town and so has had a life-long anger towards the town's wealthiest family. When the daughter of this family comes in for treatment, he finds himself faced with a dilemma. A bout with meningitis has left her deaf. He has a new drug that can cure deafness. Will he use it, or will he let his anger prevent him from helping her?

The film re-teams Ladd & Young from their earlier successful actioner: China (1943) - also available from this website

Appointment With Danger (1951) - 89 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Phyllis Calvert, Paul Stewart, Jan Sterling, Jack Webb & Harry Morgan

Directed by Lewis Allen

Relentless postal inspector Al Goddard is sent to Gary, Indiana, when another officer is murdered. He must find the nun who witnessed the murder, then infiltrate the gang by convincing them he is a postal inspector gone bad. This is a great Alan Ladd crime drama with interesting support from Jack Webb & Harry Morgan as the villains!

Note that this film is part of a 4 DVD (8 film) Alan Ladd Collection set which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

The Badlanders (1958) - 85 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Ernest Borgnine, Katy Jurado, Claire Kelly, Kent Smith & Nehemiah Persoff

Directed by Delmer Daves

Alan Ladd stars in The Badlanders as Peter Van Hook, the mastermind of a gold robbery. The victim-to-be is Cyril Lounsberry (Kent Smith), whose perjured testimony had sent the innocent Van Hook and John McBain (Ernest Borgnine) to prison. Van Hook and McBain conspire with Anita (Katy Jurado) to rob Lounsberry of his ill-gotten gains; meanwhile Lounsberry is planning to ditch his wife and run off with his mistress, Ada Winton (Claire Kelly). Aligning with dynamite expert Vincente (Nehemiah Persoff), Van Hook and his companions pull off the heist. But what next in this tangled web?

The Badlanders is a western remake of The Asphalt Jungle (1950), a fact confirmed by the onscreen credits. As such its included here as a "type of" western film noir

Beyond Glory (1948) - 82 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Donna Reed, George Macready, George Coulouris & Harold Vermilyea

Directed by John Farrow

An older soldier enters West Point but remains haunted by nagging guilt. It all began in Tunisia during a tremendous battle. The soldier passed out during the fight, and when he awoke he discovered his commanding officer was dead. He blames himself for the death and after being released from the army, he goes to see the officer's wife. Love blossoms, and with her help he enrolls in West Point where he becomes a model cadet until a jealous plebe begins making trouble that eventually sends the soldier to a court-martial hearing. There the truth of the incident is finally revealed.

Excellent Alan Ladd drama

The Big Land (1957) - 92 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Anthony Caruso, Julie Bishop & John Qualen

Directed by Gordon Douglas

Produced by Alan Ladd's own Jaguar company, The Big Land stars Ladd as Texas cattleman Morgan. As a means to expedite shipment of his stock to Missouri, Morgan convinces several Kansas farmers to build a small town as a railroad link between the Rio Grande and Kansas City. He is opposed in this by crooked cattle buyer Brog (Anthony Caruso), who realizes that any speed-up of Morgan's shipments will increase livestock prices.

A great shoot-out: a la Shane!

A nice color print!

The Black Knight (1954) - 85 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Patricia Medina, Andre Morell, Harry Andrews, Peter Cushing & Laurence Naismith

Directed by Tay Garnett

John is a young swordmaker who aspires to join the Knights of the Round Table. Unfortunately, he is falsely accused of cowardice and banished from his community. Thanks to the secret tutelage of one of Arthur's knights, John is able to train himself in the art of combat, and soon re-emerges as the vengeance-seeking Black Knight. In this guise, he is able to bring a group of traitors to justice, rout a band of invading Saracens, and rescue his lady love Linet from certain doom.

A lively swashbuckler

A nice color print!

The Blue Dahlia (1946) - 96 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, William Bendix, Howard da Silva, Doris Dowling & Hugh Beaumont.

Directed by George Marshall.

