His Kind of Woman
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| His Kind of Woman | |
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| Directed by | John Farrow Richard Fleischer (uncredited) |
| Produced by | Howard Hughes Robert Sparks |
| Written by | Gerald Drayson Adams (story, uncredited) Frank Fenton Jack Leonard Earl Fenton (uncredited) Richard Fleischer (uncredited) Howard Hughes (uncredited) |
| Starring | Robert Mitchum Jane Russell Vincent Price |
| Music by | Leigh Harline |
| Cinematography | Harry J. Wild |
| Editing by | Frederic Knudtson Eda Warren |
| Distributed by | RKO |
| Release date(s) | August 29, 1951 |
| Running time | 120 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
His Kind of Woman is a black-and-white 1951 film noir mystery film starring Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell. The film features notable supporting roles by Vincent Price, Raymond Burr, and Charles McGraw.
Post-production on the film was rife with problems and Howard Hughes was dissatisfied with John Farrow's work, and a number of scenes were cut, added, and reshot by the uncredited Richard Fleischer. Hughes also organized a screenwriting team which extensively rewrote the film and added many pages to the first script. Despite the turmoil surrounding the film's production, the film was commercially successful and has developed a cult following, despite its lack of widespread distribution in the decades since its release.
This is an unusual and fascinating noir film. Besides the classic noir elements--the anti-hero type lost in a maze of bad guys and beat downs--there is a romantic love story--sparks fly between Mitchum and Russell--and a comic strain that foreshadows later insider-Hollywood laughers. When Raymond Burr appears in the final act, he is over-the-top, Tony Montana-style, and almost appears to be in a different film altogether as his reactions do not seem to fit the circumstances. Much of the action late in the movie is so odd it would seem more at home in an Abbott and Costello movie. The DVD has a great audio commentary by UCLA professor of film and television Vivian Sobchack.
[edit] Plot
Deported crime boss Nick Ferraro (Raymond Burr) lures Dan Milner (Robert Mitchum) and his girl Lenore (Jane Russell) down to Mexico. When Milner arrives, he finds that all the guests at the luxurious Baja California resort are playing roles, each with hidden motives. He begins to distrust everyone, and questions his reason for being at Ferraro's resort, though he befriends eccentric actor Mark Cardigan (Vincent Price).
[edit] Cast
Robert Mitchum as Dan Milner
Jane Russell as Lenore Brent
Vincent Price as Mark Cardigan
Tim Holt as Bill Lusk
Charles McGraw as Thompson / Narrator
Marjorie Reynolds as Helen Cardigan
Raymond Burr as Nick Ferraro
Leslie Banning as Jennie Stone
Jim Backus as Myron Winton
Philip Van Zandt as Jose Morro
John Mylong as Martin Krafft
Carleton G. Young as Gerald Hobson
