Foxfire (1955 film)
| Foxfire | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Joseph Pevney |
| Produced by | Aaron Rosenberg |
| Screenplay by | Ketti Frings |
| Story by | Anya Seton |
| Starring |
Jane Russell Jeff Chandler |
| Music by | Frank Skinner |
| Cinematography | William H. Daniels |
| Edited by | Ted J. Kent |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates | June 13, 1955 (NYC) |
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.9 million (US rentals)[1] |
Foxfire is a 1955 Hollywood motion picture, that starred Jane Russell and Jeff Chandler. Foxfire is historically notable in that it was the last American film to be shot in three-strip Technicolor, which process had been displaced by the coarser-grained and less chromatically saturated, but much cheaper, Eastmancolor single-strip process.[2]
Plot
After her car breaks down in the desert, Amanda Lawrence accepts a ride from Jonathan Dartland, a mining engineer, and his friend Hugh Slater, a doctor. Invited to a party at her wealthy mother's, "Dart" claims not to be fond of rich, spoiled women, but he and Amanda fall in love.
Amanda's mother is not pleased to hear that Dart's own mother is an Apache Indian, once married to a Boston college professor. Apaches work for Dart in a mine, but women are not welcome and Amanda feels ignored. She spends more time with Hugh, causing gossip in town begun by Maria, who is attracted to the doctor.
A pregnant Amanda seeks out Dart's mother, an Apache princess, who explains some of her son's attitudes. Dart angrily believes Amanda to be off with Hugh somewhere, however. When she returns, he is drunk and violent with her, causing a miscarriage.
Amanda intends to return home. A collapse of the Foxfire mine injures Dart, but he also finds a rich vein of gold there. Informed that he's been hurt, Amanda rushes back to him.
Main cast
- Jane Russell as Amanda Dartland
- Jeff Chandler as Jonathan Dartland
- Dan Duryea as Hugh Slater
- Mara Corday as Maria
Production
The movie was based on a best-selling novel. Universal originally announced that June Allyson would co-star with Jeff Chandler.[3] Filming was pushed back; Allyson dropped out and Jane Russell played the lead instead.[4] Russell was paid $200,000 for her role and had the right to draw on Chandler's services for a film later on for her own production comppany.[5]
The movie was filmed on location at the Apple Valley Inn in Apple Valley, California and in Oatman, Arizona.
Chandler described the role as one of his favorites as "I don't have to be so darned monosyllabic in this one."[6]
Reception
A.H. Weiler of the New York Times said: "Jeff Chandler, who wrote the lyrics of the title tune, and who, we are told, sings it, does well by the role of the brooding, brawny and handsome engineer. Although his problems appear to be bigger than they actually are, he makes a fine, romantic figure of a man. Miss Russell, if the appraisal isn't redundant by now, is a fine figure of a woman in a variety of revealing gowns and negligees. Her cheerfully sincere efforts to make her marriage work are worthy of sympathy, but, all things considered, Mr. Chandler's acting rings truer." [7]
Trivia
On 25 July 1956, Foxfire was the film playing aboard the SS Andrea Doria at the time it was stuck by the MS Stockholm.
See also
References
- ↑ 'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1955', Variety Weekly, January 25, 1956
- ↑ "Dye-Transfer Process". Technicolor100, Eastman Museum. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ↑ JUNE ALLYSON TO DO 'FOXFIRE' IN COLOR: Actress Will Be Co-Starred With Jeff Chandler in Universal's New Film Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 31 July 1953: 11
- ↑ Patty Andrews to Star in 'Three Charms'; Hope Starts 'Fory' Next Month Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 25 June 1954: B7.
- ↑ A TOWN CALLED HOLLYWOOD: Top Stars Now Share in Profits of Major Pictures Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 24 July 1955: d2.
- ↑ 'Indian' Chandler Changes Pace; He's Now Half Indian Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 27 June 1955: 23.
- ↑ A.H. Weiler, "Story of Half Breed and Heiress Opens" July 14, 1955 http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B0DE7DE1F3AEF34BC4C52DFB166838E649EDE
External links
- Foxfire at the Internet Movie Database
- Foxfire at TCMDb
| ||||||