Ex-bomber pilot Johnny Morrison and his buddies George and Buzz (who, with a metal plate in his head, can't stand "monkey music"), return from the war to their home town, Hollywood. In a rude homecoming, Johnny finds his wife Helen behaving like a tramp with oily nightclub owner Eddie Harwood. His marriage over, Johnny wanders off into the night, leaving his gun behind...and someone uses it to murder Helen. Dodging cops and seeking the real killer, Johnny is aided by blonde Joyce, who just happens to be the estranged wife of Eddie Harwood

Tidy film noir utilizing the only film script Raymond Chandler wrote directly for the screen - a script for which he earned an Academy Award Nomination.

Botany Bay (1953) - 93 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, James Mason, Patricia Medina, Cedric Hardewicke & Murray Matheson

Directed by John Farrow

Framed for robbery, 18th century medical student Hugh Tallant is sentenced to a New South Wales (Australia) penal colony. En route to the prison, Tallant is tormented by sadistic ship's captain Paul Gilbert, while Gilbert's beloved Sally Monroe takes a fancy to the new prisoner. Once at the colony, Tallant is befriended by Governor Phillips, since the populace is in desperate need of a qualified physician. However Gilbert continues his efforts in persecuting Tallant and a showdown is in the offing

Botany Bay was based on a novel by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall (of Mutiny on the Bounty fame).

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Boy on a Dolphin (1957) - 111 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Clifton Webb, Sophia Loren, Alex Minotis, Jorge Mistral & Laurence Naismith

Directed by Jean Negulesco

Italian screen goddess Sophia Loren made her American film debut with this glossy romantic adventure set and partially filmed on the Greek island of Hydra. Phaedra (Loren) is a female sponge diver who, while combing the waters, discovers the wreckage of a sunken ship with a number of fascinating artifacts, including a statue of a boy astride a dolphin. When Phaedra tells her boyfriend Rhif (Jorge Mistral) about the find, he is convinced that the statue is valuable, and he begins making plans to bring it to dry land for sale. Looking for help, they approach Dr. James Calder (Alan Ladd), an American archeologist working on a project for a Greek museum. Calder wants the statue but can't pay for it - he wants Phaedra and Rhif to donate it to his museum as a remarkable example of Greek statuary. This is hardly what Rhif had in mind, so he turns to Victor Parmalee (Clifton Webb), a wealthy American art collector intrigued by the statue and other valuables that might be in the ship. Rhif and Victor make plans to salvage the ship's contents and send them back to America, for which Rhif will be paid handsomely.

Interesting and handsomely photographed story.

Gorgeous wide-screen Technicolor print

Branded (1950) - 104 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Mona Freeman, Charles Bickford, Brian Keith & Joseph Calleia

Directed by Rudolph Maté

Rancher Charles Bickford comes to believe that drifter Alan Ladd is his long-lost son. In truth, Ladd is a crook, in league with Brian Keith to con Bickford out of his fortune. Intending to go through with the scheme, Ladd has second thoughts when Bickford and his "mother" Selena Royle shower him with the familial affection that he has lacked all his life. Making Ladd even more uncomfortable is the presence of his "sister" Mona Freeman, whom he has grown to love in a manner that might be misconstrued were he really related to her. Fed up with his masquerade, Ladd confesses the hoax and sets about to find Bickford's real son.

Calcutta (1947) - 83 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Gail Russell, William Bendix & June Duprez

Directed by John Farrow.

Neale and Pedro fly cargo between Chungking and Calcutta. When their buddy Bill is murdered they investigate. Neale meets Bill's fiancée Virginia and becomes suspicious of a deeper plot while also falling for her charms.

The closest thing to an "adventure noir" film

Note that this film is part of a 4 DVD (8 film) Alan Ladd Collection set which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

Captain Carey, U.S.A. (1950) - 82 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Wanda Hendrix, Francis Lederer, Joseph Calleia & Celie Lovsky

Directed by Mitchell Leisen

A former OSS operative, Captain Webb Carey returns to Orta, near Milan in Italy after the war to avenge the death of resistance worker Giulia. Much to his surprise, Carey finds that his "deceased" lover is not only still alive, but also the wife of a powerful Italian nobleman. He also discovers to his sorrow that the far-from-grateful Italian villagers hold the Americans responsible for their current financial travails. Carey sticks around, hoping to flush out the traitor who'd caused the wartime deaths of several of his OSS colleagues. The box-office success of Captain Carey USA was enhanced by the incidental musical number "Mona Lisa," which won an Academy Award.

Note that this film is part of a 4 DVD (8 film) Alan Ladd Collection set which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

Chicago Deadline (1949) - 86 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Donna Reed, June Havoc, Irene Hervey & Arthur Kennedy

Directed by Lewis Allen

Tough reporter Ed Adams (Alan Ladd) wants to get the full story behind the apparent suicide of a young woman. It seems that the girl left behind a notebook with a list of seemingly unrelated names. Adams tracks down each one of the persons cited in the notebook, slowly but surely putting the pieces together. Once the basic mystery is solved, however, there's one surprising loose end left to be tied up. June Havoc co-stars as Leona, self-styled best friend of the decedent, who helps Adams in his quest. As the victim, Donna Reed appears exclusively in flashbacks.

Alan Ladd in top form as always!

Note that this film is part of a 4 DVD (8 film) Alan Ladd Collection set which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

China (1943) - 79 mins.

Starring Alan Ladd, Loretta Young, William Bendix & Philip Ahn.

Directed by John Farrow.

Shortly before Pearl Harbor, American opportunist Jones and partner Johnny are in China to sell oil to the invading Japanese army. Cynical about the sufferings of the Chinese, Jones meets compassionate teacher Carolyn Grant while traveling cross-country to Shanghai. Sparks fly between these strong-willed characters, neither budging an inch. But when Jones witnesses a Japanese atrocity, his feelings toward his customers (and Carolyn) begin to change.

An absolute ripper action film with a great ending!

Note that this film is part of a 4 DVD (8 film) Alan Ladd Collection set which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

The Deep Six (1958) - 108 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Dianne Foster, William Bendix, Keenan Wynn, James Whitmore & Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Directed by Rudolph Mate

A Quaker naval officer is called to active duty in WW II. He struggles to balance his beliefs with the need to serve, and is offered the chance to prove himself and redeem himself in the eyes of his mates with a dangerous mission.

Another great Ladd actioner.

Desert Legion (1953) - 86 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Richard Conte, Arlene Dahl & Akim Tamiroff

Directed by Joseph Pevney

Captain Paul Lartal of the Foreign Legion, seeking guerilla Omar Ben Khalif in the remote Algerian mountains, is the sole survivor of an ambush. His superiors don't believe his tale of being rescued by a lovely, mysterious princess. But later, the princess invites Paul back to the hidden city of Medara, which is threatened from within by a demagogue, Crito. And what of the mysterious Ben Khalif?

Nice color print of this fine Ladd actioner

Drum Beat (1954) - 111 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Audrey Dalton, Marisa Pavan, Robert Keith, Anthony Caruso & Charles Bronson

Directed by Delmer Daves

Though heavily advertised as Delmar Daves' Drum Beat, this film owed its existence to producer-star Alan Ladd. The star is cast as a veteran Indian fighter Johnny MacKay, who because of his close relationship with the Modoc tribe is sent out to negotiate a peace treaty. Once he has arrived in Medoc territory, Johnny (Ladd) must contend with the misspent emotions of his childhood sweetheart Toby (Marisa Pavan), the sister of Indian chief Manok (Anthony Caruso). Jealous over Johnny's relationship with pretty Nancy Meek (Audrey Dalton), Toby has cast her lot with renegade warrior Captain Jack (Charles Bronson), who honors no treaties. Though the film has a Native American villain, Drum Beat is largely sympathetic to the plight of the Indian. Based on a true story (Delmer Daves wrote the story & screenplay), the film is distinguished by J. Peverell Marley's breathtaking exterior photography, and by Victor Young's ballad-like musical score.

Beautiful Color Print!

The Glass Key (1942) - 85 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Brian Donlevy, William Bendix, Joseph Calleia & Bonita Granville

Directed by Stuart Heisler.

In this Dasheill Hammett tale, Ladd stars as Ed Beaumont, the right-hand man to Paul Madvig (Donlevy), the head of the local voter's league. Madvig built his little empire by turning a blind eye and granting favors to low class criminals like Nick Varna (Calleia), but decides to back the reform candidate, Ralph Henry, in the governor's race after he gets a look at Henry's daughter Janet (Lake). Things turn ugly when Madvig tries to stop his baby sister (Granville) from dating Janet's brother Taylor (Denning), a young man with no future and a ton of gambling debts. When Taylor is found murdered, it's up to Ed to prove Madvig's innocence before Nick and his newspaper friends railroad Madvig into the big house as payback for all the trouble he's causing them. Ed has his hands full trying to save Paul's future from the malicious machinations of his enemies, the circling curiosity of the police and the furtive attacks by his sister and Janet, proclaiming Paul's guilt to anyone who will listen.

The Great Gatsby (1949) - 91 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Betty Field, Macdonald Carey, Ruth Hussey, Barry Sullivan, Shelley Winters & Howard Da Silva

Directed by Elliott Nugent

F. Scott Fitzgerald's definitive jazz-age novel The Great Gatsby stars Alan Ladd in the title role of Jay Gatsby, formerly Jake Gatz, is a successful bootlegger with aspirations of being accepted in the highest social circles of Long Island. Once he's done this, Gatsby devotes his time to winning back the love of his former lady friend Daisy (Betty Field), now married to boorish "old-money" millionaire Tom Buchanan (Barry Sullivan). Gatsby's obsession with rekindling old flames results in disillusionment and, ultimately, tragedy. Sidelines observer Nick Carraway, the narrator of the original Fitzgerald novel, is expertly played by MacDonald Carey, while Shelley Winters makes an excellent impression as Buchanan's slatternly mistress Myrtle Wilson.

Often considered to be Alan Ladd's best role.

Guns of the Timberland (1960) - 91 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Jeanne Crain, Gilbert Roland, Frankie Avalon, Lyle Bettger & Noah Beery Jr.

Directed by Robert D. Webb

In this action drama, ranchers and lumberjacks are at loggerheads over the proper usage of the land. When the logging team finds a prime stand, the ranchers beg the loggers not to harvest it because the lack of trees will cause deadly mud slides during the rainy season that will destroy their homes. The battle becomes quite heated as the ranchers and the lumberman begin blowing each other up. In the midst of explosive tempers and fighting, a romance blooms between lovers on each side.

A great "outdoors" adventure with Alan Ladd doing what he does best in the thick of the action.

Hell Below Zero (1954) - 90 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Joan Tetzel, Basil Sydney, Stanley Baker, Joseph Tomelty & Niall MacGinnis

Directed by Mark Robson

Duncan Craig, who sign onto a whaling ship to get the facts behind the death of Judy Nordahl's (Joan Tetzel) father. While on a whaling expedition near Antarctica, Craig becomes suspicious of skipper Erik Bland. These suspicions are confirmed when Craig and Judy are targetted for an "accidental" demise in the frigid waters of the Antarctic. The plot never interferes with the action highlights, which under the direction of Mark Robson are well worth the price of admission. Alan Ladd delivers again!

Based on a novel by Hammond Innes.

Great color print!

Hell on Frisco Bay (1955) - 98 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Edward G. Robinson, Joanne Dru, William Demarest, Paul Stewart, Perry Lopez & Fay Wray

Directed by Frank Tuttle

A slam-bang return to the sort of gangster fare turned out by Warner Bros. in the 1930s. Alan Ladd plays ex-cop Steve Rollins, who serves five years on a manslaughter rap. Upon his release, Rollins dedicates himself to finding the real killer. He soon learns that the man responsible for the frame-up was Victor Amato (Edward G. Robinson), the crime kingpin who rules the roost on the docks of San Francisco. Hoping to keep the heat off his operation, Amato "invites" Rollins to join his gang. But Rollins instead, doggedly pursues the gang boss with the help of such allies as cast-off gangster moll Kay Stanley (Fay Wray) and police lieutenant Dan Bianco (William Demarest). Joanne Dru costars as Rollins' estranged wife Marcia, who believes in her husband but doesn't relish the notion of his being shot full of holes by Amato's goons. At the time of the film's release, the critics went overboard in their approval of Edward G. Robinson's full-blooded reprisal of the sort of role which made him famous.

Nice color print!

The Iron Mistress (1952) - 110 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Virginia Mayo, Joseph Calleia, Phyllis Kirk & Alf Kjellin

Directed by Gordon Douglas

Alan Ladd stars as the fearless, knife-wielding Bowie, who is first seen arriving in New Orleans to sell a supply of lumber. Bowie falls in love with duplicitous Creole lass Judalon de Bornay (Virginia Mayo), who inspires him to increase his riches and political power. When Bowie doesn't move up the ladder of success fast enough to suit her, the fickle Judalon weds another. Bowie eventually finds happiness in the arms of Ursula de Veremendi (Phyllis Kirk), the daughter of Texas' vice-governor. The film tactfully ends long before Bowie's rendezvous with destiny at the Alamo.

The Iron Mistress is based on the novel by Paul I. Wellman recounting the life of American frontiersman Jim Bowie - the highlight of the novel, a fierce knife-and-rapier duel, is faithfully recreated here

Lucky Jordan (1942) - 84 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Helen Walker, Marie McDonald, Sheldon Leonard & Lloyd Corrigan

Directed by Frank Tuttle

Lucky Jordan, cynical gambler and racketeer, finds one thing his luck and connections can't fix: the draft board. In the army, he fits like the proverbial square peg, and deserts to find his former henchman selling the mob's services to enemy spies and saboteurs. Meanwhile, Jill, the attractive WAC he's taken hostage, hopes to reform him (by any means at her disposal). But it takes an unexpected plot twist to make Jordan change his ways.

Alan Ladd had a style as a gangster that counterpointed well with the wonderful Sheldon Leonard. Helen Walker presented an unusually perky, sexy look that was never really exploited in the movies.

This picture is fun to watch and for a light comedy, spy thriller it was away ahead of most of it's time.

The McConnell Story (1955) - 106 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, June Allyson, James Whitmore, Frank Faylen, Robert Ellis & Willis Bouchey

Directed by Gordon Douglas

Alan Ladd plays real-life air force hero Captain Joseph McConnell Jr. in this inspirational biopic, with June Allyson as McConnell's anxious, waiting-nervously-at-home wife. Assigned to the medical corps during WWII, McConnell takes private flying lessons so that he'll qualify for pilot duty. After serving with distinction in the war, McConnell becomes a pioneer in the testing of jet aircraft.

The real Captain Joseph McConnell died only a few weeks before filming started on The McConnell Story

The Man in the Net (1959) - 94 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Carolyn Jones, Diane Brewster, John Lipton & Charles McGraw.

Directed by Michael Curtiz

John Hamilton has retreated to the New England countryside to pursue a potential career as an artist, but his wife Linda wants to go back to New York. She is observed as being both drunk and a little strange, while John is clearly the anchor in the relationship. When Linda disappears, John is immediately suspected of doing away with his troublesome wife, and so a net of suspicion and circumstantial evidence closes in ever-tightening circles around him.

An intriguing story with a strong performance from Alan Ladd in one of his last film roles

One Foot in Hell (1960) - 90 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Don Murray, Dan O'Herlihy, Dolores Michaels, Barry Coe & Larry Gates

Directed by James B. Clark

TV producer Aaron Spelling first came up with the story for this intriguing western set in a small town just after the American Civil War. Mitch (Alan Ladd) has tragically lost his wife during a problem in her pregnancy because he could not come up with $1.87 for the medicine she needed. A little twisted right from the beginning, he vows revenge. In the first step toward his goal, he gets the post of deputy sheriff from the repentant townspeople. In the second step, he murders the sheriff and then recruits a gang of disreputable toughs to steal $100,000 and bankrupt the town. In the last and fatal part of his plan for vengeance, he turns on his own gang of thieves.

O.S.S. (1946) - 105 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Patric Knowles, John Hoyt & Richard (TV's "Captain Midnight") Webb.

Directed by Irving Pichel

John Martin is part of an American spy team dropped into France during World War II to destroy the French railway system. After successfully blowing up a tunnel he runs back to save Ellen and is told "Never come back for me again." Later he must choose whether or not to obey her wishes. A first rate action film and spy yarn with Alan Ladd doing what he does best. This film later became the blueprint for Ron Randell's successful TV series of the same name.

Note that this film is part of a 4 DVD (8 film) Alan Ladd Collection set which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

Paratrooper (1953) - see The Red Beret (1953) below

The Proud Rebel (1958) - 103 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Olivia de Havilland, Dean Jagger, David Ladd, Cecil Kellaway & Henry Hull

Directed by Michael Curtiz

A gentler but no less resourceful Alan Ladd is cast as civil war veteran John Chandler, while the star's son David (who grew up to become a powerful Hollywood producer) plays Chandler's emotionally disturbed son David. Since suffering a traumatic shock during the war, David has not spoken a single word. With his son in tow, John wanders the frontier in search of a doctor who might cure David's muteness. Along the way, he runs afoul of sheep baron Harry Burleigh (Dean Jagger), and for a brief period is forced into indentured servitude to pay a debt to farm woman Linnet Moore (Olivia de Havilland). Falling in love with Linnet, John vows to protect her land from the covetous machinations of Burleigh and his brood.

Another great Alan Ladd vehicle!

The Red Beret (aka Paratrooper) (1953) - 88 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Leo Genn, Susan Stephen, Harry Andrews, Donald Houston & Anthony Bushell

Directed by Terence Young

After causing the needless death of another officer during a near-miss air disaster, a distraught army officer resigns from the military. Still, the American wants to serve in the war effort and so, calling himself a Canadian, enlists in the British military to train as a paratrooper. Revealing nothing about his past, he proves himself obedient and exceptionally skilled. This rouses the suspicion of his commanding officer who starts investigating the trooper. Meanwhile a dangerous mission to North Africa beckons

Excellent Alan Ladd action / adventure film

Red Mountain (1951) - 84 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Lizabeth Scott, Arthur Kennedy, John Ireland & Jeff Corey

Directed by William Dieterle

The rugged Colorado Territory provides the setting for this epic Civil War-era western chronicle of a Southern rebel who sets off to join Captain Quantrill's raiders. Along the way, the rebel kills a Union supporter who had stolen the rebel's land. Unfortunately, he leaves a different Confederate to shoulder the blame. Fortunately, just before the falsely-accused is to get lynched, the rebel dashes up to save him. Not realizing his savior is also the one who got him into the fix, the grateful man takes the rebel to his isolated cabin to hide. There the rebel meets his new friend's fiancée and complications set in.

Its Alan Ladd again in a fine color western

Saigon (1948) - 93 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Douglas Dick, Wally Cassell & Luther Adler

Directed by Leslie Fenton

In Shanghai after WWII, veteran pilots Larry Briggs (Ladd) and Pete Rocco (Wally Cassell) are dismayed when informed that friend Mike Perry (Douglas Dick) will soon die of a terminal illness. Larry and Pete decide to keep the tragic news from Mike and spend the next weeks showing him a high time. To finance the festivities, they accept an offer of $10,000 from unscrupulous war profiteer Zlex Maris (Morris Carnovsky) in exchange for a flight to Vietnam. When departure time arrives, Maris shows up with the police in hot pursuit, so the buddies take off with his secretary, Susan Neaves (Lake), whose briefcase contains Maris' earnings of $500,000. En route to Saigon, however, the crew crash-lands in an Asian jungle. As they make their way back to civilization with a detective (Luther Adler) tailing them, Mike develops feelings for Susan, who plays along at Larry's urging. Susan, however, is actually falling for Larry and vice versa.

One of the great onscreen romantic pairings, Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake, ended with this romantic adventure film, their fourth cinematic collaboration. The others: This Gun For Hire (1942), The Glass Key (1942), The Blue Dahlia(1946), are all available from this website.

A very nice print!

Note that this film is part of a 4 DVD (8 film) Alan Ladd Collection set which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

Salty O'Rourke (1945) - 99 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Gail Russell, William Demarest, Stanley Clements, Bruce Cabot & Spring Byington

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Salty owes money to Doc Baxter; he and his pal Smitty have one month to pay up. They get a race horse and a disbarred jockey, Johnny Cates, who must fake his identity to race. Johnny and Salty both fall in love with Barbara Brooks and, to get even, Johnny considers throwing the horserace.

Garnering an Academy Award nomination for best original screenplay, this is one of Alan Ladd's best films.

Santiago (1956) - 93 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Rossana Podesta, Lloyd Nolan, Chill Wills, Paul Fix & L. Q. Jones

Directed by Gordon Douglas

Set during Cuba's struggle to free itself from colonialist Spain, this exciting adventure chronicles the exploits of a tough, mercenary gun runner who learns about honour, sacrifice and caring for others when he ends up being forced to smuggle his latest weapon's cache aboard a beat up stern wheeler bound for Cuba. There he meets a beautiful freedom fighter who has been in the States trying to rally her expatriate colleagues into returning to join in the battle. It is she, with her passionate idealism and unwavering courage, who turns the gunrunner's life around.

Fabulous (& very rare) Alan Ladd adventure!

Saskatchewan (1954) - 87 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Shelley Winters, J. Carrol Naish, Hugh O'Brien & Jay Silverheels

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Mountie O'Rourke and his Cree half brother Cajou are returning from a northern Canadian trapping trip when they encounter a burned wagon train and sole survivor Grace. Naive Mountie commander Benton believes it to be a Cree attack. The Sioux from across the border are trying to force the Cree into being allies in their struggle with the U.S. seventh cavalry. O'Rourke must mutiny to save the men. He must also aid Grace, in whom Marshal Smith has both official and unprovoked amorous interests.

This is a great "Mountie" adventure!

Now a Perfect Color Print!

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Shane (1953) - 118 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, Brandon De Wilde, Jack Palance & Emile Meyer

Directed by George Stevens

The simple story of a Wyoming range war is elevated to near-mythical status in producer/director George Stevens' Western classic Shane. Alan Ladd plays the title character, a mysterious drifter who rides into a tiny homesteading community and accepts the hospitality of a farming family. Patriarch Joe Starrett (Van Heflin) is impressed by the way Shane handles himself when facing down the hostile minions of land baron Emile Meyer, though he has trouble placing his complete trust in the stranger, as his Marion (Jean Arthur) is attracted to Shane in spite of herself, and his son Joey (Brandon De Wilde) flat-out idolizes Shane. When Meyer is unable to drive off the homesteaders by sheer brute strength, he engages the services of black-clad, wholly evil hired gun Jack Wilson (Jack Palance). Shane knows that a showdown with Wilson is inevitable; he also knows that, unintentionally, he has become a disruptive element in the Starrett family. The manner in which he handles both these problems segues into the now-legendary "Come back, Shane" finale. Cinematographer Loyal Griggs imbues this no-frills tale with the outer trappings of an epic, forever framing the action in relation to the unspoiled land surrounding it. A.B. Guthrie Jr.'s screenplay, adapted from the Jack Schaefer novel, avoids the standard good guy/bad guy clichés: both homesteaders and cattlemen are shown as three-dimensional human beings, flaws and all, and even ostensible villain Emile Meyer comes off reasonable and logical when elucidating his dislike of the "newcomers" who threaten to divest him of his wide open spaces.

An out and out classic!

Oscar Winner for Best Cinematography. Oscar Nominations for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay & Best Supporting Actor (both Brandon De Wilde & Jack Palance)

13 West Street (1962) - 80 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Rod Steiger, Michael Callan Dolores Dorn, Kenneth MacKenna & Margaret Hayes

Directed by Philip Leacock

Leaning heavily on violence to ostensibly deliver a pacifist message, this powerful drama by Philip Leacock looks at the problem of teen gangs from a slightly different angle: these teens are all wealthy. Everything starts off when aerospace engineer Walt Sherill (Alan Ladd) is accosted and severely beaten by a group of young punks. The victimized man decides to hunt down the thugs on his own, at first just for curiosity and then increasingly for vengeance. His actions spark retaliatory measures, and before the credits roll, the body count is elevated by a few more victims in what amounts to nothing more than a blood feud.

Alan Ladd second to last film before his untimely death in 1964

This Gun For Hire (1942) - 80 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Robert Preston, Laird Cregar, Tully Marshall & Marc Lawrence

Directed by Frank Tuttle

Outstanding film noir, based on Graham Greene's novel A Gun For Sale, which presents one of the most disturbed (and disturbing) killers ever to cross the screen. Ladd is scary because he doesn't care; he is simply a killing machine hired out by whoever will pay. Only when Lake takes the time to break through the emotional fortress that he has built around himself does Ladd show any signs of humanity. This is the film that made Alan Ladd a star.

Thunder in the East (1952) - 98 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Deborah Kerr, Charles Boyer, Corinne Calvert & Cecil Kellaway.

Directed by Charles Vidor.

During India's first years of independence from Britain, Steve Gibbs lands his armaments loaded plane in Ghandahar province hoping to get rich. Pacifist Prime Minister Singh hopes to reach an agreement with guerilla leader Khan, the maharajah is a fool, and the British residents are living in the past. Steve's love interest is Joan Willoughby, the blind daughter of a parson.

A top-flight actioner from Alan Ladd

Note that this film is part of a 4 DVD (8 film) Alan Ladd Collection set which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

Two Years Before the Mast (1946) - 98 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Brian Donlevy, William Bendix, Barry Fitzgerald, Howard Da Silva & Albert Dekker

Directed by John Farrow

Based on a book by Richard Henry Dana, Jr., this gruelling saga of shipboard oppression is set in the mid-19th century. Charles Stewart (Alan Ladd), the wealthy son of a Boston shipowner, is hijacked by Amazeen (William Bendix), the first mate on a ship bound for California. Francis Thompson (Howard Da Silva) is the tyrannical captain of the Pilgrim who was booted out of the U.S. Navy for mistreating his sailors. Now he wants to set a record sailing time, and he and Amazeen mete out severe punishment for the slightest of infractions. They even deny the men permission to go ashore and pick fruit when they stop in California. Without fruit, the men develop scurvy and begin to mutiny. Stewart allies himself with the author Dana (Brian Donlevy), whose brother died on one of Captain Thompson's previous voyages. Dana wants to write an expose of Thompson. Stewart steals guns and tries to take over the ship, but Amazeen subdues and imprisons him.

Another strong Alan Ladd performance in a well directed adventure.

Whispering Smith (1948) - 88 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Robert Preston, Brenda Marshall, Donald Crisp, William Demarest & Fay Holden

Directed by Leslie Fenton

Luke "Whispering" Smith is an iron-willed railroad detective whose best friend is Murray Sinclair. Sinclair's wife, Marian almost married Smith back previously. Jealousy of Luke & Marion's friendship eventually allows for Murray to believe the dubious line that villain Barney Rebstock gives him, setting him against his friend!

The story based on a novel by Frank Spearman had been filmed two times previously as a silent film.

Alan Ladd & Robert Preston together - a good mix!

Wild Harvest (1947) - 92 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamour, Robert Preston, Lloyd Nolan & Richard Erdman

Directed by Tay Garnett

Alan Ladd and Robert Preston star as Joe Madigan and Jim Davis, rival grain harvesters in the Midwest's wheat country. The animosity between Joe and Jim intensifies upon the arrival of duplicitous Fay Rankin (Dorothy Lamour). Choosing Jim, Fay demands that she be supported in the manner in which she is accustomed, leading Jim inexorably into a life of crime. Ultimately, Joe and Jim will clash over the girl and Jim's criminal ways.

Alan Ladd and Robert Preston also appeared together in the following year's Whispering Smith (see above)

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